Control device, water faucet system, home system, control device information protection method, and control device information protection program

Abstract

To provide a control device and the like that can protect information related to a previous user and allows a new user to start use through a simple procedure.SOLUTION: A control device includes a control unit that controls a household facility, a wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a terminal device via short-range wireless communication, a recording unit that records a user authentication code, user-related information, and wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication, a communication initialization unit that initializes the wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication, and an information protection unit that restricts access to the user-related information when the user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the terminal device differs from the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control device for controlling a home facility, a water faucet system, a home system, a control device information protection method, and a control device information protection program. [Background technology]

[0002] The number of home appliances that can be connected to the Internet is increasing. Smart home systems that utilize home appliances that are connected to the Internet to provide users with comfortable and convenient functions have been proposed.

[0003] Information about users is recorded in household appliances and the like connected to a smart home system. For example, private information about users and usage history of household appliances and the like may be recorded in household appliances and the like connected to a smart home system. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-176965 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] When a home appliance, etc., on which information about the user is recorded, is transferred to a new user, it is necessary to protect the information related to the previous user recorded in the home appliance, etc. On the other hand, the new user wants to be able to connect the transferred home appliance, etc., to a smart home system through a simple procedure and start using it.

[0006] In light of the above circumstances, the present disclosure aims to provide a control device, a faucet system, a home system, a control device information protection method, and a control device information protection program that can protect information related to previous users and allow new users to start using them with simple procedures. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A control device according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a control unit that controls a home appliance, a wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication, a recording unit that records a user authentication code, user-related information, and wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication, a communication initialization unit that initializes the wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication, and an information protection unit that restricts access to the user-related information when the user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the mobile terminal differs from the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit.

[0008] A home system according to a second aspect of the present disclosure includes a home appliance and a control device that controls the home appliance, and the control device has a control unit that controls the home appliance, a wireless communication unit that can communicate with a mobile terminal via short-range wireless communication, a recording unit that records a user authentication code, user-related information, and wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication, a communication initialization unit that initializes the wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication, and an information protection unit that restricts access to the user-related information when the user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the mobile terminal differs from the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit.

[0009] A control device information protection method according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is a method for protecting user-related information of a control device that controls a home appliance, and includes a communication initialization step for initializing wireless connection information for short-range wireless communication by a mobile terminal, and an information protection step for restricting access to the user-related information when a user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the mobile terminal differs from the recorded user authentication code.

[0010] A control device information protection program according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a program for protecting user-related information of a control device that controls residential equipment, which initializes wireless connection information for short-range wireless communication by a mobile terminal, and restricts access to the user-related information when a user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the mobile terminal differs from the recorded user authentication code. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a home system according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a control device of the home system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a smartphone in the home system. [Figure 4] 3 is a control flowchart of a control unit of the control device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A home system 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

[0013] [Home System 100] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a home system 100. As shown in FIG. The home system 100 includes a household appliance 1, a control device 2, an access point 3, a smartphone 4, a device management server 5, a user management server 6, an EC server 7, and a call center server 8. The access point 3, the smartphone 4, the device management server 5, the user management server 6, the EC server 7, and the call center server 8 are connected via a network NW.

[0014] The network NW may be a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a private network (LAN) within the building where the home system 100 is installed, or a combination thereof. The network NW may be either a wired or wireless network. Communication between devices may involve other devices such as an access point.

[0015] [Housing equipment 1] The housing equipment 1 is a device installed in a home HO as equipment, such as a faucet device 1A or a toilet device 1B. The housing equipment 1 includes building materials such as shutters, doors, windows, and locks; cameras such as outdoor and indoor cameras; energy management devices such as distribution boards and solar power generation systems; and sensors such as temperature and humidity sensors and motion sensors. The housing HO to which the housing equipment 1 is installed includes not only residential buildings but also non-residential buildings such as offices, schools, and hospitals. The housing equipment 1 has a manual control input mechanism that accepts manual control instructions from a user and a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from a control device 2 or the like. For example, the control instructions accepted by the faucet device 1A include instructions for discharging water, stopping water, adjusting temperature, adjusting flow rate, and a series of combinations of these instructions. A home system 100 including the faucet device 1A as the housing equipment 1 is also referred to as a "faucet system."

[0016] [Control device 2] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device 2. The control device 2 controls the operation of the household equipment 1. A control device 2 is provided for each household equipment 1. The control device 2 may be provided inside the household equipment 1 and integrated with the household equipment 1. The control device 2 has a control unit 21, a wireless communication unit 22, a recording unit 23, an information protection unit 28, and a communication initialization unit 29.

[0017] The control unit 21 is a computer capable of executing programs, including a processor such as a CPU, a memory into which programs can be read, a storage unit into which programs and data can be stored, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 21 are realized by the processor executing a program provided to the control unit 21.

[0018] The control unit 21 controls the household equipment 1 based on control instructions acquired via the wireless communication unit 22. The control unit 21 also acquires a usage history (log) of the household equipment 1 and stores the usage history in the recording unit 23 as part of the user-related information. The control unit 21 also acquires status information that enables the usage status of consumables in the household equipment 1 to be understood and stores the status information in the recording unit 23 as part of the user-related information. The control unit 21 also controls the wireless communication unit 22 to communicate wirelessly with the access point 3 and the smartphone 4.

[0019] The wireless communication unit 22 has an antenna and the like, and has a function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as WiFi, and a function of communicating via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or ZigBee (registered trademark). The wireless communication unit 22 can communicate with the access point 3 via wireless LAN communication WC1 based on an instruction from the control unit 21. The wireless communication unit 22 can communicate with the wireless communication unit 42 of the smartphone 4 via short-range wireless communication WC2 based on an instruction from the control unit 21.

[0020] The recording unit 23 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk, a flash memory, etc. The recording unit 23 records a user authentication code 24, user-related information 25, and wireless connection information 26.

[0021] The user authentication code 24 is a unique code assigned to a user in the home system 100, and is a code for authenticating the user in the home system 100. The user authentication code 24 is, for example, a combination of a user ID and a password corresponding to the user ID, or a token generated based on the user ID.

[0022] User-related information 25 is information related to the user who uses household equipment 1. User-related information 25 includes the usage history (log) of household equipment 1 and status information that enables understanding of the usage status of consumables in household equipment 1. For example, the status information for faucet device 1A includes the amount of water used and the duration of use of faucet device 1A.

[0023] The wireless connection information 26 includes wireless connection information required for communicating with the access point 3 via the wireless LAN communication WC1, and is, for example, a combination of a WiFi SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​and a password corresponding to the SSID.

[0024] The wireless connection information 26 includes wireless connection information necessary for communicating with the smartphone 4 via short-range wireless communication WC2, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) pairing information.

[0025] The information protection unit 28 is a mechanism that protects at least a portion of the information recorded in the recording unit 23. In this embodiment, the information protection unit 28 restricts access to the user-related information 25 when the user authentication code 24 included in the short-range wireless communication WC2 by the smartphone 4 differs from the user authentication code 24 recorded in the recording unit 23.

[0026] The information protection unit 28 may be a mechanism for protecting the recorded user-related information 25 by hardware, or may be a mechanism realized by information protection software executed by the control unit 21.

[0027] The communication initialization unit 29 is a mechanism that initializes the wireless connection information 26. The communication initialization unit 29 includes, for example, an initialization switch provided on the case of the control device 2. When there is an input to the initialization switch, such as when the user presses the initialization switch, the communication initialization unit 29 initializes the wireless connection information 26 (communication initialization step 1). The communication initialization unit 29 includes, for example, an initialization code provided on the case of the control device 2. For example, a sticker with the initialization code printed on it is affixed to the case of the control device 2. When there is a pairing request for short-range wireless communication WC2 accompanied by the initialization code from the smartphone 4, the communication initialization unit 29 initializes the wireless connection information 26 (communication initialization step 2). Both communication initialization steps can be performed only when the user is at home in the house HO and near the control device 2.

[0028] [Access Point 3] The access point 3 is installed in the home HO and has a function of communicating via a wireless LAN communication WC1 such as WiFi. The access point 3 communicates with the control device 2 via the wireless LAN communication WC1. The access point 3 also relays communication with the control device 2 via the wireless LAN communication WC1 to the network NW via a gateway GW.

[0029] A plurality of access points 3 may be installed in the home HO. The access point 3 may have a repeater 31 for the wireless LAN communication WC1. The communication between the access point 3 and the control device 2 via the wireless LAN communication WC1 may go through the repeater 31.

[0030] [Smartphone 4] FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the smartphone 4. The smartphone 4 is an example of a mobile terminal or a terminal device. The mobile terminal or the terminal device is not limited to the smartphone 4, and may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smart watch, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc. The smartphone 4 has a control unit 41, a wireless communication unit 42, a touch panel 43, and a camera 44.

[0031] The control unit 41 is a computer capable of executing programs, including a processor such as a CPU, a memory into which programs can be read, a storage unit into which programs and data can be stored, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 41 are realized by the processor executing a program provided to the control unit 41. The program provided to the control unit 41 is also referred to as an application. The control unit 41 controls the wireless communication unit 42, the touch panel 43, and the camera 44.

[0032] The wireless communication unit 42 has an antenna and the like, and has a function of communicating via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or ZigBee (registered trademark), and a function of communicating via high-speed wireless communication WC3 that can connect to a network NW according to a fourth-generation communication standard, a fifth-generation communication standard, or the like. The wireless communication unit 42 can communicate with the wireless communication unit 22 of the control device 2 via the short-range wireless communication WC2 based on instructions from the control unit 41. The wireless communication unit 42 can communicate with the device management server 5, the user management server 6, the EC server 7, and the call center server 8 via the high-speed wireless communication WC3 that is connected to a base station and the network NW based on instructions from the control unit 41.

[0033] The touch panel 43 is, for example, a capacitance type touch panel. An input operation input by a user to the touch panel is acquired by the control unit 41. The touch panel 43 displays a display screen based on an instruction from the control unit 41.

[0034] The smartphone 4 has installed thereon a smart home application AP, which is an application that provides comfortable and convenient functions to the user by utilizing the home equipment 1 connected to the network NW.

[0035] The smart home application AP can generate remote control instructions for the household equipment 1. The remote control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the device management server 5 via the network NW. The wireless communication unit 22 of the control device 2 acquires the remote control instructions for the household equipment 1 via the access point 3. The control unit 21 of the control device 2 controls the household equipment 1 based on the acquired control instructions. The user can remotely control the household equipment 1 using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away from home.

[0036] The smart home application AP can generate an instruction to initialize wireless connection information of wireless communication in the control device 2. The user reads an initialization code provided on the case of the control device 2 and inputs it into the smart home application AP. The smart home application AP can initialize the wireless connection information of wireless communication of the control device 2 by sending a pairing request for short-range wireless communication WC2 including the initialization code to the control device 2.

[0037] [Device management server 5] The device management server 5 is configured, for example, by one or more servers and can be connected to a network NW. The server includes hardware such as a processor such as a CPU, memory, recording media such as a hard disk or flash memory, and communication devices. The functions of the device management server 5 are realized by a program executed on the server's processor. The server may be an on-site server, or a cloud server that provides IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), or the like, or a server that combines these. In the following description, "server" includes any of the above servers.

[0038] The device management server 5 is a server that manages the household equipment 1. The device management server 5 acquires control instructions for the household equipment 1 generated in the smart home application AP. The control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the control device 2. The device management server 5 records the control instructions for the household equipment 1 generated by the user as a control instruction history. The device management server 5 also acquires status information from the control device 2 that enables the usage status of consumables in the household equipment 1 to be understood. The device management server 5 records the control instruction history for the household equipment 1 and the status information of the household equipment 1 as user-related information.

[0039] [User management server 6] The user management server 6 is configured by, for example, one or more servers, and can be connected to a network NW. The functions of the user management server 6 are realized by a program executed in a processor of the server.

[0040] The user management server 6 is a server that manages the user authentication code 24. A user of the home system 100 can obtain the user authentication code 24 from the user management server 6. The user authentication code 24 obtained by the user is also recorded in the control device 2 and the device management server 5. The user authentication code 24 obtained by the user is also registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 4. A control instruction for the household equipment 1 generated by the user in the smart home application AP is obtained by the device management server 5 and the control device 2 that are associated based on the user authentication code 24.

[0041] [EC Server 7] The EC (Electronic Commerce) server 7 is configured by, for example, one or more servers and can be connected to a network NW. The functions of the EC server 7 are realized by a program executed in a processor of the server.

[0042] The EC server 7 is a server that can order consumables for the household equipment 1. A user can order consumables for the household equipment 1 using the website of the EC server 7. A user can also order consumables for the household equipment 1 using a smart home application AP on a smartphone 4. The device management server 5 may also order consumables based on the acquired status information of the household equipment 1.

[0043] [Call Center Server 8] The call center server 8 is configured by, for example, one or more servers and is connectable to a network NW. The functions of the call center server 8 are realized by a program executed in a processor of the server.

[0044] The call center server 8 is a server installed at the call center of the home appliance 1. The call center is an equipment supplier that receives inquiries about the home appliance 1 from users by telephone, etc. The call center server 8 acquires the usage history (log) of the home appliance 1 via the network NW. When responding to inquiries by phone from users, the call center operator uses the usage history (log) acquired by the call center server 8.

[0045] Two or more of the device management server 5, user management server 6, EC server 7, and call center server 8 may be the same server.

[0046] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the home system 100. Hereinafter, the operation of the control device 2 will be described with reference to the control flowchart of the control unit 21 of the control device 2 shown in FIG.

[0047] For example, when a user receives a control device 2 from another user and uses the control device 2 for the first time, the user accesses the user management server 6 of the home system 100, completes user registration, and obtains the user authentication code 24. The user may access the user management server 6 using a smart home application AP installed on the smartphone 4 to obtain the user authentication code 24. The obtained user authentication code 24 is registered in the smartphone 4.

[0048] When using the control device 2 for the first time, the user needs to reset the wireless connection information 26 of the wireless LAN communication WC1 of the control device 2 so that the control device 2 can communicate with the access point 3 via the wireless LAN communication WC1. In this case, the user initializes the wireless connection information 26 of the control device 2. The user instructs the communication initialization unit 29 of the control device 2 to initialize the wireless connection information 26 by inputting an initialization switch of the control device 2 or by making a pairing request for the short-range wireless communication WC2 accompanied by an initialization code.

[0049] In step S110, the control unit 21 checks whether an instruction to initialize the wireless connection information 26 has been detected by the communication initialization unit 29. When the initialization instruction has been detected, the control unit 21 next executes step S110.

[0050] In addition, when the communication initialization unit 29 detects an initialization failure due to a suspicious initialization instruction, such as repeated input errors in the initialization code, the information protection unit 28 may delete the user-related information 25 to prevent the user-related information 25 from being stolen.

[0051] When the user instructs the communication initialization unit 29 to initialize the wireless connection information 26 by inputting an input to the initialization switch of the control device 2, a pairing request for short-range wireless communication WC2 from the smartphone 4 is sent to the control device 2 within a predetermined time from the initialization instruction.

[0052] In step S120, in response to the pairing request for short-range wireless communication WC2 from the smartphone 4, the control unit 21 initializes the wireless connection information 26 between the control device 2 and the smartphone 4 via the short-range wireless communication WC2. The control unit 21 records the new wireless connection information 26 related to the short-range wireless communication WC2 in the recording unit 23. At this point, the user authentication code 24 and the user-related information 25 recorded in the recording unit 23 have not been initialized.

[0053] In step S130, the control unit 21 checks whether the user authentication code 24 (also referred to as the "post-initialization user authentication code") included in the short-range wireless communication WC2 from the smartphone 4 matches the user authentication code 24 (also referred to as the "recorded user authentication code") recorded in the recording unit 23. If the two user authentication codes 24 match, the control unit 21 determines that the user has not changed before and after the initialization of the wireless connection information 26, and ends the control flow shown in FIG. 4. If the two user authentication codes 24 differ, the control unit 21 determines that the user has changed before and after the initialization of the wireless connection information 26, and then executes step S140.

[0054] In step S140, the control unit 21 controls the information protection unit 28 to restrict access to the user-related information 25. Specifically, reading of the user-related information 25 and writing of the user-related information 25 are prohibited in short-range wireless communication WC2 from the smartphone 4 that includes a user authentication code 24 different from the user authentication code 24 recorded in the recording unit 23. This prevents a new user from viewing or stealing the user-related information 25 of a previous user.

[0055] In step S150, the control unit 21 controls the information protection unit 28 to initialize the user-related information 25 recorded in the recording unit 23. The user-related information 25 of the previous user is deleted. Furthermore, the control unit 21 updates the user authentication code 24 recorded in the recording unit 23 from the recorded user authentication code to the initialized user authentication code. This allows reading and writing of the user-related information 25 in short-range wireless communication WC2 from the smartphone 4 with the user authentication code 24 of the new user.

[0056] The user resets the wireless connection information 26 of the wireless LAN communication WC1 of the control device 2 so that the control device 2 can communicate with the access point 3 via the wireless LAN communication WC1. This completes preparations for using the control device 2.

[0057] According to the home system 100 of this embodiment, the user-related information 25 of the previous user can be protected, and a new user can start using the control device 2 with a simple procedure. Specifically, the control device 2 has a communication initialization unit 29 that allows only users who are close to the control device 2 to initialize the wireless connection information 26, so that the new user can easily start wireless communication with the control device 2. Furthermore, when the new user starts wireless communication with the control device 2, the control device 2 can reliably protect the user-related information 25 of the previous user. Furthermore, the control device 2 can initialize the user-related information 25 of the previous user and allow the new user to start using the control device 2 simply by detecting that the user authentication code after initialization is different from the recorded user authentication code.

[0058] Even if the user accidentally presses the initialization switch of the control device 2, only the wireless connection information 26 is initialized, and the user authentication code 24 and the user-related information 25 are not deleted. The user can restore the wireless connection information 26 and continue to use the control device 2 as usual.

[0059] While one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and includes design modifications within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components shown in the above-described embodiment and modifications can be configured in any suitable combination.

[0060] The programs for the control device 2 and other devices are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The programs recorded on the recording medium are loaded into a computer system and executed. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an operating system (OS) and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" may also include devices that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over a network such as the Internet or a telephone line, or devices that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within a computer system that serves as a server or client. The programs may be designed to implement some of the functions described above, or may be capable of implementing the functions in combination with programs already stored in the computer system, or may be implemented using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0061] The initialization code in the above embodiment is a visible code. However, the form of the initialization code is not limited to this. The initialization code may be an invisible code, such as a code obtained by wireless communication such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification). [Explanation of symbols]

[0062] 100...home system, AP...smart home application, 1...home appliance, 2...control device, 21...control unit, 22...wireless communication unit, 23...recording unit, 24...user authentication code, 25...user-related information, 26...wireless connection information, 28...information protection unit, 29...communication initialization unit, 3...access point, 4...smartphone, 5...device management server, 6...user management server, 7...EC server, 8...call center server

Claims

1. a control unit that controls the home appliances; a wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a terminal device via short-range wireless communication; a recording unit that records a user authentication code, user-related information, and wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication; a communication initialization unit that initializes the wireless connection information of the short-distance wireless communication; an information protection unit that restricts access to the user-related information when the user authentication code included in the short-distance wireless communication by the terminal device is different from the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit; Equipped with Control device.

2. When the user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the terminal device is different from the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit, the information protection unit initializes the user-related information and updates the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit with the user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication. The control device according to claim 1 .

3. the communication initialization unit includes an initialization switch provided in the control device, the communication initialization unit initializes wireless connection information for the short-distance wireless communication when an input is made to the initialization switch; The control device according to claim 1 .

4. the communication initialization unit includes an initialization code provided in a visible position on the control device; the communication initialization unit initializes wireless connection information of the short-range wireless communication when the short-range wireless communication includes the initialization code. The control device according to claim 1 .

5. The user authentication code is managed by a user management server that manages user information, The terminal device acquires the user authentication code from the user management server. The control device according to claim 1 .

6. When the communication initialization unit fails to initialize the short-range wireless communication, the information protection unit deletes the user-related information. The control device according to claim 1 .

7. The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6; A faucet device that is the residential equipment; and The control device controls at least one of water discharge, water stop, temperature adjustment, and flow rate adjustment of the faucet device. Faucet system.

8. Housing facilities and a control device for controlling the household equipment; Equipped with The control device a control unit that controls the household equipment; a wireless communication unit capable of communicating with a terminal device via short-range wireless communication; a recording unit that records a user authentication code, user-related information, and wireless connection information for the short-range wireless communication; a communication initialization unit that initializes the wireless connection information of the short-distance wireless communication; an information protection unit that restricts access to the user-related information when the user authentication code included in the short-distance wireless communication by the terminal device is different from the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit; having Home system.

9. When the user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the terminal device is different from the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit, the information protection unit initializes the user-related information and updates the user authentication code recorded in the recording unit with the user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication. The home system of claim 8.

10. the communication initialization unit includes an initialization switch provided in the control device, the communication initialization unit initializes wireless connection information for the short-distance wireless communication when an input is made to the initialization switch; The home system of claim 8.

11. the communication initialization unit includes an initialization code provided in a visible position on the control device; the communication initialization unit initializes wireless connection information of the short-range wireless communication when the short-range wireless communication includes the initialization code. The home system of claim 8.

12. The user authentication code is managed by a user management server that manages user information, The terminal device acquires the user authentication code from the user management server. The home system of claim 8.

13. When the communication initialization unit fails to initialize the short-range wireless communication, the information protection unit deletes the user-related information. The home system of claim 8.

14. The housing equipment is a water faucet device. A home system according to any one of claims 8 to 13.

15. further comprising a user management server capable of communicating with the terminal device; the user management server manages user information including the user authentication code; The terminal device acquires the user authentication code from the user management server. The home system of claim 8.

16. 1. A method for protecting user-related information of a control device that controls a home appliance, comprising: a communication initialization step of initializing wireless connection information for short-range wireless communication by a terminal device; an information protection step of restricting access to the user-related information when a user authentication code included in the short-range wireless communication by the terminal device is different from the recorded user authentication code; Equipped with Control device information protection method.

17. A program for protecting user-related information of a control device that controls a home appliance, Initializing wireless connection information for short-range wireless communication by the terminal device; restricting access to the user-related information when a user authentication code included in the short-distance wireless communication by the terminal device is different from the recorded user authentication code; Control device information protection program.

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