Electrical Equipment Management Intermediary System

Abstract

This system provides an electrical equipment management and mediation system that can easily and reliably prevent malfunctions caused by deficiencies in user house location information within the information database. [Solution] The intermediary server 22 includes an information database 22x, a device command creation unit 22y, and a main information management unit 22z. The information database 22x registers multiple user-related information, including at least user house location information, linked to the user house terminal 16. The main intermediary application 24 includes a device command execution application unit 24x and a location information check application unit 24y. The location information check application unit 24y acquires information indicating the current location of the user house 14 where the user house terminal 16 to be checked is installed as house location confirmation information. Then, the location information check application unit 24y or the main information management unit 22z determines the validity of the user house location information by comparing the house location confirmation information with the user house location information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides a power aggregation service in cooperation with a service provider system for user equipment used in a user's house.

Background Art

[0002] <<Conventional Electrical Equipment Management Intermediary System 10, Cooperative Equipment Management System 18>> FIG. 11 shows a cooperative equipment management system 18 constructed using a conventional electrical equipment management intermediary system 10 (hereinafter referred to as the intermediary system 10) by the applicant of the present application. The intermediary system 10 is connected via a network to a service provider system 12 managed by a power service provider such as an electric power company or an energy source aggregator and a user house terminal 16 installed in a user house 14, and becomes a part of the cooperative equipment management system 18. Then, for user equipment 20 used in the user house 14, the intermediary system 10 and the service provider system 12 cooperate to provide a power aggregation service.

[0003] Here, the "user house" refers to a house substantially managed by the user, regardless of who the legal owner is. Examples of what is assumed as the "user house" include, for example, the user's main house used as a living base, a detached house used as a villa by the user, a store opened by the user by renting a building owned by a third party, etc. The "user house" is identified by a supply point identification number or the like issued by an electric power company governing the area.

[0004] Also, the "user equipment" refers to electronic equipment used in the user house, regardless of who the legal owner is. Examples of what is assumed as the "user equipment" include, for example, an air conditioner, a solar power generator, a storage battery, a heat pump water heater, etc. installed by the user in their home, or lighting etc. installed in advance in a store rented by the user.

[0005] Furthermore, "user home terminals" refer to terminal devices used in a user's home, regardless of who the legal owner is. Examples of devices that can exchange information with user devices include personal computers, HEMS (Home Energy Management System), televisions, streaming devices, and tablet devices owned by the user.

[0006] <Configuration of the conventional interconnected device management system 18> First, the configuration related to the user and user house 14 will be described. The intermediary system 10 provides services to multiple users and multiple user houses 14, but Figure 11 shows the configuration for user A's main house 14A(1) [=user house 14A(1)] as a representative example. User A's main house 14A(1) is equipped with a user house terminal 16A(1) and multiple user devices 20A(1).

[0007] Next, the operator system 12 will be described. The intermediary system 10 cooperates with multiple operator systems 12, but Figure 11 shows two operator systems 12α and 12β as representative examples. Operator system 12α is a system managed and operated by power company α, and operator system 12β is a system managed and operated by power company β. Operator systems 12α and 12β perform the operation of creating power adjustment requests and sending them to the intermediary system 10.

[0008] Next, the intermediary system 10 will be described. The intermediary system 10 comprises an intermediary server 22 that exchanges information with the business operator system 12, and a main intermediary application 24 which is an application program used through the user's home terminal 16, which exchanges information with the user's equipment 20 and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server 22.

[0009] The intermediary server 22 has an information database 22x and an equipment command creation unit 22y. The information database 22x contains user-related information, which is a collection of various pieces of information about a user, linked to the user's home terminal 16. For example, as shown in Figure 12, user-related information relating to users A, B, C and power company α includes user identification information, user home location information, user equipment identification information, user equipment contract information, user home terminal identification information, etc.

[0010] In the example shown in Figure 12, user A has contracts for two user houses 14: the main house 14A(1) and the secondary house 14A(2). The address of the main house 14A(1) is 1-1-1 M-cho, L-city, and user house location information "A1-LM111" corresponding to the address is linked to both the main house 14A(1) and the user house terminal 16A(1). The address of the secondary house 14A(2) is 1-2-3 Y-cho, X-city, so user house location information "A2-XY123", which is different from that of the main house 14A(1), is linked to both the secondary house 14A(2) and the user house terminal 16A(2).

[0011] When the equipment command creation unit 22y of the intermediary server 22 receives a power adjustment request from the operator system 12, it creates a power adjustment equipment command (control command for electrical equipment) for the user equipment 20 that is the target of the power adjustment request, based on the user-related information in the information database 22x. The intermediary server 22 may consist of one or more computers, or it may be implemented by cloud computing.

[0012] The main intermediary application 24 is an application program provided for each user home terminal 16. In Figure 11, the main intermediary application 24A(1) is provided for the user home terminal 16A(1). The main intermediary application 24 may be a native application that runs within the user home terminal 16, or it may be a web application that runs on a web browser via the user home terminal 16.

[0013] The main intermediary application 24 has a device command execution application unit 24x, which, when a power adjustment device command is created by the intermediary server 22, executes processing in accordance with the power adjustment device command on the user equipment 20 that is the target of the power adjustment device command.

[0014] <Operation of the conventional interconnected device management system 18> The operation in which the service provider system 12α and the intermediary system 10 work together to provide power aggregation services will be explained based on Figure 13.

[0015] When the operator system 12α receives a DR command from the power company, etc., to "conserve electricity in City L", it determines the user equipment 20 that will perform power adjustment based on user-related information shared with the intermediary system 10, and then determines the control details for that equipment. Specifically, based on user house location information, it extracts User A's main house 14A(1) located in City L, and then, based on user equipment contract information, it identifies the user equipment 20 that will perform power adjustment as the air conditioner 20A(1), and determines the control details for that equipment. Then, it creates a power adjustment request with content such as "raise the cooling setting temperature of the air conditioner 20A(1) in User A's main house 14A(1) by 2 degrees" and sends it to the intermediary server 22.

[0016] When the mediating server 22 receives this power adjustment request, the equipment command creation unit 22y creates a power adjustment equipment command for the target air conditioner 20A(1). For example, it creates a control command that says, "Lower the cooling setting temperature of the air conditioner 20A(1) in user A's main house 14A(1) by 2 degrees," and sends it to the main mediating application 24A(1) on the user's house terminal 16A(1). When the main mediating application 24A(1) receives this power adjustment equipment command, the equipment command execution application unit 24x executes a process to change the settings of the air conditioner 20A(1) based on the power adjustment equipment command.

[0017] The content of the power adjustment requests created by the operator system 12 varies, and may include instructions such as "Conserve electricity in City L," as shown in the operator system 12β in Figure 11. In this case, the equipment command creation unit 22y of the intermediary server 22 determines the user equipment 20 to be adjusted for power, and also determines the control content for that equipment.

[0018] <<Access control system disclosed in Patent Document 1>> Patent Document 1 discloses an access control system that enables service providers, such as power companies, to remotely control user equipment installed in users' homes, and that mediates between multiple service providers and multiple users and user equipment. This access control system consists of a server and controllers located in users' homes. Information such as users and installation addresses is registered in a controller information storage unit on the server, and information such as users, user equipment, and access rights is registered in an access rights information storage unit [see Figures 3 and 4 of Patent Document 1, etc.]. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0019] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2015-18468 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0020] <<18 Challenges of Conventional Interconnected Device Management Systems>> If a user changes the usage pattern of their user equipment 20 and fails to notify the intermediary system 10 or the service provider system 12, the linked equipment management system 18 will be unable to perform the normal power aggregation service shown in Figure 13. Below, the challenges of the conventional linked equipment management system 18 will be explained based on the three situations shown in Figure 14.

[0021] Situation 1 is a situation where User A has started using the air conditioner 20A(1) that was used at the main house 14A(1) in City L by moving it to the detached house 14A(2) in City X. In the information database 22x at the time of contract, since the air conditioner 20A(1) of User A is registered in association with the main house 14A(1) and the user's home terminal 16A(1), when Situation 1 occurs, an inconsistency occurs in this part.

[0022] When the power aggregation service shown in FIG. 13 is implemented under Situation 1, the power adjustment device command created by the device command creation unit 22y is transmitted to the main mediation application 24A(1) of the user's home terminal 16A(1) located in the main house 14A(1) of User A, and does not reach the air conditioner 20A(1) that has been moved to the detached house 14A(2) of User A. Therefore, the mediation system 10 can detect that it is in an abnormal state. Accordingly, the mediation system 10 (or the mediator) can take some measures, such as temporarily stopping the provision of services to User A and guiding the user to modify and register the user-related information according to the actual situation.

[0023] Situation 2 is a situation where User A has moved the main house 14A(1) from City L to City G and has started using the user's home terminal 16A(1) and the user device 20A(1) that have been used before in the same way. In the information database 22x at the time of contract, since the user's home location information "A1-LM111" corresponding to the original address is registered in association with the main house 14A(1) and the user's home terminal 16A(1), when Situation 2 occurs, an inconsistency occurs in this part.

[0024] When the power aggregation service of FIG. 13 is implemented under Situation 2, the power adjustment device command created by the device command creation unit 22y is transmitted to the main mediation application 24A(1) of the user's home terminal 16A(1) located in the main house 14A(1), regardless of whether the actual address of the main house 14A(1) is in City L or City G, and the air conditioner 20A(1) is normally controlled. Therefore, the mediation system 10 cannot detect that it is in an abnormal state. Therefore, the mediation system 10 (or the mediator) cannot take measures, and an inappropriate power aggregation service will be implemented.

[0025] Situation 3 is a situation where when User A concludes a contract with the mediation system 10 or the like, the address of the main house 14A(1) located in City L is erroneously registered as the address of the detached house 14A(2) located in City G. Also in this case, the same inconsistency as in Situation 2 occurs. Then, the mediation system 10 cannot detect that it is in an abnormal state, and an inappropriate power aggregation service will be implemented.

[0026] As described above, in the case of Situation 1, the conventional cooperative device management system 18 can detect that the mediation system 10 is in an abnormal state, so it is possible to take some measures. However, in the case of Situations 2 and 3, the mediation system 10 cannot detect that it is in an abnormal state, which may cause a major problem. Therefore, when an abnormal state such as in Situations 2 and 3 occurs, that is, when a defect occurs in the user's house location information in the information database 22x, it becomes an important issue to be able to detect it at an early stage. This problem is difficult to solve even by applying the technology of the access control system in Patent Document 1.

[0027] The present invention has been made in view of the above background art, and an object thereof is to provide an electric device management mediation system that can easily and surely prevent inconveniences caused by deficiencies in user's house location information in an information database.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0028] The invention according to claim 1 is an electric device management mediation system that provides a power aggregation service in cooperation with a utility company's utility system for user devices used in a user's house, This mediation system includes a mediation server that exchanges information with the utility system, and an application program used through a user house terminal provided in the user's house, which exchanges information with the user device through the user house terminal and provides a service in cooperation with the mediation server. It is provided with a main mediation application. The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The aforementioned main intermediary application is a program for controlling the user equipment, and includes an equipment command execution application unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing on the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command, and a location information check application unit that executes processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The aforementioned location information checking application unit acquires information indicating the current location of the user's house where the user's house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal, as house location confirmation information. This is an electrical equipment management intermediary system in which the location information check application unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

[0029] For example, if a smart meter capable of exchanging information with the location information check application unit via the user's house terminal is installed in the user's house, it is preferable to configure the system so that the meter identification information assigned to the smart meter is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in Claim 2]. Alternatively, if a wireless LAN access point that relays information exchange between the user's house terminal and the user's equipment is installed in the user's house, it is preferable to configure the system so that the identification information of the wireless LAN access point is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in Claim 3].

[0030] Alternatively, if the user's house terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that receives positioning signals from a positioning satellite, a mobile phone base station, or a BLE beacon transmitter and acquires location information of the user's house terminal calculated based on the positioning signals, it is preferable that the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 4]. Alternatively, if the user's house is equipped with an auxiliary user's house terminal that can exchange information with the location information check application unit via the user's house terminal, and the auxiliary user's house terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that can receive positioning signals from a positioning satellite, a mobile phone base station, or a BLE beacon transmitter and acquire location information of the user's house terminal calculated based on the positioning signals, it is preferable that the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 5].

[0031] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 6 is an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides power aggregation services to user equipment used in a user's house in cooperation with the power company's business system, This intermediary system comprises an intermediary server that exchanges information with the aforementioned business operator system, and a user home terminal installed in the user's house that exchanges information with the user's equipment and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server. The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The user house terminal controls the user equipment and includes an equipment command execution unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command on the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command, and a location information check unit that executes processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The location information checking unit acquires information indicating the current location of the user house where the user house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user house terminal, as house location confirmation information. This is an electrical equipment management intermediary system in which the location information checking unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

[0032] For example, if a smart meter capable of exchanging information with the user's home terminal is installed in the user's house, it is preferable to configure the system so that the meter identification information assigned to the smart meter is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 7]. Alternatively, if a wireless LAN access point that relays the exchange of information between the user's home terminal and the user's equipment is installed in the user's house, it is preferable to configure the system so that the identification information of the wireless LAN access point is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 8].

[0033] Alternatively, the user house terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that receives positioning signals from a positioning satellite, a mobile phone base station, or a BLE beacon transmitter and acquires location information of the user house terminal calculated based on the positioning signals, and it is preferable that the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 9]. Alternatively, the user house is provided with an auxiliary user house terminal that can exchange information with the user house terminal, and the auxiliary user house terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that can receive positioning signals from a positioning satellite, a mobile phone base station, or a BLE beacon transmitter and acquire location information of the user house terminal calculated based on the positioning signals, and it is preferable that the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 10].

[0034] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 11 is an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides power aggregation services to user equipment used in the user's house in cooperation with the power company's business system, This intermediary system includes an intermediary server that exchanges information with the aforementioned business operator system, An application program used through a user house terminal installed in the user's house, comprising a main intermediary application that exchanges information with the user's equipment via the user house terminal and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server, and an auxiliary intermediary application used through an auxiliary user house terminal installed in the user's house, which is capable of exchanging information with the intermediary server and the user house terminal via the auxiliary user house terminal, The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The aforementioned main intermediary application is a program that controls the user equipment, and has an equipment command execution application unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command. The aforementioned auxiliary mediation application includes a location information checking application unit that performs processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The location information checking application unit checks whether communication is possible with the user's house terminal, and if it determines that communication is possible, it acquires information indicating the current location of the user's house where the user's house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal, as house location confirmation information. This is an electrical equipment management intermediary system in which the location information check application unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

[0035] Furthermore, the invention described in claim 12 is an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides power aggregation services to user equipment used in the user's house in cooperation with the power company's business system, This intermediary system comprises an intermediary server that exchanges information with the service provider system, a user home terminal installed in the user's home that exchanges information with the user's equipment and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server, and an application program used through an auxiliary user home terminal installed in the user's home, which enables information exchange between the intermediary server and the user home terminal via the auxiliary user home terminal. The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The user's home terminal controls the user's equipment and has an equipment command execution unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command on the user's equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command. The aforementioned auxiliary mediation application includes a location information checking application unit that performs processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The location information checking application unit checks whether communication is possible with the user's house terminal, and if it determines that communication is possible, it acquires information indicating the current location of the user's house where the user's house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal, as house location confirmation information. This is an electrical equipment management intermediary system in which the location information check application unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

[0036] For example, if a smart meter capable of exchanging information with the location information check application unit via the auxiliary user house terminal is installed in the user's house, it is preferable to configure the system so that the meter identification information assigned to the smart meter is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 13]. Alternatively, if a wireless LAN access point that relays the exchange of information between the user house terminal and the auxiliary user house terminal is installed in the user's house, it is preferable to configure the system so that the identification information of the wireless LAN access point is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 14]. Alternatively, if the auxiliary user house terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit capable of receiving positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquiring location information of the user house terminal calculated based on said positioning signals, it is preferable to configure the system so that the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information [Invention described in claim 15]. [Effects of the Invention]

[0037] The electrical equipment management and mediation system of the present invention has a function to automatically check the validity of user house location information registered in the information database, and if it is determined to be invalid, some measures can be taken promptly. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent inappropriate power aggregation services from being implemented due to deficiencies in user house location information. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0038] [Figure 1] This is a system configuration diagram showing a collaborative equipment management system constructed using the first embodiment of the electrical equipment management intermediary system of the present invention. [Figure 2] These block diagrams (a) and (b) show other examples of house location confirmation information acquired by the location information checking application unit in Figure 1. [Figure 3] This block diagram shows another example of house location confirmation information acquired by the location information checking application unit in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a system configuration diagram showing a collaborative equipment management system constructed using a second embodiment of the electrical equipment management intermediary system of the present invention. [Figure 5] These block diagrams (a) and (b) show other examples of house location confirmation information acquired by the location information checking unit in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This block diagram shows another example of house location confirmation information acquired by the location information checking unit in Figure 4. [Figure 7] This is a system configuration diagram showing a collaborative equipment management system constructed using a third embodiment of the electrical equipment management intermediary system of the present invention. [Figure 8] These block diagrams (a) and (b) show other examples of house location confirmation information acquired by the location information checking application unit in Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is a system configuration diagram showing a collaborative equipment management system constructed using the fourth embodiment of the electrical equipment management intermediary system of the present invention. [Figure 10] These block diagrams (a) and (b) show other examples of house location confirmation information acquired by the location information checking application unit in Figure 9. [Figure 11] This is a system configuration diagram showing a conventional interconnected equipment management system built using a conventional electrical equipment management intermediary system. [Figure 12] This is a diagram illustrating an example of user-related information registered in the information database. [Figure 13] This diagram shows an example of a normal power aggregation service flow. [Figure 14] This chart illustrates three situations in which normal power aggregation services cannot be provided. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0039] <<Electrical equipment management intermediary system 26 and linked equipment management system 28 of the first embodiment>> First, the electrical equipment management intermediary system 26 (hereinafter referred to as the intermediary system 26), which is the first embodiment of the present invention, and the linked equipment management system 28 constructed using the intermediary system 26 will be described with reference to Figure 1. Here, components similar to those in the conventional intermediary system 10 and the conventional linked equipment management system 18 will be described using the same reference numerals. <Configuration of the linked device management system 28> First, the configuration related to the user and user house 14 will be described. The intermediary system 26 provides services to multiple users and multiple user houses 14, but Figure 1 shows the configuration for user A's main residence [=user house 14A(1)] as a representative example. User A's user house 14A(1) is equipped with a user house terminal 16A(1) and multiple user devices 20A(1).

[0040] Furthermore, the user's house 14A(1) is equipped with a smart meter 30A(1) installed by the power company that has jurisdiction over the area, and the smart meter 30A(1) can exchange information with the location information check application unit 24y via the user's house terminal 16A(1). The location information check application unit 24y will be explained later.

[0041] Next, the operator system 12 will be described. The intermediary system 26 cooperates with multiple operator systems 12, but in Figure 1, operator system 12α is shown as a representative example. Operator system 12α is a system managed and operated by power company α. Operator system 12α performs the operation of creating power adjustment requests and sending them to the intermediary system 26.

[0042] Next, the intermediary system 26 will be described. The intermediary system 26 includes an intermediary server 22 that exchanges information with the business operator system 12, and a main intermediary application 24 which is an application program used through the user's home terminal 16 that exchanges information with the user's equipment 20 and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server 22. Furthermore, the intermediary system 26 includes an auxiliary intermediary application 34 which is an application program used through the user's mobile terminal 32 that exchanges information with the intermediary server 22 and provides services to the user's equipment 20 in cooperation with the intermediary server 22 and the main intermediary application 24.

[0043] First, let's explain the auxiliary mediation application 34. The auxiliary mediation application 34 is an application program provided for each user's mobile terminal 32. In Figure 1, the auxiliary mediation application 34A is provided for user A's user mobile terminal 32A. The auxiliary mediation application 34 may be a native application that runs within the user's mobile terminal 32, or it may be a web application that runs on a web browser via the user's mobile terminal 32.

[0044] The auxiliary mediation application 34 has a remote control application unit 34x to assist the user in remotely controlling the user device 20. When the user operates the user mobile terminal 32 and inputs a remote control request, the remote control application unit 34x executes the process of sending the remote control request to the mediation server 22. Incidentally, the remote control service is a service provided solely by the mediation system 26, that is, a service provided without cooperation with the service provider system 12.

[0045] The intermediary server 22 includes an information database 22x, an equipment command creation unit 22y, and a main information management unit 22z. As shown in Figure 12, the information database 22x contains multiple user-related information entries. The main information management unit 22z is equipped with the function of managing the information database 22x.

[0046] When the equipment command creation unit 22y receives a power adjustment request from the operator system 12, it creates a power adjustment equipment command (control command for electrical equipment) for the user equipment 20 that is the target of the power adjustment request, based on the user-related information in the information database 22x. Furthermore, when the auxiliary mediation application unit 34x receives a remote operation request, it creates a remote operation equipment command (control command for electrical equipment) for the user equipment 20 that is the target of the remote operation request, based on the user-related information in the information database 22x. The mediation server 22 may consist of one or more computers, or it may be implemented through cloud computing.

[0047] The main intermediary application 24 is an application program provided for each user home terminal 16. In Figure 1, the main intermediary application 24A(1) is provided for the user home terminal 16A(1). The main intermediary application 24 may be a native application that runs within the user home terminal 16, or it may be a web application that runs on a web browser via the user home terminal 16. The main intermediary application 24 has a device command execution application unit 24x and a location information check application unit 24y. The device command execution application unit 24x executes processing corresponding to the power adjustment device command or remote control device command on the user equipment 20 that is the target of the power adjustment device command or remote control device command when the intermediary server 22 creates the power adjustment device command or remote control device command. The location information check application unit 24y is a program that executes processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal 16, and will be explained in detail later.

[0048] <Operation of the linked device management system 28> First, we will explain how the operator system 12α and the intermediary system 26 work together to provide power aggregation services. Since the operation of providing power aggregation services is basically the same as that of the conventional linked equipment management system 18 [see Figure 13], we will explain here a new operation related to power aggregation services, namely the operation in which the intermediary system 26 checks the validity of user house location information in the information database 22x, based on Figure 1.

[0049] At a predetermined time, the location information check application unit 24y of the main intermediary application 24A(1) acquires information indicating the current location of the main house 14A(1) where the user house terminal 16A(1) to be checked is installed, as house location confirmation information. Here, meter identification information (for example, B-route authentication ID) assigned to the smart meter 30A(1) is acquired as house location confirmation information. Then, the location information check application unit 24y or the main information management unit 22z determines the validity of the user house location information related to the user house terminal 16A(1) by comparing the house location confirmation information related to the user house terminal 16A(1) with the user house location information related to the user house terminal 16A(1).

[0050] If the user house location information for user house terminal 16A(1) is deemed valid, it can be said that the normal power aggregation service shown in Figure 13 is in a state where it can be implemented. On the other hand, if it is deemed invalid, it means that the intermediary system 26 is in an abnormal state as shown in situations 2 and 3 in Figure 14, so the intermediary system 26 (or the intermediary) can take some measures, such as temporarily suspending the provision of service to user equipment 20A(1) of user house 14A(1) and notifying user A to take steps to correct user-related information.

[0051] Furthermore, the timing for having the intermediary system 26 check the validity of the user's house location information can be freely set by the intermediary. For example, it may be set to check periodically (e.g., every month), or the timing of the check may be determined by the location information check application unit 24y or the main information management unit 22z based on some indicator.

[0052] Next, we will explain the operation of the intermediary system 26 independently providing a service for remote control of user equipment 20. As shown in Figure 1, when user A, who is away from home, accesses the remote control application unit 34x of the user's mobile terminal 32A and inputs a remote control request, for example, "I will be returning to my main house 14A(1) in 10 minutes, so please start the air conditioner 20A(1)", the remote control request is sent from the remote control application unit 34x to the intermediary server 22, and the equipment command creation unit 22y creates a remote control equipment command corresponding to the user request and sends it to the equipment command execution application unit 24x of the user's home terminal 16A(1). Then, the equipment command execution application unit 24x executes the process of starting the air conditioner 20A(1) based on the remote control equipment command.

[0053] <Other examples of user house location confirmation information> The user house location confirmation information can be any information indicating the current location of the user house 14 where the user house terminal 16 to be checked is installed, or any information indicating the current location of the user house terminal 16.

[0054] The embodiment shown in Figure 1 is an example where a smart meter 30A(1) is installed in the user's house 14A(1), and information can be exchanged with the location information check application unit 24y via the user's house terminal 16A(1) to be checked. In this case, the "meter identification information of the smart meter 30A(1)" can be said to be "information indicating the current location of the user's house 14A(1)", and this is used as user house location confirmation information. There is other information that can also be used as user house location confirmation information.

[0055] For example, the modified example shown in Figure 2(a) is an example where a wireless LAN access point 36A(1) is installed in the user's house 14A(1) to relay information exchange between the user's house terminal 16A(1) and the user's device 20A(1). In this case, the "identification information of the wireless LAN access point 36A(1) (e.g., SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​or BSSID (Basic Service Set Identifier), etc.)" can be said to be "information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal 16A(1)," and this is used as user house location confirmation information.

[0056] Furthermore, the modified example shown in Figure 2(b) is an example in which the user's home terminal 16A(1) being checked is equipped with a location information acquisition unit 16z that receives positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquires location information of the user's home terminal 16A(1) calculated based on these positioning signals. In this example, the "location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 16z" is "information indicating the current location of the user's home terminal 16A(1)", and this is used as user home location confirmation information.

[0057] Incidentally, "positioning satellites" include, for example, GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), which includes GPS (Global Positioning System). These include satellites of the Satellite System (SAS) and satellites of Japan's Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS), which is a regional navigation satellite system. A BLE beacon transmitter is a transmitter that is installed in an appropriate location and outputs a BLE beacon signal compliant with the BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) standard. In addition, the modified example shown in Figure 3 is an example in which an auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1) is provided in the user house 14A(1), which can exchange information with the location information check application unit 24y via the user house terminal 16A(1) to be checked, and the auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1) is equipped with a location information acquisition unit 38x that can receive positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquire the location information of the auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1) calculated based on these positioning signals. The "location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 38x" can be said to be "information indicating the current location of the user house terminal 16A(1)", and this is used as user house location confirmation information.

[0058] Here, "auxiliary user home terminal" refers to a terminal device used auxiliaryly in the user's home, regardless of who the legal owner is. Examples of "auxiliary user home terminals" include personal computers, smartphones, tablet devices, etc., owned by the user or lent by a third party. The "auxiliary user home terminal" may be portable by the user and only needs to be present in the user's home at least when performing operations related to the electrical equipment management intermediary system.

[0059] <Summary of the First Embodiment> As explained above, the intermediary system 26 is equipped with a function to automatically check the validity of user house location information registered in the information database 22x, and can promptly take some action if it is determined to be invalid. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably prevent inappropriate power aggregation services from being implemented due to deficiencies in user house location information.

[0060] <<Second Embodiment of Electrical Equipment Management Intermediation System 40, Linked Equipment Management System 42>> Next, the electrical equipment management intermediary system 40, which is a second embodiment of the present invention, and the linked equipment management system 42 constructed using the electrical equipment management intermediary system 40 will be described with reference to Figure 4. Since this embodiment has many similarities with the intermediary system 26 and linked equipment management system 28 [see Figure 1] of the first embodiment, similar components are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted, and only the differences in configuration will be described. <Configuration of the linked device management system 42> In the case of the linked device management system 28, as shown in Figure 1, a distinction is made between the user's home terminal 16 (hardware) that cannot operate actively with respect to the present invention and the main intermediary application 24 (application program) used through the user's home terminal 16. The main intermediary application 24 is made part of the intermediary system 26, and the user's home terminal 16 is not included in the intermediary system 26.

[0061] In contrast, in the case of the linked device management system 42, as shown in Figure 4, a user home terminal 16 (for example, a device with the main intermediary application 24 installed on the hardware) that can operate actively with respect to the present invention is included as part of the electrical equipment management intermediary system 40. Therefore, in the electrical equipment management intermediary system 40, the device command execution application unit 24x and the location information check application unit 24y in the intermediary system 26 are replaced by the device command execution unit 16x and the location information check unit 16y.

[0062] <Operation of the linked device management system 42> The three operations performed by the interconnected device management system 42 (and the intermediary system 40) in this embodiment—namely, providing power aggregation services, checking the validity of user house location information in the information database 22x, and providing remote control services for user devices 20—are substantially the same as those performed by the interconnected device management system 28 (and the intermediary system 26) in the first embodiment.

[0063] <Other examples of user house location confirmation information> In describing the intermediary system 26 of the first embodiment, four suitable examples for use as user house location confirmation information were shown, as shown in Figures 1, 2(a), 2(b), and 3. These can also be applied to the intermediary system 40 of this embodiment. In other words, the intermediary system 40 shown in Figure 4 uses "meter identification information of smart meter 30A(1)", but other than this, it is possible to use "identification information of wireless LAN access point 36A(1)" as in the modified example in Figure 5(a), or "location information acquired by location information acquisition unit 16z of user house terminal 16A(1)" as in the modified example in Figure 5(b), or "location information acquired by location information acquisition unit 38x of auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1)" as in the modified example in Figure 6.

[0064] <Summary of the second embodiment> As explained above, the electrical equipment management mediation system 40 has a function to automatically check the validity of user house location information registered in the information database 22x, and therefore can obtain the same effects as the mediation system 26 in the above embodiment.

[0065] <<Third Embodiment of Electrical Equipment Management Intermediation System 44, Linked Equipment Management System 46>> Next, an electrical equipment management intermediary system 44 (hereinafter referred to as the intermediary system 44), which is a third embodiment of the present invention, and a linked equipment management system 46 constructed using the intermediary system 44 will be described with reference to Figure 7. Here, components similar to those of the intermediary systems 10, 26, 40 and the linked equipment management systems 18, 28, 42 described above will be denoted by the same reference numerals. <Configuration of the linked device management system 46> First, the configuration related to the user and user house 14 will be described. The intermediary system 44 provides services to multiple users and multiple user houses 14, but Figure 7 shows the configuration for user A's main house [=user house 14A(1)] as a representative example. User A's user house 14A(1) is equipped with a user house terminal 16A(1), an auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1), and multiple user devices 20A(1).

[0066] Furthermore, user house 14A(1) is equipped with a smart meter 30A(1) installed by the power company that has jurisdiction over the area, and the smart meter 30A(1) can exchange information with the location information check application unit 48x via the auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1). The location information check application unit 48y will be explained later.

[0067] Next, the operator system 12 will be described. The intermediary system 44 cooperates with multiple operator systems 12, but in Figure 7, operator system 12α is shown as a representative example. Operator system 12α is a system managed and operated by power company α. Operator system 12α performs the operation of creating power adjustment requests and sending them to the intermediary system 44.

[0068] Next, the intermediary system 44 will be described. The intermediary system 44 includes an intermediary server 22 that exchanges information with the business operator system 12, and a main intermediary application 24 which is an application program used through the user's home terminal 16 that exchanges information with the user's equipment 20 and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server 22. Furthermore, the intermediary system 44 includes an auxiliary intermediary application 48 which is an application program used through the auxiliary user's home terminal 38 and is capable of exchanging information with the intermediary server 22 via the auxiliary user's home terminal 38.

[0069] The intermediary server 22 is the same as the intermediary server 22 in the intermediary systems 26 and 40 described above, and has an information database 22x, a device command creation unit 22y, and a main information management unit 22z. The main intermediary application 24 has a device command execution application unit 24x, similar to the main intermediary application 16 in the intermediary system 26 described above. However, it does not have a location information check application unit 24y.

[0070] The auxiliary mediation application 48 is an application program provided for each auxiliary user home terminal 38. In Figure 7, the auxiliary mediation application 48A(1) is provided for user A's auxiliary user home terminal 38A(1). The auxiliary mediation application 48 may be a native application that runs within the auxiliary user home terminal 38, or it may be a web application that runs on a web browser via the auxiliary user home terminal 38.

[0071] The auxiliary mediation application 48 includes a location information check application unit 48x. The location information check application unit 48x is a program that performs processing to check the validity of user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal 16, and will be explained in more detail later.

[0072] Note that the intermediary system 44 does not have the auxiliary intermediary application 34 (remote control application unit 34x) that the intermediary systems 26 and 40 have. However, if a service for remote control of the user device 20 is to be provided, the auxiliary intermediary application 34 (remote control application unit 34x) can be added in the same way as the intermediary systems 26 and 40.

[0073] <Operation of the linked device management system 46> First, we will explain how the operator system 12α and the intermediary system 44 work together to provide power aggregation services. Since the operation of providing power aggregation services is basically the same as that of the linked equipment management systems 18, 28, and 42 described earlier [see Figure 13], we will explain here a new operation related to power aggregation services, namely the operation performed by the intermediary system 44 to check the validity of user house location information in the information database 22x, based on Figure 7.

[0074] First, at a predetermined time, the location information check application unit 48x of the auxiliary mediation application 48A(1) checks whether communication is possible with the user house terminal 16A(1) to be checked. Checking whether communication is possible is a process to confirm whether the user house terminal 16A(1) and the auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1) are located within the same user house 14A(1). For example, it can be confirmed that they are on the same LAN by the IP addresses assigned to each terminal. If it is determined that communication is possible, the location information check application unit 48x obtains information indicating the current location of the main house 14A(1) where the user house terminal 16A(1) is installed as house location confirmation information. Here, the meter identification information (for example, the B-route authentication ID) assigned to the smart meter 30A(1) is obtained as house location confirmation information. Then, the location information check application unit 48x or the main information management unit 22z compares the house location confirmation information related to the user house terminal 16A(1) with the user house location information related to the user house terminal 16A(1) to determine the validity of the user house location information related to the user house terminal 16A(1).

[0075] If the user house location information for user house terminal 16A(1) is deemed valid, it can be said that the normal power aggregation service shown in Figure 13 is in a state where it can be implemented. On the other hand, if it is deemed invalid, it means that the intermediary system 44 is in an abnormal state as shown in situations 2 and 3 in Figure 14, so the intermediary system 44 (or the intermediary) can take some measures, such as temporarily suspending the provision of service to user equipment 20A(1) of user house 14A(1) and notifying user A to take steps to correct user-related information.

[0076] Furthermore, the timing for having the intermediary system 44 check the validity of the user's house location information can be freely set by the intermediary. For example, it may be set to check periodically (e.g., every month), or the timing of the check may be determined by the location information check application unit 48x or the main information management unit 22z based on some indicator.

[0077] <Other examples of user house location confirmation information> The user house location confirmation information can be any information indicating the current location of the user house 14 where the user house terminal 16 to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user house terminal 16. The embodiment shown in Figure 7 is an example where a smart meter 30A(1) capable of exchanging information with the location information check application unit 38x via an auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1) is installed in the user house 14A(1). In this case, the "meter identification information of the smart meter 30A(1)" can be said to be "information indicating the current location of the user house 14A(1)", and this is used as the user house location confirmation information. There is other information that can be used as user house location confirmation information.

[0078] For example, the modified example shown in Figure 8(a) is an example where a wireless LAN access point 36A(1) is installed in the user's house 14A(1) to relay information exchange between the user's house terminal 16A(1) to be checked and the auxiliary user's house terminal 38A(1). In this case, the "identification information of the wireless LAN access point 36A(1)" can be said to be "information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal 16A(1)", and this is used as user house location confirmation information.

[0079] Furthermore, the modified example shown in Figure 8(b) is an example in which the auxiliary user home terminal 38A(1) is equipped with a location information acquisition unit 38x that receives positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquires location information of the auxiliary user home terminal 38A(1) calculated based on these positioning signals. In this example, the "location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 38x" can be said to be "information indicating the current location of the user home terminal 16A(1)", and this is used as user home location confirmation information.

[0080] <Summary of the Third Embodiment> As explained above, the intermediary system 44 has a function to automatically check the validity of user house location information registered in the information database 22x, so it can achieve the same effects as the intermediary systems 26 and 40 of the above embodiment.

[0081] <<Fourth embodiment of electrical equipment management intermediary system 50, linked equipment management system 52>> Next, the electrical equipment management intermediary system 50 (hereinafter referred to as the intermediary system 50), which is the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and the linked equipment management system 52 constructed using the intermediary system 50 will be described with reference to Figure 9. Since this embodiment has many similarities with the intermediary system 44 and linked equipment management system 46 [see Figure 7] of the third embodiment, similar components will be denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions will be omitted, while differences in configuration will be explained. <Configuration of the linked device management system 52> In the case of the linked device management system 46, as shown in Figure 7, a distinction is made between the user's home terminal 16 (hardware) that cannot operate actively with respect to the present invention and the main intermediary application 24 (application program) used through the user's home terminal 16. The main intermediary application 24 is made part of the intermediary system 44, and the user's home terminal 16 is not included in the intermediary system 44.

[0082] In contrast, in the case of the linked device management system 52, as shown in Figure 9, a user home terminal 16 (for example, a device with the main mediation application 24 installed on the hardware) that can operate actively with respect to the present invention is included as part of the mediation system 50. Therefore, in the mediation system 50, the device command execution application unit 24x in the mediation system 44 is replaced by the device command execution unit 16x.

[0083] <Operation of the linked device management system 42> The two operations performed by the interconnected device management system 52 (and the intermediary system 50) in this embodiment, namely, the operation of providing power aggregation services and the operation of checking the validity of user house location information in the information database 22x, are substantially the same as the operations of the interconnected device management system 46 (and the intermediary system 44) in the third embodiment.

[0084] <Other examples of user house location confirmation information> In describing the third embodiment of the mediation system 44, three suitable examples for use as user house location confirmation information were shown in Figures 7, 8(a), and 8(b). These can also be applied to the mediation system 50 of this embodiment.

[0085] In other words, in the embodiment shown in Figure 9, the intermediary system 50 uses "meter identification information of the smart meter 30A(1)", but in addition to this, it is also possible to use "identification information of the wireless LAN access point 36A(1)" as shown in the modified example in Figure 10(a), or "location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit 38x of the auxiliary user house terminal 38A(1)" as shown in the modified example in Figure 10(b).

[0086] <Summary of the fourth embodiment> As explained above, the mediation system 50 has a function to automatically check the validity of user house location information registered in the information database 22x, so it can achieve the same effects as the mediation systems 26, 40, and 44 of the above embodiment.

[0087] <<Other embodiments and variations, etc.>> It should be noted that the electrical equipment management intermediary system of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, the business operator system with which the electrical equipment management intermediary system of the present invention interacts only needs to be capable of performing processes such as "creating a power adjustment request and sending it to the electrical equipment management intermediary system" in accordance with a prior agreement with the electrical equipment management intermediary system (or intermediary), and the form of the system is not particularly limited. For example, it may be a form in which all processes are automatically executed by a computer, or it may be a form in which some processes are manually executed by a person in charge.

[0088] Furthermore, a major feature of the electrical equipment management intermediary system of the present invention is that it acts as an intermediary between the business operator's system and the user to provide services. For convenience, it is referred to as an "intermediary system," but it may also have functions to provide services to the user independently. For example, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, it may have a function that allows the user to remotely control electrical equipment in their main home or other residences from outside the home, or it may have a function that provides the user with data on the electricity usage history of their main home or other residences. [Explanation of symbols]

[0089] 10, 26, 40, 44, 50 Intermediary System (Electrical Equipment Management Intermediary System) 12,12α,12β Business Operator System 14, 14A(1), 14A(2), 14B(1) User's house 16, 16A(1), 16A(2), 16B(1) User home terminal 16x Equipment Command Execution Unit 16y Location Information Check Department 16z Location information acquisition unit 18,28,42,46,52 Interconnected Device Management System 20, 20A(1), 20A(2) User equipment 22 Intermediary Server 22x Information Database 22y Equipment Command Creation Department 22z Main Information Management Department 24, 24A(1), 24A(2) Main intermediary app 24x Device Command Execution Application Unit 24y Location Information Check App Department 30A(1) Smart Meter 32A User Mobile Terminal 34A Auxiliary mediation app 34x Remote Control App Section 36A(1) Wireless LAN Access Point 38A(1) Auxiliary user home terminal 38x location information acquisition unit 48,48A(1) Auxiliary intermediary app 48x Location Information Check App Department

Claims

1. In an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides power aggregation services to user equipment used in user homes in cooperation with the power company's business system, This intermediary system comprises an intermediary server that exchanges information with the aforementioned business operator system, and an application program used through a user home terminal installed in the user's home, which exchanges information with the user's equipment via the user home terminal and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server; The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The aforementioned main intermediary application is a program for controlling the user equipment, and includes an equipment command execution application unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing on the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command, and a location information check application unit that executes processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The aforementioned location information checking application unit acquires information indicating the current location of the user's house where the user's house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal, as house location confirmation information. An electrical equipment management intermediary system characterized in that the location information check application unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

2. In the case where a smart meter capable of exchanging information with the location information check application unit via the user's house terminal is installed in the user's house, The electrical equipment management intermediary system according to claim 1, wherein meter identification information assigned to the smart meter is used as the house location confirmation information.

3. In the case where a wireless LAN access point is installed in the user's house to relay information exchange between the user's house terminal and the user's equipment, The electrical equipment management intermediary system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information of the wireless LAN access point is used as the house location confirmation information.

4. In the case where the user's home terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that receives positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquires location information of the user's home terminal calculated based on said positioning signals, The electrical equipment management mediation system according to claim 1, wherein the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information.

5. In the user's house, an auxiliary user's house terminal is provided that can exchange information with the location information check application unit via the user's house terminal, and the auxiliary user's house terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that can receive positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquire location information of the user's house calculated based on said positioning signals, The electrical equipment management mediation system according to claim 1, wherein the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information.

6. In an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides power aggregation services to user equipment used in user homes in cooperation with the power company's business system, This intermediary system comprises an intermediary server that exchanges information with the aforementioned business operator system, and a user home terminal installed in the user's house that exchanges information with the user's equipment and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server. The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The user house terminal controls the user equipment and includes an equipment command execution unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command on the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command, and a location information check unit that executes processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The location information checking unit acquires information indicating the current location of the user house where the user house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user house terminal, as house location confirmation information. An electrical equipment management intermediary system characterized in that the location information checking unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

7. In the case where a smart meter capable of exchanging information with the user's home terminal is installed in the user's home, The electrical equipment management intermediary system according to claim 6, wherein meter identification information assigned to the smart meter is used as the house location confirmation information.

8. In the case where a wireless LAN access point is installed in the user's house to relay information exchange between the user's house terminal and the user's equipment, The electrical equipment management mediation system according to claim 6, wherein the identification information of the wireless LAN access point is used as the house location confirmation information.

9. The user's home terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that receives positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters, and acquires location information of the user's home terminal calculated based on said positioning signals. The electrical equipment management mediation system according to claim 6, wherein the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information.

10. In the user's house, an auxiliary user's house terminal is provided that is capable of exchanging information with the user's house terminal, and the auxiliary user's house terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit that can receive positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquire location information of the user's house terminal calculated based on said positioning signals, The electrical equipment management mediation system according to claim 6, wherein the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information.

11. In an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides power aggregation services to user equipment used in the aforementioned user's house in cooperation with the power company's business system, This intermediary system includes an intermediary server that exchanges information with the aforementioned business operator system, An application program used through a user house terminal installed in the user's house, comprising a main intermediary application that exchanges information with the user's equipment via the user house terminal and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server, and an auxiliary intermediary application used through an auxiliary user house terminal installed in the user's house, which is capable of exchanging information with the intermediary server and the user house terminal via the auxiliary user house terminal, The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The aforementioned main intermediary application is a program that controls the user equipment, and has an equipment command execution application unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command. The aforementioned auxiliary mediation application includes a location information checking application unit that performs processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The location information checking application unit checks whether communication is possible with the user's house terminal, and if it determines that communication is possible, it acquires information indicating the current location of the user's house where the user's house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal, as house location confirmation information. An electrical equipment management intermediary system characterized in that the location information check application unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

12. In an electrical equipment management intermediary system that provides power aggregation services to user equipment used in the aforementioned user's house in cooperation with the power company's business system, This intermediary system comprises an intermediary server that exchanges information with the service provider system, a user home terminal installed in the user's home that exchanges information with the user's equipment and provides services in cooperation with the intermediary server, and an application program used through an auxiliary user home terminal installed in the user's home, which enables information exchange between the intermediary server and the user home terminal via the auxiliary user home terminal. The aforementioned intermediary server includes an information database in which user-related information, which is a collection of multiple pieces of information about a user, is registered and linked to the user's home terminal; a main information management unit that manages the information database; and a device command creation unit that, when it receives a power adjustment request from the carrier system, creates a power adjustment device command for the user equipment that is the target of the power adjustment request based on the user-related information, wherein the user-related information includes at least user home location information. The user's home terminal controls the user's equipment and has an equipment command execution unit that, when the power adjustment equipment command is created, executes processing in accordance with the power adjustment equipment command on the user's equipment that is the target of the power adjustment equipment command. The aforementioned auxiliary mediation application includes a location information checking application unit that performs processing to check the validity of the user house location information registered in association with the user house terminal. The location information checking application unit checks whether communication is possible with the user's house terminal, and if it determines that communication is possible, it acquires information indicating the current location of the user's house where the user's house terminal to be checked is installed, or information indicating the current location of the user's house terminal, as house location confirmation information. An electrical equipment management intermediary system characterized in that the location information check application unit or the main information management unit determines the validity of the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal by comparing the house location confirmation information pertaining to the user's house terminal with the user's house location information pertaining to the user's house terminal.

13. In the case where a smart meter capable of exchanging information with the location information check application unit via the auxiliary user house terminal is installed in the user's house, The electrical equipment management intermediary system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein meter identification information assigned to the smart meter is used as the house location confirmation information.

14. In the case where a wireless LAN access point is installed in the user's house to relay information exchange between the user's house terminal and the auxiliary user's house terminal, The electrical equipment management intermediary system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the identification information of the wireless LAN access point is used as the house location confirmation information.

15. In the case where the auxiliary user home terminal is equipped with a location information acquisition unit capable of receiving positioning signals from positioning satellites, mobile phone base stations, or BLE beacon transmitters and acquiring location information of the user home terminal calculated based on said positioning signals, The electrical equipment management mediation system according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the location information acquired by the location information acquisition unit is used as the house location confirmation information.

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