Method and Apparatus for Implementing an Active Information Model

Abstract

A service support system has one or more computerized servers each coupled to one or more digital memories and to a network, software executing on individual ones of the one or more computerized servers from a non-transitory medium, one or more rule sets stored in one or more of the one or more digital memories, a plurality of interaction ports enabling two-way communication between the one or more computerized servers and individual ones of a plurality of different sorts of computerized communication devices using one or more of voice, text, email, and interactive display interfaces provided by the one or more servers, and instantiation and configuration functions accessible by users of the computerized communication devices, the functions to instantiate and configure active agents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A service support system, comprising:
 one or more computerized servers each coupled to one or more digital memories and to a network;   software executing on individual ones of the one or more computerized servers from a non-transitory medium;   one or more rule sets stored in one or more of the one or more digital memories;   a plurality of interaction ports enabling two-way communication between the one or more computerized servers and individual ones of a plurality of different sorts of computerized communication devices using one or more of voice, text, email, and interactive display interfaces provided by the one or more servers; and   instantiation and configuration functions accessible by users of the computerized communication devices, the functions to instantiate and configure active agents;   wherein a user accessing one of the one or more computerized servers is enabled to instantiate and configure one or more active agents dedicated to the configuring user or to another user, the one or more active agents to have functions for accomplishing tasks for the user to whom the active agent is dedicated, including accessing network-accessible data and returning said data to the user, and wherein the configuration of one or more active agents dedicated to a user provides a Personal Information Portal (PIP) wherein accessing the PIP by the user to whom the PIP is dedicated initiates one or more tasks performed in conjunction with the one or more rule sets.   
     
     
         2 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein the different sorts of computerized communication devices include but are not limited to, land-line telephones, smart telephones, digital pad devices, network appliances and laptop and desktop computers. 
     
     
         3 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein the tasks that are enabled to be performed include establishing, conducting and terminating communication with other PIPs, and with network-connected data repositories. 
     
     
         4 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein a PIP comprises at least one defined role for the dedicated user, the role defining nature of tasks undertaken on behalf of the dedicated user. 
     
     
         5 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein interaction between PIPs active agents and Rules provide for matching one or more services with individual users as recipients of such services. 
     
     
         6 . The service support system of  claim 4  wherein roles include administrator, service provider and object of services. 
     
     
         7 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein the PIP is configured with dedicated persistent storage. 
     
     
         8 . The service support system of  claim 7  wherein the PIP comprises functionality for storing data and functional activity over time. 
     
     
         9 . The service support system of  claim 1  further comprising an interactive interface enabling a user to whom the PIP is dedicated or an administrator to edit characteristics of a PIP. 
     
     
         10 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein one or more active agents may be instantiated in a manner that the agent expires when its tasks are completed. 
     
     
         11 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein an active agent is enabled to trigger events through other active agents. 
     
     
         12 . The service support system of  claim 1  wherein a PIP has functionality for amending its active agents over time. 
     
     
         13 . A service support method, comprising:
 instantiating one or more active agents dedicated to a user in a Personal Information Portal (PIP) operating on a network-connected communication device through one or more of voice, text, email, and interactive display interfaces, the one or more active agents having functions for accomplishing tasks for the user to whom the active agent is dedicated, including accessing data and returning said data to the user or to another active agent;   coupling the PIP with other PIPs dedicated to other users and to one or more computerized servers each coupled to one or more digital memories storing rule sets and to a network, the one or more servers executing software from a non-transitory medium; and   initiating and performing specific tasks for the user enabled by functionality of the one or more active agents.   
     
     
         14 . The service support method of  claim 13  wherein the network-connected communication devices include, but are not limited to, land-line telephones, smart telephones, digital pad devices, network appliances and laptop and desktop computers. 
     
     
         15 . The service support method of  claim 13  including steps for establishing, conducting and terminating communication with other PIPs, and with network-connected data repositories. 
     
     
         16 . The service support method of  claim 13  including defining specific roles for different users, the roles constraining nature of tasks undertaken on behalf of the dedicated user. 
     
     
         17 . The service support method of  claim 13  including steps for matching one or more services with individual users as recipients of such services. 
     
     
         18 . The service support method of  claim 16  wherein roles include administrator, service provider and object of services. 
     
     
         19 . The service support method of  claim 13  including configuring the PIP with dedicated persistent storage. 
     
     
         20 . The service support method of  claim 19  including steps for storing data and functional activity over time. 
     
     
         21 . The service support method of  claim 13  including steps for editing characteristics of a PIP through an interactive interface. 
     
     
         22 . The service support method of  claim 13  including steps for instantiating one or more active agents in a manner that the agent expires when its tasks are completed. 
     
     
         23 . The service support method of  claim 13  including steps for an active agent to trigger events through other active agents. 
     
     
         24 . The service support method of  claim 13  including steps for amending characteristics of active agents over time.