Patent Description:
In lighting systems, wireless communications typically rely on a single wireless standard. As there is no predominant wireless standard for lighting systems yet, manufacturers need to provide multiple stock keeping units (i.e., different products) having different firmware if the full market should be served. In a supply chain, this issue is multiplied by the luminaire manufacturer, distributor, electrician, etc..

Further, <CIT> refers to a Light Emitting Diode (LED) based illumination device including a Light Control and Data Interface Module (LCDIM). The LCDIM may include an LED driver that supplies electrical power to the LED based light engine of the LED based illumination module. The LCDIM may include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter that communicates a signal indicative of an operational status of the LED based light engine to another device on a wireless communications network using a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) advertising packet. Additionally, in a lighting control system, a light control device may include a RF transmitter to communicate a signal indicative of a lighting control command to the LCDIM using a BLE advertising packet.

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks and limitations, the present disclosure aims to improve a stock keeping of lighting systems of the background art.

The objective is achieved by the embodiments as defined by the appended independent claims. Further embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims and in the following description and drawings.

A first aspect of the present disclosure relates to a network device of a lighting system. The network device comprises a wireless interface and a control unit. The control unit is configured to advertise (i.e. send out information as to its compatibilities), over the wireless interface, at least two different wireless networking standards; receive, over the wireless interface, a response (from a remote participant who typically also is a lighting network device such as a driver, sensor etc)) to an advertisement of one of the wireless networking standards; and activate the wireless interface for operation in accordance with said one of the wireless networking standards (for which the response has been received from the participant).

The network device may comprise one of a gateway, a sensor, an actor, an LED driver, and an LED luminaire.

The wireless networking standards may comprise Bluetooth Mesh based on IEEE802. <NUM>, and Matter/Thread based on IEEE802.

The control unit may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface, the at least two different wireless networking standards in respective BLE advertisements. The advertising state is a defined state of a BLE device.

The control unit may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface, the at least two different wireless networking standards in a same BLE advertisement.

The control unit may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface, the at least two different wireless networking standards in a same frequency band.

The control unit may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface, the at least two different wireless networking standards using different modulation schemes.

The control unit may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface, the at least two different wireless networking standards concurrently.

The control unit may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface, the at least two different wireless networking standards sequentially.

The response may comprise a connection request.

The control unit may further be configured to activate the wireless interface for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by disabling a first wireless networking firmware not being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards in the control unit.

The control unit may further be configured to activate the wireless interface for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by enabling a second wireless networking firmware being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards in the control unit.

The control unit may further be configured to activate the wireless interface for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by loading a third wireless networking firmware being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards into the control unit.

A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of commissioning a network device of a lighting system. The method comprises advertising, over a wireless interface of the network device, at least two different wireless networking standards; receiving, over the wireless interface of the network device, a response to an advertisement of one of the wireless networking standards; and activating the wireless interface for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards.

The method may be performed by a network device of the first aspect or any of its implementations.

In view of multiple wireless standards for lighting systems without an apparent predominance, a more extensive stock keeping for lighting systems is avoided by a network device advertising multiple wireless networking standards and activating one of them depending on a response to the advertisement.

This results in less risk of supporting a wireless standard which may not ultimately be accepted well in the market, in an increased market coverage based on a single stock keeping unit, and in fewer stock keeping units at device manufacturers, luminaire manufacturers, distributors, electricians etc. The technical effects and advantages described above in relation with the network device equally apply to the method having corresponding features.

The above-described aspects and implementations will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar reference numerals designate the same or similar elements.

The features of these aspects and implementations may be combined with each other unless specifically stated otherwise.

The drawings are to be regarded as being schematic representations, and elements illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily shown to scale. Rather, the various elements are represented such that their function and general purpose become apparent to those skilled in the art.

<FIG> illustrates a network device <NUM> in accordance with the present disclosure.

A network device, preferably a building or lighting network device, as used herein may refer to a device of a lighting system having a networking capability, and in particular a wireless networking capability.

The network device <NUM> may comprise one of a gateway <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, an actor <NUM>, an LED driver <NUM>, and an LED luminaire <NUM>, as is illustrated in <FIG>.

A (network) gateway or edge device as used herein may refer to a network device located at an edge of a lighting system and interfacing with an external network, such as a building network or the Internet.

A sensor as used herein may refer to a network device of a lighting system being configured to provide sensor readings.

An actor as used herein may refer to a network device of a lighting system being configured to perform electrical and/or mechanical actuation (e.g., actuation of sunshades).

An LED driver as used herein may refer to network device of a lighting system being configured to provide an LED light source with the appropriate electrical power. For example, an LED driver may be configured to convert alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power tolerated by the LED light source.

The network device <NUM> comprises a wireless interface <NUM> and a control unit <NUM> for example combined in a system-on-chip (SoC).

A wireless interface as used herein may refer to a network interface being configured to connect to a wireless network in accordance with wireless networking standards, such as Bluetooth Mesh based on IEEE802. <NUM>, or Matter/Thread based on IEEE802.

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) as defined by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (Bluetooth SIG) relates to an energy-efficient wireless personal area network (WPAN) technology forming part of Bluetooth <NUM>. BLE is incompatible but coexistable with classic Bluetooth technology.

Bluetooth Mesh as defined by the Bluetooth SIG relates to a wireless networking standard enabling BLE-based mesh connectivity.

Matter as defined by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) relates to an emerging Wi-Fi/Thread/Bluetooth-based IPv6 home automation connectivity standard. Matter may operate on Wi-Fi and/or Thread network layers and may use BLE for commissioning.

The control unit <NUM> is configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, at least two different wireless networking standards. In particular, the wireless networking standards may comprise Bluetooth Mesh, and Matter, as already mentioned. As such, the at least two different wireless networking standards may be announced via radio.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards in respective BLE advertisements.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards in a same BLE advertisement.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards in a same frequency band.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards using different modulation schemes.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards concurrently.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards sequentially.

The control unit <NUM> is further configured to receive <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, a response to an advertisement of one of the wireless networking standards.

The response may comprise a connection request in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards.

The response may be generated by a wireless system commissioning tool (not shown) being located or positioned within radio range of the network device <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> is further configured to activate <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to activate <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by disabling a first wireless networking firmware not being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards in the control unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to activate <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by enabling a second wireless networking firmware being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards in the control unit <NUM>.

The control unit <NUM> may further be configured to activate <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by loading a third wireless networking firmware being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards into the control unit <NUM>.

In response to activation <NUM> of the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to let the network device <NUM> act as an uncommissioned device operating in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards. For example, the network device <NUM> may form part of a wireless mesh using a temporary network address.

In response to commissioning of the network device <NUM> of the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to let the network device <NUM> act as a commissioned device operating in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards. For example, the network device <NUM> may form part of a wireless mesh using a permanent / commissioned network address.

<FIG> illustrates a lighting system in accordance with the present disclosure.

The lighting system may comprise one or more network devices <NUM>, such as a gateway <NUM>, a sensor <NUM>, an actor <NUM>, an LED driver <NUM>, and an LED luminaire <NUM>. In particular, the LED driver <NUM> may form part of the LED luminaire <NUM>. In this exemplary lighting system, the sensor <NUM> is illustrated as being DC-powered ("="), while all other network devices <NUM> are shown as being provided with AC power ("∼").

In particular, the LED driver <NUM> may be configured to provide an LED light source of the LED luminaire <NUM> with the appropriate electrical power by converting the provided AC power to DC power in conformity with the requirements of the LED light source.

In general, also the gateway <NUM> and the actor <NUM> may require AC powering to interface with the external network or to perform some kind of electrical and/or mechanical actuation, respectively.

<FIG> illustrates a method <NUM> in accordance with the present disclosure of commissioning a network device <NUM> of a lighting system.

On the left of <FIG>, the method <NUM> comprises advertising <NUM>, over a wireless interface <NUM> of the network device <NUM>, at least two different wireless networking standards; receiving <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM> of the network device <NUM>, a response to an advertisement of one of the wireless networking standards; and activating <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards.

The method <NUM> may be performed by a network device <NUM> of the first aspect or any of its implementations:
As such, the control unit <NUM> is configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, at least two different wireless networking standards. In particular, the wireless networking standards may comprise Bluetooth Mesh, and Matter.

On the right of <FIG>, further implementation forms of the advertising <NUM> are suggested:
First, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards in respective BLE advertisements (reference sign <NUM>), or in a same BLE advertisement (reference sign <NUM>). For example, respective BLE advertisements for Bluetooth Mesh and Matter may be advertised separately, or jointly if so permitted by the involved wireless networking standards.

Second, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards in a same frequency band.

Third, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise <NUM>, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards using different modulation schemes.

Fourth, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to advertise, over the wireless interface <NUM>, the at least two different wireless networking standards concurrently (reference sign <NUM>) or sequentially (reference sign <NUM>).

The above implementation options relating to reference signs <NUM> - <NUM> may be combined with each other unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, it is conceivable that respective BLE advertisements (reference sign <NUM>) may be advertised concurrently (reference sign <NUM>) in a same frequency band (reference sign <NUM>) using different modulation schemes (reference sign <NUM>). For example, it is also conceivable that a same BLE advertisement (reference sign <NUM>) may concurrently (reference sign <NUM>) advertise the at least two different wireless networking standards in a same frequency band (reference sign <NUM>).

The response may comprise a connection request in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards. For example, the connection request may be a connection request in accordance with the Matter protocol.

On the right of <FIG>, further implementation forms of the activating <NUM> are suggested:
First, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to activate <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by disabling a first wireless networking firmware not being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards in the control unit <NUM>. For example, given that the response is in accordance with the Matter protocol, a first wireless networking firmware relating to Bluetooth Mesh may be disabled.

Second, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to activate <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by enabling a second wireless networking firmware being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards in the control unit <NUM>. For example, given that the response is in accordance with the Matter protocol, a second wireless networking firmware relating to Matter may be enabled.

Third, the control unit <NUM> may further be configured to activate <NUM> the wireless interface <NUM> for operation in accordance with the one of the wireless networking standards by loading a third wireless networking firmware being associated with the one of the wireless networking standards into the control unit <NUM>. For example, given that the response is in accordance with the Matter protocol, a third wireless networking firmware relating to Matter may be loaded from an external storage, such as a flash memory <NUM> external to the control unit <NUM> of the network device.

Claim 1:
A network device (<NUM>) of a lighting system, the network device (<NUM>) comprising:
• a wireless interface (<NUM>); and
• a control unit (<NUM>); characterized by the control unit (<NUM>) being configured to:
o transmit (step <NUM>), over the wireless interface (<NUM>), at least two different wireless networking standards;
o receive (step <NUM>), over the wireless interface (<NUM>), a response for one of the at least two different wireless networking standards; and
o activate (step <NUM>) the wireless interface (<NUM>) for operation in accordance with the one of the at least two wireless networking standards for which the response was received.