Automated response to computer users context

• US 7,734,780 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Robarts, James O., Newell, Dan, Abbott, Kenneth H., Freedman, Joshua M.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, VIET DUY
• Application Number:
  US12/049,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20080313271A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/217, 709/219, 709/223, 709/225, 719/311, 719/312
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes. In some situations the providing includes receiving from a first client an indication of an interest in receiving values for an indicated one of the state attributes of the modeled current state, receiving from a second client an indication of an interest in receiving values for another of the state attributes of the modeled current state, and, in response to receiving a value for the indicated one attribute from a first source, determining that the first client has an interest in receiving the received value and supplying the received value to the first client.

Claims

1. A method in a wearable computer for providing information about a current state of a user of the wearable computer, the current state modeled with multiple state attributes, the wearable computer executing a plurality of state server modules to supply values for the state attributes, executing a plurality of state client modules to receive and process values for the state attributes, and executing an intermediary module to facilitate exchange of state attribute values, the method comprising:

sending, from at least one of the executing state client modules to the intermediary module, at least one registration message indicating a current desire to receive values for at least one indicated state attribute;

receiving by at least one of the executing state server modules, information from at least one input sensor;

generating a current value for one of the state attributes based on the received information;

sending to the intermediary module the generated current value;

receiving, at the intermediary module, at least one registration message and the current value for the one of the state attributes;

after receiving the current value, determining, by the intermediary module, based on the received at least one registration message, at least one of the state client modules that indicates a desire to receive values for the one of the state attributes; and

sending, from the intermediary module to each of the at least one of the state client modules that indicates a desire to receive values for the one of the state attributes, the current value, so that each of the state client modules receives values for the state attributes they have indicated when the values become available.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, under the control of the intermediary module:

receiving from a first of the state client modules a request for a current value of an indicated state attribute, and

in response, supplying the requested value to the first of the state client modules by,

requesting at least one of the state server modules to supply a value for the indicated state attribute; and

sending to the first of the state client modules the current value for the indicated state attribute received in response to the requesting.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the intermediary module stores values for the state attributes that are received from the state server modules, and wherein the requesting of the state server modules to supply the value to be sent to the first state client module occurs only if an appropriate value for the indicated state attribute is not stored by the intermediary module.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein at least some of the state server modules send registration messages to the intermediary module, each registration message indicating a current availability to supply values for an indicated one of the state attributes, and including determining the at least one state server modules that are to be requested to supply the value for the indicated state attribute based on the registration messages from the state server modules.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending of the received current value to the determined state client modules includes an indication of the state server module from which the sent current value was received.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, under the control of a first of the state client modules:

receiving a sent current value from the intermediary module; and

presenting information to a user of the first of the state client modules based on the receiving of the value.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least some of the state server modules generate values for additional state attributes of a current state other than for the user and send those generated values to the intermediary module, and wherein the intermediary module additionally sends received values for the additional state attributes to state client modules based on received registration messages from those state client modules indicating a current desire to receive values for at least one of the additional state attributes.

6. A method in a wearable computer for providing information about a current state of a user of the wearable computer, the current state modeled with multiple state attributes, the wearable computer executing a plurality of state server modules to supply values for the state attributes, executing a plurality of state client modules to receive and process values for the state attributes, and executing an intermediary module to facilitate exchange of state attribute values, the method comprising:

sending, from at least one of the executing state client modules to the intermediary module, at least one registration message indicating a current desire to receive values for at least one indicated state attribute;

receiving by at least one of the executing state server modules, information from at least one input sensor;

generating a current value for one of the state attributes based on the received information;

sending to the intermediary module the generated current value;

receiving, at the intermediary module, at least one registration message and the current value for the one of the state attributes;

after receiving the current value, determining based on the received at least one registration message, at least one of the state client modules that currently desires to receive values for the one of the state attributes; and

sending, to each of the at least one of the state client modules, the current value, so that each of the state client modules receives values for the state attributes they have indicated when the values become available;

receiving from a first of the state client modules an indication of a condition related to at least one of the state attributes;

determining, by the intermediary module, after the receiving of at least some of the sent current values whether the received current value satisfies the condition; and

when it is determined that the condition is satisfied, notifying the first of the state client modules.

9. A computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that, when executed by an intermediary processor of a wearable computer system perform a method, the intermediary module being configured to facilitate communication of state attributes from a plurality of state server modules to a plurality of state client modules the, method comprising:

receiving, from at least one of the plurality of state client modules, at least one first registration message indicating a current desire of at least one of the plurality of state client modules to receive a value for at least one state attribute;

receiving, from a state server module, a current value for the at least one state attribute;

in response to receiving the current value, determining, based on the at least one first registration message, the plurality of state client modules that indicate a desire to receive a value for the at least one state attribute; and

sending, to each of the plurality of state client modules that indicates a desire to receive the value for the at least one state attribute, the current value.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a first request from a first state client module for a current value of a state attribute;

supplying, in response to the first request, the requested value to the first state client module;

wherein supplying the requested value comprises;

sending a request to at least one state server module to supply a value for the state attribute; and

sending the value for the state attribute, received in response to the request, to the first state client.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving at least one second registration message from at least one state server module, the at least one second registration message indicating a current availability to supply values for at least one state attribute; and

wherein the request is sent based on the received at least one second registration message.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein sending the received current value to the state client modules includes an indication of the state server module from which the sent current value was received.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from a first of the state client modules an indication of a condition related to at least one of the state attributes;

determining after the receiving of at least some of the sent current values whether the received current value satisfies the condition; and

when it is determined that the condition is satisfied, notifying the first of the state client modules.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein at least some of the state server modules generate values for additional state attributes of a current state other than for the user and send the generated values to the intermediary module, and wherein the intermediary module additionally sends received values for the additional state attributes to state client modules based on received registration messages from those state client modules indicating a current desire to receive values for at least one of the additional state attributes.

11. A computer-readable medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising:

receiving at least one first registration message indicating a current desire of a plurality of state client modules to receive a value for at least one state attribute;

receiving a current value for the at least one state attribute;

in response to receiving the current value, determining, based on the at least one first registration message, the plurality of state client modules that currently have a desire to receive a value for the at least one state attribute;

sending, to each of the plurality of state client modules, the current value;

receiving a first request from a first state client module for a current value of a state attribute;

supplying, in response to the first request, the requested value to the first state client module;

wherein supplying the requested value comprises;

sending a request to at least one state server module to supply a value for the state attribute; and

sending the value for the state attribute, received in response to the request, to the first state client;

storing values for state attributes received from state server modules; and

wherein the request is sent to the at least one state server module only if an appropriate value for the state attribute is not already stored.

16. A wearable computer system, comprising:

a plurality of input devices configured to supply at least one value for a state attribute received from at least one input sensor, wherein the at least one value facilitates determining a context of a user wearing the wearable computer system;

a plurality of output devices, each configured to send a registration message indicating a current desire to receive the at least one value for the state attribute; and

an intermediary processor configured to;

receive the registration message from each of the plurality of output devices and the at least one value;

determine, based on received registration messages from each of the plurality of output devices, multiple of the plurality of output devices that currently have a desire to receive the at least one value for the state attribute; and

send, to each of the multiple of the plurality of output devices, the at least one value, so that each of the plurality of output devices receives values for state attributes they have indicated, when the values become available.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the intermediary processor is further configured to:

receive from a first of the output devices a request for a current value of an indicated state attribute; and

supply, in response to the request, the current value to the first of the output devices by,

requesting at least one of the input devices to supply a value for the indicated state attribute; and

sending to the first of the output devices the current value for the indicated state attribute received in response to the requesting.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the intermediary processor further comprises:

a storage device configured to store values for the state attributes that are received from the plurality of input devices;

wherein the intermediary processor requests at least one of the input devices to supply the value only if an appropriate value for the indicated state attribute is not stored in the storage device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein at least some of the plurality of input devices are configured to send registration messages to the intermediary processor, each registration message indicating a current availability to supply values for an indicated state attribute, wherein the intermediary processor is further configured to determine the at least some of the plurality of input devices that are to be requested to supply the value for the indicated state attribute based on the registration messages received from the input devices.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the intermediary processor is further configured to:

receive from a first of the output devices an indication of a condition related to at least one of the state attributes;

determine after receiving at least some of the sent current values whether the received current value satisfies the condition; and

when it is determined that the condition is satisfied, notify the first of the output devices.