Causing a lighting device to visually indicate whether it can be commissioned using a particular wireless technology

A method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system comprises receiving (121) a first message from a mobile device (41) on the lighting device (11,13). The first message indicates that the mobile device intends to scan, using the first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology. The method further comprises determining (123) whether the lighting device can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology and controlling (125) a light source to render a light effect upon receipt of the message in dependence on the determination whether the lighting device can be commissioned via the first wireless communication technology. The method also comprises receiving (127) a second message from the mobile device and responding by transmitting (129) a third message confirming that the mobile device can control the lighting device, using the first wireless communication technology.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of International Application No. PCT/EP2021/057974, filed on Mar. 26, 2021, which claims the benefit of European Patent Application No. 20166648.4, filed on Mar. 30, 2020. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a lighting device for use in a lighting system and a mobile device for commissioning said lighting device in said lighting system.

The invention further relates to methods of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system.

The invention also relates to a computer program product enabling a computer system to perform such methods.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past, connected devices typically relied on a single wireless communication technology. In the Philips Hue system, connected lighting devices relied on Zigbee communication technology. With the introduction of connected device devices which support multiple wireless communication technologies, the complexity of the ecosystem increases as it transitions from a homogeneous to heterogeneous system. For example, in the Hue system, lighting devices that support both Bluetooth and Zigbee communication technologies have been introduced and two commissioning workflows now exist.

In the Hue system, a user is able to search for all lighting devices that support Zigbee and select a lighting device that he wants to commission in his lighting system from a list of found lighting devices displayed on screen in the user's app. WO 2017/063884 A1 discloses that a bulb can flash or blink to indicate visually to the user that the bulb selected on screen in the app is indeed the bulb being added to the lighting system.

However, in order to commission lighting devices that support Bluetooth in his lighting system, the user needs to approach each of these lighting devices and scan for new lighting devices when a lighting device is in the proximity of the user's mobile device. The reason for this is that the Bluetooth-based commissioning procedure has a proximity-based security requirement and requires that the user must be within 3 feet of the lighting device to have it successfully commissioned.

When the user has both lighting devices that do not support Bluetooth and lighting devices that do support Bluetooth, commissioning the lighting devices that support Bluetooth can become cumbersome. The user likely does not know which lighting devices support Bluetooth-based commissioning and therefore needs to use a trial-and-error method for the commissioning. This may become especially cumbersome if not all lighting devices are easily accessible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a first object of the invention to provide a mobile device, which makes it relatively easy to commission lighting devices that support different wireless communication technologies in a lighting system.

It is a second object of the invention to provide a lighting device, which makes it relatively easy to commission lighting devices that support different wireless communication technologies in a lighting system.

It is a third object of the invention to provide methods, which make it relatively easy to commission lighting devices that support different wireless communication technologies in a lighting system.

In a first aspect of the invention, a mobile device for commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system using said first wireless communication technology when said lighting device is located within a predetermined distance of said mobile device, said lighting system comprising said lighting device and a further lighting device, and said further lighting device supporting a second wireless communication technology, comprises at least one input interface, at least one output interface, and at least one processor configured to select said first wireless communication technology for commissioning said lighting device and transmit, via said at least one output interface, a message to at least one lighting device to cause said at least one lighting device to render a light effect upon receipt of said message, said at least one lighting device comprising said lighting device and said message not causing said further lighting device to render said light effect, said message indicating that said mobile device intends to scan, using said first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology,

The processor is further configured to scan, via said at least one input interface, using said first wireless communication technology, for said lighting device located within said predetermined distance of said mobile device, and commission said lighting device to enable said lighting device to be controlled by said mobile device using said first wireless communication technology.

Thus, the mobile device causes one or more lighting devices to provide active feedback to the user to allow him to identify the lighting devices which support a given or user-selected commissioning workflow. Without this active identification, a user would be required to remember information about all the lighting devices and all the workflow they support. For example, if the user has initiated a commissioning workflow using the first wireless communication technology, e.g. Bluetooth, all the devices which support this workflow may use their light source to discern themselves from other lighting devices that do not support this commissioning workflow, e.g. by changing their light source to a blue light setting. This helps the user identify the lighting devices and easily fulfil the workflow requirements like distance from the lighting device (e.g. minimum received signal strength) and thereby makes it relatively easy to commission lighting devices that support different wireless communication technologies in a lighting system.

Said at least one processor may be configured to transmit said message to said at least one lighting device by broadcasting said message using said first wireless communication technology. Alternatively or additionally, said at least one processor may be configured to transmit said message to said at least one lighting device via a bridge.

Said at least one processor may be configured to select said first wireless communication technology for commissioning one or more lighting devices based on user input. For example, a user may select a certain app dedicated to controlling lighting devices using the first wireless communication technology or may select a commissioning workflow that uses the first wireless communication technology in an app that supports multiple commissioning workflows.

In a second aspect of the invention, a lighting device for use in a lighting system, said lighting device supporting a first wireless communication technology, said lighting system comprising said lighting device and a further lighting device, and said further lighting device supporting a second wireless communication technology, comprises at least one light source, at least one input interface, at least one output interface, and at least one processor configured to receive, via said at least one input interface, a first message from a mobile device, said first message indicating that said mobile device intends to scan, using said first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology,

The processor is further configured to determine whether said lighting device can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology, control said at least one light source to render a light effect upon receipt of said message in dependence on said determination whether said lighting device can be commissioned via said first wireless communication technology, said first message not causing said further lighting device to render said light effect, receive, via said at least one input interface, using said first wireless communication technology, a second message from said mobile device, and transmit, via said at least one output interface, using said first wireless communication technology, a third message to said mobile device in response to said second message, said third message confirming that said lighting device can be controlled by said mobile device using said first wireless communication technology.

Said at least one processor may be configured to control said at least one light source to render said light effect upon determining that said lighting device can be commissioned via said first wireless communication technology. Alternatively or additionally, said at least one processor may be configured to control said at least one light source to render said light effect or a different light effect upon determining that said lighting device cannot be commissioned via said first wireless communication technology. For example, all lighting devices which can be commissioned via said first wireless communication technology may emit a green light and/or all lighting device which cannot be commissioned via said first wireless communication technology may emit a red light.

Said at least one processor may be configured to receive said first message using said first wireless communication technology. Alternatively or additionally, said at least one processor may be configured to receive said first message via a bridge.

Said at least one processor may be configured to determine a distance between said mobile device and said lighting device based on a signal strength of said first message and determine said light effect to be rendered based on said distance. For example, the light source of a lighting device may flash green and the closer the user gets, the more the light effect changes to constant green light output.

Said at least one processor may be configured to determine a distance between said mobile device and said lighting device based on a signal strength of said second message, determine whether said distance exceeds a predetermined distance and transmit said third message to said mobile device in dependence on said distance not exceeding said predetermined distance. This proximity-based security requirement may be imposed to prevent an authorized person standing outside a house from gaining control of a lighting device which is located inside the house.

In a third aspect of the invention, a system comprises said mobile device and said lighting device.

In a fourth aspect of the invention, a method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system using said first wireless communication technology when said lighting device is located within a predetermined distance of said mobile device, said lighting system comprising said lighting device and a further lighting device, and said further lighting device supporting a second wireless communication technology, comprises selecting, on a mobile device, said first wireless communication technology for commissioning said lighting device, and transmitting a message to at least one lighting device to cause said at least one lighting device to render a light effect upon receipt of said message, said at least one lighting device comprising said lighting device and said message not causing said further lighting device to render said light effect, said message indicating that said mobile device intends to scan, using said first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology,

The method further comprises scanning, using said first wireless communication technology, for said lighting device located within said predetermined distance of said mobile device, and commissioning said lighting device to enable said lighting device to be controlled by said mobile device using said first wireless communication technology. Said method may be performed by software running on a programmable device. This software may be provided as a computer program product.

In a fifth aspect of the invention, a method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system, said lighting device supporting a first wireless communication technology, said lighting system comprising said lighting device and a further lighting device, and said further lighting device supporting a second wireless communication technology, comprises receiving, on said lighting device, a first message from a mobile device, said first message indicating that said mobile device intends to scan, using said first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology, and determining whether said lighting device can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology.

The method further comprises, controlling at least one light source to render a light effect upon receipt of said message in dependence on said determination whether said lighting device can be commissioned via said first wireless communication technology, said first message not causing said further lighting device to render said light effect, receiving, using said first wireless communication technology, a second message from said mobile device, and transmitting, using said first wireless communication technology, a third message to said mobile device in response to said second message, said third message confirming that said lighting device can be controlled by said mobile device using said first wireless communication technology. Said method may be performed by software running on a programmable device. This software may be provided as a computer program product.

Moreover, a computer program for carrying out the methods described herein, as well as a non-transitory computer readable storage-medium storing the computer program are provided. A computer program may, for example, be downloaded by or uploaded to an existing device or be stored upon manufacturing of these systems.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores at least a first software code portion, the first software code portion, when executed or processed by a computer, being configured to perform executable operations for commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system using said first wireless communication technology when said lighting device is located within a predetermined distance of said mobile device, said lighting system comprising said lighting device and a further lighting device, and said further lighting device supporting a second wireless communication technology.

These executable operations comprise selecting, on a mobile device, said first wireless communication technology for commissioning said lighting device, transmitting a message to at least one lighting device to cause said at least one lighting device to render a light effect upon receipt of said message, said at least one lighting device comprising said lighting device and said message not causing said further lighting device to render said light effect, said message indicating that said mobile device intends to scan, using said first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology, scanning, using said first wireless communication technology, for said lighting device located within said predetermined distance of said mobile device, and commissioning said lighting device to enable said lighting device to be controlled by said mobile device using said first wireless communication technology.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium stores at least a second software code portion, the second software code portion, when executed or processed by a computer, being configured to perform executable operations for commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system, said lighting device supporting a first wireless communication technology, said lighting system comprising said lighting device and a further lighting device, and said further lighting device supporting a second wireless communication technology.

These executable operations comprise receiving, on said lighting device, a first message from a mobile device, said first message indicating that said mobile device intends to scan, using said first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology, determining whether said lighting device can be commissioned using said first wireless communication technology, controlling at least one light source to render a light effect upon receipt of said message in dependence on said determination whether said lighting device can be commissioned via said first wireless communication technology, said first message not causing said further lighting device to render said light effect, receiving, using said first wireless communication technology, a second message from said mobile device, and transmitting, using said first wireless communication technology, a third message to said mobile device in response to said second message, said third message confirming that said lighting device can be controlled by said mobile device using said first wireless communication technology.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a device, a method or a computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit”, “module” or “system.” Functions described in this disclosure may be implemented as an algorithm executed by a processor/microprocessor of a computer. Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodied, e.g., stored, thereon.

Corresponding elements in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numeral.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows an embodiment of the lighting device for use in a lighting system and an embodiment of the mobile device for commissioning the lighting device in the lighting system. A lighting system1comprises a bridge21and three lighting devices11-13. Bridge21may be a Hue bridge and lighting devices11-13may be Hue lamps, for example. A mobile device41, e.g. a mobile phone or tablet, is used for commissioning one or more of the lighting devices11-13. Mobile device41and one or more of the lighting devices11-13may be part of a single system.

Lighting devices11and13support a first wireless communication technology, e.g. Bluetooth. Lighting devices12and13support a second wireless communication technology, e.g. Zigbee. Bridge21communicates directly with the lighting devices12and13using the second wireless communication technology. Mobile device41communicates directly with the lighting devices11and13using the first wireless communication technology. Mobile device41is connected to the wireless LAN access point23, e.g. via Wi-Fi, and bridge21is also connected to the wireless LAN access point23, e.g. via Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

Lighting devices are commissioned with respect to the first wireless communication technology using a first method and commissioning flow and with respect to the second wireless communication technology using a second method and commissioning flow. For example, a first app may be used on the mobile device41to commission lighting devices using the first method and a second app may be used on the mobile device41to commission lighting devices using the second method. Alternatively, a user may be able to choose from multiple commissioning flows in a single app, for example.

In the example ofFIG.1, lighting devices12and13identify themselves to the bridge21using the second wireless communication technology. For example, lighting devices12and13may regularly broadcast a message indicating their presence or may respond to a message broadcast by bridge21. Mobile device41can control lighting devices12and13as soon the bridge21has been connected to (an app running on) mobile device41and lighting devices have been added to the lighting system. For example, the user may be able to search for bridges using an app on mobile device41, press a button on bridge21after it has been found, search for available lighting devices with the app, and add any new lighting devices that have been found. This completes the commissioning of lighting system1with respect to the second wireless communication technology, i.e. the second commissioning flow.

To commission lighting devices11and13with respect to the first wireless communication technology, the user needs to approach each of lighting devices11and13with his mobile device41and scan for lighting devices supporting the first wireless communication technology. After doing this for each lighting device separately, the user can control lighting devices11and13with mobile device41via the first wireless communication technology. Since the user might not be able to tell from the appearance of lighting devices11-13which one(s) can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology, the user may need to approach all three lighting devices11-13.

The mobile device41comprises a receiver43, a transmitter44, a processor45, memory47, and a display49. To make it easier to commission the lighting devices11and13with respect to the first wireless communication technology, the processor45is configured, e.g. by installing a suitable app, to select the first wireless communication technology for commissioning one or more lighting devices supporting the first wireless communication technology, e.g. based on user input, and transmit, via the transmitter44, a message to at least one lighting device to cause the at least one lighting device to render a light effect upon receipt of the message. The message does not cause lighting device12to render the light effect, i.e. the same light effect. The message may cause lighting device12to render no light effect or a different light effect or may have no impact on lighting device12.

The message may be transmitted to lighting devices11and13directly using the first wireless communication technology and/or to the lighting devices12and13via bridge21, for example. If bridge21supports the first wireless communication technology, the message may also be transmitted to lighting device11via bridge21.

The message indicates that the mobile device41intends to scan, using the first wireless communication technology, for a lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology. This (first) message may comprise a certain flag, for example, which a lighting device understands to mean that a mobile device intends to perform a scan. The processor45is further configured to scan, via the receiver3(and optionally the transmitter4), using the first wireless communication technology, for a lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology and which is located within a predetermined distance of the mobile device41, and commission the lighting device to enable the lighting device to be controlled by the mobile device41using the first wireless communication technology.

In the example ofFIG.1, lighting device11and lighting device13can be commissioned by mobile device41with respect to the first wireless communication technology. The lighting devices11and13each comprise a receiver3, a transmitter4, a processor5, and a light source9. To make it easier to commission the lighting devices11and13with respect to the first wireless communication technology, the processor5is configured to receive, via the receiver3, a first message from the mobile device41. The first message indicates that the mobile device41intends to scan, using the first wireless communication technology, for a lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology. This (first) message may comprise a certain flag, for example, which the lighting device understands to mean that a mobile device intends to perform a scan. The processor5is further configured to determine whether the lighting device can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology.

The processor5is further configured to control the light source9to render a light effect upon receipt of the message in dependence on the determination whether the lighting device can be commissioned via the first wireless communication technology, receive, via the receiver3, using the first wireless communication technology, a second message from the mobile device41, and transmit, via the transmitter4, using the first wireless communication technology, a third message to the mobile device41in response to the second message. The third message confirms that the lighting device can be controlled by the mobile device41using the first wireless communication technology.

After lighting devices11and13have been commissioned, the first commissioning flow is completed. Then, if not performed already, the second commissioning flow may be started and lighting device12may be commissioned using the second wireless communication technology. After the first commissioning flow has been completed, the mobile device41may cause all lighting devices which can only be commissioned using the second wireless communication technology (lighting device12in the example ofFIG.1) to render a light effect to remind the user which lighting device(s) may still need to be commissioned.

In the embodiment of the lighting devices11and13shown inFIG.1, the lighting devices11and13each comprises one processor5. In an alternative embodiment, one or more of the lighting devices11and13comprises multiple processors. The processor5of the lighting devices11and13may be a general-purpose processor or an application-specific processor. The receiver3and the transmitter4may support one or more wireless communication technologies, e.g. Zigbee for communicating with bridge21and/or Bluetooth for communication with mobile device41. In an alternative embodiment, multiple receivers and/or multiple transmitters are used instead of a single receiver and a single transmitter.

In the embodiment shown inFIG.1, a separate receiver and a separate transmitter are used. In an alternative embodiment, the receiver3and the transmitter4are combined into a transceiver. The lighting devices11and13may comprise other components typical for a connected lighting device such as a power connector and a memory. The invention may be implemented using a computer program running on one or more processors.

In the embodiment of the mobile device41shown inFIG.1, the mobile device41comprises one processor45. In an alternative embodiment, the mobile device41comprises multiple processors. The processor45of the mobile device41may be a general-purpose processor, e.g. from ARM or Qualcomm, or an application-specific processor. The processor45of the mobile device41may run an Android or iOS operating system for example. The display49may comprise an LCD or OLED display panel, for example. The display49may be a touch screen display, for example. The memory47may comprise one or more memory units. The memory47may comprise solid state memory, for example.

The receiver43and the transmitter44may support one or more wireless communication technologies, e.g. Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11) for communicating with the wireless LAN access point23and Bluetooth for communication with lighting devices11and13, for example. In an alternative embodiment, multiple receivers and/or multiple transmitters are used instead of a single receiver and a single transmitter. In the embodiment shown inFIG.1, a separate receiver and a separate transmitter are used. In an alternative embodiment, the receiver43and the transmitter44are combined into a transceiver. The mobile device41may comprise other components typical for a mobile device such as a battery and a power connector. The invention may be implemented using a computer program running on one or more processors.

A first part of a first embodiment of the method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system is shown inFIG.2. The lighting device supports a first wireless communication technology. The lighting system comprises the lighting device and a further lighting device. The further lighting device supports a second wireless communication technology.

A step101comprises selecting, on a mobile device, the first wireless communication technology for commissioning one or more lighting devices supporting the first wireless communication technology. A step103comprises transmitting a message to at least one lighting device to cause the at least one lighting device to render a light effect upon receipt of the message. The message does not cause the further lighting device to render the light effect, i.e. the same light effect. The message may cause the further lighting device to render no light effect or a different light effect or may have no impact on lighting device. The message indicates that the mobile device intends to scan, using the first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology.

A step105comprises scanning, using the first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology and which is located within a predetermined distance of the mobile device. A step107comprises commissioning the lighting device to enable the lighting device to be controlled by the mobile device using the first wireless communication technology.

A second part of the first embodiment of the method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system is shown inFIG.3. A step121comprises receiving, on the lighting device, a first message from a mobile device. The first message indicates that the mobile device intends to scan, using the first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology.

A step123comprises determining whether the lighting device can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology. A step125comprises controlling at least one light source to render a light effect upon receipt of the message in dependence on the determination whether the lighting device can be commissioned via the first wireless communication technology.

A step127comprises receiving, using the first wireless communication technology, a second message from the mobile device. A step129comprises transmitting, using the first wireless communication technology, a third message to the mobile device in response to the second message. The third message confirms that the lighting device can be controlled by the mobile device using the first wireless communication technology.

A second embodiment of the method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system is shown inFIG.4. The lighting system comprises lighting devices11-13. Lighting devices11and13support a first wireless communication technology, e.g. Bluetooth. Lighting devices12and13support a second wireless communication technology, e.g. Zigbee.

Mobile device41performs a step101of selecting the first wireless communication technology for commissioning one or more lighting devices supporting the first wireless communication technology, e.g. based on user input. For example, a user may start an app for controlling lighting devices via the first wireless communication technology and select a commissioning function in the app.

Mobile device41then performs a step103of transmitting a first message to at least one lighting device to cause the at least one lighting device to render a light effect upon receipt of the message. The first message indicates that the mobile device intends to scan, using the first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology.

In the embodiment ofFIG.4, step103is implemented by a step111. In step111, mobile device41transmits the first message to the at least one lighting device by broadcasting the first message using the first wireless communication technology. Lighting devices11and13receive this message in step121. Lighting device12does not receive this message (indicated by the X inFIG.4), as it does not support the first wireless communication technology.

Lighting devices11and13then perform step123of determining whether the lighting device can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology. As a first example, if a lighting device supports commissioning using the first wireless communication technology whenever it supports the first wireless communication technology, step123may be the simple step of determining whether the lighting device is able to process/understand the received message.

As a second example, step123may comprise the lighting device reading a configuration setting to determine whether it is able to support commissioning using the first wireless communication technology. For instance, a user or manufacturer may specify that if a lighting device supports both the first and second wireless communication technologies, the lighting device can only be commissioned using the second wireless communication technology.

In the example ofFIG.4, lighting devices11and13both support commissioning using the first wireless communication technology and therefore both perform steps151and152next. Step151comprises determining a distance between mobile device41and the lighting device based on a signal strength of the first message. Step152comprises determining a light effect to be rendered based on the distance determined in step151.

Then, lighting devices11and13perform a step125of controlling at least one light source to render a light effect upon receipt of the message in dependence on the determination whether the lighting device can be commissioned via the first wireless communication technology. In the example ofFIG.4, lighting devices11and13perform a step153as part of step125. Step153comprises rendering the light effect determined in step152. Thus, in the embodiment ofFIG.4, light sources of lighting devices11and13are controlled to render a light effect upon determining that the lighting device can be commissioned via the first wireless communication technology.

After seeing that a light effect is rendered by lighting devices11and13, the user approaches one of these lighting devices, e.g. the nearest one. In the example ofFIG.4, the user approaches lighting device11. The mobile device41may perform step105automatically after it has performed step103or it may perform step105after receiving user input, e.g. after a user has pressed a scanning button.

Step105comprises scanning, using the first wireless communication technology, for any lighting device which can be commissioned using the first wireless communication technology and which is located within a predetermined distance of the mobile device. In the embodiment ofFIG.4, step105is implemented by steps161and163. Step161comprises broadcasting a second message using the first wireless communication technology.

In the example ofFIG.4, only lighting device11performs step127of receiving the second message. For example, the second message may be transmitted with a low transmission power such that lighting device13does not receive the second message. The lighting device11then performs the step of transmitting, using the first wireless communication technology, a third message to mobile device41in response to the second message. The third message confirms that lighting device11can be controlled by mobile device41using the first wireless communication technology. This third message is received by mobile device41in step163.

Next, mobile device41performs a step107of commissioning the lighting device11to enable the lighting device11to be controlled by the mobile device41using the first wireless communication technology. The lighting device11may be commissioned by adding its details to a configuration of an app on the mobile device41. This configuration may be stored on the mobile device41or on an Internet server, i.e. in the cloud, for example.

A third embodiment of the method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system is shown inFIG.5. In the embodiment ofFIG.5, step103is implemented by a step171instead of by step111ofFIG.4. In step171, mobile device41transmits a message to the at least one lighting device via a bridge21, e.g. using the second wireless communication technology. The bridge21receive this message in step173and transmits a first message to the lighting devices11and13, which have previously identified themselves to bridge21via the first wireless communication technology and/or have informed the bridge21that they support the first wireless communication technology. Lighting devices11and13receive this message in step141.

In the example ofFIG.5, bridge21supports both the first and second wireless communication technologies. Bridge21transmits the first message to lighting device11using the first wireless communication technology and to lighting device13using either the first wireless communication technology or the second wireless communication technology.

Lighting devices11and13then perform step123, which was described in relation toFIG.4. In the example ofFIG.5, lighting device11supports commissioning using the first wireless communication technology and therefore performs a step153as part of step125. In the example ofFIG.5, lighting device13does not support commissioning using the first wireless communication technology, e.g. because it only supports commissioning using the second wireless communication technology, and therefore performs a step155as part of step125.

Step153comprises rendering a light effect, e.g. by changing a color setting to blue. Step155comprises rendering no light effect. For example, lighting device13may turn off its light source(s) in step155. Thus, in the embodiment ofFIG.5, the light source(s) of lighting device11is/are controlled to render a light effect upon determining that the lighting device can be commissioned via the first wireless communication technology.

After seeing that a light effect is rendered by lighting device11, the user approaches lighting device11. In the embodiment ofFIG.5, step105is again implemented by steps161and163. Step161comprises broadcasting the second message using the first wireless communication technology.

In the example ofFIG.5, both lighting devices11perform step127, i.e. receive the second message, and then perform a step181. Step181comprises determining a distance between mobile device41and the lighting device based on a signal strength of the second message. Step183comprises determining whether this distance exceeds a predetermined distance, e.g. whether the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) is below a predetermined minimum. If not, then lighting device11performs step129ofFIG.4.

In the example ofFIG.5, lighting device11determines that the distance between mobile device41and lighting device11does not exceed the predetermined minimum and lighting device13determines that the distance between mobile device41and lighting device13exceeds the predetermined minimum. Therefore, only lighting device11performs step129. Lighting device11may add mobile device41to a list of devices that are allowed to control the lighting device41, in step129or in a separate step. This list may be stored in the lighting device11itself, for example. Next, mobile device41performs steps163and107as described in relation toFIG.4.

A fourth embodiment of the method of commissioning a lighting device in a lighting system is shown inFIG.6. In the embodiment ofFIG.6, steps101,171and173are performed as described in relation toFIG.5, but a step177is performed by bridge21after step173instead of step175ofFIG.5. In step177, bridge21transmits the first message to all lighting devices which have previously identified themselves to bridge21, i.e. lighting devices11-13in this example. Lighting devices11-13receive this message in step141.

In the example ofFIG.6, bridge21supports both the first and second wireless communication technologies. Bridge21transmits the first message to lighting device11using the first wireless communication technology, to lighting device12using the second wireless communication technology and to lighting device13using either the first wireless communication technology or the second wireless communication technology.

Lighting devices11and13then perform step123, which was described in relation toFIG.4. In the example ofFIG.6, lighting device11supports commissioning using the first wireless communication technology and therefore performs step155as part of step125. Step155comprises rendering no light effect, e.g. lighting device11turning off its light source(s). In the example ofFIG.6, lighting device12does not support the first wireless communication technology, and thus does not support commissioning using the first wireless communication technology, and therefore performs step153as part of step125.

In the example ofFIG.6, lighting device13does not support commissioning using the first wireless communication technology, e.g. because it only supports commissioning using the second wireless communication technology, and therefore performs step153as part of step125. Step153comprises rendering a light effect. Thus, in the embodiment ofFIG.6, light sources of lighting devices12and13are controlled to render a light effect upon determining that the lighting device cannot be commissioned via the first wireless communication technology. After the above-described steps, the method proceeds as shown in, and described in relation to,FIG.4.

After lighting device11has been commissioned using the first wireless communication technology, and thus all lighting devices supporting the first wireless communication technology have been commissioned, lighting devices12and13may be commissioned. The lighting devices12and13may stop rendering the lighting effect in step153after a while and start again after the first commissioning flow has been completed to indicate which lighting devices may still need to be commissioned in the second commissioning flow. Mobile device41may transmit another message to cause lighting devices12and13to (re)start the rendering of the light effect.

The embodiments ofFIGS.2to6differ from each other in multiple aspects, i.e. multiple steps have been added or replaced. In variations on these embodiments, only a subset of these steps is added or replaced and/or one or more steps may be omitted. For example, steps181and183of the third embodiment ofFIG.5may be added to the second embodiment ofFIG.4and/or step151may be omitted from the second embodiment ofFIG.4.

FIG.7depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data processing system that may perform the method as described with reference toFIGS.2to6.

As shown inFIG.7, the data processing system300may include at least one processor302coupled to memory elements304through a system bus306. As such, the data processing system may store program code within memory elements304. Further, the processor302may execute the program code accessed from the memory elements304via a system bus306. In one aspect, the data processing system may be implemented as a computer that is suitable for storing and/or executing program code. It should be appreciated, however, that the data processing system300may be implemented in the form of any system including a processor and a memory that is capable of performing the functions described within this specification.

The memory elements304may include one or more physical memory devices such as, for example, local memory308and one or more bulk storage devices310. The local memory may refer to random access memory or other non-persistent memory device(s) generally used during actual execution of the program code. A bulk storage device may be implemented as a hard drive or other persistent data storage device. The processing system300may also include one or more cache memories (not shown) that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the quantity of times program code must be retrieved from the bulk storage device310during execution. The processing system300may also be able to use memory elements of another processing system, e.g. if the processing system300is part of a cloud-computing platform.

Input/output (I/O) devices depicted as an input device312and an output device314optionally can be coupled to the data processing system. Examples of input devices may include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, a microphone (e.g. for voice and/or speech recognition), or the like. Examples of output devices may include, but are not limited to, a monitor or a display, speakers, or the like. Input and/or output devices may be coupled to the data processing system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.

In an embodiment, the input and the output devices may be implemented as a combined input/output device (illustrated inFIG.7with a dashed line surrounding the input device312and the output device314). An example of such a combined device is a touch sensitive display, also sometimes referred to as a “touch screen display” or simply “touch screen”. In such an embodiment, input to the device may be provided by a movement of a physical object, such as e.g. a stylus or a finger of a user, on or near the touch screen display.

As pictured inFIG.7, the memory elements304may store an application318. In various embodiments, the application318may be stored in the local memory308, the one or more bulk storage devices310, or separate from the local memory and the bulk storage devices. It should be appreciated that the data processing system300may further execute an operating system (not shown inFIG.7) that can facilitate execution of the application318. The application318, being implemented in the form of executable program code, can be executed by the data processing system300, e.g., by the processor302. Responsive to executing the application, the data processing system300may be configured to perform one or more operations or method steps described herein.

FIG.7shows the input device312and the output device314as being separate from the network adapter316. However, additionally or alternatively, input may be received via the network adapter316and output be transmitted via the network adapter316. For example, the data processing system300may be a cloud server. In this case, the input may be received from and the output may be transmitted to a user device that acts as a terminal.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the implementations in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and some practical applications of the present invention, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.