Facility equipment management system

Abstract

To provide a facility equipment management system for updating software as quickly as possible while confirming the intention of a user.SOLUTION: The equipment management system for updating software used in an equipment control part G for controlling operation of equipment 20 installed in a facility 3 is provided with an information storage part 12 for storing update software for updating the software used in the equipment control part G, an information output part 13 for outputting notice information for starting update processing by the update software to a user, an input reception part 14 for receiving input of information from the user, and an update processing part 11a for starting update processing when the input reception part 14 does not receive input of a stop instruction or a delay instruction of the update processing from the user within a prescribed period after the information output part 13 outputs the notice information to the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an equipment management system. [Background technology]

[0002] The water heater (10) described in Patent Document 1 (JP 2022-97297 A) includes a water heater (11) and remote controllers (bathroom remote control 12, kitchen remote control 13). Hot water generated by the water heater (11) is supplied to a kitchen faucet, a bathtub, a faucet, a floor heating function, a bathroom heating function, a panel heater, etc.

[0003] In the water heating apparatus (10) described in Patent Document 1, a kitchen remote control (12) is configured to be able to communicate with a server (20) via a router (30) and an external communication network (40). It is also described that, when a defect is found in firmware installed in the water heating apparatus (10), the server (20) transmits update firmware for updating the firmware to the water heating apparatus (10) via the external communication network (40). Examples of update firmware described include firmware for the first control unit (111) or the second control unit (113) of the water heater (11), firmware for the control unit (123) of the bathroom remote control (12), and firmware for the control unit (133) of the kitchen remote control (13).

[0004] It is also described that the actual update work using the update firmware is performed when an operation to start the update is performed on the display input section (131) of the kitchen remote control (13) or when a preset late-night time period has arrived when hot water supply operation is not in progress. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-97297 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Generally, software updates such as those described above are intended to resolve defects or add functions, and therefore need to be performed as quickly as possible. However, software updates require the affected devices to be restarted, which can cause problems, such as the devices being unavailable during the update and restart. In particular, when updating software for remote controllers that control the operation of multiple equipment, such as hot water heaters and heating appliances, the larger the software capacity, the longer the time required for the update, which can result in longer periods during which users are unable to use the equipment, such as hot water heaters and heating appliances.

[0007] Therefore, to avoid software update work being performed while the user is using the equipment, or software update being performed automatically regardless of the user's wishes when the user is about to start using the equipment, it is preferable to obtain the user's approval in advance for software update work to be performed.

[0008] However, if user approval is required, software updates cannot be performed until user approval is obtained, which results in the problem that the operation of equipment may continue to be controlled by faulty software or software with limited functionality.

[0009] In the case of the water heater described in Patent Document 1, if the start condition for the software update is set to an operation to start the update on the display / input unit (131) of the kitchen remote control (13), the software will not be updated unless the operation to start the update is performed. As a result, the water heater, heating equipment, etc. will continue to be controlled by faulty software, which may cause inconvenience to users of the water heater.

[0010] Furthermore, in the case of the water heater described in Patent Document 1, if the start condition for the software update is set to a preset late-night time period when the water heater is not operating, the software update will be started without confirming the intention of the user of the water heater, which is undesirable. For example, since users may take a bath or use the heater even in the middle of the night, there is a possibility that the software update will be performed at a time when the user is about to use the device, which is undesirable.

[0011] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an equipment management system that can update software as quickly as possible while confirming the user's intentions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] A characteristic configuration of the facility equipment management system according to the present invention for achieving the above object is an facility equipment management system that updates software used in an equipment control unit that controls the operation of facility equipment installed in a facility, comprising: an information storage unit that stores update software for updating the software used in the equipment control unit; an information output unit that outputs advance notice information to a user that an update process using the update software will be started; an input receiving unit that receives information input from the user; The present invention is characterized in that it is provided with an update processing unit that starts the update processing if the input receiving unit does not receive an input from the user to cancel or postpone the update processing within a specified period after the information output unit outputs the advance notice information to the user.

[0013] According to the above characteristic configuration, the information output unit outputs to the user advance notice information that the update process using the update software will begin, and the update processing unit starts the update process if the input receiving unit does not receive an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process from the user within a predetermined period after the information output unit outputs the advance notice information to the user. In other words, the user can express their desire to cancel or postpone the update process, or they can also not express their desire to cancel or postpone the update process.

[0014] If the input receiving unit does not receive a user's expression of intent to cancel or postpone the update process, the update process will begin, so the software used in the equipment control unit can be quickly updated and kept up to date. Therefore, if the user is not using or preparing to use the equipment, it is unlikely that the user will express an intent to cancel or postpone the update process, which has the advantage that the update process for the software used in the equipment control unit will be quickly carried out. Therefore, it is possible to provide an equipment management system that can update software as quickly as possible while confirming the user's intention.

[0015] Another characteristic configuration of the facility equipment management system of the present invention is that the update processing unit does not start the update processing if the input receiving unit receives input of the cancellation instruction or the postponement instruction during the specified period.

[0016] According to the above characteristic configuration, if the input receiving unit receives a user's expression of intent to cancel or postpone the update process, the update process will not be performed. In other words, if the user is using or preparing to use the facility equipment, the user can express their intent to cancel or postpone the update process, and the update process for the software used by the facility control unit will not be performed, allowing the facility equipment to continue to be used.

[0017] Another characteristic feature of the facility equipment management system of the present invention is that the advance notice information includes information requesting the user to input an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process, but does not include information requesting the user to input an instruction to execute the update process.

[0018] If the notice information includes information requesting the user to input an instruction to execute the update process, the user cannot be considered to have consented to the start of the update process using the update software unless the user inputs an instruction to execute the update process. As a result, the update process cannot be carried out unless the user inputs an instruction to execute the update process. However, in this characteristic configuration, the advance notice information output to the user about the start of update processing using the update software includes information requesting the user to input an instruction to cancel or postpone the update processing, but does not include information requesting the user to input an instruction to execute the update processing. As a result, if the user does not input an instruction to cancel or postpone the update processing, it can be assumed that the user has agreed to the start of update processing using the update software, and the update processing can be carried out.

[0019] Another characteristic configuration of the facility equipment management system according to the present invention includes an information communication unit that communicates with a server connected via an information communication line, The information storage unit stores the update software received by the information communication unit from the server.

[0020] According to the above characteristic configuration, the software used in the facility equipment can be updated using update software received from the server. As a result, if a defect is found in the software used in the facility equipment or if a function needs to be added to the software used in the facility equipment, update software for resolving the defect or adding the function can be sent from the server to the facility equipment management system, and the update process can be performed quickly by the facility equipment management system. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a facility in which an equipment device management system according to a first embodiment is installed. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of advance notice information output to an information output unit. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a facility in which an equipment device management system according to a second embodiment is installed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] First Embodiment An equipment device management system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a facility 3 in which an equipment management system according to a first embodiment is installed. As shown in the figure, the facility 3, such as a residence or a business office, is configured to be able to communicate with a server 1 via an information communication line 2. The facility 3 is equipped with equipment 20, remote controls 10 (10A, 10B), and a router 4. For example, the remote control 10A is a kitchen remote control installed in the kitchen of a residence serving as the facility 3, and the remote control 10B is a bathroom remote control installed in the bathroom of the residence serving as the facility 3. The number of remote controls installed in the facility 3 can be changed as appropriate.

[0023] In the facility 3, the remote control 10A and the router 4 are connected using a private network 5 inside the facility 3. A terminal device 6 used by a user of the facility 3 can also be connected to this private network 5. The remote control 10A and the terminal device 6 can communicate with each other, and can also communicate with a server 1 outside the facility 3 via the router 4. Although this embodiment shows a configuration in which the remote control 10A communicates with the server 1, a configuration in which the remote control 10B communicates with the server 1 may also be used.

[0024] The facility equipment 20 is, for example, a water heater that generates hot water, a power generator that generates power, or a heating equipment that provides heating. The facility equipment 20 includes an operating unit 21, a control unit 22, and an information storage unit 23. When the facility equipment 20 is a water heater, the operating unit 21 includes a heater that generates hot water, etc. When the facility equipment 20 is a power generator, the operating unit 21 includes a power generator, etc. When the facility equipment 20 is a heating equipment, the operating unit 21 includes a heater that heats a heat medium, etc. In the facility equipment 20, the control unit 22 controls the operation of the operating unit 21.

[0025] The remote control 10A is a device that can issue operation commands to the facility equipment 20, such as the water heater, and display the operating status of the facility equipment 20. The remote control 10A of this embodiment includes a control unit 11 that processes information handled by the remote control 10A, an information storage unit 12 that stores the information handled by the remote control 10A, an information output unit 13 that outputs the information handled by the remote control 10A to the user, an input acceptance unit 14 that accepts information input from the user, and an information communication unit 15 that communicates information between the remote control 10A and other devices. The control unit 11 of this embodiment has the functions of an facility control unit G and an update processing unit 11a, as will be described later.

[0026] Information output unit 13 can be realized using a display device capable of displaying and outputting text and images, or a device capable of outputting sound. Input reception unit 14 can be realized using a physical operation unit or an operation unit set as an image on the screen of a touch-panel display device. Input reception unit 14 receives from the user an input of the target temperature of the hot water to be supplied from the hot water heater as facility equipment 20, and receives from the user a command to start filling the bath. Information output unit 13 then outputs the target temperature as text, an image, a sound, or the like, and outputs a command to start filling the bath as text, an image, a sound, or the like.

[0027] The control unit 11 of the remote control 10A has the function of an equipment control unit G that controls the operation of the equipment 20. For example, when a user inputs an instruction to start filling a bathtub into the input receiving unit 14, the equipment control unit G performs control in response to the input, such as instructing the control unit 22 of the equipment 20, which is a hot water heater, to start the operation of filling the bathtub. Then, in the equipment 20, the control unit 22 controls the operation of the operating unit 21.

[0028] The information storage unit 12 of the remote control 10A stores software for properly operating the equipment control unit G. Such software may be updated to resolve malfunctions, add functions, or the like. For example, the update software is stored at a predetermined update software installation URL, such as on the server 1. The control unit 11 accesses the update software installation URL at predetermined times, such as once or several times a day. If the version information and update date and time of the software for the equipment control unit G stored in the information storage unit 12 of the remote control 10A differ from the version information and update date and time of the update software stored at the update software installation URL, the control unit 11 determines that new software has been installed and downloads the update software from the server 1 and stores it in the information storage unit 12. The control unit 11 then performs an update process using the update software, as described below.

[0029] The facility equipment management system of this embodiment is a system that can update software used in an equipment control unit G of a remote control 10A that controls the operation of facility equipment 20 installed in a facility 3. To this end, in this embodiment, the information storage unit 12 stores update software for updating the software used in the equipment control unit G. The information output unit 13 outputs advance notice information to a user that an update process using the update software will begin. The input receiving unit 14 receives information input from the user. The update processing unit 11a realized by the control unit 11 starts the update process when the input receiving unit 14 does not receive an input from the user of an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process (i.e., when the user does not issue an instruction to cancel or postpone) within a predetermined period after the information output unit 13 outputs the advance notice information to the user.

[0030] 1, in this embodiment, the equipment control unit G and the update processing unit 11a are provided in the remote control 10A. That is, in this embodiment, an example will be described in which software used by the equipment control unit G of the remote control 10A, which controls the operation of the facility device 20, is updated with update software. In addition, the information storage unit 12, the information output unit 13, and the input receiving unit 14 are provided in the remote control 10A, which is connected to the facility device 20 so as to be able to communicate information with it.

[0031] The facility equipment management system includes an information communication unit 15 that communicates with the server 1 connected to the remote control 10A via an information communication line 2, and as described above, the information storage unit 12 stores the update software that the information communication unit 15 receives from the server 1.

[0032] The timing at which the information output unit 13 outputs the above-mentioned notice information can be set as appropriate. For example, the information output unit 13 may output the notice information at the timing when the update software downloaded from the server 1 is stored in the information storage unit 12 of the remote control 10A. Alternatively, a timing when the frequency of use of the facility device 20 by the user is low (for example, a predetermined timing between 2:00 and 4:00) may be stored in advance in the information storage unit 12 as the notice timing, and the information output unit 13 may output the notice information when the notice timing arrives after the update software downloaded from the server 1 is stored in the information storage unit 12 of the remote control 10A.

[0033] 2 is a diagram showing an example of advance notice information output to the information output unit 13. The advance notice information includes information requesting the user to input an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process, but does not include information requesting the user to input an instruction to execute the update process.

[0034] In the illustrated example, advance notice information including information that update software is available and information informing the user that the facility device 20 will be unavailable for a certain period of time if the update process using the update software is started is output to the user, such as "Update software is available. The device will be unavailable during the update. Do you want to cancel the update?". Information that the update process can be canceled is also output to the user. Note that the advance notice information shown in FIG. 2 is provided for illustrative purposes, and its content can be changed as appropriate. For example, instead of "Do you want to cancel the update?", it may be expressed as "Do you want to postpone the update?".

[0035] Furthermore, the information output unit 13 may output the period during which the facility device 20 will become unusable due to the update process as a specific numerical value.

[0036] If the advance notice information includes information requesting the user to input an instruction to execute the update process, the user cannot be considered to have agreed to the start of the update process using the update software unless the user inputs an instruction to execute the update process. Therefore, the update process cannot be performed unless the user inputs an instruction to execute the update process. However, in the facility device management system of this embodiment, the advance notice information output to the user regarding the start of the update process using the update software includes information requesting the user to input an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process, but does not include information requesting the user to input an instruction to execute the update process. As a result, unless the user inputs an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process, the user can be considered to have agreed to the start of the update process using the update software, and the update process can be performed.

[0037] If the input receiving unit 14 receives a cancel instruction or a postpone instruction within a predetermined period (e.g., 3 minutes, 5 minutes, etc.) after the information output unit 13 outputs the notice information to the user, the update processing unit 11a does not start the update process. For example, notice information such as that shown in FIG. 2 is output for only a predetermined period, and if the user does not select and input the "Cancel Update" button 13a during that period, the output of the notice information ends. In other words, the "Cancel Update" button 13a functions as the input receiving unit 14. If the user selects and inputs the "Cancel Update" button 13a during that predetermined period, the input is accepted by the input receiving unit 14, and the update processing unit 11a determines that the input receiving unit 14 has accepted an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process from the user and does not start the update process. In other words, if the user is using or preparing to use the facility device 20, the user can express their desire to cancel or postpone the update process, and the update process for the software used by the facility control unit G will not be performed, allowing the facility device 20 to continue to be used.

[0038] Thus, even if the timing for outputting the advance notice information is set to a late-night time period, for example, from 2:00 AM to 4:00 AM, this is not necessarily convenient for users of the facility 3. For this reason, the update processing unit 11a displays and outputs a "Cancel Update" button 13a on the information output unit 13, allowing the update process to be postponed. The update processing unit 11a may also output a warning sound as advance notice information from the information output unit 13 of the remote control 10A.

[0039] When the "Cancel Update" button 13a is selected and input by the user, the information output unit 13 may again output the advance notice information after a predetermined postponement time has elapsed. The length of the postponement time can be set appropriately, for example, in a range of 30 minutes to 1 day, and may be previously set and stored in the information storage unit 12. Alternatively, the information output unit 13 may output information to the user requesting input of a desired postponement time for the update process (e.g., "I would like to postpone by one hour"). The information output unit 13 may then set the desired postponement time received from the user by the input receiving unit 14 as the postponement time, and may again output the advance notice information after the postponement time has elapsed. Alternatively, the information output unit 13 may output information to the user requesting input of a convenient or inconvenient time period for performing the update process (e.g., "I would like to perform the update process between 3:00 and 5:00" or "I do not want to perform the update process between 5:00 and 11:00 PM"). The information output unit 13 then sets the postponement time in accordance with a convenient or inconvenient time period for performing the update process received from the user by the input receiving unit 14, and outputs the advance notice information again after the postponement time has elapsed.

[0040] As described above, the information output unit 13 outputs to the user advance notice information that the update process using the update software will begin, and the update processing unit 11a starts the update process if the input receiving unit 14 does not receive an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process from the user within a predetermined period of time after the information output unit 13 outputs the advance notice information to the user. In other words, the user can express an intention to cancel or postpone the update process, or can choose not to express an intention to cancel or postpone the update process.

[0041] If the input receiving unit 14 does not receive a user's expression of intent to cancel or postpone the update process, the update process is initiated, and the software used in the equipment control unit G can be promptly updated and kept up to date. Therefore, if the user is neither using nor preparing to use the equipment 20 (for example, if the user is absent from the facility 3, if the user is present in the facility 3 but does not need the equipment 20 to operate, if the user does not mind the equipment 20 operating being stopped, or if the user is in a state where the output of the advance notice information cannot be recognized (for example, while sleeping, watching television, etc.)), the user is unlikely to express an intent to cancel or postpone the update process, which has the advantage of promptly updating the software used in the equipment control unit G. Therefore, it is possible to provide an equipment management system that can update software as quickly as possible while confirming the user's intent.

[0042] Second Embodiment The facility equipment management system of the second embodiment differs from the above-described embodiments in that it uses update software to update the software used in the control unit 22 of the facility equipment 20. The facility equipment management system of the second embodiment will be described below, but a description of the same configuration as the above-described embodiments will be omitted.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a facility 3 in which an equipment device management system according to a second embodiment is installed. As shown in the figure, in this embodiment, an update processing unit 11a is provided in a remote control 10A. In the equipment device management system shown in FIG. 3, software used by an equipment control unit G of a control unit 22 of an equipment device 20 is updated with update software. As described in the above embodiment, the equipment control unit G of the control unit 22 provided in the equipment device 20 controls an operating unit 21, such as a heater that generates hot water, and therefore cannot control the operation of the operating unit 21 while an update process for the software used by the equipment control unit G is being performed. Therefore, in this embodiment as well, the information output unit 13 outputs advance notice information to the user that an update process using update software will be started.

[0044] Specifically, the information storage unit 12 of the remote control 10A stores information such as version information and update date and time of the software for the equipment control unit G of the facility device 20, which is stored in the information storage unit 23 of the facility device 20. The control unit 11 of the remote control 10A then accesses the update software installation URL at a predetermined timing, for example, once to several times a day. If the version information and update date and time of the software for the equipment control unit G stored in the information storage unit 23 of the facility device 20 differ from the version information and update date and time of the update software stored in the update software installation URL, the control unit 11 determines that new software has been installed, downloads the update software from the server 1, and stores it in the information storage unit 12 of the remote control 10A. Furthermore, the control unit 11 of the remote control 10A transmits the update software downloaded from the server 1 to the facility device 20, and stores it in the information storage unit 23 of the facility device 20. This prepares the facility device 20 to perform a software update process for the equipment control unit G of the control unit 22.

[0045] Thereafter, the information output unit 13 of the remote control 10A outputs to the user advance notice information informing the user that the update process using the update software will begin. The content of the advance notice information is the same as that described in Fig. 2 in the above embodiment. Also, as in the above embodiment, the timing at which the information output unit 13 outputs the advance notice information can be set as appropriate.

[0046] Then, the input accepting unit 14 of the remote control 10A accepts information input from the user. Then, the update processing unit 11a realized by the control unit 11 of the remote control 10A starts the update processing if the input accepting unit 14 does not accept an input from the user to cancel or postpone the update processing within a predetermined period after the information output unit 13 outputs the advance notice information to the user. For example, the update processing unit 11a of the remote control 10A instructs the control unit 22 of the facility device 20 to perform an update processing of the software used by the facility control unit G using update software stored in the information storage unit 23 of the facility device 20. As a result, the update processing of the software used by the facility control unit G is performed in the facility device 20.

[0047] <Another embodiment> In the above embodiment, a specific example of the configuration of the facility 3 in which the facility device management system is installed has been described, but the configuration can be changed as appropriate.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the update process using update software for updating the software used in the equipment control unit G has been described, but the update software may also be used to update software that realizes other functions. For example, the update software may also be used to update software that realizes the function of the information communication unit 15 of the remote control 10A.

[0049] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the advance notice information is output to the user in the format shown in Fig. 2, but the output format of the advance notice information to the user can be changed as appropriate. For example, the information output unit 13 may output the sentence exemplified in Fig. 2 as audio, or may output both text and audio. Furthermore, the information output unit 13 may output the sentence exemplified in Fig. 2 together with a sound such as an alarm or buzzer.

[0050] The information output unit 13 may output the advance notice information to the terminal device 6 via the information communication unit 15. For example, the advance notice information may be sent to the user's email address stored in the information storage unit 12, or the advance notice information may be output by a push notification to an app installed on the user's terminal device 6 and stored in the information storage unit 12. The input reception unit 14 may be configured to receive an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process input by the user using the terminal device 6 via the information communication unit 15.

[0051] The configurations disclosed in the above embodiments (including other embodiments, the same applies below) can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no contradictions arise. Furthermore, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are examples, and the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these and can be modified as appropriate within the scope that does not deviate from the purpose of the present invention. [Industrial Applicability]

[0052] The present invention can be used in an equipment management system that can update software as quickly as possible while confirming the user's intention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 1: Server 2: Information and communication lines 3: Facilities 11a: Update processing section 12: Information storage section 13: Information output section 13a: "Cancel update" button (input receiving section 14) 14: Input reception section 15: Ministry of Information and Communications 20: Equipment 23: Information storage section G: Equipment control section

Claims

1. An equipment management system that updates software used in an equipment control unit that controls the operation of equipment installed in a facility, an information storage unit that stores update software for updating the software used in the equipment control unit; an information output unit that outputs advance notice information to a user that an update process using the update software will be started; an input receiving unit that receives information input from the user; An equipment management system comprising: an update processing unit that starts the update processing if the input receiving unit does not receive an instruction to cancel or postpone the update processing from the user within a specified period after the information output unit outputs the advance notice information to the user.

2. The facility device management system according to claim 1 , wherein the update processing unit does not start the update process if the input receiving unit receives an input of the cancellation instruction or the postponement instruction during the predetermined period.

3. The equipment management system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the advance notice information includes information requesting the user to input an instruction to cancel or postpone the update process, and does not include information requesting the user to input an instruction to execute the update process.

4. an information communication unit that communicates with a server connected via an information communication line; The facility equipment management system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the information storage unit stores the update software received by the information communication unit from the server.

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