Synchronous Networked Lighting Control via Command Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Networked lighting systems face challenges in synchronizing the control of multiple devices due to limitations in control command length, leading to out-of-sync light output changes when multiple devices need to change color or intensity.

Innovation Solution

A method that adjusts the color and intensity space resolutions to fit within the maximum control command length, allowing more devices to be controlled synchronously by determining approximate color and intensity points, and sending optimized control commands through a processor and interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If multiple control commands are sent to control more networked lighting devices, then the number of controlled devices increases, but the synchronization of light output changes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of controlled devicesVSAvoidsynchronization of light output

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control command is segmented into multiple parts, each containing identifiers for a subset of lighting devices. The control device divides the list of device identifiers into multiple groups, with each group fitting within the maximum command length constraint. This allows control of more devices than could be included in a single command while maintaining synchronization by sending all segmented commands simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a temporal dimension by sending multiple segmented control commands at the same time rather than sequentially. This allows the system to overcome the limitation of maximum command length while maintaining synchronization, as all devices receive their control instructions concurrently across multiple parallel command transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a single control command is used to maintain synchronization, then synchronization is maintained, but the number of controlled devices is limited by maximum command length

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization of light outputVSAvoidnumber of controlled devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The control command is segmented into multiple parts, each containing identifiers for a subset of lighting devices. The control device divides the list of device identifiers into multiple groups, with each group fitting within the maximum command length constraint. This allows control of more devices than could be included in a single command while maintaining synchronization by sending all segmented commands simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a temporal dimension by sending multiple segmented control commands at the same time rather than sequentially. This allows the system to overcome the limitation of maximum command length while maintaining synchronization, as all devices receive their control instructions concurrently across multiple parallel command transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Quantity of substance

If control command length is increased to include more device identifiers, then more devices can be controlled in a single command, but the command exceeds maximum length limitations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of devices in single commandVSAvoidcontrol command length

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control command is segmented into multiple parts, each containing identifiers for a subset of lighting devices. The control device divides the list of device identifiers into multiple groups, with each group fitting within the maximum command length constraint. This allows control of more devices than could be included in a single command while maintaining synchronization by sending all segmented commands simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10299349B2Synchronous control of networked lighting devices

Publication Date: 2019.05.21 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

A method, device and computer program product for (near) synchronous control of networked lighting devices is presented. In networked lighting systems, a control command sent to the networked lighting devices is limited in length and as such it is not always possible to include the identifiers of the networked lighting devices, as well as the color point and/or intensity level they should change to in a single control command. However, sending multiple control commands in sequence can result in the undesired effect that these lighting devices change light output out-of-sync. The invention proposes to determine an approximate color point and/or approximate intensity level in, respectively, a color space and/or intensity space of a lower resolution. This allows a control command to comprise the identifiers of the networked lighting devices, as well as the approximate color point and/or approximate intensity level for (near) synchronous control of the networked lighting devices.