Method and apparatus for managing transactions with connected computers
First Claim
1. An apparatus for managing transactions, wherein each transaction comprises information related thereto and changes in at least one of the location, status, and integrity of a physical component;
- comprising;
a) a plurality of computers;
b) a network connecting the computers;
c) a system of cooperating software agents controlling the operation of the plurality of computers, comprising;
i) input software adapted to elicit correct and consistent information from humans;
ii) negotiation software adapted to communicate transaction information with other agent software; and
iii) ontological software adapted to ontologically level disparate information related to a transaction;
d) a security mechanism adapted to allow communication among the agents across the network, discourage interception of said communication by unauthorized agents, and reliably identify the originator of said communication;
e) an object distribution mechanism adapted to distribute the cooperating agents such that the services of one agent can be invoked by another agent; and
f) a physical sensor system, located in close proximity to the physical component, adapted to track information related thereto and changes in at least one of the location, status, and integrity of a physical component and communicate the tracked information to an agent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method and apparatus that make use of existing computer and communication resources and that reduce the errors and delays common to complex transactions such as international shipping. The present invention comprises an agent-based collaborative work environment that assists geographically distributed commercial and government users in the management of complex transactions such as the transshipment of goods across the U.S.-Mexico border. Software agents can mediate the creation, validation and secure sharing of shipment information and regulatory documentation over the Internet, using the World-Wide Web to interface with human users.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for managing transactions, wherein each transaction comprises information related thereto and changes in at least one of the location, status, and integrity of a physical component;
- comprising;
a) a plurality of computers;
b) a network connecting the computers;
c) a system of cooperating software agents controlling the operation of the plurality of computers, comprising;
i) input software adapted to elicit correct and consistent information from humans;
ii) negotiation software adapted to communicate transaction information with other agent software; and
iii) ontological software adapted to ontologically level disparate information related to a transaction;
d) a security mechanism adapted to allow communication among the agents across the network, discourage interception of said communication by unauthorized agents, and reliably identify the originator of said communication;
e) an object distribution mechanism adapted to distribute the cooperating agents such that the services of one agent can be invoked by another agent; and
f) a physical sensor system, located in close proximity to the physical component, adapted to track information related thereto and changes in at least one of the location, status, and integrity of a physical component and communicate the tracked information to an agent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- comprising;
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7. A method for using a plurality of connected computers to manage a transaction, wherein each transaction comprises information related thereto and changes in at least one of the location, status, and integrity of a physical component, comprising:
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a) providing a system of cooperating software agents that control the operation of the plurality of connected computers, each agent adhering to coordination protocols that allow agents to invoke services of other agents and to communicate information with other agents, the system comprising;
i) input software adapted to elicit correct and consistent information from humans;
ii) negotiation software adapted to communicate transaction information with other agent software;
iii) ontological software adapted to ontologically level disparate information related to a transaction;
b) providing a security mechanism adapted to allow communication among the agents across the network, discourage interception of said communication by unauthorized agents, and reliably identify the originator of said communication;
c) providing an object distribution mechanism adapted to distribute the cooperating agents such that the services of one agent can be invoked by another agent;
d) eliciting information initiating a transaction from a user;
e) providing a physical sensor system, located in close proximity to the physical component, adapted to track information related thereto and changes in at least one of the location, status, and integrity of the physical component and communicate the tracked information to an agent;
f) tracking information related thereto and changes in at least one of the location, status, and integrity of the physical component with the physical sensor system;
g) communicating the tracked information to a software agent; and
h) using the elicited information and tracked information to manage the system of cooperating software agents to elicit additional information related to completion of the transaction. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification