AUTO-DISCOVERY OF NEIGHBOR RELATIONSHIPS AND LIGHTING INSTALLATION SELF-MAPPING VIA VISUAL LIGHT COMMUNICATION

• US 20160218804A1
• Filed: 01/28/2015
• Published: 07/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ABL IP Holding LLC (Acuity Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Raj, Rashmi K., Maher, Hampton B., White, Sean P., Rogers, Jason
• Granted Patent: US 9,806,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/199 Commissioning of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Networked intelligent lighting devices may utilize visual light communication to perform autonomous neighbor discovery, for example, as part of a map generation process. Individually, each intelligent lighting device within an installation transmits a series of packets via visual light communication for receipt by one or more of the other intelligent lighting devices. Receiving intelligent lighting devices record the number of received packets from each transmitter. Records of numbers of received packets are conveyed via a data communication network to a centralized process. The centralized process utilizes the conveyed records to determine neighbor relationships between lighting devices, for example to generate a map of devices as located within the installation.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a data communication network;

a plurality of intelligent lighting devices, each intelligent lighting device comprising;

a communication interface coupled to the data communication network and configured to enable communication via the data communication network;

a light source configured to produce visible light for general illumination of a space;

a processor coupled to the light source and the communication interface, the processor configured to;

manage operation of the light source to also transmit data via visible light communication; and

communicate via the communication interface and the data communication network; and

a sensor coupled to the processor, the sensor configured to;

receive data via visible light communication; and

deliver the received data to the processor; and

a server coupled to the data communication network, wherein;

each processor of a respective intelligent lighting device is further configured to implement functions, including functions to;

via the visible light communication, repeatedly transmit a data packet identifying the respective intelligent lighting device a number of times;

record, for each of some number of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices, a received data packet count, each received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying a single intelligent lighting device are received by the respective intelligent lighting device via visible light communication; and

send the recorded received data packet counts as part of a received data packet counts report; and

the server is configured to implement functions, including functions to;

receive, from the intelligent lighting devices and via the data communication network, the respective received data packet counts reports;

for each one of the intelligent lighting devices and based on the received reports, check for a neighbor relationship between the one intelligent lighting device and one or more other intelligent lighting devices;

create a lighting system configuration in order to manage the plurality of intelligent lighting devices installed within the space, based at least in part on neighbor relationships determined to exist between lighting devices by the check function; and

store the created lighting system configuration.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the data packet identifying the respective intelligent lighting device includes an address of the respective intelligent lighting device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein each processor is further configured to implement a further function to calibrate, prior to the repeated transmission of the data packet identifying the respective intelligent lighting device, the respective intelligent lighting device based on the space, the function to calibrate including functions to:

manage, by the respective processor, the respective light source to transmit a calibration data packet via visible light communication;

receive, by the respective sensor, the transmitted calibration data packet;

determine whether the received calibration data packet meets a minimum criteria; and

upon a determination that the received calibration data packet fails to meet the minimum criteria and until the minimum criteria is met, repeatedly;

modify a transmit power of the respective light source;

transmit another calibration data packet;

receive the another calibration data packet; and

determine whether the received another calibration data packet meets the minimum criteria.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the check function further configures the server to implement further functions, including functions to:

calculate, based on a received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the respective intelligent lighting device are received by the respective intelligent lighting device, a baseline for the respective intelligent lighting device;

select a neighbor threshold;

determine, for each of the other intelligent lighting devices, whether the respective other intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of the respective intelligent lighting device based on;

the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the respective intelligent lighting device are received by other intelligent lighting devices; and

the calculated baseline; and

record each determination result in a neighbor relationship report.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the baseline calculation function utilizes the formula bLD_i=LD_iMrx_i/LD_iMtx_i; and

the respective other intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of the respective intelligent lighting device when the formula PR_jMrx_i>

bLD_i*n % is true, further wherein;

i and j are integers;

LD_i is the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

PR_j is the j^th respective other intelligent lighting device;

Mtx is a transmitted data packet count;

Mrx is a received data packet count;

bLD_i is the baseline for the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

LD_iMrx_i is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the i^th respective intelligent lighting device are received by the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

LD_iMtx_i is the transmitted data packet count for the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

PR_jMrx_i is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the i^th respective intelligent lighting device are received by the j^th respective other intelligent lighting device; and

n is the selected neighbor threshold.

6. The system of claim 5, the further server functions including functions to:

upon a determination that a number of miscalculations in the neighbor relationship report exceeds an allowable maximum and until the number of miscalculations in the neighbor relationship report is within the allowable maximum, repeatedly;

for each intelligent lighting device;

select a different neighbor threshold;

determine, for each of the other intelligent lighting devices, whether the respective other intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of the respective intelligent lighting device by recalculating PR_jMrx_i>

bLD_i*n %; and

record each determination result in the neighbor relationship report,

wherein a miscalculation occurs when the server determines that a first intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of a second intelligent lighting device and determines that the second intelligent lighting device is not a neighbor of the first intelligent lighting device.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the server is further configured to implement a further function to:

based on the neighbor relationship report, generate a map of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices including a location for each of the intelligent lighting devices relative to the space in which the plurality of intelligent lighting devices are installed.

8. The system of claim 7, the further server functions including functions to:

upon a number of indeterminate locations of intelligent lighting devices exceeding an allowable maximum and until the number of indeterminate locations of intelligent lighting devices is within the allowable maximum, repeatedly;

for each intelligent lighting device;

select a different neighbor threshold;

determine, for each of the other remaining intelligent lighting devices, whether the respective other remaining intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of the respective intelligent lighting device by recalculating PR_jMrx_i>

bLD_i*n %; and

record each determination result in the neighbor relationship report;

based on the neighbor relationship report, identify a location for each intelligent lighting device relative to the space in relation to one or more other intelligent lighting devices; and

generate the map depicting the identified location for each intelligent lighting device.

9. A lighting device comprising:

a light source configured to produce visible light for general illumination within a space in which a plurality of lighting devices, including the lighting device, are to be installed;

a communication interface configured to enable data communication via a data communication link of a network of a premises including the space;

a processor coupled to the light source and the communication interface, the processor configured to;

manage operation of the light source to also transmit data via visible light communication; and

communicate via the communication interface and the data communication link;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a sensor coupled to the processor, the sensor configured to;

receive data via visible light communication; and

deliver the received data to the processor,

wherein the processor is further configured to operate the lighting device to implement functions including functions to;

via the visible light communication, repeatedly transmit a data packet identifying the lighting device a number of times;

receive, from each of some number of the other lighting devices, a data packet count, each data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the lighting device are received by a single respective other lighting device via visible light communication;

generate, based on the received data packet counts, a neighbor table defining neighbor relationships between the lighting device and one or more of the other lighting devices; and

deliver the generated neighbor table to a management function for the plurality of lighting devices.

10. The lighting device of claim 9, wherein the function to generate the neighbor table further includes functions to:

calculate, based on a data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the lighting device are received by the lighting device, a baseline for the lighting device;

select a neighbor threshold; and

determine, for each of the some number of the other lighting devices, whether the respective other lighting device is a neighbor of the lighting device based on;

the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the lighting device are received by the respective other lighting device;

the calculated baseline; and

the selected neighbor threshold.

11. The lighting device of claim 10, wherein:

the baseline calculation function utilizes the formula bLD=LDMrx/LDMtx; and

the respective other lighting device is a neighbor of the lighting device when the formula PR_jMrx>

bLD*n % is true, further wherein;

j is an integer representing the some number of the other lighting devices;

LD is the lighting device;

PR_j is the j^th respective other lighting device;

Mtx is a transmitted data packet count;

Mrx is a received data packet count;

bLD is the baseline for the lighting device;

LDMrx is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the lighting device are received by the lighting device;

LDMtx is the transmitted data packet count for the lighting device;

PR_jMrx is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the lighting device are received by the j^th respective other lighting device; and

n is the selected neighbor threshold.

12. The lighting device of claim 11, wherein the implemented functions further include a function to generate, upon an indication from the management function that a number of miscalculations in the neighbor table exceeds an allowable maximum, an updated neighbor table, the updated neighbor table generation function including functions to:

select a different neighbor threshold;

determine, for each of the some number of the other lighting devices, whether the respective other lighting device is a neighbor of the lighting device by recalculating PR_jMrx>

bLD*n %; and

record each determination result in the updated neighbor table.

13. The lighting device of claim 9, wherein the implemented functions further include a function to calibrate the lighting device based on the space prior to the repeated transmission of the data packet identifying the lighting device, the function to calibrate including functions to:

manage the light source to transmit a calibration data packet via visible light communication;

receive, by the sensor, the transmitted calibration data packet;

determine whether the received calibration data packet meets a minimum criteria; and

upon a determination that the received calibration data packet fails to meet the minimum criteria and until the minimum criteria is met, repeatedly;

modify a transmit power of the light source;

transmit another calibration data packet;

receive the another calibration data packet; and

determine whether the received another calibration data packet meets the minimum criteria.

14. The lighting device of claim 9, wherein the implemented functions further include functions to:

record, for each of another number of the other lighting devices, a received data packet count, each received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying a single other lighting device are received by the lighting device via visible light communication; and

send each recorded received data packet count to the respective other lighting device.

15. A lighting device comprising:

a light source configured to produce visible light for general illumination within a space in which a plurality of lighting devices, including the lighting device, are to be installed;

a communication interface configured to enable data communication via a data communication link of a network of a premises including the space;

a processor coupled to the light source and the communication interface, the processor configured to;

manage operation of the light source to also transmit data via visible light communication; and

communicate via the communication interface and the data communication link;

a memory coupled to the processor; and

a sensor coupled to the processor, the sensor configured to;

receive data via visible light communication; and

deliver the received data to the processor,

wherein the processor is further configured to operate the lighting device to implement functions including functions to;

via the visible light communication, repeatedly transmit a data packet identifying the lighting device a number of times;

record, for each of some number of the other lighting devices, a received data packet count, each received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying a single other lighting device are received by the lighting device via visible light communication; and

send the recorded received data packet counts as part of a received data packet counts report.

16. The lighting device of claim 15, wherein the data packet identifying the lighting device includes an address of the lighting device.

17. The lighting device of claim 15, wherein the implemented functions further include a function to calibrate the lighting device based on the space prior to the repeated transmission of the data packet identifying the lighting device, the function to calibrate including functions to:

manage the light source to transmit a calibration data packet via visible light communication;

receive, by the sensor, the transmitted calibration data packet;

determine whether the received calibration data packet meets a minimum criteria; and

upon a determination that the received calibration data packet fails to meet the minimum criteria and until the minimum criteria is met, repeatedly;

modify a transmit power of the light source;

transmit another calibration data packet;

receive the another calibration data packet; and

determine whether the received another calibration data packet meets the minimum criteria.

18. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a non-transitory machine readable medium; and

a management program embodied in the medium, wherein execution of the management program by a programmable device supports functions, including functions to;

obtain neighbor tables defining neighbor relationships between a plurality of lighting devices installed within a space,

create, based at least in part on the neighbor tables, a map of the plurality of lighting devices within the space;

create a lighting system configuration in order to manage the plurality of lighting devices installed within the space, based at least in part on the map; and

store the lighting system configuration.

19. The article of claim 18, wherein the function to obtain includes a function to receive, from each respective one of the plurality of lighting devices, a neighbor table defining neighbor relationships between the respective one lighting device and one or more other lighting devices of the plurality of lighting devices.

20. The article of claim 19, wherein the map creation function further includes functions to:

based on the received neighbor tables, identify a location for each lighting device relative to the space in relation to one or more other lighting devices; and

upon a number of indeterminate locations of lighting devices exceeding an allowable maximum and until the number of indeterminate locations of lighting devices is within the allowable maximum, repeatedly;

for each lighting device, request an updated neighbor table based on a newly selected neighbor threshold;

based on the updated neighbor tables, identify a location for each lighting device relative to the space in relation to one or more other lighting devices; and

create the map depicting the identified location for each lighting device.

21. The article of claim 18, wherein the function to obtain includes functions to:

receive, from each respective one of the plurality of lighting devices, a received data packet counts report, wherein;

each received data packet counts report includes, for the respective lighting device, a plurality of received data packet counts; and

each data packet count represents how many data packets identifying a single lighting device are received from the single lighting device by the respective lighting device via visible light communication; and

for each one of the lighting devices and based on the received reports, check for neighbor relationships between the respective one lighting device and one or more other lighting devices to generate a neighbor table for the respective one lighting device.

22. The article of claim 21, wherein the check function further includes functions to:

calculate, based on a received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the respective one lighting device are received by the respective one lighting device, a baseline for the respective one lighting device;

select a neighbor threshold;

determine, for each of the other lighting devices, whether the respective other lighting device is a neighbor of the respective one lighting device based on;

the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the respective one lighting device are received by the other lighting devices; and

the calculated baseline; and

record each determination result in the neighbor table for the respective one lighting device.

23. The article of claim 22, wherein:

the baseline calculation function utilizes the formula bLD_i=LD_iMrx_i/LD_iMtx_i; and

the respective other lighting device is a neighbor of the respective one lighting device when the formula PR_jMrx_i>

bLD_i*n % is true, further wherein;

i and j are integers;

LD_i is the i^th respective one lighting device;

PR_j is the i^th respective other lighting device;

Mtx is a transmitted data packet count;

Mrx is a received data packet count;

bLD_i is the baseline for the i^th respective one lighting device;

LD_iMrx_i is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the i^th respective one lighting device are received by the i^th respective other lighting device;

LD_iMtx_i is the transmitted data packet count for the i^th respective one lighting device;

PR_jMrx_i is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the i^th respective one lighting device are received by the i^th respective other lighting device; and

n is the selected neighbor threshold.

24. The article of claim 23, wherein the check function further includes functions to:

upon a determination that a number of miscalculations in the neighbor tables exceeds an allowable maximum and until the number of miscalculations in the neighbor tables is within the allowable maximum, repeatedly;

for each lighting device;

select a different neighbor threshold;

determine, for each of the other lighting devices, whether the respective other lighting device is a neighbor of the respective lighting device by recalculating PR_jMrx_i>

bLD_i*n %; and

record each determination result in the neighbor table for the respective lighting device,

wherein a miscalculation occurs when the management program determines that a first intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of a second intelligent lighting device and the management program determines that the second intelligent lighting device is not a neighbor of the first intelligent lighting device.

25. The article of claim 24, the further included functions including functions to:

based on the neighbor tables, identify a location for each lighting device relative to the space in relation to one or more other lighting devices; and

upon a number of indeterminate locations of lighting devices exceeding an allowable maximum and until the number of indeterminate locations of lighting devices is within the allowable maximum, repeatedly;

for each lighting device;

select a different neighbor threshold;

determine, for each of the other remaining lighting devices, whether the respective other remaining lighting device is a neighbor of the respective lighting device by recalculating PR_jMrx_i>

bLD_i*n %; and

record each determination result in the neighbor table for the respective lighting device;

based on the updated neighbor tables, identify a location for each lighting device relative to the space in relation to one or more other lighting devices; and

create the map depicting the identified location for each lighting device.

26. A method comprising steps of:

triggering a general illumination lighting device to modulate a visual light output from a general illumination source of the lighting device to repeat transmission of a packet of predetermined data a number of times,

the predetermined data of the repeatedly transmitted packet including an identification of the lighting device;

receiving, from another general illumination lighting device, a report of number of visual light receptions of the transmitted packet by the other general illumination lighting device; and

identifying the other general illumination lighting device as a neighbor of the general illumination lighting device based on detection of a predetermined relationship between the number of times of transmission and the number of visual receptions of the packet of predetermined data.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the steps of receiving the report from the other general illumination lighting device and identifying the other general illumination lighting device as a neighbor of the general illumination lighting device are performed by the general illumination lighting device.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the steps of receiving the report from the other general illumination lighting device and identifying the other general illumination lighting device as a neighbor of the general illumination lighting device are performed by a management function.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising steps of:

triggering the other lighting device to modulate a visual light output from a general illumination source of the other lighting device to repeat transmission of another packet of predetermined data a number of times,

the predetermined data of the other repeatedly transmitted packet including an identification of the other lighting device; and

receiving, from the general illumination lighting device, a report of number of visual light receptions of the other transmitted packet by the general illumination lighting device; and

identifying the general illumination lighting device as a neighbor of the other general illumination lighting device based on detection of a predetermined relationship between the number of times of transmission and the number of visual receptions of the other packet of predetermined data.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the steps of receiving the report from the general illumination lighting device and identifying the general illumination lighting device as a neighbor of the other general illumination lighting device are performed by the other general illumination lighting device.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the steps of receiving the report from the general illumination lighting device and identifying the general illumination lighting device as a neighbor of the other general illumination lighting device are performed by a management function.

32. The method of claim 26, further comprising a step of:

automatically commissioning one or both the lighting devices for operation for general illumination in a space to be illuminated by the lighting devices, based at least in part on the identification of the lighting devices as neighbors of each other.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising a step of:

automatically generating a map of a space to be illuminated by the lighting devices, including an indication of location of the lighting devices, based at least in part on the identification of the lighting devices as neighbors of each other.

34. A system, comprising:

a data communication network;

a plurality of intelligent lighting devices, each intelligent lighting device comprising;

a communication interface coupled to the data communication network and configured to enable communication via the data communication network;

a light source configured to produce visible light for general illumination of a space;

a processor coupled to the light source and the communication interface, the processor configured to;

manage operation of the light source to also transmit data via visible light communication; and

communicate via the communication interface and the data communication network; and

a sensor coupled to the processor, the sensor configured to;

receive data via visible light communication; and

deliver the received data to the processor; and

a management function coupled to the data communication network, wherein;

each processor of a respective intelligent lighting device is further configured to implement functions, including functions to;

via the visible light communication, repeatedly transmit a data packet identifying the respective intelligent lighting device a number of times;

receive, from each of some number of other intelligent lighting devices, a data packet count, each data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the respective intelligent lighting device are received by a single other intelligent lighting device via visible light communication;

generate, based on the received data packet counts, a neighbor table defining neighbor relationships between the respective intelligent lighting device and one or more other intelligent lighting devices; and

send the generated neighbor table to the management function; and

the management function is configured to implement functions, including functions to;

receive, from each respective intelligent lighting device, the neighbor table for the respective intelligent lighting device;

create, based at least in part on the received neighbor tables, a map of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices within the space;

create a lighting system configuration in order to manage the plurality of intelligent lighting devices installed within the space, based at least in part on the created map; and

store the created lighting system configuration.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the function to generate the neighbor table further includes functions to:

calculate, based on a data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the respective intelligent lighting device are received by the intelligent lighting device, a baseline for the lighting device;

select a neighbor threshold; and

determine, for each of the other intelligent lighting devices, whether the respective other intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of the respective lighting device based on;

the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the respective lighting device are received by the respective other intelligent lighting device;

the calculated baseline; and

the selected neighbor threshold, further wherein;

the baseline calculation function utilizes the formula bLD_i=LD_iMrx_i/LD_iMtx_i; and

the respective other intelligent lighting device is a neighbor of the respective intelligent lighting device when the formula PR_jMrx_i>

bLD_i*n % is true, wherein;

i and j are integers;

LD_i is the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

PR_j is the j^th respective other intelligent lighting device;

Mtx is a transmitted data packet count;

Mrx is a received data packet count;

bLD_i is the baseline for the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

LD_iMrx_i is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the i^th respective intelligent lighting device are received by the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

LD_iMtx_i is the transmitted data packet count for the i^th respective intelligent lighting device;

PR_jMrx_i is the received data packet count representing how many data packets identifying the i^th respective intelligent lighting device are received by the j^th respective other intelligent lighting device; and

n is the selected neighbor threshold.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the map creation function further includes functions to:

based on the received neighbor tables, identify a location for each intelligent lighting device relative to the space in relation to one or more other intelligent lighting devices; and

upon a number of indeterminate locations of intelligent lighting devices exceeding an allowable maximum and until the number of indeterminate locations of intelligent lighting devices is within the allowable maximum, repeatedly;

for each intelligent lighting device, request an updated neighbor table based on a newly selected neighbor threshold;

based on the updated neighbor tables, identify a location for each intelligent lighting device relative to the space in relation to one or more other intelligent lighting devices; and

create the map depicting the identified location for each intelligent lighting device.