Water heater control methods, devices, equipment and media

Abstract

This application belongs to the field of electrical technology, specifically relating to a control method, device, equipment, and medium for water heaters. The method includes: acquiring the user's current location information, preset target temperature, and heating time based on the user's water heater control command, thereby acquiring the user's first distance from home, estimated arrival time, and target start time of the water heater; when the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is longer than the heating time, acquiring environmental information corresponding to the user's real-time location; acquiring correction parameters for the target temperature based on the real-time location environmental information, and the water heater heating at the corrected target temperature; and, based on the real-time location information, if it is determined that the user's second distance from home is less than the first distance when the target start time arrives, controlling the water heater to turn on. This method intelligently formulates a heating plan based on user information, and the intelligent reminder service can also improve safety, reduce energy consumption, and enhance user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application belongs to the field of electrical technology, specifically relating to a control method, device, equipment, and medium for a water heater. Background Technology

[0002] With the development of technology, home appliances with Internet of Things (IoT) functions have brought convenience to people's lives. They can be controlled to perform corresponding operations through mobile devices or voice interaction. For water heaters, users can set the desired temperature according to their needs and can schedule a specific time to use the water heater.

[0003] However, in many cases, users cannot reasonably schedule their water heater usage needs, failing to meet the heating requirements of the water heater. This results in users not being able to use the water heater on time after returning home, leading to a long waiting period before they can use it. At the same time, the water heater cannot intelligently customize the appropriate usage temperature for users, affecting the user experience.

[0004] Therefore, existing water heaters cannot meet the needs of users who want to use water immediately after returning home, thus affecting the user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the problem that existing water heaters cannot meet the immediate water demand of users upon returning home, thus affecting user experience, this application provides a control method, device, equipment, and medium for a water heater.

[0006] In a first aspect, this application provides a method for controlling a water heater, the method comprising:

[0007] Based on the user's water heater control command, the system obtains the user's current location information, preset target temperature, and heating time, and also obtains the user's first distance from home, estimated arrival time, and target water heater turn-on time based on the current location information.

[0008] When the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is greater than the heating time, the user's real-time location and the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location are obtained. The environmental information includes at least one of temperature, humidity, or sunlight intensity.

[0009] Based on the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location, the correction parameter for the target temperature is obtained, and the water heater heats the water at the corrected target temperature. The correction parameter can be a positive or negative number.

[0010] Based on the real-time location information, when the target start time arrives, if it is determined from the real-time location information that the second distance between the user and home is less than the first distance, then the water heater is controlled to turn on.

[0011] In one possible implementation, obtaining the correction parameter for the target temperature based on the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location includes:

[0012] Determine whether the temperature, humidity, or solar radiation intensity in the environmental information changes from the start time to the end time of a preset cycle;

[0013] If so, then obtain the changes in the environmental information and the corresponding changes.

[0014] Based on the difference in change and the corresponding correction coefficient, the corrected target temperature is obtained, wherein the temperature, humidity or solar radiation intensity each have a corresponding correction coefficient.

[0015] In one possible implementation, determining whether the temperature, humidity, or solar radiation intensity in the environmental information changes from the start time to the end time of a preset period includes:

[0016] Determine whether the second interval between the current time and the target activation time is greater than the preset period;

[0017] If not, then based on the first environmental information of the current time and the second environmental information of the target opening time, when the target opening time arrives, it is determined whether the second environmental information has changed relative to the first environmental information;

[0018] If so, the ratio of the second interval duration to the preset period is obtained, where the ratio represents the number of preset periods, and the remainder is taken up when the ratio is not an integer.

[0019] At the end of each preset cycle, it is determined whether the second environmental information has changed relative to the first environmental information.

[0020] In one possible implementation, obtaining the corrected target temperature based on the change difference and the corresponding correction coefficient includes:

[0021] Obtain at least one sub-correction parameter corresponding to each of the at least one change term, wherein the sub-correction parameter represents the product of a single change difference and the corresponding correction coefficient;

[0022] A weighted value is obtained based on the weight and sub-correction parameter corresponding to each of the at least one variation item. The weighted value is the correction parameter. Among the variation items, temperature has the largest weight and light intensity has the smallest weight.

[0023] In one possible implementation, when the target activation time arrives, the method further includes:

[0024] If the second distance is greater than or equal to the first distance, an inquiry message is sent to the user terminal, the inquiry message being used to determine whether the water heater should be turned on.

[0025] In one possible implementation, after the water heater is turned on at the target start time, the method further includes:

[0026] After a preset time has elapsed, the system obtains the third distance the user is currently away from home. When the third distance is greater than or equal to the second distance, the system sends an inquiry message to the user to determine whether to turn off the water heater.

[0027] In one possible implementation, when the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is less than or equal to the heating duration, the method further includes:

[0028] Based on the first interval duration and the target temperature, a candidate heating power is obtained, wherein the candidate heating power is greater than the preset heating power; it is determined whether the candidate heating power is greater than the maximum heating power, wherein the maximum heating power is a power threshold for safe heating;

[0029] If not, then the candidate heating power is the target heating power;

[0030] If so, then the maximum heating power is the target heating power;

[0031] The target heating time is the current time, and the water heater starts heating at the target heating power.

[0032] Secondly, this application provides a control device for a water heater, the device comprising:

[0033] The acquisition module is used to acquire the user's current location information, preset target temperature and heating time according to the user's water heater control command, and to acquire the estimated arrival time and target turn-on time of the water heater according to the current location information;

[0034] The acquisition module is further configured to acquire the user's real-time location and the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location when the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is greater than the heating time. The environmental information includes at least one of temperature, humidity or solar radiation intensity.

[0035] The processing module is used to obtain the correction parameter of the target temperature based on the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location, and the water heater heats the water at the corrected target temperature. The correction parameter can be a positive or negative number.

[0036] The processing module is further configured to, based on the real-time location information, when the target start time arrives, control the water heater to turn on if it is determined from the real-time location information that the second distance between the user and home is less than the first distance.

[0037] Thirdly, this application provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, are used to implement the method as described in any one of the first aspects.

[0038] Fourthly, this application provides a water heater, comprising: at least one processor and a memory; wherein,

[0039] The memory stores computer-executed instructions;

[0040] The at least one processor executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory, causing the at least one processor to perform the method as described in any of the first aspects.

[0041] The water heater control method, device, equipment, and medium provided in this application obtain the user's current location information, preset target temperature, and heating time according to the user's water heater control command, thereby determining the estimated arrival time and the target start time of the water heater. When the travel time exceeds the heating time, the target temperature is corrected based on environmental information during the journey. When the target start time arrives, if the user's real-time location indicates they are getting closer to home, the water heater is turned on. If the real-time location shows the user is getting farther away from home or the location has not changed, the user is asked to confirm whether to continue with the subsequent operations. This method intelligently formulates a heating plan based on user information and user needs, enabling the user to use the water heater immediately and comfortably upon returning home. Furthermore, the intelligent reminder service can improve safety, reduce energy consumption, and enhance the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0042] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this application.

[0043] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0044] Figure 2 Flowchart of the water heater control method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 1 ;

[0045] Figure 3 Flowchart of the water heater control method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 ;

[0046] Figure 4 Flowchart of the water heater control method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 3 ;

[0047] Figure 5 A diagram of a control device for a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 6 This is a hardware schematic diagram of a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] The accompanying drawings illustrate specific embodiments of this application, which will be described in more detail below. These drawings and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the concept in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of this application to those skilled in the art through reference to particular embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0050] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the technical solutions of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0051] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc. (if present) in the specification, claims, and accompanying drawings of this invention are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that such data can be interchanged where appropriate so that embodiments of the invention described herein can be implemented, for example, in orders other than those illustrated or described herein.

[0052] In this application, the terms "exemplary" or "for example" are used to indicate examples, illustrations, or descriptions. Any embodiment or design described as "exemplary" or "for example" in this application should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. Specifically, the use of terms such as "exemplary" or "for example" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0053] Water heaters are essential household appliances, serving various domestic water usage scenarios. With the addition of IoT capabilities, their intelligent functions bring even greater convenience. Users can set their preferred temperature through various communication methods, and due to the preheating time, they can also schedule usage in advance. However, users often fail to rationally plan their water heater usage, leading to situations where the scheduled time is insufficient for the heater's operation. For example, a short time or a low heating power setting may prevent the water heater from heating at the preset time, a problem the water heater cannot intelligently detect. Furthermore, user temperature requirements may change depending on the environment during their journey home, a situation the water heater also cannot intelligently assess. In addition, improper use can lead to energy waste. For instance, if a user turns on the water heater but is unable to use it due to an emergency and forgets to turn it off, the water heater will continue heating or enter a keep-warm mode, increasing energy consumption and resulting in waste.

[0054] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a water heater control method. When a user issues a control command for the water heater in advance, the water heater acquires the user's current location to determine the distance and time it takes for the user to reach home. Based on the user's preset target temperature, the method calculates the heating time and start-up time of the water heater. If the user is far from home and the travel time exceeds the heating time, the method can determine whether to adjust the heating temperature based on the weather conditions corresponding to the user's real-time location. Simultaneously, based on the user's location at the start-up time, the method determines whether to turn on the water heater. After the preset time, if the user is further away from home or their location remains unchanged for an extended period, the method can confirm with the user whether they wish to turn off the water heater. This avoids increased energy consumption when the user changes their plans and decides not to use the water heater. Furthermore, this method intelligently preheats the water heater based on user information, enhancing the user experience.

[0055] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating an application scenario provided in an embodiment of this application. For example... Figure 1As shown, the mobile terminal 101 can establish a communication connection with the water heater 102. The water heater 102 also includes a temperature sensor 103, which can acquire the water temperature before heating. This allows the water heater 102 to determine the time and power required to heat the water to the target temperature, and to stop heating when the target temperature is reached. Specifically, when a user issues control commands to the water heater through an application on the mobile terminal 101, the water heater 102 can access the user's location information through the application to determine the distance and time it takes for the user to arrive home. Furthermore, the water heater 102 stores the user's preset target temperature. Based on the arrival time and target temperature, the start time of the water heater 102 can be determined. When the user's travel time is longer than the heating time, the environmental information corresponding to the user's real-time location can be obtained to determine whether the ambient temperature has changed, thereby adjusting the target temperature. At the same time, based on the user's real-time location, if the user's location is indeed getting closer to home, indicating that the user is on their way home, the water heater will be turned on normally. In another case, if the user's location does not change within a period of time or the distance from home is getting farther away, a query message can be sent to the user via the mobile terminal 101 to confirm whether the water heater 102 needs to be turned off.

[0056] In addition, if the default power is insufficient to heat the water between the current time of the instruction and the estimated arrival time, the current water temperature can be obtained through the temperature sensor 103, thereby calculating the power adjustment required to heat the water to the target temperature, thus ensuring that the water can be heated to the target temperature by the time the user is expected to arrive home.

[0057] The technical solutions of this application and how they solve the aforementioned technical problems are described in detail below using specific embodiments. These specific embodiments can be combined with each other, and the same or similar concepts or processes may not be repeated in some embodiments. The embodiments of this application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0058] Figure 2 Flowchart of the water heater control method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 1 .like Figure 2 As shown, the method includes:

[0059] S201. Based on the user's water heater control command, obtain the user's current location information, preset target temperature and heating time, and obtain the user's first distance from home, estimated arrival time, and target start time of the water heater based on the current location information.

[0060] Specifically, when the water heater receives a control command from the user, it can access and obtain the user's location information through an application on the mobile terminal. For example, the water heater control command could be the user selecting the option "Turn on the water heater when you get home" through the application. After the user makes the selection, the water heater is configured to automatically obtain the user's location information. In addition, if the user has not set a heating temperature, the water heater can be guided to set the heating temperature after receiving the control command, which will be used as the preset target temperature for future use. At the same time, a default heating power can be set in the water heater. The characteristics of this heating power are that it is the heating power under the average energy consumption of the water heater, which has low wear and tear on the heating element and high safety. Since the water temperature changes with the ambient temperature, the current water temperature can be obtained through the temperature sensor in the water heater, and the required heating time can be calculated by combining the preset heating power and the target temperature.

[0061] Based on the user's location information, the app can determine the user's distance from home and the estimated arrival time. Specifically, the app can guide the user to preset their home's location within the application. Based on the preset location and the current location, the application can automatically calculate the distance and arrival time and send this information to the water heater. Alternatively, the water heater can use its own positioning device to calculate the distance and time between the user's current location and the water heater's location. There are no restrictions on this. The estimated arrival time is a specific point in time. For example, based on the user's location information and movement speed, the app can calculate the time it will take for the user to arrive home, thereby determining the estimated arrival time. Based on the target temperature, the water heater can determine the time required to heat from the current temperature to the target temperature. Using the estimated arrival time as the heating completion time, the app can work backwards to calculate the time it takes for the water heater to start heating.

[0062] In other embodiments, a default temperature that conforms to human perception can also be provided to the user, and the temperature can be adjusted according to the ambient temperature in different seasons, with the ambient temperature and heating temperature being negatively correlated.

[0063] S202. When the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is longer than the heating time, the user's real-time location and the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location are obtained. The environmental information includes at least one of temperature, humidity, or sunlight intensity.

[0064] In this step, if the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is longer than the heating time, it indicates that the user's journey home is relatively long, and the environmental conditions may vary throughout the journey. For example, when traveling across regions within a city, the weather may change. During the journey, the weather may start sunny and then turn cloudy and rainy, with changes in humidity, temperature, etc. Or, the starting point may be relatively hot while the home area is relatively cool. Therefore, the environmental conditions during the user's journey can be obtained to determine whether the target temperature needs to be lowered for a shower or raised to warm the user. The temperature, humidity, or sunlight intensity in the environmental information may affect the user's comfort, so this type of information can be extracted for reference.

[0065] S203. Based on the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location, obtain the correction parameter for the target temperature, and the water heater heats the water at the corrected target temperature. The correction parameter can be a positive or negative number.

[0066] In this step, based on the changes in the environment during the journey, for example, the changes in temperature, humidity, or light intensity over a certain period of time can be confirmed, and the target temperature that needs to be raised or lowered can be determined based on the difference in changes. The adjusted numerical value is the correction parameter. The relationship between environmental information and correction parameters can be set, and the correction parameter is calculated based on the relationship. Understandably, the correction parameter may be a positive or negative number. The existing target temperature and the correction parameter are directly summed to obtain the corrected target temperature. Since the preset target temperature is already within the range suitable for human body temperature, the correction parameter does not need to be large, so the impact on heating power is small. Even if the temperature is increased, heating can be completed within the heating time.

[0067] S204. Based on the real-time location, when the target start time arrives, if it is determined from the real-time location information that the second distance between the user and home is less than the first distance, then control the water heater to turn on.

[0068] In this step, based on the user's real-time location, it can also be determined whether the user continues to move towards home as planned. If the user's location change shows that the current second distance is less than the first distance when the target start time arrives, it means that the plan has not changed, and the water heater is turned on.

[0069] For example, if the second distance is greater than or equal to the first distance, an inquiry message is sent to the user terminal, the inquiry message being used to determine whether to turn on the water heater.

[0070] Specifically, when the current second distance is greater than or equal to the first distance, it means that the user is not moving towards home as planned, but is moving further and further away from home, or is staying in the current position without changing. This situation may be due to the user having other arrangements that prevent them from returning home on time. Therefore, in this case, it is possible to ask the user whether the water heater needs to be turned on, in order to avoid the user changing their plans but forgetting to turn off the water heater, which could cause unnecessary energy consumption or safety hazards.

[0071] For example, when the user still chooses to turn on the water heater normally, after the target start time, the following also applies:

[0072] After a preset time has elapsed, the system obtains the third distance the user is currently away from home. When the third distance is greater than or equal to the second distance, the system sends an inquiry message to the user to determine whether to turn off the water heater.

[0073] The main purpose of this step is to ensure that if the user does not change their status after a preset time has elapsed after turning on the water heater, but instead continues to move further and further away from home or remains in the previous location, this situation may indicate that the user has other arrangements that prevent them from returning home. In this case, a second inquiry message can be sent to the user to confirm whether they want to turn off the water heater, so as to avoid the user being unable to return home but forgetting to turn off the water heater, resulting in unnecessary energy consumption and safety hazards.

[0074] The water heater control method provided in this embodiment obtains the user's current location information, preset target temperature, and heating time according to the user's water heater control command, thereby determining the estimated arrival time and the target start time of the water heater. When the travel time is longer than the heating time, the target temperature is corrected based on environmental information during the journey. When the target start time is reached, if the user's real-time location indicates that they are getting closer to home, the water heater is turned on. If the real-time location shows that the user's location is getting farther away from home or the location has not changed, the user is asked to confirm whether to continue with the subsequent operations. This method intelligently formulates a heating plan based on user information according to user needs, enabling the user to use the water heater immediately and comfortably when they return home. Furthermore, the intelligent reminder service can also improve safety, reduce energy consumption, and enhance user experience.

[0075] Figure 3 Flowchart of the water heater control method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 2 .like Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment... Figure 2 Based on the embodiments, the process of correcting the target temperature of the water heater according to environmental information is described in detail. This method includes:

[0076] S301. When the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is longer than the heating time, obtain the user's real-time location and the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location.

[0077] In this step, the user's location and corresponding environmental information can be acquired once or multiple times at fixed preset intervals during the user's journey. By capturing environmental information at certain intervals, the changes in the environment can be captured more clearly in subsequent acquisitions, and the environmental conditions are more likely to change.

[0078] S302. Determine whether the temperature, humidity, or solar radiation intensity in the environmental information changes from the start time to the end time of the preset cycle.

[0079] In this step, the environmental information at the start time and the end time of the preset cycle are compared to confirm whether there are any changes. These changes include, but are not limited to, changes in temperature, humidity, or solar intensity. In addition, there are cases where the interval between the current time and the target activation time is less than one preset cycle, and these cases need to be identified.

[0080] For example, determine whether the second interval between the current time and the target opening time is greater than the preset period;

[0081] If not, then based on the first environmental information of the current time and the second environmental information of the target opening time, when the target opening time arrives, it is determined whether the second environmental information has changed relative to the first environmental information;

[0082] If so, the ratio of the second interval duration to the preset period is obtained, where the ratio represents the number of preset periods, and the remainder is taken up when the ratio is not an integer.

[0083] At the end of each preset cycle, it is determined whether the second environmental information has changed relative to the first environmental information.

[0084] S303. If so, then obtain the change items and corresponding change differences in the environmental information.

[0085] Based on the confirmed changes in environmental information, the change difference corresponding to the change item is obtained. This difference is the difference between the value corresponding to the end time of a cycle and the value corresponding to the start time.

[0086] S304. Obtain at least one sub-correction parameter corresponding to each of the at least one change term, wherein the sub-correction parameter represents the product of a single change difference and the corresponding correction coefficient.

[0087] In this step, each indicator in the environmental information, including but not limited to temperature, humidity, or light intensity, can correspond to a correction coefficient. This correction coefficient reflects the preset relationship between temperature adjustment and the indicator, indicating that the adjusted value is suitable for the user's perception after the indicator changes. Generally, the correction coefficient is negative, indicating that the adjustment of the target temperature is opposite to the environmental change. For example, a decrease in temperature, a decrease in humidity, or a decrease in sunlight intensity all correspond to an increase in the target temperature. The value of the correction coefficient can be obtained through the analysis of a large amount of experimental data, and there are no restrictions here.

[0088] Based on the difference in change of each variable and its correction coefficient, the product is calculated to obtain the sub-correction parameter corresponding to each variable. This sub-correction parameter represents the adjustment value of the target temperature indicated by a single variable.

[0089] S305. Obtain a weighted value based on the weight and sub-correction parameter corresponding to each of the at least one change item. The weighted value is the correction parameter. Among the change items, temperature has the largest weight and light intensity has the smallest weight.

[0090] In this step, in order to obtain the final correction parameters under the combined influence of at least one variable, weights can be assigned to each variable. These weights reflect the magnitude of each variable's influence on the final target temperature. The human body is most sensitive to temperature, while light intensity is higher when the weather is cold. Therefore, the weights can be configured with temperature having the largest weight, light intensity having the smallest weight, and humidity having a weight in between.

[0091] The water heater control method provided in this embodiment obtains the user's real-time location environmental information and judges the weather changes during the user's journey home. It then corrects the preset target temperature so that the water heater can be adjusted to a suitable temperature. This method can intelligently identify changes in the environment during the journey and scientifically adjust the heating temperature according to these changes. It effectively links the weather during the journey home with the heating temperature, improving comfort and enhancing the user experience.

[0092] Figure 4 Flowchart of the water heater control method provided in the embodiments of this application Figure 3 .like Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment... Figure 3 Based on the embodiments, the process of obtaining the target heating power when the interval is less than or equal to the heating time is described in detail. This method includes:

[0093] S401. Based on the first interval duration and the target temperature, obtain a candidate heating power, wherein the candidate heating power is greater than the preset heating power.

[0094] In this step, in order to calculate the required arithmetic heating power, the required heat is determined based on the temperature difference between the target temperature and the current water temperature. For example, based on the relationship between temperature and heat, the specific heat capacity of water and its current weight are used to calculate the heat required for heating. Specifically, since the volume of the water storage tank in the water heater is fixed, the current mass of water can be obtained using the volume of the water storage tank and the density of water. Alternatively, a water level sensor can be installed in the water storage tank to obtain the actual volume of water based on the measured water level. No restrictions are imposed here.

[0095] Based on the relationship between power, time, and heat, and according to the required heat and the interval, the arithmetic heating power is obtained. This arithmetic heating power represents the actual power that the water heater can heat up within the interval. The actual power is a relatively precise value, and it exists in the form of decimals, making it difficult to control the power adjustment of the water heater. Therefore, this power needs to be used as a candidate value for reference, and a more easily controllable integer value needs to be determined with a unified standard.

[0096] For example, obtaining the candidate heating power can be done by assuming the arithmetic heating power is W2, the preset heating power is W1, the preset power step size is A, and the increase coefficient is B. Then, W2 = W1 + A * B. The preset power step size A represents the unit power that can be increased, and the increase coefficient B represents the power increase coefficient value. The increase coefficient calculated according to the above formula may usually be a decimal. In this case, it is necessary to take the remainder up to make the increase coefficient an integer. Then, the increase coefficient after rounding is the power parameter C. If the increase coefficient is exactly an integer value, then the increase coefficient is directly assigned to the power parameter, and the above formula becomes W = W1 + A * C. At this time, the obtained power value W is greater than or equal to the arithmetic heating power, and this power value W is the candidate heating power. The purpose of setting the preset power step size and power parameter is to make the heating power executed by the water heater increase in a regular manner, simplifying the operation of the water heater.

[0097] S402. Determine whether the candidate heating power is greater than the maximum heating power, where the maximum heating power is the power threshold for safe heating.

[0098] In this step, due to the inconsistency of the first interval duration, when the user's current location is very close to home, the required interval time is very short, and the heating power obtained based on this interval duration will be very large, even exceeding the maximum value that the device can bear. In addition to safety hazards, this situation is not very feasible. Therefore, it is necessary to identify such situations and set the maximum heating power within the safe range as the power threshold to ensure that the power used is within the range that the device can bear.

[0099] S403. If not, then the candidate heating power is the target heating power.

[0100] S404. If so, the maximum heating power is the target heating power.

[0101] S405, then the target heating time is the current time, and the water heater starts heating with the target heating power.

[0102] The water heater control method provided in this embodiment determines a candidate heating power based on the required interval time to reach home and the target temperature, and determines whether the candidate heating power exceeds the maximum heating power. If so, the maximum heating power is used as the target power for heating; otherwise, the candidate heating power is used for heating. This method ensures that the heating of the water heater is within a reasonable range, ensuring the normal operation and safety of the equipment.

[0103] Figure 5 A control device diagram for a water heater provided in an embodiment of the present invention, as shown below. Figure 5 As shown, the control device 50 includes an acquisition module 501 and a processing module 502.

[0104] The acquisition module 501 is used to acquire the user's current location information, preset target temperature and heating time according to the user's water heater control command, and to acquire the estimated arrival time and target start time of the water heater according to the current location information;

[0105] The acquisition module 501 is further configured to acquire the user's real-time location and the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location when the first interval between the current time and the estimated arrival time is greater than the heating time. The environmental information includes at least one of temperature, humidity or solar radiation intensity.

[0106] The processing module 502 is used to obtain the correction parameter of the target temperature based on the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location, and the water heater heats the water at the corrected target temperature. The correction parameter can be a positive or negative number.

[0107] The processing module 502 is further configured to, based on the real-time location information, control the water heater to turn on when the target start time arrives, if it is determined from the real-time location information that the second distance the user is currently away from home is less than the first distance.

[0108] Figure 6 This is a hardware schematic diagram of a water heater provided for an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 As shown, the water heater 60 provided in this embodiment includes at least one processor 601 and a memory 602. The device 60 also includes a communication component 603. The processor 601, memory 602, and communication component 603 are connected via a bus 604.

[0109] In a specific implementation, at least one processor 601 executes computer execution instructions stored in the memory 602, causing at least one processor 601 to perform the above method.

[0110] The specific implementation process of processor 601 can be found in the above method embodiments, and its implementation principle and technical effect are similar. It will not be repeated here.

[0111] In the above Figure 6 In the illustrated embodiments, it should be understood that the processor can be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), or other general-purpose processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), etc. The general-purpose processor can be a microprocessor or any conventional processor. The steps of the method disclosed in this invention can be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules within the processor.

[0112] The memory may include random access memory (RAM) and may also include non-volatile memory (NVM), such as at least one disk storage device.

[0113] The bus can be an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, a Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, or an Extended Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, etc. Buses can be categorized as address buses, data buses, control buses, etc. For ease of illustration, the buses shown in the accompanying drawings are not limited to a single bus or a single type of bus.

[0114] This application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, which, when executed by a processor, implement the method described above.

[0115] The aforementioned readable storage medium can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk. The readable storage medium can be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose or special-purpose computer.

[0116] An exemplary readable storage medium is coupled to a processor, enabling the processor to read information from and write information to the readable storage medium. Of course, the readable storage medium can also be a component of the processor. The processor and the readable storage medium can reside in an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Alternatively, the processor and the readable storage medium can exist as discrete components in the device.

[0117] The division of units described herein is merely a logical functional division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirect coupling or communication connection through some interfaces, devices, or units, and may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0118] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0119] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of the present invention can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0120] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this invention, essentially, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this invention. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0121] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or part of the steps of the above-described method embodiments can be implemented by hardware related to program instructions. The aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. When executed, the program performs the steps of the above-described method embodiments; and the aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program code, such as ROM, RAM, magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0122] The technical solutions of this application have been described above with reference to the preferred embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, it is readily understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of protection of this application is obviously not limited to these specific embodiments. The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. These modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. A control method of a water heater, characterized by, The method comprises: According to the user's water heater control instruction, the current position information, the preset target temperature and the heating time length of the user are obtained, and the first distance of the user from home, the estimated arrival time and the target start time of the water heater are obtained according to the current position information; When the first interval time length of the current time from the estimated arrival time is greater than the heating time length, the real-time position of the user and the environmental information corresponding to the real-time position are obtained, the environmental information including at least one of temperature, humidity or solar radiation intensity; Determine whether the second interval time length of the current time from the target start time is greater than a preset period; if not, according to the first environmental information of the current time and the second environmental information of the target start time, when the target start time is reached, it is determined whether the second environmental information changes relative to the first environmental information; if yes, the ratio of the second interval time length to the preset period is obtained, and the ratio represents the number of the preset period; At the end of each preset period, it is determined whether the second environmental information changes relative to the first environmental information; if yes, the change item in the environmental information and the corresponding change difference value are obtained; According to the change difference value and the corresponding correction coefficient, the corrected target temperature is obtained, the temperature, humidity or solar radiation intensity having corresponding correction coefficients respectively, and the water heater heats at the corrected target temperature; According to the real-time position information, when the target start time is reached, if it is determined according to the real-time position information that the second distance of the user from home is less than the first distance, the water heater is controlled to start.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, When the ratio is not an integer, the upward remainder is taken.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, The method according to the change difference value and the corresponding correction coefficient to obtain the corrected target temperature comprises: Obtaining at least one change item respectively corresponding to a sub-correction parameter, the sub-correction parameter representing the product of a single change difference value and a corresponding correction coefficient; According to the weight and the sub-correction parameter of each of the at least one change item, a weighted value is obtained, the weighted value being a correction parameter of the target temperature, the weight of temperature being the largest in the change items and the weight of light intensity being the smallest, the correction parameter being a positive number or a negative number.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, When the target start time is reached, the method further comprises: If the second distance is greater than or equal to the first distance, an inquiry information is sent to the user end, the inquiry information being used to determine whether the user starts the water heater.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, When the water heater starts at the target start time, the method further comprises: After a preset time length is reached, the third distance of the user from home is obtained, and when the third distance is greater than or equal to the second distance, an inquiry information is sent to the user end, the inquiry information being used to determine whether the user closes the water heater.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, When the first interval time length of the current time from the estimated arrival time is less than or equal to the heating time length, the method further comprises: According to the first interval duration and the target temperature, a candidate heating power is obtained, wherein the candidate heating power is greater than a preset heating power; it is judged whether the candidate heating power is greater than a maximum heating power, the maximum heating power being a power threshold of safe heating; If not, the candidate heating power is a target heating power; If yes, the maximum heating power is the target heating power; Then the target heating time is the current time, and the water heater is started to heat at the target heating power.

7. A control device for a water heater, characterized by The control device of the water heater is used to execute the control method of the water heater according to any one of claims 1-6, and the device comprises: An acquisition module is used to acquire the current location information of the user, the preset target temperature and the heating duration according to the water heater control instruction of the user, and to acquire the estimated arrival time and the water heater target starting time according to the current location information; The acquisition module is further used to acquire the real-time location of the user and the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location when the first interval duration from the current time to the estimated arrival time is greater than the heating duration, the environmental information including at least one of temperature, humidity or sunshine intensity; A processing module is used to acquire a correction parameter of the target temperature according to the environmental information corresponding to the real-time location, the water heater being heated at the corrected target temperature, the correction parameter being a positive number or a negative number; The processing module is further used to control the water heater to start when the target starting time is reached according to the real-time location information, if it is determined according to the real-time location information that the second distance from the user's current home is less than the first distance.

8. A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that, The computer readable storage medium stores computer execution instructions, and the computer execution instructions are executed by the processor to implement the method according to any one of claims 1-6.

9. A water heater, characterized by Comprise: At least one processor and a memory; wherein, The memory stores computer execution instructions; The at least one processor executes the computer execution instructions stored in the memory, so that the at least one processor executes the method according to any one of claims 1-6.

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