Abstract: A highly flexible, software-based architecture is disclosed for constructing distributed systems. The architecture supports cooperative task completion by flexible and autonomous electronic agents. One or more facilitators are used to broker communication and cooperation among the agents. The architecture provides for the construction of arbitrarily complex goals by users and service-requesting agents. Additional features include agent-based provision of multi modal interfaces, including natural language.

Abstract: The present invention provides a Unified Messaging system with an emphasis on ubiquitous access and dynamic presentation of the information and services supported by an agent community. The present invention allows queries across dynamically changing, complex information; shared context and reference resolution among applications; and flexible translation of multimedia data. Utilizing an Open Agent Architecture, the present invention allows a user to receive multiple information types, such as email, voicemail, and multimedia data, utilizing a single user interface, such as a phone. Communication and cooperation between agents are brokered by one or more facilitators, which are responsible for matching requests, from users and agents, with descriptions of the capabilities of other agents.