Management systems, equipment, and application programs for equipment

Abstract

This technology provides a method for determining whether a communication interruption between equipment and a server is caused by a communication anomaly between the equipment and a relay device, or between the relay device and the server. [Solution] The management system comprises a server, equipment, and a relay device which is connected to the equipment via a first communication using wireless signals and relays communication between the equipment and the server. The equipment is capable of performing the following when a first communication is established with the relay device: an identification information acquisition process which acquires identification information to identify the relay device in the first communication; an identification information storage process which stores the acquired identification information in memory; an interruption detection process which detects an interruption in communication with the server; and a communication determination process which, when an interruption in communication is detected, uses the identification information stored in memory to determine whether or not a wireless signal for the first communication containing the identification information is output from the relay device.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] The system of Patent Document 1 includes a server, equipment installed in a house and an in-house management device, and a relay device that relays communication between the equipment and the server. 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] The communication interruption between the equipment installed in a house and the 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 which of the above-mentioned communication abnormalities causes the communication interruption when it occurs between the equipment and the server.

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, and a relay device that is communicatively connected to the equipment via a first communication using a wireless signal, and also communicatively connected to the server via a second communication different from the first communication, and relays communication between the equipment and the server. In this case, the equipment may be capable of performing the following: an identification information acquisition process for acquiring identification information to identify the relay device in the first communication when the first communication is established with the relay device; an identification information storage process for storing the identification information acquired by the identification information acquisition process in the equipment's memory; a communication interruption detection process for detecting a communication interruption with the server; and, when a communication interruption is detected by the interruption detection process, a communication determination process for determining 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 management system described above, when a communication interruption between the equipment and the server is detected, the equipment 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 memory is being output from the relay device, it is considered that communication between the equipment and the relay device is normal. In this case, the interruption is likely to be caused by a communication anomaly between the relay device and the server. On the other hand, if a wireless signal containing the identification information stored in memory is not being output from the relay device, it is considered that a communication anomaly has occurred between the equipment and the relay device. In this case, the interruption is likely to be caused by a communication anomaly between the equipment and the relay device. Thus, according to the management system described above, it is possible to determine whether a communication interruption between the equipment and the server is caused by a communication anomaly between the relay device and the server, or by a communication anomaly between the equipment and the relay device.

[0007] In a second aspect of this technology, in the first aspect described above, the equipment may further perform a first notification process that notifies 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 the equipment detects a communication interruption by interruption detection processing and determines by communication determination processing that a wireless signal for the first communication, including identification information stored in memory, is not being output from the relay device; and a second notification process that 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, when the equipment detects a communication interruption by interruption detection processing and determines by communication determination processing that a wireless signal for the first communication, including identification information stored in memory, is being output from the relay device.

[0008] In this configuration, the equipment notifies either a first piece of information related to the failure of communication between the equipment and the relay device, or a second piece of information related 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 a communication interruption between the equipment and the server is more likely to be caused by a communication error between the equipment and the relay device or between the relay device and the server. This enables the user to take appropriate measures in response to the communication interruption between the equipment and the server.

[0009] In a third aspect of this technology, in the second aspect described above, the management system may further include a portable terminal carried by a user. In this case, the portable terminal may be configured to communicate with the equipment. Furthermore, the equipment may, in a first notification process, cause the portable terminal to notify the portable terminal of the first information by transmitting the first information to the portable terminal, and in a second notification process, cause the portable terminal to notify the portable terminal of the second information by transmitting the second information to the portable terminal.

[0010] With this configuration, if communication between the equipment and the server is interrupted, either the first or second piece of information will be communicated to the user via a mobile terminal carried by the user. This ensures that the user is reliably aware of either the first or second piece of information.

[0011] In a fourth aspect of this technology, in the third aspect described above, the equipment may transmit the first information and the second information to the mobile terminal via short-range communication, which is connected when the mobile terminal is located near the equipment.

[0012] With this configuration, either the first or second piece of information is communicated to the user via a mobile terminal located near the equipment. This allows the user, located near the equipment, to quickly take measures to address any interruptions in communication between the equipment and the server.

[0013] In a fifth aspect of this technology, in the third or fourth aspect described above, the mobile terminal may be able to remotely control the equipment from outside the house via a server and relay device after a registration process is performed to associate the mobile terminal with the equipment.

[0014] In a configuration where equipment can be remotely controlled from outside the home using a mobile device, if communication between the equipment and the server is interrupted, remote control cannot be performed properly. Therefore, the technology disclosed herein is particularly useful in such configurations.

[0015] The equipment that constitutes the above management system is also new and useful. Furthermore, the application programs for the above equipment and the control methods for implementing the equipment are also new and useful. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0016] [Figure 1] A block diagram of the management system 100 according to the embodiment is shown. [Figure 2]This shows a sequence diagram of the processes executed in the management system 100. [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]

[0017] (Examples) (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".

[0018] 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 a communication determination notification process, which will be described later with reference to Figure 4. The 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 the 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] The mobile terminal 30 is a terminal device carried by the user U1. The mobile terminal 30 is typically a smartphone, but may also be a feature phone, a tablet terminal, a notebook computer, or the like. The mobile terminal 30 can perform wireless communication according to BT by receiving and replying to the BT signal S1 transmitted by the remote control 10. Thereby, the user U1 can control the water heater 4 connected to the remote control 10 via wireless communication according to BT, for example, by operating the mobile terminal 30 instead of the remote control 10. Further, the mobile terminal 30 can perform wireless communication according to Wi-Fi by receiving and replying to the WF signal S2 transmitted by the router 20. In the following, the mobile terminal 30 may be simply described as the terminal 30, and the wireless communication according to Wi-Fi may be described as Wi-Fi communication.

[0021] As shown below FIG. 1, the terminal 30 includes a control unit 32. The control unit 32 is a computer having the same configuration as the control unit 12 of the remote control 10 described above, and includes a CPU 34 and a memory 36. The memory 36 stores the application AP2 and a registration ID "RI1" described later. The application AP2 is, for example, a program for performing the processes of FIGS. 2 and 3 described later and for performing remote control. The application AP2 is downloaded from the server 40 to the terminal 30, for example.

[0022] Server 40 provides a so-called remote control service for remotely monitoring and operating the water heater 4. For example, server 40 receives and manages state information indicating the current state of water heater 4 (e.g., in the process of ignition, extinguishing fire) from remote control 10 via router 20 and Internet 8. As shown by the dashed line in FIG. 1, user U1 located outside house 2 uses terminal 30 to execute communication with server 40 via Internet 8 and access the state information of water heater 4. Thereby, user U1 can know the current state of water heater 4. Further, user U1 uses terminal 30 to input an instruction for controlling water heater 4 (such as ignition, extinguishing fire, temperature change) and transmits it to server 40 via Internet 8. In this case, server 40 transmits the received instruction content to remote control 10 via Internet 8 and router 20. Thereby, water heater 4 is operated based on the instruction input by user U1. Thus, terminal 30 can execute remote control of remote control 10 from outside house 2 via server 40 and router 20. Server 40 is managed by the vendor of water heater 4. In a modified example, server 40 may be managed by an operator different from the vendor of water heater 4.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the processes executed among terminal 30, router 20, server 40, and remote control 10 in management system 100 will be described. The CPU 34 of terminal 30 executes the processes of FIGS. 2 and 3 according to application AP2, and the CPU 14 of remote control 10 executes the processes of FIGS. 2 to 4 according to application AP1. However, below, instead of CPU 14 and 34, remote control 10 and terminal 30 will be described as the main bodies executing the processes. In the initial stage of FIG. 2, both remote control 10 and terminal 30 can execute wireless communication conforming to Wi-Fi with router 2, respectively. Further, remote control 10 is communicably connected to server 40 via router 20 and Internet 8 (see FIG. 1).

[0024] At T10, terminal 30 receives a startup operation of application AP2 from user U1. Thereby, application AP2 starts up.

[0025] 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."

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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 the processing in T80 is complete, the terminal 30 can remotely control the water heater 4. Furthermore, in T82, the server 40 sends a registration completion signal to the router 20 indicating that the registration ID "RI1" has been registered, and the router 20 sends a registration signal to the remote control 10 in T84. Note that the remote control 10 may execute the processing from T90 onwards, which will be described later, in response to the generation of the registration ID "RI1" in T62. In that case, the processing in T82 and T84 can be omitted.

[0035] When remote control 10 receives a registration signal at T84, it obtains the SSID "R1" at T90 to identify the router 20 with which it is performing Wi-Fi communication. At T92, remote control 10 stores the SSID "R1" in memory 16, associating it with the registration ID "RI1" generated at T62. Note that the timing of obtaining the SSID "R1" is not limited to T90; for example, when remote control 10 is installed in house 2 and performs Wi-Fi communication with router 20 for the first time, it may obtain the SSID "R1," and when it receives a registration signal at T84, it may store the SSID "R1." Remote control 10 may obtain the SSID "R1" at any time while performing Wi-Fi communication with router 20.

[0036] Referring to Figure 4, the communication determination notification process performed by the remote control 10 will be explained. The notification determination notification process is a process in which the remote control 10 determines the communication status of the router 20 and notifies the user U1 of the determination result. The process in Figure 4 is executed after the processes in Figures 2 and 3 are executed. In the management system 100 that performs remote control of the water heater 4 using the terminal 30, if a communication interruption occurs between the remote control 10 and the server 40, remote control cannot be performed properly. For this reason, in this embodiment in particular, the remote control 10 performs the communication determination notification process in Figure 4 in order to prompt user U1 to take appropriate measures against the aforementioned interruption.

[0037] In S2, the remote control 10 sends a status confirmation signal to the server 40. The status confirmation signal is a signal used to confirm the status of communication between the remote control 10 and the server 40.

[0038] In S10, the remote control 10 monitors for a live signal from the server 40, which has received the status confirmation signal. The live signal is a response signal to the status confirmation signal. If the remote control 10 receives a live signal from the server 40 (YES in S10), it determines that communication between the remote control 10 and the server 40 is normal and terminates the process shown in Figure 4. If the remote control 10 does not receive a live signal from the server 40 even after a predetermined period has elapsed since sending the status confirmation signal (NO in S10), it determines that there has been an interruption in communication between the remote control 10 and the server 40 and proceeds to S20.

[0039] In S20, the remote control 10 determines whether it has received a Wi-Fi signal containing the SSID "R1" stored in memory 16 at T92 in Figure 3. If the remote control 10 has received a Wi-Fi signal containing the SSID "R1" (YES in S20), it determines that the Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20 is normal and proceeds to S40. If the received Wi-Fi signal does not contain the SSID "R1" (NO in S20), or if the remote control 10 does not receive a Wi-Fi signal at all (NO in S20), it determines that there is an abnormality in the Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20 and proceeds to S30.

[0040] In S30, the remote control 10 determines whether it is currently performing wireless communication according to BT with terminal 30, which is identified by the registration ID "RI1" (see T92 in Figure 3) stored in memory 16 in association with the SSID "R1". If the remote control 10 is performing wireless communication according to BT with terminal 30 (YES in S30), it proceeds to S34. If the remote control 10 is not performing wireless communication according to BT with terminal 30 (NO in S30), it proceeds to S32. Hereafter, wireless communication according to BT may be referred to as BT communication.

[0041] In S32, the remote control 10 displays the router error screen SC4 on its display. The router error screen SC4 is a screen that informs user U1 that an abnormality has occurred in the Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20. As shown in Figure 4, the router error screen SC4 includes a message prompting user U1 to check the connection status of the router 20. This informs user U1 that an abnormality has occurred in the Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20 at this time and that the connection status between the router 20 and the remote control 10 should be checked. For example, if the router 20 has been replaced and the Wi-Fi communication settings of the remote control 10 have not been updated, user U1 can resolve the communication interruption between the remote control 10 and the server 40 by newly connecting the remote control 10 to the 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 the remote control 10 and the router 20. In further variations, the router error screen SC4 may include both the occurrence of the error and the countermeasures that user U1 should take. Once processing S32 is complete, the remote control 10 terminates the processing shown in Figure 4.

[0042] In S34, the remote control 10 transmits router error screen data to the terminal 30 via BT communication. As a result, the terminal 30 displays the router error screen SC4 described above on its display. Since the router error screen SC4 is displayed on the terminal 30 carried by user U1, user U1 can be reliably made aware of the content indicated by the router error screen SC4, and user U1, who is located near the remote control 10, can quickly take measures to address the interruption of communication between the remote control 10 and the server 40. In this modified example, the remote control 10 may execute the process in S32 prior to the process in S30. In this modified example, if BT communication with the terminal 30 is being performed (YES in S30), the router error screen SC4 may be displayed on both the display of the remote control 10 and the display of the terminal 30. Also, the display of the terminal 30 can display more information than the display of the remote control 10. Therefore, in S34, the remote control 10 may, in place of or in addition to the router error screen data, transmit to the terminal 30 information such as a specific method for checking the connection status of the router 20, or contact information for the router 20's help desk. In this way, the remote control 10 can use the terminal 30 to inform the user U1 of more information than the display unit of the remote control 10 can provide.

[0043] The process in S40 is the same as the process in S30 described above. If the remote control 10 is performing BT communication with terminal 30 (YES in S40), the process proceeds to S44; if it is not performing BT communication with terminal 30 (NO in S40), the process proceeds to S42.

[0044] In S42, the remote control 10 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 inquire with the provider of the Internet 8 to check the communication status of the Internet 8. When the processing in S42 is completed, the remote control 10 terminates the processing shown in Figure 4. 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. In a further modification, the remote control 10 may perform the process in S42 prior to the process in S40. In this modification, if BT communication with terminal 30 is being performed (YES in S40), the server error screen SC5 may be displayed on both the display unit of the remote control 10 and the display unit of terminal 30. In addition, in S44, the remote control 10 may send to terminal 30, in lieu of or in addition to the server error screen data, information such as a specific method for checking the connection status of server 40, or contact information for the server 40's help desk. Furthermore, as another factor, a message indicating the possibility of an error in the communication unit (not shown) of the remote control 10 may be displayed. In this way, the remote control 10 can use terminal 30 to inform user U1 of more information than the display unit of the remote control 10 can.

[0045] In S44, the remote control 10 transmits server error screen data to the terminal 30 via BT connection. As a result, the terminal 30 displays the server error screen SC5 described above on its display. In this way, user U1 can take appropriate measures against the interruption of communication between the remote control 10 and the server 40, depending on the screen displayed on the display of the remote control 10 or the display of the terminal 30. When the process in S44 is completed, the remote control 10 terminates the process shown in Figure 4.

[0046] (Effects of this embodiment) In the management system 100 described above, if a communication interruption occurs between the remote control 10 and the server 40 (NO in S10 in Figure 4), the remote control 10 uses the SSID "R1" stored in memory 16 to determine whether or not a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" is being output from the router 20 (S20). If a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" is being output from the router 20 (YES in S20), it is considered that Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20 is normal. In this case, the interruption described above is likely to be due to a communication abnormality between the router 20 and the server 40. On the other hand, if a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" is not being output from the router 20 (NO in S20), it is considered that there is an abnormality in Wi-Fi communication between the remote control 10 and the router 20. In this case, the interruption described above is likely to be due to a communication abnormality between the remote control 10 and the router 20. Thus, according to the management system 100 described above, it is possible to determine whether the interruption of communication between the remote control 10 and the server 40 is caused by a communication anomaly between the router 20 and the server 40, or by a communication anomaly between the remote control 10 and the router 20.

[0047] (Correspondence) Wi-Fi communication is an example of "first communication," communication via the Internet 8 is an example of "second communication," and BT communication is an example of "short-range communication." The water heater 4 and remote control 10 are examples of "equipment," and the router 20 is an example of "relay device." 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."

[0048] The process at T90 in Figure 3 is an example of "identification information acquisition processing," and the process at T92 is an example of "identification information storage processing." The process at S10 in Figure 4 is an example of "interruption detection processing," and the process at S20 is an example of "communication determination processing." The processes at S32 and S34 are examples of "first notification processing," respectively, and the processes at S42 and S44 are examples of "second notification processing," respectively. The process at T80 in Figure 3 is an example of "registration processing."

[0049] (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.

[0050] (Modification 2) 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.

[0051] (Variation 3) The remote control 10 does not have to perform the process in S2 of Figure 3. In this modified example, in S10, the remote control 10 may determine whether or not to receive a life signal from the server 40 at a predetermined interval, and if it does not receive a life signal from the server 40 even after the predetermined interval has passed, it may determine NO in S10 and proceed to S20. In this modified example, the process of determining whether or not to receive a life signal from the server 40 at a predetermined interval is an example of "disconnection detection processing".

[0052] (Modification 4) "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.

[0053] (Variation 5) Furthermore, the terminal 30 and the remote control 10 may perform the processes shown in Figures 2 and 3 without going through the router 20, for example, via BT communication.

[0054] (Experimental variation 6) In step S20 of Figure 4, the remote control 10 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, if the remote control 10 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, it may determine NO in S20 and proceed to S30. Furthermore, if the number of times it is determined that it has not received a Wi-Fi signal containing SSID "R1" is below 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, the remote control 10 may determine YES in S20 and proceed to S40. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the router abnormality screen SC4 from being displayed excessively when the Wi-Fi communication state of the router 20 becomes temporarily unstable.

[0055] (Example 7) 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.

[0056] 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]

[0057] 2: Housing 4: Water heater 8: Internet 10: Remote control 12,32: Control Unit 14,34:CPU 16,36: Memory 20: Router 30: Mobile devices 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. Equipped with, The aforementioned equipment and machinery are 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 equipment, A disconnection detection process that detects the interruption of communication with the aforementioned server, When the interruption of communication is detected by the interruption detection process, a communication determination process is performed to determine whether or not a wireless signal for the first communication, including the identification information, is being output from the relay device, using the identification information stored in the memory by the identification information storage process. It is possible to do so. Management system.

2. The aforementioned equipment and machinery are If the interruption detection process detects an interruption in the communication and the communication determination process determines that the wireless signal for the first communication, which includes the identification information stored in the memory, is not output from the relay device, then 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 1.

3. The aforementioned management system further comprises a mobile terminal carried by the user, The aforementioned mobile terminal is configured to communicate with the aforementioned equipment, The aforementioned equipment and machinery are In the first notification process, the first information is transmitted to the mobile terminal to cause the mobile terminal to be notified of the first information. In the second notification process, the second information is transmitted to the mobile terminal to cause the mobile terminal to be notified of the second information. The management system according to claim 2.

4. The management system according to claim 3, wherein the equipment transmits the first information and the second information to the mobile terminal via short-range communication, which is connected when the mobile terminal is located near the equipment.

5. The management system according to claim 3, wherein after a registration process is performed to associate the mobile terminal with the equipment, the mobile terminal can remotely control the equipment from outside the house via the server and the relay device.

6. Equipment installed in a house, The aforementioned equipment is connected to a relay device via a first communication using wireless signals, The relay device is connected to the server via a second communication different from the first communication, and relays communication between the equipment and the server. The aforementioned equipment and machinery are 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 equipment, A disconnection detection process for detecting the interruption of the communication with the server, When the interruption of communication is detected by the interruption detection process, a communication determination process is performed to determine whether or not a wireless signal for the first communication, including the identification information, is being output from the relay device, using the identification information stored in the memory by the identification information storage process. It is possible to do so. equipment.

7. An application program for equipment installed in a house, The aforementioned equipment is connected to a relay device via a first communication using wireless signals, The relay device is 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 equipment 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 equipment, A disconnection detection unit that detects a communication interruption between the aforementioned equipment and the aforementioned server, When the interruption detection unit detects an interruption in the communication, the communication determination unit uses the identification information stored in the memory by 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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