Message handling method, message handling apparatus, and memory media for storing a message handling apparatus controlling program

• US 20010013051A1
• Filed: 04/11/2001
• Published: 08/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Akifumi Nakada, Hajime Tsuchitani, Osamu Furusawa, Toshihiko Zuzuki
• Original Assignee: Akifumi Nakada, Hajime Tsuchitani, Osamu Furusawa, Toshihiko Zuzuki
• Inventors: Zuzuki, Toshihiko, Furusawa, Osamu, Tsuchitani, Hajime, Nakada, Akifumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,949,309 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/546 Message passing systems or structures, e.g. queues

Abstract

A communication system is provided that is capable of flexibly dealing with conversations among agents. An agent (201) includes a software part (200) which performs operations that represent the functions of a human ear and a mouth. In generating a conversation, an agent communication language, which is similar to a human conversation, is prepared and sent to a conversation part (200) as a message packet. The conversation part (200) then generates a plurality of conversation threads one for each unit of conversation and converse with a plurality of nodes in parallel and asynchronously. On the other hand, in another node which receives the message packet, a protocol manager (230) receives the data (message packet) from a network and passes it to the conversation part (200). The conversation part (200) understands the message packet and executes the content. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the conversation part (200) moves to other places along with a mobile agent.

Claims

1. A message processing method for execution by a message processor, the method comprising the steps of:

providing in the message processor a conversation thread control part;

connecting the message processor to a network;

detecting a message packet containing a destination information and a conversation thread identifying information;

determining whether a conversation thread corresponding to the conversation thread identifying information contained in said message packet exists in the message processor;

generating a new conversation thread when it is determined that the corresponding conversation thread does not exist in the message processor; and

sending the message packet to a destination which corresponds to the destination information.

2. A message processing method as set forth in

claim 1

, wherein the message packet further contains a content information, and wherein the method further comprising, prior to the step of sending, a step of converting the message packet to a protocol which corresponds to the network to which the message processor is connected.

3. A message processing method for execution by a message processor, the method comprising the steps of:

connecting the message processor to a network;

providing, in the message processor, a conversation thread control part;

detecting a message packet containing a conversation thread identifying information;

determining whether a conversation thread corresponding to the conversation thread identifying information contained in the message packet exists in the message processor; and

generating a new conversation thread when it is determined that the corresponding conversation thread does not exist in the message processor.

4. A message processing method as set forth in

claim 3

, wherein the message packet further contains a destination information.

5. A message processing method as set forth in

claim 3

, wherein the message packet further contains a content information, and wherein the method further comprising a step of passing a control to the corresponding conversation thread when it is determined that the corresponding conversation thread exists in the message processor.

6. A message processing method as set forth in

claim 5

, wherein the method further comprising, after the step of passing, a step of analyzing the content of the content information.

7. A message processing method for execution by a message processor, the method comprising the steps of:

providing, in the message processor, a plurality of conversation threads and a conversation part object including a conversation thread control part that is capable of controlling the plurality of conversation threads;

halting the plurality of conversation threads;

sending the conversation part object through a network from the message processor to another place in another message processor; and

resuming the plurality of conversation threads at the another message processor.

8. A message processor which is connected to a network, said processor comprising:

an agent communication language manager for detecting a message packet which contains a conversation thread identifying information;

a first conversation thread control part for determining whether a conversation thread corresponding to said conversation thread identifying information contained in said message packet exists in said message processor; and

a second conversation thread control part for generating a new conversation thread when it is determined that said corresponding conversation thread does not exist in said message processor.

9. A message processor as set forth in

claim 8

, wherein said processor further comprises a protocol manager for receiving said message packet containing said conversation thread identifying information.

10. A message processor as set forth in

claim 8

, wherein said message packet further contains a destination information and a content information, and wherein said processor further comprising:

a plurality of conversation threads; and

a protocol manager for converting said message packet to a protocol which corresponds to a network to which said message processor is connected.

11. A message processor as set forth in

claim 8

, wherein said message packet further contains a content information, and wherein said second conversation thread control part further comprises a control part for passing S a control to said corresponding conversation when it is determined that said corresponding conversation thread exists in said message processor.

12. A message processor as set forth in

claim 11

, wherein said processor further comprising:

a protocol manager for receiving said message packet containing said conversation thread identifying information and said content information; and

wherein said first conversation thread control part is comprised of a first interpreter and said second conversation thread control part is comprised of a second interpreter.

13. A recording media which stores therein a message processing program for execution by a message processor which is connected to a network, said message processing program comprising:

a program code which instructs said message processor to detect a message packet containing a destination information and a conversation thread identifying information;

a program code which instructs said message processor to determine whether a conversation thread corresponding to the conversation thread identifying information contained in said message packet exists in said message processor;

a program code which instructs said message processor to generate a new conversation thread when it is determined that said corresponding conversation thread does not exist in said message processor; and

a program code which instructs said message processor to send said message packet to a destination which corresponds to said destination information.

14. A recording media as set forth in

claim 13

, wherein said message packet further contains a content information, and wherein said message processing program further comprises a program code which instructs said message processor to convert said message packet to a protocol which corresponds to the network to which said message processor is connected.

15. A media which stores therein a message processing program for execution by a message processor which is connected to a network, said message processing program comprising:

a program code which instructs said message processor to detect a message packet containing a conversation thread identifying information;

a program code which instructs said message processor to determine whether a conversation thread corresponding to the conversation thread identifying information contained in said message packet exists in said message processor; and

a program code which instructs said message processor to generate a new conversation thread when it is determined that said corresponding conversation thread does not exist in said message processor.

16. A media as set forth in

claim 15

, wherein said message packet further contains a content information, and wherein said message processing program further comprising a program code which instructs said message processor to pass a control to said corresponding conversation thread when it is determined that said corresponding conversation thread exists in said message processor.

17. A media as set forth in

claim 16

, wherein said message processing program further comprising a program code which instructs said message processor to analyze the content of said content information.

18. A media which stores therein a message processing program for execution by a message processor which is capable of sending a message to another message processor through a network, said message processing program comprising:

a program code which instructs said message processor to halt a plurality of conversation threads;

a program code which instructs said message processor to send a conversation part object which includes said plurality of conversation threads to another place through said network; and

a program code which instructs said message processor to resume said plurality of conversation threads.

19. A media which stores therein a plurality of objects to be loaded to a message processor which is connected to a network, said message processing program comprising:

an agent communication language manager for detecting a message packet which contains a conversation thread identifying information;

a first conversation thread control part for determining whether a conversation thread corresponding to said conversation thread identifying information contained in said message packet exists in said message processor; and

a second conversation thread control part for generating a new conversation thread when it is determined that said corresponding conversation thread does not exist in said message processor.

20. A media as set forth in

claim 19

, wherein said message packet further contains a destination information and a content information, and wherein said message processing program further comprising:

a plurality of conversation threads; and

a protocol manager for converting said message packet to a protocol which corresponds to a network to which said message processor is connected.

21. A media as set forth in

claim 19

, wherein said message processing program further comprising a protocol manager for receiving said message packet containing said conversation thread identifying information.