OPEN PLATFORM FOR MANAGING AN AGENT NETWORK

• US 20090125618A1
• Filed: 11/13/2007
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Intuit, Inc.
• Inventors: Cook, Scott D., Huff, Gerald B.
• Granted Patent: US 8,489,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/14 Charging , metering or billing arrangements for data wireline or wireless communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system for managing software agents. This system enables a user to configure agents and to specify wiring relationships between the agents and other system components. This system also includes a hub component, which is configured to route communications to and from the agents in accordance with user-specified wiring relationships.

Claims

1. A system for managing agents, comprising:

a set of system components configured to coordinate interactions between the agents;

a hub component within the set of system components, wherein the hub component is configured to route communications to and from the agents in accordance with user-specified wiring relationships; and

a configuration component within the set of system components, wherein the configuration component enables a user to configure agents and to specify wiring relationships between the agents.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a prompter component within the set of system components, wherein the prompter component is configured to call one or more agents at user-specified times and to forward data items returned by calls.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more interface components within the set of system components, wherein an interface component is configured to receive a request from a user and to forward the request to the hub component.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more interface components includes one or more of:

an email interface component, which is configured to receive a request from the user via email;

a text-message interface component, which is configured to receive a request from the user through a text message; and

a voice interface component, which is configured to receive an audio voice request from the user.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a billing component within the set of system components, wherein the billing component is configured to collect payments from users and to distribute payments to agent authors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the agents include a storage agent which is configured to store data items in persistent storage.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the agents include a distribution agent which is configured to distribute messages to users.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the configuration component includes a user interface which enables the user to graphically wire together agents and system components.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein components in the set of system components are configured to communicate messages containing information and queries between agents and components.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the information can be structured in accordance with pre-defined micro-formats.

11. A method for managing agents, comprising:

receiving system configuration information from a user;

using the system configuration information to configure the agents and to specify wiring relationships between the agents, wherein the wiring relationships specify connections between the agents and a set of system components; and

wherein the set of system components includes a hub component, which is configured to route communications to and from agents in accordance with the user-specified wiring relationships.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of system components includes a prompter component which is configured to call one or more agents at user-specified times and to forward data items returned by calls.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of system components includes one or more interface components, wherein an interface component is configured to receive a request from a user and to forward the request to the hub component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more interface components includes one or more of:

an email interface component, which is configured to receive a request from the user via email;

a text-message interface component, which is configured to receive a request from the user through a text message; and

a voice interface component, which is configured to receive an audio voice request from the user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the set of system components includes a billing component, wherein the billing component is configured to collect payments from users and to distribute payments to agent authors.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the agents include a storage agent which is configured to store data items in persistent storage.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the agents include a distribution agent which is configured to distribute messages to users.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the system configuration information involves receiving the system configuration information from a user interface which enables the user to graphically wire together agents and system components.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein components in the set of system components are configured to communicate messages containing information and queries between agents and components.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the information can be structured in accordance with pre-defined micro-formats.

21. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for receiving system configuration information from a user, wherein the method comprises:

receiving system configuration information from a user;

using the system configuration information to configure the agents and to specify wiring relationships between the agents, wherein the wiring relationships specify connections between the agents and a set of system components; and

wherein the set of system components includes a hub component, which is configured to route communications to and from agents in accordance with the user-specified wiring relationships

22. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the set of system components includes a prompter component which is configured to call one or more agents at user-specified times and to forward data items returned by calls.

23. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the set of system components includes one or more interface components, wherein an interface component is configured to receive a request from a user and to forward the request to the hub component.

24. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein the one or more interface components includes one or more of:

an email interface component, which is configured to receive a request from the user via email;

a text-message interface component, which is configured to receive a request from the user through a text message; and

a voice interface component, which is configured to receive an audio voice request from the user.

25. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the set of system components includes a billing component, wherein the billing component is configured to collect payments from users and to distribute payments to agent authors.