GB2581972A

GB2581972A - Data management system & apparatus for interaction therewith

Info

Publication number: GB2581972A
Application number: GB1902919.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Beagrie James; Kiri Amitkumar
Original assignee: Uutripid Ltd
Current assignee: Uutripid Ltd
Priority date: 2019-03-04
Filing date: 2019-03-04
Publication date: 2020-09-09
Also published as: GB201902919D0

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are disclosed in which first information from a user, indicative of a first event, are provided to a hub platform 1000, the first information including one or more user preferences. An option to allow third parties 1010,1020,1030, access to one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus is presented to the user. Responsive to a positive selection, second information is provided to the hub platform allowing said access to one or more data resources 1006,1007. User-selectable options for the first event are received from the hub-platform, which are filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources that the user has user has enabled third party access to. Selection of an option is received. Furthermore, a master code or key associated with the option and its attributes is also received and stored. The master code is linked to one or more further events selected subsequently such that it is unique to a complex event. The complex event may be a trip, production line or data processing pipeline.

Description

DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM & APPARATUS FOR INTERACTION THEREWITH

Field of the invention

The invention is in the field of processing devices, systems and methods for managing data, for example data representing events and/or attributes of events which make up a complex event.

/o Background

Systems and devices exist for storing and retrieving data. in some systems a code or key is provided to allow third parties to access the data with the code or key.

The data referred to herein may relate to events which form part of a larger complex event. For example, in an industrial setting, a production line may comprise a plurality of tasks, which are a form of event, wherein performance of one task follows completion of an earlier task, and so on until all tasks of the complex task are complete. Similarly, a data processing pipeline may comprise multiple data processing events, making up a more comprehensive and complex task. In the commercial world, an event may comprise an aspect of a journey, for example a first event may relate to a flight and a second event may relate to a hotel stay.

Managing and exchanging such data in an efficient and secure way can be challenging. For example, the tailoring of one or more of the events of the complex event is desirable but tailoring based on personal data presents challenges in terms of how to handle that data.

Summary

According to an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for: providing to a hub platform, over a network, first information from a user indicative of a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; presenting an option to allow third parties access to one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and, responsive to a positive selection, providing to the hub platform second information allowing said access to one or more data resources; receiving from the hub platform user-selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources that the user has enabled third party access to; receiving selection of one of the selectable options; receiving from the hub platform a master code, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event and attributes of the first event; storing said master code and attributes of the first event in a repository of the apparatus; receiving from the hub platform selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and attributes of the user-selected option; receiving selection of one of the selectable options for the second event; receiving from the hub platform, responsive to the selection, attributes of the second event and storing the attributes of the second event in the repository in association with those of the first event, to create a complex event object, whereby the master code is usable to identify to third party terminals the user and to receive attributes of the first event and/or the second event.

The master code may be the only code received by the apparatus for the complex event.

The means may be configured to provide attributes of the first event and the second event to a third party terminal from the repository of the apparatus in response to the or unique code being read at the third party terminal.

The means is configured to provide the attributes directly to the third party terminal.

The means may be configured to provide the attributes indirectly to the third party terminal, via the hub platform.

The means may be configured to determine whether the third party terminal is associated with the first event or the second event, and to provide only attributes associated with the determined event. -3 -

The means may be configured to determine whether the third party terminal is associated with the first event or the second event based on one or more of location information and time information.

The means may be configured to determine that the third party terminal is associated with the second event based on having already provided attributes of the first event to a third party terminal in response to a previous request.

The second information may comprise credentials for accessing one or more external /o social media data resources associated with the user of the apparatus, and wherein the means is configured to provide the second information to one or more remote entity terminals by sending the credentials, or a token associated with the credentials, to enable the one or more third parties to harvest user data from the social media data resources.

The second information may include user-selected restrictions on third parties with whom data would be shared with and/or which type or types of data can be harvested from the one or more social media data resources.

The means may be further configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances associated with the user at a time based on a commencement of the first event.

Commencement of the first event may be determined based on providing the attribute or data associated with the first event to a third party terminal.

The means may be configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances to operate in a power-save mode.

The means may be configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more domestic appliances to cancel the power-save mode at a time relative to detecting commencement or fulfilment of the final task in the complex task. -4 -

The means may be configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more appliances by means of triggering commencement of a process, task or event.

The second information may enable access to future location information from the one or more social media data resources and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.

/.0 The means may be configured to send location information generated automatically at the user terminal and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.

The unique code may be a machine-readable GSiGIAI code.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising: providing to a hub platform, over a network, first information from a user indicative of a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; presenting an option to allow third parties access to one or more data resources associated with a user of an apparatus and, responsive to a positive selection, providing to the hub platform second information allowing said access to one or more data resources; receiving from the hub platform user-selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or or more data resources that the user has user has enabled third party access to; receiving selection of one of the selectable options; receiving from the hub platform a master code, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event and attributes of the first event; storing said master code and attributes of the first event in a repository of the apparatus; receiving from the hub platform selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and attributes of the user-selected option; receiving selection of one of the selectable options for the second event; -5 -receiving from the hub platform, responsive to the selection, attributes of the second event and storing the attributes of the second event in the repository in association with those of the first event, to create a complex event object, whereby the master code is usable to identify to third party terminals the user and to receive attributes of one or more of the first event and the second event.

According to an example embodiment, there is or are provided one or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more sets of instructions which, when executed by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more computer systems to perform /o a method as recited above.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided a computer system, comprising: one or more processors; one or more storage media storing one or more sets of instructions for execution by the one or more processors and configured to perform a method as recited above.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, comprising means for: providing a hub platform between a plurality of first type user terminals and a plurality of second type entity terminals for managing a complex event comprising a plurality of events, wherein the plurality of second type entity terminals are associated with pre-registered entities and in which communication between the hub platform and the second type terminals is by means of a predetermined communications standard associated with the type of complex event and associated with communications between pre-registered entities, wherein the hub platform is configured: to receive first information from a user terminal for initiating a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; to receive second information from the user terminal enabling access to one or more data resources associated with a user of the user terminal; to configure and provide the first and second information to one or more remote entity terminals using the predetermined protocol; receiving from the one or more remote entity terminals selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal; -6 -to provide over a network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options; to receive from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable options; to allocate a master code at the hub platform, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event; to provide the master code to the user; to provide to the user one or more selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal and attributes of the user-selected option; to provide over the network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options for the second event; to receive from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable options; and to link the master code to a second code, the second code being associated with the user-selected option for the second event, and using said master code for identification of the first and second events of the complex event, such that subsequent use of the master code at a remote third party terminal is effective to enable access, through the hub platform, attributes of one or more of the first and second events.

or The master code may be the only code provided to the user terminal for the complex event.

The master code may be configured for sending to, and storage at, the user terminal and for presentation through a graphical user interface of a dedicated events application at the user terminal.

The means may be further configured to receive a message from a third type entity terminal, the message being indicative of commencement or fulfilment of one of the first and second tasks, including the master key as presented at said third type entity 35 terminal, and using the master key to identify based on the identity of the third type -7 -entity terminal, whether the message relates to the first or second task, and providing back to the third type entity terminal attributes associated with the identified task.

The third type entity terminal may be a check-in terminal.

The second information may comprise credentials for accessing one or more social media data resources associated with the user of the user terminal, and wherein the means is configured to provide the second information to one or more remote entity terminals by sending the credentials, or a token associated with the credentials, to jo enable the one or more remote entity terminals to harvest user data from the social media data resources.

The means maybe further configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances associated with the user at a time based on a commencement of the first event.

Commencement of the first event may be determined based on the means receiving a message from a third-party entity terminal, the message being indicative of commencement or fulfilment of the first task as indicated by presentation of the master key at the third party entity terminal. or

The means may be configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances to cancel the power-save mode at a time relative to detecting commencement or fulfilment of the final task in the complex task. -8 -

The second information may enable access to future location information received from the one or more social media data resources and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.

/o The second information may comprise location information generated automatically at the user terminal and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.

The master code may be generated by a remote system.

The master code is a machine-readable code, according to GS1 MAI standard. The predetermined communications standard may be an XML-based standard. 20 The XML-based standard may be IATA NDC.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided a method, comprising: in a hub platform between a plurality of first type user terminals and a plurality of second type entity terminals for managing a complex event comprising a plurality of or events, wherein the plurality of second type entity terminals are associated with pre-registered entities and in which communication between the hub platform and the second type terminals is by means of a predetermined communications standard associated with the type of complex event and associated with communications between pre-registered entities: receiving first information from a user terminal for initiating a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; receiving second information from the user terminal enabling access to one or more data resources associated with a user of the user terminal; configuring and provide the first and second information to one or more remote entity terminals using the predetermined protocol; receiving from the one or more remote entity terminals selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information -9 -and data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal; providing over a network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options; receiving from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable options; allocating a master code, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event; provide the master code to the user; provide to the user one or more selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal and attributes of the user-selected option; providing over the network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options for the second event; receiving from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable options; and linking the master code to a second code, the second code being associated with the user-selected option for the second event, and using said master code for identification of the first and second events of the complex event, such that subsequent use of the master code at a remote third-party terminal is effective to enable access, through the hub platform, attributes of one or more of the first and second events.

According to an example embodiment, there may be provided one or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more sets of instructions which, when executed by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more computer systems to perform a method as recited in the above method definition.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided a computer system, comprising: one or more processors; -10 -one or more storage media storing one or more sets of instructions for execution by the one or more processors and configured to perform a method as recited in the above definition.

The computer system may comprise a plurality of geographically distributed servers, each comprising one or more processors and one or more storage media storing one or more sets of instructions for execution by the one or more processors.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus comprising jo means for providing one or more machine readable codes for the apparatus as defined above, responsive to a request for one or more unique codes from the hub platform.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided a method comprising providing one or more machine readable codes for the apparatus as defined above, responsive to a request for one or more unique codes from the hub platform.

According to an example embodiment, there is provided one or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more sets of instructions which, when executed by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more computer systems to perform 20 a method as recited in the method as defined above.

According to other example embodiments, there may be provided a processing device for outputting information for accessing data stored on a remote device; the processing device configured to: receive first information for accessing first data stored on one or or more remote devices; the remote devices being remote from the processing device; store the said first information in a database; receive second information for accessing second data stored on the one or more remote devices; store the said second information in the database; associate the first information with the second information such that the processing device is further configured to output the second information upon receiving a request associated with the first information. The first aspect may be modified in any suitable way as disclosed herein including but not limited to any one or more of the following. The processing device may be configured such that any one or more of the information for accessing data comprises a code associated at least with the one or more remote devices storing the said data. In some examples, any one or more of the information for accessing data may comprise a GS1 MAI code. The GS1 MAI code may comprise a barcode, such as a matrix barcode. The GS1 G1Al matrix barcode may correspond to data associated with any of: a user; a user profile; a portion of the data associated with the information, the remote device associated with the generation of the said data. The request associated with the first information may comprise the first information. The first data may be stored on a first device; the first device being remote from the processing device; and, the second data may be stored on a second device; the second device being remote from the processing device. The processing device may be configured to output the second information to a further remote device; the further remote device being remote from the processing device. The processing device may be configured to associate the said first information jo with the said second information by comparing the first information to the second information. The processing device may be configured to: receive user information associated with user data stored on a user terminal; the user terminal being remote from the processing device; store the said user information in the database; associate the first information with the said user information associated with user data. The processing device may be configured to: output the user information upon receiving the request associated with the first information. The processing device may be configured to receive and store the user information before receiving and storing the said first information. Receiving the first information may comprise: receiving a first set of information, each information in the first set for accessing one of a plurality of data stored on the one or more remote devices; wherein each of the plurality of data is associated with a common data request; selecting one of the information from the first set to be the first information. The processing device may be configured to select the said one information based upon a further input received by the processing device. In some examples, the first data and second data may be associated with a task; the -0 or processing device is configured to select the first information as a task identifier by: searching for other information on the database corresponding to the same task and either: assigning the first information as a task identifier based upon no other information being found from the search; or; assigning the first information as a task identifier based upon the first information being the first of the information stored on the database. The processing device may be configured to output the first identifier to the one or more remote devices.

According to other example embodiments there may be provided a system comprising a processing device as claimed in any preceding claim and the said one or more remote 35 devices. The system may comprise a user terminal, wherein the one or more remote -12 -devices are configured to communicate any one or more of the first or second data to the user terminal using a common data format.

According to other example embodiments, there maybe provided a method for outputting information for accessing data stored on a remote device; the method comprising the steps of: receiving, at a processing device, first information for accessing first data stored on one or more remote devices; the remote devices being remote from the processing device; storing the said first information in a database; receiving, at a processing device, second information for accessing second data stored on the one or jo more remote devices; storing the said second information in the database; associating the first information with the second information such that the processing device is further configured to output the second information upon receiving a request associated with the first information.

According to other example embodiments, there may be provided a method comprising the steps of: sending a first request for data from one or more user terminals to a first remote device; the first request for data associated with a user; the first request for data associated with a task; generating, using the first remote device, first data associated with the first request for data, upon the first remote device receiving the first request for data, in any order: storing the first data upon the first remote device; creating first information associated with, and for accessing, the first data; in any order: sending at least the first information to the user terminal; sending the first information to a processing device; storing the first information on a database, upon the processing device receiving the first information; assigning the first or information as a task identifier, upon the user terminal receiving at least the first information; sending, via one or more communications, a second request for data from the one or more user terminals to a second remote device; the second request associated with the task; the one or more communications comprising the task identifier. The method may be configured such that: the step of sending the first request comprises sending user information for accessing user data stored on the user terminal; the step of generating first data comprises retrieving the user data from the user terminal using the user information. The method may further comprise the steps of: sending the user information to the processing device; storing the user information on the database; associating the user information with the first information. The method may further comprise the steps of: generating, using the second remote device, second data associated with the second request for data, upon the second remote device -13 -receiving the second request for data, in any order: storing the second data upon the second remote device; creating second information associated with, and for accessing, the second data; in any order: sending at least one of the second information and the second data to the user terminal; sending the second information to the processing device; storing the second information on a database, upon the processing device receiving the second information; associating, on the database, the second information with the first information. The method may be configured such that the step of generating second data further comprises the steps of: retrieving further information, from the database, associated with the first information, retrieving further data /o associated with the further information; generating the second data based at least upon the further data. The method may be configured such that the first and second remote devices are configured to send corresponding first and second data to the user terminals in a common format.

Brief description of the drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a system comprising a hub platform and user terminal, both according to example embodiments; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of functional components of the FIG. 1 user terminal; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of hardware components of the FIG. 1 user terminal; FIG. 4A is a flow diagram showing example operations that may be performed at the or FIG. 1 user terminal and hub platform, in accordance with example embodiments; FIG. 4B is a flow diagram showing example operations that may be performed at the FIG. 1 user terminal, hub platform and a check-in terminal, in accordance with example embodiments; FIGS. 5A -5H are example screenshots of what may be shown on the FIG. 1 user terminal during operation;

Detailed description

Example embodiments relate to processing devices, systems and methods for managing 35 data, for example data representing events and/or attributes of events which make up a complex event.

-14 -The data referred to herein may relate to events which form part of a larger complex event. For example, in an industrial setting, a production line may comprise a plurality of task events, i.e. a complex task, wherein performance of one task follows completion of an earlier task, and so on until all tasks of the complex task are complete. Similarly, a data processing pipeline may comprise multiple task events, making up a more comprehensive complex task. Similarly, a trip (or travel plan) may be considered a complex event, comprised of multiple sub-events, or sub-trips.

/c) How to enable a user to generate a complex event from multiple events, for example based on user requirements, preferences, restrictions and how to manage how data relating to the user and data relating to the individual events is managed and shared securely, and efficiently, is a complex task. Also, at the time of commencement of an event, for example when a user identifies themselves to a third-party terminal, such as a piece of computer-controlled machinery of a production line, or to a check-in terminal of an airport, vehicle rental company or hotel, how to efficiently identify the user and acquire attributes of the event is also a complex task. How to keep the user identity and attributes, as well as any personal information of the client secure is also a complex challenge.

Embodiments herein relate to provision of an apparatus, e.g. a user terminal, for communication with a hub platform, being a computer system or group of computer systems. The user terminal may communicate with the hub platform via any suitable means, for example through a website or application associated with the hub platform. The hub platform is a trusted entity and acts as an intermediary between one or more user terminals and one or more entity terminals. Embodiments herein also relate to provision of the hub platform.

A user terminal may be any form of user device capable of data communications, whether by means of the internet, e.g. using TCP/IP, or through radio networks such as through 3G, LTE, 4G, 5G or any future radio network. Bluetooth or similar low-power radio networks are also applicable. Examples of user terminals include smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, personal computers, digital assistants and so on. A user terminal is a terminal that usually is associated with a person wishing to generate a complex event and perform or commence the individual events therein.

-15 -Reference is made herein to third party entity terminals. An entity terminal may also be any form of device capable of data communications, whether by means of the internet, e.g. using TCP/IP, or through radio networks such as through 3G, LTE, 4G, 5G or any future radio network. Bluetooth or similar low-power radio networks are also applicable. Examples of entity terminals include smartphones, tablet computers, laptops, personal computers, digital assistants and so on. A entity terminal is a terminal that usually is associated with an entity providing, allocating or booking one part of the complex event, for example for allocating an process or task of an industrial or computer, or for booking part of a trip, e.g. an airline, a car rental company, a train /o line or a travel agent.

Entity terminals may need to be pre-registered to the hub platform, for example having undergone some initial compliance and registration procedure and to conform to a predetermined communications standard, which may be involve encrypting data that is transmitted over a communications link between the entity terminals and the hub platform.

Communication between the hub platform and the one or more entity terminals may be by means of a predetermined communications standard associated with the type of complex event. In this regard, subsequent example embodiments will be explained with reference to a complex event comprising a trip, formed of individual events such as flights, car journeys, rail journeys, meals, hotel stays and any attribute of such individual events. It is stressed, however, that this is given merely as an example and the apparatus and method described herein provide a technical implementation that or can be applied to the management of anything that can be considered an event.

For the purpose of managing and handling event data relating to trips or travel events, the New Distribution Capability (NDC) is introduced as the predetermined communications standard between the hub platform and third-party entity terminals.

The NDC has been validated by the International Air Transport Authority (TATA) and enables the travel industry to transform the way air products are retailed by addressing the industry's current limitations of distribution differentiation and time to market, establishing the IATA NDC standard for access to full and rich air content.

For clarity, the following terms are clarified.

-16 -An event is any type of future event that requires user selection, for example from a plurality of event options. The event options may be tailored based on provided information. A complex event comprises a plurality of events, some of which may be in 5 sequence, one after the other, and some of which may be performed in parallel.

A data resource as used herein may include any item of data or code (e.g., a data object) that can be used by one or more computer programs. A data resource may for example be an application, a file, XML data, metadata, a spreadsheet or a database, or part of a /o spreadsheet or part of a database, e.g. records.

A social media data resource as used herein may include any data resource as defined above acquired from a social media platform that enables users to share with other users data aspects of one or more of their interests, occupation, employer, employment history, education, location, future location, planned meetings and appointments calendar. Typically, a social media platform enables users to link, follow or befriend other users or organisations to receive aggregated posts from those other users or organisations. Users may accept or allow links to their profiles from other users. Users may post content and may provide a profile. The social media data may be structured data, arranged in the platform according to an ontology so that the context or meaning of data is known. Data resources known to the social media platforms may be at least partly hidden from users outside of those social media platforms and hence credentials are needed to access data, for example by a user logging into the social media platform and thereafter accessing said data or requesting access to the data. Examples of or common social media platforms include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (all Registered Trade Marks).

Other data resources may be provided on user terminals themselves, such as access to user calendars and/or user location generated by an on-board CNSS system.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an end-to-end system according to some example embodiments.

There may be provided a hub platform 1000 in communication with a code generator 35 loot The code generator 1001 may be internal, or forms part of, the hub platform l000, or it may be an external service provided by, for example, GS1 or a related -17 -organisation. The code generator 1001 is configured to generate unique codes, or keys, the purpose of which will be explained later on. For example, the codes may conform to the GS1 ID standard, for example any of the following machine-readable codes: EAN/UPC, G51-128, ITF-14, GS1 DataBar, GS1 DataMatrix, GS1 QR Code, GS1 Composite Barcode. The access information may include a Global Service Relation Number (GSRN).

One or more user terminals 1002 communicate with the hub platform 100 by means of any suitable data communication method, some of which are outlined above. A /0 network is not shown for convenience, but the Internet is one way of remote communication. For example, the user terminal 1002 may open a website 1004 through a browser, the website being associated or hosted with the hub platform 1000. For example, the user terminal 1002 may download and run an application (App) 1003 associated with the hub platform. The application 1003 establishes secure communication with the hub platform upon running on the user terminal 1002.

The user terminal 1002 may also communicate with one or more social media platforms 1006, 1007 via a network. This may be by means of opening a website or app associated with the social media platforms 1006, 1007 and entering credentials, such as a username and password, or possibly through some other authentication procedure such as based on a fingerprint and/or facial recognition or some other biometric identifier.

One or more third party entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1030 may also be connected and communicate with the hub platform woo. Again, a network is not shown for convenience, but the Internet is one way of remote communication. The one or more third party entity terminals low, 1020, 1030 may for example comprise booking terminals for different airlines, but may also comprise travel agencies, car rental companies, hotel companies etc. Communication between the third party entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1030 and the hub platform woo may be by means of a predetermined communication standard, which here is IATA's NDC standard 1050. Each of the third party entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1030 is pre-registered with the hub platform and conforms to certain standards regarding use of received information.

Also shown connected to the hub platform 1000 is an optional module 1009 which may, for example, comprise a payment gateway.

Also shown connected to the hub platform 1000 is a further third party entity terminal 1040 which may be associated with the third entity terminal 1030 and may be a check-in terminal, e.g. for an airline, car rental company or hotel chain. The check-in terminal 1030 may be a generic terminal that is temporarily under the control of the relevant third party entity.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the hub platform 1000. The hub platform 1000 may comprise control logic 2000 interconnected with an input application programming jo interface (APT) 2001, a key store 2002 and an output interface 2003. The control logic 2000 may comprise software, hardware or a combination thereof. The control logic 2000 operates in accordance with processing operations to be described below.

The API 2001 provides the methods and protocols needed for bidirectional communications between user terminals 1002 and the control logic 2000. The key store 2002 is a repository for storing unique codes or keys received from the code generator 1001, which codes or keys may be linked with other codes, e.g. event identifiers, to define a complex event. The output interface 2003 may comprise any interface that enforces communication with the third party entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1030 using the predetermined communication standard, e.g. NDC 1050.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the user terminal 1002 The user terminal 1002 may have a processor 2010, a memory 2012 closely-coupled to the processor and comprised of a RAM 2014 and ROM 2016. The user terminal 1002 may comprise a network interface 2110, and optionally a display 2112 and one or more hardware keys 2114. The user terminal 1002 may comprise one or more such network interfaces 2110 for connection to a network, e.g. a radio access network. The one or more network interfaces 2110 may also be for connection to the internet, e.g. using WiFi or similar. The processor 2010 is connected to each of the other components in order to control operation thereof.

The memory 2012 may comprise a non-volatile memory, a hard disk drive (H DD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The ROM 2016 of the memory stores, amongst other things, an 35 operating system 2120 and may store one or more software applications 2122. The RAM 2014 of the memory 2012 may be used by the processor 2010 for the temporary -19 -storage of data. The operating system 2120 may contain code which, when executed by the processor, implements the operations as described below, for example in the various flow diagrams. As mentioned below, the memory 2012 may comprise any suitable form, and may even be implemented in the cloud.

The processor 2010 may take any suitable form. For instance, the processor 2010 may be a microcontroller, plural microcontrollers, a microprocessor, or plural microprocessors and the processor may comprise processor circuitry.

FIG. 4A is a flow diagram showing processing operations that may be performed by the user terminal 1002, by the hub platform 1000 and by one or more of the entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1030 of FIG. 1. Each set of operations pertaining to a particular one of these entities may be considered individually, but the interaction between each is clearly shown in FIG. 4A. The operations may be embodied in computer-readable code /5 stored in a software application of any of the user terminal 1002, the hub platform 1000 and one or more of the entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1030. The ordering of reference numerals is not necessarily indicative of the ordering of operations and some operations may be modified, removed and/or further operations may be added.

A set of operations 4001-4009 will first be described in relation to the user terminal 1002.

A first operation 4001 may comprise providing one or more user preferences to the hub platform. This may be by means of a user interface presented by the hub platform, or through an application on the user terminal 1002. For example, this may be over a network, and the first information may be from a user indicative of a first event, the first information including the one or more user preferences A second operation 4002 may comprise allowing or enabling a user to allow third party access to user data resources. This may comprise presenting an option to allow third parties access to one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and, responsive to a positive selection, providing to the hub platform second information allowing said access to one or more data resources. A user interface on the user terminal 1002 may, in the same interface as is used to enter the user preferences, permit selection and deselection of a predetermined number of options for sharing -20 -data. For example, the user may enable (or disable) access to one or more of the user terminal's calendar, location, and social media platforms.

A third operation 4003 may comprise receiving from the hub platform user-selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources that the user has user has enabled third party access to. For example, the user-selectable options may comprise a list of flights based on the user preferences (e.g. date, start location, end location, return information, preferred class, luggage options and/or preferred meal). The user-selectable options may have been filtered and/or tailored, for example, to remove flights where the start location is too remote from the user's location. The selectable options may take into account data harvested from one or more social media platforms, for example based on the user having an entry in relation to a meeting to take place on the arrival date, and therefore the options may filter down to an airport within a predetermined range of the meeting location. The selectable options may choose airlines, for example, based on the user linking or being linked (e.g. following) to a particular airline or group of airlines, and may not include one or more airlines if a negative comment or sentiment has been expressed on a social media platform by the user, or if they have liked a negative comment or sentiment. If knowledge of the user's height or physique can be determined based on a user profile, the filtering may include options as to seating arrangements. For example, a tall passenger may not be given options for flights where no seats are available with extra legroom.

A fourth operation 4004 may comprise selecting (receiving) an option for the first event. This selection may be sent to the hub platform woo.

A fifth operation 4005 may comprise receiving and/or allocating a code for the first event. This code may be termed a "master code" in that it will be unique to the complex event. The master code may be requested and received from the code generator 1001 at the time of user selection, or it may comprise one of a plurality of pre-provided master codes stored in the key store 2002 for dynamic allocation to users, for example when they commit to an event, e.g. when they confirm and/or pay for the event. That is, the code generator tom may provide a batch of codes for use as master codes in advance of any actual event selection by users. When a user creates a new complex event, e.g. by commencing browsing, then an available code may be reserved until such time as the user abandons the session (at which point the code may be released for allocation to -21 -others) or commits to the event (at which point the code is allocated to the complex event as a unique identifier).

The master code may be linked or associated with information related to the user-selected first event. This linking may be to a first code, which may be any code associated with the first event, and possibly produced by the third party or an agent of the third party with whom the event selection was made. For example, in the case of an airline booking, the master code may be linked to a unique flight booking reference for the selected flight to enable subsequent identification of the flight reference by means /o of the master code. The flight reference is, what is termed above, the first code, and may comprise any suitable format, e.g. a string, a barcode, possibly even a GS1 MAI barcode as is used for the master codes.

A sixth operation 4006 may comprise storing the received master code in a repository of the user terminal 1002, if received from the code generator tom at this time.

Alternatively, as mentioned above, a pre-provided code may simply marked as reserved or "in-use" and linked to some code A seventh operation 4007 may comprise receiving another set of user-selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored, which may be based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and attributes of the user-selected option. Thus, the next set of options may, in addition to those used to generate the previous set, may take into account the first event, e.g. the selected flight.

The second event may relate to another part of the trip, e.g. car rental, hotel reservation, restaurant booking. The same or a different third party entity may offer the second set of user-selectable options. As with the first set of options, the filtered and/or tailored options may take into account social media data to which it has access.

An eighth operation 4008 may comprise selecting (receiving) an option for the second event. This selection may be sent to the hub platform tooth An ninth operation 4009 may comprise receiving attributes of the second event, for 35 example a confirmation of the booking, location of check-in, details of what has been booked, contact information, price etc. -22 -The user terminal 1002 may receive another code for the second event, e.g. a unique car hire booking reference to enable subsequent identification of the booking reference by means of the master code. The booking reference maybe termed a second code, and may comprise any suitable format, e.g. a string, a barcode, possibly even a GS1 GIAI barcode as is used for the master codes.

This is because the code for the second event is linked to the first event in the hub platform woo by means of the master code for the complex event also being linked to the second event, and hence the master code is all that is needed in the user terminal 1002 to identify the user to third party terminals, such as check-in terminals. This means that only one master code is needed at the user terminal 1002 and this code represents the overall complex event, in this case a trip. Storage space is minimised and the user can use the master code throughout the trip.

A set of operations 4010 -4022 will first be described in relation to the hub platform 1000.

An operation 4010 may comprise receiving the user preferences. These may comprise, as mentioned, date, start location, end location, return information, preferred class, luggage options and/or preferred meal.

Another operation 4011 may comprise receiving access credentials as sent in operation 4002, if provided or enabled. Within those access credentials may be user-specified restrictions on what can be accessed from which one or more data resources. For example, location information may be allowed, but access to the user's calendar may not be allowed. For example, access to user's contacts, friends and/or followers may not be allowed.

Another operation 4012 may comprise providing the user preferences and access credentials to a third party terminal 1030, e.g. an airline booking system for filtering and/or tailoring in an operation 4023 a list of options based on the received information. This may comprise discounts, offers or enhancements based on the additional information being allowed.

Another operation 4013 may comprise receiving the options.

-23 -Another operation 4014 may comprise sending the options to the user terminal 1002.

Another operation 4015 may comprise receiving a selected option from the user 5 terminal 1002.

Another operation 4016 may comprise receiving or allocating a unique 'master' code for the complex event and linking it to the first event, e.g. through any suitable means such as a pointer to an identifier of the first event received from a third party supplier. This o unique code may be generated internally, requested from the external code generator 1001, or allocated from a set of pre-provided unique codes previously received from the code generator loot Another operation 4017 may comprise sending the unique master code to the user terminal 1002.

Another operation 4018 may comprise receiving filtered/tailored options for a second event, as described above.

Another operation 4019 may comprise sending the options to the user terminal 1002.

Another operation 4020 may comprise receiving a selected option from the user terminal 1002.

or Another operation 4021 may comprise receiving a code for the second event. This may be received in any suitable from and possibly from a third party supplier, e.g. being an identifier of the second event.

Another operation may comprising linking the master code with the second codes for the first and second events, respectively, for representing the complex event.

In the FIG. 4A process, the master code may be the only code received by the terminal 1002 for the complex event. Attributes of the first event and the second event may be sent to a third party terminal from the repository of the user terminal 1002, either 35 directly or via the hub platform moo, in response to the unique code being read at a -24 -third party terminal, or these can be provided from the entity that arranged the event, e.g. the booking terminal or system, via the hub platform.

The process may determine whether the third party terminal is associated with the first event or the second event, and the user terminal or hub platform 1000 provides only attributes associated with the determined event. The third party terminal may be determined to be associated with the first event or the second event based on one or more of location information and time information. For example, if the code is received on the scheduled date of a flight event, and the next event is booked for the /t) next day, then it can be determined that the flight event is relevant. if two events are booked for the same date, then the time can be used, or the fact that a previous event has already been commenced may be used to determine that it is a different event.

In some embodiments, the user terminal 1002, either directly, or through interaction with the hub platform woo, may be configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, one or more Internet of Things (ToT) or Enterprise appliances associated with the user at a time based on a commencement of the first event. Such appliances may be devices such as a heating thermostat or heating controller, an alarm system, CCTV, lighting units and so on. For example, based on knowledge of where a user is at a particular time, for example away from home, such IoT type devices can be managed remotely. For example, commencement of the first event may be determined based on providing the attribute data associated with the first event to a third party terminal. In other words, if a user checks-in to an airport or car hire facility, then the hub platform 1000 may determine that the complex event has commenced, and how or long the user will be away from home. The hub platform l000 may therefore automatically remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more IoT or Enterprise appliances to operate in a power-save mode or away mode. In this mode, the heating may be lowered, the alarm system / CCIV enabled (if not already enabled) and/or the lighting units controlled to come on during a predetermined interval. The hub platform loci may also remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more IoT or Enterprise appliances to cancel the power-save mode at a time relative to detecting commencement or fulfilment of the final task in the complex task. Thus, based on knowledge of when the user checks-in for the final event, for example by checking-in at the destination airport to return home, the hub platform may cancel the power-save mode at a period of time subsequent to this check-in time. This may take into account the scheduled duration of the flight, or real-time -25 -data as to when the flight lands at the home airport. Alternatively, or additionally, this may be based on social media information, e.g. such as posts from the user indicating a location near to home and/or that they have arrived at the home airport. References to remotely controlling or prompting remote control of ToT or Enterprise appliances may also refer to triggering of such appliances via an ToT or Enterprise service provider.

The master code may be configured for and storage at the user terminal, for presentation through a graphical user interface of a dedicated events application at the user terminal.

The events application may be configured to display the master code dynamically, for example by displaying the code when the location of the user terminal 102 is detected within a predetermined range of a check-in terminal for one or more of the events linked to the master code.

FIG. 4B is a flow diagram showing further processing operations that may be performed by the user terminal 1002, by the hub platform woo and by one or more of the entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1040 of FIG. 1. Specifically, the operations are those performed during commencement and/or termination of an event. Each set of operations pertaining to a particular one of these entities may be considered individually, but the interaction between each is clearly shown in FIG. 4B. The operations may be embodied in computer-readable code stored in a software application of any of the user terminal 1002, the hub platform 1000 and one or more of the entity terminals 1010, 1020, 1030. The ordering of reference numerals is not necessarily indicative of the ordering of operations and some operations may be modified, removed and/or further operations may be added.

In an operation 4030 the user, via their user terminal 1002, may present the master code to a third party terminal 1040, e.g. a check-in terminal at an airport or car hire desk.

In an operation 4031, the master code is read, e.g. by an optical scanner.

In an operation 4032, the master code may be sent to the hub platform 1000.

-26 -In an operation 4033, the master code may be received by the hub platform 1000.

In an operation 4034, the master code may be used to identify linked other codes, relating to events within the identified complex event.

In an operation 4035, the one or more events and/or attributes of that or those events may be identified.

In an operation 4036, those events, e.g. identification of events or attributes may be Jo sent to the third party terminal 1040, or another terminal associated with the third party terminal. For example, the hub platform 1000 may confirm that the user has prepaid or needs to pay on arrival or departure.

In an operation 4038, a confirmation message may be sent to the user terminal 1002. In an operation 4039, the confirmation message is received by the user terminal 1002.

FIGS. 5A -5H show example user interface screenshots, illustrating initial stages of an event planning procedure, from the point of view of the user terminal 1002.

FIG. 5A shows a start screen of an application or website associated with the hub platform 1000.

FIG. 5B shows a first page enabling selection of one or more social medial social media platforms A -D for enabling access to. For each selected one, the user may be required to authorize by means of selecting an associated button and thereafter, as indicated in FIG. 5C, entering credentials such as username and password.

FIG. 5D shows another page enabling selection of a new event or reviewing/editing of an existing event.

FIG. 5E shows another page resulting from selection of a new event. In the example where the new event commences with an flight, the user may be prompted to under user preferences such as departure airport, date, destination airport and date.

-27 -FIG. 5F shows a filtered and/or tailored list of selectable flights resulting from data entry in the FIG. 5E page. Any of the selectable flights, and attributes thereof, e.g. cost, may be selected. Additionally, alongside each event option may be provided a switch, button or other mechanism by which the user can opt to share their data resources, e.g. location, calendar, social media data, with that event provider, e.g. with the airline.

FIG. 5G shows the result of selecting an event option, which is receipt of the first code as a matrix code in this case. The first code may be provided in both numerical and graphical forms to enable manual entry and optical scanning at a check-in terminal.

FIG. 5H shows a subsequent page whereby other events may be selected through subsequent iterations of the described processes.

Example embodiments offer, inter alia, the following advantages by means of handling event planning and management through a hub platform in the manner described herein. For example, by using a standardized communications protocol for information exchange, e.g. using IATA's NDC, there is a consistent and structured flow of data according to predefined one or more ontologies with trusted third parties, preregistered with the hub platform. The use of codes and keys for sharing event information and attribute information provides uniformity and security, whilst minimizing the actual amount of data that needs to be transferred or held on user terminals. Provision of the hub platform functionality on multiple servers in different locations, with a central server managing the other servers, makes the data highly available, particularly where events may be performed across geographic boundaries.

or The platform may also provide accurate information based on user departures and arrivals.

The above embodiments and examples as described are only illustrative, and not intended to limit the technique approaches of the present invention. Although the present invention is described in details referring to the preferable embodiments and examples, those skilled in the art will understand that the approaches of the present invention can be modified without departing from the scope of the approaches of the present invention, which will also fall into the protective scope of the claims of the present invention. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

Claims 1. An apparatus, comprising means for: providing to a hub platform, over a network, first information from a user indicative of a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; presenting an option to allow third parties access to one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and, responsive to a positive selection, providing to the hub platform second information allowing said access to one or more data resources; receiving from the hub platform user-selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources that the user has enabled third party access to; receiving selection of one of the selectable options; receiving from the hub platform a master code, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event and attributes of the first event; storing said master code and attributes of the first event in a repository of the CO apparatus; CD receiving from the hub platform selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and attributes of the user-selected option; receiving selection of one of the selectable options for the second event; receiving from the hub platform, responsive to the selection, attributes of the second event and storing the attributes of the second event in the repository in association with those of the first event, to create a complex event object, whereby the master code is usable to identify to third party terminals the user and to receive attributes of the first event and/or the second event.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the master code is the only code received by the apparatus for the complex event.
3- The apparatus of claim tor claim 2, wherein the means is configured to provide attributes of the first event and the second event to a third party terminal from the repository of the apparatus in response to the unique code being read at the third party terminal.
4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means is configured to provide the attributes directly to the third party terminal.
5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the means is configured to provide the attributes indirectly to the third party terminal, via the hub platform.
6. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the means is configured to determine whether the third party terminal is associated with the first event or the second event, and to provide only attributes associated with the determined event.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the means is configured to determine whether the third party terminal is associated with the first event or the second event based on one or more of location information and time information.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the means is configured to determine that the third party terminal is associated with the second event based on CO having already provided attributes of the first event to a third party terminal in CD response to a previous request. a) 20
9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the second information comprises credentials for accessing one or more external social media data resources associated with the user of the apparatus, and wherein the means is configured to provide the second information to one or more remote entity terminals by sending the credentials, or a token associated with the credentials, to enable the one or more third parties to harvest user data from the social media data resources.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the second information includes user-selected restrictions on third parties with whom data would be shared with and/or 30 which type or types of data can be harvested from the one or more social media data resources.
The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the means is further configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances associated with the user at a time based on a commencement of the first event.
12. The apparatus of claim it, wherein commencement of the first event is determined based on providing the attribute data associated with the first event to a third party terminal.S
13. The apparatus of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the means is configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances to operate in a power-save mode.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means is configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more domestic appliances to cancel the power-save mode at a time relative to detecting commencement or fulfilment of the final task in the complex task.
15. The apparatus of any of claims n to 14, wherein the means is configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more appliances by means of triggering commencement of a process, task or event.CO
CD 16. The apparatus of any of preceding claim, wherein the second information enables access to future location information from the one or more social media data resources and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.
17. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the means is configured to send location information generated automatically at the user terminal and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.
18. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the unique code is a machine-30 readable GS1 MAI code.
19. A method, comprising: providing to a hub platform, over a network, first information from a user indicative of a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; presenting an option to allow third parties access to one or more data resources associated with a user of an apparatus and, responsive to a positive selection, providing to the hub platform second information allowing said access to one or more data resources; receiving from the hub platform user-selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources that the user has user has enabled third party access to; receiving selection of one of the selectable options; receiving from the hub platform a master code, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event and attributes of the first event; storing said master code and attributes of the first event in a repository of the apparatus; receiving from the hub platform selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the apparatus and attributes of the user-selected option; receiving selection of one of the selectable options for the second event; receiving from the hub platform, responsive to the selection, attributes of the CO second event and storing the attributes of the second event in the repository in CD association with those of the first event, to create a complex event object, whereby the (3) 20 master code is usable to identify to third party terminals the user and to receive attributes of one or more of the first event and the second event.
20. One or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more sets of instructions which, when executed by one or more computer systems, cause the one or 25 more computer systems to perform a method as recited in any claim 18.
21. A computer system, comprising: one or more processors; one or more storage media storing one or more sets of instructions for execution 30 by the one or more processors and configured to perform a method as recited in claim 19.
22. Apparatus, comprising means for: providing a hub platform between a plurality of first type user terminals and a plurality of second type entity terminals for managing a complex event comprising a plurality of events, wherein the plurality of second type entity terminals are associated with pre-registered entities and in which communication between the hub platform and the second type terminals is by means of a predetermined communications standard associated with the type of complex event and associated with communications between pre-registered entities, wherein the hub platform is configured: to receive first information from a user terminal for initiating a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; to receive second information from the user terminal enabling access to one or more data resources associated with a user of the user terminal; to configure and provide the first and second information to one or more remote entity terminals using the predetermined protocol; receiving from the one or more remote entity terminals selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal; to provide over a network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options; to receive from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable CO options; CD to allocate a master code at the hub platform, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event; to provide the master code to the user; to provide to the user one or more selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal and attributes of the user-selected option; to provide over the network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options for the second event; to receive from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable options; and to link the master code to a second code, the second code being associated with the user-selected option for the second event, and using said master code for identification of the first and second events of the complex event, such that subsequent use of the master code at a remote third party terminal is effective to enable access, through the hub platform, attributes of one or more of the first and second events.
23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the master code is the only code provided to the user terminal for the complex event.
24. The apparatus of claim 22 or claim 23, wherein the master code is configured for sending to, and storage at the user terminal and for presentation through a graphical user interface of a dedicated events application at the user terminal. 10 25. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 23, wherein the means is further configured to receive a message from a third type entity terminal, the message being indicative of commencement or fulfilment of one of the first and second tasks, including the master key as presented at said third type entity terminal, and using the master key to identify based on the identity of the third type entity terminal, whether the message relates to the first or second task, and providing back to the third type entity terminal attributes associated with the identified task.
CO
CD 26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the third type entity terminal is a check-in (3) 20 terminal.
27. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 26, wherein the second information comprises credentials for accessing one or more social media data resources associated with the user of the user terminal, and wherein the means is configured to provide the second information to one or more remote entity terminals by sending the credentials, or a token associated with the credentials, to enable the one or more remote entity terminals to harvest user data from the social media data resources.
28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second information includes user-selected restrictions on third parties with whom data would be shared with and/or which type or types of data can be harvested from the one or more social media data resources.
29. The apparatus of claim 27 or claim 28, wherein the means is further configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances associated with the user at a time based on a commencement of the first event.
30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein commencement of the first event is determined based on the means receiving a message from a third-party entity terminal, the message being indicative of commencement or fulfilment of the first task as indicated by presentation of the master key at the third party entity terminal.
31. The apparatus of claim 29 or claim 30, wherein the means is configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances to operate in a power-save mode.
32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the means is configured to remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more Internet of Things or Enterprise appliances to cancel the power-save mode at a time relative to detecting CY) commencement or fulfilment of the final task in the complex task.
CO 33. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 32, wherein the means is configured to CD remotely control, or prompt a user to remotely control, the one or more appliances by (3) 20 means of triggering commencement of a process, task or event.
34. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 33, wherein the second information enables access to future location information received from the one or more social media data resources and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.
35. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 34, wherein the second information comprises location information generated automatically at the user terminal and wherein the one or more selectable options for one or both of the first and second events are filtered and/or tailored based on the location information.
36. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 35, wherein the master code is generated by a remote system.
37. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 36, wherein the master code is a machine-readable code, according to GS1 GlAI standard.
38. The apparatus of any of claims 22 to 37, wherein the predetermined communications standard is an X ML-based standard.
39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the XML-based standard is TATA NDC.
40. A method, comprising: in a hub platform between a plurality of first type user terminals and a plurality of second type entity terminals for managing a complex event comprising a plurality of events, wherein the plurality of second type entity terminals are associated with preregistered entities and in which communication between the hub platform and the second type terminals is by means of a predetermined communications standard associated with the type of complex event and associated with communications between pre-registered entities: receiving first information from a user terminal for initiating a first event, the first information including one or more user preferences; o CO receiving second information from the user terminal enabling access to one or more data resources associated with a user of the user terminal; configuring and provide the first and second information to one or more remote entity terminals using the predetermined protocol; receiving from the one or more remote entity terminals selectable options for the first event, filtered and/or tailored based on the first information and data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal; providing over a network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options; receiving from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable options; allocating a master code, the master code being unique to the complex event and linked to a first code associated with the user-selected option for the first event; provide the master code to the user; provide to the user one or more selectable options for a second event, filtered and/or tailored based on one or more of the received first information, data harvested from the one or more data resources associated with the user of the user terminal and attributes of the user-selected option; providing over the network to the user terminal the filtered and/or tailored selectable options for the second event; receiving from the user terminal selection of one of the selectable options; and linking the master code to a second code, the second code being associated with the user-selected option for the second event, and using said master code for identification of the first and second events of the complex event, such that subsequent use of the master code at a remote third-party terminal is effective to enable access, through the hub platform, attributes of one or more of the first and second events.
41. One or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more sets of instructions which, when executed by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more computer systems to perform a method as recited in any claim 40.CO
CD 42. A computer system, comprising: one or more processors; one or more storage media storing one or more sets of instructions for execution by the one or more processors and configured to perform a method as recited in claim 40.
43. The computer system of claim 42, wherein the computer system comprises a plurality of geographically distributed servers, each comprising one or more processors and one or more storage media storing one or more sets of instructions for execution by the one or more processors.
44. An apparatus, comprising means for providing one or more machine readable codes for the apparatus as claimed in claim 22, responsive to a request for one or more unique codes from the hub platform.
45. A method comprising providing one or more machine readable codes for the apparatus as claimed in claim 22, responsive to a request for one or more unique codes from the hub platform.
46. One or more computer-readable storage media storing one or more sets of instructions which, when executed by one or more computer systems, cause the one or more computer systems to perform a method as recited in any claim 45.S