Publications

Generic Agent Framework for Internet Information Systems

Antonia Erni, Adrian Kobler and Moira C. Norrie

Proc. of IFIP WG 8.1 98 Conference, Bejing, China. July 1998

July 1998

Abstract

For effective Internet database services, it is essential that the information requirements of regular users can be met without the typical delays currently experienced using Internet browsers and the World Wide Web. We use cooperating agents to manage both client and server caches, thereby bringing significant performance improvements. The caching and prefetching of information is based on both user and application profiles and agents communicate to ensure the currency of client caches. According to specific application requirements, various forms of agents can be installed on the server and client sides to provide value-added services to both casual and regular users. All component agents are instantiations and/or specialisations of a generic agent. We describe how a specific Internet brokering system for engineering product data has been constructed using our general framework for the development of Internet information systems.