Arrangements involving portable devices (e.g., smartphones and tablet computers) are disclosed. One arrangement enables a content creator to select software with which that creator's content should be rendered—assuring continuity between artistic intention and delivery. Another utilizes a device camera to identify nearby subjects, and take actions based thereon. Others rely on near field chip (RFID) identification of objects, or on identification of audio streams (e.g., music, voice). Some technologies concern improvements to the user interfaces associated with such devices. Others involve use of these devices in connection with shopping, text entry, sign language interpretation, and vision-based discovery. Still other improvements are architectural in nature, e.g., relating to evidence-based state machines, and blackboard systems. Yet other technologies concern use of linked data in portable devices—some of which exploit GPU capabilities. Still other technologies concern computational photography. A great variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

The present invention provides a method for commissioning of nodes of a network. The method comprises the steps of (S10) receiving, at a first node (30a) of the network, at least one indication message including identification information of a second node (30b) of the network; (S20) receiving, at the first node (30a), parameter information indicating a parameter sensed with at least one parameter sensor associated with the first node (30a); (S30) determining whether the at least one indication message and the parameter information temporarily correlate; and (S40), if a correlation is determined, adding correlation information about the second node (30b) to a register table of the first node (30a).

An information processing apparatus is communicatively connected to a plurality of image sensors that capture images of surroundings of a control target device which is to be a target of power controlling. The information processing apparatus includes an attribute information generation unit and a management unit. The attribute information generation unit generates, by using the images captured by each of the image sensors, attribute information of the control target device which is under jurisdiction of at least one of the image sensors. The management unit manages the attribute information of the control target device generated by the attribute information generation unit in association with the control target device and the at least one of the image sensors having jurisdiction over the control target device.

Digital Control Ready (DCR) is a two-way open standard for controlling and managing next-generation fixtures. A DCR-enabled lighting fixture responds to digital control signals from a separate digital light agent (DLA) instead of analog dimming signals, eliminating the need for digital-to-analog signal conditioning, fixture-to-fixture variations in response, and calibration specific to each fixture. In addition, a DCR-enabled lighting fixture may also report its power consumption, measured light output, measured color temperature, temperature, and/or other operating parameters to the DLA via the same bidirectional data link that carries the digital control signals to the fixture. The DLA processes these signals in a feedback loop to implement more precise lighting control. The DCR-enabled lighting fixture also transforms AC power to DC power and supplies (and measures) DC power to the DLA via a DCR interface. These features enable intelligent, networked DCR lighting systems operate with lower power (energy) consumption, greater flexibility, and simpler installation than other intelligent lighting networks.

The present invention relates to a load control system in which a power cable of a DC or AC is used for on/off control and dimming of connected load devices without adding significant hardware structure. The control is achieved through a change in the DC or AC bus voltage. A grid controller can perform on/off control and dimming for an entire group of connected load devices by changing the bus voltage. Connected load devices that do understand or want to make use of this feature will be unaffected. In order to reduce the effects of voltage drop, a calibration procedure is provided. The calibration procedure first triggers the connected load devices into a calibration mode and then initiates a number of predefined output level commands that allow the load devices to build an individual correction for the undesired voltage drop.

Provided is a sound reproduction device including: speakers; light emitting elements provided to a part of each of the speakers, or in a vicinity of each of the speakers; a detecting section configured to detect a beat of an audio signal reproduced by the speakers, and output a detection signal corresponding to the beat; and a light emission control signal outputting section configured to output a light emission control signal for controlling a light emission mode of the light emitting elements according to the detection signal. The light emission control signal outputting section outputs a first light emission control signal according to the detection signal, and outputs a second light emission control signal when a period in which the beat is not detected exceeds a set period, the second light emission control signal being for controlling the light emitting elements to perform a predetermined light emission mode.

An LED driver circuit capable of overcoming the issues in that a brightness change is perceived as a stepped change in a very low light amount region or light abruptly goes out by using PWM control and of realizing smooth dimming even at a very low amount of light is provided. In the LED driver circuit, a first circuit including a first resistor and a first power transistor connected in series and a second circuit including a second resistor and a second power transistor connected in series are connected in parallel with each other and are connected to an LED. First and second PWM signal generator circuits drive the first and second power transistors, respectively. When the first and second power transistors are in an on-state, currents flow through the LED via the first and second resistors, respectively, which enable a smooth brightness change even in a low illuminance region.

A multi-mode control device is provided for controlling an external load device. The control device includes a high-power interface, a low-power interface, and a control module. The high-power interface can be electrically coupled to a high-power module providing current from an external power source to the load device. The low-power interface can be electrically coupled to a low-power module. The high-power interface can receive a first current from the high-power module. The low-power interface can receive a second current from the low-power module that is less than the first current. The low-power interface can prevent the first current from flowing to the low-power module. The control module, which is electrically coupled to the high-power interface and the low-power interface, can operate in a high-power mode for powering the control module using the first current and a low-power mode for powering the control module using the lower second current.

Battery charge function may be in an LED driver which eliminates the duplication of line interface circuitry. A single line interface circuit provides the input power conversion for both the battery charge function and normal operation of the LED driver. During a loss of power, the LEDs may be controlled using power from the battery backup module.

A solid state lighting module is disclosed. In one example, the module comprises a light source and a resistor circuit, wherein an output resistance of the resistor circuit is for conveying to a connected driver information on a desired power to be applied to the solid state light source. A control interface is provided for receiving configuration information from an external configuration device and a control circuit configures the resistor circuit thereby to set the output resistance in response to received configuration information. This approach involves integrating the configuration function in the lighting module instead of in the driver. The output resistance can be determined by existing driver architectures without modification, while at the same time the ability of the user to tailor individual lighting modules to their needs is enabled.