Intelligent transport agent for transmitting data

摘要

This invention provides a message format and a method for the delivery of message data from a transmitting computer in a first environment to a receiving computer in a second environment. The transmitting computer prepares a message which includes message data, a delivery wrapper and a presentation wrapper. The delivery wrapper includes a delivery agent and a list of presentation software and presentation data components which may be required for a user to access the message data on the receiving computer. The presentation software and presentation data components are included in the presentation wrapper of the message. The message is transmitted from the first computer to the second computer by a transmitting agent operating on the first computer, beginning with the delivery wrapper. The delivery agent is activated on the receiving computer once it is received and it determines which of the presentation software and presentation data components must be added to the second environment in order for the message data to be viewed or manipulated. The delivery agent then instructs the transmitting agent not to send presentation software and presentation data components which already exist on the receiving computer or which are not otherwise required. The delivery agent then creates a presentation environment which may incorporate presentation software and presentation data components software that previously existed in the second environment as well as newly added components allowing the user of the second computer to access the message data. The newly added components may or may not be retained as part of the second environment.