Coded-Light Environmental Control for Coordinated User Requests
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing environmental conditions in large physical structures, such as office buildings, face challenges in coordinating and prioritizing concurrent control requests from various users, integrating diverse lighting and HVAC devices, accommodating new technologies, managing large amounts of usage data, and ensuring privacy and security.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising commissioned units that transmit coded light signals, an environment control device for detecting user inputs, and processors executing an environment manager module to generate and transmit control commands, along with a commissioning module for device association and a gateway module for data conversion and communication, enabling effective management of environmental conditions while ensuring compatibility and security.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple concurrent control requests from various users are coordinated and prioritized, then environmental control accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments control requests into different priority levels and processes them hierarchically through the environment manager module. This segmentation allows multiple user requests to be handled systematically without overwhelming the system, resolving the contradiction by organizing complexity into manageable segments while maintaining control accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The environment manager module acts as an intermediary between multiple users and the controlled devices. It receives, prioritizes, and coordinates all control requests before executing them, thereby managing system complexity while ensuring accurate environmental control through centralized mediation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If diverse lighting and HVAC devices are integrated into a unified system, then system versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway module implements universal communication protocols that enable diverse lighting and HVAC devices to be integrated through a common interface. This universality allows the system to accommodate multiple device types without proportionally increasing complexity, as the gateway handles device-specific variations through standardized methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway module serves as an intermediary layer between the control system and diverse devices. It translates between different device protocols and the unified system interface, thereby enabling versatile device integration while containing complexity within the gateway layer rather than propagating it throughout the entire system.
3Measurement precision
If large amounts of usage data are managed and processed, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and separates critical usage data from the overall data stream, processing only the most relevant information in real-time while storing comprehensive data for later analysis. This extraction approach maintains measurement precision for immediate decisions without requiring time-consuming processing of all raw data.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial processing to usage data by focusing computational resources on the most significant metrics while deferring less critical analysis. This selective approach ensures accurate measurement of key parameters without the time penalty of processing every detail of the large data set.
4Ease of operation
If coded light technology is used for device identification and location, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Lighting devices automatically transmit their identification codes through coded light signals without requiring manual configuration or intervention. This self-service approach allows devices to be easily identified and located by the system and users, improving ease of operation while containing complexity within the device's automated identification function rather than requiring complex external identification systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system efficiently coordinates user requests, integrates diverse devices, manages data effectively, and ensures privacy and security, providing a scalable and adaptable solution for managing environmental conditions in large structures.
Implementation Method 1
CL technology can be used to embed unique identifiers, or codes, into the light output from different light sources
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are systems and methods for adjusting environmental conditions based on automatically and manually generated requests. A commissioned unit comprising at least one IP luminaire (140, 150), transmits a signal comprising one or more identification codes. The signal may be, for example, a coded light signal. An environment control device (160) receives the signal, detects user input indicating one or more preferred environmental conditions, and transmits an environment control request comprising the one or more preferred environmental conditions. An environment manager module (110) receives the environment control request, generates an environment control command using the control request, and transmits the environment control command to one or more commissioned units to alter environmental conditions in a space in accordance with the user input.