Mobile Agent Service Discovery via Host Listing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed computing environments, mobile agent objects lack a uniform method for discovering available services within a host-computing environment, leading to inefficient resource utilization and a need for auditing service usage to generate statistics and support intrusion detection.

Innovation Solution

A system and method where mobile agent objects request a service listing from the host-computing environment, with the host returning a listing that the agent can use to determine available services, and an auditing system logs service events to track usage and detect potential intrusions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If mobile agent objects attempt all services to discover available services, then service discovery is possible, but computing time and power are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice discovery efficiencyVSAvoidcomputing time and power

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the host-computing environment proactively provide a service listing to the mobile agent object before the agent attempts to use services. This allows the agent to know in advance which services are available, eliminating the need to try all services and thus wasting computing time and power.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If mobile agent objects lack a uniform service discovery method, then flexibility is maintained, but resource utilization becomes inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice discovery flexibilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by implementing a uniform service discovery method that works across all host-computing environments. The host always provides a service listing through a standardized interface, allowing mobile agent objects to efficiently discover services regardless of the specific environment, thus improving resource utilization efficiency while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If service usage is not audited, then system simplicity is maintained, but intrusion detection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidintrusion detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing an auditing system that acts as a mediator between the mobile agent object and the host-computing environment services. This auditing system logs service usage events, providing intrusion detection capability without significantly complicating the core system architecture, as the auditing function operates independently through event logging.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS7614059B2System and method for the discovery and usage of local resources by a mobile agent object

Publication Date: 2009.11.03 TOPIA TECH

AI summary

A method is presented for a mobile agent object to discover services available in a host-computing environment. According to an embodiment of this method, the mobile agent object requests a service listing from the host environment. The host environment returns a service listing to the mobile agent object in response to the request for the service listing. The mobile agent object then determines if a particular service is within the returned service listing and requests the particular service if the particular service is determined by the mobile agent object to be within the returned service listing.