Outdoor Lighting Network Management via Segmented Control Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current outdoor lighting network management systems lack integration across the value chain, from design and planning to operation and maintenance, leading to inefficiencies and a failure to demonstrate the full benefits of intelligent control systems to customers, particularly in terms of energy savings and regulatory compliance.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive system comprising an outdoor lighting network with integrated light units, sensors, and a central management system (CMS) that enables monitoring, control, and data analysis, allowing for coordinated operation of lighting units based on real-time data and user requests, while also facilitating energy management and renewable power integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If outdoor lighting networks are managed by a single authority with centralized control, then security and coordination are improved, but system complexity and management burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the outdoor lighting network into multiple independent control groups, each managed by a separate controller that can autonomously manage its segment. This segmentation reduces the complexity burden on any single authority while maintaining coordinated control across the entire network through standardized communication protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed with universal interfaces and standardized protocols that allow a single authority to manage diverse lighting fixtures from multiple manufacturers. The system provides multi-functional capabilities including dimming, scheduling, fault detection, and energy monitoring through a unified platform, reducing management complexity despite handling varied equipment.
2Reliability
If proprietary control protocols are used in outdoor lighting networks, then system reliability is improved, but adaptability and interoperability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a protocol translation layer or gateway that acts as an intermediary between proprietary control protocols and standard communication interfaces. This mediator enables reliable proprietary control while simultaneously providing adaptability to work with different manufacturers' equipment and future system expansions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts communication parameters and protocols based on the specific lighting fixture being controlled. It can switch between proprietary protocols for existing fixtures and standard protocols for new additions, maintaining reliability with legacy equipment while enabling adaptability across the entire network.
3Device complexity
If outdoor lighting systems operate independently without networking, then device complexity is reduced, but energy efficiency and coordination benefits are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows lighting fixtures to operate with partial networking capabilities, where essential energy-saving functions like dimming and scheduling can be implemented in small groups or individually without requiring full network integration. This approach captures some energy efficiency benefits while minimizing the complexity overhead of comprehensive networking.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a light management information system for an outdoor lighting network system, having a plurality of outdoor light units each including at least one sensor type, where each of the light units communicates with at least one other light unit, at least one user input/output device in communication with at one or more of said outdoor light units, a central management system in communication with light units, said central management system sends control commands and/or information to one or more of said outdoor light units, in response to received outdoor light unit status/sensor information from one or more of said outdoor light units or received user information requests from said user input/output device, a resource server in communication with said central management system, wherein the central management system uses the light unit status/sensor information and resources from the resource server to provide information to the user input/output device and/or reconfigure one or more of the lights units.