JP2022154074A - Lighting control system and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a lighting control system with improved communication reliability.SOLUTION: A lighting control system 1 includes a plurality of lighting fixtures, and a control device 10 that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures. The plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device 10 constitute a mesh network M through wireless communication, and the control device 10 outputs request information requesting a response including information on the light emission state to the plurality of lighting fixtures. The plurality of lighting fixtures includes a first lighting fixture 20a that responds to the request information at the timing when the first time has elapsed after obtaining the request information, and a second lighting fixture 20b that responds to the request information at a timing when a second time different from the first time has elapsed after obtaining the request information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting control system and its control method.

A lighting control system that configures a mesh network is known.

The lighting system disclosed in Patent Literature 1 is an example of a lighting control system that includes a terminal device and a plurality of lighting fixtures forming a mesh network. Lighting of a plurality of lighting fixtures is controlled according to a signal output from a terminal device, which is a control device.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-133218

By the way, in order to manage a plurality of lighting fixtures, there are cases where a control device acquires information on the light emission states of a plurality of lighting fixtures. As an example, the control device outputs request information requesting a response from a plurality of lighting fixtures, and each of the plurality of lighting fixtures that have acquired the request information outputs information regarding the light emission state to the control device and responds to the control device. The device acquires information about the lighting state. However, in the lighting control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of lighting fixtures respond at the same time, interference due to congestion is likely to occur, and the control device may not be able to acquire information regarding the light emission state. Moreover, since the lighting control system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured with a mesh network, interference due to congestion is more likely to occur. In other words, the lighting control system disclosed in Patent Literature 1 has low communication reliability.

The present invention provides a lighting control system with improved communication reliability.

A lighting control system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a plurality of lighting fixtures and a control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures, and the plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device are connected to a mesh network through wireless communication. wherein the control device outputs request information requesting a response including information about a light emitting state to the plurality of lighting fixtures, and the plurality of lighting fixtures receives the request information for a first time after obtaining the request information A first lighting fixture that responds to the request information at a timing after the elapse of the request information; and a lighting fixture.

A lighting control method according to an aspect of the present invention is a lighting control method executed by a lighting control system, wherein the lighting control system includes a plurality of lighting fixtures and a control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures. wherein the plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device form a mesh network through wireless communication, and the control device outputs request information requesting a response including information regarding a light emission state to the plurality of lighting fixtures. , the plurality of lighting fixtures includes a first lighting fixture and a second lighting fixture, and the lighting control method is performed at a timing when a first time has passed after the first lighting fixture acquires the request information. a first response step of responding to the request information; and responding to the request information at a timing when a second time different from the first time has passed since the second lighting fixture acquired the request information. and a second response step of:

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The lighting control system and the control method thereof according to the present invention can improve the reliability of communication.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a lighting control system according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the lighting control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of operation example 1 of the lighting control system according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of Operation Example 2 of the lighting control system according to the embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. Numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, steps, order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Further, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements not described in independent claims will be described as optional constituent elements.

Each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily strictly illustrated. Moreover, in each figure, the same code|symbol is attached|subjected with respect to substantially the same structure, and the overlapping description may be abbreviate|omitted or simplified.

(Embodiment)
[Configuration of lighting control system]
The configuration of the lighting control system 1 according to the embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a lighting control system 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the lighting control system 1 according to this embodiment.

A lighting control system 1 according to the present embodiment is a system that can control lighting and extinguishing of a plurality of lighting fixtures using one control device 10 .

The lighting control system 1 includes a control device 10 and a plurality of lighting fixtures. Here, the lighting control system 1 includes, for example, eight lighting fixtures (first to eighth lighting fixtures 20a to 20h) as the plurality of lighting fixtures. Although the number of lighting fixtures is not particularly limited, the total number of lighting fixtures included in the lighting control system 1 is eight in the present embodiment.

The lighting control system 1 acquires, for example, signals for controlling lighting or extinguishing of a plurality of lighting fixtures output from an information processing terminal 100 operated by a user, and controls the plurality of lighting fixtures. Note that the information processing terminal 100 is, for example, a general-purpose mobile terminal such as a smart phone or a tablet terminal, but may be a dedicated terminal for the lighting control system 1 .

The control device 10 is a device that controls lighting or extinguishing of a plurality of lighting fixtures. In the present embodiment, control device 10 acquires a control signal for controlling lighting or extinguishing output from information processing terminal 100, and controls a plurality of lighting fixtures based on the acquired control signal.

Further, the control device 10 outputs request information to each of the plurality of lighting fixtures. The request information is information for requesting a response including information on the light emission state of the lighting fixture that has acquired the request information from the lighting fixture. That is, the lighting fixture that has acquired the request information responds by outputting information about the light emission state to the control device 10 . The information about the light emitting state includes, for example, information indicating whether the light is on or off when the request information is obtained, and information indicating the cumulative lighting time. Information about the light emission state may be referred to as response information.

The control device 10 includes a control section 11 , a communication section 12 and a storage section 13 .

The control unit 11 controls the plurality of lighting fixtures by causing the communication unit 12 to output control signals. Further, the control unit 11 causes the communication unit 12 to output request information, thereby controlling a plurality of lighting fixtures to respond. The control unit 11 is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer, but may be implemented by a processor.

The communication unit 12 is a communication module (communication circuit) for the control device 10 to communicate with the information processing terminal 100 and each of the lighting fixtures via the local communication network. Communication performed by the communication unit 12 is wireless communication. The communication standard used for communication is also not particularly limited.

The storage unit 13 is a storage device that stores control programs and the like executed by the control unit 11 . The storage unit 13 is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

A plurality of lighting fixtures are light-emitting devices that emit illumination light. The plurality of lighting fixtures are, for example, ceiling lights, downlights, spotlights, etc., but are not limited to these. Here, the first lighting fixture 20a has a fixture control section 21a, a fixture communication section 22a, a fixture storage section 23a, and a light emitting section 24a.

When the appliance communication unit 22a acquires a control signal output from the control device 10, the appliance control unit 21a controls lighting and extinguishing of the light emitting unit 24a based on the acquired control signal. The control unit 11 is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer, but may be implemented by a processor.

When the appliance communication unit 22a acquires the request information output from the control device 10, the appliance control unit 21a responds to the acquired request information. More specifically, the appliance control unit 21a causes the appliance communication unit 22a to output response information in response to the request information to the control device 10 at the timing when the first time has passed since the request information was acquired. That is, the first time is the time from when the appliance communication unit 22a acquires the request information to when it outputs the response information. Note that this first time may be referred to as a delay time. Note that the information indicating the lighting or extinguishing at the time when the request information is acquired, the information indicating the cumulative lighting time, and the like, which are included in the response information, are stored in the appliance storage unit 23a.

The fixture communication unit 22a allows the first lighting fixture 20a to communicate with the control device 10 and the lighting fixtures other than itself among the plurality of lighting fixtures (that is, the second to eighth lighting fixtures 20b to 20h here) via the local communication network. ) is a communication module (communication circuit) for communicating with each of them. Communication performed by the communication unit 12 is wireless communication. The communication standard used for communication is also not particularly limited.

The appliance storage unit 23a is a storage device that stores control programs and the like executed by the appliance control unit 21a. The instrument storage unit 23a is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

The light emitting unit 24a is a light source that emits illumination light. Although the specific configuration of the light emitting unit 24a is not limited, it may be, for example, a fluorescent lamp, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), a halogen lamp, or the like.

The second to eighth lighting fixtures 20b to 20h respectively have fixture control sections 21b to 21h, fixture communication sections 22b to 22h, fixture storage sections 23b to 23h, and light emitting sections 24b to 24h.

That is, one lighting fixture has one fixture control section, one fixture communication section, one fixture storage section, and one light emitting section as one set.

Each of the appliance control units 21b to 21h is the appliance control unit 21a, each of the appliance communication units 22b to 22h is the appliance communication unit 22a, and each of the appliance storage units 23b to 23h is the appliance storage unit 23a and the light emitting units 24b to 24h. have the same function as the light emitting section 24a.

In addition, the fixture control unit 21b of the second lighting fixture 20b sends a response to the request information to the fixture communication unit 22b at a timing when a second time different from the first time has passed since the acquisition of the request information. Information is output toward the control device 10 .

Further, the fixture control units 21c to 21h of the third to eighth lighting fixtures 20c to 20h send the request information to the fixture communication units 22c to 22h, respectively, at the timing when a predetermined time has passed since the acquisition of the request information. The response information for responding is output toward the control device 10 . Specifically, the predetermined time is the 3rd time for the instrument control section 21c, the 4th time for the instrument control section 21d, the 5th time for the instrument control section 21e, the 6th time for the instrument control section 21f, and the instrument control section 21g. In this case, it is the 7th time, and in the appliance control section 21h it is the 8th time. Moreover, each of the second to eighth times may also be described as a delay time.

In addition, the control device 10 and the plurality of lighting fixtures constitute a mesh network M through wireless communication. That is, the control device 10 and each of the plurality of lighting fixtures exist on the same mesh network M.

A mesh network M based on wireless communication is a communication network formed in a mesh shape by transmitting and receiving information (signals) among a plurality of devices having wireless communication functions. Information is transferred over the mesh network M in a bucket brigade fashion.

The control device 10 and the plurality of lighting fixtures are communicably connected by wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark). In addition, the plurality of lighting fixtures are communicably connected to each other by wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy), and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[Operation example 1]
Next, an operation example 1 of the lighting control system 1 will be described.

FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram of Operation Example 1 of the lighting control system 1 according to the present embodiment.

Here, an operation example in which the control device 10 determines the first to eighth times (delay times) will be described.

First, the control device 10 performs determination processing for determining first to eighth times (delay times) for each of the plurality of lighting fixtures (S10).

The control device 10 periodically performs the process of step S10, for example, once a week, once a month, or once a year. Further, for example, the information processing terminal 100 receives an operation for outputting the request information from the user, the information processing terminal 100 outputs information for controlling to output the request information to the control device 10, and the control device 10 receives the information The process of step S10 may be performed when the is acquired.

In step S10, determination processing is performed so that the first time and the second time are different times. More specifically, as an example, the control device 10 performs determination processing for determining the first time and the second time based on random numbers.

Here, the control device 10 generates a random number and determines the time based on the generated random number as the first time. For example, the control device 10 generates a two-digit random number and calculates a numerical value obtained by multiplying the generated two-digit random number by ten. Furthermore, the control device 10 sets the unit of the calculated numerical value to milliseconds, and determines this time as the first time.

Further, the control device 10 generates a random number and determines a time based on the generated random number as the second time. Controller 10 determines the second time in the same manner as it determined the first time. By determining the first time and the second time based on random numbers in this way, the first time and the second time can be easily determined.

Note that the control device 10 may refer to a table showing random numbers stored in the storage unit 13 to determine the random numbers, and determine the first time and the second time based on the determined random numbers.

Further, when the determined first time and second time are the same, the control device 10 may perform the determination process (that is, step S10) again. By performing the determination process again in this manner, the first time and the second time are likely to have different values.

Furthermore, in step S10, it is preferable to perform determination processing so that the first to eighth times are different times. In other words, the delay times of all lighting fixtures included in the lighting control system 1 are determined to be different from each other. When the first to eighth times are different from each other, the control device 10 determines the third to eighth times by the same method (method using random numbers) as in the case of determining the first time and the second time. should be determined.

Next, the communication unit 12 of the control device 10 outputs request information requesting a response to each of the plurality of lighting fixtures (S20). In operation example 1, the response information may include information indicating the determined first to eighth times.

Next, the first lighting fixture 20a acquires the request information output by the communication unit 12, and responds by outputting the response information at the timing when the first time has passed since the acquisition of the request information (S30 ). Note that this step S30 corresponds to the first response step.

Further, the second lighting fixture 20b acquires the request information output by the communication unit 12, and outputs the response information at the timing when the second time has passed after acquiring the request information (S40). . Note that this step S40 corresponds to the second response step.

Also, although not shown, the third to seventh lighting fixtures 20c to 20g also acquire request information, and transmit response information at timings when the third to seventh times have passed after acquiring the request information. Output and respond. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the eighth lighting fixture 20h acquires the request information output by the communication unit 12, and outputs the response information at the timing when the eighth time has passed since the acquisition of this request information. and respond (S50).

Thus, the first time of the first lighting fixture 20a and the second time of the second lighting fixture 20b are different from each other. That is, the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b do not output the response information at the same timing, and the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b sequentially output the response information. .

As a result, even when the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b respond to the request information, the occurrence of interference due to congestion is suppressed, and the control device 10 can easily acquire response information (information about the light emitting state).

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the delay times of the lighting fixtures are different from each other. In other words, the timing of outputting the response information does not match for each of the plurality of lighting fixtures, and each of the plurality of lighting fixtures sequentially outputs the response information.

Thereby, when a plurality of lighting fixtures respond to the request information, the occurrence of interference due to congestion is suppressed, and the control device 10 can easily acquire the response information (information about the light emission state).

Also, the control unit 11 of the control device 10 determines whether or not the confirmation success rate is less than a predetermined value (S60).

The confirmation success rate indicates the ratio of one or more lighting fixtures that are confirmed by the control device 10 to have responded to the request information among the plurality of lighting fixtures. For example, when the response information output from the device communication unit of one lighting device is acquired by the communication unit 12 of the control device 10, the control device 10 confirms that the one lighting device has responded to the request information. deemed to have been Further, for example, when the control device 10 confirms that the first to fourth lighting fixtures 20a to 20d among the first to eighth lighting fixtures 20a to 20h according to the present embodiment have responded to the request information, the confirmation The success rate is 50%.

The predetermined value of the confirmation success rate is, for example, 50% or more and 100% or less, for example, 60% or more and 95% or less, and further for example, 70% or more and 90% or less.

Here, if the confirmation success rate is less than the predetermined value (yes in S60), the control device 10 performs step S10 again. In addition, steps S20, S30, S40, S50 and S60 may be performed. That is, operation example 1 is repeated.

Thus, when the confirmation success rate is less than a predetermined value, that is, when the confirmation success rate is a low value, the control device 10 again outputs the response information from the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b. have the opportunity to acquire

Further, when the confirmation success rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (no in S60), although not shown in FIG. In this case, the display unit realized by a display panel such as an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) panel of the information processing terminal 100 may display the acquired response information. Thereby, the user can know the light emission state of the plurality of lighting fixtures.

Note that the control device 10 may determine the first to eighth times without using random numbers. In this case, the method for determining the first to eighth times by the control device 10 is not particularly limited. Eight hours may be determined. Specifically, the delay times of a plurality of lighting fixtures may be determined such that the closer the distance to the control device 10 is, the shorter the delay time is.

[Operation example 2]
Next, an operation example 2 of the lighting control system 1 will be described.

FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram of Operation Example 2 of the lighting control system 1 according to the present embodiment.

Here, an example in which each of the plurality of lighting fixtures determines the first to eighth times (delay times) will be described.

In Operation Example 2, first, the communication unit 12 of the control device 10 outputs request information requesting a response to each of the plurality of lighting fixtures (S20). In Operation Example 2, the control device 10 periodically performs the process of step S20, for example, once a week, once a month, or once a year. Further, for example, the information processing terminal 100 receives an operation for outputting the request information from the user, the information processing terminal 100 outputs information instructing the control device 10 to output the request information, and the control device 10 outputs the request information. The process of step S20 may be performed when the is acquired. Each of the multiple lighting fixtures acquires the request information output by the communication unit 12 .

Next, the first lighting fixture 20a generates a random number and determines a first time based on the generated random number (S10a). The second lighting fixture 20b generates a random number and determines the second time based on the generated random number (S10b). Similarly, each of the third through seventh lighting fixtures 20c through 20g generates a random number and determines the third through seventh times based on the generated random number. The eighth lighting fixture 20h generates a random number and determines the eighth time based on the generated random number (S10h).

For example, the fixture control unit 21a of the first lighting fixture 20a generates a two-digit random number and calculates a numerical value by multiplying the generated two-digit random number by ten. Furthermore, the appliance control section 21a sets the unit of the calculated numerical value to milliseconds, and determines this time as the first time.

In the second to eighth lighting fixtures 20b to 20h, the fixture controllers 21b to 21h respectively determine the second to eighth times in the same manner as the first time is determined.

Next, the first lighting device 20a responds by outputting the response information at the timing of the lapse of the first time after obtaining the request information (S30).

Further, the second lighting fixture 20b responds by outputting the response information at the timing when the second time has passed since the acquisition of the request information (S40).

Also, although not shown, the third to seventh lighting fixtures 20c to 20g also respond by outputting response information at timings when the third to seventh times have passed after obtaining the request information. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the eighth lighting fixture 20h responds by outputting the response information at the timing when the eighth time has passed since the acquisition of the request information (S50).

Subsequently, the control unit 11 of the control device 10 determines whether or not the confirmation success rate is less than a predetermined value (S60).

Here, when the confirmation success rate is less than the predetermined value (yes in S60), the first lighting fixture 20a changes the first time, and the second lighting fixture 20b changes the second time. More specifically, in this case, step S20 is performed again, the first lighting device 20a performs step S10a, and the second lighting device 20b performs step S10b again. If the confirmation success rate is less than the predetermined value (yes in S60), step S20 is performed again, and the third to eighth lighting fixtures 20c to 20h should change the third to eighth hours. At this time, each of the third to seventh lighting fixtures 20c to 20g generates a random number and re-determines the third to seventh times according to the generated random number, and the eighth lighting fixture 20h performs step S10h again.

That is, when the confirmation success rate is less than the predetermined value (yes in S60), the first to eighth times are determined again as in steps S10a, S10b and S10h. Additionally, steps S30, S40, S50 and S60 may be performed.

Thus, when the confirmation success rate is less than a predetermined value, that is, when the confirmation success rate is a low value, the control device 10 again outputs the response information from the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b. have the opportunity to obtain

Further, when the confirmation success rate is equal to or higher than a predetermined value (no in S60), although not shown in FIG. The display unit included in the information processing terminal 100 may display the acquired response information. Thereby, the user can know the light emission state of the plurality of lighting fixtures.

[Effects, etc.]
As described above, the lighting control system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device 10 that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures. A plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device 10 constitute a mesh network M through wireless communication. The control device 10 outputs request information requesting a response containing information about the light emission state to the plurality of lighting fixtures. The plurality of lighting fixtures respond to the request information at the timing when the first time has passed since the request information was acquired, and the first lighting fixture 20a responds to the request information, and the second time is different from the first time after the request information is acquired. and a second lighting fixture 20b that responds to the request information at a timing after the elapse of.

As a result, when the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b respond to the request information, the first time and the second time are different from each other. (information on the light emission state) can be easily obtained. In other words, the lighting control system 1 with improved communication stability is realized.

Also, for example, the control device 10 performs determination processing for determining the first time and the second time based on random numbers.

By determining the first time and the second time based on random numbers in this way, the first time and the second time can be easily determined.

Further, for example, when the determined first time and second time are the same, the control device 10 performs the determination process again.

Accordingly, even if the first time and the second time determined based on the random number are the same, the determination process is performed again, so the first time and the second time are more likely to have different values. When the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b respond to the request information according to the first time and the second time determined in the second determination process, the occurrence of interference due to congestion is further suppressed, and the control device 10 makes it easier to acquire response information (information about light emission state). In other words, the lighting control system 1 with improved communication stability is realized.

Further, for example, when the confirmation success rate, which is the ratio of one or more lighting fixtures confirmed by the control device 10 to have responded to the request information among the plurality of lighting fixtures, is less than a predetermined value, the control device 10 Decision processing is performed again.

Accordingly, when the confirmation success rate is less than the predetermined value, that is, when the confirmation success rate is a low value, the determination process is performed again. Furthermore, when the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b respond according to the first time and the second time determined in the re-determination process, the control device 10 re-determines the first and second lighting An opportunity may be obtained to obtain response information output from instruments 20a and 20b. That is, when the confirmation success rate is a low value, the control device 10 can obtain an opportunity to acquire the response information again, so the communication stability of the lighting control system 1 is further improved.

Further, for example, the first lighting device 20a generates a random number and determines the first time based on the generated random number, and the second lighting device 20b generates a random number and determines the second time based on the generated random number. to decide.

By determining the first time and the second time based on random numbers in this way, the first time and the second time can be easily determined.

Further, for example, when the confirmation success rate, which is the ratio of one or more lighting fixtures confirmed by the control device 10 to have responded to the request information among the plurality of lighting fixtures, is less than a predetermined value, the first lighting fixture 20a changes the first time and the second lighting fixture 20b changes the second time.

Accordingly, when the confirmation success rate is less than a predetermined value, that is, when the confirmation success rate is a low value, the first time and the second time are changed and determined again. Furthermore, if the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b respond according to the re-determined first time and second time, the control device 10 again controls the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b. You can get the opportunity to get the response information output from the That is, when the confirmation success rate is a low value, the control device 10 can obtain an opportunity to acquire the response information again, so the communication stability of the lighting control system 1 is further improved.

Moreover, the lighting control method according to the present embodiment is a lighting control method executed by the lighting control system 1 . The lighting control system 1 includes a plurality of lighting fixtures and a control device 10 that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures. A plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device 10 constitute a mesh network M through wireless communication. The control device 10 outputs request information requesting a response containing information about the light emission state to the plurality of lighting fixtures. The plurality of lighting fixtures includes a first lighting fixture 20a and a second lighting fixture 20b. The lighting control method includes a first response step and a second response step. The first response step is a step in which the first lighting fixture 20a responds to the request information at the timing when the first time has passed since the acquisition of the request information. The second response step is a step in which the second lighting fixture 20b responds to the request information at a timing when a second time different from the first time has elapsed after obtaining the request information.

As a result, when the first and second lighting fixtures 20a and 20b respond to the request information, the first time and the second time are different from each other. (information on the light emission state) can be easily obtained. In other words, a lighting control method with improved communication stability is realized.

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

Further, in the above-described embodiments, the processing executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit.

In addition, in Operation Examples 1 and 2, the first to eighth times are determined by the control device 10 or each of the plurality of lighting fixtures, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the user may operate the information processing terminal 100 to arbitrarily set the delay time of each of the plurality of lighting fixtures. In this case, the first to eighth times may be determined by the information processing terminal 100 receiving an operation by the user to set the delay time of each of the plurality of lighting fixtures.

Also, the communication method between devices in the above embodiment is not particularly limited. Further, when two devices communicate with each other in the above embodiment, a relay device (not shown) may be interposed between the two devices.

Also, the order of processing described in the flowcharts of the above embodiments is an example. The order of multiple processes may be changed, and multiple processes may be executed in parallel.

Also, in the above embodiments, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by reading and executing a software program recorded in a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor.

Also, each component may be realized by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form one circuit as a whole, or may be separate circuits. These circuits may be general-purpose circuits or dedicated circuits.

Also, general or specific aspects of the present invention may be implemented in a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. Also, any combination of systems, devices, methods, integrated circuits, computer programs and recording media may be implemented.

For example, the present invention may be realized as a control method of the lighting control system 1 executed by a computer, or as a program for causing a computer to execute such a control method. Also, the present invention may be implemented as a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium in which such a program is recorded.

In addition, forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art can think of, or realized by arbitrarily combining the constituent elements and functions of each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Also included in the present invention.

1 lighting control system 10 control device 20a first lighting fixture 20b second lighting fixture M mesh network

Claims (7)

a plurality of lighting fixtures;
a control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures,
The plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device constitute a mesh network through wireless communication,
The control device outputs request information to the plurality of lighting fixtures requesting a response including information about the light emitting state,
The plurality of lighting fixtures are
a first lighting fixture that responds to the request information at a timing after a first time has passed after obtaining the request information;
and a second lighting fixture that responds to the request information at a timing when a second time different from the first time has elapsed after obtaining the request information. The lighting control system according to claim 1, wherein the control device performs determination processing for determining the first time and the second time based on random numbers. The lighting control system according to claim 2, wherein when the determined first time and the determined second time are the same, the control device performs the determination process again. When a confirmation success rate, which is a ratio of one or more lighting fixtures confirmed by the control device to have responded to the request information among the plurality of lighting fixtures, is less than a predetermined value, the control device determines 4. The lighting control system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the processing is performed again. The first lighting fixture generates a random number and determines the first time based on the generated random number;
2. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the second lighting fixture generates a random number and determines the second time based on the generated random number. When a confirmation success rate, which is a ratio of one or more lighting fixtures confirmed by the control device to have responded to the request information among the plurality of lighting fixtures, is less than a predetermined value,
The first lighting fixture changes the first time,
6. The lighting control system of Claim 5, wherein the second lighting fixture changes the second time. A lighting control method executed by a lighting control system,
The lighting control system includes:
a plurality of lighting fixtures;
a control device that controls the plurality of lighting fixtures,
The plurality of lighting fixtures and the control device constitute a mesh network through wireless communication,
The control device outputs request information to the plurality of lighting fixtures requesting a response including information about the light emitting state,
The plurality of lighting fixtures includes a first lighting fixture and a second lighting fixture,
The lighting control method includes:
a first response step in which the first lighting fixture responds to the request information at a timing when a first time has elapsed since the request information was acquired;
a second response step in which the second lighting device responds to the request information at a timing when a second time different from the first time has elapsed after obtaining the request information.

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