Remote control and management system

Abstract

The present invention provides a remote control that allows setting values ​​that define the operating conditions of residential equipment to be performed under certain conditions. [Solution] The remote control 1, which can remotely operate the residential equipment 3, comprises a communication unit 10 that can connect to a network to which a management server 2 that manages the operation of the residential equipment 3 is connected, a connection determination unit 12 that determines whether or not the communication unit 10 is connected to the network, and a reception unit 14 that receives setting values ​​that define the operating conditions of the residential equipment 3. When the communication unit 10 is connected to the network, the reception unit 14 activates the setting values ​​it has received.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a remote controller capable of remotely operating home appliances and a management system for managing home appliances.

Background Art

[0002] Among the home appliances used in a house, there are, for example, those configured as system products by combining a power generation unit, a heat source machine, floor heating, a bathroom heater / dryer, etc. In such a system product, it is possible to operate hot water filling, floor heating, and a bathroom heater / dryer from a remote controller provided in the house. For example, when installing a heat source machine in a user's house, it is necessary to customize and set, for each house, the setting of the hot water filling capacity according to the size of the bathtub in the user's bathroom and the setting of the hot water supply temperature for floor heating according to the material of the floor covering on which the floor heating panel is laid, etc., from the maintenance menu in the remote controller. Therefore, if set incorrectly at the site (the user's house), the settings will not be appropriate for the proper operation of the home appliances in that house, and for example, hot water may overflow from the bathtub during hot water filling, or the amount of hot water may be insufficient, or there may be problems such that hot water cannot be supplied at the optimal hot water supply temperature for floor heating according to the floor covering. Thus, technologies related to setting home appliances using a remote controller have been studied (for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes a remote operation system. In this remote operation system, a server capable of transmitting an operation command remotely via a network is provided for a remote controller capable of operating home appliances. A remote operation determination unit determines whether there is a high possibility that the remote controller will be remotely operated from the outside. When the remote operation determination unit determines that there is a high possibility that the remote controller will be remotely operated from the outside, the communication between the remote controller and the server is set as the first communication using long polling that does not cut off the communication each time of transmission and reception. When it is determined that there is not a high possibility that the remote controller will be remotely operated from the outside, the communication between the remote controller and the server is set as the second communication that connects the communication each time of transmission and reception. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-105619 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0005] As with the remote control system described in Patent Document 1, if, for example, when installing residential equipment in a house, the system is configured to allow users to freely set the operating conditions of the equipment on-site (at the installation location) using a remote control, it may become difficult to verify whether or not the equipment can be operated properly. For this reason, it is sometimes desirable to impose some restrictions on the setting of the operating conditions of the residential equipment.

[0006] Therefore, there is a need for a remote control that can set the operating conditions of residential equipment under certain conditions, and a management system that manages the setting of such conditions. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The characteristic configuration of the remote control according to the present invention is a remote control capable of remotely operating residential equipment, comprising: a communication unit that can connect to a network to which a management server that manages the operation of the residential equipment is connected; a connection determination unit that determines whether or not the communication unit is connected to the network; and a reception unit that receives setting values ​​that define the operating conditions of the residential equipment, wherein the setting values ​​received by the reception unit are activated when the communication unit is connected to the network.

[0008] With this configuration, the communication unit activates the settings that define the operating conditions of the residential equipment when it is able to communicate with the management server. This prevents the activation of settings when the management server cannot monitor them. Therefore, by limiting the setting of settings to be possible under certain conditions, it becomes possible to suppress, for example, the setting of incorrect settings.

[0009] Furthermore, it is preferable that the receiving unit restricts the acceptance of the setting value if the communication unit is not connected to the network.

[0010] With this configuration, if the communication unit is not connected to the network, the receiving unit will not be able to accept the configuration values. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the acceptance of configuration values ​​in situations where the management server cannot monitor the system.

[0011] Furthermore, the remote control further includes a remote-side memory unit which stores in advance setting values ​​that allow the residential equipment to operate, and it is preferable that, after the receiving unit receives the setting value, the network connection by the communication unit is disconnected, the setting value stored in the remote-side memory unit is activated instead of the setting value received by the receiving unit.

[0012] With this configuration, in situations where the management server cannot monitor the system, the home equipment will be operated according to settings pre-stored in the remote control's memory, preventing operation with inappropriate settings.

[0013] Furthermore, if the connection is restored after the setting value stored in the remote control's memory unit has been activated, it is preferable that the remote control activates the setting value received by the reception unit.

[0014] With this configuration, when the management server becomes able to monitor the system, it can operate the residential equipment according to the settings that were received by the reception unit.

[0015] Furthermore, it is preferable that the receiving unit temporarily stores the received setting value when the communication unit is not connected to the network, and then activates the temporarily stored setting value when the communication unit is connected to the network.

[0016] With this configuration, in situations where the management server cannot monitor the system, the reception unit can prevent the residential equipment from operating according to the settings it received.

[0017] Furthermore, a characteristic configuration of the management system according to the present invention is a management system in which the remote control and the management server are connected via the network, comprising: a server-side storage unit provided on the management server which stores in advance setting values ​​suitable for the residential equipment; a setting value acquisition unit provided on the management server which acquires the setting values ​​received by the reception unit from the remote control via the network; and a setting value determination unit provided on the management server which determines whether the setting values ​​acquired from the remote control are appropriate based on the setting values ​​stored in the server-side storage unit.

[0018] This configuration ensures that settings cannot be changed unless communication with the server is possible. Therefore, if an incorrect setting is made, it can be corrected remotely. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram showing the configuration of the remote control and management system. [Figure 2] This flowchart shows the process related to setting values ​​on a remote control. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0020] The remote controller according to the present invention can remotely operate home equipment. Hereinafter, the remote controller 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

[0021] FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the remote controller 1 and the management system 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the remote controller 1 includes a communication unit 10, a connection determination unit 12, a reception unit 14, and a remote controller side storage unit 16. The management system 100 is connected to the remote controller 1 and the management server 2 via a network. The management server 2 includes a server side storage unit 20, a setting value acquisition unit 22, and a setting value determination unit 24. Each of these functional units is constructed by hardware, software, or both with a CPU as a core member.

[0022] The communication unit 10 is configured to be connectable to a network to which the management server 2 that manages the operation of the home equipment 3 is connected. The home equipment 3 is equipment of the facilities provided in the house 4, and specifically, includes gas equipment such as a water heater, a stove, a fan heater, a floor heating device, and a fuel cell device provided in the house 4, and home equipment such as a heat source machine that circulates heated hot water. In the present embodiment, a heat source machine that supplies hot water to a floor heating device is taken as an example of the home equipment 3 and will be described as the "heat source machine 3A".

[0023] The management server 2 is configured to be able to perform two-way communication with the communication unit 10 of the remote controller 1 via a network. The management server 2 is configured to be able to update the software used in the remote controller 1. The software used in the remote controller 1 is the software incorporated in the remote controller 1 and corresponds to the software that operates the heat source machine 3A by the remote controller 1. In addition, the management server 2 is configured to monitor the operating state of the heat source machine 3A (for example, during operation, stopped, error stopped) and to monitor the device state (the state of the heat source machine 3A). When the home equipment 3 is a fuel cell device, it is also possible to provide a sensor in the fuel cell device and configure the sensor to acquire information regarding the power generation state (for example, gas usage amount, power generation amount, temperature, etc.).

[0024] A network is an Internet connection line that includes both a wireless network and a wired network. For example, in the case of a wired network, it includes not only an optical cable line and a cable TV line but also other wired networks.

[0025] Therefore, the communication unit 10 is configured to enable two-way communication with the management server 2 that manages the operation of the heat source machine 3A via the Internet connection line.

[0026] The connection determination unit 12 determines whether the communication unit 10 is connected to the network. In the present embodiment, when the communication unit 10 is powered on, it is determined that the communication unit 10 is connected to the network, and when the communication unit 10 is not powered on, it is determined that the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network. Therefore, the connection determination unit 12 does not determine whether actual communication is being performed by the communication unit 10 via the network, that is, whether transmission and reception of predetermined communication data are being performed via the network. The determination result by the connection determination unit 12 is transmitted to the reception unit 14 described later.

[0027] The reception unit 14 receives set values that define the operating conditions of the heat source machine 3A. The set values that define the operating conditions of the heat source machine 3A correspond to, for example, the temperature at which the hot water is heated in the heat source machine 3A (hot water supply temperature) and the amount of hot water to be supplied, which are input by the user to the remote control 1. Therefore, the reception unit 14 receives, for example, the temperature at which the hot water is heated in the heat source machine 3A and the amount of hot water to be supplied, which are input by the user to the remote control 1.

[0028] When the communication unit 10 is connected to a network, the setting value received by the reception unit 14 is transmitted to the management server 2 via the network. This allows the management server 2 to determine whether the setting value is appropriate or not. The determination made by the management server 2 will be described later. When the communication unit 10 is connected to a network, the setting value received by the reception unit 14 is activated. In the case of the remote control 1, the setting value received by the reception unit 14 is activated regardless of the determination result of whether the setting value is appropriate or not in the management server 2.

[0029] On the other hand, the reception unit 14 restricts the acceptance of setting values ​​if the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network. Whether or not the communication unit 10 is connected to the network is determined by the connection determination unit 12 as described above. Restricting the acceptance of setting values ​​includes not only preventing the user from inputting settings to the remote control 1, but also invalidating the input setting values ​​if the system is configured to allow user input. Therefore, if the connection determination unit 12 determines that the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network, the reception unit 14 restricts the acceptance of setting values ​​by preventing the user from inputting settings to the remote control 1, or by invalidating the setting values ​​entered by the user. It is preferable to configure the system to temporarily store the invalidated setting values ​​when they are invalidated.

[0030] The remote control's memory unit 16 has pre-stored settings that allow the heat source unit 3A to operate at least. These settings are such that even if the amount of hot water from the heat source unit 3A does not reach the set value, it can still supply hot water at a reasonably warm temperature, or even if the amount of hot water supplied does not reach the expected amount, it can still supply a certain amount. Therefore, the remote control's memory unit 16 has pre-stored settings that prevent a situation where no hot water is supplied at all from the heat source unit 3A.

[0031] Furthermore, for example, if the network connection via the communication unit 10 is disconnected after the reception unit 14 has received a setting value, it is possible to activate the setting value stored in the remote control-side storage unit 16 in place of the setting value received by the reception unit 14. "After the reception unit 14 has received a setting value" means after the communication unit 10 has received a setting value while connected to the network. "When the network connection via the communication unit 10 is disconnected" means when power to the communication unit 10 is stopped. In such cases, in order to prevent inappropriate setting values ​​from being entered in response to the operation of the remote control 1 by the user, the remote control 1 activates the setting value stored in the remote control-side storage unit 16 in place of the setting value received by the reception unit 14. This prevents situations where no hot water is supplied at all from the heat source unit 3A.

[0032] Furthermore, if the connection is restored after the setting value stored in the remote control-side memory unit 16 has been activated, the setting value received by the reception unit 14 may be activated. "After the setting value stored in the remote control-side memory unit 16 has been activated" means after the reception unit 14 has received the setting value, the network connection by the communication unit 10 is disconnected, and the setting value stored in the remote control-side memory unit 16 has been activated. "When the connection is restored" means that power has been restored to the reception unit 14. The setting value received by the reception unit 14 is the setting value received in response to the operation of the remote control 1 by the user. Therefore, if the setting value stored in the remote control-side memory unit 16 has been activated after the reception unit 14 has received the setting value, the network connection by the communication unit 10 is disconnected, and power has been restored to the reception unit 14, the setting value received in response to the operation of the remote control 1 by the user may be activated.

[0033] Furthermore, the reception unit 14 can be configured to temporarily store the received setting values ​​when the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network, and then activate the temporarily stored setting values ​​when the communication unit 10 is connected to the network. "Temporarily store the received setting values ​​when the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network" means that when the communication unit 10 is not powered on, the reception unit 14 temporarily stores the setting values ​​entered by the user to the remote control 1. Although such setting values ​​are entered into the remote control 1, the reception unit 14 does not accept them as valid setting values. Therefore, it is preferable for the reception unit 14 to temporarily store such setting values, and then, when power is restored to the communication unit 10, to accept the temporarily stored setting values ​​as valid setting values. With this configuration, the setting values ​​are only activated when the remote control 1 is connected to the network, which prevents, for example, the setting of incorrect settings.

[0034] The server-side storage unit 20 has pre-stored settings suitable for the heat source unit 3A. These settings are similar to those stored in the remote control-side storage unit 16, and specifically, they are the optimal settings (optimal values) for the heat source unit 3A. Such settings are pre-stored in the server-side storage unit 20.

[0035] The setting value acquisition unit 22 acquires the setting value received by the reception unit 14 from the remote control 1 via the network. As described above, when the reception unit 14 receives a setting value, the communication unit 10 is powered on and ready to connect to the network. Therefore, the setting value acquisition unit 22 acquires the setting value from the remote control 1 via the communication unit 10.

[0036] The setting value determination unit 24 determines whether the setting value obtained from the remote control 1 is appropriate based on the setting values ​​stored in the server-side storage unit 20. As described above, the server-side storage unit 20 has the optimal setting value (optimal value) corresponding to the heat source unit 3A stored in advance. The setting value obtained from the remote control 1 is the setting value obtained from the remote control 1 by the setting value acquisition unit 22 via the communication unit 10. The setting value determination unit 24 determines that the setting value obtained from the remote control 1 is appropriate if the difference between the setting value obtained from the remote control 1 by the setting value acquisition unit 22 via the communication unit 10 and the optimal setting value (optimal value) corresponding to the heat source unit 3A stored in advance in the server-side storage unit 20 is within a preset range, and determines that the setting value obtained from the remote control 1 is inappropriate if it is outside the preset range.

[0037] If the setting value determination unit 24 determines that the setting value obtained from the remote control 1 is appropriate, the management server 2 may allow the operation of the heat source unit 3A with that setting value. If the setting value determination unit 24 determines that the setting value obtained from the remote control 1 is inappropriate, the management server 2 may allow the operation of the heat source unit 3A with a setting value stored in, for example, the server-side storage unit 20 or the remote control-side storage unit 16.

[0038] Next, an example of the processing in the remote control 1 will be explained using the flowchart in Figure 2. First, the reception unit 14 receives the setting values ​​that define the operating conditions of the heat source unit 3A (step #1). If the connection determination unit 12 determines that the communication unit 10 is connected to the network (step #2: Yes), the remote control 1 activates the setting values ​​received by the reception unit 14 (step #3). In this case, the heat source unit 3A is operated based on the setting values ​​received by the reception unit 14. While the heat source unit 3A is operating (step #4: No), the determination by the connection determination unit 12 continues (step #2). If the operation of the heat source unit 3A is to be stopped (step #4: Yes), the process ends.

[0039] In step #2, if the connection determination unit 12 determines that the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network (step #2: No), the setting value stored in the remote control side memory unit 16 is activated (step #5). In this case, the heat source unit 3A is operated based on the setting value stored in the remote control side memory unit 16.

[0040] While the heat source unit 3A is in operation (Step #6: No), the connection determination unit 12 continues to make a determination (Step #7). If the operation of the heat source unit 3A is to be stopped (Step #6: Yes), the process is terminated.

[0041] In step #7, when the network connection by the communication unit 10 is restored (step #7: Yes), the settings received by the reception unit 14 are activated (step #3). In this case, the heat source unit 3A is operated based on the settings received by the reception unit 14.

[0042] If the network connection by the communication unit 10 is not restored in step #7 (step #7: No), the process returns to step #6 and continues.

[0043] Note that the process based on the flowchart shown in Figure 2 is just one example; the order of the processes can be changed as appropriate, and it is also possible to omit some of the processes.

[0044] According to the remote control 1 configured as described above, a function is provided in the maintenance menu within the remote control 1 that allows the installer to set the hot water supply temperature on-site. As a measure to prevent setting errors on-site, the set value of the hot water supply temperature set on-site is transmitted to the management server 2, allowing the hot water supply temperature setting value set at each site to be remotely checked and whether the combination of the flooring material on which the floor heating panels are laid and the set value of the hot water supply temperature at each site is optimally set.

[0045] If the combination of the flooring material on which the underfloor heating panels are installed and the set value for the hot water supply temperature is not optimal, a technician can be dispatched to the site to correct the settings on-site or remotely to change the settings to the optimal value for the hot water supply temperature. Also, if remote control 1 is unable to communicate with management server 2, it may not be possible to remotely confirm whether the hot water supply temperature setting is set correctly. Therefore, if remote control 1 is unable to communicate with management server 2 on-site, the operation to change the hot water supply temperature is restricted within the maintenance menu of remote control 1. By implementing this restriction, the on-site hot water supply temperature setting is always set in an environment where the setting value can be transmitted to management server 2, allowing for remote checking for setting errors and enabling remote setting changes if a setting error occurs.

[0046] [Other Embodiments] Next, other embodiments of the remote control 1 and the management system 100 will be described.

[0047] Furthermore, the configurations disclosed in each of the embodiments described above can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments, as long as no inconsistencies arise. Regarding other configurations, the embodiments disclosed herein are merely illustrative in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate, without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0048] In the above embodiment, the connection determination unit 12 was described as determining whether the communication unit 10 is connected to the network based on whether or not power is supplied to the communication unit 10. However, it is also possible for the connection determination unit 12 to make a determination based on the results of the communication when the communication unit 10 actually communicates over the network (for example, by communicating with the management server 2).

[0049] In the above embodiment, it was explained that the reception unit 14 restricts the acceptance of setting values ​​if the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network. However, it is also possible to configure the reception unit 14 to accept setting values ​​even when the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network. Furthermore, if restrictions are imposed, the remote control 1 may be configured to prevent the input of setting values.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the residential equipment 3 further includes a remote control-side storage unit 16 that stores at least operable setting values ​​in advance, and it was explained that if the network connection by the communication unit 10 is disconnected after the reception unit 14 has received the setting value, the setting value stored in the remote control-side storage unit 16 is activated instead of the setting value received by the reception unit 14. However, even if the network connection by the communication unit 10 is disconnected after the reception unit 14 has received the setting value, the reception unit 14 may continue to use the setting value it received, and the system may be configured so that this setting value cannot be changed until the network connection is restored.

[0051] In the above embodiment, it was explained that if the connection is restored after the setting value stored in the remote control-side storage unit 16 has been activated, the setting value received by the reception unit 14 will be activated. However, it is also possible to configure the system so that if the connection is restored after the setting value stored in the remote control-side storage unit 16 has been activated, the reception unit 14 will activate the setting value when it receives a new setting value.

[0052] In the above embodiment, the receiving unit 14 was described as temporarily storing the received setting value when the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network, and then activating the temporarily stored setting value when the communication unit 10 is connected to the network. However, it is also possible to configure the receiving unit 14 not to temporarily store the received setting value when the communication unit 10 is not connected to the network, and then to activate the setting value when the receiving unit 14 receives a new setting value after the communication unit 10 is connected to the network.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the operating conditions were described as corresponding to the temperature at which the hot water is heated in the heat source unit 3A (hot water supply temperature) and the amount of hot water supplied. However, the operating conditions could also be, for example, the temperature of the bathwater or the capacity of the bath (the amount of water in the bath). [Industrial applicability]

[0054] This invention can be used in a remote control for operating residential equipment and in a management system for managing residential equipment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1: Remote control 2: Management Server 3: Housing equipment 10: Communications Department 12: Connection determination unit 14: Reception Department 16: Remote control side memory unit 20: Server-side storage 22: Setting value acquisition section 24: Setting value determination unit 100: Management System

Claims

1. A remote control that can remotely operate residential equipment, A communication unit that can connect to the network to which the management server that manages the operation of the aforementioned residential equipment is connected, A connection determination unit that determines whether or not the communication unit is connected to the network, It includes a receiving unit that receives setting values ​​that define the operating conditions of the aforementioned residential equipment, A remote control that enables the setting value received by the receiving unit when the communication unit is connected to the network.

2. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the reception unit restricts the reception of the setting value if the communication unit is not connected to the network.

3. The remote control further includes a memory unit in which at least the operating settings of the aforementioned residential equipment are pre-stored. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein if the network connection by the communication unit is disconnected after the reception unit has received the setting value, the reception unit activates a setting value stored in the remote control side storage unit instead of the setting value received by the reception unit.

4. The remote control according to claim 3, wherein if the connection is restored after the setting value stored in the remote control side memory unit has been activated, the setting value received by the reception unit is activated.

5. The receiving unit, if the communication unit is not connected to the network, temporarily stores the received setting value. The remote control according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit then activates the temporarily stored setting value when it is connected to the network.

6. A management system in which the remote control according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and the management server are connected via the network, The management server includes a server-side storage unit that stores pre-configured settings suitable for the residential equipment, The management server includes a setting value acquisition unit that acquires the setting values ​​received by the reception unit from the remote control via the network, A setting value determination unit is provided in the management server and determines whether the setting value obtained from the remote control is appropriate based on the setting value stored in the server-side storage unit, A management system equipped with the following features.

Images