Owner/operator control of a light management system using networked intelligent luminaire managers

• US 20070091623A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Acuity Brands, Inc.
• Inventors: Henderson, David, Walters, Jeff, Darnell, Charles, Gibler, Zachary
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/458
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A plurality of networked luminaire managers, each collocated with a respective luminaire, monitor the status of their respective luminaires. The luminaire managers include transmitters for transmitting status information about their respective luminaires and third-party devices to a network server. The network server forwards the received status information from the networked luminaire managers to a computer of an owner/operator of the plurality of luminaires and/or a third-party user. The luminaire managers communicate with each other, whereby they form a network.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of luminaires, comprising:

receiving information for a plurality of luminaires from a plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers, each networked intelligent luminaire manager being coupled to an associated luminaire and configured to monitor and communicate a status of the associated luminaire;

displaying the status of selected luminaires on a display; and

sending a first command to a first networked intelligent luminaire manager to turn on the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step comprises:

sending a first command to turn on the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager at a first specified time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step comprises:

sending a first command to turn on the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager at dusk.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending step further comprising:

sending a second command to turn off the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sending step comprises:

sending a second command to turn off the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager at a second specified time.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sending step comprises:

sending a second command to turn off the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager at a specified number of minutes after the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager is turned on.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the sending step comprises:

sending a second command to turn off the luminaire associated with the first networked intelligent luminaire manager at a specified number of minutes after dawn.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating bills based on energy usage information received for the plurality of luminaires.

9. A system for managing a plurality of luminaires, comprising:

a plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers, each networked intelligent luminaire manager being coupled to an associated luminaire and configured to monitor and communicate a status of the associated luminaire;

a computer that receives information for the plurality of luminaires from the plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers and sends commands to the plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers, thereby enabling the plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers to control the plurality of luminaire; and

a display that displays the status of selected luminaires.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computer sends a first command to turn on a particular luminaire.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the computer sends a second command to turn off the particular luminaire.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a computer program that generates bills based on information received for the plurality of luminaires.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a computer program that displays alarms based on information received for the plurality of luminaires.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a computer program that displays power usage based on information received for the plurality of luminaires.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a computer program that analysis information received for the plurality of luminaires and generates status reports.

16. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a computer program that displays a photometric map of illumination provided by selected luminaires.

17. A system for managing a plurality of luminaires, comprising:

a plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers, each networked intelligent luminaire manager being coupled to an associated luminaire and configured to monitor and communicate a status of the associated luminaire;

a computer that receives information for the plurality of luminaires from the plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers and sends commands to the plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers, thereby enabling the plurality of networked intelligent luminaire managers to control the plurality of luminaire;

a display that displays the status of selected luminaires;

a computer program that generates alarms based on information received for the plurality of luminaires; and

a computer program that determines power usage based on information received for the plurality of luminaires.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a computer program that generates bills based on information received for the plurality of luminaires.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the computer sends a first command to turn on a particular luminaire.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the computer sends a second command to turn off the particular luminaire.