Information notification method, information notification device, and information notification program

Abstract

To provide a technique for making a performer surely perform an action on a device. [Solution] The information notification device acquires device information about the device, determines an action to be taken on the device based on the device information, determines which of multiple users should perform the determined action, refers to relationship information indicating the relationships between the multiple users, determines a notification recipient to notify that the performer should perform the action, and notifies the determined notification recipient of notification information indicating that the performer should perform the action.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a technology for determining which users among a plurality of users are to be notified of information, and notifying the determined users of the information. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that when a malfunction is detected by a self-diagnosis of an air conditioner, a software cell of malfunction information indicating the malfunction is generated, the generated software cell is received and stored by the refrigerator, and when the refrigerator door is opened by a user, the refrigerator notifies the user that the air conditioner has malfunctioned based on the software cell it has stored. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-339365 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-mentioned conventional technology does not take into consideration the relationship between the user performing the action on the device and other users when determining who is to be notified, and further improvement is needed.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve the above problems, and aims to provide a technology that allows an actor to reliably perform an action on a device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The information notification method according to the present disclosure includes a computer acquiring device information related to a device, determining an action to be taken with respect to the device based on the device information, determining an actor among multiple users who should perform the determined action, referring to relationship information indicating the relationships between the multiple users, determining a notification recipient to notify that the actor should perform the action, and notifying the determined notification recipient of notification information indicating that the actor should perform the action. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the notification recipient is determined taking into consideration the relationship between the performer who performs the action on the device and other users, so that the notification recipient who has a strong relationship with the performer can urge the performer to perform the action on the device, and can reliably ensure that the performer performs the action on the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information notification system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information notification device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of device information in the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a notification necessity management table in the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an activity content management table in the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a performer management table in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of relationship information according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a notification method determined based on the relationship information shown in FIG. [Figure 9]4 is a flowchart illustrating an information notification process performed by the information notification device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen displayed on a mobile terminal carried by a notification target person in the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of a notification screen displayed on the mobile terminal carried by the notification target person in the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information notification device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a response rule in which response times from notification to a notification target to execution of an action are associated with response levels in the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a notification method determined based on the response level shown in FIG. [Figure 15] 10 is a first flowchart illustrating an information notification process performed by an information notification device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] 10 is a second flowchart illustrating the information notification process performed by the information notification device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) In the above-described conventional technology, when an air conditioner malfunction is detected, a software cell of malfunction information indicating the malfunction is sent to the refrigerator, and when the refrigerator door is opened by the user, the user is notified of the air conditioner malfunction based on the software cell.

[0010] In this case, the air conditioner malfunction is notified to an unspecified user who opens the refrigerator door, but not to a specific user who requests repair of the air conditioner.

[0011] Furthermore, when replacing a filter in a washing machine, an executor who will perform an action on the appliance may be predetermined. For example, if it is predetermined that the father in a household will replace the filter in the washing machine, it is conceivable to notify the father directly of the need to replace the filter. However, even if the father is notified of the need to replace the filter, it is not necessarily the case that the father will replace the filter. He is more likely to replace the filter reliably if prompted by another user in the household who has a strong relationship with the father, such as a mother or child.

[0012] In order to solve the above problems, an information notification method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a computer acquiring device information related to a device, determining an action to be taken with respect to the device based on the device information, determining an executor from among multiple users who should perform the determined action, referring to relationship information indicating the relationships between the multiple users, determining a notification recipient to notify that the executor should perform the action, and notifying the determined notification recipient of notification information indicating that the executor should perform the action.

[0013] According to this configuration, an action to be taken on a device is determined based on device information about the device, and a performer who should perform the determined action is determined from among multiple users. Relationship information indicating the relationships between the multiple users is then referenced to determine a notification recipient to be notified that the performer should perform the action, and notification information indicating that the performer should perform the action is notified to the determined notification recipient.

[0014] Therefore, the notification recipient is determined taking into consideration the relationship between the performer who performs the action on the device and other users, so that the notification recipient who has a strong relationship with the performer can urge the performer to perform the action on the device, and can reliably make the performer perform the action on the device.

[0015] In addition, in the above-mentioned information notification method, the notification target may be a user different from the performer, and the notification information may include information prompting the notification target to inform the performer that the performer should perform the action.

[0016] According to this configuration, the action to be performed on the device is not notified to the performer directly, but is notified to the performer via a user other than the performer, thereby more strongly urging the performer to perform the action.

[0017] In the above information notification method, the notification target may be the same user as the executor.

[0018] According to this configuration, it is possible to reliably notify the performer of the action to be performed on the device.

[0019] Furthermore, in the above-described information notification method, the relationship information may include table information that associates each of the plurality of users with a priority for each of the plurality of users, and in determining the notification recipient, the relationship information may be referenced to determine the user with the highest priority associated with the executor as the notification recipient.

[0020] According to this configuration, by previously associating each of the multiple users with a priority for each of the multiple users according to the relationship between the users, it is possible to easily determine the user who has a strong relationship with the user who is the executor as the notification recipient.

[0021] Furthermore, in the above-described information notification method, when determining the notification recipients, layer information indicating to which of a plurality of hierarchical layer groups each of the plurality of users belongs and the relationship information may be referenced, and if the user with the highest priority associated with the performer belongs to the same layer group as the performer, both the user with the highest priority and the performer may be determined as the notification recipients, and if the user with the highest priority associated with the performer belongs to a layer group different from the performer, only the user with the highest priority may be determined as the notification recipient.

[0022] According to this configuration, each of the multiple users belongs to one of multiple hierarchical layer groups. If the user with the highest priority associated with the performer belongs to the same layer group as the performer, both the user with the highest priority and the performer are determined to be notification recipients. Also, if the user with the highest priority associated with the performer belongs to a layer group different from the performer, only the user with the highest priority is determined to be the notification recipient. Therefore, the notification recipient can be determined taking into account the hierarchical relationship between the user with the highest priority and the performer.

[0023] Furthermore, in the above-described information notification method, when the action is performed on the device, execution completion information indicating that the action has been performed on the device is obtained, and if the execution completion information is not obtained even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was notified, all of the multiple users or any user among the multiple users other than the user who was first notified of the notification information may be determined as the notification recipients, and the notification information may be re-notified to the determined notification recipients.

[0024] According to this configuration, if the performer does not perform an action on the device even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was notified, the notification information is re-notified to all of the multiple users, so that users among the multiple users other than the performer can urge the performer to perform an action on the device. Also, if the performer does not perform an action on the device even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was notified, the notification information is re-notified to users among the multiple users other than the user who was first notified of the notification information, so that users among the multiple users other than the user who was first notified of the notification information can urge the performer to perform an action on the device.

[0025] In the above information notification method, if the execution completion information is not acquired even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was re-notified, the use of the device may be restricted.

[0026] According to this configuration, if the execution completion information is not acquired even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was re-notified, the use of the device is restricted, so that the performer can be more strongly urged to execute the action.

[0027] Furthermore, in the above information notification method, the response time from when the notification information is notified until the executor performs the action on the device may be measured and stored in memory, and when the action is performed on the device, execution completion information indicating that the action has been performed on the device may be obtained, and when the execution completion information is not obtained even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was notified, the notification target may be re-determined in accordance with the executor's past response time, and the notification information may be re-notified to the re-determined notification target.

[0028] According to this configuration, the response time from when the notification information is notified until the performer performs an action on the device is measured, and if execution completion information is not obtained even after a predetermined time has passed since the notification information was notified, the notification target is re-determined based on the performer's past response time. For example, if the past response time is shorter than the predetermined time, the user who originally notified is re-determined as the notification target, and if the past response time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, a user other than the user who originally notified is re-determined as the notification target. This makes it possible to encourage performers with relatively long past response times to perform an action on the device from a user other than the user who originally notified.

[0029] In addition, in the above information notification method, the device information may include information regarding an error that has occurred in the device, information regarding maintenance for the device, or information indicating a specified function possessed by the device selected by the user.

[0030] With this configuration, it is possible to determine the action to be taken with respect to the device based on information regarding an error that has occurred in the device, information regarding maintenance for the device, or information indicating the specified functions possessed by the device selected by the user.

[0031] In the above information notification method, the notification information may be transmitted to a terminal carried by the notification target person.

[0032] According to this configuration, the notification information is sent to the terminal carried by the notification target, so that the notification information can be reliably notified to the notification target.

[0033] Furthermore, in the above-described information notification method, when notifying the notification information, usage history information indicating the usage history of each of the plurality of users for a plurality of devices may be referenced, and the notification information may be sent to the device that is most frequently used by the notification target person.

[0034] According to this configuration, the notification information is sent to the device that is most frequently used by the notification target, so that the notification information can be reliably notified to the notification target.

[0035] Furthermore, in the above-described information notification method, when the performer is the person to be notified in notifying the notification information, the method may refer to usage history information indicating the usage history of multiple devices of each of the multiple users, identify a time period in which the person to be notified will use the device to perform the action, and send the notification information to the device used by the person to be notified by a predetermined time before the identified time period.

[0036] According to this configuration, notification information is sent by the device used by the person to be notified a predetermined time before the time period when the person to be notified uses the device to perform the action, so that the action on the device can be performed when the person to be notified uses the device.

[0037] Furthermore, in the above-described information notification method, when notifying the notification information, reference may be made to usage history information indicating the usage history of multiple devices for each of the multiple users, a series of actions in which the notification target person uses each of the multiple devices and arranged in chronological order, a group in which the notification target person uses the devices to perform the actions may be identified, and the notification information may be sent to a device used in the final action of a group immediately preceding the identified group, a device used in the first action of the identified group, or a device used in the final action of the identified group.

[0038] According to this configuration, the group in which the person to be notified uses a device to perform an action is identified, and the notification information is notified by the device used in the last action of the group immediately preceding the identified group, the device used in the first action of the identified group, or the device used in the last action of the identified group, so that the notification information can be reliably notified to the person to be notified.

[0039] Furthermore, the present disclosure can be realized not only as an information notification method that executes the characteristic processes described above, but also as an information notification device or the like that has a characteristic configuration corresponding to the characteristic processes executed by the information notification method. Furthermore, the present disclosure can also be realized as a computer program that causes a computer to execute the characteristic processes included in such an information notification method. Therefore, the same effects as those of the above-described information notification method can also be achieved in the following other aspects.

[0040] An information notification device according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit that acquires device information related to a device; an action determination unit that determines an action to be taken with respect to the device based on the device information; an executor determination unit that determines an executor from among multiple users who should perform the determined action; a notification recipient determination unit that determines a notification recipient to notify that the executor should perform the action by referring to relationship information that indicates the relationships between the multiple users; and a notification unit that notifies the determined notification recipient with notification information indicating that the executor should perform the action.

[0041] An information notification program according to another aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer to function in the following manner: acquire device information about a device; determine an action to be taken with respect to the device based on the device information; determine an executor from among multiple users who should perform the determined action; refer to relationship information indicating the relationships between the multiple users to determine a notification recipient to notify that the executor should perform the action; and notify the determined notification recipient of notification information indicating that the executor should perform the action.

[0042] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following embodiments are examples of specific embodiments of the present disclosure and do not limit the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0043] (Embodiment 1) Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information notification system according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The information notification system illustrated in Fig. 1 includes an information notification device 1, a device 2, and mobile terminals 3A, 3B, and 3C.

[0044] The information notification device 1 is, for example, a cloud server, an edge server, or an integrated terminal, and is connected to the device 2 and mobile terminals 3A, 3B, and 3C via a network 4 so that they can communicate with each other. The integrated terminal is installed, for example, in a living room in a house, and is a controller for integrating and controlling multiple devices 2 used in the house. The network 4 is, for example, the Internet. The configuration of the information notification device 1 will be described later using FIG. 2.

[0045] The devices 2 are installed in the residences of a first user U1, a second user U2, and a third user U3, and include home appliances such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, a microwave oven, or a television, home appliances such as a ventilation fan, a lighting device, or a hot water heater, or sensors such as a motion sensor. The information notification system includes a plurality of devices 2. The devices 2 periodically transmit device information related to the devices 2 to the information notification device 1.

[0046] The first user U1, the second user U2, and the third user U3 are a family member, for example, the first user U1 is a father, the second user U2 is a mother, and the third user U3 is a child.

[0047] The mobile terminals 3A, 3B, and 3C are, for example, smartphones or tablet computers, and are owned by a first user U1, a second user U2, and a third user U3, respectively. The mobile terminals 3A, 3B, and 3C receive notification information transmitted by the information notification device 1. The notification information is information indicating that the performer should perform an action.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of the information notification device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0049] The information notification device 1 shown in FIG. 2 includes a processor 11, a memory 12, and a communication unit 13.

[0050] The processor 11 is, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 11 realizes a device information acquisition unit 101, a notification determination unit 102, an action content determination unit 103, a performer determination unit 104, a notification recipient determination unit 105, a notification information generation unit 106, and a notification unit 107.

[0051] The memory 12 is a storage device capable of storing various types of information, such as a random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a flash memory, etc. The memory 12 realizes a notification necessity management table storage unit 121, an action content management table storage unit 122, a performer management table storage unit 123, and a relationship information storage unit 124.

[0052] The communication unit 13 receives the device information transmitted by the device 2. The communication unit 13 outputs the received device information to the device information acquisition unit 101.

[0053] The device information acquisition unit 101 acquires device information relating to the device 2 .

[0054] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of device information according to the first embodiment.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 3, the device information acquisition unit 101 acquires a device name, date and time, and device information. The device name is the name of the device 2, such as a washing machine, a microwave oven, or a ventilation fan. The device name may be an identification number, model number, or product number for identifying the device. The date and time is the date and time when the device information is received. The date and time may be the date and time when the device information is transmitted, or the date and time when an event related to the device information occurs.

[0056] The device information includes, for example, information about an error that has occurred in the device 2, information about maintenance for the device 2, or information indicating a predetermined function of the device 2 selected by the user. The device information "Error 1" shown in FIG. 3 is information about an error that has occurred in the washing machine, the device information "Error 2" is information about an error that has occurred in the microwave oven, and the device information "Maintenance" is information about maintenance that has occurred in the ventilation fan. The information about maintenance includes, for example, the degree of dirtiness of the ventilation fan filter, the number of days since the filter was last replaced, the number of days since the ventilation fan was installed, or the number of days since the filter was last replaced.

[0057] The device information acquisition unit 101 acquires device information transmitted by the device 2 periodically (for example, every 30 seconds).

[0058] The notification determination unit 102 refers to the notification necessity management table stored in the notification necessity management table storage unit 121, and determines whether or not the notification information should be notified based on the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 101.

[0059] The notification necessity management table storage unit 121 stores in advance a notification necessity management table in which device information is associated with whether notification is necessary.

[0060] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the notification necessity management table in the first embodiment.

[0061] The notification necessity management table shown in Fig. 4 associates device names, device information, and whether or not a notification is necessary. For example, "Error 1," which is device information for a washing machine, is associated with the fact that a notification is necessary, "Error 2," which is device information for a microwave oven, is associated with the fact that a notification is not necessary, and "Maintenance," which is device information for a ventilation fan, is associated with the fact that a notification is necessary.

[0062] The notification necessity management table may be provided by the manufacturer of the device 2 or may be input by the user.

[0063] The activity content determination unit 103 determines an action to be taken with respect to the device 2 based on the device information. The activity content determination unit 103 refers to the activity content management table stored in the activity content management table storage unit 122, and determines the activity content associated with the device information.

[0064] The activity content management table storage unit 122 stores in advance an activity content management table that associates device information with activity content that the user should take with respect to the device.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the activity content management table in the first embodiment.

[0066] The action content management table shown in Fig. 5 associates device names, device information, and action content. For example, "Error 1," which is device information for a washing machine, is associated with cleaning the filter, and "Maintenance," which is device information for a ventilation fan, is associated with cleaning the ventilation fan.

[0067] The activity content management table may be provided by the manufacturer of the device 2, or may be input by the user.

[0068] The performer determination unit 104 determines, from among a plurality of users, a performer who should perform the behavior determined by the behavior content determination unit 103. The performer determination unit 104 refers to the performer management table stored in the performer management table storage unit 123, and determines, as the performer, a user associated with the behavior content.

[0069] The performer management table storage unit 123 stores in advance a performer management table that associates the content of an activity with the performer who performs the activity.

[0070] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the performer management table in the first embodiment.

[0071] The performer management table shown in Fig. 6 associates device names, action contents, and performers. For example, a first user is associated with "cleaning the filter," which is an action content for a washing machine, and a second user is associated with "cleaning the ventilation fan," which is an action content for a ventilation fan. In other words, the first user cleans the filter, and the second user cleans the ventilation fan.

[0072] The performer management table is entered in advance by a user. Any one of a plurality of users inputs the performer of an action to be performed on a device and registers the input in the performer management table.

[0073] The notification recipient determination unit 105 refers to relationship information indicating relationships between multiple users and determines a notification recipient to be notified that the performer should perform an action. The notification recipient determination unit 105 refers to the relationship information and determines the user with the highest priority associated with the performer as the notification recipient.

[0074] The relationship information storage unit 124 stores in advance relationship information indicating relationships between a plurality of users.

[0075] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of relationship information according to the first embodiment.

[0076] 7 includes table information indicating the priority of each of a plurality of users for each of a plurality of users. The priority is expressed in terms of priority order.

[0077] For example, if a first user is the executor, the first user's priority relative to the first user is second, the second user's priority relative to the first user is second, and the third user's priority relative to the first user is first. Also, if a second user is the executor, the first user's priority relative to the second user is first, the second user's priority relative to the second user is first, and the third user's priority relative to the second user is second. Also, if a third user is the executor, the first user's priority relative to the third user is first, the second user's priority relative to the third user is first, and the third user's priority relative to the third user is first.

[0078] The priority is determined in advance according to the relationship between the users. For example, if the first user is a father, the third user is a child, and the first user is the executor, the notification recipient determination unit 105 determines the third user, who has the highest priority, as the notification recipient. Then, the third user notifies the first user of the action that the first user should take. In this way, if the third user is the user with the strongest relationship with the first user (highest priority), the information notification device 1 causes the third user to notify the first user of the action that the first user should take.

[0079] The relationship information is input in advance by a user. Any one of the multiple users inputs the priority of each of the multiple users for each of the multiple users, and registers the priority in the relationship information storage unit 124 as relationship information.

[0080] The notification information generating unit 106 generates notification information indicating that the performer should perform the action.

[0081] The notification unit 107 notifies the notification target determined by the notification target determination unit 105 of notification information indicating that the performer should perform the action. The notification unit 107 transmits the notification information generated by the notification information generation unit 106 to the mobile terminal carried by the notification target determined by the notification target determination unit 105 via the communication unit 13. The communication unit 13 transmits the notification information to the mobile terminal.

[0082] For example, in the relationship information shown in Figure 7, when the first user is the performer, the notification target is a third user different from the performer. The notification information includes information that prompts the notification target to inform the performer that the performer should perform the action. In the relationship information shown in Figure 7, when the second user is the performer, the notification target is the first user different from the performer and the second user who is the same as the performer.

[0083] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a notification method determined based on the relationship information illustrated in FIG.

[0084] 8, when the first user is the executor, the information notification device 1 notifies the third user that the first user should perform the action. When the second user is the executor, the information notification device 1 notifies the first and second users that the second user should perform the action. When the third user is the executor, the information notification device 1 notifies the first, second, and third users that the third user should perform the action.

[0085] Next, the information notification process performed by the information notification device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0086] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the information notification process performed by the information notification device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0087] First, in step S1, the device information acquisition unit 101 acquires device information transmitted by the device 2. The communication unit 13 periodically receives device information from each of the multiple devices 2 installed in the house. Therefore, the information notification process shown in Fig. 9 is executed according to the timing of receiving the device information.

[0088] Next, in step S2, the notification determination unit 102 refers to the notification necessity management table stored in the notification necessity management table storage unit 121 and determines whether or not a notification is necessary based on the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 101. The notification necessity management table associates device information with whether or not a notification is necessary. The notification determination unit 102 determines whether or not a notification is necessary for the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 101.

[0089] If it is determined that notification is not necessary (NO in step S2), the process returns to step S1.

[0090] On the other hand, if it is determined that notification is necessary (YES in step S2), in step S3, the activity content determination unit 103 refers to the activity content management table stored in the activity content management table storage unit 122 and determines the activity content for the device 2 based on the device information. The activity content management table associates device information with the activity content that the user should take for the device. The activity content determination unit 103 reads the activity content corresponding to the device information acquired by the device information acquisition unit 101 from the activity content management table and determines the activity content.

[0091] Next, in step S4, the performer determination unit 104 refers to the performer management table stored in the performer management table storage unit 123, and determines a performer who should perform the action content determined by the action content determination unit 103. The performer management table associates action contents with performers who will perform the action contents. The performer determination unit 104 reads out the performer corresponding to the action content determined by the action content determination unit 103 from the performer management table, and determines the performer.

[0092] Next, in step S5, the notification recipient determination unit 105 refers to the relationship information stored in the relationship information storage unit 124 to determine a notification recipient to be notified that the performer should perform an action. The relationship information is information that indicates which user should be given priority for notification when each user is determined as the performer according to the relationships between multiple users. The notification recipient determination unit 105 determines the user with the highest priority associated with the user determined as the performer by the performer determination unit 104 as the notification recipient.

[0093] Next, in step S6, the notification information generating unit 106 generates notification information indicating that the performer should perform the action.

[0094] Next, in step S7, the notification unit 107 transmits the notification information generated by the notification information generation unit 106 to the mobile terminal carried by the notification recipient determined by the notification recipient determination unit 105 via the communication unit 13.

[0095] In this way, an action to be taken on the device 2 is determined based on the device information about the device 2, and a performer who should perform the determined action is determined from among multiple users. Then, relationship information indicating the relationships between the multiple users is referenced to determine a notification recipient to be notified that the performer should perform the action, and notification information indicating that the performer should perform the action is notified to the determined notification recipient.

[0096] Therefore, the notification recipient is determined taking into consideration the relationship between the performer who performs the action on device 2 and other users, and therefore, the notification recipient who has a strong relationship with the performer can urge the performer to perform the action on device 2, and can reliably ensure that the performer performs the action on device 2.

[0097] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a notification screen displayed on a mobile terminal carried by a notification target person in the first embodiment.

[0098] When the first user is determined as the performer and the third user is determined as the notification recipient based on the relationship information shown in Fig. 7, the mobile terminal 3C carried by the third user displays a notification screen 201 that prompts the first user to inform the first user of an action to be taken. For example, the notification screen 201 includes notification information that prompts the first user to inform the first user to clean the filter of the washing machine. The third user, viewing the notification screen 201, tells the first user to clean the filter of the washing machine.

[0099] The notification screen 201 also includes a confirmation button 2012. When the confirmation button 2012 is touched by the third user, the mobile terminal 3C transmits, to the information notification device 1, notification completion information indicating that the third user has confirmed the notification information.

[0100] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing another example of a notification screen displayed on a mobile terminal carried by a notification target person in the first embodiment.

[0101] When the second user is determined as the performer and the first and second users are determined as notification recipients based on the relationship information shown in Fig. 7, the mobile terminals 3A and 3B carried by the first and second users display a notification screen 202 that prompts the second user to inform the first and second users of an action to be taken. For example, the notification screen 202 includes notification information that prompts the second user to inform the second user to clean the ventilation fan.

[0102] The notification screen 202 also includes a confirmation button 2022. When the confirmation button 2022 is touched by the first user, the mobile terminal 3A transmits notification completion information indicating that the first user has confirmed the notification information to the information notification device 1. When the confirmation button 2022 is touched by the second user, the mobile terminal 3B transmits notification completion information indicating that the second user has confirmed the notification information to the information notification device 1.

[0103] The notification screen sent to the mobile terminal 3A of the first user and the notification screen sent to the mobile terminal 3B of the second user may be the same or different. In other words, if the notification recipient is the doer, the mobile terminal 3B may display a notification screen that informs the notification recipient of an action that the doer should take.

[0104] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, if the performer does not perform the action content within a predetermined time after notification information is sent to the notification target, the notification target determination unit 105 may determine the user who is second in priority to the user who is the performer as the notification target. Then, the notification unit 107 may transmit the notification information to a mobile terminal carried by the determined notification target. Note that the device 2 may detect that the performer has performed the action content. When an action is performed on the device 2, the device 2 may transmit execution completion information indicating that the action has been performed on the device 2 to the information notification device 1. The communication unit 13 may receive the execution completion information transmitted by the device 2. The processor 11 may further include an execution completion information acquisition unit that acquires the execution completion information.

[0105] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, when execution completion information is not acquired even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was notified, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine all of the multiple users or any of the multiple users other than the user who was first notified of the notification information as the notification recipients. Then, the notification unit 107 may re-notify the notification information to the notification recipients determined by the notification recipient determination unit 105.

[0106] Furthermore, the processor 11 may include a device usage restriction unit that restricts device usage if execution completion information is not acquired even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was re-notified. For example, the device usage restriction unit may prevent the device 2 from accepting operations by the user. Furthermore, when the device 2 is a device that can identify the user and the user who is the executor uses the device 2, the device usage restriction unit may prevent the device 2 from accepting operations by the user. After restricting device usage, the device usage restriction unit may lift the restriction if execution completion information is acquired. Furthermore, the device usage restriction unit may lift the restriction if a predetermined time has elapsed since restricting device usage.

[0107] Furthermore, when the performer is performing the activity content at a predetermined frequency, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine only the performer as the notification recipient, rather than determining the notification recipient by referring to the relationship information. The predetermined frequency is, for example, 9 / 10. That is, when the notification information is notified to the notification recipient 10 times and the performer performs the activity content 9 times, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine only the performer as the notification recipient. Then, when the performer stops performing the activity content at the predetermined frequency after only the performer has been determined as the notification recipient, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine the notification recipient by referring to the relationship information.

[0108] In addition, when the performer performs the action content at a predetermined frequency and the performer is included in the notification targets by referring to the relationship information, the notification target determination unit 105 may determine at least one user including the performer as the notification targets.

[0109] Furthermore, when the performer has performed the activity content a predetermined number of times or more in succession, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine only the performer as the notification recipient, rather than determining the notification recipient by referring to the relationship information. The predetermined number of times is, for example, five times.

[0110] Furthermore, if the performer has performed the action content within a predetermined time since the notification information was previously notified to the notification recipient, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine only the performer as the notification recipient, rather than determining the notification recipient by referring to the relationship information.

[0111] The memory 12 may also include a layer information storage unit that stores layer information indicating to which of multiple hierarchical layer groups each of multiple users belongs. For example, a father and a mother belong to a first layer group, and a child belongs to a second layer group that is different from the first layer group. The notification recipient determination unit 105 may refer to the layer information and the relationship information to determine whether the user with the highest priority associated with the performer belongs to the same layer group as the performer. If the user with the highest priority associated with the performer belongs to the same layer group as the performer, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine both the user with the highest priority and the performer as notification recipients. On the other hand, if the user with the highest priority associated with the performer belongs to a layer group different from the performer, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine only the user with the highest priority as the notification recipient.

[0112] Furthermore, when a predetermined function is used by a user, the device 2 may transmit device information indicating that the predetermined function will be used to the information notification device 1. For example, when the device 2 is a microwave oven and the user uses the oven function, the device 2 may transmit device information indicating that the oven function will be used to the information notification device 1. The information notification device 1 counts the number of times each user has used each of the multiple functions of the device 2. If the device 2 can be operated from a mobile terminal, the device 2 can identify the user and the function by identifying the operated mobile terminal. If the device 2 can be operated by voice, the device 2 can identify the user and the function by voice recognition. If the number of times a predetermined function has been used by a user (executor) is less than a predetermined number, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine both users who have used the function more than the predetermined number and users (executors) who have used the function less than the predetermined number as notification recipients. If the number of times a predetermined function has been used by a user (executor) is more than the predetermined number, the notification recipient determination unit 105 does not determine a notification recipient. This is because a user who has used a predetermined function a predetermined number of times or more can master the predetermined function without being notified.

[0113] Furthermore, a planned execution period from when the notification information is notified until when the activity content is executed may be associated in advance with the activity content. If the planned execution period associated with the activity content determined by the activity content determining unit 103 is equal to or longer than a predetermined period, the notification recipient determining unit 105 may determine the notification recipient by referring to the relationship information. On the other hand, if the planned execution period associated with the activity content determined by the activity content determining unit 103 is shorter than the predetermined period, that is, if the determined activity content is an activity content that should be executed immediately, the notification recipient determining unit 105 may determine all of the multiple users as notification recipients without referring to the relationship information.

[0114] In addition, if the determined action content is not associated with a performer and the performer determination unit 104 does not determine a performer, the notification recipient determination unit 105 may determine all of the multiple users as notification recipients.

[0115] In addition, in the first embodiment, the notification information is notified by a mobile terminal carried by the notification target person, but the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this. The notification information may be notified by any of a plurality of devices installed in the notification target person's home.

[0116] That is, notification unit 107 may refer to usage history information indicating the usage history of each of a plurality of users for a plurality of devices, and transmit the notification information to the device that the notification target uses most frequently. In this case, memory 12 stores usage history information indicating the usage history of each of a plurality of users for a plurality of devices. Note that notification unit 107 may transmit the notification information to the device that the notification target uses most frequently, among multiple devices equipped with a display unit or an audio output unit.

[0117] Furthermore, when the performer is the notification target, the notification unit 107 may refer to usage history information indicating usage histories of multiple devices for each of multiple users, and identify a time period in which the notification target will use the device to perform the action. Then, the notification unit 107 may transmit notification information to the device used by the notification target by a predetermined time before the identified time period.

[0118] Furthermore, the notification unit 107 may refer to usage history information indicating the usage history of each of the multiple users for the multiple devices, group a series of actions in which the notification target uses each of the multiple devices, arrange them in chronological order, and identify a group in which the notification target uses devices to perform the actions.The notification unit 107 may then transmit notification information to a device used in the last action of a group immediately preceding the identified group, a device used in the first action of the identified group, or a device used in the last action of the identified group.

[0119] For example, the meal group includes the user's actions of opening the refrigerator, cutting ingredients, putting ingredients in a microwave oven, cooking ingredients in the microwave oven, removing food cooked in the microwave, and eating the food. The relaxation group includes the user's actions of watching television and listening to music. The laundry group includes the user's actions of putting laundry into a washing machine, operating the washing machine, removing laundry from the washing machine, and hanging out laundry.

[0120] For example, if the meal group, relaxation group, and laundry group are performed in chronological order and the behavior performed by the performer is cleaning the filter of a washing machine, the notification unit 107 identifies the group in which the notification target uses a device to perform the behavior as the laundry group. Then, the notification unit 107 may transmit notification information to a device used for the user's behavior of listening to music, which is the last behavior of the relaxation group immediately before the identified laundry group, i.e., a music player. At this time, the notification unit 107 may transmit notification information to the music player when it detects that the user is using the music player. Furthermore, the notification unit 107 may predict a time period in which the user will use the music player, and transmit notification information to the music player when the predicted time period arrives.

[0121] Furthermore, notification unit 107 may transmit notification information to a device used for the action of the user putting laundry into the washing machine, which is the first action of the identified laundry group, i.e., the washing machine. At this time, notification unit 107 may transmit notification information to the washing machine when it detects that laundry has been put into the washing machine. Furthermore, notification unit 107 may predict a time period when the user will put laundry into the washing machine, and transmit notification information to the washing machine when the predicted time period arrives.

[0122] Furthermore, notification unit 107 may transmit notification information to a device used for the user's action of hanging out laundry, which is the last action of the identified laundry group, i.e., a washing machine. At this time, notification unit 107 may transmit notification information to the washing machine when the user's action of hanging out laundry is detected. Furthermore, notification unit 107 may predict a time period when the user will hang out laundry, and transmit notification information to the washing machine when the predicted time period arrives.

[0123] (Embodiment 2) In the first embodiment, the information notification process ends when the notification information is transmitted. In contrast, in the second embodiment, the response time from when the notification information is notified until the performer performs an action on the device is measured and stored in memory. If the performer does not perform an action even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was notified, a notification recipient is determined based on the performer's past response time, and the notification information is re-notified to the determined notification recipient.

[0124] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an information notification device 1A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0125] 12 includes a processor 11A, a memory 12A, and a communication unit 13. In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0126] The processor 11A realizes a device information acquisition unit 101, a notification judgment unit 102, an action content determination unit 103, a performer determination unit 104, a notification target determination unit 105, a notification information generation unit 106, a notification unit 107A, an elapsed time measurement unit 108, a response level determination unit 109, a re-notification timing determination unit 110, and a notification target re-determination unit 111.

[0127] The memory 12A realizes a notification necessity management table storage unit 121, an action content management table storage unit 122, a performer management table storage unit 123, a relationship information storage unit 124, and a response time storage unit 125.

[0128] When an action is performed on a device, the communication unit 13 acquires execution completion information indicating that the action has been performed on the device. The communication unit 13 receives the execution completion information transmitted by the device. When an action is performed on the device, the device transmits the execution completion information to the information notification device 1.

[0129] The elapsed time measurement unit 108 measures the elapsed time since the notification information is notified. When the notification information is notified, the elapsed time measurement unit 108 starts measuring the elapsed time. When execution completion information indicating that an action has been performed on the device is acquired, the elapsed time measurement unit 108 ends measuring the elapsed time. Then, the elapsed time measurement unit 108 measures the response time from when the notification information is notified until the performer performs the action on the device, and stores the response time in the response time storage unit 125.

[0130] The response time storage unit 125 stores the response time from when the notification information is notified until when the performer performs the action on the device.

[0131] The response level determination unit 109 determines the response level of the performer. The response level determination unit 109 determines the response level of the performer according to the response time from when the notification information is notified to the notification target until the performer performs an action on the device. The shorter the response time, the higher the response level, and the longer the response time, the lower the response level.

[0132] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a response rule in which a response time from notification to a notification target to execution of an action is associated with a response level in the second embodiment.

[0133] As shown in Figure 13, if the response time is within one day, the response level will be the highest "S", if the response time is more than one day but less than one week, the response level will be the second highest "A", if the response time is more than one week but less than one month, the response level will be the third highest "B", if the response time is more than one month but less than three months, the response level will be the fourth highest "C", and if the response time is more than three months, the response level will be the lowest "F".

[0134] The response level determination unit 109 determines the response level of the performer according to the most recent response time of the performer. When the performer is initially determined to be the performer, the response level determination unit 109 determines the response level of the performer to be the lowest response level "F."

[0135] Furthermore, the response level determination unit 109 may determine the response level of the performer to be the average value of multiple response levels corresponding to multiple past response times of the performer. For example, a response level "S" is 4 points, a response level "A" is 3 points, a response level "B" is 2 points, a response level "C" is 1 point, and a response level "F" is 0 points. If the response levels corresponding to the past four response times are "B," "A," "B," and "S," the average value of the points of the four response levels is 2.75, and the score obtained by rounding the average is 3 points. Therefore, the response level of the performer is determined to be "A."

[0136] The re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines the re-notification timing for re-notifying the notification information. For example, the re-notification timings are the point in time when one week has passed since the first notification, the point in time when one month has passed since the first notification, and the point in time when three months have passed since the first notification. First, the re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines the point in time when one week has passed since the first notification as the re-notification timing. Then, if execution completion information is not acquired even after one week has passed since the first notification, the re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines the point in time when one month has passed since the first notification as the re-notification timing. Then, if execution completion information is not acquired even after one month has passed since the first notification, the re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines the point in time when three months have passed since the first notification as the re-notification timing.

[0137] Note that, although the re-notification timing in the second embodiment is determined in advance, the present disclosure is not particularly limited to this. The re-notification timing determination unit 110 may determine the re-notification timing according to the response level of the user who is the executor. For example, if the response level of the user who is the executor is the lowest level "F," the re-notification timing determination unit 110 may determine the point in time when two days have passed since the first notification as the re-notification timing. In this way, the re-notification timing determination unit 110 may shorten the period from the first notification to the re-notification as the response level of the executor is lower.

[0138] Notification recipient re-determination unit 111 determines whether or not the elapsed time measured by elapsed time measurement unit 108 has reached the re-notification timing determined by re-notification timing determination unit 110.

[0139] If execution completion information is not acquired even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the notification information was notified, the notification recipient redetermining unit 111 redetermines the notification recipient in accordance with the past response time of the performer. At this time, if the notification recipient redetermining unit 111 determines that the time elapsed since the first notification of the notification information has reached the re-notification timing, it redetermines the notification recipient in accordance with the response level and the re-notification timing.

[0140] Notification unit 107A re-notifies the notification information to the notification recipient redetermined by notification recipient redetermining unit 111. Notification unit 107A transmits the notification information generated by notification information generating unit 106 to the mobile terminal carried by the notification recipient redetermined by notification recipient redetermining unit 111 via communication unit 13.

[0141] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a notification method determined based on the response level shown in FIG.

[0142] As shown in FIG. 14 , when the first user is the doer, the first user's response level is the highest "S", and the re-notification timing is when one week has passed since the initial notification, the notification recipient redeterminer unit 111 redetermines the same third user as the initial notification recipient. Then, the information notification device 1 notifies the third user that the first user should perform the action. Furthermore, when the first user is the doer, the first user's response level is the highest "S", and the re-notification timing is when one month has passed since the initial notification, the notification recipient redeterminer unit 111 redetermines the second user, different from the initially determined third user, as the notification recipient. Then, the information notification device 1 notifies the second user that the first user should perform the action. Furthermore, when the first user is the doer, the first user's response level is the highest "S", and the re-notification timing is when three months have passed since the initial notification, the notification recipient redeterminer unit 111 redetermines the second user and the third user as the notification recipients. Then, the information notification device 1 notifies the second user and the third user that the first user should perform the action.

[0143] Furthermore, if the first user is the doer, the first user's response level is "A," which is the second highest, and the re-notification timing is a point in time when one week has passed since the initial notification, the notification recipient redeterminer unit 111 redetermines a second user, different from the initially determined third user, as the notification recipient. Then, the information notification device 1 notifies the second user that the first user should perform the action. Furthermore, if the first user is the doer, the first user's response level is "A," which is the second highest, and the re-notification timing is a point in time when one month has passed since the initial notification, the notification recipient redeterminer unit 111 redetermines the second user and the third user as the notification recipients. Then, the information notification device 1 notifies the second user and the third user that the first user should perform the action. Furthermore, if the first user is the performer, the first user's response level is the second highest "A", and the re-notification timing is a point in time three months have passed since the initial notification, the notification recipient redetermining unit 111 redetermines the first user, the second user, and the third user as notification recipients. Then, the information notification device 1 notifies the first user, the second user, and the third user that the first user should perform the action, and further prompts the first user to input the date and time when the action will be performed.

[0144] Next, an information notification process performed by the information notification device 1A according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.

[0145] FIG. 15 is a first flowchart illustrating the information notification processing by the information notification device 1A in embodiment 2 of the present disclosure, and FIG. 16 is a second flowchart illustrating the information notification processing by the information notification device 1A in embodiment 2 of the present disclosure.

[0146] The processing of steps S11 to S17 shown in FIG. 15 is the same as the processing of steps S1 to S7 shown in FIG. 9, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0147] Next, in step S18, the elapsed time measurement unit 108 starts measuring the elapsed time since the notification information was transmitted to the mobile terminal.

[0148] Next, in step S19 , the response level determination unit 109 determines the response level of the performer according to the previous response time of the performer stored in the response time storage unit 125 .

[0149] Next, in step S20, re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines the re-notification timing for re-notifying the notification information. At this time, re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines the point in time when one week has passed since the first notification as the re-notification timing.

[0150] Next, in step S21, notification recipient re-determination unit 111 determines whether the elapsed time measured by elapsed time measurement unit 108 has reached the re-notification timing determined by re-notification timing determination unit 110.

[0151] Here, if it is determined that the elapsed time has reached the re-notification timing (YES in step S21), the notification recipient redetermining unit 111 redetermines the notification recipient according to the response level and the re-notification timing.

[0152] Next, in step S23, the notification information generating unit 106 generates notification information indicating that the performer should perform the action.

[0153] Next, in step S24, notification unit 107A retransmits the notification information generated by notification information generation unit 106 to the mobile terminal carried by the notification recipient redetermined by notification recipient redeterminer 111 via communication unit 13. Thereafter, the process returns to step S20, and re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines a re-notification timing that is longer than the previous one. At this time, re-notification timing determination unit 110 determines the point in time when one month has passed since the first notification as the re-notification timing.

[0154] On the other hand, if it is determined that the elapsed time has not reached the re-notification timing (NO in step S21), then in step S25, the elapsed time measurement unit 108 determines whether or not execution completion information indicating that the action on the device has been performed by the performer has been received by the communication unit 13. Here, if it is determined that the execution completion information has not been received (NO in step S25), the process returns to step S21.

[0155] On the other hand, if it is determined that the execution completion information has been received (YES in step S25), then in step S26, the elapsed time measurement unit 108 ends measurement of the elapsed time since the notification information was transmitted to the mobile terminal.

[0156] Next, in step S27, the elapsed time measurement unit 108 stores in the response time storage unit 125 the response time from when the notification information is notified until when the performer performs the action on the device.

[0157] In this way, the response time from when the notification information is notified until the performer performs the action on the device 2 is measured, and if execution completion information is not acquired even after a predetermined time has passed since the notification information was notified, the notification target is re-determined based on the performer's past response time. For example, if the past response time is shorter than the predetermined time, the user who originally notified is re-determined as the notification target, and if the past response time is equal to or longer than the predetermined time, a user other than the user who originally notified is re-determined as the notification target. This makes it possible to encourage a performer with a relatively long past response time to perform an action on the device 2 from a user other than the user who originally notified.

[0158] In each of the above embodiments, each component may be configured with dedicated hardware or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for that component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory. Furthermore, the program may be executed by another independent computer system by recording the program on a recording medium and transferring it, or by transferring the program via a network.

[0159] Some or all of the functions of the device according to the embodiments of the present disclosure are typically realized as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), which is an integrated circuit. These may be implemented individually on a single chip, or some or all of them may be integrated on a single chip. Furthermore, the integrated circuit is not limited to an LSI, and may be realized using a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. It is also possible to use an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), which can be programmed after LSI manufacturing, or a reconfigurable processor, which allows the connections and settings of circuit cells within the LSI to be reconfigured.

[0160] Furthermore, some or all of the functions of the device according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may be realized by a processor such as a CPU executing a program.

[0161] Furthermore, all the numbers used above are merely examples to specifically explain the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the numbers used as examples.

[0162] The order in which the steps are executed shown in the above flowchart is merely an example for specifically explaining the present disclosure, and other orders may be used as long as similar effects are obtained. Also, some of the steps may be executed simultaneously (in parallel) with other steps. [Industrial Applicability]

[0163] The technology disclosed herein can reliably cause an actor to perform an action on a device, and is therefore useful as a technology for determining which user from among multiple users to notify of information and notifying the determined user of the information. [Explanation of symbols]

[0164] 1,1A Information notification device 2 equipment 3A, 3B, 3C Mobile terminals 4 Network 11,11A processor 12,12A memory 13 Communications Department 101 Device information acquisition section 102 Notification Judgment Unit 103 Action Content Decision Unit 104 Executor Determination Department 105 Notification recipient determination department 106 Notification information generation unit 107,107A Notification Department 108 Elapsed time measurement unit 109 Response level determination unit 110 Re-notification timing determination unit 111 Notification Re-Determination Department 121 Notification necessity management table storage unit 122 Action content management table storage unit 123 Executor management table storage unit 124 Relationship information storage unit 125 Response time memory unit

Claims

[Claim 1] The computer Acquire device information including at least one of information about an error that has occurred in the device and information about maintenance for the device; determining an action to be performed by the performer on the device based on the device information; outputting notification information to prompt the performer to perform the action to a terminal of a notification recipient different from the performer; Information notification method.

Images