Abstract: Example embodiments relate to decentralised data storage. One embodiment includes a method of storing data within an external light network. The external light network includes a plurality of decentralised EDP units. Each of the decentralised EDP units belongs to a light. Each EDP unit has a communication means. There is at least one sensor arrangement respectively assigned to at least one of the EDP units. The method includes arranging a first EDP unit recording data. The method also includes storing a data set that includes the data recorded by the sensor arrangement of the first EDP unit or that has been generated from these data, distributed over a number of the decentralised EDP units. Further, the method includes at least partially deleting the data set after the distribution of the data set on the first EDP unit.

Abstract: Described herein is method for operating and controlling a network of lights comprising a plurality of lights arranged in a number of groups (A, B) using a short-distance network. Each light includes a control module (23, 28) for controlling its normal operation and for short-distance communication over the short-distance network with a designated group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) and other control modules within the group. Each designated group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) is also operable for long-distance communication with a central server and transmits its own specific information as a control module as well as information received from other control modules within the group. Information relevant to more than one group can quickly be exchanged between adjacent groups over a long-distance network via the group controller of the adjacent groups, by-passing the central server, or directly over the short-distance connection to a control module of an adjacent group.

Abstract: A method for controlling the light distribution of a traffic route luminaire in a network of luminaires, which is preferably also organized as a mesh network. The luminaire has a luminaire head having a settable light module and a controller while the light distribution of the luminaire is variable. The luminaire communicates luminaire data to at least one server, the luminaire data being luminaire-specific and related to the installation location of the luminaire. The data for a light distribution are automatically allocated to the luminaire and a setting of the light module is automatically effected on the basis of the data.

Abstract: Described herein is method for the detection of seismic activity using a network of lights, and in particular, street lights (43) arranged over a number of streets (42). Each light includes a control module having the facility for both long- and short-distance communication, the control modules being grouped with other control modules and associated with a group controller to create a short-distance or mesh network. Each control module includes a sensor which is capable of detecting seismic activity and data relating to such activity may be transmitted to a central server via its group controller using long-distance communication. Even if the sensors are relatively inaccurate, the high number of such sensors present in the network makes it possible to detect and analyze the activity using geocoordinate information provided by the control modules at the server.

Abstract: Described herein is method for operating and controlling a network of lights comprising a plurality of lights arranged in a number of groups (A, B) using a short-distance network. Each light includes a control module (23, 28) for controlling its normal operation and for short-distance communication over the short-distance network with a designated group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) and other control modules within the group. Each designated group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) is also operable for long-distance communication with a central server and transmits its own specific information as a control module as well as information received from other control modules within the group. Information relevant to more than one group can quickly be exchanged between adjacent groups over a long-distance network via the group controller of the adjacent groups, by-passing the central server, or directly over the short-distance connection to a control module of an adjacent group.

Abstract: Method for controlling the light distribution of a traffic route luminaire (1) in a network of luminaires, which is preferably also organized as a mesh network. The luminaire has a luminaire head having a settable light module and a controller, the light distribution of the luminaire being variable. The luminaire communicates luminaire data to at least one server, the luminaire data being luminaire-specific and including the installation location of the luminaire. The method comprises the steps of: —automatically allocating a light distribution to the luminaire (1) in accordance with the communicated luminaire data; —automatically setting the light module on the basis of the allocated light distribution; and determining, by said at least one server, a light distribution class of the traffic route luminaire on the basis of a traffic route topology (2,3,4,5,6).

Abstract: Described herein is method for setting up a network of luminaires and their subsequent operation. A plurality of luminaires are located on a street (24, 29), and each luminaire comprises a control module (23, 28). The method for setting up the network comprises, for each control module, scanning the environment and providing environmental information to a central server, which, allocates the control modules and their associated luminaires into groups (A, B). A group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) is allocated for each group which has long-distance communication with the server and short-distance communication with control modules within its group. Each group controller and control modules within the group form a network which can operate autonomously or under the control of the server. Some of the control modules may include sensors (S1, S2) which provide signals indicative of changes in the environment allowing the network to adapt its operation in accordance with those changes.

Abstract: Described herein is method for setting up a network of luminaires and their subsequent operation. A plurality of luminaires are located on a street (24, 29), and each luminaire comprises a control module (23, 28). The method for setting up the network comprises, for each control module, scanning the environment and providing environmental information to a central server, which, allocates the control modules and their associated luminaires into groups (A, B). A group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) is allocated for each group which has long-distance communication with the server and short-distance communication with control modules within its group. Each group controller and control modules within the group form a network which can operate autonomously or under the control of the server. Some of the control modules may include sensors (S1, S2) which provide signals indicative of changes in the environment allowing the network to adapt its operation in accordance with those changes.

Abstract: Described herein is method for setting up a network of luminaires and their subsequent operation. A plurality of luminaires are located on a street (24, 29), and each luminaire comprises a control module (23, 28). The method for setting up the network comprises, for each control module, scanning the environment and providing environmental information to a central server, which, allocates the control modules and their associated luminaires into groups (A, B). A group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) is allocated for each group which has long-distance communication with the server and short-distance communication with control modules within its group. Each group controller and control modules within the group form a network which can operate autonomously or under the control of the server. Some of the control modules may include sensors (S1, S2) which provide signals indicative of changes in the environment allowing the network to adapt its operation in accordance with those changes.

Abstract: Described herein is control module for a street light which is mounted on the street light and provides a control output for controlling the operation of the light. The control module has a circuit board (38) on which a controller (39) is mounted, the controller being connected a long-distance communication module, a short-distance communication module, and a geocoordinate module. A network can be formed by the control modules in which a central server uses long-distance communication for communicating with the control modules at start up and with a group controller after start up, the group controller using short-distance communication for communicating with control modules within its group. A sensor (41) may be provided in the control module for modifying the normal operation of the light in accordance with sensed changes in its local environment.

Abstract: Described herein is method for operating and controlling a network of lights comprising a plurality of lights arranged in a number of groups (A, B) using a short-distance network. Each light includes a control module (23, 28) for controlling its normal operation and for short-distance communication over the short-distance network with a designated group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) and other control modules within the group. Each designated group controller (23?, 28?, 31, 32) is also operable for long-distance communication with a central server and transmits its own specific information as a control module as well as information received from other control modules within the group. Information relevant to more than one group can quickly be exchanged between adjacent groups over a long-distance network via the group controller of the adjacent groups, by-passing the central server, or directly over the short-distance connection to a control module of an adjacent group.

Abstract: Method for the operation and the expansion of a network of lights, each light in the network including a control module which is assigned to a group, each control module being in communication with a group controller as well as control modules in the same group. The network can be expanded by installing (19) new lights with their associated control modules, and each new control module scans (20) its environment and transmits environmental information to a central server where the environmental information is analysed and the new control modules are allocated (21) into groups. After allocation to a group in which control modules may be moved from one group to another or a new group is formed, the new control modules are available for normal operation. This process is repeated for each new light and associated control module.

Abstract: Method for the operation and the expansion of a network of lights, each light in the network including a control module which is assigned to a group, each control module being in communication with a group controller as well as control modules in the same group. The network can be expanded by installing (19) new lights with their associated control modules, and each new control module scans (20) its environment and transmits environmental information to a central server where the environmental information is analyzed and the new control modules are allocated (21) into groups. After allocation to a group in which control modules may be moved from one group to another or a new group is formed, the new control modules are available for normal operation. This process is repeated for each new light and associated control module.

Abstract: Method for controlling the light distribution of a traffic route luminaire (1) in a network of luminaires, which is preferably also organized as a mesh network. The luminaire has a luminaire head having a settable light module and a controller, the light distribution of the luminaire being variable. The luminaire communicates luminaire data to at least one server, the luminaire data being luminaire-specific and including the installation location of the luminaire. The method comprises the steps of: —automatically allocating a light distribution to the luminaire (1) in accordance with the communicated luminaire data; —automatically setting the light module on the basis of the allocated light distribution; and determining, by said at least one server, a light distribution class of the traffic route luminaire on the basis of a traffic route topology (2,3,4,5,6).

Abstract: Described herein is a method for marking luminaires, particularly traffic route luminaires, in a luminaire network, the network being controllable via a server. Each luminaire is provided, in its operational state, with a controller (2) for controlling its operation and a mark that is visually recognizable from the outside the luminaire. The mark is formed by an information storage medium (4), in particular, and can be used to identify the luminaire. The mark is linked to the controller (2) or to the luminaire to be controlled by the controller before the mark is added to the luminaire.

Abstract: Described herein is method for the detection of seismic activity using a network of lights, and in particular, street lights (43) arranged over a number of streets (42). Each light includes a control module having the facility for both long- and short-distance communication, the control modules being grouped with other control modules and associated with a group controller to create a short-distance or mesh network. Each control module includes a sensor which is capable of detecting seismic activity and data relating to such activity may be transmitted to a central server via its group controller using long-distance communication. Even if the sensors are relatively inaccurate, the high number of such sensors present in the network makes it possible to detect and analyse the activity using geocoordinate information provided by the control modules at the server.

Abstract: Method for the operation and the expansion of a network of lights, each light in the network including a control module which is assigned to a group, each control module being in communication with a group controller as well as control modules in the same group. The network can be expanded by installing (19) new lights with their associated control modules, and each new control module scans (20) its environment and transmits environmental information to a central server where the environmental information is analysed and the new control modules are allocated (21) into groups. After allocation to a group in which control modules may be moved from one group to another or a new group is formed, the new control modules are available for normal operation. This process is repeated for each new light and associated control module.

Abstract: Described herein is a luminaire controller for a luminaire in which dimming signals can be provided to control the operation of the luminaire. The controller also includes an energy measurement module connected to a mains supply, a sensor module, a power switch, a central processing module and a ZigBee transceiver module. The controller, in addition to providing dimming signals in accordance with ambient lighting conditions sensed by a photocell in the sensor module, provides efficient energy metering. In one embodiment, the luminaire controller is directly mountable on a luminaire for control thereof.

Abstract: Described herein is an autonomous distributed lighting network which comprises a plurality of luminaires for providing lighting levels in accordance with idle dimming profiles, at least one sensor for sensing ambient conditions, and a communications network. Luminaire nodes, sensor nodes, a timer node and a controller node are connectable to the communications network. Each luminaire node is associated with a luminaire and is operable for receiving broadcast messages from the communications network, the luminaire overriding its normal idle dimming profile in response to an appropriate broadcast message. Each sensor node is associated with at least one sensor device and transmits broadcast messages onto the communications network in accordance with events sensed by each related sensor device. A timer node, if present, provides time synchonisation for the luminaires within the network. In addition, a controller node is used for set up and maintenance of the network.

Abstract: A lighting system is disclosed having a plurality of luminaires in which the energy usage of each luminaire can individually be metered using a luminaire controller having a metering circuit.