Stage Lighting File System with Automatic Discovery and Indexing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Stage lighting systems are complex and require knowledge of the files within each lamp to produce complicated effects, but existing systems lack an efficient mechanism for automatically determining and organizing these files for digital control.
Innovation Solution
A special file system and discovery mechanism that automatically indexes and organizes files, using a configuration file to specify types of files, and creates a hyperlinked hierarchy in XML format, allowing users to easily select and verify the availability of files for a show, with a test mode to identify missing files.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a manual file management system is used in stage lighting systems, then operators can control lighting effects, but the system becomes complex and error-prone when managing multiple files for different lights and effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically discovers and indexes files within lighting fixtures without requiring manual operator intervention. The console performs self-service file discovery by querying each light for its internal file structure, automatically building a hierarchical file system that reflects the actual organization of effects and content within each fixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-indexes all files within the lighting system before the show begins. By performing file discovery and organization in advance, the system creates a ready-to-use file hierarchy that allows operators to quickly select and combine effects without dealing with complex file management during live operations.
2Productivity
If operators manually track file locations and contents across multiple lights, then they can produce lighting effects, but time is lost in searching and verifying file availability
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the console continuously queries each lighting fixture to discover what files it contains. This automatic feedback loop keeps the file index updated and allows operators to verify file availability instantly without manual checking, enabling quick selection and combination of effects for show production.
3Loss of information
If the system stores detailed information about files in each light, then effects can be accurately controlled, but memory resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The file system is segmented into hierarchical levels: the master file system at the console level organizes files from multiple lights, while each light maintains its own internal file structure. This segmentation allows detailed file information to be distributed across the system rather than centralized, reducing memory requirements at any single point while preserving complete file information throughout the hierarchy.
Data Source
AI summary
A file system for a stage lighting system that maintains the different files associated with the stage lighting system. Each of the files that can represent an effect are maintained within the system within a configuration file. The configuration file can be updated on each start of the system so that the system can maintain information indicative of current configuration files. A test mode can also be entered in which a pre-formed show can be tested against the current state of the configuration files.