Lighting system with cellular networking

摘要

Disclosed are examples of lighting devices and other devices that are equipped with a cellular transceiver that is configured to communicate using licensed cellular radio frequency spectrum in both a small-scale cellular network and a large-scale cellular communication network. By utilizing a short-range, low-power cellular transceiver setting, a lighting device facilitates communication, within the space in which the lighting device is installed, of messages between the lighting device and other types of user devices. Such an equipped lighting device may be configured to participate in the generation and delivery of different types of messages, such as data, emergency broadcast information, news and other information as well extend the reach of devices within the space in which the equipped lighting devices are located.

主权项

1. A lighting device, comprising:
a processor; a memory module connected to the processor, the memory module configured to store data and executable programming code; a communication module including a cellular transceiver, wherein the communication module is coupled to the processor, wherein the cellular transceiver is configured to enable communication via a large scale cellular communication network using a first radio frequency spectrum and to enable communication over a limited range in a small-scale cellular network uncoupled from the large-scale cellular communication network using the first radio frequency spectrum; a light source configured to produce visible light for general illumination of a space; a light microcontroller configured to control the light source; wherein the processor is coupled to the light microcontroller and the communication module, the processor configured to execute programming code to perform functions, the functions including:
in response to an input signal, deliver lighting control instructions to the light microcontroller;transmit a data message intended for a recipient device within the small-scale cellular network via the cellular transceiver of the communication module, wherein the cellular transceiver transmits the data message using the first radio frequency spectrum;in response to the transmitted data message, receive a response message from the recipient device in the small-scale cellular network via the cellular transceiver;based on the received response message, identify a type of connection that is being requested in the response message, wherein a connection type is one of a direct connection, a lighting device access request or a data access request; andupon identifying the connection type, completing the requested connection according to the identified connection type.