Intelligent Lighting Devices as Wireless Network Hubs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lighting systems lack efficient networking capabilities, leading to high costs and complexity in installing and maintaining wireless communication networks, especially as the available radio spectrum becomes saturated with increasing device connectivity, and existing solutions often require separate data network links and power connections for wireless access points.
Innovation Solution
Intelligent lighting systems are deployed with integrated communication interfaces that provide low-power wireless data communication links for other devices, leveraging the existing power and data infrastructure to create a network hub that supports wireless communication for non-lighting-system devices, allowing them to connect to the data network and wider area networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate wireless access points are deployed to provide wireless communication coverage, then wireless connectivity is improved, but device complexity and infrastructure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes lighting devices serve dual functions: providing illumination and acting as wireless access points. The lighting system is designed to simultaneously perform lighting control and wireless data communication, eliminating the need for separate wireless infrastructure and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines previously separate functions (lighting and wireless communication) into a single integrated system. By merging the lighting device and wireless access point functionalities, the system reduces infrastructure complexity while maintaining comprehensive wireless coverage.
2Device complexity
If traditional lighting devices are used without integrated communication capabilities, then device complexity is reduced, but networking capability and wireless communication efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic capabilities to traditional lighting devices by integrating communication interfaces that can adaptively provide wireless access points. The system dynamically switches between providing illumination and providing wireless communication services, or both simultaneously, based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system provides its own wireless communication infrastructure, eliminating the need for external access points. Each lighting device serves itself and neighboring devices by broadcasting wireless communication capabilities, creating a self-organizing network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless access points are installed throughout a premises, then wireless communication coverage is improved, but installation and maintenance cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing lighting devices serve dual purposes as both illumination sources and wireless access points. This eliminates the need to install separate wireless infrastructure, significantly reducing installation and maintenance costs while maintaining comprehensive wireless coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system automatically provides wireless communication services without requiring separate access point installations. The system self-configures and self-manages wireless connectivity, reducing both installation complexity and ongoing maintenance requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system utilizes intelligent system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors. The system also has a data communication network. Some number of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices, also support wireless communication with non-lighting-system devices at the premises. Each such element has a communication interface system configured to provide a short range, low power wireless data communication link for use by non-lighting-system devices at the premises in proximity to the respective intelligent system element. Also, in such an element, the processor is configured to control communications via the communication interface system so as to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of the non-lighting-system devices.