Abstract: This invention relates to an interactive device (100) to interactively communicate with a remote device (107). A receiver (101) receives event related information from a remote device which supplies the event related information which includes event progress information. A display (102) displays an image of the current status of the event based on the received event related information. A progress indicator (103) indicates the progress of the event based on received progress information. A sensor (104) receives a modification command from a user indicating a modification of the progress of the event, and a transmitter (105) for transmits the modification command to the remote device. The remote device then adjusts the progress of the event in accordance to the received modification command.

Abstract: A summary of a data stream, comprising a plurality of segments, is generated. A data stream, comprising a plurality of segments, is transmitted to a plurality of users (step 300). Ratings in respect of at least one of the plurality of segments of the data stream are collected from a plurality of users (step 306). This enables a summary of the data stream to be generated on the basis of the collected ratings (step 308).

Abstract: A device (7) is caused to enter an active mode by determining a coarse level of interest; determining a more refined level of interest in response to determining the coarse level of interest; and causing a device (7) to enter an active mode, in response to determining the refined level of interest.

Abstract: File comparing device includes a comparator for comparing a first and second content identifiers, of respective files, with each other. Each file having at least two content identifiers and each content identifier is defined by at least one parameter. In addition a selector is included for selecting, using the parameters of the content identifiers, sub-groups of content identifiers, to increase flexibilities. Calculators calculate functions of the values of the parameters and further comparators compare the functions with thresholds. Content identifiers may be defined by cost and accuracy parameters. Then, calculators calculate first functions of the values of the cost parameters and calculate second functions of the values of the accuracy parameters and further comparators compare the first functions with first thresholds and compare the second functions with second thresholds.

Abstract: The system according to the invention comprises a plurality of sensors (10), (20) arranged to measure an ambient condition of a person. A movement of the person is being detected by the movement sensor (20) included in the system. The system further comprises interpretation means (110) arranged for interpreting a plurality of first output signals (100) and a second output signal (200). The plurality of first output signals (100) is provided by the ambient sensors (10) and the second output signal (200) is provided by the movement sensor (20). The interpretation means (110) are further arranged to determine an activity of daily living of said person. The interpretation means may provide an alarm signal (120) indicating that the person may need direct assistance and a warning signal (130) indicating a potential deteriorating health condition of the person.

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a data processing device (9-11) with a data processing system (1) to which the data processing device (9-11) has an intermittent connection, includes determining a first context based on variable data (30). A second context, valid over a longer term than the first context, is determined based on further data (28). Both the first and the second context are used to control a synchronization process during which data is communicated between the data processing device (9-11) and the data processing system (1), and which results in at least one of them obtaining a target set of data (31,32,33). The target set of data is determined in such a way that its composition is based on both the first and the second context.

Abstract: Guidance is provided to a staff of a service-oriented business when catering to a guest on the premises of the service-oriented business. A signal is received from a presence detector on the premises. The signal is representative of a presence of the guest at a pre-determined location on the premises. A length of a time period is determined, during which the guest has been present at the pre-determined location. On a display monitor, a visual indication is generated of the presence at the pre-determined location. The visual indication has an attribute that changes with the passing of time.

Abstract: This invention relates to an interactive device (100) to interactively communicate with a remote device (107). A receiver (101) receives event related information from a remote device which supplies the event related information which includes event progress information. A display (102) displays an image of the current status of the event based on the received event related information. A progress indicator (103) indicates the progress of the event based on received progress information. A sensor (104) receives a modification command from a user indicating a modification of the progress of the event, and a transmitter (105) for transmits the modification command to the remote device. The remote device then adjusts the progress of the event in accordance to the received modification command.

Abstract: A device (7) is caused to enter an active mode by determining a coarse level of interest; determining a more refined level of interest in response to determining the coarse level of interest; and causing a device (7) to enter an active mode, in response to determining the refined level of interest.

Abstract: The system according to the invention comprises a plurality of sensors (10), (20) arranged to measure an ambient condition of a person. A movement of the person is being detected by the movement sensor (20) included in the system. The system further comprises interpretation means (110) arranged for interpreting a plurality of first output signals (100) and a second output signal (200). The plurality of first output signals (100) is provided by the ambient sensors (10) and the second output signal (200) is provided by the movement sensor (20). The interpretation means (110) are further arranged to determine an activity of daily living of said person. The interpretation means may provide an alarm signal (120) indicating that the person may need direct assistance and a warning signal (130) indicating a potential deteriorating health condition of the person.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) is described for enabling the creation of a message by placing tangible objects (120) on a Scrabble® like detection grid. Each of the objects represents one or more symbols, such as a letter. The user creates the message by writing words on the grid. The apparatus (100) composes the message based on the detected identifiers of the objects (120) and their position of the grid. The user may address and send the message by placing a further tangible object (130) representing a message destination on the grid.

Abstract: A summary of a data stream, comprising a plurality of segments, is generated. A data stream, comprising a plurality of segments, is transmitted to a plurality of users (step 300). Ratings in respect of at least one of the plurality of segments of the data stream are collected from a plurality of users (step 306). This enables a summary of the data stream to be generated on the basis of the collected ratings (step 308).

Abstract: A method of synchronizing a data processing device (9-11) with a data processing system (1) to which the data processing device (9-11) has an intermittent connection, includes determining a first context based on variable data (30). A second context, valid over a longer term than the first context, is determined based on further data (28). Both the first and the second context are used to control a synchronization process during which data is communicated between the data processing device (9-11) and the data processing system (1), and which results in at least one of them obtaining a target set of data (31,32,33). The target set of data is determined in such a way that its composition is based on both the first and the second context.

Abstract: In a method of annotating a recording of at least one media signal (22,23), the recording relates to at least one time interval during which corresponding physical signals have been captured. The method includes augmenting the at least one media signal (22,23) with information (17) based on data (14-16) representative of values of at least one physical parameter in an environment at a physical location associated with the recording and pertaining at least partly to points in time outside the at least one time interval.

Abstract: Arrangements (1) comprising comparators (11) for comparing content identifiers with each other, such as audio/video fingerprints, unique identifiers, hash algorithms, cyclic redundancy checks, titles, names, durations, sizes, album names and artist names of files such as audio/video/data files, are provided with selectors (12) for selecting, 5 from groups of content identifiers, in dependence of values of parameters of the content identifiers, sub-groups of content identifiers, to increase flexibilities. Calculators (13) calculate functions of the values of the parameters and further comparators (14) compare the functions with thresholds. Content identifiers may be defined by cost and accuracy parameters. Then, calculators (13) calculate first functions of the values of the cost 10 parameters and calculate second functions of the values of the accuracy parameters and further comparators (14) compare the first functions with first thresholds and compare the second functions with second thresholds.

Abstract: There is described a method of managing data objects in a portable device (20) which is operable to be periodically synchronized to a host device (10). The method comprises steps of: (a) establishing a database for storing a record of the data objects and associated numbers of times said data objects are rendered to users or consumed by users (80) of the devices (10, 20); (b) determining whether or not a given data object of said data objects is rendered or consumed more than a threshold number of times; and (c) deleting said given data object from at least one of said portable device (20) and said host device (10) when said given data object is found to have been rendered or consumed more than said threshold number of times. The method is relevant to devices provided with limited data storage capacity, for example personal data assistants (PDAs), palm-top computers, mobile telephones and such like.