Abstract
A software agent is described that can suggest to the user appropriate software services, documents or other resources on a network or local computer. It also describes a novel software framework for the implementation of software agents and several other embodiments of the underlying invention. The underlying software framework, aQtiveSpace, is based on component programs called Qbits which have a variety of types of interaction which together allow highly flexible interconnection. The main embodiment, referred to in this document as aQtiveDesk and available commercially as onCue, is a desktop software agent that watches the users activity and each time the user copies text or other data it uses various recogniser programs (implemented as Qbits) to determine what kind of data is provided and then invokes various service programs (also Qits) depending on the kind of data. These services include local desktop applications. Internet applications and shortcuts to web pages. Other embodiments, BrainStorm, SiteStore and DeskStore, also incorporate the principle of suggesting appropriate resources based on the users current activity and context.
keywords: task support, data detector, intelligent user interfaces, onCue, aQtiveDesk
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