Control method, component, and wireless system

Abstract

A control method for a wireless system (lighting control system (10)) comprising a plurality of components that form a wireless network and a terminal device (90) that receives a user operation, said control method including: a step in which the terminal device (90) determines an ID for distinguishing the wireless system from another wireless system; a step in which first access authentication is used to register a new component in the wireless system for which the ID has been determined, as one of the plurality of components; a step (S13) in which a special signal is transmitted to another component that is registered in the other wireless system, to cause said other component to permit second access authentication differing from the first access authentication; and a step (S16 and S18) in which the second access authentication is used to cause the other component that has received the special signal to cancel registration in the other system.

Description

Control Method, Component, and Wireless System

[0001] The present invention relates to a control method, a component, and a wireless system.

[0002] As a wireless system capable of easily detecting an illumination device with an incorrect pairing setting, Patent Document 1 discloses a setting device.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2022-147853

[0004] The present invention provides a control method and the like for making the system registration state more appropriate in a control method of a wireless system.

[0005] A control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a control method of a wireless system including a plurality of components that construct a wireless network capable of communicating with each other and a terminal device having a user interface for receiving a user's operation, the method including: a step of the terminal device determining an ID for specifying the wireless system from other wireless systems; a step of registering a new component as one of the plurality of components in the wireless system for which the ID has been determined by first access authentication; a step of transmitting a special signal to other components registered in the other wireless system to permit second access authentication different from the first access authentication; and a step of causing the other components that have received the special signal to cancel registration to the other wireless system by the second access authentication.

[0006] A component according to one aspect of the present invention is one of a plurality of components of a wireless system comprising a plurality of components that constitute a wireless network capable of communicating with each other, and a terminal device having a user interface for accepting user operations, wherein the terminal device has a determination unit that determines an ID for identifying the wireless system from other wireless systems, and a registration unit that registers a new component as one of the plurality of components to the wireless system whose ID has been determined by first access authentication, wherein the component includes a transmission unit that transmits a special signal to other components registered with the other wireless systems in accordance with a transmission command from the terminal device to permit a second access authentication different from the first access authentication, and a deactivation unit that causes the other components that have received the special signal to deregister from the other wireless systems by second access authentication.

[0007] A wireless system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises a plurality of components that form a wireless network capable of communicating with each other, and a terminal device having a user interface for receiving user operations, the wireless system comprising: a determination unit that determines an ID for identifying the wireless system from other wireless systems; a registration unit that registers a new component as one of the plurality of components to the wireless system whose ID has been determined by first access authentication; a transmission unit that transmits a special signal to other components registered with the other wireless system to permit a second access authentication different from the first access authentication; and a deactivation unit that, upon receiving the special signal, causes the other component to deregister from the other wireless system by second access authentication.

[0008] The control method and other features of the present invention allow for more appropriate system registration status.

[0009] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a lighting control system according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an indoor space to which the lighting control system according to an embodiment is applied. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a wireless mesh network. Figure 4 is a communication sequence diagram showing the control method of the wireless system according to an embodiment.

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection configurations of components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, components in the following embodiments that are not described in an independent claim will be described as optional components.

[0011] Please note that each figure is a schematic diagram and not necessarily a strictly accurate representation. Furthermore, in each figure, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0012] (Embodiment) [Configuration] First, the configuration of the wireless system according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a lighting control system, which is an example of a wireless system according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an indoor space to which the lighting control system according to the embodiment is applied. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lighting control system 10 comprises a plurality of lighting fixtures 20, a plurality of lighting control devices 30, a relay device 40, a management device 50, and terminal equipment 90. The number of plurality of lighting fixtures 20 and the number of plurality of lighting control devices 30 provided in the lighting control system 10 are not particularly limited. Although the relay device 40 and the management device 50 are shown as examples of components, the relay device 40 and the management device 50 are not essential components in the lighting control system 10 according to the present invention.

[0013] The lighting fixture 20 is a base light or the like that is installed on the ceiling of the indoor space 60 to illuminate the indoor space 60. The form of the lighting fixture 20 is not particularly limited and may be a ceiling light, downlight, or spotlight, etc. Specifically, the lighting fixture 20 comprises a wireless communication unit 21, a light source 22, a control unit 23, and a storage unit 24.

[0014] The wireless communication unit 21 is a wireless communication circuit for the lighting fixture 20 to communicate wirelessly (more specifically, via radio waves) with the lighting control device 30. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 21 communicates wirelessly according to a communication standard such as BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) or Bluetooth® mesh, but is not particularly limited to the communication standard.

[0015] The light source 22 emits white light into the indoor space 60 so that the lighting fixture 20 can illuminate the indoor space 60. The light source 22 is implemented by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element, but may also be implemented by other light-emitting elements such as a semiconductor laser, organic EL (Electro-Luminescence), or inorganic EL.

[0016] The control unit 23 controls the light emission of the lighting fixture 20 (light source 22). Light emission control includes turning on the light, turning off the light, dimming, color temperature control, and light distribution control. The control unit 23 is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be implemented by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The functions of the control unit 23 are realized by the execution of a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 24 by the hardware, such as the microcomputer or processor that constitutes the control unit 23.

[0017] The memory unit 24 is a storage device that stores various information necessary for the control unit 23 to perform light emission control, such as computer programs executed by the control unit 23. The memory unit 24 is implemented, for example, by a semiconductor memory.

[0018] The lighting control device 30 is a lighting control device with an integrated motion sensor 31. The lighting control device 30 is installed on the ceiling or wall of the indoor space 60 and controls the lighting fixtures 20 when it detects a person. The lighting control device 30 comprises a motion sensor 31, a wireless communication unit 32, a control unit 33, and a storage unit 34.

[0019] The motion sensor 31 detects the presence or absence of a person in the indoor space 60 (in the detection target area). The motion sensor 31 may be implemented by, for example, a pyroelectric sensor (infrared sensor) that detects infrared radiation emitted from a person's body. The motion sensor 31 may also be implemented by an image sensor (camera) that captures an image of the indoor space 60 and detects the presence or absence of a person in the indoor space 60 by image analysis. In addition, the lighting control system 10 may be equipped with a brightness sensor that detects the brightness of the indoor space 60, either in place of the motion sensor 31 or in addition to the motion sensor 31.

[0020] The wireless communication unit 32 is a wireless communication circuit for the lighting control device 30 to communicate wirelessly (more specifically, via radio waves) with multiple lighting fixtures 20. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 32 communicates wirelessly according to a communication standard such as BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) or Bluetooth® mesh, but is not particularly limited to any communication standard.

[0021] The control unit 33 performs information processing to generate and transmit a control signal (second control signal) for controlling the lighting fixture 20 when a person is detected by the motion sensor 31. The control unit 33 is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be implemented by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The functions of the control unit 33 are realized by the execution of a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 34 by the hardware, such as the microcomputer or processor that constitutes the control unit 33.

[0022] The memory unit 34 is a storage device that stores various types of information used by the control unit 33, such as computer programs executed by the control unit 33. The memory unit 34 is implemented, for example, by a semiconductor memory.

[0023] The relay device 40 unicasts a second notification signal, obtained from a first notification signal received from each of the multiple lighting control devices 30, to each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 at predetermined time intervals. The first notification signal is a notification signal for each of the multiple lighting control devices 30 to notify the lighting fixtures belonging to its controlled group of the target dimming state to which they should transition at this time. The second notification signal is a notification signal for the multiple lighting fixtures 20 to notify the target dimming state to which they should transition at this time. The relay device 40 may be any communication node belonging to the wireless mesh network, and may be a lighting fixture, a lighting control device, or other device such as a scheduler. The relay device 40 may also be a communication device dedicated to relaying notification signals. Although not shown in Figure 1, the relay device 40 comprises at least a wireless communication unit, a control unit, and a storage unit.

[0024] The management device 50 periodically transmits synchronization signals to the multiple lighting fixtures 20, multiple lighting control devices 30, and relay device 40 at predetermined time intervals to synchronize the time of the multiple lighting fixtures 20, multiple lighting control devices 30, and relay device 40. The management device 50 is, for example, a scheduler for generating and transmitting control signals (first control signals) to control the multiple lighting fixtures 20 according to a pre-set schedule, but it may be any other device. Although not shown in Figure 1, the management device 50 includes at least a wireless communication unit, a control unit, and a storage unit.

[0025] Multiple lighting fixtures 20, lighting control devices 30, relay devices 40, and management devices 50 constitute a wireless mesh network as an example of a wireless network. In other words, the multiple lighting fixtures 20, lighting control devices 30, relay devices 40, and management devices 50 are all components. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram of a wireless mesh network. In Figure 3, each circle corresponds to a single communication node (one lighting fixture 20, one lighting control device 30, one relay device 40, or one management device 50), and the dashed lines connecting the circles indicate the communication path. In a wireless mesh network, various types of information, such as control signals, are transmitted, for example, using a routing method. Specifically, when information is transmitted from a first communication node to a second communication node, the information is relayed by one or more other communication nodes as needed along the path shown by the dashed lines in Figure 3. Note that in a wireless mesh network, information may also be transmitted using other methods such as flooding.

[0026] Returning to Figures 1 and 2, the terminal device 90 is a device that manages the devices (in other words, components) participating in the wireless mesh network constructed as described above by connecting to it. In Figure 1, the terminal device 90 is shown connected to the management device 50, but the terminal device 90 may be connected to any device other than the management device 50, as long as it is connected to any of the devices participating in the wireless mesh network. The terminal device 90 has a user interface and can accept input operations from the user. The terminal device 90 is a device with information processing capabilities such as a smartphone, tablet, or PC owned by the user. The terminal device 90 has the following functional configuration by executing a predetermined program using a processor and memory. Specifically, the terminal device 90 comprises a determination unit 91, a registration unit 92, a transmission unit 93, and a cancellation unit 94.

[0027] The determination unit 91 is a functional unit that determines an ID for identifying the wireless mesh network managed by the terminal device 90 from other wireless mesh networks. In other words, components registered with a common ID in a wireless mesh network are considered to be participating in the same wireless mesh network, enabling wireless communication between them.

[0028] The registration unit 92 itself includes a storage unit and manages participating components in a single managed wireless mesh network using registration information linked to an ID. When a new component is to be registered, it is registered by storing the new component in the storage unit along with the determined ID. To register a new component, communication with the new component is established through first access authentication (hereinafter also referred to as general access authentication), and information regarding the wireless mesh network is sent and received to the new component. General access authentication is performed using a transmission unit for information transmission and reception (not shown), but the information transmission and reception functions of the transmission unit 93 described below may also be used.

[0029] The transmission unit 93 is a functional unit used when performing a second access authentication (hereinafter also referred to as special access authentication) that is different from the general access authentication described above. Specifically, when a component (another component) is mistakenly registered with another mesh network, the transmission unit 93 and the deregistration unit 94 described later are used to have the other component deregister.

[0030] The transmitting unit 93 is a functional unit that transmits a special signal to other components that have been registered in other wireless mesh networks, as described above, to grant special access authentication. For example, the transmitting unit 93 uses the communication of the wireless mesh network to transmit a command to switch the disabled Bluetooth advertisement to an enabled state along with the special signal. Such a command may be transmitted in the same communication packet as the special signal, or in a separate communication packet following the special signal. This enables the disabled communication function to be activated and secures the communication path. The transmitting unit 93 also transmits a command along with the special signal to deny access to data stored in other components. Such a command may be transmitted in the same communication packet as the special signal, or in a separate communication packet following the special signal. This makes it more difficult to use the special signal for malicious purposes such as data extraction. Furthermore, the function of transmitting the special signal requires higher privileges, including broader privileges than the user's user privileges. Therefore, the function of the transmitting unit 93 can be enabled by requiring re-login to the terminal device 90 with higher privileges.

[0031] When the transmitter 93 transmits a special signal, the other components are granted special access authentication. Then, the terminal device 90 performs special access authentication, and once the other components approve it, communication is established between the terminal device 90 and the other components.

[0032] The deactivation unit 94 is a functional unit that transmits a command to deactivate other components from registration to other wireless mesh networks via communication requiring special access authentication established as described above. When the command to deactivate from registration to other wireless mesh networks is received by other components, the other components deactivate their registration to other wireless mesh networks. Note that the transmission unit 93 and deactivation unit 94 do not necessarily have to be provided in the terminal device 90 itself. For example, they may be provided in a component capable of communicating with other components, or in a special tool for maintaining the wireless system that is specifically provided for the deactivation operation described above. In other words, it is possible to realize a component having the transmission unit 93 and deactivation unit 94, or a special tool having the transmission unit 93 and deactivation unit 94. Furthermore, the transmission unit 93 and deactivation unit 94 may be provided in any configuration of the lighting control system 10 to realize a lighting control system 10 capable of deactivation operations. Also, the transmission unit 93 and deactivation unit 94 may be provided in each of the different configurations. For example, it is possible to configure a lighting control system 10 that includes a special tool having the transmission unit 93 and a terminal device 90 having the deactivation unit 94.

[0033] [Unregistering Other Components] The operation of unregistering other components registered in other wireless mesh networks in the lighting control system 10 will be explained with reference to Figure 4. Figure 4 is a communication sequence diagram showing a control method for a wireless system according to an embodiment. In Figure 4, in addition to the terminal equipment 90 and other components, a lighting fixture 20 is shown as an example of a component for transmitting special signals to other components. Also in Figure 4, a special access server for granting higher-level privileges is shown. The special access server is a server device managed by the manufacturer / distributor of the lighting fixture 20, etc., and performs information processing to grant higher-level privileges to the terminal equipment 90 in response to a legitimate application for higher-level privileges from a user.

[0034] First, the user operates the terminal device 90 to obtain higher privileges. Specifically, as shown in Figure 4, the user sends information requesting higher privileges to the special access server. The special access server determines whether this request is a legitimate procedure and grants higher privileges to the terminal device 90. For example, the server provides a temporary login ID and password with higher privileges. The user uses this login ID and password to log in to the terminal device 90 with higher privileges (S11). As a result, higher privileges are granted to the terminal device 90, enabling the transmission of special signals and special access authentication operations. Note that this login ID and password are temporary and will become unusable after several tens of minutes to several hours.

[0035] The user performs an operation from terminal device 90 to transmit a special signal (S12). The terminal device 90 then transmits a special signal transmission command to the component on the connected wireless mesh network, i.e., the lighting fixture 20 in the figure. Upon receiving the special signal transmission command, the lighting fixture 20 transmits the special signal to each component on the wireless mesh network. If another component receives the special signal, it transmits a reception log indicating that it received this special signal to another component included in the other wireless mesh network to which that component is registered (S13). Alternatively, since the other component remains in the other wireless mesh network at this point, it may store the reception log in the other component instead of transmitting it to the other component. This reception log indicates that one of the registered components in the other wireless mesh network is in the pre-deregistration stage. By checking the reception log using a terminal device or similar in the other wireless mesh network, it is possible to know that an attempt was made to deregister a component. For example, if an attempt was made to deregister an unauthorized component, this can be determined from the reception log.

[0036] Next, other components determine whether or not to permit special access authentication for the received special signal (S14). The determination of whether to permit special access authentication is made by analyzing the reception state of the wireless communication and the payload of the special signal when the special signal is received. For example, if it is considered that the special signal was received during a relatively short-range, stable communication, it is determined that special access authentication should be permitted. For example, if the special signal is received during an unstable communication from a relatively long distance, it is likely that it is an unintended deregistration process or an unauthorized deregistration process, so it is determined that special access authentication should not be permitted. In addition, if the special signal is received from a component registered in the same wireless mesh network, it may also be determined that special access authentication should not be permitted.

[0037] Next, if special access authentication is permitted as described above, an authorization log indicating that special access authentication has been permitted is sent to another component included in the other wireless mesh network in which the other component is registered (S15). At this point, since the other component is still included in the other wireless mesh network, the authorization log may be stored in the other component instead of being sent to it. This authorization log means that one of the registered components in the other wireless mesh network is in the stage before undergoing the deregistration process, and by checking the authorization log on a terminal device or the like in the other wireless mesh network, it can be determined that special access authentication for deregistration of the component has been granted. For example, if special access authentication for deregistration of an unauthorized component has been granted, this can be determined from the authorization log.

[0038] If special access authentication is permitted, special access authentication can be performed from terminal device 90. Specifically, the user performs an operation to perform special access authentication using terminal device 90 (S16). When several pieces of information for special access authentication are sent and received between terminal device 90 and other components and communication is established, an establishment log indicating that communication has been established between terminal device 90 and other components by special access authentication is sent to another component included in the other wireless mesh network to which the other component is registered, before authorization is given to terminal device 90 (S17). Alternatively, step S17 may be performed immediately after several pieces of information for special access authentication have been sent and received and authorization has been given by the other component.

[0039] From this point onward, it becomes increasingly likely that other components will no longer be included in other wireless mesh networks, and storing the establishment log in other components is insufficient; therefore, it is necessary to send it to another component. In addition, it is desirable that the receive log and permission log stored in other components prior to this point be sent to another component at the same time as or before step S17. Note that the transmission of the establishment log in step S17 does not necessarily have to be performed at this point, as it may be possible to transmit it later. In other words, in step S17, only the storage of the establishment log in other components may be performed, and its transmission may be omitted.

[0040] This establishment log indicates that one of the registered components in another wireless mesh network is undergoing the deregistration process. By checking the establishment log on a terminal device in the other wireless mesh network, it is possible to know that communication using special access authentication for deregistration of the component has been established. For example, if communication using special access authentication for deregistration of an unauthorized component has been established, this can be determined from the establishment log.

[0041] Once approval is received from the other components, communication between the terminal device 90 and the other components becomes possible.

[0042] Then, the user performs an operation for deregistration by the terminal device 90 (S18). Then, a deregistration command is transmitted to other components via the established communication. In other components, when the deregistration command is received, a deregistration log indicating that the deregistration command has been received in the communication established by the approval of the special access authentication is transmitted to another component included in another wireless mesh network in which the other component is registered (S19). Also, the reception log, permission log, and establishment log previously stored in other components may be transmitted to another component simultaneously with or before step S19.

[0043] This deregistration log means that in another wireless mesh network, one of the registered components is in the process of completing the deregistration process. In another wireless mesh network, by checking the deregistration log on a terminal device or the like, it is possible to know that a deregistration command has been received in the communication established by the approval of the special access authentication. For example, if a deregistration command has been received in the communication established by the special access authentication for deregistration of an unauthorized component, this can be known from the deregistration log.

[0044] Then, the registration for other wireless mesh networks that are registered at that time is canceled (S20).

[0045] Then, from the terminal device 90, a component whose registration has been canceled can be newly registered in a wireless mesh network by general access authentication. For example, the ID of the wireless mesh network for which the component is to be registered is specified (determined) from the terminal device 90, and general access authentication is performed between the terminal device 90 and the component to register the component in the wireless mesh network with the above ID. As described above, when the registration state of the component to the system (system registration state) in the lighting control system 10 is incorrect, it is possible to cancel and re-register the registration, and the registration state can be made appropriate.

[0046] [Effects, etc.] Hereinafter, the invention obtained from the disclosure of this specification will be exemplified, and the effects, etc. obtained from the invention will be described.

[0047] Invention 1 is a control method for a wireless system (lighting control system 10) including a plurality of components that construct a wireless network capable of communicating with each other and a terminal device 90 having a user interface for receiving a user's operation, the method including: a step in which the terminal device 90 determines an ID for specifying the wireless system from other wireless systems; a step in which a new component is registered as one of the plurality of components in the wireless system with the determined ID by first access authentication; a step (S13) of transmitting a special signal to other components registered in other wireless systems to permit second access authentication different from the first access authentication; and a step (S16 and S18) of causing other components that have received the special signal to cancel registration in other wireless systems by second access authentication.

[0048] In such a control method, by receiving the transmitted special signal and a cancellation command via second access authentication, it is possible to cancel the registration of other components registered in other wireless systems. For example, when the registration status of a component is incorrect, registration can be cancelled and re-registered. Therefore, the system registration status can be made more appropriate.

[0049] Invention 2 is the control method according to Invention 1, wherein the special signal is transmitted using at least one of the terminal device 90, the plurality of components, and a special tool for maintaining the wireless system.

[0050] In such a control method, the special signal can be transmitted using at least one of the terminal device 90, the plurality of components, and a special tool for maintaining the wireless system.

[0051] Invention 3 is the control method according to Invention 2, wherein the terminal device 90 has a management function for managing the user authority of a user, and the transmission of the special signal and the second access authentication are enabled by granting a higher authority including an authority wider than the user authority.

[0052] This control method allows the transmission of special signals and secondary access authentication to be enabled by requiring higher privileges, which include broader privileges than user privileges. In other words, user privileges can be prevented from unregistering other components that are registered with other wireless systems.

[0053] Invention 4 is the control method described in Invention 2, wherein the special signal includes at least one of a command to switch the enabled and disabled state of a specific function relating to communication, and a command to deny data access.

[0054] In this control method, the transmitted special signal can cause other components to switch between enabling and disabling specific communication functions, and to deny data access, or at least one of the other.

[0055] Invention 5 is the control method described in Invention 4, wherein the special signal includes a command to switch the Bluetooth advertisement, which is in an inactive state, to an active state.

[0056] This control method allows you to switch Bluetooth advertising from a disabled state to an enabled state.

[0057] Invention 6 is a control method described in any one of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein after receiving a special signal, it is determined whether or not to permit the second access authentication (S14), and the second access authentication can be performed only if it is determined to permit it.

[0058] With this control method, other components can also determine whether or not to allow a second access authentication after receiving a special signal, making it easy to prevent unregistration from other wireless systems.

[0059] Invention 7 is a control method according to Invention 5 or 6, which includes step (S15) of transmitting a second access authentication authorization log to another component in another wireless system when another component that has received a special signal authorizes the second access authentication, and storing the authorization log in the other component.

[0060] With this control method, the authorization log can indicate when special access authentication for unregistering other components has been granted.

[0061] Invention 8 is a control method according to any one of Inventions 1 to 7, comprising the step (S13) of the other component that has received a special signal transmitting a reception log of the special signal to another component included in another wireless system, and storing the reception log in the other component.

[0062] This control method allows the received log to indicate that an attempt has been made to unregister another component.

[0063] Invention 9 is a control method according to any one of Inventions 1 to 8, which includes the step (S17) of transmitting a log of the establishment of communication by second access authentication to another component included in the other wireless system when another component that has received a special signal permits second access authentication and approves the second access authentication and communication is established.

[0064] This control method allows the establishment log to indicate that communication has been established using special access authentication for unregistering other components.

[0065] Invention 10 is a control method according to any one of Inventions 1 to 9, the deactivation step includes transmitting a deactivation command to another component to deactivate registration to another wireless system, the other component which receives the special signal permits second access authentication, communication is established by second access authentication, and when a deactivation command is received in the established communication, transmits a deactivation log indicating that a deactivation command has been received to another component included in the other wireless system (S19).

[0066] In this control method, the deregistration log can indicate that a deregistration command was received in the communication established by the approval of the second access authentication.

[0067] Invention 11 is a control method according to any one of Inventions 1 to 10, wherein the component includes at least one of a lighting fixture 20 having a light source and equipment for controlling the light source (such as a lighting control device 30).

[0068] This control method allows for a more appropriate system registration state in a wireless system that includes at least one component of a lighting fixture 20 having a light source and equipment for controlling the light source.

[0069] Invention 12 is one of a plurality of components of a wireless system comprising a plurality of components that form a wireless network capable of communicating with each other, and a terminal device 90 having a user interface for accepting user operations, wherein the terminal device 90 has a determination unit 91 that determines an ID for identifying the wireless system from other wireless systems, and a registration unit 92 that registers a new component as one of the plurality of components to the wireless system whose ID has been determined by first access authentication, and the component includes a transmission unit 93 that transmits a special signal to other components registered with other wireless systems in accordance with a transmission command from the terminal device to permit a second access authentication different from the first access authentication, and a deactivation unit 94 that causes other components that have received the special signal to deactivate their registration to other wireless systems by second access authentication.

[0070] Such components can achieve the same effect as the control methods described above.

[0071] Invention 13 is a wireless system (lighting control system 10) comprising a plurality of components that form a wireless network capable of communicating with each other, and a terminal device 90 having a user interface for accepting user operations, wherein the wireless system comprises a determination unit 91 that determines an ID for identifying the wireless system from other wireless systems, a registration unit 92 that registers a new component as one of the plurality of components to the wireless system whose ID has been determined by first access authentication, a transmission unit 93 that transmits a special signal to other components registered with other wireless systems to permit a second access authentication different from the first access authentication, and a deactivation unit 94 that causes other components that have received the special signal to deregister from other wireless systems by second access authentication.

[0072] Such wireless systems can achieve the same effects as the control methods described above.

[0073] (Other Embodiments) Although embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0074] For example, in the above embodiment, a process performed by a specific processing unit may be performed by another processing unit. Furthermore, the order of multiple processes may be changed, or multiple processes may be executed in parallel.

[0075] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may also be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0076] Furthermore, each component may be implemented by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or they may be separate circuits. Also, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0077] Furthermore, general or specific embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. Alternatively, they may be implemented as any combination of a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0078] For example, the present invention may be implemented as a lighting control system, lighting fixture, lighting control device, or relay device as described above, or as a method executed by a computer such as a lighting control system, lighting fixture, lighting control device, or relay device. The present invention may be implemented as a program (computer program product) for causing a computer to execute such a method, or as a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0079] Furthermore, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art could conceive, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0080] 10 Lighting control system 20 Lighting fixtures 21, 32 Wireless communication unit 22 Light source 23, 33 Control unit 24, 34 Memory unit 30 Lighting control device 31 Motion sensor 40 Relay device 50 Management device 60 Indoor space 90 Terminal equipment 91 Determination unit 92 Registration unit 93 Transmission unit 94 Deactivation unit

Claims

1. A control method for a wireless system comprising a plurality of components that form a wireless network capable of communicating with each other, and a terminal device having a user interface for accepting user operations, the control method comprising: the step of the terminal device determining an ID for identifying the wireless system from other wireless systems; the step of registering a new component as one of the plurality of components to the wireless system whose ID has been determined by first access authentication; the step of transmitting a special signal to the other component registered with the other wireless system to permit a second access authentication different from the first access authentication; and the step of having the other component that has received the special signal cancel its registration with the other wireless system by second access authentication.

2. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the special signal is transmitted using at least one of the terminal equipment, the plurality of components, and the special tool for maintenance of the wireless system.

3. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device has a management function for managing the user privileges of the user, and the transmission of the special signal and the second access authentication are enabled by granting higher privileges that include privileges broader than the user privileges.

4. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the special signal includes at least one of a command to switch the enabled and disabled state of a specific function relating to communication, and a command to deny data access.

5. The control method according to claim 4, wherein the special signal includes a command to switch the Bluetooth® advertisement, which is in an inactive state, to an active state.

6. The control method according to claim 1, wherein after receiving the special signal, the system determines whether or not to permit the second access authentication, and performs the second access authentication only if it is determined that permission should be granted.

7. The control method according to claim 6, comprising the step of transmitting a second access authentication authorization log to another component included in the other wireless system and storing the authorization log in the other component if the other component that received the special signal authorizes the second access authentication.

8. The control method according to claim 1, comprising the step of the other component that received the special signal transmitting a reception log of the special signal to another component included in the other wireless system, and storing the reception log in the other component.

9. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting a log of the establishment of communication by the second access authentication to another component included in the other wireless system when the other component that has received the special signal permits the second access authentication and approves the second access authentication and communication is established.

10. The control method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of: in the deactivation step, transmitting a deactivation command to the other component to deactivate its registration to the other wireless system; and when the other component that has received the special signal permits the second access authentication, and communication is established by the second access authentication, and the deactivation command is received in the established communication, transmitting a deactivation log indicating that the deactivation command has been received to another component included in the other wireless system.

11. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the component includes at least one of a lighting fixture having a light source and equipment for controlling the light source.

12. A wireless system comprising a plurality of components that form a wireless network capable of communicating with each other, and a terminal device having a user interface for accepting user operations, wherein the terminal device has a determination unit that determines an ID for identifying the wireless system from other wireless systems, and a registration unit that registers a new component as one of the plurality of components to the wireless system whose ID has been determined by first access authentication, and the component includes a transmission unit that transmits a special signal to other components registered with the other wireless systems in accordance with a transmission command from the terminal device to permit a second access authentication different from the first access authentication, and a deactivation unit that causes the other components that have received the special signal to deregister from the other wireless systems by second access authentication.

13. A wireless system comprising a plurality of components that form a wireless network capable of communicating with each other, and a terminal device having a user interface for accepting user operations, the wireless system comprising: a determination unit that determines an ID for identifying the wireless system from other wireless systems; a registration unit that registers a new component as one of the plurality of components to the wireless system whose ID has been determined by first access authentication; a transmission unit that transmits a special signal to other components registered with the other wireless system to permit a second access authentication different from the first access authentication; and a deactivation unit that, upon receiving the special signal, causes the other component to deregister from the other wireless system by second access authentication.

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