Patent Publication Number: US-2015088283-A1

Title: Touch-less swipe control

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 
     The patent application makes reference to, claims priority to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/881,785 entitled “Touch-Less Swipe Control” filed on Sep. 24, 2013, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to electronic systems and/or networking More specifically, certain implementations of the present disclosure relate to a touch-less swipe control. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Existing methods and systems for providing device control can be costly, cumbersome and inefficient. Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such approaches with some aspects of the present method and apparatus set forth in the remainder of this disclosure with reference to the drawings. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A system and/or method is provided for a touch-less swipe control, substantially as shown in and/or described in connection with at least one of the figures, as set forth more completely in the disclosure and/or the claims. 
     These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the present disclosure, as well as details of illustrated implementation(s) thereof, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an example home network. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example touch-less swipe control. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an example flow chart of a method for an example process for managing one or more touch-less swipe controls. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates an example touch-less swipe control system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Certain implementations may be found in a method and system for a touch-less swipe control. In one embodiment, the invention provides a touch-less swipe control system for controlling a plurality of devices in a home network. The touch-less swipe control system includes a control mat configured to detect a touch-less gesture. The touch-less swipe control system also includes a processor coupled to the control mat to receive data indicative of the touch-less gesture, and to recognize if the received data is associated with i) a control and ii) which one of a plurality of devices is to be controlled in the home network. The communication transceiver, in response to having recognized that the received data is associated with i) a control and ii) which one of a plurality of devices is to be controlled in the home network, to communicate the control to the one of a plurality of devices. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a touch-less swipe control system that includes a plurality of devices, each of which is operable to perform a function. The touch-less swipe control system also includes a home network manager coupled to the plurality of devices to communicate with one or more of the plurality of devices, and a touch-less system coupled to the home network manager. The touch-less system includes a control mat to detect a touch-less gesture, a processor coupled to the control mat to receive data indicative of the touch-less gesture, and to recognize if the received data is associated with i) a control and ii) which one of a plurality of devices is to be controlled in the home network, and a communication transceiver, in response to having recognized that the received data is associated with i) a control and ii) which one of a plurality of devices is to be controlled in the home network, to communicate the received data to the home network manager. The home network manager also processes the received data, to initiate a control signal associated with the one of a plurality of devices and the received data, and to communicate the control signal to the one of a plurality of devices so as to perform the function. 
     In another embodiment, the invention provides a method of controlling a plurality of devices via a) a touch-less swipe control system remote from the plurality of devices, and b) a home network manager operable to communicate control signals to the plurality of devices in a home network. The method includes detecting at the touch-less swipe control system a touch-less gesture, and recognizing if the touch-less gesture is associated with i) a control and ii) which one of the plurality of devices is to be controlled in the home network. In response to having recognized that the touch-less gesture is associated with i) a control and ii) which one of a plurality of devices is to be controlled in the home network, transmitting the received data to the home network manager. The method also includes generating a control signal at the home network manager based on the received data, and transmitting the control signal from the home network manager to the one of a plurality of devices. 
     As utilized herein the terms “circuits” and “circuitry” refer to physical electronic components (i.e. hardware) and any software and/or firmware (“code”) which may configure the hardware, be executed by the hardware, and/or otherwise be associated with the hardware. As used herein, for example, a particular processor and memory may comprise a first “circuit” when executing a first plurality of lines of code and may comprise a second “circuit” when executing a second plurality of lines of code. As utilized herein, “and/or” means any one or more of the items in the list joined by “and/or”. As an example, “x and/or y” means any element of the three-element set {(x), (y), (x, y)}. As another example, “x, y, and/or z” means any element of the seven-element set {(x), (y), (z), (x, y), (x, z), (y, z), (x, y, z)}. As utilized herein, the terms “block” and/or “module” refer to functions than may be performed by one or more circuits. As utilized herein, the term “example” means serving as a non-limiting example, instance, or illustration. As utilized herein, the terms “for example” and “e.g.” introduce a list of one or more non-limiting examples, instances, or illustrations. As utilized herein, circuitry is “operable” to perform a function whenever the circuitry comprises the necessary hardware and code (if any is necessary) to perform the function, regardless of whether performance of the function is disabled, or not enabled, by some user-configurable setting. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example home network. Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a home network  100 . 
     The home network  100  may correspond to a location  101 . The location  101  may, for example, correspond to a residence (e.g., home, apartment) or non-residence premises (e.g., small business, school, library, factory, or the like). In this regard, the home network  100  may, for example, comprise a plurality of home network elements, such as, for example, a plurality of home network elements  120   a - 120   o.  The home network elements (e.g., home network elements  120   a - 120   o ) may, for example, comprise one or more devices, systems, fixtures, appliances, and/or other circuitry. The home network elements (e.g., home network elements  120   a - 120   o ) may comprise, for example, one or more televisions  120   a,  one or more computers (e.g., laptop computer  120   b,  desktop computer  120   c ), one or more personal and/or handheld devices (e.g., tablet  120   j,  mobile phone  120   k,  smart watch  120   m ), one or more multimedia devices and/or components (e.g., speakers  120   f ), one or more structural fixtures (e.g., windows/window blinds  120   d,  smart watch), one or more lighting and/or electrical fixtures  120   e,  one or more appliances (e.g., refrigerator  120   g ), one or more environmental sensory devices  120   h  (e.g., thermometers, humidity meters), and/or one or more security devices  120   i  (e.g., a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector, a security alarm, a motion detector) one or more sensors and/or controllers (e.g., intelligent motion sensor  120   l,  RGBW controller  120   n ) and/or other devices (e.g., touch-less swipe control  120   o ). 
     The disclosure is not limited to any particular type of a home network. Furthermore, the disclosure is not limited to any particular combination of home network elements. It is to be understood that although the network is referred to as a “home network” throughout the disclosure, the disclosure is not limited in this way. Specifically, the network may comprise any other network that may be operable to control one or more network elements. For example, the network of the disclosure (whether or not referred to as a “home network”) may be implemented in a residential, non-residential, commercial, industrial and/or any other setting. Similarly, the network elements may comprise network elements (whether or not referred to as a “home network elements”) implemented in a residential, non-residential, commercial, industrial and/or any other setting. 
     In some instances, the home network  100  may incorporate a home network manager  110 . The home network manager  110  may comprise suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and/or code for implementing various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the home network manager  110  may be configured for use in managing, servicing, and/or interacting with one or more home network elements. Although the home network manager  110  is shown in  FIG. 1  as a single and separate device, the disclosure is not limited in this way. For example, in some implementations, one or more functions of the home network manager  110  may be provided by one or more home network elements (e.g., providing user interface via tablet  120   j  and/or television  120   a ). In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the home network manager  110  may be implemented as a virtual platform, such as, for example, one or more software modules may run on, and/or utilize resources of one or more home network elements (e.g., laptop  120   b,  desktop  120   c ). 
     The home network manager  110  may be configured to communicate with one or more elements (e.g., home network devices, home network elements) in a home network. In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the home network manager  110  may be operable to communicate with one or more devices and/or systems that may be external to a home network, using, for example, optical, wired and/or wireless communication links. 
     Although the home network manager  110  is illustrated as a single device, the disclosure is not limited in this way. For example, the home network manager may comprise one or more home network manager that may each interact with one or more home network elements (e.g., home network elements  120   a - 120   o ). In an example embodiment of the disclosure, each of the one or more home network managers may be associated with particular one or more home network elements. In another example, one or more of the one or more home network managers may be associated with any one or more home network elements (e.g., home network elements within range of a particular home network manager, with best communication path). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the home network manager  110  may be implemented in an integrated or a distributed system. An integrated system may be implemented, for example, on one computer, server, machine or device, where the integrated system may be configured to perform some or all of the functions, features and/or operations of the home network manager  110  as described herein. A distributed system may be implemented with multiple components (e.g., computers, servers, machines and/or devices), where each of the multiple components may be configured to perform some or all of the functions, features and/or operations of the home network manager  110  as described herein. Each function, feature and/or operation may be implemented on one or more of the components of the distributed system. For example, a specific feature, function and/or operation may be implemented only one component of the distributed system or it may be implemented across multiple components of the distributed system. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, in addition to or instead of the use of one or more home network managers, the home network  100  may comprise one or more master controllers for controlling one or more home network elements. A master controller may be pre-programmed and/or programmable to control one or more home network elements. A master controller may comprise, for example, a remote controller. 
     Although the disclosure may refer to a single home network manager, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in this way. For example, the home network manager may comprise one or more home network managers that individually and/or in the aggregate may be implemented as integrated and/or a distributed system. 
     The home network manager  110  may interact with one or more of the home network elements  120   a - 120   o  via corresponding links  130   a - 130   o,  which may be supported by the home network manager  110  and/or the corresponding home network element(s). For example, the links  130   a - 130   o  may be implemented and/or configured to operate using a wireless protocol, such as, for example, a Z-wave protocol. In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the home network  100  may be implemented as Z-Wave network. However, the disclosure is not limited in this way. For example, the home network  110  may comprise one or more wired and/or wireless links and/or protocol. Wireless links and/or protocols, may comprise, for example, WPAN (e.g., Bluetooth or ZigBee), low power links (e.g., Bluetooth LE (BLE), Bluetooth Smart, iBeacon), near field communication protocols (e.g., NFC) and/or WLAN (WiFi/802.11) protocols and/or any other wireless links and/or protocols suitable for implementation consistent with the disclosure. Wired protocols and/or links may comprise, for example, Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/or any other wired links and/or protocols suitable for implementation consistent with the disclosure. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, home network manager  110  may interact with one or more home network elements (e.g., home network elements) directly and/or indirectly. For example, the home network manager  110  may interact with one or more home network elements directly through a corresponding link (e.g., wireless, wired link/connection). 
     In another example, the home network manager  110  may interact with one or more home network elements indirectly though, for example, a converter (e.g., global cache). In this regard, the home network manager  110  that supports one or more particular network interfaces and/or other interfaces (e.g., USB) may be operable to interact with a particular network element (and/or another device) that may otherwise be incompatible with one or more of the one or more particular network and/or other interfaces supported by the home network manger  110 . The interaction may be achieved though, for example, a converter and/or a translator. The converter and/or the translator may each comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may be operable to facilitate communication between a home network manager (e.g., the home network manger  110 ) and a home network element (home network elements  120   a - 120   o ). 
     In another example, the home network manager  110  may interact with one or more home network elements indirectly though, for example, other network elements. In this regard, the home network manager  110  may interact with one or more home network elements on, for example, a mesh network. An example mesh network (not shown) may facilitate communication (e.g., transmission of messages, signals, data frames) to and/or from the home network manager (e.g., the home network manager  110 ) to and/or from a particular network element where the communication may, for example, pass through one or more other network elements before reaching the particular network element and/or the home network manager. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the home network manager  110  may be operable to support one or more communication methods from one or more other home network devices (e.g., home network elements  120   a - 120   o ). For example, one or more home network elements may communicate with the home network manager  110  utilizing a particular wireless link and/or protocol (e.g., Z-wave) and/or a particular wired link and/or protocol (e.g., Ethernet), while one or more other home network elements may communicate with the home network manager  110  utilizing a different particular wireless link and/or protocol (e.g., WiFi) and/or a different particular wired link and/or protocol (e.g., USB). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the same one or more home network elements may communicate with the home network manager  110  by, for example, using one or more wired and/or wireless links and/or protocols at the same and/or at different times. For example, a particular network element may communicate with the home network manager  110  using a Z-Wave communication protocol for a particular communication and may communicate with the home network manager  110  using a WiFi communication protocol for another particular communication. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, one or more home network elements (e.g., home network elements  120   a - 120   o ) may communicate with one or more home network elements (e.g., home network elements  120   a - 120   o ) directly. In this regard, the one or more network elements may utilize one or more communication links (e.g., wireless, wired) (not shown) and/or one or more network interfaces and/or other interfaces without directing (e.g., routing the communication thought, for example, a home network manager (e.g., the home network manger  110 ). For example, a home network element may be operable to detect existence of one or more other network elements (e.g., on the same and/or different network) and may initiate, send and/or receive communication to and/or from the one or more other network elements. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, one network element may be out of range of a home network manager and may communicate with one or more other network elements to determine whether the one or more other network elements are within range of a particular (e.g., a home network manager previously within range of the one network element) and/or any network manager. The range detection and/or discovery may continue from one network element to another. For example, a particular home network element may need to communicate through more than one other home network element in order to, for example, communicate with a desired home network element and/or a desired, particular and/or any home network manager (e.g., the home network manager  110 ). The disclosure is not limited to a communication for a purpose of range discovery/detection. The communication may comprise any type of communication and may be used for a variety of other purposes (e.g., communicating with a different network element, communicating with a home network manager, controlling an out of range device, controlling another network element). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, one or more home network elements (e.g., home networks elements  120   a - 120   o ) may be operable to control one or more other home network elements (e.g., home networks elements  120   a - 120   o ) with and/or without intermediary, such as, for example, a home network manager (e.g., home network manager). For example, one or more home network elements may be operable to control one or more other home network elements through an intermediary. In this regard, a particular network element may communicate with an intermediary (e.g., home network manager) in order to communicate with and/or to control another home networks element. An intermediary may comprise one or more devices (e.g., a preprogrammed and/or programmable master controller, home network manager) that may be operable to control one or more network elements. In another example, a particular network element may directly communicate with and/or to control another home networks element. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, one or more home network elements (e.g. home network elements  120   a - 120   o ) and/or other devices that may be operable to communicate on the network (and/or an associated network as described herewith) and/or that may not be operable to communicate on the network but may otherwise be tractable (e.g., GPS, iBeacon, electronic tag), with one or more other network elements, devices and/or a network manager (e.g., home network manager  110 ) associated with a particular network (e.g., home network  100 ) (and/or an associated network as described herewith), may communicate with each other, other devices (e.g., on the same network, another network and/or otherwise connected and/or tractable) and/or the network manager, and/or may be operable to determine a precise location of a particular network element, device and/or network manager utilizing various communication protocols and/or interfaces. 
     For example, one or more network elements (and/or other devices operable on the network, an associated network as described herewith and/or otherwise traceable) may be operable to generate and/or receive information and/or one more signals and/or messages that may be utilized in determining a location of a particular network element, device and/or network manager. In this regard, a near field communication and/or a low power interface protocol (e.g., BLE, iBeacon) may be utilized for communication between the elements, devices and/or network managers. Furthermore, one more tags (e.g., small electronic devices) may be utilized, to facilitate location of particular elements, devices and/or network managers. For example, a network element, device and/or home network manager may generate a signal and/or a message (on the network, on an associated network and/or through a built in, external, portable and/or otherwise attachable tag) that may be received by another network element, device and/or network manager. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, one or more home network elements, devices and/or manager may cooperate (e.g., exchange information) to, for example, collectively and/or individually determine a precise location of a particular network elements, device and/or network manager based on the received one or more signals and/or messages. As an example only, a particular network element, device and/or home network manager may generate a signal and/or a message that may be received by other network element, device and/or home network device within a particular time frame. The information about the time it took to, for example, receive the particular one or more signals and/or messages (and/or the information gather from the one or more signals and/or messages, such as, for example, signal strength) may be used to determine the precise location (e.g., distance to/from the network element, device, network manager that received the particular one or more signals and/or message) of the particular network element, device and/or network manager. 
     In operation, the home network manager  110  may be operable to manage a home network (e.g., the home network  100 ). The home network manager  110  may be utilized, for example, as an interface platform for interacting with various network elements (e.g., the home network elements  120   a - 120   o ). In this regard, the home network manager  110  may support establishing and/or configuring one or more communication connections/links (e.g., the links  130   a - 130   o ) with the one or more elements of the home network  110 . Once established, the connectivity between the home network manager  110  and the home network elements (e.g., network elements  120   a - 120   o ) may, for example, be utilized to enable centralized monitoring, control, and/or management of the home network elements, and/or of the home network  100  as a whole. For example, the home network manager  110  may be operable to control operations of certain elements (e.g., turn on television  120   a,  switch to particular channel(s) at particular days/times, and/or record if recording is supported); monitor environment in the home network, such as by obtaining environmental readings (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.) via example environmental sensory devices  120   h,  and may process these readings (e.g., to determine if/when to adjust other home network elements accordingly); adjust one or more example lighting and/or electrical fixtures  120   e  (e.g., turn lights on or off); lower/raise example window blinds  120   d;  adjust operations of example appliances (e.g., refrigerator  120   g ), such as, for example, based on a preconfigured power efficiency/optimization profile; monitor for any indications of a security/safety problem, based on, for example, input from example security devices  120   i,  and/or act accordingly (e.g., send notifications to users, such as by texting example smartphone  120   k,  and/or automatically notify authorities, e.g., by dialing ‘911’ and/or contacting preconfigured emergency numbers). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the home network manager  110  may provide and/or utilize user interface services in the home network. In this regard, the home network manager  110  may be operable to support use of user interface functions, and/or to generate and/or store information corresponding thereto, which may be utilized to enable interactions between the home network manager  110  and users (e.g., in the home network  100 ). For example, in some implementations, the home network manager  110  may be configured to generate and/or use a graphic user interface (GUI), for visually displaying information and/or providing interactivity with users (e.g., for providing input thereby). One or more user interfaces may enable configuring the home network manager  110  and/or functions provided by the home network manager  110 . In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the one or more user interfaces may enable user interaction with, configuring and/or adjusting other elements in the home network  100  (e.g., elements connected to the home network manager  110 ). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the user interfaces may be provided via one or more other devices that may be communicatively coupled to the home network manager  110 . For example, a GUI generated and/or used by the home network manager  110  may be displayed using existing home network elements, such as, for example, television  120   a,  laptop  120   b,  tablet  120   j,  and/or smartphone  120   k.    
     The disclosure is not limited to a single network (e.g., home network  100 ) and/or a single network manager (e.g., home network manager  110 ). For example, one or more networks (e.g., home network  100 ) and/or one or more network managers (e.g., home network manager  110 ) may be grouped together. The grouping may correspond to one or more locations (e.g., location  101 ). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, a network (e.g., home network  100 ) may be associated with one or more network managers (e.g., home network manager  110 ). For example, one network manager may be associated with one or more networks (e.g., home network  100 ) and/or locations (e.g., location  101 ), 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, a grouping of networks may comprise one or more network, network managers and/or locations. The grouping may be programmable and/or configurable. For example, one more networks may be defined, one or more network managers may be assigned per network and/or associated with one or more devices with a network and/or a network manager. In this regard, the information may be shared between the different networks, network managers and/or devices assigned to the different networks and/or network managers. For example, information gathered on one network (e.g., by a network device, through an occurrence of a condition, event, an alarm, and/or other predefined and/or preconfigured condition) may cause the information to be communicated on the same and/or another associated network. In this regard, the information may trigger a condition, an alarm, an occurrence of an event and/or any other predefined and/or preconfigured condition (e.g., operation of a device, network element) on the same and/or another associated network 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, one or more home network elements (e.g., home network elements  120   a - 120   o ) may be configured to provide enhanced functionality, especially in the context of the home network provided by home network managers (e.g., the home network manager  110 ). For example, rather than utilizing a typical control interface, an enhanced touch-less swipe control may be utilized, such as to provide enhanced device control functions, device interface functions and/or other functions in a home network (e.g., the home network  100 ). An example touch-less swipe control is depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example touch-less swipe control. Referring to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a touch-less swipe control  200 . 
     The touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and/or code for implementing various aspects of the present disclosure. The touch-less swipe control  200  may be implemented and/or configured to provide enhanced touch-less control and/or related functions. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to receive and/or process control gestures. In this regard, touch-less swipe control  200  may issue a control command in response to a control gesture. In an another embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to receive and/or process the control gestures and may be operable to communicate control gesture data to a network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ) for further processing. In this regard, the network manager may issue a control command in response to a control gesture data received from the touch-less swipe control  200  and/or it may communicate control command data back to touch-less swipe control  200  for the touch-less swipe control  200  to issue a control command to a particular network element to which the control gesture was directed. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to learn, recognize and/or respond to custom control gestures. For example, touch-less swipe control  200  may be programmable with custom gestures. The touch-less swipe control  200  may receive and/or process the customer gestures and/or a user indication of a particular command and/or device that the custom gesture may be applicable to. In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the custom gestures may be stored within the touch-less swipe control  200  and/or within a network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 .) 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be designed and/or built as an ultra-light device, with efficient and reliable power supply (e.g., driving power directly from electrical grid, and/or by incorporating efficient and/or long lasting 12/24 VDC batteries and/or other batteries and/or power sources). 
     For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to provide functionality consistent with the disclosure while operating on battery power. For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise a built-in and/or replaceable battery (not shown) that may support the operation of the touch-less swipe control  200  during, for example, a power outage. 
     The touch-less swipe control  200  may be configured for operation on a home network (e.g., home network  100  as depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 1 ), such that, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be utilized as a home network element. In this regard, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be configured to interact, for example, in a home network (e.g., home network  100  as depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 1 ) with, for example, a home network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ). The home network manager may be substantially similar to the home network manager  110  as depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
     For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be configured to interact with the home network manager  210  via a communication link  220 . The communication link  220  may, for example, comprise a Z-Wave link. The disclosure is not limited to any particular type of a communication link. For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be implemented to support, for example one or more wireless and/or wired links, protocols and/or connections. For example, wireless links, protocols and/or connections, may comprise, for example, WPAN (e.g., Bluetooth or ZigBee) and/or WLAN (WiFi/802.11) protocols and/or any other wireless links, protocols and/or connections suitable for implementation consistent with the disclosure. Wired links, protocols and/or connections may comprise, for example, Ethernet, Universal Serial Bus (USB), and/or any other wired links, protocols and/or connections suitable for implementation consistent with the disclosure. While not shown in  FIG. 2 , to support communication with other elements or systems, such as the home network manager  210 , the touch-less swipe control  200  may incorporate a communication transceiver (e.g., a Z-Wave transceiver) and/or related processing resources for allowing use of the touch-less swipe control  200 . In en example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise an internal and/or an external antenna for communicating with other devices (e.g., devices on the network, network elements  120   a - 120   n,  home network manager  210 ). 
     The touch-less swipe control  200  may incorporate various features for providing enhanced device control related functions and/or operations. In this regard, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be designed and/or configured to perform as an extremely compact, intelligent and/or sophisticated control device for controlling one or more network elements (e.g., network elements  120   a - 120   k ) that may be connected to a home network (e.g., home network  100 ). For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to allow control of one or more network elements (e.g., network elements  120   a - 120   k ), through gestures such that a user may not have to touch the touch-less swipe control  200  in order to activate a particular functionality of the touch-less swipe control  200 , and/or other home network functionality. 
     The touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to detect a control gesture (e.g., through a control mat, such as, for example, control mat  230 , through one or more motion sensor(s), such as, for example, motion sensor(s)  240 ). In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to control one or more networks elements (e.g., networks elements  120   a - 120   k ). For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to control one or more networks elements in response to, for example, a control gesture, through direct and/or indirect control of a particular network element. The touch-less swipe control  200  may control the particular network element by sending a control command to the particular network element. In the alternative, the touch-less swipe control  200  may control the particular network element indirectly through, for example, a network manager (e.g., home network manger  210 ). For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may communicate with the network manager and/or may request from the network manager to control the particular network element in response to, for example, the control gesture. 
     In an example implementation of the disclosure, the touch-control swipe control  200  may be operable to receive feedback in response to a control command. For example, the touch-control swipe control  200  may initiate a control command to, for example, close window blinds (and/or any other control command). It this example, it may be desirable, for the touch-less swipe control  200  to receive feedback from a network element to which the command was sent to communicate back to the touch-less swipe control  200 , for example, that the command had (or had not) been successfully carried out. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, when the command was sent to a network manager (e.g., and not directly to a network element), the network manager may initiate one or more commands for carrying out the control command (e.g., closing window blinds) by controlling a network device that may be associated with the particular control command. The network manager may be operable to receive a response from the particular network device indicative of whether the command was successfully carried out (e.g., the window blinds were closed). The network manager may communicate with the touch-less swipe control  200 . For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may receive from the network manager information and/or data (e.g., on or more messages) that be indicative of whether the control command had been carried out successfully (e.g., window blinds were closed). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may, for example, in response to the feedback from the network manager, issue a visual and/or audible indication to the user who initiated the control command (and/or issue an indication to another device, such as, for example, a smartphone, a tablet) indicative of whether the command was successfully carried out. For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may generate an audio signal (e.g., though an internal and/or external speaker (not shown)) and/or it may initiate a display of the information on a screen (e.g., screen  250 ), where the information may be indicative of whether the command was successfully carried out. 
     In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may communicate directly with a network element (e.g., without first communicating with a network manager) and/or may obtain feedback information directly from the network element to which a control command was issued. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to control a control network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ). For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may issue a control command to the network manager in repose to, for example, a control gesture, in order to control functionality specific to the network manager (e.g., activate user communication alerts, such as, for example, text message alerts). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to control the functionality of the touch-less swipe control  200  itself. For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to receive and/or process control gestures that may be directed to controlling the touch-less swipe control  200  functionality, such as, for example, gesture detection range, screen (e.g., screen  250 ) control, etc. 
     In an example embodiment, the touch-less swipe control  200  may incorporate a control mat  230 . The control mat may comprise one or more motion sensors  240 . 
     The one or more motion sensors  240  may comprise suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and/or code for implementing various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the one or more motion sensors  240  may comprise one or more near-field sensors, photo sensors, radio sensors and/or other sensors and/or circuitry that may be operable to detect control gestures consistent with the disclosure. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise one or more control mats (e.g., control mat  230 ) that may be communicatively coupled to the touch-less swipe control  200 . In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the one or more control mats may be placed in various locations of, for example, a home in order to facilitate control of one or more network elements (e.g., network elements  120   a - 120   k ) that may be placed in the vicinity of the particular control mat and/or that may be intended to be controlled by a particular control mat. For example, a control mat (e.g., control mat  250 ) may be placed under a table (e.g., glass table), behind a mirror, behind a wall paper, embedded in, for example, granite countertop and/or placed behind and or within other objects and/or materials that may visually (e.g., partially and/or fully) conceal the control mat. In this regard, a user gesture made in the proximity of the object (e.g., table, mirror, wall, countertop) may active desired feature of a home manager, one or more network elements and/or the touch-less swipe control  200  itself. For example, a user may be able to perform a particular gesture to arm an alarm, turn on/off a television, close window blinds, etc. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the one or more control mats may be implemented in different sizes and/or different number and/or types of sensors. The size and/or the type and/or number of sensors may determine the proximity of control gestures that may be detectable the control mat. For example, a larger mat may be operable to detect control gestures from a further distance and/or through a thicker material (e.g., granite). However, the disclosure is not limited in this way. Other implementation consistent with the disclosure may be utilized where the size and/or the number and/or types of sensor of the control mat may not be determinative of the sensitivity of the control mat with respect to the maximum distance for detecting control gestures. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  and/or one of the one or more control mats (e.g., control mat  230 ) may be made out of flexible material and/or rigid material such that placing the touch-less swipe control  200  and/or one of the one or more control mats within or behind certain objects may be, for example, more easily implemented. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise one or more ambient sensors (not shown), such as, for example, a temperature and/or a humidity sensor, etc. The information and/or data generated by the one or more ambient sensors may be processed by the touch-less swipe control device  200 . The information and/or data (processed or unprocessed) may be communicated by the touch-less swipe control  200  to, for example, a network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ) and/or any other device (e.g., a mobile phone  120   k ). 
     In an example embodiment, the touch-less swipe control  200  may incorporate a screen  250 . The screen  250  may be operable to display information and/or data related to the operation and/or functionality of the touch-less swipe control  200 . For example, the screen  250  may be operable to display information and/or data related to the status of the touch-less swipe control  200  (e.g., on/off, within network manager range), control commands (e.g., control command issued, processed), ambient conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity) and/or any other information and/or data that may be relevant to the operation of the touch-less swipe control  200 , a home network (e.g., home network  100 ), a network manager (e.g., network manager  210 ) and/or any other device that may be connected (and/or was at any time connected) on the home network (e.g., network elements  120   a - 120   k ). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the screen  250  may be operable to display a visual control command feedback. For example, when a user performs a gesture associated with a particular control command, the touch-less swipe control  200  may display information and/or data that may be indicative of whether the command was recognized and/or processed. For example, the screen  250  may be operable to display text and/or other graphical information that may indicate to the user whether the command was recognized, processed and/or needs to be confirmed. 
     The disclosure is not limited to any particular screen. For example the screen may be implemented as part of the touch-less swipe control  200  and/or as a virtual platform, such as, for example, one or more software modules that may run on, and/or utilize resources of one or more existing home network elements (e.g., laptop  120   b  or desktop  120   c ) and/or a network manager (e.g., network manger  210 ). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to receive, process and/or generate a voice command and/or feedback. For example, if a user issues a gesture control command (e.g., to arm an alarm), the touch-less swipe control  200  may acknowledge receipt of the command with an audible feedback (e.g., tone pattern/sequence, other voice message, such as, for example, “the alarm will be armed in 60 seconds”). In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may request that a user confirm that the user intended a particular command to be carried out, by for example generating a voice feedback (e.g., voice message, such as, for example, “are you sure you want to arm the alarm?”). The touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to receive and/or process user response to the feedback. For example, a particular gesture may be used by a user to confirm the command and another particular gesture may be used by a user to cancel the request. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to receive a cancelation gesture even if the touch-less swipe control  200  did not issue a feedback request for a confirmation of a command. 
     Although the touch-less swipe control is illustrated as a separate device, the disclosure is not limited in this way. For example, touch-less swipe control  200  may be implemented as a part of another device, such as, for example, a home thermostat, to network manager, etc. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the functionality of the touch-less swipe control  200  associated with, for example, command control confirmation, may be implemented through visual feedback. For example, information indicative of a need for a user to confirm a command initiated with a particular command gesture may be solicited through for example display of particular information on a screen (e.g., screen  250 ). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may carry out a control command when, for example, the user does not confirm the command within a pre-defined and/or per-configured time interval. In another embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may cancel the control command if, for example, the user does not confirm that the command should be carried out within a pre-determined and/or pre-configured time interval. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to provide a user with functionality to, for example, set and/or program which particular control command(s) require a command confirmation, what the pre-determined and/or pre-configured time interval should be and/or whether the command should be automatically confirmed and/or automatically cancelled on the lapse of the time interval. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise an input/output (“I/O”) interface (not shown). The I/O interface may comprise suitable logic, circuitry, interfaces, and/or code that may be operable to enable user interactions with the touch-less swipe control  200  through interfaces other than, for example, the control gestures consistent with the disclosure. The I/O interface may, obtain input from user(s) of the touch-less swipe control  200  and/or provide output to the user(s). The I/O interface may support various types of inputs and/or outputs, including, for example, video, audio, and/or textual. In this regard, dedicated I/O devices and/or components, external to or integrated within the touch-less swipe control  200 , may be utilized for inputting and/or outputting data during operations of the I/O interface. Exemplary (external or integrated) I/O devices may comprise displays, mice, keyboards, touchscreens, voice input interfaces, and other input/output interfaces or devices. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may provide other wired and/or wireless interfaces that may enable one or more devices to connect to a home network (e.g., home network  100 ) and/or home network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ). For example, if the network manager provides connectivity of various devices to a home network, for example, based on a Z-Wave protocol, the touch-less swipe control  200  may, for example, contain suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and/or code that may enable a particular device that, for example, may not be compatible with the example Z-Wave protocol (and/or any other particular protocol that the network manager supports) to connect to the network manager and/or the home network. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to communicate with a network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ). The touch-less swipe control  200  may communicate, to the network manager, information and/or data relating to, for example, status of the touch-less swipe control and/or any devices that may connected to and/or in communication with the touch-less swipe control  200 . The communications may comprise status information, alarm conditions and/or any other information that may be relevant to the operation of the touch-less swipe control  200  and/or any other information that may be relevant to the operation of a home network. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may also receive communications from the network manager. The communications may, for example, comprise information relating to alarm conditions and/or information comprising commands that may be executed on the touch-less swipe control. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may incorporate a wireless range tester (not shown) that may be operable to, for example, determine whether the touch-less swipe control  200  is within a range of a home network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ). In this regard, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to generate an alarm condition when the touch-less swipe control  200  is not within a rage on any home network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ) and/or when the touch-less swipe control  200  that, for example, was previously within the range of a (e.g., home network manager  210 ), is now outside of that range. In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the alarm condition may active one or more alarm indicators to generate indicate an alarm condition by, for example, generating an audible and/or a visual alarm. In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the alarm condition may be indicated on a screen (e.g., screen  250 ). 
     In another example embodiment of the disclosure, the home network manager  210  may be operable to generate an alarm condition, when for example, the touch-less swipe control that, for example, was previously within the range of the home network manager  210 , is now outside of that range. 
     In another example embodiment of the disclosure, wireless range tester may indicate whether the touch-less swipe control  200  is in range, is in an intermediate range and/or is out of range of a home network manager, if the touch-less swipe control  200  communicates wirelessly. The in range indication may, for example, be associated with a condition where the touch-less swipe control  200  may establish a direct connection with a home network manager (e.g., home network manager  210 ) and whether or not a direct communication is desirable (e.g., the touch-less swipe control  200  may, for example, communicate with the home network manager utilizing other network elements although a direct communication would be possible). The in an intermediate range condition may, for example, be associated with a condition where the touch-less swipe control  200  may not establish a direct connection with a home network manager (e.g., the home network manager  210 ) but may establish an indirect communication with the home network manager (e.g., through other network elements). The out of range indication may, for example be associated with a condition where the touch-less swipe control  200  may not be able to establish either a direct and/or in direct communication with a home network manager (e.g., the home network manager  210 ). 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may indicate whether the touch-less swipe control is in range (e.g., direct, indirect) and/or out of range through one or more audio and/or visual indicators. The indicators may be, for example, integrated with and/or external to the touch-less swipe control  200 . For example, the touch-less swipe control may comprise an external visual indicator (e.g., LED, RGB, RGBW light) that may be operable to display the status of the touch-less swipe control  200  with respect to the range through different colors and/or illumination schemes. For example, a visual indicator may display a different color depending on the in-range status (e.g., one color may indicate that the touch-less swipe control  200  is in a direct range, a second color may indicate that the touch-less swipe control  200  is in indirect range and/or a third color may indicate that the touch-less swipe control  200  is out of range). In another example, the visual indicator may blink at different frequencies, illuminate without blinking and/or be operable to display different illumination schemes depending on the in-range status of the video gateway device. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise other suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and/or code for implementing various aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may comprise a memory and/or a processor. 
     The memory may store, for example, configuration data, which may comprise parameters and/or code, comprising software and/or firmware. The memory may comprise different memory technologies, including, for example, read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), random access memory (RAM), low latency nonvolatile memory, flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), and/or other suitable electronic data storage capable of storing data, code and/or other information. 
     In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the touch-less swipe control  200  may be operable to receive software and/or firmware updates. For example, the touch-less swipe control  200  may receive software and/or firmware updates from a network manager (e.g., the home network manager  210 ). In an example embodiment of the disclosure the software and/or hardware updates may be received, processed and/or installed automatically and/or manually. For example, the process may be completely automatic (e.g., a network manager may send an update to the touch-less swipe control and the touch-less swipe control may process it automatically), semi-automatic (e.g., an update may be initiated by a user through, for example, a network manager and/or through an interface on the touch-less swipe control, and may, for example, be processed by the touch-less swipe control automatically) and/or manual (e.g., an update may be initiated by a user through, for example, a network manager and/or through an interface on the touch-less swipe control, and may, for example, be processed by the touch-less swipe control in response to a user action indicative of a desire to install the particular update (e.g., through an interface)). 
     The processor may comprise suitable circuitry, interfaces, logic, and/or code that may be operable to process data, and/or control and/or manage components, operations and/or functions of the touch-less swipe control  200 , and/or tasks performed therein. In this regard, the processor may configure and/or control operations of various components and/or subsystems of the touch-less swipe control  200 , such as, for example, the memory, the communication subsystem (e.g., for communicating with, for example, the home network manager  210 ), the control mat  230 , the motion sensor(s)  240  and/or the screen  250 , etc. by utilizing, one or more control signals. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an example flow chart of a method for an example process for managing one or more touch-less swipe controls. Referring to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a flow chart  300  comprising a plurality of example steps. 
     In example step  302 , a touch-less swipe control (e.g., the touch-less swipe control  200  as depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 2 ) may connect with a home network manager (e.g., the home network manager  210  as depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 2 ). The connection may comprise a communication link (e.g., the communication link  220  as depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 2 ), such as, for example, a Z-Wave link. The connection may comprise one or more types of wireless and/or wired connections. The connecting may, in some instances, comprise determining whether the touch-less swipe control is within range of the home network manager. In this regard, the touch-less swipe control may incorporate a wireless range tester for determining whether the touch-less swipe control is within a range of a home network manager as described with respect to  FIG. 2 , for example. 
     In example step  304 , the touch-less swipe control may monitor proximity environment (e.g., within a pre-defined and/or preconfigured plane and/or space) for control gestures, which may comprise, for example, pre-defined and/or pre-configured gestures. In this regard, the touch-less swipe control may utilize one or more sensors, such as, for example, motion sensor(s) (e.g., motion sensor(s)  240  depicted in and/or described with respect to  FIG. 2 ). 
     In example step  306 , it may be determined whether a control gesture is detected, and in instances where no control gesture is detected, the process may loop back to the example step  304  for continuing and/or periodic monitoring. Returning to the example step  306 , in instances where a control gesture is detected, the process may proceed to example step  308 . 
     In example step  308 , one or more control commands may be generated. The control commands may comprise data and/or information, such as, for example, messages, that may be sent to a network manager (e.g., home network manager  201 ) and/or one or more network elements (e.g., network elements  120   a - 120   k ) for controlling the network manager and/or the one or more network elements, respectively. In an example embodiment of the disclosure, the control commands may comprise commands designed for controlling the touch-less swipe control (e.g., commands for programming new control commands/gestures for operating a home network manager, a network element and/or the touch-less swipe control). 
     In example step  310 , feedback may be received and/or processed from the control commands generated in the example step  308 . For example, in response to some control commands, it may be desirable to receive a command feedback. The feedback may be utilized to alert the user who initiated the control command of whether the command has been successfully carried out and/or in order to solicit from the user a confirmation whether a particular control command should be carried out. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example touch-less swipe control system  400  (similar to the touch-less swipe control  200  of  FIG. 2 ) for use with a plurality of elements or devices similar to the elements  120   a - 120   k  of  FIG. 1  in a home network similar to the home network  100  of  FIG. 1 . The touch-less swipe control system  400  includes a control mat  404  similar to the control mat  230  of  FIG. 2 . The control mat  404  may include a plurality of motion sensors  408  similar to the motion sensors  240  of  FIG. 2   
     When a user (not shown) motions a touch-less gesture proximate the control mat  404 , the motion sensors  408  detects the touch-less gesture. In this regard, the touch-less swipe control system  400  includes a processor  412  to receive data indicative of the detected touch-less gesture and determines or recognizes if the received data is a control command that is previously programmed. In the embodiment shown, the processor  412  determines or recgonizes if the received data is a control command based on information retrieved from a memory  416 . For example, in the embodiment shown, the memory  416  includes control commands associated with rotational gestures  420 , vertical gestures  424 , horizontal gestures  428  and diagonal gestures  432 . In some embodiments, the control command associated each type of gestures registered in the memory  416  includes an identity of a device that is to be controlled. For example, a rotational gesture may be associated with a control command for a structural fixture such as the window blinds  120   d  of  FIG. 1 , a vertical gesture may be associated with a control command for an electrical fixture  120   e  of  FIG. 1 , and horizontal gesture may be associated with a control command for the television  120   a  of  FIG. 1 . In some embodiments, each control command may include information such as, for example, an amount of time to activate a corresponding device, an amount of time to receive a feedback signal from a corresponding device, a type of activation of a corresponding device based on further details with a particular gesture, and the like. For example, a clockwise rotational gesture may be associated with a control command to roll up the the window blinds  120   d  of  FIG. 1 , while a counterwise rotational gesture may be associated with a control command to roll down the the window blinds  120   d  of  FIG. 1 . In other embodiments, the memory  416  may also include other control commands. 
     After the processor  412  has recognized that touch-less gesture detected is associated with a retrieved control command, the processor  412  may communicate the control command to a communication circuitry  436  for further communication. For example, if the control command is a direct command, the communication circuitry  436  may communicate the direct command to a corresponding device defined by the type of gestures. Specifically, the communication circuitry  436  may include a transceiver  440  to transmit and receive information to/from a home network manager  110  of  FIG. 1 . In other embodiments, the communication circuitry  436  may also include a communication interface  444 , such as, for example, a universal-serial-bus (USB) receptacle (not shown) coupled to the example touch-less swipe control system  400  so as to communicate information to/from the coupled device. 
     In some embodiments, the example touch-less swipe control system  400  may also communicate the control command and/or the detected touch-less gesture to the home network manager  110  of  FIG. 1  for indirect, optional and/or additional processing. For example, in some embodiments, the control command may include a destination device that is to be activated with a specific gesture. In such cases, the example touch-less swipe control system  400  may not directly control the destination device. Instead, the example touch-less swipe control system  400  may communicate the control command and/or the specific gesture to the home network manager  110  of  FIG. 1 . In turn, the home network manager  110  of  FIG. 1  determines a second control command from the control command and/or the specific gesture, and communicates either wired or wirelessly to the destination device for further control. In this way, a user may program the home network manager  110  of  FIG. 1  and the example touch-less swipe control system  400  to perform one or more functions with a destination device that may not be proximate to a corresponding control mat. For example, a clockwise rotational gesture with finger movements may result in an additional control command to roll up the the window blinds  120   d  of  FIG. 1  in a different part of the location  100  of  FIG. 1  that is remote from the example touch-less swipe control system  400 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the example touch-less swipe control system  400  also includes a timer  448  that may count a predetermined amount of time or interval of time elapsed since a particular control command has been communicated. In some cases, if the example touch-less swipe control system  400  does not receive a feedback from a corresponding device within the predetermined interval, the processor  412  may generate a cancellation signal (not shown). For example, the communication circuitry  436  may communicate the cancellation signal to the corresponding device to cancel the previously communicated control command, via the transceiver  440  or the communication interface  444 . 
     However, if a feedback is received from the corresponding device within the predetermined interval, the processor  412  may cause a user interface  452  to present an indication the feedback that the control command has been carried out in the corresponding device. For example, the user interface  452  may include a screen  456  to display a status of the feedback that the control command has been carried out in the corresponding device. Similarly, the user interface  452  may include an audio device  460  to audibly announce a status of the feedback that the control command has been carried out in the corresponding device. 
     In some embodiments, the example touch-less swipe control system  400  may be programmed or trained to detect one or more touch-less gestures thereby controlling one or more other devices to perform one or more functions. For example, a user may program the example touch-less swipe control system  400  to recognize a specific touch-less gesture for controlling a specific device via the home network manager  110  of  FIG. 1 . In other embodiments, a user may also be able to program the example touch-less swipe control system  400  to recognize a specific touch-less gesture for controlling a specific device directly. For example, the user interface  452  may include other input devices, for example, a keyboard (not shown). In such cases, the user may be able to program a specific function to be performed by a specific device identified through the keyboard and one or more touch-less gesture detected by the control mat  404 . For example, a user may further differentiate a left-to-right diagonal gesture similar to the diagonal gesture  432  to associate with activating a remote audio device through the keyboard. Similarly, a user may further differentiate a right-to-left diagonal gesture similar to the diagonal gesture  432  to associate with deactivating a television through the keyboard. 
     Other implementations may provide a non-transitory computer readable medium and/or storage medium, and/or a non-transitory machine readable medium and/or storage medium, having stored thereon, a machine code and/or a computer program having at least one code section executable by a machine and/or a computer, thereby causing the machine and/or computer to perform the steps as described herein for a touch-less swipe control. 
     Accordingly, the present method and/or system may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present method and/or system may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least one computer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other system adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a general-purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
     The present method and/or system may also be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
     While the present method and/or apparatus has been described with reference to certain implementations, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the present method and/or apparatus. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from its scope. Therefore, it is intended that the present method and/or apparatus not be limited to the particular implementations disclosed, but that the present method and/or apparatus will include all implementations falling within the scope of the appended claims.