Lighting Load Group Control Using Event-Based Multicast Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting control systems face limitations in wireless communication, particularly with multicast messages, which can lead to interference, link saturation, and undesirable choppiness when controlling multiple lighting devices, and unicast messages result in distracting and inefficient control due to individual communication with each device.

Innovation Solution

A load control system that dynamically determines whether to use multicast or unicast messages based on user interface events, with multicast messages reserved for drastic changes and unicast messages used for incremental adjustments, and incorporates a hub device to manage communication protocols and delay calculations for efficient message transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multicast messages are used to control groups of lighting devices, then communication efficiency is improved, but network interference and link saturation occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between multicast and unicast message transmission modes based on real-time network conditions and control requirements. The hub device determines the appropriate message type to send, optimizing communication efficiency while preventing network saturation by adapting to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the message transmission parameter (multicast vs. unicast) based on the type of control operation. Multicast is used for drastic changes affecting multiple devices simultaneously, while unicast is used for incremental adjustments, thereby optimizing network utilization and preventing interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If unicast messages are used to control each lighting device individually, then communication reliability is improved, but control synchronization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcontrol synchronization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects between multicast and unicast modes based on the control operation type. For operations requiring synchronization (drastic changes), multicast ensures all devices receive the command simultaneously. For operations where individual control is acceptable (incremental adjustments), unicast provides reliable one-to-one communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different message transmission qualities are applied to different control scenarios. Multicast provides synchronized delivery quality for group operations, while unicast provides reliable individual delivery quality for specific device adjustments, optimizing both synchronization and reliability where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Stability of the object's composition

If multicast message rate limit is enforced to prevent network saturation, then network stability is improved, but control responsiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork stabilityVSAvoidcontrol responsiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adapts message transmission mode based on the control operation type and network conditions. By using unicast for incremental adjustments instead of multicast, the system bypasses multicast rate limits and maintains responsive control while preventing network saturation through appropriate protocol selection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Manufacturing precision

If unicast messages are used for incremental lighting adjustments, then control precision is improved, but user-perceptible delays increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoiduser-perceptible delays

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the message transmission parameter based on the magnitude of the control adjustment. For incremental adjustments, unicast messages provide precise individual control to each device. The system optimizes the balance between precision and delay by selecting the appropriate message type for each control operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11588660B2Controlling groups of electrical loads via multicast and/or unicast messages

Publication Date: 2023.02.21 LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC

AI summary

A load control system may include control devices for controlling electrical loads. The control devices may include load control devices, such as a lighting device for controlling an amount of power provided to a lighting load, and input devices, such as a remote control device configured to transmit digital messages comprising lighting control instructions for controlling the lighting load via the lighting device. The remote control device may communicate with the lighting device via an intermediary device, such as a hub device. The remote control device may detect a user interface event, such as a button press or a rotation of the remote control device. The remote control device or the hub device may determine whether to transmit digital messages to as unicast messages or multicast messages based on the type of user interface event detected.