A simulation model for trust and reputation system evaluation in a P2P network

A peer-to-peer (P2P) network is an exchange community of anonymous peers or individuals. The evolution of P2P network has determined the need of trust and reputation systems (TRS) in order to improve the reliability of local interactions: collecting in some way the local experiences, the TRS assesses the possibility that an individual has a malicious behavior, i.e., he cheats other individuals. In this paper we present an agent-based simulation model for the evaluation of a generic TRS within a decentralized P2P network. We describe some minimal requirements that, in our opinion, every P2P simulators should have. Moreover, we propose a complete model of peers in which the behavior of both good and malicious peers is accurately defined.