An agent computer program for use in an automated electronic commerce infrastructure. A client-agent communication mechanism for enabling communication between an agent computer program and at least one client computer process is provided. The client-agent communication mechanism includes a web server embedded in the agent computer program that utilizes a predetermined Internet communication protocol for communication between the agent computer program and the client computer process. An inter-agent communication mechanism is provided for enabling the agent computer program to communicate with other agents. The inter-agent communication mechanism employs documents written in a predetermined markup language for communication.