Control device, control method, and program

Abstract

To provide a control device with improved detection performance of equipment.SOLUTION: A control device includes: a communication unit 25 having a function of communicating with equipment 30 via a router 40; a detection unit 26 that detects communicable equipment by performing a first communication trial with the equipment 30 based on multicast communication and a second communication trial with the equipment 30 based on broadcast communication using the communication unit 25; an output unit 27 that outputs detection results information for displaying detection results of the communicable equipment on a display unit 22; and a control unit 29 that controls at least part of the communicable equipment using the communication unit 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, a control method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, the introduction of EMS (Energy Management System) into houses has been progressing. According to EMS, "visualization" that monitors and displays the usage amount of energy such as electricity or gas used in a house is realized. As a technology related to EMS, Patent Document 1 discloses an equipment monitoring device for EMS that can accurately monitor the power consumption of equipment.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in some cases, a control device such as an EMS controller detects a device by attempting to communicate with the device via a router. In such a case, if the router does not support the communication method when the control device attempts to communicate, there is a possibility that the device cannot be detected.

[0005] The present invention provides a control device and the like with improved device detection performance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A control device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a communication unit having a function of communicating with devices via a router, a detection unit that uses the communication unit to perform a first communication attempt with the devices based on multicast communication and a second communication attempt with the devices based on broadcast communication to detect communicable devices, an output unit that outputs detection result information for displaying the detection result of the communicable devices on a display unit, and a control unit that controls at least a part of the communicable devices using the communication unit.

[0007] A control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method executed by a computer having a function of communicating with devices via a router, the control method including a detection step of detecting communicable devices by performing a first communication attempt with the devices based on multicast communication and a second communication attempt with the devices based on broadcast communication, an output step of outputting detection result information for displaying the detection result of the communicable devices on a display unit, and a control step of controlling at least a part of the communicable devices.

[0008] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program for causing the computer to execute the control method.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, a control device or the like with improved device detection performance is realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

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Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a comprehensive or specific example. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of the components, steps, order of steps, etc. shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, among the components in the following embodiments, the components not described in the independent claims will be described as optional components.

[0012] Note that each figure is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily drawn precisely. Also, in each figure, substantially the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant descriptions may be omitted or simplified.

[0013] (Embodiment) [Configuration] First, the configuration of the control system according to the embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control system according to the embodiment.

[0014] The control system 10 is a system that can display the power consumption in the house 70 on the display unit 22 of the control device 20. Further, the control system 10 is a system that can control a plurality of devices 30 provided in the house 70.

[0015] The control system 10 includes a control device 20, a plurality of devices 30, and a router 40. The control device 20, the plurality of devices 30, and the router 40 are installed within the house 70 (more specifically, within the site of the house 70). The house 70 is an example of a facility, and specifically, it is a detached house, but it may also be an apartment house. Note that the control system 10 may be applied to facilities other than the house 70 such as a lodging facility.

[0016] The control device 20 is an EMS controller having an energy management function. The control device 20 manages the power consumption in the house 70 based on the power consumption (in other words, the electricity consumption) measured by a power measurement device (not shown). Further, the control device 20 can also control the devices 30 communicatively connected to the control device 20. The control device 20 is not limited to an EMS controller, and may be another controller or a gateway device. The control device 20 includes an operation reception unit 21, a display unit 22, an information processing unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a communication unit 25.

[0017] The operation reception unit 21 receives operations from occupants of the house 70 or the like. The operation reception unit 21 is realized, for example, by a touch panel, but may also be realized by a hardware key or the like.

[0018] The display unit 22 displays images. The display unit 22 is realized, for example, by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel. Note that the display unit 22 may be separate from the control device 20 in some cases.

[0019] The information processing unit 23 performs display processing and the like for displaying the power consumption in the house 70 on the display unit 22. The information processing unit 23 is realized by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor. The information processing unit 23 has, as functional components, a detection unit 26, an output unit 27, a registration unit 28, and a control unit 29. The functions of the detection unit 26, the output unit 27, the registration unit 28, and the control unit 29 are realized, for example, by a microcomputer or a processor that constitutes the information processing unit 23 executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 24.

[0020] The storage unit 24 is a storage device that stores computer programs and the like executed by the information processing unit 23. The storage unit 24 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0021] The communication unit 25 is a communication circuit for the control device 20 to perform wireless communication with the device 30 via the router 40. The communication standard of the lower communication layer of the wireless communication is, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and the communication standard of the upper communication layer is, for example, ECHONET Lite (registered trademark).

[0022] The plurality of devices 30 are devices provided in the house 70. At least a part of the plurality of devices 30 is controlled by the control device 20 by being registered in the control device 20. The plurality of devices 30 include lighting devices, air conditioning devices, ventilation devices, air purifiers, electric shutters, electric locks, heat pump water heaters, fuel cell power generation systems, solar power generation systems, power storage systems, home delivery boxes, and chargers for electric vehicles.

[0023] The router 40 is installed, for example, inside the house 70, a wireless LAN (Local Area It is a router in the [[Network]]. The router 40 is a device that relays the wireless communication between the control device 20 and the device 30, and the control device 20 and the device 30 are connected to the router 40. Further, the router 40 is connected to a wide - area communication network 80 such as the Internet, and the control device 20 and the device 30 connected to the router 40 can be connected to the wide - area communication network 80 via the router 40.

[0024] [Registration operation according to the comparative example] The control device 20 can control the device 30 registered in the control device 20 according to the operation of the resident on the control device 20. First, the registration operation (comparative example) of a general device 30 will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of the registration operation according to the comparative example.

[0025] A user (for example, a person belonging to a construction company or a resident of the house 70) installs the control device 20, a plurality of devices 30, and the router 40 in the house 70. After the user installs the control device 20 and the plurality of devices 30, the user performs a detection instruction operation for detecting the plurality of devices 30 on the control device 20, and the operation reception unit 21 receives the detection instruction operation (S11).

[0026] The detection unit 26 performs detection of communicable devices based on the received detection instruction operation (S12). Specifically, the detection unit 26 tries to communicate with the plurality of devices 30 using the communication unit 25 to detect communicable devices that are at least a part of the plurality of devices 30. In the trial of communication with the device 30, the detection unit 26 transmits a response request specifying a multicast address to the plurality of devices 30 via the router 40, and detects the device 30 that responds to the response request as a communicable device. That is, in step S12, the detection unit 26 uses the communication unit 25 to perform a communication trial with the plurality of devices 30 based on multicast communication.

[0027] The output unit 27 outputs detection result information for displaying the detection result of the communicable device in step S12 to the display unit 22 (S13). As a result, the detection result of the communicable device is displayed on the display unit 22 (S14). FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen (a list screen of communicable devices) of the detection result.

[0028] The user performs a selection operation of selecting a device to be registered from the communicable devices displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3, and the operation reception unit 21 receives the selection operation (S15). The registration unit 28 performs registration of the selected communicable device based on the received selection operation (S16). Specifically, the registration unit 28 associates the device information (such as information indicating the type of the device) of the communicable device with the unicast address of the communicable device used for individual communication with the communicable device and stores them in the storage unit 24.

[0029] Thereafter, the user performs a control instruction operation for instructing the control device 20 to control the registered device 30, and the operation reception unit 21 receives the control instruction operation (S17). The control unit 29 controls the device 30 based on the received operation (S18). Specifically, the control unit 29 uses the communication unit 25 to transmit a control command specifying the unicast address to the device 30 via the router 40. Thereby, the control of the device 30 is realized.

[0030] [Measures against problems in the registration operation] In the detection of the communicable device in step S12 above, the detection unit 26 transmits a response request specifying a multicast address to a plurality of devices 30 via the router 40. Here, when the router 40 has a Snooping function, the router 40 may block the response request with the multicast address specified. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the response request with the multicast address specified is blocked.

[0031] Therefore, the control device 20 has a function that can execute the detection of communicable devices (transmission of response requests) in step S12 by broadcast communication in addition to multicast communication. As shown in FIG. 4 above, even if the router 40 has a Snooping function, it does not block a response request with a specified broadcast address. Therefore, the control device 20 can suppress the failure to detect the device 30 that should originally be detected.

[0032] Note that whether the detection of the device 30 in step S12 is performed by multicast communication or broadcast communication is changed, for example, by an operation on the control device 20 by the user.

[0033] [Registration operation according to the embodiment] By the way, among the devices 30, there are devices 30 that support multicast communication but do not support broadcast communication. When performing the device 30 by broadcast communication, the response request is not blocked by the router 40, but a response from the device 30 that does not support broadcast communication cannot be obtained, and there is a possibility of detection omission of the device 30.

[0034] Therefore, the control device 20 may have a combined mode in which the detection of the device 30 in step S12 is performed by combining multicast communication and broadcast communication. Hereinafter, the registration operation (embodiment) when the combined mode is selected by the user will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of the registration operation according to the embodiment.

[0035] After the user installs the control device 20 and the plurality of devices 30, the user performs a detection instruction operation for detecting the plurality of devices 30 on the control device 20, and the operation reception unit 21 receives the detection instruction operation (S21).

[0036] Based on the received detection instruction operation, the detection unit 26 performs a first communication attempt with a plurality of devices 30 based on multicast communication to detect communicable devices (S22). The detection unit 26 transmits a response request specifying a multicast address to the plurality of devices 30 via the router 40, and detects as communicable devices those devices 30 that respond to the response request.

[0037] Also, based on the received detection instruction operation, the detection unit 26 performs a second communication attempt with a plurality of devices 30 based on broadcast communication to detect communicable devices (S23). The detection unit 26 transmits a response request specifying a broadcast address to the plurality of devices 30 via the router 40, and detects as communicable devices those devices 30 that respond to the response request.

[0038] Next, the output unit 27 determines whether communicable devices are detected by the first communication attempt based on multicast communication in step S22 (S24). When the output unit 27 determines that communicable devices are detected by the first communication attempt (Yes in S24), it outputs first detection result information for displaying the detection result of communicable devices in step S22 to the display unit 22 (S25). In other words, the output unit 27 outputs first detection result information indicating the detection result of communicable devices by the communication attempt with the plurality of devices 30 based on multicast communication. As a result, the detection result of communicable devices as shown in FIG. 3 is displayed on the display unit 22 (S26).

[0039] On the other hand, when the output unit 27 determines that communicable devices are not detected by the first communication attempt based on multicast communication (No in S24), it outputs second detection result information for displaying the detection result of communicable devices in step S23 to the display unit 22 (S27). In other words, the output unit 27 outputs second detection result information indicating the detection result of communicable devices by the second communication attempt with the plurality of devices 30 based on broadcast communication.

[0040] In addition to the second detection result information, the output unit 27 outputs to the display unit detection omission information for indicating to the display unit 22 the possibility of omission in detecting communicable devices (S28). As a result, the detection result of communicable devices as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit 22 (S29). FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of the detection result in which the possibility of omission in detecting communicable devices is displayed.

[0041] The user performs a selection operation of selecting a device to be registered from among the communicable devices displayed on the display screen of FIG. 3 or FIG. 6, and the operation reception unit 21 receives the selection operation (S30). The registration unit 28 performs registration of the selected communicable device based on the received selection operation (S31). Specifically, the registration unit 28 stores, in the storage unit 24, by associating, device information of the communicable device (such as information indicating the type of the device) and the unicast address of the communicable device.

[0042] Thereafter, the user performs a control instruction operation for instructing the control of the registered device 30 to the control device 20, and the operation reception unit 21 receives the control instruction operation (S32). The control unit 29 controls the device 30 based on the received operation (S33). Specifically, the control unit 29 uses the communication unit 25 to transmit a control command specifying the unicast address to the device 30 via the router 40. Thereby, the control of the device 30 is realized.

[0043] As described above, the control device 20 detects communicable devices by performing a first communication attempt with a plurality of devices 30 based on multicast communication and a second communication attempt with a plurality of devices 30 based on broadcast communication. When a communicable device is detected by the first communication attempt with a plurality of devices 30 based on multicast communication, the control device 20 outputs first detection result information indicating the detection result of the communicable device by the first communication attempt. When a communicable device is not detected by the first communication attempt, the control device 20 outputs second detection result information indicating the detection result of the communicable device by the second communication attempt with a plurality of devices 30 based on broadcast communication.

[0044] Even when the router 40 has the Snooping function, such a control device 20 can detect communicable devices.

[0045] In addition, when the control device 20 outputs the second detection result information, it further outputs detection omission information for displaying on the display unit 22 that there may be a possibility of detection omission of communicable devices.

[0046] Such a control device 20 can notify the user that a response from a device 30 that does not support broadcast communication cannot be obtained and there may be a detection omission of the device 30.

[0047] Note that when the output unit 27 of the control device 20 outputs the second detection result information, instead of or in addition to the detection omission information, it may output information for displaying on the display unit 22 a message prompting a setting change of the router 40 (for example, turning off the Snooping function). FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a detection result including such a message.

[0048] By displaying such a display screen, the control device 20 can prompt the user to change the settings of the router 40.

[0049] In addition, when the output unit 27 outputs the second detection result information, instead of or in addition to the detection omission information, it may further output information for displaying on the display unit 22 a message prompting replacement of the router 40. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen of a detection result including such a message.

[0050] By displaying such a display screen, the control device 20 can prompt the user to replace the router 40.

[0051] [Modification Example] The order of the processes in the flowchart of FIG. 5 above is an example. For example, the detection of communicable devices based on multicast communication in step S22 and the detection of communicable devices based on broadcast communication in step S23 may be in reverse order.

[0052] Also, after performing the detection of communicable devices based on multicast communication in step S22, the detection of communicable devices based on broadcast communication in step S23 may be performed only when no communicable device is detected. Specifically, the detection of communicable devices based on broadcast communication in step S23 and the determination process in step S24 may be in reverse order.

[0053] Also, in the above embodiment, it was explained that the router 40 having the Snooping function blocks a response request with a multicast address specified and does not block a response request with a broadcast address specified. Here, if there is a case where the router 40 blocks a response request with a broadcast address specified and does not block a response request with a multicast address specified, in the description of the processes after step S24, the multicast communication may be read as broadcast communication, and the broadcast communication may be read as multicast communication. Such a control device 20 is also included in the present invention.

[0054] [Effects, etc.] Hereinafter, the invention obtained from the disclosure of this specification will be exemplified, and the effects, etc. obtained from the invention will be described.

[0055] Invention 1 is a control device 20 including a communication unit 25 having a function of communicating with a device 30 via a router 40, a detection unit 26 that performs a first communication attempt with the device 30 based on multicast communication and a second communication attempt with the device 30 based on broadcast communication using the communication unit 25 to detect communicable devices, an output unit 27 that outputs detection result information for displaying the detection result of communicable devices on a display unit 22, and a control unit 29 that controls at least a part of communicable devices using the communication unit 25.

[0056] Such a control device 20 can detect the device 30 even when the router 40 supports one of multicast communication and broadcast communication and does not support the other. That is, the control device 20 is useful as a control device with improved device detection performance.

[0057] In Invention 2, when a communicable device is detected by the first communication attempt, the output unit 27 outputs first detection result information indicating the detection result of the communicable device by the first communication attempt, and when a communicable device is not detected by the first communication attempt, the output unit 27 outputs second detection result information indicating the detection result of the communicable device by the second communication attempt. This is the control device 20 of Invention 1.

[0058] When the router 40 supports multicast communication, such a control device 20 can display the detection result based on the first communication attempt of multicast communication, and when the router 40 does not support multicast communication, such a control device 20 can display the detection result based on the second communication attempt of broadcast communication.

[0059] In Invention 3, when the output unit 27 outputs the second detection result information, the output unit 27 further outputs information for displaying a message prompting the user to change the settings of the router 40 on the display unit 22. This is the control device 20 of Invention 2.

[0060] When displaying the detection result based on the second communication attempt of broadcast communication, such a control device 20 can prompt the user to change the settings of the router 40.

[0061] In Invention 4, when the output unit 27 outputs the second detection result information, the output unit 27 further outputs information for displaying a message prompting the user to replace the router 40 on the display unit 22. This is the control device 20 of Invention 2.

[0062] When displaying the detection result based on the second communication attempt of broadcast communication, such a control device 20 can prompt the user to replace the router 40.

[0063] Invention 5 is the control device 20 of Invention 2, wherein when the output unit 27 outputs the second detection result information, it further outputs information for causing the display unit 22 to display that there is a possibility of detection omission of the communicable device.

[0064] Such a control device 20 can notify the user that there is a possibility of detection omission of the device 30 when displaying the detection result based on the second communication attempt of the broadcast communication.

[0065] Invention 6 is the control device 20 of any one of Inventions 1 to 5, further including a registration unit 28 for registering at least a part of the communicable devices, and the control unit 29 controls the registered communicable devices.

[0066] Such a control device 20 can control the registered device 30.

[0067] Invention 7 is the control device 20 of any one of Inventions 1 to 6, further including a display unit 22.

[0068] Such a control device 20 can be realized as a device including the display unit 22.

[0069] Invention 8 is a control method executed by a computer having a function of communicating with the device 30 via the router 40, including a detection step S22, S23 of detecting communicable devices by performing a first communication attempt with the device 30 based on multicast communication and a second communication attempt with the device 30 based on broadcast communication, an output step S25, S27 of outputting detection result information for displaying the detection result of the communicable device on the display unit 22, and a control step S33 of controlling at least a part of the communicable devices.

[0070] Such a control method can detect the device 30 even when the router 40 supports one of multicast communication and broadcast communication and does not support the other.

[0071] The invention 9 is a program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the invention 8.

[0072] According to such a program, even when the router 40 corresponds to one of multicast communication and broadcast communication and does not correspond to the other, the computer can detect the device 30.

[0073] (Other embodiments) Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0074] For example, in the above embodiment, the control system is realized by a plurality of devices. In this case, the components included in the control system may be distributed among the plurality of devices in any manner. Further, the control system may be realized by a single device.

[0075] Also, in the above embodiment, the processing executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit. Further, the order of a plurality of processes may be changed, or a plurality of processes may be executed in parallel.

[0076] Also, in the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

[0077] Also, each component may be realized by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or an integrated circuit). These circuits may form one circuit as a whole, or may be separate circuits respectively. Further, these circuits may be general-purpose circuits or dedicated circuits respectively.

[0078] Furthermore, the general or specific aspects of the present invention may be implemented in a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or a recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. Also, it may be implemented by any combination of a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0079] For example, the present invention may be implemented as the control device or control system according to the above-described embodiment. Also, the present invention may be implemented as a method executed by the control device or control system, or may be implemented as a program for causing a computer to execute such a method. The present invention may be implemented as a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0080] In addition, forms obtained by applying various modifications conceivable by those skilled in the art to each embodiment, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions in each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention are also included in the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0081] 10 Control system 20 Control device 21 Operation reception unit 22 Display unit 23 Information processing unit 24 Storage unit 25 Communication unit 26 Detection unit 27 Output unit 28 Registration unit 29 Control unit 30 Device 40 Router 70 House 80 Wide area communication network

Claims

1. A communication unit having a function of communicating with a device via a router, a detection unit that detects communicable devices by performing a first communication attempt with the devices based on multicast communication and a second communication attempt with the devices based on broadcast communication using the communication unit, an output unit that outputs detection result information for displaying the detection result of the communicable devices on a display unit, and a control unit that controls at least a part of the communicable devices using the communication unit. A control device.

2. The output unit, when the communicable devices are detected by the first communication attempt, outputs first detection result information indicating the detection result of the communicable devices by the first communication attempt, and when the communicable devices are not detected by the first communication attempt, outputs second detection result information indicating the detection result of the communicable devices by the second communication attempt. The control device according to claim 1.

3. When the output unit outputs the second detection result information, the output unit further outputs information for displaying a message prompting a setting change of the router on the display unit. The control device according to claim 2.

4. When the output unit outputs the second detection result information, the output unit further outputs information for displaying a message prompting replacement of the router on the display unit. The control device according to claim 2.

5. When the output unit outputs the second detection result information, the output unit further outputs information for displaying on the display unit that there may be a detection omission of the communicable devices. The control device according to claim 2.

6. Further comprising a registration unit that registers at least a part of the communicable devices, wherein the control unit controls the registered communicable devices. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Further comprising the display unit. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

8. A control method executed by a computer having a function of communicating with a device via a router, the method comprising: a detection step of detecting communicable devices by performing a first communication attempt with the devices based on multicast communication and a second communication attempt with the devices based on broadcast communication; an output step of outputting detection result information for displaying the detection result of the communicable devices on a display unit; and a control step of controlling at least a part of the communicable devices. A control method.

9. A program for causing the computer to execute the control method according to claim 8.

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