Commissioning and controlling load control devices

• US 10,098,074 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Baker, Rhodes B., Barco, Kyle Thomas, Barnes, Bryan Robert, Bull, John H., Camden, Richard S., Crafts, Jordan H., Dolan, David J., Groller, Jason, Kumar, Sanjeev, Lenz, Jonathan T., Pelaez, Miguel Aguado, Twaddell, Daniel L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz, Asad M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cairns, Thomas R
• Application Number:
  US15/230,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 795 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00019 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/06 Selective distribution of broadcast services, e.g. multimedia broadcast multicast service [MBMS]; Services to user groups; One-way selective calling services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0245 according to signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/343 taking into account loading or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control-target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like. The information in the beacons may be used to commission and/or control the load control system.

Claims

1. A load control system comprising:

a plurality of control devices including at least one load control device that is configured to control an amount of power provided to an electrical load, wherein each control device comprises a beacon transmitting circuit configured to transmit a respective control device beacon that comprises an identifier associated with the control device; and

a network device configured to;

discover the respective control device beacon for each control device of the plurality of control devices;

identify a signal strength at which the respective control device beacon is received for each control device of the plurality of control devices;

display the plurality of control devices in a list of control devices that is sorted according to the corresponding signal strength of each control device beacon;

receive indications of selections of at least two control devices in the list of control devices; and

associate the identifiers of the selected at least two control devices to enable control of the at least two load control devices upon subsequent reception of a command by one of the at least two control devices.

2. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the network device is configured to discover a location beacon as a transmission from a location beacon transmitting device, wherein the location beacon includes an identifier associated with a location in a building.

3. The load control system of claim 2, wherein the network device is configured to associate the identifiers of the selected at least two control devices with the identifier associated with the location to enable control of the at least two load control devices upon subsequent reception of the location beacon.

4. The load control system of claim 1, wherein each identifier associated with the corresponding control device of the plurality of control devices comprises a unique identifier that identifies the corresponding control device.

5. The load control system of claim 1, wherein each identifier associated with the corresponding control device of the plurality of control devices comprises a unique identifier that identifies a device type associated with the corresponding control device.

6. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control devices include at least one control-source device for controlling the at least one load control device, wherein the at least one load control device is capable of controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device, and wherein the network device is configured to associate the at least one control-source device and the at least one load control device to enable the at least one load control device to identify the digital messages received from the control-source device for controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load.

7. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the network device is configured to:

identify a change in the corresponding signal strength of at least one control device beacon corresponding to at least one control device of the plurality of control devices; and

dynamically update the list of control devices that is sorted according to the corresponding signal strength of each control device beacon.

8. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the network device is configured to:

discover the control device beacon for at least one control device of the plurality of control devices after the association; and

send a digital message to the control device to control the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on the discovery of the control device beacon.

9. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to enter a lower power beacon mode or a beacon off mode to limit or prevent beaconing.

10. The load control system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to enter the lower power beacon mode or the beacon off mode after the network device associates the identifiers of the selected at least two control devices to enable control of the at least two load control devices.

11. The load control system of claim 9, wherein the network device is configured to send a message to the plurality of control devices after the association, and wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to enter the lower power beacon mode or the beacon off mode in response to the message.

12. The load control system of claim 1, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit of each of the plurality of control devices is configured to operate in a periodic beacon communication mode to transmit the respective control device beacon for a beacon signal transmission time period and transmit digital messages other than the control device beacon for a load control communication time period.

13. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit of each of the plurality of control devices is configured to switch from the periodic beacon communication mode to a continuous two-way configuration mode to allow for configuration of operating parameters of the control device.

14. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit of each of the plurality of control devices is configured to switch from the periodic beacon communication mode to a continuous two-way control mode to allow for control of the control device.

15. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit of each of the plurality of control devices is configured to switch from the periodic beacon communication mode to the continuous two-way control mode after the network device associates the identifiers of the selected at least two control devices to enable control of the at least two load control devices.

16. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit is configured to send the messages using a same communication protocol during the beacon signal transmission time period as during the load control communication time period.

17. The load control system of claim 12, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit is configured to send the messages using a different communication protocol during the beacon signal transmission time period as during the load control communication time period.

18. A method, comprising:

discovering a control device beacon for a control device of a plurality of control devices, wherein the control device beacon comprises an identifier associated with the control device;

identifying a signal strength at which the control device beacon is received for the control device of the plurality of control devices;

displaying the plurality of control devices in a list of control devices that is sorted according to the signal strength of the control device beacon;

receiving indications of selections of at least two control devices in the list of control devices; and

associating the identifiers of the selected at least two control devices to enable control of the at least two load control devices upon subsequent reception of a command by one of the at least two control devices.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

discovering a location beacon as a transmission from a location beacon transmitting device, wherein the location beacon includes an identifier associated with a location in a building.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

associating the identifiers of the selected at least two control devices with the identifier associated with the location to enable control of the at least two load control devices upon subsequent reception of the location beacon.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

associating the at least one control-source device and the at least one load control device to enable the at least one load control device to identify the digital messages received from the control-source device for controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

discovering the control device beacon for at least one control device of the plurality of control devices after the association; and

sending a digital message to the control device to control the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on the discovery of the control device beacon.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending a message to the plurality of control devices after the association to cause the plurality of control devices to enter a lower power beacon mode or a beacon off mode to prevent beaconing in response to the message.

24. A load control system comprising:

a plurality of control devices including at least one load control device that is configured to control an amount of power provided to an electrical load, wherein each control device comprises a beacon transmitting circuit configured to transmit a respective control device beacon that comprises an identifier associated with the load control device; and

a network device configured to;

discover the respective control device beacon for each control device of the plurality of control devices;

identify a signal strength at which the respective control device beacon is received for each control device of the plurality of load control devices;

automatically select a control device if the signal strength of the respective beacon exceeds a selection threshold; and

associate the respective identifiers of at least two control devices that have respective signal strengths that exceed the selection threshold to enable control of the associated load control devices upon subsequent reception of a command by one of the at least two control devices.

25. The load control system of claim 24, wherein the network device is configured to discover a location beacon as a transmission from a location beacon transmitting device, wherein the location beacon includes an identifier associated with a location in a building.

26. The load control system of claim 25, wherein the network device is configured to associate the identifiers of the selected at least two control devices with the identifier associated with the location to enable control of the at least two load control devices upon subsequent reception of the location beacon.

27. The load control system of claim 24, wherein each identifier associated with the corresponding control device of the plurality of control devices comprises a unique identifier that identifies the corresponding control device.

28. The load control system of claim 24, wherein each identifier associated with the corresponding control device of the plurality of control devices comprises a unique identifier that identifies a device type associated with the corresponding control device.

29. The load control system of claim 24, wherein the plurality of control devices include at least one control-source device for controlling the at least one load control device, wherein the at least one load control device is capable of controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on digital messages received from the control-source device, and wherein the network device is configured to associate the at least one control-source device and the at least one load control device to enable the at least one load control device to identify the digital messages received from the control-source device for controlling the amount of power provided to the electrical load.

30. The load control system of claim 24, wherein the network device is configured to display an indication of the associated control devices.

31. The load control system of claim 24, wherein the network device is configured to:

discover the control device beacon for at least one control device of the plurality of control devices after the association; and

send a digital message to the control device to control the amount of power provided to the electrical load based on the discovery of the control device beacon.

32. The load control system of claim 24, wherein the network device is configured to send a message to the plurality of control devices after the association, and wherein the plurality of control devices are configured to enter a lower power beacon mode or a beacon off mode to prevent beaconing in response to the message.

33. The load control system of claim 24, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit of each of the plurality of control devices is configured to transmit the respective control device beacon for a beacon signal transmission time period and transmit digital messages other than the control device beacon for a load control communication time period.

34. The load control system of claim 24, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit is configured to send the messages using a same communication protocol during the beacon signal transmission time period as during the load control communication time period.

35. The load control system of claim 34, wherein the same communication protocol is a BLUETOOTH®

two-way communication protocol.

36. The load control system of claim 34, wherein the beacon transmitting circuit is configured to send the messages using a different communication protocol during the beacon signal transmission time period as during the load control communication time period.

37. A load control system comprising:

a plurality of control devices including at least one load control device that is configured to control an amount of power provided to an electrical load, wherein each control device comprises a beacon transmitting circuit configured to transmit a respective control device beacon that comprises an identifier associated with the control device; and

a network device configured to;

discover the respective control device beacon for each control device of the plurality of control devices;

identify other control devices that have been previously selected by the network device;

display each control device of the plurality of control devices in which the respective control device beacon was discovered;

display the identified other control devices that have been previously selected by the network device;

receive an indication of a selection of at least one of the displayed each control device of the plurality of control devices in which the respective control device beacon was discovered and receive an indication of a selection of at least one of the displayed identified other control devices that have been previously selected by the network device;

associate the identifier of the selected at least one of the displayed each control device of the plurality of control devices in which the respective control device beacon was discovered with the identifier of the at least one of the displayed other control devices that have been previously selected by the network device.

38. The load control system of claim 37, wherein the network device is configured to discover a location beacon as a transmission from the identified other control devices that have been previously selected by the network device, wherein the location beacon includes an identifier associated with a location of the other control devices in a building.

39. The load control system of claim 38, wherein the network device is configured to associate the identifiers of each control device of the plurality of control devices with the identifier associated with the location of the other control devices in the building, to enable control of other control devices in the building.

40. The load control system of claim 37, wherein each identifier associated with each control device of the plurality of control devices comprises a unique identifier that identifies the corresponding control device.

41. The load control system of claim 37, wherein each identifier associated with the other control devices that have been previously selected by the network device comprises a unique identifier that identifies the other control devices that have been previously selected by the network device.