Lighting Devices Forming Small-Scale Cellular Mesh Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems with cellular communication capabilities primarily function as repeaters for cellular networks, lacking the capability to effectively interconnect with other devices in a facility's communication infrastructure, leading to inefficient use of cellular resources and limited participation in data communication and location-relevant services.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a cellular transceiver into lighting devices that enables them to form small-scale wireless networks, allowing peer-to-peer and mesh networking within a premises, thereby facilitating direct communication among devices and providing access to the large-scale cellular network when needed, while managing signal power to minimize interference and conserve battery life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If lighting devices use cellular communication as repeaters for large-scale networks, then cellular network coverage is extended, but device complexity increases and battery power is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway device as an intermediary between the small-scale cellular network (formed by lighting devices) and the large-scale cellular network. This gateway handles complex network management, authentication, and protocol translation, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual lighting devices while still enabling extended coverage through the mesh network of lighting devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If lighting devices participate in data communication over large-scale cellular networks, then communication services are enabled, but network resources and bandwidth are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cellular network into two distinct parts: a small-scale private cellular network formed by lighting devices within a premises, and the existing large-scale public cellular network. Devices communicate locally within the small-scale network using minimal network resources, only accessing the large-scale network when external communication is required, thereby significantly reducing overall network resource consumption while maintaining full data communication capability
3Productivity
If lighting devices establish peer-to-peer cellular connections, then direct communication is achieved, but signal power management becomes complex and interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the gateway device continuously monitors signal quality, network traffic patterns, and interference levels across the small-scale cellular network. Based on this feedback, the gateway dynamically adjusts transmission power levels for individual lighting devices and routes communications optimally, thereby maintaining high communication efficiency while simplifying power management for each device and reducing overall network interference
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are examples of lighting devices and other devices that are equipped with a cellular transceiver that is configured to communicate using cellular radio frequency spectrum in both a small-scale cellular network and a large-scale cellular communication network. By utilizing a short-range, low-power cellular transceiver setting, a lighting device facilitates communication, within the space in which the lighting device is installed, of messages between the lighting device and other types of user devices. Such an equipped lighting device may be configured to participate in the generation and delivery of different types of messages, such as data, emergency broadcast information, news and other information. Such a lighting device also may be configured to extend the reach of devices within the space in which the equipped lighting devices are located.