Application programs, terminal devices, consumer electronics systems, and methods

Abstract

We provide an application program that makes it easier to understand how to remove parts from home appliances. [Solution] The application program of the embodiment causes the computer to execute a first icon display step, a transition step, and a stop processing step. The first icon display step causes a first icon for displaying how to remove removable parts of a home appliance to be displayed on the display device of the terminal device. The transition step, when the first icon is operated, transitions to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing removable parts is displayed on the display device. The stop processing step, when the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation, causes the operation of the home appliance to be stopped or a confirmation screen to be displayed on the display device for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance.

Description

Technical Field

[0006] , , ,

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to application programs, terminal devices, home appliance systems, and methods.

Background Art

[0002] As an air conditioner, which is one of home appliances, components such as louvers have been developed so that users can remove them for the purpose of cleaning the interior.

Prior Art Documents

[0007] In the application program, for example, the home appliance includes a movable member that can be changed between a movable state that allows movement and a fixed state that restricts movement, and the application program causes the computer to execute a lock step that sends a signal to the home appliance to set the movable member to a fixed state when the first icon is operated.

[0008] In the application program, for example, the home appliance can be switched between a locked state that restricts the removal of the removable part and an unlocked state that allows the removal of the removable part, and the application program causes the computer to perform an unlock step in which it sends a signal to the home appliance to unlock the removable part when the first icon is operated.

[0009] In the aforementioned application program, for example, the home appliance includes a movable member, and the application program causes the computer to perform a second icon display step, which involves displaying a second icon for moving the movable member on the display device.

[0010] In the application program, for example, the maintenance mode displays a screen on the display device showing the procedure for removing the removable part, then displays a screen on the display device showing the procedure for installing the removable part, and when the terminal device receives a signal indicating that the removable part has been removed or installed, if the content of the signal is in accordance with the procedure for removing the removable part or the procedure for installing the removable part, the display device displays a screen showing the next step.

[0011] The application program causes the computer to perform, for example, a transmission step of transmitting a maintenance mode termination signal indicating the end of the maintenance mode after the maintenance mode has ended, and an inspection result display step of displaying the inspection result on the display device when the computer receives an inspection result from the home appliance regarding whether or not there is an abnormality in the home appliance.

[0012] The application program of the embodiment is an application program to be executed by a computer in a terminal device that is connected via a network to a home appliance equipped with removable parts and is equipped with a display device, wherein when the terminal device receives a signal indicating that the removable parts have been removed and the home appliance is in operation, the computer is instructed to execute a stop operation step that causes the home appliance to stop operating, and a transition step that causes the computer to switch to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable parts is displayed on the display device.

[0013] The terminal device of the embodiment is connected via a network to a home appliance equipped with removable parts, and is equipped with a display device, which performs the following: displays a first icon on the display device for displaying how to remove the removable parts; when the first icon is operated, it switches to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable parts is displayed on the display device; and when the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation, it stops the operation of the home appliance or displays a confirmation screen on the display device for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance.

[0014] The home appliance system of the embodiment is a system comprising a home appliance having removable parts that can be removed, and an application program to be executed on a computer of a terminal device connected to a network and equipped with a display device, wherein the application program causes the computer to execute: a first icon display step of displaying a first icon on the display device for displaying how to remove the removable parts; a transition step of switching to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable parts is displayed on the display device when the first icon is operated; and a stop processing step of stopping the operation of the home appliance or displaying a confirmation screen on the display device for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance when the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation.

[0015] The home appliance system includes, for example, a server device connected to the home appliance and the terminal device via the network, wherein when the first icon is operated on one of the terminal devices, the server device notifies the other terminal device that the operation is invalid when an operation is performed on the home appliance by a terminal device other than the one mentioned above.

[0016] The method of the embodiment is a method executed in a system that includes an application program to be executed on a computer of a terminal device that is connected via a network to a home appliance having removable parts and is equipped with a display device, and comprises: a first icon display step of displaying a first icon on the display device for displaying how to remove the removable parts; a transition step of switching to a maintenance mode in which the method of removing the removable parts is displayed on the display device when the first icon is operated; and a stop processing step of stopping the operation of the home appliance or displaying a confirmation screen on the display device for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance when the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation.

[0017] According to the above application program, terminal device, home appliance system, and method, the method for removing parts of home appliances can be made easy to understand. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a home appliance system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the indoor unit of an air conditioning system in an embodiment, and is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing the case when the upper and lower louvers are in the open position. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an exemplary and schematic plan view showing the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioning system in the embodiment. [Figure 4] Figure 4 shows the locking mechanism of the front panel of a home appliance in an embodiment. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows a fan and a fan locking mechanism in a home appliance according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of a server device according to an embodiment. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the terminal device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of the app home screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of the operation screen according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the home appliance control process according to the embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the screen transition of the display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the screen transition of the display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the screen transition of the display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of the screen of the display device according to the embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing an example of the screen transition of the display device according to a modified example of the embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0019] Hereinafter, embodiments of the application program, terminal device, home appliance system, and method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, the components according to the embodiments and the descriptions of the components may be described in a plurality of expressions. The components and their descriptions are examples and are not limited by the expressions in this specification. The components may be specified by different names from those in this specification. Also, the components may be described by expressions different from those in this specification.

[0020] <Home Appliance System> Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a home appliance system according to this embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the home appliance system 1 according to this embodiment mainly comprises a server device 40, a plurality of terminal devices 30, and a plurality of air conditioners (hereinafter also referred to as air conditioners) 10⁻¹ to 10⁻N (where N is a natural number). Hereafter, the air conditioners 10⁻¹ to 10⁻N will be collectively referred to as home appliance 10.

[0021] The air conditioners 10-1 to 10-N and terminal device 30 are connected to a network via a router or similar device installed in the home. Furthermore, the air conditioners 10-1 to 10-N and terminal device 30 are connected to a server device 40 on the same network. The network consists of the internet, a regular telephone line, and a mobile phone line, etc.

[0022] Here, air conditioners 10-1 to 10-N are just examples of home appliances 10, and their types and numbers are not limited to these. Furthermore, home appliances 10 are not limited to air conditioners 10-1 to 10-N. Home appliances 10 may also include refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, microwave ovens, electric fans, etc. In other words, home appliances 10 mainly include electrical machinery and appliances used in ordinary households.

[0023] The terminal device 30 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or tablet, or a personal computer, which displays information about the home appliance 10 and remotely controls it via the server device 40. The home appliance 10 can also be operated by other dedicated controllers (so-called remote controls). This dedicated controller may also function as the terminal device 30. For example, the home appliance may be operated directly with the dedicated controller, or it may be operated remotely via a network as described later.

[0024] The terminal device 30 has an application program (hereinafter also referred to as "the application") installed for remotely controlling the home appliance 10. The user (also referred to as the user) launches the application on the terminal device 30 to remotely control the home appliance 10. The application communicates with the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 over the network. Details of the application will be described later.

[0025] The server device 40 is a device that manages the home appliance 10 and relays communication between the terminal device 30 and the home appliance 10 in order to remotely control the home appliance 10. The server device 40 is located outside the home where the home appliance 10 is installed.

[0026] <Details of home appliances>

[0027] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioning system in the embodiment, and is an exemplary and schematic cross-sectional view showing the case when the upper and lower louvers are in the open position. Figure 3 is an exemplary and schematic plan view showing the configuration of the indoor unit of the air conditioning system in the embodiment.

[0028] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the home appliance 10 includes an operating terminal 94a, an indoor unit 50, and an outdoor unit (not shown). The indoor unit 50 is located indoors, and the outdoor unit is located outdoors. The home appliance 10 performs various operations such as cooling, heating, and dehumidification.

[0029] The indoor unit 50 includes a base 51, a heat exchanger 52, a fan 53, a filter 54, vertical louvers 55, horizontal louvers (not shown), a front panel 56, a dust box 70, and a control device 57. The heat exchanger 52, fan 53, filter 54, vertical louvers 55, horizontal louvers (not shown), and control device 57 are mounted on the base 51. In other words, the base 51 is a support member that supports the heat exchanger 52, fan 53, filter 54, vertical louvers 55, horizontal louvers (not shown), and control device 57. The heat exchanger 52, fan 53, filter 54, etc. are housed within the base 51. The base 51 and the front panel 56 constitute the housing.

[0030] The front panel 56 is detachably attached to the base 51. That is, the front panel 56 is attachable to and can be attached to the base 51. The front panel 56 is attached to the base 51 by a hooking structure such as a claw hook. The front panel 56 is one of the removable parts 80. Note that the removable parts 80 only need to be detachable from the base 51 in part. For example, one end of the front panel 56 may be rotatably supported on the base 51 and the other end may be detachably attached to the base 51.

[0031] Figure 4 shows a locking mechanism for the front panel of a home appliance in an embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, the indoor unit 50 has a locking mechanism 58 for the front panel 56. The locking mechanism 58 can change the front panel 56 between a locked state and an unlocked state. The locked state restricts (does not allow) the removal of the front panel 56, and the unlocked state allows the removal of the front panel 56. Specifically, the locking mechanism 58 includes a claw member 59, a hooking part 60, and a drive motor (not shown). The hooking part 60 is fixed to the base 51. The claw member 59 is rotatably supported on the front panel 56 via a pivot shaft 61. The claw member 59 is fixed to the pivot shaft 61, and rotates integrally with the pivot shaft 61 relative to the front panel 56 when the pivot shaft 61 is rotationally driven by the drive motor. The claw member 59 is rotatable between a position where it catches on the hook portion 60 and the front panel 56 cannot be removed (indicated by the solid line in Figure 4), and a position where it is separated from the hook portion 60 and the front panel 56 can be removed (indicated by the dashed line in Figure 4). Note that the locking mechanism 58 is not limited to the above configuration, and any configuration is acceptable as long as it can change the front panel 56 between the locked state and the locked state.

[0032] The heat exchanger 52 is included in the refrigerant circuit 20 through which the refrigerant flows.

[0033] The fan 53 guides the air drawn in from the room through the intake port of the indoor unit 50 to the heat exchanger 52, and also guides the conditioned air, which has undergone heat exchange in the heat exchanger 52, to the outlet of the indoor unit 50. The control device 57 drives the drive motor of the fan 53, causing the fan 53 to rotate around its rotation axis.

[0034] Figure 5 shows a fan and fan locking mechanism of a home appliance in an embodiment. As shown in Figure 5, the fan 53 has a support portion 53a and a plurality of blades 53b supported (fixed) to the support portion 53a, and is rotatably supported on a base 51. The fan 53 is one of the movable members 81 and can be changed between a movable state that allows movement and a fixed state that restricts movement.

[0035] Furthermore, the indoor unit 50 has a locking mechanism 62 for the fan 53. The locking mechanism 62 can lock and unlock the movement (rotation) of the fan 53. In other words, the locking mechanism 62 can change the fan 53 between a movable state that allows movement and a fixed state that restricts movement. Specifically, the locking mechanism 62 is, for example, a solenoid and has a main body 62a and a pin member 62b that is linearly supported on the main body 62a. The locking mechanism 62 is supported on the base 51. The pin member 62b can linearly move between a position (Figure 4) where it is inserted between two adjacent blades 53b and the rotation of the fan 53 is impossible (restricted), and a position where it is extended from between the two adjacent blades 53b and the rotation of the fan 53 is possible (unrestricted). Note that the locking mechanism 62 is not limited to the above configuration, and any configuration is acceptable as long as it can change the fan 53 between a movable state and a fixed state.

[0036] The upper and lower louvers 55 shown in Figure 2 are rotatably mounted on the base 51 around the rotation axis Ax1. The upper and lower louvers 55 can open and close the air outlet of the indoor unit 50 and change the direction of air blown out from the air outlet. The upper and lower louvers 55 are rotationally driven within a predetermined range by a drive motor (not shown). The upper and lower louvers 55 are one of the movable members 81.

[0037] The filter 54 is positioned upstream of the heat exchanger 52 in the direction of airflow and covers the heat exchanger 52. The filter 54 is detachably attached to the base 51.

[0038] The dust box 70 is located below the filter 54 and collects dust and other debris generated by the indoor unit 50. For example, the cleaning mechanism collects dust adhering to the filter 54 and puts it into the dust box 70.

[0039] The control device 57 shown in Figure 3 controls various parts of the home appliance.

[0040] <Server device details> First, the details of the server device 40 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server device 40 according to this embodiment.

[0041] As shown in Figure 6, the server device 40 of this embodiment mainly comprises a communication unit 401, a control unit 402, and a storage unit 410. The control unit 402 is an example of a processing unit.

[0042] The storage unit 410 is a storage medium such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solitary State Drive). In this embodiment, the storage unit 410 stores a management database 411 (hereinafter also referred to as "management DB 411").

[0043] Management DB411 is a database for managing home appliances 10. Management DB411 stores information about home appliances 10, with each appliance ID associated with the appliance.

[0044] The device ID is information used to identify the home appliance 10.

[0045] The control unit 402 performs various controls on the home appliance 10. Specifically, the control unit 402 receives control instructions for the home appliance 10 from the application on the terminal device 30 and performs controls on the home appliance 10.

[0046] Furthermore, the control unit 402 acquires appliance status information (hereinafter also referred to as status information) from the appliance 10 and transmits it to the terminal device 30. The appliance status information includes the operating status of the appliance 10, setting information related to the appliance 10, and information about the environment surrounding the appliance 10. If the appliance 10 is an air conditioner 10-1 to 10-N, the appliance status information includes, for example, the type of operation (cooling operation, heating operation, etc.), set temperature, airflow, airflow direction, etc., as well as the temperature and humidity of the room where the indoor unit of the air conditioner 10-1 to 10-N is set, and the temperature and humidity of the outside where the outdoor unit of the air conditioner 10-1 to 10-N is set.

[0047] The communication unit 401 controls communication with the home appliance 10 and the terminal device 30. Specifically, when the control unit 402 receives requests or instructions from the terminal device 30 or transmits information to the terminal device 30, it does so via the communication unit 401. Also, when the control unit 402 receives information from the home appliance 10 or issues control instructions to the home appliance 10, it does so via the communication unit 401.

[0048] <Terminal device details> Next, the details of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment will be described. Figure 7 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment.

[0049] As shown in Figure 7, the terminal device 30 according to this embodiment mainly comprises a display device 302, an input device 303, a communication device 304, a storage device 305, and an application 301. The terminal device 30 also includes a CPU 300 (Central Processing Unit). The hardware of the terminal device 30 consists of the CPU 300, the display device 302, the input device 303, the communication device 304, and the storage device 305.

[0050] The CPU 300 constitutes the computer 310. The CPU 300 performs various functions by reading and executing programs stored in the memory device 305. In other words, programs cause the computer 310, i.e., the CPU 300, to perform various functions. The programs stored in the memory device 305 include application 301. In other words, application 301 causes the computer 310, i.e., the CPU 300, to perform various functions. Application 301 is an example of an application program.

[0051] The display device 302 is, for example, a display device such as a liquid crystal or organic EL display. The input device 303 is an input device such as a touch panel (including non-contact types) or hard keys superimposed on the display device 302. The display device 302 displays various screens. Operation of icons, etc., on these screens is performed, for example, by the user's touch operation on the input device 303 (touch panel). The input device 303 is also referred to as an operating device.

[0052] The communication device 304 is an interface that performs wireless communication according to the standards of Wi-Fi, 4G (e.g., LTE (Long Term Evolution)), and 5G.

[0053] The storage device 305 is a storage medium such as RAM (Random Access Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory).

[0054] As shown in Figure 7, application 301 mainly comprises a communication processing unit 3011, an input processing unit 3012, a display processing unit 3013, a control unit 3014, a device registration processing unit 3015, and a maintenance processing unit 3016. Application 301 is stored in a storage device 305 such as ROM, RAM, or flash memory.

[0055] Application 301 is an example of an application program. Application 301 is a module configuration that includes each of the functional units described above (communication processing unit 3011, input processing unit 3012, display processing unit 3013, control unit 3014, device registration processing unit 3015, and maintenance processing unit 3016). In actual hardware, Application 301 is started when the CPU reads and executes Application 301 from a storage device 305 such as flash memory. Then, each of the above units is loaded onto the storage device 305 such as RAM, and the communication processing unit 3011, input processing unit 3012, display processing unit 3013, control unit 3014, device registration processing unit 3015, and maintenance processing unit 3016 are generated on the storage device 305 such as RAM.

[0056] The control unit 3014 performs various controls and calculations for the application 301.

[0057] The communication processing unit 3011 controls communication by the communication device 304. Furthermore, when the communication processing unit 3011 receives a control instruction from the user to the home appliance 10 via the input processing unit 3012, it transmits the received control instruction to the server device 40. The communication processing unit 3011 also receives various information (data) from the server device 40.

[0058] The display processing unit 3013 controls the display of various information on the display device 302. When the application 301 is launched, the display processing unit 3013 first displays the application home screen on the display device 302. Here, the application home screen is an example of the application's basic screen.

[0059] Figure 8 shows an example of an app home screen in an embodiment. In the example in Figure 8, the app home screen 501 displays multiple operation screen icons 503 and an appliance addition icon 506.

[0060] An operation screen icon 503 is provided for each home appliance 10 and is associated with the device ID of the corresponding home appliance 10. The operation screen icon 503 is used to display the operation screen 1701 (see Figure 9) for issuing control instructions to the home appliance 10. The operation screen 1701 also displays the status of the home appliance 10 (operating status and monitoring status). In the example in Figure 8, the location of the home appliance 10 ("living room" or "children's room") is also displayed on the operation screen icon 503.

[0061] The appliance addition icon 506 is used to add appliance 10. In the example in Figure 8, the appliance addition icon 506 displays a "+" symbol and the words "Add Appliance".

[0062] In this way, the display processing unit 3013 displays the application home screen 501, which shows the operation screen icon 503 and the home appliance addition icon 506, on the display device 302. Details of the processing that occurs when each of these icons is operated will be described later.

[0063] The input processing unit 3012 receives user input from the input device 303. The input processing unit 3012 receives operation input from the user from various screens such as the application home screen 501 (i.e., input device 303 such as a touch panel).

[0064] The device registration processing unit 3015 registers multiple home appliances 10. For example, when the home appliance addition icon 506 is operated, the device registration processing unit 3015 displays a device registration screen (not shown) on the display device 302 and accepts registration of the home appliance 10 on the device registration screen. The information to be registered includes the identification information, name, group, etc. of the home appliance 10. This information is entered, for example, by the user through the input device 303. The device registration processing unit 3015 transmits the entered information to the server device 40 and registers it in the management DB via the server device 40. In addition, if there is a group in the input information, the device registration processing unit 3015 includes the home appliance 10 in that group. The device registration processing unit 3015 also registers this group information in the management DB via the server device 40.

[0065] <Various processes> Next, we will explain in detail the various processes performed by home appliance systems.

[0066] First, we will explain the home appliance control process, which is the process that occurs when the operation screen icon 503 on the application home screen 501 in Figure 8 is operated. Figure 9 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen according to the embodiment.

[0067] When the operation screen icon 503 is operated, the display processing unit 3013 obtains appliance status information indicating the status of the appliance 10 from the server device 40 and displays the operation screen 1701 (Figure 9) showing the appliance status information on the display device 302. In other words, the display processing unit 3013 obtains appliance status information from the appliance 10 via the server device 40. However, the display processing unit 3013 may also obtain appliance status information from the appliance 10 without going through the server device 40.

[0068] As shown in Figure 9, the operation screen 1701 displays an environmental display unit 1702, several control buttons 1703, an electricity bill icon 1704, and a maintenance icon 1705. The maintenance icon 1705 is an example of the first icon.

[0069] The environmental display unit 1702 displays environmental information such as the temperature inside and outside the home appliance 10.

[0070] The control button 1703 is a button used to issue control instructions to the home appliance 10. Examples of control instructions for the control button 1703 include "temperature setting," "airflow / direction," and "stop." When the control button 1703 is operated, the control instruction is transmitted to the server device 40 by the communication processing unit 3011. The server device 40 then transmits the received control instruction to the corresponding home appliance 10. This causes the home appliance 10 to operate according to the control instruction. The operation screen 1701 also displays the set operation type (for example, cooling) and the set temperature (for example, 26.0°C). These set items indicate the state of the home appliance 10.

[0071] The electricity bill icon 1704 is used to display the electricity charges and power consumption of the home appliance 10 associated with the electricity bill icon 1704.

[0072] Maintenance icon 1705 is used to display the removal method for the removable part 80 on the display device 302. Maintenance icon 1705 is an example of the first icon.

[0073] Next, the details of the home appliance control process will be explained with reference to Figure 10. Figure 10 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the flow of the home appliance control process according to the embodiment.

[0074] When application 301 is launched (S1301), the input processing unit 3012 displays the application home screen 501 on the display device 302 and accepts the selection of a home appliance 10 by operating the operation screen icon 503. When application 301 accepts the selection of a home appliance 10 by operating any of the operation screen icons 503 (S1302), the control unit 3014 requests status information of the selected home appliance 10 from the server device 40 (S1303).

[0075] When the server device 40 receives a request for status information from the application 301 of the terminal device 30, it requests status information from the home appliance 10 (S1201).

[0076] When the home appliance 10 receives a request for status information from the server device 40, it transmits the current status information of the home appliance 10 to the server device 40 (S1101).

[0077] When the server device 40 receives status information from the home appliance 10, it transmits the status information to the application 301 on the terminal device 30 (S1202).

[0078] When application 301 receives status information from server device 40, the display processing unit 3013 causes the operation screen 1701 based on the status information to be displayed on the display device 302 (S1304).

[0079] When application 301 receives an operation on the control button 1703 on the operation screen 1701 (S1305), it sends a control signal associated with the control button 1703 to the server device 40 (S1306).

[0080] When the server device 40 receives a control signal from the application 301 of the terminal device 30, it transmits the control signal to the home appliance 10 (S1203).

[0081] When the home appliance 10 receives a control signal from the server device 40, it controls each part of the home appliance 10 to operate in accordance with the control signal, and transmits the status information of the home appliance 10 after the control to the server device 40 (S1102).

[0082] When the server device 40 receives post-control status information from the home appliance 10, it transmits the post-control status information to the application 301 on the terminal device 30 (S1204).

[0083] When application 301 receives post-control status information from server device 40, the display processing unit 3013 updates the operation screen 1701 to reflect the post-control status information (S1307).

[0084] Next, we will explain the maintenance process, which is the process when the maintenance icon 1705 on the operation screen 1701 in Figure 9 is operated. Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of screen transitions of the display device according to the embodiment. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of screen transitions of the display device according to the embodiment. Figure 13 is a diagram showing an example of screen transitions of the display device according to the embodiment. Figure 14 is a diagram showing an example of the screen of the display device according to the embodiment.

[0085] When the maintenance icon 1705 is operated, the maintenance processing unit 3016 switches to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable part 80 is displayed on the display device 302. In addition to the maintenance mode, the terminal device 30 has other modes such as a home appliance operation mode, and switches from the home appliance operation mode to the maintenance mode when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated. The modes of the terminal device 30 are not limited to those described above.

[0086] More specifically, as shown in Figure 11, the maintenance processing unit 3016 transitions the screen of the display device 302 from the operation screen 1701 to screen 1701A, and then from screen 1701A to screen 1701B. Screen 1701A displays a confirmation screen 1711 for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance 10. The confirmation screen 1711 displays a "Yes" button and a "No" button. When the "Yes" button is pressed, the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays a screen 1712 on the display device 302 indicating that the operation of the home appliance 10 (air conditioner in Figure 11) has been stopped and that the user should wait a moment. At this time, the maintenance processing unit 3016 sends a control signal (signal) to the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 to stop the operation of the home appliance 10 and to unlock the removable parts 80 (for example, the front panel 56), thereby stopping the operation of the home appliance 10 and unlocking the removable parts 80. On the other hand, if the "No" button on screen 1701A is operated, the mode of the terminal device 30 does not switch to maintenance mode. In addition, if the maintenance icon 1705 is operated while the home appliance 10 is running, the maintenance processing unit 3016 may stop the operation of the home appliance 10 without displaying screen 1701A.

[0087] When the maintenance icon 1705 is activated and the system enters maintenance mode, the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays the method for removing the removable parts 80 on the display device 302. This removal method information may be stored in the storage device 305 or in the server device 40.

[0088] More specifically, as shown in Figures 12 and 13, the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays screen 1701C on the display device 302, as shown in Figure 11, and then sequentially transitions to screens 1701C through 1701H.

[0089] Each screen from 1701C to 1701H displays the procedure 1811 for removing the removable part 80 and a next button 1812. Additionally, each screen from 1701C to 1701H displays a back button 1813. Each procedure 1811 for removing the removable part 80 displays the details of how to remove the removable part 80. When the next button 1812 is pressed, the screen transitions to the screen showing the next step 1811, and when the back button 1813 is pressed, the screen returns to the screen showing the previous step 1811.

[0090] Furthermore, screen 1701F displays a drive icon 1815 for moving the movable member 81. The drive icon 1815 is an example of a second icon. For example, the drive icon 1815 is for moving the upper and lower louvers 55, which are one of the movable members 81. When the drive icon 1815 is operated, the maintenance processing unit 3016 sends a control signal to the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 to open the upper and lower louvers 55, causing the home appliance 10 to open them. This makes it easier to clean the inside of the home appliance 10. The drive icon 1815 may also be for rotating the fan 53. For example, the fan 53 may rotate by a predetermined angle (for example, 90 degrees) with a single operation of the drive icon 1815. This makes it easier to clean the fan 53.

[0091] If the "Next" button 1812 is pressed on screen 1701H (Figure 13), which displays the last step 1811 of the procedure 1811 for removing the removable part 80, the maintenance processing unit 3016 exits maintenance mode and switches to trial run mode. In trial run mode, the maintenance processing unit displays screen 1701I, shown in Figure 14, on the display device 302. Screen 1701I displays screen 1713, which shows information about the execution of the trial run.

[0092] Furthermore, if the next button 1812 is pressed on the screen 1701H (Figure 13) displaying the last step 1811 of the procedure 1811 for removing the removable part 80, the maintenance processing unit 3016 transmits a maintenance mode completion signal to the home appliance 10 via the server device 40, indicating the end of maintenance mode. Upon receiving the maintenance mode completion signal, the home appliance 10 performs a test run to check for any abnormalities in the home appliance 10. The test run may consist of, for example, only the operation of the movable member 81, or it may include cooling or heating operation. Abnormalities in the home appliance 10 may include improper installation of the removable part 80, malfunction of the movable member 81, or abnormal refrigerant temperature in the refrigerant circuit 20. The control device 57 determines these defects or abnormalities based on the output values ​​of sensors capable of detecting these defects or abnormalities. For example, an open / close sensor capable of detecting the opening and closing (attachment and detachment) of the front panel 56, which is one of the removable parts 80, is provided on the base 51, and based on the detection result of this open / close sensor, it is possible to determine that the front panel 56 is improperly installed. Furthermore, a current sensor capable of detecting the current value of the drive motor of the fan 53 is provided, and based on the detection result of this current sensor, it is possible to determine if the fan 53 is malfunctioning. The home appliance 10 transmits the inspection results of the home appliance 10 to the terminal device 30 via the server device 40. When the maintenance processing unit 3016 receives the inspection results of whether or not there is an abnormality in the home appliance 10 from the home appliance 10, it displays the inspection results on the display device 302.

[0093] In the above process, the maintenance processing unit 3016 can cause the home appliance 10 to lock the movement of the movable member 81 when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated. Specifically, the maintenance processing unit 3016 sends a control signal (signal) to the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 to immobilize the movable member 81 of the home appliance 10. At this time, the home appliance 10 locks the movable member 81 with the locking mechanisms 58 and 62 and immobilizes the movable member 81. Furthermore, when the maintenance mode ends, the maintenance processing unit 3016 can cause the home appliance 10 to release the lock on the movement of the movable member 81. Specifically, the maintenance processing unit 3016 sends a control signal (signal) to the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 to make the movable member 81 of the home appliance 10 movable. At this time, the home appliance 10 releases the lock on the movable member 81 with the locking mechanisms 58 and 62 and makes the movable member 81 movable. Furthermore, if the home appliance 10 receives a control signal to open the upper and lower louvers 55 by operating the drive icon 1815 while the movable member 81 is locked, it can temporarily release the lock on the upper and lower louvers 55 and open them.

[0094] Furthermore, if the maintenance icon 1705 is operated on one terminal device 30, the control unit 402 of the server device 40 can notify the other terminal device 30 via the server device 40 that the operation is invalid if an operation is made on the home appliance 10 by a terminal device 30 other than the one that performed the operation. At this time, the control unit 402 determines whether the maintenance icon 1705 was operated on one terminal device 30 and whether an operation was made on the home appliance 10 by another terminal device 30 based on the control signals transmitted from each terminal. In addition, the control unit 402 of the server device 40 may also cause the other terminal devices 30 to display that the indoor unit 50 is in maintenance mode when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated on one terminal device 30.

[0095] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in maintenance mode, if the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays a screen on the display device 302 showing the procedure for removing the removable part 80, and then displays a screen on the display device 302 showing the procedure for installing the removable part 80, the following processing may be performed. That is, when the terminal device 30 receives a signal indicating that the removable part 80 has been removed or that the removable part 80 has been installed, and the content of the signal is in line with the procedure for removing the removable part 80 or the procedure for installing the removable part 80, the display device 302 may display a screen showing the next step. For example, if the maintenance processing unit 3016 determines, based on the detection result of the opening / closing sensor, that the front panel 56, which is one of the removable parts 80, has been removed, it transitions from screen 1701C to screen 1701D. Information regarding the installation procedure for the removable part 80 is stored, for example, in the storage device 305, and the maintenance processing unit 3016 determines, based on this information and the above-mentioned signal, whether or not the procedure is in accordance with the removal procedure or installation procedure for the removable part 80.

[0096] Furthermore, if the home appliance 10 is in operation, the maintenance processing unit 3016 can cause the home appliance 10 to stop operating when the terminal device 30 receives a signal from the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 indicating that a removable part 80 has been removed. For example, if the maintenance processing unit 3016 determines, based on the detection result of the opening / closing sensor, that the front panel 56, which is one of the removable parts 80, has been removed, it will cause the home appliance 10 to stop operating. Specifically, the maintenance processing unit 3016 sends a control signal instructing the home appliance 10 to stop operating via the server device 40, causing the home appliance 10 to stop operating.

[0097] <Summary> As described above, the application 301 of this embodiment is an application to be executed by a computer 310 of a terminal device 30 that is connected via a network to a home appliance 10 equipped with a removable part 80 and is equipped with a display device 302. The application 301 causes the computer 310 to execute a first icon display step, a transition step, and a stop processing step. The first icon display step causes the display device 302 to display a maintenance icon 1705 (first icon) for displaying how to remove the removable part 80. The transition step causes the system to transition to a maintenance mode in which, when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated, the display device 302 displays how to remove the removable part 80. The stop processing step causes the display device 302 to display a confirmation screen 1711 for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance 10, or to stop the operation of the home appliance 10, when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated while the home appliance 10 is in operation.

[0098] With this configuration, the removal method for the removable part 80 is displayed on the display device 302 of the terminal device 30, making the removal method easy to understand. Therefore, the user can easily perform maintenance such as cleaning the home appliance 10. Furthermore, with the above configuration, if the maintenance icon 1705 is operated while the home appliance 10 is running, a confirmation screen 1711 is displayed on the display device 302 to confirm whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance 10, thus preventing maintenance (such as removal of removable parts) from being performed while the home appliance 10 is running. Note that in maintenance mode, it is sufficient for the removal method for the removable part 80 to be displayed, and there may be multiple screens or just one screen displaying this method. Also, the removal method and installation method for the removable part 80 may be displayed together on a single screen.

[0099] Furthermore, the home appliance 10 includes a movable member 81 that can be switched between a movable state that allows movement and a fixed state that restricts movement. When the maintenance icon 1705 is operated, the application 301 sends a signal to the home appliance 10 to set the movable member 81 to a fixed state, causing the home appliance 10 to execute a lock step in which it locks the movement of the movable member 81 (e.g., fan 53) by driving a locking mechanism (e.g., locking mechanism 62).

[0100] With this configuration, when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated, the movement of the movable member 81 is locked, thus preventing the movable member 81 from hitting the user due to malfunction or other reasons.

[0101] Furthermore, the home appliance 10 can be switched between a locked state that restricts the removal of removable parts 80 (e.g., the front panel 56) and an unlocked state that allows the removal of removable parts 80. When the maintenance icon 1705 is operated, the application 301 causes the computer 310 to perform an unlock step that sends a signal to the home appliance 10 to unlock the removable parts 80.

[0102] With this configuration, if the maintenance icon 1705 is not operated and no maintenance (such as removal of the removable part 80) is performed, the removal of the removable component can be locked, thereby preventing the removable part 80 from coming off unintentionally.

[0103] Furthermore, the home appliance 10 includes a movable member 81. The application 301 causes the computer 310 to perform a second icon display step, which involves displaying a drive icon 1815 (second icon) for moving the movable member 81 on the display device 302.

[0104] With this configuration, by operating the second icon displayed on the display device 302 and moving the movable member 81, it becomes possible to clean the parts of the home appliance 10 that were hidden by the movable member 81.

[0105] Furthermore, the home appliance system 1 includes, for example, a server device 40 connected to the home appliance 10 and terminal devices 30 via a network. When the maintenance icon 1705 is operated on one terminal device 30, the server device 40 notifies the other terminal device 30 that the operation on the home appliance 10 is invalid if an operation is performed on the home appliance 10 by another terminal device 30.

[0106] With this configuration, when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated on one terminal device 30 and maintenance (such as removal of removable parts 80) is being performed on the home appliance 10, it is possible to prevent the home appliance 10 from starting operation by operating another terminal device 30. In other words, it is possible to prevent malfunctions of the home appliance 10.

[0107] Furthermore, in maintenance mode, a screen showing the procedure for removing the removable part 80 is displayed on the display device 302, followed by a screen showing the procedure for installing the removable part 80. When the terminal device 30 receives a signal indicating that the removable part 80 has been removed or installed, and the content of the signal is in accordance with the procedure for removing or installing the removable part 80, a screen showing the next step is displayed on the display device 302.

[0108] With this configuration, the screen showing the procedure for removing the removable part 80 changes automatically, making the removal method easy to understand and convenient as it does not require button operation.

[0109] Furthermore, application 301 causes computer 310 to execute a transmission step and a result display step. The transmission step sends a maintenance mode termination signal indicating the end of maintenance mode after the maintenance mode has finished. The result display step, when the inspection results regarding the presence or absence of abnormalities in home appliance 10 are received from home appliance 10, causes the inspection results to be displayed on the display device 302.

[0110] With this configuration, the user can find out if there is any abnormality in the home appliance 10 after the maintenance mode has ended. Therefore, for example, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of installation errors in removable parts 80.

[0111] Furthermore, the application 301 of this embodiment causes the computer 310 to execute a stop operation step and a transition step. The stop operation step causes the home appliance 10 to stop operating if the home appliance 10 is operating when the terminal device 30 receives a signal indicating that the removable part 80 has been removed. The transition step transitions to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable part 80 is displayed on the display device 302.

[0112] With this configuration, the removal method for the removable part 80 is displayed on the display device 302 of the terminal device 30, making the removal method easy to understand. Therefore, the user can easily perform maintenance such as cleaning the home appliance 10.

[0113] Next, a modified example will be described. Figure 15 is a diagram showing an example of screen transitions of a display device according to a modified example of the embodiment.

[0114] In this modified example, the home appliance 10 does not have a locking mechanism 58 for the front panel 56. In this modified example, when the maintenance icon 1705 is operated, the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays the screen 1701J shown in Figure 15 on the display device 302 if the front panel 56, which is one of the removable parts 80, is open. If the front panel 56 is open, information that the front panel 56 is open is transmitted from the home appliance 10 to the terminal device 30 via the server device 40. At this time, the home appliance 10 can detect that the front panel 56 is open based on the detection result of the opening / closing sensor described above.

[0115] Screen 1701J displays a confirmation screen 1721 for determining whether or not to switch to maintenance mode. The confirmation screen 1721 displays "Yes" and "No" buttons. If the "Yes" button is pressed, the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays screen 1722 on the display device 302 indicating that the operation of the home appliance 10 (air conditioner in Figure 11) has been stopped and that the user should wait. At this time, the maintenance processing unit 3016 sends a control signal to the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 to stop the operation of the home appliance 10. On the other hand, if the "No" button on screen 1701J is pressed, the mode of the terminal device 30 does not switch to maintenance mode.

[0116] When the "Yes" button on screen 1701J is pressed and the system enters maintenance mode, the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays screen 1701D on the display device 302. Subsequently, the maintenance processing unit 3016 transitions to screens 1701E through 1701H (Figures 12 and 13) in order.

[0117] When the "Yes" button on screen 1701J is pressed, if the system has already entered maintenance mode, the maintenance processing unit 3016 displays screen 1701D without displaying screen 1701B.

[0118] In the above embodiment, the locking mechanisms 58 and 62 may not be provided.

[0119] In the above embodiments and modifications, the server device 40 is configured as a single device, but this is not the only configuration. For example, the functional parts of the server device 40 (communication unit 401, control unit 402, storage unit 410) or the functions of each part may be distributed across multiple devices. In this case as well, users utilizing the application 301 of the terminal device 30 can enjoy all the effects and advantages described in the above embodiments and modifications.

[0120] Furthermore, while the server device 40 may be installed in Japan, it may also be configured to be installed overseas. Moreover, if the server device 40 is distributed across multiple devices, it may be configured to be installed overseas as a device having some of the functions of the functional unit (communication unit 401, control unit 402, storage unit 410) or some of the functions of each unit. Even in these cases, users who utilize the application 301 of the terminal device 30 can enjoy all the effects and advantages described in the above embodiments and modifications.

[0121] The application 301 executed on the terminal device 30 of the above embodiment and its modified form is provided by storing it on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and allowing it to be downloaded via the network. Alternatively, the application 301 executed on the terminal device 30 of the above embodiment and its modified form may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0122] The application 301 executed by the terminal device 30 in the above embodiment and its modified form may be configured to be provided by recording it in an installable or executable format file on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), USB memory, or SD card.

[0123] Furthermore, the application 301 to be executed by the terminal device 30 of the above embodiment and its modified form may be configured to be pre-installed in ROM or the like and provided accordingly.

[0124] The server device 40 in the above embodiment and modified examples is equipped with a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as ROM or RAM, an external storage device such as an HDD or CD drive, a display device such as a display device, and an input device such as a keyboard or mouse, and has a hardware configuration that uses a normal computer.

[0125] The home appliance management program executed on the server device 40 of the above embodiment and modified version is provided as a file in an installable or executable format, recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, flexible disk (FD), CD-R, or DVD (Digital Versatile Disk).

[0126] Furthermore, the home appliance management program executed on the server device 40 of the above embodiment and its modified form may be configured to be stored on a computer connected to a network such as the Internet and provided by downloading it via the network. Alternatively, the home appliance management program executed on the server device 40 of the above embodiment and its modified form may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

[0127] Furthermore, the home appliance management program executed by the server device 40 of the above embodiment and its modified form may be provided pre-installed in ROM or the like.

[0128] The home appliance management program executed in the server device 40 of the above embodiment and modified example has a modular configuration including the above-described parts (communication unit 401, control unit 402). In actual hardware, the CPU (processor) reads the home appliance management program from the storage medium and executes it, thereby loading the above-described parts onto the main memory and generating the communication unit 401 and control unit 402 on the main memory.

[0129] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0130] 1. Home appliance systems 10 Home appliances 30 Terminal devices 40 Server Devices 80 Removable parts 81 Movable member 301 Application (Application Program) 302 Display device 310 Computers 1705 Maintenance icon (First icon) 1711 Confirmation screen 1815 Drive icon (second icon) 3013 Display Processing Unit 3016 Maintenance Section

Claims

1. An application program to be executed on a computer of a terminal device that is connected to a network and has a display device, and has removable parts that can be removed, A first icon display step involves displaying a first icon on the display device to indicate how to remove the aforementioned removable part, A transition step in which, when the first icon is operated, the system transitions to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable part is displayed on the display device, A stop processing step in which, when the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation, the operation of the home appliance is stopped or a confirmation screen is displayed on the display device for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance, An application program that causes the aforementioned computer to execute it.

2. The aforementioned home appliance includes a movable member that can be switched between a movable state that allows movement and a fixed state that restricts movement. The aforementioned application program, When the first icon is operated, the computer is instructed to perform a lock step that sends a signal to the home appliance to immobilize the movable member. The application program according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned home appliance is switchable between a locked state that restricts the removal of the removable part and an unlocked state that allows the removal of the removable part. The aforementioned application program, When the first icon is operated, the computer is instructed to perform an unlocking step, which involves sending a signal to the home appliance to unlock the removable part. The application program according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned home appliance includes a movable member, The aforementioned application program, The computer is instructed to perform a second icon display step, which involves displaying a second icon for moving the movable member on the display device. The application program according to claim 1.

5. The maintenance mode displays a screen on the display device showing the procedure for removing the removable part, then displays a screen on the display device showing the procedure for installing the removable part, and when the terminal device receives a signal indicating that the removable part has been removed or installed, if the content of the signal is in accordance with the procedure for removing the removable part or the procedure for installing the removable part, the display device displays a screen showing the next step. The application program according to claim 1.

6. A transmission step which involves transmitting a maintenance mode termination signal indicating the termination of the maintenance mode after the termination of the maintenance mode, When the inspection results regarding the presence or absence of abnormalities in the home appliance are received from the home appliance, the inspection results are displayed on the display device. To cause the computer to execute the above, The application program according to claim 1.

7. An application program to be executed on a computer of a terminal device that is connected to a network and has a display device, and which has removable parts that can be removed, If the terminal device receives a signal indicating that the removable part has been removed, and the home appliance is in operation, the operation stop step involves causing the home appliance to stop operating. A transition step to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable part is displayed on the display device, An application program that causes the aforementioned computer to execute it.

8. A home appliance having removable parts, and a terminal device connected to a network and equipped with a display device, A first icon for indicating how to remove the aforementioned removable part is displayed on the display device, When the first icon is operated, the system switches to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable part is displayed on the display device, When the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation, the display device will be shown a confirmation screen to stop the operation of the home appliance or to confirm whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance. A terminal device that performs the following.

9. A system comprising a home appliance having removable parts, and an application program to be executed on a computer of a terminal device connected to a network and equipped with a display device, The aforementioned application program, A first icon display step involves displaying a first icon on the display device to indicate how to remove the aforementioned removable part, A transition step in which, when the first icon is operated, the system transitions to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable part is displayed on the display device, A stop processing step in which, when the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation, the operation of the home appliance is stopped or a confirmation screen is displayed on the display device for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance, To cause the computer to execute the above, Home appliance systems.

10. The system comprises a server device connected to the aforementioned home appliance and terminal device via the aforementioned network, When the first icon is operated on one of the terminal devices, the server device notifies the other terminal device that the operation is invalid if an operation is performed on the home appliance by a terminal device other than the first terminal device. The home appliance system according to claim 9.

11. A method that is performed in a system comprising an application program to be executed on a computer of a terminal device that is connected to a network and has a removable component, and a removable component, A first icon display step involves displaying a first icon on the display device to indicate how to remove the aforementioned removable part, A transition step in which, when the first icon is operated, the system transitions to a maintenance mode in which the method for removing the removable part is displayed on the display device, A stop processing step in which, when the first icon is operated while the home appliance is in operation, the operation of the home appliance is stopped or a confirmation screen is displayed on the display device for confirming whether or not to stop the operation of the home appliance, A method for providing this.

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