Distributed Actor-Based Information System and Method
A computer-implemented method, computer program product and computing system for maintaining a group of distributed actors, wherein each of the distributed actors offers at least one skill; maintaining utilization statistics for each of the group of distributed actors; and monitoring an environment to detect the existence of an unfulfilled need.
1 . A computer-implemented method, executed on a computing device, comprising:
maintaining a group of distributed actors, wherein each of the distributed actors offers at least one skill;
maintaining utilization statistics for each of the group of distributed actors; and
monitoring an environment to detect the existence of an unfulfilled need.
2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
assigning one or more distributed actors to address the unfulfilled need based, at least in part, upon the utilization statistics and the at least one skill offered by the one or more distributed actors, thus defining one or more assigned distributed actors.
3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 wherein assigning one or more distributed actors to address the unfulfilled need includes one or more of:
immediately assigning to the one or more distributed actors;
inquiring on the availability of the one or more distributed actors; and
allowing the user to choose the one or more distributed actors from a group of potential distributed actors.
4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein monitoring an environment to detect the existence of an unfulfilled need includes:
detecting the existence of a request.
5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein detecting the existence of a request includes one or more of:
receiving a request from a human distributed actor; and
receiving a request from a non-human distributed actor.
6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the group of distributed actors include one or more of:
a software platform;
a software application;
a virtual machine; and
a web-based service.
7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the one or more assigned distributed actors interact, directly or indirectly, with one or more distributed sub-actors to address at least a portion of the unfulfilled need.
8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising:
addressing at least a portion of the unfulfilled need with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors.
9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 8 wherein addressing at least a portion of the unfulfilled need with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors includes:
generating one or more response portions with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors.
10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 further comprising:
forming a bespoke response to the unfulfilled need based, at least in part, upon the one or more response portions.
11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising:
providing the bespoke response to a party associated with the unfulfilled need.
12 . The computer-implemented method of claim 10 further comprising:
effectuating, in whole or in part, the bespoke response.
13 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein maintaining a group of distributed actors includes:
maintaining a database that defines the group of distributed actors.
14 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the utilization statistics define one or more of:
a current workload for each of the group of distributed actors; and
an assignment history for each of the group of distributed actors.
15 . A computer program product residing on a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
maintaining a group of distributed actors, wherein each of the distributed actors offers at least one skill;
maintaining utilization statistics for each of the group of distributed actors; and
monitoring an environment to detect the existence of an unfulfilled need.
16 . The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:
assigning one or more distributed actors to address the unfulfilled need based, at least in part, upon the utilization statistics and the at least one skill offered by the one or more distributed actors, thus defining one or more assigned distributed actors.
17 . The computer program product of claim 16 wherein assigning one or more distributed actors to address the unfulfilled need includes one or more of:
immediately assigning to the one or more distributed actors;
inquiring on the availability of the one or more distributed actors; and
allowing the user to choose the one or more distributed actors from a group of potential distributed actors.
18 . The computer program product of claim 15 wherein monitoring an environment to detect the existence of an unfulfilled need includes:
detecting the existence of a request.
19 . The computer program product of claim 18 wherein detecting the existence of a request includes one or more of:
receiving a request from a human distributed actor; and
receiving a request from a non-human distributed actor.
20 . The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the group of distributed actors include one or more of:
a software platform;
a software application;
a virtual machine; and
a web-based service.
21 . The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the one or more assigned distributed actors interact, directly or indirectly, with one or more distributed sub-actors to address at least a portion of the unfulfilled need.
22 . The computer program product of claim 15 further comprising:
addressing at least a portion of the unfulfilled need with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors.
23 . The computer program product of claim 22 wherein addressing at least a portion of the unfulfilled need with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors includes:
generating one or more response portions with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors.
24 . The computer program product of claim 23 further comprising:
forming a bespoke response to the unfulfilled need based, at least in part, upon the one or more response portions.
25 . The computer program product of claim 24 further comprising:
providing the bespoke response to a party associated with the unfulfilled need.
26 . The computer program product of claim 24 further comprising:
effectuating, in whole or in part, the bespoke response.
27 . The computer program product of claim 15 wherein maintaining a group of distributed actors includes:
maintaining a database that defines the group of distributed actors.
28 . The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the utilization statistics define one or more of:
a current workload for each of the group of distributed actors; and
an assignment history for each of the group of distributed actors.
29 . A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising:
maintaining a group of distributed actors, wherein each of the distributed actors offers at least one skill;
maintaining utilization statistics for each of the group of distributed actors; and
monitoring an environment to detect the existence of an unfulfilled need.
30 . The computing system of claim 29 further comprising:
assigning one or more distributed actors to address the unfulfilled need based, at least in part, upon the utilization statistics and the at least one skill offered by the one or more distributed actors, thus defining one or more assigned distributed actors.
31 . The computing system of claim 30 wherein assigning one or more distributed actors to address the unfulfilled need includes one or more of:
immediately assigning to the one or more distributed actors;
inquiring on the availability of the one or more distributed actors; and
allowing the user to choose the one or more distributed actors from a group of potential distributed actors.
32 . The computing system of claim 29 wherein monitoring an environment to detect the existence of an unfulfilled need includes:
detecting the existence of a request.
33 . The computing system of claim 32 wherein detecting the existence of a request includes one or more of:
receiving a request from a human distributed actor; and
receiving a request from a non-human distributed actor.
34 . The computing system of claim 29 wherein the group of distributed actors include one or more of:
a software platform;
a software application;
a virtual machine; and
a web-based service.
35 . The computing system of claim 29 wherein the one or more assigned distributed actors interact, directly or indirectly, with one or more distributed sub-actors to address at least a portion of the unfulfilled need.
36 . The computing system of claim 29 further comprising:
addressing at least a portion of the unfulfilled need with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors.
37 . The computing system of claim 36 wherein addressing at least a portion of the unfulfilled need with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors includes:
generating one or more response portions with the at least one skill offered by the one or more assigned distributed actors.
38 . The computing system of claim 37 further comprising:
forming a bespoke response to the unfulfilled need based, at least in part, upon the one or more response portions.
39 . The computing system of claim 38 further comprising:
providing the bespoke response to a party associated with the unfulfilled need.
40 . The computing system of claim 38 further comprising:
effectuating, in whole or in part, the bespoke response.
41 . The computing system of claim 29 wherein maintaining a group of distributed actors includes:
maintaining a database that defines the group of distributed actors.
42 . The computing system of claim 29 wherein the utilization statistics define one or more of:
a current workload for each of the group of distributed actors; and
an assignment history for each of the group of distributed actors.