Air conditioning system and method

Abstract

Determining whether the installation of an air conditioner is appropriate. A system includes a user-side device of the air conditioner, a terminal, and a management server. The terminal transmits first information identifying the user-side device installed in a predetermined property to the management server. The management server stores second information as information about the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property. Based on the first and second information received from the terminal, the management server determines whether the user-side device installed in the predetermined property is consistent with the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system and method. Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is disclosed an inspection system for inspecting whether the work is appropriate during the work of an air conditioner (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] <Prior Art Literature>

[0004] <Patent Document>

[0005] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-191519 Summary of the Invention

[0006] <Problems to be Solved by the Invention>

[0007] However, in Patent Document 1, the operator only adds a check mark to the check box of the confirmation item, and cannot determine whether the air conditioner is actually correctly installed. The purpose of the present disclosure is to determine whether the installation of the air conditioner is appropriate.

[0008] <Methods used to solve the problem>

[0009] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the system includes a user-side device of an air conditioner, a terminal, and a management server, the terminal sends first information for determining the user-side device set in a predetermined property to the management server, the management server stores second information as information of the user-side device to be set in the predetermined property, and the management server determines whether the user-side device set in the predetermined property is consistent with the user-side device to be set in the predetermined property based on the first information and the second information received from the terminal.

[0010] According to the first aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to determine whether the installation of the user-side device of the air conditioner is appropriate.

[0011] In addition, the second aspect of the present disclosure is a system according to the first aspect, wherein, when the user-side device set in the predetermined property is inconsistent with the user-side device to be set in the predetermined property, the management server sends an error to the terminal.

[0012] According to the second aspect of the present disclosure, the user can know that the user-side device that should be installed in the property is not installed.

[0013] In addition, the third aspect of the present disclosure is a system according to aspect 1 or aspect 2, wherein the system also includes a remote controller connected to the user-side device, the remote controller receives information for determining the user-side device from the user-side device, and sends the received information for determining the user-side device to the terminal, the terminal receives information for determining the user-side device from the remote controller, and generates the first information.

[0014] According to the third aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to determine whether the connection between the user-side device of the air conditioner and the remote controller is appropriate.

[0015] In addition, a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is the system according to the third aspect, wherein the information for identifying the user-side device is any one of a machine ID, a batch number, and a model name of the user-side device.

[0016] According to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure, the terminal can identify the user-side device connected to the remote controller based on any one of the device ID, lot number, and model name of the user-side device of the air conditioner.

[0017] In addition, a fifth aspect of the present disclosure is the system according to the third aspect or the fourth aspect, wherein the remote controller is connected to a plurality of user-side devices.

[0018] According to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure, the terminal can identify a plurality of user-side devices connected to the remote controller.

[0019] In addition, the sixth aspect of the present disclosure is a system according to any one of aspects 3 to 5, wherein, after receiving information for identifying the user-side device, the terminal sends the address of the user-side device to the remote controller.

[0020] According to the sixth aspect of the present disclosure, a terminal can identify a user-side device connected to a remote controller and then set the address of the user-side device of the air conditioner in the remote controller. For example, a user can set the address using information identifying the user-side device obtained from the remote controller, instead of entering the name of the user-side device of the air conditioner.

[0021] In addition, the seventh aspect of the present disclosure is a system according to the sixth aspect, wherein the terminal displays a screen for the user to set the address of the user-side device, and in the screen, the display form of the set address is displayed in a manner different from the display form of the unset address.

[0022] According to the seventh aspect of the present disclosure, the user can visually recognize an address that has not yet been set.

[0023] The method according to aspect 8 of the present disclosure is executed by a management server, and the method includes: a step of receiving first information for determining a user-side device set in a predetermined property from a terminal; and a step of judging whether the user-side device set in the predetermined property is consistent with the user-side device to be set in the predetermined property based on the first information received from the terminal and second information stored in the management server as information of the user-side device to be set in the predetermined property. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 2 This is a diagram showing the hardware configuration of a terminal, a remote controller, and a management server according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 3 This is a sequence diagram of a process for obtaining information for specifying a user-side device of an air conditioner according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on the drawings.

[0028] <Terminology>

[0029] The information for identifying the user-side device (also referred to as an indoor unit) of the air conditioner is information for uniquely identifying the user-side device (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device). Alternatively, the information for identifying the user-side device of the air conditioner may be various types of information capable of identifying the user-side device (e.g., the lot number of the user-side device, the model name of the user-side device, etc.).

[0030] The address of a user-side device (also referred to as an indoor unit) of an air conditioner is information for uniquely identifying the user-side device by a monitoring system of the air conditioner or the like.

[0031] <System Configuration>

[0032] Figure 1 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of one embodiment of the present disclosure. The air conditioning system 10 includes a terminal 100, an air conditioner 300, and a management server 400. Each of these will be described below.

[0033] <<Air Conditioner 300>>

[0034] The air conditioners 300 are of any model. Each air conditioner 300 includes a user-side device (also called an indoor unit) 310, a heat source-side device (also called an outdoor unit) 320, and a remote controller 200. Furthermore, each user-side device 310 includes a control device 311. The control device 311 can transmit information identifying the user-side device 310 to the remote controller 200.

[0035] The air conditioner 300 is operated by the remote controller 200. For example, Figure 1 As shown, the remote controller 200 is connected to one of the plurality of user-side devices 310 connected to the heat-source-side device 320 .

[0036] It should be noted that, in this specification, the connection between the remote controller 200 and the user-side device 310 includes the case where the remote controller 200 and the user-side device 310 are directly connected, and also includes the case where the remote controller 200 and the user-side device 310 are connected via other user-side devices (in other words, the remote controller 200 and the user-side device 310 are not directly connected).

[0037] <<Remote Controller 200>>

[0038] The remote controller 200 is a device that operates one or more air conditioners 300. The remote controller 200 is connected to one or more user-side devices 310 via wiring. It should be noted that, as described above, the connection between the remote controller 200 and the user-side device 310 includes a case where the remote controller 200 is directly connected to the user-side device 310, and also includes a case where the remote controller 200 is connected to the user-side device 310 via another user-side device (in other words, the remote controller 200 is not directly connected to the user-side device 310). In addition, the remote controller 200 can send and receive data with the terminal 100 via Bluetooth (registered trademark) or the like.

[0039] Specifically, the remote controller 200 receives information identifying the user device 310 from the control device 311 of the user device 310 of the air conditioner 300. The remote controller 200 also transmits the information identifying the user device 310 received from the user device 310 to the terminal 100.

[0040] <<Terminal 100>>

[0041] The terminal 100 is, for example, a smartphone, tablet computer, personal computer, or the like. The terminal 100 can transmit and receive data with the remote controller 200 via Bluetooth or the like. Furthermore, the terminal 100 can transmit and receive data with the management server 400 via a wireless communication system such as 3G / 4G / 5G.

[0042] Specifically, the terminal 100 receives information for specifying the user device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 from the remote controller 200. In addition, the terminal 100 transmits the information for specifying the user device 310 received from the remote controller 200 to the management server 400.

[0043] <<Management Server 400>>

[0044] The management server 400 manages information about user-side devices installed in various properties (e.g., individual buildings, individual floors within a building, etc.). The management server 400 receives information identifying the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 from the terminal 100 and determines whether the user-side device 310 of the air conditioner 300 is correctly connected to the remote controller 200.

[0045] <Hardware Configuration of Terminal 100, Remote Controller 200, and Management Server 400>

[0046] Figure 2 This figure shows the hardware configuration of the terminal 100, remote controller 200, and management server 400 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The terminal 100, remote controller 200, and management server 400 each include a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1001, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 1002, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 1003. The CPU 1001, ROM 1002, and RAM 1003 form what is known as a computer.

[0047] Furthermore, the terminal 100, remote controller 200, and management server 400 may include an auxiliary storage device 1004, a display device 1005, an operating device 1006, an I / F (Interface) device 1007, and a drive device 1008. It should be noted that the hardware components of the terminal 100, remote controller 200, and management server 400 are interconnected via a bus B.

[0048] The CPU 1001 is a computing device for executing various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 1004 .

[0049] ROM 1002 is a nonvolatile memory. ROM 1002 functions as a main storage device, storing various programs and data required for CPU 1001 to execute various programs installed in auxiliary storage device 1004. Specifically, ROM 1002 functions as a main storage device for storing boot programs such as BIOS (Basic Input / Output System) and EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface).

[0050] The RAM 1003 is a volatile memory such as a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or an SRAM (Static Random Access Memory). The RAM 1003 functions as a main storage device that provides a work area that is expanded when the CPU 1001 executes various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 1004.

[0051] The auxiliary storage device 1004 is an auxiliary storage device that stores various programs or information used when executing the various programs.

[0052] The display device 1005 is a display device for displaying the internal states of the terminal 100 , the remote controller 200 , and the management server 400 .

[0053] The operation device 1006 is an input device for allowing the user of the terminal 100 , the remote controller 200 , or the management server 400 to input various instructions to the terminal 100 , the remote controller 200 , or the management server 400 .

[0054] The I / F device 1007 is a communication device for connecting to a network and communicating with the terminal 100 , the remote controller 200 , the management server 400 , and the like.

[0055] Drive device 1008 is a device for setting storage medium 1009. Storage medium 1009 herein includes media that record information optically, electrically, or magnetically, such as CD-ROMs, floppy disks, and magneto-optical disks. Storage medium 1009 may also include semiconductor memories that record information electrically, such as ROMs and flash memories.

[0056] It should be noted that the various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 1004 can be installed by, for example, placing the distributed storage medium 1009 in the drive device 1008 and having the drive device 1008 read the various programs recorded in the storage medium 1009. Alternatively, the various programs installed in the auxiliary storage device 1004 can be installed by downloading from a network via the I / F device 1007.

[0057] <Terminal 100>

[0058] The following describes the processing executed by the terminal 100. Specifically, the following processing is performed by the CPU 1001 of the terminal 100 executing a program.

[0059] The terminal 100 receives information for identifying the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310, etc.) from the remote controller 200. The terminal 100 may display the information for identifying the user-side device 310 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310, etc.) received from the remote controller 200.

[0060] The terminal 100 displays a screen for the user to set the address of the user-side device 310 of the air conditioner 300. Note that this screen may display the set addresses differently from the unset addresses (e.g., grayed out or highlighted). The user sets the address of the user-side device 310 on this screen. The terminal 100 transmits the address of the user-side device 310 set by the user to the remote controller 200.

[0061] The terminal 100 sends the first information for determining the user-side device 310 set in the predetermined property to the management server 400. Specifically, the terminal 100 receives information for determining the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 (for example, the machine ID of the user-side device 310, etc.) from the remote controller 200. Based on the information for determining the user-side device 310 received from the remote controller 200, the terminal 100 generates information (also referred to as the first information) for determining the user-side device 310 set in the predetermined property. The terminal 100 sends the first information for determining the user-side device 310 set in the predetermined property and the information for determining the property to the management server 400, and requests a judgment on whether the user-side device 310 that should be connected to the remote controller 200 is correctly connected. The terminal 100 may receive an error from the management server 400 if the two are inconsistent and display the error.

[0062] <Remote Controller 200>

[0063] Hereinafter, a description will be given of the processing executed by the remote controller 200. Specifically, the following processing is performed by the CPU 1001 of the remote controller 200 executing a program.

[0064] The remote controller 200 receives information for identifying the user-side device 310 (for example, the device ID of the user-side device 310 ) from the control device 311 of the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 .

[0065] The remote controller 200 transmits information for identifying the user-side device 310 (for example, the device ID of the user-side device 310 ), which is received from the control device 311 of the user-side device 310 , to the terminal 100 .

[0066] The remote controller 200 sets the address of the user device 310 set by the user on the terminal 100 . Specifically, the remote controller 200 receives the address of the user device 310 from the terminal 100 and stores the address of the user device 310 in the remote controller 200 .

[0067] <Management Server 400>

[0068] The following describes the processing executed by the management server 400. Specifically, the following processing is performed by the CPU 1001 of the management server 400 executing a program.

[0069] The management server 400 stores information about user-side devices to be installed at a predetermined property (also referred to as second information). Specifically, the management server 400 stores information about user-side devices (e.g., device IDs, lot numbers, and model names of user-side devices) to be installed at each property (e.g., each building, each floor within a building, etc.) in the auxiliary storage device 1004. In other words, for each property, information identifying one or more user-side devices to be installed at that property (e.g., device IDs, lot numbers, and model names of user-side devices) is managed.

[0070] The management server 400 receives first information for specifying the user-side device 310 installed in a predetermined property from the terminal 100. In addition, the management server 400 receives information for specifying the property from the terminal 100.

[0071] Based on the first information and second information received from the terminal 100, the management server 400 determines whether the user-side device 310 installed in the predetermined property is consistent with the user-side device 310 to be installed in the predetermined property. In other words, the management server 400 determines whether the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 is consistent with the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property. Specifically, based on the information identifying the property received from the terminal 100, the management server 400 refers to the information of the user-side device to be installed in the property stored in the auxiliary storage device 1004 of the management server 400. Furthermore, the management server 400 compares the information identifying the user-side device 310 received from the terminal 100 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310) with the information of the user-side device to be installed in the property (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device) found in the auxiliary storage device 1004 of the management server 400.

[0072] If the two are consistent, the management server 400 determines that the user-side device 310 that should be connected to the remote controller 200 is correctly connected. If the two are inconsistent, the management server 400 determines that the user-side device 310 that should be connected to the remote controller 200 is not correctly connected (in other words, the user-side device 310 that should be connected is not connected, or the user-side device 310 that should not be connected is connected, etc.).

[0073] If the two are inconsistent, the management server 400 sends an error to the terminal 100. Specifically, if the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 is inconsistent with the user-side device installed in the predetermined property, the management server 400 sends an error to the terminal 100.

[0074] <Handling method>

[0075] Figure 3 This is a sequence diagram of a process for obtaining specific information about the user-side device 310 of the air conditioner 300 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. It is assumed that a user 500 (e.g., a person who performs configuration operations on the remote controller 200 of the air conditioner 300 at a site where the user-side device 310 and the remote controller 200 of the air conditioner 300 are installed) operates the terminal 100.

[0076] The following description will be divided into the following processes: <<Acquisition of Information for Identifying the User-Side Device 310>>, <<Address Setting>>, and <<Connection Error Confirmation>>. It should be noted that the <<Address Setting>> process may be performed only after the <<Acquisition of Information for Identifying the User-Side Device 310>> process, or the <<Connection Error Confirmation>> process may be performed only after the <<Acquisition of Information for Identifying the User-Side Device 310>> process. Furthermore, the processes may be performed in the order of <<Acquisition of Information for Identifying the User-Side Device 310>>, <<Address Setting>>, and <<Connection Error Confirmation>>, or in the order of <<Acquisition of Information for Identifying the User-Side Device 310>>, <<Connection Error Confirmation>>, and <<Address Setting>>.

[0077] <<Acquisition of Information for Identifying User-Side Device 310>>

[0078] In step 11 ( S11 ), it is assumed that a login of the user 500 for a program according to one embodiment of the present disclosure (eg, a smartphone application installed in the terminal 100 ) is performed.

[0079] In step 12 (S12), the control device 311 of the user-side device 310 transmits information for identifying itself (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310) to the remote controller 200. Next, the remote controller 200 receives information for identifying the user-side device 310 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310) from the control device 311 of the user-side device 310.

[0080] In step 13 (S13), the remote controller 200 transmits the information for identifying the user-side device 310 received in S12 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310) to the terminal 100. Next, the terminal 100 receives the information for identifying the user-side device 310 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310) from the remote controller 200.

[0081] It should be noted that the terminal 100 may be configured to display information for identifying the user-side device 310 (for example, the device ID of the user-side device 310 ) received from the remote controller 200 .

[0082] In this way, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, it is easy to identify the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 via the terminal 100. For example, even if the display device 2003 of the remote controller 200 is not capable of displaying characters, the device ID, batch number, model name, etc. of the user-side device 310 can be displayed on the display device 1005 of the terminal 100, allowing the user 500 to identify the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200.

[0083] <<Address Setting>>

[0084] In step 21 (S21), the terminal 100 displays a screen for the user 500 to set the address of the user-side device 310 of the air conditioner 300. In this screen, the display format of the set address is different from the display format of the unset address (for example, gray display or highlight display).

[0085] In step 22 (S22), the user 500 sets the address of the user-side device 310 on the screen of S21. For example, the user 500 selects an address to be assigned to the user-side device 310 from a plurality of addresses on the screen of S21.

[0086] In step 23 ( S23 ), the terminal 100 transmits the address set in S22 to the remote controller 200 . Next, the remote controller 200 receives the address of the user-side device 310 from the terminal 100 .

[0087] In step 24 ( S24 ), the remote controller 200 stores the address of the user-side device 310 received from the terminal 100 in the remote controller 200 .

[0088] In this way, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a user (for example, a person who performs setting operations on the remote controller 200 of the air conditioner 300 at a site where the user-side device 310 and the remote controller 200 of the air conditioner 300 are installed) can determine the user-side device 310 actually connected to the remote controller 200, and then use the terminal 100 to set the address of the user-side device 310 in the remote controller 200.

[0089] <<Connection Error Confirmation>>

[0090] In step 31 (S31), the terminal 100 transmits first information for identifying the user-side device 310 installed in the predetermined property to the management server 400. Specifically, the terminal 100 generates information (first information) for identifying the user-side device 310 installed in the predetermined property based on the information for identifying the user-side device 310 connected to the remote controller 200 received in S13 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310). Next, the terminal 100 transmits the first information for identifying the user-side device 310 installed in the predetermined property and the information for identifying the property to the management server 400. Next, the management server 400 receives the first information for identifying the user-side device 310 installed in the predetermined property and the information for identifying the property from the terminal 100.

[0091] In step 32 (S32), the management server 400 refers to the information of the user-side device to be set up in the property stored in the auxiliary storage device 1004, etc. based on the information for identifying the property received in S31. The management server 400 compares the information for identifying the user-side device received in S31 with the information of the user-side device to be set up in the property referred to in the auxiliary storage device 1004, etc. If the two are consistent, the management server 400 determines that the user-side device 310 that should be connected to the remote controller 200 is correctly connected. If the two are inconsistent, the management server 400 determines that the user-side device 310 that should be connected to the remote controller 200 is not correctly connected (in other words, the user-side device 310 that should be connected is not connected, or the user-side device 310 that should not be connected is connected, etc.).

[0092] As described above, the management server 400 includes the auxiliary storage device 1004, etc., and information about the user-side devices to be installed at each property (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device, etc.) is stored in the auxiliary storage device 1004, etc. The management server 400 compares the information identifying the user-side device 310 received in S31 (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device 310, etc.) with the information about the user-side device to be installed at the property (e.g., the device ID of the user-side device, etc.) stored in the auxiliary storage device 1004, etc.

[0093] In step 33 (S33), if it is determined in S32 that the two do not match, the management server 400 transmits an error to the terminal 100. Then, the terminal 100 displays the error received from the management server 400.

[0094] In this way, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, by comparing the information for determining the user-side device 310 obtained by the terminal 100 from the remote controller 200 (in other words, the information for determining the user-side device 310 actually connected to the remote controller 200) with the information of the user-side device to be set up in the predetermined property (in other words, the user-side device that should be set up in the property (for example, the site where the user 500 is performing setting operations on the remote controller 200)), it is possible to determine whether the user-side device 310 that should be connected to the remote controller 200 is correctly connected.

[0095] While the embodiments have been described above, it will be understood that various changes in form and detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

[0096] This application claims priority based on Basic Application No. 2020-021753 filed with the Japan Patent Office on February 12, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0097] Explanation of symbols

[0098] 10. Air conditioning system;

[0099] 100 terminal;

[0100] 200 remote controller;

[0101] 300 air conditioners;

[0102] 310 using side devices;

[0103] 311 control device;

[0104] 320 heat source side device;

[0105] 400 Management Server;

[0106] 500 users.

Claims

1. A system comprising a user-side device of an air conditioner, a terminal, and a management server, The terminal sends first information for identifying a user-side device installed in a predetermined property to the management server, The management server stores second information as information on a user-side device to be installed in a predetermined property. The management server determines whether the user-side device installed in the predetermined property is consistent with the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property based on the first information and the second information received from the terminal. The system further includes a remote controller connected to the user-side device. The remote controller receiving information for determining the user-side device from the user-side device, and sending the received information for determining the user-side device to the terminal, The terminal receives information for identifying the user-side device from the remote controller and generates the first information. The management server receives first information for identifying the user-side device connected to the remote controller from the terminal, and determines whether the user-side device of the air conditioner is correctly connected to the remote controller.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein: When the user-side device installed in the predetermined property does not match the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property, the management server sends an error to the terminal.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The information for specifying the user-side device is any one of a device ID, a lot number, and a model name of the user-side device.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: The remote controller is connected to a plurality of user-side devices.

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: After receiving the information for identifying the user-side device, the terminal sends the address of the user-side device to the remote controller.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein: The terminal displays a screen for the user to set the address of the user-side device. In the screen, the display format of the set addresses is different from the display format of the unset addresses.

7. A method performed by a system including a user-side device of an air conditioner, a terminal, and a management server, comprising: The management server receives, from the terminal, first information for identifying the user-side device installed in a predetermined property; as well as The management server determines whether the user-side device installed in the predetermined property is consistent with the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property based on the first information received from the terminal and the second information stored in the management server as information of the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property. The system further includes a remote controller connected to the user-side device. The management server receives the first information for identifying the user-side device connected to the remote controller from the terminal, and determines whether the user-side device and the remote controller are correctly connected based on whether the user-side device installed in the predetermined property is consistent with the user-side device to be installed in the predetermined property. Before the management server receives the first information, the method further includes: The remote controller receives information for identifying the user-side device from the user-side device, and transmits the received information for identifying the user-side device to the terminal; as well as The terminal receives information for identifying the user-side device from the remote controller and generates the first information.

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