X-Compass: An XML Agent for Supporting User Navigation on the Web

Salvatore Garruzzo, Stefano Modafferi, Domenico Rosaci, Domenico Ursino

Abstract: In this paper we present X-Compass,an XML agent for supporting a user during her/his navigation on theWeb. This agent is the result of our attempt of synthesizing, in a unique context, important guidelines currently characterizing the research in various Computer Science sectors. X-Compass constructs and handles a rather rich, even if light, user profile. This latter is, then, exploited for supporting the user in the efficient search of information of her/his interest; in this way,the proposed agent behaves as a content-based recommender system. Moreover, X-Compass is particularly suited for constructing multi-agent systems and, therefore, for implementing collaborative filtering recommendation techniques. In addition, being based on XML, X-Compass is particularly light and capable of operating on various hardware and software platforms. Finally,the exploitation of XML makes the information exchange among X-Compass agents and, therefore, the management and the exploitation of X-Compass multi-agent systems, easy .