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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         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.