US6233601B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Itinerary based agent mobility including mobility of executable code
Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1997-11-13
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Granted: 2001-05-15
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Expires: 2017-11-13
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention, a mobile agent object executes a first method on a first computer, migrates from the first computer to a second computer, and executes a second method on the second computer. The first and second methods and first and second computers are designated in an itinerary. The agent includes both data and executable code which are serialized for transmission from the first computer to the second computer as data. The data containing the agent is then deserialized in the second computer to regenerate the agent in the form of an object. The executable code portion of the agent can be supplemented with code from a home codebase located on another computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas C. Walsh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:22
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/46; G06F9/48; G06F9/4806; G06F9/4843; G06F9/485; G06F9/4856; G06F9/4862; G06F9/4868; G06F9/465; G06F9/52; H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L9/00; H04L9/40; H04L67/34; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, an apparatus for performing a task in a second computer, comprising: a routine that generates a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; a protocol for transmission of the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer, wherein execution of the mobile agent in the second computer following such transmission prompts the task to be performed in the second computer; and an itinerary containing a reference to each destination computer to which the mobile agent is designated to migrate and a reference to a method associated with each respective destination computer reference, the respective method being invoked when the mobile agent is present on the respective destination computer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, an apparatus for performing a task in a second computer, comprising: a routine that generates a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; a protocol for transmission of the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer, wherein execution of the mobile agent in the second computer following such transmission prompts the task to be performed in the second computer; and an itinerary containing a reference to each destination computer to which the mobile agent is designated to migrate and a reference to a method associated with each respective destination computer reference, the respective method being invoked when the mobile agent is present on the respective destination computer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transmission protocol includes a routine in the first computer for serializing the mobile agent to generate a stream of data therefrom.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the transmission protocol includes a routine in the second computer for deserializing the stream of bytes to regenerate the mobile agent therefrom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the task is data gathering, and wherein the mobile agent is transmitted back to the first computer from the second computer following completion of such data gathering.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mobile agent migrates to a plurality of destination computers within the computer network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one destination computer reference is a Uniform Resource Locator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the executable code required for invoking the method is retrieved from a mobile codebase portion of the executable code included in the mobile agent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the mobile agent includes a reference to a home codebase located on the first computer, the reference being employed to retrieve required executable code which is not present in the mobile codebase.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein required executable code is sought first in the computer on which the mobile agent is executing, then in the mobile codebase, and finally on the home codebase.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein a new thread is formed for execution of the mobile agent in the destination computer following receipt of the mobile agent, and wherein a security feature prevents the mobile agent from operating outside a scope assigned to such thread.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the mobile agent further includes sub-objects.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a persistent local copy of the mobile agent is stored following receipt of the mobile agent, and wherein such copy is overwritten with an updated persistent copy following agent execution.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, a method for performing a task in a second computer, comprising the steps of: generating a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; transmitting the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer; receiving the mobile agent in the second computer; and executing the mobile agent in the second computer in accordance with an itinerary which contains a reference to each destination computer to which the mobile agent is designated to migrate and a reference to a method associated with each respective destination computer reference, the method associated with the second computer being invoked when the mobile agent is present on the second computer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
129 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, a method for performing a task in a second computer, comprising the steps of: generating a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; transmitting the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer; receiving the mobile agent in the second computer; and executing the mobile agent in the second computer in accordance with an itinerary which contains a reference to each destination computer to which the mobile agent is designated to migrate and a reference to a method associated with each respective destination computer reference, the method associated with the second computer being invoked when the mobile agent is present on the second computer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 including the further step of serializing the mobile agent to generate a stream of data therefrom in the first computer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 including the further step of deserializing the stream of bytes to regenerate the mobile agent therefrom in the second computer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the task is data gathering, and including the further step of transmitting the mobile agent back to the first computer from the second computer following completion of such data gathering.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 13 including the further step of causing the mobile agent to sequentially migrate to a plurality of destination computers within the computer network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 13 including the further step of employing a Uniform Resource Locator as one of the at least one destination computer reference.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 13 including the further step of retrieving at least a portion of the executable code required for invoking the method from a mobile codebase portion of the executable code included in the mobile agent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the mobile agent includes a reference to a home codebase located on the first computer, and including the further step of employing the reference to retrieve required executable code which is not present in the mobile codebase.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 20 including the further step of searching for required executable code first in the computer on which the mobile agent is executing, then in the mobile codebase, and finally on the home codebase.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 21 including the further step of forming a new thread in the destination computer for execution of the mobile agent following receipt thereof, and wherein a security feature prevents the mobile agent from operating outside a scope assigned to such thread.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 21 including the further step of inserting sub-objects into the mobile agent.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 including the further step of storing a persistent local copy of the mobile agent following receipt thereof, and overwriting such copy with an updated persistent copy following agent execution.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, an apparatus for performing a task in a second computer, comprising: a routine that generates a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; a protocol for transmission of the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer, wherein execution of the mobile agent in the second computer following such transmission prompts the task to be performed in the second computer, at least a portion of the executable code required for execution being retrieved from a mobile codebase portion of the executable code included in the mobile agent; and a reference to a home codebase located on the first computer, the reference being employed to retrieve required executable code which is not present in the mobile codebase.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
141 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, an apparatus for performing a task in a second computer, comprising: a routine that generates a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; a protocol for transmission of the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer, wherein execution of the mobile agent in the second computer following such transmission prompts the task to be performed in the second computer, at least a portion of the executable code required for execution being retrieved from a mobile codebase portion of the executable code included in the mobile agent; and a reference to a home codebase located on the first computer, the reference being employed to retrieve required executable code which is not present in the mobile codebase.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the transmission protocol includes a routine in the first computer for serializing the mobile agent to generate a stream of data therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the transmission protocol includes a routine in the second computer for deserializing the stream of bytes to regenerate the mobile agent therefrom.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the task is data gathering, and wherein the mobile agent is transmitted back to the first computer from the second computer following completion of such data gathering.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the mobile agent migrates to a plurality of destination computers within the computer network.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the mobile agent further includes an itinerary containing a reference to each destination computer to which the agent is designated to migrate and a reference to a method associated with each respective destination computer reference, the respective method being invoked when the mobile agent is present on the respective destination computer.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein at least one destination computer reference is a Uniform Resource Locator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein required executable code is sought first in the computer on which the mobile agent is executing, then in the mobile codebase, and finally on the home codebase.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a new thread is formed for execution of the mobile agent in the destination computer following receipt of the mobile agent, and wherein a security feature prevents the mobile agent from operating outside a scope assigned to such thread.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein the mobile agent further includes sub-objects.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 30 wherein a persistent local copy of the mobile agent is stored following receipt of the mobile agent, and wherein such copy is overwritten with an updated persistent copy following agent execution.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, a method for performing a task in a second computer, comprising the steps of: generating a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; transmitting the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer; receiving the mobile agent in the second computer; retrieving at least a portion of the executable code required for invoking the method from a mobile codebase portion of the executable code included in the mobile agent; employing a reference to a home codebase located on the first computer to retrieve required executable code which is not present in the mobile codebase; and executing the mobile agent in the second computer such that the mobile agent prompts the task to be performed in the second computer.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a computer network including at least a first computer and a second computer, a method for performing a task in a second computer, comprising the steps of: generating a mobile agent object in the first computer, the mobile agent including both data and executable code; transmitting the mobile agent from the first computer to the second computer; receiving the mobile agent in the second computer; retrieving at least a portion of the executable code required for invoking the method from a mobile codebase portion of the executable code included in the mobile agent; employing a reference to a home codebase located on the first computer to retrieve required executable code which is not present in the mobile codebase; and executing the mobile agent in the second computer such that the mobile agent prompts the task to be performed in the second computer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 36 including the further step of serializing the mobile agent to generate a stream of data therefrom in the first computer.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 37 including the further step of deserializing the stream of bytes to regenerate the mobile agent therefrom in the second computer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the task is data gathering, and including the further step of transmitting the mobile agent back to the first computer from the second computer following completion of such data gathering.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 36 including the further step of causing the mobile agent to sequentially migrate to a plurality of destination computers within the computer network.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 40 wherein the mobile agent further includes an itinerary which contains a reference to each destination computer to which the agent is designated to migrate and a reference to a method associated with each respective destination computer reference, and including the further step of invoking the method associated with the respective destination computer when the mobile agent is present on the respective destination computer.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 41 including the further step of employing a Uniform Resource Locator as one of the at least one destination computer reference.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 36 including the further step of searching for required executable code first in the computer on which the mobile agent is executing, then in the mobile codebase, and finally on the home codebase.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 36 including the further step of forming a new thread in the destination computer for execution of the mobile agent following receipt thereof, and wherein a security feature prevents the mobile agent from operating outside a scope assigned to such thread.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 36 including the further step of inserting sub-objects into the mobile agent.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 41 including the further step of storing a persistent local copy of the mobile agent following receipt thereof, and overwriting such copy with an updated persistent copy following agent execution.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method claim 36 , further comprising the step of: incorporating the retrieved required executable code into the mobile codebase.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the retrieved required executable code is incorporated into the mobile codebase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5701484A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-14 | 2004-11-13 | 2005-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-14 | 2008-11-13 | 2009-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-14 | 2012-11-13 | 2013-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |