Adaptive communication system

• US 5,638,494 A
• Filed: 06/10/1994
• Issued: 06/10/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Pinard, Deborah L., Gray, Thomas A., Peres, Eliana M. O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pan, Daniel H.
• Application Number:
  US08/257,917
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 395/85, 395/99, 395/200.15, 395/182.13, 395/64, 395/157, 395/75, 395/155, 395/650, 395/497.02, 395/60, 395/50, 395/700, 395/53, 395/800, 395/500, 364/401 R, 364/488.01, 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4484 Executing subprograms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of operating a communication system comprised of providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve the goals, providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving the goals from a process agent, and interconnecting all of the agents and carrying goals between agents thereby.

Claims

1. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) interconnecting said agents and carrying goals between agents thereby,

(d) storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent in a memory, and downloading said definition from the memory to each said agent,

(e) in which each agent stores and defines its capabilities, resolves goals, executes a task, and allocates its resources to a task,

(f) an agent controlling a goal of another agent, and

(g) in which agents admit control of at least one of goals, resources and task execution capabilities by an agent other than a supervisory agent.

2. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) interconnecting said agents and carrying goals between agents thereby

(d) storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent in a memory, and downloading said definition from the memory to each said agent, and

(e) posting events output from each agent on a blackboard, registering events of interest to agents having interest in particular events on the blackboard, and notifying said agents having interest in an occurrence of said particular events on the blackboard.

3. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) interconnecting said agents and carrying goals between agents thereby,

(d) storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent in a memory, and downloading said definition from the memory to each said agent, and

(e) storing in a table of each agent a directory of its goals and pointers to an associated procedure table for each goal, each procedure table being comprised of reference to procedures and a pointer to an executable software program for carrying out a process for fulfilling a related goal.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 in which said devices are telephone interface circuits, trunk interface circuits, a resource process agent and device process agents for operating a dialing frequency (DTMF) detector and a dial tone generator, and in which said goals are signals defining operation of separate tasks in processing a telephone call from one to another telephone interface circuit or between a trunk and a telephone interface circuit.

5. A method as defined in claim 4 in which said goal commands and task related signals between agents is communicated via a local area network (LAN) or high speed ring.

6. A method as defined in claim 4 including a blackboard means for posting events output from each agent, means for registering events of interest to agents having interest in particular events, and means for notifying said agents having interest in the occurrence of said particular events.

7. A method as defined in claim 6, in which each agent defines and stores its capabilities, resolves goals, executes a task, and allocates its resources to the task.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 in which an agents admit control of its goals and their capabilities by a supervisory agent.

9. A method as defined in claim 8 in which an agent admits control of at least one of its goals, resources and task execution capabilities by an agent other than the supervisory agent.

10. A method as defined in claim 3 including using opportunistic reasoning for considering a plurality of criteria for selecting procedures.

11. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) interconnecting said agents and carrying goals between agents thereby,

(d) storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent in a memory, and downloading said definition from the memory to each said agent,

(e) in which each agent stores and defines its capabilities, resolves goals, executes a task, and allocates its resources to a task,

(f) an agent controlling a goal of another agent, and

(g) an agent reserving resources on another agent, and selecting these resources during operation, whereby reliability required for operation of the agent is able to be selected.

12. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) interconnecting said agents and carrying goals between agents thereby,

(d) storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent in a memory, and downloading said definition from the memory to each said agent,

(e) in which each agent stores and defines its capabilities, resolves goals, executes a task, and allocates its resources to a task,

(f) an agent controlling a goal of another agent, and

(g) minimizing the cost of operation by an agent reserving resources on other agents, and selecting a least cost of achieving a goal by a resource broker in an agent operating a bidding process, bidding being made from the reserved resources providing a cost estimate to process to a goal.

13. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) interconnecting said agents and carrying goals between agents thereby,

(d) storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent in a memory, and downloading said definition from the memory to each said agent,

(e) in which each agent stores and defines its capabilities, resolves goals, executes a task, and allocates its resources to a task,

(f) an agent controlling a goal of another agent, and

(g) an agent reserving resources it needs for its normal operation, and using these resources to process to a goal.

14. A method as defined in claim 13 in which agents admit control of their goals and their capabilities by a supervisory agent.

15. A method as defined in claim 13 in which agents admit control of at least one of their goals, resources and task execution capabilities by an agent other than a supervisory agent.

16. A method as defined in claim 13 including an agent controlling the resources and task execution mechanisms of a subordinate agent.

17. A method as defined in claim 13, including an agent permanently reserving usage rights on other agents, and using those permanently reserved usage rights to process to a goal.

18. A method of operating a communication system comprising:

(a) providing a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) providing a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) interconnecting said agents and carrying goals between agents thereby,

(d) storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent in a memory, and downloading said definition from the memory to each said agent,

(e) in which each agent stores and defines its capabilities, resolves goals, executes a task, and allocates its resources to a task,

(f) an agent controlling a goal of another agent, and

(g) an agent reserving resources of other agents through usage rights, determining a current state of the resources, and selecting a most suitable other agent to process a goal with respect to the current state of the resources over which the other agents have jurisdiction.

19. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) a network for interconnecting said agents for carrying goals between agents,

(d) a configuration means for storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent, and for downloading said definition to each said agent,

(e) each agent including means for storing and defining its capabilities, means for resolving goals, means for executing a task, and means for allocating its resources to a task,

(f) means for controlling a goal of an agent by another agent, and

(g) in which agents include means for admitting control of at least one of goals, resources and task execution means by an agent other than a supervisory agent.

20. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) a network for interconnecting said agents for carrying goals between agents,

(d) a configuration means for storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent, and for downloading said definition to each said agent, and

(e) a blackboard means for posting events output from each agent, means for registering events of interest to agents having interest in particular events, and means for notifying said agents having interest in an occurrence of said particular events.

21. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) a network for interconnecting said agents for carrying goals between agents,

(d) a configuration means for storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent, and for downloading said definition to each said agent,

(e) in which each agent is comprised of a table comprised of a directory of its goals and pointers to an associated procedure table for each goal, each procedure table being comprised of reference to procedures and a pointer to an executable software program for carrying out a process for fulfilling a related goal.

22. A system as defined in claim 21 in which said devices are telephone interface circuits, trunk interface circuits, a resource process agent and device process agents for operating a dialing frequency (DTMF) detector and a dial tone generator, and in which said goals are signals defining operation of separate tasks in processing a telephone call from one to another telephone interface circuit or between a trunk and a telephone interface circuit.

23. A system as defined in claim 22 in which said means for downloading, and means for communicating goal commands and task related signals between agents is comprised of a local area network (LAN) or high speed ring.

24. A system as defined in claim 22 including a blackboard means for posting events output from each agent, means for registering events of interest to agents having interest in particular events, and means for notifying said agents having interest in the occurrence of said particular events.

25. A system as defined in claim 24, in which each agent includes means for storing and defining its capabilities, means for resolving goals, means for executing a tasks, and means for allocating its resources to a task.

26. A system as defined in claim 25 in which agents include means for admitting control of their goals and their capabilities by a supervisory agent.

27. A system as defined in claim 26 in which agents include means for admitting control of at least one of a goal, resources and task execution means by an agent other than the supervisory agent.

28. A system as defined in claim 21 including opportunistic reasoning means in each agent for considering a plurality of criteria for selecting procedures.

29. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) a network for interconnecting said agents for carrying goals between agents,

(d) a configuration means for storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent, and for downloading said definition to each said agent,

(e) each agent including means for storing and defining its capabilities, means for resolving goals, means for executing a task, and means for allocating its resources to a task,

(f) means for controlling a goal of an agent by another agent, and

(g) means for an agent to reserve resources on another agent, and means for selecting these resources during operation of the agent, whereby reliability required for operation of the agent is able to be selected.

30. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) a network for interconnecting said agents for carrying goals between agents,

(d) a configuration means for storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent, and for downloading said definition to each said agent,

(e) each agent including means for storing and defining its capabilities, means for resolving goals, means for executing a task, and means for allocating its resources to a task,

(f) means for controlling a goal of an agent by another agent, and

(g) means for minimizing the cost of operation by an agent by reserving resources on other agents, and means for selecting a least cost of achieving a goal by a resource broker in an agent operating a bidding process, bidding being made from the reserved resources providing a cost estimate to process to a goal.

31. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) a network for interconnecting said agents for carrying goals between agents,

(d) a configuration means for storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent, and for downloading said definition to each said agent,

(e) each agent including means for storing and defining its capabilities, means for resolving goals, means for executing a task, and means for allocating its resources to a task,

(f) means for controlling a goal of an agent by another agent, and

(g) means for enabling an agent to reserve resources it needs for its normal operation, and using those resources for processing to a goal.

32. A system as defined in claim 31 in which agents include means for admitting control of their goals and their capabilities by a supervisory agent.

33. A system as defined in claim 31 in which agents include means for admitting control of at least one of goals, resources and task execution means by an agent other than the supervisory agent.

34. A system as defined in claim 31 including means for controlling the resources and task execution mechanisms of a subordinate agent.

35. A system as defined in claim 31, including means for enabling an agent to permanently reserve usage rights on other agents, and means for using those permanently reserved usage rights to process to a goal.

36. A communication system comprising:

(a) a plurality of process agents for receiving goal commands (goals) and for invoking a process to achieve said goals,

(b) a plurality of device agents, each in communication with its own device, for receiving and storing goals from a process agent, and for operating its corresponding device in response to receiving said goals from a process agent,

(c) a network for interconnecting said agents for carrying goals between agents,

(d) a configuration means for storing data defining processes, available resources and knowledge data for each agent, and for downloading said definition to each said agent,

(e) each agent including means for storing and defining its capabilities, means for resolving goals, means for executing a task, and means for allocating its resources to a task,

(f) means for controlling a goal of an agent by another agent, and

(g) means for enabling an agent to reserve resources of other agents through usage rights, means for determining a current state of the resources, and means for selecting a most suitable other agent to process to a goal with respect to the state of the resources over which other agents have jurisdiction.