Network system extensible by users

• US 6,163,794 A
• Filed: 10/23/1998
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Byteweavr, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: General Magic, Inc.
• Inventors: Su, Jing, Nelson, Barbara, Lange, Danny, White, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/178,366
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/203, 709/205, 709/204, 709/224, 709/226, 709/225, 709/228, 709/229, 709/223, 709/317, 707/10, 707/9, 707/104, 379/88.13, 379/88.19, 379/88.17
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561

Abstract

In one aspect, a network system includes a user interface which allows a user to interact with the network system. An agent server is coupled to the user interface. The agent server manages the operation of the network system. Furthermore, the agent server in conjunction with the user interface is operable to create or modify an agent in response to interaction by the user. In another aspect, a network system includes an agent server which manages the operation of the network system. An agent is operable to utilize a service within the network system. A service wrapper, associated with the service, cooperates with the agent server to mediate interaction between the service and the agent.

Claims

1. A network system comprising:

a telephony service;

an agent operable to use the telephony service on behalf of a principal;

a service resource which can be consumed by the agent when the agent uses the telephony service; and

an agent server operable to mediate the use of the telephony service by the agent.

2. The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service wrapper associated with the service, the service wrapper operable to monitor the consumption of the service resource by the agent.

3. The network system of claim 2 wherein the service wrapper is operable to terminate the agent in response to the monitoring.

4. The network system of claim 1 wherein the agent server is operable to charge the principal for the consumption of the service resource.

5. The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service permission associated with the service resource and the agent, the service permission specifying a predetermined amount of the service resource which the agent is allowed to consume.

6. The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service permission associated with the service resource and the principal, the service permission specifying a predetermined amount of the service resource which is allowed to be consumed on behalf of the principal.

7. The network system of claim 1 wherein the service resource comprises elapsed time for a telephone call.

8. The network system of claim 1 wherein the service resource comprises cost for a telephone call.

9. The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service wrapper associated with the service, the service wrapper operable to translate between a first instruction set and a second instruction set.

10. The network system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the agent server, the user interface operable to allow a user to create, modify, or delete an agent template from which the agent is created.

11. The network system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the agent server, the user interface operable to allow a user to create, modify, or delete the agent.

12. The network system of claim 11 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.

13. The network system of claim 12 wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a web server resident in the network system; and

a web browser resident in a user device.

14. The network system of claim 11 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.

15. The network system of claim 14 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.

16. The network system of claim 14 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.

17. The network system of claim 14 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.

18. The network system of claim 1 wherein the service comprises a user interface service operable to provide a user interface by which the agent can interact with a user.

19. The network system of claim 18 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.

20. The network system of claim 19 wherein the graphical user interface comprises:

a web server resident in the network system; and

a web browser resident in a user device.

21. The network system of claim 19 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.

22. The network system of claim 21 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.

23. The network system of claim 21 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.

24. The network system of claim 21 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.

28. The network system of claim 24 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.

29. The network system of claim 28 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.

30. The network system of claim 28 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.

31. The network system of claim 28 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.

25. A network system comprising:

a user interface operable to allow a user to interact with the network system; and

an agent server coupled to the user interface, the agent server operable to manage the operation of a programmable functionality component of the network system, the agent server in conjunction with the user interface operable to create, modify, or delete an agent in response to interaction by the user, the agent operable to consume a service resource as the agent uses a telephony service on behalf of the user.

26. The network system of claim 25 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.

27. The network system of claim 26 wherein the graphical user interface comprises a web browser application.

32. The network system of claim 25 wherein the user interface comprises an agent area for creating, modifying, or deleting the agent.

33. The network system of claim 25 further comprising

a service wrapper associated with the telephony service, the service wrapper operable to cooperate with the agent server to mediate interaction between the telephony service and the agent.

34. The network system of claim 33 wherein the service wrapper is operable to convert between a first computer language used by the agent and a second computer language used by the telephony service.

35. The network system of claim 25 wherein the service wrapper is operable to monitor the amount of service resource consumed by the agent when the agent utilizes the telephony service.

36. A method comprising:

admitting a user to a network system wherein at least one agent is operable to consume a service resource while utilizing a telephony service to perform a task for the user; and

allowing the user to create, modify, or delete the agent within the network system.

37. The method of claim 36 further comprising accepting an agent command from the user.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the agent command is one of a create agent command, an edit agent command, and a delete agent command.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising suspending execution of the agent.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising accepting a template command from the user.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising allowing the user to create, modify, or delete an agent template within the network system.

42. The method of claim 36 further comprising admitting the user to an agent area of a user interface.

43. A network system comprising:

an agent server operable to manage the operation of a programmable functionality component of the network system;

a telephony service;

an agent operable to consume a service resource while utilizing the telephony service; and

a service wrapper associated with the telephony service, the service wrapper operable to cooperate with the agent server to mediate interaction between the telephony service and the agent.

44. The network system of claim 43 wherein the service wrapper comprises a monitor, the monitor operable to monitor the amount of the service resource consumed by the agent when the agent utilizes the telephony service.

45. The network system of claim 43 wherein the service wrapper comprises a converter, the converter operable to convert between a first computer language used by the agent and a second computer language used by the telephony service.

46. The network system of claim 45 wherein the converter comprises an agent server to service converter for converting from the first computer language to the second computer language.

47. The network system of claim 45 wherein the converter comprises a service to agent server converter for converting from the second computer language to the first computer language.

48. The network system of claim 43 further comprising a user interface operable to allow a user to interact with the network system in order to create the agent.

49. The network system of claim 48 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.

50. The network system of claim 49 wherein the graphical user interface comprises a web browser application.

51. The network system of claim 48 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.

52. The network system of claim 51 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.

53. The network system of claim 51 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.

54. The network system of claim 51 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.

55. The network system of claim 43 further comprising an agent object associated with the agent and resident in the agent server, the agent object comprising data and instructions executable within the agent server.

56. The network system of claim 43 further comprising an agent object associated with the agent and resident in the agent server, the agent object comprising a permission for the agent.

57. A method comprising:

allowing an agent to utilize a service; and

mediating interaction between the service and the agent.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein allowing comprises allowing the agent to consume a service resource associated with the service.

59. The method of claim 57 wherein mediating comprises monitoring the amount of a service resource consumed by the agent.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein mediating comprises:

identifying a service permission required in order for the agent to consume the service resource; and

determining whether the agent holds the required service permission.

61. The method of claim 57 wherein mediating comprises:

receiving an instruction which requires that the agent consume the service resource associated with the service when the agent utilizes the telephony service;

identifying an amount of the service resource which would be consumed if the instruction is executed;

identifying an amount of the service resource allotted to the agent; and

determining whether the amount which is allotted is greater than or equal to the amount which would be consumed.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein mediating comprises:

executing the instruction if the amount which is allotted is greater than or equal to the amount which would be consumed; and

subtracting the amount which would be consumed from the amount which is allotted.

63. The method of claim 57 further comprising converting between a first computer language used by an agent and a second computer language used by the service.