Patent ID: 7496849

Claim:
A method in a computer for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple state attributes, comprising: receiving from a first source an indication of an ability to supply values for an indicated one of the state attributes of the modeled current state; receiving from a second source an indication of an ability to supply values for another of the state attributes of the modeled current state; and after receiving an indication of the indicated attribute from a first client, determining that the first source is available to supply a value for the indicated attribute; obtaining from the first source an indication of the value and information describing the indicated value, the information describing the value includes at least a likelihood of accuracy of the indicated value; comparing the received likelihood of accuracy of the indicated value with a minimum accuracy specified by the client; determining based at least in part on the descriptive information whether the indicated value is appropriate to be supplied to the client, determining includes at least verifying that the received likelihood of accuracy of the indicated value is equal to or greater than the minimum accuracy; and when it is determined that the indicated value is appropriate, supplying the indicated value to the client.