Lighting control system, display method, and program

Abstract

To provide a lighting control system that, even if there are any unused fixtures, can omit removal of the unused fixtures.SOLUTION: A lighting control system includes an interface that communicates with a lighting fixture, and a processor that performs control to visually indicate to a user an unused fixture that is not present in a preparation drawing information but is connected to a network via the interface based on information obtained from the lighting fixture via the interface, in the preparation drawing information that represents a preparation drawing of the lighting fixture.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lighting control system, a display method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In a studio for recording programs and the like, various lighting fixtures are suspended from a lighting bar. The lighting fixtures are suspended according to a so-called wiring diagram indicating the type, position, etc. of the lighting fixtures. For preparing a new recording, the lighting fixtures described in the wiring diagram must be suspended. Different wiring diagrams are usually used for different recordings. Therefore, in preparing for a new recording, there may be lighting fixtures that are actually suspended in the studio and connected to the network but are not used because they are not in the wiring diagram (referred to as "unused fixtures").

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0003] The inventor of the present application noticed that there is a problem that it takes time and labor to disconnect the network connection of unused fixtures for preparing a new recording.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0004] According to an embodiment, a lighting control system includes an interface that communicates with lighting fixtures, and a processor that performs control for visually indicating to a user an unused fixture that is not present in wiring diagram information representing a wiring diagram of the lighting fixtures but is connected to a network via the interface based on information acquired from the lighting fixtures via the interface.

Effects of the Invention

[0005] Even if there are unused fixtures, their removal can be omitted.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram of the lighting system. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart showing the algorithm executed by the lighting control system 110. [Figure 3] This is a diagram showing the preparation process. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the setup plan and the assignment of equipment part number information. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the setup plan and the setting of the DMX number. [Figure 6] The setup diagram and the network diagram showing the actual layout are shown. [Figure 7] The setup diagram and the network diagram showing the actual layout are shown. [Figure 8] The updated setup diagram and the network diagram showing the actual placement are shown after the comparison. [Figure 9] The updated setup diagram and the network diagram showing the actual placement are shown after the comparison. [Figure 10] The updated setup diagram and the network diagram showing the actual placement are shown after the comparison. [Figure 11] The updated setup diagram and the network diagram showing the actual placement are shown after the comparison. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0007] In the following descriptions and drawings, corresponding parts are indicated by the same reference number. The dimensions of elements shown in the drawings are not necessarily to exact scale.

[0008] Figure 1 is a block diagram of the lighting system 100. The lighting system 100 comprises a lighting control system 110, a LAN (local area network)-DMX converter 120, and lighting fixtures 130. The lighting system 100 is installed, for example, in the control room and studio of a studio.

[0009] The lighting control system 110 comprises a processor 112, memory 114, and interface 116. The lighting control system 110 may be, for example, a dimmer console, a personal computer, or a tablet computer. Various functions of the lighting control system 110 may be implemented by distributing them among multiple elements. For example, some functions of the lighting control system 110 may be implemented by a dimmer console, while other functions may be implemented by a personal computer or tablet computer, etc., which is coupled to the lighting control system 110.

[0010] The processor 112 is a microprocessor found, for example, in a lighting console or a personal computer. The processor 112 implements various functions of the lighting control system 110 by executing programs stored in the memory 114. The memory 114 stores the setup diagram information and network diagram information, which will be described later.

[0011] Interface 116 converts the dimming control signal output by processor 112 into a signal conforming to the Ethernet® protocol, for example, which implements a LAN, and outputs it to LAN-DMX converter 120. Interface 116 is also connected to display 118. Display 118 implements the GUI (Graphical User Interface) of the application software executed by processor 112.

[0012] The LAN-DMX converter 120 converts Ethernet protocol signals into DMX (Digital Multiplex) signals and outputs them to the lighting fixture 130. The lighting fixture 130 responds to the signals from the LAN-DMX converter 120 by changing its brightness, color, etc., to perform lighting effects. Figure 1 shows an example of a minimum configuration using only one LAN-DMX converter 120, but it is not limited to this, and multiple LAN-DMX converters 120 may be used. In Figure 1, the lighting fixtures 130 connected to the LAN-DMX converter 120 are connected one by one in four systems, but it is not limited to this, for example, the number of systems may be more or fewer. Also, the number of lighting fixtures 130 connected to one system is arbitrary, and many lighting fixtures 130 may be connected in a daisy-chain configuration.

[0013] Generally, each batten installed in a studio is equipped with a DMX port. The lighting control system 110 controls the lighting fixtures 130 using dimming signals. Generally, it controls all DMX numbers, but in the case of the lighting control system 110, it does not control certain DMX numbers. The lighting control system 110 can search for the lighting fixtures 130 using the RDM (Remote Device Management) protocol. The application software executed by the processor 112 creates a setup diagram showing the placement of the lighting fixtures 130 necessary for recording in the studio, through user operation. The setup diagram is also called a suspension diagram or hanging diagram.

[0014] Figure 2 is a flowchart showing the algorithm 200 executed by the lighting control system 110.

[0015] Algorithm 200 starts at 210 and ends at 290.

[0016] At 220, the lighting control system 110 arranges lighting fixtures in the setup diagram. The lighting control system 110 uses, for example, application software executed on a personal computer. The user arranges the lighting fixtures required for program recording in the studio drawing displayed on the display.

[0017] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the setup diagram 300 at 220. In the setup diagram 300, the user selects, for example, the type of lighting fixture and arranges it in any direction on any fader. At this time, the processor 112 stores the setup diagram information representing the setup diagram of the lighting fixture 130 specified by the user in the memory 114.

[0018] At 230, the lighting control system 110 assigns the product numbers of the fixtures arranged on the faders to the DMX ports corresponding to each fader.

[0019] Figure 4 is a diagram showing the setup diagram 400 at 230 and the assignment 410 of fixture product number information. In the setup diagram 400, the faders and the lighting fixtures are associated. The assignment 410 associates the fader name with the DMX port and the fixture product number. The assignment 410 is typically stored in the memory 114.

[0020] At 240, the lighting control system 110 assigns DMX numbers to the lighting fixtures arranged on the setup diagram 400.

[0021] Figure 5 shows the setup diagram 500 for unit 240 and the setting of the DMX numbers 510. The DMX numbers set for each lighting fixture are arbitrary and can be set by the user. DMX numbers can typically be 1 to 512, but as will be described later, they can be set in the range of 1 to 511. By setting duplicate DMX numbers, multiple lighting fixtures can be controlled in the same way. In this disclosure and in Figure 5, for convenience, DMX numbers are written as A001, A002, A003, ..., but the leading A is a label for handling multiple 512 numbers which are DMX signals, and after A1 to A512, it is possible to assign B1 to B512, C1 to C512, and so on.

[0022] In step 250, the lighting control system 110 uses the RDM protocol to search for the actual suspended lighting fixtures and creates a network diagram representing the status of the actual fixtures.

[0023] Figure 6 shows the setup diagram 610 and the network diagram 620, which represents the actual layout. In the network diagram 620, "?" indicates that the system is searching for the actual connected lighting fixtures and has not yet identified them.

[0024] Generally, a setup diagram shows the configuration of the target system, while a network diagram shows the configuration of the current system. Ideally, the network diagram should match the setup diagram, reflecting the user's intentions. However, it's possible that the lighting fixtures the user needs may not be present, or conversely, that fixtures the user doesn't need may be present. Algorithm 200 makes the user's lighting fixture installation process more efficient when the current situation differs from the target.

[0025] In step 260, the lighting control system 110 compares the setup diagram created by the user with the network diagram representing the actual layout and displays the difference to the user. Specifically, the lighting control system 110 compares the part numbers of fixtures connected to the same DMX port. That is, the processor 112 identifies unused fixtures that are present in the network diagram information but not in the setup diagram information, and visually displays at least the unused fixtures to the user. This allows the user to efficiently recognize unused fixtures.

[0026] In addition to the above, the processor 112 may identify undetected devices that are present in the setup diagram information but not in the network diagram information, and visually display these undetected devices to the user. This allows the user to efficiently recognize the undetected devices.

[0027] Figure 7 shows the setup diagram 710 obtained from 260, and the network diagram 720 representing the actual layout. The setup diagram 710 displays the difference from the network diagram 720 based on the results of the comparison with 260.

[0028] The lighting control system 110 sets the DMX number assigned in the setup diagram 710 to the lighting fixture using the RDM protocol if the same lighting fixture exists in the network diagram 720 as in the setup diagram 710. For example, since the same lighting fixture exists in batten R001 in the network diagram 720 as in the setup diagram 710, the system sets the DMX number A001 assigned in the setup diagram 710 to the lighting fixture installed in batten R001. The set DMX number A001 is displayed below batten R001 in the setup diagram 710.

[0029] The lighting control system 110 displays a label indicating "undetected fixture" on the setup diagram 710 if the same lighting fixture as in the setup diagram 710 does not exist in the network diagram 720. For example, in the setup diagram 710, batten R005 displays DMX number A005, but there is no corresponding lighting fixture in the network diagram 720, so the label indicating "undetected fixture" is displayed on batten R005 in the setup diagram 710.

[0030] The lighting control system 110 displays unused lighting fixtures in the setup diagram 710 if they exist in the network diagram 720 but are not present in the setup diagram 710. For example, if a lighting fixture not present in the setup diagram 710 is found in batten R007, the system displays the label "unused fixture" for batten R007 in the setup diagram 710. More generally, the processor 112 assigns a label to unused fixtures indicating that they are not to be used for control. Based on this label, the processor 112 can, for example, ignore user commands for unused fixtures.

[0031] Specifically, this label could be a specific channel in the DMX-512A protocol or the RDM protocol. More specifically, this label could be channel 512 in the DMX-512A protocol or the RDM protocol. This allows the lighting system 100 to efficiently recognize unused fixtures and control them. That is, unused fixtures are assigned to channel 512, and the lighting console does not control this channel 512.

[0032] Alternatively, based on this label, the processor 112 can visually indicate to the user on the display 118 that the device is unused, for example. This makes it easier for the user to recognize unused devices.

[0033] Figure 8 shows the setup diagram 810 and the network diagram 820, which represent the actual placement, after the comparison in 260. The lighting control system 110 may display the results of the comparison in 260 to the user and then update the setup diagram and network diagram after the user hangs any unplaced lighting fixtures as needed. For example, after the user hangs the desired lighting fixtures on battens R005 and R006, the lighting control system 110 searches for lighting fixtures again using 250 and displays the difference. In the network diagram 820, since the desired lighting fixtures are present on battens R005 and R006, the labels indicating undetected fixtures that were displayed on battens R005 and R006 in the setup diagram 810 are removed.

[0034] Figure 9 shows the setup diagram 910, updated after the comparison in 260, and the network diagram 920, which represents the actual layout. Setup diagram 910 and network diagram 920 show additional processing performed by the lighting control system 110 after setup diagram 810 and network diagram 820. In 260, the lighting fixtures installed on battens R007 and R008 were designated as unused fixtures. This is because, as shown in setup diagram 610, the user did not intend to install lighting fixtures on battens R007 and R008. If the user intends to use these unused fixtures, the lighting control system 110 may enable control of the unused fixtures by assigning appropriate DMX numbers. For example, the user can set DMX numbers A007 and A008 for the lighting fixtures on battens R007 and R008 in setup diagram 910 on the display 118. The lighting control system 110 sets DMX numbers A007 and A008 for the lighting fixtures of battens R007 and R008 using the RDM protocol. As a result of this setting, the lighting fixtures with DMX numbers A007 and A008 do not display the label indicating they are unused, as shown in the setup diagram 910. Since the lighting fixtures with DMX numbers A007 and A008 also have DMX numbers set, they can be controlled by the user.

[0035] Figure 10 shows the setup diagram 1010, updated after the comparison in 260, and the network diagram 1020, which represents the actual layout. Setup diagram 1010 and network diagram 1020 show additional processing performed by the lighting control system 110 after setup diagram 810 and network diagram 820. The processing in Figure 10 is the reverse of the processing in Figure 9. That is, the user inputs to the lighting control system 110 that they do not intend to use the unused fixtures installed on battens R007 and R008. The lighting control system 110 receives instructions from the user to disable the unused fixtures, for example, on application software executed by the processor 112. In this case, the lighting control system 110 prevents the user from controlling the lighting fixtures installed on battens R007 and R008 by assigning specific DMX numbers to them, and also removes the icons from setup diagram 1010. Specifically, the lighting control system 110 assigns, for example, A512 to the lighting fixtures installed on battens R007 and R008. This allows control from the lighting console to be disabled without having to remove the lighting fixtures from the battens. In addition, the lighting control system 110 may remove the display (e.g., icons) of unused fixtures on the display 118, as shown in the setup diagram 1010. This allows the user to remove unused fixtures that they do not intend to use from the display 118, improving the visibility of the setup diagram.

[0036] Figure 11 shows the setup diagram 1110, updated after the comparison in 260, and the network diagram 1120, which represents the actual layout. Setup diagram 1110 and network diagram 1120 show additional processing performed by the lighting control system 110 after setup diagram 810 and network diagram 820. In Figure 11, if the same fixtures as in setup diagram 1110 exist in network diagram 1120, the lighting control system 110 assigns the DMX numbers (e.g., A001 and A002) assigned in setup diagram 1110 to the fixtures using the RDM protocol. If the same fixtures as in setup diagram 1110 do not exist in network diagram 1120, the lighting control system 110 displays a label indicating "undetected fixture" in setup diagram 1110.

[0037] If there are fixtures in the network diagram 1120 that are not present in the setup diagram 1110 (i.e., unused fixtures), the lighting control system 110 automatically assigns a label to these unused fixtures, such as a DMX number (here, A005 and A006), indicating that they are for control. This label is for the channel with the smallest number (here, A005 and A006), excluding the DMX-512A protocol or RDM protocol channels (here, A001 to A004) used by lighting fixtures present in both the setup diagram 1110 and the network diagram 1120.

[0038] As shown in Figure 11, even in situations where a slightly different state from the setup diagram 1110 is required, or when the setup diagram 1110 is not prepared, the automatic labeling by the lighting control system 110 enables efficient recording preparation. This automatic labeling also has the advantage of eliminating the need to modify the setup diagram 1110 or manually set the addresses of the lighting fixtures.

[0039] Each of the various functions in this disclosure may be implemented by a single element or by multiple elements. Conversely, multiple functions may be implemented by a single element. Each function may be implemented by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The flowcharts in this disclosure include multiple blocks. The processing of these blocks may be performed serially or in parallel. The order of some blocks may also be changed.

[0040] The subject of the apparatus, system, or method in this disclosure comprises a computer. The functions of the subject of the apparatus, system, or method in this disclosure are realized by the computer executing a program. The computer comprises a processor as its main hardware component, which operates according to the program. The processor is of any type as long as it can realize its functions by executing a program. The processor consists of one or more electronic circuits, including semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) or large-scale integrations (LSIs). Here, we refer to them as ICs and LSIs, but the name changes depending on the degree of integration, and they may also be called system LSIs, VLSIs (very large-scale integrations), or ULSIs (ultra large-scale integrations). Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) that are programmed after the manufacture of the LSI, or reconfigurable logic devices that allow for the reconfiguration of junction relationships within the LSI or the setup of circuit compartments within the LSI, can also be used for the same purpose. Multiple electronic circuits may be integrated on a single chip or provided on multiple chips. Multiple chips may be aggregated in a single device or provided on multiple devices. The program is recorded on a non-temporary recording medium such as a computer-readable ROM, optical disc, or hard disk drive. The program may be pre-stored on the recording medium or supplied to the recording medium via a wide-area communication network, including the Internet.

[0041] The examples described above include various aspects of the present invention. While it is naturally impossible to describe every conceivable combination of elements and procedures for the purpose of describing the present invention, those skilled in the art will see that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Therefore, the present invention is intended to include all such modifications, changes, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 100 Lighting Systems 110 Lighting control system 120 LAN-DMX Converters 130 Lighting fixtures

Claims

1. An interface for communicating with lighting fixtures, The system includes a processor that, based on first information obtained from the lighting fixture via the interface, performs control to visually show the user unused fixtures that are connected to the network via the interface but are not present in the wiring diagram information representing the wiring diagram of the lighting fixture, and sets the DMX number assigned in the wiring diagram for the lighting fixtures that are connected to the network via the interface and are present in the wiring diagram information. The aforementioned processor is a lighting control system that enables control of an unused fixture by assigning a DMX number to the unused fixture when the user uses the unused fixture.

2. The lighting control system according to claim 1, wherein the processor performs control to visually indicate to the user undetected equipment that is present in the setup diagram information but is not connected to the network via the interface.

3. The lighting control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first information is information about a lighting fixture connected to a port for connecting a lighting fixture.

4. A method of displaying information on a computer screen, Steps include displaying the lighting fixture installation diagram, The steps include: displaying unused fixtures connected to the network that are not present in the wiring diagram information representing the wiring diagram, based on information obtained from the lighting fixtures via communication; The lighting fixtures connected to the network via the interface, and for the lighting fixtures present in the wiring diagram information, the step of setting the DMX number assigned in the wiring diagram; When a user uses the unused device, the user sets a DMX number for the unused device to enable control of the unused device. A method for displaying with thumbnails.

5. A program for causing a computer to perform the display method described in claim 4.

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