Communication system

Abstract

To provide a communication system that can perform communication between a facility and a server while easily switching among a plurality of polling intervals.SOLUTION: In a communication system, a facility device 11 provided in a facility 3 initiates communication with a server 2 connected via an external network 1 by polling. The facility device 11 includes: an information management unit 11a that manages one or more pieces of polling information each including a polling interval and information on whether the polling interval is valid or invalid; and a polling timing setting unit 11e that sets timing determined by the shortest polling interval among valid polling intervals as polling timing for the server 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication system in which facility equipment provided in a facility starts communication with a server connected via an external network by polling.

Background Art

[0002] There is a communication system configured to incorporate a communication module into a remote controller for controlling in-facility equipment such as a fuel cell system, a water heater, and a floor heating device installed in a facility such as a residential house or an office, and to perform communication between the remote controller and an external server. When such a communication system is constructed, a user can perform a remote operation in which an operation command for in-facility equipment or the like is transmitted to a server from outside the facility using a mobile terminal, and the server transmits the command to the remote controller. In addition, it is possible for the remote controller to periodically transmit information regarding the operation of the in-facility equipment to the server.

[0003] As a communication method between the remote controller and the server, for example, there is a method in which polling is performed to request whether there is data to be transmitted from the remote controller to the server at a predetermined timing, and the server responds whether there is data to be transmitted to the remote controller.

[0004] When the remote controller transmits information regarding the operation of the in-facility equipment to the server, for example, it may be sufficient to perform polling from the remote controller to the server at a low frequency such as once a day. Then, after receiving a response from the server to the remote controller, the remote controller may transmit information to the server.

[0005] In addition, when a user performs a remote operation to issue an operation command to an in-facility device from a remote location using a mobile terminal, in the case of low-frequency polling such as once a day as described above, the operation command transmitted from the user's mobile terminal to the server is transmitted to the remote control only once a day (that is, it will be delayed by up to one day). Therefore, it is necessary to perform more frequent polling from the remote control to the server. Assuming that the user transmits an operation command or the like to an in-facility device from a remote location using a mobile terminal, if the remote control performs polling at a frequency of, for example, once every five minutes, the operation command will be transmitted from the server to the remote control with a maximum delay of five minutes.

[0006] In addition, there are cases where the generated power of a facility's fuel cell system, etc. is controlled by an output control command determined by an external aggregator operator under the concept of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) and supplied to the power grid. In that case, the aggregator operator needs to frequently calculate and instruct the output control command (such as commands for reverse power flow, reverse power flow time, etc.) for each facility's fuel cell system while considering the power supply and demand balance in the power grid, the situation in the power wholesale market, and the current generated power of each facility's fuel cell system. Therefore, it is desirable that the facility and the server can communicate in real time or at a high frequency close to it ideally. However, such high-frequency communication is not constantly necessary and is only required during the period when the aggregator operator gives an output control command to each facility's fuel cell system (for example, several hours during the day). Therefore, it is not necessary for the facility and the server to perform high-frequency communication during other time periods.

[0007] Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2023-105619) describes a communication system that performs communication between a remote control and a server using polling. Specifically, in Patent Document 1, there is a method called long polling in which the remote control maintains a connection with the server and instructions from the server to the remote control are immediately reflected.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Document

[0008]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] However, when an aggregator operator gives an output control command to the fuel cell system of each facility, as described above, it is necessary to determine the output control command for the fuel cell system while checking the current power generation power of the fuel cell system of the facility. That is, not only the real-time property of the output control command from the server to the facility (fuel cell system) is required, but also the information such as the current power generation power of the fuel cell system of the facility needs to be transmitted to the server as frequently as possible. However, in long polling, due to the characteristics of the communication method in which the facility keeps a connection with the server, the power generation power of the fuel cell system cannot be transmitted to the server frequently. Therefore, it becomes difficult for the server to determine the output control command while checking the current power generation power of the fuel cell system of the facility. That is, when long polling is adopted as the communication method between the facility and the server, there is a problem that it cannot support VPP as described above.

[0010] To solve the above problem, instead of long polling, it is possible to deal with it by shortening the polling interval from the remote control to the server. However, when the output control command of the VPP performed frequently as described above ends, it is not necessary to perform high-frequency polling from the remote control to the server, so it is necessary to return to the original low-frequency polling. In that case, the server will instruct the remote control to set the original long polling interval. For this purpose, it is necessary for the server to remember the original polling interval between the remote control and the server. In particular, considering that the server communicates with the remote controls provided in each of a plurality of facilities, the server has to manage the plurality of polling intervals performed between each of the plurality of remote controls separately and issue switching commands for the polling intervals separately, so there is a problem that the management becomes very complicated.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a communication system capable of performing communication between a facility and a server while easily switching a plurality of polling intervals.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0012] A characteristic configuration of a communication system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a communication system in which facility equipment provided in a facility starts communication with a server connected via an external network by polling, The facility equipment includes: an information management unit that manages one or more pieces of polling information including a polling interval and information on whether the polling interval is valid or invalid; a polling timing setting unit that sets, as the polling timing to the server, the timing determined by the polling interval having the shortest time interval among the polling intervals determined to be valid.

[0013] According to the above characteristic configuration, the information management unit manages one or more polling information including the polling interval and information on whether the polling interval is valid or invalid, and the polling timing setting unit sets the timing determined by the shortest polling interval among the valid polling intervals as the polling timing to the server. As a result, if the polling interval is set to be valid or invalid for each polling information in the facility equipment, the facility equipment can easily switch the timing determined by the shortest polling interval among the valid polling intervals to the polling timing to the server. That is, complicated processing such as separately managing a plurality of polling intervals performed between the server and each of a plurality of remote controls and separately issuing a polling interval switching command becomes unnecessary. Therefore, it is possible to provide a communication system capable of performing communication between a facility and a server while easily switching a plurality of polling intervals.

[0014] Another characteristic configuration of the communication system according to the present invention is that the facility equipment includes an input reception unit that receives an operation input by a user. The information management unit manages information on whether the polling interval of the specific polling information received by the input reception unit is valid or invalid according to setting information on enabling or disabling the polling interval of the specific polling information.

[0015] According to the above characteristic configuration, the information management unit of the facility equipment can manage the enabling and disabling of the polling intervals of each polling information according to the setting information received from the user by the input reception unit.

[0016] Still another characteristic configuration of the communication system according to the present invention is that the information management unit manages information on whether the polling interval of the specific polling information received from the server that has started communication by the polling is valid or invalid according to setting information on enabling or disabling the polling interval of the specific polling information.

[0017] According to the above characteristic configuration, the information management unit of the facility equipment can manage the activation and deactivation of the polling interval of each polling information according to the setting information received from the server.

[0018] Another characteristic configuration of the communication system according to the present invention is that the setting information includes information about the timing for activating or deactivating the polling interval of the polling information.

[0019] According to the above characteristic configuration, if information about the timing for activating or deactivating the polling interval of the polling information is included in the setting information, it is also possible not to immediately change the polling interval.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020]

Figure 1

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0021] Hereinafter, a communication system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a communication system in which a remote controller 11 as facility equipment provided in a facility 3 starts communication with a server 2 connected via an external network 1 by polling. As shown in the figure, the communication system includes a server 2 and a remote controller 11 capable of communicating with the server 2.

[0022] In this embodiment, the remote controller 11 is a device capable of controlling and monitoring the operations of in-facility devices 12 such as a fuel cell system 12a, a water heater 12b, and a floor heating device 12c installed in a facility 3 such as a residential house or an office. Fig. 1 depicts an example in which three facilities 3 (3A, 3B, 3C) are shown, and one remote controller 11 is provided in each facility 3 (3A, 3B, 3C), but there is no limitation on the number of installed facilities 3 and the number of installed remote controllers 11 in each facility 3. Also, in-facility devices 12 of a type different from that shown in the figure may be provided in the facility 3.

[0023] In each facility 3 (3A, 3B, 3C), an internal network and an external network 1 outside the facility 3 are connected using a router 13. The remote controller 11 is connected to the external network 1 via the router 13. Also, a smart speaker 14 provided in the facility 3 is connected to the router 13.

[0024] The fuel cell system 12a is, for example, a system including a fuel cell body such as a polymer electrolyte type or a solid oxide type, and a fuel reforming device that generates hydrogen or the like supplied as a fuel gas to the fuel cell body by reforming treatment.

[0025] The remote controller 11 includes an information management unit 11a that manages information to be handled, a control unit 11b, a display unit 11c, an input reception unit 11d, and a polling timing setting unit 11e. Although not shown in the figure, the remote controller 11 has an information communication function for performing information communication with the server 2 etc. via the router 13. The information management unit 11a has a function of storing information to be handled by the remote controller 11. Specifically, the information management unit 11a manages one or more pieces of polling information including the polling interval and information indicating whether the polling interval is valid or invalid. The control unit 11b has a function of performing arithmetic processing etc. on information to be handled by the remote controller 11. The display unit 11c has a function of displaying information to be handled by the remote controller 11 to the user. The input reception unit 11d has a function of receiving operation inputs by the user. The polling timing setting unit 11e sets the timing determined by the polling interval with the shortest time interval among the valid polling intervals as the polling timing to the server 2.

[0026] The remote controller 11 is also a communication device that has a function of performing information communication with the outside while being connected to the external network 1 via the router 13. Therefore, each remote controller 11 has a MAC (Media Access Control) address. And the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 stores the identification information (such as the manufacturing number etc.) given to the in-facility device 12 and the MAC address uniquely given to each of the remote controllers 11. For example, when the remote controller 11 communicates with the server 2, its MAC address can be included in the communication.

[0027] The smart speaker 14 is used to control the operation of the in-facility device 12 according to the voice instructions of the user. For example, the smart speaker 14 includes a voice reception unit that receives voice input, a voice recognition unit that recognizes the content of the voice received by the voice reception unit, an information transmission unit that transmits the information recognized by the voice recognition unit to the server 2, etc. And the voice instructions of the user are transmitted to the server 2 by the smart speaker 14, and operation commands to the remote controller 11 and the in-facility device 12 are issued from the server 2.

[0028] The server 2 is realized by using a computer or the like having a storage unit 2a responsible for an information storage function and an information processing unit 2b responsible for an arithmetic processing function. Although not shown, the server 2 also has an information communication function for performing information communication with other devices via the external network 1. And the server 2 can perform information communication with the remote controller 11. In this case, the server 2 can also associate and store the information received from the remote controller 11 with the MAC address of the remote controller 11 that transmitted the information.

[0029] The information communication performed between the remote controller 11 and the server 2 is started by polling performed by the remote controller 11 to the server 2. And the server 2 performs information communication with the remote controller 11 that has performed the polling. An example of the information communication performed between the remote controller 11 and the server 2 will be described below.

[0030] <Periodic Communication> The remote controller 11 can periodically transmit information regarding the operation of the in-facility device 12 to the server 2. Therefore, the remote controller 11 constantly collects information regarding the operation of the in-facility device 12 and stores it in the information management unit 11a. And, for example, at a frequency of once a day, the remote controller 11 transmits the collected information regarding the operation of the in-facility device 12 to the server 2. And the remote controller 11 performs polling to the server 2 at a timing such as 0:00 am every day, and then transmits the information regarding the operation of the in-facility device 12 to the server 2. Note that, so that the access to the server 2 does not concentrate, it is preferable that the timings at which each of the remote controllers 11 of the plurality of facilities 3 perform polling to the server 2 are different from each other. For example, it is preferable that the timing at which the remote controller 11 of the facility 3A performs polling is set to 0:00 am, the timing at which the remote controller 11 of the facility 3B performs polling is set to 0:10 am, and the timing at which the remote controller 11 of the facility 3C performs polling is set to 0:20 am, etc., and the timings at which polling is performed are different from each other.

[0031] <Remote operation> The user can also perform a remote operation to issue an operation command to the in-facility device 12 from a remote location using the mobile terminal 5. For example, a remote operation for filling the bathtub for the water heater 12b or a remote operation for starting the heating for the floor heating device 12c can be performed. In that case, the mobile terminal 5 accesses the server 2 and transmits the content of the operation command to the server 2. The server 2 transmits the content of the operation command to the remote controller 11 at the timing when polling is received from the remote controller 11. Then, the control unit 11b of the remote controller 11 processes the operation command and issues an operation command to the in-facility device 12. Therefore, when the user issues an operation command to the in-facility device 12 from a remote location using the mobile terminal 5, it is preferable to shorten the polling interval from the remote controller 11 to the server 2 so that the content of the operation command issued by the user is transmitted to the in-facility device 12 without any significant time delay.

[0032] <vpp> The generated power of the fuel cell system 12a of Facility 3 may be controlled by a command determined by an external aggregator operator 4 under the concept of a virtual power plant (VPP) and supplied to the power grid. In that case, the remote controller 11 collects power information of Facility 3, such as the output power of the fuel cell system 12a, the load power of Facility 3, and the power at the power reception point in Facility 3, at short time intervals and sequentially transmits the power information to the server 2. Then, the server 2 transmits the power information of multiple Facilities 3 to the aggregator operator 4. Further, based on the power information of multiple Facilities 3, the aggregator operator 4 determines a control command for determining the output power of the power supply device (fuel cell system 12a) of each Facility 3 or the reverse power flow from Facility 3 to the power grid and transmits it to the server 2. Then, the server 2 stores the transmitted information in the storage unit 2a and transmits the control command to the remote controller 11 at the timing when polling is received from the remote controller 11. In this way, the aggregator operator 4 needs to repeatedly collect the power information of each Facility 3 at short intervals and repeatedly transmit control commands to each Facility 3 at short intervals. Therefore, when the fuel cell system 12a of Facility 3 is used as part of the VPP, it is preferable to shorten the polling interval from the remote controller 11 to the server 2.

[0033] <Smart Speaker> When the user voices commands such as "Turn on the floor heating device" around the smart speaker 14, the voice is received by the voice reception unit of the smart speaker 14, and the content is recognized by the voice recognition unit. Then, the information transmission unit of the smart speaker 14 transmits information with the content "Turn on the floor heating device" to the server 2. In this case, the server 2 stores the information with the content "Turn on the floor heating device" in the storage unit 2a, and transmits the content of the operation command "Turn on the floor heating device" to the remote control 11 at the timing when polling is received from the remote control 11. Then, the control unit 11b of the remote control 11 processes the operation command and issues an operation command to the floor heating device 12c. In this way, when the smart speaker 14 is used in the facility 3, after the user voices commands to the smart speaker 14, it is preferable that a response to the voice is given in the facility 3 within a relatively short time. Therefore, when the smart speaker 14 is used in the facility 3, it is preferable to shorten the polling interval from the remote control 11 to the server 2.

[0034] <Disaster occurrence> When the possibility of disasters such as power outages in the facility 3 increases, such as when a typhoon is approaching, it is preferable that a warning for preparing for the approaching typhoon is transmitted from the server 2 to the remote control 11 and displayed on the display unit 11c. In that case, the server 2 stores the warning information for preparing for the approaching typhoon in the storage unit 2a, and transmits the warning information to the remote control 11 at the timing when polling is received from the remote control 11. Therefore, when the possibility that the facility 3 will be affected by disasters increases, it is preferable to shorten the polling interval from the remote control 11 to the server 2.

[0035] <Emergency> As described above, usually, information regarding the operation of the in-facility device 12 is transmitted from the remote controller 11 to the server 2 at a timing such as once a day. However, when an error such as a device failure or an abnormal operation occurs in the in-facility device 12, that is, in the case of an emergency, in order for the server 2 to closely monitor the information regarding the operation of the in-facility device 12, it is preferable that the remote controller 11 transmits the information regarding the operation of the in-facility device 12 to the server 2 frequently. Therefore, in the case of an emergency, it is preferable to shorten the polling interval from the remote controller 11 to the server 2.

[0036] As described above, when performing information communication between the remote controller 11 and the server 2, in the present embodiment, the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 of the facility 3 manages one or more pieces of polling information including the polling interval and information as to whether the polling interval is valid or invalid. Table 1 is an example in the case where six pieces of polling information A to F are stored and managed in the information management unit 11a. In the example shown in Table 1, the polling interval (every 24 hours) of the polling information A is enabled, while the polling intervals of the other polling information B to F are disabled.

[0037]

Table 1

[0038] The polling timing setting unit 11e sets the timing determined by the polling interval with the shortest time interval among the enabled polling intervals as the polling timing to the server 2. In the case of the example shown in Table 1, the polling timing setting unit 11e sets the timing every 24 hours as the polling timing to the server 2.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the polling interval of each piece of polling information can be enabled and disabled by a command from the user or the server 2.

[0040] Specifically, the information management unit 11a manages information on whether the polling interval of specific polling information received by the input reception unit 11d is valid or invalid according to the setting information on enabling or disabling the polling interval for the specific polling information. For example, the user can use the input reception unit 11d provided in the remote controller 11 to input setting information for enabling the polling interval of specific polling information C. In that case, the information management unit 11a enables the polling interval of the polling information according to the input made by the user. By such a procedure, the enabling of the polling interval of the polling information input by the user is immediately reflected in the remote controller 11. Although the description is omitted, the same applies to the disabling of the polling interval.

[0041] Alternatively, the information management unit 11a manages information on whether the polling interval of specific polling information received from the server 2 that has started communication by polling is valid or invalid according to the setting information on enabling or disabling the polling interval for the specific polling information. For example, the user can use the application installed in the mobile terminal 5 to access the server 2 and input setting information for enabling the polling interval for specific polling information. The server 2 stores the transmitted setting information in the storage unit 2a and transmits the setting information (i.e., the input for enabling the polling interval of specific polling information) to the remote controller 11 at the timing when polling is received from the remote controller 11. Then, the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 enables the polling interval of the specific polling information according to the setting information transmitted from the server 2. Although the description is omitted, the same applies to the disabling of the polling interval.

[0042] Note that the polling interval of at least one piece of polling information is always enabled. In this embodiment, the polling interval of the polling information A as the setting for periodic communication is always enabled. Therefore, polling from the remote controller 11 to the server 2 is always performed at a frequency of once every 24 hours.

[0043] The polling interval of the polling information B as the disaster occurrence setting is enabled by the above-mentioned command (setting information) performed when the server 2 determines that the possibility of power outage of the facility 3 increases due to the approach of a typhoon or the like, and is disabled by the command performed when such a possibility decreases.

[0044] The polling interval of the polling information C as the remote operation setting is enabled by the above-mentioned command (setting information) performed by a user who attempts to remotely operate the in-facility device 12 using the input reception unit 11d of the remote controller 11, and is disabled by the command performed by a user who attempts to stop the remote operation using the input reception unit 11d of the remote controller 11.

[0045] The polling interval of the polling information D as the smart speaker cooperation setting is enabled by the above-mentioned command (setting information) performed by a user who attempts to operate the in-facility device 12 using the smart speaker 14 using the input reception unit 11d of the remote controller 11, and is disabled by the command performed by a user who attempts to stop the operation of the in-facility device 12 using the smart speaker 14 using the input reception unit 11d of the remote controller 11. Alternatively, when the user installs the smart speaker 14 in the facility 3 and a request for issuing, for example, an authentication code is transmitted to the server 2, the server 2 may transmit a command (setting information) for enabling the polling interval of the polling information D to the remote controller 11.

[0046] The polling interval of the polling information E as a setting for VPP is enabled by the server 2 issuing a command (setting information) as described above to the facility 3 targeted for output control by, for example, the aggregator operator 4, and is disabled by a command issued to the facility 3 that is no longer the target of output control. Alternatively, a user or a person related to the aggregator operator 4 may operate the input reception unit 11d of the remote controller 11 to enable and disable the polling interval of the polling information E. Additionally, after the polling interval of the polling information E as a setting for VPP is enabled, when the set period has elapsed (i.e., when the period during which the generated power of the fuel cell system 12a is operated in VPP has elapsed), or when communication with the server 2 has been interrupted for more than the set period, the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 may disable the polling interval of the polling information E even without a specific command (setting information).

[0047] When the remote controller 11 determines that an emergency has occurred, it may perform polling to the server 2 to transmit information indicating that an emergency has occurred to the server 2, regardless of the polling timing set by the polling timing setting unit 11e. Here, the content of the emergency can be set as appropriate. For example, an error report associated with a malfunction detected in the in-facility device 12 may be regarded as an emergency. Note that the remote controller 11 may be configured to determine that an emergency has occurred only when a specific error report among multiple types of error reports occurs, and not determine that an emergency has occurred when other error reports occur.

[0048] And the polling interval of the polling information F as a setting for emergencies may be enabled by the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 itself, or may be enabled by a command from the server 2.

[0049] Specifically, the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 manages the polling information for emergency situations, and in response to receiving information indicating that an emergency has occurred from the remote controller 11 and being transmitted to the server 2, it may activate the polling interval of the polling information F for emergency situations. For example, as described in Table 1 above, the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 may store the polling information F for emergency situations. Then, in response to transmitting information indicating that an emergency has occurred (for example, an error report has been issued) from the remote controller 11 to the server 2, the information management unit 11a activates the polling interval of the polling information F for emergency situations.

[0050] Alternatively, the remote controller 11 manages the polling information for emergency situations, and when the server 2 receives information indicating that an emergency has occurred from the remote controller 11, it may transmit setting information for activating the polling interval of the polling information for emergency situations to the remote controller 11. For example, as described in Table 1 above, the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 may store the polling information F for emergency situations. When the server 2 receives information indicating that an emergency has occurred from the remote controller 11, it transmits setting information for activating the polling interval of the polling information F for emergency situations to the remote controller 11. Then, the information management unit 11a of the remote controller 11 activates the polling interval of the polling information F for emergency situations according to the setting information for activating the polling interval of the polling information F for emergency situations received from the server 2. Also, the server 2 may transmit a command (setting information) for invalidating the polling interval of the polling information F for emergency situations to the remote controller 11 at an appropriate timing.

[0051] For example, when both the polling interval of polling information A (every 24 hours) and the polling interval of polling information C (every 5 minutes) become effective as described above, the polling timing setting unit 11e sets the timing determined by the polling interval of polling information C with the shortest time interval (every 5 minutes) as the polling timing to the server 2. When the polling interval is changed in this way, the remote controller 11 can first perform polling to the server 2, and then perform polling to the server 2 at the timing determined by the newly set polling interval.

[0052] In addition, the setting information for enabling or disabling the polling interval may include information about the timing for enabling or disabling the polling interval of the polling information. In the example shown in Table 2 below, the polling interval of polling information E for VPP setting (every 10 seconds) is enabled between 10:00 and 15:00, that is, it is managed to be enabled at 10:00 and disabled at 15:00. That is, for example, at 9:00, the polling timing setting unit 11e determines that the polling interval of polling information A (every 24 hours) has the shortest time interval, and sets the timing of every 24 hours as the polling timing to the server 2. Then, for example, at 11:00, the polling timing setting unit 11e determines that the polling interval of polling information E (every 10 seconds) has the shortest time interval, and sets the timing of every 10 seconds as the polling timing to the server 2.

[0053]

Table 2

[0054] <Another Embodiment> In the above embodiment, the configurations of the communication system and the facility 3 have been specifically described, but those configurations can be changed as appropriate. For example, although the fuel cell system 12a, the water heater 12b, and the floor heating device 12c are exemplified as the in-facility devices 12, other devices may be used as the in-facility devices 12.

[0055] In the above-described embodiment, specific examples of polling information were given for explanation, but they were described for illustrative purposes and the content thereof can be changed as appropriate.

[0056] In the above-described embodiment, numerical examples such as the value of the polling interval were described, but those numerical values were described for illustrative purposes and the numerical values can be changed as appropriate.

[0057] The configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiment (including other embodiments, the same applies hereinafter) can be applied in combination with the configurations disclosed in other embodiments as long as there is no contradiction, and the embodiments disclosed in this specification are illustrative, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto, and can be appropriately modified within the scope not departing from the object of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

[0058] The present invention can be used in a communication system capable of performing communication between a facility and a server while easily switching between a plurality of polling intervals.

Explanation of Signs

[0059] 1: External network 2: Server 2a: Storage unit 2b: Information processing unit 3: Facility 3A: Facility 3B: Facility 3C: Facility 4: Aggregator operator 5: Mobile terminal 11: Remote control (facility equipment) 11a: Information management unit 11b: Control unit 11c: Display unit 11d: Input reception unit 11e: Polling timing setting unit 12: In-facility equipment 12a: Fuel cell system 12b: Water heater 12c: Bed heating device 13: Router 14: Smart speaker< / vpp>

Claims

1. A communication system in which equipment provided in a facility starts communication with a server connected via an external network by polling, wherein the equipment includes an information management unit that manages one or more pieces of polling information including a polling interval and information indicating whether the polling interval is valid or invalid; and a polling timing setting unit that sets, as the polling timing to the server, the timing determined by the polling interval with the shortest time interval among the valid polling intervals.

2. The equipment includes an input reception unit that receives an operation input by a user, and the information management unit manages information indicating whether the polling interval of the polling information is valid or invalid according to setting information regarding activation or deactivation of the polling interval of the specific polling information received by the input reception unit. The communication system according to claim 1.

3. The information management unit manages information indicating whether the polling interval of the polling information is valid or invalid according to setting information regarding activation or deactivation of the polling interval of the specific polling information received from the server that has started communication by polling. The communication system according to claim 1.

4. The setting information includes information regarding the timing for activating or deactivating the polling interval of the polling information. The communication system according to claim 2 or 3.

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