Information terminal and communication system

Abstract

To provide an information terminal capable of presenting a device positioned in the vicinity of the information terminal to a user when constructing a mesh network.SOLUTION: An information terminal 30 comprises: a radio communication unit 33 for receiving beacon signals; a display unit 32 for displaying an icon 32c corresponding to identification information contained in a beacon signal having reception signal strength equal to or larger than a threshold of the received beacon signals; an operation acceptance unit 31 for accepting selection operation on the icon 32c displayed on the display unit 32; and a control unit 34 for storing, in a storage unit 35 included in the information terminal 30, the identification information shown by the selected icon 32c in association with an installation position of a target lighting apparatus 20, a lighting apparatus 20 of a plurality of lighting apparatuses 20 that has the identification information. The control unit 34 further makes the radio communication unit 33 transmit information for the target lighting apparatus 20 joining a mesh network to the target lighting apparatus 20.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an information terminal used for initial settings of a communication system. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a highly scalable lighting system that uses a wireless mesh network. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2017-68902 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present invention provides an information terminal etc. that can present devices located near the information terminal to a user when a mesh network is constructed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] An information terminal according to one embodiment of the present invention is an information terminal that performs information processing for allowing a plurality of devices to join a mesh network, wherein each of the plurality of devices transmits a beacon signal including identification information of the device when the device has not yet joined the mesh network, and the information terminal is equipped with a wireless communication unit that receives the beacon signal, a display unit that displays an icon corresponding to the identification information included in a beacon signal among the received beacon signals whose received signal strength is equal to or greater than a threshold, an operation reception unit that receives a selection operation of the icon displayed on the display unit, and a control unit that associates the identification information indicated by the selected icon with the installation location of a target device, which is a device among the plurality of devices that has the identification information, and stores the association in a memory unit provided in the information terminal, and the control unit further uses the wireless communication unit to transmit information for the target device to join the mesh network.

[0006] A communication system according to one aspect of the present invention includes the information terminal and the plurality of devices.

[0007] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as the information terminal. Effect of the Invention

[0008] The present invention Information terminals, etc. When constructing a mesh network, the device located near the information terminal can be presented to the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of a mesh network. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of the first initial setting operation according to the 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 an initial setting screen on which a plurality of icons are displayed. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the correspondence information. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the number of lighting device icons displayed on an information terminal when no threshold is set for received signal strength. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the number of lighting device icons displayed on an information terminal when a threshold is set for received signal strength. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a sequence diagram of the second initial setting operation according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, component 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.

[0011] 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.

[0012] (Embodiment) [composition] First, the configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment will be described. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, a communication system 10 includes a plurality of lighting fixtures 20 and an information terminal 30.

[0013] In the communication system 10, each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 has a wireless communication function, and the multiple lighting fixtures 20 form a mesh network. Fig. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a mesh network. Each circle in Fig. 2 corresponds to one lighting fixture 20 (in other words, a communication node). In the mesh network, when information is transmitted from one communication node (also referred to as a first communication node) to another communication node (also referred to as a second communication node), the information is transmitted in a bucket brigade manner.

[0014] Specifically, when the first communication node broadcasts information including the address information (destination information) of the second communication node, each of the other communication nodes that belong to the same mesh network as the first communication node that receives the information further broadcasts the received information. That is, each of the other communication nodes relays the information. By repeating such relaying of information within the same mesh network, the information transmitted by the first communication node reaches all communication nodes that belong to the same mesh network as the first communication node. Therefore, the second communication node can receive the information transmitted by the first communication node.

[0015] The information transmitted through the mesh network is, for example, control information for controlling the turning on, turning off, or dimming of the lighting fixture 20. In addition, when an environmental sensor is included in the mesh network as described below, the measurement value (sensing information) of the environmental sensor may be transmitted.

[0016] First, the lighting fixture 20 will be described. The lighting fixture 20 is a base light or the like that is installed on the ceiling of an indoor space and illuminates the indoor space. As described above, each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 has a wireless communication function, and the multiple lighting fixtures 20 form a mesh network. The form of the lighting fixture 20 is not particularly limited, and may be a ceiling light, a downlight, a spotlight, or the like. Specifically, the lighting fixture 20 includes a wireless communication unit 21 and a light source 22.

[0017] The wireless communication unit 21 is a wireless communication circuit that enables the lighting fixture 20 to perform wireless communication (more specifically, radio wave communication) with other lighting fixtures 20 and with the information terminal 30. After the lighting fixture 20 joins the mesh network, the wireless communication unit 21 performs communication through the mesh network. Before the lighting fixture 20 joins the mesh network, the wireless communication unit 21 periodically transmits a beacon signal (also called an advertisement signal) and performs wireless communication with the information terminal 30 that receives the beacon signal. More specifically, the wireless communication unit 21 communicates with a BLE (Blue e Wireless communication is performed according to communication standards such as LTE (registered trademark), LTE-tooth (registered trademark), Low Energy (registered trademark), or Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0018] Light source 22 emits white light into the indoor space so that lighting device 20 can illuminate the indoor space. Light source 22 is realized by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element, but may also be realized by other light emitting elements such as a semiconductor laser, an organic EL (Electro Luminescence), or an inorganic EL.

[0019] Next, the configuration of the information terminal 30 will be described. The information terminal 30 is an information terminal that performs an initial setting operation for allowing a plurality of lighting fixtures 20 to join the mesh network. The information terminal 30 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a mobile terminal such as a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). The information terminal 30 may also be a dedicated remote controller used in the communication system 10. The information terminal 30 is used by a user that performs an initial setting operation. The user here is, for example, an installer who installed a plurality of lighting fixtures 20 on the ceiling, but may also be a user other than the installer. The information terminal 30 specifically includes an operation reception unit 31, a display unit 32, a wireless communication unit 33, a control unit 34, and a storage unit 35.

[0020] The operation reception unit 31 receives operations from a user. Specifically, the operation reception unit 31 is realized by a touch panel or the like.

[0021] The display unit 32 displays images necessary for the above-mentioned initial setting work. The display unit 32 is realized by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL panel.

[0022] The wireless communication unit 33 is a wireless communication circuit that enables the information terminal 30 to perform wireless communication (more specifically, radio wave communication) with each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 33 performs wireless communication in accordance with a communication standard such as BLE or Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0023] The control unit 34 processes information about the initial setting operation in response to the user's operation accepted by the operation acceptance unit 31. The control unit 34 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The functions of the control unit 34 are realized by hardware such as a microcomputer or a processor constituting the control unit 34 executing a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 35.

[0024] The storage unit 35 is a storage device that stores information necessary for information processing related to the initial setting operation of the computer program or the like executed by the control unit 34. The storage unit 35 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0025] [First initial setting operation] Next, an initial setting operation for constructing a mesh network will be described. The initial setting operation includes a first initial setting operation for associating the installation positions of the lighting devices 20 with the identification information of the lighting devices 20, and a second initial setting operation (also referred to as provisioning) for storing, in each of the lighting devices 20, information for allowing the lighting device 20 to join the mesh network.

[0026] First, the first initial setting operation will be described. Fig. 3 is a sequence diagram of the first initial setting operation. The initial setting operation of Fig. 3 is performed, for example, after an installer has installed multiple lighting fixtures 20 on a ceiling.

[0027] First, the operation reception unit 31 of the information terminal 30 receives a start operation from the user to instruct the start of a first initial setting operation (S11).

[0028] Based on the start operation accepted by the operation accepting unit 31, the control unit 34 displays an initial setting screen including a map image on the display unit 32 (S12). Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the initial setting screen. The map image 32m is a diagram showing an area in which a plurality of lighting fixtures 20 are installed as viewed from above, and in the example of Fig. 4, the installation positions P1 to P6 of the lighting fixtures are indicated by circles. In other words, the map image 32m is an image showing the installation positions of the plurality of lighting fixtures 20. The map image is stored in advance in the storage unit 35.

[0029] At the time of step S12, it is known how the multiple lighting fixtures 20 are arranged, but it is not known which lighting fixture 20 is located in which location. In other words, at the time of step S12, the installation positions of the lighting fixtures 20 have not been associated with the identification information of the lighting fixtures 20.

[0030] Here, each of the lighting devices 20 periodically transmits a beacon signal (also called an advertisement signal) before joining the mesh network. The beacon signal emitted by each of the lighting devices 20 includes identification information (such as a MAC address) of the lighting device 20.

[0031] In this situation, the operation receiving unit 31 receives a scan range setting operation and a scan start operation from the user (S13, S14). The scan range setting operation is, for example, a drag operation (slide operation) on the slider bar 32a on the initial setting screen of FIG. 4. In other words, the scan range setting operation is an operation for changing the threshold of the received signal strength, which will be described later. Also, the scan start operation is, for example, a tap operation on the scan start icon 32b on the initial setting screen of FIG. 4.

[0032] When the scan start operation is accepted, wireless communication unit 33 receives a beacon signal from each of the plurality of lighting fixtures 20 (S15). For ease of explanation, it is assumed here that all of the plurality of lighting fixtures 20 are located within a range where wireless communication unit 33 can communicate with them.

[0033] The control unit 34 measures the received signal strength of each received beacon signal, and selects beacon signals whose received signal strength is equal to or greater than a threshold value from among the received beacon signals (S16). The received signal strength here may be the maximum value of the received signal strength in a certain period of time, the average value of the received signal strength in a certain period of time, or the minimum value of the received signal strength in a certain period of time. The threshold value is changed by the setting operation of the scan range accepted in step S13 above, and the wider the scan range is set, the lower (smaller) the threshold value becomes.

[0034] Next, controller 34 displays, on display 32, icon 32c of lighting fixture 20 that is the source of the selected beacon signal. In other words, controller 34 displays, on display 32, multiple icons 32c of lighting fixtures 20 that are deemed to be located within a predetermined range based on information terminal 30 (S17). Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an initial setup screen showing multiple icons 32c of lighting fixtures 20, where the multiple icons 32c are displayed in a horizontal row. The multiple icons 32c can also be considered to be icons that correspond to (indicate) the identification information included in the beacon signal selected in step S16.

[0035] Next, the operation reception unit 31 receives a selection operation of the multiple icons 32c from the installer (S18). The selection operation is, for example, a tap operation on any of the multiple icons 32c. The control unit 34 causes the wireless communication unit 33 to transmit a blinking command based on the selection operation received by the operation reception unit 31 (S19). The blinking command is transmitted, for example, when a tap operation on the blinking icon 32d is received after the selection operation.

[0036] The blink command specifies identification information of the lighting fixture 20 corresponding to the selected icon 32c. The blink command is a signal for selectively blinking a target lighting fixture 20, which is a lighting fixture 20 having the specified identification information, among the multiple lighting fixtures 20. When the target lighting fixture 20 among the multiple lighting fixtures 20 receives the blink command, it blinks (S20).

[0037] The user operating the information terminal 30 visually checks the actual installation position of the blinking lighting fixture 20 (S21), and specifies the installation position of the blinking lighting fixture 20 on the map image 32m (for example, any one of installation positions P1 to P6). The operation reception unit 31 receives an operation to specify the installation position of the lighting fixture 20 in the map image 32m from the user (S22). Then, the control unit 34 associates the identification information indicated by the icon 32c selected in step S18 with the installation position specified in step S22, and stores them in the storage unit 35 (S23). In addition, the control unit 34 cancels the display of the icon 32c for which the association has been completed (S24). That is, the number of the multiple icons 32c displayed in step S15 is reduced by one.

[0038] The processes of steps S16 to S24 are repeated until all of the icons 32c (identification information) displayed in step S17 have been associated with their installation locations. If beacon signals from all lighting devices 20 cannot be received in step S15, the user carrying the information terminal 30 moves to a new location, changing the range in which wireless communication unit 33 can communicate, and the processes of steps S13 to S22 are performed again. As a result, storage unit 35 stores correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the identification information of multiple lighting devices 20 and their installation locations. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the correspondence information.

[0039] As described in step S21 above, the actual installation positions of lighting fixtures 20 are compared with their positions on map image 32m by the user's visual inspection. If no threshold is set for the received signal strength, then in step S17, a large number of icons 32c will be displayed, including icons 32c for lighting fixtures 20 that are far away from the user. Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the number of icons 32c for lighting fixtures 20 displayed on information terminal 30 when no threshold is set for the received signal strength.

[0040] When icon 32c of a lighting fixture 20 far away from the user is selected, the lighting fixture 20 far away from the user flashes, making it impossible for the user to grasp the exact location of the flashing lighting fixture 20 and forcing the user to move to grasp the exact location. In other words, there is a problem in that work delays occur.

[0041] To address this issue, information terminal 30 sets a threshold for received signal strength and selectively displays on display 32 only icons 32c of lighting devices 20 that are source of beacon signals whose received signal strength is equal to or greater than the threshold (see steps S16 and S17 above). If the threshold is set high, only icons 32c of lighting devices 20 located close to information terminal 30 are displayed, as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating the number of icons 32c of lighting devices 20 displayed on information terminal 30 when a threshold is set for received signal strength.

[0042] In this way, by selectively displaying only icons 32c of lighting devices 20 that are located close to information terminal 30, it becomes less likely that the user will be unable to determine the exact location of a lighting device 20 that is flashing. In other words, this improves work efficiency.

[0043] It is not essential that information terminal 30 has a configuration that allows the threshold value to be changed, and the threshold value may be a predetermined fixed value. In this case, the threshold value may be appropriately determined empirically or experimentally so that only icons 32c of lighting devices 20 located close to information terminal 30 are displayed.

[0044] [Second initial setting operation] Next, the second initial setting operation (also referred to as provisioning) will be described. Fig. 9 is a sequence diagram of the second initial setting operation.

[0045] First, operation receiving unit 31 of information terminal 30 receives a start operation from a user to instruct the start of a second initial setting operation (S31). The start operation includes an operation to specify identification information of lighting device 20. Control unit 34 communicates with lighting device 20 having identification information specified by the start operation by unicast, and causes wireless communication unit 33 to transmit setting information to that lighting device 20 (S32). Lighting device 20 receives the setting information and stores it in a memory unit (not shown) provided in lighting device 20 (S33).

[0046] The setting information is information for the lighting fixture 20 to join the mesh network. The setting information includes the network ID of the mesh network to which the lighting fixture 20 belongs, and address information (unicast address) of the lighting fixture 20 used for communication within the mesh network. The setting information may also include a security passcode used for communication within the mesh network, information on the information terminal 30 (information on a device that manages the mesh network), etc., as necessary. When the lighting fixture 20 is an upper node that can communicate with lighting fixtures 20 that belong to other meshworks, the setting information may include information necessary for the lighting fixture 20 to function as an upper node.

[0047] The lighting fixture 20, whose setting information has been stored in the storage unit, can join the mesh network. The processes of steps S31 to S33 are repeated until all lighting fixtures 20 have joined the mesh network. The lighting fixture 20 that has joined the mesh network stops the periodic transmission of a beacon signal that was being performed before joining the mesh network.

[0048] The processes of steps S31 to S33 may be included in the first initial setting operation (FIG. 4). For example, the processes of steps S31 to S33 may be performed on the target lighting device 20 after step S23 of the first initial setting operation.

[0049] [Variations] In step S17 of the first initial setting operation, the icon 32c of the lighting device 20 (hereinafter also referred to as the first lighting device) that has transmitted a beacon signal whose received signal strength is equal to or greater than the threshold is displayed, while the icon 32c of the lighting device 20 (hereinafter also referred to as the second lighting device) that has transmitted a beacon signal whose received signal strength is less than the threshold is not displayed. However, the icon 32c of the second lighting device may be displayed in a manner different from that of the first lighting device. For example, the icon of the first lighting device may be displayed in color, and the icon of the second lighting device may be displayed in a washed-out manner (grayscale).

[0050] In this way, if icons 32c of lighting fixtures 20 located close to information terminal 30 are displayed in a distinguishable manner from icons 32c of lighting fixtures 20 located far from information terminal 30, the user can select only the icon of the lighting fixture 20 located close to information terminal 30, which is suitable for visually confirming the location, and perform the task of associating the identification information with the installation location. In other words, the user can efficiently perform the task of associating the identification information with the installation location.

[0051] Furthermore, in step S17 of the first initial setting operation, a blink command was transmitted from information terminal 30 to the target lighting device 20. Here, the blink command is an example of a control command for transitioning the target lighting device 20 to a state different from that of the other lighting devices 20, and controller 34 may cause wireless communication unit 33 to transmit a control command other than the blink command to the target lighting device 20.

[0052] For example, when the target lighting fixture 20 and the other lighting fixtures 20 are in an off state, the control unit 34 may cause the wireless communication unit 33 to transmit to the target lighting fixture 20 a turn-on command (another example of a control command) for transitioning the target lighting fixture 20 to a turned-on state. When the target lighting fixture 20 and the other lighting fixtures 20 are in a turned-on state, the control unit 34 may cause the wireless communication unit 33 to transmit to the target lighting fixture 20 a turn-off command (another example of a control command) for transitioning the target lighting fixture 20 to a turned-off state. In this way, the control command may be a command for turning on or off the light source 22 of the target lighting fixture 20 in a manner different from that of the light source 22 of the other lighting fixtures 20.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the mesh network is configured with the information terminal 30 and the multiple lighting fixtures 20, but the mesh network may be configured with the information terminal 30 and multiple other devices (devices other than the lighting fixtures 20). The mesh network may include other devices in addition to the information terminal 30 and the multiple lighting fixtures 20.

[0054] Examples of the other device include a lighting remote controller that a user operates to control lighting fixture 20, and an AC relay. Note that an AC relay is, for example, a device that is attached to a wiring duct and can turn on and off the lighting fixture attached to the wiring duct by turning on and off the supply of AC power to the wiring duct.

[0055] The other devices may be devices not directly related to lighting, such as an air conditioner, a ventilator, a camera, a motion sensor, or an environmental sensor. The environmental sensor may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor, and a PM (Particle Matter) sensor.

[0056] In the above embodiment, light source 22 of lighting device 20 is used as a status indicator for allowing a user to visually check the installation position of lighting device 20. However, since devices constituting a mesh network are not limited to lighting device 20, various configurations are conceivable for the status indicator of each device.

[0057] For example, each device may be equipped with a light source (such as an LED indicator if the device is not lighting fixture 20) as a status presenting unit. Each device may be equipped with a speaker as a status presenting unit and present a status by emitting sound. Each device may use a dedicated function of the device (such as a fan function if the device is an air conditioner) as a status presenting unit. Note that the status presenting unit may present a status in a manner different from that of the status presenting units of other devices, based on a control command transmitted from information terminal 30.

[0058] [Effects, etc.] As described above, the information terminal 30 is an information terminal that performs information processing to allow a plurality of lighting fixtures 20 to join the mesh network. Each of the plurality of lighting fixtures 20 transmits a beacon signal including identification information of the lighting fixture 20 when the lighting fixture 20 has not yet joined the mesh network. The information terminal 30 includes a wireless communication unit 33 that receives the beacon signal, a display unit 32 that displays an icon 32c corresponding to identification information included in a beacon signal having a received signal strength equal to or greater than a threshold among the received beacon signals, an operation reception unit 31 that receives an operation to select the icon 32c displayed on the display unit 32, and a control unit 34 that associates the identification information indicated by the selected icon 32c with the installation position of a target lighting fixture 20 that is a lighting fixture 20 having the identification information among the plurality of lighting fixtures 20, and stores the associated information in a storage unit 35 included in the information terminal 30. The control unit 34 further causes the wireless communication unit 33 to transmit information for the target lighting fixture 20 to join the mesh network to the target lighting fixture 20. The lighting fixture 20 is an example of a device.

[0059] Such an information terminal 30 can present the user with icons of lighting fixtures 20 located near the information terminal 30 when the user associates the identification information of the lighting fixtures 20 with their installation locations in order to build a mesh network.

[0060] Furthermore, for example, control unit 34 causes wireless communication unit 33 to transmit to target lighting fixture 20 a control command for transitioning the target lighting fixture 20 to a state different from the other lighting fixtures 20 other than the target lighting fixture 20 among the multiple lighting fixtures 20. After the target lighting fixture 20 transitions to a state different from the other lighting fixtures 20 based on the control command, operation receiving unit 31 receives an operation for designating the installation position of the target lighting fixture 20. Control unit 34 stores in memory unit 35 the identification information indicated by the selected icon 32c and the installation position of the designated target lighting fixture 20 in association with each other.

[0061] Such an information terminal 30 can assist the user in associating the target lighting fixture 20 with the identification information and the installation position while visually recognizing the actual lighting fixture 20.

[0062] Furthermore, for example, each of the plurality of lighting devices 20 includes a status indicator. The control command is a command for causing the status indicator of the target lighting device 20 to present a status in a manner different from that presented by the status indicators of the other lighting devices 20.

[0063] Such an information terminal 30 can assist the user in associating the target lighting fixture 20 with the identification information and the installation position while visually checking the actual state of the target lighting fixture 20.

[0064] Also, for example, the status indication unit is light source 22, and the control command is a command to cause light source 22 of the target lighting device 20 to light up or turn off in a manner different from light sources 22 of other lighting devices 20.

[0065] Such an information terminal 30 can assist the user in associating the target lighting fixture 20 with the identification information and the installation position while visually checking the actual light emission state of the target lighting fixture 20.

[0066] For example, the operation receiving unit 31 further receives an operation for changing the threshold value.

[0067] Such an information terminal 30 can change the number of icons of lighting fixtures 20 located near the information terminal 30.

[0068] The communication system 10 also includes an information terminal 30 and a plurality of lighting fixtures 20.

[0069] Such a communication system 10 can present the user with icons of lighting fixtures 20 located near the information terminal 30 when the user associates the identification information of the lighting fixtures 20 with their installation locations in order to build a mesh network.

[0070] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiment has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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.

[0075] 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.

[0076] In addition, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be realized as a system, an apparatus, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. Also, the present invention may be realized as 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 communication system or an information terminal of the above-mentioned embodiment, or as an information processing method executed by an information terminal. The present invention may be realized as a program for causing a computer to execute such an information processing method, or as a non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded. Such a program includes an application program for causing a computer such as a general-purpose information terminal to function as the information terminal of the above-mentioned embodiment.

[0077] 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]

[0078] 10. Communication Systems 20 Lighting equipment 21 Wireless Communication Department 22 Light source 30 Information terminal 31 Operation reception section 32 Display section 32a Slider bar 32b Start scan icon 32c Icon 32d flashing icon 32m map image 33 Wireless Communication Department 34 Control section 35 Storage section

Claims

1. An information terminal that performs information processing for allowing a plurality of devices to join a mesh network, Each of the plurality of devices transmits a beacon signal including identification information of the device when the device has not yet joined the mesh network; The information terminal includes: a wireless communication unit for receiving the beacon signal; a display unit that selectively displays only an icon corresponding to a first beacon signal among a first beacon signal whose received signal strength is equal to or greater than a threshold and a second beacon signal whose received signal strength is less than the threshold, the first beacon signal being included in the received beacon signal; an operation receiving unit that receives a selection operation of the icon displayed on the display unit; a control unit that associates identification information included in the first beacon signal indicated by the selected icon with an installation location of a target device that is a device having the identification information among the plurality of devices, and stores the association information in a storage unit included in the information terminal; The control unit further transmits, to the target device, information for the target device to join the mesh network, using the wireless communication unit. Information terminal.

2. the control unit causes the wireless communication unit to transmit to the target device a control command for causing the target device to transition to a state different from other devices among the plurality of devices other than the target device; the operation reception unit receives an operation for designating an installation position of the target device after the target device transitions to a state different from that of the other devices based on the control command; The control unit stores in a storage unit the identification information indicated by the selected icon and the installation position of the specified target device in association with each other.

2. An information terminal according to claim 1.

3. Each of the plurality of devices includes a status display unit; The control command is a command for causing the state presenting unit of the target device to present a state in a manner different from that of the state presenting unit of another device.

3. An information terminal according to claim 2.

4. the state indicator is a light source, The control command is a command for turning on or off the light source of the target device in a manner different from that of the light sources of other devices.

4. An information terminal according to claim 3.

5. The operation reception unit further receives an operation for changing the threshold value. An information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. An information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5; The plurality of devices. Communication systems.

7. A program for causing a computer to function as the information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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