System for the ritual and gestural lighting of electrical or electronic light sources

Abstract

Method consisting in allowing a ritual gesture similar to that used to light a non-lit candle with a lit candle, the method using a system including at least two optical units for the ritual-gestural control of the sending/receiving commands between devices, the commands being turning on, turning off and the like, the devices being provided with at least the optical units.

Claims

1. A system comprising: at least two optical units (100) for ritual-gestural control of sending and receiving of commands between devices, said commands including at least device turning on and device turning off, said devices each being provided with one of said at least two optical units (100), each said optical unit (100) comprising: at least one upper part (100.b), the at least one upper part (100.b) comprising at least one cover (104) provided with an opening, a coating (102) that limits optical radiation, and an optical guide (101), the optical guide (101) being made of vitreous material or plastic material; and at least one lower part (100.a) containing electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry, said electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry comprising: i) at least one photo-emitter device (105), ii) at least one photo-detector device (107) optimized for detection of an emission spectrum of the at least one photo-emitter device (105), and iii) at least one processing and control unit (110) provided with: a) a management and control circuitry (110.2), b) at least one connection and control section (110.4) for a power supply source, and c) at least one acquisition, processing and control unit (110.1) configured for managing input and output, storing digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, managing timing, driving the at least one photo-emitter device (105), acquiring a state of the at least one photo-detector device (107), and controlling the management and control circuitry (110.2), wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one optical filter (104.a) in the opening of the at least one cover (104), the at least one optical filter (104.a) adapted to limit an optical spectrum outside the emission spectrum of the at least one photo-emitter device (105), and wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises, at a base of the optical guide (101), at least one area (101.a) of maximum optical coupling and minimum dispersion.

2. A system comprising: at least two optical units (100) for ritual-gestural control of sending and receiving of commands between devices, said commands including at least device turning on and device turning off, said devices each being provided with one of said at least two optical units (100), each said optical unit (100) comprising: at least one upper part (100.b), the at least one upper part (100.b) comprising at least one cover (104) provided with an opening, a coating (102) that limits optical radiation, and an optical guide (101), the optical guide (101) being made of vitreous material or plastic material; and at least one lower part (100.a) containing electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry, said electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry comprising: i) at least one photo-emitter device (105), ii) at least one photo-detector device (107) optimized for detection of an emission spectrum of the at least one photo-emitter device (105), and iii) at least one processing and control unit (110) provided with: a) a management and control circuitry (110.2), b) at least one connection and control section (110.4) for a power supply source, and c) at least one acquisition, processing and control unit (110.1) configured for managing input and output, storing digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, managing timing, driving the at least one photo-emitter device (105), acquiring a state of the at least one photo-detector device (107), and controlling the management and control circuitry (110.2), wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one optical filter (104.a) in the opening of the at least one cover (104), the at least one optical filter (104.a) adapted to limit an optical spectrum outside the emission spectrum of the at least one photo-emitter device (105), and wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises, at a base of the optical guide (101), at least one dedicated area (101.b) of optical coupling and dispersion dedicated to a light source (103).

3. A system comprising: at least two optical units (100) for ritual-gestural control of sending and receiving of commands between devices, said commands including at least device turning on and device turning off, said devices each being provided with one of said at least two optical units (100), each said optical unit (100) comprising: at least one upper part (100.b), the at least one upper part (100.b) comprising at least one cover (104) provided with an opening, a coating (102) that limits optical radiation, and an optical guide (101), the optical guide (101) being made of vitreous material or plastic material; and at least one lower part (100.a) containing electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry, said electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry comprising: i) at least one photo-emitter device (105), ii) at least one photo-detector device (107) optimized for detection of an emission spectrum of the at least one photo-emitter device (105), and iii) at least one processing and control unit (110) provided with: a) a management and control circuitry (110.2), b) at least one connection and control section (110.4) for a power supply source, and c) at least one acquisition, processing and control unit (110.1) configured for managing input and output, storing digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, managing timing, driving the at least one photo-emitter device (105), acquiring a state of the at least one photo-detector device (107), and controlling the management and control circuitry (110.2), wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises, at a base of the optical guide (101), at least one area of maximum reflection (101.c) for optical radiation coming from within the optical guide.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the management and control circuitry (110.2) controls an intensity of light and color of the light source (103).

5. A system comprising: at least two optical units (100) for ritual-gestural control of sending and receiving of commands between devices, said commands including at least device turning on and device turning off, said devices each being provided with one of said at least two optical units (100), each said optical unit (100) comprising: at least one upper part (100.b), the at least one upper part (100.b) comprising at least one cover (104) provided with an opening, a coating (102) that limits optical radiation, and an optical guide (101), the optical guide (101) being made of vitreous material or plastic material; and at least one lower part (100.a) containing electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry, said electric, electronic and electromechanical components and circuitry comprising: i) at least one photo-emitter device (105), ii) at least one photo-detector device (107) optimized for detection of an emission spectrum of the at least one photo-emitter device (105), and iii) at least one processing and control unit (110) provided with: a) a management and control circuitry (110.2), b) at least one connection and control section (110.4) for a power supply source, and c) at least one acquisition, processing and control unit (110.1) configured for managing input and output, storing digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, managing timing, driving the at least one photo-emitter device (105), acquiring a state of the at least one photo-detector device (107), and controlling the management and control circuitry (110.2), wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one inclinometer (113), wherein the processing and control unit (110.1) is arranged to acquire a state of the at least one inclinometer (113), the acquired state defining an angular interval that the at least two optical units must be within to accept said commands.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one battery (112) as power supply source.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one audio inlet (115) connected by electronic circuitry (110.3) to the at least one processing and control unit (110).

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one electronic circuitry for the wireless connection (110.5) of said at least two optical units (100).

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the at least two optical units (100) comprises at least one antenna (106) connected to the at least one electronic circuitry for the wireless connection (110.5).

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one interconnection section (108) for managing further input and output for the at least one processing and control section (110).

11. The system according to claim 10, further comprising at least one expansion unit (300) comprising at least one processing and control unit (303) provided with at least one connection and control section (305.5), a power supply source, at least one acquisition, processing and control unit (303.1) configured for managing input and output and for storing digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, and an interconnection section (301) for interconnection to the at least one interconnection section (108) of the at least one optical unit (100) comprising the at least one interconnection section (108).

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one expansion unit (300) comprises at least one electronic circuitry (303.2) for eke wireless connection.

13. The system according to claim 12, comprising at least one antenna (304) connected to the electronic circuitry (303.2) for 4-re wireless connection.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the at least one expansion unit (300) comprises at least one audio inlet (306) connected by means of suitable circuitry (303.3) to the processing and control unit (303).

15. The system according to claim 11, further comprising at least one candle holder, the at least one candle holder being comprised of the at least one optical unit (100) comprising the at least one interconnection section (108) that connects to the at least one expansion unit (300).

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one candle holder comprises at least one charging circuitry (205) connectable simultaneously to plural of the at least two optical units for charging each of the optical units via the at least one interconnection section (108).

17. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one battery (112) as a power supply source.

18. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the optical units (100) comprises at least one audio inlet (115) connected by electronic circuitry (110.3) to the at least one processing and control unit (110).

19. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the optical units (100) each comprise an interconnection section (108) for managing further input and output for the at least one processing and control section (110).

20. The system according to claim 19, further comprising: at least one expansion unit (300) comprising at least one processing and control unit (303) provided with at least one connection and control section (305.5), a power supply source, and at least one acquisition, processing and control unit (303.1) configured for managing input and output and for storing digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, and an interconnection section (301) for interconnection to the interconnection section (108) of the at least two optical units (100) comprising the interconnection section (108), wherein the at least two optical units (100) comprising the interconnection section (108), and wherein the candle holder further comprises at least one charging circuitry (205) connectable via each interconnection section (108) to simultaneously charge each of the at least two optical units.

21. The system according to claim 3, further comprising: at least one expansion unit (300), a candle holder, wherein at least two of the optical units (100) each comprise an interconnection section (108) for managing further input and output for the at least one processing and control section (110), the at least one expansion unit (300) comprises at least one processing and control unit (303) provided with at least one connection and control section (305.5), a power supply source, and at least one acquisition, processing and control unit (303.1) configured for managing input and output and for storing digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, and an interconnection section (301) for interconnection to the interconnection section (108) of the at least two optical units (100) comprising the interconnection section (108), and wherein the candle holder comprises at least one charging circuitry (205) connectable via each interconnection section (108) to simultaneously charge each of the at least two optical units.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) The invention will be described hereinafter in a preferred embodiment thereof by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows the optical unit 100 (FIG. 1A), the two functional parts that make it up (FIG. 1B), the three functional parts that make up the upper section 100.b (FIG. 1C), the functional parts that make up the entire unit (FIG. 1D), the gestural-ritual turn on method (FIG. 1E);

(3) FIG. 2 shows the detail of the functional parts that make up the base of the optical guide 101 (FIG. 2A), and the functional parts that make up the optical path (FIG. 2B) with highlighted the technical parameters involved for defining the upper emission cone of the optical radiation;

(4) FIG. 3 shows the electric and electronic functional components of the optical unit 100 and their functional connection;

(5) FIG. 4 shows the gestural-ritual turn on system that includes the units and the methodology 1000, detailing the gestures necessary to create an optical path useful to exchange data between the units (FIG. 4A), the areas of action/inaction of the unit (in FIG. 4B a data link is created only with the unit in position F3), the change in state of the optical units 100 associated with the gestural-ritual methodology (FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C);

(6) FIG. 5 shows the method (2000) for creating groups of interconnected units that publish and subscribe to services, detailing the type of units involved (FIG. 5A), the methodological process of transfer and distribution of properties (FIG. 5B), the distributed system created using the example shown in FIG. 5B (FIG. 5C);

(7) FIG. 6 shows the functional components of the expansion unit 300;

(8) FIG. 7 shows the electrical and electronic components of the expansion unit 300;

(9) FIG. 8 shows the functional components of the candle-holder-like unit 200;

(10) FIG. 9 shows the operation of the candle-holder-like unit 200;

(11) FIG. 10 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 10 shows the function of the unit in GATEWAY state 3001 (step 0 of the illustration of method 3000);

(12) FIG. 11 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 11 shows the addition of a NODE unit 3002 to the network of objects (3006) (step 1 of the illustration of method 3000);

(13) FIG. 12 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects. In particular, FIG. 12 shows the addition of a second NODE unit (3002) to the network of objects (3006) (step 2 of the illustration of method 3000);

(14) FIG. 13 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 13 shows the addition of a third NODE unit (3002) to the network of objects (3006) (step 3 of the illustration of method 3000);

(15) FIG. 14 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 14 shows the first step in creating a functional group (3008) between units in NODE state (3002), through the use of a unit in MACHSTICK state (3003) (step 4 of the illustration of method 3000);

(16) FIG. 15 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 15 shows the second step in creating a functional group (3008) between units in NODE state (3002), through the use of a unit in MACHSTICK state (3003) (step 5 of the illustration of method 3000);

(17) FIG. 16 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 16 shows the addition of a NODE unit (3002) to the network of objects (3006), through the use of a unit in MACHSTICK state (3003) (step 6 of the illustration of method 3000);

(18) FIG. 17 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 17 shows the first step in creating a functional group (3008) of NODE units (3002), through the use of a unit in MACHSTICK state (3003) (step 7 of the illustration of method 3000);

(19) FIG. 18 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 18 shows the second step in creating a functional group (3008) of NODE units (3002), through the use of a unit in MACHSTICK state (3003) (step 8 of the illustration of method 3000);

(20) FIG. 19 shows the method (3000) for connecting to the network of objects (3006) of the units and for creating functional groups (3008) within the network of objects (3006). In particular, FIG. 19 shows the disconnection of a NODE unit (3002) from the network of objects (3006) and from the functional groups (3008), through the use of a unit in BLOW state (3004) (step 9 of the illustration of method 3000);

(21) FIG. 20 shows a complete system that includes the optical units 100 (single or combined with units 300 and 200), the method 1000 that allows the direct interaction between optical units 100, the method 1000 that allows together with method 3000 to build local unit networks, the method 1000 that together with method 2000 allows the generation of higher-order services connections over the internet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(22) Reference numeral 100 indicates as a whole an optical unit of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of a unit for the gestural-ritual control of sending/receiving commands (by way of non-limiting example, turning on and off) between devices (by way of non-limiting example, light sources) provided with said unit.

(23) Said unit comprises: at least one photo-emitter device 105, at least one photo-detector device 107 optimized for detecting the emission spectrum of the photo-emitter 105, at least one upper part 100.b intended for limiting and confining the optical radiation, said upper part comprising at least one of the following three components: a cover 104 provided with an opening, a coating 102 of any material adapted to restrict the optical radiation (by way of non-limiting example, metal, wood, plastic, frosted glass, wax), an optical guide 101 (by way of non-limiting example, of glass or plastic material).

(24) The photo-emitter device 105 (preferably non-limitingly emitting in the near infrared spectrum) is guided by a processing and control unit 110 (described in FIG. 3 by a preferred and non-limiting functional diagram). This unit 110 transmits via the photo-emitter 105 a digital sequence suitably encoded to contain sequences of commands and data. The radiation emitted is suitably limited and guided by the three components that can be provided in section 100.b. Cover 104 provided with an opening limits the possible opening angle of the optical radiation. The optical guide 101 carries the optical radiation from the lower base to the upper one, varying the output angle and the power of the radiation according to the known laws of optics. Coating 102 limits the power of the optical radiation that could come out from the sides of unit 100, such a limitation being achieved both by absorption and by reflection and dispersion. FIG. 2 shows all the optical and physical parameters and variables involved in the process. By modulating one or more of said parameters and variables, an area of optical radiation is achieved that is properly confined in the upper part of unit 100.

(25) The photo-detector device 107 receives the optical radiation emitted by the photo-emitter 105 of another unit. The output of 107 is acquired by the processing and control unit 110 that decodes the digital sequence.

(26) To further limit the usable space of interaction between two optical units 100, so as to force the user to make a gesture similar to the lighting of a candle with another candle (as described in FIG. 4A), circuitry 110.1 reduces the optical power emitted by the photo-emitter 105 and limits the sensitivity of the photo-detector 107.

(27) Section 110 of unit 100 includes: an acquisition, processing and control unit 110.1 (which in addition to driving 105 and acquiring 107 has the ability to handle I/O, store digital data in volatile and non-volatile form, manage timing), a connection and control section 110.4 of an external or internal power source, a circuitry 110.2 for the management and implementation (by way of non-limiting example, turning a light source on and off). The external power source of section 110.4 can optionally arrive from an AC-DC or DC-DC adapter 114 cut out by a switch 108.

(28) By using the above components, when the user sets two units 100 as shown in FIG. 4A, an optoelectronic communication channel is established between the two units. Through this communication channel, the present invention implements a method 1000 of sending and receiving commands, such a method comprising:

(29) a system with at least two optical units 100, said units being in one of three states STANDBY 1001, ACTIVE 1002, BLOW 1003.

(30) A unit 100 is in STANDBY state 1001 when it is ready to receive a command via the electro-optic channel and has the management circuitry 110.2 inactive. A unit in STANDBY 1001 can be set to ACTIVE state 1002 when one of the following events occurs: it is forced to the ACTIVE state through one of the I/O of the acquisition, processing and control unit (110.1), or when it receives an activation command from a second optical unit 100 in ACTIVE state 1002 via the optoelectronic input link (107+limiter-conveyer 102.b) during a ritual-gestural coupling (FIGS. 4A and 4B). The unit in STANDBY may, upon receiving a command, send to the ACTIVE unit via the optoelectronic output link (105+limiter-conveyer 102.b) a confirmation response that may contain data.

(31) An optical unit 100 in ACTIVE state has the management circuitry 110.2 active and periodically sends an activation command via the electro-optical output channel (105+limiter-conveyer 102.b), enabling the optical reception from the electro-optical input link (107+limiter-conveyer 102.b) between one command sent and the other. An optical unit 100 in ACTIVE state is set to STANDBY state 1001 when at least one of the following events occurs: it receives at least one deactivation command emitted by a second unit 100 in BLOW state 1003 in response to its activation command, or is forced to the STANDBY state by one of the I/O of the acquisition, processing and control unit 110.1.

(32) An optical unit 100 in BLOW state 1003 sends via the optical-electronic channel (105+limiter-conveyer 102.b) a deactivation command in response to the reception, via the optical-electronic channel (107+limiter-conveyer 102.b), an activation command sent by a unit in ACTIVE state 1002. A 100 unit is set to the BLOW state when at least one of the following events occurs: the state of BLOW is programmed into the acquisition, processing and control unit 110.1 memory or is forced to the BLOW state by one of the I/O of the acquisition, processing and control 110.1.

(33) The method 1000 of the present invention, described above, implements a master-slave system that can be schematized by describing it (by way of non-limiting example) as a system of traditional candles.

(34) A lit candle is in ACTIVE state, a blown candle is in STANDBY state, a candle blow is in BLOW state. The blown-slave candle (STANDBY) can be lit only by a lit-master candle (ACTIVE). The lit-master candle (ACTIVE) can be blown only by a blown-slave candle (BLOW).

(35) The optical unit 100, described above, implements the gestures to create the link by combining the electrical-electronic circuitry of section 100.a, with a passive optical section 100.b whose task is to limit and convey the optical radiation. Said section 100.b may be composed of at least one of the three components: optical guide 101, material 102 or a cover with an opening 104. Advantageously, said section 100.b can contain at least two of the three components (optical guide 101, material 102 or a cover with an opening 104), of which at least one of the two is the cover with opening 104. Such a cover 104 can advantageously accommodate in the opening at least one optical filter 104.a adapted to limit the optical spectrum not belonging to the emission spectrum of the photo-emitter 105, before exciting the photo-detector-107.

(36) Moreover, said section 100.b can advantageously contain at least two of the three components (optical guide 101, material 102 or a cover with an opening 104), of which at least one of the two is the material 102 which advantageously has the task of laterally limiting to the optical unit 100 the optical power per unit area of the photo-emitter.

(37) Moreover, said section 100.b can advantageously contain at least two of the three components (optical guide 101, material 102 or cover with opening 104), of which at least one of the two is the optical guide 101 which advantageously has the task of guiding and containing the optical path, varying according to the known laws of optics the parameters detailed in FIG. 2B: the beam emitted by 105 impinges with angle t1 on 101, is refracted in the guide with angle t2, impinges in the upper part of the guide with angle t3 (related to the inclination t0 of the upper part of 101) and is refracted with angle t4. The maximum angle past which the beam does not exit (tm) is a function of the limit angle tL. All angles t2, t4 and tL (as well as the reflected and refracted powers) are also functions of the refractive indices of the materials (n1 and n2). Advantageously, the optical guide 101 (FIG. 2A) may have in the lower part a zone 101.a that minimizes the dispersion (and thus the inner beams with too distributed directions). The optical guide 101 can also advantageously have a surface 101.b intended for the optical coupling of at least one light source 103 advantageously located between 100.a and 100.b (FIG. 1) and advantageously controlled (in intensity and color) by the management circuitry 110.2. This surface 101.b advantageously modulates (by increasing or decreasing) the visible light scattering within the optical guide, by varying the visible light dispersed by the side of the unit (by way of non-limiting example, by illuminating the material 102, if present). The optical guide 101 can also advantageously have a surface 101.c that is reflective to visible light and to the radiation in the optical spectrum of 105. This reflective surface has two tasks: the first is to function as an optical cavity which limits the power of visible light dispersed in the lower part of unit 100 (by increasing the optical performance of the optical unit 100 when provided with internal light source). The second is to generate, for the beams of the optical radiation incident directly on 101.a and 104.a multiple reflections that reduce the optical power transmitted in the lower part of 100 (100.a), acting as additional optical power limiter for links 105-107 that are established between two optical units 100 and thus limiting the undesired turning on that do not correspond to the ritual gestures.

(38) Moreover, to further limit the turning on to more limited gestures, the optical unit 100 can advantageously be provided with at least one inclinometer 113 that enables the operation only when the two optical units 100, exchanging the inclination value as one of the digital data of method 1000, form an angle between them that is comprised within two precise limits (by way of non-limiting example, between 135 and 225 degrees).

(39) The optical unit 100 may further be provided with at least one internal battery 112 connected to the connection and control circuitry 110.4 of the power source which in this case will also work as a charger, if connected to an external power source 114.

(40) Moreover, since the activation status of a unit 100 is not limited to the control of light sources, said optical unit 100 can advantageously also include an audio section 110.3. Said audio section can advantageously acquire at least one audio input 115. Said audio section can also advantageously manage at least one audio output 116.

(41) By way of non-limiting example, let's think of a light with included an audio speaker that is switched on by the optical unit 100 and the gestural-ritual candle lighting method 1000.

(42) Moreover, since by using the optical unit 100 and method 1000 it is possible to create local networks of objects according to method 3000 and digital service interconnections between objects according to method 2000, unit 100 can be advantageously be provided with at least one electronic circuitry 110.5 for wireless connection (by way of preferred non-limiting embodiment, WiFi, Bluetooth, 802.11.4), which can advantageously be provided with at least one antenna 106.

(43) Moreover, since the optical unit 100 can expand its functionalities or connect to other similar units via wired connection, said unit 100 can advantageously be provided with at least one interconnection section 108.

(44) A unit 100 provided with interconnection 108 can be advantageously connected to an expansion unit 300 (FIGS. 6 and 7) provided with at least one interconnection section 301 thereof (which is combined with 108 of unit 100) and at least one of processing and control section 303 thereof provided with at least one connection and control section 303.5 of a power source (internal or external) and at least one acquisition, processing and control unit 303.1 with the ability to manage I/O, store digital data in volatile and non-volatile form. The external power source of section 303.5 can optionally arrive from an AC-DC or DC-DC adapter 302 cut out by a switch 308.

(45) Said expansion unit 300 may advantageously be provided with at least an electronic circuitry 303.2 thereof for wireless connection, since in this case it can advantageously have at least one antenna 304 thereof.

(46) Said expansion unit 300 may advantageously be further provided with at least one circuitry for the wired connection to a digital communication network 305.

(47) Said expansion unit 300 may advantageously be provided with at least one audio input 306 connected through special circuitry 303.3 to the processing and control unit 303.

(48) Said expansion unit 300 may advantageously be provided with at least one audio output 307 connected through special circuitry 303.3 to the processing and control unit 303.

(49) Unit 300 described above has a function of expansion of the basic optical unit 100 that can delegate part of the functions to the expansion unit 300 that it may in any case have internally. Let's think (by way of non-limiting example) to a system that controls through the unit 100 the gestural-ritual method 1000 and method 3000 method (described hereinafter) groups of audio speakers connected to the local digital network. Using the system 100+300 it is possible to: remove unit 100 in ACTIVE state (with its own internal battery 112) from its expansion unit 300 containing the speaker, and with this optical unit 100 turn on other speakers that will be added to a functional group through method 1000 and method 3000 of the present invention.

(50) Multiple units 100 can then conveniently share the same expansion unit 300 at the same time, which in this case will be described as units in the shape of a candle holder 200 consisting of at least one expansion unit 300 and at least two units 100 connected to the processing and control unit 303 through at least one additional interconnection section 201 (FIGS. 8 and 9). Said unit in the shape of a candle holder 200 can advantageously have a charging circuitry 205 intended to recharge units 100 at that time not connected to the expansion unit 300, said charging circuitry being optionally connectable to the mains supply via an external adapter 204.

(51) By way of non-limiting example, through the unit in the shape of a candle holder 200 thus described it is possible to combine multiple optical units 100 into a single electronic votive candle holder (FIGS. 8 and 9). The candle holder has a unit 100 in the ACTIVE state according to method 1000 connected to unit 300. Units 100 provided with their own internal battery 112 (electronic candles in the present illustrative non-limiting example) still not lit according to method 1000, are placed in the lower part of 200 in STANDBY state according to method 1000 and connected to the charging circuitry 205. A devotee who wants to light one of these optical units 100 in the shape of a candle, removes it from the lower part, lights it by the gestural ritual method 1000 with a lit candle (in ACTIVE state according to method 1000) already present in the upper part and puts it in the upper part of the candle holder by connecting it to 300 through an interconnection 201.

(52) By the gestural-ritual control method 1000 (this method comprising single units 100 or combined with 300 and 200), it is possible to establish states and communication channels that allow making the definition of higher order services normally much more complex fast and easy.

(53) According to the present invention, method 2000 is described (FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C) that advantageously allows creating groups of objects also in mutually remote locations which exchange digital services, said groups being connected to such services via a local or remote, single or distributed server 2004. These services may, by way of non-limiting example, be based on publish subscribe protocols (preferably but non-limitingly, MQTT), or be audio streaming services, or services provided via API. Method 2000 described hereinafter allows, using method 1000, a simple and immediate transfer from one unit (100, 200 or 300) to the other of all the parameters and permissions needed to establish the service exchange link. By way of non-limiting example, in case of MQTT messaging, using method 1000 and 2000 two units 100, 200 or 300 can advantageously exchange the network address of the MQTT broker present on 2004, the TOPIC MQTT to be subscribed, the USER and PW needed to be enable to the subscription.

(54) Method 2000 (FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C) advantageously includes: a) at least two units (referred to as first unit P2 and second unit S2) in one of three preferred and non-limiting embodiments 100, 200 or 300, and in one of the states of method 1000: STANDBY (1001), ACTIVE (1002), BLOW 1003. b) at least one local or remote, single or distributed server 2004, through which said units establish a network connectivity or publish and subscribe to digital services using the parameters that the first unit P2 and the second unit S2 exchange by method 2000, receiving from the same server 2004 any higher order authorizations necessary for such publications and subscriptions.

(55) According to method 2000, said units P2 and S2 can advantageously be in one of following three states: MOTHER state 2001, CHILD state 2002, CHILD GROUP state 2003.

(56) Advantageously, the units described above in method 2000 can be set to one of three states MOTHER 2001, CHILD 2002, CHILD GROUP 2003, through a code that qualifies them as MOTHER or CHILD or CHILD GROUP, such a code being able to be stored to the memory or acquired through an I/O of the processing and control unit 110.

(57) Advantageously, the units described above have a personal ID code stored in the non-volatile memory of the processing and control unit 110.

(58) The MOTHER state 2001 advantageously also includes different capacities described hereinafter that depend on the ACTIVE 1002 or STANDBY 1001 1002 state in which it is according to method 1000, and on the states of the units with which it interacts.

(59) Advantageously, a first unit P2 in MOTHER state 2001 and in ACTIVE state 1002 has the ability to send to a second unit S2, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, an identification command like MOTHER together with the identification code and also has the ability to transmit, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, to a second unit S2 in CHILD state 2002 and in STANDBY state 1001 all the parameters needed to establish between them (first unit P2 and second unit S2), through server 2004, a network connectivity or to subscribe to digital services connected to the first unit P2 MOTHER to the subscription of which the second unit S2 CHILD is enabled. Advantageously, a first unit P2 in MOTHER state 2001 and in STANDBY state 1001 has the ability to be set to the ACTIVE state 1002, via the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands as per method 1000, from any second unit S2 (either MOTHER 2001 or CHILD 2002) in ACTIVE state 1002, without sending to the second unit S2 all the parameters needed to establish network connectivity or to subscribe to digital services and without importing the same parameters from the second unit S2, if in MOTHER state 2001.

(60) The CHILD state 2002 advantageously also includes different capacities described hereinafter that depend on the ACTIVE 1002 or STANDBY 1001 state in which it is according to method 1000, and on the states of the units with which it interacts.

(61) Advantageously, a first unit P2 in CHILD state 2002 and in STANDBY state 1001 has the ability to be set to the ACTIVE state 1002, via the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands as per method 1000 from any second unit S2 MOTHER 2001 in ACTIVE state 1002 by receiving, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands as per method 1000, from the second unit S2 all the parameters needed to establish between them (first unit P2 and second unit S2), through server 2004, a network connectivity or to subscribe to digital services connected to the second unit S2 to the subscription of which the first unit P2 is enabled.

(62) Advantageously, a first unit P2 in the CHILD state 2002 in STANDBY state 1001 has the ability to be set to the in ACTIVE state 1002, via the sequence of sending/receiving the gestural-ritual commands as per method 1000, from any second unit S2 CHILD 2002 in ACTIVE state 1001, receiving, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving the gestural-ritual commands as per method 1000, from the second unit S2 at least one group of parameters that said second unit S2 has previously imported by method 2000.

(63) Advantageously, a first unit P2 in the CHILD state 2002 in ACTIVE state 1002 has the ability to send to a second unit S2, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving the gestural-ritual commands as per method 1000, an identification command as CHILD unit provided with the identification code and also has the ability to send to a second unit S2 in CHILD state 2002 in STANDBY state 1001, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands as per claim 1, at least one group of the parameters that said first unit P2 has previously imported by method 2000.

(64) Finally, the CHILD GROUP state (2003) advantageously comprises all the capabilities related to the CHILD state described above and advantageously the following additional capabilities: The capability when the first unit P2 is in CHILD GROUP state 2003 and in ACTIVE state 1001 to send to a second unit S2, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, an identification command like CHILD GROUP together with the identification code and to transmit, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands as per claim 1, to a second unit S2 in CHILD state 2002 and in STANDBY state 1001 at least a group of parameters needed to establish between them (first unit P2 and second unit S2), through server 2004, a network connectivity or to subscribe to digital services connected to it (first unit P2) to the subscription of which the second unit S2 is enabled. The capability through server 2004 to publish services and establish links with all CHILD units enabled which it has set from STANDBY state to ACTIVE state during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands as per method 1000.

(65) A non-limiting example of method 2000 is the one that refers to FIGS. 5A, 5B and 5C. The system consists of a unit in MOTHER state 2001 (Maaa), 3 optical units 100 in CHILD state 2002 (Faaa, Fbbb, Fccc) and a unit in CHILD GROUP state 2003 (Gaaa). The MOTHER unit Maaa is an optical unit 100 in the shape of an electronic candle set permanently lit at a Sanctuary that broadcasts masses in audio streaming and during special occasions changes the color of the electronic candles. For example, on the day of the anniversary of the Saint of the Sanctuary, the perennial candle placed near the Tomb turns red to remember the martyrdom. The perennial candle color state is published as MQTT message by server 2004. A believer buys an optical unit 100 CHILD Faaa. Using the gestural-ritual method 1000, he lights it at the Saint's Tomb using the candle MOTHER Maaa. The candle MOTHER Maaa through 1000 passes it all the parameters and the service catalog: the audio streaming channel of liturgies, the TOPIC MQTT, the addresses of remote servers 2004 where the Broker MQTT resides, the subscription authorizations for TOPIC MQTT of the Sanctuary. The candle CHILD Faaa now has its Faaa properties and the properties imported from MOTHER Maaa. The candle Faaa when connected to the internet (by way of non-limiting example in the configuration of optical unit 100 with 110, 116, 110.5 and 106, or in the configuration of unit 100 combined with unit 300 with 301, 303, 303.2 2 304, 307) remains synchronized with the services of the Sanctuary: the streaming is broadcast by speaker 116 of Faaa, light 103 of Faaa turns RED with light MOTHER Maaa on the day of the anniversary. Another believer, at another time and in another place, lights his candle CHILD Fbbb according to method 1000 using candle CHILD Faaa, importing all native and acquired properties thereof (Maaa, Faaa). Also the second candle CHILD Fbbb since that moment will be synchronized with the services of the Sanctuary. In the same way, candle Fccc will import the properties of Fbbb.

(66) Another user has an optical unit 100 in the shape of a candle Gaaa in CHILD GROUP state 2003 and wants to create a prayer group (bi-directional audio streaming) with the user holding the candle CHILD Fccc. To do so, the candle Fccc is lit with candle CHILD GROUP Gaaa thereby importing the properties, streaming service server addresses and relative permissions.

(67) At the end of process 2000, the system through servers 2004 will be configured as follows: candles Faaa, Fbbb and Fccc are synchronized with the services of Sanctuary by candle Maaa. Candle Fccc is in turn connected to the bidirectional audio services of the group referred to the candle Gaaa.

(68) As is seen, with the invention object of the present patent, in order to create a complex scenario it is sufficient to intuitively light (like one would with a real candle) the electronic candles 100 with one another (those blown with those lit). It is noted that the intuitive rituality of the gesture is maintained, and the ancestral ritual potential thereof is amplified since the child candles mutually transmitted the holy light of the Sanctuary (from the mother to the first, from the first to the second, and so on).

(69) According to the present invention, units 100, either single or combined with expansion units 200 or 300, and method 1000 can advantageously be used with method 3000 that will be described hereinafter to create in a simple, intuitive and secure manner local networks of objects connected to the digital network, configuring them on the local network, by assigning them to one or more functional groups, giving them access to the digital network (either local or remote).

(70) Such a method 3000 (FIGS. 10 to 19) comprises a system with at least two of the following units that will be referred to as first unit P3 and second unit S3, said units advantageously comprising also the capabilities of method 1000 and its states STANDBY 1001, ACTIVE 1002, BLOW 1003: a gestural-ritual control unit 100 in any of the configurations described above comprising at least one of the following features: circuitry 110.5 for wireless connection or an expansion connector 108. a gestural-ritual control unit 300 in the embodiment 300 described above. a gestural-ritual control unit 300 in the embodiment 200 described above.

(71) Advantageously, one of the units described above can, in method 3000, take at least one of the following states: GATEWAY 3001, NODE 3002, MATCHSTICK 3003, SNUFFER 3004.

(72) Said method 3000 also comprises: at least one local network of objects 3006 defined as the digital network, either wired or wireless, which digitally connects with one another at least two of the above units; optionally at least one local or remote network 3007, either wired or wireless, defined as a digital network different from the network of objects 3006; optionally at least one external device 3005, by way of non-limiting example a PC, a computer, a tablet or a smartphone, such a device being connected to the local network of objects 3006 or to local or remote network 3007.

(73) Advantageously, one of the units described above in method 3000 can be set to one of four states GATEWAY 3001, NODE 3002, MATCHSTICK 3003, SNUFFER 3004 through a code that qualifies it as GATEWAYNODEMATCHSTICKSNUFFER, such a code being able to be stored to the memory of the unit or acquired through an I/O of the processing and control unit 110.

(74) Advantageously, the units described above can, by using method 3000, be assigned to multiple functional groups, defining a functional group GROUP 3008 as a set of at least two units that can be controlled simultaneously with a single command using, by way of non-limiting example, the external device 3005 defined above.

(75) Advantageously, method 3000 comprises a default functional group GROUP 3008 indicated as GROUP DEFAULT 3008.1 comprising all the units described above that belong to the local network of objects 3006.

(76) Advantageously, the state named GATEWAY 3001 for any of the above units includes the ability to regulate the communication and data exchange between objects of the local network of objects 3006, the optional ability to regulate communication and data exchange between the local network of objects 3006 and other local or remote networks 3007, the optional ability to regulate communication with an external device 3005 (PC, computer, tablet, smartphone), connected to the local network of objects 3006 or other networks 3007. Advantageously, a first unit P3 in the GATEWAY state 3001 comprises several abilities depending on the state of method 1000 in which it is.

(77) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in GATEWAY state 3001 and in ACTIVE 1002 state, it has the ability to set to ACTIVE state 1002 any second unit S3 in the NODE state 3002 in STANDBY state 1001, transferring to the second unit S3, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, all the parameters and permissions to configure said second unit S3 NODE 3002, add it to the local network of objects 3006 and assign it to the GROUP DEFAULT group 3008.1 defined above.

(78) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in GATEWAY state 3001 and in ACTIVE 1002 state, it has the ability to set to ACTIVE state 1002 any second unit S3 in the MATCHSTICK state 3003 in STANDBY state 1001, transferring to the second unit S3 MATCHSTICK 3003, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, all the parameters and permissions to allow said second unit S3 MATCHSTICK 3003 to configure other units NODE 3002, add them to the local network of objects 3006 and assign them to the GROUP DEFAULT group 3008.1 defined above.

(79) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in GATEWAY state 3001 and in ACTIVE state 1002, it has the ability to be set to STANDBY state 1001 by any second unit S3 in SNUFFER state 3004 in BLOW state 1003, receiving from the second unit S3 SNUFFER 3004 via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands per method 1000 a clearing command of the list of units assigned to the local network of objects 3006 of groups GROUP 3008 defined above to which said units belonged.

(80) Another state that the units described above can take is the NODE state 3002.

(81) Advantageously, a first unit P3 in the NODE state 3002 comprises several abilities depending on the state of method 1000 in which it is.

(82) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in NODE state 3002 and in STANDBY 1001 state, it has the ability to be set to ACTIVE state 1002 by any second unit S3 in the GATEWAY state 3001 in ACTIVE state 1002, receiving from the second unit S3, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, all the parameters and permissions to be configured and added to the local network of objects 3006 and be assigned to the GROUP DEFAULT group 3008.1 defined above.

(83) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in the NODE state 3002 and in the STANDBY state 1001, it has the ability to be set to the ACTIVE state 1002 by any second unit S3 in ACTIVE state 1002 in MATCHSTICK state 3003 or in NODE state 3002 (in this second case, S3 must already be assigned to the local network), receiving from the second unit S3, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, different parameters in the two cases a) and b) described below: a) if the first unit P3 is not yet assigned to the local network of objects 3006, it will receive all the parameters and permissions to be configured, added to the local network of objects 3006 and assigned to the GROUP DEFAULT 3008.1 group defined above; b) if the first unit P3 is already assigned to the local network of objects 3006, it will receive all the parameters and permissions to be assigned to the GROUP 3008 group of the other NODE units 3002 that interacted with the same second unit (S3) in the last period, said last period being the last time interval in which the second unit S3 switched from the STANDBY state 1001 to the current ACTIVE state 1002.

(84) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in NODE state 3002 and in ACTIVE state 1002 and is already assigned to the local network of objects 3006, it has the ability to set any second unit S3 to ACTIVE state 1002 in the NODE state 3002 in STANDBY state 1001, transferring to the second unit S3, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, all the parameters and permissions to: a) if said second unit S3 is not yet assigned to the local network of objects 3006, configure it, add it to the local network of objects 3006 and assign it to the GROUP DEFAULT group 3008.1 defined above; b) if S3 is already assigned to the local network of objects 3006, assign it to the GROUP group 3008 of the other NODE units 3002 that interacted with the above first unit P3 in the last period, said last period being the last time interval in which the first unit P3 has switched from the STANDBY state 1001 to the current ACTIVE state 1002.

(85) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in NODE state 3002 and in ACTIVE state 1002 and is already assigned to the local network of objects 3006, it has the ability to set any second unit S3 to ACTIVE state 1002 in the MATCHSTICK state 3003 in STANDBY state 1001, transferring to the second unit S3, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, all the parameters and permissions to configure, add to the local network of objects 3006 and assign to a GROUP group 3008 defined above, all the other NODE units 3002 that will interact with the same second unit S3 in the MATCHSTICK state 3003 in the subsequent period, the subsequent period being the time interval in which the second unit S3 in the MATCHSTICK state 3003 will remain in the ACTIVE state 1002 to which it is currently set.

(86) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in NODE state 3002 and in ACTIVE state 1002, it has the ability to be set to STANDBY state 1001 by any second unit S3 in SNUFFER state 3004 in BLOW state 1003, receiving from the second unit S3 via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000 at least one command either to be deleted from the local network of objects 3006 or to be deleted from any GROUP group 3008.

(87) Another state that the units described above can take is the MATCHSTICK state 3003.

(88) Advantageously, a first unit P3 in the MATCHSTICK state 3003 comprises several abilities depending on the state of method 1000 in which it is.

(89) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in MATCHSTICK state 3003 and in STANDBY 1001 state, it has the ability to be set to ACTIVE state 1002 by any second unit S3 in the GATEWAY state 3001 in NODE state 3002 in ACTIVE state 1002, receiving from said second unit S3, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, all the parameters and permissions to configure and add to the local network of objects 3006 or add to the GROUP groups 3008 other NODE units 3002.

(90) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in MATCHSTICK state 3003 and in ACTIVE 1002 state, it has the ability to set to ACTIVE state 1002 any second unit S3 in the NODE state 3002 in STANDBY state 1001, sending to said second unit S3, via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000, all the parameters and permissions to be configured and added to the local network of objects 3006 or added to the GROUP groups 3008 with other NODE units 3002.

(91) Another state that the units described above can take is the SNUFFER state 3004.

(92) Advantageously, a first unit P3 in the SNUFFER state 3004 comprises several abilities depending on the state of method 1000 in which it is.

(93) Advantageously, when the first unit P3 is in SNUFFER state 3004 and in BLOW state 1003, it has the ability to set to STANDBY state 1001 any second unit S3 in the NODE state 3002 or GATEWAY 3001 to the ACTIVE state 1002, sending to said second unit S3 via the data link established during the sequence of sending/receiving gestural-ritual commands of method 1000 at least one command either to be deleted from the local network of objects 3006 or to be deleted from any GROUP group 3008.

(94) Using the described method 3000 that uses single units 100 or in the integrated embodiments of the expansion unit 300 and in the shape of a candle holder 200, it is possible to create systems of objects connected to the network of things in an intuitive manner.

(95) In fact, apart from the inevitable rigorous description above, the system is based on the underlying concept of method 1000: the active units (ACTIVE) transmit, through the electronics and methods described above, the properties to units that are turned on (STANDBY). Also in this case, a comparison with a traditional candle system simplifies the description.

(96) FIGS. 10 to 19 describe the process. FIG. 10 shows the system of the example.

(97) FIG. 11 shows how to add a NODE 1 unit to network 3006, which is not yet present on network 3006, turning it on, as would be done with a GATEWAY candle, which through method 100 passes all the configuration parameters to it and associates it to the DEFAULT group.

(98) FIG. 12 shows the same mechanism for a second NODE 2 unit.

(99) FIG. 13 shows how an active NODE 3 unit with NODE 2 is added to network 3006.

(100) FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 show the use of the MATCHSTICK unit, which behaves in all respects as a match. Match MATCHSTICK is lit with NODE 2 (FIG. 14) and it lights NODE 3 (FIG. 15). Since NODE 2 and 3 were already present in network 3006, a functional group 2-3 is created.

(101) In FIG. 16, match MATCHSTICK is lit with GATEWAY, importing from it the ability to add other units to the network, in fact by lighting a NODE 4 not yet present in 3006, match MATCHSTICK adds it to network 3006.

(102) The same match MATCHSTICK (FIGS. 17 and 18), which is lit on its own and not through other units, is used to create a functional group 3-4 by lighting in a sequence NODE 3 and NODE 4 (already present in network 3006).

(103) Finally, FIG. 19 shows the task of a SNUFFER unit. This unit behaves like a candle blower and starting from a unit in BLOW state according to method 1000 (which alone would blow any unit), it adds it the ability to erase any property subsequently imported from the unit that it blows. In FIG. 19, a SNUFFER blows NODE 2, removing it from the network and all the groups that contained it.

(104) FIG. 20 finally shows the relationship between the gesture-ritual control units, the method 1000 used as the basis for method 3000 that is used to create the local network of things 3006 and connect them to the external network 3007, by which server 2004 is accessed, with which, using method 2000, digital service links are created.

(105) Finally, it is clear that additions, changes or variants may be made to the system and lamp object of the present invention which are obvious to a man skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of protection that is provided by the appended claims.