Program, processing method, and home appliance system

Abstract

To provide a program that can enhance convenience.SOLUTION: A program of the embodiment causes a computer to execute a change step that changes at least one of the operation screen of the computer, the operation procedure for operating home appliance, and the possibility of operating the home appliance, depending on the result of a determination of a position condition that includes at least a first state in which the computer is outside a building in which the home appliance is installed, a second state in which the computer is inside the building and in a first space in which the home appliance is installed, or a third state in which the computer is inside the building and in a second space different from the first space, when the home appliance is operated using the computer.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a program, a processing method, and a home appliance system.

Background Art

[0002] Among home appliances, there are those that can be operated from a terminal device. The terminal device can operate the home appliance by communicating with the home appliance. By the way, systems related to home appliances are expected to further improve convenience.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a program, a processing method, and a home appliance system that can improve convenience.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] When operating a home appliance using a computer, the program according to the embodiment causes the computer to execute a change step of changing at least one of an operation screen of the computer, an operation procedure for operating the home appliance, or whether the operation of the home appliance is possible, according to a determination result of a position condition including at least a first state in which the computer exists outside a building where the home appliance is installed, a second state in which the computer exists in a first space that is inside the building and in a space where the home appliance is installed, or a third state in which the computer exists in a second space that is inside the building and is a space different from the first space.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0006]

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0007] Hereinafter, a program, a processing method, and a home appliance system according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals. And redundant descriptions of these components may be omitted. In the present application, “based on XX” means “based at least on XX”, and may include cases based on other elements in addition to XX. Also, “based on XX” is not limited to cases directly based on XX, and may include cases based on those obtained by performing calculations or processing on XX. In the present application, “XX or YY” is not limited to either one of XX and YY, and may include both cases of XX and YY. This is the same when there are three or more selectable elements. XX and YY are arbitrary elements (for example, arbitrary information).

[0008] In the present application, “acquire” is not limited to actively acquiring by sending a transmission request, and may include acquiring by passively receiving information transmitted from another device. Also, “acquire” is not limited to directly acquiring target information (information to be acquired) from the outside, and may include generating and acquiring the target information by performing calculations or processing on information obtained from the outside.

[0009] In the present application, “communicate” is not limited to directly transmitting and receiving information, and may include cases where information is ultimately transmitted and received via another device. In the present application, “use XX” is not limited to directly using XX, and may include cases where XX is ultimately used via another device.

[0010] <Embodiment> (Home Appliance System) FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a home appliance system 1 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the home appliance system 1 includes, for example, a home appliance device 100 and a terminal device 300. The network NW described later may be used according to the situation, for example, the Internet, a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, LPWA (Low Power Wide Area), WAN (Wide Area Network), LAN (Local Area Network), or other public lines or dedicated lines.

[0011] (Home appliance device) The home appliance 100 is a home appliance used by the user U and is installed in a room (an example of a space) inside a residence (an example of a building). There may be one or more home appliances 100 installed in the residence. When there is one home appliance 100, the room in which that home appliance 100 which is the operation target is installed is the first space. Also, when there are a plurality of home appliances 100, among the rooms in which each home appliance 100 is installed, the room in which the home appliance 100 which is the operation target is installed is the first space. Also, a room other than the room in which the home appliance 100 which is the operation target is installed is the second space. Note that the user U in each embodiment is a user who operates the home appliance 100 installed in the residence using the terminal device 300. The home appliance 100 is, for example, a household room air conditioner, a refrigerator, a clothes processing machine (for example, a washing machine, a dryer, or a closet-type clothes processing machine), a cooking appliance (for example, a range, or a rice cooker), or the like. In the present disclosure, as a specific example of the home appliance 100, one household room air conditioner which is the operation target will be described. However, the home appliance 100 is not limited to the above-described home appliances. The home appliance 100 is connected to the network NW via, for example, a wireless router WR and a modem M installed in the user U's residence. The home appliance 100 can communicate with the server 200 or the terminal device 300 via the network NW. The home appliance 100 may be able to directly communicate with the terminal device 300 using short-range wireless communication such as, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark). The home appliance 100 can directly communicate with the terminal device 300 using wireless communication. Examples of wireless communication include wireless communication using the WiFi (registered trademark) technology, wireless communication using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) technology, wireless communication using long waves, infrared rays, or sound waves in electromagnetic waves, or the like.

[0012] (Terminal device) The terminal device 300 is an electronic device used by the user U. The terminal device 300 is, for example, a mobile terminal device such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal device. However, the terminal device 300 is not limited to a mobile terminal device and may be a personal computer or the like. The terminal device 300 has, for example, a display device 301, an input device 302, a communication unit 303, and a position detection function 304.

[0013] The display device 301 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display, and has a display screen 301a capable of displaying various information. The input device 302 can receive the input from the user U. The input device 302 is, for example, a touch panel provided overlapping the display screen 301a. The input device 302 may include a camera, a microphone, etc. provided in the terminal device 300. The communication unit 303 is, for example, a communication module capable of wireless communication. The terminal device 300 can communicate directly with the home appliance 100 using wireless communication. Examples of wireless communication include wireless communication using the WiFi (registered trademark) technology, wireless communication using the Bluetooth (registered trademark) technology, wireless communication using long waves in electromagnetic waves, or infrared rays. The position detection function 304 is, for example, a communication function for directly wirelessly communicating with a router provided inside the residence, and a receiving function for receiving a signal for communicating with the terminal device 300 output from a signal transmitter provided in the home appliance 100. An example of the signal for communicating with the terminal device 300 output from the signal transmitter provided in the home appliance 100 includes long waves of electromagnetic waves. Long waves of electromagnetic waves have the characteristic that it is easy to define the distance over which the signal propagates. The control unit 320 determines whether the position detection function 304 is directly wirelessly communicating with a router provided inside the residence. Then, when the control unit 320 determines that the position detection function 304 is directly wirelessly communicating with a router provided inside the residence, it determines that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) exists inside the residence. Also, when the control unit 320 determines that the position detection function 304 is not directly wirelessly communicating with a router provided inside the residence, it determines that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) exists outside the residence. In this case, the control unit 320 determines that communication is being performed via a communication network outside the residence through the information acquisition unit 310 and the information transmission unit 340. Also, when the control unit 320 determines that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) exists inside the residence, it communicates with the home appliance 100.When the control unit 320 determines that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) is present inside the dwelling, it determines whether the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) is present in the first space or the second space by determining whether it has received a signal for communicating with the terminal device 300 output from a signal transmitter provided in the home appliance 100. When the control unit 320 receives the signal output from the signal transmitter, it determines that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) is present in the first space. Also, when the control unit 320 does not receive the signal output from the signal transmitter, it determines that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) is present in the second space. Note that the position detection function 304 may be, for example, a function of GPS (Global Positioning System). In this case, the control unit 320 uses the position detection function 304 to receive radio waves from four GPS satellites at a predetermined time interval. The predetermined time interval is a time interval shorter than the time it takes for the position of the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) to transition from the first state to the third state. Then, the control unit 320 may identify the position of the terminal device 300 by calculating the position of the terminal device 300 using, for example, a calculation method called three-dimensional positioning for the received radio waves at each predetermined time interval.

[0014] Note that a device having a function similar to the position detection function 304 and separate from the terminal device 300 may be possessed by the user U, and the device may operate in place of the position detection function 304 of the terminal device 300 by communicating with the terminal device 300. Then, the control unit 320 may identify the position of the device and use the identified position as the position of the user U (i.e., the position of the terminal device 300).

[0015] An application program P is installed in the terminal device 300, and the functions described below are supported. The application program P is, for example, an application program for managing the home appliance 100. "Managing" includes "operating". Hereinafter, the application software that is started when the application program P is executed is referred to as "home appliance application AP".

[0016] In each embodiment, an example of a "home appliance system" is realized by the home appliance application AP of the home appliance 100, the server 200, and the terminal device 300. However, the "home appliance system" may be realized only by the server 200, only by the home appliance application AP, only by the home appliance 100, or by any two or more of the server 200, the home appliance application AP, and the home appliance 100. In each embodiment, each of the home appliance 100, the server 200, and the terminal device 300 is an example of a "computer".

[0017] (Home Appliance) Next, the home appliance 100 will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the home appliance 100 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the home appliance 100 has, for example, a home appliance main body 110, a control unit 120, a communication unit 130, and a storage unit 140.

[0018] The home appliance main body 110 is a part that operates to realize the main role of each home appliance 100. For example, the home appliance main body 110 varies depending on the type of the home appliance 100. If the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner, it is a household room air conditioner main body that operates to realize indoor heating and cooling. If the home appliance 100 is a refrigerator, it is a refrigerator main body that operates to cool the interior of the refrigerator. If the home appliance 100 is a clothes processor, it is a clothes processor main body that operates to realize washing and drying. If the home appliance 100 is a cooking appliance, it is an oven range main body that realizes warming and baking, or a rice cooker main body that realizes cooking rice.

[0019] The home appliance main body 110 also includes a reception unit 110a. The reception unit 110a receives operations on the home appliance 100.

[0020] The control unit 120 is realized by one or more hardware processors such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) mounted on the home appliance 100 executing a program. However, part or all of the home appliance 100 may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or may be realized by cooperation between software and hardware.

[0021] The control unit 120 comprehensively controls the entire home appliance 100. For example, the control unit 120 controls the operation of the home appliance main body 110. Specifically, for example, when the reception unit 110a receives an operation, the control unit 120 controls the home appliance 100 according to the operation received by the reception unit 110a. Also, specifically, for example, when the terminal device 300 directly communicates with the home appliance 100, the control unit 120 controls the home appliance 100 according to the operation instruction of the home appliance 100 received from the terminal device 300 via the communication unit 130.

[0022] The communication unit 130 is, for example, a wireless communication module according to a predetermined protocol connectable to the terminal device 300. The communication unit 130 receives, for example, an operation instruction directly transmitted from the terminal device 300.

[0023] The storage unit 140 is implemented by a combination of, for example, RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), or SSD (Solid State Drive). The storage unit 140 stores various kinds of information.

[0024] (Terminal device) Next, the terminal device 300 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the terminal device 300 according to an embodiment. The terminal device 300 includes, for example, an information acquisition unit 310, a control unit 320, an operation reception unit 330, an information transmission unit 340, and a storage unit 350.

[0025] The information acquisition unit 310, the control unit 320, the operation reception unit 330, and the information transmission unit 340 are realized by one or more hardware processors such as a CPU mounted on the terminal device 300 executing an application program P. In other words, the information acquisition unit 310, the control unit 320, the operation reception unit 330, and the information transmission unit 340 are, for example, software functional units included in the home appliance application AP.

[0026] The information acquisition unit 310 acquires various kinds of information from the home appliance 100 by communicating with the home appliance 100.

[0027] The control unit 320 controls the display device 301 of the terminal device 300 according to the position of the terminal device 300 identified by the position detection function 304, thereby controlling the content displayed on the display screen 301a of the display device 301. For example, the screen displayed on the display screen 301a and the operation unit (for example, the touch panel portion on the display screen 301a corresponding to the operation received by the operation reception unit 330) are displayed under the control of the control unit 320. Specifically, for example, the control unit 320 causes various notifications received from the home appliance 100 to be displayed on the display screen 301a. Also, specifically, for example, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display a function display for executing a function of operating one or more registered home appliances 100, a function indicating the state of one or more registered home appliances 100, or a function related to a service related to one or more registered home appliances 100, for the functions pre-stored in the storage unit 350.

[0028] Next, a specific example of the display screen 301a displayed by the display device 301 under the control of the control unit 320 will be described. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a first example of a screen that the control unit 320 of an embodiment causes to be displayed on the display device 301. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a second example of a screen that the control unit 320 of an embodiment causes to be displayed on the display device 301. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a third example of a screen that the control unit 320 of an embodiment causes to be displayed on the display device 301. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a fourth example of a screen that the control unit 320 of an embodiment causes to be displayed on the display device 301. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a fifth example of a screen that the control unit 320 of an embodiment causes to be displayed on the display device 301. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a sixth example of a screen that the control unit 320 of an embodiment causes to be displayed on the display device 301. First, the screen that the control unit 320 causes to be displayed on the display device 301 when the home appliance 100 is stopped will be described.

[0029] The screen shown in FIG. 4 is an example of a screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display when the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner and the position of the terminal device 300 specified using the position detection function 304 is outside the residence when operating the stopped home appliance 100 using the terminal device 300 (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists outside the residence). For example, when the terminal device 300 exists outside the residence, the user U may not know the state (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.) of room A where the home appliance 100 is installed, and it is conceivable that it will take time until returning home. Note that the fact that the terminal device 300 exists outside the residence can be regarded as corresponding to the user U being outside the residence. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen including buttons for instructing a general operation content capable of suppressing the power consumption of the home appliance 100. The buttons for instructing a general operation content capable of suppressing the power consumption are, for example, a button B1 for executing "going out cooling" that can suppress the power consumption compared to normal cooling operation or rapid cooling operation by slowly lowering the indoor temperature, or a button B2 for executing "going out heating" that can suppress the power consumption compared to normal heating operation or rapid heating operation by slowly raising the indoor temperature. Note that the buttons shown within the frame R1 in FIG. 4 are displayed on the display screen 301a when the user U performs an operation of scrolling the display screen 301a. The state where the terminal device 300 exists outside the residence is the first state.

[0030] The screen shown in Fig. 5 is an example of a screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display when the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner and the position of the terminal device 300 identified using the position detection function 304 is inside the residence and in a room B different from the room A where the home appliance 100 is installed when operating the stopped home appliance 100 using the terminal device 300 (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists in a room B different from the room A where the home appliance 100 is installed inside the residence). For example, when the terminal device 300 exists in room B inside the residence, the user U does not know the state of room A (for example, temperature, humidity, etc.), but it is considered that it will take less time than when the user U is outside the residence until the user U moves to room A. Note that the fact that the terminal device 300 exists in room B inside the residence can be regarded as corresponding to the user U being in room B inside the residence. Therefore, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display, for example, an operation screen including buttons for instructing rough operation contents as shown in Fig. 5. The buttons for instructing rough operation contents are, for example, buttons that can execute a cooling operation or a heating operation at a temperature pre-assigned to the button by simply pressing the button. The operation screen including buttons for instructing rough operation contents is, for example, an operation screen obtained by excluding buttons B1 and B2 from the operation screen shown in Fig. 4. The state where the terminal device 300 exists in room B inside the residence is the second state.

[0031] The screen shown in FIG. 6 is an example of a screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display when the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner and the position of the terminal device 300 identified using the position detection function 304 is inside the residence and in room A where the home appliance 100 is installed (that is, when the terminal device 300 is present in room A inside the residence). For example, when the terminal device 300 is present in room A inside the residence, the user U can directly check the state of room A (for example, temperature, humidity, etc.). Note that the fact that the terminal device 300 is present in room A inside the residence can be regarded as corresponding to the user U being in room A inside the residence. Therefore, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display, for example, an operation screen including buttons for instructing specific operation contents as shown in FIG. 6. Buttons for instructing specific operation contents are, for example, buttons for instructing an operation mode (cooling operation, heating operation, dehumidifying operation, air purification operation, etc.) or buttons for instructing temperature. An operation screen including buttons for instructing specific operation contents is, for example, an operation screen obtained by excluding buttons for instructing general operation contents from the operation screen shown in FIG. 5. The state where the terminal device 300 is present in room A inside the residence is the third state.

[0032] Note that instead of the state where the terminal device 300 is present outside the residence, the state where the user U is outside the residence is regarded as the first state, instead of the state where the terminal device 300 is present in room B inside the residence, the state where the user U is in room B inside the residence is regarded as the second state, and instead of the state where the terminal device 300 is present in room A inside the residence, the state where the user U is in room A inside the residence may be regarded as the third state. Hereinafter, the state where the terminal device 300 is present outside the residence, the state where the terminal device 300 is present in room B inside the residence, the state where the terminal device 300 is present in room A inside the residence, and the state where the user U is outside the residence, the state where the user U is in room B inside the residence, and the state where the user U is in room A inside the residence may be referred to as the first state, the second state, and the third state, respectively.

[0033] Next, a screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display while the home appliance 100 is operating will be described. The screen shown in FIG. 7 is a case where the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner, and when operating the home appliance 100 in operation using the terminal device 300, the position of the terminal device 300 specified using the position detection function 304 is outside the residence (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists outside the residence), and is an example of a screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display. The screen shown in FIG. 8 is a case where the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner, and when operating the home appliance 100 in operation using the terminal device 300, the position of the terminal device 300 specified using the position detection function 304 is inside the residence and in a room B different from the room A where the home appliance 100 is installed (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists in a room B different from the room A where the home appliance 100 is installed inside the residence), and is an example of a screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display. The screen shown in FIG. 9 is a case where the home appliance 100 is a household room air conditioner, and when operating the home appliance 100 in operation using the terminal device 300, the position of the terminal device 300 specified using the position detection function 304 is inside the residence and in the room A where the home appliance 100 is installed (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists in the room A inside the residence), and is an example of a screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display. FIGS. 7 to 9 show an example of an operation screen during cooling operation. Also in the operation screen for operating the home appliance 100 in operation, similar to the operation screen for operating the home appliance 100 when it is stopped, when the position of the terminal device 300 is outside the residence (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists outside the residence), as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen including an operation of "going-out cooling" that can suppress power consumption compared to normal cooling operation and rapid cooling operation. Further, when the position of the terminal device 300 is inside the residence and in a room B different from the room A where the home appliance 100 is installed (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists in a room B different from the room A where the home appliance 100 is installed inside the residence), as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen including rough operation contents and excluding the operation of "going-out cooling".Also, when the position of the terminal device 300 is inside the dwelling and in Room A where the household electrical appliance 100 is installed (that is, when the terminal device 300 exists in Room A inside the dwelling), as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen including specific operation details. In the operation screens shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when the user U performs an operation of pressing the button B11, the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation of the user U pressing the button B11. When the operation reception unit 330 receives the operation of the user U pressing the button B11, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen including specific operation details as shown in FIG. 9.

[0034] The control unit 320 controls the operation of the terminal device 300. For example, the control unit 320 transmits an operation instruction to the household electrical appliance 100 via the information transmission unit 340 according to the operation received by the operation reception unit 330.

[0035] The operation reception unit 330 receives an operation for operating the terminal device 300. Also, the operation reception unit 330 receives an operation for operating the household electrical appliance 100.

[0036] The information transmission unit 340 transmits information (that is, an operation instruction) corresponding to the operation for operating the household electrical appliance 100 received by the operation reception unit 330 to the server 200.

[0037] The storage unit 350 is realized by a combination of, for example, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, or SSD. The storage unit 350 stores various information. For example, the storage unit 350 stores the application program P. When the application program P is executed, the storage unit 350 stores the function selected by the user U for operating one or more registered household electrical appliances 100, the function indicating the state of one or more registered household electrical appliances 100, or the function related to the service related to one or more registered household electrical appliances 100.

[0038] Note that the processing performed by the home appliance system 1 in each embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above-described processing. For example, the home appliance system 1 may perform the processing described below.

[0039] (First Processing Performed by Home Appliance System) FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a processing flow of the home appliance system 1 according to an embodiment. With reference to FIG. 10, the first processing performed by the home appliance system 1 will be described. The first processing performed by the home appliance system 1 is a process in which the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen according to which of the first state, the second state, and the third state it is in. In the terminal device 300, it is assumed that the application program P is executed and the home appliance application AP is started. When the home appliance application AP is started in the terminal device 300, the control unit 320 uses the position detection function 304 to identify the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) at a predetermined time interval (step S1).

[0040] The control unit 320 determines which of the first state, the second state, and the third state the identified position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) is in (step S2).

[0041] When the control unit 320 determines that it is in the first state (in the first state in step S2), it determines which of the first state and the second state the previous determination was (step S3). When the control unit 320 determines that the previous determination was in the first state (in the first state in step S3), it causes the display device 301 to display the operation screen displayed at the time of the previous determination (step S4). Further, when the control unit 320 determines that the previous determination was in the second state (in the second state in step S3), it causes the display device 301 to display the operation screen displayed at the time of the previous determination (step S5).

[0042] Also, when the control unit 320 determines that it is in the second state (the second state in step S2), it determines which of the first state, the second state, and the third state the previous determination was (step S6). When the control unit 320 determines that the previous determination was in the first state (the first state in step S6), it causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen for the second state (step S7). The operation screen for the second state is, for example, an operation screen as shown in FIG. 5. Also, when the control unit 320 determines that the previous determination was in the second state (the second state in step S6), it causes the display device 301 to display the operation screen displayed at the time of the previous determination (step S8). Also, when the control unit 320 determines that the previous determination was in the third state (the third state in step S6), it causes the display device 301 to display the operation screen displayed at the time of the previous determination (step S9).

[0043] Also, when the control unit 320 determines that it is in the third state (the third state in step S2), it determines which of the second state and the third state the previous determination was (step S10). When the control unit 320 determines that the previous determination was in the second state (the second state in step S10), it causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen for the third state (step S11). The operation screen for the third state is, for example, an operation screen as shown in FIG. 6. Also, when the control unit 320 determines that the previous determination was in the third state (the third state in step S10), it causes the display device 301 to display the operation screen displayed at the time of the previous determination (step S12).

[0044] Note that, at the first determination in step S2, the control unit 320 may, for example, cause the user U to select one of the operation screens for the first state, the second state, and the third state, and cause the display device 301 to display the selected operation screen. Further, at the first determination in step S2, the control unit 320 may, for example, cause the display device 301 to display an operation screen for a state corresponding to the determination result. The operation screen for a state corresponding to the determination result means, for example, an operation screen for the first state when the determination result is the first state, an operation screen for the second state when the determination result is the second state, and an operation screen for the third state when the determination result is the third state. The operation screen for the first state is, for example, an operation screen as shown in FIG. 4. However, the operation screen for the first state, the operation screen for the second state, and the operation screen for the third state are not limited to the above-described operation screens. Further, each of the operation screen for the first state, the operation screen for the second state, and the operation screen for the third state may be the same as the operation screens for other states in those three states. Further, at the first determination in step S2, the control unit 320 may, for example, cause the display device 301 to display a predetermined operation screen. The predetermined operation screen is, for example, an operation screen for the third state.

[0045] That is, when the state changes in the direction in which the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) approaches the home appliance 100 to be operated, the control unit 320 switches the operation screen for the state before the change to the operation screen for the state after the change without the user U being aware of it. Further, when the state changes in the direction in which the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) moves away from the home appliance 100 to be operated, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to continue to display the operation screen displayed at the previous determination. This is because, for example, when the accuracy of the position by GPS decreases due to poor communication or the like, the control unit 320 rarely determines that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) is present inside the residence when it is present outside the residence, and it is not preferable to switch to an operation screen for operating from the far side while being on the near side of the home appliance 100.

[0046] (Second Process Performed by Home Appliance System) FIG. 11 is a first diagram for explaining a second process performed by the home appliance system 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 12 is a second diagram for explaining the second process performed by the home appliance system 1 according to an embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 11 to 12, the second process performed by the home appliance system 1 will be described. The second process performed by the home appliance system 1 is an operation for changing the operation procedure and the availability of operations for the same process on the operation screen according to whether the position of the terminal device 300 (i.e., the position of the user U) is in the third state even if the appearance of the operation screen is the same. For example, when the control unit 320 determines that the state is other than the third state (i.e., when it is determined that the position of the terminal device 300 (i.e., the position of the user U) is not in the first space), as shown in part (a) of FIG. 11, it is assumed that the user U performs an operation of pressing a button B21 to start the cooling operation. In this case, the user U cannot directly check the state of the home appliance 100. Therefore, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display a screen for confirming whether to execute a process corresponding to the button operation as shown in part (b) of FIG. 11 (in this case, a process of starting the cooling operation by pressing the button B21). And it is only when the user U performs an operation of pressing a button B22 as shown in part (b) of FIG. 11 (i.e., an operation of confirmation) that the control unit 320 starts the cooling operation and causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen during the cooling operation as shown in part (c) of FIG. 11.

[0047] On the other hand, for example, when the control unit 320 determines that the state is the third state (i.e., when it is determined that the position of the terminal device 300 (i.e., the position of the user U) is in the first space), as shown in part (a) of FIG. 12, it is assumed that the user U performs an operation of pressing a button B21 to start the cooling operation. In this case, the control unit 320 immediately starts the cooling operation and causes the display device 301 to display an operation screen during the cooling operation as shown in part (b) of FIG. 12. That is, the control unit 320 changes the operation procedure for the same process (in this case, the process of starting the cooling operation) and also changes the availability of the operation. Note that this change is made independently of the change of the operation screen.

[0048] (Advantages) As described above, the home appliance system 1 of one embodiment has been explained. In the home appliance system 1, when operating the home appliance 100 using the terminal device 300 (an example of a computer), the program causes the computer to execute a change step of changing at least one of the operation screen of the terminal device 300, the operation procedure for operating the home appliance 100, or the availability of operating the home appliance 100 according to the determination result of the position condition including at least the first state where the terminal device 300 exists outside the building in which the home appliance 100 is installed, the second state where the terminal device 300 exists inside the building and in the first space which is the space where the home appliance 100 is installed, or the third state where the terminal device 300 exists inside the building and in a second space different from the first space.

[0049] With such a program, the terminal device 300 can cause the display device 301 to display a desired operation screen of the user U according to the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U). That is, the convenience can be improved by the program.

[0050] <First Modification of the Embodiment> In one embodiment, it has been described that the control unit 320 determines the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) based on whether the terminal device 300 receives a signal for communicating with the signal transmitter provided in the home appliance 100. However, in the first modification of the embodiment, the control unit 320 may determine the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) based on whether the receiver provided in the home appliance 100 receives the signal output by the terminal device 300 for communicating with the receiver provided in the home appliance 100.

[0051] (Advantages) The above-described home appliance system 1 of the first modification example of the embodiment has been explained. In the home appliance system 1, the control unit 320 can also determine the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) with respect to the home appliance device 100 in which the transmission and reception of signals are switched.

[0052] <Second Modification Example of the Embodiment> In one embodiment, based on the mode of change that transitions among the first state, the second state, and the third state, when the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) transitions to a state approaching the home appliance device 100, the control unit 320 has been described as causing the display device 301 to display an operation screen for the state after the transition without the user U being aware. Also, when the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) transitions to a state moving away from the home appliance device 100, it has been described as causing the display device 301 to display the operation screen that was being displayed in the state before the transition. However, in the second modification example of one embodiment, when the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) transitions to a state approaching the home appliance device 100 or a state moving away from the home appliance device 100, at least in one case, the control unit 320 may inquire of the user U whether to change the operation screen (that is, whether to cause the display device 301 to display an operation screen for the state after the transition). And when the user U performs an operation to change the operation screen (that is, to cause the display device 301 to display an operation screen for the state after the transition), the operation reception unit 330 receives that operation. Then, the control unit 320 may cause the display device 301 to display an operation screen for the state after the transition. Also, when the user U performs an operation not to change the operation screen (that is, not to cause the display device 301 to display an operation screen for the state after the transition), the operation reception unit 330 receives that operation. Then, the control unit 320 may cause the display device 301 to display the operation screen that was being displayed before the transition.

[0053] (Advantages) The above describes the home appliance system 1 according to the second modification of one embodiment. In the home appliance system 1, the control unit 320 can confirm with the user U the change of the operation screen. As a result, it can be changed to the operation screen desired by the user U.

[0054] <Third Modification of the Embodiment> In the third modification of one embodiment, it may include one or more slave units 401. The slave unit 401 is not limited to directly communicating with the home appliance 100. That is, the slave unit 401 outputs a signal for communicating with the terminal device 300 only when it receives a signal for communicating with the slave unit 401 output from the signal transmitter of the home appliance 100. FIG. 13 is a first diagram for explaining the installation of the slave unit 401 in the third modification of one embodiment. FIG. 14 is a second diagram for explaining the installation of the slave unit 401 in the third modification of one embodiment. The outer shape in FIG. 13 shows the shape of the first space. Also, FIG. 13 shows an example of the installation of the slave unit 401 when the signal for communicating with the slave unit 401 output from the signal transmitter provided in the home appliance 100 provided inside the dwelling is the same long wave of electromagnetic wave as the signal for communicating with the terminal device 300 output from the signal transmitter and the slave unit 401. Region A in FIG. 13 shows the range in which the long wave output from the signal transmitter propagates. Therefore, the slave unit 401 installed within the range of region A can propagate the long wave to region B centered on the slave unit 401 as shown in FIG. 13. In this way, the range in which the terminal device 300 can receive the long wave can be expanded. That is, the control unit 320 can expand the range in which it determines that the terminal device 300 (that is, the user U) exists in the first space.

[0055] In addition, the outer shape in FIG. 14 shows the shape of the first space. FIG. 14 also shows an example of the installation of the slave unit 401 when the signal for communication with the slave unit 401 output from the signal transmitter provided in the home appliance 100 installed inside the dwelling is infrared rays, and the signal for communication with the terminal device 300 output from the signal transmitter and the slave unit 401 is a long wave of electromagnetic waves. As shown in FIG. 14, the slave unit 401 is installed within the range where the infrared rays output from the home appliance 100 can reach. Region C in FIG. 14 indicates the range where the long wave output from the signal transmitter propagates. Also, as shown in FIG. 14, the slave unit 401 can propagate the long wave in region D centered on the slave unit 401. In this way, the range in which the terminal device 300 can receive the long wave can be expanded. That is, the control unit 320 can expand the range in which it is determined that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) exists in the first space.

[0056] Note that infrared rays propagate in a straight line as signals, and long waves propagate in a substantially concentric circle shape from the output position. Therefore, for example, the long waves output from the home appliance 100 or the slave unit 401 may propagate outside the first space, and in some cases, may even propagate outside the dwelling. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of setting the propagation range of long waves in a third modification of an embodiment. As a method of containing the long wave within the first space as much as possible, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the first long wave for communicating with the terminal device 300 output from the signal transmitter provided in the home appliance 100 is limited to the range of region E, and the second long wave for communicating with the slave unit 401 output by the signal transmitter is set to a range wider than region E, such as region F. In this case, the slave unit 401 outputs the first long wave. Note that the frequencies of the first long wave and the second long wave are different. In this way, the first long wave can be contained within the first space as much as possible, and the range in which the terminal device 300 can receive the first long wave can be expanded. That is, the first long wave can be contained within the first space as much as possible, and the control unit 320 can expand the range in which it is determined that the terminal device 300 (i.e., the user U) exists in the first space.

[0057] (Advantages) The above described the home appliance system 1 of the third modification example of an embodiment. In the home appliance system 1, the control unit 320 can expand the range for determining that the terminal device 300 (that is, the user U) exists in the first space.

[0058] <Fourth Modification Example of the Embodiment> In the home appliance system 1 of the fourth modification example of an embodiment, communication may be performed using sound waves with a microphone and a speaker instead of the long waves of the electromagnetic waves described above.

[0059] (Advantages) The above described the home appliance system 1 of the fourth modification example of an embodiment. In the home appliance system 1, sound waves other than electromagnetic waves can also be used.

[0060] The above described several embodiments. However, the embodiments are not limited to the examples described above. Also, several of the above-described embodiments can be implemented in combination with each other.

[0061] <Fifth Modification Example of the Embodiment> In the home appliance system 1 of the above-described embodiment and the home appliance systems 1 of each modification example of the embodiment, the outside of the dwelling is regarded as one state, and the case where the terminal device 300 (that is, the user U) is present outside the dwelling is described as the first state. However, in the home appliance system 1 of the fifth modification example of the embodiment, the outside of the dwelling may be regarded as two or more states, and the control unit 320 may cause the display device 301 to display an operation screen according to the state in which the terminal device 300 (that is, the user U) is present. For example, the case where the terminal device 300 (that is, the user U) is present outside the dwelling may be regarded as the first a state in a state relatively close to the dwelling and the first b state in a state relatively far from the dwelling. Note that the distinction between the first a state and the first b state is that the position detection function 304 is a GPS function, and the control unit 320 may determine that the case where the value is less than the threshold is the first a state and the case where the value is greater than or equal to the threshold is the first b state by using this function. Further, the control unit 320 may change the operation screen in each state. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a first example of an operation screen that the control unit 320 of the sixth modification example of the embodiment causes to be displayed. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a second example of an operation screen that the control unit 320 of the sixth modification example of the embodiment causes to be displayed. Each operation screen shown in the (a) part and the (b) part of FIG. 16 is an example of an operation screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display in the first a state. Each operation screen shown in the (a) part and the (b) part of FIG. 17 is an example of an operation screen that the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display in the first b state. For example, in the first a state, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display the largest number of buttons among the states other than the third state. Further, for example, in the first b state, the control unit 320 causes the display device 301 to display a button for executing an operation for suppressing power consumption (that is, does not cause the display device 301 to display a button for executing rapid cooling or rapid heating as shown in FIG. 16).

[0062] (Advantages) As described above, the home appliance system 1 of the sixth modification example of the embodiment has been described. In the home appliance system 1, the state can be divided into four or more states, and an operation screen suitable for each state can be displayed.

[0063] <Sixth Modification Example of the Embodiment> FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of the home appliance system 1 according to the sixth modification example of an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the home appliance system 1 according to the sixth modification example of an embodiment includes a server 200 in addition to the configuration of the home appliance system 1 according to the above-described embodiment or the home appliance system 1 according to each modification example of the embodiment.

[0064] (Server) Next, the server 200 will be described. FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the server 200 according to the fourth modification example of an embodiment. The server 200 has, for example, a control unit 210, a communication unit 220, and a storage unit 230 as shown in FIG. 19.

[0065] The control unit 210 and the communication unit 220 are realized by one or more hardware processors such as a CPU mounted on the server 200 executing a program. However, some or all of these functional units may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC, a PLD, or an FPGA, or may be realized by cooperation between software and hardware. Note that these functional units may be provided separately in a plurality of server devices. Also, one or more of these functional units may be provided in the home appliance 100 or the home appliance application AP of the terminal device 300 instead of the server 200.

[0066] The control unit 210 controls the entire server 200 in an overall manner. For example, the control unit 210 controls the operation of the home appliance 100 based on an operation instruction from the terminal device 300.

[0067] The communication unit 220 is, for example, a wireless communication module that can be connected to the wireless router WR. The communication unit 220 can communicate with the terminal device 300 or the home appliance 100 via the network NW.

[0068] The storage unit 230 is realized by, for example, a combination of a RAM, a ROM, an EEPROM, or an SSD. The storage unit 230 stores various kinds of information.

[0069] The server 200 enables communication between the terminal device 300 and the home appliance 100, for example, when the radio communication frequency used by the terminal device 300 is different from the radio communication frequency used by the home appliance 100. Even if the radio communication frequency used by the terminal device 300 is the same as the radio communication frequency used by the home appliance 100, the server 200 may exist. Note that the control unit 210 of the server 200 may perform part or all of the processing performed by the control unit 320 on behalf of the control unit 320.

[0070] (Advantages) As described above, the home appliance system 1 according to the sixth modification of the embodiment has been described. In the home appliance system 1, even when the radio communication frequency used by the terminal device 300 is different from the radio communication frequency used by the home appliance 100, communication between the terminal device 300 and the home appliance 100 can be enabled. Further, the server 200 can perform part or all of the processing performed by the terminal device 300 on behalf of the terminal device 300.

[0071] According to at least one of the embodiments described above, when operating a home appliance using a computer, the program of the embodiment causes the computer to execute a change step of changing at least one of an operation screen of the computer, an operation procedure for operating the home appliance, or whether the operation of the home appliance is possible, according to a determination result of a position condition including at least a first state in which the computer exists outside the building where the home appliance is installed, a second state in which the computer exists inside the building and in a first space which is a space where the home appliance is installed, or a third state in which the computer exists inside the building and in a second space which is a space different from the first space. According to such a program, an operation screen corresponding to the position of the terminal device 300 (that is, the position of the user U) can be displayed. Therefore, the program can improve convenience.

[0072] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, as well as in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0073] 1... Home appliance system, 100... Home appliance device, 110... Home appliance device main body, 120... Control unit, 130... Communication unit, 140... Storage unit, 200... Server, 210... Control unit, 220... Communication unit, 230... Storage unit, 300... Terminal device, 301... Display device, 301a... Display screen, 302... Input device, 303... Communication unit, 304... Position detection function, 310... Information acquisition unit, 320... Control unit, 330... Operation reception unit, 340... Information transmission unit, 350... Storage unit.

Claims

1. When operating home appliances using a computer, a change step of changing at least one of the operation screen of the computer, the operation procedure for operating the home appliances, or the permission to operate the home appliances according to the determination result of the position condition including at least a first state in which the computer exists outside the building where the home appliances are installed, a second state in which the computer exists inside the building and in a first space where the home appliances are installed, or a third state in which the computer exists inside the building and in a second space different from the first space. A program for causing the computer to execute.

2. The changing step is changing at least the operation screen according to the position condition, The program according to claim 1.

3. A determination step of determining whether to change the operation screen based on the mode of change in which the position condition transitions among the first state, the second state, and the third state. The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to execute.

4. A notification step of sending a notification asking whether to change the operation screen when the position condition transitions among the first state, the second state, or the third state. The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to execute.

5. A determination step of determining that the computer exists in the first space when the computer receives a predetermined signal transmitted within a predetermined range from the home appliance. The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to execute.

6. A determination step of determining that the computer exists in the first space when the computer receives a predetermined signal transmitted within a predetermined range from a slave unit used in association with the home appliance. The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to execute.

7. A determination step of determining that the computer exists in the first space when the home appliance receives a predetermined signal transmitted within a predetermined range from the computer. The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to execute.

8. A determination step of independently determining the operation screen and the operation procedure according to the position condition. The program according to claim 1 for causing the computer to execute.

9. A first determination step which is a determination step for determining whether the computer exists in the first space or the second space; A second determination step which is a determination step for determining whether the home appliance has detected a person; A determination step for determining the content to be changed in the change step based on the determination result of the first determination step and the determination result of the second determination step; The program according to claim 1, which causes the computer to execute.

10. When operating a home appliance using a computer, at least one of the operation screen of the computer, the operation procedure for operating the home appliance, or the availability of operating the home appliance is changed according to the determination result of a location condition including at least a first state where the computer exists outside the building in which the home appliance is installed, a second state where the computer exists inside the building and in a first space which is the space where the home appliance is installed, or a third state where the computer exists inside the building and in a second space which is a space different from the first space. A processing method including the above.

11. When operating a home appliance using a computer, a changing unit for changing at least one of the operation screen of the computer, the operation procedure for operating the home appliance, or the availability of operating the home appliance according to the determination result of a location condition including at least a first state where the computer exists outside the building in which the home appliance is installed, a second state where the computer exists inside the building and in a first space which is the space where the home appliance is installed, or a third state where the computer exists inside the building and in a second space which is a space different from the first space. A home appliance system comprising the above.

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