Much has been written on the use of rhetorical argumentation
to alter the beliefs of a partner agent within a particular negotiation. The
problem addressed in this chapter is the measurement of the long-term value
of rhetorical argumentation in repeated interactions between a pair of agents,
and of the management of such argumentation to achieve strategic aims
concerning the strength of the agents’ relationships. RANA is a relationshipaware
negotiation agent in the context of information-based agents [1] that
have embedded tools from information theory enabling them to measure and
manage strategic information.
Keywords: Argumentation, Negotiation, Bargaining, Social relationships,
Information theory, Rhetorics, Trust, Software Agent, Agent architecture,
Multi-agent System.
