Automated gathering of Web information: An in-depth examination of agents interacting with search engines

The Web has become a worldwide repository of information which individuals, companies, and organizations utilize to solve or address various information problems. Many of these Web users utilize automated agents to gather this information for them. Some assume that this approach represents a more sophisticated method of searching. However, there is little research investigating how Web agents search for online information. In this research, we first provide a classification for information agent using stages of information gathering, gathering approaches, and agent architecture. We then examine an implementation of one of the resulting classifications in detail, investigating how agents search for information on Web search engines, including the session, query, term, duration and frequency of interactions. For this temporal study, we analyzed three data sets of queries and page views from agents interacting with the Excite and AltaVista search engines from 1997 to 2002, examining approximately 900,000 queries submitted by over 3,000 agents. Findings include: (1) agent sessions are extremely interactive, with sometimes hundreds of interactions per second (2) agent queries are comparable to human searchers, with little use of query operators, (3) Web agents are searching for a relatively limited variety of information, wherein only 18% of the terms used are unique, and (4) the duration of agent-Web search engine interaction typically spans several hours. We discuss the implications for Web information agents and search engines.

Adaptive intelligent agent approach to guide the web navigation on the PLAN-G distance learning platform

Hypermedia systems based on the Web for open distance education are becoming increasingly popular as tools for user-driven access learning information. Adaptive hypermedia is a new direction in research within the area of user-adaptive systems, to increase its functionality by making it personalized [Eklu 961. This paper sketches a general agents architecture to include navigational adaptability and user-friendly processes which would guide and accompany the student during hislher learning on the PLAN-G hypermedia system (New Generation Telematics Platform to Support Open and Distance Learning), with the aid of computer networks and specifically WWW technology [Marz 98-1] [Marz 98-2]. The PLAN-G actual prototype is successfully used with some informatics courses (the current version has no agents yet). The propased multi-agent system, contains two different types of adaptive autonomous software agents: Personal Digital Agents {Interface), to interacl directly with the student when necessary; and Information Agents (Intermediaries), to filtrate and discover information to learn and to adapt navigation space to a specific student

Towards a Monitoring Framework for Agent-Based Contract Systems

The behaviours of autonomous agents may deviate from those deemed to be for the good of the societal systems of which they are a part. Norms have therefore been proposed as a means to regulate agent behaviours in open and dynamic systems, and may be encoded in electronic contracts in order to specify the obliged, permitted and prohibited behaviours of agents that are signatories to such contracts. Enactment and management of electronic contracts thus enables the use of regulatory mechanisms to ensure that agent behaviours comply with the encoded norms. To facilitate such mechanisms requires monitoring in order to detect and explain violation of norms. In this paper we propose a framework for monitoring that is to be implemented and integrated into a suite of contract enactment and management tools. The framework adopts a non-intrusive approach to monitoring, whereby the states of a contract with respect to its contained norms can be inferred on the basis of messages exchanged. Specifically, the framework deploys agents that observe messages sent between contract signatories, where these messages correspond to agent behaviours and therefore indicate whether norms are, or are in danger of, being violated.

On the limits of cheap talk for public good provision

This article studies a model where, as a consequence of private information, agents do not have incentive to invest in a desired joint project, or a public good, when they are unable to have prior discussion with their partners. As a result, the joint project is never undertaken and inefficiency is observed. Agastya, Menezes and Sengupta (2007) prove that with a prior stage of communication, with a binary message space, it is possible to have some efficiency gain since "all ex-ante and interim efficient equilibria exhibit a simple structure". We show that any finite message space does not provide efficiency gain on the simple structure discussed in that article. We use laboratory experiments to test these results. We find that people do contribute, even without communication, and that any kind of communication increases the probability of project implementation. We also observed that communication reduces the unproductive contribution, and that a large message space cannot provide efficiency gain relative to the binary one.

A Escola nacional de Informações: a formação dos agentes para a inteligência durante o regime militar

Pós-graduação em História - FCHS

Modeling Commercial Knowledge to Develop Advanced Agent-based Marketplaces for E-commerce

This paper argues about the utility of advanced knowledge-based techniques to develop web-based applications that help consumers in finding products within marketplaces in e-commerce. In particular, we describe the idea of model-based approach to develop a shopping agent that dynamically configures a product according to the needs and preferences of customers. Finally, the paper summarizes the advantages provided by this approach.

GraniteNights - A Multi-Agent Visit Scheduler Utilising Semantic Web Technology

Postprint

Modelo de Informações Português no Teatro de Operações de Angola 1961-1974

A presente investigação centra-se na temática das Informações no conflito entre Portugal e os Movimentos Independentistas de Angola no período de 1961 a 1974. Existindo uma extensa bibliografia centrada na componente das Operações, este trabalho explora outra vertente desenvolvendo a organização e a atividade de todas as entidades ligadas às Informações, procurando sistematizar a solução portuguesa na área das Informações para a guerra subversiva que combatia. O Objetivo Geral do trabalho visa “Descrever o Modelo de Informações Português no Teatro de Operações de Angola entre 1961-1974”. Para possibilitar essa descrição abordou-se a temática segundo um Modelo de análise de Informações apresentado pelo General Lucena, em que enquadra as Informações segundo três aceções, o Conhecimento, a Atividade e a Organização, centrando-se o trabalho na análise da Atividade e Organização. Enquadrado pelo Modelo de análise já referido e pretendendo responder aos objetivos utilizou-se o método dedutivo e a nível de procedimentos, o método histórico. Conclui-se que o Modelo de Informações Português foi evoluindo ao longo do tempo e reflete a doutrina portuguesa desenvolvida no período do conflito. A existência de agentes de informações, entidades militares e civis, que se especializaram na dimensão de recolha e tratamento de Informações foi significativa. A especialização na pesquisa, na análise ou na fiscalização garantiu uma rentabilização de meios. A criação de uma estrutura civil-militar e a partilha de informações nessa estrutura, demonstra um comando centralizado para este período, garantindo uma abordagem holística e integrada na compreensão do problema da subversão.