Intelligent Lighting Elements for Distributed Processing Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing networked intelligent lighting systems have idle processing and memory resources due to the centralized control architecture, leading to increased infrastructure costs and inefficiencies, as many lighting devices and controllers are not actively utilizing their full capacity, especially when they are turned off or not actively communicating.
Innovation Solution
Implementing distributed processing across multiple intelligent lighting system elements, allowing them to share processing and memory resources via network communication, thereby enabling tasks such as centralized control functions, audio processing, and data analysis without the need for additional hardware, by configuring processors to perform tasks across multiple elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If centralized control architecture is used in lighting systems, then control functionality is simplified and easier to implement, but processing and memory resources are underutilized leading to increased infrastructure costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized control architecture into distributed processing units across multiple lighting devices. Each lighting device is equipped with its own processor and memory, allowing local processing of control tasks. This segmentation enables resources to be distributed and utilized more efficiently while maintaining control functionality through networked communication between devices.
2Productivity
If additional computer hardware is deployed to handle processing tasks, then system processing capacity increases, but infrastructure costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes lighting devices multi-functional by equipping them with processors and memory capable of performing both lighting control tasks and general data processing functions. The same hardware resources that enable lighting control are also utilized for audio processing, data analysis, and other computational tasks, eliminating the need for separate dedicated hardware for each function.
3Use of energy by moving object
If lighting devices are turned off or not actively communicating, then energy consumption is reduced, but processing and memory resources remain idle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous useful action by designing the system so that processing and memory resources remain actively utilized even when lighting functions are not in use. The distributed architecture allows idle resources at one device to be allocated for tasks at other devices through network coordination, ensuring that resources continue to provide value rather than remaining completely idle.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary lighting system utilizes intelligent system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors, and utilizes network communication amongst such intelligent system elements. Some processing functions performed within the system are implemented on a distributed processing basis, by two or more of the intelligent elements of the lighting system. Distributed processing, for example, may enable use of available processor and/or memory resources of a number of intelligent system elements to process a particular job. Another distributed processing approach might entail programming to configure two or more of the intelligent system elements to implement multiple instances of a server functionality with respect to client functionalities implemented on intelligent system elements.