Toilet bowl unit

Abstract

To provide a technology capable of appropriately suppressing electric power used for communication in a toilet bowl device capable of communicating with a communication apparatus.SOLUTION: A toilet bowl unit comprises a toilet bowl device, a communication unit disposed in the toilet bowl device and configured to perform communication with a communication apparatus via a network, and a control unit configured to cause the communication unit to perform communication with the communication apparatus. The control unit may switch a mode related to power consumption of the communication unit between a normal power mode and a power saving mode that consumes less power than the normal power mode, depending on a state of the toilet bowl device.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a toilet unit that performs communication. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a communication system including a network device connected to an external device and a plurality of plumbing devices connected to the network device. The network device can execute a normal mode in which information is transmitted, and a filtering mode in which a portion of the information transmitted in the normal mode is transmitted. A change from the normal mode to the filtering mode is executed when a change request value is equal to or greater than a threshold value and in a change acceptance state. The change request value corresponds to the frequency of information transmission from the network device to the external device, the data volume of information transmitted from the network device to the external device in a predetermined period, and the number of plumbing devices connected to the network device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-15146 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the above-mentioned technique, the mode is changed in consideration of the communication load between the external device and the network device, but no consideration is given to any other communication load than that between the external device and the network device.

[0005] There is a demand for reducing power consumption in toilet devices. This specification provides a technique for appropriately reducing power used for communication in a toilet device capable of communicating with a communication device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a toilet unit. The toilet unit includes a toilet device, a communication unit disposed in the toilet device and configured to communicate with a communication device via a network, and a control unit that causes the communication unit to communicate with the communication device, and the control unit may switch a mode related to power consumption of the communication unit between a normal power mode and a power saving mode that reduces power used for the communication of the communication unit via the network more than in the normal power mode depending on a state of the toilet device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 shows the configuration of a toilet management system and a toilet unit according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toilet unit according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] 1 shows a flowchart of a communication mode switching process according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] (Configuration of toilet management system) As shown in Figure 1, the toilet management system 100 is a system that manages multiple toilet units 10, 110. There is no limit to the number of toilet units that can be arranged in the toilet management system 100. The toilet management system 100 comprises multiple toilet units 10, 110 and a management device 200. Each of the multiple toilet units 10, 110 is communicatively connected to the management device 200 via a network 2 such as the Internet.

[0009] In the toilet management system 100, in a situation where a plurality of toilet units 10, 110 are arranged in one management area such as a commercial facility, status information indicating the status of the plurality of toilet units 10, 110 is acquired by the management device 200 via the network 2. The manager can know the status of the plurality of toilet units 10, 110 by having the management device 200 output the status information acquired by the management device 200. The manager can manage the plurality of toilet units 10, 110 according to the status information acquired by the management device 200. For example, when status information indicating that a toilet unit (e.g., the toilet unit 10) among the plurality of toilet units 10, 110 is clogged is acquired, the manager can recognize the clogging of one toilet unit by using the management device 200 without having to go and check the plurality of toilet units 10, 110 individually. By using the toilet management system 100, the toilet units 10, 110 can be managed collectively and remotely.

[0010] The management device 200 is a terminal device, such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet terminal, or the like, that includes a communication unit capable of communicating via the network 2 and an output unit such as a display. The administrator can use the management device 200 to check information acquired via the network 2. The management device 200 may be a management server. In this case, the administrator may use a terminal device, such as a computer, different from the management device 200 to check the information already acquired by the management device 200.

[0011] The toilet units 10, 110 have the same configuration. The toilet unit 10 includes a toilet device 20, a communication unit 50, a control unit 60, a detection unit 70, and an operation unit 80. As shown in FIG. 2, the toilet device 20 includes a toilet body 22, a toilet seat 26, and a function unit 28. The toilet body 22 is made of ceramic. The toilet body 22 includes a toilet bowl 24 that receives waste. A tank is housed in the toilet body 22 at the lower end of the toilet body 22. The toilet device 20 sends flush water in the tank toward the toilet bowl 24. The toilet unit 10 includes an operation unit 80. The operation unit 80 includes a plurality of buttons 82. The plurality of buttons 82 include a large flush button, a small flush button, and a plurality of setting buttons. When a user operates either the large flush button or the small flush button, flush water is discharged from the tank into the toilet bowl 24. The functional unit 28 has a configuration for performing an opening / closing function for automatically opening and closing the toilet lid (not shown) in accordance with the user's actions, a toilet seat heater function for heating the toilet seat 26, a local cleaning function for discharging warm cleaning water from a local cleaning nozzle, a warm air drying function for blowing warm air, a deodorizing function, etc. The specific configuration of the functional unit 28 will be described below as appropriate.

[0012] The user can change the settings of the functional unit 28 by operating the operation unit 80. The settings of the functional unit 28 may be the temperature of the toilet seat, the temperature of the washing water for private parts washing, and the like.

[0013] In the toilet apparatus 20, flush water in the tank may be supplied to the toilet bowl 24 by operating a flush button or a lever arranged on the toilet apparatus 20. The toilet seat 26 is attached to the toilet body 22 so as to be able to open and close. A user sits on the toilet seat 26.

[0014] The communication unit 50 includes an interface for communicating with other devices communicatively connected to the toilet unit 10. The other devices include a management device 200. For example, the communication unit 50 includes an interface for performing at least one of wireless communication and wired communication using a well-known communication standard such as a LAN. The toilet unit 10 is communicatively connected to the management device 200 via a network 2 such as the Internet using the communication unit 50.

[0015] The communication unit 50 is connected to the network 2 via a router 4. The router 4 relays communication between the network 2 and multiple toilet units 10, 110. The router 4 selects an appropriate transfer path for data etc. communicated via the network 2 and transmits the data etc. to the destination device.

[0016] The detection unit 70 includes a sensor that detects a user of the toilet apparatus 20. The detection unit 70 includes a human presence sensor and a seating sensor. The human presence sensor detects a user who has entered a private room in which the toilet apparatus 20 is located. The human presence sensor is, for example, an infrared sensor, a camera, etc. When a user sits on the toilet seat 26, the seating sensor lowers the toilet seat 26. The seating sensor detects the user sitting and leaving the seat by detecting the up and down movement of the toilet seat 26. In a modified example, the seating sensor may be a contact sensor that directly detects the user, an infrared sensor, a capacitance sensor, etc.

[0017] The control unit 60 is connected to the toilet device 20, the communication unit 50, and the detection unit 70 by wiring. The operation unit 80 is connected to the control unit 60 so as to be able to communicate directly, without going through a network. The control unit 60 is connected to be able to communicate with the operation unit 80 using short-range wireless communication such as infrared rays, radio waves, etc. The control unit 60 includes a CPU and a memory. The memory has at least one type of memory, for example, ROM and RAM. The memory stores computer programs and data for the control unit 60 to execute processing. The control unit 60 controls the toilet device 20, the communication unit 50, the detection unit 70, and the operation unit 80 by the CPU executing processing according to the computer programs stored in the memory.

[0018] The control unit 60 executes data communication with the management device 200 via the communication unit 50. The control unit 60 receives various data from the management device 200. Specifically, the management device 200 can send commands to the control unit 60 to change various settings related to the toilet unit 10. For example, the management device 200 stores a combination of a set temperature of the toilet seat 26 that is adapted to changes in the outside air temperature, and a timing for changing the set temperature. When the timing for changing arrives, the management device 200 transmits data representing the set temperature stored in combination with the timing for changing to the toilet unit 10. When the data for changing the setting is received from the management device 200, the control unit 60 changes the temperature setting of the toilet seat 26.

[0019] The management device 200 can transmit a request to the control device 60 to acquire at least one piece of data from the multiple pieces of data included in the first type data and second type data described below. When the control device 60 receives a request, it transmits the data specified in the request to the management device 200. The manager can use the management device 200 to check the current settings of each of the multiple toilet units 10, 110.

[0020] The management device 200 can transmit update data for updating the computer programs stored in the control unit 60 to the control unit 60. When the control unit 60 receives the update data, it updates the computer programs stored in the control unit 60. This allows the administrator to use the management device 200 to update the computer programs of the multiple toilet units 10, 110.

[0021] The control unit 60 transmits data to the management device 200. Specifically, the data transmitted from the control unit 60 to the management device 200 includes two types of data, a first type of data and a second type of data. The first type of data includes a first type of setting data, user detection data, and abnormality occurrence data.

[0022] The setting data represents settings of the toilet unit 10 that can be changed in the management device 200. The first type setting data includes any one of temperature setting data, power setting data, toilet seat heater setting data, power saving setting data, flush setting data, flush time setting data, flow rate setting data, flush water volume determination period setting data, large / small setting data, anti-freeze setting data, protective flush setting data, volume setting data, deodorization setting data, and onomatopoeia setting data.

[0023] The temperature setting data indicates the set temperature of the toilet seat and the set temperature of the cleaning water for private parts cleaning. The power setting data indicates whether the power of the private parts cleaning function is on or off. The toilet seat heater setting data indicates whether the setting for automatically switching the toilet seat heater function from on to off is on or off. When the setting for automatically switching the toilet seat heater function from on to off is on, if no user is detected for a predetermined period of time, the control unit 60 automatically switches the toilet seat heater function from on to off. When the setting for automatically switching the toilet seat heater function from on to off is on, if a user is detected with the toilet seat heater function off, the control unit 60 automatically switches the toilet seat heater function from off to on.

[0024] The power saving setting data indicates whether the power saving mode of the toilet unit 10 is on or off. When the power saving mode is on, the control unit 60 executes a process to reduce the power consumption of the toilet unit 10 if the user is not detected in the communication mode switching process described below. The flush setting data indicates whether the automatic flush mode, which automatically flushes the toilet bowl 24, is on or off. When the automatic flush mode is on, the control unit 60 sends flush water to the toilet bowl 24 at a preset timing, regardless of the user's operation of the operation unit 80. The large / small setting data indicates whether, when sending flush water to the toilet bowl 24 in the automatic flush mode, flush water for a large flush, which has a large amount of flush water, or flush water for a small flush, which has a small amount of flush water, is sent. The flush time setting data indicates the timing at which flush water is sent to the toilet bowl 24 in the automatic flush mode.

[0025] The flush water volume judgment period setting data represents the judgment period until it is determined whether to send flush water for a large flush, which has a larger volume, or for a small flush, which has a smaller volume, when sending flush water to the toilet bowl 24. The control unit 60 automatically judges whether to send flush water for a large flush or for a small flush, depending on the user's operation and the length of time the toilet unit 10 has been used, even if this has not been set in the control unit 60 beforehand. When the judgment period arrives, the control unit 60 judges whether to send flush water for a large flush or for a small flush.

[0026] The flow rate setting data indicates the amount of flush water for each of the large and small flushes. The anti-freeze setting data indicates whether the anti-freeze mode is on or off. When the anti-freeze mode is on, the control unit 60 periodically sends flush water to the toilet bowl 24 to prevent the flush water from freezing. When the anti-freeze mode is on, a heater installed in a location where water accumulates, such as the water storage section of the toilet bowl 24, may be set to on. The protective flush setting data indicates whether the protective flush mode is on or off. When the protective flush mode is on, the control unit 60 periodically sends flush water to the toilet bowl 24 to prevent deterioration of the toilet unit 10 due to not sending flush water for a long period of time, and a decrease in water in the trap.

[0027] The volume setting data indicates the setting of the volume when flushing water is sent to the toilet bowl 24. When the volume is set to low volume, the control unit 60 adjusts the flow rate of the flushing water when it is sent to the toilet bowl 24, etc., to make the flushing water flow with a relatively low sound. When the volume is set to high volume, the control unit 60 adjusts the flow rate of the flushing water when it is sent to the toilet bowl 24, etc., to make the flushing water flow with a relatively high sound. The deodorization setting data indicates whether the deodorization mode is on or off. When the deodorization mode is on, the control unit 60 deodorizes the air in the toilet bowl 24 while the user is using the toilet unit 10. The onomatopoeia setting data indicates whether the onomatopoeia mode is on or off. When the onomatopoeia mode is on, the control unit 60 outputs onomatopoeia such as the sound of flushing water flowing from the speaker of the functional unit 28 while the user is using the toilet unit 10.

[0028] The administrator can use the management device 200 to check the above settings of the toilet unit 10. The administrator can operate the management device 200 to select any of the above settings of the toilet unit 10 and execute a change operation to change the setting. In response to the change operation, the management device 200 transmits data representing the changed setting to the toilet unit 10. When the data to change the setting is received from the management device 200, the control unit 60 changes the setting.

[0029] The user detection data indicates that a user has been detected by the human presence sensor of the detection unit 70, and that the user has sat on and left the toilet seat 26 as detected by the seating sensor. The abnormality occurrence data indicates an abnormality that has occurred in the toilet unit 10. The abnormality occurrence data includes clogging occurrence data, functional unit abnormality data, control unit abnormality data, receiving module abnormality data, and water discharge abnormality data. The clogging occurrence data indicates that a clogging has occurred in the drainage path from the toilet bowl 24 to the drain pipe. If flushing water in the toilet bowl 24 is not properly drained due to a clogging of the drainage path during flushing of the toilet bowl 24 and accumulates in the toilet bowl 24, the water level in the toilet bowl 24 will rise. When the water level in the toilet bowl 24 is detected by the water level sensor arranged in the functional unit 28, the control unit 60 transmits the clogging occurrence data to the management device 200.

[0030] The functional unit abnormality data indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the functional unit 28. Abnormalities occurring in the functional unit 28 include an abnormality in the thermistor that detects the temperature of the water used in the toilet unit 10, such as the cleaning water used for private parts cleaning, an abnormality in the thermistor that detects the temperature of the toilet seat 26, an abnormality in the heater of the toilet seat 26, an abnormality in the sound dummy device, etc. The control unit abnormality data indicates that an abnormality has occurred in at least one of the CPU and memory of the control unit 60. The receiving module abnormality data indicates an abnormality regarding the reception of signals from the operating unit 80. The water discharge abnormality data indicates that an abnormality has occurred in the pump that sends cleaning water to the toilet bowl 24.

[0031] When the management device 200 receives the abnormality data, it outputs the abnormality represented by the abnormality data. By using the management device 200, the manager can recognize that an abnormality has occurred in the toilet unit 10 without having to go to the toilet unit 10.

[0032] The second type of data includes second type setting data, code data, operation data, and cumulative data. The second type of setting data represents settings of the toilet unit 10 that cannot be changed in the management device 200. The second type of setting data includes water pressure setting data that represents the setting of the flush water strength of the private parts wash. The code data represents a receiving code used when receiving a signal from the operation unit 80. The operation data represents whether each of the multiple functions included in the function unit 28 is operating. The operation data further represents whether the toilet bowl 24 is being flushed.

[0033] (Communication mode switching process) The control unit 60 continuously executes a communication mode switching process while the toilet unit 10 is powered on. In the communication mode switching process, the control unit 60 switches the communication mode for communication with the management device 200 according to the state of the toilet unit 10. The communication modes include a normal mode, a low-frequency mode in which the communication unit 50 consumes less power than the normal mode, and a communication stop mode in which the communication unit 50 consumes even less power than the low-frequency mode.

[0034] In the low-frequency mode, the control unit 60 executes communication of the first type of data from the toilet unit 10 to the management device 200, but does not execute communication of the second type of data. In the low-frequency mode, the control unit 60 allows the toilet unit 10 to receive data from the management device 200. In the low-frequency mode, the frequency of data transmission from the toilet unit 10 to the management device 200 can be reduced compared to the normal mode. Therefore, in the low-frequency mode, power consumption in the communication unit 50 can be reduced compared to the normal mode. If second-type data should be transmitted to the management device 200 while the low-frequency mode is set, the data is transmitted after switching to the normal mode.

[0035] In the communication stop mode, the toilet unit 10 does not perform any communication with the management device 200. In the communication stop mode, the control unit 60 stops the supply of power to the communication unit 50. In a modified example, in the communication stop mode, the control unit 60 may continue the supply of power to the communication unit 50 and stop the connection with the router 4. In another modified example, in the communication stop mode, the control unit 60 may stop the transmission of data including the first type data and the second type data from the toilet unit 10 to the management device 200 and allow the toilet unit 10 to receive data from the management device 200. In another modified example, in the communication stop mode, the control unit 60 may maintain the connection with the router 4 and not perform communication between the toilet unit 10 and the management device 200. In the communication stop mode, the communication load of the toilet unit 10 can be reduced compared to the low-frequency mode. In the communication stop mode, the power consumption of the communication unit 50 can be reduced compared to the low-frequency mode. When the first type data and the second type data are to be transmitted to the management device 200 while the communication suspension mode is set, the data are transmitted after switching to either the low frequency mode or the normal mode.

[0036] In the communication mode switching process, in S12, the control unit 60 determines whether or not a user has been detected by the detection unit 70. Specifically, if a user is detected by the human presence sensor of the detection unit 70, it is determined that a user has been detected (YES in S12). If a user is not detected by the human presence sensor, it is determined that a user has not been detected (NO in S12) and the process proceeds to S14.

[0037] In S14, the control unit 60 judges whether or not a user has not been detected for a predetermined period (for example, one hour). Specifically, when a user is detected by the detection unit 70, the control unit 60 measures the period. When a user is detected by the detection unit 70 while measuring the period, the control unit 60 resets the measured period and starts measuring again. In S14, if the measured period is equal to or longer than the predetermined period, the control unit 60 judges that a user has not been detected for the predetermined period (YES in S14) and proceeds to S18. If the measured period is less than the predetermined period, the control unit 60 judges that a user has been detected during the predetermined period (NO in S14) and judges whether or not the toilet unit 10 is set to the power saving mode in S16. If the toilet unit 10 is set to the power saving mode (YES in S16), proceeds to S18. If the toilet unit 10 is not set to the power saving mode (NO in S16), return to S12. In S18, the control unit 60 sets the communication stop mode and returns to S12. When the process of S16 is executed, if the communication stop mode has already been set, the setting is maintained and the process returns to S12. If the toilet unit 10 is set to the power saving mode, it switches to the communication stop mode even if the period during which the user is not detected is shorter than a predetermined period. This makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the toilet unit 10 when the power saving mode is set.

[0038] If YES in S12, in S20, the control unit 60 sets the normal mode. In S22, the control unit 60 judges whether or not the user is seated, using the detection result of the seating sensor of the detection unit 70. If it is not judged that the user is seated (NO in S22), the process returns to S12. For example, when cleaning the toilet unit 10, the user is detected by the human presence sensor, but is not detected by the seating sensor.

[0039] If it is determined that the user has sat down (YES in S22), in S24, the control unit 60 determines whether or not user detection data indicating that the user has sat down has been transmitted to the management device 200. When the seating sensor detects that the user has sat down, the control unit 60 transmits the user detection data to the management device 200. If the user detection data has been transmitted to the management device 200 (YES in S24), in S26, the control unit 60 sets the low frequency mode.

[0040] In S28, the control unit 60 judges whether or not a pre-set preparation period has elapsed since the low-frequency mode was set in S26. When the control unit 60 detects that the user is seated, during the preparation period, it executes heating of the wash water to be used in the local wash of the functional unit 28. The preparation period is the period required for heating the wash water. The preparation period may vary depending on the temperature setting of the wash water. During the preparation period, power is used to heat the wash water, so power consumption in the toilet unit 10 is high. By setting the low-frequency mode, the control unit 60 can reduce the power used for communication and prevent power consumption in the toilet unit 10 from increasing.

[0041] When the preparation period has elapsed (YES in S28), in S30, the control unit 60 switches to the normal mode. In S32, the control unit 60 judges whether or not the function of the functional unit 28 is to be executed. Specifically, when the user operates the button of the operation unit 80 to execute, for example, a local cleansing function, the control unit 60 judges that the function of the functional unit 28 is to be executed (EYS in S32), sets the low frequency mode in S34, and proceeds to S36. When it is not judged that the function of the functional unit 28 is to be executed (NO in S32), the control unit 60 proceeds to S38. The control unit 60 may proceed to S34 after transmitting operation data indicating that the function of the functional unit 28 is to be executed to the management device 200 in S32.

[0042] When a function is executed by the functional unit 28, power is used by the functional unit 28, resulting in high power consumption in the toilet unit 10. By setting the low frequency mode, the control unit 60 can reduce the power used for communication and prevent power consumption in the toilet unit 10 from becoming high.

[0043] In S36, the control unit 60 judges whether or not the function being executed is to be terminated. Specifically, when the user operates the button of the operation unit 80 to stop, for example, the local cleansing function, the control unit 60 judges that the function being executed is to be terminated (EYS in S36) and proceeds to S38. In S36, since the low frequency mode is set, the control unit 60 does not transmit operation data indicating that the function of the functional unit 28 has been stopped. The control unit 60 temporarily stores the operation data in the memory of the control unit 60. In S38, the control unit 60 judges whether or not to execute toilet flushing. Specifically, when the user operates the flush button of the operation unit 80, the control unit 60 judges that the toilet flushing is to be executed (YES in S38), sets the normal mode in S40, and proceeds to S42. This allows the normal mode to be restored in a situation where the execution of the function is stopped and the power consumption in the toilet unit 10 is reduced. In a modified example, when a pump is used in toilet flushing, the low frequency mode may be set. When the control unit 60 is set to the normal mode, it transmits to the management device 200 operation data indicating that the function of the functional unit 28 has stopped, which was not transmitted in S36 and is stored in the control unit 60. This allows data that is not transmitted because the low frequency mode is set to be transmitted to the management device 200 after the mode is changed to the normal mode. If the flush button on the operation unit 80 is not operated by the user, the control unit 60 determines that the toilet flush will not be performed (NO in S38) and proceeds to S42.

[0044] In S42, the control unit 60 uses the detection result of the seat sensor to determine whether the user has left the seat. If it is determined that the user has not left the seat (NO in S42), the process returns to S32. If it is determined that the user has left the seat (YES in S42), the control unit 60 sets the communication stop mode in S44. The control unit 60 transmits user detection data indicating that the user has left the seat to the management device 200, and then sets the communication stop mode. When the user leaves the seat, the control unit 60 executes the deodorizing function. When the deodorizing function is executed, power is used in the functional unit 28, so that power consumption in the toilet unit 10 increases. By setting the communication stop mode, the control unit 60 can suppress the power used for communication and suppress the increase in power consumption in the toilet unit 10. While the deodorizing function is executed, there is a low possibility that an abnormality will be detected in the toilet unit 10. For this reason, by setting the communication stop mode instead of the low frequency mode, the power consumption of the toilet unit 10 can be further reduced. In a modified example, the low frequency mode may be set in S44.

[0045] In S46, the control unit 60 determines whether or not a preset deodorization period has elapsed since switching to the communication stop mode in S44. If the deodorization period has elapsed (YES in S46), the control unit 60 sets the low frequency mode and returns to S12.

[0046] (effect) In the communication mode switching process, when the power consumption of the toilet unit 10 is high, such as when power is being consumed by the functional unit 28 to execute its functions, the power consumption of the communication unit 50 is reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the power consumption of the entire toilet unit 10. With this configuration, the facility in which the toilet unit 10 is installed does not need to employ a high-capacity power supply circuit.

[0047] In the communication mode switching process, the communication mode is switched according to the presence of a user and whether the user sits or leaves the seat. This makes it possible to switch the communication mode according to the operation of the toilet unit 10, such as the heating of flush water and the deodorizing function, which are executed in conjunction with the user.

[0048] In the communication mode switching process, if the toilet unit 10 is not used by the user for a predetermined period of time, power supply is stopped, thereby reducing power consumption.

[0049] (Correspondence) The management device 200 is an example of a "communication device." The normal mode is an example of a "normal power mode." The low frequency mode is an example of a "power saving mode."

[0050] Aspects of the technology disclosed in this specification are listed below.

[0051] A first aspect is a toilet unit. The toilet unit includes a toilet device, a communication unit disposed in the toilet device and configured to communicate with a communication device via a network, and a control unit that causes the communication unit to communicate with the communication device, and the control unit may switch a mode related to power consumption of the communication unit between a normal power mode and a power saving mode that uses less power for the communication of the communication unit via the network than in the normal power mode, depending on the state of the toilet device.

[0052] In a second aspect, in the first aspect above, the control unit may, in the normal power mode, cause the communication unit to communicate with the communication device at a first communication frequency, and in the power saving mode, cause the communication unit to communicate with the communication device at a second communication frequency that is lower than the first communication frequency.

[0053] In a third aspect, in the above-mentioned second aspect, the control unit may set the toilet apparatus to the power saving mode when the toilet apparatus is in a standby state in which it is not being used by a user.

[0054] In a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the toilet unit further includes a detection unit that detects the user, and when the user is not detected for a predetermined period of time, the control unit determines that the toilet unit is in the standby state and sets the toilet unit to the power saving mode.

[0055] In a fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the control unit may set the toilet apparatus to the power saving mode when the toilet apparatus is in a power saving state in which power consumption of the toilet apparatus is reduced.

[0056] In a sixth aspect, in any one of the first to fifth aspects above, the toilet device includes a functional unit that performs at least one of the functions of heating the toilet seat, ejecting warm cleaning water from a private part cleansing nozzle, and blowing warm air, and the control unit may be set to the power saving mode when the functional unit is performing any of the functions.

[0057] In a seventh aspect, in any one of the first to sixth aspects above, the toilet device includes a toilet bowl and a supply unit that supplies flushing water to the toilet bowl, and the control unit may be set to the normal power mode when the flushing water is being supplied to the toilet bowl by the supply unit.

[0058] An eighth aspect is any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the toilet device may switch between the power saving mode and the normal power mode in response to a transition between a state in which the toilet device is being used by a user and a state in which the toilet device is not being used.

[0059] In a ninth aspect, in any one of the first to eighth aspects above, when switching from the power saving mode to the normal power mode, the control unit may transmit data to be transmitted to the communication device while the power consumption is being controlled by the power saving mode.

[0060] Specific examples of the technology disclosed in this specification have been described above in detail. These are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes to the specific examples exemplified above. Modifications of the above embodiment are listed below.

[0061] (1) The control unit 60 may not execute the processes from S24 to S30 when the cleaning water is not heated in the functional unit 28. The control unit 60 may not execute the processes from S44 to S46 when the deodorizing function is not performed in the functional unit 28. In this case, the normal mode may be maintained.

[0062] (2) In the communication mode switching process, the control unit 60 may switch the communication mode between two types of modes, a normal mode and a low-frequency mode. In this case, in the communication mode switching process, in the processes of S18 and S44 in which the communication mode is set to the communication stop mode in the embodiment, the communication mode may be set to the low-frequency mode.

[0063] (3) The control unit 60 may switch the communication mode between two types of modes, a normal mode and a communication stop mode. In this case, in the communication mode switching process, the communication stop mode may be set in the processes of S26, S34, and S48, which are set to the low frequency mode in the embodiment.

[0064] (4) The control unit 60 may set the communication stop mode to at least two types of communication stop modes among a first communication stop mode in which the supply of power to the communication unit 50 is stopped, a second communication stop mode in which the supply of power to the communication unit 50 is continued and the connection with the router 4 is stopped, a third communication stop mode in which the control unit 60 maintains the connection with the router 4 and does not execute communication between the toilet unit 10 and the management device 200 in the communication stop mode, and a fourth communication stop mode in which the transmission of data including the first type data and the second type data from the toilet unit 10 to the management device 200 is stopped and the reception of data from the management device 200 to the toilet unit 10 is permitted. For example, the control unit 60 may set the first communication stop mode in S18 and set any one of the second communication stop mode, the third communication stop mode, and the fourth communication stop mode in S44. In the second communication stop mode, the power consumption of the communication unit 50 can be reduced because communication is not executed. Moreover, since the power supply to the communication unit 50 is continued, the switching from the second communication stop mode to the normal mode is executed earlier than the switching from the first communication stop mode to the normal mode. In the third communication stop mode, since the transmission from the communication unit 50 to the management device 200 is not executed, the power consumption of the communication unit 50 can be reduced. Since the connection between the communication unit 50 and the router 4 is established, the switching from the third communication stop mode to the normal mode is executed earlier than the switching from the first communication stop mode and the second communication stop mode to the normal mode. In the fourth communication stop mode, since the transmission from the communication unit 50 to the management device 200 is not executed, the power consumption of the communication unit 50 can be reduced. Since the power supply to the communication unit 50 is continued, the switching from the fourth communication stop mode to the normal mode is executed earlier than the switching from the first communication stop mode and the second communication stop mode to the normal mode.

[0065] (5) In the communication mode switching process, the control unit 60 may not execute at least one of the processes from S14 to S18 and the processes from S20 to S48. In the communication mode switching process, the control unit 60 may not execute at least one of the processes from S20 to S30, the processes from S32 to S36, the processes from S38 to S40, and the processes from S42 to S46 among the processes from S20 to S48.

[0066] (6) The multiple toilet units 10, 110 may include urinals in addition to toilets.

[0067] (7) The toilet unit 10 does not have to include a toilet body 22. The toilet apparatus 20 may include at least one of a toilet seat 26 and a functional part 28. In this case, the toilet apparatus 20 may be installed in a toilet body that is not included in the toilet unit 10. In this modification, at least one of the toilet seat 26 and the functional part 28 may be an example of a "toilet apparatus". In this modification, the toilet body does not have to be included in the "toilet apparatus".

[0068] The technical elements described in this specification or drawings have technical utility either alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. The technologies illustrated in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives is itself technically useful. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 2: network, 10, 110: toilet unit, 20: toilet device, 22: toilet body, 24: toilet bowl, 26: toilet seat, 28: function unit, 50: communication unit, 60: control unit, 70: detection unit, 80: operation unit, 82: button, 100: toilet management system, 200: management device

Claims

1. A toilet device; a communication unit disposed in the toilet device and configured to communicate with a communication device via a network; a control unit that causes the communication unit to communicate with the communication device; The control unit switches a mode related to the power consumption of the communication unit between a normal power mode and a power saving mode that reduces the power used for the communication by the communication unit via the network more than in the normal power mode, depending on the state of the toilet device.

2. The toilet unit of claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the communication unit to communicate with the communication device at a first communication frequency in the normal power mode, and causes the communication unit to communicate with the communication device at a second communication frequency that is lower than the first communication frequency in the power saving mode.

3. The toilet unit according to claim 2 , wherein the control unit sets the toilet device to the power saving mode when the toilet device is in a standby state in which it is not being used by a user.

4. The toilet unit further includes a detection unit that detects the user, The toilet unit according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit determines that the toilet unit is in the standby state and sets the toilet unit to the power saving mode when the user is not detected for a predetermined period of time.

5. The toilet unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit sets the toilet device to the power saving mode when the toilet device is in a power saving state in which power consumption is reduced.

6. The toilet device includes a functional unit that performs at least one of the following functions: a function for heating a toilet seat; a function for discharging warm cleaning water from a private part cleaning nozzle; and a function for blowing warm air; The toilet unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit sets the toilet unit to the power saving mode when the functional unit is executing any function.

7. The toilet device includes a toilet bowl and a supply unit that supplies flush water to the toilet bowl, The toilet unit according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit sets the normal power mode when the flush water is being supplied to the toilet bowl by the supply unit.

8. The toilet unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit switches between the power saving mode and the normal power mode in response to a transition between a state in which the toilet device is being used by a user and a state in which it is not being used.

9. The toilet unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when switching from the power saving mode to the normal power mode, the control unit transmits data to be transmitted to the communication device while the power consumption is being controlled by the power saving mode.

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