Patent ID: 8280558

Claim:
A computerized method for controlling one or more lights in an area, the method comprising the steps of: establishing an electronic profile of lighting conditions in an area to be controlled by: (a) establishing a communication link between a computer and one or more ambient light sensors proximate an area to be controlled; (b) establishing a communication link between the computer and one or more electronic switches controlling one or more lights in the area to be controlled; (c) sending a command to the electronic switches using the computer via the communication link to turn off all the lights in the area to be controlled; (d) sending one or more commands to the electronic switches using the computer via the communication link to successively turn on lights in the area to be controlled; (e) sending one or more commands using the computer requesting light level readings from the ambient light sensors each time the lights are successively turned on in the area to be controlled; (f) building an electronic profile of light conditions for the area to be controlled using the computer based on readings from the ambient light sensors to determine a respective influence on artificial light of each switch within the area to be controlled; (g) storing the electronic profile in a database; controlling lighting conditions in the area to be controlled by: (h) receiving a command using the computer to turn on lights in the area to be controlled; (i) in response to the command to turn on the lights in the area to be controlled, sending a command using the computer requesting a current light level reading from at least one of the light sensors in the area to be controlled; (j) setting a desired set point for the area to be controlled using the computer based on a level of external light illuminating the area to be controlled that is not attributable to lights within the area to be controlled, wherein the level of external light is determined by subtracting out any influence of lights in the area to be controlled from the current light level reading; (k) determining using the computer, based on the electronic profile, which of the electronic switches to turn on to best match the desired set point; (l) sending a command using the computer to turn on one or more of the electronic switches that were determined to best match the desired set point; and (m) periodically monitoring a subsequent light level reading from at least one of the light sensors in the area to be controlled, adjusting the desired set point for the area to be controlled based on the subsequent light level reading, determining, based on the electronic profile, which of the electronic switches to turn on to best match the adjusted desired set point, and sending a command by the computer to turn on to best match the adjust desired set point based on the subsequent light level reading.