Abstract:
A method for selling lighting solutions includes installing a lighting system and measuring the amount of lumens emitted and/or measuring the changes in light spectrum. The method also includes determining a fee based on the amount of lumens emitted and the changes in light spectrum. The fee may also be calculated based on the services rendered for the installation and the maintenance of the lighting system. A lighting solutions system may include means for measuring the light output and means for determining a fee based on the light output. The lighting solutions system may also include means to allow the customer control of the lighting solutions system.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to lighting systems. More particularly, the invention relates to a method for selling lighting solutions that includes the installation and maintenance of lighting systems geared towards the unique needs of an individual consumer or business. In addition, the method includes charging a fee for the production of light and the servicing of the lighting system.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In conventional lighting of a residence or business the consumer purchases and installs the light fixtures and light bulbs. Except for the occasional purchase of a replacement bulb or fixture the lighting of the individual residence or business remains the same as when the lighting fixture was first installed. This arrangement offers very little in the way of flexibility in the lighting of an individual space, home or business. Aside from the installation of a dimmer or brighter light bulb or a dimmer switch, the consumer has few options when trying to change the atmosphere in a room to suit a particular need.  
           [0003]    It would be desirable therefore to have a lighting solutions system that is more flexible thereby allowing the consumer the ability to change the lighting to suit the current circumstance or desire.  
           [0004]    It would also be desirable to provide a method of providing a light system whereby a lighting solution system is installed and maintained by a provider of lighting systems. The provider would install a lighting system that would suit the needs of the consumer and maintain the lighting system. The provider may then periodically bill the consumer for the lighting system installed, the services provided and the total amount of light emitted from the lighting system.  
           [0005]    In the present invention, the consumer would have many options in the lighting system installed in the home or business due to the flexibility of the system over that which is currently known in the art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    One aspect of the invention provides a method for selling lighting solutions including installing a lighting system within a building, measuring the lumens generated from the lighting system and determining a fee based on the amount of lumens generated. The method may include installing a lighting system containing at least one LED. One aspect of the invention includes using a photosensor or photodiode to measure the lumens generated by the lighting system. Additionally, an input device may be installed to allow customers control of the lighting system.  
           [0007]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a method that includes measuring changes of the light spectrum generated by the lighting system and determining a fee based on these changes. This method may include an input device that allows customer control of the lighting system. The input device may also allow customer the ability to access and use preprogrammed patterns of light. The use of these preprogrammed patterns of light may be measured and a fee may be determined based on the use of the patterns of light.  
           [0008]    The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The detailed description and drawings are merely illustrative of the invention rather than limiting, the scope of the invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating one embodiment of a lighting solution system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 illustrates a flow diagram for one embodiment of a method to provide a light solutions system; and  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram for one embodiment of a method to provide a light solutions system.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0012]    Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a lighting solution system  10  is generally shown for use in building  50 .  
         [0013]    A lighting system  40  may be installed in building  50 . The lighting system  40  may contain a light source  42 . The light source  42  may include light emitting devices such as white LED, color LED, fluorescent light or the like. The lighting system  40  may include light measuring device  46  suitably connected to the light source  42 . The connection (not shown) between light source  42  and light measuring device  46  may be an optic fiber or any other suitable connection known in the art. The light measuring device  46  may be a photodiode, a photomultiplier tube array or any other suitable light measuring device known in the art.  
         [0014]    The lighting system  40  may include a monitoring device  60 . The monitoring device  60  may be any suitable hardware or software, or combination of hardware and software that is configured to collect data from the light measuring device  46 . The monitoring device  60  communicates with light measuring device  60  through connection  62 . Connection  62  may be any suitable connection that transmits data collected by the light measuring device  46 . The monitoring device  46  may store the data collected from the light measuring device  46 . The data may be stored using RAM or other suitable means to store data known in the art.  
         [0015]    The data collected by the monitoring device  60  may be transmitted to a server  30 . The server  30  may be any suitable hardware or software, or combination of hardware and software that is configured to collect data from the monitoring device  60 . In one embodiment, the data is transmitted to the server  30  indirectly via the Internet  20  by connections  24  and  44 . Connections  24  and  44  may be any suitable means such as telephone lines, DSL cable, wireless technology or any other means of data transmission known in the art. In another embodiment, the data collected by the monitoring device  60  may be transmitted directly to the server  30  via connection  34 . Connection  34  may be any suitable means such as telephone lines, DSL cable, wireless technology or any other means of data transmission known in the art. The data gathered by the server  30  may then be used to calculate the fee owed by the consumer for the use of the lighting solution system  10 .  
         [0016]    The consumer may affect the output of the light system  40  through an input device  70 . The input device  70  may be any suitable hardware or software, or combination of hardware and software that is configured to enable the consumer to change the light output of the lighting system  40 . The input device  70  may include a personal computer, wall mounted control panel, a hand held wireless device or any other suitable means known in the art. The input device  70  may engage the lighting system  40  by connection  72 . Connection  72  may be computer cable, telephone wire, wireless technology or any other means known in the art.  
         [0017]    Referring now to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in practice, a light system  40 , input device  70  and suitable connections are installed in the building (Block  210 ,  310 ). The light system  40  may be designed to meet the particular needs of the individual consumer allowing for flexibility of the system to meet future needs of the user. The light system  40  may include a plurality of light sources  42 . The light sources  42  may include fluorescent light, white LED, color LED, or any other type of light source known in the art.  
         [0018]    Once the lighting system  40  is installed, the user may control the lighting system  40  using the input device  70 . With the input device  70  the user may adjust the current lighting by selecting the type of light output desired (Block  220 ,  320 ). Alternatively, the user may choose a pattern of light to be emitted from a preprogrammed selection (Block  325 ).  
         [0019]    For example, if the user wanted warm white light to light a space for entertaining the lighting system could be instructed by the user via the input device  70  to actuate white LED and red LED to produce the warm white tone desired. On the other hand, if the user wanted to light the space with bright white light for a business meeting the user could instruct the system to actuate white LED and blue LED to provide a bright white light. A lighting system with a plurality of colored LED and white LED may be configured to provide a flexible lighting system to suit many lighting needs of the user.  
         [0020]    Another configuration of the lighting system may be used to treat seasonal affective disorder. Users with this disorder who must undergo light therapy currently must resort to having two separate lighting systems, one system to provide light for ordinary lighting purposes and another system to provide the light therapy. With the current invention, the system may be instructed to provide the light therapy as needed using the appropriate light sources and, once the light therapy is completed, the same system may then be instructed to provide the appropriate lighting for normal use of the space.  
         [0021]    The lighting system  40  may also be configured to provide a sunrise simulator. Sunrise simulators are used to treat depression and other disorders related to the lack of sunlight. Sunrise simulators are frequently used in geographical locations close to the poles of the Earth during the time of year when the sun does not rise. Sunrise simulators are also used by individuals to awake during the night to go to work.  
         [0022]    Another configuration of lighting system  40  may provide the user the ability to select from input device  70  a preprogrammed pattern of light to illuminate a wall, floor, room or combination of these (Block  325 ). The input device may be configured to provide an unlimited number of patterns. Such patterns may be as simple as various geometric shapes and random ever changing patterns or may be as complicated as reproductions of works of art.  
         [0023]    Once the lighting system  40  is installed, the amount of light emitted from the various light sources  42  may be measured by the light measuring devices  46 . The light measuring devices may be configured to measure the lumen output of white light emitting light sources (Block  230 ). The light-measuring device may also be configured to measure the spectrum changes of light sources that change color (Block  330 ). The light-measuring device may be configured to take measurements at various times. The light-measuring device  46  may be configured to take constant measurements of light output. Alternatively, measurements may be taken at predetermined intervals of time, for example every 10 seconds or every minute. Additionally, a measurement may be taken every time that the monitoring device detects a change in pattern or change in spectrum.  
         [0024]    The monitoring device  60  may collect the data from the light measuring devices  46  regarding the light output (Block  240 ,  340 ). The data may be stored by the monitoring device  60  using any suitable data storage device such as a computer chip with RAM capabilities (Block  250 ,  350 ). Data collected and stored by the monitoring device  60  may be transmitted to the server  30  by any suitable means (Block  270 ,  360 ). For example, the monitoring device  60  may open a connection to the server  30  periodically to send the data to the server  30 . Alternatively, there may be a connection to the server  30  that allows a constant stream of data to be sent from the monitoring device  60 . In another embodiment, the server  30  may retrieve the data stored by the monitoring device  60  using any suitable means (Block  260 ,  365 ). For example, data may be accessed by the server  30  by a periodic dial up to the monitor device  60  through a telephone line connection, a DSL cable, or the like. In another embodiment, the lighting system user may manually send the data collected and stored by the monitoring device  60  to the server  30 . For example, the user may instruct the input device  70  to open a connection to the server  30  and to then send the data to the server  30 .  
         [0025]    Based on the data received by the server  30 , a fee would be calculated for the use of the lighting system (Block  280 ,  370 ). Software running on the server  30  would calculate the fee based on numerous factors. Such factors may include the total amount of lumens emitted from the light sources, the number of times the spectrum of light changed, and the number of times the user selected a preprogrammed pattern of light. The fee may also reflect a usage fee for the lighting system, input devices and other hardware that may be leased from the system provider. Alternatively, the server  30  may calculate a flat fee for the total amount of light emitted and for the use of the lighting system. Other suitable fee structures for light usage can be envisioned such as charging a flat fee for a predetermined limit of total lumens emitted, with an additional fee for usage beyond that limit, or charging a set fee for the use of the preprogrammed patterns of light.  
         [0026]    Once the software on the server calculates the appropriate fee, the user would be billed by the server (Block  290 ,  380 ).  
         [0027]    As described above, the lighting solution system  10  provides a number of advantages, some of which have been described above and others of which are inherent in the invention. Also, modifications may be proposed without departing from the teachings herein. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.  
         [0028]    While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claims, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.