Management systems and application programs for mobile devices

Abstract

This invention provides a technology that can determine whether communication between equipment and relay devices is functioning correctly. [Solution] The management system comprises a server, equipment installed in a residence, a relay device that relays communication between the equipment and the server, and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal is capable of performing the following when a first communication is established with the relay device: an identification information acquisition process to acquire identification information to identify the relay device in the first communication; an identification information storage process to store the acquired identification information in the mobile terminal's memory; a location determination process to determine whether the mobile terminal is located near the equipment; and, if the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, a communication determination process to determine whether a wireless signal for the first communication containing the identification information is being output from the relay device, using the identification information stored in the memory by the identification information storage process.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a technology for managing equipment installed in a house using a mobile terminal.

Background Art

[0002] The system of Patent Document 1 includes a server, equipment installed in a house and an in-house management device, a relay device that relays communication between the equipment and the server, and a mobile terminal carried by a user. The in-house management device transmits data to the server and detects a communication interruption with the server when a response signal from the server is not received.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] A communication interruption between equipment installed in a house and a server is considered to be caused by either a communication abnormality between the equipment and the relay device or a communication abnormality between the relay device and the server. Depending on which communication abnormality causes the above-mentioned communication interruption, the content of the countermeasure to be taken is different. This specification provides a technology capable of determining whether communication between equipment and a relay device is normal.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] In a first aspect of this technology, the management system may include a server, equipment installed in a residence, a relay device that is communicatively connected to the equipment via a first communication using wireless signals and communicatively connected to the server via a second communication different from the first communication, and relays communication between the equipment and the server, and a mobile terminal carried by the user. After a registration process is performed to associate the mobile terminal with the equipment, the mobile terminal may be able to remotely control the equipment from outside the residence via the server and the relay device. Furthermore, when a first communication is established with the relay device, the mobile terminal may be able to perform an identification information acquisition process to acquire identification information to identify the relay device in the first communication, an identification information storage process to store the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition process in the memory of the mobile terminal, a location determination process to determine whether the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, and, if the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, a communication determination process to determine whether a wireless signal for the first communication containing the identification information is output from the relay device using the identification information stored in the memory by the identification information storage process.

[0006] In the above management system, when a mobile terminal is located near the equipment, it uses the identification information stored in its memory to determine whether a wireless signal for the first communication, which includes the identification information, is being output from the relay device. If a wireless signal containing the identification information stored in its memory is being output from the relay device, it is considered that communication between the equipment and the relay device is normal. On the other hand, if a wireless signal containing the identification information stored in its memory is not being output from the relay device, it is considered that there is an abnormality in the communication between the equipment and the relay device. Thus, the above management system can determine whether communication between the equipment and the relay device is normal or not.

[0007] In a second aspect of this technology, in the first aspect, the mobile terminal may further perform a notification process to inform the user of information related to the determination result of the communication determination process.

[0008] With this configuration, information related to whether communication between the equipment and the relay device is functioning correctly can be provided to the user.

[0009] In a third aspect of this technology, in the first or second aspect described above, the equipment or server may be capable of performing a disconnection detection process to detect a communication interruption between the server and the equipment. In this case, the mobile terminal may perform a communication determination process if a communication interruption is detected by the disconnection detection process and the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, but it does not have to perform a communication determination process if a communication interruption is not detected by the disconnection detection process and the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment.

[0010] With this configuration, even if a mobile device is determined to be in the vicinity of equipment, the communication detection process will not be executed unless a communication interruption between the server and the equipment is detected. This prevents unnecessary communication detection processes from being executed.

[0011] In a fourth aspect of this technology, in the third aspect described above, the mobile terminal may be capable of executing a first notification process to notify first information relating to the fact that communication via the first communication between the equipment and the relay device is not being performed normally, when a communication interruption is detected by the interruption detection process and the communication determination process determines that a radio signal for the first communication, including identification information stored in memory, is not being output from the relay device. Furthermore, the mobile terminal may be capable of executing a second notification process to notify second information relating to the fact that communication via the second communication between the relay device and the server is not being performed normally, when a communication interruption is detected by the interruption detection process and the communication determination process determines that a radio signal for the first communication, including identification information stored in memory, is being output from the relay device.

[0012] In this configuration, the mobile terminal reports either first information relating to the failure of communication between the equipment and the relay device, or second information relating to the failure of communication between the relay device and the server, depending on the result of the communication determination process. This allows the user to be informed whether the abnormality is in the communication between the equipment and the relay device or between the relay device and the server when a communication interruption occurs between the equipment and the server. This allows the user to take appropriate measures in response to the interruption of communication between the equipment and the server.

[0013] In a fifth aspect of this technology, in the third or fourth aspect described above, the server may be capable of performing interruption detection processing. In this case, when the server detects an interruption in communication through the interruption detection processing, it may send an interruption signal indicating the interruption to the mobile terminal via the second communication. Furthermore, the mobile terminal may perform communication determination processing if it receives an interruption signal from the server and the location determination processing determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, or it may not perform communication determination processing even if it does not receive an interruption signal from the server and the location determination processing determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment.

[0014] With this configuration, the mobile terminal can detect a communication interruption between the server and the equipment by receiving an interruption signal from the server. Therefore, the configuration of the equipment can be simplified compared to a configuration in which the equipment sends the interruption signal to the mobile terminal.

[0015] In a sixth aspect of this technology, in the third or fourth aspect described above, the equipment may be capable of performing interruption detection processing. In this case, the equipment may transmit an interruption signal indicating the interruption to the mobile terminal when it detects an interruption in communication through the interruption detection processing. Furthermore, the mobile terminal may perform communication determination processing if it receives an interruption signal from the equipment and the location determination processing determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, or it may not perform communication determination processing even if it does not receive an interruption signal from the equipment and the location determination processing determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment.

[0016] With this configuration, the mobile terminal can detect a communication interruption between the server and the equipment by receiving an interruption signal from the equipment. Therefore, the server configuration can be simplified compared to, for example, a configuration in which the server sends the interruption signal to the mobile terminal.

[0017] In a seventh aspect of this technology, in the sixth aspect described above, the equipment may be connected to a mobile terminal in a communicative manner via a short-range communication different from the first and second communications. In this case, when a communication interruption is detected by the interruption detection process, an interruption signal indicating the communication interruption may be transmitted to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication.

[0018] With this configuration, even if a malfunction occurs in the relay device, the mobile terminal can receive a signal of interruption from the equipment via short-range communication.

[0019] In the eighth aspect of this technology, in any one of the first to seventh aspects described above, the mobile terminal may have a satellite positioning function. In this case, the mobile terminal may further perform a location information acquisition process to acquire location information relating to the location of the equipment, and a location information storage process to store the location information acquired by the location information acquisition process in memory. Furthermore, in the location determination process, the mobile terminal may determine that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment if the current location of the mobile terminal, as determined by the satellite positioning function, is included within a predetermined range of location information stored in memory by the location information storage process, or it may determine that the mobile terminal is not located near the equipment if the current location of the mobile terminal, as determined by the satellite positioning function, is not included within a predetermined range of location information stored in memory by the location information storage process.

[0020] With this configuration, the mobile device can perform location determination processing using satellite positioning functions such as GPS (Global Positioning System).

[0021] In the ninth aspect of this technology, in the eighth aspect described above, the mobile terminal may, in the location information acquisition process, acquire information relating to the location of the mobile terminal, which is identified by the satellite positioning function, as location information relating to the location of the equipment, when a first communication is established with the relay device.

[0022] When the first communication is established between the mobile terminal and the relay device, it is presumed that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment. The mobile terminal performs location information acquisition processing at the time when it is presumed to be located near the equipment. This allows the mobile terminal to acquire location information regarding the location of the equipment.

[0023] In the tenth aspect of the present technology, in the above eighth aspect, the facility equipment may store device-side position information indicating the position of the facility equipment. In that case, the mobile terminal may be configured to be connectable to the facility equipment via short-range communication different from the first communication and the second communication, and in the position information acquisition process, the device-side position information received from the facility equipment via short-range communication may be acquired as position information regarding the position of the facility equipment.

[0024] According to such a configuration, the mobile terminal can acquire position information regarding the position of the facility equipment by receiving device position information from the facility equipment via short-range communication.

[0025] In the eleventh aspect of the present technology, in any one of the above first to tenth aspects, the mobile terminal may be configured to be connectable to the facility equipment via short-range communication different from the first communication and the second communication. In that case, in the position determination process, when the short-range communication between the mobile terminal and the facility equipment is connected, the mobile terminal may determine that it is located near the facility equipment, and in the position determination process, when the short-range communication between the mobile terminal and the facility equipment is not connected, the mobile terminal may determine that it is not located near the facility equipment.

[0026] According to such a configuration, the mobile terminal can determine that it is located near the facility equipment when the short-range communication with the facility equipment is connected.

[0027] The mobile terminal and the facility equipment constituting the above management system are also novel and useful. Also, the application program for the above mobile terminal and the control method for realizing the mobile terminal are also novel and useful.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0028] [Figure 1] A block diagram of the management system 100 according to an embodiment is shown. [Figure 2] A sequence diagram of the processes executed in the management system 100 is shown. [Figure 3]The sequence diagram following Figure 2 is shown. [Figure 4] A flowchart of the communication detection and notification process is shown. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0029] (First embodiment) (Configuration of Management System 100) As shown in Figure 1, the management system 100 comprises a water heater 4, a remote control 10, a router 20, a mobile terminal 30, and a server 40. The water heater 4 is fixed to the exterior wall of user U1's house 2. The water heater 4 is a gas-fired water heater and supplies hot water to hot water supply points (not shown) in house 2. The remote control 10 is located inside house 2. The remote control 10 is connected to the water heater 4 and is a controller that controls the water heater 4. User U1 can adjust the temperature of the hot water supplied from the water heater 4 to the hot water supply points in house 2 by operating the remote control 10, for example. The remote control 10 can also transmit a BT signal S1, which is a wireless signal compliant with Bluetooth®, to the vicinity of the remote control 10. Hereafter, Bluetooth may be simply referred to as "BT".

[0030] As shown in the lower part of Figure 1, the remote control 10 includes a control unit 12. The control unit 12 is a computer comprising a CPU 14 and memory 16. Memory 16 consists of non-volatile memory and volatile memory. Memory 16 stores an application (application program) AP1 and a remote control ID "RC1". Application AP1 is, for example, a program that executes the processes shown in Figures 2 and 3. Remote control ID "RC1" is information for identifying the remote control 10 and is generated, for example, by the serial number of the remote control 10. Application AP1 and remote control ID "RC1" are pre-stored in memory 16 when the remote control 10 is shipped. In a modified example, application AP1 may be downloaded to the remote control 10 from the server 40 afterwards, and remote control ID "RC1" may be assigned by the server 40, for example, when the remote control 10 becomes able to communicate with the server 40.

[0031] Router 20 is installed inside House 2. Router 20 can transmit a WF signal S2, which is a wireless signal compliant with Wi-Fi (registered trademark), within House 2. The WF signal S2 includes the SSID "R1" which identifies Router 20. Remote control 10 can perform wireless communication with Router 20 compliant with Wi-Fi by receiving and sending back the WF signal S2 transmitted by Router 20. Router 20 can also communicate with Server 40 and Mobile Terminal 30 via the Internet 8. In other words, Router 20 relays communication between Remote control 10 and Server 40.

[0032] The mobile terminal 30 is a terminal device carried by user U1. The mobile terminal 30 is typically a smartphone, but may also be a feature phone, tablet, laptop, etc. The mobile terminal 30 can perform wireless communication with the remote control 10 according to BT by receiving and sending back the BT signal S1 transmitted by the remote control 10. This allows user U1 to control the water heater 4 connected to the remote control 10 by operating the mobile terminal 30, for example, without operating the remote control 10 itself. Furthermore, the mobile terminal 30 can perform wireless communication with the router 20 according to Wi-Fi by receiving and sending back the WF signal S2 transmitted by the router 20. In addition, the mobile terminal 30 is configured to acquire its current location using a satellite positioning system such as GPS (Global Positioning System). In the following, the mobile terminal 30 may simply be referred to as terminal 30.

[0033] As shown in the lower part of Figure 1, terminal 30 includes a control unit 32. The control unit 32 is a computer with a configuration similar to that of the control unit 12 of the remote control 10 described above, and includes a CPU 34 and memory 36. Memory 36 stores application AP2 and registration ID "RI1", which will be described later. Application AP2 is a program that executes communication determination notification processing, which will be described later with reference to Figure 4, for example. Application AP2 is downloaded to terminal 30 from server 40, for example.

[0034] Server 40 provides a so-called remote control service that remotely monitors and operates the water heater 4. For example, Server 40 receives and manages status information (e.g., ignited, extinguished) of the water heater 4 from the remote control 10 via Router 20 and the Internet 8. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 1, User U1, located outside the house 2, uses Terminal 30 to communicate with Server 40 via the Internet 8 and access the status information of the water heater 4. This allows User U1 to know the current status of the water heater 4. Furthermore, User U1 uses Terminal 30 to input commands to control the water heater 4 (e.g., ignite, extinguish, change temperature) and sends them to Server 40 via the Internet 8. In this case, Server 40 transmits the received commands to Remote Control 10 via the Internet 8 and Router 20. As a result, the water heater 4 is operated based on the commands entered by User U1. In this way, Terminal 30 can remotely control Remote Control 10 from outside the house 2 via Server 40 and Router 20. Server 40 is managed by the vendor of the water heater 4. In the modified example, server 40 may be managed by a different company than the vendor of the water heater 4.

[0035] Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the processes executed between terminal 30, router 20, server 40, and remote control 10 in the management system 100 will be described. The CPU 34 of terminal 30 executes the processes in Figures 2 to 4 according to application AP2, and the CPU 14 of remote control 10 executes the processes in Figures 2 and 3 according to application AP1. However, below, the remote control 10 and terminal 30 will be described as the entities that execute the processes, rather than CPUs 14 and 34. In the initial stage shown in Figure 2, both remote control 10 and terminal 30 are capable of wireless communication with router 20 via Wi-Fi. Furthermore, remote control 10 is connected to server 40 via router 20 and the internet 8 (see Figure 1) so as to be able to communicate with it.

[0036] Terminal 30 receives a command from user U1 to launch application AP2 on T10. This launches application AP2.

[0037] In T12, terminal 30 displays selection screen SC1 on its display unit. As shown in Figure 2, selection screen SC1 includes a message prompting the user to select a device to perform remote control on, and a number of selection buttons B1 and B2 indicating the names of devices that can be remotely controlled via application AP2. In this embodiment, selection button B1 indicates the device name "water heater," and selection button B2 indicates the device name "cooker."

[0038] In this case, terminal 30 receives a selection from user U1 via selection button B1, which indicates the device name "water heater," at T20. As a result, terminal 30 sends a selection request signal to router 20 at T22, which includes the device name "water heater" indicated by selection button B1. Router 20 then sends the received selection signal to remote control 10 at T24.

[0039] When remote control 10 receives a search signal from router 20 at T24, it identifies the water heater connected to remote control 10 at T30. As shown in Figure 1, in this case, since remote control 10 is connected to water heater 4 installed in house 2, remote control 10 identifies water heater 4 as the target device for remote control at T30. In this case, remote control 10 displays confirmation screen SC2 on its display at T32. As shown in Figure 2, confirmation screen SC2 includes a message asking whether to perform remote control of the water heater, which is the device identified at T30, and "Yes" and "No" buttons. If the selection signal received at T24 includes multiple device names, remote control 10 displays confirmation screen SC2 including multiple device names on its display.

[0040] In this case, at T34, the remote control 10 accepts the selection of the "Yes" button from user U1. In this case, at T40, the remote control 10 displays the code "1234" on its display. The code "1234" is an example of a string that the remote control 10 randomly generates.

[0041] At T50, terminal 30 displays the code input screen SC3 on its display unit. As shown in Figure 2, the code input screen SC3 includes a message prompting user U1 to enter a code and an input field for entering the code. At T52, terminal 30 receives the code "1234" from user U1, which was displayed on the remote control 10 at T40.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, terminal 30 transmits the code "1234" entered at T52 to router 20 at T54. In this case, router 20 transmits the received code "1234" to remote control 10 at T56.

[0043] When remote control 10 receives the code "1234" at T56, it compares the code displayed at T40 with the code received at T56 at T60. In this case, both codes are "1234", so they match. In this case, remote control 10 generates a registration ID "RI1" at T62. The registration ID "RI1" is information for registering the terminal 30 that performs remote control with the server 40, and includes the remote control ID "RC1" in memory 16 (see Figure 1) and the water heater 4 identified at T30. At T64, remote control 10 sends the registration ID "RI1" to the router 20, and at T66, the router 20 sends the received registration ID "RI1" to the terminal 30.

[0044] Terminal 30 stores the registration ID "RI1" received by T66 in memory 36 at T70 (see Figure 1). This allows terminal 30 to send instructions including the registration ID "RI1" to server 40 during remote control.

[0045] Furthermore, the remote control 10 transmits the registration ID "RI1" to the router 20 at T72, and the router 20 transmits the received registration ID "RI1" to the server 40 at T74.

[0046] When server 40 receives registration ID "RI1" in T74, T80 associates and registers registration ID "RI1" with remote control ID "RC1". In other words, through the processing in T80, terminal 30, which stores application AP2, and remote control 10 installed in house 2 are associated with each other and registered with server 40. As a result, for example, when server 40 receives a fire extinguishing instruction for water heater 4 including registration ID "RI1" from terminal 30, it sends the fire extinguishing instruction for water heater 4 to remote control ID "RC1", which is registered in association with registration ID "RI1". This causes remote control 10 to extinguish the water heater 4. Also, for example, when server 40 updates information about water heater 4 connected to remote control 10, server 40 supplies the updated information about water heater 4 to terminal 30, which stores registration ID "RI1" that has been registered in association with remote control ID "RC1". As a result, terminal 30 displays the updated information via application AP2. In other words, once processing in T80 is complete, terminal 30 can remotely control the water heater 4. Furthermore, in T82, server 40 sends a registration completion signal to router 20 indicating that registration ID "RI1" has been registered, and router 20 sends a registration signal to terminal 30 in T84. Terminal 30 may execute the processes from T90 onwards, described later, in response to receiving registration ID "RI1" in T66. In other words, the registration ID "RI1" sent to terminal 30 in T66 may be a registration signal. In that case, processing in T82 and T84 can be omitted.

[0047] When terminal 30 receives a registration signal from router 20 at T84, it acquires location information "L1" at T90 using satellite positioning functionality (e.g., GPS functionality). Location information "L1" indicates the current location of terminal 30. At T92, terminal 30 stores the acquired location information "L1" in memory 36. As mentioned earlier, in Figures 2 and 3, terminal 30 communicates with remote control 10 via Wi-Fi communication by router 20. That is, in Figures 2 and 3, terminal 30 is located within range of the WF signal S2 (see Figure 1). In other words, terminal 30 is located near the water heater 4. Therefore, the location indicated by location information "L1" is near the water heater 4. In this way, terminal 30 can acquire location information "L1" regarding the location of the water heater 4 using satellite positioning functionality.

[0048] Terminal 30 further obtains the SSID "R1" at T100, which identifies the router 20 that it is using for Wi-Fi wireless communication. Terminal 30 stores the SSID "R1" at T102. As a result, the location information "L1" and the SSID "R1" are associated and stored in memory 36. Note that the timing of obtaining the SSID "R1" is not limited to T100; for example, the SSID "R1" may be obtained when the app AP2 is downloaded, or stored at T84 when the registration signal is received. Terminal 30 may obtain the SSID "R1" at any time while it is performing Wi-Fi communication with the router 20.

[0049] Referring to Figure 4, the communication determination notification process performed by terminal 30 will be explained. The notification determination notification process is the process by which terminal 30 determines the communication status of router 20 and notifies user U1 of the determination result. The CPU 34 of terminal 30 executes the process shown in Figure 4 according to application AP2. The process in Figure 4 is executed after the processes in Figures 2 and 3 have been executed.

[0050] In S10, terminal 30 uses its satellite positioning function to determine whether its current location is within a predetermined range of the location indicated by the location information "L1" stored in memory 36. Here, the predetermined range is the range within which it is determined whether terminal 30 is located near the water heater 4, for example, within a radius of 5m from the location indicated by the location information "L1". In other words, terminal 30 determines whether terminal 30 is located near the water heater 4. If terminal 30 determines that its current location is within the predetermined range of the location indicated by the location information "L1" (YES in S10), it proceeds to S20. If it determines that its current location is not within the predetermined range of the location indicated by the location information "L1" (NO in S10), it skips the processes in S20 to S34 described later and terminates the process in Figure 4. Note that the predetermined range can be changed retrospectively by user U1.

[0051] In S20, terminal 30 determines whether or not it has received a disconnection signal from server 40. Here, server 40 periodically sends a status check signal to remote control 10 via the internet 8 and router 20. Server 40 determines that communication between server 40 and remote control 10 is normal when remote control 10 replies with a live signal in response to the status check signal, and determines that communication between server 40 and remote control 10 has been interrupted if the live signal is not replied for a predetermined period of time. Thus, in this embodiment, server 40 can detect the interruption of communication between server 40 and remote control 10, and terminal 30 can detect the interruption of communication between remote control 10 and server 40 by receiving a disconnection signal from server 40. Alternatively, server 40 may monitor the reception of periodic live signals from remote control 10 without sending a status check signal, and determine that communication between server 40 and remote control 10 has been interrupted if the live signal is not received for a predetermined period of time. If terminal 30 does not receive a disconnection signal from server 40 (NO in S20), it determines that communication between server 40 and remote control 10 is normal and skips the processes S30 to S34 described later, ending the process shown in Figure 4. This prevents the processes S30 to S34 from being executed unnecessarily when communication between server 40 and remote control 10 is normal. If terminal 30 receives a disconnection signal from server 40 (YES in S20), it determines that there is a possibility that communication between server 40 and remote control 10 has been interrupted and proceeds to process S30.

[0052] In S30, terminal 30 determines whether it has received a Wi-Fi signal containing the SSID "R1" stored in memory 36 in association with location information "L1". If terminal 30 has received a Wi-Fi signal containing the SSID "R1" (YES in S30), it determines that the Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20 is normal and proceeds to process S34. If the received Wi-Fi signal does not contain the SSID "R1" (NO in S30), or if no Wi-Fi signal is received (NO in S30), terminal 30 determines that there is an abnormality in the Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20 and proceeds to process S32. Note that in S30, terminal 30 determines whether it has received a Wi-Fi signal containing the SSID "R1" even if Wi-Fi communication is possible but it is configured to communicate with the server 40 via the internet 8 instead of Wi-Fi communication.

[0053] In S32, terminal 30 displays the router error screen SC4 on its display unit. The router error screen SC4 is a screen that informs user U1 that an abnormality has occurred in the Wi-Fi communication between remote control 10 and router 20. As shown in Figure 4, the router error screen SC4 includes a message prompting user U1 to check the connection status of router 20. This informs user U1 that an abnormality has occurred in the Wi-Fi communication between remote control 10 and router 20 at this time and that the connection status between router 20 and remote control 10 should be checked. For example, if the router 20 has been replaced and the Wi-Fi communication settings of remote control 10 have not been updated, user U1 can resolve the interruption in communication between remote control 10 and server 40 by newly connecting remote control 10 to router 20. In this embodiment, the router error screen SC4 shows the measures that user U1 should take, but in a modified example, the router error screen SC4 may include a message indicating that an abnormality has occurred in the Wi-Fi communication between remote control 10 and router 20. In further variations, the router anomaly screen SC4 may include both the occurrence of the anomaly and the countermeasures that user U1 should take. Once processing S32 is complete, terminal 30 terminates the processing shown in Figure 4.

[0054] In S34, terminal 30 displays the server anomaly screen SC5 on its display unit. The server anomaly screen SC5 is a screen that informs user U1 that there is an anomaly in the communication between router 20 and server 40. As shown in Figure 4, the server anomaly screen SC5 includes a message prompting user U1 to check the connection status of server 40. This informs user U1 that there is currently an anomaly in the communication between router 20 and server 40 and that the connection status of server 40 should be checked. For example, user U1 can inquire with the server 40 management company whether there is an anomaly in server 40, or can inquire with the provider of the Internet 8 to check the communication status of the Internet 8. In this way, user U1 can take appropriate measures in response to the interruption of communication between remote control 10 and server 40 depending on the screen displayed on terminal 30. Note that, similar to the router anomaly screen SC4 described above, the server anomaly screen SC5 may include a message indicating that there is an anomaly in the communication between router 20 and server 40, in lieu of or in addition to the measures that user U1 should take. As another factor, a message indicating the possibility of a malfunction in the communication unit (not shown) of the remote control 10 may be displayed.

[0055] (Effects of this embodiment) In the management system 100 of this embodiment, when terminal 30 is located near the water heater 4 (YES in S10 of Figure 4), terminal 30 uses the SSID "R1" stored in memory 36 to determine whether or not a Wi-Fi signal including SSID "R1" is being output from router 20 (S30). If a Wi-Fi signal including SSID "R1" is being output from router 20 (YES in S30), it is considered that Wi-Fi communication between remote control 10 and router 20 is normal. On the other hand, if a Wi-Fi signal including SSID "R1" is not being output from router 20 (NO in S30), it is considered that an abnormality may have occurred in the Wi-Fi communication between remote control 10 and router 20. According to the management system 100, it is possible to determine whether or not Wi-Fi communication between remote control 10 and router 20 is normal.

[0056] (Correspondence) Wireless communication following Wi-Fi is an example of "first communication," and communication via the Internet 8 is an example of "second communication." The water heater 4 and remote control 10 are examples of "equipment," and the router 20 is an example of a "relay device." The router error screen SC4 is an example of a "judgment result." The message contained in the router error screen SC4 is an example of "first information," and the message contained in the server error screen SC5 is an example of "second information." The processing in S32 is an example of "first notification processing," and the processing in S34 is an example of "second notification processing."

[0057] The process at T80 in Figure 3 is an example of "registration processing". The process at T100 is an example of "identification information acquisition processing", and the process at T102 is an example of "identification information storage processing". The process at S10 in Figure 4 is an example of "location determination processing", the process at S30 is an example of "communication determination processing", and the process at S32 is an example of "notification processing". The process at T90 in Figure 3 is an example of "location information acquisition processing", and the process at T92 is an example of "location information storage processing".

[0058] (Second example) Referring to Figure 4, the communication determination notification process executed by the management system 100 of the second embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, different processes are executed in S10 and S20 compared to the first embodiment, but in other respects, it is the same as the first embodiment described above.

[0059] In this embodiment, terminal 30 determines in S10 whether or not it is connected via Bluetooth to the remote control 10. The Bluetooth signal S1 transmitted by the remote control 10 reaches only the vicinity of the remote control 10. Therefore, if terminal 30 is connected via Bluetooth to the remote control 10, it is presumed that terminal 30 is located in the vicinity of the remote control 10. In other words, terminal 30 can determine that it is located in the vicinity of the water heater 4 when it is connected via Bluetooth to the remote control 10.

[0060] In S20, terminal 30 determines whether or not it has received a disconnection signal from remote control 10. In this embodiment, remote control 10 periodically sends a status check signal to server 40 via router 20 and the internet 8. When server 40 replies with a live signal in response to the status check signal, remote control 10 determines that communication between remote control 10 and server 40 is normal, and when the live signal is not replied for a predetermined period of time, it determines that the communication has been interrupted. Thus, in this embodiment, remote control 10 can detect the interruption of communication between remote control 10 and server 40, and terminal 30 can detect the interruption of communication between remote control 10 and server 40 by receiving a disconnection signal from remote control 10. In this embodiment, remote control 10 sends the disconnection signal to terminal 30 via wireless communication compliant with BT. As a result, even if a malfunction occurs in router 20 and wireless communication compliant with Wi-Fi cannot be performed between remote control 10 and terminal 30, terminal 30 can still receive the disconnection signal from remote control 10. In this embodiment, wireless communication according to BT is an example of "short-range communication". In addition, the terminal 30 of the second embodiment may perform the same processing as in the first embodiment described above in S10, or may perform the same processing as in the first embodiment in S20.

[0061] (Variation 1) The water heater 4 is not limited to a gas combustion type water heater, but may also be an electric storage type water heater or the like. In another modification, the management system 100 may include, in place of or in addition to, the water heater 4, for example, an air conditioner, heating equipment, a cooking appliance, a dishwasher, or a bathroom dryer. In this modification, these appliances are examples of "equipment." Furthermore, the management system 100 does not need to include a remote control 10. In that case, for example, the water heater 4 may have the functions of the remote control 10 and be directly connected to the terminal 30.

[0062] (Modification 2) For example, when the remote control 10 is installed in the house 2, it may store location information "L1" by having user U1 input the address of the house 2. In that case, instead of the terminal 30 acquiring location information "L1" using the satellite positioning function at T70 in Figure 3, it may receive location information "L1" from the remote control 10 via a BT connection. In this modified example, receiving location information "L1" via a BT connection is an example of the "location information acquisition process".

[0063] (Variation 3) In the second embodiment, instead of sending a disconnection signal to the terminal 30 via BT connection at S20 in Figure 4, the remote control 10 may send the disconnection signal to the terminal 30 via Wi-Fi communication through the router 20. The terminal 30 can only send the disconnection signal via Wi-Fi communication through the router 20 if the disconnection of communication between the remote control 10 and the server 40 is caused by an abnormality in communication between the router 20 and the server 40.

[0064] (Modification 4) The remote control 10 does not need to generate the registration ID "RI1" at T62 in Figure 3 and send it to the server 40. In this modified example, the terminal 30 may send identification information that identifies the terminal 30 along with the code "1234" to the remote control 10 at T54. In this modified example, if the authentication of the code received from the terminal 30 is successful, the remote control 10 may associate the identification information of the terminal 30 with the water heater identified at T30 in Figure 2 and register them. This allows the remote control 10 to extinguish the water heater 4, for example, when it receives an extinguishing instruction for the water heater 4, which includes the identification information of the terminal 30, via the server 40. In other words, in this modified example, the "registration process" may be performed by the remote control 10. In a further modified example, the remote control 10 may display the code "1234" at T40 and then send the code to the server 40. In this case, terminal 30 may, at T54 and T56, transmit the code "1234" entered by user U1 to server 40 via router 20. In this case, server 40 may compare the code received from remote control 10 with the code received from terminal 30. That is, in this modified example, server 40 may authenticate the code.

[0065] (Variation 5) Terminal 30 does not have to perform the process in S20 of Figure 4. In other words, in this modified example, the "disconnection detection process" can be omitted. In this case, if terminal 30 receives a Wi-Fi signal including SSID "R1" in S30 (YES in S30), it may terminate the process in Figure 4 without displaying the server abnormality screen SC5 in S34. As a result, the router abnormality screen SC4 is displayed (S32) only when a Wi-Fi signal including SSID "R1" is not received in S30 (NO in S30), thus preventing unnecessary notifications from being executed when a Wi-Fi signal including SSID "R1" is received (YES in S30), i.e., when Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20 is normal.

[0066] (Experimental variation 6) In step S30 of Figure 4, terminal 30 may, for example, determine whether it has received a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" multiple times within a predetermined period. In this modified example, terminal 30 may determine NO in S30 and proceed to S32 if it determines that it has not received a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" consecutively more than a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period. Furthermore, terminal 30 may determine YES in S30 and proceed to S34 if the number of times it is determined that it has not received a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" is less than a predetermined number, or if the events in which it is determined that it has not received a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" occur discontinuously. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the router abnormality screen SC4 from being displayed excessively when the Wi-Fi communication state of router 20 becomes temporarily unstable.

[0067] (Example 7) "First communication" is not limited to wireless communication compliant with Wi-Fi, and "short-range communication" is not limited to wireless communication compliant with BT. For example, "first communication" may be local 5G, WiMAX®, Wi-SUN, etc., and "short-range communication" may consist of other communication means such as ZigBee®, infrared communication, NFC (Near Field Communication), etc.

[0068] (Variation 8) In the embodiment described above, the water heater 4 and remote control 10 are installed in the user U1's house 2, but the system is not limited to this. For example, the management system 100 may be established between equipment installed in the home of a family member who lives separately from user U1 and a terminal 30 carried by user U1. In this case, when user U1 visits the family member's home, it is possible to detect a communication interruption in that home.

[0069] The technical elements described herein or in the drawings demonstrate technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated herein or in the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 2: Housing 4: Water heater 8: Internet 10: Remote control 20: Router 30: Mobile devices 12,32: Control Unit 14,34:CPU 16,36: Memory 40: Server 100: Management System AP1, AP2: Apps B1, B2: Selection buttons S1 :BT signal S2 :WF signal SC1: Selection screen SC2: Confirmation screen SC3: Code input screen SC4: Router error screen SC5: Server error screen U1: User

Claims

1. It is a management system, Server and Equipment installed in a house, A relay device is connected to the equipment via a first communication using wireless signals, and is also connected to the server via a second communication different from the first communication, and relays communication between the equipment and the server. A mobile device carried by the user, Equipped with, The aforementioned mobile terminal is After a registration process is performed to associate the aforementioned equipment with the aforementioned mobile terminal, remote control of the equipment can be performed from outside the residence via the server and the relay device. The aforementioned mobile terminal is When the first communication is established with the relay device, an identification information acquisition process is performed to acquire identification information that identifies the relay device in the first communication, An identification information storage process that stores the identification information obtained by the identification information acquisition process in the memory of the mobile terminal, A location determination process that determines whether the mobile terminal is located near the aforementioned equipment, If the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination process uses the identification information stored in the memory by the identification information storage process to determine whether or not a wireless signal for the first communication, which includes the identification information, is being output from the relay device. It is possible to do so. Management system.

2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein the mobile terminal is further capable of performing a notification process to notify the user of information related to the determination result of the communication determination process.

3. The aforementioned equipment or server is capable of performing a communication interruption detection process to detect a communication interruption between the server and the equipment. The aforementioned mobile terminal is If the interruption detection process detects an interruption in communication, and the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination process is executed. If the interruption detection process does not detect an interruption in communication, and the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination process is not executed. The management system according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned mobile terminal is When the interruption detection process detects an interruption in the communication, and the communication determination process determines that the wireless signal for the first communication, including the identification information stored in the memory, is not output from the relay device, a first notification process notifies first information relating to the fact that communication via the first communication is not being performed normally between the equipment and the relay device; If the interruption detection process detects an interruption in the communication and the communication determination process determines that a wireless signal for the first communication, including the identification information stored in the memory, is output from the relay device, a second notification process notifies second information relating to the fact that communication via the second communication between the relay device and the server is not being performed normally; It is even more feasible. The management system according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned server, The interruption detection process can be executed. When the interruption detection process detects an interruption in the communication, an interruption signal indicating the interruption in the communication is transmitted to the mobile terminal via the second communication. The aforementioned mobile terminal is When the interruption signal is received from the server and the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination process is executed. If the server does not receive the interruption signal, even if the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination process is not executed. The management system according to claim 3.

6. The aforementioned equipment and machinery are The interruption detection process can be executed. When the interruption detection process detects an interruption in communication, an interruption signal indicating the interruption in communication is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The aforementioned mobile terminal is When the interruption signal is received from the equipment and the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination process is executed. If the interruption signal is not received from the equipment, even if the location determination process determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination process is not executed. The management system according to claim 3.

7. The aforementioned equipment and machinery are The mobile terminal is connected to the mobile terminal via a short-range communication method different from the first and second communications, When the interruption detection process detects an interruption in communication, the interruption signal indicating the interruption in communication is transmitted to the mobile terminal via the short-range communication. The management system according to claim 6.

8. The aforementioned mobile terminal is It has satellite positioning capabilities, A location information acquisition process that acquires location information relating to the location of the aforementioned equipment, A location information storage process that stores the location information acquired by the location information acquisition process in the memory, It is even more feasible, The aforementioned mobile terminal is In the location determination process, if the current location of the mobile terminal identified by the satellite positioning function falls within a predetermined range of the location information stored in the memory by the location information storage process, it is determined that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment. In the location determination process, if the current location of the mobile terminal identified by the satellite positioning function is not included in the predetermined range of location information stored in the memory by the location information storage process, it is determined that the mobile terminal is not located near the equipment. The management system according to claim 1.

9. The management system according to claim 8, wherein, in the location information acquisition process, when the first communication is established with the relay device, the mobile terminal acquires information relating to the location of the mobile terminal, which is identified by the satellite positioning function, as location information relating to the location of the equipment.

10. The aforementioned equipment stores equipment-side position information indicating the location of the equipment, The aforementioned mobile terminal is It is configured to be connectable to the equipment via a short-range communication different from the first and second communications, In the location information acquisition process described above, the location information of the equipment received from the equipment via the short-range communication is acquired as location information relating to the location of the equipment. The management system according to claim 8.

11. The aforementioned mobile terminal is It is configured to be connectable to the equipment via a short-range communication different from the first and second communications, In the location determination process, when the short-range communication between the mobile terminal and the equipment is established, it is determined that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment. In the location determination process, if the short-range communication between the mobile terminal and the equipment is not established, it is determined that the mobile terminal is not located near the equipment. The management system according to claim 1.

12. An application program for mobile devices. After a registration process is performed to associate the mobile terminal with the equipment installed in the house, the mobile terminal can remotely control the equipment from outside the house via a relay device and a server. The relay device is connected to the equipment via a first communication using wireless signals and is also connected to the server via a second communication different from the first communication, and relays communication between the equipment and the server. The aforementioned application program controls the mobile terminal in the following parts, namely: When the first communication is established with the relay device, an identification information acquisition unit acquires identification information to identify the relay device in the first communication, An identification information storage unit stores the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition unit in the memory of the mobile terminal, A location determination unit that determines whether or not the mobile terminal is located near the aforementioned equipment, When the position determination unit determines that the mobile terminal is located near the equipment, the communication determination unit uses the identification information stored in the memory of the identification information storage unit to determine whether or not a wireless signal for the first communication, which includes the identification information, is being output from the relay device. To make it function as Application program.

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