US 7069560

US patent 7069560, titled "Highly scalable software-based architecture for communication and cooperation among distributed electronic agents," was filed on March 17, 1999, and issued on June 27, 2006. The original assignee was SRI International Inc., and the current assignee is IPA TECHNOLOGIES INC. The inventors are Adam J. Cheyer and David L. Martin.

Abstract:
The patent discloses a highly flexible, software-based architecture designed to support cooperative task completion through flexible and dynamic configurations of autonomous electronic agents. Communication and cooperation among these agents are managed by one or more facilitators. These facilitators use strategic reasoning to create a goal satisfaction plan to fulfill complex goals initiated by users and other service-requesting agents. The architecture aims to minimize the need for users or agents to know the specific identities, locations, or number of other agents involved in fulfilling a request, and simplifies the process of integrating new agents and "wrapping" legacy applications.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1: This claim describes a distributed agent system comprising a facilitator agent and multiple client agents. The facilitator agent coordinates communications and cooperative problem-solving among the client agents. Each client agent connects to its parent facilitator and registers the capabilities and services it can provide. When the facilitator determines that a client agent's registered services can help satisfy a goal, it sends a request in an Interagent Communication Language (ICL) to that client. The client agent then processes this request and returns answers or status reports to the facilitator. The system is characterized by the ability of client agents to transmit complex goal expressions to the facilitator, which then constructs a plan to satisfy these goals using the registered capabilities of various agents.

• Independent Claim 15: This claim focuses on a method for providing an agent-based system. The method involves providing a facilitator agent and at least one client agent, where the facilitator manages communication among client agents. Each client agent registers its capabilities with the facilitator. When the facilitator receives a goal expressed in an interagent communication language, it interprets the goal and creates a plan to satisfy it by delegating sub-goals to appropriate client agents based on their registered capabilities.

• Independent Claim 16: This claim outlines a computer program product that includes a computer-readable medium containing program code for a distributed agent system. The code enables a facilitator agent to coordinate communication and problem-solving among client agents. It also allows client agents to register their capabilities with the facilitator. The facilitator, upon receiving a goal, interprets it and creates a goal satisfaction plan by delegating sub-goals to suitable client agents using their registered capabilities, all communicated via an interagent communication language.

• Independent Claim 22: This claim specifies a distributed computing environment featuring a facilitator agent and multiple client agents. The facilitator is responsible for coordinating interagent communication and problem-solving. Each client agent registers its services with the facilitator. The facilitator is configured to receive and interpret goal expressions, which can be arbitrarily complex, from client agents. It then delegates portions of these goals to appropriate client agents that can provide the necessary services, using an interagent communication language for communication.

Litigation History:
US Patent 7069560 has been involved in significant litigation. In January 2026, the Federal Circuit (Case 24-1247) affirmed an infringement finding against Google, LLC related to this patent. This patent was also central to a $242 million jury verdict in favor of IPA Technologies against Microsoft, where it was found that Microsoft's Cortana virtual assistant infringed three claims of the patent. The patent expired in January 2019, so the Microsoft trial focused on damages for past infringement between Cortana's release in 2014 and the patent's expiration in 2019. The patent has also been subject to Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings, with certificates issued in 2019 and 2023. As of April 26, 2026, a review of the CAFC May 2026 scheduled cases did not show US7069560 listed for argument, indicating no new arguments are scheduled for that specific month, although the January 2026 affirmance decision for a case filed in 2024 confirms recent appellate activity.