Two-layer lighting control network systems and methods

A method of controlling a lighting system, the method comprising:

• powering on a first hub lighting device, wherein the first hub lighting device includes one of a first type of radio and one of a second type of radio, wherein the first type of radio provides for unidirectional wireless data transmission using a first wireless network, wherein the second type of radio provides for bidirectional wireless data transmission using a second wireless network;
• powering on a plurality of client lighting devices, wherein each of the plurality of client lighting devices includes one of the first type of radio;
• joining at least some of a plurality of client lighting devices with the first hub lighting device into a first lighting device group using the first wireless network;
• sending a first lighting control signal for the first lighting device group from a lighting controller to the first hub lighting device using the second wireless network;
• and
• sending the first lighting control signal from the first hub lighting device of the first lighting device group to the plurality of client lighting devices of the first lighting device group using the first wireless network.

A lighting system for grouping and controlling lighting devices, comprising:

• a plurality of client lighting devices having one of a first type of radio for receiving wireless control signals;
• a lighting controller including one of a second type of radio;
• at least one hub lighting device having one of the second type of radio for wireless communication with the lighting controller and one of the first type of radio for communicating with the plurality of client lighting devices;
• a first wireless network including the first type of radio of one of the at least one hub lighting devices and the first type of radios of at least some of the plurality of client lighting devices;
• and
• a second wireless network including the second type of radio of the lighting controller and the second type of radio of the at least one hub lighting device;
• wherein the first type of radio provides for unidirectional wireless data transmission using the first wireless network, wherein the second type of radio provides for bidirectional wireless data transmission using the second wireless network;
• and
• wherein grouping and controlling lighting devices includes:
• joining at least some of the plurality of client lighting devices with one of the at least one hub lighting device into a lighting device group using the first wireless network,
• sending a lighting control signal for the lighting device group from the lighting controller to the one of the at least one hub lighting device of the lighting device group using the second wireless network, and
• sending the lighting control signal from the one of the at least one hub lighting device of the lighting device group to the at least some of the plurality of client lighting devices of the lighting device group using the first wireless network.