Abstract: Computer apparatus and methods for brokering communications between a plurality of virtual devices, each virtual device being a proxy for one of a real device or a real requestor. The computer apparatus comprises a registrar computer configured to communicate with a plurality of virtual devices and maintain a register of the virtual devices. The computer apparatus also comprises a data feed directory comprising entries indicating data feeds and/or resources available to virtual requestor devices from at least one virtual device registered with the registrar computer. To be accompanied, when published, by FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Abstract: Methods and synthesizing entities for synthesizing data feeds. The method includes registering the synthesizing entity with a registrar computer. Once the synthesizing entity is registered it can transmit a data feed request to the registrar computer for a data feed associated with a virtual device also registered with the registrar computer. The synthesizing entity then receives the requested data feed from the virtual device. The received data feed is then modified to generate a modified data feed. Once the modified data feed has been created the synthesizing entity can receive requests for the modified data feed from a virtual requestor device via the registrar. In response to receiving a request for the modified data feed the synthesizing entity provides the modified data feed to the virtual requestor device.

Abstract: Methods and registrar computers for providing a data feed to a virtual requestor device. The registrar computer maintains a control directory of virtual devices and virtual requestor devices registered therewith. The registrar computer also maintains a data feed directory comprising a list of data feeds available to the at least one virtual requestor device. In addition to including data feeds generated by the virtual devices, the data feed directory also includes at least one data feed generated by the registrar computer. When the registrar computer receives a data feed request for a data feed generated by the registrar computer the registrar computer itself provides the data feed to the virtual requestor device.

Abstract: Methods and virtual devices for providing data from a virtual device to a virtual requestor device. The method comprises registering the virtual device with a registrar computer using a first application interface. The virtual device then receives a data feed request from the registrar at a second application interface. The data feed request comprises information enabling communication between the virtual device and a virtual requestor device and information identifying a data feed. In response to determining the request is to be granted, the virtual device provides the data feed to the requestor device using the information enabling communication between the two devices.

Abstract: Methods and requestor devices for receiving data generated by a virtual device at a virtual requestor device. The method comprises registering the virtual requestor device with a registrar computer using a first application interface. The virtual requestor then transmits a data feed request to the registrar. The data feed request includes information identifying a data feed and information enabling communication with the virtual requestor device. The virtual requestor device then receives, at a second application interface, the data feed from a virtual device via the information enabling communication with the virtual device.

Abstract: Methods and registrar computers for determining the integrity of a data feed provided by a virtual device. In an example, the method includes maintaining a control directory of virtual devices registered with the registrar computer and a data feed directory comprising entries indicating data feeds available from the registered virtual devices. Each data feed in the data feed directory is assigned an integrity indicator based on the provenance of the data feed.

Abstract: Methods and registrar computers for negotiating communications between a virtual device and a virtual requestor device. The method includes receiving a data feed request at a registrar computer from a registered virtual requestor device. The data feed request includes information identifying a data feed and information enabling communication between a registered virtual device associated with the data feed and the virtual requestor device. The registrar sends a further data feed request comprising the information enabling communication between the devices to the virtual device. This causes the virtual device to provide the data feed to the virtual device using the information enabling communication between the devices.

Abstract: A page update handler enables a browser to update the display of a page with data received from a server. For example, a server may predictively retrieve data in anticipation of a user performing a particular action on a page, and may send this data to the browser in a hidden format; if the user subsequently performs the action, the page update handler may update the displayed page with the predictively retrieved data. As another example, a page may initially be displayed with a visual display object that serves as a placeholder for data being retrieved by the server; once the server retrieves the data and sends it to the browser, the page update hander may populate the display object with the data.

Abstract: Methods and requestor devices for receiving data generated by a virtual device at a virtual requestor device. The method comprises registering the virtual requestor device with a registrar computer using a first application interface. The virtual requestor then transmits a data feed request to the registrar. The data feed request includes information identifying a data feed and information enabling communication with the virtual requestor device. The virtual requestor device then receives, at a second application interface, the data feed from a virtual device via the information enabling communication with the virtual device.

Abstract: Methods and registrar computers for providing a data feed to a virtual requestor device. The registrar computer maintains a control directory of virtual devices and virtual requestor devices registered therewith. The registrar computer also maintains a data feed directory comprising a list of data feeds available to the at least one virtual requestor device. In addition to including data feeds generated by the virtual devices, the data feed directory also includes at least one data feed generated by the registrar computer. When the registrar computer receives a data feed request for a data feed generated by the registrar computer the registrar computer itself provides the data feed to the virtual requestor device.

Abstract: Methods and virtual devices for providing data from a virtual device to a virtual requestor device. The method comprises registering the virtual device with a registrar computer using a first application interface. The virtual device then receives a data feed request from the registrar at a second application interface. The data feed request comprises information enabling communication between the virtual device and a virtual requestor device and information identifying a data feed. In response to determining the request is to be granted, the virtual device provides the data feed to the requestor device using the information enabling communication between the two devices.

Abstract: Computer apparatus and methods for brokering communications between a plurality of virtual devices, each virtual device being a proxy for one of a real device or a real requestor. The computer apparatus comprises a registrar computer configured to communicate with a plurality of virtual devices and maintain a register of the virtual devices. The computer apparatus also comprises a data feed directory comprising entries indicating data feeds and/or resources available to virtual requestor devices from at least one virtual device registered with the registrar computer. To be accompanied, when published, by FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Abstract: Methods and registrar computers for negotiating communications between a virtual device and a virtual requestor device. The method includes receiving a data feed request at a registrar computer from a registered virtual requestor device. The data feed request includes information identifying a data feed and information enabling communication between a registered virtual device associated with the data feed and the virtual requestor device. The registrar sends a further data feed request comprising the information enabling communication between the devices to the virtual device. This causes the virtual device to provide the data feed to the virtual device using the information enabling communication between the devices.

Abstract: Methods and registrar computers for determining the integrity of a data feed provided by a virtual device. In an example, the method includes maintaining a control directory of virtual devices registered with the registrar computer and a data feed directory comprising entries indicating data feeds available from the registered virtual devices. Each data feed in the data feed directory is assigned an integrity indicator based on the provenance of the data feed.

Abstract: Methods and synthesizing entities for synthesizing data feeds. The method includes registering the synthesizing entity with a registrar computer. Once the synthesizing entity is registered it can transmit a data feed request to the registrar computer for a data feed associated with a virtual device also registered with the registrar computer. The synthesizing entity then receives the requested data feed from the virtual device. The received data feed is then modified to generate a modified data feed. Once the modified data feed has been created the synthesizing entity can receive requests for the modified data feed from a virtual requestor device via the registrar. In response to receiving a request for the modified data feed the synthesizing entity provides the modified data feed to the virtual requestor device.

Abstract: A facility for rendering a dynamic electronic document is described. The dynamic electronic document has both a current and a future edition. The current edition incorporates a current version of a content item, while the future edition incorporates a future version of the content item. The facility receives a request to return the dynamic electronic document. In response to the request, the facility retrieves a template for the electronic document that contains a single identifier that identifies a group of content item versions containing both the current version of the content item and the future version of the content item. The facility uses the single identifier contained in the template, together with an indication of whether the current edition of the dynamic electronic document or the future version is being requested by the received request, to incorporate the appropriate version of the content item in the rendered dynamic electronic document.

Abstract: The system receives a query and then identifies classifications of the data that may satisfy the received query. The system then displays the identified classifications. In response to selection of a displayed classification, the system displays sub-classifications when the selected classification has sub-classifications and displays the data within the classification when the selected classification has no sub-classifications. In another aspect, the system generates search results for items that are hierarchically classified. For classifications within the hierarchy of classifications, the system generates a search entry containing terms describing the items within that classification. The system then receives a search criteria. The system selects as initial search results those search entries whose terms most closely match the received search criteria. The system can then adjust the initial search results based on the hierarchy of classifications.

Abstract: A page update handler, which may be loaded by a web browser as part of a web page, adds functionality for dynamically updating the web page with content supplied by a content server. The content may be related to a particular item detected on the web page by the page update handler, such as a link that matches a link signature. The content server may operate in a different Internet domain from the server that servers the original web page, and may supply content for display on web pages of many different independent web sites. In one embodiment, an operator of a web site that is separate from the content server can enable the display of content from the content server on the site's web pages by adding an update handler tag to one or more corresponding HTML documents.

Abstract: A system that delivers a sequence of learning objectives to a student in accordance with one or more target dates. The target dates may be set by an academic institution, a teacher, or a parent of the student. The system adjusts the sequence of learning objectives based on the target dates assigned to one or more of the learning objectives. The system estimates how long it will take for the student to progress through a sequence of learning objectives and notifies an administrator if the student is behind schedule. The notification to the administrator may include recommendations for remedial actions.

Abstract: A page update handler enables a browser to update the display of a page with data received from a server. For example, a page may initially be displayed with a visual display object that serves as a placeholder for data being retrieved by the server; once the server retrieves the data and sends it to the browser, the page update hander may populate the display object with the data. As another example, the server may predictively retrieve data in anticipation of a user performing a particular action on a page, and may send this data to the browser in a hidden format; if the user subsequently performs the action, the page update handler may update the displayed page with the predictively retrieved data.