Wireless Luminaire Grouping Through Occupancy Pattern Learning

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems require manual configuration of luminaire groups for group-based lighting control, which is labor-intensive and prone to errors, especially in large systems.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system with luminaires that automatically determine luminaire groups through wireless communication, using occupancy sensors and adaptive learning to establish operational dependencies based on occupancy patterns and relationship strength values, allowing for automated or semi-automated luminaire grouping.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If manual configuration of luminaire groups is used, then lighting control can be established, but the process becomes labor-intensive and error-prone in large systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminaire grouping automationVSAvoidconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-configuration where luminaires automatically determine their group assignments by exchanging status indications and occupancy data with each other. Each luminaire autonomously processes received information and independently determines operational dependencies, eliminating the need for manual configuration while achieving the desired lighting control structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary learning phase where luminaires collect and process occupancy patterns and status indications before final group assignments are made. This preliminary data gathering and analysis enables the system to automatically determine optimal luminaire groupings based on actual operational behavior rather than manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Device complexity

If manual configuration is used, then lighting control logic can be set, but the complexity increases significantly in large lighting systems

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem configuration complexityVSAvoidconfiguration ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Each luminaire performs self-configuration by autonomously processing status indications from other luminaires and determining its own operational dependencies. This distributed self-service approach transforms the configuration task from a complex manual process into an automated system-wide operation, reducing both complexity and operational difficulty.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The configuration process is segmented into distributed tasks where each luminaire independently processes information relevant to its operation. Instead of a centralized complex configuration, the system divides the task into multiple simple local decisions based on received status indications and occupancy data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If manual luminaire grouping is implemented, then group-based control is achieved, but error rates increase due to manual configuration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegrouping accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration automation level
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where luminaires continuously exchange status indications and occupancy data. This feedback loop enables each luminaire to verify and adjust its group assignments based on actual operational patterns, ensuring high accuracy in grouping without manual intervention and eliminating configuration errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

By making the configuration process automated through self-service, the system eliminates human errors in manual configuration. Each luminaire autonomously determines its group assignments based on objective criteria derived from occupancy patterns and status indications, ensuring consistent and accurate grouping.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Loss of time

If automated learning-based processing is used, then configuration time is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration timeVSAvoidcontrol logic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The learning and control logic is segmented into modular components within each luminaire. Each luminaire independently processes status indications and occupancy data using standardized algorithms, which simplifies the overall system architecture despite the automated learning functionality. The segmentation allows for easier maintenance and reduced complexity compared to centralized learning systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4236629B1Lighting control
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 HELVAR OY AB
  • EP4236629B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4236629B1 patent drawingFigure 3~6
  • EP4236629B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

According to another example embodiment, a method (200) in a lighting system (100) comprising a lighting system control entity (140, 150) and a plurality of luminaires (120) that are wirelessly coupled to the lighting system control entity (140, 150) is provided, wherein the method (200) comprises, in a luminaire (120-k) of the plurality of luminaires (120), controlling (202) light output of the respective luminaire (120-k) in accordance with a preprogrammed lighting control logic that defines switching on the light output in response to detecting occupancy at the respective luminaire (120-k), transmitting (204a) status indications to and receiving (204b) status indications from other ones of the plurality of luminaires (120), wherein each status indication is descriptive of an occurrence of an event pertaining to a luminaire transmitting the respective status indication, deriving (206) relationship data including one or more relationship strength values, wherein each relationship strength value pertains to a particular other luminaire (120-p) of said plurality of luminaires (120) and is descriptive of an extent of regularity at which reception of a status indication that indicates an occurrence of a given event pertaining to the particular other luminaire (120-p) is followed by detecting occupancy at the respective luminaire (120-k), and transmitting (208) the relationship data to the lighting system control entity (140, 150); and wherein the method (200) comprises, in the lighting system control entity (140, 150), controlling (210) at least one aspect of operational dependencies among the plurality of luminaires (120) in accordance with the relationship data received from the plurality of luminaires (120).