LIGHTING ELEMENT-CENTRIC NETWORK OF NETWORKS

摘要

A lighting system utilizes intelligent lighting system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors. The system also has a data communication network. Some number of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices, also support optical wireless communication with non-lighting-system devices at the premises having optical transmitters and receivers. Each such element has a communication interface system configured to provide the optical wireless data communication link for use by other non-lighting-system devices at the premises via one of visible light spectrum; infrared light; or ultraviolet (UV) light. Also, in such an element, the processor is configured to control communications via the communication interface system so as to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of non-lighting-system devices.

主权项

1. A lighting system, comprising:
a data network configured to enable data communication within a premises and to provide data communication access to a wide area network extending outside the premises; and intelligent lighting system elements, including:
lighting devices each comprising a light source, andeither a user interface device configured for lighting control or a lighting-related sensor including a detector, each of the intelligent lighting system elements comprising: a communication interface system, including at least one communication interface, configured to enable communication via a link to the data network; and a processor coupled to communicate via the communication interface and the data network link and configured to control a lighting related operation of the respective intelligent lighting system element, wherein for each respective one of a plurality of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices: the communication interface system of the respective intelligent lighting system element is further configured to provide an optical wireless data communication link for use by a plurality of other non-lighting-system devices at the premises having optical transmitters and receivers in range of the respective intelligent lighting system element; and the processor of the respective intelligent lighting system element is configured to control communications via the communication interface system of the respective intelligent lighting system element to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of the plurality of non-lighting-system devices in a respective optical wireless communication zone provided by the respective intelligent lighting system element.