Remote control system

Abstract

To provide a remote control system that allows a user to check the operation of an electric lock.SOLUTION: The remote control system for allowing a user to remotely control equipment installed in a building using a communication terminal is configured to obtain electric lock account information from an electric lock via a relay device that relays communication with the electric lock installed in a building and send the electric lock account information to the communication terminal by linking the electric lock account information with a user's own remote control account information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art A locking / unlocking system is known that uses a mobile terminal to lock and unlock an electric lock built into a front door (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-187158 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Some buildings are equipped with a remote control system that uses a communication terminal to remotely control equipment, but the problem with the remote control system is that it is not possible to confirm the operation of the electric locks in the locking / unlocking system.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a remote control system that makes it possible to check the operation of an electric lock. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a remote control system that remotely controls equipment installed in a building using a communication terminal, which obtains electric lock account information from an electric lock installed in the building via a relay device that relays communication with the electric lock, and transmits the electric lock account information to the communication terminal by linking the electric lock account information with the system's own remote control account information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram showing an overall configuration of a remote control system. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the remote control system. [Diagram 3] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a list of electronic lock accounts in a remote control system. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a list of remote control accounts in the remote control system. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an activity list of the remote control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] A remote control system A according to this embodiment is a smart home system including a system communication unit a1, a control unit a2, a cloud a3, and three user communication terminals a4 to a5, as shown in Fig. 1. The remote control system A remotely controls a plurality of control target devices B installed in a building H based on control instructions input from the three user communication terminals a4 to a6.

[0009] The system communication unit a1 is electrically connected to the control unit a2 inside the remote control system A, and is communicatively connected to a cloud a3 inside the remote control system A. The system communication unit a1 is wired or wirelessly connected to a controlled device B outside the remote control system A, and is communicatively connected to a relay / converter 2 outside the remote control system A.

[0010] The system communication unit a1 performs wireless communication with the three user communication terminals a4 to a5 based on a communication instruction input from the control unit a2. The system communication unit a1 communicates with the electric lock system 1 based on a communication instruction input from the control unit a2.

[0011] When the system communication unit a1 receives a control instruction for the control target device B from the user communication terminals a4 to a6 via the cloud a3, the system communication unit a1 outputs the control instruction to the control unit a2. When a control signal corresponding to the control instruction is input from the control unit a2, the system communication unit a1 outputs the control signal to the control target device B.

[0012] When a request to acquire account information (electric lock account information) of the electric lock system 1 is input from the control unit a2, the system communication unit a1 transmits the acquisition request to the electric lock system 1. When the system communication unit a1 receives the electric lock account information from the electric lock system 1 as a response to the acquisition request, it outputs the electric lock account information to the control unit a2.

[0013] The control unit a2 is electrically connected to the system communication unit a1 and includes a storage area 2g having a predetermined storage capacity. The control unit a2 is, for example, a microcomputer. The storage area 2g is an internal storage area included in the control unit a2 and includes a non-volatile storage area and a volatile storage area.

[0014] The memory area 2g prestores the control program executed by the control unit a2 and user information (remote control account information) specific to the remote control system A. The memory area 2g additionally stores key information acquired from the electric lock system 1. The remote control account information is information related to users (remote control accounts) of the remote control system A, and specifically, is registration information related to the three user communication terminals a4 to a6.

[0015] When the control unit a2 acquires the electric lock account information from the electric lock system 1, the control unit a2 outputs a communication command to the system communication unit a1 to instruct the system communication unit a1 to transmit the electric lock account information to the user communication terminals a4 to a6. When the system communication unit a1 receives a communication command from the control unit a2 to instruct the system communication unit a1 to transmit the electric lock account information to the user communication terminals a4 to a6.

[0016] The cloud a3 is a communication device that relays communication between the system communication unit a1 and the user communication terminals a4 to a6. The cloud a3 is connected to the system communication unit a1 and the user communication terminals a4 to a6 so that they can communicate with each other. When the cloud a3 receives a control instruction for the controlled device B from the user communication terminals a4 to a6, the cloud a3 transfers the control instruction to the system communication unit a1. When the cloud a3 receives an instruction to send electronic lock account information from the system communication unit a1, the cloud a3 transfers the electronic lock account information to the user communication terminals a4 to a6.

[0017] The three user communication terminals a4 to a6 are communication devices owned by residents of building H and preregistered as unique users (remote control accounts) of remote control system A. The user communication terminals a4 to a6 are connected to a cloud a3 for free wireless communication. Of the three user communication terminals a4 to a6, the user communication terminal 2d is owned by user P1, the first resident, the user communication terminal 2e is owned by user P2, the second resident, and the user communication terminal 2f is owned by user P3, the third resident.

[0018] The three user communication terminals a4-a6 transmit control instructions for the control target device B to the system communication unit a1 via the cloud a3. When the three user communication terminals a4-a6 receive the electric lock account information from the system communication unit a1 via the cloud a3, they display the electric lock account information in a list. The three users P1-P3 check the locked / unlocked state of the electric lock 1a in the building H based on the electric lock account information displayed in a list on the user communication terminals a4-a6.

[0019] As shown in the figure, the electric lock system 1 comprises an electric lock 1a, a communication key 1b, and a physical key 1c. The electric lock system 1 is a security system in which an electrically locking and unlocking mechanism is incorporated into the electric lock 1a. The electric lock system 1 electrically locks and unlocks the electric lock 1a by using the communication key 1b. In addition to being able to mechanically lock and unlock the electric lock 1a by using the physical key 1c, the electric lock system 1 can also electrically lock and unlock the electric lock 1a using the communication key 1b.

[0020] The electric lock 1a is provided at the front door, which is the entrance to the building H, and includes a key communication unit 1d, a control unit 1e, a system communication unit 1f, and an electric lock driving unit 1g as shown in the figure. Although not shown in the figure, the electric lock 1a includes a keyhole and a cylinder (key cylinder) that correspond to the physical key 1c possessed by the resident.

[0021] The key communication unit 1d is a communication function unit that performs wireless communication with the communication key 1b. By performing wireless communication with the communication key 1b, the key communication unit 1d receives a locking operation signal or an unlocking operation signal from the communication key 1b, and outputs the locking operation signal or the unlocking operation signal to the control unit 1e. The locking operation signal is an operation instruction signal that sets the electric lock 1a from an unlocked state to a locked state. The unlocking operation signal is an operation instruction signal that sets the electric lock 1a from a locked state to an unlocked state.

[0022] The wireless communication between the key communication unit 1d and the communication key 1b is short-range communication such as "Bluetooth (registered trademark)" or "ZigBee (registered trademark)", or a contactless standard (FeliCa: registered trademark) such as NFC (Near Field Communication) or RFID (Radio Frequency Identifier) ​​used as a guard. The key communication unit 1d and the communication key 1b are equipped with short-range communication functions such as "Bluetooth (registered trademark)" or "ZigBee (registered trademark)", and transmit and receive signals such as locking operation signals, unlocking operation signals, and communication for key authentication using the key's unique identifier.

[0023] The control unit 1e is electrically connected to the key communication unit 1d and includes a storage area 1h with a predetermined storage capacity. The control unit 1e is, for example, a microcomputer. The storage area 1h is an internal storage area included in the control unit 1e. In addition to the control program executed by the control unit 1e, the storage area 1h prestores electric lock account information required for the control unit 1e to control the electric lock driving unit 1g based on a lock operation signal or an unlock operation signal as key information.

[0024] The control unit 1e operates the electric lock driving unit 1g based on the consistency between the key information included in the lock operation signal or the unlock operation signal input from the key communication unit 1d and the electric lock account information pre-stored in the storage area 1h. More specifically, the control unit 1e operates the electric lock driving unit 1g when the consistency between the key information of the lock operation signal or the unlock operation signal and the electric lock account information in the storage area 1h is established.

[0025] The electric lock account information includes at least a plurality of key codes preregistered in the electric lock 1a for a plurality of communication keys 1b and a locking / unlocking history of the electric lock 1a using the key codes. Each of the plurality of key codes for the plurality of communication keys 1b is assigned a unique identification number.

[0026] More specifically, the electric lock account information is user information specific to the electric lock system 1, in which the identification number, the key code, the owner of the key code, and the locking / unlocking history of the electric lock 1a using the key code are registered for each communication key 1b. The multiple communication keys 1b are registered in the electric lock system 1 as individual users (electric lock accounts) who use the electric lock system 1.

[0027] The electric lock driving unit 1g is electrically connected to the control unit 1e and is a power source that mechanically sets the electric lock 1a to a locked or unlocked state. The electric lock driving unit 1g is composed of, for example, a motor and a driving circuit that drives the motor, and sets the electric lock 1a to a locked or unlocked state by the rotational power generated by the motor by driving the motor with the driving circuit.

[0028] The system communication unit 1f is electrically connected to the control unit 1e, and is a communication function unit that performs wireless or wired communication with the remote control system A via the relay / converter 2. The system communication unit 1f performs wireless or wired communication with the remote control system A based on a communication command input from the control unit 1e.

[0029] For example, when a request to acquire electronic lock account information is input from the remote control system A via the system communication unit 1f, the control unit 1e outputs a communication command to the system communication unit 1f to instruct the transmission of the electronic lock account information together with the electronic lock account information. When the system communication unit 1f receives the electronic lock account information and the communication command from the control unit 1e, it transmits the electronic lock account information to the remote control system A.

[0030] The communication key 1b is a communication device possessed by a resident of the building H, such as a smartphone 1, a smartphone 2, a smartphone 3, a card key 1, a car key 2, a car key 3, a remote control 1, a remote control 2, etc. The communication key 1b transmits a locking operation signal or an unlocking operation signal to the electric lock 1a by wirelessly communicating with the key communication unit 1d.

[0031] The physical key 1c is a mechanical key with a key groove formed to match the key cylinder of the electric lock 1a. The physical key 1c mechanically operates the key cylinder by inserting it into the keyhole of the electric lock 1a and rotating it, and sets the electric lock 1a to a locked or unlocked state based on the mechanical match with the key cylinder.

[0032] Although not shown in Fig. 1, the electric lock 1a is also available in the form of a numeric keypad. The numeric keypad-type electric lock 1a is equipped with a mechanical numeric keypad (operation unit), and is set to a locked or unlocked state by the resident of the building H operating the numeric keypad to input a predetermined lock / unlock code (encrypted numeric value).

[0033] As the electric lock system 1 in this embodiment, an electric lock 1a equipped with a numeric keypad (operation unit) may be adopted instead of the communication key 1b and the physical key 1c. As the electric lock system 1 in this embodiment, an electric lock 1a equipped with a numeric keypad (operation unit) may be adopted in addition to the communication key 1b and the physical key 1c.

[0034] The relay / converter 2 is connected to the electric lock system 1 (electric lock 1a) and the remote control system A so as to be able to communicate with each other, and is a relay device that relays communication between the electric lock system 1 (electric lock 1a) and the remote control system A. As shown in the figure, the relay / converter 2 includes an electric lock communication unit 2a, a smart home communication unit 2b, and a control / conversion unit 2c.

[0035] The electric lock communication unit 2a is electrically connected to the control / conversion unit 2c inside the relay / converter 2, and is communicatively connected to the system communication unit 1f of the electric lock system 1 outside the relay / converter 2. The electric lock communication unit 2a transmits a signal (downstream signal) addressed to the electric lock system 1 input from the control / conversion unit 2c to the system communication unit 1f. The electric lock communication unit 2a outputs a signal (upstream signal) addressed to the remote control system A received from the system communication unit 1f to the control / conversion unit 2c.

[0036] The smart home communication unit 2b is electrically connected to the control and conversion unit 2c inside the relay and converter 2, and is communicatively connected to the system communication unit a1 of the remote control system A outside the relay and converter 2. The smart home communication unit 2b outputs a signal (downstream signal) addressed to the electric lock system 1 received from the system communication unit a1 to the control and conversion unit 2c. The smart home communication unit 2b transmits a signal (upstream signal) addressed to the remote control system A input from the control and conversion unit 2c to the system communication unit a1.

[0037] The control / conversion unit 2c is electrically connected to the electric lock communication unit 2a and the smart home communication unit 2b. Since the communication method of the electric lock communication unit 2a is different from the communication method of the smart home communication unit 2b, the control / conversion unit 2c performs signal conversion on the uplink signal input from the electric lock communication unit 2a and outputs it to the smart home communication unit 2b, and performs reverse signal conversion on the uplink signal input from the smart home communication unit 2b and outputs it to the electric lock communication unit 2a.

[0038] The operation of the remote control system A according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

[0039] In the remote control system A, the users P1 to P3 input an acquisition request to the user communication terminals a4 to a6, causing the user communication terminals a4 to a6 to display a list of keys preregistered in the electric lock system 1 (Step S1). The acquisition request is received by the system communication unit a1 from the users P1 to P3 via the cloud a3.

[0040] The system communication unit a1 outputs the acquisition request received from the user communication terminals a4 to a6 to the control unit a2. In order to respond to the acquisition request input from the system communication unit a1, the control unit a2 transmits the acquisition request as a downstream signal to the electric lock system 1.

[0041] The system communication unit a1 acquires key information held by the electric lock system 1 by transmitting an acquisition request (downstream signal) addressed to the electric lock system 1 to the relay / converter 2. More specifically, in the remote control system A, the control unit a2 causes the system communication unit a1 to transmit the acquisition request (downstream signal) to the smart home communication unit 2b of the relay / converter 2.

[0042] When the smart home communication unit 2b receives an acquisition request (downstream signal), it outputs it to the control / conversion unit 2c. The control / conversion unit 2c converts the acquisition request (downstream signal) input from the smart home communication unit 2b into a signal and outputs it to the electric lock communication unit 2a. The electric lock communication unit 2a transmits the acquisition request (downstream signal) input from the control / conversion unit 2c to the system communication unit 1f of the electric lock system 1.

[0043] The system communication unit 1f outputs the acquisition request (downstream signal) received from the electric lock communication unit 2a to the control unit 1e. In response to the acquisition request (downstream signal) input from the system communication unit 1f, the control unit 1e reads out the key information previously stored in the storage area 1h and outputs it to the system communication unit 1f.

[0044] The system communication unit 1f transmits the key information input from the control unit 1e as an upstream signal to the electric lock communication unit 2a. The electric lock communication unit 2a outputs the key information (upstream signal) received from the system communication unit 1f to the control / conversion unit 2c. The control / conversion unit 2c inversely converts the key information (upstream signal) input from the electric lock communication unit 2a and outputs it to the smart home communication unit 2b.

[0045] The smart home communication unit 2b transmits the key information (upstream signal) input from the control / conversion unit 2c to the system communication unit a1 of the remote control system A. The system communication unit a1 outputs the key information (upstream signal) received from the smart home communication unit 2b of the relay / converter 2 to the control unit a2.

[0046] The control unit a2 stores the electronic lock account information input from the system communication unit a1 in the storage area 2g, and provides it to the user communication terminals a4 to a6 in response to an acquisition request received from the user communication terminals a4 to a6. The user communication terminals a4 to a6 display a key list based on the electronic lock account information received from the system communication unit a1 via the cloud a3.

[0047] Fig. 3 is a display example of a key list (electronic lock account list). The key list displays a list of multiple communication keys 1b that are users of the electronic lock system 1. Fig. 3 shows a state in which a list of multiple communication keys 1b (smartphone 1, smartphone 2, smartphone 3, card key 1, car key 2, car key 3) registered in the electronic lock system 1 as electronic lock accounts is displayed.

[0048] When the owner of the smartphone 2, which is one of the electronic lock accounts, operates the electronic lock 1a while the key list is displayed (step S2), the smartphone 2 is highlighted in the key list (step S3). The smartphone 2, which is one of the user communication terminals a4 to a6, highlights itself in the key list displayed for itself so that it stands out.

[0049] When Smartphone 2 itself is highlighted, it switches the display to show the list of remote control accounts instead of the list of keys (see Figure 4). In the list of remote control accounts, a check mark is added to "Yuko", the owner of Smartphone 2.

[0050] When the smartphone 2 highlights itself, it transmits operation information related to the highlighting to the control unit a2. When the control unit a2 receives the operation information from the smartphone 2, it performs a linking process to link the smartphone 2 (electronic lock account) in the electronic lock account information with “Yuko” (remote control account) in the remote control account information based on the operation information (step S4).

[0051] The remote control system A of this embodiment is a system that remotely controls a controlled device B installed in a building H using user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals), and obtains electric lock account information from the electric lock 1a via a relay / converter 2 (relay device) that relays communication with the electric lock 1a installed in the building H, and transmits the electric lock account information to the user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals) by linking the electric lock account information with the user's own remote control account information.

[0052] According to this embodiment, it is possible to check the operation of the electric lock 1a by the communication key 1b by linking the electric lock account information with the remote control account information. Fig. 5 is a list of activities of the electric lock 1a displayed by the user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals) based on the electric lock account information. According to this embodiment, it is possible to check the locked / unlocked state of the electric lock 1a in the electric lock system 1 as activity information in the user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals) of the remote control system A.

[0053] The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

[0054] (1) In the above embodiment, the user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals) display a list of electric lock account information and instruct the control unit a2 to link the electric lock account information and the remote control account information by operating the electric lock 1a in the list display state, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0055] (2) In the above embodiment, when the user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals) operate the electric lock 1a, the user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals) highlight themselves in the list display of the electric lock account information, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the highlighting of the user communication terminals a4 to a6 may be omitted.

[0056] (3) In the above embodiment, the user communication terminals a4 to a6 (communication terminals) acquired the lock / unlock status of the electric lock 1a as activity information by linking the electric lock account information with the remote control account information, but the present invention is not limited to this. The activity information is not limited to only the lock / unlock status of the electric lock 1a.

[0057] (4) In the present embodiment, the relay / converter 2 (relay device) is provided separately from the remote control system A and the electric lock system, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the relay / converter 2 (relay device) may be a component of the remote control system A. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] A...Remote control system, a1...System communication unit, a2...Control unit, a3...Cloud, a4...User communication terminal, a5...User communication terminal, a6...User communication terminal, B...Control target device, 1...Electric lock system, 1a...Electric lock, 1b...Communication key, 1c...Physical key, 1d...Lock communication unit, 1e...Control unit, 1f...System communication unit, 1g...Electric lock drive unit, 2...Relay / converter, 2a...Electric lock communication unit, 2b...Smart home communication unit, 2c...Control / conversion unit

Claims

1. A remote operation system for remotely operating equipment installed in a building using a communication terminal, A remote control system that obtains electric lock account information from an electric lock installed in the building via a relay device that relays communication with the electric lock, and transmits the electric lock account information to the communication terminal by linking the electric lock account information with its own remote control account information.

2. The remote control system according to claim 1 , wherein the communication terminal displays a list of the electronic lock account information, and links the electronic lock account information with the remote control account information by operating the electronic lock in the list display state.

3. The remote control system according to claim 2 , wherein the communication terminal highlights itself in the list display when the electronic lock is operated.

4. The remote control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the communication terminal acquires the locked / unlocked status of the electric lock by linking the electric lock account information with the remote control account information.

5. The remote control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electric lock account information is key information of a communication key for operating the electric lock by communication.

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