Control system for controlling one or more controllable devices sources and method for enabling such control

• US 9,363,855 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2009
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Feri, Lorenzo, Schenk, Tim C. W., Penning De Vries, Hendricus T. G. M., Damink, Paulus H. A.
• Primary Examiner(s): ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ, CARLOS R
• Application Number:
  US13/142,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20110276151A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,359 Days
• Field of Search: 700/19
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

The invention relates to control system configured for controlling at least one controllable device. The device has been assigned a corresponding identifier and is configured for transmitting an identification signal comprising the identifier of the device. The control system comprises a display for displaying a control item configured for controlling the controllable device. The control system also comprises a receiver configured for wirelessly receiving the identification signal comprising the identifier. The control system is configured for assigning a position of the control item on the display to the device identified by means of said received identifier.

Claims

1. A control system configured for controlling at least one controllable device, said at least one controllable device being assigned a corresponding identifier and being configured for transmitting an identification signal comprising said corresponding identifier, said control system comprising:

a display for displaying a control item configured for controlling said at least one controllable device, and

a receiver configured for wirelessly receiving said identification signal comprising said identifier, wherein said control system is configured for assigning a position of said control item on said display to said at least one controllable device identified by means of said received identifier,

wherein said receiver is configured to capture a real-time, real image of at least one of said at least one controllable device or an effect of the at least one controllable device, and wherein said system is configured to overlay said control item on said captured image in said display, and

wherein upon said receiver capturing a different real-time, real image of a different at least one controllable device or an effect of said different controllable device, the system is configured to update said display to depict a corresponding control item overlaid on said captured different real-time, real image.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said control system is configured for assigning a selectable position of said control item to said identified device.

3. The control system according to claim 1, said control system being configured for controlling a plurality of distributed controllable devices, said plurality of distributed controllable devices being configured for transmitting corresponding identification signals comprising distinguishable identifiers of said plurality of distributed controllable devices, wherein said receiver is configured for receiving said identification signals and positions of said plurality of distributed controllable devices and wherein said control system is configured for automatically assigning said received positions of said control item on said display to said corresponding plurality of distributed controllable devices identified by said identifiers.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one controllable device comprises an illumination source configured for emitting visible light, said visible light containing said identification signal comprising said identifier, wherein said receiver comprises an image sensor for receiving said identification signal and said control system is configured for assigning said position of said control item on said display to said illumination source identified by means of said received identifier in said identification signal.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said control system is configured for retrieving control information from an internal or external control information source, said control information being related to said device via said identifier, and for linking said control information to said control item on said display.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said control system is configured for controlling said at least one device over a control network, wherein the control system is configured for generating control commands in response to operation of a control item on said display and for transmitting said control commands to said device over said control network.

7. A method of controlling at least one controllable device using a control system, said at least one controllable device being assigned a corresponding identifier and being configured for transmitting an identification signal comprising said corresponding identifier, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving said identifier of said at least one controllable device;

capturing a real-time, real image of at least one of said at least one controllable device or an effect of said at least one controllable device;

assigning a position of a control item on a display of said control system to said at least one controllable device identified by means of said received identifier;

displaying said control item on said position of said display by overlaying said control item on said captured image in said display, said control item being configured for enabling control of said at least one controllable device; and

said receiver capturing a different real-time, real image of a different at least one controllable device or an effect of said different controllable device, and the control system updating said display to depict a corresponding control item overlaid on said captured different real-time real image.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising the step of assigning a selectable position of said control item to said identified device.

9. The method according to claim 7 enabling control over a plurality of distributed controllable devices, said plurality of distributed controllable devices being configured for transmitting corresponding identification signals comprising distinguishable identifiers of said plurality of distributed controllable devices, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving said identification signals and positions of said plurality of distributed controllable devices;

automatically assigning said received positions of said control item on said display to said corresponding plurality of distributed controllable devices identified by said identifiers.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one controllable device comprises an illumination source configured for emitting visible light, said visible light containing said identification signal comprising said identifier, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving said identification signal;

assigning said position of said control item on said display to said illumination source identified by means of said received identifier in said identification signal.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

retrieving control information from an internal or external control information source, said control information being related to said device via said identifier,

linking said retrieved control information to said control item on said display.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

generating control commands in response to operation of said control item on said display, and

transmitting said control commands to said device over a control network.