Abstract: A system and method is described in which a multimedia story is rendered to a consumer in dependence on features extracted from an audio signal representing for example a musical selection of the consumer. Features such as key changes and tempo of the music selection are related to dramatic parameters defined by and associated with story arcs, narrative story rules and film or story structure. In one example a selection of a few music tracks provides input audio signals (602) from which musical features are extracted (604), following which a dramatic parameter are generated (606). Media fragments are then obtained (608), the fragments having story content associated with the dramatic parameters, and the fragments output (610) with the music selection.

Abstract: In the field of flexible displays there is a need for an electro-optic filament that is capable of being woven, knitted or crocheted. An electro-optic filament or fibre (10) includes an elongate core (11) extending lengthwise within a volume (12) of polarisable material; and an outer electrode member (13) overlying the volume (12). The core (11) and outer member (13) are electrically conducting and connectable to electrical potentials to generate a radial field in the polarisable material. The outer member (13) is optically transmissive and/or transflective. The polarisable material (12) exhibits an optical effect such as a colour change, change in polarisation or change in reflectivity, when subjected to a said field or a change in a said field. The filament or fibre may readily be woven into eg. a fabric or a garment, using conventional textile processing machinery.

Abstract: An electrical cable of all textile construction includes a first conductor of conductive textile material, a first insulator of braided insulating textile material, a second conductor of braided conductive textile material and a second insulator of braided insulating textile material. Such a cable, through being of an all textile construction makes it particularly suitable for incorporation in items such as garments, fashion accessories, upholstered article and other soft furnishings as it can be made very flexible, soft to the touch and of a required color. Furthermore, by making the cables using textile materials that have been developed for use in garments, the cables are capable of being subjected to standard garment care techniques such as machine washing in the home or dry cleaning. This means items, such as garments, that include these cables can be placed in the washing machine for cleaning, with no added risk to the wire, garment or washing machine.

Abstract: A method of providing one or more aspects of an ambient environment comprises receiving a video signal, processing the video signal and controlling ambient light accordingly. A corresponding device and system of devices are described.

Abstract: A method of operating a set of devices, the set for providing a real world experience in accordance with a real world description in the form of an instruction set of a markup language. The method comprises operating the set of devices to provide a real world experience in response to a predetermined event. Such an event may include the receiving of an incoming telephone call or an e-mail.

Abstract: A method for generating a markup language document comprises accessing a pool of active markup language fragments, processing the fragments using at least one predetermined factor, and generating a markup language document accordingly. In this way, a declarative markup language document is derived, but with content that is effectively dynamic.

Abstract: A multi-conductor cable is provided based on a braided structure. Be selectively braiding together conductive yarns with non conductive yarns, a multi-conductor electrical cable can be provided by just one braid. In this example, two electrical conductors are provided, a first provided by conductive yarn and a second provided by conductive yarn. Insulating yarns maintain conductive yarns in spaced relation to each other.

Abstract: A sliding electrical switch (10) for use in a garment (32) has two spaced elongate flexible surfaces (16, 18), at least one electrical contact on each surface (22a, b, c, d, e, f), and a slider (20) slidable along the surfaces to cause electrical connection between the contacts. There may be a number of spaced contacts (22a, b, c, d, e, f), the slider (20) acting as a selector switch; or there may be two continuous spaced contacts (96, 98), movement of the slider (90) providing a variation in resistance. The slider can be a bead (20) running on cords (16, 18) attached to the edges of spaced pieces of fabric (14, 18); or a buckle (42) sliding on a strip (50); or a zip fastener traveller (66), adjacent teeth (64) of the zip being electrically connected (68); or a bead (90) running on lengths (82, 84) of flexible tubing with internally conductive strips (96, 98).

Abstract: A network communications system comprises a plurality of user stations (16, 18, 20, 22, 24), each with respective processing and display capability. At least some of the stations are provided with a predictor mechanism which determines, for a given downloaded data page, the most likely next page, calls that data page up over the network, and downloads it to local cache storage whilst the user is still viewing the first page. To reduce some of the worst delays, due to graphic image downloads, one or more service provider host systems coupled via a data network such as the Internet packages all the graphics data for a particular group of pages into a single dummy page which the user systems then background-download to cache.

Abstract: In a computer communications system wherein a number of user stations are connected via a data network to a remote server hosting a chat-space where text messages may be exchanged, a parsing subsystem is provided in at least some of the user stations. The parsing subsystem identifys keywords in the exchange text messages and, using these as search terms sent to a further server hosting a search engine, obtains and makes available to the user auxiliary sources of data which may be of interest. In an alternative embodiment, the parser subsystem is held by the chatspace server and transmits the data from, or identifying, the auxiliary sources of data to the users on-line.

Abstract: A sliding electrical switch (10) for use in a garment (32) has two spaced elongate flexible surfaces (16, 18), at least one electrical contact on each surface (22a, b, c, d, e, f), and a slider (20) slidable along the surfaces to cause electrical connection between the contacts. There may be a number of spaced contacts (22a, b, c, d, e, f), the slider (20) acting as a selector switch; or there may be two continuous spaced contacts (96, 98), movement of the slider (90) providing a variation in resistance. The slider can be a bead (20) running on cords (16, 18) attached to the edges of spaced pieces of fabric (14, 18); or a buckle (42) sliding on a strip (50); or a zip fastener traveller (66), adjacent teeth (64) of the zip being electrically connected (68); or a bead (90) running on lengths (82, 84) of flexible tubing with internally conductive strips (96, 98).

Abstract: A network communications system comprises a plurality of configurations of user stations (16, 18, 20, 22, 24), each with respective processing and display capability. From a plurality of service provider host systems coupled via data network such as the Internet, one host server (10) has at least some of the system users and their respective user station or stations registered as client stations. Each registered client station of a single user is arranged to access network services via the host server (10), with the host server arranged to format data to be sent to any of the client stations of said single user according to a pre-stored format for that user.

Abstract: In a network communications system, a user device (70) includes a communications subsystem operable to establish communications with selected servers (72, 74, 90, 92) of the system. Also included are domain master stations (82, 84) connected to monitor communications traffic loading at each of a respective group of servers. In order to avoid traffic overcrowding at individual servers, a redirector station (78) is provided coupled with the domain master stations and accessible by the user device (70). The redirector station is arranged to select an optimum server (74) to handle communications of a user device on the basis of both the physical location of that server relative to the user device and its current communications traffic loading and, having made its selection, it instructs the user device to re-establish network communications via the selected server.

Abstract: A sliding electrical switch (10) for use in a garment (32) has two spaced elongate flexible surfaces (16, 18), at least one electrical contact on each surface (22a, b, c, d, e, f), and a slider (20) slidable along the surfaces to cause electrical connection between the contacts. There may be a number of spaced contacts (22a, b, c, d, e, f), the slider (20) acting as a selector switch; or there may be two continuous spaced contacts (96, 98), movement of the slider (90) providing a variation in resistance. The slider can be a bead (20) running on cords (16, 18) attached to the edges of spaced pieces of fabric (14, 18); or a buckle (42) sliding on a strip (50); or a zip fastener traveller (66), adjacent teeth (64) of the zip being electrically connected (68); or a bead (90) running on lengths (82, 84) of flexible tubing with internally conductive strips (96, 98).

Abstract: A method of delivering content comprises receiving content in the form of an instruction set of a markup language, distorting the content according to predetermined parameters, and rendering the content. Apparatus for delivering the content are also disclosed.

Abstract: A markup language enabled device (17) comprises storage means (21) storing data, the data for enabling augmentation of an experience by providing extra functionality to a movie or a game for example. The device (17) further comprises transmitting means (23) for transmitting the data, receiving means (25) for receiving a real-world description in the form of an instruction set of a markup language and adjusting means (27) for adjusting one or more parameters of the device according to the description.

Abstract: An electrical cable of all textile construction includes a first conductor of conductive textile material, a first insulator of braided insulating textile material, a second conductor of braided conductive textile material and a second insulator of braided insulating textile material. Such a cable, through being of an all textile construction makes it particularly suitable for incorporation in items such as garments, fashion accessories, upholstered article and other soft furnishings as it can be made very flexible, soft to the touch and of a required color. Furthermore, by making the cables using textile materials that have been developed for use in garments, the cables are capable of being subjected to standard garment care techniques such as machine washing in the home or dry cleaning. This means items, such as garments, that include these cables can be placed in the washing machine for cleaning, with no added risk to the wire, garment or washing machine.

Abstract: Textile spinning techniques are employed to produce electrical cables in the form of a yarn having a structure comprised of a number of elements arranged in the axial direction of the cable. Two or more such elements may be arranged co-axially with respect to each other. In one particular example, the cable has an internal conducting core surrounded by an insulating layer and a conducting layer surrounding the insulating layer. An outer-most presentation layer may also be provided. The presentation layer is chosen to give the cable the required look and feel. In principle, a large selection of conducting and insulating fibers (of either metallic or non-metallic material) may be used in the spinning process allowing a very large variety of different cable constructions to be produced.

Abstract: A multi-conductor cable is provided based on a braided structure. Be selectively braiding together conductive yarns with non conductive yarns, a multi-conductor electrical cable can be provided by just one braid. In this example, two electrical conductors are provided, a first provided by conductive yarn and a second provided by conductive yarn. Insulating yarns maintain conductive yarns in spaced relation to each other.

Abstract: A method of operating a set of devices comprises receiving a signal, for example at least part of a game world model from a computer program. The signal is analyzed to produce a real-world description in the form of an instruction set of a markup language and the set of devices is operated according to the description.