Method and system for forming a device network

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12446117-B2
Application number	US-202318244494-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 11, 2023
Priority date	Aug 18, 2019
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A method and a system for forming a device network is provided. The method comprises providing a plurality of network devices and a plurality of gateways in a physical environment, collecting position data of the plurality of gateways, selecting a network device out of the plurality of network devices, and selecting a first gateway based on the position data. The method further comprises connecting the network device to the first gateway, if the total number of the network devices connected to the first gateway does not exceed a predefined maximum number of network devices per gateway, and selecting a second gateway based on the position data and connecting the network device to the second gateway, if the total number of the network devices connected to the first gateway exceeds the predefined maximum number of network devices per gateway.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for forming a device network with a plurality of network devices and a plurality of gateways in a physical environment, the system comprising:
a computer server, wherein the plurality of network devices are controllable by the computer server over the plurality of gateways, the computer server comprising:
a communication interface configured to send control signals to the plurality of gateways for assigning the plurality of network devices to the plurality of gateways;
a processor; and
a memory unit configured to store:
position data of the plurality of gateways; and
instructions executable by the processor to:
select a network device out of the plurality of network devices;
select a first gateway out of the plurality of gateways based on the position data;
connect the selected network device to the first gateway, if a total number of the plurality of network devices connected to the first gateway does not exceed a predefined maximum number of network devices per gateway; and
select a second gateway based on the position data and connect the selected network device to the second gateway if the total number of the plurality of network devices connected to the first gateway exceeds the predefined maximum number of network devices per gateway; and

a location device for collecting position data for the plurality of network devices and the plurality of gateways, wherein the location device comprises:
a processor,
a positioning tag configured to collect the position data for determining positions of the plurality of network devices relative to at least one positioning base provided in the physical environment;
a quick-response (QR)-scanner for collecting device information data representing individual properties of the plurality of network devices;
a communication interface for communicating with the computer server; and
a memory unit configured to store instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive the position data from the positioning tag and the device information data from the QR-scanner and to instruct the communication interface to send the position data and the device information data to the computer server.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein:
the computer server further comprises a user interface (UI); and
the memory unit of the computer server is further configured to store instructions executable by the processor to:
provide a model of the physical environment;
map the plurality of network devices to the model of the physical environment; and
display the model of the physical environment on the UI, the plurality of network devices being indicated by icons in the model of the physical environment.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein at least one of:
the UI comprises an interactive user interface configured to control the plurality of network devices by selecting respective icons on the UI; and
the UI is configured to display diagnostic parameters indicating an operational state of the plurality of network devices.

4. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
the at least one positioning base configured to be provided in the physical environment and configured to wirelessly communicate with the positioning tag of the location device for providing at least one of the position data of the plurality of network devices and the position data of the plurality of gateways.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the device network is self-equalizing in that network device connections and a current workload are able to be automatically distributed over the plurality of gateways.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the selected network device comprises a lamp or luminaire having at least one light parameter which is adjustable via the device network to achieve a target illumination of the physical environment.

7. A system for forming a device network with a plurality of network devices and a plurality of gateways in a physical environment, the system comprising:
a computer server, wherein the plurality of network devices are controllable by the computer server over the plurality of gateways, the computer server comprising:
a communication interface configured to send control signals to the plurality of gateways for assigning the plurality of network devices to the plurality of gateways;
a processor; and
a memory unit configured to store:
position data of the plurality of gateways; and
instructions executable by the processor to:
select a network device out of the plurality of network devices;
select a first gateway out of the plurality of gateways based on the position data;
connect the selected network device to the first gateway, if a total number of the plurality of network devices connected to the first gateway does not exceed a predefined maximum number of network devices per gateway; and
select a second gateway based on the position data and connect the selected network device to the second gateway if the total number of the plurality of network devices connected to the first gateway exceeds the predefined maximum number of network devices per gateway;

wherein:
the physical environment comprises at least one room with one or more network devices arranged in the at least one room; and
the memory unit is further configured to store instructions executable by the processor to:
determine a geometrical center of the at least one room; and
calculate distances between the plurality of gateways and the geometrical center of the at least one room based on the position data of the plurality of gateways, wherein:
a closest available gateway from the geometrical center of the at least one room is selected as the first gateway; and
a second closest available gateway from the geometrical center of the at least one room is selected as the second gateway.

8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the device network is self-equalizing in that network device connections and a current workload are able to be automatically distributed over the plurality of gateways.

9. The system according to claim 7 , wherein:
the computer server further comprises a user interface (UI); and
the memory unit is further configured to store instructions executable by the processor to:
provide a model of the physical environment;
map the plurality of network devices to the model of the physical environment; and
display the model of the physical environment on the UI, the plurality of network devices being indicated by icons in the model of the physical environment.

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein at least one of:
the UI comprises an interactive user interface configured to control the plurality of network devices by selecting respective icons on the UI; and
the UI is configured to display diagnostic parameters indicating an operational state of the plurality of network devices.

11. The system according to claim 7 , further comprising:
at least one positioning base configured to be provided in the physical environment and configured to wirelessly communicate with a positioning tag of a location device for providing the position data of the plurality of gateways.

12. The system according to claim 7 , wherein the selected network device comprises a lamp or luminaire having at least one light parameter which is adjustable via the device network to achieve a target illumination of the physical environment.

13. A system for forming a device network with a plurality of network devices and a plurality of gateways in a physical environment, the system comprising:
a computer server, wherein the p

Assignees

• Ledvance Gmbh

Inventors

• Liao Wuqiang
• Zhang Yafen
• Li Heng
• Liu Dengpan

Classifications

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04L45/126

  minimising geographical or physical path length · CPC title

• H04W36/16

  Performing reselection for specific purposes · CPC title

• H04W48/20

  Selecting an access point · CPC title

• H04L45/122

  by minimising distances, e.g. by selecting a route with minimum of number of hops · CPC title