U.S. patent application number 13/854605 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-05 for lighting control system with wireless network connection.
This patent application is currently assigned to PRODUCTION RESOURCE GROUP, L.L.C.. The applicant listed for this patent is Robin Lee. Invention is credited to Robin Lee.
Application Number | 20130231759 13/854605 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38711783 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130231759 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Robin |
September 5, 2013 |
Lighting Control System with Wireless Network Connection
Abstract
Wireless network used to control multiple lights, includes
multiple different networks for different purposes, and
interference prevention mechanisms.
Inventors: |
Lee; Robin; (Hamburg,
NJ) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lee; Robin |
Hamburg |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
PRODUCTION RESOURCE GROUP,
L.L.C.
New Windsor
NJ
|
Family ID: |
38711783 |
Appl. No.: |
13/854605 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13170080 |
Jun 27, 2011 |
8408727 |
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13854605 |
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12830406 |
Jul 5, 2010 |
7967483 |
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13170080 |
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11748996 |
May 15, 2007 |
7748878 |
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12830406 |
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60801252 |
May 18, 2006 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/90 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 47/19 20200101;
F21V 33/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/90 |
International
Class: |
F21V 33/00 20060101
F21V033/00 |
Claims
1. A console, comprising: a console device, having a processor;
said processor running a program to control at least one external
device that is remote from said console device, said program
controlling said at least one external device, said controlling
carried out by sending commands to the at least one external device
that causes a display output to be caused on said at least one
external device; said commands including at least one wireless
output command, where the at least one wireless output command
includes a command sent along with a hash value indicative of the
command; said processor receiving an acknowledgement from the at
least one external device indicating that the command with the hash
value were properly received, and resending the command and hash
value if the acknowledgement is not received after a specified
time.
2. The console as in claim 1, where said wireless output commanding
different effects at different times.
3. The console as in claim 1, where a first part of said wireless
output being directed to at least one stage device as a first
external device, and a second part of said wireless output being
directed to at least one hand held communication device as a second
external device.
4. The console as in claim 1, wherein said command is a command to
move a location of light output on said external device.
5. The console as in claim 1, wherein said acknowledgement from the
at least one external device indicates that the command and the
hash value agree with one another.
6. The console as in claim 3, wherein said second part of said
wireless output commands an effect to be displayed on at least one
handheld communication device.
7. The console as in claim 3, wherein said wireless output is in a
form to control said stage device which is a moving light of a type
having a controllable motor, that allows moving the light in at
least pan and tilt directions, wherein executing said program on
said processor of said console device produces effects on said
moving light and moves a position of said moving light.
8. The console as in claim 7, wherein said control to said moving
lights via said wireless output is sent over a first channel having
security, and said control to said hand held communication device
is sent over a second channel which does not have said
security.
9. The console as in claim 8, wherein said program accepts commands
for the moving lights from a client computer remote from said
console, over a third secured network connection, different than
said first and second channels.
10. The console as in claim 1, wherein said console controls a
first wireless stream for commanding lights, said first wireless
stream having a first security, and said console controls a second
wireless stream for commanding functions of the console, said
second wireless stream having a second security, and said console
controls a third wireless stream for communicating to client
computers within range of the console, said third wireless stream
not having said first security or said second security.
11. A computer controlled device, comprising: a controller, having
a processor, controlling functions including causing a display
output based on a remotely-received control; said remotely-received
control including at least one wirelessly received command, where
the at least one wirelessly received command includes a command
sent along with a hash value indicative of the command; said
processor operating to determine if the command with the hash value
were properly received, and sending an acknowledgement if the
command and the hash value were properly received.
12. The device as in claim 11, wherein said device receives a
resent version of the command and hash value if the acknowledgement
is not sent after a specified time.
13. The device as in claim 11, where said wirelessly received
command commands the device to carry out different effects at
different times.
14. The device as in claim 11, wherein said wirelessly received
command is a command to move a location of light output produced by
said device.
15. The device as in claim 11, wherein said processor compares that
the command and the hash value agree with one another and sends
said acknowledgement only when the command and hash value agree
with one another.
16. The device as in claim 11, wherein said device which is a
moving light of a type having a controllable motor, that allows
moving it light in at least pan and tilt directions, wherein said
controlling produces effects on said moving light and moves a
position of said moving light.
17. The device as in claim 11, wherein said control to said device
is sent over a first channel having security, and a control to said
handheld communication device is sent over a second channel which
does not have said security.
18. A stage lighting console, comprising: a console device, having
a processor; said processor running a program to control a first
external device which is a stage device and a second external
device which is a handheld device, where both said first and second
external devices are remote from said console device, said
controlling carried out by sending commands to both said first and
second external devices that causes a display output; said commands
including at least one wireless output command, where the at least
one wireless output command includes a command sent along with a
hash value indicative of the command; said console also producing a
wireless output based on said running said program, said wireless
output being directed both said first and second external
devices.
19. The console as in claim 18, where said wireless output
commanding different effects on both said first and second external
devices at different times.
20. The console as in claim 18, wherein said command is a command
to move a location of light output on said stage device.
21. The console as in claim 18, wherein said processor receiving an
acknowledgement from the at least one external device indicating
that the command with the hash value were properly received, and
resending the command and hash value if the acknowledgement is not
received after a specified time.
22. The console as in claim 21, wherein said acknowledgement from
indicates that the command and the hash value agree with one
another.
23. The console as in claim 19, wherein a second part of said
wireless output commands an effect to be displayed on at least one
handheld communication device.
24. The console as in claim 20, wherein said wireless output is in
a form to control said stage device which is a moving light of a
type having a controllable motor, that allows moving the light in
at least pan and tilt directions, wherein running said program on
said processor of said console device produces effects on said
moving light and moves a position of said moving light.
25. The console as in claim 24, wherein said control to said moving
lights via said wireless output is sent over a first channel having
security, and said control to said handheld device is sent over a
second channel which does not have said security.
26. The console as in claim 25, wherein said program accepts
commands for the moving lights from a client computer remote from
said console, over a third secured network connection, different
than said first and second channels.
27. The console as in claim 18, wherein said console controls a
first wireless stream for commanding lights, said first wireless
stream having a first security, and said console controls a second
wireless stream for commanding functions of the console, said
second wireless stream having a second security, and said console
controls a third wireless stream for communicating to client
computers within range of the console, said third wireless stream
not having said first security or said second security.
28. A console as in claim 18, wherein an effect commanded by said
wireless output is produced in synchronism with commands for
controlling at least one stage device.
29. A method of controlling an external device, comprising: in a
processor on a console, running a program to control at least one
external device that is remote from said console, said program
controlling said at least one external device, said controlling
carried out by sending commands to the at least one external device
that causes a display output to be caused on said at least one
external device; wherein said controlling comprises sending at
least one wireless output command, where the at least one wireless
output command includes a command sent along with a hash value
indicative of the command; and receiving an acknowledgement from
the at least one external device indicating that the command with
the hash value were properly received, and resending the command
and hash value if the acknowledgement is not received after a
specified time.
30. The method as in claim 29, where said wireless output commands
different effects at different times.
31. The method as in claim 29, further comprising directing a first
part of said wireless output to at least one stage device as a
first external device, and directing a second part of said wireless
output to at least one hand held communication device as a second
external device.
32. The method as in claim 29, wherein said command is a command to
move a location of light output on said external device.
33. The method as in claim 29, wherein said acknowledgement from
the at least one external device indicates that the command and the
hash value agree with one another.
34. The method as in claim 31, wherein said second part of said
wireless output commands an effect to be displayed on at least one
handheld communication device.
35. The method as in claim 31, wherein said wireless output is in a
form to control said stage device which is a moving light of a type
having a controllable motor, that allows moving the light in at
least pan and tilt directions, wherein executing said program on
said processor of said console produces effects on said moving
light and moves a position of said moving light.
36. The method as in claim 35, wherein said control to said moving
lights via said wireless output is sent over a first channel having
security, and said control to said hand held communication device
is sent over a second channel which does not have said
security.
37. The method as in claim 36, wherein said program accepts
commands for the moving lights from a client computer remote from
said console, over a third secured network connection, different
than said first and second channels.
38. The method as in claim 29, wherein said console controls a
first wireless stream for commanding lights, said first wireless
stream having a first security, and said console controls a second
wireless stream for commanding functions of the method, said second
wireless stream having a second security, and said console controls
a third wireless stream for communicating to client computers
within range of the method, said third wireless stream not having
said first security or said second security.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of U.S. Ser.
No. 13/170,080 filed Jun. 27, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,408,727
issued Apr. 2, 2013, 12/830,406 filed Jul. 5, 2010, now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,967,483 issued Jun. 28, 2011, which is a continuation
application of U.S. Ser. No. 11/748,996 filed May 15, 2007, now
U.S. Pat. No. 7,748,878 issued Jul. 6, 2010, which claims priority
to U.S. Provisional Application 60/801,252, filed May 18, 2006, the
disclosure of which is herewith incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Stage lighting control systems are known, and/or described,
for example, in various patents owned by Production Resource Group
L.L.C. Many of these patents describe a central console being used
to create commands for a number of lights collectively forming a
lighting effect or lighting show. Each of the lights, for example,
may be capable of projecting a light beam of 100-200 W or more, may
be capable of light beam movement in pan and/or tilt directions,
and light beam shaping, done by a gobo.
[0003] The connection to the lights is typically done over wires,
for example using DMX, or using the so-called Arcnet protocol which
provides DMX over ethernet. It has been suggested that control of
lights using commands sent directly over wired ethernet may also be
carried out.
SUMMARY
[0004] The present application describes wireless control of lights
in a stage lighting scenario.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] These and other aspects will now be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0006] FIG. 1 shows a system diagram showing the console connected
to control a number of lights; and
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a light and wireless control.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0008] The general structure and techniques, and more specific
embodiments which can be used to effect different ways of carrying
out the more general goals are described herein.
[0009] An embodiment is shown in FIG. 1. A lighting control console
100, which may be the PRG Virtuoso console, or may be any other
console which is capable of controlling multiple remote lights.
[0010] A first connection 110 is a conventional wired connection
which may connect to a number of conventional lights such as 112,
114. These conventional lights may be of a type which are only
controllable via wired connections. Virtually every stage light
today available is controllable in this way.
[0011] Light 112 is capable of receiving both wired connections and
wireless connections. The console 100 has a wireless communication
module 105 which enables connection to wireless-enabled lights such
as 112.
[0012] An exemplary light 112 shown in FIG. 2 has a pan and tilt
motor 202, a controller 204, and a lamp 206.
[0013] Light 118, also controlled by console 100, has a connection
only via the wireless connection shown as 120.
[0014] Any of the lights 112, 114, 116, however, may be stage light
type devices, that is may be remotely controllable to change their
pan and tilt orientation, and thereby change the position at which
the light is directed. The light may be mountable on a truss or
other supporting device, and may preferably project a light beam
having an intensity of at least 100 W. In addition, the light can
be provided with a built-in functionality for wireless control, or
may have an add-in functionality for such wireless control.
[0015] In an embodiment, the wireless device 105 may also produce
two additional wireless streams. The wireless stream 125 is a
private stream. The private stream 125 enables administrative
functions to be carried out either on the console, or on the
controlled lights.
[0016] For example, a remote 130 can connect to the private stream.
The remote 130, for example, can enable a lighting designer or
other operator who is operating using a laptop or tablet style
computer to carry out functions on the console or the lamps. The
remote may be a dedicated laptop that runs a light version of the
software on the console, and accepts commands either over the
keyboard, or through the mouse or other GUI based commands.
[0017] Alternatively, the remote may control using a web browser
style interface, produced by the console 100, and routed to the
private network 125. The web browser can run based on console
software, thereby automatically updating that software whenever the
main console software is updated.
[0018] A public wireless connection 130 may also be provided. The
public wireless connection may be itself controlled by the console.
For example, while the console controls lighting effects by the
lights 112, 114, 116, 118, it has the ability to control many
different lights. The public connection 130 may be intended to
control yet another "light"; however this "light" can be any mobile
phone, PDA or other unit that is in range of the wireless
connection. In this way, the lighting designer is able to stream
video and/or other show media and lighting information to the
holder of the PDA.
[0019] Any PDA with 802.11 wireless capability, or other data
capability such as cellular, Bluetooth or other, may also receive
the lighting information. The public stream 130 may alternatively
be conveyed over other formats, such as Bluetooth.
[0020] This forms three different streams of information which are
sent from the console: the controlling information to the lights,
the status information to a remote, and the public information. The
public information may be transmitted with virtually no security,
since it is intended to be received by any user in the vicinity of
the information.
[0021] However, the private line 125 and the control lines 120
should be secured. The private line should be secured against
hackers, since otherwise anyone with knowledge of the system could
hack in and change the show or change other parameters. For
example, this security may use any of the encryption protocols
which are associated with the wireless networking, and preferably
uses the strongest possible encryption.
[0022] However, the control protocols require not only protection
against hacking, but also protection against interference. During
the shows, many electronic devices are operating. Many users may
have cell phones, and many persons in the audience may also have
cell phones. Cell phones, and especially GSM cell phones, may cause
interference. In addition, there are moving motors and other items
which may cause interference. Accordingly, the stream 120 may be
interference protected. This may be done by using a spread spectrum
form of 802.11, for example, or by using an extremely error
corrected form of 802.11. In the most extreme case, each command
may be sent four or five times, and the light is instructed to
respond to a command only when the command is properly received
multiple times in a row.
[0023] According to another embodiment, the commands may be sent
along with a hash value indicative of the commands, so that the
light may compare the command with the hash value to ensure that
the command was properly received. The light may send an
acknowledgment when the command and hash are properly received.
Otherwise, the command is eventually re-sent.
[0024] Some lights, such as 114, are legacy devices, and will not
be controllable over the wireless control. Other lights, however,
such as 112, will be controlled both via wired and wireless. These
two different networks may form additional levels of communication
for the light, and may enable other things.
[0025] Another aspect allows using any of the network connections
described herein to forward digital content (which could include
video content) wirelessly, using the techniques described
herein.
[0026] The general structure and techniques, and more specific
embodiments which can be used to effect different ways of carrying
out the more general goals are described herein.
[0027] Although only a few embodiments have been disclosed in
detail above, other embodiments are possible and the inventor
intends these to be encompassed within this specification. The
specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more
general goal that may be accomplished in another way. This
disclosure is intended to be exemplary, and the claims are intended
to cover any modification or alternative which might be predictable
to a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, other
wireless networking protocols are contemplated, including Wimax,
Zigbee, and others.
[0028] Also, the inventor(s) intend that only those claims which
use the words "means for" are intended to be interpreted under 35
USC 112, sixth paragraph. Moreover, no limitations from the
specification are intended to be read into any claims, unless those
limitations are expressly included in the claims.
[0029] The consoles and computers described herein may be any kind
of computer, either general purpose, or some specific purpose
computer such as a workstation. The computer may be an Intel (e.g.,
Pentium or Core 2 duo) or AMD based computer, running Windows XP or
Linux, or may be a Macintosh computer. The computer may also be a
handheld computer, such as a PDA, cellphone, or laptop.
[0030] The programs may be written in C or Python, or Java, Brew or
any other programming language. The programs may be resident on a
storage medium, e.g., magnetic or optical, e.g. the computer hard
drive, a removable disk or media such as a memory stick or SD
media, wired or wireless network based or Bluetooth based Network
Attached Storage (NAS), or other removable medium. The programs may
also be run over a network, for example, with a server or other
machine sending signals to the local machine, which allows the
local machine to carry out the operations described herein.
[0031] Where a specific numerical value is mentioned herein, it
should be considered that the value may be increased or decreased
by 20%, while still staying within the teachings of the present
application, unless some different range is specifically mentioned.
Where a specified logical sense is used, the opposite logical sense
is also intended to be encompassed.
* * * * *