Control system and method of displaying

Abstract

To provide a control system that allows a user to readily comprehend an actuation of each of coordinated devices.SOLUTION: An air conditioner 70 as one embodiment of conveyance source air-conditioning means conditions air of a first space being a conveyance source of air. A blower 80 as one embodiment of conveyance destination air-conditioning means sends the air from the first space to a second space different from the first space or included in the first space. A terminal device 20 as one embodiment of display means displays an operation state of the air conditioner 70 and an operation state of the blower 80 in association with each other.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a control system and a display method. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART In recent years, control systems that improve comfort and convenience for users by controlling a plurality of devices installed in a home in a coordinated manner have been put into practical use. For example, a control system combines multiple devices and controls them collectively according to the lifestyle scene.

[0003] As an example of such a control system, Patent Document 1 discloses a technology for a control system (electrical appliance control system) that performs integrated control that flexibly responds to user requests in a variety of life scenes. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6340912 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the control system described in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, after collective control is executed on a plurality of devices, the ON / OFF state of each device is simply displayed individually. This has led to a problem in that it is difficult for users to intuitively understand the operation of each linked device.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a control system and a display method that allow a user to easily grasp the operation of each linked device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the control system according to the present disclosure comprises: a source air conditioning means for conditioning a first space that is a source of air; a destination air conditioning means for sending air from the first space to a second space that is different from the first space or that is included in the first space; a display means for displaying the operating status of the source air conditioning means and the operating status of the destination air conditioning means in association with each other; Equipped with. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, a user can easily understand the operation of each linked device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of a control system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] A diagram showing an example of devices installed in a house [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a cloud server and a terminal device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] Diagram for explaining the layout of the display screen [Figure 5] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a display screen during cooling operation, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a display screen during heating operation. [Figure 6] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a display screen during dehumidification operation, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a display screen during fan operation. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the display of the second space when the fan is stopped. [Figure 8] (a) and (b) are both diagrams for explaining the display on the second space side when the fan is operating. [Figure 9] 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the display on the first space side when the air conditioner is stopped. [Figure 10]1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the display of the first space when the air conditioner is operating. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a screen display process. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of a cloud server and a terminal device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of another display screen with a different display on the second space side, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of another display screen with a different display on the first space side. [Figure 14] 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an example of another display screen displaying a plurality of second spaces. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Hereinafter, a case will be described in which the linked devices are an air conditioner and a fan, as an example. However, as will be described later, the present disclosure can also be applied to cases in which other devices, such as a water heater, an electric fan, or a circulator, are linked. That is, the embodiments described below are for illustrative purposes only and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, those skilled in the art can adopt embodiments in which each or all of these elements are replaced with equivalents, and these embodiments are also within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, in each of the figures described in the following embodiments, common elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0011] (Embodiment 1) 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of a control system 1 according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. As an example, the control system 1 includes a cloud server 10, a terminal device 20 which is an example of a display means, a weather information server 30, a router 40, an environmental sensor 50, an IoT (Internet of Things) adapter 60, an air conditioner 70 which is an example of a source air conditioning means, and a blower 80 which is an example of a destination air conditioning means. The cloud server 10, the terminal device 20, the weather information server 30, and the router 40 are communicably connected via a network NT, such as the Internet. The cloud server 10 and the environmental sensor 50 are communicably connected via the router 40, and the cloud server 10, the air conditioner 70, and the fan 80 are communicably connected via an IoT adapter 60. Furthermore, the terminal device 20 can communicate with the cloud server 10 even from inside a home, which will be described later. In this case, the cloud server 10 and the terminal device 20 are connected via a router 40 so that they can communicate with each other.

[0012] In order to facilitate understanding of the invention, the control system 1 shown in FIG. 1 shows the minimum configuration limited to one user (one house).

[0013] The cloud server 10 is, for example, a server computer, and controls the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80. For example, the cloud server 10 controls the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80 based on environmental information (for example, information about the temperature and humidity inside the room) acquired from the environmental sensor 50 and the air conditioner 70, and weather information acquired from the weather information server 30. The cloud server 10 may control the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80 according to operation information sent from the terminal device 20, or may control the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80 according to schedule information. Furthermore, the cloud server 10 periodically transmits to the terminal device 20 operation information of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80, and environmental information acquired from the environmental sensor 50 and the air conditioner 70.

[0014] The terminal device 20 is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet, a PC (Personal Computer), or the like, and is used by a user who uses the services of the control system 1. An application for air conditioning management, for example, is installed on the terminal device 20, and execution of this application enables communication with the cloud server 10. The terminal device 20 then transmits operation information according to a user's operation to the cloud server 10, receives operation information and environmental information sent from the cloud server 10, and displays a monitor display screen.

[0015] The weather information server 30 manages weather information for various locations, and, for example, in response to a request from the cloud server 10, transmits to the cloud server 10 weather information for the area where the user's house is located. The weather information includes, for example, the current temperature and humidity, and the predicted temperature and humidity after a certain time.

[0016] The router 40 is, for example, a broadband router that is installed in a user's home and relays communications between devices in the home and devices on the network NT.

[0017] The environmental sensor 50 is, for example, a sensor device with a communication function, which is installed in a user's home and measures temperature and humidity. 2, environmental sensors 50 are installed in a bedroom and a laundry room in a house JT. In this case, each environmental sensor 50 periodically measures the temperature and humidity, and transmits the measured values ​​to the cloud server 10 as environmental information for the bedroom and laundry room. The rooms in which the environmental sensors 50 are installed and the number of installations can be changed as appropriate depending on the size, layout, etc. of the house. For example, the environmental sensors 50 may be installed in other rooms such as a study or a child's room, or may be installed in corridors, stairs, etc. other than rooms.

[0018] Returning to FIG. 1, the IoT adapter 60 is an adapter that adds a communication function to devices (air conditioners 70, fans 80) that do not have a communication function, for example, and relays communication between the devices and the router 40.

[0019] The air conditioner 70 is installed in the user's home and conditions the air in the surrounding space. As an example, as shown in FIG. 2, an air conditioner 70 is installed in the living room of a house JT. More specifically, it is assumed that the indoor unit of the air conditioner 70 is installed in the living room, and the outdoor unit connected via piping is installed outside the house JT. In this case, the air conditioner 70 directly air-conditions the living room. Furthermore, the air conditioner 70 (indoor unit) has a built-in sensor that measures temperature and humidity, for example, similar to the environmental sensor 50. Therefore, the air conditioner 70 periodically measures the temperature and humidity and transmits them to the cloud server 10 as environmental information of the living room. The rooms in which the air conditioners 70 are installed and the number of installations can be changed as appropriate depending on the size, layout, etc. of the house. For example, if the house JT is two-story, the air conditioners 70 may also be installed in the rooms on the second floor.

[0020] Returning to FIG. 1, blower 80 is installed in a user's home and blows air from a space that is a source of air to a space that is a destination of air. As an example, as shown in Figure 2, blower 80 is installed in the ceiling of house JT. The living room, bedroom, and laundry room are connected by an air path that passes through blower 80. When blower 80 is operating, it blows air from the living room, which is the source, to the bedroom and laundry room, which are the destinations. That is, the living room is an example of a first space that is a transfer source, and the bedroom and laundry room are examples of a second space that is a transfer destination. It should be noted that blower 80 may be capable of switching the destination of airflow. For example, a damper that can open and close the airflow path is installed in an airflow path (e.g., a duct) that connects the bedroom and laundry room. Then, by controlling the opening and closing of this damper, blower 80 can blow air from the living room only to the bedroom, or conversely, blow air only to the laundry room. Furthermore, the number of installed fans 80 can be changed as appropriate depending on the size, layout, etc. of the house. For example, if the house JT is two-story, fans 80 may also be installed above the ceiling on the second floor.

[0021] The cloud server 10 and the terminal device 20 will be described in detail below with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 illustrates the configuration of the cloud server 10 and the terminal device 20.

[0022] First, the configuration of the cloud server 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the cloud server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a device control unit 12, a terminal management unit 13, and a storage unit 14. As mentioned above, the cloud server 10 is a computer for a server, and includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), auxiliary storage devices such as HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and SSD (Solid State Drive), and communication units such as wired LAN and wireless LAN. The cloud server 10 realizes an equipment control unit 12, a terminal management unit 13, etc., by, for example, the CPU using the RAM as a working memory and executing a program stored in the ROM or an auxiliary storage device to appropriately control the communication unit.

[0023] The communication unit 11 transmits and receives necessary information to and from the terminal device 20, the weather information server 30, the environmental sensor 50, the air conditioner 70, and the fan 80 via the network NT.

[0024] The device control unit 12 controls the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80. For example, the equipment control unit 12 acquires environmental information from the environmental sensor 50 and the air conditioner 70 through the communication unit 11, and also acquires weather information from the weather information server 30. Then, the equipment control unit 12 determines the control content for the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 based on the acquired information, and issues commands according to the determined control content to the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 through the communication unit 11. Furthermore, when the equipment control unit 12 receives operation information sent from the terminal device 20 via the communication unit 11, it issues commands corresponding to the operation information to the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 via the communication unit 11. Furthermore, the equipment control unit 12 may determine control content according to schedule information registered in the storage unit 14, and issue commands corresponding to the determined control content to the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 via the communication unit 11. Furthermore, the device control unit 12 manages the operating states of the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80. For example, the device control unit 12 stores in the storage unit 14 information indicating whether the air conditioner 70 is operating, information indicating the operation type (for example, cooling operation, heating operation, dehumidification operation, fan operation, etc.) if the air conditioner 70 is operating, and information indicating whether the blower 80 is operating, and successively updates the information to manage the operating states of the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80.

[0025] The terminal management unit 13 manages the terminal device 20 . For example, the terminal management unit 13 attempts to authenticate a terminal device 20 that has accessed the cloud server 10, and if authentication is successful, transmits information necessary for the air conditioning service to the terminal device 20. As an example, the terminal management unit 13 periodically transmits operation information indicating the operating states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80 to the terminal device 20.

[0026] The storage unit 14 stores information about the user and information about the devices installed in the user's home. The storage unit 14 also stores the environmental information and weather information acquired by the device control unit 12. Furthermore, the storage unit 14 stores information indicating the operating states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80.

[0027] Next, the configuration of the terminal device 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the terminal device 20 includes a communication unit 21, an operation reception unit 22, a process control unit 23, a storage unit 24, a screen generation unit 25, and a display unit 26. As described above, the terminal device 20 is a smartphone, tablet, PC, etc., and has, for example, a CPU, RAM, ROM, an auxiliary storage device represented by an HDD, SSD, etc., and a communication unit represented by a wired LAN, wireless LAN, etc. In the terminal device 20, for example, the CPU uses the RAM as a working memory, executes a program stored in the ROM or an auxiliary storage device, and appropriately controls the communication unit, thereby realizing the processing control unit 23, the screen generation unit 25, etc.

[0028] The communication unit 21 is, for example, a wired or wireless communication unit, and transmits and receives necessary information to and from the cloud server 10 via the network NT.

[0029] The operation reception unit 22 receives operations from the user. For example, when the user manually operates the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80, the operation reception unit 22 receives operation information for the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80.

[0030] The process control unit 23 acquires necessary information from the cloud server 10 through the communication unit 21, and also provides necessary information to the cloud server 10. For example, the process control unit 23 periodically acquires operation information and environmental information from the cloud server 10. The process control unit 23 supplies the acquired operation information and environmental information to the screen generation unit 25. Furthermore, the process control unit 23 transmits the operation information received by the operation receiving unit 22 to the cloud server 10 via the communication unit 21.

[0031] The storage unit 24 stores the operation information and environmental information acquired by the process control unit 23. Note that the storage unit 24 may accumulate and store the operation information of the air conditioner 70 in association with date and time so that the past operating states of the air conditioner 70 can be traced. The storage unit 24 also stores layout information, setting information, and the like that are necessary for the screen generation unit 25 to generate a display screen.

[0032] The screen generation unit 25 generates various screens to be displayed on the display unit 26. For example, the screen generation unit 25 generates a display screen for a monitor. In this case, the screen generation unit 25 generates the display screen based on the operation information and environmental information supplied from the process control unit 23 and the layout information stored in the storage unit 24. Specifically, the screen generation unit 25 generates a display screen having a layout as shown in Fig. 4. As shown in Fig. 4, the display screen has a display area DA1 and a display area DA2.

[0033] The display area DA1 is an area for displaying the first space (living room) that is the source of the conveyance, and includes the operation mode MD, the command setting OP, the room name RN1, and the sensor information SI1. The operation mode MD indicates whether the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 are operated automatically or manually. The command setting OP indicates the current command content for the air conditioner 70. For example, "cooling 26°C" indicates that the air conditioner 70 is being commanded to perform cooling operation with a set temperature of 26°C. The room name RN1 indicates the name of the first space from which the item is transferred. The sensor information SI1 indicates environmental information acquired from the air conditioner 70, that is, the temperature and humidity of the first space.

[0034] On the other hand, the display area DA2 is an area for displaying the second space (bedroom) that is the destination, and includes the symbol SY, the room name RN2, and the sensor information SI2. The symbol SY is an arrow symbol that indicates the operating state of the fan 80. The shape of the symbol SY is an example, and other shapes may be used. The room name RN2 indicates the name of the second space to which the item is to be transported. The sensor information SI2 indicates the environmental information acquired from the environmental sensor 50, that is, the temperature and humidity of the second space.

[0035] 4, the screen generation unit 25 draws the color of the display area DA1 (for example, the background color) in a color corresponding to the operation states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80. In addition, the screen generation unit 25 draws the color of the symbol SY in a color corresponding to the operation states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80.

[0036] Specifically, when the air conditioner 70 is in cooling operation and the fan 80 is running, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen as shown in FIG. 5(a). The display screen in Fig. 5(a) shows that the display area DA1 representing the first space (living room) that is the source of the transport and the symbol SY representing the operating state of the fan 80 are drawn in a cool color (light blue, for example). In other words, the display area DA1 and the symbol SY shown in the diagonal line pattern in Fig. 5(a) are actually drawn in a cool color. On the display screen of Fig. 5(a), the display area DA1 is drawn in a cool color, making it easy for the user to visually understand that the air conditioner 70 in the living room is operating in cooling mode. Also, on the display screen of Fig. 5(a), the symbol SY is drawn in a cool color, making it easy for the user to visually understand that cool air is being sent to the bedroom by the fan 80.

[0037] Furthermore, when the air conditioner 70 is in heating operation and the fan 80 is running, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen as shown in FIG. 5(b). The display screen in Fig. 5(b) shows that the display area DA1 and the symbol SY are drawn in a warm color (orange, for example). In other words, the display area DA1 and the symbol SY shown in the diagonal checkered pattern in Fig. 5(b) are actually drawn in a warm color. On the display screen of Fig. 5(b), the display area DA1 is drawn in a warm color, making it easy for the user to visually understand that the air conditioner 70 in the living room is in heating operation. Also, on the display screen of Fig. 5(b), the symbol SY is drawn in a warm color, making it easy for the user to visually understand that the fan 80 is sending warm air to the bedroom.

[0038] Moreover, when the air conditioner 70 is in dehumidifying operation and the fan 80 is operating, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen as shown in FIG. 6(a). The display screen in Fig. 6(a) shows that the display area DA1 and the symbol SY are drawn in an intermediate color (for example, green). In other words, the display area DA1 and the symbol SY shown in a mesh pattern in Fig. 6(a) are actually drawn in an intermediate color.

[0039] Furthermore, when the air conditioner 70 is operating to blow air and the fan 80 is running, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen such as that shown in FIG. 6(b). The display screen in Fig. 6(b) shows that the display area DA1 and the symbol SY are drawn in an intermediate color (gray, for example). That is, the display area DA1 and the symbol SY, which are shown in a vertical striped pattern in Fig. 6(b), are actually drawn in an intermediate color (an intermediate color different from the intermediate color during the dehumidifying operation described above).

[0040] 5 and 6 above show the display screen when both the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 are operating, but it is also possible that either or both of the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 are stopped. Therefore, the display screens corresponding to the four combinations of operation and stop of the air conditioner 70 and the blower 80 will be described below with reference to FIGS. Note that Figures 7 and 8 show a display screen in which display area DA2, which represents the second space (bedroom) that will be the destination, is highlighted, and Figures 9 and 10 show a display screen in which display area DA1, which represents the first space (living room) that will be the source, is highlighted.

[0041] When the air conditioner 70 is stopped and the fan 80 is also stopped, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen as shown in FIG. 7(a). The display screen in Fig. 7(a) shows that the display area DA1 and the symbol SY are displayed in gray. In other words, the display area DA1 and the symbol SY that are lightly filled in in Fig. 7(a) are actually drawn in light gray. On the display screen of Fig. 7(a), display area DA1 is displayed in gray, making it easy for the user to visually understand that the air conditioner 70 in the living room is stopped. Furthermore, when attention is focused on display area DA2 representing the second space (bedroom) that is the destination, symbol SY is also displayed in gray on the display screen of Fig. 7(a), making it easy for the user to visually understand that the fan 80 has stopped and is not blowing air to the bedroom.

[0042] When the air conditioner 70 is operating (for example, in cooling mode) and the fan 80 is stopped, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen as shown in FIG. 7(b). In the display screen of FIG. 7(b), the display area DA1 is drawn in a cool color, and the symbol SY is displayed in gray. The display screen in Fig. 7(b) makes it easy for the user to understand that the air conditioner 70 in the living room is operating in cooling mode. Furthermore, by focusing on the display area DA2, the symbol SY is displayed in gray on the display screen in Fig. 7(b), making it easy for the user to visually understand that the fan 80 has stopped and is not blowing air to the bedroom.

[0043] When the air conditioner 70 is operating (for example, in cooling mode) and the fan 80 is operating, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen such as that shown in FIG. 8(a). The display screen in FIG. 8(a) shows the display area DA1 and the symbol SY drawn in cool colors. The display screen of Fig. 8(a) makes it easy for the user to understand that the air conditioner 70 in the living room is operating in cooling mode. Furthermore, by focusing on the display area DA2, the symbol SY is drawn in a cool color on the display screen of Fig. 8(a), making it easy for the user to visually understand that the fan 80 is operating and blowing cool air into the bedroom.

[0044] When the air conditioner 70 is stopped (for example, the most recent operation before the stoppage was cooling operation) and the fan 80 is operating, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen such as that shown in FIG. 8(b). In the display screen of FIG. 8(b), the display area DA1 is displayed in gray, and the symbol SY is drawn in a cool color. The display screen of Fig. 8(b) makes it easy for the user to understand that the air conditioner 70 in the living room is stopped. Furthermore, when focusing on the display area DA2, the symbol SY is drawn in a cool color on the display screen of Fig. 8(b), making it easy for the user to visually understand that the fan 80 is operating and blowing cool air into the bedroom.

[0045] In this way, the screen generator 25 changes the color of the symbol SY representing the operating state of the fan 80 based on the operating states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80.

[0046] When the air conditioner 70 is stopped and the fan 80 is also stopped, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen as shown in FIG. 9(a). The display screen in FIG. 9(a) shows a state in which the display area DA1 and the symbol SY are displayed in gray. Focusing on the display area DA1 representing the first space (living room) that is the source of the transfer, the display area DA1 is displayed in gray on the display screen of Fig. 9(a), making it easy for the user to visually understand that the air conditioner 70 in the living room is stopped. Also, on the display screen of Fig. 9(a), it is easy for the user to understand that the blower 80 has stopped and is not blowing air to the bedroom.

[0047] When the air conditioner 70 is stopped (for example, the most recent operation before the stop was cooling operation) and the fan 80 is operating, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen such as that shown in FIG. 9(b). In the display screen of FIG. 9(b), the display area DA1 is displayed in gray, and the symbol SY is drawn in a cool color. Focusing on display area DA1, the display screen in Fig. 9(b) shows display area DA1 in gray, making it easy for the user to visually understand that air conditioner 70 in the living room is stopped. Also, the display screen in Fig. 9(b) makes it easy for the user to understand that fan 80 is operating and blowing cool air into the bedroom.

[0048] When the air conditioner 70 is operating (for example, in cooling mode) and the fan 80 is stopped, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen as shown in FIG. 10(a). The display screen in FIG. 10(a) shows a state in which the display area DA1 is drawn in a cool color and the symbol SY is displayed in gray. Focusing on display area DA1, the display screen of Fig. 10(a) shows that display area DA1 is drawn in a cool color, making it easy for the user to visually understand that air conditioner 70 in the living room is operating in cooling mode. Also, the display screen of Fig. 10(a) makes it easy for the user to understand that blower 80 has stopped and is not blowing air to the bedroom.

[0049] When the air conditioner 70 is operating (for example, in cooling mode) and the fan 80 is operating, the screen generator 25 generates a display screen such as that shown in FIG. 10(b). The display screen in FIG. 10(b) shows the display area DA1 and the symbol SY drawn in cool colors. Focusing on display area DA1, the display screen of Fig. 10(b) shows that display area DA1 is drawn in a cool color, making it easy for the user to visually understand that air conditioner 70 in the living room is operating in cooling mode. Also, the display screen of Fig. 10(b) makes it easy for the user to understand that fan 80 is operating and blowing cool air into the bedroom.

[0050] In this way, the screen generator 25 changes the color of the display area DA1 for notifying the operating state of the air conditioner 70 based on the operating states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80.

[0051] Returning to FIG. 3, the display unit 26 displays the screen generated by the screen generation unit 25. For example, the display unit 26 displays the display screens as shown in the above-mentioned Figures 5 to 10. That is, the display unit 26 displays the screen generating unit 25 in such a manner that the operating state of the air conditioner 70 and the operating state of the fan 80 are associated with each other.

[0052] The operation of the control system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining the screen display process executed by the terminal device 20. This screen display process is repeatedly executed, for example, every time a certain period of time has elapsed. In other words, when the process returns to the first step S101, the process is resumed from step S101 after the certain period of time has elapsed.

[0053] First, the terminal device 20 acquires environmental information and operation information from the cloud server 10 (step S101). That is, the process control unit 23 acquires operation information indicating the operating states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80, and environmental information indicating the temperature and humidity of each room, from the cloud server 10 via the communication unit 21. Then, the process control unit 23 supplies the acquired environmental information and operation information to the screen generation unit 25. Such step S101 is an example of a first acquisition step and a second acquisition step.

[0054] The terminal device 20 determines whether the air conditioner 70 is in operation (step S102). That is, the screen generator 25 determines whether the air conditioner 70 is operating or not according to the operation information.

[0055] When the terminal device 20 determines that the air conditioner 70 is operating (step S102; Yes), it sets the area corresponding to the air conditioner 70 to a color corresponding to the operation (step S103). For example, when the air conditioner 70 is in cooling mode, the screen generator 25 sets the display area DA1 representing the first space (living room) that is the source of the transfer to a cool color (light blue, as an example), as shown in Fig. 5(a). Additionally, when the air conditioner 70 is in cooling mode, the screen generator 25 sets the display area DA1 to a warm color (orange, as an example), as shown in Fig. 5(b).

[0056] The terminal device 20 determines whether the fan 80 is in operation (step S104). That is, the screen generator 25 determines whether the fan 80 is operating or not, according to the operation information.

[0057] When the terminal device 20 determines that the fan 80 is in operation (step S104; Yes), it sets the symbol of the fan 80 to the same color as the corresponding area (step S105). For example, if the corresponding area is set to a cool color in step S103, the screen generation unit 25 sets the symbol SY representing the operating state of the fan 80 to a cool color as shown in Fig. 5(a). In addition, if the corresponding area is set to a warm color in step S103, the screen generation unit 25 sets the symbol SY to a warm color as shown in Fig. 5(b).

[0058] On the other hand, if it is determined that the fan 80 is not operating (step S104; No), the terminal device 20 sets the symbol of the fan 80 to be displayed in gray (step S106). For example, the screen generator 25 sets the symbol SY to be displayed in gray, as shown in FIG. 7(b).

[0059] Furthermore, when it is determined in step S102 that the air conditioner 70 is not in operation (step S102; No), the terminal device 20 sets the area corresponding to the air conditioner 70 to be displayed in gray (step S107). For example, the screen generator 25 sets the display area DA1 to a gray display, as shown in FIG. 7(a).

[0060] The terminal device 20 determines whether the fan 80 is in operation (step S108). That is, the screen generator 25 determines whether the fan 80 is operating or not, according to the operation information.

[0061] When the terminal device 20 determines that the fan 80 is operating (step S108; Yes), it sets the symbol of the fan 80 to a color corresponding to the most recent operation of the air conditioner 70 (step S109). For example, if the most recent operation of the air conditioner 70 before it was stopped was cooling operation, the screen generator 25 sets the symbol SY to a cool color, as shown in FIG. 8(b).

[0062] On the other hand, if it is determined that the fan 80 is not in operation (step S108; No), the terminal device 20 sets the symbol of the fan 80 to be displayed in gray (step S110). For example, the screen generator 25 sets the symbol SY to be displayed in gray, as shown in FIG. 7(a).

[0063] The terminal device 20 generates and displays a display screen including the environmental information (step S111). That is, display unit 26 displays the display screens as shown in Fig. 5 to Fig. 10. That is, display unit 26 displays screen generator 25 displaying the operating state of air conditioner 70 and the operating state of fan 80 in association with each other. Such step S111 is an example of a display step.

[0064] Then, the terminal device 20 returns the process to step S101 described above.

[0065] By such a screen generation process, the display screens shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 are displayed on the display unit 26. As a result, the user can easily understand the operation of each linked device.

[0066] (Embodiment 2) In the above embodiment 1, the case where the terminal device 20 generates the display screens shown in Figures 5 to 10 based on the environmental information and operation information acquired from the cloud server 10 has been described, but the display screens may also be generated by the cloud server 10. The following describes a control system 1 according to a second embodiment, which is characterized in that a display screen is generated on the cloud server 10 side. The overall configuration of the control system 1 according to the second embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG.

[0067] FIG. 12 illustrates the configuration of the cloud server 10 and the terminal device 20 according to the second embodiment.

[0068] First, the configuration of the cloud server 10 will be described. 12, the cloud server 10 includes a communication unit 11, a device control unit 12, a terminal management unit 13, a storage unit 14, and a screen generation unit 25. The communication unit 11, the device control unit 12, the terminal management unit 13, and the storage unit 14 have the same configuration as the cloud server 10 in FIG. That is, the cloud server 10 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which the screen generating unit 25 included in the terminal device 20 in FIG. 3 is added to the cloud server 10 shown in FIG.

[0069] 4, the screen generation unit 25 also draws the display area DA1 in a color corresponding to the operation states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80. The screen generation unit 25 also draws the symbol SY in a color corresponding to the operation states of the air conditioner 70 and the fan 80. Then, the cloud server 10 according to the second embodiment transmits the display screen generated by the screen generation unit 25 to the terminal device 20.

[0070] Next, the configuration of the terminal device 20 will be described. 12, the terminal device 20 includes a communication unit 21, an operation reception unit 22, a process control unit 23, a storage unit 24, and a display unit 26. The communication unit 21, the operation reception unit 22, the process control unit 23, the storage unit 24, and the display unit 26 have the same configuration as the terminal device 20 in FIG. That is, the terminal device 20 according to the second embodiment has a configuration in which the screen generating unit 25 is removed from the terminal device 20 shown in FIG.

[0071] Therefore, the terminal device 20 according to the second embodiment displays a display image generated on the cloud server 10 side. For example, when the process control unit 23 receives a display screen sent from the cloud server 10 via the communication unit 21, the process control unit 23 displays the received display screen on the display unit 26.

[0072] As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the display screens shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 are displayed on the terminal device 20. As a result, in the control system 1 according to the second embodiment, the user can easily understand the operation of each linked device.

[0073] (Other embodiments) Although the first and second embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, various modifications and applications are possible in implementing the present disclosure.

[0074] In the above-described first and second embodiments, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, only the symbol SY is colored in the display area DA2, but other parts of the display area DA2 may also be colored. For example, as shown in FIG. 13(a), the area AR may also be colored the same as the symbol SY.

[0075] Further, other objects may be arranged in the display area DA1. For example, as shown in Fig. 13(b), a switch SW may be added to the display area DA1. This switch SW is, for example, a switch for switching whether or not the user is permitted to operate an application. Note that the switch SW in Fig. 13(b) shows a state in which the user is permitted to operate (ON state). When this switch SW is slid to the left, it becomes a state in which the user is not permitted to operate (OFF state).

[0076] In the above-described first and second embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the case where only one room (bedroom) is displayed in the display area DA2 has been described, but it is also possible to display a plurality of rooms. For example, as shown in FIG. 14(a), room areas R1 and R2 may be provided in the display area DA2 so that a plurality of second spaces can be displayed. In the case of FIG. 14(a), the room area R1 indicates a bedroom, and the room area R2 indicates a laundry room. In addition, as shown in FIG. 14(b), a marker MK indicating that there is more to come may be displayed in the display area DA2, and the display may be switched to another room in response to a touch operation on the marker MK or a swipe operation in the display area DA2. In addition to this, other rooms may be displayed in response to a scroll operation.

[0077] In the above-described embodiments 1 and 2, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, the operating status of the air conditioner 70 and the operating status of the fan 80 are displayed in association with each other by the colors of the display area DA1 and the symbol SY, but display methods other than colors may also be used. For example, the operating state of the air conditioner 70 and the operating state of the fan 80 may be displayed in association with each other by varying the shading of the display area DA1 and the symbol SY. Other than these, it is also possible to use shading, characters (text), shape, size, etc. Furthermore, it is also possible to appropriately combine color, shading, characters, shape, and size. That is, the display mode may include at least one of color, shading, character, shape, and size.

[0078] In the above-described first and second embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, the first space (living room) from which the item is transferred and the second space (bedroom, laundry room) from which the item is transferred are different spaces. However, the first space may also include the second space. For example, when a circulator is used instead of the fan 80 shown in FIG. 2 to blow air in a living room, the destination of the air transported by the circulator is the second space. In this case, the cloud server 10 links the air conditioner 70 with the circulator. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to circulators, and other devices may be linked, such as water heaters and electric fans.

[0079] In the above-described first and second embodiments, the CPU uses RAM as a work memory and executes programs stored in ROM or an auxiliary storage device to realize the device control unit 12, terminal management unit 13, processing control unit 23, screen generation unit 25, etc. However, each of these functions may be realized by dedicated hardware. The dedicated hardware may be, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a combination thereof.

[0080] Furthermore, by applying a program that defines the operation of the cloud server 10 or terminal device 20 according to the above-mentioned first and second embodiments to an existing personal computer or information terminal device, it is possible to make the personal computer or information terminal device function as the cloud server 10 or terminal device 20 according to the first and second embodiments.

[0081] Furthermore, the method of distribution of such a program is arbitrary; for example, it may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), or a memory card and distributed, or it may be distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

[0082] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0083] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0084] (Appendix 1) a source air conditioning means for conditioning a first space that is a source of air; a destination air conditioning means for sending air from the first space to a second space that is different from the first space or that is included in the first space; a display means for displaying the operating status of the source air conditioning means and the operating status of the destination air conditioning means in association with each other; A control system comprising: (Appendix 2) the display means changes the display mode of the symbol representing the operating state of the destination air conditioning means based on the operating states of the source air conditioning means and the destination air conditioning means. 10. The control system of claim 1. (Appendix 3) the display means changes a display mode of an area for notifying the operating state of the source air conditioning means based on the operating states of the source air conditioning means and the destination air conditioning means. 10. The control system of claim 1. (Appendix 4) The display mode includes one or more of color, shading, character, shape, and size. 4. The control system of claim 1 or 3. (Appendix 5) the destination air conditioning means delivers the air from the first space to a plurality of the second spaces; the display means displays the operation status of the destination air conditioning means and the plurality of second spaces in association with each other. 5. The control system of any one of claims 1 to 4. (Appendix 6) A display method executed by a terminal device, a first acquisition step of acquiring an operating state from a source air-conditioning means that conditions the first space that is the source of the air; a second acquisition step of acquiring operation information from a destination air-conditioning means for sending air from the first space to a second space different from or included in the first space; a display step of displaying on a display unit the operation information of the source air conditioning means acquired in the first acquisition step and the operation information of the destination air conditioning means acquired in the second acquisition step in association with each other; A display method comprising: [Industrial Applicability]

[0085] The present disclosure can provide a control system and a display method that allow a user to easily understand the operation of each linked device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1 Control system, 10 Cloud server, 11 Communication unit, 12 Equipment control unit, 13 Terminal management unit, 14 Memory unit, 20 Terminal device, 21 Communication unit, 22 Operation reception unit, 23 Processing control unit, 24 Memory unit, 25 Screen generation unit, 26 Display unit, 30 Weather information server, 40 Router, 50 Environmental sensor, 60 IoT adapter, 70 Air conditioner, 80 Fan

Claims

1. a source air conditioning unit that conditions the air in a first space that is a source of the air; a destination air conditioning unit for sending the air of the first space to a second space that is different from the first space or that is included in the first space; a display means for displaying the operating status of the source air conditioning means and the operating status of the destination air conditioning means in association with each other; A control system comprising:

2. the display means changes the display mode of the symbol representing the operating state of the destination air conditioning means based on the operating states of the source air conditioning means and the destination air conditioning means. The control system of claim 1 .

3. the display means changes a display mode of an area for notifying the operating state of the source air conditioning means based on the operating states of the source air conditioning means and the destination air conditioning means. The control system of claim 1 .

4. The display mode includes one or more of color, shading, character, shape, and size.

4. A control system according to claim 2 or 3.

5. the destination air conditioning unit delivers the air from the first space to a plurality of the second spaces; the display means displays the operation status of the destination air conditioning means and the plurality of second spaces in association with each other. A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. A display method executed by a terminal device, a first acquisition step of acquiring an operating state from a source air-conditioning means that conditions the first space that is the source of the air; a second acquisition step of acquiring operation information from a destination air-conditioning unit for sending air from the first space to a second space that is different from or included in the first space; a display step of displaying on a display unit the operation information of the source air conditioning means acquired in the first acquisition step and the operation information of the destination air conditioning means acquired in the second acquisition step in association with each other; A display method comprising:

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