Method and Apparatus for Wireless Coordination of Tasks and Active Narrative Characterizations
First Claim
1. A system for implementing a synchronized narrative performance, comprising:
- a coordinator configured to create a wireless network of end-devices actors capable of performing synchronized commands;
an end-device actor configured to accept commands from the coordinator, and able to execute those commands relative to a central heartbeat maintained by the coordinator;
said central heartbeat maintained by the coordinator and propagated to the end-device actors.a narrative data structure configured to contain thematically linked, synchronized parts meant for performance in concert, and organized for one or more end-device actors;
a narrative sub-structure called part and configured to contain synchronized sequences meant for performance in concert, and organized for one or more end-points within one or more end-device actors;
a narrative sub-structure called sequence, and configured to contain synchronized commands meant for performance in concert, and organized for synchronous execution within an I/O device connected to targeted end-point;
a synchronized command meant to execute at a specified time for a specified duration in coordination with other commands executing in the same or other end-device actors;
a set of identifiers for each part within the narrative;
a set of capabilities for each part within the narrative;
a set of identifiers for each sequence within each part of the narrative;
a set of capabilities for each sequence within each part of the narrative;
an actor descriptor table containing the identities and capabilities of each end-device actor within the network;
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Accused Products
Abstract
A self configuring network is set up between various actors that perform individual parts of a larger task. The larger task is, for example, a narrative and the individual parts are each a portion of the narrative. Each actor is, for example, an animated character, an audio device, and/or lighting display. The actors perform individual parts assigned by a controller and on cue according to a local heartbeat. A master heartbeat is maintained at the controller and each of the actors synch update local heartbeats to the master. The self configuring network includes an option to keep the network local, such that only actors in a certain household or neighborhood participate. Alternatively, the self configuring network may coordinate any available actors within range (e.g., wireless network) or otherwise capable of communicating with the controller or other devices in the network.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A system for implementing a synchronized narrative performance, comprising:
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a coordinator configured to create a wireless network of end-devices actors capable of performing synchronized commands; an end-device actor configured to accept commands from the coordinator, and able to execute those commands relative to a central heartbeat maintained by the coordinator; said central heartbeat maintained by the coordinator and propagated to the end-device actors. a narrative data structure configured to contain thematically linked, synchronized parts meant for performance in concert, and organized for one or more end-device actors; a narrative sub-structure called part and configured to contain synchronized sequences meant for performance in concert, and organized for one or more end-points within one or more end-device actors; a narrative sub-structure called sequence, and configured to contain synchronized commands meant for performance in concert, and organized for synchronous execution within an I/O device connected to targeted end-point; a synchronized command meant to execute at a specified time for a specified duration in coordination with other commands executing in the same or other end-device actors; a set of identifiers for each part within the narrative; a set of capabilities for each part within the narrative; a set of identifiers for each sequence within each part of the narrative; a set of capabilities for each sequence within each part of the narrative; an actor descriptor table containing the identities and capabilities of each end-device actor within the network; - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of matching parts from a narrative to one or more end-device actors found in the network, comprising the steps of:
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iterating over each part from the narrative, comparing the identity of each end-device actor in said actor descriptor table to characteristics of the part, retaining for the part only those actors with suitable characteristics, comparing the capability of each end-device actor in said actor descriptor table to capabilities of the part, retaining for the part only those actors with suitable capabilities, iterating over each sequence from the part, comparing the capability of each end-device actor endpoint in said actor descriptor table to capabilities of the sequence, retaining for the sequence only those endpoints with suitable capabilities, and associating all matches within the narrative-endpoint mapping table as determined above.
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13. A method of re-synchronizing a remote master heartbeat of a coordinator with a remote heartbeat of end-device actors, comprising the steps of:
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periodically broadcasting a current master heartbeat counter number to the end-device actors; comparing the broadcast current heartbeat number to the internal heartbeat number within the end-device actors; if the heartbeat numbers do not match performing, by each of the end-device actors, one of three actions comprising; slowing the end-device actor heartbeat for a set period of time until the two counters match; speeding the end-device actor heartbeat for a set period of time until the two counters match; and jumping the end-device actor heartbeat to the same number as the master heartbeat.
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14. A method of determining a next command to transmit, comprising the steps of:
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iterating over a set of endpoints, the steps of, computing a size of a next command for an endpoint, computing a remaining command data in a buffer of the endpoint, computing a remaining buffer space in the endpoint'"'"'s buffer; and selecting the endpoint with the greatest need for its next command and sufficient space to buffer its next command. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A system, comprising:
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a series of actors configured to synchronously perform portions of a performance; wherein; each of the actors is a node in a self configuring wireless network; each actor comprises at least one of an animated character, lighting device, and sound device; and the performance is at least one of a audio performance, choreographic performance, and lighting performance. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product, comprising a readable media having instructions stored thereon, that, when loaded into a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of:
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initiating a wireless controller device; searching and identifying, via the wireless controller device, a set of wireless enabled end-devices; sending an individual part of a narrative to be performed to each end-device of the set of end-devices; and synchronizing the performances of the individual parts via a master heart beat and a set of heartbeats in the end-devices. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification