Opening and closing device control system

Abstract

To prioritize an operation by a remote controller and the like that cannot be recognized by an opening and closing device control communication apparatus, if such an operation occurs, and cancel automatic control according to meteorological information.SOLUTION: An opening and closing device control system has an opening and closing device control communication apparatus 20 to make an opening and closing device 10 perform a control operation by transmitting a control command to the opening and closing device 10 according to meteorological information input through Internet line. The opening and closing device control system has operation state detection means to detect operation state of the opening and closing device 10 not corresponding to the control command according to the meteorological information. The opening and closing device control communication apparatus 20 transmits a signal to cancel the control operation by the control command when the operation state detection means detects the operation state after transmitting the control command according to the meteorological information to the opening and closing device 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a switching device control system that controls a switching device in response to meteorological information. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional inventions of this type include an opening and closing device control system in which an opening and closing device control server (opening and closing device control communication device) wirelessly transmits control commands in response to weather information, etc., input via an Internet line, and the opening and closing device automatically closes the opening and closing body in response to this control command (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-21129 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, if a user performs an operation after the opening / closing control server issues a control command for automatic closing, it is desirable to give priority to that operation and cancel the automatic closing. However, if the user performs an operation using a remote control or the like that is not recognized by the opening / closing control server, it is difficult to cancel the automatic closing. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In view of the above problems, one aspect of the present invention has the following configuration. A switching gear control system equipped with a switching gear control communication device that transmits a control command to a switching gear in accordance with weather information input via an Internet line to control the operation of the switching gear, the switching gear control system further comprising an operation state detection means for detecting an operation state of the switching gear that does not conform to the control command in accordance with the weather information, the switching gear control communication device transmitting a signal to cancel the control operation based on the control command if the operation state detection means detects the operation state after transmitting a control command in accordance with the weather information to the switching gear. Effect of the Invention

[0006] Since the present invention is configured as described above, when an operation is performed using a remote control or the like that cannot be recognized by the opening and closing device control communication device, that operation is given priority and automatic control according to weather information can be canceled. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a switching device control system according to the present invention; [Diagram 2] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for mode setting by a user terminal. [Diagram 3] 10 is a flowchart showing a process for mode setting by the switching device control communication device. [Figure 4] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of control during issuance of a weather warning. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of control in a user instruction priority mode. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of control in an automatic control priority mode. [Figure 7] 7 is a flowchart continuing from FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of control during automatic closing. [Figure 9] 5A to 5C are schematic diagrams sequentially showing the states of an opening / closing device and a user terminal during automatic closing. [Figure 10] 11(d) to 11(e) are schematic diagrams sequentially showing the states of the opening / closing device and the user terminal during automatic closing. [Figure 11] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of control when an opening / closing device operates in a manner not in accordance with the automatic closing process. [Figure 12] 13 is a flowchart showing an example of control when a lifting operation is performed during a full closing state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, this opening / closing device control system 1 is composed of one or more opening / closing devices 10 that open and close openings in a structure, a opening / closing device control communication device 20 that controls the opening / closing device 10 in accordance with user instruction information and weather information input via an Internet line or the like, one or more user terminals 30 that communicate with the opening / closing device control communication device 20 via an Internet line and a carrier network or the like, and an information providing server 40 that transmits weather information to the opening / closing device control communication device 20 via the Internet line or the like.

[0009] In the illustrated example, the opening / closing device 10 is a window shutter installed on the outside of the window glass of a building, and is equipped with an opening / closing body 11 that opens and closes in the vertical direction by an opening / closing mechanism (electric motor, etc.) not shown, and a storage section 12 that stores and extends the opening / closing body 11 on its upper side, and a transceiver 13 is provided within the storage section 12 for wireless communication with the opening / closing device control communication device 20. This opening / closing device 10 recognizes the fully closed state, fully open state, partially closed state, etc. of the opening / closing body 11 by using a counter-type limit switch, an encoder, etc. provided on the opening / closing device, and transmits signals indicating these open / closed states as appropriate in response to a request from the opening / closing device control communication device 20.

[0010] Further, each opening / closing device 10 has a timer function for opening or closing the opening / closing body 11 at a preset time. This timer function is set by manual operation of the operation remote control 14 or the user terminal 30, which will be described later. The control circuit of each switching device 10 is configured to appropriately transmit control information based on the timer function to the switching device control communication device 20 .

[0011] The timer function may be provided in the switchgear control communication device 20 or the user terminal 30.

[0012] 1 is provided for each switching gear 10 and transmits operation commands such as an open command, a stop command, a close command, etc., wirelessly to the control circuit of the switching gear 10 near the corresponding switching gear 10 to control the operation of the switching gear 10. This operation remote control 14 does not communicate with the switching gear control communication device 20 described later. The control circuit of the opening / closing device 10 prioritizes operation commands from the operation remote control 14 over control commands from the opening / closing device control communication device 20. In other words, when the opening / closing device 10 receives an operation command from the operation remote control 14 and a control command from the opening / closing device control communication device 20 simultaneously, the opening / closing device 10 accepts the operation command from the operation remote control 14 as a priority and operates accordingly.

[0013] The switching gear control communication device 20 includes a storage device, a program stored in the storage device, and a computer circuit including a CPU for executing the program, etc. Furthermore, the switching gear control communication device 20 includes communication means for connecting wirelessly or by wire to an Internet line via a wireless router 21 and a modem, etc., and a transceiver for directly performing wireless communication with multiple switching gears 10 by specific low-power radio, etc.

[0014] The switchgear control communication device 20 retrieves Internet information from a user terminal 30 or an information providing server 40 of a switchgear management organization (see FIG. 1). This Internet information includes user instruction information, weather information, and the like.

[0015] The user instruction information is information issued from the user terminal 30 based on a user operation. This user instruction information may include a user code set for each user terminal 30 to identify the user terminal 30, a command to open, stop, or close the opening and closing device 10 based on a user operation on the user terminal 30, a mode setting command such as an automatic closing disable mode, a user instruction priority mode, or an automatic control priority mode, which will be described later, a command to cancel the automatic closing process, which will be described later, and the like.

[0016] The weather information is information generated by the information providing server 40 based on information obtained from the Japan Meteorological Agency. This weather information may include a weather warning (for example, a heavy rain warning, a storm warning, etc.) that serves as a trigger for issuing a closing command to the opening and closing device 10.

[0017] In addition, the opening and closing device control communication device 20 may be connected to the HEMS controller 22 via a wireless router 21, a modem, or the like, as necessary. The HEMS controller 22 is a device for a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) that is installed in the building in which the switchgear 10 is installed and manages the energy used within the home, and transmits and receives necessary information to and from the switchgear control communication device 20.

[0018] The user terminal 30 is equipped with a CPU that processes input data, a storage device, an input / output device, a wireless transceiver, etc., and is configured to function according to a pre-stored program (application). This user terminal 30 may be, for example, a well-known mobile communication device such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet PC, a wearable computer (including, for example, a wristwatch type or a glasses type), an in-vehicle computer (including a driving assistance computer or a car navigation system, etc.). The user terminal 30 in the illustrated example is a smartphone.

[0019] One or more user terminals 30 are connected to a single switchgear control communication device 20 via the Internet. Each user terminal 30, with the program (application) installed, is set for pairing with the opening / closing device control communication device 20, thereby enabling mutual communication with the opening / closing device control communication device 20. The pairing may be indirectly established by pairing between each user terminal 30 and the information providing server 40 and pairing between the information providing server 40 and the opening / closing device control communication device 20 .

[0020] The user terminal 30 functions according to the program to display, for example, on a touch panel a screen for selecting the opening / closing device 10 to be operated, buttons for opening, stopping, and closing the opening / closing device 10, a screen for setting modes, and the like, and transmits user instruction information corresponding to operations on the touch panel to the opening / closing device control communication device 20 via an Internet line or the like.

[0021] Furthermore, the user terminal 30 performs various notifications (for example, push notifications, icon display, etc.) based on the received signal from the opening and closing device control communication device 20 by functioning according to the program.

[0022] The information providing server 40 is a computer owned by an opening / closing device management organization, such as a shutter device manufacturer, a service company, an installation company, a security company, etc. This information providing server 40 obtains Internet information such as weather information from a database server (not shown) of the weather information management organization via an Internet line or the like, and transmits this information to the opening / closing device control communication device 20. The information server 40 may be a virtual server in which server functions are virtually implemented by software on hardware.

[0023] Next, the processing performed by the switching device control system 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0024] <Processing for mode setting by user terminal> First, as shown in FIG. 2, when the switching gear control system 1 controls a plurality of switching gears 10, a mode setting operation is performed as a preparation for the control.

[0025] Specifically, the user terminal 30, which has been paired with the opening / closing device control communication device 20, waits for a user instruction to display a mode setting screen (step S1), and if so, displays the mode setting screen G1 shown in Figure 2 on the touch panel display (step S2).

[0026] The mode setting screen G1 is a screen that displays a plurality of types of buttons such as "Disabled (no automatic closing)", "User instruction priority", and "Automatic closing priority" that can be selected and operated.

[0027] When a selection operation (e.g., a touch operation) is performed on any of the multiple types of buttons, the user terminal 30 includes a mode setting command corresponding to the selected button in user instruction information and transmits this user instruction information to the opening and closing device control communication device 20 via an Internet line or the like.

[0028] For example, if "Disabled (no automatic closing)" is selected, the user terminal 30 transmits a mode setting command to disable the automatic closing process to the switching device control communication device 20 (steps S3 and S4). When "user instruction priority" is selected, the user terminal 30 transmits a mode setting command to the switching device control communication device 20 to set the mode to the user instruction priority mode (steps S13 and S14). When "automatic control priority" is selected, the user terminal 30 transmits a mode setting command to the switching device control communication device 20 to switch to the control priority mode (steps S23 and S24).

[0029] <Processing for mode setting by switchgear control communication unit> Next, a process to be performed when the mode setting command is transmitted from the user terminal 30 to the switching device control communication device 20 will be described (see FIG. 3).

[0030] The switchgear control communication device 20 waits for a mode setting command from the user terminal 30 (step S101), and if a mode setting command is received, proceeds to the next step. When mode setting commands are received from a plurality of user terminals 30, only the earliest mode setting command is recognized and processed.

[0031] In step S102, it is determined whether the mode setting command is a command to disable the automatic closing process. If it is, the process proceeds to the next step S103, and if not, the process proceeds to step S112. In the next step S103, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 stores the mode setting command indicating the automatic closing disable mode, and proceeds to the next step S104.

[0032] Here, the automatic closing disabled mode is a mode in which the automatic closing process (see FIG. 8), which is an automatic control based on weather information, is not performed. Note that even in this automatic closing disabled mode, direct operation (open, stop, close, etc.) using each operation remote control 14 or opening / closing device control communication device 20 is possible.

[0033] Also, in step S112, it is determined whether or not the mode setting command is a command for switching to the user instruction priority mode. If it is, the process proceeds to the next step S113, and if not, the process proceeds to step S122. In the next step S113, the switching device control communication device 20 stores that the mode setting command is the user instruction priority mode, and proceeds to the next step S104.

[0034] Also, in step S122, it is determined whether or not the mode setting command is a command for switching to the automatic control priority mode. If it is, the process proceeds to the next step S123, and if not, the process returns to step S102. In the next step S123, the switchgear control communication device 20 stores the mode setting command indicating that the mode is the automatic control priority mode, and proceeds to the next step S104.

[0035] In step S104, it is determined whether or not the mode has been switched based on the previous process progress. If the mode has been switched, the process proceeds to the next step S105; if not, step S105 is skipped and the process returns to step S101.

[0036] In step S105, all paired user terminals 30 are notified of the mode change. This notification may be a push notification such as "The automatic shutter closing setting has been changed" or "The new mode is... mode."

[0037] The above-mentioned mode setting may be such that a different mode is set for each opening / closing device 10 in the opening / closing device control system 1, or the same mode may be set for all opening / closing devices 10 simultaneously.

[0038] <Processing when a weather warning is issued / resolved> Next, the process when a weather warning is issued and the process when a weather warning is lifted will be described in detail with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0039] The opening / closing device control communication device 20 determines whether the weather information received from the information providing server 40 includes a specified weather warning (e.g., a storm warning or a heavy rain warning) for a preset target area (step S201), and if so, proceeds to the next step, otherwise transitions to step S211.

[0040] The area covered by the weather warning may be, for example, the location of the opening / closing device 10 or the location of the user terminal 30, and this location may be input in advance by manual operation of the user terminal 30, or may be automatically input using the GPS function of the user terminal 30.

[0041] In step S202, the opening operation based on the timer function is disabled, while the closing operation based on the timer function is maintained enabled. More specifically, the switching device control communication device 20 issues a command to the switching device 10 that has been set as a control target in advance to cancel only the opening operation caused by the timer function. The closing operation caused by the timer function is kept valid as is. The opening / closing device 10 that receives this command cancels the reservation of an opening operation based on a timer function if such a reservation has been made, and validates the reservation of a closing operation based on a timer function if such a reservation has been made.

[0042] In the next step S203, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 judges whether the previously stored mode is the user instruction priority mode or the automatic control priority mode, and if it is the user instruction priority mode, it proceeds to process (A) shown in Fig. 5. If it is the automatic control mode, it proceeds to process (B) shown in Fig. 6.

[0043] Also, in step S211, a command is issued to the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled so as to enable both the opening operation and the closing operation of the opening / closing device 10 by the timer function, and the process proceeds to the next step. Upon receiving this command, if an opening operation and / or a closing operation is reserved using a timer function, the opening / closing device 10 validates this reservation.

[0044] In the next step S212, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 determines whether or not the weather information has transitioned from a state in which a specified weather warning is included to a state in which the weather warning is not included (step S212), and if the transition has occurred, notifies the user terminal 30 connected via the Internet line that the weather warning has been lifted (step S213), and if the transition has not occurred, the process returns to step S201.

[0045] In the illustrated example, the notification in step S213 is the text "The weather warning for your area has been lifted. [Wind / Rain] XX City, X Prefecture," and is displayed as a push notification on the touch display of the user terminal 30 (see dashed line in Figure 4).

[0046] Therefore, according to the process shown in FIG. 4, when a weather warning is issued, the normal timer function can be disabled, and it is possible to prevent the opening / closing body 11, which has been automatically closed due to a weather warning in the steps described below, from being opened by the operation of the normal timer function. In addition, since the closing operation using the timer function is enabled, if there is a weather warning and a closing operation using the timer function occurs before the automatic closure due to the weather warning, the closing operation will not be affected.

[0047] Furthermore, when a weather warning state transitions from on to off, the user of each user terminal 30 can promptly report that information.

[0048] <Processing in user priority mode> In the user instruction priority mode, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 requests the user terminal 30, which is the source of the user instruction information, to make a decision regarding the control of the opening / closing device 10, based on the weather information obtained from the information providing server 40, and transmits a control command to the opening / closing device 10 based on this decision. An example of control when this user instruction priority mode is selected will be described in detail below with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0049] First, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 transmits a notification 1 to all user terminals 30 with which it is paired (step S301), and proceeds to the next step.

[0050] Notification 1 is a notification indicating that a weather warning has been issued, and according to the illustrated example, the text "A weather warning has been issued for your area. XX City, X Prefecture [Gale Warning]" is displayed on the display of each user terminal 30 as a push notification screen.

[0051] Next, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 requests information from the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled as to whether the opening / closing body 11 is in the open state, and determines, based on the response from the opening / closing device 10 to this request, whether the opening / closing device 10 is in the open state (including fully open and partially open) or is already in the fully closed state (step S301a). If it is in the open state, the process proceeds to the next step, and if it is already in the fully closed state, the process returns to step S201.

[0052] That is, when the opening and closing device 10 is already in the fully closed state, a request for a closing determination (steps S302 and S304) or an automatic closing process, which will be described later, is not necessary, and the process returns to step S201. According to this step S301a, the user does not need to receive a request for a closing determination from the user terminal 30 when the opening and closing device 10 is already in a fully closed state, for example, at night.

[0053] In the next step S302, a notification 2 is sent to all paired user terminals 30, and the process proceeds to the next step.

[0054] Notification 2 is a notification that a weather warning has been issued and a notification asking for a decision regarding the control of the opening and closing device 10 in response to this notification.In the illustrated example, the text "A weather warning has been issued for your area. If you want to close the shutters, please tap this notification" is displayed on the touch display of each user terminal 30 as a touch-operable push notification screen.

[0055] Next, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 determines whether a tap operation has been performed on notification 2 based on the user instruction information received from the user terminal 30 (step S303), and if a tap operation has been performed, proceeds to the next step S304, and if not, transitions to step S313.

[0056] In step S313, it is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, one hour) has elapsed, and if so, the process proceeds to the next step S314, and if not, the process returns to step S303. In step S314, the above notification 2 is retransmitted. That is, if there is no response by tapping operation after the notification 2 in step S302, the switching device control communication device 20 repeatedly transmits the notification 2 at predetermined time intervals and requests a response by tapping operation each time the notification is transmitted.

[0057] Although not shown in the flow chart, if the weather warning is lifted while the processes of steps S303, S313, and S314 are being repeated, the process may proceed to step S213. Furthermore, if the number of times steps S303, S313, and S314 are repeated exceeds a predetermined number of times (or if the repetition time exceeds a predetermined time), the process may proceed to a different process, such as proceeding to the next step S304.

[0058] In the next step S304, a screen G2 is displayed on the user terminal 30, requesting a decision as to whether or not to close the opening / closing body 11. According to an example shown in Fig. 5, this screen G2 is a screen that displays a "Close Shutter" button and other buttons in a selectable manner.

[0059] In the next step S305, based on the user instruction information received from the user terminal 30, it is determined whether the "Close Shutter" or "(Other Process)" button has been operated (e.g., touched), and if it has been operated, the process proceeds to the next step S306; if it has not been operated, the process transitions to step S315.

[0060] In step S315, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed. If the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S306; if not, the process returns to step S305. That is, according to step S315, if a predetermined time has elapsed without a response to the operation request in step S304, an automatic closing process, which will be described later, is executed and a closing command is sent to the opening and closing device 10.

[0061] Although the flow chart is omitted, in the above S304 and S305, if the "(other process)" button is operated, the process corresponding to this button may be carried out. For example, when the other process is operated, the process may proceed to step S103 and the control mode may be switched to the automatic closing disabled mode so that the automatic closing process described later is not performed.

[0062] In the next step S306, all paired user terminals 30 are notified that automatic closing of the opening / closing body 11 based on the weather information has started. This notification may be, for example, a push notification screen that displays "Shutter closing has started" on the display of the user terminal 30.

[0063] Then, thereafter, the process by the switching device control communication device 20 proceeds to process (D) shown in FIG.

[0064] Therefore, according to the process in the user instruction priority mode shown in FIG. 5, each user of the multiple user terminals 30 can determine whether or not to perform the automatic closing process described below depending on his or her individual circumstances.

[0065] In the flowchart of Figure 5, notification 2 in step S302 requests a decision as to whether to close the opening / closing body 11, and further, the operation screen display in step S304 also requests a decision as to whether to close the opening / closing body 11, and based on the responses to both of these requests, the automatic closing process described below is performed. However, as another example, the automatic closing process described below may be performed based on the response to either one of the requests. That is, it is possible to adopt an embodiment in which the above steps S302, S303, S313, and S314 are omitted from the flowchart in FIG. 5, or an embodiment in which the above steps S304, S305, and S315 are omitted from the flowchart in FIG. Also, step 315 may be omitted, and the process may continue to wait until the button is pressed in step 305. In this case, the process will wait for the button to be pressed unless there is a control (not shown) that interrupts the flow, such as the end of the app.

[0066] In addition, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, if there is no button operation on the operation screen of step S304 for a predetermined period of time, the process proceeds to the automatic closing process described below. However, as another example, it is also possible to proceed to the automatic closing process described below if there is no tap operation on notification 2 of step S302 for a predetermined period of time.

[0067] <Processing in automatic control priority mode> In the automatic control priority mode, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 transmits a control command to the opening / closing device 10 in response to the weather information obtained from the information providing server 40, without making the request to the user terminal 30 as described above in the user instruction priority mode (a request for notification 2 in step S302 or a response to the operation screen display in S304). Hereinafter, a control example when the automatic control priority mode is selected will be described in detail with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS.

[0068] First, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 transmits a notification 3 to all user terminals 30 with which it is paired (step S401). Like notification 1 in step S301 above, notification 3 is a notification indicating that a weather warning has been issued, and in the illustrated example, the text "A weather warning has been issued for your area. XX City, X Prefecture [Gale Warning]" is displayed as a push notification screen on the touch display of each user terminal 30 (see Figure 6).

[0069] Next, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 communicates with the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled, and determines whether the opening / closing body 11 of this opening / closing device 10 is in an open state (including a partially open state and a fully open state) (step S402). If the opening / closing device 11 is in an open state, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 proceeds to the next step S403, and if the opening / closing device 11 is not in the open state (in other words, if the opening / closing device 11 is in a fully closed state), the opening / closing device control communication device 20 returns to the above step S201.

[0070] In the next step S403, a notification 4 is sent to all user terminals 30 that are paired.

[0071] This notification 4 may be a notification that a weather warning has been issued, a notification that automatic closure of the opening / closing device 10 is scheduled, a notification of the time information for sending a closure command to the opening / closing device 10, a notification of how to cancel automatic closure, a notification of how to immediately perform automatic closure, etc. The "time information for issuing a closure command" may specifically be the time when a predetermined time has elapsed since the weather warning was issued in step S401, the grace period until automatic closure, or the scheduled time for the start of automatic closure.

[0072] In the example shown in Figure 6, this notification 4 displays the following text on the touch display of each user terminal 30 as a touch-operable push notification screen: "A weather warning has been issued for your area. The shutters are scheduled to close automatically. The scheduled time is XX / XX / △ / △:XX. If you would like to cancel the closure or close immediately, please tap this notification."

[0073] Next, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 determines whether a tap operation has been performed on notification 4 based on the user instruction information received from the user terminal 30 (step S404), and if a tap operation has been performed, proceeds to the next step S405, and if not, transitions to step S414.

[0074] In step S414, it is determined whether a predetermined time (for example, one hour) has elapsed, and if so, the process proceeds to the next step S415, and if not, the process returns to step S404. In step S415, the above-mentioned notification 4 is retransmitted. That is, if there is no response by tapping operation after Notification 4 in step S403, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 repeatedly transmits Notification 4 at predetermined time intervals and waits for a response by tapping operation.

[0075] Next, in step S405, a screen G3 requesting a decision regarding control of the opening and closing device 10 is displayed on the user terminal 30 as a touch-operable image. This image G3 displays information on the date and time when the opening and closing device 10 will automatically close, a button for canceling the closing operation of the opening and closing device 10, a button for immediately executing the closing operation of the opening and closing device 10, and the like. According to the example shown in FIG. 6, this image G3 is composed of a text display of "Scheduled automatic closure date and time: XX year, XX month, XX hour, XX minute" and button images such as "Stop automatic closure" and "Close immediately."

[0076] After step S405, the switching device control communication device 20 executes step S501 in the process (C) shown in FIG.

[0077] <Processing in automatic control priority mode (continued)> In step S501, based on the user instruction information received from the user terminal 30, it is determined whether or not the "Stop automatic closure" button has been operated on the operation screen displayed in step S405 above. If it has been operated, processing proceeds to the next step S502; if it has not been operated, processing transitions to step S511.

[0078] In step S502, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 recognizes that the automatic closing process, which will be described later, is to be canceled, and the process proceeds to the next step S503.

[0079] In step S503, it is determined whether the user instruction information received after the judgment in step S501 above includes information that the "Close now" button has been operated. If it does, the next step S504 is executed; if not, step S504 is not executed and the process jumps to step S505. Therefore, for example, after the "Stop automatic closure" button is operated by any one of the multiple user terminals 30, if the "Close immediately" button is operated by another user terminal 30, the next step S504 is executed.

[0080] In step S504, a notification that the operation on the user terminal 30 is invalid, a notification that the automatic closing process has already been cancelled, or the like is issued to the user terminal 30 from which the user instruction information was obtained in step S503. According to the example of FIG. 7, a notice stating "This operation has been invalidated. A cancel operation has already been entered and executed" is displayed on the user terminal 30.

[0081] In step S505, the process returns to step S201.

[0082] Also, in step S511, based on the user instruction information received from the user terminal 30, it is determined whether or not the "Close immediately" button has been operated on the operation screen displayed in step S405 above.If it has been operated, the process proceeds to the next step S512, and if it has not been operated, the process transitions to step S521.

[0083] In addition, in the process (C) shown in Figure 7, if there are multiple user instruction information from multiple paired user terminals 30, the opening and closing device control communication device 20 makes the decision in the above step S501 or the above step S511 based on the earliest user instruction information among these multiple user instruction information.

[0084] Also, in step S521, it is determined whether the scheduled closure time notified in step S403 has arrived, and if so, the process proceeds to step S512; if not, the process returns to step S501.

[0085] In step S512, it is determined whether or not the user instruction information received after the judgment in step S511 above includes information that the "Close now" button has been operated. If it does, the next step S513 is executed; if not, step S513 is not executed and the process jumps to step S514. Therefore, for example, if the "Close now" button is operated by any one of a plurality of user terminals 30 and then the "Close now" button is also operated by another user terminal 30, the next step S513 is executed.

[0086] In step S513, a notification that the operation on the user terminal 30 is invalid, a notification that an automatic closing process operation has already been performed, or the like is issued to the user terminal 30 from which the user instruction information was obtained in step S511. According to the example of FIG. 7, a notice stating "This operation has been invalidated. A close operation has already been entered and executed" is displayed on the user terminal 30.

[0087] In the next step S514, all paired user terminals 30 are notified that automatic closing of the opening / closing body 11 based on the weather information has started. This notification may be, for example, a push notification screen that displays, for example, "Shutter closing has started," on the display of the user terminal 30.

[0088] After step S514, the process by the switching device control communication device 20 proceeds to process (D) shown in FIG.

[0089] Therefore, according to the automatic control priority mode process shown in Figures 6 and 7, the automatic closing process described below can be performed in response to the issuance of a weather warning. Furthermore, the user can select to cancel this automatic closing process or to execute the closing process before the scheduled automatic closing start time arrives.

[0090] <Automatic closing process> In process (D) shown in FIG. 8, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 transmits a control command to one or more preselected opening / closing devices 10, and the opening / closing device 10 that receives this control command closes the opening / closing body 11 by its own control operation.

[0091] In more detail, first, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 issues an opening command to one or more opening / closing devices 10 that are the target of automatic closing (step S601), and then issues a command to multiple paired user terminals 30 to display icon i1 indicating that the automatic closing process is in progress (step S602).

[0092] Then, as shown in FIG. 9(a), the opening / closing device 10 that has received the opening command temporarily starts an opening operation, and the user terminal 30 displays on the display an icon i1 indicating that the automatic closing process is in progress.

[0093] This icon i1 is designed to notify the user terminal 30 of the opening / closing body state as a result of a control command in response to weather information (more specifically, a weather warning), distinguishing it from the opening / closing body state as a result of other commands (e.g., commands by direct operation of the operation remote control 14 or the user terminal 30). In the illustrated example, the icon i1 represents that the opening and closing device 10 is in the process of automatically closing in response to weather information by superimposing a cloud mark and a downward arrow on a shutter curtain that is in the process of closing. This design can be distinguished, for example, by making the design for the closing operation by direct manipulation a design of a shutter curtain in the middle of closing with only a downward arrow superimposed thereon.

[0094] 9(a), the opening / closing body 11 starts the opening operation from a fully closed state, but even if it is in an intermediate open position or in a fully open position, the opening / closing machine for opening the opening / closing body 11 starts the operation in the opening direction. When the opening / closing body 11 is in the fully open position and the opening / closing machine starts the operation in the opening direction, the fully open position of the opening / closing body 11 is maintained.

[0095] Next, in step S603, a predetermined time is awaited, and the process proceeds to the next step. The predetermined time in step S603 is set so as to include the time it takes for the opening / closing body 11 to start an opening operation from a fully closed state and reach a fully open state, and is set to 60 seconds in the illustrated example.

[0096] In the next step S604, a closing command is issued to one or more opening and closing devices 10 that are targets of automatic closing. Upon receiving this closing command, the opening / closing device 10 performs a closing operation on the opening / closing body 11 from the fully open position, as shown in FIG. 9(b). During this closing operation, the user terminal 30 displays an icon i1 indicating that the automatic closing process is in progress.

[0097] Next, the switching device control communication device 20 waits for a predetermined time to elapse from the transmission of the close command (step S605), and if the predetermined time has elapsed, transmits a stop command to the switching device 10 to be controlled (step S606). Upon receiving this stop command, the opening and closing device 10 stops at a position of the opening height H, as shown in Fig. 9(c) . The opening height H is a height at which a person can pass through by bending or crawling. The predetermined time in step S605 is set so that the opening / closing body 11 stops at this opening height H, and in the illustrated example, is set to 10 seconds. During this stop, the user terminal 30 displays an icon i1 indicating that the automatic closing process is in progress.

[0098] In the next step S607, the process waits for a predetermined time to elapse from the transmission of the stop command in step S606, and if the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to the next step. The predetermined time in step S607 is set based on the time required for a person to pass under the stopped opening / closing body 11, and is set to 30 seconds in the illustrated example.

[0099] In the next step S608, a re-closing command is transmitted to the opening / closing device 10 in which the opening / closing body 11 has been stopped midway. The opening / closing device 10, which has received this re-closing command, resumes the closing operation of the opening / closing body 11, as shown in Fig. 10(d). Even during the resumption of this closing operation, the user terminal 30 displays an icon i1 indicating that the automatic closing process is in progress.

[0100] Next, the switching device control communication device 20 waits for the switching device 10 to be controlled to fully close the opening / closing body 11 (step S609), and when the switching device 10 is fully closed, transmits a stop command to the switching device 10 (step S610). The opening / closing device 10 that has received this stop command stops the opening / closing mechanism for opening and closing the opening / closing body 11, and holds the opening / closing body 11 in a fully closed state.

[0101] In the next step S611, a command is issued to all paired user terminals 30 to display an icon i2 indicating that the opening / closing body 11 has been fully closed by the automatic closing process based on meteorological information (more specifically, a weather warning). Upon receiving this command, the user terminal 30 displays on the display an icon i2 indicating that the automatic closing process is in progress, as shown in FIG. 10(e).

[0102] This icon i2 is designed to notify the user terminal 30 of the opening / closing body state as a result of a control command in response to weather information (more specifically, a weather warning), distinguishing it from the opening / closing body state as a result of other commands (e.g., commands by direct operation of the operation remote control 14 or the user terminal 30). In the illustrated example, the icon i2 represents that the opening and closing device 10 has been fully closed by automatic closing processing in response to weather information, by superimposing a cloud mark on a shutter curtain in a fully closed state. This design can be distinguished, for example, by making the design for the fully closed state based on the other command a design of only the shutter curtain in the fully closed state.

[0103] Then, in the next step S612, the process returns to step S201.

[0104] Therefore, according to the automatic closing process shown in Figures 8 to 10, the opening / closing body 11 is once fully opened and then closed, and the closing operation is stopped midway and then resumed, so that a person near the opening / closing body 11 can easily notice that the opening / closing body 11 is being closed. Therefore, for example, in an environment where the indoors and the balcony are separated by the opening and closing device 10, it is possible to prevent a user on the balcony from being locked out on the balcony because he or she is late in noticing that the shutters are closed.

[0105] In other words, a user on the balcony is likely to notice that the automatic closing process is being performed based on weather information when the opening / closing body 11 automatically opens (step S601) or when the opening / closing body 11 stops midway (step S604), and will be able to pass under the opening / closing body 11 at these times.

[0106] According to the above automatic closing process, the full opening of the opening / closing body 11 is determined based on the opening operation time (step S603 above). However, as another example, the full opening of the opening / closing body 11 may be determined based on feedback information from the opening / closing device 10 (a counter-type limit switch or an encoder signal of the opening / closing device 10).

[0107] Similarly, according to the above-mentioned automatic closing process, the partially closed state of the opening / closing body 11 is determined based on the closing operation time (step S605 above), but as another example, the partially closed state of the opening / closing body 11 may be determined based on feedback information from the opening / closing device 10.

[0108] Furthermore, according to the automatic closing process, the opening / closing body status as a result of a control command based on weather information is notified by displaying icons i1 and i2, but other examples of this notification could be push notification from the user terminal 30, audio notification, or an appropriate combination of these.

[0109] In addition, in the example shown in FIG. 9(a), even when the opening / closing body 11 is in the fully closed position, the opening operation is performed first. However, as another control example, when the opening / closing body 11 is in the fully closed position, it is also possible to omit the above-mentioned automatic closing process and maintain the fully closed position.

[0110] Furthermore, among the multiple opening and closing devices 10, the opening and closing device 10 that performs the automatic closing process may be all of the opening and closing devices 10 or only some of the opening and closing devices 10. For example, the closing operation of only the balcony opening / closing device 10 may be temporarily suspended by the automatic closing process (steps S606 to S608), while the other opening / closing devices 10 may simply perform the closing operation without being temporarily suspended and be displayed as icons.

[0111] <Processing when an action is not in accordance with a control command based on weather information> Next, a detailed description will be given of processing in the case where an operation of the opening / closing device 10 that is not in accordance with a control command based on weather information, such as an opening operation by remote control, occurs during the above-mentioned automatic closing processing (see FIG. 8), with reference to FIG.

[0112] The process shown in FIG. 11 is executed as, for example, an interrupt process during the automatic closing process according to the flowchart of FIG.

[0113] In more detail, first, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 determines whether or not the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled is undergoing the above-mentioned automatic closing process (steps S601 to S611) (step S701), and if it is undergoing the automatic closing process, executes the next step S702, and if not, repeats the process of step S701.

[0114] Next, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 determines whether or not a specific operating state (e.g., an opening operation by operating the operation remote control 14) has been detected for the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled by an operating state detection means (not shown) described later (step S702). If the opening / closing device control communication device 20 detects the specific operating state, it assumes that an operation of the opening / closing device 10 has occurred that is not in accordance with the control command based on the weather information, and proceeds to the next step S703; if not, it returns to the above step S701.

[0115] Here, the operating state detection means may be configured to detect the operating state (e.g., opening operation or stoppage, etc.) of the opening / closing device 10 through operation of an operating device (in the illustrated example, an operating remote control 14) that is not directly recognized by the opening / closing device control communication device 20, using a control circuit of the opening / closing device 10, a control circuit and program of the opening / closing device control communication device 20, etc.

[0116] More specifically, a control circuit (not shown) of the opening and closing device 10 is provided with a function of transmitting, via the transceiver 13, an operation status signal indicating that the device is operating in response to the operation of the operation remote control 14. During the automatic closing process (steps S601 to S611), the opening / closing device control communication device 20 requests the operating status signal from the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled, and determines, based on the operating status signal received in response to this request, whether the opening / closing device 10 is performing an opening operation in response to operation of the operating remote control 14 (see step S702 above).

[0117] Next, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 cancels the automatic closing process (step S703), and returns the process to step S701. More specifically, in step S703, even if the automatic closing process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 8 is being executed, the process is stopped midway, and subsequent processes in the automatic closing process are not executed. Therefore, the opening and closing device 10 that is the target of the automatic closing process continues the above-mentioned operating state (for example, opening operation, stop, etc.) by the operation of the operation remote controller 14 without following the command of the automatic closing process.

[0118] When no operation is performed using the operation remote controller 14, for example, step S201 may be executed after a predetermined time has elapsed.

[0119] Therefore, according to the process shown in FIG. 11, even if the automatic closing process based on weather information is in progress, if an operation is performed using the operation remote control 14, the automatic closing process can be canceled and the operation using the operation remote control 14 can be given priority.

[0120] According to the above embodiment, the operating state of the opening / closing device 10 that is not based on a control command according to weather information is the opening operation of the opening / closing device 10 by operating the operation remote control 14. However, as another example of this operating state, it is also possible to stop the opening / closing device 10 by operating the operation remote control 14. Furthermore, as another example of this operating state, in addition to the operating state by the operation of the operating remote control 14, it is also possible to set an operating state by another user operation that the opening and closing device control communication device 20 cannot directly recognize.

[0121] <Processing in case of lifting operation> Next, the process executed in the fully closed state as a result of the automatic closing process or the like will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

[0122] The switching device control communication device 20 checks the operating state of the switching device 10 to be controlled (step S801). This operating state may be confirmed, for example, by the operating state detection means described above, or by a signal on the control circuit of the opening / closing device 10 obtained by communication with the opening / closing device 10, or a signal sensing the open / closed state of the opening / closing body 11 by a sensor not shown, etc.

[0123] In the next step S802, it is determined whether the opening and closing device 10 is fully closed or not. If it is fully closed, the process proceeds to the next step, and if not, the process jumps to step S807.

[0124] In the next step S803, it is determined whether or not a predetermined openable time has elapsed since the opening / closing body 11 was fully closed. If it is within the openable time, the process proceeds to the next step; if not, the process jumps to step S807. Here, the opening time is appropriately set, assuming that in an environment where the indoors and the balcony are separated by the opening / closing device 10, a user on the balcony will notice that the shutter is fully closed and will lift it up, and is set, for example, to several minutes to several tens of minutes.

[0125] In the next step S804, it is determined whether the opening / closing body 11 is fully closed by the automatic closing process. If it is fully closed by the automatic closing process, the process proceeds to the next step; if not, the process jumps to step S807. The full closure determination in step S804 may be made based on feedback information from the control circuit of the opening and closing device 10, similarly to step S609.

[0126] Next, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 transmits a command to the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled, to enable the opening / closing body 11 to be opened by a lifting operation (step S805).

[0127] Here, the means for enabling the opening / closing body 11 to be opened by a lifting operation may be a means for electrically opening the opening / closing body 11 in response to the lifting operation, or may enable the opening / closing body 11 to be manually opened.

[0128] For example, in the former case, when the opening / closing device 10 determines that there is a lifting operation on the opening / closing body 11 by monitoring the current of the opening / closing machine that closes the opening / closing body 11 or by detecting it using a sensor, it operates the opening / closing machine in the opening direction to open the opening / closing body 11. In the latter case, when the opening / closing device 10 determines that a lifting operation is being performed on the opening / closing body 11, as in the former case, it releases the electromagnetic brake mechanism provided on the opening / closing machine, making the opening / closing machine capable of freely rotating, and enabling manual opening operation of the opening / closing body 11.

[0129] In the next step S806, it is determined whether or not the above-mentioned opening time has elapsed since lifting and opening was made possible, and if the above-mentioned opening time has elapsed, processing proceeds to the next step, and if not, the processing waits for the above-mentioned opening time to elapse.

[0130] In the next step S807, a command is issued to the opening / closing device 10 to be controlled to disable the opening / closing body 11 from being opened, and the process returns to step S801. The opening / closing device 10, which has received the command to disable opening, restrains the opening / closing device by the above-mentioned electromagnetic brake mechanism or the like, thereby disabling the opening / closing body 11. Alternatively, the opening / closing body 11 may be disabled from opening by activating a locking mechanism (not shown).

[0131] Therefore, according to the processing shown in FIG. 12, even if the opening / closing body 11 is fully closed by the above-mentioned automatic closing processing, the opening / closing body 11 can be opened within a specified time period, and, for example, a user who is locked out on a balcony or the like can open the opening / closing body 11 and crawl under the opening / closing body 11. In addition, after a predetermined time has elapsed, the opening / closing body 11 cannot be opened, thereby improving crime prevention.

[0132] In the control example shown in FIG. 12, lifting and opening is made possible for full closure due to the above-mentioned automatic closing process in response to weather information. However, as another example, lifting and opening within a specified time may be made possible for full closure other than that due to automatic closing process in response to weather information, for example, full closure due to a timer function, full closure due to remote control operation, or other specified event.

[0133] In yet another preferred embodiment, in addition to the processing shown in FIG. 12, a switching means may be provided for switching between a state in which the opening / closing body 11 can be opened by lifting operation within a predetermined time after the opening / closing body 11 is closed, and a state in which the opening / closing body 11 cannot be opened by lifting operation even within the same predetermined time.

[0134] The switching means may be, for example, such that the opening / closing device control communicator 20 switches between the former opening possible state and the latter opening impossible state in response to an operation of the user terminal 30.

[0135] Another preferred example of the switching means may be one which enables the opening and closing body 11 to be opened by a lifting operation when the opening and closing body 11 is closed by the above-mentioned automatic closing process, and disables the opening and closing body 11 from being opened by a lifting operation when the opening and closing body 11 is closed by a method other than automatic closing. That is, in this embodiment, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 determines whether the opening / closing body 11 has been closed by the above-mentioned automatic closing process or by a process other than the above-mentioned automatic closing process (for example, closure by operating the operating remote control 14 or closure by a timer function), and, provided that it has been closed by the above-mentioned automatic process, enables the opening / closing body 11 to be opened by lifting operation as described above.

[0136] In addition to the above control example, when a lifting operation is performed, a detection signal may be sent from the transceiver 13 to the opening and closing device control communication device 20, and a push-notification of the lifting operation may be sent to the user terminal 30.

[0137] <Other Modifications> In the above embodiment, the weather information used by the opening and closing device control communication device 20 is weather alert information (e.g., heavy rain warnings, storm warnings, etc.), but as other examples, the weather information used by the opening and closing device control communication device 20 can be heavy snow warnings, advisories, early warning information, real-time weather observation data (e.g., rainfall, wind volume, approaching cumulonimbus clouds, etc.), and other weather-related information.

[0138] In another preferred embodiment, the opening / closing body 11 has water-stopping properties that prevent water from entering through the opening, like a waterstop, and the weather information used by the opening / closing device control communication device 20 may be flood-related information such as flood warnings and river flooding risk information.

[0139] In addition, according to the above embodiment, the opening / closing device control communication device 20 closes the opening / closing device in response to user instruction information and weather information. However, as another example, it is also possible for the opening / closing device control communication device 20 to open the opening / closing device in response to user instruction information and weather information (for example, information that a weather warning has been lifted).

[0140] The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned specific configuration, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0141] <Summary> As described above, the above embodiments disclose the following inventions. (1) A switching gear control system including a switching gear control communication device that transmits a control command to a switching gear in accordance with weather information input via an Internet line to control the operation of the switching gear, the switching gear control system further comprising an operation state detection means that detects an operation state of the switching gear that does not conform to the control command in accordance with the weather information, the switching gear control communication device transmitting a signal to cancel the control operation based on the control command if the operation state detection means detects the operation state after transmitting a control command in accordance with the weather information to the switching gear (see Figures 1 and 11). (2) The opening and closing device control system according to (1) (see FIG. 11), wherein the control operation is an operation of closing the opening and closing device. (3) The opening and closing device control system described in (2) (see Figures 1 and 11) is characterized in that the operating state of the opening and closing device that does not comply with a control command based on the weather information is an opening operation by an operating device that is not recognized by the opening and closing device control communication device. (4) The opening and closing device control system described in (2) (see Figures 1 and 11 ), characterized in that the operating state of the opening and closing device that does not comply with the control command based on the weather information is stopped by an operating device that is not recognized by the opening and closing device control communication device. (5) The opening / closing device control communication device is characterized in that it distinguishes the opening / closing device state as a result of a control command based on the weather information from the opening / closing device state as a result of other commands and notifies a user terminal via an Internet line (see Figures 8 to 10). [Explanation of symbols]

[0142] 1: Switchgear control system 10: Switchgear 11: Opening and closing body 13: Transmitter / Receiver 14: Remote control for operation 20: Switchgear control communication device 30: User terminal 40: Information server G1: Mode setting screen G2, G3: Screens that require a decision i1, i2: icon

Claims

1. A switching device control system including a switching device control communication device that transmits a control command to a switching device in response to weather information input via an Internet line to control the switching device, An operation state detection means for detecting an operation state of the opening and closing device that is not in accordance with a control command according to the weather information, The switching device control communication device transmits a control command corresponding to the weather information to the switching device, and then, when the operating state is detected by the operating state detection means, transmits a signal to cancel the control operation based on the control command.

2. 2. The switchgear control system according to claim 1, wherein the control action is an action to close the switchgear.

3. The opening and closing device control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating state of the opening and closing device that does not comply with the control command based on the weather information is an opening operation by an operating device that is not recognized by the opening and closing device control communication device.

4. The switching device control system according to claim 2, characterized in that the operating state of the switching device that does not comply with the control command based on the weather information is a stop caused by an operating device that is not recognized by the switching device control communication device.

5. The opening / closing device control communication device distinguishes the opening / closing device state as a result of a control command corresponding to the weather information from the opening / closing device state as a result of other commands and notifies the user terminal via an Internet line.

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