Air conditioning system, air conditioner control device, air conditioning method and program

Abstract

Provided are an air conditioning system, an air conditioner control device, an air conditioning method, and a program that can reduce the operational burden on a user while making a target area that is the target of air conditioning into a comfortable environment for the user. [Solution] The cloud server 1 is equipped with a judgment temperature calculation unit 113 that calculates a judgment temperature used to determine the operating mode of the air conditioner 4 based on the temperature of each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3, an operating mode determination unit 115 that determines whether to switch the operating mode based on the result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the judgment temperature and a cooling switchover reference value or a heating switchover reference value that serves as the basis for determining whether to switch the operating mode of the air conditioner 4, and an equipment control unit 116 that controls the air conditioner 4 so that it begins operating in the determined operating mode.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning system, an air conditioner control device, an air conditioning method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] An air conditioning control system has been proposed that includes an air conditioning equipment, an air conditioning control device that sets a target temperature for the air conditioning equipment, a request input device that inputs requests for air conditioning temperature from users in the space to be air-conditioned by the air conditioning equipment, a request information acquisition unit that acquires the user's requests from the request input device, and an air conditioning transition period determination unit that determines the transition period between cooling and heating based on the request information acquired by the request information acquisition unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-83018 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, there is a demand for systems that can determine the transition period between cooling and heating based on the environment in which the air conditioning equipment is installed and automatically switch the operating mode of the air conditioning equipment, without the user having to perform the operation of inputting desired information, thereby maintaining a comfortable environment for the user in the area that is the target of air conditioning without imposing the burden of operating the air conditioning settings on the user.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above reasons, and aims to provide an air conditioning system, an air conditioner control device, an air conditioning method, and a program that can reduce the operational burden on users while making the target area that is the subject of air conditioning a comfortable environment for users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the air conditioning system according to the present disclosure comprises: an air conditioner that can operate in operation modes including a cooling mode and a heating mode; at least one environmental sensor for detecting an environmental parameter of each of at least one target area to be air-conditioned; At least one damper connected to the air conditioner via a duct and installed in each of at least one of the target areas; a determination environment parameter calculation unit that calculates a determination environment parameter used to determine an operation mode of the air conditioner based on an environmental parameter of each of the at least one target area detected by the at least one environmental sensor; an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; and an equipment control unit that controls the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a determination environment parameter calculation unit calculates a determination environment parameter used to determine the operation mode of the air conditioner based on the environmental parameters of at least one target area detected by at least one environmental sensor. Then, an operation mode determination unit determines whether to switch the operation mode based on the result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as the criterion for determining whether to switch the operation mode. This eliminates the need for the user to determine when to switch the operation mode, reducing the operational burden on the user and making the target area that is the target of air conditioning a comfortable environment for the user. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1]Schematic configuration diagram of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] A block diagram showing the functional configuration of a damper control device according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a portion of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] 1A is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a setting information storage unit according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of information stored in an environmental information storage unit according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] A sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning system according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] A sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning system according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] A sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning system according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] A sequence diagram showing the operation of the air conditioning system according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an image for management displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment; [Figure 11] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of an air conditioning process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of an air conditioning process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of an air conditioning process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 14] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of an air conditioning process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] An air conditioning system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The air conditioning system according to the embodiment includes an air conditioner capable of operating in operation modes including a cooling mode and a heating mode, at least one environmental sensor that detects environmental parameters for at least one target area to be air-conditioned, and at least one damper connected to the air conditioner via a duct and installed in each of the at least one target area. The air conditioning system also includes a determination environmental parameter calculation unit that calculates a determination environmental parameter used to determine the operation mode of the air conditioner based on the environmental parameters for each of the at least one target area detected by the at least one environmental sensor, an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on the result of comparing the determination environmental parameter with a predetermined operation switching reference value that serves as a criterion for determining whether to switch the operation mode, and an equipment control unit that controls the air conditioner to start operating in the determined operation mode.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1 , the air conditioning system according to this embodiment includes an air conditioner 4 installed in building H, a cloud server 1 that controls the air conditioner 4, and an environmental sensor 3 that detects the temperature, which is an environmental parameter, of rooms R1, R2, and R3 in building H. Here, the air conditioner 4 employs a so-called variable air volume (VAV) system and conditions the air in each of multiple rooms R1, R2, and R3 in building H via dampers 42 installed in each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 and ducts 43 connected to each damper 42. The air conditioning system also includes a damper control device 44 installed in each of rooms R1, R2, and R3 and that controls the opening degree of the dampers 42 so that the temperatures in each of rooms R1, R2, and R3 reach set temperatures, which are target environmental parameters; a terminal device 2 carried by an administrator who manages the air conditioner 4; and a terminal device 5 carried by a contractor who installs the air conditioner 4 in building H. The administrator who manages the air conditioner 4 is, for example, a user of the air conditioner 4 who resides in building H. The air conditioner 4, the environmental sensor 3, and the damper control device 44 each have a communication module and are connected via the communication module to a local area network NW2 installed in the building H. The local area network NW2 is configured as a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN. The local area network NW2 is also connected to a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet via a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 8. The cloud server 1 and the terminal device 2 are connected to the wide area network NW1.

[0011] The air conditioner 4 operates in one of the following operation modes: cooling mode, heating mode, fan mode, and dehumidification mode. When the air conditioner 4 receives operation instruction information instructing the operation mode transmitted from the cloud server 1, it starts operating in the operation mode indicated by the operation instruction information.

[0012] Each time a preset environmental information notification period arrives, the environmental sensor 3 generates environmental information notification information including environmental information indicating the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3 itself and room identification information identifying the rooms R1, R2, and R3 in which the environmental sensor 3 is installed, and transmits the information to the cloud server 1. In parallel with the process of transmitting the environmental information notification information to the cloud server 1, the environmental sensor 3 also generates environmental information notification information including environmental information indicating the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3 itself, periodically, for example, at a cycle shorter than the cycle of the aforementioned environmental information notification period, and transmits the information to the damper control device 44 installed in the same room as the room R1, R2, and R3 in which the environmental sensor 3 is installed.

[0013] 3, the damper control device 44 includes a dedicated control unit 401 equipped with a memory, and an operation unit 405 connected to the control unit 401 and having operation buttons operated by a user. The damper control device 44 also includes a communication unit (not shown) connected to the local network NW2, and communicates with the environmental sensor 3 and the cloud server 1. The control unit 401 includes a setting unit 411, a setting information notification unit 412, a damper control unit 413, an environmental information acquisition unit 414, an updated setting acquisition unit 415, a setting update unit 416, and a setting information storage unit 431. The setting information storage unit 431 stores setting temperature information indicating the aforementioned setting temperature and control mode information indicating the control mode of the damper 42. Here, the control modes include an adaptive control mode in which the opening of the damper 42 is adaptively changed so that the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 are maintained at the set temperature; a keep mode in which the damper 42 is fixed at a preset opening; and a stop mode in which the damper 42 is closed to stop air conditioning of the rooms R1, R2, and R3.

[0014] When a user performs a setting change operation on operation unit 405 to change the set temperature or control mode, setting unit 411 accepts the setting change operation and stores at least one of set temperature information indicating the set temperature after the change by the setting change operation and control mode information indicating the changed control mode in setting information storage unit 431. When setting information request information is acquired from cloud server 1 requesting the transmission of set temperature information stored in setting information storage unit 431, setting information notification unit 412 generates setting notification information including the set temperature information stored in the set temperature storage unit and room identification information identifying the room R1, R2, R3 in which the device is installed, and transmits the information to cloud server 1.

[0015] When the environmental information acquisition unit 414 acquires environmental information notification information transmitted from the environmental sensors 3 installed in the same rooms R1, R2, and R3 as the damper control device 44 and including environmental information indicating the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensors 3, the environmental information acquisition unit 414 notifies the damper control unit 413 of the environmental information included in the acquired environmental information notification information. If the control mode indicated by the control mode information stored in the setting information storage unit 431 indicates the adaptive control mode, the damper control unit 413 controls the opening degree of the damper 42 so that the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 indicated by the environmental information notified from the environmental information acquisition unit 414 become the set temperature stored in the setting information storage unit 431. On the other hand, if the control mode indicates the keep mode, the damper control unit 413 controls the damper 42 so that the opening degree of the damper 42 is fixed at a preset opening degree, and if the control mode indicates the stop mode, the damper control unit 413 controls the damper 42 so that the damper 42 is in a closed state.

[0016] When update setting acquisition unit 415 acquires update setting notification information, which will be described later and is transmitted from cloud server 1, it extracts the set temperature information included in the acquired update setting notification information and notifies setting update unit 416. When set temperature information is notified from update setting acquisition unit 415, setting update unit 416 updates the set temperature information stored in setting information storage unit 431 using the notified set temperature information.

[0017] The terminal device 2 is, for example, a smartphone, and as shown in FIG. 2, includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 201, a main memory 202, an auxiliary memory 203, a display 204, an input unit 205, a communication unit 206, and a bus 209 connecting these units to one another. The main memory 202 has a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory 203 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs for the CPU 201 to execute various processes. The display 204 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The input unit 205 is, for example, a transparent touchpad placed on top of the display 204. The communication unit 206 is connected to the wide area network NW1 and transmits information transferred from the CPU 201 to the cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1, and transfers information received from the cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1 to the CPU 201.

[0018] The CPU 201 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a reference setting notification unit 211, a setting information acquisition unit 212, an environmental information acquisition unit 213, a display control unit 214, a display setting unit 215, and a display setting notification unit 216, as shown in Fig. 4. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in Fig. 2 also has a setting information storage unit 231, an environmental information storage unit 232, and a display setting storage unit 233, as shown in Fig. 4. The setting information storage unit 231 stores setting information for each of the damper control devices 44 installed in rooms R1, R2, and R3 in association with room identification information.

[0019] The environmental information storage unit 232 stores environmental information indicating the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3 in association with the room identification information. The display setting storage unit 233 stores display setting information indicating whether or not at least one of the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 and the set temperature of the damper control device 44 should be displayed on the display unit 204 in association with the room identification information.

[0020] When a user performs a standard setting operation on input unit 205 to input a cooling switchover reference value, a heating switchover reference value, a margin value, a cooling adjustment reference difference value, a heating adjustment reference difference value, and a unit adjustment amount (described later), standard setting notification unit 211 accepts the standard setting operation and generates standard setting notification information including standard setting information indicating the various values ​​input in the standard setting operation. Then, standard setting notification unit 211 transmits the generated standard setting notification information to cloud server 1.

[0021] When a user performs an administration image display operation on input unit 205 to cause display unit 204 to display an administration image indicating the set temperatures and control modes of damper control devices 44 installed in each of rooms R1, R2, and R3, setting information acquisition unit 212 accepts the administration image display operation, generates setting information request information that requests cloud server 1 to transmit set temperature information of damper control devices 44, and includes room identification information for rooms R1, R2, and R3, and transmits the generated setting information request information to cloud server 1. As a result, setting information acquisition unit 212 acquires setting notification information transmitted from cloud server 1, including set temperature information indicating the set temperatures and control mode information indicating the control modes corresponding to the damper control devices 44 installed in each of rooms R1, R2, and R3, and room identification information. Then, setting information acquisition unit 212 associates the set temperature information and room identification information included in the acquired setting notification information with each other and stores them in setting information storage unit 231.

[0022] When the user performs an administration image display operation on input unit 205 to cause display unit 204 to display an administration image indicating the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by environmental sensor 3, environmental information acquisition unit 213 accepts the administration image display operation, generates environmental information request information requesting transmission of environmental information from cloud server 1, including room identification information of rooms R1, R2, and R3, and transmits the information to cloud server 1. As a result, environmental information acquisition unit 213 acquires environmental information notification information including the environmental information and room identification information of rooms R1, R2, and R3, transmitted from cloud server 1. Then, environmental information acquisition unit 213 associates the environmental information and the room identification information included in the acquired environmental information notification information with each other and stores them in environmental information storage unit 232.

[0023] When the user performs an administrative image display operation on the input unit 205 to cause the display unit 204 to display an administrative image that displays at least one of the set temperatures of the damper control devices 44 installed in each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 and the temperatures of each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3, the display control unit 214 accepts the administrative image display operation, forms an administrative image, and displays it on the display unit 204. Specifically, the display control unit 214 forms the administrative image based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 231, the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 232, and the display setting information stored in the display setting storage unit 233. Here, the display control unit 214 forms an administrative image that does not include the temperatures and set temperatures corresponding to the rooms R1, R2, and R3 identified by the room identification information corresponding to the display setting information indicating "hide" that is stored in the display setting storage unit 233.

[0024] When the user performs a display setting operation on the input unit 205 to set whether or not to display at least one of the temperature and the set temperature on the management image, the display setting unit 215 accepts the display setting operation and stores the display setting information for each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 set by the display setting operation in association with the room identification information in the display setting storage unit 233. Every time the display setting information stored in the display setting storage unit 233 is updated, the display setting notification unit 216 generates display setting notification information including the display setting information and the room identification information stored in the display setting storage unit 233 and transmits the display setting notification information to the cloud server 1.

[0025] The terminal device 5 is, for example, a smartphone, and has an input unit similar to the terminal device 2. When the contractor performs a room name setting operation to input a room name, which will be described later, into the input unit, the terminal device 5 accepts the room name setting operation and generates room name notification information including room name information indicating the room name input in the room name setting operation. Then, the terminal device 5 transmits the generated room name notification information to the cloud server 1.

[0026] Returning to FIG. 2 , the cloud server 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a communication unit 106 connected to the wide area network NW1, a clock unit 108, and a bus 109 interconnecting these units. The main memory unit 102 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory unit 103 is a nonvolatile memory such as a magnetic disk or semiconductor flash memory, and stores programs for implementing various functions of the cloud server 1. The clock unit 108 functions as a real time clock (RTC) that keeps track of the current date and time. The clock unit 108 includes, for example, a crystal oscillator (not shown) that generates a clock signal, a frequency divider circuit (not shown) that divides the clock signal, and a power storage element that supplies power to drive the crystal oscillator. Even if the power supply to the cloud server 1 is interrupted due to a power outage, for example, the clock unit 108 continues its timekeeping operation by operating on power supplied from the power storage element. In addition, the timing unit 108 may have the function of correcting the current date and time by acquiring date and time information conforming to NTP (Network Time Protocol) transmitted from a time server (not shown) connected to the wide area network NW1, or by receiving a standard radio wave for notifying the current time.

[0027] The CPU 101 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes them, thereby functioning as a setting information acquisition unit 111, a determination target selection unit 112, a determination temperature calculation unit 113, an environmental information acquisition unit 114, an operation mode determination unit 115, a device control unit 116, a setting change determination unit 117, a setting update unit 118, a cloud setting acquisition unit 119, a setting information notification unit 120, and an environmental information notification unit 121, as shown in Fig. 4. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Fig. 2 also includes a setting information storage unit 131, an environmental information storage unit 132, a reference storage unit 133, and an air conditioner setting storage unit 134, as shown in Fig. 4. The setting information storage unit 131 stores setting information corresponding to each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 in association with room identification information and room name information indicating the preset names of the rooms R1, R2, and R3, as shown in Fig. 5(A), for example. The setting information includes control mode information indicating the control mode in which the damper control device 44 controls the damper 42, the set temperature information described above, and the display setting information described above. In the example shown in Fig. 5(A), the name of the room R1 identified by the room identification information IDR[0] is NA[0] ("living room"), the control mode of the damper control device 44 installed in the room R1 is "keep mode," the set temperature is "28°C," and the display setting is set to "display."

[0028] 5(B), the environmental information storage unit 132 stores the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3 in association with the room identification information. The example shown in FIG. 5(B) indicates that the temperature of the room R1 detected by the environmental sensor 3 installed in the room R1 identified by the room identification information IDR[0] is "28°C."

[0029] 4 , the reference storage unit 133 stores cooling switching reference value information indicating a cooling switching reference value serving as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 to the cooling mode, heating switching reference value information indicating a heating switching reference value serving as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 to the heating mode, and margin value information indicating a margin value for the cooling switching reference value and the heating switching reference value. The reference storage unit 133 also stores cooling adjustment reference difference value information indicating a cooling adjustment reference difference value serving as a reference for determining whether to adjust the set temperature of the damper control device 44 when the air conditioner 4 is operating in the cooling mode, heating adjustment reference difference value information indicating a heating adjustment reference difference value serving as a reference for determining whether to adjust the set temperature of the damper control device 44 when the air conditioner 4 is operating in the heating mode, and unit adjustment amount information indicating a unit adjustment amount when adjusting the set temperature of the damper control device 44. The air conditioner setting storage unit 134 stores operation mode information indicating the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 in association with device identification information that identifies the air conditioner 4.

[0030] The setting information acquisition unit 111 acquires setting notification information transmitted from the damper control device 44 by generating setting information request information that requests the damper control device 44 to transmit setting information each time a preset transition period determination time arrives and transmitting the setting information request information to the damper control device 44. Here, the transition period determination time is set to, for example, midnight and noon every day. The setting information acquisition unit 111 then extracts the setting information and room identification information included in the acquired setting notification information and stores the extracted information in the setting information storage unit 131 in association with each other.

[0031] The determination target selection unit 112 selects at least one of the rooms R1, R2, R3 according to at least one of the control mode of the damper 42 corresponding to each of the rooms R1, R2, R3, the usage status of the rooms R1, R2, R3 by the user, and the display setting state indicating whether or not at least one of the temperature and the set temperature of the rooms R1, R2, R3 needs to be displayed on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2. Specifically, the determination target selection unit 112 selects at least one of the rooms R1, R2, R3 excluding the rooms R1, R2, R3 corresponding to the damper 42 controlled by the damper control device 44 in the keep mode or the stop mode, the rooms R1, R2, R3 that are not being used as occupying rooms by the user, and the rooms R1, R2, R3 for which the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2 is set to not need to display at least one of the temperature and the set temperature.

[0032] The judgment temperature calculation unit 113 calculates the average value of the temperatures detected by the environment sensor 3 for at least one of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 selected by the judgment target selection unit 112 as the judgment temperature.

[0033] When the environmental information acquisition unit 114 acquires the environmental information notification information transmitted from the environmental sensor 3, it extracts the environmental information and room identification information contained in the acquired environmental information notification information, and stores the extracted information in the environmental information storage unit 132 in association with each other.

[0034] The operation mode determination unit 115 determines whether to switch the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 based on the results of comparing the magnitude relationship between the calculated judgment temperature and the aforementioned operation switching reference value. When the operation mode indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit 115 compares the magnitude relationship between the calculated judgment temperature and the cooling switching reference value indicated by the cooling switching reference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133. If the judgment temperature is equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode. Here, whenever the transition period determination time arrives, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the judgment temperature is equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value N times (N is a positive integer), it determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode. N is set to 3, for example. Furthermore, when the operation mode indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 is the cooling mode, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner 4 in the cooling mode based on the result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the set temperature of the damper control device 44 and the cooling switchover reference value. Specifically, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner 4 in the cooling mode when the set temperatures of all of at least one damper control device 44, excluding the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in the keep mode or stop mode, are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value described above to the cooling switchover reference value, and the judgment temperature is less than the cooling switchover reference value. Here, each time the transition period judgment time arrives, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner 4 in the cooling mode if it determines M consecutive times (M is a positive integer) that the set temperatures of all damper control devices 44 are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value described above to the cooling switchover reference value, and the judgment temperature is less than the cooling switchover reference value. M is set to 3, for example.

[0035] Furthermore, when the operation mode indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting memory unit 134 is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit 115 compares the magnitude relationship between the calculated judgment temperature and the heating switchover reference value indicated by the heating switchover reference value information stored in the reference memory unit 133, and determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode if the judgment temperature is equal to or lower than the heating switchover reference value. Here, each time the transition period determination time arrives, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode if it determines that the judgment temperature is equal to or higher than the cooling switchover reference value N times consecutively. Furthermore, when the operation mode indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting memory unit 134 is the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines to end operation of the air conditioner 4 in the heating mode based on the result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the set temperature of the damper control device 44 and the heating switchover reference value. Specifically, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner 4 in the heating mode when the set temperatures of all of at least one damper control device 44 excluding the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in the keep mode or the stop mode are equal to or lower than the value obtained by subtracting a preset margin value from the heating switchover reference value, and the determination temperature is higher than the heating switchover reference value. Here, each time the transition period determination time arrives, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner 4 in the heating mode if it determines M consecutive times that the set temperatures of all of the damper control devices 44 are equal to or lower than the value obtained by subtracting the aforementioned margin value from the heating switchover reference value, and the determination temperature is higher than the heating switchover reference value.

[0036] The device control unit 116 controls the air conditioner 4 so that the air conditioner 4 starts operating in the determined operation mode. Specifically, the device control unit 116 generates operation instruction information indicating the determined operation mode and transmits it to the air conditioner 4. At this time, the device control unit 116 updates the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134, which corresponds to the device identification information that identifies the air conditioner 4 to which the operation instruction information is to be sent, with the operation mode information indicating the determined operation mode.

[0037] When the operating mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode, the setting change determination unit 117 determines whether to update the set temperature of the damper control device 44 each time a preset temperature adjustment period arrives, based on the result of comparing the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3 with the cooling switchover reference value indicated by the cooling switchover reference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133. This temperature adjustment period is set, for example, at 00 minutes past every hour. Specifically, when the operating mode indicated by the operating mode information stored in the air conditioner setting memory unit 134 is cooling mode, the setting change determination unit 117 determines to change the set temperature of the damper control unit 44 if the temperature of rooms R1, R2, and R3 indicated by the environmental information stored in the environmental information memory unit 132 is less than or equal to a value lower than the cooling switchover reference value by the adjustment reference difference value indicated by the adjustment reference difference value information stored in the reference memory unit 133, and the value obtained by adding the set temperature of the damper control unit 44 by the unit adjustment amount indicated by the unit adjustment amount information stored in the reference memory unit 133 is less than or equal to the value obtained by adding the aforementioned margin value to the cooling switchover reference value.

[0038] Furthermore, when the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode, the setting change determination unit 117 determines whether to update the set temperature of the damper control device 44 each time a preset temperature adjustment period arrives, based on the result of comparing the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3 with the heating switchover reference value indicated by the heating switchover reference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133. Specifically, when the operation mode indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 is the heating mode, the setting change determination unit 117 determines to change the set temperature of the damper control device 44 if the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3 indicated by the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 are equal to or greater than the heating switchover reference value by the heating adjustment reference difference value indicated by the adjustment reference difference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133, and if the value obtained by subtracting the unit adjustment amount indicated by the unit adjustment amount information stored in the reference storage unit 133 from the set temperature of the damper control device 44 is equal to or greater than the value obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned margin value from the heating switchover reference value.

[0039] When the setting update unit 118 determines to change the set temperature of the damper control device 44 while the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode, it updates the set temperature by increasing the set temperature of the damper control device 44 by the unit adjustment amount. Specifically, the setting update unit 118 generates updated setting notification information including set temperature information indicating a set temperature obtained by adding the unit adjustment amount to the set temperature of the target damper control device 44, and transmits this information to the damper control device 44. Furthermore, when the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode, it determines to change the set temperature of the damper control device 44, it updates the set temperature by decreasing the set temperature of the damper control device 44 by the unit adjustment amount. Specifically, the setting update unit 118 generates updated setting notification information including set temperature information indicating a set temperature obtained by subtracting the unit adjustment amount from the set temperature of the target damper control device 44, and transmits this information to the damper control device 44.

[0040] When the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 acquires the aforementioned reference setting notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it generates cooling switchover reference value information, heating switchover reference value information, margin value information, cooling adjustment reference difference value information, heating adjustment reference difference value information, and unit adjustment amount information based on the acquired reference setting information. The cloud setting acquisition unit 119 then stores the generated information in the reference storage unit 133. Furthermore, when the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 acquires the aforementioned display setting notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it extracts display setting information and room identification information included in the acquired display setting notification information. The cloud setting acquisition unit 119 then associates the extracted information with each other and stores it in the setting information storage unit 131. Furthermore, when the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 acquires the aforementioned room name notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5, it extracts room name information and room identification information included in the acquired room name notification information. The cloud setting acquisition unit 119 then associates the extracted information with each other and stores it in the setting information storage unit 131.

[0041] When the setting information notification unit 120 acquires the setting information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it identifies the set temperature information stored in the setting information storage unit 131 and corresponding to the room identification information included in the acquired setting information request information. Then, the setting information notification unit 120 generates setting notification information including the identified set temperature information and the corresponding room identification information, and transmits the information to the terminal device 2.

[0042] When the environmental information notification unit 121 acquires environmental information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it identifies environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 and corresponding to the room identification information included in the acquired environmental information request information. Then, the setting information notification unit 120 generates environmental information notification information including the identified environmental information and the corresponding room identification information, and transmits the information to the terminal device 2.

[0043] Next, the operation of the air conditioning system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 . It is assumed that a user has performed the aforementioned standard setting operation on the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2 in advance, and that the terminal device 2 has accepted the standard setting operation, generated standard setting notification information including standard setting information indicating the various values ​​entered in the standard setting operation, and transmitted this information to the cloud server 1. The cloud server 1 then acquires the standard setting notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2, generates various information such as cooling switchover standard value information and heating switchover standard value information based on the acquired standard setting information, and stores this information in the standard storage unit 133. It is also assumed that a contractor has performed the aforementioned room name setting operation on the input unit of the terminal device 5 in advance, and that the terminal device 5 has accepted the room name setting operation, generated room name notification information including room name information indicating the room name entered in the room name setting operation, and transmitted this information to the cloud server 1. It is also assumed that the cloud server 1 then acquires the room name notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5, extracts the room name information included in the acquired room name notification information, and stores this information in the setting information storage unit 131.

[0044] First, as shown in Fig. 6, it is assumed that a user performs the above-mentioned display setting operation on input unit 205 of terminal device 2. In this case, terminal device 2 accepts the display setting operation, stores the display setting information for each of rooms R1, R2, and R3 set by the display setting operation in display setting storage unit 233 in association with the room identification information, and generates display setting notification information including the display setting information and the room identification information stored in display setting storage unit 233 (step S1). Then, the generated display setting notification information is transmitted from terminal device 2 to cloud server 1 (step S2). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the display setting notification information, cloud server 1 extracts the display setting information and the room identification information included in the acquired display setting notification information. Then, cloud setting acquisition unit 119 associates the extracted information with each other and stores them in setting information storage unit 131 (step S3).

[0045] Next, when the aforementioned predetermined environmental information notification time arrives, the environmental sensor 3 generates environmental information notification information including environmental information indicating the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3 itself and room identification information identifying the rooms R1, R2, and R3 in which the environmental sensor 3 itself is installed (step S4). The generated environmental information notification information is then transmitted from the environmental sensor 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S5). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the environmental information notification information, the cloud server 1 extracts the environmental information and room identification information included in the acquired environmental information notification information, associates these pieces of information with each other, and stores them in the environmental information storage unit 132 (step S6).

[0046] Next, assume that a preset transition period determination time has arrived. In this case, the cloud server 1 generates the above-mentioned setting information request information (step S7), and the generated setting information request information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the damper control device 44 (step S8). Meanwhile, upon receiving the setting information request information, the damper control device 44 generates setting notification information including the set temperature information stored in the set temperature storage unit and room identification information for identifying the rooms R1, R2, and R3 in which the damper control device 44 is installed (step S9). The generated setting notification information is then transmitted from the damper control device 44 to the cloud server 1 (step S10). Meanwhile, upon receiving the setting notification information, the cloud server 1 extracts the setting information and the room identification information included in the acquired setting notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the extracted information in the setting information storage unit 131 (step S11).

[0047] Thereafter, the cloud server 1 refers to various information stored in the setting information memory unit 131 and selects at least one room R1, R2, R3 to be subjected to at least one judgment, excluding rooms R1, R2, R3 corresponding to dampers 42 controlled by the damper control device 44 in keep mode or stop mode, rooms R1, R2, R3 that are not used as living rooms by users, and rooms R1, R2, R3 for which display of at least one of the temperature and the set temperature on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2 is set as unnecessary (step S12).

[0048] Next, the cloud server 1 calculates the average value of the temperatures detected by the environmental sensor 3 for at least one of the selected rooms R1, R2, and R3 as the judgment temperature (step S13). Next, let us assume that the cloud server 1 determines that the operation mode indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode (step S14). Furthermore, let us assume that the cloud server 1 determines that the calculated judgment temperature Thj is equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value Thc (step S15). Furthermore, let us assume that the cloud server 1 determines that the judgment temperature Thj is equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value Thc N times in a row (step S16). In this case, the cloud server 1 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode, generates operation instruction information indicating the determined cooling mode (step S17), and transmits the generated operation instruction information from the cloud server 1 to the air conditioner 4 (step S18). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, when the air conditioner 4 acquires the operation instruction information, it starts operating in the cooling mode indicated by the acquired operation instruction information (step S19).

[0049] Thereafter, when the aforementioned preset temperature adjustment time arrives, the cloud server 1 determines that the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 indicated by the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 are equal to or lower than the cooling switching reference value Thc by the adjustment reference difference value dTt indicated by the adjustment reference difference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133 (step S20). Also, the cloud server 1 determines that the value (Thrs+dTs) obtained by adding the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 to the unit adjustment amount dTs indicated by the unit adjustment amount information stored in the reference storage unit 133 is equal to or lower than the value (Thc+dTm) obtained by adding the aforementioned margin value dTm to the cooling switching reference value Thc (step S21). In this case, the cloud server 1 determines to change the set temperature of the damper control device 44, generates updated setting notification information including set temperature information indicating a set temperature obtained by adding the unit adjustment amount dTs to the set temperature of the target damper control device 44 (step S22), and the generated updated setting notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the damper control device 44 (step S23). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the updated setting notification information, the damper control device 44 updates the set temperature information stored in the setting information storage unit 431 using the set temperature information included in the acquired updated setting notification information (step S24).

[0050] Next, when the transition period determination time arrives again, the cloud server 1 generates setting information request information (step S25), and the generated setting information request information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the damper control device 44 (step S26). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the setting information request information, the damper control device 44 generates the above-mentioned setting notification information in response to the setting information request information (step S27), and the generated setting notification information is transmitted from the damper control device 44 to the cloud server 1 (step S28). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the setting notification information, the cloud server 1 extracts the setting information and room identification information included in the acquired setting notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the extracted information in the setting information storage unit 131 (step S29). Subsequently, the cloud server 1 refers to the various information stored in the setting information storage unit 131 to select at least one room R1, R2, R3 to be used as at least one determination target (step S30). Suppose that the cloud server 1 subsequently determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 is the cooling mode (step S31). Furthermore, suppose that the cloud server 1 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all damper control devices 44, excluding the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in the keep mode or the stop mode, are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm described above to the cooling switchover reference value Thc, and that the judgment temperature Thj is less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc (step S32). Furthermore, suppose that the cloud server 1 makes the same determination as in step S32 M consecutive times (step S33). In this case, the cloud server 1 determines to end the operation of the air conditioner 4 in the cooling mode, generates operation instruction information indicating the fan mode or operation stop (step S34), and transmits the generated operation instruction information from the cloud server 1 to the air conditioner 4 (step S35). On the other hand, when the air conditioner 4 acquires the operation instruction information, it starts or stops operation in the fan mode based on the acquired operation instruction information (step S36).

[0051] 8, it is assumed that the preset transition period determination time arrives, and after a series of processes from steps S7 to S13 are executed, the cloud server 1 determines that the operation mode indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode (step S14). It is also assumed that the cloud server 1 determines that the calculated determination temperature Thj is equal to or less than the heating switch-on reference value Thh (step S37). It is also assumed that the cloud server 1 determines that the determination temperature Thj is equal to or less than the heating switch-on reference value Thh N times in a row (step S38). In this case, the cloud server 1 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode, generates operation instruction information indicating the determined heating mode (step S39), and transmits the generated operation instruction information from the cloud server 1 to the air conditioner 4 (step S40). Meanwhile, upon receiving the operation instruction information, the air conditioner 4 starts operating in the heating mode indicated by the received operation instruction information (step S41).

[0052] Next, suppose that the aforementioned temperature adjustment time arrives, and the cloud server 1 determines that the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 indicated by the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 are equal to or greater than the heating switchover reference value Thh by the aforementioned adjustment reference difference value dTt (step S42). Furthermore, suppose that the cloud server 1 determines that the value (Thrs-dTs) obtained by subtracting the aforementioned unit adjustment amount dTs from the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 is equal to or greater than the value (Thh-dTm) obtained by subtracting the aforementioned margin value dTm from the heating switchover reference value Thh (step S43). In this case, the cloud server 1 determines to change the set temperature of the damper control device 44, generates update setting notification information including set temperature information indicating the set temperature obtained by subtracting the unit adjustment amount dTs from the set temperature of the target damper control device 44 (step S44), and transmits the generated update setting notification information from the cloud server 1 to the damper control device 44 (step S45). On the other hand, when the damper control device 44 acquires the updated setting notification information, it updates the set temperature information stored in the setting information storage unit 431 using the set temperature information included in the acquired updated setting notification information (step S46).

[0053] Next, suppose that the transition period determination time arrives again, and after the series of processes from steps S25 to S30 described above have been executed, the cloud server 1 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 indicated by the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 is heating mode (step S47), as shown in Fig. 9. Furthermore, suppose that the cloud server 1 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all damper control devices 44, except for the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in keep mode or stop mode, are equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm described above from the heating switch-on reference value Thh, and that the judgment temperature Thj is less than the cooling switch-on reference value Thc (step S48). Furthermore, suppose that the cloud server 1 makes the same determination as in step S48 M consecutive times (step S49). In this case, the cloud server 1 determines to end operation of the air conditioner 4 in heating mode, generates operation instruction information indicating fan mode or operation stop (step S50), and the generated operation instruction information is sent from the cloud server 1 to the air conditioner 4 (step S51). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the operation instruction information, the air conditioner 4 starts or stops operation in fan mode based on the acquired operation instruction information (step S52).

[0054] Suppose that the user then performs the aforementioned management image display operation on the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2. In this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the management image display operation and generates the aforementioned setting information request information and environmental information request information (step S53). Then, the generated setting information request information and environmental information request information are transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the cloud server 1 (step S54). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the setting information request information and the environmental information request information, the cloud server 1 identifies the temperature setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 131 that corresponds to the room identification information included in the acquired setting information request information, and generates setting notification information including the identified temperature setting information and the corresponding room identification information. Furthermore, the cloud server 1 identifies the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 that corresponds to the room identification information included in the acquired environmental information request information, and generates environmental information notification information including the identified environmental information and the corresponding room identification information (step S55). Next, the generated setting notification information and environmental information notification information are transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 2 (step S56). On the other hand, when the terminal device 2 acquires the setting notification information, it extracts the set temperature information and the room identification information included in the acquired setting notification information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the information in the setting information storage unit 231. Furthermore, when the terminal device 2 acquires the environmental information notification information, it associates the environmental information and the room identification information included in the acquired environmental information notification information with each other and stores the information in the environmental information storage unit 232 (step S57). Next, the terminal device 2 forms a management image based on the setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 231, the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 232, and the display setting information stored in the display setting storage unit 233, and displays the image on the display unit 204 (step S58).

[0055] 10, for example, and displays it on the display unit 204. The management image GA1 includes a message image M3 indicating the operation mode of the air conditioner 4, message images M11 and M21 indicating the room names of the rooms, message images M12 and M22 indicating the temperatures of the rooms, message images M13 and M23 indicating the set temperatures of the damper control devices 44 installed in the rooms, and message images M14 and M24 indicating whether the dampers 42 installed in the rooms are operating under the control of the damper control devices 44. The management image GA1 also includes button images BU11 and BU21 that are selected when changing the set temperature of the damper control device 44 from the terminal device 2, and button images BU12 and BU22 that are selected when operating the damper control device 44 in the keep mode from the terminal device 2.

[0056] Next, the air conditioning process executed by the cloud server 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. This air conditioning process is initiated, for example, when a program for executing the air conditioning process is launched in the cloud server 1. Furthermore, in parallel with the air conditioning process, the setting information notification unit 120 is assumed to be constantly executing a process in which, upon receiving setting information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it identifies temperature setting information stored in the setting information storage unit 131 and corresponding to room identification information included in the received setting information request information, generates setting notification information including the identified temperature setting information and the corresponding room identification information, and transmits this information to the terminal device 2. Furthermore, in parallel with the air conditioning process, the environment information notification unit 121 is assumed to be constantly executing a process in which, upon receiving environment information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it identifies environment information stored in the environment information storage unit 132 and corresponding to the room identification information included in the received environment information request information, generates environment information notification information including the identified environment information and the corresponding room identification information, and transmits this information to the terminal device 2.

[0057] 11, the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 determines whether or not the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 has acquired the display setting notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2 (step S101). If the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 determines that the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 has not acquired the display setting notification information (step S101: No), the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 executes the process of step S103, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 has acquired the display setting notification information (step S101: Yes), the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 extracts the display setting information and room identification information included in the acquired display setting notification information. Then, the cloud setting acquisition unit 119 associates the extracted information with each other and stores them in the setting information storage unit 131 (step S102).

[0058] Next, the environmental information acquisition unit 114 determines whether or not environmental information notification information transmitted from the environmental sensor 3 has been acquired (step S103). If the environmental information acquisition unit 114 determines that environmental information notification information has not been acquired (step S103: No), the process of step S105, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the environmental information acquisition unit 114 determines that environmental information notification information has been acquired (step S103: Yes), the environmental information acquisition unit 114 extracts the environmental information and room identification information included in the acquired environmental information notification information, associates these pieces of extracted information with each other, and stores them in the environmental information storage unit 132 (step S104).

[0059] Next, the setting information acquisition unit 111 determines whether the transition period determination time has arrived (step S105). If the setting information acquisition unit 111 determines that the transition period determination time has not arrived yet (step S105: No), the processing of step S119, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the setting information acquisition unit 111 determines that the transition period determination time has arrived (step S105: Yes), the setting information acquisition unit 111 generates the setting information request information and transmits it to the damper control device 44 (step S106). As a result, the setting information acquisition unit 111 acquires the setting notification information transmitted from the damper control device 44 (step S107), extracts the setting information and room identification information included in the acquired setting notification information, and stores the extracted information in the setting information storage unit 131 in association with each other (step S108).

[0060] Thereafter, the determination target selection unit 112 selects at least one room R1, R2, R3 to be subjected to determination based on at least one of the control mode of the damper 42 corresponding to each room R1, R2, R3, the usage status of the rooms R1, R2, R3 by the user, and the display setting state indicating whether or not at least one of the temperature and the set temperature of the rooms R1, R2, R3 needs to be displayed on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2 (step S109). Next, the determination temperature calculation unit 113 calculates the average value of the temperatures detected by the environmental sensor 3 for the at least one room R1, R2, R3 selected by the determination target selection unit 112 as the determination temperature (step S110).

[0061] Next, the operation mode determination unit 115 references the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 and determines whether the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode or the heating mode (step S111). If the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode or the heating mode (step S111: Yes), the process of step S127, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode (step S111: No), the operation mode determination unit 115 determines whether the calculated determination temperature Thj is equal to or greater than the cooling switchover reference value Thc indicated by the cooling switchover reference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133 (step S112). If the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the calculated determination temperature Thj is less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc (step S112: No), the process of step S120, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the calculated judgment temperature Thj is equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value Thc (step S112: Yes), it determines whether the judgment temperature Thj has been judged to be equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value Thc N consecutive times (step S113). If the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the judgment temperature Thj has been judged to be equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value Thc less than N consecutive times (step S113: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the judgment temperature Thj has been judged to be equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value Thc N consecutive times (step S113: Yes), it determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode. Then, the device control unit 116 generates operation instruction information indicating the judged cooling mode and transmits it to the air conditioner 4 (step S114).

[0062] 12, the setting change determination unit 117 determines whether the aforementioned temperature adjustment time has arrived (step S115). If the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperature adjustment time has not yet arrived (step S115: No), the processing of the aforementioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperature adjustment time has arrived (step S115: Yes), the setting change determination unit 117 determines whether the temperatures Thr of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 indicated by the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 are equal to or lower than the cooling switching reference value Thc by the adjustment reference difference value dTt indicated by the adjustment reference difference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133 (step S116). If the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperatures Thr of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 are higher than the value lower than the cooling switching reference value Thc by the adjustment reference difference value dTt (step S116: No), the processing of the aforementioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperatures Thr of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 are equal to or less than the value lower than the cooling switching reference value Thc by the adjustment reference difference value dTt (step S116: Yes), it determines whether the value obtained by adding the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 by the unit adjustment amount dTs indicated by the unit adjustment amount information stored in the reference storage unit 133 is equal to or less than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm described above to the cooling switching reference value Thc (step S117).Here, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the value obtained by adding the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 by the unit adjustment amount dTs is higher than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the cooling switching reference value Thc (step S117: No), the processing of the above-mentioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the value obtained by adding the unit adjustment amount dTs to the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 is equal to or less than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the cooling switchover reference value Thc (step S117: Yes), it determines to change the set temperature of the damper control device 44. Then, the setting update unit 118 generates updated setting notification information including set temperature information indicating the set temperature obtained by adding the unit adjustment amount dTs to the set temperature of the target damper control device 44, and transmits the updated setting notification information to the damper control device 44 (step S118).

[0063] Next, the setting information notification unit 120 and the environmental information notification unit 121 determine whether or not they have acquired the setting information request information and the environmental information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2 (step S136). If the setting information notification unit 120 and the environmental information notification unit 121 determine that they have not acquired the setting information request information and the environmental information request information (step S136: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the setting information notification unit 120 acquires the setting information request information (step S136: Yes), it identifies the set temperature information stored in the setting information storage unit 131 and corresponding to the room identification information included in the acquired setting information request information. Then, the setting information notification unit 120 generates setting notification information including the identified set temperature information and the corresponding room identification information and transmits it to the terminal device 2. Furthermore, if the environmental information notification unit 121 acquires the environmental information request information, it identifies the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 and corresponding to the room identification information included in the acquired environmental information request information. Then, the setting information notification unit 120 generates environment information notification information including the specified environment information and the room identification information corresponding thereto, and transmits the environment information notification information to the terminal device 2 (step S137). Subsequently, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0064] Furthermore, in step S105, if the setting information acquisition unit 111 determines that the transition period determination time has not yet arrived (step S105: No), the setting change determination unit 117 references the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 and determines whether the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode (step S119). If the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode (step S119: Yes), the series of processes from step S115 onwards described above are executed. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is not the cooling mode (step S119: No), as shown in FIG. 13, it determines whether the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode (step S135). If the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is not the heating mode (step S135: No), the process of step S136 described above is executed. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode (step S135: Yes), the processing from step S123 onwards, which will be described later, is executed.

[0065] Furthermore, in step S112, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the calculated judgment temperature Thj is less than the cooling switching reference value Thc (step S112: No), it determines whether the calculated judgment temperature Thj is equal to or less than the heating switching reference value Thh (step S120). If the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the judgment temperature Thj is higher than the heating switching reference value Thh (step S120: No), the process of step S136 described above is executed. On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the judgment temperature Thj is equal to or less than the heating switching reference value Thh (step S120: Yes), it determines whether the judgment temperature Thj has been determined to be equal to or less than the heating switching reference value Thh N consecutive times (step S121). If the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the number of consecutive times that the judgment temperature Thj is equal to or less than the heating switching reference value Thh is still less than N (step S121: No), the process of step S136 described above is executed. On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the determination temperature Thj is equal to or lower than the heating switch-on reference value Thh N consecutive times (step S121: Yes), it determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode. Then, the device control unit 116 generates operation instruction information indicating the determined heating mode and transmits it to the air conditioner 4 (step S122).

[0066] Next, the setting change determination unit 117 determines whether the aforementioned temperature adjustment time has arrived (step S123). If the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperature adjustment time has not yet arrived (step S123: No), the processing of the aforementioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperature adjustment time has arrived (step S123: Yes), the setting change determination unit 117 determines whether the temperature Thr of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 indicated by the environmental information stored in the environmental information storage unit 132 is equal to or greater than the heating switch-on reference value Thh by the adjustment reference difference value dTt indicated by the adjustment reference difference value information stored in the reference storage unit 133 (step S124). If the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperature Thr of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 is less than the value higher than the heating switch-on reference value Thh by the adjustment reference difference value dTt (step S124: No), the processing of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the temperatures Thr of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 are equal to or greater than the heating switchover reference value Thh by the adjustment reference difference value dTt (step S124: Yes), it determines whether the value obtained by subtracting the unit adjustment amount dTs from the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 is equal to or greater than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm from the heating switchover reference value Thh (step S125).Here, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the value obtained by adding the unit adjustment amount dTs to the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 is less than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the cooling switchover reference value Thc (step S125: No), the processing of the above-mentioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, if the setting change determination unit 117 determines that the value obtained by subtracting the unit adjustment amount dTs from the set temperature Thrs of the damper control device 44 is equal to or greater than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm from the heating switch-over reference value Thh (step S125: Yes), it determines to change the set temperature of the damper control device 44. Then, the setting update unit 118 generates updated setting notification information including set temperature information indicating the set temperature obtained by subtracting the unit adjustment amount dTs from the set temperature of the target damper control device 44, and transmits the updated setting notification information to the damper control device 44 (step S126). Subsequently, the process of step S136 is executed.

[0067] 11, it is assumed that the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode or the heating mode (step S111: Yes). In this case, as shown in FIG. 14, the operation mode determination unit 115 references the operation mode information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 and determines whether the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode (step S127). Here, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode (step S127: No), the process of step S131, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode (step S127: Yes), it determines whether the set temperatures Thrs of all of the damper control devices 44, excluding the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in the keep mode or the stop mode, are equal to or greater than the cooling switchover reference value Thc plus a margin value dTm, and whether the judgment temperature Thj is less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc (step S128).Here, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all of the damper control devices 44 are less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc plus the margin value dTm, or whether the judgment temperature Thj is equal to or greater than the cooling switchover reference value Thc (step S128: No), the process of the above-mentioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, suppose the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all the damper control devices 44 are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the cooling switchover reference value Thc, and that the judgment temperatures Thj are less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc (step S128: Yes). In this case, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines whether the set temperatures Thrs of all the damper control devices 44 are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the cooling switchover reference value Thc, and that the judgment temperatures Thj are less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc M consecutive times (step S129). Here, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all the damper control devices 44 are still equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the cooling switchover reference value Thc, and that the judgment temperatures Thj are less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc, the number of consecutive determinations is still less than M times (step S129: No), the process of the above-mentioned step S136 is executed.On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all damper control devices 44 are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the cooling switchover reference value Thc and that the determination temperatures Thj are less than the cooling switchover reference value Thc M consecutive times (step S129: Yes), it determines to end operation of the air conditioner 4 in the cooling mode. Then, the device control unit 116 generates operation instruction information indicating operation in the fan mode or stop of operation and transmits it to the air conditioner 4 (step S130). Thereafter, the processing of the above-mentioned step S136 is executed.

[0068] Furthermore, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines in step S127 that the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode (step S127: No), it determines whether the set temperatures Thrs of all damper control devices 44, excluding the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in the keep mode or the stop mode, are equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm from the heating switch-over reference value Thh, and whether the judgment temperature Thj is higher than the heating switch-over reference value Thh (step S131). Here, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all damper control devices 44 are higher than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm from the heating switch-over reference value Thh, or whether the judgment temperature Thj is equal to or less than the heating switch-over reference value Thh (step S131: No), the process of the above-mentioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, suppose the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all the damper control devices 44 are equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm from the heating switching reference value Thh, and that the judgment temperatures Thj are higher than the heating switching reference value Thh (step S131: Yes). In this case, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines whether the set temperatures Thrs of all the damper control devices 44 are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding the margin value dTm to the heating switching reference value Thh, and that the judgment temperatures Thj are higher than the heating switching reference value Thh M consecutive times (step S132). Here, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all the damper control devices 44 are still equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm from the heating switching reference value Thh, and that the judgment temperatures Thj are higher than the heating switching reference value Thh, the number of consecutive determinations is less than M (step S132: No), the process of the aforementioned step S136 is executed. On the other hand, if the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the set temperatures Thrs of all the damper control devices 44 are equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value dTm from the heating switch-over reference value Thh and that the determination temperatures Thj are higher than the heating switch-over reference value Thh M consecutive times (step S132: Yes), it determines to end operation of the air conditioner 4 in the heating mode. Then, the device control unit 116 generates operation instruction information indicating operation in the fan mode or stop of operation and transmits it to the air conditioner 4 (step S133). Next, the process of step S136 described above is executed.

[0069] As described above, according to the air conditioning system of this embodiment, the judgment temperature calculation unit 113 of the cloud server 1 calculates a judgment temperature used to determine the operation mode of the air conditioner 4, based on the temperatures of each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3. The operation mode determination unit 115 then determines whether to switch the operation mode based on the results of a comparison between the judgment temperature and the cooling switchover reference value or the heating switchover reference value. This eliminates the need for the user to determine when to switch the operation mode, reducing the operational burden on the user and making the rooms R1, R2, and R3 to be air-conditioned a comfortable environment for the user.

[0070] When an environmental sensor 3 is installed in each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3, the temperatures detected by each environmental sensor 3 often vary depending on the usage conditions and environments of the rooms R1, R2, and R3. In this case, when attempting to determine the transition period of the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 based on the temperatures detected by the environmental sensor 3, it is difficult to determine the temperature of each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 because the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 cannot be uniquely determined. In particular, when the control mode for controlling the dampers 42 installed in each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 can be different for each of the rooms R1, R2, and R3, or when the environmental sensor 3 is installed in a room other than a user's room, such as a closet, storage room, or changing room, it becomes increasingly difficult to identify the temperature required to determine the transition period of the operation mode, which may make it even more difficult to determine the transition period of the operation mode. Furthermore, in the case of a central air conditioning system using a so-called VAV system like the present embodiment, it takes time to change the environment throughout the building H, so frequent switching of the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is undesirable. Therefore, switching of the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 must be kept to a minimum, requiring precision in determining the transition period. In contrast, in the air conditioning system according to the present embodiment, even if the temperatures of each room R1, R2, and R3 detected by the environmental sensor 3, the set temperature of the damper control device 44, and the control mode are different from one another, the judgment temperature used to determine the transition period of the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 can be appropriately calculated, and the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 can be appropriately transitioned.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, if the judgment temperature is equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode. Here, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode if it determines that the judgment temperature is equal to or greater than the cooling switching reference value N consecutive times. Also, when the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, if the judgment temperature is equal to or less than the heating switching reference value, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode if it determines that the judgment temperature is equal to or less than the heating switching reference value N consecutive times. Here, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines that the operation mode to be adopted by the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode if it determines that the judgment temperature is equal to or less than the heating switching reference value N consecutive times. As a result, the air conditioner 4 automatically starts operating in the cooling mode or the heating mode depending on the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3, thereby reducing the operational burden on the user. Furthermore, the air conditioner 4 starts operating in cooling mode or heating mode only after it has been determined that the judgment temperature is equal to or higher than the cooling switchover reference value N times in a row, which prevents the operating mode of the air conditioner 4 from being changed more frequently than necessary due to, for example, a sudden fluctuation in the judgment temperature.

[0072] Furthermore, when the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode, the operation mode determination unit 115 according to this embodiment determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner 4 in the cooling mode if the set temperatures of all of the damper control devices 44, excluding the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in the keep mode or the stop mode, are equal to or greater than the value obtained by adding a margin value to the cooling switchover reference value, and the determination temperature is less than the cooling switchover reference value. Furthermore, when the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit 115 determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner 4 in the heating mode if the set temperatures of all of the damper control devices 44, excluding the damper control device 44 that controls the damper 42 in the keep mode or the stop mode, are equal to or less than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value from the heating switchover reference value, and the determination temperature is higher than the heating switchover reference value. This allows the determination temperature to be calculated in consideration of the user's usage status, thereby improving the accuracy of the determination temperature and preventing the air conditioner 4 from operating in a manner that impairs the comfort of the users of rooms R1, R2, and R3. In addition, the air conditioner 4 automatically stops operating in cooling mode or heating mode depending on the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3 and the temperature setting status of the damper control device 44 set by the user, thereby reducing the operational burden on the user.

[0073] Furthermore, when the operating mode of the air conditioner 4 is the cooling mode, the setting update unit 118 according to this embodiment updates the set temperature of the damper control device 44 by increasing the set temperature of the damper control device 44 by the unit adjustment amount if the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 are equal to or lower than a value lower than the cooling switchover reference value by the adjustment reference difference value, and if the value obtained by adding the unit adjustment amount to the set temperature of the damper control device 44 is equal to or lower than the value obtained by adding the unit adjustment amount to the cooling switchover reference value. Furthermore, when the operating mode of the air conditioner 4 is the heating mode, the setting update unit 118 updates the set temperature of the damper control device 44 by decreasing the set temperature of the damper control device 44 by the unit adjustment amount if the temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 are equal to or higher than a value higher than the heating switchover reference value by the adjustment reference difference value, and if the value obtained by subtracting the unit adjustment amount from the set temperature of the damper control device 44 is equal to or higher than the value obtained by subtracting the margin value from the heating switchover reference value. As a result, when the air conditioner 4 is operating in cooling mode or heating mode, the set temperature of the damper control device 44 can be adaptively adjusted in accordance with the actual temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3, thereby maintaining a comfortable environment for users in rooms R1, R2, and R3. In particular, when the time to transition from cooling to heating or from heating to cooling approaches, the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3 can be gradually increased or decreased. Alternatively, even when the transition time approaches and the temperature difference between daytime and nighttime becomes large, the set temperature of the damper control device 44 can be adjusted in accordance with the temperatures of rooms R1, R2, and R3.

[0074] Furthermore, the judgment temperature calculation unit 113 according to this embodiment selects rooms to be judged based on the control mode of the damper 42 corresponding to each room R1, R2, and R3, the user's use of the rooms R1, R2, and R3, and a display setting state indicating whether the temperatures and set temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 should be displayed on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2, and calculates the average value of the temperatures of each selected room detected by the environmental sensor 3 as the judgment temperature. Specifically, the judgment temperature calculation unit 113 selects rooms excluding the rooms R1, R2, and R3 corresponding to the dampers 42 controlled by the damper control device 44 in the keep mode or the stop mode, the rooms R1, R2, and R3 not being used as occupying rooms by the user, and the rooms R1, R2, and R3 for which the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2 is set to not require display of the temperatures and set temperatures. This allows the judgment temperature to be calculated appropriately even if the set temperatures of the damper control device 44, the control mode of the damper 42, etc. vary among the rooms R1, R2, and R3. Therefore, the air conditioner 4 can be controlled appropriately.

[0075] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the judgment temperature calculation unit 113 of the cloud server 1 may calculate, as the judgment temperature, another representative value such as the median, maximum, or minimum value of the temperatures detected by the environmental sensor 3 for at least one of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 selected by the judgment target selection unit 112.

[0076] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the determination target selection unit 112 of the cloud server 1 selects at least one of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 based on at least one of the control modes of the dampers 42 corresponding to the rooms R1, R2, and R3, the usage status of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 by the user, and the display setting state indicating whether or not to display at least one of the temperatures and set temperatures of the rooms R1, R2, and R3 on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2. However, this is not limiting, and the determination target selection unit 112 may select the rooms R1, R2, and R3 designated in advance by the user as the rooms to be determined.

[0077] In the embodiment, the user may be able to set the set temperature when the air conditioner 4 starts operating in cooling mode, or the set temperature when the air conditioner 4 starts operating in heating mode.

[0078] In the embodiment, the operation mode determination unit 115 of the cloud server 1 may determine the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 by taking into account seasonal information indicating the season. For example, a condition that the time of year is between April and July may be added as a condition for setting the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 to the cooling mode. Alternatively, the cloud server 1 may be capable of communicating with a weather server that manages weather information and have a function for acquiring weather information that indicates the weather conditions at the location of building H managed by the weather server. In this case, the operation mode determination unit 115 may determine the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 by taking into account the weather conditions indicated in the weather information acquired from the weather server. For example, a condition that the maximum temperature or minimum temperature on the day to be determined is equal to or higher than a preset reference temperature may be added as a condition for setting the operation mode of the air conditioner 4 to the cooling mode.

[0079] In the embodiment, the air conditioner setting storage unit 134 of the cloud server 1 may store historical information about the operation mode and set temperature of the air conditioner 4. The cloud server 1 may also include a criteria optimization unit (not shown) that optimizes the various pieces of information stored in the criteria storage unit 133 based on the historical information stored in the air conditioner setting storage unit 134.

[0080] In the embodiment, an example in which the environmental parameter is temperature has been described, but the environmental parameter is not limited to this, and may be humidity, CO2 concentration, or the like.

[0081] Furthermore, the various functions of the cloud server 1 and terminal device 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, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc). The program may then be read and installed on a computer to configure a computer capable of realizing each of the aforementioned functions. In addition, when 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.

[0082] 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 started 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.

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

[0084] (Appendix 1) an air conditioner that can operate in operation modes including a cooling mode and a heating mode; at least one environmental sensor for detecting an environmental parameter of each of at least one target area to be air-conditioned; At least one damper connected to the air conditioner via a duct and installed in each of at least one of the target areas; a determination environment parameter calculation unit that calculates a determination environment parameter used to determine an operation mode of the air conditioner based on an environmental parameter of each of the at least one target area detected by the at least one environmental sensor; an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; and an equipment control unit that controls the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode. Air conditioning system. (Appendix 2) the operation switching reference value includes a cooling switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the cooling mode, When the operation mode is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the cooling mode based on a result of comparing a magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and the cooling switching reference value. 10. The air conditioning system of claim 1. (Appendix 3) the operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the cooling mode when the determination environment parameter is equal to or greater than the cooling switch reference value; 10. The air conditioning system of claim 2. (Appendix 4) and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; the operation switching reference value includes a cooling switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the cooling mode, When the operation mode is the cooling mode, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate the operation of the air conditioner in the cooling mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the set environmental parameter of the damper control device and the cooling switch-on reference value. 4. An air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. (Appendix 5) The damper control device can control the damper in a keep mode in which the damper is fixed at a preset opening degree, and a stop mode in which the damper is closed and air conditioning of the target area is stopped, in response to a user's operation, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate the operation of the air conditioner in the cooling mode when the set environmental parameters of all of the at least one damper control device excluding the damper control device that controls the damper in the keep mode or the stop mode are equal to or greater than a value obtained by adding a preset margin value to the cooling switch-on reference value, and the determination environmental parameter is less than the cooling switch-on reference value; 10. The air conditioning system of claim 4. (Appendix 6) and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; and a setting update unit that updates the setting environmental parameter of the damper control device based on a result of comparing a magnitude relationship between the environmental parameter of the target area and the cooling switch-on reference value when the operation mode is the cooling mode. 4. The air conditioning system of claim 2 or 3. (Appendix 7) When the operation mode is the cooling mode, if the environmental parameter is equal to or less than a value lower than the cooling switchover reference value by a preset adjustment reference difference value, and if a value obtained by adding a preset unit adjustment amount to the set environmental parameter is equal to or less than a value obtained by adding a preset margin value to the cooling switchover reference value, the setting update unit updates the set environmental parameter of the damper control device by increasing the set environmental parameter by the unit adjustment amount. 10. The air conditioning system of claim 6. (Appendix 8) The operation mode switching reference value includes a heating switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the heating mode, When the operation mode is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the heating mode based on a result of comparing a magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and the heating switch-on reference value. 8. An air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. (Appendix 9) The operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the heating mode when the determination environment parameter is equal to or less than the heating switch-on reference value. 10. The air conditioning system of claim 8. (Appendix 10) and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; The operation mode switching reference value includes a heating switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the heating mode, When the operation mode is the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate the operation of the air conditioner in the heating mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the set environmental parameter of the damper control device and the heating switch-on reference value. 10. An air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 9. (Appendix 11) The damper control device can control the damper in a keep mode in which the damper is fixed at a preset opening degree, and a stop mode in which the damper is closed and air conditioning of the target area is stopped, in response to a user's operation, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner in the heating mode when the set environmental parameters of all of the at least one damper control device excluding the damper control device that controls the damper in the keep mode or the stop mode are equal to or less than a value obtained by subtracting a preset margin value from the heating switch-on reference value, and the determination environmental parameter is higher than the heating switch-on reference value; 11. The air conditioning system of claim 10. (Appendix 12) and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; When the operation mode is the heating mode, a setting update unit updates the setting environmental parameter of the damper control device based on a result of comparing the environmental parameter of the target area with the heating switching reference value. 10. The air conditioning system of claim 8 or 9. (Appendix 13) When the operation mode is the heating mode, if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than a value higher than the heating switch-on reference value by a preset adjustment reference difference value, and if a value obtained by subtracting a preset unit adjustment amount from the set environmental parameter is equal to or greater than a value obtained by subtracting a preset margin value from the heating switch-on reference value, the setting update unit updates the set environmental parameter of the damper control device by decreasing the set environmental parameter by the unit adjustment amount. 13. The air conditioning system of claim 12. (Appendix 14) At least one damper control device is installed in each of the at least one target areas, and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; a terminal device having a display unit, the terminal device displaying at least one of the environmental parameters of the target area and the set environmental parameters on the display unit; The damper control device can control the damper in a keep mode in which the damper is fixed at a preset opening degree, and a stop mode in which the damper is closed and air conditioning of the target area is stopped, in response to a user's operation, the determination environment parameter calculation unit selects at least one of the target areas in accordance with at least one of a control mode of the damper corresponding to the target area, a usage status of the target area by a user, and a display setting state indicating whether or not at least one of the environmental parameters of the target area and the set environmental parameters needs to be displayed on the display unit, and calculates, as the determination environment parameter, a representative value of the environmental parameters of each of the selected at least one target area detected by at least one of the environmental sensors. 14. An air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 13. (Appendix 15) the determination environment parameter calculation unit selects at least one of the target areas excluding the target area corresponding to the damper controlled by the damper control device in the keep mode or the stop mode, the target area not being used as a room by a user, and the target area for which display of at least one of the environmental parameters and the set environment parameters on the display unit is set to be unnecessary. 15. The air conditioning system of claim 14. (Appendix 16) An air conditioner control device that operates in operation modes including a cooling mode and a heating mode based on environmental parameters detected by at least one environmental sensor that detects environmental parameters for at least one target area that is an air conditioning target, and controls an air conditioner connected to at least one damper installed in each of the at least one target area via a duct, a determination environment parameter calculation unit that calculates a determination environment parameter used to determine an operation mode of the air conditioner based on an environmental parameter of each of the at least one target area detected by the at least one environmental sensor; an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; and an equipment control unit that controls the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode. Air conditioner control device. (Appendix 17) a step of calculating a determination environmental parameter to be used for determining the operation mode of an air conditioner that operates in an operation mode including a cooling mode and a heating mode and is connected via a duct to at least one damper installed in each of the at least one target area, based on the environmental parameters of each of the at least one target area detected by at least one environmental sensor that detects the environmental parameters of the at least one target area that is an air conditioning target; a step of determining whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; and controlling the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode. Air conditioning methods. (Appendix 18) Computer, a determination environment parameter calculation unit that operates in an operation mode including a cooling mode and a heating mode, based on environmental parameters for at least one target area that is an air-conditioning target, detected by at least one environmental sensor that detects environmental parameters for the at least one target area, and calculates a determination environment parameter to be used for determining the operation mode of an air conditioner that is connected to at least one damper installed in each of the at least one target area via a duct; an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; a device control unit that controls the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode; A program to function as a [Industrial Applicability]

[0085] The present disclosure is suitable as an air conditioning system that can make the environment inside a building that is the target of air conditioning comfortable for users when they arrive at the building. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 1 Cloud server, 2 Terminal device, 3 Environmental sensor, 4 Air conditioner, 8 BBR, 42 Damper, 43 Duct, 44 Damper control device, 101, 201 CPU, 102, 202 Main memory unit, 103, 203 Auxiliary memory unit, 106, 206 Communication unit, 108 Timekeeping unit, 109, 209 Bus, 111 Setting information acquisition unit, 112 Judgment target selection unit, 113 Judgment temperature calculation unit, 114, 414 Environmental information acquisition unit, 115 Operation mode judgment unit, 116 Equipment control unit, 117 Setting change judgment unit, 118, 416 Setting update unit, 119 Cloud setting acquisition unit, 120, 412 Setting information notification unit, 121 Environmental information notification unit, 131, 231 Setting information storage unit, 132, 232 Environmental information storage unit, 133 Judgment criteria memory unit, 134 air conditioner setting memory unit, 135 travel distance memory unit, 204 display unit, 205 input unit, 211 standard setting notification unit, 212 setting information acquisition unit, 213 environmental information acquisition unit, 214 display control unit, 215 display setting unit, 216 display setting notification unit, 233 display setting memory unit, 401 control unit, 405 operation unit, 411 setting unit, 413 damper control unit, 415 update setting acquisition unit, BU11, BU12, BU21, BU22 button image, H building, NW1 wide area network, NW2 local network, M3, M11, M12, M13, M14, M21, M22, M23, M24 message image, R1, R2, R3 room

Claims

1. an air conditioner that can operate in operation modes including a cooling mode and a heating mode; at least one environmental sensor for detecting an environmental parameter of each of at least one target area to be air-conditioned; At least one damper connected to the air conditioner via a duct and installed in each of at least one of the target areas; a determination environment parameter calculation unit that calculates a determination environment parameter used to determine an operation mode of the air conditioner based on an environmental parameter for each of the at least one target area detected by the at least one environmental sensor; an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; and an equipment control unit that controls the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode. Air conditioning system.

2. the operation switching reference value includes a cooling switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the cooling mode, When the operation mode is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the cooling mode based on a result of comparing a magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and the cooling switching reference value. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. the operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the cooling mode when the determination environment parameter is equal to or greater than the cooling switch reference value; The air conditioning system according to claim 2 .

4. and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; the operation switching reference value includes a cooling switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the cooling mode, When the operation mode is the cooling mode, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate the operation of the air conditioner in the cooling mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the set environmental parameter of the damper control device and the cooling switch-on reference value. The air conditioning system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The damper control device can control the damper in a keep mode in which the damper is fixed at a preset opening degree, and a stop mode in which the damper is closed and air conditioning of the target area is stopped, in response to a user's operation, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner in the cooling mode when the set environmental parameters of all of the at least one damper control device excluding the damper control device that controls the damper in the keep mode or the stop mode are equal to or greater than a value obtained by adding a preset margin value to the cooling switch-on reference value, and the determination environmental parameter is less than the cooling switch-on reference value; The air conditioning system according to claim 4.

6. and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; and a setting update unit that updates the setting environmental parameter of the damper control device based on a result of comparing a magnitude relationship between the environmental parameter of the target area and the cooling switch-on reference value when the operation mode is the cooling mode.

4. The air conditioning system according to claim 2 or 3.

7. When the operation mode is the cooling mode, if the environmental parameter is equal to or less than a value lower than the cooling switchover reference value by a preset adjustment reference difference value, and if a value obtained by adding a preset unit adjustment amount to the set environmental parameter is equal to or less than a value obtained by adding a preset margin value to the cooling switchover reference value, the setting update unit updates the set environmental parameter of the damper control device by increasing the set environmental parameter by the unit adjustment amount. The air conditioning system according to claim 6.

8. The operation mode switching reference value includes a heating switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the heating mode, When the operation mode is neither the cooling mode nor the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the heating mode based on a result of comparing a magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and the heating switch-on reference value. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

9. The operation mode determination unit determines the operation mode to be the heating mode when the determination environment parameter is equal to or less than the heating switch-on reference value. The air conditioning system according to claim 8.

10. and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; The operation mode switching reference value includes a heating switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode to the heating mode, When the operation mode is the heating mode, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate the operation of the air conditioner in the heating mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the set environmental parameter of the damper control device and the heating switch-on reference value.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, 8 or 9.

11. The damper control device can control the damper in a keep mode in which the damper is fixed at a preset opening degree, and a stop mode in which the damper is closed and air conditioning of the target area is stopped, in response to a user's operation, the operation mode determination unit determines to terminate operation of the air conditioner in the heating mode when the set environment parameters of all of the at least one damper control device excluding the damper control device that controls the damper in the keep mode or the stop mode are equal to or less than a value obtained by subtracting a preset margin value from the heating switch-on reference value, and the determination environment parameter is higher than the heating switch-on reference value; The air conditioning system according to claim 10.

12. and further comprising at least one damper control device that is installed in each of the at least one target areas and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; When the operation mode is the heating mode, a setting update unit updates the setting environmental parameter of the damper control device based on a result of comparing the environmental parameter of the target area with the heating switching reference value.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 8 or 9.

13. When the operation mode is the heating mode, if the environmental parameter is equal to or greater than a value higher than the heating switch-on reference value by a preset adjustment reference difference value, and if a value obtained by subtracting a preset unit adjustment amount from the set environmental parameter is equal to or greater than a value obtained by subtracting a preset margin value from the heating switch-on reference value, the setting update unit updates the set environmental parameter of the damper control device by decreasing the set environmental parameter by the unit adjustment amount.

13. The air conditioning system of claim 12.

14. At least one damper control device is installed in each of the at least one target areas, and controls the opening degree of the damper so that the environmental parameters of the target areas become target set environmental parameters; a terminal device having a display unit, the terminal device displaying at least one of the environmental parameters of the target area and the set environmental parameters on the display unit; The damper control device can control the damper in a keep mode in which the damper is fixed at a preset opening degree, and a stop mode in which the damper is closed and air conditioning of the target area is stopped, in response to a user's operation, the determination environment parameter calculation unit selects at least one of the target areas in accordance with at least one of a control mode of the damper corresponding to the target area, a usage status of the target area by a user, and a display setting state indicating whether or not at least one of the environmental parameters of the target area and the set environmental parameters needs to be displayed on the display unit, and calculates, as the determination environment parameter, a representative value of the environmental parameters of each of the selected at least one target area detected by at least one of the environmental sensors.

10. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 9.

15. the determination environment parameter calculation unit selects at least one of the target areas excluding the target area corresponding to the damper controlled by the damper control device in the keep mode or the stop mode, the target area not being used as a room by a user, and the target area for which display of at least one of the environmental parameters and the set environment parameters on the display unit is set to be unnecessary.

15. The air conditioning system of claim 14.

16. An air conditioner control device that operates in operation modes including a cooling mode and a heating mode based on environmental parameters detected by at least one environmental sensor that detects environmental parameters for at least one target area that is an air conditioning target, and controls an air conditioner connected via a duct to at least one damper installed in each of the at least one target area, a determination environment parameter calculation unit that calculates a determination environment parameter used to determine an operation mode of the air conditioner based on an environmental parameter for each of the at least one target area detected by the at least one environmental sensor; an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; and an equipment control unit that controls the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode. Air conditioner control device.

17. a step of calculating a determination environmental parameter to be used for determining the operation mode of an air conditioner that operates in an operation mode including a cooling mode and a heating mode and is connected via a duct to at least one damper installed in each of the at least one target area, based on the environmental parameters of each of the at least one target area that is an air conditioning target, detected by at least one environmental sensor that detects the environmental parameters of the at least one target area; a step of determining whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; and controlling the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode. Air conditioning methods.

18. Computer, a determination environment parameter calculation unit that calculates a determination environment parameter to be used for determining the operation mode of an air conditioner that operates in an operation mode including a cooling mode and a heating mode, and is connected via a duct to at least one damper installed in each of the at least one target area, based on the environmental parameters of at least one target area that is an air-conditioning target, detected by at least one environmental sensor that detects the environmental parameters of the at least one target area; an operation mode determination unit that determines whether to switch the operation mode based on a result of comparing the magnitude relationship between the determination environment parameter and a preset operation switching reference value that serves as a reference for determining whether to switch the operation mode; a device control unit that controls the air conditioner so that the air conditioner starts operating in the determined operation mode; A program to function as a

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