Research on e-commerce transaction networks using multi-agent modelling and open application programming interface

Abstract

We provide a formal definition of an e-commerce transaction network. Agent-based modelling is used to simulate e-commerce transaction networks. For real-world analysis, we studied the open application programming interfaces (APIs) from eBay and Taobao e-commerce websites and captured real transaction data. Pajek is used to visualise the agent relationships in the transaction network. We derived one-mode networks from the transaction network and analysed them using degree and betweenness centrality. Integrating multi-agent modelling, open APIs and social network analysis, we propose a new way to study large-scale e-commerce systems.

Keywords:

• complex adaptive system
• e-commerce transaction network
• multi-agent modelling and simulation
• open API
• 2-mode network
• social network analysis
• systems science
• systems theory
• cybernetics

Acknowledgement

This work is supported by the International S&T Cooperation Program of China under the grant No. 2007DFA11110.