US6148327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mobile agent docking arrangement for enhancing agent capabilities
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1996-11-05
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Granted: 2000-11-14
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Expires: 2016-11-05
Abstract
Abstract Intelligent mobile agents are transmitted to computers at remote sites over a network having a relatively limited bandwidth. In order to provide the mobile agents with extended capabilities, yet to allow them to access information in near-real-time, the intelligent mobile agents dock with docking systems at the network nodes. The docking systems respond to the presence of the mobile agents, and provide extended capabilities to the agent. The extended capabilities, in turn, are made available to the various network nodes at which the agents may dock by loading from portable data storage media, or preferably by occasional loading from the network at off-peak times.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Robert Whitebread
- 👤 Russell Ernest Frew
- 👤 Henry Hindle Mendenhall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 03:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4843; G06F9/485; G06F9/4856; G06F9/4862
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
A distributed communication network, comprising: a plurality of computers; communication means for coupling said computers together for communications therebetween; standardized computer network software associated with each of said computers, for providing basic network communications between said computers by way of said communication means; mobile agent generating means located at at least one of said computers of said network, for generating mobile agents for performing a desired function, and for transmitting said mobile agents over said communication means, the dimensions of each of said mobile agent being generally related to its capability, whereby highly capable mobile agents may not be usable because of network bandwidth limitations; mobile agent docking means located at each computer of said network which is capable of coacting with said mobile agents, for rendering said agents active at said coacting computer; and mobile agent capability expanding means located at at least one of said coacting computers of said network, for extending at least one capability of a mobile agent received at said one of said coacting computers of said network, whereby the capability of said mobile agent may be enhanced.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
A distributed communication network, comprising: a plurality of computers; communication means for coupling said computers together for communications therebetween; standardized computer network software associated with each of said computers, for providing basic network communications between said computers by way of said communication means; mobile agent generating means located at at least one of said computers of said network, for generating mobile agents for performing a desired function, and for transmitting said mobile agents over said communication means, the dimensions of each of said mobile agent being generally related to its capability, whereby highly capable mobile agents may not be usable because of network bandwidth limitations; mobile agent docking means located at each computer of said network which is capable of coacting with said mobile agents, for rendering said agents active at said coacting computer; and mobile agent capability expanding means located at at least one of said coacting computers of said network, for extending at least one capability of a mobile agent received at said one of said coacting computers of said network, whereby the capability of said mobile agent may be enhanced.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A communication network according to claim 1, wherein one of said communication mobile agent generating means and one of said mobile agent docking means are located together at at least some of said computers of said network.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for operating a communication system, comprising the steps of: coupling together a plurality of computers, located at different sites, by way of a network defining a bandwidth, which bandwidth may differ at various locations throughout said network; communicating among said computers by way of said network, using communication software at each said computer which adheres to a communication standard; at at least one of said sites, generating mobile agents for performing a desired function, and transmitting said mobile agents onto said network to at least one other computer, whereby said bandwidth of said network may prevent a highly capable mobile agent from being transmitted and received in a suitably short length of time; preloading into said at least one other computer a mobile agent docking means, which is capable of rendering said mobile agents active at said one of said sites; preloading into said at least one other computer a mobile agent capability expanding means, for extending at least one capability of a mobile agent received at said one of said computers of said network, whereby the capability of said mobile agent may be enhanced.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
187 words
A method for operating a communication system, comprising the steps of: coupling together a plurality of computers, located at different sites, by way of a network defining a bandwidth, which bandwidth may differ at various locations throughout said network; communicating among said computers by way of said network, using communication software at each said computer which adheres to a communication standard; at at least one of said sites, generating mobile agents for performing a desired function, and transmitting said mobile agents onto said network to at least one other computer, whereby said bandwidth of said network may prevent a highly capable mobile agent from being transmitted and received in a suitably short length of time; preloading into said at least one other computer a mobile agent docking means, which is capable of rendering said mobile agents active at said one of said sites; preloading into said at least one other computer a mobile agent capability expanding means, for extending at least one capability of a mobile agent received at said one of said computers of said network, whereby the capability of said mobile agent may be enhanced.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said preloading of said capability expanding means further comprises the step of: transmitting said capability expanding means over said network to said one of said computers at a time when the traffic load on said network is low.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said preloading of said capability expanding means further comprises the steps of: physically transporting said capability expanding means to the site of said one of said computers in the form of a recording on a data medium: and using an appropriate medium reader, reading said recording and transferring said capability expanding means to said one of said computers.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-14 | 2004-05-15 | 2004-11-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-14 | 2008-05-15 | 2008-11-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-14 | 2012-05-15 | 2012-11-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |