Control Protocol

So I can't drop project names because of privacy issues. But I'm
working on a space that combines architectural lighting with some
entertainment lighting features and the issue of the week has become
finalizing control.

The Crestron system programmer ran through the limitations of the DMX
512 protocol that our dimming system employs for some if the
intelligent lighting we included in the design. From his point of view
the biggest disadvantage to DMX protocol is the lack of two way
communication between the controlling processor and the fixtures. DMX
is essentially a by-state control protocol. Meaning, all a control
station can do is send a percentage signal down every single address
in its pervue all the time. It cannot recieve information back down
the one way street of its data path.

So as the worlds of architectural and entertainment lighting converge
with the realms of video and more sophisticated levels of intuitive
control, is it time to bring intelligent lighting to more open more
easily maintained standard? And if so what?

James Bedell
917-225-9183