Abstract: An alert management apparatus (100) comprises a presentation item data store (107) providing first description data associated with a plurality of presentation items, such as audio clips. The alert management apparatus (100) further comprises an alert data store (103) storing second description data associated with an alert, such as an alert for a content item. An association processor (109) is coupled to the presentation item data store (107) and the alert data store (103) and is arranged to select a presentation item of the plurality of presentation items for the alert in response to the first description data and the second description data. For example, a presentation item matching the genre, artist and or title of a content item of the alert may be selected. A presentation processor (111) then presents the selected presentation item to a user when the alert is activated. The invention may allow an automatic customisation of alert notifications.

Abstract: An alert management apparatus (100) comprises a presentation item data store (107) providing first description data associated with a plurality of presentation items, such as audio clips. The alert management apparatus (100) further comprises an alert data store (103) storing second description data associated with an alert, such as an alert for a content item. An association processor (109) is coupled to the presentation item data store (107) and the alert data store (103) and is arranged to select a presentation item of the plurality of presentation items for the alert in response to the first description data and the second description data. For example, a presentation item matching the genre, artist and or title of a content item of the alert may be selected. A presentation processor (111) then presents the selected presentation item to a user when the alert is activated. The invention may allow an automatic customisation of alert notifications.

Abstract: An apparatus for content item annotation comprises a user group processor (105) for determining a group of communication identities associated with a group of users associated with a user of the apparatus. A user group communication processor (109) monitors user group communications within the group of users and generates first characterising data for these where the first characterising data comprises at least one of context and content data for the user group communications. A communication processor (103) receives a content item in a first communication from a communication identity of the group of communication identities and a data processor (111) generates second characterising data for the first communication. An annotation processor (113) then generates annotation data for the content item in response to the first characterising data and the second characterising data.

Abstract: A content item apparatus comprises a content data receiver (201) for receiving first context data and first content characterising data for a content item. A decision structure processor (205) provides a content handling decision structure associating context data and content characteristics data with content handling executable actions in response to a user preference profile. The content handling decision structure also reflects allowable interrelations between content handling actions. An inference processor (203) generates a set of executable handling actions for the content item by evaluating the content handling decision structure in response to the first context data and the first content characterising data and a device distribution interface (209) generates content handling data for the content item where the content handling data comprises the set of executable actions. An exception processor (217) may override actions of the inference processor (203) in response to exception rules.

Abstract: An access unit (107) detects a service access (201) suitable for group operation and in response transmits (203) a group formation request to a plurality of applications. The applications decide whether to join the group (205) and the access unit (107) receives a group join indication from the applications deciding to join (207). Each group join indication comprises application constraint data in response to which the access unit (107) determines group constraint data (209) indicative of the constraints of the group of applications. The access unit (107) then accesses (211) a service using the group constraint data. The access unit subsequently receives service data (213) which is forwarded (215) to the individual applications. The invention may provide group based services based on services and/or applications designed for single users.