Heating system, and computer program for an external terminal

Abstract

To provide a technique for suppressing the discomfort of a user of a heating apparatus.SOLUTION: A heating system includes: a heating apparatus installed in a predetermined region; an external terminal which, on receiving the input of a control instruction to control the heating apparatus, can perform communication to make the heating apparatus execute predetermined processing according to the control instruction; a control unit which controls the execution of the predetermined processing according to the control instruction; and a determination unit which determines whether or not the user of the heating apparatus exists in the predetermined region. The control unit causes the heating apparatus to execute the predetermined processing according to the control instruction if the determination unit determines that the user does not exist in the predetermined region, whereas if the determination unit determines that the user exists in the predetermined region, the control unit restricts the execution of the predetermined processing according to the control instruction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a heating system including a heating device and an external terminal, and a computer program for the external terminal.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a system capable of remotely operating a stove. The system instructs control of the stove (e.g., extinguishing a fire) based on a request from a portable terminal of a user who is away from home.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above technology, no consideration is given to the situation where a user different from the user who is away from home is operating the stove. For this reason, even though a different user is operating the stove, if the user who is away from home instructs control of the stove, the above system may execute control different from the intention of the user operating the stove. If control different from the intention of the user operating the stove is executed, the user may feel uncomfortable.

[0005] This specification provides a technology for suppressing a user of a heating device from feeling uncomfortable.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The heating system disclosed in this specification includes a heating device installed within a predetermined area, an external terminal capable of receiving an input of a control instruction for controlling the heating device and enabling communication to cause the heating device to execute a predetermined process according to the control instruction, a control unit for controlling the execution of the predetermined process according to the control instruction, and a determination unit for determining whether a user of the heating device exists within the predetermined area. The control unit is configured to cause the heating device to execute the predetermined process according to the control instruction when the determination unit determines that the user does not exist within the predetermined area, and to restrict the execution of the predetermined process according to the control instruction when the determination unit determines that the user exists within the predetermined area. Here, the "heating device" is, for example, a cooking heater for heating a cooking object, a heater, a dishwasher dryer, a clothes dryer, etc. The cooking heater is, for example, a gas combustion type stove, an IH type stove, an electric oven, etc. The heater is, for example, a gas fan heater, etc. Note that the dishwasher dryer includes a dishwasher.

[0007] Determining that a user exists within the predetermined area where the heating device is installed means that there is a possibility that the user is operating the heating device. According to the above configuration, when the determination unit determines that a user exists within the predetermined area, that is, when it is estimated that the user is operating the heating device, the control unit restricts the execution of the predetermined process according to the control instruction input to the external terminal. As a result, it is possible to restrict the execution of a predetermined process that is different from the intention of the user operating the heating device, and it is possible to suppress the user from feeling uncomfortable.

[0008] The predetermined process may include a process for extinguishing the heating unit in a situation where the heating unit of the heating device is in the ignition state.

[0009] According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the heating unit that is in the ignition state from being extinguished contrary to the intention of the user operating the heating device.

[0010] In one aspect, When the determination unit determines that the external terminal or a mobile terminal different from the external terminal is connected to the local area network formed within the predetermined area, it determines that the user is present within the predetermined area, and when the local area network send a search signal to search and receive a response signal to the search signal from the local area network is involved, it determines that the user is not present within the predetermined area do not receive the response signal in the case. to do .

[0011] When an external terminal or a mobile terminal is connected to the local area network, there may be a user carrying the external terminal or a user carrying the mobile terminal within the predetermined area, and either of the two users may be operating the heating device. According to the above configuration, it is possible to determine whether an external terminal or a mobile terminal is connected to the local area network and estimate whether a user of the heating device is present within the predetermined area.

[0012] In other aspects, The predetermined area is an area within a house, and the determination unit acquires a measurement value from a meter that measures the amount of resources supplied to the house, and uses the acquired measurement value to determine whether the user is present within the predetermined area. to do .

[0013] For example, when the measurement value of the smart meter shows a relatively high value, there may be a user present within the predetermined area, which is an area within the house. According to the above configuration, it is possible to estimate whether a user is present within the predetermined area using the measurement value from the smart meter.

[0014] The heating device includes the determination unit and the control unit. When the external terminal receives an input of the control instruction, it transmits a control request according to the control instruction to the control unit of the heating device. When the control unit receives the control request from the external terminal, it may cause the determination unit to execute a determination as to whether the user is present within the predetermined area.

[0015] According to such a configuration, the determination by the determination unit is executed triggered by the reception of a control request. Compared with a comparative example in which the determination by the determination unit is periodically executed regardless of the reception of a control request, the processing load on the determination unit can be reduced.

[0016] This specification discloses a computer program for an external terminal that can receive an input of a control instruction for controlling a heating device installed within a predetermined area and transmit a control request according to the control instruction to the heating device. The computer program determines, based on information acquired from the heating device, whether or not a user of the heating device exists within the predetermined area, and when it is determined that the user does not exist within the predetermined area, transmits the control request according to the control instruction to the heating device, and when it is determined that the user exists within the predetermined area, restricts the transmission of the control request according to the control instruction to the heating device.

[0017] According to such a configuration, when the computer program for the external terminal determines that a user of the heating device exists within the predetermined area, that is, when it is presumed that the user is operating the heating device, the transmission of the control request to the heating device is restricted. As a result, it is restricted that a predetermined process different from the intention of the user operating the heating device is executed, and it is possible to suppress the user from feeling uncomfortable.

[0018] Also, for example, a comparative example is assumed in which when an external terminal transmits a control request to a heating device and a user of the heating device exists within the predetermined area, the heating device rejects the control request and restricts the execution of a predetermined process. In this comparative example, the control request is unnecessarily transmitted despite being rejected. In contrast, according to the above configuration, when a user of the heating device exists within the predetermined area, the transmission of the control request to the heating device is restricted, so it is possible to suppress an unnecessary control request from being transmitted to the heating device.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] (First Embodiment) (Configuration of Heating System 2; FIG. 1) With reference to the drawings, the heating system 2 according to the first embodiment will be described. The heating system 2 includes a cooking heater 10, a router 60, an external terminal 100, and a server 500. The cooking heater 10 and the router 60 are installed in a predetermined area 3 (for example, a living room) in the house. For example, the cooking heater 10 may be installed in the kitchen, and the router 60 may be installed in another room in the house different from the kitchen. In this case, the predetermined area 3 is the entire area of the house. The cooking heater 10 is connected to a local area network 4 (hereinafter referred to as "LAN4") formed by the router 60 within the predetermined area 3. The router 60 is connected to the Internet 8. The cooking heater 10 can communicate with the server 500 installed on the Internet 8 via the LAN4 and the router 60. The LAN4 is a wireless LAN. In a modified example, the LAN4 may be a wired LAN.

[0021] Server 500 is a server that provides a service for remotely monitoring and controlling the cooking appliance 10. Server 500 relays communication between a terminal (for example, the external terminal 100) and the cooking appliance 10. For example, Server 500 receives information regarding the cooking appliance 10 from the cooking appliance 10 and transmits the information to the terminal. Thereby, the user can view information regarding the cooking appliance 10 using the terminal. Information regarding the cooking appliance 10 is, for example, information indicating the current state of the cooking appliance 10 (for example, in the process of ignition, in the process of extinguishing the fire). Further, Server 500 receives a control request according to a control instruction from a terminal that has received an input of a control instruction for controlling the cooking appliance 10, and transmits the control request to the cooking appliance 10. The cooking appliance 10 executes processing according to the control request received from Server 500. The control request is, for example, a request according to an extinguishing instruction for extinguishing the cooking appliance 10 in the process of ignition, a request according to a change instruction for changing the setting of the cooking appliance 10 (for example, the time of the timer), and the like. Server 500 is installed by the vendor of the cooking appliance 10. In a modified example, Server 500 may be installed by an operator different from the vendor of the cooking appliance 10.

[0022] The external terminal 100 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal. In a modified example, the external terminal 100 may be a notebook PC, a desktop PC, or the like. A terminal ID "t01" for identifying the external terminal 100 is assigned to the external terminal 100.

[0023] Further, there may be a case where a mobile terminal 200 different from the external terminal 100 is connected to the LAN 4. The mobile terminal 200 is carried by a user different from the user of the external terminal 100. A terminal ID "t02" for identifying the mobile terminal 200 is assigned to the mobile terminal 200.

[0024] (Configuration of the cooking appliance 10; FIG. 2) The cooking appliance 10 is a gas combustion type stove. The cooking appliance 10 includes a stove burner 12, a stove operation unit 14, a LAN interface 20, and a control unit 30. Hereinafter, the interface will be referred to as "I / F".

[0025] The stove burner 12 is a burner for heating an object to be cooked (for example, a cooking container). A gas supply passage (not shown) is connected to the stove burner 12. A stove adjustment valve (not shown) for adjusting the amount of gas supplied to the stove burner 12 is provided in the gas supply passage. The stove burner 12 ignites by operating an igniter (not shown) in a state where gas is supplied to the stove burner 12. For example, the cooking appliance 10 has three stove burners 12.

[0026] The stove operation unit 14 is an operation unit for the user to perform ignition, extinguishing, and adjustment of the heating amount of the stove burner 12. The LAN I / F 20 is an I / F for executing communication via the LAN 4 and is connected to the LAN 4.

[0027] The control unit 30 includes a CPU 32 and a memory 34 constituted by a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, etc. The CPU 32 controls the operations of each part (for example, 12 to 20) of the cooking appliance 10 according to the program 40 stored in the memory 34.

[0028] Memory 34 further stores a terminal table 50. The terminal table 50 is a table that stores the terminal IDs of terminals capable of communicating with the cooking heater 10. For example, in order for a user to start communication between the cooking heater 10 and a terminal (such as the mobile terminal 200), the user inputs an instruction to store the terminal ID into the terminal connected to the LAN 4. Thereby, the terminal transmits the terminal ID to the cooking heater 10 via the LAN 4. When the cooking heater 10 receives the terminal ID from the terminal, it stores the received terminal ID into the terminal table 50. In a modification, the terminal ID may be stored in the cooking heater 10 manually. Also, in another modification, the terminal ID may be transmitted using a communication method other than the LAN 4, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark).

[0029] (Configuration of the external terminal 100; FIG. 2) The external terminal 100 includes an operation unit 114, a display unit 116, a network I / F 120, and a control unit 130. The operation unit 114 includes buttons for receiving inputs of various instructions. The display unit 116 is a display for displaying various information. The display unit 116 may function as a so-called touch panel (i.e., an operation unit). The network I / F 120 is an I / F for executing communication via the Internet 8 and is connected to the Internet 8.

[0030] The control unit 130 includes a CPU 132 and a memory 134 constituted by a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, etc. The CPU 132 controls the operation of the external terminal 100 according to programs 140 and 142 stored in the memory 134. The OS program 140 is a program for controlling the basic operation of the external terminal 100. The application program 142 (hereinafter referred to as "app 142") is a program for receiving services provided by the server 500. The app 142 is provided by the vendor of the cooking heater 10. In a modification, the app 142 may be provided by a business operator different from the vendor of the cooking heater 10.

[0031] (Specific processing; FIG. 3) Referring to FIG. 3, a specific process of remotely controlling the cooking appliance 10 using the external terminal 100 will be described. For example, the user may forget that the burner 12 of the cooking appliance 10 is ignited and go out. In this case, the user can extinguish the burner 12 outside the house by operating the external terminal 100. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, for the processes executed by the control units 30 and 130 of each device, from the viewpoint of ease of understanding, the description will be based on each device (for example, the cooking appliance 10) rather than the control units 30 and 130. Also, hereinafter, the cooking appliance 10 communicates with the server 500 via the LANI / F20, LAN4, router 60, and Internet 8. The external terminal 100 communicates with the server 500 via the network I / F 120 and Internet 8. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, the description of the I / F, LAN4, Internet 8, and router 60 that mediate communication will be omitted.

[0032] At T10, the user operates the operation unit 114 of the external terminal 100 to input a screen display instruction. When the external terminal 100 receives the input of the screen display instruction at T10, according to the application 142, it displays a control screen SC1 for remotely controlling the cooking appliance 10 on the display unit 116. The control screen SC1 includes a button BT for inputting an extinguishing instruction to extinguish the burner 12 of the cooking appliance 10.

[0033] When the external terminal 100 receives the selection of the button BT in the control screen SC1 at T12, at T14, it transmits a fire extinguishing request according to the fire extinguishing instruction input by the user to the cooking appliance 10 via the server 500.

[0034] When the heating cooker 10 receives a fire extinguishing request from the external terminal 100 at T14, at T20, it transmits a search signal for searching for mobile terminals connected to the LAN 4 to the LAN 4. The search signal is transmitted to each of one or more mobile terminals connected to the LAN 4, and each of the one or more mobile terminals transmits a response signal including a terminal ID for identifying the mobile terminal to the heating cooker 10. That is, the heating cooker 10 receives one or more response signals corresponding to one or more mobile terminals connected to the LAN 4. If no mobile terminal is connected to the LAN 4, the heating cooker 10 does not receive any response signal.

[0035] At T22, the heating cooker 10 determines whether a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the terminal table 50 is included in the one or more received response signals.

[0036] Cases A1 and A2 are cases where it is determined that none of the received one or more response signals include a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the terminal table 50, or no response signal is received (NO at T22). When the heating cooker 10 determines NO at T22, at T24, it determines whether the cooker burner 12 is in the ignition state.

[0037] Case A1 is a case where it is determined that the cooker burner 12 is in the ignition state (YES at T24). In this case, at T26, the heating cooker 10 extinguishes the cooker burner 12 according to the fire extinguishing request at T14. Specifically, the heating cooker 10 closes the control valve of the gas supply path for the cooker. Then, at T30, the heating cooker 10 transmits a fire extinguishing notification notifying that the cooker burner 12 has been extinguished to the external terminal 100 via the server 500.

[0038] When the external terminal 100 receives the fire extinguishing notification from the heating cooker 10 at T30, at T32, it displays a fire extinguishing completion screen notifying that the extinguishing of the cooker burner 12 has been completed on the display unit 116. Thereby, the user can know that the extinguishing of the cooker burner 12 has been completed.

[0039] Case A2 is a case where it is determined that the stove burner 12 is not in the ignition state (NO at T24). In this case, at T34, the cooking heater 10 transmits a fire extinguishing unnecessary notification to the external terminal 100 via the server 500, notifying that it was unnecessary to extinguish the stove burner 12.

[0040] When the external terminal 100 receives the fire extinguishing unnecessary notification from the cooking heater 10 at T34, at T36, it displays a fire extinguishing unnecessary screen on the display unit 116, notifying that it was unnecessary to extinguish the stove burner 12. As a result, the user can know that the stove burner 12 was not ignited and that it was unnecessary to extinguish the stove burner 12.

[0041] Case A3 is a case where it is determined that among the one or more received response signals, there is a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the terminal table 50 (YES at T22). When the cooking heater 10 determines YES at T22, at T40, it transmits a rejection notification to the external terminal 100 via the server 500, notifying that it did not execute the process of rejecting the fire extinguishing request at T14 and extinguishing the stove burner 12.

[0042] When the external terminal 100 receives the rejection notification from the cooking heater 10 at T40, at T42, it displays a rejection screen on the display unit 116, notifying that the fire extinguishing request at T14 was rejected. As a result, the user can know that the fire extinguishing instruction by selecting the button BT at T12 was rejected.

[0043] As described above, in case A1 where it is determined as NO at T22, the cooking burner 12 during ignition is extinguished. The determination as NO at T22 means that the mobile terminal (hereinafter referred to as the "stored terminal") identified by the terminal ID stored in the terminal table 50 of the cooking appliance 10 is not currently connected to LAN4, or no mobile terminal is connected to LAN4. In either case, the determination as NO at T22 means that the user carrying the stored terminal (i.e., the user living in the predetermined area 3) is not present within the predetermined area 3. In this case, there is a high possibility of forgetting to turn off by the user of the external terminal 100, and reflecting the intention of the user, the cooking burner 12 during ignition can be extinguished.

[0044] Also, in case A3 where it is determined as YES at T22, even if the cooking burner 12 is during ignition, the cooking burner 12 is not extinguished. The determination as YES at T22 means that the stored terminal is currently connected to LAN4, that is, the user carrying the stored terminal (i.e., the user living in the predetermined area 3) is present within the predetermined area 3. In this case, it is highly likely that the cooking burner 12 was ignited by a user present within the predetermined area 3 rather than the user of the external terminal 100. By rejecting the extinguishing request at T14, it is possible to prevent the cooking burner 12 from being extinguished against the intention of the user present within the predetermined area 3. By not executing an extinguishing operation against the intention of the user present within the predetermined area 3, it is possible to prevent the user present within the predetermined area 3 from feeling uncomfortable. For example, in this case, when the mobile terminal 200 is connected to LAN4, the mobile terminal 200 is determined as the stored terminal. Also, when the external terminal 100 is connected to LAN4, the external terminal 100 is determined as the stored terminal. That is, even when the user who input the extinguishing instruction (i.e., the user of the external terminal 100) is present within the predetermined area 3, the extinguishing of the cooking burner 12 is suppressed.

[0045] In case A3, the user present within the predetermined area 3 operates the stove operation unit 14 at T44 to input a fire extinguishing instruction to the cooking heater 10. As a result, the cooking heater 10 extinguishes the stove burner 12 at T46. In case A3, the fire extinguishing instruction input to the external terminal 100 is rejected, but the fire extinguishing instruction input to the cooking heater 10 is not rejected.

[0046] (Corresponding relationship) The heating system 2, the cooking heater 10, the external terminal 100, and the mobile terminal 200 are examples of a "heating system", a "heating device", an "external terminal", and a "mobile terminal", respectively. The stove burner 12 is an example of a "heating unit". The predetermined area 3 and the LAN 4 are examples of a "predetermined area" and a "local area network", respectively. Selecting the button BT in FIG. 3 is an example of a "control instruction". The fire extinguishing request at T14 in FIG. 3 is an example of a "control request". The process for extinguishing the stove burner 12 is an example of a "predetermined process". The control unit 30 that executes the process in FIG. 3 is an example of a "control unit". The control unit 30 that executes the determination at T22 in FIG. 3 is an example of a "determination unit".

[0047] (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the content of the process for remotely controlling the cooking heater 10 is different.

[0048] (Specific process; FIG. 4) Referring to FIG. 4, a specific process of remotely controlling the cooking appliance 10 using the external terminal 100 will be described. In this embodiment, the cooking appliance 10 periodically (for example, every 30 minutes) performs a search for mobile terminals connected to the LAN4. T50 and T52 are the same as T20 and T22 in FIG. 3. In T54, the cooking appliance 10 transmits result information indicating the result of the determination in T52 to the external terminal 100 via the server 500. In T52, when it is determined that the stored terminal is not currently connected to the LAN4 or no mobile terminal is connected to the LAN4, the result information includes "no terminal" indicating the result of the determination. On the other hand, in T52, when it is determined that the stored terminal is currently connected to the LAN4, the result information includes "terminal present" indicating the result of the determination. In a modified example, the cooking appliance 10 may periodically obtain information from a human presence sensor, a camera, etc. installed within the predetermined area 3. Then, when the cooking appliance 10 determines that no user is present within the predetermined area 3 using the information from the human presence sensor, camera, etc., it may transmit result information indicating "no user" to the external terminal 100, and when it determines that a user is present within the predetermined area 3, it may transmit result information indicating "user present" to the external terminal 100. Also in this case, similar to case A3 of the first embodiment, even when the external terminal 100 is connected to the LAN4, the external terminal 100 is determined as a stored terminal.

[0049] When the external terminal 100 receives the result information from the cooking appliance 10 in T54, in T56, it stores the received result information in the memory 134.

[0050] T60 is the same as T10 in FIG. 3. In T62, the external terminal 100 determines whether the result information stored in the memory 134 indicates "terminal present". When the external terminal 100 determines that the result information stored in the memory 134 indicates "no terminal" (NO in T62), it displays the control screen SC1 on the display unit 116. T72 and T74 are the same as T12 and T14 in FIG. 3.

[0051] T84 is the same as T24 in FIG. 3. Case B1 is the same case as case A1 in FIG. 3, and T86 to T92 are the same as T26 to T32 in FIG. 3. On the other hand, case B2 is the same case as case A2 in FIG. 3, and T94 and T96 are the same as T34 and T36 in FIG. 3.

[0052] Case B3 is a case where the result information stored in the memory 134 is determined to indicate "terminal present" (YES in T62). In this case, the external terminal 100 displays a screen SC2 different from the control screen SC1 on the display unit 116. The screen SC2 does not include a button BT for inputting a fire extinguishing instruction. Therefore, the user cannot input a fire extinguishing instruction, and the transmission of a fire extinguishing request to the cooking heater 10 is restricted. Further, the screen SC2 includes a message indicating that the cooking heater 10 cannot be remotely controlled. The user can know from the message that the cooking heater 10 cannot be remotely controlled.

[0053] According to such a configuration, when the external terminal 100 estimates that a user existing in the predetermined area 3 is operating the cooking heater 10, the external terminal 100 displays the screen SC2 and restricts the transmission of a fire extinguishing request to the cooking heater 10. As a result, it is possible to suppress the convector 12 from being extinguished against the intention of the user operating the cooking heater 10.

[0054] Also, in the first embodiment, even when a user exists in the predetermined area 3, the external terminal 100 transmits a fire extinguishing request to the cooking heater 10, and the fire extinguishing request is rejected by the cooking heater 10. In the first embodiment, although the request is rejected, the fire extinguishing request is unnecessarily transmitted. On the other hand, according to the above configuration, when a user exists in the predetermined area 3, the transmission of a fire extinguishing request to the cooking heater 10 is restricted, so that it is possible to suppress an unnecessary fire extinguishing request from being transmitted to the cooking heater 10.

[0055] (Corresponding relationship) The application 142 is an example of a "computer program". Selecting the button BT in FIG. 4, the fire extinguishing request of T74 is an example of a "control instruction" and a "control request". In this embodiment, the control unit 130 that executes the process of FIG. 4 is an example of a "control unit". The result information of T54 (i.e., the information indicating the result of the determination of T52), the control unit 130 that executes the determination of T62 based on the result information indicating the result of the determination of the heating cooker 10 are respectively examples of "information obtained from the heating device" and a "determination unit". Note that in a modified example, the heating cooker 10 may not execute the processes of T52 and T54 in FIG. 4, but may transmit one or more response signals to the external terminal 100 in response to the search signal of T50. In this case, the external terminal 100 stores the terminal table 50, and may determine whether a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the terminal table 50 is included in the one or more response signals received from the heating cooker 10. In this modified example, the control unit (not shown) of the external terminal 100 that executes the determination using the one or more response signals and the terminal table 50 are respectively examples of "information obtained from the heating device" and a "determination unit".

[0056] (Third Embodiment) The third embodiment is the same as the first embodiment except that the heating system 2 includes the smart meter 70 and the content of the process for remotely controlling the heating cooker 10 is different.

[0057] (Configuration of Heating System 2; FIG. 5) As shown in FIG. 5, the smart meter 70 is connected to the LAN 4. The smart meter 70 is a meter that measures the amount of resources supplied to a house including the predetermined area 3. Here, the "resources" are, for example, electricity, gas, water, etc. The smart meter 70 can output a measured value (for example, the electricity consumption) indicating the amount of resources supplied to the house. Note that in a modified example, the smart meter 70 may not be connected to the LAN 4, but may be connected to the Internet 8.

[0058] (Specific Process; FIG. 6) Referring to FIG. 6, a specific process of remotely controlling the cooking appliance 10 using the external terminal 100 will be described. T110 to T114 are the same as T10 to T14 in FIG. 3.

[0059] When the cooking appliance 10 receives a fire extinguishing request from the external terminal 100 at T114, at T120, it sends a measurement value request for requesting a measurement value to the smart meter 70 and receives the measurement value from the smart meter 70.

[0060] At T122, the cooking appliance 10 determines whether the received measurement value satisfies a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is, for example, a condition that the received measurement value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value. The predetermined threshold value is preset, for example, based on the lower limit value of the amount of resources estimated to be supplied when a user is present in the house. That is, the fact that the received measurement value is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value means that there is a high possibility that a user is present in the predetermined area 3 in the house. Note that the predetermined condition is not limited to the above condition, and may be, for example, a condition that the amount of change in the measurement value of the smart meter 70 is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount.

[0061] Cases C1 to C3 in FIG. 6 are the same as cases A1 to A3 in FIG. 3, and T124 to T146 in FIG. 6 are the same as T24 to T46 in FIG. 3.

[0062] Even with such a configuration, similar to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the burner 12 from being extinguished against the intention of the user present in the predetermined area 3 (case C3). The smart meter 70 is an example of a "meter". The control unit 30 that executes the determination at T122 in FIG. 6 is an example of a "determination unit".

[0063] As described above in detail for each embodiment, these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above. Modifications of the above embodiments are listed below.

[0064] (Modification Example 1) The "control instruction" is not limited to the fire extinguishing instruction. For example, it may be an instruction to reduce the heating amount of the stove burner 12, a change instruction to change the setting of the cooking heater 10, an OFF instruction to turn off the power of the cooking heater 10, or a lock instruction to lock the operation of the cooking heater 10.

[0065] (Modification Example 2) The processing realized by the "judgment unit" is not limited to T22 in FIG. 3, T62 in FIG. 4, and T122 in FIG. 6. For example, in the first embodiment, the cooking heater 10 may acquire information from a human presence sensor, a camera, etc. installed in the predetermined area 3, and use the information to determine whether a user exists in the predetermined area 3. Further, when a P2P connection (for example, a connection according to Bluetooth) is established between the cooking heater 10 and the mobile terminal 200, the cooking heater 10 may determine that a user exists in the predetermined area 3.

[0066] (Modification Example 3) In the first embodiment, the judgment of T22 in FIG. 3 is executed by the cooking heater 10. Instead of this, the judgment may be executed by the server 500. When it is determined in the judgment that the stored terminal is not currently connected to the LAN 4, the server 500 may transmit the fire extinguishing request received from the external terminal 100 to the cooking heater 10. Further, when it is determined in the judgment that the stored terminal is currently connected to the LAN 4, the server 500 may reject the fire extinguishing request by not transmitting the fire extinguishing request to the cooking heater 10. In this modification example, the server 500 is an example of the "control unit" and the "judgment unit".

[0067] (Modification Example 4) The heating system 2 may not include the server 500. In this case, the external terminal 100 may transmit a fire extinguishing request to the cooking heater 10 using a communication method different from the Internet 8 (for example, Bluetooth) (see T14 in FIG. 3).

[0068] (Modification Example 5) In T22 of FIG. 3, the cooking appliance 10 determines whether a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the terminal table 50 is received. Alternatively, the cooking appliance 10 may determine whether one or more response signals are received. Receiving one or more response signals means that one or more mobile terminals are connected to the LAN 4. When the cooking appliance 10 determines that one or more response signals are received, it may determine that there is a user carrying a mobile terminal within the LAN 4 and execute the process of T40. On the other hand, when the cooking appliance 10 determines that no response signal is received, it may determine that there is no user carrying a mobile terminal within the LAN 4 and execute the process of transitioning to T24. That is, in this modification example, the cooking appliance 10 does not necessarily store the terminal table 50.

[0069] The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical utility either alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. Also, the technology exemplified in this specification or the drawings can achieve multiple purposes simultaneously, and achieving one of those purposes itself has technical utility.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0070] 2: Heating System 3: Predetermined Area 4: Local Area Network (LAN) 8: Internet 10: Cooking Appliance 12: Convection Burner 14: Convection Oven Operation Unit 20: LAN I / F 30: Control Unit 32: CPU 34: Memory 40: Program 50: Terminal Table 60: Router 70: Smart Meter 100: External Terminal 114: Operation Unit 116: Display unit 120: Network I / F 130: Control unit 132: CPU 134: Memory 140: OS program 142: Application program (app) 200: Mobile terminal 500: Server SC1: Control screen SC2: Screen BT: Button

Claims

1. A heating device installed within a predetermined area, an external terminal capable of communicating to receive an input of a control instruction for controlling the heating device and causing the heating device to execute a predetermined process according to the control instruction, a control unit for controlling the execution of the predetermined process according to the control instruction, a determination unit for determining whether or not a user of the heating device exists within the predetermined area, a memory for storing one or more terminal IDs, and comprising, wherein the control unit, when the determination unit determines that the user does not exist within the predetermined area, causes the heating device to execute the predetermined process according to the control instruction, and when the determination unit determines that the user exists within the predetermined area, restricts the execution of the predetermined process according to the control instruction, is configured as such, wherein the determination unit, transmits a search signal to search for the external terminal or a mobile terminal different from the external terminal in a local area network formed within the predetermined area, receives a response signal to the search signal from the local area network, and when a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the memory is included among one or more of the response signals received from the local area network, determines that the user exists within the predetermined area, and when the response signal is not received from the local area network and when a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the memory is not included among one or more of the response signals received from the local area network, determines that the user does not exist within the predetermined area, a heating system.

2. The heating system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined process includes a process for extinguishing a heating unit of the heating device when the heating unit of the heating device is in a state of being ignited.

3. The heating system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating device is a cooking heater for heating a cooking object.

4. The heating device includes the determination unit and the control unit, wherein when the external terminal receives an input of the control instruction, the external terminal transmits a control request according to the control instruction to the control unit of the heating device, and the control unit, when receiving the control request from the external terminal, causes the determination unit to execute a determination as to whether or not the user exists within the predetermined area, the heating system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A computer program for an external terminal that can receive an input of a control instruction for controlling a heating device installed within a predetermined area and transmit a control request according to the control instruction to the heating device, wherein the heating device includes a memory for storing a terminal ID, the computer program, when the information obtained from the heating device indicates a first value, determines that a user of the heating device exists within the predetermined area, when the information obtained from the heating device indicates a second value, determines that the user does not exist within the predetermined area, when it is determined that the user does not exist within the predetermined area, transmits the control request according to the control instruction to the heating device, when it is determined that the user exists within the predetermined area, restricts the transmission of the control request according to the control instruction to the heating device, is configured as such, wherein the information indicates the first value when, among one or more response signals to a search signal transmitted by the heating device to a local area network formed within the predetermined area, a response signal including the terminal ID stored in the memory is included, the information indicates the second value when the response signal including the terminal ID is not included among the one or more response signals, and the search signal is a signal for searching for the external terminal or a mobile terminal different from the external terminal. A computer program for an external terminal.

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