Abstract:
Method for the operation and the expansion of a network of lights, each light in the network including a control module which is assigned to a group, each control module being in communication with a group controller as well as control modules in the same group. The network can be expanded by installing (19) new lights with their associated control modules, and each new control module scans (20) its environment and transmits environmental information to a central server where the environmental information is analysed and the new control modules are allocated (21) into groups. After allocation to a group in which control modules may be moved from one group to another or a new group is formed, the new control modules are available for normal operation. This process is repeated for each new light and associated control module.
Abstract:
Set of devices adapted to form a local network (3), the set comprising at least one first communication device (1) and at least one second communication device (2), wherein both the first and the second communication devices comprise a short-range communication module (4) to communicate in the local network (3), and wherein only the first communication device additionally comprises a long-distance communication module (5) to communicate with a remote server (6), wherein the first communication device (1, 2) comprises a first energy storage module (7) configured to allow the first communication device to transmit messages received during a predetermined period after power supply cutoff to said remote server, wherein the second communication device (1, 2) comprises a second energy storage module (8) configured to allow the second communication device to send a power cutoff message after power supply cutoff.
Abstract:
Described herein is a luminaire controller (100) for a luminaire in which dimming signals (270) can be provided to control the operation of the luminaire. The controller (100) also includes an energy measurement module (110) connected to a mains supply (120), a sensor module (280), a power switch (160), a central processing module (350) and a ZigBee transceiver module (410). The controller (100), in addition to providing dimming signals (270) in accordance with ambient lighting conditions sensed by a photocell (290) in the sensor module (280), provides efficient energy metering. In one embodiment, the luminaire controller is directly mountable on a luminaire which it is to control.
Abstract:
Described herein is a control arrangement for mounting on an external surface of a luminaire. The control arrangement comprises a control module (1) and a control module base configured to be mounted to one another. The control module base comprises a near-field communication means configured to communicate with a near-field communication unit provided in the control module (1).
Abstract:
Described herein is control module for a street light which is mounted on the street light and provides a control output for controlling the operation of the light. The control module has a circuit board (38) on which a controller (39) is mounted, the controller being connected a long-distance communication module, a short-distance communication module, and a geocoordinate module. A network can be formed by the control modules in which a central server uses long-distance communication for communicating with the control modules at start up and with a group controller after start up, the group controller using short-distance communication for communicating with control modules within its group. A sensor (41) may be provided in the control module for modifying the normal operation of the light in accordance with sensed changes in its local environment.
Abstract:
Described herein is method for setting up a network of luminaires and their subsequent operation. A plurality of luminaires are located on a street (24, 29), and each luminaire comprises a control module (23, 28). The method for setting up the network comprises, for each control module, scanning the environment and providing environmental information to a central server, which, allocates the control modules and their associated luminaires into groups (A, B). A group controller (23', 28', 31, 32) is allocated for each group which has long-distance communication with the server and short-distance communication with control modules within its group. Each group controller and control modules within the group form a network which can operate autonomously or under the control of the server. Some of the control modules may include sensors (S1, S2) which provide signals indicative of changes in the environment allowing the network to adapt its operation in accordance with those changes.
Abstract:
Described herein is method for the detection of seismic activity using a network of lights, and in particular, street lights (43) arranged over a number of streets (42). Each light includes a control module having the facility for both long- and short-distance communication, the control modules being grouped with other control modules and associated with a group controller to create a short-distance or mesh network. Each control module includes a sensor which is capable of detecting seismic activity and data relating to such activity may be transmitted to a central server via its group controller using long-distance communication. Even if the sensors are relatively inaccurate, the high number of such sensors present in the network makes it possible to detect and analyse the activity using geocoordinate information provided by the control modules at the server. Information relating to an epicentre of an earthquake can be determined and distributed to control modules in the vicinity of the detected seismic activity (50) to provide warning light signals for the population in that vicinity.
Abstract:
A luminaire network system comprising one or more luminaires (1000), wherein a luminaire thereof is provided with a luminaires controller (100), and a storage device (300) configured to store messages to be transmitted in a queue (Q, Q1, Qa, Qb); wherein the luminaire controller is configured to associate a message in the queue (Q, Q1, Qa, Qb) with an indication (t0, ∆t; ts; p) of a time before which the message needs to be transmitted; to check whether the indication of at least one message of a plurality of messages in the queue indicates that said at least one message has to be transmitted; and to transmit the plurality of messages in the queue, when a result of the checking is that said at least one message has to be transmitted.
Abstract:
Mesh network (1) comprising multiple communication devices (2) adapted to communicate in the mesh network according to a predetermined protocol, wherein a single one of the multiple communication devices (2) adopts a coordinator role in the mesh network for governing a commissioning procedure in the mesh network, characterized in that the mesh network is configured to rotate the coordinator role among at least a selected number of the multiple communication devices so that a new communication device is detectable in the vicinity of the device adopting the coordinator role.
Abstract:
A method of storing data preferably data that is particularly worthy of protection, within a network, in particular an external light network, the network comprising a plurality of decentralised EDP units, each having communication means, at least one sensor arrangement being respectively assigned to at least some of the EDP units, wherein the method comprises the steps of the sensor arrangement of a first EDP unit recording data, storing a data set (1) which comprises the data recorded by the sensor arrangement of a first EDP unit or that has been generated from these data, distributed over a number of the decentralised EDP units (2, 12, 3, 13, 4, 14, 5, 15, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11); and at least partially deleting the data set after the distribution of the data set (1) on the first EDP unit (5).