Server agent system

Abstract

A server agent system that provides agents, transmitted to a server by a client, that monitor specific event(s) on the server. When a pre-defined event(s) occurs, an agent performs a set action(s) in response to each event. The actions are predefined by the client. The agent requires no further intervention of the client once it is placed on the server and are created by a client or news reader and, when created by a news reader, agents are treated as a value added service provided by the application. The types of actions that an agent performs can be almost anything that the client desires and include the execution of Java and/or Javascript programs which are supplied by the client or the server. An agent's events and actions are subject to the same access control security restrictions as the client that submitted the agent. The types of agents available on a server are pre-defined and are supplied as agent templates and are building blocks for the client to build agents with. A server can only supply agents that it understands and publishes the available agent templates and events on an agent home page where clients select from the list of agent types available on the server and submit an agent to the server. Servers also provide administration services for clients with resident agents where they monitor and manage their agents on the server. Each agent is assigned a unique identifier and token by the server. Names can also be assigned to an agent by the client. Server administrators are provided with an administration function to maintain and manage agents resident on that server. Agent objects are created on the server that uniquely identify that agent which is mapped to the proper event and is triggered upon occurrence of that event. When the agent is triggered, its action list is processed, executed and agent information and statistics are logged.