Lighting element-centric network of networks

摘要

A method for sending and receiving data via a relatively short range, low power wireless data communication link between lighting devices and other non-lighting-system devices. The method includes routing the data over a data network at a premises for which the lighting devices provide illumination. The data may be routed over the data network to a wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications.

主权项

1. A method comprising steps of:
emitting light from each of a plurality of intelligent lighting devices to provide illumination at a premises served by a lighting system that includes the intelligent lighting devices, wherein the emitting step includes emitting light from each of first and second ones of the intelligent lighting devices so that the first and second intelligent lighting devices together provide the illumination for an area at the premises; communicating data, via a data network at the premises and over a respective data communications link of each intelligent lighting device, to and from the intelligent lighting devices about lighting-related functions; providing a low power wireless data communications link, for two-way wireless communications in the area at the premises and separate from the respective data communications link of the respective intelligent lighting device, via each of the first and second intelligent lighting devices; sending and receiving data over the low power wireless data communications link from and to the first intelligent lighting device, for a first non-lighting-system device in the area at the premises in range of the first intelligent lighting device; routing, via the data network at the premises and over the data communications link of the first intelligent lighting device, the data for the first non-lighting-system device to and from the first intelligent lighting device; and implementing, within one of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices, distributed processing on behalf of the first non-lighting-system device, wherein the implementing step further comprises:
identifying, by the one intelligent lighting device, a processing job to be performed to support an operation of a processor of the first non-lighting-system device, the distributed processing potentially involving use of resources of any one of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices;querying, by the one intelligent lighting device, the plurality of intelligent lighting devices and receiving responses from the plurality of intelligent lighting devices, via the data network, as to whether or not any one or more of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices have processing or memory resources available for the processing job;based on the responses, allocating, by the one intelligent lighting device, portions of the processing job to the any one or more of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices;sending, by the one intelligent lighting device, data and instructions via the data network to the any one or more of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices, for performing an allocated portion of the processing job;receiving, by the one intelligent lighting device, from the any one or more of the plurality of intelligent lighting devices, via the data network, results of the performance of the allocated portions of the processing job;processing, by the one intelligent lighting device, the received results to determine an overall result of the processing job; andperforming, by the one intelligent lighting device, an action in support of the operation of the processor of the first non-lighting-system device, based on the overall result of the processing job.