Lighting system and lighting control device

Abstract

To provide a lighting control device that can appropriately control lighting fixtures even when a communication environment in control becomes worse than a communication environment in registration.SOLUTION: A lighting system 1 includes a plurality of lighting fixtures LFn and a gateway 5 that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures LFn through multi-hop communication. The lighting fixtures LFn become capable of lighting control when lighting registration is made. In the lighting system 1, a signal for lighting control is transmitted under better communication conditions of multi-hop communication than a signal for lighting registration.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 16

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting control device that controls lighting fixtures, and a lighting system including a lighting control device and lighting fixtures, and in particular to a technology for controlling lighting fixtures via wireless communication. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a lighting system in which a lighting control device controls multiple lighting fixtures using wireless communication. In the lighting system of Patent Document 1, in order to perform wireless communication, a communication path between the lighting control device and the multiple lighting fixtures is determined in advance, and wireless communication is performed along the determined communication path. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2014-68203 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if the communication environment deteriorates, the lighting control device may not be able to control some of the lighting devices. Here, a deterioration in the communication environment refers to, for example, making it difficult for signals transmitted from the lighting control device to reach the lighting devices.

[0005] For example, assume that before furniture is delivered to a room in an office building, multiple lighting fixtures to be controlled by the lighting control device are registered, and after the furniture is delivered, the lighting control device transmits a signal to control the multiple lighting fixtures. In this case, the signals may be blocked by the furniture after the furniture is delivered, and the communication environment may become worse than before the furniture was delivered. In this way, if the communication environment becomes worse after the furniture is delivered compared to before the furniture was delivered, the lighting control device may not be able to control some of the lighting fixtures registered as control targets.

[0006] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system that can appropriately control lighting fixtures even if the communication environment for control becomes worse than the communication environment for registration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the lighting system of the present invention is a lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures and a lighting control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures through multi-hop communication, wherein the lighting fixtures become capable of lighting control through lighting registration, and in the lighting system, a signal for controlling the lighting is transmitted under better communication conditions for the multi-hop communication than a signal for registering the lighting. Effect of the Invention

[0008] With the above-described configuration, the lighting system according to the present invention can appropriately control lighting fixtures even if the communication environment during control becomes worse than the communication environment during registration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] A block diagram showing the configuration of lighting fixtures included in a lighting system. [Diagram 3] Block diagram showing the configuration of the gateway included in the lighting system [Figure 4] Block diagram showing the configuration of a smartphone included in the lighting system [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of a scan request signal; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a scan response signal; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a lighting control signal; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a configuration of a control response signal; [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a lighting fixture in a lighting registration process; [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining operations in a lighting registration process; [Figure 11] A diagram for explaining the range of a signal in the lighting registration process. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the operation of a lighting device in a lighting control process. [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining operations in a lighting control process; [Figure 14] Diagram to explain the range of signals in lighting control processing (part 1) [Figure 15] Diagram to explain the signal range in lighting control processing (part 2) [Figure 16] Diagram (part 3) to explain the range of signals in lighting control processing [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a range in which a signal can reach in the lighting control process according to the second embodiment (part 1); [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a range in which a signal can reach in the lighting control process according to the second embodiment (part 2); [Figure 19] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a range in which a signal can reach in the lighting registration process according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] A lighting system 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the drawings. The lighting system 1 improves the communication conditions when the lighting control device controls multiple lighting fixtures compared to the communication conditions when the lighting control device registers the multiple lighting fixtures to be controlled by the lighting control device. This allows the lighting system 1 to appropriately control multiple lighting fixtures even if the communication environment for control is worse than the communication environment for registration. Note that the same parts included in common in each of the referenced drawings are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations of the same parts are generally omitted.

[0011] <1. First embodiment> <1.1. Overview> 1 shows the configuration of a lighting system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The lighting system 1 is a system that illuminates, for example, the interior of a room in an office building or the interior of a commercial facility.

[0012] The lighting system 1 includes 28 lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28, a gateway 5 that functions as a lighting control device, and a smartphone 6 as an example of an information and communication device. Each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 illuminates the surroundings of the location where the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 are placed. Each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 holds its own identification information internally, and is uniquely identified from other fixtures by this identification information. The lighting control device is sometimes called a lighting control device or a control device.

[0013] The gateway 5 controls operations such as turning on and off the light sources of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 and changing the dimming rate in response to instructions transmitted from the smartphone 6. The smartphone 6 is an example of an information terminal device used by a user to instruct the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 to perform an operation. The gateway 5 is an example of an information processing device that transmits an operation instruction or the like to at least one of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 in response to a user input provided to the smartphone 6 by the user.

[0014] The lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 and the gateway 5 communicate wirelessly with each other. The gateway 5 and the smartphone 6 also communicate wirelessly with each other. The dotted arrows in FIG. 1 diagrammatically indicate wireless communication. The wireless communication is, for example, communication based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy specification or the Bluetooth (registered trademark) mesh specification. The gateway 5 and the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 are connected to each other in a one-to-many or many-to-many manner to form a mesh network. The gateway 5 can directly or indirectly transmit operation instructions to any of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 through the mesh network.

[0015] The lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 each include a light source for illumination. The lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 operate based on a control signal received from the gateway 5.

[0016] When the lighting system 1 is installed in an office building or the like, the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 are installed on the ceiling, which is an example of each installation location, by a construction company or the like. After the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 are installed on the ceiling of each installation location, the gateway 5 registers the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28. Then, the gateway 5 controls the registered lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28.

[0017] Here, in the lighting system 1, the communication conditions when the gateway 5 controls the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 are made better than the communication conditions when the gateway 5 registers the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28. The communication conditions are the number of hops in multi-hop communication or the radio wave strength used for communication. This allows the gateway 5 to appropriately control the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 in the lighting system 1 even if the communication environment for control is worse than the communication environment for registration.

[0018] Each component of the lighting system 1 will now be described in detail.

[0019] <1.2. Configuration> <1.2.1. Lighting fixture LFn> 2 shows the configuration of lighting fixture LFn (n represents any one of 1 to 28). Lighting fixture LFn includes a light source unit 41, a circuit unit 43, and a wireless module (hereinafter referred to as “WM”) unit .

[0020] The light source unit 41 includes a light source and a light source board, which is a circuit board on which the light source is arranged. The light source is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode). The light source is sufficient as long as it functions as a light source for illumination, and may be composed of a device other than an LED, such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) device or a laser device. The light source unit 41 performs operations such as turning on and off the light source, changing the dimming rate, and adjusting the color, based on an input control signal.

[0021] The circuit section 43 includes a socket for mounting the WM section 44. The circuit section 43 supplies a current to the light source section 41 in response to a signal received from the WM section 44.

[0022] The WM unit 44 is an independent device that performs wireless communication, and is detachable from a socket for mounting the WM unit 44. The WM unit 44 is capable of wireless communication according to a plurality of communication specifications, but is not limited thereto. For example, a dedicated WM unit 44 may be prepared for each different communication specification, and the WM unit 44 corresponding to the communication protocol to be used may be mounted in the socket. The WM unit 44 includes a wireless communication unit 44a, a control unit 44b, and a storage unit 44c.

[0023] The wireless communication unit 44a transmits and receives information via wireless communication. The wireless communication unit 44a has identification information that allows it to be uniquely identified from other fixtures, etc. The identification information is, for example, a Media Access Control address (hereinafter referred to as a "MAC address"). The MAC address is also used as an address for wireless communication. In the following, the value of the MAC address of lighting fixture LFn may be expressed as "LID_n".

[0024] In addition, LID_n is actually a 48-bit number, and there are rules such as allocating a manufacturer-specific number to the first 24 bits. Furthermore, the identification information is not limited to a MAC address, and may be any information that can identify each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28. For example, the identification information may be a unique random number that is assigned to each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 and does not overlap.

[0025] When the wireless communication unit 44a receives communication data or a control signal, if the communication data is addressed to the wireless communication unit 44a, it notifies the control unit 44b, and if the communication data is addressed to another device, it transfers the communication data to the other device via the mesh network.

[0026] The wireless communication unit 44a may have a function of measuring the reception strength (RSSI) of the radio waves being received. By measuring the strength of the radio waves transmitted at a certain intensity from the lighting fixture LFn, the position of the lighting fixture LFn that transmitted the radio waves can be estimated.

[0027] The control unit 44b includes an integrated circuit (IC) or a central processing unit (CPU) and controls the operation of the lighting fixture LFn. When the control unit 44b receives an operation instruction related to the operation of the light source, such as turning on, turning off, blinking, increasing the dimming rate, or decreasing the dimming rate of the light source, the control unit 44b outputs a signal for performing the operation indicated by the operation instruction to the light source unit 41 via the circuit unit 43.

[0028] The storage unit 44c stores programs and the like that operate the control unit 44b, and provides the stored programs and the like to the control unit 44b. The storage unit 44c includes a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory, and is capable of adding and changing stored data. The storage unit 44c stores network names. The network names are information used to determine whether or not a device is permitted to communicate. In addition, the control unit 44b deletes the network names stored in the storage unit 44c in response to an instruction from the smartphone 6 or the like.

[0029] <1.2.2.Gateway 5> 3 shows the configuration of the gateway 5. The gateway 5 includes a wireless communication unit 51, a wired communication unit 52, a control unit 53, a storage unit 54, and a RAM 55.

[0030] The wireless communication unit 51 performs wireless communication. The wireless communication unit 51 holds a MAC address as an example of identification information. The MAC address of the wireless communication unit 51 is used as an address for wireless communication. When the wireless communication unit 51 receives communication data, if the communication data is addressed to the wireless communication unit 51, the wireless communication unit 51 notifies the control unit 53, and if the communication data is addressed to another device, the wireless communication unit 51 transfers the communication data to the other device via the mesh network.

[0031] The wireless communication unit 51 may have a function of measuring the reception strength (RSSI) of the radio waves being received. By measuring the strength of the radio waves transmitted at a certain intensity from the lighting fixture LFn, it is possible to estimate the position of the lighting fixture LFn that transmitted the radio waves.

[0032] The wired communication unit 52 performs data communication via a wired network cable. The wired network is, for example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network). For example, when a plurality of gateways 5 operate in cooperation with each other, the plurality of gateways 5 are connected to each other by wires. The wired communication unit 52 exchanges necessary information with other gateways 5, etc., by using wired communication. When wired communication is not performed, the wired communication unit 52 may be omitted.

[0033] The memory unit 54 stores programs for operating the control unit 53, etc. The memory unit 54 is equipped with a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory, and data to be stored therein can be added and changed. The memory unit 54 stores a lighting fixture information list, etc. The lighting fixture information list is a list of lighting fixtures LFn that can be controlled by the gateway 5, and includes identification information of the lighting fixtures LFn that can be controlled by the gateway 5. The lighting fixture information list may include the positions of the lighting fixtures LFn that can be controlled by the gateway 5.

[0034] The RAM 55 is a storage device into which the lighting control program stored in the storage unit 54 is loaded.

[0035] The control unit 53 controls the operation of the gateway 5. The control unit 53 includes an information processing device such as a CPU. The control unit 53 executes a lighting control program loaded from the storage unit 54 and stored in the RAM 55, thereby implementing each function of the gateway 5.

[0036] <1.2.3. Smartphone 6> Referring again to Fig. 1, the smartphone 6 is a portable information terminal device having a rectangular plate-like appearance as shown in Fig. 1, with a touch panel 65 embedded on one surface. The smartphone 6 has a function of displaying a user interface (hereinafter referred to as "UI") on the touch panel 65.

[0037] The smartphone 6 determines an instruction for an operation requested by the user based on the contents of the UI displayed on the touch panel 65 and the contents of the user input, and transmits a control request based on the user input to the gateway 5. The user input is, for example, a touch operation or a gesture input on the touch panel 65 performed by the user.

[0038] 4 shows the configuration of the smartphone 6. The smartphone 6 includes a control unit 61, a storage unit 62, a RAM 63, a wireless communication unit 64, and a touch panel 65.

[0039] The storage unit 62 holds various data in addition to applications, programs, and UIs. The storage unit 62 includes a non-volatile storage medium such as a flash memory, and the data stored therein can be added and changed. The storage unit 62 stores images constituting the UI as an example of data.

[0040] The RAM 63 is a storage device into which the lighting control program stored in the storage unit 62 is loaded.

[0041] The touch panel 65 is an electronic component that combines a display unit that displays images and information constituting the UI with an input unit that accepts user instructions, and functions as a user interface means. The display unit is, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The input unit is, for example, a touch pad. The touch panel 65 notifies the control unit 61 of the contents input by the user.

[0042] The control unit 61 includes a CPU. The control unit 61 executes a lighting control program loaded from the storage unit 62 and stored in the RAM 63 to realize each function of the smartphone 6. The control unit 61 identifies the content of a user instruction based on the UI displayed on the touch panel 65 and a user input notified from the touch panel 65, and executes processing according to the user instruction.

[0043] The wireless communication unit 64 is configured with a device that performs wireless communication. The wireless communication unit 64 performs wireless communication between the gateway 5 and the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28.

[0044] In addition, in the smartphone 6, it is not necessary to store the UI and the like in advance in the storage unit 62, and a program such as an app capable of displaying the UI may be downloaded from a server and stored in the storage unit 62. In other words, by downloading an app to a smartphone 6 available in the market and executing it, the smartphone 6 can be used as a user interface means.

[0045] <1.3. Data Structure> The data structures of the scan request signal, scan response signal, lighting control signal, and control response signal transmitted and received in the lighting system 1 will be described below.

[0046] <1.3.1. Scan request signal> The scan request signal is a signal that requests the received lighting fixture LFn to join the mesh network. The scan request signal is also an example of a signal for registering the lighting fixture LFn. The scan request signal is transmitted by the gateway 5 based on an instruction from the smartphone 6.

[0047] 5 shows the data configuration of a scan request signal. The scan request signal has a header 101, a sender MAC address 102, a network name 103, and a HOP number 104.

[0048] The header 101 is information for identifying the type of signal, and the contents thereof differ depending on the type of signal.

[0049] The sender MAC address 102 in the scan request signal is identification information of a device that sends the scan request signal. For example, identification information of the gateway 5 is stored in the sender MAC address 102. The identification information of the gateway 5 is, for example, the MAC address of the gateway 5.

[0050] The network name 103 is identification information for the mesh network. Devices that make up the same mesh network have the same network name.

[0051] The HOP number 104 is a parameter for limiting the number of times a scan request signal is forwarded to another device, and is 0 or a natural number indicating the number of times signal forwarding and data forwarding are performed in multi-hop communication. A device that receives a scan request signal refers to the HOP number 104, and if the value of the HOP number 104 is not 0, it forwards the scan request signal including the HOP number 104 with the value reduced by 1 to another device, and if the value of the HOP number 104 is 0, it does not forward the signal to another device.

[0052] <1.3.2. Scan response signal> The scan response signal is a signal indicating that the lighting fixture LFn that received the scan request signal has joined the same mesh network as the sender of the scan request signal, and is a signal notifying the sender of the scan request signal of the identification information of the lighting fixture LFn.

[0053] 6 shows the data configuration of the scan response signal. The scan response signal has a header 101, a sender MAC address 102, a receiver MAC address 105, and a HOP number 104.

[0054] The sender MAC address 102 in the scan response signal is an identification signal of the device that sends the scan response signal. For example, identification information of the lighting fixture LFn that sends the scan response signal is stored in the sender MAC address 102. The identification information of the lighting fixture LFn is, for example, the MAC address of the lighting fixture LFn.

[0055] Identification information of the device that is to receive the scan request signal is stored in the receiver MAC address 105 in the scan response signal. The identification information of the device that is to receive the scan request signal is, for example, the MAC address of the device that transmitted the scan request signal.

[0056] <1.3.3. Lighting control signals> The lighting control signal is a signal that is used by the gateway 5 to notify the lighting fixture LFn to be controlled of the content of an operation instruction. The lighting control signal is also an example of a signal for controlling the lighting of the lighting fixture LFn.

[0057] The data configuration of a lighting control signal is shown in Fig. 7. The lighting control signal has a header 101, a sending MAC address 102, a receiving MAC address 105, a network name 103, a HOP number 104, and a radio wave strength 106.

[0058] The sender MAC address 102 in the lighting control signal stores identification information of the device that sent the lighting control signal. The identification information of the device that sent the lighting control signal is, for example, the MAC address of the gateway 5, which is identification information of the gateway 5.

[0059] Identification information of a device that is to receive the lighting control signal is stored in the receiving MAC address 105 in the lighting control signal. The identification information of the device that is to receive the lighting control signal is, for example, the MAC address of one or more lighting fixtures LFn that are instructed to operate by the lighting control signal.

[0060] The network name 103 in the lighting control signal is the network name held by the gateway 5. The radio wave strength 106 is the radio wave strength when the lighting fixture LFn broadcasts the lighting control signal. Note that the radio wave strength 106 in this embodiment is constant.

[0061] <1.3.4. Control response signal> The control response signal is a signal used by the lighting fixture LFn that has performed an operation based on a lighting control signal transmitted from the gateway 5 to notify the gateway 5 of that effect.

[0062] 8 shows the data configuration of the control response signal. The control response signal has a header 101, a sender MAC address 102, a receiver MAC address 105, a network name 103, and a HOP number 104.

[0063] Identification information of the device that transmitted the control response signal is stored in the transmission side MAC address 102 in the control response signal. The identification information of the device that transmitted the control response signal is, for example, the MAC address of the lighting fixture LFn.

[0064] Identification information of a device that is to receive the control response signal is stored in receiver MAC address 105 in the control response signal. The identification information of the device that is to receive the control response signal is, for example, the MAC address of the gateway 5.

[0065] The network name 103 in the control response signal is the network name of the lighting fixture LFn that is instructed to operate by the control signal.

[0066] <1.4. Operation> The following describes the flow of processing performed in the lighting system 1 configured as above for each lighting fixture LFn installed in an office building or the like based on a user operation input to the smartphone 6. This processing is divided into a lighting registration process and a lighting control process.

[0067] The lighting registration process is a process in which the gateway 5 registers each lighting fixture LFn to make it controllable, and is sometimes simply called "scanning." The lighting control process is a process in which the gateway 5 controls each lighting fixture LFn that has become controllable, in particular, controls turning the lighting on and off.

[0068] <1.4.1. Lighting registration process> In the lighting registration process, when the lighting fixture LFn receives a scan request signal, the lighting fixture LFn performs a process of joining the mesh network (hereinafter, the process of joining the mesh network is simply referred to as a "network joining process"). In the following, first, the network joining process by the lighting fixture LFn described above will be described. Next, the lighting registration process of the entire lighting system 1 will be described. <1.4.1.1 Network joining process performed by lighting fixture LFn that receives a scan request signal> FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating the network joining process when the lighting fixture LFn receives a scan request signal in the lighting registration process.

[0069] First, the lighting fixture LFn determines whether or not it has stored a network name (step S201). If the lighting fixture LFn has stored the network name (YES in step S201), the process proceeds to step S207. If the lighting fixture LFn has not stored the network name (NO in step S201), the lighting fixture LFn stores the network name included in the scan request signal (step S203).

[0070] After step S203, the lighting fixture LFn transmits a scan response signal to the sender of the scan request signal (step S205). The sender of the scan request signal is a device or the like identified by the sender MAC address 102 included in the scan request signal.

[0071] After step S205, the lighting fixture LFn proceeds to step S207.

[0072] In step S207, the lighting fixture LFn determines whether the parameter for the number of hops included in the scan request signal is 0. If the parameter for the number of hops is not 0 (NO in step S207), the lighting fixture LFn broadcasts a scan request signal in which the parameter for the number of hops 104 included in the received scan request signal is reduced by 1 (step S209). After step S209, the lighting fixture LFn ends the network joining process.

[0073] In step S207, if the parameter of the number of hops included in the scan request signal is 0 (YES in step S207), the lighting fixture LFn ends the network joining process.

[0074] <1.4.1.2. Lighting registration process flow> The lighting registration process in the lighting system 1 will now be described.

[0075] Here, before the lighting registration process is started, the lighting fixture LFn is shipped from the factory and then installed on the ceiling or the like of a room in an office building by a contractor or the like, and is in a so-called factory-shipped state (initial state) and does not store a network name.

[0076] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the flow of operations in the illumination registration process.

[0077] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the communication range of the lighting fixtures LFn and the like in the lighting registration process.

[0078] In addition, an area indicated by a dashed line and marked with a code in the format of AxxS (xx is a code given to a fixture), such as ALF4S in Fig. 11, indicates a range with which the fixture represented by xx can directly communicate. For example, the area surrounded by a dashed line marked with the code ALF4S indicates a range with which lighting fixture LF4 can directly communicate.

[0079] First, the smartphone 6 transmits a registration start signal instructing the start of registration processing based on a user instruction or the like (step S301). The signal transmitted by the smartphone 6 reaches the gateway 5 or the like within the area A6S.

[0080] When the gateway 5 receives the registration start signal from the smartphone 6, the gateway 5 broadcasts a scan request signal (step S303). Here, the number of hops in the transmitted scan request signal is set to 2.

[0081] In addition, the network name included in the scan request signal is set to the value "mesh1."

[0082] The following description will focus on an example in which a scan request signal sent by gateway 5 is transmitted in the order of lighting fixture LF4, lighting fixture LF18, and lighting fixture LF25, as represented by S_HOP2, S_HOP1, and S_HOP0 in FIG.

[0083] When the lighting fixture LF4 receives the scan request signal (step S303), it stores the network name “mesh1” included in the scan request signal (steps S305, S203). Then, the lighting fixture LF4 transmits a scan response signal to the gateway 5 (steps S307, S205).

[0084] When the gateway 5 receives the scan response signal from the lighting fixture LF4, it adds the MAC address of the lighting fixture LF4 to the lighting fixture information list (step S309).

[0085] After step S307, lighting fixture LF4 decrements the HOP number by 1 (steps S207, S209) and broadcasts a scan request signal with the HOP number set to 1 (steps S311, S207, S209). The scan request signal broadcast by lighting fixture LF4 reaches the devices within area ALF4S (lighting fixtures LF2, LF3, LF5, LF6, LF9 to LF13, LF17 to LF19, etc.).

[0086] The lighting fixture LF18 in the area ALF4S receives the scan request signal broadcast by the lighting fixture LF4 (step S311). Upon receiving the scan request signal (step S311), the lighting fixture LF18 stores the network name “mesh1” included in the scan request signal (steps S313 and S203).

[0087] Then, the lighting fixture LF18 transmits a scan response signal to the gateway 5 via the lighting fixture LF4 (steps S315, S317, S205).

[0088] When the gateway 5 receives the scan response signal from the lighting fixture LF 18, it adds the MAC address of the lighting fixture LF 18 included in the scan response signal to the lighting fixture information list (step S319).

[0089] After step S315, lighting fixture LF18 broadcasts a scan request signal with the HOP number reduced by 1 to 0 (steps S321, S207, S209). The scan request signal broadcast by lighting fixture LF18 reaches devices within area ALF18S (lighting fixtures LF4, LF9, LF10, LF11, LF12, LF13, LF16, LF19, LF20, LF23, LF25, LF27, etc.).

[0090] The lighting fixture LF25 inside the area ALF18S receives the scan request signal broadcast by the lighting fixture LF18 (step S321). Upon receiving the scan request signal (step S321), the lighting fixture LF25 stores the network name “mesh1” included in the scan request signal (steps S323 and S203).

[0091] Then, the lighting fixture LF25 transmits a scan response signal to the gateway 5 via the lighting fixtures LF4 and LF18 (steps S325, S327, S329, S205). Upon receiving the scan response signal from the lighting fixture LF25, the gateway 5 adds the MAC address of the lighting fixture LF25 to the lighting fixture information table (step S331).

[0092] In step S321, the number of hops of the scan request signal received by the lighting fixture LF25 is 0 (NO in step S207). Therefore, the lighting fixture LF25 does not broadcast the scan request signal.

[0093] The lighting registration process ends after a certain time has elapsed since the start of the lighting registration process, or after a certain time has elapsed since the gateway 5 received the last scan response signal.

[0094] As a result of the above processing, the lighting fixture information list held by the gateway 5 contains the MAC addresses of the lighting fixtures LFn (LF1 to LF28) that directly or indirectly received the scan request signal and transmitted a scan response signal to the gateway 5 as a response.

[0095] When the lighting registration process is completed, the gateway 5 notifies the smartphone 6 of the completion of the lighting registration process (step S333).

[0096] Here, there is a possibility that the lighting fixture information list created by the gateway 5 may include lighting fixtures LFn that do not need to be controlled in the lighting control process, but the user can be allowed to select the lighting fixtures LFn to be controlled.

[0097] Specifically, the gateway 5 notifies the smartphone 6 of the created lighting fixture information list. The smartphone 6 that has been notified of the lighting fixture information list displays on the touch panel 65 the lighting fixtures LFn that can be controlled.

[0098] Then, the lighting fixture LFn included in the lighting fixture information list is displayed on the touch panel 65 of the smartphone 6. The user selects on the touch panel 65 the lighting fixture LFn that does not need to be controlled.

[0099] In response to the user's selection, the smartphone 6 instructs the gateway 5 to delete the selected lighting fixture LFn from the lighting fixture information list and to delete the network name from the selected lighting fixture LFn. This makes it possible to prevent the lighting fixture LFn that does not need to be controlled in the lighting control process from being controlled.

[0100] It should be noted that the notification of the lighting fixture information list from the gateway 5 to the smartphone 6 is not a required process.

[0101] <1.4.2. Lighting control processing> Once the network name has been stored in the lighting fixture LFn through the lighting registration process, the smartphone 6 becomes able to control, via the gateway 5, the lighting fixture LFn that is included in the lighting fixture information list and that has stored the network name.

[0102] Here, if the communication environment in the lighting control process is worse than the communication environment in the lighting registration process, there is a possibility that the lighting control signal transmitted by the gateway 5 will not reach the lighting fixture LFn that is the control target.

[0103] An example of a worsening communication environment is when lighting fixtures LFn are installed before the opening of a new store, and there are no obstacles when the lighting registration process is performed, but when the lighting control process is performed after the new store is opened, fixtures that act as obstacles may have been brought into the store. In this case, the fixtures may act as obstacles and block wireless communication signals between the lighting fixtures LFn, so the communication environment during the lighting control process becomes worse than that during the lighting registration process.

[0104] Another example of a poor communication environment is when the lighting registration process is performed outside the store's business hours and the lighting control process is performed during business hours when many customers are in the store. In this case, the many customers in the store become obstacles to wireless communication and may block wireless communication signals between the lighting fixtures LFn, so the communication environment in the lighting control process becomes worse than that in the lighting registration process.

[0105] Therefore, in the lighting control process, the number of hops of the lighting control signal sent by the gateway 5 (the number of hops initially set when performing multi-hop communication in the lighting control process) is set to a value greater than the number of hops in the lighting registration process. This allows the lighting control signal to be delivered to the range reached by the signal in the lighting registration process even if the communication environment in the lighting control process is worse than that in the lighting registration process. Furthermore, since the lighting fixtures to be controlled are identified by the lighting registration process, it is possible to control the desired lighting fixtures even if the communication environment becomes worse compared to when the lighting registration process was executed.

[0106] For example, even in a communication environment where the lighting control signal is blocked by an obstacle or the like during the lighting control process as described above, the lighting control signal can be delivered by going around to the other side of the obstacle, etc. Below, a case will be described where the gateway 5 transmits a signal in the lighting registration process with a hop count of 2, and a signal in the lighting control process with a hop count of 3.

[0107] In the lighting control process, when the lighting fixture LFn receives a lighting control signal, the lighting fixture LFn performs a lighting state change process. First, the lighting state change process by the lighting fixture LFn described above will be described below. Next, the lighting control process of the entire lighting system 1, including the lighting state change process, will be described.

[0108] <1.4.2.1. Lighting state change process in lighting fixture LFn that received a lighting control signal> FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating the lighting state change process of a lighting fixture LFn that has received a lighting control signal in the lighting control process.

[0109] First, the lighting fixture LFn determines whether or not the lighting fixture LFn has stored a network name (step S401). If the lighting fixture LFn has not stored a network name (NO in step S401), the lighting fixture LFn ends the lighting state change process.

[0110] If the lighting fixture LFn has stored the network name (YES in step S401), it determines whether the network name included in the lighting control signal matches the network name stored in the lighting fixture LFn (step S403). If the network name 103 included in the lighting control signal matches the network name stored in the lighting fixture LFn (YES in step S403), the lighting fixture LFn proceeds to step S405, and if they do not match (NO in step S403), it ends the lighting state change process.

[0111] In step S405, the lighting fixture LFn determines whether or not its own MAC address is included in the receiving MAC address 105 of the lighting control signal (step S405). If the lighting fixture LFn's own MAC address is included in the receiving MAC address 105 of the lighting control signal (YES in step S405), the lighting fixture LFn proceeds to step S407, and if not, the lighting fixture LFn proceeds to step S411.

[0112] In step S407, the lighting fixture LFn operates in accordance with the operation instruction included in the lighting control signal (step S407). For example, if the lighting control signal is an operation instruction to turn on the lighting fixture LFn, the lighting fixture LFn turns on.

[0113] In this way, if the network name included in the lighting control signal matches the network name stored in the lighting fixture LFn, and further if the receiver MAC address 105 included in the lighting control signal matches the MAC address of the lighting fixture LFn itself, the lighting fixture LFn operates according to the operation instruction of the lighting control signal (step S407). The lighting control signal may reach a lighting fixture LFn that has not undergone the above-mentioned lighting registration process. However, a lighting fixture LFn that has not undergone the lighting registration process does not at least store a network name that matches the network name included in the lighting control signal. Therefore, even if a lighting control signal reaches a lighting fixture LFn that has not undergone the lighting registration process, the lighting fixture LFn will not malfunction.

[0114] After step S407, the lighting fixture LFn transmits a control response signal to the device indicated by the transmission side MAC address 102 of the lighting control signal (step S409).

[0115] In step S411, the lighting fixture LFn determines whether the hop number of the lighting control signal is 0 (step S411). If the hop number of the lighting control signal is not 0 (NO in step S411), the lighting fixture LFn broadcasts a lighting control signal with the hop number reduced by 1 (step S413). After step S413, the lighting fixture LFn ends the lighting state change process. On the other hand, if the hop number of the lighting control signal is 0 (YES in step S411), the lighting fixture LFn ends the lighting state change process.

[0116] <1.4.2.2. Lighting control process flow> The following describes the lighting control process in the lighting system 1 configured as described above. Upon receiving a control start signal from the smartphone 6, the gateway 5 transmits a lighting control signal to the lighting fixture LFn to instruct it to execute a control process.

[0117] The following description will focus on a case where the lighting control signal sent by gateway 5 is transmitted in the order of lighting fixtures LF4, LF18, LF9, and LF1, as represented by C_HOP3, C_HOP2, C_HOP1, and C_HOP0 in FIGS.

[0118] In the following description, it is assumed that the network name "mesh1" is stored in the lighting fixtures LF4, LF9, LF18, and LF1, and that the lighting control signal includes the network name "mesh1."

[0119] 14 to 16, an area indicated by a dashed line and marked with a code in the format of AxxC (xx is a code given to the fixture), such as ALF4C, indicates the range with which the fixture represented by xx can directly communicate. For example, the area surrounded by a dashed line marked with the code ALF4C indicates the range with which lighting fixture LF4 can directly communicate.

[0120] The lighting control process will be described in detail below with reference to Figs. 13 to 16 in addition to Fig. 12. Fig. 13 is a diagram for explaining the flow of operations in the lighting control process. Figs. 14 to 16 are diagrams showing the ranges in which lighting fixtures LFn etc. can communicate in the lighting control process.

[0121] 14 to 16, after the lighting registration process described with reference to Figs. 9 to 11 is performed, shelves T1 and T2 are placed to the left of lighting fixtures LF4 and LF11 in the X direction. Due to radio wave shielding caused by shelves T1 and T2, there are areas and directions where signals from gateway 5 and the like cannot reach.

[0122] 13 and 14 are referenced. First, the smartphone 6 transmits a control start signal to the gateway 5 in the area A6S (step S501). The control start signal is a signal that indicates the start of a control process and the contents of the control.

[0123] When the gateway 5 receives the control start signal from the smartphone 6, it transmits a lighting control signal to the lighting fixture LF4 (step S503). The lighting control signal transmitted by the gateway 5 includes the network name "mesh1". The number of hops when the gateway 5 transmits the lighting control signal to the lighting fixture LF4 is 3. The lighting control signal transmitted by the gateway 5 reaches the devices (lighting fixtures LF4, LF5, etc.) within the area A5C.

[0124] As the receiving MAC address 105 in the lighting control signal, among the MAC addresses of the lighting fixtures LFn listed in the lighting fixture list, the MAC address other than the MAC address of the lighting fixture LF9 is stored.

[0125] When the lighting fixture LF4 receives a lighting control signal whose network name 103 includes the network name "mesh1" stored in itself and whose receiver MAC address 105 includes its own MAC address (YES in step S405), it operates according to the content of the lighting control signal (steps S505, S407). In addition, the lighting fixture LF4 broadcasts the lighting control signal received from the gateway 5 (steps S507, S413). At that time, the hop count of the lighting control signal is reduced by 1 to 2 (step S413). The lighting fixture LF4 transmits a control response signal to the gateway 5 (steps S409, S509).

[0126] The lighting control signal broadcast by lighting fixture LF4 in step S507 reaches the devices inside area ALF4C (lighting fixtures LF5, LF6, LF11 to LF13, LF18, LF19, etc.). Area ALF4C is missing the left side of lighting fixture LF4 in the X-axis direction due to radio wave blocking by shelves T1 and T2. For this reason, the control signal broadcast by lighting fixture LF4 does not reach lighting fixtures LF2, LF3, and LF10, which reached it during the lighting registration process.

[0127] The lighting fixture LF18 inside the area ALF4C receives the lighting control signal broadcast by the lighting fixture LF4 (step S507).

[0128] When the lighting fixture LF18 receives a lighting control signal whose network name 103 includes the network name "mesh1" stored in itself and whose receiver MAC address 105 includes its own MAC address, the lighting fixture LF18 operates according to the content of the control signal (steps S511, S403 to S407). After that, the lighting fixture LF18 broadcasts the control signal received from the lighting fixture LF4 (steps S513, S413). At that time, the hop count of the control signal is reduced by 1 to 1 (step S413). The lighting fixture LF18 transmits a control response signal to the gateway 5 via the lighting fixture LF4 (steps S515, S517, S409).

[0129] 13 and 15. The control signal transmitted by lighting fixture LF18 reaches devices within area ALF18C (lighting fixtures LF4, LF11 to LF13, LF9, LF16 to LF20, and LF23 to LF27). Lighting fixture LF9 within area ALF18C receives the lighting control signal broadcast by lighting fixture LF18 (step S513).

[0130] In the lighting control signal received by lighting fixture LF9, the network name 103 includes the network name "mesh1" stored in lighting fixture LF9 (YES in step S403), but the receiving MAC address 105 does not include the MAC address of lighting fixture LF9 (NO in step S405). For this reason, even if lighting fixture LF9 receives the lighting control signal, it does not perform any operation according to the content of the lighting control signal (NO in step S405). After that, lighting fixture LF9 broadcasts the lighting control signal received from lighting fixture LF18 to other lighting fixture LFn (steps S519, S413). At that time, the HOP number of the control signal is decremented by 1 to 0 (step S413).

[0131] 13 and 16. The lighting control signal broadcast by lighting fixture LF9 reaches the devices within area ALF9C (lighting fixtures LF1 to LF3, LF8 to LF10, LF15 to LF18, and LF22 to LF24). Lighting fixture LF1 within area ALF9C receives the lighting control signal broadcast by lighting fixture LF9 (step S519).

[0132] When lighting fixture LF1 receives a control signal in which network name 103 includes the network name “mesh1” stored in itself and receiver MAC address 105 includes its own MAC address, lighting fixture LF1 operates according to the content of the control signal (steps S521, S403 to S407).

[0133] Furthermore, since the control signal received by lighting fixture LF1 has a hop count of 0, lighting fixture LF1 does not broadcast the control signal to other lighting fixtures LFn (steps S411 and S413). Lighting fixture LF1 transmits a control response signal to gateway 5 via lighting fixtures LF9, LF18, and LF4 (steps S523, 525, 527, 529, and S409).

[0134] The gateway 5 ends the lighting control process when a certain time has elapsed since the start of the lighting control process or when control response signals have been received from all of the lighting fixtures LFn that are subject to control. The gateway 5 notifies the smartphone 6 of the end of the lighting control process (step S531).

[0135] The gateway 5 receives a control response signal from the lighting fixture LFn that is the target of control by the lighting control signal. If the control signal does not reach the lighting fixture LFn that is the target of control, or if the lighting fixture LFn that is the target of control is broken, the lighting fixture LFn does not send a control response signal to the gateway 5. This allows the gateway 5 to know whether the lighting fixture LFn that is the target of control by the lighting control signal is being controlled as expected.

[0136] <1.4.Effects> As described above, in this embodiment, the communication conditions in the lighting control process are better than those in the lighting registration process. Specifically, in this embodiment, the number of hops of the control signal transmitted by the gateway 5 in the lighting control process is 3, which is greater than the number of hops of the signal in the lighting registration process, 2. Therefore, even if shelves T1, T2, etc. that were not present in the lighting registration process are arranged to block the lighting control signal and the communication environment in the lighting control process is worse than that in the lighting registration process, the lighting fixture LFn arranged in a place where the lighting control signal may be blocked can be controlled. Therefore, in the lighting system 1 in this embodiment, even if the communication environment deteriorates after the lighting registration process and before the lighting control process, the lighting fixture LFn can be appropriately controlled.

[0137] <2. Second embodiment> In the above-described first embodiment of the present invention, a case where the number of hops of a signal in the lighting control process is made larger than the number of hops of a signal in the lighting registration process has been described as an example of making the communication conditions in the lighting control process better than those in the lighting registration process. In the second embodiment of the present invention, instead of making the number of hops of a signal larger, the radio wave strength of a signal in the lighting control process is made stronger than the radio wave strength of a signal in the lighting registration process.

[0138] This makes it possible to appropriately control the lighting fixture LFn even when the communication environment in the lighting control process is worse than that in the lighting registration process. An example of a case in which the communication environment in the lighting control process is worse than that in the lighting registration process is when the weather is sunny when the lighting registration process of a lighting fixture LFn placed outdoors is performed, but it is raining when the lighting control process is performed.

[0139] <2.1. Lighting registration process> The flow of the lighting registration process in this embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment described with reference to Figures 9 to 11. Furthermore, the number of hops of the scan request signal is 2. Furthermore, it is assumed that the weather in the lighting registration process is fine and the communication environment is good.

[0140] <2.2. Lighting control processing> Fig. 17 is a diagram showing the communication range of lighting fixtures LFn and the like placed outdoors when the same radio wave intensity setting is used in the lighting registration process described in Fig. 11 in the lighting control process. For the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 shown in Fig. 17, storage of network names through the lighting registration process and registration of MAC addresses in the lighting fixture list have been completed. It is also assumed that it is raining at the time of the lighting control process shown in Fig. 17, and that the communication environment has deteriorated due to the effects of the rain.

[0141] When it rains outdoors, the range in which wireless communication is possible becomes narrower. For this reason, the area ALF4C shown in Fig. 17 is smaller than the area ALF4S shown in Fig. 11. In the case of the communication range as shown in Fig. 17, the number of hops of the lighting control signal is the same as the number of hops of the scan request signal, 2, so there will be lighting fixtures LFn that the lighting control signal does not reach.

[0142] Specifically, when the number of hops of a lighting control signal is 2, the lighting control signal is transmitted in the order of lighting fixtures LF4, LF11, and LF18, as represented by C_HOP2, C_HOP1, and C_HOP0 in Fig. 17. In this case, lighting fixture LF25 is outside the areas ALF4C and ALF11C. For this reason, when the number of hops of a lighting control signal is 2, the lighting control signal transmitted from gateway 5 does not reach lighting fixture LF25.

[0143] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the gateway 5 strengthens the radio wave strength used by the gateway 5 and the lighting fixtures LFn for communication during the lighting control process compared to during the lighting registration process. Specifically, in response to an instruction from the smartphone 6, the gateway 5 strengthens the radio wave strength used by the gateway 5 for communication and increases the value of the radio wave strength 106 included in the lighting control signal.

[0144] Radio wave strength 106 included in the lighting control signal is a parameter that determines the radio wave strength when the lighting fixture LFn controlled by the lighting control signal broadcasts the lighting control signal. The larger the value of radio wave strength 106, the stronger the radio wave strength when the lighting fixture LFn broadcasts the lighting control signal. For this reason, by increasing the value of radio wave strength 106 included in the lighting control signal, the communication range of the lighting fixture LFn that receives the lighting control signal also becomes larger.

[0145] Fig. 18 shows the communication range of lighting fixture LFn, etc. when the gateway 5 and lighting fixture LFn increase the radio wave strength used for communication. The communication range of lighting fixture LFn, etc. shown in Fig. 18 is wider than the communication range of lighting fixture LFn, etc. shown in Fig. 17. Furthermore, lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28 are included in the areas ALF4C, ALF9C, ALF13C, and ALF18C shown in Fig. 18. In other words, by increasing the radio wave strength when lighting fixture LFn broadcasts a lighting control signal, it is possible to control lighting fixture LFn, which is the target of control, even if the communication environment is poor, such as when it is raining, at the time of lighting control processing.

[0146] <2.3.Effects> In this embodiment, the radio wave strength of the lighting control signal is stronger than that of the signal in the lighting registration process. Therefore, even if the communication environment in the lighting control process is worse than that in the lighting registration process, the lighting control signal can be delivered to the lighting fixture LFn to be controlled. Therefore, in the lighting system 1 in this embodiment, even if the communication environment in the lighting control process is worse than that in the lighting registration process, the lighting fixture LFn can be appropriately controlled.

[0147] <3. Modifications> In this modified example, the lighting registration process is performed in a different manner from the first and second embodiments. For example, assume that a section B in which a lighting fixture LFn that does not require lighting registration process is located is located near a section A in which the lighting fixture LFn is to be subjected to lighting registration process. In such a case, since lighting control process should not be performed on the lighting fixture LFn in section B, lighting control process should be performed only on the lighting fixture LFn in section A.

[0148] If lighting registration processing is mistakenly performed simultaneously for section A and section B, the lighting fixture LFn in section B will be controlled for section A. This is not a desirable situation.

[0149] Therefore, in the lighting registration process of this modified example, the gateway 5 transmits a scan request signal multiple times. The radio wave strength of the first transmitted scan request signal is set to a level that only reaches the vicinity of the gateway 5. The radio wave strength of the second and subsequent transmitted scan request signals is gradually increased. This makes it possible to record the network name and register in the lighting fixture list only the lighting fixture LFn that is desired to be controlled. This will be described in detail below.

[0150] <3.1. Lighting registration process> 19 shows the range in which signals from the gateway 5 and the like can reach in the lighting registration process of this modified example. In this modified example, it is assumed that the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 and the lighting fixtures LF22 to LF28 are located in different sections, and lighting control of only the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 is desired. In such a case, it is desired that the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 be subject to the lighting registration process, and that the lighting fixtures LF22 to LF28 be excluded from the target of the lighting registration process.

[0151] Therefore, in this modification, the gateway 5 transmits a scan request signal multiple times while gradually increasing the radio wave strength from a level that only reaches the vicinity of the gateway 5. Note that the number of hops of the scan request signal is set to 0.

[0152] Before the lighting registration process is started, the lighting fixture LFn is in a so-called factory-shipped state (initial state) in which it has been shipped from a factory and then installed by a contractor or the like on the ceiling or other surface of a room in an office building, and does not have a network name stored in it.

[0153] In addition, when a lighting fixture LFn in this modification receives a scan request signal and stores the network name in its own device, it repeats intermittent lighting such as 100% lighting and turning off. Furthermore, a lighting fixture LFn that does not store a network name is assumed to remain off.

[0154] First, the user operates the smartphone 6 to send a first scan request signal to the gateway 5. The first scan request signal sent by the gateway 5 reaches the devices included in the area A5S1. Upon receiving the scan request signal, the lighting fixtures LFn (LF3 to LF5) included in the area A5S1 store the network name included in the scan request signal and return a scan response signal.

[0155] After causing gateway 5 to transmit the first scan request signal, the user checks the lighting status of lighting fixture LFn. At this point, lighting fixtures LF3 to LF5 have stored the network name, but the other lighting fixtures LFn have not stored the network name. For example, from the intermittent lighting of lighting fixtures LF3 to LF5 and the extinguishing of the other lighting fixtures LFn, the user recognizes that the network name is not stored in lighting fixtures LFn other than lighting fixtures LF3 to LF5.

[0156] Because the lighting registration process for all of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 has not been completed, the user operates the smartphone 6 to instruct the gateway 5 to transmit a second scan request signal. The gateway 5 makes the radio wave strength when transmitting the second scan request signal stronger than the radio wave strength of the first scan request signal.

[0157] The scan request signal that the gateway 5 transmits the second time reaches the devices included in area A5S2. Area A5S2 includes area A5S1 and is larger than area A5S1. When lighting fixtures LFn (LF2 to LF6, LF10 to LF12) included in area A5S2 receive the scan request signal, they store the network name included in the scan request signal and return a scan response signal. However, lighting fixtures LFn that have already stored the network name do not store the network name even when they receive the second scan signal.

[0158] For example, lighting fixture LF4, which stored the network name in response to the first scan request signal, does not store the network name included in the second scan request signal even when it receives the second scan request signal. On the other hand, lighting fixtures LF2, LF6, and LF10 to LF12 store the network name included in the second scan request signal when they receive it.

[0159] After causing gateway 5 to send a second scan request signal, the user checks the lighting status of lighting fixture LFn. At this point, lighting fixtures LF2 to LF6 and LF10 to LF12 have stored their network names, but the other lighting fixtures LFn have not stored their network names. For example, from the intermittent lighting of lighting fixtures LF2 to LF6 and LF10 to LF12 and the fact that the other lighting fixtures LFn are turned off, the user recognizes that no network name is stored in lighting fixtures LFn other than lighting fixtures LF2 to LF6 and LF10 to LF12.

[0160] Because the lighting registration process for all of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 has not been completed, the user operates the smartphone 6 to instruct the gateway 5 to transmit a third scan request signal. The gateway 5 makes the radio wave strength when transmitting the third scan request signal stronger than the radio wave strength of the second scan request signal.

[0161] The scan request signal that the gateway 5 transmits for the third time reaches the devices included in area A5S3. Area A5S3 includes area A5S2 and is larger than area A5S2. When lighting fixtures LFn (LF1 to LF7, LF9 to LF13, LF18 to LF19) included in area A5S3 receive the scan request signal, they store the network name included in the scan request signal and return a scan response signal. However, lighting fixtures LFn that stored the network name after the first and second scan request signals do not store the network name included in the scan request signal even when they receive the third scan request signal.

[0162] After causing gateway 5 to transmit a third scan request signal, the user checks the lighting status of lighting fixture LFn. At this point, lighting fixtures LF1 to LF7, LF9 to LF13, and LF18 to LF19 have stored their network names, while the other lighting fixtures LFn have not stored their network names. For example, from the intermittent lighting of lighting fixtures LF1 to LF7, LF9 to LF13, and LF18 to LF19 and the off lighting of the other lighting fixtures LFn, the user recognizes that no network name is stored in lighting fixtures LFn other than lighting fixtures LF1 to LF7, LF9 to LF13, and LF18 to LF19.

[0163] Because the user has not yet completed the lighting registration process for all of the desired lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21, he or she operates the smartphone 6 to instruct the gateway 5 to transmit a fourth scan request signal. The gateway 5 makes the radio wave strength when transmitting the fourth scan request signal stronger than the radio wave strength of the third scan request signal.

[0164] The scan request signal that the gateway 5 transmits for the fourth time reaches the devices included in area A5S4. Area A5S4 includes area A5S3 and is larger than area A5S3. When lighting fixtures LFn (LF1 to LF21) included in area A5S4 receive the scan request signal, they store the network name included in the scan request signal and return a scan response signal. However, lighting fixtures LFn that have stored the network name after the first through third scan request signals do not store the network name included in the scan request signal even when they receive the fourth scan request signal.

[0165] After the user has caused the gateway 5 to send the fourth scan request signal, the user checks the lighting status of the lighting fixture LFn. At this point, the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 have stored their network names. For example, the user recognizes from the intermittent lighting of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 that the network names have been stored in all of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF21 that the user wishes to control.

[0166] Furthermore, no network name is stored in the lighting fixtures LF22 to LF28 even after the gateway 5 transmits a fourth scan request signal. For example, from the fact that the lighting fixtures LF22 to LF28 are turned off, the user recognizes that no network name is stored in the lighting fixtures LF22 to LF28 for which the user does not wish to control the lighting.

[0167] <3.2.Effects> In this modification, the radio wave strength of the scan request signal transmitted by the gateway 5 is gradually increased from a level that reaches only the vicinity of the gateway 5. Therefore, in this modification, the range in which the lighting registration process is performed can be limited to a range desired by the user.

[0168] <4. Other variations> (1) Number of HOPs In the above-described first embodiment, an example was described in which the number of hops of the signal for lighting registration processing transmitted by the gateway 5 is 2, and the number of hops of the lighting control signal transmitted by the gateway 5 is 3. However, it is sufficient that the number of hops of the signal during lighting control processing is greater than the number of hops during lighting registration processing.

[0169] Furthermore, the number of hops for these signals in the lighting registration process and the lighting control signal may be preset values, or may be notified by the gateway 5. The communication conditions from the lighting fixture LFn to the gateway 5 in the lighting registration process may be preset values, or may be notified by the gateway 5.

[0170] (2) About the receiver MAC address 105 in the lighting control signal In the above-described embodiment and modified example, an example has been described in which the MAC addresses of all the lighting fixtures LFn listed in the lighting fixture list are stored in the receiving MAC address 105 in the lighting control signal. Here, if the number of lighting fixtures LFn to be controlled increases, it is possible that the number of lighting fixtures LFn listed in the lighting fixture list will exceed a predetermined number.

[0171] For this reason, the lighting fixtures LFn listed in the lighting fixture list may be divided into multiple groups, and the MAC addresses of the lighting fixtures LFn included in the multiple groups may be included in the receiving MAC address 105 of multiple lighting control signals and transmitted. Alternatively, only the MAC address of one lighting fixture LFn may be included in the receiving MAC address 105 of one lighting control signal, and multiple lighting control signals may be transmitted.

[0172] (3) Communication specifications In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28, the gateway 5, and the smartphone 6 all use the same communication specifications for communication with each other. However, these communications may all use the same communication specifications, or may use multiple communication specifications. Furthermore, each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28, the gateway 5, and the smartphone 6 may communicate using multiple communication specifications.

[0173] (4) Number of lighting fixtures LFn In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the number of lighting fixtures LFn is 28, ie, lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28, but the number is not limited to this and may be changed as appropriate.

[0174] (5) Lighting control devices In the above-described embodiment and modified examples, an example has been described in which the lighting control device is the gateway 5. However, the lighting control device may be any device that has a lighting control function for controlling the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF28, and for example, the smartphone 6 with the functionality of the gateway 5 may be the lighting control device.

[0175] Furthermore, the lighting control device is not limited to the gateway 5 or the smartphone 6, but may be any control device such as a computer system, for example, a tablet terminal device or a notebook personal computer.

[0176] In addition, in the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the smartphone 6 has been used as an example of an information communication device. However, the information communication device is not limited to the smartphone 6, and may be any device having an information processing function and a communication function. For example, instead of the smartphone 6, a tablet-type terminal device having an information processing function and a communication function may be used.

[0177] (6) Example of partially different lighting state change process In the above-described embodiment and modified example, in the lighting state change process (FIG. 12) in the lighting fixture LFn that has received a lighting control signal, if the lighting fixture LFn has not stored a network name (NO in step S401) or if the network name stored in the lighting fixture LFn does not match the network name 103 included in the lighting control signal (NO in step S403), the lighting state change process is terminated. However, in these cases, the process may proceed to step S411 shown in FIG. 12.

[0178] (7) Application to other systems In the above-mentioned embodiment and modification, a lighting control device used in a lighting system has been described. However, the present invention may be applied to other than a lighting system. For example, the present invention may be applied to a wireless control system that controls fixtures and equipment wirelessly. This wireless control system includes a plurality of fixtures and a control device that controls the plurality of fixtures by multi-hop communication, and the fixtures can be controlled by being registered. In the wireless control system, a signal for control is transmitted under better communication conditions for multi-hop communication than a signal for registration. In this case, the wireless communication system, the fixtures, and the control device correspond to the lighting system 1, the lighting fixtures LFn, and the gateway 5 in the above-mentioned embodiment and modification, respectively.

[0179] <5. Extraction of invention> As inventions extracted from the above-described embodiment and modified examples, the following inventions can be mentioned, for example.

[0180] (1) A lighting system according to one embodiment of the present invention is a lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting fixtures and a lighting control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures through multi-hop communication, wherein the lighting fixtures become capable of lighting control through lighting registration, and in the lighting system, a signal for controlling the lighting is transmitted under better communication conditions for the multi-hop communication than a signal for registering the lighting.

[0181] With this configuration, the lighting system according to the present invention can appropriately control lighting fixtures even if the communication environment during control becomes worse than the communication environment during registration.

[0182] (2) In the lighting system, the communication conditions are the number of hops or radio wave strength in the multi-hop communication, and improving the communication conditions may mean increasing the number of hops initially set when performing the multi-hop communication when controlling the lighting compared to when registering the lighting, or strengthening the radio wave strength used for the multi-hop communication.

[0183] With this configuration, in the lighting system of the present invention, even if a shelf or the like that was not present during the lighting registration process is positioned so as to block the lighting control signal and the communication environment during the lighting control process is worse than at the time of the lighting registration process, it is possible to control lighting fixtures placed in places where the lighting control signal may be blocked. Furthermore, with this configuration, the lighting system of the present invention can appropriately control a lighting fixture even if, for example, the weather was sunny when the lighting registration process for a lighting fixture LFn placed outdoors was performed but it was raining when the lighting control process was performed, making the communication environment for the lighting control process worse than that for the lighting registration process.

[0184] (3) In the lighting system, when registering the lighting, the multi-hop communication may be performed a plurality of times while improving the communication conditions.

[0185] With this configuration, in the lighting system according to the present invention, the range in which the lighting registration process is performed can be limited to a range desired by the user.

[0186] (4) A lighting control device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a lighting control device in a lighting system including a number of lighting fixtures and a lighting control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures via multi-hop communication, wherein in the lighting system, a signal for controlling the lighting is transmitted under better communication conditions than a signal for registering the lighting.

[0187] With this configuration, the lighting control device according to the present invention can appropriately control lighting devices even if the communication environment during control becomes worse than the communication environment during registration.

[0188] (5) The signal for controlling the lighting may be transmitted under better communication conditions than the signal for registering the lighting, or the signal for controlling the lighting may be transmitted to the plurality of lighting devices under better communication conditions than the signal for registering the lighting.

[0189] With this configuration, the lighting control device according to the present invention can appropriately control lighting devices even if the communication environment during control becomes worse than the communication environment during registration. [Explanation of symbols]

[0190] 1: Lighting system 5: Gateway 6: Smartphone 41:Light source section 43:Circuit section 44: WM Department 44a: Wireless communication section 44b, 53, 61: Control section 44c, 54, 62: Storage section 51: Wireless communication section 52: Wired communications department 55, 63: RAM 64: Wireless communication unit 65: Touch panel 101: Header 102: Sender MAC address 103 :Network name 104: Number of HOPs 105: Receiver MAC address 106: Signal strength LFn, LF1, LF2, LF3, LF4, LF5, LF6, LF7, LF8, LF9, LF10, LF11, LF12, LF13, LF14, LF15, LF16, LF17, LF18, LF19, LF20, LF21, LF22, LF23, LF24, LF25, LF26, LF27, LF28: Lighting fixtures T1, T2: Shelves

Claims

1. A lighting system including a plurality of lighting fixtures and a lighting control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures by multi-hop communication, The lighting fixtures are registered to enable lighting control, In the lighting system, the signal for controlling the lighting is transmitted under better communication conditions of the multi-hop communication than the signal for registering the lighting. Lighting system.

2. the communication condition is a number of hops or radio wave strength in the multi-hop communication, Improving the communication conditions means increasing the number of hops initially set when performing the multi-hop communication in the case of controlling the lighting, or increasing the radio wave intensity used for the multi-hop communication, compared to the case of registering the lighting.

10. The lighting system of claim 1.

3. When registering the lighting, the multi-hop communication is performed multiple times while improving the communication conditions.

3. A lighting system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A lighting control device in a lighting system including a plurality of lighting fixtures and a lighting control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures through multi-hop communication, In the lighting system, the signal for controlling the lighting is transmitted under better communication conditions than the signal for registering the lighting. Lighting control device.

5. Transmitting the signal for controlling the lighting under better communication conditions than the signal for registering the lighting, or transmitting the signal for controlling the lighting to the plurality of lighting devices under better communication conditions than the signal for registering the lighting.

5. The lighting control device according to claim 4.

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