Luminaire Backup Communication Path for Control Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Central management systems for lighting networks can be impractical due to disruptions or unavailability of primary communication paths, necessitating an alternative control mechanism to ensure continuous operation and energy savings, especially for outdoor and indoor luminaires.
Innovation Solution
A device that monitors both a primary power network and an independent alternative wireless network, prioritizes commands, and executes applications to control luminaire outputs, providing a backup control path for luminaires when the primary path is unavailable.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized management system uses a primary communication network for controlling luminaires, then control functionality is achieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to disruptions and unavailability of the communication path
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication networks (primary and alternative) into a unified control system. The control device monitors both networks simultaneously and can switch between them, merging their functionalities to ensure continuous operation. This resolves the contradiction by integrating redundancy into the system architecture, making the control functionality resilient to single-network failures while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized protocols and automated switching.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements prior cushioning by pre-configuring alternative communication networks and monitoring their availability in advance. When the primary network experiences disruptions, the alternative network is already prepared and can immediately take over control functions. This proactive approach ensures reliability by having backup pathways ready before failures occur, without requiring complex real-time decision-making during crises.
2Reliability
If an alternative communication network is added to provide backup control path, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control device is designed with multi-functionality, serving as both a controller for luminaire operations and a monitor for multiple communication networks. By consolidating these functions into a single device, the system achieves improved reliability through alternative networks without proportionally increasing overall system complexity. The universal device handles command reception, prioritization, and network monitoring integratedly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automated network monitoring and command prioritization. The control device automatically detects network availability, prioritizes commands from appropriate networks, and switches between networks without requiring manual intervention or complex external management systems. This automation reduces the operational complexity of managing multiple networks while maintaining high reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If commands from multiple networks are accepted, then control flexibility is improved, but command prioritization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different priorities to commands from different networks based on their specific roles and reliability characteristics. The control device evaluates the origin, timing, and nature of commands from each network and applies appropriate prioritization rules locally at the command processing stage. This allows the system to maintain high adaptability by accepting commands from multiple networks while managing complexity through context-aware, localized decision-making rather than universal complex algorithms.
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention discloses analternative communication and control path that can by-pass a primary communication and control line in the control luminaires of an illumination network luminaires. By creating the alternative back-up path, it is possible to still communicate and control network elements in cases when the primary communication and control path is unavailable or when direct control of individual or a plurality of luminaries is desired. In one aspect of the invention, this alternative path may provide for a direct interface for demand response utility programs for specialized control of the luminaires of the illumination network.