Device for linking selective illumination of a light source with input and related methods

Abstract

Systems, methods, apparatus and computer-readable media (transitory and non-transitory) are described herein for facilitating linking of selective illumination of one or more light sources (106, also referred to as lighting elements) to states of one or more inputs (102). In various embodiments a linking computing device (104) may render, e.g., on a display (212) such as an ambient display, a source graphical element (214) that represents an input and a sink graphical element (216) that represents a light source. In various embodiments, the computing device may receive a user-input instruction to alter one of the source and sink graphical elements to be within a predetermined proximity of the other on the display. In various embodiments, the computing device may link selective illumination of the light source to a state of the input while the source and sink graphical elements are within the predetermined proximity of each other on the display.

Claims

1. A method of linking selective illumination of a lighting element to input, comprising: rendering, by a computing device on a display of the computing device, a source graphical element that represents the input and a sink graphical element that represents the lighting element; receiving, at a user input of the computing device, an instruction to alter one of the source and sink graphical elements to be within a predetermined proximity of the other of the source and sink graphical elements on the display; and linking, by the computing device, selective illumination of the lighting element to a state of the input while the source and sink graphical elements are within the predetermined proximity of each other on the display, wherein the input comprises a user's mood or status obtained from a social network or calendar.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the linking comprises linking selective illumination of the lighting element to a state of the input while one of the source and sink graphical elements at least partially overlaps the other.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the source graphical element comprises a distribution of color over an area of the display.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively rendering an appearance of the source graphical element on the display based on the state of the input.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively rendering an appearance of the sink graphical element on the display based on a state of the lighting element.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the input includes data sensed by one or more sensors of a mobile computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective illumination includes selective illumination of the lighting element to emit light of a particular hue based on the state of the input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the input comprises an indication of whether a particular event has occurred.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the selective illumination comprises selecting a property of light emitted by the lighting element based on a degree of proximity between the source graphical element and the sink graphical element.

10. A linking computing device, comprising: one or more processors; a display operably coupled with the one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, in response to execution of the instructions by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: render, on the display, a source graphical element that represents an input and a sink graphical element that represents a lighting element; and link selective illumination of the lighting element to a state of the input in response to a determination that the source and sink graphical elements are within a predetermined proximity of each other on the display, wherein the input comprises a user's mood or status obtained from a social network or calendar.

11. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the determination comprises a determination that one of the source and sink graphical elements at least partially overlaps the other.

12. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the source graphical element comprises a distribution of color over an area of the display.

13. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to selectively render an appearance of the source graphical element on the display based on the state of the input.

14. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by the one or more processors, further cause the one or more processors to selectively render an appearance of the sink graphical element on the display based on a state of the lighting element.

15. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the input includes data sensed by one or more sensors of a mobile computing device.

16. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the selective illumination includes selective illumination of the lighting element to emit light of a particular hue based on the state of the input.

17. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the input comprises an indication of whether a particular event has occurred.

18. The linking computing device of claim 10, wherein the lighting element comprises a first lighting element, the sink graphical element represents a plurality of lighting elements that includes the first lighting element, and the link comprises link selective illumination of the plurality of lighting elements to the state of the input.

19. A method of linking selective illumination of a lighting element to input, comprising: rendering, by a computing device on a display of the computing device, a source graphical element that represents the input, and a sink graphical element that represents the lighting element; receiving, at a user input of the computing device, an instruction to alter one of the source and sink graphical elements to be within a predetermined proximity of the other of the source and sink graphical elements on the display; and linking, by the computing device, selective illumination of the lighting element to a state of the input while the source and sink graphical elements are within the predetermined proximity of each other on the display, wherein the linking comprises linking, by the computing device, selective illumination of the lighting element to a sequence of states of the input, or to a time-shifted state of the input.

20. A linking computing device, comprising: one or more processors; a display operably coupled with the one or more processors; and memory storing instructions that, in response to execution of the instructions by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: render, on the display, a source graphical element that represents an input and a sink graphical element that represents a lighting element; and link selective illumination of the lighting element to a state of the input in response to a determination that the source and sink graphical elements are within a predetermined proximity of each other on the display, wherein the linking comprises linking selective illumination of the lighting element to a sequence of states of the input, or to a time-shifted state of the input.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

(2) FIG. 1 schematically depicts example components that together may facilitate linking of selective illumination of one or more lighting elements with one or more inputs, in accordance with various embodiments.

(3) FIGS. 2-3 schematically illustrate an example interface that facilitates linking of selective illumination of one or more lighting elements with one or more inputs, in accordance with various embodiments.

(4) FIG. 4 depicts an example method that may be implemented by a linking computing device, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) Various technologies may facilitate selective illumination of a light source based on an input. A user wishing to use more than one of these technologies may be faced with myriad different techniques for linking an input to a light source that, while perhaps user friendly on an individual basis, collectively may be cumbersome. Similarly, the user may desire easy manual control of the light sources. Thus, there is a need in the art for systems, methods, devices, apparatus and computer-readable media (transitory and non-transitory) to provide easy and uniform linking of selective illumination of one or more light sources with one or more inputs.

(6) In view of the foregoing, various embodiments and implementations of the present invention are directed to linking selective illumination of a light source with one or more inputs. For example, a computing device may render on a display (e.g., an ambient touchscreen) a source graphical element that represents an input and a sink graphical element that represents a light source. A user may provide an instruction to alter one or more of the source and sink graphical elements to be within a predetermined proximity of the other of the source and sink graphical elements on the display. For instance, the user may drag her finger across a touch screen to move a source graphical element to overlap a sink graphical element, or vice versa. This overlap may link selective illumination of the light source to a state of the input.

(7) Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, inputs 102 may include a social network 102a, a calendar 102b (online or local), a smart phone sensor data 102c and/or one or more remote lamps 102d. These inputs are for illustrative purposes only. More or less other inputs may be provided. A linking computing device 104 may be configured, e.g., by way of one or more processors 105, to be operated by a user (not shown) to link light sources 106a-h with the one or more inputs 102a-d. In various embodiments, linking computing device 104 may be a laptop or desktop computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a set-top box connected to a television, and so forth. In various embodiments, linking computing device 104 may be an ambient computing device. In various embodiments, linking computing device 104 may be a remote server. A user may operate a local computing device such as a laptop, smart phone, tablet, or a dedicated ambient computing device, to interact with the remote linking computing device 104 over one or more networks.

(8) Light sources 106 may include individual light sources such as an RGB lamp 106a and a dining room lamp 106b for which selective illumination may be individually linked to one or more inputs 102a-d. Light sources 106 may also include groups of light sources, e.g., clusters of light sources that are proximate to each other. For example, light sources 106c-e are designated TV area lamps and light sources 106f-h are designated study lamps. Selective illumination of these groups of light sources may be collectively linked to one or more inputs.

(9) For instance, a user may operate linking computing device 104, e.g., by touching a touchscreen display (not shown in FIG. 1), to link selective illumination of study lamps light sources 106f-h to SOCIAL NETWORK input 102a. This may result in a state of the user's mood and/or social network status dictating one or more properties of light output by light sources 106f-h. As another example, a user may operate linking computing device 104, e.g., by touching its touchscreen display, to link selective illumination of DINING ROOM LAMP light source 106b to input 102d designated REMOTE LAMP. This may result in an illumination state of the remote lamp (e.g., on, off, emitting ambient light, etc.) dictating one or more properties of light output by light source 106b.

(10) For example, assuming input 102a and study lamps are linked, if the user's status is watching movie, light sources 106f-h may emit low or ambient lighting that enhances the mood of the study for movie watching. If the user's status is doing homework, on the other hand, then light sources 106f-h may emit brighter, working light. As another example, if the user's status is gaming, that may suggest the user is in his study playing video games. Light sources 106f-h may be selectively illuminated to emit light in a manner that enhances the gaming experience. For instance, when there is an explosion in the game, light sources 106f-h may briefly emit intensely bright light. If the user's gaming avatar is proceeding through a dark area, such as a sewer or dungeon, light sources 106f-h may emit little or no light. If the user is playing a game that involves music (e.g., mimicking guitar playing), light sources 106f-h may emit light that mimics concert lighting.

(11) If the user wishes to disassociate light sources 106f-h from SOCIAL NETWORK input 102a, the user may operate linking computing device 104 accordingly. For example, the user may operate an ambient touchscreen to drag a graphical element associated with SOCIAL NETWORK input 102a, referred to herein as a source graphical element, away from a graphical element associated with study lamps light sources 106f-h, referred to herein as a sink graphical element.

(12) FIG. 2 schematically depicts an example user interface 210 that may be rendered on a touchscreen display 212 by linking computing device 104. User interface 210 may be operable by a user to link selective illumination of one or more light sources, such as light sources 106a-h, to one or more inputs, such as inputs 102a-d. While in examples herein, touchscreen display 212 is depicted as a flat screen, this is not meant to be limiting. In various embodiments, touchscreen display 212 may come in other two- and three-dimensional shapes, such as spherical, semi-spherical, elliptical, conical, cubical, two- and/or three-dimensional shapes projected onto surfaces, and so forth.

(13) A plurality of source graphical elements 214 may be associated with a plurality of inputs (e.g., 102a-d in FIG. 1). A plurality of sink graphical elements 216 may be associated with a plurality of light sources (e.g., 106a-h in FIG. 1). In FIG. 2, source graphical elements 214 are icons 214a-h that a user may touch and drag across touchscreen display 212. Sink graphical elements 216 are designated areas 216a-d of touchscreen display 212 onto which source graphical elements 214 may be dragged to link the associated inputs with one or more associated light sources. Sink graphical elements 216 are shown in dashed lines for clarity's sake; there may or may not be such delineating graphics on an actual display, and in embodiments that utilize ambient displays, there likely would not be such a delineating graphic.

(14) A box 218 is depicted around two source graphical elements, 214d and 214e. Box 218 may be created by a user, e.g., by dragging a box around multiple graphical elements, to create a group or cluster of graphical elements that may be moved together towards or away from one or more sink graphical elements 216. In some embodiments, related inputs (e.g., moods of friends, family members, celebrities, etc.) may be grouped together, automatically or manually by the user. As another example, similar types of inputs, such as social network statuses, remote light sources, derived colors from social network posts, and so forth, may be grouped together.

(15) The arrangement depicted in FIG. 2 is not meant to be limiting. In various embodiments, sink graphical elements 216 may be icons that may be dragged onto source graphical elements 214, and source graphical elements 214 may be areas or icons. Moreover, while source graphical elements 214 and sink graphical elements 216 of FIG. 2 are shown as discrete graphical icons and areas, respectively, this is not meant to be limiting. In various embodiments, user interface 210 may be rendered in the form of an ambient display. In such case, source and/or sink graphical elements may comprise areas of touchscreen display 212 with pixels collectively illuminated to form a particular color distribution. A user may drag such an area towards another area, which may similarly include pixels collectively illuminated to form a particular color distribution. In some embodiments, an abstraction level of graphical elements, e.g., whether source and sink graphical elements are discrete, easily discernible icons or areas of an ambient display rendering a continuous color pattern, may be adjusted to a user's preferences.

(16) FIG. 3 depicts one example of how components of user interface 210 of FIG. 2 may be operated by a user to link selective illumination of one or more light sources to one or more inputs. Source graphical element 214a has been dragged to the right to partially overlap sink graphical area 216a associated with RGB LAMP 1. While these graphical elements overlap, the light source designated RGB LAMP 1 may be selectively illuminated based on a state of an input associated with source graphical element 214a.

(17) Source graphical elements 214b and 214g have both been dragged to the right to partially overlap sink graphical element 216d associated with BASEMENT LAMPS. Dragging multiple source graphical elements 214 onto a single sink graphical element 216 may link selective illumination of one or more light sources associated with the sink graphical element 216 to states of multiple inputs associated with the multiple source graphical elements 214. For example, one property of light emitted by lamps in the study, e.g., hue, intensity level of a lighting effect projected onto a surface, color channel (e.g., red, green or blue), etc., may be selected based on an input associated with source graphical element 214b. Another property of light emitted by lamps in the study, e.g., saturation, may be selected based on an input associated with source graphical element 216g. Additionally or alternatively, selective illumination of individual light sources associated with sink graphical element 216d may be individually linked to inputs associated with source graphical elements 214, e.g., in the order that source graphical elements 214 were dragged onto sink graphical element 216d.

(18) Source graphical elements 214d and 214e have both been dragged to the right, e.g., as a result of box 218 being dragged to the right, so that box 218 partially overlaps sink graphical area 216b associated with DINING ROOM LAMP. Dragging multiple source graphical elements 214 onto a single sink graphical element 216 associated with a single light source (e.g., the light source designated DINING ROOM LAMP) may link selective illumination of that light source to states of multiple inputs associated with the multiple source graphical elements 214. For example, one property of light emitted by the dining room lamp, e.g., a carried coded light signal, may be selected based on an input associated with source graphical element 214d. Another property of light emitted by the dining room lamp, e.g., saturation, may be selected based on an input associated with source graphical element 216e.

(19) Source graphical element 214c has been dragged to the right to partially overlap sink graphical element 216c associated with TV AREA LAMPS. Dragging a single source graphical element 214 onto a sink graphical element 216 associated with multiple light sources may link selective illumination of the multiple light sources to a state of the input associated with the single source graphical element 214. In the context of FIG. 3, multiple light sources in the TV area may be selectively illuminated based on a state of an input associated with source graphical element 214c. For example, assuming source graphical element 214c is associated with a user's social networking status, if the user's status is watching scary movie, then multiple light sources in the TV area may emit light with properties conducive to watching a scary movie, e.g., low lighting, briefly flashing when lightning strikes in the movie, etc.

(20) While in FIG. 3, source graphical elements 214 are shown dragged to at least partially overlap sink graphical elements 216 to link selectively illumination of light sources with inputs, this is not meant to be limiting. In some embodiments, overlap of graphical elements is not required. Rather, a degree of proximity between graphical elements may dictate a degree of linking of selective illumination between corresponding light sources and inputs. For instance, if a source graphical element 214 is dragged to within a predetermined proximity of a sink graphical element 216, then selective illumination of one or more light sources associated with the sink graphical element 216 may be linked to one or more inputs associated with the source graphical element 214. As the graphical elements are separated (e.g., by dragging one away from the other), selective illumination of the one or more light sources may become less based on the one or more inputs. For example, in FIG. 3, if source graphical element 214h were dragged gradually closer to sink graphical element 216a, an effect of an input associated with source graphical element 214h may have a gradually-increasing effect on selective illumination of the light source designated RGB LAMP 1.

(21) As noted above, multiple graphical elements may be dragged to overlap a single graphical element. In some embodiments, multiple graphical elements may be dragged to be within various proximities of a particular graphical element to cause various levels of influence on selective illumination of a light source. For instance, assume that an input associated with source graphical element 214a in FIG. 3 has a state that is associated with the color red, and that an input associated with source graphical element 214f has a state that is associated with the color blue. In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, only source graphical element 214a overlaps or is nearby sink area 216a. Consequently, the light source designated RGB LAMP 1 may be selectively illuminated to emit red light. However, if source graphical element 214f were dragged to overlap or be sufficiently near sink graphical element 216a, then its corresponding input's blue state may cause the light source designated RGB LAMP 1 to combine the effects of both inputs, e.g., by alternating between emitting red and blue light and/or mixing blue and red light to emit purple light.

(22) To aid in making operation of graphical user interface 210 intuitive to a user, in various embodiments, graphical elements may be rendered in a manner that is related to a state of an input or light source. For instance, linking computing device 104 may be configured to selectively render an appearance of source graphical elements 214 on touchscreen display 212 based on states of corresponding inputs. Thus, in FIG. 3, if source graphical element 214a were linked to a user's online calendar (e.g., 102b in FIG. 1), then it may be rendered in red if the user is currently busy and blue if the user is currently available.

(23) Likewise, linking computing device 104 may be configured to selectively render an appearance of sink graphical elements 216 on touchscreen display 212 based on states of corresponding light sources. Thus, in FIGS. 2 and 3, if the light source designated DINING ROOM LAMP is illuminated, an appearance of corresponding sink graphical element 216b (e.g., a border, pixels in the area, etc.) may be rendered in yellow or white, whereas if the light source designated DINING ROOM LAMP is not illuminated, an appearance of corresponding sink graphical element 216b may be rendered in blue or another darker color.

(24) In some embodiments, when selective illumination of multiple light sources associated with a sink graphical element 216 are linked to a single input, those multiple light sources may be linked to a sequence of states of the input. For example, assume that instead of being associated with a user's social networking status, source graphical element 214c is associated with one or more sensors (e.g., GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, calendar, etc.) on the user's smart phone. One light source in the TV area may illuminate when the user's smart phone is within a predetermined distance of the user's home (e.g., as measured by the smart phone's GPS or other similar means). This may provide light to the user as she enters her house. Another light source in the TV area may illuminate if the user actually enters the TV area, to provide further illumination. Additionally or alternatively, multiple light sources in the TV area may be selectively illuminated to have a relatively low intensity when the user's smart phone is within a predetermined distance of the user's home, and to have a relatively high intensity when the user actually enters her home. Other selective illumination schemes may be implemented based on other sequences of a single input, or even on sequences of multiple inputs.

(25) In some embodiments, a state of an input may include whether a particular event has occurred. Selective illumination of one or more light sources associated with one or more sink graphical elements 216 that overlaps a source graphical element 214 corresponding to such an input may be based on occurrence of that event. For example, assume Bob is waiting for a text message from Tom, and that Bob needs to take a shower and does not want his phone getting wet. Bob may operate linking computing device 104 to create and/or drag a source graphical element 214 representing receipt of Tom's text message towards a sink element representing the light source near the shower. When Tom's text message arrives on Bob's phone, the source graphical element 214 on touchscreen display 212 may be selectively illuminated to have an appearance that indicates that Tom's message has arrived. Likewise, the linked light source near Bob's shower may be selectively illuminated to notify Bob that Tom's text message has arrived. In some cases, sink graphical element 216 on linking device 104 may also be selectively rendered to have an appearance indicative of the light source being selectively illuminated.

(26) In some embodiments, selective illumination of a light source may be linked to a time-shifted state of an input. For example, in the above example, assume Bob lives in a time zone that is three hours behind Tom's. If Tom sends the message at 8 am his time, the message may arrive at Bob's phone at 5 am Bob's time. Bob likely would not yet be awake, and may not wish to be disturbed at such an early hour. Accordingly, linking computing device 104 may automatically, or manually at Bob or Tom's request, add a time shift to the input representing receipt of Tom's text message so that the selective illumination of a light source that is linked to the input is delayed three hours. Of course, other time intervals may be used as delays as appropriate.

(27) As noted above, in some embodiments, multiple source graphical elements 214 may be operated so that their multiple corresponding inputs may collectively be linked to selective illumination of a light source. Those multiple inputs may collectively influence selective illumination of a light source in various ways. For example, continuing the above example, assume that two source graphical elements 214, one representing Bob's mood and the other representing his online calendar, are dragged towards a sink graphical element 216 representing a particular light source, linking it to these two inputs. While Bob's mood has a state of awake or attentive, arrival of Tom's text message may immediately trigger the light source to be illuminated in a particular manner. However, if Bob's schedule simultaneously says he is busy, which would cause illumination of the light source to be delayed until Bob's calendar indicates he is available, a conflict arises. To address this, in some embodiments, inputs may be assigned priorities. Thus, for instance, if Bob gives the course graphical element 214 representing his mood a higher priority than the source graphical element 214 representing his calendar, the light source may be illuminated in spite of the fact that Bob's calendar says he's busy.

(28) In various embodiments, a density of inputs associated with a source graphical element 214 or a group of source graphical elements 214 may be different than a density of light sources associated with a sink graphical element 216 or group thereof onto which the source graphical element(s) 214 is dragged. For instance, the sink graphical element 216 may represent a far higher number of light sources than there are inputs associated with the source graphical element(s) 214. In such case, the plurality of light sources associated with the sink graphical element(s) 216 may be selectively illuminated to interpolate data from the inputs over the plurality of light sources.

(29) For instance, assume a group of three source graphical elements 214 representing three separate inputs is dragged onto a sink graphical element 216 corresponding to control parameters for a light tile. The light tile may have many light sources (e.g., 1212 rgb pixels), whereas there are only three inputs represented by the three graphical elements. In various embodiments, a spatial or other relationship between the source graphical elements 214 may be used to interpolate how the light tile is to be selectively illuminated. In some embodiments, it may be an option for the user to see on touchscreen display 214 a representation of the three source graphical elements 214 (e.g., three pixels) or a derivation thereof (color distribution for 1212 rgb pixels) in the representation of the three source graphical elements 214 on the light tile. In some embodiments, if the reverse is truei.e. a density of inputs represented by source graphical elements 214 is greater than a density of light sources represented by a sink graphical element 216extra inputs may be used to drive lighting properties such as dynamic animation, emphasis of particular lighting properties, etc.

(30) In some embodiments, linking computing device 104 may cause an area of touchscreen display 212 to be neutral (not depicted in FIGS. 2-3). Graphical elements dragged into this neutral area may have little or no influence over other graphical elements, inputs and/or light sources. Assume a user wishes that a particular friend's social networking status have no effect on any light source. The user may drag a source graphical element 214 associated with that friends social network status to the neutral area, effectively disconnecting that input from any light source. Similarly, if the user wishes that a particular light source be unaffected by any input, the user may drag the corresponding sink graphical element 216 into the neutral area. In some embodiments, multiple graphical elements in the neutral area may not affect light sources or inputs associated with other graphical elements in neutral area.

(31) One example of an input that may be selectively linked to selective illumination of one or more light sources using techniques described herein is a sensor related to a remote user. For example, a user may drag a source graphical element 214 corresponding to a sensor associated with a user's elderly relative to a sink graphical element 216 corresponding to a particular light source. If the user does not see the light source come on (or otherwise be selectively illuminated in a particular manner) for long enough, the user may be reminded to check in on the elderly relative, to make sure everything is OK.

(32) FIG. 4 schematically depicts an example method 400 that may be implemented, e.g., by linking computing device 104, in accordance with various embodiments. At block 402, states of one or more inputs may be determined. For example, linking computing device 104 may determine a user's status or mood, e.g., from a social network, and may determine a user's current activity based on an online calendar associated with the user.

(33) At block 404, one or more source graphical elements 214 may be selectively rendered on touchscreen display 212 of linking computing device 104, based on the input states determined at block 402. The one or more source graphical elements 214 may represent inputs. As noted above, appearances the source graphical elements may be selective rendered based on the respective states of inputs. For example, if a user's mood is sad, then the corresponding source graphical element 214 may be rendered to include pixels with a color associated with sadness, e.g., blue.

(34) At block 406, states of one or more light sources may be determined. For example, linking computing device 104 may determine that a particular light source is turned on, emitting a particular color, emitting a particular coded light signal, etc. At block 408, an appearance of one or more sink graphical elements 216 may be selectively rendered on touchscreen display 212 of linking computing device 104, based on the light source states determined at block 406. For example, if a light source is on, then the corresponding sink graphical element 216 may be rendered to include pixels with bright colors, e.g., white or yellow. Likewise, if the light source is twinkling or otherwise being illuminated to emit light that coincides with effects in a movie, the corresponding sink graphical element 216 may be rendered to include pixels that correspondingly twinkle or light up to coincide with the movie effects.

(35) At block 410, an instruction to alter one of the source and sink graphical elements to be within a predetermined proximity of the other of the source and sink graphical elements on the display may be received, e.g., at touchscreen display 212 of linking computing device 104. For example, a user may touch a source or sink graphical element and drag it to another portion of touchscreen display 212, e.g., closer to or overlapping another source or sink graphical element.

(36) At block 412, selective illumination of the light source may be linked to a state of the input, e.g., while the source and sink graphical elements 214 and 216 are within the predetermined proximity (e.g., overlapping) of each other on touchscreen display 212. In some embodiments, linking computing device 104 may cause data obtained from an input represented by the source graphical element 214 such as a social network to be passed to an input of one or more light sources represented by the sink element 216. The light source may then determine how to selectively illuminate based on the data provided by linking computing device 104. In other embodiments, linking computing device 104 may include in its memory or elsewhere mappings between states of various inputs and illumination options of various light sources. These mappings may be configured by a user when the user operates source graphical elements 214 and sink graphical elements 216 as described above. Based on these mappings, linking computing device 104 may translate incoming data received from an input to an appropriate instruction to cause a particular light source to emit light with particular properties.

(37) While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

(38) All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

(39) The indefinite articles a and an, as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean at least one.

(40) The phrase and/or, as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean either or both of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with and/or should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., one or more of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the and/or clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to A and/or B, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as comprising can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

(41) As used herein in the specification and in the claims, or should be understood to have the same meaning as and/or as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, or or and/or shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as only one of or exactly one of, or, when used in the claims, consisting of, will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term or as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. one or the other but not both) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as either, one of, only one of, or exactly one of. Consisting essentially of, when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

(42) As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase at least one, in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase at least one refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.

(43) It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited. Also, reference numerals appearing in the claims, if any, are provided merely for convenience and should not be construed as limiting the claims in any way.

(44) In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as comprising, including, carrying, having, containing, involving, holding, composed of, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases consisting of and consisting essentially of shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively.