Abstract: A software architecture supports deployment of mobile software agents over the Internet. Mobile software agents or “bots” are bifurcated into two parts, a first part executable on a user's client platform (“mBot”), and a corresponding second part, called “sBot,” executable on a remote “bot server”. botServer implements virtual “meeting places” for visiting bots, and provides event notification, plug-ins and other services. The new system further includes a component called “botBox” executable on another server (which may be the same as the bot server), that tracks the status and locations of running bots, handles communications, and enables continuing operation while the user is off-line. Knowledge about the user, including private information, is finely controlled by custom user profiles which are defined by the user, but made available to the remote-executing sBot only through the botBox intermediary.

Abstract: A software architecture supports deployment of mobile software agents over the Internet. Mobile software agents or “bots” are bifurcated into two parts, a first part executable on a user's client platform (“mBot”), and a corresponding second part, called “sBot,” executable on a remote “bot server”. botServer implements virtual “meeting places” for visiting bots, and provides event notification, plug-ins and other services. The new system further includes a component called “botBox” executable on another server (which may be the same as the bot server), that tracks the status and locations of running bots, handles communications, and enables continuing operation while the user is off-line. Knowledge about the user, including private information, is finely controlled by custom user profiles which are defined by the user, but made available to the remote-executing sBot only through the botBox intermediary.