Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Robin John Blackwell

Philip Andrew Rudland

Nicoll Burleigh Shepherd

Peter J Lanigan

Neil A Hankin

Philip A Rudland

Nicoll B Shepherd

The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type () from which no other device type depends and a basic device type () from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

Network establishment and management protocol

A system for supporting entertainment distribution via at least one network comprises a content provider () for distributing a program; a metadata provider () for distributing metadata, the metadata including a content reference identifier of the program and data relating to ambience complementing the program. The system further comprises a user terminal () comprising an input () for receiving the metadata; an input () for receiving the program using the content reference identifier; a rendering unit () for rendering the received program; an ambience generator () for generating an ambient effect different from audio or video; and an ambience controller () for controlling the ambience generator synchronously with the rendering of the content, based on the received data relating to ambience complementing the program.

Distribution of ambience and content

The invention relates to a protocol for communications between networked devices. The devices are logically arranged as a hierarchy of device types including a controller device type from which no other device type depends and a basic device type from which a number of other device types depend. The devices implement a simple device description message of fixed length and format which includes the device type, and some devices further implement an extended device description message including additional information.

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Redhill, United Kingdom

Robin John Blackwell