Abstract: Location stamping of digital photos provides a convenient way to subsequently catalogue the photos. However, most digital cameras are not provided with a location discovery mechanism. To overcome this, arrangements are provided for enabling location data to be separately recorded (for example using a cell phone) at the time a photo is taken and then subsequently united with the photo.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The nature of the audio output devices used to render the synthesised sounds is such that the user is also able to hear real-world sounds from the environment. Under user control, a distinctive presentation effect is selectively applied to the item-related sounds emanating from a group of at least one synthesised sound source whereby to assist the user in distinguishing these sounds from the real-world sounds.

Abstract: Businesses may offer their services not only through internet websites but also by short-range wireless portals (51A,B,C) intended to catch passers-by; indeed, this latter means of business promotion may be used instead of an internet site. A method is provided of gathering information from such portals (51A,B,C) for use in a database service system 40. More particularly, a mobile device (20) provided with a short-range wireless receiver (21) is moved within range of such a portal and collects information about the services available from the local entity operating the portal. The device (20) then uses a cellular radio network (10) to send this information, together with location data about the portal, to a remote database service system (40) holding similar information from other portals. The user of the mobile device can be credited with a reward by the database service system for collecting such information.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The location of each sound source is specified relative to an associated one of multiple audio-field references. The offset of each of these audio-field references relative to a presentation reference is independently controllable whereby to adjust the rendering position of the associated sound sources in the audio field. The offset of each audio-field reference is controlled in response to user input and/or to achieve a particular stabilisation of the associated sound source; this stabilisation may be different for different ones of the audio-field references. One audio-field reference can be dedicated to an audio-cursor sound source. Another audio-field reference can be dedicated to world-stabilised sound sources through which compass direction can be announced.

Abstract: The proximity of potential customers to a shop is detected, for example, by detecting short-range communication devices carried by passers-by. The interests of the detected passers-by are then determined by reference to specific interests transmitted by the passer-by devices and/or by reference to customer profile data. The discovered interests of the current passers-by are then used to select content for display on a shop-window electronic display during a next display slot. Passers-by who may be particularly interested in the displayed content are preferably sent an alert. In other embodiments, the targeted audience is a static group, such as train passengers, with the targeted information being displayed at a station.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The nature of the audio output devices used to render the synthesized sounds is such that the user is also able to hear real-world sounds from the environment. Under user control, a distinctive presentation effect is selectively applied to the item-related sounds emanating from a group of at least one synthesized sound source whereby to assist the user in distinguishing these sounds from the real-world sounds.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. An audio cursor, in the form of a synthesised sound source from which a distinctive cursor sound emanates, is movable in the audio field under user control. Upon the cursor being moved close to an item-representing sound source, a related audible indication is generated by modifying the sounds emanating from at least one of that item-representing sound source and the cursor. In one embodiment, this audible indication also indicates the current distance between the cursor and item-representing sound source and also the direction of the latter from the cursor.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The interface is generated by apparatus that includes functionality for determining for each sound source, a rendering position at which the sound source is to be synthesized to sound in the audio field. To facilitate discrimination between the synthesized sound sources, the sound-source rendering positions are adjusted such that the audio field is dilated in a region of the audio field about a focus reference; this focus reference is, for example, the current direction of facing of the user or the position of an audio cursor in the audio field.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The sound sources are arranged in a cylindrical organization in the audio field and the field is preferably both displaceable along, and rotatable about, the axis of this organization. In one embodiment, the sound sources are arranged as on discrete floors of a building with only the sound sources on the current floor being audible; in this case, summary sound sources are provided in the audio field to indicate what sound sources are available above and below the current floor.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. A division of the audio field into segments is specified. In response to predetermined user input indicating at least one of these segments, the audibility of the synthesised sound sources in the segment concerned is changed, for example, to mute or un-mute the sound sources. The segmentation of the audio field can be set relative to the user's facing direction, to a presentation reference determined by the configuration of audio output devices used to produce the synthesised sound sources, or to any other convenient reference. This selective segment muting facilitates exploration of the audio field by the user.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. At least some of the sound sources are associated in a collection as members of the collection; the collection itself has an associated collection-representing sound source. The collection can be changed in either direction between an un-collapsed state in which the member sound sources are present un-muted in the audio field, and a collapsed state in which the member sound sources are muted with the collection-representing sound source providing an audible presence for the collection in the audio field.

Abstract: An audio user interface is provided in which items are represented in an audio field by corresponding synthesized sound sources from where sounds related to the items appear to emanate. The sound sources are arranged in groups of at least one sound source. The audibility of the sound sources is automatically and cyclically changed such as to un-mute the sound sources of each group in turn for a limited period with the sound sources of the groups other than the un-muted group being at least partially muted. This selective un-muting of sound sources facilitates exploration of the audio field by the user.

Abstract: An audio system comprises an audio source terminal 11 and a audio playback terminal 13, connected to each another by a wireless data link 14. The source terminal 11 comprises a source computer 15, and a cellular modem 17. The playback terminal 13 comprises a playback computer 19 having an internal processor 23 and an audio processor 24. Connected to the processor 23 is a cellular modem 21, an audio transducer 25, and a user control 27. Data relating to audio components, representing different services, is stored at the source terminal 11 where it is spatially processed and transmitted to the playback terminal. At the same time, each individual audio component is transmitted at a lower bit-rate than the spatially processed data, to the audio source terminal 11, whereafter it is spatially processed. Although the low bit-rate transmission causes a loss of audio quality, the positional data remains unaffected.

Abstract: An interactive audio system comprises an audio source terminal 11 and a audio playback terminal 13 connected to each another by a wireless data link 14. The playback terminal 13, in this case, is in the form of a mobile telephone receiver. The source terminal 1 comprises a source computer 5 provided at some fixed network core. Connected to the playback terminal 13 is an audio transducer 15, and a user control device 17. The wireless data link 14 is established over a network connection which is set-up using an existing cellular telecommunications network (as are used in mobile telephony systems). In use, the source terminal 11 acts as a device by which the playback terminal 13 can access particular services. The presentation of available services is not performed using visual data displayed at the remote terminal, but instead, audible sound is used to present services. The services are represented by audio components which are transmitted from the audio source terminal 11 over the data link 14.

Abstract: A local entity without its own means of voice communication is provided with the semblance of having a voice interaction capability. This is done by providing a beacon device at or near the entity, the beacon device transmitting, over a short-range communication link, contact data identifying a voice service associated with, but hosted separately from, the entity. The transmitted contact data is picked up by equipment carried by a nearby person and used to contact the voice service over a wireless network. The person then interacts with the voice service, the latter acting as a voice proxy for the local entity. The contact data can be presented to the user in other ways, for example, by being inscribed on the local entity for scanning or user input into the equipment.

Abstract: A local entity without its own means of voice communication is provided with the semblance of having a voice interaction capability. This is done by detecting the location of a user wishing to communicate with such entities, and comparing the user's location with the known locations of entities having associated voice services. The voice services are separately hosted from the entities themselves. Upon the user being determined to be close to a voice-enabled entity, contact is initiated between the user and the voice service associated with the local entity; for example, contact data for the voice service is passed to user equipment from where it is sent to a network voice browser and used by the latter to contact the voice service. The user then interacts with the voice service, the latter acting as a voice proxy for the local entity with voice output from the service being controlled to appear to emanate from the local entity.

Abstract: A local entity without its own means of voice communication is provided with the semblance of having a voice interaction capability. This is done by providing a receiving device at or near the entity, for picking up contact data transmitted by a nearby person wanting to talk to the local entity. This contact data is used by the receiving device to establish communication between a voice service associated with the local entity and equipment carried by the user. The voice service is hosted separately from the local entity, and takes the form, for example, of pages marked up with voice-markup tags for interpretation by a voice browser.

Abstract: A local entity without its own means of voice communication is provided with the semblance of having a voice interaction capability. This is done by providing an associated voice service hosted separately from the entity, the service being initiated when a user comes near the entity. The service uses audio input and output devices that are located either in user-carried equipment or in the locality of the entity. The voice service can be delivered to multiple users simultaneously with the users being joined into the same communication session with the voice service so that all users hear at least some of the same service output. The voice service can be arranged to serve a group of associated entities, not necessarily near each other.

Abstract: A method is provided of establishing communication over a data network between endpoint systems using a service system that can set up a communication session with an associated transport mechanism allowing the exchange of data across the network between endpoint systems joined to the session by the service system. The method involves the service system processing a communication request from an initiating party by carrying out one or both the routing steps of identifying an appropriate communication session and identifying a suitable further participant. The or each party is then joined to the relevant session.

Abstract: A method is provided of establishing network communication later in time between a first endpoint entity accessing an information resource over a network and a second endpoint entity, such as a customer service representative system, associated with that resource. The method uses a service system that can set up a communication session and join endpoint systems to the session to enable them to communicate with each other the network. According to the method, upon the first endpoint entity indicating that it wishes to communicate with a second endpoint entity in the future, the service system generates and stores a session identifier for a communication session to be used in the future and passes a copy of the identifier over the network to the first endpoint entity.