Lighting Network Protocol Gateway for Third-Party Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting networks are not compatible with third-party automation networks, limiting the use of their communication capabilities for data transmission and analysis across various environments such as buildings and factories.
Innovation Solution
A modified lighting system control server provides an interface and protocol conversion between the lighting network and third-party automation networks, enabling the transmission and analysis of non-light related data, such as sensor and health monitoring data, through the lighting network to a third-party automation control server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lighting networks use proprietary protocols for third-party automation networks, then compatibility with third-party automation networks is improved, but device complexity and integration costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a gateway device that acts as an intermediary between the lighting network and third-party automation networks. The gateway translates messages between different protocols (DALI/DMX598 lighting protocols and Modbus/Profinet automation protocols), enabling compatibility without requiring complex modifications to existing lighting devices or automation systems.
2Productivity
If lighting networks are integrated with third-party automation networks, then data transmission capabilities are improved, but hardware and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device is designed to support multiple lighting protocols (DALI, DMX598) and multiple automation protocols (Modbus, Profinet) simultaneously, making it a universal interface that can work with various lighting systems and automation networks. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized devices, thereby lowering overall installation costs while maintaining high data transmission capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If protocol conversion is implemented between lighting networks and third-party automation networks, then adaptability is improved, but processing time and system latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device maintains pre-configured protocol translation rules and message format templates for common lighting and automation protocols. By preparing translation mappings in advance, the gateway can perform real-time protocol conversion with minimal processing delay, reducing the time loss associated with message translation while maintaining high protocol compatibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
A lighting network control server and method for translating non-light related data packets into a protocol that is compatible with a third party automation server are disclosed. For example, the lighting network control server includes a communication interface to receive data packets from a lighting network and to communicate with a third party automation server, a non-transitory computer readable medium to store sub-routines and instructions to execute a protocol adapter, and a processor communicatively coupled to the communication interface and the non-transitory computer readable medium to execute the protocol adapter to translate the data packets into a protocol that is compatible with the third party automation server and transmit the data packets that are translated to the third party automation server via the communication interface.