COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION CONTROL DEVICE, COMMUNICATION CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM

Abstract

A communication system comprising a communication control device (1) that can communicate with a device (3) via a local network and a cloud server (2) that can communicate with the communication control device (1) via a wide area network and that manages the state of the device (3). The communication control device (1) comprises: a state request unit (112) that transmits, to the device (3), response request information requesting the device (3) to transmit state information indicating the state of the device (3) at a preset polling interval; a state acquisition unit (114) that acquires the state information transmitted by the device (3) in accordance with the response request information; and a state notification unit (115) that generates state notification information including the state information and transmits the state notification information to the cloud server (2) via the wide area network.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication system, a communication control device, a communication control method, and a program. [Background technology]

[0002] A system has been proposed which comprises a first communication control means connected to a LAN (Local Area Network) to which a server is connected, and a second communication control means connected to a LAN to which a client is connected and which communicates with the first communication control means via a billing network, in which the first communication control means processes a proxy response to a polling request from the server based on the exchange of synchronization control messages with the second communication control means via the billing network, and the second communication control means processes a polling proxy request for the client based on the exchange of synchronization control messages with the first communication control means via the billing network (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 8-6898 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the system described in Patent Document 1, the status of a client managed by the server is constrained by the frequency of exchange of synchronization control messages, resulting in a time lag between the time when the status of the client managed by the server changes and the time when the client status actually changes. This makes it difficult for the server to monitor the client status in real time. On the other hand, if the exchange interval of synchronization control messages is shortened so that the server monitors client status changes at shorter intervals, the traffic between the first communication control means and the second communication control means increases accordingly.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above reasons, and aims to provide a communication system, a communication control device, a communication control method, and a program that can appropriately manage the status of devices while reducing communication traffic between devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the communication system according to the present disclosure includes: Multiple a communication control device capable of communicating with the device via a first network; The communication control device can communicate with the first network via a second network different from the first network. Multiple a device management device that manages the status of the device, The communication control device For each of the plurality of devices Pre-set Multiple types At time intervals Multiple The above-mentioned equipment each and a response request information requesting transmission of status information indicating the status of the device to the Multiple a status request unit for transmitting a status request to the device; Multiple a first status acquisition unit that acquires the status information transmitted by the device in response to the response request information; and a status notification unit that transmits the status information to the device management device via the second network. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a status request unit of a communication control device transmits response request information to a device at a preset transmission period, and a first status acquisition unit acquires status information transmitted by the device in response to the response request information. Then, a status notification unit transmits the acquired status information to a device management device via a second network. This eliminates the need to transmit response request information from the device management device to the device via the second network, thereby reducing communication traffic on the second network. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a polling setting storage unit of the communication control device according to the first embodiment; [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a polling setting storage unit of the cloud server according to the first embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating an operation of a communication system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 7] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a communication control process executed by a communication control device according to the first embodiment; [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a state management process executed by a cloud server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a communication system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a notification condition storage unit according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a communication control process executed by a communication control device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a communication system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a state storage unit of a communication control device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 14] An explanatory diagram of the operation of a cloud server according to the third embodiment [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a communication system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a communication system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 17] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a communication control process executed by a communication control device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 18] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a state management process executed by a cloud server according to a third embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a communication system according to a modified example. [Figure 20] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the flow of a state management process executed by a cloud server according to a modified example. [Figure 21] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a polling setting storage unit of a communication control device according to a modified example; [Figure 22] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a communication system according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Embodiment 1) A communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The communication system according to the embodiment includes a communication control device capable of communicating with a device via a first network, and a device management device capable of communicating with the communication control device via a second network and managing the status of the device. The communication control device includes a status request unit that transmits, to the device, response request information requesting the device to transmit status information indicating the device's status at a predetermined transmission period, a first status acquisition unit that acquires the status information transmitted by the device in response to the response request information, and a status notification unit that transmits the status information to the device management device via the second network.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the communication system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 2 and a communication control device 1 that acquires information transmitted from a device 3 and transmits the acquired information to the cloud server 2. The cloud server 2 is a device management device that manages the status of the device 3 that is capable of communicating with the communication control device 1 via a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet and a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 8. The device 3 and the communication control device 1 are also capable of communicating with each other via a local area network NW2. The local area network NW2 is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). Furthermore, the cloud server 2 is also capable of communicating with a terminal device 4 carried by a user via the wide area network NW1.

[0011] The device 3 is, for example, an air conditioner equipped with a wireless module, and communicates with the communication control device 1 via the local network NW2 using communication middleware such as ECHONETLite (registered trademark). Upon receiving response request information transmitted from the communication control device 1, the device 3 generates response information including status information indicating its own status in response to the response request information and transmits the response information to the communication control device 1.

[0012] The terminal device 4 is, for example, a personal computer equipped with a display unit and an input unit. Here, the display unit has a display device such as a liquid crystal display, and the input unit has a key input device such as a keyboard. Note that the terminal device 4 may be a device other than a personal computer, such as a tablet terminal device or a smartphone, which is connectable to the wide area network NW1. The terminal device 4 is equipped with a status storage unit (not shown) that stores status information indicating the status of each device 3 connected to the local network NW2 managed by the user, in association with device identification information that identifies the corresponding device 3.

[0013] When a user launches an application for notifying the user of the status of each device 3 connected to the local network NW2 managed by the user, the terminal device 4 performs a status display operation on the input unit to display a status notification image on the display unit to notify the user of the status of each device 3. The terminal device 4 then generates status request information requesting the cloud server 2 to transmit status notification information (described below) notifying the user of the status of each device 3. The terminal device 4 then transmits the generated status request information to the cloud server 2 to obtain the status notification information transmitted from the cloud server 2, extracts the status information and device identification information of the device 3 contained in the obtained status notification information, and stores the extracted status information and device identification information in the status storage unit. The terminal device 4 also forms the aforementioned status notification image based on the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit and displays it on the display unit. When the user performs a polling setting update operation on the input unit to update the polling setting information, the terminal device 4 generates polling setting update request information including the updated polling setting information and transmits it to the communication control device 1.

[0014] Returning to FIG. 2 , the communication control device 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a main memory 102, an auxiliary memory 103, a communication unit 107, a clock unit 108, and a bus 109 connecting the various units. The main memory 102 is a volatile memory such as a random access memory (RAM) and is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory 103 has a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor memory, functions as a read-only memory (ROM) and storage, and stores programs for implementing various functions of the communication control device 1. The communication unit 107 includes, for example, a wireless module and performs wireless communication with the device 3 and the BBR 8. The wireless module includes a signal generation circuit that generates wireless signals and an antenna. The clock unit 108 includes, for example, a real-time clock and generates time information and transfers it to the CPU 101.

[0015] In the communication control device 1, the CPU 101 loads a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a polling setting acquisition unit 111, a status request unit 112, a status request acquisition unit 113, a status acquisition unit 114, and a status notification unit 115, as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a polling setting storage unit 131 and a status storage unit 132, as shown in FIG. 3. The polling setting storage unit 131 stores polling setting information, including response request information to be periodically transmitted to each device 3 and polling interval information indicating the time interval for transmitting the response request information, in association with device identification information that identifies the destination device 3, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example. Here, the device identification information may be, for example, a combination of an IP address and a Media Access Control (MAC) address assigned to the device 3. In the example shown in FIG. 4A, response request information requesting the transmission of response information including status information indicating the operating status of the air conditioning device identified by device identification information "ADDR[0]" is set to be transmitted at 5-minute intervals. Also, response request information requesting the transmission of response information including status information indicating the measured integrated amount of power is set to be transmitted at 30-minute intervals to the power meter identified by device identification information "ADDR[3]". Returning to FIG. 3, the status storage unit 132 stores status information indicating the status of each device 3 in association with the device identification information.

[0016] When the polling setting acquisition unit 111 acquires polling setting notification information including updated polling setting information transmitted from the cloud server 2, the polling setting acquisition unit 111 extracts the polling setting information and device identification information included in the acquired polling setting notification information. Then, the polling setting acquisition unit 111 updates the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 using the extracted polling setting information and device identification information.

[0017] The status request unit 112 transmits response request information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 to the device 3 identified by the corresponding device identification information at a preset polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131. Here, the status request unit 112 transmits the response request information to the multiple devices 3 at the same polling interval, synchronously with each other. For example, if the polling setting storage unit 131 stores the polling setting information shown in FIG. 4A , the status request unit 112 transmits the response request information to the air conditioner identified by the device identification information “ADDR[0],” the heating device identified by the device identification information “ADDR[1],” and the television identified by the device identification information “ADDR[2],” synchronously with each other, at the same polling interval of 5 minutes. Returning to FIG. 3 , when the status request acquisition unit 113 acquires status request information requesting transmission of status information indicating the status of the device 3 transmitted from the cloud server 2, the status request acquisition unit 113 notifies the status request unit 112 of the acquired status request information. Then, when the status request unit 112 is notified of the status request information by the status request acquisition unit 113, the status request unit 112 transmits response request information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 to the device 3 identified by the corresponding device identification information.

[0018] The status acquisition unit 114 is a first status acquisition unit that, upon acquiring response information transmitted by the device 3 in response to acquisition of response request information, extracts status information from the acquired response information and stores the extracted status information in the status storage unit 132 in association with device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the response information. Here, the status acquisition unit 114 extracts IP address information and MAC address information of the device 3 included in header information in the response information and stores the extracted status information in the status storage unit 132 in association with device identification information formed by a combination of the extracted IP address information and MAC address information. The status notification unit 115 generates status notification information including the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit 132 and transmits the generated status notification information to the cloud server 2. Here, the status notification unit 115 generates status notification information that compiles multiple pieces of status information transmitted in response to response request information transmitted synchronously with each other and stored in the status storage unit 132, and transmits the generated status notification information to the cloud server 3. For example, if the polling setting memory unit 131 stores the polling setting information as shown in FIG. 4A, the status request unit 112 generates status notification information that summarizes the status information corresponding to the air conditioning device identified by the device identification information “ADDR[0]”, the heating device identified by the device identification information “ADDR[1]”, and the television identified by the device identification information “ADDR[2]”, and transmits the information to the cloud server 2.

[0019] Returning to FIG. 2, cloud server 2 includes CPU 201, main memory unit 202, auxiliary memory unit 203, communication unit 206, and bus 209 connecting the various units. CPU 201 is, for example, a multi-core processor. Main memory unit 202 is made up of volatile memory and is used as a work area for CPU 201. Auxiliary memory unit 203 is made up of large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of cloud server 2. Communication unit 206 is connected to wide area network NW1.

[0020] The CPU 201 loads a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as a status acquisition unit 211, a polling setting unit 212, a polling setting notification unit 213, a status request acquisition unit 214, a status request unit 215, and a status notification unit 216, as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a status storage unit 231 and a polling setting storage unit 232, as shown in FIG. 3. The status storage unit 231 stores status information of a device 3 in association with the device identification information and the device identification information of a communication control device 1 connected to the same local network NW2 as the device 3. The polling setting storage unit 232 stores polling setting information corresponding to each communication control device 1 in association with the device identification information identifying the device 3 to which the response request information is to be sent and the device identification information identifying the communication control device 1 from which the response request information is to be sent, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example.

[0021] 3, status acquisition unit 211 is a second status acquisition unit that, upon acquiring status notification information transmitted from communication control device 1, extracts status information and device identification information included in the acquired status notification information, associates the extracted status information and device identification information with the device identification information of communication control device 1 that transmitted the status notification information, and stores them in status storage unit 231. Status notification unit 216 generates status notification information including the status information and device identification information stored in status storage unit 231, and transmits the generated status notification information to the corresponding terminal device 4.

[0022] When the polling setting unit 212 acquires the above-mentioned polling setting update request information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it extracts, from the acquired polling setting request information, the corresponding device identification information, and the device identification information of the corresponding communication control device 1. Then, the polling setting unit 212 updates the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 232 and corresponding to the combination of the extracted device identification information and device identification information, with the extracted polling setting information.

[0023] When the polling setting information stored in the polling setting memory unit 232 is updated, the polling setting notification unit 213 generates polling setting notification information including the updated polling setting information and corresponding device identification information, and transmits the generated polling setting notification information to the corresponding communication control device 1.

[0024] When the status request acquisition unit 214 acquires the status request information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it notifies the acquired status request information to the status request unit 215. When the status request unit 215 is notified of the status request information from the status request acquisition unit 214, it transmits the notified status request information to the communication control device 1.

[0025] Next, the operation of the communication system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. First, as shown in FIG. 5, when a user performs the polling setting update operation described above via the terminal device 4, the terminal device 4 generates the polling setting update request information described above (step S1). Next, the generated polling setting update request information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S2). Meanwhile, upon receiving the polling setting update request information from the terminal device 4, the cloud server 2 extracts the polling setting information, device identification information, and device identification information contained in the received polling setting update request information. Then, the cloud server 2 updates the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 232 using the extracted polling setting information, device identification information, and device identification information (step S3). Next, the cloud server 2 generates polling setting notification information, including the updated polling setting information and the corresponding device identification information, to be stored in the polling setting storage unit 232 (step S4). Then, the generated polling setting notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the corresponding communication control device 1 (step S5). On the other hand, when the communication control device 1 acquires the polling setting notification information, it extracts the polling setting information and device identification information included in the acquired polling setting notification information. Then, the communication control device 1 updates the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 using the extracted polling setting information and device identification information (step S6).

[0026] Next, when the communication control device 1 determines that the time to transmit response request information has arrived by referring to the polling interval information for each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 (step S7), it identifies the response request information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 (step S8). Subsequently, the identified response request information is transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the device 3 (step S9). Here, response request information to be transmitted to multiple devices 3 having the same polling interval set is transmitted synchronously with each other. Meanwhile, when the device 3 acquires the response request information, it generates response information including status information indicating its own status in response to the response request information (step S10), and the generated response request information is transmitted from the device 3 to the communication control device 1 (step S11). Meanwhile, when the communication control device 1 acquires the response information, it extracts the status information included in the acquired response information and stores the extracted status information in the status storage unit 132 in association with the device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the response information (step S12). Thereafter, the communication control device 1 generates status notification information including the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit 132 (step S13). Here, the communication control device 1 generates status notification information that compiles multiple pieces of status information stored in the status storage unit 132 that were transmitted in response to response request information transmitted synchronously with each other. Next, the generated status notification information is transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S14). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the status notification information, the cloud server 2 extracts the status information and device identification information included in the acquired status notification information, and stores the extracted status information and device identification information and the device identification information of the communication control device 1 that transmitted the status notification information in the status storage unit 231 in association with each other (step S15).

[0027] 6, when a user performs a status display operation on the input unit of the terminal device 4 to display the status notification image on the display unit, the terminal device 4 generates the status request information including the device identification information of the communication control device 1 (step S16). Examples of this status display operation include an operation by the user on the input unit of the terminal device 4 to launch an application to display the status notification information on the display unit, or an operation to forcibly update the status notification image displayed on the display unit. Subsequently, the generated status request information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S17). Meanwhile, upon receiving the status request information, the cloud server 2 identifies the communication control device 1 identified by the device identification information included in the received status request information. The status request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the identified communication control device 1 (step S18). Meanwhile, upon receiving the status request information transmitted from the cloud server 2, the communication control device 1 identifies response request information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 in response to the status request information (step S19). Thereafter, the identified response request information is transmitted from the communication control device 1 to each device 3 (step S20). On the other hand, when the device 3 acquires the response request information, it generates response information including status information indicating its own status (step S21), and the generated response information is transmitted from the device 3 to the communication control device 1 (step S22). On the other hand, when the communication control device 1 acquires the response information, it extracts status information included in the acquired response information and stores the extracted status information in the status storage unit 132 in association with the device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the response information (step S23). Next, the communication control device 1 generates status notification information including the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit 132 (step S24), and the generated status notification information is transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S25). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the status notification information, it extracts the status information and device identification information included in the acquired status notification information, and stores the extracted status information and device identification information and the device identification information of the communication control device 1 that transmitted the status notification information in association with each other in the status storage unit 231 (step S26).

[0028] Next, the cloud server 2 generates status notification information including the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit 231 (step S27), and the generated status notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the corresponding terminal device 4 (step S28). Meanwhile, upon receiving the status notification information transmitted from the cloud server 2, the terminal device 4 extracts the status information and device identification information of the device 3 included in the received status notification information and stores the extracted status information and device identification information in the status storage unit (step S29). Thereafter, the terminal device 4 forms the above-mentioned status notification image based on the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit and displays it on the display unit (step S30).

[0029] In conclusion, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, when the status of device 3 changes over time, cloud server 2 does not acquire real-time status information of device 3 unless the user performs a status display operation on terminal device 4, and updates the status information stored in status storage unit 231 at the polling interval set in the polling setting information. Then, when the user performs a status display operation on terminal device 4, cloud server 2 acquires real-time status information of device 3 at that time and updates the status information stored in status storage unit 231. Note that transmission of status request information from terminal device 4 to cloud server 2 is not limited to when the user manually performs a status display operation at the user's discretion. For example, terminal device 4 may be configured to periodically transmit status request information to cloud server 2. In this case, the status of device 3 can be managed at a timing different from the response request information transmission timing indicated by the polling interval information for each device 3 stored in polling setting storage unit 131 of communication control device 1, and status information can be updated according to the user's purpose.

[0030] Next, the communication control process executed by the communication control device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7. This communication control process is started, for example, when the communication control device 1 is powered on and the connection of the communication control device 1 to the local network NW2 is completed. First, the polling setting acquisition unit 111 determines whether or not polling setting notification information including updated polling setting information transmitted from the cloud server 2 has been acquired (step S101). If the polling setting acquisition unit 111 determines that the polling setting notification information has not been acquired (step S101: No), the process of step S103, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the polling setting acquisition unit 111 determines that the polling setting notification information has been acquired (step S101: Yes), the polling setting acquisition unit 111 extracts the polling setting information and device identification information included in the acquired polling setting notification information. Then, the polling setting acquisition unit 111 updates the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 using the extracted polling setting information and device identification information (step S102).

[0031] Next, the status request unit 112 refers to the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 and corresponding to each device 3, and determines whether the time to transmit response request information has arrived for any of the devices 3 (step S103). If the status request unit 112 determines that the time to transmit response request information has not yet arrived (step S103: No), the processing of step S108, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the status request unit 112 determines that the time to transmit response request information has arrived (step S103: Yes), the status request unit 112 identifies the response request information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 and corresponding to the device 3 for which the time to transmit response request information has arrived, and transmits the identified response request information to the device 3 identified by the corresponding device identification information (step S104). Here, the status request unit 112 transmits response request information to multiple devices 3 set to the same polling interval in synchronization with each other. Next, when the status acquisition unit 114 acquires response information transmitted by the device 3 in response to acquisition of the response request information (step S105), it extracts status information included in the acquired response information and stores the extracted status information in the status storage unit 132 in association with the device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the response information (step S106). Thereafter, the status notification unit 115 generates status notification information including the status information and the device identification information stored in the status storage unit 132, and transmits the generated status notification information to the cloud server 2 (step S107). Here, the status notification unit 115 generates status notification information that compiles multiple pieces of status information stored in the status storage unit 132 that were transmitted in response to response request information transmitted synchronously with each other.

[0032] Next, the status request acquisition unit 113 determines whether or not it has acquired status request information transmitted from the cloud server 2 (step S108). If the status request acquisition unit 113 determines that it has not acquired status request information (step S108: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the status request acquisition unit 113 determines that it has acquired status request information (step S108: Yes), it notifies the status request unit 112 of the acquired status request information. Then, upon being notified of the status request information, the status request unit 112 responsively transmits response request information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 to the device 3 identified by the corresponding device identification information (step S109). Next, when the status acquisition unit 114 acquires response information transmitted by the device 3 in response to acquisition of the response request information (step S110), it extracts status information included in the acquired response information and stores the extracted status information in the status storage unit 132 in association with the device identification information of the device 3 that has transmitted the response information (step S111). Thereafter, the status notification unit 115 generates status notification information including the status information and the device identification information stored in the status storage unit 132, and transmits the generated status notification information to the cloud server 2 (step S112). Next, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0033] Next, the state management process executed by the cloud server 2 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. This state control process is started, for example, when an application for executing the state management process is started in the cloud server 2. First, the polling setting unit 212 determines whether or not the polling setting update request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S201). If the polling setting unit 212 determines that the polling setting update request information has not been acquired (step S201: No), the process of step S204, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the polling setting unit 212 determines that the polling setting update request information has been acquired (step S201: Yes), the polling setting unit 212 extracts the polling setting information, the corresponding device identification information, and the device identification information of the corresponding communication control device 1, which are included in the acquired polling setting update request information. Then, the polling setting unit 212 updates the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 232, which corresponds to the combination of the extracted device identification information and apparatus identification information, with the extracted polling setting information (step S202). Next, the polling setting notification unit 213 generates polling setting notification information including the updated polling setting information and the corresponding apparatus identification information stored in the polling setting storage unit 232, and transmits the generated polling setting notification information to the corresponding communication control device 1 (step S203).

[0034] Next, the status acquisition unit 211 determines whether or not it has acquired status notification information transmitted from the communication control device 1 (step S204). If the status acquisition unit 211 determines that it has not acquired status notification information (step S204: No), it executes the processing of step S207, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the status acquisition unit 211 determines that it has acquired status notification information (step S204: Yes), it extracts the status information and device identification information included in the acquired status notification information, associates the extracted status information and device identification information with the device identification information of the communication control device 1 that transmitted the status notification information, and stores them in the status storage unit 231 in association with each other (step S205). Thereafter, the status notification unit 216 generates status notification information including the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit 231, and transmits the generated status notification information to the corresponding terminal device 4 (step S206).

[0035] Next, the status request acquisition unit 214 determines whether or not it has acquired status request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 (step S207). If the status request acquisition unit 214 determines that it has not acquired status request information (step S207: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the status request acquisition unit 214 determines that it has acquired status request information (step S207: Yes), it notifies the status request unit 215 of the acquired status request information. Then, when the status request unit 215 is notified of the status request information from the status request acquisition unit 214, it transmits the notified status request information to the communication control device 1 (step S208). Then, the process of step S201 is executed.

[0036] As described above, the status request unit 112 of the communication control device 1 according to this embodiment transmits response request information to the device 3 at a preset transmission period, i.e., at polling intervals, and the status acquisition unit 114 acquires the status information transmitted by the device 3 in response to the response request information. The status notification unit 115 then transmits the acquired status information to the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1. This eliminates the need to transmit response request information from the cloud server 2 to the device 3 via the wide area network NW1, thereby reducing communication traffic on the wide area network NW1.

[0037] Furthermore, the communication control device 1 may communicate with the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1 using a communication service provided by an internet service provider. In this case, the internet service provider may set the fee charged when using the communication service to increase or decrease depending on the amount of communication via the wide area network NW1. In contrast, the communication system according to the present embodiment can reduce communication traffic in the wide area network NW1 as described above, and therefore can prevent the fee charged when using the communication service provided by the internet service provider from increasing accordingly.

[0038] In a configuration in which the communication control device acquires status information from the device 3 only when the response request information transmission time arrives and the response request information is transmitted to the device 3, a time lag of up to the aforementioned polling interval occurs between the status information managed by the cloud server 2 and the actual status of the device 3. On the other hand, shortening the polling interval to minimize this time lag increases the frequency of transmission of status notification information, which in turn increases communication traffic over the wide area network NW1 and may ultimately increase the amount of charges imposed when using the communication service. In response to this, in the communication control device 1 according to this embodiment, when the status request acquisition unit 113 acquires status request information from the cloud server 2 requesting transmission of status information indicating the status of the device 3, the status request unit 112 notifies the status request unit 112 of the acquired status request information. Then, upon receiving the status request information from the status request acquisition unit 113, the status request unit 112 transmits response request information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 to the device 3 identified by the corresponding device identification information. As a result, when an event occurs that requires real-time acquisition of status information indicating the actual status of the device 3, the cloud server 2 can acquire the status information of the device 3 in real time by transmitting status request information requesting the status information of the device 3 at the time the event occurred to the communication control device 1. An example of an event that requires real-time acquisition of the status information of the device 3 is when the above-mentioned status display operation is performed on the terminal device 4, and a status notification image notifying the status of the device 3 at the time the status display operation was performed needs to be displayed in real time on the display unit of the terminal device 4. Specifically, when a user performs the above-mentioned status display operation on the input unit of the terminal device 4 to check the indoor temperature measured by the device 3 in the house where the user resides, the real-time status information of the indoor temperature measured by the device 3 can be acquired via the cloud server 2.

[0039] Furthermore, status request unit 112 according to this embodiment transmits response request information to multiple devices 3 at the same polling interval in synchronization with each other. Then, status notification unit 115 generates status notification information that compiles multiple pieces of status information transmitted in response to the response request information transmitted in synchronization with each other and stored in status storage unit 132, and transmits this to cloud server 2. This reduces the frequency at which status notification unit 115 transmits status notification information to cloud server 2, and also reduces the total amount of data to be transmitted to cloud server 2 compared to when multiple pieces of status notification information are generated separately from each piece of status information and transmitted to cloud server 2. This reduces traffic on wide area network NW1.

[0040] (Embodiment 2) The communication system of this embodiment differs from embodiment 1 in that the communication control device determines whether the state difference between the state of device 3 indicated by the most recently acquired status information and the state of device 3 indicated by the previously acquired status information satisfies a preset notification condition for sending status notification information to the device management device, and if it determines that the state difference satisfies the notification condition, it sends the most recently acquired status notification information to the device management device.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 9 , the communication system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 2002 and a communication control device 2001. The cloud server 2002 is capable of communicating with a terminal device 2004 carried by a user via a wide area network NW1. The terminal device 2004 has the same hardware configuration as the terminal device 4 described in the first embodiment. When the communication control device 2001 performs a notification condition setting operation on an input unit to set a notification condition for transmitting status information indicating the status of each device 3 to the cloud server 2002, the terminal device 2004 generates notification condition notification information including notification condition information indicating the notification condition for each device 3 and device identification information of the corresponding device 3. The terminal device 2004 then transmits the generated notification condition notification information to the cloud server 2002. The terminal device 2004 further includes various functions of the terminal device 4 described in the first embodiment. The terminal device 2004 may transmit the generated notification condition notification information directly to the communication control device 2001 by individual communication with the communication control device 2001 without going through the cloud server 2002 .

[0042] Cloud server 2002 has the same hardware configuration as cloud server 2 described in embodiment 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, the hardware configuration will be described using the reference numerals shown in FIG. 2 as appropriate. In cloud server 2002, CPU 201 loads a program stored in auxiliary storage unit 203 into main storage unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as notification condition notification information transfer unit 2217 in addition to the functions described in embodiment 1. Upon acquiring notification condition notification information transmitted from terminal device 2004, notification condition notification information transfer unit 2217 transfers the acquired notification condition notification information to communication control device 2001.

[0043] The communication control device 2001 has a hardware configuration similar to that of the communication control device 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, the hardware configuration will be described using the reference numerals shown in FIG. 2 as appropriate. In the communication control device 2001, the CPU 101 loads a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a polling setting acquisition unit 111, a status request unit 112, a status request acquisition unit 113, a status acquisition unit 114, a status notification unit 115, a notification determination unit 2116, and a notification condition setting unit 2117. In FIG. 9, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 includes a polling setting storage unit 131, a status storage unit 132, and a notification condition storage unit 2133. The status storage unit 132 stores, for each device 3, at least the most recently acquired status information and the status information acquired immediately before that status information.

[0044] 10, the notification condition storage unit 2133 stores notification condition information indicating notification conditions for the status notification unit 115 to transmit the above-mentioned status notification information corresponding to each device 3 to the cloud server 2002 in association with the device identification information of the device 3. In the example shown in FIG. 10, for an air conditioning device identified by device identification information "ADDR[0]", if the absolute value of the temperature difference |ΔT| between the set temperature of the air conditioning device indicated in the most recently acquired status information and the set temperature indicated in the status information acquired immediately before the most recently acquired status information is greater than a predetermined temperature difference threshold |ΔT|th, the most recently acquired status information is set to be transmitted to the cloud server 2002. Furthermore, for a heating device identified by device identification information "ADDR[1]", no notification condition is set, and the most recently acquired status information is set to be transmitted to the cloud server 2002 unconditionally. Furthermore, for a television identified by device identification information “ADDR[2]”, if the power on / off state indicated by the most recently acquired status information differs from the power on / off state indicated by the status information acquired immediately before the most recently acquired status information, i.e., if the television's power transitions from the on state to the off state or from the off state to the on state, the most recently acquired status information is set to be transmitted to cloud server 2002. Also, for a power meter identified by device identification information “ADDR[3]”, if the absolute value of the difference in power energy |ΔP| between the integrated power energy indicated by the most recently acquired status information and the integrated power energy indicated by the status information acquired immediately before the most recently acquired status information is greater than a predetermined difference power energy threshold |ΔP|th, the most recently acquired status information is set to be transmitted to cloud server 2002.

[0045] The notification determination unit 2116 refers to the status information of each device 3 stored in the status storage unit 132 and determines, for each device 3, whether a difference between the status of the device 3 indicated by the most recently acquired status information and the status of the device 3 indicated by previously acquired status information satisfies a preset notification condition for transmitting status notification information to the device management device. For example, the notification determination unit 2116 determines, for each device 3, whether a difference between the status of the device 3 indicated by the most recently acquired status information and the status of the device 3 indicated by the status information acquired immediately before the most recently acquired status information satisfies the notification condition indicated by the notification condition information stored in the notification condition storage unit 2133. Then, when the notification determination unit 2116 determines that the difference between the status of the device 3 indicated by the most recently acquired status information and the status of the device 3 indicated by the previously acquired status information satisfies the notification condition, the status notification unit 115 transmits the status information of the determined target device 3 stored in the status storage unit 132 to the cloud server 2002. On the other hand, if notification determination unit 2116 determines that the difference does not satisfy the notification condition, state notification unit 115 avoids sending the state information stored in state storage unit 132 to cloud server 2002 .

[0046] When the notification condition setting unit 2117 acquires the notification condition notification information transmitted from the terminal device 2004, it extracts the notification condition information and the corresponding device identification information contained in the acquired notification condition notification information, and stores the extracted notification condition information and the device identification information in the notification condition memory unit 2133 in association with each other.

[0047] Next, a communication control process executed by the communication control device 2001 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. Note that in FIG. 11, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7. First, after the processes of steps S101 and S102 are executed, the notification condition setting unit 2117 determines whether or not notification condition notification information including notification condition information transmitted from the cloud server 2002 has been acquired (step S2101). If the notification condition setting unit 2117 determines that the notification condition notification information has not been acquired (step S2101: No), the process of step S103, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the notification condition setting unit 2117 determines that the notification condition notification information has been acquired (step S2101: Yes), the notification condition setting unit 2117 extracts the notification condition information and device identification information included in the acquired notification condition notification information. Then, the notification condition setting unit 2117 associates the extracted notification condition information and device identification information with each other and stores them in the notification condition storage unit 2133 (step S2102).

[0048] Next, it is assumed that the status request unit 112 determines, with reference to the polling interval information corresponding to each device 3 stored in the polling setting storage unit 131, that the time to transmit response request information has arrived for one of the devices 3 (step S103: Yes). In this case, a series of processes from steps S104 to S106 is executed. Next, the notification determination unit 2116 determines, with reference to the status information of each device 3 stored in the status storage unit 132, whether or not the difference between the status of the device 3 indicated by the most recently acquired status information and the status of the device 3 indicated by the previously acquired status information satisfies a preset notification condition for transmitting status notification information to the cloud server 2002 (step S2103). Here, if the notification determination unit 2116 determines that the difference in the status of the device 3 does not satisfy the notification condition (step S2103: No), the process of step S108, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the notification determination unit 2116 determines that the difference in the status of the device 3 satisfies the notification condition (step S2103: Yes), the status notification unit 115 generates status notification information including the status information of the determined target device 3 stored in the status storage unit 132, and transmits the information to the cloud server 2002 (step S2104). Subsequently, a series of processes from step S108 onwards are executed.

[0049] For example, when the power of device 3 remains off, the communication control device 2001 of this embodiment does not periodically send status notification information including status information indicating that the power is off to the cloud server 2002, but sends the status notification information to the cloud server 2002 when it determines that the power of device 3 has transitioned from off to on.

[0050] As described above, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, the notification determination unit 2116 of the communication control device 2001 determines whether the difference between the state of the device 3 indicated by the most recently acquired state information and the state of the device 3 indicated by the previously acquired state information satisfies the above-mentioned notification condition, and when the notification determination unit 2116 determines that the difference in the state of the device 3 satisfies the notification condition, the state notification unit 115 transmits the state information of the determined target device 3 stored in the state storage unit 132 to the cloud server 2002. This reduces the frequency of transmission of state information from the communication control device 2001 to the cloud server 2002, thereby reducing communication traffic between the communication control device 2001 and the cloud server 2002 in the wide area network NW1.

[0051] (Embodiment 3) The communication system according to this embodiment differs from embodiment 1 in that, each time a response request information transmission time arrives for transmitting response request information to a device, the communication control device estimates the time interval until the next response request information transmission time from the transition of the time interval between past response request information transmission times, using a period estimation model that estimates the time interval until the next response request information transmission time, and transmits the response request information to the device at the estimated time interval.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 12 , the communication system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 3002 and a communication control device 3001. The cloud server 3002 is capable of communicating with a terminal device 3004 carried by a user via a wide area network NW1. The terminal device 3004 has the same hardware configuration as the terminal device 4 described in the first embodiment. When the user performs a polling initial setting operation on an input unit to initially set response request information and corresponding polling intervals, the terminal device 3004 generates polling initial setting notification information including polling interval information indicating the initial polling interval corresponding to each response request information, and transmits the polling initial setting notification information to the communication control device 3001. The terminal device 3004 further includes various functions of the terminal device 4 described in the first embodiment.

[0053] The communication control device 3001 and the cloud server 3002 have the same hardware configuration as the communication control device 1 and the cloud server 2 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, in this embodiment, the hardware configuration of the communication control device 3001 and the cloud server 3002 will be described using the reference numerals shown in FIG. 2 as appropriate. In the communication control device 3001, the CPU 101 loads a program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a status request unit 3112, a status request acquisition unit 113, a status acquisition unit 3114, a status notification unit 3115, a period estimation unit 3118, a model acquisition unit 3119, and an initial setting acquisition unit 3120. In FIG. 12, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 also includes a polling setting storage unit 131, a state storage unit 3132, and a period estimation model storage unit 3134. 13, the status storage unit 3132 stores a history of status information for each device 3, response request information transmitted to the device 3 to acquire the status information, and polling interval information indicating the polling interval at the time of transmission of the response request information, in association with date and time information indicating the time of transmission of the corresponding response request information and device identification information. In the example shown in Fig. 13, the history stores a combination of status information indicating the set temperature of the device 3, response request information requesting information indicating the operating status including the set temperature, and polling interval information at past transmission times of the response request information up to "2023 / 2 / 1 0:05".

[0054] Returning to FIG. 12 , the period estimation model storage unit 3134 stores period estimation model information indicating a period estimation model for estimating the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time from the transition of the polling interval from a point in time going back a predetermined period from the response request information transmission time to the response request information transmission time. This period estimation model is, for example, a recurrent neural network. In this case, the period estimation model storage unit 3134 stores information indicating the structure of the period estimation model and information indicating weighting coefficients in the period estimation model. The information indicating the structure of the period estimation model includes information indicating the number of nodes, the number of layers, and weighting coefficients and activation functions corresponding to each node. Here, the weighting coefficients include weighting coefficients used when feeding back the output from the layer to which each node belongs to the input. 14, this cycle estimation model receives as input a polling interval IN[t] at response request information transmission time t and a polling interval transition vector Vin whose elements are polling intervals IN[t-1], , IN[tk], , at respective points in time t-1, , tk, , earlier than the response request information transmission time t. The cycle estimation model then outputs an expected value vector Vout whose elements are the expected values ​​of multiple types of polling intervals ΔT1, ΔT2, , ΔTn, , which are candidates for the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time.

[0055] 12 , when transmitting response request information to device 3, status request unit 3112 associates the response request information to be transmitted with polling interval information stored in polling setting storage unit 131 that corresponds to the response request information, and date and time information indicating the corresponding time to transmit the response request information, and stores the associated information in status storage unit 3132. When status acquisition unit 3114 acquires response information, it extracts status information included in the acquired response information, and associates the extracted status information with device identification information of device 3 that transmitted the response information and date and time information indicating the corresponding time to transmit the response request information, and stores the associated information in status storage unit 3132. Status notification unit 3115 generates status notification information including the status information, device identification information, response request information, polling interval information, and date and time information indicating the time to transmit the response request information stored in status storage unit 3132, and transmits the generated status notification information to cloud server 3002.

[0056] When the model acquisition unit 3119 acquires period estimation model information transmitted from the cloud server 3002, it updates the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3134 with the acquired period estimation model information. When the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 acquires initial setting notification information transmitted from the cloud server 3002, the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 extracts the polling setting information and device identification information included in the acquired initial setting notification information. Then, the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 updates the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 using the extracted polling setting information and device identification information.

[0057] Each time the aforementioned response request information transmission time arrives, the period estimation unit 3118 estimates the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time for each device 3 from the transition of past polling intervals using the period estimation model indicated by the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3134. Then, the period estimation unit 3118 updates the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 with the polling interval information indicating the polling interval estimated for each device 3.

[0058] In the cloud server 3002, the CPU 201 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a status acquisition unit 3211, a polling setting unit 212, an initial setting notification unit 3213, a status request acquisition unit 214, a status request unit 215, a status notification unit 216, an interval specification unit 3217, a function update unit 3218, a model generation unit 3219, and a model notification unit 3220. The auxiliary storage unit 203 also has a status storage unit 3231, an initial setting storage unit 3232, a period estimation model storage unit 3233, and a function storage unit 3234. The status memory unit 3231 stores a history of status information for each device 3, response request information sent to the device 3 to obtain the status information, and polling interval information indicating the polling interval when the response request information was sent, in association with date and time information indicating the time when the corresponding response request information was sent, device identification information, and device identification information of the communication control device 1 connected to the same local network NW2 as the device 3.

[0059] The initial setting storage unit 3232 stores initial polling setting information corresponding to each communication control device 3001, in association with device identification information identifying the device 3 to which response request information is transmitted and device identification information identifying the communication control device 3001 from which the response request information is transmitted. The period estimation model storage unit 3233 stores period estimation model information indicating a period estimation model for estimating the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time from the transition of the polling interval from a point going back a preset period from the response request information transmission time for each device 3 to the response request information transmission time. Here, the period estimation model storage unit 3233 stores period estimation model information corresponding to each device 3 connected to each local network NW2, in association with device identification information of the communication control device 3001 connected to the same local network NW2 as the device 3.

[0060] The function storage unit 3234 stores function information indicating an update function for updating expected values ​​corresponding to each of a plurality of types of polling cycles calculated using the cycle estimation model. Here, the update function is expressed, for example, by the relational expression shown in the following equation (1). Note that the update function is not limited to the one expressed by the relational expression shown in the following equation (1), and may be expressed by another relational expression.

[0061]

number

[0062] Here, Q(s t ,a t ) indicates the expected value before updating by the function update unit 3218, and Q(s t ,a t ) new indicates the expected value after updating by the function update unit 3218. t is the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time estimated based on the period estimation model before updating, and s t+1 indicates the polling interval specified by the interval specifying unit 3217. Furthermore, a t is information that identifies the transition pattern of the polling interval from a point in time going back a preset period from the time of transmission of the response request information to the time of transmission of the response request information. t+1 (s t ,a t ,s t+1 ) sets the polling interval to the interval s t to interval s t+1 , where γ represents the discount rate and α represents the learning coefficient. γ is set in the range of 0<γ≦1, and α is set in the range of 0<α≦1. Also, maxQ(s t+1 , a) represents the expected value when the transition pattern of the polling interval described above becomes the transition pattern that maximizes the expected value of the polling interval identified by the interval identification unit 3217.

[0063] The interval determination unit 3217 references the status information of each device 3 stored in the status storage unit 3231 and determines whether the status indicated by the status information has changed. Here, for example, if the most recent status information indicates a set temperature, the interval determination unit 3217 determines whether the set temperature has changed by more than a predetermined reference temperature difference. If the interval determination unit 3217 determines that the status indicated by the most recent status information has changed, it determines, from among the multiple polling intervals described above, a polling interval that is smaller than and closest to the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to the status information. The interval determination unit 3217 then notifies the function update unit 3218 of information indicating the polling interval corresponding to the status information and information indicating the identified polling interval. On the other hand, if the interval determination unit 3217 determines that the status indicated by the most recent status information has not changed, it determines a polling interval corresponding to the sum of the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to the status information and the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to the most recent previous status information. Then, the interval specifying unit 3217 notifies the function updating unit 3218 of information indicating the polling interval corresponding to the state information, information indicating the specified polling interval, and corresponding device identification information.

[0064] The model generation unit 3219 generates a period estimation model using the transition of the polling interval between a point in time going back a preset period from the time when the response request information was transmitted for each device 3 and the time when the response request information was transmitted, and the polling interval identified by the interval identification unit 3217. Specifically, the model generation unit 3219 first calculates expected values ​​for each of the multiple types of polling intervals from the transition of the polling interval between a point in time going back a preset period from the time when the response request information was transmitted for each device 3 and the time when the response request information was transmitted, using the period estimation model indicated by the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233. Next, the model generation unit 3219 calculates updated expected values ​​using an update function indicated by the function information stored in the function storage unit 3234. The model generation unit 3219 then calculates the error between the expected value before updating and the expected value after updating using the update function, determines weighting coefficients for the period estimation model by a BPTT (Back Propagation Through Time) method based on the calculated error, and stores information indicating the determined weighting coefficients in the period estimation model storage unit 3233. The model notification unit 3220 transmits the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233 to the communication control device 3001.

[0065] When the interval specifying unit 3217 notifies the function update unit 3218 of information indicating the polling interval information corresponding to the state information and information indicating the specified polling interval, the function update unit 3218 calculates a reward R t+1 On the other hand, the function update unit 3218 updates the function information stored in the function storage unit 3234 so that the reward R t+1 That is, the function update unit 3218 updates the function information stored in the function storage unit 3234 so that the expected value corresponding to the polling interval specified by the interval specification unit 3217 becomes a positive value. t+1 , and the expected value corresponding to the polling interval for the state information is set to be small. t+1 Set the value of .

[0066] For example, suppose that device 3 is a water heater and the polling interval is set to one hour, and the hot water temperature indicated by the status information stored in the status storage unit 3231 of the cloud server 3002 is 50°C. Here, suppose that the user checks the status notification image displayed on the display unit of the terminal device 3004, determines that the hot water temperature is too high, and operates to lower the set temperature of device 3, causing the actual hot water temperature to become 39°C. In this case, there will be a discrepancy of 11°C between the hot water temperature of 50°C indicated by the status information stored in the status storage unit 3231 and the actual hot water temperature of 39°C. In this case, with a polling interval of one hour, the user will not be able to accurately grasp the change in hot water temperature. In this case, the function update unit 3218 determines that the set polling interval is longer than the optimal interval, and so calculates the reward R corresponding to the set polling interval, i.e., the polling interval corresponding to the status information. t+1 becomes a negative value, and the reward R t+1 becomes a positive value. That is, the function update unit 3218 updates the function information by performing feedback in which shortening the polling interval is considered positive. Also, assume that the polling interval of the device 3 is set to one hour, and the user performs an operation to adjust the set temperature of the device 3 during the one hour period between the arrival of the response request information transmission time and the arrival of the next response request information transmission time. In this case, since the polling interval does not match the user's lifestyle pattern, the function update unit 3218 updates the function information by using the set polling interval, i.e., the reward R t+1 becomes a negative value, and the reward R t+1 In other words, the function update unit 3218 updates the function information in a manner that performs feedback in which shortening the polling interval is considered positive.

[0067] On the other hand, for example, suppose the polling interval of device 3 is set to one hour, and there is no change between the state of device 3 indicated by the state information acquired when the response request information transmission time arrives and the state of device 3 indicated by the state information acquired when the response request information transmission time arrives next. In this case, since the set polling interval is shorter than the optimal interval, the function update unit 3218 updates the reward R corresponding to the set polling interval, i.e., the polling interval corresponding to the status information. t+1 becomes a negative value, and the reward R t+1 becomes a positive value. That is, the function update unit 3218 updates the function information by performing feedback in which a longer polling interval is considered positive.

[0068] Next, the operation of the communication system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. First, as shown in FIG. 15, when a user performs the polling initial setting operation described above via terminal device 3004, terminal device 3004 generates the initial setting request information described above (step S3001). Next, the generated initial setting request information is transmitted from terminal device 3004 to cloud server 3002 (step S3002). Meanwhile, upon receiving the initial setting request information from terminal device 3004, cloud server 3002 extracts the polling setting information, device identification information, and device identification information contained in the received initial setting request information. Then, cloud server 3002 updates the polling setting information stored in initial setting storage unit 3232 using the extracted polling setting information, device identification information, and device identification information (step S3003). Next, cloud server 3002 generates initial setting notification information including the polling setting information stored in initial setting storage unit 3232 and the corresponding device identification information (step S3004). The cloud server 3002 then transmits the generated initial setting notification information to the corresponding communication control device 3001 (step S3005). Meanwhile, upon receiving the initial setting notification information, the communication control device 3001 extracts the polling setting information and device identification information contained in the received initial setting notification information. The communication control device 3001 then stores the extracted polling setting information and device identification information in the polling setting storage unit 131 (step S3006).

[0069] Next, when the communication control device 3001 determines that the time for transmitting the response request information has arrived based on the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 (step S3007), it identifies the response request information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 and corresponding to each device 3 (step S3008). The identified response request information is then transmitted from the communication control device 3001 to the device 3 (step S3009). Meanwhile, upon receiving the response request information, the device 3 generates response information including status information indicating its own status (step S3010). The generated response information is transmitted from the device 3 to the communication control device 3001 (step S3011). Meanwhile, upon receiving the response information, the communication control device 3001 extracts the status information included in the received response information, and stores the extracted status information in the status storage unit 3132 in association with the response request information and the corresponding polling interval information transmitted to the device 3, as well as the device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the response information (step S3012). Thereafter, the communication control device 3001 generates status notification information including the status information, response request information, polling interval information, and device identification information to be stored in the status storage unit 3132 (step S3013), and the generated status notification information is transmitted from the communication control device 3001 to the cloud server 3002 (step S3014). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the status notification information, the cloud server 3002 extracts the status information, response request information, polling interval information, and device identification information contained in the acquired status notification information, and stores the extracted status information, response request information, polling interval information, and device identification information in association with the device identification information of the communication control device 3001 that sent the status notification information in the status storage unit 3231 (step S3015).

[0070] 16, the cloud server 3002 refers to the state information of each device 3 stored in the state storage unit 3231, and specifies a polling interval depending on whether the state indicated by the state information has changed (step S3016). Subsequently, the cloud server 3002 adjusts the reward R so that the expected value corresponding to the specified polling interval increases and the expected value corresponding to the polling interval corresponding to the state information decreases. t+1(Step S3017). Thereafter, the cloud server 3002 generates a period estimation model using the transition of the polling interval from a point going back a predetermined period from the time when the response request information was transmitted for each device 3 to the time when the response request information was transmitted, and the polling interval identified by the interval identification unit 3217, and updates the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233 with period estimation model information indicating the generated period estimation model (Step S3018). Next, the cloud server 3002 transmits the updated period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233 to the communication control device 3001 (Step S3019). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the period estimation model information, the communication control device 3001 updates the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3134 with the acquired period estimation model information (Step S3020). Next, the communication control device 3001 estimates the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time from the transition of the polling interval from a point going back a preset period from the response request information transmission time for each device 3 to the response request information transmission time using the period estimation model indicated by the updated period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3134 (step S3021). Thereafter, the communication control device 3001 updates the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 with polling interval information indicating the estimated polling interval (step S3022). Next, when the communication control device 3001 determines that the response request information transmission time has arrived based on the updated polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 (step S3007), the series of processes from step S3008 onwards are executed.

[0071] Next, a communication control process executed by the communication control device 3001 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 17. Note that in FIG. 17, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 7. First, the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 determines whether or not initial setting notification information transmitted from the cloud server 3002 has been acquired (step S3101). If the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 determines that initial setting notification information has not been acquired (step S3101: No), the process of step S3103, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 determines that initial setting notification information has been acquired (step S3101: Yes), the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 extracts polling setting information and device identification information included in the acquired initial setting notification information. Then, the initial setting acquisition unit 3120 stores the extracted polling setting information and device identification information in the polling setting storage unit 131 (step S3102).

[0072] Next, the status request unit 3112 refers to the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 and corresponding to each device 3, and determines whether the time to transmit response request information has arrived for any of the devices 3 (step S3103). If the status request unit 3112 determines that the time to transmit response request information has not yet arrived (step S3103: No), the processing of step S3108, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the status request unit 3112 determines that the time to transmit response request information has arrived (step S3103: Yes), the status request unit 3112 identifies the response request information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 and corresponding to the device 3 for which the time to transmit response request information has arrived, and transmits the identified response request information to the device 3 identified by the corresponding device identification information (step S3104). At this time, the status request unit 3112 stores the transmitted response request information and the corresponding polling interval information in the status storage unit 3132 in association with date and time information indicating the time to transmit response request information. Next, when the status acquisition unit 3114 acquires response information transmitted by the device 3 in response to acquisition of the response request information (step S3105), it extracts status information contained in the acquired response information, associates the extracted status information with date and time information indicating the time when the corresponding response request information was transmitted and device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the response information, and stores the associated status information in the status storage unit 3132 (step S3106). Thereafter, the status notification unit 3115 generates status notification information including the status information, response request information, polling interval information, date and time information, and device identification information stored in the status storage unit 3132, and transmits the generated status notification information to the cloud server 3002 (step S3107).

[0073] Next, the model acquisition unit 3119 determines whether or not it has acquired period estimation model information transmitted from the cloud server 3002 (step S3108). If the model acquisition unit 3119 determines that it has not acquired period estimation model information (step S3108: No), it directly executes the processes from step S108 onward described in the first embodiment. On the other hand, if the model acquisition unit 3119 determines that it has acquired period estimation model information (step S3108: Yes), it updates the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3134 with the acquired period estimation model information (step S3109). Next, the period estimation unit 3118 estimates the polling interval until the next arrival time of transmission of response request information for each device 3, based on the transition of past polling intervals, using the period estimation model indicated by the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3134 (step S3110). Thereafter, the cycle estimation unit 3118 updates the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 with the polling interval information indicating the polling interval estimated for each device 3 (step S3111). Next, a series of processes from step S108 onwards are executed.

[0074] Next, the state management process executed by the cloud server 3002 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 18. Note that in FIG. 18, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8. First, the polling setting unit 212 determines whether or not the above-described initial setting request information transmitted from the terminal device 3004 has been acquired (step S3201). If the polling setting unit 212 determines that the initial setting request information has not been acquired (step S3201: No), the process of step S3204, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the polling setting unit 212 determines that the initial setting request information has been acquired (step S3201: Yes), the polling setting unit 212 extracts the polling setting information, the corresponding device identification information, and the device identification information of the corresponding communication control device 1, which are included in the acquired initial setting request information. Then, the polling setting unit 212 stores the polling setting information corresponding to the combination of the extracted device identification information and device identification information in the polling setting storage unit 232 (step S3202). Next, the initial setting notification unit 3213 generates initial setting notification information including the polling setting information stored in the polling setting memory unit 232 and the corresponding device identification information, and transmits the generated initial setting notification information to the corresponding communication control device 3001 (step S3203).

[0075] Next, the status acquisition unit 3211 determines whether or not it has acquired status notification information transmitted from the communication control device 3001 (step S3204). If the status acquisition unit 3211 determines that it has not acquired status notification information (step S3204: No), it executes the processes from step S207 onward described in the first embodiment. On the other hand, if the status acquisition unit 3211 determines that it has acquired status notification information (step S3204: Yes), it extracts the status information, device identification information, response request information, and polling interval information included in the acquired status notification information, and stores the extracted status information, device identification information, response request information, and polling interval information in association with the device identification information of the communication control device 1 that transmitted the status notification information in the status storage unit 3231 (step S3205). Thereafter, the status notification unit 216 generates status notification information including the status information and device identification information stored in the status storage unit 3231, and transmits the generated status notification information to the corresponding terminal device 3004 (step S3206).

[0076] Next, the interval specifying unit 3217 refers to the state information of each device 3 stored in the state storage unit 3231, and specifies a polling interval depending on whether the state indicated by the state information has changed (step S3207). Here, for example, if the most recent state information indicates a set temperature, and the interval specifying unit 3217 determines that the set temperature has changed by more than a predetermined reference temperature difference, the interval specifying unit 3217 specifies, from among the multiple types of polling intervals described above, a polling interval that is smaller than and closest to the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to the state information. On the other hand, if the interval specifying unit 3217 determines that the state indicated by the most recent state information has not changed, the interval specifying unit 3217 specifies a polling interval corresponding to the sum of the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to the state information and the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to the most recent previous state information.

[0077] Next, the function update unit 3218 updates the reward R so that the expected value corresponding to the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information corresponding to the state information decreases and the expected value corresponding to the polling interval identified by the interval identification unit 3217 increases. t+1(step S3208). Thereafter, the model generation unit 3219 generates a period estimation model using the transition of the polling interval from a point going back a preset period from the time when the response request information was transmitted to the time when the response request information was transmitted for each device 3, the polling interval identified by the interval identification unit 3217, and the function information stored in the function storage unit 3234. Then, the model generation unit 3219 updates the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233 with period estimation model information indicating the generated period estimation model, and the model notification unit 3220 transmits the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233 to the communication control device 3001 (step S3209). Thereafter, a series of processes from step S207 onwards are executed.

[0078] As described above, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, the period estimation unit 3118 of the communication control device 3001 estimates the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time each time the aforementioned response request information transmission time arrives, using a period estimation model that estimates the polling interval until the next response request information transmission time from changes in past polling intervals. The state request unit 3112 then transmits response request information to the device 3 at the polling interval estimated by the period estimation unit 3118. Furthermore, the interval determination unit 3217 of the cloud server 3002 determines, each time it acquires state information, a time interval at which a state transition occurs as the polling interval, based on whether or not a state transition occurs in the state indicated by the state information. Each time it acquires state information, the model generation unit 3219 generates a period estimation model based on changes in past polling intervals and the polling interval at which the determined state transition occurs, and updates the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233. As a result, the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage units 3233 and 3134 is updated according to the past occurrence of state transitions in the device 3, so that a polling interval suitable for accurately detecting the occurrence of state transitions in the device 3 can be maintained.

[0079] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, as shown in Fig. 19, the cloud server 4002 may have an interval determination unit 4221 that sets a polling interval based on the frequency of state changes indicated by the state information of each device 3 stored in a state storage unit 4231. Here, the state storage unit 4231 stores the history of state information of each device 3 in association with date and time information and device identification information indicating the time when the corresponding response request information was transmitted, and device identification information of the communication control device 1 connected to the same local network NW2 as the device 3.

[0080] Each time a predetermined polling interval review time arrives, the interval determination unit 4221 refers to the history of past status information to identify the time point at which a change in the status of the device 3 occurred and identifies the time interval between the time points at which the status changes of adjacent devices 3 occurred. Here, the interval determination unit 4221 identifies, for example, the time interval between the polling interval review time that occurred immediately before the most recent polling interval review time and the most recent polling interval review time. The interval determination unit 4221 then calculates the average time of the identified time intervals as the polling interval. The interval determination unit 4221 may also calculate a time equivalent to the median of the identified time intervals, or the shortest or longest time of the identified time intervals as the polling interval. The polling setting unit 212 then updates the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 232 with polling interval information indicating the polling interval determined by the interval determination unit 4221.

[0081] Next, the state management process executed by the cloud server 4002 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 20. Note that in FIG. 20, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8. First, after a series of processes from steps S201 to S203 are executed, the interval determination unit 4221 determines whether the time to review the preset polling interval has arrived (step S4201). If the interval determination unit 4221 determines that the time to review the polling interval has not yet arrived (step S4201: No), the process of step S204 described in the first embodiment is executed. On the other hand, if the interval determination unit 4221 determines that the time to review the polling interval has arrived (step S4201: Yes), the interval determination unit 4221 refers to the history of past state information stored in the state storage unit 4231 to identify the time points at which a change in the state of the device 3 occurred, and identifies the time intervals between the time points at which the state changes of the devices 3 adjacent in time occurred. Then, the interval determination unit 4221 calculates the polling interval from the identified time interval, and the polling setting unit 212 updates the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 232 with polling interval information indicating the calculated polling interval (step S4202). Next, the polling setting notification unit 213 generates polling setting notification information including the updated polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 232, and transmits it to the communication control device 1 (step S4203). Subsequently, a series of processes from step S204 onwards are executed.

[0082] In the communication system according to this modification, for example, when the operating state of a device 3 is adjusted more frequently than usual by a remote controller for operating the device 3, the polling interval of the device 3 is shortened.

[0083] In this modification, when there are multiple devices 3 that cooperate with each other, the interval determination unit 4221 may refer to the history of past status information of any one of the multiple devices 3 that cooperate with each other, each time the time to review the polling interval arrives, identify the time interval between the times when the status changes of the device 3 occurred, and calculate the polling intervals of the other devices 3 that cooperate with the device 3 based on the average time of the identified time intervals. For example, when the device 3 is an air conditioner and the set temperature is being changed more frequently than usual using the remote control of the device 3, the interval determination unit 4221 may set the polling interval of the device 3 that is an environmental sensor that cooperates with the device 3 to be shorter.

[0084] According to this configuration, the polling interval can be set to an appropriate time interval according to the frequency of past state changes of the device 3.

[0085] In each embodiment, when the device 3 has multiple functions, the polling setting storage units 131, 232 may store different polling information for each of the multiple functions of the device 3. For example, when the device 3 is an electric water heater, the polling interval for the set temperature maintenance function may be set to "30 minutes," and the polling interval for the hot water filling status detection function may be set to "5 minutes."

[0086] In the embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 21 , the polling setting storage unit 5131 may store polling setting information corresponding to each season in association with seasonal information indicating the season. The status request unit 112 may then identify, from the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 5131, polling setting information corresponding to a combination of the season at the time of transmission of the response request information and the device identification information of the destination device 3, and transmit the response request information constituting the identified polling setting information to the device 3 at the polling interval indicated by the polling interval information constituting the identified polling setting information. In this case, for example, the polling interval of the air conditioner may be shortened in summer and the polling interval of the heating device may be shortened in winter. Note that, in FIG. 21 , the polling setting storage unit 5131 stores polling setting information corresponding to each season in association with seasonal information indicating the season. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the polling setting unit may store polling setting information corresponding to each of a plurality of time periods in association with time period information indicating the time period. In this case, for example, the polling interval of the cooking appliance may be shortened during the daytime, and the polling interval of the lighting may be shortened during the nighttime.

[0087] According to this configuration, it is possible to transmit to the device 3 the response request information that is optimal for that season at the optimal polling interval depending on the season and time zone at which the response request information is transmitted. Since the polling interval is changed based on the season and time zone, making the polling interval seasonally variable reduces traffic on the network, suppresses billing charges, and optimizes the resources of the communication control device.

[0088] In an embodiment, the polling setting storage unit 5131 may store polling setting information corresponding to each combination of season, time zone, and region, in association with regional information indicating the region, along with the seasonal information and time zone information. Meanwhile, for example, the climate, perceived temperature, etc., often differ between "17:00" in summer in Hokkaido and "17:00" in summer in Okinawa. In contrast, according to the present configuration, the polling setting storage unit 5131 stores the polling setting information in association with regional information in which the device 3 is installed. By utilizing regional information together with seasonal information and time zone information, it becomes possible to more precisely control the device 3 to realize the user's desired living environment.

[0089] In the first embodiment, the initial setting or update of the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 of the communication control device 1 is not limited to being initialized or updated by polling setting update request information transmitted from the terminal device 4. For example, the communication control device 1 may have an input unit, and the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 may be initialized or updated by a user performing an operation to input initial setting information or updated polling setting information for the polling setting information via the input unit. Alternatively, the cloud server 2 may generate polling setting update request information including the initial polling setting information or updated polling setting information and transmit it to the communication control device 1, thereby initializing or updating the polling setting information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 of the communication control device 1. Alternatively, when a user of a terminal device other than the terminal device 4 performs a polling setting update operation on an input unit to update the polling setting information, the terminal device may generate polling setting update request information including the updated polling setting information and send it to the communication control device 1, thereby initializing or updating the polling setting information stored in the polling setting memory unit 131 of the communication control device 1.

[0090] In the first embodiment, the status notification unit 115 may be configured to generate status notification information by aggregating only some of the multiple pieces of status information stored in the status storage unit 132 and transmitted in response to response request information transmitted synchronously with each other, and transmit the generated status notification information to the cloud server 2. Alternatively, the status notification unit 115 may generate separate status notification information from each of the multiple pieces of status information transmitted in response to response request information transmitted synchronously with each other, and transmit the generated status notification information to the cloud server 2. In this case, the status notification unit 115 may be configured to select whether or not to aggregate the multiple pieces of status information, or to select the state information to be aggregated from the multiple pieces of status information. Furthermore, the status notification unit 115 may be configured to select, for example, state information of the devices 3 having the same device type, state information attributes, etc., and to aggregate the selected state information to generate status notification information and transmit the aggregated state information to the cloud server 2.

[0091] In the third embodiment, an example has been described in which the communication control device 3001 has elements related to polling interval estimation. However, this is not limiting, and for example, a cloud server may have elements related to polling interval estimation. For example, as shown in FIG. 22, a cloud server 6002 may have a period estimation unit 6221 and a period notification unit 6222. Note that in FIG. 22, the same components as in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 12. Each time the state information for each device 3 stored in the state storage unit 3231, the response request information transmitted to the device 3 to acquire the state information, and the polling interval information indicating the polling interval at the time of transmitting the response request information are updated, the period estimation unit 6221 estimates the polling interval until the next time to transmit the response request information for each device 3, based on the transition of past polling intervals, using the period estimation model indicated by the period estimation model information stored in the period estimation model storage unit 3233. Then, the cycle estimation unit 6221 notifies the cycle notification unit 6222 of polling interval information indicating the polling interval estimated for each device 3. When the cycle notification unit 6222 is notified of the polling interval information from the cycle estimation unit 6221, it transmits the notified polling interval information to the communication control device 6001. The communication control device 6001 may also include a cycle acquisition unit 6121 that acquires polling interval information transmitted from the cloud server 6002, and a cycle setting unit 6122 that updates the polling interval information stored in the polling setting storage unit 131 with the acquired polling interval information.

[0092] According to this configuration, the configuration of the communication control device 6001 can be simplified.

[0093] Furthermore, the various functions of the communication control devices 1, 2001, 3001, and 6001 and the cloud servers 2, 2002, 3002, 4002, and 6002 according to the present disclosure may be implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware may be written as a program, and the program may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc). A computer capable of implementing each of the above-described functions may be configured by loading and installing the program on a computer. Furthermore, if each function is implemented by sharing the work between an operating system (OS) and an application, or by cooperation between the OS and the application, only the parts other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0094] Furthermore, each program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed via a communication network. For example, the program can be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communication network and distributed via the network. These programs can then be launched and run under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-mentioned processing to be performed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0095] The present disclosure is suitable for a control system equipped with a HEMS installed in a home. [Explanation of symbols]

[0096] 1,2001,3001,6001 Communication control device, 2,2002,3002,4002,6002 Cloud server, 3 Equipment, 4,2004,3004 Terminal device, 8 BBR, 101,201 CPU, 102,202 Main memory unit, 103,203 Auxiliary memory unit, 107,206 Communication unit, 108 Timekeeping unit, 109,209 Bus, 111 Polling setting acquisition unit, 112,215,3112 Status request unit, 113,214 Status request acquisition unit, 114,211,3114,3221 Status acquisition unit, 115,216,3115 Status notification unit, 131,232,5131 Polling setting memory unit, 132, 231, 3132, 3231, 4231 status memory unit, 212 polling setting unit, 213 polling setting notification unit, 2116 notification determination unit, 2117 notification condition setting unit, 2133 notification condition memory unit, 2217 notification condition notification information transfer unit, 3118, 6221 period estimation unit, 3119 model acquisition unit, 3120 initial setting acquisition unit, 3134, 3233 period estimation model memory unit, 3213 initial setting notification unit, 3217 interval specification unit, 3218 function update unit, 3219 model generation unit, 3220 model notification unit, 3232 initial setting memory unit, 3234 function memory unit, 4221 interval determination unit, 6121 period acquisition unit, 6122 period setting unit, 6222 period notification unit, NW1 Wide area network, NW2 local network

Claims

1. a communication control device capable of communicating with a plurality of devices via a first network; a device management device that can communicate with the communication control device via a second network different from the first network and manages the states of the plurality of devices; The communication control device a status request unit that transmits, to the plurality of devices, response request information that requests each of the plurality of devices to transmit status information indicating the status of the device at a plurality of types of time intervals that are preset for each of the plurality of devices; a first status acquisition unit that acquires the status information transmitted by the plurality of devices in response to the response request information; a status notification unit that transmits the status information to the device management device via the second network. Communication system.

2. the communication control device further includes a status storage unit that stores the status information acquired from each of the plurality of devices; the status request unit transmits the response request information to at least two of the plurality of devices at the same time interval in synchronization with each other; the first status acquisition unit acquires the status information transmitted by at least two of the devices in response to the response request information transmitted synchronously with each other, and stores the status information in the status storage unit; the status notification unit collectively transmits to the device management device at least two pieces of status information stored in the status storage unit and transmitted in response to the response request information transmitted synchronously with each other. The communication system of claim 1 .

3. The communication control device a notification determination unit that determines whether a difference between a state of the device indicated by the most recently acquired state information and a state of the device indicated by the previously acquired state information satisfies a preset notification condition for transmitting the state information to the device management device; When it is determined that the status difference satisfies the notification condition, the status notification unit transmits the most recently acquired status notification information to the device management device.

3. A communication system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The device management device a second status acquisition unit that acquires the status information transmitted from the communication control device; an interval determination unit that determines the time interval based on an interval between time points at which changes in the state indicated by the state information that are adjacent in time occurred; a setting notification unit that transmits setting information indicating the determined time interval to the communication control device, the status request unit transmits the response request information to the device at the time interval indicated by the setting information.

3. A communication system according to claim 1 or 2.

5. a status request acquisition unit that acquires status request information that requests transmission of the status information indicating the status of the device, the status request information being transmitted from the device management device; the status request unit transmits the response request information to the device at the time intervals, and also transmits the response request information to the device corresponding to the status request information when the status request acquisition unit acquires the status request information.

3. A communication system according to claim 1 or 2.

6. A communication control device capable of communicating with a plurality of devices via a first network and capable of communicating with a device management device that manages states of the plurality of devices via a second network different from the first network, a status request unit that transmits, to the plurality of devices, response request information that requests each of the plurality of devices to transmit status information indicating the status of the device at a plurality of types of time intervals that are preset for each of the plurality of devices; a first status acquisition unit that acquires the status information transmitted by the plurality of devices in response to the response request information; a status notification unit that transmits the status information to the device management device via the second network. Communications control device.

7. a step in which the communication control device transmits, via a first network to the plurality of devices, response request information requesting each of the plurality of devices to transmit status information indicating the status of the device at a plurality of types of time intervals that are preset for each of the plurality of devices; the communication control device acquiring, via the first network, the status information transmitted by the plurality of devices in response to the response request information; the communication control device transmitting the status information to a device management device via a second network different from the first network, Communication control method.

8. Computer, a status request unit that transmits, via the first network to the plurality of devices, response request information that requests each of the plurality of devices to transmit status information indicating the status of the device at a plurality of types of time intervals that are preset for each of the plurality of devices; a first status acquisition unit that acquires, via the first network, the status information transmitted by the plurality of devices in response to the response request information; a status notification unit that transmits the status information to a device management device via a second network different from the first network; A program to function as a

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