METHOD OF GUIDING A USER FROM AN INITIAL POSITION TO A DESTINATION IN A PUBLIC AREA

• US 20110022201A1
• Filed: 03/31/2009
• Published: 01/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Reumerman, Hans-juergen, Tokmakoff, Andrew Alexander, Wendt, Matthias, Sempel, Adrianus
• Granted Patent: US 8,560,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]

Abstract

The invention describes a method of guiding a user (1) from an initial position (S) to a destination (T), chosen from among a plurality of possible destinations (T), in a public area (2) over which is distributed a plurality of lighting arrangements (Li, L₂, . . . , L_n) each of which can be driven to render one or more light patterns from a plurality of light patterns. The method comprises the steps of determining the chosen destination (T) by obtaining a destination descriptor (13) from the user (1), allocating a specific light pattern from the plurality of light patterns to the chosen destination (T), providing the user (1) with a depiction (V_T) of the specific light pattern allocated to the chosen destination (T), selecting a number of lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) between a starting point (S) of the user (1) and the chosen destination (T), and driving the selected lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) such that the selected lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) between the starting point (S) of the user (1) and the chosen destination (T) render the specific light pattern. The invention further describes a system for guiding a user (1) from an initial position (S) to a destination (T) in a public area (2).

Claims

1. A method of guiding a user (1) from an initial position (S) to a destination (T), chosen from among a plurality of possible destinations, in a public area (2) over which is distributed a plurality of lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) each of which can be driven to render one or more light patterns from a plurality of light patterns, which method comprises the steps of

determining the chosen destination (T) by obtaining a destination descriptor (13) from the user (1);

allocating a specific light pattern from the plurality of light patterns to the chosen destination (T);

providing the user (1) with a depiction (V) of the specific light pattern allocated to the chosen destination (T);

selecting a number of lighting arrangements (L, L₂, . . . , L_n)between a starting point (S) of the user (1) and the chosen destination (T);

driving the selected lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) such that the selected lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) between the starting point (S) of the user (1) and the chosen destination (T) render the specific light pattern.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein a lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) comprises a number of individual light sources (S₁₁, S₁₂, S₁₃, S₂, S_n1, S_n2), and a light pattern is generated by applying a rendering sequence (C₁, C₂, . . . , C_n) to the lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) such that, when a lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) is driven to render a light pattern, individual light sources (S₁₁, S₁₂, S₁₃, S₂, S_n1, S_n2) of the lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) are controlled according to the rendering sequence (C₁, C₂, . . . , C_n).

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rendering sequence (C₁, C₂, . . . , C_n) for a lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) comprises a sequence of instructions for altering the operation mode and/or light output and/or light colour of a light source (S₁₁, S₁₂, S₁₃, S₂, S_n1, S_n2) of the lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n).

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the position of the user (1) in the public area (2) is determined, and selected lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) in the vicinity of the user (1) are driven to render the specific light pattern.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the specific light pattern is associated with a desired product or service provided at the chosen destination (T) of the user (1).

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the specific light pattern is composed by the user (1).

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein a number of selected light sources (S₁₁, S₁₂, S₁₃, S₂, S_n1, S_n2) are driven to render the specific light pattern such that the specific light pattern appears to move in a certain direction (D).

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein a specific light pattern is associated with the chosen destination (T) prior to arrival of the user (1) at the initial position (S) in the public area (2).

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rendering of a specific light pattern is triggered by a trigger signal (20).

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein the trigger signal (20) is generated when the presence of the user (1) is detected in the public area (2).

11. A light guidance system (10) for guiding a user (1) from an initial position (S) to a destination (T) in a public area (2), which light guidance system (10) comprises

a plurality of lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) distributed over the public area (2), which lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) can be driven to render one or more light patterns from a plurality of light patterns;

a light pattern allocator (11) for allocating a specific light pattern from the plurality of light patterns to a chosen destination (T);

a user interface (12) for obtaining a destination description (13) from the user (1) and for providing the user (1) with a depiction (V_T) of a specific light pattern allocated to the destination (T);

a selecting unit (14) for selecting a number of lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) between the initial position (S) of the user (1) and the chosen destination (T);

a rendering interface (R₁, R₂, . . . , R_n) for driving the selected lighting arrangements (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) between the starting point (S)of the user (1) and the chosen destination (T) to render the specific light pattern.

12. A light guidance system (10) according to claim 11, wherein a lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) comprises a rendering interface (R₁, R₂, . . . , R_n) for applying a rendering sequence (C₁, C₂, . . . , C_n) to a number of individual light sources (S₁₁, S₁₂, S₁₃, S₂, S_n1, S_n2) of the lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) such that the individual light sources (S₁₁, S₁₂, S₁₃, S₂, S_n1, S_n2) of the selected lighting arrangement (L₁, L₂, . . . , L_n) are controlled according to the rendering sequence (C₁, C₂, . . . , C_n).

13. A light guidance system (10) according to claim 11 or 12, comprising a control arrangement (15) with a storage medium (16) for storing descriptions of predefined light patterns and, optionally, for storing a description of a light pattern composed by a user (1).

14. A light guidance system (10) according to claim 13, wherein the user interface (12) is located external to the public area (2), and the user interface (12) is connected by a network (N) to the control arrangement (15).