Maintenance support system, maintenance support method, and program

Abstract

To provide a maintenance support system capable of supporting maintenance of a lighting control system.SOLUTION: The maintenance support system includes obtainer 22a which obtains information on illumination control system 10 for production, processor 22c which generates information on maintenance of illumination control system 10 based on the obtained information on illumination control system 10, and outputter 22d which outputs the generated information on the maintenance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a maintenance support system that can support the maintenance of a lighting control system. [Background technology]

[0002] In theaters or concert halls, lighting effects are produced by changing the dimming level and light emission color of lighting devices. Regarding lighting effects, Patent Document 1 discloses a lighting system that includes multiple lighting fixtures, a dimmer console, and a node, and that can reduce the effort required for control. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-216046 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a maintenance support system and the like that can support the maintenance of a lighting control system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A maintenance support system according to one aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition unit that acquires information relating to a lighting control system for performance, a processing unit that generates information relating to maintenance of the lighting control system based on the acquired information about the lighting control system, and an output unit that outputs the generated information relating to maintenance.

[0006] A maintenance support method according to one aspect of the present invention is a maintenance support method executed by a computer system, and includes an acquisition step of acquiring information about a lighting control system for performance, a processing step of generating information about maintenance of the lighting control system based on the acquired information about the lighting control system, and an output step of outputting the generated information about maintenance.

[0007] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing the computer system to execute the maintenance support method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The maintenance support system etc. of the present invention can support the maintenance of a lighting control system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a lighting control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a first operation example of the lighting control system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of report information. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a second operation example of the lighting control system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of maintenance plan information. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component placement and connection forms, steps, and step order shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, components not recited in independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0011] It should be noted that the drawings are schematic diagrams and are not necessarily strict illustrations. In addition, in the drawings, substantially the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and overlapping descriptions may be omitted or simplified.

[0012] (Embodiment) [composition] First, the configuration of a lighting control system according to an embodiment will be described below. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a lighting control system according to an embodiment.

[0013] Lighting control system 10 is a system that controls lighting fixtures 50 used for performances installed in facilities such as stages, television studios, or stadiums. Lighting control system 10 is used for lighting performances in plays, concert events, television program recordings, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1 , lighting control system 10 includes a dimmer console 20, a control device 30, a dimmer panel 40, a plurality of lighting fixtures 50, and a server device 60. There is no particular limit to the number of lighting fixtures 50 that lighting control system 10 includes, and lighting control system 10 only needs to include at least one lighting fixture 50.

[0014] Dimmer table 20 receives a user operation for controlling lighting device 50 from the user, and transmits a control command for controlling lighting device 50 to the control device in accordance with the received operation. Dimmer table 20 is an example of an operation device operated by a user. Dimmer table 20 includes input receiving unit 21, information processing unit 22, storage unit 23, display unit 24, and communication unit 25.

[0015] Input receiving unit 21 receives user input for controlling lighting device 50. Input receiving unit 21 includes, for example, multiple faders, a touch panel, a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone. The multiple faders may be physical faders or faders (virtual faders) that are GUIs including a touch panel.

[0016] Information processing unit 22 performs information processing for controlling lighting fixture 50, such as transmitting a control command to control device 30 in response to a user input. As described below, information processing unit 22 can also generate and output information related to maintenance. Information processing unit 22 includes, as functional components, an acquisition unit 22a, a display control unit 22b, a processing unit 22c, and an output unit 22d. The functions of acquisition unit 22a, display control unit 22b, processing unit 22c, and output unit 22d are realized, for example, by a microcomputer or processor constituting information processing unit 22 executing a computer program stored in storage unit 23. In the following embodiment, information processing unit 22 is equipped with AI, and acquisition unit 22a, display control unit 22b, processing unit 22c, and output unit 22d are described as functions of the AI. It is not essential that information processing unit 22 be equipped with AI.

[0017] The storage unit 23 is a storage device that stores computer programs and the like executed by the information processing unit 22. The storage unit 23 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0018] The display unit 24 displays images and the like required for controlling lighting fixtures. The display unit 24 is realized by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel, for example.

[0019] The communication unit 25 includes a first communication circuit (first communication module) for the dimmer console 20 to communicate with the control device 30 through a local communication network, and a second communication circuit (second communication module) for the dimmer console 20 to communicate with the server device 60 through a wide area communication network 70 such as the Internet. Each of the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit is, for example, a wired communication circuit for performing wired communication, but may also be a wireless communication circuit for performing wireless communication. There are no particular limitations on the communication standards used for communication by the first communication circuit and the second communication circuit.

[0020] The control device 30 receives a control command from the dimmer console 20 and controls the lighting fixtures 50 by transmitting a control signal to the dimmer panel 40 based on the received control command. The control device 30 may be built into the dimmer console 20, in which case the lighting control system 10 does not need to include the control device 30.

[0021] Dimmer panel 40 supplies power to multiple lighting fixtures 50. It also converts control signals received from control device 30 into a format suitable for lighting fixtures 50 and transmits the converted signals to lighting fixtures 50. Dimmer panel 40 is an example of a dimmer. The control signals are signals for turning lighting fixtures 50 on, off, blinking, dimming, and adjusting the color of lighting fixtures 50.

[0022] The lighting fixture 50 is a lighting device for stage effects, specifically a spotlight or a moving light. The lighting fixture 50 is capable of changing the dimming level and emitted color. The lighting fixture 50 includes a light-emitting element that emits red light, a light-emitting element that emits blue light, and a light-emitting element that emits green light, and the emitted color is changed, for example, by independently controlling the brightness of these light-emitting elements. The light-emitting elements are, for example, light-emitting diode (LED) elements, but may also be realized by organic electroluminescence (EL) elements or the like.

[0023] The server device 60 is a cloud computer that cooperates with the lighting table 20. Some or all of the functions of the AI ​​of the lighting table 20 described in the following embodiments may be executed by the server device 60.

[0024] [Example 1] In the lighting control system 10, an AI is installed in the dimmer console 20. This AI learns big data including setting history information, operation history information, abnormality (specifically, failure or error, etc.) occurrence history information, information indicating what measures have been taken in response to the abnormality, and information indicating what maintenance (such as maintenance or inspection) has been performed on each device, for each device, such as the dimmer console 20, the control device 30, the dimmer panel 40, and the lighting fixtures 50, which are included in the lighting control system 10 or another lighting control system.

[0025] The AI ​​can detect an abnormality in the lighting control system 10 and display a report about the abnormality on the display unit 24. A first operational example of such a lighting control system 10 will now be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the first operational example.

[0026] Acquisition unit 22a of dimmer console 20 acquires information about each device, namely, dimmer console 20, control device 30, dimmer panel 40, and multiple lighting fixtures 50 (hereinafter also referred to as information about lighting control system 10) (S11). The acquired information about lighting control system 10 is stored in memory unit 23. The information about lighting control system 10 is information indicating the operation mode, performance setting details, dimming level, light emission color, operating time, power consumption, communication status, etc. of each device over the most recent predetermined period. Acquisition unit 22a acquires information about control device 30, dimmer panel 40, and multiple lighting fixtures 50 using communication unit 25.

[0027] The acquisition of information regarding the lighting control system 10 in step S11 may be performed based on the user's input to the input receiving unit 21 (i.e., based on the user's intention to check whether or not there is an abnormality), or may be performed periodically without requiring user input.

[0028] Next, processing unit 22c determines whether or not an abnormality has occurred in lighting control system 10 based on the acquired information about lighting control system 10 (S12). Processing unit 22c (AI) has learned the above-mentioned big data, and is therefore able to determine whether or not an abnormality has occurred based on the acquired information about lighting control system 10. Note that processing unit 22c may determine that an abnormality has occurred based on information that clearly indicates an abnormality, such as when the information about lighting control system 10 includes error information, or may determine that an abnormality has occurred even when the information about lighting control system 10 does not include information that clearly indicates an abnormality.

[0029] If the processing unit 22c determines that no abnormality has occurred (No in S12), the processing from step S13 onwards is not performed. On the other hand, if the processing unit 22c determines that an abnormality has occurred (Yes in S12), it generates report information regarding the abnormality (S13). Since the processing unit 22c (AI) has learned the above-mentioned big data, it can generate report information including the cause of the abnormality and measures to address the abnormality. Note that the report information is an example of information regarding an abnormality in the lighting control system 10, and it is sufficient that the report information includes at least one of information regarding the cause of the abnormality and information regarding measures to address the abnormality.

[0030] The output unit 22d outputs the generated report information (S14), and the display control unit 22b displays the output report information on the display unit 24 (S15). Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the report information displayed on the display unit 24.

[0031] In this way, the lighting control system 10 can assist the user in understanding abnormalities in the lighting control system 10 by outputting (displaying) report information regarding abnormalities in the lighting control system 10 based on information about the lighting control system 10.

[0032] [Example 2] Furthermore, the AI ​​can predict the occurrence of abnormalities in the lighting control system 10 and create a maintenance plan for the lighting control system 10 so as to prevent the occurrence of abnormalities. A second operational example of such a lighting control system 10 will now be described. Figure 4 is a flowchart of the second operational example.

[0033] The user performs a predetermined input to instruct the input receiving unit 21 of the light dimmer console 20 to create a maintenance plan, and the input receiving unit 21 receives the predetermined input (S21). The predetermined input is performed by, for example, text or voice.

[0034] Here, in Operation Example 2, as explained in Operation Example 1, information related to lighting control system 10 is periodically acquired and stored (accumulated) in storage unit 23. In other words, storage unit 23 stores, as history information, how each device included in lighting control system 10 has been used up to now.

[0035] Therefore, acquisition unit 22a acquires information related to lighting control system 10 from storage unit 23 (S22), and processing unit 22c predicts the occurrence of an abnormality in lighting control system 10 based on the acquired information related to lighting control system 10 (S23). Processing unit 22c (AI) has learned the above-mentioned big data and is therefore able to predict the occurrence of an abnormality based on the acquired information related to lighting control system 10. For example, processing unit 22c can predict that an abnormality will occur within a predetermined period, such as one year, if the probability of an abnormality occurring within that predetermined period is equal to or greater than a predetermined value.

[0036] Furthermore, since the processing unit 22c has learned the above-mentioned big data, it can identify what kind of maintenance (maintenance, inspection, etc.) should be performed to reduce the probability of an abnormality occurring. Therefore, the processing unit 22c (AI) formulates a maintenance plan and generates maintenance plan information indicating the formulated maintenance plan (S24).

[0037] The output unit 22d outputs the generated maintenance plan information (S25), and the display control unit 22b displays the output maintenance plan information on the display unit 24 (S26). Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the maintenance plan information displayed on the display unit 24. Note that if it is determined in step S23 that there is no likelihood of an abnormality occurring, the processes from step S24 onwards are not performed.

[0038] In this way, the lighting control system 10 can support the user in performing maintenance of the lighting control system 10 by outputting (displaying) maintenance plan information based on information related to the lighting control system 10.

[0039] In the second operation example, the processing unit 22c may more simply identify preventive measures for the predicted abnormality in the lighting control system 10 and generate information about the identified preventive measures. In this case, the output unit 22d outputs the information about the generated preventive measures, and the display control unit 22b displays the output information about the preventive measures on the display unit 24.

[0040] In addition, in operation example 2, the output unit 22d outputs information regarding the abnormality prediction of the lighting control system 10 obtained in step S23 (for example, information that there is a 70% probability that an abnormality will occur within one year), and the display control unit 22b may display the information regarding the abnormality prediction on the display unit 24.

[0041] [Changes in maintenance information, etc.] Information presented to the user by the AI, such as report information (information about abnormalities in the lighting control system 10), maintenance plan information, information about preventive measures, and information about predicted abnormalities in the lighting control system 10, can be considered information about maintenance. In other words, information about maintenance includes information about abnormalities in the lighting control system 10, maintenance plan information, information about preventive measures, and information about abnormalities and predicted abnormalities in the lighting control system 10. The term "maintenance" in the term "information about maintenance" has a broad meaning.

[0042] After the maintenance information is presented to the user by the AI, the user may input the details of the maintenance that was actually performed (what action was taken in response to the maintenance information) into the input receiving unit 21 of the dimmer console 20. The input is performed by text or voice, but may also be performed by reading a form (image) showing the maintenance content or by reading electronic data showing the maintenance content.

[0043] In this case, the acquisition unit 22a of the light control console 20 (AI) acquires the input maintenance content as correspondence information for the information on maintenance, and stores the acquired correspondence information in the storage unit 23. That is, the correspondence information includes the input information of the maintenance content by the user.

[0044] This allows information about the history of responses to abnormalities or predicted abnormalities in the lighting control system 10 to be accumulated, and the processing unit 22c (AI) can use the information about the history of responses to perform relearning.

[0045] Thereafter, when processing unit 22c detects an abnormality similar to the abnormality that occurred immediately before the response information was acquired, or when processing unit 22c predicts an abnormality similar to the abnormality predicted immediately before the response information was acquired, processing unit 22c can present the response information (which is also information related to the response history) to the user together with the details of the abnormality. In other words, the maintenance information presented to the user by the AI ​​includes information related to the response history.

[0046] For example, if a certain abnormality has occurred in the past, the user may have taken four actions and input action information indicating these four actions. When the same abnormality occurs later, the processing unit 22c can refer to information related to the action history and suggest to the user that only one of the four actions has been taken, that the user take the remaining three actions.

[0047] Furthermore, if the responses to the abnormality indicated by the response information include a response that can be implemented by controlling the device, such as restarting the device, initializing the device, or changing the settings of the device, the AI ​​may control the device when the abnormality occurs. In other words, if the response information for the information related to maintenance has been acquired by the acquisition unit 22a, the output unit 22d may output control information (information instructing the device to execute control) corresponding to the acquired response information to the lighting control system 10. This allows the AI ​​to save the user the trouble of manually implementing a response.

[0048] [Configuration variations] In the above embodiment, the AI ​​(acquisition unit 22a, display control unit 22b, processing unit 22c, and output unit 22d) is described as being installed in the dimmer console 20, but the AI ​​may also be installed in the control device 30, the dimmer panel 40, or the server device 60. Furthermore, if the lighting control system 10 includes another device (such as a personal computer that supplements the functions of the dimmer console 20 or the control device 30), the AI ​​may also be installed in the other device. Hereinafter, a system including a device equipped with AI will also be referred to as a maintenance support system that supports a user in maintaining the lighting control system 10. The maintenance support system may be realized by a single device or by multiple devices.

[0049] The maintenance support system can also support the setting, control, and management of a lighting control system other than that used for performance purposes (for example, a lighting control system in which a plurality of lighting fixtures 50 form a wireless mesh network).

[0050] Furthermore, the AI ​​described in the above embodiment may be an AI based on chat-GPT (such as a so-called generative AI), and may present maintenance-related information to a user in a dialogue (chat) format. The specific form of the AI ​​for realizing the maintenance assistance system is not particularly limited, and the AI ​​may be a trained machine learning model.

[0051] Furthermore, the maintenance support system 10 may be realized without using AI. For example, the processing unit 22c of the dimmer console 20 may generate information related to maintenance using a database indicating the correspondence between information (input information) related to the lighting control system 10 for performance and information (output information) related to maintenance (i.e., a database indicating the correspondence between a large amount of input information and a large amount of output information). The database may be stored in the storage unit 23 or in a server such as the server device 60.

[0052] [Effects, etc.] Hereinafter, examples of inventions that can be obtained from the disclosure of this specification will be given, and the effects and the like that can be obtained from these inventions will be explained.

[0053] Invention 1 is a maintenance support system comprising an acquisition unit 22a that acquires information about a lighting control system 10 for performance purposes, a processing unit 22c that generates information about maintenance of the lighting control system 10 based on the acquired information about the lighting control system 10, and an output unit 22d that outputs the generated information about maintenance.

[0054] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10.

[0055] Invention 2 is the maintenance support system of Invention 1, in which the information regarding maintenance includes information regarding an abnormality in the lighting control system 10.

[0056] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information regarding abnormalities in the lighting control system 10.

[0057] Invention 3 is the maintenance support system of Invention 2, wherein the information regarding the abnormality in the lighting control system 10 includes information regarding the cause of the abnormality in the lighting control system 10.

[0058] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information relating to the cause of an abnormality in the lighting control system 10.

[0059] Invention 4 is the maintenance support system of any one of Inventions 1 to 3, wherein the information related to maintenance includes information related to abnormality prediction of the lighting control system 10.

[0060] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information related to abnormality prediction of the lighting control system 10.

[0061] Invention 5 is the maintenance support system of any one of Inventions 1 to 4, wherein the information about maintenance includes information about measures to be taken against an abnormality in the lighting control system 10.

[0062] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information on measures to take against abnormalities in the lighting control system 10.

[0063] Invention 6 is the maintenance support system according to any one of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein the information relating to maintenance includes information relating to measures to prevent occurrence of predicted abnormalities in the lighting control system 10.

[0064] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information on measures to prevent the occurrence of predicted abnormalities in the lighting control system 10.

[0065] A seventh invention is the maintenance support system of any one of the first to sixth inventions, wherein the information on maintenance includes information on a maintenance plan for the lighting control system 10.

[0066] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information related to the maintenance plan for the lighting control system 10.

[0067] Invention 8 is a maintenance support system according to any one of Inventions 1 to 7, wherein the acquisition unit 22a further acquires response information for the information regarding maintenance, and the information regarding maintenance includes information regarding the response history for abnormalities or abnormality predictions in the lighting control system 10.

[0068] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information relating to the history of responses to abnormalities or predicted abnormalities in the lighting control system 10.

[0069] Invention 9 is the maintenance support system of Invention 8, wherein the correspondence information includes information input by the user about the content of maintenance.

[0070] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by outputting information relating to the response history based on information input by the user about the details of the maintenance.

[0071] Invention 10 is a maintenance support system of any of Inventions 1 to 9, in which the acquisition unit 22a further acquires corresponding information for the information regarding maintenance, and the output unit 22d further outputs control information corresponding to the acquired corresponding information to the lighting control system 10.

[0072] Such a maintenance support system can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10 by controlling the lighting control system 10 in accordance with response information to information related to maintenance by the user.

[0073] Invention 11 is a maintenance support method executed by a computer system, which includes an acquisition step of acquiring information about a lighting control system 10 for performance, a processing step of generating information about maintenance of the lighting control system based on the acquired information about the lighting control system 10, and an output step of outputting the generated information about maintenance.

[0074] Such a maintenance support method can support the user in maintaining the lighting control system 10.

[0075] Invention 12 is a program for causing a computer system to execute the maintenance support method of Invention 11.

[0076] Such a program enables the computer system to assist in the maintenance of the lighting control system 10.

[0077] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the lighting control system is realized by a plurality of devices, but it may be realized as a single device. When the lighting control system is realized by a plurality of devices, the components of the lighting control system described in the above embodiment may be distributed among the plurality of devices in any manner.

[0079] In the above-described embodiment, the processing performed by a specific processing unit may be performed by another processing unit. The order of multiple processing operations may be changed, or multiple processing operations may be performed in parallel.

[0080] In the above-described embodiments, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for that component, or by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0081] Furthermore, each component may be realized by hardware. Each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or each may be a separate circuit. Furthermore, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0082] Furthermore, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, or as any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium.

[0083] For example, the present invention may be realized as each device such as the dimmer console, control device, dimmer panel, and server device of the above-described embodiments, or as a maintenance support system or a lighting control system. The present invention may also be realized as a method executed by a computer system. The present invention may also be realized as a program (computer program product) for causing a computer system to execute such a method. The present invention may also be realized as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0084] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art would think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 10 Lighting Control System 20 Lighting console 21 Input reception section 22 Information Processing Department 22a Acquisition Department 22b Display control unit 22c Processing section 22d Output section 23 Memory section 24 Display section 25 Communications Department 30 Control device 40 Dimmer 50 lighting fixtures 60 Server equipment 70 Wide Area Communication Network

Claims

1. an acquisition unit that acquires information about a lighting control system for performances; a processing unit that generates information regarding maintenance of the lighting control system based on the acquired information regarding the lighting control system; an output unit that outputs the generated information about the maintenance. Maintenance support system.

2. The information regarding the maintenance includes information regarding an abnormality in the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to claim 1 .

3. The information about the abnormality in the lighting control system includes information about a cause of the abnormality in the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to claim 2 .

4. The information regarding the maintenance includes information regarding abnormality prediction of the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The information regarding maintenance includes information regarding measures to be taken in response to an abnormality in the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The information regarding the maintenance includes information regarding preventive measures for predicted abnormalities in the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The information regarding maintenance includes information regarding a maintenance plan for the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

8. The acquisition unit further acquires correspondence information corresponding to the information regarding the maintenance, The information regarding the maintenance includes information regarding a response history to an abnormality or an abnormality prediction of the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. The correspondence information includes information input by the user about the details of maintenance. The maintenance support system according to claim 8.

10. The acquisition unit further acquires correspondence information corresponding to the information regarding the maintenance, The output unit further outputs control information corresponding to the acquired correspondence information to the lighting control system. The maintenance support system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

11. A maintenance support method executed by a computer system, comprising: an acquisition step of acquiring information about a lighting control system for a performance; a processing step of generating information regarding maintenance of the lighting control system based on the acquired information about the lighting control system; and an output step of outputting the generated information about the maintenance. Maintenance support methods.

12. A program for causing the computer system to execute the maintenance support method according to claim 11.

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