Networked dynamic street lighting

Abstract

 A method for focusing outdoor lighting on roads (150), along which there are several lamps (110), for which the electricity supply (120) is built. For each one of the several lamps, location data and the lamp address enabling sending data packets are saved in the location table, which lamp address comprises a routing address or enables dynamic forming of the routing address. Receiving observation data and noting from the received observation data an object (160,170) moving on the road. The location of the noted moving object (160,170) is defined on the basis of the location data of the sender of the observation data that is associated with the sender's routing address, and the lamp or lamps (120) are selected on spot of or nearby the moving object that shall be illuminated.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention generally relates to outdoor lighting on roads. Specifically but not exclusively, the invention relates to outdoor lighting following movement.

STATE OF THE ART

[0002] GB2444734A illustrates a street lighting system, wherein targets following a route are lighted such that the presence of objects is detected by one or more sensors, information is passed to other remotely residing control means for lighting at least one streetlight residing ahead along the route. The system aims to save energy. Each lamp is equipped with a unit with communication, identification and control means for controlling lighting the lamps. Together the control means in the lamps form a decentralised control system for controlling different lamps.

[0003] US2009009089A1 illustrates another street lighting system which specifically aims to improve the night-time perceptiveness of objects by increasing so-called Weber contrast i.e. the lightness of the objects when compared with the lightness of the background. Lighting is implemented by using congealed and vehicle lamps, as well. In the system, the lighting power of decentralised light sources and in some cases, the colour as well, are adjusted such that the Weber contrast would be maximised. Additionally, in the system, passers-by on the road are warned of an emergency vehicle or of a lane being closed by changing the colour of the lighting or by flashing. In the system, congealed lighting is switched off when there are no vehicles present or nearby.

[0004] WO19980289481 illustrates a timer for specifically controlling street lighting, which timer comprises a receiver for receiving wireless time signals and for decoding received time signals. The only power source of the timer is a universal electrical network. The clock of the timer is automatically set after a cut in voltage supply on the basis of received time signals so that there is no need for building a separate voltage supply or redundancy for the time when the electricity supply of the street-light is switched off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] According to the first aspect of the invention, a method for focused outdoor lighting on roads is provided, where along the roads there are several lamps, for which an electricity supply is built; which method is characterised by:

taking electricity from electricity supply with each one of several lamps, and using received power for:

monitoring control commands sent to the lamp in a packet data network;

switching off or dimming the lighting of the road from the lamp for a specified period in response to noting a lighting pause command sent to the lamp; and

switching on the lighting of the road from the lamp in response to not noting a lighting pause command sent to the lamp.

[0006] The lighting may be made operational in a data transfer fault situation by switching lighting on in response to not noting a pause command sent to the lamp. Thus outdoor lighting on roads may be secured in case of possible fault situations happening, and the lighting is not subject to e.g. possible data transfer complications caused by radio interference.

[0007] By taking the power for performing the method from the electricity supply of the lamp, it is possible to avoid providing separate power supply from the local circuitry controlling the operation of the lamp.

[0008] The lighting may be completely switched off, for instance in the daytime, by making the local circuitry voltage-free, thus avoiding, during standstill, the power consumption of local circuitries located in the lamps. Alternatively, electricity supply of the lamps may be maintained continuously and the lamps may be kept switched off during well-lit periods by means of pause commands. Thus even during well-lit periods, other devices, such as electrically controlled traffic signs, signals, signs, advertisements, control devices, weather service devices and traffic lights may be electrified with the electricity supply.

[0009] For instance temporary or permanent traffic lights for changed traffic arrangements and/or electrically changing speed limits may be arranged quickly with the electricity supply of the street lighting. The function of this kind of traffic control devices may be automatically adjusted e.g. on the basis of traffic performance, local control, weather information and/or remote control.

[0010] The packet data network may be implemented by using electricity supply as a data transfer connection. Control commands may be identified from the electricity supplied to the lamps. By identifying the control commands from the supplied electricity, the electricity supply may be used as transmission paths for the packet data network. The existing lamp network may be easily and economically transformed to a one that focuses lighting, according to the first aspect of the invention, especially by installing local circuitries to the lamps at the same time when more energy-efficient bulbs are changed to the lamps.

[0011] In the method, solid state circuit lamps such as light emitting diode (LED) lamps may be used for lighting. In the method, preferably fast-lit lamps are used, which can be switched on so fast that a lighted part of the road accompanying an object moving along the road may be formed.

[0012] In the method, dimmed basic lighting may be maintained during dark period. Dimmed basic lighting or basic lighting with lowered power may consume a fraction of the power of the normal lighting. With dimmed basic lighting, faulty lamps may be visually identified and/or basic lighting may be maintained for instance for pedestrians.

[0013] Switching off or dimming the lighting for a specified period, in response to a control command, may be implemented gradually such that during the switching off or dimming the lighting people within the lamplight have time to react to the switching off or dimming the lighting. For instance bikers and may thus be given time to switch on their lamps or adjust their moving to the changing of lighting.

[0014] A road may be a public traffic lane such as a street, a main road, a motorway, a railway, an inland water canal, a foot path, a park lane, a lighted trail, a sawdust track or a skating route.

[0015] In the method, the control commands may be identified by a communication circuitry which is fitted to match with the packet data network being used. Switching the lighting on and off or dimmed may be implemented by a switch circuitry, separated from the communication circuitry, such that if the communication circuitry does not periodically give a pause signal to the switch circuitry, the switch circuitry switches the lighting on.

[0016] The pause signal may be identified through a signalling port. The pause signal may be identified using one or more of the following options: optical indication, inductive indication, capacitive indication, radio indication and audio signal indication.

[0017] In the method, movement data may be formed, as well, for identifying an object moving on the road, and movement data may be sent to an external lighting controller through the packet data network. Forming the movement data may comprise identifying movement and indicating noted movement to the lighting controller. Alternatively or additionally, forming the movement data may comprise imaging the road or a part of the road. The method may also comprise sending image data through the packet data network to an image data processing device.

[0018] In the method, the presence of a person or a vehicle on the road may be identified on the basis of wireless messages given by a wireless device in place.

[0019] Through a lamp-specific lighting control, the lighting may be focused on objects moving on the road or to the environment near them. Thus energy normally needed for lighting may be saved substantially when unnecessary lamps need not be switched on continuously.

[0020] By using the packet data network, the lighting system of the road is made modular and easily maintained and scaled. By controlling each lamp separately, the control may be focused to just part of lamps that are connected to the shared electricity supply, i.e. installing extra wires on the ground or in the air can be avoided.

[0021] In the method, existing instrumentation components aimed for packet data networks, such as data transfer modules, control modules and measurement modules, may be used.

[0022] In the method, a fault emerged in the bulb of the lamp, may be identified and expressed across the packet data network to an external lighting controller. The fault may be identified with a light sensor and/or by measuring the electric current flowing through the lamp.

[0023] In the method, control commands may be identified for indicating exceptional situations and responsively the lighting of the lamp may be adjusted in a way separable to human being. The adjusting may comprise changing the brightness of the lighting in a pre-defined way separable to human being. The adjusting may alternatively comprise changing the brightness of the lighting in a way separable to human being, such that it is at least partly defined by a definition received from the packet data network.

[0024] In the method, the location data of the lamp may be associated with a lamp address, which comprises a routing address or enables forming a routing address, and using which routing address control commands concerning the lamp may be sent. The location data may define the place of the lamp in relation to the order of the lamps (e.g. a serial number). The location data may be associated in connection with manufacturing the device controlling the lamp. In this case, the devices controlling the lamp or a part of the lamp may be numbered such that the lamps may be mounted in an order according to the location data.

[0025] The location data may be defined and/or associated with the routing address when the lamp is mounted on its place. The location data may be automatically defined by the defined geographical. The location data may be defined by a mobile localisation device and by transferring the location from the mobile localisation device across a data transfer interface to the device controlling the lamp.

[0026] According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for focusing outdoor lighting on roads, along which there are several lamps for which a power supply is built, characterised by:

maintaining a location table in which location data from several lamps and a lamp address enabling sending data packets are saved, which lamp address comprises a routing address or enables dynamic forming of the routing address, on the basis of which control commands of the lamp may be routed in a packet data network for controlling the lighting of the lamp;

receiving observation data addressed to a lighting controller and noting from the received observation data an object moving on the road;

defining the location of the noted moving object on the basis of the location data associated with the sender of the observation data;

choosing on spot of or nearby the moving object a lamp or lamps which should be lighting; and

sending, using corresponding routing addresses, to each other lamp than the selected ones, control commands for controlling the lamp in question for a specified period as a signal for switching lighting on in selected lamps, and not sending control commands to the selected lamps, signalling switching the lighting on or keeping the lighting switched on in the selected lamps.

[0027] In the method according to the second aspect of the invention, proceeding of the moving object in respect of the road may be predicted. On spot of or nearby the moving objects, the lamp or lamps which should be illuminating, may be selected on the basis of the prediction.

[0028] In the method according to the second aspect of the invention, the location data for the lamp in question may be received in connection with mounting a new lamp, as well, for associating the location data with the routing address of the lamp in question.

[0029] In connection with receiving the location data, the routing address of the new lamp may be formed and given to the lamp.

[0030] Observation data may be received through the packet data network. Observation data may be received from transmitters situated in connection with the lamps. Transmitters may reside in only part of the lamps. Transmitters may be placed at uneven intervals. By taking into account the location data of the transmitters, the proceeding of the moving object may be predicted relatively accurately even if the transmitters were not placed at regular intervals.

[0031] Observation data may be received from a mobile communication network. Observation data may be received from the existing traffic control equipment, as well. Identification devices may be placed in only part of the lamps. Thanks to the location table and to using the packet data network, identification devices for forming the observation data may be placed at arbitrary places along the road.

[0032] In the method, outdoor lighting may be focused on the basis of defined rules, as well. The outdoor lighting may be focused to produced a light wave for a moving object, proceeding with the object, which light wave may be adjusted to seem unpleasant if the object is proceeding faster than the limit defined in the rules. The adjusting to be unpleasant may be done by changing the brightness of the lighting and/or dimming the lighting. The part of the light wave behind the object may be emphasised, as well, for demonstrating that travelling would be more pleasant by slowing down the speed.

[0033] Forming the sides of the light wave dimmer than the middle of the light wave may help others possibly moving on the road to adjust to the change in the lighting.

[0034] In focusing the lighting, the length of the light wave forming in front of the object may be adjusted by accounting for the geography such that the light wave is cut in front of the moving object outside the area visible to the object. Visibility parameters for the road may be defined for cutting the light wave according to the geography. The visibility parameters may be defined by moving several mobile stations along the road, saving the locations of the pairs of the mobile stations in which the visibility connection is either born or broken, and by forming from the born observations an estimate describing the visible distance corresponding each spot or part of the road. The visibility parameters may be saved in a database which the lighting controller has an access to.

[0035] Focusing the lighting may further be intensified by adjusting the length of the light wave such that lighting unnecessary to the moving object is reduced and yet the road may be lighted for higher speeds and more open areas from a sufficiently long distance.

[0036] According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided a device configured to implement the method according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0037] According to the fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a device configured to implement the method according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0038] According to the fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method comprising a device according to the third aspect of the invention and a device according to the fourth aspect of the invention.

[0039] The method may comprise one or more traffic devices. The traffic device may comprise a traffic control device. The traffic control device may be selected from the following: a traffic light, a remote control gate, an adjustable speed limit sign, an adjustable route sign.

[0040] The traffic device may comprise a transporting device. The transporting device may be selected from the following: an automatic ferryboat, a cable elevator, a ski lift, a vehicle elevator, and a pedestrian conveyor.

[0041] The traffic device may comprise an identification device. The identification device may be selected from the following: a vehicle identification device, a vehicle license number reader, a device for automatic face recognition and a traffic control camera.

[0042] The method may also comprise a traffic controller, configured to receive information of one or more objects moving within the method and responsively guiding said one or more traffic devices.

[0043] According to the sixth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program comprising a computer executable program code which, when being performed, controls the device to perform the method according to the first aspect of the invention or a method according to an embodiment related to the first aspect of the invention.

[0044] According to the seventh aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program comprising a computer executable program code which, when being performed, controls the device to perform the method according to the second aspect of the invention or a method according to an embodiment related to the second aspect of the invention.

[0045] The computer program may comprise program code which may be executed for instance by any of the following: a universal processor, a micro processor, an application-specific integrated circuit and a digital signal processor. The computer program may be saved on a computer readable medium. This kind of medium may be for instance a diskette, a CDROM, a DVD, a memory stick or another magnetic or optical memory tool.

[0046] Various embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated only with reference to certain aspects of the invention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments may apply to other aspects and embodiments related to them, as well.

[0047] The invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1

shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

shows a block diagram of a lamp according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

shows a block diagram of a control centre according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4

shows a flow diagram of a method with a lamp according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 5

shows a method with a control centre according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0048] In the following, some preferred embodiments of the invention for controlling outdoor lighting using packet data communication over the supply electricity of the outdoor lighting, for instance such that a light wave proceeds with a person or a vehicle moving on the road, are described. Then the lamps in the light wave light up the road and repeated lighting reducing commands are sent to the other lamps using the packet data communication for saving energy and extending the life of the lamps.

[0049] Fig. 1 presents a system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The system comprises a group of outdoor lamps 110, an electricity supply 120 for the lamps 110, a supply centre 130 for supplying operating electricity through the electricity supply 120 to the lamps 110, and a control centre 140 in an operational connection with the supply centre. The system may also comprise traffic devices 140 in communicational connection with the control centre. In Fig. 1, there are also drawn roads 150 (containing a walkway and two streets) and a vehicle 160 moving on the road and a pedestrian 170 representing pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

[0050] The system according to Fig. 1 may be formed for instance from a universally used street lighting system such that the lamps are changed to the lamps 110 according to an embodiment of the invention and the control centre 140 communicating with lamps 110 through operating electricity is mounted in the supply centre. Preferably, the existing electricity supply of the lamps may be used according to some embodiments of the invention for supplying lighting energy and intelligent controlling of the lighting. Thus digging new cables in the street network may be avoided, as well.

[0051] The lamps 110 are situated in ways typical for outdoor lamps, for instance in lighting columns, on tunnel ceilings or hanging above the roads.

[0052] Fig. 2 presents a block diagram of the lamp 110 according to an embodiment of the invention. The lamp 110 comprises a bulb 210, a power source 220 for electronics, operating by supply electricity, and possibly also for producing a voltage or voltages for the lamp 210, a communication part 230 for packet-form communication with the control centre 140, a local interface 240 for joining accessories, and an optionally provided observation device or a traffic device controller 260. The lamp 110 additionally comprises a lighting reducer 270 and a lighting reducer controller 280 coupled to the communication part 230.

[0053] The parts coupled to the lamp, specifically the observation device 250, the traffic device controller 260 and the lighting reducer controller 280 may have routing addresses of their own for controlling these parts from the control centre.

[0054] The bulb 210 may be a light source e.g. formed of one or more LED bulbs (light emitting diode), a luminescence bulb or another such a fast lighting light source that the lighting may be controlled according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0055] The power source 220 may be for instance a power source suitable for supply electricity, manufactured for industrial use, which power source produces needed voltages. The needed voltages may comprise for instance voltages 3V DC (direct current), 5V DC and/or 12V DC.

[0056] The communication part 230 may comprise for instance a packet data communication unit operating over an electricity network, manufactured for industrial use. The communication part may be for instance configured to communicate with the internet protocol (IP) version 4 or 6. The communication part may have a pre-defined media access control (MAC) address, using which a fixed or dynamically given routing address i.e. IP address may be indicated for the communication part for routing data packets to the communication part in question.

[0057] The local interface 240 may follow an existing standardised or some party's own route solution such as SA S50.02, ControlNet, P-Net, CAN, Profibus, ASI, SDS or LON route. Preferably, the lamp provides an easy connectivity for modularly implemented parts (e.g. lamp, power source, communication part, observation device and/or traffic device controller). The local interface may for instance provide communication connections between (other) parts coupled to the local interface and the communication part and/or provide power supply for various parts of the lamp 110.

[0058] Preferably, the lamp may be otherwise ready mounted and coupled to its use in place of the old lamp such that the various parts used in the lamp are in position in it. Mounting and servicing of the lamp may also be implemented such that in the lamp, the desired part is mounted in place of the faulty part or added as a new part in a free mounting slot.

[0059] The observation device 250 may comprise for instance one or more of the following: a camera, a video camera, a radar, a device for presence recognition (such as a motion detector), a weight sensor, a metal detector, a thermal sensor and a detector for signals sent by a wireless device such as a detector for radio signals sent by a mobile phone or a detector for signals sent or reflected by a radio frequency identifier (RFID) transponder. The observation device may be mounted in the lamp or, from the observation device to the lamp, merely the controller may be mounted on the observation device for saving space or achieving a technically or economically better location of the observation device.

[0060] The traffic device 260 may comprise a traffic control device. The traffic control device may be selected from the following: a traffic light, a remote control gate, an adjustable speed limit sign, an adjustable route sign.

[0061] The traffic device may comprise a transportation device. The transportation device may be selected from the following: an automatic ferryboat, a cable elevator, a ski lift, a vehicle elevator and a pedestrian conveyor.

[0062] The traffic device may comprise an identification device. The identification device may be selected from the following: a vehicle identification device, a vehicle license number reader, an automatic face recognition device and a traffic control camera.

[0063] The lighting reducer may comprise for instance a digital or analogue delay circuit, which is configured to keep the power supplied to the lamp 210 on a reduced level or switched off for a specified period responsive to the command given by the lighting reducer controller 280.

[0064] The lighting reducer controller 280 may be controllable from the control centre 140 through the communication part 230.

[0065] The various parts of the lamp are preferably mounted in a common case. Alternatively one or more parts are mounted separately.

[0066] Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram of the control centre 140 according to an embodiment of the invention. The control centre 140 may be implemented by using a conventional server computer or automation system such that a packet data network interface 310 is situated in the control centre with the communication part 230 for communicating. The control centre further comprises a processor 320, a memory 330 comprising a working memory 340 and a persistent memory 350, and a computer program 360 saved in the persistent memory and a location table or a database 370 and a movement status table 380. The operation of the control centre 140 is controlled by the processor 320 on the basis of the computer program 360 in a way which will be described through an example in Fig. 6 presented later on. The location table 370 comprises for instance the location identifier for each lamp and the device and/or routing addresses of the parts attached to the lamp, attainable through the packet network. The traffic table 380 includes the location data of the movers noted and expected along the roads controlled by the control centre or a prediction for controlling the light wave following the movers.

[0067] The control centre 140 may be coupled with other control centres or to the core network for instance by using an IP channel, such that each control centre may present and receive movement data concerning the surrounding control centres. The aim is to provide on the roads the light waves following the movers seamlessly, independent of the effect areas of different control centres. For this purpose, movement data may be shared between different control centres such that a mover moving from the area of one control centre to the area of another control centre is conveyed to the knowledge of the new centre in time. When the mover is moving from the area controlled by one control centre to the area controlled by the other control centre, the receiving control centre lights up the lighting of the road in question such that no difference is seen in the realisation of the lighting when compared to moving in the effect area of only one control centre.

[0068] Fig. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method on a lamp according to an embodiment of the invention. The method begins from step 410 where the lamp gets the operating voltage through the electricity supply 120 and the lamp 210 is glowing. The communication part 230 receives 420 a reducing command for lighting. The reducing command may include an indication of the desired amount of reduction. Alternatively, the reducing command may be configured to reduce the lighting by a certain amount, e.g. 20, 50 or 80 per cent. The reducing command may also indicate the duration of the reducing of the lighting. The controller of the lighting reducer may reduce 430 the lighting responsive to the reducing command by giving a corresponding reducing command to the lighting reducer 270. The lighting reducer will start following 440 the lapsing of the lighting pause. Although the lighting reducer controller or the communication part would be damaged meanwhile, the lighting reducer may restore the lighting independently. That is, when the defined lighting pause has lapsed, the lighting reducer restores the lighting on its normal level 450, unless a new reducing command has not been given from the lighting reducer controller before the ending of the lighting pause caused by the reducing command. This process describes switching lighting on and off or dimmed.

[0069] Fig. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of a method on a control centre according to an embodiment of the invention. To start with, the control centre defines 505 a location table and a movement data table 510. The location table may be defined for instance by supplying the location data and the corresponding MAC address of each mounted lamp during the mounting of the lamps. Defining the movement data table, for one, may at first mean forming an empty table. Next the control centre checks 515 for which lamps constant or changing lighting is desired to be implemented. This checking may be done for instance on the basis of the light sensor or programming based on a calendar and a clock. The control centre may save 520 the data from the lamps in constant use in the location table of these lamps.

[0070] The control centre receives observation data of the movers on the road and computes 525, for the movers (separately moving persons and vehicles), on the basis of the movement data table, which lamps should be controlled to form the light waves of the movers. The control centre may also in this connection define 530 the ascent and/or descent ramps for the lamps, for adjusting the speed of the corresponding brightening and dimming of the lighting. Namely, the ending of the light wave is preferably performed by gradually dimming such that the light of the last lamp or lamps is dimmer than in the middle of the light wave but brighter than in the preceding lamps (in the direction of movement of the mover). Preferably the dimming is performed with such a delay that for instance a cyclist leaving the light wave does not suddenly come to a totally dark part of the road. This feature may increase specifically the safety of pedestrian and bicycle traffic without lights.

[0071] The control centre periodically controls 535 the lamps that can be dimmed or switched off with corresponding control commands which are directed to the lamps in question. If none of the lamps needs to be dimmed, the control centre need not send control commands. On the other hand, the control centre may even then communicate 540 with each lamp, by regular checking messages, in order to detect faults. The checking messages may comprise sending checking messages from the control centre to the lamps (e.g. ping messages), noting receiving periodical messages sent from the lamps to the control centre (e.g. keep alive or heartbeat messages aimed for keeping the session open). The checking messages may also comprise status messages sent from the lamps to the control centre, in which for instance the operational condition of the lamp is indicated. If the control centre notes a fault in the operation of a lamp connected to the control centre, the control centre preferably indicates 545 the fault for maintenance. The fault indication preferably comprises the location data formed on the basis of the location table.

[0072] The control centre also communicates 550 with other control centres, either directly or via another control element. Plurality of alternatives are known in information technology for decentralising and centralising the functionalities, and it should be appreciated that the functionality of the control centre, illustrated in the foregoing, may be partly decentralised between several different parties and that a single control centre may operate over more than one supply centre 130. The functionality situated in the supply centres is preferable because its implementation need not necessarily depend upon connections to somewhere else, although continuing the light waves consistently to the areas of different control centres may benefit from the communication between the control centres. It should be appreciated that the functionality of the control centre, illustrated in the foregoing, may be partly decentralised between several different parties and that a single control centre may operate over more than one supply centre 130. The functionality situated in the supply centres is preferable because its implementation need not necessarily depend upon connections to somewhere else, although continuing the light waves consistently to the lamps controlled by one control centre to the lamps controlled by another control centre may benefit from the communication between the control centres. In an embodiment of the invention, an inner functionality of the supply centres is built first and only later the supply centre is connected communicatively to the other supply centre or an upper level traffic control system.

[0073] The control centre may also receive 555 other information from the lamps or more accurately from the peripheral devices connected through the lamps. Traffic cameras situated in connection with the lamps may send voice, video image, weather observations, speed measurements, presence recognition reports or other information to the control centre which in turn may mediate 560 information to one or more devices for continued handling, according to a pre-defined profile.

[0074] The control centre may also receive information concerning traffic from other sources such as a mobile phone operator which automatically receives movement data from the mobile network of mobile phones that are switched on and moving on the road.

[0075] The control centre may also control 565 traffic devices on the basis of the traffic control profile and/or movement data. The control centre may for instance notify the traffic light controlling of the approaching mover in advance such that during slow time the traffic lights are already switched on to allow passing. The control centre may also control changing speed limits according to weather, traffic status and/or for instance guidance received from the traffic enforcement.

[0076] As a special case, it should be mentioned that the control centre may control the lighting to indicate an exceptional situation for instance by flashing the lighting or by changing the brightness of the lighting. This feasibility may be used for instance for warning of an animal (elk) or a slow vehicle (tractor) possibly noted on the road. The lighting may also be adjusted 570 by the control centre such that the lighting of a mover moving too fast is made unpleasant and thus for instance over-speeding drivers are guided to observe the speed limits. This is especially preferable for instance in winter time when the reducing of the speed limit may pass unnoticed because of the snow covering the signs.

[0077] The control centre may also define or save visibility parameters 575 and use visibility parameters for controlling the light waves. The visibility parameters may be saved for instance in a location table. The visibility parameters may be defined for instance as a distance normally seen from the spot of each lamp. The visible distance may be defined for instance by units of distance (metres/kilometres), by a number of lamps situated in the visible distance or by the time which it takes to move the visible distance following the speed limit.

[0078] The foregoing description has provided non-limiting examples of some embodiments of the invention. It is however clear to a person skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to details of the embodiments presented above, but that it can be implemented using equivalent means. For instance, it should be appreciated that in the presented methods, the order of individual method steps may be changed and that some steps may be repeated several times or completely left out. It should be appreciated, as well, that in this document the terms comprise and include are open-ended expressions and not intended to restricting.

[0079] Furthermore, some of the features of the above-disclosed embodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use of other features. As such, the foregoing description shall be considered as merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, and not in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is only restricted by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A method for outdoor lighting on roads, along which there are several lamps (110), for which an electricity supply (120) is built;
characterized by:

taking electricity from electricity supply (120) with each one of several lamps, and using received power for:

monitoring (420) control commands sent to the lamp in a packet data network;

switching (430) off or dimming the lighting of the road from the lamp for a specified period responsive to noting a lighting pause command sent to the lamp; and

switching (450) on the lighting of the road from the lamp in response to not noting a lighting pause command sent to the lamp.

2. A method according to claim 1, characterised in that the packet data network is implemented by using electricity supply (120) as a data transfer connection.

3. A method for focusing outdoor lighting on roads, along which there are several lamps (110), for which an electricity supply is built, characterised by:

maintaining a location table (520) in which location data from several lamps and a lamp address enabling sending data packets are saved, which lamp address comprises a routing address or enables dynamic forming of the routing address, on the basis of which control commands of the lamp may be routed in a packet data network for controlling the lighting of the lamp;

receiving observation data (525) addressed to a lighting controller and noting from the received observation data an object moving on the road;

defining the location of the noted moving object on the basis of the location data associated with the sender of the observation data;

choosing (525), on spot of or nearby the moving object, a lamp or lamps which should be lighting; and

sending (535), using corresponding routing addresses, to each other lamp than the selected ones, control commands for controlling the lamp in question for a specified period as a signal for switching lighting on in selected lamps, and not sending control commands to the selected lamps, signalling switching the lighting on or keeping the lighting switched on in the selected lamps.

4. A method according to claim 3, characterised by predicting the proceeding of the noted moving object in respect of the road.

5. A device (110) for an outdoor lamp on roads, along which roads there are several lamps, for which lamps an electricity supply (120) is built; characterised in that:

the device comprises means (220) for taking electricity current from the electricity supply and using the received power the device is arranged to:

monitoring (230;420) control commands sent to the lamp in the packet data network;

switching (280,270;430) the lighting of the road off or dimmed from the lamp for a specified period responsive to noting a lighting pause command sent to the lamp; and

switching (280,270;450) the lighting of the road on from the lamp responsive to not noting the lighting pause command sent to the lamp.

6. A device according to claim 5, characterised in that the packet data network is arranged to use the electricity supply (120) as a data transfer connection.

7. A device according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the lamp comprises a semiconductor bulb (210) such as a LED bulb.

8. A device according to any of claims 5 - 7, characterised in that the device comprises means (280,270) for forming dimmed basic lighting.

9. A device according to any of claims 5 - 8, characterised in that the device comprises a switch circuitry (270) for switching the lighting on and off or dimmed, separated from the communication circuitry (230), the switch circuitry being configured such that if the communication circuitry does not periodically give a pause signal to the switch circuitry, the switch circuitry switches the lighting on.

10. A device according to any of claims 5 - 10, characterised in that the device being configured to identify control commands for indicating exceptional situations and to responsively adjust the lighting of the lamp in a way separable to human being.

11. A device (140) for focusing outdoor lighting on roads (150), along which there are several lamps (110), for which an electricity supply has been built, characterised by the device comprising:

means for maintaining a location table (370), in which location data from several lamps and a lamp address enabling sending data packets are saved, which lamp address comprises a routing address or enables dynamic forming of the routing address, on the basis of which routing address control commands of the lamp may be routed in a packet data network for controlling the lighting of the lamp;

means for receiving observation data (310), which is addressed to the lighting controller;

means for noting (320) the moving object from the received observation data the object moving on the road;

means for defining (320,370) the location of the noted moving object according to the location data associated with the sender of the observation data;

means (320,370) for choosing on spot of or nearby the moving object the lamp or lamps, which should be lighting; and

means (320,370,310) for sending to each of other lamps than the selected ones, control commands for controlling the lamp in question for a specified period to switch the lighting off or dimmed, by using corresponding routing addresses, and not sending control commands to the selected lamps, signalling switching the lighting on or keeping the lighting switched on in the selected lamps.

12. A device according to claim 11, characterised in that the packet data network has been formed by using the electricity supply (120) as data transfer connection.

13. A device according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the device further comprises means (310,320) for receiving the location data of the lamp in question, in connection with mounting a new lamp, for associating the location data with the routing address of the lamp in question.

14. A device according to any of claims 11 - 13, characterised by the device being further configured to control one or more traffic devices over the packet data network.

15. A device according to any of claims 11 - 14, characterised in that the device further comprises means (320,370,380) for predicting proceeding of the noted moving object.

Drawing