Mesh Lighting Network Troubleshooting via Visual Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
In traditional mesh lighting networks, the topology is hidden from users, making it difficult to troubleshoot issues when lighting devices fail or go out of communication range, as users cannot visualize the network connections or identify the cause of problems.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using lighting devices to visually indicate their connections to a source device, allowing users to see the routing of communication signals and identify issues by controlling light sources to render visualizations of connection characteristics such as signal strength, number of hops, and connection type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the mesh topology is hidden from users to simplify the system interface, then the ease of operation is improved, but the ease of repair deteriorates because users cannot visualize network connections or identify troubleshooting issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary visualization system that translates invisible network topology into visible light patterns. The lighting devices themselves serve as intermediaries, converting network connection data into visual representations through their light sources, allowing users to see network paths without complicating the user interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes color changes and light intensity variations to encode network topology information. Different colors or blinking patterns indicate different connection types (direct vs. indirect connections), signal strengths, or device states, enabling users to troubleshoot by observing visual cues from the lighting devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If lighting devices act as relays in a mesh network to extend coverage, then the adaptability is improved, but the reliability deteriorates because failure of any relay device disrupts communication paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having lighting devices visually indicate their role in the network and the status of communication paths. When a relay device fails or a path is disrupted, the visualization system provides immediate feedback through changed light patterns, allowing users to identify and address reliability issues while maintaining the adaptive mesh structure.
3Reliability
If multiple communication paths are established in a mesh network to improve reliability, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple indirect connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy of the network topology through light emissions. Instead of requiring users to understand complex multi-hop communication paths, the system projects a simplified visual representation where light paths correspond to communication paths, making the complexity transparent while maintaining the redundant communication structure.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting network (100) comprises a plurality of lighting devices (200, 300, 400A-H) each having at least one connection to a source device (101), the connection being either direct or indirect via one or more others of the lighting devices forming the indirect connection, each of the lighting devices comprising a respective light source. A method of troubleshooting the lighting network comprises steps of: identifying, for a target one of the lighting devices, at least one of said connections between the source device and the target lighting device; determining a characteristic of the identified connection from the source device to the target device, wherein the characteristic comprises a signal strength of the identified one of said connections and/or a latency of the identified one of said connections; and controlling at least one of the light sources to render a visualization of the identified connection between the source device and the target lighting device in the lighting network.