The envoy framework

Abstract

The Envoy Framework addresses a need for computer-based assistants or agents that operate in conjunction with users' existing applications, helping them perform tedious, repetitive, or time-consuming tasks more easily and efficiently. Envoys carry out missions for users by invoking envoy-aware applications called operatives and inform users of mission results via envoy-aware applications called informers. The distributed, open architecture developed for Envoys is derived from an analysis of the best characteristics of existing agent systems. This architecture has been designed as a model for how agent technology can be seamlessly integrated into the electronic desktop. It defines a set of application programmer's interfaces so that developers may convert their software to envoy-aware applications. A subset of the architecture described in this paper has been implemented in an Envoy Framework prototype.

Desktop Agent Manager (DAM): Decision Mechanism

“…The Envoy Framework (Palaniappan et al, 1992) includes two management components: a Bureau Chief, who manages envoys (keeps track of user's envoys, creates new envoys, assigns new tasks to envoys, and keeps track of envoy-aware applications) and a Mission Summary, the user interface to Bureau Chief and envoys, which displays the status of the envoys and their reports, and allows the user to cancel or stop an envoy. Either of these components could potentially be modified to provide a solution to managing the agents.…”

“…Following the specs of the Envoy Framework (Palaniappan et al, 1992), the agent must provide a simple message to the user. The agent can also provide either a brief report to the DAM, which contains a more detailed explanation than the message, or a detailed report in the form of a f i e with the results of the task.…”

A network of sensor-based framework for automated visual surveillance

“…Agent-based system improves user's ability to manage information, especially if the information is distributed through a network and is changing daily. A framework for mining information based on agents is presented in Palaniappan et al (1992). Another popular application of agents is in automation of different tasks.…”