WO2019034403A1

WO2019034403A1 - Illumination system and method of control

Info

Publication number: WO2019034403A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/070643
Authority: WO
Inventors: Martijn Marius HULTERMANS; Edith Danielle DEN HARTOG
Original assignee: Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2017-08-17
Filing date: 2018-07-31
Publication date: 2019-02-21

Abstract

An illumination system and an associated method for controlling the illumination system are provided to illuminate a first area (16), for example an access tunnel, the first area (16) adjoining and providing a route to or from a second area (10), for example an arena (10), the second area (10) being illuminated according to an illumination effect (22). The method comprises: i) receiving illumination characteristics of the illumination effect (22) in the second area (10); ii) selecting the illumination effect to be provided in one or more of a plurality of segments (S1 to S5) of the first area (16) according to the received illumination characteristics in the second area (10); and iii) separately illuminating each of the plurality of different segments (S1 to S5) of the first area (16) to provide the respective selected illumination effect in the segment.

Description

ILLUMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROL

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an illumination system, a method for controlling an illumination system and a computer program. BACKGROUND

It is known to provide dynamic illumination effects during events hosted in a venue such as an arena or stadium attended by potentially large numbers of people. Entry to such venues often requires passage of people through tunnels or other relatively confined areas before they reach a main area of the arena or stadium.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a method for controlling illumination of a first area, the first area adjoining and providing a route to or from a second area, the second area being illuminated according to an illumination effect, the method comprising:

(i) receiving illumination characteristics of an illumination effect in the second area;

(ii) selecting an illumination effect to be provided in one or more of a plurality of segments of the first area according to the received illumination characteristics in the second area; and

(iii) separately controlling illumination of each of the plurality of different segments of the first area to provide the respective selected illumination effect in the segment.

By this method, an illumination system having separately controllable light sources for illuminating respective segments of a first area may be controlled to provide illumination effects to different segments of the first area while taking account of the illumination effects being provided in the second area. The first area may be, for example, an access tunnel and the second area may be, for example, an arena or stadium. Data may also be received indicative of illumination characteristics of a third area, also adjoining the first area, and (ii) comprises selecting an illumination effect according, additionally, to the received illumination characteristics in the third area. By providing separately controllable illumination of each segment, a greater level of control may be applied to the illumination experience provided to people passing through the first area.

In an example embodiment, (i) comprises receiving illumination characteristics comprising at least one of brightness, colour and rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination and (ii) comprises selecting an illumination effect by selecting at least one of brightness, colour and rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination. In this way, a wider range of characteristics may be taken into account when selecting characteristics of an illumination effect to be provided in segments of the first area.

In an example embodiment, at (ii), selecting an illumination effect comprises selecting illumination characteristics such that a difference between the received illumination characteristics in the second area and the selected illumination characteristics provided in one or more of the plurality of segments does not exceed a predetermined level. In particular, at (ii), the one or more segments are one or more segments adjacent to the second area.

When selecting an illumination effect to apply to a segment in the first area, a difference in colour or brightness or rate of change of colour or brightness, or any

combination of differences in those characteristics as compared with the effects being provided in the second area, may be taken into account. In this way, people approaching the second area or leaving the second area may gradually adjust to any difference between, for example, an intense dynamic illumination experience in the second area and a less intense and less dynamic illumination experience in the first area, in either direction of movement. For example, differences in the illumination characteristics provided in segments close to the boundaries of the first area as compared with those provided in the second area may be reduced or minimsed, according to the capabilities of light sources provided to illuminate the first area.

In an example embodiment, (ii) comprises selecting a different illumination effect to provide in each of the plurality of segments. In this way, the illumination experience provided to people passing through the first area may be tailored to the position of each segment within the first area or to other characteristics of the segment.

In an example embodiment, (ii) comprises receiving sensor data indicative of a presence or movement of one or more people within the first area and selecting an illumination effect to be provided in one or more of the plurality of segments according, additionally, to the received sensor data. This provides for a potentially richer illumination experience for people moving through the first area according to their actual location or motion in the first area.

For example, the sensor data are indicative of a speed of movement of a person in the first area. The sensor data may indicate both speed and direction of motion. With such sensor data available, in an example embodiment, (ii) comprises selecting illumination characteristics to be provided in one or more of the plurality of segments such that a difference between the received illumination characteristics in the second area and the selected illumination characteristics is dependent upon the indicated speed of movement. In another example embodiment making use of such sensor data, (ii) comprises using the received sensor data to predict a time of arrival at the second area of a person moving through the first area and selecting an illumination effect to provide in the one or more segments according to received illumination characteristics expected in the second area at the predicted time of arrival at the second area.

In an example embodiment, (ii) comprises selecting an illumination effect to take account of an expected response of eyes of a person passing from the first area to the second area or from the second area to the first area to a difference in the selected illumination effect and the received illumination characteristics of the second area. This facility enables, for example, safety considerations to be included when selecting the illumination effect to be provided in particular segments of the first area. This ensures for example that people will be able to see obstacles or other hazards in the first area and not be dazzled or otherwise visually impaired by large differences in the illumination effects provided as they pass through the first area.

In an example embodiment, the sensor data are indicative of at least one of a speed of movement of one or more people, a density of people and a location of one or more people in the first area. Such sensor data enables a wider range of people movement considerations to be included when selecting illumination effects to be provided at different segments of the first area.

According to a second aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a controller for an illumination system, wherein the controller is configured to implement a method as described above according to the first aspect.

According to a third aspect disclosed herein, there is provided an illumination system, comprising:

a plurality of controllable light sources arranged separately to illuminate each of a plurality of segments in a first area, the first area being adjacent to a second area; and a controller as described above according to the second aspect, arranged to control the plurality of light sources.

In an example embodiment according to the third aspect, the illumination system comprises a plurality of controllable light sources arranged to illuminate the second area, wherein the controller is arranged additionally to control the plurality of light sources of the second area to provide an illumination effect in the second area. This has the advantage that a controller may provide a more integrated illumination experience to people in all parts of a venue.

According to a fourth aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a computer program comprising computer program code which when installed in and executed by a computer processor causes the computer processor to implement the method described above according to the first aspect disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To assist understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments may be put into effect, reference is made by way of example to the

accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows schematically a sectional view through a portion of an arena or stadium to which example embodiments in the present disclosure may be applied;

Figure 2 shows schematically a sectional view through an access tunnel of the arena or stadium of Figure 1 with an illumination system as may be controlled according to embodiments in the present disclosure;

Figure 3 shows schematically an illumination system and illumination system controller according to example embodiments in the present disclosure; and

Figure 4 shows schematically the sectional view of Figure 1 with an example illumination effect being provided in an access tunnel by embodiments in the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is known to provide dynamic illumination effects during events hosted in a venue such as an arena or stadium attended by potentially large numbers of people. Such events may be sporting or music events for example. The illumination effects may be provided to enhance the people's experience of the event. The effects may involve changes in illumination brightness and colour provided over the whole arena area or to different areas within the arena. Brightness levels within the arena may often be very high.

Entry to arenas often requires passage of people through access tunnels or other relatively confined areas before they reach the arena or stadium area itself. This may be for the purpose of access control or to provide access to other facilities. Any illumination effects being provided in the arena may be visible from within the access tunnel from at least that part close to the arena, but the contrast in light levels within the tunnel relative to those of the arena may typically be high, in particular when further away from the arena. A typical arena or stadium arrangement is as shown in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 , a portion of a partially covered arena 10 is shown having a banked seating area 12 covered by a roof structure 14 and an access tunnel 16 connecting an atrium 18 to the arena 10. An arrangement of light sources 20 are located in the arena 10 to provide illumination effects 22 for the benefit of people seated in the seating area 12, for example. Also shown in Figure 1 is an indication of the relative illumination brightness levels in the three areas 10, 16, 18, with the brightest light shown to be in the arena 10, a lesser brightness in the tunnel 16 and a lowest brightness in the atrium 18. In general, if there is nothing obscuring a view of the arena 10 from the tunnel 16, a person moving from the atrium 18 to the arena 10 via the tunnel 16 would expect to experience an increase in the brightness of light from a minimum in the atrium 18 to a maximum when close to the arena 10 itself. Furthermore, any illumination effects 22 being provided in the arena 10, for example involving the use of particular or changing brightness and colour, would also be expected to become more apparent to a person approaching the arena 10 and less apparent as they approach the atrium 18 in the opposite direction.

According to an invention to be described by the present disclosure, an illumination system is provided in the tunnel 16, controlled according to the invention. In the invention, an illumination experience may be provided within the tunnel 16 which takes account not only of the illumination experience being provided in the arena 10, but, optionally, also of the presence and movement of people through the tunnel 16 either towards or away from the arena 10. To enable such effects to be provided, a lighting system of the present invention provides separate controllable illumination to different segments of the tunnel 16 in a predetermined division of the tunnel area. One possible division of the tunnel 16 is shown in Figure 2.

Referring additionally to Figure 2, a tunnel 16 has been divided, for the purposes of illumination, into five separate but adjoining segments labelled Si to S₅. Each segment Si to S₅ may be provided with its own separately controllable light source 30 to illuminate the segment. The segment Si represents an area of the tunnel 16 that is furthest from the arena 10 and the segment S₅ represents an area of the tunnel 16 adjacent to the arena 10. As such, a person located in the segment S₅ may be expected to experience more of the illumination effect being provided in the arena 10 than a person located in the segment Si.

A controller according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided to control an illumination system of which the segment light sources 30 are a part, as will now be described with further reference to Figure 3.

Referring additionally to Figure 3, a controller 40 is linked to an array of light sources 30 and arranged to control each light source 30 separately or in groups of two or more light sources 30. The controller 40 is arranged to vary their brightness or colour of illumination of the respective segment Si to S₅ according to an illumination effect to be provided in the tunnel 16. The controller 40 is arranged to receive data defining illumination characteristics of brightness and colour of illumination 22 being provided in the arena 10, for example from a separate arena illumination system 42. The controller 40 may also be arranged to receive data defining illumination characteristics of the atrium 18, for example from an atrium illumination system 44, and to take those characteristics into account when selecting an illumination effect to be provided for example to segments in the tunnel 16 nearest to the atrium 18.

The controller 40 may also be arranged to receive data from one or more movement sensors 46 located in the tunnel 16, able to detect a presence of a person or people and to enable a speed and direction of movement of a person or people to be determined. For example, one or more passive infra-red (PIR) sensors 46 may be provided in the tunnel 16 to detect a general movement of people. Alternatively, one or more infra-red beam-break detectors may be provided across a width of the tunnel 16 to enable a rate and direction of passage of people between a first detector position and a second detector position to be estimated.

The controller 40 may be arranged to use the received data to provide an illumination experience for the benefit of people in the tunnel 16. For example, the controller may operate according to any one or more of the following scenarios, by which a segment Si to S 5 is illuminated:

1) such that a difference between brightness or colour of illumination or rate of change of brightness or colour provided to the segment and a received brightness or colour or rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination 22 provided to the arena 10 varies according to the distance of the segment from the arena 10;

2) such that a difference in brightness or colour or rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination provided to adjacent segments takes account of an expected response of the human eye to the difference;

3) such that a difference in brightness or colour or rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination provided to two or more segments takes account of an expected or detected speed of movement of a person or people between the two or more segments;

4) such that a difference in brightness or colour or rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination provided to two or more segments takes account of an expected or detected number of people located in or moving between the two or more segments;

5) to take account of an expected or detected direction of movement of people in the tunnel 16;

6) to take account of a received or predicted brightness or colour or rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination 22 to be provided to the arena 10 at some future time;

7) to provide a gradual introduction to the illumination experience awaiting a person in the arena 10 as they move through the tunnel 16 towards the arena 10.

In one example of scenario 1), brightness of illumination in the tunnel section 16, linking the arena 10 to the atrium 18 as in Figure 1, may be varied as shown in Figure 4.

Referring additionally to Figure 4, the arena 10 of Figure 1 is shown with people 32 moving along the tunnel 16 from the arena 10 towards the atrium 18. The controller 40 selects a brightness of illumination by the light sources 30 to their respective segments in the tunnel 16 that can be seen to be higher in segments at a mid-section of the tunnel 16 and to be lower in the segments at either end of the tunnel 16. Such a distribution of illumination brightness takes account of the brightness of illumination in the areas 10, 18 beyond the ends of the tunnel 16.

Firstly, for a segment closest to the arena 10, people 32 located in that segment will be more directly exposed to the illumination effects 22 being provided in the arena 10. Therefore the controller determines that any contribution to the overall illumination effect by the light source 30 in that segment will be minimal and will set the brightness of illumination by the respective light source 30 to be low.

Secondly, for the segment closest to the atrium 10, the contribution of light from the atrium 18 will be relatively small. However, to avoid a large contrast in brightness for those people 32 moving into the darker atrium area 18 from the tunnel 16, the controller 40 will set the brightness of the light source 30 in that segment to match more closely the brightness of light in the atrium 18, as received in data from the atrium illumination system 44 for example.

However, in the mid-section of the tunnel 16, the contribution of light from the arena illumination effects 22 will be much reduced, but the eyes of people 32 moving from the arena 10 to towards the atrium 18 may not yet have adjusted to the reduced light levels expected as they move on towards to the darker atrium 18. The controller 40 therefore selects a brightness for the light sources 30 in the mid-section of the tunnel 16 to provide a mid- level of illumination between the brightness of illumination of the arena 10 and the relative darkness of illumination of the atrium 18. To reach this mid-level of brightness, the controller 40 selects an increasing brightness for the light sources 30 in those segments leading from the arena 10 to the mid-section of the tunnel 16 up to a maximum for that or those segments at the mid-section. The controller 40 selects a decreasing brightness for the light sources 30 in those segments leading from the mid-section towards the atrium 18 such that the decreasing brightness enables the eyes of people moving through that section gradually to adjust to the lower light level in the atrium 18, according to scenario 2), above. The net effect of such a distribution of brightness of illumination by the light sources 30 is a gradual reduction in the overall brightness of illumination experienced by the people 32 moving from the high brightness of the arena illumination effect 22 to the relatively low light level in the atrium 18.

Besides adjusting the brightness of illumination according to the position of a segment Si to S₅ relative to the arena 10 or to the atrium 18, the controller 40 may adjust the colour of illumination provided by the respective light source 30. For example, in those segments, e.g. S₅ as shown in Figure 2, closest to the arena 10, the difference between a colour of illumination selected for the respective light source 30 and the colour of

illumination in the arena 10, as would be visible in the segment S₅, does not exceed a predetermined threshold. Similarly, colour matching to within a predetermined threshold may be achieved for the other end of the tunnel, e.g. for the segment Si as shown in Figure 2 closest to the atrium 18, according to a received or detected colour of illumination in the atrium 18.

An illumination effect 22 provided in the arena 10 or by a light source 30 in a segment may comprise more than one colour being emitted, either simultaneously or in a sequence. Any difference being considered when selecting an illumination effect to be provided by a light source 30 may take account of the overall colour balance of the effect 22 being provided in the arena 10, for example the particular combination of wavelengths or relative brightnesses of the colours at any time.

The illumination effect 22 being provided by the arena illumination system 42 of Figure 3 in the arena 10 may be a dynamic, i.e. time-varying effect in which illumination brightness and colour may be varied at a fixed or changing rate. The controller 40 may be arranged to receive data from the arena illumination system 42 defining illumination characteristics for the arena 10 at a sufficiently high rate to enable changes to be made in the illumination effect being provided in the tunnel 16 approximately in time with changes in the arena 10. Any delay in changing the illumination effect in the tunnel 16 may be reduced or eliminated if the controller is arranged to receive details of the illumination effect 22 to be provided in the arena 10 at some time period before the effect 22 is implemented.

In one example embodiment, the same controller 40 may be arranged to control both the illumination effect 22 provided by the arena illumination system 42 in the arena 10 and the illumination effect provided in the tunnel 16 and thereby ensure

synchronisation of changes to the arena and tunnel illumination effects.

Where the controller 40 receives data defining an expected or detected speed of movement of a person or people in the tunnel 16, as in scenario 3), above, the controller 40 may predict how long it will take a person or people to travel from a current assumed or detected location in the tunnel 16 to the arena 10. If the controller 40 is provided, by the arena illumination system 42, with data defining illumination effects 22 to be provided in the arena 10 at times up to an including the predicted time of arrival of the person or people at the arena 10, then the illumination effect to be provided in respective segments Si to S₅ of the tunnel at times up to and including that predicted time may also be determined by the controller 40 to ensure that they are coincident.

In one example of scenario 4), above, the controller 40 may apply additional controls to the illumination effect being provided to segments Si to S₅ of the tunnel 16 to take account of the number of people 32 in any part of the tunnel 16. For example, for reasons of safety, the controller 40 may be arranged to reduce the intensity of an illumination effect provided by the light sources 30 in particular segments when the controller 40 receives sensor data indicating that the density of people in those or nearby segments of the tunnel 16 is high. Alternatively, if the density of people is found to be low, a more intense illumination effect may be provided by the controller 40 in respective segments of the tunnel 16.

In one example of scenario 5), the illumination effect described above with reference to Figure 4 may be beneficial when people 32 are leaving the arena 10 at the end of an event, recognising that they will generally be facing away from the arena 10 and moving from a brightly lit area to a relatively dimly lit area. However, if the people 32 are moving from the atrium 18 towards the arena 10 during an arrival period, for example, they will be moving from a dimly lit area in the atrium 18 towards the brightly lit arena 10 with an increasing visibility of the illumination effects 22 being provided in the arena 10. As such, the controller 40 may be arranged to provide a higher rate of increase in the overall intensity of an illumination effect from one segment to the next when people 32 are moving towards the arena 10 as compared to the rate of reduction in overall intensity discussed with reference to Figure 4.

In a more complex example of scenario 5), the controller 40 may receive data indicating that there are people 32 moving through the tunnel 16 both towards and away from the arena 10. In particular, a greater density of people 32 may be moving towards the arena 10 than away from it. In such a scenario, the controller 40 may be arranged to adjust the illumination effect being provided in the tunnel 16 to ensure optimal safety, ensuring that those people leaving the arena 10 can both be seen by those approaching the arena 10 and can see those people approaching the arena 10.

In one example of scenario 6), the controller 40 is provided with data indicative of location and speed of movement of people through the tunnel 16 towards the arena 10 and with illumination characteristics of the illumination effect 22 to be provided in the arena 10 at one or more times in the near future. The controller 40 may then determine from the speed data a predicted time of arrival of people 32 in the arena 10 and may adjust the illumination effect provided in the tunnel 16 to take account of the illumination effect 22 as it will be when they arrive in the arena 10. In an example of scenario 7), above, the controller 40 may be arranged gradually to introduce into the illumination effect provided in the tunnel 16 illumination characteristics of the future illumination effect 22, to be provided in the arena 10 at the predicted time of arrival. However, such tunnel illumination effects may be of a lower intensity, as an introduction to the effects awaiting those people when they arrive in the arena 10.

If the tunnel 16 is sufficiently long, or if the view of the arena 10 from segments more than determined distance from the arena 10 is otherwise obscured, then there will be segments relatively unaffected by the illumination effect 22 in the arena 10. In such segments a different illumination effect and experience may be provided as compared with segments closer to the arena 10. For example, if data are received indicating that people are moving slowly through segments unaffected by the effects 22 in the arena 10, then the illumination effects selected for those segments may be related to the illumination effects 22 of the arena 10 in a different way. For example, a dynamic illumination effect may be provided in the tunnel 16 in which the rate of change in illumination characteristics is dependent upon the detected speed of movement of people in the respective segments in rather than the rate of change of an illumination effect 22 being provided in the arena 10.

Alternatively, a difference in selected illumination characteristics to be provided in a segment as compared with the illumination characteristics in the arena 10 may be dependent upon the speed of movement of people in the segment. For example, a difference in selected colour or brightness in a segment may be greater when people are moving slowly, while still being related to the colour and brightness of the effect 22 being provided in the arena 10.

In an example embodiment of the present invention, the illumination system provided to illuminate the tunnel 16 and its associated controller 40 may be independent of an illumination system 42 provided to illuminate the arena 10. In such an arrangement, the tunnel lighting system controller 40 may receive data from additional sensors provided to detect changing illumination characteristics of an illumination effect 22 being provided in the arena 10. The controller 40 is arranged to adjust the illumination effect provided in segments of the tunnel in response to the detected changing illumination characteristics of the arena 10.

The controller 40 may be implemented using a general purpose computer having a digital processor and associated memory for the storage of software which when executed by the processor implements the functional features described above. Alternatively, a more bespoke combination of software and configurable hardware logic devices may be used to implement the functional features of the controller 40 described above.

The controller 40 may be linked to the light sources 30 by wired or wireless links to control the light sources 30 to emit light with the selected characteristics of colour and brightness of illumination. Appropriate interfaces may be provided both in the controller 40 and in each of the light sources 30, as required, to enable the controller 40 to control the light sources 30. The controller 40 may for example supply power to the light sources directly over a wired link. Alternatively, the controller 40 may send control messages according to a predetermined protocol and message format over a wired or wireless link to trigger illumination by the respective light source 30 with the selected characteristics. Any one of a number of known wireless signalling standards may be selected for such wireless communication, including IEEE 802.11 and Bluetooth^®. The controller 40 may be arranged similarly to receive data from movement sensors 46 over wired or wireless links. If wireless links are used, they may conform to the same wireless communications standards mentioned above.

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 fulfil 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. A computer program may be stored/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 other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for controlling illumination of a first area (16), the first area (16) adjoining and providing a route to or from a second area (10), the second area (10) being illuminated according to an illumination effect (22), the method comprising:

(i) receiving illumination characteristics of an illumination effect (22) in the second area (10);

(ii) selecting an illumination effect to be provided in one or more of a plurality of segments (Si to S₅) of the first area (16) according to the received illumination characteristics in the second area (10); and

(iii) separately controlling illumination of each of the plurality of different segments (Si to S₅) of the first area (16) to provide the respective selected illumination effect in the segment, wherein the selected illumination effect cause differences in the illumination characteristics provided in segments close to the boundaries of the first area to be reduced or minimized in comparison to illumination characteristics provided in the second area, such that people approaching the second area from the first area or leaving the second area to the first area may gradually adjust to differences between the illumination effects in the first and second area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein (i) comprises receiving illumination characteristics comprising at least one of brightness, colour and rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination and (ii) comprises selecting an illumination effect by selecting at least one of brightness, colour and rate of change of brightness or colour of illumination.

3. The method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein, at (ii), selecting an illumination effect comprises selecting illumination characteristics such that a difference between the received illumination characteristics in the second area (10) and the selected illumination characteristics provided in one or more of the plurality of segments (Si to S₅) does not exceed a predetermined level.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein, at (ii), the one or more segments (Si to S₅) are one or more segments adjacent to the second area (10).

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein (ii) comprises selecting a different illumination effect to provide in each of the plurality of segments (Si to S₅).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein (ii) comprises receiving sensor data indicative of a presence or movement of one or more people (32) within the first area (16) and selecting an illumination effect to be provided in one or more of the plurality of segments (Si to S₅) according, additionally, to the received sensor data.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sensor data are indicative of a speed of movement of a person (32) in the first area (16).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein (ii) comprises selecting

illumination characteristics to be provided in one or more of the plurality of segments (Si to S₅) such that a difference between the received illumination characteristics in the second area (10) and the selected illumination characteristics is also dependent upon the indicated speed of movement.

9. The method according to claim 7 or claim 8, wherein (ii) comprises using the received sensor data to predict a time of arrival at the second area (10) of a person (32) moving through the first area (16) and selecting an illumination effect to provide in the one or more segments (Si to S₅) according to received illumination characteristics expected in the second area (10) at the predicted time of arrival at the second area (10).

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein (ii) comprises selecting an illumination effect to take account of an expected response of eyes of a person (32) passing from the first area (16) to the second area (10) or from the second area (10) to the first area (16) to a difference in the selected illumination effect and the received illumination characteristics of the second area (10).

11. The method according to claim 6, wherein the sensor data are indicative of at least one of a speed of movement of one or more people (32), a density of people (32) and a location of one or more people (32) in the first area (16).

12. A controller (40) for an illumination system, wherein the controller (40) is configured to implement a method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. An illumination system, comprising:

a plurality of controllable light sources (30) arranged separately to illuminate each of a plurality of segments (Si to S₅) in a first area (16), the first area (16) being adjacent to a second area (10); and

a controller (40) according to claim 12, arranged to control the plurality of light sources (30).

14. The illumination system according to claim 13, comprising a plurality of controllable light sources (20) arranged to illuminate the second area (10), wherein the controller (40) is arranged additionally to control the plurality of light sources (20) of the second area (10) to provide a dynamic illumination effect in the second area (10).

15. A computer program comprising computer program code which when installed in and executed by a computer processor causes the computer processor to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.