Autonomous agent messaging

摘要

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for generating, sending, and receiving messages in a networked environment using autonomous (or semi-autonomous) agents. In one example of the disclosed technology, a method of collecting data from an agent executing on a host computer connected to one or more agent data consumers via a network connection includes collecting host data, the collecting occurring whether or not the agent can currently send data via the network connection. When the agent cannot send data via the network connection, the agent spools at least a portion of the collected host data in a spooler. When the agent can send data via the computer network, the agent sends at least a portion of the spooled host data to at least one of the agent data consumers.

主权项

1. A method of collecting data from an agent executing on a host computer, the host computer being connected to one or more agent data consumers via a network connection, the method comprising:
with the agent, searching for one or more software plugins among a plurality of plugins available on the host computer; with the agent, loading at least one of the one or more software plugins for execution on the host computer by the agent; with the agent, receiving a request for host data from an agent bridge via the network connection; based at least in part on the request, selecting at least one of the loaded software plugins to collect the requested host data and invoking the selected plugin on the host computer; collecting the host data with the agent using the selected software plugin on the host computer, the collecting occurring whether or not the agent can currently send data via the network connection; when the agent cannot send data via the network connection, storing at least a portion of the collected host data in a spooler hosted by the agent; and when the agent can send data via the network connection, sending at least a portion of the spooled host data to at least one of the agent data consumers.