Target equipment operating device, target equipment operating system, and demand response management method

Abstract

In a system that performs demand response, it is possible to easily determine whether or not the target device actually operated in response to the control signal related to the demand response. [Solution] A target device operating device comprising: a receiving unit that receives an operation signal from a demand response management device; a DR signal transmitting unit that transmits a DR signal to a target device for performing demand response based on the operation signal received by the receiving unit; an operation sound detection unit that detects the operation sound of the target device; a DR operation determination unit that determines that the target device has received a DR signal based on the operation sound detected by the operation sound detection unit; and a transmitting unit that transmits a determination signal indicating the determination result of the DR operation determination unit to the demand response management device.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a target device operating device, a target device operating system, and a demand response management method. [Background Art]

[0002] In systems that execute demand response, attempts have been made to automatically adjust the set temperature of air conditioners in users' homes using smart remote controllers or the like when demand response information is issued to address power shortages (see, for example, Patent Document 1 and Non-Patent Document 1). It is also expected that remotely adjusting the set temperature of air conditioners and the like will be required as an option for rationalizing energy usage across society as a whole in the future. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-98374 [Non-Patent Documents]

[0004] [Non-Patent Document 1] Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, On Demand Response (DR), June 29, 2022, Internet <URL:https: / / www.enecho.meti.go.jp / category / electricity_and_gas / electricity_measures / dr / dr.html> [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0005] In such systems that execute demand response, although a signal for adjusting the set temperature of an air conditioner in a user's home is transmitted, it has been difficult for a remote control device to confirm whether the air conditioner actually operated in response to the signal.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of these points, and aims to enable easy determination of whether or not a target device has actually operated in response to a control signal related to demand response in a system that performs demand response. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In a first aspect of the present invention, a target device operating device is provided for operating a target device based on an operation instruction received from a demand response management device, comprising: a receiving unit that receives an operation signal indicating an operation instruction related to demand response from the demand response management device; a DR signal transmitting unit that transmits a DR signal to the target device for performing demand response based on the operation signal received by the receiving unit; an operation sound detection unit that detects the operation sound of the target device; a DR operation determination unit that determines, based on the operation sound detected by the operation sound detection unit, that the target device has received the DR signal; and a transmitting unit that transmits a determination signal indicating the determination result of the DR operation determination unit to the demand response management device.

[0008] The system includes an operation signal receiving unit that receives user operation signals output to the target device from a user remote control used to operate the target device, an operation state identification unit that identifies the operating state of the target device based on the user operation signals received by the operation signal receiving unit, and a transmission unit that transmits a status signal indicating the operating state of the target device identified by the operation state identification unit to the demand response management device.

[0009] The operating state identification unit may also identify the operating state of the target device based on the user operation signal, in response to the operation signal receiving unit receiving the user operation signal during the period when the DR signal transmitting unit transmits the DR signal and performs demand response for the target device.

[0010] The DR operation determination unit may determine that the target device has received the DR signal in response to the operation sound detection unit detecting a predetermined operation sound of the target device.

[0011] The system further includes a storage unit for storing information on the operating sounds of multiple target devices, and the DR operation determination unit may determine whether or not a target device has received the DR signal by comparing the detection signal detected by the operating sound detection unit with the information on the operating sound signals of the multiple target devices stored in the storage unit.

[0012] The storage unit may store information on the operating sound signals of multiple different target devices and function as a database of the operating sound signals of the target devices.

[0013] In a second aspect of the present invention, a target device operation system is provided, comprising the target device operation device of the first aspect and the demand response management device, wherein the demand response management device includes a selection unit that selects a demand response operation to be performed by the target device from a plurality of candidate demand response operations, a communication unit that receives the determination signal from the target device operation device after transmitting the operation signal indicating an operation instruction for performing the demand response operation selected by the selection unit, and a determination unit that determines whether or not the demand response of the target device has been established based on the determination signal received by the communication unit.

[0014] The communication unit receives a status signal from the target device operating device indicating the operating state of the target device, and the determination unit may determine that the demand response for the target device is unsuccessful if the communication unit receives the status signal indicating that the target device has entered an operating state that does not correspond to the operation signal during the period in which the communication unit transmits the operation signal to the target device operating device to perform demand response.

[0015] The communication unit may receive a status signal indicating the operating state of the target device from the target device operating device, and the determination unit may determine that a demand response for the target device has been established during a predetermined period of time from the time the communication unit transmits the operation signal to the target device operating device until a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0016] A third aspect of the present invention provides a demand response management method comprising: selecting a demand response operation to be performed by a target device that operates based on an operation instruction regarding demand response from a plurality of candidate demand response operations to be performed by a computer; transmitting an operation instruction to a target device operating device for operating the target device to perform the selected demand response operation; and determining whether or not the demand response of the target device has been established based on the detection result of the operation sound of the target device in response to the operation instruction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the present invention, a system that performs demand response has the effect of being able to easily determine whether or not the target device actually operated in response to a control signal related to demand response. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] This embodiment shows an example of the configuration of the target device operating system S. [Figure 2] This example shows the configuration of the target device operating device 20 according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] A modified example of the target device operating device 20 according to this embodiment is shown. [Figure 4] This diagram shows an example of the configuration of the demand response management device 30 according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] This example shows an example of the operation flow of the target device operation system S according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] An example of an operation flow for determining whether to execute demand response by the management control unit 33 according to the present embodiment is shown. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] <Configuration example of target device operation system S> FIG. 1 shows a configuration example of a target device operation system S according to the present embodiment. The target device operation system S is a system for operating a remotely installed target device 10. It is desirable that the target device 10 is a device with relatively large power consumption. Examples of the target device 10 include air conditioners, water heaters, storage batteries, lighting fixtures, and the like. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the target device 10 is an air conditioner installed in a user's home. The target device 10 operates when the user operates the user remote controller 11.

[0020] The target device operation system S can be used, for example, in a system for adjusting the power supply-demand balance, such as demand response, where a user of the target device 10 adjusts power consumption. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the target device operation system S operates as a demand response management system for executing demand response. Note that in the present embodiment, demand response may be abbreviated as DR. The target device operation system S includes a target device operation device 20 and a demand response management device 30.

[0021] The target device operation device 20 is a device for operating the target device 10 based on an operation instruction received from the demand response management device 30. The target device operation device 20 receives a user transmission signal transmitted from the user remote controller 11 to the target device 10, and identifies the operating state of the target device 10 ((1) in FIG. 1). The target device operation device 20 also exchanges signals with the demand response management device 30 to adjust the power consumption of the target device 10. The target device operation device 20 transmits, for example, a status signal indicating the operating state of the target device 10 to the demand response management device 30 ((2) in FIG. 1).

[0022] If the status signal received from the target equipment operating device 20 indicates that demand response can be performed, the demand response management device 30 transmits an operation signal to the target equipment operating device 20 indicating an operation instruction for performing demand response (Figure 1 (3)).

[0023] For example, if the demand response management device 30 receives a status signal indicating that the target equipment 10 is heating and requests energy saving, it will send an operation signal to the target equipment operating device 20 to decrease the set temperature by a predetermined temperature (for example, 1°C). Alternatively, if the demand response management device 30 receives a status signal indicating that the target equipment 10 is cooling and requests energy saving, it may send an operation signal to the target equipment operating device 20 to increase the set temperature by a predetermined temperature (for example, 1°C).

[0024] The target device operating device 20 transmits a DR signal to the target device 10 to perform demand response based on the received operation signal (Figure 1 (4)). This allows the target device operating system S to cause the target device 10 to perform demand response. In this case, the demand response management device 30 may provide the user of the target device 10 with an incentive corresponding to the demand response.

[0025] However, with conventional demand response management systems, it was difficult to remotely confirm whether the target device 10 had actually changed its set temperature in response to an operation signal or DR signal. For example, if the target device operating device 20 is poorly positioned, or if there is an obstacle between the target device operating device 20 and the target device 10, preventing the transmission and reception of DR signals, the temperature of the target device 10 may not be set. Also, if the user intentionally or unintentionally changes the position of the target device operating device 20, the temperature of the target device 10 may not be set.

[0026] Furthermore, with conventional demand response management systems, even after the set temperature of the target device 10 has been changed in response to an operation signal, the user may change the set temperature of the target device 10 using the user remote control 11. With conventional demand response management systems, even when the target device 10 no longer meets the conditions for demand response, it is difficult to correctly understand the operating status of the target device 10 remotely.

[0027] By connecting the demand response management system and the target device 10 via a network, home gateway, etc., the demand response management system can also monitor the operating status of the target device 10. However, many of the target devices 10 that are actually installed are not network-compatible, making this impractical. Furthermore, connecting the target device 10 to a network would incur significant costs.

[0028] Therefore, conventional demand response management systems sometimes failed to easily grasp the operating status of the target device 10, making it impossible to provide users with the correct incentives. Accordingly, the target device operation system S according to this embodiment makes it easy to determine whether or not the target device 10 has actually operated.

[0029] For example, the target device operating device 20 detects the operating sound of the target device 10 (Figure 1 (5)) and determines whether the target device 10 has performed an action in response to the demand response. The target device operating device 20 transmits a determination signal indicating the determination result to the demand response management device 30 (Figure 1 (2)). This allows the demand response management device 30 to know whether the target device 10 has accepted the demand response.

[0030] Furthermore, for example, the target device operating device 20 may identify the operating state of the target device 10 after it has received a demand response and transmit a status signal indicating the identification result to the demand response management device 30 (Figures 1(1) and (2)). This allows the demand response management device 30 to more accurately determine whether or not the demand response of the target device 10 has been successful. Details of the target device operating device 20 and the demand response management device 30 that perform the above operations will be described in order.

[0031] <Example configuration of the target equipment operating device 20> Figure 2 shows an example of the configuration of the target device operating device 20 according to this embodiment. The target device operating device 20 comprises a transmitting unit 21, a receiving unit 22, a DR signal transmitting unit 23, an operating sound detection unit 24, an operation signal receiving unit 25, a storage unit 26, and a control unit 27.

[0032] The transmitting unit 21 transmits a predetermined signal received from the control unit 27 to the demand response management device 30. The predetermined signal, as will be described later, is a status signal indicating the operating status of the target device 10, a determination signal indicating the result of determining the operation of the demand response of the target device 10, etc.

[0033] The receiving unit 22 receives operation signals from the demand response management device 30 indicating operation instructions related to demand response. These operation instructions are, for example, instructions to increase or decrease the power consumption of the target device 10, such as "raise the temperature setting by 1°C" or "lower the temperature setting by 1°C". The transmitting unit 21 and the receiving unit 22 communicate with the demand response management device 30 via a network or the like.

[0034] The DR signal transmission unit 23 transmits a DR signal to the target device 10 for performing demand response based on the operation signal received by the receiving unit 22. The DR signal is a signal that the target device 10 can accept, and is, for example, an infrared signal. The DR signal may also be a standardized wireless signal such as Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, or short-range wireless communication. It is desirable that the DR signal is the same type of signal as the user operation signal transmitted by the user remote control 11 to the target device 10.

[0035] The sound detection unit 24 detects the operating sounds of the target device 10. The sound detection unit 24 has a microphone or the like that converts the operating sounds into electrical signals. The operating sounds are electronic sounds, electronic voices, etc., emitted when the target device 10 receives a DR signal. Some of the target devices 10 emit different operating sounds depending on the type of DR signal. The sound detection unit 24 transmits a detection signal, which is an electrical signal converted from such operating sounds, to the control unit 27. Alternatively, the sound detection unit 24 may transmit a detection signal to the control unit 27 indicating that it has detected operating sounds.

[0036] The operation signal receiving unit 25 receives user operation signals output to the target device 10 from the user remote control 11 that operates the target device 10. The operation signal receiving unit 25 has an infrared receiver for receiving user operation signals, for example, when the user operation signals are transmitted using infrared light. The operation signal receiving unit 25 also has a wireless signal receiver for receiving user operation signals, for example, when the user operation signals are transmitted using wireless signals. The operation signal receiving unit 25 transmits the received user operation signals to the control unit 27.

[0037] The storage unit 26 is a storage medium including ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The storage unit 26 may also include a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and / or an SSD (Solid State Drive). For example, if the CPU functions as the control unit 27, the storage unit 26 may store information such as the OS (Operating System) and programs that enable the CPU to function.

[0038] Furthermore, the storage unit 26 may store various information, including a database that is referenced when the program is executed. The storage unit 26 may also store intermediate data, calculation results, thresholds, reference values, and parameters that the control unit 27 generates (or uses) during its operation. The storage unit 26 may be located inside the target device operating device 20, or, in addition to or instead of thereto, it may be an external storage device, database, etc., connected via a network.

[0039] The control unit 27 controls each part of the target device operating device 20. For example, the control unit 27 controls the transmitting unit 21 and the receiving unit 22 to exchange various information with the demand response management device 30. The control unit 27 also controls the DR signal transmitting unit 23 to transmit the DR signal to the target device 10.

[0040] The control unit 27 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The control unit 27 includes a DR operation determination unit 28 and an operation state identification unit 29. In other words, the CPU functions as a control unit 27 having the DR operation determination unit 28 and the operation state identification unit 29 by executing a program stored in the memory unit 26.

[0041] The DR operation determination unit 28 determines that the target device 10 has received a DR signal based on the operating sound detected by the operating sound detection unit 24. For example, the target device 10 is a device that emits a "beep" sound when it receives a user operation signal or a DR signal. In this case, the DR operation determination unit 28 determines that the target device 10 has received a DR signal based on whether the operating sound detection unit 24 detects the electronic sound as an operating sound within a predetermined time after the DR signal transmission unit 23 transmits the DR signal to the target device 10.

[0042] Furthermore, for example, the target device 10 is a device that emits a different electronic sound corresponding to the received signal when it receives a user operation signal or a DR signal. In this case, the DR operation determination unit 28 determines that the target device 10 has received a DR signal when the operation sound detection unit 24 detects a predetermined operation sound of the target device 10. The predetermined operation sound is an operation sound corresponding to the DR signal. The predetermined operation sound is, for example, an electronic sound emitted when the target device 10 receives a DR signal indicating "increase (decrease) the set temperature by 1°C".

[0043] The DR operation determination unit 28 compares, for example, the detection signal received from the sound detection unit 24 with the information on the sound signal of the target device 10 registered in the storage unit 26, and determines that the target device 10 has received a DR signal when the detection signal and the sound signal are nearly identical. The sound signal may be the detection signal previously detected by the sound detection unit 24 for the sound of the target device 10. The DR operation determination unit 28 may also compare the signal waveforms of the detection signal and the sound signal.

[0044] The storage unit 26 may store the patterns of operating sounds, signal waveforms, etc., of multiple different target devices 10 as information about the operating sound signals. The storage unit 26 may also store the results of collecting information about the operating sound signals of multiple target devices 10 in advance. Furthermore, the storage unit 26 may detect the operating sound signals of the target devices 10 during the initial setup of the target device operating device 20, etc., and store the results of the detection. The storage unit 26 may accumulate information about the operating sound signals of multiple different target devices 10 and function as a database of the operating sound signals of the target devices 10.

[0045] The DR operation determination unit 28 compares and verifies the detection signal received from the operation sound detection unit 24 with each of the operation sound signals of the multiple target devices 10. This allows the DR operation determination unit 28 to more reliably determine whether the target device 10 has received the DR signal, even if the operation sound signals of the target devices 10 use different signals depending on the manufacturing date, manufacturer, etc. Furthermore, the DR operation determination unit 28 can more reliably determine whether the target device 10 has received the DR signal, even if the user replaces the target device 10 or changes the location of the target device operating device 20 to a location where a different target device 10 is installed.

[0046] The DR operation determination unit 28 determines that the target device 10 did not accept the DR signal if the operation sound detection unit 24 does not detect any operation sound from the target device 10 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the DR signal transmission unit 23 transmitted the DR signal to the target device 10. It is desirable that information about the operation sound of the target device 10, information about the predetermined time, etc., is stored in the storage unit 26. The control unit 27 transmits a determination signal indicating the determination result of the DR operation determination unit 28 from the transmission unit 21 to the demand response management device 30. This allows the demand response management device 30 to determine whether or not the target device 10 accepted the DR signal.

[0047] The operating state identification unit 29 identifies the operating state of the target device 10 based on the user operation signals received by the operation signal receiving unit 25. For example, the operating state identification unit 29 identifies the operating state of the target device 10 by comparing the user operation signals received from the operation signal receiving unit 25 with the operation signal table of the target device 10 registered in the storage unit 26. The operation signal table is a table that shows the correspondence between user operation signals and operation instructions. The operation signal table may be identified from the design data, specification data, etc., of the target device 10, or it may be identified in advance by detecting the user operation signals of the target device 10 for each operation instruction.

[0048] The operation state determination unit 29 identifies an operation instruction corresponding to the user operation signal received by the operation signal receiving unit 25 from the operation signal table, and determines that the operation state of the target device 10 has become the operation corresponding to the identified operation instruction. Alternatively, the operation state determination unit 29 may determine that the operation state of the target device 10 has become the operation corresponding to the identified operation instruction when the operation sound detection unit 24 detects an operation sound from the target device 10 within a time period that is set as the maximum time required from when the operation signal receiving unit 25 receives the user operation signal until the target device 10 emits an operation sound.

[0049] The control unit 27 transmits a status signal indicating the operating status of the target equipment 10 identified by the operating status identification unit 29 to the demand response management device 30 via the transmission unit 21. This allows the demand response management device 30 to understand the operating status of the target equipment 10. For example, before starting the demand response, the demand response management device 30 can determine whether the target equipment 10 is in a state where it can respond to the demand response (i.e., in cooling operation or heating operation), and can smoothly decide whether to start the demand response or not.

[0050] Furthermore, during the period when the DR signal transmission unit 23 transmits a DR signal and performs demand response for the target device 10, the user may operate the user remote control 11 and change the temperature setting of the target device 10. Even in this case, the operation state identification unit 29 can identify the operation state of the target device 10 based on the user operation signal, in response to the operation signal receiving unit 25 receiving the user operation signal. Therefore, the demand response management device 30 can grasp the operation state of the target device 10 even while demand response is in operation.

[0051] It is desirable that the target device operating device 20 be positioned close enough to the target device 10 to receive user operation signals output by the user remote control 11. Furthermore, it is desirable that the target device operating device 20 be positioned close enough to the target device 10 to detect the operating sounds of the target device 10.

[0052] The target device operating device 20 described above may be formed as a single unit, as shown in Figure 2, or alternatively, some components may be separated. For example, the operating sound detection unit 24 of the target device operating device 20 may be separated. A modified example of such a target device operating device 20 will be described next.

[0053] <Modified form of the target equipment operating device 20> Figure 3 shows a modified example of the target device operating device 20 according to this embodiment. In this modified example of the target device operating device 20, components that are substantially the same as those in the target device operating device 20 according to this embodiment shown in Figure 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations are omitted. The modified example of the target device operating device 20 further includes a slave unit 40. In addition, the components of the target device operating device 20 other than the slave unit 40 operate as a master unit capable of communicating with the slave unit 40.

[0054] The slave unit 40 is a separate and independent device from the target device operating device 20. The slave unit 40 has an operating sound detection unit 24 and a slave unit communication unit 41. The slave unit communication unit 41 transmits a detection signal indicating the detection result of the operating sound detection unit 24 to the master unit, the target device operating device 20. Since such a slave unit 40 can be manufactured to be smaller than the target device operating device 20, it is easy to install near the target device 10. In addition, since the slave unit 40 can be easily installed closer to the part of the target device 10 that emits sound, sound detection errors can be reduced.

[0055] The target device operating device 20 further includes a master unit communication unit 42. The master unit communication unit 42 receives a detection signal transmitted from the slave unit communication unit 41 and supplies it to the control unit 27. Communication between the slave unit communication unit 41 and the master unit communication unit 42 may be wired or wireless. Communication between the slave unit communication unit 41 and the master unit communication unit 42 may be, for example, infrared communication, Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi®, short-range wireless communication, etc. It goes without saying that the above modified target device operating device 20 can perform the same operations as the target device operating device 20 described in Figure 2.

[0056] <Example configuration of the demand response management device 30> Figure 4 shows an example of the configuration of the demand response management device 30 according to this embodiment. The demand response management device 30 is a computer such as a server. The demand response management device 30 comprises a communication unit 31, a management storage unit 32, and a management control unit 33.

[0057] The communication unit 31 exchanges various information with the target device operating device 20. For example, the communication unit 31 receives status signals from the target device operating device 20 indicating the operating status of the target device 10 and determination signals indicating whether or not the target device 10 has performed an action in response to the demand response. The communication unit 31 also transmits operation signals to the target device operating device 20 indicating operation instructions for executing the demand response operation. The communication unit 31 may be connected to a network or the like and be able to communicate with other target devices, databases, servers, etc.

[0058] The management memory unit 32 is a storage medium including ROM (Read Only Memory) and RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. The management memory unit 32 may also include a large-capacity storage device such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and / or an SSD (Solid State Drive). For example, if the CPU functions as the control unit 27, the management memory unit 32 may store information such as the OS (Operating System) and programs that enable the CPU to function.

[0059] Furthermore, the management storage unit 32 may store various information, including a database that is referenced when the program is executed. The management storage unit 32 may also store intermediate data, calculation results, thresholds, reference values, and parameters that the management control unit 33 generates (or uses) during its operation. The management storage unit 32 may be located inside the demand response management device 30, or, in addition to or instead of thereto, it may be an external storage device, database, etc., connected via a network.

[0060] The management control unit 33 controls each part of the demand response management device 30. For example, the management control unit 33 controls the communication unit 31 to exchange various information with the target device operating device 20. The management control unit 33 has, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The management control unit 33 has a selection unit 34, a determination unit 35, and an incentive granting unit 36. In other words, the CPU functions as a management control unit 33 having a selection unit 34, a determination unit 35, and an incentive granting unit 36 ​​by executing a program stored in the management storage unit 32.

[0061] The selection unit 34 selects a demand response operation to be performed by the target device 10 from among several candidate demand response operations. Candidate demand response operations are operations that increase or decrease the power consumption of the target device 10, such as "raise the temperature setting by 1°C" or "lower the temperature setting by 1°C". For example, when performing a demand response that increases power consumption, the selection unit 34 selects the operation "lower the temperature setting by 1°C" if the target device 10 is in cooling mode. Also, for example, when performing a demand response that reduces power consumption, the selection unit 34 selects the operation "raise the temperature setting by 1°C" if the target device 10 is in cooling mode.

[0062] The decision to increase or decrease power consumption is based on the power demand situation of a predetermined power grid, and is known as a conventional demand response decision operation, so an explanation is omitted here. The management control unit 33 may perform such a demand response decision operation, or it may receive the result of a demand response decision operation performed by an external server or the like.

[0063] The control unit 33 controls the communication unit 31 to transmit an operation signal to the target device operating device 20 indicating an operation instruction to execute the demand response operation selected by the selection unit 34. This allows the target device operating device 20 to start the demand response operation. The target device operating device 20 also transmits a determination signal corresponding to the operation signal to the demand response management device 30, as described above. As a result, the communication unit 31 receives the determination signal from the target device operating device 20 after transmitting the operation signal.

[0064] The determination unit 35 determines whether or not the demand response of the target device 10 has been established based on the determination signal received by the communication unit 31. For example, the determination unit 35 determines that the demand response was not established when it receives a determination signal indicating that the target device 10 did not perform an action in response to the demand response. Conversely, the determination unit 35 determines that the demand response was established when it receives a determination signal indicating that the target device 10 performed an action in response to the demand response.

[0065] Furthermore, after the target device 10 has performed an operation in response to the demand response (specifically, after the communication unit 31 receives a determination signal indicating that the target device 10 has performed an operation in response to the demand response), the temperature setting of the target device 10 may be changed by user operation. Therefore, if the communication unit 31 receives a status signal during a predetermined period in which the communication unit 31 has transmitted an operation signal to the target device operating device 20 to perform the demand response, the determination unit 35 further determines whether or not the demand response of the target device 10 has been established based on the received status signal.

[0066] The determination unit 35 determines, for example, that the demand response of the target device 10 is not established if the communication unit 31 receives a status signal indicating that the target device 10 has entered an operating state that does not respond to an operation signal during a predetermined period. Alternatively, the determination unit 35 determines that the demand response of the target device 10 was established during a predetermined period if the communication unit 31 does not receive a status signal indicating that the target device 10 has entered an operating state that does not respond to an operation signal during that period.

[0067] The incentive granting unit 36 ​​grants an incentive to the user of the target device 10 in response to the determination unit 35 determining that the demand response for the target device 10 has been established. The incentive granting unit 36 ​​stores information indicating that an incentive will be granted to the user of the target device 10 in the management storage unit 32, for example. The incentive granting unit 36 ​​may also aggregate the incentives granted to the user of the target device 10 over a predetermined period.

[0068] Furthermore, the demand response management device 30 may process the points, coupons, discounts, etc., corresponding to the incentives granted so that the user can actually obtain them. There are various methods for processing incentives, but since all of them can be performed using known operations, a detailed explanation is omitted here.

[0069] <An example of the operation sequence of the target device operating system S> Figure 5 shows an example of the operation sequence of the target device operation system S according to this embodiment. In Figure 5, it is assumed that the user of the target device 10 starts the cooling or heating operation of the target device 10 by operating the user remote control 11. As a result, the operation signal receiving unit 25 of the target device operation device 20 receives the user operation signal output from the user remote control 11. Then, the operation state identification unit 29 identifies the operation of the target device 10 based on the user operation signal received by the operation signal receiving unit 25 (S50).

[0070] Next, the demand response management device 30 receives a status signal indicating the status of the target device 10 from the target device operating device 20 (S51). For example, the control unit 27 of the target device operating device 20 transmits a corresponding status signal to the demand response management device 30 each time the operation signal receiving unit 25 receives a user operation signal. The control unit 27 may also transmit a status signal from the transmission unit 21 to the demand response management device 30 at predetermined times and / or predetermined time intervals.

[0071] Alternatively, the management control unit 33 of the demand response management device 30 may send a request signal from the communication unit 31 to the target device operating device 20 requesting a status signal. The control unit 27 of the target device operating device 20 will, in response to the request signal, send a status signal from the transmission unit 21 to the demand response management device 30 indicating the operating state identified by the operating state identification unit 29.

[0072] Next, the management control unit 33 of the demand response management device 30 determines whether or not to perform a demand response based on the status signal (S52). The operation flow of the management control unit 33 determining whether or not to perform a demand response will be described later. If the management control unit 33 determines to perform a demand response, it transmits an operation signal from the communication unit 31 to the target device operating device 20 to perform the demand response operation (S53).

[0073] The control unit 27 of the target device operating device 20 transmits a DR signal for performing demand response from the DR signal transmission unit 23 to the target device 10 based on the operation signal received by the receiving unit 22 (S54). If the target device 10 successfully receives the DR signal, it generates an operating sound and performs the operation corresponding to the DR signal. If the target device 10 fails to successfully receive the DR signal, it cannot perform the operation corresponding to the DR signal and does not generate an operating sound.

[0074] The DR operation determination unit 28 of the target device operating device 20 determines whether or not the target device 10 has received a DR signal (S55). The DR operation determination unit 28 determines that the target device 10 has received a DR signal if the operation sound detection unit 24 has detected an operation sound from the target device 10. The DR operation determination unit 28 determines that the target device 10 has not received a DR signal if the operation sound detection unit 24 has not detected an operation sound from the target device 10.

[0075] The control unit 27 of the target device operating device 20 transmits a determination signal indicating the determination result of the DR operation determination unit 28 from the transmission unit 21 to the demand response management device 30 (S56). The determination unit 35 of the demand response management device 30 determines whether or not the demand response for the target device 10 is not established based on the determination signal received by the communication unit 31 (S57).

[0076] If the determination unit 35 receives a determination signal indicating, for example, that the target device 10 did not accept the DR signal, it determines that the demand response is unsuccessful (S57: Yes). In this case, the incentive granting unit 36 ​​does not grant an incentive to the user of the target device 10. The management control unit 33 then terminates the operation sequence. If the determination unit 35 receives a determination signal indicating that the target device 10 accepted the DR signal (S57: No), it proceeds to the operation in step S60 and waits for a predetermined period until the demand response operation is completed.

[0077] The operation signal receiving unit 25 of the target device operating device 20 continues to receive user operation signals output from the user remote control 11 even after the DR signal transmitting unit 23 transmits a DR signal and the transmitting unit 21 transmits a determination signal. When the operation signal receiving unit 25 receives a user operation signal, the operation state identification unit 29 identifies the operation of the target device 10 based on the user operation signal (S58). The control unit 27 transmits a status signal indicating the operation state of the target device 10 identified by the operation state identification unit 29 from the transmitting unit 21 to the demand response management device 30 (S59).

[0078] The determination unit 35 of the demand response management device 30 determines whether or not a demand response has been established after a predetermined period has elapsed until the demand response operation is completed (S60). For example, the determination unit 35 determines that the demand response for the target device 10 is not established if the communication unit 31 receives a status signal indicating that the target device 10 has entered an operating state that does not respond to an operation signal during the predetermined period (S60: No). In this case, the incentive granting unit 36 ​​does not grant an incentive to the user of the target device 10. Then, the management control unit 33 terminates the operation sequence.

[0079] Furthermore, the determination unit 35 determines that the demand response of the target device 10 has been established during a predetermined period, based on the fact that the communication unit 31 has not received a status signal indicating that the target device 10 has entered an operating state that does not respond to an operation signal during that period (S60: Yes). The incentive granting unit 36 ​​grants a predetermined incentive to the user of the target device 10 (S61).

[0080] Then, the control unit 33 sends an operation signal to the target device operating device 20 to return the temperature setting to the setting before the demand response was started (S62). As a result, the control unit 27 of the target device operating device 20 sends a DR end signal to the target device 10 to return the temperature setting to the setting before the demand response was started, thereby ending the demand response (S63). The DR end signal indicates an operation instruction such as "raise the temperature setting by 1°C" or "lower the temperature setting by 1°C".

[0081] <An example of the operation flow of the target device operating system S> Figure 6 shows an example of the operation flow for determining whether or not to execute a demand response by the management control unit 33 according to this embodiment. The operation flow shown in Figure 6 is a more detailed operation of step S52 of the operation sequence of the target device operation system S described in Figure 5.

[0082] First, the management control unit 33 determines whether the operating status of the target device 10, as indicated by the status signal received by the communication unit 31, is in heating mode (S70). If the management control unit 33 determines, based on the status signal, that "the target device 10 is in heating mode" (S70: Yes), the selection unit 34 determines whether the demand response operation to be performed is to request power saving (S71). The selection unit 34 obtains, for example, the demand response operation to be performed, which has been determined based on power demand, from the management control unit 33 or an external server, etc.

[0083] If power saving is requested (S71: Yes), the selection unit 34 selects a demand response operation to lower the set temperature by a predetermined amount as the operation instruction. For example, the selection unit 34 selects the operation to "lower the temperature setting by 1°C" as the operation instruction (S72). The management control unit 33 proceeds to the operation in step S53 and executes the demand response using the operation instruction selected by the selection unit 34.

[0084] If no power saving is requested (S71: No), the selection unit 34 determines whether the demand response operation to be performed requests the consumption of electricity or not (S73). If the consumption of electricity is requested (S73: Yes), the selection unit 34 selects a demand response operation to raise the set temperature by a predetermined amount as the operation instruction. For example, the selection unit 34 selects the operation to "raise the temperature setting by 1°C" as the operation instruction (S74). The management control unit 33 proceeds to the operation in step S53 and executes the demand response using the operation instruction selected by the selection unit 34.

[0085] If the demand response operation to be performed is not to request electricity consumption (S73: No), the selection unit 34 does not select an operation instruction. In this case, the management control unit 33 does not perform the demand response and terminates the operation flow shown in Figure 6 (in other words, the operation sequence of the target equipment operation system S shown in Figure 5).

[0086] If the management control unit 33 does not determine that "the target device 10 is heating" (S70: No), it determines whether the operating state of the target device 10 indicated by the status signal is cooling or not (S75). If the management control unit 33 determines that "the target device 10 is cooling" (S75: Yes), the selection unit 34 determines whether the demand response operation to be performed is to request power saving or not (S76).

[0087] If power saving is requested (S76: Yes), the selection unit 34 selects a demand response operation to raise the set temperature by a predetermined amount as the operation instruction. For example, the selection unit 34 selects the operation to "raise the temperature setting by 1°C" as the operation instruction (S77). The management control unit 33 proceeds to the operation in step S53 and executes the demand response using the operation instruction selected by the selection unit 34.

[0088] If no power saving is requested (S76: No), the selection unit 34 determines whether the demand response operation to be performed requests the consumption of electricity (S78). If the consumption of electricity is requested (S78: Yes), the selection unit 34 selects a demand response operation to lower the set temperature by a predetermined amount as the operation instruction. For example, the selection unit 34 selects the operation to "lower the temperature setting by 1°C" as the operation instruction (S79). The management control unit 33 proceeds to the operation in step S53 and executes the demand response using the operation instruction selected by the selection unit 34.

[0089] The selection unit 34 does not select an operation instruction if the demand response operation to be performed is not to request electricity consumption (S78: No). In this case, the management control unit 33 terminates the operation flow shown in Figure 6 (in other words, the operation sequence of the target equipment operation system S shown in Figure 5) without performing the demand response.

[0090] As described above, the target device operation system S according to this embodiment can grasp the operating status of the target device 10 even if the target device 10 is located remotely, without connecting the target device 10 to a network, and can appropriately execute demand response. Furthermore, since the target device operation system S can grasp changes in the operating status of the target device 10 even while demand response is being executed, it can more accurately determine whether the demand response has been successful or not.

[0091] Although the present invention has been described above using embodiments, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope described in the above embodiments, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of its gist. For example, all or part of the apparatus can be configured by functionally or physically distributing and integrating in any unit. Furthermore, new embodiments resulting from any combination of multiple embodiments are also included in the embodiments of the present invention. The effects of the new embodiments resulting from the combinations are combined with the effects of the original embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 10 Target devices 11 User Remote Control 20. Operating device for target equipment 21 Transmitter 22 Receiving section 23 DR signal transmission section 24. Sound detection unit 25 Operation signal receiving unit 26 Memory section 27 Control Unit 28 DR operation judgment section 29 Operation status identification unit 30 Demand Response Management Device 31 Communications Department 32 Management storage unit 33 Management and Control Unit 34 Selection Section 35 Judgment section 36. Incentive Granting Department 40 Handset 41. Sub-unit communication section 42 Master unit communication section

Claims

1. A target equipment operating device for operating target equipment based on operating instructions received from a demand response management device, A receiving unit that receives an operation signal indicating an operation instruction related to demand response from the demand response management device, A DR signal transmission unit transmits a DR signal to the target device for performing demand response based on the operation signal received by the receiving unit, A sound detection unit for detecting the operating sound of the aforementioned target device, A DR operation determination unit determines that the target device has received the DR signal based on the operation sound detected by the operation sound detection unit, A transmission unit that transmits a determination signal indicating the determination result of the DR operation determination unit to the demand response management device, A device for operating the target equipment, equipped with the following features.

2. An operation signal receiving unit that receives user operation signals output to the target device from a user remote control that operates the target device, Based on the user operation signal received by the operation signal receiving unit, an operation state identification unit identifies the operating state of the target device, The transmitting unit transmits a status signal indicating the operating status of the target device identified by the operating status identification unit to the demand response management device. The device for operating the target equipment according to claim 1.

3. The operating state identification unit identifies the operating state of the target device based on the user operation signal, in response to the operation signal receiving unit receiving the user operation signal during the period when the DR signal transmission unit is transmitting the DR signal and performing demand response for the target device. The device for operating the target equipment as described in claim 2.

4. The DR operation determination unit determines that the target device has received the DR signal when the operation sound detection unit detects a predetermined operation sound of the target device. The device for operating the target equipment according to claim 1.

5. The system further includes a storage unit that stores information on the operating sounds of multiple target devices, The DR operation determination unit determines whether or not the target device has received the DR signal by comparing the detection signal detected by the operation sound detection unit with the operation sound signal information of the plurality of target devices stored in the storage unit. The device for operating the target equipment as described in claim 4.

6. The storage unit stores information on the operating sound signals of multiple different target devices and functions as a database of the operating sound signals of the target devices. The device for operating the target equipment as described in claim 5.

7. The target device operating device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, The aforementioned demand response management device, Equipped with, The aforementioned demand response management device is A selection unit that selects a demand response operation to be performed by the target device from among several candidate demand response operations, A communication unit that receives the determination signal from the target device operating device after transmitting the operation signal indicating an operation instruction for executing the demand response operation selected by the selection unit to the target device operating device, A determination unit that determines whether or not the demand response of the target device has been established based on the determination signal received by the communication unit, Having The target equipment operating system.

8. The communication unit receives a status signal indicating the operating status of the target device from the target device operating device, The determination unit determines that the demand response for the target device is unsuccessful when, during the period in which the communication unit transmits the operation signal to the target device operating device to perform demand response, the communication unit receives the status signal indicating that the target device has entered an operating state that does not correspond to the operation signal. The target device operating system according to claim 7.

9. The communication unit receives a status signal indicating the operating status of the target device from the target device operating device, The determination unit determines that a demand response for the target device was established during a predetermined period of time elapsed from the time the communication unit transmits the operation signal to the target device operating device until a predetermined time has elapsed. The target device operating system according to claim 7.

10. A computer executes The steps include selecting a demand response operation from among several candidate demand response operations to be executed by the target device that operates based on demand response operation instructions, and The steps include: transmitting an operation instruction to a target device operating device for operating the target device to execute the selected demand response operation; A step of determining whether or not the demand response of the target device has been established based on the detection result of the operating sound of the target device in response to the operation instruction, A demand response management method having [a certain characteristic].

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