Equipment management system, equipment management device, equipment management method, and program

Abstract

This invention provides a device management system, a device management device, a device management method, and a program that can simplify the tasks that users perform to set up an environment for managing equipment. [Solution] The cloud server 1, which is a device management device, includes a device information storage unit 131 that stores MAC address information of multiple devices 3 in association with device setting identification information, a two-dimensional code generation unit 114 that generates a two-dimensional code image representing the device setting identification information, a device information acquisition unit 119 that, upon acquiring device setting notification information transmitted from a terminal device 4, stores in the device information storage unit 131 the device name information and MAC address information contained in the acquired device setting notification information in association with each other, and a device setting information notification unit 120 that, upon acquiring device information request information transmitted from a terminal device 6, generates device setting notification information including device information corresponding to the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device information request information stored in the device information storage unit 131, and transmits it to the terminal device 6.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] , , , , , ,

[0003] , ,

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a device management system, a device management apparatus, a device management method, and a program.

Background Art

[0002] There has been proposed a system including: a user terminal having a reading unit that reads a two-dimensional code and transmits terminal information that can identify the own terminal based on information included in the two-dimensional code read by the reading unit; and an information processing apparatus having a storage unit that stores authority information representing the operation authority of indoor devices, and when receiving the terminal information transmitted from the user terminal, setting the operation authority of the indoor devices for the user terminal based on the received terminal information and the authority information stored in the storage unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the user can operate the indoor devices via the user terminal based on the authority information set in the user terminal.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Incidentally, a system is being developed that manages device identification information on a cloud server to identify the devices used by users, and when the user obtains operation information to operate the devices via a terminal device, identifies the target device based on the device identification information contained in the obtained operation information, and controls the identified device based on the operation information. In order to build an environment for using such a system, it is necessary to register the device identification information of the devices installed in the user's residence with property identification information that identifies the residence in which the devices are installed, and to register the device identification information with the location of the device within the residence on the terminal device used when the user operates the device. However, these tasks are complicated for users with little experience in installing devices, so there is a need to simplify the tasks that users must perform in order to build an environment for using the system.

[0005] This disclosure is made in view of the above circumstances and aims to provide a device management system, device management device, device management method, and program that can simplify the work that users have to do to set up an environment for managing their devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the equipment management system related to this disclosure is: A device management device that manages at least one device belonging to the first network, A first terminal device owned by a first user, which is capable of communicating with the aforementioned device management device via a second network different from the first network, and is also capable of communicating with the aforementioned device via the first network, The system comprises a second terminal device owned by a second user, which is capable of communicating with the aforementioned device management device via the second network, The aforementioned equipment management device is A device information storage unit stores at least one piece of device information, including device identification information that identifies the aforementioned device, in association with at least one piece of device setting identification information that identifies the aforementioned device information. A code generation unit that generates a code image representing the aforementioned device setting identification information, A device information acquisition unit, upon acquiring device setting notification information including the device setting information and the device setting identification information transmitted from the first terminal device, stores the device setting information and the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting notification information in the device information storage unit in association with each other. The system includes a device setting notification unit that, upon receiving device information request information transmitted from the second terminal device, which requests the transmission of device information including the device setting identification information, generates device setting notification information, which is stored in the device information storage unit and includes the device information corresponding to the device setting identification information included in the acquired device information request information, and transmits it to the second terminal device. The first terminal device, A first code image acquisition unit acquires the aforementioned code image, A first device setting identification information conversion unit converts code image information showing the code image into device setting identification information, A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information from the aforementioned device via the first network, The device includes a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including at least one of the device information and the device setting identification information and transmits it to the device management device, The aforementioned second terminal device is A second code image acquisition unit acquires the aforementioned code image, A second device setting identification information conversion unit converts code image information representing the code image into device setting identification information, The device setting acquisition unit transmits the device information request information, including the device setting identification information, to the device management device via the second network, thereby acquiring the device setting notification information transmitted from the device management device via the second network. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, when the first terminal device acquires a code image, it converts the code image information indicating the acquired code image into device setting identification information, acquires device information from the device via the first network, generates device information notification information including at least one piece of device information and device setting identification information, and transmits it to the device management device. Furthermore, when the second terminal device acquires the aforementioned code image, it converts the code image information indicating the acquired code image into device setting identification information, and transmits device information request information including the said device setting identification information to the device management device via the second network, thereby acquiring the device setting notification information transmitted from the device management device via the second network. As a result, if the first user uses the first terminal device to transmit device information notification information including device information acquired from the device via the first network to the device management device, the second user can acquire device information from the device management device via the second network simply by acquiring a code image using the second terminal device. Therefore, the second user does not need to use the second terminal device to connect the second terminal device to the second network and acquire device information from the device via the second network in order to set up an environment in which the device management device manages the device. Therefore, the work required for a second user to set up an environment for managing the equipment can be simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Schematic diagram of the device management system according to the embodiment of this disclosure [Figure 2] Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the device management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] Block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] (A) is a diagram showing an example of information stored by the property information storage unit according to the embodiment, and (B) is a diagram showing an example of information stored by the setting information storage unit according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] Block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device management system according to the embodiment. [Figure 6]Figure showing an example of information stored in the device information storage unit according to the embodiment [Figure 7] Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system according to the embodiment [Figure 8] Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system according to the embodiment [Figure 9] Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system according to the embodiment [Figure 10] (A) is a diagram showing an example of a login image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment, and (B) is a diagram showing an example of an area property designation image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment [Figure 11] Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system according to the embodiment [Figure 12] (A) is a diagram showing an example of a device list notification image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment, and (B) is a diagram showing an example of a device information editing image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment [Figure 13] Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system according to the embodiment [Figure 14] (A) is a diagram showing an example of a device information editing image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment, and (B) is a diagram showing an example of a device name selection image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment [Figure 15] Diagram showing an example of a device information editing image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment [Figure 16] Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system according to the embodiment [Figure 17] Diagram showing an example of a registered device confirmation image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device according to the embodiment [Figure 18] Sequence diagram showing an example of the operation of the device management system according to the embodiment [Figure 19] Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device management processing executed by the cloud server according to the embodiment [Figure 20]A flowchart showing an example of the flow of device management processing performed by the cloud server according to the embodiment. [Figure 21] A diagram showing an example of the information stored in the setting information storage unit related to the modified example. [Figure 22] A diagram showing an example of the information stored in the device information storage unit related to the modification. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, an equipment management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The equipment management system according to this embodiment comprises: an equipment management device for managing at least one device belonging to a first network; a first terminal device owned by a first user that can communicate with the equipment management device via a second network different from the first network and can also communicate with the device via the first network; and a second terminal device owned by a second user that can communicate with the equipment management device via the second network. Here, the device management device includes: a device information storage unit that stores at least one piece of device information, including device identification information that identifies a device, in association with device setting identification information that identifies at least one piece of device information; a code generation unit that generates a code image representing the device setting identification information; a device information acquisition unit that, upon acquiring device setting notification information, including device setting notification information and device setting identification information transmitted from a first terminal device, stores the device setting information and device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting notification information in association with each other in the device information storage unit; and a device setting notification unit that, upon acquiring device information request information transmitted from a second terminal device requesting the transmission of device information, including device setting identification information, generates device setting notification information, including device information corresponding to the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device information request information stored in the device information storage unit, and transmits it to the second terminal device. Furthermore, the first terminal device includes a first code image acquisition unit that acquires a code image, a first device setting identification information conversion unit that converts code image information showing a code image into device setting identification information, a device information acquisition unit that acquires device information from a device via a first network, and a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including at least one piece of device information and device setting identification information and transmits it to a device management device. Furthermore, the second terminal device includes a second code image acquisition unit that acquires a code image, a second device setting identification information conversion unit that converts code image information showing a code image into device setting identification information, and a device setting acquisition unit that transmits device information request information including device setting identification information to a device management device via a second network, thereby acquiring device setting notification information transmitted from a device management device via a second network.

[0010] The device management system according to this embodiment is used, for example, for setting up device 3 installed in a house H1, as shown in Figure 1. House H1 is equipped with device 3, a communication control device 2 that can communicate with device 3 via a local network NW2 established in house H1, and a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 8 that can communicate with the communication control device 2 via the local network NW2. The local network NW2 is either a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN. The BBR 8 is connected to a wide-area network NW1, such as the Internet. The device management system according to this embodiment includes, for example, a terminal device 4 owned by the contractor who installs device 3 in house H1, a terminal device 6 owned by the user of device 3, a terminal device 5 owned by the management company that manages house H1, and a cloud server 1. Terminal devices 4, 5, and 6 are each capable of communicating with the cloud server 1 via the wide-area network NW1. Terminal device 4 is also capable of connecting to the local network NW2. In this embodiment, the contractor is the first user, and the user of the equipment 3 installed in the house H1 is the second user.

[0011] Device 3 is a water heater, air conditioner, etc., and can communicate with cloud server 1 using a communication protocol that conforms to the ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) standard, for example. When each device 3 receives device information request information from terminal device 4 via local network NW2 requesting the transmission of its own device information, it generates response information including its own device identification information in response. Then, device 3 transmits the generated response information to terminal device 4.

[0012] The communication control device 2 relays communication between the device 3 and the cloud server 1. When the communication control device 2 receives information from the device 3 destined for the cloud server 1, it adds header information to the received information to specify the cloud server 1 as the destination and its own device as the source, and then transmits the information to the cloud server 1 via the BBR8 and the wide area network NW1.

[0013] The terminal device 5 is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer, and as shown in Figure 2, comprises a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 501, a main memory unit 502, an auxiliary memory unit 503, a display unit 504, an input unit 505, a wide-area communication unit 506, and an interface 507 to which external devices 52 are connected. Here, the main memory unit 502 is a volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as the working area for the CPU 501. The auxiliary memory unit 503 has, for example, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a non-volatile memory such as semiconductor flash memory, or an SSD (Solid State Drive), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), etc., and stores programs for realizing various functions of the terminal device 5. The display unit 504 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-luminescence) display, etc., and displays various information. The input unit 505 is, for example, a keyboard, which receives operations from the administrator and outputs information indicating the content of the received operations to the CPU 501. The wide-area communication unit 506 has an interface for connecting to the wide-area network NW1. The external device 52 is a printer or external memory such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory.

[0014] The CPU 501 reads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503 into the main storage unit 502 and executes it, thereby functioning as the property management unit 511, authentication information setting unit 512, two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 513, device setting identification information setting unit 514, property information notification unit 515, authentication information notification unit 516, device setting identification information notification unit 517, display control unit 518, and external output unit 519, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, the auxiliary storage unit 503 shown in Figure 2 has a property information storage unit 531, an authentication information storage unit 532, a device setting identification information storage unit 533, and a two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 that stores two-dimensional code image information showing a two-dimensional code image, as shown in Figure 3. The property information storage unit 531 stores, for example as shown in Figure 4(A), area information indicating the region where the house H1 on which the equipment 3 is installed is located, property information indicating, for example, the property name assigned to the house H1, equipment type information indicating the type of equipment 3 installed in the house H1, and equipment name candidate information indicating candidate names to be assigned to the equipment 3, in association with property identification information that identifies the house H1. Here, the property information corresponds to location information indicating the location where the equipment 3 is installed. The equipment type identification information includes, for example, class group code information in the ECHONET Lite standard. The equipment name candidate information consists of at least one group of equipment name information for each piece of equipment type information. For example, for equipment type information indicating "air conditioner," equipment name candidate information consisting of a group of equipment name information indicating "living room air conditioner," "bedroom air conditioner," "Western-style room 1 air conditioner," and "Western-style room 2 air conditioner" is associated.

[0015] Returning to Figure 3, the authentication information storage unit 532 stores authentication information for authenticating contractors. This authentication information consists of, for example, contractor identification information and password information, which are set by the administrator to identify the contractor. The equipment setting identification information storage unit 533 stores equipment setting identification information for each house H1, which identifies the group of equipment information for all the equipment 3 installed in each house H1, in association with the property identification information of house H1. This equipment setting identification information represents, for example, a random number with a predetermined number of digits set by the administrator. The two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 stores two-dimensional code image information that represents the aforementioned authentication information for authenticating contractors or the equipment setting identification information that identifies the group of equipment information installed in house H1.

[0016] When the property management unit 511 receives an area information registration operation performed by the administrator to the input unit 505 to register the aforementioned area information, it generates the aforementioned area information based on the information entered in the area information registration operation and stores the generated area information in the property information storage unit 531 in association with the property identification information. Furthermore, when the property management unit 511 receives a device-related information registration operation performed by the administrator to the input unit 505 to register new device type information indicating the type of device 3 to be installed in the residence H1, and device name candidate information indicating candidate names to be assigned to the device 3, it generates the aforementioned device type information and the corresponding device name candidate information based on the information entered in the device-related information registration operation, and stores the generated device type information and device name candidate information in the property information storage unit 531 in association with the property identification information.

[0017] When the authentication information setting unit 512 receives an authentication information setting operation performed by the administrator on the input unit 505 to set the aforementioned authentication information anew, it generates the aforementioned authentication information, for example, the contractor's identification information and password information, based on the information entered in the authentication information setting operation, and stores the generated authentication information in the authentication information storage unit 532. When the device setting identification information setting unit 514 receives an device setting identification information setting operation performed by the administrator on the input unit 505 to set the aforementioned device setting identification information anew, it generates the aforementioned device setting identification information based on the information entered in the device setting identification information setting operation, and stores the generated device setting identification information in the device setting identification information storage unit 533.

[0018] The two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 513 generates two-dimensional code request information that includes the aforementioned authentication information or the aforementioned device setting identification information, and sends it to the cloud server 1, thereby acquiring two-dimensional code notification information that includes two-dimensional code image information transmitted from the cloud server 1. Here, the two-dimensional code image information is, for example, information that shows a two-dimensional code image. The two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 513 then extracts the two-dimensional code image information contained in the acquired two-dimensional code notification information and stores the extracted two-dimensional code notification information in the two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 in association with the authentication information or device setting identification information.

[0019] The external output unit 519 outputs the two-dimensional code image information stored in the two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 to the external device 52 based on the operation performed by the administrator on the input unit 505. If the external device 52 is an external memory such as a USB memory, the external output unit 519 transfers the two-dimensional code image information to the external memory. If the external device 52 is a printer, the external output unit 519 transfers the two-dimensional code image information to the printer and also outputs command information to the printer instructing it to print on paper. As a result, the printer forms a two-dimensional code image based on the two-dimensional code image information and prints the formed two-dimensional code image on paper.

[0020] When the property information notification unit 515 receives a property information transmission operation from the administrator to the input unit 505 for sending property information to the cloud server 1, it generates property information notification information including area information, contractor identification information, equipment type information, equipment name candidate information, and property identification information stored in the property information storage unit 531 and sends it to the cloud server 1. When the authentication information notification unit 516 receives an authentication information transmission operation from the administrator to the input unit 505 for sending authentication information to the cloud server 1, it generates authentication information notification information including authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 532, i.e., contractor identification information and password information, and sends it to the cloud server 1. When the equipment setting identification information notification unit 517 receives an equipment setting identification information transmission operation from the administrator to the input unit 505 for sending equipment setting identification information to the cloud server 1, it generates equipment setting identification information notification information including equipment setting identification information stored in the equipment setting identification information storage unit 533 and sends it to the cloud server 1.

[0021] The display control unit 518 forms area registration images, property registration images, etc., in response to operations performed by the administrator on the input unit 505, and displays them on the display unit 504.

[0022] Returning to Figure 2, the terminal device 4 is, for example, a smartphone, and comprises a CPU 401, a main memory unit 402, an auxiliary memory unit 403, a display unit 404, an input unit 405, a wide-area communication unit 461, a local communication unit 462, an imaging unit 407, and a bus 409 connecting each unit, and is used by a contractor who installs the equipment 3 in a house H1. This contractor corresponds to the first user. The main memory unit 402 has volatile memory used as a workspace for the CPU 401, and the auxiliary memory unit 403 has non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing the various functions of the terminal device 4. The input unit 405 is, for example, a transparent touchpad placed on top of the display unit 404, and receives operations from the contractor and outputs information indicating the received operation to the CPU 401. The wide-area communication unit 461 has an interface for connecting to the wide-area network NW1. The local communication unit 462 has an interface for the terminal device 4 to connect to the local network NW2 established in the house H1. The imaging unit 407 has a camera and outputs the image captured by the camera to the bus 409.

[0023] The CPU 401 reads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 403 into the main storage unit 402 and executes it, so as shown in Figure 3, it functions as the imaging control unit 411, the two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 412, the authentication information conversion unit 413, the authentication request unit 414, the setting information acquisition unit 415, the device information acquisition unit 416, the device information setting unit 417, the device setting identification information conversion unit 418, the device information notification unit 419, and the display control unit 420. Furthermore, the auxiliary storage unit 403 shown in Figure 2 has a setting information storage unit 431 and a device information storage unit 432, as shown in Figure 3. The setting information storage unit 431 stores, for example as shown in Figure 4(B), property information indicating the property name assigned to a house H1 to which the construction company has been authorized to install the device 3, device type information, candidate device name information, and device setting identification information corresponding to each house H1, in association with the property identification information. Furthermore, the configuration information storage unit 431 stores area information indicating the region where the house H1, which has been authorized by the construction company to install the equipment 3, is located.

[0024] Returning to Figure 3, the device information storage unit 432 stores property information indicating the property name assigned to the house H1 where the contractor installed the device 3, device type information, device name information for each installed device, device identification information for each of the 3 devices, and device setting identification information corresponding to the house H1 where the device 3 was installed, all associated with the property identification information. Here, the device identification information is, for example, MAC address information indicating the MAC (Media Access Control) address assigned to the device 3.

[0025] When a contractor performs a two-dimensional code imaging operation on the input unit 405 to capture a two-dimensional code representing authentication information received from the administrator, or a two-dimensional code representing equipment setting identification information, the imaging control unit 411 accepts the two-dimensional code imaging operation and causes the imaging unit 407 to execute an imaging process to capture the two-dimensional code. The two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 412 extracts the two-dimensional code image contained in the image indicated by the image information output from the imaging unit 407 after the imaging unit 407 has performed the imaging process, and notifies the authentication information conversion unit 413 or the equipment setting identification information conversion unit 418 of the two-dimensional code image information indicating the extracted two-dimensional code image.

[0026] The authentication information conversion unit 413 converts the two-dimensional code image information indicating authentication information, notified by the two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 412, into authentication information and notifies the authentication request unit 414 of the said authentication information. When the authentication request unit 414 receives the authentication information from the authentication information conversion unit 413, it generates authentication request information including the notified authentication information and sends it to the cloud server 1, thereby requesting the cloud server 1 to perform the authentication process. If the authentication request unit 414 succeeds in authentication based on the authentication information at the cloud server 1, it obtains the authentication success notification information sent from the cloud server 1 and notifies the setting information acquisition unit 415 and the display control unit 420 of the obtained authentication success notification information. If the authentication request unit 414 fails to authenticate based on the authentication information at the cloud server 1, it obtains the authentication failure notification information sent from the cloud server 1 and notifies the display control unit 420 of the obtained authentication failure notification information.

[0027] After receiving authentication success notification information from the authentication request unit 414, and when the contractor performs equipment setup preparation operations to the input unit 405 to obtain equipment identification information for equipment 3, the configuration information acquisition unit 415 generates configuration information request information including the aforementioned equipment setup identification information and sends it to the cloud server 1. As a result, the configuration information acquisition unit 415 acquires configuration information notification information sent from the cloud server 1, which includes the property identification information, property information, equipment type identification information, and equipment name candidate information described later, extracts these various pieces of information contained in the acquired configuration information notification information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the configuration information storage unit 431.

[0028] After the contractor has performed the aforementioned equipment setup preparation operation, the equipment information acquisition unit 416 initiates an equipment search start operation to the input unit 405, specifying the property identification information of the target house H1, in order to search for equipment 3 belonging to the local network NW2. The setup information storage unit 431 stores equipment information request information, which includes equipment type identification information corresponding to the specified property identification information. The equipment information acquisition unit 416 then broadcasts the generated equipment type identification information to the equipment 3 connected to the local network NW2, thereby acquiring response information transmitted from each of the equipment 3 and extracting the equipment identification information contained in the acquired response information. The equipment information acquisition unit 416 then associates the property identification information, property information, and equipment type identification information stored in the setup information storage unit 431 with the extracted equipment identification information and stores them in the equipment information storage unit 432.

[0029] The device setting identification information conversion unit 418 converts the two-dimensional code image information indicating device setting identification information, which is notified by the two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 412, into device setting identification information, and stores the device setting identification information in the device information storage unit 432 in association with the property identification information of the house H1 where the device 3 is installed. When a contractor performs a device name update operation by selecting one device name from at least one device name information constituting the candidate device name information stored in the setting information storage unit 431 to the input unit 405 and updating the device name of device 3 with the device name indicated by the selected device name information, the device information setting unit 417 stores the selected device name information in the device information storage unit 432 in association with the corresponding device identification information.

[0030] When the contractor initiates an application via the input unit 405 to register the device identification information of the device 3 installed in the house H1 with the cloud server 1, the display control unit 420 forms a login image for logging into the application and displays it on the display unit 404. Furthermore, when the display control unit 420 receives authentication success notification information from the cloud server 1, it forms an area property specification image for specifying the area where the house H1 to be installed is located and for specifying the house H1, and displays it on the display unit 404. On the other hand, when the display control unit 420 receives authentication failure notification information from the cloud server 1, it forms an authentication failure notification image to notify the contractor that authentication failed and displays it on the display unit 404. Finally, when the display control unit 420 receives response information from a device 3 belonging to the local network NW2 to which the terminal device 4 is connected, it forms a device list notification image showing a list of devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2 and displays it on the display unit 404. Furthermore, when a contractor performs a device registration operation on the input unit 405 to register the device identification information of the devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2 with the cloud server 1, the display control unit 420 forms an edited device information image for each of the devices 3 to change the device name, etc., and displays it on the display unit 404. In addition, when a contractor performs a device name update operation on the input unit 405 to update the device names of the devices 3, the display control unit 420 forms an edited device information image for each of the devices 3 to change the device name, and displays it on the display unit 404.

[0031] When a contractor performs a device registration operation on the input unit 405 to store the device 3 installed in the house H1 in the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1, the device information notification unit 419 generates device information notification information, which includes property identification information, property information, device type identification information, device identification information, and device setting identification information, stored in the device information storage unit 432. The device information notification unit 419 then transmits the generated device information notification information to the cloud server 1.

[0032] Returning to Figure 2, the terminal device 6 is, for example, a smartphone, and comprises a CPU 601, a main memory unit 602, an auxiliary memory unit 603, a display unit 604, an input unit 605, a wide-area communication unit 606, an imaging unit 607, and a bus 609 connecting each unit, and is used by a user who uses the device 3. This user corresponds to the second user. The main memory unit 602 has volatile memory used as a workspace for the CPU 601, and the auxiliary memory unit 603 has non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of the terminal device 6. The input unit 605 is, for example, a transparent touchpad placed on top of the display unit 604, which receives operations from the user and outputs information indicating the content of the received operation to the CPU 601. The wide-area communication unit 606 has an interface for connecting to the wide-area network NW1. The imaging unit 607 has a camera and outputs the captured image obtained by the camera to the bus 609.

[0033] The CPU 601 reads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 603 into the main storage unit 602 and executes it, thereby functioning as the imaging control unit 611, display control unit 612, two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 613, device setting identification information conversion unit 614, device setting acquisition unit 615, and update notification acquisition unit 616, as shown in Figure 5. The auxiliary storage unit 603 shown in Figure 2 also has a device setting storage unit 631, as shown in Figure 5. The device setting storage unit 631 stores the device identification information, device type information, and device name information for each of the devices 3 installed in the user's residence H1, associating them with each other.

[0034] When a user performs a two-dimensional code imaging operation on the input unit 605 to image a two-dimensional code representing device setting identification information received from the administrator, the imaging control unit 611 accepts the two-dimensional code imaging operation and causes the imaging unit 607 to perform imaging processing to image the two-dimensional code. The two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 613 extracts the two-dimensional code image contained in the image indicated by the image information output from the imaging unit 607 after the imaging unit 607 performs the imaging processing, and notifies the device setting identification information conversion unit 614 of the two-dimensional code image information indicating the extracted two-dimensional code image.

[0035] The device setting identification information conversion unit 614 converts the two-dimensional code image information indicating the device setting identification information, which is notified by the two-dimensional code image acquisition unit 613, into device setting identification information and notifies the device setting acquisition unit 615 of the device setting identification information. When the device setting acquisition unit 615 receives the device setting identification information from the device setting identification information conversion unit 614, it generates device setting request information to acquire a combination of device identification information and device name information of device 3 installed in the house H1, including the notified device setting identification information, and sends it to the cloud server 1. As a result, the device setting acquisition unit 615 acquires the device setting notification information sent from the cloud server 1, which includes the property identification information, device identification information, and device name information described later, extracts these various pieces of information contained in the acquired device setting notification information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the device setting storage unit 631.

[0036] When a user performs a registration device selection operation on the input unit 605 to select a device 3 to be stored in the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1 from among the device identification information of each device 3 stored in the device setting storage unit 631, the registration update request unit 617 generates registration device update request information including the device identification information and property identification information of the device 3 selected by the registration device selection operation. The registration update request unit 617 then transmits the generated registration device update request information to the cloud server 1. Furthermore, when a user performs a registration device deletion operation on the input unit 605 to select a device identification information to be deleted from the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1 from among the device identification information of each device 3 stored in the device setting storage unit 631, the registration update request unit 617 generates deletion request information including the device identification information and property identification information of the device 3 selected by the registration deletion operation. The registration update request unit 617 then transmits the generated deletion request information to the cloud server 1.

[0037] When the update notification acquisition unit 616 acquires the update notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1 (described below), it notifies the display control unit 612 of the acquired update notification information.

[0038] When the display control unit 612 receives device setting notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1 after the user has performed an application setting operation on the input unit 405 to perform the initial setup of the application for operating the device 3, it forms a registered device confirmation image representing each device 3 in which the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1 stores device identification information, and displays it on the display unit 604. Furthermore, when the display control unit 612 receives update notification information from the update notification acquisition unit 616, it forms an update notification image in response to this, indicating that the device identification information corresponding to the property information of the user's residence H1, stored in the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1, has been updated, and displays it on the display unit 604.

[0039] Returning to Figure 2, the cloud server 1 is connected to the device 3 via the local network NW2, the communication control device 2, the BBR8, and the wide-area network NW1, and functions as a device management device that manages the device 3. The cloud server 1 is, for example, a computer for server use, and comprises a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a wide-area communication unit 106, and a bus 109 that connects each unit. The CPU 101 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 102 is volatile memory and is used as a workspace for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory unit 103 has non-volatile memory and functions as ROM, storage, and stores programs for realizing various functions of the cloud server 1. The wide-area communication unit 106 communicates with the device 3 via the wide-area network NW1, the BBR8, the communication control device 2, and the local network NW2.

[0040] The CPU 101 reads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, so as shown in Figure 3, it functions as the property information acquisition unit 111, authentication information acquisition unit 112, two-dimensional code notification unit 113, two-dimensional code generation unit 114, device setting identification information acquisition unit 115, authentication request management unit 116, authentication unit 117, setting information notification unit 118, device information acquisition unit 119, device information notification unit 120, and device information update notification unit 121. Furthermore, the auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Figure 2 has a device information storage unit 131, an authentication information storage unit 132, and a setting information storage unit 133, as shown in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 4(B), the configuration information storage unit 133 stores area information and property information of the house H1 where the equipment 3 is to be installed, equipment type identification information and candidate equipment name information of the equipment 3 to be installed in the house H1, and contractor identification information that identifies the contractor that will install the equipment 3, in association with the property identification information.

[0041] The device information storage unit 131 stores, for example as shown in Figure 6, area information and property information of the house H1 where the device 3 is installed, and device identification information, device type identification information, and device name information for each of the devices 3 installed in the house H1, in association with property identification information and device setting identification information. In the example shown in Figure 6, it is shown that an air conditioner is installed in both the living room and the bedroom of the house H1 identified by property identification information IDH[0], and that a distribution board and a water heater are also installed.

[0042] Returning to Figure 3, the authentication information storage unit 132 stores the authentication information used to authenticate the contractor when the contractor registers the equipment identification information of the equipment 3 installed in the house H1 to the equipment information storage unit 131, in association with the area information.

[0043] When the property information acquisition unit 111 acquires the aforementioned property information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5, it extracts area information, equipment type information, equipment name candidate information, and property identification information contained in the acquired property information notification information. The property information acquisition unit 111 then associates the extracted area information, equipment type information, and property identification information with each other and stores them in the equipment information storage unit 131. The property information acquisition unit 111 also associates the extracted area information, equipment type information, equipment name candidate information, and property identification information with each other and stores them in the setting information storage unit 133.

[0044] When the authentication information acquisition unit 112 acquires the aforementioned authentication information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5, it extracts the authentication information contained in the acquired authentication information notification information and stores the extracted authentication information in the authentication information storage unit 132. When the device setting identification information acquisition unit 115 acquires the aforementioned device setting identification information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5, it extracts the property identification information and device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting identification information notification information and stores the extracted property identification information and device setting identification information in the device information storage unit 131 in correspondence with each other.

[0045] When the two-dimensional code notification unit 113 receives two-dimensional code request information, which includes the aforementioned authentication information or device setting identification information, transmitted from the terminal device 5, it extracts the authentication information or device setting identification information contained in the acquired two-dimensional code request information and notifies the two-dimensional code generation unit 114. When the two-dimensional code generation unit 114 receives the authentication information or device setting identification information from the two-dimensional code notification unit 113, it generates a two-dimensional code image representing the notified authentication information or device setting identification information and notifies the two-dimensional code notification unit 113 of the two-dimensional code image information indicating the generated two-dimensional code image. Here, the two-dimensional code is, for example, a QR code (registered trademark). The two-dimensional code notification unit 113 then generates two-dimensional code notification information, which includes the notified two-dimensional code image information, and transmits it to the terminal device 5.

[0046] When the authentication request management unit 116 receives authentication request information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it extracts the authentication information contained in the received authentication request information and notifies the authentication unit 117 of the extracted authentication information. When the authentication unit 117 receives the authentication information from the authentication request management unit 116, it performs an authentication process to determine whether the notified authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 132. If the notified authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 132, the authentication unit 117 determines that authentication has been successful and notifies the authentication request management unit 116, the setting information notification unit 118, and the equipment information acquisition unit 119 of the authentication success notification information, which includes the identification information of the authenticated contractor. On the other hand, if the acquired authentication information does not match the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 132, the authentication unit 117 determines that authentication has failed and notifies the authentication failure notification information to the authentication request management unit 116. Then, when the authentication request management unit 116 receives authentication success notification information from the authentication unit 117, it transmits the received authentication success notification information to the terminal device 4 that sent the authentication request information. On the other hand, when the authentication request management unit 116 receives authentication failure notification information from the authentication unit 117, it transmits the received authentication failure notification information to the terminal device 4 that sent the authentication request information.

[0047] After receiving authentication success notification information from the authentication unit 117, the configuration information notification unit 118 acquires the configuration information request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 that sent the authentication request information. The configuration information storage unit 133 then selects property information, device type identification information, and device name candidate information corresponding to the device setting identification information contained in the acquired configuration information request information. The configuration information notification unit 118 then generates configuration information notification information including the selected property information, device type identification information, and device name candidate information, and transmits it to the terminal device 4 that sent the configuration information request information.

[0048] When the device information acquisition unit 119 acquires device information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it extracts the property identification information, property information, device type identification information, device identification information, and device setting identification information contained in the acquired device information notification information. Then, the device information notification unit 419 stores these extracted pieces of information in the device information storage unit 131, associating them with each other.

[0049] When the device information notification unit 120 receives the aforementioned device setting request information transmitted from the terminal device 6, it selects property identification information, device identification information, and device name information corresponding to the device setting identification information included in the acquired device setting request information, which are stored in the device information storage unit 131. The device information notification unit 120 then generates device setting notification information including the selected property identification information, device identification information, and device name information, and transmits the generated device setting notification information to the terminal device 6. When the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131 is updated, the device information update notification unit 121 generates update notification information notifying that the device identification information has been updated. The device information update notification unit 121 then transmits the generated update notification information to the terminal device 6 owned by the user of the residence H1, which is identified by the property identification information corresponding to the updated device identification information.

[0050] When the registration update management unit 122 receives the aforementioned registered device notification information transmitted from the terminal device 6, it extracts the device identification information and property identification information contained in the acquired registered device notification information, and updates the device identification information corresponding to the extracted property identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131, leaving only the various information corresponding to the extracted device identification information. Furthermore, when the registration update management unit 122 receives the aforementioned deletion request information transmitted from the terminal device 6, it extracts the device identification information and property identification information contained in the acquired deletion request information, and updates the device identification information by deleting the various information corresponding to the extracted device identification information from the device identification information corresponding to the extracted property identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131.

[0051] Next, the operation of the device management system according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 7 to 18. First, as shown in Figure 7, when an administrator performs an area information registration operation to register the aforementioned area information to the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5, the terminal device 5 accepts the area information registration operation, generates the aforementioned area information based on the information entered in the area information registration operation, and stores the generated area information in the property information storage unit 531 in association with the property identification information (Step S1). Next, when an administrator performs an authentication information setting operation to set the aforementioned authentication information to the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5, the terminal device 5 accepts the authentication information registration operation, generates the aforementioned authentication information based on the information entered in the authentication information setting operation, and stores the generated authentication information in the authentication information storage unit 532 (Step S2).

[0052] Next, when the administrator performs an authentication information two-dimensional code acquisition operation on the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5 to obtain a two-dimensional code image representing authentication information, the terminal device 5 accepts the authentication information two-dimensional code acquisition operation and generates two-dimensional code request information including the aforementioned authentication information (step S3). Subsequently, the generated two-dimensional code request information is sent from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S4). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 obtains the two-dimensional code request information, it generates a two-dimensional code image representing the authentication information contained in the obtained two-dimensional code request information (step S5), and generates two-dimensional code notification information including two-dimensional code image information indicating the generated two-dimensional code image (step S6). Then, the generated two-dimensional code notification information is sent from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S7). Meanwhile, when the terminal device 5 obtains the two-dimensional code notification information, it extracts the two-dimensional code image information contained in the obtained two-dimensional code notification information and stores the extracted two-dimensional code notification information in the two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 in association with authentication information or device setting identification information (step S8).

[0053] Next, when the administrator performs a two-dimensional code output operation on the input unit 505 to output a two-dimensional code image to an external device 52, the terminal device 5 receives the two-dimensional code output operation and outputs the two-dimensional code image information stored in the two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 to the external device 52 based on the two-dimensional code output operation (step S9). The administrator then sends the outputted two-dimensional code image information or a paper medium on which the two-dimensional code image is printed to the contractor.

[0054] Subsequently, when the administrator performs a property information registration operation to the input unit 505 to register the aforementioned property information, the terminal device 5 receives the property information registration operation, generates the aforementioned property information based on the information entered in the received property information registration operation, and stores the generated property information in the property information storage unit 531 in association with the property identification information (step S10). Furthermore, when the administrator performs the aforementioned equipment-related information registration operation to the input unit 505, the terminal device 5 receives the equipment-related information registration operation, generates the aforementioned equipment type information and corresponding equipment name candidate information based on the information entered in the received equipment-related information registration operation, and stores the generated equipment type information and equipment name candidate information in the property information storage unit 531 in association with the property identification information (step S11).

[0055] Next, as shown in Figure 8, when the administrator performs a device setting identification information setting operation to set the aforementioned device setting identification information to the input unit 505, the terminal device 5 accepts the device setting identification information registration operation, generates the aforementioned device setting identification information based on the information entered in the device setting identification information setting operation, and stores the generated device setting identification information in the device setting identification information storage unit 533 (step S12).

[0056] Next, when the administrator performs a device setting identification information two-dimensional code acquisition operation on the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5 to acquire a two-dimensional code image representing the device setting identification information, the terminal device 5 accepts the device setting identification information two-dimensional code acquisition operation and generates two-dimensional code request information including the aforementioned device setting identification information (step S13). Subsequently, the generated two-dimensional code request information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S14). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires the two-dimensional code request information transmitted from the terminal device 5, it generates a two-dimensional code image representing the device setting identification information included in the acquired two-dimensional code request information (step S15). Next, the cloud server 1 generates two-dimensional code notification information including two-dimensional code request image information indicating the generated two-dimensional code image (step S16). Then, the generated two-dimensional code notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S17). On the other hand, when terminal device 5 acquires two-dimensional code notification information, it extracts two-dimensional code image information contained in the acquired two-dimensional code notification information and stores the extracted two-dimensional code notification information in the two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 in association with authentication information or device setting identification information (step S18).

[0057] Next, when the administrator performs the aforementioned property information transmission operation to the input unit 505, the terminal device 5 receives the property information transmission operation and generates property information notification information including area information, contractor identification information, equipment type information, equipment name candidate information, and property identification information stored in the property information storage unit 531 (step S19). The generated property information notification information is then transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S20). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires the property information notification information, it extracts the area information, equipment type information, equipment name candidate information, and property identification information contained in the acquired property information notification information. The cloud server 1 then stores the extracted area information, equipment type information, and property identification information in the equipment information storage unit 131, associating them with each other, and stores the extracted area information, equipment type information, equipment name candidate information, and property identification information in the setting information storage unit 133, associating them with each other (step S21).

[0058] Subsequently, when the administrator performs the aforementioned authentication information transmission operation to the input unit 505, the terminal device 5 receives the authentication information transmission operation and generates authentication information notification information including the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 532, i.e., the contractor identification information and password information (step S22). Then, the generated authentication information notification information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S23). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 receives the authentication information notification information, it extracts the authentication information contained in the acquired authentication information notification information and stores the extracted authentication information in the authentication information storage unit 132 (step S24). Next, as shown in Figure 9, when the administrator performs the aforementioned device setting identification information transmission operation to the input unit 505, the terminal device 5 receives the device setting identification information transmission operation and generates device setting identification information notification information including the device setting identification information stored in the device setting identification information storage unit 533 (step S25). Then, the generated device setting identification information notification information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S26). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires the device configuration identification information notification information, it extracts the property identification information and device configuration identification information contained in the acquired device configuration identification information notification information, and stores the extracted property identification information and device configuration identification information in the device information storage unit 131 in correspondence with each other (step S27).

[0059] Next, when the administrator performs a two-dimensional code output operation on the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5 to output a two-dimensional code image to an external device 52, the terminal device 5 receives the two-dimensional code output operation and outputs the two-dimensional code image information stored in the two-dimensional code information storage unit 534 to the external device 52 based on the two-dimensional code output operation (step S28). The administrator then sends the outputted two-dimensional code image information or a paper medium on which the two-dimensional code image is printed to the contractor and the user.

[0060] Subsequently, when the contractor activates an application on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to register the device identification information of the equipment 3 installed in the house H1 with the cloud server 1, the terminal device 4 forms a login image for logging into the application and displays it on the display unit 404. Here, the terminal device 4 forms a login image GA1, for example, as shown in Figure 10(A), and displays it on the display unit 404. This login image GA1 includes a box image M11 that displays the contractor identification information, a box image M12 that displays the password, and a button image BU11 that is selected when capturing a two-dimensional code image for authentication.

[0061] Returning to Figure 9, the next step is for the contractor to perform a two-dimensional code imaging operation on the input unit 405 to capture a two-dimensional code image showing the authentication information received from the administrator. The terminal device 4 accepts this two-dimensional code imaging operation and captures a two-dimensional code image using the imaging unit 407 (step S29). In this two-dimensional code imaging operation, the administrator selects the button image BU11 via the input unit 405 while the terminal device 4 is displaying the aforementioned login image GA1 on the display unit 404, and then the terminal device 4 performs the operation to capture a two-dimensional code image. At this time, the terminal device 4 extracts the two-dimensional code image included in the image captured by the imaging unit 407. Next, the terminal device 4 converts the two-dimensional code image information showing the captured two-dimensional code image into authentication information (step S30). Subsequently, the terminal device 4 generates authentication request information including the authentication information obtained by converting the two-dimensional code image information (step S31). Then, the generated authentication request information is sent from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 1 (step S32). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 obtains authentication request information, it extracts the authentication information contained in the obtained authentication request information and performs an authentication process to determine whether the extracted authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 132 (step S33). If the cloud server 1 determines that authentication has been successful (step S34), the aforementioned authentication success notification information is sent from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 4 (step S35). Meanwhile, when the terminal device 4 obtains the authentication success notification information, it forms an area property designation image to specify the area where the house H1 to be installed is located and the house H1, and displays it on the display unit 404 (step S36).

[0062] Here, the terminal device 4 forms an area property designation image GA2, for example, as shown in Figure 10(B), and displays it on the display unit 404. This area property designation image GA2 includes a box image M21 in which the area is displayed, a box image M22 in which property information is displayed, and a button image BU21 selected when capturing a two-dimensional code image representing equipment setting identification information.

[0063] Subsequently, as shown in Figure 11, when the contractor performs a device setting preparation operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4, the terminal device 4 accepts the two-dimensional code imaging operation and uses the imaging unit 407 to capture a two-dimensional code image representing the device setting identification information (step S37). In this device setting preparation operation, with the terminal device 4 displaying the aforementioned area property designation image GA2 on the display unit 404, the administrator selects the button image BU21 via the input unit 405, and then the terminal device 4 performs an operation to capture a two-dimensional code image representing the device setting identification information. At this time, the terminal device 4 extracts the two-dimensional code image included in the image captured by the imaging unit 407. Next, the terminal device 4 converts the two-dimensional code image information showing the captured two-dimensional code image into device setting identification information (step S38). Subsequently, the terminal device 4 generates setting information request information including the device setting identification information (step S39), and the generated setting information request information is sent from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 1 (step S40). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 receives the configuration information request information, it selects property information, device type identification information, and device name candidate information corresponding to the device configuration identification information contained in the acquired configuration information request information, which are stored in the configuration information storage unit 133 (step S41). Subsequently, the cloud server 1 generates configuration information notification information containing the various information selected by the cloud server 1 (step S42), and the generated configuration information notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 4 (step S43). Meanwhile, when the terminal device 4 receives the configuration information notification information, it extracts the property identification information, property information, device type identification information, and device name candidate information contained in the acquired configuration notification information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the configuration information storage unit 431 (step S44).

[0064] Next, when the contractor performs the aforementioned device search start operation on the input unit 405, the terminal device 4 generates device information request information, which includes device type identification information corresponding to the specified property identification information, stored in the setting information storage unit 431 (step S45). The generated device type identification information is then broadcast from the terminal device 4 to the device 3 connected to the local network NW2 (step S46). Meanwhile, when each device 3 receives the device information request information, it generates response information, which includes its own device information (step S47). The generated response information is then transmitted from the device 3 to the terminal device 4 (step S48). Meanwhile, when the terminal device 4 receives the response information, it extracts the device identification information contained in the received response information. The terminal device 4 then associates the property identification information, property information, and device type identification information stored in the setting information storage unit 431 with the extracted device identification information and stores them in the device information storage unit 432 (step S49). Next, terminal device 4 forms a device list notification image showing a list of devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2 and displays it on display unit 404 (step S50).

[0065] Here, the terminal device 4 forms a device list notification image GA3, for example, as shown in Figure 12(A), and displays it on the display unit 404. This device list notification image GA3 includes a message image M31 prompting the contractor to register the device 3, a message image M32 showing a list of devices 3, and a button image BU31 selected when registering the device 3 to the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1.

[0066] At this point, when the contractor performs the aforementioned equipment registration operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4, the terminal device 4 accepts the equipment registration operation and generates equipment information notification information, which includes property identification information, property information, equipment type identification information, equipment identification information, and equipment setting identification information, stored in the equipment information storage unit 432 (step S51). Then, as shown in Figure 13, the generated equipment information notification information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 1 (step S52). After that, the terminal device 4 forms the aforementioned equipment information edited image and displays it on the display unit 404 (step S53).

[0067] Here, the terminal device 4 forms an equipment information editing image GA4, for example, as shown in Figure 12(B), and displays it on the display unit 404. This equipment information editing image GA4 includes a message image M41 showing a list of equipment 3, button images BU431, BU432, BU433, BU434, and BU435 selected when changing the name of each equipment 3, a button image BU41 selected when transitioning to the aforementioned equipment list notification image GA3, and a button image BU42 selected when ending editing.

[0068] Returning to Figure 13, the cloud server 1, upon acquiring device information notification information, extracts the property identification information, property information, device type identification information, device identification information, and device setting identification information contained in the acquired device information notification information. The device information notification unit 419 then associates these extracted pieces of information with each other and stores them in the device information storage unit 131 (step S54).

[0069] Subsequently, when the contractor performs the aforementioned equipment name update operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4, the equipment name information is updated by storing the selected equipment name information and corresponding equipment identification information in the equipment information storage unit 432 (step S55). In this equipment name update operation, with the terminal device 4 displaying an equipment information editing image GA4, for example as shown in Figure 12(B), on the display unit 404, the contractor performs an operation via the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to select button images BU431, BU432, BU433, BU434, and BU435 corresponding to the equipment 3 whose equipment name is to be updated. As a result, the terminal device 4 displays an equipment information editing image GA5 for the target equipment 3, for example as shown in Figure 14(A), on the display unit 404. This equipment information editing image GA5 includes a message image M51 representing the type of equipment 3, a message image M52 representing the equipment name of equipment 3, and a message image M53 representing the equipment identification information of equipment 3. Furthermore, the device information editing image GA5 includes a button image BU51 selected when changing the device name, a button image BU52 selected when ending editing, and a button image BU53 selected when deleting the device 3 to be edited. Here, when the terminal device 4 is displaying the device information editing image GA4, as shown in Figure 14(A), on the display unit 404, and the contractor performs the operation of selecting the button image BU51 via the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4, the terminal device 4 displays a device name selection image PM1 for selecting a device name, as shown in Figure 14(B), on the display unit 404. This device name selection image PM1 includes a button image BU56 selected when selecting a device name from among the candidate device names for the device name of device 3, a button image BU54 selected when canceling the change of the device name, and a button image BU55 selected when determining the device name corresponding to the selected button image BU56.

[0070] Next, terminal device 4 forms the aforementioned edited device information image after the device name has been updated and displays it on display unit 404 (step S56). Here, suppose the contractor selects the device name "Living Room Air Conditioner" as shown in Figure 14(B). In this case, terminal device 4 displays the edited device information image GA6 on display unit 404, in which the device name M61 of the target device 3 has been updated to "Living Room Air Conditioner," as shown in Figure 15. Returning to Figure 13, when the contractor then performs the aforementioned device registration operation on input unit 405 of terminal device 4, terminal device 4 accepts the device registration operation and generates the aforementioned device information notification information (step S57), and the generated device information notification information is sent from terminal device 4 to cloud server 1 (step S58). After that, terminal device 4 forms the aforementioned edited device information image and displays it on display unit 404 (step S59). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires device information notification information, it extracts the property identification information, property information, device type identification information, device identification information, and device setting identification information contained in the acquired device information notification information. The device information notification unit 419 then associates these extracted pieces of information with each other and stores them in the device information storage unit 131 (step S60).

[0071] Next, when a user of device 3 performs a two-dimensional code imaging operation on the input unit 605 of terminal device 6 to capture a two-dimensional code image showing device setting identification information received from the administrator, terminal device 6 accepts the two-dimensional code imaging operation and captures a two-dimensional code image with the imaging unit 607 (step S61). This two-dimensional code imaging operation is performed by the user performing an application setting operation to perform the initial settings of the application for operating device 3, so that the terminal device 6 displays the initial setting image of the application on the display unit 404, and the user performs an operation to select a button image for capturing a two-dimensional code image via the input unit 605. At this time, terminal device 6 extracts the two-dimensional code image included in the image captured by the imaging unit 607. Subsequently, terminal device 6 converts the two-dimensional code image information showing the two-dimensional code image obtained by the imaging unit 607 into device setting identification information (step S62). Subsequently, terminal device 6 generates the aforementioned device configuration request information including the device configuration identification information (step S63), and the generated device configuration request information is transmitted from terminal device 6 to cloud server 1 (step S64).

[0072] Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires device configuration request information, it selects the property identification information, device identification information, and device name information corresponding to the device configuration identification information contained in the acquired device configuration request information, which are stored in the device information storage unit 131 (step S65). Then, the cloud server 1 generates device configuration notification information including the selected information (step S66). Subsequently, the generated device configuration notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 6 (step S67). Meanwhile, as shown in Figure 16, when the terminal device 6 acquires the device configuration notification information, it extracts the property identification information, device identification information, and device name information contained in the acquired device configuration notification information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the device configuration storage unit 631 (step S68). Next, the terminal device 6 forms a registered device confirmation image representing each device 3 whose device identification information is stored in the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1, and displays it on the display unit 604 (step S69).

[0073] Here, the terminal device 6 forms a registered device confirmation image GA7, for example, as shown in Figure 17, and displays it on the display unit 604. This registered device confirmation image GA7 includes a message image M71 showing a list of devices 3 whose device identification information is stored in the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1, button images BU71, BU72, BU73, BU74, and BU75 for selecting a device 3 to register with the cloud server 1, and a button image BU76 selected when confirming the device 3 to be registered.

[0074] Returning to Figure 16, the user then performs a registration device selection operation on the input unit 605 of the terminal device 6 to select a device 3 to be stored in the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1 from the device identification information of each device 3 stored in the device setting storage unit 631. This generates registration device update request information including the device identification information and property identification information of the device 3 selected by the registration device selection operation (step S70). The generated registration device update request information is then sent from the terminal device 6 to the cloud server 1 (step S71). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 acquires registration device notification information, it extracts the device identification information and property identification information contained in the acquired registration device notification information and updates the device identification information corresponding to the extracted property identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131, leaving only the various information corresponding to the extracted device identification information (step S72).

[0075] Furthermore, suppose that after the contractor replaces equipment 3 installed in house H1, the contractor performs an equipment information editing preparation operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 in order to delete a portion of the equipment identification information of equipment 3 stored in the equipment information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1. The terminal device 4 forms the aforementioned equipment information editing image and displays it on the display unit 404 (step S73). Subsequently, when the contractor performs a registered equipment deletion operation to delete a portion of equipment 3 registered in the cloud server 1, the terminal device 4 generates deletion request information including the equipment identification information of the equipment 3 to be deleted (step S74). In this registered equipment deletion operation, for example, with the terminal device 4 displaying the equipment information editing image GA4 as shown in Figure 12(B) on the display unit 404, the contractor performs an operation to select button images BU431, BU432, BU433, BU434, and BU435 via the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4, thereby displaying the equipment information editing image GA5 for the target equipment 3 as shown in Figure 14(A) on the display unit 404. Then, the contractor performs the operation to select button image BU53.

[0076] Returning to Figure 16, the generated deletion request information is then sent from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 1 (step S75). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 1 receives the deletion request information, it extracts the device identification information and property identification information contained in the acquired deletion request information, and updates the device identification information by deleting various information corresponding to the extracted device identification information from the device identification information corresponding to the extracted property identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131 (step S76). Subsequently, when the contractor performs the aforementioned device search start operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4, the series of processes from steps S45 to S50 described above are executed. Then, as shown in Figure 18, when the contractor performs the aforementioned device registration operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4, the series of processes from steps S51 to S54 described above are executed.

[0077] Subsequently, the cloud server 1 generates the aforementioned update notification information (step S77), and the generated update notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 6 (step S78). Meanwhile, when the terminal device 6 receives the update notification information, it forms an update notification image in the display unit 604 that notifies the user that the device identification information corresponding to the property information of the user's residence H1, stored in the device information storage unit 131 of the cloud server 1, has been updated, and displays it (step S79).

[0078] Next, the device management process executed by the cloud server 1 according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to Figures 19 and 20. This device management process is started when a program for executing the device management process is launched on the cloud server 1. First, the property information acquisition unit 111 determines whether or not it has acquired the aforementioned property information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5 (step S101). If the property information acquisition unit 111 determines that it has not acquired the property information notification information (step S101: No), the process in step S103, described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the property information acquisition unit 111 determines that it has acquired the property information notification information (step S101: Yes), it extracts the area information, device type information, device name candidate information, and property identification information contained in the acquired property information notification information. Then, the property information acquisition unit 111 associates the extracted area information, device type information, and property identification information with each other and stores them in the device information storage unit 131. Furthermore, the property information acquisition unit 111 associates the extracted area information, equipment type information, equipment name candidate information, and property identification information with each other and stores them in the setting information storage unit 133 (step S102).

[0079] Next, the authentication information acquisition unit 112 determines whether or not it has acquired the aforementioned authentication information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5 (step S103). If the authentication information acquisition unit 112 determines that it has not acquired the authentication information notification information (step S103: No), the process in step S105, described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication information acquisition unit 112 determines that it has acquired the authentication information notification information (step S103: Yes), it extracts the authentication information contained in the acquired authentication information notification information and stores the extracted authentication information in the authentication information storage unit 132 (step S104).

[0080] Next, the device setting identification information acquisition unit 115 determines whether or not it has acquired the aforementioned device setting identification information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 5. If the device setting identification information acquisition unit 115 determines that it has not acquired the device setting identification information notification information (step S105: No), the process in step S107 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the device setting identification information acquisition unit 115 determines that it has acquired the device setting identification information notification information (step S105: Yes), it extracts the property identification information and device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting identification information notification information, and stores the extracted property identification information and device setting identification information in the device information storage unit 131 in correspondence with each other (step S106).

[0081] Subsequently, the two-dimensional code notification unit 113 determines whether or not it has received two-dimensional code request information, which includes the aforementioned authentication information or the aforementioned device setting identification information, transmitted from the terminal device 5 (step S107). If the two-dimensional code notification unit 113 determines that it has not received the two-dimensional code request information (step S107: No), the process of step S110, described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the two-dimensional code notification unit 113 determines that it has received the two-dimensional code request information (step S107: Yes), it extracts the authentication information or device setting identification information contained in the received two-dimensional code request information and notifies the two-dimensional code generation unit 114. Then, when the two-dimensional code generation unit 114 receives the authentication information or device setting identification information from the two-dimensional code notification unit 113, it generates a two-dimensional code image representing the notified authentication information or device setting identification information (step S108). Furthermore, the two-dimensional code generation unit 114 generates two-dimensional code image information indicating the generated two-dimensional code image, and the two-dimensional code notification unit 113 generates two-dimensional code notification information including the said two-dimensional code image information and transmits it to the terminal device 5 (step S109).

[0082] Next, the authentication request management unit 116 determines whether or not it has received the authentication request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 (step S110). If the authentication request management unit 116 determines that it has not received the authentication request information (step S110: No), the process in step S115, described below, is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication request management unit 116 determines that it has received the authentication request information (step S110: Yes), it extracts the authentication information contained in the received authentication request information and notifies the authentication unit 117 of the extracted authentication information. The authentication unit 117 then performs an authentication process to determine whether or not the notified authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 132 (step S111). Subsequently, the authentication unit 117 determines whether or not the notified authentication information matches the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 132 and whether or not authentication was successful (step S112). Here, if the authentication unit 117 determines that authentication was successful (step S112: Yes), it notifies the authentication request management unit 116, the setting information notification unit 118, and the equipment information acquisition unit 119 of authentication success notification information, which includes the identification information of the authenticated contractor. When the authentication request management unit 116 receives the authentication success notification information from the authentication unit 117, it transmits the notified authentication success notification information to the terminal device 4 that sent the authentication request information (step S113), and the process in step S115 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication unit 117 determines that the acquired authentication information does not match the authentication information stored in the authentication information storage unit 132 and authentication has failed (step S112: No), it notifies the authentication request management unit 116 of authentication failure notification information. The authentication request management unit 116 then transmits the notified authentication failure notification information to the terminal device 4 that sent the authentication request information (step S114).

[0083] Subsequently, the configuration information notification unit 118 determines whether or not it has received the configuration information request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 (step S115). If the configuration information notification unit 118 determines that it has not received the configuration information request information (step S115: No), the process described in step S119 below is executed. On the other hand, if the configuration information notification unit 118 determines that it has received the configuration information request information (step S115: Yes), it determines whether or not authentication has been successful for the terminal device 4 that sent the configuration information request information (step S116). If the configuration information notification unit 118 determines that authentication has failed for the terminal device 4 that sent the configuration information request information (step S116: No), the process described in step S119 below is executed. On the other hand, if the configuration information notification unit 118 determines that authentication has been successful for the terminal device 4 that sent the configuration information request information (step S116: Yes), it selects property information, device type identification information, and device name candidate information corresponding to the device configuration identification information included in the acquired configuration information request information, which are stored in the configuration information storage unit 133, as shown in Figure 20 (step S117). Next, the configuration information notification unit 118 generates configuration information notification information including the selected property information, device type identification information, and device name candidate information, and sends it to the terminal device 4 that sent the configuration information request information (step S118).

[0084] Next, the device information acquisition unit 119 determines whether or not it has acquired the device information notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4 (step S119). If the device information acquisition unit 119 determines that it has not acquired the device information notification information (step S119: No), the process in step S125 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the device information acquisition unit 119 determines that it has acquired the device information notification information (step S119: Yes), it determines whether or not authentication has been successful for the terminal device 4 that sent the device information notification information (step S120). If the device information acquisition unit 119 determines that authentication has failed for the terminal device 4 that sent the device information notification information (step S120: No), the process in step S125 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the device information acquisition unit 119 determines that authentication has been successful for the terminal device 4 that sent the device information notification information (step S120: Yes), it determines whether or not the registration update management unit 122 has already acquired the registered device notification information transmitted from the terminal device 6 (step S121). If the registration update management unit 122 determines that it has not yet acquired the registration device notification information (step S121: No), the device information acquisition unit 119 extracts the property identification information, property information, device type identification information, device identification information, and device setting identification information included in the acquired device information notification information. Then, the device information notification unit 419 stores these extracted pieces of information in the device information storage unit 131, associating them with each other (step S122), and then the process in step S125, described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the registration update management unit 122 determines that it has already acquired the registration device notification information (step S121: Yes), the device information acquisition unit 119 extracts the property identification information, property information, device type identification information, device identification information, and device setting identification information included in the acquired device information notification information. Then, the device information notification unit 419 updates the various information stored in the device information storage unit 131 using these extracted pieces of information (step S123). Subsequently, the device information update notification unit 121 generates the aforementioned update notification information and transmits the generated update notification information to the terminal device 6 owned by the user of the residence H1, which is identified by the property identification information corresponding to the updated device identification information (step S124).

[0085] Next, the device information notification unit 120 determines whether or not it has received the aforementioned device setting request information transmitted from the terminal device 6 (step S125). If the device information notification unit 120 determines that it has not received the device setting request information (step S125: No), the process in step S128 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the device information notification unit 120 determines that it has received the device setting request information (step S125: Yes), it selects the item identification information, device identification information, and device name information corresponding to the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting request information, which are stored in the device information storage unit 131 (step S126). Subsequently, the device information notification unit 120 generates device setting notification information including the selected item identification information, device identification information, and device name information, and transmits the generated device setting notification information to the terminal device 6 (step S127).

[0086] Subsequently, the registration update management unit 122 determines whether or not it has acquired the aforementioned registered device notification information transmitted from the terminal device 6 (step S128). If the registration update management unit 122 determines that it has not acquired the registered device notification information (step S128: No), the process described in step S132 below is executed. On the other hand, if the registration update management unit 122 determines that it has acquired the registered device notification information (step S128: Yes), it extracts the device identification information and property identification information contained in the acquired registered device notification information (step S129). Next, the registration update management unit 122 determines whether or not there is device identification information to delete the registration based on the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131 and the extracted device identification information (step S130). If the registration update management unit 122 determines that there is no device identification information to delete the registration (step S130: No), the process described in step S132 below is executed. On the other hand, if the registration update management unit 122 determines that there is equipment identification information to delete from registration (step S130: Yes), it updates the equipment identification information corresponding to the extracted item identification information stored in the equipment information storage unit 131, leaving only the various information corresponding to the extracted equipment identification information (step S131).

[0087] Next, the registration update management unit 122 determines whether or not it has received the aforementioned deletion request information transmitted from the terminal device 6 (step S132). If the registration update management unit 122 determines that it has not received the deletion request information (step S132: No), the process in step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the registration update management unit 122 determines that it has received the deletion request information (step S132: Yes), it extracts the device identification information and property identification information contained in the acquired deletion request information, and updates the device identification information by deleting various information corresponding to the extracted device identification information from the device identification information corresponding to the extracted property identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131 (step S133). After that, the process in step S101 is executed again.

[0088] As described above, according to the device management system of this embodiment, when terminal device 4 acquires a two-dimensional code image, it converts the code image information indicating the acquired two-dimensional code image into device setting identification information. Terminal device 4 also acquires device identification information from device 3 via the local network NW2, generates device information notification information including the device identification information and device setting identification information, and sends it to cloud server 1. When terminal device 6 acquires the aforementioned two-dimensional code image, it converts the two-dimensional code image information indicating the acquired two-dimensional code image into device setting identification information, and sends device information request information including the device setting identification information to cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1, thereby acquiring the device setting notification information sent from cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1. As a result, if the contractor uses terminal device 4 to send device information notification information including the device identification information acquired from device 3 via the local network NW2 to cloud server 1, users of device 3 can acquire device identification information from cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1 simply by acquiring a two-dimensional code image using terminal device 6. Therefore, in order for the user of device 3 to set up an environment in which device 3 is managed by the cloud server 1, the user does not need to use a terminal device 6 to connect the terminal device 6 to the local network NW2 and obtain device identification information from device 3 via the local network NW2. Thus, the work that the user of device 3 must do to set up an environment in which device 3 is managed can be simplified.

[0089] Incidentally, device management systems are being provided that connect so-called IoT devices such as home appliances, housing equipment, and sensors to a wide-area network, allowing users to remotely monitor and control these IoT devices even when outside their homes using portable terminal devices such as smartphones. In order to start using such a device management system, it is necessary to first build a network environment for remote monitoring and control of IoT devices. When building such a network environment, it is often necessary to register device identification information for each IoT device with a pre-configured cloud server 1 belonging to the wide-area network. However, this process requires relatively complex configuration work, which may be cumbersome for the average user of the device 3, potentially hindering the widespread adoption of the device management system service. On the other hand, in the installation of IoT devices in newly built houses H1, the construction company often handles everything from the installation of the IoT devices to the construction of the network environment for using them before handing the house over to the user. In this case, the contractor often uses a terminal device to operate the IoT device, which is also used by the user, to perform the initial setup of the IoT device. In this case, there is a possibility that the contractor may disclose more information about the IoT device than necessary, which is undesirable from the standpoint of IoT device security. In contrast, in the device management system according to this embodiment, the contractor registers the device identification information of device 3 to the cloud server 1 using a terminal device 4 that has functions specifically for setting up device 3, and the user sets up device 3 to operate device 3 using a terminal device 6 different from terminal device 4, thereby creating an environment for managing device 3. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the disclosure of more information about device 3 than necessary to the contractor.

[0090] Furthermore, the configuration information notification unit 118 of the cloud server 1 according to this embodiment generates configuration information notification information including device name candidate information, which consists of device name information indicating each of the candidate device names to be assigned to device 3, and transmits it to the terminal device 4. Then, when the contractor performs a device name update operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to select one device name from the device name information that makes up the device name candidate information, the device information setting unit 417 sets the device name indicated by the selected device name information as the device name of device 3. As a result, the contractor does not need to directly input the name of device 3, and thus the frequency of input errors by the contractor can be reduced.

[0091] Furthermore, the device information update notification unit 121 of the cloud server 1 in this embodiment sends an update notification to the terminal device 6 when the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131 is updated. This prevents problems from occurring where, if the device identification information of device 3 is changed due to the replacement of device 3, the application settings on the terminal device 6 are left with the previous device identification information, preventing the user from operating device 3 when they try to operate it.

[0092] Although embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, as shown in Figure 21, the cloud server's configuration information storage unit 2133 may store the device identification information of device 3 together with area information and property information, in association with contractor identification information that identifies the contractor. The contractor identification information corresponds to the first user identification information that identifies the contractor who is the first user. Here, the contractor identification information can be associated with various types of information on an area information basis, a property information basis, or a device identification information basis. In this case, the terminal device 4 may, when the contractor performs the aforementioned device configuration preparation operation to the input unit 405, generate configuration information request information including the contractor identification information along with the device configuration identification information and send it to the cloud server. Then, when the cloud server's configuration information notification unit 118 acquires the aforementioned configuration information request information, it may generate configuration information notification information associated with the combination of device configuration identification information and contractor identification information included in the acquired configuration information request information stored in the configuration information storage unit 2133 and send it to the terminal device 4.

[0093] With this configuration, for example, if there are multiple contractors, access permissions for configuration information can be set individually for each contractor. This prevents configuration information from being shared with more contractors than necessary, thereby enhancing the security of the device information of device 3.

[0094] In this embodiment, an example was described in which the device information setting unit 417 of the terminal device 4 stores the device name information selected by the contractor in the device information storage unit 432 in association with the corresponding device identification information. However, this is not limited to this example. For example, the device information setting unit of a terminal device owned by the contractor may receive a parameter setting operation to set the device parameters when the device is operating, and identify the device parameters based on that parameter setting operation. The device information setting unit should then store the identified device parameters, along with the device name information selected by the contractor, in the device information storage unit in association with the corresponding device identification information. The device information notification unit should then generate device information notification information including the device identification information, device parameter information indicating the identified device parameters, and device setting identification information, and send it to the cloud server.

[0095] In this case, the cloud server may include, for example, a device information storage unit 3131 that stores device parameter information in association with corresponding device identification information, as shown in Figure 22. The device information notification unit of the cloud server, upon receiving device setting request information transmitted from the terminal device 6, selects device parameter information along with the object identification information, device identification information, and device name information corresponding to the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting request information, which are stored in the device information storage unit 3131. It then generates device setting notification information containing this selected information and transmits it to the terminal device 6.

[0096] With this configuration, the contractor can transfer the device parameter information, which indicates the device parameters for each device 3 that have been pre-configured, to the terminal device 6 held by the user, thus eliminating the need for the user to perform initial setup work on the devices 3. Consequently, the usability of the application used by the user to operate the devices 3 can be improved.

[0097] In this embodiment, an example was described in which the device information includes only device identification information that identifies device 3. However, the device information may also include other information related to device 3, such as manufacturer information that indicates the manufacturer of device 3.

[0098] The various functions of the cloud server 1 and terminal devices 4, 5, and 6 related to this disclosure may be implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware may be written as a program, and the program may be stored on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), and MO (Magneto-Optical Disc) and distributed. By loading and installing the program on a computer, a computer capable of realizing the aforementioned functions may be configured. Furthermore, if each function is realized through a division of labor between the OS (Operating System) and applications, or through cooperation between the OS and applications, only the parts other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0099] Furthermore, it is possible to superimpose each program onto the carrier wave and distribute it over a network. For example, the program could be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the network and distributed over the network. These programs could then be launched and executed under the control of the OS, just like other application programs, to perform the aforementioned processing. [Industrial applicability]

[0100] This disclosure is suitable as a hot water supply system for controlling hot water heaters installed in each apartment in a multi-unit residential building that has a bulk power supply contract with an electric power company. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 1 Cloud server, 2 Communication control device, 3 Equipment, 4, 5, 6 Terminal devices, 8 BBR, 52 External devices, 101, 401, 501, 601 CPU, 102, 402, 502, 602 Main memory unit, 103, 403, 503, 603 Auxiliary memory unit, 106, 461, 506, 606 Wide-area communication unit, 108 Timing unit, 109, 409, 509, 609 Bus, 111 Property information acquisition unit, 112 Authentication information acquisition unit, 113 Two-dimensional code notification unit, 114 Two-dimensional code generation unit, 115 Equipment setting identification information acquisition unit, 116 Authentication request management unit, 117 Authentication unit, 118 Setting information notification unit, 119, 416 Equipment information acquisition unit, 120 Equipment information notification unit, 121 Device information update notification unit, 131, 3131 Device information storage unit, 132 Authentication information storage unit, 133, 2133 Setting information storage unit, 404, 504, 604 Display unit, 405, 505, 605 Input unit, 407, 607 Imaging unit, 411, 611 Imaging control unit, 412, 613 Two-dimensional code image acquisition unit, 413 Authentication information conversion unit, 414 Authentication request unit, 415 Setting information acquisition unit, 417 Device information setting unit, 418 Device setting identification information conversion unit, 419 Device information notification unit, 420, 612 Display control unit, 431 Setting information storage unit, 432 Device information storage unit, 462 Local communication unit, 507 Interface, 511 Property management unit, 512 Authentication information setting unit, 513, 613 Two-dimensional code image acquisition unit, 514 BU11,BU21,BU31,BU41,BU42,BU51,BU52,BU53,BU54,BU55,BU56,BU71,BU72,BU73,BU74,BU75,BU76,BU431,BU432,BU433,BU434,BU435 Button image,GA1 Login image,GA2 Image for specifying area property,GA3 Device list notification image, GA4,GA5 Device information editing image, GA6 Device name selection image, GA7 Registered device confirmation image, H1 Residential, M11, M12, M21, M22 Box images, M31, M41 Message images, NW1 Wide area network, NW2 Local network.

Claims

1. A device management device that manages at least one device belonging to the first network, A first terminal device owned by a first user, which is capable of communicating with the equipment management device via a second network different from the first network, and is also capable of communicating with the equipment via the first network, The system comprises a second terminal device owned by a second user, which is capable of communicating with the aforementioned equipment management device via the second network, The aforementioned equipment management device is A device information storage unit stores at least one device information, including device identification information for identifying the aforementioned device, in association with at least one device setting identification information for identifying the aforementioned device information. A code generation unit that generates a code image representing the aforementioned device setting identification information, A device information acquisition unit, upon acquiring device setting notification information including the device setting information and the device setting identification information transmitted from the first terminal device, stores the device setting information and the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting notification information in the device information storage unit in association with each other. The system includes a device setting notification unit that, upon receiving device information request information transmitted from the second terminal device, which requests the transmission of device information including the device setting identification information, generates device setting notification information, which is stored in the device information storage unit and includes the device information corresponding to the device setting identification information included in the acquired device information request information, and transmits it to the second terminal device. The first terminal device is A first code image acquisition unit acquires the aforementioned code image, A first device setting identification information conversion unit converts code image information showing the code image into device setting identification information, A device information acquisition unit that acquires device information from the aforementioned device via the first network, The device includes a device information notification unit that generates device information notification information including at least one of the device information and the device setting identification information and transmits it to the device management device, The second terminal device is A second code image acquisition unit acquires the aforementioned code image, A second device setting identification information conversion unit converts code image information showing the code image into device setting identification information, The device setting acquisition unit includes a device setting acquisition unit that transmits the device information request information, including the device setting identification information, to the device management device via the second network, thereby acquiring the device setting notification information transmitted from the device management device via the second network. Equipment management system.

2. The aforementioned equipment information includes equipment name information indicating the name of the equipment, The aforementioned equipment management device is The system further includes a setting information notification unit that generates setting information notification information, which includes setting name candidate information consisting of setting name candidate information, each of which is a setting name candidate for at least one setting name to be assigned to the setting device, and transmits it to the first terminal device. The first terminal device is Input section, The system further comprises: When the first user performs a device name update operation on the input unit, selecting one device name from at least one device name information constituting the candidate device name information, and setting the device name indicated by the selected device name information as the name of the device, the system sets the device name indicated by the selected device name information as the name of the device; The equipment management system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned equipment management device is The device information storage unit further includes a device information update notification unit that, when the device information stored in the device information storage unit is updated, transmits update notification information to the second terminal device to notify that the device information has been updated. The device management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The device information storage unit stores the device information in association with location information indicating the location where the device is installed and first user identification information that identifies the first user. When the configuration information notification unit receives configuration information request information from the first terminal device, which includes the first user identification information and requests the transmission of the configuration information, it generates configuration information notification information stored in the device information storage unit, which includes the location information associated with the first user identification information contained in the acquired configuration information request information, and transmits it to the first terminal device. The equipment management system according to claim 2.

5. The device information setting unit further identifies the device parameters based on the parameter setting operation when the first user performs a parameter setting operation on the input unit to set the device parameters when the device is operating. The device information notification unit generates device information notification information including at least one piece of device information, device parameter information indicating the identified device parameter, and device setting identification information, and transmits it to the device management device. The device management system according to claim 2 or 4.

6. A device management device that manages at least one device belonging to the first network, A device information storage unit stores at least one device information, including device identification information for identifying the aforementioned device, in association with at least one device setting identification information for identifying the aforementioned device information. A code generation unit that generates a code image representing the aforementioned device setting identification information, A device information acquisition unit acquires device setting notification information, which includes the device setting information and the device setting identification information, transmitted from a first terminal device via a second network different from the first network, and stores the acquired device setting notification information and the device setting identification information in the device information storage unit in association with each other. The system includes a device setting notification unit that, upon receiving device information request information transmitted from a second terminal device via the second network, requests the transmission of device information including the device setting identification information, generates device setting notification information, which is stored in the device information storage unit, and includes the device information corresponding to the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device information request information, and transmits it to the second terminal device. Equipment management device.

7. A device management method comprising: a device management device for managing at least one device belonging to a first network; a first terminal device owned by a first user, which is capable of communicating with the device management device via a second network different from the first network and also capable of communicating with the device via the first network; and a second terminal device owned by a second user, which is capable of communicating with the device management device via the second network, wherein The device management device stores at least one piece of device information, including device identification information that identifies the device, in a device information storage unit in association with at least one piece of device setting identification information that identifies the device information. The equipment management device includes the step of generating a code image representing the equipment setting identification information, The first terminal device takes the step of acquiring the code image, The first terminal device performs the step of converting the code image information representing the code image into the device setting identification information, The first terminal device acquires the device information from the device via the first network, The first terminal device generates device information notification information including at least one piece of device information and device setting identification information and transmits it to the device management device. When the device management device acquires device setting notification information, which includes the device setting information and the device setting identification information transmitted from the first terminal device, it stores the device setting information and the device setting identification information included in the acquired device setting notification information in the device information storage unit in association with each other. The second terminal device takes the step of acquiring the code image, The second terminal device performs the step of converting the code image information representing the code image into the device setting identification information, The second terminal device transmits to the device management device via the second network device information request information, which includes the device setting identification information, requesting the device management device to transmit the device information. When the device management device receives device information request information from the second terminal device requesting the transmission of device information including the device setting identification information, the device information storage unit generates device setting notification information including the device information corresponding to the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device information request information, and transmits it to the second terminal device. The second terminal device includes the step of obtaining the device configuration notification information transmitted from the device management device via the second network, Equipment management method.

8. Computers, A device information storage unit that stores at least one device information, including device identification information that identifies a device, in association with at least one device setting identification information that identifies the device information. A code generation unit that generates a code image representing the aforementioned device setting identification information. When a device information acquisition unit acquires device setting notification information, which includes the device setting information and the device setting identification information transmitted from the first terminal device, the device information acquisition unit stores the device setting information and the device setting identification information contained in the acquired device setting notification information in association with each other in the device information storage unit. When the device information request information, which includes the device setting identification information, is received from the second terminal device, the device setting notification unit generates device setting notification information, which includes the device information corresponding to the device setting identification information included in the received device information request information, and sends it to the second terminal device. A program designed to function as such.

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