Load Control Device Commissioning Through Offline Beacon Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
The commissioning process for load control systems is time-consuming and challenging due to the difficulty in determining link addresses for lighting control devices, requiring users to physically locate and associate devices across a building, which is inefficient without internet access.
Innovation Solution
A load control system is commissioned using beacons transmitted by lighting control devices, allowing for the discovery and grouping of devices for collective configuration and control, even in offline modes, through signal strength and feedback mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the system controller randomly assigns link addresses to lighting control devices, then the link address assignment is simple and quick, but it becomes difficult to determine which link address corresponds to which physical location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having lighting control devices transmit their link addresses as beacon signals that can be detected by mobile devices. When a mobile device detects a beacon, it receives feedback containing the link address and can associate it with the physical location where the device is currently positioned, thereby resolving the loss of location information while maintaining simple random assignment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/manual process of physically locating and associating devices with their link addresses by using wireless beacon transmission and mobile device detection. This substitution allows automatic association of link addresses with physical locations through signal detection rather than manual searching and recording
2Measurement precision
If users manually identify and associate each lighting control device with its physical location during commissioning, then the location information is accurate, but the commissioning process becomes time-consuming and labor-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service by allowing lighting control devices to automatically transmit their identification information through beacon signals. Mobile devices automatically detect these beacons and associate the link addresses with physical locations without requiring manual intervention, thus achieving accurate location association while dramatically reducing commissioning time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of device identification from passive random assignment to active self-transmission of link addresses via beacons. This parameter change enables devices to automatically provide their identification information, allowing rapid and accurate association during commissioning without manual processes
3Adaptability or versatility
If the commissioning process requires internet access for device discovery and association, then the system can access centralized configuration services, but the commissioning cannot be performed in locations without internet connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by enabling mobile devices to detect and store link address information from beacon signals before any network connection is established. This allows the commissioning process to proceed offline in locations without internet access, with configuration data being collected locally and subsequently synchronized when connectivity becomes available
4Measurement precision
If users must physically move to different rooms to commission lighting control devices, then each device can be accurately located and associated, but the commissioning process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of physically moving through buildings with wireless beacon detection. Mobile devices can detect beacons from multiple lighting control devices simultaneously or sequentially without requiring physical proximity to each device, thereby maintaining accurate location identification while dramatically simplifying the commissioning process
Data Source
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AI summary
A load control system may be commissioned using beacons. The load control system may include control devices that each include a beacon transmitting circuit configured to transmit a beacon that comprises an identifier associated with the control device. A network device, such as a mobile device, may discover a control device based on the beacon received from the control device. In response to discovery of the control device, the control device may be added to a temporary group of control devices for being collectively configured and/or controlled. Control devices may be discovered based on the signal strength at which the beacons are received. The control devices may provide feedback to a user in response to confirmation messages to indicate to a user that the lighting control device has been added to the temporary group. The control devices may stop providing the feedback after they are removed from the temporary group.