Server, remote control system, remote control method and program

Abstract

To provide a remote control system and a remote control method that are easy for users to operate.SOLUTION: A device 1 of a remote control system includes an operation content identification unit 111 that identifies an operation content for the device 1 corresponding to code information, a device control unit 112 that controls the device 1 according to the identified operation content when the operation content for the device 1 is identified, and a code notification unit 113 that transmits the code information to a cloud server 2 via a wide area network. In addition, the cloud server 2 includes a control content identification unit 212 that identifies control content for the device 1 corresponding to the code information when the code information is acquired, and a control information notification unit 213 that transmits control information for controlling the device 1 on the basis of the identified control content to the device 1 controlled by the control information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a remote control system and a remote control method. [Background technology]

[0002] There has been proposed a mobile communication device that performs short-range wireless communication with a target device that holds control data for operating the target device itself from the mobile communication device, acquires the control data transmitted from the target device, and remotely operates the target device using the acquired control data (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-110629 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, when a plurality of target devices are remotely operated, such as the mobile communication device described in Patent Document 1, there is a demand for improving operability when remotely operating a plurality of target devices.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a remote control system and a remote control method that are easy for users to operate. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the remote control system according to the present disclosure comprises: a remote control device having an operation unit operated by a user, which identifies code information corresponding to an operation performed on the operation unit from among a plurality of types of code information set in advance, and transmits the identified code information; a first device that is controlled based on the code information sent from the remote control device; a server that communicates with the first device via a network; The first device is an operation content identification unit that identifies an operation content for the first device corresponding to the code information; a device control unit that controls the first device in accordance with the specified operation content when the operation content for the first device is specified; a code notification unit that transmits the code information to the server via the network, The server, a control content identification unit that, when the code information is acquired, identifies at least one of a control content of the first device corresponding to the code information and a control content of at least one second device different from the first device corresponding to the code information; The control information notification unit transmits control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the at least one second device based on the identified control content to at least one of the first device controlled by the control information and the at least one second device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, when the operation content for the first device corresponding to the code information is specified by the operation content specifying unit of the first device, the device control unit controls the first device according to the specified operation content. Also, the code notification unit of the first device transmits the code information to a server via a network, and when the control content specifying unit of the server acquires the code information, it specifies at least one of the control content of the first device corresponding to the code information and the control content of the second device corresponding to the code information, and the control information notification unit transmits control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the second device based on the specified control content to at least one of the first device and the second device controlled by the control information. This allows the user to operate not only the first device but also the second device by operating one remote control device, thereby improving the operability of the first device and the second device for the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a remote control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a remote control system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a remote control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of information stored in an operation content storage unit included in a device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing another example of information stored in an operation content storage unit included in a device according to an embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a code storage unit included in a remote control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing another example of information stored in a code storage unit included in a remote control device according to an embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a code usage history storage unit included in the cloud server according to the embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a control information storage unit included in a cloud server according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of a remote control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of a remote control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing another example of a setting screen image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; [Figure 12] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing another example of a setting screen image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a setting screen image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram for explaining the operation of a remote control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a link notification image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a link completion notification image displayed on a display unit of a remote control device according to an embodiment; [Figure 16] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device control process executed by a device according to an embodiment. [Figure 17] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device control process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 18] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device control process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a remote control system according to a modified example. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a remote control system according to a modified example. [Figure 21] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a link function information storage unit included in a cloud server according to a modified example; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A remote control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The remote control system includes a remote control device having an operation unit operated by a user, identifying code information corresponding to the operation content performed on the operation unit from among multiple types of code information set in advance, and sending the identified code information, a first device controlled based on the code information sent from the remote control device, and a server communicating with the first device via a network. Here, the first device has an operation content identification unit that identifies the operation content for the first device corresponding to the code information, a device control unit that controls the first device according to the identified operation content when the operation content for the first device is identified, and a code notification unit that transmits the code information to the server via the network. The server has a control content identification unit that, when the code information is acquired, identifies at least one of the control content of the first device corresponding to the code information and the control content of a second device different from the first device corresponding to the code information, and a control information notification unit that transmits control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the second device based on the identified control content to at least one of the first device and the second device controlled by the control information.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the remote control system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of devices 1 installed in a building H, a remote control device 4 for remotely controlling the devices 1, a cloud server 2, and a terminal device 3. Each of the devices 1 has a communication function and is connected to a local network NW2 constructed in the building H. The local network NW2 is connected to a wide area network NW1 via a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 8. The cloud server 2 and the terminal device 3 can communicate with each other via the wide area network NW1, and the cloud server 2 can communicate with each of the devices 1 via the wide area network NW1 and the local network NW2. The local network NW2 is, for example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network) or a wireless LAN, and the wide area network NW1 is, for example, the Internet.

[0011] The devices 1 are, for example, a refrigerator 1A, air conditioners 1B and 1D, a television receiver 1C, and a water heater 1E. As shown in FIG. 2, the device 1 has a control unit 11 for controlling the operation of the device 1. The control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a signal transmission / reception unit 105, a communication unit 106, and a bus 109 for connecting these units to each other. The main memory unit 102 has a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as a working area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory unit 103 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs for the CPU 101 to execute various processes. The signal transmission / reception unit 105 has an infrared receiving unit for receiving an infrared signal transmitted from a remote control device 4 and an infrared emitting unit for transmitting an infrared signal to the remote control device 4. When the signal transmitting / receiving unit 105 receives an infrared signal transmitted from the remote control device 4, it generates information corresponding to the received infrared signal and transfers it to the CPU 101. Furthermore, when information to be transmitted from the CPU 101 to the remote control device 4 is transferred to the signal transmitting / receiving unit 105, it generates an infrared signal indicating the information and transmits it to the remote control device 4. The communication unit 106 is connected to the wide area network NW1, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 101 to the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1, and transfers information received from the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1 to the CPU 101.

[0012] The CPU 101 reads out the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as an operation content identification unit 111, a device control unit 112, a code notification unit 113, a control information acquisition unit 114, an operation content update unit 115, an operation content update notification unit 116, a code transfer unit 118, a cooperation notification transfer unit 119, and a cooperation request information transfer unit 120, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Fig. 2 also has an operation content storage unit 131 that stores operation content information indicating operation content for the device 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The operation content storage unit 131 stores the operation content information indicating the operation content for the device 1 in association with code information indicating the code number and product code included in the code information transmitted from the remote control device 4, and transmission necessity information indicating the necessity of transmitting the code information to the cloud server 2, as shown in Figs. 4(A) and (B), for example. FIG. 4(A) shows an example in which the device 1 is a television receiver 1C, and FIG. 4(B) shows an example in which the device 1 is an air conditioner 1B, 1D. In the example shown in FIG. 4(A), when code information indicating code numbers "0x01", "0x02", etc. transmitted from the remote control device 4 is acquired, an operation such as "power on", "power off" etc. is executed on the device 1, and the code information is transmitted to the cloud server 2. When code information indicating code number "0x03" transmitted from the remote control device 4 is acquired, an operation of "input switching" is executed on the device 1, but the code information is not transmitted to the cloud server 2. When code information indicating code numbers "0x16", "0x17" transmitted from the remote control device 4 is acquired, an operation on the device 1 is not executed, and only the transmission of the code information to the cloud server 2 is executed. In addition, in the example shown in Figure 4 (B), when code information indicating code numbers "0x01", "0x02", etc. transmitted from the remote control device 4 is obtained, operations such as "start operation" and "stop operation" are performed on the device 1, and the code information is transmitted to the cloud server 2.In addition, when code information indicating code numbers “0x03”, “0x12”, “0x13”, etc. transmitted from the remote control device 4 is acquired, an operation for switching to the “automatic” operation mode, an operation for enabling the on timer and the off timer, etc. is performed on the device 1, but the code information is not transmitted to the cloud server 2.

[0013] 3, when the operation content identification unit 111 acquires code information from the remote control device 4 via the signal transmission / reception unit 105, it identifies operation content information corresponding to the acquired code information from among the operation content information stored in the operation content storage unit 131. Then, the operation content identification unit 111 notifies the device control unit 112 of the identified operation content information.

[0014] The device control unit 112 controls the operation of the device 1 based on the operation content information notified from the operation content identification unit 111. Furthermore, when the device control unit 112 is notified of control information from the control information acquisition unit 114, the device control unit 112 controls the device 1 based on the notified control information. When the code notification unit 113 acquires code information from the remote control device 4 via the signal transmission / reception unit 105, the code notification unit 113 refers to transmission necessity information corresponding to the acquired code information among the transmission necessity information stored in the operation content storage unit 131, and transmits the acquired code information to the cloud server 2 if the transmission necessity information indicates a need for transmission to the cloud server 2. Here, the code notification unit 113 adds transmission source device identification information for identifying the device 1 that is the source of the code information to the code information, and then transmits the code information.

[0015] When the control information acquisition unit 114 acquires the control information transmitted from the cloud server 2, it notifies the device control unit 112 of the acquired control information. When the operation content update unit 115 is notified of operation content update request information described later from the signal transmission / reception unit 105, it extracts the updated code information and operation content information included in the notified operation content update request information, and stores the code information and the operation content information and the transmission necessity information corresponding to the code information and the operation content information in the operation content storage unit 131. In addition, the operation content update unit 115 notifies the operation content update notification unit 116 of the code information indicating the updated code number and product code included in the operation content update request information, the controlled device identification information identifying the controlled device 1, and the operation content information indicating the operation content for the controlled device 1. The operation content update notification unit 116 generates operation content update notification information including the updated code information, the controlled device identification information, and the operation content information notified from the operation content update unit 115, and transmits it to the cloud server 2.

[0016] When the code transfer unit 118 acquires code notification information including code information determined to be used infrequently, which is transmitted from the cloud server 2, the code transfer unit 118 transfers the code information included in the acquired code notification information to the signal transmission / reception unit 105. When the cooperation notification transfer unit 119 acquires cooperation notification information (described later) transmitted from the cloud server 2, the cooperation notification transfer unit 119 notifies the signal transmission / reception unit 105 of device identification information of device 1 that is recommended to cooperate with device 1, which is included in the acquired cooperation notification information. When the cooperation request information is transferred from the signal transmission / reception unit 105, the cooperation request information transfer unit 120 transmits the notified cooperation request information to the cloud server 2.

[0017] Returning to FIG. 2, the remote control device 4 includes a processing unit 401 having an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), a memory 403, a display unit 404, an operation unit 405, and a signal transmission / reception unit 406. The display unit 404 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The operation unit 405 is, for example, a key input device, and when a user presses a key, it outputs key information indicating the pressed key to the processing unit 401. The signal transmission / reception unit 406 has an infrared receiving unit for receiving an infrared signal transmitted from the device 1 and an infrared emitting unit for transmitting an infrared signal to the device 1. When the signal transmission / reception unit 406 receives an infrared signal transmitted from the device 1, it generates information corresponding to the received infrared signal and transfers it to the processing unit 401. When information to be transmitted to the device 1 is transferred from the processing unit 401, the signal transmission / reception unit 406 generates an infrared signal indicating the information and transmits it to the device 1.

[0018] Here, the processing unit 401 functions as a code identification unit 411, a code acquisition unit 412, a key identification unit 413, a display control unit 414, an operation content update request unit 415, a cooperation request unit 416, and a cooperation notification acquisition unit 417, as shown in Fig. 3. The memory 403 shown in Fig. 2 has a code storage unit 431 and an operation content storage unit 432 that stores operation content information indicating possible operation content for the device 1 in association with device identification information that identifies the device 1, as shown in Fig. 3. The code storage unit 431 stores code information indicating a code number and a product code of the device 1 in association with key information indicating a key name of the corresponding operation unit 405, as shown in Figs. 5(A) and (B), for example. Note that Fig. 5(A) shows an example of a case where the television receiver 1C is remotely controlled, and Fig. 5(B) shows an example of a case where the air conditioners 1B and 1D are remotely controlled. In the example shown in Fig. 5(A), when the "power on", "power off", "input switching", "yellow", and "green" keys of the operation unit 405 are pressed, code information indicating the code numbers "0x01", "0x02", "0x03", "0x16", and "0x17", respectively, is transmitted to the device 1. Also, in the example shown in Fig. 5(B), when the "start operation", "stop", "automatic", "on timer", and "off timer" keys of the operation unit 405 are pressed, code information indicating the code numbers "0x01", "0x02", "0x03", "0x12", and "0x13", respectively, is transmitted to the device 1.

[0019] Returning to Fig. 3, when key information is input from the operation unit 405, the code identification unit 411 identifies code information corresponding to the input key information from among the code information stored in the code storage unit 431, and transfers the identified code information to the signal transmission / reception unit 406. When the code information is transferred from the signal transmission / reception unit 406, the code acquisition unit 412 notifies the key identification unit 413 of the code information and also notifies the operation content update request unit 415. When the key identification unit 413 is notified of the code information from the code acquisition unit 412, the key identification unit 413 identifies key information corresponding to the notified code information from among the key information stored in the code storage unit 431, and notifies the display control unit 414 of the identified key information. When the display control unit 414 is notified of the key information, it forms a notification screen image notifying that the key indicated by the notified key information is a low-frequency key, and causes the display unit 404 to display the notification screen image. Furthermore, when the display control unit 414 is notified of the device identification information from the cooperation notification acquisition unit 417, the display control unit 414 causes the display unit 404 to display a cooperation notification image that encourages cooperation with the device 1 identified by the notified device identification information.

[0020] When the user performs a setting update operation on the operation unit 405 to request an update of the operation content information stored in the operation content storage unit 131 of the device 1, the operation content update request unit 415 generates operation content update request information in response to this and transfers it to the signal transmission / reception unit 406. When the user performs a link setting operation on the operation unit 405 to set the device 1 to be remotely controlled by the remote control device 4 and another device 1 to operate in linkage with each other, the cooperation request unit 416 generates cooperation request information including link target device identification information notified by the cooperation notification acquisition unit 417 for identifying the other device 1 to be linked, and transfers it to the signal transmission / reception unit 406. When the cooperation notification acquisition unit 417 acquires the device identification information from the device 1 via the signal transmission / reception unit 406, it notifies the display control unit 414 and the cooperation request unit 416 of the acquired link target device identification information.

[0021] Returning to FIG. 2, the cloud server 2 includes a CPU 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, a communication unit 206, a clock unit 207, and a bus 209 that interconnects these. The CPU 201 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 202 has a volatile memory such as a RAM, and is used as a working 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 server 2. The communication unit 206 is connected to the wide area network NW1. The clock unit 207 has, for example, an RTC (Real Time Clock), and notifies the CPU 201 of the clocked time information.

[0022] The CPU 201 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a code acquisition unit 211, a control content identification unit 212, a control information notification unit 213, a low-frequency-used-code identification unit 214, a code notification unit 215, a cooperation determination unit 216, a cooperation performance notification unit 217, a cooperation information update unit 218, and a control information update unit 219, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in Fig. 2 also has a code usage history storage unit 231, a control information storage unit 232, and a cooperation information storage unit 233, as shown in Fig. 3. The code usage history storage unit 231 stores, for each user, code information indicating a product code and a code number transmitted from the device 1 in association with transmission source device identification information identifying the device 1 that transmitted the code information, date and time information indicating the date and time when the code information was acquired, and user identification information identifying the user, as shown in Fig. 6, for example. The example shown in Figure 6 indicates that code information indicating product code "0x02" and code number "0x11" sent from air conditioner 1B, whose source device identification information is "0x20000001", was acquired at "2022 / 11 / 1 6:00:05".

[0023] As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the control information storage unit 232 stores, for each user, source device identification information for identifying the device 1 that has transmitted the code information, the code information, controlled device identification information for identifying the device 1 that is the control target, control information indicating the operation content to be executed on the controlled device 1, and user identification information in a mutually associated manner. In the example shown in FIG. 7, when code information indicating a product code "0x10" and a code number "0x11" is acquired from a television receiver 1C having source identification information "0x10000001", it indicates that the air conditioner 1B having controlled device identification information "0x20000001" is controlled so as to start operation. The linkage information storage unit 233 stores, in a mutually associated manner, the linkage device identification information of at least one device 1 to be operated in linkage with the device 1 that has transmitted the code information, the control information indicating the operation content for the device 1, and the code information.

[0024] Returning to FIG. 3, when the code acquisition unit 211 acquires the code information transmitted from the device 1, the code acquisition unit 211 stores the acquired code information in the code use history storage unit 231 in association with the transmission source device identification information of the code information added to the code information, the date and time information indicating the date and time of acquisition of the code information clocked by the clock unit 207, and the user identification information identifying the user of the device 1. The control content identification unit 212 identifies the most recent code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231, and identifies the control target device identification information and the control information corresponding to the identified code information from among the control target device identification information and the control information stored in the control information storage unit 232. Then, the control content identification unit 212 notifies the control information notification unit 213 of the identified control target device identification information and the control information. The control information notification unit 213 controls the operation of the device 1 by transmitting the control information notified from the control content identification unit 212 to the device 1 identified by the control target device identification information notified from the control content identification unit 212.

[0025] The low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 identifies code information whose use frequency is lower than a preset reference frequency and whose use frequency is the lowest within a preset frequency judgment target period based on the history of code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231. Here, the frequency judgment target period is set to, for example, a period between the most recent one week and one month. Note that, if there is no code information whose use frequency is lower than the reference frequency, the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 avoids identifying code information. Then, the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 notifies the code notification unit 215 of the identified code information. When the code information is notified by the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214, the code notification unit 215 generates code notification information including the notified code information and transmits it to the device 1 that transmitted the code information.

[0026] Based on the history of the transmission source device identification information and the code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231, the cooperation determination unit 216 determines whether or not there is a device 1 that is operated in cooperation with the device 1 that is the transmission source of the code information and has a number of cooperation operations that is greater than a predetermined reference number during a predetermined cooperation determination target period. Here, the cooperation determination unit 216 determines that these devices 1 are operated in cooperation if, for example, the difference in time between the date and time when the code information transmitted from the device 1 is acquired and the date and time when the code information transmitted from at least one other device 1 is acquired is within one minute. In addition, the cooperation determination unit 216 sets the cooperation determination target period to, for example, the most recent one week. Then, when there is a device 1 that has a number of operations that is greater than the reference number, the cooperation determination unit 216 notifies the cooperation result notification unit 217 of the transmission source device identification information and operation content information of the device 1. When the cooperation determination unit 216 notifies the cooperation result notification unit 217 of the transmission source device identification information of each of the multiple devices 1, the cooperation result notification unit 217 generates cooperation notification information including the notified transmission source device identification information and operation content information and transmits it to the device 1.

[0027] When the cooperation information update unit 218 acquires cooperation request information requesting that another device 1 be cooperated with the device 1 after the cooperation result notifying unit 217 transmits the cooperation notification information to the device 1, the cooperation information update unit 218 updates the control information and the cooperative device identification information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in response to the cooperation request information, by associating the control information of the other device 1 with the cooperative device identification information of the other device 1 and storing them in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in association with each other. Furthermore, when the cooperation information update unit 218 acquires cooperation information update request information transmitted from the terminal device 3, the cooperation information update unit 218 updates the control information and the cooperative device identification information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in association with each other and storing them in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in association with each other. When the control information update unit 219 acquires operation content update notification information transmitted from the device 1, it updates the code information, transmission source device identification information, controlled device identification information, and control information stored in the control information storage unit 232 using the code information, transmission source device identification information, controlled device identification information, and operation content information contained in the acquired operation content update notification information.

[0028] Returning to FIG. 2, the terminal device 3 is, for example, a smartphone, and includes a CPU 301, a main memory unit 302, an auxiliary memory unit 303, a display unit 304, an input unit 305, a communication unit 306, and a bus 309 that connects them to each other. The main memory unit 302 has a volatile memory and is used as a work area for the CPU 301. The auxiliary memory unit 303 is a non-volatile memory and stores programs for the CPU 301 to execute various processes. The display unit 304 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display. The input unit 305 is, for example, a transparent touch pad that is placed on top of the display unit 304. The communication unit 306 is connected to the wide area network NW1, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 301 to the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1.

[0029] 3, by loading a program stored in auxiliary storage unit 303 into main storage unit 302 and executing it, CPU 301 functions as reception unit 311, display control unit 312, and cooperation information update request unit 313. Reception unit 311 receives the contents of an operation performed by a user on input unit 305, generates operation information according to the received operation contents, and notifies cooperation information update request unit 313. When reception unit 311 receives a cooperation information update operation for updating the cooperation device identification information, control information, and code information stored in cooperation information storage unit 233 of cloud server 2, cooperation information update request unit 313 generates cooperation information update request information including the updated cooperation device identification information, control information, and code information, and transmits it to cloud server 2.

[0030] Next, the operation of the remote control system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8 to FIG. 15. First, as shown in FIG. 8, when a user performs a so-called remote control operation on the operation unit 405 of the remote control device 4, the remote control device 4 identifies code information corresponding to the key of the operation unit 405 pressed by the remote control operation (step S1). Next, the identified code information is transmitted from the remote control device 4 to the device 1 (step S2). On the other hand, when the device 1 acquires the code information, it identifies operation content information corresponding to the acquired code information from among the operation content information stored in the operation content storage unit 131 (step S3). Next, the device 1 starts an operation according to the operation content indicated by the identified operation content information (step S4). After that, it is assumed that the device 1 determines that it is necessary to transmit the code information to the cloud server 2 by referring to the transmission necessity information corresponding to the acquired code information from among the transmission necessity information stored in the operation content storage unit 131 (step S5). In this case, the code information is transmitted from the device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S6).

[0031] On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the code information, the acquired code information is stored in the code usage history storage unit 231 in association with the transmission source device identification information of the code information, date and time information indicating the date and time when the code information was acquired, and user identification information identifying the user of the device 1 (step S7). Next, the cloud server 2 refers to the controlled device identification information stored in the control information storage unit 232 and determines that there is a controlled device, for example, an air conditioner 1B, associated with the acquired code information (step S8). In this case, the cloud server 2 identifies control information corresponding to the acquired code information from the control information stored in the control information storage unit 232 (step S9). Next, the identified control information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the device 1 identified by the identified controlled device identification information (step S10). On the other hand, when the device 1 acquires the control information, it starts operating based on the acquired control information (step S11).

[0032] Also, it is assumed that the cloud server 2 refers to the code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231 and determines that there is code information whose use frequency within the frequency determination target period is lower than the reference frequency (step S12). In this case, the cloud server 2 identifies the code information whose use frequency is lower than the reference frequency and whose use frequency is the lowest, and generates code notification information including the identified code information (step S13). After that, the generated code notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the device 1 (step S14). Meanwhile, when the device 1 acquires the code notification information, it extracts the code information included in the code notification information (step S15). Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the extracted code information is transmitted from the device 1 to the remote control device 4 (step S16). Meanwhile, when the remote control device 4 acquires the code information, it refers to the key information corresponding to the acquired code information stored in the code storage unit 431, and forms a notification screen image for notifying the user that there is code information whose use frequency is low, and causes the display unit 404 to display the notification screen image (step S17).

[0033] Here, the remote control device 4 displays a notification screen image GA1, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, on the display unit 404. The notification screen image GA1 includes a message image M11 representing a key corresponding to code information that is used less frequently, and two button images BU11 and BU12. The button image BU11 is selected when a new operation content corresponding to code information that is used less frequently is set, and the button image BU12 is selected when the setting of the operation content is not set. Here, when the user performs an operation to select the button image BU11 via the operation unit 405, the remote control device 4 displays a setting screen image GA2 for setting the operation content, for example, as shown in FIG. 11(A), on the display unit 404. The setting screen image GA2 includes a message image M21 representing the device 1 to be remotely controlled by the remote control device 4 and the key corresponding to the code information that is used less frequently, a message image M22 representing the setting status of the operation content for the key, and two button images BU21 and BU22. The button image BU21 is selected when a device 1 to be controlled by code information that is used less frequently and operation contents for the device 1 are newly set, and the button image BU22 is selected when the remote control device 4 is restored to the factory default settings. Here, when the user performs an operation to select the button image BU21 via the operation unit 405, the remote control device 4 displays on the display unit 404 a setting screen image GA3 including an input field B31 of the device to be operated, as shown in Fig. 11(B), in a state where the setting screen image GA2 is combined with the setting screen image GA3. Also, when the user performs an operation to select the input field B31 included in the setting screen image GA3 via the operation unit 405, the remote control device 4 displays on the display unit 404 a pop-up menu image PM31 showing a list of multiple types of devices 1 that have been set in advance. Furthermore, when the user performs an operation to select the input field B32 included in the setting screen image GA3 shown in Figure 12 (A) via the operation unit 405, the remote control device 4 displays on the display unit 404 a pop-up menu image PM32 that shows a list of multiple types of operation contents for the previously set device 1.Then, when the user selects device 1 and operation content represented by pop-up menu images PM31 and PM32 via the operation unit 405, the remote control device 4 displays on the display unit 404 a setting screen image GA3 in which the names of device 1 and operation content are input in input fields B31 and B32, respectively, as shown in Fig. 12(B). Here, when the user selects button image BU31 via the operation unit 405, the remote control device 4 displays on the display unit 404 a setting screen image GA4 including a message image M42 showing the updated setting status of the operation content for the key corresponding to the less frequently used code information, as shown in Fig. 13.

[0034] Returning to FIG. 9, it is assumed that the user performs a setting update operation to update the setting of the operation contents consisting of the above-mentioned series of operations via the operation unit 405. In this case, the remote control device 4 generates operation content update request information including operation content information indicating the operation contents after the setting update operation, code information that is used less frequently, and device identification information (step S18), and the generated operation content update request information is transmitted from the remote control device 4 to the device 1 (step S19). On the other hand, when the device 1 acquires the operation content update request information, it updates the operation content information and code information stored in the operation content storage unit 131 by adding the operation content information and code information included in the acquired operation content update request information to the operation content storage unit 131 (step S20). Next, the device 1 generates operation content update notification information including the above-mentioned device identification information, code information, and device identification information (step S21). After that, the generated operation content update notification information is transmitted from the device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S22). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the operation content update notification information, it updates the source device identification information, code information, controlled device identification information, and control information stored in the control information storage unit 232 using the device identification information, code information, and device identification information contained in the acquired operation content update notification information (step S23).

[0035] Also, it is assumed that the cloud server 2 determines, based on the history of the transmission source device identification information and the code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231, that there is a device 1 that is operated in cooperation with the device 1 that is the transmission source of the code information and that has a greater number of coordinated operations than the reference number (step S24). In this case, the cloud server 2 generates coordination notification information including the transmission source device identification information and operation content information of each of the multiple devices 1 determined to be operated in cooperation (step S25). Next, it is assumed that the cloud server 2 determines, with reference to the code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231, that there is code information whose frequency of use within the frequency determination target period is lower than the reference frequency (step S26). In this case, the cloud server 2 identifies code information whose frequency of use is lower than the reference frequency and that is the least frequently used, and generates code notification information including the identified code information (step S27). Next, the generated coordination notification information and code notification information are transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the device 1 (step S28).

[0036] 14, when the device 1 acquires the link notification information and the code notification information, it extracts the device identification information and the operation content information contained in the acquired link notification information and the code information contained in the code notification information (step S29). After that, the extracted device identification information, the operation content information and the code notification information are transmitted from the device 1 to the remote control device 4 (step S30). On the other hand, when the remote control device 4 acquires the device identification information, the operation content information and the code notification information, it forms the above-mentioned link notification image based on the acquired device identification information, the operation content information and the code notification information, and displays it on the display unit 404 (step S31).

[0037] Here, the remote control device 4 displays a link notification image GA5, for example, as shown in FIG. 15(A), on the display unit 404. The link notification image GA5 includes a message image M51 indicating the name of the device 1 recommended to operate in linkage, and two button images BU51 and BU52. The button image BU51 is selected when the device 1 is to be linked, and the button image BU52 is selected when the device 1 is not to be linked. Here, when the user performs an operation to select the button image BU52 via the operation unit 405, the remote control device 4 forms a link completion notification image GA6 including a message image M61 indicating the name of the device 1 to be linked and the operation content for the device 1 to be linked, for example, as shown in FIG. 15(B), and displays the link completion notification image GA6 on the display unit 404.

[0038] Returning to FIG. 14, it is assumed that the user performs a cooperation setting operation for operating the devices 1 in cooperation, for example, consisting of the above-mentioned series of operations, via the operation unit 405. In this case, the remote control device 4 generates cooperation request information requesting that the devices 1 be operated in cooperation (step S32), and the generated cooperation request information is transmitted from the remote control device 4 to the device 1 (step S33). On the other hand, when the device 1 acquires the cooperation request information, the cooperation request information is transmitted from the device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S34). On the other hand, the cloud server 2 updates the control information and device identification information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 233 by storing the control information and device identification information of the device 1 to be operated in cooperation in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in association with each other (step S35).

[0039] Furthermore, when the user performs a cooperation information update operation on the input unit 305 of the terminal device 3 to update the control information and device identification information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 233 of the cloud server 2, the terminal device 3 generates cooperation information update request information including the updated control information and device identification information and corresponding code information in response to this (step S36). Next, the generated cooperation information update request information is transmitted from the terminal device 3 to the cloud server 2 (step S37). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the cooperation information update request information, it updates the control information and the cooperation device identification information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 233 by storing the device identification information, control information, and code information included in the acquired cooperation information update request information in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in association with each other (step S38).

[0040] Next, the device control process executed by the device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 16. The device control process is started when the device 1 is powered on. First, the operation content identification unit 111 judges whether or not it has acquired code information transmitted from the remote control device 4 (step S101). If the operation content identification unit 111 judges that it has not acquired code information (step S101: No), the process of step S106 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the operation content identification unit 111 judges that it has acquired code information (step S101: Yes), it identifies operation content information corresponding to the acquired code information from among the operation content information stored in the operation content storage unit 131 (step S102). Next, the device control unit 112 controls the operation of the device 1 according to the identified operation content information (step S103). Next, the code notification unit 113 refers to the transmission necessity information corresponding to the acquired code information among the transmission necessity information stored in the operation content storage unit 131, and determines whether the transmission necessity information requires transmission to the cloud server 2 or not (step S104). If the code notification unit 113 determines that the transmission necessity information indicates that transmission to the cloud server 2 is not required (step S104: No), step S106 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the code notification unit 113 determines that the transmission necessity information indicates that transmission to the cloud server 2 is required (step S104: Yes), it adds source device identification information for identifying the source device 1 to the acquired code information and then transmits it to the cloud server 2 (step S105).

[0041] Thereafter, the control information acquisition unit 114 determines whether or not the control information transmitted from the cloud server 2 has been acquired (step S106). If the control information acquisition unit 114 determines that the control information has not been acquired (step S106: No), the process of step S108 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the control information acquisition unit 114 determines that the control information has been acquired (step S106: Yes), it notifies the device control unit 112 of the acquired control information. Then, the device control unit 112 controls the operation of the device 1 based on the notified control information (step S107).

[0042] Next, the code transfer unit 118 judges whether or not it has acquired code notification information including code information judged to be used less frequently, which is transmitted from the cloud server 2 (step S108). If the code transfer unit 118 judges that it has not acquired code notification information transmitted from the cloud server 2 (step S108: No), the process of step S113 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the code transfer unit 118 judges that it has acquired code notification information transmitted from the cloud server 2 (step S108: Yes), it extracts code information included in the acquired code notification information and transmits it to the remote control device 4 via the signal transmission / reception unit 105 (step S109). Next, the operation content update unit 115 judges whether or not it has acquired operation content update request information transmitted from the remote control device 4 (step S110). If the operation content update unit 115 judges that it has not acquired operation content update request information (step S110: No), the process of step S113 described later is executed. On the other hand, when the operation content update unit 115 determines that it has acquired the operation content update request information (step S110: Yes), it extracts the updated code information and operation content information included in the notified operation content update request information, and stores the extracted code information and operation content information and the corresponding transmission necessity information in the operation content storage unit 131 (step S111). After that, the operation content update notification unit 116 generates operation content update notification information including the updated code information, controlled device identification information, and operation content information, and transmits it to the cloud server 2 (step S112).

[0043] Next, the cooperation notification transfer unit 119 determines whether or not the cooperation notification information and the code notification information transmitted from the cloud server 2 have been acquired (step S113). If the cooperation notification transfer unit 119 determines that the cooperation notification information and the code notification information have not been acquired (step S113: No), the process of step S101 described above is executed again. On the other hand, if the cooperation notification transfer unit 119 determines that the cooperation notification information and the code notification information have been acquired (step S113: Yes), the cooperation notification transfer unit 119 extracts the device identification information and the operation content information included in the acquired cooperation notification information and the code information included in the code notification information, and transmits the extracted device identification information and the operation content information and the code information included in the code notification information to the cloud server 2 (step S114). Next, the cooperation request information transfer unit 120 determines whether or not the cooperation request information transmitted from the remote control device 4 has been acquired (step S115). If the cooperation request information transfer unit 120 determines that the cooperation request information has not been acquired (step S115: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the cooperation request information transfer unit 120 determines that the cooperation request information has been acquired (step S115: Yes), it transmits the acquired cooperation request information to the cloud server 2 (step S116), and the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0044] Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 17 and 18. The device control process is started when a program for executing the device control process is started in the cloud server 2. First, as shown in Fig. 17, the code acquisition unit 211 judges whether or not it has acquired code information transmitted from the device 1 (step S201). If the code acquisition unit 211 judges that it has not acquired the code information (step S201: No), the process of step S205 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the code acquisition unit 211 judges that it has acquired the code information (step S201: Yes), it stores the acquired code information in the code usage history storage unit 231 in association with the transmission source device identification information of the code information added to the code information, the date and time information indicating the date and time when the code information was acquired, which is timed by the clock unit 207, and the user identification information identifying the user of the device 1 (step S202). Next, the control content identification unit 212 identifies the most recent code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231, and judges whether or not there is a device 1 to be controlled by referring to the control target device identification information stored in the control information storage unit 232 (step S203). If the control content identification unit 212 judges that there is no device 1 to be controlled (step S203: No), the process of step S205 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the control content identification unit 212 judges that there is a device 1 to be controlled (step S203: Yes), it identifies the control target device identification information and control information corresponding to the identified code information from the control target device identification information and control information stored in the control information storage unit 232. Then, the control information notification unit 213 transmits the identified control information to the device 1 identified by the identified control target device identification information (step S204).

[0045] Next, the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 judges whether or not there is code information whose use frequency during the frequency judgment period is lower than the reference frequency based on the history of code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231 (step S205). If the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 judges that there is only code information whose use frequency is equal to or higher than the reference frequency (step S205: No), the process of step S209 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 judges that there is code information whose use frequency is lower than the reference frequency (step S205: Yes), it identifies code information whose use frequency is lower than the reference frequency and that is the least frequently used. Then, the code notification unit 215 generates code notification information including the identified code information and transmits it to the device 1 that is the source of the code information (step S206). After that, the control information update unit 219 judges whether or not it has acquired operation content update notification information transmitted from the device 1 (step S207). Here, if the control information update unit 219 determines that it has not acquired operation content update notification information (step S207: No), the process of step S209 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the control information update unit 219 determines that it has acquired operation content update notification information (step S207: Yes), it updates the code information, transmission source device identification information, controlled device identification information, and control information stored in the control information storage unit 232 using the code information, transmission source device identification information, controlled device identification information, and operation content information included in the acquired operation content update notification information (step S208).

[0046] Next, the cooperation determination unit 216 determines whether or not there is a device 1 that is operated in cooperation with the device 1 that is the source of the code information during the cooperation determination target period described above, the number of cooperation operations being greater than the reference number, based on the history of the transmission source device identification information and the code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231 (step S209). If the cooperation determination unit 216 determines that there is no device 1 that is operated in cooperation with the device 1 that is the source of the code information, the process of step S217 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the cooperation determination unit 216 determines that there is a device 1 that is operated in cooperation with the reference number (step S209: Yes), the cooperation result notification unit 217 generates cooperation notification information including the transmission source device identification information and operation content information of the device 1 (step S210). Next, the low use frequency code specification unit 214 determines whether or not there is code information that is used less frequently than the reference frequency, based on the history of the code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231 (step S211). Here, if the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 determines that there is only code information whose use frequency is equal to or higher than the reference frequency (step S211: No), the cooperation result notifying unit 217 transmits the generated cooperation notification information to the device 1 (step S212), and then step S215 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the low-use-frequency code identifying unit 214 determines that there is code information whose use frequency is lower than the reference frequency (step S211: Yes), it identifies the code information whose use frequency is lower than the reference frequency and that has the lowest use frequency. Then, the code notifying unit 215 generates code notification information including the identified code information (step S213). Thereafter, the cooperation result notifying unit 217 transmits the generated cooperation notification information to the device 1, and the code notifying unit 15 transmits the generated code information to the device 1 (step S214).

[0047] 18, after the cooperation notification information is transmitted to the device 1, the cooperation information update unit 218 determines whether or not the cooperation request information described above has been acquired (step S215). If the cooperation information update unit 218 determines that the cooperation request information has not been acquired (step S215: No), the process of step S217 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the cooperation information update unit 218 determines that the cooperation request information has been acquired (step S215: Yes), the cooperation information update unit 218 updates the control information and device identification information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in response to the determination (step S216) by storing the control information and device identification information of the device 1 to be operated in cooperation in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in association with each other.

[0048] Next, the cooperation information update unit 218 judges whether or not cooperation information update request information transmitted from the terminal device 3 has been acquired (step S217). If the cooperation information update unit 218 judges that cooperation information update request information has not been acquired (step S217: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the cooperation information update unit 218 judges that cooperation information update request information has been acquired (step S217: Yes), the cooperation information update unit 218 updates the control information and device identification information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 233 by storing the cooperation information update request information, the control information, and the code information included in the acquired cooperation information update request information in the cooperation information storage unit 233 in association with each other (step S218). Then, the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0049] As described above, according to the remote control system of the present embodiment, when the operation content for the device 1 corresponding to the code information is identified by the operation content identification unit 111 of the device 1, the device control unit 112 controls the device 1 according to the identified operation content. In addition, the code notification unit 113 of the device 1 transmits the code information to the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1. Furthermore, when the control content identification unit 212 of the cloud server 2 acquires the code information, it identifies the control content of the other device 1 corresponding to the code information, and the control information notification unit 213 transmits control information for controlling the other device 1 to the other device 1 controlled by the control information based on the identified control content. This allows a user to operate multiple devices 1 by operating one remote control device 4, thereby improving the operability of the multiple devices 1.

[0050] Meanwhile, a system has been provided in which an application for operating the device 1 is started in a terminal device for mobile communication such as a smartphone, control information is acquired from each of the multiple devices 1, and the multiple devices 1 are operated based on the acquired control information. However, in this type of system, it is necessary to start an application for operating the device 1 in the terminal device each time an attempt is made to operate the device 1, and this may take time or effort before the device 1 can be operated. In contrast, in the remote control system according to the present embodiment, a user can use a remote control device 4 provided for operating one device 1 to operate other devices 1 according to the user's selection, thereby improving the user's convenience.

[0051] Furthermore, in the remote control system according to the present embodiment, some of the keys of the remote control device 4 for operating one device 1 can be used to operate other devices 1, eliminating the need to operate multiple remote control devices 4 when operating multiple devices 1. In addition, devices 1 that do not have a corresponding remote control device 4 (e.g., refrigerator 1A, water heater 1E, etc.) can also be operated from the remote control device 4 via the cloud server 2. This allows the variety of devices 1 that can be remotely controlled by the user to be increased, thereby improving user convenience accordingly.

[0052] Furthermore, the device 1 according to the present embodiment has an operation content storage unit 131 that stores operation content information indicating operation content for the device 1 corresponding to each of a plurality of types of code information in association with the code information and transmission necessity information indicating whether the code information needs to be transmitted to the cloud server 2. Then, the code notification unit 113 of the device 1 transmits the code information to the cloud server 2 when the transmission necessity information corresponding to the code information sent from the remote control device 4 indicates the need for transmission to the cloud server 2. Meanwhile, the cloud server 2 according to the present embodiment has a control information storage unit 232 that stores control information for controlling another device 1 in response to acquisition of the code information in association with the transmission source device identification information of the device 1 that transmitted the code information, the control target device identification information of the device 1 that is the target of control, and the code information. Then, when the code information is acquired, the control information notification unit 213 of the cloud server 2 identifies the control information and the controlled device identification information corresponding to the combination of the acquired code information and the device identification information of the source of the code information from among the control information and the controlled device identification information stored in the control information storage unit 232, and transmits the identified control information to the device 1 identified by the identified controlled device identification information. This makes it possible to transmit the control information corresponding to the code information not only to the device 1 corresponding to the remote control device 4 but also to other devices 1 via the cloud server 2. Therefore, it becomes possible for a user to perform relatively advanced operations on a plurality of devices 1, such as, for example, performing an operation to turn off the power of the device 1 corresponding to the remote control device 4 and simultaneously turning off the power of the other devices 1, using, for example, a remote control device 4 that the user is relatively familiar with, thereby improving the convenience of the user.

[0053] Furthermore, with the setting screen image displayed on the display unit 404, the operation content update request unit 415 of the remote control device 4 according to this embodiment generates operation content update request information requesting updating of at least one of the operation content information stored in the operation content storage unit 131 of the device 1 and the control information stored in the control information storage unit 232, based on the operation content of the user on the operation unit 405, and transmits the generated operation content update request information to the device 1. This allows the user to customize the operation content of the device 1 corresponding to the key operation of the operation unit 405 using the remote control device 4, thereby improving user convenience.

[0054] Furthermore, the cooperation determination unit 216 according to the present embodiment determines whether or not there is another device 1 that is operated together with the device 1 more times than the reference number during the aforementioned determination period, based on the history of the code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231. When the cooperation result notification unit 217 determines that there is another device 1 that is operated together with the device 1 more times than the reference number during the determination period, it generates cooperation notification information that encourages the other device 1 to cooperate with the device 1 and transmits it to the device 1. When the device 1 acquires the cooperation notification information, it transmits the acquired cooperation notification information to the remote control device 4. As a result, information about the other device 1 that is determined to be recommended for cooperation with the device 1 based on the user's past operation history for the device 1 is notified to the user via the remote control device 4, so that the user can easily customize the operation content of the key so as to cooperate with the other device 1.

[0055] Furthermore, after the link notification information is transmitted to the device 1, when the link information update unit 218 according to the present embodiment acquires link request information requesting that another device 1 be linked with the target device 1, the link information update unit 218 accordingly updates the control information and the link target device identification information stored in the link information storage unit 233 by storing the control information for the other device 1 and the link target device identification information identifying the other device 1 in association with each other in the link information storage unit 233. This allows the link settings of multiple devices 1 to be updated according to the user's selection, thereby improving user convenience.

[0056] Furthermore, the low-frequency use code identifying unit 214 according to this embodiment identifies low-frequency use code information based on the history of code information stored in the code use history storage unit 231, and the code notifying unit 215 transmits the identified code information to the device 1. This makes it possible to notify the user of low-frequency use code information based on the user's operation history of the remote control device 4, thereby making it possible to effectively use low-frequency use keys on the operation unit 405 of the remote control device 4.

[0057] Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the cloud server 2002 may have an operation content storage unit 2234 that stores operation content information indicating operation content for each device 1 in association with device identification information that identifies each corresponding device 1. In FIG. 19, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3. In addition, the cloud server 2002 may have an operation content notification unit 2220 that, when it acquires operation content request information that includes device identification information and requests transmission of operation content information transmitted from the device 1, identifies operation content information included in the operation content request information from among the operation content information stored in the operation content storage unit 2234, and transmits the identified operation content information to the device 1 that transmitted the operation content request information. Here, the device 2001 has an operation content request transfer unit 2121 that, when it acquires operation content request information transmitted from the remote control device 2004, transmits the acquired operation content request information to the cloud server 2002, and an operation content transfer unit 2122 that, when it acquires operation content information transmitted from the cloud server 2002, transmits the acquired operation content information to the remote control device 2004 via the signal transmission / reception unit 105.

[0058] Furthermore, the remote control device 2004 according to this modification has an operation content acquisition unit 2418 that, when a user performs a download operation on the operation unit 405 to download operation content information of the device 1 from the cloud server 2 to the remote control device 2004, transmits operation content request information to the device 1 via the signal transmission / reception unit 406 in response to the download operation, thereby acquiring the operation content information transmitted from the device 1. Then, upon acquiring the operation content information, the operation content acquisition unit 2418 stores the acquired operation content information in the operation content storage unit 432 in association with the device identification information of the corresponding device 1.

[0059] According to this configuration, it is possible to store in the control information storage unit 232 of the cloud server 2002 the control information for the device 1 corresponding to device identification information that has not been stored in advance in the operation content storage unit 432 of the remote control device 4. Therefore, when a user starts using a new device 1, the user can relatively easily store the control information for the device 1 in the control information storage unit 232, thereby improving user convenience.

[0060] In the embodiment, the cloud server 3002 may include, for example, a cooperation function information storage unit 3235, as shown in Fig. 20. The cooperation function information storage unit 3235 stores a combination of product code information of a cooperation source device of two devices that function in cooperation with each other, operation content information indicating the operation content, and product code information of a cooperation destination device and control information indicating the control content of a device that is controlled in cooperation with the operation on the cooperation source device, as shown in Fig. 21. The information stored in the cooperation function information storage unit 3235 can be added, for example, by operating the terminal device 3.

[0061] Returning to FIG. 20, the cloud server 3002 includes a code combination determination unit 3220 that, when acquiring code notification information including product code information of the device 3001 transmitted from the device 3001, determines whether or not a combination including product code information included in the acquired code notification information exists among combinations of product code information stored in the collaboration function information storage unit 3235, and a control information update unit 3219. When the code combination determination unit 3220 determines that a combination including product code information included in the acquired code notification information exists, the control information update unit 3219 stores the control information included in the combination in the control information storage unit 232. In addition, the collaboration information notification unit 3221 generates collaboration information including code information and operation content information of the collaboration source device stored in the collaboration function information storage unit 3235, and transmits the collaboration information to the collaboration source device. Here, the code number information included in the code information is, for example, code number information identified by the low-frequency-of-use code identification unit 214.

[0062] The device 3001 includes an operation content storage unit 131, a code notification unit 3113, and an operation content update unit 3115. When the device 3001 is started, the code notification unit 3113 generates code notification information including product code information of the device 3001 and transmits the code notification information to the cloud server 3002. When the operation content update unit 3115 acquires the above-mentioned link information transmitted from the cloud server 3002, the operation content update unit 3115 stores the code information and operation content information included in the acquired link information and transmission necessity information set to the necessity of transmitting the code information to the cloud server 3002 in association with the operation content storage unit 131. As a result, when a key of the operation unit 405 corresponding to the code number information identified by the low-frequency-of-use code identification unit 214 is operated, a link function indicated by the information stored in the link function information storage unit 3235 is executed.

[0063] The remote control device 4 may display on the display unit 404 an inquiry image for inquiring of the user whether or not the cooperative operations of the two devices 3001 can be assigned to the keys of the operation unit 405. The remote control device 4 may display on the display unit 404 an image showing the key assignment of the cooperative operations of the two devices 3001. Furthermore, the remote control device 4 may transmit code information including code number information corresponding to a key selected by the user by operating the operation unit 405 to the device 3001, and the device 3001 may acquire the code information transmitted from the remote control device 4, and store the acquired code information and the operation content information included in the cooperative information in the operation content storage unit 131 in association with each other.

[0064] According to this configuration, the user can execute the function of causing the devices 3001 to operate in cooperation with each other on the remote control device 4 of the devices 3001, thereby improving the convenience for the user.

[0065] In addition, the various functions of the devices 1, 2001 and cloud servers 2, 2002 according to the present disclosure can be realized by using a normal computer system, not 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 a computer system and distributed to a computer connected to a network, and the device 1, 2001 and cloud servers 2, 2002 that execute the above processes may be configured by installing the program in the computer system.

[0066] The method of providing the program to the computer is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a bulletin board (BBS (Bulletin Board System)) on a communication line and distributed to the computer via the communication line. The computer then starts up the program and executes it under the control of an OS (Operating System) in the same way as other applications. In this way, the computer functions as the device 1, 2001 and the cloud server 2, 2002 that execute the above-mentioned processes.

[0067] 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.

[0068] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0069] (Appendix 1) a remote control device having an operation unit operated by a user, which identifies code information corresponding to an operation performed on the operation unit from among a plurality of types of code information set in advance, and transmits the identified code information; a first device that is controlled based on the code information sent from the remote control device; a server that communicates with the first device via a network; The first device is an operation content identification unit that identifies an operation content for the first device corresponding to the code information; a device control unit that controls the first device in accordance with the specified operation content when the operation content for the first device is specified; a code notification unit that transmits the code information to the server via the network, The server, a control content identification unit that, when the code information is acquired, identifies at least one of a control content of the first device corresponding to the code information and a control content of at least one second device different from the first device corresponding to the code information; and a control information notification unit that transmits control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the at least one second device based on the identified control content to at least one of the first device controlled by the control information and the at least one second device. Remote control system. (Appendix 2) The first device is a first operation content storage unit that stores operation content information indicating operation content for the first device corresponding to each of a plurality of types of code information in association with the code information and transmission necessity information indicating necessity of transmitting the code information to the server; When the transmission necessity information corresponding to the code information sent from the remote control device indicates a necessity of transmission to the server, the code notification unit transmits the code information to the server. 2. The remote control system of claim 1. (Appendix 3) The server, a control information storage unit that stores control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the at least one second device in response to acquisition of at least one type of code information, in association with source device identification information that identifies the first device that has transmitted the code information, control target device identification information that identifies at least one of the first device and the at least one second device that is to be controlled by the control information, and the code information; when the code information is acquired, the control information notification unit identifies, from the control information and the controlled device identification information stored in the control information storage unit, the control information and the controlled device identification information corresponding to a combination of the acquired code information and the transmission source device identification information of the code information, and transmits the identified control information to at least one of the first device and the at least one second device identified by the identified controlled device identification information. 3. The remote control system according to claim 1 or 2. (Appendix 4) The server, a control information storage unit that stores control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the at least one second device in response to acquisition of at least one type of code information, in association with source device identification information that identifies the first device that has transmitted the code information, control target device identification information that identifies at least one of the first device and the at least one second device that is to be controlled by the control information, and the code information; The remote control device includes: A display unit; a display control unit that forms a setting screen image for setting operation contents for the first device corresponding to the code information and displays the setting screen image on the display unit; and an operation content update request unit that requests updating of at least one of the operation content information stored in the operation content storage unit of the first device and the control information stored in the control information storage unit, based on the operation content of the operation unit by a user while the setting screen image is displayed on the display unit. 3. A remote control system as described in claim 2. (Appendix 5) The server, a second operation content storage unit that stores operation content information indicating operation content for the first device and the at least one second device in association with device identification information that identifies the corresponding first device and the at least one second device; an operation content notification unit that, when receiving operation content request information that includes the device identification information and requests transmission of the operation content information transmitted from the first device, identifies operation content information included in the operation content request information from among the operation content information stored in the second operation content storage unit, and transmits the identified operation content information to the first device; the first device has an operation content transfer unit that transfers the operation content information to the remote control device, when the display control unit acquires the operation content information transmitted from the first device, the display control unit forms the setting screen image including a message image representing the operation content indicated by the acquired operation content information and displays the setting screen image on the display unit. 5. The remote control system of claim 4. (Appendix 6) The server, a code usage history storage unit that stores the code information transmitted from the first device and the code information transmitted from each of the at least one second device in association with date and time information indicating a date and time when the code information was acquired; a cooperation determination unit that determines whether or not there is a second device that is operated together with the first device more times than a predetermined reference number of times within a predetermined determination period based on the history of the code information stored in the code usage history storage unit; and a linkage result notification unit that, when it is determined that the second device is operated together with the first device more times than a preset reference number during the determination period, generates linkage notification information prompting the second device to link with the first device and transmits the linkage notification information to the first device. 6. A remote control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. (Appendix 7) The server, A linkage function information storage unit stores a combination of the code information of the first device and operation content information indicating operation content of the first device, which function in linkage with each other, and the code information of the second device and control information for the first device that controls in linkage with the operation for the first device, a code combination determination unit that, when acquiring the code information transmitted from the first device, determines whether or not a combination including the acquired code information is present among combinations of the code information stored in the collaboration function information storage unit; a control information update unit that, when it is determined that a combination including the acquired code information exists, stores the control information included in the combination in the control information storage unit; a code notification unit that generates code notification information including the code information and the operation content information of the first device and transmits the code notification information to the first device, The first device is an operation content storage unit that stores operation content information indicating operation content for the first device corresponding to each of a plurality of types of code information in association with the code information and transmission necessity information indicating whether or not the code information needs to be transmitted to the server; an operation content update unit that, when the code notification information is acquired, stores the code information and the operation content information included in the acquired code notification information, and transmission necessity information set to a necessity for transmitting the code information to the server, in association with the operation content storage unit; 4. A remote control system as described in claim 3. (Appendix 8) The server, a code usage history storage unit that stores the code information transmitted from the first device in association with date and time information indicating a date and time when the code information was acquired; a low-usage-frequency code identifying unit that identifies the code information whose usage frequency within a predetermined frequency determination period is lower than a predetermined reference frequency and that has the lowest usage frequency based on the history of the code information stored in the code usage history storage unit; and a code notification unit that transmits the specified code information to the first device. 8. A remote control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. (Appendix 9) a step in which a remote control device having an operation unit operated by a user specifies code information corresponding to the operation content performed on the operation unit from among multiple types of code information set in advance, and transmits the specified code information; A step of identifying an operation content for the first device corresponding to the code information by a first device; When the operation content for the first device is identified, the first device controls the first device according to the identified operation content; The first device transmits the code information to a server that can communicate with the first device via a network; When the code information is acquired, the server identifies at least one of a control content of the first device corresponding to the code information and a control content of at least one second device different from the first device corresponding to the code information; and a step of transmitting, by the server, control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the at least one second device based on the identified control content, to at least one of the first device and the at least one second device controlled by the control information. Remote control method. [Industrial Applicability]

[0070] The present disclosure is suitable as a remote control system for remotely controlling an appliance using a remote control device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1,2001 Equipment, 1A Refrigerator, 1B,1D Air conditioner, 1C Television receiver, 1E Water heater, 2,2002 Cloud server, 3 Terminal device, 4,2004 Remote control device, 8 BBR, 101,201,301 CPU, 102,202,302 Main memory unit, 103,203,303 Auxiliary memory unit, 105,406 Signal transmission / reception unit, 106,206,306 Communication unit, 109,209,309 Bus, 111 Operation content identification unit, 112 Equipment control unit, 113,215 Code notification unit, 114 Control information acquisition unit, 115 Operation content update unit, 116 Operation content update notification unit, 118 Code transfer unit, 119 Linkage notification transfer unit, 120 Cooperation request information transfer unit, 131, 432, 2234 Operation content storage unit, 207 Timer unit, 231 Code use history storage unit, 232 Control information storage unit, 233 Cooperation information storage unit, 211, 412 Code acquisition unit, 212 Control content identification unit, 213 Control information notification unit, 214 Low frequency code identification unit, 216 Cooperation determination unit, 217 Cooperation performance notification unit, 218, 416 Cooperation information update unit, 219 Control information update unit, 304, 404 Display unit, 305 Input unit, 311 Reception unit, 312, 414 Display control unit, 313 Cooperation information update request unit, 401 Processing unit, 403 Memory, 405 Operation unit, 411 Code identification unit, 413 Key identification unit, 415 Operation content update request unit, 417 Cooperation notification acquisition unit, 431 Code memory unit, 2121 operation content request transfer unit, 2122 operation content transfer unit, 2220 operation content notification unit, 2418 operation content acquisition unit, B31, B32 input field, BU11, BU12, BU21, BU22, BU31, BU51, BU52 button image, GA1 notification screen image, GA2, GA3, GA4 setting screen image, GA5 linkage notification image, GA6 linkage completion notification image, H building, M11, M21, M22, M42, M51, M61 message image, NW1 wide area network, NW2 local network

Claims

1. A remote control device that has an operating unit operated by a user, identifies code information corresponding to the operation performed on the operating unit from a plurality of pre-set types of code information, and sends out the identified code information, controls a first device based on the code information sent out by the remote control device, and communicates via a network with a server that receives the code information from the code notification unit of the first device, When the code information is obtained, a control content identification unit identifies the control content of at least one second device different from the first device that corresponds to the code information, The system includes a control information notification unit that transmits control information to the at least one second device for controlling the at least one second device based on the identified control content, server.

2. When the code information is acquired, the control content identification unit identifies the control content of the first device corresponding to the code information, The control information notification unit transmits control information to the first device for controlling the first device based on the identified control content. The server according to claim 1.

3. A control information storage unit further stores control information for controlling at least one of the first device and the at least one second device in response to the acquisition of at least one type of code information, in association with source device identification information that identifies the first device that transmitted the code information, controlled device identification information that identifies at least one of the first device and the at least one second device that is the target of control by the control information, and the code information. When the code information is acquired, the control information notification unit identifies the control information and the controlled device identification information that correspond to the combination of the acquired code information and the source device identification information of the code information from the control information storage unit's stored control information, and transmits the identified control information to at least one of the first device identified by the identified controlled device identification information and the at least one second device. The server according to claim 2.

4. A remote control system comprising the server described in Claim 3 and the first device, The code notification unit transmits the code information to the server if the transmission requirement information, which indicates whether or not the code information corresponding to the code information sent from the remote control device needs to be transmitted to the server, indicates that transmission to the server is required. Remote control system.

5. A code usage history storage unit that stores the code information transmitted from the first device and the code information transmitted from each of the at least one second devices in association with date and time information indicating the date and time the code information was acquired, A cooperation determination unit determines, based on the history of the code information stored in the code usage history storage unit, whether or not there exists a second device that is operated together with the first device more times than a predetermined standard number of times within a predetermined determination period. The system further includes a cooperation performance notification unit that, if it is determined that there is a second device that is operated together with the first device more times than a preset standard number of times within the determination period, generates cooperation notification information prompting the second device to cooperate with the first device and transmits it to the first device. The server according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The aforementioned server, The system further includes a cooperative function information storage unit that stores a combination of the code information and operation content information of the first device which functions in cooperation with each other, and the code information of the second device and control information for the first device which controls in cooperation with the operation of the first device. Upon acquiring the code information transmitted from the first device, the code combination determination unit determines whether or not there is a combination of code information stored in the linked function information storage unit that includes the acquired code information. If it is determined that a combination containing the acquired code information exists, the control information update unit causes the control information included in the combination to be stored in the control information storage unit, The system further includes a code notification unit that generates code notification information including the code information and operation content information of the first device and transmits it to the first device, The first device is, An operation content storage unit stores operation content information for the first device corresponding to each of the multiple types of code information, in association with the code information and the transmission necessity information. The operation content update unit, upon acquiring the code notification information, stores the code information and operation content information included in the acquired code notification information, as well as information indicating whether the code information should be sent to the server, in association with the operation content storage unit. The remote control system according to claim 4.

7. A code usage history storage unit that stores the code information transmitted from the first device in association with date and time information indicating the date and time the code information was acquired, A low-usage-frequency code identification unit identifies the code information with the lowest usage frequency within a predetermined frequency determination period, based on the history of the code information stored in the code usage history storage unit, where the usage frequency within the predetermined frequency determination period is lower than a predetermined standard frequency. A code notification unit that transmits the identified code information to the first device, The server according to claim 2.

8. A remote control system comprising the server described in Claim 2 and the remote control device, The aforementioned server, The system further includes a control information storage unit that stores, for at least one type of code information, control information for controlling at least one of the first device and at least one of the second devices in response to the acquisition of the code information, in association with source device identification information that identifies the first device that transmitted the code information, controlled device identification information that identifies at least one of the first device and at least one of the second devices that are the targets of control by the control information, and the code information. The remote control device is Display unit and A display control unit that forms a setting screen image for setting the operation content for the first device corresponding to the code information and displays it on the display unit, With the setting screen image displayed on the display unit, the system further includes an operation content update request unit that requests updating at least one of the operation content information stored in the first operation content storage unit and the control information stored in the control information storage unit, which stores operation content information indicating the operation content for the first device corresponding to each of the multiple types of code information in association with the code information and transmission necessity information indicating whether or not the code information needs to be transmitted to the server, based on the operation content of the user to the operation unit. Remote control system.

9. The aforementioned server, A second operation content storage unit stores operation content information indicating the operation content for the first device and the at least one second device, in association with device identification information that identifies the corresponding first device and the at least one second device, The system further includes an operation content notification unit that, upon receiving operation content request information transmitted from the first device, which includes the device identification information and requests the transmission of the operation content information, identifies the operation content information contained in the operation content request information from the operation content information stored in the second operation content storage unit, and transmits the identified operation content information to the first device. When the display control unit acquires the operation content information transferred from the first device, it forms the setting screen image including a message image representing the operation content indicated by the acquired operation content information and displays it on the display unit. The remote control system according to claim 8.

10. A remote control device that has an operating unit operated by a user, identifies code information corresponding to an operation performed on the operating unit from among a plurality of pre-set types of code information, and sends out the identified code information, controls a first device based on the code information sent out by the remote control device, and communicates via a network with a server that receives the code information from the code notification unit of the first device, When the code information is obtained, a control content identification step is performed to identify the control content of at least one second device different from the first device that corresponds to the code information. The system includes a control information notification step of transmitting control information to the at least one second device for controlling the at least one second device based on the identified control content, Remote control method.

11. The control content identification step, when the code information is acquired, identifies the control content of the first device corresponding to the code information, The control information notification step involves transmitting control information to the first device for controlling the first device based on the identified control content. The remote control method according to claim 10.

12. A program that causes a computer to execute the remote control method described in claim 10 or 11.

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