Memory Attention Router Skill#

Turn long-term memory into a small, role-aware working-memory packet.

Do not use this skill as plain document RAG. Do not dump raw memory lists into model context. Route to the right memory blocks, compose a compact packet, write back new learnings, and retire stale memory when better evidence appears.

Trigger cues#

Trigger immediately when the user states a durable rule or asks to preserve or replace memory, especially with phrases like:

• from now on
• remember this
• always
• prefer
• avoid
• my rule is
• replace my previous rule
• going forward

Also trigger when a planning, execution, critique, or response step needs compact memory state rather than raw history.

Step roles#

Choose the current step role before reading memory:

• planner
• executor
• critic
• responder

Current type preferences:

• planner -> preference, procedure, summary
• executor -> preference, procedure, episode, reflection
• critic -> reflection, preference, summary
• responder -> preference, summary, procedure

Important implication:

• executor should preserve durable hard constraints as well as reusable procedures

Read flow#

1. Build a route request with:
   • goal
   • step_role
   • session_id if known
   • task_id if known
   • user_constraints
   • recent_failures
   • unresolved_questions
2. Run: python3 {baseDir}/scripts/memory_router.py route --input-json '<JSON>'
3. Read the packet.
4. Use the packet in downstream reasoning.
5. Inspect debug.selected_blocks and debug.selected_memories when you need to understand why a memory was selected.

The router uses a deterministic two-stage flow:

1. select the best blocks from task_scoped, session_scoped, durable_global, and recent_fallback
2. score memories only inside the selected blocks

Write flow#

Store memory after important outcomes:

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/memory_router.py add --input-json '<JSON>'

Write memory when:

• a durable user preference or rule is learned
• a reusable procedure becomes clear
• a tool result will matter later
• a failure pattern should influence future behavior
• a stable summary is worth keeping

If a new memory replaces an older one, include replaces_memory_id. The router will retire the old memory, link it forward to the replacement, and persist a retirement reason.

Reflect flow#

At the end of meaningful work or after a failure cluster, create reflection and optionally procedure memory:

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/memory_router.py reflect --input-json '<JSON>'

Use reflection for:

• lessons
• warnings
• failure patterns
• reusable procedures derived from successful work

Refresh flow#

When new evidence invalidates or replaces older memory:

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/memory_router.py refresh --input-json '<JSON>'

Use refresh to:

• deactivate stale memories
• mark replacements with replacement_memory_id
• persist why the memory was retired with refresh_reason
• create contradiction links when a replacement exists

Packet rules#

A good packet contains:

• hard_constraints
• relevant_facts
• procedures_to_follow
• pitfalls_to_avoid
• open_questions
• selected_memory_ids

Current compactness targets:

• selected_memory_ids -> cap at 5
• hard_constraints -> cap at 4
• relevant_facts -> cap at 3
• procedures_to_follow -> cap at 3
• pitfalls_to_avoid -> cap at 3
• open_questions -> cap at 5

Prefer small, high-signal packets over broad recall.

Routing rules#

• Prefer durable, reusable memory over noisy transient notes.
• Preserve hard constraints for execution steps, not only planning steps.
• Use support edges to help validated memories win borderline ranking decisions.
• Treat contradicts edges directionally: penalize the stale target, not the newer memory asserting the contradiction.
• Use summary instead of verbose raw history when both carry the same signal.
• Retire stale memory when replacement is clear; do not allow conflicting active memories to accumulate indefinitely.

Bootstrap#

Initialize the database:

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/memory_router.py init

Default DB path behavior:

• if MAR_DB_PATH is set, that path is used
• otherwise, when installed at <workspace>/skills/memory-attention-router, the default is <workspace>/.openclaw-memory-router.sqlite3

Inspect stored memories:

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/memory_router.py list --limit 20

Inspect one memory:

python3 {baseDir}/scripts/memory_router.py inspect --memory-id <ID>

File guide#

See:

• reference guide
• memory schema
• prompt templates
• testing guide