Policy-Based Outdoor Lighting Network Management System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current outdoor lighting management systems are inflexible, requiring extensive training and customization, and lack the ability to adapt to changing regulations or device capabilities, making it difficult to manage and reconfigure large-scale outdoor lighting networks efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A policy-based outdoor lighting network (OLN) light management system that allows operators to specify behavior through high-level policies, which are translated into specific operational commands, enabling easy customization, management, and compliance with regulations without altering hardware or firmware, and allowing for seamless integration of new devices and historical record keeping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If proprietary software tools are used for managing outdoor lighting networks, then centralized control and coordination are improved, but the system becomes inflexible and requires extensive training and customization
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static, pre-programmed software configurations to dynamic policy-based management. Operators can modify lighting behavior through high-level policies without requiring software customization or extensive technical knowledge. The policy framework allows flexible adjustment of operational parameters while maintaining centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the management approach from modifying software code and configuration parameters to adjusting policy parameters. High-level policies define operational characteristics (dimming schedules, color changes, energy savings) that can be modified without altering the underlying software, making the system both centrally controlled and operationally flexible.
2Ease of manufacture
If initial device capabilities are programmed into software before deployment, then system configuration is standardized, but the system cannot adapt to changing regulations or new device capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system evolves from static pre-programmed capabilities to dynamic policy-driven functionality. New device capabilities and regulatory requirements can be accommodated by creating new policies rather than requiring software updates or customization, enabling continuous adaptation while maintaining standardized deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention separates device capabilities from control logic. Device hardware remains standardized, while operational behavior is defined by independent policies that can be modified without changing device firmware or software, allowing adaptability while preserving manufacturing standardization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If firmware updates are used to reconfigure lighting units, then device capabilities can be changed, but tracking compatibility across thousands of deployed units becomes impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The policy framework acts as an intermediary layer between operators and device firmware. Instead of directly managing firmware updates across thousands of units, operators define high-level policies that translate into device-specific commands, eliminating the need to track firmware compatibility manually while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the reconfiguration logic from firmware updates and places it in the policy layer. This separates device-specific implementation details from operational requirements, allowing uniform policy management across diverse hardware without requiring complex firmware tracking.
4Manufacturing precision
If extensive software customization is performed before deployment, then system requirements are met, but training costs and deployment time increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary configuration through standardized policy templates that pre-defin ecommon lighting scenarios and regulatory requirements. This eliminates the need for extensive custom configuration before deployment, reducing both training requirements and deployment time while maintaining configuration accuracy through policy-based management.
5Device complexity
If lighting units operate independently or in small groups, then system simplicity is maintained, but centralized security and coordination are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The policy framework provides universal control mechanisms that work across independently operated lighting units. Centralized policies can be applied system-wide or to specific groups, maintaining system simplicity while enabling centralized security and coordination when needed, without requiring complex inter-unit communication infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
A policy-based OLN (outdoor lighting network) light management system including a central control apparatus (40); lighting unit control apparatus (50); a communication system (60) operably connecting the central control apparatus (40) and the lighting unit control apparatus (50); and a repository (70) in communication with the central control apparatus (40), the repository (70) being operable to store an OLN policy. The central control apparatus (40) is operable to: receive a policy; check the policy for consistency against the OLN policy; determine attributes and configuration commands for each of the lighting unit control apparatus (50) in accordance with the policy when the policy is consistent with the OLN policy; and communicate the attributes and the configuration commands for each of the lighting unit control apparatus (50) to a corresponding one of the lighting unit control apparatus (50).