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Connected Lighting
Local vs. Remote Connection
In networking, you will commonly hear the following terms to describe how a device may be connecting to the
network:
•
Local refers to a network connection when the device is connected directly to that network’s router.
For example, when you are at home, your smart device or Web browser (through your computer)
would be connected to your wireless router and therefore would be connected locally. You would not
have to use an Internet or mobile data connection because your smart device is already connected
directly through your router. It can access your lighting network locally because your lighting network is
also attached to the same router (through the Gateway).
•
Remote (not to be confused with remote control) refers to a network connection when the device is
not connected directly to that network’s router. In this case, the device uses an Internet or mobile data
connection to reach your network router. For example, if you are at work and need to access your
network, you would access it remotely. With a remote connection, your device typically uses some
form of authentication so that your network router knows that it can trust your device when it requests
a connection. With the lighting network, you must have a password-protected online account to which
you log in through a smart device. This authenticated login lets your network know that it is safe to
accept the connection.
Example of Wireless Network
The following illustration shows an example of a wireless home network with lighting:
Local Connection
Remote
Connection
Internet