Geographic Node Association for Street Lighting Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting control systems for street lighting do not account for the actual layout of the lighting network, leading to unnecessary activation of street lights and increased energy consumption and light pollution, as they rely on communication range rather than geographical relationships between nodes.

Innovation Solution

A multi-node lighting control system that forms a network of lighting nodes with geographical coordinates, where each node is associated with groups based on its location, allowing activation patterns to correspond to the physical layout of the network, reducing unnecessary activation by only activating nodes sharing a common path or area.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If street lights are activated based on communication range rather than geographical layout, then the system is simpler to implement, but unnecessary activation occurs leading to increased energy consumption and light pollution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem implementation simplicityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the parameter used for node association from communication range to geographical coordinates. Each node is associated with groups of interrelated coordinates defining a path or area, and activation decisions are made based on whether detected objects are located within these geographical boundaries rather than simply within communication range, thereby reducing unnecessary activation while maintaining system feasibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces geographical coordinates and path/area definitions as intermediary elements between the detector node and other lighting nodes. Instead of directly using communication range to determine which nodes to activate, the system uses geographical association as a mediator to filter and select only those nodes that are actually relevant to the detected object's location, reducing energy consumption while keeping the implementation manageable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If street lights are activated based on communication range rather than geographical layout, then the system architecture is simpler, but light pollution increases due to unnecessary activation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem architecture complexityVSAvoidlight pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the activation criterion parameter from communication range to geographical location matching. Nodes are associated with groups of interrelated coordinates that define paths or areas, and only nodes whose geographical association matches the detected object's location are activated. This reduces light pollution while adding manageable complexity through coordinate storage and geographical matching logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by making each lighting node's activation behavior specific to its geographical context. Each node is associated with specific groups of interrelated coordinates defining its relevant path or area, so that activation decisions are localized to geographically relevant nodes only. This ensures that light is produced only where needed along the path or area, reducing overall light pollution while maintaining localized control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Use of energy by moving object

If geographical association is implemented to reduce unnecessary activation, then energy consumption decreases, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-associating each lighting node with groups of interrelated coordinates that define its relevant path or area during system setup. This pre-computation of geographical associations allows the system to make quick activation decisions during operation by simply checking whether detected objects fall within the pre-defined coordinate groups, reducing energy consumption while keeping operational complexity manageable through advance preparation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2957150B1Lighting control system and method for association of nodes in a multi-node network
Publication Date: 2019.02.13 TVILIGHT
  • EP2957150B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2957150B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2957150B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting control system and method for association of nodes in a multi-node network. The system comprises a number of lighting nodes forming a multi-node network, each lighting node comprising: - a light source; - a controller connected to the light source; and - communication means connected to the controller, wherein the lighting control system further comprises: - a memory component adapted to store information relating to at least one group of interrelated coordinates defined in a geographical coordinate system; and - a processing component in communication with the lighting nodes and adapted to automatically associate at least one lighting node with the at least one group on the basis of the geographical location of said at least one lighting node.