Abstract: A user visiting a space is equipped with a mobile device in communication with a service system. Media items held by the service system are associated with various locations around the space and a user arriving at such a location is presented with the corresponding item or items. Preferably, these media items are preemptively loaded into a cache of the user's mobile device in dependence on the user's progress around the space. Items can also be flushed from cache on this basis. In order to reduce load on the service system and the related communication infrastructure, a media item needed by a mobile device is first sought from a nearby device using a short-range communication mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing information about a real-world space such as an exhibition space. In a preferred embodiment, users visiting a space are equipped with mobile devices in communication with a service system. The mobile devices are arranged to deposit virtual markers with the service system as the users progress around the space. These markers are stored and decayed with time, either individually or in location-dependent marker aggregations, and data on the current strength values of the markers or marker aggregations is used to provide information concerning use of the space.

Abstract: For members of a party visiting a space with which media objects are associated, the shared experience can be enhanced by the sharing of such objects by the group members for presentation on devices for example carried by the group members. Where the media object is a streamed media object, the experience can be further enhanced by coordinating the consumption of the object by the group members. To this end, a server streaming the media object to a first device is arranged to respond to a request for coordinated consumption by establishing streaming of the object to a second device starting from a position in the media object that is dependent on progress of the streaming/presentation of the object to/at the first device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing information about a real-world space such as an exhibition space. In a preferred embodiment, users visiting a space are equipped with mobile devices in communication with a service system. The mobile devices are arranged to deposit virtual markers with the service system as the users progress around the space. These markers are stored and decayed with time, either individually or in location-dependent marker aggregations, and data on the current strength values of the markers or marker aggregations is used to provide information concerning use of the space.

Abstract: A user visiting a space is equipped with a mobile device in communication with a service system. Media items held by the service system are associated with various locations around the space and a user arriving at such a location is presented with the corresponding item or items. Preferably, these media items are preemptively loaded into a cache of the user's mobile device in dependence on the user's progress around the space. Items can also be flushed from cache on this basis. In order to reduce load on the service system and the related communication infrastructure, a media item needed by a mobile device is first sought from a nearby device using a short-range communication mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing information about a real-world space such as an exhibition space. In a preferred embodiment, a user visiting a hall is equipped with a mobile device in communication with a service system. The mobile device is arranged to deposit virtual markers with the service system as the user progresses around the hall. These markers are aggregated with markers deposited in respect of other users thereby enabling information such as trail information to be built up for use by other users.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for providing information about a real-world space such as an exhibition space. In a preferred embodiment, users visiting a space are equipped with mobile devices in communication with a service system. The mobile devices are arranged to deposit virtual markers of more than one type with the service system as the users progress around the space. These markers are stored may be decayed with time, either individually or in location-dependent marker aggregations. Information concerning use of the space is derived using data about stored markers of a specific type or combinations of types selected according to the nature of the information to be provided.