Program, processing method and home appliance system

Abstract

To provide a program capable of improving convenience.SOLUTION: A program causes a computer as a terminal device to execute: a transmitting step of transmitting terminal identification information as unique identification information given to the terminal device and specifying the terminal device to a server; and an operation accepting step of accepting an operation associated with a home appliance registered associatively with the terminal device when the terminal device is authenticated in authentication processing by the server using the terminal identification information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a program, a processing method, and a home appliance system.

Background Art

[0002] Among home appliances, there are those that can be operated from a terminal device using communication. When operating a home appliance from a terminal device, generally, the user can operate the home appliance from the terminal device by inputting information such as a user ID and password and logging in (authenticating). By the way, further improvement in convenience is expected for the system related to home appliances.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a program, a processing method, and a home appliance system capable of improving convenience.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The program of the embodiment causes a computer, which is a terminal device, to execute a transmission step of transmitting terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device and is given to the terminal device, to a server, and an operation reception step of receiving an operation related to a home appliance registered in association with the terminal device when the terminal device is authenticated in the authentication process by the server using the terminal identification information.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, a program, a processing method, and a home appliance system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals. And redundant descriptions of these components may be omitted. In the present application, “based on XX” means “based at least on XX”, and may include cases based on other elements in addition to XX. Also, “based on XX” is not limited to the case directly based on XX, and may include cases based on something obtained by performing operations or processing on XX. In the present application, “XX or YY” is not limited to either XX or YY, and may include both XX and YY. This is the same when there are three or more selectable elements. XX and YY are arbitrary elements (for example, arbitrary information).

[0008] In the present application, “acquire” is not limited to the case of actively acquiring by sending a transmission request, and may include the case of acquiring by passively receiving information transmitted from another device. Also, “acquire” is not limited to the case of directly acquiring the target information (information to be acquired) from the outside, and may include the case of generating and acquiring the target information by performing operations or processing on the information obtained from the outside.

[0009] In the present application, “communicate” is not limited to directly transmitting and receiving information, and may include the case where information is ultimately transmitted and received via another device. In the present application, “use XX” is not limited to directly using XX, and may include the case of ultimately using XX via another device.

[0010] <First Embodiment> (Home Appliance System) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a home appliance system 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the home appliance system 1 includes, for example, a home appliance device 100, a server 200, and a terminal device 300. The network NW described later may be, for example, the Internet, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, LPWA (Low Power Wide Area), WAN (Wide Area Network), LAN (Local Area Network), or other public lines or dedicated lines, depending on the situation.

[0011] (Home Appliance Device) The home appliance device 100 is a home appliance device used by the user U and is installed in a dwelling. Note that the user U in each embodiment refers to a user who uses the home appliance device 100 installed in the dwelling. The user U is, for example, one person or a plurality of people (e.g., a family). The home appliance device 100 is, for example, a household room air conditioner, a refrigerator, a clothing processor (e.g., a washing machine, a dryer, or a closet-type clothing processor), etc. The home appliance device 100 is connected to the network NW via, for example, a wireless router WR and a modem M installed in the user U's dwelling. The home appliance device 100 can communicate with the server 200 or the terminal device 300 via the network NW. The home appliance device 100 may be able to communicate directly with the terminal device 300 using short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0012] (Server) The server 200 is a management server that manages the home appliance device 100. The server 200 is composed of one or more server devices (e.g., a cloud server). The server 200 can communicate with the home appliance device 100 and the terminal device 300 via the network NW. The server 200 may include an information processing unit that performs edge computing or fog computing, such as an information processing unit included in a router in the network NW. The server 200 is not limited to a cloud server and may be a computer in the user U's dwelling or a home router, etc.

[0013] (Terminal Device) The terminal device 300 is an electronic device used by the user U. The terminal device 300 is, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device. However, the terminal device 300 is not limited to a mobile terminal device and may be a personal computer or the like. The terminal device 300 includes, for example, a display device 301, an input device 302, and a communication unit 303.

[0014] The display device 301 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and has a display screen 301a capable of displaying various information. The input device 302 can receive the input of the user U. The input device 302 is, for example, a touch panel provided overlapping the display screen 301a. The input device 302 may include a camera, a microphone, or the like provided in the terminal device 300. The communication unit 303 is, for example, a communication module capable of wireless communication. The communication unit 303 is connected to the network NW via a wireless router WR and a modem M or directly. The communication unit 303 can communicate with the home appliance 100 or the server 200 via the network NW. The terminal device 300 may directly communicate with the home appliance 100 using short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth.

[0015] An application program P is installed in the terminal device 300, and the functions described below are supported. The application program P is, for example, an application program for managing the home appliance 100. "Managing" includes "operating". Hereinafter, the application software started by executing the application program P is referred to as "home appliance application AP".

[0016] In each embodiment, an example of a "home appliance system" is realized by the home appliance 100, the server 200, and the home appliance application AP for the terminal device 300. However, the "home appliance system" may be realized only by the server 200, only by the home appliance application AP, only by the home appliance 100, or by any two or more of the server 200, the home appliance application AP, and the home appliance 100. In each embodiment, each of the home appliance 100, the server 200, and the terminal device 300 is an example of a "computer".

[0017] (Home Appliance) Next, the home appliance 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the home appliance 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the home appliance 100 includes, for example, a home appliance main body 110, a control unit 120, a communication unit 130, and a storage unit 140.

[0018] The home appliance main body 110 is a part that operates to realize the main role of each home appliance 100. For example, the home appliance main body 110 varies depending on the type of the home appliance 100. If the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner, it is a household room air conditioner main body that operates to realize indoor heating and cooling. If the home appliance 100 is a refrigerator, it is a refrigerator main body that operates to cool the inside of the refrigerator. If the home appliance 100 is a clothes processor, it is a clothes processor main body that operates to realize washing, drying, etc.

[0019] The control unit 120 is realized by one or more hardware processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) mounted on the home appliance 100 executing a program. However, part or all of the home appliance 100 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be realized by the cooperation of software and hardware.

[0020] The control unit 120 comprehensively controls the entire home appliance 100. For example, the control unit 120 controls the operation of the home appliance main body 110. Also, for example, when the terminal device 300 directly communicates with the home appliance 100, the control unit 120 authenticates the terminal device 300 when operating the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300. The details of the authentication of the terminal device 300 performed by the control unit 120 will be described later.

[0021] The communication unit 130 is, for example, a wireless communication module that can be connected to the wireless router WR. The communication unit 130 can communicate with the server 200 or the terminal device 300 via the network NW. The communication unit 130 receives, for example, the database information I1 included in the user management database DB1 transmitted from the server 200 and the database information I2 included in the facility management database DB2. The details of the user management database DB1 and the facility management database DB2 will be described later.

[0022] The storage unit 140 is realized, for example, by a combination of a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), or an SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 140 stores various information. For example, the storage unit 140 stores the database information I1 received by the communication unit 130 as the user management database DB1. Also, the storage unit 140 stores the database information I2 received by the communication unit 130 as the facility management database DB2. By the storage unit 140 storing the user management database DB1 and the facility management database DB2, the user management database DB1 and the facility management database DB2, which are the information used by the server 200 for authenticating the terminal device 300, are synchronized with the home appliance 100.

[0023] (Terminal device) Next, for convenience of explanation, the terminal device 300 will be described before the server 200. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the terminal device 300 according to the first embodiment. The terminal device 300 includes, for example, an information acquisition unit 310, a control unit 320, an operation reception unit 330, an information transmission unit 340, and a storage unit 350.

[0024] The information acquisition unit 310, the control unit 320, the operation reception unit 330, and the information transmission unit 340 are realized by one or more hardware processors such as a CPU mounted on the terminal device 300 executing an application program P. In other words, the information acquisition unit 310, the control unit 320, the operation reception unit 330, and the information transmission unit 340 are, for example, software functional units included in the home appliance application AP.

[0025] The information acquisition unit 310 acquires various information from the server 200 or the home appliance 100 by communicating with the server 200 or the home appliance 100.

[0026] The control unit 320 controls the operation of the terminal device 300. For example, the control unit 320 performs authentication of the terminal device 300 when operating the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300. Also, for example, when the terminal device 300 is authenticated by the server 200 or the home appliance 100, the control unit 320 accepts operations related to the home appliance 100 registered in association with the terminal device 300. The control unit 320 is an example of an operation reception unit. Details of the authentication of the terminal device 300 performed by the control unit 320 will be described later.

[0027] In addition, the control unit 320 controls the display device 301 of the terminal device 300 to control the content displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301. For example, the screen displayed on the display screen 301a and the operation unit (for example, the touch panel portion on the display screen 301a corresponding to the operation received by the operation reception unit 330) are displayed under the control of the control unit 320. The control unit 320 causes, for example, various notifications received from the server 200 or the home appliance 100 to be displayed on the display screen 301a.

[0028] The operation reception unit 330 receives operations for operating the home appliance 100. For example, the operation reception unit 330 receives an input of an operation for starting the authentication process of the terminal device 300 when operating the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300. Also, for example, when changing the model of the terminal device 300 to another terminal device 300a, the operation reception unit 330 receives an input of an email address which is the transmission destination of a predetermined identification display necessary for data transfer. Examples of the predetermined identification display include a two-dimensional barcode and a barcode.

[0029] The information transmission unit 340 transmits information corresponding to the operation received by the operation reception unit 330 to the server 200. For example, when the operation reception unit 330 receives an input of an operation for starting the authentication of the terminal device 300, the information transmission unit 340 transmits terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device 300 assigned to the terminal device 300, to the server 200. The information transmission unit 340 is an example of a transmission unit. Examples of the terminal identification information include the MAC (Media Access Control) address and the manufacturing number of the terminal device 300. The MAC address and the manufacturing number are examples of unique identification information capable of identifying a device related to hardware. Also, for example, when the operation reception unit 330 receives an input of an email address which is the transmission destination of a predetermined identification display necessary for data transfer when changing the model of the terminal device 300 to another terminal device 300a, the information transmission unit 340 transmits that email address to the server 200.

[0030] The storage unit 350 is realized by a combination of, for example, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, or SSD. The storage unit 350 stores various information. For example, the storage unit 350 stores the application program P.

[0031] (Server) Next, the server 200 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the server 200 according to the first embodiment. The server 200 has, for example, a control unit 210, a communication unit 220, and a storage unit 230 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0032] The control unit 210 and the communication unit 220 are realized by one or more hardware processors such as a CPU mounted on the server 200 executing a program. However, some or all of these functional units may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC, a PLD, or an FPGA, or may be realized by the cooperation of software and hardware. Note that these functional units may be provided separately in a plurality of server devices. Also, one or more of these functional units may be provided in the home appliance application AP for home appliances of the home appliance 100 or the terminal device 300 instead of the server 200.

[0033] The control unit 210 controls the server 200 as a whole. For example, the control unit 210 authenticates the terminal device 300 when operating the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300. Also, for example, the control unit 210 controls the operation of the home appliance 100 based on an operation instruction from the terminal device 300.

[0034] The communication unit 220 is, for example, a wireless communication module connectable to the wireless router WR. The communication unit 220 can communicate with the terminal device 300 or the home appliance 100 via the network NW. For example, the communication unit 220 transmits the authentication result of the terminal device 300 in the authentication performed when operating the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300 to the terminal device 300. Details of the authentication will be described later. Also, for example, the communication unit 220 transmits the database information I1 which is the information included in the user management database DB1 and the database information I2 which is the information included in the facility management database DB2 to the home appliance 100. Details of the user management database DB1 and the facility management database DB2 will be described later.

[0035] The storage unit 230 is realized by a combination of, for example, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, or SSD. The storage unit 230 stores various kinds of information. For example, the storage unit 230 stores user management information and facility management information including terminal identification information received from the terminal device 300 as a user management database DB1 and a facility management database DB2.

[0036] Note that the processing performed by the home appliance system 1 in each embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described processing. For example, the home appliance system 1 may perform the processing described below.

[0037] (First Processing Performed by Home Appliance System) The first processing performed by the home appliance system 1 will be described. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the first processing performed by the home appliance system 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the home appliance system 1. The processing flow shown in FIG. 5 shows the processing of authenticating the terminal device 300 performed by the server 200 in the home appliance system 1 where the terminal device 300 and the server 200 can communicate with each other.

[0038] When the user U operates the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300, the user U performs an operation to cause the terminal device 300 to execute the application program P. As a result, the application program P is executed in the terminal device 300, and the home appliance application AP is started (step S1).

[0039] When the home appliance application AP for the home appliance device is launched, the user U performs an operation to cause the operation reception unit 330 to start the authentication performed when operating the home appliance device 100 from the terminal device 300. The operation reception unit 330 receives the operation to cause the user U to start the authentication. The operation to cause the user U to start the authentication is an operation of pressing a button for starting authentication displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301. Note that the operation to cause the user U to start the authentication may be an operation of launching the home appliance application AP. When the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation to cause the user U to start the authentication, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information to the server 200 via the information transmission unit 340. For example, the storage unit 350 stores the terminal identification information in advance, and when the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation to cause the user U to start the authentication, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 350 to the server 200. For example, when the operation to cause the user U to start the authentication is an operation of pressing a button for starting authentication displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301, when the user U presses the button for starting authentication, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 350 to the server 200. Also, for example, when the operation to cause the user U to start the authentication is an operation of launching the home appliance application AP, when the user U launches the home appliance application AP, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 350 to the server 200.

[0040] The communication unit 220 receives the terminal identification information from the terminal device 300. When the communication unit 220 receives the terminal identification information from the terminal device 300, the control unit 210 determines whether the terminal identification information has been registered (step S2). Specific examples of the determination by the control unit 210 as to whether the terminal identification information has been registered are as follows.

[0041] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the user management database DB1 in the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of the facility management database DB2 in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the user management database DB1 includes an identifier ID assigned to the user U, terminal identification information (described as "Phone ID" in FIG. 6), a registration date (described as "Register Time" in FIG. 6), and an update date (described as "Update Time" in FIG. 6). In the user management database DB1, for each identifier ID, the terminal identification information, the registration date, and the update date are associated and recorded. As shown in FIG. 7, the facility management database DB2 includes an identifier ID assigned to the user U, the type of the home appliance 100 (described as "Device Type" in FIG. 7), the serial number of the home appliance 100 (described as "SN" in FIG. 7), the model name of the home appliance 100 (described as "Model Name" in FIG. 7), a registration date (described as "Register Time" in FIG. 7), an update date (described as "Update Time" in FIG. 7), the name of the home appliance 100 (described as "Name" in FIG. 7), the installation location of the home appliance 100 (described as "Place" in FIG. 7), and the number of users sharing the home appliance 100 (described as "Share" in FIG. 7). In the facility management database DB2, for each identifier ID, the type of the home appliance 100, the serial number of the home appliance 100, the model name of the home appliance 100, the registration date, the update date, the name of the home appliance 100, the installation location of the home appliance 100, and the number of users sharing the home appliance 100 are associated and recorded.

[0042] For example, the control unit 210 determines whether the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 220 from the terminal device 300 exists in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230. When the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 220 from the terminal device 300 exists in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230, it determines that the terminal identification information has been registered. Also, when the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 220 from the terminal device 300 does not exist in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230, it determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered.

[0043] When the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered (NO in step S2), it transmits a registration request notification, which is a notification indicating that the terminal identification information has not been registered, to the terminal device 300.

[0044] The information acquisition unit 310 receives the registration request notification from the server 200. When the information acquisition unit 310 receives the registration request notification from the server 200, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display information prompting the new registration of the user U on the display screen 301a. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the display of information prompting the new registration of the user U that the display device 301 in the first embodiment displays on the display screen 301a. The display of information prompting the new registration of the user U that the display device 301 displays on the display screen 301a is, for example, a display that presents a query such as "Do you want to register new?" and allows selection of "Yes" or "No". Note that the display that the display device 301 displays on the display screen 301a under the control of the control unit 320 is an example of notification.

[0045] When the user U performs an operation of selecting "Yes", the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation of selecting "Yes". When the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation of selecting "Yes", the control unit 320 transmits a user registration instruction, which is an instruction to execute user registration, to the server 200 via the information transmission unit 340.

[0046] The communication unit 220 receives a user registration instruction from the terminal device 300. When the communication unit 220 receives a user registration instruction from the terminal device 300, the control unit 210 records (i.e., newly registers) the terminal identification information determined not to be registered in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230 as identification information for authentication processing. For example, the control unit 210 adds a new user ID obtained by incrementing the number of the latest user ID in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230 by 1, and associates the terminal identification information determined not to be registered with the new user ID added together with the registration date and the update date, and registers it in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230. With this new registration, the user registration is considered complete. The control unit 210 transmits a user registration completion notification notifying that the user registration is complete to the terminal device 300 via the communication unit 220.

[0047] The information acquisition unit 310 receives a user registration completion notification from the server 200. When the information acquisition unit 310 receives a user registration completion notification from the server 200, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display information prompting the new registration of the home appliance 100 to be operated on the display screen 301a. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the display of information prompting the new registration of the home appliance 100 displayed on the display screen 301a by the display device 301 in the first embodiment. The display of the information prompting the new registration of the home appliance 100 displayed on the display screen 301a by the display device 301 is, for example, a display including a sentence such as "Please enter the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, the model name of the home appliance, the name of the home appliance, and the installation location of the home appliance", input fields for the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, the model name of the home appliance, the name of the home appliance, and the installation location of the home appliance, respectively, and a display for confirming the input to the input fields.

[0048] Regarding the input to the input fields for the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, and the model name of the home appliance, for example, a manufacturing company of home appliances prepares a database in which a predetermined identification display is associated with each of the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, and the model name of the home appliance, and causes the corresponding predetermined identification display to be displayed on each of the home appliances 100. By the user U photographing the predetermined identification display displayed on the home appliance 100 registered with the camera of the terminal device 300, the terminal device 300 acquires from the database the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, and the model name of the home appliance associated with the photographed predetermined identification display. Then, the terminal device 300 inputs the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, and the model name of the home appliance acquired into the input fields. In this way, the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, and the model name of the home appliance may be input into the input fields.

[0049] The user U inputs appropriate information into the input fields for the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, the model name of the home appliance, the name of the home appliance, and the installation location of the home appliance, and performs an operation to confirm the input to the input fields. When the user U inputs appropriate information into the respective input fields and performs an operation to confirm the input to the input fields, the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by the user U. When the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by the user U, the control unit 320 transmits the information input into the input fields to the server 200 via the information transmission unit 340.

[0050] The communication unit 220 receives the information input into the input field from the terminal device 300. When the communication unit 220 receives the information input into the input field from the terminal device 300, the control unit 210 records (i.e., newly registers) the information input into the input field in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 230. For example, the control unit 210 adds a new user ID obtained by incrementing the number of the latest user ID in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 230 by 1, and associates the information input into the input field with the new user ID added together with the registration date, the update date, and the number of users sharing the home appliance, and registers it in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 230. By this new registration, the registration of the home appliance 100, which is the registration of the home appliance to be operated, is completed in association with the user ID. The control unit 210 transmits a home appliance registration completion notification notifying that the home appliance registration has been completed to the terminal device 300 via the communication unit 220.

[0051] The information acquisition unit 310 receives a home appliance registration completion notification from the server 200. When the information acquisition unit 310 receives a home appliance registration completion notification from the server 200, the control unit 320 causes the display screen 301a of the display device 301 to display information prompting the selection of the home appliance 100 to be operated. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the display of information prompting the selection of the home appliance 100 to be operated, which is displayed on the display screen 301a by the display device 301 in the first embodiment. The display of the information prompting the selection of the home appliance 100 to be operated, which is displayed on the display screen 301a by the display device 301, is a display that shows the name of the home appliance and the installation location of the home appliance, together with a phrase such as "Please select the home appliance to be operated." as shown in FIG. 10, and a button for confirming the selection of the home appliance. The name of the home appliance and the installation location of the home appliance are, for example, specified in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230 in association with the terminal identification information for which it has been confirmed whether it is registered or not, and are the name of the home appliance and the installation location of the home appliance associated with the user ID specified in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 230.

[0052] User U selects the home appliance 100 to be operated and performs an operation to confirm the selected home appliance 100. When User U selects the home appliance 100 to be operated and performs an operation to confirm the selected home appliance 100, the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by User U. When the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by User U, the control unit 320 causes an operation screen for operating the selected home appliance 100 to be displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301 (step S3). As an example of an operation screen for operating the home appliance 100, when the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner, an operation screen for setting heating operation, cooling operation, wind direction, air volume, etc., when the home appliance 100 is a refrigerator, an operation screen for setting each internal temperature, etc., when the home appliance 100 is a clothing processor, an operation screen for setting washing operation, rinsing operation, dehydration operation, drying operation, operation time, etc. can be cited. With such an operation screen, it becomes possible to operate the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300 of the home appliance 100 selected as the operation target.

[0053] User U performs an operation for operating the home appliance 100 as the operation target on the operation screen displayed on the display screen 301a by the display device 301. When User U performs an operation for operating the home appliance 100 as the operation target on the operation screen displayed on the display screen 301a by the display device 301, the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation by User U. When the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation by User U, the control unit 320 transmits an operation instruction, which is an instruction corresponding to the operation, to the home appliance 100 as the operation target via the information transmission unit 340 and the server 200. When the terminal device 300 communicates with the home appliance 100 via the server 200, the server 200 specifies the terminal device 300 and the home appliance 100 using the terminal identification information. Then, the server 200 communicates with each of the specified terminal device 300 and home appliance 100. As a result, the terminal device 300 and the home appliance 100 become communicable via the server 200. That is, the server 200 has made the terminal device 300 and the home appliance 100 communicable via the server 200.

[0054] The communication unit 130 receives an operation instruction from the terminal device 300 via the server 200. When the communication unit 130 receives an operation instruction from the terminal device 300 via the server 200, the control unit 120 accepts the operation instruction received by the communication unit 130 (step S4). Then, the control unit 120 controls the home appliance main body 110 according to the operation instruction.

[0055] In addition, when the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information has been registered (YES in step S2), the control unit 210 ends the process.

[0056] Note that when the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered (NO in step S2), if the user registration is performed as described above and the home appliance 100 to be operated is surely executed, the process of transmitting the terminal identification information to the server 200 (an example of the transmission step) can be executed without the user U being aware of it without inputting the email address or password for the second and subsequent authentication processes.

[0057] (Second process performed by the home appliance system) The second process performed by the home appliance system 1 will be described. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the second process performed by the home appliance system 1 of the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the home appliance system 1. The processing flow shown in FIG. 11 shows a process in which the terminal device 300 and the server 200 cannot communicate with each other in the home appliance system 1, the terminal device 300 directly communicates with the home appliance 100, and the home appliance 100 authenticates the terminal device 300.

[0058] When the user U operates the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300, the user U performs an operation to cause the terminal device 300 to execute the application program P. As a result, the application program P is executed in the terminal device 300, and the home appliance application AP is started (step S11).

[0059] When the home appliance application AP for the home appliance device is launched, the user U performs an operation on the operation reception unit 330 to start the authentication performed when operating the home appliance device 100 from the terminal device 300. The operation reception unit 330 receives the operation to start the authentication by the user U. The operation to start the authentication by the user U is an operation of pressing a button for starting authentication displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301. Note that the operation to start the authentication by the user U may be an operation of launching the home appliance application AP. When the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation to start the authentication by the user U, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information to the home appliance device 100 via the information transmission unit 340. For example, the storage unit 350 stores the terminal identification information in advance, and when the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation to start the authentication by the user U, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 350 to the home appliance device 100. For example, when the operation to start the authentication by the user U is an operation of pressing a button for starting authentication displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301, when the user U presses the button for starting authentication, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 350 to the home appliance device 100. Also, for example, when the operation to start the authentication by the user U is an operation of launching the home appliance application AP, when the user U launches the home appliance application AP, the control unit 320 transmits the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 350 to the home appliance device 100.

[0060] The communication unit 130 receives the terminal identification information from the terminal device 300. When the communication unit 130 receives the terminal identification information from the terminal device 300, the control unit 120 determines whether the terminal identification information is registered (step S12).

[0061] For example, the control unit 120 determines whether the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 130 from the terminal device 300 exists in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 140. When the control unit 120 determines that the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 130 from the terminal device 300 exists in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 140, it determines that the terminal identification information has been registered. Also, when the control unit 120 determines that the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 130 from the terminal device 300 does not exist in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 140, it determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered.

[0062] When the control unit 120 determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered (NO in step S12), it transmits a registration request notification, which is a notification indicating that the terminal identification information has not been registered, to the terminal device 300.

[0063] The information acquisition unit 310 receives the registration request notification from the home appliance 100. When the information acquisition unit 310 receives the registration request notification from the home appliance 100, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display information prompting the new registration of the user U on the display screen 301a. The display of the information prompting the new registration of the user U that the display device 301 displays on the display screen 301a is, for example, a display that presents a query "Do you want to register new?" as shown in FIG. 8 and allows the selection of "Yes" or "No". Note that the display that the display device 301 displays on the display screen 301a under the control of the control unit 320 is an example of a notification.

[0064] When the user U performs an operation of selecting "Yes", the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation of selecting "Yes". When the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation of selecting "Yes", the control unit 320 transmits a user registration instruction, which is an instruction to execute user registration, to the home appliance 100 via the information transmission unit 340.

[0065] The communication unit 130 receives a user registration instruction from the terminal device 300. When the communication unit 130 receives a user registration instruction from the terminal device 300, the control unit 120 records (i.e., newly registers) the terminal identification information determined not to be registered in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 140 as identification information for authentication processing. For example, the control unit 120 adds a new user ID obtained by incrementing the number of the latest user ID in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 140 by 1, and registers the terminal identification information determined not to be registered in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 140 in association with the new user ID together with the registration date and the update date. With this new registration, the user registration is completed. The control unit 120 transmits a user registration completion notification notifying that the user registration has been completed to the terminal device 300 via the communication unit 130.

[0066] The information acquisition unit 310 receives a user registration completion notification from the home appliance 100. When the information acquisition unit 310 receives a user registration completion notification from the home appliance 100, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display information prompting the new registration of the home appliance 100 to be operated on the display screen 301a. The display of the information prompting the new registration of the home appliance 100 displayed on the display screen 301a by the display device 301 is, for example, a sentence such as "Please enter each of the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, the model name of the home appliance, the name of the home appliance, and the installation location of the home appliance" shown in FIG. 9, together with input fields for each of the type of home appliance, the serial number of the home appliance, the model name of the home appliance, the name of the home appliance, and the installation location of the home appliance, and a display for confirming the input to the input fields.

[0067] User U inputs appropriate information into the input fields for the type of home appliance, serial number of the home appliance, model name of the home appliance, name of the home appliance, and installation location of the home appliance respectively, and performs an operation to confirm the input to the input fields. When User U inputs appropriate information into each input field and performs an operation to confirm the input to the input fields, the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by User U. When the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by User U, the control unit 320 transmits the information input into the input fields to the home appliance 100 via the information transmission unit 340.

[0068] The communication unit 130 receives the information input into the input fields from the terminal device 300. When the communication unit 130 receives the information input into the input fields from the terminal device 300, the control unit 120 records (i.e., newly registers) the information input into the input fields in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 140. For example, the control unit 120 adds a new user ID obtained by incrementing the number of the latest user ID in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 140 by 1, and associates the information input into the input fields with the new user ID added together with the registration date, update date, and the number of users sharing the home appliance, and registers it in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 140. By this new registration, it means that the home appliance registration, which is the registration of the home appliance 100 to be operated, has been completed in association with the user ID. The control unit 120 transmits a home appliance registration completion notification notifying that the home appliance registration has been completed to the terminal device 300 via the communication unit 130.

[0069] The information acquisition unit 310 receives a home appliance registration completion notification from the home appliance 100. When the information acquisition unit 310 receives the home appliance registration completion notification from the home appliance 100, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display information on the display screen 301a for prompting the selection of the home appliance 100 to be operated. The display of the information for prompting the selection of the home appliance 100 to be operated, which the display device 301 displays on the display screen 301a, is a display that shows the name of the home appliance and the installation location of the home appliance, together with a statement such as "Please select the home appliance to be operated." as shown in FIG. 10, and a button for confirming the selection of the home appliance. The name of the home appliance and the installation location of the home appliance are identified, for example, in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 140 by using the user ID associated with the terminal identification information for confirming whether it is registered as shown in FIG. 10, and are the name of the home appliance and the installation location of the home appliance associated in the facility management database DB2 stored in the storage unit 140 by the identified user ID.

[0070] The user U selects the home appliance 100 to be operated and performs an operation to confirm the selected home appliance 100. When the user U selects the home appliance 100 to be operated and performs an operation to confirm the selected home appliance 100, the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by the user U. When the operation reception unit 330 receives those operations by the user U, the control unit 320 causes an operation screen for operating the selected home appliance 100 to be displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301 (step S13). Examples of the operation screen for operating the home appliance 100 include, when the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner, an operation screen for setting heating operation, cooling operation, wind direction, air volume, etc., when the home appliance 100 is a refrigerator, an operation screen for setting the temperature inside each compartment, etc., and when the home appliance 100 is a clothing processor, an operation screen for setting washing operation, rinsing operation, dehydration operation, drying operation, operation time, etc. With such an operation screen, it becomes possible to operate the home appliance 100 from the terminal device 300 of the home appliance 100 selected as the operation target.

[0071] User U performs an operation to operate the home appliance 100 to be operated on the operation screen displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301. When User U performs an operation to operate the home appliance 100 to be operated on the operation screen displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301, the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation by User U. When the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation by User U, the control unit 320 transmits an operation instruction, which is an instruction corresponding to the operation, to the home appliance 100 to be operated via the information transmission unit 340.

[0072] The communication unit 130 receives an operation instruction from the terminal device 300. When the communication unit 130 receives an operation instruction from the terminal device 300, the control unit 120 accepts the operation instruction received by the communication unit 130 (step S14). Then, the control unit 120 controls the home appliance main body 110 according to the operation instruction.

[0073] Also, when the control unit 120 determines that the terminal identification information has been registered (YES in step S12), the process is terminated.

[0074] In addition, when the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered (NO in step S12), if the user registration is performed as described above and the home appliance 100 to be operated is surely executed, the process of transmitting the terminal identification information to the home appliance 100 (an example of the transmission step) can be executed without the user U being aware of it without inputting the email address or password for the authentication process after the second time.

[0075] (Advantages) The above describes the home appliance system 1 of the first embodiment. In the terminal device 300 of the home appliance system 1, an information transmission unit 340 (an example of a transmission unit) transmits terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device 300 assigned to the terminal device 300, to the server 200. Further, in the terminal device 300 of the home appliance system 1, a control unit 320 (an example of an operation reception unit) receives an operation related to the home appliance device 100 registered in association with the terminal device 300 when the terminal device 300 is authenticated in the authentication process by the server using the terminal identification information. This terminal device 300 is realized by a home appliance application AP that is activated when an application program P is executed. That is, the program enables easier authentication and allows the home appliance device 100 to be operated from the terminal device 300. Therefore, the program can improve convenience.

[0076] <Second Embodiment> (Home Appliance System) FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the home appliance system 1 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 12, the home appliance system 1 includes, for example, a home appliance device 100, a server 200, and a plurality of terminal devices 300.

[0077] (Home Appliance Device) The home appliance device 100 is a home appliance device used by the user U, similar to the home appliance device 100 of the first embodiment, and is installed in a dwelling. In the second embodiment, the user U is a plurality of people. Hereinafter, the plurality of users U are referred to as user U1, who is the first user, and user U2, who is the second user. The home appliance device 100 is, for example, a household room air conditioner, a refrigerator, a laundry processor (e.g., a washing machine, a dryer), etc. The home appliance device 100 is connected to the network NW via a wireless router WR and a modem M installed in the dwellings of users U1 and U2, for example. The home appliance device 100 can communicate with the server 200 or the terminal device 300 via the network NW. The home appliance device 100 may be able to directly communicate with the terminal device 300 using short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth, for example.

[0078] (Server) Server 200 is a management server that manages home appliances 100, similar to the server 200 in the first embodiment. Server 200 is composed of one or more server devices (for example, a cloud server). Server 200 can communicate with home appliances 100 and terminal device 300 via network NW. Server 200 may include an information processing unit that performs edge computing or fog computing, such as an information processing unit included in a router in network NW. Server 200 is not limited to a cloud server, and may be a computer in user U's residence, or a home router, etc.

[0079] (Terminal device) The plurality of terminal devices 300 are electronic devices used by a plurality of users U. In the following description, the plurality of terminal devices 300 are the terminal device 300a1 used by user U1 and the terminal device 300a2 used by user U2. Each of the terminal devices 300a1 and 300a2 is the same as the terminal device 300 in the first embodiment, and is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device. However, each of the terminal devices 300a1 and 300a2 is not limited to a portable terminal device, and may be a personal computer or the like.

[0080] (Processing performed by the home appliance system) In the second embodiment, the processing performed by the home appliance system 1 when user U2 performs user registration from terminal device 300a2 in a state where user U1 has performed user registration from terminal device 300a1 and the home appliance 100 to be operated has been registered will be described.

[0081] FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the processing performed by the home appliance system 1 of the second embodiment. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the home appliance system 1. The processing flow shown in FIG. 13 is a process in which, in the home appliance system 1, when the user U2 performs user registration from the terminal device 300a2 in a state where the user U1 has performed user registration from the terminal device 300a1 and the home appliance device 100 has been registered as an operation target, the server 200 inquires of the terminal device 300a1 whether to approve the user registration by the terminal device 300a2.

[0082] The user U2 performs an operation to start authentication when operating the home appliance device 100 from the terminal device 300a2 in a state where the user U1 has performed user registration from the terminal device 300a1 and the home appliance device 100 has been registered as an operation target, on the operation reception unit 330. At this stage, the server 200 prohibits user registration by a terminal device other than the terminal device 300a1 used by the user U1. The operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a2 receives the operation to start authentication by the user U2. When the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a2 receives the operation to start authentication by the user U2, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a2 transmits terminal identification information to the server 200 via the information transmission unit 340 of the terminal device 300a2. For example, the storage unit 350 of the terminal device 300a2 stores the terminal identification information in advance, and when the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a2 receives the operation to start authentication by the user U2, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a2 transmits the terminal identification information stored in the storage unit 350 of the terminal device 300a2 to the server 200.

[0083] The communication unit 220 receives the terminal identification information from the terminal device 300a2. When the communication unit 220 receives the terminal identification information from the terminal device 300a2, the control unit 210 determines whether the terminal identification information has been registered (step S21).

[0084] For example, the control unit 210 determines whether or not the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 220 from the terminal device 300a2 exists in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230. When the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 220 from the terminal device 300a2 exists in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230, it determines that the terminal identification information has been registered. Also, when the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information received by the communication unit 220 from the terminal device 300a2 does not exist in the user management database DB1 stored in the storage unit 230, it determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered.

[0085] When the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information has not been registered (NO in step S21), it transmits a registration request notification, which is a notification indicating that the terminal identification information has not been registered, to each of the terminal devices 300a1 and 300a2.

[0086] The information acquisition units 310 of the terminal devices 300a1 and 300a2 each receive a registration request notification from the server 200. When the information acquisition unit 310 of the terminal device 300a1 receives a registration request notification from the server 200, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a1 causes the display device 301 of the terminal device 300a1 to display information prompting a selection as to whether or not to permit a new registration of the user U2 on the display screen 301a (step S22). FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the display of information prompting a selection as to whether or not to permit a new registration of the user U2, which is displayed by the display device 301 of the terminal device 300a1 in the second embodiment, on the display screen 301a. The display of information prompting a selection as to whether or not to permit a new registration of the user U2, which is displayed by the display device 301 of the terminal device 300a1 on the display screen 301a, is, for example, a display that presents an inquiry such as "Do you permit a new registration?" and allows a selection of "Yes" or "No".

[0087] The control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a1 determines whether to permit the new registration of user U2 (step S23). For example, when user U1 performs an operation of selecting "Yes" on the terminal device 300a1, the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a1 receives the operation by user U1 who selects "Yes" (that is, permits the new registration of user U2). When the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a1 receives the operation by user U1 who permits the new registration of user U2, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a1 determines to permit the new registration of user U2 (YES in step S23), and transmits new registration permission information indicating permission for the new registration of user U2 to the server 200 (step S24).

[0088] Also, for example, when user U1 performs an operation of selecting "No" on the terminal device 300a1, the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a1 receives the operation by user U1 who selects "No" (that is, does not permit the new registration of user U2). When the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a1 receives the operation by user U1 who does not permit the new registration of user U2, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a1 determines not to permit the new registration of user U2 (NO in step S23), and transmits new registration prohibition information indicating non - permission for the new registration of user U2 to the server 200 (step S25).

[0089] The communication unit 220 receives new registration permission information or new registration prohibition information from the terminal device 300a1. When the communication unit 220 receives new registration permission information from the terminal device 300a1, the control unit 210 enables user registration by the terminal device 300a2 used by user U2 (step S26). In this case, since user registration becomes possible for the terminal device 300a2, by performing the same processing as the terminal device 300 according to the first embodiment, user registration, new registration of the home appliance 100 as an operation target, and operation of the home appliance 100 become possible.

[0090] When the communication unit 220 receives the new registration prohibition information from the terminal device 300a1, the control unit 210 makes it impossible to perform user registration using the terminal device 300a2 used by the user U2 (step S27). In this case, the control unit 210 transmits the new registration prohibition information to the terminal device 300a2 via the communication unit 220. The information acquisition unit 310 of the terminal device 300a2 receives the new registration prohibition information from the server 200. When the information acquisition unit 310 of the terminal device 300a2 receives the new registration prohibition information from the server 200, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a2 ends the process of new registration of the user U2.

[0091] Also, when the control unit 210 determines that the terminal identification information is already registered (YES in step S21), authentication of the terminal device 300a2 is executed in the same manner as the terminal device 300 of the first embodiment (step S28).

[0092] In addition, when the user U2 registers the home appliance 100 already registered by the user U1, for example, the control unit 210 may generate a predetermined identification display (for example, a two-dimensional barcode or a barcode) for the registered home appliance 100. Further, the terminal device 300a1 used by the user U1 may display the predetermined identification display generated by the control unit 210. Then, the terminal device 300a2 used by the user U2 may register the home appliance 100 associated with the read predetermined identification display by reading the predetermined identification display displayed by the terminal device 300a1.

[0093] Also, similar to the relationship between the first process and the second process performed by the home appliance system 1 of the first embodiment, the process performed by the home appliance system 1 of the second embodiment may be one in which the home appliance 100 authenticates instead of the server 200.

[0094] (Advantages) The above has described the home appliance system 1 of the second embodiment. When a terminal device 300a2 (an example of an additional terminal device), which is different from the terminal device 300a1, transmits additional terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device 300a2 assigned to the terminal device 300a2, to the server 200, a display for specifying whether to permit the authentication process by the server 200 using the additional terminal identification information is displayed. Each of these terminal devices 300a1 and 300a2 is realized by a home appliance application AP that is activated when the application program P is executed. That is, the program causes a display to be shown that specifies whether to permit the authentication process by the server 200 using the additional terminal identification information when a terminal device 300a2 (an example of an additional terminal device), which is different from the terminal device 300a1, transmits additional terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device 300a2 assigned to the terminal device 300a2, to the server 200. As a result, the user of the registered terminal device can determine whether to permit new registration by a terminal device different from the registered terminal device, and forgery can be suppressed.

[0095] <Third Embodiment> (Home Appliance System) FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the home appliance system 1 of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 15, the home appliance system 1 includes, for example, a home appliance 100, a server 200, and a plurality of terminal devices 300.

[0096] (Home Appliance) The home appliance 100 is a home appliance used by the user U, similar to the home appliance 100 of the first embodiment, and is installed in a residence. In the third embodiment, the user U is, for example, one person or a plurality of people. The home appliance 100 is, for example, a household room air conditioner, a refrigerator, a laundry processor (e.g., a washing machine, a dryer), etc. The home appliance 100 is connected to the network NW via, for example, a wireless router WR and a modem M installed in the user U's residence. The home appliance 100 can communicate with the server 200 or the terminal device 300 via the network NW. The home appliance 100 may directly communicate with the terminal device 300 using short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth.

[0097] (Server) The server 200 is a management server that manages the home appliance 100, similar to the server 200 of the first embodiment. The server 200 is composed of one or more server devices (e.g., a cloud server). The server 200 can communicate with the home appliance 100 and the terminal device 300 via the network NW. The server 200 may include an information processing unit that performs edge computing or fog computing, such as an information processing unit included in a router in the network NW. The server 200 is not limited to a cloud server, and may be a computer in the user U's residence, or a home router, etc.

[0098] (Terminal Device) The plurality of terminal devices 300 are electronic devices used by a plurality of users U. In the following description, the plurality of terminal devices 300 are the terminal device 300a1 used by the user U and the terminal device 300a2 used by the user U after changing the model. Each of the terminal devices 300a1 and 300a2 is similar to the terminal device 300 of the first embodiment, and is, for example, a portable terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device. However, each of the terminal devices 300a1 and 300a2 is not limited to a portable terminal device, and may be a personal computer, etc.

[0099] (Processes Performed by the Home Appliance System) In the third embodiment, the data transfer process when the user U changes the device model from the terminal device 300a1 to the terminal device 300a2 will be described.

[0100] FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the process performed by the home appliance system 1 of the third embodiment. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of the processing flow of the home appliance system 1. The processing flow shown in FIG. 16 shows the process in which, when the user U changes the device model from the terminal device 300a1 to the terminal device 300a2 in the home appliance system 1, the server 200 changes the information regarding the terminal device 300a1 registered in the user management database DB1 and the facility management database DB2 to the information regarding the terminal device 300a2.

[0101] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of the display displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301 of the terminal device 300a1 according to the third embodiment. As shown in the part (a) of FIG. 17, the display device 301 of the terminal device 300a1 displays a data transfer button for performing the data transfer process. When the user U changes the device model from the terminal device 300a1 to the terminal device 300a2, the user U performs an operation to execute the data transfer process on the terminal device 300a1. When the user U performs an operation to execute the data transfer process on the terminal device 300a1 when changing the device model from the terminal device 300a1 to the terminal device 300a2 (for example, when pressing the data transfer button), the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a1 receives the operation by the user U. When the operation reception unit 330 of the terminal device 300a1 receives the operation by the user U, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a1 causes a predetermined identification display (for example, a two-dimensional barcode as shown in the part (b) of FIG. 17) corresponding to the list of registered home appliances 100 to be displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301 of the terminal device 300a1 according to the operation (step S31).

[0102] User U executes a process of reading a predetermined identification display shown on terminal device 300a1 with respect to terminal device 300a2 (for example, a process of changing to the camera mode and reading the predetermined identification display). In response to the process of reading the predetermined identification display by User U, control unit 320 of terminal device 300a2 identifies the information included in the predetermined identification display (step S32). The information included in the predetermined identification display is information including the user ID of terminal device 300a1 and information regarding terminal device 300a1 registered in the facility management database DB2 before data transfer. By identifying the information included in the predetermined identification display, control unit 320 of terminal device 300a2 identifies the user ID of terminal device 300a1. Then, control unit 320 of terminal device 300a2 transmits an instruction to rewrite the user ID of terminal device 300a1 in the information regarding terminal device 300a1 registered in facility management database DB2 with the user ID of terminal device 300a2 to server 200 or home appliance 100. Server 200 or home appliance 100 that has received the rewrite instruction rewrites the user ID of terminal device 300a1 in the information regarding terminal device 300a1 registered in facility management database DB2 according to the instruction (step S33). By this process, control unit 320 of terminal device 300a2 can perform data transfer.

[0103] (Effect) FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of information registered in the facility management database DB2 before and after inheriting data. The part (a) of FIG. 18 shows an example of information registered in the facility management database DB2 before inheriting data. The part (b) of FIG. 18 shows an example of information registered in the facility management database DB2 after inheriting data. In FIG. 18, the user ID of the terminal device 300a1 is 1000, and the user ID of the terminal device 300a2 is 2000. As shown in FIG. 18, the control unit 320 of the terminal device 300a2 can rewrite the user ID of the terminal device 300a1 in the information regarding the terminal device 300a1 registered in the facility management database DB2 in the server 200 or the home appliance 100 to the user ID of the terminal device 300a2 by performing the processes of the above-described steps S31 to S33. As a result, even when the model of the terminal device 300 is changed, the home appliance 100 to be operated can be operated from the terminal device 300 after the model change in the same manner as before the model change.

[0104] Some embodiments have been described above. However, the embodiments are not limited to the above-described examples. Also, some of the above-described embodiments can be implemented in combination with each other.

[0105] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, the program of the embodiment causes a computer, which is a terminal device, to execute a transmission step of transmitting terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device and is given to the terminal device, to a server, and an operation reception step of receiving an operation related to a home appliance registered in association with the terminal device when the terminal device is authenticated in the authentication process by the server using the terminal identification information. According to such a program, authentication can be performed more easily, and a home appliance can be operated from the terminal device. Therefore, the program can improve convenience.

[0106] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, as well as in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0107] 1... Home appliance system, 100... Home appliance device, 110... Home appliance device main body, 120... Control unit, 130... Communication unit, 140... Storage unit, 200... Server, 210... Control unit, 220... Communication unit, 230... Storage unit, 300... Terminal device, 301... Display device, 301a... Display screen, 302... Input device, 303... Communication unit, 310... Information acquisition unit, 320... Control unit, 330... Operation reception unit, 340... Information transmission unit, 350... Storage unit.

Claims

1. A computer which is a terminal device, a transmission step of transmitting terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device and is given to the terminal device, to a server; an operation reception step of receiving an operation related to a home electric appliance registered in association with the terminal device when the terminal device is authenticated in the authentication process by the server using the terminal identification information; A program for causing the above to be executed.

2. The terminal identification information is the manufacturing number of the terminal device, The program according to claim 1.

3. The terminal identification information is the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the terminal device, The program according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. An information notification step of notifying a user to inquire whether or not to record the terminal identification information as identification information for the authentication process when the terminal identification information is not recorded in the server as identification information for the authentication process; The program according to claim 1 for causing the above to be executed.

5. A communication step of directly communicating between the terminal device and the home electric appliance when communication between the terminal device and the server is not possible; The program according to claim 1 for causing the above to be executed.

6. A display step of displaying a display for designating whether or not to permit the authentication process by the server using the additional terminal identification information when an additional terminal device, which is a terminal device different from the terminal device, transmits additional terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the additional terminal device and is given to the additional terminal device, to the server; The program according to claim 1 for causing the above to be executed.

7. A display step of displaying a predetermined identification display on the terminal device when the terminal device is replaced with another terminal device which is a terminal device different from the terminal device; The program according to claim 1 for causing the above to be executed.

8. Transmitting terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device and is given to the terminal device, to a server; Receiving an operation related to a home electric appliance registered in association with the terminal device when the terminal device is authenticated in the authentication process by the server using the terminal identification information; A processing method including the above.

9. The terminal identification information is the manufacturing number of the terminal device, The processing method according to claim 8.

10. The terminal identification information is the MAC (Media Access Control) address of the terminal device. The processing method according to claim 8 or claim 9.

11. When the terminal identification information is not recorded as identification information for the authentication process, recording the terminal identification information as identification information for the authentication process. The processing method according to claim 8, including the above.

12. When the terminal device communicates with the home appliance device via the server, using the terminal identification information to identify the terminal device and the home appliance device, so that the terminal device and the home appliance device can communicate with each other via the server. The processing method according to claim 8, including the above.

13. When replacing the first terminal device, which is the terminal device, with a second terminal device, which is a terminal device different from the first terminal device, using a predetermined identification display displayed on the first terminal device, rewriting the terminal identification information to another terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the second terminal device assigned to the second terminal device. The processing method according to claim 8, including the above.

14. A home appliance system including a terminal device, a server, and a home appliance device, The terminal device is a transmission unit that transmits terminal identification information, which is unique identification information capable of identifying the terminal device assigned to the terminal device, to the server; an operation reception unit that receives operations related to home appliance devices registered in association with the terminal device when the terminal device is authenticated in the authentication process by the server using the terminal identification information. A home appliance system comprising the above.

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