Method and system or assignment and binding a network address of a ballast

• US 20020126020A1
• Filed: 03/08/2001
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Wang, Ling, Wacyk, Ihor
• Granted Patent: US 6,831,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.52
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5092 by self-assignment, e.g. picking addresses at random and testing if they are already in use
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A system for implementing a method for initializing and binding ballasts is disclosed. The system comprises a remote control having a master controller and the ballasts each having a slave controller. The master controller and the slave controllers are operated to implement routines whereby the master controller generates a clock sequence of a plurality of clock cycles, and the slave controllers randomly generate addresses and direct a transmission of signals indicative of the generated random addresses to the master controller during corresponding clock cycles. In response thereto, the master controller assigns network addresses corresponding to the random addresses as indicated by the corresponding clock cycles. The master controller and the slave controllers are further operated to implement routines for verifying the assigned network addresses and routines for binding each network address to a command of the remote control.

Claims

1. An initialization and binding method for controlling a ballast installed within a cell, said method comprising:

assigning a network address to the ballast; and

binding a remote control command to said network address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

verifying an assignment of said network address to the ballast.

3. An operating method of a remote control for assigning a network address to a ballast installed within a cell, said method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to the ballast, said first signal being indicative of a start of a clock sequence including a plurality of clock cycles; and

assigning a network address to the ballast in response to a receipt of a second signal from the ballast during a first clock cycle of said plurality of clock cycles.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

verifying an assignment of said network address.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

binding a remote control command to said network address.

6. An operating method of a ballast installed within a cell for receiving an assignment of a network address, said method comprising:

generating a random address as a function of a plurality of clock cycles; and

transmitting a first signal indicative of said random address during a first clock cycle of said plurality of clock cycles in response to a receipt of a second signal indicating a start of a clock sequence including said plurality of clock cycles.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing the network address in response to a timely receipt of a third signal indicating the assignment of the network address.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

verifying the assignment of the network address.

9. A method for operating a remote control and a ballast installed within a cell, said method comprising:

operating the ballast to generate a random address as a function of a plurality of clock cycles;

operating the remote control to transmit a first signal to the ballast, said first signal being indicative of a start of a clock sequence including said plurality of clock cycles;

operating the ballast to transmit a second signal to the remote control during a first clock cycle of said plurality of clock cycles in response to a reception of said first signal, said second signal being indicative of said random address; and

operating the remote control to transmit a third signal to the ballast in response to a reception of said second signal, said third signal being indicative of an assignment of a network address to the ballast.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

operating the remote control and the ballast to verify the assignment of said network address to the ballast.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

operating the remote control and the ballast to bind a remote control command to said network address.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

a third computer readable code for verifying an assignment of the network address to the ballast.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising:

a third computer readable code for binding a command to the network address.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further comprising:

a third computer readable code for verifying an assignment of the network address to the ballast after a reception of third signal indicating the assignment of the network address.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said remote control and said ballast are operable to verify an assignment of said network address to said ballast.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein

said remote control and said ballast are further operable to verify said assignment of said network address to said ballast.

12. A computer readable medium including a computer program for assigning a network address to a ballast installed within a cell, said computer program product comprising:

a first computer readable code for generating a clock sequence including a plurality of clock cycles; and

a second computer readable code for assigning the network address to the ballast in response to a reception of a signal received from the ballast during a first clock cycle of said plurality of clock cycles.

15. A computer readable medium including a computer program product for receiving an assignment of a network address to a ballast installed within a cell, said computer program product comprising:

a first computer readable code for generating a random address as a function of a plurality of clock cycles; and

a second computer readable code for transmitting first signal indicative of said random address during a clock cycle of said plurality of clocks cycles in response to a reception of a second signal indicating a start of a clock sequence including said plurality of clock cycles.

17. A system, comprising:

a cell;

a ballast installed within said cell; and

a remote control operable to assign a network address to said ballast, said remote control further operable to bind a command to said network address.

19. A system, comprising:

a cell;

a ballast installed within said cell, said ballast operable to generate a random address as a function of a plurality of clock cycles, said ballast further operable to transmit a first signal indicative of said random address during a first clock cycle of said plurality of clock cycles in response to a second signal indicating a start of a clock sequence including said plurality of clock cycles; and

a remote control operable to transmit said second signal to the ballast, said remote control further operable to transmit a third signal indicative of an assignment of a network address to said ballast in response to a reception of first second signal.