Lighting Effect Search Engine for Customized LED Show Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing aesthetically appealing lighting shows or effects for complex computer-controllable LED-based lighting systems is challenging, requiring specialized technical skills and creative effort, even for skilled designers/programmers, due to the complexity of mapping data and infinite options available.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that facilitate the design, selection, and customization of lighting effects by searching a library of indexed predefined effects or shows based on user input, using a search engine to identify relevant effects, which can be selected, combined, or modified to refine aspects according to user preferences, with options hosted on a web site accessible via the Internet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a library of indexed predefined lighting effects is searched using a search engine, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A search engine is introduced as an intermediary component between the user and the library of predefined lighting effects. The search engine receives user input, processes it against indexed effect data, and returns relevant results, thereby simplifying the user interface while adding processing complexity to the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy or representation of the lighting effects library through indexed data structures and metadata. Instead of requiring users to directly interact with complex lighting programming, they interact with simplified search queries that map to pre-defined effect templates, reducing operational complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mapping data is made more comprehensive to cover all lighting units and effects, then the adaptability is improved, but the loss of information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mapping data is segmented into modular components including effect templates, lighting unit profiles, and parameter sets. Each segment can be independently managed and indexed, allowing comprehensive coverage of diverse lighting systems while maintaining organized, manageable data structures that reduce information loss.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more predefined lighting effects are made available in the library, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A comprehensive library of predefined lighting effects is created as a virtual resource that can be indexed and searched without requiring physical duplication of control systems. The library stores parameter sets and effect definitions that can be referenced by multiple users and systems, providing high adaptability while managing complexity through centralized digital storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The predefined lighting effects library is designed to be universally applicable across different lighting unit configurations and types. Each effect template contains adaptable parameters that can be adjusted to suit various lighting scenarios, allowing a single library to serve multiple functions and reduce the need for separate effect definitions for each lighting configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for facilitating a process of designing, selecting, and/or customizing lighting effects or lighting shows. A library of indexed (tagged) predefined lighting effects or shows is searched by a search engine, based upon information provided by a user/designer, to identify a set of effects or shows having attributes that are in some way related to the information provided by the user. The user is then presented with search results, i.e., a manageable subset of intelligently chosen lighting effects or shows, which may be ranked in terms of relevance, any one or more of which may be readily selected by the user. The user may select one or more effects or shows from the search results “as is” for execution by a lighting system, may combine one or more effects or shows from the search results, or may modify one or more effects or shows from the search results to refine some aspect of the effect(s)/show(s) in accordance with user preferences. In one exemplary implementation, the library of lighting effects/shows and/or the search engine may be hosted by a web site and accessible via the Internet.