Architecture for a system of portable information agents

• US 7,472,157 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Envoii Technologies, LLC, H.E.B., LLC (VHGI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: H.E.B., LLC (VHGI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tolson, Michael, Rive, Brice, Arnulfo, Jean-Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu; Jinsong
• Application Number:
  US09/852,963
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,793 Days
• Field of Search: 709/202, 709/203, 705/41, 705/42, 715/810
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/105 involving programming of a portable memory device, e.g. IC cards, "electronic purses"
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/108 Remote banking, e.g. home banking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements

Abstract

A method and system for providing enhanced intelligent agents that are moveable by a user from a browser application to a desktop. In specific embodiments, agents provide advanced interactive graphics and communications back to a server.

Claims

1. A method of interacting with an information agent comprising:

providing a first information agent as part of a first composition accessed by a first application, said first information agent comprising a software object, said first composition providing a first execution context for said first information agent;

providing a second information agent as part of a second composition accessed by a second application, said second information agent comprising a software object, said second composition providing a second execution context for said second information agent;

composing said second information agent into said first information agent;

allowing a user to select said first information agent and relocate said first information agent outside of said first application;

upon detecting said relocating, determining if sufficient infrastructure logic exists to allow said first information agent to operate in a new location;

if said determining indicates that sufficient infrastructure does not exist, contacting an agent server to request necessary infrastructure logic;

downloading and installing necessary infrastructure logic; and

thereafter moving said first information agent to said new location such that said first information agent becomes part of a third composition that provides a third execution context for said first information agent, wherein said first application comprises a web browser and said first composition comprises a web page.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said new location is selected from the group consisting of:

a desktop provided by an operating system, a different application, and a different computer platform with a different operating system.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first information agent is associated with a graphic object constructed from presentation primitives that allows user interaction with said graphic object.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first information agent includes logic allowing communication with a data server for tracking user interaction.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said first information agent and said infrastructure allow communication with a data server for tracking user interaction after said first information agent has been moved to a new location.

6. A system for interacting with an information agent comprising:

a first information agent that is part of a first composition accessed by a first application, said first information agent comprising a software object, said first composition providing a first execution context for said first information agent, wherein said first application comprises a web browser and said first composition comprises a web page;

a second information agent that is part of a second composition accessed by a second application, said second information agent comprising a software object, said second composition providing a second execution context for said second information agent, wherein said second information agent is composed into said first information agent;

wherein the system further configured for;

allowing a user to select said first information agent and relocate said first information agent outside of said first application;

determing if sufficient infrastructure logic exists to allow said first information agent to operate in a new location;

contacting an acient server to request necessary infrastructure logic;

downloading and installing necessary infrastructure logic; and

moving said first information acient to said new location.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said first application is an email client and said first composition is an email message.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said second application is an email client and said second composition is an email message.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising determining if sufficient infrastructure logic exists to allow said first information agent to operate in a new location.

10. The system of claim 6 further comprising contacting an agent server to request necessary infrastructure logic.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising downloading and installing necessary infrastructure logic.

12. The system of claim 6 further comprising moving said first information agent to a new location.