Abstract:
Providing a response to a query comprising receiving a query request, to which a response containing a numerical value is expected, from a querying device, identifying at least one input series as relating to the query request, the or each input series having at least one numerical input measurement, assigning a weighted score to the or each input series identified as relating to the query request, selecting at least one input series from among the input series identified as relating to the query request, the selection being dependent on the weighted score assigned to the or each input series identified as relating to the query request, generating a response to the query request, the response containing a numerical value based on the or on one of the numerical input measurements of the selected at least one input series, thereby providing said response to the querying device.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The specification elates generally to providing a response to a query. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Electronic devices have been used to access information through various networks including the internet. Hitherto, users have input queries into the search field of a search engine which may be accessed from a website using a web browser. The search engine then retrieves information relating to the query and provides this information to the user. While this has provided a satisfactory way of providing information in many respects, problems have arisen when a user seeks a response containing a numerical value which may change with time. In particular, existing search engines have struggled to identify reliable sources of dynamic numerical data. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A first exemplary embodiment provides a computer-implemented method of providing a response to a query comprising receiving a query, to which a response containing a numerical value is expected, from a querying device, identifying at least one input series as relating to the query, the or each input series having at least one numerical input measurement, assigning a weighted score to the or each input series identified as relating to the query, selecting at least one input series from among the input series identified as relating to the query, the selection being dependent on the weighted score assigned to the or each input series identified as relating to the query, generating a response to the query, the response containing a numerical value based on the or on one of the numerical input measurements of the selected at least one input series, thereby providing said response to the querying device. 
         [0004]    A second exemplary embodiment provides an apparatus configured to receive a query, to which a response containing a numerical value is expected, from a querying device, identify at least one input series as relating to the query, the or each input series having at least one numerical input measurement, assign a weighted score to the or each input series identified as relating to the query, select at least one input series from among the input series identified as relating to the query, the selection being dependent on the weighted score assigned to the or each input series identified as relating to the query, generate a response to the query, the response containing a numerical value based on the or on one of the numerical input measurements of the selected at least one input series, thereby providing said response to the querying device. 
         [0005]    A third exemplary embodiment provides an apparatus having at least one processor and at least one memory having computer-readable code stored thereon which, when executed, controls the at least one processor to cause at least one input tile to be displayed, the or each input tile being associated with an input series, wherein the or each input tile comprises a numerical input measurement of the associated input series and a title of the associated input series. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    These embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating internal components of an input device; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a configuration which the input device may be controlled to display; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a relationship between an input device and a series server; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a relationship between several input devices and a series server; 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates organisation of input accounts in a series server; 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a relationship between a querying device and a series server according to various embodiments; 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating exemplary operation of the series server; 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates the contents of exemplary input series; 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  shows a relationship between a querying device and a series server according to various other embodiments; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart illustrating operation of the series server according to various embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating internal components of an input device  1  according to various embodiments. The input device may be a mobile telephone, a desktop or laptop computer or a personal digital assistant (hereinafter, PDA). 
         [0018]    The input device in chides a processor  2  which controls operation of the other hardware components of the input device  1 . 
         [0019]    The input device  1  comprises a processor  2 , working or volatile memory (not shown), such as Random Access Memory (RAM), and a non-volatile memory  3  on which is stored an operating system and software which is executed by the processor  2  to control the hardware components of the input device  1 . 
         [0020]    The input device  1  is configured to connect to the internet using any suitable fixed or mobile internet access technology such as DSL, mobile broadband or cable. The input device  1  may comprise a network interface  4  to allow the input device  1  to connect to a network such as a local area network (LAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a telecommunications network which may be a 3G or 4G network. 
         [0021]    The input device  1  also comprises a user interface  5 . The user interface  5  comprises a display  6  and an entry device  7  such as a keyboard or mouse. The display  6  and entry device  7  may be integrated to form a touch sensitive screen. 
         [0022]    The input device  1  may also house a battery  8  to power the input device  1 , however the input device may be powered by other means such as a mains power source. 
         [0023]      FIG. 2  shows a screenshot of an exemplary home page which the processor  2  causes to be displayed on the display  6  of the input device  1  when a user logs in to an input account. The home page may be a web page accessed via a web browser installed onto the input device  1 . Alternatively, an application may be installed on to the input device  1 . When the application is opened, the home page may be displayed on the display  6  after the user has logged in to his or her input account. 
         [0024]    The home page contains a search bar  9  and may be configured to display at least one input tile  10 . Each of the input tiles  10  comprises a title  11  and a numerical input measurement  12 . Each input tile  10  is associated with an input series and each input series belongs to an input account. 
         [0025]    The home page may be accessed when a user logs in to his or her input account. Some of the input tiles  10  displayed on the home page are associated with input series that are owned by the input account of the user of the input device  1 , while other tiles are associated with input series that are followed by the input account of the user. Ownership of input series and following input series of other input accounts is described in greater detail below. 
         [0026]    The search bar  9  allows the user to input a search query via the user interface  5  in order to find a particular input tile  10 . For example, if the user enters “Apple price” into the field of the search bar  9 , one or more input tiles  10  having a title  11  containing the words “apple price” appear on the display  6 . 
         [0027]    As stated above, each input tile  10  displayed on the display  6  of the input device  1  is associated with an input series  13  which comprises the title  11  of the input tile  10  and at least one numerical input measurement  12 . The input series  13  may also contain information relating to units of the numerical input measurement. The input series  13  may belong to an input account and information relating to that input account may be contained in the input series  13  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0028]    The input series  13  is stored in a data store  15  of a server  16 . The series server  16  may be accessed by the input device over a network  17 . The network  17  may support an internet connection. 
         [0029]    The user can create and update the input series  13  using the user interface  5  of the input device  1 . For example, the user may create anew input series having a title  11  such as “Price of an apple” and a numerical input measurement  12  such as “£0.40” via the user interface  5 . This information may then be provided to the series server  16  over the network  17  and stored in the data store  15  as a new input series. Each numerical input measurement  12  may have an associated time stamp as well as a numerical value. in the example shown in  FIG. 3 , the first numerical input measurement  12  of the input series  13  has a value of “£0.40” and an associated time stamp of “2012-06-25”. 
         [0030]      FIG. 3  illustrates how the input series  13  may be updated. The user logs into his or her input account and accesses the existing input tile  10  with the title  11  “Price of an apple”. The user inputs a new numerical input measurement  12  of “£0.46”. This new numerical input measurement is provided to the series server  16  over the network  17 . The series server  16  locates the input series  13  that is owned by the input account of the user and which corresponds to the input tile  10 . The correct input series  13  may be located by the series server  16  by comparing the title of the input tile  10  with titles of input series stored in the series server  16  which belong to the user&#39;s input account. The new input measurement  12  of “£0.46”, having an associated time stamp of “2012-06-30” is thereby stored in the data store  15  of the series server  16 . 
         [0031]    Several input devices may access the series server  16  over the network  17  to create and update input series. Examples of suitable input devices are shown in  FIG. 4 . A desktop computer and a mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, can create and update input series in the manner described above in relation to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 4  shows an input server  18  which connects to the series server  16  over the network  17 . New input series may be created and existing input series updated automatically via an application programming interface (hereinafter, API), APIs are known in the art as a means for allowing content to be shared by different applications. Therefore, numerical information stored by a server in relation to a website or a social network such as Twitter® or Facebook® may be shared automatically with the series server  16  and the user&#39;s input account may be updated automatically. For example, the user may post numerical information on to a social networking site. An input series  13  which belongs to the user&#39;s linked input account may be created or updated automatically via the social networking account and API. 
         [0032]    As described in the above example, the time stamp associated with a numerical input measurement may be the time at which the numerical input measurement was input. Alternatively, it may be a time value input by a user manually or specified by the API. For example, a user may, on 26 Jun. 2012, enter a value of “£0.42” and an associated time stamp of “2012-06-25”. This allows the user to enter a numerical input measurement relating to an earlier time, in this case to enter, on 26 Jun. 2012, the price of an apple on 25 Jun. 2012. 
         [0033]      FIG. 5  shows input series  13  organised according to input accounts  19  according to some embodiments. An input account  19  may be set up by a user to manage his or her input series. A single input account  19  may manage one or more input series. An input account  19  may “follow” an input series belonging to a different input account. That is, each input account  19  may be instructed to monitor a particular input series selected by the user via the user interface  5 . Hence the display  6  of an input device  1 , when logged in to a particular input account  19 , may display input tiles  10  associated with input series owned by that particular input account  19  as well as input tiles  10  associated with input series that are being followed by the input account  19 . Such a configuration is shown in  FIG. 2  where each input tile  10  displays the most recent numerical input measurement  12  relating to the input series  13 . 
         [0034]    According to various embodiments, a user may link his or her input account with a social networking account he or she may have with social networks such as Twitter® or Facebook®. As the user creates or updates input series  13 , the information therein contained may be shared on these other platforms via a suitable API. Furthermore, the title  11  of the input series  13  may contain a tag, such as a Twitter® hashtag, so that the input series may be easily accessed on these other platforms. 
         [0035]    In addition to embodiments which allow an input device  1  to create and update input series belonging to the input account of a user and to follow input series belonging to another input account, embodiments also provide a method of providing a response containing a numerical value to a querying device. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  shows a querying device  20  connecting to the series server  16  over a network  21 . The network  21  over which the querying device  20  may be the same network as the network  17  over which the input device connects with the series server  16 . Alternatively, the network  21  may be a different network to the network  17 . The network  21  may be a wireless network and may be configured to allow the querying device  20  to connect to the internet. 
         [0037]    The querying device  20  may be a similar device to the input device  1 . For example, the querying device  20  may be a desktop or laptop computer, a mobile telephone equipped with internet access, such as a smartphone, or a PDA. As such, the internal structure of the querying device  20  will be assumed to be similar to that of the input device  1 , shown in  FIG. 1  and further description of the internal structure of the querying device  20  will be omitted. 
         [0038]    The querying device  20  may have a web browser installed thereon. The series server  16  may be accessed by visiting a web site. The website may be the website of a search engine. Alternatively, an application may be installed on to the querying device  20  which is configured to allow the querying device to connect to the series server  16  over the network  21 . 
         [0039]    According to embodiments, a user may input a query request  22  via a user interface of the querying device  20  into a search field of website or of an installed application which allow access to the series server over the network  21 . The connection with series server  16  may be via an internet connection. The query request  22  entered by the user is a query which the user expects will be answered with an answer containing a numerical value. For example, in  FIG. 6 , a user enters a query request “What is the price of an apple?”. The query request  22  is sent to the series server  16  via the network  21 . The series server  16  receives the query request  22  and generates a query response  23  “$0.69” which may be provided by the series server  16 , via the network  21 , to the querying device  20 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  is a flow diagram showing, in greater detail, steps taken by the series server  16  in order to provide a query response  23  to a query request  22 . 
         [0041]    The process commences at step S 701 . 
         [0042]    At step S 702 , the series server  16  receives a query request  22 , via the network  21 , from a querying device  20 . Three examples of query requests, all received on 30 Jun. 2012, will be described. In Example 1, the query request received by the series server is “What is the price of an apple?”. In Example 2, the query request received by the series server is “What was the price of an apple yesterday?”. In Example 3 the query request received by the series server is, “What was the price of an apple on 25/06/2012?”. 
         [0043]    At step S 703 , the series server  16  analyses the content of the query request  22  to identify any input series  13  stored in the data store  15  that may be related to the query request  22 . The series server  16  may match words contained within the query request  22  with words contained in the title of an input series  13  stored in the data store  15 . 
         [0044]    In Examples 1-3, six input series are identified having titles containing the words “price” and “apple” and these input series are shown in  FIG. 8  at step S 703 . 
         [0045]    At step S 704 , the series server  16  determines whether the query request  22  contains a time component. The series server  16  determines that the query request  22  does contain a time component, the process moves on to step S 705 , If the series server  16  determines that the query request  22  does not contain a time component, the process moves on to step S 707 . 
         [0046]    At step S 705 , any input series identified at step S 703  that does not have a numerical input measurement having an associated time stamp corresponding to the time component of the query request is excluded from the process by the series server  16 . Whether an associated time stamp of the numerical input measurement corresponds to the time component of the query request may vary according to various embodiments. For example, a time stamp having the same date as the time component of the query request may correspond in some embodiments. In other embodiments, a time stamp which is within a certain predetermined time period prior to the time component of the query request may correspond. 
         [0047]    In Example 1, the series server  16  determines from the text “what is the price of an apple?” that the query request  22  contains a time component of 30 Jun. 2012, at step S 704 . Input series that do not contain a numerical input measurement having an associated time stamp showing 30 Jun. 2012, in this case input series  4  and  5 , are therefore excluded at step S 705 . In Example 2, the word “yesterday” is interpreted by the series server  16 , at step S 704 , to correspond to a time component of 29 Jun. 2012. Input series  4  and  6 , shown in  FIG. 8 , are therefore excluded since they do not have a numerical input measurement having an associated time stamp of 29 Jun. 2012 at step S 705 . In Example 3, the text in the query request “25/06/2012” is interpreted by the series server  16  to correspond to a time component of 25 Jun. 2012 at step S 704 . Input series  2 ,  3 ,  5  and  6 , shown in  FIG. 8 , are excluded at step S 705  because they do not have a numerical input measurement with an associated time stamp of 25 Jun. 2012. 
         [0048]    In embodiments that include the optional step S 706 , the series server  16  excludes any numerical input measurement of an input series that has an associated time stamp that is later than the time component of the query request  22 . In Example 2, the numerical input measurements from input series  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  6  having an associated time stamp of 30 Jun. 2012 are excluded. In Example 3, all numerical input measurements from input series  1 - 6  having a time stamp of 26 Jun. 2012 or later are excluded. 
         [0049]    At step S 707  a weighted score is assigned to each input series identified at step S 703  and which has not been subsequently excluded at any intervening step of the process. The weighted score assigned to an input series may be dependent on any of several reliability indicators pertaining to that input series. 
         [0050]    Referring again to  FIG. 8 , reliability indicators, according to embodiments, might include the number of input accounts that follow a particular input series, with a high number of followers indicating a more reliable input series. 
         [0051]    A trust score may be associated with the input account to which the input series belongs. A trust score may be a score applied to an account by a third party. The trust score may be derived from ratings applied to the input series based on past performance. Alternatively, an input account belonging to a respected source of information such as an online encyclopaedia or news source may carry a high trust score. 
         [0052]    Whether the input series is updated manually or via an API may also provide a indicator, with those input series updated automatically by API being more reliable than those updated manually. Furthermore, the frequency at which an input series is updated may be used as a reliability indicator, with an input series having a higher update frequency suggesting greater reliability than an input series having a lower frequency. The time elapsed since the input series was last updated may also be taken into account as a reliability indicator, with a more recently updated input series being preferred to an input series that has not been updated for a longer time. 
         [0053]    Multiple input series may be compared to see Whether the numerical input measurements of each of the multiple input series correlate well over time. When comparing two or more input series, the units of the respective input series may be taken into account. For example, one input series might measure a price in units of $ while another input series might measure a price in units of £. If the $/£ exchange rate varies little over a few days, the numerical input measurements in the two input series may correlate well when values are adjusted using a $/£ exchange rate which may be accessed by the series server  16 . Similarly one input series might measure a price in units of cents and numerical input measurements may correlate well with an input series measured in units of $ when scaled by a multiple of 100. 
         [0054]    In Example 1, input series  4  and  5 , shown in  FIG. 8 , were excluded at step S 705 , leaving input series  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  6 . Input series  1  has more followers than input series  2 ,  3  and  6 . Input series is updated automatically via API, whereas input series  3  and  6  are updated manually. Input series  1  also has a higher trust score than input series  2 ,  3  and  6 . As such, since input series outperformed input series  2 ,  3  and  6  with respect to each reliability indicator, input series  1  is assigned a significantly higher weighted score than input series  2 ,  3  and  6  at step S 707 . 
         [0055]    In Example 2, input series  4  and  6  were excluded at step S 705 , leaving input series  1 ,  2 ,  3  and  5  in the process. Input series  1  has more followers than input series than input series  2 ,  3  and  5 . Input series  1  is updated automatically via API, whereas input series  3  and  5  are updated manually. Input series  1  also has a higher trust score than input series  2 ,  3  and  5 . As such, since input series  1  outperformed input series  2 ,  3  and  6  with respect to each reliability indicator, input series  1  is assigned a significantly higher weighted score than input series  2 ,  3  and  5  at step S 707 . 
         [0056]    In Example 3, input series  2 ,  3 ,  5  and  6  were excluded at step S 705 , leaving input series  1  and  4  in the process. Input series  1  is updated via API whereas input series  4  is updated manually. This distinction favours input series  1 . Furthermore, input series  1  has a higher trust score than input series  4 . However, input series  4  has more followers than input series  1 . As such, input series  1  and input series  4  are assigned a similar weighted score at step S 707 . 
         [0057]    At step S 708  the series server  16  decides whether to use more than one input series to generate a query response  23 . If the series server  16  decides not to use more than one input series to generate a query response  23 , the process moves on to step S 709 . If the series server  16  does decide to use more than one input series to generate a query response  23 , the process moves on to step S 710 . 
         [0058]    In Examples 1 and 2, at step S 708  a decision is taken by the series server  16  to use a single input series to generate the query response  23 . This decision is based on the fact that input series  1  was assigned a significantly higher weighted score than the other input series at step S 707 . The process therefore moves on to step S 709  of the process. 
         [0059]    At step S 709 , the latest numerical input measurement not to be excluded at step S 706  is selected from the input series that was selected at step S 708 . In Example 1, the latest non-excluded numerical input measurement is “$0.69” since no numerical input measurements were excluded at step S 706  and input series  1  was selected at step S 708 . In Example 2, the latest non-excluded numerical input measurement is “$0.66” since all numerical input measurements having an associated time stamp later than 29 Jun. 2012 were excluded at step S 706  and input series was selected at step S 708 . In Examples 1 and 2 the series server generates a query response  23  containing “$0.69” and “$0.66” respectively. 
         [0060]    In Example 3, a decision is taken at step S 708  to use more than one input series to generate the query response  23 . This is because input series  1  and input series  4  were assigned a similar weighted score at step S 707 . In this case the process moves from step S 708  to step S 710 . 
         [0061]    At step S 710  a numerical value to be included in the query response  23  is calculated. The latest numerical input measurements from the input series selected at step S 708  which were not excluded at step S 706  are used to calculate the numerical value to be included in the query response  23 . In Example 3, all numerical input measurements of input series  1 - 6  having an associated time stamp later than 25 Jun. 2012 were excluded at step S 706 . At step S 708 , input series  1  and  4  were selected. The latest non-excluded numerical input measurements from input series  1  and  4  are “$0.60” and “$0.62” respectively. 
         [0062]    The numerical value to be included in the query response  23  may be calculated in one of several ways. In some embodiments, an average of the input measurements may be calculated. The average may be a mean, mode or median average. In other embodiments, other statistical methods may be used to calculate the numerical value to be included in the query response  23 . In yet further embodiments, if the more than one selected input series have different weighted scores the respective weighted score of each input series may be taken into account. 
         [0063]    In Example 3, the numerical value to be included in the query response  23  may be “$0.61”. 
         [0064]    Step S 711  is an optional step wherein units to be included in the query response  23  are determined. If the selected one or more input series use the same units then the series server  16  will generate a query response  23  using those units. However, if different units are used by the respective input series then a selection is made at step S 711  as to which units to include in the query response  23 . This selection may be based on factors such as the geographical location of the querying device  20 . For instance, if the querying device  20  is located in the USA the query response may be expressed in units of “$”. Alternatively, the query response may be denominated “£” for querying devices located in the UK and so forth. Alternatively, the selection of units may be based on preselected user preferences. 
         [0065]    At step S 712  the series server  16  generates the query response  23  based on the numerical values obtained from previous steps in the process. The query response  23  may comprise a time component which may be derived from the time stamp associated with the one or more numerical input measurements used to generate the query response  23 . The time component thereby provides the user with an indication of the age of the data which has been used to generate the query response. 
         [0066]    The query response  23  may comprise a confidence level. In embodiments where a confidence level is used, it provides the user with an indication of the level of confidence he or she may have in the query response  23 . The confidence level may be related to or derived from the weighted score assigned to the input series at step S 707  and may be calculated using an algorithm stored in the data store  15 . 
         [0067]    The query response  23  may be provided to the querying device  20  via the network  21 . The query response  23  may then be displayed on a user interface of the querying device  20 . 
         [0068]    The process ends at step S 713 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 9  shows a querying device  20  connecting to the series server  16  over a network  21  according to various embodiments. In these embodiments, the querying device  20  sends a query request  24  to the series server  16  over the network  21  and may receive an initial query response similar to the query response  23  via the process as hereinbefore described with reference to  FIG. 7 . In these embodiments the series server  16  may further provide an updated query response  25  to the querying device  20 , in addition to the initial query response, if requested to do so in the query request  24 . The user may include in the query request  24 , in addition to a question such as “What is the price of an apple?”, a request for an updated query response to be sent to the querying device  20  provided that certain update criteria are met. The request for an updated query response may include an instruction to the series server  16  that the query request  24  is to be stored in the data store  15 . 
         [0070]    The query request  24  is therefore stored in the data store together with information relating to the most recent query response that has been provided to the querying device  20 . For example, the time that an initial query response was provided to a querying device, the time at which the most recent updated query response was provided to a querying device, and the numerical value contained within the initial query response or in the most recent updated query response may be stored in the data store  15 . 
         [0071]    In general, the updated query response may be generated and provided to the querying device  20  in response to an input series  13  being created or updated by an input device  1  after an initial query response, such as the query response  23 , has been provided to the querying device  20 . 
         [0072]    Update criteria that are to be met before an updated query response is provided may be included in the query request  24  and stored in the data store  15 . Examples of update criteria include a frequency criterion and a confidence level threshold. The user may input, via the user interface  5  of the querying device  20 , a value of 1 hour as a frequency criterion. This means that no updated query response will be sent within 1 hour of the latest response to the query request which may an initial response or an updated response. The user may input, via the user interface  5  of the querying device  20 , a threshold confidence value of, for example, 0.4. Any updated query response having a confidence value below this threshold will not be sent to the querying device  20 . 
         [0073]      FIG. 10  is a flow diagram showing, in greater detail, steps taken by the series server  16  in order to provide an updated query response  25 . 
         [0074]    The process commences at step S 1001 . 
         [0075]    At step S 1002 , an input device  1  creates or updates an input series  13  in a manner substantially as described above with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
         [0076]    At step S 1003 , the series server  16  analyses the title of the input series created or updated at step S 1002  and searches for query requests that have been stored in the data store  15  of the series server  16  that contain matching text in the question. 
         [0077]    At step S 1004 , the series server  16  selects each matching stored query request individually and goes through the subsequent steps of the process with each one in turn. 
         [0078]    Step S 1005  is performed in embodiments where a querying device has specified a frequency criterion in the query request  24 . At step S 1005 , the series server  16  determines whether the time difference between the most recent query response and the current time is greater than the frequency criterion included in the query request. If the time difference between the most recent query response and the current time is greater than the frequency criterion included in the query request the process moves on to step S 1006 . If the time difference between the most recent query response and the current time is less than the frequency criterion included in the query request then the process moves onto step S 1010 . It should be borne in mind that the most recent query response may be an initial query response provided to the querying device directly after the query request was sent or it may be the most recent updated query response. 
         [0079]    At step S 1006 , the series server performs the process described above with reference to  FIG. 7  to generate a query response from step S 704  onwards. New numerical input measurements that are part of a new input series or that form an update to an existing input series are taken into account at this step to generate an updated query response. 
         [0080]    At step S 1007  the series server  16  determines whether the numerical value generated at step S 1006  has a different value to the numerical value contained in the latest query response to be provided to the querying device, whether that was the initial query response or the latest updated query response. If the numerical value is different then the process continues to step S 1008 . If the numerical value is not different from the numerical value contained in the latest query response to be provided to the querying device then the process continues to step S 1010 . 
         [0081]    At step S 1008 , the series server  16  determines whether the response generated at step S 1006  has a confidence level above the confidence level threshold specified in the query request  24 . If the response generated at step S 1006  does have a confidence level above the confidence level threshold specified in the query request  24  then the process continues to step S 1009 . If not, then the process continues to step S 1010 . 
         [0082]    At step S 1009 , the updated query response  25  is provided to the querying device  20 . The information relating to the query request that is stored in the data store is updated to reflect the time at which the updated query response  25  was provided to the querying device  20  and the numerical value contained within the updated query response  25 . The updated query response  25  may be displayed on a display of the querying device  20 . 
         [0083]    At step S 1010 , the series server  16  decides no o provide an updated query response to the querying device  20 . 
         [0084]    The process ends at step S 1011 . 
         [0085]    It will be appreciated that the above described embodiments are purely illustrative and are not limiting on the scope of the claims. Other variations and modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reading the present application. 
         [0086]    For example, time stamps and time components have been described in the above described embodiments to a resolution of days. In other embodiments, time may be recorded in query requests and responses to a resolution of years, months, hours, minutes, seconds or fractions of seconds. In preferred embodiments, time resolution to shorter time periods, such as fractions of seconds, provides improved data quality to resolution to longer time periods. 
         [0087]    Moreover, the disclosure of the present application should be understood to include any novel features or any novel combination of features either explicitly or implicitly disclosed herein or any generalization thereof and during the prosecution of the present application or of any application derived therefrom, new claims may be formulated to cover any such features and/or combination of such features.