Integration of disparate applications on a network

Abstract

A system is implementable in a network including a plurality of electronic devices coupled to each other via a communication medium. The system includes a first mobile agent object executable on an electronic device of the plurality and operable to perform a first operation on a data set. A second mobile agent object is executable on an electronic device of the plurality and operable to perform a second operation on a data set. A composition object is operable to enable the first mobile agent object to provide the data set to the second mobile agent object if the first mobile agent object and second mobile agent object are executing on the same electronic device of the plurality. At least one bridging object is operable to enable the first mobile agent object to provide the data set to the second mobile agent object if the first mobile agent object and second mobile agent object are executing on different electronic devices of the plurality.

1 . A method of transferring at least one computer program product from at least one first computer to a second computer having a first object-oriented runtime environment and connected to the at least one first computer through at least one communication medium, and to a third computer having a second object-oriented runtime environment and connected to the at least one first computer through the at least one communication medium, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) accessing, on the at least one first computer:
 (1) a first mobile agent object that, when executed in the first runtime environment, is operable to perform a first operation on a data set, 
 (2) a second mobile agent object that, when executed in the second runtime environment, is operable to perform a second operation on the data set, and 
 (3) at least one additional object that, when executed in a runtime environment, is operable to enable the first runtime environment to provide the data set to the second runtime environment; and 
   (b) instructing the transfer of the first mobile agent object to the second computer, the second mobile agent object to the third computer, and the at least one additional object from the first computer through the at least one communication medium.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         3 . A method of transferring at least one computer program product from at least one first computer to at least one second computer having an object-oriented runtime environment and connected to the at least one first computer through a communication medium, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) accessing, on the at least one first computer:
 (1) a first mobile agent object that, when executed in the runtime environment, is operable to perform a first operation on a data set, 
 (2) a second mobile agent object that, when executed in the runtime environment, is operable to perform a second operation on the data set, and 
 (3) a third object that, when executed in the runtime environment, is operable to enable the first mobile agent object to provide the data set to the second mobile agent object; and 
   (b) instructing the transfer of the first mobile agent object, second mobile agent object, and third object from the at least one first computer to the at least one second computer through the communication medium.   
     
     
         4 . A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method of  claim 3 . 
     
     
         5 . A system implementable in a network including a plurality of electronic devices coupled to each other via a communication medium, the system comprising:
 a first mobile agent object executable on an electronic device of the plurality and operable to perform a first operation on a data set;   a second mobile agent object executable on an electronic device of the plurality and operable to perform a second operation on a data set;   a composition object operable to enable the first mobile agent object to provide the data set to the second mobile agent object if the first mobile agent object and second mobile agent object are executing on the same electronic device of the plurality; and   at least one bridging object operable to enable the first mobile agent object to provide the data set to the second mobile agent object if the first mobile agent object and second mobile agent object are executing on different electronic devices of the plurality.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the first mobile agent object, second mobile agent object, composition object and at least one bridging object are, in response to at least one instruction, automatically deployable from at least one location on the network to the first and second electronic devices. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional object comprises a mobile agent object. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein instructing the transfer of the at least one additional object from the first computer through the at least one communication medium comprises:
 instructing the transfer of a first additional object to the second computer; and 
 instructing the transfer of a second additional object to the third computer, wherein the first and second additional objects are configured to communication with each other over the at least one communication medium. 
 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first mobile agent object receives the data set from a data-producing application executing on the second computer; and 
 the second mobile agent object provides the data set to a data-consuming application executing on the third computer. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 accessing, on the at least one first computer, a third object that, when executed in the first runtime environment, is operable to enable the first mobile agent object to receive the data set from the data-producing application; and   instructing the transfer of the third object from the at least one first computer to the second computer through the communication medium.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 accessing, on the at least one first computer, a fourth object that, when executed in the second runtime environment, is operable to enable the second mobile agent object to provide the data set to the data-consuming application; and   instructing the transfer of the fourth object from the at least one first computer to the third computer through the communication medium.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first operation comprises a format change of the data set. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 3  wherein:
 the first mobile agent object receives the data set from a data-producing application executing on the second computer; and 
 the second mobile agent object provides the data set to a data-consuming application executing on the second computer. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 accessing, on the at least one first computer, a fourth object that, when executed in the runtime environment, is operable to enable the first mobile agent object to receive the data set from the data-producing application; and   instructing the transfer of the fourth object from the at least one first computer to the at least one second computer through the communication medium.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 accessing, on the at least one first computer, a fourth object that, when executed in the runtime environment, is operable to enable the second mobile agent object to provide the data set to the data-consuming application; and   instructing the transfer of the fourth object from the at least one first computer to the at least one second computer through the communication medium.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the first operation comprises a format change of the data set. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the third object comprises a mobile agent object. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 5  wherein each of the composition object and at least one bridging object comprises a mobile agent object. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 5  wherein:
 the first mobile agent object receives the data set from a data-producing application; and 
 the second mobile agent object provides the data set to a data-consuming application. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the first operation comprises a format change of the data set.