Interface for exchanging context data

• US 6,920,616 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2000
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tangis Corporation
• Inventors: Robarts, James O., Newell, Dan, Abbott, Kenneth H., Freedman, Joshua M., Fluegel, Steven J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/692,507
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 715734-748, 709201-203, 709217-219, 707/100, 707/102, 707/6, 707/10, 706 45- 48, 706/61, 706/60, 706/14, 345733-749
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• 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 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

A facility for exchanging context attributes is described. A characterization module receives an invocation request to provide an attribute value that was generated by a requesting attribute consumer. The received invocation request identifies the attribute whose value is to be provided. In response to receiving the invocation request, the characterization module provides a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer.

Claims

1. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and, identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, the invocation request further specifying a basis for determining one of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources to provide such that a newest available value of the identified attribute is to be selected; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the newest available value of the identified attribute.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the invocation request is a function call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the invocation request is a procedure.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the invocation request is an invocation message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein a value of the identified attribute is stored, and wherein the stored value is provided to the requesting attribute consumer.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified attribute is associated with an attribute source, and wherein the method further comprises obtaining a value of the identified attribute from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is associated, and wherein the value of the attribute obtained from the attribute source is provided to the requesting attribute consumer.

7. The method of claim 6, furthering comprising obtaining a value of a property associated with the identified attribute from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is associated.

8. The method of claim 7, furthering comprising providing the obtained associated property value to the requesting attribute consumer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the obtained property is security information associated with the identified attribute, further comprising using the security information to determine whether to provide a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in addition to providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer, providing units of the value for the identified attribute.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in addition to providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer, providing a timestamp for the identified attribute.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified attribute is information reflecting an aspect of the computing device.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the computing device has a visual output device, and wherein the identified attribute is information about the availability of the visual output device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is present in an environment, and wherein the identified attribute is information reflecting an aspect of the environment.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified attribute reflects a temperature of an environment in which the computing device is present.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device has a user, and wherein the identified attribute is information reflecting an aspect of the user.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified attribute a blood pressure of a user of the computing device.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more applications are executing on the computing device and wherein the identified attribute is information reflecting an aspect of an executing application.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein an electronic messaging application is among the applications executing on the computing device, and wherein the identified attribute indicates whether new messages have been received by the electronic messaging application.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is outside a selected remote environment, and wherein the identified attribute is information reflecting an aspect of the remote environment.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified attribute a temperature of a selected environment remote from the computing device.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device has a user, and wherein the identified attribute is information reflecting an aspect of a selected person other than the user.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the selected person has a location, and wherein the identified attribute is the location of the selected person.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified attribute is information reflecting an aspect of an identified person.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the identified attribute being information reflects a temperature of an identified person.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the invocation request further specifies a maximum age of the value of the identified attribute to be provided, and wherein the value provided to the requesting attribute consumer has an age that is no older than the specified maximum age.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein a value of the identified attribute is available from each of a plurality of sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies one of the plurality of sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is from the specified source.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein a value of the identified attribute is available from each of a plurality of sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to provide a value of the identified attribute from each of the sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available, and wherein a value of the identified attribute from each of the sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available is provided to the requesting attribute consumer.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein a value of the identified attribute is available from each of a plurality of sources, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is determined based upon the values of the identified attribute available from the plurality of sources.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising caching the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to select one of the plurality of available values of the identified attribute to provide, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is selected from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to determine a value of the identified attribute to provide that is based upon the plurality of available values of the identified attribute but different than each of the plurality of available values of the identified attribute, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is based upon the plurality of available values of the identified attribute but different from each of the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to determine, from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute, one value of the identified attribute to provide, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the invocation request further specifies a basis for determining;

from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute, one value of the identified attribute to provide, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the available values of the identified attribute are each requested and received from a different source, and wherein the invocation request further specifies selecting the first-received available value of the identified attribute, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is the first-received available value of the identified attribute.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the invocation request further specifies soliciting selection by a user of one of the available values of the identified attribute, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is an available value of the identified attribute selected by the user.

37. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in addition to providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer, providing an uncertainty level for the identified attribute.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the invocation request is received by a context characterization module, and wherein the context characterization module has an attribute under its control, and wherein the invocation request identifies the attribute under the control of the characterization module, and wherein the attribute whose value is provided to the requesting attribute consumer is the attribute under the control of the characterization module.

39. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before the invocation request to provide an attribute value is received, receiving from the attribute consumer an invocation request to register the attribute consumer.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the invocation request to register an attribute consumer indicates that the requesting attribute consumer reserves an opportunity to later request provision of a value of the identified attribute, the method further comprising associating with the identified attribute an indication that the requesting attribute consumer is dependent on the identified attribute.

41. The method of claim 1 further comprising, before the invocation request to provide an attribute value is received, receiving an invocation request to register an attribute source for the identified attribute, and wherein the method further comprises obtaining a value of the identified attribute from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is associated, and wherein the value of the attribute obtained from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is provided to the requesting attribute consumer.

42. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a name and a value of a property associated with the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer.

43. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and, identifying an attribute whose vale is to be provide, the identified attribute having a source such that a value of the identified attribute previously-obtained value; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing to the requesting attribute consumer a value for the identified attribute by,

determining whether the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute exceeds a specified maximum age;

if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute does not exceed the specified maximum age, providing the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer; and

if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute does exceed the specified maximum age;

obtaining a new value of the identified attribute from the source of the identified attribute, and

providing the new value of the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising caching the new value of the identified attribute.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein the invocation request is a function call.

46. The method of claim 43 wherein the invocation request is a procedure.

47. The method of claim 43 wherein the invocation request is an invocation message.

48. The method of claim 43 wherein a value of the identified attribute is stored, and wherein the provided value is the stored value.

49. The method of claim 43 wherein the identified attribute is associated with an attribute source, and wherein the method further comprises obtaining a value of the identified attribute from that attribute source, and wherein the provided value is the obtained value from the attribute source.

50. The method of claim 43 further comprising, in addition to providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer, providing units of the value for the identified attribute.

51. The method of claim 43 further comprising, in addition to providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer, providing a timestamp for the identified attribute.

52. The method of claim 43 wherein the identified attribute reflects an aspect of the computing device.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the computing device has a visual output device, and wherein the identified attribute reflects availability of the visual output device.

54. The method of claim 43 wherein the computing device is present in an environment, and wherein the identified attribute reflects an aspect of the environment.

55. The method of claim 43 wherein the computing device has a user, and wherein the identified attribute reflects an aspect of the user.

56. The method of claim 43 wherein one or more applications are executing on the computing device, and wherein the identified attribute reflects an aspect of an executing application.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein an electronic messaging application is among the applications executing on the computing device, and wherein the identified attribute indicates whether new messages have been received by the electronic messaging application.

58. The method of claim 43 wherein the computing device is outside a specified remote environment, and wherein the identified attribute reflects an aspect of the remote environment.

59. The method of claim 43 wherein the computing device has a user, and wherein the identified attribute reflects an aspect of a specified person other than the user.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the specified person has a location, and wherein the identified attribute is the location of the specified person.

61. The method of claim 43 wherein the identified attribute reflects an aspect of an identified person.

62. The method of claim 43 wherein values for the identified attribute are available from each of a plurality of sources, wherein the invocation request further specifies one of those sources, and wherein the provided value is from the specified source.

63. The method of claim 43 wherein values for the identified attribute are available from each of a plurality of sources, wherein the invocation request further specifies to provide a value of the identified attribute from each of the sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available, and wherein the providing of the value to the requesting attribute consumer further includes providing to the requesting attribute consumer a value of the identified attribute from each of the sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available.

64. The method of claim 43 wherein values for the identified attribute are available from each of a plurality of sources, and wherein the value of the identified attribute that is provided to the requesting attribute consumer is determined based upon the values of the identified attribute available from the plurality of sources.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising caching the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer.

66. The method of claim 43 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to select one of the plurality of available values of the identified attribute to provide, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is selected from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

67. The method of claim 43 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to determine a value of the identified attribute to provide that is based upon the plurality of available values of the identified attribute but different than each of the plurality of available values of the identified attribute, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is based upon the plurality of available values of the identified attribute but different from each of the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

68. The method of claim 43 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to determine one value from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute to provide, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein the invocation request further specifies a basis for determining one value from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute to provide, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the available values of the identified attribute are each requested and received from a different source, and wherein the invocation request further specifies selecting the first-received available value of the identified attribute, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is the first-received available value of the identified attribute.

71. The method of claim 69 wherein the invocation request further specifies soliciting selection by a user of one of the available values of the identified attribute, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is an available value of the identified attribute selected by the user.

72. The method of claim 43 wherein the invocation request is received by a context characterization module that has an attribute under its control, wherein the invocation request identifies the attribute under the control of the characterization module, and wherein the attribute whose value is provided to the requesting attribute consumer is the attribute under the control of the characterization module.

73. The method of claim 43 further comprising, before the invocation request to provide an attribute value is received, receiving from the attribute consumer an invocation request to register the attribute consumer.

74. The method of claim 73 wherein the invocation request to register an attribute consumer indicates that the requesting attribute consumer reserves an opportunity to later request provision of a value of the identified attribute, the method further comprising associating with the identified attribute an indication that the requesting attribute consumer is dependent on the identified attribute.

75. The method of claim 43 further comprising, before the invocation request to provide an attribute value is received, receiving an invocation request to register an attribute source for the identified attribute, and wherein the method further comprises obtaining a value of the identified attribute from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is associated, and wherein the value of the attribute obtained from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is provided to the requesting attribute consumer.

76. The method of claim 43 wherein the specified maximum age is older than the ages of any values for the identified attribute.

77. The method of claim 43 wherein the specified maximum age is an indication that any age is acceptable.

78. The method of claim 43 wherein the specification of the maximum age in the invocation request is a lack of an indication of an explicit maximum age, and wherein determining whether a value for the identified attribute has an age that is no older than the specified maximum age includes determining that any attribute value age is no older than the specified maximum age.

79. The method of claim 43 wherein the specification of the maximum age in the invocation request is a lack of an indication of an explicit maximum age, and wherein determining whether a value for the identified attribute has an age that is no older than the specified maximum age includes determining that any attribute value age is older than the specified maximum age.

80. The method of claim 43 wherein the specification of the maximum age in the invocation request is a lack of an indication of an explicit maximum age, and wherein determining whether a value for the identified attribute has an age that is no older than the specified maximum age is performed in a manner unknown to the requesting attribute consumer.

81. The method of claim 43 wherein the specification of the maximum age in the invocation request is optional, and wherein determining whether a value for the identified attribute has an age that is no older than the specified maximum age when an explicit maximum age is not specified in the invocation request includes determining whether the attribute value age is no older than a default maximum age.

82. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is specified by the requesting attribute consumer.

83. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is a system default.

84. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is a default provided by a source for the provided attribute value.

85. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is obtained externally.

86. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is functionally determined based at least in part on a current context of the computing device.

87. The method of claim 81 wherein the method is performed by a characterization module executing on the computing device, and wherein the default maximum age is functionally determined based at least in part on a current context of the characterization module.

88. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is functionally determined based at least in part on a current context of the requesting attribute consumer.

89. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is functionally determined based at least in part on values of one or more derived attributes related to the identified attribute.

90. The method of claim 81 wherein each attribute has a distinct default maximum age.

91. The method of claim 90 wherein the default maximum ages for the attributes are stored in a table that is regularly updated.

92. The method of claim 90 wherein the default maximum ages for the attributes are stored in a table that is dynamically updated.

93. The method of claim 81 wherein the default maximum age is learned.

94. The method of claim 93 wherein the learning is performed based on specifications for maximum age from previous requests.

95. The method of claim 93 wherein the learning is performed based on monitoring values for the identified attribute over time.

96. The method of claim 93 wherein the learning is performed based on monitoring whether an earlier value for the default maximum age was later found to be appropriate.

97. The method of claim 43 wherein the specification of the maximum age includes one or more criteria for determining the maximum age in a manner based upon the provided attribute value.

98. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is determined from a timestamp.

99. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is determined relative to a time when the request was made.

100. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is determined relative to a time when the request was received.

101. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is determined relative to a time when a value for the identified attribute was last supplied.

102. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is determined relative to a time when a value for the identified attribute was last generated.

103. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is based on an absolute time.

104. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is determined relative to a time when the provided attribute value was valid.

105. The method of claim 43 including, before the providing of the value to the attribute consumer, receiving from a source the provided value for the identified attribute and information regarding when the provided attribute value is valid.

106. The method of claim 43 wherein the providing of the identified attribute value includes providing information regarding when the provided attribute value is valid.

107. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is based on when a source for values of the identified attribute was last checked.

108. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is based on when a source for values of the identified attribute was valid.

109. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is based on when values of the identified attribute were last obtained from a source.

110. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is based on an expiration time for the provided attribute value.

111. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is based on a specific time supplied by the requesting attribute consumer.

112. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is represented as a range of ages that are acceptable for an attribute value to be provided.

113. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is represented as a range of ages that are not acceptable for an attribute value to be provided.

114. The method of claim 43 wherein the maximum age is represented as multiple ages.

115. The method of claim 43 including providing a mechanism to functionally determine the maximum age.

116. The method of claim 43 wherein the provided attribute value is derived from information provided by multiple sources, and including determining the age for the provided attribute value.

117. The method of claim 43 wherein the specified maximum age includes indications of multiple criteria.

118. The method of claim 43 wherein the specified maximum age includes criteria for determining the maximum age that vary based on a source of the provided value for the identified attribute.

119. The method of claim 43 including, before the providing of the identified attribute value, determining the value of the identified attribute to be provided, the determining performed in such a manner as to only use attribute values whose age is less than the specified maximum age.

120. The method of claim 43 including, in response to the specified maximum age, generating a new value for the identified attribute to be used as the provided value.

121. The method of claim 43 wherein the providing of the identified attribute value further includes providing one or more indications of information used to generate the provided attribute value.

122. The method of claim 121 wherein the provided indications of the information used to generate the provided attribute value include ages of one or more pieces of the information.

123. The method of claim 43 wherein the provided identified attribute value has an uncertainty that is based at least in part on the age of the value.

124. The method of claim 123 wherein the uncertainty of the value based on the age is determined based upon a table.

125. The method of claim 123 wherein the uncertainty of the value based on the age is determined based upon a functional relationship.

126. The method of claim 123 wherein the uncertainty of the value based on the age is determined based upon historical data.

127. The method of claim 123 wherein the uncertainty of the value based on the age is determined based upon a defined mechanism.

128. The method of claim 127 wherein the defined mechanism is received from the requesting attribute consumer.

129. The method of claim 127 wherein the method is performed by a characterization module executing on the computing device, and wherein the defined mechanism is provided by the characterization module.

130. The method of claim 43 wherein the providing of the identified attribute value further includes providing information as to how the maximum age was determined.

131. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, the identified attribute having a source such that a value of the identified attribute previously obtained from the source is cached with an indication of the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer by,

determining whether the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute exceeds the specified maximum age;

if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute does not exceed the specified maximum age, providing the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer; and

if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute exceeds the specified maximum age;

obtaining a new value of the identified attribute from the source of the identified attribute,

determining that the new value of the identified attribute exceeds the specified maximum age, and

in response to determining that the new value of the identified attribute exceeds the specified maximum age, generating an error condition indicating that the source is unable to satisfy the specified maximum age.

132. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, the invocation request further specifying a basis for determining one of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources to provide such that the oldest available value of the identified attribute is to be selected; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the oldest available value of the identified attribute.

133. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, the invocation request further specifying a basis for determining one of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources to provide such that the available value of the identified attribute having a lowest uncertainty level is to be selected; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the available value of the identified attribute having the lowest uncertainty level.

134. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, the invocation request further specifying a basis for determining a value of the identified attribute to provide that is an average of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the average of the available values of the identified attribute.

135. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, each of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources having an uncertainty level, the invocation request further specifying a basis for determining a value of the identified attribute to provide based at least in part on uncertainty level, and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the average of the available values of the identified attribute, weighted by their uncertainty levels.

136. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, each of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources having an age, the invocation request further specifying a basis for determining a value of the identified attribute to provide based at least in part on age; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the average of the available values of the identified attribute, weighted by their ages.

137. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, the invocation request further specifying a basis for determining one of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources to provide such that the available value of the identified attribute that occurs the largest number of times among the available values of the identified attribute is to be selected; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the available value of the identified attribute that occurs the largest number of times among the available values of the identified attribute.

138. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, each of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources having an uncertainty level and an effective time, the invocation request further specifying a basis for selecting an available value of the identified attribute based upon a function of the uncertainty level and effective time of each; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is selected from the available values of the identified attribute based upon the function of the uncertainty level and effective time of each.

139. A computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

an invocation request receiver that receives an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer and identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided and specifying a basis for determining one of a plurality of values of the identified attribute that are available from different sources such that a newest available value of the identified attribute is to be selected; and

an attribute value provider that provides a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer in response to receipt of the invocation request by the invocation request receiver the value provided being determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the newest available value of the identified attribute.

140. The computing device of claim 139 wherein the computing device is a mobile computing device.

141. The computing device of claim 139 wherein the computing device is a wearable computing device worn on the body of a human user.

142. The computing device of claim 139 further comprising an attribute value memory that contains a value of the identified attribute, wherein the attribute value contained in the attribute value memory is provided to the requesting attribute consumer by the attribute value provider.

143. The computing device of claim 139 wherein the identified attribute is associated with an attribute source, the computing device further comprising an attribute procurement subsystem that obtains a value of the identified attribute from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is associated, and wherein the value of the attribute obtained from the attribute source with which the identified attribute is provided to the requesting attribute consumer by the attribute value provider.

144. The computing device of claim 139 wherein a value of the identified attribute is available from each of a plurality of sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies one of the plurality of sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer by the attribute value provider is from the specified source.

145. The computing device of claim 139 wherein a value of the identified attribute is available from each of a plurality of sources, and wherein the invocation request further specifies to provide a value of the identified attribute from each of the sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available, and wherein a value of the identified attribute from each of the sources from which a value of the identified attribute is available is provided to the requesting attribute consumer by the attribute value provider.

146. The computing device of claim 139 wherein a value of the identified attribute is available from each of a plurality of sources, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer is determined based upon the plurality of values of the identified attribute available from different sources.

147. The computing device of claim 139 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer by the attribute value provider is selected from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

148. The computing device of claim 139 wherein a plurality of values of the identified attribute are available from different sources, and wherein the value of the identified attribute provided to the requesting attribute consumer by the attribute value provider is based upon the plurality of available values of the identified attribute but different from each of the plurality of available values of the identified attribute.

149. A computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

an invocation request receiver that receives an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request being generated by a requesting attribute consumer, the invocation request identifying the attribute whose value is to be provided, the identified attribute having a source and a value of the identified attribute previously obtained from the source being cached with an indication of the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute;

an age determination subsystem that determines whether the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute exceeds a specified maximum age in response to receipt of the invocation request by the invocation request receiver; and

an attribute value provider that provides a value for the identified attribute to the requesting attribute consumer in response to receipt of the invocation request by the invocation request receiver in such a manner that the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute is provided if its age does not exceed the specified maximum age and in such a manner that a new value of the identified attribute that is obtained from the source is provided if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute exceeds the specified maximum age.

150. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to exchange context attributes, by performing a method comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request from a requesting attribute consumer and specifying a basis for determining one of a plurality of values of an identified attribute that are available from different sources such that a newest available value of the identified attribute is to be selected; and

in response to receiving the invocation request, providing a value for the identified to the requesting attribute consumer that is determined from the plurality of available values of the identified attribute using the specified basis such that the provided value is the newest available value of the identified attribute.

151. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to register an attribute, the invocation request being generated by an attribute source, the invocation request identifying the attribute to be registered and further specifying a manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

in response to receiving the invocation request, generating an indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source, the generated indication including an indication of the specified manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

invoking the attribute source in the specified manner to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source; and

in response to invocation of the attribute source, receiving the identified attribute from the attribute source so as to receive a value of the attribute and an indication of the time at which the value of the attribute is most accurate.

152. The method of claim 151 wherein invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source includes an identification of the attribute.

153. The method of claim 151 wherein the receiving of the identified attribute from the attribute source includes receiving an indication of a level of uncertainty of the value of the attribute.

154. The method of claim 151 further comprising:

receiving an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request to provide an attribute value identifying the attribute identified by the invocation request to register an attribute, the invocation request to provide an attribute value being generated by a requesting attribute consumer; and

in response to receiving the invocation request to provide an attribute value;

using the generated indication of the specified manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source to invoke the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source, and

providing the attribute value obtained from the attribute source to the requesting attribute consumer.

155. The method of claim 151, wherein the invocation request further specifies a name of the attribute, and wherein the generated indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source includes an indication of the specified name of the attribute.

156. The method of claim 151, wherein the invocation request further specifies a name of the attribute source, and wherein the generated indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source includes an indication of the specified name of the attribute source.

157. The method of claim 151, wherein the invocation request further specifies a data type of the attribute, and wherein the generated indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source includes an indication of the specified data type of the attribute.

158. The method of claim 151, wherein the invocation request further specifies an indication of a format of the attribute, and wherein the generated indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source includes an indication of the specified format indication of the attribute.

159. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to register an attribute, the invocation request being generated by an attribute source, the invocation request identifying the attribute to be registered and further specifying a manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

in response to receiving the invocation request, generating an indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source, the generated indication including an indication of the specified manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source; and

invoking the attribute source in the specified manner to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source, wherein the invoking includes an indication of a maximum time in which the attribute source is expected to supply the identified attribute.

160. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to register an attribute, the invocation request being generated by an attribute source, the invocation request identifying the attribute to be registered and further specifying a manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

in response to receiving the invocation request, generating an indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source, the generated indication including an indication of the specified manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source; and

invoking the attribute source in the specified manner to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

in response to invocation of the attribute source, receiving the identified attribute from the attribute source so as to receive a value of the attribute and an indication of units in which the value of the attribute is expressed.

161. A method in a computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

receiving an invocation request to register an attribute, the invocation request being generated by an attribute source, the invocation request identifying the attribute to be registered and further specifying a manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

in response to receiving the invocation request, generating an indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source, the generated indication including an indication of the specified manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source; and

invoking the attribute source in the specified manner to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

in response to invocation of the attribute source, receiving the identified attribute from the attribute source so as to receive a value of the attribute and an indication of a format in which the value of the attribute is expressed.

162. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to exchange context attributes, by performing a method comprising:

receiving an invocation request to register an attribute, the invocation request being generated by an attribute source, the invocation request identifying the attribute to be registered and further specifying a manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

in response to receiving the invocation request, generating an indication that the identified attribute can be obtained from the attribute source, the generated indication including an indication of the specified manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source;

invoking the attribute source in the specified manner to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source; and

in response to invocation of the attribute source, receiving the identified attribute from the attribute source so as to receive a value of the attribute and an indication of the time at which the value of the attribute is most accurate.

163. The computer-readable medium of claim 162 wherein Invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source includes an identification of the attribute.

164. The computer-readable medium of claim 162 wherein the contents of the computer-readable medium further cause the computing device to:

receive an invocation request to provide an attribute value, the invocation request to provide an attribute value identifying the attribute identified by the invocation request to register an attribute, the invocation request to provide an attribute value being generated by a requesting attribute consumer; and

in response to receiving the invocation request to provide an attribute value;

using the generated indication of the specified manner of invoking the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source to invoke the attribute source to obtain the identified attribute from the attribute source, and

providing the attribute value obtained from the attribute source to the requesting attribute consumer.

165. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to exchange context attributes, by performing a method comprising:

receiving an invocation request from an attribute consumer to provide one or more values of an identified attribute, the identified attribute having a source such that one or more previously obtained values of the identified attribute from the source each have an associated age; and

in response, providing to the attribute consumer at least one value for the identified attribute by,

determining whether the ace of a previously-obtained value of the identified attribute exceeds age;

if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute does not exceed the specified maximum age, providing the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute to the attribute consumer; and

if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute does exceed the specified maximum age;

obtaining a new value of the identified attribute from the source of the identified attribute, and

providing the new value of the identified attribute to the attribute consumer.

166. The computer-readable medium of claim 165 wherein the contents are instructions that when executed cause the computing device to perform the method.

167. A computing device for exchanging context attributes, comprising:

an invocation request receiver configured to receive an invocation request from an attribute consumer to provide one or more values of an identified attribute, the invocation request identifying an attribute having a source such that one or more values of the identified attribute from the source each have an associated age; and

an attribute value provider configured to provide to the attribute consumer in response at least one value for the identified attribute by,

determining whether the age of a previously-obtained value of the identified attribute exceeds a specified maximum age;

if the ace of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute does not exceed the specified maximum age, providing the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute to the attribute consumer; and

if the age of the previously-obtained value of the identified attribute does exceed the specified maximum age;

obtaining a new value of the identified attribute from the source of the identified attribute, and

providing the new value of the identified attribute to the attribute consumer.

168. The computing device of claim 167 wherein the invocation request receiver and the attribute value provider are part of a characterization module executing in memory of the computing device.