GB2378003A

GB2378003A - methods of iterative categorisation for maimtaining information and transactionco-ordination across differentiated media types via multiple ene-to-end persist

Info

Publication number: GB2378003A
Application number: GB0113621A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-06-04
Filing date: 2001-06-04
Publication date: 2003-01-29
Also published as: GB0113621D0

Abstract

With the ubiquity of information now available, and a multitude of channels for distribution, account must be taken not just of creation and distribution of content but also its packaging and co-ordination. Increase in computing power mean a paradigm shift can take place to address needs of users, for information to be displayed how they want, when they want, where they want, in manner the same information does not appear twice unless requested. Novel methods and processes are described to achieve this using cycles of categorisation and persistent network links. Together these ensure information duplication is minimised. With the insertion of additional content, category and communication structures in information distribution it is possible to manage, maintain and co-ordinate diverse information streams and co-ordinate these with computer processing and human activity including navigation of information spaces. By adding consistency to user interfaces across diverse media types interactivity is facilitated.

Description

Methods of Iterative Categorisation for Maintaining Information and Transaction Co-ordination across Differentiated Media Types via Multiple End-to-End Persistent Links.

Scope of the Invention The present invention relates to methods and processes of cyclical categorisation for maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across multiple devices, multiple networks and multiple information sources. This is achieved by creating structured frameworks. The method encompasses the interchanges made possible between individuals, groups, documents and devices, and the communications, community and commerce made possible by co-ordination, structuring and sharing, together with the infrastructure, features, facilities, devices, and knowledge to support same including but not limited to hardware, software, communications and content.

Copyright Notice Portions of the disclosure of this patent document contain material that is subject to copyright. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark office patent file or records but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

Background With a multitude of established and emerging information distribution channels ever increasing numbers of end-users are using a variety of devices to interact with information and transaction content. Whether it is reading the morning news on a Home Personal Computer, catching up with e-mail on a Personal Digital Assistant 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 no shortage of information content. Assimilating and exploiting the content that is available is a different matter. Paradigms need to emerge to support more effective information access and assimilation.

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 21 Century. A paper on 21 Century Content Engines (Ross and Ioannou, 1996) describes how some of the challenges have been addressed in relation to the creation of streams of meta-tagged content. Now the challenges relating to the dispatch and receipt of multiple channels of information have to be addressed. This involves considerations of communication and locality, as well as classification and

multiple classification. Methods are described for the delivery of co-ordinated sources and streams of information to provide a foundation for effective interaction and transaction services. This builds on the early work by Ross (1999a, b, c and d) showing how content, computer processes and human interaction activity including navigation can be described within a unified framework of language relating to multidimensional information structures. Here we extend that work to address the more sophisticated information structures made possible by applying cycles of categorisation throughout an information flow and chain.

Communications with persistent connectivity It is surprising since the Internet is all about content and communications there are not more innovations involving communications methods and processes. Content, Presentation and Search processes are relatively well catered for in comparison.

One Patent on Service Provision Systems for Communications Networks (British Telecom 1995 WO 95/30317 examines the potential for service provisioning across both fixed and mobile networks. By exploiting software agents in the different network domains they show how service provisioning and maintenance is enhanced with a series of distributed and relatively independent agents. Unfortunately the methods do not cover content, navigation and services (as distinct from service) provisioning. Nor do the methods cover persistent connectivity with one or more networks and so important aspects are ignored. As with much of the rest of the literature, the basic Internet model of"connect to a URL, extract the needed information and then drop the connection"is adopted. Persistent connectivity of the sort provided by DSL across phone lines, G3 across mobile networks and other emerging technologies including Digital Audio and Radio Mesh networks require new and more demanding paradigms of user-content interaction.

Locality in content retrieval and communication Locality has been neglected in dealing with human-computer interaction although there have been attempts to overcome the shortcomings. One novel approach is to segment large databases, for targeted marketing and promotional activities amongst other things. For example Saxe 1997 (US Patent number 5,636, 346) establishes correspondence links between households on interactive cable networks, and the delivery of relevant and specific information to target households. By using a unique electronic address for each household a degree of privacy is preserved.

Patent WO/22495 (2000) uses sophisticated computing algorithms to determine whether or not specific information should be sent to specific locations as based on geography (or inferred geography) of the receiving device.

And Chomet (1987, US Patent 4,645, 873) establishes a method for linking databases with geography in a proposed national database with a plurality of databases each with local information, and with interrelationships between each of the databases, so individuals can select, to an extent, the information they consider relevant to them Sending e-mail information to specific groups of individuals is addressed by

International Patent WO 00/20975 (2000), although again locality is relatively neglected in the discussion.

Although these approaches go some way towards improving the situation, they deal largely with the symptoms of difficulties not underlying causes. In part this is the result of a lack of encompassing frameworks and methods for dealing with information, as distinct from data. Indeed, the profound nature of the weaknesses inherent in current structures can be revealed by even a brief consideration of Internet data transmission methods. Information is transmitted through a variety of computers using Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, yet this is not geography specific which leads to delays in packed transmission. This lack of geographical routing makes it difficult to provide effective quality of service metrics.

The Internets anarchic approach to information transmission, in contrast to the more structured routes followed by telecommunications links, was one of the design criteria to make the Internet infrastructure"disaster proof'. Those who designed the Internet could not have foreseen its popularity, and for there to be an evolution in functionality and usability there needs to be an evolution of some of the design features. Digital Island (2000, WO 00/38381) proposes ways of adding geographic cues to routing to make packet delivery more rapid and secure, and this goes some way to meeting the requirement, yet still neglect the multiple memberships that individuals occupy.

With the explosion of electronic communication there has been a fragmentation in naming conventions for electronic communication within an overall loose framework.

There are a multitude of addressing schemes with little or no correspondence between electronic location and physical location making delivery and retrieval of geographically and other locally focused segmented services difficult. Administration of such services is also becoming an increasingly high overhead.

Multiple classifications Another of the limitations of prior art is it has limited itself to logical approaches to classification and display, and has ignored psychological processes. Logically the same element cannot be in more than one place at the same time, yet psychologically it is possible for elements and categories to enjoy multiple positions in multiple categories at one and the same time. Art, laughter and many other aspects of human behaviour exploit this capability of multiple categorisation, yet computing innovations largely ignore it because it is difficult to deal with in automated ways. The novel method proposed here ensures human cognitive, creative and social processes are involved as an integral part of the classification and categorisation processes for both senders and receivers of information.

So for example, Agrawal et al (1998 US Patent 5,799, 300) provide an efficient method for selecting and combining data elements within a data cube, but only where the same item cannot appear in multiple categories or positions in the data cube at the same time. Similarly Pooser and Pooser (1998 US Patent 5,812, 134) provide techniques for users to navigate hierarchical information spaces within databases. This has the advantage of allowing the user to view the logical relationships between particular units and the overall structure, but is not able to deal with the psychological

processes involved where the are multiple, non-exclusive, overlapping and simultaneous relationships between elements.

Similar limitations of a focus on only logical relationships applies to Agrawal et al (1998 US Patent 5,832, 475) in their work on"Group-by"operations within data cubes, and that by Cline et al (1999 US Patent 5,900, 880) which explores how to create surfaces with visual perspectives from mathematical calculations of points within surfaces and cubes. In neither these nor other cases are there any processes for the creation of psychological, not logical, entities. Further these prior art methods fo not link the creation of data to its presentation and navigation through the application of iterative base building blocks as the current novel method does.

Where more attention is given to the human component in human-computer interaction, as in the invention of a navigation method in 3D computer-generated pictures by 3D image manipulation (Benayoun 2000, WO 00/42495), there is no differentiation of the content into psychological categories and classes and no link between the navigation device and the elements being navigated other than that both are in the same 3 dimensional space. Here again a process tracking the whole information cycle, using the iterative application of components is absent.

Distinct, non-overlapping data groups have allowed post-hoc regrouping and reclassification according to the data descriptors and elements, but only within the prestructured dimensions and only with mutually exclusive grouping. In the current invention the groups or categories can not only be overlapping but the category elements are themselves filled from occasional continuous or media streaming events and activities such that the composition of the categories is ever changing, and individual items can appear in a number of distinct and separate categories.

To date there has been only limited exploitation of this basic human characteristic of multiple overlapping categorisations in the design of human-computer interfaces.

There have been applications of multidimensional cubes for the display (Hitachi 1997) and for the storage and retrieval of data elements, but these have concerned method of display or speed of access along single dimensions not multiple overlapping and interacting dimensions. And nor has there been an attempt in prior art to apply the same structure and process and method to all elements of an information cycle including creation, transmission, retrieval, navigation and storage.

There have been many inventions that relate to multi-dimensional forms of computer representation, but these have tended to ignore the human perceptual and cognitive elements, or these have been restricted to hierarchical forms of information processing, or both. These limitations are overcome with the novel method and process presented here.

What is clear is that with the proliferation of computer systems in so many areas of life we now have in advanced countries a situation where an individuals details are help in a multitude of databases. With Tax and Social Security records, Health, Home and Bank details all held on different and sometimes incompatible computer systems, no where is there a"picture"of the whole individual. With the sophistication of today's computer systems, and their ability to track detailed transactions, many would argue that a co-ordinated series of databases would be an intrusion on privacy and

civil liberties. Even so, the lack of structured frames of reference for organising information relating to individuals, their physical location, personal interests, social and virtual groups hinders interaction, communication, commerce and exploitation in other ways.

The database structures that relate to social groups and personal interests is an important area for evolution and the present invention supports different types of individual and group interactions, as well as encompassing multiple membership issues.

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 then take-up of new services could be slowed.

Given the same content will, with variations, appear in the different information channels there are opportunities to realise economies of scale by combining the creation processes and the delivery process and infrastructure for different media elements. This requires structure to the information being produced. Eventually it may also require co-operation between organisations in the different categories of media involvement. If this can be secured then end-users of the information and transaction content and interactive services will benefit.

Integration Important as the individual elements are in any method, process, or solution, more important in the overall quality of the experience is the degree of integration between different components, and how effectively they inter-work one with another. Because the method and process described here uses a minimum number of components that are iteratively applied the degree of integration between the elements is higher than it would be otherwise. This is important in achieving an appropriate user experience.

Quality of integration also impacts ease of use and speed of learning which are both important factors in gaining acceptance for new and novel methods and processes.

A related issue concerns the potential for multiple and inconsistent user interfaces for various media devices, leading to learning interference and user frustrations, again slowing the take up of point products and services. What are needed are 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 more appropriate and effective user interface, that we term a"Ubiquitous Graphical User Interface (UGUI)".

End-to-end services delivery By encompassing both the senders of information and the receivers of content in the method and process described here, and by using the same component methods and processes repeatedly at different stages of the information cycle, not only does this novel method and process deal with content creation, delivery, navigation and exploitation, but further the method incorporates from the outset the concept of end to end service quality. It is only because the cognitive and information structures are shared by senders and receivers that the method and process can be sustained and evolve, and such sharing has within it the possibility of notions and metrics for service quality. Without persistent links, and without shared information structures, and processes, service quality measures are difficult or impossible to establish. The novel method proposed here is therefore important in establishing end to end service quality and metrics.

Essential Features An essential feature of the method is the creation of shared methods for categorisation, the application of cycles of categorisation, the populating of the resulting information categories by information sources and streams and 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 multi-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 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 media distribution centre and various network providers to get the best prices for end-users.

By making the information and transaction channels multi-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, but instead help meet articulated information needs.

It is a relatively simple 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 (HUGUI), modified for the characteristics of the different media channels,

enhances substantially the degree of user acceptance of both existing and new technologies.

A feature of this method for maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across differentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links is the introduction of co-ordination centres for information distribution to diverse media devices. This can be combined with multi-way interaction and information exchange which makes it 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 coordination..

This method for maintaining information and transaction co-ordination across differentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links co-ordination centres 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.

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 administration.

Another feature of the method for maintaining information and transaction coordination across differentiated media types via end-to-end persistent links together with the insertion of Meta-media 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 endusers.

A number of preferred embodiments of the present novel invention have been described in some detail herein and for those skilled in the art many modifications and variations will be apparent. It is my intent therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, and not by the specific details presented by way of example and illustration.

Introduction to Drawings.

The present invention will become more fully understood, and the foregoing and other features and advantages of any preferred embodiment will become more readily apparent by describing by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings and descriptions, which are not limitative of the present invention, by which :- Figure 1 shows a base method for ensuring co-ordination across multiple devices with persistent connectivity links. This comprises the following steps, or variations and modifications thereof to achieve the same or similar ends :- 1. Creation of structures for information creation, packaging and distribution

2. Sharing of the structures with those who want to communicate with each other 3. Creation of content and communications inline with the structures created 4. Switching, streaming or otherwise distributing content and communications to the various devices 5. Delivery of the information to the various devices, singularly or in combination 6. Navigation using consistent techniques that emerge with the creation of the information structures 7. Co-ordinating activities, interactions and transactions between and across the various devices 8. Evolving the structure, and then sharing the evolution with others to produce a cycle for continuous improvement and innovation.

Figure 2 illustrates the iterative nature of the method, with the same processes being applied at different stages throughout information cycles. Such iteration ensures a high degree of consistency throughout the whole information cycle.

Figure 3 illustrates how the method maintains persistent links from different devices across different networks, such networks being intermittent or persistent, to ensure coordination and transaction integrity. The presence of an Information Co-ordinator, shown here as a cube although other embodiments are equally applicable, throughout each and every connection and interaction ensures the necessary co-ordination and consistency.

Figure 4 shows how the insertion of Media Distribution Centres between content streams and end users opens up new opportunities. Not only is there co-ordination 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. This 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 coordinated applications.

Figure 5 indicates a method for delivery of integrated information and transactions across diverse devices, and indicates how similar user interfaces can be used for a variety of devices and interactions. It also shows the links to billing, service administration and other customer-service provider relationship activities Figure 6 shows how intermittent or persistent links, combined with the iterative methods and structures of the process deliver a uniform and rich information environment for user interaction and navigation Examples An example of the power of the method comes from the everyday delivery of news and entertainment information to individuals. Providing this more effectively frees up time for users, and support them in any 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 be supported in both their information gathering and subsequent actions based on the information, covering both interactions and transactions.

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 an ideal vehicle for such notification, and if the prospective purchasers are interested 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.

References and Related Matenal Ansell & Cherenson 2000 Conditional Delivery of Digitized Products Patent WO 00/22495 Agrawal et al 1997 Method for high Dimensionality Indexing in a Multi- Media Database US Patent 5,647, 058 Agrawal et al 1998 Method and System for Performing Range-Sum Queries on a Data Cube US Patent 5,799, 300 Agrawal et al 1998 Database System and Method Employing Data Cube Operator for Group-By Operations US Patent 5,832, 475 Bayer R 1998 Database and Management Process for n-dimensional data structure DE 19635429A Benayoun 1999 Navigation Method in 3D Computer-Generated Pictures by Hyper 3D Navigator 3D Image Manipulation WO 00/42495 British Telecom 1995 Service Provision Systems for Communications Networks (British Telecom 1995 WO 95/30317 British Telecom 1998 A System and Method for the co-ordination and control of information supply using a distributed multi-agent platform, European Patent Application EP 0 967 545

Al)

Cline & Lorensen 1999 3D Surfaces generated from a List of Cubic Elements US Patent 5,900, 880 Chirieleison et al 1998 Virtual Reality Warehouse System Complement WO 99/61967 Chomet M 1987 Transactional Telecommunications System US Patent 4,645, 873 Davies et al (1996) Methods and/or Systems for Accessing Information, British Telecommunications Patent Application WO 96/23265) Digital Island 2000 Method and System for Optimizing Routing of Data Packets Patent WO/00/38381 Earle 1995 Method and Apparatus for Storing and Retrieving Multi- Dimensional Data in Computer Memory US Patent 5,359, 724 Egger et al 1996 Method and Apparatus for Indexing, Searching and Displaying Data US Patent 5,832, 494 Galumbeck et al Communications System having an Addressable Receiver US Patent 4,725, 886 Hitachi 1997 Method for Table Graphic Display and Processing JP 09-081114A Liaw et al 1996 System and Method for Multi-Dimensional Information Processing US Patent 5,572, 644 Monson 1995 Animated Map Display Method for Computer- Controlled Agricultural Product Application Equipment US Patent 5, 751, 576 Olsson 1999 Information Routing, Ericsson Telecommunications Patent Application WO 99/36864 Philips 1997 Spatial Browsing Approach to Multimedia Information Retrieval WO 98/53391 Pooser & Pooser 1996 User Interface Navigational System and Method for Interactive Representation of Information Contained within a Database US Patent 5,812, 134 Ross 1979 Multiple Group Membership, Social Mobility and Intergroup Relations. An Investigation of Group

Boundaries and Boundary Crossings. Ph. D. Thesis, University of Bristol, England.

Ross 1992"Information Technology-the Catalyst for Change" PA Consulting Group, Mercury Books, ISBN 1 85251 042 0 Ross & loannou 1996-21 Century Content Engines- In"Digital Newsrooms of the Future"-Seybold Report on Publishing Systems Vol. 25 Number 18, ISSN: 0736- 7260 June, 1996 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 Saxe A. N. G. 1997 Method and System for Selectively targeting Advertisements and Programming US Patent 5,636, 346 Shaw et al 2000 Method and Apparatus for Delivering Electronic Advocacy Messages Patent WO 00/20975 Sony Corporation 1991 European Patent 0 489 576 A2 Spyglass (1999) Content Conversion of Electronic Documents GB Patent Application 2 344 197 Wolf et al (1998) Method of Performing a Parallel Relational Database Query in a Multiprocessor Environment US Patent 5,765, 146

Claims

Claims Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by patent is: 1. I claim a method and process for the creation of structured documents and categories that can be applied iteratively and combined to form classes of content, event, activities and experience with senders and receivers of information sharing the structures for the exchange of content, communications, transactions and interactions, comprising none, some or all of the following steps, or variations or modifications of the sequence to achieve similar ends :- * Creation of a structure, be this for documents, categories, classes or other domain or area of content, communication, interaction, transaction, perception, cognition or social behaviour * Sharing of this structure with others through written or spoken communication or electronic means or some other method * Creation of content containing tags to locate content within a structure or structures, not necessarily exclusively but allowing for multiple realisations, versions, variations, positions and overlaps w Source, stream, multicast or in some other way deliver content to individual or group recipients, to single or multiple devices from servers, databases, across fixed and wireless networks or in some other manner * Users accessing the categories, containing content that has been 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 one or more end-users * Users navigating the structure in a variety of ways under their control or automatically, with the navigation sharing attributes of the base method and process and its iterative application * With personalisation, tailoring and temporal characteristics of the receiving structure under user control or shared between receivers and senders of information or communication 'With evolution of the structure by senders and receivers by reference to the existing structure and categories and classes to allow 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
2 The method and process of Claim 1 further comprising the step of the iterative application of the base method to form more sophisticated information and other structures and applied to a wider range of content, applications, interfaces and devices, including none, some or all 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 document, structured according to the method and process

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* Documents, 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 such 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 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 comprising the further step of populating of the 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 information already contained within the categories and classes with none, some or all of the following characteristics :- * Retention of, or potential to re-establish, links to the original document, category or class event, experience or activity, if need be to reconstitute a facsimile or duplicate from remaining consistent parts * Ability 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 different locations, people and devices 'An ability to display information appropriate or not to any particular receiving device or combination of receiving devices * An ability to track and communicate the position within the information structure to any other device also used by the same user to access the same information at the same or a different time * 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

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4 The method and process of Claim I comprising the further step of personalising the information structures of documents, 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. w 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.
5 The method and process of Claim I comprising the further step of maintaining administrative and financial logs or records associated with user activities for information, security and billing purposes, with some or all of the following characteristics, where billing can include both billing and credit transactions :- w 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 w Billing by timeliness of information * Billing by the breadth or depth of the information accessed or any combination thereof w Billing by any factors associated with information delivery and navigation 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.
6 The method and process of Claim I comprising the further step of transmission of information to individuals, groups or multiple groups using the features, facilities, cues and other attributes of the information structure, singularly, or in combination with each other or in combination with other devices.
7 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of modifications and evolutions of the base method and process and its

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iterative application within the same domains of information and activity or different domains
8 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of providing a family of similar interfaces to a variety of different devices with the interfaces sharing common features of the base method and process such that the content-device interface has none, some or all of the following characteristics :- * 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 Any device is capable under user control of accessing any or all of the full feature set of the core document structures, albeit with limitations of speed, display or other limitations * Interactions and transactions from any and all devices can be tracked by a meta-structure, using further 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.
9 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of Information Providers 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.
10 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of users agreeing the billing and other administrative and financial arrangements associated with delivery of information to a variety of devices, with no consequential or other liabilities for the method and process and structure that is used to facilitate the information provision and transactions
11 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of various user profiles and activities and transactions forming, via the further iterative application of the base method and process, information superstructures with other individuals or groups for whatever purpose, including none, some or all but not limited to the following :- 'Content or transaction delivery or fulfilment

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Administrative, financiaL legal, geographic or other requirement whether currently foreseen or not 'Creation or maintenance of physical, social or virtual groups or communities or any combination thereof
12 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of using an iteration of the base method to create structures, naming conventions, and identifiers for individuals, groups, communities and multiple groups memberships, with none, some or all of the following characteristics :- Any individual or group to have a variety of identifiers indicating membership of physical, social or virtual 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 * At the same time and in parallel allocation of locator tags or identifiers based on geography, which remain overt or covert depending on requirements, security and other factors, such that unique identifiers can also when required exhibit geographic and other cues, for security, location, physical deliveries and similar requirements The potential for senders or receivers or information, or both, 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
13 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of creating billboards, message groups or other display facilities for directing messages to any subgroup, group or overlapping or

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intersecting groups, be these physical, social, virtual or any combination thereof
14 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 thereof, including none, some or all but not limited to the following :- . Skills, trades, professionals and similar groupings Shops, outlets, warehouses and similar 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
15 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of using the locality, grouping and membership cues and tags for administration, billing, crediting, security 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
16 The method and process of Claim 1 comprising the further step of using the base method and process and iterations thereof, 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, streams, multicasts and other distribution methods so as to retain a user position and perspective with regard to the information presented and display across different devices with none, some or all 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 thereof, according to user preferences and device capabilities Content delivery to or action on one device transmitted to other linked and active devices, as appropriate to their capabilities if need be

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* 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 for administration, service, and billing * End to end activity is monitored 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
17 The method and process of Claim I and Claim 16 comprising the further step of allowing users 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.
18 The method and process of Claim 1 and Claim 16 comprising the further 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 infrastructures 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
19 The method and process of Claim 1 and Claim 16 comprising the further step of providing co-ordination 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.
20 The method and process of Claim 1 and Claim 16 comprising the further step of some or all of the content distribution channels being "always on"and available such that information and transactions can be periodically or constantly sourced, streamed or multicast to the receiving devices with none, some or all of the following characteristics :- * Where persistent links are available the user through the co- ordination of different devices is made aware to whatever devices are active if and when there is activity using their unique identifier on any or all other channels for security and integrity of actions and transactions * 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

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numbers available within the telecommunications arena.
21 The method and process of Claim 1 and Claim 16 comprising the further step of the introduction of media distribution centres for media 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 some combinations thereof of usage, activity and transactions monitored to provide an information, communications, interaction and transaction utility similar to the energy, water, telecommunications, financial and entertainment utilities or combinations thereof 22 A method and system according to any one of the preceding claims 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.