JP6135023B2 - Lighting control system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination control system using a communication system including a control device that controls equipment.

  Conventionally, a communication control system (remote control system) in which an equipment device (controlled device) and a control device (local control device) communicate with each other, and the control device transmits a control command to the equipment device to control the operation of the equipment device. ) Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The remote control system described in Patent Document 1 is configured such that a plurality of control devices periodically access a host device (center server) and the control device acquires a control command from the host device.

JP 2010-74414 A

  In the communication control system described in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of control commands are input from the control device to the equipment in a short time, until the processing of the control command first input in the equipment is completed. The process of the next input control command cannot be performed. For this reason, processing of the latter control command is delayed.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting control system using a configuration of a communication control system that can suppress a delay in processing of a control command. is there.

  Means for achieving the above object will be described below.

  The lighting control system according to the present invention includes a plurality of control units for instructing one or a plurality of lighting fixtures to communicate individual lighting states by communication, and a lighting state of the one or a plurality of lighting fixtures to the plurality of control units. A high-order device that generates a control command instructed by communication, and the high-order device generates a composite control command in which one or more control commands generated according to a time schedule are connected and transmits the combined control command to the control unit It has the function to perform.

  In this lighting control system, the control unit has a function of acquiring monitoring information detected according to a condition set by one or more monitoring devices by communication, and the control command is added to the lighting state of the lighting fixture. The condition set in the monitoring device can be instructed, and the host device uses the time schedule of the control command for instructing the lighting state of the lighting fixture as a control schedule, and sets the condition set in the monitoring device. It is preferable to manage a time schedule of an instructed control command as a setting schedule, and transmit the control schedule and the setting schedule to the control unit as individual composite control commands by communication.

  Another lighting control system according to the present invention includes a plurality of control units for instructing a plurality of lighting fixtures to indicate individual lighting states, and a lighting state of the plurality of lighting fixtures by communicating with the plurality of control units. A host device that generates a control command to be instructed, and the host device changes the lighting state of the other lighting fixtures in accordance with a change in the lighting state of any of the plurality of lighting fixtures for which a linkage relationship is set. When performing, it has the function to perform the collective sending process which produces | generates the composite control command which connected the some control command which instruct | indicates the lighting state of the said other lighting fixture, and transmits to the said control unit.

  In this lighting control system, when the interlocking relationship is dynamically changed according to a time schedule set in the host device, the host device uses a time schedule related to the combination of the lighting fixtures to be interlocked as a control schedule, and the lighting fixture It is preferable to manage a time schedule related to the lighting state as a setting schedule, and transmit the control schedule and the setting schedule to the control unit as individual composite control commands by communication.

Another lighting control system according to the present invention receives brightness detected by one or more brightness sensors as monitoring information by communication, and instructs a plurality of lighting fixtures to indicate individual lighting states by communication. A plurality of control units, and the monitoring information is acquired from the control unit, and a plurality of units are feedback-controlled so that the brightness detected by the brightness sensor is maintained at a target value. And a host device that generates a control command instructed by communication to the control unit, and the host device generates a composite control command by connecting a plurality of control commands that instruct a lighting state of the lighting fixture, and performs the control. It has the function to perform the batch sending process transmitted to the unit.

  In this lighting control system, the host device acquires the monitoring information from the brightness sensor at a constant cycle, and the control unit synchronizes with the cycle at which the host device acquires the monitoring information. It is preferable to control the lighting state of.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, since a plurality of control commands are connected to output a composite control command, there is an advantage that a delay in processing of the control command can be suppressed.

The schematic diagram which shows typically the whole structure about the communication control system of 1st Embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of the intermediate device, and (b) is a sequence diagram showing the order of control commands input to the intermediate device. The sequence diagram which shows the processing procedure of the control command in a middle apparatus about the same as the above. The figure which shows the list | wrist of the production | generation pattern of the composite control command in a communication control apparatus about the same as the above. The figure which shows the list of the non-generation pattern of the composite control command in a communication control apparatus about the same as the above. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the list | wrist of another production | generation pattern of the composite control command in a communication control apparatus about the same as the above. (A) And (b) is a figure which shows the list of another non-generation pattern of the composite control command in a communication control apparatus about the same as the above. Regarding the communication control system of the second embodiment, (a) is a diagram showing a list of generation patterns of composite control commands in the communication control device, and (b) is a list of non-generation patterns of composite control commands in the communication control device. FIG. The sequence diagram which shows the processing procedure of the control command in a middle apparatus about the same as the above. (A) is a figure which shows the list | wrist of the production | generation pattern of the composite control command in a communication control apparatus about 3rd Embodiment, (b) is a figure which shows the list | wrist of the non-generation pattern of the composite control command in a communication control equipment. The schematic diagram which shows typically the structure of intermediate | middle apparatus about 4th Embodiment. The schematic diagram which shows typically the whole structure about 5th Embodiment. The figure which shows the whole structure about 6th Embodiment. The figure showing the concept of a collective feed process and a superimposition process about the same as the above. The schematic diagram which shows typically the structure of intermediate | middle apparatus about other embodiment.

(First embodiment)
The communication control system 1 of the present embodiment is configured as a system that centrally monitors and controls equipment installed in each room of an office building. The equipment includes a plurality of lighting fixtures and a plurality of air conditioning equipment.

  The configuration of the communication control system 1 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The communication control system 1 is provided with a plurality of communication control devices 2 in which connection relationships are hierarchized. As the communication control device 2, one upper device 10 as a management device, a plurality of middle devices 20 as control units, and a plurality of lower devices 30 as facility devices are provided.

  A plurality of middle devices 20 are connected to one upper device 10. All the other intermediate devices 20 and a plurality of lower devices 30 are connected to one intermediate device 20. In the following description, the communication control device 2 is used as a generic term for the upper device 10, the middle device 20, and the lower device 30.

  Each subordinate device 30 is provided with various sensors such as a lighting switch, a human sensor, and a brightness sensor as another subordinate device 30 corresponding to a lighting fixture as one of the subordinate devices 30. In addition, various sensors, such as an air conditioning switch, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor, are provided as another lower level device 30 corresponding to the air conditioning unit as one of the lower level devices 30.

  Hereinafter, when viewed from one upper device 10, one middle device 20, or one lower device 30, “direct connection” is a generic term for other devices that are directly connected to each of the devices. Use "equipment".

  In one host device 10, each intermediate device 20 directly connected thereto corresponds to a device directly connected to the one host device 10. Further, in one intermediate device 20, each of the upper device 10, each lower device 30, and each other intermediate device 20 directly connected thereto is directly connected to the one intermediate device 20. It corresponds to. Further, in one subordinate device 30, the intermediate device 20 directly connected thereto corresponds to a directly connected device for the one subordinate device 30.

  Operations common to the respective communication control devices 2 will be described.

When the upper device 10, the middle device 20, and the lower device 30 each receive a control command from the directly connected device, they perform output processing including the following reception processing, command processing, response processing, and superposition processing. In the output process, the execution of the polymerization process may be omitted depending on the input status of the control command.
(A) In the reception process, an input control command is received.
(B) In the command process, the control command after the reception process is directly output to the connected device.
(C) In the response process, a response command output from the directly connected device is received.
(D) In the polymerization process, a composite control command obtained by connecting a plurality of control commands is output.

  The connection of the control commands in the superposition process means that only the control contents of the control commands are combined in order, and a header indicating the transmission destination and transmission source of the control commands and a trailer are added after the control commands. Therefore, the number of headers and trailers is reduced and the packet length is shortened, rather than simply connecting individual control commands.

  The operation of each communication control device 2 is shown in the following (A) to (C).

  (A) The host device 10 controls and manages information related to the entire communication control system 1. In addition, a control command for controlling the intermediate device 20 and the lower device 30 is generated. The generated control command is output to the middle device 20 and the lower device 30 to be controlled. In addition, control commands are received from the intermediate device 20 and the lower device 30.

  (B) The intermediate device 20 generates a control command for individually controlling the lower device 30 connected to itself and the other intermediate devices 20. In addition, a control command for controlling the upper device 10 is generated. In addition, a control command for controlling other intermediate devices 20 connected in parallel is generated. In addition, the generated control command is output to the lower-level device 30, the higher-level device 10, or another middle-level device 20 to be controlled. Further, “communication amount restriction control” for restricting the execution of control command command processing in the lower-level device 30 is performed. In addition, control commands are received from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, and the other intermediate devices 20.

  In the communication amount restriction control, based on the fact that the communication amount on the communication control system 1 is equal to or greater than the specified amount, a prohibition control command for prohibiting the output of the control command from the lower device 30 is output to the lower device 30. Further, based on the fact that the communication amount on the communication control system 1 is less than the prescribed amount, the permission control command for permitting the output of the control command from the lower device 30 is output to the lower device 30. The intermediate device 20 handles the total amount of communication with each directly connected device as the amount of communication on the communication control system 1.

  When the lower device 30 receives the prohibit control command from the intermediate device 20, the lower device 30 stops executing the command processing of the control command to the intermediate device 20 until receiving the permission control command from the intermediate device 20.

  (C) When the lower device 30 receives the control command from the middle device 20, the lower device 30 changes its control mode based on the control command. In addition, a control command is generated based on information about itself. Further, the generated control command is output to the intermediate device 20, the upper device 10, or another lower device 30.

  An example of control of the lower device 30 based on the control command is shown below.

  When the switching state is changed, one subordinate device 30 as a lighting switch generates a control command for changing the lighting state of the corresponding lighting device as another subordinate device 30, and directly generates the generated command. Output to the intermediate device 20 as the connected device. When the intermediate device 20 receives the control command from the lower device 30, the intermediate device 20 outputs the control command to the corresponding lighting device as the lower device 30. When receiving a control command from the intermediate device 20, the other lower device 30 as a lighting fixture controls its lighting state based on this control command.

  The upper device 10 generates a control command for changing the lighting state of a specific lighting fixture as the lower device 30, and outputs this control command to the intermediate device 20. When the intermediate device 20 receives a control command from the upper device 10, the intermediate device 20 outputs a control command based on the content of the control command to the corresponding lighting device as the lower device 30. When receiving the control command from the middle device 20, the lower device 30 as a specific lighting fixture controls its lighting state based on the control command.

  With reference to FIG. 2, the configuration of the intermediate device 20 will be described. In addition, since the same structure is employ | adopted also about the high-order apparatus 10 and the low-order apparatus 30, description of the high-order apparatus 10 and the low-order apparatus 30 is abbreviate | omitted here.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the intermediate device 20 includes a first input port 21 for connecting to the upper device 10, a second input port 23 for connecting to the lower device 30, and a plurality of An intermediate storage unit 25 for collecting and buffering control commands is provided.

  The first input port 21 is provided with a first port storage unit 22 for buffering one control command output from the host device 10. The second input port 23 is provided with a second port storage unit 24 for buffering one control command output from the lower device 30.

  The intermediate storage unit 25 receives a control command buffered in the first port storage unit 22 and a control command buffered in the second port storage unit 24. Each control command is aggregated and buffered sequentially.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, when control commands are sequentially input to the first input port 21 and the second input port 23, the control commands are stored in the intermediate storage unit 25 in the order input to the intermediate device 20. Is memorized.

  With reference to FIG. 3, the connection of control commands by the polymerization process will be described.

  Here, for a plurality of control commands that are input to one communication control device 2 at different timings, one control command that is input first is referred to as a “preceding control command”, and is input after the preceding control command. One or more control commands are referred to as “additional control commands”.

  The additional control command is input during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, the control command input during the execution of the command process for the preceding control command, or the response process of the preceding control command. And a control command that is input within a predetermined period after the output of the preceding control command.

  When each communication control device 2 receives a plurality of additional control commands during the allowable polymerization period TX after receiving the preceding control command, it generates a composite control command by concatenating the plurality of additional control commands received during the allowable polymerization period TX. To do. The polymerization allowable period TX is set as a period for determining an additional control command to be subjected to the polymerization process.

  The single control command and the composite control command may correspond to either the preceding control command or the additional control command, or may not correspond to either the preceding control command or the additional control command. That is, whether or not a single control command or a composite control command corresponds to a preceding control command or an additional control command is determined based on the timing input to each communication control device 2 or the input of another control command in each communication control device 2. It is determined according to the timing. However, in the following, for the sake of convenience, it is assumed that what is determined to be a preceding control command afterwards is handled in advance as a preceding control command.

  Specifically, each communication control device 2 outputs a composite control command as follows.

  That is, an elapsed period from the reception of the preceding control command after receiving the preceding control command (hereinafter, “period TA after preceding reception”) is counted, and it is determined whether the period TA after preceding reception is equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX. Then, when it is determined that the period TA after the preceding reception is equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX, the receiving process for the plurality of additional control commands buffered in the intermediate storage unit 25 in FIG. Do. Further, as a part of this reception process, a superposition process is performed on a plurality of additional control commands, that is, a plurality of additional control commands are connected to generate a composite control command, and this composite control command is output. On the other hand, when the additional control command is not buffered between the reception of the preceding control command and the time of the determination, and when there is one buffered additional control command, the composite control command is not generated.

  A generation pattern of the composite control command will be described with reference to FIG.

  The generation pattern of the composite control command by the communication control device 2 is classified into generation patterns A11 to A17 in the figure. Note that the “elapsed waiting period TB” in FIG. 4 indicates a period after the completion of the command processing for the preceding control command and the period after the preceding reception TA is less than the polymerization allowable period TX. In the following description, the description “not receive additional control command” indicates a state in which a control command as an additional control command is not input from another communication control device 2 to the corresponding communication control device 2. .

  Details of each of the generation patterns A11 to A17 are shown below.

  (A) In the generation pattern A11, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives a plurality of additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control commands. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received in the elapsed waiting period TB. Then, when the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (B) In the generation pattern A12, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives a plurality of additional control commands during execution of the command process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control commands. Further, no additional control command is received during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received in the elapsed waiting period TB. Then, when the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (C) In the generation pattern A13, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. In addition, a plurality of additional control commands are received in the elapsed waiting period TB, and the additional control commands are buffered. Then, when the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (D) In the generation pattern A14, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one or more additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control command. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during execution of the command process for the preceding control command, and the additional control command is buffered. Further, no additional control command is received in the elapsed waiting period TB. Then, when the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (E) In the generation pattern A15, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one or more additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during the elapsed waiting period TB, and the additional control commands are buffered. Then, when the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (F) In the generation pattern A16, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during execution of the command process for the preceding control command, and the additional control command is buffered. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during the elapsed waiting period TB, and the additional control commands are buffered. Then, when the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (G) In the generation pattern A17, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one or more additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control command. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during execution of the command process for the preceding control command, and the additional control command is buffered. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during the elapsed waiting period TB, and the additional control commands are buffered. When the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, reception processing for three or more buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the three or more additional control commands described above.

  The non-generation pattern of the composite control command will be described with reference to FIG.

  The communication control device 2 does not generate a composite control command when only one additional control command is received when the period TA after the preceding reception is less than the polymerization allowable period TX and when no additional control command is received. This processing pattern (non-generation pattern of the composite control command) is classified into non-generation patterns B11 to B14 in the drawing.

  Details of each of the non-generated patterns B11 to B14 are shown below.

  (A) In the non-generated pattern B11, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one additional control command during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers this additional control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received in the elapsed waiting period TB. When the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, a reception process and a command process for one buffered additional control command are executed. That is, the additional control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

  (B) In the non-generated pattern B12, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Also, one additional control command is received during execution of the command process for the preceding control command, and this additional control command is buffered. Further, no additional control command is received in the elapsed waiting period TB. When the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, a reception process and a command process for one buffered additional control command are executed. That is, the additional control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

  (C) In the non-generated pattern B13, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Also, one additional control command is received during the elapsed waiting period TB, and this additional control command is buffered. When the post-preceding reception period TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization permissible period TX, a reception process and a command process for one buffered additional control command are executed. That is, the additional control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

  (D) In the non-generated pattern B14, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received in the elapsed waiting period TB. When the period TA after the preceding reception is equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX, the control command receiving process and the command process are not performed.

  With reference to FIG. 6, another generation pattern of the composite control command will be described.

  In the communication control device 2, a value set in advance as the polymerization permissible period TX is prepared. On the other hand, the length of the reception processing period for the preceding control command and the length of the command processing period for the preceding control command differ depending on the content of the preceding control command.

  For this reason, during the execution of the command process for the preceding control command, the preceding reception period TA may be equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX. Further, the period TA after the preceding reception may be equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. The generation pattern of the composite control command in the former case is classified into generation patterns A21 to A23 in FIG. The generation pattern A31 in FIG. 6B corresponds to the generation pattern of the composite control command in the latter case.

  Details of each of the generation patterns A21 to A23 and the generation pattern A31 are shown below.

  (A) In the generation pattern A21, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives a plurality of additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control commands. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Then, when command processing for the preceding control command is completed, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (B) In the generation pattern A22, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed according to the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. When the command process for the preceding control command is being executed and the period TA after the preceding reception is less than the polymerization allowable period TX, a plurality of additional control commands are received and the additional control commands are buffered. Then, when command processing for the preceding control command is completed, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (C) In the generation pattern A23, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one or more additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control command. When the command processing for the preceding control command is being executed and the period TA after the preceding reception is less than the polymerization allowable period TX, one or more additional control commands are received and the additional control command is buffered. Then, when command processing for the preceding control command is completed, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  (D) In the generation pattern A31, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed according to the following procedure. In other words, the communication control device 2 receives a plurality of additional control commands and buffers the additional control commands when the reception process for the preceding control commands is being executed and the period TA after the previous reception is less than the polymerization allowable period TX. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Then, when command processing for the preceding control command is completed, reception processing for a plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the plurality of additional control commands.

  With reference to FIG. 7, the non-generation pattern of the composite control command will be described.

  If the period TA after the preceding reception is equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX during the execution of the command process for the preceding control command, the non-generated patterns of the composite control command are classified into the non-generated patterns B21 to B23 in FIG. . In addition, when the period after preceding reception TA is equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, the non-generated pattern B31 of FIG. 7B corresponds to the non-generated pattern of the composite control command. It will be a thing.

  Details of each of the non-generated patterns B21 to B23 and the non-generated pattern B31 are shown below.

  (A) In the non-generated pattern B21, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one additional control command during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers this additional control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Then, when the command processing for the preceding control command is completed, the reception processing and command processing for one buffered additional control command is executed. That is, the additional control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

  (B) In the non-generated pattern B22, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. When the command processing for the preceding control command is being executed and the period TA after the preceding reception is less than the polymerization allowable period TX, one additional control command is received and this additional control command is buffered. Then, when the command processing for the preceding control command is completed, the reception processing and command processing for one buffered additional control command is executed. That is, the additional control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

  (C) In the non-generated pattern B23, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. When the period TA after the preceding reception is equal to or longer than the polymerization allowable period TX, the control command receiving process and the command process are not performed.

  (D) In the non-generated pattern B31, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one additional control command and buffers this additional control command when the reception process for the preceding control command is being executed and the period TA after the previous reception is less than the polymerization allowable period TX. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Then, when the command processing for the preceding control command is completed, the reception processing and command processing for one buffered additional control command is executed. That is, the additional control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

  With reference to FIG. 3, an example of a processing mode of a control command by the intermediate device 20 will be described. Note that the processing mode described here is common to the higher-level device 10 and the lower-level device 30, and thus description of the processing mode of the higher-level device 10 and the lower-level device 30 is omitted.

  When the intermediate device 20 receives a preceding control command from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20 as a directly connected device, the intermediate device 20 retrieves the preceding control command from the intermediate storage unit 25 and performs an acceptance process. Start. Then, when the reception process for the preceding control command is completed, a command process for outputting the preceding control command to the lower-level device 30, the higher-level device 10, or another middle-level device 20 to be controlled is performed.

  When the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20 receives a preceding control command from the intermediate device 20, it outputs a response command to the intermediate device 20. When the middle level device 20 receives a response command from the higher level device 10, the lower level device 30, or another middle level device 20, the middle level device 20 performs a response process for authenticating the completion of the processing of the control command for these devices. Thereby, the output process of the preceding control command is completed.

  The intermediate device 20 has 2 to N pieces from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or the other intermediate devices 20 when the command processing of the preceding control command is completed and the period after preceding reception TA is less than the polymerization allowable period TX. An additional control command (N is an integer of 3 or more) is received. Further, the received additional control commands are sequentially buffered in the intermediate storage unit 25.

  When the post-preceding reception period TA reaches the polymerization allowable period TX, a plurality of additional control commands buffered in the intermediate storage unit 25 are taken out, and a reception process for the plurality of additional control commands is performed.

  Then, a polymerization process for logically connecting a plurality of additional control commands is executed, and a composite control command is generated by this polymerization process. Then, a command process for outputting the composite control command to the lower-level device 30, the higher-level device 10, or another intermediate device 20 to be controlled is performed.

  When the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20 receives the composite control command from the intermediate device 20, it outputs a response command to the intermediate device 20. When the intermediate device 20 receives a response command from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20, the response processing authenticates that the processing of the control command for the device that has received the response command has been completed. I do. Thereby, the output process of the composite control command is completed.

  With reference to FIG. 1, processing for connecting composite control commands will be described.

  When the received composite control command corresponds to the preceding control command or the additional control command, each communication control device 2 concatenates this composite control command and the preceding control command or the additional control command and outputs it as another composite control command. .

Here, it is assumed that control commands are transmitted in the following order.
(A) The lower device 30 generates a control command (hereinafter, “control command A”), and transmits the control command A to the intermediate device 20 as a directly connected device.
(B) When the intermediate device 20 receives the control command A from the lower device 30, the intermediate device 20 transmits the control command A to the other intermediate devices 20.
(C) When the other intermediate device 20 receives the control command A from the intermediate device 20, the other intermediate device 20 transmits the control command A to the other lower device 30 as the directly connected device.

  When the intermediate device 20 as the directly connected device receives another control command (hereinafter referred to as “control command B”) during execution of the reception process for the control command A, the intermediate device 20 connects the control command A and the control command B. To generate a composite control command X. Then, the composite control command X is output to the other middle device 20.

  When the other intermediate device 20 receives another control command (hereinafter referred to as “control command C”) during execution of the reception process for the composite control command X, it connects the composite control command X and the control command C. A composite control command Y is generated. Then, the composite control command Y is output to the other lower device 30.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the communication control system 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  (1) The upper device 10, the middle device 20, and the lower device 30 of the communication control system 1 each perform control command output processing. For example, when a plurality of additional control commands are input as control commands from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, and other intermediate devices 20 to the intermediate device 20, the intermediate device 20 sends at least two additional control commands. The combined composite control command is output to the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20.

  According to this configuration, when the additional control command is input before the completion of the command processing for the preceding control command, the command processing for the additional control command is compared with the configuration in which the command processing for the control command is performed for each control command. The period until is completed is shortened. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a delay in processing the control command.

  (2) The communication control system 1 executes the command process for the preceding control command before the reception process for the additional control command. According to this configuration, the period until the output processing of the preceding control command is completed is shortened as compared with the configuration in which the reception processing for the preceding control command is executed again and then the preceding control command and the additional control command are connected. .

  (3) The intermediate device 20 of the communication control system 1 has a first input port 21 and a second input port 23. The intermediate storage unit 25 stores the control commands input to the first input port 21 and the second input port 23 in the order of input to the intermediate device 20. According to this configuration, it is possible to guarantee the processing order of control commands corresponding to the order input to the intermediate device 20.

  (4) When the composite control command corresponds to the preceding control command or the additional control command, the communication control system 1 further outputs the combined control command and the preceding control command or the additional control command. According to this configuration, compared to a configuration in which another control command is not linked to the composite control command, the effect of suppressing the processing of the control command is increased.

  (5) The middle device 20 of the communication control system 1 performs “communication amount restriction control” for restricting the command processing for the control command of the lower device 30. According to this configuration, when the amount of communication on the communication control system 1 is large, the control command from the host device 10 can be executed with priority. For this reason, it is suppressed that the completion of the output process of the control command of the host device 10 is greatly delayed. In addition, in the intermediate device 20, the first port storage unit 22, the second port storage unit 24, and the intermediate storage unit 25 are prevented from overflowing due to a control command input from the lower device 30.

(Second Embodiment)
The communication control system 1 of this embodiment is configured as a part of the communication control system 1 of the first embodiment changed to the content described below. Moreover, about the other point, the structure similar to the communication control system 1 of 1st Embodiment is employ | adopted. For this reason, below, the detail of a different point from the communication control system 1 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated, about the structure which is common in 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the one part or all part of the description is abbreviate | omitted. .

  The communication control device 2 according to the first embodiment generates a composite control command by connecting a plurality of additional control commands after outputting the preceding control command. That is, a composite control command that is not connected with the preceding control command is output.

  On the other hand, the communication control device 2 according to the present embodiment generates a composite control command by connecting the preceding control command and at least one additional control command after the reception process for the preceding control command is completed. That is, a composite control command obtained by concatenating preceding control commands is output.

  Further, the communication control device 2 of the first embodiment determines an additional control command to be subjected to the polymerization process based on the period TA after the previous reception and the polymerization allowable period TX. That is, the additional control command buffered when the period TA after the preceding reception is less than the polymerization allowable period TX is the target of the polymerization process.

  On the other hand, the communication control device 2 according to the present embodiment determines the additional control command to be subjected to the polymerization process based on whether the reception process for the preceding control command is completed. That is, the additional control command buffered during the period from the start of the reception process for the preceding control command to the completion of the reception process is the target of the superposition process.

  Specifically, each communication control device 2 outputs a composite control command as follows.

  That is, when one or more additional control commands are buffered in the intermediate storage unit 25 in FIG. 2 from the reception of the preceding control command to the completion of the reception process for the preceding control command, the preceding control command and the one or more additional control commands A polymerization process is performed on That is, a preceding control command and one or more additional control commands are concatenated to generate a composite control command, and this composite control command is output. On the other hand, when the additional control command is not buffered until the reception process for the preceding control command is completed, the composite control command is not generated.

  The generation pattern and non-generation pattern of the composite control command will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8A shows a generated pattern, and FIG. 8B shows a non-generated pattern.

  The generation pattern of the composite control command by the communication control device 2 is classified into generation patterns A31 and A32 in FIG. Further, the non-generation pattern B31 of FIG. 8B corresponds to the non-generation pattern of the composite control command.

  Details of each of the generated patterns A31, A32 and the non-generated pattern B31 are shown below.

  (A) In the generation pattern A31, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one additional control command during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers this additional control command. When the reception process for the preceding control command is completed, the reception process for one buffered additional control command is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the preceding control command and one or more additional control commands.

  (B) In the generation pattern A31, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed according to the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives a plurality of additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control commands. Then, when the reception process for the preceding control command is completed, the reception process for the plurality of buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the preceding control command and one or more additional control commands.

  (C) In the non-generated pattern B31, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Then, after the reception process for the preceding control command is completed, a command process for the preceding control command is executed. That is, the preceding control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

  With reference to FIG. 9, an example of a processing mode of a control command by the intermediate device 20 will be described. Note that the processing mode described here is common to the higher-level device 10 and the lower-level device 30, and thus description of the processing mode of the higher-level device 10 and the lower-level device 30 is omitted.

  When the intermediate device 20 receives a preceding control command from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20 as a directly connected device, the intermediate device 20 retrieves the preceding control command from the intermediate storage unit 25 and performs an acceptance process. Start. In addition, during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, 1 to N additional control commands (N is an integer of 2 or more) are received from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20. Further, the received additional control commands are sequentially buffered in the intermediate storage unit 25.

  When the reception process for the preceding control command is completed, one or more additional control commands buffered in the intermediate storage unit 25 are extracted, and the reception process for one or more additional control commands is performed.

  When the reception process for the additional control command is completed, a superposition process that logically connects the preceding control command and one or more additional control commands is executed, and a composite control command is generated by this superposition process. Then, a command process for outputting the composite control command to the lower-level device 30, the higher-level device 10, or another intermediate device 20 to be controlled is performed.

  When the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20 receives the composite control command from the intermediate device 20, it outputs a response command to the intermediate device 20. When the intermediate device 20 receives a response command from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20, the response processing authenticates that the processing of the control command for the device that has received the response command has been completed. I do. Thereby, the output process of the composite control command is completed.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the communication control system 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (3) to (5) of the first embodiment.

  (6) The upper device 10, the middle device 20, and the lower device 30 of the communication control system 1 perform control command output processing, respectively. For example, when a preceding control command and an additional control command are input as control commands from the upper device 10, the lower device 30, and other intermediate devices 20 to the intermediate device 20, the intermediate device 20 sends these control commands to the intermediate device 20. The combined composite control command is output to the upper device 10, the lower device 30, or another intermediate device 20.

  According to this configuration, when the additional control command is input before the completion of the command processing for the preceding control command, the command processing for the additional control command is compared with the configuration in which the command processing for the control command is performed for each control command. The period until is completed is shortened. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a delay in processing the control command.

(Third embodiment)
The communication control system 1 of the present embodiment is configured as a part of the communication control system 1 of the second embodiment changed to the content described below. Moreover, about the other point, the structure similar to the communication control system 1 of 2nd Embodiment is employ | adopted. For this reason, below, the detail of a different point from the communication control system 1 of 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated, about the structure which is common in 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the one part or all part of the description is abbreviate | omitted. .

  The communication control device 2 according to the second embodiment determines an additional control command to be subjected to the polymerization process based on whether or not the reception process for the preceding control command has been completed. That is, the additional control command buffered during the period from the start of the reception process for the preceding control command to the completion of the reception process is the target of the superposition process.

  On the other hand, the communication control device 2 according to the present embodiment determines an additional control command to be subjected to the polymerization process based on whether or not the command process for the preceding control command has been completed. That is, the additional control command buffered during the period from the start of the reception process for the preceding control command to immediately before the completion of the command process is the target of the superposition process.

  Specifically, each communication control device 2 outputs a composite control command as follows.

  That is, when one or more additional control commands are buffered in the intermediate storage unit 25 in FIG. 2 from the reception of the preceding control command to immediately before the completion of the command processing for the preceding control command, the preceding control command and the one or more additional controls are buffered. Executes the polymerization process for the command. That is, a preceding control command and one or more additional control commands are concatenated to generate a composite control command, and this composite control command is output. On the other hand, when the additional control command is not buffered immediately before the completion of the command processing for the preceding control command, the composite control command is not generated.

  The generation pattern and non-generation pattern of the composite control command will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10A shows a generated pattern, and FIG. 10B shows a non-generated pattern.

  The generation patterns of the composite control command by the communication control device 2 are classified into generation patterns A41 to A43 in FIG. Further, the non-generation pattern B41 of FIG. 10B corresponds to the non-generation pattern of the composite control command.

Details of each of the generated patterns A41 to A43 and the non-generated pattern B41 are shown below.
(A) In the generation pattern A41, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one or more additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Then, when the command processing for the preceding control command is just before completion, the command processing is interrupted. In addition, the reception process for the preceding control command is executed again, and the reception process for one or more buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the preceding control command and one or more additional control commands.

  (B) In the generation pattern A42, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during execution of the command process for the preceding control command, and the additional control command is buffered. Then, when the command processing for the preceding control command is just before completion, the command processing is interrupted. In addition, the reception process for the preceding control command is executed again, and the reception process for one or more buffered additional control commands is executed. Also, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the preceding control command and one or more additional control commands.

  (C) In the generation pattern A43, the communication control device 2 is processed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 receives one or more additional control commands during execution of the reception process for the preceding control command, and buffers the additional control command. Also, one or more additional control commands are received during execution of the command process for the preceding control command, and the additional control command is buffered. Then, when the command processing for the preceding control command is just before completion, the command processing is interrupted. Further, the reception process for the preceding control command is executed again, and the reception process for two or more buffered additional control commands is executed. Further, a composite control command is generated by executing a polymerization process for the preceding control command and two or more additional control commands.

  (D) In the non-generated pattern B41, processing of the communication control device 2 is performed in the following procedure. That is, the communication control device 2 does not receive the additional control command during the execution of the reception process for the preceding control command. Further, no additional control command is received during execution of command processing for the preceding control command. Then, the command processing for the preceding control command is completed without interruption. That is, the preceding control command is output without executing the polymerization process.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the communication control system 1 of the present embodiment, the effects according to the effects (3) to (5) of the first embodiment and the effects (6) of the second embodiment are obtained.

(Fourth embodiment)
The communication control system 1 of the present embodiment is configured as a part of the communication control system 1 of the first embodiment changed. Moreover, about the other point, the structure similar to the communication control system 1 of 1st Embodiment is employ | adopted. For this reason, below, the detail of a different point from the communication control system 1 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated, about the structure which is common in 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the one part or all part of the description is abbreviate | omitted. .

  In the communication control system 1 according to the first embodiment, the intermediate device 20 is provided with an intermediate storage unit 25 that stores an input control command. In contrast, in the communication control system 1 of the present embodiment, the intermediate storage unit 25 is omitted, and the intermediate device 40 capable of storing each control command in the port storage unit is replaced with the intermediate device 20. Is provided.

  With reference to FIG. 11, the configuration of the intermediate device 40 of the present embodiment will be described.

  The intermediate device 40 is provided with a first input port 41 for connecting to the upper device 10 and a second input port 43 for connecting to the lower device 30. The first input port 41 is provided with a first port storage unit 42 for buffering a plurality of control commands output from the host device 10. The second input port 43 is provided with a second port storage unit 44 for buffering a plurality of control commands output from the lower device 30.

  When the control commands are sequentially input to the first input port 41 and the second input port 43, the intermediate device 40 adds a number to each control command in the input order, and the first input port 41 and the second input port The control commands are stored in the respective port storage units 42 and 44 with 43. And the reception process with respect to a control command is performed in order of the added number.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the communication control system 1 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects (1), (2), (4), and (5) of the first embodiment.

  (7) In the communication control system 1, the first port storage unit 42 and the second port storage unit 44 are provided in the intermediate device 40. In addition, numbers are added to the control commands input to the port storage units 42 and 44 in the order of input to the intermediate device 40. According to this configuration, the processing order of control commands corresponding to the order input to the intermediate device 40 is guaranteed.

(Fifth embodiment)
The communication control system 1 of the present embodiment is configured as a part of the communication control system 1 of the first embodiment changed. Moreover, about the other point, the structure similar to the communication control system 1 of 1st Embodiment is employ | adopted. For this reason, below, the detail of a different point from the communication control system 1 of 1st Embodiment is demonstrated, about the structure which is common in 1st Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and the one part or all part of the description is abbreviate | omitted. .

  With reference to FIG. 12, the structure of the communication control system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  The communication control system 1 is provided with two communication control devices 2 connected to each other. As the communication control device 2, a first communication control device 50 as a facility device and a second communication control device 60 as a facility device are provided. Further, a lighting fixture is provided as the first communication control device 50. In addition, a remote controller for the lighting fixture is provided as the second communication control device 60.

  The operation of each communication control device 2 is shown in the following (A) and (B).

  (A) The first communication control device 50 generates a control command for controlling the second communication control device 60. The generated control command is output to the second communication control device 60. In addition, a control command is received from the second communication control device 60. Further, the reception process, the command process, the response process, and the superposition process are performed in a manner according to the communication control device 2 of the first embodiment.

  (B) The second communication control device 60 generates a control command for controlling the first communication control device 50. Further, the generated control command is output to the first communication control device 50. In addition, a control command is received from the first communication control device 50. Further, the reception process, the command process, the response process, and the superposition process are performed in a manner according to the communication control device 2 of the first embodiment.

(Effect of embodiment)
According to the communication control system 1 of the present embodiment, an effect according to the effects (1) and (2) of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(Sixth embodiment)
In the above-described embodiment, the equipment such as the lighting equipment and the air conditioning equipment and the various sensors such as the lighting switch, the human sensor, and the brightness sensor have been described as the lower equipment 30. In the present embodiment, a lighting control system that controls a lighting fixture as a facility device using the communication control system 1 described above will be described.

  The lighting control system described below is assumed to be used in office buildings or commercial buildings, but does not prevent use in buildings such as hospitals, hotels, and apartment buildings. That is, any lighting control system that centrally manages lighting states of a large number of lighting fixtures may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 13, this lighting control system includes a lower network constructed using the control unit that is the intermediate device 20 described in the first embodiment, a controller 11, a management server 12, and a management terminal 13. And a higher level network included. That is, the controller 11, the management server 12, and the management terminal 13 correspond to the host device 10. Hereinafter, the term “control unit 20” is used instead of “middle device 20”. The lighting control system constructs a hierarchical network including an upper network and a lower network.

  The controller 11 constituting the host device 10 communicates bidirectionally with the control unit 20 via the communication line L4. The higher level network and the lower level network mutually transmit information through the control unit 20 and the controller 11. There is a limit to the number of control units 20 that can communicate with one controller 11, and one controller 11 can communicate with, for example, up to eight control units 20.

  Each of the management server 12, the controller 11, and the control unit 20 includes a device that operates according to a program as a main hardware element, such as a microcomputer. Here, a RISC processor is assumed as this type of device.

  The subordinate device 30 includes a lighting fixture 31 that is a control target and a monitoring device 32 that detects an event that triggers a change in the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31. The lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 may be only lighting and extinguishing, but the lighting fixture 31 that can be dimmed includes a dimming level, and the lighting fixture 31 that can be toned includes a luminescent color.

  The monitoring device 32 includes a wall switch 321 that detects a human operation, a human sensor 322 that detects the presence or absence of a person in the space illuminated by the lighting fixture 31, and a brightness sensor that detects the brightness of the space illuminated by the lighting fixture 31. 323 is assumed. These monitoring devices 32 are connected to the control unit 20 via the communication line L <b> 1 and have a communication function for transmitting the monitoring information detected by the monitoring device 32 to the control unit 20.

  That is, the wall switch 321, the human sensor 322, and the brightness sensor 323 include a switch or sensor for detecting a predetermined event and a communication function for notifying the control unit 20 of monitoring information corresponding to the detected event. The wall switch 321 detects an event of presence / absence of an operation by a person, the human sensor 322 detects an event of the presence / absence of a person, and the brightness sensor 323 detects an event of whether the illuminance is within a set range. These events are events that serve as a trigger for changing the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 that is the control target.

  As long as the monitoring apparatus 32 is a structure which detects the event used as the opportunity for changing the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31, structures other than the example mentioned above may be sufficient. For example, a sensor for disaster prevention such as a smoke sensor or a flame sensor, an authentication device for authenticating an individual, a sensor for measuring a person's presence position or the number of people using a camera, and the like can be used as the monitoring device 32.

  The lighting fixture 31 is connected to the transmission adapter 33 via the communication line L3, and the transmission adapter 33 is connected to the control unit 20 via the communication line L2. The transmission adapter 33 communicates with the lighting fixture 31 in accordance with the DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) standard. However, the system configuration using the transmission adapter 33 is an example, and the transmission adapter 33 is not essential. Here, a plurality of communication lines L3 (here, a maximum of four systems) can be connected to one transmission adapter 33, and a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 that can individually control the lighting state for each system of the communication lines L3. It is possible to connect each unit (here, a maximum of 16 units). Note that the number of individually controllable lighting fixtures 31 means the number of circuits of the lighting fixtures 31 that can be individually controlled. Therefore, even when a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 are included in one circuit, they are referred to as one lighting fixture 31.

  The lighting state of the luminaire 31 is controlled by receiving an instruction from the control unit 20 through the transmission adapter 33. The control unit 20 uses the transmission adapter 33 for relay, and transmits information including identification information for specifying the lighting fixture 31 to be controlled and a lighting state instructed to the lighting fixture 31 to be controlled. The lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 is instructed.

  The communication on the communication line L1 is based on a polling method based on time division multiplex transmission, and adopts a configuration in which an interrupt signal is transmitted from the monitoring device 32 to the control unit 20 when the monitoring device 32 detects a predetermined event. . That is, the control unit 20 normally accesses each monitoring device 32 cyclically and processes the requests from the monitoring devices 32 in order, but when receiving an interrupt signal from any of the monitoring devices 32, the control unit 20 A response to the event detected by the monitoring device 32 is preferentially performed by an interrupt process. Such a process is called an interrupt polling system, and has a higher response to event detection than a simple polling system.

  The communication line L1 between the control unit 20 and the monitoring device 32 is a two-wire system, and a baseband signal with alternating polarity is used as a signal transmitted through the communication line L1. The monitoring device 32 obtains power for operation by rectifying the signal transmitted through the communication line L1. One frame of a signal transmitted through the communication line L1 indicates a transmission band including address data and control data for specifying each monitoring device 32, a return band for returning a request from the monitoring device 32, and a frame start position. Includes start pulse. The address data, control data, and start pulse transmitted in the transmission band are voltage signals that change the line voltage of the communication line L1, and the signal transmitted in the return band is the impedance between the communication lines L1. A current signal that is changed and transmitted by a current change is used. The control data includes ON / OFF of the lighting fixture 31 and the dimming level.

  The communication line L2 used for signal transmission between the control unit 20 and the transmission adapter 33 may be dedicated to communication, but here, the power line for supplying power to the luminaire 31 is also used for communication. The communication line L2 uses the distribution line as a communication line, and performs communication between the control unit 20 and the transmission adapter 33 using the power line carrier communication technology.

  The controller 11, the management server 12, and the management terminal 13 that construct the host network transmit information via the communication line L5. General-purpose standards are used for the communication line L4 and the communication line L5 connected to the controller 11. Here, the standard of communication using the communication line L4 and the communication line L5 is assumed to be Ethernet (registered trademark) that can transmit a variable-length packet in full duplex and has a transmission speed of about 100 Mbps.

  The controller 11 has a function of acquiring a control command instructing the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 corresponding to the event detected by the monitoring device 32 by communicating with the control unit 20. The controller 11 also has a function of collecting and notifying the control unit 20 after collecting the control commands for instructing the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31. The function of the controller 11 will be described later.

  The management server 12 is a server computer, and has a function of performing schedule control according to a time schedule, and a function of monitoring the operation state of the lighting fixture 31 as an annunciator and performing maintenance monitoring such as a failure or a broken lamp bulb. The management server 12 also has a function of manually controlling the lighting fixture 31 by combining with the management terminal 13 described later.

  There are two types of time schedules: a control schedule for changing the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 and a setting schedule for changing conditions set in the lighting fixture 31, the monitoring device 32, the transmission adapter 33, and the like. When performing schedule control, information specifying the subordinate device 30 (the lighting fixture 31, the monitoring device 32, and the transmission adapter 33) to be controlled or set and the control command given to the target subordinate device 30 are included in the time schedule. included. The time schedule includes a date and time when a control command included in the control schedule or setting schedule is executed, or a set of a start date and time and an end date and time. The control command includes any of control contents for the lighting fixture 31 and setting contents for the lighting fixture 31, the monitoring device 32, and the transmission adapter 33.

  Below, the case where a time schedule is a control schedule is demonstrated first, and the case where a time schedule is a setting schedule is demonstrated after that.

  The management server 12 includes a built-in clock (real time clock) that measures the current date and time. When the time schedule is registered, the management server 12 transmits the control command set in the time schedule to the controller 11 when the date and time of the built-in clock matches the date and time of the time schedule. The time schedule includes a control schedule and a setting schedule, but the management server 12 transmits a control command to the controller 11 in the order in which transactions occur without distinguishing between the control schedule and the setting schedule.

  The management terminal 13 includes a monitor device 131 that displays information on maintenance monitoring such as lighting states of individual lighting fixtures 31, breakdowns and ball breaks, and an operation unit 132 for selecting contents to be displayed on the monitor device 131. I have. Here, it is assumed that the management terminal 13 is realized by a general-purpose computer that executes an appropriate program, but the management terminal 13 may be realized by a so-called tablet terminal. The management terminal 13 acquires content to be displayed on the monitor device 131 from the management server 12, and reflects the operation content of the operation unit 52 in the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 through the management server 12. Therefore, the management terminal 13 has a browser function for browsing services provided from the management server 12.

  By the way, the control types of the lighting fixtures 31 include “individual control” that specifies the lighting state for each lighting fixture 31, “group control” that specifies the lighting states of the plurality of lighting fixtures 31, and “group control” and “ Pattern control ". The group control is control for designating the same lighting state for a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 controlled together, and the pattern control is control for individually designating the lighting status for a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 controlled simultaneously. It is. That is, when performing group control, one kind of lighting state and a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 to be in the lighting state are designated. In the group control, in addition to lighting (on) and extinguishing (off) as the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31, a dimming rate and a light emission color may be designated. On the other hand, in the pattern control, only lighting and extinguishing can be specified as the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31.

  In the time schedule managed by the management server 12, when the lighting fixtures 31 to be controlled are group control or pattern control, the name given to the set of a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 controlled at the same time Is used. Here, a name that designates a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 that are subject to group control is referred to as a “group name”, and a name that designates a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 that are subject to pattern control is referred to as a “pattern name”. . The plurality of lighting fixtures 31 specified by the group name needs to separately register the time schedule by specifying the lighting state. On the other hand, since the lighting state of the plurality of lighting fixtures 31 specified by the pattern names has already been specified, only the pattern names need be registered in the time schedule.

  The functions of the controller 11 and the management server 12 described above may be physically configured by a single computer.

  As described above, the lighting control system includes an upper network and a lower network. Therefore, there are a case where a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 to be subjected to group control and pattern control are designated within a range of one lower network, and a case where designation is made within a range across a plurality of lower networks.

  In the former case, since the luminaire 31 associated with the group name or pattern name is under the control of one control unit 20, the association between the group name or pattern name and the group of luminaires 31 is the control unit. 20 does. In the latter case, since the lighting fixtures 31 associated with the group names and pattern names are managed by the plurality of control units 20, the controller 11 associates the group names and pattern names with the group of lighting fixtures 31. .

  Here, since the controller 11 can perform group control and pattern control over a range of lighting fixtures 31 managed by the plurality of control units 20, the management server 12 has a set of one or more group names or one or more sets. It is possible to handle a set of pattern names. Hereinafter, the name of the set of group names is referred to as “controller group name”, and the name of the set of pattern names is referred to as “controller pattern name”.

  Now, the controller group name is represented by CGrj, the controller pattern name is represented by CPtk, the group name is represented by Grm, and the pattern name is represented by Ptn. However, j, k, m, and n are natural numbers. When this code is used, for example, a set of lighting fixtures 31 represented by one or more group names such as CGr1 = (Gr1, Gr2, Gr4), CGr2 = (Gr4, Gr5, Gr6) The controller group name CGrj can be represented. Further, for example, a set of lighting fixtures 31 represented by one or more pattern names such as CPt1 = (Pt1, Pt3), CPt3 = (Pt2, Pt4, Pt5) is represented by one controller pattern name CPtk. It becomes possible.

  The correspondence relationship between the controller group name and the group name and the correspondence relationship between the controller pattern name and the pattern name are registered in the controller 11. When the controller 11 receives the controller group name from the management server 12, the controller 11 expands the controller group name into a set of group names. When the controller 11 receives the controller pattern name from the management server 12, the controller 11 expands the controller pattern name into a set of pattern names. After the controller group name and controller pattern name are expanded, the control command handled by the controller 11 is either group control or pattern control. Individual lighting fixtures 31 and group names and pattern names are associated in the control unit 20.

  On the other hand, the lighting state of the luminaire 31 varies depending not only on the time schedule managed by the management server 12 but also on the monitoring contents detected by the monitoring device 32. Since the control unit 20 gives the lighting state instruction to the lighting fixtures 31 within the range of the lower network, the control unit 20 must instruct the lighting state to each lighting fixture 31. On the other hand, when performing control over a plurality of control units 20, each control unit 20 cannot control the luminaire 31 in cooperation with other control units 20. Therefore, the controller 11 is provided, and when the lighting fixture 31 to be controlled is managed across a plurality of control units 20, the controller 11 transmits a control command to the plurality of control units 20. To do.

  The management server 12 registers the control target in the time schedule as a group name or pattern name, or a controller group name or controller pattern name. Therefore, the controller 11 acquires a group name and a pattern name to be notified to each control unit 20. Since the controller group name and controller pattern name are expanded as described above, the controller 11 need only handle the group name and pattern name. Individual group names and individual pattern names correspond to control commands.

  As described above, the controller 11 uses the information acquired from the control unit 20 and the management server 12 to know whether or not all the control units 20 include the lighting fixtures 31 to be controlled. it can. For this reason, the controller 11 has a function of classifying group names and pattern names (that is, control commands) for each control unit 20 using the control target information acquired from the control unit 20 and the management server 12.

  The controller 11 collectively transmits the group name and pattern name sorted for each control unit 20 to each control unit 20. The control information is transmitted from the controller 11 to the control unit 20 by serial transmission in the order in which the controller 11 receives the control information.

  In this way, the process of sorting the group name and pattern name and sending them together for each control unit 20 that is the destination is referred to as “collective feed process”. Since the group name and pattern name correspond to control commands, the “collective sending process” sorts the control commands for each destination control unit 20, and generates a composite control command by linking the sorted control commands for each destination. Will do. That is, the “collective feed process” corresponds to the “polymerization process” described in the first to fifth embodiments.

  The control commands to be subjected to the “collective feed processing” are the preceding control command and the additional control command described in the first embodiment, and are acquired by the controller 11 during the polymerization allowable period TX from the reception of the preceding control command. For example, when a plurality of control commands based on the time schedule are input during the polymerization permissible period TX and control information having the same destination as the control unit 20 is included, the batch sending process is performed.

  The capacity of the payload transmitted from the controller 11 to the control unit 20 in one packet is limited, and when the amount of information transmitted by the batch sending process is large, it is divided into a plurality of packets and transmitted. . In this case, the control unit 20 needs to handle the information received by being divided into a plurality of times by the batch sending process as a series of pieces of information.

  When the control command transmitted from the controller 11 by the “batch sending process” includes a group name or pattern name, the control unit 20 that has received the control command uses the group name or pattern name as the control content of each lighting fixture 31. expand. When the controller 11 expands the group name or pattern name obtained from the control command received during the polymerization allowable period TX to each lighting fixture 31, the same lighting fixture 31 may be included in duplicate. The control unit 20 treats the lighting state later in time order as an effective instruction for the lighting state of each lighting fixture 31 obtained by developing the control commands received in time order. Therefore, finally, the lighting fixture 31 and a lighting state (control content) are matched on a one-to-one basis. In this way, the process of associating the lighting fixture 31 and the lighting state obtained by developing the control command on a one-to-one basis is referred to as “superposition process”.

  By performing the superimposition process in the control unit 20, it is possible to prevent one lighting fixture 31 from being instructed in a plurality of lighting states in a short time, and information transmitted through the communication line L2. The amount is reduced.

  As described above, the controller 11 performs the batch sending process described above and transmits the control requests for each control unit 20 collectively. That is, the controller 11 does not transmit the control request to the control unit 20 as soon as a control request to be transmitted to the control unit 20 occurs, but sorts the control request input within the predetermined polymerization allowable period TX for each control unit 20. Temporarily save to a new buffer. Accordingly, even when a plurality of control requests to be transmitted to one control unit 20 are generated within the polymerization allowable period TX, a plurality of control requests stored in the buffer can be collectively transmitted to the control unit 20 as packets. It becomes possible.

  Regarding the schedule control, the concept of the collective feed process and the overlay process is collectively shown in FIG. In the illustrated example, the time schedule registered in the management server 12 is represented as a combination of time and control target. The control targets are (CGr1, CGr3), (CGr2, CGr3), and the like. Here, it is assumed that the control target is represented by a controller group name. When “time 1” in which the control target is (CGr1, CGr3) is reached, a set of (CGr1, CGr3) is transmitted to the controller 11.

  The controller 11 performs a batch sending process on the control objects (CGr1, CGr3). That is, after the controller group name is expanded and control commands are extracted, the control commands are sorted and combined for each control unit 20. In the illustrated example, the controller group name CGr1 is expanded to (Gr1, Gr2, Gr4), and the controller group name CGr3 is expanded to (Gr1, Gr3, Gr4). Here, assuming that the expanded group name is transmitted to the same control unit 20, the expanded group names (control commands) are simply combined, and the combined control command (Gr1, Gr2, Gr4, Gr1, Gr3, Gr4). In practice, a header indicating a transmission destination and a transmission source and a trailer for detecting a transmission error are added to the composite control command.

  When such a composite control command is transmitted to the control unit 20, the control unit 20 performs a superimposition process and associates lighting states one to one for each lighting fixture 31. In the illustrated example, identification information (address, etc.) for identifying the lighting fixture 31 is 1, 2,..., N, and is temporarily stored as a control content buffer having a slot for setting a lighting state for each identification information. Means are provided. The lighting state written in each slot is updated by overwriting, and the lighting state written in the slot at the end of the polymerization allowable period TX is instructed to the lighting fixture 31. That is, the set of group names received as a composite control command by the control unit 20 is developed into the identification information of the individual lighting fixtures 31 in the control unit 20 and reflected in the contents of each slot.

  By performing the above processing, the lighting state is instructed to each lighting fixture 31 in a state where the lighting fixture 31 and the lighting state are associated one-to-one. That is, the amount of information transmitted from the control unit 20 to the lighting fixture 31 is reduced, and the information indicating the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 does not change within a short time.

  By the way, the schedule control is used not only for the control schedule but also for the setting schedule. The basic process related to the setting schedule is the same as the process related to the control schedule. For example, the controller 11 uses the same group name or pattern name assigned to the lighting fixture 31 in preparation for changing the set values set in the non-volatile memories provided in the plurality of monitoring devices 32 at once. Names and pattern names are also set in the monitoring device 32. The set value set in the monitoring device 32 means, for example, a threshold value for an event detected by the monitoring device 32.

  When this kind of setting value change is performed collectively, it is possible to use group names and pattern names. Further, the “collective feed process” and the “superposition process” are performed in the same manner as in the control schedule. That is, when receiving a control command from the management server 12, the controller 11 classifies the control command into a control command for the control schedule and a control command for the setting schedule. Furthermore, the controller 11 sorts and summarizes each of the control command of the control schedule and the control command of the setting schedule for each control unit 20 as the transmission destination.

  On the other hand, when the control unit 20 receives the control command transmitted from the controller 11 by the batch sending process, the control unit 20 temporarily stores the control command in the buffer, and performs the “superposition process” of the control command stored in the buffer. That is, the control unit 20 develops the control commands received in time order, and associates the monitoring device 32 with the set value on a one-to-one basis. In this way, the setting schedule is also “superimposed” in the same manner as the control schedule, and the monitoring device 32 and the set value are associated one-to-one.

  By the way, when the control schedule and the setting schedule are mixed, it is difficult to distinguish between a target to be controlled and a target to set a set value in the superimposition process. Therefore, the controller 11 separates the time schedule into a control schedule and a setting schedule in the “collective feeding process”, and sets each of the control schedule and the setting schedule as a target of the “collective feeding process”.

  It is desirable that the control schedule and the setting schedule be selectable in the order in which the “collective feeding process” is performed. For example, by operating the management terminal 13, it is only necessary to select which of the control schedule and the setting schedule is to be preferentially performed the “collective feeding process”.

  When the control unit 20 receives a control command corresponding to the control schedule or the setting schedule for which the “collective feeding process” has been performed from the controller 11, the control unit 20 performs the “superimposition process” on the received control command and performs the lighting fixture 31 or monitoring. The superimposed information is transmitted to the device 32. Other configurations and operations are the same as the configurations described in the first to fifth embodiments, and a description thereof will be omitted.

(Effect of embodiment)
Since the amount of information transmitted through the communication lines L1 and L4 is reduced by performing the “collective feeding process” and the “superposition process”, it is reflected in the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 after the time schedule is activated. The time until is relatively short. Moreover, when controlling the several lighting fixture 31 collectively, the time difference until the lighting state of each lighting fixture 31 is decided is small, and the effect that a sense of incongruity does not arise easily is acquired.

(Seventh embodiment)
In the sixth embodiment, the schedule control has been described as a specific example of performing the “summary feed process” and the “superposition process”. That is, an example of operation in which “collective feed processing” and “superposition processing” are performed when a control command corresponding to a time schedule is generated in response to a change in date and time measured by the internal clock of the management server 12 has been described. .

  The above-described “collective feeding process” and “superposition process” are the lighting fixtures 31 triggered by a plurality of types of state changes detected by the plurality of monitoring devices 32 when the lighting fixtures 31 are operated in conjunction with each other. It can also be applied in the case of interlocking.

  Since the control unit 20 can register the group name and pattern name of the lighting fixture 31 to be linked in association with the state change of each monitoring device 32, the controller 11 can register a plurality of group names and pattern names through the control unit 20. Receive. When a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 to be interlocked are present under the control of a plurality of control units 20, control commands are classified and assigned to the respective control units 20 as in the case of performing schedule control. Sent. That is, the “summary feed process” is performed. Further, the control unit 20 that has received the control command that has been subjected to the “collective feed process” performs the “superposition process” and associates the lighting fixture 31 with the lighting state on a one-to-one basis.

  Here, the interlocking relationship of the lighting fixtures 31 may be dynamically changed according to the time schedule. When the interlocking relationship is dynamically changed, the time schedule includes a combination of the lighting fixtures 31 to be interlocked and a lighting state of the lighting fixture 31. Therefore, if the combination of the lighting fixtures 31 to be interlocked is managed as a control schedule and the lighting state of the lighting fixture 31 is managed as a setting schedule, the schedule control is divided into a control schedule and a setting schedule as in the sixth embodiment. Can be managed.

  The “collective feeding process” and the “superimposition process” are applicable also when the light output of the lighting fixture 31 is fed back so that the brightness detected by the brightness sensor 323 is maintained at the target value. It is. For example, when the light output of the plurality of lighting fixtures 31 is feedback-controlled using the brightness detected by the brightness sensor 323, the plurality of lighting fixtures 31 in the range in which the brightness sensor 323 detects the brightness are set. It will be associated.

  In such a case, since it is necessary to collectively control a plurality of lighting fixtures 31, a group name or a pattern name is associated with the brightness sensor 323. When a plurality of lighting fixtures 31 and a plurality of brightness sensors 323 are arranged, the combination of the light outputs of the lighting fixtures 31 is changed with respect to the combination of brightness detected by the brightness sensor 323. Therefore, a plurality of group controls and a plurality of pattern controls occur simultaneously. Here, if the controller 11 acquires the brightness detected by the brightness sensor 323 at a cycle of about 15 seconds, the brightness acquired during one cycle is reflected in the light output of each lighting fixture 31. I will let you.

  Therefore, even when the feedback control as described above is performed, there is a possibility that the control command transmitted from the controller 11 to the control unit 20 may be duplicated or conflicted. Therefore, by performing the “collective sending process”, it is possible to reduce the information amount of the control command transmitted through the communication line L4. Further, by performing the “superposition process”, it is possible to reduce the amount of information transmitted through the communication line L1 by associating the lighting fixture 31 with the lighting state one-on-one with respect to the instruction given to the lighting fixture 31.

  Since the controller 11 periodically acquires the monitoring information acquired by the monitoring device 32 (brightness sensor 323), the controller 11 also acquires the monitoring information from the monitoring device 32 at the timing of the lighting fixture 31 by the control unit 20. It is desirable to synchronize with.

  The present embodiment shows an example in which the configuration of the sixth embodiment is extended to interlocking control and feedback control other than schedule control, and other configurations and operations are the same as those of the sixth embodiment.

(Other embodiments)
Embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the embodiments described as the first to seventh embodiments, and can be modified as shown below, for example. The following modifications are not applied only to the first to seventh embodiments, and different modifications can be combined with each other.

In the first embodiment (FIG. 3), a value set in advance as the polymerization permissible period TX is continuously used. However, the polymerization permissible period TX can be changed while the communication control system 1 is in operation. Examples of this case include the following.
(A) The length of the polymerization permissible period TX is changed based on the number of additional control commands input to one communication control device 2 per unit time. Further, the polymerization allowable period TX is lengthened as the number of additional control commands increases.
(B) The length of the polymerization permissible period TX is changed based on the communication amount between the communication control devices 2. In addition, the polymerization permissible period TX is lengthened as the communication amount between the communication control devices 2 increases.

  In the second embodiment (FIG. 9), the timing immediately before completion of the command process for the preceding control command is set as the timing for determining the additional control command to be subjected to the polymerization process. This timing is exemplified in the second embodiment. It is not limited to the contents made. For example, during the execution of the command process for the preceding control command, the intermediate timing of the command process can be set as the timing.

  In the fourth embodiment (FIG. 11), the numbers in the order input to the intermediate device 40 are added to each control command. However, as shown in FIG. The input time can be added to each control command. In this case, control command reception processing is performed in the order of the added times.

In the fifth embodiment (FIG. 12), a lighting fixture is provided as the first communication control device 50, and a remote control of the lighting fixture is provided as the second communication control device 60. The general configuration is not limited to the example shown in the fifth embodiment. Examples of other specific configurations include the following.
(A) A lighting fixture is provided as the first communication control device 50. Moreover, the sensor of a lighting fixture is provided as the 2nd communication control apparatus 60. FIG.
(B) A lighting fixture is provided as the first communication control device 50. A lighting fixture is provided as the second communication control device 60.
(C) An air conditioner is provided as the first communication control device 50. In addition, an air conditioner remote control is provided as the second communication control device 60.
(D) An air conditioner is provided as the first communication control device 50. Further, an air conditioner sensor is provided as the second communication control device 60.
(E) An air conditioner is provided as the first communication control device 50. An air conditioner is provided as the second communication control device 60.

In the first to fourth embodiments (FIG. 1), the command processing of the control command from the lower device 30 to the middle devices 20 and 40 is prohibited by “communication amount restriction control”, but “communication amount restriction control”. The contents of can also be changed as follows. That is, the command processing for at least one of the following control commands (A) to (E) can be prohibited by executing “communication amount restriction control”.
(A) Command processing from the lower device 30 to the middle devices 20, 40.
(B) Command processing from the higher-level device 10 to the middle-level devices 20 and 40.
(C) Command processing from the middle devices 20 and 40 to the lower device 30.
(D) Command processing from the middle level devices 20 and 40 to the higher level device 10.
(E) Command processing from the intermediate device 20, 40 to the other intermediate device 20, 40.

  In the first to fourth embodiments (FIG. 1), instead of or in addition to prohibiting the command processing of the control command from the lower level device 30 to the middle level devices 20 and 40, the generation of the control command is prohibited. You can also.

1 Communication control system 2 Communication control device 10 Host device (control unit, communication control device)
11 Controller (Host device)
12 Management server (host device)
13 Management terminal (host device)
20 Middle equipment (control unit, communication control equipment)
21 First input port (input port)
22 First port storage unit (port storage unit)
23 Second input port 24 Second port storage unit (port storage unit)
25 Intermediate storage unit (storage unit)
30 Subordinate equipment (facility equipment, communication control equipment)
31 Lighting equipment 32 Monitoring device 40 Middle equipment (control unit, communication control equipment)
41 First input port (input port)
42 First port storage unit (port storage unit)
43 Second input port (input port)
44 Second port storage unit (port storage unit)
50 First communication control device (communication control device)
60 Second communication control device (communication control device)
321 Wall switch (monitoring device, subordinate equipment)
322 Human sensor (monitoring device, subordinate device)
323 Brightness sensor (monitoring device, subordinate device)

Claims (6)

A plurality of control units for instructing one or a plurality of lighting fixtures to indicate individual lighting states by communication;
A host device that generates a control command for instructing a plurality of the control units by lighting the lighting state of one or more of the lighting fixtures,
The lighting control system, wherein the host device has a function of performing a collective feed process of generating a composite control command obtained by connecting one or more control commands generated according to a time schedule and transmitting the composite control command to the control unit. The control unit has a function of acquiring, through communication, monitoring information detected according to conditions set by one or more monitoring devices,
The control command can indicate a condition set in the monitoring device in addition to the lighting state of the lighting fixture,
The host device manages, as a control schedule, a time schedule of a control command for instructing a lighting state of the lighting fixture, and manages a time schedule of a control command for instructing a condition set in the monitoring device as a setting schedule. The lighting control system according to claim 1, wherein the setting schedule and the setting schedule are transmitted to the control unit as individual composite control commands by communication. A plurality of control units for instructing individual lighting states by communication to a plurality of lighting fixtures;
A host device for generating a control command for instructing a plurality of control units by lighting the lighting state of the plurality of lighting fixtures,
The upper device changes the lighting state of the other lighting fixtures when the lighting state of the other lighting fixtures changes in accordance with the change of the lighting state of any of the plurality of lighting fixtures for which the interlocking relationship is set. A lighting control system comprising a function of performing a collective feed process of generating a composite control command obtained by connecting a plurality of instructing control commands and transmitting the composite control command to the control unit. When dynamically changing the linkage relationship according to a time schedule set in the higher-level device,
The upper device manages a time schedule related to the combination of the lighting fixtures to be interlocked as a control schedule, manages a time schedule related to the lighting state of the lighting fixtures as a setting schedule, and controls the control schedule and the setting schedule separately. The illumination control system according to claim 3, wherein the illumination control system transmits to the control unit by communication. A plurality of control units for receiving brightness detected by one or more brightness sensors as monitoring information by communication and instructing one or more lighting fixtures to communicate individual lighting states;
The monitoring information is acquired from the control unit, and a plurality of the control units are feedback-controlled so that the lighting states of the plurality of lighting fixtures are maintained so that the brightness detected by the brightness sensor is maintained at a target value. A host device that generates a control command instructed by communication,
The host device has a function of performing a collective sending process of generating a composite control command obtained by connecting a plurality of control commands instructing the lighting state of the lighting fixture and transmitting the command to the control unit. . The host device acquires the monitoring information from the brightness sensor at a constant period,
The lighting control system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit controls a lighting state of the lighting fixture in synchronization with a cycle in which the host device acquires the monitoring information.

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