Generating and supplying user context data

• US 8,346,724 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Abbott, Kenneth H., Freedman, Joshua M., Newell, Dan, Robarts, James O.
• Primary Examiner(s): OBISESAN, AUGUSTINE KUNLE
• Application Number:
  US12/330,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20090150535A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,485 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/631
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing information about a context that is modeled with multiple context attributes. In some situations, at least some of the context attributes have values used by modules for generating values of other context attributes, and the providing includes determining that a first module is generating a first value of a first of the context attributes of the modeled context and determining that a circular reference exists when it is determined that a module is to generate another value of the first context attribute such that the generating of the another value is caused by the generating of the first value of the first context attribute.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

employing a processor to carry out the following acts;

receiving an attribute value, the attribute value being measured via a sensor or derived from one or more values received from one or more sensors;

processing the received attribute value;

identifying attribute value requests related to the received attribute value that meet predetermined criteria which cause the received attribute value to be pushed to one or more clients;

when one or more requests are identified and multiple instances of the attribute value are available, mediating the available multiple instances of the attribute value to produce a mediated attribute value and additional information associated therewith;

pushing one of the received attribute value or a mediated value; and

processing the additional information, the additional information including at least one of uncertainty or accuracy information, a timestamp of when the value was created or supplied or was most accurate, an indication that the value is a constant, indications of restrictions on whether the availability of the attribute instance or of the particular value is available to a specific client, data type, units, a format version, a name, or generic attribute property supplied by a client, history information, an indication of the supplier of the attribute, an indication of equivalent attributes, indications of clients that have registered for the attribute or consumed values for the attribute, descriptions of clients in order to track statistics, information to be used to evaluate characterization module efficiency or to facilitate process optimization, an indication of a verification of accuracy, a consumer rating or reputation based on input from a set of clients, a cost to use the value, future availability of the attribute value, or a version of the attribute,

said processing the additional information comprises;

when a time stamp is received, associating a time stamp to the attribute value;

when accuracy information is received, associating the accuracy information to the attribute value;

when accuracy decay information is received, associated the accuracy decay information to the attribute value;

when a constant attribute value is received, conveying that the received attribute value is a constant; and

when information associated with clients that are to have access to the received attribute value, associating the information with the received attribute value to restrict access thereof to the intended clients.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an attribute value request, wherein the request specifies one or more criteria for the value;

identifying one or more attribute instances that match the one or more criteria;

pulling current values for the identified one or more attribute instances from a source of attribute values;

determining if an attribute value is received, and processing the attribute value when received; and

determining whether multiple attribute values are available for the attribute instances that match the one or more criteria, and mediating the multiple values when available.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising delivering previously received and stored attribute values that match the one or more criteria.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein pulling current values for the identified one or more attribute instances from a source of attribute values includes:

requesting an attribute value form the source of attributes values when a unique request identification (ID) for the attribute value request is received; and

receiving at least one of an attribute value or an error message in response to the requesting an attribute value.

5. The method of claim 4, generating a unique request ID for the attribute value request when a request ID is not received with the attribute value request.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the unique request ID facilitates detection of circular references during one or more attribute value requests.

7. The method of claim 1, processing the received attribute value further comprising:

determining whether the attribute for which the attribute value is received is registered, and conveying an error message when the attribute is not registered;

storing the received attribute value when it is determined that attribute values are retained; and

when it is determined that received attribute values are not retained, processing predetermined conditions related to the received value.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the storing includes one of temporarily caching or retaining in a long-term manner the received attribute value.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein processing predetermined conditions related to the received value include:

selecting a condition;

sending a message to an entity associated with the condition to indicate the condition is satisfied; and

determining if the condition is to be removed or deactivated.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein pushing one of the received attribute value or a mediated value includes:

receiving an indication of the received attribute value or a mediated value;

receiving an indication of a client intended to receive the received attribute value or the mediated value;

determining if additional information is associated with the received attribute value or the mediated value, and retrieving the additional information; and

delivering at least one of the received attribute value or the mediated value or the additional information to the intended client.

11. The method of claim 1, mediating the available multiple instances of the attribute values further comprising:

determining available mediators that apply to available multiple instances of the attribute values, wherein mediators discriminate among multiple instances of attribute values and are specified based at least on one of a default value or an end user selection;

selecting one of the determined mediators; and

applying the selected mediator to the available multiple instances of the attribute values to at least one of select a value or generate an aggregate value.

12. A system, comprising:

a processor;

a component, implemented using the processor, that processes an attribute value that is measured via a sensor or derived from one or more values received from one or more sensors;

a component, implemented using the processor, that identifies attribute value requests related to the attribute value that meet predetermined criteria which cause the attribute value to be pushed to one or more clients;

a component, implemented using the processor, that mediates multiple instances of the attribute value to produce a mediated value and additional information associated therewith, in response to identification of one or more requests and further in response to a determination that the multiple instances of the attribute value are available;

a component, implemented using the processor, that pushes a selected value, the selected value being one of the attribute value or the mediated value; and

a component, implemented using the processor, that processes the additional information, the additional information including at least one of uncertainty or accuracy information, a timestamp of when the selected value was created or supplied or was most accurate, an indication that the selected value is a constant, indications of restrictions on whether the availability of the selected value is available to a specific client, data type, units, a format version, a name, or generic attribute property supplied by a client, history information, an indication of the supplier of the attribute, an indication of equivalent attributes, indications of clients that have registered for the attribute or consumed values for the attribute, descriptions of clients in order to track statistics, information to be used to evaluate characterization module efficiency or to facilitate process optimization, an indication of a verification of accuracy, a consumer rating or reputation based on input from a set of clients, a cost to use the selected value, future availability of the attribute value, or a version of the attribute,

said component that processes the additional information being configured to associate a time stamp to the attribute value in response to receipt of the time stamp,

said component that processes the additional information being configured to associate accuracy information to the attribute value in response to receipt of the accuracy information,

said component that processes the additional information being configured to associate the accuracy decay information to the attribute value in response to receipt of the accuracy decay information,

said component that processes the additional information being configured to convey that the attribute value is a constant in response to the attribute value being the constant, and

said component that processes the additional information being configured to associate information, which is associated with clients that are intended to have access to the attribute value, with the attribute value to restrict access to the attribute value to the intended clients.

13. The system of claim 12, comprising:

a component that identifies one or more attribute instances that match one or more criteria that are specified by an attribute value request;

a component that pulls current values for the identified one or more attribute instances from a source of attribute values;

a component that determines if an attribute value is received and that processes the attribute value when received; and

a component that determines whether multiple attribute values are available for the attribute instances that match the one or more criteria and that mediates the multiple values when available.

14. The system of claim 13, comprising:

a component that delivers previously received and stored attribute values that match the one or more criteria.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the component that pulls the current values for the identified one or more attribute instances requests an attribute value from the source of attribute values in response to receipt of a unique request identification (ID) for the attribute value request;

and

wherein the component that pulls the current values for the identified one or more attribute instances receives at least one of an attribute value or an error message in response to requesting an attribute value.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the unique request ID facilitates detection of circular references during one or more attribute value requests.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the component that processes the attribute value determines whether the attribute for which the attribute value is received is registered and conveys an error message when the attribute is not registered;

wherein the component that processes the attribute value stores the attribute value when it is determined that attribute values are retained; and

wherein the component that processes the attribute value, when it is determined that attribute values are not retained, processes predetermined conditions related to the received value.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the component that pushes the selected value receives an indication of the attribute value or a mediated value;

wherein the component that pushes the selected value receives an indication of a client intended to receive the attribute value or the mediated value;

wherein the component that pushes the selected value determines if additional information is associated with the attribute value or the mediated value, and retrieves the additional information; and

wherein the component that pushes the selected value delivers at least one of the attribute value or the mediated value or the additional information to the intended client.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the component that mediates the multiple instances determines available mediators that apply to available multiple instances of the attribute values, wherein mediators discriminate among multiple instances of attribute values and are specified based at least on one of a default value or an end user selection;

wherein the component that pushes the selected value selects one of the determined mediators; and

wherein the component that pushes the selected value applies the selected mediator to the available multiple instances of the attribute values to at least one of select a value or generate an aggregate value.

20. A memory having instructions recorded thereon for enabling a processor-based system to perform operations, the memory comprising:

a module for enabling the processor-based system to process an attribute value that is measured via a sensor or derived from one or more values received from one or more sensors;

a module for enabling the processor-based system to identify attribute value requests related to the attribute value that meet predetermined criteria which cause the attribute value to be pushed to one or more clients;

a module for enabling the processor-based system to mediate multiple instances of the attribute value to produce a mediated value and additional information associated therewith, in response to identification of one or more requests and further in response to a determination that the multiple instances of the attribute value are available;

a module for enabling the processor-based system to push a selected value, the selected value being one of the attribute value or the mediated value; and

a module for enabling the processor-based system to process the additional information, the additional information including at least one of uncertainty or accuracy information, a timestamp of when the selected value was created or supplied or was most accurate, an indication that the selected value is a constant, indications of restrictions on whether the availability of the selected value is available to a specific client, data type, units, a format version, a name, or generic attribute property supplied by a client, history information, an indication of the supplier of the attribute, an indication of equivalent attributes, indications of clients that have registered for the attribute or consumed values for the attribute, descriptions of clients in order to track statistics, information to be used to evaluate characterization module efficiency or to facilitate process optimization, an indication of a verification of accuracy, a consumer rating or reputation based on input from a set of clients, a cost to use the selected value, future availability of the attribute value, or a version of the attribute,

said module for enabling the processor-based system to process the additional information being configured to associate a time stamp to the attribute value in response to receipt of the time stamp,

said module for enabling the processor-based system to process the additional information being configured to associate accuracy information to the attribute value in response to receipt of the accuracy information,

said module for enabling the processor-based system to process the additional information being configured to associate the accuracy decay information to the attribute value in response to receipt of the accuracy decay information,

said module for enabling the processor-based system to process the additional information being configured to convey that the attribute value is a constant in response to the attribute value being the constant, and

said module for enabling the processor-based system to process the additional information being configured to associate information, which is associated with clients that are intended to have access to the attribute value, with the attribute value to restrict access to the attribute value to the intended clients.