Concordia

Introducing Concordia -- Advanced Java Mobile Agent Technology

Concordia is a full-featured framework for development and management of network-efficient mobile agent applications for accessing information anytime, anywhere and on any device supporting Java. With Concordia, applications:

• Process data at the data source
• Process data even if the user is disconnected from the network
• Access and deliver information across multiple networks (LANs, Intranets and Internet)
• Use wire-line or wireless communication
• Support multiple client devices, such as Desktop Computers, PDAs, Notebook Computers, and Smart Phones

Todays competitive business environment demands that information be available anytime, anywhere, and independent of specific computing or communication devices. Mobile workers may be working from their home, moving around an office campus environment, or on the road. They may use notebook computers at the home, desktop machines at the office, PDAs on the road, and Smart Phones in the car. Information accessibility is more than just the right connection, it means that information is obtained through:

• Decisions Based on Intermediate Steps and Multiple Tasks
• Access to Multiple Databases or Multiple LANs
• Execution of Applications

It may take you minutes, hours, or even days to access, process, and deliver that information. How often have you heard or said: "I'll have to call my office to see if someone can access that file to get the answer for you"? You need access to your office LANs regardless of the computing device, communication system, or network, to provide and deliver information that fast forwards your business to success. Information is of little value if it is not timely.

Concordia-enabled applications perform data access, decision execution, and notification; providing you the information and answers you need, when and where you need them.

Concordia - Redefining Mobile Agent Technology

The term agent today typically means a software program that automates a series of computations on behalf of a user even when the user is not connected to a network. An agent performs its assigned work as defined by the developer and authorized by a user. Concordia expands the agent functionality to include:

Mobility - Your agents travel from device to device on a network as determined by the application or user, performing various sub-tasks on each device in its path. Computations are performed closer to the data source, reducing network connect time and costs.

Security - Agents are only allowed to access resources for which they have been authorized. Concordia uses advanced encryption techniques to provide tamper-resistance to agents while they are on a device and when traveling across networks. (Not available in the Freeware version of Concordia.)

Persistence - Your agents transparently resume computations that are affected by system or network interruptions or failures. An agent's internal state information is maintained as it travels across the network. (Not available in the Freeware version of Concordia.)

Collaboration - Your agents cooperate with each other to perform tasks. An application can be composed of several agents with specific sub-tasks.

Disconnected Computing - Your agents continue to perform their assigned tasks even when the user is not connected to the network.

Concordia - A Powerful Framework for Developing Network-Efficient Mobile Agent Applications

Concordia delivers a rich set of features that support the implementation of agents for a wide range of industries and end users. Agents implemented with Concordia are mobile objects. They can travel to different locations and devices on a network and perform work at those locations. The mobility of Concordia Agents sets them apart from distributed objects and Java applets.

Concordia hides the complexities of application program mobility from programmers, so developing an Agent-enabled application is similar to developing a non-mobile or stationary program. Agents maintain their internal state while traveling in a network, so they are able to resume execution upon arrival at a new location. All Agent transport work is handled transparently without programmer intervention.

A Concordia Agent's network travels are defined by its Itinerary. The Itinerary specifies where the agent is to travel and what task it should perform when it arrives. Concordia Itineraries are specified at run-time. Agents may change their own Itineraries based upon information and events discovered as the agent travels.

Concordia's powerful capabilities help developers deliver complete, anytime-anywhere information access systems. Users of these systems can gain access to information regardless of their location, mobility, or network connection. By shielding developers from the complexities of network communications, Concordia reduces development time.

Concordia^?/b> Technology At A Glance