AU2017217253A1

AU2017217253A1 - Method and system for lighting street furniture

Info

Publication number: AU2017217253A1
Application number: AU2017217253A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leonard LUXFORD
Original assignee: Xorro Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Xorro Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2016-02-11
Filing date: 2017-02-11
Publication date: 2018-10-04
Also published as: WO2017136899A3; WO2017136899A2

Abstract

An article of street furniture comprises a trigger device integral to the article and receptive to one or more stimuli; one or more lights; and a communicator for communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture upon the trigger device receiving a stimulus. The trigger device is configured to activate one or more of the lights upon the trigger device receiving the stimulus.

Description

Field of the Invention [1] The present invention relates to a method and system for lighting of street furniture.

Background [2] Over the past 10 years the phenomenon of the lights festival has become increasingly popular. More and more lights festivals are emerging around the globe. Traditionally lighting for a lights festival is temporarily installed at a venue for the duration of the festival and then removed at the conclusion.

[3] Street furniture has an important role in a streetscape of public places providing both functional and aesthetic value. Street furniture can also be used to convey identity and, in the case of panels affixed to bins, seats, shelters and recycling hubs, can convey visual images on electronic or passive displays mounted to the items of furniture. These visual images can include purpose, creative and general event images.

[4] Street furniture includes light poles, planters, bin surrounds, seats, shelters etc. at a height and position which is able to have some level of interaction with people in the street, and ‘street’ in the context of street furniture is intended to broadly be applicable, including to a mall, airport, shopping centre and general public space, whether owned by government or privately.

[5] The present invention has been developed in this context.

[6] Any references to documents that are made in this specification are not intended to be an admission that the information contained in those documents form part of the common general knowledge known to a person skilled in the field of the invention, unless explicitly stated as such.

Summary of the Present Invention [7] According to the present invention there is provided an article of street furniture comprising a trigger device receptive to one or more stimuli; and one or more lights wherein the trigger device is configured to activate one or more of the lights upon the trigger device receiving the stimulus. The trigger device is integral to the article, that is, not separate from it.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [8] The article of street furniture also comprises a communicator for communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture upon the trigger device receiving a stimulus.

[9] In an embodiment the lights of one or more of the articles of street furniture are responsive to a characteristic of or the type of stimulus.

[10] In an embodiment the response of the one or more lights is one or more of: the number of lights activated; the colour emitted by the activated one or more lights; the intensity of emission by the one or more lights; and/or the duration of emission of light by the one or more lights.

[11] In an embodiment the lights are for illumination. In an embodiment the lights are for illumination only. In an embodiment the lights are not a sign. In an embodiment the lights are not a projection of an image.

[12] In an embodiment the communicator delays communication to the one or more other articles of street furniture.

[13] In an embodiment the communicator communicates a delay command to the one or more other articles of street furniture, such that activation of the one or more lights by the one or more articles of street furniture is delayed according to the communicated delay command. In an embodiment the delay command comprises an amount of time to delay activation of each of the one or more lights by the other one or more articles of street furniture.

[14] In an embodiment the trigger device is a proximity sensor, wherein the stimuli comprise sensing a nearby device configured to activate one or more of the lights. In an embodiment the nearby device is a smart device, such as a smart phone, where the smart device is provided with a wireless communication device for communicating with the trigger device. In an embodiment the trigger device is arranged to communicate with an application running on the smart device.

[15] In an embodiment the trigger device is associated with a processor configured to control the activation of the lights of a plurality of articles of street furniture. In an embodiment the control is that the activation is in a sequence.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [16] In an embodiment the processor is configured to activate the lights in coordination with other lights (such as in or on a building or structure) within a precinct in which the street furniture is located.

[17] In an embodiment the processor is configured to control the lights according to when one or more criteria are reached.

[18] In an embodiment the processor is configured to control the lights to indicate an emergency.

[19] In an embodiment the processor is configured to control the lights to indicate an evacuation route.

[20] In an embodiment the processor is configured to control the lights to provide wayfinding.

[21] In an embodiment the processor is in communication with the first article of street furniture and the other articles of street furniture. In an embodiment the processor is a part of a management system.

[22] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a confirmation of a donation of funds.

[23] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined environmental condition is reached.

[24] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of waste in a bin has been reached.

[25] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of incident UV light incident on the article of street furniture has been reached.

[26] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of air quality in the vicinity of the article of street furniture has been reached.

[27] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that rain on the article of street furniture has been detected.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [28] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined level of soil moisture content of soil in an article of street furniture has been reached.

[29] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a recycling target for a designated area has been reached.

[30] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal related to the condition of the article of street furniture, such as the temperature of the article, whether the article has been tilted, or whether the article is on fire (or that a fire is detected).

[31] In an embodiment the trigger device comprises a calculation device for determining an accumulated amount of donations over a period of time.

[32] In an embodiment the trigger device is a receiver of a communication from another article of street furniture such that the stimuli comprise a command to activate the one or more lights of the first article of street furniture.

[33] In an embodiment the trigger device is a receiver of a communication from a control system such that the stimuli comprise a command to activate the one or more lights of the first article of street furniture.

[34] In embodiment the communication comprises information indicating the type of response required of the one or more lights.

[35] In an embodiment the proximity sensor comprises a wireless communication device, such as Bluetooth, WIFI, NFC or Beacon device.

[36] In an embodiment the street furniture comprises shelters, seats, light poles, signs, and or bins.

[37] In an embodiment the one or more lights are one or more of a metered level display, a light in a base of the article of street furniture, a light in the body of the article of street furniture, a light in a top of the article of street furniture.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [38] In an embodiment the lights are one or more of a metered level display at the base, in the body, or at the top of a bin, seat or bus shelter.

[39] According to the present invention there is provided an article of street furniture comprising one or more lights; a communicator for receiving a communication from one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of the one or more lights.

[40] In embodiment the communication comprises information indicating the type of response required of the one or more lights when they are activated.

[41] According to the present invention there is provided an article of street furniture comprising a proximity sensor for detecting a proximal activation device; a communicator for communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture. The proximity sensor is configured to activate the one or more lights only when a proximal activation device is proximate to the article of street furniture, and the proximal activation device is configured for activation of the one or more lights of the article of street furniture. Thus the proximity sensor is integral to the article of street furniture.

[42] According to the present invention there is provided a method of lighting an area, comprising providing an article of street furniture which comprises one or more lights and a proximity sensor for detecting a proximal activation device; receiving a communication from the proximal activation device; activating the one or more lights; communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture in the area.

[43] According to the present invention there is provided a method of lighting an area, comprising providing at least two articles of street furniture which comprises one or more lights and a trigger device; detecting a trigger condition with the trigger device of one of the articles of street furniture; activating the one or more lights of the respective one of the articles of street furniture; communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture in the area; and upon receipt of the communication at the one or more other articles of street furniture activation the one of more lights of the other articles of street furniture.

[44] In an embodiment the trigger device is configured to detect a plurality of types of trigger conditions and activation of the one or more lights in the respective article is

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PCT/AU2017/050118 controlled according to the type of trigger condition detected by the trigger device and the communication to the other articles of street furniture comprises a command for controlling the activation of the one or more lights in the other articles is controlled according to the type of trigger condition detected by the trigger device.

[45] According to the present invention there is provided a method of lighting an area, comprising providing a first article of street furniture comprising a trigger device receptive to one or more stimuli; receiving a stimulus; communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture in the area when the trigger device receives the stimulus.

[46] In an embodiment the method further comprises activating one or more of the lights of the first article of street furniture upon the trigger device receiving the stimulus.

[47] In an embodiment activation of the lights of one or more of the articles of street furniture are responsive to a characteristic of or the type of stimulus.

[48] In an embodiment the activation of the lights is responsive by one or more of: activating a required number of the number of lights; activating the lights to emit a required colour; activating the lights to emit a required intensity of light; and/or activating the lights for a required duration.

[49] In an embodiment the activation of the lights of the other articles of street furniture is delayed by a required period. In an embodiment the required period is determined according to the position of each other article of street furniture relative to the article of street furniture that has the trigger device that receives the stimulus. In an embodiment the required period is determined according to the distance of each other article of street furniture from the article of street furniture that has the trigger device that receives the stimulus.

[50] In an embodiment the stimuli is sensing a nearby device configured to activate one or more of the lights. In an embodiment the nearby device is a smart device, wherein the method further comprises communicating with an application running on the smart device.

[51] In an embodiment the activation of the lights of the other articles of street furniture is in a sequence.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [52] In an embodiment the activation of the lights is coordination with other lights (such as in or on a building or structure) within a precinct in which the street furniture is located.

[53] In an embodiment the lights are controlled according to when one or more criteria are reached.

[54] In an embodiment the lights are controlled to indicate an emergency.

[55] In an embodiment the lights are controlled to indicate an evacuation route.

[56] In an embodiment the lights are controlled to provide way-finding.

[57] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a confirmation of a donation of funds.

[58] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined environmental condition is reached.

[59] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of waste in a bin has been reached.

[60] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of incident UV light on the article of street furniture has been reached.

[61] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of air quality in the vicinity of the article of street furniture has been reached.

[62] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that rain on the article of street furniture has been detected.

[63] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined level of soil moisture content of soil in an article of street furniture has been reached.

[64] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a recycling target for a designated area has been reached.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [65] In an embodiment the one or more lights are activated after a confirmation of an action is received. In an embodiment the confirmation is that a payment has been processed.

[66] According to the present invention there is provided a method of lighting an area, comprising providing an article of street furniture which comprises one or more lights; receiving a communication from one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of the one or more lights; and activating the one or more lights according to the communication.

[67] According to an aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for collecting a donation, said apparatus comprising a payment receiver for interfacing with a portable device and accepting payment instructions of a donation from an owner of the portable device; and one or more lights of one or more articles of street furniture, wherein the one or more lights are controlled to illuminate upon successful completion of the donation according to the payment instructions.

[68] According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a method of collecting a donation, said method comprising interfacing with a portable device and accepting payment instructions of a donation from an owner of the portable device; and controlling one or more lights of one or more articles of street furniture to illuminate upon successful completion of the donation according to the payment instructions.

[69] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for light sequencing of an area, the system comprising: providing a plurality of lights at discrete locations in the area, providing an identifier for each of the locations, receiving a trigger event at one of the locations, determining an order for each of the locations to activate the light of the respective location to be triggered so that the lights activate in a sequence originating from the location at which the trigger event occurred and addressing a message to each of the other locations according to the respective identifier such that the message provides instructions to the light of each location such that the lights will be commanded to be activated in sequence.

[70] In an embodiment determining the order for each of the locations to activate the light of the respective location to be triggered comprises retrieving the order from a storage.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [71] In an embodiment determining the order for each of the locations to activate the light of the respective location to be triggered comprises calculating the order according to the location of each of the lights in the area. In an embodiment the calculation accounts for differing distances between the lights and determines a delay between light activations according to a speed of sequencing and a radial direction of sequencing according to the respective location of the respective light.

[72] In an embodiment the method further comprises determining a characteristic of each light to be activated according to its location and the location of the trigger event, the nature of the triggering event. In an embodiment the characteristic is one or more of colour, span of colours, duration, intensity, span of intensity.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for illuminating one street furniture site comprising the steps of: receiving a donation from a donor;

transferring the donated funds to at least one entity which manages a pool of donation funds;

comparing an identification provided by a recipient, to a database of registered recipients verifying the identity of the recipient; sending a verification message to the donor;

displaying a receipt of the donated funds by lighting a light of an article of street furniture and displaying reaching an accumulated preset donation target amount by lighting a light of each of a plurality of an article of street furniture across a group of street furniture sites.

[73] According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a set of articles of street furniture each comprising:

an integral trigger device receptive to one or more stimuli;

one or more lights wherein the trigger device is configured to activate one or more of the lights upon the trigger device receiving the stimulus;

a communicator for communicating with the other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture upon the trigger device receiving a stimulus; and.

a communicator for receiving a communication from the other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more of the lights according to the received communication.

[74] In an embodiment the nature of the stimulus determines the activation of the one more lights in the article which receives the stimulus and the communication for activation of the one or more lights of the other articles.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [75] According to the present invention there is provided a method of lighting an area, comprising:

providing a plurality of articles of street furniture in an area; receiving a stimulus at one of the articles of street furniture;

activating one or more lights of the article that received the stimulus;

communicating with one or more of the other articles in the area according to the stimulus received;

activating one or more lights of the other articles in the area according to the received communication.

[76] In an embodiment the bounds of the areas is determined by the type of stimulus. In this way a significant stimulus causes lighting is a larger area, whereas a less significant stimulus causes lighting in a smaller area.

[77] Throughout the specification and claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Description of Drawings [78] In order to provide a better understanding of the present invention embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which:[79] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a shelter according to an aspect of the invention;

[80] Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a bench seat according to an aspect of the invention;

[81] Figure 3 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a bin according to an aspect of the invention;

[82] Figure 4 is schematic plan view of an area with a plurality of items of street furniture in a first set of conditions, which communicate with a management system;

[83] Figure 5 is schematic plan view of the same area with the plurality of items of street furniture in a second set of conditions;

[84] Figure 6 is a schematic cross-sectional elevation of the bin of Figure 3;

[85] Figure 7 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method according to an aspect of the present invention;

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [86] Figure 8 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method according to an aspect of the present invention;

[87] Figure 9 is a flow chart of an embodiment of a method according to an aspect of the present invention;

[88] Figure 10 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a system installed in an article of street furniture according to an aspect of the present invention;

[89] Figure 11 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a system installed in an article of street furniture according to an aspect of the present invention; and [90] Figures 12A to 12D are a set of schematic representations, each of an area with a plurality of items of street furniture, and each being at a different consecutive instance in time.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention [91] Figure 4 shows an area 10 in which there are a plurality of articles of street furniture (12A, 12B, 12C, 12D, 12E and 12F) at different positions within the area. The area can be a street block or blocks, a park, a mall, a building etc. Each of the articles has a communications device for communicating with a management system 16, or with each other.

[92] Each of the articles is provided with a controllable light or lights as will be described in more detail further below. Articles 12A and 12E are indicated as being inactive (no lighting). Articles 12B and 12F are indicated as being base lit (horizontal shading) in one form and articles 12C and 12D are indicated as being lit (vertical shading) in a different form.

[93] Figure 1 illustrates one form of article of street furniture, a bus shelter 50. The shelter 50 may be provided with displays 54 and 56, which may be static or dynamic screens. The shelter 50 is provided with a communications device 30. The shelter 50 is provided with a controller device (not shown). The shelter 50 is provided with one or more lights, in this case each vertical support is provided with a lighting strip 52, although the lighting can take alternative forms. Each lighting strip may be for example a colour controllable LED strip.

[94] Figure 2 illustrates another form of article of street furniture, a bench seat 60. The seat 60 is provided with a communications device (not shown). The seat 60 is provided with a controller device (not shown). The seat 60 is provided with one or more lights, in

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PCT/AU2017/050118 this case underneath the horizontal support there is provided five downwardly directed spot lights (not shown), each of which produce an illuminated area of ground 62. It will be appreciates that the number of, type of and direction of the lights may change. Each light may be for example a colour controllable LED spotlight.

[95] Figure 3 illustrates another form of article of street furniture, a bin surround 70 in which is housed a rubbish bin. The bin surround 70 is provided with a communications device (not shown). The bin surround 70 is provided with a controller device (not shown). The bin surround 70 is provided with one or more lights. In this case there are a set of lights 72 on the top corners, a set of lights on the base corners 78 and a set of lights in each vertical edge 76. Each light may be for example a colour controllable LED. The bin surround has a receiver 74 of a signal from a transmitter device, such as smart device as will descripted further below.

[96] Other type of street furniture are envisaged, such as light poles, signs, information stands etc. In an embodiment the street furniture is for interaction with pedestrians. In some embodiments the street furniture is for interaction with pedestrians only. In this case the street furniture may be for pedestrian areas only.

[97] The bin surround 70 is used to explain components of the articles of street furniture (whether they be other types of street furniture or not) by way of example with reference to Figure 6. The bin surround 70 comprises the communications device 34 and controller device 30. Communications device 34 enables communication with the management system 16 and/or on a peer to peer basis communication with other articles of street furniture 12A to 12F. In an embodiment the communications device 34 is in the form of a wireless communications device which transmits and receives electro-magnetic signals 36. Examples include Bluetooth, WIFI, Zigbee, GPRS and other telephone network data transmission standards. In an alterative the communication could be wired.

[98] The controller device 30 is preferably a processor, such as a microprocessor, PCL or other electronic controller circuit. The processor is controlled by logic in the form of programmed circuit or by way of a computer program comprising instructions for controlling the operation of the processor. The computer program will typically be stored in non-volatile storage, such as a FLASH RAM or PROM.

[99] The bin surround 70 comprises an inside wall 20 and an outside wall 22. On top of the walls 20 and 22 is a lid for allowing access to the bin inside to surround.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [100] The bin surround 70 also comprises a trigger device 26 which responds to one or more stimuli. In an embodiment the trigger device 26 comprises a rubbish level detector positioned at the top of the bin surround 70. In this embodiment the rubbish level detector is able to sense the level of rubbish in a bin. In another embodiment the trigger device 26 is a sensor is an environmental characteristic of the environment in which the article is positioned. For example the sensor may be a UV radiation sensor, a rain sensor, a pollution or air quality sensor. In another embodiment the trigger device 26 is a sensor is a condition of the bin sensor, for example a tilt sensor, a fire sensor, or a temperature sensor. The trigger device may be configured to respond to a stimulus that comprises the characteristic being measured by the sensor reaching a predetermined level. For example the rubbish content of the bin could reach a 75% full level, or the UV radiation or pollution level could be over a threshold etc.

[101] The lights of the bin surround 70 can then be used to indicate that the threshold has been reached. This can also be communicated to other articles of street furniture, as appropriate which in turn can indicate this with their lights. For example if pollution levels above a desired amount the bin surround 70 can have a sensor to detect this. The bin surround 70 can then communicate the need for the public to beware of the high pollution levels by having other articles of street furniture indicate this, such as with, say for example, a red light flashing. In another example UV levels above a desired amount the bin surround 70 can have a sensor to detect this. The bin surround 70 can then communicate the need for the public to beware of the high UV levels by having other articles of street furniture indicate this, such as with, say, a purple light flashing. The lighting can also be used for aesthetic purposes, such as in a lights festival.

[102] Different type of things can be indicated on different positions of the articles. Again using the bin surround 70 as an example, external indication of bin waste status, air quality indication, UV indication (all top lit) or event lighting (base lit). Where the article of street furniture is not a bin surround, the trigger device could be another suitable sensor, such as in the case of the article being a planter box the sensor may be a moisture level sensor, or in the case of the article being a bus shelter, the sensor could be a ‘vandalism’ sensor, or a ‘person waiting’ sensor.

[103] Returning to Figure 4, and using bins as an example of the type of articles, bins 12C and 12D would indicate for example full waste, bins 12A and 12E would be neutral indicating empty and the remaining bins 12B and 12F would light at the base indicating half full. This would alert a driver of a rubbish collection truck may be directed to take a

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PCT/AU2017/050118 path from bin 12C to bin 12B, travel past bin 12E to bin 12D. On this route bins 12C and 12D would be emptied, 12B could be emptied as the truck is travelling past, but the truck would not stop at 12E. Alternatively the driver may go past all the bins, but the invention indicates the level to the driver and s/he can avoid stopping at empty bins 12A and 12E, could stop to empty half full bins 12D and 12F and would stop to empty full bins 12C and 12D.

[104] When different areas of the articles are available for lighting, these different areas can be used to indicate different things. For example while the base might be used to indicate rubbish level, the top might be used to indicate UV or air quality levels. Accordingly this can alert a passer-by that action is required in an area be it evasive or the masking of breathing (in the case of an indication of high air pollution) or that it is recommended to cover exposed skin, staying under cover and/or use of sunscreen (in the case that high UV is indicated).

[105] In an embodiment the transmitter is configured to transmit an identifier of the bin with the level signal. Generally each bin will be allocated an electronically stored serial number and this can be used as the identifier. Alternatively a GPS reading may be used.

[106] Referring to Figure 7 there is a method 100 of lighting an area, commencing at 102. A trigger device receives a stimulus 104. For example the stimulus is a sensor receiving a signal that meets a criterion, such as in the examples given above, but other criteria are possible. In this example there is a smart device in proximity to the article of street furniture. A signal can be sent to the smart device which triggers an application running on the smart device. This could require input from the user of the smart device. In one example it could be a request to donate a small amount to a charity or cause. These small donations are often called micro-donations. An authorisation or other input is requested of the smart phone user to make the donation or otherwise at 108. The authorisation is requested at 110, by the article of street furniture interfacing via the communications device with a payment gateway at 110, such as via an internet portal of the management system 16. If the payment is authorised the light in the article of street furniture may be activated in a pulse to acknowledge that the donation has been made in a manner that provide recognition of the donation. In an embodiment the communication device can be used to communicate either directly or via the management system 16 to other nearby articles of street furniture that they can activate their lights as well thus providing a wider area of recognition. The process ends at 114, but may repeat back to 102.

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PCT/AU2017/050118 [107] Referring to Figure 8 there is a method 120 of lighting an area, commencing at 122. A trigger device checks for a stimulus at 124. When the stimulus is not received it continues to check. When the stimulus is received branch 126 activates the communications device 30 at step 128. The stimulus again may be a sensor receiving a signal that meets a criterion, such as in the examples given above, but other criteria are possible. A signal can be sent from the communications device to other articles of street furniture in the area for activation of their lights at 130. The process ends at 132, but may repeat back to 122.

[108] Referring to Figure 9 there is a method 140 of lighting an area, commencing at 142. A trigger device receives a stimulus. For example trigger device is a rubbish level sensor 144 and the stimulus is the sensor receiving a signal that meets a criterion, such as the level of rubbish (for example recycled rubbish) meets the required level in a given timeframe at 146. The communications device 30 is used to communicate this level to the management system 16 at step 148. This may be conducted at a required frequency, eg. twice daily as in step 150. The location of the article (eg. GPS location) is transmitted at step 152. Articles of street furniture in the vicinity of the location may be provided with a command, such as from the management system, or directly (peer to peer), to pulse their lights at step 154, which may indicate that a recycling target has been met, or that the bin requires emptying. The process ends at 156, but may repeat back to 142.

[109] Referring to Figure 10, an example system 200 employed by the articles of street furniture is shown. In this example the article is again a bin 202. The trigger device in this example is a proximity sensor, which poles for a proximal smart device. When detected communications and processor circuit 206 communicate with the smart device 212 and can communicate with other articles of street furniture or other lighting controlled devices. The communications circuit (of communications device 30) communicates across a communications network 208 with the management system 16. The communications circuit (of communications device 30) can in some embodiments communicate 215 with other articles of street furniture.

[110] Referring to Figure 11, an example system 220 employed by the articles of street furniture is shown. In this example system is similar to system 200, except that the management system 16 communicates with other articles of street furniture, such as seat 224, shelter 226 and with a smart device 228 that is proximal to the proximity sensor. Additionally other structures, such as building may have controllable lighting, which may be

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PCT/AU2017/050118 sent command by the management system 16 in order to control their lighting based on the trigger event at the first article 202.

[111] In an embodiment the activation of the lights is responsive by one or more of: activating a required number of the number of lights; activating the lights to emit a required colour; activating the lights to emit a required intensity of light; and/or activating the lights for a required duration.

[112] In an embodiment the activation of the lights of the other articles of street furniture is delayed by a required period so as to produce a wave or pulse effect. In an embodiment the activation of the lights of the other articles of street furniture is in a sequence.

[113] In an embodiment the lights are controlled to indicate an emergency. For example red lights may flash to indicate an emergency in the vicinity. In an embodiment the lights are controlled to indicate an evacuation route. For example orange lights may flash in sequence indicating the evacuation route.

[114] In an embodiment the lights are controlled to provide way-finding.

[115] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined level of soil moisture content of soil in an article of street furniture has been reached.

[116] In an embodiment the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a recycling target for a designated area has been reached.

[117] In an embodiment the one or more lights are activated after a confirmation of an action is received. In an embodiment the confirmation is that a payment has been processed.

[118] Referring to Figures 12A to 12D, a method of light sequencing of an area is shown. In Figure 12A, article 12C receives a trigger event. This could be a donation, but other trigger events are possible. In Figure 12B the article 12C lights acknowledging the donation. Then in Figure 12C articles 12B and 12D on either side of article 12C light acknowledging the donation. Article 12C has stopped its lights. Then in Figure 12D articles 12A and 12E on either side of articles 12B and 12 D light acknowledging the donation. Articles 12B and 12D have stopped their lights. This example is in a simple one

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PCT/AU2017/050118 dimensional configuration, however an area, such as in Figure 4 could be sequenced in 2 dimensions. Articles with different heights may also be sequenced to provide a 3 dimensional sequencing. The sequencing can take account of the different spacing between the articles. Each article has an identifier, such as a GPS position. When the trigger event occurs, it can occur at any given one of the articles. The order of the lighting of the articles then needs to be determined so that they can be lit in the correct order for the sequence to be correct. This may occur at the management system, which in turn provides instructions to the light of each location such that the lights will be commanded to be activated in sequence.

[119] The order can be predetermined and stored in a look-up table in the management system, or it can be calculated on the fly. The calculation should account for differing distances between the lights and determines a delay between light activations according to a speed of sequencing and a radial direction of sequencing according to the respective location of the respective light.

[120] In an embodiment the method further comprises determining a characteristic of each light to be activated according to its location and the location of the trigger event, the nature of the triggering event. In an embodiment the characteristic is one or more of colour, span of colours, duration, intensity, span of intensity.

[121] In an embodiment the trigger event could be the beginning of a lights display in which the articles of street furniture activate in a manner that provides entertainment.

[122] Modifications may be made to the present invention within the context of that described and shown in the drawings. Such modifications are intended to form part of the invention described in this specification.

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Claims

Claims

1. An article of street furniture comprising a trigger device integral to the article and receptive to one or more stimuli; and one or more lights wherein the trigger device is configured to activate one or more of the lights upon the trigger device receiving the stimulus ; and a communicator for communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture upon the trigger device receiving a stimulus.
2. An article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lights are responsive to a characteristic of or the type of stimulus.
3. An article as claimed in claim 2, wherein the response of the one or more lights is one or more of: the number of lights activated; the colour emitted by the activated one or more lights; the intensity of emission by the one or more lights; and/or the duration of emission of light by the one or more lights.
4. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lights are for illumination.
5. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the communicator delays communication to the one or more other articles of street furniture.
6. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communicator communicates a delay command to the one or more other articles of street furniture, such that activation of the one or more lights by the one or more articles of street furniture is delayed according to the communicated delay command.
7. An article as claimed in claim 6, wherein the delay command comprises an amount of time to delay activation of each of the one or more lights by the other one or more articles of street furniture.
8. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the trigger device is a proximity sensor, wherein the stimuli comprise sensing a nearby device configured to activate one or more of the lights.

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9. An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein the nearby device is a smart device, where the smart device is provided with a wireless communication device for communicating with the trigger device.
10. An article as claimed in claim 9, wherein the trigger device is arranged to communicate with an application running on the smart device.
11. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the trigger device is associated with a processor configured to control the activation of the lights of a plurality of articles of street furniture.
12. An article as claimed in claim 11, wherein the control is that the activation is in a sequence.
13. An article as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the processor is configured to activate the lights in coordination with other lights within a precinct in which the article of street furniture is located.
14. An article as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the processor is configured to control the lights according to when one or more criteria are reached.
15. An article as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the processor is configured to control the lights to indicate an emergency.
16. An article as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein the processor is configured to control the lights to indicate an evacuation route.
17. An article as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 16, wherein the processor is configured to control the lights to provide way-finding.
18. An article as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the processor is in communication with the first article of street furniture and the other articles of street furniture.
19. An article as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the processor is a part of a management system.

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20. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a confirmation of a donation of funds.
21. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined environmental condition is reached.
22. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of waste in a bin has been reached.
23. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of incident UV light incident on the article of street furniture has been reached.
24. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 23, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of air quality in the vicinity of the article of street furniture has been reached.
25. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that rain on the article of street furniture has been detected.
26. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined level of soil moisture content of soil in an article of street furniture has been reached.
27. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a recycling target for a designated area has been reached.
28. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the trigger device is configured such that the stimuli comprise receiving a signal related to the condition of the article of street furniture.

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29. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the trigger device comprises a calculation device for determining an accumulated amount of donations over a period of time.
30. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the trigger device is a receiver of a communication from another article of street furniture such that the stimuli comprise a command to activate the one or more lights of the first article of street furniture.
31. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30, wherein the trigger device is a receiver of a communication from a control system such that the stimuli comprise a command to activate the one or more lights of the first article of street furniture.
32. An article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the communication comprises information indicating the type of response required of the one or more lights.
33. An article of street furniture comprising one or more lights; a communicator for receiving a communication from one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of the one or more lights.
34. An article of street furniture comprising one or more lights; a trigger device for activating the one or more lights when a trigger condition is met; a communicator for a sending a communication to one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of the one or more lights when the trigger condition is met.
35. An article as claimed in claim 33 or 34, wherein the communication comprises information indicating the type of response required of the one or more lights when they are activated.
36. An article of street furniture comprising a proximity sensor for detecting a proximal activation device; a communicator for communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture.
37. An article as claimed in claim 36, wherein the proximity sensor is configured to activate the one or more lights only when a proximal activation device is proximate to the article of street furniture, and the proximal activation device is configured for activation of the one or more lights of the article of street furniture.

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38. A method of lighting an area, comprising providing an article of street furniture which comprises one or more lights and a proximity sensor for detecting a proximal activation device; receiving a communication from the proximal activation device; activating the one or more lights; communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture in the area.
39. A method of lighting an area, comprising providing at least two articles of street furniture which comprises one or more lights and a trigger device; detecting a trigger condition with the trigger device of one of the articles of street furniture; activating the one or more lights of the respective one of the articles of street furniture; communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture in the area; and upon receipt of the communication at the one or more other articles of street furniture activation the one of more lights of the other articles of street furniture.
40. A method as claimed in claim 39, wherein the trigger device is configured to detect a plurality of types of trigger conditions and activation of the one or more lights in the respective article is controlled according to the type of trigger condition detected by the trigger device and the communication to the other articles of street furniture comprises a command for controlling the activation of the one or more lights in the other articles is controlled according to the type of trigger condition detected by the trigger device.
41. A method of lighting an area, comprising providing a first article of street furniture comprising a trigger device receptive to one or more stimuli; receiving a stimulus; communicating with one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture in the area when the trigger device receives the stimulus.
42. A method according to claim 41, wherein the method further comprises activating one or more of the lights of the first article of street furniture upon the trigger device receiving the stimulus.

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43. A method according to claim 41 or 32, wherein activation of the lights of one or more of the articles of street furniture are responsive to a characteristic of or the type of stimulus.
44. A method according to claim 43, wherein the activation of the lights is responsive by one or more of: activating a required number of the number of lights; activating the lights to emit a required colour; activating the lights to emit a required intensity of light; and/or activating the lights for a required duration.
45. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 44, wherein the activation of the lights of the other articles of street furniture is delayed by a required period.
46. A method according to claim 45, wherein the required period is determined according to the position of each other article of street furniture relative to the article of street furniture that has the trigger device that receives the stimulus.
47. A method according to claim 45, wherein the required period is determined according to the distance of each other article of street furniture from the article of street furniture that has the trigger device that receives the stimulus.
48. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 47, wherein the stimuli is sensing a nearby device configured to activate one or more of the lights.
49. A method according to claim 48, wherein the nearby device is a smart device, wherein the method further comprises communicating with an application running on the smart device.
50. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 49, wherein the activation of the lights of the other articles of street furniture is in a sequence.
51. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 50, wherein the activation of the lights is coordination with other lights within a precinct in which the street furniture is located.
52. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 51, wherein the lights are controlled according to when one or more criteria are reached.
53. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 52, wherein the lights are controlled to indicate an emergency.

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54. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 53, wherein the lights are controlled to indicate an evacuation route.
55. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 54, wherein the lights are controlled to provide way-finding.
56. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 55, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a confirmation of a donation of funds.
57. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 56, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined environmental condition is reached.
58. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 57, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of waste in a bin has been reached.
59. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 58, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of incident UV light on the article of street furniture has been reached.
60. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 59, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a level of air quality in the vicinity of the article of street furniture has been reached.
61. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 60, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that rain on the article of street furniture has been detected.
62. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 61, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a determined level of soil moisture content of soil in an article of street furniture has been reached.
63. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 62, wherein the stimuli comprise receiving a signal indicating that a recycling target for a designated area has been reached.
64. A method according to any one of claims 41 to 63, wherein the one or more lights are activated after a confirmation of an action is received.

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65. A method according to claim 64, wherein the confirmation is that a payment has been processed.
66. A method of lighting an area, comprising providing an article of street furniture which comprises one or more lights; receiving a communication from one or more other articles of street furniture for activation of the one or more lights; and activating the one or more lights according to the communication.
67. An apparatus for collecting a donation, said apparatus comprising a payment receiver for interfacing with a portable device and accepting payment instructions of a donation from an owner of the portable device; and one or more lights of one or more articles of street furniture, wherein the one or more lights are controlled to illuminate upon successful completion of the donation according to the payment instructions.
68. A method of collecting a donation, said method comprising interfacing with a portable device and accepting payment instructions of a donation from an owner of the portable device; and controlling one or more lights of one or more articles of street furniture to illuminate upon successful completion of the donation according to the payment instructions.
69. A method for light sequencing of an area, the system comprising: providing a plurality of lights at discrete locations in the area, providing an identifier for each of the locations, receiving a trigger event at one of the locations, determining an order for each of the locations to activate the light of the respective location to be triggered so that the lights activate in a sequence originating from the location at which the trigger event occurred and addressing a message to each of the other locations according to the respective identifier such that the message provides instructions to the light of each location such that the lights will be commanded to be activated in sequence.
70. A method according claim 69, wherein determining the order for each of the locations to activate the light of the respective location to be triggered comprises retrieving the order from a storage.
71. A method according to claim 69, wherein determining the order for each of the locations to activate the light of the respective location to be triggered comprises calculating the order according to the location of each of the lights in the area.

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72. A method according to claim 71, wherein the calculation accounts for differing distances between the lights and determines a delay between light activations according to a speed of sequencing and a radial direction of sequencing according to the respective location of the respective light.
73. A method according to any one of claims 69 to 72, wherein the method further comprises determining a characteristic of each light to be activated according to its location and the location of the trigger event, the nature of the triggering event.
74. A method according to claim 73, wherein the characteristic is one or more of colour, span of colours, duration, intensity, span of intensity.
75. A method for illuminating one street furniture site comprising the steps of: receiving a donation from a donor;

transferring the donated funds to at least one entity which manages a pool of donation funds;

comparing an identification provided by a recipient, to a database of registered recipients verifying the identity of the recipient; sending a verification message to the donor;

displaying a receipt of the donated funds by lighting a light of an article of street furniture and displaying reaching an accumulated preset donation target amount by lighting a light of each of a plurality of an article of street furniture across a group of street furniture sites.
76. A set of articles of street furniture each comprising:

an integral trigger device receptive to one or more stimuli;

one or more lights wherein the trigger device is configured to activate one or more of the lights upon the trigger device receiving the stimulus;

a communicator for communicating with the other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more lights of the other articles of street furniture upon the trigger device receiving a stimulus; and.

a communicator for receiving a communication from the other articles of street furniture for activation of one or more of the lights according to the received communication.

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77. The set of articles as claimed in claim 76, wherein the nature of the stimulus determines the activation of the one more lights in the article which receives the stimulus and the communication for activation of the one or more lights of the other articles.
78. A method of lighting an area, comprising:

providing a plurality of articles of street furniture in an area; receiving a stimulus at one of the articles of street furniture;

activating one or more lights of the article that received the stimulus; communicating with one or more of the other articles in the area according to the stimulus received;

activating one or more lights of the other articles in the area according to the received communication.
79. A method according to claim 78, wherein the bounds of the area is determined by the type of stimulus.

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