Device management system, communication adapter, device management method, and program

Abstract

To provide an equipment management system, a communication adapter, an equipment management method and a program for reducing the influence of the restriction of the storage capacity of equipment information.SOLUTION: A communication adapter 1 includes an apparatus information notification unit 114 which generates apparatus information notification information including apparatus information associated with the same time information about an illumination device 3 and a sensor 4 belonging to the same class, transmits the apparatus information notification information to a cloud server 2, and deletes apparatus information stored in an apparatus information buffer 121 each time the apparatus information notification information is transmitted. The cloud server 2 includes the equipment information acquisition unit 212 that, upon acquiring the equipment information notification information, stores the equipment information and the time information included in the equipment information notification information in association with each other in the equipment information buffer 221, and the equipment information aggregation unit 213 that, based on the class information, aggregates the equipment information using the equipment information associated with the same time information stored in the equipment information buffer 221.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device management system, a communication adapter, a device management method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A lighting control system has been proposed that includes a network, a plurality of lighting fixtures connected to the network, a center server that is connected to the network and communicates with the lighting fixtures and stores information about the lighting fixtures, and a communication terminal that receives the information about the lighting fixtures stored in the center server (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-129365 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a lighting control system such as that described in Patent Document 1, when the center server is installed in a facility different from the facility where the lighting fixtures are installed, the network is typically separated into a wide area network used for communication between the facilities and a local network established in the facility where the lighting fixtures are installed for communication within the facility. In this case, a communication device is often used that collects lighting fixture information via the local network, consolidates the collected lighting fixture information, and transmits it to the center server via the wide area network. In this case, there is a need to minimize the impact of limitations on the communication device's information storage capacity by reducing the amount of lighting fixture information that needs to be temporarily stored in the communication device.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a device management system, a communication adapter, a device management method, and a program that can reduce the impact of limitations on storage capacity for device information. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the device management system according to the present disclosure includes: a communication adapter capable of communicating with the device via a first network; a device management device that is capable of communicating with the communication adapter via a second network different from the first network and that manages the device; The communication adapter a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when the plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to the device management device; a first device information buffer that temporarily stores device information related to the device; a first device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, the device information of at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in the first device information buffer; a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted; The device management device a second device information buffer that temporarily stores the device information and the group identification information in association with each other; a second device information acquisition unit that, upon acquiring the device information notification information, stores the device information and the group identification information included in the acquired device information notification information in the second device information buffer in association with each other; and a device information aggregating unit that aggregates the device information using the device information associated with the same group identification information stored in the second device information buffer based on the class information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a first device information acquisition unit acquires device information for at least one device associated with group identification information identifying the same group for at least one device belonging to the same class, and stores the device information in a first device information buffer. Then, a device information notification unit generates device information notification information including the device information associated with the same group identification information for devices belonging to the same class and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device. Each time the device information notification information is transmitted, the first device information buffer erases the device information stored therein. This ensures that the first device information buffer always stores only device information associated with the same group identification information for devices belonging to the same class, thereby reducing the storage capacity required for the first device information buffer. Therefore, even if the first device information buffer has a storage capacity constraint for device information, the impact of such a constraint can be reduced. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a device management system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a device management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a device management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a device information storage unit according to the first embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a class information storage unit according to the first embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a communication control process executed by the communication adapter according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device management process executed by a cloud server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a device management system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a communication control process executed by a communication adapter according to a second embodiment. [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device management process executed by a cloud server according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Embodiment 1) A device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The device management system according to the embodiment includes a communication adapter capable of communicating with devices via a first network, and a device management device capable of communicating with the communication adapter via a second network different from the first network and managing the devices. The communication adapter includes a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating multiple classes when multiple devices are classified based on preset classification criteria and transmits the class information to the device management device, a first device information buffer that temporarily stores device information related to the devices, a first device information acquisition unit that acquires device information for at least one device associated with group identification information indicating the same group for at least one device belonging to the same class and stores the device information in the first device information buffer, and a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including device information associated with the same group identification information for devices belonging to the same class and the group identification information and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer each time the device information notification information is transmitted. The device management device also has a second device information buffer that temporarily stores device information and time information in association with each other, a second device information acquisition unit that, upon acquisition of device information notification information, stores the device information and time information included in the acquired device information notification information in the second device information buffer in association with each other, and a device information aggregation unit that aggregates device information using device information associated with the same time information stored in the second device information buffer.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1 , the communication system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 2, a gateway device 7 that acquires information transmitted from lighting devices 3 and sensors 4, and a communication adapter 1 that transmits device information related to the lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 acquired from the gateway device 7 to the cloud server 2. A lighting device group is formed of a plurality of lighting devices 3, and a sensor group is formed of a plurality of sensors 4. A collaboration group is formed of a plurality of collaboration groups each consisting of a lighting device 3 and a sensor 4 that collaborate with each other. The cloud server 2 is a device management device that manages the status of the lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 that can communicate with the communication adapter 1 via a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet and a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as “BBR”) 8. The lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 are each connected to the gateway device 7 in a multi-drop configuration via a signal line. The gateway device 7 is also connected to the communication adapter 1 via a signal line. For example, a signal line conforming to the RS485 standard can be used as the signal line. Furthermore, the cloud server 2 can communicate with a terminal device 5 carried by a user via the wide area network NW1.

[0011] The lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4 are devices each equipped with a wired communication interface for communicating with the gateway device 7 via a signal line, and communicate with the gateway device 7 via the signal line. Each time a device information transmission time arrives for transmitting device information to the gateway device 7, the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4 generate the device information, including preset status information indicating their own status and setting parameter information indicating setting parameters, and transmit the device information to the gateway device 7. Here, the status information is, for example, information indicating an error occurrence status in the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4. Each time a preset device information transmission time arrives, the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4 generate device information notification information, including the device information, device identification information for identifying the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4, and information type information indicating the type of the device identification information, and transmit the device information notification information to the gateway device 7.

[0012] The terminal device 5 is, for example, a smartphone equipped with an input unit, a display unit, and a memory. The display unit is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display, and the input unit is, for example, a transparent touchpad placed on top of the display unit. Assume that a user performs a device information display operation on the display unit via the input unit of the terminal device 5 to display a device information notification image that notifies the user of the operating status of the lighting device 3, the illuminance in the area detected by the sensor 4, and the presence or absence of a person. In this case, the terminal device 5 generates device information request information requesting the cloud server 2 to transmit aggregated device information (described below) and transmits it to the cloud server 2. This device information request information includes aggregated device information identification information that identifies the aggregated device information. Accordingly, the terminal device 5 acquires the device information notification information (described below) transmitted from the cloud server 2, extracts the aggregated device information included in the acquired device information notification information, and stores it in its own memory. The terminal device 5 then uses the aggregated device information stored in the memory to form the aforementioned device information notification image and display it on the display unit.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2 , the gateway device 7 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701, a main memory 702, an auxiliary memory 703, an adapter communication unit 706, a device communication unit 707, a clock unit 708, and a bus 709 connecting these units to one another. The main memory 402 has a volatile memory such as a random access memory (RAM) and is used as a work area for the CPU 401. The auxiliary memory 403 is a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs for the CPU 401 to execute various processes. The adapter communication unit 706 is wired to the communication adapter 1 via a signal line and performs wired communication with the communication adapter 1. The device communication unit 707 is wired to each of the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4 via a signal line and performs wired communication with each of the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4. The adapter communication unit 706 transmits information transferred from the CPU 701 to the communication adapter 1 and transfers information acquired from the communication adapter 1 to the CPU 701. The device communication unit 707 transmits information transferred from the CPU 701 to the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4 via signal lines, and transfers information acquired from the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4 via signal lines to the CPU 701. The clock unit 708 has, for example, a real-time clock.

[0014] In the gateway device 7, the CPU 701 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 703 into the main storage unit 702 and executes them, thereby functioning as a device information acquisition unit 711, a device information notification unit 712, and a collaboration group management unit 713, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 703 shown in Fig. 2 also has a device information storage unit 731 and a collaboration information storage unit 732, as shown in Fig. 3. The device information storage unit 731 stores the device information, which is the above-mentioned device status information and setting parameter information of the lighting devices 3 and sensors 4, in association with device identification information that identifies the corresponding lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 or a collaboration group of the lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 that operate in collaboration with each other, information type information that indicates the type of the device information, and device information transmission date and time information that indicates the date and time of the above-mentioned device information transmission period, as shown in Fig. 4, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 4, at "2024 / 5 / 1 13:00", lighting device A identified by device identification information IDE[1] is in an on state, with a dimming rate of 50%, power consumption of 100 W, and cumulative lighting time of 1 hour.

[0015] Returning to FIG. 3 , the collaboration information storage unit 732 stores the device identification information of each of the lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 included in a collaboration group made up of the lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 that collaborate with each other, setting parameter information indicating setting parameters for the virtual devices realized in the collaboration group, and information type information indicating the type of device information related to the virtual devices realized in the collaboration group, including realized scene information indicating the realized scene in which the virtual devices are realized, in association with the device identification information that identifies the virtual devices realized in the collaboration group.

[0016] When the device information acquisition unit 711 acquires the device information notification information periodically transmitted from the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4, it extracts the device information, device identification information, and information type information included in the acquired device notification information, and stores the extracted information and device information transmission date and time information indicating the date and time when the device information notification information was transmitted in the device information storage unit 731 in association with each other. Here, the device information acquisition unit 711 stores information indicating the date and time when the device information notification information, which is timed by the clock unit 708, was acquired in the device information storage unit 731 as the device information transmission date and time information. The minimum unit of the device information transmission date and time is determined based on the time from when the first device information notification information is acquired to when the last device information notification information is acquired from the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4 when the device information transmission time arrives. For example, if the time from when the first device information notification information is acquired to when the last device information notification information is acquired from the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4 when the device information transmission time arrives is less than 1 minute, the minimum unit of the device information transmission date and time is determined to be 1 minute.

[0017] The collaboration group management unit 713 identifies the lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 that constitute each collaboration group stored in the collaboration information storage unit 432, and generates, for each collaboration group, device information of the virtual devices realized in each collaboration group based on the device information of the identified lighting devices 3 and sensors 4 stored in the device information storage unit 731. Then, the collaboration group management unit 713 stores the generated device information of the virtual devices realized in each collaboration group in the device information storage unit 731 in association with information type information corresponding to each collaboration group stored in the collaboration information storage unit 732 and device identification information that identifies the virtual devices.

[0018] When the device information notification unit 712 receives device information request information (described later) transmitted from the communication adapter 1, it extracts device identification information and information type information included in the received device information request information. The device information notification unit 712 then identifies device information corresponding to the combination of the extracted device identification information and information type information from the device information stored in the device information storage unit 731, generates device information notification information including the identified device information, device identification information, and information type information, and transmits the information to the communication adapter 1. The group of device information, device identification information, and information type information transmitted to the communication adapter 1 in response to the reception of the device information request information constitutes a single group. Furthermore, if the identified device information is identical to the device information corresponding to the same combination of device identification information and information type information as the device information transmitted immediately before the device information transmission, the device information notification unit 712 excludes the device information from the information to be included in the device information notification information to be transmitted to the communication adapter 1. By reducing the size of the device information notification information in this way, the amount of communication between the gateway device 7 and the communication adapter 1 can be reduced.

[0019] The communication adapter 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, an external communication unit 106, an internal communication unit 107, a clock unit 108, and a bus 109 connecting the various units. The main memory unit 102 is a volatile memory such as RAM and is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory unit 103 has a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor memory, functions as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and storage, and stores programs for realizing various functions of the communication adapter 1. The external communication unit 106 includes, for example, a wireless module and performs wireless communication with the BBR 8. The wireless module includes a signal generation circuit that generates wireless signals and an antenna. The internal communication unit 107 is wired to the gateway device 7 via a signal line and performs wired communication with the gateway device 7. The clock unit 108 includes, for example, a real-time clock.

[0020] In the communication adapter 1, the CPU 101 loads a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a class information notification unit 111, a device information request unit 112, a device information acquisition unit 113, and a device information notification unit 114, as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a class information storage unit 131, as shown in FIG. 3. The main storage unit 102 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a device information buffer 121, as shown in FIG. 3. The class information storage unit 131 stores class information indicating multiple classes obtained by classifying device information based on preset classification criteria, in association with class identification information that identifies the classes, as shown in FIG. 5, for example. Here, the classification criteria may be set to, for example, the lighting device 3, the sensor 4, the gateway device 7, the function and use of a virtual device realized by a collaboration group, and the like, which are identified by the device identification information associated with the device information. The class information includes class member information indicating the device identification information of at least one device belonging to the class and the aforementioned information type information indicating the type of device information acquired from the gateway device 7. In the example shown in FIG. 5, device information corresponding to the combination of device identification information IDE[0] that identifies the gateway device 7 and information type information CAI[0] that indicates the information type “device status”, and device information corresponding to the combination of device identification information IDE[1], IDE[2], IDE[3] that identifies the lighting device 3 and information type information CAI[1], CAI[2], CAI[3], CAI[4] that indicate the information types “on / off state”, “dimming rate”, “power consumption”, and “cumulative lighting time”, are each set to a separate class. It also shows that the device information corresponding to the combination of the device identification information IDE[4], IDE[5] that identifies the sensor 4 and the information type information CAI[5], CAI[6] that indicates the information type "illuminance" and "person presence" and the device information corresponding to the combination of the device identification information IDE[6], IDE[7], IDE[8] that identifies the virtual device realized in the collaboration group and the information type information CAI[7], CAI[8], CAI[9] that indicates the information type "on / off state", "dimming rate", "power consumption", and "realized scene" are each set to one separate class.

[0021] Returning to FIG. 3, the device information buffer 121 is a first device information buffer that temporarily stores device information, device identification information, and information type information in association with one another.

[0022] When the communication adapter 1 is started, the class information notification unit 111 generates class notification information including the class information and class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131, and transmits the class notification information to the cloud server 2. Each time a preset device information notification time arrives, the device information request unit 112 selects one piece of class identification information, and then generates device information request information requesting the gateway device 7 to transmit device information, the device information request information including a combination of device identification information and information type information belonging to the same class identified by the selected piece of class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131, and transmits the device information request information to the gateway device 7. At this time, the device information request unit 112 notifies the device information notification unit 114 of request transmission notification information notifying that the device information request information has been transmitted. Furthermore, when the device information request unit 112 obtains from the device information notification unit 114 erasure completion notification information notifying that the device information and time information stored in the device information buffer 121 have been erased, the device information request unit 112 selects another piece of class identification information that has not yet been selected, and then generates the above-mentioned device information request information and transmits it to the gateway device 7. Then, the device information requesting unit 112 repeats the process of selecting one piece of class identification information, then generating and transmitting to the gateway device 7 device information request information including a combination of device identification information and information type information belonging to the same class identified by the selected piece of class identification information, until all of the class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131 has been selected. When the device information requesting unit 112 has selected all of the class identification information, it notifies the device information notifying unit 114 of all-class selection completion notification information notifying that fact.

[0023] Upon receiving device information notification information transmitted from the gateway device 7, the device information acquisition unit 113 extracts the device information, device identification information, and information type information contained in the received device information notification information and stores the extracted information in the device information buffer 121 in association with one another. After the communication adapter 1 is started, or after the aforementioned all-class selection completion notification information is first notified, or after the request transmission notification information is first notified, the device information notification unit 114 generates device information notification information including the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121, and group identification information identifying the group to which the device information stored in the device information buffer 121 belongs. Here, the device information notification unit 114 employs, as the aforementioned group identification information, time information measured by the clock unit 108, indicating the time at which device information notification information including device information to be first transmitted to the cloud server 2 from at least one piece of device information belonging to the same group is to be transmitted. The device information notification unit 114 then transmits the generated device information notification information to the cloud server 2. Furthermore, every time the device information notification unit 114 transmits device information notification information to the cloud server 2, it erases the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121. At this time, the device information notification unit 114 notifies the device information request unit 112 of erasure completion notification information. Furthermore, when the device information notification unit 114 is notified by the device information request unit 112 of all-class selection completion notification information, it stops generating the device information notification information.

[0024] Returning to FIG. 2, cloud server 2 includes CPU 201, main memory unit 202, auxiliary memory unit 203, communication unit 206, and bus 209 connecting the various units. CPU 201 is, for example, a multi-core processor. Main memory unit 202 is made up of volatile memory and is used as a work area for CPU 201. Auxiliary memory unit 203 is made up of large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of cloud server 2. Communication unit 206 is connected to wide area network NW1.

[0025] The CPU 201 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a class information acquisition unit 211, a device information acquisition unit 212, an aggregation possibility determination unit 215, a device information aggregation unit 213, and a device information notification unit 214, as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a class information storage unit 231 and a device information storage unit 232, as shown in FIG. 3. The main storage unit 202 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a device information buffer 221 that temporarily stores device information and time information in association with each other, as shown in FIG. 3. The class information storage unit 231 stores class information indicating the above-mentioned multiple types of classes in association with class identification information that identifies the class. Here, the class information includes class member information indicating device identification information of at least one device belonging to the class and the above-mentioned information type information indicating the type of device information acquired from the gateway device 7.

[0026] The device information storage unit 232 stores aggregated device information including at least one piece of device information associated with time information indicating the same time, information type information indicating the type of the device information, and device identification information corresponding to the device information, in association with aggregated device information identification information that identifies the aggregated device information.

[0027] When the class information acquisition unit 211 acquires class notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 1, it extracts the class information and class identification information contained in the acquired class notification information, associates these pieces of extracted information with each other, and stores them in the class information storage unit 231.

[0028] When the device information acquisition unit 212 acquires device information notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 1, it extracts the device information, device identification information, information type information, and time information included in the acquired device information notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the information in the device information buffer 221. The aggregation feasibility determination unit 215 determines whether the device information buffer 221 stores device information corresponding to combinations of device type information and information type information for all classes stored in the class information storage unit 231. If the aggregation feasibility determination unit 215 determines that the device information buffer 221 stores device information corresponding to combinations of device type information and information type information for all classes, it determines that it is possible to aggregate the device information, device type information, and information type information to generate aggregated device information. On the other hand, if the aggregation feasibility determination unit 215 determines that the device information buffer 221 does not store device information corresponding to combinations of device type information and information type information for any class, it determines that it is impossible to aggregate the device information, device type information, and information type information. Furthermore, when the aggregation possibility determination unit 215 determines that aggregation is possible, it notifies the device information aggregation unit 213 of aggregation possibility notification information.

[0029] When the device information aggregating unit 213 has completed acquisition of device information for all classes and has been notified of aggregation possibility notification information from the aggregation possibility determining unit 215, it generates one piece of aggregated device information including device information, device identification information, and information type information corresponding to the same time information stored in the device information buffer 221, and stores the generated aggregated device information in the device information storage unit 232 in association with aggregated device information identification information that identifies the aggregated device information. When the device information notification unit 214 acquires the above-mentioned device information request information from the terminal device 5, it selects aggregated device information corresponding to the aggregated device information identification information included in the acquired device information request information from the aggregated device information stored in the device information storage unit 232, and generates device information notification information including the selected aggregated device information and transmits it to the terminal device 5.

[0030] Next, the operation of the device management system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 6 and 7. First, as shown in Figure 6, when a startup operation is performed to start up communication adapter 1, communication adapter 1 generates class notification information including class information and class identification information stored in class information storage unit 131 after startup (step S1), and the generated class notification information is transmitted from communication adapter 1 to cloud server 2 (step S2). Meanwhile, when cloud server 2 acquires the class notification information, it extracts the class information and class identification information included in the acquired class notification information, associates these pieces of extracted information with each other, and stores them in class information storage unit 231 (step S3).

[0031] Furthermore, when a preset device information transmission time arrives, the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4 generate device information notification information including the above-mentioned device information related to the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4, device identification information for identifying the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4, and information type information indicating the type of the device identification information (step S4). Then, the generated device information notification information is transmitted from the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4 to the gateway device 7 (step S5). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the device notification information, the gateway device 7 extracts the device information, device identification information, and information type information included in the acquired device notification information, associates these pieces of information with each other, and stores them in the device information storage unit 731 (step S6). Next, the gateway device 7 identifies the lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4 that constitute each collaboration group stored in the collaboration information storage unit 432, and generates device information of virtual devices realized in each collaboration group for each collaboration group based on the device information of the identified lighting devices 3 and the sensors 4 stored in the device information storage unit 731. Then, the gateway device 7 stores the device information of the virtual devices realized in each of the generated collaboration groups in the device information storage unit 731 in association with the information type information corresponding to each collaboration group stored in the collaboration information storage unit 732 and the device identification information that identifies the virtual devices (step S7).

[0032] Next, when a preset device information notification time arrives, the communication adapter 1 selects one piece of class identification information (step S8) and generates device information request information including a combination of device identification information and information type information belonging to the same class identified by the selected piece of class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131 (step S9). The generated device information request information is then transmitted from the communication adapter 1 to the gateway device 7 (step S10). Meanwhile, upon receiving the device information request information, the gateway device 7 extracts the device identification information and information type information included in the received device information request information. The gateway device 7 then identifies device information corresponding to the extracted combination of device identification information and information type information from the device information stored in the device information storage unit 731, and generates device information notification information including the identified device information, device identification information, and device type information (step S11). The generated device information notification information is then transmitted from the gateway device 7 to the communication adapter 1 (step S12). On the other hand, when the communication adapter 1 acquires the device information notification information, it extracts the device information, device identification information, and information type information included in the acquired device information notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the information in the device information buffer 121 (step S13). Next, the communication adapter 1 generates device information notification information including the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121, and time information indicating the time measured by the clock unit 108 (step S14). Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the generated device information notification information is transmitted from the communication adapter 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S15). Thereafter, the communication adapter 1 erases the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121 (step S16). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the device information notification information, it extracts the device information, device identification information, information type information, and time information included in the acquired device information notification information, and associates the extracted information with each other and stores the information in the device information buffer 221 (step S17).Here, if there is a combination of device type information and information type information for all classes stored in the class information storage unit 231 that is not stored in the device information buffer 221, the cloud server 2 determines that the device information, device identification information, and information type information cannot be aggregated (step S18).

[0033] Next, when the communication adapter 1 determines that there is unselected class identification information among the class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131 (step S19), the series of processes from steps S7 to S17 are executed again. At this time, the device information notification information is continuously transmitted from the communication adapter 1 to the cloud server 2. The time interval for continuously transmitting this group of device information notification information corresponding to one group is shorter than the time interval between the transmission of all of the group of device information notification information corresponding to one group and the start of transmission of a group of device information notification information corresponding to another group. Note that the time interval between the transmission of all of the group of device information notification information corresponding to one group and the start of transmission of a group of device information notification information corresponding to another group is set to, for example, about 10 minutes. Next, when the device information buffer 221 stores combinations of device type information and information type information for all classes stored in the class information storage unit 231, the cloud server 2 determines that the device information, device identification information, and information type information can be aggregated (step S20). Thereafter, the cloud server 2 generates information including device information, device identification information, and information type information corresponding to the same time information stored in the device information buffer 221 as one piece of aggregated device information, and stores the generated aggregated device information in the device information storage unit 232 in association with aggregated device information identification information that identifies the aggregated device information (step S21). Furthermore, when the communication adapter 1 has completed transmission of device information notification information to the cloud server 2 for classes identified by all class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131, it determines that selection of all class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131 has been completed (step S22).

[0034] Suppose that the user then performs a device information display operation via the input unit of the terminal device 5 to display the above-mentioned device information notification image on the display unit. In this case, the terminal device 5 generates device information request information including the aggregated device information identification information for the cloud server 2 (step S23), and the generated device information request information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 2 (step S24). Meanwhile, upon receiving the device information request information, the cloud server 2 selects, from the aggregated device information stored in the device information storage unit 232, aggregated device information corresponding to the aggregated device information identification information included in the received device information request information, and generates device information notification information including the selected aggregated device information (step S25). The generated device information notification information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the terminal device 5 (step S26). Meanwhile, upon receiving the device information notification information, the terminal device 5 extracts the aggregated device information included in the received device information notification information and stores it in its own memory (step S27). Next, the terminal device 5 forms the above-mentioned device information notification image using the aggregated device information stored in the memory and displays it on the display unit (step S28).

[0035] Next, the communication control process executed by the communication adapter 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. This communication control process is initiated, for example, when the communication adapter 1 is powered on and the communication adapter 1 is started. First, when the communication adapter 1 is started, the class information notification unit 111 generates class notification information including the class information and class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131, and transmits the class notification information to the cloud server 2 (step S101). Next, the device information requesting unit 112 determines whether a preset device information notification time has arrived (step S102). Here, the device information requesting unit 112 repeatedly executes the process of step S102 unless the device information notification time has arrived (step S102: No). On the other hand, when the device information requesting unit 112 determines that the device information notification time has arrived (step S102: Yes), it selects one piece of class identification information (step S103), generates the above-mentioned device information request information including a combination of device identification information and information type information belonging to the same class identified by the selected piece of class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131, and transmits the generated information to the gateway device 7 (step S104). At this time, the device information requesting unit 112 notifies the device information notifying unit 114 of request transmission notification information notifying that the device information request information has been transmitted. Subsequently, the device information acquiring unit 113 acquires the device information notification information transmitted from the gateway device 7 (step S105), extracts the device information, device identification information, and information type information included in the acquired device information notification information, and stores the extracted information in the device information buffer 121 in association with each other (step S106).

[0036] Thereafter, after receiving the request transmission notification information from the device information requesting unit 112, the device information notifying unit 114 generates device information notification information including the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121, and time information indicating the time measured by the clocking unit 108. Then, the device information notifying unit 114 transmits the generated device information notification information to the cloud server 2 (step S107). Next, every time the device information notifying unit 114 transmits the device information notification information to the cloud server 2, it erases the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121 (step S108). At this time, the device information notifying unit 114 notifies the device information requesting unit 112 of erasure completion notification information notifying that the erasure has been completed.

[0037] Next, upon receiving the above-mentioned deletion completion notification information from the device information notification unit 114, the device information requesting unit 112 determines whether or not the selection of all class identification information has been completed (step S109). If the device information requesting unit 112 determines that there is class identification information that has not yet been selected (step S109: No), it selects another piece of class identification information that has not yet been selected (step S103), and the processing from step S104 onwards is executed again. On the other hand, if the device information requesting unit 112 has selected all class identification information (step S109: Yes), it notifies the device information notification unit 114 of the completion of all class selection notification information informing that effect, and the device information notification unit 114 stops generating the device information notification information. Then, the processing of step S102 is executed again.

[0038] Next, the device management process executed by the cloud server 2 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. This device management process is started, for example, when an application for executing the device management process is launched in the cloud server 2. First, the class information acquisition unit 211 determines whether or not class notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 1 has been acquired (step S201). If the class information acquisition unit 211 determines that class notification information has not been acquired (step S201: No), the process of step S203, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the class information acquisition unit 211 determines that class notification information has been acquired (step S201: Yes), the class information acquisition unit 211 extracts the class information and class identification information included in the acquired class notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the extracted information in the class information storage unit 231 (step S202).

[0039] Next, the device information acquisition unit 212 determines whether or not it has acquired device information notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 1 (step S203). If the device information acquisition unit 212 determines that it has not acquired device information notification information (step S203: No), it executes the processing of step S207, which will be described later. On the other hand, if it determines that it has acquired device information notification information (step S203: Yes), it extracts the device information, device identification information, information type information, and time information included in the acquired device information notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the information in the device information buffer 221 (step S204). Next, the aggregation feasibility determination unit 215 determines whether or not it is possible to aggregate the device information, device identification information, and information type information, based on whether or not the device information buffer 221 stores device information corresponding to combinations of device identification information and information type information for all classes stored in the class information storage unit 231 (step S205). Here, if the device information aggregating unit 213 determines that a class for which acquisition of device information, device identification information, and information type information has not been completed exists and aggregation is not possible (step S205: No), the device information aggregating unit 213 executes the processing of step S207, which will be described later.On the other hand, if the device information aggregating unit 213 determines that aggregation of device information, device identification information, and information type information is possible (step S205: Yes), it aggregates the device information, device identification information, and information type information corresponding to the same time information stored in the device information buffer 221 to generate one piece of aggregated device information, and stores the generated aggregated device information in the device information storage unit 232 in association with the aggregated device information identification information that identifies the aggregated device information (step S206).

[0040] Next, the device information notification unit 214 determines whether or not the above-mentioned device information request information has been acquired from the terminal device 5 (step S207). If the device information notification unit 214 determines that the device information request information has not been acquired (step S207: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the device information notification unit 214 determines that the device information request information has been acquired (step S207: Yes), the device information notification unit 214 selects, from the aggregated device information stored in the device information storage unit 232, aggregated device information corresponding to the aggregated device information identification information included in the acquired device information request information, and generates and transmits device information notification information including the selected aggregated device information to the terminal device 5 (step S208). Thereafter, the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0041] As described above, in the device management system according to the present embodiment, the device information acquisition unit 113 of the communication adapter 1 acquires device information, device identification information, and information type information associated with time information indicating the same time for each lighting device 3, sensor 4, and virtual device realized by a collaboration group that belong to the same class, and stores the acquired information in the device information buffer 121. The device information notification unit 114 then generates device information notification information including the device information associated with the same time information for the same class and the time information, and transmits the generated information to the cloud server 2. Each time the device information notification information is transmitted, the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121 are erased. This ensures that the device information buffer 121 always stores only the device information, device identification information, and information type information associated with the same time information for the same class, thereby reducing the storage capacity required for the device information buffer 121. Therefore, even if the device information buffer 121 has a limited storage capacity, the impact of such a limitation can be reduced.

[0042] Furthermore, the aggregation feasibility determination unit 215 according to this embodiment determines that it is possible to aggregate device information when the device information buffer 221 stores device information corresponding to combinations of device type information and information type information for all classes stored in the class information storage unit 231. On the other hand, the aggregation feasibility determination unit 215 determines that it is impossible to aggregate device information when the device information buffer 221 does not store device information corresponding to combinations of device type information and information type information for any class stored in the class information storage unit 231. Then, when it is determined that it is possible to aggregate device information, the device information aggregation unit 213 aggregates the device information to generate aggregated device information. This makes it possible to prevent device information corresponding to combinations of device type information and information type information for any class stored in the class information storage unit 231 from being omitted from the aggregated device information generated by the device information aggregation unit 213.

[0043] (Embodiment 2) The device management system of this embodiment differs from embodiment 1 in that it includes a split determination unit that, if the total size of multiple device information acquired from multiple devices is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference size, determines to split the device information into at least one device belonging to the same class and acquire it, and, if the size is less than the reference size, determines to acquire all of the multiple device information at once.

[0044] As shown in Fig. 10, the communication system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 2002, a gateway device 2007, and a communication adapter 2001. In Fig. 10, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 3. The hardware configurations of the cloud server 2002, the gateway device 2007, and the communication adapter 2001 are similar to those of the cloud server 2, the gateway device 7, and the communication adapter 1 described in the first embodiment, respectively. Therefore, in this embodiment, the hardware configurations of the cloud server 2002, the gateway device 2007, and the communication adapter 2001 will be described using the reference numerals shown in Fig. 2 as appropriate.

[0045] In the gateway device 2007, the CPU 701 loads into the main memory 702 and executes the programs stored in the auxiliary memory 703, thereby functioning as a device information acquisition unit 711, a device information notification unit 712, a cooperation group management unit 713, and a size information notification unit 2714. When the size information notification unit 2714 receives size information request information (described later) transmitted from the communication adapter 2001, the size information notification unit 2714 references the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731, and specifies the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731 that should be transmitted to the communication adapter 2001 when the device information request information is received from the communication adapter 2001. Here, if the specified device information is identical to device information corresponding to the same combination of device identification information and information type information as the device information at the immediately preceding device information transmission time, the size information notification unit 2714 excludes the device identification information and information type information corresponding to the device information and specifies the size. Then, the size information notification unit 2714 generates size notification information including size information indicating the identified size, and transmits it to the communications adapter 2001 .

[0046] In communication adapter 2001, CPU 101 loads a program stored in auxiliary storage unit 103 into main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as class information notification unit 111, device information request unit 2112, device information acquisition unit 113, device information notification unit 114, size information acquisition unit 2115, division determination unit 2116, and division necessity notification unit 2117. Every time a preset device information notification time arrives, size information acquisition unit 2115 generates size information request information requesting gateway device 2007 to transmit size information indicating the sizes of the device information, device identification information, and information type information to be transmitted to communication adapter 2001, and transmits the size information request information to gateway device 2007. As a result, size information acquisition unit 2115 acquires the size notification information transmitted from gateway device 2007, and notifies division determination unit 2116 of the size information included in the acquired size notification information.

[0047] The division determination unit 2116 determines whether the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information acquired from the lighting device 3 and the sensor 4, indicated by the size information notified by the size information acquisition unit 2115, is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference size. This reference size is set, for example, based on the storage capacity of the device information buffer 121. Specifically, it is set to a size equal to or smaller than the storage capacity of the device information buffer 121. If the aforementioned size is equal to or larger than the reference size, the division determination unit 2116 determines to divide the device information, device identification information, and information type information by class and acquire them from the gateway device 2007. On the other hand, if the aforementioned size is smaller than the reference size, the division determination unit 2116 determines to acquire all of the device information, device identification information, and information type information to be transmitted to the communication adapter 2001 from the gateway device 2007 at once. If it is determined that the device information, device identification information, and information type information should be divided by class and acquired from the gateway device 2007, the division necessity notification unit 2117 transmits division necessity notification information to the cloud server 2002. On the other hand, when it is determined that the device information, device identification information, and information type information to be sent to the communication adapter 2001 can be acquired all at once from the gateway device 2007, the division necessity notification unit 2117 sends division unnecessary notification information to the cloud server 2002.

[0048] When the division determination unit 2116 determines that the device information, device identification information, and information type information should be divided by class and acquired from the gateway device 2007, the device information request unit 2112 selects one piece of class identification information as in the first embodiment, and then generates device information request information including a combination of device identification information and information type information belonging to the same class identified by the selected piece of class identification information, and transmits the generated information to the gateway device 2007. Then, when the device information request unit 2112 acquires erasure completion notification information from the device information notification unit 114, the device information request unit 2112 identifies one other piece of class identification information that has not yet been selected, and then generates and transmits the device information request information to the gateway device 2007. This process is repeated until all of the class identification information stored in the class information storage unit 131 has been selected. On the other hand, when the division determination unit 2116 determines that all of the device information, device identification information, and information type information to be transmitted to the communication adapter 2001 should be acquired from the gateway device 2007 at one time, the device information request unit 2112 generates device information request information requesting that all of the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731 of the gateway device 2007 be transmitted at one time, and transmits the device information request information to the gateway device 2007. In this case, immediately after transmitting the device information request information, the device information request unit 2112 notifies the device information notification unit 114 of the all-class selection completion notification information described in the first embodiment.

[0049] 3 , the CPU 201 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as a class information acquisition unit 211, a device information acquisition unit 212, a device information aggregation unit 2213, a device information notification unit 214, an aggregation possibility determination unit 215, and a division necessity information acquisition unit 2216. When the division necessity information acquisition unit 2215 acquires division necessity notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 2001, it determines that aggregation of the device information, device identification information, and information type information divided for each class is necessary, and notifies the aggregation necessity notification information to the aggregation possibility determination unit 215 and the device information aggregation unit 2213. On the other hand, when the division necessity information acquisition unit 2215 acquires division no-notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 2001, it determines that aggregation of the device information, device identification information, and information type information is not necessary, and notifies the device information aggregation unit 2213 of the aggregation no-notification information.

[0050] When aggregation required notification information is notified from the division necessity information acquisition unit 2215, or when aggregation possible notification information is notified from the aggregation feasibility determination unit 215, the device information aggregation unit 2213 generates one piece of aggregated device information including device information, device identification information, and information type information corresponding to the same time information stored in the device information buffer 221, and stores the generated aggregated device information in the device information storage unit 232 in association with aggregated device information identification information that identifies the aggregated device information. On the other hand, when aggregation not required notification information is notified from the division necessity information acquisition unit 2215, the device information aggregation unit 2213 stores the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 221 in association with each other as is in the device information storage unit 232.

[0051] Next, the operation of the device management system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 6 and 7. Also in this embodiment, the series of processes from step S1 to step S3 described in the first embodiment are executed when the communication adapter 2001 is started. First, as shown in FIG. 11, when a preset device information transmission time arrives, the communication adapter 2001 generates size information request information requesting transmission of size information indicating the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731 of the gateway device 2007 (step S2001). The generated size information request information is then transmitted from the communication adapter 2001 to the gateway device 2007 (step S2002). On the other hand, when the gateway device 2007 receives the size information request information, it identifies the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731, and generates size notification information including size information indicating the identified size (step S2003).The generated size notification information is then transmitted from the gateway device 2007 to the communication adapter 2001 (step S2004).

[0052] Here, it is assumed that communication adapter 2001 determines that the size indicated by the size information included in the acquired size notification information is equal to or larger than the reference size and that the device information, device identification information, and information type information must be divided by class and acquired from gateway device 2007, i.e., division is required (step S2005). In this case, the aforementioned division notification required information is transmitted from communication adapter 2001 to cloud server 2002 (step S2006). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the division notification required information, cloud server 2002 determines that the device information, device identification information, and information type information divided by class must be aggregated (step S2007). Next, a series of processes from step S8 to step S21 described in the first embodiment is executed.

[0053] 12, after the series of processes from step S2001 to step S2003 described above has been executed, the communication adapter 2001 determines that the size indicated by the size information included in the acquired size notification information is less than the reference size and that the device information, device identification information, and information type information are to be acquired all at once from the gateway device 2007, i.e., that segmentation is not necessary (step S2008). In this case, the communication adapter 2001 transmits the aforementioned no-segmentation notification information to the cloud server 2002 (step S2009). Meanwhile, upon receiving the no-segmentation notification information, the cloud server 2002 determines that aggregation of the device information, device identification information, and information type information is not necessary (step S2010). The communication adapter 2001 also generates device information request information requesting that the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731 of the gateway device 2007 be transmitted all at once (step S2011). The generated device information request information is then transmitted from the communication adapter 2001 to the gateway device 2007 (step S2012).

[0054] On the other hand, when the gateway device 2007 acquires the device information request information, it generates device information notification information including all device information, device identification information, and device type information to be transmitted to the communication adapter 2001 (step S2013). Then, the generated device information notification information is transmitted from the gateway device 7 to the communication adapter 1 (step S2014). On the other hand, when the communication adapter 2001 acquires the device information notification information, it extracts the device information, device identification information, and information type information included in the acquired device information notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the information in the device information buffer 121 (step S2015). Next, the communication adapter 2001 generates device information notification information including the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121, and time information indicating the time measured by the clock unit 108 (step S2016). Then, the generated device information notification information is transmitted from the communication adapter 2001 to the cloud server 2002 (step S2017). Thereafter, communication adapter 2001 erases the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in device information buffer 121 (step S2018). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the device information notification information, cloud server 2002 extracts the device information, device identification information, information type information, and time information contained in the acquired device information notification information, and stores the extracted information in device information buffer 221 in association with each other (step S2019).

[0055] Next, the communication control process executed by the communication adapter 2001 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13. Note that in FIG. 13, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8. First, after the process of step S101 is executed, the size information acquisition unit 2115 determines whether the device information notification time described in the first embodiment has arrived (step S102). Here, the size information acquisition unit 2115 repeatedly executes the process of step S102 unless the device information notification time has arrived (step S102: No). On the other hand, if the size information acquisition unit 2115 determines that the device information notification time has arrived (step S102: Yes), it generates the above-mentioned size information request information and transmits it to the gateway device 2007 (step S2101). As a result, the size information acquisition unit 2115 acquires the size notification information transmitted from the gateway device 2007 (step S2102). At this time, the size information acquisition unit 2115 notifies the division determination unit 2116 of the size information included in the acquired size notification information.

[0056] Next, the division determination unit 2116 determines whether the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information indicated by the size information notified from the size information acquisition unit 2115 is equal to or larger than a preset reference size, thereby determining whether division of the device information, device identification information, and information type information into classes is required (step S2103). If the division determination unit 2116 determines that the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information indicated by the size information is equal to or larger than the preset reference size and that division into classes is required (step S2103: Yes), the series of processes from step S103 to step S109 described in the first embodiment is executed. At this time, the division necessity notification unit 2117 transmits the above-mentioned division necessity notification information to the cloud server 2002. On the other hand, if the division determination unit 2116 determines that the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information indicated by the size information is smaller than the reference size and that division into classes is not required (step S2103: No), it transmits the above-mentioned division unnecessary notification information to the cloud server 2002.

[0057] Then, the device information requesting unit 2112 generates device information request information requesting that all of the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731 of the gateway device 2007 be transmitted at once, and transmits the generated device information request information to the gateway device 2007 (step S2104). At this time, the device information requesting unit 2112 notifies the device information notifying unit 114 of the request transmission notification information and all-class selection completion notification information described in the first embodiment. Next, the device information acquiring unit 113 acquires the device information notification information transmitted from the gateway device 2007 (step S2105), extracts the device information, device identification information, and information type information included in the acquired device information notification information, and stores the extracted information in the device information buffer 121 in association with each other (step S2106).

[0058] Subsequently, after receiving the request transmission notification information from the device information requesting unit 112, the device information notifying unit 114 generates device information notification information including the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121, and time information indicating the time measured by the clocking unit 108. Then, the device information notifying unit 114 transmits the generated device information notification information to the cloud server 2 (step S2107). Next, every time the device information notifying unit 114 transmits the device information notification information to the cloud server 2, it erases the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 121 (step S2108). At this time, the device information notifying unit 114 notifies the device information requesting unit 2112 of erasure completion notification information notifying that the erasure has been completed.

[0059] Next, the device management process executed by the cloud server 2002 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 14. Note that in FIG. 14, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9. After a series of processes from step S201 to step S204 are executed, the division necessity information acquisition unit 2215 determines whether or not aggregation of the device information, device identification information, and information type information is required (step S2201). Here, if the division necessity information acquisition unit 2215 acquires division necessity notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 2001 and determines that aggregation of the device information, device identification information, and information type information divided by class is required (step S2201: Yes), the process from step S205 onwards is executed. On the other hand, it is assumed that the division necessity information acquisition unit 2215 acquires division unnecessary notification information transmitted from the communication adapter 2001 and determines that aggregation of the device information, device identification information, and information type information is not required (step S2201: No). In this case, when the device information aggregating unit 2213 receives aggregation-unnecessary notification information from the division necessity information acquiring unit 2215, the device information aggregating unit 2213 associates the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information buffer 221 with each other and stores them in the device information storage unit 232 (step S2202). Then, the processes from step S207 onward are executed.

[0060] As described above, in the device management system according to the present embodiment, if the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information stored in the device information storage unit 731 of the gateway device 2007 to be transmitted to the communication adapter 2001 is equal to or larger than the reference size, the division determination unit 2116 of the communication adapter 2001 determines to divide the device information, device identification information, and information type information by class and acquire the information from the gateway device 2007. On the other hand, if the size is smaller than the reference size, the division determination unit 2116 determines to acquire the entire device information, device identification information, and information type information from the gateway device 2007 at one time. Then, the device information acquisition unit 113 acquires the device information, device identification information, and information type information from the gateway device 2007 in accordance with the determination result of the division determination unit 2116. This makes it possible to minimize the number of times that device information notification information is transmitted from the communication adapter 2001 to the cloud server 2002, depending on the overall size of the device information, device identification information, and information type information to be transmitted to the communication adapter 2001. Therefore, the number of communications from the communication adapter 2001 to the cloud server 2002 can be reduced, thereby shortening the communication time.

[0061] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in each embodiment, the communication adapter 1, 2001 may generate class notification information not only when the communication adapter 1, 2001 is started, but also periodically after the start-up, and transmit the generated class notification information to the cloud server 2, 2002. Alternatively, the communication adapter 1, 2001 may generate class notification information including the updated class information every time the class information stored in the class information storage unit 131 is updated after the start-up of the communication adapter 1, 2001, and transmit the generated class notification information to the cloud server 2, 2002.

[0062] In each embodiment, an example has been described in which the device information notifying unit 114 employs, as the group identification information, time information indicating the time at which device information notification information including device information that is to be first transmitted to the cloud server 2 from among at least one piece of device information belonging to the same group. However, the group identification information is not limited to time information, and for example, the gateway device 7, 2007 may employ a count value that is incremented by a unit number each time device information notification information corresponding to one group is transmitted, and that can uniquely identify the group to which device information transmitted to the communication adapter 1, 2001 within a preset period belongs.

[0063] Furthermore, the various functions of the communication adapter 1 and cloud server 2 according to the present disclosure may be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware may be written as a program, and the program may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or MO (Magneto-Optical Disc), and the program may be read and installed on a computer to configure a computer capable of realizing each of the above-described functions. Furthermore, if each function is realized by sharing the work between an operating system (OS) and an application, or by cooperation between the OS and an application, only the parts other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0064] Furthermore, each program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed via a communication network. For example, the program can be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communication network and distributed via the network. These programs can then be launched and run under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-mentioned processing to be performed.

[0065] 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. In other words, 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.

[0066] Various aspects of the present disclosure are summarized below as appendices.

[0067] (Appendix 1) a communication adapter capable of communicating with the device via a first network; a device management device that is capable of communicating with the communication adapter via a second network different from the first network and that manages the device; The communication adapter a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when the plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to the device management device; a first device information buffer that temporarily stores device information related to the device; a first device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, the device information of at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in the first device information buffer; a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted; The device management device a second device information buffer that temporarily stores the device information and the group identification information in association with each other; a second device information acquisition unit that, upon acquiring the device information notification information, stores the device information and the group identification information included in the acquired device information notification information in the second device information buffer in association with each other; a device information aggregation unit that aggregates the device information using the device information associated with the same group identification information stored in the second device information buffer based on the class information, Equipment management system. (Appendix 2) the device management device further comprises an aggregation possibility determination unit that determines that the device information can be aggregated when the second device information buffer stores the device information for all classes indicated by the class information notified from the communication adapter, and determines that the device information cannot be aggregated when the second device information buffer does not store the device information for any of the classes indicated by the class information, the device information aggregating unit aggregates the device information when it is determined that the device information can be aggregated; 1. An equipment management system as described in Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) the group identification information is time information that reflects a time when the device information notification information is to be transmitted to the device management device; 3. An equipment management system according to claim 1 or 2. (Appendix 4) a division determination unit that determines to divide and acquire the device information for at least one of the devices belonging to the same class when the size of information to be acquired by the communication adapter including all of the device information for a plurality of devices belonging to a group with the same group identification information is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference size, and determines to acquire all of the device information for a plurality of devices at once when the size is less than the reference size; 4. The device management system of any one of appendices 1 to 3. (Appendix 5) the reference size is set based on the storage capacity of the first device information buffer. 10. The equipment management system described in Appendix 4. (Appendix 6) a communication adapter capable of communicating with a device via a first network and capable of communicating with a device management device that manages the device via a second network different from the first network, a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when the plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to the device management device; a first device information buffer that temporarily stores device information related to the device; a first device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, the device information of at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in the first device information buffer; a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted, Communications adapter. (Appendix 7) 1. A device management method executed by a device management system including: a communication adapter capable of communicating with a device via a first network; and a device management device capable of communicating with the communication adapter via a second network different from the first network and managing the device, comprising: a step in which the communication adapter generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when the plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to the device management device; the communication adapter acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, device information related to the at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in a first device information buffer that temporarily stores the device information; the communication adapter generating device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmitting the device information notification information to the device management device, and erasing the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted; when the device management device acquires the device information notification information, the device management device associates the device information and the group identification information included in the acquired device information notification information with each other and temporarily stores them in a second device information buffer; a step in which the device management device aggregates the device information using the device information associated with the same group identification information stored in the second device information buffer based on the class information, Equipment management method. (Appendix 8) Computer, a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when a plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to a device management device that manages the devices; a first device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of at least one of the devices belonging to the same class, device information related to the at least one of the devices associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in a first device information buffer that temporarily stores the device information; a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted; A program to function as a [Industrial Applicability]

[0068] The present disclosure is suitable for a communication system equipped with a HEMS installed in a home. [Explanation of symbols]

[0069] 1,2001 Communication adapter, 2,2002 Cloud server, 3 Lighting device, 4 Sensor, 5 Terminal device, 7,2007 Gateway device, 8 BBR, 101,201,701 CPU, 102,202,702 Main memory unit, 103,203,703 Auxiliary memory unit, 106 External communication unit, 107 Internal communication unit, 108,708 Timekeeping unit, 109,209,709 Bus, 111 Class information notification unit, 112,2112 Device information request unit, 113,212,711 Device information acquisition unit, 114,214,712 Device information notification unit, 121,221 Device information buffer, 131,231 Class information storage unit, 206 Communication unit, 211 Class information acquisition unit, 213,2213 Device information aggregation unit, 215 aggregation possibility determination unit, 232 device information storage unit, 706 adapter communication unit, 707 device communication unit, 713 collaboration group management unit, 732 collaboration information storage unit, 2115 size information acquisition unit, 2116 division determination unit, 2117 division necessity notification unit, 2216 division necessity information acquisition unit, NW1 wide area network

Claims

1. a communication adapter capable of communicating with the device via a first network; a device management device that is capable of communicating with the communication adapter via a second network different from the first network and that manages the device; The communication adapter a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when the plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to the device management device; a first device information buffer for temporarily storing device information related to the device; a first device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, the device information of at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in the first device information buffer; a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted, The device management device a second device information buffer that temporarily stores the device information and the group identification information in association with each other; a second device information acquisition unit that, upon acquiring the device information notification information, stores the device information and the group identification information included in the acquired device information notification information in the second device information buffer in association with each other; a device information aggregation unit that aggregates the device information using the device information associated with the same group identification information stored in the second device information buffer based on the class information, Equipment management system.

2. the device management device further includes an aggregation possibility determination unit that determines that the device information can be aggregated when the second device information buffer stores the device information for all classes indicated by the class information notified from the communication adapter, and determines that the device information cannot be aggregated when the second device information buffer does not store the device information for any of the classes indicated by the class information, the device information aggregating unit aggregates the device information when it is determined that the device information can be aggregated; The device management system according to claim 1 .

3. the group identification information is time information that reflects a time when the device information notification information is to be transmitted to the device management device; The device management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. a division determination unit that determines, when a size of information to be acquired by the communication adapter including all of the device information of a plurality of devices belonging to a group with the same group identification information is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference size, to divide the device information into pieces for at least one of the devices belonging to the same class and acquire the pieces of device information, and that determines, when the size is less than the reference size, to acquire all of the device information of the plurality of devices at once; The device management system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. the reference size is set based on the storage capacity of the first device information buffer. The device management system according to claim 4 .

6. a communication adapter capable of communicating with a device via a first network and capable of communicating with a device management device that manages the device via a second network different from the first network, a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when the plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to the device management device; a first device information buffer for temporarily storing device information related to the device; a first device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, the device information of at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in the first device information buffer; a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted, Communications adapter.

7. 1. A device management method executed by a device management system including: a communication adapter capable of communicating with a device via a first network; and a device management device capable of communicating with the communication adapter via a second network different from the first network and managing the device, comprising: a step in which the communication adapter generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when the plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to the device management device; the communication adapter acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, device information related to the at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in a first device information buffer that temporarily stores the device information; the communication adapter generating device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmitting the device information notification information to the device management device, and erasing the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted; when the device management device acquires the device information notification information, the device management device associates the device information and the group identification information included in the acquired device information notification information with each other and temporarily stores them in a second device information buffer; a step of the device management device aggregating the device information using the device information associated with the same group identification information stored in the second device information buffer based on the class information, Equipment management method.

8. Computer, a class information notification unit that generates class information indicating a plurality of types of classes when a plurality of devices are classified based on a preset classification criterion, and transmits the class information to a device management device that manages the devices; a first device information acquisition unit that acquires, for each of the at least one device belonging to the same class, device information related to the at least one device associated with group identification information that identifies the same group, and stores the device information in a first device information buffer that temporarily stores the device information; a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including the device information belonging to the same class and associated with the same group identification information and the group identification information, and transmits the device information notification information to the device management device, and erases the device information stored in the first device information buffer every time the device information notification information is transmitted; A program to function as a

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