Patent ID: 6385645
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G06F,G06K,G06Q,G07F,H04L

Abstract:
A memory comprised of memories (9, 16) located in multiple data processing units (4, 5), the multiple data processing units (4, 5) comprising multiple portable data processing units and multiple non-mobile data processing units, the portable data processing units being arranged to establish a temporary communication link (6) with at least one other data processing unit and the non-mobile data processing units being arranged to establish a permanent communication link (6), communications along the communication links being synchronous, each of the data processing units (4, 5) comprising data communication means (7, 14), processing means (8, 15) and, said memory having stored therein an executive program (12, 17) and descriptions of the possible modes of communication between the data processing units as interaction contexts (11(1) . . . 11(m), 19(1) . . . 19(m)) in accordance with the following data structure:a. a set of basic distinct communication primitives (A(1) . . . ) which are distinct values and are accepted as commands upon receipt thereof by any of the data processing units (4, 5) during communications with at least one other of the data processing units (5, 4); b. a set of procedural descriptions (C(1) . . . ) defining procedures to be performed by any of the data processing units (4, 5) in response to accepted communication primitives (A(1) . . . ); c. a set of data elements (H(1) . . . ) distributed over the multiple processing units (4, 5), which are either permanently stored or computed and which are available for use when the procedures as defined in the procedural descriptions (C(1) . . . ) are performed, the use of and the access to the data elements being controlled; d. a first set of references (r(1), r(2), r(3)) to the data elements (H(1) . . . ), the references of the first set (r(1), r(2), r(3)) being associated to the procedural descriptions (C(1) . . . ) such that the data elements are available for use when procedures as defined in the procedural descriptions (C(1) . . . ) are performed; e. a possible second set of references (r(4), r(5), r(6)) to the data elements (H(1) . . . ), the references of the second set (r(4), r(5), r(6)) being associated to procedural descriptions (C(4) . . . ) of possibly further interaction contexts, such that the data elements are available for use when procedures as defined in procedural descriptions (C(1) . . . ) of the possibly further interaction contexts are performed; f. a, possibly empty, first data list (B(1) . . . ) comprising a possibly ordered third set of references (u(1) . . . ) to the data elements (H(1) . . . ), the third set of references (u(1) . . . ) being available as targets for references of a fourth set of references (w(1) . . . ), the references of the fourth set (w(1) . . . ) being part of the communication primitives (A(1) . . . ), which data elements are to be used by the procedural descriptions (C(1) . . . ) associated with the communication primitives (A(1) . . . ); g. first set of access conditions associated to the data elements (H(1) . . . ) which conditions are consulted in association to the first set (r(1), r(2), r(3)) and second set (r(4), r(5), r(6)) of references to the data elements; and h. a second set of access conditions associated to the third set of references (u(1) . . . ) in the first data list (B(1) . . . ).