Remote configuration of lighting power supply

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9819508-B2
Application number	US-201213473588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2012
Priority date	May 16, 2011
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for remote configuration of one or more power supplies, particularly lighting power supplies, are disclosed. A configuration signal that includes a setting for a parameter is generated and then transmitted to a power supply. The power supply decodes the configuration signal and, if one or more certain conditions are met, configures the power supply according to information provided in the configuration signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method, comprising:
enabling a transmitter, wherein the transmitter has a corresponding receiver;
sending, via the enabled transmitter, an enable signal to the corresponding receiver, wherein the corresponding receiver is connected to a power supply;
providing a user interface on a display of a computer system to a user;
receiving, via the user interface, a parameter setting for at least one parameter associated with the power supply; and
transmitting, via the enabled transmitter, a configuration signal including the parameter setting for the at least one parameter associated with the power supply to the enabled receiver of the power supply so as to configure the power supply according to the transmitted configuration signal when the parameter setting is within a permitted range of values for the parameter of the power supply.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying, via the user interface, a setting error message to the user, wherein the setting error message indicates to the user that the user has selected a parameter setting for the at least one parameter that is outside the permitted range of values for the at least one parameter.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
prompting the user to enter a further parameter setting for the at least one parameter; and
receiving, via the user interface from the user, a further parameter setting for the at least one parameter.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving comprises:
receiving, via the user interface, a parameter setting for at least one parameter associated with the power supply; and
prior to transmitting, receiving a configuring user identifier associated with the parameter setting, the configuring user identifier identifying the user to the power supply;

and wherein transmitting comprises:
transmitting, via the enabled transmitter, a configuration signal including the parameter setting to the enabled receiver of the power supply so as to configure the power supply according to the transmitted configuration signal when the configuring user identifier associated with the parameter setting permits configuration of the power supply by the user identified by the configuring user identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
displaying, via the user interface, an error message to the user, wherein the error message indicates to the user that the user is not permitted to configure the at least one parameter associated with the power supply.

6. A computer program product, stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, including instructions that, when executed on a processor of a computer system in communication with a power supply, cause the processor to perform operations of:
enabling a transmitter, wherein the transmitter has a corresponding receiver;
sending, via the enabled transmitter, an enable signal to the corresponding receiver, wherein the corresponding receiver is connected to the power supply;
providing a user interface on a display of the computer system to a user;
receiving, via the user interface, a parameter setting for at least one parameter associated with the power supply; and
transmitting, via the enabled transmitter, a configuration signal including the parameter setting for the at least one parameter associated with the power supply to the enabled receiver of the power supply so as to configure the power supply according to the transmitted configuration signal when the parameter setting is within a permitted range of values for the parameter of the power supply.

7. The computer program product of claim 6 , wherein the processor performs operations of receiving by:
receiving, via the user interface, a parameter setting for at least one parameter associated with the power supply; and
prior to transmitting, receiving a configuring user identifier associated with the parameter setting, the configuring user identifier identifying the user to the power supply;

and wherein the processor performs operations of transmitting by:
transmitting, via the enabled transmitter, a configuration signal including the parameter setting to the enabled receiver of the power supply so as to configure the power supply according to the transmitted configuration signal when the configuring user identifier associated with the parameter setting permits configuration of the power supply by the user identified by the configuring user identifier.

8. A method of remotely configuring a power supply, comprising:
enabling a transmitter, wherein the transmitter has a corresponding receiver;
sending, via the enabled transmitter, an enable signal to the corresponding receiver, wherein the corresponding receiver is connected to the power supply;
in response, enabling the receiver, wherein the receiver is connected to a memory system, wherein the memory system includes at least one parameter value for a parameter associated with the power supply;
providing a user interface on a display of a computer system to a user, wherein the computer system is connected to the transmitter;
receiving, via the user interface, a parameter setting for a parameter associated with the power supply;
transmitting, via the enabled transmitter, a configuration signal including the parameter setting for the parameter associated with the power supply to the enabled receiver of the power supply;
receiving the configuration signal via the enabled receiver;
decoding the configuration signal within the power supply; and
configuring the power supply based on the decoded configuration signal and the parameter setting when the parameter setting matches the at least one parameter value.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein enabling the receiver comprises:
in response, enabling the receiver, wherein the receiver is connected to a memory system, wherein the memory system includes a range of parameter values for a parameter associated with the power supply;

and wherein decoding comprises:
decoding the configuration signal within the power supply to determine the parameter and its associated parameter setting;
comparing the decoded parameter setting with the range of values for the parameter to produce a comparison result;

and wherein configuring comprises:
configuring the power supply so that the parameter is set to the decoded parameter setting when the comparison result indicates that the decoded parameter setting is within the range of values for the at least one parameter; and
failing to configure the power supply when the comparison result indicates that the decoded parameter setting is outside of the range of values for the at least one parameter.

10. A system to remotely configure a power supply, comprising:
a first computer system, wherein the first computer system comprises:
a first processor;
a first memory;
a display;
a transmitter in communication with the power supply; and
a first interconnection mechanism allowing communication between the first processor, the first memory, the display, and the transmitter;
wherein the memory includes a configuration setting application; and

a second computer system in connection with the power supply, wherein the second computer system comprises:
a second processor;
a second memory;
a receiver associated with the transmitter; and
a second interconnection mechanism allowing communication between the second processor, the second memory, and the receiver;
wherein the second memory includes a configuring application and at least one parameter value for a parameter associated with the power supply;

wherein the configuration setting application, when executed in the first processor as a configura

Assignees

• Ardai Michael
• Yang Lin
• Gajendar Suraj
• Thangavelu Sivakumar
• Osram Sylvania Inc

Inventors

• Ardai Michael
• Yang Lin
• Gajendar Suraj
• Thangavelu Sivakumar

Classifications

• H04L12/2816 Primary

  Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title