Abstract: A piconet communications system (e.g. Bluetooth®) is used to distribute information to mobile user devices 1 which advertise (10) that they require the information available. In a reversal of the conventional information provision protocols, the information provider 2 scans for user devices receptive to such data (21), and transmit the required data (27), only to such devices that require it. The information provider 2 also has provision to ensure that it transmits the information to each user device only once (step 26). By having the information provider performing the scanning, and only transmitting data to user devices that have indicated they will accept it, and have not already received it, the power consumption of the mobile devices is minimized as they do not need to perform any scanning or information-filtering operations, these being performed by the fixed information provider terminal.

Abstract: A piconet communications system (e.g. Bluetooth®) is used to distribute information to mobile user devices 1 which advertise (10) that they require the information available. In a reversal of the conventional information provision protocols, the information provider 2 scans for user devices receptive to such data (21), and transmit the required data (27), only to such devices that require it. The information provider 2 also has provision to ensure that it transmits the information to each user device only once (step 26). By having the information provider performing the scanning, and only transmitting data to user devices that have indicated they will accept it, and have not already received it, the power consumption of the mobile devices is minimised as they do not need to perform any scanning or information-filtering operations, these being performed by the fixed information provider terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to multi-modal computer interfaces and the synchronisation of two or more application programs which have user interfaces which make up the multi-modal interface. The invention employs a synchronisation server process with blackboard style data store for posting the changes made to any one particular application program to the other application programs. Data updates pass via the synchronisation server. A map file is provided for translating data provided by one application program into the formats suited to other application programs, and vice versa. In this way, application programs are not limited by a common dialogue but are autonomous, thus providing a cohesive and highly flexible user interface.