Transfer of basic knowledge to agents

• US 6,795,969 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2001
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Gray, Thomas A., Pinard, Deborah L.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, SUE X
• Application Number:
  US09/973,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023119A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 719/317, 719/313, 719/310, 719/331, 709/202, 709/223, 709/226, 379/201.03, 718/104, 718/102, 717/162-164
• US Class Current: 719/317
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/468 Specific access rights for resources, e.g. using capability register

Abstract

A method of establishing a process agent comprising storing a library of first software programs representing system resources, storing a second software program representing a corresponding service agent which includes pointers to associated ones of the first software programs which are represented by the service agent, storing a software program for invoking a general process, including the steps of: requesting a usage right for functional services represented by the service agent required by the general process, sending pointers to system resources required for the general process from the service agent to the software program for operating the general process, and storing the pointers sent from the service agent in association with the software program for operating the general process, and executing the software program for operating the general process using the system resources identified by the stored pointers.

Claims

1. A method of abstractly and recursively defining a functional service utilizing a process agent comprising:

(a) storing a library of first software programs for operation of system resources,

(b) storing a second software program for operation of a service agent which provides said functional service, and which includes pointers to associated ones of the first software programs which are controlled by the service agent,

(c) storing a software program for assembling a general process to provide said functional service, including the steps of;

(i) requesting the usage right for system resources controlled by the service agent required by the general process,

(ii) sending a set of pointers to system resources required for the general process from the service agent to the software program for invoking the general process, and

(iii) storing said set of pointers sent from the service agent in association with the software program for operating the general process to provide said functional service on demand, and

(d) adding said functional service to said library by adding said set of stored pointers sent from the service agent as a first software program, and providing a pointer to said first software program.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, including providing plural second software programs representing plural corresponding service agents each including pointers to particular associated ones of said first software programs, and in which step (c) (i) includes requesting a usage right for functional services represented by said plural service agents.

3. A method as defined in claim 2 in which the step of requesting a usage right is performed by posting a service requirement to a blackboard system, said second software program bidding on the posted service requirement, and in which step (c) (ii) includes sending pointers from a service agent which succeeded in the bidding.

4. A method as defined in claim 3 in which each of the first software programs is a software object.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the step of storing a software program invoking a general process is comprised of a user indicating a service requirement on a user terminal, establishing a group of tasks to fulfill the service requirement as a service order, compiling the group of tasks in an object oriented language code, defining objects, and loading the objects into a functional group agent in a server in which said software program for invoking a general process is to be stored.