JP3735730B2 - Agent system and communication method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an agent system and a communication method for sequentially moving an agent generated from an agent server between communication devices via a communication line.

  As shown in FIG. 14, an agent system that has become popular in recent years includes an agent server 50, a plurality of communication devices 60 such as personal computers and workstations, and a storage device 80 that stores a source program for generating an agent. Are connected by a wired line 90 (which may be a wireless line (not shown)), and an agent 70 described later moves between the communication devices.

  In this agent system, the agent server 50 generates an agent 70 composed of an object code based on the source program stored in the storage device 80, transmits the generated agent 70 to the designated communication device 60, and the communication device The agent 70 received by the 60 system agents 601 is executed.

  By the way, in the agent system described above, as a movement method of the agent 70, (a) a method in which a destination and a destination process are given to the agent, but a movement route to the destination is not given, (B) Only the target process is given to the agent, and two methods are adopted, that is, a method in which the destination and the movement route are not given.

  Hereinafter, the operation of these two methods will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 15 and 16.

(A) When destination and purpose processing are given to the agent The agent server 50 forms an object code from a source program for performing a predetermined purpose processing stored in the storage device 80, and further adds to this object An agent is generated by giving a destination indicating the destination (step 510), and the agent 70 is transmitted to the destination.

  Then, the transmitted agent 70 moves to the communication device 60 having the designated destination node via the line 90 (step 520), is taken into the communication device 60, and is a system agent 601 in the communication device 60. Is executed.

  The system agent 601 in the communication device 60 determines whether or not the objective process of the agent 70 is completed (step 530). If it is determined that the objective process is not completed (step 530; N), The process returns to the generation agent server 50.

  The agent server 50 to which the agent 70 has returned resets the destination and the target process (step 550), returns the process to 520, and continues the above-described process.

  On the other hand, when the system agent 601 determines that the target process has been completed (step 530; Y), it returns the agent 70 to the agent server 50 (step 540), and ends the process.

(A) When only the target processing is given to the agent The system agent 601 of the agent server 50 generates an agent that gives the target processing to the generated agent (step 610). (Step 620).

  Then, the agent 70 is taken into the destination communication device 60 and execution of the target process is started by the system agent 601 in the communication device 60.

  The system agent 601 determines whether or not the target process is completed in the destination communication device 60 (step 630), and if it is determined that the target process is not completed (step 630; NO), the step The process returns to 620, moves to the next destination communication device 60, and continues the same processing as described above.

  On the other hand, when the system agent 601 determines that the target process has been completed (step 630; Y), the system agent 601 returns the agent 70 to the agent server 50 (step 640) and ends the process.

  As described above, in the agent system, (a) in the case of a method in which a destination and a target process are given to the agent, and (b) a method in which only the target process is given to the agent. In each case, there were the following problems.

  (1) (a) In the agent system in the case where the destination and the destination process are given to the agent 70, the destination is given on a one-to-one basis when executing the destination process. When passing through the nodes of the device 60, it is necessary to specify those nodes.

  For this reason, when the objective process cannot be achieved, the agent server 50 needs to set these plural destinations again, and there is a problem that the time required for the setting is wasted.

  (2) (A) In the agent system in the case where only the target processing is given to the agent 70, the target processing is performed once by moving to an arbitrary place (search by rule). If it is given, it is not necessary to reconfigure the purpose, but the route cannot be selected. Therefore, in sequential processing, for example, an application gateway formed on the firewall, it is regarded as unauthorized access, and the firewall Therefore, there is a problem that it is not possible to execute the process of moving to the node of the communication device 60 connected to the following.

  (3) (a) An agent system in a method in which a destination and a target process are given to an agent, and (b) an agent system in a method in which only a target process is given to an agent When the agent 70 moves, it moves without knowing the resource state of the destination communication device 60, for example, the free area of the memory, and if the resource of the destination communication device 60 cannot be used, for example, in the memory If there is no free space for storing the agent 70, the agent 70 is not generated in the communication device 60, the agent 70 does not return to the agent server 50 within a predetermined time, and the agent server 50 does not execute error processing. There was a problem of not getting.

  (4) Processing codes executed by the communication device 60 include native code currently executed by a normal MPU and bytecode executed on a virtual machine represented by JAVA (registered trademark) or the like.

  Therefore, between the agent systems that are configured by processing systems in which the system agent 601 included in the agent server 50 and the communication device 60 executes the same processing code, as shown in FIG. Although the system agent 601 can be executed, there is a problem in that it cannot be executed between agent systems configured by processing systems that execute different processing codes.

  Note that in the case of execution between agent systems configured with processing systems that execute different processing codes, a communication device 60 having a virtual processor such as JAVA (registered trademark) Virtual Machine must be used.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described problems, the first object of the present invention is to provide an agent system that eliminates the need to set a destination again and saves unnecessary time for setting.

  In addition, a second object of the present invention is to provide an agent system that allows an agent to reach another node without going through a node.

  Furthermore, a third object of the present invention is to provide an agent system that, when an agent moves, checks the resource state of a destination communication device and avoids error processing.

  Furthermore, a fourth object of the present invention is to provide an agent system that can be executed between agent systems configured by different processing systems.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the agent server and a plurality of communication devices are connected by a communication line of a wired line or a wireless line, and movement route information generated from the agent server. An agent system that moves between the communication devices via the communication line based on the movement route information, the communication device moving the agent previously received and stored in the memory area The route information is changed as necessary, restored to an agent having predetermined travel route information, and agent restoration transmission means for transmitting the restored agent, and transmission is scheduled based on the travel route information. A memory area for reserving a memory area for storing agents scheduled to be transmitted to communication devices in advance When the agent is transmitted to the next communication device based on the means and the movement route information, even if the communication device of the transmission destination is a communication device that executes a different processing code, the intermediate code that can be processed Intermediate code conversion transmission means for converting the agent and transmitting the agent, the agent has a history of the node number of the communication device passed as route collection information together with the movement route information, The agent restoration transmitting means restores and transmits an agent in which its node number is additionally registered in the route collection information when transmitting an agent to another communication device, and the agent server has different moving routes. The node number of the communication device in the middle of the process and the node number of the communication device at the final destination that match each other are registered. A plurality of agents each having one of the travel route information transmitted to the communication device at the same time, and the route collection information in the returned agent is read, while the communication device at the final destination is transmitted from the agent server. Of the plurality of agents, only the agent that has reached the earliest is returned to the agent server .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, when the agent moves, the communication device secures a memory area for storing the agent in advance and transmits the agent. After that, there is provided memory area reservation releasing means for clearing and releasing the agent from the memory area.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the memory area reservation unit includes an agent process progress detection unit that detects a progress of the process of the agent received earlier. When the agent processing progress detection means detects that the previously received agent has executed a predetermined location, it reserves a memory area for the communication device scheduled to transmit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, an agent server and a plurality of communication devices are connected by a communication line of a wired line or a wireless line, and an agent having movement path information generated from the agent server is connected to the communication line. A communication method for moving between the communication devices based on the movement route information via the communication device, wherein the communication device changes the agent movement route information previously received and stored in the memory area as necessary. Then, based on the movement route information, a memory area for storing the agent scheduled for transmission is reserved in advance for the communication device scheduled for transmission based on the movement route information. When the agent is transmitted to the next communication device on the basis of the movement route information, the transmission destination communication device is temporarily different. Be a communication device that performs the over-de, converting the agent can be processed intermediate code, and transmits this, the agent, together with the travel route information, a history of the node number of the communication device that has passed through When the agent is transmitted to the other communication device by the communication device, the agent additionally registering its node number in the route collection information is restored and transmitted, and the agent server Thus, the communication device simultaneously has a plurality of agents each having one piece of movement path information in which the node number of the communication device in the middle of the different movement route and the node number of the communication device of the final destination that match each other are registered. The route collection information in the returned agent is read out while the final destination is communicated. Device via the one of the plurality of agents sent from the agent server, and wherein the feeding back only the agent who earliest reach itself to the agent server.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the fourth aspect, when the agent moves, the communication device secures a memory area for storing the agent in advance and transmits the agent. After that, the agent is cleared and released from the memory area.

  In the present invention, since the communication device restores the agent whose movement route information has been changed as necessary from the agent received earlier, it is not necessary to set the destination again.

  In addition, since the communication device reserves a memory area for storing the restored agent for the communication device scheduled to transmit the restored agent, the restored agent can be reliably sent to the transmission destination.

  Furthermore, since the communication device of the different processing system is converted into an intermediate code that can be processed together, the agent can be transmitted between the communication devices configured in different processing systems.

  Further, in the present invention, when restoring an agent when transmitting the agent to another communication device, the restored agent has route collection information, so the route from the agent server to the destination communication device Collected information can be obtained.

  Therefore, by transmitting a plurality of agents from the agent server to the destination at the same time, it is possible to check the route collection information of the agent that has reached the destination in the shortest time.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to set the destination again by restoring the agent whose movement route information has been changed as necessary from the agent that has been received earlier. Responsiveness can be improved by eliminating unnecessary time.

  In addition, since the communication device reserves a memory area for storing the restored agent for the communication device scheduled to transmit the restored agent, the restored agent can be reliably sent to the transmission destination.

  Furthermore, since the communication device of the different processing system is converted into an intermediate code that can be processed and transmitted, the agent in the communication device configured in the different processing system can be transmitted.

  Furthermore, when the agent is restored when sending the agent to another communication device, the restored agent has route collection information, so that the agent generated in the agent server reaches the destination communication device. Route collection information can be obtained.

  Therefore, if a plurality of agents are simultaneously transmitted from the agent server to the destination, the route collection information of the agent that has reached the destination in the shortest time can be checked. Thereafter, if route setting is performed based on this route collection information, Responsiveness can be increased.

  Embodiments of an agent system and a communication method according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the first embodiment of the agent system according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the agent system of this embodiment includes an agent server 1, a communication device 2 such as a plurality of personal computers and workstations, and a storage device 3 for storing a source program for generating a mobile agent. Are connected by a communication line 4 comprising a wired line or a wireless line.

  Then, the agent server 1 reads the source program stored in the storage device 3 and an agent 10 made up of an object code (this agent 10 moves sequentially between the communication devices 2 as will be described later. (Hereinafter referred to as mobile agent).

  (1) The configuration of the agent server will be described.

  The agent server 1 described above has a system agent 20 as shown in FIG. 2. The system agent 20 includes an agent generation unit 201, a flag storage unit 202, an MPU code conversion unit 203, and an intermediate code conversion unit 204. , A resource management unit 205 and an inter-agent communication unit 206.

  When the agent generation unit 201 receives an instruction from the control unit (not shown) to create a predetermined agent (see (1) in FIG. 2), the flag storage unit 202 sets “ON” (= 1). The flag is set, the resource is locked (see (2) in FIG. 2), a predetermined source program stored in the storage device 3 is read to form an object, and the transmission destination of this object is indicated. A mobile agent 10 having a route list 101 to be described later is generated and stored in a memory area.

  Needless to say, the agent generation unit 201 does not need to generate the mobile agent 10 from the source program again when the corresponding mobile agent 10 is already stored in the memory area.

  The agent generation unit 201 instructs the resource management unit 205 to make a transmission reservation for the communication device 2 that is the transmission destination of the generated mobile agent 10 ((3 in FIG. 2). )reference).

  Further, upon receiving a notification from the resource management unit 205 (see (7) in FIG. 2) that the agent generation unit 201 has made a transmission reservation for the communication device 2 of the transmission destination (see (7) in FIG. 2), the agent generation unit 201 generates the memory first. The agent 10 stored in the area is read (see (8) in FIG. 2), and is output to the MPU code converter 203 (see (9) in FIG. 2).

  Furthermore, when the agent generation unit 201 finishes transmitting the mobile agent 10 to the communication device 2 as the transmission destination, the flag generation unit 201 sets a flag of “OFF” (= 0) to release the resource. (See h in FIG. 2).

  Further, when the agent generation unit 201 receives the mobile agent 10 converted into the MPU code received from the communication device 2 from the MPU code conversion unit 203 (see f in FIG. 2), the agent generation unit 201 converts the mobile agent 10 into the original mobile agent and stores the memory. This is stored in the area (see g in FIG. 2).

  The flag storage unit 202 stores a flag indicating whether or not other system agents 20 are permitted to use their own resources.

  When the stored flag is ON (= 1), the self resource cannot be used by another system agent 20, while when the stored flag is OFF (= 0), The self resource becomes available from other system agents 20.

  When the MPU code conversion unit 203 receives the mobile agent 10 from the agent generation unit 201 (see (9) in FIG. 2), the MPU code conversion unit 203 converts the received mobile agent 10 into an MPU code and converts the mobile agent 10 into the MPU code. Is output to the intermediate code conversion unit 204 (see a in FIG. 2).

  Further, when the MPU code conversion unit 203 receives the mobile agent 10 converted into the intermediate code returned from the communication device 2 from the intermediate code conversion unit 204 (see e in FIG. 2), the MPU code conversion unit 203 receives the mobile agent 10 of the intermediate code. The mobile agent 10 is converted to the MPU code and is output to the agent generation unit 201 (see f in FIG. 2).

  The intermediate code conversion unit 204 converts the mobile agent 10 converted into the MPU code received from the MPU code conversion unit 203 into an intermediate code and transmits it to the destination communication device 2 (b in FIG. 2). , C).

  Further, when the intermediate code conversion unit 204 receives the mobile agent 10 including the intermediate code transmitted from the communication device 2 (see d in FIG. 2), the intermediate code conversion unit 204 outputs the mobile agent 10 to the MPU code conversion unit 203. (See e in FIG. 2).

  Here, the MPU code is a native code executed by a normal MPU as a processing code, and the intermediate code is a communication device 2 having a normal MPU (not shown) that uses a native code as a processing code. The code can also be executed by the communication device 2 such as JAVA (registered trademark) Virtual Machine that uses a byte code (common code) as a processing code.

  Under the instruction of the agent generation unit 201 (see (3) in FIG. 2), the resource management unit 205 inquires the resource state of the communication device 2 that is the transmission destination of the mobile agent 10 and the resource is in an empty state. In some cases, resource reservation is entered (see (4), (5), (6) in FIG. 2), and the fact that the resource reservation has been entered is output to the agent generation unit 201 (in FIG. 2). (Refer to (7)).

  The inter-agent communication unit 206 inquires of the system agent 20 of the communication device 2 about the availability of resources of the communication device 2 (see b in FIG. 2).

  Here, the mobile agent 10 generated by the agent server 1 will be described.

  As described above, the mobile agent 10 not only has an object code for causing the communication device 2 to execute a predetermined target process (hereinafter referred to as a target process), but as shown in FIG. The route list 101 includes the movement route information having the node number of the communication device 2 that must be passed and the mobile agent must execute the process at that point, and the permitted number of times indicating the number of times it can pass. It has become.

  FIG. 4 shows an example of the movement route of the mobile agent having the route list 101 shown in FIG.

  In this example, the mobile agent 10 is first executed by the communication device 2 whose node number is 6, and then executed by the communication device 2 whose node number is 2, and then the communication whose node number is 4. This is executed by the device 2 and subsequently executed by the communication device 2 having the node number of 5, and then executed by the communication device 2 having the node number of 3, and then by the communication device 2 having the node number of 1. This is executed, and finally, it is executed by the communication device 2 whose node number is 3.

  (2) The configuration of the communication device will be described.

  Although many communication devices 2 have the same configuration as the agent server 1 described above, a description will be given again.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the communication device 2 described above has a system agent 20, which includes an agent restoration unit 201, a flag storage unit 202, an MPU code conversion unit 203, and an intermediate code conversion unit 204. , A resource management unit 205 and an inter-agent communication unit 206.

  When receiving a restoration instruction from the control unit so as to restore a predetermined agent (see (1) in FIG. 5), the agent restoration unit 201 sets a flag “ON” (= 1) in the flag storage unit 202. The resource is locked (see (2) in FIG. 5), and the previously received mobile agent 10 stored in the memory area is read out to form a mobile agent having a predetermined route list and stored in the memory. In addition, an instruction for monitoring the processing status of the mobile agent 10 received earlier is output (see (3) in FIG. 5).

  Further, when the agent restoration unit 201 receives a notification from the resource management unit 205 that the resource reservation has been made for the communication device 2 as the transmission destination (see (8) in FIG. 5), the agent restoration unit 201 generates the memory first. The agent 10 stored in the area is read (see (9) in FIG. 5), and is output to the MPU code conversion unit 203 (see a in FIG. 5).

  Further, when the agent restoration unit 201 finishes transmitting the mobile agent 10 to the destination communication device 2, the agent storage unit 201 sets a flag of “OFF” (= 0) in the flag storage unit 202 to release resources. (See i in FIG. 5).

  Further, upon receiving the mobile agent 10 converted into the MPU code received from the communication device 2 from the MPU code conversion unit 203 (see g in FIG. 5), the agent restoration unit 201 converts the mobile agent 10 into the original mobile agent and stores the memory. This is stored in the area (see h in FIG. 5).

  The flag storage unit 202 stores a flag indicating whether or not other system agents 20 are permitted to use their own resources.

  When the stored flag is ON (= 1), the self resource cannot be used by another system agent 20, while when the stored flag is OFF (= 0), The self resource becomes available from other system agents 20.

  When the MPU code conversion unit 203 receives the mobile agent 10 from the agent restoration unit 201 (see a in FIG. 5), the MPU code conversion unit 203 converts the received mobile agent 10 into an MPU code, and converts the mobile agent 10 converted into the MPU code into an intermediate The data is output to the code conversion unit 204 (see b in FIG. 5).

  Further, when the MPU code conversion unit 203 receives the mobile agent 10 converted into the intermediate code returned from the communication device 2 from the intermediate code conversion unit 204 (see f in FIG. 5), the MPU code conversion unit 203 receives the mobile agent 10 of the intermediate code. The mobile agent 10 is converted to an MPU code and is output to the agent restoration unit 201 (see g in FIG. 5).

  The intermediate code conversion unit 204 converts the mobile agent 10 converted into the MPU code received from the MPU code conversion unit 203 into an intermediate code, and transmits the intermediate code to the destination communication device 2 (in FIG. 5). c, d).

  Further, when the intermediate code conversion unit 204 receives the mobile agent 10 including the intermediate code transmitted from the communication device 2 (see e in FIG. 5), the intermediate code conversion unit 204 outputs the mobile agent 10 to the MPU code conversion unit 203. (See f in FIG. 5).

  After the mobile agent restoration instruction is input to the agent restoration unit 201, the resource management unit 205 monitors the processing status of the mobile agent 10 received first (see (4) in FIG. 5). When the received mobile agent 10 executes processing at a predetermined location, the resource state is inquired to the communication device 2 that is the transmission destination of the generated mobile agent 10 via the inter-agent communication unit 206, and the resource is in an empty state. Sometimes, a resource reservation is entered (see (5), (6), (7) in FIG. 5), and a message to that effect is output to the agent restoration unit 201 (see (8) in FIG. 5). .

  The inter-agent communication unit 206 inquires of the system agent 20 of the destination communication device 2 about the availability of resources of the communication device 2 (see (6) in FIG. 5).

  Here, the mobile agent 10 generated by the agent server 1 will be described.

  As described above, the mobile agent 10 not only has an object code for causing the communication device 2 to execute a predetermined target process (hereinafter referred to as a target process), but as shown in FIG. The route list 101 includes movement route information having a node number of the communication device 2 that must be passed and must be executed at that location, and a permitted number of times that can be passed.

  Here, the restoration contents of the mobile agent of the agent restoration unit 201 described above will be described in detail.

  When the node that is the transmission source of the mobile agent 10 that has been received first has in the route list 101, the agent restoration unit 201 adds the number of permitted times of the node received earlier to the intermediate code received from the intermediate code conversion unit 204. The mobile agent 10 to which the route list 101 having the permitted number of times subtracted from 1 is added is restored.

  Therefore, as indicated by the location of the node 4 in FIG. 6A, the agent restoration unit 201 does not need to move to the node for the mobile agent 10 having the permitted number of times of reception once again. When the mobile agent 10 is restored, the information is unnecessary, and this information is deleted.

  Further, when the agent restoration unit 201 receives a restoration instruction to move a node that is not in the route list 101, the agent restoration unit 201 newly moves the node name to the intermediate code route list 101 received from the intermediate code conversion unit 204 and its name. The mobile agent 10 having the permitted number of times and the added route list 101 is restored.

  Incidentally, in the example shown in FIG. 7A, the agent restoration unit 201 newly adds the node 4 having the permitted number of times 1 to the node 1, the node 2 and the node 3 as the movement route that has been previously provided. The mobile agent 10 having the route list 101 is restored.

  Further, when the agent restoration unit 201 receives a restoration instruction to change the permitted number of the corresponding node in the route list 101, the agent restoration unit 201 corresponds to the corresponding portion of the intermediate code route list 101 received from the intermediate code conversion unit 204. The mobile agent 10 having the route list 101 in which the permitted number of times is changed to the designated number is restored.

  Incidentally, in the example shown in FIG. 7B, the agent restoration unit 201 grants permission for the node 4 having the new permission count 1 to the nodes 1, 2, and 3 as the movement routes that have been previously provided. The mobile agent 10 having the route list 101 with the number of times 2 is restored.

  Next, the operation of the agent system according to this embodiment is performed until the communication device restores the mobile agent, the restored mobile agent moves to another communication device, and is stored in the memory area in the moved communication device. Prior to explaining the processing operation, (1) the outline process of the system agent that received the mobile agent, (2) the process of deleting the movement route information from the route list by the system agent, and (3) the movement route of the route list of the system agent Processing for adding or updating information will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. 8, 9, and 10, respectively.

(1) Schematic processing of a system agent that has received a mobile agent The system agent 20 of the communication device 2 that has received the mobile agent 10 executes the mobile agent 10 stored in the memory area to determine whether the target processing has been achieved. (Step 110), if it is determined that the target process has been achieved (step 110; Y), the mobile agent 10 is returned to the agent server 1 without moving to the next communication device 2, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if it is determined that the objective processing has not been achieved (step 110; N), it is determined whether or not the number of times of permission is all 0 (step 120).

  When the system agent 20 determines that the number of times of permission in all the travel route information in the route list 101 is all 0 (step 120; Y), the system agent 20 returns the processing to the agent server 1 to reset the target processing. On the other hand, if it is determined that the number of times of permission is not all 0 (step 120; N), the mobile agent 10 is moved to the next communication device based on the route list 101 (step 130), and the processing is performed at step 110. Then, the same processing as described above is continued.

(2) Process in which system agent deletes travel route information from route list When system agent 20 of communication device 2 that received mobile agent 10 restores mobile agent 10, it is stored in the memory area and received first. The mobile agent 10 is read, and it is determined whether or not the route list 101 in the read mobile agent 10 has its own node number (step 210).

  When the system agent 20 determines that the route list 101 does not have its own node number (step 210; N), the system agent 20 terminates the movement route information deletion process, but determines that there is its own node number. (Step 210; Y), a value obtained by subtracting 1 from the number of times of permission of the corresponding node is set as a new number of times of permission (Step 220).

  The system agent 20 determines whether or not the new number of times of permission has become 0 or less (step 230), and if it is determined that the new number of times of permission has not become 0 or less (step 230) (step 230). 230; N), while the movement route information deletion process is finished, if it is determined that the new number of times of permission is 0 or less (step 230; Y), the corresponding movement route information is deleted (step 230). 240) The movement route information deletion process is terminated.

(3) Processing for system agent to add or update movement route information of route list The system agent 20 of the communication device 2 that has received the mobile agent 10 is stored in the memory area when the mobile agent 10 is restored. The mobile agent 10 received first is read, and it is determined whether or not there is a node to be added to the route list 101 in the read mobile agent 10 (step 310).

  If there is a node to be added (step 310; Y), the system agent 20 adds the movement route information of the node to be added to the route list 101, and ends the process of adding or updating the movement route information.

  On the other hand, when the system agent 20 determines that there is no node to be added (step 310; N), the system agent 20 finishes the process of adding or updating the movement route information, whereas when it is determined that there is a node to be updated. (Step 320; Y), a value obtained by adding 1 from the number of times of permission of the corresponding node is set as a new number of times of permission (Step 330), and the process of adding or updating the movement route information is ended.

  Next, the operation of the agent system according to this embodiment is performed until the communication device restores the mobile agent, the restored mobile agent moves to another communication device, and is stored in the memory area in the moved communication device. The processing operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the system agent 20 of the communication device 2 of #i receives a movement request from the mobile agent 10 via the control unit, that is, receives a restoration instruction from the control unit to restore a predetermined agent (in FIG. 11) (Refer to (1)), the agent restoration unit 201 sets the flag “ON” (= 1) in the flag storage unit 202 and locks the resource (see (2) in FIG. 11).

  Subsequently, the agent restoration unit 201 reads the previously received mobile agent 10 stored in the memory area, forms a mobile agent having a predetermined route list, stores this in the memory area, An instruction to monitor the received processing status of the mobile agent 10 is output to the resource management unit 205 (see (3) in FIG. 11).

  Then, the resource management unit 205 monitors the processing status of the mobile agent 10 received earlier (see (4) in FIG. 11), and when the mobile agent 10 received earlier executes processing at a predetermined location, The size of the restored mobile agent 10 in the memory is notified to the destination communication device 2 via the communication unit 206, and an instruction (resource reservation) to secure a memory area for this size is output (FIG. 11). (Refer to (5) and (6)).

  When the destination #k communication device 2 receives an instruction to secure a memory area of a predetermined size via the inter-agent communication unit 206, the agent restoration unit 201 The flag stored in the flag storage unit 202 is set to “ON” (see (8) in FIG. 11), and resource reservation is made to the resource management unit 205 in the #i communication device via the inter-agent communication unit 206. The completion is notified (see (9), a, b in FIG. 11).

  On the other hand, when the memory area cannot be secured, the agent restoration unit 201 in the #k communication device 2 of the transmission destination sets the flag stored in the flag storage unit 202 as “OFF” and sets the agent The resource management unit 205 in the #i communication device is notified via the inter-communication unit 206 that the resource reservation could not be made (see (9), a, and b in FIG. 11).

  When the resource management unit 205 receives the fact that the resource reservation has been completed, the resource management unit 205 notifies the agent restoration unit 201 to that effect (see c in FIG. 11).

  Then, the agent restoration unit 201 reads the mobile agent 10 already generated and stored in the memory area (see d in FIG. 11), and outputs this to the MPU code conversion unit 203 (see e in FIG. 11). ).

  Upon receiving the mobile agent 10 from the agent restoration unit 201 (see e in FIG. 11), the MPU code conversion unit 203 converts the received mobile agent 10 into an MPU code, and converts the mobile agent 10 converted into this MPU code into an intermediate The data is output to the code conversion unit 204 (see f in FIG. 11).

  The intermediate code conversion unit 204 converts the mobile agent 10 converted into the MPU code received from the MPU code conversion unit 203 into an intermediate code, and transmits it to the communication device 2 of the transmission destination #k (g, in FIG. 11). h).

  In the #k communication device that has received the mobile agent 10 composed of the intermediate code from the #i communication device, the intermediate code conversion unit 204 outputs the transmitted mobile agent 10 composed of the intermediate code to the MPU code conversion unit 203. (Refer to l and m in FIG. 11).

  Upon receiving the mobile agent 10 converted into the intermediate code from the intermediate code conversion unit 204 (see m in FIG. 11), the MPU code conversion unit 203 converts the mobile agent 10 with the intermediate code into the mobile agent 10 with the MPU code. This is output to the agent restoration unit 201 (see n in FIG. 11).

  Upon receiving the mobile agent 10 converted into the MPU code from the MPU code conversion unit 203 (see n in FIG. 11), the agent restoration unit 201 converts the mobile agent 10 into the original mobile agent and stores it in the memory area (in FIG. 11). See o).

  After that, the agent restoration unit 201 outputs an instruction to set “OFF” in the flag storage unit 202 to release its own resources (see p in FIG. 11), and transfers the execution right to the control unit.

  Note that the processing operation until the agent server 1 generates a mobile agent, the generated mobile agent 10 moves to another communication device, and is stored in the memory area in the moved communication device is restored as described above. Since it is the same as the case of the mobile agent 10, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the agent system of this embodiment, since the communication device 2 restores the agent whose movement route information has been changed as necessary from the mobile agent 10 received earlier, it is not necessary to set the destination again.

  In addition, since the communication device 2 reserves a memory area for storing the restored mobile agent 10 for the communication device 2 scheduled to transmit the restored mobile agent 10, the destination of the restored agent is surely transmitted. Can be sent to.

  Furthermore, since the communication devices 2 of different processing systems are converted into intermediate codes that can be processed together and transmitted, the mobile agent 10 can be transmitted between the communication devices 2 configured in different processing systems.

Second Embodiment
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the mobile agent restored by the communication device 2.

  In the agent system of the first embodiment, the system agent 20 is configured to restore the mobile agent 10 composed of the route list 101 and the target process as described above. In the agent system of the second embodiment, As shown in FIG. 12, the system agent 20 is further configured to restore the mobile agent 10 provided with the route collection list 102 indicating the history of the nodes of the communication devices 2 that have passed.

  In this way, by providing the route collection list 102 in the mobile agent 10 by the system agent 20 of each communication device 2, the route that the destination communication device 2 reaches in the shortest time can be acquired.

  Note that, since the time to reach the destination of the mobile agent 10 varies depending on the processing capability of the system agent 20 at each node, a route with a small number of nodes of the communication device 2 on which the mobile agent 10 moves is not necessarily the shortest. Needless to say, it cannot be a route.

  Hereinafter, the process of acquiring the shortest path of the mobile agent will be described with reference to FIG.

  For example, the agent server 1 (1) in the route list 101 has nodes A, D, F as movement route information and H as a destination in the route list 101, and the received system agent 20 performs predetermined processing (tasks). Mobile agent 10 for executing the process of # 1 for executing (2), (2) mobile agent 10 for # 2 having B, D, F and H nodes as movement route information in the route list 101, and (3) route It is assumed that the mobile agent 10 of # 3 having C, E, G, and H nodes is transmitted almost simultaneously to the list 101 as movement route information.

  If the mobile agent 10 of # 2 first reaches the H node, the system agent 20 in the communication device 2 of the H node displays the route selection end flag held by itself in the flag storage unit 202. The mobile agent 10 having its own node (route collection information) in the route collection list 102 is restored, and this is returned to the agent server 1.

  The agent server 1 refers to the route collection list 102 of the mobile agent 20 that has returned, knows the shortest route to reach the destination, and extinguishes this mobile agent 10.

  Thereafter, when the transmission destination of the mobile agent 10 is the H node, the agent server 1 generates the route list 101 based on the previously acquired route end collection list 102.

By the way, when the system agent 20 of the H node subsequently receives another mobile agent 10, after confirming that the route selection end flag is ON, the mobile agent 10 that has arrived disappears and the agent server 1 I try not to go back to
As described above, in the present invention, when the mobile agent 10 is restored when the agent is transmitted to the other communication device 2, the restored mobile agent 10 has the route collection information. The route collection information until reaching the device 2 can be obtained.
Therefore, by transmitting a plurality of mobile agents 10 from the agent server 1 to the destination at the same time, the route collection information of the mobile agent 10 that has reached the destination in the shortest time can be examined.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the agent system of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the system agent which has in the agent server in FIG. The block diagram which shows the structure of the route list | wrist which has in the mobile agent in FIG. Explanatory drawing about the movement path | route of a mobile agent. The block diagram which shows the structure of the system agent which has in the communication apparatus in FIG. Explanatory drawing explaining the content which deletes the movement route information in a route list. Explanatory drawing explaining the content which adds / changes the moving route information in a route list. The flowchart which shows the schematic process of the system agent of a communication apparatus. The flowchart which shows the process which deletes the movement route information in a route list. The flowchart which shows the process which adds / changes the movement route information in a route list. Explanatory drawing explaining the processing operation of the agent system of 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the mobile agent produced | generated and decompress | restored by the agent system of 2nd Embodiment. Explanatory drawing explaining the shortest path | route which reaches | attains the destination of the mobile agent produced | generated by the agent server. Schematic configuration diagram of a conventional agent system. The flowchart explaining the movement state of the conventional agent system. The flowchart explaining the movement state of the conventional agent system. Explanatory drawing explaining that the transmitted agent cannot be performed between the communication apparatuses of a different processing system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Agent server 10 Mobile agent 101 Path | route list 102 Path | route collection list 2 Communication apparatus 20 System agent 201 Agent production | generation part, Agent restoration part 202 Flag storage part 203 MPU code conversion part 204 Intermediate code conversion part 205 Resource management part 206 Inter-agent communication part 3 Storage device 4 Communication line

Claims (5)

An agent server and a plurality of communication devices are connected by a communication line of a wired line or a wireless line, and an agent having movement path information generated from the agent server is transmitted based on the movement path information via the communication line. An agent system that moves between communication devices,
The communication device is:
Agent restoration transmission means for changing the movement route information of the agent received first and stored in the memory area as needed, restoring it to an agent having predetermined movement route information, and sending the restored agent When,
Memory area reservation means for reserving a memory area for storing an agent scheduled for transmission in advance for a communication device scheduled for transmission based on the movement path information;
Based on the travel route information, when the agent is transmitted to the next communication device, the agent is converted into a processable intermediate code even if the destination communication device executes a different processing code. Intermediate code conversion transmission means for transmitting this,
Equipped with,
The agent has, as the route collection information, a history of the node number of the communication device that has passed along with the movement route information.
The agent restoration transmission means restores and transmits the agent whose node number is additionally registered in the route collection information when transmitting the agent to another communication device,
The agent server includes a plurality of agents each having one piece of movement route information in which node numbers of communication devices in the middle of different movement routes and node numbers of communication devices of final destinations that coincide with each other are registered. While simultaneously transmitting to the communication device and reading the route collection information in the returned agent,
The agent system according to claim 1, wherein the communication device at the final destination returns only the agent that has reached the earliest among the plurality of agents transmitted from the agent server to the agent server . The communication device is:
When an agent moves, a memory area for storing the agent is secured in advance, and a memory area reservation releasing unit is provided for clearing and releasing the agent from the memory area after transmitting the agent. The agent system according to claim 1 . The memory area reservation means includes
Agent processing progress detection means for detecting the progress of the processing of the agent received earlier;
Have
The memory area is reserved for a communication device scheduled to transmit when the agent processing progress detection means detects that the previously received agent has executed a predetermined location. Or the agent system of 2. An agent server and a plurality of communication devices are connected by a communication line of a wired line or a wireless line, and an agent having movement path information generated from the agent server is transmitted based on the movement path information via the communication line. A communication method for moving between communication devices,
By the communication device,
The agent's movement route information received first and stored in the memory area is changed as necessary, and restored to an agent having predetermined movement route information,
Based on the travel route information, for a communication device that is scheduled to transmit, reserve in advance a memory area for storing an agent that is scheduled to transmit,
Based on the travel route information, when the agent is transmitted to the next communication device, the agent is converted into a processable intermediate code even if the destination communication device executes a different processing code. And send this,
The agent has, as the route collection information, a history of the node number of the communication device that has passed along with the movement route information.
When transmitting an agent to the other communication device by the communication device, the agent that additionally registered its own node number in the route collection information is restored and transmitted,
The agent server includes a plurality of agents each having one piece of moving route information in which node numbers of communication devices in the final destination that coincide with node numbers of communication devices in the middle of different moving routes are registered. While simultaneously transmitting to the communication device and reading the route collection information in the returned agent,
A communication method characterized in that, by the communication device at the final destination, only the agent that has reached the earliest among the plurality of agents transmitted from the agent server is returned to the agent server . By the communication device,
Advance when the agent comes moved, it allocates a memory area for storing the agent, also from the memory area after sending the agent to claim 4, characterized in that the opening clear the agent The communication method described .

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