US6163794A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Network system extensible by users
Assignee: Byteweavr LLC
•
Filing: 1998-10-23
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Granted: 2000-12-19
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Expires: 2018-10-23
Abstract
Abstract In one aspect, a network system includes a user interface which allows a user to interact with the network system. An agent server is coupled to the user interface. The agent server manages the operation of the network system. Furthermore, the agent server in conjunction with the user interface is operable to create or modify an agent in response to interaction by the user. In another aspect, a network system includes an agent server which manages the operation of the network system. An agent is operable to utilize a service within the network system. A service wrapper, associated with the service, cooperates with the agent server to mediate interaction between the service and the agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Danny Lange
- 👤 Barbara Nelson
- 👤 Jing Su
- 👤 James E. White
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:22
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/12; H04L67/125; H04L63/00; H04L63/10; H04L63/14; H04L63/1408; H04L67/34; H04L67/50; H04L67/56; H04L67/565; H04L63/02; H04L63/0209
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 68
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A network system comprising: a telephony service; an agent operable to use the telephony service on behalf of a principal; a service resource which can be consumed by the agent when the agent uses the telephony service; and an agent server operable to mediate the use of the telephony service by the agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A network system comprising: a telephony service; an agent operable to use the telephony service on behalf of a principal; a service resource which can be consumed by the agent when the agent uses the telephony service; and an agent server operable to mediate the use of the telephony service by the agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service wrapper associated with the service, the service wrapper operable to monitor the consumption of the service resource by the agent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The network system of claim 2 wherein the service wrapper is operable to terminate the agent in response to the monitoring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The network system of claim 1 wherein the agent server is operable to charge the principal for the consumption of the service resource.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service permission associated with the service resource and the agent, the service permission specifying a predetermined amount of the service resource which the agent is allowed to consume.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service permission associated with the service resource and the principal, the service permission specifying a predetermined amount of the service resource which is allowed to be consumed on behalf of the principal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The network system of claim 1 wherein the service resource comprises elapsed time for a telephone call.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 1 wherein the service resource comprises cost for a telephone call.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The network system of claim 1 further comprising a service wrapper associated with the service, the service wrapper operable to translate between a first instruction set and a second instruction set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The network system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the agent server, the user interface operable to allow a user to create, modify, or delete an agent template from which the agent is created.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The network system of claim 1 further comprising a user interface coupled to the agent server, the user interface operable to allow a user to create, modify, or delete the agent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 11 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network system of claim 12 wherein the graphical user interface comprises: a web server resident in the network system; and a web browser resident in a user device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 11 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 14 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 14 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 14 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network system of claim 1 wherein the service comprises a user interface service operable to provide a user interface by which the agent can interact with a user.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 18 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network system of claim 19 wherein the graphical user interface comprises: a web server resident in the network system; and a web browser resident in a user device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 19 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 21 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 21 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 21 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
88 words
A network system comprising: a user interface operable to allow a user to interact with the network system; and an agent server coupled to the user interface, the agent server operable to manage the operation of a programmable functionality component of the network system, the agent server in conjunction with the user interface operable to create, modify, or delete an agent in response to interaction by the user, the agent operable to consume a service resource as the agent uses a telephony service on behalf of the user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
88 words
A network system comprising: a user interface operable to allow a user to interact with the network system; and an agent server coupled to the user interface, the agent server operable to manage the operation of a programmable functionality component of the network system, the agent server in conjunction with the user interface operable to create, modify, or delete an agent in response to interaction by the user, the agent operable to consume a service resource as the agent uses a telephony service on behalf of the user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 25 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 26 wherein the graphical user interface comprises a web browser application.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 24 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 28 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 28 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 28 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
The network system of claim 25 wherein the user interface comprises an agent area for creating, modifying, or deleting the agent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
The network system of claim 25 further comprising a service wrapper associated with the telephony service, the service wrapper operable to cooperate with the agent server to mediate interaction between the telephony service and the agent.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network system of claim 33 wherein the service wrapper is operable to convert between a first computer language used by the agent and a second computer language used by the telephony service.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
30 words
The network system of claim 25 wherein the service wrapper is operable to monitor the amount of service resource consumed by the agent when the agent utilizes the telephony service.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
49 words
A method comprising: admitting a user to a network system wherein at least one agent is operable to consume a service resource while utilizing a telephony service to perform a task for the user; and allowing the user to create, modify, or delete the agent within the network system.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
49 words
A method comprising: admitting a user to a network system wherein at least one agent is operable to consume a service resource while utilizing a telephony service to perform a task for the user; and allowing the user to create, modify, or delete the agent within the network system.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising accepting an agent command from the user.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the agent command is one of a create agent command, an edit agent command, and a delete agent command.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising suspending execution of the agent.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 37 further comprising accepting a template command from the user.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 40 further comprising allowing the user to create, modify, or delete an agent template within the network system.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising admitting the user to an agent area of a user interface.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
66 words
A network system comprising: an agent server operable to manage the operation of a programmable functionality component of the network system; a telephony service; an agent operable to consume a service resource while utilizing the telephony service; and a service wrapper associated with the telephony service, the service wrapper operable to cooperate with the agent server to mediate interaction between the telephony service and the agent.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
66 words
A network system comprising: an agent server operable to manage the operation of a programmable functionality component of the network system; a telephony service; an agent operable to consume a service resource while utilizing the telephony service; and a service wrapper associated with the telephony service, the service wrapper operable to cooperate with the agent server to mediate interaction between the telephony service and the agent.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
35 words
The network system of claim 43 wherein the service wrapper comprises a monitor, the monitor operable to monitor the amount of the service resource consumed by the agent when the agent utilizes the telephony service.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
37 words
The network system of claim 43 wherein the service wrapper comprises a converter, the converter operable to convert between a first computer language used by the agent and a second computer language used by the telephony service.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network system of claim 45 wherein the converter comprises an agent server to service converter for converting from the first computer language to the second computer language.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network system of claim 45 wherein the converter comprises a service to agent server converter for converting from the second computer language to the first computer language.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
28 words
The network system of claim 43 further comprising a user interface operable to allow a user to interact with the network system in order to create the agent.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 48 wherein the user interface comprises a graphical user interface.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 49 wherein the graphical user interface comprises a web browser application.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network system of claim 48 wherein the user interface comprises a voice user interface.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 51 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech recognition application.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 51 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech synthesis application.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network system of claim 51 wherein the voice user interface comprises a speech playback device.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network system of claim 43 further comprising an agent object associated with the agent and resident in the agent server, the agent object comprising data and instructions executable within the agent server.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
30 words
The network system of claim 43 further comprising an agent object associated with the agent and resident in the agent server, the agent object comprising a permission for the agent.
Claim 61
Independent Claim
19 words
A method comprising: allowing an agent to utilize a service; and mediating interaction between the service and the agent.
Claim 62
Independent Claim
19 words
A method comprising: allowing an agent to utilize a service; and mediating interaction between the service and the agent.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 57 wherein allowing comprises allowing the agent to consume a service resource associated with the service.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 57 wherein mediating comprises monitoring the amount of a service resource consumed by the agent.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 57 wherein mediating comprises: identifying a service permission required in order for the agent to consume the service resource; and determining whether the agent holds the required service permission.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
78 words
The method of claim 57 wherein mediating comprises: receiving an instruction which requires that the agent consume the service resource associated with the service when the agent utilizes the telephony service; identifying an amount of the service resource which would be consumed if the instruction is executed; identifying an amount of the service resource allotted to the agent; and determining whether the amount which is allotted is greater than or equal to the amount which would be consumed.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 61 wherein mediating comprises: executing the instruction if the amount which is allotted is greater than or equal to the amount which would be consumed; and subtracting the amount which would be consumed from the amount which is allotted.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 57 further comprising converting between a first computer language used by an agent and a second computer language used by the service.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-12-19 | 2004-06-19 | 2004-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-12-19 | 2008-06-19 | 2008-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-12-19 | 2012-06-19 | 2012-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |