Abstract: A method and indexing system indexes the content of a body of documents into a content index, and the metadata of the documents into a metadata index which is a parallel index to the content index. The metadata is copied into a data store that is easily accessible by the indexing system and is stored in native form. The indexing system can dynamically re-index the metadata from the native metadata in the data store to produce a new metadata index which is used to replace the original metadata index. Search queries received by a search engine associated with the indexing system are applied to both the content and metadata index and the results are merged for return.

Abstract: A method and indexing system indexes the content of a body of documents into a content index, and the metadata of the documents into a metadata index which is a parallel index to the content index. The metadata is copied into a data store that is easily accessible by the indexing system and is stored in native form. The indexing system can dynamically re-index the metadata from the native metadata in the data store to produce a new metadata index which is used to replace the original metadata index. Search queries received by a search engine associated with the indexing system are applied to both the content and metadata index and the results are merged for return.

Abstract: A method and indexing system indexes the content of a body of documents into a content index, and the metadata of the documents into a metadata index which is a parallel index to the content index. The metadata is copied into a data store that is easily accessible by the indexing system and is stored in native form. The indexing system can dynamically re-index the metadata from the native metadata in the data store to produce a new metadata index which is used to replace the original metadata index. Search queries received by a search engine associated with the indexing system are applied to both the content and metadata index and the results are merged for return.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that is capable of flexibly dealing with conversations among agents. An agent includes a software part which performs operations that represent the functions of a human ear and a mouth. In generating a conversation, an agent communication language, which is similar to a human conversation, is prepared and sent to a conversation part as a message packet. The conversation part then generates a plurality of conversation threads one for each unit of conversation and converse with a plurality of nodes in parallel and asynchronously. On the other hand, in another node which receives the message packet, a protocol manager receives the data (message packet) from a network and passes it to the conversation part. The conversation part understands the message packet and executes the content. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the conversation part moves to other places along with a mobile agent.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems, including computer program products for creating an index for search in a search system by collecting and analyzing documents to be searched. A first storage section stores system configuration information of the search system. A second storage section stores attribute information of a collected document and the system configuration information at the time of document collection for each document. A comparison section compares the attribute information of the documents to be collected and the system configuration information stored in the first storage section with the attribute information and the system configuration information stored in the second storage section, respectively, if forced re-collection of the documents is performed. A document collection section collects the documents according to a predetermined schedule under normal conditions and re-collects only documents for which a mismatch is detected by the comparison section in the case of forced re-collection.

Abstract: A method and indexing system indexes the content of a body of documents into a content index, and the metadata of the documents into a metadata index which is a parallel index to the content index. The metadata is copied into a data store that is easily accessible by the indexing system and is stored in native form. The indexing system can dynamically re-index the metadata from the native metadata in the data store to produce a new metadata index which is used to replace the original metadata index. Search queries received by a search engine associated with the indexing system are applied to both the content and metadata index and the results are merged for return.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems, including computer program products for creating an index for search in a search system by collecting and analyzing documents to be searched. A first storage section stores system configuration information of the search system. A second storage section stores attribute information of a collected document and the system configuration information at the time of document collection for each document. A comparison section compares the attribute information of the documents to be collected and the system configuration information stored in the first storage section with the attribute information and the system configuration information stored in the second storage section, respectively, if forced re-collection of the documents is performed. A document collection section collects the documents according to a predetermined schedule under normal conditions and re-collects only documents for which a mismatch is detected by the comparison section in the case of forced re-collection.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that is capable of flexibly dealing with conversations among agents. An agent includes a software part which performs operations that represent the functions of a human ear and a mouth. In generating a conversation, an agent communication language, which is similar to a human conversation, is prepared and sent to a conversation part as a message packet. The conversation part then generates a plurality of conversation threads one for each unit of conversation and converse with a plurality of nodes in parallel and asynchronously. On the other hand, in another node which receives the message packet, a protocol manager receives the data (message packet) from a network and passes it to the conversation part. The conversation part understands the message packet and executes the content. The conversation part can move to other places along with a mobile agent.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to enable collection of information required for solving a problem caused by simultaneous access to a shared resource in a multithreading environment. In an information processor capable of executing a routine including a tracing process of collecting information related to the processing status in multithreading, a routine being executed is registered for each thread being activated, and the level of the tracing process for the routine being executed is determined based on information in the registration. The tracing process level for the routine being executed can be determined based on whether any routine identical to, or in a predetermined relation with, the routine is already registered.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that is capable of flexibly dealing with conversations among agents. An agent includes a software part which performs operations that represent the functions of a human ear and a mouth. In generating a conversation, an agent communication language, which is similar to a human conversation, is prepared and sent to a conversation part as a message packet. The conversation part then generates a plurality of conversation threads one for each unit of conversation and converse with a plurality of nodes in parallel and asynchronously. On the other hand, in another node which receives the message packet, a protocol manager receives the data (message packet) from a network and passes it to the conversation part. The conversation part understands the message packet and executes the content. The conversation part can move to other places along with a mobile agent.

Abstract: A communication system is provided which, upon communication, is capable of making a suitable response by using interpretation execution parts which conform to the background concepts and vocabularies of a conversation. A flexible and smooth information exchange and cooperation are realized among, and between, agents and an existing system by dynamically allocating suitable interpretation execution parts which include an interpreter in conformance to a variety of agent communication languages, content describing languages and ontologies. The agent communication system in a preferred embodiment of this invention is provided with an interpretation execution part control function that scans a directory of interpretation parts such as conversation content monitoring parts, interpreters and translators, upon the time of execution start or during execution, and forms and maintains an interpretation execution part table that defines what interpretation execution parts exist.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to enable collection of information required for solving a problem caused by simultaneous access to a shared resource in a multithreading environment. In an information processor capable of executing a routine including a tracing process of collecting information related to the processing status in multithreading, a routine being executed is registered for each thread being activated, and the level of the tracing process for the routine being executed is determined based on information in the registration. The tracing process level for the routine being executed can be determined based on whether any routine identical to, or in a predetermined relation with, the routine is already registered.

Abstract: A communication system is provided which, upon communication, is capable of making a suitable response by using interpretation execution parts which conform to the background concepts and vocabularies of a conversation. A flexible and smooth information exchange and cooperation are realized among, and between, agents and an existing system by dynamically allocating suitable interpretation execution parts which include an interpreter in conformance to a variety of agent communication languages, content describing languages and ontologies. The agent communication system in a preferred embodiment of this invention is provided with an interpretation execution part control function that scans a directory of interpretation parts such as conversation content monitoring parts, interpreters and translators, upon the time of execution start or during execution, and forms and maintains an interpretation execution part table that defines what interpretation execution parts exist.

Abstract: The broker agent asks a facilitator agent to locate a service provider agent which is involved in its own job. The broker agent, upon receiving from a regular agent a message packet indicating a request for mediation of a job, analyzes the message packet to judge the outline of the requested job and applies certain conversion to the request message for sending it to the service provider agent which is relevant to the request. The broker agent receives a reply from the service provider agent and sends it to the regular agent after applying certain conversion.

Abstract: The broker agent 121,123 inquires a facilitator agent 110 to recognize a service provider agent 131,133 which is involved in its own job. The broker agent 121, upon receiving from a regular agent a message packet indicating a request for mediation of a job, analyzes the message packet to judge the outline of the requested job and applies certain conversion to the request message for sending it to the service provider agent which is relevant to the request. The broker agent 121 receives a reply from the service provider agent 131,133 and sends it to the regular agent after applying certain conversion.

Abstract: A communication system is provided that is capable of flexibly dealing with conversations among agents. An agent (201) includes a software part (200) which performs operations that represent the functions of a human ear and a mouth. In generating a conversation, an agent communication language, which is similar to a human conversation, is prepared and sent to a conversation part (200) as a message packet. The conversation part (200) then generates a plurality of conversation threads one for each unit of conversation and converse with a plurality of nodes in parallel and asynchronously. On the other hand, in another node which receives the message packet, a protocol manager (230) receives the data (message packet) from a network and passes it to the conversation part (200). The conversation part (200) understands the message packet and executes the content. In the preferred embodiment of this invention, the conversation part (200) moves to other places along with a mobile agent.

Abstract: There is provided a method for preparing .beta.-chloropivaloyl chloride which includes chlorinating pivalic acid to form pivaloyl chloride and reacting the resultant pivaloyl chloride with a chlorine gas in a gaseous phase to form .beta.-chloropivaloyl chloride. Both steps may be carried out by a continuous process or a batch process. According to this method, the chlorination in the second step can be achieved at a low temperature, and the formation of by-products is reduced and production efficiency can be enhanced.