table of contents

Intelligent Software Agents on theInternet: an inventory of currently offered functionality in the information society & a prediction of near-future developments by Björn Hermans _______

Intelligent Software Agents on the

Internet:

an inventory of currently offered

functionality in the information

society & a prediction of

(near-)future developments

by Björn Hermans

"[ ] Agents are here to

stay, not least because of

their diversity, their wide

range of applicability and

the broad spectrum of

companies investing in

them As we move further

and further into the information age, any information-based organisation which does not invest in agent technology may

be committing commercial hara-kiri."

Hyacinth S Nwana in [NWAN96]

Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands,

the 9th of July 1996 http://www.hermans.org/agents

Table of Contents

1 Preamble 4

1.1 Abstract

1.2 Introduction

1.2.1 Problems regarding the demand for information

1.2.2 Possible solutions: Search Engines and Agents

1.2.3 Agents as building blocks for a new Internet structure

1.2.4 Thesis Constraints

1.3 Two statements

1.4 Structure of the thesis

PART ONE - Theoretical and Practical Aspects of Agents and the Prospects of Agents in a Three Layer Model

2 Intelligent Software Agents Theory

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Definition

2.2.1 The weak notion of the concept "agent"

2.2.2 The strong(er) notion of the concept "agent"

2.2.3 "Agency" and "Intelligence"

2.3 The User's "definition" of agents

18 2.4 Summary

3 Intelligent Software Agents in Practise

3.1 Applications of Intelligent Agents

3.2 Examples of agent applications and entire agent systems

3.2.1 Two examples of agent applications

3.2.1.1 Open Sesame! 3.2.1.2 Hoover 3.2.2 Two examples of entire agent systems 3.2.2.1 The Internet SoftBot

24 3.2.2.2 The Info Agent

3.3 Summary

4 The Three Layer Model

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Definition

4.3 The functions of the middle layer

33 4.3.1 Middle layer (agent) functions

4.3.2 An example of a future middle layer query

4.4 Computer and human Intermediaries

4.4.1 Introduction

4.4.2 Intermediary/Broker Issues

4.4.3 Human versus Electronic Intermediaries

4.5 An example of a middle layer application: Matchmaking

4.6 Summary PART TWO - Current & Expected Near-Future and Future Agent Developments, Possibilities and Challenges

5 Past and Current Agent Trends & Developments

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Computers and the agent-technique

5.3 The User

5.4 The Suppliers & the Developers

49 5.5 The Government

5.6 The Internet & the World Wide Web

5.7 Summary

6 Future and Near-Future Agent Trends & Developments

6.1 Introduction

6.2 The Agent-technique

6.2.1 General remarks

6.2.2 Chronological overview of expected/predicted developments

6.2.2.1 The short term: basic agent-based applications 6.2.2.2 The medium term: further elaboration and enhancements 6.2.2.3 The long term: agents grow to maturity 6.3 The User

6.3.1 General remarks

6.3.1.1 Ease of Use 6.3.1.2 Available applications 6.3.2 Chronological overview of expected/predicted developments

6.3.2.1 The short term: first agent encounters 6.3.2.2 The medium term: increased user confidence and agent usage 6.3.2.3 The long term: further agent confidence and task delegation? 6.4 The Suppliers & the Developers

69 6.4.1 Who will be developing agents and how will they be offered?

6.4.2 What kinds of agents will be offered?

6.4.3 Why/with what reasons will agents be developed and/or offered?

6.5 The Government

6.6 The Internet & the World Wide Web

6.7 Summary

7 Concluding remarks, statement reviews and acknowledgements

7.1 Concluding remarks

7.2 Statement conclusions

7.2.1 The claim

7.2.2 The prediction

7.3 Acknowledgements

8 Used information sources

8.1 Literature

8.2 Information sources on the Internet

9 Appendices

Appendix 1 - A list of World Wide Web Search Engines

Appendix 2 - General, introductory information about the Internet

Appendix 3 - Internet Growth Figures

Table of Contents