Abstract: The disclosure describes is a channel switching strategy and corresponding protocol for a mesh network which comprises a segment controller (SC) and a large number of outdoor luminaire controllers (OLCs) or other network nodes. A channel switching process is initiated and managed by the SC which transmits a channel switching command to all nodes in the system. Following the actual channel switch, the SC delegate's responsibility to request an orphan node to switch to the new channel to a selected delegate node which is a neighbor node of the orphan node. The selection of the delegate node may be based on a prioritization. When an OLC does not receive any messages for a specified, prolonged period of time, it may scan available frequency bands to find the (new) channel in which the networked system operates at that time.

Abstract: A lighting system comprising a plurality of controllable light emitting elements is disclosed. The lighting system further comprising a spreading optical element arranged in front of the plurality of light emitting elements to shape the light emitted from the lighting elements, and a controller for varying a light emission angle range of light emitted from the spreading optical element by controlling each of the plurality of controllable light emitting elements. This allows the light emitted from the spreading optical element to be varied without varying any physical parts of the lighting system, because the controller now controls each of the light emitting elements, by e.g. dimming one or more of the light emitting elements or by switching one or more of the light emitting elements off.

Abstract: The invention relates to a channel switching strategy and corresponding protocol for a mesh network which comprises a segment controller, SC, (10) and a large number of outdoor luminaire controllers, OLCs, (20) or other network nodes. A channel switching process is initiated and managed by the SC (10) which transmits a channel switching command to all nodes in the system. Following the actual channel switch, the SC (10) delegates the responsibility to request an orphan node (24) to switch to the new channel to a selected delegate node (22) which may be a neighbor node of the orphan node (24). The selection of the delegate node (22) may be based on a previous link quality or geographical closeness. When an OLC does not receive any response messages for a specified, prolonged period of time, it may scan available frequency bands to find the (new) channel in which the networked system operates at that time.

Abstract: A lighting system comprising a plurality of controllable light emitting elements is disclosed. The lighting system further comprising a spreading optical element arranged in front of the plurality of light emitting elements to shape the light emitted from the lighting elements, and a controller for varying a light emission angle range of light emitted from the spreading optical element by controlling each of the plurality of controllable light emitting elements. This allows the light emitted from the spreading optical element to be varied without varying any physical parts of the lighting system, because the controller now controls each of the light emitting elements, by e.g. dimming one or more of the light emitting elements or by switching one or more of the light emitting elements off.

Abstract: A lighting system comprising a plurality of controllable light emitting elements 3 is disclosed. The lighting system further comprising a spreading optical element 5 arranged in front of the plurality of light emitting elements to shape the light emitted from the lighting elements, and a controller 7 for varying a light emission angle range of light emitted from the spreading optical element 5 by controlling each of the plurality of controllable light emitting elements. This allows the light emitted from the spreading optical element to be varied without varying any physical parts of the lighting system, because the controller now controls each of the light emitting elements, by e.g. dimming one or more of the light emitting elements or by switching one or more of the light emitting elements off.

Abstract: There is provides an illumination system which comprises a plurality of luminaries or light sources. Each luminary or light source comprises a light driver capable of receiving and storing a dynamic light effect pattern, and from the dynamic light effect pattern creating a light effect. The color and/or intensity of the luminary or light source is thereby dynamically varied. The light driver is further arranged to embed data in the light effect. Each luminary or light source further comprises a light emitter for emitting the light effect comprising the encoded data. A light detector is arranged to receive light emitted by other luminaries or light sources in the illumination system. A light decoder is arranged to decode data out of light received by the detector and arranged to determine the intensity of the light received.

Abstract: A method is provided to control the lighting ambience in a space by means of a plurality of controllable light sources (16). The light from the light sources (16) is adapted dependent on a position of an object (20) such as a person in the space. Control comprises capturing an image of at least part of said space. From said image whether light from a selected one of the controllable light sources (16) to points in said space shown at respective image positions in said image has been intercepted by the object (20). This may involve image positions where the object casts a shadow or positions that show a surface on the object that is turned away from the light source (16). From the respective image positions where the light has been detected to be intercepted information indicative of a direction of the intercepting object relative to the selected one of the controllable light sources (16) is detected.

Abstract: Light-based systems for communicating information associated with the formation of social connections are disclosed. One or more lighting controllers controlling individually controllable luminaires are used in conjunction with communication networks in order to identify and form remote light-based social connections. Additionally, visualization controllers are used in conjunction with visualization infrastructures, visualization actuators, localization systems and identification systems to visually identify proximally present potential social connections.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional controller (150) controls the multiple parameters of a lighting system (250). A track-ball (100) that provides three axes of rotation (101-103), for example, is used to control each of three lighting parameters, such as chrominance, luminance, and saturation. In like manner, intensity, direction, and diffusion control may be controlled by a device with three degrees of freedom/control. Force-feedback (120) is optionally provided to indicate divergence from established presets (220) or recommended operating conditions. Switches (130) and other control elements are also provided to store or recall preset parameters (220), override scheduled lighting settings, and so on.

Abstract: A lighting system comprising a plurality of controllable light emitting elements 3 is disclosed. The lighting system further comprising a spreading optical element 5 arranged in front of the plurality of light emitting elements to shape the light emitted from the lighting elements, and a controller 7 for varying a light emission angle range of light emitted from the spreading optical element 5 by controlling each of the plurality of controllable light emitting elements. This allows the light emitted from the spreading optical element to be varied without varying any physical parts of the lighting system, because the controller now controls each of the light emitting elements, by e.g. dimming one or more of the light emitting elements or by switching one or more of the light emitting elements off.

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: A method is provided to control the lighting ambience in a space by means of a plurality of controllable light sources (16). The light from the light sources (16) is adapted dependent on a position of an object (20) such as a person in the space. Control comprises capturing an image of at least part of said space. From said image whether light from a selected one of the controllable light sources (16) to points in said space shown at respective image positions in said image has been intercepted by the object (20). This may involve image positions where the object casts a shadow or positions that show a surface on the object that is turned away from the light source (16). From the respective image positions where the light has been detected to be intercepted information indicative of a direction of the intercepting object relative to the selected one of the controllable light sources (16) is detected.

Abstract: Light-based systems for communicating information associated with the formation of social connections are disclosed. One or more lighting controllers controlling individually controllable luminaires are used in conjunction with communication networks in order to identify and form remote light-based social connections. Additionally, visualization controllers are used in conjunction with visualization infrastructures, visualization actuators, localization systems and identification systems to visually identify proximally present potential social connections.

Abstract: A method for synchronizing a content stream (10) and a script (70) comprises the acts of calculating (80) a fingerprint (30) comprising a number of bits, from a portion (20) of the content stream; determining (50) a time value (40) corresponding to the calculated fingerprint (30); synchronizing a portion of the script (90) that corresponds to the time value (40) and the portion (20) of the content stream (10). The method is characterized in comprising a step in which the number of bits is determined in dependence of at least one of the fingerprints chosen from a group comprising the calculated fingerprint (30), an expected fingerprint (130) corresponding to said calculated fingerprint, another calculated fingerprint (110) calculated from another portion (100) of said content stream, and another expected fingerprint (120) corresponding to said another calculated fingerprint (110). The script (70) represents one or more sensory effects to be output in an effects signal to an effects controller.

Abstract: A method of delivering streaming data to a user device comprises delivering a first data stream supplied by a data server to a user device via a router, and receiving a change request from the user device, the change request being indicative of a second data stream required by the user device. A data server having the second data stream available for delivery to the router is identified, and the second data stream is delivered from the identified data server to the router. Delivery of the first data stream to the user device is ceased, and, after such cessation of delivery of the first data stream, delivery of the second data stream to the user device commences.

Abstract: A watermark is embedded into a content stream including at least a clock value that relates to a time of embedding the clock value and an initial clock value representing the start of the content stream. A receiver extracts from the content stream the embedded watermark including the clock value. The receiver retrieves a portion of a script that corresponds to the content and the clock value. The script is utilized to produce one or more sensory effects that are output in an effects signal for an effects controller. The effect signal is produced in synchronization with the rendering of the content stream. In one embodiment, a content identifier may be embedded into the watermark. The receiver extracts from the watermark the content identifier and retrieves a script that corresponds to the content identifier.

Abstract: A content stream (60) and a script (50) are synchronized for outputting one or more sensory effects in a multimedia system. A fingerprint is calculated (22) from a portion of the content stream (60). A time value is determined that corresponds to the fingerprint. The time value may be stored in a fingerprint database (24) that is accessed utilizing the fingerprint and thereby, the time value is retrieved. A script clock (26) is synchronized to the time value and thereby, to the portion of the content stream (60). The portion of the content stream (60) is rendered in synchronization with the script utilizing the synchronized script clock (26). The script (50) is utilized to produce one or more sensory effects that are output in an effects signal (32) for an effects controller (34). The effects signal (32) is produced in synchronization with the rendering of the portion of the content stream (14).

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.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an interface device and system of computational devices for enabling starting of sessions from a first to a second network and to a computer program product performing the method. A name and service query is received (68) in an interface from a first computational device communicating via the first network concerning a second device in the second network. The query includes a first address of the second network in a first addressing realm. A second address and a service port number of the second device in a second addressing realm is looked up (70), the first address and a session port number are bound to the second address and the service port number (76), and the query is answered with a message comprising the first address and session port number (78).

Abstract: A method is provided for providing a possibility of starting a communication session from a public or global data network, such as the Internet, to a private or local data network, such as a residential home network, via a gateway device (18) connecting the public and the private network. The gateway device comprises a Network Address Translation (NAT) functionality, concealing for the public network the addressing realm of the private network, but also customarily blocking the starting of sessions from the public network. According to the method provided, a client device (10) connected to the public network can provide the possibility of starting a session to a server device (14) connected to the private network by performing an explicit remote access request directed toward the server device, involving the exchange of remote access request messages (20, 22) between the client, gateway, and server devices.