Management system

Abstract

To provide a management system which enables a user to grasp whether or not an operation according to remote control is being performed in a house facility apparatus.SOLUTION: A management system 1 is a system for managing a house facility apparatus 3. An operation request acquisition section 61 acquires a remote control request to the house facility apparatus 3 from a portable terminal 2. An instruction request acquisition section 63 acquires from the house facility apparatus 3 an instruction request for the house facility apparatus 3 to acquire an operation instruction to the house facility apparatus 3. When the instruction request is acquired in the instruction request acquisition section 63, an operation instruction section 64 outputs an operation instruction based on the remote control request to the house facility apparatus 3. A state acquisition section 65 acquires an apparatus operation state indicating an operation state of the house facility apparatus 3. A state output section 66 outputs to the portable terminal 2 state information indicating which state division the state of remote control belongs to in a plurality of state divisions divided based on the acquisitions of the remote control request, the instruction request, and the apparatus operation state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates generally to management systems, and more particularly to management systems that manage home appliances. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various types of residential equipment are used in homes. Examples of such residential equipment include hot water heaters and space heaters equipped with hot water filling functions, floor heating functions, etc. This type of hot water heater and space heater is connected to an external management system via the Internet, for example, and is configured so that usage can be checked by remotely operating it using a mobile terminal via the management system.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a communication system including an external server, an IoT device that communicates with the external server via a network and transmits a device status value indicating the device status to the external server, and an information terminal that synchronously communicates with the external server via the network and has application software that displays the device status transmitted from the external server. When the external server receives the device status value, the external server transmits a status value change notification to the information terminal notifying that the device status value has changed, and when the information terminal receives the status value change notification, it requests the device status value from the external server. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-175115 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the communication system described in Patent Document 1, IoT devices communicate by polling, so the operating status of the IoT device may not change immediately when remote control is performed on an information terminal. For this reason, the information terminal is configured to suspend acquisition of the operating status of the IoT device for a predetermined period of time. Therefore, the user who remotely controlled the IoT device cannot know whether the IoT device is operating appropriately in response to the remote control.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above points, and aims to provide a management system that allows a user to know whether or not a household equipment device is operating in accordance with remote control. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The management system according to the invention of claim 1 is a management system for managing household equipment that can be remotely controlled by a mobile device via a network. The management system includes an operation request acquisition unit, an instruction request acquisition unit, an operation instruction unit, a status acquisition unit, and a status output unit. The operation request acquisition unit acquires a remote operation request for the household equipment from the mobile device. The instruction request acquisition unit acquires an instruction request from the household equipment so that the household equipment can obtain an operation instruction for the household equipment. When the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request, the operation instruction unit outputs the operation instruction based on the remote operation request to the household equipment. When the operation instruction unit outputs the operation instruction, the status acquisition unit acquires an appliance operating status indicating the operating status of the household equipment. The status output unit outputs to the mobile device status information indicating which status category the remote operation status falls into among multiple status categories classified based on the acquisition of the remote operation request, the instruction request, and the appliance operating status.

[0008] The management system according to claim 2 is the management system according to claim 1, further comprising a status request acquisition unit and a request interval setting unit. The status request acquisition unit acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal. The status acquisition request is a request for acquiring the status of the remote operation. The request interval setting unit sets a request interval at which the mobile terminal makes the status acquisition request to the management system.

[0009] In the management system according to the invention of claim 3, in the management system according to the invention of claim 1 or 2, priorities are set for the plurality of status categories. When two or more status categories among the plurality of status categories are output candidates, the status output unit outputs the status category among the two or more status categories that has been set with a higher priority as the status information to the mobile terminal.

[0010] The management system according to claim 4 is the management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the status output unit outputs, as the status information to the mobile device, a first status classification indicating a state in which the household equipment has not received the operation instruction during a period from when the operation request acquisition unit acquires the remote operation request to when the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request. The status output unit outputs, as the status information to the mobile device, a second status classification indicating a state in which the household equipment has received the operation instruction during a period from when the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request to when the status acquisition unit acquires the appliance operation status. The status output unit outputs, as the status information to the mobile device, a third status classification indicating a state in which the household equipment has completed operation based on the operation instruction during a period from when the status acquisition unit acquires the appliance operation status.

[0011] In the management system of the invention of claim 5, in the management system of the invention of claim 4, if the status acquisition unit does not acquire the equipment operating status within a predetermined period from the time the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request, the status output unit outputs the third status classification to the mobile terminal as the status information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The management system according to the invention of claim 1 outputs status information to a mobile terminal indicating which of a plurality of status classifications the remote control status falls into based on the remote control request, instruction request, and appliance operation status acquisition, thereby enabling the user to know whether the household equipment is operating in accordance with the remote control.

[0013] In the management system according to the invention of claim 2, the request interval setting unit sets the request interval at which the mobile device issues a status acquisition request to the management system, thereby making it possible to easily adjust the request interval of the status acquisition request from the mobile device to the management system.

[0014] In the management system according to the invention of claim 3, when two or more status categories are output candidates, the status output unit outputs the status category with the highest priority among the two or more status categories as status information to the mobile terminal. This allows the status category with the highest priority to be preferentially output to the mobile terminal.

[0015] The management system according to the invention of claim 4 outputs to the mobile terminal, as status information, a first status category indicating that the household equipment has not received an operation instruction, a second status category indicating that the household equipment has received an operation instruction, or a third status category indicating that the household equipment has completed operation based on the operation instruction, depending on the period. This allows the user to more clearly understand whether the remote operation status is the first status category indicating that the household equipment has not received the operation instruction, the second status category indicating that the household equipment has received an operation instruction, or the household equipment has completed operation based on the operation instruction.

[0016] In the management system according to the invention of claim 5, if the status acquisition unit does not acquire the appliance operation status within a predetermined period from the time when the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request, the status output unit outputs the third status category to the mobile terminal as status information. As a result, even if the appliance operation status is not acquired from the household equipment due to communication conditions, etc., it is possible to consider that the household equipment has completed operation based on the operation instruction, and to prevent the remote operation status from remaining in the second status category. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a management system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the management system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating another example of the operation of the management system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The management system 1 according to the embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] (Embodiment) (1) Management system The configuration of a management system 1 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 is a system for managing household equipment 3 that can be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal 2 via a network 8.

[0021] The management system 1 includes an operation request acquisition unit 61 , an instruction request acquisition unit 63 , an operation instruction unit 64 , a status acquisition unit 65 , and a status output unit 66 .

[0022] The operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires a remote operation request for the household equipment 3 from the mobile terminal 2. The instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires an instruction request from the household equipment 3 to acquire an operation instruction for the household equipment 3. When the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires an instruction request, the operation instruction unit 64 outputs an operation instruction based on the remote operation request to the household equipment 3. When the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires an instruction request, the status acquisition unit 65 acquires an equipment operating status indicating the operating status of the household equipment 3. The status output unit 66 outputs to the mobile terminal 2 status information indicating which status category the remote operation status is among multiple status categories classified based on the acquisition of the remote operation request, the instruction request, and the equipment operating status.

[0023] In the management system 1 according to the embodiment, status information indicating which of a plurality of status classifications, which are classified based on the acquisition of a remote operation request, an instruction request, and an appliance operation status, the remote operation status is in, is output to the mobile terminal 2. This allows the user to know whether the household equipment 3 is operating in accordance with the remote operation.

[0024] (2) Mobile devices The mobile terminal 2 is a communication-enabled electronic device such as a mobile phone or a smartphone. The mobile terminal 2 is connected to the management system 1 via a network 8.

[0025] An application is installed in the mobile terminal 2 so that the household equipment 3 can be operated via the management system 1. The mobile terminal 2 communicates with the management system 1 using the application. The mobile terminal 2 also includes a storage unit (not shown) that stores the application and various information.

[0026] (3) Housing equipment The residential equipment 3 is equipment installed in a home, and specifically includes residential equipment such as gas appliances that use gas, such as water heaters, stoves, fan heaters, floor heating devices, and fuel cell devices, which are installed in a home.

[0027] The household equipment 3 of this embodiment has an operating device (operating device) 4 and gas using equipment 5. The operating device 4 is a device for remotely operating the gas using equipment 5. The gas using equipment 5 is connected to a network 8 via the operating device 4.

[0028] The operation device 4 is, for example, a remote control. A remote control used as the operation device 4 is, for example, a kitchen remote control or a bathroom remote control. The kitchen remote control is installed, for example, in the kitchen. The bathroom remote control is installed, for example, in the bathroom. The operation device 4 has, for example, a computer (including a microcomputer) including a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The computer functions as the operation device 4 by executing an appropriate program.

[0029] The household equipment 3 is connected to the management system 1 via a network 8. The household equipment 3 is configured to be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal 2 via the network 8. In this embodiment, the mobile terminal 2 does not remotely control the household equipment 3 directly, but rather remotely controls the household equipment 3 via the management system 1.

[0030] (4) Network The network 8 is an internet line and includes both a wireless network and a wired network. The wired network includes, for example, optical cable lines and cable television lines as well as other wired networks.

[0031] (5) Details of the management system The management system 1 according to the embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 is a system that manages household equipment 3 that can be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal 2 via a network 8. The management system 1 is, for example, a management server. The management system 1 is configured to manage the operation of the household equipment 3. The management system 1 is configured to be able to perform two-way communication with each of the mobile terminal 2 and the control device 4 via the network 8. This allows the management system 1 to receive operation instructions for the household equipment 3 from the mobile terminal 2. The management system 1 is also configured to operate the household equipment 3 in accordance with the operation instructions received from the mobile terminal 2. The management system 1 is also configured to be able to update the software used in the control device 4. The software used in the control device 4 is software built into the control device 4 and corresponds to the software that the control device 4 uses to operate the gas-using appliance 5. In the example of FIG. 1, one control device 4 is connected to the management system 1 via the network 8. However, if there are multiple control devices 4 connected via the network 8, identification information (e.g., an identification number) is assigned to each control device 4 so that the multiple control devices 4 can be identified.

[0033] Furthermore, the management system 1 is configured to monitor the operating state (for example, operating, stopped, or stopped due to an error) of the gas-using equipment 5, and to monitor the equipment state (the state of the gas-using equipment 5). If the household equipment 3 is a fuel cell device, a sensor may be provided in the fuel cell device, and the sensor may be configured to acquire information relating to the power generation state (for example, the amount of gas used, the amount of power generated, the temperature, etc.).

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 1 includes a processing device 6 and a storage device 7.

[0035] (5.1) Processing Unit The processing device 6 includes an operation request acquisition unit 61 , a status request acquisition unit 62 , an instruction request acquisition unit 63 , an operation instruction unit 64 , a status acquisition unit 65 , a status output unit 66 , and a request interval setting unit 67 .

[0036] The control device 4 has a computer (including a microcomputer) including a processor such as a CPU and a memory so that the processing device 6 can perform processing related to managing the operation of the household equipment 3. The computer functions as the processing device 6 by executing an appropriate program.

[0037] (5.1.1) Operation request acquisition part The operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires a remote operation request for the household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5) from the mobile terminal 2. A "request for remote operation for the household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5)" refers to a request to perform an operation to start the household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5) that is stopped, and a request to perform an operation to stop the household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5) that is running. If the household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5) is a water heater, the "request to perform an operation to start the stopped household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5)" includes, for example, information indicating the date and time to start the water heater, the hot water temperature to be supplied by the water heater, and the type of equipment (e.g., a floor heating system) to use the hot water heated by the water heater. A "request to perform an operation to stop the operating household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5)" includes, for example, information indicating the date and time to stop the water heater and the state in which the water heater is to be stopped. The remote operation request as described above is made from the mobile terminal 2 to the management system 1, and the management system 1 issues an instruction (command) to the household equipment 3. The mobile terminal 2 transmits information indicating the above-mentioned remote operation request as operation request information to the management system 1, and the operation request information is acquired by the operation request acquisition unit 61 in the management system 1. The operation request information acquired by the operation request acquisition unit 61 is stored in the storage device 7.

[0038] (5.1.2) Status request acquisition unit The status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2. A "status acquisition request" is a request for acquiring the status of remote control. More specifically, after a remote control request is acquired, the status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request at each request interval. The request interval is a time interval set by the request interval setting unit 67. The request interval is, for example, 10 seconds.

[0039] (5.1.3) Instruction request acquisition part The instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires an instruction request from the household equipment 3. The instruction request is a request made by the household equipment 3 to acquire an operation instruction for the household equipment 3. More specifically, instruction request information indicating an instruction request is sent from the operation device 4 to the management system 1 at preset time intervals. The instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request information from the operation device 4 at preset time intervals. When the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request information from the operation device 4, it outputs to the operation instruction unit 64 information indicating that the instruction request information has been acquired and information indicating the operation device 4 from which the instruction request information has been sent.

[0040] (5.1.4) Operation instruction section When the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires an instruction request, the operation instruction unit 64 outputs an operation instruction based on the remote operation request to the household equipment 3. More specifically, as described above, when the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires instruction request information from the operation device 4, information indicating that the instruction request information has been acquired and information indicating the operation device 4 from which the instruction request information has been sent are output to the operation instruction unit 64. When the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request information, the operation instruction unit 64 outputs an operation instruction based on the operation request information stored in the storage device 7 to the operation device 4. The "operation instruction based on the operation request information stored in the storage device 7" refers to an operation instruction for the household equipment 3 (gas using appliance 5) indicated by the operation request information stored in the storage device 7 that has not yet been output to the operation device 4.

[0041] (5.1.5) Status acquisition section When the operation instruction unit 64 outputs an operation instruction, the status acquisition unit 65 acquires the appliance operation status indicating the operating status of the household equipment 3.

[0042] "Equipment operating status" means, for example, when information indicating that the gas-using equipment 5 is to start operating is transmitted from the operating device 4 to the gas-using equipment 5, information indicating that the operating device 4 has started operating in response to an instruction request; when information indicating that the gas-using equipment 5 is to complete operating is transmitted from the gas-using equipment 5 to the operating device 4, information indicating that the operating device 4 has completed operating in response to an instruction request.

[0043] (5.1.6) Status output section The status output unit 66 outputs to the mobile terminal 2 status information indicating which of a plurality of status classifications the remote operation status falls into based on the acquisition of the remote operation request, the instruction request, and the appliance operation status. The status output unit 66 outputs to the mobile terminal 2 the status from when the management system 1 acquires the operation request information until the household equipment 3 operates in response to the remote operation instruction. "From when the management system 1 acquires the operation request information" refers to the period from when the operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires the operation request information from the mobile terminal 2 onwards.

[0044] The "status information" is information indicating which of a plurality of status classifications the remote operation status is classified into based on the acquisition of a remote operation request, an instruction request, and an appliance operation status. In other words, it is information indicating the remote operation status indicated in the operation request information during the period from when the operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires the operation request information from the mobile terminal 2 to when it acquires the appliance operation status from the household equipment 3. Specifically, it is information regarding the status of the remote operation instruction given between the management system 1 and the operation device 4.

[0045] The plurality of state divisions include a first state division, a second state division, and a third state division. The first state division, the second state division, and the third state division are defined as follows:

[0046] The first status category is a first status category indicating a state in which the household equipment 3 has not acquired an operation instruction. In other words, the first status category is a status category of "acquisition incomplete", and indicates a state in which a remote operation request has been made from the application of the mobile terminal 2, but the operation instruction based on the remote operation request has not been transmitted to the household equipment 3 (gas using appliance 5).

[0047] The second status category is a status category indicating a state in which the household equipment 3 has acquired an operation instruction. In other words, the second status category is a status category of "acquisition completed", and is a state in which, after a remote operation request is made from the application of the mobile terminal 2, an operation instruction based on the remote operation request is transmitted to the household equipment 3 (gas using appliance 5).

[0048] The third status category is a status category indicating a state in which the household equipment 3 has completed operation based on an operation instruction. In other words, the third status category is a "no target" status category, and is a state in which a remote operation request is made from the application of the mobile terminal 2, the operation instruction based on the remote operation request is transmitted to the household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5), and is reflected in the household equipment 3 (gas-using equipment 5).

[0049] The status output unit 66 outputs the first status classification to the mobile terminal 2 as status information during the period from when the operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires the remote operation request until when the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request.

[0050] The status output unit 66 outputs the second status classification to the mobile terminal 2 as status information during the period from when the command request acquisition unit 63 acquires the command request until when the status acquisition unit 65 acquires the device operating status.

[0051] The status output unit 66 outputs the third status classification to the mobile terminal 2 as status information during the period from the time when the status acquisition unit 65 acquires the device operating status.

[0052] Incidentally, in the present embodiment, if the status acquisition unit 65 does not acquire the device operation status within a predetermined period from the time when the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request, the status output unit 66 outputs the third status classification as status information to the mobile terminal 2. The predetermined period is, for example, 30 seconds.

[0053] For example, if the management system 1 is unable to obtain the equipment operation status from the home appliance 3 due to communication conditions or the like, or if the operating device 4 is unable to obtain the completion of the appliance operation from the gas-using appliance 5, the status output unit 66 outputs the third status classification as status information to the mobile terminal 2 after a predetermined time has elapsed during the period of the second status classification so that the status information output by the status output unit 66 does not remain in the second status classification.

[0054] (5.1.7) Request interval setting part The request interval setting unit 67 sets a request interval at which the mobile terminal 2 makes a status acquisition request to the management system 1. The request interval setting unit 67 transmits the set request interval to the mobile terminal 2. The request interval received by the mobile terminal 2 is set in an application of the mobile terminal 2.

[0055] This makes it possible to change the request interval depending on the magnitude of the load on the management system 1 or the load on the mobile terminal 2. The request interval setting unit 67 can issue a status acquisition request at intervals of any number of seconds, for example.

[0056] Even if a status acquisition request at a preset interval can no longer be accepted due to an increase in the number of household equipment devices 3 managed by the management system 1 or the addition of new functions to the application of the mobile terminal 2, the request interval can be flexibly changed.

[0057] (5.1.8) Precedence of multiple status categories In this embodiment, a priority order is set for the multiple status categories. When two or more status categories among the multiple status categories are output candidates, the status output unit 66 outputs the status category with the highest priority order among the two or more status categories as status information to the mobile terminal 2. The priority order of the multiple status categories is stored in, for example, the storage device 7.

[0058] (5.2) Storage device The storage device 7 is configured to store various types of information. For example, the storage device 7 stores information that is preset in the management system 1 and information acquired by the management system 1. The storage device 7 also stores a program for operating the processing device 6.

[0059] The storage device 7 stores the operation request information acquired by the operation request acquisition unit 61. More specifically, the operation request information acquired by the operation request acquisition unit 61 is transmitted to the storage device 7. The storage device 7 sequentially stores the operation request information transmitted from the operation request acquisition unit 61.

[0060] (6) Operation of the management system Next, the operation of the management system 1 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0061] (6.1) Operation of the management system 1 when the equipment operating status is acquired First, the operation of the management system 1 when the equipment operating state is acquired will be described with reference to FIG.

[0062] The request interval for the status acquisition request is set in advance in the management system 1, and the set request interval is stored in the mobile terminal 2.

[0063] First, the operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires a remote operation request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t1). After the operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires the remote operation request, the status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t2). Since timing t2 is within a period T1 in which the household equipment 3 has not acquired an operation instruction, the status output unit 66 outputs the first status classification as status information to the mobile terminal 2 (timing t3). In other words, the status output unit 66 responds with "acquisition not completed."

[0064] Thereafter, when the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires an instruction request from the operation device 4 of the household equipment 3 (timing t4), the operation instruction unit 64 outputs an operation instruction based on the remote operation request to the operation device 4 (timing t5). When the operation device 4 acquires the operation instruction from the operation instruction unit 64, it starts operating the gas using appliance 5 (timing t6).

[0065] After the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request, when the status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t7), the timing t7 is within the period T2 in which the household equipment 3 has acquired an operation instruction, so the status output unit 66 outputs the second status category as status information to the mobile terminal 2 (timing t8). In other words, the status output unit 66 responds with "acquisition completed."

[0066] After starting the operation, the gas using appliance 5 outputs a notification of appliance operation completion to the operation device 4 (timing t9). When the operation device 4 acquires the notification of appliance operation completion from the gas using appliance 5, it outputs the appliance operation status to the management system 1 (timing t10). The status acquisition unit 65 of the management system 1 acquires the appliance operation status from the operation device 4.

[0067] After the status acquisition unit 65 acquires the appliance operation status, when the status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t11), the timing t11 is within the period T3 in which the household equipment 3 has completed the operation based on the operation instruction, so the status output unit 66 outputs the third status classification as status information to the mobile terminal 2 (timing t12). In other words, the status output unit 66 responds with "no target".

[0068] The above operation allows the user to grasp the status of the remote control.

[0069] (6.2) Operation of the Management System 1 when the Equipment Operation Status is Not Acquired Next, the operation of the management system 1 when the device operating status is not acquired within a predetermined period from the time when an instruction request is acquired will be described with reference to FIG.

[0070] The request interval for the status acquisition request is set by the management system 1, and the set request interval is stored in the mobile terminal 2.

[0071] First, the operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires a remote operation request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t21). After the operation request acquisition unit 61 acquires the remote operation request, the status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t22). Since timing t22 is within a period T11 in which the household equipment 3 has not acquired an operation instruction, the status output unit 66 outputs the first status category as status information to the mobile terminal 2 (timing t23). In other words, the status output unit 66 responds with "acquisition not completed."

[0072] Thereafter, when the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires an instruction request from the operation device 4 of the household equipment 3 (timing t24), the operation instruction unit 64 outputs an operation instruction based on the remote operation request to the operation device 4 (timing t25). When the operation device 4 acquires the operation instruction from the operation instruction unit 64, it starts operating the gas using appliance 5 (timing t26).

[0073] After the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request, when the status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t27), the timing t27 is within the period T12 in which the household equipment 3 has acquired an operation instruction, so the status output unit 66 outputs the second status category as status information to the mobile terminal 2 (timing t28). In other words, the status output unit 66 responds with "acquisition completed."

[0074] After starting the operation, the gas using equipment 5 outputs the equipment operation completion to the operation device 4, but the operation device 4 is unable to acquire the equipment operation completion from the gas using equipment 5 (timing t29).

[0075] After a predetermined period has elapsed since the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquired the instruction request (timing t24), when the status request acquisition unit 62 acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2 (timing t30), the device operation status has not been acquired at timing t30, but since timing t30 is within period T13 in which a predetermined period has elapsed since the instruction request was acquired, the status output unit 66 outputs the third status classification as status information to the mobile terminal 2 (timing t31). In other words, the status output unit 66 responds with "no target".

[0076] By the above operation, even if the device operating state is not acquired, the state information output from the state output unit 66 can be set to the third state category in addition to the second state category.

[0077] (7) Effects In the management system 1 according to the embodiment, status information indicating which of a plurality of status classifications, which are classified based on the acquisition of a remote operation request, an instruction request, and an appliance operation status, the remote operation status is in, is output to the mobile terminal 2. This allows the user to know whether the household equipment 3 is operating in accordance with the remote operation.

[0078] In the management system 1 according to the embodiment, an ID is not used for requesting status information and outputting status information. This allows the mobile terminal 2 to request status information and the management system 1 to output status information without storing an ID in the mobile terminal 2.

[0079] In the management system 1 of the embodiment, the frequency of obtaining the equipment operating status can be changed depending on the frequency of communication between the home appliances 3 and the management system 1, so that the same operation can be used to more quickly reflect the status of new home appliances 3 that have a higher communication frequency than home appliances 3 already on the market.

[0080] In the management system 1 according to the embodiment, the request interval setting unit 67 sets the request interval at which the mobile terminal 2 issues a status acquisition request to the management system 1. This makes it possible to easily adjust the request interval of the status acquisition request from the mobile terminal 2 to the management system 1.

[0081] In the management system 1 according to the embodiment, when two or more status categories are output candidates, the status output unit 66 outputs the status category with the highest priority among the two or more status categories as status information to the mobile terminal 2. This allows the status category with the highest priority to be output to the mobile terminal 2 with priority.

[0082] In the management system 1 according to the embodiment, a first status category indicating that the household equipment 3 has not received an operation instruction, a second status category indicating that the household equipment 3 has received an operation instruction, or a third status category indicating that the household equipment 3 has completed operation based on the operation instruction is output as status information to the mobile terminal 2, depending on the period. This allows the user to more clearly understand whether the remote operation status is the first status category indicating that the household equipment 3 has not received an operation instruction, the second status category indicating that the household equipment 3 has received an operation instruction, or the status that the household equipment 3 has completed operation based on the operation instruction.

[0083] In the management system 1 according to the embodiment, if the status acquisition unit 65 does not acquire the appliance operation status within a predetermined period of time from when the instruction request acquisition unit 63 acquires the instruction request, the status output unit 66 outputs the third status classification as status information to the mobile terminal 2. As a result, even if the appliance operation status is not acquired from the household equipment 3 due to communication conditions or the like, it is possible to consider that the household equipment 3 has completed operation based on the operation instruction, and to prevent the remote operation status from remaining in the second status classification.

[0084] (8) Variations Modifications of the embodiment will be described below.

[0085] (8.1) Variation 1 In the management system 1 according to the first modification of the embodiment, the status output unit 66 spontaneously outputs status information to the portable terminal 2. That is, the status output unit 66 of the first modification outputs status information even if a status acquisition request is not acquired from the portable terminal 2. The status output unit 66 of the first modification spontaneously outputs status information to the portable terminal 2, for example, at predetermined intervals.

[0086] (8.2) Variation 2 In the management system 1 according to the second modification of the embodiment, the status acquisition unit 65 irregularly acquires the appliance operating status from the household equipment 3. In other words, the status acquisition unit 65 of the second modification does not acquire the appliance operating status at predetermined time intervals, but acquires the appliance operating status irregularly.

[0087] (8.3) Variation 3 In a third modification of the embodiment, the household equipment 3 may not have the operating device 4. The household equipment 3 in the third modification is a gas-using appliance 5. The gas-using appliance 5 is directly connected to the network 8 and communicates with the management system 1 via the network 8.

[0088] The management system 1 according to each of the above-described modifications also achieves the same effects as the management system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0089] The above-described embodiments and modifications are merely a part of the various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the embodiments and modifications can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1 Management System 2. Mobile devices 3 Housing equipment 61 Operation request acquisition unit 62 Status request acquisition unit 63 Instruction request acquisition unit 64 Operation instruction section 65 Status acquisition unit 66 Status output section 67 Request interval setting section 8 Network

Claims

1. A management system for managing household equipment that can be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal via a network, an operation request acquisition unit that acquires a remote operation request for the household equipment from the mobile terminal; an instruction request acquisition unit that acquires, from the household equipment, an instruction request for the household equipment to acquire an operation instruction for the household equipment; an operation instruction unit that outputs the operation instruction based on the remote operation request to the household equipment when the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request; a status acquisition unit that acquires an appliance operation status indicating an operation status of the household equipment when the operation instruction unit outputs the operation instruction; a status output unit that outputs to the mobile terminal status information indicating which status category the remote operation status is in among a plurality of status categories that are classified based on the remote operation request, the instruction request, and the equipment operation status, Management system.

2. a status request acquisition unit that acquires a status acquisition request from the mobile terminal to acquire a status of the remote operation; a request interval setting unit that sets a request interval at which the mobile device issues the status acquisition request to the management system; The management system according to claim 1 .

3. Priorities are set for the plurality of status categories, When two or more of the plurality of status categories are output candidates, the status output unit outputs a status category having a higher priority among the two or more status categories to the mobile terminal as the status information. The management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The status output unit during a period from when the operation request acquisition unit acquires the remote operation request to when the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request, a first status classification indicating a state in which the household equipment device has not acquired the operation instruction is output to the mobile terminal as the status information; during a period from when the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request to when the status acquisition unit acquires the appliance operation status, a second status classification indicating a status in which the household equipment device has acquired the operation instruction is output to the mobile terminal as the status information; During a period from when the status acquisition unit acquires the appliance operation status, a third status classification indicating that the household equipment has completed the operation based on the operation instruction is output to the mobile terminal as the status information. The management system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The status output unit When the status acquisition unit does not acquire the device operation status within a predetermined period from the time when the instruction request acquisition unit acquires the instruction request, the third status classification is output to the mobile terminal as the status information. The management system according to claim 4.

Images