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Peer-to-Peer Networks
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1. "On the scale of Peer-to-Peer Networks", Proceedings of the 13th Annual
Workshop On Information Technologies and Systems (WITS'03), pp
13-18, December 2003, Seattle, USA (with Yong Tan and Yong-Pin Zhou) |
Abstract
In this paper, we study both the positive and negative scale
effects on content sharing Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks. Using
analytical models and simulation, we evaluate the content
distribution, content request, transmission cost and processing cost
to investigate the characteristics of a P2P network. Our results
show that increasing network scale has a positive effect on the
expected content availability and the expected transmission cost,
but a negative effect on the expected processing and search costs.
All these costs can be balanced, and thus applied to determine the
network size that optimizes overall the utility of a content sharing
P2P community. We also investigate the impact of various P2P network
parameters such as content distribution properties and request
frequency. |
| 2. "On the formation of Peer-to-Peer Networks:
Self-Organized Sharing, Groups and Links ",
Proceedings of
the 25th Annual International Conference on
Information Systems (ICIS’04), Washington D.C.,
2004 ( with Yong Tan and Prabuddha De) |
Abstract
In this
paper, we investigate the formation of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks
with rational participating agents (active peers). In the absence of
a central planner, peers choose their own utility-maximizing
strategies for coalition and peer formation. P2P networks
evolve dynamically through the activities of interactions among
individual nodes and group units. We propose a framework for
multi-level formation dynamics, including an individual level
(content sharing decision and group selection) and a group level
(membership admission). The respective utilities of the individual
node and the collective player are formulated as functions of
operational performance metrics such as expected content
availability, search delay, transmission delay, and download delay.
We study the impacts of various system parameters on the emergence
of self-organized P2P network configuration features such as
free-riding level and group size. Furthermore, we investigate the
stability and efficiency of P2P networks and propose internal
transfer mechanisms that force stable networks to become
efficient. |
| 3. "Pricing Peer-to-Peer Networks :Content
Provision and Search Intermediary", Proceedings of the 14th Annual Workshop On Information
Technologies and Systems (WITS'04), December 2004, Washington D.C.,
USA (with Yong Tan and Prabuddha De) |
Abstract
In this paper, we study the pricing
schemes for services, such as content search and sharing, in
Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks. Using queueing and game-theoretic
models, we evaluate the quality of service (QoS) metrics, including
content availability, sharing cost, and overall search and download
delays, in order to investigate the operational and economic
efficiency of P2P networks. Consistent with usual implications of
public goods provision, our model shows that, in the absence of
appropriate incentive mechanisms, P2P users tend to over-request and
under-provide contents. To regain the inherent efficiency loss due
to decentralized decisions, we propose a pricing scheme that charges
request fees for search intermediary service and compensates content
provision so as to induce socially optimal content request and
provision decisions by individuals. The content request fee
increases with the network size. However, provision compensation
increases (decreases) with the network size when the network is
small (large). In addition, we also investigate the pricing scheme
from the perspective of a monopolistic profit-seeking P2P provider,
where, P2P participants are charged a higher price and the content
provision compensation could be negative.
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Electronic Commerce
| 4. "Optimal Pricing and Advertising Policies for
Web Services", Proceedings of the
14th Annual Workshop On Information Technologies and Systems
(WITS'04), December 2004, Washington D.C., USA (with
Subodha Kumar and Suresh Sethi) |
Abstract
The
accumulated evidence indicates that pure revenue models, such as
free-access models (where the revenue is solely dependent on
advertisements) or pure subscription fee based models (where the
revenue is solely based on subscription fees, and advertisements are
not shown to customers), are not sufficient to support the
survival of online information sellers. Hence, hybrid models based
on a combination of subscription fees and advertising revenues have
replaced the pure revenue models on many web sites including the
popular online content provider sites such as Wall Street
Journal and Classmates Inc. In response to increasing
interest in hybrid models, we study the problem of dynamic pricing
of web content on a site where revenue is generated from
subscription fee as well as advertisements. Using the optimal
control theory, we obtain a dynamic pricing strategy of subscription
and the optimal level of advertisements shown to the subscribers.
Since the decision in any one time period affects the decisions of
all subsequent time periods, the proposed dynamic model provides a
globally optimal solution. Our model shows that the subscription fee
is reduced initially to attract more customers, and is subsequently
increased once a large customer base is obtained. Even when the fee
increases in later periods, the number of subscribers increases due
to the value associated with the quality of the content. We present
several analytical and numerical results which provide some
important managerial implications. |
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5. "Pricing
Strategy Analysis for Collective Purchasing E-Commerce", Proceedings of the
5th Annual Workshop On e-Business
(WeB'06), December 2006, Milwaukee, USA (with
Ting-Kai Hwang and Ping-Wen Chen) |
Abstract
Collective purchasing is becoming an
increasingly popular marketing strategy of online retailers, as
electronic marketplace provides a convenient channel for retailers
to collect customers physically dispersed worldwide. Participating
in collective purchasing, customers can enjoy purchasing with a
better price. Online retailers also benefit from the reduction of
operational cost by selling a large bundle size of products.
However, the customers face a disutility cost from uncertainty and
delay during the formation of a collective purchasing group. In this
paper, we develop a simple economic model to examine the
profitability and social efficiency of collective purchasing
strategies under monopolistic and duopolistic market structures. |
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6. "Pricing
Web Advertisement: Display Ads V.S. Contextual Ads", Proceedings of the
11th Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems
(PACIS'07), July 2007, Auckland, New Zealand (with
Jhih-Hua Jhang-Li) |
| Abstract
Most web sites provide display advertising and contextual
advertising services simultaneously, which are the main ad formats
in Internet. With multimedia format, the pricing of display ads is
generally based on the occurrence of ad impressions. However,
targeting their customers more accurately, contextual ads are
performance based advertisements and are charged only if one visitor
clicks a client’s appointed ad. In this paper, we develop an
economic model to examine the pricing strategy, profitability, and
social efficiency of these two heterogeneous web advertising
channels, with respect to different market structures.
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7. "Efficiency
Analysis
for Display Ads and Contextual Search", Proceedings of the
9th International Conference of Electronic Commerce
(ICEC'07), August 2007, Minneapolis, USA (with
Jhih-Hua Jhang-Li) |
Abstract
Most News Web sites
provide display ads and contextual ads, which are the main ad
formats in Internet. Unlike display ads, contextual ad is a
performance based advertisement and allows clients to bid for their
exposure rate. Not only do Web sites save operation costs but also
clients plan their budget flexibly. However, in addition to accuracy
of search results, contextual ads like a common resource pool will
spend much more time to take the same number of clicks as display
ads do. In this paper, we develop a simple economic model to
examine the profitability and social efficiency of contextual ads
under monopolistic and duopolistic market structures. |
Knowledge Management
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8. "Efficient Knowledge Sharing: Performances and
Incentives",
Proceedings of the 18th Annual International conference of
Information Resource Management Association (IRMA'07), May
2007, Vancouver, CANADA (with
Yung-ShaoYeh) |
Abstract
In this paper, we address the
performance issue of Peer-to-Peer (P2P) knowledge sharing community
based on two indices: the knowledge variety and the knowledge
transfer. For each performance index, we examine Nash equilibrium
and social equilibrium of knowledge contribution. While
under-provision of knowledge contribution is a common phenomenon,
the equilibrium results drawn from each criterion are significantly
dissimilar. Results reveal the condition for the social optimality
to sustain. Thus, in order to enhance performance of knowledge
sharing, incentive mechanisms are presented to realizing an
efficient knowledge sharing community. |
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9. "Knowledge Integration: A public goods
approach under asymmetric information", Proceedings of the 18th Annual
International conference of Information Resource Management
Association (IRMA'07), May 2007, Vancouver, CANADA ( with Jhih-Hua Jhang-Li) |
Abstract
Knowledge integration is one of the keys
to e-business which has more competitive advantage than traditional
organizations. However, building knowledge management system from
technology-oriented and user viewpoint is insufficient. Because of
the effect of free-riding, the benefit of knowledge integration
can’t be linked to group size in direct proportion. This paper
examines how the total effective level of effort persons exert vary
with individual belief about knowledge level, group size, and their
cost-knowledge level ratios. This study discusses the relation among
these factors and proposes solutions to vanish the effect of
free-riding under asymmetric information. |
Digital Content Supply
Chains
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10. "Pricing Heterogeneous Content Distribution
Channel: Efficiency and Profitability", Proceedings of the
5th Annual Workshop On e-Business
(WeB'06), December 2006, Milwaukee, USA |
Abstract
The paper
considers the pricing and allocation issues of distributing digital
contents via dedicated websites (Web channel) and peer-to-peer
networks (P2P channel). We examine the allocation equilibrium
between these two channels, and present an incentive scheme to
achieve an efficient channel configuration for an organization. We
further analyze these two distribution channels in a competitive
market. A business environment with asymmetric decision information
will push the price and profit of both channels higher.
Particularly, the second mover enjoys both higher price and market
share. When both channels are integrated, the price of Web channel
will be lower than P2P channel’s price, on the contrary to socially
optimal pricing scheme. Consequently, the demand of P2P channel
shrinks, and more customers experience worse service quality from
Web channel. |
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11. "Optimal Contract of P2P Content
Distribution", Proceedings of the
5th Annual Workshop On e-Business
(WeB'06), December 2006, Milwaukee, USA |
Abstract
A Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network becomes an
increasingly popular content distribution channel. Utilizing the
principal-agent model from incentive theory, this paper provides a
contract model for a business P2P file sharing networks, in which
contracted P2P participants compete for the provision service
compensation. Optimal compensation scheme and corresponding capacity
effort is presented. It is shown that monopolistic service
compensation increases with the dispersion of peer positions and
file size, but decreases with the network size and the content
availability. |
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12. "Pricing
Digital Content with DRM Mechanism",
Proceedings of the
9th International Conference of Electronic Commerce
(ICEC'07), August 2007, Minneapolis, USA (with
Chia-Hao Lin) |
Abstract
As the development of
digital device technology, almost all the kinds of information can
be stored in digital format. At the same time, the Internet and
file sharing technology (such as P2P network) significantly
alleviate the content distribution cost. However, better digital
content distribution also means that people can acquire any digital
contents easier without purchasing the digital rights.
Consequently, digital content providers utilize DRM (Digital Right
Management) technology to inhibit the diffusion of pirating.
However, the adoption of DRM protection also reduces the
flexibility of the digital content and results in value declination.
In this paper, we proposed an analytical model to
examine the optimal DRM protection and pricing strategies of digital
content. We showed that the structure of the digital content
industry (the relationship between content and platform providers)
and content quality play important roles in the development of these
strategies. DRM protection level decreases as the content provider
and platform provider are integrated. As a result, more pirating
activities occur. While losing revenue from selling content, the
merged company recovers this loss and gains from selling platform at
a higher price. Higher content quality will always strengthen the
adoption of DRM when content and platform providers are operated
independently. However, if both providers are integrated, higher
content quality may increase or decline DRM protection level. In
addition, we observed that providing content with higher quality
will increase (decline) both the sales of legal content and
corresponding revenue when content quality is sufficiently high
(low). |
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13.
"Pricing Web 2.0 Related Service: Peer Production", Proceedings of the
9th International Conference of Electronic Commerce
(ICEC'07), August 2007, Minneapolis, USA (with
Yi-Lin Lee) |
Abstract
Peer production has played an
important role in the economics of Web 2.0 related services. User
participation and contribution become the main driving dynamics of
this new economic paradigm, significantly different from traditional
firm-based or market-based production. However, the quality of peer
production based service is uncertain, and highly related to not
only the level of individual contribution but also the network
externality of these contributions. To address and resolve this
issue, in this paper, we propose an analytical model, based on the
concepts of peer contribution and quality warranty, to study the
pricing strategy of the increasingly emerging Web 2.0 related
services. Best quality strategy under monopolistic market is found
in our research. And under duopolistic market, one of the providers
may provide higher quality than he advertises is also an important
finding. Several implications have been discussed to help clarify
the progress of peer production, and hints for peer production
service providers are also presented. |
Business
Intelligence
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14.
"A
Fuzzy Rule-based Bargaining Model for Online Group Purchasing",Proceedings of
the 5th
International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Economics
and Finance (CIEF 2006), October, 2006,Kaohsiung
City, Taiwan
(with
Ping-Wen Chen and Ting-Kai Hwang)
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Abstract
Online group purchasing or collective
purchasing is the activity in which people who desire to buy the
same merchandises join together so that they can negotiate with
sellers for a better price through Internet. This paper utilizes
fuzzy logic to develop a bargaining model for such activities. The
model supports buyers to make group decision to set up their
bargaining strategy; instead of using static rules, buyers can
customize their fuzzy rule base that can infer to produce
negotiation proposals to bargain with sellers. Experimental results
show that (1) the prototype system with the fuzzy function is easy
to use; (2) people enjoy online bargaining for better prices; (3)
they think that online bargaining is very important and inevitable
for electronic markets in the future. |
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15.
"A
One-to-Many Dynamic Negotiation Strategy Model Based on Fuzzy Theory", Proceedings of
the 6th
International Conference on Computational Intelligence in Economics
and Finance (CIEF 2007), July, 2007 Salt Lake City, USA (with
Ping-Wen Chen and Ting-Kai Hwang) |
Abstract
In recent years, the trend of online purchase is arising. So far,
most of the online purchasing use posted prices. Therefore, buyers
are usually in a passive and disadvantageous situation. In this
paper, we develop a one-to-many negotiation strategy model, based on
multi-attribute utility theory, for buyers to negotiate with
sellers. Negotiation needs concession to succeed. However, usually
concession strategies are set up at the beginning of negotiation and
fixed during the negotiation; the responses and behavior of
opponents are not considered in the negotiation. To conquer this
problem, we use fuzzy theory and utility evaluation to integrate the
information from sellers and conduct inferences, in order to
dynamically adjust the concession. In this way, we can enhance the
negotiation ability of software agents to simulate the real-world
human negotiation, so that agents will be able to explore more and
better benefits for buyers. |
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