Lighting element-centric network of networks

Abstract

A lighting system utilizes intelligent lighting system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors. The system also has a data communication network. Some number of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices, also support optical wireless communication with non-lighting-system devices at the premises having optical transmitters and receivers. Each such element has a communication interface system configured to provide the optical wireless data communication link for use by other non-lighting-system devices at the premises via one of visible light spectrum; infrared light; or ultraviolet (UV) light. Also, in such an element, the processor is configured to control communications via the communication interface system so as to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of non-lighting-system devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lighting system, comprising:
 a data network configured to enable data communication within a premises and to provide data communication access to a wide area network extending outside the premises; and   intelligent lighting system elements, including:
 lighting devices each comprising a light source, and 
 either a user interface device configured for lighting control or a lighting-related sensor including a detector, 
   each of the intelligent lighting system elements comprising:   a communication interface system, including at least one communication interface, configured to enable communication via a link to the data network; and   a processor coupled to communicate via the communication interface and the data network link and configured to control a lighting related operation of the respective intelligent lighting system element,   wherein for each respective one of a plurality of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices:   the communication interface system of the respective intelligent lighting system element is further configured to provide an optical wireless data communication link for use by a plurality of other non-lighting-system devices at the premises having optical transmitters and receivers in range of the respective intelligent lighting system element; and   the processor of the respective intelligent lighting system element is configured to control communications via the communication interface system of the respective intelligent lighting system element to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of the plurality of non-lighting-system devices in a respective optical wireless communication zone provided by the respective intelligent lighting system element.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communication interface of each respective intelligent lighting system element includes:
 a first communication interface configured to support data communication over the link to the data network; and   a second communication interface, comprising an optical transmitter and an optical receiver configured to provide the optical wireless data communication link.   
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 2 , wherein the second communication interface is configured to provide the optical wireless data communication link via one of:
 visible light spectrum;   infrared light; or   ultraviolet (UV) light.   
     
     
         4 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the intelligent lighting system elements is further configured to communicate data to/from one of the other non-lighting-system devices and to perform a processing operation to support an operation of a processor of the one other non-lighting-system device. 
     
     
         5 . The system as in  claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the intelligent lighting system elements comprises a plurality of the intelligent lighting system elements configured to perform the processing operation to support the operation of the processor of the one other non-lighting-system device in a distributed processing manner using processing and/or memory resources of each of the plurality of the intelligent lighting system elements. 
     
     
         6 . The system as in  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of the intelligent lighting system elements configured to perform the processing operation in a distributed processing manner comprises:
 first and second ones of the intelligent lighting system elements; and   first and second instances of server programming stored in respective memories of the first and second intelligent lighting system elements for execution by processors of the first and second intelligent lighting system elements, which configure the first and second intelligent lighting system elements to operate in a distributed processing fashion to implement a server function with respect to the operation of the processor of the one other non-lighting-system device and to perform server communications with a client executing on the processor of the one other non-lighting-system device.   
     
     
         7 . The system as in  claim 5 , wherein the processor in the at least one of the intelligent lighting system elements is further configured to implement distributed processing functions, including functions to:
 identify a processing job to be performed to support processing operation to support the operation of the processor of the one other non-lighting-system device, the processing potentially involving use of resources of others of the intelligent lighting system elements:   query the other intelligent lighting system elements and receive responses from the other intelligent lighting system elements, via the data network, as to whether or not the other intelligent lighting system elements have processing or memory resources available for the processing job;   based on the responses, allocate portions of the processing job to a plurality of the other intelligent lighting system elements;   send data and instructions via the data network to each intelligent lighting system element of the plurality of the other intelligent lighting system elements, for performing an allocated portion of the processing job;   receive from at least some of the plurality of the other intelligent lighting system elements, via the data network, results of the performance of the allocated portions of the processing job;   process the received results to determine an overall result of the processing job; and   perform an action in support of the operation of the processor of the one other non-lighting-system device, based on the overall result of the processing job.   
     
     
         8 . The system as in  claim 7 , the processor of each respective one of the intelligent lighting system elements is further configured to implement further distributed processing functions, including functions to:
 respond to an inquiry received from one of the intelligent lighting system elements via the data network by sending a response with information identifying processing resources of the processor and/or resources in the memory of the respective intelligent lighting system element available for distributed processing via the data network to the one intelligent lighting system element;   receive data and instructions for performing a portion of the processing job from the one intelligent system element via the data network;   process the received data in accordance with the instructions using resources of the processor and/or memory of the respective intelligent lighting system element; and   send a result of the processing to the one intelligent lighting system element via the data network.   
     
     
         9 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of the intelligent lighting system elements include at least two intelligent lighting system elements of the plurality in each of a plurality of service areas of the premises configured to provide optical wireless data communication links for use by other non-lighting-system devices in each of the service areas of the premises. 
     
     
         10 . The system as in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of non-lighting-system devices are located within an area defined by a small cell of optical wireless coverage provided by the communication interface system of the respective intelligent lighting system element. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a communication interface system, including at least one communication interface, the communication interface system being configured to:
 enable communication via a link to a data network of a lighting system at a premises served by the lighting system, and 
 provide an optical wireless data communication link for use by non-lighting-system devices at the premises having optical transmitters and receivers in range of the apparatus; and 
   a processor configured to:
 control a lighting related operation of the apparatus; and 
 control communications via the communication interface system to:
 (1) perform a lighting system control function; and 
 (2) provide optical wireless access to the data network and to provide access through the data network to a wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of non-lighting-system devices in an optical wireless communication zone provided by the apparatus. 
 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the at least one communication interface includes:
 a first communication interface configured to support data communication over the link to the data network; and   a second communication interface, including an optical transmitter and an optical receiver configured to provide the optical wireless data communication link.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as in  claim 11 , wherein the communication interface system is configured to provide the optical wireless data communication link via one of:
 visible light spectrum;   infrared light; or   ultraviolet (UV) light.   
     
     
         14 . An intelligent system element for operation in a lighting system of a premises, the intelligent system element comprising:
 a lighting related component;   a communication interface system configured to enable communication via a link to a data network of the lighting system; and   a processor coupled to and configured to control the lighting related component to implement at least one lighting related function for the system and coupled to the communication interface system, wherein:   the communication interface system is further configured to provide an optical wireless data communication link for use by non-lighting-system devices at the premises having optical transmitters and receivers in proximity to the intelligent system element; and   the processor is further configured to control communications via the communication interface system to provide access to the data network of the lighting system and through the data network of the lighting system to a wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of non-lighting-system devices in an optical wireless communication zone provided by the intelligent system element.   
     
     
         15 . The intelligent system element of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the lighting related component comprises a light source; and   the processor is configured to control the light source so as to configure the intelligent system element to operate as a lighting device of the lighting system.   
     
     
         16 . The intelligent system element of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the lighting related component comprises a user interface component; and   the processor is coupled to the user interface component and configured so that the intelligent system element operates as a lighting controller with respect to one or more lighting devices of the lighting system.   
     
     
         17 . The intelligent system element of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the lighting related component comprises a detector; and   the processor is responsive to input from the detector and configured so that the intelligent system element operates as a sensor of the lighting system.   
     
     
         18 . The intelligent system element of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a memory accessible by the processor; and   executable server programming stored in the memory,   wherein execution of the server programming by the processor configures the intelligent system element to communicate with a client executing on a processor of at least one non-lighting-system device at the premises in communication with the intelligent system element via the optical wireless link or via the data network of the lighting system.   
     
     
         19 . The intelligent system element of  claim 18 , wherein execution of programming from the memory by the processor further configures the intelligent system element to perform a processing job in response to a client request from the at least one non-lighting-system device on a distributed processing basis. 
     
     
         20 . The intelligent system element of  claim 19 , wherein the execution of the programming by the processor to configure the intelligent system element to perform the processing job configures the intelligent system element to perform functions, including functions to:
 query other intelligent system elements via the data network and receive responses from the other intelligent system elements as to whether or not the other intelligent system elements have processing or memory resources available for the processing job;   based on the responses, allocate portions of the processing job to a plurality of the other intelligent system elements;   send data and instructions to each intelligent system element of the plurality of the other intelligent system elements, for performing an allocated portion of the processing job;   receive from at least some of the plurality of the other intelligent system elements results of the performance of the allocated portions of the processing job;   process the received results to determine an overall result of the processing job; and   perform an action responsive to the client request based on the overall result of the processing job.   
     
     
         21 . The intelligent system element of  claim 14 , wherein the communication interface system is configured to provide the optical data communication link via one of:
 visible light spectrum;   infrared light; or   ultraviolet (UV) light.