Lighting Command Priority Control for Consistent Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lighting systems with multiple control sources often face conflicts between user commands and automated routines, leading to inconsistent illumination settings due to the lack of a clear prioritization mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A controller that determines the execution of commands based on a comparison of priority levels and relevance factors, allowing for selective override and partial implementation of commands, using a hierarchy of resource types and user types to prioritize user input over automated controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control sources (user commands and automated routines) are allowed to control lighting simultaneously, then the system becomes more versatile and adaptive, but conflicts arise between commands leading to inconsistent illumination settings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator mechanism that compares priority levels and relevance factors of conflicting commands before execution. This intermediary comparison process resolves conflicts between user commands and automated routines, ensuring that only the most appropriate command is executed while maintaining system versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes parameters (priority level and relevance factor) associated with different commands based on their source and timing. By adjusting these parameters, the system can flexibly adapt to different control scenarios while maintaining consistency through parameter-based decision making.
2Productivity
If automated routines are executed frequently, then the system operates efficiently with minimal user intervention, but user commands may be overridden leading to loss of user control
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the source and timing of commands, and adjusting the relevance factor accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that automated routines operate efficiently during periods of low user activity, while automatically yielding to user commands when detected, thus maintaining both automation efficiency and user control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the relevance factor of commands based on their source and timing. Automated routines can execute with high efficiency when relevance factors indicate low user activity, but the system remains dynamic and adaptable to user intervention, allowing seamless transition between automated and manual control modes.
3Speed
If all received commands are executed immediately, then the system responds quickly to user needs, but conflicts between commands cause inconsistent illumination settings
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by comparing priority levels and relevance factors of commands before execution. This pre-comparison process is rapid and ensures that only the most appropriate command is executed, maintaining quick response times while preventing conflicts that would lead to inconsistent illumination settings.
4Reliability
If a strict hierarchy of command priority is implemented, then command conflicts are resolved clearly, but the system becomes less adaptable to contextual nuances
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a dynamic relevance factor that adjusts based on command source, timing, and contextual information. While a hierarchy of priority levels provides clear command resolution, the dynamic relevance factor allows the system to adapt to contextual nuances, such as giving higher weight to recent user preferences or specific types of commands in certain situations.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller for controlling a lighting system, the controller comprising: an interface arranged to communicate with one or more luminaires at a location to be illuminated; a memory arranged to store information, the information comprising a first illumination status of the location, and information of a first command causing the location to adopt the first illumination status; the interface further arranged to receive a second command comprising an instruction for the at least one luminaire to illuminate the location in accordance with a second illumination status which differs from the first illumination status; and a processor configured to determine whether to execute the second command based upon a comparison between a value associated with the first command and a value associated with the second command, the processor configured to calculate the value associated with the first command based upon a priority level value of the first command and a relevance factor associated with the first command, at a time of receiving the second command; and the processor configured to calculate the value associated with the second command based upon a priority level value of the second command.