WO2016147043A2 - Intelligent multi-functional street lighting network - Google Patents

Intelligent multi-functional street lighting network Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2016147043A2
WO2016147043A2 PCT/IB2016/000300 IB2016000300W WO2016147043A2 WO 2016147043 A2 WO2016147043 A2 WO 2016147043A2 IB 2016000300 W IB2016000300 W IB 2016000300W WO 2016147043 A2 WO2016147043 A2 WO 2016147043A2
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
smart
street light
functions
ambient parameter
network
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2016/000300
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2016147043A3 (en
Inventor
Jyotirmoy Chakravarty
Sarosij Sengupta
Lalit Kumar
Original Assignee
Greenstar Research And Development India Private Limited
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Application filed by Greenstar Research And Development India Private Limited filed Critical Greenstar Research And Development India Private Limited
Publication of WO2016147043A2 publication Critical patent/WO2016147043A2/en
Publication of WO2016147043A3 publication Critical patent/WO2016147043A3/en

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04LTRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04L67/00Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
    • H04L67/01Protocols
    • H04L67/12Protocols specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H04ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04NPICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N7/00Television systems
    • H04N7/18Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10Controlling the light source
    • H05B47/175Controlling the light source by remote control
    • H05B47/19Controlling the light source by remote control via wireless transmission
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H05ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05BELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/20Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
    • H05B47/21Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection of two or more light sources connected in parallel
    • H05B47/22Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection of two or more light sources connected in parallel with communication between the lamps and a central unit
    • GPHYSICS
    • G08SIGNALLING
    • G08BSIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/12Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
    • YGENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02BCLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
    • Y02B20/00Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
    • Y02B20/40Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an intelligent street light network that forms the backbone of a system for providing a multitude of important services in addition to its basic street lighting function.
  • the intelligent street light network comprises a plurality of "smart" street lights that form communication channels to designated monitoring stations by relaying information through short-range communication links.
  • infrastructural facilities require delivery of services across a large geographic area covering a town, city or district.
  • Well known examples of such facilities include lighting infrastructure (including lighting of roads and streets), traffic management, and public transport. New requirements are also emerging such as those relating to women's security and general street crime, and air-pollution monitoring.
  • infrastructure facilities As the need for such facilities has gained importance various solutions have emerged, however all such suggestions provide stand-alone solutions addressing only a single infrastructure facility. As a consequence, modern day implementations reveal several solutions that coexist separately in proximity with one another.
  • Fig.-l shows a typical street in a modern "smart city”. Street lighting poles (101) provide lighting during hours of darkness to keep the street sufficiently illuminated. Modern day street lights are increasingly using Light Emitting Diode (LED) light sources in order to maximize energy savings.
  • Each such lighting unit on each physical support structure (such as a pole) comprises light panels with associated Lighting Drive units (102).
  • CCTV camera units (103) are also mounted on some of the street light poles, in order to provide surveillance as one measure for implementing women's security.
  • Pollution Monitoring units (104) also mounted on some of the street light poles are used to measure pollution levels in the vicinity.
  • the Lighting Drive Units (102), CCTV camera units (103) and Pollution monitoring units (104) are all independent systems operating as disjunct islands of functionality. These units do not share any common facilities except for the physical support structure and, in some cases, a common power source.
  • the individual systems are operated and managed by different service providers who operate under separate contracts and obligations.
  • the need for multiple remote services therefore results in a multiplicity of overlapping networks with several pieces of equipment being replicated for each system resulting in increased cost, avoidable energy consumption and unnecessary space requirements.
  • the multiplicity of devices mounted in or around a single location also results in considerable clutter and confusion.
  • the independent monitoring systems are also unable to leverage expensive resources such as communication channels that could easily be shared between them.
  • the growing needs for additional services create the constant need for installing newer systems for independently fulfilling each new requirement thereby constantly magnifying the problems of cost, energy consumptions and space requirements.
  • the object of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems and create a unified system for providing infrastructural facilities.
  • the present invention achieves these objects replacing or retrofitting existing street light controllers by a device comprising a street lighting controller which has one or more infrastructure facility functional units coupled with the street lighting controller and sharing common physical resources with it, and one or more communication units which enable data exchange with external devices.
  • the infrastructure facility functional units comprise video surveillance units tailored to implement women's security functions.
  • the infrastructure facility functional units comprise air pollution monitoring units.
  • the infrastructure facility functional units comprise public transport monitoring units.
  • the communication units are short-range low-power communication units which communicate with similar units on adjacent street lights to relay information to remote systems.
  • the communication units are Power-Line communication units.
  • the invention builds on existing street lighting infrastructure to provide a multitude of supplementary functions at minimal additional cost.
  • the solution can be implemented on all existing street lights without limitation.
  • this approach provides for quick and easy deployment of all the advantageous functions and features across the entire city/district/town.
  • Future expansion of the street light network can be implemented with the "smart" modules replacing the traditional street light controllers to further reduce cost.
  • FIG. - 1 shows the prior art as visible in a typical street of a modern "smart city”.
  • Fig. - 2 shows the block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention.
  • Fig. - 3 shows one preferred embodiment of an intelligent street light system according to the present invention.
  • Fig.- 4 shows a preferred embodiment in which the data is communicated to remote central control stations by means of short range relay radio communication using the intelligent street light network.
  • FIG. -2 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a "smart" module device according to the present invention.
  • Multiple sensors including Video Camera (201), FID Reader (202) and Air Pollution Sensor (203) couple to Processing Unit (204) operatively couple to Processing Unit (204).
  • Processing Unit (204) may include multimedia processing capabilities to process the signals from Video Camera (201), including multimedia encoding and decoding.
  • the multimedia encoding and compression is implemented in accordance with established standards such as MPEG-3 or MPEG-4.
  • the Processing unit (204) also includes capabilities for handling compressed multimedia streams received from distant stations through Communication Unit (205).
  • it may incorporate real-time multimedia decoding and de-compression capability and may include hardware accelerators such as graphics processors and application processors which incorporate high-speed general-purpose computational capabilities for performing complex, realtime multitasking.
  • Preferred embodiments incorporate 32-bit or 64-bit single-core or multi-core embedded general-purpose processors such as from the ARM family.
  • the Processing Unit (204) may further include Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to perform specialized signal-processing tasks, such as complex image processing and/or pattern recognition, in real-time.
  • DSPs Digital Signal Processors
  • RFID Reader (202) also monitors the emission of radio-frequency signals by mobile assets, such as Public Transport Buses, Goods Transport Vehicles, Corporate employee Transport vehicles, Taxis and even private vehicles equipped with such Active RFID tags.
  • mobile assets such as Public Transport Buses, Goods Transport Vehicles, Corporate employee Transport vehicles, Taxis and even private vehicles equipped with such Active RFID tags.
  • Active RFID signals from within-range mobile assets would not trigger such a response but would instead transmit identification details to the distant monitoring stations through Communication Unit (205).
  • Traffic management functions could also be autonomously implemented by automatic identification of vehicular access to unauthorized areas, etc. coupled with Video capture of the event for use as evidence.
  • the device may also be configured with the ability to automatically debit an account associated with each mobile asset entering a "charged- access" area such as a Tolled road by sending a local Active RFID transmission to the tag inside the vehicle.
  • Air Pollution Sensors (203) collect data on local pollution levels and enable Processing Unit (204) to collate such data with other local parameters and convey the data to one or more distant monitoring centers either periodically or in response to specific requests from such distant centers.
  • Exemplary Air Pollutant parameters are given below (however additional parameters may be detected or measured):
  • One or more communication units (205) coupled to the Processing Unit (204) enable the device to transmit data pertaining to the event to one or more distant monitoring stations in real-time.
  • the communication units (205) also enable the distant monitoring stations to remotely configure the device operating parameters and/or update the predefined criteria whenever needed.
  • Each "smart" module device preferably incorporates special features to enhance the reliability of the data transfer to/from the designated monitoring station(s).
  • the data integrity mechanisms may include mechanisms for checking and validating the identity of the source and destination of the data transfer, as well as the type and value of the individual data elements. Wherever possible, error-correction mechanisms may also be incorporated for recovering original information from corrupted data received at the destination points.
  • the "smart" module device also includes the capability to securely encrypt data originating from it as well as decrypt data for which it is the destination, in order to provide secure data transfer.
  • the "smart" module device may include authentication mechanisms that verify the source of data received by it as destination. Such measures may include “challenge-response” mechanisms.
  • the compression and/or encryption may be in accordance with standard compression and encryption protocols.
  • the Communication Unit (205) in the "smart" module device device is not limited to any particular type or format.
  • Communication Unit (205) may comprise one or radio-frequency links such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee or other standard/proprietary RF.
  • Communication Unit (205) incorporates a low-power RF means which forms part of a wide area low-power network.
  • Communication Unit (205) may include optical-fiber links, power-line communication links and conventional RS-485/RS-232 wired links.
  • each "smart" module device would typically gather data for several different user groups or data clients (for example, visual and auditory inputs for crime monitoring agencies such as the police, similar data of traffic conditions for the traffic police, and air-quality and weather data for the Meteorological department), preferred embodiments of the device incorporate secure tagging and identification of each of the separate data segments in order to ensure integrity and reliability of inputs for each user group.
  • the communication links also enable each "smart" module device to monitor the status of neighboring "smart” modules and report any malfunction, thereby enhancing the reliability of the entire intelligent network.
  • Each "smart” module device is preferably designed to be scalable in terms of features and capacity throughout its operating life with the ability of adding several functions during regular operation, by remote upgrades of its functional capabilities. Such capability enhancements are automatically detected and announced by the upgraded unit and communicated to the designated monitoring station(s). Similarly, the addition of any new "smart" module (for example, by field up- gradation/replacement of a normal street light to a "smart” street light) is preferable automatically registered by the entire network and reported at the designated monitoring station(s) along-with its capabilities and features.
  • Individual “smart” modules preferably implement continuous or periodic/externally- triggered self-health checks including status checks on input power supply, and report the results of the checks to the central monitoring station(s) at regular intervals/during normal communication sessions as well special transmissions on the occurrence of specific events including, but not limited to, events such as input power failure which is reported during the brief "hold-up" period of the internal power supply.
  • the "smart” device On resumption of power, the "smart” device is able to automatically re-configure itself to its status prior to the outage and re-register itself on the network and then report its status to the designated monitoring station(s).
  • a "smart" module device includes GPS functionality to self-determine its location and include this feature in its reports. The location data provided by the GPS feature enables the reporting of location-specific information at the designated monitoring station(s) so as to facilitate map-based information display.
  • Optional features include the ability of a "smart" module device to recognize and report on external threats to its integrity. This ability is preferably enabled by incorporation of proximity sensors and access-authentication mechanisms in the unit. Such a feature safeguards against intrusion and/or sabotage attempts to compromise the functioning of the "smart" module device.
  • the power source for the "smart" module including autonomous power units that power individual “smart” module devices, as well as common power sources that power groups of “smart” module devices or even the entire network.
  • the solution is also designed to provide the additional functions in an integrated manner thereby exploiting synergistic characteristics.
  • the "smart” module device provides a common controller with the capability of interfacing to several external devices, such as sensors.
  • the controller also possesses powerful processing capacity and is highly scalable. It is therefore capable of implementing many functions simultaneously and can support additional features to fulfill future requirements.
  • the "smart" module device converts it into a "smart" street light.
  • An intelligent street light network is created by incorporating a plurality of "smart” module devices in the street lighting network.
  • Each "smart” module device possesses the ability to establish direct short-range communication links with similar "smart" module devices in the immediate vicinity which collaborate with one another to extend the link using a relaying mechanism that propagates the information through the network in a direction either from a data transfer initiating "smart" module device towards one or more destination monitoring stations or from a monitoring station towards a destination "smart” module device as defined by the data transfer contents.
  • the mode of communication in any short-range link is not limited to any particular type or format and individual links in the relay may differ in type, mode and/or format and may thereby form a heterogeneous network structure.
  • Examples of short-range communication types include, among others: short-range radio-frequency links such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee or other standard/proprietary low-power RF, optical-fiber links, wireless optical links, power-line communication links and conventional RS-485/RS-232 wired links.
  • multiple communication links and modes are implemented in each "smart" module device so as to provide redundancy and implement fault- tolerance.
  • the communication links also enable each "smart" module device to monitor the status of neighboring "smart” module devices and report any malfunction, thereby enhancing the reliability of the entire intelligent street light network.
  • Each "smart” module device is designed to be scalable in terms of features and capacity throughout its operating life with the ability of adding several functions during regular operation, by remote upgrades of its functional capabilities. Such capability enhancements are automatically detected and announced by the upgraded unit and relayed by the other "smart" module devices through the network to the designated monitoring station(s).
  • any new "smart” module device for example, by field up- gradation/replacement of a normal street light to a "smart” street light
  • Individual "smart" module devices implement continuous or periodic/externally- triggered self-health checks including status checks on input power supply, and report the results of the checks to the central monitoring station(s) at regular intervals/during normal communication sessions as well special transmissions on the occurrence of specific events including, but not limited to, events such as input power failure which is reported during the brief "hold-up" period of the internal power supply.
  • the "smart” module device On resumption of power, the "smart” module device is able to automatically re-configure itself to its status prior to the outage and re-register itself on the network and then report its status to the designated monitoring station(s).
  • Each "smart” module preferably incorporates special features to enhance the reliability of the data transfer to/from the designated monitoring station(s) through the relay network of "smart” module devices.
  • the data integrity includes mechanisms for checking and validating the identity of the source and destination of the data transfer, as well as the type and value of the individual data elements. Wherever possible, error- correction mechanisms are also incorporated for recovering original information from corrupted data received at intermediate relay points as well as at the destination points.
  • the "smart" module device also includes the capability to securely encrypt data originating from it as well as decrypt data for which it is the destination, in order to provide secure data transfer through the relay network.
  • the "smart” module device may include authentication mechanisms that verify the source of data received by it as destination. Such measures may include “challenge- response" mechanisms.
  • a "smart" module device includes GPS functionality to self-determine its location and include this feature in its reports.
  • the location data provided by the GPS feature enables the reporting of location-specific information at the designated monitoring station(s) so as to facilitate map-based information display.
  • Optional features include the ability of a "smart" module device to recognize and report on external threats to its integrity. This ability is enabled by incorporation of proximity sensors and access-authentication mechanisms in the unit. This feature prevents against intrusion and/or sabotage attempts to compromise the functioning of the "smart” module device.
  • the power source for the "smart” module device including autonomous power units that power individual “smart” modules, as well as common power sources that power groups of "smart” module devices or even the entire network.
  • Fig.-3 shows an embodiment of an intelligent street lighting network according to the present invention.
  • Street light poles 101(a) to 101(1) have individual "smart" module devices 200(a) to 200(1) mounted on them.
  • This arrangement replaces the plethora of devices mounted on the street poles shown in the prior art of Fig.-l, while greatly improving efficiency, reliability and maintainability and significantly reducing space and cost.
  • the individual "smart" module devices incorporate multiple sensors, which collectively cover the requirements of the set of infrastructure facilities to be provided. Where the same sensors are required for different infrastructure facilities, a single sensor suffices and enables a optimal and cost-effective implementation.
  • a common Processing Unit (204) also contributes very significantly to such optimization and cost reduction, besides enabling the incorporation of synergistic functions.
  • Fig. -4 shows a preferred embodiment of low power, short-range F relay communication deployed in the intelligent street light network of Fig.-3.
  • Each "smart" module device transfers one or more data packets to an adjacent "smart” module device.
  • Each data packet contains information regarding its destination node which may be another "smart” module device or one or more remote monitoring stations.
  • Each receiving “smart” module device analyzes the destination address and acts accordingly. Route information is stored in each "smart” module device, based on which it targets another intermediate “smart” module device if the addressed destination node is not directly in its range.
  • Information defining all the neighboring "in range” "smart” module devices and monitoring stations is stored in the "routing map" of each "smart” module device, allowing it to determine target nodes for onward packet transmission.
  • the current status of each neighboring node is also stored in the "routing map” and is updated whenever the status of any neighboring device changes. This enables each "smart" module device to re-route the data packets whenever necessary and thereby creates a robust and “fault tolerant” network.

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Abstract

A street light mounted device for providing integrated infrastructure facilities comprising a controller implementing street light control coupled to one or more ambient parameter sensors for effecting infrastructure facility functions and one or more communication units enabling data exchange with external such devices. A system comprising a network multiple interconnected such devices is capable of provide one or more infrastructural facilities such as women's security, air pollution monitoring and public transport vehicle tracking.

Description

INTELLIGENT MULTI-FUNCTIONAL STREET LIGHTING NETWORK
Technical Field:
The present invention relates to an intelligent street light network that forms the backbone of a system for providing a multitude of important services in addition to its basic street lighting function. The intelligent street light network comprises a plurality of "smart" street lights that form communication channels to designated monitoring stations by relaying information through short-range communication links.
Background:
Several modern day infrastructural facilities require delivery of services across a large geographic area covering a town, city or district. Well known examples of such facilities include lighting infrastructure (including lighting of roads and streets), traffic management, and public transport. New requirements are also emerging such as those relating to women's security and general street crime, and air-pollution monitoring. Such facilities are termed "infrastructure facilities". As the need for such facilities has gained importance various solutions have emerged, however all such suggestions provide stand-alone solutions addressing only a single infrastructure facility. As a consequence, modern day implementations reveal several solutions that coexist separately in proximity with one another.
Fig.-l shows a typical street in a modern "smart city". Street lighting poles (101) provide lighting during hours of darkness to keep the street sufficiently illuminated. Modern day street lights are increasingly using Light Emitting Diode (LED) light sources in order to maximize energy savings. Each such lighting unit on each physical support structure (such as a pole) comprises light panels with associated Lighting Drive units (102). CCTV camera units (103) are also mounted on some of the street light poles, in order to provide surveillance as one measure for implementing women's security. Pollution Monitoring units (104) also mounted on some of the street light poles are used to measure pollution levels in the vicinity. The Lighting Drive Units (102), CCTV camera units (103) and Pollution monitoring units (104) are all independent systems operating as disjunct islands of functionality. These units do not share any common facilities except for the physical support structure and, in some cases, a common power source.
The individual systems are operated and managed by different service providers who operate under separate contracts and obligations.
The need for multiple remote services therefore results in a multiplicity of overlapping networks with several pieces of equipment being replicated for each system resulting in increased cost, avoidable energy consumption and unnecessary space requirements. The multiplicity of devices mounted in or around a single location also results in considerable clutter and confusion. The independent monitoring systems are also unable to leverage expensive resources such as communication channels that could easily be shared between them. The growing needs for additional services create the constant need for installing newer systems for independently fulfilling each new requirement thereby constantly magnifying the problems of cost, energy consumptions and space requirements.
This method of implementation is inefficient and expensive as it fails to utilize common resources for similar functions. In addition, the separate individual systems consist of several different hardware and software structures that complicate maintenance and operations support. Besides, the involvement of multiple vendor organizations and service providers creates a complex and difficult-to-manage arrangement for the civic authorities. SUMMARY
The object of the present invention is to avoid the above-mentioned problems and create a unified system for providing infrastructural facilities.
Another object of the invention is to improve the efficiency and reduce cost in deployment of a plurality of such infrastructural facilities. Yet another object of this invention is to enhance the reliability of providing such critical infrastructural facilities.
The present invention achieves these objects replacing or retrofitting existing street light controllers by a device comprising a street lighting controller which has one or more infrastructure facility functional units coupled with the street lighting controller and sharing common physical resources with it, and one or more communication units which enable data exchange with external devices.
In one preferred embodiment the infrastructure facility functional units comprise video surveillance units tailored to implement women's security functions.
In another preferred embodiment the infrastructure facility functional units comprise air pollution monitoring units.
In yet another preferred embodiment the infrastructure facility functional units comprise public transport monitoring units.
In preferred embodiments the communication units are short-range low-power communication units which communicate with similar units on adjacent street lights to relay information to remote systems.
In other preferred embodiments the communication units are Power-Line communication units.
The invention builds on existing street lighting infrastructure to provide a multitude of supplementary functions at minimal additional cost. The solution can be implemented on all existing street lights without limitation. By leveraging the large physical presence and reach of the existing street light network, this approach provides for quick and easy deployment of all the advantageous functions and features across the entire city/district/town. Future expansion of the street light network can be implemented with the "smart" modules replacing the traditional street light controllers to further reduce cost. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout. Fig. - 1 shows the prior art as visible in a typical street of a modern "smart city".
Fig. - 2 shows the block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a device according to the present invention. Fig. - 3 shows one preferred embodiment of an intelligent street light system according to the present invention.
Fig.- 4 shows a preferred embodiment in which the data is communicated to remote central control stations by means of short range relay radio communication using the intelligent street light network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION:
The following paragraphs describe preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention. It will be obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art will be aware that the activities described are only exemplary and several variations are possible, all of which are understood to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Various subsets of activities described as well as obvious extensions of functions would be similarly covered by this disclosure. Fig. -2 shows a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a "smart" module device according to the present invention. Multiple sensors including Video Camera (201), FID Reader (202) and Air Pollution Sensor (203) couple to Processing Unit (204) operatively couple to Processing Unit (204).
Processing Unit (204) may include multimedia processing capabilities to process the signals from Video Camera (201), including multimedia encoding and decoding. Preferably, the multimedia encoding and compression is implemented in accordance with established standards such as MPEG-3 or MPEG-4. The Processing unit (204) also includes capabilities for handling compressed multimedia streams received from distant stations through Communication Unit (205). In particular, it may incorporate real-time multimedia decoding and de-compression capability and may include hardware accelerators such as graphics processors and application processors which incorporate high-speed general-purpose computational capabilities for performing complex, realtime multitasking. Preferred embodiments incorporate 32-bit or 64-bit single-core or multi-core embedded general-purpose processors such as from the ARM family. In other preferred embodiments the Processing Unit (204) may further include Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to perform specialized signal-processing tasks, such as complex image processing and/or pattern recognition, in real-time.
RFID Reader (202) also monitors the emission of radio-frequency signals by mobile assets, such as Public Transport Buses, Goods Transport Vehicles, Corporate employee Transport vehicles, Taxis and even private vehicles equipped with such Active RFID tags. On the other hand, Active RFID signals from within-range mobile assets would not trigger such a response but would instead transmit identification details to the distant monitoring stations through Communication Unit (205). Traffic management functions could also be autonomously implemented by automatic identification of vehicular access to unauthorized areas, etc. coupled with Video capture of the event for use as evidence. The device may also be configured with the ability to automatically debit an account associated with each mobile asset entering a "charged- access" area such as a Tolled road by sending a local Active RFID transmission to the tag inside the vehicle. Air Pollution Sensors (203) collect data on local pollution levels and enable Processing Unit (204) to collate such data with other local parameters and convey the data to one or more distant monitoring centers either periodically or in response to specific requests from such distant centers. Exemplary Air Pollutant parameters are given below (however additional parameters may be detected or measured):
a) Volumetric Concentration of Particulate Matter below 2.5 micron size. (PM2.5) b) Volumetric Concentration of Particulate Matter below 10 micron size. (PM10) c) Carbon-Monoxide (CO) concentration level. d) Ozone (03) concentration level.
e) Sulphur Dioxide concentration level.
One or more communication units (205) coupled to the Processing Unit (204) enable the device to transmit data pertaining to the event to one or more distant monitoring stations in real-time. The communication units (205) also enable the distant monitoring stations to remotely configure the device operating parameters and/or update the predefined criteria whenever needed. Each "smart" module device preferably incorporates special features to enhance the reliability of the data transfer to/from the designated monitoring station(s). The data integrity mechanisms may include mechanisms for checking and validating the identity of the source and destination of the data transfer, as well as the type and value of the individual data elements. Wherever possible, error-correction mechanisms may also be incorporated for recovering original information from corrupted data received at the destination points.
In one embodiment, the "smart" module device also includes the capability to securely encrypt data originating from it as well as decrypt data for which it is the destination, in order to provide secure data transfer. As a further security measure, the "smart" module device may include authentication mechanisms that verify the source of data received by it as destination. Such measures may include "challenge-response" mechanisms. The compression and/or encryption may be in accordance with standard compression and encryption protocols.
The Communication Unit (205) in the "smart" module device device is not limited to any particular type or format. In preferred embodiments Communication Unit (205) may comprise one or radio-frequency links such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee or other standard/proprietary RF. In another preferred embodiment Communication Unit (205) incorporates a low-power RF means which forms part of a wide area low-power network. In other embodiments Communication Unit (205) may include optical-fiber links, power-line communication links and conventional RS-485/RS-232 wired links. Since each "smart" module device would typically gather data for several different user groups or data clients (for example, visual and auditory inputs for crime monitoring agencies such as the police, similar data of traffic conditions for the traffic police, and air-quality and weather data for the Meteorological department), preferred embodiments of the device incorporate secure tagging and identification of each of the separate data segments in order to ensure integrity and reliability of inputs for each user group. The communication links also enable each "smart" module device to monitor the status of neighboring "smart" modules and report any malfunction, thereby enhancing the reliability of the entire intelligent network.
Each "smart" module device is preferably designed to be scalable in terms of features and capacity throughout its operating life with the ability of adding several functions during regular operation, by remote upgrades of its functional capabilities. Such capability enhancements are automatically detected and announced by the upgraded unit and communicated to the designated monitoring station(s). Similarly, the addition of any new "smart" module (for example, by field up- gradation/replacement of a normal street light to a "smart" street light) is preferable automatically registered by the entire network and reported at the designated monitoring station(s) along-with its capabilities and features.
Individual "smart" modules preferably implement continuous or periodic/externally- triggered self-health checks including status checks on input power supply, and report the results of the checks to the central monitoring station(s) at regular intervals/during normal communication sessions as well special transmissions on the occurrence of specific events including, but not limited to, events such as input power failure which is reported during the brief "hold-up" period of the internal power supply. On resumption of power, the "smart" device is able to automatically re-configure itself to its status prior to the outage and re-register itself on the network and then report its status to the designated monitoring station(s). In one preferred embodiment, a "smart" module device includes GPS functionality to self-determine its location and include this feature in its reports. The location data provided by the GPS feature enables the reporting of location-specific information at the designated monitoring station(s) so as to facilitate map-based information display.
Optional features include the ability of a "smart" module device to recognize and report on external threats to its integrity. This ability is preferably enabled by incorporation of proximity sensors and access-authentication mechanisms in the unit. Such a feature safeguards against intrusion and/or sabotage attempts to compromise the functioning of the "smart" module device.
Several embodiments are possible for the power source for the "smart" module including autonomous power units that power individual "smart" module devices, as well as common power sources that power groups of "smart" module devices or even the entire network.
The solution is also designed to provide the additional functions in an integrated manner thereby exploiting synergistic characteristics. The "smart" module device provides a common controller with the capability of interfacing to several external devices, such as sensors. The controller also possesses powerful processing capacity and is highly scalable. It is therefore capable of implementing many functions simultaneously and can support additional features to fulfill future requirements. When integrated with a street light, the "smart" module device converts it into a "smart" street light.
An intelligent street light network is created by incorporating a plurality of "smart" module devices in the street lighting network. Each "smart" module device possesses the ability to establish direct short-range communication links with similar "smart" module devices in the immediate vicinity which collaborate with one another to extend the link using a relaying mechanism that propagates the information through the network in a direction either from a data transfer initiating "smart" module device towards one or more destination monitoring stations or from a monitoring station towards a destination "smart" module device as defined by the data transfer contents.
The mode of communication in any short-range link is not limited to any particular type or format and individual links in the relay may differ in type, mode and/or format and may thereby form a heterogeneous network structure. Examples of short-range communication types include, among others: short-range radio-frequency links such as Wi-Fi, ZigBee or other standard/proprietary low-power RF, optical-fiber links, wireless optical links, power-line communication links and conventional RS-485/RS-232 wired links.
In preferred embodiments multiple communication links and modes are implemented in each "smart" module device so as to provide redundancy and implement fault- tolerance.
The communication links also enable each "smart" module device to monitor the status of neighboring "smart" module devices and report any malfunction, thereby enhancing the reliability of the entire intelligent street light network. Each "smart" module device is designed to be scalable in terms of features and capacity throughout its operating life with the ability of adding several functions during regular operation, by remote upgrades of its functional capabilities. Such capability enhancements are automatically detected and announced by the upgraded unit and relayed by the other "smart" module devices through the network to the designated monitoring station(s). Similarly, the addition of any new "smart" module device (for example, by field up- gradation/replacement of a normal street light to a "smart" street light) will automatically be registered by the entire network and reported at the designated monitoring station(s) along-with its capabilities and features. Individual "smart" module devices implement continuous or periodic/externally- triggered self-health checks including status checks on input power supply, and report the results of the checks to the central monitoring station(s) at regular intervals/during normal communication sessions as well special transmissions on the occurrence of specific events including, but not limited to, events such as input power failure which is reported during the brief "hold-up" period of the internal power supply. On resumption of power, the "smart" module device is able to automatically re-configure itself to its status prior to the outage and re-register itself on the network and then report its status to the designated monitoring station(s).
Each "smart" module preferably incorporates special features to enhance the reliability of the data transfer to/from the designated monitoring station(s) through the relay network of "smart" module devices. The data integrity includes mechanisms for checking and validating the identity of the source and destination of the data transfer, as well as the type and value of the individual data elements. Wherever possible, error- correction mechanisms are also incorporated for recovering original information from corrupted data received at intermediate relay points as well as at the destination points.
In one embodiment, the "smart" module device also includes the capability to securely encrypt data originating from it as well as decrypt data for which it is the destination, in order to provide secure data transfer through the relay network. As a further security measure, the "smart" module device may include authentication mechanisms that verify the source of data received by it as destination. Such measures may include "challenge- response" mechanisms.
In one preferred embodiment, a "smart" module device includes GPS functionality to self-determine its location and include this feature in its reports. The location data provided by the GPS feature enables the reporting of location-specific information at the designated monitoring station(s) so as to facilitate map-based information display.
Optional features include the ability of a "smart" module device to recognize and report on external threats to its integrity. This ability is enabled by incorporation of proximity sensors and access-authentication mechanisms in the unit. This feature prevents against intrusion and/or sabotage attempts to compromise the functioning of the "smart" module device. Several embodiments are possible for the power source for the "smart" module device including autonomous power units that power individual "smart" modules, as well as common power sources that power groups of "smart" module devices or even the entire network.
Fig.-3 shows an embodiment of an intelligent street lighting network according to the present invention. Street light poles 101(a) to 101(1) have individual "smart" module devices 200(a) to 200(1) mounted on them. This arrangement replaces the plethora of devices mounted on the street poles shown in the prior art of Fig.-l, while greatly improving efficiency, reliability and maintainability and significantly reducing space and cost. The individual "smart" module devices incorporate multiple sensors, which collectively cover the requirements of the set of infrastructure facilities to be provided. Where the same sensors are required for different infrastructure facilities, a single sensor suffices and enables a optimal and cost-effective implementation. A common Processing Unit (204) also contributes very significantly to such optimization and cost reduction, besides enabling the incorporation of synergistic functions.
Fig. -4 shows a preferred embodiment of low power, short-range F relay communication deployed in the intelligent street light network of Fig.-3. Each "smart" module device transfers one or more data packets to an adjacent "smart" module device. Each data packet contains information regarding its destination node which may be another "smart" module device or one or more remote monitoring stations. Each receiving "smart" module device analyzes the destination address and acts accordingly. Route information is stored in each "smart" module device, based on which it targets another intermediate "smart" module device if the addressed destination node is not directly in its range. Information defining all the neighboring "in range" "smart" module devices and monitoring stations is stored in the "routing map" of each "smart" module device, allowing it to determine target nodes for onward packet transmission.
The current status of each neighboring node is also stored in the "routing map" and is updated whenever the status of any neighboring device changes. This enables each "smart" module device to re-route the data packets whenever necessary and thereby creates a robust and "fault tolerant" network.

Claims

We claim:
A device for providing integrated infrastructure facilities comprising:
- one or more ambient parameter sensors for effecting desired infrastructure facility functions;
- a controller capable of implementing street light control as well as said desired infrastructure facility function; and
- one or more communication units enabling data exchange with similar external devices and monitoring stations.
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ambient parameter sensors comprise one or more video cameras.
3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ambient parameter sensors comprise one or more air pollution sensors.
4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said ambient parameter sensors comprise one or more RFID Readers. 5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said communications units comprise one or more short-range RF links.
6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said communications units comprise Power-line communication links.
7. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said communications units comprise one or more Cellular modems. An intelligent street light network comprising multiple interconnected devices as claimed in any of the preceding claims.
An intelligent street light network as claimed in claim 8 wherein said infrastructural capabilities include women's security functions.
An intelligent street light network as claimed in claim 8 wherein said infrastructural capabilities include air pollution monitoring functions.
An intelligent street light network as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said infrastructural capabilities include public transport vehicle tracking functions.
PCT/IB2016/000300 2015-03-16 2016-03-16 Intelligent multi-functional street lighting network WO2016147043A2 (en)

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Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11163551B1 (en) 2020-10-13 2021-11-02 Argo AI, LLC Systems and methods for improved smart infrastructure data transfer
US11537383B2 (en) 2020-10-13 2022-12-27 Argo AI, LLC Systems and methods for improved smart infrastructure data transfer
IT202100022184A1 (en) * 2021-08-23 2023-02-23 Francesco Gianluca Di MODULAR DEVICE FOR AN INNOVATIVE USE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA2559153C (en) * 2005-09-12 2018-10-02 Acuity Brands, Inc. Light management system having networked intelligent luminaire managers

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11163551B1 (en) 2020-10-13 2021-11-02 Argo AI, LLC Systems and methods for improved smart infrastructure data transfer
US11537383B2 (en) 2020-10-13 2022-12-27 Argo AI, LLC Systems and methods for improved smart infrastructure data transfer
IT202100022184A1 (en) * 2021-08-23 2023-02-23 Francesco Gianluca Di MODULAR DEVICE FOR AN INNOVATIVE USE OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE

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