Abstract: An illumination system has a plurality of light-emitting diodes (R, G, B), at least one light-collimating section (12, 12?) arranged along a longitudinal axis (25) of the illumination system. The light-collimating sections merges into a light-mixing section (3) having a plurality of side-faces along the longitudinal axis (25). Light propagation in the light-mixing section is based on total internal reflection. The light-mixing section is provided with a light-exit window (13) emitting light towards an imaginary projection surface normal to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, a client device (CL1) and a computer program product for keeping track of content in devices of a network. The client device discovers (D) devices (MS) in a network, obtains information about events (E) provided by at least some discovered devices, obtains additional information (E, R2) related to an event provided by a first discovered device (MS), which event has been activated in relation to another client device (CL2). Finally, the client device stores said additional information, such that a user can access content related to an event by using said additional information. A user can thus easily locate content provided on the network.

Abstract: A communication network (10) comprising devices (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, 120, 200) coupled together is described. The network (10) comprises: (a) a first device optionally having associated therewith user operable controls; (b) a second device having associated therewith user operable controls. In response to user input at said user operable controls of said second device, the second device buffers during a limited time period signed unauthorized instructions received thereat. The first device sends when activated during said time period signed instructions for receipt at the second device. The second device analyses the signed unauthorized instructions accumulated during the time period to determine whether or not the instructions originate from a single source and to authenticate the source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for automatic bartering for items, between at least a first and a second bartering party, at a programmable device. The process of bartering is enhanced by letting the programmable device handle at least a part of the bartering process that helps in reducing the amount of items that the user has to consider, and in selecting the most interesting items available from the other user. The method includes exchange of preference data between the parties, computing and exchanging offers, and processing the offers. The processing finally results in mutual offer acceptances. The present invention also relates to a programmable device, and a system for automatic bartering for items.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for managing conversation threads 520 in a chat room 505 operating in a network chat environment. A chat controller 120 provides an exchange of information in the form of a plurality of chat lines between a plurality of chat clients registered with a chat room 505. A thread management controller 130 determines one or more associations between the chat lines and identifies one or more threads 520 corresponding to the associations. The thread management controller 130 further assigns each of the chat lines to one of the threads 520.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, apparatus, computer program product and computer program element for creating a control point associated with a user in a computing environment having a network connectivity model, a method apparatus, computer program product and computer program element for accessing services provided by a device in such an environment. A control point is created for a user including a control point identity (step 46) based on a public key of the user and control point functionalities (step 48). The control point is stored (step 50) such that the user can operate any device from any physical entity or point of access where the control point is activated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for filtering and storing information about content, which is available on a network device in a network, wherein said network further comprises network rendering devices adapted for rendering content, the method comprising filtering the information by removing information about content, which cannot be rendered by at least one of said network devices adapted for rendering content, storing the filtered information and making it available on the network. When the network is a UPnP network, then control points have faster reaction times when they browse the content directory service, the content directory being the stored filtered information. Further, less load on the content directory service, the control point and the network is obtained when the control point browses the content directories. Further, the content presented to the user on the user screen of a control point only comprises content, which can be used.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network (100). A first network element (103) communicates a physical characteristic message comprising information related to at least one physical characteristic of the first network element (103). The physical characteristic message may for example include information related to the size, shape, color etc. of the first network element (103). A second network element (105) comprises a receiver (111, 113) for receiving the physical characteristic message from the first network element (103). In addition, it has a sensor (11,7) for determining physical sensor information related to a physical characteristic of a physical environment of the second network element (105). The sensor (117) may for example be a video camera. A context processor (115) determines a physical context characteristic in response to the received physical characteristic message and the physical sensor information.

Abstract: This electronic mail system comprises an apparatus (1) having a device for a connection to an electronic mail service (18) in Internet world. The apparatus (1) comprises a drive (42) for an optical disc (5), which has the facility for writing/reading this optical disc. The disc can contain the mail and its archives. It is possible to manage the mail with various apparatus even they have no provision for an Internet connection.

Abstract: The invention is based on the idea that a mechanism is introduced, by which it is possible to convert limited digital rights, which gives the proprietor of the digital rights access to the work a limited number of times, into an unlimited digital right, provided that the number of accesses associated with the limited light is sufficiently high. The present invention is advantageous since if a proprietor of limited rights associated with a digital content holds a sufficient number of limited rights, he/she is allowed to convert these limited rights into an unlimited right. The proprietor of the copyrighted content and/or the content distributor can thereby attract users to surf in to sites on the internet by in return offering limited digital rights to content, to buy media such as magazines, CDs ad DVDs to which rights are attached.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method (and corresponding device) of generating a user profile on the basis of playlists, wherein the user profile is generated on the basis of the user's own playlists and properties derived from them. In this way, more playlists are considered in the generation of a user profile, thereby generating a more reliable user profile. Additionally, the process (i.e. said method) is automated and uses known information. Aspects taken into account are frequency of occurrence, creation date of the playlist, and relation between content items (songs, video, etc.) in one or more playlists.

Abstract: A system 100 includes a plurality of devices 150, 160, 162, 164, 166 that can communicate via a network (110). The server device 150 includes a content directory service (hereinafter “CDS”) with a dynamic, hierarchical structure of containers, each capable of storing objects; each object including an object description and an object content or object content locator, such as a URL. The CDS includes a predetermined upload container. The other devices in the system can make an object available via the CDS to devices in the system by uploading the object to the predetermined container. The server determines for an uploaded object a container in the CDS based on the object description and/or object content, and moves the uploaded object to the determined container.

Abstract: A method of sharing files between user devices connected to a common network, e.g. in accordance with IEEE 802.11b, where each user device can detect and use services of the other user devices. According to the invention the method comprises the steps of creating a shared folder in each user device and attributing a common identity to the shared folders. A file to be shared with the other user devices is placed in the shared folder of the first user device, and thereby made available as a service to the other user devices. In each of the other user devices, the shared folders of the other user devices are monitored, and when a file to be shared has been placed in a shared folder of one of the other user devices, the file is downloaded.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of reacting, by a UPnP control point (302), to an upcoming change of a configuration of a UPnP device (304), the method comprising: offering a migration service, by the UPnP device, to the UPnP control point (302); subscribing to the migration service by the UPnP control point (302); notifying the UPnP 5 control point (302) through a change event of the upcoming change of the configuration of the UPnP device (304); changing the configuratioin of the UPnP device (304); reacting, by the UPnP control point (302), to the change of the configuration of the UPnP device (304) based upon the change event.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for distributing information content. The content is encoded into a plurality of layers comprising a base layer and an enhancement layer, such that the base layer is needed for reconstructing said information content. The enhancement layer is transmitted by means of superdistribution. Optionally, an accessible sample of the base layer can also be provided. When receiving the layer(s) users will become interested in purchasing the content Thus, according to the method a request for purchase is received from a user, and upon such a request the base layer is transmitted to the user. Not until the user holds both the base layer and the enhancement layer the content can be satisfactorily used. A system, a server, and a computer program product, providing corresponding distribution capabilities are also disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of establishing a communication address of a device, the method comprising obtaining a main address; using the main address as communication address of the device; obtaining a backup address; and using the backup address as communication address of the device if a collision occurs with the main address. The device is for example an internet-enabled television set 402, a personal digital assistant 404, or a personal computer 406.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for converting digital rights. The invention is based on the idea that a mechanism is introduced, by which it is possible to convert an unlimited right into at least one limited digital right, which gives a user access to the content a limited number of times. The present invention is advantageous since if a proprietor of an unlimited right wants to share his/her unlimited right with a friend, he/she does not have to give up the unlimited right to the friend. If the proprietor would like to share the right with other content consumers, the unlimited right can be converted into a number of limited rights, wherein these limited rights can be shared with the other content consumers.

Abstract: The invention relates to multi media messaging for communication units lacking multi media capability. A communication system (100) comprises a first communication unit (101) wherein a text based message is generated comprising a pointer, such as a URL, to a multi media clip on a multi media server (115). The message is communicated to a second communication unit (109), which comprises an extraction processor (111) that extracts the pointer and feeds it to a retrieve processor (113). The retrieve processor (113) retrieves the multi media clip from the multi media server (115) addressed by the URL. A presentation processor (117) subsequently presents the multi media clip to a user. The invention is particularly suitable for multi media messaging from cellular communication units having only capability of text based messaging.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating with content items, generating of a user preference profile, and introducing new content items in a community-based recommendation system. A virtual user terminal (115) determines a new user preference profile when detecting the availability of a new content item. The virtual user terminal (115) comprises an initialization processor (123) which sets a preference value in the user preference profile for the new content item. The virtual user terminal (115) further comprises a relation processor (125) which determines related content items, and a profile processor (127), which sets preference values in the user preference profile associated with the at least one related content item. Hence, an association is formed between the first content item and the related content items, thereby linking the new content item to existing content items, and thus increasing the probability that the new content item is recommended.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method, for a controller (103) for invoking actions on a device (105), of determining which actions are authorized to be invoked on said device (105). The controller (103) is adapted for invoking actions on the device (105) by sending an action command (A1, A2, A3, A4) to said device (105). Each of said predefined action commands (A1, A2, A3, A4) can be sent to invoke a specific action on the device (105). The method comprises the step of transmitting an checking-checking query (107, 109, 111, 113) to determine authorizations related to at least one of said actions that can be invoked on the device (105) by said action commands. The method further comprises the step of receiving an indication (115, 117, 119, 121) of authorizations related to the at least one of said actions being invoked on the device (105). Thereby a controller can know in advance, which actions are authorized to be invoked on the device.