(i9) United States
(12) Patent Application Publication
Bechtle et al.
(54) SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC GENERATION OF A CHANGE SCHEDULE FOR A PLURALITY OF LIGHTING MEANS
(75) Inventors: Robert Bechtle, Falkensee (DE);
Matthias Burczyk, Berlin (DE)
Correspondence Address:
PHILIPS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY &
STANDARDS
P.O. BOX 3001
BRIARCLIFF MANOR, NY 10510 (US)
(73) Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.,
Eindhoven (NL)
(21) Appl. No.: 10/570,441
(22) PCT Filed: Aug. 25, 2004 (86) PCT No.: PCT/IB04/51559
§ 371(c)(1),
(2), (4) Date: Mar. 2, 2006 (30) Foreign Application Priority Data
Sep. 9, 2003 (EP) 03103333.5
Publication Classification
(51) Int. CI.
G09F 25/00 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 340/286.01
(57) ABSTRACT
A system, a method and a computer program for planning the operation of a plurality of lighting means are described. For example in a department store, a number of different types of lighting means, e.g. filament lamps, discharge lamps and fluorescent tube lamps, may be installed. All of these lighting means have a certain life time and eventually need to be replaced. The system, method and computer program according to the invention automatically determine a change schedule with maintenance events for changing the lighting means, which leads to overall minimum cost in a specified time interval. The user enters a plurality of parameters for each groups of lighting means, including the number of lighting means in the group, type, price and/or value for a lifetime and operating time of the lighting means, as well as a first outlay parameter for preparation outlay and a second outlay parameter for changing outlay. The optimum change schedule is calculated in a way, where in case of identical change times for different groups, the first outlay parameter is accounted for only once.
