We propose a solution and a supporting platform for implementing and using personal software
assistants in mobile e-commerce services. The solution is aimed towards relaxing restrictions of
mobile devices and wireless communications. It is based on using software agents as an enabling
technology for implementing software assistants for mobile device customers. The basic
advantages of the solution include high personalization, reasonable privacy, flexibility, and
scalability of agent-enabled mobile e-commerce services. These advantages are based on
autonomous, decentralized and distributed processing as well as on the support of different levels
of communication.
Future work is planned both for improving functionality and the implementation of the platform
and its application to different e-commerce services. In particular, the following work is currently
in progress:
· Development of the agent group view in the platform. This includes supporting
communication, coordination, and negotiation between customer and service provider agents
as well as between different customer agents. This allows cooperative problem solving,
collaborative filtering, and information exchange between agents representing different
participants in the e-commerce activity. The work is based on our earlier developed Agora
architecture and system for support of cooperative work between software agents (Matskin et
al., 1998; Matskin, 1999; Matskin et al., 2000).
· Development of a library of agent functional blocks allowing easier creation, personalization,
and customization of personal software assistants. This also includes making purchase
agreements and payments.
· Consideration of compatibility with existent services and systems using wrappers
(Genesereth, 1997).
· Implementation of planning, knowledge base and reflection blocks in agent deployment
module.
· Taking geographical location of the customer into account when performing pro-active
behavior of query processing (for example, by using GSM positioning or Global Positioning
System (Thibodeau, 2000)).
· Application of the platform for implementing a real estate buying assistant agent, advertising
service, and product search and comparison services for mobile device customers.
Paper A
69