JPH11327909A - Agent system, information processing method, and medium recording information processing program - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To reduce the network load and enable application of an agent system to various network environments. An agent capable of moving to an arbitrary location on a network, a home node including a home node class management unit, and a plurality of remote nodes including a remote node class management unit are provided. The home node class management unit includes a class file storage unit, a class instantiation unit, and a first class transfer unit. The remote node class management unit includes a class instantiation unit and a second class transfer unit. , And the agent is provided with a call function unit, a transport function unit, and a transfer function unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in a technology for processing information distributed on a network by using an agent, and in particular, the flexibility of the arrangement of software used by an agent for processing on the network. It is something which raised.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an agent system has been known as a technique for processing information distributed on a computer network. An agent is a processing unit in software and operates autonomously according to the surrounding situation. The agent system is a system in which such an agent performs a process such as information collection while moving on nodes constituting a network as needed. Here, a node is a logical unit constituting a network, and a plurality of nodes can exist on one machine, that is, a computer.

As an example of this type of agent system, an agent generates a script from the contents of a job given by a user using a script generation unit,
There is a method in which an agent performs a series of flows in which the script execution unit interprets and executes the script. Here, the script is an action program of the agent, and specifically describes a content to be moved to which node and what processing is performed. For example, "move to node A and send a copy of file a to the user's node, then move to node B and file b
Is transmitted to the user node ... ".

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram of an agent using the above method. That is, the agent 70 as shown in FIG. 7 includes information 71 used for script generation, a script generation unit 72 for generating a script based on this information, and a script for executing the script generated by the script generation unit. Execution unit 73
And a command execution unit 74 for executing a command described in the script.

[0005] However, when such an agent moves on the network, the agent must carry all the software necessary for its operation, so that the speed at which the agent moves on the network becomes slower, and more agents are transferred to the network. There was a problem that a load was applied.

As another example of an agent system, as shown in FIG. 8, an agent 80 carries only a script 81 and arranges a generation unit 82 and an execution unit 83 of the script on all nodes 84. There is a method. If such an agent moves on the network, the agent 80
You only have to carry it.

However, in this type of agent, it is necessary to place software necessary for generating and executing a script on all nodes in advance. Therefore, when the script generation unit or the execution unit needs to be updated in order to improve the operation of the agent, there is a problem that the script generation unit or the execution unit on all nodes must be updated. Was.
In particular, when the number of nodes is large, such an update operation takes a very long time, and the network load increases. In some cases, the script generation unit or the execution unit cannot be arranged on the node in advance due to restrictions on the node environment due to security or the like.

[0008]

As described above, in an agent system in which the arrangement of software such as a script generation unit and an execution unit is determined in advance, the load on the network is reduced and the moving speed of the agent is improved. In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to move an agent on a network where there are many restrictions on the location of software due to security or the like.

The present invention has been proposed in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to arrange a script generation unit, an execution unit, and various software used by them in nodes. An object of the present invention is to enable the agent system to be freely performed, reduce a network load, and apply an agent system to various network environments.

[0010]

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agent system in which an agent performs information processing based on a script. A script execution unit for executing a script, and a command execution unit for executing a command described in the script are arranged at an arbitrary location on a network to which the agent can be moved. A call function unit capable of selectively calling the script generation unit, the script execution unit and the command execution unit; and selectively incorporating the script generation unit, the script execution unit and the command execution unit into the agent. A transport function that can be moved; Script generation unit, and is characterized in that is provided with a transfer function unit for the script execution unit and a command execution unit selectively can be transferred to any location on the network that have the agent.

[0011] The invention according to claim 6 is the first invention.
In the information processing method in which the invention described in the above is viewed from a method viewpoint, an agent performs information processing based on a script, a script generation step of generating the script, a script execution step of executing the script, A command execution step of executing a command described in a script is executed at an arbitrary location on a network to which the agent can move, and the agent includes, as necessary, the script generation step and the script execution step And selectively calling the command execution step, and selectively executing the script generation step, the script execution step and the command execution step inside the agent,
And a step of selectively transferring the script generation step, the script execution step, and the command execution step to an arbitrary location on the network where the agent is located. It is a feature.

Further, the invention according to claim 7 is obtained by grasping the invention according to claim 6 from the viewpoint of a recording medium on which a computer program is recorded. In a medium on which a program is recorded, the information processing program includes a script generation step of generating the script, a script execution step of executing the script, and a command execution step of executing a command described in the script. Causing the agent to execute at an arbitrary location on a movable network, and selectively calling the script generation step, the script execution step, and the command execution step to the agent, if necessary, the script generation step, the script Real A step for selectively executing the step and the command execution step inside the agent and moving the step together with the agent; and selectively executing the script generation step, the script execution step, and the command execution step on a network where the agent is located. And a step of transferring the data to the server.

According to the first, sixth, and seventh aspects of the present invention, the script execution unit, the generation unit, the command execution unit, and the like can be installed at any location on the network. In addition to being able to be arranged in a configuration, the network load can be reduced and the agent system can be applied to various network environments.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an agent system in which an agent performs information processing based on a script, wherein the agent system is capable of moving to an arbitrary location on a network and a first class. A class file storage unit having a home node having a management unit and a plurality of remote nodes having a second class management unit, wherein the first class management unit stores a class file necessary for the operation of the agent , A class instantiation unit for instantiating a class file, and a first class transfer unit, wherein the second class management unit instantiates a class file loaded from a class file of the home node. And a second class transfer unit. The stringent, if necessary,
A call function unit capable of selectively calling a desired class file from the class file storage unit of the home node; and a transport function unit capable of selectively loading a desired class file into an agent and moving the agent together with the agent. And a transfer function unit for selectively transferring a desired class file to an arbitrary location on the network where the agent is located.

According to the second aspect of the present invention having the above configuration, all the class files necessary for the operation of the agent are stored in the class file storage of the home node. Even when the script generation unit or the like needs to be updated for improvement or the like, only the class file on the home node needs to be updated, and maintenance and management of the agent system becomes easy. Also, the agent can call the class file stored on the home node as needed, move it with the agent, or transfer it to the desired remote node, so that the agent moves on the network. The load on the case is reduced. Further, since only the necessary class files are loaded on the remote node, no extra network load is imposed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the agent system according to the second aspect, the class file storage unit interprets and executes at least a class file and a script of a script generation unit that generates a script. A class file of a script execution unit and a class file of a command execution unit for executing a command are stored. According to the third aspect of the invention having the above configuration, at least the class file of the script generation unit for generating the script and the script for interpreting and executing the script among the class files necessary for the operation of the agent Since the class file of the execution unit and the class file of the command execution unit that executes a command are stored in the class file storage unit of the home node, maintenance and management of the agent system is facilitated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the agent system according to the second or third aspect, the first class transfer unit transfers the class file stored in the class file storage unit to another class file. It is characterized by being composed of a class sending unit for sending to a node. According to the fourth aspect of the present invention having the above configuration, only a desired class file among the class files stored on the home node is transmitted to another node based on the request of the agent. Therefore, the load when the agent moves on the network can be reduced.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the agent system according to the second or third aspect, the second class transfer section stores the class file stored in the class file storage section of the home node. It is characterized by comprising a class loading unit for loading the remote node. According to the fifth aspect of the present invention having the above configuration, only a desired class file among the class files stored on the home node is loaded to the remote node based on the request of the agent. Therefore, the load when the agent moves on the network can be reduced.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as embodiments) will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[1. Configuration] That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the agent system of the present invention has an agent 1 that can move to an arbitrary place on a network.
And a planner 2 (script generation unit) for generating a script, an information 3 referred to by the planner 2 when generating a script, and a home node class management unit (first class management unit in claims) 4 described later. A plurality of remote nodes 7 each including only a home node 5 and a remote node class management unit (second class management unit in claims) 6 are provided.

Next, the home node 5 will be described in more detail. That is, as shown in FIG. 2, the class management unit 4 for the home node includes the class file storage unit 41, the class instantiation unit 42, and the class transfer unit 4
And 3. The class file storage unit 41 includes, for example, a class file 41a of a planner that generates a script, a class file 41b of a script interpreter that interprets and executes a script, and a class file 41 of a command execution unit that executes a command.
A class file of a class, such as c, which is instantiated or sent to another node is stored.

Further, the class instantiation unit 42
Receives a request to instantiate a class from the agent 1, selects a corresponding class file from a group of class files stored in the class file storage unit 41, and instantiates the class file.

The class transfer section 43 provided in the home node 5 includes a class transmission section 43a. When the agent 1 that has moved to a certain remote node requests to load a certain class, the corresponding class is stored in the class file group stored in the class file storage unit 41 via the class sending unit 43a. It is configured to select a file and send the class file to the remote node where the agent 1 is located.

Next, the remote node 7 will be described. That is, there is no class file on the remote node 7 in the present embodiment, and the remote node class management unit 6 is composed of a class instantiation unit 62 and a class transfer unit 63 as shown in FIG. ing. Further, the class transfer unit 63 includes a class load unit 6.
3a. When a class loading request is received from the agent 1, the class loading unit 63a sends a class file sending request to the class sending unit 43a of the home node 5 where the class file is located. Is instantiated via the class instantiation unit 62.

That is, when an agent moves to a certain remote node 7 and a script is executed on the remote node, a script interpreter (script execution unit) needs to execute a command in the script. A command class file corresponding to the command is loaded from the home node 5 via the class loading unit 63a and instantiated, and the instantiated command execution unit executes the command.

As shown in FIG. 1, the agent 1 includes a calling function unit 11 for selectively calling the script generation unit, the script execution unit, and the command execution unit as needed. A transport function unit 12 that can selectively take in a script generation unit, a script execution unit, and a command execution unit into an agent and move the agent together with the agent. And a transfer function unit 13 that can transfer the data to an arbitrary place on the network where there is.
Then, a script 14 received as a result of calling the planner 2 on the home node 5 and a script interpreter 15 in which a script interpreter class is instantiated are carried and moved between nodes.

[2. Operation] The agent system of the present embodiment having the above configuration has the following operation. Here, FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the agent system of the present embodiment.

That is, the agent 1 is first generated on the home node 5 and receives an initial script indicating the contents of the work from the user (step 401). Thereafter, when the transport function unit 12 of the agent 1 requests the home node class management unit 4 in the home node to instantiate the script interpreter, the home node class management unit 4 stores the script interpreter in the class file storage unit 41. Script interpreter class file is instantiated. Then, the agent 1 takes in the script interpreter that has been instantiated using the transport function unit 12 (step 40).
2).

Thereafter, the agent 1 checks whether or not the agent 1 is currently at the home node 5 (step 40).
3). If agent 1 is at home node 5,
If the script interpreter interprets the script (step 404) and finds a “script generation request command” in the script (step 4)
05), the calling function unit 11 of the agent 1 calls the planner. That is, the calling function unit 11 of the agent 1 requests the home node class management unit 4 to instantiate a planner class file, and the home node class management unit 4 instantiates the planner class file on the home node (step 40
6).

Subsequently, when the instantiated planner generates a script (step 407), the agent 1 fetches the script generated by the planner into the agent (step 408), and step 404
Return to

On the other hand, if the "script generation request command" is not found in the script in step 405, the flow advances to step 409 to determine whether there is a "move command". When finding the "move command", the agent 1 moves to the node to be moved (step 410).

On the other hand, if the “movement command” is not found, the agent 1 uses the calling function unit 11 on the home node to call the command execution unit corresponding to the command. That is, agent 1
Requesting the home node class manager 4 to instantiate the command class file, the home node class manager 4 instantiates the command class file (step 411), and executes the instantiated command. The unit executes the command (Step 412). Then, it is determined whether or not all the commands in the script have been executed (step 4).
13) If not finished, return to step 404.

On the other hand, if the agent 1 is not at the home node 5 at step 403, the script interpreter interprets the script (step 414),
As a result, when the “script generation request command” is found in the script (step 415), the agent 1 moves to the home node 5 (step 41).
6), the calling function unit 11 of the agent 1 calls the planner, and proceeds to step 406. That is,
The calling function unit 11 of the agent 1 requests the home node class management unit 4 to instantiate the planner class file, and the home node class management unit 4 instantiates the planner class file on the home node (step 406). .

Subsequently, when the instantiated planner generates a script (step 407), the agent 1 fetches the script generated by the planner into the agent (step 408), and step 404
Return to

On the other hand, if the "script generation request command" is not found in the script in step 415, the flow advances to step 417 to determine whether there is a "move command". When finding the "move command", the agent 1 moves to the node to be moved (step 410).

On the other hand, if the “move command” is not found, the agent 1 uses the transfer function unit 13 to store the instance of the corresponding command class in the class management unit 6 of the remote node where the agent is currently located. Request for conversion. That is, the remote node class management unit 6 requests the class transfer unit of the home node to load the corresponding command class file, and loads the command class file. Subsequently, the loaded command class file is instantiated by the class instantiation unit 62 of the remote node class management unit (step 418), and the instantiated command execution unit executes the command (step 419). Then, it is determined whether or not all the commands in the script have been executed (step 420). If not, the process returns to step 414.

Next, a description will be given using a specific example. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, one home node “nodeA” arranged on the workstation A and three remote nodes “node1,2” arranged on the device control microcomputer boards 1,2,3. , 3 ", an agent provided with the following script is generated at the home node" nodeA ".

1: goto node1 2: set state = 'checkState' 3: goto node2 4: if ($ state = 0) then 5: reportState 6: else if ($ state = 1) then 7: goto node3 8: checkState 9: else if ($ state = 2) then 10: changeState 11: else 12: newgoal testNext 13: endif In this example, goto is an agent move command, newg
oal is a new script generation request command. set is a script variable setting instruction, if, then, else, endif
Is the syntax for conditional branching. Other instructions are commands executed by the command execution unit.

Given the above script, "nodeA
The agent created in "" first loads the script interpreter into the agent. Then, the script interpreter interprets the above script.

Since the command on the first line is a move command, the agent moves to the designated "node1". The command on the second line is the command checkState in the script variable state.
Is substituted.

At the time of execution of this instruction, the agent exists at the remote node "node1", so that the transfer function unit of the agent loads the command class file checkState.class corresponding to the command checkState from the home node nodeA. Execute after instantiation. Below, checkStat that defines checkState.class
Here is an example of e.java. That is, in the above example, after instantiating checkState.class, the transfer function part of the agent uses the method start ()
Means that the script interpreter stores the return value of the method in the script variable state.

Next, since the command on the third line is a move command, the agent moves to "node2". Further, since the instruction on the fourth line is a branch instruction by if, the next operation changes depending on the value of the script variable state. That is, when state is 0 (lines 4 and 5), the command reportState is loaded and executed in the same manner as checkState. If state is 1 (6th-8th line), node
Go to 3 and load and execute the command checkState. If state is 2 (lines 9 to 10), the command changeState is loaded and executed.

On the other hand, if the state is neither of the above, the script generation request command newgoal is executed. In this case, the agent moves to the home node to call the planner that generates the script. afterwards,
Execute the planner by passing the argument testNext of newgoal using the calling function part of the agent. The agent then receives the new script returned by the planner, the script interpreter interprets the script, and continues executing the agent.

[3. Effect] As described above, in the agent system of the present embodiment, only the remote node class management unit 6 needs to be installed in the remote node 7, and functions required of the remote node can be minimized. . Further, on the remote node side, only the command class corresponding to the command to be executed is loaded, so that no extra network load is applied. Further, since there is no need to install a class file or the like, a machine that cannot handle a file system can be used as a remote node. Machines of this form are often found in microcomputer boards that are built into equipment, but by treating those boards as remote nodes, the agent system of the present invention is applied, and operations and analysis of equipment are performed by agents. Can be performed.

In this embodiment, the agent carries only the script interpreter that is always used during the operation of the agent, and the rarely used planner is moved to the home node and then called. Further, the command execution unit is configured to perform loading only when a command needs to be executed. As a result, it is possible to minimize both the network load caused by the movement of the agent and the network load caused by the load. In addition, since all class files required for the operation of the agent can be collectively managed on the home node, the management and maintenance of the agent system are facilitated.

[4. Other Embodiments] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes other embodiments as exemplified below. For example, in the present invention, any one of the script generation unit, the script execution unit, and the command execution unit can be freely called, used, transported, or loaded and used.

In the above embodiment, if the commands to be executed match at many remote nodes, the agent can carry those command execution units, thereby avoiding the overhead due to loading.
When a new script is to be generated in the remote node, a simple script generation without referring to the information can be performed by loading the planner class. Furthermore, if a script interpreter is installed in each remote node, the agent can carry only the script, so that the network load can be greatly reduced.

In the above embodiment, the class file is not provided on the remote node. However, the class file can be provided not only on the home node but also on any remote node. In this case, the class management units of the home node and the remote node are both configured as shown in FIG. That is, the class management unit 50
Is composed of a class file storage unit 51, a class instantiation unit 52, and a class transfer unit 53. The class transfer section 53 includes a class load section 53a and a class transmission section 53b.

When an agent at another node requests a class to be loaded, and the class file is stored in the class file storage unit 51 of the own node, the class file is transmitted via the class transmission unit 53b. The corresponding class file is selected from the class file group stored in the class file storage unit 51, and the selected class file is sent to the node where the agent is located.

On the other hand, when the agent requests to load a certain class stored in the class file of another node, the class loading unit 53a sends the class file to the class sending unit of the node where the class file is located. A transmission request is made, and the loaded class file is instantiated through the class instantiation unit 52.

With this configuration, the script generation unit, the script execution unit, the command execution unit, the various software used by them, the information used for script generation, and the like can be arranged at an arbitrary place on the network.

[0052]

As described above, according to the present invention, not only can the script generation unit and the execution unit and various software used by them be freely arranged on the nodes,
The network load can be reduced and the agent system can be applied to various network environments.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of an agent system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a home node class management unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a remote node class management unit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the agent system of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a specific example of the agent system of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a class management unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a conventional agent system.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another configuration of a conventional agent system.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Agent 2 ... Planner 3 ... Info 4 ... Home node class management part 5 ... Home node 6 ... Remote node class management part 7 ... Remote node 11 ... Calling function part 12 ... Transport function part 13 ... Transfer function part 14 ... Script 15 Script interpreter 41, 51 Class file storage unit 42, 52, 62 Class instantiation unit 43, 53, 63 Class transfer unit 43a Class transmission unit 53a Class loading unit 53b Class transmission unit 63a Class Load section

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. An agent system in which an agent performs information processing based on a script, a script generation unit that generates the script, a script execution unit that executes the script, and a command execution that executes a command described in the script. A script generator, a script executor, and a command executor can be selectively called by the agent as needed. A call function unit, a transportation function unit that can selectively take the script generation unit, the script execution unit and the command execution unit into the agent, and move the agent together with the agent; and the script generation unit, the script execution unit and the command execution unit Selectively age Agent system characterized by the transfer function unit is provided which can be transferred to any location on the network that have the cement. 2. An agent system in which an agent performs information processing based on a script, wherein the agent system includes an agent capable of moving to an arbitrary location on a network, and a home node including a first class management unit. And a plurality of remote nodes including a second class management unit, wherein the first class management unit instantiates the class file and a class file storage unit for storing a class file necessary for the operation of the agent. A class instantiation unit configured to include a class instantiation unit and a first class transfer unit, wherein the second class management unit instantiates a class file loaded from a class file of the home node; and a second class transfer unit And the agent Accordingly, a calling function unit capable of selectively calling a desired class file from the class file storage unit of the home node, and a desired class file can be selectively loaded into the agent and moved together with the agent. An agent system comprising: a transport function unit; and a transfer function unit that can selectively transfer a desired class file to an arbitrary location on a network where an agent is located. 3. The class file storage unit includes at least a class file of a script generation unit that generates a script, a class file of a script execution unit that interprets and executes a script, and a class file of a command execution unit that executes a command. The agent system according to claim 2, wherein is stored. 4. The class transfer unit according to claim 2, wherein the first class transfer unit includes a class sending unit that sends a class file stored in the class file storage unit to another node. The agent system according to claim 3. 5. The class transfer unit according to claim 1, wherein the second class transfer unit includes a class load unit that loads a class file stored in a class file storage unit of a home node into the remote node. The agent system according to claim 2 or 3. 6. An information processing method in which an agent performs information processing based on a script, a script generating step of generating the script,
A script execution step of executing a script and a command execution step of executing a command described in the script are executed at an arbitrary location on a network to which the agent can be moved. Selectively calling the script generation step, the script execution step and the command execution step, and selectively executing the script generation step, the script execution step and the command execution step inside the agent, and moving the same together with the agent. And a step of selectively transferring the script generation step, the script execution step, and the command execution step to an arbitrary location on the network where the agent is located. An information processing method characterized by the following. 7. A medium recording an information processing program in which an agent performs information processing based on a script, the information processing program comprising: a script generation step of generating the script; and a script execution step of executing the script. Executing a command described in a script at an arbitrary location on a network to which the agent can move, and, if necessary, causing the agent to generate the script and execute the script. And selectively calling the command execution step, and selectively executing the script generation step, the script execution step and the command execution step inside the agent,
A step of being able to be moved together with the agent, and a step of being able to selectively transfer the script generation step, the script execution step, and the command execution step to any location on the network where the agent is located. On which an information processing program is recorded.