Smart Catalogs and Virtual Catalogs
Arthur M. Keller
Stanford University
Abstract
We present an architecture for electronic catalogs, called Smart
Catalogs and Virtual Catalogs. Smart catalogs are searchable,
annotated combinations of machine-readable and machine-sensible
product data. Virtual catalogs dynamically retrieve information from
multiple smart catalogs and present this product data in a unified
manner with its own look and feel, not that of the source smart
catalogs. These virtual catalogs do not store product data from smart
catalogs directly (except when caching for performance); instead
virtual catalogs obtain current product data from smart catalogs to
satisfy specific customer queries. Customers interact with smart
catalogs and virtual catalogs through WWW or other interfaces.
Product data is disseminated through the architecture using ACL (Agent
Communication Language). In particular, ACL is used to communicate
queries and answers among smart catalogs and virtual catalogs.
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