An apparatus for generating control information for controlling one or more luminaires of a lighting system, the apparatus comprising: - a memory configured to store a piece of location-specific information for correctly recognizing location-specific lighting means of said lighting system that serve a particular location, characterized in that: - the apparatus is either a docking station for coupling a portable computer to a local connection point of a computer network or external to such a docking station, in which latter case the apparatus comprises a connector for connecting to a receptacle in said docking station, - the apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive from the portable computer a piece of user-specific information for correctly recognizing personal lighting preferences of a user, - the apparatus comprises a message composer configured to combine said pieces of location-specific and user-specific information into a message containing control information for said location-specific lighting means, - the apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit said message for the purpose of controlling said location-specific lighting means, - said apparatus is a piece of location-specific equipment for permanent or semi-permanent use at a particular location within an area that is served by said lighting system and that contains a number of specific locations that are to be illuminated according to personal preferences of users, and - said receiver comprises a discriminator configured to allow receiving said piece of user-specific information when a local connection is established between said apparatus and the portable computer. - a memory configured to store a piece of location-specific information for correctly recognizing location-specific lighting means of said lighting system that serve a particular location, characterized in that: - the apparatus is either a docking station for coupling a portable computer to a local connection point of a computer network or external to such a docking station, in which latter case the apparatus comprises a connector for connecting to a receptacle in said docking station, - the apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive from the portable computer a piece of user-specific information for correctly recognizing personal lighting preferences of a user, - the apparatus comprises a message composer configured to combine said pieces of location-specific and user-specific information into a message containing control information for said location-specific lighting means, - the apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit said message for the purpose of controlling said location-specific lighting means, - said apparatus is a piece of location-specific equipment for permanent or semi-permanent use at a particular location within an area that is served by said lighting system and that contains a number of specific locations that are to be illuminated according to personal preferences of users, and - said receiver comprises a discriminator configured to allow receiving said piece of user-specific information when a local connection is established between said apparatus and the portable computer. - the apparatus is either a docking station for coupling a portable computer to a local connection point of a computer network or external to such a docking station, in which latter case the apparatus comprises a connector for connecting to a receptacle in said docking station, - the apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive from the portable computer a piece of user-specific information for correctly recognizing personal lighting preferences of a user, - the apparatus comprises a message composer configured to combine said pieces of location-specific and user-specific information into a message containing control information for said location-specific lighting means, - the apparatus comprises a transmitter configured to transmit said message for the purpose of controlling said location-specific lighting means, - said apparatus is a piece of location-specific equipment for permanent or semi-permanent use at a particular location within an area that is served by said lighting system and that contains a number of specific locations that are to be illuminated according to personal preferences of users, and - said receiver comprises a discriminator configured to allow receiving said piece of user-specific information when a local connection is established between said apparatus and the portable computer.