Distributed Building Control via Intelligent Lighting Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional building control and automation systems (BCAS) have idle processing and memory resources due to the centralized architecture, leading to inefficiencies and increased infrastructure costs, as many intelligent devices are not actively utilizing their processing and memory resources, especially when lighting devices are off or not actively communicating.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a distributed processing approach that utilizes the available processing and memory resources of intelligent lighting devices and other system elements to share tasks and resources across the network, allowing for coordinated processing and reducing the need for additional centralized hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a centralized server architecture is used for building control and automation systems, then system control and management is simplified, but processing and memory resources remain underutilized and infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized server architecture into a distributed network where intelligent lighting devices and other building control elements are divided into individual nodes, each capable of independent processing. This segmentation allows resources to be distributed across multiple devices rather than concentrated in a single server, improving utilization efficiency while maintaining system functionality through networked coordination.
2Extent of automation
If intelligent lighting devices with processing capabilities are deployed, then system functionality and automation are enhanced, but infrastructure costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling intelligent lighting devices to perform both their primary lighting function and secondary processing functions. These devices can provide illumination while simultaneously serving as nodes in the building control network, executing control algorithms, and managing data processing, thereby enhancing automation without requiring separate dedicated control hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the lighting function with building control processing functions into integrated intelligent lighting devices. By combining these previously separate functions into a single device, the system reduces overall infrastructure complexity while maintaining enhanced automation capabilities, as the same hardware serves multiple purposes.
3Reliability
If processing-intensive tasks are centralized on a server, then system coordination is improved, but the server requires continuous operation consuming energy even when not actively processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by enabling processing tasks to be dynamically distributed across available intelligent devices in the network. Instead of a server running continuously, processing occurs periodically when tasks are assigned to idle devices, allowing the system to maintain coordination reliability while reducing energy consumption by activating processing only when needed rather than continuously.
Data Source
AI summary
An example of a building automation system utilizes intelligent system elements, some of which are lighting devices having light sources, and some of which are utility building control and automation elements. Some utility building control and automation elements include a controllable mechanism for use in control of some aspect of the building other than lighting. Another intelligent system element may include either a user interface component and be configured as a building controller, or include a detector and be configured as a sensor. Each intelligent system element includes a network communication interface, processor, memory and programming to configure the intelligent system element as a lighting device, utility building control and automation element, controller or sensor. At least one of the intelligent lighting devices is configured as a building control and automation system server. Several examples, however, implement the overall control using distributed processing.