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Article
Publication date: 15 June 2012

Andrea Barraza‐Urbina and Angela Carrillo Ramos

The purpose of this paper is to describe UWIRS (Ubiquitous Web Information Retrieval Solution), an agent‐based Web Information Retrieval (WIR) solution designed taking into…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe UWIRS (Ubiquitous Web Information Retrieval Solution), an agent‐based Web Information Retrieval (WIR) solution designed taking into account the unique features of the World Wide Web (WWW) and the limitations of existing WIR solutions for ubiquitous environments.

Design/methodology/approach

UWIRS can offer recommendation services by using the Multi‐Agent Vizier Recommendation Framework (Vizier). Vizier was designed under a generic approach and therefore can provide services to information retrieval applications so these may offer product recommendations that consider several adaptation/personalization dimensions (e.g. user dimension, context, among others).

Findings

Overall, the main challenge resides on: location, retrieval, integration and presentation of information from the WWW, quickly and accurately, to satisfy a user's singular information needs.

Originality/value

In UWIRS, agents cooperate in order to retrieve personalized information, considering user needs, goals, preferences and contextual features. UWIRS's agents are responsible for: interpreting user input and adding adaptation information by means of a query enrichment process; identifying and selecting the appropriate data sources taking into consideration the Profile Set (composed of User, Device and Information‐Provider Profiles); executing query routing and the information retrieval process; integrating and filtering the retrieved results; and lastly, coherent presentation of quality and relevant ubiquitous information (anytime, anywhere and anyhow) that satisfies the user's particular information needs and constraints associated to his/her access device.

Details

International Journal of Web Information Systems, vol. 8 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-0084

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1999

Seng Wai Loke, Leon Sterling and Liz Sonenberg

Finding specific information on the Web can be difficult and time‐consuming due to the Web’s tremendous size and the current speed of network connections. Information agents that…

Abstract

Finding specific information on the Web can be difficult and time‐consuming due to the Web’s tremendous size and the current speed of network connections. Information agents that search the Web on behalf of users are invaluable. Since information needs are diverse, there should be tools for users to build their own agents that specialize in finding the information they want. These tools should be usable by non‐programmers. This paper describes ARIS, a shell for constructing information agents without coding. Our approach is akin to expert system shells, where the user supplies the knowledge for each specialist agent, and a common engine utilizes the agents’ knowledge. An agent’s search is guided by knowledge about how Web sites in a given domain are typically structured. We also report on our experiences with two agents built using ARIS.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 9 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 April 2014

Reza Etemad-Sajadi

The purpose of this study is to measure the perception and the behavioural intention of web-users who interact with a virtual agent on a web site. The author wants to measure the…

1661

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to measure the perception and the behavioural intention of web-users who interact with a virtual agent on a web site. The author wants to measure the added value of this technology in terms of providing e-service and measure web-users' desire to have a concrete experience with a firm after experiencing its web site.

Design/methodology/approach

The author integrated a virtual agent on a restaurant's web site and conducted an online survey. The author asked respondents to interact with the virtual agent and then fill in the questionnaire. The author used the expanded version of the technology acceptance model (TAM) for measuring the intention of potential customers to accept a new technology and for evaluating the characteristics of the virtual agent. In order to measure the e-service quality, the author adapted items of WebQual to restaurant industry. As the author had several latent variables, the author used partial least squares (PLS), a variance-based structural equation modeling method.

Findings

Results show that the utilitarian and hedonic values of the virtual agent increase significantly the desire of potential clients to experiment the restaurant. Hedonic value seems to play a major role. This is a crucial factor for restaurant and hotel industries which can be considered as hedonic industries.

Practical implications

This research can help firms to manage relationships with current and potential clients through their web site. The nature of the company plays an important role in the success of the virtual agent's implementation. Even if in the case the author applied the virtual agent to a hedonic industry, a lot of companies in other sectors can benefit from having a virtual agent, especially if the company in question is service-oriented (e.g. bank, airline, etc.).

Originality/value

According to the author's knowledge, virtual agents have never been applied to restaurant/hotel industries before. The results of this research significantly advanced the understanding of the impact of virtual agents, especially in the hospitality industry. Moreover, the author applied the TAM to the characteristics of virtual agent, which is very new for the academic world. Finally, the framework the author presented in this research could be used as a basis of measurement of virtual agent effectiveness.

Details

International Journal of Quality & Reliability Management, vol. 31 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-671X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2005

Fuyuki Ishikawa, Yasuyuki Tahara, Nobukazu Yoshioka and Shinichi Honiden

A general framework for mobile Web services ‐ which are Web services with the ability to migrate from one host to another ‐ is proposed. In this framework, a mobile Web service is…

Abstract

A general framework for mobile Web services ‐ which are Web services with the ability to migrate from one host to another ‐ is proposed. In this framework, a mobile Web service is composed of a combination of a BPEL process description, service components to be carried, and migration behavior descriptions using simple but expressive rules. The semantics of the descriptions are defined using Mobile Ambients, namely, a formal model of concurrent mobile processes. With this framework, it is thus possible to add or change migration behaviors without having to modify the BPEL process.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 1 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2006

Javad Soroor and Mohammad J. Tarokh

As the technology evolves, the ways in which supply chain is coordinated improve. During a careful study on the intelligent wireless web (IWW) and its services for future

2277

Abstract

Purpose

As the technology evolves, the ways in which supply chain is coordinated improve. During a careful study on the intelligent wireless web (IWW) and its services for future applications, its great potentials for the implementation of a mobile real‐time system for supply chain coordination were realized. This paper seeks to introduce a development process for the IWW. In addition, it aims to explain the concept of mobile real‐time supply chain coordination, and propose and describe a practical model for this subject matter based on the most recent technologies including the IWW and agents.

Design/methodology/approach

Objectives were achieved through a thorough study on the IWW, agent technology, and the ways of applying them for mobile real‐time coordination in supply processes. As a method to conduct the research, first, the paper made out what the IWW services are and how one may develop them. Since mobile real‐time coordination is an absolutely innovative concept, the study prepared a comprehensive understanding of it and then, a practical framework was sketched and explained to implement the suggested system. The approach to this topic was a realistic one and an attempt was made to include all the prerequisites and details for the intended system.

Findings

In the course of the work, it was found that the IWW and other corresponding technologies have the greatest potentials ever available for the realization of a mobile real‐time supply chain coordination system and most of the chapters illustrate the claim.

Originality/value

Mobile real‐time coordination and its use in supply chains is something new. The development process for IWW proposed here is totally practicable and no other implementation scenario for the application of the IWW in mobile real‐time coordination has been suggested yet.

Article
Publication date: 13 March 2017

Nadia Ben Seghir, Okba Kazar, Khaled Rezeg and Samir Bourekkache

The success of web services involved the adoption of this technology by different service providers through the web, which increased the number of web services, as a result making…

Abstract

Purpose

The success of web services involved the adoption of this technology by different service providers through the web, which increased the number of web services, as a result making their discovery a tedious task. The UDDI standard has been proposed for web service publication and discovery. However, it lacks sufficient semantic description in the content of web services, which makes it difficult to find and compose suitable web services during the analysis, search, and matching processes. In addition, few works on semantic web services discovery take into account the user’s profile. The purpose of this paper is to optimize the web services discovery by reducing the search space and increasing the number of relevant services.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a new approach for the semantic web services discovery based on the mobile agent, user profile and metadata catalog. In the approach, each user can be described by a profile which is represented in two dimensions: personal dimension and preferences dimension. The description of web service is based on two levels: metadata catalog and WSDL.

Findings

First, the semantic web services discovery reduces the number of relevant services through the application of matching algorithm “semantic match”. The result of this first matching restricts the search space at the level of UDDI registry, which allows the users to have good results for the “functional match”. Second, the use of mobile agents as a communication entity reduces the traffic on the network and the quantity of exchanged information. Finally, the integration of user profile in the service discovery process facilitates the expression of the user needs and makes intelligible the selected service.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first attempt at implementing the mobile agent technology with the semantic web service technology.

Details

International Journal of Intelligent Computing and Cybernetics, vol. 10 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1756-378X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 31 December 2006

Akio Sashima, Noriaki Izumi and Koichi Kurumatani

In the vision of pervasive computing, numerous heterogeneous devices, various information services, and users performing daily activities are physically co‐located in a…

Abstract

In the vision of pervasive computing, numerous heterogeneous devices, various information services, and users performing daily activities are physically co‐located in a environment. How can we coordinate the services and devices to assist a particular user in receiving a particular service so as to maximize the user’s satisfaction? To solve this human‐centered coordination issue, we propose an agent‐based service coordination framework for pervasive computing. It is called location‐aware middle agent framework. The middle agent takes account of the user location in cognitive way (based on location‐ontology), and determines best‐matched services for the user. Based on this coordination framework, we have developed a multi‐agent architecture for pervasive computing, called CONSORTS (Coordination System of Real‐world Transaction Services). In this paper, we first outline some requirements of the human‐centered service coordination in pervasive computing. Secondly, we describe location‐aware middle agent framework to fill the requirements. Lastly, we outline CONSORTS, an prototype of location‐aware middle agent framework, and two applications of CONSORTS, location‐aware information assistance services in a museum and wireless‐LAN based location systems on FIPA agent Networks.

Details

International Journal of Pervasive Computing and Communications, vol. 2 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1742-7371

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 October 2011

Veena Chattaraman, Wi‐Suk Kwon, Juan E. Gilbert and Soo In Shim

The purpose of this paper is two‐fold: to investigate virtual agent representational characteristics (modality, interaction style, animation, realism, embodiment, and gender…

2227

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is two‐fold: to investigate virtual agent representational characteristics (modality, interaction style, animation, realism, embodiment, and gender) employed by agent software providers in developing commercial and non‐commercial web sites; and to examine older consumers' preferences in these agent characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Study 1 involves a content analysis of 64 sample web sites of agent providers, and study 2 consists of four focus group interviews conducted with 25 older consumers in the age group of 65‐82 years.

Findings

Findings from both studies reveal some important disconnects between agent characteristics (modality, realism, animation, and gender) offered by virtual agent software providers and those preferred by older consumers. As a result, important recommendations are provided for the development of virtual agents for e‐commerce applications to enhance accessibility for older users.

Originality/value

No previous studies have investigated which agent characteristics enhance web accessibility and are most preferred by older users in the context of e‐commerce applications.

Details

Journal of Research in Interactive Marketing, vol. 5 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2040-7122

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 1998

Daniel Boley, Maria Gini, Kyle Hastings, Bamshad Mobasher and Jerry Moore

The authors propose a client‐side agent for exploring and categorizing documents on the World Wide Web. As the user browses the Web using a usual Web browser, this agent is…

Abstract

The authors propose a client‐side agent for exploring and categorizing documents on the World Wide Web. As the user browses the Web using a usual Web browser, this agent is designed to aid the user by classifying the documents the user finds most interesting into clusters. The agent carries out the task completely automatically and autonomously, with as little user intervention as the user desires. The principal novel components in this agent that make it possible are a scalable hierarchical clustering algorithm and a taxonomic label generator. In this paper, the overall architecture of this agent is described and the details of the algorithms within its key components are discussed.

Details

Internet Research, vol. 8 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1066-2243

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 January 2009

Bilel Elayeb, Fabrice Evrard, Montaceur Zaghdoud and Mohamed Ben Ahmed

The purpose of this paper is to make a scientific contribution to web information retrieval (IR).

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to make a scientific contribution to web information retrieval (IR).

Design/methodology/approach

A multiagent system for web IR is proposed based on new technologies: Hierarchical Small‐Worlds (HSW) and Possibilistic Networks (PN). This system is based on a possibilistic qualitative approach which extends the quantitative one.

Findings

The paper finds that the relevance of the order of documents changes while passing from a profile to another. Even if the selected terms tend to select the relevant document, these terms are not the most frequent of the document. This criterion shows the asset of the qualitative approach of the SARIPOD system in the selection of relevant documents. The insertion of the factors of preference between query terms in the calculations of the possibility and the necessity consists in increasing the scores of possibilistic relevance of the documents containing these terms with an aim of penalizing the scores of relevance of the documents not containing them. The penalization and the increase in the scores are proportional to the capacity of the terms to discriminate between the documents of the collection.

Research limitations/implications

It is planned to extend the tests of the SARIPOD system to other grammatical categories, like refining the approach for the substantives by considering for example, the verbal occurrences in names definitions, etc. Also, it is planned to carry out finer measurements of the performances of SARIPOD system by extending the tests with other types of web documents.

Practical implications

The system can be useful to help research students find their relevant scientific papers. It must be located in the document server of any research laboratory.

Originality/value

The paper presents SARIPOD, a new qualitative possibilistic model for web IR using multiagent system.

Details

Interactive Technology and Smart Education, vol. 6 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1741-5659

Keywords

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