Why architecture matters here
Negotiation fails on runaway rounds, unfair outcomes, and lack of audit. Architecture matters because policy + termination + audit are what make the trade viable.
The architecture: every piece explained
The top strip is the flow. Buyer agent opens. Offer / counter signed messages. Seller agent proposes. Policy engine bounds acceptable terms.
The middle row is control. State store holds history. Termination — accept, reject, walk-away. Deadlock detection caps rounds. Escalation to human for high-value cases.
The lower rows are governance. Audit trail — signed rounds. Metrics — conclusion rate + fairness. Ops covers bots-vs-bots + fairness testing.
End-to-end flow
End-to-end: buyer agent offers $100. Seller counters $130. Policy allows range $110-125. Buyer counters $115. Seller accepts. Both signed. Audit records rounds. Deal closes.