Air conditioning system, air conditioning method, and program

Abstract

To appropriately conditioned the air in the space to be air-conditioned. [Solution] The air conditioning system comprises: a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information; a user setting information acquisition unit that acquires user setting information including values ​​related to a target environment based on user operation; a thermal insulation information acquisition unit that acquires thermal insulation information of the building in which the controlled air conditioner is installed; an operation determination unit that determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the acquired weather information, the user setting information, and the thermal insulation information; and an air conditioning control unit that controls the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit. The air conditioning control unit turns on the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, techniques related to automatic control of air conditioning devices are known. For example, control is performed so that the difference between the temperature, humidity, etc. of the space to be air-conditioned and the temperature, humidity, etc. which are the targets set by the user becomes small. As a document that discloses such a technique, for example, Patent Document 1 can be exemplified.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, when such conventional techniques are used, in order to measure the temperature of the space to be air-conditioned, it is necessary to run the air conditioning device idly at least once. In particular, in a building or the like equipped with a plurality of air conditioning devices in one building, each air conditioning device was run idly at least once to measure the temperature of the space to be air-conditioned. In view of such a situation, there is a need for air conditioning without the need to measure the temperature for each air conditioning device.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and a program that can suitably perform air conditioning of a space to be air-conditioned.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] (1) One aspect of the present invention is an air conditioning system comprising: a weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information; a user setting information acquisition unit that acquires user setting information including values ​​relating to a target environment based on user operations; a thermal insulation information acquisition unit that acquires thermal insulation information of a building in which an air conditioner to be controlled is installed; an operation determination unit that determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the acquired weather information, the user setting information, and the thermal insulation information; and an air conditioning control unit that controls the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit, wherein the air conditioning control unit turns on the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time.

[0007] (2) In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioning system described in (1) above, the predetermined time for which the operation of the air conditioner is kept ON by the air conditioning control unit is determined based on the thermal insulation information acquired by the thermal insulation information acquisition unit.

[0008] (3) In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, in the air conditioning system described in (1) or (2) above, the user setting information includes target temperature information, which is a target indoor temperature, as a value relating to the target environment, and the operation determination unit adjusts the target temperature information based on the thermal insulation information, and determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the adjusted target temperature information.

[0009] (4) In addition, in an air conditioning system according to any of (1) to (3) above, the air conditioning control unit controls the operation of the air conditioner to cool, heat, or turn off according to the result of comparing a value included in the weather information with a value included in the user setting information at a predetermined determination timing, and the air conditioning control unit controls the operation of the air conditioner to turn off if it is determined that the operation of the air conditioner should be turned off multiple times in a row.

[0010] (5) In addition, in an air conditioning system according to any of (1) to (4) above, the weather information includes information on the temperature, humidity, and solar radiation outdoors of the building in which the air conditioner is installed.

[0011] (6) In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, in an air conditioning system according to any one of (1) to (5) above, the weather information includes predicted values ​​for future temperature, humidity, and solar radiation, and the operation determination unit determines the operation of the air conditioner based on at least one of the predicted values ​​for future temperature, humidity, and solar radiation included in the weather information, or the amount of change of said predicted values.

[0012] (7) In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, in an air conditioning system described in any of (1) to (6) above, the thermal insulation information includes at least one of the following: thermal insulation grade of the building in which the air conditioner is installed, UA value, or information relating to the type of thermal insulation specification.

[0013] (8) In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, in an air conditioning system according to any of (1) to (7) above, the thermal insulation information includes information regarding the size or orientation of a window, and the operation determination unit determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the size or orientation of the window included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time.

[0014] (9) In addition, in one aspect of the present invention, in an air conditioning system described in any of (1) to (8) above, the thermal insulation information includes information on the presence or absence of an overhang, and if there is an overhang, information on the orientation and area of ​​the opening, and the operation determination unit determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the information on the overhang included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time.

[0015] (10) In addition, one aspect of the present invention is an air conditioning system according to any of (1) to (9) above, further comprising a plurality of air conditioners installed inside the same building, wherein the operation determination unit independently determines the operation of each of the plurality of air conditioners installed inside the same building, and the air conditioning control unit independently controls the operation of each of the plurality of air conditioners installed inside the same building.

[0016] (11) Another aspect of the present invention is an air conditioning method comprising: a weather information acquisition step for acquiring weather information; a user setting information acquisition step for acquiring user setting information including values ​​relating to a target environment based on user operation; a thermal insulation information acquisition step for acquiring thermal insulation information of a building in which an air conditioner to be controlled is installed; an operation determination step for determining the operation of the air conditioner based on the acquired weather information, the user setting information, and the thermal insulation information; and an air conditioning control step for controlling the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination step, wherein the air conditioning control step turns on the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination step and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time.

[0017] (12) Another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer having at least a processor and memory to perform air conditioning in a building, the program comprising: a weather information acquisition step for acquiring weather information; a user setting information acquisition step for acquiring user setting information including values ​​relating to a target environment based on user operation; a thermal insulation information acquisition step for acquiring thermal insulation information of a building in which an air conditioner to be controlled is installed; an operation determination step for determining the operation of the air conditioner based on the acquired weather information, the user setting information, and the thermal insulation information; and an air conditioning control step for controlling the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination step, wherein the air conditioning control step turns on the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination step and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and a program that can suitably perform air conditioning of a space to be air conditioned.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0019] [Figure 1] It is a diagram for explaining the outline of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] It is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of an air conditioning control device according to the present embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a flowchart showing a series of processes according to the air conditioning control method according to the present embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a flowchart showing an example of the adjustment process of set values according to the present embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of an air conditioning control device according to the present embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, an air conditioning system, an air conditioning method, and a program according to aspects of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, citing preferred embodiments. Note that the aspects of the present invention are not limited to these embodiments, and also include those with various modifications or improvements added. That is, the constituent elements described below include those that can be easily assumed by those skilled in the art and substantially identical ones, and the constituent elements described below can be combined as appropriate. Also, various omissions, substitutions, or changes of the constituent elements can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Also, in the following drawings, in order to make each configuration easier to understand, the number etc. in each structure may be made different from the number etc. in the actual structure.

[0021] [Air Conditioning System] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the outline of an air conditioning system according to an embodiment. First, the air conditioning system 1 will be described while referring to this figure. As a premise, the air conditioning system 1 is used inside a building. The air conditioning system 1 controls temperature, humidity, etc. with the space inside the building as the air conditioning target.

[0022] Here, the space that the air conditioning system 1 targets for air conditioning is preferably a building having a plurality of rooms. An air conditioner is installed in each of the plurality of rooms. The air conditioning system 1 controls each air conditioner independently. As an example of a building having a plurality of rooms, an apartment building can be exemplified. In an apartment building, a plurality of (plural households') residents live, and an air conditioner is installed in each room. As a configuration of a building to which the air conditioning system 1 is applied, it may be such that air conditioning is performed on a plurality of rooms by one air conditioner. Note that this embodiment is not limited to such an example. The air conditioning system 1 may have at least one air conditioner.

[0023] The air conditioning system 1 includes an air conditioning control device 10, a remote control device 20, a weather information storage unit 30, a heat insulation information storage unit 40, and an air conditioner AC. In the example shown in this figure, for simplicity of explanation, an example in the case of including one air conditioner AC is exemplified. However, this embodiment is not limited to this example, and the air conditioning system 1 may include a plurality of air conditioners AC. When the air conditioning system 1 includes a plurality of air conditioners AC, a remote control device 20 corresponding to each air conditioner AC is provided.

[0024] The remote control device 20 is controlled by user U. The remote control device 20 receives operations from user U. The remote control device 20 transmits information based on the received operations to the air conditioning control device 10 via a predetermined wireless communication. The operations received from user U include at least the temperature and humidity settings. User U is a person in the space that is to be air-conditioned. The remote control device 20 is a remote control device, and it remotely operates the air conditioning control device 10. Instead of the remote control device 20, an input unit (not shown) electrically connected to the air conditioning control device 10 may be used.

[0025] Furthermore, the remote control device 20 may operate by running an application installed on, for example, a smartphone (not shown). A concrete example of such an application is an application provided as a dedicated application for the air conditioning system 1. Another concrete example of such an application is a web browser application. Such an application may be pre-installed on a smartphone (not shown), or it may be downloaded each time the remote control device 20 performs its functions. For example, if it is implemented as a web browser application, when a smartphone (not shown) connects to a specific web server, the smartphone (not shown) may download and run the application from a device specified by the web server (for example, the web server itself or another server) in accordance with the web server's control.

[0026] The weather information storage unit 30 stores weather information for the geographical location where the building containing the space to be air-conditioned is located. Specific examples of weather information include outdoor temperature, humidity, solar radiation, wind direction, wind speed, and weather. More specific examples of solar radiation may include cloud cover and sunshine duration. Furthermore, the weather information may be current weather information or predicted values ​​(forecast values). Specific examples of predicted values ​​may include hourly forecasts for the next 24 hours. In addition, the weather information may include information on warnings and advisories for heavy rain, floods, heavy snow, strong winds, blizzards, high waves, storm surges, lightning, dense fog, and drought.

[0027] Furthermore, the weather information mentioned above may be provided by a company that provides weather-related services. In other words, the weather information storage unit 30 may be located at a company that provides weather-related services. Alternatively, the company providing the air conditioning system 1 may purchase the information from the company providing weather-related services and store it in the weather information storage unit 30.

[0028] The thermal insulation information storage unit 40 stores thermal insulation information of the building that includes the space to be air-conditioned. The thermal insulation information includes thermal insulation specifications. Specific examples of thermal insulation specifications include thermal insulation grade (e.g., thermal insulation grade 7), UA value, and a model number that summarizes the thermal insulation specifications (e.g., August 2024 specifications).

[0029] Furthermore, the insulation information may include information about the windows of the space to be air-conditioned. This information may include details such as whether or not there are windows, their size, orientation, thickness, and material (or grade) of the windows. Similarly, the insulation information may include information about eaves of the space to be air-conditioned. This information may include details such as whether or not there are eaves, their depth, and the orientation and area of ​​the openings.

[0030] The above-mentioned thermal insulation information may be entered by the company providing the air conditioning system 1, or by user U. Furthermore, it may be estimated by the air conditioning control device 10 based on past operating conditions, room temperature changes, environmental conditions, etc.

[0031] In the illustrated example, the weather information storage unit 30 and the thermal insulation information storage unit 40 are described as being located outside the air conditioning control device 10. The weather information storage unit 30 and the thermal insulation information storage unit 40 may exist as external servers or as virtual storage units on a cloud service. Alternatively, the weather information storage unit 30 and the thermal insulation information storage unit 40 may be located inside the air conditioning control device 10.

[0032] The air conditioning control device 10 obtains control signals from the remote control device 20, obtains weather information from the weather information storage unit 30, and obtains thermal insulation information from the thermal insulation information storage unit 40. Based on the acquired information, the air conditioning control device 10 controls the air conditioner AC. By controlling the air conditioner AC, the air conditioning control device 10 controls the air conditioning of the space to be air-conditioned.

[0033] An air conditioner (AC) is also called an air conditioning unit. An air conditioner (AC) is a device for harmonizing or adjusting the air. Air adjustment includes adjusting the temperature, humidity, and cleanliness of the air in the space to be air-conditioned. The air conditioner (AC) harmonizes or adjusts the air based on the air conditioning control signal output from the air conditioning control device 10.

[0034] [Air conditioning control device] Figure 2 is a functional configuration diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the air conditioning control device according to this embodiment. An example of the functional configuration of the air conditioning control device 10 will be described with reference to the figure. The air conditioning control device 10 includes a weather information acquisition unit 11, a user setting information acquisition unit 12, a heat insulation information acquisition unit 13, an operation determination unit 14, and an air conditioning control unit 15.

[0035] The weather information acquisition unit 11 acquires weather information from the weather information storage unit 30. The weather information includes information on the temperature, humidity, and solar radiation outdoors of the building where the air conditioner AC is installed (i.e., the space to be air-conditioned). The weather information acquisition unit 11 acquires weather information at predetermined intervals. The predetermined interval may be, for example, in 30-minute increments or 1-hour increments. The weather information acquisition unit 11 may also acquire forecast values ​​for weather information for the next 24 hours.

[0036] The user setting information acquisition unit 12 acquires user setting information based on the operations of user U. User setting information is transmitted to the user setting information acquisition unit 12, for example, when user U operates the remote control device 20. The user setting information includes values ​​related to the target environment. Values ​​related to the target environment may, for example, be values ​​indicating the target indoor temperature and humidity. Alternatively, values ​​related to the target environment may be values ​​indicating the outdoor temperature and humidity. Note that the case where values ​​related to the target environment are values ​​indicating the outdoor temperature and humidity is when there is no room temperature sensor and the outside temperature is used as a trigger (relying on the outside temperature from the weather forecast).

[0037] The triggers for indoor temperature and outdoor temperature may differ. For example, when using indoor temperature as the trigger, the user may set the trigger for turning on the air conditioner's cooling function to a room temperature of 28 degrees Celsius or higher, and the trigger for turning on the air conditioner's heating function to a room temperature of 15 degrees Celsius or lower. Also, when relying on the outside temperature from a weather forecast, and using indoor temperature as the trigger, the user may set the trigger for turning on the air conditioner's cooling function to a room temperature of 30 degrees Celsius or higher, and the trigger for turning on the air conditioner's heating function to a room temperature of 5 degrees Celsius or lower.

[0038] The thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13 acquires thermal insulation information from the thermal insulation information storage unit 40. The thermal insulation information includes thermal insulation information of the building in which the controlled air conditioner AC is installed (i.e., the space to be air-conditioned). More specifically, it is preferable that the thermal insulation information includes at least one of the following: thermal insulation grade of the building in which the air conditioner AC is installed, UA value, or information on the model that includes thermal insulation specifications. The thermal insulation information may also include (1) the pre-cooling time required when cooling with the air conditioner, and (2) the pre-heating time required when heating with the air conditioner.

[0039] The operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on weather information acquired by the weather information acquisition unit 11, user setting information acquired by the user setting information acquisition unit 12, and thermal insulation information set by the thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13. The operation determination of the air conditioner AC includes turning the air conditioner on or off, switching the operating mode (e.g., cooling mode, heating mode, dehumidification mode, etc.), changing the set temperature, changing the fan speed, etc.

[0040] The air conditioning control unit 15 controls the operation of the air conditioner AC according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit 14. Specifically, the air conditioning control unit 15 controls the operation of the air conditioner AC by outputting information corresponding to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit 14 to the air conditioner AC.

[0041] In the illustrated example, there is only one air conditioner AC, so the air conditioning control unit 15 outputs information to the corresponding air conditioner AC and controls its operation. However, it is also possible that multiple air conditioners AC are installed inside the same building. In such a case, the operation determination unit 14 may independently determine the operation of each of the multiple air conditioners AC installed inside the same building. Furthermore, the air conditioning control unit 15 may independently control the operation of each of the multiple air conditioners AC installed inside the same building.

[0042] [Control based on weather forecasts] In this embodiment, weather forecast information may be acquired as weather information. In this case, the weather information will include predicted values ​​for future temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. In this case, the operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on at least one of the predicted values ​​for future temperature, humidity, and solar radiation included in the weather information, or the amount of change in said predicted values. That is, the operation determination unit 14 controls the air conditioner AC in advance based on future weather forecast information. Here, a space with high thermal insulation performance is slow to heat up and slow to cool down. Therefore, it can be said that control based on future predicted values ​​is effective in a space with high thermal insulation performance.

[0043] [Adjusting target temperature information] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it is preferable to adjust the target temperature information according to the space to be air-conditioned. This embodiment is characterized by performing air conditioning control based on outdoor weather information. Here, depending on the thermal insulation performance of the building, the temperature of the space may be difficult to heat up and difficult to cool down, so it is necessary to convert the outdoor weather information into indoor information. The process in this case will be explained. When adjusting the target temperature information, the user setting information includes target temperature information, which is the target indoor temperature, as a value related to the target environment. The operation determination unit 14 first adjusts the target temperature information based on the thermal insulation information. Next, the operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on the adjusted target temperature information.

[0044] As an adjustment to the target temperature information, for example, if the insulation performance is high, the lower limit of the outside temperature required to turn on the air conditioning may be increased, and the upper limit of the outside temperature required to turn on the heating may be decreased. Conversely, if the insulation performance is low, the lower limit of the outside temperature required to turn on the air conditioning may be decreased, and the upper limit of the outside temperature required to turn on the heating may be increased. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later with reference to Figure 3, the number of consecutive judgments required to turn off the air conditioning or heating may be increased by increasing the counter value which is the threshold in step S21.

[0045] [Control based on solar radiation] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it is also possible to control the air conditioner AC based on the amount of solar radiation. As examples of control based on solar radiation, an example of control based on window information and an example of control based on eaves information are provided.

[0046] First, let's describe an example of control based on window information. In this case, the thermal insulation information stored in the thermal insulation information storage unit 40 and acquired by the thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13 includes information about the size or orientation of the window. More preferably, it may also include information such as the material and thickness of the window, the height of the window, and the altitude of the space to be air-conditioned. The operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on the size or orientation of the window included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time. Specifically, the operation determination unit 14 predicts the amount of solar radiation entering the space to be air-conditioned from the window information included in the thermal insulation information, the weather information, and the current time, and controls the air conditioner AC based on the predicted amount of solar radiation.

[0047] Next, an example of control based on eaves information will be described. In this case, the thermal insulation information stored in the thermal insulation information storage unit 40 and acquired by the thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13 includes information on the presence or absence of eaves, and if there are eaves, information on the orientation and area of ​​the opening. More preferably, it may also include information such as the depth of the eaves, the position of the eaves, and the altitude of the space to be air-conditioned. The operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on the eaves information included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time. Specifically, the operation determination unit 14 predicts the amount of solar radiation entering the space to be air-conditioned from the eaves information included in the thermal insulation information, the weather information, and the current time, and controls the air conditioner AC based on the predicted amount of solar radiation.

[0048] [Season-based control] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, it is also possible to control the air conditioner AC based on the season. In this case, the premise is that the air conditioning control unit 15 turns on the operation of the air conditioner AC according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit 14 and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time. The predetermined time for which the air conditioner AC is maintained in the on state by the air conditioning control unit 15 is determined based on the thermal insulation information acquired by the thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13. Here, it is preferable that the predetermined time for which the air conditioner AC is maintained in the on state is determined by the installer rather than the user. Also, the predetermined time for which the air conditioner AC is maintained in the on state may be set to be different for cooling and heating.

[0049] When controlling an air conditioner (AC) based on the season, the predetermined time for which the air conditioner (AC) remains on may be set differently for hot seasons (e.g., April to September) and cold seasons (October to March). In other words, the duration for which the AC is maintained during hot seasons and the duration for which it is maintained during cold seasons may be different. This is because, in cases of high thermal insulation performance, the room temperature does not tend to drop significantly even when the outside temperature is low in summer, so the duration for which the AC is maintained during hot seasons is expected to be longer. Based on this assumption, by varying the control specifications according to the thermal insulation performance, it is possible to achieve appropriate control according to the season.

[0050] [Air Conditioning Control Method] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing a series of processes related to the air conditioning control method according to this embodiment. Next, an example of the air conditioning control method according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the same figure.

[0051] (Step S11) First, the air conditioning control device 10 determines whether or not to use the automatic control mode. Whether or not to use the automatic control mode is set based on the operation of user U. For example, user U selects whether or not to use the automatic control mode by operating the remote control device 20 (which may be an app installed on a smartphone not shown).

[0052] (Step S12) If the automatic control mode is not used, the air conditioning control device 10 operates in remote control mode. Remote control mode is a mode in which the device is operated using a normal remote control, and the user U directly controls the temperature, humidity, etc.

[0053] (Step S13) When using automatic control mode, first, the set value adjustment process is performed. The set value adjustment process is a process that corresponds to the insulation information of the space to be air-conditioned, and adjusts the threshold according to how difficult it is to heat up or cool down the room. Details of this process will be described later with reference to Figure 4. In this step, the lower limit outside temperature for turning on cooling and the upper limit outside temperature for turning on heating are set as thresholds.

[0054] Specifically, the default value for the lower limit of the outside temperature required to turn on the air conditioning may be 25 degrees Celsius. Similarly, the default value for the upper limit of the outside temperature required to turn on the heating may be 10 degrees Celsius. These default values ​​are then weighted according to the insulation information to adjust the settings.

[0055] The process in step S13 can be performed at a predetermined time, such as when the AC power supply for the air conditioner is turned on. Since the thermal insulation information of the space to be air-conditioned does not change frequently, this process may only be performed once on the first use. Furthermore, this step may not necessarily be performed depending on the thermal insulation information of the space to be air-conditioned.

[0056] (Step S14) Next, the air conditioning control device 10 acquires weather information. This process may be performed at predetermined intervals, such as once every hour. Alternatively, forecast information may be acquired several times a day, on an hourly basis.

[0057] (Step S15) If it is time for a determination, the process proceeds to step S16. The process can also be stopped until the determination occurs, or the process can wait until the determination occurs. The determination may occur every 30 minutes or every hour.

[0058] (Step S16) When it is time to make a determination, first a determination is made. The first determination is whether the temperature included in the acquired weather information (i.e., the outside temperature) is lower than a threshold. The threshold used in the first determination is the set value set in step S13, and specifically, it is the lower limit outside temperature for turning on the air conditioner.

[0059] (Step S17) If the temperature included in the weather information (i.e., the outside temperature) is lower than the threshold (i.e., Step S17; YES), the air conditioning control unit 15 sends a control signal to the air conditioner AC to turn on the cooling. If the cooling is already on, it remains on.

[0060] (Step S18) If the temperature included in the weather information (i.e., the outside temperature) is higher than the threshold (i.e., Step S17; NO), a second determination is made. The second determination is whether or not the temperature included in the acquired weather information (i.e., the outside temperature) is higher than the threshold. The threshold used in the second determination is the set value set in Step S13, and specifically, the upper limit outside temperature for turning on the heating.

[0061] (Step S19) If the temperature included in the weather information (i.e., the outside temperature) is higher than the threshold (i.e., Step S19; YES), the air conditioning control unit 15 sends a control signal to the air conditioner AC to turn on the heating. If the heating is already on, it remains on.

[0062] (Step S20) If the temperature included in the weather information (i.e., the outside temperature) is lower than the threshold (i.e., Step S19; NO), the counter value is incremented. The initial value of the counter value is zero. The counter value may be initialized to zero when the AC air conditioner is powered on and maintained until the power is turned off.

[0063] (Step S21) The counter value has been incremented. If the counter value becomes 2 or greater, the process proceeds to step S22. Here, the case where the counter value becomes 2 or greater can also be defined as the case where "off" is detected twice in a row. In other words, according to this embodiment, the air conditioner AC is not controlled to "off" simply because "off" of cooling or heating is detected once. This is because this embodiment performs control based on the outside temperature, and the control takes into account the time it takes for the outside temperature to be reflected in the inside temperature. Specifically, if the insulation performance of the space to be air-conditioned is high, it takes time for the temperature of the space to change, taking into account the temperatures of walls, furniture, etc.

[0064] (Step S22) The air conditioning control unit 15 sends a control signal to the air conditioner AC to turn off the cooling and heating. In other words, the air conditioning control unit 15 can also control the operation of the air conditioner AC to turn off if it is determined that the operation of the air conditioner AC should be turned off multiple times in a row. In addition, the counter value is reset in response to the cooling and heating being turned off.

[0065] [Settings adjustment process] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the setting value adjustment process according to this embodiment. Next, the setting value adjustment process method, i.e., the details of step S13 described above, will be explained with reference to the same figure.

[0066] (Step S131) ​​First, a threshold is obtained based on the operation of user U. The threshold obtained here is the threshold before adiabatic information is taken into consideration, and can also be called the threshold before adjustment.

[0067] (Step S132) Next, the building's thermal insulation information is obtained from the thermal insulation information storage unit 40.

[0068] (Step S133) Furthermore, the threshold is adjusted based on the acquired building insulation information. In addition to insulation information, other information such as season and weather may also be used to adjust the threshold.

[0069] [Internal structure] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of an air conditioning control device according to this embodiment. At least some of the functions of the air conditioning control device 10 can be realized using a computer. As shown in the figure, the computer is composed of a central processing unit 901, RAM 902, input / output ports 903, input / output devices 904 and 905, etc., and a bus 906. The computer itself can be realized using existing technology. The central processing unit 901 executes instructions contained in programs read from RAM 902, etc. The central processing unit 901 writes data to RAM 902, reads data from RAM 902, and performs arithmetic and logical operations according to each instruction. RAM 902 stores data and programs. Each element contained in RAM 902 has an address and can be accessed using that address. RAM stands for "Random Access Memory". Input / output ports 903 are ports for the central processing unit 901 to exchange data with external input / output devices, etc. Input / output devices 904 and 905 are input / output devices. Input / output devices 904 and 905 exchange data with the central processing unit 901 via input / output port 903. Bus 906 is a common communication channel used within the computer. For example, the central processing unit 901 reads and writes data to RAM 902 via bus 906. Also, for example, the central processing unit 901 accesses input / output ports via bus 906. Furthermore, all or part of the functional units of the air conditioning control device 10 may be implemented using hardware such as ASICs, PLDs, or FPGAs. Furthermore, all or part of the functional units may be implemented by a combination of software and hardware.

[0070] [Summary of Embodiments] According to the embodiment described above, the air conditioning system 1 comprises a weather information acquisition unit 11, a user setting information acquisition unit 12, a thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13, an operation determination unit 14, and an air conditioning control unit 15. The weather information acquisition unit 11 acquires weather information from the weather information storage unit 30. The user setting information acquisition unit 12 acquires user setting information, including values ​​related to the target environment, from the remote control device 20 based on the operation of user U. The thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13 acquires thermal insulation information of the building in which the air conditioner AC, which is the target of control, is installed, from the thermal insulation information storage unit 40. The operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on the acquired weather information, user setting information, and thermal insulation information. The air conditioning control unit 15 controls the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit. The air conditioning control unit 15 turns on the operation of the air conditioner AC according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit 14 and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time.

[0071] By adopting this configuration, the air conditioning system 1 can control the space to be air-conditioned based on the outside temperature. In other words, according to this embodiment, unlike the conventional technology, it is not necessary to run the air conditioning unit idle at least once in order to measure the temperature of the space to be air-conditioned. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is not necessary to measure the temperature for each air conditioning unit, and air conditioning can be performed. Thus, according to this embodiment, the air conditioning of the space to be air-conditioned can be performed effectively.

[0072] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the predetermined time for which the air conditioner AC is kept in the ON state by the air conditioning control unit 15 is determined based on the thermal insulation information acquired by the thermal insulation information acquisition unit 13. By adopting such a configuration, according to this embodiment, air conditioning can be suitably performed according to the thermal insulation specifications of the building in which the air conditioner AC, which is the target of control, is installed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, air conditioning of the space to be air-conditioned can be suitably performed.

[0073] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the user setting information includes target temperature information, which is the target indoor temperature, as a value related to the target environment. The operation determination unit 14 adjusts the target temperature information based on the thermal insulation information and determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on the adjusted target temperature information. By adopting such a configuration, according to this embodiment, even in cases where the thermal insulation rating is high and it takes time for the outdoor temperature to be reflected indoors, control that takes the thermal insulation rating into consideration can be performed. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the air conditioning of the space to be air-conditioned can be performed appropriately.

[0074] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the air conditioning control unit 15 controls the operation of the air conditioner AC to cooling, heating, or off, based on the result of comparing the value included in the weather information with the value included in the user setting information at a predetermined determination timing. In addition, if the air conditioning control unit 15 determines that the operation of the air conditioner AC should be turned off multiple times in a row, it controls the operation of the air conditioner AC to turn off. Here, this embodiment is characterized by controlling the space to be air-conditioned using outdoor weather information. It takes time for the outside temperature to be reflected in the inside temperature. Therefore, if one attempts to control indoor air conditioning simply by using outdoor weather information, a discrepancy may occur. According to this embodiment, by adopting such a configuration, it is possible to accurately and appropriately conditioned the air in the space to be air-conditioned using outdoor weather information.

[0075] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the thermal insulation information includes information about the size or orientation of the window. The operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on the size or orientation of the window included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time. By adopting such a configuration, even when sunlight is strong, the air conditioning of the space to be air-conditioned can be performed accurately and appropriately, taking into account the temperature rise caused by the sunlight.

[0076] Furthermore, according to the embodiment described above, the thermal insulation information includes information on the presence or absence of eaves, and if eaves are present, information on the orientation and area of ​​the opening. The operation determination unit 14 determines the operation of the air conditioner AC based on the eaves information included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time. By adopting such a configuration, even in cases where sunlight is strong, the air conditioning of the space to be air-conditioned can be performed appropriately and accurately, taking into account the temperature rise caused by the sunlight.

[0077] Furthermore, according to the above-described embodiment, the system further includes multiple air conditioners AC installed inside the same building. The operation determination unit 14 independently determines the operation of each of the multiple air conditioners AC installed inside the same building, and the air conditioning control unit 15 independently controls the operation of each of the multiple air conditioners AC installed inside the same building. In other words, according to this embodiment, it is also applicable when there are multiple air conditioners AC in the same building. In such a case, according to this embodiment, it is not necessary to run each of the multiple air conditioners AC idle to obtain the temperature. Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to shorten processing time and contribute to energy saving.

[0078] Furthermore, "computer-readable recording media" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage units such as hard disks built into computer systems. In addition, "computer-readable recording media" may also include those that dynamically hold programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs over networks such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, and those that hold programs for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside computer systems that act as servers or clients in such cases. Moreover, the above-mentioned programs may be for the purpose of realizing some of the functions described above, and may also be programs that can realize the aforementioned functions in combination with programs already recorded in the computer system.

[0079] Furthermore, the effects described herein are merely descriptive or illustrative and not limiting. In other words, the technology relating to this disclosure may produce other effects that will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description herein, in addition to or instead of the effects described herein. Moreover, the present invention is not limited in any way to these embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1...Air conditioning system, 10...Air conditioning control device, 20...Remote control device, 30...Weather information storage unit, 40...Insulation information storage unit, 11...Weather information acquisition unit, 12...User setting information acquisition unit, 13...Insulation information acquisition unit, 14...Operation determination unit, 15...Air conditioning control unit, AC...Air conditioner, U...User

Claims

1. A weather information acquisition unit that acquires weather information, A user setting information acquisition unit acquires user setting information, including values ​​related to the target environment, based on user operations. A thermal insulation information acquisition unit acquires thermal insulation information of the building in which the air conditioner to be controlled is installed, An operation determination unit that determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the acquired weather information, user setting information, and insulation information, An air conditioning control unit controls the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit, Equipped with, The air conditioning control unit turns on the operation of the air conditioner and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time, according to the determination result determined by the operation determination unit. Air conditioning system.

2. The predetermined time for which the air conditioner is kept in the ON state by the air conditioning control unit is determined based on the thermal insulation information acquired by the thermal insulation information acquisition unit. The air conditioning system according to claim 1.

3. The user setting information includes target temperature information, which is the target indoor temperature, as a value related to the target environment. The operation determination unit adjusts the target temperature information based on the thermal insulation information, and determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the adjusted target temperature information. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The air conditioning control unit, at a predetermined determination timing, controls the operation of the air conditioner to either operate the cooling function, operate the heating function, or turn it off, based on the result of comparing the value included in the weather information with the value included in the user setting information. The air conditioning control unit controls the operation of the air conditioner to turn off if it determines that the air conditioner should be turned off multiple times in a row. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. The aforementioned weather information includes information regarding temperature, humidity, and solar radiation at the outdoor location of the building where the air conditioner is installed. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

6. The aforementioned weather information includes predicted values ​​for future temperature, humidity, and solar radiation. The operation determination unit determines the operation of the air conditioner based on at least one of the predicted values ​​for future temperature, humidity, and solar radiation included in the weather information, or the amount of change in said predicted values. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

7. The aforementioned insulation information includes at least one of the following: information regarding the insulation grade, UA value, or insulation specifications of the building in which the air conditioner is installed; The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

8. The aforementioned thermal insulation information includes information regarding the size or orientation of the window. The operation determination unit determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the size or orientation of the window included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

9. The aforementioned thermal insulation information includes information regarding the presence or absence of eaves, and, if eaves are present, information regarding the orientation and area of ​​openings. The operation determination unit determines the operation of the air conditioner based on the information regarding the eaves included in the thermal insulation information, the amount of solar radiation included in the acquired weather information, and the current time. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

10. Further equipped with multiple air conditioners located within the same building, The operation determination unit independently determines the operation of each of the multiple air conditioners installed inside the same building. The aforementioned air conditioning control unit independently controls the operation of multiple air conditioners installed within the same building. The air conditioning system according to claim 1 or claim 2.

11. The process of acquiring weather information, A user settings information acquisition step that acquires user settings information, including values ​​related to the target environment, based on user operations, A process for acquiring thermal insulation information to obtain thermal insulation information of the building in which the air conditioner to be controlled is installed, An operation determination step in which the operation of the air conditioner is determined based on the acquired weather information, user setting information, and insulation information, An air conditioning control step which controls the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined in the operation determination step, It has, The air conditioning control step turns on the operation of the air conditioner and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time, according to the determination result determined by the operation determination step. Air conditioning methods.

12. A program that causes a computer having at least a processor and memory to perform air conditioning within a building, The weather information acquisition step involves obtaining weather information, A user settings information acquisition step that acquires user settings information, including values ​​related to the target environment, based on user operations, A thermal insulation information acquisition step to acquire thermal insulation information of the building in which the air conditioner to be controlled is installed, An operation determination step in which the operation of the air conditioner is determined based on the acquired weather information, user setting information, and insulation information, An air conditioning control step which controls the operation of the air conditioner according to the determination result determined in the operation determination step, Make it run, The air conditioning control step turns on the operation of the air conditioner and maintains the on state for at least a predetermined time, according to the determination result determined by the operation determination step. program.

Images