Wireless Lighting Control Node Network Capacity Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing operation-control nodes for lighting devices via wireless networks face challenges in providing low latency due to network capacity fluctuations, leading to potential overloading and inefficiencies in updating control settings.
Innovation Solution
An operation-control node that includes an input interface for user-input signals, a network-traffic ascertainment unit to determine available network capacity, and an output-message generation unit that adjusts the frequency of control messages based on network capacity, generating updates only when sufficient capacity is available to prevent network overload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If control output messages are generated and transmitted frequently to update lighting device settings, then the responsiveness and control accuracy are improved, but the network capacity is exceeded causing overload and increased latency
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the message transmission frequency based on real-time network capacity conditions. The operation-control node monitors network capacity and adapts its control output message generation rate accordingly, transitioning between high-frequency transmission (when network capacity is sufficient) and low-frequency transmission (when network capacity is limited), thereby resolving the contradiction between fast control response and network stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission parameter (message frequency) based on network capacity conditions. By adjusting the rate of control output message generation according to network capacity thresholds, the system optimizes the balance between control responsiveness and network load, preventing overload while maintaining acceptable control performance
2Measurement precision
If control output messages are generated for every input signal received, then the control precision is improved, but the network traffic increases causing delays and potential message loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by generating control output messages for only some of the received input signals, specifically those that occur during periods of sufficient network capacity. This selective message generation approach maintains adequate control precision by responding to significant user inputs while avoiding the time losses and network congestion that would result from transmitting messages for every single input signal
3Reliability
If the operation-control node waits for network capacity to be sufficient before transmitting messages, then network overload is prevented, but the latency in controlling lighting devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring of network capacity and adjusts its message transmission behavior in periodic cycles. By continuously assessing network conditions and rhythmically adapting its transmission rate, the system prevents network overload while minimizing latency through timely message generation during favorable network conditions, rather than uniformly delaying all transmissions
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to an operation-control node (100) for controlling operation of one or more external lighting devices (101, 103) via a local-area wireless communication network. The operation-control node is configured to receive from a user-input device (105) input signals (I) indicative of respective operation-control data forming a list of settings of a control parameter values of a lighting control parameter for sequentially controlling operation of a lighting device. The operation-control node is configured to determine a setting update for updating the control parameter value and provide via the local-area wireless communication network an output message (O) comprising the setting update only while an output-control information that depends on an ascertained network-capacity information indicative of an expected network capacity available for transmitting messages within the local-area wireless communication network indicates so, thus reducing the risk of exceeding the network capacity when controlling operation of the lighting devices.