Dynamically exchanging computer user's context

A method in a computer for providing information about a current state that is modeled with multiple attributes, the method 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;
• after receiving an indication from a client for a value of the one attribute, supplying to the client a value for the one attribute received from the first source;
• after the supplying of the value received from the first source, receiving from a second source an indication of an ability to supply values for the one attribute;
• after receiving an indication from the client for a value of the one attribute, supplying to the client a value for the one attribute based on values received for the one attribute from the first and second sources;
• after the supplying of the value based on the values received for the one attribute from the first and second sources, receiving from the first source an indication of an inability to supply values for the one attribute;
• and
• after receiving an indication from the client for a value of the one attribute, supplying to the client a value for the one attribute received from the second source.

A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computing device to provide information about a current state that is modeled with multiple attributes, by performing a method 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;
• after receiving an indication from a client for a value of the one attribute, supplying to the client a value for the one attribute received from the first source;
• receiving from a second source an indication of an ability to supply values for the one attribute;
• after receiving an indication from the client for a value of the one attribute, supplying to the client a value for the one attribute based on values received for the one attribute from the first and second sources;
• receiving from the first source an indication of an inability to supply values for the one attribute;
• and
• after receiving an indication from the client for a value of the one attribute, supplying to the client a value for the one attribute received from the second source.

A computing device for providing information about a current state that is represented with multiple attributes, comprising:

• an attribute mapping module that is capable of receiving from each of a first source and a second source an indication of an ability to supply values for an indicated one of the attributes of the current state, and that is capable of later receiving from the first source an indication of an inability to supply values for the one attribute;
• an attribute value receiver module that is capable of receiving values for the one attribute from the first and second sources;
• and
• an attribute value supplier module that is capable of,
• after the indication is received from the first source of the ability to supply values for the one attribute and before the indication is received from the second source, supplying to a client a value for the one attribute received from the first source,
• after the indications are received from the first and second sources, supplying to the client a value for the one attribute based on values received for the one attribute from the first and second source;
• and
• after the indication is received from the second source and after the indication is received from the first source of the inability to supply values for the one attribute, supplying to a client a value for the one attribute received from the second source.