WO2020104271A1

WO2020104271A1 - A lighting control device for controlling a lighting device and a method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2020104271A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/081167
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jeroen MOLS; Remco MAGIELSE
Original assignee: Signify Holding BV
Current assignee: Signify Holding BV
Priority date: 2018-11-20
Filing date: 2019-11-13
Publication date: 2020-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-20

Abstract

A lighting control device (102) for controlling a lighting device (124) is disclosed. The lighting control device (102) comprises a user input element (104) configured to receive a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device (124), a communication unit (106) configured to transmit a lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device (124), and to receive a response signal 5 after the lighting control command has been transmitted, and a processor (108) configured to generate, if the response signal is indicative of that the lighting device (124) has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no response signal has been received, an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device (124) has not been controlled according to the light setting, wherein the processor (108) is further configured to 10 communicate the error message to a portable device (126) to communicate the information to a user operating the portable device (126).

Description

A lighting control device for controlling a lighting device and a method thereof

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lighting control device for controlling a lighting device. The invention further relates to a system comprising the lighting control device and a portable device. The invention further relates to a method of controlling a lighting device and a computer program product for executing the method.

BACKGROUND

Connected home and office lighting systems enable users to control the light output of lighting devices with their smartphones, light switches and other lighting control devices. In current systems, a user is able to control a lighting device via a wireless light switch. The wireless light switch communicates a lighting control command to the lighting device. The lighting control command may be communicated to the lighting device, via, for example, the ZigBee communication protocol. If the lighting control command does not reach the lighting device, the light output is not changed. In current systems, the non- changing light output is an indication for the user that something is wrong with the lighting system.

US 20180027631 A1 discloses a monitor lighting control device that receives a state change event message that includes a payload specifying: (i) a state change event of an occupancy, audio, or daylight sensor, or a switch to turn lighting on/off, dim up/down, set scene or the like; (ii) an identifier of a mem-ber lighting control device that detected the state change event; and (iii) a lighting control group identifier of a lighting control group that includes the member lighting control device and the monitor lighting control device. The monitor lighting control device transmits an acknowledgement of receipt of the state change event message to the member lighting control device (e.g. a wall switch). If the wall switch doesn't receive the acknowledgment from the group monitor when the message having the payload indicating the control event is unicasted to the group monitor, then the switch will generate and issue a group multicast. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved manner of informing a user that a lighting control device, such as a light switch, is unable to control a lighting device.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a lighting control device for controlling a lighting device, the lighting control device comprising:

a user input element configured to receive a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device,

a communication unit configured to transmit a lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device, and to receive a response signal after the lighting control command has been transmitted,

a processor configured to generate, if the response signal is indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no response signal has been received, an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting,

wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the error message to a portable device to communicate the information to a user operating the portable device.

The inventors have realized that many users carry a portable (smart) device, such as a smartphone or a smartwatch, with them throughout the day. These portable devices are often already connected to the lighting system, and to the lighting control device (e.g. a light switch). Since the portable devices are already connected to the lighting control device, and often carried by the user throughout the day, the portable device is used to inform the user about an error when the lighting control device is unable to control the lighting device. This is beneficial, because the user is directly informed about the error, and it is no longer unclear to the user why the lighting control operation has failed.

After the lighting control device has received a user input via the user input element (e.g. a button, a rotary button, a switch, etc.), the communication unit transmits a lighting control command indicative of a light setting to change the light output of the lighting device according to the light setting. Typically, the communication unit receives a response signal indicative of that the lighting control command has been executed. If, however, the response signal is indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting, or if no response signal has been received, the processor may determine that something is wrong. The processor is configured to generate an error message indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting, which error message is subsequently communicated to the portable device. The portable device (e.g. a smartphone) may render the error message via a user interface, resulting in that the user operating the portable device is informed that the lighting control device is unable to control the lighting device.

The communication unit may comprise:

a first communication module configured to communicate via a first wireless communication technology, and to communicate the lighting control command to the lighting device via the first wireless communication technology, and

a second communication module configured to communicate via a second wireless communication technology, and to communicate the error message to the portable device via the second communication technology. The first communication module may be further configured to receive the response signal via the first wireless communication technology. It may be beneficial to equip the lighting control device with a communication unit that is able to communicate via two communication technologies. The lighting control device may, for example, communicate with the lighting device via a first communication technology, such as ZigBee, which is a low power communication protocol, especially useful for (lighting) devices that require a low standby power consumption. The lighting control device may, for example, communicate with the portable device via a second communication technology, such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which is a wireless communication technology that is implemented in many portable devices.

The first wireless communication technology may be a multi-hop communication technology (such as ZigBee, Thread, WirelessHART, SmartRF, Bluetooth Mesh, or any other mesh or tree-based technology), and the second wireless communication technology may be a point-to-point communication technology (such as Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), wireless local area communication (Wi-Fi), etc.).

The communication unit may be configured to communicate the lighting control command directly to the lighting device, and receive the response signal directly from the lighting device. Alternatively, the communication unit may be configured to

communicate the lighting control command the lighting device via an intermediary communication device (e.g. a bridge, a hub, a router, a further lighting device of a mesh network, etc.), and to receive the response signal from the intermediary communication device. If the response signal is received, the received response signal may further comprise information indicative of a cause that caused that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting, and the processor may be further configured to generate the error message such that the error message further comprises information about the cause. The portable device (e.g. a smartphone) may render the cause of the error via a user interface, resulting in that the user operating the portable device is informed about the cause why the lighting control device is unable to control the lighting device.

The communication unit may be further configured to receive a configuration signal from the portable device, wherein the configuration signal comprises instructions for reconfiguring the control device based on the cause. The processor may be further configured to reconfigure the lighting control device based on the configuration signal. In other words, the portable device may communicate instructions to the lighting control device to reconfigure the lighting control device to overcome the cause of the error. This may, for example, be executed automatically or based on a user command received at the portable device.

The processor may be further configured to transmit, via the communication unit, a second lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device, and to receive, via the communication unit, a second response signal after the second lighting control command has been transmitted, and to generate, if the second response signal is indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no second response signal has been received, a second error message, and to communicate, via the communication unit, the second error message to the portable device. In other words, the processor may be configured to attempt to control the lighting device according to the light setting a second time. The processor may perform this, for example, after an above- mentioned reconfiguration of the lighting control device. Alternatively, the processor may perform this after receiving a signal from the portable device indicative of that the lighting control device is to transmit the second lighting control command. The second lighting control command may be the same as the (initial) lighting control command.

The processor may be further configured to obtain distance information indicative of respective distances between a plurality of portable devices and the lighting control device, and to select a portable device from the plurality of portable devices based on the distance information, and to communicate the error message to the selected portable device. The processor may, for example, select a portable device that is closest to the lighting control device. This is likely the portable device that is carried by a user operating the lighting control device.

Additionally or alternatively, the processor may be configured to obtain type information indicative of respective types of a plurality of portable devices, and to select a portable device from the plurality of portable devices based on the type information, and to communicate the error message to the selected portable device. A first portable device may, for example, be a wearable device such as a smartwatch, and a second portable device may, for example, be a smartphone. The processor may select, for example, the smartwatch based on its type. This may be beneficial, because a smartwatch may be at the user more often compared to a smartphone.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a system comprising:

the lighting control device of any preceding claim, and

a portable device comprising a receiver configured to receive the error message, and a user interface configured to communicate the information to a user. The system may further comprise the lighting device.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a method of controlling a lighting device, the method comprising:

receiving a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device,

transmitting a lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device,

generating, if a response signal, received after the lighting control command has been transmitted, is indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no response signal has been received, an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting, and

communicating the error message to a portable device to communicate the information to a user operating the portable device.

The method may further comprise:

communicating the information to the user via a user interface of the portable device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the object is achieved by a computer program product for executing the method. It should be understood that the system, the method and the computer program product may have similar and/or identical embodiments and advantages as the above- mentioned lighting control device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the disclosed systems, devices and methods will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of devices and methods, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows schematically a system comprising a lighting device, a portable device and a lighting control device for controlling the lighting device;

Fig. 2 shows schematically a system comprising a lighting device, a portable device, an intermediary communication device and a lighting control device for controlling the lighting device via the intermediary communication device;

Fig. 3 shows schematically a lighting control device and two portable devices, wherein the lighting control device is configured to obtain information about distances between the lighting control device and the portable devices; and

Fig. 4 shows schematically a method of controlling a lighting device.

All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate the invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAIFED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 shows schematically a system 100 comprising a lighting device 124, a portable device 126 and a lighting control device 102 for controlling the lighting device 124. The lighting control device 102 comprises a user input element 104 configured to receive a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device 124. The lighting control device 102 further comprises a communication unit 106 configured to transmit a lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device 124, and to receive a response signal after the lighting control command has been transmitted. The lighting control device 102 further comprises a processor 108 configured to generate, if the response signal is indicative of that the lighting device 124 has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no response signal has been received, an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device 124 has not been controlled according to the light setting. The processor is further configured to communicate the error message to the portable device 126 to communicate the information to a user operating the portable device 126.

The lighting control device 102 may be any type of lighting control device for (wirelessly) controlling the lighting device 124. The lighting control device 102 may be a device that doesn’t comprise an output element, such as a display and/or a speaker, for communicating error messages to a user. The lighting control device may, for example, be a light switch, a sensor device, etc. The lighting control device 102 may comprise an indicator LED for indicating the error. Communicating the error via an indicator LED is, however, often not sufficiently clear or perceivable for the user. The lighting control device 102 comprises a user input element 104 configured to receive a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device. The user input element 104 may, for example, be a physical user input element such as a button, a touch-sensitive surface, a rotary button, a switch, etc. Upon activation of the user input element 104, a lighting control command is transmitted to the lighting device via the communication unit 106. The lighting control command is indicative of a light setting for controlling the lighting device 124. The lighting control command may comprise the light setting, or the lighting control command may be associated with a light setting stored in, for example, the lighting device. The light setting may relate to the brightness, color, hue, saturation, beam angle, beam shape, etc. of the light output of the lighting device 124.

The lighting device 124 may be any type of lighting device 124 configured to receive lighting control commands (either directly or indirectly) from the lighting control device 102. The lighting device may comprise a processing means for controlling one or more light sources (e.g. LED light sources) according to the light setting associated with the lighting control command.

The communication unit 106 of the lighting control device 102 is configured to communicate with the lighting device 124. The communication unit 106 may comprise hardware for transmitting the lighting control command and receiving the response signal via any wired or wireless communication protocol. Various communication protocols may be used, for example, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Li-Fi, 3G, 4G, 5G or ZigBee. The communication unit 106 is further configured to communicate the error message to the portable device 126, for example via the same protocol. Alternatively, the communication unit 106 may comprise a first communication module 106a configured to communicate the lighting control command to the lighting device 124 via a first wireless communication technology 114, and a second communication module 106b configured to communicate the error message to the portable device 126 via a second communication technology 116 (different from the first

communication technology 114). The first wireless communication technology may be a multi-hop (mesh) communication technology and the second wireless communication technology may be a point-to-point communication technology. The first wireless communication technology 114 may for instance a first network technology such as ZigBee, and the second wireless communication technology 116 may for instance be a second network technology such as BLE. These modules 106a, 106b may be separate units (e.g. separate radio chips) or be both comprised on a single radio chip, allowing a low-cost device to operate as part of both a first network and a second network at the same time, leveraging a single wireless radio module. This may be achieved by fast switching the first and second communication technology (e.g. ZigBee and BLE) operations over time such that the device remains connected and operates in both networks simultaneously. BLE and ZigBee combined radio is an example, and the present invention is equally applicable to any other combination of wireless communication technologies (e.g. BLE, Infrared (IR), near field communication (NFC), wireless local area communication (Wi-Fi), ZigBee, Thread, WirelessHART, SmartRF, etc.).

The processor 108 is configured to generate an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device 124 has not been controlled according to the light setting, if the response signal is indicative thereof or if no response signal has been received. Typically, when a lighting control device 102 such as a light switch transmits a control command, it receives a response signal indicating that the transmitted control command has been received (and executed). It may occur that the lighting device 124 cannot be controlled, for example when it is not reachable (e.g. because it is out of range of the switch, or because it has been powered off, or because it has been removed from the network). This may result in that the lighting control device 102 does not receive a response signal. Alternatively, the lighting control device 102 may receive a response signal (for example from the lighting device 124 or from an intermediary communication device 200 such as a bridge, a hub, or another lighting device - which is further discussed below), and the response signal may be indicative of that the lighting device is unreachable or uncontrollable according to the light setting. The lighting device 124 may receive the lighting control command, but it may not be able to execute the lighting control command (e.g. due to a lamp/driver failure), and communicate a response signal indicative of the error to the lighting control device 102. Alternatively, the lighting control command may be received by an intermediary communication device 200, but the lighting device 124 may be unreachable for the intermediary communication device 200. The intermediary communication device 200 may therefore communicate a response signal indicative of the error to the lighting control device 102.

The processor 108 is further configured to communicate the error message to the portable device 126 via the communication unit 106. The portable device 126 may for example be a personal device of the user, for example a smartphone, a tablet pc, smart assistant, smart speaker, etc. The portable device 126 may be a wearable device such as a smartwatch, a ring, a necklace, etc. The portable device 126 comprises a user interface for communicating the error message to the user. The user interface may, for example, be a display configured to display the error message. Additionally or alternatively, the portable device 126 may comprise a vibrator configured to provide a vibration to notify the user about the error. Additionally or alternatively, the user interface may comprise a loudspeaker to provide auditory feedback to the user about the error message (e.g. a (computer generated) spoken message:“Lighting device X could not be controlled”).

Fig. 2 shows schematically a system comprising a lighting device 102, a portable device 126, an intermediary communication device 200 and a lighting control device 102 for controlling the lighting device 124 via the intermediary communication device 200. The communication unit 106 of the lighting control device 102 may communicate the lighting control command to the intermediary communication device 200. The intermediary communication device 200 may be a node in a (mesh) network configured to relay lighting control commands from the lighting control device 102 to the lighting device 124. The intermediary communication device 200 may be a bridge, a hub, a central lighting control system, etc. for receiving signals from the lighting control device 102, and to control the lighting device 124 based on these signals. The intermediary communication device 200 may be configured to communicate with the lighting device 124 via a communication protocol different from the communication protocol that is used to communicate with the lighting control device 102.

The lighting control device 102 may be further configured to communicate the error message to the portable device 126 via the intermediary communication device 200. This may be beneficial if the portable device 126 is configured to communicate via a wireless communication protocol different from the wireless communication protocol of the lighting control device 102. The communication unit 106 of the lighting control device 102 may, for example, be configured to communicate via a first communication protocol (e.g. ZigBee), and the portable device 126 may be configured to communicate via a second communication protocol (e.g. Bluetooth). The intermediary communication device 200 may be configured to receive the error message form the lighting control device 102 via the first communication protocol, and communicate the error message to the portable device 126 via the second communication protocol 216.

The response signal may further comprise information indicative of a cause that caused that the lighting device 124 has not been controlled according to the light setting. The cause may, for example, be that the lighting device 124 is unreachable by an

intermediary communication device 200, that it has been removed from the lighting network, etc. The processor 108 may be configured to generate the error message such that it comprises information indicative of the cause. The cause may subsequently be communicated to a user operating the portable device 126 via a user interface of the portable device 126.

The user interface of the portable device 126 may be configured to provide information about the cause. The user interface may, for example, comprise a display or a speaker for communicating the information to the user. The user interface may be further configured to communicate information indicative of a solution the cause. The user interface may, for example, show diagrams, render text and/or provide a link to an external support service (e.g. a website, customer support, a video, etc.), which enable the user to try to solve the problem.

The communication unit 106 may be further configured to receive a configuration signal from the portable device 126. The reconfiguration signal/message may comprise instructions for reconfiguring the lighting control device 102 based on the cause that causes that the lighting device had not been controlled according to the light setting. The cause may, for example, relate to that the software version of the lighting control device 102 is different from the software version of the lighting device 124. The reconfiguration signal may for example comprise a software update for the lighting control device 102, or instructions to revert to a previous software version. The processor 108 is further configured to reconfigure the lighting control device based on the configuration signal.

The processor 108 may be configured to attempt to control the lighting device 124 according to the light setting a second time. The processor 108 may perform this, for example, after a reconfiguration of the lighting control device 102. Alternatively, the processor may perform this after receiving a signal from the portable device 126 indicative of that the lighting control device 102 should transmit the second lighting control command for a (second or further) attempt. The second lighting control command may be the same as the (initial) lighting control command. Alternatively, the second lighting control command may be different from the (initial) lighting control command, and for example be communicated via a different communication protocol from the lighting control device 102 to the lighting device 124 (e.g. a direct communication via, for example, Bluetooth, as compared to an (indirect) communication via ZigBee).

The processor 108 may be further configured to obtain distance information indicative of respective distances between a plurality of portable devices 326, 328 and the lighting control device 102, and to select a portable device from the plurality of portable devices 326, 328 based on the distance information, and to communicate the error message to the selected portable device. The processor 108 may, for example, receive information about the locations of the plurality of portable devices 326, 328 and the location of the lighting control device 102 from an indoor positioning system, and calculate the distance between each of the plurality of portable devices 326, 328 and the lighting control device 102.

Alternatively, the processor 102 may be configured to calculate the distance between each of the plurality of portable devices 326, 328 and the lighting control device 102 by analyzing the RSSI (received signal strength indication) of signals received from the portable devices 326, 328. Other techniques known in the art may also be used for determining distances between portable devices 326, 328 and the lighting controller 102. Fig. 3 illustrates an example wherein the processor 108 may select a portable device based on its distance from the lighting control device 102. The processor 108 may obtain information about a first distance 316 between a first portable device 326 and the lighting control device 102, and a second distance 318 between a second portable device 328 and the lighting control device. The processor 108 may determine that the first distance 316 is shorter than the second distance 318, select the first portable device 326 based thereon, and communicate the error message to the selected first portable device 326.

The processor 108 may be further configured to obtain type information indicative of respective types of a plurality of portable devices. The type may, for example, be indicative of a type of user interface (e.g. a display, a microphone, etc.), a type of communication modality (e.g. auditory, tactile and/or visual), whether the portable device is a wearable device, etc. The processor 108 may be further configured to select a portable device from the plurality of portable devices based on the type information, and to communicate the error message to the selected portable device. The processor 108 may, for example, select a first portable device over a second portable device because the first portable device is a wearable device, or the processor may select a first portable device over a second portable device because the first portable device has access to one or more communication modalities to which the second portable device does not have access.

Fig. 4 shows schematically a method 400 of controlling a lighting device 124. The method 400 comprises receiving 402 a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device 124, transmitting 404 a lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device 124, generating 406, if a response signal received after the lighting control command has been transmitted is indicative of that the lighting device 124 has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no response signal has been received, an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device 124 has not been controlled according to the light setting, and communicating 408 the error message to a portable device 126 to communicate the information to a user operating the portable device 126.

The method 400 may be executed by computer program code of a computer program product when the computer program product is run on a processing unit of a computing device, such as the processor 108 of the lighting control device 102.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer or processing unit. In the device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Aspects of the invention may be implemented in a computer program product, which may be a collection of computer program instructions stored on a computer readable storage device which may be executed by a computer. The instructions of the present invention may be in any interpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited to scripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs) or Java classes. The instructions can be provided as complete executable programs, partial executable programs, as modifications to existing programs (e.g. updates) or extensions for existing programs (e.g. plugins). Moreover, parts of the processing of the present invention may be distributed over multiple computers or processors or even the‘cloud’.

Storage media suitable for storing computer program instructions include all forms of nonvolatile memory, including but not limited to EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as the internal and external hard disk drives, removable disks and CD-ROM disks. The computer program product may be distributed on such a storage medium, or may be offered for download through HTTP, FTP, email or through a server connected to a network such as the Internet.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lighting control device (102) for controlling a lighting device (124), the lighting control device (102) comprising:

a user input element (104) configured to receive a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device (124),

a communication unit (106) configured to transmit a lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device (124), and to receive a response signal after the lighting control command has been transmitted, and

a processor (108) configured to generate, if the response signal is indicative of that the lighting device (124) has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no response signal has been received, an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device (124) has not been controlled according to the light setting,

wherein the processor (108) is further configured to communicate, via the communication unit of the lighting control device, the error message to a portable device (126) to communicate the information to a user operating the portable device (126).

2. The lighting control device (102) of claim 1, wherein the communication unit (106) comprises:

a first communication module (106a) configured to communicate via a first wireless communication technology (114), and configured to communicate the lighting control command to the lighting device (124) via the first wireless communication technology (114), and

a second communication module (106b) configured to communicate via a second wireless communication technology (116), and configured to communicate the error message to the portable device (126) via the second communication technology (116).

3. The lighting control device (102) of claim 2, wherein the first communication module (106a) is further configured to receive the response signal via the first wireless communication technology (114).

4. The lighting control device (102) of claim 2 or 3, wherein the first wireless communication technology (114) is a multi-hop communication technology, and wherein the second wireless communication technology (116) is a point-to-point communication technology.

5. The lighting control device (102) of any preceding claim, wherein the communication unit (106) is configured to communicate the lighting control command to the lighting device (124) via an intermediary communication device (200), and to receive the response signal from the intermediary communication device (200).

6. The lighting control device (102) of any preceding claim, wherein the received response signal further comprises information indicative of a cause that caused that the lighting device (124) has not been controlled according to the light setting, and wherein the processor (108) is further configured to generate the error message such that the error message further comprises information about the cause.

7. The lighting control device (102) of claim 6, wherein the communication unit (106) is further configured to receive a configuration signal from the portable device (126), wherein the configuration signal comprises instructions for reconfiguring the lighting control device (102) based on the cause, and wherein the processor (108) is further configured to reconfigure the lighting control device (102) based on the configuration signal.

8. The lighting control device (102) of any preceding claim, wherein the processor (108) is further configured to transmit, via the communication unit (106), a second lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device (124), and to receive, via the communication unit (106), a second response signal after the second lighting control command has been transmitted, and to generate, if the second response signal is indicative of that the lighting device (124) has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no second response signal has been received, a second error message, and to communicate, via the communication unit (106), the second error message to the portable device (126).

9. The lighting control device (102) of any preceding claim, wherein the processor (108) is further configured to obtain distance information indicative of respective distances between a plurality of portable devices (326, 328) and the lighting control device (102), and to select a portable device from the plurality of portable devices (326, 328) based on the distance information, and to communicate the error message to the selected portable device.

10. The lighting control device (102) of any preceding claim, wherein the processor (108) is further configured to obtain type information indicative of respective types of a plurality of portable devices, and to select a portable device from the plurality of portable devices based on the type information, and to communicate the error message to the selected portable device.

11. A system (100) comprising :

the lighting control device (102) of any preceding claim,

a portable device (126) comprising a receiver configured to receive the error message, and a user interface configured to communicate the information to a user.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising the lighting device (124).

13. A method (400) of controlling a lighting device, the method comprising:

receiving (402) a user input indicative of an activation of a light setting for the lighting device,

transmitting (404), via a communication unit of the lighting control device, a lighting control command indicative of the light setting to the lighting device,

generating (406), if a response signal received after the lighting control command has been transmitted is indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting or if no response signal has been received, an error message comprising information indicative of that the lighting device has not been controlled according to the light setting, and

communicating (408), via the communication unit of the lighting control device, the error message to a portable device to communicate the information to a user operating the portable device.

14. The method (400) of claim 13, further comprising:

15. A computer program product for a computing device, the computer program product comprising computer program code to perform the method (402) of claim 13 when the computer program product is run on a processing unit of the computing device.