Scheduling failover for lighting controls

• US 10,111,275 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Norton, Mark, Trickler, Christopher, Naib, Dean, Westrick, Jr., Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Parth
• Application Number:
  US15/229,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20180042064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• 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 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/121 for groups of terminals or users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/38 triggered by timers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/50 responsive to malfunctions or undesirable behaviour of LEDs; responsive to LED life; Protective circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/20 Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A lighting control system of networks and devices designed to allow scheduled events to continue to operate in the case of partial or full network operation and failure. The lighting control system can rely on any network controller to act as a schedule master that evaluates a schedule of time-based lighting control events. When failure of the acting schedule master occurs or network communication therewith, the lighting control system changes the scheduling master to a different network controller based on a fail over protocol. The failover protocol includes detecting when an acting schedule master controller stops working by, for example, failing to receive a keep-alive message at a different network controller within a predetermined amount of time. Upon detecting failure of the schedule master controller, a network controller with a different controller identifier takes over as the schedule master in accordance with a controller identifier evaluation or protocol.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

connecting from a first network controller of a first plurality of network controllers to a network, wherein;

connecting from the first network controller to the network includes designating the first network controller with a controller identifier that is unique to the first network controller and a network identifier that represents a logical collection of the first plurality of network controllers on the network, and

the first plurality of network controllers control a respective luminaire directly or indirectly via a lighting control device;

receiving, within a timeout period, at the first network controller, a first schedule master message from a second network controller of the first plurality of network controllers via the network, the first schedule master message including a source identifier of the second network controller and identifying the second network controller as a schedule master of a lighting control schedule having a sequence of lighting control events for the first plurality of network controllers on the network;

adjusting the respective luminaire controlled by the first network controller in accordance with the lighting control schedule;

upon failing to receive, within the timeout period, the schedule master message from the second network controller via the network, determining that the first network controller is the schedule master; and

upon determining that the first network controller is the schedule master, transmitting, from the first network controller, a second schedule master message to the first plurality of network controllers indicating that the first network controller is the schedule master via the network,

wherein the transmitted second schedule master message includes the controller identifier of the first network controller as the source identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third schedule master message from a third network controller of the first plurality of network controllers indicating that the third network controller is the schedule master, wherein the third schedule master includes the controller identifier of the third network controller as the source identifier;

comparing the controller identifier of the first network controller with the third network controller; and

based on the comparison, designating the first network controller or the third network controller as the schedule master.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein comparing the controller identifier of the first network controller with the third network controller includes determining which controller identifier is numerically lower, and

wherein designating the first network controller or the third network controller as the schedule master includes upon determining that the first network controller has the numerically lower controller identifier, maintaining the first network controller as the schedule master.

4. The method of claim 2,

wherein comparing the controller identifier of the first network controller with the third network controller includes determining which controller identifier is numerically lower, and

wherein designating the first network controller or the third network controller as the schedule master includes upon determining that the third network controller has the numerically lower controller identifier, designating the third network controller as the schedule master.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein designating the third network controller as the schedule master includes storing the controller identifier of the third network controller as a schedule master identifier.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

after designating the third network controller as the schedule master, receiving a schedule event action message including a lighting schedule event that includes a lighting intensity or brightness adjustment and an event time to make the lighting intensity or brightness adjustment, the source identifier of the third network controller, and a destination identifier that includes the controller identifier of the first network controller; and

adjusting the respective luminaire in accordance with the received schedule event action message from the third network controller.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting from the first network controller to a link network, wherein the link network includes a second plurality of network controllers designated as the schedule master for a respective LAN; and

in response to determining that the first network controller is the schedule master, broadcasting on the link network, from the first network controller, the second schedule master message to the second plurality of network controllers indicating that the first network controller is the schedule master.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

after broadcasting on the link network the second schedule master message, sending a schedule event action message including the source identifier of the first network controller, a destination identifier, and a lighting schedule event, and

wherein the lighting schedule event is a lighting intensity or brightness adjustment and a time to make the lighting intensity or brightness adjustment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the destination identifier of the schedule event action message identifies a different network, network controller on the different network, or a zone that is a grouping of luminaires controlled by network controllers that are spread across different networks and are controlled in a same manner.

10. The method of claim 8,

wherein the schedule event action message further includes an event date that is assigned to a day, weekday, or range of days to make the lighting intensity or brightness adjustment, and

the schedule event action message is sent upon determining that the event date and the event time is triggered.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

connecting to the respective luminaire from the first network controller via a lighting-centric wireless communication network separate from the network.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the respective luminaire is a dimmable light fixture.

13. A method comprising:

connecting from a first network controller of a first plurality of network controllers to a network, wherein the first plurality of network controllers control a respective luminaire directly or indirectly via a lighting control device;

receiving, within a timeout period, at the first network controller, a first schedule master message from a second network controller of the first plurality of network controllers via the network, the first schedule master message including a source identifier of the second network controller and identifying the second network controller as a schedule master of a lighting control schedule having a sequence of lighting control events for the first plurality of network controllers on the network;

adjusting the respective luminaire controlled by the first network controller in accordance with the lighting control schedule;

upon failing to receive, within the timeout period, the schedule master message from the second network controller via the network, determining that the first network controller is the schedule master;

upon determining that the first network controller is the schedule master, transmitting, from the first network controller, a second schedule master message to the first plurality of network controllers indicating that the first network controller is the schedule master via the network;

after transmitting the second schedule master message to the first plurality of network controllers indicating that the first network controller is the schedule master via the network, receiving input, via a user interface of the first network controller, to adjust a group of luminaires controlled by the first plurality of network controllers of the network;

generating a lighting schedule event based on the received input to adjust luminaires, the lighting schedule event including a lighting intensity or brightness adjustment and an event time to make the lighting intensity or brightness adjustment to the group of luminaires controlled by the first plurality of network controllers of the network; and

sending a schedule synchronization message to the first plurality of network controllers on the network that includes the source identifier of the first network controller, a destination identifier identifying the first plurality of network controllers, the generated lighting schedule event, and the lighting control schedule of the schedule master.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

upon generating the lighting schedule event, storing the generated lighting schedule event in persistent or volatile storage of the first network controller as configuration or control data representing status of the lighting intensity or brightness adjustment for a zone corresponding to the group of luminaires controlled by the first plurality of network controllers of the network.

15. A method comprising:

connecting from a first network controller of a first plurality of network controllers to a network, wherein the first plurality of network controllers control a respective luminaire directly or indirectly via a lighting control device;

receiving, within a timeout period, at the first network controller, a first schedule master message from a second network controller of the first plurality of network controllers via the network, the first schedule master message including a source identifier of the second network controller and identifying the second network controller as a schedule master of a lighting control schedule having a sequence of lighting control events for the first plurality of network controllers on the network;

adjusting the respective luminaire controlled by the first network controller in accordance with the lighting control schedule, wherein adjusting the respective luminaire controlled by the first network controller in accordance with the lighting control schedule comprises;

receiving a schedule synchronization message that includes a lighting schedule event that is a lighting intensity or brightness adjustment, an event date and an event time to make the lighting intensity or brightness adjustment, the source identifier of the second network controller, and a destination identifier identifying the first network controller;

storing the schedule synchronization message by updating the lighting control schedule stored in local persistent or volatile storage of the first network controller;

evaluating the lighting control schedule to determine if the event date and the event time is triggered; and

upon determining the event date and the event time is triggered, changing illumination of the respective luminaire based on the lighting intensity or brightness adjustment of the lighting schedule event;

upon failing to receive, within the timeout period, the schedule master message from the second network controller via the network, determining that the first network controller is the schedule master; and

upon determining that the first network controller is the schedule master, transmitting, from the first network controller, a second schedule master message to the first plurality of network controllers indicating that the first network controller is the schedule master via the network.

16. A method comprising:

connecting from a first network controller of a first plurality of network controllers to a network, wherein the first plurality of network controllers control a respective luminaire directly or indirectly via a lighting control device;

receiving, within a timeout period, at the first network controller, a first schedule master message from a second network controller of the first plurality of network controllers via the network,

the first schedule master message including a source identifier of the second network controller and identifying the second network controller as a schedule master of a lighting control schedule having a sequence of lighting control events for the first plurality of network controllers on the network,

wherein the first schedule master message is received at the first network controller from the second network controller with a periodicity of 1 second;

adjusting the respective luminaire controlled by the first network controller in accordance with the lighting control schedule;

upon failing to receive, within the timeout period, the schedule master message from the second network controller via the network, determining that the first network controller is the schedule master; and

upon determining that the first network controller is the schedule master, transmitting, from the first network controller, a second schedule master message to the first plurality of network controllers indicating that the first network controller is the schedule master via the network.

17. A method comprising:

connecting from a first network controller of a first plurality of network controllers to a network, wherein the first plurality of network controllers control a respective luminaire directly or indirectly via a lighting control device;

receiving, within a timeout period, at the first network controller, a first schedule master message from a second network controller of the first plurality of network controllers via the network,

the first schedule master message including a source identifier of the second network controller and identifying the second network controller as a schedule master of a lighting control schedule having a sequence of lighting control events for the first plurality of network controllers on the network,

wherein the timeout period is 5 seconds;

adjusting the respective luminaire controlled by the first network controller in accordance with the lighting control schedule;

upon failing to receive, within the timeout period, the schedule master message from the second network controller via the network, determining that the first network controller is the schedule master; and

upon determining that the first network controller is the schedule master, transmitting, from the first network controller, a second schedule master message to the first plurality of network controllers indicating that the first network controller is the schedule master via the network.

18. A first network controller comprising:

a network communication interface system configured for data communication for;

communication of a local lighting schedule event action message, over a local network, with a first plurality of network controllers in communication over the local network that includes the first network controller;

communication of a global lighting schedule event action message, over a link network, of at least two different schedule master controllers, the two different schedule master controllers connected to a separate network of respective network controllers; and

communication, over a lighting device network, with a dimmable luminaire to adjust lighting intensity of the dimmable luminaire based on the local lighting schedule event action message and the global lighting schedule event action message;

a processor coupled to the network communication interface system;

a touch screen to receive user input of a local lighting control event to adjust a local group of luminaires controlled by the first plurality of network controllers on the local network to a first light intensity level at a first event time by generating the local lighting schedule event action message and further receive user input of a global lighting control event to adjust a global group of luminaires controlled by the at least two different schedule master controllers to a second light intensity level at a second event time by generating the global lighting schedule event action message;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

programming in the memory which configures the processor to;

upon failing to receive, within a timeout period, a schedule master message from an existing schedule master controller of the first plurality of network controllers via the local network, determine that the existing schedule master controller is not a schedule master of a lighting control schedule for the first plurality of network controllers on the local network,

wherein the lighting control schedule includes a sequence of lighting control events based on the local lighting schedule event action message and the global lighting schedule event action message;

in response to determining that the existing schedule master controller is not the schedule master, determine that the first network controller is a current schedule master of the lighting control schedule for the first plurality of network controllers on the local network; and

in response to determining that the first network controller is the current schedule master, repeatedly send, within a predetermined time period, to the first plurality of network controllers on the local network and the at least two different schedule master controllers on the link network, a new schedule master message including a source identifier of the first network controller and identifying the first network controller as the current schedule master for the first plurality of network controllers on the local network.

19. The first network controller of claim 18, wherein the programming in the memory further configures the processor to:

send the local lighting schedule event action message to the first plurality of network controllers on the local network, the lighting schedule event action message including the first light intensity level and the first event time to adjust to the first light intensity level; and

send the global lighting schedule event action message to the at least two different master schedule network controllers on the link network, the global lighting schedule event action message including the second light intensity level and the second event time to adjust to the second light intensity level.