OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT DEVICE, OPERATIONAL EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES, AND PROGRAM

Abstract

An operation device management server (1) comprises a control record memory (132) for storing, in an interconnected manner, specific control information indicating a specific control action performed on a control target device (31, 32) by an operation previously performed on an operation device (51, 52), operation device ID name information, and control target device ID name information; a search condition capturer (113) for capturing search condition information specifying a search condition for searching for at least one of the control target device ID name information of a control target device (31, 32), the operation device ID name information of an operation device (51, 52), or specific control information; and a searcher (114) for searching for at least one of the control target device ID information.the operation device ID information or the specific control information based on the search condition information, and a search result communicater (115) for generating search result information that includes at least one of the detected control target device ID information, the detected operation device ID information, or the detected specific control information, and for transmitting the search result information to a terminal (7).

Description

Operation device management system, operation device management device, operation device management method and program

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an operation device management system, an operation device management device, an operation device management method, and a program.

[0002] An energy management system has been proposed that includes a GUI (Graphical User Interface) device and an equipment control device that communicates with the GUI device, where the equipment control device has a collection unit that collects equipment information, including equipment manufacturer information, from equipment connected to a network within a building, a display control unit that displays the equipment names of the equipment on the screen of the user interface device based on the equipment information collected from the equipment by the collection unit, and a registration processing unit that registers the selected equipment in a memory unit when the equipment whose name is displayed on the screen is selected as a managed equipment (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] International Publication No. 2016 / 038882

[0004] In the energy management system described in Patent Document 1, a system is being provided in which, when a user performs an operation on a GUI device to control the operation of an appliance, the appliance control device controls the operation of the appliance in accordance with the operation. In this type of system, after the appliance is released to the market, an application is often provided to enable the GUI device to function as an operation device for operating the appliance. In addition, operation devices for operating the appliances with new functions added to them for user convenience may be released later to the market. Therefore, there is a demand for a means for users to easily identify the optimal application or operation device for operating their appliances.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned reasons, and aims to provide an operation device management system, an operation device management device, an operation device management method, and a program that enable a user to properly grasp the operation device that is best suited to operate a controlled device that the user owns, or the controlled device that is best suited to operate and control an operation device that the user owns.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the operating device management system according to the present disclosure includes: a terminal device; a control record storage unit that stores control content information indicating content of control previously executed on at least one control target device by operating a operating device, operating device identification information identifying the operated operating device, and controlled device identification information identifying the at least one control target device on which control was executed, in association with each other; a search condition acquisition unit that acquires search condition information that indicates search conditions for searching for at least one of the controlled device identification information of a control target device that can be controlled by a operating device operated by a user, the operating device identification information of a operating device that can be operated by a user to control the control target device, and control content information indicating content of control that has been executed on the control target device; and a search unit that searches for at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information stored in the control record storage unit based on the search condition information. and a search result notification unit that, when at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information is detected, generates search result information including the detected controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and transmits the search result information to the terminal device.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a search unit searches, based on search condition information, for at least one of: controlled device identification information of a controlled device that can be controlled by a control device operated by a user; operating device identification information of a control device that can be operated by a user to control the controlled device; and control content information indicating proven control content of the controlled device. Furthermore, if a search result notification unit detects at least one of the controlled device identification information, operating device identification information, and control content information, it generates search result information including the detected controlled device identification information, operating device identification information, and control content information and transmits it to a terminal device. This makes it possible to present to the user, for the controlled device or controlled device owned by the user, controlled devices or controlled devices that have a proven track record of being used in combination with the controlled device when the controlled device was operated in the past. Therefore, the user can appropriately identify the controlled device best suited to operate the controlled device owned by the user, or the controlled device best suited to be controlled by operating the controlled device owned by the user.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an operation device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an operation device management system according to an embodiment. Block diagram showing a functional configuration of an operation device management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a master information storage unit of an operation device management server according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a control result storage unit of an operation device management server according to an embodiment. Sequence diagram for explaining operation of an operation device management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing another example of an operation screen image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 shows another example of an operation screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 shows another example of an operation screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows another example of an operation screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 shows another example of an operation screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 shows another example of an operation screen image displayed on the display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment.

[0009] A control device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The control device management system includes a terminal device, a control history storage unit, a search condition acquisition unit, a search unit, and a search result notification unit. The control history storage unit stores, in association with each other, control content information indicating content of control previously performed on at least one control target device by operating a control device, control device identification information identifying the operated control device, and control target device identification information identifying the at least one control target device on which control was performed. The search condition acquisition unit acquires search condition information transmitted from the terminal device, indicating search conditions for searching for at least one of the control target device identification information of a control target device that can be controlled by the control device operated by a user, the control device identification information of a control device that can be operated by a user to control the control target device, and control content information indicating content of control that has been performed on the control target device. The search unit searches for at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information stored in the control record storage unit based on the search condition information. When at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information is detected, the search result notification unit generates search result information including the detected at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and transmits it to the terminal device.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1 , the operating device management system according to this embodiment includes a terminal device 7 connected to one of a plurality of local networks NW21 and NW22, and an operating device management server 1 that manages operating devices 51 and 52 connected to the plurality of local networks NW21 and NW22, respectively. A plurality of control-target devices 31 and 32 that are controlled using the operating devices 51 and 52 each have a communication function and are connected to the plurality of local networks NW21 and NW22, respectively. The local networks NW21 and NW22 are also connected to a wide area network NW1 via broadband routers (hereinafter referred to as “BBRs”) 41 and 42, respectively. Cloud servers 21 and 22 that control the control-target devices 31 and 32 in response to user operations on the operating devices 51 and 52 are also connected to the wide area network NW1. A product list management server 8 that manages a homepage listing the control-target device identification names of the control-target devices 31 and 32 and the application identification names of operating device applications activated by the operating devices 51 and 52 is also connected to the wide area network NW1. The local networks NW21 and NW22 are, for example, wired LANs (Local Area Networks) or wireless LANs, and the wide area network NW1 is, for example, the Internet.

[0011] The control-target devices 31, 32 are, for example, rice cookers, ventilation fans, air conditioners, water heaters, bathroom dryers, etc., and each operates based on control information for controlling the control-target devices 31, 32, which is transmitted from the cloud servers 21, 22. The operation devices 51, 52 are, for example, smartphones, and function as operation devices for operating the control-target devices 31, 32 when an application for functioning as an operation device is running. Alternatively, the operation devices 51, 52 are, for example, remote control devices dedicated to operating the control-target devices 31, 32. When operated by a user, the operation devices 51, 52 generate operation information indicating the operation content and transmit the operation information to the cloud servers 21, 22.

[0012] The product list management server 8 manages a website that lists the control target device identification names of the control target devices 31, 32 recommended by the manufacturers of the control target devices 51, 52 for the control device applications activated on those devices, or a website that lists the control device identification names that identify the control device applications recommended by the manufacturers of the control target devices 31, 32. The product list management server 8 manages a website that lists a so-called whitelist, which is a list of control device applications that the manufacturers of the control target devices 31, 32 or the manufacturers of the control device applications activated on the control devices 51, 52 guarantee to operate normally and recommend for use, in an environment where the operation of the control target devices 31, 32 is controlled via, for example, the cloud servers 21, 22. An example of the whitelist is a list that associates the control device identification names that identify the control device applications activated on the control devices 51, 52 with the control target device identification names that identify the control target devices 31, 32 whose operation can be controlled by operating the control devices 51, 52 while the control device application is activated on the control target devices 51, 52. When the product list management server 8 receives access request information from the terminal device 7 requesting access to the aforementioned website, it generates web page information for viewing the aforementioned website on the terminal device 7 and transmits it to the terminal device 7.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2 , the terminal device 7 is, for example, a personal computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701, a main memory 702, an auxiliary memory 703, a display 704, an input unit 705, a communication unit 706, and a bus 709 connecting these components to one another. The main memory 702 has a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as a work area for the CPU 701. The main memory 702 also has an image-only memory (not shown) that temporarily stores image information to be displayed on the display 704. The auxiliary memory 703 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs used by the CPU 701 to execute various processes. The display 704 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The input unit 705 is, for example, a keyboard. The communication unit 706 is connected to the local networks NW21 and NW22, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 701 to the operation device management server 1 via the local networks NW21 and NW22 and the wide area network NW1, and transfers information received from the operation device management server 1 via the wide area network NW1 and the local networks NW21 and NW22 to the CPU 701.

[0014] The CPU 701 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 703 into the main storage unit 702 and executes them, thereby functioning as a reception unit 711, an image formation unit 712, a display control unit 713, a search condition notification unit 714, a search result acquisition unit 715, and a web page information acquisition unit 716, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 703 shown in Fig. 2 also has a search result storage unit 731 and an image storage unit 732, as shown in Fig. 3. The image-only memory of the main storage unit 702 shown in Fig. 2 also has a display screen storage unit 721 that temporarily stores screen images to be displayed on the display unit 704, as shown in Fig. 3. The search result storage unit 731 stores the controlled device identification information or the operating device identification information included in the search result information transmitted from the operating device management server 1. Here, the controlled device identification information is information input by the user via the input unit 705 to identify a controlled device 32 (31) that has a track record of being controlled in the past by operating an operating device 52 (51) of the same type as the operating device 51 (52) operated by the user. Also, the operating device identification information is information input by the user via the input unit 705 to identify a controlled device 52 (51) that has a track record of operating a controlled device 32 (31) of the same type as the controlled device 31 (32) that the user is attempting to operate. The image storage unit 732 stores various types of image information including image information indicating basic icon images for constructing an operation screen image.

[0015] The reception unit 711 receives the operation content performed by the user on the input unit 705, generates operation information according to the received operation content, and notifies the image forming unit 712, the search condition notification unit 714, or the search result acquisition unit 715.

[0016] Image forming unit 712 forms a search screen image for a user to search for controlled device identification information of controlled devices 31 and 32 or operating device identification information of operating devices 51 and 52, or a search result notification screen image for notifying the user of the search results. Image forming unit 712 forms the search result notification screen image based on various image information stored in image storage unit 732 and the corresponding operating device identification information and controlled device identification information stored in search result storage unit 731. Image forming unit 712 stores image information representing the formed search screen image or search result notification screen image in display screen storage unit 721. Furthermore, when web page information described below is notified from web page information acquisition unit 716, image forming unit 712 forms a web page image on which lists of controlled device identification names and operating device identification names are posted, based on the notified web page information, and stores image information representing the formed web page image in display screen storage unit 721. The display control unit 713 causes the display unit 704 to display the above-mentioned search screen image or search result notification screen image based on the image information stored in the display screen storage unit 721 .

[0017] The search condition notification unit 714 generates search condition information indicating search conditions for searching for controlled device identification information or operating device identification information, based on information input by the user via the input unit 705 while the search screen image is displayed on the display unit 704. Specifically, the search condition notification unit 714 generates search condition information including the operating device identification information of the operating devices 51, 52 or the controlled device identification information of the controlled devices 31, 32 input by the user. The search condition notification unit 714 then transmits the generated search condition information to the operating device management server 1. The search condition notification unit 714 also notifies the search result acquisition unit 715 of the operating device identification information or the controlled device identification information input by the user.

[0018] When the search result acquisition unit 715 acquires search result information transmitted from the manipulation device management server 1, it extracts the controlled device identification information or the manipulation device identification information included in the acquired search result information, and stores the extracted controlled device identification information or the manipulation device identification information in the search result storage unit 731. Here, when the search result acquisition unit 715 acquires search result information including the controlled device identification information from the manipulation device management server 1, it stores the controlled device identification information extracted from the acquired search result information in the search result storage unit 731 in association with the manipulation device identification information notified by the search condition notifying unit 714. Furthermore, when the search result acquisition unit 715 acquires search result information including the manipulation device identification information from the manipulation device management server 1, it stores the manipulation device identification information extracted from the acquired search result information in the search result storage unit 731 in association with the control device identification information notified by the search condition notifying unit 714. In addition, if the search result information includes URL (Uniform Resource Locator) information of a website managed by the product list management server 8, the search result acquisition unit 715 extracts the URL information from the search result information and notifies the web page information acquisition unit 716.

[0019] When the web page information acquisition unit 716 is notified of the URL information from the search result acquisition unit 715, it transmits the above-mentioned access request information to the product list management server 8 based on the notified URL information. As a result, the web page information acquisition unit 716 acquires the web page information transmitted from the product list management server 8, and notifies the image forming unit 712 of the acquired web page information.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 2, the cloud servers 21 and 22 each include a CPU 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, a communication unit 206, and a bus 209 interconnecting these units. The CPU 201 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 202 has a volatile memory such as RAM and is used as a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory unit 203 is composed of a large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for implementing various functions of the cloud servers 21 and 22. The communication unit 206 is connected to a wide area network NW1.

[0021] The CPU 201 functions as a device control unit 211 and a control history notification unit 212 as shown in FIG. 3 by loading a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executing it. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a control history storage unit 231 as shown in FIG. 3. The control history storage unit 231 stores control content code information indicating the control content when the controlled devices 31 and 32 were controlled, based on operation information indicating the operation content transmitted from the controlled devices 51 and 52 when a user operates the controlled devices 51 and 52. The control history storage unit 231 stores the control content code information in association with the operating device identification code information of the corresponding operating devices 51 and 52 themselves or the operating device application running on the operating devices 51 and 52, and the controlled device identification code information of the controlled devices 31 and 32. The control content code information is information expressed in a first representation format using EPC parameters defined, for example, in the EchonetLite (registered trademark) standard. Specifically, for example, when the control content is "power on / off setting," the control content information is set to "0x80." The operation device identification information is information expressed in a first representation format using an operation device identification code assigned to an operation device application started by operation devices 51 and 52. The control target device identification information is information expressed in a first representation format using an operation target device identification code assigned to control target devices 31 and 32.

[0022] When the device control unit 211 acquires, from the operating devices 51, 52, operation content information indicating the content of the operation performed by the user on the operating devices 51, 52, the device control unit 211 controls the control-target devices 31, 32 based on the acquired operation content information. The device control unit 211 generates control information for controlling the control-target devices 31, 32 based on the operation content information and transmits the control information to the control-target devices 31, 32, thereby controlling the operation of the control-target devices 31, 32. Here, the control information includes the control content code information described above. Then, each time the device control unit 211 generates and transmits control information to the control-target devices 31, 32, the device control unit 211 identifies the control content code information included in the control information and stores the identified control content code information in the control history storage unit 231 in association with the operating device identification code information of the operating devices 51, 52 that are the source of the operation content information and the control-target device identification code information of the control-target devices 31, 32 that are the destination of the control information.

[0023] The control history notification unit 212 generates control history information including the control content code information, operation device identification code information or operation device identification code information and controlled device identification code information stored in the control history storage unit 231, and transmits the generated control history information to the operation device management server 1. Here, the control history notification unit 212 generates and transmits the control history information to the operation device management server 1 every time the control history storage unit 231 stores newly associated control content code information, operation device identification code information or operation device identification code information and controlled device identification code information. Note that the control history notification unit 212 may generate and transmit to the operation device management server 1, for example, every time a preset control history notification time arrives, the control history notification unit 212 generates and transmits to the operation device management server 1 control history information including the control content code information, operation device identification code information or operation device identification code information and controlled device identification code information newly stored in the control history storage unit 231 during the period from the immediately previous control history notification time to that time.

[0024] 2, the manipulation device management server 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a communication unit 106, and a bus 109 interconnecting these units. The CPU 101 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 102 has a volatile memory such as RAM and is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory unit 103 is composed of a large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of the manipulation device management server 1. The communication unit 106 is connected to a wide area network NW1.

[0025] The CPU 101 reads out and executes a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102, thereby functioning as a control history acquisition unit 111, a conversion unit 112, a search condition acquisition unit 113, a search unit 114, and a search result notification unit 115, as shown in FIG. 3 . The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a master information storage unit 131 and a control performance storage unit 132, as shown in FIG. 3 . The master information storage unit 131 stores information indicating the correspondence between information in the first expression format and information in a second expression format different from the first expression format. For example, as shown in FIG. 4 , the master information storage unit 131 stores manufacturer name information indicating the manufacturer of the operating device application running on the controlled devices 31, 32 or the operating devices 51, 52, in association with manufacturer code information indicating a manufacturer code previously assigned to each manufacturer. The master information storage unit 131 also stores control target device identification name information that identifies the control target devices 31, 32 in the second expression format, in association with control target device identification code information that indicates the control target device identification code in the first expression format assigned to the control target devices 31, 32. The master information storage unit 131 also stores the control target device identification name information and the control target device identification code information in association with class code information and class group code information that indicate the class into which the control target devices 31, 32 are classified based on model. Furthermore, the master information storage unit 131 stores operation device identification name information that indicates the operation device identification name that identifies the operation device 51, 52 or the operation device application started by the operation device 51, 52 in the second expression format, in association with operation device identification code information that indicates the operation device identification code in the first expression format assigned to the operation device 51, 52 or the operation device application. The master information storage unit 131 also stores the operation device identification name information and operation device identification code information in association with class code information and class group code information indicating classes when operation device applications are classified based on model. The master information storage unit 131 also stores control content information indicating control content of the control target devices 31 and 32 in association with control content code information assigned to various control content.

[0026] 3 , the control history storage unit 132 stores, in association with one another, control content information indicating the content of control previously performed on each of the control-target devices 31 and 32 by the user operating the control devices 51 and 52, control device identification name information identifying the control devices 51 and 52 operated by the user, and control target device identification name information identifying the control target devices 31 and 32. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5 , for example, the control history storage unit 132 stores, in association with one another, the control content information indicating the control previously performed on the control-target devices 31 and 32 by operating the control devices 51 and 52, together with the control device identification name information of the corresponding control devices 51 and 52 and the control target device identification name information of the control target devices 31 and 32, and the class code information and class group code information of the control devices 51 and 52 and the control target devices 31 and 32. Furthermore, although not shown in FIG. 5, the control performance memory unit 132 stores manufacturer name information indicating the manufacturer names of the operating devices 51, 52 and the controlled devices 31, 32 in association with the corresponding operating device identification name information and controlled device identification name information.

[0027] 3 , the control history acquisition unit 111 acquires control history information including control content code information indicating the control content of the control-target devices 31 and 32, operation device identification code information identifying the operation devices 51 and 52 operated by the user, and control target device identification code information identifying the control-target devices 31 and 32. The control history acquisition unit 111 extracts the control content code information, operation device identification code information, and control target device identification code information included in the acquired control history information, and notifies the conversion unit 112 of the extracted information.

[0028] The conversion unit 112 converts the control content code information, operation device identification code information, and controlled device identification code information notified by the control history acquisition unit 111 into control content information, operation device identification name information, and controlled device identification name information, respectively, and stores them in the control performance storage unit 132. Here, the conversion unit 112 identifies the control content information, operation device identification name information, and controlled device identification name information associated with the control content code information, operation device identification code information, and controlled device identification code information notified by the control history acquisition unit 111 from the control content information, operation device identification name information, and controlled device identification name information stored in the master information storage unit 131. Then, the conversion unit 112 stores the identified control content information, operation device identification name information, and controlled device identification name information in the control performance storage unit 132. Furthermore, the conversion unit 112 refers to the manufacturer name information stored in the master information storage unit 131, identifies the manufacturer name information associated with the manufacturer code information notified from the control history acquisition unit 111, and stores the identified manufacturer name information in the control performance storage unit 132 in association with the operating device identification name information or the controlled device identification name information.

[0029] The search condition acquisition unit 113 acquires search condition information transmitted from the terminal device 7, indicating search conditions for searching for control target device identification name information of the control target devices 31, 32 that can be controlled by the operation devices 51, 52 operated by the user. Alternatively, the search condition acquisition unit 113 acquires search condition information indicating search conditions for searching for operation device identification name information of the operation devices 51, 52 that can be operated by the user to control the control target devices 31, 32. Then, the search condition acquisition unit 113 notifies the search unit 114 of the acquired search condition information.

[0030] The search unit 114 searches for at least one of the control target device identification name information and control content information indicating the content of the control at that time of the controlled target device 32 (31) that has been controlled by operating the operating device 52 (51) of the same type as the operating device 51 (52) specified in the search condition information, based on the search condition information notified from the search condition acquisition unit 113. Alternatively, the search unit 114 searches for at least one of the control target device identification name information and operation content information indicating the content of the control at that time of the operating device 52 (51) that has been operated to control the controlled target device 32 (31) of the same type as the controlled target device 31 (32) specified in the search condition information. Alternatively, the search unit 114 searches for control content information indicating the content of the control performed by the operating device 52 (51) of the same type as the operating device 51 (52) specified in the search condition information to control the controlled target device 32 (31) of the same type as the controlled target device 31 (32) specified in the search condition information. That is, when the search condition information includes the operation device identification name information and the controlled device identification name information used as search keys, the search unit 114 searches for the control content information using the operation device identification name information and the controlled device identification name information as search keys. Furthermore, when the search condition information includes only the controlled device identification name information used as a search key, the search unit 114 searches for the operation device identification name information and the control content information using the controlled device identification name information as a search key. Furthermore, when the search condition information includes the controlled device identification name information and the control content information used as search keys, the search unit 114 searches for the operation device identification name information using the controlled device identification name information and the control content information as search keys. Furthermore, when the search condition information includes only the operation device identification name information used as a search key, the search unit 114 searches for the control target device identification name information and the control content information using the operation device identification name information as a search key. Furthermore, if the search condition information includes the operation device identification name information and the control content information that are used as search keys, the search unit 114 searches for the control target device identification name information using the operation device identification name information and the control content information as search keys.

[0031] Furthermore, when the search unit 114 searches for the controlled device identification name information of the controlled device 32 (31) that has been controlled by operating the same type of operating device 52 (51) as the operating device 51 (52) operated by the user based on the above-mentioned search condition information, if the search unit 114 does not detect the controlled device identification name information, it searches for the controlled device identification name information of the controlled device 32 (31) to which the same type of class code information as the class code information of the controlled device 32 (31) is assigned. Furthermore, when the search unit 114 searches for the controlled device identification name information of the controlled device 32 (31) to which the same type of class code information as the class code information of the controlled device 32 (31) is assigned, if the search unit 114 does not detect the controlled device identification name information, it searches for the controlled device identification name information of the controlled device 32 (31) to which the same type of class group code information as the class group code information of the controlled device 32 (31) is assigned. Then, when the search unit 114 detects at least one of the control object identification name information, the operation device identification name information, and the control content information through the search, it notifies the search result notification unit 115 of the detected at least one of the control object identification name information, the operation device identification name information, and the control content information.

[0032] When the search result notifying unit 115 is notified of at least one of the controlled device identification name information, the operating device identification name information, and the control content information by the searching unit 114, the search result notifying unit 115 generates search result information including the notified controlled device identification name information or the operating device identification name information, and transmits it to the terminal device 7. Furthermore, when the search unit 114 does not detect the controlled device identification name information or the operating device identification name information, the search result notifying unit 115 generates search result information including URL information indicating the URL of a website managed by the product list management server 8, and transmits it to the terminal device 7. Here, the URL information indicates, for example, the URL of a homepage on which a list of controlled device identification names of the controlled devices 31 and 32 recommended by the manufacturers of the operating devices 51 and 52 is posted, or the URL of a homepage on which a list of operating device identification names for operating the controlled devices 31 and 32 recommended by the manufacturers of the controlled devices 31 and 32 is posted.

[0033] Next, the operation of the operation device management system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10B. First, as shown in FIG. 6, when a user operates operation devices 51 and 52 to control the operation of control-target devices 31 and 32, cloud servers 21 and 22 acquire operation information transmitted from operation devices 51 and 52 (step S1). Next, cloud servers 21 and 22 generate control information for controlling control-target devices 31 and 32 based on the acquired operation content information (step S2). Subsequently, cloud servers 21 and 22 transmit the generated control information to control-target devices 31 and 32 (step S3). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the control information, control-target devices 31 and 32 start operating based on the acquired control information (step S4). Furthermore, cloud servers 21 and 22 identify control content code information indicating the content of control of control-target devices 31 and 32 (step S5). Thereafter, cloud servers 21, 22 associate the generated control content information with operation device identification code information of operation devices 51, 52 themselves that are the senders of the operation content information or with operation device application information running on operation devices 51, 52, and with control target device identification code information of control target devices 31, 32 that are the recipients of the control information, and store the associated information in control history storage unit 231 (step S6). Next, cloud servers 21, 22 generate control history information including the control content code information, operation device identification code information, and control target device identification code information to be stored in control history storage unit 231 (step S7). Then, cloud servers 21, 22 transmit the generated control history information to operation device management server 1 (step S8).

[0034] On the other hand, when the manipulation device management server 1 acquires the control history information, it extracts the control content code information, manipulation device identification code information, and controlled device identification code information included in the acquired control history information (step S9). Thereafter, the manipulation device management server 1 refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131, and converts the extracted control content code information, manipulation device identification code information, and controlled device identification code information into control content information, manipulation device identification name information, and controlled device identification name information, respectively, and stores them in the control performance storage unit 132 (step S10).

[0035] Also, assume that the user performs a search preparation operation on the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7 to search for the control target device identification name information of the control target devices 31 and 32 or the operation device identification name information of the operation devices 51 and 52. In this case, the terminal device 7 forms a search screen image for the user to input search conditions and displays it on the display unit 704 (step S11).

[0036] 7 , for example, the terminal device 7 displays a search screen image GA1 on the display unit 704. The search screen image GA1 includes an area A11 for specifying operation device identification name information that serves as a key when searching for control content for the control target devices 31 and 32 or the control target device identification names of the control target devices 31 and 32, an area A12 for specifying a control target device identification name that serves as a search key when searching for control content for the control target devices 31 and 32 or the operation device identification names of the operation devices 51 and 52, and a button image BU13 that displays "Search" and is selected when executing a search. The area A11 includes a display field B12 that displays the operation device identification name that serves as the search key, an input field B11 for inputting the operation device name that serves as the search key, and a button image BU11 that is selected when automatically obtaining the operation device identification names of the operation devices 51 and 52 connected to the local networks NW21 and NW22 to which the terminal device 7 is connected. In addition, area A12 is provided with a display field B14 in which the name of the controlled device that serves as the search key is displayed, an input field B13 in which the identification name of the controlled device that serves as the search key is input, and a button image BU12 that is selected when automatically obtaining the names of the controlled devices 31 and 32 that are connected to the local networks NW21 and NW22 to which the terminal device 7 is connected.

[0037] Furthermore, area A11 contains check box images CHK11 and CHK12, which are selected when performing a search without using the control device name as a search key. When check box image CHK11 is selected, the control device identification name and control content are searched for using the control device identification name as a search key. When check box image CHK12 is selected, the control device identification name and control content are searched for using the control device identification name and control content as search keys. Area A12 contains check box images CHK13 and CHK14, which are selected when performing a search without using the control device name as a search key. When check box image CHK13 is selected, the control device identification name and control content are searched for using the control device identification name as a search key. When check box image CHK14 is selected, the control device identification name and control content are searched for using the control device identification name and control content as search keys.

[0038] Here, when the user performs an operation to select check box image CHK12 and then button image BU13 via input unit 705 while search screen image GA1 is displayed on display unit 704, search screen image GA2 shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on display unit 704. Search screen image GA2 includes check box images CHK21, CHK22, CHK23, CHK24, CHK25, and CHK26, and button image BU21 displaying "Search" that is selected when executing a search. Here, check box images CHK21, CHK22, CHK23, CHK24, CHK25, and CHK26 are selected when "power on / off setting," "temperature setting," "automatic temperature setting," "operation mode setting," "cooling mode setting," and "heating mode setting" are adopted as control contents for control target devices 31 and 32, along with the names of the control target devices, as search keys, respectively. The example shown in FIG. 8A shows a case where "power on / off setting," "automatic temperature setting," and "operation mode setting" are used as search keys.

[0039] 7 is displayed on display unit 704, when the user performs an operation via input unit 705 to select check box image CHK14 and then select button image BU13, search screen image GA3 shown in FIG. 8B is displayed on display unit 704. Search screen image GA3 includes check box images CHK31, CHK32, CHK33, CHK34, CHK35, and CHK36, and button image BU31 displaying "Search" that is selected when executing a search. Here, check box images CHK31, CHK32, CHK33, CHK34, CHK35, and CHK36 are selected when "power on / off setting," "temperature setting," "automatic temperature setting," "operation mode setting," "cooling mode setting," or "heating mode setting" is adopted as the control content for control-target devices 31 and 32, along with the operation device identification name, respectively, as search keys. The example shown in FIG. 8B shows a case where "power on / off setting," "automatic temperature setting," and "operation mode setting" are used as search keys.

[0040] 6, when the user performs the above-mentioned search key designation operation and search start operation while the search screen image is displayed on the display unit 704 of the terminal device 7, the terminal device 7 generates the above-mentioned search condition information (step S12). Here, the search key designation operation is, as described above, an operation in which, while the search screen image is displayed on the display unit 704 of the terminal device 7, the user designates an operation device identification name, a control device identification name, and control content to be used as a search key via the input unit 705. Furthermore, the search start operation refers to, for example, an operation in which, while the search screen image GA1 shown in FIG. 7 is displayed on the display unit 704, the user selects button image BU13 via the input unit 705 without selecting check box images CHK11, CHK12, CHK13, or CHK14, or after selecting check box images CHK11 and CHK13. Alternatively, the search start operation may refer to, for example, an operation in which, when the search screen image GA2 shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on the display unit 704, the user selects at least one of check box images CHK21, CHK22, CHK23, CHK24, CHK25, and CHK26 via the input unit 705 and then selects button image BU21; or, when the search screen image GA3 shown in FIG. 8B is displayed on the display unit 704, the user selects at least one of check box images CHK31, CHK32, CHK33, CHK34, CHK35, and CHK36 via the input unit 705 and then selects button image BU31.

[0041] For example, suppose that while the terminal device 7 is displaying the search screen image GA1 shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 704, the user selects the operation device identification name and the controlled device identification name to be used as search keys via the input unit 705, and selects button image BU13 without selecting any of the check box images CHK11, CHK12, CHK13, and CHK14. In this case, the terminal device 7 generates search condition information including the operation device identification name information and the controlled device identification name information to be used as search keys. Also, suppose that while the terminal device 7 is displaying the search screen image GA1 shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 704, the user selects the control device identification name to be used as a search key via the input unit 705, selects check box image CHK11, and then selects button image BU13. In this case, the terminal device 7 generates search condition information including only the controlled device identification name information to be used as a search key. Furthermore, suppose that, for example, while the terminal device 7 is displaying a search screen image GA1 shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 704, the user selects an operation device identification name to be used as a search key via the input unit 705, selects check box image CHK13, and then selects button image BU13. In this case, the terminal device 7 generates search condition information including only the operation device identification name information to be used as a search key. Also, suppose, for example, while the terminal device 7 is displaying a search screen image GA2 shown in FIG. 8A on the display unit 704, the user selects a control content to be used as a search key via the input unit 705 and then selects button image BU21. In this case, the terminal device 7 generates search condition information including the controlled device identification name information and control content information to be used as a search key. Furthermore, suppose, for example, while the terminal device 7 is displaying a search screen image GA3 shown in FIG. 8B on the display unit 704, the user selects a control content to be used as a search key via the input unit 705 and then selects button image BU31. In this case, the terminal device 7 generates search condition information including the operation device identification name information and the control content information used as search keys. Returning to Fig. 6, the generated search condition information is then transmitted from the terminal device 7 to the operation device management server 1 (step S13).

[0042] On the other hand, when the operation device management server 1 acquires the search condition information, it searches for at least one of the control target device identification name information, the operation device identification name information, and the control content information based on the acquired search condition information (step S14). Here, the operation device management server 1 searches for the control target device identification name information of the control target device 32 (31) that has been controlled by operating the operation device 52 (51) of the same type as the operation device 51 (52) operated by the user based on the search condition information. Alternatively, the operation device management server 1 searches for the operation device identification name information of the operation device 52 (51) that has been operated to control the control target device 32 (31) of the same type as the control target device 31 (32) that the user wants to control based on the search condition information. Furthermore, when the operation device management server 1 searches for the control target device identification name information of the control target device 32 (31) that has been controlled by operating the same type of operation device 52 (51) as the operation device 51 (52) operated by the user based on the search condition information, if the control target device identification name information is not detected, the operation device management server 1 searches for the control target device identification name information of the control target device 32 (31) to which the same type of class code information as the class code information of the control target device 32 (31) is assigned. Furthermore, when the operation device management server 1 searches for the control target device identification name information of the control target device 32 (31) to which the same type of class code information as the class code information of the control target device 32 (31) is assigned, if the control target device identification name information is not detected, the operation device management server 1 searches for the control target device identification name information of the control target device 32 (31) to which the same type of class group code information as the class group code information of the control target device 32 (31) is assigned.

[0043] Next, when at least one of the controlled device identification name information, the operating device identification name information, and the control content information is detected by the search, the operating device management server 1 generates search result information including at least one of the detected controlled device identification name information, the operating device identification name information, and the control content information (step S15). Here, when none of the controlled device identification name information, the operating device identification name information, and the control content information is detected by the search, the operating device management server 1 generates search result information including the above-mentioned URL information. Thereafter, the generated search result information is transmitted from the operating device management server 1 to the terminal device 7 (step S16).

[0044] On the other hand, when the terminal device 7 acquires the search result information, it extracts at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information contained in the acquired search result information, and forms a search result display screen image based on the extracted controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and displays it on the display unit 704 (step S17).

[0045] Here, when the search condition information transmitted to the manipulation device management server 1 includes manipulation device identification name information and controlled device identification name information used as search keys, the terminal device 7 searches using the manipulation device identification name information and controlled device identification name information as search keys, and acquires search result information including detected control content information. Then, the terminal device 7 forms a search result display screen image GA4 including a message M41 indicating the detected control content information, for example, as shown in FIG. 9A , and displays it on the display unit 704. Furthermore, when the search condition information transmitted to the manipulation device management server 1 includes only the controlled device identification name information used as a search key, the terminal device 7 searches using the controlled device identification name information as a search key, and acquires search result information including the detected manipulation device identification name information and control content information. The terminal device 7 then forms a search result display screen image GA5 in which a message M51 indicating the operation device identification name information of the detected operation devices 51 and 52, messages M52 and M53 indicating the operation device identification name information, and messages M54, M55, and M56 indicating control content information indicating the content of the control executed by the operation devices 51 and 52 or the operation device application are arranged in a mutually associated manner, as shown in, for example, FIG. 9B , and displays the search result display screen image GA5 on the display unit 704. Furthermore, if the search condition information transmitted to the operation device management server 1 includes the controlled device identification name information and control content information used as search keys, the terminal device 7 searches using the controlled device identification name information and control content information as search keys to obtain search result information including the detected operation device identification name information. The terminal device 7 then forms a search result display screen image GA6 including a message M61 indicating the detected operation device identification name information, as shown in, for example, FIG. 9C , and displays the search result display screen image GA6 on the display unit 704.

[0046] Furthermore, when the search condition information transmitted to the manipulation device management server 1 includes only the manipulation device identification name information used as a search key, the terminal device 7 searches using the manipulation device identification name information as a search key and acquires search result information including the detected controlled device identification name information and control content information. Then, the terminal device 7 forms a search result display screen image GA7 in which messages M71 and M72 representing the detected controlled device identification name information and messages M73 and M74 representing control content information showing the content of control executed on each of the controlled devices 31 and 32 are arranged in a mutually associated manner, as shown in, for example, FIG. 10A , and displays the search result display screen image GA7 on the display unit 704. Furthermore, when the search condition information transmitted to the manipulation device management server 1 includes the manipulation device identification name information and control content information used as search keys, the terminal device 7 searches using the manipulation device identification name information and control content information as search keys and acquires search result information including the detected controlled device identification name information. Then, the terminal device 7 forms a search result display screen image GA8 including a message M81 indicating the detected control target device identification name information, for example, as shown in FIG. 10B, and displays it on the display unit 704.

[0047] Furthermore, if the acquired search result information includes URL information of a website managed by the product list management server 8, the terminal device 7 extracts the URL information from the search result information and, based on the extracted URL information, acquires web page information from the product list management server 8. Then, based on the acquired web page information, the terminal device 7 forms a web page image containing a list of controlled device identification names recommended by the manufacturer of the manipulation device application or a list of controlled device identification names recommended by the manufacturers of the controlled devices 31 and 32, and displays the web page image on the display unit 704.

[0048] Next, with reference to FIG. 11 , a device control process executed by the cloud servers 21 and 22 according to the present embodiment for controlling the control-target devices 31 and 32 based on operation content information acquired from the control devices 51 and 52 will be described. Note that this device control process is initiated when a program for executing the device control process is launched in the cloud servers 21 and 22. First, the device control unit 211 determines whether or not it has acquired operation content information transmitted from the control devices 51 and 52 (step S201). Here, as long as the device control unit 211 determines that it has not acquired operation content information (step S201: No), it repeatedly executes the process of step S201. On the other hand, if the device control unit 211 determines that it has acquired operation content information (step S201: Yes), it generates control information for controlling the control-target devices 31 and 32 based on the acquired operation content information and transmits the control information to the control-target devices 31 and 32 (step S202). Next, the device control unit 211 identifies control content code information corresponding to the generated control information (step S203). Next, the device control unit 211 associates the identified control content code information with the operation device identification code information of the operation device 51, 52 itself that sent the operation content information or the operation device application running on the operation device 51, 52, or the operation device identification code information of the operation device 51, 52, and the control target device identification code information of the control information destination control device 31, 32, and stores them in the control history storage unit 231. Thereafter, the control history notification unit 212 generates control history information including the control content code information, operation device identification code information, and control target device identification code information stored in the control history storage unit 231, and transmits the generated control history information to the operation device management server 1 (step S205). Next, the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0049] Next, the operation device management process executed by the operation device management server 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 12 . The operation device management process is initiated when a program for executing the operation device management process is launched in the operation device management server 1. First, the control history acquisition unit 111 determines whether or not it has acquired control history information transmitted from the cloud servers 21 and 22 (step S101). If the control history acquisition unit 111 determines that it has not acquired control history information (step S101: No), it executes the process of step S104, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the control history acquisition unit 111 determines that it has acquired control history information (step S101: Yes), it extracts control content code information, operation device identification code information, and controlled device identification code information included in the acquired control history information (step S102). Next, the conversion unit 112 refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131, and converts the extracted control content code information, operation device identification code information, and control target device identification code information into control content information, operation device identification name information, and control target device identification name information, respectively, and stores them in the control performance storage unit 132 (step S103).

[0050] Next, the search condition acquisition unit 113 determines whether or not it has acquired search condition information transmitted from the terminal device 7 (step S104). If the search condition acquisition unit 113 determines that it has not acquired search condition information (step S104: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the search condition acquisition unit 113 determines that it has acquired search condition information (step S104: Yes), the search unit 114 searches for at least one of the controlled device identification name information, the operating device identification name information, and the control content information based on the acquired search condition information (step S105). Here, the search unit 114 executes a search using the operating device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information included in the search condition information as search keys. Then, the search unit 114 determines whether or not it has detected at least one of the operating device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information as a result of the search (step S106). Here, it is assumed that the search unit 114 has determined that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected (step S106: Yes), in which case the search result notifying unit 115 generates search result information including at least one of the detected control target device identification name information, the operation device identification name information, and the control content information, and transmits the search result information to the terminal device 7 (step S107), and the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0051] On the other hand, suppose the search unit 114 determines that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information has not been detected (step S106: No). In this case, the search unit 114 refers to the class information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and identifies the class information corresponding to the operation device identification name information and the controlled device identification name information used as the search key (step S108). Next, the search unit 114 searches the various information stored in the control performance storage unit 132 for the operation device identification name information and the controlled device identification name associated with the identified class information (step S109). Next, the search unit 114 determines whether at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected (step S110). Here, suppose the search unit 114 determines that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected (step S110: Yes). In this case, the search result notification unit 115 generates search result information including at least one of the detected control target device identification name information, operation device identification name information, and control content information, and transmits it to the terminal device 7 (step S111), and the processing of step S101 is executed again.

[0052] On the other hand, suppose the search unit 114 determines that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information has not been detected (step S110: No). In this case, the search unit 114 refers to the class group information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and identifies the class group information corresponding to the operation device identification name information and the controlled device identification name information used as the search key (step S112). Then, the search unit 114 searches the various information stored in the control performance storage unit 132 for the operation device identification name information and the controlled device identification name associated with the identified class group information (step S113). Next, the search unit 114 determines whether at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected (step S114). Here, suppose the search unit 114 determines that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected (step S114: Yes). In this case, the search result notification unit 115 generates search result information including at least one of the detected control target device identification name information, operation device identification name information, and control content information, and transmits it to the terminal device 7 (step S115), and the processing of step S101 is executed again.

[0053] On the other hand, if the search unit 114 determines that at least one of the operating device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information has not been detected (step S114: No), the search result notification unit 115 generates search result information including URL information indicating the URL of a website managed by the product list management server 8 and transmits the search result information to the terminal device 7 (step S116). Subsequently, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0054] As described above, in the operating device management system according to the present embodiment, the search unit 114 searches, based on search condition information, for at least one of the controlled device identification name information of the controlled devices 31, 32 that can be controlled by the operating devices 51, 52 operated by the user, the operating device identification name information of the operating devices 51, 52 that can be operated by the user to control the controlled devices, and control content information that indicates the content of control that has been performed on the controlled devices. Furthermore, when the search result notification unit 115 detects at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, it generates search result information including the detected at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and transmits the search result information to the terminal device 7. This makes it possible to present to the user, for the operating devices 51, 52 or the controlled devices 31, 32 owned by the user, the operating devices 51, 52 or the controlled devices 31, 32 that have been used in combination with the controlled devices 31, 32 in the past when the controlled devices 31, 32 were operated. Therefore, the user can properly grasp the optimum operating devices 51, 52 for operating the control target devices 31, 32 that the user owns, or the optimum controlled devices 31, 32 for operating and controlling the operating devices 51, 52 that the user owns.

[0055] In recent years, as described above, technologies have been developed for controlling the control target devices 31 and 32 from the cloud servers 21 and 22 via the wide area network NW1. Alternatively, technologies have also been developed for directly operating the control target devices 31 and 32 using a smartphone by launching an operation device application on the smartphone, or for operating the control target devices 31 and 32 via a control device connected to the local network NW21 and NW22 to which the control target devices 31 and 32 are connected. Manufacturers of multiple control target devices 31 and 32 or operation devices 51 and 52 have begun to provide control target devices 31 and 32 or operation devices 51 and 52 that comply with standardized communication standards such as EchonetLite (registered trademark). Therefore, operation devices 51 and 52 provided by manufacturers other than the manufacturers of the control target devices 31 and 32 are now accepted as the operation devices 51 and 52 for operating the control target devices 31 and 32. Furthermore, the operation device applications launched by the operation devices 51 and 52 may have new functions added or old functions removed through version upgrades. Therefore, there has been a demand for a means by which the user can easily grasp the so-called affinity between the manipulation devices 51, 52 and the control target devices 31, 32.

[0056] In contrast to this, according to the operation device management system of this embodiment, the operation devices 51, 52 or the control target devices 31, 32 that have a proven track record of being combined with the operation devices 51, 52 and the control target devices 31, 32 when the control target devices 31, 32 have been operated in the past are presented to the user, which has the advantage that the user can properly understand the combinations of the operation devices 51, 52 and the control target devices 31, 32 that have a proven track record in the past as combinations with a high affinity.

[0057] Furthermore, the control record storage unit 132 according to this embodiment stores class information indicating the class to which the controlled-target devices 31, 32 belong when classified based on the model of the controlled devices, in association with the controlled-target device identification name information of the corresponding controlled-target devices 31, 32. Then, when the search unit 114 searches for at least one of the operating device identification name information and the controlled-target device identification name information based on the search condition information and does not detect both the operating device identification name information and the controlled-target device identification name information, it searches for at least one of the operating device identification name information and the controlled-target device identification name information to which class information of the same type as the class information corresponding to at least one of the operating device identification name information and the controlled-target device identification name information to be searched is assigned. This saves the user the trouble of re-setting the operating device identification name information or the controlled-target device identification name information used as a search key, thereby reducing the operational burden on the user.

[0058] Furthermore, when no controlled device identification name information or operating device identification name information is detected, the search result notification unit 115 according to this embodiment transmits inspection result notification information including URL information indicating the URL of a website managed by a preset product list management server 8 to the terminal device 7. This saves the user the trouble of searching for a website that lists related products when no controlled device identification name information or operating device identification name information is detected.

[0059] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, a user may select class information indicating a class to which the operating devices 51, 52 or the controlled devices 31, 32 belong or class group information indicating a class group as a search key. The search unit 114 may then search for at least one of control content information, operating device identification name information, and controlled device identification name information using at least one of all operating devices 51, 52 and all controlled devices 31, 32 belonging to the selected class as a search key. For example, when a class to which the operating devices 51, 52 belong is selected, the search unit 114 searches for at least one of control content information and controlled device name information using all operating devices 51, 52 belonging to the selected class as a search key.

[0060] In this modification, the terminal device 7 may display a search screen image GA3001, for example, as shown in FIG. 13 , on the display unit 704. Note that components in FIG. 13 that are similar to those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7 . The search screen image GA3001 includes button images BU3013 and BU3014, which are selected to display a pop-up menu image PM3001 for selecting a search key, at the left end of an input field B11 for inputting an operation device name serving as a search key and an input field B13 for inputting a controlled device identification name serving as a search key. When the terminal device 7 is displaying the search screen image GA3001 on the display unit 704 and the user selects button images BU3013 and BU3014 via the input unit 705, the pop-up menu image PM3001 is displayed. In the example shown in FIG. 13, class names indicating the classes to which the control target devices 31 and 32 belong, namely, “Home Air Conditioner,” “Ventilation Fan,” “Commercial Air Conditioner,” “Air Purifier,” and “EV Charger / Discharger,” and class group names indicating class groups, namely, “Air Conditioner” and “Household Equipment,” are pre-registered in the pop-up menu image PM3001.

[0061] According to this configuration, a search can be performed in units of a class or class group to which the manipulation devices 51, 52 or the control target devices 31, 32 belong, thereby improving the efficiency of the user's search work.

[0062] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the conversion unit 112 converts the control content code information, the operation device identification code information, and the controlled device identification code information into control content information, the operation device identification name information, and the controlled device identification name information, respectively, and stores them in the control record storage unit 132, and the search unit 114 searches for at least one of the controlled device identification name information, the operation device identification name information, and the control content information based on the search condition information. However, this is not limiting, and the search unit may search for at least one of the control content code information, the operation device identification code information, and the controlled device identification code information based on the search condition information, and the conversion unit may convert at least one of the control content code information, the operation device identification code information, and the controlled device identification code information detected by the search unit into control content information, the operation device identification name information, or the controlled device identification name information.

[0063] 14 , the manipulation device management server 4001 according to this modification has the same hardware configuration as the manipulation device management server 1 described in the embodiment, and functions as a control history acquisition unit 4111, a conversion unit 4112, a search condition acquisition unit 4113, a search unit 4114, and a search result notification unit 115. In FIG. 14 , the same components as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 . The manipulation device management server 4001 also has a master information storage unit 131 and a control record storage unit 4132. As shown in FIG. 15 , for example, the control record storage unit 4132 stores control content code information indicating control content executed on the control-target devices 31 and 32 by operating the manipulation devices 51 and 52 in the past, in association with class code information and class group code information, together with the manipulation device identification code information of the corresponding manipulation devices 51 and 52 and the control-target device identification code information of the control-target devices 31 and 32.

[0064] Returning to Figure 14, the control history acquisition unit 4111 acquires the control history information transmitted from the cloud servers 21 and 22, extracts the control content code information, operation device identification code information, and controlled device identification code information contained in the acquired control history information, and stores them in the control performance memory unit 4132 in correspondence with each other.

[0065] When the search condition acquisition unit 4113 acquires the search condition information transmitted from the terminal device 7, it notifies the conversion unit 4112 of the acquired search condition information.

[0066] When the conversion unit 4112 acquires search condition information from the search condition acquisition unit 4113, it refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and converts at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information adopted as a search key included in the search condition information into operation device identification code information, the controlled device identification code information, and the control content code information. Then, the conversion unit 4112 notifies the search unit 4114 of the operation device identification code information, the controlled device identification code information, and the control content code information detected by the search unit 4114. Furthermore, when the conversion unit 4112 is notified by the search unit 4114 of at least one of the operation device identification code information, the controlled device identification code information, and the control content code information detected by the search unit 4114, it refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and converts at least one of the notified operation device identification code information, the controlled device identification code information, and the control content code information into operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information. Then, the conversion unit 4112 notifies the search result notification unit 115 of the operation device identification name information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content information.

[0067] The search unit 4114 searches for control target device identification code information of a control target device 32 (31) that has been controlled by operating a control device 52 (51) of the same type as the control target device 51 (52) operated by the user, based on at least one of the control device identification code information, controlled device identification code information, and control content code information adopted as a search key notified by the conversion unit 4112. Alternatively, the search unit 4114 searches for control device identification code information of the control device 52 (51) itself or a control device application that has been operated to control the control target device 32 (31) of the same type as the control target device 31 (32) that the user is trying to control. Alternatively, the search unit 4114 searches for control content code information indicating the content of control performed by the control device 52 (51) of the same type as the control target device 31 (32) that the user is trying to control, using the control device 52 (51) of the same type as the control target device 31 (32) that the user is trying to control. Then, when the search unit 4114 detects at least one of the control object identification code information, the operation device identification code information, and the control content code information through the search, it notifies the conversion unit 4112 of at least one of the detected control object identification code information, the operation device identification code information, and the control content code information.

[0068] When the search result notification unit 115 is notified of at least one of the controlled device identification name information, the operating device identification name information, and the control content information by the conversion unit 4112, it generates search result information including the notified controlled device identification name information or the operating device identification name information and transmits it to the terminal device 7.

[0069] Next, the operation device management process executed by the operation device management server 4001 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 16 . In the operation device management process shown in FIG. 16 , the same processes as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 12 . First, the control history acquisition unit 4111 determines whether or not control history information transmitted from the cloud servers 21 and 22 has been acquired (step S101). If the control history acquisition unit 4111 determines that control history information has not been acquired (step S101: No), the process of step S104, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the control history acquisition unit 4111 determines that control history information has been acquired (step S101: Yes), the control content code information, operation device identification code information, and controlled device identification code information included in the acquired control history information are extracted and stored in the control record storage unit 4132 (step S4101).

[0070] Next, the search condition acquisition unit 4113 determines whether or not search condition information transmitted from the terminal device 7 has been acquired (step S104). If the search condition acquisition unit 4113 determines that search condition information has not been acquired (step S104: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, assume that the search condition acquisition unit 4113 determines that search condition information has been acquired (step S104: Yes). In this case, the conversion unit 4112 refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and converts at least one of the operation device identification name information, the controlled device identification name information, and the control content information used as a search key included in the acquired search condition information into operation device identification code information, the controlled device identification code information, and the control content code information (step S4102). Next, the search unit 4114 searches for at least one of the control-target device identification code information, the control-target device identification code information, and the control content code information based on at least one of the operation device identification code information, the control-target device identification code information, and the control content code information adopted as a search key notified by the conversion unit 4112 (step S105). Then, the search unit 4114 determines whether at least one of the operation device identification name information, the control-target device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected as a result of the search (step S106). Here, it is assumed that the search unit 4114 has determined that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the control-target device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected (step S106: Yes). In this case, the conversion unit 4112 refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and converts at least one of the detected operation device identification code information, the control-target device identification code information, and the control content code information into the operation device identification name information, the control-target device identification name information, and the control content information. Then, the search result notification unit 115 generates search result information including at least one of the detected control target device identification name information, operation device identification name information, and control content information, and transmits it to the terminal device 7 (step S4103), and the processing of step S101 is executed again.

[0071] On the other hand, suppose that the search unit 4114 determines that at least one of the operation device identification code information, the control target device identification code information, and the control content code information has not been detected (step S106: No). In this case, a series of processes from steps S108 to S110 is executed. Then, suppose that the search unit 4114 determines in step S110 that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content information has been detected (step S110: Yes). In this case, the conversion unit 4112 refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and converts at least one of the detected operation device identification code information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content code information into operation device identification name information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content information. Then, the search result notification unit 115 generates search result information including at least one of the converted control target device identification name information, the operation device identification name information, and the control content information, and transmits it to the terminal device 7 (step S4104), and the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0072] On the other hand, suppose the search unit 4114 determines that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content information has not been detected (step S110: No). In this case, a series of processes from step S112 to S114 is executed. Then, suppose the search unit 4114 determines in step S114 that at least one of the operation device identification code information, the control target device identification code information, and the control content code information has been detected (step S114: Yes). In this case, the conversion unit 4112 refers to the information stored in the master information storage unit 131 and converts at least one of the detected operation device identification code information, the control target device identification code information, and the control content code information into operation device identification name information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content information. In this case, the search result notification unit 115 generates search result information including at least one of the detected control target device identification name information, the operation device identification name information, and the control content information, and transmits it to the terminal device 7 (step S4105), and the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0073] On the other hand, if the search unit 4114 determines that at least one of the operation device identification name information, the control target device identification name information, and the control content information has not been detected (step S114: No), the process proceeds to step S116.

[0074] According to this configuration, only the operation device identification code information, controlled device identification code information, or control content code information detected by the search unit 4114 is converted into operation device identification name information, controlled device identification name information, or control content information. This makes it possible to reduce the number of operation device identification code information, controlled device identification code information, or control content code information to be converted, and therefore the load of the conversion process executed by the conversion unit 4112 can be reduced accordingly.

[0075] In an embodiment, terminal device 7 may include an identification information acquisition unit that acquires the operation device identification name information of all operation devices 51, 52 connected to local networks NW21, NW22 to which the terminal device 7 is connected or the operation device identification name information of all operation device applications running on operation devices 51, 52, and the control target device identification name information of all control target devices 31, 32. When the identification information acquisition unit acquires the operation device identification name information or the operation device identification name information and the control target device identification name information, search condition notification unit 714 may generate search condition information that uses the acquired various information as a search key based on the acquired various information and transmit it to operation device management server 1. Alternatively, the identification information acquisition unit may acquire the operation device identification code information of operation devices 51, 52 connected to local networks NW21, NW22 to which the terminal device 7 is connected, and the control target device identification code information of control target devices 31, 32.

[0076] This configuration saves the user the trouble of inputting search keys such as an operating device identification name, an application identification name, and a controlled device identification name, thereby improving the efficiency of the user's search work.

[0077] Furthermore, the various functions of the operation device management server 1, 4001, cloud servers 21, 22, and terminal device 7 according to the present disclosure can be realized using a normal computer system, rather than a dedicated system. For example, a program for executing the above operations may be stored in a non-transitory recording medium (such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory)) that can be read by the computer system and distributed to a computer connected to a network, and the operation device management server 1, 4001, cloud servers 21, 22, and terminal device 7 that execute the above-described processes may be configured by installing the program in the computer system.

[0078] The method of providing the program to the computer is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a bulletin board system (BBS) on a communication line and distributed to the computer via the communication line. The computer then launches the program and executes it under the control of an operating system (OS) in the same way as other applications. As a result, the computer functions as the operation device management server 1, 4001, cloud servers 21, 22, and terminal device 7 that execute the above-mentioned processes.

[0079] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to these. The present disclosure includes appropriate combinations of the embodiments and modifications, and appropriate modifications thereto.

[0080] The present disclosure is suitable as a manipulation device management system having a function of presenting compatibility between a manipulation device and a control target device that is controlled by operating the manipulation device.

[0081] 1, 4001 Operation device management server, 7 Terminal device, 8 Product list management server, 21, 22 Cloud server, 31, 32 Control target device, 41, 42 BBR, 51, 52 Operation device, 101, 201, 701 CPU, 102, 202, 702 Main memory unit, 103, 203, 703 Auxiliary memory unit, 106, 206, 706 Communication unit, 109, 209, 709 Bus, 111, 4111 Control history acquisition unit, 112, 4112 Conversion unit, 113, 4113 Search condition acquisition unit, 114, 4114 Search unit, 115 Search result notification unit, 131 Master information storage unit, 132, 4132 Control record storage unit, 211 Device control unit, 212 Control history notification unit, 231 Control history storage unit, 704 display unit, 705 input unit, 711 reception unit, 712 image forming unit, 713 display control unit, 714 search condition notification unit, 715 search result acquisition unit, 716 web page information acquisition unit, 721 display screen storage unit, 731 search result storage unit, 732 image storage unit, A11, A12 areas, B11, B13 input field, B12, B14 display field, BU11, BU12, BU13, BU21, BU31, BU3013, BU3014 Button images, CHK11, CHK12, CHK13, CHK14, CHK21, CHK22, CHK23, CHK24, CHK25, CHK26, CHK31, CHK32, CHK33, CHK34, CHK35, CHK36 Check box images, GA1, GA2, GA3, GA3001 Search screen images, GA4, GA5, GA6, GA7, GA8 Search result display screen images, M41, M51, M52, M53, M54, M55, M56, M61, M71, M72, M73, M74, M81 Messages, NW1 Wide area network, NW21, NW22 Local network, PM3001 Pop-up menu image

Claims

1. A terminal device; a control history storage unit that stores, in association with one another, control content information indicating content of control executed on at least one control target device by operating a manipulation device in the past, manipulation device identification information identifying the manipulated manipulation device, and control target device identification information identifying the at least one control target device on which control was executed; a search condition acquisition unit that acquires search condition information transmitted from the terminal device, indicating search conditions for searching for at least one of the control target device identification information of a control target device that can be controlled by a manipulation device operated by a user, the manipulation device identification information of a manipulation device that can be operated by a user to control the control target device, and control content information indicating content of control that has been executed on the control target device; and a search unit that searches for at least one of the control target device identification information, the manipulation device identification information, and the control content information stored in the control history storage unit based on the search condition information. a search result notifying unit that, when at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information is detected, generates search result information including the detected at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and transmits the search result information to the terminal device.

2. The operating device management system according to claim 1, wherein the search condition information includes at least one of the operating device identification information, the controlled device identification information, and the control content information, which are used as search keys.

3. The operating device management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control record storage unit further stores class information indicating the class to which the controlled device belongs when classified based on the model of the controlled device, in association with the controlled device identification information.

4. The operating device management system of claim 3, wherein when the search unit searches for at least one of the operating device identification information and the controlled device identification information based on the search condition information and does not detect both the operating device identification information and the controlled device identification information, it searches for at least one of the operating device identification information and the controlled device identification information of the controlled device of the operating device that belongs to the same class as the class to which at least one of the operating device and the controlled device being searched belongs.

5. The operating device management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the search result notification unit transmits URL information indicating a preset URL to the terminal device when the controlled device identification information or the operating device identification information is detected.

6. An operation device management system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a device control unit that, when it acquires operation content information indicating the content of the operation performed by a user on the operation device from the operation device, controls the at least one control target device based on the acquired operation content information; a control history acquisition unit that acquires control history information including control content information expressed in a first expression format, operation device identification information expressed in the first expression format that identifies the operation device operated by the user, and control target device identification information expressed in the first expression format that identifies the at least one control target device; and a conversion unit that converts the control content information, the operation device identification information, and the control target device identification information included in the control history information into the control content information, the operation device identification information, and the control target device identification information expressed in a second expression format different from the first expression format, respectively, and stores them in the control record storage unit.

7. A device control unit that, when it acquires operation content information indicating the operation content performed by a user on the operation device from the operation device, controls the at least one controlled device based on the acquired operation content information; a control history acquisition unit that acquires control history information including control content information expressed in a first expression format indicating the control content of the at least one controlled device, operation device identification information expressed in the first expression format for identifying the operation device operated by the user, and control target device identification information expressed in the first expression format for identifying the at least one controlled device; and a conversion unit that, when the control target device identification information or the operation device identification information is detected by the search unit, converts the detected control target device identification information or the operation device identification information into the operation device identification information or the controlled target device identification information expressed in a second expression format different from the first expression format, wherein the control record storage unit stores the control content information, the operation device identification information, and the control target device identification information in the first expression format in association with each other, 3. The operation device management system according to claim 2, wherein the search unit searches for the control target device identification information or the operation device identification information expressed in the first expression format based on the search condition information including the operation device identification information expressed in the first expression format, or the control target device identification information and the control content information expressed in the first expression format, and the search result notification unit transmits the operation device identification information or the control target device identification information expressed in the second expression format converted by the conversion unit to the terminal device.

8. The operating device management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device has: an identification information acquisition unit that acquires operating device identification information of the operating device connected to the local network to which the terminal device is connected, and controlled device identification information of the controlled device connected to the local network; and a search condition notification unit that generates and transmits the search condition information including at least one of the acquired operating device identification information and the controlled device identification information.

9. A control record storage unit that stores control content information indicating the content of control executed on at least one control target device by operating a control device in the past, control device identification information identifying the operated control device, and control target device identification information identifying the at least one control target device on which control was executed, in association with each other; a search condition acquisition unit that acquires search condition information indicating search conditions for searching for at least one of the control target device identification information of a control target device that can be controlled by a control device operated by a user, the control device identification information of a control device that can be operated by a user to control the control target device, and control content information indicating the content of control that has been executed on the control target device; and a search unit that searches for at least one of the control target device identification information, the control device identification information, and the control content information stored in the control record storage unit based on the search condition information. a search result notifying unit that, when at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information is detected, generates search result information including the detected at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and transmits the search result information to the terminal device.

10. A step of storing, in a control record storage unit, control content information indicating the content of control executed on at least one control target device by operating a control device in the past, control device identification information identifying the operated control device, and control target device identification information identifying the at least one control target device on which control was executed, in association with each other; a step of acquiring search condition information transmitted from a terminal device, indicating search conditions for searching for at least one of the control target device identification information of a control target device that can be controlled by a control device operated by a user, the control device identification information of a control device that can be operated by a user to control the control target device, and control content information indicating the content of control that has been executed on the control target device; a step of searching for at least one of the control target device identification information, the control device identification information, and the control content information stored in the control record storage unit based on the search condition information; when at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information is detected, generating search result information including the detected at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and transmitting the search result information to the terminal device.

11. A computer comprising: a control record storage unit that stores control content information indicating content of control previously executed on at least one control target device by operating a control device, control device identification information identifying the operated control device, and control target device identification information identifying the at least one control target device on which control was executed, in association with one another; a search condition acquisition unit that acquires search condition information indicating search conditions for searching for at least one of the control target device identification information of a control target device controllable by a control device operated by a user, the control device identification information of a control device operable by a user to control the control target device, and control content information indicating content of control previously executed on the control target device; a search unit that searches for at least one of the control target device identification information, the control device identification information, and the control content information stored in the control record storage unit based on the search condition information; a search result notification unit that, when at least one of the controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information is detected, generates search result information including the detected controlled device identification information, the operating device identification information, and the control content information, and transmits the search result information to the terminal device.

Images