Mesh Lighting Control Protocol With Simplified Wireless Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless lighting control systems face issues with longer message structures leading to transmission errors, complex communication protocols, increased processing requirements, and limited flexibility in associating sensors with actuators, which hinder efficient energy management and spatial control of lighting.
Innovation Solution
A wireless, distributed, peer-to-peer, self-organizing, and self-healing mesh network system that includes fixture control modules, occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors, and switch stations, allowing for plug-and-play functionality and remote accessibility, with a messaging protocol that omits the 'From' address field to simplify message structure and enhance communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional wireless communication protocols with 'From' address fields are used, then message routing capability is improved, but message structure length increases leading to more transmission errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the 'From' address field from the wireless message structure, extracting only the essential 'To' address field. This simplification reduces message length and transmission errors while maintaining sufficient routing capability through the use of broadcast messages and sequence numbers for message tracking and acknowledgment.
2Reliability
If complex communication protocols with full address fields are implemented, then message routing capability is improved, but processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential routing information ('To' address field) from complete address structures, reducing processing requirements. The simplified protocol maintains routing accuracy through broadcast messaging to all nodes and sequence number-based tracking, eliminating the need for complex source address processing.
3Reliability
If traditional wired control systems are used, then control reliability is improved, but installation cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical wired control systems with wireless RF communication. This substitution eliminates the need for physical control wiring while maintaining control reliability through robust wireless messaging protocols, sequence numbers for message tracking, and acknowledgment mechanisms, significantly reducing installation costs.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional sensor-actuator association methods are used, then control precision is improved, but system flexibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into independent wireless nodes (sensors and actuators) that can operate autonomously. Each node maintains precise control through sequence numbers and acknowledgments, while the distributed architecture enables flexible spatial reconfiguration without requiring complex centralized association management.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method provide wireless distributed lighting control systems implementing a secure peer-to-peer, self-organizing and self-healing mesh network of actuators and system inputs. The system and method can be designed specifically for indoor and outdoor lighting where actuators include in-fixture, on-fixture and circuit control modules with ON/OFF and full range dimming capabilities, and system inputs include occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors and switches. A unique messaging protocol facilitates wireless and wired communication between actuators and system inputs, and provides web-based commissioning and monitoring of the lighting control system using a wireless access point accessible from a local network or Internet which can provide an intuitive and easy to use Graphical User Interface (GUI).