Home system, server, user registration deletion method, and user registration deletion program.

Abstract

We provide a home system that ensures the user registration of a resident is reliably deleted when they move out of a facility such as a residence. [Solution] The home system comprises a server for managing users and facility equipment installed in the facility that can communicate with the server, wherein the server manages user registrations that associate the user with the facility equipment that the user can use, the server detects the period of absence of the user at the facility from information obtained from the facility equipment, and the server deletes the user registration when the absence period is longer than a predetermined grace period.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a home system, a server, a user registration deletion method, and a user registration deletion program. BACKGROUND ART

[0002] The number of residential facilities and the like that can be connected to the Internet is increasing. Smart home systems that provide comfortable and convenient functions to residents by utilizing Internet-connected residential facilities and the like have been proposed.

[0003] When the resident of a house where a smart home system is installed changes, it is necessary to change the users who can use the smart home system from the previous resident to the new resident. Unless the registration of users who can use the smart home system (hereinafter also referred to as "user registration") is appropriately changed, it is difficult to ensure the security of the smart home system.

[0004] Smart home systems that can be used by guests are sometimes installed in accommodation facilities for short-term stays. In this case as well, when the guest changes, it is necessary to change the users who can use the smart home system from the previous guest to the new guest.

[0005] Methods for ensuring the security of a smart home system when the resident of a house where the smart home system is installed changes have been proposed. For example, the apartment house system described in Patent Document 1 deletes personal information stored in a house terminal when a resident moves out. PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS PATENT DOCUMENTS

[0006] PATENT DOCUMENT 1 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-124861 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] However, when a resident moves out of a house where a smart home system has been installed, it is desirable that the user registration of the departing resident be reliably deleted, regardless of whether or not there is a new resident.

[0008] In light of the above circumstances, this disclosure aims to provide a home system, server, user registration deletion method, and user registration deletion program that ensure the user registration of a resident is reliably deleted when a resident moves out of a facility such as a residence. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] A home system according to a first aspect of this disclosure comprises a server for managing users and facility equipment installed in a facility and capable of communicating with the server, wherein the server manages user registrations that associate the user with the facility equipment that the user can use, the server detects the period of absence of the user at the facility from information obtained from the facility equipment, and the server deletes the user registration when the absence period is longer than a predetermined grace period. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This figure shows the overall configuration of a home system according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a functional block diagram of the control unit for the home system. [Figure 3] This is a functional block diagram of the smartphone in the same home system. [Figure 4] This is the time chart for the home system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] A home system 100 according to one embodiment of this disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[0012] [Home System 100] Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of the home system 100. The home system 100 comprises a residential equipment 1, a control device 2, a dedicated remote control 3, a router 4, a smartphone 6, and a server 7. The router 4, smartphone 6, and server 7 are connected via a network NW.

[0013] The network NW may be a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a private network (LAN) within a building where the home system 100 is installed, or a combination of the two. Furthermore, the network NW may be either wired or wireless. Other devices, such as access points, may be involved in communication between the devices.

[0014] Residential equipment 1 is a device installed as equipment in a residential building (HO). A residential building (HO) is, for example, a detached house, an apartment building, or a short-term lodging facility. Residential buildings (HO) to which residential equipment 1 is installed include not only buildings used for residential purposes, but also buildings not used for residential purposes, such as offices, schools, and hospitals. A residential building (HO) is an example of a "facility." Residential equipment 1 is an example of "facility equipment" installed as equipment in a facility. Facility equipment includes building equipment in buildings not used for residential purposes (e.g., office buildings). Furthermore, facility equipment includes not only equipment installed within a residential building (HO), but also equipment installed on the premises where the residential building (HO) is located.

[0015] Residential equipment 1 includes open / close sensors, electric locks, electric shutters, cameras, air conditioners, etc. Residential equipment 1 may also include energy management devices such as distribution boards and solar power generation equipment, sensors such as temperature and humidity sensors and motion sensors, faucets, toilets, smart home appliances, etc. Residential equipment 1 has a manual control input mechanism that receives manual control instructions from the user, and a remote control input mechanism that receives remote control instructions from a server 7, etc.

[0016] The residential facility 1 can communicate with a router via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or wired LAN communication. The residential facility 1 may communicate with the router via the control device 2 capable of communication by short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0017] The residential facility 1 has a remote control input mechanism that receives a remote control instruction from the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can remotely operate the residential facility 1 using the smartphone 6 regardless of whether the user is at home or out of the home.

[0018] The operating state of the residential facility 1 is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the operating state of the residential facility 1 using the smartphone 6 regardless of whether the user is at home or out of the home.

[0019] Figure 2 is a functional block diagram of the control device 2. The control device 2 is a device that controls the connected residential facility 1. Further, the control device 2 relays communication between the residential facility 1 and the router 4. The control device 2 is also referred to as a relay device or a home device. The control device 2 includes a control unit 21, a communication unit 22, and a recording unit 23.

[0020] The control unit 21 is a program-executable computer including a processor such as a CPU, a memory capable of reading a program, a storage unit capable of storing the program and data, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 21 are implemented by the processor executing the program provided to the control unit 21.

[0021] The communication unit 22 includes an antenna and the like, and has a function of performing communication via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or wired LAN communication, and a function of performing communication via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication). The communication unit 22 can communicate with the home equipment 1 via the short-range wireless communication WC2 based on an instruction from the control unit 21. The communication unit 22 can communicate with the router 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or wired LAN communication based on an instruction from the control unit 21.

[0022] The recording unit 23 includes a recording medium such as a hard disk or a flash memory. The recording unit 23 records the setting information of the control device 2. Specifically, the recording unit 23 records wireless connection information 25 and an operation history 29.

[0023] The wireless connection information 25 includes wireless connection information necessary for communicating with the home equipment 1 via the short-range wireless communication WC2, and is, for example, pairing information of Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0024] The wireless connection information 25 includes wireless connection information necessary for communicating with the router 4 and the smartphone 6 via the wireless LAN communication WC1, and is, for example, a combination of a Wi-Fi SSID (Service Set Identifier) and a password corresponding to the SSID.

[0025] The operation history 29 is an operation history of the home equipment 1 controlled by the control device 2. Even when the home equipment 1 does not have a function of recording an operation history, the control device 2 can record the operation history of the home equipment 1. The operation history 29 is acquired by the server 7.

[0026] [Router 4] Router 4 is installed in the residential HO and has the function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or wired LAN communication, as well as router functionality. Router 4 is a so-called "wireless LAN router". Router 4 communicates with equipment installed in the residential HO (including residential equipment 1 and control device 2) via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication. Router 4 relays communication with equipment via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication to the network NW via the Internet Service Provider (ISP).

[0027] [Smartphone 6] Figure 3 is a functional block diagram of smartphone 6. A smartphone 6 is an example of a mobile device or terminal device. Mobile devices and terminal devices are not limited to smartphones 6, and may include, for example, mobile phones, smartwatches, tablet devices, personal computers, etc.

[0028] As shown in Figure 5, the smartphone 6 includes a control unit 61, a wireless communication unit 62, a touch panel 63, a camera 64, a microphone 65, and a position detection unit 66.

[0029] The control unit 61 is a program-executable computer having a processor such as a CPU, a memory capable of reading programs, a storage unit capable of storing programs and data, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 61 are realized by the processor executing programs provided to the control unit 61. Programs provided to the control unit 61 are also called applications. The control unit 61 controls the wireless communication unit 62, the touch panel 63, the camera 64, and the microphone 65.

[0030] The wireless communication unit 62 has an antenna and other components, and has the function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi, the function of communicating via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth®, ZigBee®, and NFC (Near field communication), and the function of communicating via high-speed wireless communication WC3 which can connect to a network NW using fourth-generation communication standards, fifth-generation communication standards, etc.

[0031] Based on instructions from the control unit 61, the wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the residential equipment 1, the control device 2, and the router 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 (LAN). Based on instructions from the control unit 61, the wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the residential equipment 1 and the control device 2 via short-range wireless communication WC2 (PAN). Based on instructions from the control unit 61, the wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the equipment management server 8 and the user management server 9 via high-speed wireless communication WC3 connected to the base station and the network NW.

[0032] The touch panel 63 is, for example, a capacitive touch panel. Input operations entered by the user on the touch panel are acquired by the control unit 61. The touch panel 63 displays a display screen based on instructions from the control unit 61. The touch panel 63 functions as an operation unit for inputting operations and a display unit for displaying the display screen.

[0033] The location detection unit 66 detects the current location of the smartphone 6. The location information is, for example, GPS information. The location information detected by the location detection unit 66 is acquired by the control unit 61.

[0034] Smartphone 6 has a smart home application (AP) installed, which is an application that provides users with comfortable and convenient functions by utilizing home equipment 1 connected to the network NW.

[0035] The smart home application AP can check the status and operation history of home equipment 1 based on user requests. Users can check the status and operation history of home equipment 1 using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away from home.

[0036] The smart home application AP can generate remote control instructions for the home equipment 1. These remote control instructions for the home equipment 1 are acquired by the equipment management server 8 via the network NW. The home equipment 1 performs control based on the control instructions acquired via the network NW. The user can remotely operate the home equipment 1 using the smart home application AP, whether they are at home or away from home.

[0037] [Server 7] Server 7 is composed of, for example, one or more servers and is connectable to a network NW. A server includes hardware such as a processor (CPU), memory, recording media (hard disk or flash memory), and communication devices. The functions of Server 7 are realized by programs executed on the server's processor. A server may be an on-site server, a cloud server providing IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), etc., or a server combining these. In the following description, "server" includes any of the above servers.

[0038] Server 7 includes a device management server 8 and a user management server 9. Note that the device management server 8 and the user management server 9 may be the same server.

[0039] [Device Management Server 8] The device management server 8 is a server that manages the residential equipment 1. The device management server 8 obtains control instructions for residential equipment 1 generated in the smart home application AP. The control instructions for residential equipment 1 are obtained by residential equipment 1.

[0040] The device management server 8 acquires the status and operation history of the home equipment 1 based on the user's request. The status and operation history of the home equipment 1 are acquired by the smart home application AP.

[0041] [User Management Server 9] The user management server 9 is a server that manages the registration of users who can use the home system 100 (hereinafter also referred to as "user registration"). The user management server 9 assigns a user code to registered users. The user code is a unique code within the home system 100 and is a code that identifies the user within the home system 100. The user code is, for example, a user ID.

[0042] User registration is information recorded that associates a user code, which identifies a user, with the equipment (including residential equipment 1 and control device 2) that the user can use. User registration may be recorded collectively for multiple pieces of equipment installed in residential HO, or it may be recorded separately for each piece of equipment. A registered user can use the associated equipment.

[0043] Users of the home system 100 can obtain a user code from the user management server 9. The user code obtained by the user is registered in the smart home application AP on the smartphone 6. The user code is also recorded in the device management server 8. Control instructions for the home equipment 1 generated by the user in the smart home application AP are obtained by the device management server 8 and the home equipment 1, which are associated based on the user code.

[0044] [Home System 100 Operation] Next, we will explain the operation of the home system 100. From here on, we will use the time chart for the home system 100 shown in Figure 4 to explain its operation. Specifically, we will explain the operation of the home system 100 when residents are absent from rental housing or when guests are absent from short-term accommodation.

[0045] Server 7 detects the absence of the user in the residence HO. Server 7 sets the time when the user's absence is detected as the start of the absence period PA (step S110). When Server 7 detects the user's presence during the absence period PA, the time when the user's presence is detected as the end of the absence period PA (step S120).

[0046] For example, Server 7 detects periods of absence (PA) based on detections from sensors in the residential facility 1. These sensors include motion sensors, door / window sensors, and illuminance sensors. If there is no sensor detection response for a certain period of time, Server 7 detects the user's absence. If there is a sensor detection response during the period of absence (PA), Server 7 detects the user's presence.

[0047] For example, Server 7 detects periods of absence (PA) based on location information obtained from Smartphone 6. If Server 7 determines that the user is not near the residence (HO) for a certain period of time, it detects the user's absence. If Server 7 determines that the user is near the residence (HO) during the period of absence (PA), it detects the user's presence.

[0048] For example, Server 7 detects periods of absence (PA) based on the communication status between Smartphone 6 and Housing Facility 1. Server 7 detects the user's absence if the user's Smartphone 6 has not communicated with Housing Facility 1 or Control Device 2 via Wireless LAN Communication WC1 or Short-Range Wireless Communication WC2 for a certain period of time. Server 7 detects the user's presence if Smartphone 6 communicates with Housing Facility 1 or Control Device 2 during the period of absence (PA).

[0049] For example, Server 7 detects periods of absence (PA) by performing pattern analysis on the activity history acquired from the residential facility 1. Server 7 detects the user's absence when it analyzes that the acquired activity history occurred while the user was absent. Server 7 detects the user's presence when it analyzes that the acquired activity history occurred while the user was present during the period of absence (PA). For pattern analysis of activity history, a model that has learned the user's activity history using machine learning or the like may be used.

[0050] For example, Server 7 detects periods of absence (PA) based on the operation history of the electric lock in the residential facility 1. If there is no operation history of the electric lock for a certain period, Server 7 detects that the user is absent. If there is an operation history of the electric lock during the period of absence (PA), Server 7 detects that the user is present.

[0051] For example, Server 7 determines the end of the absence period PA based on the user's biometric information obtained from the residential facility 1. For example, the biometric information is the user's voice. Server 7 records the user's voice obtained from the residential facility 1. Server 7 detects the user's presence by comparing the recorded user's voice with the voice obtained from the residential facility 1 during the absence period PA using voiceprint recognition or the like. For example, the biometric information is the user's veins. If vein authentication is installed at the entrance of the residential facility 1, Server 7 detects the user's presence when it detects the user's veins during the absence period PA.

[0052] For example, Server 7 determines the end of the absence period PA based on the user's movements captured by the camera in the residential facility 1. If Server 7 determines that the captured person's movements are those of the user, or if the captured person's movements are gestures that the user has pre-set, Server 7 detects the user's presence in the room.

[0053] For example, server 7 may determine the end date of the absence period PA based on remote control instructions received by the residential equipment 1. Server 7 detects the user's presence by detecting that the residential equipment 1 has been remotely controlled from smartphone 6. In this case, the user can end the absence period PA even if they are not at the residential HO.

[0054] Server 7 periodically checks the length of the absence period PA. If the absence period PA is less than or equal to a predetermined grace period, Server 7 does not delete the user registration for the user (step S130).

[0055] The length of the grace period may be changed based on information obtained from the residential equipment 1. For example, the server 7 determines the type of key for residential HO, such as a home, rental property, vacation home, or accommodation facility, based on the type of key used for the electric lock which is residential equipment 1, and changes the length of the grace period according to the key type. For example, if the key is a guest key for an accommodation facility, the length of the grace period is set to be short. For example, the server 7 may also change the length of the grace period by analyzing the operation history patterns described above.

[0056] Server 7 retrieves rental agreements for residents of rental housing and accommodation booking schedules for guests of accommodation facilities from servers providing other services (step S140). Server 7 determines the start date of the absence period PA based on the rental agreements and booking schedules. Server 7 determines that the absence period begins on the expiration date of the rental agreement or the last day of the booking schedule. Server 7 can determine the start date of the absence period PA based on the rental agreement, etc., even if the user who is moving out does not delete their user registration.

[0057] Server 7 periodically checks the length of the absence period PA. If the absence period PA is longer than a predetermined grace period, Server 7 deletes the user registration for the user (step S150). Specifically, Server 7 deletes the association between the user code that identifies the user and the equipment that the user can use (including housing equipment 1 and control device 2).

[0058] According to the home system 100 of this embodiment, when a resident of a facility such as a residential HO moves out, the user registration of the resident who moved out is reliably deleted, regardless of whether there is a new resident. The server 7 can easily determine the start date of the absence period PA, thus eliminating errors in determining the absence period PA. The server 7 can easily determine the end date of the absence period PA, thus preventing the user registration from being deleted even when the user is present.

[0059] Although one embodiment of this disclosure has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and may include design changes and the like that do not depart from the gist of this disclosure. Furthermore, the components shown in the above-described embodiment and modifications can be combined as appropriate.

[0060] Programs for the control device 2, smartphone 6, server 7, etc., are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The programs recorded on this recording medium are loaded into the computer system and executed. Here, "computer system" includes hardware such as the OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, magneto-optical disks, ROMs, CD-ROMs, and storage devices such as hard disks built into the computer system. In addition, "computer-readable recording medium" may also include those that dynamically hold programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs via networks such as the Internet or communication lines such as telephone lines, and those that hold programs for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside the computer system that acts as a server or client in such cases. Furthermore, the above programs may be for the purpose of realizing some of the functions described above, or they may be able to realize the above functions in combination with programs already recorded in the computer system, or they may be realized using programmable logic devices such as FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays). [Explanation of Symbols]

[0061] 100...Home System, AP...Smart Home Application, 1...Residential Equipment, 2...Control Device, 4...Router, 6...Smartphone, 7...Server, 8...Device Management Server, 9...User Management Server

Claims

1. A server that manages users, Facility equipment installed in the facility and capable of communicating with the aforementioned server, Equipped with, The server manages user registrations that associate the user with the facilities and equipment that the user can use. The server detects the period of absence of the user at the facility from the information obtained from the facility equipment, The server deletes the user registration if the absence period is longer than a predetermined grace period. Home system.

2. The aforementioned facility equipment includes sensors, The server detects the absence period based on the detection results of the sensor. The home system according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned user further comprises a terminal device owned by the user, The aforementioned facility equipment is capable of communicating with the aforementioned terminal device, The server detects the absence period based on the communication status between the terminal device and the facility equipment. The home system according to claim 1.

4. The user further comprises a terminal device owned by the user and capable of communicating with the server, The aforementioned server, The user's location information is obtained from the user's terminal device. Based on the location information, the absence period is detected. The home system according to claim 1.

5. The aforementioned server, The operation history is obtained from the aforementioned facility equipment, The absence period is detected by pattern analysis of the aforementioned operation history. The home system according to claim 1.

6. The aforementioned facility equipment includes an electric lock, The server changes the grace period according to the type of electric lock used by the user. The home system according to claim 1.

7. The aforementioned server, The operation history is obtained from the aforementioned facility equipment, The length of the grace period is changed by analyzing the operation history for patterns. The home system according to claim 1.

8. If the facility is a leased property, the server obtains the lease agreement for the facility and determines the start date of the absence period based on the lease agreement. The home system according to claim 1.

9. The server records the user's biometric information and determines the end date of the absence period based on the user's biometric information obtained from the facility equipment. The home system according to claim 1.

10. The aforementioned biometric information is the voice of the user. The home system according to claim 9.

11. The aforementioned biometric information is the user's pulse, The home system according to claim 9.

12. The aforementioned facility equipment includes a camera, The server determines the end date of the absence period based on the user's actions captured by the camera. The home system according to claim 1.

13. The user further comprises a terminal device owned by the user and capable of communicating with the server, The aforementioned facility equipment has a remote control input mechanism that receives remote control instructions from the terminal device. The server determines the end date of the absence period based on the remote control instructions received by the facility equipment. The home system according to claim 1.

14. A server that can communicate with facility equipment installed in a facility, The system manages user registrations that associate users with the facilities and equipment that those users can use. From the information obtained from the aforementioned facility equipment, the period of absence of the user at the facility is detected. If the aforementioned absence period is longer than the prescribed grace period, the user registration will be deleted. server.

15. A method for deleting a user registration that associates a user with facilities and equipment that the user can use, The period of absence of the user at the facility is detected from the information obtained from the facility equipment installed at the facility. If the aforementioned absence period is longer than the prescribed grace period, the user registration will be deleted. How to delete a user registration.

16. A program for deleting user registrations that associate a user with facilities and equipment that the user can use, On the computer, The facility detects the period of absence of the user at the facility from information obtained from the facility equipment installed at the facility. If the aforementioned absence period is longer than the prescribed grace period, the user registration will be deleted. User registration deletion program.

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