Protocol for lighting control via a wireless network

• US 10,009,986 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2017
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Turvy, Jr., Larry D., Scrimgeour, John W., Fultz, Tyler B., Roquemore, III, John Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US15/717,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 272 Days
• Field of Search: 315152, 315308, 315312
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A monitor lighting control device receives a state change event message that includes a payload specifying: (i) a state change event of an occupancy, audio, or daylight sensor, or a switch to turn lighting on/off, dim up/down, set scene or the like; (ii) an identifier of a member lighting control device that detected the state change event; and (iii) a lighting control group identifier of a lighting control group that includes the member lighting control device and the monitor lighting control device. The monitor lighting control device transmits an acknowledgement of receipt of the state change event message to the member lighting control device. The monitor lighting control device generates a state change multicast message that includes the state change event of the payload. Also, the monitor lighting control device transmits the generated state change multicast message to the lighting control group.

Claims

1. A lighting control system comprising:

a lighting control group, including a group monitor, a member lighting control device, and a luminaire;

wherein the group monitor comprises;

a wireless radio communication interface system configured for wireless communication over a wireless lighting control network communication band;

a processor;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

programming in the memory which configures the processor to;

receive via the wireless radio communication interface a state change event message including;

(i) a state change event of an occupancy sensor, an audio sensor, a daylight sensor, or a switch to turn lighting on/off, dim up/down, or set scene; and

(ii) an identifier of the member lighting control device that detected the state change event;

generate a state change message that includes the state change event; and

transmit via the wireless radio communication interface the generated state change message to members of the lighting control group.

2. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the state change event message further includes:

(iii) a lighting control group identifier of the lighting control group that includes the member lighting control device and the group monitor.

3. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the state change event message is received via unicast communication.

4. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the generated state change message is transmitted via multicast communication.

5. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the generated state change message is transmitted via broadcast communication.

6. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

transmit the generated state change message to the members of the lighting control group at least two times.

7. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

look up identification for a set of lighting control devices that are members of the lighting control group in a lighting control group network table;

generate a check message for the identified set of lighting control devices to confirm receipt of the generated state change message; and

send the check message to each of the identified set of lighting control devices.

8. The lighting control system of claim 7, wherein the check message is unicasted to each of the identified set of lighting control devices in order as specified in the lighting control group network table.

9. The lighting control system of claim 8, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

in response to unicasting the check message, receive an acknowledgement message from each of the identified set of lighting control devices indicating success or failure to execute illumination operation based on the state change event.

10. A member lighting control device comprising:

a wireless radio communication interface system configured for wireless communication over a wireless lighting control network communication band;

drive/sense circuitry to detect a state change of an occupancy sensor, an audio sensor, a daylight sensor, or a switch to turn lighting on/off, dim up/down, or set scene;

a processor coupled to the drive/sense circuitry;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

programming in the memory which configures the processor to;

detect a state change event of the occupancy sensor, the audio sensor, the daylight sensor, or the switch via the drive/sense circuitry;

in response to the detected state change event, generate a state change event message including;

(i) an identifier of the member lighting control device, (ii) the state change event, and (iii) a lighting control group identifier of a lighting control group that includes the member lighting control device;

transmit via the wireless radio communication interface the state change event message to a group monitor of the lighting control group; and

upon failing to receive an acknowledgement of the state change event message from the group monitor within a predetermined time period, transmit via the wireless radio communication interface the state change event message including the state change event to members of the lighting control group.

11. The member lighting control device of claim 10, wherein the state event message is transmitted to the group monitor via unicast communication.

12. The member lighting control device of claim 11, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

upon failing to receive the acknowledgement of the state change event message from the group monitor within the predetermined time period, determine the failure to receive the acknowledgement of the state change event message from the group monitor is a communication fault.

13. The member lighting control device of claim 10, wherein the state event message is transmitted to the members of the lighting control group listening on a broadcast channel or an address of the lighting control group.

14. The member lighting control device of claim 10, wherein the state event message is transmitted to the members of the lighting control group via multicast communication.

15. The member lighting control device of claim 10, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

upon failing to receive the acknowledgement of the state change event message from the group monitor, increase power of the wireless radio communication interface prior to transmitting the state change event message to the members of the lighting control group.

16. The member lighting control device of claim 10, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

after transmitting the state change event message to the members of the lighting control group, initiate a re-survey of radio frequency (RF) connectivity with the group monitor.

17. A luminaire comprising:

a wireless radio communication interface system configured for wireless communication over a wireless lighting control network communication band;

a processor;

a light emitting diode (LED) light source;

an LED driver circuit to drive the LED light source;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

programming in the memory which configures the processor to;

receive via the wireless radio communication interface a state change message from a group monitor including;

(i) a state change event of an occupancy, an audio sensor, a daylight sensor, or a switch to turn lighting on/off, dim up/down, or set scene; and

(ii) a lighting control group identifier of a lighting control group;

receive via the wireless radio communication interface a confirmation message from the group monitor to confirm receipt of the state change message;

send an acknowledgement message of the confirmation message via the wireless radio communication to the group monitor to confirm receipt of the state change message;

check the lighting control group identifier to determine whether the luminaire is a member of the lighting control group specified in the state change message; and

upon determining that the luminaire is a member of the lighting control group, adjust illumination light output of the LED light source via the LED driver circuit in accordance with the state change event.

18. The luminaire of claim 17, wherein the state change message is received via multicast communication.

19. The luminaire of claim 17, wherein the confirmation message is received via unicast communication.

20. The luminaire of claim 17, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

before adjusting illumination light output of the LED light source via the LED driver circuit in accordance with the state change event, determine that the luminaire has not already acted in accordance with the state change event specified in the state change message.