Agent system for mobile agents, computer network and method for downloading an agent system from a host computer to a client computer of a computer network

• US 6,981,251 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify GmbH & Co. KG (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kreller, Birgit, Reich, Matthias, Schiemann, Bjoern
• Primary Examiner(s): COURTENAY III, ST JOHN
• Application Number:
  US10/049,864
• Time in Patent Office: 1,964 Days
• Field of Search: 719/317, 719/332, 709/202, 709/221, 709/203, 717168-178, 717140-161
• US Class Current: 717/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4862 the task being a mobile agent, i.e. specifically designed to migrate

Abstract

An agent system which can be loaded onto a computer in a network is adjusted based on the hardware and/or software of the computer. This makes it possible to incorporate even small mobile computers, in particular simple process computers, into a network in which agent systems are installed on the individual computers, without the power of the agent system needing to be significantly restricted in principle and without needing to dispense with the fundamental applicability of agent systems for small computers.

Claims

1. An agent system which can be installed on computers connected in a computer network, comprising:

an agent platform which comprises service programs required in order for the agent system to be executed on the respective computers,

an agent system launcher to be loaded onto a client computer independently of a reminder of the agent system and is used for loading the agent system from a host computer, such that, before the agent system is loaded from the host computer onto the client computer, the agent system launcher sends an identifier identifying at least one of client computer hardware and client computer software, the identifier being sent to the host computer, and

an agent system update program to be installed on the host computer to selectively add components to the agent system based on the identifier and at least one of client computer hardware and client computer software, and then to transmit the agent system to the client computer.

2. The agent system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the agent system launcher is designed both for loading a full agent system and for loading parts of the agent system.

3. The agent system as claimed in claim 2,

wherein the agent system launcher tests at least one of hardware and software of the client computer in order to produce the identifier.

4. The agent system as claimed in claim 3,

wherein the agent system launcher compares a version of a previous agent system installed on the client computer with a version of the agent system which can be loaded from the host computer.

5. The agent system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the agent system is an agent system for mobile agents.

6. The agent system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the agent system launcher tests at least one of hardware and software of the client computer in order to produce the identifier.

7. The agent system as claimed in claim 1,

wherein the agent system launcher compares a version of a previous agent system installed on the client computer with a version of the agent system which can be loaded from the host computer.

8. The agent system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the agent system is an agent system for mobile agents.

9. A computer network having a plurality of computers, comprising:

a host computer;

a client computer;

data lines connecting the host and client computers; and

an agent system comprising;

an agent system launcher loaded onto the client computer to send to the host computer an identifier identifying at least one of client computer hardware and client computer software and to subsequently load the agent system onto the client computer, and

an agent system update program installed on the host computer to assemble the agent system by selectively adding components, based on the identifier and at least one of client computer hardware and client computer software, and then to transmit the agent system to the client computer.

10. The computer network as claimed in claim 9,

wherein at least one of the computers is a mobile computer.

11. The computer network as claimed in claim 10,

wherein the mobile computer is connected to the computer network by a nonpermanent data line.

12. The agent system as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the agent system launcher is designed both for loading a full agent system and for loading parts of the agent system.

13. The agent system as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the agent system launcher tests at least one of hardware and software of the client computer in order to produce the identifier.

14. The agent system as claimed in claim 9,

wherein the agent system launcher compares a version of a previous agent system installed on the client computer with a version of the agent system which can be loaded from the host computer.

15. The agent system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the agent system is an agent system for mobile agents.

16. A method for loading a system from a host computer to a client computer, comprising:

agent system launcher sending an identifier identifying at least one of hardware and software of the client computer, the identifier being sent from an agent system launcher loaded on the client computer, the identifier being sent to the host computer;

compiling an agent system adjusted to at least one of hardware and software of the client computer based on the identifier received at the host computer from the client computer, the agent system being compiled by an agent system update program on the host computer by selectively adding components;

transmitting the agent system to the client computer; and

loading the agent system on the client computer by the agent system launcher.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein

the agent system launcher first checks whether a previous agent system is already installed on the client computer,

if the previous agent system is installed, the agent system launcher tests whether an update is possible or required and whether the previous agent system is in operation, and

if an update is possible or required and the previous agent system is in operation, the operation of the agent system is terminated so that it can be updated.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein a call to the host computer involves the client computer sending the identifier to the host computer and then receiving the agent system from the host computer.

19. The method as claimed in claim 16, wherein a call to the host computer involves the client computer sending the identifier to the host computer and then receiving the agent system from the host computer.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

if a previous agent system is loaded on the client computer, determining whether the previous agent system should be updated; and

updating the previous agent system.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising:

testing whether an update is possible in principle;

if an update is possible, sending a version identifier to the host computer;

sending to the client computer version information indicating a most recent agent system which can be loaded from the host computer;

comparing the version identifier with the version information, and

if the comparison reveals that the version which can be loaded from the host computer is more up to date than the version of the previous agent system which is on the client computer, updating the previous agent system.

22. The method as claimed in claim 21,

wherein comparing the version identifier with the version information involves testing whether separable parts of the agent system on the host computer are more up to date than corresponding separable parts of the previous agent system on the client computer, and

if separable parts on the host computer are more up to date, then only the separable parts of the previous agent system are updated.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22,

wherein the identifier comprises information on the client computer selected from the group consisting of memory size, type of display, typical processing speed, type of network and system software used.

24. The method as claimed in claim 16,

wherein the identifier comprises information on the client computer selected from the group consisting of memory size, type of display, typical processing speed, type of network and system software used.

25. A method for loading a system from a host computer to a client computer, comprising:

sending an identifier from the client computer to the host computer, the identifier identifying at least one of client computer hardware and client computer software;

assembling an agent system based on at least one of client computer hardware and client computer software based on the identifier, the agent system being assembled at the host computer by selectively adding components;

transmitting the agent system to the client computer; and

loading the agent system on the client computer.