Context conflict resolution and automatic context source maintenance
First Claim
1. A method of resolving conflicts in context information, comprising steps of:
- gathering context information for a user from a plurality of context sources;
determining whether a conflict exists in the gathered context information; and
if a conflict is determined to exist, resolving the determined conflict, further comprising the steps of;
evaluating a set o fuser-customizable conflict-resolution rules to select at least one rule that is usable for resolving the determined conflict; and
performing each of at least one conflict-resolution actions specified by each of the selected rules, wherein at least one of the conflict-resolution actions updates one of the context sources.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for detecting and resolving conflicts in context information from various sources. That information may be used to automatically update one or more context sources and/or to validate or invalidate (until further notice or for a period of time) input from one or more context sources. Or, the updates can be made in response to the user'"'"'s instructions. Rules are used in preferred embodiments to dictate the conflict resolution approach for individual users. Updating the context source is particularly useful when the source is an electronic calendar. Updates that may be made to the calendar include adding, deleting, or changing scheduled events and/or working hours. Invalidating data from a context source is particularly useful for lost, forgotten, misplaced, or loaned devices. Marking data from a context source as valid is preferably done when harmony among several context sources is detected. Context suppliers may be notified of errors or discrepancies in their context data.
32 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of resolving conflicts in context information, comprising steps of:
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gathering context information for a user from a plurality of context sources; determining whether a conflict exists in the gathered context information; and if a conflict is determined to exist, resolving the determined conflict, further comprising the steps of; evaluating a set o fuser-customizable conflict-resolution rules to select at least one rule that is usable for resolving the determined conflict; and performing each of at least one conflict-resolution actions specified by each of the selected rules, wherein at least one of the conflict-resolution actions updates one of the context sources. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification