GB2358717A

GB2358717A - Methods for enhanced information exchange and transactions within multi-device environments

Info

Publication number: GB2358717A
Application number: GB0001508A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-25
Filing date: 2000-01-25
Publication date: 2001-08-01
Also published as: GB0001508D0

Abstract

The abundance of irrelevant material, difficulty of finding relevant information, and lack of effective navigation aids hinders Internet exploitation and user satisfaction. Other limitations include lack of speed, lack of security and lack of local administration to monitor and control material accessed and viewed. The introduction of Information Meta-Agents, in the form of software and human Information Managers and Assistants, overcomes many of the current limitations and helps support users in their navigation and transactions and administers, manages, and/or approves transactions that are made. An overall Information Meta-Agent has a number of components (Fig 1) that separately and/or together improve the usability and functionality of electronic interactions. Methods are described for using Information Agents and Assistants in relation to existing Internet interactions.

Description

2358717 Title Methods for Persistent Connectivity for enhanced information

exchange and transactions within multi-device environments.

Background

To date the matter of interactivity between a user and information within an Internet of other Digital space has largely been viewed as an exchange between two parties the sender of information and the recipient of that information. This model has been adequate for the early stages of Internet development, but we are rapidly approaching a situation where information can be delivered to a variety of electronic devices, not all of which will have the same information processing characteristics. Presentation differences between computers, digital televisions, mobile phones, information kiosks, flat screen displays and other devices mean more account needs to be taken of the content, format and adaptability of information senders and receivers.

As digital con-ununications becomes pervasive and ubiquitous, the limitations of any two party communications model will become more obvious. The benefits of information being delivered in a co-ordinated fashion to a variety of information devices with different characteristics will become more obvious and important. This type of information delivery within a multi-device environment raises new issues. Duplicating information to different devices represents no difficulties, but would be frustrating, perhaps even unacceptable, to users. What is required is a managed and co-ordinated delivery to the different devices depending on the needs of the user and the capabilities of the receiving device. This can be achieved, in our model, by the introduction of a Meta- level Agent or Agents. Such an Agent needs to monitor coordinate and control information delivery to the difFerent and disparate devices used by any particular individual. In this manner the benefits of the multiple devices can be enjoyed, without the associated disadvantages of information overload and uncoordinated information delivery.

Such a Meta-Agent or Agents can only work if there is an element of persistent connectivity over and above that between the provider and recipient of information. The two-role model of communication has to be replaced by a three or more role model of interaction between users, information providers and Meta Agent Managers. This persistent connectivity model of communication opens up a number of new opportunities for content delivery and management and transaction management.

Until recently the computing power required for effective Meta-Agent activity on any scale was not possible at a practical price, but advances in the technology makes multiple information devices for one individual a reality. As well as making the hardware and software for Meta-Agent transactions feasible.

1 Problem We are entering an age of ubiquitous information devices. The personal computer, digital TV and cable services. mobile phones, information kiosks, computer tablets and palm-tops and electronic books, as well as in-car, in-home and in-office entertainment, security and information devices, an offer ways of accessing electronic content and information. We have indicated elsewhere (Ross 1999 a, b, c and d) how structured information environments can aid user navigation and understanding. Here we extend the model to include multi-device electronic environments, where such devices may have different information processing and presentation charecteristics.

In the world of multiple devices, many or all of the devices will access similar information streams. There is the obvious danger of being overwhelmed by duplicated and uncoordinated content. There are also obvious dangers of being overwhelmed by large quantities of the digital equivalent ofjunk mail, and unsolicited information and advertising. At the same time there is a clear requirement for getting the information when it is needed and to where it is needed, irrespective of, and/or taking account of, device limitations.

One way around these difficulties is to increase the intelligence and the sender and/or receiver ends, allowing information to be filtered and automatically prioritised according to user requirements. This is the route a number of developments have tried. Whilst it represents an adequate interim solution, it cannot by itself deal completely with an increasingly important feature of digital communications, that of dissimilar information devices all being used to receive and send information to and from a variety of individuals, who have a variety of different devices at their disposal.

2 Essential Features To overcome some of the limitations discussed above we propose the insertion of additional information assistants and information managers into the two-party digital exchange, to transform it into a multi-party exchange and transaction. The information Meta-Agent or Information Assistants take some of the load of maintaining coordination and control over information delivery to different devices. This is done by the insertion of additional elements between the two active parties in the transaction, the sender and the recipient. These additional elements help facilitate both communications and transactions within the increasingly digital information world.

By placing a group of virtual and/or real co-ordinated information managers and assistants between the providers of information and the recipients of information it is possible to manage better the information flows and transactions for any particular user across the groups of dissimilar interactive devices with different information handling characteristics and capabilities.

The individual user requirements are met by having centralised or distributed controlled and co-ordinated information distribution that takes account of the information seen by a particular user on the different devices they have access to. Essentially the Meta-Agent maintains profiles and logs of the different devices used by any particular individual. It logs the information requested and received by the device, and takes account of this when sending information to other devices to avoid unnecessary duplication.

The insertion of these additional electronic components established a persistent electronic relationship of a dispositional nature, over and above the episodic interactions that are a feature of current web and other electronic exchanges. Until recently the processing overhead of such co-ordination would have been unthinkable, but advances in hardware and software mean it is possible to contemplate such persistent monitoring for even quite large numbers of users.

The presence of dispositional or persistent links present and active during the course of interactions and transactions, open up new and important opportunities for improving the quality of interactive experiences.

3 Introduction to Drawings.

Figure 1 shows the elements for a Meta Agent to manage the information and transaction needs of an individual using a number of devices to remain informed and in contact. The elements include the following:- Event Manager Tracking events of interest Activity Manager Monitoring actions of the individual in relation to information Co-ordination Manager To co-co-ordinate information to different devices Profile Manager Tracking the categories selected and the depth of interest Security Manager Ensuring secure access across different devices Admin Manager Tracking Billing and other information and acting as a Systems Administrator to other users in the same group Commerce Manager Doing secure e-commerce transactions when required Presentation Manager Tailoring information streams to the device being accessed at any one time Acceleration Manager Taking steps to improve user response times in a variety of ways Figure 2 shows how an Information Meta-Agent acts as an information Intermediary between the providers of information and the recipients, keeping track of the devices being used by the end user, and the information logs to ensure duplication of information across different devices is kept to an acceptable minimum. In this way individuals can use a variety of electronic devices, at home, at work, and on the move, to keep in touch and remain informed.

4 Examples

An example of the difficulties of communication when faced with different electronic devices concerns electronic mail with a large attachment like a high-resolution photograph. With a personal computer and fast Internet link receiving such a message presents few difficulties. On the other hand a mobile phone Internet interface may be better not receiving the attached picture unless absolutely necessary, and to delay receipt until a later time to a device and infrastructure better equipped to deal with the application. Another example is for digital newspaper to send only the top headlines to a mobile device, but the full stories with pictures to more bandwidth capable devices.

Likewise delivery of information to a car, portable device or office or kiosk display station where there is only one-way communication will have different requirements than other situations where there is effective twoway interaction. Yet both types of device may have a valid role to play in the digital world, as one-way communication is likely to be significantly less cost than two-way communication.

References Ross 1999 (a) A Multi-Dimensional Human Computer Interface Using Information Categorisation and Visualisation. GB 9915892.5 Ross 1999 (b) A Method for Multi-dimensional Information Representation Processing and Interaction Using Categorisation Structures and Processes GB 991589.3 Ross 1999 (c) A Method for Integrated Multi-Media Compound Document Structure, Creation, Representation, Processing and Interaction. GB 9915894.1 Ross 1999 (d) Multi-dimensional Computer Supported Communications Using Database Linking and a Visual Language Interface GB 9915895.8 Title Methods for Persistent Connectivity for enhanced information exchange and transactions within multi-device environments.

Claims

Claims

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by patent is as follows:

0c 1. Methods for the introduction of Information Agents in the form of electronic and.0.6 ' physical information managers and information assistants to improve the interactive experiences of human-computer interactions and transactions in terms of quality, speed, reliability and effectiveness of those information and transaction experiences, by introducing at least a third element into two party transactions between sender and recipient of information, to monitor co-ordinate and control i t transactions between the multiple devices used by an individual and the senders of the information, and the information and transaction intermediaries between them. C: _-
2. Methods for persistent connectivity for enhanced information exchange as claimed in Claim 1 wherein by establishing multi-party links within electronic exchanges in controlled and managed ways allows for additional security of transactions and facilitates the speedy, timely, effective and controlled distribution of content and electronic interactions to devices of different types with different information processing characteristics.
3. Methods for persistent connectivity for enhanced information exchange as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 wherein the presence of Information Agents and/or Software Assistants on both sender and recipient sides facilitates and improves the interactive user experience in a number of ways including Ease and degree of personalisation of information Speed of retrieval of required pages Navigation within and between the groups of pages that are accessed within and between sessions Security of E-Commerce, E-Business and other electronic transactions Reduction in the volume of unnecessary network traffic Potential for episodic and dispositional promotions, advertising, special offers and other marketing devices, irrespective or related to current site position. Potential for building individual and group profiles relating to information needs and access patterns, information requirements and transaction activities.
4. Methods for persistent connectivity for enhanced information exchange and transactions within single or multi-device environments substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 - 2 of the accompanying drawing.

a 1 6 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows A method and process independent of networks, devices, service providers and manufacturers for creating structured documents, categories, information sources and streams, group and multiple group memberships that can be combined and interact one with another singularly and in combination, applied to information, repositories, databases, knowledge, events, activities, interactions and experiences with senders and receivers of information sharing structures for the exchange of content, communications, transactions and interactions, with single or multiple devices, across single or multiple networks, with intermittent or persistent links. with single or multiple service and application providers, comprising the following steps, or variations or modifications thereof to achieve the same or similar ends:òCreation of structures, be these physical, electronic, conceptual or social or combinations thereo for documents, categories, classes or other domains or areas of content, communication, interaction, transaction, perception, cognition or social behaviour Sharing of such structures with others through written or spoken communication or electronic means or some other method Creation of content containing tags to locate content within such structure or structures, not exclusively but allowing for multiple 0 realisations, versions, variations, positions and overlaps 0 Sourcing, streaming, multicasting or in some other way delivering content to individual or groups, to single or multiple devices from servers, databases, across fixed and wireless networks or in some other manner, or combinations of the above 0 Users able to access categories, contents, or categories containing content that is delivered whether or not this replaces or supplements or extends earlier content, for all categories and classes or for those categories and classes selected by end-users a Users navigating structures in a variety of ways under their control or automatically, with navigation sharing attributes of the method and process and its iterative application used to create structures with a degree of consistency in cross-device navigation and access 0 Personalisation, tailoring and use of the temporal characteristics of the information in the receiving streams and structures, under user or sender control or shared between receivers and senders of information or communication Application of any or all of these steps to multiple occutTences be these multiple examples contents, documents, devices, memberships, information streams, service providers, network and computing infrastructures of all types or similar.

0 Co-ordination through monitoring by structured information meta agents and meta agent managers during intermittent and persistent connectivity with co-ordinated and co-operative interactions between devices used by particular users Evolution of structures and contents by senders and receivers by reference to previous structures and categories and classes for modification, evolution and developments With evolved structures being shared with some or all other users for activity, communications, interaction or transactions or any combination thereof to create feedback loops for the continual improvement and evolution of the components, services, and developments or incorporation of new elements into the overall method and process.

2 The method Claim 1 further comprising the step of the iterative application of the process to form more sophisticated information and other structures applied to ranges of content, applications, interfaces and devices, including but not limited to the following, each of which has the capability for multiple realisations within any and all structures as required: - Content within a physical or electronic document, structured according to the method and process Documents, physical or electronic, structured according to the method and process Categories of documents created by grouping of items along one or more dimensions of similarity Classes of category formed by grouping items along one or more dimensions of similarity Meta-structures formed by further iterations or variations of the method and process Events, historic, current or future Activities, historic, current or future Experience, historic, current or planned News feeds, articles, reports, evaluations, magazines, books and other electronic and physical publications Delivered to a computer, television, digital assistant, wireless device or other more or less intelligent device, including hardware software, networking and similar devices Transmitted across fixed or wireless or digital audio or satellite or other network including telecommunications, cable, wireless and other infrastructures, public or private or combinations thereof To an individual, or a group or a community or some wider audience or some combination of these groups including multiple memberships of any of the above 3 The method and process of Claim 1 comi-ii:ising'-iie further step of applying such structures to different applications including but not limited to 0 Information content creation and organisation, whether physical or electronic, individual or shared News and information and data and graphics and video and other feeds, sources, databases or similar repositories of information and knowledge Web sites, Internet sites, Intranet sites and other electronic and physical stores, repositories and databases of information Communications between individuals, groups, enterprises and organisations 0 Communities of individuals assessed similar in sorne way 0 Co-ordination of content and category streams, activities, interactions and transactions across multiple sources, devices, situations and groups 4 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of creating profiles by and for users, with their activities and transactions forming, via the further application of the method and process, iterative information structures for other individuals or groups for whatever purpose, including but not limited to the following: - 0 Content or transaction delivery or fulfilment Communication within and between individuals and groups Administrative, financial, legal, geographic or other requirements whether foreseen or not 0 Creation or maintenance of physical, social or virtual groups or communities or combinations thereof Overlapping, intersecting and multiple communities created by individuals and groups interests and overlaps Commerce activities and transactions electronic and physical.

Software and interfaces and programmes for computers and other intelligent devices 0 Books, articles, magazines and reports and other publications and information dissemination methods The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of organising elements into meaningful combinations within structures, with the possibility of visual representations appropriate to structuring processes, including organisation ofi Interfaces Documents Publications including papers, books, magazines, periodicals, reports and similar Files/folders/cabinets/archives and other storage Desktops electronic or virtual Web and other information sites Interactive marketing, sales, promotion and other information 0 Group, departmental, enterprise and organisational information resources Mail, computer conferencing, notice boards and other transmission and display elements Address books, calendars, diaries, events activities and other such elements Advertising including services of all types, job vacancies, house and other premises lettings and sales, classified advertising of all types and other similar information and communications sources and activities Other information sites, sources and activities Other value and process chain activities involving movement of information between people, processes and organisations including analysis, evaluation, comparison, bidding and transacting goods and services and other elements 6 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of sharing information about categories, classes, structures, memberships, actions, interactions and transactions between senders and receivers and intermediaries of information across single and multiple devices across single and multiple networks 7 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of producing information, both physical and electronic, for distribution containing information structures, tags, identifiers, and metainformation relating to the processing and positioning of information withm and between information structures The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of packaging electronic information such that without flirther conversion but through selection of elements it can be sent in suitable formats through a variety of information channels and distribution methods, to a variety of devices whilst retaining its identifiers such that documents can be accessed and retrieved from a multitude of devices across a multitude of networks or combinations thereof 9 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the finther step of co ordination from media distribution centres for of a variety of different types capable of being sent to a variety of different devices, simultaneous and successively, with the potential of end-to-end quality of service links on some or all of the different distribution channels, with individual or group or combinations thereof of usage, activity and transactions monitored to provide information, communications, interaction and transaction utilities similar to energy, water, telecommunications, finwicial and entertainment utilities or combinations thereof The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of populating categories and classes of information with information from sources, or streams, or multicast to fill or supplement, complement or replace some or all of the infomiation already contained within the categories and classes with the following characteristics: 0 Retention o and potential to re-establish, given appropriate networks, links to original documents, category or class events, experiences or activities, if need be to reconstitute a facsimile or duplicate from consistent parts Ability for content to appear in one or more than one category or class at one and the same time A retained knowledge of the relevance, links and associations between an items and other items derived from its location within and between one or more structures An ability to track variations of the document or other objects across variations, modifications, versions and across networks to di&rent locations, people and devices An ability to display information appropriate to any receiving device or combination of receiving devices The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of navigating information structures on a variety of devices in consistent and compatible e. methods using the navigation techniques inherent in the information structures created and consistent with human cognitive and perceptual and social information processing capabilities with the following characteristics: - An ability to track and communicate a position within the information structure to any other device also used by the same individual to access the same information at the same or a different time, and to share this with others if required An ability to navigate within, between, and across structures using a variety of devices including but not limited to controls, buttons, pointers, joysticks, mice, touch-sensitive screens, voice commands and other ways 11 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the firther step of selecting information, documents, categories, classes and structures of information according to preferences or actions at any point in a navigation process such that selected items display greater depth or breadth of informatio...I which likewise can be navigated.

12 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of using structural cues and tags or other embedded information to select, search and retrieve contents, categories or classes, by using appropriate search engines to search some or the entirety of the contents of any element or structure 13 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the finther step of personalising structures, categories and classes through none, some or all of the following ways Selecting certain document types as having higher relevance to one or more devices such that information appropriate to a device is displayed according to the device limitations unless overruled by specific user activity.

Selecting certain categories as being of higher relevance and attaching some mathematical or other tagging mechanism to indicate such interest, with this afFecting the number and type of items filling a particular category.

Selecting and prioritising certain classes as having higher relevance with regard to the information available from sources, streams or multicasts.

Impacting the order that documents, categories and classes are received so user prioritisation is always possible in situations of resource or processing or other constraints or requirements.

14 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of creating naming structures, naming conventions, and identifiers for individuals, families, groups, communities and multiple groups memberships, with the following characteristics: - Any individual or group to potentially have a variety of identifiers indicating membership of physical, social or 1 groups, including multiple and overlapping memberships, with, when known, some or the totality of memberships maintained and delivered as unified or differentiated streams depending on user preference and activity Allocation of unique identifiers comprising prefix or suffix of both, whether random or not, to individuals, subgroups, groups or communities such that members of the same unit have an identical prefix or suffix or both In parallel allocation to the establishment of locator tags or identifiers based on geography, which can be overt or covert depending on requirements, security and other factors, allocate other linked unique identifiers can also if required also exhibit geographic and other cues, for security, location, physical deliveries and similar requirements The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of transmitting information to individuals, groups or multiple groups using the features, 13 facilities, cues and other attributes of the information structure, singularly, or in combination with each other and in combination with other devices including computer and network hardware and software and services and integration, with the following characteristics; _ The potential for senders or receivers or information, or botk to use physical cues, social cues, virtual cues or any combination thereof to direct content to more or less inclusive groups, subgroups or multiple groups or any combination thereof An ability to use combinations of the unique and locator identifiers to facilitate content delivery over network alternatives according to any requirements or combinations of requirements at any particular time including none, some or all of the following:Least cost routing Direct route routing Aggregated routing for physical groupings Routing selected to maintain quality of service levels Routing following prescribed geographical routes Random routing Multiple routing across the same and different networks to similar or diverse devices or both Any combination of the above or variations and modifications thereof to achieve similar ends.

16 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of connecting to computer and network hardware and software, services and integrated solutions, distribution mechanisms, processes, networks and devices such that information can be exchanged between the user of a variety of information services and users of those services, singularly and in combination, with the provisioning, personalising, administrative, security and other processes established within the infrastructures and co-ordination services, irrespective of the devices or services being used by the user for tracking, co-ordination, administration and billing services 17 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of using computer and network hardware and software and services and integration for creating communicating capabilities, billboards, message groups and other display facilities for directing messages to any individual, family, subgroup, group or overlapping or intersecting groups, be these physical, socia virtual or any combination thereof 18 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of users and groups interacting with one another across networks and computers and devices, on a one to one, one to many or many to one basis. With multiple network and service infrastructures further opportunities for interaction emerge, including the following: The combined features of single or multiple devices and multiple networks and connections together form new methods and processes for action, communication, interaction and transaction that form the basis of new and rc.vel business and other processes, value chains and re-engineered activities The combinations of features, facilities, applications and activities opens up new end-to-end transaction relationships for businesses, consumers and other individuals, groups and multiple groups.

19 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of administration activities, processes, logs and transaction associated with user activities across services, networks, devices, activities and groups, for information, relationships, fulfilment and security, direct for individuals, families, groups and multiple groups or as an element of service co- ordination for service and application providers or similar organisations.

The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the ficher step of creating physical, social or virtual communities of interest based on some dimension or dimensions of similarity, with intersecting and overlapping memberships, such that individuals and groups can interact with, communicate with and respond to others in their own or other group or multiple group memberships.

21 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of enabling billing, with some or all of the following characteristics, where billing can include both billing and credit transactions: - Billing by any form or combination of usage of hardware, software, networking, human or other resource Billing by volumes of information received or accessed Billing by volume of information excluded Billing by extent of filtering, or personalisation or similar modifications of the base method and process Billing by source of information Billing by timeliness of information Billing by the breadth or depth of the information accessed or any combination thereof 0 22 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of using any factors associated with information delivery and navigation for promotion, marketing, and selling activities, including by not limited to click through rates, banner advertising, promotion and counter promotion, or any element or sequence on a value chain from information of a less deep or more deep variety, analysis, comparisons, evaluations, transactions and value of goods transacted or any combination or extension therein billing, crediting, and control to any individual or group of any single or combined goods, services, usage, utilisation or combinations thereof Billed to individuals Billed to groupings of whatever type Or to any combination of the two, or other variations thereof i S_ 23 The method and process o'lk--laim i comprising the further step of enabling individuals, groups, communities, organisations and enterprises to maintain and transact commerce within and between different elements and components of various structures, using structures to support transaction activities.

24 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of restricting access, usage, interaction and transaction, in part or in entirety, to individuals, groups and multiple groups on the basis of exceeding prescribed limits whatever these might be and of limiting legal, commercial or electronic liability of any or all parties involved in transactions by binding parties to billing and other administrative and financial arrangements associated with the structures and delivery of information to a variety of people and devices, with no consequential or other liabilities for the method and process and structures used to facilitate information provision and transactions The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of using contents, structures, locality, grouping, membership and other cues and tags for security, administration of rules and procedures. Same also to be used for identification of unauthorised and inappropriate use of structures, contents and interactions, with the possibility of excluding such parties from flirther interaction within the structures and transactions defined by the method and process. Further with multiple networks and devices intercommunicating further security is possible as follows: - The security and other features of one device with a temporary or permanent connection can combine and interact with the security and other features of other networks to produce higher levels of security and reliability of the actions and actions using end-to-end connectivity, combining this with infrastructure and transmission and security characteristics from two or more networks on a single or multiple linked devices provides additional interactivity and two or more way communications for enhanced security and integrity of the actions and transactions 26 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of protecting the privacy of users by differentiating diffirent aspects of user identity and limiting accessibility to such information by people other than the user or users in question, and to use passwords and other techniques to keep within reason information restricted to those with a legitimate need to know.

27 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of having content relating to a locality as defined within the base method on a less or more inclusive scale according to user requirements, available for any members within that locality to use, or for any other individual or group requiring such information to also have access to locality specific information, with navigation within and between domains according to the base method and iterations thereo including none, some or all but not limited to the following:

Skills, trades, professionals and similar groupings Shops, outlets, warehouses and similar 1(0 Restaurants, Cinemas, Theatres, Hotels, Leisure facilities and similar Jobs, permanent, temporary and interim Classified advertising of any or all products or services or combinations thereof Places of interest Hobbies, interests and other physical, social or virtual groupings 28 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of permitting access to services from any number of diverse devices, whilst tracking individual activity across those one or more devices to deliver co- ordination within an underlying information infrastructure.

29 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of Integration of Information Providers by using or providing interfaces and standards and reciprocal billing information and arrangements where these are required with none, some or all of the following characteristics: Users and providers agree the basis of the billing mechanisms and the costs associated with information access and transactions Information providers assume the financial and other risks associated with transactions of any sort Information Providers remain legally responsible for the information they provide for onward transmission to users and for any other aspects of the interactions or transactions arising from their content.

The method and process of claim 1 with the additional step that where information services of whatever type agree that common and uniform electronic naming conventions based on the base method and process and structures can be implemented across different domains to open up opportunities for consistent naming in electronic and virtual spaces similar to lifetime personalised numbers available within the telecommunications arena.

31 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of using the method and process and iterations thereo embodied in methods, processes, procedures, business practices, value chains, hardware, software, networking, databases, storage and other similar devices, together with the structured and shared content, categories and classes, and the locator and other cues to track, respond to or anticipate user requirements when using a variety of devices to access information sources, stream, multicasts and other distribution methods so as to retain a user integrity position and perspective with regard to the information presented and display across different devices with none, some or aU of the following characteristics: - User position is retained across any and all devices that are active at any particular time in a tightly coupled or loosely coupled fashion or combinations thereo according to user preferences and device capabilities 17 Content delivery to or action on one device transmitted to other linked and active devices, as appropriat-e to their capabilities if need be Activity or reaction on one device transmitted to linked and active devices, and reflected in inactive devices the next time they are activated Traces, logs, actions and transactions within and across none, some of all devices are logged foradministration, service, and billing 32 The method and process of Claim I comprising the finiher step of allowing users universality from single designations and sign on passwords to a variety of devices if they so choose, or to associate and if required integrate discrete identities on different networks for administrative and billing purposes. 33 The method and process of Claim I comprising the further step of providing co-operation across a variety of different media distribution channels, networks, information providers and similar to provide a comprehensive series of services that work across diverse and discrete devices in a manner that provides a family resemblance in the interface, navigation and access techniques, with a low level of duplication and redundancy of content and a low level of duplication of user activity. 34 The method and process of Claim I comprising the ffirther step of enabling combinations of elements, methods and processes of structures of different types, and with different ownership or control of resources to combine one with another to deliver more integrated and unified services, subject to commercial, copyright and other restrictions 35 The method and process of Claftn I comprising the ftirther step of establishing interfaces, standards, inter- working, interoperability or any combination thereof with the providers of networks, services, facilities, entertainment or work or leisure free or paid for managed services or similar inftastructures such that the end- to-end integrity and coherence and integration of users of the base method and process is maintained, or not as required 36 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of establishing in end to end activity monitoring to provide quality of service metrics, and to interface these into any or all administration, billing, crediting, and service quality penalty measures, debits or credits for users, information providers, third parties or any combination thereof 37 The method and process of Claim I comprising the further step of providing a family of sirailar interfaces to a variety of different devices with the interfaces sharing common features of the base method and process such that contentdevice interfaces have the following characteristics: - 41 Devices use a common method for structuring, ordering and sequencing across devices Devices use a common method for navigation and access of different documents, categories classes and other features 19 0 Any device is capable under user control of acce,,,,sing any er. all of the full feature set ofthe core document structures, albeit with limitations of speed, display or other limitations Interactions and actions from any and all devices can be tracked by a meta-structure, using flulher iterations of the base method and process which contains a full profile of all user activity and behaviours for administration, security and billing purposes, subject to user privacy and national and international security and other requirements.

38 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the flirther step of modifications and evolutions of the method and process and its iterative application within the same domains of information and activity or different domains and sharing said modifications with others for an overall evolution ability and capability within the method and process 39. A method and system for navigation, personalisation, organisation and modification of shared information structures and associated technology and infrastructure within and across multiple intelligent devices with intermittent or persistent network or service connectivity, substantially as described herein and with reference to the preceding claims and Figures 1 - 8 of the associated drawings wherein information content or communications or transactions are structured, with the structures shared between information providers and information recipients and based on classification and categorisation on the basis of similarity with items able to appear in multiple classifications or categories at one and the same time, across multiple devices at one and the same time whatever the nature of the underlying infrastructure and service links.

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