The Im@gine IT project aimed to cater for the needs of the consumer by providing information ('knowing') that permits a choice of services according to consumer preferences ('wanting'), arranging for the remote booking of those services ('acquiring'), facilitating trip planning according to user preferences ('wanting') through the provision of mobility information ('knowing'), on-line booking and ticketing ('acquiring'), in a way that ensures maximum comfort ('enjoying') and is customised to the consumer's profile ('being'). In essence this is a consumer value chain, i.e. the end user will identify value in a service to the extent that the service caters to his/her needs in at least one of the above areas.
The Im@gine IT system constitutes a platform comprised of data management, web services, intelligent agents and communication gateways. The platform should interface with content providers, service providers, Ggeographic information systems (GIS), ticketing systems, added value systems and media providers. More specifically:
Multi agent system (MAS) for e-marketplace (including bluetooth agent, events handler agent and personalisation algorithm of HIT).
This product is a FIPA compliant agent platform hosting a broker agent with the optional capability to host one or more provider agents. The broker has the capability to federate with other brokers in other such platforms, thus forming a distributed service network.
Service provider agent
Agent-based software, that enables to package a complex service, based on a number of 'sub' services, locally added value, and to advertise it on the service integrator application by means of a broker agent.
Interface agent
This product is a FIPA compliant agent platform hosting an interface agent (IA). The interface agent provides credentials to personal assistant agents (PAAs) that want to get the Im@gine IT services. It provides credentials valid for service by a specific (local) broker agent. The IA monitors user transactions and can implement a variety of business models (prepayment, monthly payment, etc), while the one developed for this project is recording user transactions (monthly payment scheme).
Nomad device, personal assistant agent
This product is a FIPA compliant agent platform hosting a personal assistant agent (PAA) and, optionally, a transport mode agent (TMA). The TMA 'feels' the user environment and can assist the PAA by intelligently inferring the user travel mode (e.g. in car, on foot, in bus, etc). The PAA retains a user profile and learns about the user habits, as to what points of interest the user prefers to see around him/her and which travel chain is best for him/her in multi-modal trip planning.
Nomad device, transport mode agent
The TMS monitors a user's route and based on data regarding his/her position coming through GPS and a logical positioning method it can follow the user's progress in his/her route plan and can report any change in transport type or if he/she follows his/her trip while he/she is moving. Also, it can notify the user about relevant information for his/her current segment.