Device for weed control
阅读说明:本技术 用于杂草控制的装置 (Device for weed control ) 是由 H.巴斯费尔德 T.阿里安斯 P.戴 V.吉鲁 J.哈德洛 于 2018-07-02 设计创作,主要内容包括:本发明涉及用于杂草控制的装置。描述了给处理单元提供(210)环境的至少一张图像。所述处理单元分析(220)所述至少一张图像以从多个植被控制技术中确定要用于所述环境的至少第一部分的杂草控制的至少一个植被控制技术。输出单元输出(230)可用于激活所述至少一个植被控制技术的信息。(The present invention relates to a device for weed control. Providing (210) at least one image of an environment to a processing unit is described. The processing unit analyzes (220) the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technique from a plurality of vegetation control techniques to be used for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment. An output unit outputs (230) information usable to activate the at least one vegetation control technique.)
1. A device (10) for weed control comprising:
-an input unit (20);
-a processing unit (30); and
-an output unit (40);
wherein the input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with at least one image of an environment;
wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technique from a plurality of vegetation control techniques to be used for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment; and is
Wherein the output unit is configured to output information usable to activate the at least one vegetation control technique.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein analyzing the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technique comprises determining at least one location of vegetation in the at least first portion of the environment, and wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the at least one vegetation control technique to be used at the at least one location.
3. The apparatus according to any of claims 1-2, wherein the at least one image is obtained by at least one camera, and wherein the input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with at least one location associated with the at least one camera at the time the at least one image was obtained.
4. The apparatus of any of claims 1-3, wherein analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique comprises determining at least one type of weed.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is configured to determine at least one location of the at least one type of weed.
6. The apparatus of any of claims 1-5, wherein analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique comprises determining a first type of weed in the at least first portion of the environment and determining a second type of weed in at least a second portion of the environment.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of the first type of weed in the at least first portion of the environment; and wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a second vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of the second type of weed in at least a second portion of the environment.
8. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first vegetation control technique from the plurality of vegetation control techniques to be used for weed control of at least the first portion of the environment; and wherein the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a second vegetation control technique from the plurality of vegetation control techniques to be used for weed control of at least a second portion of the environment.
9. The apparatus of any of claims 1-8, wherein analyzing the at least one image comprises using a machine learning algorithm.
10. A system (100) for weed control, comprising:
-at least one camera (110);
-a device (10) for weed control according to any of claims 1-9; and
-at least one vegetation control technique (120);
wherein the at least one camera is configured to obtain the at least one image of the environment;
wherein the at least one vegetation control technology is mounted on a vehicle (130); and
wherein the device is configured to activate the at least one vegetation control technique for the at least a first portion of the environment.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the device is mounted on the vehicle; and wherein the at least one camera is mounted on the vehicle.
12. A method (200) for weed control, comprising:
(a) providing (210) at least one image of the environment to the processing unit;
(c) analyzing (220), by the processing unit, the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technique from a plurality of vegetation control techniques to be used for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment; and
(e) information usable to activate the at least one vegetation control technique is output (230) by an output unit.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein step (c) includes the step of determining (240) at least one location of vegetation in the at least first portion of the environment; and wherein the method comprises the step (d) of determining (250), by the processing unit, the at least one vegetation control technique to be used at the at least one site.
14. The method according to any one of claims 12-13, wherein in step (a) the at least one image is obtained by at least one camera; and wherein the method comprises the step (b) of providing (260) the processing unit with at least one location associated with the at least one camera when obtaining the at least one image.
15. A computer program element for controlling an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and/or a system according to any one of claims 10 to 11, which, when being executed by a processor, is configured to carry out the method according to any one of claims 12 to 14.
Technical Field
The present invention relates to an arrangement for weed control, a system for weed control, a method for weed control, as well as a computer program element and a computer readable medium.
Background
The general background of the invention is weed control. Certain industrial areas and areas around railroad tracks require control of vegetation. For railways, this control improves visibility from the point of view of the people on the train (e.g. the driver), and also from the point of view of the people working on the track. Such control can lead to improved safety. Moreover, vegetation can interfere with or damage the track and associated signal and communication lines. Control of vegetation is required to mitigate this phenomenon. Vegetation control, also known as weed control, can be very good, time consuming and resource consuming, especially if performed manually. The weed spray train carries a herbicide contained in a chemical tank on the vehicle that can be sprayed onto the track and surrounding area to control vegetation. However, such weed control is expensive and there is an increasing desire among the general public to see a reduction in environmental impact.
Disclosure of Invention
It would be advantageous to have an improved means for weed control.
The object of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims, wherein further embodiments are comprised in the dependent claims. It should be noted that the aspects and examples of the invention described below also apply to the apparatus for weed control, to the system for weed control, to the method for weed control, and to the computer program element and the computer readable medium.
According to a first aspect, there is provided an apparatus for weed control comprising:
-an input unit;
-a processing unit; and
-an output unit.
The input unit is configured to provide at least one image of the environment to the processing unit. The processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technique from a plurality of vegetation control techniques for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment. An output unit is configured to output information usable to activate the at least one vegetation control technique. In other words, one or more images of the environment have been obtained. There are several possible vegetation control techniques available for weed control. The facility then analyzes the one or more images to determine which one or more of the available vegetation control techniques should be used to control weeds at one or more specific locations of the environment.
In this way, the most suitable vegetation control techniques can be used in different areas of the environment. Also, in different areas of the environment, different techniques may be used, each of which is most appropriate for each different area.
In this way, herbicide-based technologies, such as those that can be applied in the form of a spray, can be used only if they are the most suitable technologies for one or more specific areas of the environment. This also means that non-herbicidal technology is used at other areas of the environment. Thus, not only is overall control of the weeds improved, but the use of herbicides, and especially the most aggressive ones, is reduced because the most suitable technique is used for each area.
In an example, analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique includes determining at least one location of vegetation in at least a first portion of the environment. The processing unit is configured to then determine at least one of the vegetation control techniques to be used at that at least one location.
In other words, image processing may be used to determine the vegetation area in the obtained image from which the most appropriate technique to be used for weed control for that vegetation area may be selected. Also, the vegetation control technique may be applied only at the location of the vegetation, where the most suitable vegetation control technique may be used for each vegetation location.
In this way, the most suitable vegetation control technique can be selected for different vegetation areas, where small vegetation areas can be controlled by different means than large vegetation areas, for example.
In an example, the at least one image is obtained by at least one camera. The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with at least one location associated with the at least one camera at a time when the at least one image was obtained.
The location may be a geographical location, an exact location relative to the ground, or a location on the ground that references a location of at least one vegetation control technique. In other words, an absolute geographical location may be utilized or an above-ground location may not necessarily be known in an absolute sense, but rather a location referenced to the location of the weed control technique.
Thus, by associating an image with the location at which the image was obtained, which may be an absolute geographical location or a location on the ground whose position relative to the vegetation control technique is known, the vegetation control technique can be accurately applied to the location.
In an example, analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique includes determining at least one type of weed. In other words, one or more types of weeds to be controlled may be considered in selecting an appropriate vegetation control technique. In an example, the processing unit is configured to determine at least one location of at least one type of weed. In other words, image processing can be used to determine the weed type and its location. The location may be a location in the image. The location may be a real geographic location. The location may be within the image and can be referenced to the location of one or more vegetation control techniques. In this way, by determining the location of a particular type of weed, an optimal vegetation control technique can be applied to that particular location, which also applies to different weeds requiring application of different vegetation control techniques at different locations.
In an example, analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique includes determining a first type of weed in at least a first portion of the environment and determining a second type of weed in at least a second portion of the environment.
The most suitable mode of operation for vegetation control technology can therefore be determined based on the different weed types in the environment. In an example, the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of a first type of weed in at least a first portion of the environment. The processing unit is configured to also analyze the at least one image to determine a second vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of a second type of weed in at least a second portion of the environment.
In other words, the most suitable vegetation control technique may be selected according to the particular type of weeds that will be found in the portion of the environment, thereby enabling the particular vegetation control technique to be applied only at the locations where those particular weeds will be found. In an example, the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment from a plurality of vegetation control techniques. The processing unit is configured to also analyze the at least one image to determine a second vegetation control technique from the plurality of vegetation control techniques to be used for weed control of at least a second portion of the environment.
In other words, a first technique may be selected for weed control at a first location of an environment based on image analysis, and a different vegetation control technique may be selected for weed control at a different location based on image analysis.
In this way, the most suitable vegetation control technique can be selected for a particular part of the environment, e.g., one weed control technique is used for some weeds while a different vegetation control technique is used for different weeds, and/or one planting control technique can be used for certain types of weeds in a first part of the environment while a different vegetation control technique is used for the same weeds in a different part of the environment. For example, the selected vegetation control technique may take into account the terrain on the ground, for example whether the terrain is dry, sandy, swamp, wet, or an area of particular environmental importance (a protected area) and these types of terrain are taken into account when selecting the most appropriate vegetation control technique for the same type (or different types) of weeds.
In another example, the most suitable vegetation control technique can be determined based on the stage of growth or stage of development of the weed species. According to a licensed embodiment, the development stage may be defined by BBCH (an internationally accepted code from biologische bundesanstalt, bundesportenamt und Chemische Industrie, germany).
In another example, the most suitable vegetation control technique can be determined based on the amount of weeds in the environment.
In addition, this means that chemically aggressive weed control means can be kept to a minimum.
In an example, analyzing the at least one image includes using a machine learning algorithm.
In the discussion above, and in the discussion below, vegetation control techniques may be referred to as weed control techniques, and vice versa.
According to a second aspect, there is provided a system for weed control comprising:
-at least one camera;
-a device for weed control according to the first aspect; and
-at least one vegetation control technique.
The at least one camera is configured to obtain at least one image of the environment. The at least one vegetation control technology is mounted on the vehicle. The apparatus is configured to activate the at least one vegetation control technique for at least a first portion of the environment.
In this manner, the vehicle may be moved around an environment and control weeds within the environment using different vegetation control techniques, where a particular vegetation control technique is determined based on an image of that environment. In this way, images are obtained by a platform, such as one or more drones flying over the environment. This information is sent to a device, which may be located in an office. The apparatus determines where in the environment what vegetation control technique should be used. This information can be provided within a weed control map, which is provided to a vehicle that moves around the environment and activates the required vegetation control techniques at specific parts of the environment.
In an example, the device is mounted on a vehicle. In an example, at least one camera is mounted on the vehicle.
According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for weed control comprising:
(a) providing at least one image of the environment to a processing unit;
(c) analyzing, by the processing unit, the at least one image to determine at least one vegetation control technique from a plurality of vegetation control techniques to be used for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment; and
(e) information is output by the output unit, the information being usable to activate the at least one vegetation control technique.
In an example, step (c) includes the step of determining (240) at least one vegetation location in at least a first portion of the environment; and wherein the method comprises the step (d) of determining (250), by the processing unit, at least one vegetation control technique to be used at that at least one location.
In an example, the at least one image in step (a) is obtained by at least one camera; and wherein the method comprises providing (260) the processing unit with at least one location related to the at least one camera at the time the at least one image was obtained.
According to a further aspect, a computer program element for controlling an apparatus according to the first aspect and/or a system according to the second aspect is provided, which program element, when being executed by a processor, is configured to carry out the method of the third aspect. Advantageously, the benefits provided by any of the above aspects apply equally to all other aspects, and vice versa.
The above aspects and examples can be understood and appreciated with reference to the embodiments described below.
Drawings
Exemplary embodiments will now be described with reference to the following drawings:
figure 1 shows a schematic arrangement of an example of an arrangement for weed control;
FIG. 2 shows a schematic arrangement of an example of a system for weed control;
FIG. 3 illustrates a method for weed control;
FIG. 4 shows a schematic arrangement of an example of a system for weed control;
FIG. 5 shows a schematic arrangement of an example of a system for weed control;
FIG. 6 shows a schematic arrangement of an example of a part of a system for weed control;
FIG. 7 shows a schematic arrangement of an example of a part of a system for weed control;
FIG. 8 shows a schematic arrangement of an example of a part of a system for weed control;
FIG. 9 shows a schematic arrangement of a portion of the system for weed control shown in FIG. 7 in more detail; and
fig. 10 shows a schematic depiction of a railway track and surrounding area.
Detailed Description
Fig. 1 shows an example of an
In an example, the plant is operated in real time, where images are obtained and immediately processed, and the determined vegetation control technique is immediately used to control weeds. Thus, for example, a vehicle may obtain an image of its environment and process the image to determine which vegetation control techniques carried by the vehicle should be used for a particular portion of its environment.
In an example, the plant is operated in near real-time, where an image of the environment is obtained and the image is immediately processed to determine which vegetation control technique should be used to control weeds at a particular area of that environment. This information can then be used by one or more suitable systems traveling in the environment and apply suitable vegetation control techniques to particular portions of the environment. Thus, for example, a first vehicle equipped with one or more cameras, such as a car, train, truck, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) or drone, may travel within the environment and obtain images. This image can be immediately processed to determine a "weed map" detailing where in the environment a particular vegetation control technique should be used. Thereafter, a transport vehicle equipped with several different vegetation control technologies can travel through the environment and apply specific identified weed control technologies to different specific areas of the environment. In another example, several different vehicles are each equipped with a single vegetation control technology, travel in the environment and use their specific vegetation control technology only for those specific areas of the environment where it has been determined that vegetation control technology should be used.
In an example, the apparatus operates in an offline mode. Thus, the image that has been obtained before is supplied to the apparatus later. The setup then determines where in an area a particular vegetation control technique should be used and actually generates a weed map. The weed map is then later used by one or more vehicles that then travel in the area and apply specific vegetation control techniques to specific parts of the environment.
In an example, the output unit outputs a signal that can be directly used to activate vegetation control techniques.
According to an example, analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique includes determining at least one location of vegetation in at least a first portion of the environment. The processing unit is configured to then determine at least one vegetation control technique to be used at that at least one site.
According to an example, the at least one image is obtained by at least one camera. The input unit is configured to then provide the processing unit with at least one location associated with the at least one camera at the time the at least one image was obtained.
In an example, the place is an absolute geographic place.
In an example, the location is a location determined with reference to a location of at least one vegetation control technique. In other words, it may be determined that the image relates to a particular location on the ground without knowing its exact geographical location, but by knowing the position of the at least one vegetation control technique relative to that location at the time the image was obtained, the vegetation control technique may then be applied at that location at a later time by moving the vegetation control technique to that location.
In an example, a GPS unit is used to determine the location of at least one camera at the time a particular image is obtained, and/or is used in determining the location.
In an example, an inertial navigation unit is used alone, or in combination with a GPS unit, to determine the location of at least one camera at the time a particular image is obtained. Thus, for example, an inertial navigation unit comprising, for example, one or more laser gyroscopes, is calibrated or nulled at a known location, and as it moves with at least one camera, movement in x, y, z coordinates away from that known location can be determined, from which movement the location of the at least one camera at the time the image was obtained can be determined.
In an example, image processing of the obtained images is used alone, or in combination with a GPS unit and an inertial navigation unit, to determine the location of at least one camera at the time a particular image was obtained. Thus, the visual markers may be used individually or in combination to determine the location of the camera. According to an example, analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique includes determining at least one type of weed.
According to an example, the processing unit is configured to determine at least one location of the at least one type of weed.
According to an example, analyzing the at least one image to determine the at least one vegetation control technique includes determining a first type of weed in at least a first portion of the environment and determining a second type of weed in at least a second portion of the environment.
According to an example, the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of a first type of weed in at least a first portion of the environment. The processing unit is configured to further analyze the at least one image to determine a second vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of a second type of weed within at least a second portion of the environment.
According to an example, the processing unit is configured to analyze the at least one image to determine a first vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment from a plurality of vegetation control techniques. The processing unit is configured to also analyze the at least one image to determine a second vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of at least a second portion of the environment from the plurality of vegetation control techniques.
In an example, the at least a second portion of the environment is different from the at least a first portion of the environment.
Thus, it can be determined that different weeds are located in different parts of the environment to enable the determination of the most suitable vegetation control technique for those areas. In an example, the at least a second portion of the environment is at least partially bounded by the at least a first portion of the environment.
In other words, one area of the environment is found to be located within another area of the environment. One vegetation control technique may be used for a large area at this time, while another vegetation control technique may be used for a smaller area that would be found in that area.
In an example, the at least a second portion of the environment is at least a subset of the at least a first portion of the environment.
Thus, for example, a smaller area of a particular type of weed may be found within a larger area of the weed. For example, one or more dandelion may be located within a grass region. At this point, a first vegetation control technique may be used throughout the grass field, including where the dandelion are located. This vegetation control technique may be selected as the technique suitable for controlling grass, and is not necessarily the most aggressive vegetation control technique available. However, where a more difficult to kill weed such as dandelion is found for that subset of the grass field, a more aggressive vegetation control technique, such as chemical spraying at that particular site, may be used. In this way, the amount of chemical spray can be minimized.
According to an example, analyzing the at least one image includes utilizing a machine learning algorithm.
In an example, the machine learning algorithm comprises a decision tree algorithm.
In an example, the machine learning algorithm includes an artificial neural network.
In an example, a mechanical learning algorithm is taught on the basis of a plurality of images. In an example, a machine learning algorithm is taught based on a plurality of images including images of at least one type of weed. In an example, a machine learning algorithm is taught based on a plurality of images including images of a plurality of weeds.
In an example, the at least one vegetation control technique includes one or more of: one or more chemicals; chemical spraying; a chemical liquid; a chemical solid; high-pressure water; high-temperature water; high-temperature high-pressure water; steam; electrical energy; electric induction; current flow; high voltage energy; electromagnetic radiation; x-ray radiation; ultraviolet radiation; visible radiation; microwave radiation; pulsed laser radiation; a flame system.
Fig. 2 shows an example of a
In the example, the
In an example, the vehicle is a train, or a railway wagon, wagon or truck, or a uni mug.
In an example, the input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with at least one geographical location associated with the at least one camera at the time the at least one image was obtained.
In an example, the apparatus is configured to activate the at least one vegetation control technique based on at least one geographic location associated with the at least one camera and a spatial relationship between the at least one camera and the at least one vegetation control technique at the time the at least one image was obtained. In this way, by knowing where the image was obtained by the camera mounted on the vehicle and also knowing where the vegetation control technique is mounted on the vehicle relative to the camera, forward movement of the vehicle can be taken into account to activate the vegetation control technique at the same place where the image was obtained, and indeed within the imaging area.
In an example, the apparatus is configured to activate the first vegetation control technique before activating the second vegetation control technique or to activate the first vegetation control technique after activating the second vegetation control technique.
In an example, the first vegetation control technology is mounted ahead of the second vegetation control technology relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle or the first vegetation control technology is mounted behind the second vegetation control technology relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle.
Fig. 3 shows the basic steps of a
in a providing
in an analyzing
In an
In an example, at least one image of the environment is provided from the
According to an example, step (c) includes the step of determining 240 at least one location of vegetation in at least a first portion of the environment. The method then includes the step (d) of determining 250, by the processing unit, the at least one vegetation control technique to be used at the at least one site.
According to an example, in step (a) at least one image is obtained by at least one camera, and the method comprises a step (b) of providing 260 to the processing unit at least one location associated with the at least one camera when the at least one image was obtained.
In an example, step (c) includes determining 270 at least one type of weed.
In an example, step (c) includes determining 280 at least one location of the at least one type of weed.
In an example, step (c) includes determining 290 a first type of weed in at least a first portion of the environment and determining 300 a second type of weed in at least a second portion of the environment.
In an example, step (c) includes determining 310 a first vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of a first type of weed in at least a first portion of the environment, and determining 320 a second vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of a second type of weed in at least a second portion of the environment.
In an example, step (c) includes determining 330 a first vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of at least a first portion of the environment; and determining 340 a second vegetation control technique to be used for weed control of at least a second portion of the environment.
In an example, the at least a second portion of the environment is different from the at least a first portion of the environment.
In an example, the at least a second portion of the environment is at least partially bounded by the at least a first portion of the environment.
In an example, the at least a second portion of the environment is at least a subset of the at least a first portion of the environment.
In an example, step (c) includes utilizing 350 a machine learning algorithm.
In an example, a method includes using a vehicle, and wherein the method includes obtaining at least one image of an environment by at least one camera; and activating the at least one vegetation control technology installed on the vehicle for at least a first portion of the environment.
In an example, a method includes mounting a processing unit, an output unit, and at least one camera on a vehicle.
In an example, the method includes activating the first vegetation control technique before activating the second vegetation control technique or activating the first vegetation control technique after activating the second vegetation control technique.
The apparatus, system and method for weed control, which relate to weed control in a railway track environment, is now described in more detail in connection with fig. 4-10, with the weed control technology being installed on various parts of the train.
Fig. 4 shows an example of a
The
The
The
The
Thus, the drone's
With continued reference to fig. 4, the
Fig. 5 shows another example of a
Fig. 5 shows two views of the
Fig. 6 shows a boxcar of the
Fig. 7 shows a freight car of a
Fig. 8 shows a boxcar of the
Fig. 9 shows more details of the high voltage-based
FIG. 10 shows a depiction of a railway environment showing a railway track and the ground on both sides of the track. Several weed fields are shown, with a large clump of weeds of one type having a clump of different types of weeds within the clump. Shown in fig. 10 is a particular weed control technique that has been determined to be activated for these particular weeds. This can be considered as the weed control map discussed with reference to fig. 4, or to determine in real time what weed control techniques should be used where as discussed with reference to fig. 5.
The examples detailed above are discussed with reference to railways, where different weed control technologies (vegetation control technologies) are accommodated in different freight cars of a train. These can be housed within a single truck bed and there can be only two, three or four weed control technologies, such as only chemical spraying and high voltage technologies. In addition, in addition to the weed control train, a truck or van or Unimog (Unimog) may have several weed control technologies installed thereon/therein, and travel around an industrial area or even an area such as an airport based on a previously obtained and processed image or based on an image obtained and processed by itself and apply a specific weed control technology to a specific weed type as described above.
In another exemplary embodiment, a computer program or a computer program element is provided, characterized by being configured to perform the method steps of the method according to one of the preceding embodiments on a suitable system. The computer program element may thus be stored on a computer unit, which may also be part of an embodiment. This computing unit may be configured to perform or cause to be performed the steps of the method described above. Moreover, it may be configured to operate the components of the devices and/or systems described above. The computing unit may be configured to operate automatically and/or to execute user commands. The computer program may be loaded into the working memory of a data processor. The data processor may thus be equipped to carry out a method according to one of the preceding embodiments.
This exemplary embodiment of the invention covers both a computer program that uses the invention from the beginning and a computer program that changes an existing program into a program that uses the invention by means of an update.
Further, the computer program element may be capable of providing all the necessary steps of a process to fulfill the exemplary embodiment of the method described above.
According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a computer-readable medium, such as a CD-ROM, a USB stick or the like, is provided, wherein the computer-readable medium has stored thereon a computer program element, the computer program element being as described in the previous section.
A computer program may be stored and/or distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the internet or wired or wireless telecommunication systems.
However, the computer program may also be provided over a network, such as the world wide web, and may be downloaded into the working memory of a data processor from this network. According to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a medium is provided for making available for downloading a computer program element arranged to perform a method according to one of the above described embodiments of the present invention.
It has to be noted that embodiments of the invention are described with reference to different subject matters. In particular, some embodiments are described with reference to method type claims whereas other embodiments are described with reference to apparatus type claims. However, a person skilled in the art will gather from the above and the following description that, unless other notified, also any combination of features belonging to one type of subject matter is possible, apart from any combination between features relating to different subject matters, which combinations are considered to be disclosed with this application. However, all of the features may be combined to provide more synergistic effects than a simple addition of the features.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. The invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.