Management system and method, location finding device and method, recording medium and program product

Abstract

The present application provides a management system, a management method, a location device, a location method, a computer readable recording medium storing a program, and a non-transitory computer program product for managing a plurality of physical locations with a plurality of dimensions of coordinates in a room. The management system includes a plurality of terminal devices, at least one coordination device, and a management device. The management device stores a first pairing table and a second pairing table. In response to an external instruction, the management device performs the following steps: obtaining an identification number of a first terminal device among the terminal devices via the first pairing table; determining a first coordination device managing the first terminal device among the at least one coordination device via the second pairing table; and transmitting a task instruction to the first coordination device, so that the first coordination device assigns the first terminal device to complete the task instruction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to management and location-finding technology, and in particular, to management and location-finding technology related to managing a plurality of physical locations with a plurality of dimensions of coordinates in an indoor environment. BACKGROUND

[0002] In general life, there are often situations in which a large number of physical locations need to be managed. However, to manage an entire lighting system, in addition to having power supply lines for power supply, data transmission control lines for transmitting lighting information and displaying control are also needed, and the operating status of these devices also needs to be monitored, thus increasing the complexity and cost of system installation and maintenance management. SUMMARY

[0003] Therefore, the present application provides a management system, a management method, a location-finding device, a location-finding method, a computer-readable recording medium storing a program, and a non-transitory computer program product to improve the problems of the prior art.

[0004] One embodiment of the present application provides a management system for managing a plurality of physical locations with a plurality of dimensions of coordinates in an indoor environment. The management system includes a plurality of terminal devices, at least one coordination device, and a management device. Each terminal device has an identification number and a first memory configured to store a network location. Each coordination device has a second memory. The management device has a third memory configured to store a first pairing table and a second pairing table. The first pairing table is configured to store a first correspondence relationship between a physical location and a terminal device. The second pairing table stores management information including a second correspondence relationship between the identification number of each terminal device and a coordination device. The management device is configured to respond to an external instruction to perform the following steps: obtaining, via the first pairing table, the identification number of a first terminal device among the terminal devices. Determining, via the second pairing table, a first coordination device among the coordination devices that manages the first terminal device. And transmitting a task instruction to the first coordination device, so that the first coordination device assigns the first terminal device to complete the task instruction.

[0005] One embodiment of the present application provides a management method performed by a management system for managing a plurality of physical locations with a plurality of dimensions of coordinates in an indoor environment. The management method includes the following steps: obtaining, via the first pairing table, the identification number of a first terminal device among the terminal devices. Determining, via the second pairing table, a first coordination device among the coordination devices that manages the first terminal device. And transmitting a task instruction to the first coordination device, so that the first coordination device assigns the first terminal device to complete the task instruction.

[0006] An embodiment of the present application provides a location finding device cooperating with the aforementioned management system. The location finding device comprises a processor. The processor is configured to perform the following procedures in response to a location finding instruction: receiving a location table stored by a management device of the management system; reading, from the location table, an intensity value of a location signal emitted by each coordination device measured at a location to be found in a physical location indicated by the location finding instruction to obtain location to be found information; obtaining present location information according to the intensity value of the location signal emitted by each coordination device; and comparing the location to be found information with the present location information to obtain a relative direction of the location to be found and the location finding device.

[0007] An embodiment of the present application provides a location finding method cooperating with the aforementioned management method, executed by a processor. The location finding method comprises: receiving a location table stored by a management device of the management system; reading, from the location table, an intensity value of a location signal emitted by each coordination device measured at a location to be found in a physical location indicated by a location finding instruction to obtain location to be found information; obtaining present location information according to the intensity value of the location signal emitted by each coordination device; and comparing the location to be found information with the present location information to obtain a relative direction of the location to be found and the location finding device.

[0008] The present application provides a computer readable medium storing a program and a non-transitory computer program product, which can complete the aforementioned location finding method when a processor of a location finding device loads and executes the program.

[0009] Based on the above, the present application provides a management system, a management method, a location finding device, a location finding method, a computer readable recording medium storing a program, and a non-transitory computer program product. By arranging a plurality of terminal devices and at least one coordination device, the management system can manage a plurality of physical locations with multiple dimensions of coordinates in a room at a lower cost, and can also conveniently find a specific physical location. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a management system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0011] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of operation of a management system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0012] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of operation of a setting device according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0013] Figure 4-1 FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of operation of a management system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0014] Figure 4-2 FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of operation of a management system according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0015] Figure 5 is a block diagram of a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 6 is a block diagram of a pointing device architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 7 is a block diagram of a pointing device system cooperating with a management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 8A is a schematic diagram of a pointing device operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 8B is a schematic diagram of a pointing device operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 8C is a schematic diagram of a pointing device operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 9 is a flowchart of a management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 10 is a flowchart of a management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 11 is a flowchart of a management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 12 is a flowchart of a management method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 13 is a flowchart of a terminal device removal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 14 is a flowchart of a coordination device removal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 15 is a flowchart of a pointing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] The technical contents, features and effects of the present application mentioned above will be clearly presented in the following detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the drawings. The thickness or size of each component in the drawings is exaggerated or omitted or schematized for the understanding and reading of those skilled in the art, and the size of each component is not the actual size, and is not intended to limit the implementation of the present application, and has no technical significance. Any modification, change of proportion or adjustment of size, without affecting the effects and purposes that can be achieved by the present application, should still fall within the scope of the disclosed technical contents. The same reference numbers will be used to represent the same or similar elements in all the drawings. The terms "coupled" or "connected" mentioned in the following embodiments can refer to any direct or indirect, wired or wireless connection means.

[0029] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a management system according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to Figure 1 , the management system 100 includes a plurality of terminal devices 104-1~104-N, a setting device 103, at least one coordination device 102-1~102-M, and a management device 101. Here, M is a positive integer greater than 0, and N is a positive integer greater than 1. It should be noted that although Figure 1 two coordination devices 102-1 and 102-M are shown, M can be 1, so in this embodiment, there can be only one coordination device. Although Figure 1 the setting device 103 is shown, the setting device 103 only has an effect at certain times, and is not necessary when the management system 100 performs certain functions. Therefore, in some embodiments of the present application, the management system 100 does not include the setting device 103, and the relevant description will be presented in detail later.

[0030] Each of the terminal devices 104-1~104-N has a unique identification number and a first memory 105-1~105-N. In this embodiment, the identification number is a 64-bit positive integer, which can be represented in hexadecimal. For example, the identification number of the terminal device 104-1 is 5bb5cd1c004b1200. The first memories 105-1~105-N are configured to store the network locations assigned by the corresponding coordination devices 102-1~102-M. The coordination devices 102-1~102-M are used to manage the terminal devices 104-1~104-N, and each of the coordination devices 102-1~102-M has a second memory 106-1~106-M. The operation of the coordination devices 102-1~102-M and the terminal devices 104-1~104-N will be described in detail later.

[0031] The management device 101 has a third memory 107. The third memory 107 is configured to store a first pairing table and a second pairing table. The first pairing table is configured to store a first correspondence between physical locations and the terminal devices 104-1 ~ 104-N. The second pairing table stores management information, which includes a second correspondence between the coordinating devices 102-1 ~ 102-M and the identification numbers of each of the terminal devices 104-1 ~ 104-N.

[0032] In the present embodiment, each physical location has coordinates of multiple dimensions. Taking 2 dimensions as an example, the coordinates of each physical location can be represented by a 2-dimensional vector. For example, (2, 4) or (1, 3). In this example, the first pairing table has the following Table 1 form:

[0033]

[0034] Table 1

[0035] The second pairing table has the following Table 2 form:

[0036]

[0037] Table 2

[0038] From the above Table 1, the first correspondence stored by the first pairing table is that the physical location with coordinates (1, 1) corresponds to the terminal device 104-1, the physical location with coordinates (1, 2) corresponds to the terminal device 104-2, the physical location with coordinates (2, 1) corresponds to the terminal device 104-3, and the physical location with coordinates (2, 2) corresponds to the terminal device 104-4. The second correspondence of the management information stored by the second pairing table is that the coordinating device 102-1 is responsible for managing the terminal devices 104-1 and 104-2, and the coordinating device 102-2 is responsible for managing the terminal devices 104-3 and 104-4.

[0039] In an embodiment of the present application, the management system 100 is applied to a management system of lamps. In this embodiment, the physical locations are the positions of the lamps, and the coordinates of the multiple dimensions of the physical locations are the number of layers and the number of positions where the lamps are located. The functions of the terminal devices 104-1 ~ 104-N are to turn on or turn off the lamps on the lamp holders.

[0040] The following describes in detail the management method of the present embodiment and the cooperation between the various hardware of the management system 100.

[0041] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 9 is a flowchart of a management method according to an embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 1 , Figure 2 andFigure 9 In step S901, the management device 101 receives an external command. The management device 101 searches for the identification number of the first terminal device related to the external command from the first pairing table according to the content of the external command. For example, the external command is related to the physical location (1, 1). The management device 101 searches for the first terminal device corresponding to the physical location (1, 1) from the first pairing table and finds that the first terminal device is 104-1 and the identification number of the first terminal device 104-1 is 5bb5cd1c004b1200.

[0042] In step S902, the management device 101 determines the first coordination device managing the first terminal device from the second pairing table. In the above example, the management device 101 determines that the first coordination device managing the first terminal device 104-1 is 102-1 from the second pairing table.

[0043] In step S903, the management device 101 transmits the task instruction related to the external command to the first coordination device to instruct the first coordination device to assign the first terminal device to complete the task instruction. As shown in the figure, the management device 101 transmits the task instruction related to the external command to the first coordination device 102-1. The first coordination device 102-1 assigns the first terminal device 104-1 to complete the task instruction. Figure 2

[0044] In the above embodiment of the management system 100 applied to a management system of lamps, the above external command is to turn on a lamp at a specific physical location, for example, the physical location with coordinates (1, 1). The management device 101 searches for the terminal device at the physical location with coordinates (1, 1) from the first pairing table and finds that the terminal device is 104-1 with the identification number 5bb5cd1c004b1200. The management device 101 determines that the coordination device 102-1 (the first coordination device) manages the terminal device 104-1 (the first terminal device) from the second pairing table. The management device 101 transmits the task instruction related to the external command (turn on the lamp at the lamp holder) to the coordination device 102-1 (the first coordination device) to instruct the coordination device 102-1 (the first coordination device) to assign the terminal device 104-1 (the first terminal device) to complete the task instruction.

[0045] Before the management system 100 starts to operate, the coordination devices 102-1 to 102-M and the terminal devices 104-1 to 104-N need to be set up during a setting period. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the setting device 103 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 10 is a flowchart of a management method according to an embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 1 ,​Figure 3 and Figure 10 In this embodiment, the management system further comprises a setting device 103. The setting device 103 stores the location information of the management device 101. In this embodiment, the aforementioned location information is the network location of the MQTT protocol.

[0046] In step S1001, the setting device 103 receives an external trigger signal. In response to the external trigger signal, the setting device 103 coordinates the devices 102-1~102-M through a wireless network connection and transmits the aforementioned location information of the management device 101 to each of the devices 102-1~102-M. The setting device 103 then drives each of the devices 102-1~102-M to connect to the management device 101 through the location information.

[0047] In step S1002, the management device 101 transmits the corresponding management information of the management information belonging to each of the devices 102-1~102-M to each of the devices 102-1~102-M for storage.

[0048] In this embodiment, the management information is as shown in Table 2 above, and the corresponding management information of each of the devices 102-1~102-M is the terminal device managed by each of the devices 102-1~102-M as recorded in Table 2 above. For example, the corresponding management information of the device 102-1 is the terminal device 104-1 (with identification number 5bb5cd1c004b1200) and the terminal device 104-2 (with identification number 6ab5cd1c004b1200) managed by the device 102-1.

[0049] In an embodiment, the setting device 103 is a smart portable device, such as a smart phone or a tablet.

[0050] After step S1002, the terminal devices 104-1~104-N are connected to the device responsible for control. Figure 4-1 、 Figure 4-2 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. Figure 11 is a flowchart of a management method according to an embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 1 、 Figure 4-1 、 Figure 4-2 and Figure 11In step S1101, a terminal device 104-1 (for the sake of convenience, referred to as a second terminal device) of the terminal devices 104-1 to 104-N starts up and first randomly connects to a second coordinating device 102-1 (for the sake of convenience, referred to as a second coordinating device) of the coordinating devices 102-1 to 102-M. The second coordinating device 102-1 determines whether the second terminal device 104-1 is managed by the second coordinating device 102-1 in step S1102 based on the corresponding management information.

[0051] In step S1103, if the second coordinating device 102-1 determines that the second terminal device 104-1 is managed by the second coordinating device 102-1, the second coordinating device 102-1 allocates a first network number to the second terminal device 104-1 as a network position of the second terminal device 104-1. The second coordinating device 102-1 also transmits a region number of the second coordinating device 102-1 to the second terminal device 104-1. The first network number described above is a 16-bit network position in this embodiment. The region number described above is a distinguishable symbol. As Figure 4-2 illustrated, the region number of the second coordinating device 102-1 is A, and the region number of the coordinating device 102-2 is B.

[0052] In step S1104, the second coordinating device 102-1 stores the network position allocated to the second terminal device 104-1 in the second memory 106-1 of the second coordinating device 102-1.

[0053] Another second terminal device 104-3 starts up and connects to the second coordinating device 102-1 (as Figure 4-2 illustrated). If the second coordinating device 102-1 determines that the second terminal device 104-3 is not managed by the second coordinating device 102-1 in step S1102, step S1105 is executed. In step S1105, the second coordinating device 102-1 transmits an identification number of the second terminal device 104-3 to the management device 101 to inquire a coordinating device 102-2 (for the sake of convenience, referred to as a third coordinating device) of the coordinating devices 102-1 to 102-M that manages the second terminal device 104-3.

[0054] In step S1106, the management device 101 transmits the region number of the third coordinating device 102-2 to the second coordinating device 102-1, as Figure 4-2As shown, the area number of the third coordinating device 102-2 is B. In step S1107, the second coordinating device 102-1 transmits the area number B of the third coordinating device 102-2 to the second terminal device 104-3. In step S1108, the second terminal device 104-3 searches for and connects to the third coordinating device 102-2 based on the area number B of the third coordinating device 102-2.

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, a system and method for establishing the aforementioned first pairing table are disclosed. Figure 5 This is a block diagram of a management system drawn according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please refer to... Figure 5 , Figure 5 The illustrated management system 500 is compared to Figure 1 The illustrated management system 100 also includes a pointing device 501.

[0056] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the pointing device 501 drawn according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating a management method according to an embodiment of the present invention. Please also refer to... Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 12 .

[0057] For ease of explanation, this embodiment is an example Figure 6 The diagram shows four physical locations. The coordinates of each physical location can be represented by a two-dimensional coordinate vector (i,j), namely (1,1), (1,2), (2,1), and (2,2), where i is the first dimension and j is the second dimension. Here, the indices of i are defined as 1 and 2, and the indices of j are defined as 1 and 2.

[0058] In step S1201, the positioning device 501, in response to receiving the positioning signal from the setting device 103 after the aforementioned setting period, first activates the terminal device at the physical location with index 1 of coordinate i. After activation, the terminal device at index 1 sends an online signal to the coordinating device controlling it. The coordinating device then sends the received terminal device online signal back to the management device 101. For ease of explanation, the activated terminal device is referred to as the positioned terminal device. The management device 101 can then identify the terminal device at the physical location with index 1 of coordinate i. Next, the positioning device 501 deactivates the terminal device at the physical location with index 1 of coordinate i, and the coordinating device sends the received terminal device disconnection signal back to the management device 101 so that the management device 101 can confirm the terminal device at the physical location with index 1 of coordinate i. Figure 6In the illustrated example, the terminal devices for the physical location with index 1 of coordinate i are terminal devices 104-1 and 104-2. The pointing device 501 successively activates and deactivates the terminal devices for the physical location with index 2 of coordinate i, the terminal device for the physical location with index 1 of coordinate j, and the terminal device for the physical location with index 2 of coordinate j.

[0059] After the above-mentioned activation and deactivation procedures for all indexes of all dimensions of the coordinates of the physical locations are performed, in step S1202, the management device 101 can obtain the coordinates of the physical locations corresponding to each terminal device (in this example, terminal devices 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, and 104-4). Thus, the management device 101 can establish a first correspondence relationship between the physical locations and all terminal devices (in this example, terminal devices 104-1, 104-2, 104-3, and 104-4) as shown in Table 1 above.

[0060] One round of the terminal devices for the physical location with index 1 of coordinate i, the terminal devices for the physical location with index 2 of coordinate i, the terminal devices for the physical location with index 1 of coordinate j, and the terminal devices for the physical location with index 2 of coordinate j is referred to as one pointing round. It should be noted that the pointing device 501 does not necessarily activate and deactivate the terminal devices for the physical locations corresponding to the above-mentioned coordinates. The pointing device 501 can activate and deactivate the terminal devices for the physical locations corresponding to other coordinates in other orders, as long as the above-mentioned activation and deactivation procedures for all indexes of all dimensions of the coordinates of the physical locations are performed.

[0061] In an embodiment of the present application, a procedure for removing terminal devices 104-1 to 104-N during operation of the management system 100 is disclosed. Figure 13 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure for removing terminal devices according to an embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 13 .

[0062] In step S1301, after receiving the first removal instruction, the management device 101 obtains, based on the first removal instruction, one of the terminal devices 104-1 to 104-N (for the sake of convenience, hereinafter referred to as a third terminal device) indicated by the first removal instruction.

[0063] In step S1302, the management device 101 determines a coordination device (for convenience, hereinafter referred to as a fourth coordination device) that manages the third terminal device among the coordination devices 102-1 ~ 102-M via the second pairing table. In step S1303, the management device 101 transmits a second removal instruction to the fourth coordination device, and the fourth coordination device controls the third terminal device to delete the network location of the third terminal device and the area number. In step S1304, the fourth coordination device deletes the network location of the third terminal device stored in the second memory (one of 106-1 ~ 106-M) of the fourth coordination device. In step S1305, the management device 101 deletes the identification number of the third terminal device in the first pairing table and the second pairing table according to the identification number of the third terminal device, and updates the first pairing table and the second pairing table.

[0064] In an embodiment of the present application, a procedure for removing a coordination device 102-1 ~ 102-M during operation of the management system 100 is disclosed. Figure 14 is a flowchart of the procedure for removing a coordination device according to an embodiment of the present application. Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 14 together.

[0065] In step S1401, after receiving the third removal instruction, the management device 101 obtains one of the coordination devices 102-1 ~ 102-M (for convenience, hereinafter referred to as a fifth coordination device) to be removed indicated by the third removal instruction based on the third removal instruction.

[0066] In step S1402, the management device 101 obtains the terminal devices 104-1 ~ 104-N to be transferred managed by the fifth coordination device via the second pairing table. In step S1403, the management device 101 transmits the identification number of each of the terminal devices to be transferred to another one of the coordination devices 102-1 ~ 102-M (for convenience, hereinafter referred to as a sixth coordination device), and updates the corresponding management information of the sixth coordination device. In step S1404, the management device 101 transmits a first transfer instruction to the fifth coordination device, and the fifth coordination device transmits the area number of the sixth coordination device to the terminal devices to be transferred. In step S1405, the terminal devices to be transferred search for and connect to the sixth coordination device according to the area number of the sixth coordination device. In step S1406, the sixth coordination device allocates a second network number to each of the terminal devices to be transferred as the network location of each of the terminal devices to be transferred. In step S1407, the management device 101 modifies the second pairing table, and corresponds the identification number of each of the terminal devices to be transferred to the sixth coordination device and deletes the information about the fifth coordination device in the management information, to update the management information.

[0067] In an embodiment of the present application, each coordination device 102-1 to 102-M of the management system 100 sends a positioning signal. The third memory 107 of the management device 101 stores a positioning table. The positioning table records the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by each coordination device 102-1 to 102-M measured at each physical location.

[0068] Figure 7 Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a positioning device system cooperating with the management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present application. Referring to Fig. 7, the positioning device 700 comprises a processor 701 and a display device 702. Figure 7 Figure 15 Fig. 8 is a flow chart of a positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0069] The positioning method according to an embodiment of the present application and the cooperation between the various hardware of the positioning device 700 will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0070] In step S1501, the processor 701 sends a request to the management device 101 of the management system 100 in response to a positioning instruction and receives the positioning table from the management device 101.

[0071] In step S1502, the processor 701 reads the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 to 102-M measured at the to-be-located location from the positioning table based on the to-be-located location information indicated by the positioning instruction to obtain the to-be-located location information. In step S1503, the processor 701 obtains the present location information according to the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 to 102-M. In step S1504, the processor 701 compares the to-be-located location information with the present location information to obtain the relative direction between the to-be-located location and the positioning device.

[0072] Figure 8A Fig. 9 is a schematic diagram of the operation of the positioning device according to an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 8A ​In the illustrated embodiment, the management system 100 only includes one coordination device 102-1. The coordination device 102-1 of the management system 100 sends a positioning signal. The third memory 107 of the management device 101 stores a positioning table. The positioning table records the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 measured at each physical position. The seeker device 700 can use the difference between the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 measured at the to-be-located position and the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 measured at the present position as the relative direction. The processor 701 presents the indication direction according to the relative position set by the coordination device 102-1 and the calculated relative direction. When the seeker device 700 moves according to the indication direction, the relative direction tends to be 0. The indication direction can guide the seeker device 700 to move on the circumference R1 with the coordination device 102-1 as the center, wherein the distance from any point on the circumference R1 to the coordination device 102-1 is the same as the distance from the to-be-located position to the coordination device 102-1. Taking the to-be-located position as the physical position (1, 1) as an example, when the seeker device 700 moves according to the indication direction to the place where the relative direction is 0, the seeker device 700 is located on the circumference R1. When the seeker device 700 moves to the circumference R1 or the range included by the circumference R1 (i.e., the distance between the seeker device 700 and the coordination device 102-1 is less than the distance between the to-be-located position and the coordination device 102-1), the seeker device 700 sends a signal to the management device 101, and the management device 101 makes the terminal device at the to-be-located position send a flashing light signal to indicate the actual location of the to-be-located position through the coordination device 102-1.

[0073] Of course, the seeker device 700 can also use other direction sensing information in the environment to assist in indicating the actual location of the to-be-located position. The embodiment is not limited to the flashing light signal sent by the terminal device at the to-be-located position.

[0074] Figure 8B The seeker device operates according to the embodiment of the present application. In the illustrated embodiment, the management system 100 only includes one coordination device 102-1. The coordination device 102-1 of the management system 100 sends a positioning signal. The third memory 107 of the management device 101 stores a positioning table. The positioning table records the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 measured at each physical position. The seeker device 700 can use the difference between the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 measured at the to-be-located position and the intensity value of the positioning signal sent by the coordination device 102-1 measured at the present position as the relative direction. The processor 701 presents the indication direction according to the relative position set by the coordination device 102-1 and the calculated relative direction. When the seeker device 700 moves according to the indication direction, the relative direction tends to be 0. The indication direction can guide the seeker device 700 to move on the circumference R1 with the coordination device 102-1 as the center, wherein the distance from any point on the circumference R1 to the coordination device 102-1 is the same as the distance from the to-be-located position to the coordination device 102-1. Taking the to-be-located position as the physical position (1, 1) as an example, when the seeker device 700 moves according to the indication direction to the place where the relative direction is 0, the seeker device 700 is located on the circumference R1. When the seeker device 700 moves to the circumference R1 or the range included by the circumference R1 (i.e., the distance between the seeker device 700 and the coordination device 102-1 is less than the distance between the to-be-located position and the coordination device 102-1), the seeker device 700 sends a signal to the management device 101, and the management device 101 makes the terminal device at the to-be-located position send a flashing light signal to indicate the actual location of the to-be-located position through the coordination device 102-1. Figure 8BIn the illustrated embodiment, the management system 100 includes only two coordinating devices 102-1, 102-2. Each coordinating device 102-1, 102-2 of the management system 100 emits a positioning signal. The third memory 107 of the management device 101 stores a positioning table. The positioning table records the intensity values of the positioning signals emitted by each coordinating device 102-1, 102-2 measured at each physical position. The locator device 700 can use the difference between the intensity values of the positioning signals emitted by the coordinating devices 102-1, 102-2 measured at the to-be-located position and the intensity values of the positioning signals emitted by the coordinating devices 102-1, 102-2 measured at the current position as the relative direction. The processor 701 presents the indicating direction according to the relative positions of the coordinating devices 102-1, 102-2 and the calculated relative direction. When the locator device 700 moves according to the indicating direction, the relative direction approaches (0, 0). Figure 8B For example, the to-be-located position is physical position (1, 1). The intensity values of the positioning signals emitted by the coordinating devices 102-1, 102-2 measured at the physical position (1, 1) are (0.3, 0.5). The intensity values of the positioning signals emitted by the coordinating devices 102-1, 102-2 measured at the current position of the locator device 700 are (0.2, 0.4). The two difference values (0.2, 0.4) - (0.3, 0.5) = (-0.1, -0.1) are used as the relative direction. The processor 701 presents the indicating direction according to the relative positions of the coordinating devices 102-1, 102-2 and the calculated relative direction. When the locator device 700 moves according to the indicating direction, the relative direction approaches (0, 0). The indicating direction can guide the locator device 700 to move to the intersection of the circumference R1 centered at the coordinating device 102-1 and the circumference R2 centered at the coordinating device 102-2, where the distance from any point on the circumference R1 to the coordinating device 102-1 is the same as the distance from the to-be-located position to the coordinating device 102-1, and the distance from any point on the circumference R2 to the coordinating device 102-2 is the same as the distance from the to-be-located position to the coordinating device 102-2. When the locator device 700 moves to the intersection of the circumference R1 and the circumference R2 or the intersection of the range covered by the circumference R1 and the range covered by the circumference R2 (i.e., the distance from the locator device 700 to the coordinating device 102-1 is less than or equal to the distance from the to-be-located position to the coordinating device 102-1, and the distance from the locator device 700 to the coordinating device 102-2 is less than or equal to the distance from the to-be-located position to the coordinating device 102-2), the locator device 700 sends a signal to the management device 101, and the management device 101 causes the terminal device at the to-be-located position to emit a flashing light signal through the coordinating device corresponding to the terminal device at the locator position 700 to indicate the actual location of the to-be-located position.

[0075] Of course, the location-finding device 700 can also assist in indicating the actual location of the location to be found according to other direction-sensed information in the environment. The embodiment is not limited to the terminal device at the location to be found sending out a flashing light signal.

[0076] Figure 8C is a schematic diagram of the operation of the location-finding device according to an embodiment of the present application. In Figure 8C In the embodiment shown, the management system 100 comprises three coordination devices 102-1, 102-2, 102-3. Each coordination device 102-1-102-3 of the management system 100 sends out a positioning signal. The third memory 107 of the management device 101 stores a positioning table. The positioning table records the intensity values of the positioning signals sent out by each coordination device 102-1-102-3 measured at each physical location. The location-finding device 700 can use the difference between the intensity values of the positioning signals sent out by the coordination devices 102-1-102-3 measured at the location to be found and the intensity values of the positioning signals sent out by 102-1-102-3 measured at the current location as the relative direction. The processor 701 presents the indicating direction according to the relative positions of the coordination devices 102-1-102-3 and the calculated relative direction. When the location-finding device 700 moves according to the indicating direction, the relative direction will tend to approach (0, 0, 0). If the location to be found is the physical location (1, 1), the intensity values of the positioning signals sent out by the coordination devices 102-1-102-3 measured at the physical location (1, 1) are (1, 0.1, 0.1), and the intensity values of the positioning signals sent out by the coordination devices 102-1-102-3 measured at the current location of the location-finding device 700 are (0.5, 0.5, 0.5). The two difference values (0.5, 0.5, 0.5) - (1, 0.1, 0.1) = (-0.5, 0.4, 0.4) are used as the relative direction.

[0077] The processor 701 presents the indicating direction according to the relative positions of the coordination devices 102-1-102-3 and the calculated relative direction. When the location-finding device 700 moves according to the indicating direction, the relative direction will tend to approach (0, 0, 0). The indicating direction can guide the location-finding device 700 to move to the location to be found.

[0078] In one embodiment of the present application, the management system 100 comprises three or more coordinators. The locator device 700 takes the three coordinators 102-1 ~ 102-3 as the main coordinators, and the rest of the coordinators as the auxiliary coordinators. The locator device 700 takes the difference between the intensity value of the positioning signal emitted by the coordinators 102-1 ~ 102-3 at the location to be located and the intensity value of the positioning signal emitted by the coordinators 102-1 ~ 102-3 at the present location as the relative direction. The processor 701 takes the relative direction calculated according to the relative position of the coordinators 102-1 ~ 102-3 and the relative direction calculated according to the relative direction, and also presents the indicating direction. When the locator device 700 moves according to the indicating direction, the relative direction will tend to (0, 0, 0). The indicating direction can guide the locator device 700 to move to the location to be located.

[0079] In the embodiment of the management system 100 applied to the management of the light system, the locator device 700 can help the inquirer to move to the location of a specific light by the locator device 700.

[0080] In one embodiment of the present application, the processor 701 presents the relative direction in the display device 702. It is to be noted that the locator device 700 can also present the relative direction in other ways. In one embodiment of the present application, the locator device 700 presents the relative direction in voice. In this embodiment, the locator device 700 can not comprise the display device 702.

[0081] In one embodiment of the present application, the terminal devices 104-1 ~ 104-N and the coordinators 102-1 ~ 102-M are implemented by ZigBee devices.

[0082] In this specification, the "computer readable medium" is used to refer to a non-volatile, non-transitory medium, such as a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, a floppy disk, a hard disk, a compact disk (CD), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a USB flash disk, a database accessible via a network, or any other storage medium known to those skilled in the art and having the same function. Such and other various forms of computer readable medium can involve carrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to the processor 701 for execution. Such instructions embodied on the medium are usually referred to as "computer program code" or "computer program product", which can be a file that can be transmitted over a network or stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. Such instructions, when executed, can enable the processor 701 to perform the steps or functions of the locating method as described in the present application.

[0083] Based on the above, the management system, the management method, the location device, the location method, the computer readable recording medium storing the program, and the non-transitory computer program product are provided. By setting the plurality of terminal devices and the at least one coordination device, the management system can manage the plurality of physical locations with the plurality of dimensions of coordinates in the room at a lower cost. The management system can also conveniently find the specific physical location. The management system uses the setting, pointing, and removing methods of the embodiments of the present application, so that the maintenance of the management system is more efficient.

[0084] SYMBOL DESCRIPTION

[0085] 100, 500: management system

[0086] 101: management device

[0087] 102-1~102-M: coordination device

[0088] 103: setting device

[0089] 104-1~104-N: terminal device

[0090] 105-1~105-N: first memory

[0091] 106-1~106-M: second memory

[0092] 107: third memory

[0093] 501: pointing device

[0094] (1,1), (1,2), (2,1), (2,2): coordinate vector

[0095] 700: location device

[0096] 701: processor

[0097] 702: display device

[0098] R1, R2: circumference

[0099] S901~S903, S1001~S1002, S1101~S1108, S1201~S1202, S1301~S1305, S1401~S1407, S1501~S1504: steps

Claims

1. A management system for managing a plurality of physical locations having coordinates in a plurality of dimensions in a room, comprising: a plurality of terminal devices, each of the terminal devices having an identification number and a first memory configured to store a network location; at least one coordination device, wherein each of the at least one coordination device having a second memory; a management device having a third memory configured to store a first pairing table and a second pairing table, the first pairing table configured to store a first correspondence between the physical locations and the terminal devices, the second pairing table storing a management information comprising a second correspondence between the at least one coordination device and the identification number of each of the terminal devices; wherein the management device is configured to, in response to an external instruction, perform: (a) obtaining the identification number of a first terminal device among the terminal devices via the first pairing table; (b) determining a first coordination device among the at least one coordination device that manages the first terminal device via the second pairing table; and (c) transmitting a task instruction to the first coordination device for the first coordination device to assign the first terminal device to complete the task instruction, wherein the management system further comprises a setting device storing a location information of the management device, wherein the setting device is configured to, in response to an external trigger signal during a setting period, perform: (a) connecting each of the at least one coordination device via a wireless network and transmitting the location information of the management device to each of the at least one coordination device; and (b) driving each of the at least one coordination device to connect the management device via the location information by each of the at least one coordination device; the management device transmitting a corresponding management information belonging to each of the at least one coordination device in the management information to each of the at least one coordination device for storage. The corresponding management information of each of the at least one coordination device further comprises a zone number corresponding to each of the at least one coordination device, in response to a second terminal device among the terminal devices initiating a connection to a second coordination device among the at least one coordination device, the second coordination device determines whether the second terminal device is managed by the second coordination device according to the corresponding management information of the second coordination device, in response to the second coordination device determining that the second terminal device is managed by the second coordination device, the second coordination device assigns a first network number to the second terminal device as the network location of the second terminal device and transmits the zone number to the second terminal device, the second coordination device storing the network location of the second terminal device in the second memory.

2. The management system of claim 1, wherein, In response to the second coordination device determining that the second terminal device is not managed by the second coordination device, the second coordination device transmits the identification number of the second terminal device to the management device to query a third coordination device among the at least one coordination device that manages the second terminal device, the management device returns the zone number of the third coordination device to the second coordination device, the second coordination device transmits the zone number of the third coordination device to the second terminal device, the second terminal device searches for and connects to the third coordination device according to the zone number of the third coordination device.

3. The management system of claim 2, wherein, ​ 4. The management system of claim 1, further comprising: A pointing device, in response to a pointing signal from the setting device, activates and deactivates a plurality of pointed terminal devices among the terminal devices according to a sequence in a pointing round after the setting period, so that the pointed terminal devices send on-line and off-line signals, wherein, the physical locations indicated by the plurality of indexes corresponding to each of the dimensions by the terminal devices being pointed; wherein the management device receives the online and offline signals from the terminal devices being pointed in the pointing round according to the order via the at least one coordinator to establish the first correspondence between the physical locations and the terminal devices.

5. The management system of claim 1, wherein, In response to a first removal instruction, the management device obtains a third terminal device indicated by the first removal instruction to be deleted, the management device determines a fourth coordinator of the at least one coordinator managing the third terminal device via the second pairing table, the management device transmits a second removal instruction to the fourth coordinator to control the fourth coordinator to control the third terminal device to delete the network location and the area number of the third terminal device, the fourth coordinator deletes the network location of the third terminal device stored in the second memory of the fourth coordinator, and the management device corrects the first pairing table and the second pairing table according to the identification number of the third terminal device.

6. The management system of claim 1, wherein, In response to a third removal instruction, the management device obtains a fifth coordinator of the at least one coordinator indicated by the third removal instruction to be deleted, the management device obtains at least one terminal device to be transferred managed by the fifth coordinator via the second pairing table, the management device transmits the identification number of each of the at least one terminal device to be transferred to a sixth coordinator of the at least one coordinator to update the correspondence management information of the sixth coordinator, the management device transmits a first transfer instruction to the fifth coordinator to transmit the area number of the sixth coordinator to the at least one terminal device to be transferred, the at least one terminal device to be transferred searches and connects to the sixth coordinator according to the area number of the sixth coordinator, the sixth coordinator allocates a second network number to each of the at least one terminal device to be transferred as the network location of each of the at least one terminal device to be transferred, and the management device updates the management information to delete the information about the fifth coordinator in the management information.

7. The management system of claim 1, wherein, Each of the at least one coordinator transmits a positioning signal, and the third memory of the management device is configured to store a positioning table recording the intensity value of the positioning signal transmitted by each of the at least one coordinator measured at each of the physical locations.

8. A management method, performed by a management system, for managing a plurality of physical locations having coordinates in a plurality of dimensions in a room, the management system comprising: a plurality of terminal devices, each of the terminal devices having an identification number and a first memory configured to store a network location; and at least one coordinating device, wherein, Each of the at least one coordinator has a second memory; and a management device has a third memory configured to store a first pairing table and a second pairing table, the first pairing table is configured to store a first correspondence between the physical locations and the terminal devices, and the second pairing table stores a management information including a second correspondence between the at least one coordinator and the identification number of each of the terminal devices; the management method comprises: in response to an external instruction, obtaining the identification number of a first terminal device of the terminal devices via the first pairing table; determining a first coordinating device of the at least one coordinating device that manages the first terminal device via the second pairing table; and transmitting a task instruction to the first coordinating device to instruct the first coordinating device to assign the first terminal device to complete the task instruction, wherein the management system further comprises a setting device to store a location information of the management device, and the management method further comprises: executing, by the setting device during a setting period, in response to an external trigger signal: (a) connecting each of the at least one coordinating device via a wireless network and transmitting the location information of the management device to each of the at least one coordinating device; and (b) driving each of the at least one coordinating device to connect the management device via the location information; and the management device transmitting a corresponding management information of the management information belonging to each of the at least one coordinating device to each of the at least one coordinating device for storage.

9. The management method of claim 8, wherein the corresponding management information of each of the at least one coordinating device further comprises a zone number corresponding to each of the at least one coordinating device, the management method further comprising: in response to a second terminal device of the terminal devices initiating connection to a second coordinating device of the at least one coordinating device, the second coordinating device determining whether the second terminal device is managed by the second coordinating device according to the corresponding management information of the second coordinating device; in response to the second coordinating device determining that the second terminal device is managed by the second coordinating device, the second coordinating device assigning a first network number to the second terminal device as the network location of the second terminal device and transmitting the zone number to the second terminal device; and the second coordinating device storing the network location of the second terminal device in the second memory.

10. The management method of claim 9, the management method further comprising: in response to the second coordinating device determining that the second terminal device is not managed by the second coordinating device, the second coordinating device transmitting the identification number of the second terminal device to the management device to query a third coordinating device of the at least one coordinating device that manages the second terminal device; the management device transmitting the zone number of the third coordinating device back to the second coordinating device; the second coordinating device transmitting the zone number of the third coordinating device to the second terminal device; and the second terminal device searching for and connecting to the third coordinating device according to the zone number of the third coordinating device.

11. The management method of claim 8, the management system further comprising a pointing device, the management method further comprising: the pointed terminal devices corresponding to the physical locations indicated by the indexes of each of the dimension coordinates; and the management device establishing the first correspondence between the physical locations and the terminal devices by receiving the online and offline signals from the pointed terminal devices in the pointing round according to the order via the at least one coordinating device.

12. The management method of claim 8, the management method further comprising: The pointing device responds to a pointing signal from the setting device to activate and deactivate, in a pointing round after the setting period, a plurality of pointed terminal devices among the terminal devices according to a sequence, so that the pointed terminal devices send on-line and off-line signals, wherein, the management device obtaining a third terminal device of the terminal devices indicated for deletion in response to a first removal instruction; ​ ​ ​ The management device determines a fourth coordinating device of the at least one coordinating device managing the third terminal device via the second pairing table; The management device transmits a second removal instruction to the fourth coordinating device to control the fourth coordinating device to control the third terminal device to delete the network location and the area number of the third terminal device; The fourth coordinating device deletes the network location of the third terminal device stored in the second memory of the fourth coordinating device; The management device corrects the first pairing table and the second pairing table according to the identification number of the third terminal device.

13. The management method of claim 8, further comprising: The management device obtains a fifth coordinating device of the at least one coordinating device to be removed indicated by a third removal instruction in response to the third removal instruction; The management device obtains at least one terminal device to be transferred of the terminal devices managed by the fifth coordinating device via the second pairing table; The management device transmits the identification number of each of the at least one terminal device to be transferred to a sixth coordinating device of the at least one coordinating device to update the corresponding management information of the sixth coordinating device; The management device transmits a first transfer instruction to the fifth coordinating device to control the fifth coordinating device to transmit the area number of the sixth coordinating device to the at least one terminal device to be transferred; The at least one terminal device to be transferred searches and connects to the sixth coordinating device according to the area number of the sixth coordinating device; The sixth coordinating device allocates a second network number to each of the at least one terminal device to be transferred as the network location of each of the at least one terminal device to be transferred; The management device updates the management information to delete the information about the fifth coordinating device in the management information. The third memory of the management device stores a positioning table recording the intensity value of the positioning signal emitted by each of the at least one coordinating device measured at each of the physical locations.

15. A positioning device cooperating with the management system of claim 7, comprising: a processor configured to perform the following procedures in response to a positioning instruction: (a) receiving the positioning table stored by the management device of the management system; (b) reading the intensity value of the positioning signal emitted by each of the at least one coordinating device measured at a target physical location indicated by the positioning instruction from the positioning table to obtain a target position information; (c) obtaining a present position information according to the intensity value of the positioning signal emitted by each of the at least one coordinating device; and (d) comparing the target position information and the present position information to obtain a relative direction of the target physical location and the positioning device.

14. The management method of claim 8, further comprising: each of the at least one coordinating device sending a location signal, wherein, The processor presents the relative direction on the display device.

17. A positioning method cooperating with the management method of claim 14, performed by a processor, comprising:

16. The locator device of claim 15, further comprising a display device; wherein, performing the following procedures in response to a positioning instruction: (a) receiving the positioning table stored by the management device of the management system; ​ ​ (b) reading, based on the location-indicating indicating a to-be-located location among the physical locations, a strength value of the positioning signal emitted by each of the at least one coordinating device measured at the to-be-located location from the location table to obtain a to-be-located location information; (c) obtaining a present location information according to the strength value of the positioning signal emitted by each of the at least one coordinating device; and (d) comparing the to-be-located location information with the present location information to obtain a relative direction of the to-be-located location to the location-indicating device.

18. A computer-readable recording medium storing a program, which, when loaded and executed by a processor, performs the method of claim 17.

19. A non-transitory computer program product storing at least one instruction, which, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to perform the method of claim 17.

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