# US 11,121,929 B2 · Method, location device and system for managing network devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,121,929 B2 - Document ID: US11121929B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/994,015 - Filed: 2020-08-14 - Published: 2021-02-18 - Granted: 2021-09-14 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-18 - Assignees: Ledvance GmbH - Applicants: LEDVANCE GmbH - Inventors: Wuqiang Liao; Dengpan Liu; Guangli Lei; Yafen Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11121929B2 ## CPC - G05B 15/02: electric - H04L 41/145: {involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network} - H04L 67/52: specially adapted for the location of the user terminal - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method for managing network devices is provided. The method comprises collecting position data of at least one network device with a location device for determining the position of the at least one network device relative to at least one positioning base, collecting device information data from the at least one network device with the location device, the device information data representing individual properties of the at least one network device, determining the position of the at least one network device according to the position data, providing a model of the physical environment based on environment data, and mapping the at least one network device to the model of the physical environment such that the device information data of the at least one network device is assigned to at least one location in the model of the physical environment, according to the position of the at least one network device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing network devices arranged in a physical environment, the method comprising: collecting position data of at least one network device with a location device for determining a position of the at least one network device relative to at least one positioning base; collecting device information data from the at least one network device with the location device, the device information data representing individual properties of the at least one network device; determining the position of the at least one network device according to the position data; providing a model of the physical environment based on environment data; mapping the at least one network device to the model of the physical environment such that the device information data of the at least one network device is assigned to at least one location in the model of the physical environment, according to the position of the at least one network device; and displaying the model of the physical environment on a user interface (UI), the at least one network device being indicated by at least one icon in the model of the physical environment, for controlling the at least one network device based on the mapping of the at least one network device to the model of the physical environment. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: adjusting at least one adjustable parameter of the at least one network device based on the model of the physical environment displayed on the UI. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the at least one network device comprises more than one network device, and wherein the adjusting comprises automatically adjusting the at least one adjustable parameter based on the positions of the more than one network devices in the environment. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the collecting of the device information data comprises scanning a QR-code of the at least one network device with a QR-scanner of the location device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: sending the position data and the device information data from the location device to a computer server. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one network device comprises at least one luminaire, wherein the at least one adjustable parameter comprises at least one adjustable light parameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises: modelling an illumination of the physical environment illuminated by the at least one luminaire; and displaying a modelled illumination on the UI. ### Claim 8 A location device for managing network devices arranged in a physical environment, the location device comprising: a processor; a positioning tag configured to collect position data for determining positions of the network devices relative to at least one positioning base provided in a physical environment; a QR-scanner for collecting device information data representing individual properties of the network devices; a communication interface for communicating with a server; and a memory unit configured to store instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to receive the position data from the positioning tag and the device information data from the QR-scanner and to instruct the communication interface to send the position data and the device information data to the server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The location device according to claim 8, wherein wireless communication of the positioning tag with the at least one positioning base is based on ultrawide band (UWB) technology. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The location device according to claim 8, wherein the QR-scanner is configured to collect the device information data by scanning QR-codes of the network devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The location device according to claim 8, wherein the instructions executable by the processor comprise instructions to process the position data received from the positioning tag prior to sending the position data to the server. ### Claim 12 A system for managing a network of network devices arranged in a physical environment, the system comprising a computer server, a location device with a positioning tag for providing position data and a QR-scanner for providing device information data, the computer server comprising: a communication interface configured to receive data from the location device and to send control signals to the network devices; a user interface (UI) for controlling the network devices; a processor; and a memory unit configured to store environment data related to the physical environment, the position data, and the device information data, the memory unit being further configured to store instructions executable by the processor to provide a model of the physical environment, to map the network devices to the model of the physical environment, and to display the model of the physical environment on the UI, the at least one network device being indicated by at least one icon in the model of the physical environment, for controlling the at least one network device based on the mapping of the at least one network device to the model of the physical environment. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the system further comprises one or more gateways for communication between the server and the network devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the UI comprises an interactive user interface configured to control the network devices by selecting respective icons on the UI. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the UI is further configured to display diagnostic parameters indicating the operational state of the network devices.