Lighting Control System Engagement Module

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Solution Overview

Problem

Connected lighting systems often become too automated, leading to user disengagement as users rely on scheduled controls and minimal manual interaction, resulting in underutilization of system features and a lack of motivation to explore new functionalities.

Innovation Solution

A lighting control system with an engagement module that determines user engagement levels and generates random control triggers to autonomously render or suppress lighting effects, encouraging users to interact more actively with the system by introducing playful, unpredictable behavior biased towards under-engaged illumination sources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the lighting system is highly automated with scheduled controls, then the ease of operation is improved, but the user engagement level decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiduser engagement level
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the engagement module continuously monitors user interaction levels with the lighting system. When user engagement drops below a threshold, the system responds by generating control triggers that introduce unexpected lighting effects, thereby restoring user interest and engagement without requiring complex manual configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system autonomously monitors its own usage patterns and self-adjusts by implementing control triggers when it detects low engagement. The system serves itself by automatically introducing playful lighting behaviors without requiring user intervention to reconfigure settings or schedules

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides rich functionality and features, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complexity of feature management from the user by implementing an autonomous control module that automatically manages rich lighting functionalities. The system separates the complexity of coordinating multiple lighting effects and features from manual user control, allowing the system to leverage its full capabilities while presenting a simplified interaction model

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring multiple lighting effects, scenes, and control parameters in advance. When a control trigger is generated, the autonomous control module executes these pre-prepared lighting sequences, allowing the system to demonstrate rich functionality without requiring users to manually configure complex settings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If the system autonomously controls lighting effects, then the extent of automation is improved, but the user engagement level decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextent of automationVSAvoiduser engagement level
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts its level of autonomy based on real-time engagement monitoring. The engagement module continuously assesses user interaction, and the control trigger generation mechanism dynamically switches between highly automated operation and user-engagement-promoting behaviors, creating a flexible automation system that adapts to user needs rather than following a fixed automation pattern

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3574715B1Controlling a lighting system
Publication Date: 2020.07.15 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3574715B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3574715B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3574715B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

A lighting control system is configured to implements steps of: receiving lighting control inputs from a user; controlling light emitted by illumination sources of a lighting system according to the lighting control inputs; determining from the user inputs a user engagement level for at least one of the illumination sources; randomly generating control triggers for the at least one illumination source based on the user engagement level, wherein the probability of a control trigger being generated within a time interval increases as the user engagement level decreases; and responding to randomly generated control triggers for the at least one illumination source, when generated, by autonomously controlling the at least one illumination source to render a lighting effect or autonomously suppressing a lighting effect for the at least one illumination source.