Wireless Lighting Mesh Control With Simplified Message Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless lighting control systems face issues with longer message structures leading to transmission errors, complex communication protocols, increased processing requirements, and limited flexibility in associating sensors with actuators, which hinder efficient energy management and spatial control of lighting.
Innovation Solution
A distributed, secure, peer-to-peer, self-organizing, and self-healing mesh network system that includes fixture control modules, occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors, and switch stations, allowing for plug-and-play support and remote accessibility, with a messaging protocol that omits the 'From' address field to simplify message structure and enhance communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wireless communication protocols with 'From' address fields are used, then message routing is possible, but message structure becomes longer leading to transmission errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the 'From' address field from the message structure, extracting only the essential 'To' address field. This simplification reduces message length and transmission errors while maintaining functional routing capability through the use of broadcast messages and local device context.
Solution Approach 2:
Each wireless device maintains local context about which device it is communicating with, eliminating the need for explicit 'From' address fields. The receiving device uses its local context to identify the source, thereby simplifying message structure while preserving routing functionality.
2Productivity
If conventional broadcast communication is used, then communication is simple, but all wireless devices receive and process messages indiscriminately increasing processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective message processing where each wireless device processes only messages addressed to it or relevant to its local context. This localized processing approach reduces overall system energy consumption while maintaining communication efficiency by avoiding indiscriminate message handling.
3Reliability
If wired control systems are used, then communication is reliable, but installation cost increases due to dedicated control wiring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wired communication system with a wireless communication system using RF waves. This substitution eliminates the need for dedicated control wiring, significantly reducing installation costs while maintaining communication reliability through error-correcting codes and robust protocol design.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional sensor-actuator association methods are used, then control is precise, but flexibility in spatial control is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic sensor-actuator association where wireless devices can be flexibly assigned to different control perimeters and spatial zones. The system dynamically reconfigures associations based on spatial location and operational requirements, maintaining control precision while enhancing spatial flexibility through wireless reconfigurability.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method provide wireless distributed lighting control systems implementing a secure peer-to-peer, self-organizing and self-healing mesh network of actuators and system inputs. The system and method can be designed specifically for indoor and outdoor lighting where actuators include in-fixture, on-fixture and circuit control modules with ON/OFF and full range dimming capabilities, and system inputs include occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors and switches. A unique messaging protocol facilitates wireless and wired communication between actuators and system inputs, and provides web-based commissioning and monitoring of the lighting control system using a wireless access point accessible from a local network or Internet which can provide an intuitive and easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI).