Lighting System Identification Tag Embedding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lighting designs in complex systems are vulnerable to unauthorized copying and use, as they can be easily replicated without consent, undermining the intellectual property and commercial value of the designer.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an identification tag into the lighting design data that is embedded in the output beam of light from controllable lighting units, allowing for tracing of unauthorized distribution by monitoring the emitted light, with a controller generating control commands that include a detectable signal corresponding to the identification tag, and using encryption to protect the data and prevent removal of the tag.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If lighting design data is made accessible for use, then ease of operation is improved, but vulnerability to unauthorized copying increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility of lighting design dataVSAvoidunauthorized copying and distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An identification tag is embedded into the lighting design data before it is used by the lighting system. This preliminary embedding ensures that the tag travels with the data throughout its lifecycle, enabling traceability of unauthorized distribution while maintaining data accessibility for legitimate use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The identification tag acts as an intermediary element within the lighting design data. It is embedded in the data structure and transmitted through the system, serving as a mediator that enables tracking and identification without interfering with the functional use of the lighting design data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the lighting system uses controllable lighting units with design data, then adaptability is improved, but security against unauthorized use deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting scene design flexibilityVSAvoidprotection against unauthorized distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The identification tag is embedded into the lighting design data in advance, before the data is executed by the controllable lighting units. This ensures that even as the lighting system adapts to different scenes and configurations, the original source can be traced through the embedded tag.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables monitoring of the emitted light to detect the identification tag, providing feedback on whether unauthorized distribution is occurring. This feedback mechanism allows for detection and prevention of unauthorized use while maintaining system adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If the identification tag is embedded in the output beam, then traceability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraceability of lighting design distributionVSAvoidsystem for embedding and detecting tags

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The identification tag is embedded in the lighting design data and transmitted through the controllable lighting units as part of the control signals. This copying approach allows the tag to be reproduced with the data without requiring separate physical embedding mechanisms, reducing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces potential mechanical or physical embedding methods with an electronic/data-based embedding approach. The identification tag is integrated into the digital lighting design data and transmitted electronically, eliminating the need for complex physical embedding and detection hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution enables efficient commercial use of lighting designs by ensuring that unauthorized distribution can be traced and prevented, enhancing the security and protection of intellectual property by making it impossible to remove the identification tag from the lighting design data.

Implementation Method 1

The controller is configured to generate control commands from lighting design data comprising an identification tag, wherein the control commands are generated so that the output beam comprises a detectable signal corresponding to the identification tag

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight modulation:

Implementation Method 2

using a suitable detector, adapted to receive said signal and to retrieve said identification tag

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection:

Data Source

PatentUS10362662B2Lighting system and method for operating a lighting system

Publication Date: 2019.07.23 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

A lighting system and a method for an operating a lighting system, enabling to obtain an identification tag comprised in lighting design data directly from an output beam, i.e. from the emitted light of the at least one lighting unit. It is thus possible to trace any unauthorized distribution of a lighting design by monitoring the emitted light without the need to directly access the controller or any other part of the lighting system.