Automated commissioning for lighting control systems

• US 10,219,356 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RAB Lighting Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RAB Lighting Incorporated
• Inventors: Barna, Ross A., Case-Hayes, Michael Theodore, Sanghvi, Ankit, Oliver, Jason Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Anh
• Application Number:
  US15/621,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2827 Reporting to a device within the home network; wherein the reception of the information reported automatically triggers the execution of a home appliance functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2832 Interconnection of the control functionalities between home networks single bridge functionality H04L12/4625
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/285 Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Wireless lighting control systems and methods for controlling the illumination of one or more light fixtures are disclosed, including self-commissioning of hardware. Embodiments include a server connected to a wide area network and having software for configuring, monitoring, and controlling lighting fixtures at a site. The control system also includes a wireless gateway at the site initiating communication with the server via a cellular network. Wireless devices initiate communication with the wireless gateway via a mesh network and each wireless device can be wired to control at least one lighting fixture. Once hardware of the site system (e.g., a gateway and/or any device) is mounted or positioned in the appropriate location and powered on, the hardware will self-commission by automatically initiating communications. The gateway will initiate communication and identify itself to server system. When the devices are powered on, they identify themselves to the gateway and the gateway can inform the server system of the devices.

Claims

1. A method for commissioning a wireless lighting control system with a server, comprising:

powering a gateway, wherein the gateway establishes communication with the server over a wide area network upon powering;

registering the gateway with the server;

configuring the gateway via a user interface application to selectively permit one or more lighting control devices to establish wireless communication with the gateway during a predetermined period of time;

powering a lighting control device during the predetermined period of time, the lighting control device configured to control the illumination level of a light emitting device, wherein the lighting control device automatically initiates wireless communication with the gateway after powering the lighting control device; and

establishing a wireless mesh network between the lighting control device and the gateway, wherein the gateway automatically registers the lighting control device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wide area network is a cellular network and the gateway initiates communication with the server using the cellular network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein upon the gateway automatically registering the lighting control device, the gateway also sends lighting control device registration information to the server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a user interface and the gateway communicate with the server and are associated with an account, and the user interface and the gateway communicate with one another via the server.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the user interface device is a backend administrator interface with the server.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the user interface device is a computer device communicating with the server over a wide area network.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the gateway and the lighting control device include a network link key, and the network link key is used by the lighting control device to securely establish the wireless communication with the gateway.

7. A method for commissioning a wireless lighting control system, comprising:

establishing communication between a user interface device and a gateway;

powering a lighting control device configured and adapted to control the illumination level of a light emitting device, wherein the lighting control device automatically attempts to wirelessly communicate with the gateway after said powering a lighting control device;

establishing a wireless mesh network between the lighting control device and the gateway, wherein the gateway automatically registers the lighting control device;

initiating an identification command from one of the lighting control device and the user interface device;

receiving the identification command by the other of the one of the lighting control device and the user interface device and signaling receipt of the identification command in a manner noticeable by a user.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the user interface and the gateway communicate with one another via a server with the user interface device communicating directly with the server and the gateway communicating directly with the server.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

powering the gateway, wherein said gateway establishes communication with the server over a wide area network upon powering; and

registering the gateway with the server, wherein the server automatically associates the gateway with an account that is also associated with the user interface.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein upon the gateway automatically registering the lighting control device, the gateway also sends lighting control device registration information to the server.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the wide area network is a cellular network and the gateway initiates communication with the server using the cellular network.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the user interface device is a backend administrator interface with the server.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the user interface device is a computer device communicating with the server over a wide area network.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said initiating an identification command is by actuating an identification switch on the lighting control device, said receiving the identification command is by the user interface device, and the user interface device signals receipt of the identification command by highlighting the representation of the lighting control device in the user interface device.

15. The method of 7, wherein said initiating an identification command is from the user interface device, said receiving the identification command is by the lighting control device, and the lighting control device signals receipt of the identification command by illuminating a status indicator on the lighting control device.

16. The method of 7, wherein said initiating an identification command is from the user interface device, said receiving the identification command is by the lighting control device, and the lighting control device signals receipt of the identification command by varying the illumination level of the light emitting device controlled by the lighting control device.

17. A wireless lighting control system, comprising:

a server having an account;

a gateway configured and adapted to establish communication with the server over a wide area network upon powering the gateway, the server automatically associating the gateway with the account; and

a lighting control device configured to control the illumination level of a light emitting device, and further configured to initiate wireless communication with the gateway upon powering the lighting control device;

wherein the gateway is configurable via a user interface application to selectively permit one or more lighting control devices to establish wireless communication with the gateway during a predetermined period of time; and

wherein upon the lighting control device initiating wireless communication during the predetermined period of time, the gateway is configured to establish a wireless mesh network between the lighting control device and the gateway, and to automatically register the lighting control device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the wide area network is a cellular network and the gateway initiates communication with the server using the cellular network.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein upon the gateway automatically registering the lighting control device, the gateway also sends lighting control device registration information to the server.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a user interface device associated with the account and in communication with the server;

and wherein the server displays the lighting control device on the user interface upon the lighting control device registration information being received by the server.