Network Controlled Multi-Color Lighting Services

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016165679-A1
Application number	US-201414563471-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 8, 2014
Priority date	Dec 8, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Techniques presented herein are directed to the coordinated network-based control of the color capabilities of multi-color fixtures. A network device is connected to multi-color light fixtures each comprising a local processor and a plurality of color light emitters. The network device receives data inputs from one or more data sources and uses the data inputs to identify a color informational display for presentation across a plurality of the multi-color light fixtures. The network device generates messages encoding light control settings for each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures enabling each multi-color light fixture to present a spatial or temporal segment of the color informational display and sends the messages to the plurality of light fixtures. Execution of instructions embedded in the messages by the local processors results in the creation of the color informational display across the plurality of multi-color light fixtures

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method comprising:
accepting, at a network device connected to multi-color light fixtures each comprising a local processor and a plurality of color light emitters, data inputs from one or more data sources; identifying, based on the data inputs, a color informational display for presentation across a plurality of the multi-color light fixtures; generating messages encoding light control settings for each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures enabling each multi-color light fixture to present a spatial or temporal segment of the color informational display; and sending the messages to the plurality of light fixtures for execution by the local processors to create the color informational display across the plurality of multi-color light fixtures.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of color light emitters in a multi-color light fixture comprise multi-color light emitting diodes (LEDs) that include red, green, and blue emitters, and wherein the multi-color LEDs are arranged into rows and columns forming a pixel color display.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
validating the data inputs to determine whether the data inputs comply with one or more predefined policies.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a query requesting a location of a specific target within a space; identifying a location of the specific target; identifying a location associated within the source of the query; and generating messages encoding light control settings enabling one or more multi-color light fixtures in proximity to the specific target to present a color informational display which identifies the location of the specific target and which is visible from the location associated with the source of the query.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
generating messages encoding light control settings enabling one or more multi-color light fixtures between the location associated with the source of the query and the specific target to generate a color informational display identifying a route from the location associated with the source of the query to the specific target.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the color informational display identifying the route from the location associated with the source of the query to the specific target is a chasing light display.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the messages to each of the one or more multi-color light fixtures comprises:
sending the messages via Power over Ethernet (POE).

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the multi-color light fixtures comprises a light emission area divided into a plurality of emitting zones angled in different directions,

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the light emission area has a generally pyramidal frustum shape with four lateral faces and an outer medial face, wherein each of the four lateral faces and the outer medial face each corresponds to an emitting zone that each emits light at different angles.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the four lateral faces are angled at approximately forty-five (45) degrees relative to the outer medial face.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each emitting zone includes warm white light emitting diodes (LEDs), cool white light LEDs, and multi-color LEDs that include red, green, and blue emitters.

12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the light emission area has plurality of co-planar emitting zones each including a plurality of emitters, and wherein emitters in each of the emitting zones are angled such that each emitting zone emits light at different angles.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the messages encoding light control settings for each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures comprise messages that includes brightness values for multiple color channels in each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the messages encoding light control settings for each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures comprise messages that include multiple temporal frames that are sequentially displayed on each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures.

15 . An apparatus, comprising:
one or more network interface devices connected to multi-color light fixtures each comprising a local processor and a plurality of color light emitters; a memory; and a processor that:
accepts data inputs from one or more data sources,
identifies, based on the data inputs, a color informational display for presentation across a plurality of the multi-color light fixtures,
generates messages encoding light control settings for each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures enabling each multi-color light fixture to present a spatial or temporal segment of the color informational display, and
sends the messages to the plurality of light fixtures for execution by the local processors to create the color informational display across the plurality of multi-color light fixtures.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor:
validates the data inputs to determine whether the data inputs comply with one or more predefined policies.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor further:
receives a query requesting a location of a specific target within a space; identifies a location of the specific target; identifies a location associated within the source of the query; and generates messages encoding light control settings enabling one or more multi-color light fixtures in proximity to the specific target to present a color informational display which identifies the location of the specific target and which is visible from the location associated with the source of the query.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the processor further:
generates messages encoding light control settings enabling one or more multi-color light fixtures between the location associated with the source of the query and the specific target to generate a color informational display identifying a route from the location associated with the source of the query to the specific target.

19 . The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the color informational display identifying the route from the location associated with the source of the query to the specific target is a chasing light display.

20 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein to send the messages to each of the one or more multi-color light fixtures, the processor:
sends the messages via Power over Ethernet (POE).

21 . One or more computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and when the software is executed operable to:
accept, at a network device connected to multi-color light fixtures each comprising a local processor and a plurality of color light emitters, data inputs from one or more data sources; identify, based on the data inputs, a color informational display for presentation across a plurality of the multi-color light fixtures; generate messages encoding light control settings for each of the plurality of multi-color light fixtures enabling each multi-color light fixture to present a spatial or temporal segment of the color informational display; and send the messages to the plurality of light fixtures for execution by the local processors to create the color informational display across the plurality of multi-color light fixtures.

22 . The compute

Assignees

• Cisco Tech Inc

Inventors

• Laherty Matthew A
• Schriner Donald
• Macgowan William
• Byers Charles Calvin

Classifications

• H05B45/00

  Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• H05B47/18

  via data-bus transmission · CPC title

• H05B45/20 Primary

  Controlling the colour of the light · CPC title

• G09F9/302

  characterised by the form or geometrical disposition of the individual elements · CPC title

• G09F2013/222

  with LEDs · CPC title