Abstract: A method and system for managing networks comprising a plurality of network elements is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of identifying attributes of the network elements, grouping corresponding ones of said identified attributes into at least attribute group, collecting attribute data from selected ones of the network elements in each of the at least one attribute group, and determining a status of each attribute of network elements within the at least one attribute group based on the collected attribute data. In one aspect of the invention, the information regarding a status of each attribute of a network element may be used to provide coordinated and efficient maintenance.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of associating or re-associating devices in a control network including control zones to respective zone controllers (ZCs) controlling the control zones. In a first step, an associating or re-associating timer (ZC_REASSC_TIMER) window is initialized at the (ZCs) defining the time during which said associating or re-associating of the devices takes place. In a second step, during the (ZC_REASSC_TIMER) window zone specific information (ZN_SPEC) message sage is transmitted, the (ZN_SPEC) message including information about the devices expected to be in the zones controlled by the (ZCs). In a third step, it is compared whether the zone specific information contained in the (ZN_SPEC) received by the devices includes device specific information that match with local device specific information associated to the devices.

Abstract: A method to control a lighting network having a plurality of light units, the method may be controlled by a lighting operator which may obtain information related to service availability for each of the light units; map the information related to service availability for each of the light units to form a service availability information map comprising attribute information of each of the light units; determine one or more of service policies, service schedules, and operational parameters for each of the plurality of light units for a service time period; and/or provide cellular communication service to one or more cellular stations in a service area of the light units in accordance with one or more of the determined service policies, service schedules, and operational parameters for the service time period.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to operation of a plurality of lighting units of a lighting network according to energy demand and/or energy supply.

Abstract: A lighting network (100) and methods therefore are disclosed. The lighting network (100) includes a plurality of lighting units (LU0-LU10) each including a wireless receiver (12) arranged to obtain a wireless signal from an object (30) to be tracked and a communication interface (14). The lighting network (100) also includes a control unit (20) including a communication unit (22) that is arranged to communicate with at least one of the plurality of lighting units (LU0-LU10) to obtain tracking data based upon the wireless signal. The tracking data is processed by the control unit (20) using a topology table (FIG. 1 b). The topology table (FIG. 1 b) is based upon the geographic locations of the plurality of lighting units and mapping data.

Abstract: Obtaining a target location of a user associated with a body worn device (50) that receiving information related to a condition of user and communicates an indication of the condition to a server (12) over a network (24). The method including: providing a network (24) formed of a plurality of lighting units (42, 32) and a database (22) for maintaining information describing a geographic location of each of the plurality of lighting units, each lighting unit transmitting a unique identifier; providing the body worn device with a lighting unit identifier sensor (52), the sensor receiving lighting unit identifiers of at least one of the plurality of lighting units; the body worn device communicating the received lighting unit identifiers with the indication in a message to the server via the network; and the database providing a geographic location of the one or more lighting units, the geographic location corresponding to the target location of the body worn device.

Abstract: Inventive methods and apparatus for management of outdoor lighting networks (130A-C, 230A-C). For example, in some embodiments methods and apparatus are provided that enable communication between a central management system (110, 210) and a plurality of unique outdoor lighting networks (130A-C, 230A-C).

Abstract: An OLN lighting requirements generation system and method including a lighting requirements generation system for an outdoor lighting network (OLN, 90) having lighting units (82), the system having a central control apparatus (40); a plurality of lighting unit control apparatus (50); and a communication system (60) operably connecting the central control apparatus (40) and the lighting unit control apparatus (50). The central control apparatus (40) is operable to: acquire location-based data; define clusters from the location-based data; define lighting requirements for each of the clusters; associate the lighting units (82) to the clusters from location information for the lighting units; map the lighting units (82) to the lighting requirements; and implement the lighting requirements of the clusters associated with each of the lighting units (82).

Abstract: A system and methods to provide imaging service using outdoor lighting networks. The system uses outdoor lighting networks to manage/control video/image sensors connected to the network, e.g. hosted at lighting units, and coordinates the capture of useful video/image data associated with events. The system also provides an information search platform for users to retrieve only the relevant video/image data associated with events of interest. Furthermore, the system controls when and how to retrieve video/image data at lighting units across the whole network according to user requests, the priority of the events, and available bandwidth.

Abstract: A lighting system (100) including at least one controller (102) and a memory (104) containing program portions which configure the controller (102) to obtain weather forecast information including one or more of current and expected weather conditions over a period of time; determine one or more lighting settings based upon the weather forecast information; form lighting setting information in accordance with the determined lighting settings; and transmit the lighting setting information. The system (100) may include an illumination source (106) to provide illumination in accordance with the lighting setting information The system may change characteristics (e.g., illumination pattern, illumination intensity, illumination spectrum, illumination polarization,) of the illuminated source (106). The process may form lighting setting information to control one or more filters (130) in accordance with a desired lighting setting.

Abstract: Light management system for an outdoor lighting network (OLN) having lighting units, the system including a central control apparatus (40); lighting unit control apparatus (50); and a communication system (60). The central control apparatus (40) is operable to receive a configuration request; receive optimization objectives/constraints; identify the lighting units operably connected to the plurality of lighting unit control apparatus (50) associated with the configuration request; determine whether at least one of lighting requirements, illuminance model, and cost model have changed; update the lighting requirements, the illuminance and the cost model when at least one of the lighting requirements, the illuminance model, and the cost model have changed; optimize operation of the identified lighting units as a function of the optimization objectives/constraints, the lighting requirements, the illuminance and the cost model; and send an operation instruction to the lighting control apparatus (50).

Abstract: A system for guiding a driver of a vehicle is disclosed. The system comprises a light sensor configured to detect light; and a processor configured to determine a position of vehicle on a roadway based on a characteristic of the detected light.

Abstract: A policy-based OLN (outdoor lighting network) light management system including a central control apparatus (40); lighting unit control apparatus (50); a communication system (60) operably connecting the central control apparatus (40) and the lighting unit control apparatus (50); and a repository (70) in communication with the central control apparatus (40), the repository (70) being operable to store an OLN policy. The central control apparatus (40) is operable to: receive a policy; check the policy for consistency against the OLN policy; determine attributes and configuration commands for each of the lighting unit control apparatus (50) in accordance with the policy when the policy is consistent with the OLN policy; and communicate the attributes and the configuration commands for each of the lighting unit control apparatus (50) to a corresponding one of the lighting unit control apparatus (50).

Abstract: This invention describes a system and method to provide a service to advertisers and businesses that enables adaptation of advertising priorities using information collected by a lighting infrastructure. The system uses outdoor lighting networks to manage/control data sensors connected to a network, e.g. hosted at lighting units. This invention enables new business scenarios where operators and/or owners of the city's lighting infrastructure can provide a value added service or generate revenue from ad providers and local businesses by leveraging the data acquired through the lighting and adjacent infrastructure (e.g. sensors) to help the businesses to increase their advertising performance/targets; particularly, with respect to Location Based Services (LBS).

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of associating or re-associating devices in a control network including control zones to respective zone controllers (ZCs) controlling the control zones. In a first step, an associating or re-associating timer (ZC_REASSC_TIMER) window is initialized at the (ZCs) defining the time during which said associating or re-associating of the devices takes place. In a second step, during the (ZC_REASSC_TIMER) window zone specific information (ZN_SPEC) message sage is transmitted, the (ZN_SPEC) message including information about the devices expected to be in the zones controlled by the (ZCs). In a third step, it is compared whether the zone specific information contained in the (ZN_SPEC) received by the devices includes device specific information that match with local device specific information associated to the devices.

Abstract: Channel access time slots are reserved in a wireless network employing a flexible medium access control (MAC) protocol. At least a type and a mode of the channel reservation are determined (S310). A reservation request frame is generated (S320) based on the determined type and mode of the channel reservation. The reservation request frame is sent to a reservation proxy device (S330). In response to the reservation request frame, a reservation response frame is received from the reservation proxy device (220-RP). Usage of an allocated time slot is announced if a channel reservation request is confirmed in the reservation response frame (S382).

Abstract: A method (300) for enabling self-coexistence of devices in a flexible wireless system (200) that includes first and second wireless networks sharing a frequency band. The method includes discovering a second device operable in the second wireless network that overlaps with the first wireless network (S310); reporting the discovered second device to a first device operable in the first wireless network (S320); determining if an adjustment is needed between a first beacon period of the first device and a second beacon period of the second device (S330); and adjusting a first beacon period start time (BPST) of the first device with a second BPST of the second device (S370) if the adjustment is needed.