air conditioning system

Abstract

To easily add an additional function to an air-conditioner.SOLUTION: An air-conditioning system 1 has an air-conditioner 11, a communication adaptor 12 that is connected to the air-conditioner 11 and can be connected to a public line 21, and a portable terminal 30 capable of operating the air-conditioner 11 through the communication adaptor 12. When adding an additional function to the air-conditioner 11, the communication adaptor 12 operates the air-conditioner 11 to execute the additional function. The additional function is, for example, a function capable of registering reservation of operation of the air-conditioner 11 for each day of the week by the portable terminal 30 or a function controlling an apparatus adjusting quality of air in a space in which the air-conditioner 11 is installed in conjunction with the air-conditioner 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to air conditioning systems. [Background technology]

[0002] BACKGROUND ART There is a technology that allows an air conditioner to be operated from outside the home via a public line using a mobile terminal such as a smart device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-082336 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In recent years, air conditioners have been required to be equipped with additional functions (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "additional functions"), such as a weekly timer function and an external device linkage function, in addition to basic functions such as cooling and heating operation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "basic functions"). The weekly timer function is a function that allows the air conditioner's operation schedule for all days of the week to be viewed using a mobile terminal, and allows the air conditioner's operation to be reserved and registered for each day of the week. The external device linkage function is a function that controls devices other than the air conditioner, such as a humidifier or air purifier, in conjunction with the air conditioner. Hereinafter, devices other than the air conditioner that can be controlled in conjunction with the air conditioner may be referred to as "externally linked devices."

[0005] Even if the above-mentioned additional functions are not installed in the air conditioner when it is installed in a room, it is possible that the software that realizes the additional functions can be downloaded from a server to the air conditioner via a public line, and the functions that are not installed in the air conditioner when it is installed in a room and that are added to the air conditioner after installation will be referred to as "additional functions" below.

[0006] However, it is not easy to add additional functions to each air conditioner. For example, if the number and content of addable additional functions differ depending on the model of air conditioner, the memory capacity required to store the information necessary to control the additional functions will differ depending on the model, making it difficult to estimate the optimal memory capacity for each model. Furthermore, for example, because the basic functions traditionally installed in air conditioners differ depending on the model of air conditioner, it is difficult to check the operation between the basic functions and the additional functions every time an additional function is added.

[0007] Therefore, the present disclosure proposes a technique that allows functions to be easily added to an air conditioner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The air conditioning system of the present disclosure comprises an air conditioner, a communication adapter connected to the air conditioner and connectable to a public line, and a mobile terminal capable of operating the air conditioner via the communication adapter, and when a function is added to the air conditioner, the communication adapter operates the air conditioner to execute the function. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the disclosed technology, functions can be easily added to an air conditioner. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same components are designated by the same reference numerals.

[0012] [Example 1] <Air conditioning system configuration> Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example configuration of an air conditioning system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. In Fig. 1, the air conditioning system 1 includes an air conditioner 11, a communication adapter 12, a dedicated remote control 13, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router 14, a mobile terminal 30, an externally linked device 40, and a server 23 capable of communicating with the communication adapter 12 via a public line 21. The air conditioner 11, the communication adapter 12, the wireless LAN router 14, and the externally linked device 40 are installed inside the home, and the public line 21 and the server 23 are installed outside the home. The dedicated remote control 13 and the mobile terminal 30 are operated by a user of the air conditioner 11, and the user can operate the air conditioner 11 using the dedicated remote control 13 or the mobile terminal 30.

[0013] The air conditioner 11 is equipped with basic functions such as heating, cooling, and dehumidifying, and adjusts the temperature and humidity in the room. After the air conditioner 11 is installed in the room, additional functions such as a weekly timer function and an external device linkage function can be added to the air conditioner 11.

[0014] The communication adapter 12 is connected to the air conditioner 11 by wire or wirelessly. The communication adapter 12 is also connected wirelessly to a wireless LAN router 14 connected to a public line 21. Because the communication adapter 12 can be connected to the public line 21 via the wireless LAN router 14, using the communication adapter 12 makes it possible to connect the air conditioner 11 to the public line 21. Furthermore, inside the home, a mobile terminal 30 can directly communicate with the communication adapter 12 via short-range wireless communication (e.g., communication using the Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard). Therefore, when a user carrying the mobile terminal 30 is located inside the home, the user can operate the air conditioner 11 using the mobile terminal 30 by communication via the communication adapter 12. Furthermore, using the mobile terminal 30, software required to execute additional functions (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "additional function software") can be downloaded to the communication adapter 12 from the server 23 via the public line 21 and the wireless LAN router 14. The communication adapter 12 also communicates directly with an externally linked device 40 wirelessly.

[0015] The dedicated remote controller 13 is a remote controller dedicated to the air conditioner 11, and communicates directly with the air conditioner 11 wirelessly.

[0016] <Air conditioning system operation> FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of the operation of the air conditioning system according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0017] An application (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an "operation app") capable of operating the air conditioner 11 is installed on the mobile terminal 30. The operation app is capable of displaying an operation screen (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an "additional function operation screen") related to additional functions on the touch panel of the mobile terminal 30 in addition to the operation screen related to the basic functions described above. The operation app is also capable of displaying an operation screen (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "download operation screen") on the touch panel of the mobile terminal 30 that can be used to download additional function software from the server 23 to the communication adapter 12. The download operation screen displays buttons corresponding to each additional function, such as a weekly timer function and an external device linkage function. The additional function software may be pre-installed on the communication adapter 12, which is sold as a set with the air conditioner 11.

[0018] When a button corresponding to an additional function to be downloaded (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "target additional function") is touched on the download operation screen, a download request is sent from the mobile terminal 30 to the server 23, as shown in FIG. 2, and in response to the download request, additional function software that realizes the target additional function is sent from the server 23 to the communication adapter 12.

[0019] 2, the additional function software transmitted from the server 23 is received by the communication adapter 12 via the public line 21 and the wireless LAN router 14. As a result, the additional function software is downloaded to the communication adapter 12 and stored in the communication adapter 12, and the additional function software becomes executable in the communication adapter 12.

[0020] After the additional function software is stored in the communication adapter 12, the user performs settings (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "processing settings") related to the processing content of the target additional function using the additional function operation screen displayed on the touch panel of the mobile terminal 30. After the processing settings are completed, as shown in Fig. 2, information indicating the processing settings content (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "setting information") is transmitted from the mobile terminal 30 to the communication adapter 12, and the communication adapter 12 stores the received setting information.

[0021] The communication adapter 12, which stores the additional function software and setting information, executes the additional function software in accordance with the setting information, as shown in Figure 2, to generate a signal (hereinafter sometimes referred to as an "operation instruction signal") containing operation instructions for the air conditioner 11, and transmits the generated operation instruction signal to the air conditioner 11.

[0022] When the operation instruction signal is received, the air conditioner 11 performs an operation in accordance with the operation content indicated in the operation instruction signal.

[0023] In this way, with the disclosed technology, for example, when an additional function is added to the air conditioner 11, the additional function software is stored in the communication adapter 12 rather than the air conditioner 11, and is executed in the communication adapter 12 rather than the air conditioner 11. The additional function software is then executed in the communication adapter 12 in accordance with the setting information, causing the communication adapter 12 to operate the air conditioner 11. The air conditioner 11 is operated in accordance with an operation instruction signal transmitted from the communication adapter 12, and the air conditioner 12 operates in accordance with instructions from the communication adapter 12. In other words, with the disclosed technology, when an additional function is added to the air conditioner 11, the communication adapter 12 operates the air conditioner 11 to execute the additional function.

[0024] Below, examples of the operation of the air conditioning system 1 will be described, divided into cases where the target additional function is a weekly timer function and where the target additional function is an external device interlocking function.

[0025] <Operation when the target additional function is the weekly timer function> If the target additional function is a weekly timer function, the user configures processing settings for the weekly timer using the additional function operation screen, and the setting information sent from mobile terminal 30 to communication adapter 12 includes information indicating the contents of the weekly timer reservation registration (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "reservation registration information"). For example, the reservation registration information includes registration information that cooling operation at 26°C will start at 10:00 on Monday and end at 12:00, registration information that cooling operation at 25°C will start at 16:00 on Wednesday and end at 20:00, and registration information that cooling operation at 27°C will start at 14:00 on Friday and end at 17:00.

[0026] The communication adapter 12, which has stored the setting information received from the mobile terminal 30, sends an operation instruction signal to the air conditioner 11 at 10:00 on Monday that includes an instruction to start cooling operation at 26°C, and sends an operation instruction signal to the air conditioner 11 at 12:00 on Monday that includes an instruction to end cooling operation. The communication adapter 12 also sends an operation instruction signal to the air conditioner 11 at 4:00 on Wednesday that includes an instruction to start cooling operation at 25°C, and sends an operation instruction signal to the air conditioner 11 at 8:00 on Wednesday that includes an instruction to end cooling operation. The communication adapter 12 also sends an operation instruction signal to the air conditioner 11 at 2:00 on Friday that includes an instruction to start cooling operation at 27°C, and sends an operation instruction signal to the air conditioner 11 at 5:00 on Friday that includes an instruction to end cooling operation.

[0027] In accordance with the operation instruction signal received from the communication adapter 12, the air conditioner 11 starts cooling operation at 26°C at 10:00 on Monday and ends cooling operation at 12:00 on Monday, starts cooling operation at 25°C at 16:00 on Wednesday and ends cooling operation at 20:00 on Wednesday, and starts cooling operation at 27°C at 14:00 on Friday and ends cooling operation at 17:00 on Friday.

[0028] <Operation when the target additional function is an external device linkage function> Examples of externally linked devices include devices such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and circulators that adjust the air quality in the space in which the air conditioner 11 is installed. When the target additional function is an external device linkage function, the user uses the additional function operation screen to specify whether or not to enable control that causes the air conditioner 11 and the externally linked device to operate in linkage with each other (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "linkage control") as a processing setting for the linkage control, and the setting information sent from the mobile terminal 30 to the communication adapter 12 includes information indicating whether or not to enable the linkage control (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "linkage control information"). For example, if the linkage control is enabled, the linkage control information is set to "1," and if the linkage control is disabled, the linkage control information is set to "0."

[0029] The communication adapter 12 that has stored the setting information received from the mobile terminal 30 references the interlocking control information in the setting information and determines whether or not to enable interlocking control. For example, the communication adapter 12 determines that interlocking control is enabled when the interlocking control information is set to "1," and determines that interlocking control is disabled when the interlocking control information is set to "0."

[0030] For example, when the communication adapter 12 determines that the interlocking control is enabled, it transmits a control signal including an instruction to start the operation of the humidifier to the humidifier when it transmits an operation instruction signal including an instruction to start the heating operation to the air conditioner 11, as shown in Fig. 2. This causes the humidifier to start humidifying in synchronization with the start of the heating operation in the air conditioner 11.

[0031] Furthermore, for example, when the communication adapter 12 determines that interlocking control is enabled, as shown in Fig. 2, when it transmits an operation instruction signal including an instruction to start cooling operation to the air conditioner 11, it transmits a control signal including an instruction to start operation of the circulator to the circulator. As a result, the circulator starts mixing the air in synchronization with the start of cooling operation in the air conditioner 11.

[0032] As described above, when an additional function is added to the air conditioner 11, the communication adapter 12 operates the air conditioner 11 to execute the additional function, eliminating the need to estimate the optimal memory capacity for each model of air conditioner 11 or to check the operation between the basic functions and the additional functions in the air conditioner 11, and therefore allowing the additional function to be easily added to the air conditioner 11.

[0033] In addition, when the communication adapter 12 receives a signal from the air conditioner 11 indicating that the air conditioner 11 has started operating, it may send a control signal to the externally linked device that includes an instruction to start operating the externally linked device.

[0034] The first embodiment has been described above.

[0035] [Example 2] <Air conditioning system operation> In addition to the operations of Example 1, the communication adapter 12 transmits a signal including reservation registration information (hereinafter may be referred to as a "reservation information signal") to the air conditioner 11. When transmitting the reservation information signal to the air conditioner 11, the communication adapter 12 adds information (hereinafter may be referred to as "weekly timer information") to the reservation information signal indicating that the reservation registration information included in the reservation information signal is information indicating the contents of the reservation registration performed using the weekly timer function.

[0036] For example, the air conditioner 11 receives weather forecast information from a server that provides the weather forecast information via the communication adapter 12. If the outdoor temperature predicted in the weather forecast 12 hours from now is below a threshold value TH1, the air conditioner 11 generates a signal to suggest to the user to set an on-timer that will start heating operation 12 hours from now, and transmits the generated signal to the mobile terminal 30 via the communication adapter 12. Alternatively, if the outdoor temperature predicted in the weather forecast 12 hours from now is equal to or greater than a threshold value TH2, the air conditioner 11 generates a signal to suggest to the user to set an on-timer that will start cooling operation 12 hours from now, and transmits the generated signal to the mobile terminal 30 via the communication adapter 12. The signal suggesting to the user to set the on-timer (hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "proposal signal") includes a recommended operation type, such as heating operation or cooling operation, and a recommended operation start time. The touch panel of the mobile terminal 30 that receives the proposal signal displays the proposed on-timer content, including the recommended operation type and the recommended operation start time.

[0037] However, the air conditioner 11 does not generate a proposal signal if the reservation information signal includes weekly timer information and the reservation registration information included in the reservation information signal includes an on-timer reservation with a start time within a predetermined time (for example, within ±2 hours) before or after the recommended operation start time of the on-timer determined based on the outside temperature in the weather forecast. In other words, if the operation start time in a reservation registration made using the weekly timer function is within a predetermined time before or after the recommended operation start time based on the weather forecast, the air conditioner 11 will not propose an on-timer to the user. This makes it possible to prevent proposals for on-timer reservations that overlap with reservations registered using the weekly timer function, thereby reducing the inconvenience to the user caused by unnecessary proposals.

[0038] The second embodiment has been described above.

[0039] In the above description, an example of an operation within a home is an operation performed by direct communication between the mobile terminal 30 and the communication adapter 12. However, the disclosed technology is also applicable to a case where an operation within a home is performed by communication between the mobile terminal 30 and the communication adapter 12 via the wireless LAN router 14. [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1. Air conditioning system 11 Air conditioner 12 Communication adapter 13 Dedicated remote control 14 Wireless LAN router 21 Public lines 23 Server 30 Mobile Devices 40 External interlocking equipment

Claims

1. An air conditioning system comprising an air conditioner, a communication adapter connected to the air conditioner and connectable to a public line, and a mobile terminal capable of operating the air conditioner via the communication adapter, When a function is added to the air conditioner, the communication adapter operates the air conditioner to execute the function, The function is a function of controlling a device that adjusts the air quality of the space in which the air conditioner is installed in conjunction with the air conditioner. Air conditioning system.

2. The communication adapter stores software necessary to execute the functions. The air conditioning system of claim 1 .

3. An air conditioning system comprising an air conditioner, a communication adapter connected to the air conditioner and connectable to a public line, and a mobile terminal capable of operating the air conditioner via the communication adapter, When a function is added to the air conditioner, the communication adapter operates the air conditioner to execute the function, The function is a function that enables the operation of the air conditioner to be scheduled and registered for each day of the week using the mobile terminal. Air conditioning system.

4. The communication adapter stores software necessary to execute the function. The air conditioning system according to claim 3 .

5. The communication adapter transmits a signal including first information indicating the content of the reservation registration to the air conditioner. The air conditioning system according to claim 3 .

6. When transmitting the signal to the air conditioner, the communication adapter adds second information to the signal, the second information indicating that the first information is information indicating the content of the reservation registration performed using the function. The air conditioning system according to claim 5.

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