US20020052930A1 — Managing interactions between computer users' con…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 326 words

1 . A method in a wearable computer for an executing user characterization system to provide information about a current state of a user of the wearable computer, the user characterization system modeling the current state with multiple state attributes and including state server modules (SSMs) to supply values for the state attributes, state client modules (SCMs) to process values for the state attributes, and an intermediary module to facilitate exchange of state attribute values, comprising: under control of each SSM, generating values for at least one of the state attributes and sending the generated values to the intermediary module; under control of each SCM, receiving values for at least one state attribute from the intermediary module and performing processing based on the received values; under control of the intermediary module, facilitating exchange of values by, receiving values for the state attributes from SSMs and from a first of multiple other characterization systems, each of the other characterization systems executing on another computer to model a current state related to the another computer; for each state attribute, storing the received values for the attribute; and receiving requests for values of indicated state attributes from SCMs and from a second of the other characterization systems, and sending stored values of the indicated state attributes to the SCMs and the second other characterization system; and modeling an aspect of a current state using distributed state information by, identifying multiple portions of the distributed state information needed for the modeling of the aspect, and identifying multiple of the other characterization systems each having access to one of the identified multiple portions; gathering the identified portions of the distributed state information from the identified other characterization systems; and generating at least one value for the modeled aspect based on the gathered portions of the distributed state information, so that the user characterization system can interact with other characterization systems in order to exchange and use distributed state information of interest.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 326 words

1 . A method in a wearable computer for an executing user characterization system to provide information about a current state of a user of the wearable computer, the user characterization system modeling the current state with multiple state attributes and including state server modules (SSMs) to supply values for the state attributes, state client modules (SCMs) to process values for the state attributes, and an intermediary module to facilitate exchange of state attribute values, comprising: under control of each SSM, generating values for at least one of the state attributes and sending the generated values to the intermediary module; under control of each SCM, receiving values for at least one state attribute from the intermediary module and performing processing based on the received values; under control of the intermediary module, facilitating exchange of values by, receiving values for the state attributes from SSMs and from a first of multiple other characterization systems, each of the other characterization systems executing on another computer to model a current state related to the another computer; for each state attribute, storing the received values for the attribute; and receiving requests for values of indicated state attributes from SCMs and from a second of the other characterization systems, and sending stored values of the indicated state attributes to the SCMs and the second other characterization system; and modeling an aspect of a current state using distributed state information by, identifying multiple portions of the distributed state information needed for the modeling of the aspect, and identifying multiple of the other characterization systems each having access to one of the identified multiple portions; gathering the identified portions of the distributed state information from the identified other characterization systems; and generating at least one value for the modeled aspect based on the gathered portions of the distributed state information, so that the user characterization system can interact with other characterization systems in order to exchange and use distributed state information of interest.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 55 words

2 . The method of claim 1 including: determining a need for access to a resource available to one of the other characterization systems executing on another computer; requesting the one other characterization system to provide access to the resource; and accessing the resource after the one other characterization system provides access to the resource.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the resource is processing capabilities of the another computer, wherein the accessing of the resource includes use of the processing capabilities on behalf of the user characterization system, and including receiving an indication of results of the use of the processing capabilities.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 33 words

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the resource is an input device of the another computer, and wherein the accessing of the resource includes receiving input information from the input device.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the resource is information used during the executing of the one other characterization system, and wherein the accessing of the resource includes retrieving the information.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 51 words

6 . The method of claim 2 wherein the resource has access to a first portion of the distributed state information, wherein the determined need for access to the resource is to retrieve the first portion, and wherein the accessing of the resource results in the retrieving of the first portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 60 words

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the distributed state information relates to a current state of a group of users, wherein the identified other characterization systems are user characterization systems each modeling a current state of one of the users in the group, and wherein the modeled aspect is of the current state of the group of users.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 78 words

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the other characterization systems are hierarchically organized such that the identified other characterization systems are supervisors each having an associated group of other subordinate characterization systems, wherein the portion of the distributed state information gathered from each of the supervisors includes pieces of distributed state information obtained from the subordinate characterization systems associated with that supervisor, and wherein the modeled aspect is of the current state of the hierarchical organization.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 62 words

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein each of the other characterization systems is specialized to model a distinct facet of the current state of the user, wherein the aspect of the current state to be modeled includes information about multiple of the facets, and wherein the identified other characterization systems are the specialized characterization systems that model the multiple facets.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the user characterization system executes on a computer remote from the wearable computer, and wherein the wearable computer is a thin client device to communicate with the executing user characterization system.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the wearable computer includes at least one sensor to supply input information to the SSMs.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

12 . The method of claim 10 wherein the wearable computer includes at least one output device to present information to the user.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 61 words

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first other characterization system executes on another computer having a sensor receiving information about the user of the wearable computer, and wherein the received values from the first other characterization system for a state attribute of the modeled current state of the user are based on the received information from the sensor.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 59 words

14 . The method of claim 1 wherein the second other characterization system executes on another computer with an output device that is perceivable by the user of the wearable computer, and including presenting information to the user on the output device based on the state attribute values sent to the second other characterization system from the intermediary module.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 135 words

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein each of the state attributes has a local name used by the user characterization system, wherein the receiving of each value for a state attribute from the first other characterization system includes an indication of a first state attribute using a reference for the first state attribute other than the local name of the first state attribute, wherein the receiving of each request for a value of a state attribute from the second other characterization system includes an indication of a second state attribute using a reference for the second state attribute other than the local name of the second state attribute, and including translating the references for the first and second state attributes into the local names of the first and second state attributes before responding.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 69 words

16 . The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the SSMs are available to supply values for additional state attributes of a current state other than for the user, and wherein the intermediary module additionally sends values for the additional state attributes to SCMs based on indications from those SCMs of a current desire to receive values for at least one of the additional state attributes.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 114 words

17 . A method in a first computer for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, the method comprising: receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; and gathering information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules so that a value for the indicated one attribute can be generated based on the gathered information.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 114 words

17 . A method in a first computer for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, the method comprising: receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; and gathering information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules so that a value for the indicated one attribute can be generated based on the gathered information.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 41 words

18 . The method of claim 17 including: determining a need for access to a resource available on another computer on which one of the other characterization systems is executing; and using the one other characterization system to access the resource.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 29 words

19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the resource is processing capabilities of the another computer, and wherein accessing of the resource includes use of the processing capabilities.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

20 . The method of claim 18 wherein the resource is an input device of the another computer, and wherein accessing of the resource includes receiving input information from the input device.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

21 . The method of claim 18 wherein the resource is information used during the executing of the one other characterization system, and wherein accessing of the resource includes retrieving the information.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 52 words

22 . The method of claim 17 wherein the determined characterization modules each model a current state of a user of the computer on which the characterization module is executing, and wherein the one attribute is related to the current state of the group of the users of the determined characterization modules.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 49 words

23 . The method of claim 17 wherein the determined characterization modules are hierarchically organized such that some of the characterization modules are supervisors each having an associated group of other subordinate characterization modules, and wherein the one attribute is related to the current state of the hierarchical organization.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 51 words

24 . The method of claim 17 wherein each of the determined characterization modules is specialized to model a portion of the current state of a single user, and wherein the one attribute is related to information about the user including information for multiple of the portions of the current state.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 68 words

25 . The method of claim 17 wherein the gathered information from two of the determined characterization modules includes information about a first of the multiple attributes, wherein the two determined characterization modules specify the first attribute with distinct names in their gathered information, and wherein the gathering of the information includes translating the specified names for the first attribute in the gathered information into a common name.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 36 words

26 . The method of claim 17 wherein the received indication of the one attribute additionally includes an indication of characterization modules, and wherein the determining of the characterization modules include selecting the indicated characterization modules.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 66 words

27 . The method of claim 17 including: determining whether the information gathered from one of the determined characterization modules satisfies a criteria; and when it is determined that the gathered information does not satisfy the criteria, obtaining additional information from the one determined characterization module that satisfies the criteria and replacing the gathered information from the one determined characterization module with the obtained additional information.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 20 words

28 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about a user of the first computer.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 19 words

29 . The method of claim 28 wherein the represented information reflects a modeled mental state of the user.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 17 words

30 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about the first computer.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 24 words

31 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about a physical environment of a user of the first computer.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 23 words

32 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about a cyber-environment of a user of the first computer.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 19 words

33 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents a current prediction about a future state.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 40 words

34 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about a group of users such that each of the users is a user of a computer on which one of the multiple characterization modules is executing.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

35 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about the group of computers on which the multiple characterization modules are executing.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 29 words

36 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about a physical environment common to the computers on which the multiple characterization modules are executing.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 28 words

37 . The method of claim 17 wherein the one attribute represents information about a cyber-environment common to the computers on which the multiple characterization modules are executing.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 45 words

38 . The method of claim 17 including, after receiving a request from a client for a value of a second indicated attribute, obtaining information from multiple characterization modules about modeled aspects related to the second attribute and supplying the obtained information to the client.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 33 words

39 . The method of claim 17 wherein the received indication is from a client, and including generating the value for the indicated one attribute and supplying the generated value to the client.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 25 words

40 . The method of claim 39 wherein receiving of the supplied value by the client prompts the client to present information to a user.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 34 words

41 . The method of claim 17 wherein the determining of the multiple characterization modules is based on previously received registration modules from each of the multiple characterization modules that indicate the modeled aspects.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 26 words

42 . The method of claim 17 wherein security information must be received for a characterization module before any information is accepted from the characterization module.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 25 words

43 . The method of claim 17 wherein security information must be received for a characterization module before information is supplied to the characterization module.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 32 words

44 . The method of claim 17 wherein the providing of the information about the represented current state is performed by one of the multiple characterization modules executing on the first computer.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 27 words

45 . The method of claim 17 wherein the generating of the value is performed by a client after the gathered information is supplied to the client.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 121 words

46 . A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to provide information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, by: receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; obtaining information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules; and supplying the obtained information to a client able to generate a value for the indicated one attribute based on the supplied obtained information.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 121 words

46 . A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to provide information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, by: receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; obtaining information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules; and supplying the obtained information to a client able to generate a value for the indicated one attribute based on the supplied obtained information.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 19 words

47 . The computer-readable medium of claim 46 wherein the computer-readable medium is a memory of the computing device.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 128 words

48 . A computer-readable generated data signal transmitted via a transmission medium, the generated data signal having encoded contents that cause a computer system to provide information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, by: receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; and gathering information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules so that a value for the indicated one attribute can be generated based on the gathered information.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 128 words

48 . A computer-readable generated data signal transmitted via a transmission medium, the generated data signal having encoded contents that cause a computer system to provide information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, by: receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; and gathering information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from the determined characterization modules so that a value for the indicated one attribute can be generated based on the gathered information.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 143 words

49 . A computing device for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, comprising: an input module that is capable of receiving indications of multiple characterization modules each executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer, and of receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; an information gatherer module that is capable of determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute and of obtaining information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from each of the determined characterization modules; and an output module capable of supplying the obtained information from the determined characterization modules to a client able to determine a value for the indicated one attribute based on the obtained information.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 143 words

49 . A computing device for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, comprising: an input module that is capable of receiving indications of multiple characterization modules each executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer, and of receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; an information gatherer module that is capable of determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute and of obtaining information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from each of the determined characterization modules; and an output module capable of supplying the obtained information from the determined characterization modules to a client able to determine a value for the indicated one attribute based on the obtained information.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 131 words

50 . A computing device for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, comprising: means for receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; means for receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; means for determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; means for obtaining information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from each of the determined characterization modules; and means for supplying the obtained information from the determined characterization modules to a client able to determine a value for the indicated one attribute based on the obtained information.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 131 words

50 . A computing device for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, comprising: means for receiving indications of multiple characterization modules, each characterization module executing on a computer to model an aspect of a current state related to that computer; means for receiving an indication of one of the multiple attributes of the represented current state; means for determining multiple of the characterization modules whose modeled aspects are related to the indicated one attribute; means for obtaining information about the modeled aspects related to the indicated one attribute from each of the determined characterization modules; and means for supplying the obtained information from the determined characterization modules to a client able to determine a value for the indicated one attribute based on the obtained information.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 171 words

51 . A method in a portable computer for providing information about a context that is modeled with multiple context attributes, the method comprising: receiving from each of multiple sources an indication of an ability to supply values for at least one of the context attributes of the modeled context; and for each of multiple clients, receiving an indication of a desire to receive information of interest; when at least one source is determined to have the ability to supply the indicated information, retrieving the indicated information from at least one of those sources and sending the retrieved information to the client; and when none of the sources have the ability to supply the indicated information, determining one or more executing characterization modules from which the indicated information can be obtained and/or one or more resources of other accessible computers with which the indicated information can be obtained; obtaining the indicated information from the determined characterization modules and/or with the determined resources; and sending the obtained indicated information to the client.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 171 words

51 . A method in a portable computer for providing information about a context that is modeled with multiple context attributes, the method comprising: receiving from each of multiple sources an indication of an ability to supply values for at least one of the context attributes of the modeled context; and for each of multiple clients, receiving an indication of a desire to receive information of interest; when at least one source is determined to have the ability to supply the indicated information, retrieving the indicated information from at least one of those sources and sending the retrieved information to the client; and when none of the sources have the ability to supply the indicated information, determining one or more executing characterization modules from which the indicated information can be obtained and/or one or more resources of other accessible computers with which the indicated information can be obtained; obtaining the indicated information from the determined characterization modules and/or with the determined resources; and sending the obtained indicated information to the client.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 38 words

52 . The method of claim 51 wherein the determined resource is processing capabilities of at least one other computer, and wherein the obtaining of the indicated information with the determined resource includes use of the processing capabilities.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 41 words

53 . The method of claim 51 wherein the determined resource is an input device of at least one other computer, and wherein the obtaining of the indicated information with the determined resource includes receiving input information from the input device.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 30 words

54 . The method of claim 51 wherein the information obtained from the at least one determined executing characterization module is information used during the executing of the characterization module.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 25 words

55 . The method of claim 51 wherein at least one of the clients indicating a desire to receive indicated information is a characterization module.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 32 words

56 . The method of claim 51 wherein the information obtained from the at least one determined executing characterization module is information retrieved by that characterization module from at least one source.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 17 words

57 . The method of claim 51 wherein the context that is represented is a current context.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 20 words

58 . The method of claim 51 wherein the context attributes represent information about a user of the portable computer.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 17 words

59 . The method of claim 51 wherein the context attributes represent information about the first computer.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 41 words

60 . The method of claim 51 wherein the context attributes represent information about a group of users such that each of the users is a user of a computer on which one of the multiple determined characterization modules is executing.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 27 words

61 . The method of claim 51 wherein the context attributes represent information about the group of computers on which the multiple determined characterization modules are executing.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 26 words

62 . The method of claim 51 wherein receiving of the sent obtained information by the client prompts the client to present information to a user.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 175 words

63 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed cause a computing device to provide information about a context that is modeled with multiple context attributes, by: receiving from each of multiple sources an indication of an ability to supply values for at least one of the context attributes of the modeled context; and for each of multiple clients, receiving an indication of a desire to receive information of interest; when at least one source is determined to have the ability to supply the indicated information, retrieving the indicated information from at least one of those sources and sending the retrieved information to the client; and when none of the sources have the ability to supply the indicated information, determining one or more executing characterization modules from which the indicated information can be obtained and/or one or more resources of other accessible computers with which the indicated information can be obtained; obtaining the indicated information from the determined characterization modules and/or with the determined resources; and sending the obtained indicated information to the client.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 175 words

63 . A computer-readable medium containing instructions that when executed cause a computing device to provide information about a context that is modeled with multiple context attributes, by: receiving from each of multiple sources an indication of an ability to supply values for at least one of the context attributes of the modeled context; and for each of multiple clients, receiving an indication of a desire to receive information of interest; when at least one source is determined to have the ability to supply the indicated information, retrieving the indicated information from at least one of those sources and sending the retrieved information to the client; and when none of the sources have the ability to supply the indicated information, determining one or more executing characterization modules from which the indicated information can be obtained and/or one or more resources of other accessible computers with which the indicated information can be obtained; obtaining the indicated information from the determined characterization modules and/or with the determined resources; and sending the obtained indicated information to the client.

Claim 72

Dependent Claim 190 words

64 . A portable computer for providing information about a context that is represented with multiple modeled attributes, comprising: an attribute mapping module that is capable of receiving from each of multiple sources an indication of a current ability to supply values for at least one of the context attributes of the modeled context; and an information supplier module that is capable of receiving an indication of a desire to receive information of interest from a client, of retrieving the indicated information of interest from a source and sending the retrieved information to the client when at least one source has the ability to supply the indicated information of interest, and of, when none of the sources have the ability to supply the indicated information of interest, determining one or more executing characterization modules from which the indicated information of interest can be obtained and/or one or more resources of other accessible computers with which the indicated information of interest can be obtained, obtaining the indicated information of interest from the determined characterization modules and/or with the determined resources, and sending the obtained indicated information of interest to the client.

Claim 73

Dependent Claim 190 words

64 . A portable computer for providing information about a context that is represented with multiple modeled attributes, comprising: an attribute mapping module that is capable of receiving from each of multiple sources an indication of a current ability to supply values for at least one of the context attributes of the modeled context; and an information supplier module that is capable of receiving an indication of a desire to receive information of interest from a client, of retrieving the indicated information of interest from a source and sending the retrieved information to the client when at least one source has the ability to supply the indicated information of interest, and of, when none of the sources have the ability to supply the indicated information of interest, determining one or more executing characterization modules from which the indicated information of interest can be obtained and/or one or more resources of other accessible computers with which the indicated information of interest can be obtained, obtaining the indicated information of interest from the determined characterization modules and/or with the determined resources, and sending the obtained indicated information of interest to the client.

Claim 74

Dependent Claim 89 words

65 . A computer-implemented method for providing information about a state that is modeled with multiple state attributes, the method comprising: receiving an indication of one of the multiple state attributes; determining multiple executing characterization modules that each model at least one piece of information related to the indicated one state attribute; gathering the modeled pieces of information from the determined characterization modules; generating a value for the indicated one attribute based on the gathered information; and providing an indication of the generated value of the one state attribute.

Claim 75

Dependent Claim 89 words

65 . A computer-implemented method for providing information about a state that is modeled with multiple state attributes, the method comprising: receiving an indication of one of the multiple state attributes; determining multiple executing characterization modules that each model at least one piece of information related to the indicated one state attribute; gathering the modeled pieces of information from the determined characterization modules; generating a value for the indicated one attribute based on the gathered information; and providing an indication of the generated value of the one state attribute.

Managing interactions between computer users' context models

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