Equipment, systems, and programs

Abstract

This invention provides a technology for appropriately notifying whether equipment is in use or not in an equipment system equipped with multiple control devices. [Solution] The equipment system comprises equipment, a first operating device capable of remotely controlling the equipment, and a second operating device capable of remotely controlling the equipment. The first operating device includes a first notification unit that notifies predetermined information. The second operating device includes a second notification unit that notifies predetermined information. The first operating device includes software. While the software update operation of the first operating device is being performed, the second operating device is capable of remotely controlling the equipment, and at least one of the first notification unit and the second notification unit notifies information indicating that the second operating device is capable of remotely controlling the equipment.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to equipment systems and programs. Specifically, it relates to the update of the software of equipment that can be remotely operated from a mobile terminal on which the equipment of the equipment system or the program is executed.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses an equipment system including equipment (for example, a water heater, etc.) and an operating device capable of remotely operating the equipment. While the software update operation of the operating device is being executed, the notification unit of the operating device notifies that the equipment is unusable (that is, inoperable).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the equipment system of Patent Document 1, while the software update operation of the operating device is being executed, the equipment becomes unusable because the operating device cannot be operated. However, in an equipment system, it may be possible to remotely operate the equipment from a plurality of operating devices. In such an equipment system, even while the software update operation of one operating device is being executed, the equipment can be operated from other operating devices. Even in such an equipment system, if the notification unit notifies that the equipment cannot be operated while the software update operation of one operating device is being executed, the user may erroneously recognize that the equipment itself is unusable.

[0005] This specification discloses a technology for appropriately notifying whether equipment is in use or not in an equipment system equipped with multiple operating devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In a first aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the equipment system comprises equipment, a first operating device capable of remotely controlling the equipment, and a second operating device capable of remotely controlling the equipment. The first operating device includes a first notification unit that notifies predetermined information. The second operating device includes a second notification unit that notifies predetermined information. The first operating device includes software. While the software update operation of the first operating device is being performed, the second operating device is capable of remotely controlling the equipment, and at least one of the first and second notification units notifies information indicating that the second operating device is capable of remotely controlling the equipment.

[0007] In the above equipment system, the second operating device can remotely control the equipment even while the first operating device is performing a software update. Therefore, at least one of the first notification unit of the first operating device and the second notification unit of the second operating device notifies that the second operating device, which has not had its software updated, can remotely control the equipment. This allows the user to know that the equipment can be remotely controlled by the second operating device, and prevents the misconception that the equipment itself is unusable while the first operating device is performing a software update.

[0008] In a second aspect of the technology disclosed herein, in the first embodiment described above, the first operating device may perform a software update operation at a preset update time. At least one of the first and second notification units may notify information a predetermined time before the update time indicating that the second operating device can remotely control the equipment while the first operating device is performing the software update operation.

[0009] With this configuration, at least one of the first notification unit of the first operating device and the second notification unit of the second operating device notifies the user in advance, a predetermined time before the update time, that the equipment can be operated from the second operating device while the software of the first operating device is being updated. This allows the user to know in advance that the equipment can be operated from the second operating device while the software of the first operating device is being updated, before the update operation is performed, thereby improving the user's sense of security.

[0010] In a third aspect of the technology disclosed herein, in the first or second aspect described above, the equipment may be a water heater. The first operating device may be a remote control for operating the water heater. The second operating device may be a remote control or a portable terminal for operating the water heater.

[0011] In this configuration, the water heater can be remotely controlled from multiple remote controls, or from both a remote control and a mobile device. In such an equipment system, the user can be notified that the water heater can be remotely controlled from another remote control or mobile device while the remote control's software is being updated.

[0012] In a fourth aspect of the technology disclosed herein, the program is executed on a portable terminal capable of remotely controlling equipment. The equipment is remotely controllable from a separate operating device. The portable terminal includes a notification unit that notifies predetermined information. While one of the portable terminal and the operating device is performing a software update operation, the other of the portable terminal and the operating device is capable of remotely controlling the equipment. The program causes the notification unit to notify information indicating that the other of the portable terminal and the operating device is capable of remotely controlling the equipment while the other of the portable terminal and the operating device is performing a software update operation.

[0013] The above program causes the notification unit to notify the other of the mobile terminal and the control device that the equipment can be remotely controlled while the software update operation of one of the mobile terminals and the control device is being performed. Therefore, it can achieve the same effects as the equipment system described above. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0014] [Figure 1] A block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the equipment system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] A flowchart illustrating an example of the process for updating the software of a kitchen remote control. [Figure 3] This diagram shows an example of the display screen that appears on the kitchen remote control's display panel during a software update. [Figure 4] This diagram shows an example of the display screen that appears on the bathroom remote control's display panel while the kitchen remote control's software is being updated. [Figure 5] This diagram shows an example of a display screen that appears on the mobile device's display during a software update for the kitchen remote control. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0015] (Examples) The equipment system 2 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figure 1, the equipment system 2 comprises a water heater 50, a kitchen remote control 10, a bathroom remote control 30, a repeater 8, a server 60, and a mobile terminal 70.

[0016] The water heater 50 is a piece of equipment used in a house. The water heater 50 is a heating device that has the function of heating tap water or a heat transfer medium to produce hot water (i.e., the function of hot water supply). The water heater 50 may be equipped with only a gas heat source, only a heat pump heat source, both a gas heat source and a heat pump heat source, or other types of heat sources. The water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the kitchen remote control 10, the bathroom remote control 30, and the mobile terminal 70, respectively.

[0017] The kitchen remote controller 10 is installed near the kitchen in the house. The kitchen remote controller 10 is connected to the water heater 50 by two-wire communication. The kitchen remote controller 10 can receive various instructions for the water heater 50 (for example, an operation instruction, an instruction for setting the temperature, etc.). The kitchen remote controller 10 includes a control unit 12, an operation unit 20, a display unit 22, and a communication unit 24.

[0018] The control unit 12 includes a CPU 14 and a memory 16. The CPU 14 controls the operation of the kitchen remote controller 10 according to the program stored in the memory 16. The memory 16 stores the software of the kitchen remote controller 10. Also, when updating the software, the updated software is stored in the memory 16. Further, the control unit 12 is connected to the control unit 32 (described later) of the bath remote controller 30 by two-wire communication.

[0019] The operation unit 20 includes a plurality of keys. The user can input various instructions to the kitchen remote controller 10 by operating the operation unit 20.

[0020] The display unit 22 is, for example, a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and displays various types of information. The display unit 22 may be a touch screen, and in that case, the display unit 22 is a part of the operation unit 20. The display unit 22 displays various types of information regarding the water heater 50. For example, during the update of the software of the kitchen remote control 10, the display unit 22 displays information indicating that the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated and information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely operated from the bath remote control 30. Note that the display unit 22 may display information indicating that the water heater 50 cannot be remotely operated from the mobile terminal 70 during the update of the software of the kitchen remote control 10. Also, during the update of the software of the bath remote control 30, the display unit 22 displays information indicating that the software of the bath remote control 30 is being updated and information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely operated from the kitchen remote control 10. Note that the display unit 22 may display information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely operated from the mobile terminal 70 during the update of the software of the bath remote control 30. Further, the display unit 22 displays update notice information (described later) before the update of the software of the kitchen remote control 10.

[0021] The communication unit 24 is an interface for executing communication via the LAN 4. The LAN 4 is wireless or wired and is formed by the repeater 8. The repeater 8 is a device that relays communication between the Internet 6 and the LAN 4. The repeater 8 is, for example, a router, a combination of a router and an access point, or the like. The repeater 8 is connected to the Internet 6. The LAN 4 is, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The kitchen remote control 10 can communicate with the server 60 on the Internet 6 via the communication unit 24.

[0022] The bath remote control 30 is installed near the bath in the house. The bath remote control 30 is connected to the water heater 50 and the kitchen remote control 10 by two-core communication, respectively. The bath remote control 30 can receive various instructions for the water heater 50 (for example, an instruction to operate, an instruction to set the temperature, etc.).

[0023] The bathroom remote control 30 comprises a control unit 32, an operation unit 40, and a display unit 42. Note that the control unit 32, operation unit 40, and display unit 42 have substantially the same configuration as the control unit 12, operation unit 20, and display unit 22 of the kitchen remote control 10, so a detailed explanation is omitted. Unlike the kitchen remote control 10, the bathroom remote control 30 does not have a communication unit for performing communication via LAN 4. That is, the bathroom remote control 30 cannot connect to the internet 6 via the repeater 8. The bathroom remote control 30 sends and receives data to and from the server 60 via the kitchen remote control 10. For example, when the bathroom remote control 30 sends a request signal to the server 60 requesting the transmission of update software to update the software of the bathroom remote control 30, first, the control unit 32 of the bathroom remote control 30 sends the request signal to the control unit 12 of the kitchen remote control 10 via two-wire communication. Subsequently, the control unit 12 of the kitchen remote control 10 transmits the request signal received from the bathroom remote control 30 to the server 60 via the communication unit 24, the repeater 8, and the internet 6. When the server 60 sends data to the bath remote control 30 (for example, update software to update the software of the bath remote control 30), it sends the data to the bath remote control 30 via the reverse path described above.

[0024] Furthermore, the display unit 42 of the bath remote control 30 displays information indicating that the software of the bath remote control 30 is being updated, and information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the kitchen remote control 10, while the software of the bath remote control 30 is being updated. The display unit 42 may also display information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the mobile terminal 70 while the software of the bath remote control 30 is being updated. Furthermore, the display unit 42 displays information indicating that the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated, and information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bath remote control 30, while the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated. In addition, the display unit 42 displays update notification information (described later) before the software of the bath remote control 30 is updated.

[0025] Server 60 provides a remote control service for remotely operating the water heater 50. Server 60 is installed on the Internet 6 by, for example, the manufacturer of the water heater 50, the kitchen remote control 10, and the bathroom remote control 30. Server 60 also stores information about the software of the kitchen remote control 10 and the bathroom remote control 30 (for example, update software for the kitchen remote control 10 and update software for the bathroom remote control 30). Server 60 transmits information about the software of the kitchen remote control 10 and the bathroom remote control 30 (for example, update software for the kitchen remote control 10 and update software for the bathroom remote control 30) to the kitchen remote control 10 via the Internet 6 and the repeater 8.

[0026] The mobile terminal 70 is a portable terminal device such as a smartphone, smartwatch, or tablet. The mobile terminal 70 comprises a control unit 72, an operation unit 80, a display unit 82, and a communication unit 84.

[0027] The control unit 72 comprises a CPU 74 and a memory 76. The CPU 74 controls the operation of the mobile terminal 70 according to a program stored in the memory 76. The memory 76 stores a remote control application. The remote control application is an application program for remotely controlling the water heater 50. The remote control application is provided, for example, by the manufacturer of the water heater 50. The remote control application is stored in the memory 76 by the user installing it on the mobile terminal 70.

[0028] The operation unit 80 and the display unit 82 are, for example, touchscreens, and the display unit 82 is part of the operation unit 80. During a software update of the kitchen remote control 10, the display unit 82 displays information indicating that the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated, and information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bathroom remote control 30. Similarly, during a software update of the bathroom remote control 30, the display unit 82 displays information indicating that the software of the bathroom remote control 30 is being updated, and information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the kitchen remote control 10. The display unit 82 may also display information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the mobile terminal 70 during a software update of either the kitchen remote control 10 or the bathroom remote control 30.

[0029] The communication unit 84 can connect to the internet 6 and connect to the server 60 via the internet 6. The communication unit 84 can also connect to the LAN 4 and communicate with the communication unit 24 of the kitchen remote control 10. Therefore, the mobile terminal 70 can remotely control the water heater 50 via the internet 6, and if the communication unit 84 can connect to the LAN 4 (for example, if the mobile terminal 70 is inside the house), it can remotely control the water heater 50 via the kitchen remote control 10.

[0030] Referring to Figure 2, the process of updating the software of the kitchen remote control 10 will be explained. First, the control unit 12 queries the server 60 for the software version of the kitchen remote control 10 at a preset query time (S12). The query time is, for example, a time when it is highly likely that the user is not using the water heater 50, for example, 2 a.m. The query time is preset by the manufacturer of the kitchen remote control 10 and stored in memory 16. The control unit 12 queries the server 60 for the latest software version of the kitchen remote control 10 via the relay 8 and the internet 6 from the communication unit 24. In response to the query from the kitchen remote control 10 (specifically the control unit 12), the server 60 transmits the latest software version of the kitchen remote control 10 to the communication unit 24. The communication unit 24 outputs the received software version to the control unit 12.

[0031] When the control unit 12 receives the software version of the kitchen remote control 10, it determines whether the software version stored in memory 16 is the received version (i.e., the latest version) (S14). If the software stored in memory 16 is the latest version (YES in S14), there is no need to update the software stored in memory 16, and the process shown in Figure 2 is terminated.

[0032] On the other hand, if the software stored in memory 16 is not the latest version (NO in S14), the software stored in memory 16 needs to be updated. For this reason, the control unit 12 obtains the latest version of the software (hereinafter also referred to as the update software) from the server 60 (S16). Specifically, the control unit 12 sends a request signal to the server 60 requesting that it send the update software. When the server 60 receives the request signal, it sends the update software to the communication unit 24. The update software received by the communication unit 24 is stored in memory 16.

[0033] Next, the control unit 12 determines whether it is a predetermined time before the update time (for example, 11 p.m.) (for example, 1 hour before the update time) (S18). The software update operation of the kitchen remote control 10 is performed at a preset update time. The update time is set, for example, to a time when it is highly likely that the user is not using the water heater 50. The update time is preset by the manufacturer of the kitchen remote control 10 and stored in the memory 16. Alternatively, the update time may be transmitted from the server 60 and stored in the memory 16. The control unit 12 may also set the update time by estimating a time when it is highly likely that the user is not using the water heater 50 based on the water heater 50's past usage history. If it is not a predetermined time before the update time (NO in S18), the control unit 12 waits until it is a predetermined time before the update time.

[0034] When a predetermined time has passed since the update (YES in S18), the control unit 12 displays update notification information on the display unit 22 (S20). The update notification information includes information indicating that the software update operation of the kitchen remote control 10 will be performed when the update time arrives, and information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bathroom remote control 30 while the software update of the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress. The update notification information may also include information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the mobile terminal 70 while the software update of the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress. During the software update of the kitchen remote control 10, the kitchen remote control 10 becomes unusable (i.e., the water heater 50 cannot be remotely controlled), while the bathroom remote control 30 remains usable (i.e., the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled). By displaying the update notification information on the display unit 22 a predetermined time before the update time, the user can know in advance that the software update operation of the kitchen remote control 10 will be performed when the update time arrives, and that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bathroom remote control 30 even while the software update of the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress. Therefore, it is possible to prevent users from mistakenly believing that the water heater 50 will become unusable while the kitchen remote control 10's software is being updated, thereby improving user confidence.

[0035] Next, the control unit 12 determines whether or not it is time for an update (S22). If it is not time for an update (NO in S22), the control unit 12 waits until it is time for an update. When it is time for an update (YES in S22), the control unit 12 determines whether or not the water heater 50 is operating (S24). If the water heater 50 is operating (YES in S24), the control unit 12 postpones the software update of the kitchen remote control 10. In this case, the software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 will be performed at the next update time. For this reason, the control unit 12 displays information on the display unit 22 indicating that the software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 will not be performed (S26). This allows the user to know that, contrary to the update notification information previously displayed on the display unit 22 in S20, the software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 will not be performed. After that, the control unit 12 returns to S18 and repeats S18 to S24. As a result, the software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 will be performed at the next update time.

[0036] If the water heater 50 is not operating (NO in S24), the control unit 12 determines whether or not the bathroom remote control 30 is undergoing a software update (S28). As described later, when the kitchen remote control 10 performs a software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10, it sends information to the bathroom remote control 30 indicating that it is performing a software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 (hereinafter also referred to as update execution information). Similarly, when the bathroom remote control 30 performs a software update operation for the bathroom remote control 30, it sends software update execution information for the bathroom remote control 30 to the kitchen remote control 10. If the control unit 12 has received software update execution information for the bathroom remote control 30 from the bathroom remote control 30, it determines that the bathroom remote control 30 is undergoing a software update.

[0037] If the software of the bathroom remote control 30 is being updated (YES in S28), the control unit 12 does not perform the software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 and proceeds to S26. In other words, the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 is postponed to the next update time. If the software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 is performed while the software of the bathroom remote control 30 is being updated, remote control of the water heater 50 will become impossible with both the kitchen remote control 10 and the bathroom remote control 30. By postponing the software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 when the software of the bathroom remote control 30 is being updated, a decrease in user convenience can be suppressed.

[0038] If the software update for the bathroom remote control 30 is not in progress (NO in S28), the control unit 12 displays information on the execution of the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 on the display unit 22 (S30). As shown in Figure 3, the information on the execution of the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 displayed on the display unit 22 includes information 100 indicating that the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress, and information 102 indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bathroom remote control 30 while the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress. The information on the execution of the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 may also include information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the mobile terminal 70 while the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress. If only the information 100 indicating that the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress is displayed on the display unit 22 while the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 is in progress, there is a risk that the user may mistakenly believe that not only the kitchen remote control 10 but also the bathroom remote control 30 is unusable. By displaying information 100 on the display unit 22 indicating that the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated, along with information 102 indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bathroom remote control 30 while the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated, the user can more reliably recognize that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bathroom remote control 30 even while the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated.

[0039] Next, the control unit 12 transmits information about the execution of a software update for the kitchen remote control 10 to the server 60 and the bathroom remote control 30, respectively (S32). When the bathroom remote control 30 receives the information about the execution of a software update for the kitchen remote control 10, the control unit 32 displays the information on the display unit 42. As shown in Figure 4, the information about the execution of a software update for the kitchen remote control 10 displayed on the display unit 42 includes information 200 indicating that the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated, information 202 indicating that the kitchen remote control 10 is unavailable, and information 204 indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bathroom remote control 30. The information about the execution of a software update for the kitchen remote control 10 may also include information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the mobile terminal 70 while the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated. If the user is aware that the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated, the user may mistakenly believe that not only the kitchen remote control 10 but also the bathroom remote control 30 is unavailable. During a software update for the kitchen remote control 10, the display unit 42 of the bathroom remote control 30 displays that the bathroom remote control 30 is usable even while the kitchen remote control 10's software is being updated, allowing the user to more reliably understand that they can remotely control the water heater 50 from the bathroom remote control 30. In addition, the display unit 42 also displays an authentication button 206 (for example, an "OK" button) indicating that the display screen has been confirmed. When the user presses the authentication button 206, the display unit 22 returns to the operation screen. This allows the user to use the bathroom remote control 30.

[0040] Furthermore, when the server 60 receives information about the execution of a software update for the kitchen remote control 10, the server 60 transmits the information to the mobile terminal 70. When the mobile terminal 70 receives the information about the execution of a software update for the kitchen remote control 10, the control unit 72 displays the information on the display unit 82. As shown in Figure 5, the information about the execution of a software update for the kitchen remote control 10 displayed on the display unit 82 includes information 300 indicating that the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated, information 302 indicating that the kitchen remote control 10 is unavailable, and information 304 indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the bath remote control 30. Note that the display unit 82 may also display information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the mobile terminal 70 while the software of the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated.

[0041] Next, the control unit 12 performs a software update operation for the kitchen remote control 10 (S34). Then, the control unit 12 determines whether the update operation is complete or not (S36) and waits until the update operation is complete (NO in S36). When the update operation is complete (YES in S36), the control unit 12 changes the screen of the display unit 22 from the screen displaying the software update execution information for the kitchen remote control 10 to the operation screen (S38). This makes the kitchen remote control 10 usable. Note that the control unit 12 may display information on the display unit 22 indicating that the software update for the kitchen remote control 10 is complete before changing the screen of the display unit 22 from the screen displaying the software update execution information for the kitchen remote control 10 to the operation screen.

[0042] Next, the control unit 12 transmits information indicating that the software update of the kitchen remote control 10 is complete (hereinafter also referred to as update completion information) to the server 60 and the bathroom remote control 30, respectively (S40). When the bathroom remote control 30 receives the software update completion information for the kitchen remote control 10, the control unit 32 changes the screen of the display unit 42 from the display screen for the software update execution information of the kitchen remote control 10 to the operation screen. The control unit 32 may also display information indicating that the software update of the kitchen remote control 10 is complete on the display unit 22. When the server 60 receives the software update completion information for the kitchen remote control 10, the server 60 transmits the software update completion information for the kitchen remote control 10 to the mobile terminal 70. When the mobile terminal 70 receives the software update completion information for the kitchen remote control 10, the control unit 32 displays information indicating that the software update of the kitchen remote control 10 is complete on the display unit 22.

[0043] In this embodiment, the control unit 12 displays the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10 only on the display unit 22 of the kitchen remote control 10 a predetermined time before the update time, but the configuration is not limited to this. For example, the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10 may be displayed not only on the display unit 22 of the kitchen remote control 10, but also on the display unit 42 of the bathroom remote control 30 and the display unit 82 of the mobile terminal 70. In this case, a predetermined time before the update time, the control unit 12 transmits the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10 to the server 60 and the bathroom remote control 30, respectively. When the bathroom remote control 30 receives the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10, the control unit 32 displays the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10 on the display unit 42. When the server 60 receives the software update execution information for the kitchen remote control 10, the server 60 transmits the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10 to the mobile terminal 70. When the mobile terminal 70 receives the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10, the control unit 72 displays the software update notification information for the kitchen remote control 10 on the display unit 82. By displaying the software update notification for the kitchen remote control 10 not only on the display unit 22 of the kitchen remote control 10, but also on the display unit 42 of the bathroom remote control 30 and the display unit 82 of the mobile terminal 70, users can more easily learn in advance that they can remotely operate the water heater 50 from the bathroom remote control 30 or the mobile terminal 70 even while the software for the kitchen remote control 10 is being updated.

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the software update notification information and update execution information for the kitchen remote control 10 were notified to the user by displaying them on the display unit 22, but the configuration is not limited to this. It is sufficient that the software update notification information and update execution information for the kitchen remote control 10 can be notified to the user, and for example, the software update notification information and update execution information for the kitchen remote control 10 may be notified to the user by voice. In this case, the kitchen remote control 10 is equipped with a voice generating unit (not shown). The software update notification information and update execution information for the kitchen remote control 10 may be notified to the user by the voice generating unit, or by both the voice generating unit and the display unit 22.

[0045] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes the process of updating the software of the kitchen remote control 10, the process of updating the software of the bathroom remote control 30 is performed in substantially the same manner as described above. That is, when updating the software of the bathroom remote control 30, the kitchen remote control 10 and the bathroom remote control 30 are swapped in the process shown in Figure 2, and substantially the same process is performed. However, as described above, the bathroom remote control 30 sends and receives data to and from the server 60 via the kitchen remote control 10. For this reason, in the processes of S12 (the process of querying the server 60 for the software version of the bathroom remote control 30), S16 (the process of obtaining the update software from the server 60), S32 (the process of sending the software update execution information of the bathroom remote control 30 to the server 60), and S40 (the process of sending the software update completion information of the bathroom remote control 30 to the server 60), the bathroom remote control 30 sends and receives data to and from the server 60 via the kitchen remote control 10.

[0046] When updating the software of the bathroom remote control 30, by performing substantially the same process as in Figure 2, information indicating that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the kitchen remote control 10 (or mobile terminal 70) during the software update of the bathroom remote control 30 is displayed on the display unit 22 of the kitchen remote control 10, the display unit 42 of the bathroom remote control 30, and the display unit 82 of the mobile terminal 70. Therefore, the user can more reliably recognize that the water heater 50 can be remotely controlled from the kitchen remote control 10 even while the software of the bathroom remote control 30 is being updated.

[0047] Furthermore, although this embodiment describes processing in an equipment system comprising a water heater 50, multiple remote controls 10, 30, and a mobile terminal 70, the system is not limited to this configuration. For example, an equipment system comprising equipment other than the water heater 50 and multiple operating devices capable of remotely controlling the equipment (e.g., multiple remote controls, or a remote control and a mobile terminal 70) can be configured in the same way as this embodiment.

[0048] The following points should be noted regarding the equipment system 2 described in the embodiment. The kitchen remote control 10 in the embodiment is an example of a "first operating device," the bathroom remote control 30 and the mobile terminal 70 are examples of a "second operating device," the display unit 22 is an example of a "first notification unit," and the display units 42 and 82 are examples of a "second notification unit."

[0049] The technical elements described herein or in the drawings demonstrate technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Furthermore, the technologies illustrated herein or in the drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving even one of these objectives constitutes technical usefulness in itself. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0050] 2: Equipment and Systems 4: LAN 6: Internet 8: Repeater 10: Kitchen remote control 12: Kitchen remote control unit 14: CPU of the kitchen remote control 16: Kitchen remote control memory 20: Kitchen remote control operation unit 22: Display unit of the kitchen remote control 24: Communication unit of the kitchen remote control 30: Bath remote control 32: Control unit for the bath remote control 34: CPU of the bath remote control 36: Memory of the bath remote control 20: Control panel for the bath remote control 42: Display unit of the bath remote control 50: Water heater 60: Server 70: Mobile devices 72: Control unit of a mobile device 74: CPU of mobile devices 76: Memory of mobile devices 80: Mobile device control panel 82: Display unit of a mobile device 84: Communication section of a mobile device

Claims

1. Equipment and machinery, A first operating device capable of remotely controlling the aforementioned equipment, A second operating device capable of remotely controlling the aforementioned equipment, Equipped with, The first operating device includes a first notification unit that notifies predetermined information, The second operating device includes a second notification unit that notifies predetermined information, The first operating device is equipped with software, While the software update operation of the first operating device is being performed, The second operating device is capable of remotely controlling the equipment, An equipment system in which at least one of the first notification unit and the second notification unit notifies information indicating that the second operating device can remotely operate the equipment.

2. The first operating device executes the software update operation at a preset update time. The equipment system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first notification unit and the second notification unit notifies information indicating that the second operating device can remotely operate the equipment while the first operating device is performing a software update operation, at least one of the first notification unit and the second notification unit, a predetermined time before the update time.

3. The aforementioned equipment is a water heater, The first operating device is a remote control for operating the water heater, The equipment system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second operating device is a remote control or portable terminal for operating the water heater.

4. A program that is executed on a mobile terminal capable of remotely controlling equipment, The aforementioned equipment can be remotely controlled from an operating device separate from the aforementioned mobile terminal. The aforementioned mobile terminal is equipped with a notification unit that notifies predetermined information, While the software update operation is being performed on one of the mobile terminal and the operating device, the other of the mobile terminal and the operating device can remotely control the equipment. The program causes the notification unit to notify the notification unit that the other of the mobile terminal and the operation device can remotely control the equipment while the software update operation of one of the mobile terminal and the operation device is being performed.

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