Patent Description:
Embodiments of the inventive concept described herein relate to a lighting control system, and more particularly, relate to a lighting control system capable of effectively controlling a lighting pattern of a plurality of lighting devices by adjusting electrical code information or an intensity of a radio wave.

In general, a lighting device means a light emitting device that is used for illumination by reflecting, refracting, or transmitting a light provided from a light source. The lighting device is classified into an indirect lighting device, a semi-indirect lighting device, a general diffuse lighting device, a semi-direct lighting device, and a direct lighting device depending on the distribution of the light.

With the development of the technology, the lighting device has been used for a variety of purposes. As an example, the lighting device is used to create media facades. The media facades are layers of controllable lights attached to the exterior surface of a building to function as media screens.

As another example, the lighting device is used as a cheering tool in a sport event or a concert being held below a predetermined luminance level. However, since a plurality of lighting devices is individually controlled in such an environment, it is difficult to form systematic lighting patterns or shapes. In addition, it is not easy to achieve a cheering effect as expected by only using the light source of the lighting device.

Accordingly, a method of uniformly controlling a plurality of lighting devices is required to solve the difficulties described above.

Also, various forms of stage effects are displayed using a plurality of light emitting devices (e.g. lighting devices) for the light emitting type cheering tool used in concerts or sport events or for a structure of outer walls in a building. A director or a producer controls the light emitting devices, which are used for various purposes, individually or as a group through a central processing unit such as a master device to create various light emitting patterns. Meanwhile, in the method of controlling the light emitting devices, a light emitting control signal is transmitted from the master device to a plurality of slave devices (e.g., light emitting devices) through a wireless communication such that the various light emitting patterns are produced.

Conventionally, a position of a lighting device is calculated by using an RSSI signal for controlling a light lighting of the lighting device. However, it is difficult to accurately calculate the position of the lighting device due to various factors with the conventional calculating method.

In addition, it is required to transmit data, such as pixel value, to all the plurality of lighting devices in order to display contents, e.g., animation, using the plurality of lighting devices. However, it is difficult to transmit the data to the plurality of lighting devices through wireless signal.

In a conventional method of displaying light emitting patterns, one control device (e.g., the master device) controls the operation of a plurality of light emitting devices (e.g., the slave device), and thus it is difficult to group the plurality of light emitting devices and display the light emitting patterns in real time or periodically.

Also, when using a portable light emitting device that is able to be hand carried by a person (e.g., a light emitting type cheering tool), predetermined light emitting patterns may be in disorder due to a movement of the person carrying the portable light emitting device. In this case, it is difficult to check every movement of the person and control the light emitting device carried by the person.

D1 (<CIT>) provides an apparatus, system and method for controlling remote lighting devices via radio frequency. The lighting device includes a housing, a power source, a lighting source, a signal receiver and a signal processor. The light source emits light in response to an appropriate signal received. The apparatus is configured to be held by human users, or attached to thir person via a securing means.

D2 (<CIT>) provides a patterning system includes transportable nodes, each having a unique identifier, and including an element having first and second states and a transceiver for receiving a element command signal. A transmitter sends a query command to the transportable nodes to validate the identifier against the database and activate validated transportable nodes to receive the signal. A controller sends the signal to activated transportable nodes to bring the plurality of nodes into one of their states to form a pattern.

D3 (<CIT>) provides a wireless communication devie having luminescent display capabilities in accordance with various embodiments is provided with a machine accessible medium including instructions to receive data representing a set of one or more picture elements of an audience assisted image to facilitate coordinated display of a luminescent representation of a portion of the audience assisted image by the wireless communication device in cooperation with one or more additional wireless communication devices, as well as a processor to execute the instructions.

D4 (<CIT>) provides a stage lighting method that is executed using a plurality of light emitting devices and a control system. The control system reads light emission data from a light emission data storage means, and using a data transmission, transmits the light emission data to each of the plurality of light emitting devices. The plurality of light emitting devices receive, via a data reception unit, the light emission data transmitted form the control system. The control system transmits a light emission start command to each of the plurality of light emitting devices to cause the light emission.

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a show directing control system according to claim <NUM>.

Embodiments of the inventive concept provide a method according to claim <NUM>.

The above and other objects and features will become apparent from the following description with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures unless otherwise specified, and wherein:.

The inventive concept and methods of accomplishing the same may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of embodiments and the accompanying drawings. However, the inventive concept may be embodied in many different forms, and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the inventive concept will only be defined by the appended claims.

In the following descriptions, the term "lighting control signal" used herein may include at least one of a "first lighting control signal" and a "second lighting signal". The first lighting control signal may be a signal required to control a sub-master device <NUM> by a master device <NUM>, and the second lighting control signal may be a signal required to control a slave device <NUM> by the master device <NUM>. Unless otherwise defined, the lighting control signal may mean one of the first lighting control signal and the second lighting control and may be defined by a specific operation of the master device <NUM>.

Hereinafter, a lighting control system using machine-readable code containing data (hereinafter, referred to as "electrical code information") will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing a lighting control system <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

The lighting control system <NUM> includes a master device <NUM>, a slave device <NUM>, and a server <NUM>. The lighting control system <NUM> controls a lighting of the slave device <NUM>, e.g., a lighting device, a lighting device, to direct various lighting patterns for cheering in a concert hall.

The master device <NUM> may independently perform a function of controlling the lighting of at least one slave device <NUM> or communicate with the server <NUM> to perform the controlling function of the lighting of the slave device <NUM>. For instance, the master device <NUM> may be configured to have a kiosk form, may include a portion of components of a smart phone, a tablet, a desktop personal computer, a laptop personal computer, or a netbook computer, may be one of the smart phone, the tablet, the desktop personal computer, the laptop personal computer, and the netbook computer, or may be one of various electronic devices operated in conjunction with those devices.

The slave device <NUM> may perform a function of directing various types of lighting patterns in real time or by a predetermined interval under the control of the master device <NUM>. The slave device <NUM> may be a small cheering tool in which at least a portion thereof emits a light in various shapes in sport events, concerts, etc..

The server <NUM> may communicate with the master device <NUM> and perform a function of applying various types of information, which will be provided to the slave device <NUM>, to the master device <NUM>. For instance, the server <NUM> receives electrical code information from the master device <NUM> and provides at least one of light-emitting position information and directing information corresponding to the electrical code information to the master device <NUM>.

The master device <NUM>, the slave device <NUM>, and the server <NUM> may mutually communicate with each other in various ways. For instance, the master device <NUM> and the slave device <NUM> may be connected to each other through a wireless communication, such as a RF communication, an electric tag, etc., and the master device <NUM> and the server <NUM> may be connected to each other through a telecommunication network, but they should not be limited thereto or thereby.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing the master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

The master device <NUM> includes a communication unit <NUM>, an electrical code identification unit <NUM>, a storing unit <NUM>, an information check unit <NUM>, an information providing unit <NUM>, a lighting control unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the master device <NUM> may further include additional units, e.g., an input module, a display module, a power module, an audio module, etc., or some units of the master device <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be omitted.

The communication unit <NUM> may provide a communication between the master device <NUM> and the slave device <NUM> or between the master device <NUM> and the server <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> may include, for example, at least one of a wired communication module (e.g., a connector, a connector module, etc.) and a wireless communication module (e.g., an RF transceiver, a Zigbee module, a Bluetooth, a WIFI module, etc.).

The electrical code identification unit <NUM> may perform a function of receiving an electrical code printed on a show ticket or a concert ticket. As an example, the electrical code may be a code, such as a bar code or a QR code, in which information printed on a ticket are identified by various electronic devices, but it should not be limited thereto or thereby. The electrical code identification unit <NUM> may be an optical scanner or a QR code identifier that scans the electrical code to collect the electrical code information, but it should not be limited thereto or thereby. In <FIG>, the electrical code identification unit <NUM> is implemented in the master device <NUM>, but the electrical code identification unit <NUM> may be implemented separated from the mater device <NUM> according to various embodiments. In this case, the master device <NUM> may receive the electrical code information from the electrical code identification unit <NUM> through a wired or wireless network.

The storing unit <NUM> may store data provided from or generated by other components of the control unit <NUM>, the master device <NUM>, or the lighting control system <NUM>. The storing unit <NUM> may include, for example, a memory, a cash, a buffer, etc..

According to various embodiments, the storing unit <NUM> may store the electrical code information provided from the ticket, the light-emitting position information that are previously set depending on the electrical code information, and the directing information corresponding to the light-emitting position. The electrical code information, the light-emitting position information, and the directing information may be implemented in a mapping table to be mutually compatible, but they should not be limited thereto or thereby.

According to some embodiments, the electrical code, which allows a position of a seat of a person who purchased the ticket in the concert hall to be checked through the master device <NUM> or the server <NUM>, may be printed on the ticket. In addition, seat information, such as Korean, English, Arabic numerals, etc., may be further printed on the ticket such that the person who purchases the ticket checks the position of the seat.

According to some embodiments, the light-emitting position information may be information that are previously set to identify or group a plurality of slave devices <NUM> for the directing of the show in the master device <NUM> or the server <NUM>. The light-emitting position information may be substantially the same as the seat information that are recognized by the person or is set by adding additional identification information to the seat information, and the light-emitting position information may be set previously or in real time by an administrator of the lighting control system <NUM> or a show policy.

According to some embodiments, in a case that a relatively high quality lighting pattern (e.g., a screen represented by images) is directed through the slave devices <NUM>, the directing information may be previously stored (e.g., insertion) in the slave device <NUM> from the master device <NUM>. In general, since data simultaneously transmitted through the wireless communication are restricted, the directing information, such as pixel information, are required to be previously provided to the slave devices <NUM> when the high quality lighting pattern is directed. Accordingly, the master device <NUM> may previously provide the directing information corresponding to the light-emitting position information to the slave device <NUM>.

The information check unit <NUM> may receive the collected electrical code information from the electrical code identification unit <NUM> and check the light-emitting position information corresponding to the electrical code information in the storing unit <NUM> or the server <NUM>. The information check unit <NUM> may transmit the collected electrical code information to the server <NUM> from the electrical code identification unit <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM> and check the light-emitting position information corresponding to the electrical code information in the server <NUM>. In addition, the information check unit <NUM> transmits the checked light-emitting position information to the information providing unit <NUM>.

The information providing unit <NUM> may provide (e.g., insertion) at least one of the light-emitting position information checked by the information check unit <NUM> and the directing information to the slave device <NUM>. The information providing unit <NUM> may transmit the light-emitting position information or the directing information to the slave device <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>, such as an RF module.

The lighting control unit <NUM> may broadcast a lighting control signal corresponding to the light-emitting position information through a wireless network. For instance, the lighting control unit <NUM> may broadcast the lighting control signal to the slave devices <NUM>, and each slave device <NUM> may selectively receive the lighting control signal corresponding to the light-emitting position information thereof among the broadcasted lighting control signals.

The control unit <NUM> may perform a data processing function to control an overall operation, e.g., a control of power supply, of the master device <NUM> and a signal flow between components in the master device <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may include at least one processor.

The information check unit <NUM>, the information providing unit <NUM>, and the lighting control unit <NUM> may be functional components separately provided to distinguish at least some functions of the control unit <NUM> from common functions of the control unit <NUM>. In <FIG>, the information check unit <NUM>, the information providing unit <NUM>, and the lighting control unit <NUM> are shown as separate components from the control unit <NUM>, but the information check unit <NUM>, the information providing unit <NUM>, and the lighting control unit <NUM> may be configured with the control unit <NUM> as a single module.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing the slave device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

The slave device <NUM> includes a lighting unit <NUM> and may include a communication unit <NUM>, a storing unit <NUM>, an information receiving unit <NUM>, a lighting control unit <NUM>, and a control unit <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the slave device <NUM> may further include additional units, e.g., an input module, a display module, a power module, an audio module, etc., or some units of the slave device <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be omitted.

The communication unit <NUM> may provide a communication between the master device <NUM> and the slave device <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> may include, for example, at least one of a wired communication module (e.g., a connector, a connector module, etc.) and a wireless communication module (e.g., an RF transceiver, a Zigbee module, a Bluetooth, a WIFI module, etc.).

According to various embodiments, the communication unit <NUM> of the slave device <NUM> may receive the light-emitting position information and the directing information corresponding to the light-emitting position from the master device <NUM> (e.g., a smart phone) using the Zigbee module or the Bluetooth module.

The lighting module <NUM> may include one or more light source devices, e.g., a light emitting diode (LED). In addition, the lighting module <NUM> may include LEDs having different colors from each other. For instance, the lighting module <NUM> may include at least one of a red LED, a green LED, a blue LED, and a white LED.

When lights respectively emitted from the LEDs are mixed with each other, a color with a wide range may be obtained, and the mixed color is determined depending on a ratio of intensity of the lights emitted from the LEDs. The intensity of the lights emitted from the LEDs may be proportional to a driving current of each of the LEDs.

That is, the color of the light emitted from the lighting unit <NUM> may be controlled by controlling the driving current of each LED. The LEDs may be arranged in a dot shape, and a specific sentence (text) or an image may be displayed by selectively turning on the LEDs.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the LED has been described as the light source of the lighting unit <NUM>, but the light source should not be limited to the LED. According to another embodiment, an organic light emitting diode (OLED) may be employed as the light source of the lighting unit <NUM>.

The storing unit <NUM> may store data provided from or generated by other components of the control unit <NUM>, the slave device <NUM>, or the lighting control system <NUM>. The storing unit <NUM> may include, for example, a memory, a cash, a buffer, etc..

According to various embodiments, the storing unit <NUM> may store the light-emitting position information, which are previously set depending on the electrical code information, and the directing information corresponding to the light-emitting position. In addition, the storing unit <NUM> may provide the stored light-emitting position information or the directing information to the lighting control unit <NUM> or the control unit <NUM> in response to a requirement from the lighting control unit <NUM> or the control unit <NUM>.

The information receiving unit <NUM> may receive the light-emitting position information or the directing information from the master device <NUM> through the communication unit <NUM>. For instance, the information receiving unit <NUM> may receive at least one of the light-emitting position information and the directing information from the master device <NUM> through an RF communication.

The lighting control unit <NUM> may selectively receive the lighting control signal corresponding to the light-emitting position information of the storing unit <NUM> among the lighting control signals broadcasted by the master device <NUM> and control the lighting unit <NUM> on the basis of the received lighting control signal. According to various embodiments, the lighting control unit <NUM> may receive the directing information from the master device <NUM> through the Zigbee module.

The control unit <NUM> may perform a data processing function to control an overall operation, e.g., a control of power supply, of the slave device <NUM> and a signal flow between components in the slave device <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may include at least one processor.

The information receiving unit <NUM> and the lighting control unit <NUM> may be functional components separately provided to distinguish at least some functions of the control unit <NUM> from common functions of the control unit <NUM>. In <FIG>, the information receiving unit <NUM> and the lighting control unit <NUM> are shown as separate components from the control unit <NUM>, but the information receiving unit <NUM> and the lighting control unit <NUM> may be configured with the control unit <NUM> as a single module.

Although not shown in figures, the slave device <NUM> may communicate with a user terminal (e.g., a smart phone) of a user to transmit lighting-related information to the user terminal. The lighting-related information may include, for example, at least one of the lighting pattern, the directing information, and the lighting control signal. The user terminal may emit the light in conjunction with the cheering tool (e.g., the slave device <NUM>) on the basis of the received lighting-related information. To this end, the user terminal may output the same lighting pattern as the lighting pattern of the slave device <NUM>, the similar lighting pattern as the lighting pattern of the slave device <NUM>, or another lighting pattern previously stored corresponding to the lighting pattern of the slave device <NUM> through a display device, e.g., a touch screen, etc., and an application may be installed in the user terminal for the above-mentioned function. According to various embodiments, the slave device <NUM> may communicate with the user terminal through a Bluetooth mode, and the user may directly control the lighting pattern of the slave device <NUM> by using the user terminal.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an operation of controlling a lighting of the slave device <NUM> by the master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

In operation S410, the master device <NUM> scans the electrical code printed on the ticket of audiences to identify the electrical code information. For instance, the user (e.g., administrator) of the master device <NUM> may scan the electrical code information printed on the ticket using the electrical code identification unit <NUM>, e.g., optical scanner, and extract the electrical code information.

Then, in operation S430, the master device <NUM> may check the light-emitting position information in accordance with the electrical code information. For instance, the master device <NUM> may check the light-emitting position information mapped in the electrical code information on the storing unit <NUM> or the server.

In operation S450, the master device <NUM> may provide (e.g., insertion) the checked light-emitting position information to the slave device <NUM>. For instance, after the checking of the electrical code information and the providing of the light-emitting position information, the administrator of the master device <NUM> may provide the slave device <NUM>, into which the light-emitting position information is inserted, to the audiences who brought the ticket. The audiences may confirm an assigned seat in the concert hall on the basis of the seat information and may sit in the corresponding seat.

In operation S470, the master device <NUM> may broadcast the lighting control signal. For instance, the master device <NUM> may transmit the lighting control signal to the slave devices <NUM> in accordance with a certain scenario of the show or the real time control. In this case, the master device <NUM> may continuously or periodically broadcast or transmit the same lighting control signal to the slave devices <NUM> that are unspecified.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an operation of the lighting unit <NUM> in the slave device <NUM> under the control of the master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

In operation S510, the slave device <NUM> may receive the light-emitting position information from the master device <NUM> and store the received light-emitting position information in the storing unit <NUM>.

In operation S530, the slave device <NUM> may selectively receive the lighting control signal corresponding to the light-emitting position information stored in the storing unit <NUM> among the lighting control signals broadcasted by the master device <NUM>. In addition, the slave device <NUM> may control the lighting unit <NUM> on the basis of the received lighting control signal to output the various lighting patterns in operation S550.

<FIG> is a view showing an operation of scanning electrical code information of the ticket in the master device <NUM> and providing the light-emitting position information corresponding to the electrical code information to the slave device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

As shown in <FIG>, the master device <NUM> may scan the electric code <NUM> of the ticket <NUM> held in the audiences using the electrical code identification unit <NUM> to collect the electrical code information. In addition, in the case that the master device <NUM> is provided separately from the electrical code identification unit <NUM>, the master device <NUM> may receive the electrical code information collected by the electrical code identification unit <NUM> through an intermediate medium, such as kiosk, a physical medium, such as an USB, or a network.

The master device <NUM> may check the light-emitting position information corresponding to the collected electrical code information in the storing unit <NUM> or in a database (DB) <NUM> of the server <NUM> and may provide the checked light-emitting position information to the slave device <NUM>. In this case, the master device <NUM> may tag the slave device <NUM> through the information providing unit <NUM>, such as an RF tag device, and thus the master device <NUM> may insert the light-emitting position information into the slave device <NUM>.

According to embodiments, the slave device <NUM> may allow the lighting unit <NUM> to emit the light with the predetermined color when the slave device <NUM> receives the light-emitting position information. Accordingly, it may be checked whether the information is successfully inserted into the slave device <NUM> by the lighting control system <NUM> or the administrator of the master device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing an operation of controlling the lighting of slave devices <NUM> in real time by the master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept. <FIG> shows the slave device <NUM> into which the light-emitting position information is inserted and the master device <NUM> controlling the slave device <NUM> in real time.

Referring to <FIG>, an auditorium <NUM> in which a plurality of slave devices 200_1 to 200_n is disposed and the master device <NUM> are shown. The auditorium <NUM> includes groups of A0 to J9, and one group (e.g., A0) may include the slave devices 200_1 to <NUM>-<NUM> of the audiences sitting in seats. For instance, the A0 group may include twelve seats, and the light-emitting position information of a first slave device 200_1 located at a first seat of the A0 group may be previously set as "A001". Similarly, the light-emitting position information of a second slave device 200_2 located at a second seat of the A0 group may be previously set as "A002". However, the group classification method or the number of the slave devices <NUM> in each group should not be limited thereto or thereby.

The master device <NUM> may broadcast the lighting control signal <NUM> to the slave devices 200_1 to 200_n after the show begins or during the show. The lighting control signal <NUM> may be a signal directing the slave devices to output the number "<NUM>" when viewed as a whole as shown in <FIG>. In detail, the slave devices 200_1 to 200_12 of the A0 group may receive the information (e.g., a blue LED lighting signal) corresponding to the light-emitting position information of the A0 group among the broadcasted lighting control signals <NUM>, and thus the slave device 200_1 to 200_12 of the A0 group may output the blue light. The slave devices of the B2 group may receive the information (e.g., a red LED lighting signal) corresponding to the light-emitting position information of the B2 group among the broadcasted lighting control signals <NUM>, and thus the slave device of the B2 group may output the red light.

Although not shown in <FIG>, the lighting shape or the lighting pattern directed by the real time control may be controlled in a color book method in addition to the dot method. For instance, in the case that the auditorium <NUM> shown in <FIG> becomes larger, the master device <NUM> may primarily transmit group identification numbers to the slave devices <NUM> included in each group, and then the master device <NUM> may broadcast the lighting control signal in associated with the color represented by each group to the slave devices <NUM> included in each group. Thus, various directing effects may be obtained by determining an outline of the directing pattern using the grouping method and by changing the lighting pattern of each group in real time. However, the directing method according to various embodiment of the inventive concept should not be limited to the dot method or the color book method.

The lighting control signal broadcasted by the master device <NUM> in <FIG> may include various types of data. For instance, the data may include a command, a scenario, and a lighting pattern (e.g., lighting presence, lighting color, lighting time, etc.) directed by each group. The administrator of the master device <NUM> may input the directing pattern, which is to be controlled, to the master device <NUM> in real time using various ways, and the master device <NUM> may broadcast the lighting control signal <NUM> such that the input directing pattern is output.

As described above, the light-emitting position information previously designated in accordance with the electrical cod information of the ticket are inserted into each slave device <NUM>, and thus various lighting patterns used in the concert hall may be effectively directed.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an operation of providing the directing information previously set in accordance with the light-emitting position information in the master device <NUM> to the slave device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept. Operations shown in <FIG> may be examples of operation S450 shown in <FIG>.

According to various embodiments, in operation S810, the master device <NUM> may check the directing information previously set in accordance with the light-emitting position information. For instance, when the master device <NUM> checks the light-emitting position information corresponding to the electrical code information, the master device <NUM> may additionally or simultaneously check the directing information corresponding to the light-emitting position information. The directing information may be data previously provided to the slave device <NUM> to direct the lighting with high quality, and may be information controlling the slave device <NUM> such that the lighting unit <NUM> of the slave device <NUM> emits the light by one or more sections that are previously determined.

In operation S830, the master device <NUM> may provide the light-emitting position information and the directing information to the slave device <NUM>. In this case, the light-emitting position information and the directing information may be transmitted in a single data form, but they should not be limited thereto or thereby.

According to some embodiments, the master device <NUM> provides a lock signal to the slave device <NUM> to drive the slave device <NUM> in a lock mode during a predetermined period. As an example, the lock mode indicates a state in which the lighting unit or a power unit of the slave device <NUM> may not be operated. Accordingly, undesired noise lighting pattern caused by operations of some slave devices <NUM> may be prevented from occurring during the lighting directed in accordance with the scenario previously determined.

According to additional embodiments, in the case that the previously set conditions are satisfied, the master device <NUM> may control the slave device (e.g., a first slave device) to allow the slave device <NUM> to transmit the light-emitting position information and the directing information thereof to another slave device (e.g., a second slave device) disposed adjacent to the slave device <NUM>.

According to various embodiment, a first condition of the previously set conditions indicates a case in which the light-emitting position information is not included in the second slave device. For instance, a case, in which the administrator of the mater device <NUM> does not insert the light-emitting position information corresponding to the electrical code information into the slave device (e.g., the second slave device) after scanning the electrical code information from the ticket, may occur. In this case, when the mater device <NUM> broadcasts the lighting control signal, the second slave device may transmit a response signal, which indicates that the second slave device may not identify the lighting control signal corresponding to the light-emitting position information included therein among the lighting control signals, to the master device <NUM>.

Meanwhile, a second condition of the previously set conditions may be set to allow the directing information of the second device to be the same as the directing information of the first slave device disposed adjacent to the second slave device. If the directing information transmitted to the second slave device are different from the directing information of the first slave device, the noise may be caused entirely when a specific lighting pattern is directed.

Accordingly, in the case that the first condition is satisfied, the second slave device may search the slave devices disposed in the vicinity thereof and collect the light-emitting position information of at least one slave device of the searched slave devices. The second slave device may transmit the collected light-emitting position information to the master device <NUM>, and the master device <NUM> may check whether the directing information corresponding to the corresponding light-emitting position information is the same as the directing information provided to the second slave device in the storing unit <NUM> or the server <NUM> on the basis of the received light-emitting position information. In the case that the directing information corresponding to the corresponding light-emitting position information is the same as the directing information provided to the second slave device, the master device <NUM> may transmit the signal that controls the checked slave device (e.g., the first slave device) to transmit the light-emitting position information and the directing information of the first slave device to the second slave device. As a result, the first slave device may transmit the light-emitting position information and the directing information thereof to the second slave device.

Accordingly, although the show begins, information required to perform the direction may be indirectly provided to the slave device <NUM>, and thus the planned lighting pattern may be smoothly directed.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an operation of controlling the lighting unit <NUM> by the slave device <NUM> on the basis of the directing information provided from the master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept. In <FIG>, detailed descriptions of the same operations as those shown in <FIG> will be omitted.

According to various embodiment, in operation S910, the slave device <NUM> may receive the light-emitting position information and the directing information from the master device <NUM>. In this case, the slave device <NUM> may store the received light-emitting position information and the directing information into the storing unit <NUM>.

In operation S930, the slave device <NUM> may selectively receive the lighting control signal broadcasted by the master device <NUM> on the basis of the light-emitting position information.

According to various embodiments, in operation S950, the slave device <NUM> may emit the light through the lighting unit by periods previously determined on the basis of the received lighting control signal.

For instance, the slave device <NUM> may operate the lighting unit <NUM> on the basis of first directing information during a first period (e.g., a first time) and operate the lighting unit <NUM> on the basis of second directing information during a second period (e.g., a second time). The slave device <NUM> may automatically operate the lighting unit <NUM> in response to the directing information determined depending on the periods or may operate the lighting unit <NUM> by selectively receiving an activation signal, which is broadcasted by the master device <NUM>, by each period.

<FIG> is a view showing an operation of allowing the slave device <NUM> to emit the light in accordance with the directing information previously set in the master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept. In <FIG>, detailed descriptions of the same features as those in <FIG> will be omitted.

Different from <FIG>, the lighting pattern having relatively high quality is directed in an auditorium <NUM>. To this end, the light-emitting position information and the directing information may be previously stored in each slave device <NUM>. In addition, each slave device <NUM> may include information on which scenario is directed among previously set scenarios, information required to select an image processing function, such as a dissolve technique, a fade technique, etc., or information about a function of setting a duration of the lighting pattern.

According to various embodiment, the slave device <NUM> may store the data and direct a previously-set lighting pattern (e.g., specific pixel data) in response to the lighting control signal (e.g., a flag signal) broadcasted by the master device <NUM>. As described above, when the data are previously stored in the slave device <NUM>, the lighting pattern having the high quality may be rapidly and precisely directed.

In addition, various lighting patterns for the cheering tool (slave) may be generated by directing the lighting pattern having the high quality in athletics or concerts, and the cheering effect caused by the various lighting patterns may be improved.

In the above-mentioned descriptions, the function of the lighting control system <NUM> using the electrical code information has been described. Hereinafter, a function of a lighting control system <NUM> using the control of the radio wave intensity will be described. However, the lighting control system <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the lighting control system <NUM> shown in <FIG> are not limited to be operated independently, and the lighting control system <NUM> shown in <FIG> and the lighting control system <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be configured to further include configurations and functions of each other.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing the lighting control system <NUM> according to another exemplary embodiment of the inventive concept. In the present exemplary embodiment, different features of the lighting control system <NUM> shown in <FIG> from those of the lighting control system <NUM> shown in <FIG> will be mainly described. Accordingly, in <FIG>, detailed descriptions of the same elements as those in <FIG> will be omitted or briefly described.

The lighting control system <NUM> may include a master device <NUM>, one or more sub-master devices <NUM>, and one or more slave devices <NUM>. The lighting control system <NUM> may control the radio wave intensity of the sub-master devices <NUM> by using the master device <NUM>, and thus the lighting pattern of the slave devices <NUM> may be controlled.

Although not shown in <FIG>, the lighting control system <NUM> may further include an external device (e.g., the server <NUM>). Accordingly, at least a component (e.g., the master device) of the lighting control system <NUM> may communicate with the external device to transmit/receive information required to direct the lighting pattern to/from the external device.

According to various embodiments, the master device <NUM> may control the lighting of the slave devices <NUM> through the sub-master devices <NUM>.

The sub-master devices <NUM> may periodically control the radio wave intensity or control the radio wave intensity by a predetermined interval, and thus the lighting of the slave devices <NUM> may be controlled. As an example, the sub-master devices <NUM> may be electronic devices fixedly provided at predetermined positions, but they should not be limited thereto or thereby.

According to various embodiments, the slave devices <NUM> may perform a function of directing various types of lighting pattern in real time or by a predetermined interval under the control of the master device <NUM> or the sub-master devices <NUM>.

The master device <NUM>, the sub-master devices <NUM>, and the slave devices <NUM> may communicate with each other in various ways. As an example, the master device <NUM> and the salve devices <NUM> may be connected to each other in a wireless communication network, e.g., an RF communication, an electric tag, etc., and the master device <NUM> and the sub-master devices <NUM> may be connected to each other in a telecommunication network, but they should not be limited thereto or thereby. In addition, the sub-master devices <NUM> and the slave devices <NUM> may be connected to each other in a telecommunication network, but they should not be limited thereto or thereby.

According to various embodiments, the communication unit <NUM> of the master device <NUM> may provide a communication between the master device <NUM> and the slave devices <NUM>, between the master device <NUM> and the server <NUM>, or between the master device <NUM> and the sub-master device <NUM>.

In addition, the light-emitting position information stored in the storing unit <NUM> of the master device <NUM> may be information that are previously set to identify or group the slave devices <NUM> for the directing of the show in the master device <NUM> or the sub-master device <NUM>.

In addition, the lighting control unit <NUM> of the master device <NUM> may transmit the lighting control signal to the sub-master devices <NUM> or the slave devices <NUM>.

According to various embodiments, the lighting control unit <NUM> of the master device <NUM> may check the light-emitting position information of the slave devices <NUM> and may broadcast or transmit a first lighting control signal to the sub-master device <NUM> to control the radio wave intensity of an antenna module <NUM> (refer to <FIG>) of the sub-master device <NUM>, thereby controlling the lighting pattern of the slave devices <NUM>. The first lighting control signal may be used to allow the master device <NUM> to control the sub-master device <NUM> and may include ID information corresponding to each sub-master device <NUM> such that the sub-master devices <NUM> selectively receive the first lighting control signal.

According to various embodiments, the first lighting control signal may include a radio wave intensity value and a lighting pattern value of the sub-master devices <NUM>. The radio wave intensity value may indicate a specific radio wave intensity, and a control radius corresponding to a predetermined radius with respect to the sub-master device <NUM> may be set in accordance with the radio wave intensity value. In addition, the lighting pattern value may be specific values required to control a lighting timing, a lighting color, and a lighting duration of the slave device <NUM> disposed in the control radius. The lighting timing indicates a time point at which the slave device <NUM> disposed in the control radius begins to emit the light. For instance, the lighting pattern value may be a lighting timing value, a lighting color value, or a lighting duration.

The above-mentioned first lighting control signal will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

According to additional embodiments, the lighting control unit <NUM> may broadcast a second lighting control signal corresponding to the light-emitting position information of each slave device <NUM> in a wireless channel to directly control the slave devices <NUM>. For instance, the lighting control unit <NUM> may broadcast the second lighting control signal to the slave devices <NUM>, and each slave device <NUM> may selectively receive the second lighting control signal corresponding to its light-emitting position information among the second lighting control signals broadcasted by the lighting control unit <NUM>.

The communication unit <NUM> of the slave device <NUM> according to the embodiment shown in <FIG> may provide a communication between the slave devices <NUM> and the master device <NUM> or between the slave devices <NUM> and the sub-master device <NUM>.

The lighting control unit <NUM> of the slave device <NUM> according to the embodiment shown in <FIG> may receive the lighting pattern information broadcasted by the sub-master device <NUM> or provided from the sub-master device and may control the lighting unit <NUM> in response to the lighting pattern information. In addition, the lighting control unit <NUM> may selectively receive the lighting control signal corresponding to the light-emitting position information of the storing unit <NUM> among the lighting control signals (e.g., the second lighting control signals) broadcasted by the master device <NUM> and may control the lighting unit <NUM> on the basis of the received lighting control signal.

<FIG> is a block diagram showing the sub-master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

The sub-master device <NUM> may include a communication unit <NUM>, a control unit <NUM>, a storing unit <NUM>, and a lighting control unit <NUM>. According to various embodiments, the sub-master device <NUM> may further include additional units, e.g., an input module, a display module, a power module, an audio module, etc., or some units of the sub-master device <NUM> shown in <FIG> may be omitted.

The communication unit <NUM> may provide a communication between the sub-master device <NUM> and the master device <NUM> or between the sub-master device <NUM> and the slave device <NUM>. The communication unit <NUM> may include, for example, at least one of a wired communication module (e.g., a connector, a connector module, etc.) and a wireless communication module (e.g., an RF transceiver, a Zigbee module, a Bluetooth, a WIFI module, etc.).

According to various embodiments, the communication unit <NUM> may include the antenna module <NUM>. The antenna module <NUM> may include at least one antenna and have a configuration to control the radio wave intensity in proportion to a current applied there to or a level of a voltage. For instance, in a case that the radio wave intensity is received from the mater device <NUM>, the communication unit <NUM> or the antenna module <NUM> of the sub-master device <NUM> may control the intensity of the radio wave under the control of the control unit <NUM> or the lighting control unit <NUM>, and thus the control radius required to control the slave device <NUM> may be set/changed.

The control unit <NUM> may perform a data processing function to control an overall operation, e.g., a control of power supply, of the sub-master device <NUM> and a signal flow between components in the sub-master device <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> may include at least one processor.

The storing unit <NUM> may store data provided from or generated by other components of the control unit <NUM>, the sub-master device <NUM>, or the lighting control system <NUM>. The storing unit <NUM> may include, for example, a memory, a cash, a buffer, etc..

According to various embodiments, the storing unit <NUM> may store the radio wave intensity value and the lighting pattern value, which are provided from the master device <NUM>. In addition, the storing unit <NUM> may store the ID information corresponding to the sub-master device <NUM> to selectively receive the lighting control signal broadcasted by the master device <NUM>.

The lighting control unit <NUM> may control the radio wave intensity of the antenna module <NUM> on the basis of the lighting control signal provided from the master device <NUM> and control the lighting pattern of the slave device <NUM> in the control radius set in accordance with the control of the radio wave intensity. The lighting control unit <NUM> will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a flowchart showing an operation of controlling the lighting of the slave device <NUM> by controlling the radio wave intensity of the sub-master device <NUM> in the master device <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

In operation S1310, the master device <NUM> may scan the electrical code printed on the ticket of audiences to identify the electrical code information. For instance, the user (e.g., administrator) of the master device <NUM> may scan the electrical code information printed on the ticket using the electrical code identification unit <NUM>, e.g., an optical scanner, and extract the electrical code information.

Then, in operation S1330, the master device <NUM> may check the light-emitting position information in accordance with the electrical code information. For instance, the master device <NUM> may check the light-emitting position information mapped in the electrical code information on the storing unit <NUM> or the server <NUM>.

In operation S1350, the master device <NUM> may provide (e.g., insertion) the checked light-emitting position information to the slave device <NUM>. For instance, after the checking of the electrical code information and the providing of the light-emitting position information, the administrator of the master device <NUM> may provide the slave device <NUM>, into which the light-emitting position information is inserted, to the audiences who brought the ticket. The audiences may confirm an assigned seat in the concert hall on the basis of the seat information and may sit in the corresponding seat.

In operation S1370, the master device <NUM> may control the radio wave intensity of the sub-master device <NUM> to control the lighting pattern of the slave device <NUM>. In this case, one or more sub-master devices <NUM> may be fixedly located at positions arranged at regular intervals in a concert hall or a sport arena. In addition, the slave devices <NUM> may be held by the user in the seat adjacent to the sub-master device <NUM> or may move along the user's movement.

The master device <NUM> may broadcast the lighting control signal (e.g., the first lighting control signal). For instance, the master device <NUM> may transmit the lighting control signal to the sub-master devices <NUM> in accordance with a certain scenario of the show or the real time control. In this case, the master device <NUM> may continuously or periodically broadcast or transmit the same lighting control signal to the sub-master devices <NUM> that are unspecified.

<FIG> is a view showing an operation of a lighting control system <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

As shown in <FIG>, the master device <NUM> may transmit the lighting control signal mapped in accordance with the ID information of each sub-master device to a first sub-master device S. M1 and a second sub-master device S. In this case, the lighting control signal may include a first radio wave intensity value allowing the first sub-master device S. M1 to set a first control radius C1 and a first lighting pattern value allowing first, second, and third slave devices S1, S2, and S3 disposed in the first control radius C1 to emit the light having a red color.

In addition, the lighting control signal may include a second radio wave intensity value allowing the second sub-master device S. M2 to set a second control radius C2 and a second lighting pattern value allowing fourth and fifth slave devices S4 and S5 disposed in the second control radius C2 to emit the light having a blue color. In this case, since a sixth slave device S6 does not belong to any of the first control radius C1 and the second control radius C2, the sixth slave device S6 is maintained in an OFF state.

According to various embodiments, the master device <NUM> may output the lighting control signal at an arbitrary time point or a predetermined period to change the first control radius C1 and the second control radius C2. For instance, although not shown in figures, when the master device <NUM> outputs the lighting control signal such that the second control radius C2 increases and the sixth slave device S6 is disposed in the second control radius C2, the sixth slave device S6 may emit the light having the blue color.

<FIG> is a view showing a variation in a lighting pattern in accordance with a movement of a slave device <NUM> in a lighting control system <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept, and <FIG> is a view showing a variation in a lighting pattern when a slave device <NUM> is located at positions in a plurality of control radii in a lighting control system <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

Referring to <FIG>, in a case that the second slave device <NUM> moves to the second control radius C2 from the first control radius C1, the second slave device <NUM> is operated under the control of the second sub-master device S. M2 without being controlled by the first sub-master device S. Accordingly, the second slave device S2 emits the light having the blue color instead of the light having the red color.

In addition, referring to <FIG>, the second slave device S2 may be disposed in both of the first control radius C1 and the second control radius C2 due to the movement of the user of the second slave device S2. In this case, the second slave device S2 may emit the light having an average value of the first lighting pattern value and the second lighting pattern value.

For instance, in a case that the lighting unit <NUM> of the second slave device S2 has a structure in which the LEDs are stacked one on another in a depth direction, some LEDs of the LEDs emit the blue light and the other LEDs of the LEDs emit the red light on the basis of the first and second lighting pattern values. In this case, the second slave device <NUM> may be perceived as a purple color when viewed in a top view. However, the second slave device S2 may emit the light in various ways on the basis of the first and second lighting pattern values in accordance with the configurations of the lighting unit <NUM> or a lighting plan.

According to the above-mentioned embodiments, the lighting control system <NUM> may control the slave devices <NUM> using the sub-master devices <NUM>, and thus the lighting control system <NUM> may effectively control the slave devices <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view showing a structure in which the master device <NUM> is wire-connected to each sub-master device <NUM> in the lighting control system <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept. This structure shown in <FIG> is to prevent a phenomenon, in which the lighting control signal is not applied to the sub-master device <NUM>, from occurring when an obstacle, such as a block, is located between the master device <NUM> and the sub-master device <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the master device <NUM> may be connected to the first sub-master device S. M1 and the second sub-master device S. M2 by a wired cable <NUM>. The master device <NUM> may transmit the lighting control signal to each of the first and second sub-master devices S. M2 in a wired transmission mode. Accordingly, the master device <NUM> may stably transmit the lighting control signal to the second sub-master device S. M2 surrounded by the block.

<FIG> is a view showing a directing screen in accordance with an operation of the lighting control system <NUM> according to various exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept.

Referring to <FIG>, an auditorium <NUM>, in which a plurality of sub-slave devices 200_1 to 200_n, one or more sub-master devices <NUM> controlling the sub-slave devices 200_1 to 200_n, the master device <NUM> transmitting the lighting control signal to the sub-master device <NUM> are disposed, is shown. The auditorium <NUM> includes groups of A0 to J9, and one group (e.g., A0) may include the slave devices (e.g., S1 to S8) of the audiences sitting in seats and the sub-master device (e.g., S. M) controlling the lighting of the slave devices (e.g., S1 to S8). For the convenience of explanation, the slave devices (e.g., S1 to S8) and the sub-master device (e.g., S. M) are located at predetermined positions in the A0 group, but they should not be limited thereto or thereby. That is, the slave devices (e.g., S1 to S8) and the sub-master device (e.g., S. M) may be arranged in the forms shown in <FIG>.

The master device <NUM> may broadcast the lighting control signal <NUM> to the sub-master device <NUM> after the show begins or during the show. The lighting control signal <NUM> may be a signal controlling the lighting pattern of the slave devices <NUM> belonging to each control radius generated by controlling the radio wave intensity of each sub-master device <NUM>. For instance, the lighting control signal <NUM> may be a signal directing the slave devices to output the number "<NUM>" when viewed as a whole as shown in <FIG>. As described above, the directed screen may be represented by controlling the radio wave intensity of the sub-master device S. M, but the directed screen may be directed by the master device <NUM> that directly controls the slave device <NUM>. For instance, the master device <NUM> may broadcast the light-emitting position information of the slave device <NUM> and the directing information or the lighting pattern value corresponding to the light-emitting position information, and thus the master device <NUM> may directly control the lighting of the slave device <NUM>. In this case, the slave device <NUM> may selectively receive the information corresponding to its light-emitting position information among the information broadcasted by the master device <NUM>, and thus the lighting unit <NUM> may be controlled.

The slave devices <NUM> may be effectively controlled after being grouped through the embodiments described with reference to <FIG>, and the lighting control system <NUM> may effectively control the slave devices <NUM> that move in real time.

The term "module" or "- section" used herein may represent, for example, a unit including one or more combinations of hardware, software and firmware. The term "module" or "~ section" may be interchangeably used with the terms "unit", "logic", "logical block", "component" and "circuit". The "module" or "~ section" may be a minimum unit of an integrated component or may be a part thereof. The "module" or "- section" may be a minimum unit for performing one or more functions or a part thereof. The "module" or "- section" may be implemented mechanically or electronically.

Claim 1:
A show directing control system, comprising:
a plurality of slave devices (<NUM>) of an audience located in each seat of a concert hall, and
a master device (<NUM>) configured to direct the plurality of slave devices, wherein the master device comprises:
an information check unit (<NUM>) configured to obtain a seat position corresponding to a ticket (<NUM>) of the audience and check an emission position information corresponding to the obtained seat position,
an information providing unit (<NUM>) configured to provide each of the slave devices with the corresponding emission position information corresponding to the seat position, wherein the emission position information includes predetermined information for grouping the slave devices of the plurality of slave devices (<NUM>) into a plurality of groups to perform show directing; and
a lighting control unit (<NUM>) configured to transmit an emission control signal for controlling lighting emission of the grouped slave devices (<NUM>) for each group,
wherein each of the plurality of slave devices comprises a lighting unit (<NUM>),
wherein the emission control signal includes control information controlling the plurality of slave devices (<NUM>) by one or more predetermined periods and an activation signal for each of the one or more predetermined periods for distinguishing the one or more predetermined periods, and
wherein the control information includes lighting pattern information for each group of the grouped slave devices (<NUM>),
characterized in that the lighting control unit is configured to transmit a lock signal to some devices of the plurality of slave devices to drive said some slave devices in a lock mode during the one or more predetermined periods,
wherein the lock mode indicates a state in which the lighting unit or a power unit of said some slave devices are not to be operated.