Lighting control system, lighting control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a lighting control system capable of efficiently associating identification information and location information for multiple devices.SOLUTION: A lighting control system 100 includes multiple devices 10 and a terminal apparatus 20. The terminal apparatus 20 is configured to set the signal strength of an inquiry signal to be transmitted to multiple devices 10; transmit the inquiry signal to a part of the multiple devices 10 with the set signal strength; receive a response signal to the inquiry signal from the part of the multiple devices 10; acquire identification information of a device 10 to be controlled included in the part of the multiple devices 10 based on the received response signal; transmit a control signal for controlling the device 10 to be controlled to operate or stop in a different manner than other devices based on the acquired identification information; and when the control is performed, acquire location information representing the location of the input device 10 to be controlled, and associate the acquired location information with the identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting control system, a lighting control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A technique has been proposed for associating identification information of lighting fixtures with location information. Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for performing such association using an operation terminal such as a mobile terminal. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-36400 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of the association described in Patent Document 1, the user needs to visually confirm the position of the lighting fixture and associate the identification information of the lighting fixture with the location information indicating the arrangement position of the lighting fixture. However, it is difficult for the user to visually grasp the exact location of a lighting fixture located far from the user, and it may be difficult to associate the identification information with the location information. Therefore, for apparatuses (hereinafter referred to as devices) such as lighting fixtures, whose operating states are associated by the user through visual confirmation, a mechanism is desired that can efficiently associate the identification information of multiple devices with the location information.

[0005] The present invention provides a lighting control system, a lighting control method, and a program that can efficiently associate identification information with location information for a plurality of devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A lighting control system according to one aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of devices and a terminal device, wherein the terminal device sets a signal strength of an inquiry signal to be transmitted to the plurality of devices so that the inquiry signal reaches a signal reachable range limited by a user, transmits the inquiry signal to a portion of the plurality of devices at the set signal strength, receives a response signal to the inquiry signal from the portion of the plurality of devices, acquires identification information of a first device included in the portion of the plurality of devices based on the received response signal, and transmits a control signal for controlling the first device to operate or stop in a manner different from other devices based on the acquired identification information, and when the control is performed, acquires location information indicating a location of the first device input by the user, and associates the acquired location information with the identification information. In setting the signal strength of the inquiry signal, the signal coverage area of ​​the inquiry signal is changed according to the height at which the devices are installed. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The lighting control system etc. of the present invention can efficiently associate identification information with location information for a plurality of devices. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a lighting control system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the lighting control system according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the lighting control system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the initial setting screen. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a signal strength setting screen. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for associating identification information and location information of a target device. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for ending association of a portion of a plurality of devices. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a lighting control system according to the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the lighting control system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lighting control system according to a first modification of the second embodiment. In FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] 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 arrangement and connection forms, steps, and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the components in the following embodiments, components that are not described in the independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0010] In addition, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily a precise illustration. In addition, in each drawing, the same reference numerals are used for substantially the same configuration, and duplicated explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) [composition] Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of a lighting control system 100 according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of the lighting control system 100 according to embodiment 1.

[0012] The lighting control system 100 is a system that associates the identification information and location information of each of a plurality of devices 10 installed in a predetermined space (hereinafter, also referred to as associating the devices 10). The predetermined space is a space partitioned by a wall or the like. The wall may be a wall or partition inside a building, or an outer wall of a building. The building may be, for example, a facility such as a hotel, a commercial facility, an office building, a hospital, a nursing home, an airport, a station, a stadium, a concert hall, a museum, a gymnasium, or a library, or may be a collective housing such as an apartment building, or a residence such as a detached house, or may be a road facility such as a tunnel, a road, or a footbridge or an overpass. In addition, the building may be a building that can be assembled or moved for temporary use, for example, an outdoor concert venue, a circus venue, a traveling zoo, or a prefabricated hut. The predetermined space may be a floor, an area, a room, or a passageway inside a building, a space surrounded by the outer wall of a building and the outer wall of another adjacent building, or a space surrounded by the outer wall of a building and a partition such as a fence. The predetermined space does not have to be a space partitioned by a wall or the like, and may be, for example, a park, a garden, a ground, a parking lot, etc. Although Fig. 1 shows an example of associating a plurality of devices 10 installed in a predetermined space in a building, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0013] The device 10 is a device equipped with a status presenting unit 15, and is a device that allows a user to visually confirm the operating state of the device 10. The status presenting unit 15 may be a light source (not shown), and in this case, the device 10 may be, for example, a device that outputs light, or a device that has a configuration for outputting light. For example, a device that outputs light is a device that allows a user to visually confirm the state in which the device is outputting light (in other words, the operating state due to the direct operation of the device itself), and is, for example, a lighting fixture or a projector. In addition, for example, a device that has a configuration for outputting light is a device in which it is difficult for a user to accurately visually confirm the direct operating state of the device, and is a device in which the user can confirm the operating state of the device by confirming the presentation by the status presenting unit 15. Such devices are, for example, an operation device such as a switch or an operation panel that accepts an input of an instruction to change the light output state of a lighting fixture, a control device such as a relay module or various signal converters, a communication device such as a repeater for ensuring a communication distance or a beacon transmitter used in a system utilizing position information, various sensor devices that detect environmental information such as illuminance and CO2 concentration, the presence or absence of a person, or the number of people, etc. In the case where the status presenting unit 15 includes a light source, these devices may include a lamp including a light source or a display unit such as a display as the status presenting unit 15. The lamp includes a light source and a cover. When the light source emits white light, the cover may be made of a light-transmitting resin colored red or the like. When the light source emits light other than white light, such as red light or blue light, the cover may not be colored. In addition, the display may be an LCD (liquid crystal display) including a backlight as the light source. In the case where the status presenting unit 15 is a light source, these devices may include a light source of the lamp or a backlight of the display as the status presenting unit 15. Specific examples of light sources will be described later.

[0014] Specifically, the lighting control system 100 transmits an inquiry signal with a signal strength that reaches only some of the devices 10 installed in a given space, thereby limiting the devices 10 to be controlled to some of the devices 10. This allows the user to more easily visually recognize the location of the device 10 to be controlled, since the user only needs to view the devices 10 located within the range where the inquiry signal can reach, when the operation of the device 10 to be controlled is controlled in a manner different from that of the other devices 10. Therefore, the lighting control system 100 makes it possible to efficiently associate the identification information with the location information of the devices 10.

[0015] For example, the lighting control system 100 sets a signal strength of an inquiry signal S1 to be transmitted to the multiple devices 10, transmits the inquiry signal S1 to some of the multiple devices 10 at the set signal strength, and receives a response signal to the inquiry signal S1 from some of the multiple devices 10. Then, the lighting control system 100 acquires identification information of a device 10 to be controlled (hereinafter also referred to as a target device) included in some of the multiple devices 10 based on the received response signal, and transmits a control signal for controlling the target device to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10 based on the acquired identification information. Then, when the above control is performed, the lighting control system 100 acquires location information indicating the location of the target device input by the user, and associates the acquired location information with the identification information.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows an example in which a user operates a terminal device 20 to transmit an inquiry signal S1 with a signal strength that reaches only devices 10 located around the terminal device 20. For example, the device 10 located around the terminal device 20 is at least one device 10 located within a range (hereinafter, referred to as a signal reachable range A1) centered on a position on the ceiling corresponding to the position of the terminal device 20 (hereinafter, referred to as a terminal position P1). In FIG. 1, the number of devices 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 is four, but it may be three, two, or one. In addition, the number of devices 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 may be four or more. The size of the signal reachable range A1 may be such that a user can accurately visually recognize the position of the device 10 placed within the signal reachable range A1.

[0017] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the lighting control system 100. As shown in FIG.

[0018] [device] The device 10 is a device including a state presenting unit 15, and the state presenting unit 15 may be, for example, a light source. In this case, the device 10 may be, for example, a device that outputs light, or a device having a configuration that outputs light. The definition and specific examples of the device that outputs light and the device having a configuration that outputs light have been described above, and therefore will not be described here. The device 10 is installed in a space partitioned by, for example, a wall or a partition. The device 10 may be installed on a ceiling, a wall (a wall inside a building, or an exterior wall of a building), or a floor (on the ground if there is no floor) in the space. When the device 10 is a lighting fixture, the device 10 may be, for example, a ceiling light, a downlight, or a spotlight. As described above, the device 10 may be an operation device, a control device, or various sensor devices.

[0019] When the device 10 receives a control signal transmitted from the terminal device 20, the device 10 performs control to make the state presenting unit 15 of the device 10 perform a presentation in a different manner from the state presenting unit 15 of the other device 10 according to the received control signal. More specifically, the state presenting unit 15 of the device 10 that receives the control signal (in other words, the device 10 to be controlled) performs a presentation in a different manner from the presentation of the state presenting unit 15 of the other device 10. For example, when the device 10 is a device having a configuration that outputs light, that is, when the device 10 is a lighting device or a projector device, the device 10 that receives the control signal (the device 10 to be controlled) operates or stops in a different manner from the other device 10, for example. The device 10 to be controlled may be turned off or blink when the other device 10 is turned on, and may be turned on or blink when the other device 10 is turned off.

[0020] Furthermore, when the device 10 is a device having a configuration for outputting light, the device 10 that has received the control signal (the controlled device 10) operates or stops in a manner different from that of the other devices 10 according to the control signal, as described below. For example, when the status presentation unit 15 is a lamp, the status presentation unit 15 included in the controlled device 10 may turn off or blink when the status presentation unit 10 (here, a lamp) included in the other device 10 is turned on. Furthermore, when the status presentation unit 15 is a display, the status presentation unit 15 of the controlled device 10 may display display information different from the display information (e.g., information represented by at least one of characters, figures, and patterns) displayed by the status presentation unit 15 (e.g., a display) of the other device 10.

[0021] For example, when the state presenting unit 15 is a light source, the light source included in the device 10 to be controlled emits or extinguishes light in a manner different from that of the light source included in the other device 10. The state presenting unit 15 may be a light source of a lamp, or may be a backlight of a display. When the state presenting unit 15 is a light source of a lamp, when the state presenting unit 15 (i.e., a light source) included in the other device 10 emits light, the state presenting unit 15 repeats emitting and extinguishing light, or extinguishes light. When the state presenting unit 15 is a backlight of a display, when the state presenting unit 15 (e.g., a backlight) included in the other device 10 is extinguished, the state presenting unit 15 included in the device 10 to be controlled emits light and the display may be displayed bright, or the display may be flashed by repeatedly emitting and extinguishing light. As a result, the device 10 that has received the control signal (i.e., the device 10 to be controlled) operates or stops in a manner different from that of the other device 10 according to the received control signal.

[0022] Also, for example, the controlled device 10 blinks or turns off when the other device 10 is turned on, and turns on when the other device 10 is turned off.

[0023] Next, a description will be given of each component of the device 10. The device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a generation unit 12, a control unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a state presentation unit 15.

[0024] The communication unit 11 is a communication circuit for communicating with the terminal device 20. Specifically, the communication unit 11 receives from the terminal device 20 an inquiry signal for inquiring about the identification information of the device 10, and a control signal for causing the status presentation unit 15 to present a status in a manner different from that of the status presentation unit 15 of another device 10. Details of the control signal have been described above, and therefore will not be described here. Furthermore, the communication unit 11 transmits a response signal to the received inquiry signal to the terminal device 20.

[0025] For example, when the device 10 does not have identification information (in other words, the identification information is not stored in the storage unit 14), the generation unit 12 generates the identification information of the device 10. For example, when the device 10 receives an inquiry signal and the device 10 does not have identification information, the generation unit 12 generates the identification information. At this time, the generation unit 12 generates the identification information based on a random number. The identification information may be, for example, a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

[0026] Furthermore, the generating unit 12 may generate a response signal including the identification information. For example, when the device 10 does not have the identification information, the generating unit 12 may generate the identification information of the device 10 and generate a response signal including the generated identification information. Furthermore, when the device 10 has the identification information (in other words, the identification information is pre-stored in the storage unit 14), when the device 10 receives an inquiry signal, the generating unit 12 may read out the identification information pre-stored in the storage unit 14 from the storage unit 14 and generate a response signal including the read out identification information.

[0027] The control unit 13 is a control circuit that controls each part of the device 10. The control unit 13 has a processor and the like, and performs various controls by the processor executing a program stored in the storage unit 14. The processor is configured by an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a DSP (Digital Signal Processor), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), a SOC (System on a Chip), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like.

[0028] For example, the control unit 13 controls the state presenting unit 15. Specifically, the control unit 13 controls the state presenting unit 15 to present in a manner different from that of the state presenting unit 15 of the other device 10 according to a control signal received by the communication unit 11. For example, when the state presenting unit 15 is a light source, the control unit 13 controls the light source to emit or extinguish light in a manner different from that of the light source of the other device. For example, the control unit 13 may control the light emitted by the light source to be turned on or off so that the light source emits light (in other words, turns on), turns off (in other words, turns off), or alternates between being on and off (in other words, blinks), or may control the light to be changed in luminance or light color.

[0029] Furthermore, when the control unit 13 receives an inquiry signal from the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 11, the control unit 13 transmits a response signal including the identification information to the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 11 in response to the inquiry signal.

[0030] The storage unit 14 is a storage device in which programs to be executed by the control unit 13 are stored. The storage unit 14 may also periodically store control information acquired by the device 10, information related to the state of the device 10, and information acquired by any means. The storage unit 14 includes, for example, primary storage devices such as a random access memory (RAM) and a read only memory (ROM). The storage unit 14 may also include secondary storage devices such as a hard disk drive (HDD) and a solid state drive (SSD), and tertiary storage devices such as an optical disk and a secure digital (SD) card.

[0031] The storage unit 14 also stores, for example, identification information such as a MAC address.

[0032] The status presenting unit 15 presents the operating state of the device 10. The status presenting unit 15 may include, for example, a light source, or may be the light source itself. The light source is, for example, a light emitting module including a light emitting element. The light emitting element may be, for example, a surface mount device (SMD) type LED element in which an LED (Light Emitting Diode) is packaged. The light source emits or extinguishes light according to an instruction from the control unit 13 based on a control signal. The status presenting unit 15 may also be a display, in which case the light source is a backlight of the display. The status presenting unit 15 presents, for example, the operating state of the device 10 to the user using characters or the like. The display may be, for example, an LCD.

[0033] [Terminal Device] The terminal device 20 associates, for each of the multiple devices 10, the identification information of the device 10 with location information indicating the location of the device. Specifically, the terminal device 20 sets the signal strength of an inquiry signal to be transmitted to the multiple devices 10, transmits the inquiry signal to some of the multiple devices 10 at the set signal strength, and receives a response signal to the inquiry signal from some of the multiple devices 10. The terminal device 20 acquires identification information of a device 10 to be controlled (also called a target device) included in some of the multiple devices 10 based on the received response signal, and transmits a control signal for controlling the target device to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10 based on the acquired identification information. When the control is performed, the terminal device 20 acquires location information indicating the location of the target device input by the user, and associates the acquired location information with the identification information.

[0034] The terminal device 20 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The terminal device 20 may also be a dedicated terminal used in the lighting control system 100. The terminal device 20 includes, for example, an input receiving unit 21, a display unit 22, a setting unit 23, a communication unit 24, a control unit 25, an acquisition unit 26, and a storage unit 27.

[0035] The input reception unit 21 is an input interface that receives operation input by a user. Specifically, the input reception unit 21 is realized by a touch panel display or the like. For example, when the input reception unit 21 is equipped with a touch panel display, the touch panel display functions as the display unit 22 and the input reception unit 21. Note that the input reception unit 21 is not limited to a touch panel display, and may be, for example, a keyboard, a pointing device, or a mechanical switch.

[0036] The display unit 22 is a display device that displays an image under the control of the control unit 25. The display unit 22 is realized by, for example, a liquid crystal (LC) panel or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel.

[0037] The setting unit 23 sets the signal strength of an inquiry signal transmitted to the multiple devices 10. Specifically, the setting unit 23 sets the signal strength so that the inquiry signal reaches only the devices 10 (i.e., some of the multiple devices 10) included in a range specified by the user (hereinafter, also referred to as a signal reachable range A1).

[0038] The communication unit 24 is a communication circuit for the terminal device 20 to communicate with the multiple devices 10. The communication unit 24 transmits an inquiry signal to some of the multiple devices 10 (more specifically, the devices 10 located within a range designated by the user among the multiple devices 10) and receives a response signal to the inquiry signal from some of the multiple devices 10. The communication unit 24 is, for example, a wireless communication circuit for wireless communication. The communication unit 24 may communicate with other terminal devices 20 or may communicate with a cloud server (not shown). In this case, the communication unit 24 may include a communication circuit (not shown) for communicating with a cloud server or the like via a wide area communication network such as the Internet. For example, when the terminal device 20 communicates with a cloud server, the terminal device 20 may obtain, from the cloud server, a layout diagram in which the multiple devices 10 are arranged, a control program, or the like. The standard of communication performed by the communication unit 24 is not particularly limited.

[0039] The control unit 25 is a control circuit that controls each part of the terminal device 20. The control unit 25 has a processor and the like, and performs various controls by the processor executing a program stored in the storage unit 27. The processor is configured by an MPU, a CPU, a DSP, a GPU, a SOC, or the like.

[0040] The acquisition unit 26 acquires, based on the received response signal, an identification signal of a device 10 to be controlled (so-called a target device) included in some of the multiple devices 10. Specifically, the acquisition unit 26 acquires identification information included in the received response signal.

[0041] The storage unit 27 is a storage device that stores the control program and the like executed by the control unit 25. The storage unit 27 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0042] [Operation] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the lighting control system 100 according to the embodiment 1. Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the lighting control system 100 according to the embodiment 1. The operation of Fig. 3 is performed, for example, after a plurality of devices 10 are installed on the ceiling of an indoor space.

[0043] First, the input receiving unit 21 of the terminal device 20 receives an input of a start instruction to start matching the device 10 (S101). In step S101, the input receiving unit 21 receives an instruction to start initial setting input by, for example, a person who sets the initial setting. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an initial setting screen. The person who sets the initial setting is an example of a user. The user is a person or thing that performs a setting operation, for example, a human or a robot.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 displays the layout plan L1 on the display unit 22 based on the instruction received by the input receiving unit 21. At this time, the setter taps on the "Load layout" icon, for example. The input receiving unit 21 may include at least one of the touch panel 21a, the microphone 21b, the camera 21c, and the speaker 21d. For example, the setter may input a voice instruction using the microphone 21b, or may input an instruction by moving a part of the setter's body (for example, lips, eyes, fingertips, hands, etc.) using the camera 21c, in addition to inputting an instruction by tapping on the touch panel 21a. The speaker 21d may output, for example, a response message to the voice instruction input to the microphone 21b.

[0045] Next, the control unit 25 sets the height at which the multiple devices 10 are installed (here, the ceiling height) based on the instruction received by the input receiving unit 21 (not shown in FIG. 3). At this time, the installer selects, for example, the "Standard" tab displayed in the signal strength display field 22c, which indicates that the ceiling height is a standard ceiling, or the "High Ceiling" tab, which indicates that the ceiling is a high ceiling that is higher than a normal ceiling, such as the ceiling of a warehouse. When the setter wishes to end the initial settings, he or she taps the "OK" icon displayed on the display unit 22. The input receiving unit 21 receives an input of an instruction to end the initial settings.

[0046] 3 again, when an instruction to end the initial settings is received by the input receiving unit 21 (not shown), the control unit 25 starts loop processing for each part of the multiple devices 10 (S102).

[0047] In the loop process (S102 to S118) for each part of the multiple devices 10, first, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 sets the signal reachable range A1 based on the instruction received by the input receiving unit 21 (S103). At this time, when the setter taps, for example, a position corresponding to the position of the terminal device 20 (i.e., terminal position P1) on the layout drawing L1 displayed in the layout display field 22a, a circle (a circle indicated by a dotted line in the drawing) with the terminal position P1 as the center is displayed as shown in FIG. 4. For example, the size of the displayed circle may change depending on the number of times the setter taps the terminal position P1 on the layout drawing L1. For example, when the setter taps the terminal position P1 twice, a circle including two devices 10 in each of the upper, lower, left, and right directions from the terminal position P1 may be displayed, and when the setter taps the terminal position P1 once, a circle including one device 10 in each of the upper, lower, left, and right directions from the terminal position P1 may be displayed. The setter may change the size of the circle by touching the circle displayed on the layout drawing L1 with a finger and swiping inward or outward of the circle. After the user specifies the desired range (i.e., the size of the circle), the user taps the "OK" icon. This causes the control unit 25 to set the signal reachable range A1 when transmitting an inquiry signal, based on the instruction to confirm the range specification received by the input receiving unit 21.

[0048] Next, the setting unit 23 of the terminal device 20 sets the signal strength when transmitting the inquiry signal (S104). Specifically, the setting unit 23 sets the signal strength of the inquiry signal transmitted to the multiple devices 10 to a signal strength that reaches the signal reach range A1 (that is, only the vicinity of the terminal device 20) set in step S103. Specifically, the setting unit 23 limits the reach range of the inquiry signal by adjusting the transmission power when transmitting the inquiry signal to the multiple devices 10 by the communication unit 24, or the directivity of the antenna. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a signal strength setting screen. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, when the setter taps the "strength setting" icon, the input receiving unit 21 receives an instruction to start setting the signal strength input by the setter. When the signal strength is set by the setting unit 23, the level of the signal strength (here, displayed as level 1) is displayed in the signal strength display field. The setter may adjust the signal strength by operating the strength adjustment icon 23a.

[0049] Next, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 causes the communication unit 24 to transmit an inquiry signal at the signal strength set in step S104 (S105). Specifically, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 transmits an inquiry signal to the devices 10 (that is, some of the multiple devices 10) located in the signal reachable range A1 via the communication unit 24 at the timing of acquiring an instruction to transmit an inquiry signal input by the person who sets the setting. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the person who sets the setting taps the "Start" icon, the communication unit 24 transmits an inquiry signal at the signal strength set in step S104. The inquiry signal is a signal that requests identification information (e.g., MAC addresses, etc.) of the multiple devices 10.

[0050] When the control unit 13 of the device 10 (that is, a part of the devices 10) located within the signal reachable range A1 receives an inquiry signal via the communication unit 11, the control unit 13 transmits a response signal to the inquiry signal to the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 11 (S106). The response signal includes the identification information of the device 10. Although not shown, for example, when the identification information is stored in advance in the storage unit 14 included in the device 10, the control unit 13 reads the identification information from the storage unit 14 when receiving the inquiry signal, and transmits a response signal including the read identification information to the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 11. Also, for example, when the identification information is not stored in advance in the storage unit 14, the control unit 13 may cause the generation unit 12 to generate identification information (for example, a MAC address) when receiving the inquiry signal, and transmit a response signal including the identification information generated by the generation unit 12 to the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 11. At this time, the generation unit 12 generates the identification information based on, for example, a random number.

[0051] Next, the terminal device 20 directly receives a response signal from a device 10 (that is, a part of the multiple devices 10) located within the signal reachable range A1. At this time, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 may store the identification information acquired via the communication unit 24 in the storage unit 27 and display the identification information on the display unit 22. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a screen that associates the identification information of the target device with the location information. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 25 displays the acquired identification information in the acquired information display field 22b of the display unit 22. At this time, the identification information may be displayed in the acquired information display field 22b in the order in which it was acquired, and a serial number (for example, a number in the No. field of the acquired information display field 22b) may be assigned in the order in which it was displayed.

[0052] Next, the acquisition unit 26 of the terminal device 20 acquires, based on the received response signal, identification information of the device 10 to be controlled (so-called target device) included in the device 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 (i.e., some of the devices 10 among the multiple devices 10) (S107). For example, as shown in Fig. 6, when the setter selects an arbitrary serial number (e.g., 1) from among the serial numbers displayed in the acquired information display field 22b, the acquisition unit 26 acquires the identification information linked to the selected serial number (e.g., 1). This starts a loop process for each device 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 (S108).

[0053] In the loop processing for each device 10 (S108 to S116), when a device 10 specified by a user (e.g., a device 10 having an identification number linked to serial number 1) is specified as a target device to be associated (S109), as shown in FIG. 6, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 sets the device 10 as the device 10 to be controlled (not shown).

[0054] The control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 causes the communication unit 24 to transmit a control signal for controlling the device 10 to be controlled (so-called target device) to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10 based on the identification information acquired in step S107 (S110). Specifically, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 transmits a control signal to the device 10 to be controlled via the communication unit 24 at the timing of acquiring an instruction to transmit the control signal input by the setter. The instruction to transmit the control signal may be input by, for example, the setter tapping an arbitrary reference number among the reference numbers displayed in the acquired information display field 22b. The control signal includes identification information of the device 10 to be controlled. As described above, the device 10 is a device equipped with a light source, and the control signal is a signal for controlling the state presenting unit 15 of the device 10 to be controlled to present in a manner different from that of the state presenting unit 15 of the other devices 10. Furthermore, when the state indicating unit 10 is a light source, the control signal is a signal for controlling the light source of the device 10 to be controlled to emit or extinguish light in a manner different from that of light sources of other devices 10.

[0055] When the control unit 13 of the controlled device 10 receives a control signal including its own identification information via the communication unit 11, the control unit 13 operates or stops the controlled device 10 in a manner different from that of the other devices 10 in accordance with the received control signal (S111). Specifically, the control unit 13 of the controlled device 10 causes the state presenting unit 15 of the controlled device 10 to present a state different from that of the state presenting unit 15 of the other devices 10 in accordance with the control signal, thereby operating or stopping the controlled device 10 in a manner different from that of the other devices 10. For example, if the state presenting unit 15 is a light source, the control unit 13 of the controlled device 10 causes the light source of the controlled device 10 to emit or extinguish a light source of the controlled device 10 in a manner different from that of the light source of the other devices 10 in accordance with the control signal, thereby operating or stopping the controlled device 10 in a manner different from that of the other devices 10. For example, when the device 10 is a lighting device, the control unit of the lighting device to be controlled turns on or off the lighting device to be controlled in a different manner from the other lighting devices by making the light source of the lighting device to be controlled emit or extinguish light in a different manner from the light sources of the other lighting devices. In this case, the control of turning on or off the lighting device to be controlled may be control of keeping the light source on or off for a predetermined time, or control of repeatedly turning on and off the light source for a predetermined time. Also, for example, when the device 10 is a switch, the control unit 13 of the switch to be controlled turns on or extinguishes the light source of the switch to be controlled in a different manner from the light sources of the other switches according to a control signal, thereby operating or stopping the switch to be controlled in a different manner from the other switches. In this case, the operation of the switch to be controlled in a different manner from the other switches does not refer to an operation of exerting the function of the switch (for example, switching on and off the power of the lighting device), but refers to an operation of turning on the light source of the switch (more specifically, a light source for presenting the state of the switch to the user). Also, the stop of the switch to be controlled in a different manner from the other switches refers to an operation of turning off the light source of the switch. Also, for example, if the device 10 is a sensor, the light source controlled according to the control signal may be a light source for presenting the state of the sensor to the user.For example, the control unit of the sensor to be controlled may turn on or off a light source for presenting the state of the sensor to the user, as in the case of a switch. As a result of the above control, the setter can visually confirm that the device 10 to be controlled is operating or stopped in a manner different from that of the other devices 10. In addition, when the device 10 is a switch or a relay, and the switch or relay is installed in a place that cannot be seen by the user, such as in the ceiling, behind a wall, or under the floor, and an apparatus connected to the switch or relay is installed in a place that can be seen by the user, an information presenting unit (e.g., a light source, a speaker, or a display unit) included in the apparatus may be operated or stopped in a manner different from that of the other devices.

[0056] Next, when the above control is performed, the acquisition unit 26 of the terminal device 20 acquires position information indicating the position of the controlled device 10 input by the setter (S112). For example, when the setter visually checks the installation position of the controlled device 10 that is operating or stopped in a manner different from that of the other devices 10, as shown in FIG. 6, when the setter selects the installation position of the controlled device 10 on the layout drawing L1, the input reception unit 21 receives an instruction to select the placement position. As a result, the acquisition unit 26 acquires position information indicating the position of the controlled device 10. Note that the control unit 25 may store the position information of the controlled device 10 in the storage unit 27 at the time when the setter selects the installation position of the controlled device 10 on the layout drawing L1.

[0057] Next, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 stores the location information acquired in step S112 in the storage unit 27 in association with the identification information (S113). For example, as shown in Fig. 6, when the setter taps the "save data" icon, the input receiving unit 21 receives an instruction to store the location information in association with the identification information in the storage unit 27. As a result, the control unit 25 stores the location information acquired in step S112 in association with the identification information acquired in step S107 in the storage unit 27.

[0058] When the process of step S113 is completed, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 transmits a control end command to the controlled device 10 (S114). When the control unit 13 of the controlled device 10 receives the control end command via the communication unit 11, the control unit 13 controls the controlled device 10 to return to the same operation mode as the other devices 10 or to stop (S115). This completes the association of one controlled device 10 included in a part of the multiple devices 10. Note that in step S114, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 does not need to transmit the control end command. In this case, the control unit 13 of the controlled device 10 may perform the process of step S115 after a predetermined time has elapsed after receiving the control signal transmitted from the terminal device 20 in step S110.

[0059] Next, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 judges whether or not the association of the device 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 (that is, a part of the multiple devices 10) has been completed (S117). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for completing the association of a part of the multiple devices. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when "Not yet" is displayed in the "Status" column indicating the association status of the acquired information display column 22b in the judgment process of step S117, the control unit 25 judges that the association of the device 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 has not been completed (No), and returns to the process of step S107. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the setter selects a serial number (for example, 3) corresponding to the identification number of the device 10 that has not yet been associated (the device that has "Not yet" displayed in the "Status" column in the figure), the control unit 25 sets the device 10 having the identification number corresponding to the selected serial number as the device 10 to be controlled. Then, a loop process (steps S108 to S116) is executed for each device 10 that has not yet been associated.

[0060] On the other hand, in the determination process of step S117, for example, if "Not yet" is not displayed in the "Status" field of the acquired information display field 22b (in other words, if only "Completed" is displayed), the control unit 25 of the terminal apparatus 20 determines that the association of the devices 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 has been completed (Yes), and ends the loop process for each device 10 (S116) and ends the loop process for each part of the multiple devices 10 (S118). Note that the control unit 25 may end the process of step S118 by inputting an instruction to end the loop process for each part of the multiple devices 10 by, for example, pressing a specific button (or tapping a specific icon), and the input receiving unit 21 receiving the input instruction.

[0061] The loop process (steps S102 to S118) for each part of the multiple devices 10 is repeated until the identification information and location information of all devices 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 set in step S103 are associated with each other. As a result, the storage unit 27 stores association information indicating the association between the identification information of the devices 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 and the location information indicating the installation location.

[0062] When the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 ends the loop process for each part of the multiple devices 10 (S118), it determines whether or not the association of all the multiple devices 10 has been completed (S119). For example, the control unit 25 may determine whether or not the association of all the multiple devices 10 has been completed by determining whether or not the number of the multiple devices 10 displayed in the layout drawing L1 matches the number of pieces of association information stored in the storage unit 27. When the control unit 25 determines that the association of all the multiple devices 10 has been completed (Yes in S119), the control unit 25 ends the association of the multiple devices 10. On the other hand, when the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 determines that the association of all the multiple devices 10 has not been completed (No in S119), it returns to the process of step S103.

[0063] In addition, if it is determined that matching for all of the multiple devices 10 has been completed (Yes in S119), the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20 may send a notification via the communication unit 24 to all of the multiple devices 10 to inform them that the matching process has been completed.

[0064] If the setter wishes to interrupt the process before the association of all of the devices 10 is completed, the setter may input an instruction to interrupt the process by tapping an icon such as "End" or "Interrupt." As a result, the control unit 25 transmits a control end command to all of the devices 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 or to all of the devices 10 installed on the ceiling of the indoor space.

[0065] In this way, the lighting control system 100 transmits an inquiry signal with a signal strength that reaches devices located within the signal reachable range A1 near the terminal device 20 (i.e., some of the multiple devices 10), so that a setter who operates the terminal device 20 can easily visually confirm the position of the device 10 to be controlled. Therefore, the lighting control system 100 can efficiently associate the identification information with the position information for the multiple devices 10.

[0066] [Modification 1 of operation] In addition, when the lighting control system 100 includes multiple terminal devices 20, the multiple terminal devices 20 may share with each other identification information of the devices 10 associated with each other by the other terminal devices 20 and location information indicating the location of the devices 10 (in other words, the location on the layout plan L1).

[0067] As a result, the lighting control system 100 does not need to perform association for a device 10 for which association has been completed by another terminal device 20, and therefore can more efficiently perform association of a plurality of devices 10.

[0068] [Effects, etc.] As described above, the lighting control system 100 includes a plurality of devices 10 and a terminal device 20. The terminal device 20 sets a signal strength of an inquiry signal to be transmitted to the plurality of devices 10, transmits the inquiry signal to some of the plurality of devices 10 at the set signal strength, receives a response signal to the inquiry signal from some of the plurality of devices 10, acquires identification information of a device 10 to be controlled (so-called a target device) included in some of the plurality of devices 10 based on the received response signal, transmits a control signal for controlling the device 10 to be controlled to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10 based on the acquired identification information, and, when control is performed, acquires location information indicating the position of the device 10 to be controlled that has been input, and associates the acquired location information with the identification information.

[0069] Such a lighting control system 100 transmits an inquiry signal with a signal strength that reaches devices located within a signal reachable range A1 near the terminal device 20 (i.e., some of the multiple devices 10), so that a user operating the terminal device 20 can easily visually confirm the position of the device 10 to be controlled. Therefore, the lighting control system 100 can efficiently associate identification information with position information for the multiple devices 10.

[0070] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, the terminal device 20 receives response signals directly from some of the multiple devices 10.

[0071] Such a lighting control system 100 allows the terminal device 20 to directly control the multiple devices 10.

[0072] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, the response signal includes identification information of the device 10 to be controlled, and the terminal device 20 acquires the identification information included in the received response signal.

[0073] Such a lighting control system 100 can control the device 10 among the multiple devices 10 by acquiring the identification information included in the response signal of the device 10 to be controlled, thereby improving the efficiency of association.

[0074] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, when the controlled device 10 receives an inquiry signal, it transmits a response signal including identification information pre-stored in the storage unit 14 included in the controlled device 10.

[0075] In such a lighting control system 100, the device 10 to be controlled has its own identification information in advance, so there is no possibility of the identification information overlapping with that of another device 10.

[0076] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, when the controlled device 10 receives an inquiry signal, it generates identification information and transmits a response signal including the generated identification information.

[0077] Such a lighting control system 100 generates identification information when the controlled device 10 receives an inquiry signal, so there is no need to prepare and manage unique identification numbers in advance.

[0078] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, the device 10 to be controlled generates identification information based on a random number.

[0079] Such a lighting control system 100 can reduce the probability of the generated identification information being duplicated by generating the identification information using random numbers.

[0080] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, the terminal device 20 transmits an inquiry signal to some of the multiple devices 10 at the timing when the terminal device 20 acquires an input instruction to transmit an inquiry signal.

[0081] Such a lighting control system 100 can start processing at a timing appropriate for the user.

[0082] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, the terminal device 20 transmits a control signal at the timing when the terminal device 20 acquires an input instruction to transmit the control signal.

[0083] Such a lighting control system 100 can start processing at a timing appropriate for the user.

[0084] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, the multiple devices 10 are apparatuses equipped with a status presentation unit 15, and the control signal is a signal for controlling the status presentation unit 15 equipped in the device 10 to be controlled to present a status in a manner different from that of the status presentation units 15 equipped in the other devices 10.

[0085] For example, when the status presentation unit 15 of the device 10 to be controlled is a display, the lighting control system 100 can display information or a display mode such as characters, figures, and patterns on the display in a different mode from that of the status presentation units 15 of other devices 10. Also, when the status presentation unit 15 is a lamp, the lighting control system 100 can turn on or off the lamp of the device 10 to be controlled in a different mode from that of the lamp of the other device 10. Therefore, the user can visually confirm the device 10 to be controlled.

[0086] Also, for example, in the lighting control system 100, the status presentation unit 15 is a light source, and the control signal is a signal for controlling the light source of the device 10 to be controlled to light up or down in a manner different from that of light sources of other devices 10.

[0087] In such a lighting control system 100, the light source of the device 10 to be controlled turns on or off in a manner different from the light sources of the other devices 10, so that the user can visually confirm the device 10 to be controlled.

[0088] In addition, a lighting control method executed by a computer such as a terminal device 20 (for example, a portable computer such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a PDA) includes a setting step of setting a signal strength of an inquiry signal to be transmitted to a portion of the plurality of devices 10, an inquiry signal transmitting step of transmitting an inquiry signal at the set signal strength to a portion of the plurality of devices 10, a response signal receiving step of receiving a response signal to the inquiry signal from a portion of the plurality of devices 10, an identification information acquiring step of acquiring identification information of a device 10 to be controlled that is included in a portion of the plurality of devices 10 based on the received response signal, a control signal transmitting step of transmitting a control signal for controlling the device 10 to be controlled to operate or stop in a manner different from other devices 10 based on the acquired identification information, a location information acquiring step of acquiring location information indicating the location of the device 10 to be controlled input by a user when control is performed, and an association step of associating the acquired location information with the identification information.

[0089] In such a lighting control method, an inquiry signal is transmitted with a signal strength that reaches devices located within a signal reachable range A1 in the vicinity of the terminal device 20 (i.e., some of the multiple devices 10), so that a user operating the terminal device 20 can easily visually confirm the position of the device 10 to be controlled. Therefore, the lighting control method can efficiently associate identification information with position information for multiple devices 10.

[0090] (Embodiment 2) Next, a lighting control system according to embodiment 2 will be described. In the lighting control system 100 according to embodiment 1, the terminal device 20 communicates directly with the multiple devices 10, but in the lighting control system according to embodiment 2, the terminal device 20 communicates with the multiple devices 10a via the control device 30. The following description focuses on the differences from embodiment 1, and omits a description of the same configuration and operation as embodiment 1.

[0091] [composition] Fig. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of a functional configuration of a lighting control system 100a according to embodiment 2. As shown in Fig. 8, lighting control system 100a includes a plurality of devices 10a, a terminal device 20a, and a control device 30. Lighting control system 100a differs from lighting control system 100 in that the plurality of devices 10a and control device 30 have their own communication networks.

[0092] [device] The device 10a includes a first communication unit 11a, a second communication unit 11b, a generation unit 12, a control unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a state display unit 15.

[0093] The first communication unit 11a is a communication interface for the device 10a to communicate with the terminal device 20. The communication method used by the first communication unit 11a is, for example, a short-distance wireless communication (for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) communication), infrared communication, or the like. The first communication unit 11a is configured to be able to receive an inquiry signal transmitted from the communication unit 24 of the terminal device 20.

[0094] The second communication unit 11b is a communication interface for the device 10a to communicate with the control device 30. The communication method of the second communication unit 11b is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, wired communication or wireless communication. The wired communication may be, for example, DALI (registered trademark) (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface). The second communication unit 11b can transmit and receive signals bidirectionally with the second communication unit 31a of the control device 30, and, for example, transmits a response signal to the control device 30 in response to an inquiry signal from the terminal device 20a and receives a control signal from the control device 30.

[0095] [Control device] In association between the identification information and the location information of the device 10a, the control device 30 controls the controlled device 10a to operate or stop in a manner different from other devices 10a based on a control signal received from the terminal device 20a. Specifically, the control device 30 controls the state presenting unit 15 included in the controlled device 10a based on the control signal received from the terminal device 20a. More specifically, for example, if the state presenting unit 15 is a light source, the control device 30 controls the light emission of the light source included in the controlled device 10a based on the control signal received from the terminal device 20a. The light emission control here includes on control, off control, dimming control, and color adjustment control.

[0096] The control device 30 includes a third communication unit 31b, a second communication unit 31a, a control unit 32, and a storage unit 33. For example, the control device 30 may be a lighting controller, a gateway, or a conversion device.

[0097] The third communication unit 31b is a wireless communication interface for the control device 30 to perform wireless communication with the terminal device 20a. The communication standard of the third communication unit 31b is not particularly limited. For example, the third communication unit 31b transmits a response signal received from the device 10a to the terminal device 20a.

[0098] The second communication unit 31a is a communication interface for the control device 30 to communicate with the multiple devices 10a. The communication method by the second communication unit 31a is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, wired communication or wireless communication. The wired communication may be, for example, DALI (registered trademark) (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface). The second communication unit 31a can transmit and receive signals bidirectionally with the second communication units 11b of the multiple devices 10a, and, for example, transmits a response signal received from the device 10a to the terminal device 20a, and transmits a control signal for controlling the device 10a to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10a based on the control signal received from the terminal device 20a.

[0099] The control unit 32 is a control circuit that controls each part of the control device 30. The control unit 32 has a processor and the like, and performs various controls by the processor executing a program stored in the storage unit 33. The processor is configured by an MPU, a CPU, a DSP, a GPU, a SOC, an FPGA, or the like.

[0100] The control unit 32 transmits the response signal received from the device 10a to the terminal device 20a. The control unit 32 also controls the controlled device 10a to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10a based on the control signal received from the terminal device 20a. Specifically, the control unit 32 controls the status presenting unit 15 of the controlled device 10a to present in a manner different from that of the status presenting unit 15 of the other devices 10a. For example, if the status presenting unit 15 is a light source, the control unit 32 controls the light source of the controlled device 10a to light up or down in a manner different from that of the light source of the other devices 10a.

[0101] The storage unit 33 is a storage device that stores the control program and the like executed by the control unit 32. The storage unit 33 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0102] [Terminal Device] The terminal device 20a is different from the terminal device 20 of the first embodiment in that it includes two communication units. The two communication units are a first communication unit 24a and a third communication unit 24b. The first communication unit 24a is a wireless communication interface that performs one-way wireless communication (here, only transmission) with the multiple devices 10a and performs two-way wireless communication with the control device 30. For example, the first communication unit 24a transmits an inquiry signal to the devices 10a (i.e., some of the multiple devices 10a) within the signal reachable range A1 (see FIG. 1) with a signal strength set by the setting unit 23, and receives a response signal from some of the multiple devices 10a via the control device 30. At this time, the inquiry signal is transmitted via infrared communication.

[0103] The third communication unit 24b transmits a control signal to the control device 30 for controlling the controlled device 10a to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10a. The communication between the terminal device 20a and the control device 30 is wireless bidirectional communication. The communication standard of the wireless communication is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0104] In the example of FIG. 8, the device 10a, the terminal device 20a, and the control device 30 each have two types of communication units (any two of the first communication unit, the second communication unit, and the third communication unit), but these two types of communication units may be two communication units (i.e., two communication interfaces) that are different in terms of hardware, or may be one communication unit (i.e., one communication interface). For example, when the device 10a, the terminal device 20a, and the control device 30 each have one communication interface, a mechanism may be adopted in which the terminal device 20a and the device 10a cannot directly communicate with each other by software. In this case, for example, control data (e.g., a flag, etc.) indicating whether communication is possible or not or whether a received command is accepted may be incorporated in the communication packet, or may be specified as a system rule.

[0105] (First modification of the second embodiment) Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a lighting control system according to a first modification of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, an example in which the terminal device 20a and the control device 30 perform wireless communication via a third communication unit is described. In the first modification of the second embodiment, however, an example in which the terminal device 20a and the control device 30 are configured to be detachable as shown in Fig. 10 is described. Note that the terminal device 20a and the control device 30 may be connected by wire.

[0106] Fig. 10(a) is a diagram that typically illustrates a terminal device 20a and a control device 30. Fig. 10(b) is a diagram that typically illustrates a state in which the terminal device 20a and the control device 30 are connected.

[0107] For example, if the control device 30 is not installed at a fixed location but can be removed and moved from the installation location, the setter may carry and use the control device 30 together with the terminal device 20a. In addition, the configuration of the first modification is useful, for example, even when wireless communication between the control device 30 and the terminal device 20a is difficult.

[0108] For example, before the control device 30 and the device 10a build an original network, the task of associating the identification information and location information of the device 10a and the network configuration task can be performed sequentially, which significantly reduces the travel distance of the person configuring the network. This improves the efficiency of the association task.

[0109] Furthermore, in the case of wireless communication, if the control device 30 is placed in a location where communication between the terminal device 20a and the control device 30 is difficult, the matching work cannot be performed. However, according to the configuration of variant example 1, when the control device 30 can be moved from its installation location, communication between the terminal device 20a and the control device 30 can be ensured.

[0110] [Operation] Next, the operation of the lighting control system 100a according to the second embodiment will be described. Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the lighting control system 100 according to the second embodiment. The operation of Fig. 9 is performed after a setter installs a plurality of devices 10a on the ceiling of an indoor space, for example, similar to the operation of Fig. 3. The setter is an example of a user. The following mainly describes the differences from the first embodiment, and explanations of overlapping contents will be omitted or simplified.

[0111] 9, steps S201 to S205 correspond to steps S101 to S105 in FIG. 3, steps S208 to S209 correspond to steps S107 to S108 in FIG. 3, steps S213 to S215 correspond to steps S111 to S113 in FIG. 3, and steps S218 to S222 correspond to steps S115 to S119 in FIG. 3.

[0112] 9, first, the input reception unit 21 of the terminal device 20a receives an input of a start instruction to start associating the devices 10a (S201). As described in step S101 of FIG. 3, when the input reception unit 21 receives an instruction to end the initial setting (not shown), the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a starts a loop process for each part of the multiple devices 10a (S202).

[0113] In the loop process (S202 to S221) for each part of the multiple devices 10, first, the control unit 25 of the terminal apparatus 20a sets a signal reachable range A1 (see FIG. 4) based on an instruction received by the input receiving unit 21 (S203).

[0114] Next, the setting unit 23 of the terminal device 20a sets the signal strength when transmitting an inquiry signal (S204).

[0115] Next, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a causes the first communication unit 24a to transmit an inquiry signal at the signal strength set in step S204 (S205). Specifically, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a transmits an inquiry signal to the device 10a (i.e., a part of the multiple devices 10a) located in the signal reachable range A1 via the first communication unit 24a at the timing of acquiring an instruction to transmit an inquiry signal input by the person who sets the inquiry signal.

[0116] When the control unit 13 of the device 10a located within the signal reachable range A1 (i.e., one of the devices 10a) receives the inquiry signal via the first communication unit 11a, the control unit 13 transmits a response signal to the inquiry signal via the second communication unit 11b to the control device 30 (S206). The control device 30 receives the response signal transmitted in step S206 via the second communication unit 31a, and transmits the received response signal to the terminal device 20a via the second communication unit 31b (S207).

[0117] Next, the terminal device 20a receives a response signal from the device 10a (i.e., a part of the multiple devices 10a) located within the signal reachable range A1 via the control device 30. At this time, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a may store the identification information acquired via the third communication unit 24b in the storage unit 27 and may also cause the display unit 22 to display the identification information.

[0118] Next, the acquisition unit 26 of the terminal device 20a acquires, based on the received response signal, identification information of the device 10a to be controlled (so-called target device) included in the device 10a located within the signal reachable range A1 (i.e., some of the devices 10a among the multiple devices 10a) (S208). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, when the setter selects an arbitrary serial number (e.g., 1) from among the serial numbers displayed in the acquired information display field 22b, the acquisition unit 26 acquires the identification information associated with the selected serial number (e.g., 1). This starts a loop process for each device 10 located within the signal reachable range A1 (S209).

[0119] In the loop processing for each device 10 (S209 to S219), when a device 10a specified by a user (e.g., a device 10a having an identification number linked to serial number 1) is specified as a target device to be associated (S210), the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a sets the device 10a (not shown) as the device 10a to be controlled, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0120] The control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a transmits a control signal for controlling the device 10a to be controlled (so-called target device) to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10a, based on the identification information acquired in step S208, to the control device 30 via the third communication unit 24b (S211). Upon acquiring the control signal transmitted from the terminal device 20a in step S211, the third communication unit 31b of the control device 30 transmits the control signal to the device 10a to be controlled via the second communication unit 31a (S212).

[0121] When the control unit 13 of the device 10a to be controlled receives a control signal including its own identification information via the second communication unit 11b, it operates or stops the device 10a to be controlled in a manner different from that of the other devices 10a in accordance with the received control signal (S213).

[0122] Next, when the above control is performed, the acquisition unit 26 of the terminal device 20a acquires location information indicating the location of the controlled device 10a input by the setter (S214). Next, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a stores the location information acquired in step S208 in the storage unit 27 in association with the identification information (S215).

[0123] When the process of step S215 is completed, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a transmits a control end command for the device 10a located in the signal reachable range A1 to the control device 30 via the third communication unit 24b (S216). When the control unit 32 of the control device 30 receives the control end command from the terminal device 20a via the third communication unit 31b, it transmits a control end command to the device 10a located in the signal reachable range A1 via the second communication unit 31a (S217). When the control unit 13 of the controlled device 10a receives the control end command via the second communication unit 11b, it controls the controlled device 10a to return to the same mode of operation or stop as the other devices 10a (S218). This completes the association of one controlled device 10a included in a part of the multiple devices 10a.

[0124] Next, the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a judges whether or not the association of the device 10a located within the signal reachable range A1 (that is, a part of the multiple devices 10a) has been completed (S220). If it is judged in the judgment process of step S220 that the association of the device 10a located within the signal reachable range A1 has not been completed (No), the process returns to the process of step S209. At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the setter selects a serial number (e.g., 3) corresponding to the identification number of the device 10a that has not yet been associated (the device that has "Not yet" displayed in the "Status" column in the figure), the control unit 25 sets the device 10a having the identification number corresponding to the selected serial number as the device 10a to be controlled. Then, for the device 10a that has not yet been associated, a loop process (steps S209 to S219) is executed for each device 10a.

[0125] On the other hand, if the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a determines in the judgment process of step S220 that matching of the devices 10a located within the signal coverage area A1 has been completed (Yes), it ends the loop processing for each device 10a (S219) and also ends the loop processing for each portion of the multiple devices 10a (S221).

[0126] When the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a finishes the loop process for each part of the multiple devices 10a (S221), it determines whether or not the association of all the multiple devices 10a has been completed (S222). If the control unit 25 determines that the association of all the multiple devices 10a has been completed (Yes in S222), the control unit 25 ends the association of the multiple devices 10a. On the other hand, if the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a determines that the association of all the multiple devices 10a has not been completed (No in S222), the control unit 25 returns to the process of step S203.

[0127] If it is determined that the association of all of the multiple devices 10a has been completed (Yes in S222), the control unit 25 of the terminal device 20a may transmit a notification to the control device 30 via the third communication unit 24b notifying the end of the association process of all of the multiple devices 10a. Upon receiving the notification from the terminal device 20a, the control device 30 may transmit the notification to all of the multiple devices 10a via the second communication unit 31a.

[0128] In this way, the lighting control system 100a transmits an inquiry signal with a signal strength that reaches the devices 10a located within the signal reachable range A1 near the terminal device 20a (i.e., some of the multiple devices 10a), so that a setter who operates the terminal device 20a can easily visually confirm the location of the device 10a to be controlled. Therefore, the lighting control system 100 can efficiently associate the identification information with the location information for the multiple devices 10a.

[0129] In addition, in the lighting control system 100a, after an inquiry signal is transmitted from the terminal device 20a to the device 10a located within the signal reachable range A1, communication is performed between the terminal device 20a and the device 10a to be controlled via the control device 30 that can communicate with the multiple devices 10a. In such a lighting control system 100a, since the multiple devices 10a only accept control from the control device 30, it becomes easy to grasp the operating state of the multiple devices 10a, and as a result, it becomes easy to manage the multiple devices 10a as a whole. Therefore, the lighting control system 100a can appropriately control the multiple devices 10a according to the state (e.g., communication state and control state) of each of the multiple devices 10a including the device 10a to be controlled.

[0130] [Modification 1 of operation] When the control device 30 receives a control signal from the terminal device 20a, the control device 30 may transmit a control signal to the controlled device 10a for operating or stopping the controlled device 10a in a mode different from that of the other devices 10a, and may transmit a response signal indicating that the control signal has been received from the controlled device 10a. In this case, when a predetermined time has elapsed until the control device 30 receives a response signal indicating that the control signal has been received from the controlled device 10a, the control device 30 may transmit a cancellation signal to the controlled device 10a and the terminal device 20a for canceling the control signal. The predetermined time may be appropriately set by a setter.

[0131] As a result, when the communication state of the device 10a to be controlled is poor, for example, the lighting control system 100a cancels the control of the device 10a to be controlled and controls another device 10a located within the signal reachable range A1, thereby enabling association to be performed starting from the device 10a with a good communication state.

[0132] [Modification 2 of operation] In addition, when the lighting control system 100a includes multiple terminal devices 20a, the multiple terminal devices 20a may share with each other identification information of the devices 10a associated with each other by the other terminal devices 20a and location information indicating the location of the devices 10a (in other words, the location on the layout plan L1).

[0133] As a result, the lighting control system 100a does not need to match devices 10a for each of the multiple terminal devices 20a for which matching has been completed by other terminal devices 20a, and therefore can more efficiently match the multiple devices 10a.

[0134] [Effects, etc.] As described above, the lighting control system 100a includes a plurality of devices 10a and a terminal device 20a. The terminal device 20a sets a signal strength of an inquiry signal to be transmitted to the plurality of devices 10a, transmits the inquiry signal to some of the plurality of devices 10a at the set signal strength, receives a response signal to the inquiry signal from some of the plurality of devices 10a, acquires identification information of a device 10a to be controlled (so-called a target device) included in some of the plurality of devices 10a based on the received response signal, transmits a control signal for controlling the device 10a to be controlled to operate or stop in a manner different from that of the other devices 10a based on the acquired identification information, and, when control is performed, acquires location information indicating the position of the device 10a to be controlled that has been input, and associates the acquired location information with the identification information.

[0135] Such a lighting control system 100 transmits an inquiry signal with a signal strength that reaches devices located within a signal reachable range A1 near the terminal device 20a (i.e., some of the multiple devices 10a), so that a user operating the terminal device 20a can easily visually confirm the location of the device 10a to be controlled. Therefore, the lighting control system 100 can efficiently associate identification information with location information for the multiple devices 10a.

[0136] For example, the lighting control system 100 further includes a control device 30 capable of communicating with the multiple devices 10a, and the terminal device 20a receives a response signal via the control device 30 from some of the multiple devices 10a.

[0137] In such a lighting control system 100a, after an inquiry signal is transmitted from the terminal device 20a to the device 10a located within the signal reachable range A1, communication is performed between the terminal device 20a and the device 10a to be controlled via the control device 30 capable of communicating with the multiple devices 10a. In such a lighting control system 100a, the multiple devices 10a only accept control from the control device 30, so that it is easy to grasp the operating state of the multiple devices 10a, and as a result, it is easy to manage the multiple devices 10a as a whole. Therefore, the lighting control system 100a can perform control according to the state (e.g., communication state and control state, etc.) of each of the multiple devices 10a including the device 10a to be controlled.

[0138] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0139] For example, in the above embodiment, a MAC address is given as an example of identification information, but the identification information is not limited to a MAC address as long as it can uniquely identify a lighting fixture.

[0140] The method of communication between the devices described in the above embodiment is merely an example, and the method of communication between the devices is not particularly limited.

[0141] In the above embodiment, the user visually checks the operating state of the device 10 to be controlled and inputs location information indicating the location of the device 10 to be controlled to the terminal device 20, 20a, but for example, the terminal device 20, 20a may be a robot capable of identifying the operating state of the device 10 to be controlled. In this case, the robot may be a self-propelled robot equipped with a LIDAR or the like and capable of autonomously traveling.

[0142] Furthermore, if the terminal device 20, 20a is a self-propelled robot, the user may be able to check the operating status of the self-propelled robot in real time, or, for example, when a user's decision is required, the user may receive a notification from the self-propelled robot and transmit a response instruction to the notification, thereby remotely controlling the operation of the self-propelled robot. Note that the self-propelled robot may automatically decide and execute all operations without requiring a user's decision.

[0143] In the above embodiment, device 10 is a device equipped with state presenting unit 15, and is a device that allows a user to visually recognize the operating state of device 10, but, for example, device 10 may be a device that allows a user to perceive its operating state. Such a device may be, for example, a speaker (presented by sound), an aroma diffuser (presented by smell), a shutter (presented by up and down movement), a blind (presented by up and down and left and right movement), a door (presented by opening and closing), a window (presented by opening and closing), an air conditioner (presented by increasing and decreasing the amount of air blown), or a humidifier (presented by discharging mist).

[0144] In the above embodiment, the processes executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit. The order of multiple processes may be changed, or multiple processes may be executed in parallel.

[0145] In the above embodiment, components such as the control unit may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

[0146] Furthermore, components such as the control unit may be realized by hardware. For example, components such as the control unit may be circuits (or integrated circuits). 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.

[0147] In addition, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized by a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. In addition, the present invention may be realized by any combination of a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a recording medium. For example, the present invention may be realized as a lighting control system or a terminal device of the above-mentioned embodiment, as a program for causing a terminal device to execute the lighting control method, or as a non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded. Note that such a program includes an application program for operating a general-purpose information terminal as the terminal device of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0148] In addition, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art may think of, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment within the scope that does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0149] 10 Devices 10a Device 15 Status display section 20, 20a Terminal equipment 30 Control device 100 Lighting Control System 100a Lighting Control System

Claims

1. A plurality of devices and a terminal device are provided, The terminal device setting a signal strength of an interrogation signal transmitted to the plurality of devices such that the interrogation signal reaches a signal range limited by a user; transmitting the interrogation signal to a portion of the plurality of devices at the set signal strength; receiving a response signal to the inquiry signal from a portion of the plurality of devices; acquiring identification information of a target device included in the portion of the plurality of devices based on the received response signal; Transmitting a control signal for controlling the target device to operate or stop in a manner different from other devices based on the acquired identification information; When the control is performed, location information indicating a location of the target device input by the user is acquired; Correlating the acquired location information with the identification information; In setting the signal strength of the inquiry signal, the signal reachable range of the inquiry signal is changed according to the height at which the plurality of devices are installed. Lighting control system.

2. The terminal device receives the response signal directly from a portion of the plurality of devices.

2. A lighting control system as claimed in claim 1.

3. Further, a control device capable of communicating with the plurality of devices is provided, The terminal device receives the response signal from a part of the plurality of devices via the control device.

2. A lighting control system as claimed in claim 1.

4. the response signal includes the identification information of the target device; The terminal device acquires the identification information included in the received response signal. A lighting control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. When the target device receives the inquiry signal, transmitting the response signal including the identification information pre-stored in a storage unit; 5. A lighting control system as claimed in claim 4.

6. When the target device receives the inquiry signal, the target device generates the identification information and transmits the response signal including the generated identification information.

5. A lighting control system as claimed in claim 4.

7. The target device generates the identification information based on a random number.

7. A lighting control system as claimed in claim 6.

8. the terminal device transmits the inquiry signal to some of the plurality of devices at a timing when the terminal device acquires an instruction to transmit the inquiry signal input by the user. A lighting control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. the terminal device transmits the control signal at a timing when the terminal device acquires an instruction to transmit the control signal input by the user. A lighting control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

10. the plurality of devices are devices each having a status display unit, The control signal is a signal for controlling the state presentation unit of the target device to present a state different from that of the state presentation unit of another device. A lighting control system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. the state indicator is a light source, The control signal is a signal for controlling the light source of the target device to emit or extinguish light in a manner different from that of the light sources of other devices; 11. A lighting control system as claimed in claim 10.

12. A setting step of setting a signal strength of an interrogation signal transmitted to a plurality of devices such that the interrogation signal reaches a signal reachable range limited by a user; an inquiry signal transmitting step of transmitting the inquiry signal to a portion of the plurality of devices at the set signal strength; a response signal receiving step of receiving a response signal to the inquiry signal from a portion of the plurality of devices; an identification information acquisition step of acquiring identification information of a target device included in the part of the plurality of devices based on the received response signal; a control signal transmitting step of transmitting a control signal for controlling the target device to operate or stop in a manner different from other devices based on the acquired identification information; a location information acquisition step of acquiring location information indicating a location of the target device input by the user when the control is performed; a correspondence step of correlating the acquired location information with the identification information; Including, In the setting step, the signal reachable range of the inquiry signal is changed according to a height at which the plurality of devices are installed. Lighting control methods.

13. A method for causing a computer to execute the lighting control method according to claim 12, program.

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