Water heater control system, water heater control method and program

Abstract

To provide a water heater control system, a water heater control method, and a program capable of reducing the load of generating an operation schedule for each of a plurality of water heaters for an administrator engaged in managing the water heaters.SOLUTION: A terminal device 7 comprises: a group setting unit 715 that allocates a plurality of water heaters to a plurality of groups; a schedule generation unit 717 that generates schedule information set so as to operate all among the water heaters belonging to the same group in accordance with the same operation schedule; and an image generation unit 712 that generates a shift notification image for performing notification about a shift of a sum total of a group power consumption amount and a total power consumption amount of each of the groups in operating the water heaters in accordance with the operation schedule for the water heaters indicated by the schedule information on the basis of a total power consumption amount at each of a plurality of predicted time zones and a group power consumption amount corresponding to each of the groups.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A water heater control device has been proposed that controls the heating operation of multiple storage-type water heaters (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This water heater control device predicts the future total power consumption of electrical devices other than the water heaters in a home where each of the multiple water heaters is installed, and the amount of hot water used in each home, and generates an operation schedule for each of the multiple water heaters so that the sum of the power consumption of each of the multiple water heaters and the aforementioned total power consumption is reduced to or below a preset power consumption threshold. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-137215 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, if an unexpected cold wave suddenly arrives, hot water usage across multiple homes may increase, and as a result, in order to prevent each home from running out of hot water, it may be necessary to operate the water heaters outside of the planned operation periods in the original operation schedule. In this case, the operation timings of the water heaters in each of the multiple homes may overlap, and as a result, there is a risk that the peak power usage across the multiple homes may far exceed the peak anticipated when the operation schedule was created.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above reasons, and aims to provide a water heater control system, a water heater control method, and a program that can reduce the burden on an administrator who manages multiple water heaters of creating operation schedules for each of the multiple water heaters. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the water heater control system according to the present disclosure includes: a group setting unit that generates group setting information indicating the group to which each of a plurality of water heaters installed in a plurality of houses belongs when the plurality of water heaters are assigned to a plurality of groups; a schedule generation unit that generates schedule information indicating an operation schedule for each of the plurality of water heaters, the operation schedule being set so that at least one water heater belonging to the same group among the plurality of water heaters operates according to the same operation schedule; a total power consumption prediction unit that predicts a total amount of power consumption consumed by devices other than the plurality of water heaters in the plurality of houses in each of a plurality of time periods that are set in advance; a group power consumption prediction unit that predicts, for each of the plurality of groups, the group power consumption to be consumed by at least one water heater belonging to each of the plurality of groups in each of a plurality of time periods that are set in advance; an image generating unit that generates a transition notification image for notifying a transition of the sum of the group power consumption of each of the plurality of groups and the total power consumption when the plurality of water heaters are operated according to the operation schedules of the plurality of water heaters indicated by the schedule information, based on the predicted total power consumption for each of the plurality of time periods and the group power consumption corresponding to each of the plurality of groups; A terminal device owned by a user belonging to the aggregator has: a display unit on which the transition notification image is displayed; an individual schedule generating unit that generates individual schedule information indicating an operation schedule for each of the plurality of water heaters based on the schedule information; and an individual schedule notification unit that controls operation of the plurality of water heaters by transmitting the individual schedule information to each of the plurality of water heaters. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a group setting unit assigns a plurality of water heaters to a plurality of groups and generates group setting information indicating the group to which each of the plurality of water heaters belongs. Then, a schedule generation unit generates schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each of the plurality of water heaters, which is set so that at least one water heater belonging to the same group among the plurality of water heaters operates according to the same operation schedule. Furthermore, an image generation unit generates a transition notification image for notifying the transition of the sum of the group power consumption of each of the plurality of groups and the total power consumption when the plurality of water heaters are operated according to the operation schedule of the plurality of water heaters indicated by the schedule information, based on the predicted total power consumption for each of the plurality of time periods and the group power consumption corresponding to each of the plurality of groups, The terminal device owned by the user belonging to the aggregator has This allows the user to set the operation schedule for each of the multiple water heaters in groups while referring to the progress notification image displayed on the display, making it easy to manage the operation schedules for each of the multiple water heaters. Belongs to an aggregator This reduces the burden on users to create operation schedules for each of multiple water heaters. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a hot water supply system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a hot water supply system according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 5]1A is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a group setting storage unit according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a prediction storage unit according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a hot water supply system according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a hot water supply system according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] (A) is a diagram showing an example of a schedule creation image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; (B) is a diagram showing another example of a schedule creation image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; (C) is a diagram showing an example of a schedule creation image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; and (D) is a diagram showing another example of a schedule creation image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a schedule creation image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a schedule creation image and a transition notification image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a hot water supply system according to an embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of a hot water supply system according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a schedule generation process executed by a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a schedule generation process executed by a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 14] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a water heater control process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 15] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a flow of a water heater control process executed by a cloud server according to an embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a group setting storage unit according to a modified example. [Figure 17]FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a schedule creation image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of a schedule creation image and a transition notification image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example; [Figure 18] FIG. 1A is a diagram showing an example of a schedule creation image and a transition notification image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing another example of a schedule creation image and a transition notification image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to a modified example; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A water heater control system according to each embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The water heater control system according to the present embodiment includes a group setting unit that generates group setting information indicating the group to which each of a plurality of water heaters belongs when the plurality of water heaters are assigned to a plurality of groups, a schedule generation unit, a total power consumption prediction unit, and a group power consumption prediction unit. The schedule generation unit generates schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each of the plurality of water heaters, which is set so that at least one water heater belonging to the same group among the plurality of water heaters operates according to the same operation schedule. The total power consumption prediction unit predicts the total power consumption consumed by all of the plurality of water heaters in the plurality of homes, excluding the plurality of water heaters, during each of a plurality of predetermined time periods. The group power consumption prediction unit predicts, for each of a plurality of groups, the group power consumption consumed by at least one water heater belonging to each of the plurality of groups during each of a plurality of predetermined time periods. The water heater control system also includes an image generation unit that generates, based on the predicted total power consumption for each of a plurality of time periods and the group power consumption corresponding to each of the plurality of groups, a transition notification image for notifying the transition of the sum of the group power consumption and the total power consumption for each of the plurality of groups when the plurality of water heaters are operated according to the operation schedules of the plurality of water heaters indicated by the schedule information, and a display unit that displays the transition notification image.The water heater control system also includes an individual schedule generation unit that generates, based on the schedule information, individual schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each of the plurality of water heaters, and an individual schedule notification unit that controls the operation of the plurality of water heaters by transmitting the individual schedule information to each of the plurality of water heaters.

[0010] The hot water supply system according to this embodiment is used in an apartment building B1 that constitutes a housing complex consisting of multiple residences H[0], H[1], . . . , H[i], . . . (i is an integer equal to or greater than 0), as shown in FIG. 1 . Here, the apartment building B1 is, for example, an apartment building that receives power from a power grid PS using a high-voltage bulk power receiving system. Each residence H[i] is equipped with a water heater 3, an electrical appliance 4, a distribution board 21 that supplies power to the water heater 3 and the electrical appliance 4, and a power metering device 22 that measures the power supplied to the water heater 3 and the electrical appliance 4. The distribution board 21 branches the power supplied from the power grid PS and supplies it to the water heater 3 and the electrical appliance 4. The apartment building B1 is also equipped with a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 61 that can communicate with the water heater 3 and the power metering device 22 installed in the residence H[i] via a local network NW2. The BBR 61 is connected to a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet. The local network NW2 is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN. The hot water supply system according to this embodiment includes a terminal device 7 managed by a so-called aggregator that manages the power supply to the apartment building B1, and a cloud server 1. The terminal device 7 and the cloud server 1 are capable of communicating with each other via a wide area network NW1. The electrical appliances 4 are, for example, air conditioners, lighting fixtures, floor heating systems, refrigerators, IH (Induction Heating) cookers, televisions, etc. The electrical appliances 4 are installed in each residence and receive power from a distribution board 21.

[0011] 2, the power measuring device 22 is a so-called smart meter equipped with a communication adapter 229 that controls communication with the cloud server 1 via the local network NW2, BBR61, and wide area network NW1. The power measuring device 22 measures the amount of power consumed in each house H[i] from the distribution board 21, generates power amount information indicating the measured amount of power, and transmits it to the cloud server 1. Here, when the power measuring device 22 acquires power amount information request information from the cloud server 1 requesting transmission of power amount information to the cloud server 1, the power measuring device 22 generates power information in response to the request and transmits it to the cloud server 1.

[0012] The water heater 3 is a storage-type water heater having a hot water storage tank (not shown) and a heat pump unit (not shown). The heat pump unit boils water stored in the hot water storage tank. The heat pump unit includes a heat pump (not shown) and a control board (not shown) that controls the heat pump. Here, water sent from the hot water storage tank to a heat exchanger by a pump is heated in the heat pump's heat exchanger and returned to the hot water storage tank. Hot water is then supplied to the bathroom or kitchen of the house H[i] through a hot water outlet pipe attached to the hot water storage tank. The water heater 3 also includes a controller 31 connected to the control board via a communication line (not shown) and controlling the operation of the heat pump unit, a water heater power measurement unit 32 that measures the amount of power consumed by the water heater 3, and a communication adapter 39. The water heater power measurement unit 32 is connected to the controller 31 via a communication line and periodically outputs water heater power consumption information indicating the measured amount of power to the controller 31. The communication adapter 39 controls communication between the controller 31 and the cloud server 1 via the local network NW2, the BBR 61, and the wide area network NW1. The controller 31 has a schedule storage unit (not shown) that stores schedule information indicating the operation schedule of the heat pump unit, and controls the operation of the heat pump unit by outputting control information to the control board in accordance with the operation schedule indicated by the individual schedule information. Furthermore, when the controller 31 receives water heater power consumption information request information from the cloud server 1, which requests the cloud server 1 to transmit water heater power consumption information to the cloud server 1, the controller 31 generates water heater power consumption information in response. Then, the power measuring device 22 transmits the generated water heater power consumption information to the cloud server 1.

[0013] The terminal device 7 is, for example, a general-purpose personal computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 701, a main memory 702, an auxiliary memory 703, a display 704, an input unit 705, and a wide-area communication unit 706. The terminal device 7 is used by a user belonging to the aggregator. The main memory 702 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 701, and the auxiliary memory 703 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory, and stores programs for realizing various functions of the terminal device 7. The display unit 704 is a liquid crystal display, an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display, or the like, and displays various information. The input unit 705 is, for example, a keyboard, and receives various operation information in response to operations by a user belonging to the aggregator and outputs the received operation information to the CPU. The wide-area communication unit 706 has an interface for connecting to the wide-area network NW1.

[0014] The CPU 701 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 703 into the main storage unit 702 and executes them, thereby functioning as a total information acquisition unit 711, an image generation unit 712, a display control unit 713, a reception unit 714, a group setting unit 715, a setting notification unit 716, a schedule generation unit 717, a schedule notification unit 718, and an adoption determination unit 719, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 703 shown in Fig. 2 also has a power consumption amount storage unit 731, an image storage unit 732, and a schedule storage unit 733, as shown in Fig. 3. The image-only memory of the main storage unit 702 shown in Fig. 2 also has a display image storage unit 721 that temporarily stores images to be displayed on the display unit 704. The power consumption memory unit 731 stores water heater power consumption information for the water heater 3 installed in the dwelling unit H[i] managed by the aggregator and total power consumption information indicating the amount of power consumed by the electrical appliances 4 other than the water heater 3 in the entire dwelling unit H[i]. Here, the power consumption memory unit 731 stores total power consumption information and hot water power consumption information for each of multiple time periods for each group when the dwelling units H[i] are divided into multiple groups, in association with time period information indicating the multiple time periods. The image memory unit 332 stores various image information including basic image information for constructing various images to be displayed on the display unit 704. The schedule memory unit 733 stores schedule information indicating the operation schedule of the water heaters 3 belonging to each of the multiple groups. The group setting memory unit 734 stores water heater identification information identifying each of the multiple water heaters 3 in association with group identification information identifying the group to which each of the multiple water heaters 3 belongs.

[0015] When the tally information acquisition unit 711 acquires the tally information transmitted from the cloud server 1, it extracts the total power consumption information, the water heater power consumption information, and the time zone information included in the acquired tally information, and stores the extracted total power consumption information, the water heater power consumption information, and the time zone information in the power consumption storage unit 731 in association with each other. When the image generation unit 712 receives operation information from the reception unit 714 indicating a schedule creation start operation by the user to start creating an operation schedule for the water heater 3, it generates image information representing a schedule creation image based on the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 and stores the image information in the display image storage unit 721. Furthermore, the image generation unit 712 generates new image information representing a schedule creation image every time the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 is updated as a result of the user performing a schedule creation operation on the input unit 705. Then, the image generation unit 712 updates the image information already stored in the display image storage unit 721 with the image information representing the generated schedule creation image. Furthermore, when the image generation unit 712 receives from the reception unit 714 operation information indicating an allocation number display operation by the user to display on the display unit 704 the number of water heaters 3 allocated to each group, the image generation unit 712 generates new image information in which the allocation number indicating the number of water heaters 3 allocated to each group is combined with the schedule creation image. Furthermore, each time the power consumption amount storage unit 731 stores new total power consumption information and hot water power consumption amount information, the image generation unit 712 generates a transition notification image indicating the predicted power consumption of the water heaters 3 belonging to each of the multiple groups for the multiple time periods and the predicted total power consumption of all groups other than the water heaters 3. The image generation unit 712 then stores image information indicating the generated transition notification image in the display image storage unit 721. The display control unit 713 displays on the display unit 704 an image corresponding to the image information stored in the display image storage unit 721.

[0016] The reception unit 714 receives the operation content performed by the user on the input unit 705, generates operation information according to the received operation content, and notifies the tally information acquisition unit 711, the image generation unit 712, the group setting unit 715, and the schedule generation unit 717. When the group setting unit 715 is notified by the reception unit 315 of the operation information indicating a group setting operation for dividing each of the multiple residences H[i] into multiple groups, the group setting unit 715 generates group setting information including water heater identification information that identifies the water heater 3 installed in each of the multiple residences H[i] and group identification information that identifies the group to which each residence H[i] belongs, and stores the generated group setting information in the group setting storage unit 734. Then, the setting notification unit 716 transmits the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 734 to the cloud server 1.

[0017] Each time the schedule generation unit 717 receives operation information indicating a schedule creation operation by a user from the reception unit 315, the schedule generation unit 717 updates the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 based on the received operation information. Here, the schedule creation operation includes, for example, a group increase / decrease operation for increasing / decreasing the number of groups, a water heating capacity change operation for changing the water heating capacity of the water heater 3, a display format change operation for changing the display format of the schedule for each group represented by the schedule creation image, and a water heating time setting operation for setting the water heating time by the water heater 3. The schedule notification unit 718 transmits the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 to the cloud server 1. The adoption determination unit 719 determines whether the schedule information selected by the user is adopted. The adoption determination unit 719 receives a schedule adoption operation for operating multiple water heaters 3 according to the operation schedule indicated in the schedule information transmitted to the cloud server 1 by the reception unit 714, and, upon receiving operation information indicating a schedule adoption operation from the reception unit 714, determines that the schedule transmitted to the cloud server 1 is adopted. Then, the adoption determination unit 719 generates adoption notification information indicating that the schedule information most recently transmitted to the cloud server 1 is adopted, and transmits the adoption notification information to the cloud server 1.

[0018] Returning to FIG. 2, cloud server 1 is connected to water heater 3 via local network NW2, BBR61, and wide area network NW1, and controls water heater 3. Cloud server 1 is, for example, a computer used as a server, and includes CPU 101, main memory 102, auxiliary memory 103, wide area communication unit 106, clock unit 108, and bus 109 connecting the various units. CPU 101 is, for example, a multi-core processor. Main memory 102 is volatile memory and is used as a work area for CPU 101. Auxiliary memory 103 has non-volatile memory, functions as ROM and storage, and stores programs for realizing various functions of cloud server 1. Wide area communication unit 106 communicates with water heater 3 via wide area network NW1 and BBR61. Clock unit 108 has, for example, an RTC (Real Time Clock).

[0019] By loading the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executing them, the CPU 101 functions as an electric energy acquisition unit 111, a water heater power consumption acquisition unit 112, a total power consumption prediction unit 113, a group power consumption prediction unit 114, a group setting acquisition unit 115, a prediction notification unit 116, a schedule acquisition unit 117, a hiring notification acquisition unit 118, an individual schedule generation unit 119, and an individual schedule notification unit 120, as shown in Fig. 4. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Fig. 2 also has an electric energy storage unit 131, a water heater power consumption storage unit 132, a group setting storage unit 133, a prediction storage unit 134, and a schedule storage unit 135, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0020] The power amount storage unit 131 stores, for each of the multiple residences H[i], the actual value of the total amount of power consumed by the water heater 3 and all of the electrical appliances 4 during each of multiple predetermined time periods, in association with information indicating the date and time period. Here, the multiple time periods consist of, for example, 24 time periods obtained by dividing a day into one-hour increments. The water heater power consumption storage unit 132 stores, for the water heaters 3 installed in each of the multiple residences H[i], the actual value of the amount of power consumed by the water heaters 3 during each of multiple predetermined time periods, in association with information indicating the date and time period, and water heater identification information that identifies the water heater 3.

[0021] For example, as shown in FIG. 5(A), the group setting storage unit 133 stores water heater identification information IDW[i] (i=0, 1, 2, . . .) that identifies each water heater 3 installed in each of the multiple residences H[i], in association with group identification information IDG[j] (j=0, 1, 2, . . .) that identifies the group to which the water heater 3 belongs. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(B), the prediction storage unit 134 stores total power consumption information indicating the total power consumption consumed by electrical appliances 4 other than the water heater 3 throughout the multiple residences H[i] in each of the multiple time periods, and water heater power consumption information indicating the water heater power consumption consumed by all the water heaters 3 belonging to each group in each of the multiple time periods, in association with time period information indicating the time period. Returning to FIG. 4, the schedule storage unit 135 stores schedule information indicating the operation schedules of the water heaters 3 belonging to each of the multiple groups.

[0022] The power amount acquiring unit 111 acquires, from the power measuring device 22, power amount information indicating the actual value of the total power consumption consumed by the water heater 3 and all of the electrical appliances 4 in each of the multiple residences H[i], as measured by the power measuring device 22. When the power amount acquiring unit 111 determines that a predetermined power amount acquisition time has arrived based on the date and time measured by the clocking unit 108, the power amount acquiring unit 111 acquires the power amount information transmitted from the power measuring device 22 by transmitting, to the power measuring device 22, power amount information request information requesting the power measuring device 22 to transmit the power amount information. The water heater power consumption amount acquiring unit 112 acquires, from the water heater 3, water heater power consumption amount information indicating the actual value of the power consumption consumed by the water heater 3 installed in each of the multiple residences H[i]. When the water heater power consumption acquisition unit 112 determines that the time to acquire the aforementioned power consumption has arrived based on the date and time measured by the timing unit 108, it acquires the water heater power consumption information transmitted from the water heater 3 by transmitting water heater power consumption information request information to the water heater 3, which requests the water heater 3 to transmit the water heater power consumption information.

[0023] When the group setting acquisition unit 115 acquires the group setting information transmitted from the terminal device 7, the group setting acquisition unit 115 stores the acquired group setting information in the group setting storage unit 133.

[0024] The total power consumption prediction unit 113 predicts the total amount of power consumption to be consumed by all of the multiple residences H[i], excluding the multiple water heaters 3, during each of multiple predetermined time periods. The total power consumption prediction unit 113 first identifies power consumption information for the most recent previously set reference period from the power consumption information stored in the power amount storage unit 131. Here, the length of the reference period is set to, for example, one to two weeks. The total power consumption prediction unit 113 then calculates, for each of multiple time periods within the reference period, the difference in power consumption between the power consumption indicated by the power amount information and the power consumption indicated by the water heater power consumption information, as the total amount of power consumption to be consumed by all of the multiple residences H[i], excluding the multiple water heaters 3. The total power consumption prediction unit 113 then calculates an average total amount of power consumption for each time period of the calculated total power consumption, and stores the calculated average total amount of power consumption in the prediction storage unit 134 as predicted total power consumption information indicating the predicted total power consumption, in association with time period information indicating each of the multiple time periods.

[0025] The group power consumption prediction unit 114 predicts, for each of the multiple groups, the group power consumption to be consumed by all the water heaters 3 belonging to each of the multiple groups during each of the multiple time periods. The group power consumption prediction unit 114 calculates, for each of the multiple groups, the average water heater power consumption for each time period during the multiple time periods during the reference period, calculated by the water heaters 3 belonging to each of the multiple groups during each of the multiple time periods during the reference period. The group power consumption prediction unit 114 then calculates the sum of the calculated average water heater power consumption for each of the multiple groups as the group power consumption. Here, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 first selects one group for which to calculate the group power consumption, and identifies one water heater 3 belonging to the selected group based on the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 133. Then, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 identifies water heater power consumption information indicating the amount of power consumed by the identified water heater 3 within the aforementioned calculation period from the water heater power consumption information stored in the water heater power consumption storage unit 132, and calculates the average water heater power consumption within the aforementioned reference period for the identified water heater 3. Next, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 calculates the sum of the average water heater power consumption calculated for all water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group. Then, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 stores the calculated sum of the average water heater power consumption in the prediction storage unit 134 in association with the group identification information that identifies the selected group as group power consumption information indicating the group power consumption predicted to be consumed by all the water heaters 3 belonging to the group.

[0026] The prediction notification unit 116 generates prediction information including the total power consumption information stored in the prediction storage unit 134 and the group power consumption information for each of the multiple groups, and transmits the generated prediction information to the terminal device 7. When the schedule acquisition unit 117 acquires the schedule information transmitted from the terminal device 7, it stores the acquired schedule information in the schedule storage unit 135. When the employment notification acquisition unit 118 acquires the above-mentioned employment notification information transmitted from the terminal device 7, it notifies the individual schedule generation unit 119 of the acquired employment notification information.

[0027] The individual schedule generation unit 119 generates individual schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each of the multiple water heaters 3 based on the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 135. The individual schedule generation unit 119 selects one water heater 3 to which the individual schedule information is to be sent, identifies the group to which the selected water heater 3 belongs based on the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 133, and generates individual schedule information corresponding to the identified group. The individual schedule generation unit 119 notifies the individual schedule notification unit 120 of the generated individual schedule information. The individual schedule notification unit 120 controls the operation of the multiple water heaters 3 by transmitting the individual schedule information notified by the individual schedule generation unit 119 to each of the multiple water heaters 3.

[0028] Next, the operation of the hot water supply system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 6 to 10. First, as shown in Fig. 5, when a preset power amount acquisition time arrives, power amount information request information requesting the power measurement device 22 to transmit power amount information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the power measurement device 22 (step S1). This power amount information request information is transmitted to all of the power measurement devices 22 installed in all of the dwelling units H[i] managed by the aggregator. Meanwhile, upon receiving the power amount information request information, the power measurement device 22 generates power amount information in response to the information (step S2). Next, the generated power amount information is transmitted from each of the power measurement devices 22 to the cloud server 1 (step S3). At this time, the cloud server 1 stores the acquired power amount information in the power amount storage unit 131.

[0029] Next, the cloud server 1 transmits water heater power consumption information request information to the water heater 3, requesting the water heater 3 to transmit water heater power consumption information indicating the amount of power consumed by the water heater 3 (step S5). This water heater power consumption information request information is transmitted to all water heaters 3 installed in all dwelling units H[i] managed by the aggregator. Meanwhile, upon receiving the water heater power consumption request information, the water heater 3 generates water heater power consumption information in response to the information (step S6). The generated water heater power consumption information is then transmitted from each water heater 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S7). At this time, the cloud server 1 stores the acquired water heater power consumption information in the water heater power consumption storage unit 132 (step S8). Thereafter, the series of processes from steps S1 to S8 described above are repeatedly executed each time the time for obtaining power information arrives.

[0030] Next, suppose that a user belonging to the aggregator performs a group setting operation to divide each of the multiple homes H[i] into multiple groups using the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7. In this case, the terminal device 7 accepts the group setting operation, generates group setting information based on the content of the group setting operation (step S9), and stores the generated group setting information in the group setting storage unit 734 (step S10).

[0031] Thereafter, it is assumed that the user performs an operation on the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7 to start schedule creation, which creates operation schedules for the water heaters 3 installed in the residences H[i] belonging to each of the multiple groups, on a group-by-group basis. In this case, the terminal device 7 generates a schedule creation image and displays it on the display unit 704 (step S11). Next, as shown in FIG. 7, when the user performs a group schedule creation operation on the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7 to create a schedule for the water heaters 3 on a group-by-group basis, the terminal device 7 generates schedule information according to the content of the group schedule operation and updates the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 with the generated schedule information (step S12). Next, the terminal device 7 generates a schedule creation image based on the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 and displays the generated schedule creation image on the display unit 704 (step S13). It is also assumed that the user performs a display format change operation on the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7 to change the display format of the schedule creation image (step S14). In this case, the terminal device 7 generates a schedule creation image based on the content of the display format change operation, and displays the generated schedule creation image on the display unit 704 (step S15).

[0032] 8(A), for example, the terminal device 7 displays on the display unit 704 a schedule creation image GA1 for creating an operation schedule for the water heaters 3 belonging to one group (group A). ​​The schedule creation image GA1 includes a display field B11 displaying the name of the group for which an operation schedule for the water heaters 3 is to be created, a display field B12 displaying the heating capacity of the water heater 3, a display field B13 displaying the display format, a display field B14 displaying the start time of heating the water heater 3, and a display field B15 displaying the end time of heating the water heater 3. The display contents of the display fields B11, B12, B13, B14, and B15 can be selected from a pull-down menu (not shown) that is displayed when the user places the cursor on and clicks a triangular button image BU5 displayed to the right of each of the display fields B11, B12, B13, B14, and B15. The schedule creation image GA1 also includes an area A1 that displays a bar graph GR1 representing the operation schedules of the water heaters 3 belonging to group A. Furthermore, the schedule creation image GA1 also includes a button image BU1 that displays a "+" mark. When the user hovers the cursor over and clicks on the button image BU1, the number of groups for which operation schedules of the water heaters 3 are created increases. The group schedule creation operation described above is performed by the user selecting from a pull-down menu (not shown) by hovers the cursor over and clicks on the button image BU1, or by hovers the cursor over and clicks on the button image BU5 displayed to the right of the display field B12 that displays the boiling capacity of the water heater 3, the display field B14 that displays the boiling start time of the water heater 3, or the display field B15 that displays the boiling end time of the water heater 3. The group schedule creation operation described above is performed by the user selecting from a pull-down menu (not shown) by hovers the cursor over and clicks on the button image BU5 displayed to the right of the display field B13 that displays the display format.

[0033] For example, if a user positions the cursor over button image BU1 and clicks it once, the number of groups for which an operation schedule for water heater 3 is to be created increases to two groups (group A and group B), as shown in FIG. 8(B). Display fields B11, B12, B13, B14, and B15 display the group names of group A and group B, the boiling capacity of water heater 3, the display format, the start time of boiling water heater 3, and the end time of boiling water heater 3, respectively. The user can make a selection from a pull-down menu (not shown) by positioning the cursor over triangular button image BU5 displayed to the right of the portion corresponding to group B in display fields B11, B12, B13, B14, and B15 and clicking it. In addition, bar graphs GR1 and GR2 representing the operation schedules of water heaters 3 belonging to groups A and B, respectively, are displayed in area A1 of schedule creation image GA2. Here, the color-changing display portions of the bar graphs GR1 and GR2 are located at the left end of each bar graph GR1 and GR2, as indicated by the display format "R" displayed in the portions of the display field B13 corresponding to groups A and B. Furthermore, the schedule creation image GA2 includes a button image BU2 representing a "-" mark, and when the user moves the cursor over and clicks on the button image BU2, the number of groups for which an operation schedule for the water heater 3 is to be created decreases. This operation of the user moving the cursor over and clicking on the button image BU2 also corresponds to the group schedule creation operation described above.

[0034] 8(B) on the display unit 704, the user selects "6:00" and "12:00" from the pull-down menu that appears when the user places the cursor on and clicks on button image BU5 displayed to the right of group B in display columns B14 and B15. In response, the terminal device 7 changes the display contents of the portions corresponding to group B in display columns B14 and B15 to "6:00" and "12:00," respectively, and causes the display unit 704 to display schedule creation image GA3 in which the position of bar graph GR2 corresponding to group B displayed in area A1 has been moved to a position corresponding to the time period from 6:00 to 12:00, as shown in FIG. 8(C). Then, when the user places the cursor on button image BU1 and clicks twice while terminal device 7 is displaying schedule creation image GA3 shown in Fig. 8(C) on display unit 704, terminal device 7 causes display unit 704 to display schedule creation image GA4, in which the number of groups for which operation schedules of water heaters 3 are to be created has increased to four groups (group A, group B, group C, and group D), as shown in Fig. 8(D), for example. Display fields B11, B12, B13, B14, and B15 of schedule creation image GA4 display the group names of group A, group B, group C, and group D, the boiling capacity of water heater 3, the display format, the boiling start time of water heater 3, and the boiling end time of water heater 3, respectively. Furthermore, area A1 of schedule creation image GA4 displays bar graphs GR1, GR2, GR3, and GR4 representing the operation schedules of water heaters 3 belonging to groups A, B, C, and D. Here, as indicated by the display formats "C" and "L" displayed in display fields B33 and B43, the color-changing display portions of bar graphs GR3 and GR4 are located at the center and left end of each bar graph.

[0035] Returning to FIG. 7, suppose that the user performs an allocation number display operation on the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7 to display the number of water heaters 3 allocated to each group. In this case, the terminal device 7 generates a new schedule creation image by superimposing an allocation number indicating the number of water heaters 3 allocated to each group onto the schedule creation image based on the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 734, and displays the generated schedule creation image on the display unit 704 (step S14). Here, the allocation number display operation corresponds to an operation in which, while the terminal device 7 is displaying a schedule creation image GA4 on the display unit 704 as shown in FIG. 8(B), for example, the user positions the cursor on button image BU4 via the input unit 705 and clicks it. Then, the terminal device 7 displays a schedule creation image GA5 on the display unit 704, including an area A2 in which the allocation number is displayed and is located to the right of area A1, as shown in FIG. 9(A), for example.

[0036] 7, it is assumed that the user performs a schedule application operation on the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7 to transmit schedule information indicating the operation schedules of the water heaters 3 belonging to each group that the user has created to the cloud server 1. In this case, the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 734 and the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 are transmitted from the terminal device 7 to the cloud server 1 (step S16). Here, the schedule application operation corresponds to an operation in which, while the terminal device 7 is displaying a schedule creation image GA4 on the display unit 704 as shown in FIG. 9(A), for example, the user positions the cursor on and clicks on button image BU3 via the input unit 705.

[0037] Returning to FIG. 7 , on the other hand, upon receiving the group setting information and schedule information transmitted from the terminal device 7, the cloud server 1 stores them in the group setting storage unit 133 and the schedule storage unit 135, respectively. The cloud server 1 then identifies, from the power amount information stored in the power amount storage unit 131, power amount information indicating the amount of power consumed during the most recent reference period (step S17). The cloud server 1 then calculates, for each of a plurality of time periods during the reference period, the difference in power between the amount of power consumed indicated by the power amount information and the amount of power consumed indicated by the water heater power consumption information, as the total amount of power consumed by all of the plurality of houses H[i] other than the water heaters 3 (step S18). Next, the cloud server 1 calculates, for each of the plurality of time periods, the average total power consumption of all of the electrical appliances 4 other than the water heaters 3 during the reference period (step S19). The cloud server 1 then stores the calculated average total power consumption for each of the plurality of time periods in the prediction storage unit 134, in association with time period information indicating each of the plurality of time periods.

[0038] Next, the cloud server 1 selects one group for which the average water heater power consumption of the water heater 3 within the aforementioned reference period is to be calculated (step S20). Then, the cloud server 1 identifies the water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group based on the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 133 (step S21). Next, the cloud server 1 identifies water heater power consumption information indicating the amount of power consumed by the identified water heater 3 within the aforementioned calculation period from the water heater power consumption information stored in the water heater power consumption storage unit 132 (step S22). Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the cloud server 1 calculates the average water heater power consumption of the identified water heater 3 within the past reference period (step S23). Then, the cloud server 1 repeatedly executes the series of processes of steps S21 and S22 for all water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group. Next, the cloud server 1 calculates the group power consumption, which is the sum of the average water heater power consumption of all water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group (step S24). Here, the cloud server 1 associates the operation of the calculated average value of the water heater power consumption with the group identification information that identifies the selected group and stores it in the prediction storage unit 134. Next, the cloud server 1 selects other groups for which the sum of the average values ​​of the water heater power consumption has not yet been calculated (step S25), and then repeatedly executes the series of processes from steps S21 to S24 described above.

[0039] After that, when the cloud server 1 calculates the group power consumption for all groups, it generates prediction information including the total power consumption information stored in the prediction storage unit 134 and the group power consumption information for each of the multiple groups (step S26). Next, the generated prediction information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 7 (step S27).

[0040] On the other hand, upon acquiring the prediction information, the terminal device 7 extracts the total power consumption information, the water heater power consumption information for each group, and the time zone information included in the acquired prediction information, and stores them in the power consumption storage unit 731 (step S28). Next, the terminal device 7 generates a transition notification image showing the predicted transitions of the total power consumption of the electrical appliances 4 other than the water heater 3 and the water heater power consumption of the water heater 3 belonging to each group, based on the total power consumption information, the water heater power consumption information, and the time zone information stored in the power consumption storage unit 731, and displays the generated transition notification image on the display unit 704 (step S29). Here, the terminal device 7 displays a transition notification image GA6, for example, as shown in FIG. 9(B), adjacent to and below the schedule creation image GA5. Here, it is assumed that the user refers to the transition notification image GA6 displayed on the display unit 704 and performs a schedule adoption operation on the input unit 705 of the terminal device 7 to adopt the operation schedule of the water heater 3 for each group, which indicates the schedule information. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the terminal device 7 generates the employment notification information described above (step S30), and the generated employment notification information is transmitted from the terminal device 7 to the cloud server 1 (step S31).

[0041] Next, the cloud server 1 selects a water heater 3 to which the individual schedule information is to be transmitted (step S32). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 11, the cloud server 1 identifies a group to which the individual schedule information is to be transmitted (step S33). Next, the cloud server 1 generates individual schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each water heater 3 belonging to the identified group (step S34). Next, the generated individual schedule information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the water heaters 3 belonging to the identified group (step S35). Meanwhile, upon receiving the individual schedule information transmitted from the cloud server 1, the water heater 3 operates based on the received individual schedule information (step S36).

[0042] Next, the schedule generation process executed by the terminal device 7 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13. This schedule generation process is initiated, for example, when a program for executing the schedule generation process is launched in the terminal device 7. First, as shown in FIG. 12, the receiving unit 714 determines whether or not the receiving unit 714 has received the above-described group setting operation performed by a user belonging to the aggregator via the input unit 705 (step S201). This group setting operation corresponds to, for example, an operation of specifying file information composed of information indicating groups to which each of a plurality of homes H[i] previously created by the user belongs. If the receiving unit 714 determines that the group setting operation has not been received (step S201: No), the process of step S203, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the receiving unit 714 determines that the group setting operation has been received (step S201: Yes), the group setting unit 715 generates the above-described group setting information based on the specified file information and stores it in the group setting storage unit 734 (step S202).

[0043] Next, the accepting unit 714 determines whether or not the above-described schedule creation start operation performed by the user via the input unit 705 has been accepted (step S203). If the accepting unit 714 determines that the schedule creation start operation has not been accepted (step S203: No), the process of step S220, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the accepting unit 714 determines that the schedule creation start operation has been accepted (step S203: Yes), the image generating unit 712 generates the above-described schedule creation image, and the display control unit 713 displays the generated schedule creation display image on the display unit 704 (step S204). Next, the accepting unit 714 determines whether or not the above-described group increase / decrease operation performed by the user via the input unit 705 has been accepted (step S205: No). If the accepting unit 714 determines that the group increase / decrease operation has not been accepted (step S205: No), the process of step S208, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the accepting unit 714 determines that it has accepted a group increase / decrease operation (step S205: Yes), the schedule generating unit 717 generates schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each group after the number of groups has been increased or decreased, and updates the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 with the generated schedule information (step S206). Thereafter, the image generating unit 712 generates a schedule creation image based on the updated schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733, and the display control unit 713 displays the generated schedule creation display image on the display unit 704 (step S207).

[0044] Next, the receiving unit 714 determines whether or not the user has accepted the aforementioned boiling capacity change operation performed via the input unit 705 (step S208). If the receiving unit 714 determines that the boiling capacity change operation has not been accepted (step S208: No), the process of step S211, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the receiving unit 714 determines that the boiling capacity change operation has been accepted (step S208: Yes), the schedule generating unit 717 generates schedule information indicating an operating schedule when the boiling capacity is changed for the group whose boiling capacity is to be changed, and updates the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 with the generated schedule information (step S209). Next, the image generating unit 712 generates a schedule creation image based on the updated schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733, and the display control unit 713 causes the display unit 704 to display the generated schedule creation display image (step S210).

[0045] Thereafter, the accepting unit 714 determines whether or not the above-described display format change operation performed by the user via the input unit 705 has been accepted (step S211). If the accepting unit 714 determines that the display format change operation has not been accepted (step S211: No), the process of step S213, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the accepting unit 714 determines that the display format change operation has been accepted (step S211: Yes), the image generating unit 712 generates a schedule creation image after the change in display format based on operation information indicating the display format change operation, and the display control unit 713 causes the display unit 704 to display the generated schedule creation display image (step S212).

[0046] 13, the receiving unit 714 determines whether or not the user has accepted the aforementioned boiling time setting operation performed via the input unit 705 (step S213). If the receiving unit 714 determines that the boiling time setting operation has not been accepted (step S213: No), the process of step S216, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the receiving unit 714 determines that the boiling time setting operation has been accepted (step S213: Yes), the schedule generating unit 717 generates schedule information indicating an operating schedule when the boiling start time and boiling end time are changed for the group for which the boiling time is to be set, and updates the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 with the generated schedule information (step S214). Next, the image generating unit 712 generates a schedule creation image based on the updated schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733, and the display control unit 713 causes the display unit 704 to display the generated schedule creation display image (step S215).

[0047] Thereafter, the reception unit 714 determines whether or not the above-described allocation number display operation performed by the user via the input unit 705 has been received (step S216). If the reception unit 714 determines that the allocation number display operation has not been received (step S216: No), the processing of step S218, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the reception unit 714 determines that the allocation number display operation has been received (step S216: Yes), the image generation unit 712 generates a schedule creation image onto which a display of the number of water heaters 3 allocated to each group is combined, based on the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 734, and the display control unit 713 causes the display unit 704 to display the generated schedule creation display image (step S217).

[0048] Next, the receiving unit 714 determines whether or not the above-mentioned schedule application operation performed by the user via the input unit 705 has been received (step S218). If the receiving unit 714 determines that the schedule application operation has not been received (step S218: No), the process of step S205 is executed again. On the other hand, if the receiving unit 714 determines that the schedule application operation has been received (step S218: Yes), the schedule notification unit 718 transmits the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 733 to the cloud server 1 (step S219).

[0049] Next, the tally information acquisition unit 711 determines whether or not the tally information transmitted from the cloud server 1 has been acquired (step S220). If the tally information acquisition unit 711 determines that the tally information has not been acquired (step S220: No), the process of step S223, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the tally information acquisition unit 711 determines that the tally information has been acquired (step S220: Yes), the tally information acquisition unit 711 extracts the total power consumption information, the water heater power consumption information, and the time zone information included in the acquired tally information, and stores the extracted total power consumption information, the water heater power consumption information, and the time zone information in the power consumption storage unit 731 in association with each other (step S221). Then, the image generation unit 712 generates a transition notification image representing the predicted power consumption of the water heaters 3 belonging to each of the multiple groups for the multiple time zones and the predicted total power consumption of all groups other than the water heaters 3, based on the total power consumption information, the water heater power consumption information, and the time zone information stored in the power consumption storage unit 731. Then, the display control unit 713 causes the display unit 704 to display the generated transition notification image (step S222). Next, the receiving unit 714 determines whether or not a schedule adoption operation for adopting the schedule information transmitted to the cloud server 1 by the user via the input unit 705 has been received (step S223). If the receiving unit 714 determines that the schedule adoption operation has not been received (step S223: No), the process of step S225, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the receiving unit 714 determines that the schedule adoption operation has been received (step S223: Yes), the adoption determination unit 719 generates adoption notification information and transmits it to the cloud server 1 (step S224). Next, the receiving unit 714 determines whether or not a schedule creation termination operation for terminating the creation of the schedule by the user via the input unit 705 has been received (step S225). If the accepting unit 714 determines that the schedule creation end operation has not been accepted (step S225: No), the process of step S205 is executed again. On the other hand, if the accepting unit 714 determines that the schedule creation end operation has been accepted (step S225: Yes), the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0050] Next, the water heater control process executed by cloud server 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 14 and 15. This water heater control process is started when a program for executing the water heater control process is started in cloud server 1. In parallel with this water heater control process, cloud server 1 transmits power amount information request information to power measurement device 22 and water heater power consumption information request information to water heater 3 each time the power amount acquisition time arrives, thereby acquiring power amount information from power measurement device 22 and acquiring water heater power consumption information from water heater 3.

[0051] First, as shown in FIG. 14 , the group setting acquisition unit 115 and the schedule acquisition unit 117 determine whether they have acquired group setting information and schedule information transmitted from the terminal device 7 (step S101). If the group setting acquisition unit 115 and the schedule acquisition unit 117 determine that they have not acquired group setting information and schedule information (step S101: No), the process proceeds to step S113, which will be described later. On the other hand, it is assumed that the group setting acquisition unit 115 and the schedule acquisition unit 117 determine that they have acquired group setting information and schedule information (step S101: Yes). In this case, the group setting acquisition unit 115 and the schedule acquisition unit 117 store the acquired group setting information and schedule information in the group setting storage unit 133 and the schedule storage unit 135, respectively. Next, the total power consumption prediction unit 113 identifies power consumption information indicating the power consumption during a previously set reference period most recently in the past from the power consumption information stored in the power consumption storage unit 131 (step S102). Next, the total power consumption prediction unit 113 calculates, for each of the plurality of time periods within the reference period, the difference in power consumption between the power consumption indicated by the power amount information and the power consumption indicated by the water heater power consumption information, as the total power consumption consumed by all of the plurality of houses H[i] other than the plurality of water heaters 3 (step S103). Subsequently, the total power consumption prediction unit 113 calculates the average total power consumption for each time period of the calculated total power consumption (step S104). Here, the total power consumption prediction unit 113 stores the calculated average total power consumption in the prediction storage unit 134 as predicted total power consumption information indicating the predicted total power consumption, in association with time period information indicating each of the plurality of time periods.

[0052] Thereafter, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 selects one group for which the average water heater power consumption of the water heater 3 during the reference period is to be calculated (step S105). Next, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 identifies one water heater 3 belonging to the selected group based on the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 133 (step S106). Next, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 identifies the water heater power consumption information of the identified water heater 3 from the water heater power consumption information stored in the water heater power consumption storage unit 132 (step S107). Thereafter, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 calculates the average water heater power consumption of the identified water heater 3 for each of multiple time periods during the reference period (step S108). Next, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 determines whether the average water heater power consumption has been calculated for all water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group (step S109). Here, if the group power consumption prediction unit 114 determines that there is a water heater 3 for which the average water heater power consumption has not yet been calculated among the water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group (step S109: No), the processing of step S106 is executed again. On the other hand, if the group power consumption prediction unit 114 determines that the average water heater power consumption has been calculated for all water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group (step S109: Yes), it calculates the sum of the average water heater power consumptions of all water heaters 3 belonging to the selected group as the group power consumption (step S110). Here, the cloud server 1 stores the calculated group power consumption in the prediction storage unit 134 in association with group identification information that identifies the selected group.

[0053] Next, the group power consumption prediction unit 114 determines whether the group power consumption has been calculated for all groups (step S111). If the group power consumption prediction unit 114 determines that there is a group for which the group power consumption has not yet been calculated (step S111: No), it selects another group (step S105) and then executes the processes from step S106 onwards. On the other hand, it is assumed that the group power consumption prediction unit 114 determines that the group power consumption has been calculated for all groups (step S111: Yes). In this case, the prediction notification unit 116 generates prediction information including the total power consumption information stored in the prediction storage unit 134 and the group power consumption information for each group, and transmits the generated prediction information to the terminal device 7 (step S112).

[0054] Thereafter, the employment notification acquisition unit 118 determines whether or not the employment notification information transmitted from the terminal device 7 has been acquired (step S113). If the employment notification acquisition unit 118 determines that the employment notification information has not yet been acquired (step S113: No), the processing of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the employment notification acquisition unit 118 determines that the employment notification information has been acquired (step S113: Yes), as shown in FIG. 15, the individual schedule generation unit 119 selects one water heater 3 to which the individual schedule information is to be transmitted (step S114). Next, the individual schedule generation unit 119 identifies a group to which the selected one water heater 3 belongs based on the group setting information stored in the group setting storage unit 133 (step S115). Next, the individual schedule generation unit 119 generates individual schedule information corresponding to the identified group based on the schedule information, and the individual schedule notification unit 120 transmits the generated individual schedule information to the selected one water heater 3 (step S116). Subsequently, individual schedule generating unit 119 determines whether transmission of individual schedule information to all water heaters 3 has been completed (step S117). If individual schedule generating unit 119 determines that there is a water heater 3 for which transmission of individual schedule information has not yet been completed (step S117: No), the processing of step S114 is executed again. On the other hand, if individual schedule generating unit 119 determines that transmission of individual schedule information to all water heaters 3 has been completed (step S117: Yes), the processing of step S101 is executed again.

[0055] In the case of an apartment building B1 that uses a high-voltage bulk power receiving system from a power company, electricity rates are determined, for example, based on the peak power consumption over a year. In an apartment building B1 that uses this so-called high-voltage bulk power receiving system, if power consumption is concentrated at night, for example, resulting in a higher peak power consumption, the electricity rate may be higher. For this reason, there is a need for such an apartment building B1 to level out the power consumption throughout the day. To address this issue, a method has been proposed for leveling out the power consumption throughout the apartment building B1, in which the operation schedules of the multiple water heaters 3 installed in the apartment building are set individually so that their operating times are distributed. However, as the number of apartment buildings B1 that use the high-voltage bulk power receiving system increases and the number of water heaters 3 for which operation schedules need to be set reaches several thousand, setting operation schedules for each water heater 3 significantly increases the workload of the user managing the multiple water heaters 3.

[0056] In contrast, in terminal device 7 according to the present embodiment, group setting unit 715 assigns multiple water heaters 3 to multiple groups and generates group setting information indicating the group to which each of the multiple water heaters 3 belongs. Then, schedule generation unit 717 generates schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each of the multiple water heaters 3, which is set so that at least one water heater belonging to the same group among the multiple water heaters 3 operates according to the same operation schedule. Furthermore, in terminal device 7, image generation unit 712 generates a transition notification image based on the predicted total power consumption for each of multiple time periods and the group power consumption corresponding to each of the multiple groups to notify the user of the transition of the sum of the group power consumption and the total power consumption of each of the multiple groups when the multiple water heaters 3 are operated according to the operation schedule of the multiple water heaters 3 indicated by the schedule information, and this image is displayed on display unit 704. This allows the user to set the operation schedule of each of the multiple water heaters 3 on a group-by-group basis while referring to the transition notification image displayed on display unit 704, thereby reducing the burden on the user who manages the operation schedule of each of the multiple water heaters 3 to create each operation schedule for each of the multiple water heaters 3.

[0057] In addition, users can visually check the operating status of multiple water heaters 3 from the aforementioned progress notification image, which has the advantage of allowing them to instantly grasp the current situation and reducing the effort required for users when reviewing the water heating time periods of the water heaters 3.

[0058] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the group setting unit 715 of the terminal device 7 may determine a group to which each of the plurality of water heaters 3 is assigned based on the structural characteristics of each of the plurality of residences H[i]. Assume that the plurality of residences H[i] are distributed across a high-rise building, such as a building constituting a plurality of apartment buildings. In this case, the plurality of groups may be set based on building identification information identifying the high-rise building constituting the plurality of apartment buildings, floor information indicating the floor on which the residence H[i] is located in the apartment building, and room arrangement information (room type information) indicating the arrangement of the rooms in each of the residences H[i]. In this case, the group setting storage unit 133 of the cloud server 1 may store the water heater identification information for each of the plurality of water heaters 3 in association with a combination of building identification information, floor information, and room type information, as shown in FIG. 16, for example. Here, the combination of building identification information, floor information, and room type information corresponds to group identification information that identifies a group.

[0059] Here, the terminal device 7 displays a schedule creation image GA21, for example, as shown in FIG. 17(A), on the display unit 704. In FIG. 17(A), components similar to those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 8(A). The schedule creation image GA21 includes a display field B201 that displays key information for dividing multiple water heaters 3 into groups. The user can select the display content of the display field B201 from a pull-down menu (not shown) that is displayed when the user clicks a triangular button image BU206 displayed to the right of the display field B201. Here, assume that while the terminal device 7 is displaying the schedule creation image GA21 as shown in FIG. 9(A), the user selects to determine the groups based on building identification information. In this case, the terminal device 7 displays a schedule creation image GA22 on the display unit 704, for example, as shown in FIG. 17(B). The display content of the display field B201 indicates that the groups are determined based on building identification information.

[0060] Incidentally, if not much time has passed since people moved into the apartment building B1, there is little information available for allocating the multiple water heaters 3 to multiple groups. In contrast, with this configuration, the group to which each of the multiple water heaters 3 is assigned is determined based on the structural characteristics of each of the multiple residences H[i], so it is possible to deal with situations where there is little information available for allocating the multiple water heaters 3 to multiple groups. In this case, the operation schedule of the water heaters 3 in the multiple residences H[i] can be optimized by reviewing the allocation method to the multiple groups based on the power information and water heater power consumption information obtained after the multiple water heaters 3 have started operating.

[0061] Furthermore, according to this configuration, the multiple groups are set based on at least one of the identification information of the multiple apartment buildings B1, floor information indicating the floor on which the residences H[i] are located in the apartment building B1, and room layout information indicating the layout of rooms in each of the multiple residences H[i]. As a result, for example, it is possible to select only the residences H[i] that are occupied and calculate the total power consumption and hot water heater power consumption of the selected residences H[i], thereby enabling the total power consumption and hot water heater power consumption to be calculated with high accuracy. Therefore, the total power consumption of the entire apartment building B1 can be reduced with high accuracy. Furthermore, by setting the multiple groups based on room layout information indicating the layout of rooms in each of the multiple residences H[i], it is possible to select only the residences H[i] with the same room layout and calculate the total power consumption and hot water heater power consumption of the selected residences H[i], thereby enabling the total power consumption and hot water heater power consumption to be calculated with high accuracy for each type of hot water heater 3 installed in residences H[i] with the same room layout.

[0062] In the embodiment, the terminal device 7 may display a warning image on the display unit 704 if the total power consumption of the residence H[i] exceeds a predetermined reference power consumption amount when the terminal device 7 operates the multiple water heaters 3 based on the generated schedule information. Here, the terminal device 7 displays, on the display unit 704, a schedule creation image GA31 including a reference power consumption display M301 indicating the reference power consumption amount relative to the total power consumption of the residence H[i], as shown in FIG. 18(A), for example. In FIG. 18(A), components similar to those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 9(B). After acquiring the aggregate information transmitted from the cloud server 1, the terminal device 7 may display, on the display unit 704, a warning image GA32 displaying a message urging the user to review the operation schedules of the water heaters 3 belonging to each of the multiple groups, as shown in FIG. 18(B), for example.

[0063] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which individual schedule generation unit 119 generates individual schedule information indicating the operation schedule of each of the multiple water heaters 3 based on the schedule information stored in schedule storage unit 135 after employment notification acquisition unit 118 acquires employment notification information transmitted from terminal device 7. However, this is not limited to this, and for example, when schedule acquisition unit 117 acquires schedule information transmitted from terminal device 7 and the schedule information stored in schedule storage unit 135 is updated, individual schedule generation unit 119 may immediately generate individual schedule information and individual schedule notification unit 120 may transmit the generated individual schedule information to each of the multiple water heaters 3.

[0064] Furthermore, the various functions of the cloud server 1 and terminal device 7 according to the present disclosure may be realized 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, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or MO (Magneto-Optical Disc), and the program may be read and installed on a computer to configure a computer capable of realizing each of the above-described functions. Furthermore, if each function is realized by sharing the work between an operating system (OS) and an application, or by cooperation between the OS and an application, only the parts other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0065] Furthermore, each program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed over a network. For example, the program can be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the network and distributed over the network. These programs can then be started 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]

[0066] The present disclosure is suitable for a hot water supply system that controls hot water heaters installed in each dwelling in an apartment building that has a bulk power receiving contract with an electric power company. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1,2001,3001,4001 Cloud server, 3,4003 Water heater, 4 Electrical equipment, 7,8 Terminal device, 21 Distribution board, 22 Power measurement device, 31 Controller, 32 Water heater power measurement unit, 39,229 Communication adapter, 61 BBR, 101,701 CPU, 102,702 Main memory unit, 103,703 Auxiliary memory unit, 106,706 Wide area communication unit, 108 Timekeeping unit, 109,709 Bus, 111 Power amount acquisition unit, 112 Water heater power consumption acquisition unit, 113 Total power consumption prediction unit, 114 Group power consumption prediction unit, 115 Group setting acquisition unit, 116 Forecast notification unit, 117 Schedule acquisition unit, 118 Recruitment notification acquisition unit, 119 Individual schedule generation unit, 120 Individual schedule notification unit, 131 Power amount memory unit, 132 water heater power consumption memory unit, 133,734 group setting memory unit, 134 prediction memory unit, 135,733 schedule memory unit, 704 display unit, 705 input unit, 711 summary information acquisition unit, 712 image generation unit, 713 display control unit, 714 reception unit, 715 group setting unit, 716 setting notification unit, 717 schedule generation unit, 718 schedule notification unit, 731 power consumption memory unit, 732 image memory unit, A1, A2 area, B1 apartment building, B11, B12, B13, B14, B15, B33, B43, B201 display column, BU1, BU2, BU3, BU4, BU5 button image, GA1, GA2, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA21, GA22, GA31 schedule creation image, GA6 Transition notification image, GA32 warning image, GR1,GR2,GR3,GR4 bar graph, H[0],H[1],H[i] residential, M301 reference power amount display, NW1 wide area network, NW2 local network, PS system power supply

Claims

1. a group setting unit that generates group setting information indicating the group to which each of a plurality of water heaters installed in a plurality of houses belongs when the plurality of water heaters are assigned to a plurality of groups; a schedule generating unit that generates schedule information indicating an operation schedule for each of the plurality of water heaters, the operation schedule being set so that at least one water heater belonging to the same group among the plurality of water heaters operates according to the same operation schedule; a total power consumption prediction unit that predicts a total amount of power consumption consumed by devices other than the plurality of water heaters in the plurality of houses in each of a plurality of time periods that are set in advance; a group power consumption prediction unit that predicts, for each of the plurality of groups, the group power consumption to be consumed by at least one water heater belonging to each of the plurality of groups in each of a plurality of time periods that are set in advance; an image generating unit that generates a transition notification image for notifying a transition of the sum of the group power consumption of each of the plurality of groups and the total power consumption when the plurality of water heaters are operated according to the operation schedules of the plurality of water heaters indicated by the schedule information, based on the predicted total power consumption for each of the plurality of time periods and the group power consumption corresponding to each of the plurality of groups; a display unit on which the transition notification image is displayed, the display unit being included in a terminal device owned by a user who belongs to the aggregator; an individual schedule generating unit that generates individual schedule information indicating an operation schedule for each of the plurality of water heaters based on the schedule information; an individual schedule notification unit that controls operations of the plurality of water heaters by transmitting the individual schedule information to each of the plurality of water heaters, Water heater control system.

2. an electric energy acquisition unit that acquires electric energy information indicating an amount of electric energy consumed in each of the plurality of time periods in each of the plurality of residences in which the plurality of water heaters are installed; a water heater power consumption amount acquiring unit that acquires water heater power consumption amount information indicating the amount of power consumed by each of the plurality of water heaters in each of the plurality of time periods, the total power consumption prediction unit calculates, for each of the plurality of time periods within a previously set reference period, a difference in power between the power consumption indicated by the power amount information and the power consumption indicated by the water heater power consumption information as a total power consumption other than that of the plurality of water heaters in the entire plurality of houses, and calculates an average total power consumption for each time period of the calculated total power consumption; the group power consumption prediction unit calculates, for each of the plurality of groups, an average water heater power consumption for each time period of the plurality of time periods within the reference period, of the water heater power consumption consumed by at least one water heater belonging to each of the plurality of groups during each of the plurality of time periods within the reference period in the past, and calculates, for each of the plurality of groups, the sum of the calculated average water heater power consumption as the group power consumption; The water heater control system according to claim 1 .

3. further comprising an adoption determination unit that determines whether or not the schedule information is adopted based on a user's selection; the individual schedule generation unit generates the individual schedule information when the adoption determination unit determines that the schedule information is adopted; When the adoption determination unit determines that the schedule information is adopted, the individual schedule notification unit transmits the individual schedule information to each of the plurality of water heaters. The water heater control system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. the group setting unit determines a group to which each of the plurality of water heaters is assigned based on structural characteristics of each of the plurality of houses. The water heater control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The plurality of residences are distributed across a plurality of high-rise buildings, the plurality of groups are set based on at least one of identification information of the plurality of high-rise buildings, floor number information indicating the number of floors of the plurality of high-rise buildings, and room layout information indicating the layout of rooms in each of the plurality of residences. The water heater control system according to claim 4 .

6. the image generation unit further generates a schedule creation image for generating the schedule information including an operation start time and an operation end time of the at least one water heater belonging to each of the plurality of groups. The water heater control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. generating group setting information indicating the group to which each of a plurality of water heaters installed in a plurality of residences belongs when the plurality of water heaters are assigned to a plurality of groups; A step of generating schedule information indicating an operation schedule of each of the plurality of water heaters, wherein at least one water heater belonging to the same group among the plurality of water heaters is set to operate according to the same operation schedule; predicting a total amount of power consumption consumed by devices other than the plurality of water heaters in the plurality of houses in each of a plurality of time periods set in advance; a step of predicting, for each of the plurality of groups, group energy consumption to be consumed by at least one water heater belonging to each of the plurality of groups in each of a plurality of time periods set in advance; generating a transition notification image for notifying the transition of the sum of the group power consumption of each of the plurality of groups and the total power consumption when the plurality of water heaters are operated according to the operation schedules of the plurality of water heaters indicated by the schedule information, based on the predicted total power consumption for each of the plurality of time periods and the group power consumption corresponding to each of the plurality of groups; a step of displaying the transition notification image on a display unit of a terminal device owned by a user who belongs to the aggregator; generating individual schedule information indicating an operation schedule for each of the plurality of water heaters based on the schedule information; and controlling the operation of the plurality of water heaters by transmitting the individual schedule information to each of the plurality of water heaters. Water heater control method.

8. Computer, a group setting unit that generates group setting information indicating the group to which each of a plurality of water heaters installed in a plurality of residences belongs when the plurality of water heaters are assigned to a plurality of groups; a schedule generation unit that generates schedule information indicating operation schedules of each of the plurality of water heaters, the operation schedule being set so that at least one water heater belonging to the same group among the plurality of water heaters operates according to the same operation schedule; a total power consumption prediction unit that predicts a total amount of power consumption consumed by devices other than the plurality of water heaters in the plurality of houses in each of a plurality of time periods that are set in advance; a group power consumption prediction unit that predicts, for each of the plurality of groups, group power consumption to be consumed by at least one water heater belonging to each of the plurality of groups in each of a plurality of time periods that are set in advance; an image generation unit that generates a transition notification image to be displayed on a display unit of a terminal device held by a user belonging to an aggregator, the image notifying the user of a transition of the sum of the group power consumption of each of the plurality of groups and the total power consumption when the plurality of water heaters are operated in accordance with the operation schedules of the plurality of water heaters indicated by the schedule information, based on the predicted total power consumption for each of the plurality of time periods and the group power consumption corresponding to each of the plurality of groups; an individual schedule generation unit that generates individual schedule information indicating an operation schedule for each of the plurality of water heaters based on the schedule information; an individual schedule notification unit that controls operations of the plurality of water heaters by transmitting the individual schedule information to each of the plurality of water heaters; A program to function as a

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