Analysis system using brokers that access information sources

A system comprising:

• at least one processor operably coupled to at least one memory and configured to:
• spawn a first broker software module for execution by the at least one processor, the first broker software module comprising first instructions executable by the at least one processor;
• spawn a second broker software module for execution by the at least one processor, the second broker software module comprising second instructions executable by the at least one processor;
• receive a request for result data;
• under control of the first instructions of the first broker software module, retrieve first data from a first information source in response to the request;
• under control of the second instructions of the second broker software module, retrieve second data from a second, different information source in response to the request;
• and
• generate the result data using the first data and the second data.

One or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:

• spawning a first broker software module;
• spawning a second broker software module;
• receiving a request for a response;
• determining whether the request can be fulfilled using data from a first information source or using data from a second information source;
• in response to the determination that the request can be fulfilled using data from the first information source or using data from the second information source, retrieving data by at least one of:
• executing instructions of the first broker software module to retrieve at least a portion of the data from the first information source;
• or
• executing instructions of the second broker software module to retrieve at least a portion of the data from the second information source;
• in response to the determination that the request cannot be fulfilled using data from the first information source or using data from the second information source, retrieving at least a portion of the data by:
• spawning a third broker software module;
• and
• executing instructions of the third broker software module to retrieve at least a portion of the data from a third information source;
• and
• generating the response based at least in part on the data.