Connected lighting system

• US 10,757,793 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2019
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ilumisys Incorporated (Altair Engineering Incorporated)
• Inventors: Amrine, James M., Hollenkamp, Daniel J., Ivey, John, Palazzolo, Francis, Rundell, Scott, Scapa, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Don P
• Application Number:
  US16/459,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20190327821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 315130
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• 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 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• 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

Techniques are described for a lighting system in which light sources are controllable using signals sent over a wireless mesh network. During a commissioning process, a user interface (UI) may present a representation of nodes (e.g., light sources, sensors, controllers, etc.) that are broadcasting a wireless advertising signal. In response to a selection of a particular node, a wireless message may be sent to instruct the selected node to provide a visual indication of its presence, such as a flashing light. The visual indication may enable a user to discern the physical location of the node, such that each node may be added to the mesh network and, in some instances, to a group of nodes. The UI may also enable the definition of scenes, where each scene describes the brightness level or other operating characteristics of particular light source(s) and/or group(s) of light sources when the scene is active.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method performed by at least one processor, the method comprising:

presenting, by the at least one processor, in a user interface (UI), a representation of one or more light sources disconnected from a wireless network, the representation based on receiving a respective wireless advertising signal from each of the one or more light sources;

in response to an identification in the UI of a light source of the one or more light sources, sending, by the at least one processor, a wireless signal to cause the light source to visibly indicate its presence, wherein the representation of the light source in the UI is altered while the light source is visibly indicating its presence;

receiving, by the at least one processor, through the UI, a designation of the light source for subsequent control through the wireless network and, in response, causing the light source to be added to the wireless network; and

providing, by the at least one processor, information that describes the designation of the light source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the light source to be added to the wireless network comprises transmitting a security key to the light source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the security key is a public key associated with the wireless network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless network is as mesh network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein an order of the one or more light sources in the representation is based on proximity of each light source to a device presenting the UI.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information that describes the designation of the light source is provided to the light source.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the information that describes the designation of the light source is provided to a server device remote from the light source.

8. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more non-transitory computer-readable media including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes;

presenting, by the one or more processors, in a user interface (UI), a representation of one or more light sources disconnected from a wireless network, the representation based on receiving a respective wireless advertising signal from each of the one or more light sources;

in response to an identification in the UI of a light source of the one or more light sources, sending, by the one or more processors, a wireless signal to cause the light source to visibly indicate its presence, wherein the representation of the light source in the UI is altered while the light source is visibly indicating its presence;

receiving, by the one or more processors, through the UI, a designation of the light source for subsequent control through the wireless network and, in response, causing the light source to be added to the wireless network; and

providing, by the one or more processors, information that describes the designation of the light source.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein causing the light source to be added to the wireless network comprises transmitting a security key to the light source.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the security key is a public key associated with the wireless network.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the wireless network is as mesh network.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein an order of the one or more light sources in the representation is based on proximity of each light source to a device presenting the UI.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the information that describes the designation of the light source is provided to the light source.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the information that describes the designation of the light source is provided to a server device remote from the light source.

15. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media including one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes:

presenting, by the one or more processors, in a user interface (UI), a representation of one or more light sources disconnected from a wireless network, the representation based on receiving a respective wireless advertising signal from each of the one or more light sources;

in response to an identification in the UI of a light source of the one or more light sources, sending, by the one or more processors, a wireless signal to cause the light source to visibly indicate its presence, wherein the representation of the light source in the UI is altered while the light source is visibly indicating its presence;

receiving, by the one or more processors, through the UI, a designation of the light source for subsequent control through the wireless network and, in response, causing the light source to be added to the wireless network; and

providing, by the one or more processors, information that describes the designation of the light source.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein causing the light source to be added to the wireless network comprises transmitting a security key to the light source.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the security key is a public key associated with the wireless network.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the wireless network is as mesh network.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein an order of the one or more light sources in the representation is based on proximity of each light source to a device presenting the UI.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the information that describes the designation of the light source is provided to the light source.

21. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15, wherein the information that describes the designation of the light source is provided to a server device remote from the light source.