Move-out confirmation system

Abstract

To provide a move-out confirmation system capable of reliably confirming the move-out of a resident in order to prevent remote operation of devices in a house.SOLUTION: A move-out confirmation system 1 includes a controller 5 installed inside a dwelling unit, a server device 2 installed in a location different from the dwelling unit and capable of confirming the usage status of the controller 5 via a communication network, and a smartphone 10 owned by a resident of the dwelling unit and capable of directly communicating inside the dwelling unit with the controller 5. If the server device 2 is unable to confirm the use of the controller 5 for a period of T0+T1 days, the server device 2 causes the controller 5 to directly communicate with the smartphone 10 via Bluetooth (R) inside the dwelling unit, and confirms the move-out or presence of the resident depending on whether the direct communication is possible.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a departure confirmation system for confirming, for example, the departure of condominiums or rental properties.

Background Art

[0002] Systems for remotely operating home appliances and residential equipment in a house using a communication terminal such as a smartphone are known. And, for this type of remote operation, inventions described in Patent Documents 1 to 3, for example, have been proposed to prevent unauthorized use in response to the departure of the occupant.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that a server is provided with a usage history management unit that receives, stores, and manages the usage state of a device through communication, and a remote control setting change unit that searches for a controller that has not been used for a period longer than the period set for the device from the usage history management unit, and stops or restricts the operation of the remote control unit for the obtained controller.

[0004] Patent Document 2 describes that the remote operation function control unit holds the remote operation mode before a power outage during a power outage period, and when returning from a power outage to a powered state, based on the determination of the power outage period determination unit, if the power outage period is longer than the determination period, controls to set the remote operation prohibited mode, and if the power outage period is shorter than the determination period, controls to set the remote operation mode held before the power outage.

[0005] Patent Document 3 describes that the management device stores association information associating user identification information transmitted from a communication terminal that communicates with the management device via a communication network and identification information of a relay device transmitted from the relay device, permits first communication between the communication terminal and the relay device associated in the association information via the management device, and after the first communication is permitted, if there is no communication from the relay device or the communication terminal to the management device for a predetermined first period, configures to prohibit the first communication after the first period.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-219985 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-264809 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-182457 [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0007] However, even if the actual situation is that it has left, if it communicates regularly from the outside, there is still a risk that remote operation can be performed. On the other hand, due to long-term absence such as traveling, when a situation where it cannot be used for a certain period of time occurs and a state where leaving is suspected occurs, there is also a problem that remote operation is restricted.

[0008] The present invention aims to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a departure confirmation system capable of surely confirming departure in order to prevent unauthorized remote operation of equipment in a house. [Means for Solving the Problems]

[0009] The invention described in claim 1 made to solve the above problems includes an indoor device installed indoors in a house, a management device installed at a location different from the house and capable of confirming the usage status of the indoor device via a communication network, and a terminal device owned by an occupant of the house and capable of directly communicating with the indoor device indoors. When the management device cannot confirm the use of the indoor device for a first period, the management device causes the indoor device to directly communicate with the terminal device indoors, and confirms the departure or presence of the occupant based on the possibility of the direct communication. It is a departure confirmation system characterized by this. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, according to the present invention, the management device causes the indoor device to directly communicate with the terminal device indoors and checks the departure or presence of the occupant based on the availability of the direct communication. Therefore, it becomes essential for the occupant to be indoors, and it becomes impossible to falsely report their presence. As a result, it is possible to reliably confirm the presence or departure. Therefore, it is possible to prevent unauthorized remote operation of the devices inside the house from the outside.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0012] A departure confirmation system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a departure confirmation system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] The departure confirmation system 1 includes a server device 2 as a management device, an in-house HUB 3, a PoE injector 4, a controller 5, an electric lock 6, other devices 7, and a smartphone 10.

[0014] The server device 2 is a well-known server computer, which includes an arithmetic device such as a microprocessor, a storage device such as a hard disk drive, and a communication device such as a communication interface. The server device 2 remotely operates the electric lock 6 in the household and other devices 7 such as an air conditioner, a television, and a bath water heater via the controller 5 by an application installed in the smartphone 10 (including not only the applications installed by the user himself / herself but also the applications installed initially such as a browser).

[0015] The in-house HUB 3 is a well-known network hub installed indoors in an apartment building for performing the confirmation of departure and presence described later. The in-house HUB 3 is a relay device that branches external communication to each household in the apartment building. Note that the departure management system 1 mainly performs the confirmation of departure in the households of the apartment building, but can also be applied to single-family houses and commercial facilities.

[0016] The PoE injector 4 is a device for supplying power using PoE (Power Over Ethernet (registered trademark)). As is well known, PoE is a technology for supplying power and transmitting signals through a LAN (Local Area Network) cable. The PoE injector 4 supplies the power supplied from the in-house breaker 20 to the controller 5 via the LAN cable.

[0017] The controller 5 is an indoor device installed (fixed) on the indoor wall surface of the household. The controller 5 is supplied with power via the LAN cable by the PoE injector 4 as described above. The controller 5 controls the operations of the electric lock 6 and other devices 7 such as an air conditioner, a television, and a bath water heater that are connected to itself by wire or wireless LAN or the like according to an instruction from the server device 2.

[0018] Here, the controller 5 of the present embodiment cannot be switched on / off by the occupant. That is, the power of the controller 5 is switched on or off only depending on the presence or absence of power supply from the PoE injector 4 (in-house breaker 20).

[0019] The electric lock 6 is a lock provided on the front door of a dwelling unit. That is, the electric lock 6 is a locking device for locking and unlocking the dwelling unit. The electric lock 6 can be locked and unlocked with a key, but as described above, it incorporates an electric locking and unlocking mechanism that enables locking and unlocking without using a key by using an app.

[0020] The other devices 7 include, as described above, an air conditioner, a television, a bath water heater, etc., but are not limited thereto, and may be any household electrical appliances operable with a remote control or the like or residential equipment devices connectable with JEM-A.

[0021] The smartphone 10 is a portable device owned by the occupant, and as described above, a dedicated app is installed therein. And by that app, the electric lock 6 can be locked and unlocked and various operations of the other devices 7 can be performed. In this embodiment, the smartphone 10 is described as the portable device, but any portable device owned by the occupant may be a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, etc. Further, the smartphone 10 can utilize short-range wireless communication such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) in addition to communication networks such as a mobile phone communication network and Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0022] The indoor breaker 20 is installed in each dwelling unit and is also called a distribution board. This distribution board is a well-known device that distributes the power supplied from the outside to the inside of the dwelling unit and is equipped with a safety breaker, a leakage circuit breaker, etc.

[0023] Next, the operation of the departure confirmation system 1 having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a state transition diagram of the operation of the server device 2.

[0024] First, assume that it is the occupancy state S1 in which the occupant is living. In this occupancy state S1, if the controller 5 has no power supply for T0 days, it transitions to the temporary departure 1 state S2. The controller 5 regularly accesses the server device 2 regardless of the presence or absence of remote operation by the above-described app. And the server device 2 accumulates the records of these accesses as connection logs in the server device 2.

[0025] Therefore, in the present embodiment, by referring to the connection log, the time period during which the controller 5 does not respond is regarded as a state where the controller 5 is not powered on. When the non-response time period is continuous for T0 days or more, the system transitions to the temporary departure 1 state S2.

[0026] That is, this connection log reflects the usage status of the indoor device. Therefore, the server device 2 is installed at a location different from the dwelling unit and functions as a management device that can confirm the usage status of the controller 5 (indoor device) via a communication network.

[0027] As described above, since the controller 5 cannot be switched on / off by the occupant, when there is no response, it can be considered that the in-house breaker 20 has tripped (or the power transmission from the power company has stopped). Since such a situation of tripping the in-house breaker 20 or stopping the power transmission rarely occurs during residence, it can be determined that there is a possibility that the controller 5 is in a state where it has left.

[0028] The above-mentioned T0 days can be arbitrarily set by the administrator, etc., such as one week. However, it is preferably a period long enough to suspect departure.

[0029] Here, in the temporary departure 1 state S2, it is not yet determined as a departure. As will be described later, by satisfying a predetermined condition, it can transition to the occupancy state S1 or the temporary departure 2 state S3. This temporary departure 1 state S2 is provided, for example, to prevent the occupancy confirmation described later when absent due to travel or the like. That is, T0 days is the first half of the two divided periods of the first period. If the use of the controller 5 can be confirmed until T0 days have passed, it is determined that the occupant is present without direct communication as described later.

[0030] Next, in the temporary departure 1 state S2, if the controller 5 has not been powered on for t1 hours or more within T1 days, it transitions to the temporary departure 2 state S3. And when it transitions to the temporary departure 2 state S3, the server device 2 sends a presence confirmation email to the smartphone 10 (the email address of the resident that can be received by the smartphone 10). The method for determining that the power has not been on for t1 hours or more within T1 days is basically the same as the determination method when there is no power on for T0 days described above. That is, by referring to the connection log, it is determined whether the power has been on for t1 hours or more within T1 days. Since the controller 5 accesses the server device 2 regularly as described above, it is possible to determine the power on by checking the connection log.

[0031] T1 days and t1 hours can be arbitrarily set by the administrator or the like, for example, 24 hours or more in one week. However, it is preferable that T1 days is also a period in which departure is suspected, similar to T0 days, and t1 hours is also a time period in which residence is recognized during that period. Note that T0 days and T1 days may be the same period or different periods.

[0032] On the other hand, in the temporary departure 1 state S2, if the controller 5 has been powered on for t1 hours or more within T1 days, it transitions to the residence state S1. That is, based on the power-on state of the controller 5, if it is confirmed that the resident is living in the dwelling, no presence confirmation is performed.

[0033] Here, the temporary departure 2 state S3 is also a state where departure has not been confirmed yet. As will be described later, by satisfying a predetermined condition, it transitions to the residence state S1 or the departure state S4.

[0034] The presence confirmation email is an email stating the purpose of confirming the presence as described later. Note that instead of an email, it may be a message such as SNS installed on the smartphone 10. The notification destination is not limited to the smartphone 10, and any terminal device that the resident owns or can confirm is acceptable. Alternatively, it may be possible to contact the resident's phone via a call center. In short, it is sufficient to be able to convey to the resident the need to confirm their presence.

[0035] In the temporary departure 2 state S3, the occupancy confirmation is performed within T2 days after sending the occupancy confirmation email. The occupancy confirmation is to connect the controller 5 and the smartphone 10 via Bluetooth (registered trademark) and confirm the occupancy by direct communication between the controller 5 and the smartphone 10. Bluetooth (registered trademark) is a short-range wireless communication standard, and it is difficult for the occupant to connect to the controller 5 when not in the dwelling unit. Therefore, it is possible to more reliably confirm that the occupant is in the dwelling unit than communication means regardless of location such as email reply or voice call.

[0036] Here, direct communication means communication performed by directly connecting devices to each other via a communication line (wireless or wired) without passing through a relay device such as a router in the middle.

[0037] T2 days can be arbitrarily set by the administrator or the like. T2 days is the period required for the occupant to perform the occupancy confirmation. The occupancy confirmation is completed in a short time as described above, and if the occupant is present, it does not take much effort, so a shorter period than T0 days and T1 days is sufficient. Also, since the occupancy confirmation can be automatically executed by the server device 2 without human intervention via the controller 5, it can be executed at any time of 24 hours.

[0038] That is, the above-mentioned period of T0 days + T1 days is the first period, and the fact that it is not energized results in a state where utilization cannot be confirmed. Then, the server device 2 causes direct communication to be performed by sending the occupancy confirmation email as occupancy confirmation information and connecting the controller 5 and the smartphone 10 via Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0039] In this embodiment, since the use of Bluetooth (registered trademark) is for the purpose of confirming presence, the radio wave intensity output from the controller 5 does not need to be strong (it only needs to reach indoors). Therefore, it is preferable to instruct in the presence confirmation email that the user is near the controller 5. Further, not only Bluetooth (registered trademark), but other short-range wireless communications may also be used. This includes, for example, communication using an IC card or the like that utilizes NFC (Near Field Communication). Furthermore, wired communication such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) may also be used.

[0040] Next, if a presence confirmation has not been performed within T2 days in the temporary departure 2 state S3, the state transitions to the departure state S4. When the state transitions to the departure state S4, it becomes a state where departure has been confirmed, and access from the application on the smartphone 10 to the server device 2 is invalidated. That is, the ID etc. set in the application becomes invalid, and the holder of the smartphone 10 is no longer treated as an occupant.

[0041] On the other hand, if a presence confirmation has been performed within T2 days in the temporary departure 2 state S3, the state transitions to the presence state S1. That is, T2 days becomes the second period, and the server device 2 confirms the departure or presence of the occupant based on the availability of direct communication (executed / unexecuted).

[0042] In this embodiment, two states, the temporary departure 1 state S2 and the temporary departure 2 state S3, are provided, but the temporary departure 1 state S2 may be omitted. In that case, the state directly transitions from the presence state S1 to the temporary departure 2 state S3.

[0043] Also, if the number of times the electric lock 6 is unlocked within T3 days in the presence state S1 is n times or less, the state transitions to the temporary departure 2 state S3. And when the state transitions to the temporary departure 2 state S3, a presence confirmation email is sent to the smartphone 10. The specific numerical values of T3 days and n times may be set as appropriate, but for T3 days, it is preferably a period during which departure is suspected, similar to T0 days and T1 days, and for n times, it is preferably set to a number of times that the presence state can be confirmed.

[0044] The controller 5 sequentially transmits the usage status (locking / unlocking, power on / off, etc.) of the connected devices (electric lock 6, other devices 7) to the server device 2. Therefore, the server device 2 can grasp the unlocking of the electric lock 6 via the controller 5. Also, the controller 5 will function as a communication device. That is, the server device 2 can confirm the usage status of the electric lock 6. And, day T3 corresponds to the third period. When the usage of the electric lock 6 cannot be confirmed during the third period, the server device 2 causes the controller 5 to directly communicate with the smartphone 10 indoors and confirms the departure or presence of the occupant based on whether the direct communication is possible.

[0045] Next, a specific operation example of the above-described state transition will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the movements of the occupant, the states of the controller 5, and the states of the server device 2 in time series.

[0046] First, as an initial state, it is assumed that the occupant has the key to the dwelling unit and there is an actual residence. And, it is assumed that the controller 5 is also powered on and the state of the server device 2 is the presence state S1.

[0047] Here, on day d1, the occupant returns the key for departure. Then, the occupant is in a state without the key. However, the indoor circuit breaker 20 is not turned off and the controller 5 is in a powered-on state. And, on day d2 after day d1, for example, the management company of the dwelling unit or the like turns off the indoor circuit breaker 20 (or the power company cuts off the electricity). Then, the controller 5 becomes a non-powered state.

[0048] Even on day d3 when T0 days (for example, one week) have passed since day d2 and the controller 5 is not powered on, the state of the server device 2 transitions to the temporary departure 1 state S2. However, at this point, there is no action on the occupant.

[0049] And, if the controller 5 has not been powered on for t1 hours or more from day d3 until day d4 when T1 days have passed, the state of the server device 2 transitions to the temporary departure 2 state S3. Along with the transition to the temporary departure 2 state S3, a presence confirmation email is sent to the smartphone 10 (the occupant).

[0050] And if the departure confirmation is not performed from day d4 to day d5 that has elapsed since day T2, the state of the server device 2 transitions to the departure state S4. When transitioning to the departure state S4, the authority of the resident as a resident of the dwelling unit is deleted, and the use of the application becomes impossible. That is, the remote operation of the electric lock 6 and other devices 7 becomes impossible.

[0051] According to the present embodiment described above, the departure confirmation system 1 includes a controller 5 installed in the interior of the dwelling unit, a server device 2 installed at a location different from the dwelling unit and capable of confirming the usage status of the controller 5 via a communication network, and a smartphone 10 owned by the resident of the dwelling unit and capable of directly communicating with the controller 5 indoors. And when the server device 2 cannot confirm the use of the controller 5 for T0 + T1 days, the server device 2 causes the controller 5 to directly communicate with the smartphone 10 indoors via Bluetooth (registered trademark), and confirms the departure or presence of the resident based on the success or failure of the direct communication.

[0052] Since the departure confirmation system 1 is configured as described above, the server device 2 causes the controller 5 to directly communicate with the smartphone 10 indoors based on the power-on state of the controller 5, and confirms the departure or presence of the resident based on the success or failure of the direct communication. Therefore, it is essential for the resident to be indoors, and it becomes impossible to falsely report their presence. Therefore, it is possible to reliably confirm the presence or departure. Thus, it is possible to prevent unauthorized remote operation of devices inside the house from the outside.

[0053] Also, when the server device 2 cannot confirm the use of the controller 5 for T0 + T1 days, it sends a presence confirmation email to the smartphone 10. If direct communication with the controller 5 is not performed within T2 days after sending the presence confirmation email, it is determined that the resident has left. By doing so, a grace period of about several days can be provided when confirming the presence. Also, by sending it via email, it can be confirmed according to the convenience of the resident.

[0054] In addition, when direct communication has occurred within T2 days, the server device 2 determines that the resident is present. By doing so, it is possible to confirm the presence of the resident while the resident is indoors.

[0055] Also, if the server device 2 can confirm the use of the controller 5 by the time T0 days have elapsed within T0 + T1 days, it determines that the resident is present without performing direct communication. By doing so, for example, when the resident is absent for several days due to travel or the like, it is possible to prevent the sending of presence confirmation emails and save the resident the trouble.

[0056] Also, since the direct communication is short-range wireless communication, it becomes difficult to illegally confirm the presence from outside the dwelling unit. Therefore, the reliability of the presence confirmation can be enhanced.

[0057] The departure confirmation system 1 further includes an electric lock 6 for locking and unlocking the dwelling unit, a server device 2 installed at a location different from the dwelling unit and capable of confirming the usage status of the electric lock 6 via a communication network, a controller 5 installed indoors of the dwelling unit and capable of communicating with the server device 2 via the communication network, and a smartphone 10 owned by the resident of the dwelling unit and capable of directly communicating with the controller 5 indoors. When the server device 2 cannot confirm more than n uses of the electric lock 6 for T3 days, the server device 2 causes the controller 5 to directly communicate with the smartphone 10 indoors via Bluetooth (registered trademark), and confirms the departure or presence of the resident based on the success or failure of the direct communication.

[0058] With the departure confirmation system 1 configured as described above, the server device 2 causes the controller 5 to directly communicate with the smartphone 10 indoors based on the usage status of the electric lock 6, and confirms the departure or presence of the resident based on the success or failure of the direct communication. Therefore, it is essential for the resident to be indoors, and it becomes impossible to falsely report their presence. As a result, it is possible to reliably confirm the presence or departure. Therefore, it is possible to prevent illegal remote operation of devices inside the house from the outside.

[0059] In the above-described embodiment, the state of the server device 2 transitions according to the energization state of the controller 5. However, the state may be transitioned based on the communication state with the controller 5. As described above, in the embodiment, the energization state is determined based on the connection log. However, since it is substantially the presence or absence of communication, it is possible to obtain the same operations and effects as the communication state. Further, by transitioning the state based on the communication state, the present invention can be applied even when the controller 5 is directly energized without using PoE, or when the controller 5 is installed retroactively and the resident or the like can turn the power on / off.

[0060] Further, a PoE hub may be used instead of the PoE injector 4. A configuration using a PoE hub is shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the indoor HUB 3 shown in FIG. 1 is deleted, and a PoE hub 4' is provided instead of the PoE injector 4. The PoE hub 4' is also called a PoE switching hub, has the function of the in-house HUB 3, and is a device that supplies power using PoE. Therefore, the in-house HUB 3 becomes unnecessary.

[0061] Also, when the resident has left when receiving the occupancy confirmation email, the resident may apply for leaving on the application without waiting for the elapse of T2 days.

[0062] Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. That is, those skilled in the art can implement various modifications without departing from the gist of the present invention in accordance with conventionally known knowledge. As long as the configuration of the leaving confirmation system of the present invention is still provided by such modifications, of course, it is included in the scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0063] 1 Leaving confirmation system 2 Server device (management device) 5 Controller (indoor device, communication device) 6 Electric lock (locking device) 10 Smartphone (portable device)

Claims

1. An indoor device installed indoors in a house, A management device installed at a location different from the house and capable of checking the usage status of the indoor device via a communication network, A terminal device owned by an occupant of the house and capable of directly communicating with the indoor device indoors, Comprising: When the management device cannot check the usage of the indoor device for a first period, the management device causes the indoor device to directly communicate with the terminal device indoors, and checks the departure or presence of the occupant based on the availability of the direct communication. A departure confirmation system characterized by the above.

2. The terminal device is capable of communicating with the management device. When the management device cannot check the usage of the indoor device during the first period, the management device transmits occupancy confirmation information to the terminal device. If the direct communication is not performed within a second period after transmitting the occupancy confirmation information, it is determined that the occupant has departed. The departure confirmation system according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. When the management device cannot check the usage of the indoor device during the first period, the management device transmits occupancy confirmation information to another terminal device different from the terminal device. If the direct communication is not performed within a second period after transmitting the occupancy confirmation information, it is determined that the occupant has departed. The departure confirmation system according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

4. When the direct communication is performed within the second period, the management device determines that the occupant is present. The departure confirmation system according to Claim 2 or 3, characterized by the above.

5. The management device further divides the first period into two. If the usage of the indoor device can be checked before the end of the first half of the two divided periods, it is determined that the occupant is present without performing the direct communication. The departure confirmation system according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

6. The direct communication is short-range wireless communication. The departure confirmation system according to Claim 1, characterized by the above.

7. A locking device for locking and unlocking a house, A management device installed at a location different from the house and capable of checking the usage status of the locking device via a communication network, A communication device installed indoors in the house and capable of communicating with the management device via the communication network, A terminal device owned by an occupant of the house and capable of directly communicating with the communication device indoors, Comprising: When the management device cannot confirm the use of the locking device during the third period, the management device causes the communication device to directly communicate with the terminal device indoors, and confirms the departure or presence of the occupant based on the availability of the direct communication. A departure confirmation system characterized by the above.

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