Information processing device

Abstract

To facilitate the assignment settings of each lighting fixture. [Solution] The information processing device according to the embodiment comprises a display control unit and a setting unit. The display control unit displays a floor map and an icon list including icon images containing identification information for each device of the lighting control system on the operation screen of the lighting control system. The setting unit sets the devices corresponding to the icon images as a control group when an icon image selected from the icon list is superimposed on the floor map on the operation screen.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a lighting control system including a plurality of lighting devices, sensors, and the like. In the lighting control system, different controls may be required for each lighting fixture. Therefore, there is a technique for assigning each lighting fixture to each control group according to the required control at the time of initial setting or the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in the conventional technology, there is room for improvement in facilitating the allocation setting of each lighting fixture.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object thereof is to provide an information processing apparatus capable of facilitating the allocation setting of each lighting fixture.

Means for Solving the Problems

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, the allocation settings for each lighting fixture can be easily configured. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the lighting control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 shows an example of a distributed control system configuration. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a terminal device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows a specific example of the settings screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a specific example of the settings screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows a specific example of a settings screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 7 shows a specific example of the settings screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure executed by the terminal device according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The terminal device 50 (an example of an information processing device) according to the embodiment described below comprises a display control unit 551 that displays a floor map Ma and an icon list area Aa on the setting screen G of the distributed control system 100 (an example of a lighting control system) where icon images of each device of the distributed control system 100 (an example of a lighting control system) are displayed, and a setting unit 552 that, when icon images selected from the icon list area Aa are superimposed on the floor map on the setting screen G, sets the devices corresponding to each icon image as a control group.

[0010] Furthermore, the display control unit 551 according to the embodiment described below displays the icon image of the control group on the floor map when the icon images overlap on the floor map.

[0011] Furthermore, in the display control unit 551 according to the embodiment described below, when a device is set as a control group, the icon image of the control group and the icon image displayed in the icon list area are displayed in different colors.

[0012] Furthermore, the display control unit 551 according to the embodiment described below updates the icons in the icon image displayed in the icon list area when the device is set as a control group.

[0013] (Embodiment) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are not intended to limit the technology disclosed by the present invention. Furthermore, the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in each embodiment, and redundant descriptions are omitted.

[0014] First, an overview of the lighting control system according to the embodiment will be described using Figure 1. Figure 1 is a diagram showing an overview of the lighting control system according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the lighting control system S includes an area controller 1 and a plurality of distributed control systems 100.

[0015] Area controller 1 is the master unit for multiple distributed control systems 100 and is a control device that controls each distributed control system 100.

[0016] For example, the area controller 1 controls each distributed control system 100 individually by transmitting control information to each distributed control system 100. Furthermore, the area controller 1 can acquire status information transmitted from each distributed control system 100 at predetermined intervals, thereby understanding the current state of each distributed control system 100.

[0017] In the present disclosure, the state in which the area controller 1 controls each distributed control system 100 is described as centralized control, and the state in which each distributed control system 100 controls independently is described as distributed control.

[0018] The lighting control system S according to the embodiment is a system capable of operating by switching between centralized control and distributed control.

[0019] Each distributed control system 100 is a system including lighting fixtures. Here, a specific example of the distributed control system 100 according to the embodiment will be described using FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the distributed control system 100.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, the distributed control system 100 is composed of a lighting fixture 10, a switch 20, a scheduler 30, a sensor 40, a terminal device 50, and the like. In the example shown in FIG. 2, for convenience of explanation, each device is shown one by one, but each device may include any number. Further, the terminal device 50 corresponds to an example of the information processing device according to the embodiment.

[0021] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, each device constituting the distributed control system 100 forms a mesh network N. The mesh network N is a network formed by a wireless format conforming to a communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy).

[0022] Each device connected to the mesh network N can receive various instructions and the like transmitted from an external device such as the area controller 1 by transferring the various instructions and the like transmitted from the external device to the mesh network N.

[0023] The lighting fixture 10 is a predetermined lighting device such as a base light, ceiling light, downlight, or spotlight. The lighting fixture 10 also has a wireless communication function and communicates with other devices located within the wireless communication range via the mesh network N.

[0024] Sensor 40 detects various types of information. Sensor 40 also has a wireless communication function and communicates with other devices located within wireless communication range via the mesh network N. For example, sensor 40 may include an imaging unit that includes a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor or a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, and may function as a human presence sensor or an illuminance sensor. When sensor 40 functions as a human presence sensor, it detects whether or not a person is present in the detection range from the image captured by the imaging unit, and transmits the detection result to the lighting fixture 10 via the mesh network N. When sensor 40 is an illuminance sensor, it detects whether or not a person is present in the detection range from the image captured by the imaging unit, and transmits the detection result to the lighting fixture 10 via a predetermined network.

[0025] The scheduler 30 controls other devices such as the lighting fixture 10 and the sensor 40. The scheduler 30 outputs predetermined control signals to control the other devices such as the lighting fixture 10 and the sensor 40 at timings set by the user of the terminal device 50 (for example, a system administrator). The scheduler 30 also has a wireless communication function and may communicate with other devices located within the wireless communication range via the mesh network N.

[0026] Switch 20 is a device that outputs a predetermined control signal to a pre-assigned lighting fixture 10. Switch 20 also has a wireless communication function and may communicate with other devices located within wireless communication range via a mesh network N.

[0027] The terminal device 50 is an information processing terminal that has various functions such as communication, display, and web browsing functions, and performs information processing according to the embodiment. The terminal device 50 is also equipped with a dedicated application program that provides various functions for realizing the information processing according to the embodiment. For example, a user of the terminal device 50 can perform setting operations on other devices such as lighting fixtures 10 through functions provided by the dedicated application. The terminal device 50 can be implemented using a smart device (smartphone or tablet), a PDA, or a desktop or laptop personal computer.

[0028] By the way, in the lighting control system S, each distributed control system 100 includes multiple devices, so it is necessary to perform initial setup for each device. For example, this disclosure discloses a method for reducing the workload of such initial setup work. The details of this will be explained below with reference to the drawings from Figure 3 onwards.

[0029] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a terminal device 50 according to an embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the terminal device 50 includes a communication unit 51, an operation unit 52, a display unit 53, a storage unit 54, and a control unit 55.

[0030] The communication unit 51 is implemented, for example, by a predetermined communication circuit such as a NIC (Network Interface Card), and performs data communication with the area controller 1 and other devices that constitute the distributed control system 100 via a communication network such as Ethernet (registered trademark) or LAN.

[0031] The operation unit 52 receives various operations from the user. The display unit 53 displays various information based on control by the control unit 55. For example, the operation unit 52 and the display unit 53 are touch panel displays.

[0032] The storage unit 54 is implemented using, for example, semiconductor memory elements such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or flash memory, or storage devices such as hard disks or optical discs. In the example shown in Figure 3, the storage unit 54 stores device information 541.

[0033] The device information 541 is information about each device included in the distributed control system 100. For example, in this disclosure, the device information 541 is information about the control unit of each device.

[0034] The control unit 55 is a controller, and is realized, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or MPU (Micro Processing Unit) executing various programs stored in the storage device inside the lighting fixture 10 using RAM as the working area. As shown in Figure 3, the control unit 55 has a display control unit 551 and a setting unit 552, and realizes or executes the information processing functions and operations described below.

[0035] The display control unit 551 performs various display controls on the display unit 53. In this disclosure, the display control unit 551 performs various display controls related to the setting screen of the distributed control system 100. For example, as will be described later, the display control unit 551 displays a floor map and an icon list area containing icon images of each device of the distributed control system 100 on the operation screen of the distributed control system 100.

[0036] The setting unit 552 performs various settings of the distributed control system 100 based on various user operations to the operation unit 52. In this disclosure, the setting unit 552 performs assignment settings for each device based on user operations. For example, the setting unit 552 sets the devices together as a control group as an assignment setting for each device.

[0037] Here, we will explain a specific example of the settings screen according to the embodiment using Figures 4 to 7. Figures 4 to 7 are diagrams showing a specific example of the settings screen according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, the settings screen G displays the floor map Ma and the icon list area Aa.

[0038] Floor map Ma is a map of the floor where the distributed control system 100 is installed. Icon list area Aa is an area where the icon images of each device connected to the distributed control system 100 are displayed in a list.

[0039] The example shown in Figure 4 illustrates a case where icon images corresponding to units 1-5 and sensors 1-5 are displayed in the icon list area Aa. Note that the units here correspond to an example of a control group.

[0040] Each icon image, including the icon image Sg1 for Unit 1 and the icon image Sg2 for Sensor 1, is a folder-type image, and within the folder, identification information and multiple icons (hereinafter referred to as identification icons) are displayed. In the example in Figure 4, the identification information corresponds to "Unit 1" and "Sensor 1". Unit 1 is assumed to have already been assigned various devices, including the lighting fixture 10. The multiple identification icons each indicate the current assignment status. For example, the multiple identification icons indicate whether or not there is a connection relationship with Sensor 40, whether or not there is a connection relationship with Area Controller 1, etc.

[0041] For example, a user can configure control groups by dragging and dropping each icon image onto the floor map Ma. The example shown in Figure 4 illustrates the case where a user drags and drops the icon image Sg1 corresponding to unit 1 onto the floor map Ma.

[0042] For example, in this case, the floor map Ma will display the unit icon Sm1 corresponding to unit 1 at the location where it was dragged and dropped.

[0043] Next, we will explain the scenario in which a new sensor 1 is added to unit 1. For example, as shown in Figure 5, the user drags and drops the icon image Sg2 of sensor 1 displayed in the icon list area Aa onto the unit icon Sm1 corresponding to unit 1 displayed on the floor map Ma.

[0044] Furthermore, when dragging and dropping the icon image Sg2 of sensor 1 onto the unit icon Sm1 of unit 1 on floor map Ma, the system may be configured to change the color of both the unit icon Sm1 and the icon image Sg2 when the sensor 1 icon image Sg2 overlaps with the unit icon Sm1 of unit 1. This makes it easier to identify the unit to which sensor 1 will be added.

[0045] As a result, the setting unit 552 adds sensor 1 to unit 1. Also, for example, as shown in Figure 6, the unit icon Sm1 corresponding to unit 1 is displayed as a group icon Sm1a due to the addition of sensor 1. Note that when assigning unit 1 and sensor 1, the user may first drag and drop sensor 1 onto floor map Ma, and then drag and drop unit 1 onto sensor 1 on floor map Ma. In other words, the order of drag and drop is not particularly limited.

[0046] Furthermore, in this case, for example, the display control unit 551 may change the color of the icon image Sg1 corresponding to unit 1 whose settings were changed in this operation, and the icon image Sg2 corresponding to sensor 1. For example, in such a case, the display control unit 551 changes the color of the group icon Sm1a, icon image Sg1, and icon image Sg2, and performs display control so that they are all the same color. This allows the user to easily identify each device whose settings have been changed.

[0047] Furthermore, the display control unit 551 may also change the display mode of the icons Sg1 and Sg2, whose settings were changed in this operation. For example, the display control unit 551 changes the identification icon of icon image Sg1 displayed in the icon list area Aa to an icon indicating that the sensor 40 is connected, and changes the identification icon of icon image Sg2 to an icon indicating that it has been registered with unit 1.

[0048] This allows users to easily understand the assignment status of the device corresponding to each icon image by checking the identification icon for each icon image displayed in the icon list area Aa.

[0049] In addition to the icon images displayed in the icon list area Aa, users can also configure the assignment settings by dragging and dropping the unit icon Sm1 displayed on the floor map Ma.

[0050] For example, consider a case where the same assignment as the group icon Sm1a for group 1, which consists of unit 1 and sensor 1, is to be applied to other units, as shown in Figure 7. In such a case, the user drags and drops the icon image corresponding to unit 2, which is the unit to be assigned, to the desired position in advance, and displays the unit icon Sm2 corresponding to unit 2 on the floor map Ma.

[0051] Then, the user drags and drops the group icon Sm1a of group 1, which consists of unit 1 and sensor 1, onto the icon image Sm2 corresponding to unit 2. As a result, the setting unit 552 copies the assignment settings of group 1, for example, and pastes them into the assignment settings of unit 2. In other words, unit 2 will have the same assignment settings as group 1.

[0052] Thus, in this disclosure, the allocation settings can be made on the floor map Ma, allowing the user to configure the allocation settings while checking the map on which the lighting fixtures 10 will be installed. Therefore, according to this disclosure, the allocation settings for each lighting fixture 10 can be easily configured.

[0053] Next, the processing procedure performed by the terminal device 50 according to the embodiment will be described using Figure 8. Figure 8 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure performed by the terminal device 50 according to the embodiment.

[0054] As shown in Figure 8, the terminal device 50 receives setting operations from the user regarding the allocation settings of the lighting fixtures 10 through the setting screen G (step S101). Subsequently, the terminal device 50 updates the map and icon images that were operated according to the setting operation (step S102).

[0055] Next, the terminal device 50 sets up a control group according to the setting operation (step S103). After that, the terminal device 50 determines whether or not the assignment setting has been completed based on user operation, etc. (step S104).

[0056] If terminal device 50 determines that the assignment setting is complete (step S104; Yes), it terminates the assignment setting process. If it determines that the assignment setting is not complete (step S104; No), it proceeds to the process in step S101.

[0057] As described above, the terminal device 50 (an example of an information processing device) according to the embodiment includes a display control unit 551 that displays a floor map Ma and an icon list area Aa where icon images of each device of the lighting control system are displayed on the setting screen G of the distributed control system 100 (an example of a lighting control system), and a setting unit 552 that, when icon images selected from the icon list area Aa are superimposed on the floor map on the setting screen G, sets the devices corresponding to each icon image as a control group.

[0058] Therefore, according to the terminal device 50 of this embodiment, the user can configure the allocation settings for each device while checking the floor map Ma, making it easier to configure the allocation settings for each lighting fixture.

[0059] In the embodiments described above, the case of assigning units and sensors was explained, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, in the example in Figure 4, the icon image of the area controller 1 may be displayed in the icon list area Aa, and the unit may be assigned to the area controller 1.

[0060] Furthermore, in the example shown in Figure 7, not only unit icons and group icons, but also sensor icons and area controller icons may be displayed on the floor map Ma, and the assignment settings may be made by overlapping these icons.

[0061] While embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0062] 1 Area Controller 10 Lighting fixtures 20 switches 30 Scheduler 40 sensors 50 Terminal devices 51 Communications Department 52 Operation section 53 Display section 54 Storage section 55 Control Unit 100 Distributed Control Systems 541 Device information 551 Display Control Unit 552 Settings Section N Mesh Network S Lighting Control System

Claims

1. A display control unit that displays a floor map and an icon list area where icon images of each device of the lighting control system are displayed on the operation screen of the lighting control system; In the aforementioned operation screen, when the icon images selected from the icon list area are superimposed on the floor map, a setting unit sets the devices corresponding to each of the icon images as a control group; An information processing device equipped with the following:

2. The display control unit, When the aforementioned icon images are superimposed on the floor map, the icon image of the control group is displayed on the floor map. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The display control unit, When the aforementioned device is set as the control group, the icon image of the control group and the icon image displayed in the icon list area are displayed in different colors. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2.

4. The display control unit, When the aforementioned device is set as the control group, the identification information of the icon image displayed in the icon list area is updated. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1.

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