Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and program

Abstract

This wireless communication system comprises an illumination device (A1), a setting device, and a cancellation reception unit. The illumination device (A1) has a light source unit (10) that emits illumination light, and a control unit (14) that controls the light source unit (10). The setting device can wirelessly communicate with the illumination device (A1), and configures settings related to the illumination device (A1) registered to a communication network. The cancellation reception unit receives a cancellation operation for cancelling the registration of the illumination device (A1) to the communication network. When the cancellation reception unit receives the cancelling operation, the control unit (14) controls the light source unit (10) to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of the illumination light at the timing when the cancellation reception unit received the cancellation operation.

Description

Wireless communication system, wireless communication method, and program

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, and a program. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, and a program including a lighting device.

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a gateway device used in a lighting control system including a plurality of lighting fixtures. The plurality of lighting fixtures construct a mesh-like communication network by performing two-way wireless communication.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-147452

[0004] By the way, in a wireless communication system such as the above lighting control system, there may be a case where a lighting device deregistered from a mesh-like communication network is desired to maintain the output before deregistration.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a wireless communication system, a wireless communication method, and a program capable of maintaining the output before deregistration for a lighting device deregistered from a communication network.

[0006] A wireless communication system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a lighting device, a setting device, and a deregistration reception unit. The lighting device includes a light source unit that irradiates lighting light and a control unit that controls the light source unit. The setting device is capable of wireless communication with the lighting device and performs settings related to the lighting device registered in a communication network. The deregistration reception unit receives a deregistration operation for deregistering the lighting device from the communication network. When the deregistration reception unit receives the deregistration operation, the control unit of the lighting device controls the light source unit to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of the lighting light at the timing when the deregistration reception unit receives the deregistration operation.

[0007] A wireless communication method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a deactivation acceptance step and a control step. In the deactivation acceptance step, a deactivation operation is received to deregister an illumination device having a light source unit that emits illumination light from a communication network. In the control step, if the deactivation operation is received in the deactivation acceptance step, the light source unit is controlled to maintain a specific pattern which is the pattern of the illumination light at the time the deactivation operation was received in the deactivation acceptance step.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of this disclosure is a program for causing one or more processors to execute the wireless communication method.

[0009] Figure 1 is a system configuration diagram of a wireless communication system according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a block diagram of a lighting device in the same wireless communication system. Figure 3 is a block diagram of a sensor device in the same wireless communication system. Figure 4 is a block diagram of a communication device in the same wireless communication system. Figure 5 is a block diagram of a control device in the same wireless communication system. Figure 6 is a block diagram of a setting device in the same wireless communication system. Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the screen displayed by the tablet display device in the same wireless communication system. Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram of a mesh network used in the same wireless communication system. Figure 9 is an area and zone arrangement diagram in the same wireless communication system. Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating the wireless communication method using the same wireless communication system. Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the screen displayed by the tablet display device in the wireless communication system according to the first modified example. Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a screen different from the screen shown in Figure 11, which is displayed by the tablet display device in the wireless communication system according to the first modified example.

[0010] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the configurations described in the following embodiments are merely examples of this disclosure. This disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and various modifications are possible depending on the design, etc., as long as the effects of this disclosure can be achieved.

[0011] (Embodiment) (1) Overview Below, an overview of the wireless communication system S1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 6, and 8.

[0012] The wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment is installed, for example, in commercial facilities such as office buildings and shopping centers, factories, warehouses, and public facilities such as libraries. However, the above facilities are merely examples, and the location where the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment is installed is not limited to these facilities.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the wireless communication system S1 according to the embodiment comprises a lighting device A1, a setting device 3, and a deactivation reception unit 302. As shown in Figure 2, the lighting device A1 has a light source unit 10 and a control unit 14. The light source unit 10 emits illumination light. The control unit 14 controls the light source unit 10. The setting device 3 is wirelessly communicative with the lighting device A1 and performs settings related to the lighting device A1, etc., which are registered in the communication network NW1 (see Figure 8). The deactivation reception unit 302 receives a deactivation operation to deregister the lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1. When the deactivation reception unit 302 receives the above deactivation operation, the control unit 14 of the lighting device A1 controls the light source unit 10 to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of illumination light at the time the deactivation reception unit 302 received the above deactivation operation. The specific pattern is the pattern of illumination light that the light source unit 10 was emitting at the time the deactivation reception unit 302 received the above deactivation operation. In this disclosure, "illumination light pattern" refers to, for example, the dimming level of the illumination light, the color of the light, the direction of illumination, etc.

[0014] From the above, the wireless communication system S1 of the embodiment has the advantage that the lighting device A1, which has been unregistered from the communication network NW1, can maintain the output it had before being unregistered.

[0015] (2) Detailed Configuration Next, each component of the wireless communication system S1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10.

[0016] (2-1) System Configuration The wireless communication system S1 according to the embodiment includes, as shown in Figure 1, a plurality of lighting devices A1, a sensor device B1, a communication device D1, a tablet C1, and a handheld remote control C2. In this embodiment, as an example, the wireless communication system S1 is used in a lighting control system (hereinafter also referred to as "lighting control system S1") that controls the plurality of lighting devices A1.

[0017] Multiple lighting devices A1, sensor devices B1, and communication devices D1 are supplied with AC power from an external power source P1 via a two-wire power supply circuit P11. In the example shown in Figure 1, a switch device J1 is inserted into the power supply circuit P11. The switch device J1 is equipped with an operating handle J11 and is configured to turn the connection between the external power source P1 and the power supply circuit P11 on or off each time the operating handle J11 is operated. In other words, when the switch device J1 turns on the connection between the external power source P1 and the power supply circuit P11, AC power is supplied from the external power source P1 via the power supply circuit P11, and the lighting control system S1 becomes operational. On the other hand, when the switch device J1 turns off the connection between the external power source P1 and the power supply circuit P11, AC power is not supplied from the external power source P1 via the power supply circuit P11, and the lighting control system S1 becomes inoperable.

[0018] Note that the switch device J1 does not necessarily have to be arranged in series between the external power supply P1 and the power supply line P11. The switch device J1 may be, for example, a smart operation terminal. The switch device J1 includes, for example, an operation unit, and each time the operation unit is operated, it transmits a control signal to turn the connection state on or off to each of the multiple lighting devices A1, sensor devices B1 and communication device D1. Each of the multiple lighting devices A1, sensor devices B1 and communication device D1 has a built-in switch that switches whether or not to cut off the power supply from the external power supply P1. When the above-mentioned switch receives a control signal from the switch device J1 to turn off the connection state, it cuts off the power supply from the external power supply P1.

[0019] The power for each device may be supplied by DC power (including PoE: Power over Ethernet), microwave power, energy harvesting power, etc.

[0020] (2-1-1) Lighting devices Each of the multiple lighting devices A1 has a light source unit 10, a power supply unit 11, a wireless communication unit 12, a storage unit 13, and a control unit 14, as shown in Figure 2.

[0021] The light source unit 10 has, for example, an LED module configured by mounting multiple LEDs on a substrate. Note that the multiple light source units 10 in multiple lighting devices A1 may be of different types. For example, the multiple light source units 10 may include a light source unit 10 that emits monochromatic illumination light, a light source unit 10 with a variable color temperature of illumination light, a light source unit 10 with a variable light color of illumination light, and a light source unit 10 in which the direction of illumination light can be switched or changed. A light source unit 10 with a variable color temperature of illumination light has, for example, multiple LED modules that emit illumination light with different color temperatures (e.g., 2700K and 6500K). A light source unit 10 with a variable light color of illumination light has, for example, multiple LED modules that emit illumination light of different colors, such as red light, green light, and blue light. A light source unit 10 in which the direction of illumination light can be switched has, for example, an LED module that emits illumination light toward the floor and an LED module that emits illumination light toward the ceiling or wall. Furthermore, the light source unit 10, whose illumination direction can be changed, may have, for example, a movable part that can change the illumination direction using a control signal.

[0022] The power supply unit 11 includes, for example, a power conversion circuit and a constant current circuit. The power conversion circuit converts AC power supplied from an external power supply P1 via a power supply line P11 into DC power. The constant current circuit operates to match the DC current supplied to the light source unit 10 to a target value. The power supply unit 11 may have multiple constant current circuits depending on the type of light source unit 10. That is, a power supply unit 11 paired with a light source unit 10 whose illumination light color temperature is variable has multiple constant current circuits that supply DC current individually to multiple LED modules with different color temperatures. Also, a power supply unit 11 paired with a light source unit 10 whose illumination light color is variable has multiple constant current circuits that supply DC current individually to LED modules with multiple light colors. Furthermore, a power supply unit 11 paired with a light source unit 10 whose irradiation direction is switchable has, for example, a constant current circuit that supplies DC current to an LED module that radiates illumination light toward the floor, and a constant current circuit that supplies DC current to an LED module that radiates illumination light toward the ceiling or wall.

[0023] The wireless communication unit 12 includes a wireless communication circuit and an antenna. The wireless communication circuit is an integrated circuit configured to perform wireless communication compliant with wireless communication standards, such as BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy), and mesh communication using radio waves as a medium. The wireless communication circuit may also be configured to perform wireless communication compliant with wireless communication standards other than BLE, such as Wi-Fi®, ZigBee®, or 920 MHz band low-power radio stations (for telecontrol). The wireless communication circuit is capable of transmitting and receiving wireless signals through the antenna.

[0024] The storage unit 13 has, for example, an electrically rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory. The storage unit 13 stores a plurality of scene information. Each of the plurality of scene information includes lighting-related information and mode specification information. The lighting-related information is, for example, information for specifying at least one of the intensity, color, and direction of illumination light. The mode specification information is information for specifying one control mode from among a plurality of control modes. The plurality of control modes include, for example, a sensor control mode in which the control unit 14 controls the power supply unit 11 of the lighting device A1 based on a control command (a control command based on the detection result of the sensor device B1) transmitted by the sensor device B1 as a wireless signal and the scene information (lighting-related information), and a normal control mode in which the control unit 14 controls the power supply unit 11 based on the scene information (lighting-related information only). Here, the power supply unit 11 adjusts the amount of light output from the light source unit 10 by adjusting the DC current supplied to the light source unit 10. For example, the intensity of the illumination light is represented by the dimming level of the light source unit 10. The dimming level is defined as the ratio of the light output when the rated current is flowed through the light source unit 10 to 100%. For example, a dimming level of 50% indicates that the light source unit 10 outputs half the rated light output. Furthermore, if the color temperature of the illumination light from the light source unit 10 is variable, the color of the illumination light is defined by the color temperature. However, the illumination-related information that specifies the color of the illumination light is indicated by the ratio of the light output of multiple types of LED modules with different color temperatures. Similarly, if the light color of the light source unit 10 is variable, the illumination-related information that specifies the color of the illumination light is indicated by the ratio of the light output of LED modules of each color. In addition, the illumination-related information that specifies the irradiation direction of the light source unit 10 is indicated, for example, by a numerical value corresponding to the irradiation direction (e.g., "0: downward direction", "1: upward direction", etc.) or by a specific angle indicating the irradiation direction (e.g., "horizontal direction: 90 degrees, vertical direction: 50 degrees", etc.).

[0025] The control unit 14 mainly consists of a microcontroller. The control unit 14 is configured to perform various processes related to lighting control by having the microcontroller's processor execute a program for lighting control. The control unit 14 operates based on the operating mode of the lighting device A1. The operating mode of the lighting device A1 here includes "normal mode" and "unregister mode". "Normal mode" is the operating mode of the lighting device A1 under normal circumstances. "Normal mode" includes the above-mentioned multiple control modes (sensor control mode, normal control mode, etc.). "Unregister mode" is an operating mode that allows the lighting device A1 to be unregistered from the communication network NW1.

[0026] In each of the multiple lighting devices A1, if the operating mode is set to, for example, normal mode (sensor control mode or normal control mode), the control unit 14 selects one scene information from among multiple scene information stored in the storage unit 13 based on the control command included in the wireless signal received by the wireless communication unit 12 from the control device 5, and controls the light source unit 10 (more specifically, the power supply unit 11 that supplies DC current to the light source unit 10) based on the selected scene information. In the following description, "controlling the power supply unit 11 that supplies DC current to the light source unit 10" may also be referred to as "controlling the light source unit 10".

[0027] Furthermore, in each of the multiple lighting devices A1, if the operating mode is set to, for example, normal mode (sensor control mode), the control unit 14 controls the light source unit 10 based on the control commands included in the message received by the wireless communication unit 12 from the sensor device B1, for example, to increase or decrease the dimming level of the illumination light. In addition, in each of the multiple lighting devices A1, if the operating mode is set to, for example, normal mode (sensor control mode or normal control mode), the control unit 14 selects, for example, scene information instructed by the control command based on the control command included in the message received by the wireless communication unit 12 from the sensor device B1, and controls the light source unit 10 based on the selected scene information. The control command from the sensor device B1 may include arbitrary information for controlling the lighting device A1 (for example, dimming level of the illumination light, light color, irradiation direction, time-varying flashing / brightness commands, etc.).

[0028] On the other hand, in the lighting device A1, which is set to the unregister mode, the control unit 14 controls the light source unit 10 to emit illumination light in a specific pattern set by the pattern setting unit 324. When the unregistering reception unit 302 receives an unregistering operation from the lighting device A1, the control unit 14 controls the light source unit 10 to maintain the specific pattern, which is the pattern of illumination light at the time the unregistering reception unit 302 received the unregistering operation.

[0029] Furthermore, if the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 is set to the unregister mode, the control unit 14 maintains the control content that was performed on the light source unit 10 before receiving the control command different from the specified control command when it receives a control command different from the specified control command. In short, when the operating mode is set to the unregister mode, the control unit 14 does not change the control content that was performed on the light source unit 10 when it receives a control command different from the specified control command (i.e., it ignores the "different control command" mentioned above). The "different control command" referred to here is, for example, a control command included in a wireless signal received from the control device 5, a control command included in a message received from the handy remote control C2, and a control command included in a message received from the sensor device B1. In other words, when the operating mode is set to the unregister mode, the control unit 14 ignores "control commands other than the specified control command". In this embodiment, the specified control command is transmitted only from the setting device 3. Therefore, when the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 is set to the unregister mode, the control unit 14 controls the light source unit 10 based only on the control commands included in the wireless signal received from the setting device 3. With the above configuration, the effect is to suppress the change of the illumination light pattern of the light source unit 10 at the time the unregister acceptance unit 302 accepts the unregister operation to a pattern different from the specific pattern set by the pattern setting unit 324. As a result, there is an advantage in that the light source unit 10 of the lighting device A1 that has been unregistered from the communication network NW1 is suppressed from emitting illumination light of an unintended pattern.

[0030] In this embodiment, the above-mentioned specific control command includes a control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute blinking control to blink the light source unit 10. More specifically, the above-mentioned specific control command includes a control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute blinking control to blink the light source unit 10 of the lighting device A1 selected in the blinking operation received by the blinking reception unit 305. In short, even when the operating mode of the lighting device A1 is set to the unregister mode, the control unit 14 of the lighting device A1 selected in the blinking operation received by the blinking reception unit 305 controls the light source unit 10 to blink based on the "control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute blinking control". With this configuration, after setting the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode and before performing the unregister operation at the unregister reception unit 302, the user can select the lighting device A1 that is a candidate to be selected in the unregister operation at the blinking reception unit 305, thereby blinking the light source unit 10 of the lighting device A1 and confirming the position of the lighting device A1. As a result, there is an advantage in that it is possible to prevent accidentally deregistering a different lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1 than the lighting device A1 that needs to be deregistered from the communication network NW1.

[0031] The above-mentioned specific control command further includes a control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute a control to return the light source unit 10 to its state before the blinking control after a predetermined time (first predetermined time) has elapsed since the blinking control. That is, the above-mentioned specific control command includes both "a control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute a blinking control that blinks the light source unit 10" and "a control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute a control to stop the blinking of the light source unit 10 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blinking control." In this disclosure, "after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blinking control" means a time after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the blinking control (for example, the time when the control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute the blinking control is received). In short, even when the operating mode of the lighting device A1 is set to the unregistered mode, the control unit 14 controls the light source unit 10 based on "a control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute a control to stop the blinking of the light source unit 10 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blinking control." This configuration reduces the possibility that the illumination pattern of the light source unit 10 at the time the release reception unit 302 receives the release operation is a blinking pattern (i.e., the pattern due to the "blinking control" described above), and makes it more likely to be a specific pattern set by the pattern setting unit 324. As a result, there is an advantage in that the output of the lighting device A1 that has been unregistered from the communication network NW1 is less likely to be what was intended. The lighting device A1 that has received blinking control may return to the state before blinking control at its own discretion after a predetermined time has elapsed. This eliminates the need to send a control command to execute blinking stop control to stop the blinking of the light source unit 10, or a control command to return to the state before blinking control.

[0032] (2-1-2) Sensor device As shown in Figure 3, the sensor device B1 includes, for example, a brightness detection unit 20, a human detection unit 21, a sensor control unit 22, a wireless communication unit 23, and a storage unit 24.

[0033] The brightness detection unit 20 includes, for example, a photoelectric conversion element and a signal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit processes the output signal of the photoelectric conversion element. The brightness detection unit 20 detects reflected light from the floor or desk surface within the detection range as the amount of incident light, converts the detected amount of incident light into a voltage signal (brightness signal), and outputs it to the sensor control unit 22.

[0034] The human detection unit 21 includes a passive sensor that detects heat rays (infrared rays) emitted from the human body, such as a thermal sensor or PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor. The human detection unit 21 may also include an active sensor that detects a person (moving object) by emitting radio waves (microwaves) and receiving the radio waves reflected by an antenna after they hit an object in space, thereby determining whether or not the object is moving. When the human detection unit 21 detects the presence of a person in the detection area, it outputs a human detection signal to the sensor control unit 22.

[0035] The brightness detection unit 20 and the person detection unit 21 may each have a single image sensor, and the system may be configured to detect a person from the difference between the background image acquired by the image sensor and the current image, as well as to detect brightness from the acquired image.

[0036] The sensor control unit 22 primarily consists of a microcontroller. The sensor control unit 22 is configured to perform various processes related to sensor control by having the microcontroller's processor execute a program for sensor control.

[0037] The sensor control unit 22 compares the brightness (illuminance within the detection range) indicated by the brightness signal input from the brightness detection unit 20 with the brightness target value, and creates a control command necessary to keep the difference between the illuminance within the detection range and the brightness target value within a predetermined range. For example, if the illuminance within the detection range is greater than the brightness target value by a predetermined difference or more, the sensor control unit 22 creates a control command to lower the dimming level in order to reduce the difference between the illuminance within the detection range and the brightness target value. Conversely, if the illuminance within the detection range is less than the brightness target value by a predetermined difference or more, the sensor control unit 22 creates a control command to raise the dimming level in order to reduce the difference between the illuminance within the detection range and the brightness target value. The sensor control unit 22 outputs the created control command to the wireless communication unit 23.

[0038] The wireless communication unit 23, like the wireless communication unit 12 of the lighting device A1, includes a wireless communication circuit and an antenna. The wireless communication circuit is an integrated circuit configured to perform wireless communication and mesh communication in accordance with the same wireless communication standards as the wireless communication circuit of the wireless communication unit 12. The wireless communication circuit can send and receive wireless signals through the antenna. The wireless communication unit 23 transmits messages, including control commands received from the sensor control unit 22, via wireless signals.

[0039] The memory unit 24 has, for example, an electrically rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory. The memory unit 24 stores multiple scene information. Each scene information stored in the memory unit 24 matches the scene information stored in the memory unit 13 of the lighting device A1. More specifically, each scene information stored in the memory unit 24 includes the same mode designation information as the mode designation information stored in the memory unit 13 of the lighting device A1, and information regarding the operation of the sensor device B1. It is not necessary for the control source device (e.g., sensor device B1) and the controlled device (e.g., lighting device A1) to each store all of the information contained in each scene information. For example, the control source device may transmit only the scene information as control information to the controlled device, and the controlled device may operate according to the information associated with the scene information. Alternatively, the control source device may directly transmit the information associated with the scene information to the controlled device, and the controlled device may operate according to that information.

[0040] (2-1-3) Communication Device The communication device D1 has, as shown in FIG. 4, a clock unit 40, a schedule storage unit 41, a schedule control unit 42, and a wireless communication unit 43.

[0041] The clock unit 40 has, for example, a real-time clock module. The real-time clock module is an integrated circuit configured to generate and output digital data including time, year, month, and day from a clock source. The clock unit 40 outputs digital data of time, year, month, and day (hereinafter also referred to as "clock data") generated by the real-time clock module to the schedule control unit 42.

[0042] The schedule storage unit 41 has an electrically rewritable non-volatile semiconductor memory. The schedule storage unit 41 stores a schedule for lighting control. The schedule includes, for example, a combination of a time zone and designation information for designating scene information.

[0043] [[ID=D10]] The schedule control unit 42 has a microcontroller as a main component. The schedule control unit 42 is configured to execute various processes related to schedule control by causing a processor of the microcontroller to execute a program for schedule control. The schedule control unit 42 refers to the clock data acquired from the clock unit 40 and the schedule stored in the schedule storage unit 41, and creates a control command from the designation information of the schedule and outputs it to the wireless communication unit 43 when the current time of the clock data matches the start time of the schedule. Note that the control command may be transmitted not only at the time when it matches the schedule start time but also periodically.

[0044] The wireless communication unit 43 includes, like the wireless communication unit 12 of the lighting device A1, a wireless communication circuit and an antenna. The wireless communication circuit is an integrated circuit configured to perform wireless communication and mesh communication conforming to the same wireless communication standard as the wireless communication circuit of the wireless communication unit 12. The wireless communication circuit can transmit and receive wireless signals through the antenna. The wireless communication unit 43 transmits a message including the control command received from the schedule control unit 42 by wireless signal.

[0045] In addition, when the microcontroller of the schedule control unit 42 is equipped with a real-time clock module, the clock unit may be realized by the real-time clock module of the microcontroller.

[0046] Since the communication device D1 as described above transmits a control command to the lighting device A1 using the clock data as a trigger input, it can also serve as the control device 5 in the lighting control system S1.

[0047] (2-1-4) Tablet The tablet C1 is, as shown in FIG. 1, for example, a portable computer system configured by housing a SoC (System on a chip) and a touch panel type display device C10 in a rectangular plate-shaped housing C11.

[0048] The SoC is a one-chip semiconductor device equipped with a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), a modem, and the like. The touch panel type display device C10 is, for example, a touch panel type liquid crystal display or a touch panel type organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display.

[0049] In the wireless communication system S1, by causing the SoC (CPU) to execute a control program (application program), the tablet C1 is made to serve as the control device 5. Also, in the lighting control system S1, by causing the SoC (CPU) to execute a setting program (application program), the tablet C1 is made to serve as the setting device 3.

[0050] As shown in Figure 5, the control device 5 includes an input receiving unit 50, a control unit 51, and a wireless communication unit 52. That is, the tablet C1 has the input receiving unit 50, the control unit 51, and the wireless communication unit 52 that constitute the control device 5. The input receiving unit 50 is implemented by the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1. The control unit 51 is implemented by the CPU of the tablet C1. The wireless communication unit 52 is implemented by the modem of the tablet C1. The wireless communication unit 52 is configured to perform wireless communication compliant with standards such as BLE and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0051] As shown in Figure 6, the setting device 3 includes an input receiving unit 30, a wireless communication unit 31, a control unit 32, and a notification unit 33. That is, the tablet C1 has the input receiving unit 30, wireless communication unit 31, control unit 32, and notification unit 33 that constitute the setting device 3. The input receiving unit 30 is implemented by a touch panel display device C10 (see Figure 7) in the tablet C1. The control unit 32 is implemented by the CPU of the tablet C1. The wireless communication unit 31 is implemented by the modem of the tablet C1. The wireless communication unit 31 is configured to perform wireless communication compliant with standards such as BLE and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). In this embodiment, the notification unit 33 is implemented by a touch panel display device C10 (see Figure 7) in the tablet C1.

[0052] In this embodiment, the control device 5 and the setting device 3 are implemented using a tablet C1, but the control device 5 and the setting device 3 may each be configured with dedicated hardware and software.

[0053] As shown in Figure 6, the input receiving unit 30 includes a scene receiving unit 301, a release receiving unit 302, a mode receiving unit 303, a cancellation receiving unit 304, and a blinking receiving unit 305.

[0054] The scene reception unit 301 receives operations related to scene information. More specifically, the scene reception unit 301 receives operation inputs related to lighting information and mode specification information, specifically operation inputs indicating dimming level, light color, irradiation direction, dimming rate / color temperature increase / decrease operations and sensor control enable / disable switching, and operation inputs for selecting a control mode. The scene reception unit 301 receives the above operation inputs, for example, when the user operates the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1.

[0055] The scene reception unit 301 receives operations related to scene information for one or more lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1.

[0056] The mode reception unit 303 receives a mode setting operation to set the operating mode of one or more selected lighting devices A1 from among the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1 to the unregister mode. The mode reception unit 303 is, for example, an unregister mode button BU2 (see Figure 7) displayed on the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1. The mode reception unit 303 receives the above mode setting operation when the user operates the unregister mode button BU2. More specifically, the mode reception unit 303 receives a mode setting operation when the user operates the unregister mode button BU2 to set the operating mode of the lighting device A1 selected in the checkbox CB1 when the user operates the unregister mode button BU2 to the unregister mode.

[0057] The deregistration reception unit 302 receives deregistration operations from the communication network NW1 to deregister each of the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1. In this embodiment, the deregistration reception unit 302 receives a deregistration operation from the communication network NW1 to deregister one or more selected lighting devices A1 from the multiple lighting devices A1 when the operating mode of one or more of the selected lighting devices A1 is set to the deregistration mode. In short, the deregistration reception unit 302 in this embodiment receives deregistration operations for lighting devices A1 whose operating mode is set to the deregistration mode. That is, the deregistration reception unit 302 receives the above deregistration operation when a deregistration operation is performed from the communication network NW1 for a lighting device A1 whose operating mode is set to the deregistration mode. On the other hand, the deregistration reception unit 302 does not receive the above deregistration operation when a deregistration operation is performed from the communication network NW1 for a lighting device A1 whose operating mode is set to a mode other than the deregistration mode (for example, normal mode, etc.). Furthermore, the lighting device A1 only accepts deregistration control via a deregistration operation when its operating mode is deregistration mode. This configuration has the advantage of preventing the lighting device A1 from being mistakenly deregistered via a erroneous operation from the communication network NW1.

[0058] The deregistration reception unit 302 is, for example, a deregistration button BU1 (see Figure 7) displayed on the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1. The deregistration reception unit 302 accepts the deregistration operation when the user operates the deregistration button BU1. More specifically, the deregistration reception unit 302 accepts a deregistration operation when the user operates the deregistration button BU1, deregistering the lighting device A1, which was selected by checkbox CB1 when the user operated the deregistration button BU1, from the communication network NW1.

[0059] In other words, in the wireless communication system S1 of this embodiment, each lighting device A1 is deregistered from the communication network NW1 only after the mode setting operation to the mode reception unit 303 sets the operating mode to the deregistration mode, and the deregistration reception unit 302 accepts the deregistration operation. This has the advantage of preventing lighting devices A1 from being erroneously deregistered from the communication network NW1.

[0060] The cancellation reception unit 304 receives a cancellation operation to cancel the unregistration of the lighting device A1, which is set to unregistration mode, from the communication network NW1. That is, the above cancellation operation is an operation to set the operating mode of the lighting device A1, which is set to unregistration mode, to a mode different from unregistration mode (for example, normal mode, etc.). The cancellation reception unit 304 is, for example, a cancel button BU3 (see Figure 7) displayed on the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1. The cancellation reception unit 304 receives the above cancellation operation when the user operates the cancel button BU3. More specifically, the cancellation reception unit 304 receives a cancellation operation when the user operates the cancel button BU3, which sets the operating mode of the lighting device A1, which is selected in the checkbox CB1 when the user operates the cancel button BU3, to a mode different from unregistration mode.

[0061] The flashing reception unit 305 receives flashing operations to flash the light source units 10 of multiple lighting devices A1. The flashing reception unit 305 is, for example, a checkbox CB1 displayed on the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1. The flashing reception unit 305 receives the flashing operation when the user selects one or more lighting devices A1 using the checkbox CB1. More specifically, the flashing reception unit 305 receives a flashing operation to flash the light source units 10 of one or more lighting devices A1 selected by the checkbox CB1 when the user selects one or more lighting devices A1 using the checkbox CB1. Alternatively, the flashing reception unit 305 may be a flashing button (not shown) displayed on the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1. Specifically, the flashing reception unit 305 may receive a flashing operation when the user operates the flashing button, for example, to flash the light source units 10 of one or more lighting devices A1 selected by the checkbox CB1 when the user operates the flashing button.

[0062] As shown in Figure 6, the control unit 32 includes a creation unit 321, a release control unit 322, a mode setting unit 323, a pattern setting unit 324, and a blinking control unit 325.

[0063] The creation unit 321 creates scene information, including lighting-related information and mode specification information, in response to the operation input received by the scene reception unit 301. The creation unit 321 passes the created scene information to the wireless communication unit 31. The wireless communication unit 31 transmits a message containing the scene information received from the creation unit 321 to, for example, the sensor device B1 and the lighting device A1 via a wireless signal.

[0064] The release control unit 322, in response to the release operation received by the release reception unit 302, deregisters one or more lighting devices A1 selected in the release operation from the communication network NW1 among the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1. In other words, the release control unit 322 deregisters the lighting devices A1 selected in the release operation received by the release reception unit 302 from the communication network NW1.

[0065] The mode setting unit 323 sets the operating mode of one or more lighting devices A1 selected in the mode setting operation from among the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1 to the unregister mode, in response to the mode setting operation received by the mode reception unit 303. In other words, the mode setting unit 323 sets the operating mode of the lighting device A1 selected in the mode setting operation received by the mode reception unit 303 to the unregister mode. The "unregister mode" is a mode that indicates that the unregister reception unit 302 is in a state where it can receive an unregister operation from the communication network NW1 for each of the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1. The "unregister mode" may also be called, for example, the device deletion mode. On the other hand, the "normal mode" is an example of a mode that indicates that the unregister reception unit 302 is in a state where it cannot receive an unregister operation from the communication network NW1 for each of the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1.

[0066] The mode setting unit 323 changes the operating mode from "unregistered mode" to "a mode different from unregistered mode" when the operating mode of multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1 is set to unregistered mode, and the mode change conditions are met before the unregistering reception unit 302 accepts the unregistering operation. This configuration has the effect of preventing the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 from being continuously set to unregistered mode. Therefore, it has the advantage of further preventing the acceptance of erroneous operations that mistakenly unregister a lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1 while the operating mode is continuously set to unregistered mode.

[0067] The above-mentioned mode change condition is that a predetermined time (second predetermined time) has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode. That is, the mode setting unit 323 changes the operating mode of the lighting device A1 from "unregister mode" to "a mode different from unregister mode" after a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode to unregister mode. This configuration has the advantage of preventing the unintended continuation of the operating mode setting in unregister mode for each of the multiple lighting devices A1. The above-mentioned "predetermined time" is any time set in advance, and it is desirable to set it between 1 minute and 30 minutes, for example. Note that the lighting device A1 may itself determine and execute a change to a mode different from unregister mode after a predetermined time has elapsed since the operating mode was set to unregister mode. This is particularly advantageous when a mode change instruction from the setting device 3 cannot be received due to a change in the communication environment or a failure of the setting device 3.

[0068] Furthermore, the above-mentioned mode change condition is that the cancellation reception unit 304 accepts the cancellation operation. That is, the mode setting unit 323 changes the operating mode of the lighting device A1 selected in the cancellation operation accepted by the cancellation reception unit 304 from "unregistered mode" to "a mode different from unregistered mode". This configuration has the advantage that the operating mode can be changed from unregistered mode to a mode different from unregistered mode at any time.

[0069] Based on the above, the mode change conditions in the embodiment are that a predetermined time (second predetermined time) has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode, or that the cancellation reception unit 304 has received a cancellation operation. In other words, the mode setting unit 323 in the embodiment changes the operating mode from the unregister mode to a mode different from the unregister mode for both the lighting device A1 for which a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode to the unregister mode, and the lighting device A1 selected in the cancellation operation received by the cancellation reception unit 304.

[0070] The pattern setting unit 324 sets a specific pattern. In this disclosure, the "specific pattern" is "the pattern of illumination light emitted by the light source unit 10 of the illumination device A1 that received the release operation at the time the release reception unit 302 receives the release operation." In this embodiment, the release reception unit 302 receives release operations only for illumination device A1 whose operating mode is set to the registration release mode. Therefore, the pattern setting unit 324 in this embodiment sets a specific pattern, which is the pattern of illumination light emitted by the light source unit 10, for the illumination device A1 whose operating mode is set to the registration release mode among the multiple illumination devices A1.

[0071] The pattern setting unit 324 sets a specific pattern, for example, before the timing of setting the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode (that is, before the mode setting unit 323 sets the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode). However, it is not limited to this, and the pattern setting unit 324 may also set a specific pattern after the timing of setting the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode. The pattern setting unit 324 reads the setting information of the specific pattern when the unregister acceptance unit 302 receives an unregister operation.

[0072] Furthermore, the timing for setting a specific pattern may be before the timing when the release reception unit 302 receives a release operation. The timing for setting a specific pattern may also be simultaneous with the timing when the release reception unit 302 receives a release operation. If the specific pattern is set before the timing when the release reception unit 302 receives a release operation, the release reception unit 302 reads the setting information of the specific pattern at the time the release operation is received.

[0073] The pattern setting unit 324 can set any illumination light pattern as a specific pattern in response to an operation input received by, for example, the scene receiving unit 301. For example, the pattern setting unit 324 can set a specific pattern based on scene information already created by the setting device 3 in response to an operation input received by the scene receiving unit 301. Specifically, when the pattern setting unit 324 receives an operation input from the scene receiving unit 301, it can set the dimming level, light color, irradiation direction, time-varying flashing / brightness commands, etc., of the illumination light included in the illumination-related information of the scene information specified by the operation input and already created by the setting device 3, as a specific pattern.

[0074] Furthermore, the pattern setting unit 324 can set the illumination light pattern, which is set as the default initial value, as a specific pattern. Specifically, if no specific pattern is specified (for example, if the scene reception unit 301 does not accept an operation input), the pattern setting unit 324 sets the illumination light pattern, which is set as the default initial value, as the specific pattern. In this disclosure, "the illumination light pattern, which is set as the default initial value" refers to the illumination light pattern that is set at the time of factory shipment. Alternatively, if no specific pattern is specified, the pattern setting unit 324 may set the illumination light pattern at the time the operation mode is set to the unregister mode (the timing of setting the illumination device A1 to the unregister mode) as the specific pattern.

[0075] The flashing control unit 325 creates a control command to the control unit 14 of one or more lighting devices A1 that executes flashing control to flash the light source unit 10 of one or more lighting devices A1 selected in the flashing operation, in response to the flashing operation received by the flashing reception unit 305. Furthermore, the flashing control unit 325 creates a control command to the control unit 14 of one or more lighting devices A1 that executes control to return the light source unit 10 to the state before the flashing control after a predetermined time (first predetermined time) has elapsed since the flashing control. In short, the flashing control unit 325 creates a control command to the control unit 14 of one or more lighting devices A1 that executes control to stop the flashing of the light source unit 10 after a predetermined time has elapsed since the flashing control. The flashing control unit 325 passes the created control command to the wireless communication unit 31. The wireless communication unit 31 transmits a message containing the control command received from the flashing control unit 325 to one or more lighting devices A1 via a wireless signal. Note that a lighting device A1 that has received a flashing control may return to the state before the flashing control at its own discretion after a predetermined time has elapsed. This eliminates the need to transmit a control command to execute a blinking stop control to stop the blinking of the light source unit 10, or a control command to return to the state before the blinking control was implemented.

[0076] As shown in Figure 7, the notification unit 33 notifies whether the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 is set to the unregister mode. The notification unit 33 in this embodiment is a display unit that shows whether the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 is set to the unregister mode. This configuration has the advantage that it is possible to easily check whether the operating mode is set to the unregister mode.

[0077] The notification unit 33 displays a list LI1 indicating whether the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 is set to the unregister mode. As shown in Figure 7, list LI1 includes a "Status" item that indicates whether the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 is set to the unregister mode. Specifically, in the "Status" item, the notification unit 33 displays, for example, "Unregister Mode" in the column corresponding to the lighting device A1 whose operating mode is set to the unregister mode. The notification unit 33 also displays, for example, "-" in the column corresponding to the lighting device A1 whose operating mode is set to a mode other than the unregister mode (for example, normal mode). The notification unit 33 also displays, for example, "Deleted" in the column corresponding to the lighting device A1 that has been unregistered from the communication network NW1 by the unregister control unit 322. The notification unit 33 may choose not to display any information about lighting devices A1 that have been unregistered from the communication network NW1. The notification unit 33 may also display "Device Deletion Mode" in the field corresponding to the lighting device A1 whose operating mode is set to Unregister Mode. Alternatively, the notification unit 33 may display a specific operating mode, such as "Normal Mode," in the field corresponding to the lighting device A1 whose operating mode is set to a mode other than Unregister Mode.

[0078] List LI1 includes the "Status" item, as well as the following items: "No.", "Equipment Identification Information", "Equipment Type" (or "Equipment Identification"), and "Remaining Time". The "No." item displays the serial number assigned to each of the multiple lighting devices A1. The "Equipment Identification Information" item displays the ID corresponding to each of the multiple lighting devices A1. The "Equipment Identification Information" item may also display the MAC address for each of the multiple lighting devices A1. The "Equipment Type" item displays the type for each of the multiple lighting devices A1. "Dimmable Lighting" means, for example, a lighting device A1 whose illumination intensity can be changed. "Color Lighting" means, for example, a lighting device A1 whose illumination intensity and color can be changed. The "Remaining Time" item displays the remaining time until a predetermined time (second predetermined time) has elapsed since the operating mode of the lighting device A1 was set to the unregister mode. In addition, the "Remaining Time" item may also display the elapsed time since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregistered mode.

[0079] The notification unit 33 displays multiple checkboxes CB1 corresponding to multiple lighting devices A1 within the list LI1. Simultaneously with the list LI1, the notification unit 33 also displays a deregistration button BU1, a deactivation mode button BU2, and a cancel button BU3. Each of the deregistration button BU1, deactivation mode button BU2, and cancel button BU3 is a push button displayed on the touch panel display device C10 of the tablet C1.

[0080] (2-1-5) Handheld Remote Control The handheld remote control C2 has a main body C20 made of a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped synthetic resin molded body, as shown in Figure 1, for example. The main body C20 is small enough for a person to hold in one hand. Multiple (six in the illustrated example) operation buttons C21 to C26 are provided on the front of the main body C20.

[0081] In the wireless communication system S1, the handheld remote control C2 acts as the control device 5. As shown in Figure 5, the control device 5 has an input receiving unit 50, a control unit 51, and a wireless communication unit 52. That is, the handheld remote control C2 has the input receiving unit 50, the control unit 51, and the wireless communication unit 52 that constitute the control device 5. More specifically, the handheld remote control C2 has the input receiving unit 50, the control unit 51, and the wireless communication unit 52 that constitute the control device 5 built into the main body C20.

[0082] The input receiving unit 50 has six tact switches that correspond one-to-one with six operation buttons C21 to C26 (see Figure 1). The six tact switches are configured to turn on when the corresponding operation buttons C21 to C26 are pressed. In other words, the input receiving unit 50 is configured to receive operation inputs corresponding to each operation button C21 to C26 when the tact switches are turned on.

[0083] The control unit 51 mainly consists of a microcontroller. The control unit 51 is configured to perform various processes related to lighting control, such as scene selection and switching the lighting device A1 on and off, by having the microcontroller's processor execute a control program.

[0084] The wireless communication unit 52, like the wireless communication unit 12 of the lighting device A1, includes a wireless communication circuit and an antenna. The wireless communication circuit is an integrated circuit configured to perform wireless communication and mesh communication in accordance with the same wireless communication standards as the wireless communication circuit of the wireless communication unit 12. The wireless communication circuit can send and receive wireless signals through the antenna. The wireless communication unit 52 transmits messages, including control commands received from the control unit 51, as wireless signals.

[0085] The setting device 3 can set different control content for each of the six operation buttons C21 to C26 on the handheld remote control C2. For example, the setting device 3 can set control content to select four different scene information for the four operation buttons C21 to C24 of the handheld remote control C2, and set control content to turn off one operation button C25 and turn on the remaining operation button C26.

[0086] The handheld remote control C2 stores the control contents set by the setting device 3 for multiple operation buttons C21 to C26 in the built-in memory of the microcontroller that constitutes the control unit 51.

[0087] The handheld remote control C2 receives operation inputs (equivalent to trigger inputs) corresponding to operation buttons C21 to C26 when those buttons are pressed, via the input reception unit 50. For example, when the input reception unit 50 receives an operation input corresponding to operation button C21, the control unit 51 reads the control content set for operation button C21 from the built-in memory. The wireless communication unit 52 then transmits a message containing the control content read by the control unit 51 (a control command to select scene information set for operation button C21) via a wireless signal.

[0088] The operating interface does not necessarily have to be a tactile switch; it may also be a touch panel or other similar method. Furthermore, the control functions may include increasing or decreasing the dimming rate, color temperature, and color deviation (DUV), as well as switching the sensor control on or off, and switching or changing the irradiation direction.

[0089] (2-2) Mesh Network in Wireless Communication System The wireless communication system S1 constructs a mesh network in which each of the lighting device A1, sensor device B1, and communication device D1 are communication terminals (nodes). Each node of the mesh network (lighting device A1, sensor device B1, and communication device D1) is assigned a unique network address.

[0090] The mesh network in the embodiment forms a partially connected mesh network, as shown in Figure 8. The communication network NW1 to which the lighting device A1, sensor device B1, and communication device D1 in this disclosure are registered is the above-described mesh network (hereinafter also referred to as "mesh network NW1").

[0091] The mesh network NW1 has multiple subnetworks (four in the illustrated example) SN1, SN2, SN3, and SN4. Each of the subnetworks SNi (i = 1, 2, 3, 4) has one or more nodes Nij (j = 1, 2, ...). Each of the multiple nodes Nij can communicate directly with other nodes Nij within its own subnetwork SNi, but cannot communicate directly with nodes Nij belonging to a different subnetwork SNi.

[0092] In each subnetwork SNi, one of several node Nij acts as the management node MNi. Each management node MNi can communicate directly with other node Nij within its own subnetwork SNi. Furthermore, each management node MNi can communicate directly with other management node MNi belonging to other subnetwork SNi. In other words, all node Nij belonging to each subnetwork SNi can communicate via the management node MNi of its own subnetwork SNi with all node Nij belonging to other subnetwork SNi.

[0093] Furthermore, one of the multiple management nodes MNi acts as the master node. The master node performs processes such as synchronizing all nodes Nij (including the management node MNi) belonging to the mesh network NW1, and broadcasting messages to the entire mesh network NW1.

[0094] Note that a mesh network does not necessarily need to be composed of multiple layers like this.

[0095] (2-3) Grouping in a Wireless Communication System As shown in Figure 9, a single wireless communication system S1 has one or more areas ARi (i = 1, 2, ..., n). Each area ARi has one or more zones ZNij (j = 1, 2, ...). Each zone ZNij contains multiple lighting devices A1 and, if necessary, one sensor device B1. Note that each zone ZNij may contain only one lighting device A1, and may not contain a sensor device B1.

[0096] Furthermore, the zoning of zone ZNij and area ARi is independent of the topology of the mesh network NW1. For example, multiple nodes Nij belonging to one subnetwork SNi may exist across multiple zones ZNij and areas ARi. Also, multiple nodes Nij belonging to different subnetworks SNi may exist in one zone ZNij. In one example of a wireless communication system S1, there is one communication device D1, but the communication device D1 does not belong to any area ARi or any zone ZNij.

[0097] In one example of the wireless communication system S1, the communication device D1 acts as the master unit in the mesh network NW1. If the wireless communication system S1 does not have the communication device D1, either the lighting device A1 or the sensor device B1 may act as the master unit.

[0098] When operating with one example of the wireless communication system S1, tablet C1 can communicate with the management node MNi in the mesh network NW1 via BLE communication. In the wireless communication system S1, the sensor device B1, lighting device A1, or communication device D1 is assigned the role of the management node MNi. Furthermore, tablet C1 can communicate with all nodes (communication device D1, sensor device B1, lighting device A1) and the handheld remote control C2 via BLE communication.

[0099] The handheld remote control C2 can perform mesh communication with node Nij (lighting device A1, sensor device B1, and communication device D1) of the mesh network NW1, for example, only when transmitting control commands for the purpose of reducing power consumption. The handheld remote control C2 can also perform BLE communication with tablet C1.

[0100] (3) Wireless Communication Method Next, a wireless communication method according to the embodiment, when the mode setting unit 323 sets the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode, will be described with reference to Figure 10. The wireless communication method according to the embodiment is performed, for example, by the wireless communication system S1 according to the embodiment. However, the entity that performs the wireless communication method is not limited to the wireless communication system S1.

[0101] The above-described wireless communication method according to the embodiment includes, as shown in Figure 10, a mode setting step ST1, a pattern output step ST2, a release acceptance step ST3, a control step ST4, a determination step ST5, and a mode change step ST6.

[0102] In the mode setting step ST1, the mode setting unit 323 sets the operating mode of one or more lighting devices A1 selected in the mode setting operation from among the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1 to the unregister mode, in response to the mode setting operation received by the mode receiving unit 303. More specifically, in the mode setting step ST1, the mode receiving unit 303 receives a mode setting operation to set the operating mode of one or more lighting devices A1 selected from among the multiple lighting devices A1 registered in the communication network NW1 to the unregister mode. Then, the mode setting unit 323 sets the operating mode of one or more lighting devices A1 selected in the mode setting operation received by the mode receiving unit 303 to the unregister mode.

[0103] In the pattern output step ST2, the control unit 14 of one or more of the above-mentioned lighting devices A1 controls the light source unit 10 to emit illumination light according to a specific pattern set by the pattern setting unit 324. Then, in the deactivation reception step ST3, the deactivation reception unit 302 determines whether or not it has received a deactivation operation from the communication network NW1 to deregister one or more of the above-mentioned lighting devices A1. Note that the specific pattern may be set in the lighting devices A1 before the pattern output step ST2. In that case, in the pattern output step ST2, only a command to emit illumination light according to the specific pattern needs to be sent to the lighting devices A1.

[0104] If a release operation is accepted in the release acceptance step ST3 (ST3: Yes), the control unit 14 of one or more lighting devices A1 performs a control step ST4 to control the light source unit 10 so as to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of the illumination light at the time the release operation was accepted in the release acceptance step ST3.

[0105] On the other hand, if no cancellation operation is received in the cancellation acceptance step ST3 (ST3: No), the mode setting unit 323 performs a determination step ST5 to determine whether or not the mode change conditions are met. In this embodiment, the mode change conditions are that a predetermined amount of time has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode of one or more lighting devices A1 to the registration cancellation mode, or that the cancellation acceptance unit 304 accepts a cancellation operation. If the mode setting unit 323 determines that the mode change conditions are met (ST5: Yes), the mode setting unit 323 performs a mode change step ST6 to change the operating mode of the one or more lighting devices A1 from "registration cancellation mode" to "a mode different from registration cancellation mode" (for example, normal mode). On the other hand, if the mode setting unit 323 determines that the mode change conditions are not met (ST5: No), the cancellation acceptance unit 302 performs the cancellation acceptance step ST3 again to determine whether or not it has received a cancellation operation to unregister one or more lighting devices A1 from the communication network NW1.

[0106] Furthermore, when the lighting device A1 accepts the setting of unregistered mode, it may be specified to determine the current pattern of the lighting light as a specific pattern, or to maintain that specific pattern. This has the advantage of shortening the time required for the unregistering operation, as some steps can be omitted.

[0107] (4) Effects The wireless communication system S1 according to the embodiment comprises a lighting device A1 and a setting device 3. The lighting device A1 has a light source unit 10 and a control unit 14. The light source unit 10 emits illumination light. The control unit 14 controls the light source unit 10. The setting device 3 is wirelessly communicative with the lighting device A1 and performs settings related to the lighting device A1, etc., which are registered in the communication network NW1. The setting device 3 has a deregistration reception unit 302. The deregistration reception unit 302 receives a deregistration operation to deregister the lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1. When the deregistration reception unit 302 receives the above deregistration operation, the control unit 14 of the lighting device A1 controls the light source unit 10 to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of illumination light at the time the deregistration reception unit 302 received the above deregistration operation. As a result, the wireless communication system S1 of the embodiment has the advantage that the lighting device A1, which has been deregistered from the communication network NW1, can maintain the output it had before being deregistered.

[0108] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, the setting device 3 has a mode setting unit 323 that sets the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode. The unregister reception unit 302 receives an unregister operation to unregister the lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1 when the operating mode of the lighting device A1 is set to the unregister mode. This has the advantage of preventing the reception of erroneous operations that mistakenly unregister the lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1.

[0109] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, when the operating mode of the lighting device A1 is set to the unregister mode, the control unit 14 maintains the control content that was performed on the light source unit 10 before receiving the different control command when it receives a control command different from the specific control command. This has the effect of preventing the pattern of the illumination light of the light source unit 10 at the time the unregister acceptance unit 302 accepts the unregister operation from being changed to a pattern different from the specific pattern set by the pattern setting unit 324. As a result, there is an advantage that the light source unit 10 of the lighting device A1 that has been unregistered from the communication network NW1 can be prevented from emitting illumination light of an unintended pattern.

[0110] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, the specific control command includes a control command that causes the control unit 14 to perform blinking control to blink the light source unit 10. As a result, before performing the deactivation operation at the deactivation reception unit 302, the user can select the lighting device A1 that is a candidate to be selected in the deactivation operation at the blinking reception unit 305, thereby blinking the light source unit 10 of the lighting device A1 and confirming the location of the lighting device A1. This has the advantage of preventing the user from mistakenly deactivating a lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1 that is different from the lighting device A1 that needs to be deactivated from the communication network NW1.

[0111] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, the specific control command further includes a control command that causes the control unit 14 to execute a control to return the light source unit 10 to the state before the blinking control after a predetermined time has elapsed since the blinking control. This reduces the possibility that the illumination light pattern of the light source unit 10 at the time the release reception unit 302 receives the release operation is not the specific pattern set by the pattern setting unit 324, but rather the blinking pattern of the light source unit 10. As a result, there is an advantage in that the output of the lighting device A1 that has been unregistered from the communication network NW1 can be more effectively suppressed from being different from what was intended.

[0112] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, when the operating mode of the lighting device A1 registered in the communication network NW1 is set to the unregister mode, the mode setting unit 323 changes the operating mode from the unregister mode to a mode different from the unregister mode when the mode change conditions are met before the unregister acceptance unit 302 accepts the unregister operation. This has the effect of suppressing the continued setting of the operating mode of the lighting device A1 in the unregister mode. Therefore, there is an advantage in that it is possible to further suppress the acceptance of an erroneous operation that mistakenly unregisters the lighting device A1 from the communication network NW1 while the operating mode is continuously set to the unregister mode.

[0113] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, the mode change condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode. This has the advantage of preventing the lighting device A1 from unintentionally remaining in the unregister mode.

[0114] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, the mode change condition is that the cancellation reception unit 304 accepts a cancellation operation. This has the advantage that the operating mode can be changed from the unregistered mode to a mode different from the unregistered mode at any time.

[0115] In the wireless communication system S1 according to this embodiment, the setting device 3 further includes a notification unit 33 that notifies whether or not the operating mode of the lighting device A1 is set to the unregister mode. This has the advantage that it is possible to easily confirm whether or not the operating mode is set to the unregister mode.

[0116] The wireless communication method according to the embodiment includes a deactivation acceptance step ST3 and a control step ST4. In the deactivation acceptance step ST3, a deactivation operation is received to deregister the lighting device A1, which has a light source unit 10 that emits illumination light, from the communication network NW1. In the control step ST4, if a deactivation operation is received in the deactivation acceptance step ST3, the light source unit 10 is controlled to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of illumination light from the light source unit 10 at the time the deactivation operation was received in the deactivation acceptance step ST3.

[0117] (5) Modifications The embodiments described above are merely one of many embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiments described above can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the objectives of the present disclosure can be achieved. Furthermore, functions similar to those of the wireless communication system S1 according to the embodiments described above may be realized by the wireless communication method, (computer) program, or non-temporary recording medium on which the program is recorded. A program according to one embodiment is a program that causes one or more processors to execute the wireless communication method described above. With such a program, the lighting device A1 that has been unregistered from the communication network NW1 can maintain the output it had before being unregistered.

[0118] The following lists some modifications of the above-described embodiment. The modifications described below can be combined and applied as appropriate.

[0119] (5-1) First Modified Example In the wireless communication system S1 of the above embodiment, the notification unit 33 displays a list LI1 indicating whether the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 is set to the unregister mode, as shown in Figure 7. In contrast, the notification unit 33 in the wireless communication system S1 of the first modified example displays a list LI2 (see Figure 11) for setting the operating mode of each of the multiple lighting devices A1 to the unregister mode, and a list LI3 (see Figure 12) for displaying one or more lighting devices A1 whose operating mode is set to the unregister mode. The notification unit 33 of the first modified example notifies of one or more lighting devices A1 whose operating mode is set to the unregister mode by displaying list LI3.

[0120] As shown in Figure 11, list LI2 includes items such as "No.", "Device Identification Information", and "Device Type". In the first modified example, the notification unit 33 displays multiple checkboxes CB2 corresponding to each of the multiple lighting devices A1 within list LI2. In addition, the notification unit 33 of the first modified example displays a release mode button BU2 simultaneously with list LI2.

[0121] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 12, list LI3 includes items such as "No.", "Device Identification Information", "Device Type", and "Remaining Time". In the first modified example, the notification unit 33 displays multiple checkboxes CB3 within list LI3, each corresponding to one or more lighting devices A1 whose operating mode is set to unregister mode. In addition, the notification unit 33 of the first modified example displays an unregister button BU1 and a cancel button BU3 simultaneously with list LI3.

[0122] (5-2) Second Modified Example In the wireless communication system S1 of the above embodiment, the mode change condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode, or that the cancellation reception unit 304 receives a cancellation operation. In contrast, the mode change condition in the wireless communication system S1 of the second modified example is that, in addition to the mode change condition in the above embodiment, a specific time has arrived. That is, the mode change condition in the wireless communication system S1 of the second modified example is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting unit 323 set the operating mode of the lighting device A1 to the unregister mode, that the cancellation reception unit 304 receives a cancellation operation, or that a specific time has arrived. In other words, in the second modified example, the mode setting unit 323 changes the operating mode of the lighting device A1, which is set to the unregister mode, from the unregister mode to a mode different from the unregister mode when a specific time has arrived. The "specific time" referred to here is a time that is set in advance, for example, at midnight.

[0123] (5-3) Other Modifications The following lists other modifications of the embodiments described above.

[0124] The entity executing the wireless communication system S1 or wireless communication method in this disclosure includes a computer system. The computer system mainly consists of a processor and memory as hardware. The processor executes a program recorded in the memory of the computer system, thereby realizing the function of the entity executing the wireless communication system S1 or wireless communication method in this disclosure. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, provided via a telecommunication line, or provided on a non-temporary recording medium such as a memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive that can be read by the computer system. The processor of the computer system consists of one or more electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) or large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs). The integrated circuits such as ICs and LSIs referred to here are named differently depending on the degree of integration, and include integrated circuits called system LSIs, VLSIs (Very Large Scale Integrations), or ULSIs (Ultra Large Scale Integrations). Furthermore, FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) that are programmed after the manufacture of the LSI, or logic devices that allow for the reconfiguration of junction relationships or circuit compartments within the LSI, can also be used as processors. Multiple electronic circuits may be integrated onto a single chip or distributed across multiple chips. Multiple chips may be integrated onto a single device or distributed across multiple devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microcontroller also consists of one or more electronic circuits, including semiconductor integrated circuits or large-scale integrated circuits.

[0125] Furthermore, it is not essential for the wireless communication system S1 to have multiple functions integrated into a single housing; the components of the wireless communication system S1 may be distributed across multiple housings.

[0126] Conversely, in the above embodiment, at least some of the functions of the wireless communication system S1, which are distributed across multiple devices, may be consolidated into a single housing. For example, some of the functions of the wireless communication system S1, which are distributed across the lighting device A1 and the sensor device B1, may be consolidated into a single housing.

[0127] Each of the multiple lighting devices A1 may have a control unit 14 that functions as a deactivation reception unit 302. That is, each of the multiple lighting devices A1 may have a control unit 14 that receives a deactivation operation from the communication network NW1 to deregister the lighting device A1 having the control unit 14.

[0128] (Summary) The wireless communication system (S1) of the first embodiment comprises an illumination device (A1), a setting device (3), and a deactivation reception unit (302). The illumination device (A1) has a light source unit (10) that emits illumination light, and a control unit (14) that controls the light source unit (10). The setting device (3) is wirelessly communicative with the illumination device (A1) and performs settings related to the illumination device (A1) which is registered in the communication network (NW1). The deactivation reception unit (302) receives a deactivation operation to deregister the illumination device (A1) from the communication network (NW1). When the deactivation reception unit (302) receives a deactivation operation, the control unit (14) of the illumination device (A1) controls the light source unit (10) to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of illumination light at the time the deactivation reception unit (302) received the deactivation operation.

[0129] This embodiment has the advantage that a lighting device (A1) that has been deregistered from the communication network (NW1) can maintain the output it had before being deregistered.

[0130] In the second embodiment of the wireless communication system (S1), in the first embodiment, the setting device (3) has a mode setting unit (323) that sets the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) to the unregister mode. The unregister acceptance unit (302) accepts an unregister operation when the operating mode is set to the unregister mode.

[0131] This embodiment has the advantage of preventing accidental unregistration of the lighting device (A1) from the communication network (NW1).

[0132] In the third embodiment of the wireless communication system (S1), in the second embodiment, when the operating mode is set to the unregister mode, the control unit (14) of the lighting device (A1) maintains the control content that was performed on the light source unit (10) before receiving the different control command when it receives a control command different from the specific control command.

[0133] This embodiment has the advantage of preventing the light source unit (10) of the lighting device (A1) that has been unregistered from the communication network (NW1) from emitting illumination light in an unintended pattern.

[0134] In the wireless communication system (S1) of the fourth embodiment, in the third embodiment, the specific control command includes a control command that causes the control unit (14) to perform blinking control to blink the light source unit (10).

[0135] This embodiment has the advantage of preventing the accidental deregistration of a lighting device (A1) from the communication network (NW1) when it is different from the lighting device (A1) that needs to be deregistered from the communication network (NW1).

[0136] In the wireless communication system (S1) of the fifth embodiment, in the fourth embodiment, the specific control command further includes a control command that causes the control unit (14) to execute a control that returns the light source unit (10) to the state before the flashing control after a predetermined time has elapsed since the flashing control.

[0137] This embodiment has the advantage of being able to better suppress the output of the lighting device (A1) that has been unregistered from the communication network (NW1) from being different from what was intended.

[0138] In the wireless communication system (S1) of the sixth embodiment, in any one of the second to fifth embodiments, the mode setting unit (323) changes the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) from the unregistered mode to a mode different from the unregistered mode when the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) is set to the unregistered mode and the mode change conditions are met before the unregistered operation is accepted by the unregistered reception unit (302).

[0139] This embodiment has the advantage of being able to further suppress the acceptance of erroneous operations that mistakenly unregister the lighting device (A1) from the communication network (NW1) while the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) is continuously set to the unregister mode.

[0140] In the wireless communication system (S1) of the seventh embodiment, in the sixth embodiment, the mode change condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting unit (323) set the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) to the unregistered mode.

[0141] This embodiment has the advantage of preventing the lighting device (A1) from unintentionally remaining in the unregistered mode.

[0142] In the wireless communication system (S1) of the eighth embodiment, in the sixth or seventh embodiment, the setting device (3) further includes a cancellation reception unit that receives a cancellation operation to cancel the unregistering of the lighting device (A1) from the communication network (NW1). The mode change condition is that the cancellation reception unit receives a cancellation operation.

[0143] This embodiment has the advantage that the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) can be changed from the unregister mode to a mode different from the unregister mode at any time.

[0144] In the wireless communication system (S1) of the ninth embodiment, in any one of the second to eighth embodiments, the setting device (3) further includes a notification unit (33) that notifies whether or not the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) is set to the unregister mode.

[0145] This embodiment has the advantage that it is easy to check whether the operating mode of the lighting device (A1) is set to the unregister mode.

[0146] A wireless communication method according to a tenth embodiment includes a deactivation acceptance step (ST3) and a control step (ST4). In the deactivation acceptance step (ST3), a deactivation operation is received from a communication network (NW1) to deactivate an illumination device (A1) having a light source unit (10) that emits illumination light. In the control step (ST4), if a deactivation operation is received in the deactivation acceptance step (ST3), the light source unit (10) is controlled to maintain a specific pattern, which is the pattern of illumination light at the time the deactivation operation was received in the deactivation acceptance step (ST3).

[0147] This embodiment has the advantage that a lighting device (A1) that has been deregistered from the communication network (NW1) can maintain the output it had before being deregistered.

[0148] The program according to the eleventh embodiment is a program that causes one or more processors to execute the wireless communication method according to the tenth embodiment.

[0149] This embodiment has the advantage that a lighting device (A1) that has been deregistered from the communication network (NW1) can maintain the output it had before being deregistered.

[0150] The configurations relating to the second to ninth aspects are not essential to the wireless communication system (S1) and can be omitted as appropriate.

[0151] 3 Setting device 302 Cancellation reception unit 304 Cancellation reception unit 323 Mode setting unit 33 Notification unit 10 Light source unit 14 Control unit A1 Lighting device NW1 Communication network S1 Wireless communication system ST3 Cancellation reception step ST4 Control step

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising: a lighting device having a light source unit that emits illumination light and a control unit that controls the light source unit; a setting device that is wirelessly communicable with the lighting device and performs settings related to the lighting device which is registered in a communication network; and a deactivation reception unit that receives a deactivation operation to deactivate the lighting device from the communication network, wherein the control unit of the lighting device controls the light source unit to maintain a specific pattern which is the pattern of the illumination light at the time the deactivation reception unit received the deactivation operation.

2. The wireless communication system according to claim 1, wherein the setting device has a mode setting unit that sets the operating mode of the lighting device to the unregister mode, and the unregistering reception unit accepts the unregistering operation when the operating mode of the lighting device is set to the unregister mode.

3. The wireless communication system according to claim 2, wherein, when the operating mode of the lighting device is set to the unregister mode, the control unit maintains the control content that was performed on the light source unit before receiving the different control command when it receives a control command different from the specific control command.

4. The wireless communication system according to claim 3, wherein the specific control command includes a control command that causes the control unit to perform blinking control to blink the light source unit.

5. The wireless communication system according to claim 4, wherein the specific control command further includes a control command that causes the control unit to execute a control to return the light source unit to the state before the flashing control after a predetermined time has elapsed since the flashing control.

6. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the mode setting unit changes the operating mode of the lighting device from the unregister mode to a mode different from the unregister mode when the mode change condition is met before the unregister acceptance unit accepts the unregister operation, in the case where the operating mode of the lighting device is set to the unregister mode.

7. The wireless communication system according to claim 6, wherein the mode change condition is that a predetermined time has elapsed since the mode setting unit set the operating mode of the lighting device to the unregister mode.

8. The wireless communication system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the setting device further includes a cancellation reception unit that receives a cancellation operation to cancel the unregistration of the lighting device from the communication network, and the mode change condition is that the cancellation reception unit receives the cancellation operation.

9. The wireless communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 8, wherein the setting device further comprises a notification unit that notifies whether or not the operating mode of the lighting device is set to the unregister mode.

10. A wireless communication method comprising: a deactivation reception step for receiving a deactivation operation to deactivate a lighting device having a light source unit that emits illumination light from a communication network; and a control step, when the deactivation operation is received in the deactivation reception step, controlling the light source unit to maintain a specific pattern which is the pattern of the illumination light at the time the deactivation operation was received in the deactivation reception step.

11. A program for causing one or more processors to execute the wireless communication method described in claim 10.

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