RETSINA Semantic Web Calendar Agent 1.09a now available

The Retsina Semantic Web Calendar Agent V1.09 Alpha is now available at
http://www.daml.ri.cmu.edu/Cal/

Recent Changes
--------------
* We've eliminated many of the problems to do with registering with our
  ANS; in fact, no registration is required for browsing schedules on
  the Semantic Web.
* Most of the problems with the distributed meeting scheduling have
  been resolved and the system works for non recurring meetings.
  To use this, however, you should be registered with the Agent
  Name Server.
* The RETSIAN E-Secretary is also available for web-based scheduling of
  meetings.  We hope to provide a full installable package for the
  E-Secretary sometime in the near future.  Meanwhile, if you are interested
  in using an E-Secretary, contact us for more info about this agent.
  See [2] for an example of this agent.
* A markup translation service [3] is now available that converts
  markup using the DAML Meeting Agenda Ontology, and the Hybrid
  Internet Calendar (ICal) Ontologies.  RCal V1.09a currently
  invokes this service if necessary, though a mechanism using
  discovery services such as DAML-S is expected later in the year.

There is rudimentary support for invoking the RCal agent from
other agents, and for it to invoke other agents depending on the
content of the schedule loaded, or if notifications (e.g. reminders
or newly scheduled meetings) are generated.  Details about the
message formats (currently in KQML) will appear in the help sections
soon...

We are working on providing documentation on the web for the RCal
Agent.  In addition, we've added tool-tips - these can be switched
off via the Options settings!!!

A final note, we've noticed some problems when using the agent with
the latest Outlook 2000 security patch - when accessing the contacts
entries, the new security patch asks the user if they are prepared
to allow 3rd party access to Outlooks data.  Sadly, if you deny access
then the agent will crash.  We anticipate looking into this soon...

Regards,
	Terry & Rahul

[1] http://www.daml.ri.cmu.edu/Cal/
[2] http://www.daml.ri.cmu.edu/Cal/ESec/DAMLUser/
[3] http://www.daml.ri.cmu.edu/site/projects/DMA2ICal/index.html

_____________________________________________________________________
Terry R. Payne, PhD.    | http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~terryp/index.html
CMU, Robotics Institute | Voice: (412) 268-8780 Fax: (412) 268-5569
Pittsburgh, PA 15213    | Email: terry@acm.org or Terry.Payne@cmu.edu

Received on Monday, 11 February 2002 01:04:31 UTC