Bathroom system

Abstract

To provide a bathroom system capable of recording entering / exiting a bathroom or getting in / getting out of a bathtub by each user.SOLUTION: A bathroom system includes: a server including a storage device; a bather detection sensor for detecting entering / exiting a bathroom or getting in / getting out of a bathtub installed in the bathroom; and a transmission device for transmitting data of detection time detected by the bather detection sensor to the server. The server receives the data of the detection time transmitted from the transmission device, receives a bather ID registered beforehand which is transmitted from a portable terminal according to predetermined processing to the portable terminal at the bathing time of a user, and stores the data of the detection time close to the time when the predetermined processing has been executed in the storage device, associating the data with the bather ID.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a bathroom system. [Background technology]

[0002] A bathroom system is known in which a water heater with a hot water supply function to a bathtub is communicably connected to a server via a network, and detection data such as a user's entry and exit into the bathroom and entry and exit into the bathtub is transmitted to the server.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 below discloses that a user is notified of whether or not they can use the bathroom based on detection information regarding whether or not a person is present in the bathroom and request information from a new user who wishes to use the bathroom. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7135535 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in Patent Document 1, it is not possible to identify the person detected as being in the bathroom. Therefore, when multiple users use the same bathroom, the server cannot make spontaneous suggestions to each user based on the detection data of their entry and exit into and exit from the bathroom or bathing. In other words, without request information such as that in Patent Document 1, when one user among multiple users leaves the bathroom or bathes, it is not possible to notify the other users that the bathroom is now available for use.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a bathroom system that can record each user's entry and exit into the bathroom or entry and exit into the bathtub. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a bathroom system according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a server equipped with a memory device, a bather detection sensor that detects entry or exit into a bathroom or entry or exit into a bathtub installed in the bathroom, and a transmission device that transmits detection time data detected by the bather detection sensor to the server, wherein the server receives the detection time data transmitted from the transmission device, receives a pre-registered bather ID transmitted from the mobile device in response to a predetermined action performed on the mobile device while the user is bathing, and stores detection time data close to the time the predetermined action was performed in the memory device in association with the bather ID.

[0008] According to the above configuration, by performing a predetermined action on a portable device owned by a bather, information on the bather's bather ID corresponding to the bather is transmitted from the portable device to the server. Meanwhile, the transmitting device transmits data on the detection time of entry / exit or entry / exit of the bather detected by the bather detection sensor to the server. Data on the detection time close to the time the predetermined action was performed is stored in the memory in association with the bather ID transmitted based on the predetermined action. This allows the bather detected by the bather detection sensor to be identified based on the information from the portable device. Therefore, entry / exit of the bathroom or entry / exit of the bathtub can be recorded for each user.

[0009] The predetermined action may be a predetermined operation that the user performs on the mobile terminal when entering or leaving the bathroom or when entering or leaving the bathtub.

[0010] The predetermined action may be the user bringing the mobile terminal close to a short-range wireless communication tag installed in the bathroom or in a changing room adjacent to the bathroom.

[0011] The server may associate data of a detection time within a predetermined period based on the time when the predetermined treatment was performed with the bather ID.

[0012] The transmitting device may transmit the detection time data to the server together with the identification ID of the water heater supplying hot water to the bathroom, and a memory device of the server may store multiple bather IDs associated with the identification IDs, and when data on the bathing exit time or the room exit time is stored in the memory device associated with one of the multiple bather IDs as the detection time data, the server may notify mobile devices pre-registered with other bather IDs among the multiple bather IDs that the bathroom will become available. In this way, users other than the bather are notified that the bathroom is available, so that other users who are not bathing can know that the bathroom is available without having to make a bathing request to the server themselves. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] The present invention has the above-described configuration and has the effect of being able to record entry and exit into the bathroom or entry and exit into the bathtub for each user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bathroom system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram of bather registration in the bathroom system shown in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an image diagram of the process of associating bather IDs with detection information in this embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram of bather registration in the bathroom system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Preferred embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or corresponding elements throughout the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted. The present invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

[0016] [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a bathroom system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] The bathroom system 100 in this embodiment includes at least one water heater 1 installed in a residence to supply hot water to a bathtub 10 installed in a bathroom 6 of the residence, and a server 2 equipped with a memory 20. The water heater 1 includes a water heater main body 4 and a controller 5. The water heater 1 further includes a remote control for remotely operating the water heater main body 4. The remote controls include a bathroom remote control 7 installed in the bathroom 6 and a kitchen remote control 8 installed in the kitchen. The kitchen remote control 8 may include a monitor as an alarm for notifying setting information and information transmitted from the server 2. In addition to or instead of the monitor, the kitchen remote control 8 may include a specified lamp or speaker as an alarm. The bathroom remote control 7 may also include an alarm.

[0018] The server 2 is communicatively connected to the water heater 1 via a communication network 3 such as the Internet. For this purpose, the water heater 1 is provided with a relay device 9 dedicated to the water heater that is communicatively connected to the controller 5. In this embodiment, the relay device 9 is built into the kitchen remote control 8. Alternatively, the relay device 9 may be configured as a device separate from the kitchen remote control 8. The controller 5 of the water heater 1, the remote controls 7 and 8, and the relay device 9 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via two-core communication.

[0019] The water heater main body 4 is installed in a predetermined location outdoors or indoors of the residence. The controller 5 is provided within the housing of the water heater main body 4. The water heater main body 4 is, for example, a combustion heating type water heater (heat source machine). The water heater main body 4 is connected via piping or the like to a bathtub 10 installed in the bathroom 6. The water heater main body 4 has the function of supplying hot water to the bathtub 10 and the function of circulating the hot water stored in the bathtub 10 via the piping and reheating the circulating hot water. The water heater main body 4 includes a combustion device for burning fuel gas to heat water introduced from outside or the circulating hot water.

[0020] Controller 5 controls the operation of water heater main body 4. To this end, controller 5 includes a memory unit that stores various data and control programs, and a processing circuit configured with a microcontroller or the like having a CPU and memory (RAM, ROM, etc.) that performs various calculations based on the control program. Controller 5 is configured to be able to perform the following controls on water heater main body 4: automatic bath control, which supplies hot water until the hot water stored in bathtub 10 reaches a set water level or a set amount, and adjusts the temperature of the hot water stored in bathtub 10 to a set temperature, and reheating control, which reheats the hot water stored in bathtub 10.

[0021] Water heater 1 is equipped with various sensors, such as water level sensor 13, human presence sensor 14, a water flow rate sensor (not shown), and an inlet water temperature sensor (not shown). Water level sensor 13 is provided in the hot water circulation flow path within water heater main body 4, and detects the level of hot water stored in bathtub 10. Human presence sensor 14 detects the presence or absence of a person in bathroom 6. Human presence sensor 14 is provided, for example, in bathroom remote control 7. The water flow rate sensor detects the flow rate of the inlet water path through which water supplied from outside flows.

[0022] The controller 5 acquires various data detected by these sensors and uses it to control the operation of the water heater main body 4. Furthermore, the controller 5 stores the usage status of the water heater 1 obtained from the acquired various data in a memory unit together with the time when the data was acquired, and transmits this to the server 2 at predetermined intervals via the relay device 9. The relay device 9 functions as a transmitting device that transmits the usage status data to the server 2. The usage status data includes, for example, the amount of water usage, the amount of fuel gas usage, the hot water temperature, etc.

[0023] Although FIG. 1 illustrates one water heater 1, multiple water heaters 1 may be communicatively connected to the server 2. For this reason, the transmission data transmitted from the relay device 9 includes an identification ID for identifying the water heater 1 connected to the relay device 9. When the server 2 receives the transmission data transmitted from the relay device 9, it acquires the identification ID included in the transmission data and identifies the water heater 1 from the identification ID. When storing the contents of the transmission data in the memory 20, the server 2 stores the contents in association with the identification ID. Note that the identification ID of the water heater 1 may be an owner ID such as an owner account registered by the owner of the water heater 1.

[0024] The storage device 20 of the server 2 stores the device information transmitted from the relay device 9. Here, the device information includes device configuration information that is first transmitted from the controller 5 to the kitchen remote control 8 after the power is turned on, operation status information indicating the operation status of the water heater main body 4 that is transmitted from the controller 5 to the kitchen remote control 8 periodically (for example, every hour), error information, etc. Here, the device configuration information is information indicating the type of the water heater main body 4, etc., and the operation status information is information including the hot water setting temperature of the water heater main body 4, the number of combustion operations, the combustion operation time, etc. The error information is information indicating an abnormality when some abnormality occurs in the water heater main body 4, and is information that is also displayed on each remote control 7, 8.

[0025] Additionally, water level sensor 13 and human presence sensor 14 function as bather detection sensors. Water level sensor 13 detects bathers entering and leaving bathtub 10 installed in bathroom 6. Water level sensor 13 detects the amount of increase and decrease in water level per unit time. If the amount of increase in water level per unit time is equal to or greater than a first reference value, it is determined that a bather has entered bathtub 10. Furthermore, if the amount of decrease in water level per unit time is equal to or greater than a second reference value, it is determined that a bather has left bathtub 10.

[0026] Furthermore, the human presence sensor 14 detects entry into and exit from the bathroom 6. When the human presence sensor 14 detects a person, it is determined that the bather has entered the bathroom 6. When the human presence sensor 14 detects a person but is no longer able to detect a person, it is determined that the bather has exited the bathroom 6.

[0027] The bather detection information is transmitted from relay device 9 to server 2 along with the identification ID of water heater 1. The bather detection information may include information on the type of sensor that detected the bather, operation information of the sensor, and the time of detection. The sensor operation information includes information indicating whether the sensor detected bathing, entry into the room, exiting the bath, or exiting the room. Server 2 stores the received detection information in memory 20 in association with the identification ID of water heater 1.

[0028] The server 2 is also communicatively connected to one or more external mobile terminals (two mobile terminals 31 and 32 in the example of FIG. 1 ) via the communication network 3. The mobile terminals 31 and 32 are, for example, smartphones, and can connect to the communication network 3 via a base station of a mobile phone network or the like. The mobile terminals 31 and 32 can also connect to a wireless LAN. That is, when the relay device 9 is connected to a wireless LAN router or has a wireless LAN connection function, and the mobile terminals 31 and 32 are located in a place where a wireless LAN connection is possible (for example, when the users carrying the mobile terminals 31 and 32 are indoors), the mobile terminals 31 and 32 communicate with the server 2 via the wireless LAN and the communication network 3. When the mobile terminals 31 and 32 are not located in a place where a wireless LAN connection is possible, or when a wireless LAN router is not connected, the mobile terminals 31 and 32 communicate with the server 2 via the communication network 3.

[0029] The mobile terminals 31, 32 are pre-registered by the server 2 for each water heater 1 (relay device 9). The server 2 associates the bather ID sent from the mobile terminal 31, 32 with the identification ID of the water heater 1 and stores the association in the memory 20. The bather ID may include information such as the login ID of an application described below, a user name, or the identification ID of the mobile terminal 31, 32. The server 2 may register multiple (e.g., up to eight accounts) mobile terminals 31, 32 for one water heater 1. In this way, each user who owns multiple mobile terminals 31, 32 is registered as a user (bather) of the bathroom 6 to which the registered water heater 1 supplies hot water.

[0030] An application program dedicated to the water heater is installed on the mobile terminals 31, 32. If a bather ID is stored in the memory 20 of the server 2, the mobile terminals 31, 32 can be used to remotely control and check the status of the water heater main body 4 via the server 2 for the water heater 1 having the identification ID associated with that bather ID. In other words, the server 2 allows communication between the mobile terminals 31, 32 associated in the memory 20 and the water heater 1 (relay device 9) via the server 2. This enables the server 2 to relay communication between the relay device 9 and the mobile terminals 31, 32.

[0031] Mobile terminals 31, 32 have a display unit 40 with a touch panel that allows operation input by touch operation. The hot water supply operation screen displayed on display unit 40 displays information (e.g., the model name, model number, identification ID, etc. of water heater 1) that identifies the water heater 1 to be operated (transmits operation signals) using mobile terminal 31, 32, and multiple operation items corresponding to the water heater 1. Each of the multiple operation items is configured as a virtual operation button that can be operated by touch. The multiple virtual operation buttons configure an input operation unit for water heater 1 on mobile terminals 31, 32.

[0032] For example, the plurality of virtual operation buttons include various virtual operation buttons corresponding to the input operation units of the remote controls 7 and 8. For example, when the booster heating button displayed on the display unit 40 of the mobile terminal 31 or 32 is touched, a booster heating control start signal is transmitted from the mobile terminal 31 or 32 to the controller 5 of the corresponding water heater 1 via the server 2. Also, when the automatic bath button is touched, a bath automatic control start signal is transmitted from the mobile terminal 31 or 32 to the controller 5 of the corresponding water heater 1 via the server 2.

[0033] Furthermore, mobile terminals 31, 32 may display a reservation button as a virtual operation button on display unit 40. The reservation button is a button for executing a reservation operation to complete filling and boiling water at a set time. When the reservation button is touched, a set time setting screen (not shown) is displayed, and by inputting a set time, a reservation signal including the input set time is sent from mobile terminal 31, 32 to controller 5 of the corresponding water heater 1 via server 2. In this way, mobile terminals 31, 32 function as a general-purpose (or sub) remote control that can operate water heater 1.

[0034] As mentioned above, the detection information of the bather detected by bather detection sensors 13, 14 is sent from relay device 9 to server 2 along with the identification ID of water heater 1, but this detection information alone cannot identify the bather. In other words, server 2 that receives the detection information cannot identify the bather ID of the bather who entered or left bathroom 6 or bathing in bathtub 10 from among the multiple bather IDs associated with the identification ID.

[0035] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the user who owns the mobile terminal 31, 32 takes a bath, the bather performs a predetermined action on the mobile terminal 31, 32, and a bather identification signal including the corresponding bather ID is sent to the server 2 from the mobile terminal 31, 32 on which the predetermined action has been performed.

[0036] Figure 2 is a conceptual diagram of bather registration in the bathroom system shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 illustrates the case where a user who owns mobile terminal 31 and has bather ID U1 takes a bath. Also, Figure 2 shows only the relay device 9, water level sensor 13, and human presence sensor 14 as components of water heater 1.

[0037] In this embodiment, the predetermined action performed on mobile terminal 31, 32 is a predetermined operation performed on mobile terminal 31, 32 when the user enters or leaves bathroom 6 or enters or leaves bathtub 10. For example, by executing an application installed on mobile terminal 31, 32, a virtual bather identification button 41 for announcing that the user is taking a bath is displayed on display 40 of mobile terminal 31, 32.

[0038] When the user who owns the mobile terminal 31 touches the bather identification button 41 within a predetermined period determined based on the timing of entering and leaving the bathroom 6, the mobile terminal 31 that is touched transmits a bather identification signal including the corresponding bather ID (U1) and the time of operation to the server 2. For example, the user who is bathing performs the above touch operation between the time they enter the bathroom 6 and the time they leave.

[0039] On the other hand, as mentioned above, when the human presence sensor 14 or the water level sensor 13 detects that a bather has entered the bathroom 6, entered the bathtub 10, left the bathtub 10, or left the bathroom 6, the relay device 9 of the water heater 1 transmits the information detected by these sensors 13, 14 to the server 2 along with the time of detection.

[0040] Based on the bather identification signal from the mobile terminals 31 and 32 and the detection information from the relay device 9, the server 2 associates the detection time data close to the time when the bather performed the specified operation with the bather ID and stores it in the memory 20. More specifically, the server 2 associates the detection time data within a specified period based on the time when the bather performed the specified operation with the bather ID. In this embodiment, the specified period is set to the bathing period estimated from the detection information.

[0041] Figure 3 is an image diagram of the process of associating bather IDs with detection information in this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, server 2 accumulates detection details in chronological order based on the detection information transmitted from relay device 9. In this embodiment, a human presence sensor 14 capable of detecting entry and exit is installed in bathroom 6, so the bathing period per bather is estimated to be the period from when the bather enters bathroom 6 to when the bather leaves bathroom 6.

[0042] Furthermore, the server 2 accumulates bather IDs indicating the users who own the transmitting mobile terminals 31 and 32 in chronological order based on the bather identification signals transmitted from the mobile terminals 31 and 32. The server 2 associates the detected information for the bathing period, which includes the time of a predetermined operation by the bather, contained in the bather identification signal, with the bather ID contained in the bather identification signal.

[0043] In the example of Figure 3, the operation time of 19:51 from the bather identification signal with bather ID U2 is included in the bathing period in which the bather entered at 19:30 and left at 19:56, so server 2 associates the detection information for this bathing period with the bather ID U2 of that bather identification signal. Similarly, the detection information for the bathing period in which the bather entered at 20:10 and left at 20:26 is associated with the bather ID U1 of the bather identification signal in which a specific operation was performed at 20:12, which is included in the bathing period.

[0044] It is not important whether the server 2 receives the detection information first or the bather identification signal first. For example, in the example of Figure 3, even if the server 2 has not yet received the detection information about leaving the bath at 20:16 and leaving the room at 20:26 from the relay device 9 when the server 2 receives the bather identification signal (20:12, U1) from the mobile terminal 31, the server 2 will associate the detection information received up until the end of the bathing period (until the detection information about leaving the room is received) with the bather ID (U1) included in the bather identification signal if it receives this detection information.

[0045] Thus, according to the above configuration, by performing a predetermined action on the portable terminal 31, 32 owned by the bather (i.e., by performing a predetermined operation on the portable terminal 31, 32), information on the bather ID corresponding to that bather is transmitted from the portable terminal 31, 32 to the server 2. Meanwhile, the relay device 9 of the water heater 1, configured as a transmitting device, transmits data on the detection time of entry / exit or entry / exit from the bath detected by the water level sensor 13 and the human presence sensor 14, configured as bather detection sensors, to the server 2. Data on the detection time close to the time when the predetermined action was performed is stored in the memory 20 in association with the bather ID transmitted based on the predetermined action.

[0046] This allows bathers detected by bather detection sensors 13 and 14 to be identified based on information from mobile terminals 31 and 32. Therefore, entry and exit of bathroom 6 or entry and exit of bathtub 10 can be recorded for each user.

[0047] As a result, different services can be provided for each user using bathroom 6. For example, when the detected time data of the bathing exit time or the room exit time is stored in memory 20 in association with one of the multiple bather IDs, server 2 may notify mobile terminals 31, 32 previously registered with the other bather IDs that bathroom 6 will become available for use.

[0048] In the example of Figure 3, if the exit from bathroom 6 detected at 7:56 PM is associated with U2, server 2 may notify mobile terminal 31 of a user with bather ID U1, who has not yet recorded a bath on that day, that bathroom 6 is now available for use. This notifies users other than the bather that bathroom 6 is now available for use, so other users who are not bathing can know that bathroom 6 is now available for use without having to personally request a bath from server 2.

[0049] Also, for example, when the data on bathing or room exit times for all of the multiple bather IDs associated with the identification ID of the water heater 1 is stored in the memory 20, the server 2 may send a command signal to the water heater 1 to transition to standby mode.

[0050] For example, in the example of Figure 3, if the exit from bathroom 6 detected at 20:26 is associated with U1, server 2 determines that the data for the exit times for that day for all bather IDs (U1, U2) associated with the identification ID of water heater 1 has been stored in memory 20. At this time, server 2 may send a command signal to relay device 9 of water heater 1 to transition water heater 1 to standby mode. When controller 5 of water heater 1 receives this command signal, it stops combustion to supply hot water to bathtub 10, for example by terminating automatic bath control if automatic bath control is being executed.

[0051] Furthermore, with the above configuration, it is possible to record the bathing time for each bather, allowing the bathing situation for each bather to be accumulated and analyzed, and therefore it is possible to provide services such as calculating the calorie expenditure of each bather or giving advice on bathing to each bather.

[0052] [Embodiment 2] Figure 4 is a conceptual diagram of bather registration in a bathroom system according to embodiment 2 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the configuration of bathroom system 100 itself is the same as in embodiment 1. However, in this embodiment, the predetermined procedure that the bather performs on mobile terminals 31 and 32 while bathing differs from that in embodiment 1.

[0053] That is, in this embodiment, the predetermined action is for the user to bring mobile terminals 31, 32 close to a short-range wireless communication tag installed in bathroom 6. For this purpose, a stand 50 for placing mobile terminals 31, 32 is provided in bathroom 6. A near-field wireless communication (NFC) tag is installed on or inside stand 50. Meanwhile, mobile terminals 31, 32 are configured to be able to read the near-field wireless communication tag. By reading the near-field wireless communication tag, mobile terminals 31, 32 transmit to server 2 a bather identification signal including the time of reading and the bather ID corresponding to mobile terminal 31, 32.

[0054] In this embodiment as well, based on a predetermined action taken on the portable terminal 31, 32 owned by the bather (i.e., placing the portable terminal 31, 32 on the mounting base 50), the portable terminal 31, 32 transmits information on the bather ID corresponding to that bather to the server 2. This allows the bather detected by the bather detection sensors 13, 14 to be identified based on the information from the portable terminal 31, 32. Therefore, entry and exit of the bathroom 6 or entry and exit of the bathtub 10 can be recorded for each user. In particular, according to this embodiment, the bather does not need to perform any special operations on the portable terminal 31, 32, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

[0055] The mounting base 50 in this embodiment may have a configuration that allows a bather to proactively place the mobile terminal 31, 32 on the mounting base 50. For example, the mounting base 50 may be placed near the position of the bather's ears when bathing in the bathtub 10. This allows the bather to be positioned so that the sound can be easily heard when listening to music or the like from the mobile terminal 31, 32 while bathing in the bathtub 10. Alternatively, the mounting base 50 may be placed in a position close to the shower in the bathroom 6. This allows the bather to be positioned so that the sound can be easily heard when listening to music or the like from the mobile terminal 31, 32 while taking a shower in the bathroom 6.

[0056] Furthermore, for example, the stand 50 may be installed in a position that does not get in the way when bathing. For example, the stand 50 may be installed in a high position that is out of reach of a bather sitting on a chair in the bathroom 6 or bathing in the bathtub 10. The stand 50 may also be installed in a position that does not get splashed with detergent such as shampoo. For example, the stand 50 may be installed on the wall side of the bathtub 10.

[0057] Furthermore, for example, the stand 50 may be installed in a position where the display unit 40 is easily visible to the bather bathing in the bathtub 10. For example, the stand 50 may be installed at one longitudinal end (foot side) of the bathtub 10. This improves the convenience of the bather watching videos and the like on the mobile terminals 31, 32 while bathing.

[0058] Furthermore, for example, the mounting base 50 may be equipped with a wireless charger inside. This allows the mobile terminals 31, 32 to be charged while they are placed on the mounting base 50. Furthermore, for example, the mounting base 50 may be equipped with a cover for covering the mobile terminals 31, 32. This prevents the bather from being photographed by the cameras of the mobile terminals 31, 32 by mistake. It also prevents detergents such as shampoo from getting on the mobile terminals 31, 32.

[0059] In the present embodiment, an example has been given in which the short-range wireless communication tag is provided on mounting base 50, but it is sufficient that the short-range wireless communication tag is provided in a position where mobile terminals 31 and 32 can be brought close to the short-range wireless communication tag, and mounting base 50 does not have to be provided. For example, the short-range wireless communication tag may be attached to a wall surface inside bathroom 6.

[0060] From the above description, many modifications and other embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be construed as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode for carrying out the present invention. Details of the structure and / or function thereof may be substantially changed without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0061] [Other embodiments] For example, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which a bather who entered bathroom 6 voluntarily performed a predetermined action on mobile terminal 31, 32, but when a bather enters bathroom 6, a notification may be issued to encourage the bather to perform a predetermined action on mobile terminal 31, 32. For example, when human presence sensor 14 detects entry into bathroom 6 or water level sensor 13 detects entry into bathtub 10, controller 5 of water heater 1 may display or make an announcement from a notification unit (monitor, speaker, etc.) of bathroom remote control 7 to encourage the bather to perform a predetermined action on mobile terminal 31, 32.

[0062] In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was given of a state in which a predetermined procedure (predetermined operation or placing on the stand 50) is performed on the mobile terminals 31, 32 inside the bathroom 6, but it is also possible to allow the bather to perform a predetermined procedure on the mobile terminals 31, 32 before entering the bathroom 6 or after leaving the bathroom 6.

[0063] For example, the predetermined operation on the mobile terminals 31, 32 may be a bathroom use declaration operation to notify other users in advance that the user will be using the mobile terminals 31, 32 before taking a bath. In this case, for example, a user with bather ID U1 operates the mobile terminal 31 to execute an application and perform the bathroom use declaration operation. The mobile terminal 31 transmits a use declaration signal including the bather ID (U1) and the time of the operation to the server 2. Upon receiving the use declaration signal, the server 2 transmits an other person's use signal to the mobile terminal 32 associated with the other bather ID (U2) notifying that the user with bather ID U1 will be using the bathroom 6, and acquires the bather ID (U1) and the time of the operation included in the use declaration signal as information included in the bather identification signal.

[0064] In this case, the server 2 associates the detected time data within a predetermined period based on the time when the user made the bathroom use declaration operation with the bather ID. In this case, the predetermined period is set to the time from the time when the user made the bathroom use declaration operation to the time after the predetermined period has elapsed.

[0065] Furthermore, for example, the predetermined operation on the mobile terminals 31 and 32 may be a reservation operation performed by the user on the mobile terminal 31. In this case, the server 2 associates the detected time data, which is within a predetermined period based on the set time (scheduled entry time) input in the reservation operation by the user, with the bather ID.

[0066] Furthermore, for example, the predetermined operation on mobile device 31, 32 may be a bathroom use termination operation, in which the user uses mobile device 31, 32 after leaving bathroom 6 to notify other users that they have finished using bathroom 6. In this case, for example, a user with bather ID U1 operates mobile device 31 to run an application and perform a bathroom use termination operation. Mobile device 31 transmits a use termination signal including bather ID (U1) and the time of the operation to server 2. Upon receiving the use termination signal, server 2 transmits an other person's use termination signal to mobile device 32 associated with another bather ID (U2) notifying that the user with bather ID U1 has left bathroom 6, and acquires the bather ID (U1) and the time of the operation included in the use termination signal as information included in the bather identification signal.

[0067] In this case, the server 2 associates the detected time data within a predetermined period based on the time when the user performed the bathroom usage termination operation with the bather ID. In this case, the predetermined period is set to the time from a time a predetermined period before the time when the user performed the bathroom usage termination operation to the time when the user performed the bathroom usage termination operation.

[0068] Furthermore, for example, the stand 50 on which the mobile terminals 31, 32 are placed may be installed outside the bathroom, such as in a changing room adjacent to the bathroom 6. In this case, the server 2 associates the detection time data with the bather ID within a predetermined period based on the time the mobile terminals 31, 32 are placed on the stand 50. In this case, the predetermined period is set to the time from when the mobile terminals 31, 32 read the short-range wireless tag to the time after the predetermined period has elapsed.

[0069] Furthermore, while the above embodiment exemplifies an aspect in which both water level sensor 13 and human presence sensor 14 are provided as bather detection sensors, bathroom system 100 may also be provided with only one of these sensors 13, 14. For example, if bathroom system 100 only has water level sensor 13, server 2 may estimate the bathing period as the period from a time a predetermined time before the time when entry into bathtub 10 is detected to a time a predetermined time after the time when exiting bathtub 10 is detected.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the bather identification signal includes information about the time when a predetermined action was taken on the mobile terminals 31 and 32. However, the time when the server 2 receives the bather identification signal may be regarded as the time when the predetermined action was taken. In other words, the bather identification signal does not need to include time information.

[0071] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which two mobile terminals 31, 32 are associated with one water heater 1 (i.e., two bather IDs are associated with the identification ID of one water heater 1), but three or more mobile terminals may be associated with one water heater 1.

[0072] Summary of this disclosure Each of the following sections discloses a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0073] [Item 1] A bathroom system comprising: a server with a memory; a bather detection sensor that detects entry or exit into a bathroom or entry or exit into a bathtub installed in the bathroom; and a transmitting device that transmits detection time data detected by the bather detection sensor to the server; wherein the server receives the detection time data transmitted from the transmitting device, receives a pre-registered bather ID transmitted from the mobile device in response to a predetermined action performed on the mobile device when the user is bathing, and stores detection time data close to the time the predetermined action was performed in the memory in association with the bather ID.

[0074] [Item 2] The bathroom system described in item 1, wherein the specified action is a specified operation performed by the user on the mobile device when entering or leaving the bathroom or when entering or leaving the bathtub.

[0075] [Item 3] The bathroom system described in item 1, wherein the specified action is for the user to bring the mobile terminal close to a short-range wireless communication tag installed in the bathroom or in a changing room adjacent to the bathroom.

[0076] [Item 4] A bathroom system described in any of items 1 to 3, wherein the server associates data of a detection time within a predetermined period based on the time when the specified procedure was performed with the bather ID.

[0077] [Item 5] A bathroom system described in any of items 1 to 4, wherein the transmitting device transmits the detection time data to the server along with the identification ID of the water heater that supplies hot water to the bathroom, the server's memory stores multiple bather IDs associated with the identification ID, and when the server stores the bathing exit time or room exit time data associated with one of the multiple bather IDs as the detection time data in the memory, it notifies mobile terminals pre-registered to other bather IDs among the multiple bather IDs that the bathroom will become available. [Industrial Applicability]

[0078] INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is useful in a bathroom system for recording entry and exit from a bathroom or entry and exit from a bathtub for each user. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 2...server, 6...bathroom, 10...bathtub, 13, 14...bather detection sensor, 20...storage device, 31, 32...mobile terminal, 100...bathroom system

Claims

1. a server equipped with a storage device; a bather detection sensor that detects entry or exit of a bathroom or entry or exit of a bathtub installed in the bathroom; a transmitting device that transmits data of the detection time detected by the bather detection sensor to the server; The server receiving the detection time data transmitted from the transmitting device; receiving a pre-registered bather ID transmitted from the mobile terminal in response to a predetermined action on the mobile terminal when the user is bathing; A bathroom system that stores data of a detection time close to the time when the specified treatment was performed in the memory device in association with the bather ID.

2. The bathroom system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined action is a predetermined operation that the user performs on the mobile terminal when entering or leaving the bathroom or when entering or leaving the bathtub.

3. The bathroom system according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined action is for the user to bring the mobile terminal close to a short-range wireless communication tag installed in the bathroom or in a changing room adjacent to the bathroom.

4. 4. The bathroom system according to claim 1, wherein the server associates data of a detection time within a predetermined period based on the time when the predetermined treatment was performed with the bather ID.

5. the transmitting device transmits to the server the data of the detection time together with an identification ID of the water heater that supplies hot water to the bathroom; The server's storage device stores a plurality of bather IDs associated with the identification ID, A bathroom system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the data on the bathing exit time or the room exit time is stored in the memory in association with one of the multiple bather IDs as the detection time data, the server notifies mobile terminals pre-registered to other bather IDs among the multiple bather IDs that the bathroom will become available.

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