Method for Commissioning a Lighting Device

Abstract

A method for commissioning n new lighting devices (10) that participate in or are added to a network, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, the network includes at least one bridge device (9) and a commissioning device (30), the method comprising, for each new lighting device (11, 12, 13, 14), determining (101) a first time t1 at which or by which the new lighting device (11, 12, 13, 14) is powered on, or a value derived from the first time t1, obtaining (102) by the commissioning device (30) the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, and displaying (103) by the commissioning device (30) on a user interface (4) the new lighting device (11, 12, 13, 14), wherein the order of the new lighting devices (11, 12, 13, 14) displayed on the user interface (4) is defined by the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, obtained by the commissioning device (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for commissioning n new lighting devices participating in or added to a network, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and the network includes a commissioning device. The present invention further relates to a corresponding lighting device commissioning system.

Background Art

[0002] Common lighting device systems, whether for home or business use, form a network, are connected to a bridge, and typically include a plurality of lighting devices that are centrally controlled on a data processing device via an application executed on the data processing device. In connection with such systems, it is often necessary to modify existing lighting devices, typically by replacing defunct light bulbs, and to add new lighting devices to the lighting device system.

[0003] When a user installs a number of new lighting devices, such as screwing in a bulb or plugging a power cord into a lamp, the user must use an application to introduce (commission) the new lighting devices into the lighting device system. During commissioning, the application instructs the bridge to open the network of lighting devices, and the various new lighting devices join the network one by one in a random order.

[0004] These new lighting devices are placed in the bridge's database in the same order as they were discovered, and thus in a random order. Also, the new lighting devices are shown in the application's user interface (UI) in the same order as they were discovered, and thus in a random order.

[0005] After this, the user needs to (again) name the lighting devices, group them, etc. When there are a large number of lighting devices, this can be a cumbersome task because the lighting devices are in a random order, not the order in which they were installed. Also, the user is most likely to remember the order in which the new lighting devices were installed and have this as a mental model. This random ordering is caused by the inherent randomness when a collection of new lighting devices joins an open network.

[0006] US 2014 / 300276 A1 discloses a lighting system that includes lighting fixtures installed at individual locations within a facility. The lighting system is commissioned by arranging auxiliary commissioning devices at spaced locations within the facility, arranging a central controller, and forming these into a wireless local network. Each auxiliary commissioning device includes a sensor that detects light from the lighting fixture. The location of the auxiliary commissioning device is established for the facility by the central controller using ranging, for example, based on the signal strength of the auxiliary commissioning devices within the local network. The light emitted from the lighting fixture is individually detected by the sensors of the auxiliary commissioning devices so as to associate the lighting fixture with an individual one of the auxiliary commissioning devices.

[0007] It is desirable to provide a method and system that enable a user to view new lighting devices or have new lighting devices presented to the user in the order in which the user installed them. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0008] The object of the present invention is to overcome this problem and to provide a method and a system that enable a user to view new lighting devices or have new lighting devices presented to the user in the order in which the user attaches the (new) lighting devices.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0009] According to a first aspect of the present invention, this and other objects are achieved by a method for commissioning n new lighting devices participating in or being added to a network, where n is an integer of 2 or more, the network includes a commissioning device, and the method includes, for each new lighting device, determining, in or by the new lighting device, a first time t1 at which the new lighting device is powered on, or a value derived from the first time t1; obtaining, by the commissioning device, the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1; and displaying, by the commissioning device, the new lighting device on a user interface, where the order of the new lighting devices displayed on the user interface is defined by the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, obtained by the commissioning device.

[0010] Thereby, in particular, as described above, by determining the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, obtaining it by the commissioning device, and using the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, as a basis for determining the display order of the lighting devices, assuming that attaching the lighting device includes supplying power to the lighting device, a method is provided that enables the user to view the new lighting devices or have the new lighting devices presented to the user in the order in which the user attaches the new lighting devices, or at least in the order in which the lighting devices are powered up.

[0011] In one embodiment, a first time t1 at which a new lighting device is powered on is either the time at which the new lighting device is powered on for the first time, or the time at which each new lighting device is powered on for the first time after being reset to factory default.

[0012] Thereby, the first time t1 can be determined by the new lighting device, particularly simply and accurately.

[0013] In one embodiment, the method further includes obtaining, by a commissioning device, for each new lighting device, at least one of a second time t2 at which the network opens for the lighting device to participate in the network and a third time t3 at which a new lighting device is selected by a user using a central commissioning device; determining, by the commissioning device, for each new lighting device, an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3; and displaying, by the commissioning device, a new lighting device on a user interface, wherein an order of the new lighting devices displayed on the user interface is defined by the amount of time Δt determined by the commissioning device.

[0014] Thereby, the necessary changes to the commissioning device only relate to enabling the commissioning device to read out the first time t1 and one of the second time t2 and the third time t3 from the lighting device, which corresponds to adding a new wireless command to the hardware or software of the existing commissioning device. Therefore, such a method is particularly simple and easy to implement or retrofit into an existing lighting device system.

[0015] In one embodiment, the method further comprises, for each new lighting device, obtaining, at the new lighting device, at least one of a second time t2 at which the network opens for the lighting device to join the network and a third time t3 at which the new lighting device is selected by the user using the central commissioning device; determining, by each new lighting device, an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3; obtaining, by the commissioning device, for each new lighting device, the amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3; and displaying, by the commissioning device, on the user interface, the new lighting device, wherein the order of the new lighting devices displayed on the user interface is defined by the amount of time Δt determined by each respective new lighting device.

[0016] Accordingly, the necessary changes to the commissioning device only relate to enabling the commissioning device to read the amount of time Δt from the lighting device, which corresponds to adding a new wireless command to the hardware or software of the existing commissioning device. Therefore, such a method is particularly simple and easy to implement or retrofit into an existing lighting device system.

[0017] In one embodiment, the first time t1 is obtained by the commissioning device reading the first time t1 from each new lighting device.

[0018] Alternatively, the first time t1 may be determined by each new lighting device measuring the first time t1 and broadcasting or unicasting it.

[0019] According to any of these embodiments, the commissioning device can obtain the first time t1 particularly simply.

[0020] In one embodiment, the first time t1 is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device presenting a pattern indicating the first time t1, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicating the first time t1.

[0021] In one embodiment, the second time t2 is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device presenting a pattern indicating the second time t2, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicating the second time t2.

[0022] In one embodiment, the third time t3 is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device presenting a pattern indicating the third time t3, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicating the third time t3.

[0023] In one embodiment, the time amount Δt elapsed from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3 is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device presenting a pattern indicating the time amount Δt, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicating the time amount Δt.

[0024] Thereby, the commissioning device can determine one or more of the first time t1, the second time t2, the third time t3, and the time amount Δt particularly simply, most often using a detection device already present in the commissioning device. For example, the commissioning device may be a data processing device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a laptop computer equipped with a suitable commissioning application, and the detection device may be a camera of a mobile phone, a tablet computer or a laptop computer.

[0025] In one embodiment, one or more of the pattern indicating the first time t1, the pattern indicating the second time t2, the pattern indicating the third time t3, and the pattern indicating the time amount Δt are one or more of a visible light communication (VLC) pattern and a stroboscopic pattern, and the detection device is a camera.

[0026] Thereby, in most cases, the commissioning device can determine the first time t1 particularly simply by using a detection device that is standardly present in the commissioning device.

[0027] In one embodiment, the step of displaying a new lighting device on the user interface by the commissioning device includes inputting the new lighting device into the database in ascending order of the determined first time t1 or in descending order of the determined time amount Δt such that the order in which the new lighting device is displayed on the user interface matches the order in which the new lighting device is powered on.

[0028] Thereby, a method is provided that enables the user to view the (new) lighting device or the (new) lighting device to be presented to the user in the order in which the user has installed the (new) lighting device or powered up the (new) lighting device, particularly simply and with particularly high certainty, in order to obtain the correct desired order.

[0029] In one embodiment, the new lighting devices participate in or are added to the network in a random order.

[0030] Thereby, a method is provided that particularly simply obtains the above advantages.

[0031] In one embodiment, the new lighting device joins or is added to the network with a delay k*(t2 - t1), where the delay is selected such that the new lighting devices join or are added to the network in the order in which they are powered up.

[0032] This provides a way in which the time at which each new lighting device joins or is added to the network can also be used by the commissioning device to determine the order in which the lighting devices should be displayed. Note that this means that the lighting devices effectively join the network in the reverse order, i.e., the last installed lighting device has the lowest value of t2 - t1 and thus joins the network first. Therefore, in practice, the list presented to the user on the user interface may have the last installed lighting device at the top, or the commissioning device may be configured to invert the order of the list so that the first joining lighting device is at the top of the list. This makes it possible to obtain the correct desired order, particularly simply and with a high degree of certainty.

[0033] Furthermore, since new lights join the network in the wanted order, no changes to the commissioning device already in use in the existing network are required. Therefore, such a method is particularly simple and easy to implement or retrofit into an existing lighting device system as it does not require changes to the commissioning device.

[0034] In one embodiment, the method further includes positioning a camera so that the camera can survey an area where a new lighting device is to be installed, picking up light from the new lighting device by the camera during installation of the lighting device, determining an order in which the new lighting devices are installed based on the light picked up by the camera, and controlling each new lighting device one by one to correlate a position of each new lighting device to be input into a database of a commissioning device with an actual position of each new lighting device based on the determined order in which the new lighting devices are installed.

[0035] This provides a method that can obtain the data necessary to establish the correct desired order, particularly simply and with particularly high certainty, and further by using a camera that is often standardly present in commissioning devices.

[0036] In one embodiment, the method further includes sorting entries of new lighting devices in a database of a commissioning device in the determined order in which the new lamps are installed based on the correlated positions.

[0037] This provides a method that can obtain and display the correct desired order, particularly simply and with particularly high certainty.

[0038] In one embodiment, the network is a Zigbee® - based network.

[0039] In one embodiment, the network is a Thread - based network.

[0040] In one embodiment, the network is a Wi - Fi® - based network.

[0041] In one embodiment, the network uses Bluetooth (R) mesh technology.

[0042] In one embodiment, the network uses Bluetooth Low Energy.

[0043] In one embodiment, the commissioning device is a data processing device such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a laptop computer. The commissioning device may include an illumination device commissioning application and execute it during operation.

[0044] In one embodiment, the network further includes m previously added illumination devices, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0045] The present invention further relates to an illumination device system including a network and n new illumination devices to be joined or added to the network, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The network includes a commissioning device. Each new illumination device is configured to determine a first time t1 when the new illumination device is powered on, or a value derived from the first time t1. The commissioning device is configured to obtain the first time t1, or a value derived from the first time t1. The commissioning device is configured to display the new illumination device on a user interface. The order of the new illumination devices displayed on the user interface is defined by the first time t1, or a value derived from the first time t1, obtained by the commissioning device.

[0046] In one embodiment, the commissioning device includes a user interface.

[0047] In one embodiment of the system, the commissioning device further obtains, for each new lighting device, at least one of a second time t2 at which the network opens for the lighting device to join the network and a third time t3 at which a new lighting device is selected by the user using the central commissioning device, determines an amount of time Δt that elapses from a first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, and configures the order of the plurality of new lighting devices displayed on the user interface to be defined by the amount of time Δt, where the order of the new lighting devices displayed on the user interface is determined by the commissioning device.

[0048] In one embodiment of the system, each new lighting device is further configured to obtain at least one of a second time t2 at which the network opens for the lighting device to join the network and a third time t3 at which a new lighting device is selected by the user using the central commissioning device, and determine an amount of time Δt that elapses from a first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3. The commissioning device further obtains, for each new lighting device, the amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, and configures the order of the new lighting devices displayed on the user interface to be defined by the amount of time Δt, where the order of the new lighting devices displayed on the user interface is determined by each new lighting device. In one embodiment of the system, the commissioning device is configured to obtain the first time t1 by one or more of reading the first time t1 from each new lighting device and detecting the first time t1 from each new lighting device, since each new lighting device is configured to measure, broadcast, or unicast the first time t1.

[0049] In one embodiment of the system, the commissioning device is configured to obtain the second time t2 by either reading the second time t2 from each new lighting device and detecting the second time t2, or configuring each new lighting device to measure and broadcast or unicast the second time t2.

[0050] In one embodiment of the system, the commissioning device is configured to obtain the third time t3 by either reading the third time t3 from each new lighting device and detecting the third time t3, or configuring each new lighting device to measure and broadcast or unicast the third time t3.

[0051] In one embodiment of the system, the commissioning device is configured to obtain the time amount Δt by either reading the time amount Δt from each new lighting device and detecting the time amount Δt, or configuring each new lighting device to measure and broadcast or unicast the time amount Δt.

[0052] In one embodiment of the system, each new lighting device is configured to emit light presenting a pattern indicating the first time t1, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicating the first time t1.

[0053] In one embodiment of the system, each new lighting device is configured to emit light presenting a pattern indicating the second time t2, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicating the second time t2.

[0054] In one embodiment of the system, each new lighting device is configured to emit light presenting a pattern indicating the third time t3, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicating the third time t3.

[0055] In one embodiment of the system, each new lighting device is configured to emit light presenting a pattern indicative of a time amount Δt, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern indicative of the time amount Δt.

[0056] In one embodiment, the system further includes a camera positioned so that the camera can overlook the area where the new lighting device is to be installed. The system further includes, during installation of the lighting device, picking up light from the new lighting device by the camera, determining the order in which the new lighting devices are installed based on the light picked up by the camera, and turning on and off each new lighting device one by one to correlate the position of each new lighting device input into the commissioning device's database with the actual position of each new lighting device based on the determined order in which the new lighting devices are installed.

[0057] In one embodiment of the system, the network is a Zigbee®-based network.

[0058] In one embodiment of the system, the network is a Thread-based network.

[0059] In one embodiment of the system, the network is a Wi-Fi®-based network.

[0060] In one embodiment of the system, the network uses Bluetooth® mesh technology.

[0061] In one embodiment of the system, the network uses Bluetooth Low Energy.

[0062] In one embodiment of the system, the commissioning device is a data processing device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet computer, or a laptop computer.

[0063] In one embodiment of the system, the commissioning device includes an illumination device commissioning application and executes during operation.

[0064] In one embodiment of the system, the network further includes m previously added illumination devices, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 1.

[0065] The present invention relates to all possible combinations of the features listed in the claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0066] Here, this and other aspects of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing embodiments of the present invention. The figures are provided to illustrate the general structure of embodiments of the present invention. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0067] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art.

[0068] FIG. 1 schematically shows a lighting device system 1 according to the present invention. The lighting device system 1 generally includes a network and n new lighting devices, referred to together by reference numeral 10, which should participate in or be added to the network, where n is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The system further generally includes a commissioning device 30. The commissioning device 30 may be a central commissioning device 30.

[0069] In the illustrated embodiment, the lighting device system 1 further includes an optional bridge device 9. The bridge device 9 may function as a commissioning device, or, as shown in FIG. 1, the bridge device 9 may function as a link between the lighting device 10 and the commissioning device 30. In the latter case, the commissioning device 30 is connected to the bridge device 9, and the bridge device 9 is connected to the lighting devices 10 and 20 via the network. Alternatively, the bridge device 9 may be omitted, in which case the commissioning device 30 is connected to the lighting devices 10 and 20 via the network and communicates directly with the lighting devices 10 and 20. The network may be any suitable type of network. The network is typically a wireless network. A type of network commonly used in connection with the lighting device system 1 is a Zigbee-based network. Other realizable types of networks include Thread-based networks, Wi-Fi-based networks, networks using Bluetooth mesh technology, and networks using Bluetooth Low Energy.

[0070] An example of n new lighting devices to be joined or added to the network is shown in FIG. 2, where lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 with n = 4 are shown. As shown, the four new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are lighting fixtures, but may be any other type of lighting device, such as a lamp. Each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 may be configured to determine a first time t1 when the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are powered on, especially when powered on for the first time, or a value derived from the first time t1. Each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 may further include devices 21, 22, 23, 24 configured to store, broadcast or unicast data indicating the first time t1 or a value derived from the first time t1. The devices 21, 22, 23, 24 may be, for example, chips, codes, transmitters, broadcasting devices, unicasting devices, etc. Also, each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 may be configured to emit light presenting a pattern indicating the first time t1 or a value derived from the first time t1.

[0071] Optionally, the lighting device system may further include m lighting devices added to the network at a previous point in time, thus, before the new lighting device 10, where m is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The m lighting devices are referred to herein as previously added lighting devices and are collectively referred to by reference numeral 20.

[0072] An example of m previously added lighting devices 20 is shown in FIG. 2, where lighting devices 15, 16, 17, 18 with m = 4 are shown. As shown, the four previously added lighting devices 15, 16, 17, 18 are lighting fixtures, but may be any other type of lighting device, such as a lamp. Each previously added lighting device 15, 16, 17, 18 may further include devices 25, 26, 27, 28 configured to store, broadcast or unicast data. Devices 25, 26, 27, 28 may be, for example, chips, codes, transmitters, broadcasting devices, unicasting devices, etc.

[0073] The commissioning device 30 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The commissioning device 30 is a data processing device. A suitable commissioning application may be provided to the commissioning device 30. The commissioning device 30 may be, for example, any one of a mobile phone, a tablet computer, and a laptop computer. In any case, the commissioning device 30 is configured to obtain the first time t1 when each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 is powered on, in particular, when it is powered on for the first time, or a value derived from the first time t1. The commissioning device generally includes a user interface 4 and is configured to display the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in order 6 on the user interface 4. The order 6 of the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 displayed on the user interface 4 is defined by the first time t1 when each respective new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 is powered on, or a value derived from the first time t1, obtained by the commissioning device 30. The commissioning device 30 may further be configured to place the obtained first time t1 of each lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, or a value derived from the first time t1, in, for example, an internal list. The internal list may be accessed by the user, within the user interface 4 or via the user interface 4, and / or via a suitable program interface, for example, by other devices that desire to know and / or use the devices within the system 1.

[0074] Optionally, the commissioning device 30 further obtains, for each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, at least one of a second time t2, or a value derived from the second time t2, at which the network opens for the lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 to participate in the network, and a third time t3, or a value derived from the third time t3, at which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are selected by the user using the central commissioning device 30, and determines, for each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3. In this case, the commissioning device may be configured to display, on the user interface 4, the plurality of lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in an order 6 defined by the amount of time Δt determined by the commissioning device 30.

[0075] Also, it is possible to implement that each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 is configured to obtain at least one of a second time t2 at which the network opens for the lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 to participate in the network, and a third time t3 at which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are selected by the user using the central commissioning device 30, and to determine an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3. In such a case, the commissioning device 30 obtains, for each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, and may be configured to display, on the user interface 4, the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in an order defined by the amount of time Δt determined by each respective new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0076] The commissioning device 30 may further include a processing unit 3 and a memory unit 2. Data 5 may be stored in the memory unit 2 at a first time t1, a second time t2, a third time t3, and an elapsed time Δt, etc. Also, the data 5 may include further data regarding the lighting devices 10, 20 forming part of the network, such as, for example, the type or model of the lighting device, the expected life-time of the lighting device, the used life-time of the lighting device, and the expected remaining life-time of the lighting device.

[0077] The lighting device system 1 may further include an external memory unit 8 or may be wirelessly connected to the external memory unit 8. The commissioning device 30 may be configured to store the data 5 in the external memory unit 8.

[0078] The commissioning device 30 may further optionally include a reading, detecting and / or receiving device 7. The device 7 may be configured to read or receive data, for example, from each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 and / or from the devices 21, 22, 23, 24 of each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 configured to store, broadcast or unicast data indicating the first time t1. Also, the device 7 may be configured to detect a pattern indicating the first time t1 emitted by each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14. Also, the device 7 may be configured to detect a pattern indicating the second time t2 emitted by each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14. Also, the device 7 may be configured to detect a pattern indicating the third time t3 emitted by each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14. Also, the device 7 may be configured to detect a pattern indicating the time amount Δt emitted by each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0079] In this way, generally, the commissioning device 30 obtains the first time t1 by one or more of reading the first time t1 from each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, and detecting the first time t1 from each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, since each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 is configured to measure and broadcast or unicast the first time t1.

[0080] In this way, the device 7 may be a detector, receiver or reader of a suitable type. Also, the device 7 may be a camera, among other things, positioned so that the camera can overlook the area where the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are to be installed. In that case, the lighting device system 1 is further configured to turn on and off each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 one by one to pick up the light from the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 by the camera during the installation of the lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14, determine the order in which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are installed based on the light picked up by the camera, and correlate the position of each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 input into the database of the commissioning device 30 with the actual position of each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 based on the determined order in which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are installed. Alternatively, the camera may be an external camera 29 (see FIG. 2) connected in a data transfer relationship with the commissioning device 30.

[0081] In the following, embodiments of the method according to the invention are described. As a rule of thumb, the lighting device commissioning procedure typically follows the following general time-line.

[0082] First, the user attaches n new lighting devices 10. Each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 is attached.

[0083] As part of attaching the new lighting devices 10, the user connects each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 to a power source, and each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 powers up at a first time t1 since it is connected to the power source.

[0084] Next, the user uses a commissioning device 30 to open up the network for the new lighting devices to participate. The lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 and / or the commissioning device 30 record this time as a second time t2.

[0085] After the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 have participated in the network, the user can use the commissioning device 30 to select one or more of the lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14. Thereafter, the commissioning device 30 can communicate with the said lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14. The lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 and / or the commissioning device 30 record this as a third time t3.

[0086] Turning to FIG. 4 here, a method for commissioning n new lighting devices 10 that participate in or are added to a network according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. Generally, the method according to the present invention includes the following steps.

[0087] In a first step 101, a first time t1 at which a new lighting device is powered on is determined for each new lighting device, in or by the new lighting device.

[0088] In the second step 102, the commissioning device 30 obtains the first time t1 at which each new lighting device is powered on. For example, the commissioning device 30 may read, detect, or receive the first time t1.

[0089] In the third step 103, the commissioning device 30 displays on the user interface 4 the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in the order 6 defined by the first time t1 at which each respective new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 is powered on, as obtained by the commissioning device 30.

[0090] In step 102, the first time t1 may be obtained by the commissioning device 30 reading the first time t1 from each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14. Alternatively, or additionally, each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 may measure the first time t1 and broadcast or unicast it, and the first time t1 may then be detected by the commissioning device 30 using a detection device 7 in the form of a suitable receiver, or received by a communication interface.

[0091] Alternatively, the first time t1 may be determined by light emitted by the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 that presents a pattern indicating the first time t1, and the commissioning device 30 may use a suitable detection device 7 to detect the pattern indicating the first time t1. The pattern indicating the first time t1 may be a visible light communication (VLC) pattern or a strobe pattern. In this case, the detection device 7 is a camera. The second time t2 and / or the third time t3 may optionally be determined in the same manner as described above for the first time t1.

[0092] Alternatively, the first time t1 may be determined by new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 presenting a pattern indicating the first time t1, and the commissioning device 30 may detect the pattern indicating the first time t1 using a suitable detection device 7. The pattern indicating the first time t1 may be a Bluetooth low energy (BLE) beacon pattern. In this case, the detection device 7 is a BLE receiver. The second time t2, and / or the third time t3 may optionally be determined in the same manner as described above for the first time t1.

[0093] FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the method according to the present invention. The method shown in FIG. 5 differs from the method described above in that it includes two additional steps that are executed between steps 102 and 103 described above.

[0094] Following steps 101 and 102, in a fourth step 104, the commissioning device 30 obtains, for each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, at least one of a second time t2, at which the network opens for the lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 to participate in the network, and a third time t3, at which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are selected by the user using the central commissioning device.

[0095] Thereafter, in a fifth step 105, the commissioning device 30 determines, for each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3.

[0096] Thereafter, the method proceeds to step 103, and the commissioning device 30 displays the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in a predetermined order 6 on the user interface. The order 6 of the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 displayed on the user interface 4 is defined by the amount of time Δt determined by the commissioning device 30.

[0097] In the alternative, in step 104, each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14 obtains at least one of a second time t2 at which the network opens for the lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 to participate in the network, and a third time t3 at which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are selected by the user using the central commissioning device 30, and, in step 105, determines an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3. In such a case, the method proceeds to an intermediate step in which the commissioning device 30 obtains, for each new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14, an amount of time Δt that elapses from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, and further proceeds to step 103 in which the commissioning device 30 displays, on the user interface 4, the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in an order defined by the amount of time Δt determined by each respective new lighting device 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0098] FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of the method according to the present invention. The method shown in FIG. 6 is different from the method shown in FIG. 4 described above in that step 102 is performed in a different manner, namely, by performing steps 107 to 110 described below.

[0099] First, in step 106, the cameras 7, 29 are positioned so that the cameras can overlook the area where the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are to be installed. The cameras 7, 29 may be the camera 7 forming part of the commissioning device 30, or may be an external camera 29 (see FIG. 2) connected to the commissioning device 30 in a data transfer relationship.

[0100] Thereafter, the method proceeds to step 101 described above.

[0101] Next, in step 107, during the installation of the lighting devices, light from the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 is picked up by the cameras 7, 29. Data corresponding to or indicative of the light picked up by the cameras 7, 29 is obtained by the commissioning device 30, for example, transmitted by the cameras 7, 29 and received by the commissioning device 30.

[0102] In step 108, the order in which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are installed is determined based on the light picked up by the cameras 7, 29. Step 108 is executed by the commissioning device 30.

[0103] In step 109, based on the determined order in which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are installed, the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are controlled one by one, for example, turned on and off, by the commissioning device 30 to correlate the respective positions of the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in the database of the commissioning device 30 with the actual positions of the respective new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14.

[0104] Finally, in step 110, based on the correlated positions, the entries of the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 in the database of the commissioning device 30 are sorted in the determined order in which the new lighting devices 11, 12, 13, 14 are installed.

[0105] In this case, the method may proceed to step 103 described above before or after step 110.

[0106] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is in no way limited to the above preferred embodiments. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

[0107] Furthermore, by studying the drawings, the present disclosure, and the appended claims, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood by those skilled in the art and can be practiced when implementing the claimed invention. 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. The mere fact that certain means are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these means cannot be used advantageously.

Claims

1. A commissioning method for n new lighting devices to join or be added to a network, wherein n is an integer of 2 or more, the network includes commissioning devices, and the method is For each new lighting device, determine a first time t1, or a value derived from the first time t1, which is the time at which the new lighting device is powered on in or by the new lighting device. The commissioning device obtains the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, The commissioning device displays the new lighting devices on the user interface, and the order of the new lighting devices displayed on the user interface is defined by the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, obtained by the commissioning device. Methods that include...

2. The first point in time was, The time when each new lighting device is powered on for the first time, and After each new lighting device has been reset to its factory settings, the time it takes for each new lighting device to be powered on for the first time is... The method according to claim 1, wherein it is any one of the following.

3. This method is The commissioning device obtains, for each new lighting device, at least one of a second time t2 when the network opens for the lighting device to join the network, and a third time t3 when the new lighting device is selected by the user using the central commissioning device. The commissioning device determines the amount of time Δt that has elapsed for each new lighting device from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, The commissioning device displays the new lighting devices on the user interface, and the order in which the new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface is defined by the time quantity Δt determined by the commissioning device. including, Alternatively, the said method is For each new lighting device, each new lighting device obtains at least one of a second time t2 when the network opens for the lighting device to join the network, and a third time t3 when the new lighting device is selected by the user using a central commissioning device. Each new lighting device determines the amount of time Δt that has elapsed from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, The commissioning device obtains the time quantity Δt for each new lighting device, which is elapsed from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3. The commissioning device displays the new lighting devices on the user interface, and the order in which the new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface is defined by the time quantity Δt determined by each new lighting device. The method according to claim 1, including the method described in claim 1.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the following apply: The first time t1 is obtained by either the commissioning device reading the first time t1 from each new lighting device, or by each new lighting device measuring the first time t1 and broadcasting or unicasting it. The second time t2 is obtained by either the commissioning device reading the second time t2 from each new lighting device, or by each new lighting device measuring the second time t2 and broadcasting or unicasting it. The third time t3 is obtained by either the commissioning device reading the third time t3 from each new lighting device, and each new lighting device measuring the third time t3 and broadcasting or unicasting it, The time quantity Δt elapsed from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3 is obtained by either the commissioning device reading out the time quantity Δt, or by each new lighting device measuring the time quantity Δt and broadcasting or unicasting it.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein one or more of the following apply: The first time t1 is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device that exhibits a pattern representing the first time t1, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the first time t1. The second time t2 is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device that exhibits a pattern representing the second time t2, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the second time t2. The third time t3 is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device that exhibits a pattern representing the third time t3, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the third time t3, and The time quantity Δt is determined by light emitted by a new lighting device that exhibits a pattern representing the time quantity Δt, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the time quantity Δt.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein one or more of the patterns representing the first time t1, the second time t2, the third time t3, and the time quantity Δt are one or more of a visible light communication pattern and a strobe pattern, and the detection device is a camera.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein displaying the new lighting devices on the user interface by the commissioning device includes inputting the lighting devices into a database in ascending order of the obtained first time t1 or in descending order of the determined time amount Δt, such that the order in which the new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface matches the order in which the new lighting devices were powered on.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the new lighting devices are joined or added to the network in a random order.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the new lighting device joins or is added to the network with a delay k*(t2-t1), the delay being selected so that the new lighting device joins or is added to the network in the order in which it is powered up.

10. This method is Position the camera so that it can see the area where the new lighting device is to be installed, During the installation of the aforementioned lighting device, the camera picks up light from the new lighting device, Based on the light picked up by the camera, the order in which the new lighting devices are installed is determined, Based on the determined order in which the new lighting devices are installed, the new lighting devices are controlled one by one in order to correlate the position of each new lighting device entered into the commissioning device database with the actual position of each new lighting device. The method according to claim 1, including the method described in claim 1.

11. The method according to claim 10, further comprising sorting the entries for new lighting devices in the commissioning device database in a determined order in which the new lighting devices were powered on, based on the correlated positions.

12. A lighting device system comprising a network and n new lighting devices to join or be added to the network, where n is an integer of 2 or more. The aforementioned network includes a commissioning device, Each new lighting device is configured to determine a first time t1 at which the new lighting device is powered on, or a value derived from the first time t1. The commissioning device is configured to obtain the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1. The commissioning device is configured to display the new lighting devices on a user interface, and the order in which the new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface is defined by the first time t1, or the value derived from the first time t1, in the system.

13. The commissioning device is For each new lighting device, obtain at least one of a second time t2 in which the new lighting device is selected by the user using a central commissioning device, and a third time t3 in which the new lighting device is selected by the user using a central commissioning device. For each new lighting device, determine the amount of time Δt that has elapsed from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, and Multiple new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface, and the order in which the new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface is determined by the time quantity Δt, which is determined by the commissioning device. It is configured in such a way. Alternatively, each new lighting device is The network opens for lighting devices to join the network, and a new lighting device is selected by a user using a central commissioning device, and at least one of these two times is obtained. The amount of time Δt that has elapsed from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3 is determined. It is configured in such a way, The commissioning device is For each new lighting device, obtain the time quantity Δt that has elapsed from the first time t1 to at least one of the second time t2 and the third time t3, and The new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface, and the order in which the new lighting devices are displayed on the user interface is determined by the time quantity Δt which is determined by each new lighting device. The system according to claim 12, configured as follows.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein one or more of the following apply: The commissioning device is configured to obtain the first time t1 by either reading the first time t1 from each new lighting device, or by detecting the first time t1 from each new lighting device, since each new lighting device is configured to measure the first time t1 and broadcast or unicast it. The commissioning device is configured to obtain the second time t2 by either reading the second time t2 from each new lighting device, or by detecting the second time t2, since each new lighting device is configured to measure the second time t2 and broadcast or unicast it. The commissioning device is configured to obtain the third time t3 by either reading the third time t3 from each new lighting device, or by detecting the third time t3, since each new lighting device is configured to measure and broadcast or unicast the third time t3, and The commissioning device is configured to obtain the time quantity Δt by either reading the time quantity Δt from each new lighting device, or by detecting the time quantity Δt, as each new lighting device is configured to measure the time quantity Δt and broadcast or unicast it.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein one or more of the following apply: Each new lighting device is configured to emit light exhibiting a pattern representing the first time t1, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the first time t1. Each new lighting device is configured to emit light exhibiting a pattern representing a second time t2, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the second time t2. Each new lighting device is configured to emit light exhibiting a pattern representing a third time t3, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the third time t3, and Each new lighting device is configured to emit light exhibiting a pattern representing a time quantity Δt, and the commissioning device includes a detection device configured to detect the pattern representing the time quantity Δt.

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