Method and apparatus for routing service request/agent programs to service provided sites wherein said programs comprise of a list of the sites visited
First Claim
1. A communications network comprising:
- a plurality of interconnected network sites, switching means for routing one or more agent programs through the communications network by reference to site addresses included in a site visit address list carried by each agent ptogram; and
a network site including (i) an address registry, and (ii) data processing means programmed for collecting site address information in the address registry from visiting agent programs and further programmed for inserting site address information from the registry into the visit address list of succeeding agent programs which visit the site.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a communications network comprising a plurality of network sites. Such a network may include the Internet. Agent programs are switched through the communications network by reference to site addresses included in a site visit address list carried by each agent program. The network has a number of network sites which are service provider sites. Each service provider site includes an address registry and data processing means programmed to collect site address information in the address registry from visiting agent programs. The data processing means is further programmed to insert site address information from the registry into the visit address list of succeeding agent programs which visit the site. By this means a distributed registry may be built up at the service provider sites of addresses which offer the same service or same category of service to visiting agent programs.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A communications network comprising:
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a plurality of interconnected network sites, switching means for routing one or more agent programs through the communications network by reference to site addresses included in a site visit address list carried by each agent ptogram; and
a network site including (i) an address registry, and (ii) data processing means programmed for collecting site address information in the address registry from visiting agent programs and further programmed for inserting site address information from the registry into the visit address list of succeeding agent programs which visit the site. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A network site for connection to a communications network, the network site comprising
an I/O port for the communication of one or more program agents into the network site from the network and from the network site into the network; -
an address registry; and
data processing means for receiving and processing one or more program agents visiting the network site and received through the I/O port, the data processing means being programmed to compare the addresses in the address list of a visiting program agent with addresses in the address registry both to update the address register and to update the address list of the visiting program agent. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A method of routing one or more agent programs through a communications network comprising a plurality of interconnected network sites, and a switching unit for routing the agent programs through the communications network by reference to site addresses included in a site visit address list carried by each agent program, the method comprising the steps of:
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collecting and registering site address information from the address lists of agent programs visiting a site in the network; and
inserting such address information in the visit address list of succeeding agent programs which visit the site. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification