STANDALONE WIRELESS LIGHTING APPLICATION

• US 20150332586A1
• Filed: 05/15/2014
• Published: 11/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Savant Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Hamm, Andrew R., Kicklighter, Kevin C., Draper, Nichol F.
• Granted Patent: US 10,032,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/20 Binding and programming of remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

In one embodiment, a wireless lighting application (app) is executed on a mobile device to configure a wireless lighting control system including a plurality of wireless lighting control devices. A connection is established between the mobile device and a wireless lighting control device. In response to user input in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the wireless lighting app, the wireless lighting app configures at least one of a lighting controller, keypads or lamp modules by at least associating an attached lighting load with a load name. Further, the wireless lighting app defines a lighting scene that uses the lighting load having the load name. Still further, the wireless lighting app assigns the lighting scene to a programmable button of one of the wireless lighting control devices such that, in response to a press of the programmable button, the wireless lighting control system produces the predefined lighting effect.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a wireless lighting control system including a plurality of wireless lighting control devices from a mobile device, comprising:

executing a wireless lighting application (app) on the mobile device;

establishing a connection between the mobile device and a wireless lighting control device of the plurality of wireless lighting control devices, the wireless lighting control devices to include a lighting controller and a plurality of keypads and/or lamp modules, at least some of the plurality of wireless lighting control devices including dimming and/or switching circuitry operable to dim and/or switch an attached lighting load;

in response to user input in the GUI of the wireless lighting app on the mobile device, defining a lighting scene, the lighting scene to represent a predefined lighting effect produced by one or more lighting loads set at selected lighting levels; and

in response to user input in the GUI of the wireless lighting app on the mobile device, assigning the lighting scene to a programmable button of one of the wireless lighting control devices such that, in response to a press of the programmable button, the wireless lighting control system produces the predefined lighting effect.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to user input in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the wireless lighting app on the mobile device, configuring at least one of the lighting controller, the keypads or the lamp modules by at least associating an attached lighting load with a load name;

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the lighting controller is a controller keypad that includes dimming and/or switching circuitry operable to dim and/or switch a plurality of attached lighting loads coupled thereto via in-wall wiring, and includes a plurality of programmable buttons.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the controller keypad has a form factor that fits within a 2-gang in-wall electrical box.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the keypads each include dimming and/or switching circuitry operable to dim and/or switch an attached lighting load coupled thereto via in-wall wiring, and each include a plurality of programmable buttons.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the keypads each have a form factor that fits within a 1-gang in-wall electrical box.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the lamp modules each include dimming and/or switching circuitry operable to dim and/or switch an attached lighting load coupled thereto via an electrical cord plugged into a lamp-facing outlet.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the lamp module is coupled to a table top keypad that includes a plurality of programmable buttons.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is a wireless connection over a Wi-Fi network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the connection is a wired connection that utilizes a connection device to couple a serial communication interface of the mobile device to a serial communication interface of the wireless lighting control device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring further comprises:

organizing the attached lighting load with one or more other lighting nodes to form a room and/or a group.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the defining a lighting scene comprising:

associating the room or the group with a selected lighting level.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to user input in the GUI, signaling the wireless lighting control system to control one or more individual lighting loads, rooms, groups or lighting scenes.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a smartphone or tablet computer.

15. A wireless lighting control system including a plurality of wireless lighting control devices configurable from a mobile device, comprising:

a lighting controller;

a plurality of keypads in communication with the lighting controller via wireless signals, each of the keypads including dimming and/or switching circuitry operable to dim and/or switch an attached lighting load, and one or more programmable buttons; and

a wireless lighting application (app) executable on the mobile device, the wireless lighting app when executed operable to;

in response to user input in a graphical user interface (GUI) displayed on the mobile device, configure at least one of the keypads by at least associating an attached lighting load with a load name,

in response to user input in the GUI, define a lighting scene that uses the lighting load having the load name, the lighting scene to represent a predefined lighting effect produced by one or more lighting loads set at selected lighting levels, and

in response to user input in the GUI, assign the lighting scene to a programmable button of one of the wireless lighting control devices such that, in response to a press of the programmable button, the wireless lighting control system produces the predefined lighting effect.

16. The wireless lighting control system of claim 15, wherein the lighting controller is a controller keypad that includes dimming and/or switching circuitry operable to dim and/or switch a plurality of attached lighting loads coupled thereto via in-wall wiring, and includes a plurality of programmable buttons, wherein the controller keypad has a form factor that fits within a 2-gang in-wall electrical box.

17. The wireless lighting control system of claim 15, wherein the keypads each include dimming and/or switching circuitry operable to dim and/or switch an attached lighting load coupled thereto via in-wall wiring, and each include a plurality of programmable buttons, wherein the keypads each have a form factor that fits within a 1-gang in-wall electrical box.

18. The wireless lighting control system of claim 15, further comprising:

a connection device operable to couple a serial communication interface of the mobile device to a serial communication interface of the wireless enabled lighting control device, and over which signals are sent to conduct the operations to configure, define and assign.

19. A machine-readable medium having instruction stored thereon, the instructions including instructions for a wireless lighting application (app) that when executed by a processor of a mobile device are operable to:

configure a Wi-Fi enabled lighting control device of a Wi-Fi based lighting control system that includes a lighting controller and a plurality of keypads and/or lamp modules, by at least associating a lighting load attached to the Wi-Fi enabled lighting control device with a load name;

define a lighting scene that uses the lighting load having the load name, the lighting scene to represent a predefined lighting effect produced by one or more lighting loads set at selected lighting levels; and

assign the lighting scene to a programmable button of the Wi-Fi enabled lighting control device or another Wi-Fi enabled lighting control device of the Wi-Fi based lighting control system, such that, in response to a press of the programmable button, the Wi-Fi-based lighting control system produces the predefined lighting effect.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the instructions when executed are further operable to:

organize the attached lighting load with one or more other lighting nodes to form a room and/or organize the attached lighting load with one or more other lighting nodes to form a group; and

associating the room or the group with a selected lighting level to define the lighting scene.

21. A method for updating wireless settings in a wireless home automation system including a plurality of wireless devices, comprising:

setting a wireless interface of each wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices to utilize unique wireless settings and to operate in an access point (AP) mode;

receiving updated wireless settings at a first wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices; and

initiating an update process that includes;

changing the wireless interface of the first wireless device to operate in a client mode,

scanning for any un-updated wireless devices whose wireless interface is operating in the AP mode;

when there is at least one un-updated wireless device whose wireless interface is operating in the AP mode, attaching as a client, by the first wireless device, to a second wireless device selected from the at least one un-updated wireless device;

sending, by the first wireless device, a parameters message to the second wireless device including the updated wireless settings; and

repeating the scanning, selecting and sending until there are no un-updated wireless devices whose wireless interface is operating in AP mode.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless home automation system is a Wi-Fi based home automation system, the wireless interface is a Wi-Fi interface, each wireless device is a Wi-Fi enabled device, and the unique wireless settings and updated wireless settings are unique Wi-Fi settings and updated Wi-Fi settings, respectively.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the unique Wi-Fi settings include a unique Service Set Identifier (SSID), such that each Wi-Fi enabled device serves as an AP of a Wi-Fi network having a different SSID.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

generating the unique SSID of a respective Wi-Fi enabled device by concatenating a standard string to a Media Access Control (MAC) address of the respective Wi-Fi enabled device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the setting the wireless interface is performed as a default operation upon initial startup or reset of a respective wireless device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving the updated wireless settings from a mobile device, wherein the updated wireless settings represent input by a user into an application (app) executing on the mobile device.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the receiving further comprises:

receiving the updated wireless settings from another wireless device in a parameters message.

28. The method of claim 21, wherein the plurality of wireless devices are a plurality of lighting control devices.

29. A wireless home automation system including a plurality of wireless devices, comprising:

a first wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices having a wireless interface configured to utilize by default first unique wireless settings and to operate by default in an access point (AP) mode;

a second wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices having a wireless interface configured to utilize by default second unique wireless settings and to operate by default in the AP mode; and

a first software process executing on the first wireless device and configured, in response to receipt of updated wireless settings, to;

change the wireless interface of the first wireless device to operate in a client mode,

scan, using the wireless interface of the first wireless device, for any un-updated wireless devices whose wireless interface is operating in the AP mode,

select the second wireless device as an un-updated wireless device whose wireless interface is operating in the AP mode,

attach as a client to the second wireless device, and

send, via the wireless interface of the first wireless device, a wireless parameters message to the second wireless device including the updated wireless settings.

30. The wireless home automation system of claim 29, further comprising:

a third wireless device of the plurality of wireless devices having a wireless interface configured to utilize by default third unique wireless settings and to operate by default in the AP mode; and

a second software process executing on the second wireless device and configured, response to receipt of updated wireless settings, to;

change the wireless interface of the second wireless device to operate in the client mode,

scan, using the wireless interface of the second wireless device, for any un-updated wireless devices whose wireless interface is operating in the AP mode,

select the third wireless device as an un-updated wireless device whose wireless interface is operating in the AP mode,

attach as a client to the third wireless device, and

send, via the wireless interface of the second wireless enabled device, a parameters message to the third wireless device including the updated wireless settings.