Systems and methods for lighting control

• US 9,826,601 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2015
• Issued: 11/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Vangeel, Jurgen Mario, Van Berkel, Bas Marinus Johannus
• Primary Examiner(s): Dao, Thuy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Franco, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US14/866,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20160092198A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/04 Programme control other than numerical control, i.e. in sequence controllers or logic controllers G05B19/418 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/163 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart, intelligent house
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25022 LAN local area network for controllers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25257 Microcontroller
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2639 Energy management, use maximum of cheap power, keep peak load low
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/654 using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/91 Remote control based on location and proximity
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/92 Universal remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/14 The load or loads being home appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 : Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 : for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 : Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/502 : LED transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2825 : Reporting to a device located outside the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with telemetering systems H04M11/002
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/681 : using addresses for wireless personal area networks or wireless sensor networks, e.g. Zigbee addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 : for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 : involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 : Selecting an access point
• 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 41/36 : Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3921 : with possibility of light intensity variations
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 : using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/18 : using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 : using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 : Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 : Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 : by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 : by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/135 : by determining the type of light source being controlled electrical parameters of light source being controlled H05B47/14
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/14 : by determining electrical parameters of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 : Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 : by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 : via data-bus transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 : via power line carrier transmission
• 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: 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/12 : Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses and systems are described herein for harmonizing firmware among lighting units of a lighting system. In some embodiments, a lighting unit controller of a lighting unit may be configured to: broadcast, to a plurality of remote lighting units of the lighting system, data indicative of a version of the firmware used locally; receive, directly or indirectly from at least one remote lighting unit of the lighting system, data indicative of a version of firmware used by the at least one remote lighting unit; determine that the version of firmware used by the at least one remote lighting unit is different from a version of the firmware stored in the memory; and take remedial action to harmonize the firmware stored in the memory with the firmware used by the remote lighting unit.

Claims

1. A method of harmonizing firmware used locally by a first lighting unit with firmware used by one or more remote lighting units of a lighting system, comprising:

broadcasting, to a plurality of remote lighting units of the lighting system, data indicative of a version of the firmware stored in the memory;

receiving, by a lighting unit controller located within the first lighting unit, at a communication interface of the first lighting unit, directly or indirectly from a second lighting unit, data indicative of a version of firmware used by the second lighting unit;

pausing, for a random time interval to await receipt, via the communication interface, directly or indirectly from a third lighting unit, data indicative of a version of firmware used by the third lighting unit;

determining, by the lighting unit controller of the first lighting unit, that the version of firmware used by the second lighting unit is different from a version of firmware used locally by the first lighting unit; and

taking remedial action, by the lighting unit controller of the first lighting unit, to harmonize the firmware used locally by the first lighting unit with the firmware used by the second lighting unit,

wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to lock one or more operational aspects of the lighting unit prior to taking the remedial action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein taking remedial action comprises:

transmitting, through the communication interface, to one or more remote lighting units, a request for updated firmware;

receiving, at the communication interface, directly or indirectly from one of the one or more remote lighting units, an image of the firmware used by the second lighting unit; and

locally installing the received image of firmware.

3. A lighting unit for use in a lighting system, comprising:

one or more light sources;

memory storing firmware used locally by the lighting unit;

a communication interface; and

a lighting unit controller located within the lighting unit and operably coupled with the

one or more light sources, the memory, and the communication interface, the lighting unit controller configured to;

broadcast, via the communication interface, to a plurality of remote lighting units of the lighting system, data indicative of a version of the firmware stored in the memory;

receive, via the communication interface, directly or indirectly from a first remote lighting unit in response to the broadcast, data indicative of a version of firmware used by the first remote lighting unit;

pause for a random time interval to await receipt, via the communication interface, directly or indirectly from a second remote lighting unit, data indicative of a version of firmware used by the second remote lighting unit;

determine that the version of firmware used by the first remote lighting unit is different from a version of the firmware stored in the memory; and

take remedial action to harmonize the firmware stored in the memory with the firmware used by the first remote lighting unit,

wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to lock one or more operational aspects of the lighting unit prior to taking the remedial action.

4. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the remedial action comprises:

transmitting, through the communication interface, to one or more remote lighting units of the lighting system, a request for a desired version of firmware;

receiving, through the communication interface, directly or indirectly from the first remote lighting unit, an image of the desired version of firmware used by the first remote lighting unit; and

locally installing the received image of the desired version of firmware.

5. The lighting unit of claim 4, wherein the time interval is prior to taking the remedial action.

6. The lighting unit of claim 4, wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to lock one or more operational aspects prior to locally installing the image of the desired version of firmware used by the first remote lighting unit.

7. The lighting unit of claim 6, wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to lock control of one or more operational aspects in response to receipt, via the communication interface, directly or indirectly from the first remote lighting unit, of a lock command.

8. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the remedial action comprises transmitting, through the communication interface, directly or indirectly to the first remote lighting unit, an image of firmware used locally by the lighting unit.

9. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the remedial action further comprises transmitting, through the communication interface, directly or indirectly to the first remote lighting unit, data indicative of the version of the firmware stored in the memory.

10. The lighting unit of claim 9, wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to transmit the data indicative of the version of the firmware used locally by the lighting unit after the random time interval.

11. The lighting unit of claim 10, wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to calculate the time interval stochastically.

12. The lighting unit of claim 8, wherein the remedial action further comprises receiving, through the communication interface, directly or indirectly from the first remote lighting unit, a request for an image of the firmware used locally by the lighting unit.

13. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the communication interface comprises an interface to a mesh network that includes the lighting unit and the first remote lighting unit.

14. The lighting unit of claim 3, wherein the communication interface comprises a coded light interface.

15. A lighting unit, for use in a lighting system, comprising:

one or more light sources;

memory storing firmware used locally by the lighting unit;

a communication interface; and

a lighting unit controller located within the lighting unit and operably coupled with the one or more light sources, the memory, and the communication interface, the lighting unit controller configured to;

broadcast, via the communication interface, to a plurality of remote lighting units of the lighting system, data indicative of a version of the firmware stored in the memory;

receive, via the communication interface, directly or indirectly from at least one remote lighting unit in response to the broadcast, data indicative of the version of firmware used by the at least one remote lighting unit;

determine that the version of firmware used by the at least one remote lighting unit is different from a version of the firmware stored in the memory; and

take remedial action to harmonize the firmware stored in the memory with the firmware used by the at least one remote lighting unit, wherein the remedial action comprises;

transmitting, through the communication interface, to one or more remote lighting units of the lighting system, a request for a desired version of firmware;

receiving, through the communication interface, directly or indirectly from the at least one remote lighting unit, an image of the desired version of firmware used by the at least one remote lighting unit; and

locally installing the received image of the desired version of firmware,

wherein the at least one remote lighting unit is a first remote lighting unit, and the lighting unit controller is further configured to pause for a time interval prior to taking the remedial action to await receipt, via the communication interface, directly or indirectly from a second remote lighting unit, data indicative of a version of firmware used by the second remote lighting unit,

wherein the lighting unit controller is further configured to calculate the time interval stochastically.