lighting equipment

Abstract

A technology is provided that simplifies the association between the installation position of a beacon transmitter and beacon identification information in a lighting device having device identification information for lighting control. [Solution] A lighting device equipped with a wireless module, the wireless module having a communication unit that enables two-way wireless communication with a lighting control device, a beacon transmission unit, and a memory unit, the memory unit storing device identification information and beacon identification information that identify the lighting device, the beacon transmission unit transmitting a beacon signal that includes the beacon identification information for identifying the beacon transmission unit, the communication unit receiving lighting mode data associated with the device identification information, and lighting control being performed based on the lighting mode data.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a system to which beacon technology is applied, and an information setting technology for the system. [Background technology]

[0002] In a system to which beacon technology is applied, the current location of a terminal device (such as a smartphone) in a real space such as an office or a store can be identified using a beacon signal received by the terminal device and the reception strength of the beacon signal (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In recent years, it has been proposed to use such technology to provide services according to the current location of the terminal device (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

[0003] A technology for determining the current location of a terminal device requires installing a beacon transmitter that transmits a beacon signal on a ceiling, wall, or other surface in real space, and then creating correspondence data that associates the installation position of the beacon transmitter in real space with beacon identification information that identifies the beacon transmitter using a PC, mobile terminal device, or the like. This correspondence data is created by matching the installation position of the beacon transmitter in real space with the installation position of the beacon transmitter on a map image corresponding to the real space, and by associating the installation position of the beacon transmitter on the image with the beacon identification information. This correspondence data allows the installation position of the beacon transmitter transmitting the beacon signal in real space to be identified from the beacon identification information included in the beacon signal. Furthermore, the distance from the beacon transmitter to the terminal device can be calculated from the reception strength. The current location of the terminal device in real space can then be determined based on the installation position of the beacon transmitter in real space and the distance from the beacon transmitter. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-33423 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5650870 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventionally, beacon identification information is set in advance for a beacon transmitter before the beacon transmitter is installed on a ceiling, wall, etc. in real space. Therefore, in the stage of creating the correspondence data, which is performed after the beacon transmitter is installed in real space, the creator has to perform cumbersome tasks such as checking the beacon identification information of the beacon transmitter or remembering the installation position of the beacon transmitter in real space and the beacon identification information of the beacon transmitter, correctly specifying the installation position of the beacon transmitter on a map image, and associating the beacon identification information with the installation position.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a technique for simplifying the association between the installation position of a beacon transmitter and beacon identification information in a lighting device having device identification information for lighting control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The present invention provides a lighting device equipped with a wireless module, the wireless module includes a communication unit that enables two-way wireless communication with the lighting control device, a beacon transmission unit that transmits a beacon signal that includes beacon identification information that is received by a terminal device and used to identify the location of the terminal device, and a storage unit; an information setting device associates the installation positions of the lighting devices with device identification information used to identify the lighting devices and control the lighting, and the beacon identification information; The storage unit of the lighting device stores the previous information in communication with the lighting control device. Decoration Device identification information and ,before The beacon identification information is stored. ,before The communication unit is a lighting device that receives lighting mode data associated with the device identification information and performs lighting control on the lighting device based on the lighting mode data.

[0008] In the present invention, Setting The position is determined by turning on the lighting device at least once. By the information setting device may be confirmed. In the present invention, the communication unit and the beacon transmission unit may communicate using the same communication method. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, in a lighting device having device identification information for lighting control, the association between the installation position of the beacon transmitter and the beacon identification information is simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a location-specific lighting control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is a conceptual diagram showing (A) a lighting device and (B) an information setting device provided in a location-specific lighting control system. [Figure 3] 10 is a diagram showing an example of information association data in which associations are recorded by an information setting process executed by an information setting device. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a flowchart showing an information setting process and operations performed by a setting person. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen for inputting a UUID. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a screen on which a map image is displayed. [Figure 7] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a drag operation for placing an icon on a map image. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a confirmation image of beacon identification information is displayed. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing a location specification process executed by the information management device. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a lighting control process executed by a lighting control device. [Figure 11] 1A is a diagram showing an example of control correspondence data, FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of lighting mode data, and FIG. 1C is a diagram showing an example of reception time data. [Figure 12]FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram visually illustrating lighting devices present within a predetermined area centered on the position of a terminal device. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing another example of the lighting control process executed by the lighting control device. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing a part of a lighting control process according to another example. [Figure 15] 1A is a diagram showing an example of specific time data, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of setting change target data. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram visually illustrating device identification information (targets for lighting mode setting change) associated with setting change target data. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a service providing system that is a modified example of the location-specific lighting control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a location-specific lighting control system will be specifically described.

[0012] [1] Configuration of location-specific lighting control system 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a location-specific lighting control system according to an embodiment. The location-specific lighting control system includes multiple lighting devices 1 each capable of transmitting a beacon signal Sb, a lighting control device 2 that controls the lighting devices 1 via wireless communication, and a terminal device 3 that can receive the beacon signal Sb. The system identifies a current location P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space based on the beacon signal Sb received by the terminal device 3, and provides a service (in this embodiment, lighting control by the lighting control device 2) corresponding to the identified current location P1 to the terminal device 3 or its owner. Specifically, the location-specific lighting control system further includes an information setting device 4 that associates various information (such as location information and identification information) and an information management device 5 that uses the information associated by the information setting device 4 to identify the current location P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space from the beacon signal Sb received by the terminal device 3.

[0013] The specific configuration of the location-specific lighting control system described below is not limited to a system including multiple lighting devices 1 (see FIG. 1), but can also be applied to a system including only one lighting device 1. Furthermore, the lighting control device 2 and the information management device 5 are not limited to being configured as separate devices, but may be configured together as a single device.

[0014] <Lighting equipment> 2(A) is a conceptual diagram showing the lighting device 1. The lighting device 1 includes an LED light source 11A, a power supply unit 11B that supplies power to the LED light source 11A, a wireless module 12, a control unit 13 that controls the power supply unit 11B and the wireless module 12, and a storage unit 14. In this embodiment, the control unit 13 and the storage unit 14 are built in the wireless module 12. The control unit 13 controls the power supplied from the power supply unit 11B to the LED light source 11A by sending a control signal to the power supply unit 11B, thereby controlling the illumination (turning on, turning off, dimming, color adjustment, etc.) of the LED light source 11A. Note that at least one of the control unit 13 and the storage unit 14 may be built outside the wireless module 12 as a device separate from the wireless module 12.

[0015] The wireless module 12 wirelessly connects the lighting device 1 to a network (such as a WAN or LAN) and functions as a communication unit 12A that enables two-way wireless communication with the lighting control device 2 and the like. Lighting control of the lighting device 1 is then performed by the lighting control device 2 via the wireless module 12 (communication unit 12A). Note that the wireless module 12 may be detachable.

[0016] Each lighting device 1 is set with device identification information Ia for identifying the lighting device 1. The device identification information Ia is set in the lighting device 1 by being stored in the storage unit 14 during the manufacturing stage of the lighting device 1 from the factory. This device identification information Ia is used to identify and individually control the lighting devices 1 while collectively managing the controls (such as lighting control). Meanwhile, when the lighting devices 1 are installed on a ceiling or a wall in real space, the lighting devices 1 are usually installed without being distinguished by the device identification information Ia. Therefore, in order to individually control and collectively manage the lighting devices 1 after installation, it is necessary to convert the correspondence between the installation positions of the lighting devices 1 in real space and the device identification information Ia of the lighting devices 1 into correspondence data (see FIG. 3 ) that can be managed by the lighting control device 2.

[0017] Therefore, in this embodiment, the information setting device 4 executes a process of replacing the above correspondence relationship related to the lighting device 1 with correspondence data (see steps S13 to S15 and S22 in FIG. 4). As will be described in detail later, the information setting device 4 associates the installation position of the lighting device 1 on a map image Mp (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the installation position of the lighting device 1 in real space with the device identification information Ia of the lighting device 1.

[0018] Here, the map image Mp (see FIG. 6) is an image showing the floor plan corresponding to the actual space in which the lighting device 1 is installed, the position where the lighting device 1 should be installed, etc., and is read into the information setting device 4 and stored in the storage unit 44. The map image Mp may also show passages, entrances, shelves, etc., and FIG. 6 shows an example of the map image Mp in which the position where the lighting device 1 should be installed is shown by a circle, and the entrances e1 to e3 and the passage r are also shown.

[0019] Furthermore, in this embodiment, a communication method that enables power-saving wireless communication, such as BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy), is used as the communication method for the wireless module 12. This communication method enables the wireless module 12 to directly perform short-range wireless communication with one or more wireless modules 12 installed in the vicinity. Therefore, in a location-specific lighting control system in which multiple lighting devices 1 are installed, a mesh network can be constructed in which the wireless modules 12 are wirelessly connected to each other in a mesh pattern.

[0020] Furthermore, by using such a communication method, the wireless module 12 can be further provided with a function as a beacon transmitter 12B that unidirectionally transmits a beacon signal Sb. The function as the beacon transmitter 12B is realized by the control unit 13 controlling the wireless module 12. By making the wireless module 12 function as the beacon transmitter 12B in this way, the lighting device 1 is provided with the beacon transmitter 12B. According to such a lighting device 1, in various places (such as offices and stores) where the lighting device 1 is installed in real space, the beacon transmitter 12B is installed at the same position as the installation position of the lighting device 1 in real space at the same time as the installation of the lighting device 1.

[0021] The beacon signal Sb transmitted by the beacon transmitter 12B includes beacon identification information Ib for identifying the beacon transmitter 12B. When identifying the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in the real space, the beacon identification information Ib is used to identify the source (beacon transmitter 12B) of the beacon signal Sb received by the terminal device 3. On the other hand, in order to identify the beacon transmitter 12B based on the beacon signal Sb, after the beacon transmitter 12B is installed (i.e., after the lighting device 1 is installed), it is necessary to replace the correspondence between the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B in the real space and the beacon identification information Ib of the beacon transmitter 12B with correspondence data that can be managed by the information management device 5.

[0022] Therefore, in this embodiment, the information setting device 4 executes a process of replacing the above-mentioned correspondence relationship related to the beacon transmitting unit 12B with correspondence data (see FIG. 4). Although details will be described later, the information setting device 4 associates the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B on the map image Mp (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B in real space with the beacon identification information Ib of the beacon transmitting unit 12B by using the process for associating the installation position of the lighting device 1 with the device identification information Ia on the map image Mp described above and the operation performed by the setter in the process (see steps S13 to S15 and S22 in FIG. 4). Then, the information setting device 4 records these associations in the information association data D1 (see FIG. 3).

[0023] As an example, the beacon identification information Ib is composed of a UUID (Universally Unique IDentifier), a major value m1, and a minor value m2. Here, the UUID is an ID that is uniquely assigned to a specific group (such as a company, organization, or store) to which the beacon transmitter 12B belongs. Therefore, by including the UUID in the beacon identification information Ib, the specific group to which the UUID is assigned and the beacon transmitter 12B identified by the beacon identification information Ib are associated with each other. Meanwhile, the major value m1 and the minor value m2 are values ​​that are used in combination with the UUID and can be arbitrarily set by a setter (such as an administrator). The major value m1 and the minor value m2 are determined so that the beacon identification information Ib is unique when configured in combination with the UUID. Furthermore, as long as the beacon identification information Ib can be uniquely configured within a specific group, the UUID may be combined with only either the major value m1 or the minor value m2, or may be combined with three or more values.

[0024] On the other hand, in this embodiment, the beacon identification information Ib remains unset when the lighting device 1 is shipped from a factory or when the lighting device 1 is installed in real space. For this reason, the information setting device 4 generates the beacon identification information Ib in response to an operation by a setter in an information setting process (see FIG. 4 ) described later, and uses the generated beacon identification information Ib to associate the beacon identification information Ib with the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp. Furthermore, the information setting device 4 transmits the generated beacon identification information Ib to the lighting device 1, causing the lighting device 1 to store the beacon identification information Ib in the storage unit 14. As a result, the beacon identification information Ib is set in the beacon transmitter 12B, and the beacon transmitter 12B becomes able to transmit a beacon signal Sb including the beacon identification information Ib stored in the storage unit 14 at predetermined time intervals.

[0025] In the lighting device 1, the device identification information Ia may use identification information for identifying the wireless module 12. Furthermore, the lighting device 1 and a network (such as a WAN or a LAN) may be connected via a communication repeater (such as a gateway) connected to the network side and the wireless module 12 by performing wireless communication between the communication repeater and the wireless module 12.

[0026] <Lighting control device> The lighting control device 2 is a cloud server connected to a network (such as a WAN or LAN) and can communicate with other devices (such as the lighting device 1 and the information management device 5) via the network. The lighting control device 2 performs lighting control (such as turning on / off, dimming, and adjusting color) on the lighting device 1 via the network (lighting control process). In this embodiment, the lighting control device 2 performs the lighting control process using information association data D1 (see FIG. 3 ) in which associations are recorded by the information setting device 4. As a specific example of the lighting control process, the lighting control device 2 performs lighting control according to the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space, thereby providing the lighting control as a service. Note that a specific example of the lighting control process performed by the lighting control device 2 will be described in detail later.

[0027] The lighting control process executed by the lighting control device 2 is performed by causing a processing device (such as a CPU or a microcomputer) included in the lighting control device 2 to execute a program. Such a program may be stored in a readable state in a storage medium (such as a flash memory), or may be stored in a storage unit (not shown) included in the lighting control device 2.

[0028] <Terminal Device> The terminal device 3 is a mobile terminal device owned by a user, such as a smartphone. In the location-specific lighting control system of this embodiment, to provide a service according to the current location P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space, the terminal device 3 needs to receive a beacon signal Sb used to identify the current location P1. The terminal device 3 also needs to transmit beacon information K, including information on the received beacon signal Sb and terminal identification information Ic for identifying the terminal device 3, to the information management device 5. The beacon information K transmitted by the terminal device 3 includes, as information on the beacon signal Sb, the beacon identification information Ib and the reception strength of the beacon signal Sb. To accurately identify the current location P1 of the terminal device 3, the beacon information K preferably includes information on the beacon signals Sb received from three or more beacon transmitters 12B located around the terminal device 3. The information transmitted by the terminal device 3 may further include information on the user who owns the terminal device 3.

[0029] Therefore, an application program is installed in the terminal device 3 to realize the function of a transceiver that receives beacon signals Sb and transmits beacon information K including information on the received beacon signals Sb. Note that the application program may be stored in a readable state in a storage medium (for example, a flash memory) or a cloud server before being installed in the terminal device 3, and may be read by the terminal device 3. Furthermore, the terminal device 3 may function as a transceiver that receives only beacon signals Sb including a UUID specified by the user.

[0030] <Information setting device> The information setting device 4 is a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet PC, and is used to associate various pieces of information (such as location information and identification information) at the installation location of the lighting device 1 after the lighting device 1 is installed in the real space. Specifically, an application program for executing the information setting process described above is installed in the mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or tablet PC. Then, the application program is executed on the mobile terminal device, causing the mobile terminal device to function as the information setting device 4.

[0031] 2(B) is a conceptual diagram showing the information setting device 4. The information setting device 4 includes a touch panel 41, a communication unit 42, a control unit 43, and a storage unit 44. Here, the touch panel 41 functions as a display unit in the information setting device 4 and also functions as an input unit in the information setting device 4. Note that the information setting device 4 may be configured with a display unit (such as a monitor) and an input unit (such as a keyboard) separately, such as a desktop PC.

[0032] The communication unit 42 enables two-way wireless communication with other devices (such as the lighting control device 2 and the information management device 5) by wirelessly connecting the information setting device 4 to a network (such as a WAN or LAN). Furthermore, the communication unit 42 can directly communicate wirelessly with the wireless module 12 using the same communication method as that used to transmit the beacon signal Sb. In this embodiment, the information setting device 4 performs direct wireless communication with the wireless module 12 through the communication unit 42 while the information setting process is being executed.

[0033] In the information setting process, the information setting device 4 associates the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the installation position of the lighting device 1 in real space with the device identification information Ia of the lighting device 1.

[0034] Furthermore, although details of the information setting process (see FIG. 4) will be described later, the information setting device 4 further generates beacon identification information Ib of the beacon transmitting unit 12B at a suitable timing by utilizing a process for associating the installation position of the lighting device 1 with the device identification information Ia on the map image Mp and an operation performed by the setter in the process (see steps S13 to S15 and S22 in FIG. 4), and associates the generated beacon identification information Ib with the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B on the map image Mp (see FIG. 6) that corresponds to the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B in real space. Then, the information setting device 4 records these associations in information association data D1 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, after completing the association, the information setting device 4 transmits the information association data D1 to the information management device 5.

[0035] Here, the information correspondence data D1 is data (such as a file) that records the correspondence between the installation positions of the lighting devices 1 and the beacon transmitters 12B on the map image Mp (in this embodiment, the positions of icons J, which will be described later), and the device identification information Ia and beacon identification information Ib, and is stored in the storage unit 44. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the information correspondence data D1.

[0036] The information setting process executed by the information setting device 4 is performed by causing a control unit 43 (a processing device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or a microcomputer) provided in the information setting device 4 to execute a program. Such a program may be stored in a readable state in a storage medium (for example, a flash memory) or may be stored in the storage unit 44 of the information setting device 4.

[0037] <Information management device> The information management device 5 is a cloud server connected to a network (such as a WAN or LAN) and can communicate with other devices (such as the lighting control device 2 and the information setting device 4) via the network. The information management device 5 adds information association data D1 (see FIG. 3 ), in which the association is recorded in the information setting device 4, to a database and manages the data. In this embodiment, the information management device 5 uses information in the database to identify a current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space from beacon information K (information on the beacon signal Sb and terminal identification information Ic) transmitted from the terminal device 3 (position identification process). In this position identification process, the information management device 5 transmits the identified current position P1 of the terminal device 3 to other devices (such as the lighting control device 2) via the network. The position identification process executed by the information management device 5 will be described in detail later.

[0038] The position identification process executed by the information management device 5 is performed by causing a processing device (such as a CPU or a microcomputer) included in the information management device 5 to execute a program. Such a program may be stored in a readable state in a storage medium (such as a flash memory) or in a storage unit (not shown) included in the information management device 5.

[0039] [2] Control with location-specific lighting control system [2-1] Control executed after installing lighting equipment in real space <Information setting process executed by the information setting device> Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the information setting process executed by the information setting device 4 and the operations performed by the settler. Figs. 5 to 8 are diagrams showing screens displayed on the touch panel 41 in relation to the information setting process.

[0040] When the information setting process is started by executing an application program in the information setting device 4, the control unit 43 displays a UUID input screen on the touch panel 41 (step S11 in FIG. 4; see FIG. 5). The UUID input on the input screen is used to generate beacon identification information Ib, and this input screen is a screen that requests the setter to input a UUID that is uniquely assigned to a group in order to determine which group the beacon transmitting unit 12B belongs to for which beacon identification information Ib is to be generated.

[0041] After executing step S11 (after displaying the input screen), the control unit 43 determines whether or not a UUID has been input on the input screen (step S12 in FIG. 4). Then, the control unit 43 repeatedly executes step S12 until it determines that "the UUID has been input (Yes)" in step S12.

[0042] When the control unit 43 determines in step S12 that the UUID has been input by the user on the input screen (step S21 in FIG. 4) as "input (Yes)", the control unit 43 performs processing to associate the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp (see FIG. 6) corresponding to the installation position of the lighting device 1 in real space with the device identification information Ia of the lighting device 1 (steps S13 to S15 in FIG. 4).

[0043] First, in step S13, the control unit 43 reads out the map image Mp stored in the storage unit 44 from the storage unit 44 and displays it on the touch panel 41 (see FIG. 6). At this time, the control unit 43 displays the map image Mp in association with coordinate data that defines a position on the map image Mp.

[0044] Furthermore, in step S14, the control unit 43 acquires device identification information Ia from the lighting device 1 already installed in the real space. Then, the control unit 43 displays an icon J associated with the acquired device identification information Ia on the touch panel 41 (see FIG. 6). At this time, the control unit 43 displays the icon J in a state in which it can be moved onto the map image Mp by a drag operation. Furthermore, the control unit 43 causes the icon J to function as a switch that turns on the lighting device 1 identified by the device identification information Ia associated with the icon J. Note that the switch may be one that turns on the lighting device 1 at least once, such as one that can turn off the lighting device 1 after turning it on. Furthermore, the switch may be associated with the icon J and displayed on the screen of the touch panel 41 as an icon separate from the icon J.

[0045] In this embodiment, the control unit 43 displays a list of icons J on the screen of the touch panel 41 (see FIG. 6). The control unit 43 also displays an end button on the screen of the touch panel 41 for the user to end the information setting process.

[0046] After the control unit 43 executes step S14 (after the screen in FIG. 6 is displayed), the user places an icon J on the map image Mp by dragging (step S22 in FIG. 4; see FIG. 7). The control unit 43 also determines whether the icon J has been placed on the map image Mp (step S15 in FIG. 4).

[0047] Specifically, the configurator first presses the icon J to be placed on the map image Mp (i.e., operates a switch) to turn on the lighting device 1 identified by the device identification information Ia associated with that icon J. This allows the configurator to confirm the installation position in real space of the lighting device 1 corresponding to the icon J to be placed. At the same time, the configurator can also confirm the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B provided in the turned-on lighting device 1. That is, by turning on the lighting device 1, the configurator can confirm the installation position in real space of the beacon transmitter 12B to be set for the beacon identification information Ib. Thereafter, based on the confirmed installation positions in real space of the lighting device 1 and the beacon transmitter 12B, the configurator drags and places the icon J to the installation position on the map image Mp that corresponds to the installation position.

[0048] By arranging the icon J on such a map image Mp (in the example of FIG. 7, the position (circle) shown on the map image Mp where the lighting device 1 should be installed), the setter can specify the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp, which corresponds to the installation position of the lighting device 1 in real space. Moreover, by arranging the icon J, the setter can also specify the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp, which corresponds to the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B in real space, which is confirmed by turning on the lighting device 1.

[0049] Furthermore, device identification information Ia is associated with the icon J. Therefore, when the icon J is placed on the map image Mp by a drag operation (step S22 in FIG. 4), and the control unit 43 determines in step S15 that the icon J is "placed (Yes)," a correspondence relationship is established between the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp specified by the placement of the icon J (position coordinates based on the coordinate data) and the device identification information Ia associated with the icon J. In other words, when the icon J is placed on the map image Mp, the correspondence relationship between the installation position of the lighting device 1 in real space and the device identification information Ia of the lighting device 1 is replaced with a correspondence relationship between the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp (in this embodiment, the position of the icon J on the map image Mp; position coordinates based on the coordinate data) and the device identification information Ia.

[0050] 4, not only can the installation position of the lighting device 1 be associated with the device identification information Ia on the map image Mp, but also the lighting of the lighting device 1 at that time can confirm the installation position in real space of the beacon transmitting unit 12B for which the beacon identification information Ib is to be set. Therefore, this embodiment further utilizes the advantage obtained by lighting the lighting device 1 to generate the beacon identification information Ib of the beacon transmitting unit 12B at a suitable timing, and associates the generated beacon identification information Ib with the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B on the map image Mp (see FIG. 6) that corresponds to the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B in real space. This will be described in detail below.

[0051] When the icon J is placed on the map image Mp by a drag operation (step S22 in FIG. 4), and the control unit 43 determines that the icon J is placed (Yes) in step S15, the control unit 43 generates beacon identification information Ib at that timing (step S16 in FIG. 4). That is, the control unit 43 generates beacon identification information Ib when the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B on the map image Mp is specified by the placement of the icon J.

[0052] More specifically, the control unit 43 determines the major value m1 and the minor value m2. At this time, the control unit 43 determines the major value m1 and the minor value m2 so that when the beacon identification information Ib is configured by combining the major value m1 and the minor value m2 with the UUID input on the input screen, the beacon identification information Ib will be unique. Then, the control unit 43 generates the beacon identification information Ib by combining the determined major value m1 and minor value m2 with the UUID input on the input screen.

[0053] After executing step S16 (after generating the beacon identification information Ib), the control unit 43 associates the arrangement position of the icon J on the map image Mp (position coordinates based on the coordinate data) with the device identification information Ia associated with the icon J and the beacon identification information Ib generated in step S16, and records these in the information association data D1 (step S17 in FIG. 4; see FIG. 3). In this embodiment, the arrangement position of the icon J on the map image Mp corresponds to the installation positions of the lighting device 1 and the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp, as described above, which are specified by the arrangement of the icon J. Furthermore, the control unit 43 further associates information on the map image Mp with the arrangement position of the icon J and records this in the information association data D1 (see FIG. 3), so that it is possible to identify which map image Mp the arrangement position (position coordinates) of the icon J corresponds to.

[0054] After executing step S17 (after executing the association), the control unit 43 determines whether the end button has been pressed (step S18 in FIG. 4). Furthermore, if the control unit 43 determines in step S15 that the icon J is not placed (No), the control unit 43 also executes step S18. If the control unit 43 determines in step S18 that the icon J is not pressed (No), the control unit 43 executes the process from step S15 again. As a result, when the setter repeatedly places the icon J displayed on the screen of the touch panel 41 on the map image Mp, information in which the placement positions of the icon J on the map image Mp (the installation positions of the lighting device 1 and the beacon transmitting unit 12B) are associated with the device identification information Ia and the beacon identification information Ib is accumulated in the information association data D1.

[0055] When the setting button is pressed and the result of determination in step S18 is "pressed (Yes)", the control unit 43 sets the beacon identification information Ib for the beacon transmitting unit 12B using the information association data D1 in which the association up to that point is recorded (step S19A in FIG. 4). The control unit 43 also transmits the information association data D1 to the lighting control device 2 and the information management device 5 (step S19B in FIG. 4), and then ends the information setting process.

[0056] Specifically, in step S19A, the control unit 43 wirelessly transmits beacon identification information Ib corresponding to the device identification information Ia to the lighting device 1 identified by the device identification information Ia recorded in the information association data D1. Then, when the lighting device 1 receives the beacon identification information Ib from the information setting device 4, the lighting device 1 stores the received beacon identification information Ib in the storage unit 14. This sets the beacon identification information Ib in the beacon transmitting unit 12B. As a result, the beacon transmitting unit 12B becomes able to transmit a beacon signal Sb including the beacon identification information Ib stored in the storage unit 14 at predetermined time intervals.

[0057] According to the information setting process described above, the setting person can associate the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp with the device identification information Ia through simple operations such as confirming the installation position of the lighting device 1 in real space by operating a switch and then arranging an icon J on the map image Mp based on that confirmation. Therefore, according to the information setting process described above, the association between the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp corresponding to the real space and the device identification information Ia is simplified.

[0058] Moreover, according to the information setting process described above, the setting person can confirm the installation position of the lighting device 1 in the real space by turning on the lighting device 1 by operating the switch, and at the same time, can confirm the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B in the real space. This allows the setting person to specify the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp based on the confirmed installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B in the real space. In this embodiment, the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp is specified by placing the icon J on the map image Mp by a drag operation.

[0059] Furthermore, when the setter specifies the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp (in this embodiment, the placement of the icon J), beacon identification information Ib is generated and associated with the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B specified on the map image Mp. Therefore, the setter can associate the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp with the beacon identification information Ib through simple operations such as confirming the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B in real space by operating a switch and specifying the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp based on that confirmation. Therefore, according to the information setting process described above, the association between the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp corresponding to real space and the beacon identification information Ib is simplified.

[0060] Furthermore, by setting the beacon identification information Ib for the beacon transmitting unit 12B based on the above-mentioned correspondence (step S19A in FIG. 4), a correspondence relationship is formed between the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B in real space and the beacon identification information Ib. Then, according to the above-mentioned information setting process, this correspondence relationship is replaced with a correspondence relationship (information correspondence data D1) between the installation position of the beacon transmitting unit 12B on the map image Mp and the beacon identification information Ib. Therefore, it becomes possible to use the information correspondence data D1 as a database for identifying the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space.

[0061] The information setting process may be executed only to associate the position of the beacon transmitter 12B with the beacon identification information Ib, without assuming that the position of the lighting device 1 is associated with the device identification information Ia. That is, turning on the lighting device 1 by operating the switch may be used only to confirm the position of the beacon transmitter 12B. Furthermore, the icon J may be used only to specify the position of the beacon transmitter 12B.

[0062] Furthermore, in the above information setting process, the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp is not limited to being specified by the placement of the icon J, but may be specified using other means, such as by inputting a numerical value.

[0063] The method of determining the major value m1 and the minor value m2 executed by the control unit 43 when generating the beacon identification information Ib in step S16 can include random determination or incrementing the major value m1 or the minor value m2 by one each time a value is determined. However, the method of determining the major value m1 and the minor value m2 is not limited to these, and various other methods can be used. Furthermore, if the map image Mp has information regarding the floor number and section of the floor corresponding to the image, the control unit 43 may determine the major value m1 and the minor value m2 each time an icon J is placed based on that information.

[0064] Furthermore, the control unit 43 is not limited to generating a part of the beacon identification information Ib (in this embodiment, the major value m1 and the minor value m2) and combining this with a UUID to create the beacon identification information Ib, but may generate the entire beacon identification information Ib including the UUID. In this case, in the information setting process described above, it is not necessary to display the input screen in step S11 and for the user to input the UUID in step S21.

[0065] When the control unit 43 generates the beacon identification information Ib in step 16, it may pop up a confirmation image on the touch panel 41 showing the contents of the generated beacon identification information Ib (see FIG. 8). This allows the setter to recognize that the beacon identification information Ib has been generated and its contents. The confirmation image may be closed by the setter pressing a confirmation button (see FIG. 8) displayed on the image, or may be closed after a predetermined time has passed without any operation by the setter. Furthermore, the control unit 43 may notify the setter of the generation of the beacon identification information Ib by emitting a sound or the like instead of displaying a confirmation image.

[0066] Furthermore, the timing for generating the beacon identification information Ib is not limited to the timing when the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B is specified on the map image Mp by the placement of the icon J, but may be any other preferred timing, such as a timing before the installation position is specified (for example, a timing when the setter selects the icon J to be the target of the drag operation).

[0067] Furthermore, the transmission of the beacon identification information Ib to the lighting device 1 performed by the control unit 43 in step S19A may be performed by the lighting control device 2 or the information management device 5 that has received the information corresponding data D1, based on the information corresponding data D1.

[0068] [2-2] Controls executed when providing services <Location Identification Process Executed by Information Management Device> After setting the beacon identification information Ib in the beacon transmitter 12B (step S19A in FIG. 4) is completed, when the beacon transmitter 12B starts transmitting a beacon signal Sb, the information management device 5 executes a location determination process to provide a service (lighting control by the lighting control device 2 in this embodiment) to the terminal device 3 or the user who owns it. In the location determination process, the information management device 5 adds the information association data D1 received from the information setting device 4 to a database for management, and uses the information in the database to determine the current location P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space from the beacon information K (information on the beacon signal Sb and the terminal identification information Ic) transmitted from the terminal device 3. Here, in order to accurately determine the current location P1 of the terminal device 3, it is preferable that the beacon information K includes information on beacon signals Sb received from three or more beacon transmitters 12B located around the terminal device 3 in real space. The following describes a case where the beacon information K includes information on three or more beacon signals Sb.

[0069] Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing the location identification process executed by the information management device 5. Note that Fig. 9 shows the flow of the process from receiving beacon information K from a terminal device 3 to identifying the current location P1 of the terminal device 3.

[0070] When the information management device 5 receives beacon information K from the terminal device 3, the information management device 5 uses information in the managed database (specifically, the contents of the information association data D1 added to the database (see FIG. 3)) to acquire, based on three or more pieces of beacon identification information Ib in the beacon information K received from the terminal device 3, the installation positions on the map image Mp of each of the beacon transmitting units 12B identified by the beacon identification information Ib (step S31 in FIG. 9). Then, based on the reception strength in the beacon information K corresponding to the beacon identification information Ib, the information management device 5 acquires the distance on the map image Mp from each of the installation positions (three or more positions) of the beacon transmitting units 12B acquired in step S31 to the terminal device 3 (step S32 in FIG. 9). At this time, the information management device 5 may acquire the distance on the map image Mp using correspondence data in which reception strength and distance are associated with each other, or may acquire the distance on the map image Mp by calculating from a relational expression between reception strength and distance.

[0071] Thereafter, the information management device 5 identifies the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 in the map image Mp information corresponding to the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space based on the installation position of the beacon transmitter 12B on the map image Mp acquired in steps S31 and S32 and the distance from the beacon transmitter 12B (step S33 in Figure 9).

[0072] After executing step S33 (after identifying the current position P1m of the terminal device 3), the information management device 5 transmits the identified current position P1m of the terminal device 3 together with the terminal identification information Ic of the terminal device 3 to the lighting control device 2 (step S34 in FIG. 9).

[0073] <Lighting control process executed by the lighting control device> The lighting control device 2 is a cloud server, and performs lighting control on the lighting device 1 using information correspondence data D1 in which the correspondence in the information setting device 4 is recorded. As a specific example of the lighting control process, the lighting control device 2 performs lighting control according to the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space (specifically, the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the map image Mp identified by the information management device 5). A specific example of the lighting control process will be described below.

[0074] (1) Example of lighting control process to brightly illuminate the current location of the terminal device and its surroundings Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of lighting control processing executed by the lighting control device 2. In the example of Fig. 10, the lighting control device 2 performs lighting control to brightly illuminate the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 and its surroundings by increasing the dimming rates of the lighting devices 1 installed in the vicinity of the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space.

[0075] When the lighting control device 2 starts the lighting control process by receiving the information correspondence data D1 from the information setting device 4, it first uses the received information correspondence data D1 to create control correspondence data D2 to be used for lighting control of the lighting device 1 (step S41 in FIG. 10). Here, the control correspondence data D2 is the information correspondence data D1 in which each piece of device identification information Ia of the lighting device 1 is further associated with lighting control content (hereinafter referred to as "lighting mode"). FIG. 11(A) is a diagram showing an example of the control correspondence data D2.

[0076] Specifically, two lighting modes are provided in advance: a first mode (mode(1)) that controls the dimming rate to 10%; and a second mode (mode(2)) that controls the dimming rate to 100%. More specifically, lighting mode data D3 that records the correspondence between these lighting modes and dimming rates is stored in, for example, a storage unit (not shown) included in the lighting control device 2. FIG. 11(B) is a diagram showing an example of the lighting mode data D3.

[0077] Then, in step S41, the lighting control device 2 creates control correspondence data D2 by associating the first mode (mode(1)) with all device identification information Ia in the information correspondence data D1. Thereafter, the lighting control device 2 stores the created control correspondence data D2 in, for example, a storage unit (not shown) provided in the lighting control device 2.

[0078] After step S41 is executed, the lighting control device 2 executes lighting control for the lighting devices 1 based on the control correspondence data D2 and the lighting mode data D3 (step S42 in FIG. 10). Specifically, the lighting control device 2 controls the dimming rates of all lighting devices 1 to 10% in accordance with the lighting mode illustrated in FIG. 11(B).

[0079] After executing step S42, the lighting control device 2 determines whether or not it has received information for controlling lighting according to the current position P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space (specifically, the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the map image Mp and the terminal identification information Ic of the terminal device 3) from the information management device 5 (step S43 in FIG. 10). If the lighting control device 2 determines "received (Yes)" in step S43, it associates the received information with the reception time T1 at which the information was received and records this as reception time data D4 (step S44 in FIG. 10). Here, the reception time data D4 is data (such as a file) in which the correspondence between the information received from the information management device 5 (the current position P1m and terminal identification information Ic of the terminal device 3) and the reception time T1 is recorded, and is stored, for example, in a memory unit (not shown) of the lighting control device 2. FIG. 11(C) is a diagram showing an example of the reception time data D4.

[0080] The current position P1m of the terminal device 3 (for example, the current position on the map image Mp of the terminal device 3 moving in a real space such as an office or a store) sequentially transmitted from the information management device 5 is added to the reception time data D4 together with the reception time T1. Therefore, with the passage of time, the information received earlier (the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 and the terminal identification information Ic) becomes outdated.

[0081] Therefore, the lighting control device 2 organizes the information in the reception time data D4 by deleting from the reception time data D4 the information recorded in the reception time data D4 (terminal identification information Ic, current location P1m of the terminal device 3, and reception time T1) that has been recorded more than a predetermined time T0 since the reception time T1 (step S45 in Figure 10).

[0082] If the lighting control device 2 determines in step S43 that the information has not been received (No), it references the reception time data D4 and determines whether or not there is a record of information in the reception time data D4 (step S46 in FIG. 10). If the lighting control device 2 determines in step S46 that there is a record (Yes), it also executes step S45. On the other hand, if the lighting control device 2 determines in step S46 that there is no record (No), it proceeds to step S50.

[0083] After executing step S45, the lighting control device 2 identifies the lighting device 1 to be used to brightly illuminate the periphery of the terminal device 3, using the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 recorded in the reception time data D4 (step S47 in FIG. 10). Specifically, the lighting control device 2 identifies the lighting device 1 present within a predetermined region Rt centered on the current position P1m, using the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the map image Mp and the installation position of the lighting device 1 on the map image Mp recorded in the control correspondence data D2 (see FIG. 11(A)). Here, the predetermined region Rt is a region set in advance to determine a selection range on the map image Mp of the lighting device 1 to brightly illuminate the periphery of the terminal device 3.

[0084] 12 is a conceptual diagram visually showing lighting devices 1 present within a predetermined area Rt centered on the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the map image Mp, and in Fig. 12, a rectangular area centered on the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 is used as the predetermined area Rt. Note that if multiple current positions P1m of terminal devices 3 are recorded in the reception time data D4, the lighting control device 2 identifies lighting devices 1 present within the predetermined area Rt centered on each of the current positions P1m of all terminal devices 3.

[0085] Next, the lighting control device 2 changes the lighting mode settings associated with the lighting device 1 identified in step S47 in the control correspondence data D2 (step S48 in FIG. 10). Specifically, the lighting control device 2 changes the lighting mode settings in the control correspondence data D2 so that the lighting mode for the lighting device 1 identified in step S47 becomes the second mode (mode(2) = dimming rate 100%) and the lighting modes for lighting devices 1 other than the lighting device 1 identified in step S47 become the first mode (mode(1) = dimming rate 10%).

[0086] After executing step S48, the lighting control device 2 executes lighting control for the lighting device 1 based on the control correspondence data D2 and the lighting mode data D3 (step S49 in FIG. 10). Specifically, in accordance with the lighting modes exemplified in FIG. 11(B), the lighting control device 2 controls the dimming rate of the lighting device 1 whose lighting mode is set to the second mode (mode(2)) to 100%, and controls the dimming rate of the lighting device 1 whose lighting mode is set to the first mode (mode(1)) to 10%.

[0087] Then, the lighting control device 2 repeatedly executes steps S43 to S49 until the lighting control process no longer needs to be continued, for example, by the user turning off a switch provided in an office or store (step S50 in FIG. 10).

[0088] According to the above lighting control process, the current location of the user who owns the terminal device 3 in the real space (such as an office or a store) (i.e., the current location P1 of the terminal device 3 in the real space) and its surroundings are brightly illuminated by the lighting device 1, even if the user does not adjust the lighting. Furthermore, in step S45, old information that is older than a predetermined time T0 from the reception time T1 is deleted from the reception time data D4, so that the area to be brightly illuminated by the lighting device 1 can be adjusted to match the current location of the user, which changes as the user moves in the real space. In this way, according to the above lighting control, the lighting is adjusted according to the current location of the user who owns the terminal device 3 in the real space, thereby improving convenience for the user.

[0089] In the above-described lighting control process, the lighting mode used for lighting control is not limited to the dimming shown in Fig. 11(B) but may be any one or a combination of various lighting control modes (on, off, dimming, color adjustment, time schedule control, etc.) Furthermore, three or more modes with different control contents may be prepared as lighting modes associated with the control correspondence data D2.

[0090] Furthermore, the shape of the predetermined region Rt used to identify the lighting device 1 in step S47 is not limited to a rectangle, but can be changed as appropriate to a shape (such as a circle) according to the installation form of the lighting device 1. Furthermore, the predetermined region Rt is not limited to being centered on the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the map image Mp, but may include the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 at a position other than the center.

[0091] (2) An example of lighting control processing that brightly illuminates the path from the entrance to the target position when entering a room. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing another example of lighting control processing executed by the lighting control device 2. In the example of Fig. 13, when a user enters a room, the lighting control device 2 performs lighting control to brightly illuminate the path by increasing the dimming rates of the lighting devices 1 installed on the path from the entrance Es used to enter the room to a destination position (for example, the position of the user's desk, which coincides with a target position P2 to which the terminal device 3 is to be moved in real space, which will be described later).

[0092] In this example, the lighting control device 2 executes the process up to step S43, similar to the lighting control process described above (see FIG. 10). If the lighting control device 2 determines "received (Yes)" in step S43, it determines whether the user is entering the room for the first time at that point in time, or has already entered the room, by referring to the reception time data D4, whether the reception time data D4 contains a record of information identical to the terminal identification information Ic received from the information management device 5 (step S51 in FIG. 13).

[0093] Here, as in the example of FIG. 10, the reception time data D4 is data (such as a file) that records the correspondence between the received information (the current location P1m of the terminal device 3 and the terminal identification information Ic) and the reception time T1 at which the information was received (see FIG. 11(C)). If the user has entered the room for the first time at the time when the information is received from the information management device 5, information identical to the terminal identification information Ic included in the received information is not recorded in the reception time data D4. On the other hand, if the user has already entered the room at the time when the information is received from the information management device 5, information identical to the terminal identification information Ic included in the received information is recorded in the reception time data D4. Therefore, by determining in step S51 whether or not information identical to the terminal identification information Ic received from the information management device 5 is recorded, it is possible to determine whether or not the user has entered the room for the first time at that time.

[0094] If the lighting control device 2 determines in step S51 that there is no record (No), it associates the received information with the reception time T1 at which the information was received and records the information in the reception time data D4 (step S52 in FIG. 13).

[0095] Thereafter, the lighting control device 2 uses the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the received map image Mp to identify the entrance Es used by the user who owns the terminal device 3 to enter the room (step S53 in FIG. 13). As a specific example, the lighting control device 2 has information (such as position coordinates) related to the positions of the available entrances e1 to e3 on the map image Mp. The lighting control device 2 then identifies, from among the entrances e1 to e3, the entrance closest in distance on the map image Mp to the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the map image Mp as the entrance Es used by the user to enter the room.

[0096] The lighting control device 2 then associates the received terminal identification information Ic, the identified entrance Es, and the specific time T2 at which the entrance Es was identified, and records these as specific time data D5 (step S54 in FIG. 13). Here, the specific time data D5 is data (such as a file) that records the correspondence between the terminal identification information Ic, the identified entrance Es, and the specific time T2, and is stored, for example, in a memory unit (not shown) of the lighting control device 2. FIG. 15(A) is a diagram showing an example of the specific time data D5.

[0097] The specific time T2 corresponds to the time when the user enters the room. In the example of FIG. 13, when the user enters the room, it is sufficient to brightly illuminate the path to the destination location so that the user can move to that location, so there is no need to keep the path brightly illuminated for a long time after the user enters the room. For this reason, it is preferable to return the lighting to its original state when a predetermined time Ts0 has elapsed since the user entered the room. Therefore, in step S54, by recording the specific time T2 corresponding to the time when the user entered the room in the specific time data D5, it becomes possible to return the lighting to its original state after the predetermined time Ts0 has elapsed in the process described below (see FIG. 14).

[0098] After executing step S54, the lighting control device 2 changes the lighting mode setting in the control correspondence data D2 using the terminal identification information Ic recorded in the specific time data D5 and the information on the identified entrance Es (step S55 in Figure 13).

[0099] Specifically, the lighting control device 2 first references setting change target data D6. Here, the setting change target data D6 is data (e.g., a file) in which each terminal identification information Ic is associated with an entrance e1 to e3 that can be used for entry, and further in which each available entrance e1 to e3 is associated with device identification information Ia of the lighting device 1 that is the target of the lighting mode setting change, and is stored, for example, in a storage unit (not shown) of the lighting control device 2. Fig. 15(B) is a diagram showing an example of the setting change target data D6. Fig. 16 is a conceptual diagram visually illustrating the device identification information Ia (target of the lighting mode setting change) associated in the setting change target data D6.

[0100] As an example, the lighting devices 1 that are targets for a lighting mode setting change are lighting devices 1 that are installed on routes r1 to r3 (paths that pass through passage r) on the map image Mp from the positions of entrances e1 to e3 on the map image Mp to a target position P2m on the map image Mp that corresponds to a destination of the terminal device 3 in real space (for example, the position of the desk of the user who owns the terminal device 3), as shown in Fig. 16 (see also Fig. 15(B)). Note that the number of device identification information Ia of the lighting devices 1 associated with each of the available entrances e1 to e3 in the setting change target data D6 may be one or more.

[0101] The lighting control device 2 then obtains, from the referenced setting change target data D6, device identification information Ia corresponding to the combination of the terminal identification information Ic recorded in the specific time data D5 and the identified entrance Es. In this way, the lighting control device 2 obtains the device identification information Ia of the lighting device 1 for which the lighting mode setting is to be changed.

[0102] Thereafter, the lighting control device 2 changes the lighting mode settings in the control correspondence data D2 so that the lighting mode for the acquired device identification information Ia becomes the second mode (mode(2) = dimming rate 100%), and so that the lighting mode for the device identification information Ia other than the acquired device identification information Ia becomes the first mode (mode(1) = dimming rate 10%).

[0103] After executing step S55, the lighting control device 2 executes lighting control for the lighting device 1 based on the control correspondence data D2 and the lighting mode data D3 (step S56 in FIG. 13). Specifically, in accordance with the lighting mode illustrated in FIG. 11(B), the lighting control device 2 controls the dimming rate of the lighting device 1 whose lighting mode is set to the second mode (mode(2)) to 100%, and controls the dimming rate of the lighting device 1 whose lighting mode is set to the first mode (mode(1)) to 10%.

[0104] As a result, when a user enters the room, the lighting devices 1 installed on the path from the entrance Es used to enter the room to the target position P2 (for example, the position of the user's desk) are adjusted to be bright for each user. As a result, the path from the entrance Es to the target position P2 is brightly illuminated, allowing the user to recognize the location to which the user is moving (which coincides with the target position P2) and to move to that location more easily. In this way, according to the above lighting control, lighting is adjusted according to the entrance Es used to enter the room and the target position P2, thereby improving convenience for the user.

[0105] In the example of Fig. 13, if the lighting control device 2 determines in step S43 that the information has not been received (No), it references the reception time data D4 and determines whether or not there is a record of information in the reception time data D4 (step S57 in Fig. 13). If the lighting control device 2 determines in step S57 that there is a record (Yes), it proceeds to step S58. On the other hand, if the lighting control device 2 determines in step S57 that there is no record (No), it proceeds to step S70.

[0106] In step S58, similar to the example of FIG. 10 (step S45), the lighting control device 2 organizes the information in the reception time data D4 by deleting from the reception time data D4 any information recorded in the reception time data D4 (terminal identification information Ic, current location P1m of terminal device 3, and reception time T1) that is recorded more than a predetermined time T0 after the reception time T1. The lighting control device 2 also executes step S58 if it determines in step S51 that "there is a record (Yes)." After executing step S58, the lighting control device 2 proceeds to step S70.

[0107] The lighting control device 2 then repeatedly executes steps S43 and S51 to S58 until the lighting control process no longer needs to be continued, for example, by the user turning off a switch installed in an office, store, etc. (step S70 in FIG. 13). During the process of repeating these processes, the lighting control device 2 also executes a process (process shown in the flowchart in FIG. 14) for returning the lighting that brightly illuminated the path to its original state after a predetermined time Ts0 has elapsed. Note that this process is executed, for example, between A and B in the flowchart in FIG. 13. Specifically, it is as follows.

[0108] The lighting control device 2 first references the specific time data D5 and determines whether or not information is recorded in the specific time data D5 (step S61 in FIG. 14). If the lighting control device 2 determines in step S61 that "recording is present (Yes)," it then determines whether a predetermined time Ts0 has elapsed since the specific time T2 recorded in the specific time data D5 (step S62 in FIG. 14).

[0109] If the lighting control device 2 determines in step S62 that "time has passed (Yes)", it organizes the information in the specific time data D5 by deleting from the specific time data D5 the information recorded in the specific time data D5 (terminal identification information Ic, identified entrance Es, and specific time T2) that has been passed a predetermined time Ts0 since the specific time T2 (step S63 in Figure 14).

[0110] Thereafter, the lighting control device 2 changes the lighting mode setting in the control correspondence data D2 using the specific time data D5 organized in step S63 (step S64 in FIG. 14). Specifically, if other information (terminal identification information Ic and entrance Es) remains in the specific time data D5, the lighting control device 2 changes the setting in the same way as in step S55, using the information remaining in the specific time data D5. On the other hand, if other information (terminal identification information Ic and entrance Es) does not remain in the specific time data D5, the lighting control device 2 changes the lighting mode setting so that the lighting mode for all device identification information Ia in the control correspondence data D2 becomes the first mode (mode(1)=10%).

[0111] After executing step S64, the lighting control device 2 executes lighting control for the lighting device 1 based on the control correspondence data D2 and the lighting mode data D3 (step S65 in FIG. 14). As a result, the control to brightly illuminate the path from the entrance Es to the target position P2, which was executed when the user entered the room, is terminated when the predetermined time Ts0 has elapsed. On the other hand, if the lighting control device 2 determines in step S61 that there is no record (No) or determines in step S62 that the predetermined time has not elapsed (No), it returns to step S43 without executing steps S63 to S65.

[0112] In the process of identifying the target of the lighting mode setting change in step S55, if the map image Mp includes location information such as an aisle r, the lighting control device 2 may identify the lighting device 1 to be the target of the setting change using the location information included in the map image Mp, rather than using the setting change target data D6 in which the setting change target is set in advance.

[0113] Furthermore, the target position P2 to which the terminal device 3 is to be moved can be changed as appropriate to various positions that are not limited to the position of a desk. Furthermore, the lighting devices 1 that are targets for changing the lighting mode setting are not limited to the lighting devices 1 installed on the route r1 to r3 including the passage r from the available entrances e1 to e3 to the target position P2, but may be, for example, lighting devices 1 installed on a straight line from the entrances e1 to e3 to the target position P2 or lighting devices 1 set on the target position P2, and can be changed as appropriate.

[0114] [3] Variation [3-1] Variation 1 In the specific example 1 of the lighting control process described above, the lighting control device 2 may generate distribution data representing the number density of the terminal devices 3 using information received from the information management device 5 (the current location P1m of the terminal device 3 and the terminal identification information Ic), and perform lighting control based on the distribution data. For example, the lighting control device 2 may change the lighting mode settings in the control correspondence data D2 so that the lighting mode for the lighting devices 1 located within an area where the number density is equal to or greater than a first threshold is the second mode (mode(2) = dimming rate 100%), and the lighting mode for the lighting devices 1 located outside that area is the first mode (mode(1) = dimming rate 10%).

[0115] Furthermore, when an area where the number density is equal to or greater than a second threshold (>first threshold) occurs, the lighting control device 2 may change the lighting modes of the lighting devices 1 present in the area where the number density is equal to or greater than the second threshold from the second mode to the first mode in the control response data D2. At this time, the lighting control device 2 may change the lighting modes of some or all of the lighting devices 1 present in the area where the number density is less than the first threshold from the first mode to the second mode in the control response data D2. With this lighting control, when users (i.e., terminal devices 3 owned by the users) are concentrated in a brightly lit location, the lighting in that location is dimmed while the lighting in another location is brightened. This allows users who are concentrated in one location to be dispersed to other brightly lit locations.

[0116] [3-2] Variation 2 17 is a conceptual diagram showing a service providing system that is a modified example of the location-specific lighting control system. This service providing system is a system in which a service providing device 6 is further added to the location-specific lighting control system described above.

[0117] <Service providing device> The service providing device 6 is a cloud server connected to a network (such as a WAN or LAN), and provides some kind of service (such as distribution of coupons) to the terminal device 3 via the network.

[0118] <Control process executed by the service providing device> In this modification, the current position P1m of the terminal device 3 on the map image Mp identified by the information management device 5 is also transmitted to the service providing device 6 together with the terminal identification information Ic of the terminal device 3. Then, the service providing device 6 provides the terminal device 3 identified by the received terminal identification information Ic with a service according to the current position P1m of the terminal device 3. For example, if the received current position P1m of the terminal device 3 corresponds to a position within a store, the service providing device 6 transmits to the terminal device 3 a coupon or the like that can be used in the store.

[0119] In this modification, similarly to the above embodiment, at various locations (such as stores) where lighting devices 1 are installed, the beacon transmitter 12B is installed at the same location in real space as the lighting device 1 is installed at the same time. Furthermore, information setting (e.g., association) for enabling identification of the current location P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space using the beacon signal Sb can be easily performed. By using such a system, the construction of a system for providing services according to the current location P1 of the terminal device 3 in real space is simplified.

[0120] The service providing system may be configured as a system that does not include the lighting control device 2.

[0121] The above-described embodiments should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined not by the above-described embodiments but by the claims. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is intended to include all modifications that are equivalent to the scope of the claims and fall within the scope thereof.

[0122] For example, the present invention is not limited to the information setting device 4 and the location-specific lighting control system described above, but also includes the configuration of each device included in the location-specific lighting control system and the control processing performed by that device, each of which is considered as an invention individually.

[0123] The above-described position-specific lighting control system is not limited to cases where the lighting device 1 is equipped with the LED light source 11A, but can also be applied to cases where the lighting device 1 is equipped with other light sources. In the above-described position-specific lighting control system, the beacon transmitter 12B is not limited to being realized as a function of the wireless module 12, but may also be provided in the lighting device 1 as a device separate from the wireless module 12 without the beacon identification information Ib being set. [Explanation of symbols]

[0124] 1. Lighting equipment 2 Lighting control device 3 Terminal Devices 4. Information setting device 5 Information management device 6 Service provision equipment 11A LED light source 11B Power supply section 12 Wireless Module 12A Communications Department 12B Beacon transmitter 13 Control Unit 14 Storage section 41 Touch Panel 42 Communications Department 43 Control Unit 44 Storage section D1 Information Response Data D2 control compatible data D3 Lighting Mode Data D4 Reception time data D5 Specific time data D6 Data to be changed e1, e2, e3, Es entrance Ia Device Identification Information Ib Beacon Identification Information Ic terminal identification information J Icon K Beacon Information m1 measure value m2 minor value Mp map image P1, P1m Current position P2, P2m target position r aisle r1, r2, r3 routes Rt specified area Sb beacon signal T0, Ts0 Predetermined time T1 Received time T2 Specific time

Claims

1. A lighting device equipped with a wireless module, The wireless module includes: a communication unit that enables two-way wireless communication with the lighting control device; a beacon transmitter that transmits a beacon signal including beacon identification information that is received by a terminal device and used to identify the location of the terminal device; A storage unit is provided, an information setting device associates the installation positions of the lighting devices with device identification information used to identify the lighting devices and control the lighting, and the beacon identification information; the storage unit of the lighting device stores the device identification information and the beacon identification information in communication with the lighting control device; the communication unit receives lighting mode data associated with the device identification information, and lighting control is performed on the lighting device based on the lighting mode data. Lighting equipment.

2. the installation position is confirmed by the information setting device by turning on the lighting device at least once; 10. The lighting device according to claim 1.

3. The communication unit and the beacon transmission unit communicate using the same communication method.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1 or 2.

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