The convergence of solid-state lighting and networking capabilities have opened the door to a world of possibilities. From an end-user perspective, interoperability not only negates manufacturer obsolescence but also delivers them additional value like centrally managing and analyzing data from a multi-vendor ecosystem. Without interoperability, a connected lighting system will not be able to deliver energy and non-energy value propositions that the market demands.
What is interoperability in smart lighting?
Despite agreeing upon its criticality, there isn’t any single definition that’s universally acceptable. On a broader perspective, interoperability could be understood as the ability of a system or individual components within a system to receive and act upon actionable data. Practically, it is the key to unlock the true potential of different connected devices.
Need for interoperability in IoT lighting
Interoperability is required when you want a set of devices to work together to achieve a common goal, be it energy savings, operational efficiency, etc. For example, the occupancy data from the lighting system is used in controlling HVAC operations. But this is possible only when the BMS (Building management system) can communicate with the connected lighting system. So, interoperability not only allows a lighting equipment manufacturer to reduce development time & cost, standardize customer requirements but also helps them in easily integrating with external systems. Is interoperability all about communication? Read on to find out the answer.
Different types of Interoperability
To broaden our understanding, let’s dive deeper into the topic. From a lighting point of view, there are three levels of interoperability:
Device-to-device: It refers to the interoperability of individual components developed by different vendors within a lighting system or a device which is not integral to the system.
Device-to-system: Between a connected lighting system component and another connected lighting system.
System-to-system: For the connected lighting system to realize its potential, it’s imperative that it communicates with other systems, applications or platforms.
Contrary to the common understanding, interoperability is not limited to the communication layer of a connected lighting system. Instead, it is a key pillar that holds the entire system together, equipping it to meet its various energy and non-energy objectives.
Interoperability in action
“Interoperability should always be driven by purpose. When it comes to lighting projects, it is the objectives that define the level of interoperability that’s required.” Vivek Pramod, VP Product & Marketing Management, WiSilica
Imagine the journey of a luminaire manufacturer who wants to make his driver ecosystem smart. He can achieve this by integrating an intelligent module into his tunable/dimmable driver ecosystem. In this scenario, two devices- the drivers and the module- need to work together for the network to function. Similarly, any sensor network could be integrated into the luminaire ecosystem and can be controlled via a sensor interface device for achieving complex objectives.
In cases where interoperation is required between two lighting OEMs, wireless communication protocols like BLE or Zigbee could be used to accomplish it.
Now, imagine another project in which the requirement is to make the lighting smart by adding voice control capability. In this case, connected lighting system should integrate with smart assistants like Google Assistant or Alexa, and Cloud level interoperability is what will drive this project.
To summarize, interoperability holds the key to the future of connected lighting. But to unlock the potential that the future presents, we need to broaden our understanding. There is nothing wrong in viewing interoperability through the prism of wireless communication protocols. But a holistic understanding of the topic will only help us realize the immense potential that connected lighting offers us.
By hitting the submit button you authorize WiSilica to store and process your data in accordance with principles laid out in our privacy policy.