Lighting Device Status Query via Grouped Broadcast Commands
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional DMX-RDM systems require bandwidth-intensive individual commands to collect status information from multiple lighting devices, leading to potential flickering and inefficiencies, as they often result in collisions when multiple devices respond simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A messaging module that broadcasts a single command to multiple lighting devices, allowing only responsive devices to report specific information, such as error status or operational status, reducing the burden on the controller and network by distributing the decision on relevance and using intelligent logic to manage responses and minimize collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If individual DMX-RDM commands are sent to each lighting device to collect status information, then complete status information from all devices can be obtained, but bandwidth consumption increases and visible flickering occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the status information collection process by dividing devices into groups and sending targeted commands only to specific groups that may have issues, rather than querying every device individually. This reduces overall bandwidth consumption while still collecting necessary status information from relevant devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs partial action by sending status information requests only to certain device groups rather than all devices. This selective approach reduces bandwidth usage and prevents flickering while obtaining sufficient status information to monitor system health and identify issues.
2Loss of information
If individual DMX-RDM commands are sent to each lighting device, then detailed status information can be collected, but the DMX flow is interrupted and visible flickering occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the device population into multiple groups and schedules status information requests to different groups at different times. This segmentation allows the DMX flow to continue uninterrupted for each group while still collecting detailed status information from all devices across multiple cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic action by cycling through different device groups at scheduled intervals. Each group receives status information requests during its designated time window, allowing detailed information collection while maintaining continuous DMX flow through periodic, non-overlapping queries.
3Loss of information
If status information is requested from all lighting devices, then complete system status can be monitored, but device complexity in managing individual commands increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the management of multiple individual device commands into a single group-based command structure. By sending one command to a group rather than multiple commands to individual devices, the system reduces command management complexity while maintaining complete system status monitoring through aggregated responses from all groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements universality by creating a multi-functional group command structure that can query multiple devices simultaneously. This universal approach allows a single command format to manage status information collection across the entire system, reducing the complexity of managing device-specific commands while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A module comprises messaging logic configured to generate a same message for a plurality of destination lighting devices. The message comprises a first portion specifying the plurality of destination lighting devices, and a common second portion specifying the message as being of a type that requests lighting device information. The module also comprises a port configured to output this same message to the plurality of destination lighting devices. If one of the destination lighting devices responds to the message, the processing module receives back the response from the responding device via the port. In addition to identifying the responding one of the destination lighting devices, the response also specifies the requested information of that lighting device.