To structure an easy-to-extend user agent by demarcating at least a display system equipped with a display function for an input/output screen for retrieval and a processing system equipped with a function for communication with a retrieval-side agent.
The display system 1 of the user agent is equipped with a GUI function and an HTTP communication function and the processing system 3 is equipped with a user managing function, a KIF analyzing function, a KQML generating function, etc. Then a user-side machine operates the display system 1 and a server-side machine operates the processing system 3. Further, a server- side WWW server 2 and the server-side display system 1 communicate with each other according to HTTP and the WWW server 2 and processing system 3 communicate with each other according to CGI and NSAPI. The GUI of the display system 1 generates an input screen for retrieval condition specification to a user and an output screen for retrieval results. Thus, the expandable user agent is structured by demarcating functions which can be shared and functions which can not be shared.
MASUOKA RYUSUKE
MARUYAMA FUMIHIRO
SATO AKIRA
