COMPUTER SYSTEM HAVING AGENT RETRACTING METHOD AND AGENT RETURNING METHOD

An apparatus and method retracts a mobile agent from a second execution environment back to a first execution environment, the retraction being performed by the first environment sending a retraction request, and the second execution environment establishing a connection to the first execution environment in response. The second execution environment searches for an agent under its control corresponding to an agent identity in the retraction request, and converts the corresponding agent, if located, to a bit sequence and returns the bit sequence to the first execution environment via the connection. Sending the bit sequence through the established connection safely alleviates firewall issues because a connection is established from the inside of the firewall to the outside.