Multi-agent Modeling and Analysis for E-Commerce Transaction Network Based on CAS Theory

Abstract

Complex adaptive system (CAS) theory is used to analyze the e-commerce system and the concept of e-commerce transaction network is proposed. The e-commerce transaction network can be viewed as a complex network which is constructed by transaction behaviors between buyers and sellers.Then we give a formal definition of the e-commerce transaction network and establish a multi-agent model for e-commerce transaction network. Based on the transaction rules defined, the agent-based modeling toolkit Repast S is adopted to generate the e-commerce transaction network. The generated network is divided into three 2-mode networks that are buyer-product, seller-product and buyer-seller networks; each of them is transformed into two 1-mode networks respectively. Pajek is used to graphically show the relationships among the agents in the transaction network. The concepts of degree centrality and betweenness centrality in social network analysis are used to analyze the derived 1-mode networks, and the positions of the buyers, sellers and products in the transaction network can be determined visually. Such an approach for analyzing transaction network can be used for knowledge discovery and personalized recommendation in e-commerce.

Study on Open APIs of E-Commerce Platforms and Design of a Third Party Application for Taobao

“…To analyze the complicated transaction relationship network formed by trading activities between buyers and sellers [8], it is essential to obtain transactionrelated data, which refers to the buyers, sellers, items, feedback information related to the trading activities on ecommerce website.…”

Research on Web-of-Trust-Based Personalized Seller Recommendation Algorithm for E-Commerce

“…This information can be used to evaluate trust and provide personalized recommendation. Using complex network analysis method, buyer-seller network and buyer-product network in e-commerce transaction network can be further transformed into 1-mode buyer relationship networks [2]. The buyer relationship network can be seen as trust relationship network between buyers in this paper.…”