GB2361381A

GB2361381A - Maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across differentiated media types via multiple end-to-end persistent links

Info

Publication number: GB2361381A
Application number: GB0008827A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-04-12
Filing date: 2000-04-12
Publication date: 2001-10-17
Also published as: GB0008827D0

Abstract

With the ubiquity of information now available, and a multitude of channels for distribution, attention can shift from the creation and distribution of information content to its co-ordination. A paradigm shift can take place whereby computing power is used to address needs of end users, for information to be displayed how they want, when they want, where they want, in such a manner that the same information does not appear twice unless requested. In this manner information duplication and overload are avoided. The methods described here show how with the insertion of additional computing power in the information distribution process it is possible to manage, maintain and co-ordinate the different information streams. By adding a degree of co-ordination in the user interfaces across diverse media types interactivity is improved still further. The benefits of such information, transaction and interaction co-ordination to end-users are both obvious and significant.

Description

2361381 Title A Method for Maintaining Information and Transaction

Co-ordination across Differentiated Media Types via Multiple End-to-End Persistent Links.

Background

With a multitude of established and emerging information distribution channels ever increasing numbers of end-users will be using a variety of devices to interact with information and transaction content. Whether it is reading the morning news on a PDA on a train, surfing stock market prices from a mobile phone, looking at the local news, travel and entertainment on a digital television, or surfing the global internet from a pervasive computer, there is going to be no shortage of information content. Assimilating and exploiting the content that is available is a different matter altogether. Whilst it is relatively easy to establish and deliver multiple data streams it is a different challenge to transform that data into useful information. Transforming data into information is undoubtedly going to be one of the key information challenges for the early 2 1 ' Century. A paper on 2 l Century Content Engines (1996) describes how some of the challenges have been met in relation to the creation of Meta-tagged content. Now the challenges relating to the receipt of multiple channels of information have to be addressed. Methods are described here for the delivery of co- ordinated streams of information that also provide a foundation for effective transaction and interaction services.

Problem To get information content to millions of end users requires those responsible for creation and distribution to build substantial content distribution factories. These can be expensive to build, maintain and manage. With multiple media channels there is the possibility of multiple sites doing more or less the same thing, leading to redundancy and excess capacity within the systems. In itself this can prevent economies of scale being realised. If this in turn leads to higher than acceptable prices for content delivery and interaction the take-up of new services will be slowed.

Alternatively, given the same content will, with variations, be appearing in the different information channels there are opportimities to realise economies of scale by combining the creation processes and the delivery infrastructure for different media elements. This requires co-operation between players in the different categories of media involvement. If this can be secured then end-users of the information and transaction content and interactive services could benefit greatly.

A related issue concerns the potential for multiple and inconsistent user interfaces for various media devices, leading to learning interference and user fi-ustrations, again slowing the take up of point products and services. What is needed is infrastructure, navigation and interaction frameworks for new and more integrated services. The variation in interface design for different point products can then be replaced with a 1 more appropriate and effective Meta user interface, what we term the "Ubiquitous Graphical User Interface (UGUI)".

Essential Features An essential feature of the method is the insertion of co-ordination distribution centres -intelligent information and distribution warehouses- between the providers of content and the channels used for content delivery. This additional element tracks the two-way activities of users as they interact with information, transactions and interactions. This additional component is used to establish co-ordination between different information streams, avoiding unnecessary duplication of information to end-users. In addition it creates a degree of consistency between the user interface operations of various discrete devices.

This combination, in Meta-Media Distribution Centres, or "Information Cash and Carry" outlets, opens up new opportunities. For example, with the competition to supply bandwidth, negotiations can take place between the Meta-Media Distribution Centre (C), and various network providers to get the best prices for end-users.

By making the information and transaction channels two-way it is possible to combine information about user interactions into comprehensive profiles of user activity. This, in turn permits a greater degree of management and co-ordination between different information streams. Users can be provided with services for the coordination of information across different media channels including televisions, personal computers, mobile phones and other devices. And with user agreement, the profiles of information and interest usage can be used for targeted and requested promotions and advertising material, relevant to the articulated needs of users at particular times so the medium, or rather the variety of media channels, do not become overly intrusive.

It is a relatively simple additional step to provide a co-ordination framework for userinteractivity across different media channels to maximise user acceptance and minimise any learning interference. A harmonious and ubiquitous graphical user interface (UGUI), modified for the characteristics of the different media channels, will enhance substantially the degree of user acceptance of both existing and new technologies.

Introduction to the Drawing.

Figure 1 shows how the insertion of Meta-Media Distribution Centres between content streams and end users opens up new opportunities. Not only is there coordination of delivery of information content across different and discrete media types, it provides unified and compatible ubiquitous graphical interfaces for users to access content across different media channels. It also opens the way for negotiations to lower the price of bandwidth, and unlike today's situation where users are faced with a variety of bills from separate organisations, there is the possibility for unified billing mechanisms for end-to-end services reflecting the usage of the different and co-ordinated applications.

2 Examples

An example of the power of he method comes from the everyday delivery of news and entertainment information to individuals. Providing this more effectively will free up time for users, and support them in the transition from information to action. For example information about a film review may lead directly to a transaction to order cinema tickets for the film. Users will therefore be supported in both their information gathering and the subsequent actions based on the information, covering both transactions and interactions.

Someone interested in buying a house may want immediate notification of properties as they come on the market, together with a brief description of the property. A mobile telephone may be the ideal vehicle for such notification, and of the prospective purchasers are interested then they can go to a virtual reality tour of the property via a personal computer, digital television or other device.

An example of the potential disadvantage of not achieving the paradigm shift comes from the situation where cable, landline and mobile providers all seek to dominate the new ubiquitous marketplace and do not co-operate. In this situation it is difficult to see how there can be co-ordination of information across media channels. Contrast this with the situation where co-operative arrangements are established and the user can enjoy a variety of co-ordinated information services, where, when and how they are needed. The benefits of the latter are so obvious that market forces can be expected to deliver the required solutions.

Reference Ross and loannou 1996 21't Century Content Engines: Theory and Practice Seybold Report on Publishing Systems Vol. 25 No 18 ISSN: 0736 7260 3 1 Title A Method for Maintaining Information and Transaction Co-ordination across Differentiated Media Types via Multiple End-to-End Persistent Links.

Claims

Claims Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by patent is as follows: 1. 1 claim a method for maintaining information and transaction coordination across 2. differentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links by the introduction of co-ordination centres for information distribution to diverse media devices combined with two-way interaction and information exchange which makes it r possible to more effectively deliver information to users in a form, at a location and at a time that are all more suitable and effective than is possible without such co-ordination, as described here and below. A method for maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across differentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links co-ordination centres as claimed in Claim 1 creates the possibility for universal and unified sign-on arrangements - more like the postal address users enjoy today than the series of randomly generated computer names which users often have to endure as users d not want to put up with multiple physical mail addresses when dealing with different service providers, so a uniform electronic naming convention with a broadly applicable "namespace" makes it possible to minimise conflicts, confusions and differences across domains, as well as opening up opportunities for delivery of new services to individuals and groups of individuals and improved systems adminstration. 3. A method for maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across diffitrentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2 together with the insertion of Meta-inedia Distribution Centres opens up the possibility of providing end-to-end billing services to consumers and groups of consumers based on the utilisation of services and resources - an "information, transaction and interaction utility" - which makes the provision of total end to end services transparent to end-users. 4. A method for maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across diflbrentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing. Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by patent is as follows:

1. A method of maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across different media devices and services the method comprising the. steps of Establishing persistent or persistent and intermittent Fmks between a user and a content source via an intermediary service or Solution provider, ensuring always-on links to the intermediary during some or all activity between user and content source or sources Maintaining that persistence and monitoring the interactions of users Monitoring and logging any user activity Using the logged information and knowledge and information of the sites visited for administration or billing or marketing purposes

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising the step of creating organised and structured information at source, or ' with compatible structure osed after, to deliver information in an appropriate manner to a particular devices whilst retaining the overall information integrity of the content by (a) Differentiating different elements of the information (b) Associating elements with device capabilities (c) Sending information requested from a device to that device in its preferred format (d) Enabling navigation of the total information structure from any device as required.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 and ffirther comprising the step of coordinating information and activity across multiple devices andlor services by the insertion of co-ordination centres between users of information and aggregators within and across networks, services and devices by (a) Using the persistent links of a network or connection to track information requests and activity by including co-ordination centres in the interactive activities and streams and networks (b) Combining the persistent or intermittent links across devices to form a unified or holistic picture of user or group activity (c) Managing the information flows within and across devices and information streams according to defined or inferred user preferences and service requirements.

(d) Combining the totality of activity with the economic requirements and models to deliver a unified administrative inftastructure across devices networks and services.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising the step of establishing profiles of users from user provided information and by tracking over sessions and time the information requests and interactions of users, by (a) Providing continua of data from information to action for users tonavigate (b) With the persistent and intermittent links facilitate the delivery of content with greater depth than the surface navigation if required, with information about activity and interactivity collected as a by-product of behaviour (c) Providing action options and consequences to the deeper navigation areas (d) Monitoring user activity, behaviour and consequences (c) Using that behaviour to deliver products and goods and services (f) Linking the information browsing to the deeper information interaction and interrogation and then to subsequent behaviour tracking the intensity of interaction and allocating revenue income between the parties involved in the whole transaction cycle according to predetermined models and rules relating to information nature, intensity and value.

A method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising the step of integrating perspectives across different network and service providers by making selected and authorised information available to those parties to facilitate user interaction across services, networks and devices comprising the following (a) Establishing intercept, interim, de facto or agreed standards within and across different network, service and device providers such that information can be passed between them and the results shared across networks services and devices (b) Establishing meta-centres that can act as clearinghouses between service network and device'providers so far as information and communication and administration are concerned.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising the step of providing universal and unified sign-on arrangements - more like the postal address users enjoy today than the series of randomly generated computer names which users endure so a uniform electronic naming convention with a broadly applicable "namespace" can be implemented to minimise conflicts, confusions and differences across domains, as well as opening up opportunities for delivery of new services to individuals and groups of individuals.

A method as claimed in claim 1 and ftirther comprising the step providing end-toend billing services to consumers and groups of consumers based on the utilisation of services and resources - an %nformation, transaction and interaction utility- which makes the provision of total end to end services transparent to end-users.

8. A method for maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across differentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.

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