JP2012514829A - Intelligent controllable lighting network and schema therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

  Disclosed are systems, networks, apparatus and methods for developing, executing and sharing lighting schemas between controllable lighting networks. The networks 101, 601, 701, 801, 808 according to this disclosure store the lighting schema developed for the network in the remote data storage 802. Another network 301 accesses the remote data store to select a schema that exists for execution. Systems, networks, apparatuses and methods for sharing user preferences among controllable lighting networks are also disclosed. When a network according to this disclosure detects the presence of a user by a sensor in the network, the network accesses a shared remote data store 112 to determine user preferences. In this way, the personal lighting network utilizes known user preferences or learned behaviors and environmental situations to adapt itself to such behaviors, preferences or situations.

Description

  The present invention is generally directed to lighting systems and networks. More particularly, the various inventive methods, systems and apparatus disclosed herein relate to developing and executing schemas within controllable lighting networks and sharing schemas between controllable lighting networks. .

  Digital lighting technology, i.e. lighting based on semiconductor light sources such as LEDs, offers a practical alternative to traditional fluorescent, HID and incandescent lamps. The functional benefits and benefits of LEDs include high energy conversion and light characteristics, durability, low operating costs and many other points. Recent advances in LED technology have provided efficient and robust full-spectrum light sources that enable various lighting effects in many applications. Some fixtures embodying these light sources are for generating various color and color-change lighting effects, as described in detail, for example, in US Pat. In addition, it features a lighting module that includes one or more LEDs capable of producing different colors, such as red, green, and blue, as well as a processor for independently controlling the output of the LEDs.

  While providing significant energy savings, providing personal lighting control to employees has been shown to improve employee satisfaction. Recent developments in digital lighting technologies, such as LED-based lighting systems, have achieved precise control of digital or solid state lighting. As a result, light-based systems are used today that are programmed to react to specific events or to perform preferences previously entered by the user.

  From the user's point of view, the disclosed systems and techniques for performing lighting control often provide little more than dimming a lamp according to previously entered preferences. For example, in the disclosed systems and techniques, a user's lighting preferences for a particular environment are programmed by a building manager. At this time, the system can control the light of the environment to perform the lighting arrangement preferred by the user. In this way, employees who prefer to brightly illuminate the work space or instead dimm it can have the system programmed by the manager accordingly. Similarly, the administrator can schedule “on” and “off” times according to the user's work schedule to save power.

  As an additional example, one known system features a direct-indirect fluorescent luminaire with integrated occupancy and daylight sensors that communicate with a central controller via a network with RS-485 wiring. At this time, the central controller communicates with the desktop computer via a local area network (LAN). The system uses personal lighting control software installed on their computers to dim work (direct) and ambient (indirect) lighting on the employee's workstation, and to work and ambient Enable lighting on / off. The system also allows office managers to: Assign control to individual lighting fixtures, groups, areas and the entire lighting network, and enable or disable the lighting fixture daylight sensor. , Luminaire occupancy sensor can be activated or deactivated, occupancy sensor delay time can be identified, work and ambient lamp control can be identified independently, load limit can be activated or deactivated, details Energy consumption reports can be generated, allowing daily, weekly, monthly and annual events to be scheduled. In this sense, this system and similar conventional products are regarded as an extension of the building management system that manages the HVAC and security subsystems.

  A lighting system has been disclosed that causes a lighting controller to execute an instruction or set of instructions, sometimes referred to as a lighting script, upon detecting the occurrence of an event or in accordance with a predetermined time sequence. For example, one disclosed system includes software that enables a lighting designer to create a lighting script by identifying color and intensity changes of multiple lighting fixtures over time, and memory that stores the lighting script for later execution. Is used. Lighting controllers for theaters and entertainment venues allow lighting designers to record and edit time sequences for hundreds or thousands of lighting fixtures. A lighting system has also been disclosed that includes the ability to execute pre-recorded lighting scripts in response to external events such as switch closures, analog signals and network indications. One disclosed system activates or adjusts light upon receipt of an email, receipt of a phone call, or detection of an alarm. Other disclosed systems activate lighting using voice or word recognition, and also perform light patterns upon detection of human gestures. The lighting controller of such a system includes simple logic functions or conditions, such as a logic function that executes a lighting script only when two events or conditions occur simultaneously. For example, if a proximity switch is triggered and the photosensor indicates after sunset, a lighting script is executed. However, the lighting script does not change after these are recorded unless the lighting designer manually changes the lighting script.

  A lighting system has also been disclosed in which a person can enter his or her lighting preferences for a particular location, and a central controller can indicate an LED or other light source and execute a lighting script to perform that person's preferences. In one disclosed system, the lighting system indicates the presence of a person, the duration of a person, or identifies the presence of a particular person or people at that location, for example by magnetic reading of a name badge or biometric evaluation. Receive input. The disclosed system then executes different lighting scripts depending on whether a person exists, how long a person exists, and who exists. These systems may also select different lighting scripts depending on the number of people in the room or the direction that people are facing. In one disclosed system, lighting devices and other energy sources are turned on and off depending on the information in the person's electronic calendar.

  Some disclosed lighting systems can receive information about a person's presence or preference from a device held by the user. For example, in some disclosed systems, the card reader can detect the presence of a card held by the user, and the system then lights, for example, when the user enters the room, and the user turns off the room. Turn off when exiting. In other disclosed lighting systems, user preferences are stored on a mobile device or card. As the user moves, the data changes parameters, stored preferences (eg dimming or color) under control, through automatic detection of the card or in other systems by inserting the card into a card reader. ) Can be transferred to devices and systems that can be adapted.

  However, in various disclosed systems that perform user preferences or execute lighting scripts upon the occurrence of an event, the preferences or scripts are (1) specific to a particular location and cannot be executed at different locations. Or (2) needs to be carried by the user to be executed at different locations or different networks. Thus, unless the user has a device that stores user preferences, there is no system that allows the user to execute the lighting script or user preferences on a system other than the system where the user preferences are programmed.

  Furthermore, a lighting system that can monitor perceived environmental parameters and user activity to learn user preferences for a particular environment has been disclosed. For example, some systems can monitor how a user has maintained or selected the settings of a given environment for a while in order to create user preferences for that environment. In other known systems, the device follows the lighting script unless a specific action is detected. Other systems can monitor how a user reacts to a given set of environmental conditions and can build rules for future execution of that environment. One disclosed lighting control system has both autonomous control and event-based control. The system is disclosed as implementing a fuzzy control system in which rule-based rules determine system output based on the occurrence of fuzzy inputs or events. However, there are currently no systems that utilize preferences learned by other systems, except that the user has a device that maintains user preferences at a remote location.

  Thus, there are deficiencies associated with known systems. For example, generally known systems relate to stand-alone, self-contained systems that control lighting devices or other devices. Because of user preferences that are performed in other environments, or because of learned parameters that are performed in other environments, the user must carry a device that stores the user's preferences. Thus, one disadvantage of these disclosed systems is that other systems cannot share learned parameters, including information learned by monitoring individual actions and system actions.

  Thus, for systems, methods and apparatus that can incorporate, learn and interpret system and user preferences, rules or schemas between controllable lighting networks, systems and users, and share such preferences, rules or schemas There is a need for technology.

  The present disclosure is directed to an advanced method and apparatus for learning and / or applying system, group and / or user preferences, rules or schemas in a controllable lighting network. Such systems and methods are referred to as interactive modified immersion (IMI) systems and / or networks. The present disclosure is also directed to an innovative method and apparatus for sharing such preferences and rules or schemas between controllable lighting networks and systems.

  In general, in one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a lighting management system having a first memory and a network. The first memory stores personal preference data corresponding to a plurality of users, the personal preference data corresponding to each of the plurality of users including at least one personal lighting parameter for each user. The network is remote from the first memory, the network comprising at least one light source having a controllable output setting and a second memory storing a schema including at least one standard illumination parameter. Including. The network also includes a sensor system that detects the identity of a current user and an execution module that communicates with the at least one light source, a second memory, and the sensor system. The execution module includes a controller and receives the identity of the current user from the sensor system. The execution module communicates with a first memory to determine the personal preference data corresponding to a current user.

  In one embodiment, the execution module modifies the schema to match the personal lighting parameters of the current user, and the execution module controls the modified schema to control the power settings of the at least one light source. Translate to instructions to do. In some versions of this embodiment, the execution module translates the modified schema into instructions by interpreting the modified schema according to the output settings of the at least one light source. In some versions of this embodiment, the execution module stores the modified schema in a second memory. In another embodiment, the sensor system detects the absence of a current user, the execution module modifies the modified schema to conform to the standard lighting parameters, and the execution module includes a modified schema. Is stored in the second memory.

  According to some embodiments, the sensor system detects the identity of the additional user. The execution module receives the identity of an additional user from the sensor system, communicates with a first memory to determine personal preference data corresponding to the additional user, generates a shared personal lighting parameter, and Modifying the schema to conform to personal lighting parameters to be translated, and translating the modified schema into instructions for controlling the power settings of the at least one light source. In some versions of this embodiment, the execution module generates the shared personal lighting parameters by averaging the personal lighting parameters of the current user and the personal lighting parameters of the additional user. In another version of this embodiment, the execution module generates the shared personal lighting parameters by selecting one of the personal lighting parameters of the current user and the personal lighting parameters of the additional user.

  The sensor system detects the identity of the current user by detecting a radio frequency identification card carried by the current user. In another embodiment, the sensor system detects the identity of the current user by detecting biometric data corresponding to the current user.

  In some embodiments, the sensor system detects environmental data and behavior data, and the execution module modifies the schema according to at least one of the environmental data and the behavior data.

  In another embodiment, the second memory stores a plurality of schemas, the execution module selects one of the plurality of schemas depending on current personal preference data of the current user, and the execution module is selected Translate the schema into instructions for controlling the power settings of the at least one light source. In another embodiment, the sensor system detects light source output data indicative of an operational error of the at least one light source, and the execution module provides a correction signal to the at least one light source to correct the operational error.

  According to some embodiments, the network further comprises a schema generator for generating the schema. In another embodiment, the at least one light source is a luminaire. In another embodiment, the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources that communicate with each other using at least one of a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, a radio frequency communication link, and an optical communication link. In some embodiments, the at least one light source includes at least one illumination light source and at least one luminance light source. In another embodiment, the network further comprises an agent module, and the execution module communicates with a second memory via communication with the agent module.

  In another aspect, the present disclosure includes a sensor system for observing system parameters, at least one light source, and an execution module. At least one light source communicates with the sensor system via a network, and the at least one light source has a controllable output setting. The execution module communicates with the sensor system and the at least one light source via the network, and communicates with a remote memory storing at least one schema via a communication link. The execution module includes a controller, receives observed system parameters from the sensor system, and communicates a request for a schema including information indicating at least one of the observed system parameters to the remote memory. The execution module receives a schema from a remote database and converts the schema into instructions for controlling output settings of the at least one light source.

  In one embodiment, the at least one light source includes at least one luminaire. In another embodiment, the observed system parameters relate to one or more people, the presence of one or more people, the identity of one or more people, the location of one or more people, the duration of one or more people. , Including at least one of one or more person gestures, one or more person actions, one or more person faces, or a sound emitted by one or more persons. In another embodiment, the observed system parameters include at least one of output from the at least one light source, ambient lighting level, daylight amount, movement, temperature, humidity level, weather and noise. .

  According to one embodiment of this aspect, the execution module is located within the at least one light source. In an additional embodiment, the execution module is distributed among a plurality of light sources. In this example version, the plurality of light sources communicate with each other using at least one of a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, a radio frequency communication link, and an optical communication link.

  According to another embodiment, the execution module comprises: a controller; a memory; an interface for facilitating communication with the at least one light source and at least one of the sensor systems; and a remote memory via the communication link. And an interface for facilitating communication. In other embodiments, the communication link is one of a wireless communication link and a wired communication link.

  In some embodiments of the system, the execution module converts the schema to an indication by interpreting the schema according to the output settings of the at least one light source.

  Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for performing a lighting management system. The method includes receiving an observed system parameter from a sensor system with an execution module including a controller. The method also includes communicating a request for a schema including information indicative of at least one of the observed system parameters to a data store remote from the execution module. In addition, the method includes receiving a schema from the data storage unit at the execution module, and converting the schema into an instruction for controlling an output setting of the at least one light source by the execution module.

  In some embodiments of the method, receiving the observed system parameter comprises receiving a current user identity, and the transmitted request includes and received information indicating the current user identity. The schema includes lighting parameters according to the presence of the current user. In another embodiment, the method further comprises storing the received schema in local memory. In another embodiment, the converting step includes the step of interpreting the schema according to the output setting of the at least one light source by the execution module.

  In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an execution module used in a lighting management system. The execution module includes a sensor interface, a light source interface, a schema generator interface, a memory, and a controller. The sensor interface receives system parameters observed from a sensor system. The light source interface transmits control parameters to at least one light source. The schema generator interface communicates a request for a schema including information indicating at least one of the observed system parameters to a remote schema generator. The schema generator interface also receives a schema from the remote schema generator. The memory stores the observed system parameters and the schema. The controller translates the schema into instructions for controlling output settings of at least one light source.

  In one embodiment, the sensor interface receives additional observed system parameters, and the processor further modifies the schema to compensate for the additionally observed system parameters. In another embodiment, the controller further interprets the schema according to the output setting of at least one light source.

  In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a lighting management system. The system includes a first memory and a network. The first memory stores personal preference data corresponding to a plurality of users, and the personal preference data corresponding to each of the plurality of users includes at least one personal lighting parameter for each user. The network has at least one light source that is remote from the first memory and has a controllable output setting. The network also includes a sensor system that detects the identity of a current user and an execution module that communicates with the at least one light source, a second memory, and the sensor system. The execution module includes a second memory for storing at least one standard illumination parameter and a controller. The execution module receives the identity of the current user from the sensor system, communicates with a first memory to determine personal preference data corresponding to the current user, and the standard lighting parameters to adapt to the personal lighting parameters of the current user To correct. The execution module translates the personal lighting parameters into instructions for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source.

  Another aspect of the present disclosure is a method for performing a lighting management system. The method includes receiving an observation system parameter from a sensor system indicating an identity of the current user at an execution module including a controller. The method also includes sending a request for personal lighting preference data corresponding to the current user to a data store located at a remote location remote from the execution module. The method also includes the step of receiving the personal lighting preference data corresponding to the current user from the data storage unit in the execution module, and using the received personal lighting preference data as an instruction to control the output setting of at least one lighting fixture. Converting.

  In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a lighting management system that includes a sensor system that receives an environmental input that includes at least one user identifier. The lighting management system also includes a schema data storage unit for storing a schema including at least one light source having a controllable output setting and one or more of a user specific schema, a group schema, a system specific schema, and a shared system schema. Including. Each stored schema includes at least one rule for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source. The lighting management system also communicates with a schema data store, the sensor system and the schema data store to determine which schema in the schema data store is applicable in terms of the environmental input. A schema generator for generating a set of applicable rules for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source. The lighting management system also includes an execution module in communication with the at least one light source and the schema generator. The execution module includes a controller, the execution module receives the set of applicable rules from the schema generator, and receives at least one rule of the set of applicable rules from the at least one light source. Translate to instructions to control output settings.

  In some embodiments, the schema data storage is located away from the at least one light source. According to some embodiments, the schema generator continuously monitors the environment input to determine which schema in the schema data store is applicable. In some embodiments, the schema generator generates the set of applicable rules by averaging the output settings of the applicable schema rules. In some embodiments, the schema generator generates the set of applicable rules by prioritizing the applicable schema rules.

  According to some embodiments, the set of applicable rules constitutes a modified system specific schema. In another embodiment, the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources that communicate with each other using at least one of a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, a radio frequency communication link, and an optical communication link. In another embodiment, the execution module translates the at least one rule into an instruction by interpreting the at least one rule according to the output setting of the at least one light source.

  In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for performing a lighting management system. The method includes receiving an environment input including at least one user identifier and retrieving at least one applicable schema in terms of the environment input including rules for controlling output settings of at least one light source. Evaluating the schema data store. The method also includes an arbitration step of arbitrating inconsistent rules in the at least one applicable schema to determine a set of working rules for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source; Translating rules into instructions for controlling the power settings of the at least one light source.

  According to some embodiments, the schema data storage is located away from the at least one light source. Some embodiments further comprise continuously monitoring the environmental data to determine which schema is applicable. In some embodiments, the arbitration step includes averaging the output settings of the applicable schema rules or prioritizing the rules of the applicable schema.

  According to some embodiments of the method, the set of work rules constitutes a modified system schema. In another embodiment, the translating step includes interpreting a rule that operates according to the power setting of at least one light source.

  In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for performing a lighting management system. The method includes receiving a system parameter sensed from a sensor system indicative of an identity of a current user at an execution module including a controller and a request for a schema corresponding to the current user at a location remote from the execution module. Communicating to a located data store. The method also includes receiving the schema corresponding to the current user from the data store at the execution module, and converting the received schema into an instruction for controlling an output setting of at least one lighting fixture. Steps.

  In some embodiments, the received schema is personalized for the current user or for a group of users including the current user. In another embodiment, the converting step includes interpreting the received schema according to the output settings of the at least one luminaire.

  In yet another aspect, each schema is directed to a lighting management system that includes a memory that stores a schema that includes at least one rule. The system also includes a network remote from the memory. The network includes at least one light source with controllable output settings, a sensor system for detecting the identity of the current user, and an execution module. The execution module communicates with the at least one light source and the sensor system. The execution module receives an identity of a current user from the sensor system, communicates with the memory to receive a schema corresponding to the current user, and receives the instructions to control the output settings of the at least one light source. Translate the schema.

  In some embodiments, the received schema is personalized for the current user. In another embodiment, the received schema is personalized for a group of users including the current user. In another embodiment, the execution module translates the received schema by interpreting the received schema according to the output settings of the at least one light source.

  All combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts described in more detail below (though such concepts are not exclusive) are part of the subject matter of the invention disclosed herein. It should be understood that In particular, all combinations of claims appearing at the end of the disclosure are intended to be part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be understood that terms explicitly used herein that appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference are given the meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein.

  In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed on emphasizing the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary interactive modified immersion (IMI) system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which user preference data, rules and / or schemas are stored in a remote database. FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a lighting network according to an embodiment of the invention in which a schema is used. FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which user rules or user preference data can be shared between lighting networks. FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary personal identifier according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary execution module according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary lighting network according to an embodiment of the invention in which a schema is used. FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which a schema is used and user rules or preference data can be shared. FIG. 8A illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which schema and preference data can be shared. FIG. 8B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which schema and preference data can be shared and agents are used to communicate with remote resources. FIG. 9A illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention where the execution module is part of the light source. FIG. 9B illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which execution modules are distributed among the light sources. FIG. 9C illustrates a block diagram of light sources for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention where each light source includes an execution module. FIG. 9D illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the light source is in optical communication. FIG. 9E illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the light source communicates using various protocols. FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a lighting network layout according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating system schema changes according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the execution of user preferences or schemas from a remote database according to some embodiments of the present invention in which preferences or schemas for multiple users are considered. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the execution of user preferences or schemas from a remote database according to some embodiments of the present invention.

  Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

  Various implementations of the present technology and related inventive concepts will now be described, including specific implementations for interactive lighting networks that know the environment. Such a network can be used for intelligent lighting of bars, restaurants, stadiums, exhibition centers, museums, shops, shopping centers, nightclubs, dance halls, public transport, shelters, mobile spaces, airports, among other applications. Especially suitable. However, it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to any particular aspect of implementation, and that the various examples specifically described herein are primarily for illustration.

  The technology disclosed herein relates to a lighting network that operates independently of each other and has access to common data that defines personal lighting preferences. The lighting and / or brightness produced by these networks is controlled by a lighting scheme that is one or more rules of sensor and light source operation specific to a user, group of users, system or set of systems. The system according to the invention intelligently learns preferences, rules and schemas and shares them between lighting networks.

  In general, previous lighting control systems were stand-alone, self-contained systems. Because of user preferences that are run in other environments or because of learned parameters that are run in other environments, the user needed to have a device that stores the user preferences. Previous systems and networks cannot efficiently share learned parameters, including information learned by monitoring individual operations and system operations, with other systems and networks.

  Applicants recognized and understood that it would be beneficial to be able to share a schema based on preference data between lighting networks that implement lighting control systems and control methods. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention are directed to sharing schemas or rules between lighting networks or regions of lighting networks. At this time, individual lighting networks that apply these aspects may utilize previously validated schemas or previously validated rules to adapt them to behavior, preferences, or conditions more efficiently. Such systems and methods are referred to as interactive modified immersion (IMI) systems and / or networks. Individual IMI systems also interpret schemas or rules according to system configuration, components and functions.

  FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention in which user preference data, rules and / or schemas are stored in the preference data store 112. With reference to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, an IMI system includes an exemplary lighting network 101 that includes a lighting system 102, a sensor system 104, and an execution module 106. The term “network” as used herein refers to two devices that facilitate the transfer of information (eg, device control, data storage, data exchange, etc.) between two or more devices and / or between a plurality of coupled devices. Refers to any interconnection of the above devices (including controllers or processors). As should be readily appreciated, various implementations of a network suitable for interconnecting multiple devices may include any of a variety of network topologies and using any of a variety of communication protocols. Also good. In addition, in various networks according to the present disclosure, any one connection between two devices may represent a dedicated connection between two systems, or alternatively a non-dedicated connection. In addition to carrying information for the purpose of two devices, such a non-dedicated connection may carry information that is not necessarily intended for either of the two devices (eg, an open network connection). . Furthermore, various networks of equipment as described herein may use one or more wireless, wire / cable and / or fiber optic links to facilitate information transfer throughout the lighting network 101. Good things should be easily understood.

  The lighting system 102 may be any system that affects the environment of the space, including a system for providing one or more of lighting, brightness, or a combination of lighting and brightness. In one embodiment, the lighting system 102 includes, but is not limited to, a space that includes a system for supplying one or more of scent, heating, ventilation, cooling, television, background music and / or sound. It further includes systems that affect the environment. The lighting system 102 includes one or more light sources, such as one or more LEDs or luminaires, in communication across the lighting network 101. In one embodiment, the lighting system 102 includes at least one light source having a controllable output setting. For example, the lighting system 102 includes a luminaire configured to render an illumination distribution pattern or a luminaire configured to change its photometric output. One or more light sources in the lighting system may have one or more manual controls such as an intermittent switch or dimmer. Any adjustments to these manual controls by the user and the circumstances for such any adjustments are monitored by the execution module 106 as input to learn user preferences and patterns within the coverage area of the lighting network 101. used.

  The term “light source” includes, but is not limited to, LED-based sources (including one or more LEDs as defined above), incandescent sources (eg, filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, Phosphor light sources, high intensity discharge sources (eg sodium vapor, mercury vapor and metal halogen lamps), lasers, other types of electroluminescent sources, pyroelectric sources (eg frames), candle sources (eg gas mantles, Carbon arc radiation source), photoluminescence source (eg gas discharge source), cathode emission source using electron saturation, galvano emission source, crystal emission source, motion emission source, thermal emission source, friction emission source, sound emission It should be understood to refer to one or more various radiation sources including sources, radiation emitting sources, and light emitting polymers.

  A given light source is configured to generate electromagnetic radiation both within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum, or both inside and outside the visible spectrum. A given light source is configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum, or both. Accordingly, the terms “light” and “radiation” are used interchangeably herein. In addition, the light source may include one or more filters (eg, color filters), lenses, or other optical components as an integral element. It should also be understood that the light source may be configured for a variety of applications, including but not limited to indicators, displays and / or lighting. An “illumination light source” is a light source that is specifically configured to generate radiation having sufficient intensity to effectively illuminate an interior or exterior space. In this context, “sufficient intensity” means ambient illumination (ie, indirectly sensed, eg, reflected by one or more of various intervening surfaces before being sensed in whole or in part). Refers to the sufficient radiant power of the visible spectrum generated in space or the environment to provide (in terms of radiant power or “flux”) the unit “lumen” is all output from the light source in all directions. Often used to represent light).

  The term “lighting fixture” is used herein to refer to one or more lighting unit embodiments or devices of a particular formal factor, assembly or package. The term “lighting unit” is used herein to refer to a device that includes one or more light sources of the same or different types. A given lighting unit may have any one of a variety of mounting devices, enclosure / housing devices and shapes for light sources, and / or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. In addition, a given lighting unit is optionally associated (eg, includes, couples, and / or packed together) with various other components (eg, control circuitry) that are involved in the operation of the light source. ). An “LED-based lighting unit” refers to a lighting unit that includes one or more LED-based light sources as described above, alone or in combination with other non-LED-based light sources. A “multi-channel” illumination unit refers to an LED-based or non-LED-based illumination unit that includes at least two light sources that are each configured to generate radiation of a different spectrum, where the spectrum of each different light source It is called the “channel” of the unit.

  There are many known intelligent light sources and luminaires that can be used as part of the lighting system 102 in the lighting network 101. In one embodiment, the lighting system 102 includes a luminaire having a semiconductor light emitting element. Any such luminaire has an individually controllable illumination level for one or more of its constituent wavelengths, so that a wide range of colors, luminance levels and color temperatures are created. For example, an LED luminaire can include red, green, and blue LEDs. Other types of lighting such as fluorescent or incandescent lighting can also be incorporated into the network. Some examples of such light sources are the Lexel LED DLM system and the COLORBLAST / iW Blast luminaire available from Philips.

  As mentioned above, the term “light emitting element” (LEE) refers to the electromagnetic spectrum, eg, the visible region, infrared and / or ultraviolet, when activated, for example, by applying a potential difference between the devices or by passing a current through the devices. Used to define any device that emits radiation in any region or combination of these regions. Thus, LEE can have monochrome, quasi-monochrome, multiple colors, or broadband spectral emission characteristics. Examples of LEE are semiconductor, organic or polymer / polymeric light emitting diodes (LEDs), blue or UV pumped phosphor coated LEDs, optically pumped nano, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Includes crystal LEDs, laser diodes, or other similar devices. Furthermore, the term “LEE” is used to define a particular device that emits radiation, eg, an LED die, and a particular device or a housing or package in which a particular plurality of devices are placed, and a particular device that emits radiation. Equally used to define combinations with devices.

  As used herein for purposes of this disclosure, the term “LED” is understood to include any electroluminescent diode or other type of carrier injection / junction based system capable of generating radiation in response to an electrical signal. It should be. Thus, the term LED includes, but is not limited to, various semiconductor-based structures that emit light in response to current, light emitting polymers, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), electroluminescent strips, and the like. Absent. In particular, the term LED is configured to generate one or more radiations in various portions of the infrared spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, and visible spectrum (generally including radiation wavelengths from approximately 400 nanometers to approximately 700 nanometers). All types of LEDs (including semiconductors and organic light emitting diodes). Some examples of LEDs include, but are not limited to, various types of infrared LEDs, ultraviolet LEDs, red LEDs, blue LEDs, green LEDs, yellow LEDs, amber LEDs, orange LEDs and white LEDs (further As described below). LEDs have different bandwidths (eg, full width at half maximum, ie FWHM) for a given spectrum (eg, narrow bandwidth, wide bandwidth) and a variety within a given general color classification It should also be understood that it may be configured and / or controlled to produce radiation having a dominant wavelength.

  For example, one embodiment of an LED that is configured to produce essentially white light (eg, a white LED) essentially produces different spectral electroluminescence that combine and mix to form white light. Includes many dies that each radiate. In other embodiments, the white light LED may be associated with a phosphor material that converts electroluminescence having a first spectrum into a different second spectrum. In one example of this implementation, electroluminescence with a relatively short wavelength and narrow bandwidth spectrum “pumps” the phosphor material and then emits longer wavelengths of radiation with a somewhat broader spectrum.

  It should also be understood that the term LED does not limit the physical and / or electrical package type of the LED. For example, as described above, an LED comprises a single light emitting device having a plurality of dies that are each configured to emit different spectra of radiation (eg, individually controllable or not controllable). You may point. An LED may also be associated with a phosphor that is considered an integral part of the LED (eg, some types of white LEDs). Usually, the term LED refers to packaged LED, unpackaged LED, surface mount LED, chip on board LED, T-package mount LED, radial package LED, power package LED, LED is of several types And / or optical elements (eg, diffusing lenses).

  The lighting system 102 is controlled using a communication protocol such as DALI, DMX or Zigbee, or using other lighting or device control protocols. As described above, the lighting network 101 communicates with a wireless and / or wired connection. A wireless connection is a radio frequency (RF), such as Bluetooth, or a modulated optical signal that is superimposed on the illumination light output of the illumination system 102. The lighting system 102 is designed to provide space illumination, provide architectural features with brightness, or a combination of the two.

  In one embodiment, the lighting system 102 is connected to the sensor system 104 through the lighting network 101. The sensor system 104 detects one or more system parameters including, for example, people related parameters, behavioral parameters or data, feedback parameters or data for the lighting system 102. Although not an exclusive list, the sensor system 104 may detect one or any combination of the following parameters: presence of one or more people, identity of one or more people, vascular pattern of a person's body Physical characteristics of one or more people, such as the location of one or more people, the duration of one or more persons, one or more person gestures, one or more person actions, one or more person faces, one or more persons Sound emitted by other people or from other sources, output from at least one light source, ambient lighting level, amount of daylight, movement, temperature, humidity level, weather and noise. The sensor system 104 includes, for example, one or more of the following: a thermometer, a hygrometer that measures humidity, an anemometer that measures airspeed, a sound meter that measures noise level, a lux meter that measures illuminance, Gas probes that measure the concentration of specific chemicals such as CO2 or CO concentration, detectors that detect daylight, and external weather sensors such as rain detectors.

  In one embodiment, the sensor system 104 detects the user's identity by detecting biometric data such as fingerprint data or iris data corresponding to the user 108. In another embodiment, the sensor system includes a video camera that uses facial authentication software to identify facial features of the user 108. In yet another embodiment, the sensor system detects the identity of the user by detecting a personal identifier 110 carried by the user 108. In one embodiment, the personal identifier is a wireless automatic identification (RFID) card, a badge or device decorated with a barcode, or a portable device. In some embodiments, the personal identifier is not part of the network and can be detected by the sensor system. In some embodiments, the personal identifier stores preference data, rules and / or schema for the user. The sensor system 104 may also detect the presence and number of people who do not carry the personal identifier 110 or have switched off the capabilities of those personal identifiers detected by the lighting network 101.

  Execution module 106, or execution 106, is connected to lighting system 102 and sensor system 104 via lighting network 101, so that execution module 106, sensor system 104, and lighting system 102 form part of lighting network 101. You can say that. The execution module 106 is executed in many ways (eg, with dedicated hardware) to perform the various functions described herein. In one embodiment, the execution module includes one or more microprocessors programmed using software (eg, microcode) that performs the various functions described herein. In other examples, an execution module is a combination of dedicated hardware for performing some functions and a controller or processor for performing other functions (eg, one or more programmed microprocessors and associated Circuit). Examples of execution module 106 components used in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). including.

  In some embodiments, the execution module 106 operates one or more light sources in the lighting system 102 of the lighting network 101 according to a schema, depending on the situation detected by the sensor system 104. For example, when people are not in the space covered by the lighting network 101, the execution module applies the first rule or group of rules in the schema, and when people of unknown identity are within the lighting network 101, the schema Apply the second rule or group of rules in In another example, the execution module manipulates one or more light sources in the lighting system 102 in response to a personal identifier 110 detected within the lighting network 101, so that a third in the second schema Apply a rule or group of rules. In yet another example, when the sensor system 104 senses that one or more light sources in the lighting system 102 are aged or not functioning properly, the execution module may be able to It is possible to transmit a control signal for correcting the shortage of the light source to an improperly functioning light source.

  The execution module 106 adjusts the operation of the lighting system 102 in response to input from the sensor system 104. The execution module further receives input from a sensor system that causes the schema to be selected or changed, thereby providing user interaction. In one embodiment described in further detail below, the execution module 106 executes and updates the schema or rules that make up the schema.

A schema is a set of one or more rules for the operation of light sources and sensors. As used herein, a rule may include a preceding conditional statement that, when satisfied, allows other reasoning information to be inferred. In this way, the execution module 106 can be viewed as an expert system that includes or configures an inference engine and can estimate information based on detected or determined conditions. The format for such a rule is as follows:
IF <preceding> THEN <result>
The preceding situation is determined via input provided by the sensor system 104. The execution module 106 examines existing facts or situations to infer new facts or consequent information, for example:
IF <rain detector detects 0.01 ounce precipitation> THEN <weather = rain>
Inference of the resulting information satisfies other situations according to user or system preferences, eg:
IF <weather = rain> THEN <background color = red>
IF <background color = red> THEN <highlight color = cyan>
When the sensor system 104 senses that it is raining, such a rule will cause the execution module 106 to instruct the lighting system 102 to set the background color to red and the highlight color to cyan. Trigger.

Rules and / or schemas may be set when multiple IMI users exist in the lighting network 101. For example, one such rule is as follows:
IF <number of users> ≧ 2 THEN <average user highlight color>

  When multiple rules are applied and execution of applicable rule results results in a conflict with the resulting information, execution module 106 performs conflict resolution to determine which rules to execute. Certain rules may be assigned higher priority than other rules. For example, an IMI user has its own schema, a group of IMI users has a shared schema, and an IMI system has its own schema. Priorities may be assigned such that schemas shared between groups of IMI users have priority over individual schemas of users, but are executed only when multiple members of the group are present in the lighting system 101. .

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, rules can be constructed that require multiple situations or satisfaction of one or several situation options before inferring information, as well as one Rules can be constructed that infer multiple parts of information when the above situation is satisfied. For example, an exemplary rule is described:
IF <number of group members> ≧ 3 or <no group leader>
THEN <highlight color = average user highlight color>
IF <number of group members> ≧ 2 and <background color = red>
THEN <Do nothing>
IF <number of users> ≧ (<number of group members> +5)
THEN <background color = red> and <highlight color = average user highlight color>

  The lighting rules and / or schema may be modified by the execution module 106 or the user interface, for example. The lighting rules and / or schema are flexible and are therefore modified by the execution module without further input from the user, lighting designer or external processing device. The term “user interface” as used herein refers to an interface between one or more devices and a user or operator that allows communication between the user and the device. Examples of user interfaces used in various implementations of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, switches, potentiometers, buttons, dials, sliders, mice, keyboards, keypads, various types of game controllers (e.g., Joysticks), trackballs, display screens, various types of graphical user interfaces (GUIs), touch screens, microphones, and other types of stimuli generated by people and generating signals in response to stimuli Including these types of sensors.

  The lighting schema causes execution of the lighting script upon detection of the situation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the rules can be defined and modified in many other ways.

  One or more components of the lighting system 102 are programmed with a set of default rules that define default behavior for one or more light sources. These default rules are prioritized or modified by rules that are shown at a higher priority specified by the lighting designer. The default rules may be modified or replaced by rules developed by the system itself by learning about its environment and users.

  The IMI system 100 itself may have its own schema that is expressed or derived from a schema data store or other IMI system. The IMI system is influenced by rules, sometimes called superrules, that determine whether a particular class of rules has limited priority or is not approved in a particular situation. For example, it is easier to say “normal rules take precedence over emergency situation rules”, rather than individually identifying every and every rule that must be prioritized during a fire evacuation. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the schema is either prioritized or modified by a higher priority schema and is governed by super rules.

  The overall rules of the schema have a rule base that can be continuously accessed by the execution module 106 to determine which rules should be entered. In one embodiment, multiple execution modules access the rule base as IMI users move between buildings or move between buildings.

  When the system is able to rewrite rules and schemas according to past experience and current status, a program is created that can examine the current status and generate new rules that are appropriate with respect to user preferences and history. The artificial intelligence inherent in these programs makes them much more valuable than simple rule sets.

  The IMI system 100 is designed to comprehensively handle new information from possibly different types of sensors in a plurality of sensor systems 104. For example, data from the occupancy sensor may be combined with data from the RFID sensor to determine at the occupancy sensor that a person previously identified through the personal identifier 110 has entered the space. In this example, only one person is in the building and his identity is detected in response to input. Even if there are occupancy sensors that do not detect identities at different locations in the building, the execution module 106 can check the overall consistency of the signals from the sensors of the sensor system 104 to estimate the identities of the detected occupants. . Another example is when two people are in a building and both identities are detected by the system. If the two are in different locations, signals from occupancy sensors that do not detect adjacent identities can be followed by an execution module to track the occupant's identity and thus provide preference. Yet another example is when one person from the group leaves the common room, perhaps without the personal identifier 110. In this case, the system can collect clues about the person's walking speed, the direction to go and the person's identity from the wall switch he adjusts.

  The lighting network 101 communicates with a preference data store or memory 112, which in one embodiment is located remotely from the lighting network 101. In one embodiment, the preference data storage unit 112 stores personal preference data corresponding to a plurality of users, and the personal preference data corresponding to each of the plurality of users includes at least one personal lighting parameter of each user. . The personal preference data stored in the preference data storage 112 is encoded as one or more rules in the IMI user's personal schema, group schema, and / or IMI system schema. Thus, the preference data storage unit 112 is regarded as a rule database.

  The preference data storage unit 112 is a database, register, or other data storage element. The preference data storage 112 may be in a server connected to the Internet and stores a plurality of preferences and / or rules for a plurality of people. In one embodiment, the lighting network 101 can access the preference data store but cannot control it. In one embodiment, the user 108 has access to the preference data store 112 and can change user preference data and / or rules including the user's personal lighting parameters, for example, via a user interface.

For example, the user 108 accesses the preference data storage unit 112 via the Internet. Table 1 lists exemplary personal preference data that can be entered by the user and includes personal lighting parameters stored in the preference data store. Exemplary personal lighting parameters include, but are not limited to, a preferred lighting color, a preferred brightness level, or a preferred volume.

  In different embodiments, user preference data ranges from a single parameter to multiple parameters. For example, in some embodiments, the user preference data consists of lighting levels related to the preferred brightness of the light, or, as shown in Table 1, the user identified by an identifier (ID) is the user's Correlates with preferred illuminance (level) and spectrum, or color, where the preferred color is encoded in hex, the first two digits correspond to the red level and the second two digits correspond to the blue level And the third pair of numbers corresponds to the green level. As shown in Table 1, preference data may include start and stop times for execution of preference parameters. Such preference data is considered to be a set of rules for the user that controls the system's response or output to a particular situation or system input. Execution module 106 can utilize rules to determine how to react to a particular situation. For example, when the execution module 106 receives an indication from the sensor system 104 that the user identified by ID 298 has entered the lighting network 101, the execution module 106 may indicate that the user 298 is between 06:00:00 and 17:00. You can access the rules that specify that you prefer color FF 9966 lighting at level 77 and that you prefer color EEEEFF lighting at level 100 for the time from 17:00 to 21:00.

  The term “spectrum” should be understood to refer to any one or more frequencies (or wavelengths) of radiation produced by one or more light sources. Thus, the term “spectrum” refers not only to frequencies (or wavelengths) in the visible range, but also to frequencies (or wavelengths) in the infrared, ultraviolet and other areas of the overall electromagnetic spectrum. Also, a given spectrum may have a relatively narrow bandwidth (eg, FWHM with essentially a low frequency or wavelength component), or a relatively wide bandwidth (some with different relative strengths). Frequency or wavelength component). It should also be understood that a given spectrum may be the result of a mixture of two or more other spectra (eg, a mixture of radiation each emitted from multiple light sources).

  For the purposes of this disclosure, the term “color” is used interchangeably with the term “spectrum”. However, the term “color” is generally used primarily to refer to the properties of radiation that can be perceived by the viewer (although this use is not intended to limit the scope of this term). Thus, the term “different colors” implicitly refers to multiple spectra with different wavelength components and / or bandwidths. It should also be understood that the term “color” may be used in connection with white light and non-white light.

  The term “color temperature” is commonly used herein in connection with white light, but this use is not intended to limit the scope of this term. Color temperature basically refers to a specific color content or shade of white light (eg reddish, bluish). The color temperature of a given radiation sample is conventionally characterized according to the Kelvin (K) temperature of blackbody radiation that emits essentially the same spectrum as the radiation sample in question. Blackbody radiant color temperatures generally fall within the range of approximately 700 degrees K (usually considered the first visible to the human eye) to over 10,000 degrees K, and white light is 1500-2000 degrees Generally accepted at color temperatures above K.

  A lower color temperature indicates white light with a more important red component, i.e. a "warm feel", while a higher color temperature indicates white light with a more important blue component, i.e. a "cooler feel". Is generally shown. Illustratively, fire has a color temperature of approximately 1,800 degrees K, conventional incandescent bulbs have a color temperature of approximately 2848 degrees K, and early morning daylight has a color temperature of approximately 3,000 degrees K, and is cloudy The daytime sky has a color temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K. A color image seen under white light having a color temperature of approximately 3,000 degrees K has a relatively reddish tone while being viewed under white light having a color temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K. The same color image has a relatively bluish tone.

  Schedule A lists exemplary personal preference data that can be entered by the user and stored in the preference data store 112 or personal identifier 110 and includes personal lighting parameters encoded as one or more rules in the user's personal schema. As shown in Appendix A, exemplary personal preference data includes personal parameters for environmental control of devices other than light sources. For example, preference data includes, but is not limited to, preferences for devices that provide environmental effects such as heating, ventilation, cooling, television, background music, and fragrance. Preference data includes one or more of the following non-exclusive lists: preferred temperature, preferred percentage of daylight, preference for opening and closing windows, degree to which internal temperature should follow external temperature, preferred odor, public or private Preferred sound level of a sound system playing music in a typical environment, preferred humidity, preferred genre of background music, preferred television channel or type of program for hotel, waiting room or bar, list of preferred songs or audio clips, A list of preferred musicians, singers or groups, preferred languages, YouTube or other video playlists, YouTube or similar video clips or a set of keywords related to a song theme, a list of favorite video clips, a list of preferred radio newscasters Theft, a list of likes and dislikes, there is no product or interested are interested products.

  Preferences and / or rules can be linked to a specific time of day, a specific type of venue, a specific venue, or a normal geographic location. They can be linked to a specific type of weather or any other detection parameter. For example, bright clear music is preferred on rainy days, while any choice is acceptable on clear days.

  As shown in Appendix A, the user preference data may include data other than data related to environmental control of the environment. This information will facilitate the user experience at various locations. For example, a customer who arrives at a hotel will know that the preferred room type can be stored so that when the customer enters the hotel, the receptionist is informed by the network of the customer's preferred room. Such preferences may include preferred exercise machines in the gym with automated scheduling, preferred or favorite food or meals, favorite drinks, and the like. User preference data includes, but is not limited to, personal data such as age, gender and weight. In one embodiment, the data stored in the data storage unit 112 is considered to fall into one or more of the following categories: registration data that is objective data without a specific emotional value, things that the user enjoys Or preference, which is a preferred aspect of the expression, activity that is data relating to actual activity, biometric / physical data that is data relating to body and mental status, and capability data that is data relating to user ability.

  User preference data, rules or personal schemas may be more abstract than those listed in Table 1 and Annex A. For example, rather than a particular color or brightness or a combination thereof, a preference, rule or schema is selected, for example, as one or more of the following: “bright”, “active”, “subtle”, “comfortable”, “Colorful”, “Random”, “Economy”, “Gorgeous”, “Amazing”, “Wacky”, “Natural”, etc. It may be up to the lighting designer to define a specific color / luminance / timing response and / or constraint that is triggered by user detection that defines one of the above as a preference. This simplifies the user's required data entry that defines the user's preferences, in which the manager or designer in the illuminated space prefers rather than the illuminated space specified (to some extent) by the preferred owner, Be able to interpret rules or schemas. The preferences, rules or schema may be changed from time to time so that the work and interpretation of different lighting managers or designers is presented.

  Furthermore, individual IMI systems interpret schemas or rules according to system configuration, components, and functions. For example, if the user's preference is that the user's favorite colors are red and yellow, the IMI system included in the white light source assumes that the user prefers a “warm” color and adjusts the color temperature accordingly.

  Table 1 and Schedule A show exemplary user preference data stored in the table, but the user preference data is in different formats to improve efficiency, facilitate programming, and access preference data. It may be stored. In one embodiment, the preference data can be divided into multiple tables within the associated database.

  A user who sets user preferences may sometimes set a particular desk light to turn on. In one embodiment, the user sets user preferences for a zone, which is a personal physical zone (eg, overhead, eye height, lower level, floor, front and back zones); It may or may not be based on activity and may or may not depend on time. In one embodiment, the user can define a medium distance zone and a far zone that affect light sources located at a predetermined distance away from the user 108 and / or the user's personal identifier 110. In one embodiment, the user sets a room zone where lighting is indifferent to the user's exact location in the room. At this time, the preferred zone is mapped to a zone defined in the network, and an algorithm that best supplies the desired lighting according to the preference is used. Solve the inverse problem of determining lighting settings to suit user preferences, find a suitable or optimal solution among many solutions, and find a solution that would be sufficient when there is no suitable solution Algorithms for fast or real-time aspects can be used. If a solution cannot be found quickly, then the solution may be executed slowly. In one embodiment, the IMI system 100 intentionally chooses to gradually implement user preferences. In determining the lighting settings that suit the user's preference, the corresponding rules for performing the lighting settings upon satisfaction of the situation can be encoded.

  In one embodiment, preferences and any corresponding schemas or rules can be automatically updated in the database, such as when an individual that changes preferences in preference data store 112 is detected, eg, via manual control, It can be updated intelligently taking into account the frequency and similar request patterns and can be stored with the consent of the preference owner or ignored. In some embodiments, many individuals store preference data in the preference data store 112, and intelligent updates can be made to similar changes required by other users, or perhaps other similar users' Can be drawn from the selection. Because of the ability to detect large amounts of data, react intelligently to the data, update and execute the schema, and incorporate user preference data, the IMI system 100 is aware of its environment.

  FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a lighting network 101 according to one embodiment of the present invention in which a schema is used. As shown in FIG. 2, in addition to the lighting system 102, sensor system 104, and execution module 106, the lighting network 101 includes a local data store 202 for storing user preferences or user schemas. These user preferences and / or schemas are downloaded from any storage medium such as the preference data store 112 before being stored in the local data store 202. In one embodiment, the lighting network 101 also includes a schema generator 204 configured to send a plurality of schemas or schema files stored in the schema data store 206. In one embodiment, instead of or in addition to the local data store 202, user preferences and / or user schemas are stored in a storage unit 208 within the schema data store 206 accessed by the schema generator 204. Is done.

  In one embodiment, the schema may determine what the lighting system 102 can do, how it should react to specific inputs from the sensor system 104, or in the event of an event, It can be considered a list of constraints on how the lighting system 102 operating in the environment should be adapted. For example, the schema allows the execution module 106 to operate using a basic lighting script and deviate from that script when appropriate. In one embodiment, the lighting schema is a set of rules that can be modified to incorporate personal preferences when preference owner presence and identity are detected. In general, as the schema provides fewer constraints, the lighting system 102, sensor system 104, and execution module 106 can be more adapted to operate in that environment. The lighting network 101 continues to obtain past event information, including past output and past sensor data, from the lighting system 102 to determine an appropriate response to a particular event or scenario. Moreover, the lighting network 101 uses the sensor system 104 to detect the situation. The administrator of the lighting network 101 specifies which schema the lighting network 101 executes.

  In one embodiment, a markup language such as XML or a similar language is used to create the schema. The language used to create the schema incorporates an SQL instruction to access the preference data store 112 that stores user preferences. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other programming languages such as, but not limited to, VisualBasic, C ++, etc. may be used to create the schema.

  In one embodiment, schema generator 204 determines which schema is currently active and organizes a working set of rules for execution module 106 for access and execution. The schema generator 204 determines which schema is active by receiving an indication of which IMI users are in the space. The schema generator 204 wirelessly connects with the execution module 106 to upload the set of work rules to the execution module 106 memory. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the schema generator 204 can also be connected to the execution module 106 via a wired or other communication link. In one embodiment, the schema generator 204 is a hardware module, and in another embodiment, the schema generator 204 is an executable program. Alternatively or in addition to the schema generator 204, the lighting network 101 includes a schema data store 206 for storing the schema. The schema data storage unit 206 communicates with the schema generator 204, and the schema generator 204 stores a schema to be created or modified in the schema data storage unit 206. The execution module 106 may alternatively or alternatively download or receive the schema from other remote sources, such as from other networks or servers accessible via the Internet, and store the schema in the schema data store 206. The schema data store 206 also stores a schema that has been modified to incorporate the user's personal preferences. In addition, the schema data storage unit 206 stores a plurality of schemas, from which the execution module 106 can select a schema to be executed. The execution module 106 selects a particular schema for execution depending on the personal preferences of the user 108 or on other system parameters observed by the sensor system 104.

  The execution module 106 arbitrates input received from the sensor system 104, arbitrates user preference data stored in the local data storage unit 202, and selects a schema from the schema data storage unit 206 or alternatively generates a schema. A set of work rules is provided from the vessel and the schema or set of work rules is translated into control instructions that allow the work system to be executed by the lighting system 102.

  Schema generator 204 allows lighting designers, managers or others to set device defaults such as default lighting for lighting fixtures and interactive behavior for lighting network 101. For example, a schema can define limits where device (eg, luminaire) output can vary (eg, with respect to chromaticity, intensity, or a series of different outputs). The schema works with user preferences and / or is modified to enforce user preferences. For example, while the schema defines the limit at which the device output can change, the user is in the coverage area of the lighting network 101 and is identified, for example, by detection of the personal identifier 110, and the user's preference is, for example, from the preference data storage 112 Or when retrieved from the personal identifier 110, the device output is set within the limits set by the schema according to the user's 108 preferences. The schema generator 204 can be used to define constraints on which the execution module 106 and the lighting system 102 can operate and / or tolerate errors.

  In some embodiments, the schema generator 204 is a laptop, palmtop, or other computer with Bluetooth output or other suitable protocol. The schema generator is connected to the lighting network 101 temporarily or permanently. In one embodiment, the schema generator 204 is located away from the lighting network 101. In this embodiment, the schema generator is connected to the lighting network 101 via the Internet or via a telecommunications network. In one embodiment, the lighting network 101 includes one or more schema generators 202 and / or communicates with one or more remote schema generators via the Internet or a telecommunications network.

  The schema generator 204 and / or the schema data store 206 may be requested, for example, when the user 108 who previously stored preference data corresponding to a schema is within the coverage area of the lighting network 101 executing that schema. A plurality of schemas uploaded to the lighting network 101 are stored. Thus, the schema generator 204 and / or the schema data storage unit 206 are considered to be a rule database.

  In one embodiment, one or more of the schema generator 204, the schema data store 206, and the execution module 106 are combined in the same part. In one embodiment, schema generator 204 and execution module 106 are in software, hardware, firmware, or a combination thereof in a personal computer. The schema generator 204 may be a pop-up utility program. In one embodiment, schema generator 204 is a web browser plug-in that identifies the presence of IMI system 100 and lighting network 101, determines that lighting system 102 can be controlled, and queries lighting system 102 by querying a remote database. Code of a compatible programming language is dynamically generated to determine an appropriate communication protocol for communicating with and to indicate control over the lighting system 102. For example, many computers have sensors that can be programmed with Java® Script code, and after detecting a luminaire in the lighting system 102, the schema generator 204 allows the user to control the luminaire in the lighting system 102. A Java (registered trademark) Script code is generated to indicate dimming control. As described above, the schema generator 204 is located on a remote server that is connected to the network 101 via the Internet, and the browser has any environmental control opportunity it is available through the current wired or wireless connection. Programmed to be easily discovered.

  Thus, in one embodiment, the schema generator 204 is one or more physical hardware devices, and in another embodiment, the schema generator 204 is one or more software programs. In yet another embodiment, the schema generator may be considered a service that is available to users with components distributed throughout the World Wide Web. In addition to generating the schema, the schema generator 204 is used by the user 108 to set the user's personal preferences.

  In one embodiment, the schema generator 204 receives a CAD file containing data regarding the type and layout of light sources in the lighting network 101 from the lighting network 101 or lighting system 102, eg, an illumination and brightness system. In another embodiment, the light source layout is created in a schema generator and the CAD file is sent to a building architect, lighting designer and / or device installer. A lighting designer or other person creates a scenario for the manipulation of the light source. For example, the lighting designer generates a scenario that describes one or more summaries of dimming levels, chromaticity settings, and beam angles for each light source in the lighting network 101 that vary or are constant over time. Although the schema may be considered a combination of scenarios for the lighting system 102, the schema may be a scenario for a single light source within the lighting system 102. Moreover, scenarios for one or more light sources in the lighting system 102 may be governed by a schema that has multiple auxiliary schemas on its own.

  Different schemas can be created for different conditions or predefined events. For example, a special schema may be created when a celebrity enters a hotel lobby or when the Dow Jones indicator decreases below a certain threshold. In one embodiment, the schema is preferably "celebrity" for the schema created for the intended situation, for example, celebrity admission, or "Dow Jones_fall" for the schema when the Dow Jones indicator goes down. It can be indicated by using meaningful words called. When related schemas are downloaded to the execution module 106 and stored in the schema data storage 206, these schema names are downloaded.

  One feature of the IMI system is the conversion of signals from the sensor system 104, such as sensors that monitor the Internet, into words or signals that can be associated with schema names. For example, the sensor system 104 includes an internet detection module with an analysis option that can monitor the value of the Dow Jones indicator and send a meaningful word “Dow Jones_fall” to the execution module 106. Upon receipt of a meaningful word, the execution module 106 starts executing the “Dow Jones_fall” schema stored in the schema data store 206.

  In a similar manner, the sensor that detects the personal identifier 110 includes a receiver (eg, WLAN or RFID), an interpretation unit, and a unit that forwards meaningful words to the execution module. Upon receiving the RFID signal from the celebrity personal identifier, the sensor for detecting the personal identifier forwards the meaningful word “celebrity” to the execution module, which is stored in the schema data storage 206. Start executing the schema “Celebrity”. If other schemas are applicable, execution module 106 arbitrates between the schemas and / or schema generator 204 provides a set of work rules to execution module 106, which takes both schemas into account. .

  In another embodiment, sensor system 104 includes a rain sensor and an extension that translates detected rain into the meaningful word “rain”. Upon receipt of a word having the meaning of “rain”, the execution module 106 executes a schema called “rain” from the schema data storage 206 and turns on or off a particular light source of the lighting system 102, for example. In one embodiment, the execution module also controls other devices in the lighting system 102 that provide sound effects in the network, for example, and executes the schema “rain” to be simulated in the network 101 by these devices. Sounds like rain. Thus, an occupant in the lighting network 101 located in a room without a window notices that it is raining outside, and the occupant can experience a simulated rain experience.

  FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which user rules or user preference data can be shared between networks. The lighting network 101 and the lighting network 301 may implement the same or different schema. As shown in FIG. 3, the lighting network 301 includes a lighting system 302, a sensor system 304, and an execution module 306. In one embodiment, the lighting network includes a set of sub-networks such as lighting networks 101, 301 in the same or different buildings. For example, a company with a geographically dispersed set of offices has each lighting network connected for centralized control or monitoring.

  In some embodiments, both lighting network 101 and lighting network 301 have access to data in preference data store 112 that is part of the remote data store for the schema. Thus, when the user 108 proceeds to a location served by the lighting network 301, the execution module 306 accesses the preference data store 112 to access the user's 108 lighting preferences and / or personal schema. In these embodiments, the user 108 can enter user preferences into the preference data store 112, after which multiple networks access the preference data store 112 to obtain user preferences. For example, the user 108 can set the user preferences and / or personal schema in the preference data store 112 and enter the coverage area of the lighting network 101 where user preferences including the user's personal lighting parameters are taken into account. . The user 108 then proceeds to the coverage area of the lighting network 301 where the user's preferences and / or schema including the user's personal lighting parameters are also considered. In this way, the user 108 need only enter preference data and / or (lighting) personal lighting parameters once and may enter before entering the coverage area of a particular network. Thus, regardless of whether the lighting network 101 and the lighting network 301 are running different system schemas, user preferences and personal schemas are considered in each lighting network. In some embodiments, only the selected network recognizes the user or the user's personal identifier.

  In addition to storing preferences in the preference data store 112, in some embodiments, the user stores lighting preferences and / or the user's personal schema in the personal identifier 110. In these embodiments, each user who effectively interacts with the network has his own minidata store. The collection of mini-data stores is effectively equal to a remotely distributed database such as data store 112. In this example, the lighting network 301 obtains user preference data from the personal identifier 110 including the user's personal lighting parameters and / or the user's personal schema. In another embodiment, the lighting network 301 obtains user preference data or schema from a previous network visited by the user 108, such as the lighting network 101.

  FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary personal identifier 110 according to some embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the personal identifier may be a mobile phone, satellite phone, BlackBerry®, iPhone, personal personal digital assistant (PDA), pager, laptop, multifunction phone or ability to communicate and processing power. A mobile electronic communication device such as any other electronic circuit device having: As shown in FIG. 4, the personal identifier includes a controller, microprocessor or processor 402, position recognition circuit 404, interface 406, memory 408, preference data memory 410 and RFID tag 412. A user, such as user 108, can input a user's personal device preferences, such as the user's lighting preferences, through interface 406, which is a user interface.

  The position recognition circuit 404 in the personal identifier 110 is a global positioning service (GPS) circuit. The position recognition circuit 404 performs triangulation from WiFi or other RF signals using assisted GPS, the position in the personal identifier 110 is calculated from the signal from the accelerometer, or the personal identifier 110 The position is determined based on a combination of these methods.

  In some embodiments, preference data and / or user schema is stored in memory 408 and loaded into preference data memory 410 as needed, eg, when user 108 enters a location with IMI system 100. . The RFID tag 412 can be detected by the sensor system 104 and / or reports an identification signal that is not required or is dependent on the network 101. The RFID tag 412 can communicate with the preference data memory 410 to access the schema and / or preference data stored in the preference data memory, and the RFID tag 412 can send preference data to the network 101. In some embodiments, personal identifier 110 is configured to send preference data to the network even when personal identifier 110 is turned off by the user. In one embodiment, preference data 410 and / or preference data stored in memory 408 cannot be changed by lighting network 101.

  RFID tag 412, or alternatively personal identifier 110, is a centralized (or possibly decentralized) data and event that communicates with the building management system for HVAC control and load limiting information (obtained from local power companies). It is managed by a security system that supplies the data to an IMI system consisting of a logging system. The IMI system communicates with each light source in the lighting system 102 but does not control it directly, and each light source has its own sensor and dimming / switching control. At this time, the device responds to the sensor system 104, but the decision of how each device is controlled becomes a shared responsibility, since the event logging system takes precedence when load limiting is desired. Similarly, the security system takes precedence over all other instructions during an emergency situation.

  In some embodiments, the user has preferences and / or schemas for use only in specific environments. For example, the user has no device preference during work days or when shopping, but has a preference like lighting when visiting a nightclub. For this user, the personal identifier 110 is programmed so that the preference data memory 410 does not retain data when the location recognition circuit 404 detects that the personal identifier 110 is at work or a shopping mall. When the position recognition circuit 404 determines that the personal identifier 110 is in a nightclub, then the preference data memory 410 linked to the RFID tag 412 is populated with human lighting preference data. Similarly, when user preferences are stored in the data store 112, the data store 112 includes only preference data for when the user 108 is located in a particular environment.

  In one embodiment, user preference data is separated into different permission levels so that different networks have access only to specific preference parameters. For example, the lighting network 101 is allowed to access only certain aspects of the user's 108 preference data, and the lighting network 301 is allowed to access all of the user's 108 preference data. As another example, a user's lighting preferences have color and brightness. A wider tolerance level is given, for example, in luminance data that is appropriate for a person in a business, shopping or museum environment. The narrower tolerance level applies to color preference data that only nightclubs, bars and restaurants have access to. When querying the data store 112, the network identifies itself and its type, and the data store 112 only supplies preference data that is accessible by the network.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary execution module 106 according to some embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, execution module 106 includes a controller, microprocessor or processor 502, memory 504, and interfaces 506A, 506B, and 506C. In one embodiment, the memory 504 outputs the output of one or more light sources in the lighting system 102 according to user preferences, one or more schemas, lighting scripts, or in response to parameters detected by the sensor system 104. For control purposes, the controller 502 holds computer readable instructions for processing. For example, the execution module 106 controls the output of the light source according to preference data such as a user's personal schema stored in the preference data storage unit 112. In one embodiment, execution module 106 arbitrates between different inputs, eg, different inputs from various sensors of sensor system 104. In other embodiments, memory 504 serves as temporary or long-term storage for one or more of default parameters, learned behavior, user preferences, and one or more schemas. As shown in FIG. 5, the execution module 106 has three interfaces, interfaces 506A and 506B shown as wired interfaces, and an interface 506C shown as a wireless interface.

  The execution module 106 can be executed via a personal or laptop computer, or can be a stand-alone electronic module. In one embodiment, the execution module 106 is distributed among several devices.

  FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary lighting network 601 according to an embodiment of the invention in which a schema is used. As shown in FIG. 6, the illumination system 102 includes one or more light sources 603 connected to a power line 605 for the power source of the light sources. In one embodiment, one or more light sources 603 may be individually powered, such as through individual solar panels or by batteries. The light source 603 is also connected to the network control line 607 and communicates with the execution module 606 via the interface 506B. The light source 603 has a driver for converting the power input into a format suitable for supplying current to the light emitting element. The sensor system 104 includes one or more sensors 610 connected to the execution module 606 via a network control line 612 and an interface 506A. Although sensor system 604 is shown using a separate interface from illumination system 602, sensor system 604 and illumination system 602 may share an interface with execution module 606. Furthermore, although the network control lines 607 and 612 for the light source 603 and sensor 610 are shown as wired, they may be wireless. FIG. 6 illustrates an execution module 606 connected to the schema generator 204 via a wireless communication link via interface 506C. However, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other communication links, such as a wired communication link, can be used to communicate with the schema generator 204.

  FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system 700 according to an embodiment of the invention in which a schema can be used and shared. As shown in FIG. 7, the user and / or system schema is stored remotely in a server or data store 112 connected to the execution module 706 via the Internet 702 via the interface 704. The execution module 706 of the network 701 generally executes the system schema, but upon detecting the presence of the personal identifier 110 within its coverage area, the identity of the personal identifier 110 is used to identify the user stored in the data store 112. Access and retrieve the personal schema. Depending on the specific network or schema that multiple schemas are available to the IMI system 701, the user schema downloaded from the data store 112 is used to a different extent.

  As illustrated in FIG. 7, components of the sensor system 104 such as the sensor 705 share a control line 607 with components of the illumination system 102 such as the light source 603.

  FIG. 8A illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system 800 according to an embodiment of the present invention in which schema and preference data can be shared. As shown in FIG. 8A, the schema is generated or stored in the schema generator 204 connected to the execution module 706. In addition, the schema is stored remotely in a remote schema store 802 that is accessible to the lighting network 801 via the Internet 702 and is centrally accessible to one or more networks. Remote data schema storage 802 is considered to be a rules database. In one embodiment, the remote schema store is a schema generator. In some embodiments, the execution module 706 downloads the schema from the remote schema store 802 for execution on the IMI system 800. The execution module 706 downloads the schema from the remote schema store 802 in the direction of an administrator, lighting designer, or network 801 operator. The schema can then be downloaded to the schema data storage unit 206. Although shown in FIG. 8 as being stored in separate data stores, the user's personal schema and system schema may be stored on the same server, separate servers, or distributed servers. In one embodiment, fees are collected from the schema downloader to compensate the schema owner or author. The schema can be described such that the schema is independent or automatically adaptable to the size and number of devices in the lighting system 102 and the sensors in the sensor system 104 of the lighting network 801.

  In one embodiment, the schema is stored in the remote schema store 802 after experiencing the learning process to adapt to the lighting network 801 and / or building occupant preferences within the IMI system 800 located in a particular building. Uploaded to By making such a schema available to other networks in the same building, if the occupant is doing the same, the initial parameters are simply prepared by the inventory schema, or the building manager. It is quite likely that it is better suited to the occupant than the schema being made.

  In addition, the IMI system 800 discovers that the behavior of occupants in the building has beyond what is typical or has changed. The IMI system 800 then searches through all available schemas uploaded from other buildings and already experienced such changes and stored in the remote schema store 802 to switch to a new schema or data Walk the existing schema to get a set of work rules towards the new schema through fusion. In one embodiment, when a schema is shared, privacy concerns are considered so that user preferences and / or schemas are not shared or are only shared to an extent determined by permission levels.

  For example, referring to FIG. 3, when lighting networks 101 and 301 are located in a similar building and the input to daylight sensors in sensor systems 104 and 304 changes, each of lighting systems 102 and 302 is a lighting system. The daylight control system is designed to minimize energy consumption throughout the year by changing the illumination output of the light sources in 102,302. Many parameters usually have to be considered when generating control signals for the lighting systems 102, 302 to implement such daylight control systems, but using IMI technology, these lighting systems are You can learn the best lighting solutions through and error. Moreover, these lighting systems can communicate with each other and with other networks in other buildings to see these solutions. In this example, the schema may be said to correspond to the buildings that these lighting systems have learned.

  FIG. 8B illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary IMI system 803 according to an embodiment of the present invention in which schema and preference data is shared and agents are used to communicate with remote resources. As shown in FIG. 8B, the illumination system 102 includes two types of light: an illumination light source 804 and a luminance light source 806. The illumination system 102 includes one or more illumination light sources 804 and one or more luminance light sources 806. The execution module 106 can retrieve different schemas from the schema generator 204 based on input from the personal identifier 110 or sensor system 104, or based on input from the preference data store 112 via the Internet 702.

  Network 808 includes agent 810. In one embodiment, agent 810 acts as a representative of a monitoring center having a central database of schemas, such as remote schema store 802, for example. Agent 810 monitors network 808 and passes the behavior or newly developed schema to remote schema store 802. The agent works automatically by only sending information when there is something to send, or triggered by a request from the schema generator 204 or remote schema store 802. The agent may be written to be installed in a new network as part of software or firmware, or may be written to be installed in an existing network as a software or firmware upgrade. When installed on multiple independent networks, one or more agents 810 are controlled by the central monitoring center to download a more appropriate and efficient lighting schema from the remote schema store 802 according to globally acquired knowledge. The

  FIG. 9A illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention where the execution module is part of the light source. Light sources 902A and 902B also include sensors for lighting network 101. Thus, the light sources 902A and 902B are part of the illumination system 102 and further part of the sensor system 104. Each of the light sources 902A and 902B includes a sensor 904 and communicates via a network line 906. In one embodiment, light source 902A includes an execution module 908. When a lighting network, such as lighting network 101, grows or a more complex light schema is implemented and / or many users with personal preferences are within the coverage area of lighting network 101, additional memory is available. It may be necessary or beneficial. Thus, in one embodiment, each light source 902B includes a memory module 910. The memory module 910 may be of different sizes or capabilities to optimize the manufacturing process and the light source 902B supply chain.

  FIG. 9B illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention in which an execution module is distributed over multiple light sources. In FIG. 9B, exemplary light sources 902C, 902B include sensors 904 for the network 101, and the execution module is distributed among several light sources. For example, in FIG. 9B, light source 902C includes a controller or microprocessor 901 and light source 902B includes a memory module 910. This embodiment is not necessary, but may be used for systems where the user's schema is stored within the personal identifier 110. The light source 902C is considered part of the illumination system 102 and further part of the sensor system 104.

  FIG. 9C illustrates a block diagram of light sources for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention where each light source includes an execution module. The light sources 914A to 914C may be the same or may communicate wirelessly such as via RF. The light source 914 includes an execution module 908 and a sensor 904. The light source 914 is considered part of the illumination system 102 and further part of the sensor system 104. When the light source 902A shown in FIG. 9C is the same, this embodiment simplifies the supply chain for the light source 902A. In one embodiment, one of the light sources 914, such as light source 914A, may be designated to have a master execution module, and save memory and processing power of the other light sources 914B and 914C in the network as needed. May be used. In large networks where there are many zones to be controlled with different lighting effects, multiple master execution modules that are all secondary to the grand master that controls the overall lighting effects in this space are designated. For example, through their own personal preference settings, different groups of people in a bar or restaurant have very different colored lights. The situation that arises in terms of energy savings, the need to signal VIP admission or close time, so that the global lighting level is dimmed or brightened while still retaining the color preferences of individuals and groups. This embodiment may use a certain hierarchy of dedicated lighting controllers. Since the light source 914 includes the sensor 904, the light source 914 is considered part of the illumination system 102 and further part of the sensor system 104.

  FIG. 9D illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the light source is in optical communication. The light source 916 is a lighting fixture in which light emitted from one light source 916 is modulated by a communication signal. This light is reflected away from the surface 918 of the environment and is detected by nearby light sources, which are configured to extract a communication signal from the optical signal detected overall. Like light sources 914 and 902A-C, since light source 916 includes sensor 904, light source 916 is considered part of illumination system 102 and further part of sensor system 104.

  FIG. 9E illustrates a block diagram of a light source for an exemplary IMI system according to an embodiment of the present invention in which light sources 920A-D communicate using various protocols. For example, light source 920A optically communicates with light source 920B through reflection of surface 918, light source 920B communicates with light source 920C wirelessly, and light source 920C communicates with light source 920D via a wired connection.

  In one embodiment, the light sources 902A, 902B, 914A to C, 916, and 920A to D are wired with a power supply line, and in another embodiment, the light sources 902A, 902B, 914A to C, 916, and 920A to D. Are individually powered, such as through individual solar panels or through batteries.

  FIG. 10 illustrates a block diagram of a network layout according to an embodiment of the present invention. The network 1002 includes several regions 1004A-D having a plurality of light sources 1008 that are controlled by a distributed arrangement of controllers 1006A-E in the light sources 1008. For example, the area 1004A represents an office, the area 1004B represents a passage, the area 1004C represents a waiting room, and the area 1004D represents a reception area. In one embodiment, each region 1004A-D constitutes a separate network.

  The term “controller” is generally used herein to describe various devices involved in the operation of one or more lights. The controller is implemented in a number of ways (e.g., such as dedicated hardware) to perform the various functions described herein. A “processor” is one example of a controller that uses one or more microprocessors programmed using software (eg, microcode) to perform the various functions described herein. A controller may be executed with or without a processor, and dedicated hardware that performs some functions and a processor that performs other functions (eg, one or more programmed microprocessors and associated devices). May be executed in combination with a circuit). Examples of controller components used in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

  In one network embodiment, one or more devices coupled to the network (eg, a general light or light source, a lighting unit or fixture, a controller or processor associated with one or more light sources or lighting units, other lighting Devices, etc. not related to) serve as a controller for one or more other devices coupled to the network (eg, a master / slave relationship). In other embodiments, the networked environment includes one or more dedicated controllers configured to control one or more devices coupled to the network. In general, each of a plurality of devices coupled to a network may have access to data on a communication medium, but a given device may be “addressable”, eg, one assigned to that device. Based on these specific identifiers (eg, “address”), configured to selectively exchange data with the network (ie, receive data from the network and / or send data to the network) The

  The term “addressable” is used herein to receive information (eg, data) intended for multiple devices, including the device itself, and selectively respond to specific information intended for the device. Used to refer to a device configured to do so. The term “addressable” is often used in connection with a networked environment where multiple devices are coupled together via a communication medium or media.

  In various embodiments, the processor or controller may be referred to herein as one or more storage media (generally referred to herein as “memory”, eg, RAM, PROM, EPROM and EEPROM, flexible disk, compact disk, optical disk, magnetic tape, etc. Volatile and non-volatile computer memory). In some embodiments, the storage medium is coded by one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and / or controllers, perform at least some of the functions described herein. It becomes. Various storage media are within a processor or controller such that one or more programs stored on the medium can be loaded into the processor or controller to perform the various aspects of the disclosure described herein. It can be fixed or movable. The term “program” or “computer program” is used in this general sense to refer to any type of computer code (eg, software or microcode) that can be used to program one or more processors or controllers. Used in the description.

  Each of regions 1004A-D includes light source 1008, which in one embodiment is light sources 902A, 902B, 914A-C, 916, and 920A-D. While area 1004A is shown as having 12 light sources 1008, area 1004B is shown as having 4 light sources 1008, area 1004C is shown as having 8 light sources 1008, and area 1004D has 8 light sources 1008. The region has only one light source. The light source 1008 communicates with each other via a plurality of control paths including optical, wired, or wireless communication paths.

  One or more light sources 1008 have a processor and / or memory. In some embodiments, a light source 1008 with a processor such as controller 1006A-D manipulates the schema for light source 1008 in a given area. For example, the controller 1006C operates the schema for the waiting room area 1004C. In one embodiment, one of the light sources with a processor is designated as the “master” processor or controller that monitors signals from other processors to ensure proper system operation. The master processor also manipulates the schema for specific areas 1004A-D. For example, the controller 1006D operates the schema for the area 1004D and also acts as a master processor for the network 1002. If the master processor detects a problem with a processor in the light source, the master processor can indicate a spare processor in the network to take over in executing the schema for the region. If the master controller 1006D detects a problem with a processor in the light source, eg, controller 1006A, the master controller 1006D will take over the controller 1006E to take over in executing the schema for a spare processor in the network, eg, region 1004A. Can show. The memory module 1012 stores information such as schema and user preferences. In one embodiment, each memory module 1012 stores the same information. If the controller cannot retrieve information from one memory module, the controller retrieves the same information from other memory modules that can communicate. In other embodiments, one or more of the memory modules 1012 store different information from other memory modules.

  In one embodiment, if one or more regions 1004A-D or a region of regions do not have a controller 1006, the devices in regions 1004A-D receive an indication and the sensor observes the processor in the other region 1004A-D. Communicated parameters are transmitted.

  In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, memory modules 1012 are distributed between networks. In this embodiment, a region in the subsystem or network submits data to other subsystems or regions that use the information to modify the localized database. For example, a specific set of behaviors is established in area 1004A and preferences are stored locally in memory module 1012 located in area 1004A. In region 1004D, if there is little or no established behavior, but the sensors there detect some kind of different behavior, the controller 1006D can poll the memory module 1012 in the network and find the closest match. Thus, preference or schema parameters can be copied to a local database / memory in region 1004D. In one embodiment, the controller 1006D also polls the remote data store to find the closest match on the preference or schema parameter and copies the preference or schema parameter. The principle of transferring or copying lighting behavior from one area of the network to the other is also made using a network-centric database.

  In one embodiment, the lighting system 102 is an existing device such as the Color Kinetics iPlayer or Illumination Pharos. Such lighting systems rely on standard lighting network communication protocols such as Dali, DMX, Zigbee. In this way, the lighting system 102 enables such protocols or other open standards, thus enabling the lighting network 101 to communicate using existing lighting protocols.

  FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating system schema changes according to some embodiments of the present invention. At 1102, the first device output is set in the schema stored in the schema data storage unit 206. In one exemplary embodiment, the initial lighting level may be set to 10% when the room is not occupied. At 1104, the sensor system 102 of the lighting network 101 detects the identity of the user 108 of the lighting network 101, for example, by detecting the presence of the personal identifier 110 or by detecting biometric data. The execution module 106 retrieves preferences associated with the user 108 (or the user's personal schema, if any) from the data store 112. If the retrieved personal preference indicates that the user prefers to change the light output, for example, if the user prefers an illumination level of 80%, at 1108, the execution module 106 sets a new light output. For example, the illumination level is set to 80%. In this manner, the execution module 106 modifies the system schema to match personal preferences including the current user's personal device parameters, and the modified schema can be used to set output settings for one or more light sources of the lighting system 102. Translate to instructions for control. When translating the schema into instructions, the execution module 106 and / or its controller interpret the instructions according to the configuration of the lighting network 101. For example, the execution module 106 interprets a “soothing” schema that follows the functionality of the lighting system 102. For example, the rules of the schema suggest that a particular color of light is emitted, but the lighting system 102 does not have the ability to output that color. In that situation, the execution module 106 instructs the lighting system 102 to emit light of a similar color. The corrected schema is stored in the schema data storage unit 206. At 1110, when the sensor system 102 no longer detects the presence of the user 108 in the lighting network 101, the execution module 106 sets the light source output within the schema lighting system 102 by returning to the initial lighting level of 10% at 1102. The modified schema is stored in the schema data storage unit 206.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating the execution of user preferences or schemas from a remote database according to some embodiments of the present invention in which preferences or schemas for multiple users are considered. At 1202, the first device output is set. At 1204, for example, the sensor system 102 detects the presence of the user by detecting the user's personal identifier 110, and at 1206, the execution module 106 retrieves preferences associated with the user from the data store 112. If the retrieved personal preferences or the user's personal schema indicate that the user prefers the device output to change, at 1208, the execution module 106 sets the new device output. At 1210, sensor system 104 detects additional user 116 (see FIG. 3) by detecting personal identifier 114, for example, if network 101 is present. At 1212, the execution module 106 retrieves the preference or schema associated with the second personal identifier 114 from the data store 112. In one embodiment, instead of or in addition to retrieving preferences from data store 112, execution module 106 polls users, such as user 108 and user 116, to obtain the user's current preference data. To do. Each user enters the user's current preferences into the user's personal identifier, which then provides this information to the execution module 106.

  At 1214, the execution module 106 uses the preferences from the additional user 116 and user 108 with the second personal identifier 114 to determine an average level or combination level. Such combinations include, but are not limited to, a mixture of user preferences of two users, an average of user preferences and a set of user preferences. The preference data for one of the users includes registration data indicating that one of the users has priority over the other users, where the combination of the preferences of the two users is the preference of the higher priority user. Or a weighted average of user preference with higher priority, or a weighted average weighted according to the length of time that the corresponding user has been in the space is there. At 1216, execution module 106 sets a new level of light output for the light source of lighting system 102 as determined at 1214.

  The transition from one output setting to the other may be imminent or rapid, delayed, or gradual so that users in the environment do not slowly enter the new setting. The transition time can vary over seconds or minutes, and this transition time may be included in the user preference data.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating the execution of a schema or user preferences from a remote database according to some embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 13, at 1302, the execution module 106 receives data indicating time from the sensor system 104 or from a built-in timing mechanism within the execution module 106. At 1304, the sensor system 104 retrieves ambient sensor inputs such as, but not limited to, weather input, temperature input, and daylight level. At 1306, the sensor system 104 detects one or more users, for example, by detecting the personal identifier 110, and at 1308, the execution module 106 associates the user with a user's group sharing schema from the data store 112, for example. Take out the taste you did. In 1310, the execution module 106 adds the retrieved preference data to the local data storage unit 202. At 1312, execution module 106 inserts shared preference, time, and other data retrieved from sensor system 104 into the system schema. At 1314, using the modified system schema, execution module 106 determines a control signal to be sent to lighting system 104 for execution of the schema. At 1316, execution module 106 sets a new output for the light source of lighting system 104.

  In one embodiment, the network 101 provides the user with a tailored experience (eg, a tailored music experience) as the user visits a variety of different locations over the day. For example, a train station has a video screen that can be controlled according to the preferences of users nearby. People looking for work upload a short video clip that introduces the type of work they are looking for and their skills, optionally including a phone number. This clip can be staged automatically on the screen to the people you see in the vicinity, facilitating a meeting between the two. People who sell cars personally can do the same if they sell other items. The advertisement can be linked with the detected keyword.

  Several inventive embodiments are described and illustrated herein, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that various embodiments for performing functions and / or obtaining results and / or one or more of the advantages described herein. I will envision it easily.

  For example, significant energy savings can be achieved in large office buildings by controlling HVAC equipment and lighting for meeting rooms. That is, when the room is not occupied, the light source can be dimmed or turned off to reduce air conditioner operation. An exemplary schema for a meeting room includes one or more of the following rules: (1) If the meeting room is vacant, all devices including lights must be off; (2) one person in motion If the occupant is in the room, the room must be illuminated according to the occupant's preference data, but the occupant's preference must be scaled to a small extent around white; (3) stationary and table If a single occupant in the room is in the room, the system must illuminate the occupant's desk area according to the occupant's preference data, and at a reduced level of other areas of the room, for example, normal brightness It must be illuminated at a brightness of 30%; (4) Meeting room lighting when there are multiple occupants in the conference room and all occupants are standing The bell must be set to the average of the occupants' preference; (5) If there are multiple occupants in the conference room and one occupant sits at the table, project it onto the table where the occupants are sitting Lights must be set to occupant preference and other room lights must be dimmed by 5%; (6) If all occupants sit in one or more table seats, table Must be set to the occupant's preference in the room as long as a specific area or convenience is available, and room lights not directed to the table must be reduced to a 30% brightness level; (7) If all the occupants are seated and one or more occupants begin to fiddle after a certain amount of time has passed since the occupants were seated, add a blue tint to the light; (8) The occupants begin to stand When To brighten the room according to the person's preferences, but to scale the light output within a small range around the white. This schema may be shared with other networks that have meeting rooms.

  In one embodiment, the building management system can control lighting and HVAC functions, but may instead have knowledge only of meeting schedules. The IMI system can assist by monitoring when occupants enter or leave the room and can inform the building management system how many people are in the room. As each person typically generates 100 watts of heat, a meeting of 20 or more can have a significant impact on conference room HVAC requirements.

  When meeting activities change, the lighting requirements in the meeting room often change. For example, participants may change between a video presentation and a whiteboard discussion. Devices such as video projectors may or may not be connected to the device management system, and it is confusing for the user to manually control the light source when normal lighting is required during the video presentation I will let you. However, the IMI system can determine who is in the meeting from their personal identifiers. At this time, their overall lighting schema and location can be used to determine their most likely lighting preferences for the meeting room based on past history.

  In another example, a network whose coverage area includes a lobby generates and / or executes the following schema to react to identified and unidentified people. The lobby schema includes a default mode in which no occupant was detected within the coverage area of the network. In the default mode, the space is illuminated at a low level with slowly but continuously changing colors or brightness. Each time a person enters the lobby, a different color is introduced. The lobby schema also includes a mode for when a person is near the lobby but outside the lobby. In this mode, when a person approaches the entrance, the lighting level increases slightly or changes color as a kind of invitation to enter. In one embodiment, the door to the lobby is transparent, or the window is near the door so that the occupant can see the change in lighting level or color of lighting. The lobby schema includes a mode for when the occupant is just entering the lobby and looking around. In this mode, the brightness of one particular or randomly selected area is increased or there is a color change in that area. As the occupant's focus changes to that area, the system follows the occupant's line of sight. At this time, the change in luminance or color is further enhanced. In one embodiment, the bright or colored area then slowly begins to move around the room and the system continues to follow the occupant's line of sight. When the occupant follows a bright or colored area, the enhanced brightness or color continues. Otherwise, the bright or colored area may resume from the first zone, attempting to induce the occupant to follow the area with the occupant's gaze, perhaps at a slow or fast speed. If the occupant sees somewhere else, the area that the occupant sees becomes bright or colored and the process is retried from this new starting point. In one embodiment, if the occupant begins to smile or accepts a bright or colored area verbally, the entire room responds with an instantaneous increase in color. In this mode, as long as the occupant responds positively, the room tries to show what the occupant can do. In one mode, if the occupant points to a specific area in the lobby, for example, if the occupant points to a bright or colored area to a customer accompanying the occupant, If the area is brighter or more intense and the occupant has enabled these, then the color used will be taken from the occupant's preferences or schema, or if the customer has enabled the preferences or schema, Retrieved from customer preferences or schema. In one embodiment, if the occupant turns around admiring the lobby, the occupant may be rewarded with a warm glow around the occupant, depending on the color selected from the occupant's preferences. If people are already in the lobby, lighting enhancements, colors and movements are minimized near these people so as not to disturb them. The lighting around those people already in the system may be determined by some implementation of a combination of people's preferences limited by the color gamut defined in the schema. Such combinations include, but are not limited to, a mix of occupant preferences, an average of occupant preferences, preferred occupant preferences selected, occupant preference weights based on occupant preferences Average, and a series of different occupant preferences.

  In the lobby example, when an occupant enters and heads to a location in the lobby, if the occupant is not interested in looking around at any point, for example, the occupant simply sits down and reads a newspaper. If you are reading or going straight to a place (eg washroom, bar, reception), does the lighting system respond by providing reading lights according to her preference and going to static lighting mode according to her preference? Or try to determine where she is likely to walk and react by providing additional lighting for it according to her preference. If there are two or three likely destinations, all likely destinations are illuminated until the system makes a more accurate decision as to where the occupant is going. As the occupant walks towards the destination, warmer glows surround the occupant. It may be related to the weather, or it may be the opposite of the weather, depending on the primary or complementary color of the clothes, or the priority or seniority level of the occupants. In addition, the color or brightness of the light following the occupant may be determined by occupant preference data. The lobby may have a mode for when an occupant enters the lobby and finds an action to take. In this mode, local lighting adjusts to the occupant's behavior and the occupant's lighting preferences for that behavior. The rest of the lighting gradually reduces brightness to save energy, but gradually changes color as the occupant's line of sight slightly differs from the behavior. Then, if the occupant begins to look around further, the lighting may continue to change gradually or suddenly.

  In yet another example, a schema may be created for a personal office for the user. This schema is a sensor system with one or more of a lighting system including but not limited to a switchable and / or dimmable light source and a personal identifier sensor such as an occupancy sensor, motion sensor, RFID tag sensor And a personal identifier geographic sensor such as an RFID tag geographic sensor. The network further includes one or more of the following software modules embodied in a computer readable medium: a timer or event schedule module, a behavior learning function module, and an energy usage logging and reporting function module. The network may communicate with a building management system.

  For example, a user works in a private office without windows, uses an RFID key fob to gain access to the private office building upon arrival at the office, and generally proceeds directly from the front door of the building to the occupant's personal office . During the day, the user usually stays in the user's office, but sometimes leaves for a scheduled meeting and stays out of the private office for an extended period of time. Users sometimes work late at night and on weekends, which occur regularly or irregularly. The IMI system receives a notification from the security system that the user has entered the building, at which time the IMI system can turn on the luminaire in the private office. If the user arrives early and the building luminaire is off and away from the security lights, the IMI system can only turn on the luminaires necessary to illuminate the route to the user's personal office. The sensor system can also regularly query the user's RFID tag to determine the user's position within a preset distance, eg, 1 meter. If the user is in a meeting somewhere in the building, the sensor system can detect this and the execution module can turn off the user's office light after some pre-set delay, depending on the user's return You can turn on the light.

  The IMI system may also control the intensity of the user's office lighting throughout the day to mimic changes in natural daylight intensity. In addition, if the private office has solid state lighting (semiconductor lighting) (SSL) lighting fixtures, the system also controls the color temperature and spectral content to trigger the user's 24-hour rhythm. To do. Research papers on night shift workers (and submarine sailors) have shown that changing lighting in this way reduces employee stress levels.

  The IMI system also knows from user preferences that the user prefers a much higher level of ambient lighting while the person in the adjacent office prefers a lower level of ambient lighting. If the person visits the user's office, the IMI system chooses to dimm the user's office lighting as a compromise. As the primary occupant of the private office, the user has the right to override this behavior. If the user disables dimming the light often enough, the IMI system learns the user's preferences without being informed of this preference.

  The IMI system also has access to pyroelectric or ultrasonic occupancy sensors in the user's office. If the user determines that the user's personal identifier is saying that the user has not detected motion for an extended period of time, but the sensor determines that the user is away from the office, the IMI system The lighting system is dimmed or turned off, assuming that the identifier has been left or has fallen asleep. The user may also disable this behavior, and if disabled often enough, the IMI system learns to extend the occupancy sensor delay time and ultimately disable the sensor at all.

  The IMI system is also connected to the user's personal schedule and other devices, so if it detects that the user is sleeping when the specified time is approaching, it will issue an alarm and the user's favorite Play music and / or increase the brightness of the lights.

  In one embodiment, the building manager may have access to the user's daily activities, even though these activities are provided to the building manager anonymously for privacy reasons. This provides the building manager with a record of the user's monthly energy consumption. If the user is keen to allow the IMI system to save energy (such as allowing the personal office lighting to be turned off when the personal office is not occupied), the user You can be credited with a small, conspicuous amount or other incentives.

  The IMI system can also determine the electricity bill per hour from the utility company and query the building management system to perform power average distribution by dimming the luminaires when necessary or required. Good.

  Other exemplary schemas may be created for personal offices for users. This schema includes lighting systems including, but not limited to, switchable and / or dimmable light sources, light receivers, motor driven flashes and / or electrochromic windows, occupancy sensors, motion sensors, RFID tag sensors A personal identifier sensor, a sensor system having one or more personal identifier geographic sensors, such as an RFID tag geographic sensor, and a luminaire or ceiling-mounted daylight photosensor, exterior photosensor, imaging sensor, and color temperature sensor Run on the network. The network further includes one or more of the following software modules embodied in a computer readable medium: a timer or event schedule module, a behavior learning function module, and an energy usage logging and reporting function module. The network may communicate with a building management system and / or an office computer system.

  In this embodiment, the user has a personal office with a west facing window. Users prefer luminaires that are energized during the morning hours, but there is usually enough sunlight in the afternoon to dimm the luminaires or turn them off at all. However, because the sun can be a glare source in the late afternoon of each summer month, the user sometimes closes the blinds and turns on the lights. When the user works on the computer, the user also prefers the luminaire to be dimmed with a desk lamp for work lighting, but the user needs a lot of light when the user opens an office meeting .

  The IMI system can monitor luminaires or ceiling-mounted daylight sensors in the room, or can monitor daylight sensors installed on the roof. In the first example, the IMI system can operate the luminaire in a closed loop feedback mode to maintain constant desktop lighting in the room. In the second example, it must be assumed that the blind is open, but the IMI system can operate the luminaire in an open loop mode to achieve the same purpose.

  By itself, a ceiling mounted photosensor can only determine the average amount of reflected light in its field of view. However, in one embodiment, the IMI system can determine from the time of day and calendar date that the sun is a potential glare source and close the blind when the blind is powered or similarly electrochromic. You can darken the window.

  In addition, in one embodiment, if the ceiling mounted photosensor is an imaging device, the IMI system includes: a) determining current desktop lighting; and b) detecting whether the room is occupied; Images for various purposes can be processed, including c) determining the position of the occupant in the room and d) performing security functions when the room is not occupied or after a few hours. The IMI system can potentially monitor a web cam installed on a computer.

  In another embodiment, the IMI system can learn this behavior and perform the function automatically when appropriate if the user closes the blinds regularly on sunny days during the summer months. If this behavior is not desired, a simple “cancel last event” command entered through a desktop computer or mobile phone is sufficient to retrain the IMI.

  Many daylight control systems are easily confused by external events such as clouds passing on sunny days or reflections from transport vehicles (illustrative), but in one embodiment the IMI system is In order to determine a more appropriate response, the output of the photosensor can be compared with other photosensors in the building or even in other nearby buildings.

  The ability to monitor and share information from multiple sensors is useful for security in some embodiments. For example, in one embodiment, if the imaging device detects motion in a room at night, it is simply light from an intruder or passing car. However, if the imaging device subsequently detects movement outside the room, it is probably an intruder, so an alarm event is raised to the building management system.

  In one embodiment, if the IMI system detects that the user is in a room according to the location of the user's personal identifier, the IMI system determines whether the overhead light fixture should be dimmed and the desk lamp should be turned on. In order to do so, it queries the office computer system for recent desktop computer activity.

  In some embodiments, instead of connecting the desk lamp to a lighting network with its own IP address, the desk lamp and other light sources can be equipped with photodetectors that can receive instructions generated by overhead lighting fixtures. It is more economical to do. The light output of the fluorescent or SSL lamp can be modulated with digital commands (similar to infrared remote control) that are not visually perceptible by the user.

  In some embodiments, the IMI system may also not consult or conversely be notified by the user's meeting scheduler, changing room lighting when preparing for a scheduled meeting, You may provide a subtle visual cue that just starts.

  With a multi-color SSL luminaire, the IMI system also has the opportunity to monitor the color temperature of daylight entering the room and thus adjust the luminaire color temperature.

  According to the embodiments described herein, once a schema for a user's personal office is established, a schema adapted to the user's preference is shared with other networks. For example, the schema is accessed by a network operated in the user's home office when the user is working from a satellite office other than the user's normal office.

  Other exemplary schemas may be created for workspaces for users who are not private offices, such as open office rooms. Such a working space has, for example, overhead direct-indirect fluorescent lighting and work lighting under the cabinet.

  Because the IMI system is a direct overhead luminaire on the user's desk, it can provide the user with such work space independent control of work lighting and ambient lighting. The IMI system also knows the lighting distribution throughout the office space in which the work space is located, so dimming these luminaires has a negative impact on the work and ambient lighting of adjacent work spaces or rooms. Can be guaranteed not to give. For example, the IMI system can quickly learn worker preferences by recording worker responses to changes in work lighting and ambient lighting activated by colleagues. While this does not guarantee enough satisfaction for everyone, the optimal balance can be established quickly. In one embodiment, an operator may be asked for opinions when a colleague performs an environmental change. In other embodiments, worker preferences may be learned based on manual environmental modifications of workers in response to changes by colleagues.

  In the schema according to this embodiment, the IMI system can monitor daylight entry and, appropriately, can save energy by dimming overhead lighting fixtures. This also manipulates motorized blinds or electrochromic windows to minimize visual glare. In some embodiments, the IMI system has access to multiple sensors and can build a good distribution of both electrical and daylight throughout the space. Even if individuals in space cannot be tracked in real time, the output from multiple photo and image sensors can be examined to distinguish differences in light levels due to moving people and changing daytime conditions.

  However, if the IMI system can track people, it can respond to emergency situations requiring building evacuation by calculating the optimal exit route without the risk of a congested exit, and flashing overhead lighting fixtures. Can be shown to people through. Furthermore, it is possible to ensure that each person has evacuated, and to position people who have not been evacuated.

  In the schema for the work space, an image sensor attached to the ceiling or overhead luminaire can monitor the user's position and thus control the work light under the cabinet. Alternatively, a flat mounted pyroelectric motion sensor located within the display monitor can be monitored by the IMI system to control both work lighting and computer power saving modes in the workroom.

  According to embodiments described herein, this schema may be shared with other buildings, networks, and IMI systems. For example, an IMI system comprising a network with a cover area that includes a workspace may desire to utilize a pre-established schema for operation within the workspace.

  In some embodiments, the lighting system includes an SSL-based lighting fixture capable of free space visible light communication. SSL-based luminaires do not require low voltage wiring or conduits for communication cables, which is a new IMI system built into an office where the installation of new communication wires and conduits can be extremely expensive. Useful. Systems that utilize SSL-based lighting fixtures are also inherently fault tolerant. All lighting fixtures in each other's line of sight can communicate with any other lighting fixture in the group. If one luminaire or its on-board processor fails for any reason, the rest of the network is not affected. Moreover, luminaires that are not in line of sight of each other may still communicate via one or more luminaires that are in the line of sight of both luminaires. In addition, systems that utilize SSL-based lighting fixtures can utilize visible light communications that are independent of radio frequency interference or channel capacity limitations, such as occur with wireless communication technologies such as Zigbee or Bluetooth. In addition, no additional power electronics are required for SSL-based luminaires, for example as required by some infrared LEDs or radio frequency transceivers. The visible light modulator is an integrated part of the LED driver.

  Other exemplary schemas may be created for hotels. For example, the hotel implements a schema that uses spotlights or wall lighting to indicate that staff members can service the next customer. A hotel network with a sensor system that can identify guests can direct the customers through the lighting queue to staff members already prepared for the check-in registration process.

  Lighting and especially colors can also be used to identify where group travelers must gather in large hotel lobbies or restaurants. Here, hotel room key cards equipped with RFID are useful for positioning and guiding customers in an inconspicuous manner.

  In a similar manner, colored lighting can be used to assist two people from each other's positioning within a large lobby, for example by changing intensity or color when in close proximity. In a similar manner, the IMI system can direct newly arrived guests to the room by tracking hotel room keys equipped with RFID and increasing the light level next to the door in the long aisle. Or, for example, if the customer turns to the wrong side when leaving the elevator, the luminaire is turned on.

  The lighting management system may be noticed by the customer as a system that serves and supports the customer instead of or in addition to the system controlled by the hotel.

  In the hotel pool or exercise room, the customer finds himself alone late at night or early in the morning. In this situation, the IMI system can use the camera to track the position of a person in the pool and track with colored light (such as an LED embedded at the edge of the pool) or physical activity. The intensity of the color accent lighting in the exercise room can be changed based on the level.

  In a hotel room, the IMI system can slowly increase the lighting level about 10 minutes before the alarm sounds, providing the body with a natural lighting cue that mimics sunrise. Similarly, the bathroom light can be turned on automatically if the customer leaves the bed during the night. At night in hotel grounds and gardens, the IMI system can guide customers along the route by following the customer's location and thus controlling the landscape lighting.

  According to the embodiments described herein, once a schema for a hotel has been created, the schema can be used for other networks and IMI systems, such as other, with amenities and lighting systems similar to the hotel for which the schema is established. Shared with other networks and IMI systems, such as hotels, motels, condominium buildings and apartment houses.

  Other exemplary schemas are created for shopping centers or for individual stores within a shopping center. A shopper with a personal identifier indicating a member of a reward program is notified via changing the color of the store if there is a sale or special event that is of interest when approaching the store. For other shoppers, changing colors represent a nice window display, but for members, changes are useful as notifications.

When reward program members enter the store, the store entrance lights also change color momentarily (but only if this feature is enabled), thereby approving and welcoming the members.
This is also useful as a guide to other customers to allow reward program membership to be considered, especially when the member is shopping with friends.

  In its most usual sense, the IMI environment disclosed herein is a federation of systems that may be combined to perform IMI-related functions, and thus the network need not be fixed. For example, computer hosting sensors (eg, ambient lighting and occupancy sensors) in a sensor system may not even be known that they are being used for IMI purposes. If these are the case, the computer can affect its operation without an IMI system programmed to monitor and control the sensors. From an IMI perspective, a computer is just a data source.

  Several embodiments of the invention are described herein with figures, and those skilled in the art may perform the functions and / or obtain one or more of the results and / or effects described herein. While various other means and / or structures are readily envisioned, each such variation and / or modification is considered to be within the scope of the embodiments of the invention described herein. More generally speaking, those skilled in the art will appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials and configurations described herein are exemplary, and that actual parameters, dimensions, materials and / or configurations are It will be readily appreciated that the teachings of the invention depend on the particular application or application used. Those skilled in the art will understand and be able to ascertain using no more than routine testing, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. Thus, the foregoing embodiments have been represented by way of example only, and within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, embodiments of the invention may be practiced other than those specifically described or claimed. That should be understood. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to the individual features, systems, articles, materials, kits and / or methods described herein. In addition, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits and / or methods are not in conflict with each other, any of such two or more features, systems, articles, materials, kits and / or methods Combinations of these are also included within the scope of the invention of this disclosure.

  All definitions defined and used herein are to be understood as governing over the dictionary definition, the definition in the referenced literature, and / or the ordinary meaning of the defined term.

  The indefinite articles "a" and "an" used in the specification and claims are to be understood as meaning "at least one" unless the contrary is clearly indicated.

  As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “and / or” includes “one or more of the connected elements, that is, the elements that exist together in some cases and exist separately in other cases. It should be understood to mean both. Multiple elements listed with “and / or” should be construed in the same manner, ie, “one or more” of the concatenated elements. Other elements may be optional in addition to the elements specifically identified by the “and / or” phrase, whether related to or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, the reference “A and / or B” when used with an unrestricted term such as “has”, in one embodiment, only A (optionally other than B) In other embodiments, only B (optionally, including elements other than A) can be referred to, and in other embodiments, A and B (optional, other) And so on).

  As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and / or” above. For example, when separating items into a list, “or” or “and / or” includes, that is, includes at least one, but includes more than one of many elements or lists of elements, and optionally Should be construed to include additional items not listed. In contrast, only explicitly stated terms such as “only one”, “exactly one” or “consisting of” when used in a claim, are accurate to many elements or lists of elements. Contains one element. In general, the term “or” as used herein is exclusive when an exclusive term such as “any one,” “one of”, “only one,” or “exactly one” comes. As an alternative (ie, “one or the other, not both”). As used in the claims, “consisting essentially of” has its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

  As used in the specification and claims, the phrase “at least one” with respect to a list of one or more elements means at least one selected from any one or more elements of the list of elements. It is understood that it means an element and does not necessarily include at least one of each element specifically listed within the list of elements, nor does it exclude any combination of elements in the list of elements. Should. This definition also specifies that there are optional elements other than those specifically identified within the list of elements referenced by the “at least one” phrase, whether or not they are specifically related to the identified elements. Allow. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or equivalently, “at least one of A or B” or equivalently “at least one of A and / or B”) In one embodiment, there is no B (optionally including elements other than B), optionally at least one A, optionally more than one A, and in the other embodiment there is no A (other than A) At least one B, optionally more than one B, and in yet other embodiments, at least one A, optionally more than one A, at least one B, Optionally including more than one B (optionally including other elements), etc.

Unless expressly stated to the contrary, in any method claimed herein as including a plurality of steps or actions, the order of the steps or actions of the method is not necessarily the order in which the steps or actions of the method are listed. It should also be understood that it is not limited.

  In addition to the description, in the claims, such as “having”, “including”, “supporting”, “having”, “containing”, “related”, “holding”, “configured” It should be understood that all transitional phrases are meant to be unlimited, i.e. included, but not limited to. As stated in the US Patent Office Manual in Patent Examination Procedure Section 2111.03, only the transition phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” are either limited transition phrases or semi-limited transition phrases, respectively.

Claims (48)

  A first memory storing personal preference data corresponding to a plurality of users, the personal preference data corresponding to each of the plurality of users including at least one personal lighting parameter for each user; and a first memory A remote management network comprising: at least one light source having a controllable output setting; and a second memory storing a schema including at least one standard lighting parameter; A sensor system for detecting an identity of a current user, an execution module in communication with the at least one light source, a second memory, and the sensor system, the execution module including a controller, the execution module including the sensor Receive the identity of the current user from the system , Communicating with the first memory to determine the personal preference data corresponding to the current user, the lighting control system.   The execution module modifies the schema to match the personal lighting parameters of a current user, and the execution module translates the modified schema into instructions for controlling the power settings of the at least one light source. The lighting management system according to claim 1.   The lighting management system according to claim 2, wherein the execution module translates the modified schema into an instruction by interpreting the modified schema according to the output setting of the at least one light source.   The lighting management system according to claim 2, wherein the execution module stores the modified schema in a second memory.   The sensor system detects the absence of a current user, the execution module modifies the modified schema to conform to the standard lighting parameters, and the execution module stores the modified schema in a second memory. The lighting management system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting management system is stored.   The sensor system detects an identity of an additional user, and the execution module receives the identity of the additional user from the sensor system, communicates with a first memory to determine personal preference data corresponding to the additional user, and shares Generating personalized lighting parameters, modifying the schema to conform to the shared personal lighting parameters, and translating the modified schema into instructions for controlling output settings of the at least one light source. Item 2. The lighting management system according to Item 1.   The lighting management system of claim 6, wherein the execution module generates the shared personal lighting parameters by averaging the personal lighting parameters of a current user and the personal lighting parameters of an additional user.   The lighting management system of claim 6, wherein the execution module generates the shared personal lighting parameters by selecting one of a personal lighting parameter of a current user and a personal lighting parameter of an additional user.   The lighting management system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system detects an identity of the current user by detecting a radio frequency identification card carried by the current user.   The light management system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system detects an identity of the current user by detecting biometric data corresponding to the current user.   The lighting management system according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system detects environmental data and behavior data, and the execution module modifies the schema according to at least one of the environmental data and the behavior data.   The second memory stores a plurality of schemas, the execution module selects one of the plurality of schemas depending on personal preference data of a current user, and the execution module selects the selected schema as the at least one schema. The lighting management system according to claim 1, which translates into instructions for controlling the output settings of the light source.   The sensor system of claim 1, wherein the sensor system detects light source output data indicative of an operational error of the at least one light source, and the execution module provides a correction signal to the at least one light source to correct the operational error. Lighting management system.   The lighting management system according to claim 1, wherein the network further includes a schema generator for generating the schema.   The lighting management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources that communicate with each other using at least one of a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, a radio frequency communication link, and an optical communication link. .   The lighting management system according to claim 1, wherein the network further includes an agent module, and the execution module communicates with a second memory via communication with the agent module.   A sensor system for observing system parameters; at least one light source with controllable output settings in communication with the sensor system via a network; the sensor system and the at least one light source via the network; An execution module that communicates and communicates with a remote memory that stores at least one schema via a communication link, the execution module including a controller and receiving observed system parameters from the sensor system; For transmitting a request for a schema including information indicative of at least one of the observed system parameters to the remote memory, receiving the schema from a remote database, and controlling the output setting of the at least one light source; Convert to instructions Management systems.   The lighting management system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one light source includes at least one lighting fixture.   The observed system parameters relate to one or more people, the presence of one or more people, the identity of one or more people, the location of one or more people, the duration of one or more people, the time of one or more people 18. The lighting management system of claim 17, comprising at least one of a gesture, one or more person actions, one or more person faces, or a sound emitted by one or more persons.   18. The observed system parameters include at least one of output from the at least one light source, ambient lighting level, daylight amount, movement, temperature, humidity level, weather and noise. Lighting management system.   The execution module is located within the at least one light source or communicates with each other using at least one of a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, a radio frequency communication link, and an optical communication link. 18. A lighting management system according to claim 17 distributed between light sources.   The execution module facilitates communication between the memory, a first interface for facilitating communication with the at least one light source and at least one of the sensor systems, and the remote memory via the communication link. The lighting management system according to claim 17, further comprising:   The lighting management system according to claim 17, wherein the execution module converts the schema into an instruction by interpreting the schema according to the output setting of the at least one light source.   A request for a schema at a location remote from the execution module, comprising receiving an observed system parameter from a sensor system in an execution module including a controller and information indicating at least one of the observed system parameters; Transmitting to the data storage unit, receiving the schema from the data storage unit in the execution module, and converting the schema into an instruction to control output setting of the at least one light source by the execution module. A method for performing a lighting management system.   Receiving the observed system parameter comprises receiving a current user identity, the transmitted request includes information indicating the current user identity, and the received schema is a lighting parameter according to the presence of the current user 25. The method of claim 24, comprising:   25. The method of claim 24, further comprising storing the received schema in local memory.   25. The method of claim 24, wherein the converting comprises interpreting the schema according to the output settings of the at least one light source by the execution module.   A schema comprising: a sensor interface for receiving system parameters observed from a sensor system; a light source interface for transmitting control parameters to at least one light source; and information indicating at least one of the observed system parameters A schema generator interface for communicating a request to a remote schema generator and further receiving a schema from the remote schema generator; a memory for storing the observed system parameters and the schema; and at least the schema An execution module for use in a lighting management system, comprising: a controller for translating instructions to control an output setting of one light source and interpreting the schema according to the output setting of the at least one light source.   30. The execution module of claim 28, wherein the sensor interface receives additional observed system parameters, and the processor further modifies the schema to compensate for the additionally observed system parameters.   A first memory storing personal preference data corresponding to a plurality of users, wherein the personal preference data corresponding to each of the plurality of users includes at least one personal lighting parameter for each user; A lighting management system having a network remote from a first memory, the network comprising at least one light source having a controllable output setting, a sensor system for detecting an identity of a current user, At least one light source, a second memory, and an execution module in communication with the sensor system, the execution module including a second memory for storing at least one standard illumination parameter and a controller; Receives the identity of the current user from the sensor system Communicating with a first memory to determine personal preference data corresponding to a current user and modifying the standard lighting parameters to match the personal lighting parameters of the current user; A lighting management system that translates instructions for controlling the output settings of one light source.   A sensor system that receives an environmental input including at least one user identifier, at least one light source with controllable output settings, and a schema that includes one or more of a user specific schema, a group schema, a system specific schema, and a shared system schema A schema data storage unit, wherein each stored schema includes at least one rule for controlling the output setting of the at least one light source, the sensor system, and the schema Communicate with a data store, determine which schema in the schema data store is applicable in terms of the environmental input, and apply applicable rules for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source. A schema generator for generating a set and the at least one light source; And an execution module in communication with the schema generator, wherein the execution module includes a controller, the execution module receives the set of rules applicable from the schema generator and is applicable A lighting management system that translates at least one rule of the set of different rules into instructions for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source.   32. The lighting management system according to claim 31, wherein the schema data storage unit is located at a position away from the at least one light source.   32. A lighting management system according to claim 31, wherein the schema generator continuously monitors the environmental input to determine which schema in the schema data store is applicable.   32. The schema generator generates the set of applicable rules by averaging the output settings of applicable schema rules or prioritizing applicable schema rules. Lighting management system as described in.   32. The lighting management system of claim 31, wherein the set of applicable rules constitutes a modified system specific schema.   32. The lighting management system of claim 31, wherein the at least one light source includes a plurality of light sources that communicate with each other using at least one of a wired communication link, a wireless communication link, a radio frequency communication link, and an optical communication link. .   32. The lighting management system of claim 31, wherein the execution module translates the at least one rule into an instruction by interpreting the at least one rule according to the output setting of the at least one light source.   A schema data storage unit for receiving at least one applicable schema including a step for receiving an environment input including at least one user identifier and a rule for controlling an output setting of at least one light source in terms of the environment input; An arbitration step of arbitrating inconsistent rules in the at least one applicable schema to determine a set of working rules for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source; Translating rules into instructions for controlling the power settings of the at least one light source.   40. The method of claim 38, wherein the schema data store is located at a location remote from the at least one light source.   39. The method of claim 38, further comprising continuously monitoring the environmental data to determine which schema is applicable.   39. The arbitration step comprises: (i) averaging the output settings of the applicable schema rules; or (ii) prioritizing the rules of the applicable schema. The method described in 1.   40. The method of claim 38, wherein the set of work rules constitutes a modified system schema.   Data received at a remote location from the execution module receiving system parameters sensed from a sensor system indicative of the identity of the current user at an execution module including a controller and a request for a schema corresponding to the current user Transmitting to the storage unit; receiving the schema corresponding to the current user from the data storage unit by the execution module; and converting the received schema into an instruction for controlling an output setting of at least one luminaire. A method for performing a lighting management system, comprising:   44. The method of claim 43, wherein the received schema is personalized for a current user or for a group of users including a current user.   44. The method of claim 43, wherein the converting step comprises interpreting the received schema according to the output settings of the at least one luminaire.   A memory storing a schema, each schema including at least one rule, and a network remote from the memory, the network including at least one light source having a controllable output setting and an identity of the current user A sensor system for detecting the current system and an execution module in communication with the at least one light source and the sensor system, the execution module receiving an identity of a current user from the sensor system and a schema corresponding to the current user Therefore, the lighting management system, in communication with the memory, wherein the execution module translates the received schema into instructions for controlling the output settings of the at least one light source.   47. The lighting management system of claim 46, wherein the received schema is personalized for a current user or for a group of users including a current user.   47. The lighting management system of claim 46, wherein the execution module translates the received schema by interpreting the received schema according to the output settings of the at least one light source.

Images