Control device, control system, control method and program

Abstract

To provide a control system capable of appropriately controlling an electrically-driven device in a building.SOLUTION: A control system 1 comprises: a living environment information acquisition device that acquires living environment information, which is information indicating an indoor living environment in a building 100; an electrically-driven device 200 at least a part of which is arranged indoors; and a control device 20 that controls the operation of the electrically-driven device 200 based on at least one of the living environment information and meteorological information about weather in a predetermined area.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to control systems. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a system is known that improves the living environment in a building by ventilating the building based on values ​​measured by a sensor (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-228518 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional systems do not take into account the state of the electrical equipment in the building or weather information when controlling the electrical equipment in the building, so the control of the electrical equipment by conventional systems may not always be appropriate.

[0005] The present disclosure aims to provide a control system that can appropriately control electrically powered devices in a building in order to improve the living environment in the building. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a control system including a living environment information acquisition device that acquires living environment information, which is information indicating the living environment inside a room, an electric device at least a part of which is placed inside the room, and a control device that controls the operation of the electric device based on at least one of the living environment information and meteorological information regarding the weather in a specified area. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1]1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a control device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a first operation according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a second operation according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a third operation according to the present embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a fourth operation according to the present embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A control system 1 according to this embodiment controls multiple types of electrically powered devices 200-1 to 200-n installed in a user's building 100 via a communication network NW. The control system 1 acquires information about the multiple types of electrically powered devices 200-1 to 200-n installed in the building 100 and information about multiple sensors 210-1 to 210-m installed in the building 100. n and m are integers equal to or greater than 2. The symbol following the hyphen distinguishes multiple components of the same type from one another. When multiple components of the same type are not distinguished from one another, the symbol following the hyphen may be omitted. The building 100 may be a residence such as an apartment or a detached house, a hospital, a facility, or the like. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the building 100 is a user's residence. In the following description, the multiple types of electrically powered devices 200-1 to 200-n may be referred to as multiple types of electrically powered devices 200.

[0009] Multiple types of electrically powered devices 200 are installed in the building 100. The multiple types of electrically powered devices 200 are capable of performing actions to improve the living environment within the building 100 (hereinafter referred to as "improvement actions"). The living environment may be, for example, at least one of temperature, humidity, heat index, air quality, and odor. For example, the multiple types of electrically powered devices 200 may be electrically operated windows, electrically operated shutters, electrically operated ventilation shutters, air conditioners, ventilation fans, humidifiers, etc.

[0010] The ventilation electric shutter is a shutter equipped with movable blades that can open and close an opening in an exterior wall. The ventilation electric shutter can control the opening in the exterior wall to an open state by rotating the movable blades. The state in which the opening in the exterior wall is controlled to an open state by rotating the movable blades is sometimes referred to as the ventilation state. When the ventilation electric shutter is in the ventilation state, light and ventilation can be let in through the opening in the exterior wall. The structure of the ventilation electric shutter may use known technology, such as that disclosed in JP 2020-193530 A, for example.

[0011] The sensor 210 is provided in the building 100. The sensor 210 is, for example, a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an open / close sensor, an illuminance sensor, a human detection sensor, etc. The open / close sensor detects whether an open / close mechanism of the building is open or closed. The open / close mechanism of the building 100 is, for example, a door, a window, or a front door.

[0012] 1, the control system 1 includes a communication interface 10 and a control device 20. The communication interface 10 includes a router 11 and a gateway 12. The communication interface 10 is installed in a building 100, for example.

[0013] The router 11 is connected to the control device 20 via a communication network NW. The router 11 is connected to the gateway 12 via a wired or wireless connection (for example, a wired LAN). The router 11 relays information between the control device 20 and the gateway 12. One or more electrically powered devices 200 are connected to the gateway 12 via a wired or wireless connection. The gateway 12 of this embodiment is connected to a plurality of electrically powered devices 200 via a wired or wireless connection.

[0014] The communication network NW may be a wireless communication transmission path (e.g., wireless LAN), or a combination of a wireless communication transmission path and a wired communication transmission path. The communication network NW may be any one of a mobile communication network such as a mobile phone network, a wireless packet communication network, the Internet, and a dedicated line, or a combination thereof. For example, the communication network NW may use a low-power wide-area network (LPWAN), or may use a short-range wireless communication standard such as ZigBee (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (registered trademark), or BLE.

[0015] The control device 20 is connected to a communication network NW. The control device 20 may be a computer. The control device 20 may be a server device. The control device 20 may be located on the Internet or on a cloud. The control device 20 may include at least one physical server. Multiple physical servers configured as the control device 20 are connected to each other via a communication network, and are thereby able to communicate with each other. The physical server may include at least one virtual server. The virtual server may be a server on a cloud system (cloud server).

[0016] The control device 20 is connected to an external server (hereinafter referred to as "external server") 110 via a communication network NW, and can send and receive information from the external server 110. The control device 20 can be connected to an external device 120 via the communication network NW. The external server 110 is a server that provides weather information. The external server 110 is, for example, a server operated by at least one of the Japan Meteorological Agency and a company other than the Japan Meteorological Agency.

[0017] The external device 120 is, for example, a communication terminal that can be carried by a user. For example, the external device 120 is any one of a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a laptop computer. The communication terminal may also be a wearable terminal or the like. There is no particular limitation on whether the external device 120 can be carried by a user. For example, the external device 120 may be a computer.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 20 includes an acquisition unit 30 and a control unit 31. These components are realized by, for example, a hardware processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) executing a program (software). Some or all of these components may be realized by hardware (including circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or may be realized by a combination of software and hardware. The program may be stored in advance in a storage device (a storage device having a non-transitory storage medium) such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or flash memory, or may be stored in a removable storage medium (a non-transitory storage medium) such as a DVD or CD-ROM, and installed in the storage device by inserting the storage medium into a drive device. The storage device may be, for example, an HDD, flash memory, EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), or RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0019] The acquisition unit 30 acquires living environment information, which is information indicating the indoor living environment in the building 100. The living environment information is not particularly limited as long as it is information indicating the indoor living environment. The acquisition unit 30 is connected to a plurality of sensors 210 via a communication network NW. The acquisition unit 30 acquires sensor information measured by the plurality of sensors 210 via the communication network NW. The sensor information is an example of living environment information. The sensor information in this embodiment includes temperature, humidity, air quality information, odor concentration, etc. The air quality information is, for example, carbon dioxide concentration.

[0020] The acquisition unit 30 acquires weather information, which is information about the weather in a predetermined area where the building 100 is installed. For example, the acquisition unit 30 acquires the weather information by accessing an external server 110 that publishes weather information for the area including the building 100.

[0021] The weather information may be weather information for the current time t, weather information for a predicted time that is a time after the current time t, or both. The weather information is, for example, information on weather conditions such as sunny, cloudy, rainy, and snowy. The weather information may also include weather warnings such as heavy rain warnings and storm warnings.

[0022] The acquisition unit 30 is connected to each of the multiple types of electric devices 200 via the communication network NW. The acquisition unit 30 acquires information relating to the state of the electric device 200 (hereinafter referred to as "state information") for each electric device 200 via the communication network NW. The state information includes information on whether the electric device 200 is operating or not, information on whether the opening / closing body is in the open state or the closed state, and the like.

[0023] The control unit 31 is capable of controlling multiple types of electrically powered devices 200 via the communication network NW. The control unit 31 determines whether or not the living environment in the building 100 needs to be improved based on the living environment information. If the control unit 31 determines that the living environment needs to be improved, it controls one or more electrically powered devices 200 from among the multiple types of electrically powered devices 200 based on at least one of the status information of the electrically powered devices 200 and meteorological information about the weather in a specified area.

[0024] For example, when it is determined that the living environment in the building 100 needs to be improved, the control unit 31 may determine whether the weather is bad based on meteorological information. When it is determined that the weather is bad, the control unit 31 controls the power window among the multiple types of electric devices 200 to a closed state, and executes an improvement operation for one or more electric devices 200 other than the power window.

[0025] For example, when control unit 31 causes electric device 200 to perform an improvement operation, control unit 31 causes electric device 200 to perform the improvement operation one by one in a predetermined order. When the living environment has improved, control unit 31 stops the improvement operation of electric device 200. The predetermined order may be, for example, ascending order of power consumption.

[0026] As an example, when improving both or either of the temperature and humidity as a measure against heatstroke, the control unit 31 may control the electrically powered device 200 in a stepwise manner, in the order of control to open the electric windows, control to set the electric ventilation shutters to the ventilation state, and control to set the air conditioner to the cooling state. When cooling is performed by the air conditioner, the control unit 31 may control the electric windows to the closed state.

[0027] As an example, when improving the air quality inside the building 100, the control unit 31 may control the electric device 200 in stages, in the order of control to open the electric windows, control to put the electric ventilation shutters into the ventilation state, and control to operate the ventilation fan.

[0028] For example, the control unit 31 may notify an external device when the living environment information is outside the range of the reference value, and may determine that the living environment needs to be improved when the living environment information does not fall within the range of the reference value even after a certain time has passed since the notification. This external device may be, for example, the mobile terminal owned by the user of the building 100.

[0029] The control unit 31 may output an alert if the living environment is not improved even after the improvement operations are performed by the multiple types of electrically powered devices 200. For example, the control unit 31 may output the alert to the user's mobile terminal via the communication network NW. The alert may include information about the unimproved living environment.

[0030] The flow of operations of the control device 20 according to this embodiment will be described below. The control device 20 can execute at least one of the first to fourth operations as an operation for improving the living environment. The flow of each of the first to fourth operations will be described below.

[0031] (First operation) The first operation is, for example, an operation for improving the living environment inside the building 100 in order to prevent heatstroke. The living environment in the first operation is at least one of temperature and humidity, or a heat index. In explaining the first operation, a case where the living environment is a heat index (WBGT) will be explained. The living environment illustrated in FIG. 4 is a heat index, but is not limited to this, and may be temperature and humidity.

[0032] The acquisition unit 30 acquires temperature and humidity information measured by one or more sensors 210 via the communication network NW. The control unit 31 calculates a heat index as living environment information based on the sensor information acquired by the acquisition unit 30. The control unit 31 determines whether the heat index is outside the range of reference values ​​(step S101). As an example, in step S101, when the heat index reaches the alert level, the control unit 31 determines that the heat index (WBGT) is outside the range of reference values.

[0033] When the heat index reaches the alert level, the control unit 31 notifies a mobile terminal or the like of a user (e.g., a resident) of the building 100 that the heat index has reached the alert level (step S102). When the heat index has not reached the alert level, the control unit 31 returns to step S101.

[0034] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since executing the process of step S102 (step S103). After waiting for the certain time in step S103, the control unit 31 again determines whether the newly calculated heat index is outside the range of the reference value (step S104). The process of step S104 is the same as the process of step S101.

[0035] If the control unit 31 determines in step S104 that the heat index remains at the alert level, it determines whether the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is bad weather based on the weather information (step S105). Bad weather is, for example, rain or snow. If the heat index has dropped below the alert level in step S104, the control unit 31 returns to step S101.

[0036] If the control unit 31 determines in step S105 that the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is not bad weather, it determines whether the power window is closed or open based on the state information of the power window, which is one of the electrically operated devices 200 (step S106). If the control unit 31 determines in step S105 that the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is bad weather, it proceeds to the processing of step S112.

[0037] If the control unit 31 determines in step S106 that the power window is closed, it controls the power window to an open state (step S107). If the power window is open in step S106, the control unit 31 proceeds to the process of step S112.

[0038] After controlling the electrically operated window to the open state in step S107, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an electrically operated ventilation shutter is provided on the outside of the building 100 (step S108). Information as to whether or not an electrically operated ventilation shutter is provided on the outside of the building 100 is stored in advance in the control unit 31. If the control unit 31 determines that an electrically operated ventilation shutter is provided on the outside of the building 100, it controls the electrically operated ventilation shutter to the ventilation state (step S109). If the control unit 31 determines in step S108 that an electrically operated ventilation shutter is not provided on the outside of the building 100, the process proceeds to step S110.

[0039] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since executing the process of step S108 or step S109 (step S110). After waiting for the certain time, the control unit 31 calculates a new heat index. The control unit 31 determines whether the newly calculated heat index is outside the range of reference values. As an example of step S111, the control unit 31 determines whether the newly calculated heat index has reached a high alert level, which is higher than the alert level (step S111). If the control unit 31 determines that the newly calculated heat index has reached the high alert level, it determines that the heat index is outside the range of reference values.

[0040] If the control unit 31 determines in step S111 that the newly calculated heat index has reached the high alert level, it controls the power windows to close (step S112). After closing the power windows, the control unit 31 causes the air conditioner to perform cooling operation (step S113). If the newly calculated heat index in step S111 is below the high alert level, the control unit 31 returns to the processing of step S101.

[0041] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since the air conditioner was caused to perform cooling operation in step S113 (step S114). The control unit 31 calculates a new heat index after the certain time has elapsed in step S114. The control unit 31 determines whether the newly calculated heat index has reached the high alert level (step S115).

[0042] If the control unit 31 determines in step S115 that the newly calculated heat index remains at the severe alert level, it outputs an alert to an external device pre-registered in the control device 20 (step S116). This alert may include information notifying that the heat index exceeds the reference value. After outputting the alert, the control unit 31 returns to the processing of step S113. The control unit 31 continues the cooling operation of the air conditioner until the heat index falls from the severe alert level.

[0043] (Second action) The second operation is, for example, an operation to improve the indoor living environment by ventilating the room as a countermeasure against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. The living environment in the second operation illustrated in FIG. 4 is the concentration of carbon dioxide.

[0044] The acquisition unit 30 acquires the carbon dioxide concentration measured by one or more sensors 210 (CO2 sensors) via the communication network NW. The control unit 31 determines whether the carbon dioxide concentration, which is the sensor information acquired by the acquisition unit 30, is outside the range of reference values ​​(step S201). As an example, in step S201, the control unit 31 determines whether the carbon dioxide concentration has exceeded a first threshold. If the control unit 31 determines that the carbon dioxide concentration has exceeded the first threshold, it determines that the carbon dioxide concentration is outside the range of reference values.

[0045] When the control unit 31 determines that the carbon dioxide concentration has exceeded the first threshold, it notifies a mobile terminal of a user (e.g., a resident) of the building 100 that the carbon dioxide concentration has exceeded the first threshold (step S202). When the carbon dioxide concentration is equal to or lower than the first threshold, the control unit 31 returns to step S201.

[0046] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since executing the process of step S202 (step S203). After waiting for the certain time in step S203, the control unit 31 again determines whether the newly calculated carbon dioxide concentration exceeds the first threshold value (step S204). The process of step S204 is the same as the process of step S201.

[0047] If the control unit 31 determines in step S204 that the carbon dioxide concentration remains above the first threshold, it determines whether the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is bad weather based on the weather information (step S205). If the carbon dioxide concentration is equal to or less than the first threshold in step S204, the control unit 31 returns to step S201.

[0048] If the control unit 31 determines in step S205 that the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is not bad weather, it determines whether the power window is closed or open based on the state information of the power window, which is one of the electrically operated devices 200 (step S206). If the control unit 31 determines in step S205 that the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is bad weather, it proceeds to the processing of step S212.

[0049] If the control unit 31 determines in step S206 that the power window is closed, it controls the power window to an open state (step S207). If the power window is open in step S206, the control unit 31 proceeds to the process of step S212.

[0050] After controlling the electrically operated window to the open state in step S207, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an electrically operated ventilation shutter is provided on the outside of the building 100 (step S208). If the control unit 31 determines that an electrically operated ventilation shutter is provided on the outside of the building 100, the control unit 31 controls the electrically operated ventilation shutter to the ventilation state (step S209). If the control unit 31 determines in step S208 that an electrically operated ventilation shutter is not provided on the outside of the building 100, the process proceeds to step S210.

[0051] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since executing the process of step S208 or step S209 (step S210). After waiting for the certain time, the control unit 31 acquires a new carbon dioxide concentration and determines whether the acquired carbon dioxide concentration is outside the range of reference values. As an example of step S211, the control unit 31 determines whether the newly acquired carbon dioxide concentration exceeds a second threshold value that is higher than the first threshold value (step S211). If the control unit 31 determines that the carbon dioxide concentration has exceeded the second threshold value, it determines that the carbon dioxide concentration is outside the range of reference values.

[0052] If it is determined in step S211 that the concentration of carbon dioxide has exceeded the second threshold, control unit 31 controls the power window to close (step S212). After closing the power window, control unit 31 drives the ventilation fan (step S213). If the concentration of carbon dioxide is equal to or lower than the second threshold in step S211, control unit 31 returns to the process of step S201.

[0053] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since driving the ventilation fan in step S213 (step S214). The control unit 31 acquires a new carbon dioxide concentration after the certain time has elapsed in step S214. The control unit 31 determines whether the newly acquired carbon dioxide concentration exceeds the second threshold value (step S215).

[0054] If the control unit 31 determines that the carbon dioxide concentration remains above the second threshold, it outputs an alert to an external device pre-registered in the control device 20 (step S216). This alert may include information notifying that the carbon dioxide concentration exceeds the reference value. After outputting the alert, the control unit 31 returns to the processing of step S213. The control unit 31 continues driving the ventilation fan until the carbon dioxide concentration becomes equal to or less than the second threshold.

[0055] (Third action) The third operation is, for example, an operation for improving the odor inside the building 100. The living environment in the third operation illustrated in Fig. 5 is the concentration of odor.

[0056] The acquisition unit 30 acquires the odor concentration measured by one or more sensors 210 via the communication network NW. The control unit 31 determines whether the odor concentration, which is the sensor information acquired by the acquisition unit 30, is outside the range of reference values ​​(step S301). As an example, in step S301, the control unit 31 determines whether the odor concentration exceeds a third threshold. If the control unit 31 determines that the odor concentration exceeds the third threshold, it determines that the odor concentration is outside the range of reference values.

[0057] If the control unit 31 determines that the odor concentration has exceeded the third threshold, it notifies a mobile terminal of a user (e.g., a resident) of the building 100 that the odor concentration has exceeded the third threshold (step S302). If the odor concentration is equal to or less than the third threshold, the control unit 31 returns to step S301.

[0058] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since executing the process of step S302 (step S303). After waiting for the certain time in step S303, the control unit 31 again determines whether the newly calculated odor concentration exceeds the third threshold value (step S304). The process of step S304 is the same as the process of step S301.

[0059] If the control unit 31 determines in step S304 that the odor concentration remains above the third threshold, it determines whether the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is bad weather based on the weather information (step S305).If the odor concentration is equal to or less than the third threshold in step S304, the control unit 31 returns to step S301.

[0060] If the control unit 31 determines in step S305 that the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is not bad weather, it determines whether the power window is closed or open based on the state information of the power window, which is one of the electrically operated devices 200 (step S306).If the control unit 31 determines in step S305 that the current weather or the weather a predetermined time from now is bad weather, it proceeds to the processing of step S312.

[0061] If the control unit 31 determines in step S306 that the power window is closed, it controls the power window to an open state (step S307). If the power window is open in step S306, the control unit 31 proceeds to the process of step S312.

[0062] After controlling the electrically operated window to the open state in step S307, the control unit 31 determines whether or not an electrically operated ventilation shutter is provided on the outside of the building 100 (step S308). If the control unit 31 determines that an electrically operated ventilation shutter is provided on the outside of the building 100, the control unit 31 controls the electrically operated ventilation shutter to the ventilation state (step S309). If the control unit 31 determines in step S308 that an electrically operated ventilation shutter is not provided on the outside of the building 100, the process proceeds to step S310.

[0063] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since executing the process of step S309 (step S310). After waiting for the certain time, the control unit 31 acquires a new odor concentration and determines whether the acquired odor concentration is outside the range of reference values. As an example of step S311, the control unit 31 determines whether the newly acquired odor concentration exceeds a fourth threshold value that is higher than the third threshold value (step S311). If the control unit 31 determines that the odor concentration exceeds the fourth threshold value, it determines that the odor concentration is outside the range of reference values.

[0064] If the control unit 31 determines in step S311 that the odor concentration exceeds the fourth threshold, it controls the power window to close (step S312). After closing the power window, the control unit 31 drives the ventilation fan (step S313). If the odor concentration is equal to or less than the fourth threshold in step S311, the control unit 31 returns to the processing of step S301.

[0065] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has passed since driving the ventilation fan in step S313 (step S314). The control unit 31 acquires a new odor concentration after the certain time has passed in step S314. The control unit 31 determines whether the newly acquired odor concentration exceeds the fourth threshold value (step S315).

[0066] If the control unit 31 determines that the odor concentration remains above the fourth threshold, it outputs an alert to an external device pre-registered in the control device 20 (step S316). This alert may include information notifying that the odor concentration exceeds the reference value. After outputting the alert, the control unit 31 returns to the processing of step S313. The control unit 31 continues to drive the ventilation fan until the odor concentration becomes equal to or less than the fourth threshold.

[0067] (Fourth action) The fourth operation is, for example, an operation for improving the humidity inside the building 100 in order to prevent viral infection such as influenza. The living environment in the fourth operation illustrated in FIG. 6 is humidity.

[0068] The acquisition unit 30 acquires humidity measured by one or more sensors 210 (humidity sensors) via the communication network NW. The control unit 31 determines whether the humidity, which is sensor information acquired by the acquisition unit 30, is outside the range of reference values ​​(step S401). As an example, in step S401, the control unit 31 determines whether the humidity is equal to or greater than a fifth threshold (e.g., 50%). If the control unit 31 determines that the humidity is equal to or greater than the fifth threshold, it determines that the humidity is within the range of reference values.

[0069] If the control unit 31 determines that the humidity is less than the fifth threshold, it notifies a mobile terminal of a user (e.g., a resident) of the building 100 that the humidity is outside the range of reference values ​​(step S402). If the humidity is equal to or greater than the fifth threshold, the control unit 31 returns to step S401.

[0070] The control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since executing the process of step S402 (step S403). After waiting for the certain time in step S403, the control unit 31 again determines whether the newly acquired humidity is equal to or greater than the fifth threshold value (step S404). The process of step S404 is the same as the process of step S401.

[0071] If the control unit 31 determines in step S404 that the humidity remains below the fifth threshold, it drives the humidifier (step S405). If the humidity is equal to or greater than the fifth threshold in step S404, the control unit 31 returns to the process of step S401.

[0072] Control unit 31 waits until a certain time has elapsed since driving the humidifier, which is one of electrically driven devices 200, in step S405 (step S406). Control unit 31 newly acquires the humidity after the certain time has elapsed in step S4405. Control unit 31 determines whether the newly acquired humidity is equal to or greater than the fifth threshold value (step S407).

[0073] If the control unit 31 determines that the humidity remains below the fifth threshold, the process returns to step S405. The control unit 31 continues driving the humidifier until the humidity becomes equal to or greater than the fifth threshold. If the control unit 31 determines in step S407 that the humidity is equal to or greater than the fifth threshold, the process returns to step S401. Note that the control unit 31 may execute a process similar to step S106 after the process of step S404 described in FIG. 6 is completed. In this case, the control unit 31 may execute step S405 if the power window is in the closed state. If the power window is in the open state, the control unit 31 may execute step S405 after controlling the power window to the closed state.

[0074] Conventional systems do not take into account the state of the electric devices in the building or weather information when controlling the electric devices in the building. Conventional systems may control electric windows to the open state when it is raining or snowing, which can cause problems such as rain or snow entering the house. Because conventional systems do not take into account the state of the electric devices in the building, there is room for improvement in terms of crime prevention and energy conservation. Conventional systems may encounter situations where they are unable to properly control the electric devices in the building.

[0075] When the control device 20 determines that the living environment needs to be improved based on the information about the indoor living environment, it controls one or more of the multiple types of electrically powered devices 200 based on at least one of the status information of the multiple types of electrically powered devices 200 that can perform operations to improve the living environment and meteorological information about the weather in a specified area. With this configuration, it is possible to appropriately control the electrically powered devices in the building.

[0076] When it is determined that the living environment needs to be improved, the control device 20 determines whether the weather is bad based on meteorological information, and if it determines that the weather is bad, it may control the power window among the multiple types of electric devices 200 to a closed state. After controlling the power window to a closed state, the control device 20 may cause one or more electric devices 200 other than the power window to perform the above-mentioned operation. With this configuration, the control device 20 can prevent rain or snow from entering the house when the weather is bad.

[0077] When causing the electric device 200 to perform an improvement operation, the control device 20 may cause the electric device 200 to perform the improvement operation one by one in a predetermined order, and may stop the improvement operation of the electric device 200 when the living environment has improved. This configuration makes it possible to control the electric device 200 in consideration of energy conservation and crime prevention.

[0078] The control device 20 may notify the external device 120 when the living environment information is outside the range of the reference value, and may determine that the living environment needs to be improved when the living environment information does not fall within the range of the reference value even after a certain time has passed since the notification. With this configuration, the control device 20 can quickly notify the resident of an abnormality in the living environment.

[0079] When the control device 20 determines that the living environment needs to be improved and that the weather is not bad, the control device 20 may rotate the movable blades of the ventilation electric shutter, which is one of the electric devices 200, to control the shutter to the ventilation state. With this configuration, the control device 20 can ventilate the room while taking security into consideration.

[0080] If the living environment does not improve even when the air intake electric shutter is controlled to the air intake state, the control device 20 may perform ventilation using a ventilation fan or cooling using an air conditioner.

[0081] The control device 20 may start the humidifier if it determines that the humidity needs to be improved. With this configuration, the control device 20 can maintain a constant humidity level in the room, which contributes to preventing influenza infection.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the control unit 31 closes the power window and then causes the air conditioner to perform cooling operation, but this is not limiting. For example, if the indoor temperature is higher than a predetermined temperature based on the living environment information, the control unit 31 may close the power window and then cause the air conditioner to perform heating operation.

[0083] The control device 20 may determine whether or not a person is present in the building 100. For example, the control unit 31 may receive location information of a user of the building 100 from a communication terminal (e.g., the external device 120) carried by the user via the communication network NW. The control unit 31 may determine whether or not a person is present in the building 100 based on the location information of the user. However, without being limited to this, the control device 20 may determine whether or not a person is present in the building 100 based on information from a sensor or the like installed in the building 100. The control unit 31 may execute at least one of the first to fourth actions described above only when it is determined that a person is present in the building 100. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1... control system, 10... communication interface, 11... router, 12... gateway, 20... control device, 30... acquisition unit, 31... control unit, 200... electric device

Claims

1. a living environment information acquisition device that acquires living environment information that is information indicating an indoor living environment; an electrically powered device at least partially disposed within the chamber; and a control device that controls the operation of the electrically powered device based on at least one of the living environment information and meteorological information related to the weather in a predetermined area. Control system.

2. When the living environment information exceeds a predetermined value, the control device executes ventilation as the operation by the electrically powered device. The control system of claim 1 .

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