Advice system

Abstract

When rearranging a room, we offer residents suggestions on furniture placement that take mold growth into consideration. [Solution] The advice system 10 comprises a user terminal 20, a control device 30 attached to the house, a group of heaters 40, an information provision server 70, and a management server 60. The resident specifies a room to be rearranged and requests advice from the management server 60. The management server 60 obtains an index indicating the likelihood of mold growth and information indicating the likelihood of mold growth in the current location for each piece of furniture placed in the specified room. Based on the obtained index and information on mold growth, the management server 60 provides the resident with advice indicating whether it is better to move each piece of furniture or to maintain its current location.

Description

Technical Field

[0004] ,

[0002] , , , , , , , , ,

[0006] , , , , , ,

[0005] , , , , , , , , ,

[0003] , ,

[0001] The present invention relates to an advice system that gives advice on furniture arrangement to residents of a house.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a furniture layout VR system that proposes furniture arrangement to a user. This furniture layout VR system acquires a floor plan and the user's desires, arranges furniture in a room according to the desires, generates a 3D image, and provides it to the user.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses an air treatment system provided with a temperature and humidity sensor and control means. The control means estimates the occurrence of condensation based on the detection value of the temperature and humidity sensor, and performs air conditioning so that condensation does not occur.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When a resident remodels a room, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a proposal regarding furniture arrangement considering the occurrence of mold. Further, the air treatment system described in Patent Document 2 does not make a proposal regarding furniture arrangement considering the occurrence of mold.

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a means capable of making a proposal to a resident regarding furniture arrangement considering the occurrence of mold when remodeling a room.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] (1) The advice system according to the present invention comprises an environmental sensor positioned between furniture positioned facing a wall that partitions a room in a house and the wall, an information processing device having a first communication interface, an input interface, a display, and a terminal controller connected to the Internet and the environmental sensor, and a management server having a second communication interface, a management memory, and a management controller connected to the Internet. The terminal controller performs an environmental information acquisition process to acquire environmental information, which is a detected value periodically detected by the environmental sensor, through the first communication interface, and an estimation information transmission process to transmit estimation information, which is information corresponding to the environmental information and capable of estimating the occurrence of mold, to the management server via the first communication interface and the Internet. The management controller receives the estimation information through the second communication interface and performs an estimation information storage process to store the received estimation information in the management memory. The terminal controller performs an instruction reception process to receive an advice request instruction through the input interface, and an advice request transmission process to transmit an advice request to the management server via the first communication interface and the Internet based on the receipt of the advice request instruction. The management controller, upon receiving the advice request through the second communication interface, performs the following: a first judgment value determination process, which determines a first judgment value from the estimated information that indicates the frequency of conditions in which mold may grow; a second judgment value acquisition process, which acquires a second judgment value corresponding to the furniture that indicates the likelihood of mold growth; an advice generation process, which generates advice information indicating whether to move the furniture from its current position or maintain its current position, based on the first and second judgment values; and an advice transmission process, which transmits the advice information to the information processing device via the second communication interface and the Internet. The terminal controller performs an advice reception process, which receives the advice information through the input interface; and an advice display process, which displays the received advice information on the display.

[0008] The environmental sensor is a sensor that detects environmental information that can estimate mold growth, such as temperature, humidity, and the presence or absence of condensation. Estimated information corresponding to the environmental information detected by the environmental sensor is transmitted to the management server via the information processing device and the internet. Based on the received estimated information, the management server determines a first judgment value that indicates the frequency of the environment becoming suitable for mold growth. The management server also obtains a second judgment value that indicates the likelihood of mold growth, depending on the furniture. When a resident rearranges their room, the management server generates advice information based on the first and second judgment values, indicating whether to move the furniture from its current position or maintain its current position, and provides the generated advice information to the resident via the internet and the information processing device. Based on the provided advice information, the resident decides whether to move the furniture or maintain its current position and rearranges the room.

[0009] (2) In the advice system described in (1) above, the environmental sensors are individually identified by sensor IDs, the furniture is individually identified by furniture IDs, and the advice request may include a user ID and a room ID. The terminal controller performs a correspondence information acquisition process to acquire correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the furniture ID, the sensor ID, the user ID, and the room ID, and a correspondence information transmission process to transmit the correspondence information to the management server via the first communication interface and the internet. The management controller receives the correspondence information via the second communication interface and performs a correspondence information storage process to store the received correspondence information in the management memory. The estimation information transmission process is a process to transmit the estimation information associated with identification information including at least one of the furniture ID and the sensor ID and the user ID to the management server. The second judgment value acquisition process is a process to acquire the second judgment value corresponding to the identification information.

[0010] The correspondence information shows the relationship between a room in a house, the furniture placed in that room, and the environmental sensors placed on the furniture. The room that the resident (user) is rearranging is identified by the room ID included in the advice request, and the furniture placed in the room to be rearranged and estimated information about that furniture are identified from the correspondence information.

[0011] (3) The advice system described in (2) above may further include a heater placed between the furniture and the wall, which is individually identified by a heater ID. The heater ID is associated with the furniture ID in the correspondence information. The terminal controller further performs a heater drive process to drive the heater based on its determination that condensation may occur according to the environmental information. The estimation information and the first judgment value are the number of times the heater drive process is executed.

[0012] The activation of the heater suppresses mold growth. The number of times the heater is activated indicates the likelihood of mold growth on each piece of furniture. This activation count is sent to the management server as estimated information. The management server uses this activation count as the first decision value.

[0013] (4) The advice system described in (2) above may further include a corresponding device which is a ventilation or dehumidifying device installed in the room. The terminal controller further executes a corresponding process to drive the corresponding device based on its determination that condensation may occur in accordance with the environmental information detected by the environmental sensor identified by the sensor ID. The estimated information and the first judgment value are the number of times the corresponding process associated with the sensor ID has been executed.

[0014] If the above environmental information indicates an environment where mold may grow, the corresponding device, such as a ventilation or dehumidifying device, is activated. The number of times the corresponding device is activated (the execution count) is associated with the sensor ID of the environmental sensor. In other words, the frequency of this execution count indicates the likelihood of mold growth on each piece of furniture. This execution count is transmitted to the management server as estimated information. The management server determines this execution count as the first decision value.

[0015] (5) In the advice system described in any of (1) to (4) above, the second judgment value may be a numerical value corresponding to the type, material and size of the furniture, and may be a numerical value indicating the likelihood of mold growth.

[0016] Advice information is generated based on a second judgment value, which is a numerical value corresponding to the type, material, and size of the furniture. Therefore, the accuracy of the advice is improved compared to when advice information is generated based solely on the type of furniture.

[0017] (6) In the advice system described in any of (2) to (4) above, the multiple environmental sensors may be arranged in a matrix on the wall. The terminal controller executes a placement location acquisition process to acquire the placement location of the furniture indicated by the furniture ID. The correspondence information acquisition process is a process that associates the furniture ID with the sensor ID based on the placement location.

[0018] In the process of acquiring corresponding information, furniture IDs and sensor IDs are associated, so the advice system according to the present invention can save residents the trouble of changing the installation location of environmental sensors along with rearranging furniture.

[0019] (7) In the advice system described in any of (1) to (6) above, the terminal controller or the management server may acquire the first judgment value and, based on the acquired first judgment value, execute a period determination process to determine the sampling period, which is the period during which the environmental sensor acquires the detected value.

[0020] For example, for furniture that is frequently placed in an environment where mold is likely to occur in the current arrangement, the sampling period of the environmental sensor installed for such furniture is shortened. As a result, the accuracy of the advice is improved.

Advantages of the Invention

[0021] The advice system according to the present invention can provide a resident with a proposal regarding the arrangement of furniture considering the occurrence of mold when redecorating a room.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram and a functional block diagram of an advice system 10 according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2(A) is a floor plan of a study 80, and FIG. 2(B) is a floor plan of a bedroom 90. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a user management database. [Figure 4] FIG. 4(A) is a diagram showing a sensor correspondence table, FIG. 4(B) is a diagram showing a sampling period determination table, FIG. 4(C) is a diagram showing a threshold temperature determination table, and FIG. 4(D) is a diagram showing a performance management database. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a registration process. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a heater control process. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an advice process. [Figure 8] FIG. 8(A) is a diagram showing a furniture arrangement registration screen, and FIG. 8(B) is a diagram showing a sensor registration screen. [Figure 9] FIG. 9(A) is a diagram showing a specified input screen, and FIG. 9(B) is a diagram showing an advice screen. [Figure 10] Both FIGS. 10(A) and 10(B) are diagrams showing an advice screen. [Figure 11]Figure 11 shows the configuration diagram and functional block diagram of the advice system 10 according to modified example 1 and modified example 2. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a schematic diagram showing the environmental sensor group 200 according to the modified example 3. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0023] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. It goes without saying that the embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and the embodiments of the present invention can be modified as appropriate without changing the gist of the invention. In addition, the execution order of each process (each step) shown in the flowcharts of Figures 5 to 7 may be changed as appropriate without changing the gist of the present invention, some may be omitted, other processes may be added, or they may be replaced with other equivalent processes.

[0024] [Overview of Advice System 10] Figure 1 shows the advice system 10 described in this embodiment. The advice system 10 provides a service that offers advice to residents of a house regarding furniture arrangement when rearranging their rooms. Residents download an application program 26 to their user terminal 20 and receive the service through the application program 26.

[0025] A service provider that provides services to residents using the advice system 10 is, for example, a construction company that built the house. The service provider provides services using the advice system 10 as one of the various services that it provides to the homeowner and their family. These various services include, for example, services related to home maintenance and services that support comfortable living in the home. The advice system 10 is operated in conjunction with other systems, for example. For example, the advice system 10 provides data used by other systems. Alternatively, the advice system 10 acquires data necessary for operation from other systems. In other words, the advice system 10 also functions as a data collection system for other systems.

[0026] However, the advice system 10 may be operated as a standalone system, or it may be operated by a business other than the business that built the house.

[0027] [Configuration of Advice System 10] As shown in Figure 1, the advice system 10 includes a user terminal 20, a control device 30, a group of heaters 40, a group of environmental sensors 50, a management server 60, and an information provision server 70.

[0028] [User terminal 20] User terminal 20 is a communication terminal owned by a resident who is a user, and is capable of connecting to the internet 11. User terminal 20 may be, for example, a smartphone (registered trademark), a tablet (registered trademark), or a personal computer.

[0029] The user terminal 20 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 21, terminal memory 22, a communication interface 23, and a touch panel 24. The CPU 21 is connected to the terminal memory 22, the communication interface 23, and the touch panel 24 by a communication bus (not shown).

[0030] The terminal memory 22 is composed of, for example, ROM, RAM, and EEPROM, and other memory elements. The terminal memory 22 may be composed of any type of memory element.

[0031] The terminal memory 22 stores the operating system OS 25 and application programs 26 (hereinafter also referred to as "app 26"). App 26, together with the management program 66 described later, executes the processes (flows) shown in Figures 5 and 7.

[0032] The terminal memory 22 further stores the user ID and communication address. The user ID is identification information used by the management server 60 to individually identify residents. The communication address is the communication address of the management server 60. The user ID and communication address are downloaded, for example, along with the application 26 and stored in the terminal memory 22.

[0033] The communication interface 23 is an interface that connects to the Internet 11 via an access point using short-range wireless communication such as Wi-Fi. Alternatively, the communication interface 23 is an interface that connects to the Internet 11 via a mobile communication network.

[0034] The touch panel 24 has a display and a transparent, film-like touch sensor superimposed on the display. The touch panel 24 is an example of a display and input interface. The user terminal 20 may also have a microphone that accepts voice input as an input interface. Alternatively, the user terminal 20 may have a display and input interface instead of the touch panel 24. The input interface may be, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, and a microphone.

[0035] [Control device 30] The control device 30 is installed in a residence. The control device 30 is, for example, a personal computer. Alternatively, the control device 30 is a control terminal equipped with a microcomputer. The control device 30 and the user terminal 20 are examples of information processing devices.

[0036] The control device 30 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 31, terminal memory 32, and a communication interface 33. The CPU 31 is connected to the terminal memory 32 and the communication interface 33 by a communication bus (not shown).

[0037] Communication interface 23 and communication interface 33 are examples of first communication interfaces. CPU 21 and CPU 31 are examples of terminal controllers. User terminal 20 and control device 30 are examples of information processing devices.

[0038] The terminal memory 32 is composed of, for example, ROM, RAM, and EEPROM, and other memory elements. The terminal memory 32 may be composed of any type of memory element.

[0039] Terminal memory 32 stores the control program 36, user ID, room ID, communication address, and threshold temperature determination table. The user ID and communication address are the same as those stored in the terminal memory 22 of the user terminal 20. The room ID is information that individually identifies rooms in a house, such as a study, bedroom, LDK (living room, dining room, kitchen), or children's room. The room ID may be the name of the room, or it may be a combination of letters and numbers.

[0040] [Threshold Temperature Determination Table] The threshold temperature determination table shown in Figure 4(C) is a table that associates air temperature, relative humidity, and dew point temperature. For example, if the temperature and humidity sensor 51 installed in the study 80 (see Figure 2(A)) detects an air temperature of "15°C" and a relative humidity of "30%", the threshold temperature determination table determines that the dew point temperature in the study 80 is "-2.2°C". If the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 151 installed in the study 80, which is positioned behind the first sofa 81, falls below "-2.2°C", condensation may occur behind the first sofa 81. The heater 41, installed behind the first sofa 81 together with the temperature sensor 151, is driven based on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 151 becoming "-2.2°C", or based on a predetermined temperature corresponding to "-2.2°C". The predetermined temperature is, for example, "-2.2°C" + "A". "A" represents temperatures such as 1°C, 2°C, or 3°C. The threshold temperature determination table is used to determine the threshold for whether or not to activate the heater based on the room temperature and humidity detected by the temperature and humidity sensors. More details will be provided later.

[0041] The communication interface 33 is connected to a local area network 12 (hereinafter also referred to as LAN 12) attached to the house. LAN 12 is either a wired LAN or a wireless LAN. LAN 12 is connected to the Internet 11 via a gateway device (not shown), such as a router. The control device 30 communicates with the heater group 40 and the environmental sensor group 50 through LAN 12.

[0042] [Heater group 40] The heater group 40 comprises multiple heaters, including heaters 41 and 42. Each heater is connected to a commercial power supply (not shown) and a LAN 12 installed in the house. Each heater is driven individually by a control signal input from the control device 30. The driven heaters generate heat.

[0043] The multiple heaters include heaters 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, and 47 installed in the study 80 shown in Figure 2(A). The multiple heaters also include heaters 48, 49, 140, 141, 142, and 143 installed in the bedroom 90 shown in Figure 2(B). The multiple heaters also include heaters not shown in each room, such as heaters installed in the living room / dining room / kitchen (LDK) and heaters not shown in the children's rooms.

[0044] The heater is positioned between the furniture, which is placed facing the wall that partitions a room in the house, and the wall. "Placed facing the wall" means that the furniture is placed close to the wall and on the floor of the room. The heater is driven by the control device 30 and generates heat based on the temperature and humidity environment at the wall where the furniture is placed becoming a predetermined environment. The predetermined environment means an environment in which condensation may occur and mold may grow. As the heater generates heat, the temperature rises, changing the environment from one in which condensation may occur, i.e., an environment in which mold may grow, to an environment in which condensation is unlikely to occur, i.e., an environment in which mold is unlikely to grow. The driven heater suppresses the growth of mold on the wall surface and furniture at the wall where the furniture is placed.

[0045] The placement of heaters will be explained using the heater placement in study 80 shown in Figure 2(A) and the heater placement in bedroom 90 shown in Figure 2(B) as examples.

[0046] As shown in Figure 2(A), the study 80 is furnished with multiple pieces of furniture. These pieces of furniture include a first sofa 81, a second sofa 82, a reception table 83, a desk 84, a chair 85, a bookshelf 86, and a sideboard 87.

[0047] The first sofa 81 is positioned close to walls 181 and 182 of the study 80. The second sofa 82 and the reception table 83 are positioned at a distance from walls 181, 182, 183, and 184 of the study 80, to the extent that a clear path for movement can be maintained. The desk 84 is positioned close to walls 182 and 183. The bookshelf 86 is positioned close to wall 183. The sideboard 87 is positioned close to walls 181 and 184. The study 80 and bedroom 90 are examples of rooms in a house. Walls 181, 182, 183, and 184 of the study 80 and walls 191, 192, 193, and 194 of the bedroom 90 are examples of walls that partition rooms in a house. The first sofa 81, desk 84, bookshelf 86, and sideboard 87 are examples of "furniture positioned facing walls that partition rooms in a house".

[0048] Heater 41 is attached to the lower end of wall 181 located behind the first sofa 81. Heater 42 is attached to the lower end of wall 182 located to the left side of the first sofa 81. Heater 43 is attached to the lower end of wall 182 located to the right side of the desk 84. Heater 44 is attached to the lower end of wall 183 located behind the desk 84. Heater 45 is attached to the lower end of wall 183 located behind the bookshelf 86. Heater 46 is attached to the lower end of wall 181 located to the left side of the sideboard 87. Heater 47 is attached to the lower end of wall 184 located behind the sideboard 87.

[0049] As shown in Figure 2(B), the bedroom 90 is furnished with multiple pieces of furniture, including a bed 91, a closet 92, and a clothing storage case 93.

[0050] The bed 91 is positioned close to walls 191 and 192 of the bedroom 90. The closet 92 is positioned close to walls 191 and 194 of the bedroom 90. The clothing case 93 is positioned close to walls 192 and 193 of the bedroom 90.

[0051] Heater 48 is attached to the lower end of wall 191 located behind the headboard of bed 91. Heater 49 is attached to the lower end of wall 192 located to the left side of bed 91. Heater 140 is attached to the lower end of wall 191 located to the left side of closet 92. Heater 141 is attached to the lower end of wall 194 located behind closet 92. Heater 142 is attached to the lower end of wall 192 located to the right side of clothing case 93. Heater 143 is attached to the lower end of wall 193 located behind clothing case 93.

[0052] [Environmental sensor group 50] As shown in Figure 1, the environmental sensor group 50 comprises a plurality of temperature and humidity sensors, including temperature and humidity sensors 51 and 52, and a plurality of temperature sensors, including temperature sensors 151 and 152. Each temperature and humidity sensor and each temperature sensor is connected to the LAN 12. Each temperature and humidity sensor and each temperature sensor is driven individually by a control signal and drive power input from the control device 30. The driven temperature and humidity sensors and temperature sensors output detected temperature and humidity and detected temperature. The plurality of temperature and humidity sensors, including temperature and humidity sensors 51 and 52, and the plurality of temperature sensors, including temperature sensors 151 and 152, are examples of environmental sensors. The detected temperature and humidity and detected temperature output by the temperature and humidity sensors and temperature sensors are examples of environmental information.

[0053] Temperature and humidity sensors are installed in each room. Specifically, temperature and humidity sensor 51 is installed in the study 80, and temperature and humidity sensor 52 is installed in the bedroom 90. In addition, other temperature and humidity sensors are installed in the living room / dining room / kitchen, and yet another temperature and humidity sensor is installed in the children's room. The temperature and humidity sensors detect the temperature and humidity in each room.

[0054] The multiple temperature sensors include temperature sensors 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, and 157 installed in the study 80 shown in Figure 2(A). The multiple temperature sensors also include temperature sensors 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, and 163 installed in the bedroom 90 shown in Figure 2(B). The multiple temperature sensors also include temperature sensors installed in each room, such as temperature sensors installed in the living room / dining room / kitchen (not shown) and temperature sensors installed in the children's room (not shown).

[0055] The temperature sensor is integrated with the heater and cannot be separated from it. The temperature sensor, along with the heater, is positioned between a piece of furniture facing a wall that divides a room in the house and that wall.

[0056] The housing of the temperature sensor or heater is marked with a sensor ID that is visible to the user. The sensor ID is "B01" or similar, as registered in the sensor correspondence table described later (see Figure 4(A)).

[0057] The placement of temperature sensors will be explained using the arrangement of temperature sensors in the study 80 shown in Figure 2(A) and the arrangement of temperature sensors in the bedroom 90 shown in Figure 2(B) as examples.

[0058] As shown in Figure 2(A), the temperature sensor 151 is attached together with the heater 41 to the lower end of the wall 181 located behind the first sofa 81. The temperature sensor 152 is attached together with the heater 42 to the lower end of the wall 182 located to the left side of the first sofa 81. The temperature sensor 153 is attached together with the heater 43 to the lower end of the wall 182 located to the right side of the desk 84. The temperature sensor 154 is attached together with the heater 44 to the lower end of the wall 183 located behind the desk 84. The temperature sensor 155 is attached together with the heater 45 to the lower end of the wall 183 located behind the bookshelf 86. The temperature sensor 156 is attached together with the heater 46 to the lower end of the wall 181 located to the left side of the sideboard 87. The temperature sensor 157 is attached together with the heater 47 to the lower end of the wall 184 located behind the sideboard 87.

[0059] As shown in Figure 2(B), the temperature sensor 158 is attached together with the heater 48 to the lower end of the wall 191 located behind the headboard of the bed 91. The temperature sensor 159 is attached together with the heater 49 to the lower end of the wall 192 located on the left side of the bed 91. The temperature sensor 160 is attached together with the heater 140 to the lower end of the wall 191 located on the left side of the closet 92. The temperature sensor 161 is attached together with the heater 141 to the lower end of the wall 194 located behind the closet 92. The temperature sensor 162 is attached together with the heater 142 to the lower end of the wall 192 located on the right side of the storage case 93. The temperature sensor 163 is attached together with the heater 143 to the lower end of the wall 193 located behind the storage case 93.

[0060] The sensor ID of a temperature sensor also serves as the ID of the heater that is installed with the temperature sensor. In other words, the sensor ID is also the heater ID that identifies each heater individually. In addition to the sensor ID, each heater may also be assigned a heater ID.

[0061] [Information Server 70] The information provision server 70 shown in Figure 1 is a so-called web server that publishes communication addresses such as URLs on the Internet 11. The information provision server 70 is, for example, a server operated by the service provider mentioned above.

[0062] The information provision server 70 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 71, server memory 72, and a communication interface 73. The communication interface 73 is connected to the Internet 11.

[0063] Server memory 72 stores an OS and control program (not shown). Server memory 72 also stores user information uploaded to the information provision server 70. User information includes user information such as the user's name, gender, and age, as well as information about the house (residence) ordered by the user. House information includes the house's floor plan and furniture information, which is information about the furniture to be placed in the house. House information is created using CAD (not shown) during the house's design. User information is uploaded to the information provision server 70 by the business that designed the house, i.e., the service provider mentioned above. The information provision server 70 provides user information in response to requests from the management server 60 (described later), performing a so-called download service. Note that the information provision server 70 and the management server 60 may be a single server, or they may be a so-called cloud server consisting of multiple servers, including a storage server.

[0064] [Management Server 60] The management server 60 is a so-called web server that publishes communication addresses such as URLs on the Internet 11. The management server 60 may be a server owned by the service provider, or it may be a rental server for which the service provider has usage rights.

[0065] The management server 60 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 61, a management memory 62, and a communication interface 63. The CPU 61 is connected to the management memory 62 and the communication interface 63 by a communication bus (not shown). CPU 31 is an example of a management controller.

[0066] The communication interface 63 is connected to, for example, a gateway device (not shown) connected to the Internet 11. The management server 60 is connected to the Internet 11 via the gateway device. The communication interface 63 is an example of a second communication interface.

[0067] The management memory 62 may include, for example, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, hard disk drive, solid-state drive, and USB memory. The management memory 62 may also have other memory elements. Furthermore, a portion of the management memory 62 may be a storage server.

[0068] The management memory 62 stores the operating system OS 65, the management program 66, various management databases, various tables, and various screen formats. The management program 66, together with the application 26, executes the processes shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0069] A screen format is format data for generating screen data. A screen format is, for example, a class or function that generates screen data as an object by receiving information. The generated screen data is, for example, HTML data containing JavaScript. A screen format can also be the screen data itself.

[0070] The various management databases include the user management database shown in Figure 3 and the performance management database shown in Figure 4(D). The management database has data that represents tables and a control program that performs tasks such as registering data in the tables and reading data from the tables. The management program 66 instructs the control program to read or register data through the OS 65. The control program may be part of the management program 66. Note that the user management database and the performance management database may be a single database.

[0071] The various tables include the sensor correspondence table shown in Figure 4(A) and the sampling period determination table shown in Figure 4(B). A detailed explanation of the management database and correspondence tables follows.

[0072] [User Management Database] The user management database shown in Figure 3 is a database that associates the houses (residences) where users (residents) live, their rooms, their furniture, and their furniture information.

[0073] The user management database has multiple columns and records (rows). The columns are named "User ID," "Name," "House ID," "Room ID," "Room Name," "Floor Plan," "Furniture ID," "Furniture Name," "Size Information," "Placement Location," "Material Information," "Wall Proximity Information," and "Mold Index." The user management database may also have columns with names other than those shown in Figure 3.

[0074] The field in the column named "User ID" is where the user ID, which identifies each user individually, is registered. The field in the column named "Name" is where the user's name is registered. The field in the column named "House ID" is where the house ID, which identifies each house individually, is registered. The field in the column named "Room ID" is where the room ID, which identifies each room in the house individually, is registered. The field in the column named "Room Name" is where the room name is registered. The field in the column named "Floor Plan" is where the floor plan of the room is registered. The floor plan of the room includes information indicating the location of the room in the house, information indicating the size of the room, information indicating the entrances and exits to the room, etc.

[0075] In the example shown in Figure 3, the residence of "Taro Yamada," identified by the user ID, is the residence identified by the residence ID "G0354A," and this residence has multiple rooms, including a study identified by the room ID "A01," a bedroom identified by the room ID "A02," and an LDK identified by the room ID "A03." The user ID, name, residence ID, room ID, and room name are the user information described above. User information, including the user ID, is downloaded from the information provision server 70 and registered in the user management database by the management program 66.

[0076] The column named "Furniture ID" registers the furniture ID that identifies each piece of furniture. The column named "Furniture Name" registers the name of the furniture, such as a sofa, desk, or chair. The furniture name is also information that indicates the type of furniture, such as a sofa or bookshelf.

[0077] Furniture IDs and furniture names are associated with room IDs. In other words, the user management database shows which furniture is located in which room. In the example shown in Figure 3, the user management database indicates that multiple pieces of furniture, including the first sofa 81 identified by furniture ID "SO01B", the second sofa 82 identified by furniture ID "SO82B", and the reception table 83 identified by furniture ID "TE59L", are located in the study identified by room ID "A01".

[0078] The field in the column named "Size Information" is used to register the size of the furniture. The furniture size is indicated by width, depth, and height. In the example shown in Figure 3, the first sofa 81, identified by the furniture ID "SO01B", has a width of 220 cm, a depth of 100 cm, and a height of 70 cm.

[0079] The field in the column named "Placement Location" registers the placement location of furniture in a room. This placement location is, for example, a 2D or 3D coordinate system with the corner of the room's floor as the origin. This coordinate system is, for example, a set of coordinates indicating the area occupied by the furniture. Alternatively, this coordinate system may include the coordinates of the furniture's center position and its orientation. The area occupied by the furniture in the room is calculated from the coordinates of the center position, the furniture's orientation, and the furniture's size.

[0080] The field in the column named "Material Information" has multiple sub-columns named "Material 1," "Material 2," etc. The fields in these sub-columns register the material of the furniture. In the example shown in Figure 3, the material of the first sofa 81, identified by the furniture ID "SO01B," is "wood" and "leather."

[0081] The field in the column named "Wall Proximity Information" has three sub-columns named "Back," "Left," and "Right." The fields in these sub-columns are assigned a proximity flag of "0" or "1." A proximity flag of "0" indicates that the furniture is not close to a wall. A proximity flag of "1" indicates that the furniture is close to a wall. In the example shown in Figure 3, the first sofa 81, identified by the furniture ID "SO01B," has a proximity flag of "1" assigned to "Back" and "Left," and a proximity flag of "0" assigned to "Right." That is, the first sofa 81 is close to the wall at the back and on the left side, but not close to the wall on the right side.

[0082] The field in the column named "Mold Index" registers a mold index indicating whether or not the furniture is prone to mold growth. The mold index is a numerical value from "1" to "10". In other words, in this embodiment, whether or not furniture is prone to mold growth is defined on a 10-point scale. A mold index of "1" indicates that the furniture is unlikely to develop mold even when placed against a wall. A mold index of "10" indicates that the furniture is prone to mold growth when placed against a wall. The mold index is an example of a second judgment value.

[0083] The furniture ID, furniture name, size information, placement location, material information, wall proximity information, and mold index are the furniture information described above. This furniture information is downloaded from the information provision server 70 and registered in the user management database by the management program 66.

[0084] [Sensor-compatible table] The sensor correspondence table shown in Figure 4(A) is a table that associates furniture IDs with the sensor IDs of temperature sensors installed on the furniture indicated by that furniture ID.

[0085] The sensor-compatible table has multiple columns and rows. The columns are named "User ID," "Furniture ID," and "Installation Location." The field in the column named "User ID" registers the User ID. The field in the column named "Furniture ID" registers the Furniture ID.

[0086] The field in the column named "Mounting Position" has three sub-columns named "Back," "Left," and "Right." The sensor ID of a temperature sensor mounted on the wall behind the furniture is registered in the sub-column named "Back." The sensor ID of a temperature sensor mounted on the wall on the left side of the furniture is registered in the sub-column named "Left." The sensor ID of a temperature sensor mounted on the wall on the left side of the furniture is registered in the sub-column named "Right." In the example shown in Figure 3, the first sofa 81 identified by the furniture ID "SO01B" (see Figure 2), the temperature sensor 151 identified by the sensor ID "B01" (see Figure 2), and the temperature sensor 152 identified by the sensor ID "B02" (see Figure 2) are associated in the sensor correspondence table. The sensor ID of each temperature sensor corresponding to each piece of furniture is registered by the resident user through the management program 66. Details are explained in the registration process (see Figure 5).

[0087] The user management database shown in Figure 3 and the sensor correspondence table shown in Figure 4(A) are examples of correspondence information.

[0088] [Sampling Period Determination Table] The sampling period determination table shown in Figure 4(B) is a table for determining the sampling period of each temperature sensor. The sampling period refers to the interval at which the control device 30 acquires the detected temperature.

[0089] The sampling period determination table associates the maximum number of times the heater is operated per day with a sampling period. Specifically, the maximum number of times the heater is operated "0" is associated with a sampling period of "900 msec", the maximum number of times the heater is operated "1" is associated with a sampling period of "700 msec", the maximum number of times the heater is operated "2" is associated with a sampling period of "500 msec", the maximum number of times the heater is operated "3" is associated with a sampling period of "300 msec", and the maximum number of times the heater is operated "4 or more" is associated with a sampling period of "200 msec". For example, if the maximum number of times the heater is operated per day for heater 47 installed behind sideboard 87 in study 80 is "3", then the sampling period of the temperature sensor 157 set with heater 47 will be "300 msec", which corresponds to "3". In other words, the sampling period of a temperature sensor attached to furniture arranged in a way that makes it easy for mold to grow is shorter than the sampling period of a temperature sensor attached to furniture arranged in a way that makes it difficult for mold to grow.

[0090] [Performance Management Database] The performance management database shown in Figure 4(D) is a database that associates the furniture ID of furniture placed against a wall with the number of times the heater was operated on each date.

[0091] The performance management database has multiple columns and records (rows). The columns are named "User ID," "Date," and "Furniture ID." The field in the column named "User ID" stores the User ID. The field in the column named "Date" stores the date, expressed as year, month, and day.

[0092] The column named "Furniture ID" has multiple sub-columns named with furniture IDs that indicate furniture placed against a wall, such as "SO01B," "SO098," and "DE21C." The fields in these sub-columns register the number of times the heater has been operated. In the case of furniture with multiple heaters installed, such as the first sofa 81 (see Figure 2(A)), for example, the number of times the heater with the larger number of operations is operated is registered in the field of the sub-column. In the case of the first sofa 81, the number of operations of heater 41 and the number of operations of heater 42, whichever is greater, is registered.

[0093] In the example shown in Figure 4(D), as of January 1, 2025, the number of times heaters 41 and 42 installed on the first sofa 81, identified by the furniture ID "SO01B", have been operated is "0". The number of times heaters 43 and 44 installed on the office desk 84, identified by the furniture ID "DE21C", have been operated is "0". The number of times heater 45 installed on the bookshelf 86, identified by the furniture ID "BS21A", has been operated is "3". Of the two heaters installed on the sideboard 87, identified by the furniture ID "SI11K", the greater of either heater 46 or heater 47 has been operated is "2".

[0094] The number of times the heater is turned on indicates whether the current furniture arrangement is prone to mold growth. In the example shown in Figure 4(D), the bookshelf 86 identified by furniture ID "BS21A", the sideboard 87 identified by furniture ID "S111K", the television (not shown) identified by furniture ID "TV259", and the sofa (not shown) identified by furniture ID "SO98W" all had their heaters turned on three or more times, indicating that their arrangement is prone to mold growth. In other words, the number of times the heater is turned on is a value corresponding to the furniture and indicates the likelihood of mold growth. The number of times the heater is turned on is an example of a first judgment value.

[0095] [Operation (processing) of Advice System 10] The user terminal 20 and the management server 60 execute the registration process shown in Figure 5. The control device 30 and the management server 60 also execute the heater control process shown in Figure 6. Furthermore, the user terminal 20 and the management server 60 execute the advice process shown in Figure 7. Note that in the flowcharts shown in Figures 4 through 7, the database is abbreviated as "DB".

[0096] The processes executed by the user terminal 20 are processes executed by the CPU 21 of the user terminal 20, and processes that the application 26 causes the CPU 21 to execute. The processes executed by the control device 30 are processes executed by the CPU 31 of the control device 30, and processes that the control program 36 causes the CPU 31 to execute. The processes executed by the management server 60 are processes executed by the CPU 61, and processes that the management program 66 causes the CPU 61 to execute.

[0097] [Registration Process] The registration process shown in Figure 5 involves having the resident input the location of the moved furniture and the sensor ID of the temperature sensor moved along with the furniture after rearranging their room, and then registering this information in the user management database. Note that the initial furniture arrangement, which is the position of the furniture immediately after the house is built, is pre-registered in the user management database as part of the furniture information.

[0098] After rearranging their room, the resident user selects an icon representing application 26 on the touch panel 24 of the user terminal 20. The user terminal 20 accepts the selection of the icon (S11) and launches application 26 (S12). On the input screen (not shown) displayed on the touch panel 24 by the launched application 26, the user specifies the room that has been rearranged and selects an icon that accepts the instruction to display the furniture placement registration screen (S13). Based on the acceptance of the selection of the icon (S13), the user terminal 20 sends an HTTP request containing the user ID stored in the terminal memory 22 and the furniture placement registration screen request to the management server 60 via the communication interface 23 and the internet 11 (S14). The furniture placement registration screen request is a command that includes, for example, screen specification information specifying the furniture placement registration screen and the room ID or room name.

[0099] The management server 60 receives an HTTP request via the communication interface 63, which includes a user ID and a request for the furniture placement registration screen (S14). The management program 66 of the management server 60 generates furniture placement registration screen data indicated by the furniture placement registration screen request (S15). Specifically, the management program 66 reads the user's name associated with the received user ID, the room name associated with the received room ID, and all furniture names from the user management database. The management program 66 reads the screen format indicated by the received screen specification information from the management memory 62, and generates furniture placement registration screen data by inputting the user's name, room name, and furniture names into the read screen format. The furniture placement registration screen data is HTML data including JavaScript.

[0100] The management server 60 sends back an HTTP response containing the generated furniture placement registration screen data to the user terminal 20 via the communication interface 63 and the internet 11 as a response to the HTTP request received in step S14 (S16).

[0101] The user terminal 20 receives an HTTP response containing furniture placement registration screen data via the communication interface 23 (S16). The application 26 displays the furniture placement registration screen indicated by the received furniture placement registration screen data on the touch panel 24 (S17).

[0102] Figure 8(A) shows the furniture placement registration screen. The furniture placement registration screen has the text "Taro Yamada" indicating the user's name and the text "Study" indicating the room name. The furniture placement registration screen also has a pull-down menu 101 associated with the text "Select Furniture" and a pull-down menu 102 associated with the text "Select Orientation".

[0103] The pull-down menu 101 has multiple options, each displaying a furniture name such as "First Sofa," "Second Sofa," "Reception Table," "Office Desk," "Chair," "Bookshelf," and "Sideboard." The user selects a piece of furniture from the pull-down menu 101. Figure 8(A) shows the furniture placement registration screen with "Bookshelf" selected in the pull-down menu 101. Note that, assuming there are cases where furniture is moved from other rooms such as the living room / dining room / kitchen or children's rooms to the study, the pull-down menu 101 includes the names of all furniture placed in the house as options.

[0104] The pull-down menu 102 has four options: "facing east," "facing west," "facing south," and "facing north." The pull-down menu 102 may also have additional options such as "facing southeast" and "facing southwest." The user selects the orientation of the furniture after moving it using the pull-down menu 102. Figure 8(A) shows the furniture placement registration screen with "facing west" selected as the orientation for the "bookshelf" furniture in the pull-down menu 102.

[0105] The furniture placement registration screen has a pull-down menu 103 associated with the words "Center Position Input (Starting Point: Northeast Corner)" and "To the West," and a pull-down menu 104 associated with the word "To the South." Pull-down menus 103 and 104 have multiple options with numerical values ​​indicating distance. The user specifies the center position of the furniture to be moved in the study using pull-down menus 103 and 104. Figure 8(A) shows the furniture placement registration screen with "0cm" selected in pull-down menu 103 and "150cm" selected in pull-down menu 104. The furniture placement registration screen may also have a pull-down menu that allows the user to select the starting corner.

[0106] The furniture placement registration screen has a "No Changes" icon 105. If the user has not moved any furniture, they select the "No Changes" icon instead of selecting from the pull-down menus 103 and 104.

[0107] The furniture placement registration screen has an "Add" icon 106. If the user has furniture whose placement location they want to register, they select the "Add" icon 106. Based on the selection of the "Add" icon 106, the application 26 adds and displays a set of pull-down menus 101, 102, 103, 104 and a "No Change" icon 105 to the furniture placement registration screen according to the JavaScript contained in the furniture placement registration screen data.

[0108] The furniture placement registration screen has a "Register" icon 107. After the user enters the orientation and center position for all the furniture placed in the study, they select the "Register" icon 107.

[0109] As shown in Figure 5, the application 26 accepts selections from pull-down menus 101, 102, 103, 104 and icons 105, 106, 107 on the furniture placement registration screen (S18). Based on the acceptance of the selection of the "Register" icon 107 (S18), the application 26 sends an HTTP request including the user ID, room ID, and furniture placement registration request to the management server 60 via the communication interface 23 and the internet 11 (S19). The furniture placement registration request is a command that includes furniture placement information indicated by the pull-down menus 101, 102, 103, 104 and the "No Change" icon 105 selected by the user on the furniture placement registration screen, for example. The processing in step S18 is an example of the placement location acquisition process.

[0110] The management server 60 receives an HTTP request containing a user ID, room ID, and furniture placement registration request via the communication interface 63 (S19). The management program 66 of the management server 60 calculates coordinates indicating the placement location based on the furniture placement information contained in the furniture placement registration request and the size information of each piece of furniture registered in the user management database, and registers the calculated coordinates by overwriting the field of the column named "Placement Location" (S20). In other words, the management program 66 updates the furniture placement location based on user input (S18) (S20).

[0111] The management program 66 updates the wall proximity information registered in the user management database based on the updated placement location (S21). More specifically, the management program 66 determines whether the back, left side, and right side of the furniture are close to the room walls based on the updated placement location, the room floor plan, and the furniture size information. For example, the management program 66 calculates the distance between the back of the furniture and the room wall based on the placement location, the room floor plan, and the furniture size information. The management program 66 determines that the back of the furniture is close to the wall based on the fact that the calculated distance is less than a threshold distance pre-stored in the management memory 62. This threshold distance is, for example, a few centimeters to more than ten centimeters. The management program 66 overwrites the proximity flag to the user management database based on the determination that the furniture is close to the wall, and overwrites the proximity flag to the user management database based on the determination that the furniture is not close to the wall. In other words, the management program 66 updates the wall proximity information based on user input (S18) (S21).

[0112] The management program 66 generates sensor registration screen data based on the updated wall proximity information (S22). Specifically, the management program 66 reads the screen format for the sensor registration screen from the management memory 62. The management program 66 generates sensor registration screen data by inputting the room name indicated by the room ID received in step S19 and the furniture name of the furniture associated with the room ID, and the furniture name associated with the proximity flag of "1", into the read screen format. The management program 66 sends an HTTP response containing the generated sensor registration screen data to the user terminal 20 via the communication interface 63 and the internet 11 as a response to the HTTP request received in step S19 (S23).

[0113] The user terminal 20 receives an HTTP response containing sensor registration screen data via the communication interface 23 (S23). The application 26 on the user terminal 20 displays the sensor registration screen indicated by the sensor registration screen data on the touch panel 24 (S24).

[0114] Figure 8(B) shows the sensor registration screen. The sensor registration screen has the words "Study" indicating the room name. The sensor registration screen also has a pull-down menu 108 associated with the words "Behind the first sofa" indicating the furniture name and the location of the temperature sensor. The pull-down menu 108 has multiple options, each displaying the sensor ID of all the temperature sensors provided to the house. All temperature sensors provided to the house include temperature sensors used in the house before the room was rearranged, and temperature sensors that were not used and were stored in the house as spares. If the resident runs out of temperature sensor and heater sets due to furniture movement, they will use spare temperature sensor and heater sets. After the user sees the sensor ID "B01" written on the housing of the temperature sensor 151 placed behind the first sofa 81, they select the option with the words "B01" in the pull-down menu 108.

[0115] The sensor registration screen has a number of pull-down menus corresponding to the furniture placed against the wall, such as pull-down menu 109 corresponding to the text "Left side of first sofa", pull-down menu 110 corresponding to the text "Behind sideboard", and pull-down menu 101 corresponding to the text "Left sideboard".

[0116] The sensor registration screen also has a "Register" icon (not shown). This "Register" icon appears on the touch panel 24 when the sensor registration screen is slid open. The user selects the "Register" icon after specifying all sensor IDs using the pull-down menu 108, etc.

[0117] As shown in Figure 5, app 26 accepts the user's selection of a pull-down menu 108, etc., and the selection of the "Register" icon (S25). Based on the acceptance of the selection of the "Register" icon (S25), app 26 sends an HTTP request including the user ID and sensor registration request to the management server 60 via the communication interface 23 and the internet 11 (S26). The sensor registration request is a command that includes, for example, a sensor ID associated with a furniture ID.

[0118] Steps S13, S18, and S25, in which application 26 accepts user input, are an example of corresponding information acquisition processing. In steps S13, S18, and S25, the sensor ID selected in association with the room ID and furniture ID is an example of corresponding information. Steps S14, S19, and S26 are an example of corresponding information transmission processing.

[0119] The management server 60 receives an HTTP request containing a user ID and a sensor registration request through the communication interface 63 (S26). The management program 66 of the management server 60 registers the received sensor ID in the sensor correspondence table (see Figure 4(A)) in association with the furniture ID (S27). The processing in step S27 is an example of correspondence information storage processing.

[0120] The management program 66 reads the registration completion notification screen data from the management memory 62, and sends an HTTP response containing the read registration completion notification screen data to the user terminal 20 via the communication interface 63 and the internet 11 as a response to the HTTP request received in step S26 (S28), thereby terminating the registration process (end).

[0121] The user terminal 20 receives an HTTP response containing registration completion notification screen data via the communication interface 23 (S28). The application 26 on the user terminal 20 displays a registration completion notification screen (not shown) indicated by the received registration completion notification screen data on the touch panel 24 (S29), and terminates the registration process (end).

[0122] [Heater control processing] The heater control process shown in Figure 6 includes the drive control of the heater in the control device 30 and the process of registering the number of times the heater has been driven in a user management database. The heater control process is started, for example, when a predetermined instruction is received from the user. Alternatively, the heater control process is started based on a predetermined time. Alternatively, the heater control process is started in conjunction with the operation of other devices such as an air conditioning system.

[0123] The control program 36 of the control device 30 sends an HTTP request containing the user ID, room ID, and sampling period request stored in the terminal memory 32 to the management server 60 via the communication interface 33 and the internet 11 (S31). The sampling period request is, for example, a command.

[0124] The management server 60 receives an HTTP request containing a user ID, room ID, and sampling period request via the communication interface 63 (S31). The management program 66 of the management server 60 generates sampling period information corresponding to the received user ID and room ID based on the received sampling period request (S32). More specifically, the management program 66 reads the furniture ID of each piece of furniture associated with the received user ID and room ID, and the sensor ID associated with that furniture ID, from the user management database (see Figure 3). The management program 66 reads the maximum number of heater operation cycles associated with the read furniture ID from the performance management database (see Figure 4(D)). The management program 66 reads the sampling period associated with the maximum number of heater operation cycles read from the sampling period determination table (see Figure 4(B)). The management program 66 generates sampling period information, which is information that associates the read sampling period with the sensor ID (S32).

[0125] The management program 66 sends back an HTTP response containing the generated sampling period information to the control device 30 via the communication interface 63 and the internet 11 as a response to the HTTP request received in step S31 (S33).

[0126] The control device 30 receives an HTTP response containing sampling period information via the communication interface 33 (S33). The control program 36 of the control device 30 individually determines the sampling period for each temperature sensor based on the received sampling period information (S34). Specifically, the control device 30 determines the sampling period of the temperature sensor indicated by the sensor ID included in the received sampling period information to be the sampling period associated with that sensor ID. The processing in step S32 or S34 is an example of the period determination process.

[0127] The control program 36 acquires the detected temperature and humidity detected by the temperature and humidity sensors, including temperature and humidity sensors 51 and 52, and the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensors, including temperature sensors 151 and 152, and stores them in the terminal memory 32 in association with the sensor ID (S35). The processing in step S35 is an example of environmental information acquisition processing.

[0128] The control program 36 determines the threshold temperature (S36) based on the acquired detected temperature and humidity and the threshold temperature determination table (see Figure 4(C)). Specifically, the control program 36 reads the dew point temperature corresponding to the temperature and humidity indicated by the detected temperature and humidity acquired in step S35 from the threshold temperature determination table. The control program 36 determines the read dew point temperature as the threshold temperature. In other words, condensation occurs when the air in the room drops to the threshold temperature. The threshold temperature is determined for each room.

[0129] The control program 36 determines whether each detected temperature, which is the temperature detected by each temperature sensor, is below the threshold temperature (S37). The determination in step S37 is made for each temperature sensor, i.e., for each sensor ID. If the control program 36 determines that the detected temperature is below the threshold temperature (S37: Yes), it drives the heater associated with the temperature sensor that detected the temperature (S38). The process in step S38 is an example of a heater driving process.

[0130] The control program 36 acquires the detected temperature detected by the temperature sensor set with the driven heater (S39). The control program 36 determines whether the acquired detected temperature is above a predetermined temperature (S40). The predetermined temperature is a temperature corresponding to a threshold temperature. For example, the predetermined temperature is a few degrees higher than the threshold temperature. In other words, in step S40, it is determined whether the temperature near the wall where the furniture is placed has risen to a temperature at which condensation does not occur. The control program 36 repeatedly executes the processes of steps S39 and S40 until the detected temperature acquired in step S39 is above the predetermined temperature (S40: No).

[0131] When the control program 36 determines that the detected temperature obtained in step S39 has risen to or above a predetermined temperature (S40: Yes), it stops the heater operation (S41). Based on the fact that the heater operation has been stopped, the control program 36 performs an increment process to increase the heater operation count stored in the terminal memory 32 by "1" (S42). The heater operation count is associated with the sensor ID of the temperature sensor set with the heater. The initial value of the heater operation count is "0". For example, at midnight, the control program 36 resets the heater operation count to "0". The heater operation count is an example of the number of times the heater operation process has been executed.

[0132] After executing the process in step S42, the control program 36 executes the processes from step S35 onward again.

[0133] If the control program 36 determines that the detected temperature obtained in step S35 is not below the threshold temperature (S37: No), it determines whether or not to terminate the heater control process (S43). For example, the control program 36 may determine to terminate the heater control process based on receiving user input instructing it to terminate. Alternatively, the control program 36 may determine to terminate the heater control process based on a predetermined time having passed. Alternatively, the control program 36 may determine to terminate the heater control process based on the fact that the operation of other devices such as air conditioning units has been stopped.

[0134] If the control program 36 determines that it will not terminate the heater control process (S43: No), it will execute the processes from step S35 onwards again. The processes in steps S35, S36, S37, and S43, which are executed repeatedly, are performed for each temperature sensor and at the sampling period determined in step S34. In other words, the detection of temperature and the determination of whether or not condensation occurs by a temperature sensor placed near a wall of furniture where condensation is likely to occur (S37) are executed repeatedly at a shorter sampling period than the detection of temperature and the determination of whether or not condensation occurs by a temperature sensor placed near a wall of furniture where condensation is unlikely to occur (S37).

[0135] When the control program 36 determines that it has finished the heater control process (S43: Yes), it sends an HTTP request including a user ID and a heater drive count registration request to the management server 60 via the communication interface 33 and the internet 11 (S44). The heater drive count registration request is a command that includes, for example, the number of times the heater has been driven, associated with a sensor ID. The processing in step S44 is an example of estimated information transmission processing. The number of times the heater has been driven that is transmitted is an example of estimated information. The sensor ID and user ID associated with the number of times the heater has been driven are examples of identification information.

[0136] The management server 60 receives an HTTP request containing a user ID and a request to register the heater drive count via the communication interface 63 (S44). The management program 66 of the management server 60 reads the furniture ID corresponding to the received sensor ID from the user management database. The management program 66 registers the received heater drive count in the performance management database (see Figure 4(D)) in association with the read furniture ID (S45). The management program 66 sends an HTTP response containing an acknowledgment (ACK) indicating that the heater drive count has been registered in the performance management database to the control device 30 via the communication interface 63 and the internet 11 as a response to the HTTP request received in step S44 (S46), and terminates the heater control process (end). The processing in step S45 is an example of estimated information storage processing.

[0137] Based on the receipt of an HTTP response including an ACK via the communication interface 33 (S46), the control program 36 of the control device 30 terminates the heater control process (end).

[0138] [Advice Processing] The advice process shown in Figure 7 is executed when a user receives advice on whether it is better to move furniture or not before rearranging their room.

[0139] Before rearranging the room, the resident user selects an icon representing application 26 on the touch panel 24 of the user terminal 20 (S51). The user terminal 20 accepts the selection of the icon (S51) and launches application 26 (S52). On the screen (not shown) displayed on the touch panel 24 by the launched application 26, the user selects an icon that accepts the instruction to display a specified input screen. Based on the acceptance of the selection of the icon (S53), the user terminal 20 sends an HTTP request containing the user ID stored in the terminal memory 22 and the specified input screen request to the management server 60 via the communication interface 23 and the internet 11 (S54). The specified input screen request is, for example, a command having screen specification information that specifies a specified input screen.

[0140] The management server 60 receives an HTTP request via the communication interface 63, which includes a user ID and a request for a specified input screen (S54). The management program 66 of the management server 60 generates the specified input screen data indicated by the request for a specified input screen (S55). Specifically, the management program 66 reads the user's name, room ID, room name, furniture ID, and furniture name, etc., associated with the received user ID, from the user management database. The management program 66 reads the screen format indicated by the received screen specification information from the management memory 62, and generates the specified input screen data by inputting the user's name, room ID, room name, furniture ID, and furniture name, etc., into the read screen format. In the specified input screen data, the room name or room ID is associated with the furniture ID or furniture name. The specified input screen data is HTML data including JavaScript.

[0141] The management server 60 sends back an HTTP response containing the generated specified input screen data to the user terminal 20 via the communication interface 63 and the internet 11 as a response to the HTTP request received in step S54 (S56).

[0142] The user terminal 20 receives an HTTP response containing specified input screen data via the communication interface 23 (S56). The application 26 on the user terminal 20 displays the specified input screen indicated by the received specified input screen data on the touch panel 24 (S57).

[0143] Figure 9(A) shows the selection input screen. The selection input screen has the user's name, "Yamada Taro," displayed. The selection input screen also has a pull-down menu 112 associated with the text "Select the room to redecorate." The pull-down menu 112 has multiple options, each displaying a room name such as "Study," "Bedroom," "LDK," or "Children's Room." The user selects an option in the pull-down menu 112 that displays the name of the room to be redecorated. Figure 9(A) shows the selection input screen with the option "Study" selected in the pull-down menu 112.

[0144] The input screen also includes a pull-down menu 113 and an "Add" icon 114, which are associated with the text "Select furniture to move from the room." The pull-down menu 113 has multiple options, each displaying the name of furniture located in the room selected by the user, such as "First Sofa," "Second Sofa," "Reception Table," "Office Desk," "Chair," "Bookshelf," and "Sideboard." The options in the pull-down menu 113 are changed according to the room selected by the user by JavaScript contained in the input screen data.

[0145] The user selects an option from the pull-down menu 113 that displays the name of the furniture to be moved from the room being rearranged. Figure 9(A) shows the input screen with the option displaying "Second Sofa" selected in the pull-down menu 113.

[0146] If the user has multiple pieces of furniture to move from the room being rearranged, they select the "Add" icon 114. Based on the selection of the "Add" icon 114, the application 26 adds a pull-down menu 113 to the specified input screen according to the JavaScript contained in the specified input screen data. The user then selects the second piece of furniture to move from the room being rearranged using the added pull-down menu 113.

[0147] The input screen also includes a pull-down menu 115 associated with the text "Select furniture to move to the room," and an "Add" icon 116. The pull-down menu 115 has multiple options, each displaying the name of furniture located in a room other than the one selected by the user, such as "Clothing Case" or "Third Sofa." The options in the pull-down menu 115 are changed according to the room selected by the user by JavaScript contained in the input screen data.

[0148] The user selects an option from the pull-down menu 115 that displays the name of the furniture to be moved to the room being rearranged. Figure 9(A) shows the input screen with the option labeled "Cabinet" selected in the pull-down menu 115.

[0149] If the user has multiple pieces of furniture to move to the room being rearranged, they select the "Add" icon 116. Based on the selection of the "Add" icon 116, the app 26 adds a pull-down menu 115 to the specified input screen according to the JavaScript contained in the specified input screen data. The user then selects the second piece of furniture to move to the room being rearranged from the added pull-down menu 115.

[0150] The selection input screen has an "OK" icon 117. After the user specifies the room to be rearranged, the furniture to be moved from that room, and the furniture to be moved to the room, they select the "OK" icon 117.

[0151] As shown in Figure 7, based on the acceptance of the selection of the "OK" icon 117, etc. (S58), the application 26 sends an HTTP request including the user ID and an advice screen request to the management server 60 via the communication interface 23 and the internet 11 (S59). The advice screen request is a command that includes, for example, screen specification information that specifies an advice screen, the room ID of the room specified by the user in the pull-down menu 112 of the specified input screen, the furniture ID of the furniture specified by the user in the pull-down menu 113, and the furniture ID of the furniture specified by the user in the pull-down menu 115. The processing in step S58, which accepts the selection of the "OK" icon 117, etc., is an example of an instruction acceptance process that accepts an advice request instruction. The advice screen request is an example of an advice request that includes the room ID and furniture ID. The processing in step S60 is an example of an advice request transmission process.

[0152] The management server 60 receives an HTTP request including the user ID and an advice screen request via the communication interface 63 (S59). The management program 66 of the management server 60 reads and obtains the mold index and the maximum number of heater operation cycles associated with the received user ID, room ID, and furniture ID from the user management database (see Figure 3) and the performance management database (see Figure 4(D)) (S60). The processing in step S59 is an example of instruction reception processing. The processing in step S60 is an example of first judgment value acquisition processing and second judgment value acquisition processing.

[0153] The management program 66 determines, based on the acquired mold index, whether each piece of furniture is prone to mold growth (S61). For example, the management program 66 determines that furniture with a mold index of "1" to "5" is unlikely to develop mold, and furniture with a mold index of "6" to "10" is likely to develop mold. The management program 66 associates the furniture ID of furniture determined to be unlikely to develop mold with a furniture characteristic flag of "0" and stores it in the management memory 62. The management program 66 associates the furniture ID of furniture determined to be prone to mold growth with a furniture characteristic flag of "1" and stores it in the management memory 62 (S61). In the example shown in Figure 3, the furniture ID of the "first sofa" located in the "study" where the room is being rearranged has a mold index of "10," is determined to be furniture prone to mold growth, and is associated with a furniture characteristic flag of "1". The furniture ID for the "office desk" has a mold index of "2," and is determined to be furniture that is resistant to mold growth, so it is associated with a furniture characteristic flag of "0." The furniture ID for the "sideboard" has a mold index of "5," and is determined to be furniture that is resistant to mold growth, so it is associated with a furniture characteristic flag of "0." The furniture ID for the "bookshelf" has a mold index of "7," and is determined to be furniture that is prone to mold growth, so it is associated with a furniture characteristic flag of "1." Similarly, the furniture IDs of other furniture such as the "second sofa" and "chair" are also determined to be furniture that is prone to mold growth, and are associated with furniture characteristic flags.

[0154] The management program 66 determines the appropriateness of the current furniture arrangement based on the maximum number of heater operation cycles obtained in step S60 (S61). For example, the management program 66 determines that the current arrangement is suitable in terms of mold growth for furniture where the maximum number of heater operation cycles is "0" or "1", and determines that the current arrangement is unsuitable in terms of mold growth for furniture where the maximum number of heater operation cycles is "2" or more. The management program 66 associates the furniture ID of the furniture that it has determined to be in an appropriate current arrangement with the appropriate arrangement flag of "0" and stores it in the management memory 62. The management program 66 associates the furniture ID of the furniture that it has determined to be in an unsuitable current arrangement with the appropriate arrangement flag of "1" and stores it in the management memory 62 (S61). In the example shown in Figure 4(D), the maximum number of operation cycles for the heaters 41 and 42 installed for the "first sofa" located in the "study" where the rearrangement is to take place is "0", so the current arrangement is determined to be suitable and associated with the appropriate arrangement flag of "0". The maximum number of times heaters 43 and 44 are driven when placed on the "office desk" is "0," indicating that the current placement is appropriate and is associated with a placement suitability flag of "0." The maximum number of times heaters 46 and 47 are driven when placed on the "sideboard" is "3," indicating that the current placement is not appropriate and is associated with a placement suitability flag of "1." The maximum number of times heater 45 is driven when placed on the "bookshelf" is "3," indicating that the current placement is not appropriate and is associated with a placement suitability flag of "1." For furniture such as the "second sofa" and "chair" that are placed away from the wall, the current placement is determined to be appropriate and is associated with a placement suitability flag of "0." The furniture characteristic flags and placement suitability flags generated in step S61 are examples of advice information.

[0155] The management program 66 reads the screen format indicated by the screen specification information included in the advice screen request received in step S59 from the management memory 62 (S62). The management program 66 generates advice screen data by inputting the room ID, room name, furniture ID, furniture name, the furniture identification flag determined in step S61, and the placement suitability flag into the read screen format (S63). The processing in steps S61 to S63 is an example of the advice generation process.

[0156] The management program 66 sends an HTTP response containing the generated advice screen data to the user terminal 20 via the communication interface 63 and the internet 11 as a response to the HTTP request received in step S59 (S64), and terminates the advice processing (end). The processing in step S64 is an example of the advice transmission process.

[0157] The user terminal 20 receives an HTTP response containing advice screen data via the communication interface 23 (S64). The application 26 on the user terminal 20 displays the advice screen indicated by the received advice screen data on the touch panel 24 (S65). The process in step S64 is an example of the advice reception process. The process in step S65 is an example of the advice display process.

[0158] Figures 9(B), 10(A), and 10(B) show the advice screens. The advice screen shown in Figure 10(A) is displayed on the touch panel 24 by sliding the advice screen shown in Figure 9(B). The advice screen shown in Figure 10(B) is displayed on the touch panel 24 by sliding the advice screen shown in Figure 10(A).

[0159] As shown in Figure 9(B), the advice screen has the text "Room to be rearranged: Study," the text "1. First sofa," and the text "This furniture is prone to mold growth, but in its current position, mold is unlikely to grow, and the current position is suitable. We recommend not moving it." The advice screen also has the text "2. Office desk," and the text "This furniture is not prone to mold growth, and in its current position, mold is unlikely to grow. You can maintain the current position or move it." Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10(A), the advice screen has the text "3. Bookshelf," and the text "This furniture is not prone to mold growth, but in its current position, mold is likely to grow. We recommend moving it from its current position." Furthermore, the advice screen has the text "4. Sideboard," and the text "This furniture is prone to mold growth, and in its current position, mold is likely to grow. We recommend moving it from its current position."

[0160] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 10(B), there is text that provides advice on furniture to be moved from the study during rearrangement and furniture to be moved to the study. Specifically, the advice screen has the text "5. Second sofa" and the text "This furniture is prone to mold, but mold is unlikely to occur in its current position, so the current position is suitable. We recommend not moving it." The advice screen also has the text "6. Cabinet" and the text "This furniture is prone to mold, but mold is unlikely to occur in its current position, so the current position is suitable. We recommend not moving it."

[0161] In other words, the advice system 10 advises the user on whether it is better to maintain the current arrangement of the second sofa, which is a piece of furniture that is to be moved from the study to another room, and the cabinet, which is a piece of furniture that is to be moved from another room to the study, or to move them.

[0162] The user decides which furniture to move and which to leave in place, referring to the advice displayed on the advice screen.

[0163] The advice screen has an "OK" icon 118. After reviewing the advice, the user selects the "OK" icon 118.

[0164] As shown in Figure 7, the app 26 terminates the advice process (end) based on the selection of the "OK" icon 118 on the advice screen (S66).

[0165] When rearranging a room, the user moves the heater and temperature sensor along with the furniture. After rearranging the room, the user operates the user terminal 20 as shown in Figure 5 to input the placement of the moved furniture and temperature sensor (S18, S24). The management program 66 of the management server 60 registers the new furniture placement locations and the correspondence between the temperature sensor and furniture, obtained through the user terminal 20, in the user management database and the sensor correspondence table (S20, S21, S27).

[0166] [Effects of the Embodiment] When a resident rearranges their room, the management program 66 provides the resident with an advice screen via the user terminal 20, which includes advice information indicating whether to move furniture from its current position or maintain its current position, based on the mold index and the number of heater cycles. Based on the provided advice information, the resident decides whether to move furniture or maintain its current position and rearranges the room. Therefore, the advice system 10 according to this embodiment can provide the resident with suggestions regarding furniture placement that take mold growth into consideration when the resident rearranges their room.

[0167] In the management database, sensor-matching table, and performance management database, the room ID, furniture ID, sensor ID, mold index, and heater operation count are associated. Therefore, the advice system 10 can provide advice to the resident regarding the furniture placed in the room designated by the resident for rearrangement, indicating whether to move the furniture from its current position or maintain its current position.

[0168] In this embodiment, the appropriateness of the current furniture arrangement is determined by the maximum number of times the heaters installed for each piece of furniture are driven. Therefore, the advice system 10 can easily determine the appropriateness of the current furniture arrangement based on the maximum number of times the heaters are driven.

[0169] In this embodiment, whether or not a piece of furniture is prone to mold growth is determined based on a mold index, which is a numerical value corresponding to the type, material, and size of the furniture. Therefore, the advice system 10 can improve the accuracy of its advice compared to when advice information is generated based solely on the type of furniture.

[0170] In this embodiment, the greater the maximum number of heater operation cycles, the shorter the sampling period of the temperature sensor. A decision is made whether or not to operate the heater during this sampling period. Therefore, the accuracy of the advice in the advice system 10 is improved, as is the accuracy of suppressing mold growth.

[0171] [Example 1] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the advice system 10 includes a group of heaters 40 (see Figure 1). In this modified example, an example is described in which the advice system 10 includes a ventilation system 120 instead of the group of heaters 40 (see Figure 1), as shown in Figure 11. Note that the configurations and processes other than those described in this modified example are the same as those described in the embodiment.

[0172] The ventilation system 120 comprises a plurality of first supply air ducts, a plurality of first exhaust ducts, a second supply air duct, a second exhaust duct, and a ventilation device 121. The first supply air ducts and second exhaust ducts connect the room to the ventilation device 121. The second supply air ducts connect the ventilation device 121 to an air intake opening provided in the exterior wall of the house. The second exhaust ducts connect the ventilation device 121 to an exhaust opening provided in the exterior wall of the house. Blower fans and on / off valves are provided in each of the first supply air ducts, each of the first exhaust ducts, the second supply air ducts, and the second exhaust ducts. The ventilation system 120 or ventilation device 121 is an example of a corresponding device.

[0173] The control program 36 of the control device 30 executes a ventilation system control process similar to the heater control process shown in Figure 6. In the ventilation system control process, the drive of the ventilation system 120 is controlled instead of the heater. When the control program 36 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is below the threshold temperature (S37), it controls the drive of the ventilation device 121, the blower fan, and the on / off valve to ventilate the room where the temperature sensor is located (S38). The process in step S38, which drives the ventilation system 120 to perform ventilation, is an example of the corresponding process.

[0174] When the control program 36 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is above a predetermined temperature (S40), it stops the ventilation of the room (S41). Based on the fact that the ventilation has been stopped (S41), the control program 36 increments the ventilation device operation count (ventilation count) instead of the heater operation count. In step S44, the control program 36 sends an HTTP request to the management server 60 that includes a ventilation count registration request instead of a heater operation count registration request. The ventilation count registration request is a command that includes the sensor ID and the ventilation count. The management program 66 of the management server 60 registers the ventilation count, instead of the heater operation count, in the performance management database (see Figure 4(D)) in association with the furniture ID corresponding to the sensor ID (S45). The ventilation count is an example of the number of times the corresponding process has been executed.

[0175] The management program 66 determines the appropriateness of the current furniture arrangement based on the maximum number of ventilation cycles instead of the maximum number of heater cycles (S61 in Figure 7).

[0176] [Effects of Modification 1] The advice system 10 can also be used in houses where a ventilation system 120 is installed instead of the heater group 40.

[0177] The ventilation system 120 may also be an air conditioning system that provides air conditioning to each room in the house.

[0178] [Differentiation 2] In this modified example, the advice system 10 is described in which the dehumidifier group 130, shown by the dashed line in Figure 11, is provided instead of the heater group 40 (see Figure 1). Note that the configurations and processes other than those described in this modified example are the same as those described in the embodiment.

[0179] The dehumidifier group 130 comprises multiple dehumidifiers, including dehumidifiers 131 and 132. One dehumidifier is installed in each room. For example, dehumidifier 131 is installed in the study, and dehumidifier 132 is installed in the bedroom. The multiple dehumidifiers, including dehumidifiers 131 and 132, are just one example of compatible devices.

[0180] The control program 36 of the control device 30 executes a dehumidifier control process similar to the heater control process shown in Figure 6. In the dehumidifier control process, the drive of the dehumidifier group 130 is controlled instead of the heater. When the control program 36 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is below the threshold temperature (S37), it controls the drive of the dehumidifier group 130 to dehumidify the room in which the temperature sensor is located (S38). The process in step S38, which drives the dehumidifier to perform dehumidification, is an example of the corresponding process.

[0181] When the control program 36 determines that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is above a predetermined temperature (S40), it stops dehumidifying the room (S41). Based on the fact that dehumidification has stopped (S41), the control program 36 increments the number of times the dehumidifier has been driven (dehumidification count) instead of the number of times the heater has been driven. In step S44, the control program 36 sends an HTTP request to the management server 60 that includes a request to register the number of times the dehumidification has been driven instead of a request to register the number of times the heater has been driven. The request to register the number of times the dehumidification has been driven is a command that includes the sensor ID and the number of times the dehumidification has been driven. The management program 66 of the management server 60 registers the number of times the dehumidification has been driven in the performance management database (see Figure 4(D)) in association with the furniture ID corresponding to the sensor ID, instead of the number of times the heater has been driven (S45). The number of times the dehumidification has been driven is an example of the number of times the corresponding process has been executed.

[0182] The management program 66 determines the appropriateness of the current furniture arrangement based on the maximum number of dehumidification cycles, instead of the maximum number of heater cycles (S61 in Figure 7).

[0183] [Effects of Modification 2] The advice system 10 can also be used in houses where a dehumidifier group 130 is installed instead of a heater group 40.

[0184] [Difference 3] In this modified example, an advice system 10 equipped with the environmental sensor group 200 shown in Figure 12 is described, instead of the environmental sensor group 50 (see Figure 1). Note that configurations and processes other than those described in this modified example are the same as those described in the embodiment.

[0185] The environmental sensor group 200 includes multiple temperature and humidity sensors, including temperature and humidity sensors 51 and 52 (see Figure 2), and multiple temperature sensors, including temperature sensors 201 and 202. One temperature and humidity sensor is installed in each room. Temperature and humidity sensor 51 is installed in the study 80 (see Figure 2(A)), and temperature and humidity sensor 52 is installed in the bedroom 90 (see Figure 2(B)). Multiple temperature sensors are arranged on each wall in each room. Each temperature sensor is arranged in a matrix. In the example shown in Figure 12, temperature sensors 201 to 235 are arranged in a matrix on wall 181 of the study 80 (see Figure 2).

[0186] The management memory 62 of the management server 60 further stores a sensor placement table that associates sensor IDs with the placement locations of temperature sensors. For example, in the example shown in Figure 12, the sensor ID of the temperature sensor 201 and the placement information indicating the location of the upper left corner of the wall 181 are associated in the sensor placement table.

[0187] Instead of performing the processes shown in steps S22 to S26 in Figure 5, the management program 66 performs a process to identify the sensor ID of the temperature sensor facing the furniture on the wall adjacent to the furniture, based on the wall proximity information updated in step S21 and the sensor placement table. The management program 66 associates the identified sensor ID with the furniture ID and registers it in the sensor correspondence table (see Figure 4(A)).

[0188] [Effects of Modification 3] In this modified version, the temperature sensor is not moved when the room is rearranged. Therefore, the resident is spared the trouble of moving the temperature sensor along with the furniture.

[0189] Furthermore, in this modified example, steps S22 to S26 are omitted. Therefore, the user is spared the trouble of registering the sensor ID.

[0190] In this modified example, only temperature sensors were described in a matrix arrangement on the wall of the room. However, multiple heaters could also be arranged in a matrix arrangement on the wall of the room, similar to the temperature sensors. In that case, the trouble of moving the heaters along with the furniture would be eliminated for the residents.

[0191] [Other variations] In the embodiment, a furniture placement registration screen (see Figure 8(A)) that accepts the orientation of the furniture and the coordinates of the furniture's center was described. However, the furniture placement registration screen may have, instead of the pull-down menus 102, 103, and 104, furniture icons whose positions can be changed by the user on the screen, and a floor plan of the room. The resident moves the placement position of the furniture icon, which represents the furniture, on the floor plan displayed on the touch panel 24. The application 26 transmits the placement position of the furniture icon specified by the resident, which is its placement position on the floor plan, to the management server 60 as the furniture placement (S19).

[0192] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the advice system 10 includes a plurality of temperature and humidity sensors, including a temperature and humidity sensor 51, and a plurality of temperature sensors, including a temperature sensor 151, as environmental sensors. However, the advice system 10 may also include a plurality of condensation sensors as environmental sensors. The condensation sensors are placed between furniture and a wall adjacent to the furniture. The condensation sensors have a pair of electrodes that are short-circuited by, for example, condensation water. The condensation sensors output a detection value indicating whether or not condensation has occurred. The control program 36 of the control device 30 drives the corresponding heater based on the occurrence of condensation and stops the heater when the heater has been driven for a predetermined time or longer. The predetermined time is a time pre-stored in the terminal memory 32, for example, a time between a few minutes and several tens of minutes.

[0193] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the advice system 10 includes a user terminal 20. However, the advice system 10 does not necessarily have to include a user terminal 20. In that case, the control device 30 (see Figure 1) attached to the house further includes an input interface and a display for receiving user input. The input interface and display are, for example, a touch panel. In this case, the control device 30 is an example of an information processing device.

[0194] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the advice system 10 is equipped with a group of heaters 40. However, the advice system 10 does not have to be equipped with a group of heaters 40. In that case, the management program 66 of the management server 60 registers in the performance management database the number of times or duration for which an environment where condensation occurs occurs, instead of the number of times the heaters are driven, as a substitute for the number of times the heaters are driven. The management program 66 determines the appropriateness of the current furniture arrangement based on the maximum number of times or duration for which an environment where condensation occurs occurs in a day, and the threshold number or threshold time (S61 in Figure 7). The threshold number and threshold time are stored in advance in the management memory 62. The maximum number of times or duration for which an environment where condensation occurs occurs in a day is an example of estimated information.

[0195] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the mold index registered in the user management database is a numerical value determined according to the type (name) of furniture, size, and material. However, the mold index only needs to be a numerical value determined based on at least one of the types (name) of furniture, size, and material.

[0196] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the heater is stopped from operating (S41) based on the detected temperature reaching a predetermined temperature or higher (S40 in Figure 6). However, the heater may also be stopped from operating based on the operating time, which is the elapsed time since the start of operation, reaching a predetermined time or higher. This predetermined time is a time pre-stored in the management memory 62, and is, for example, several minutes to several tens of minutes.

[0197] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the temperature sensor and heater are mounted on the wall of the room. However, the temperature sensor and heater may also be mounted on furniture. In that case, the trouble of the resident moving the temperature sensor and heater along with the furniture is eliminated. In that case, the sensor ID registration process using the sensor registration screen (see Figure 8(B)) (processing from S22 to S27 in Figure 5) is omitted.

[0198] In the embodiment, an example was described in which the suitability of the arrangement for mold growth is determined based on the maximum number of heater operation cycles. However, the determination of whether the arrangement is suitable for mold growth may also be based on the average number of heater operation cycles, or the maximum or average value for each season. The average number of heater operation cycles, or the maximum or average value for each season, are examples of estimated information.

[0199] [Note 1] An environmental sensor is placed between furniture positioned facing a wall that partitions a room in a house and the wall, An information processing device having a first communication interface, an input interface, a display, and a terminal controller connected to the internet and the environmental sensor, It comprises a management server having a second communication interface connected to the internet, management memory, and a management controller. The above terminal controller is Environmental information acquisition process that acquires environmental information, which is a detected value periodically detected by the above environmental sensor, through the above first communication interface, The system performs an estimation information transmission process, which transmits estimation information that corresponds to the above environmental information and can estimate the occurrence of mold to the management server via the first communication interface and the Internet. The above management controller is The estimated information described above is received through the second communication interface, and an estimated information storage process is performed to store the received estimated information in the management memory. The above terminal controller is Through the above input interface, an instruction reception process receives instructions for advice requests, Based on the receipt of the above advice request instruction, the system executes an advice request transmission process that sends the advice request to the management server via the above first communication interface and the Internet. Based on receiving the above advice request through the above second communication interface, the above management controller Based on the above estimated information, a first judgment value determination process is performed to determine a first judgment value indicating the frequency of conditions in which mold can grow, A second judgment value acquisition process that acquires a second judgment value corresponding to the above furniture, which indicates the likelihood of mold growth, Based on the first and second judgment values ​​described above, an advice generation process generates advice information indicating whether to move the furniture from its current position or maintain its current position. The system performs an advice transmission process that transmits the above advice information to the information processing device via the above second communication interface and the Internet. The above terminal controller is An advice receiving process that receives the above advice information through the above input interface, An advice system that performs an advice display process to display the received advice information on the above-mentioned display.

[0200] [Note 2] The above environmental sensors are individually identified by their sensor IDs. The above furniture is individually identified by its furniture ID. The above request for advice includes the user ID and room ID. The above terminal controller is A correspondence information acquisition process that acquires correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the above furniture ID, the above sensor ID, the above user ID, and the above room ID, The process of transmitting the above correspondence information to the management server via the above first communication interface and the Internet is performed. The above management controller is The above correspondence information is received through the second communication interface, and a correspondence information storage process is executed to store the received correspondence information in the management memory. The above estimation information transmission process is a process of transmitting the above estimation information, which is associated with identification information including at least one of the above furniture ID and the above sensor ID, and the above user ID, to the above management server. The above-mentioned second judgment value acquisition process is a process for acquiring the above-mentioned second judgment value according to the above-mentioned identification information, as described in Appendix 1 of the advice system.

[0201] [Note 3] A heater positioned between the above-mentioned furniture and the above-mentioned wall, further comprising a heater that is individually identified by a heater ID, The above heater ID is associated with the above furniture ID in the above correspondence information. The above terminal controller is Based on the determination that condensation may occur according to the above environmental information, a heater drive process is further executed to drive the heater. The above estimated information and the above first judgment value are the number of times the heater drive process is executed, as described in Appendix 2 of the advice system.

[0202] [Note 4] The above room is further equipped with a corresponding device, which is a ventilation or dehumidifying device. The above terminal controller is Based on the determination that condensation may occur according to the environmental information detected by the environmental sensor identified by the above sensor ID, a corresponding process is further executed to drive the corresponding device. The above estimated information and the above first judgment value are the number of times the above corresponding process associated with the above sensor ID is executed, as described in Appendix 2 of the advice system.

[0203] [Note 5] The above second judgment value is a numerical value corresponding to the type, material, and size of the furniture, and is a numerical value indicating the ease with which mold can grow, as described in Appendix 1 of the advice system.

[0204] [Note 6] Multiple of the above environmental sensors are arranged in a matrix on the above wall. The above terminal controller is The placement location acquisition process is executed to obtain the placement location of the furniture indicated by the above furniture ID. The above correspondence information acquisition process is a process that associates the above furniture ID with the above sensor ID based on the above placement location, as described in Appendix 2 of the advice system.

[0205] [Note 7] The above terminal controller or the above management server is The advice system described in Appendix 1, which, based on the first judgment value described above, executes a period determination process to determine the sampling period, which is the period during which the environmental sensor acquires detected values. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0206] 10. Advice System 11. Internet 12···LAN 20. User terminals 21..CPU 22. Terminal Memory 23. Communication Interface 24... Touch panel 26. Application Programs 30.. Control device 31..CPU 32. Terminal memory 33. Communication Interface 36. Control Program 40 Heater Groups 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 140, 141, 142, 143... Heater 50...Environmental sensor group 51, 52... Temperature and humidity sensors 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163... Temperature sensors 60... Management Server 61..CPU 62...Management memory 63. Communication Interface 66. Management Program 70... Information server 80...Study 81...First Sofa 82...Second sofa 83... Reception Table 84...office desk 85... chair 86...Bookshelf 87. Sideboard 90...Bedroom 91... Bed 92... Closet 93... Clothing storage case 120...Ventilation System 121...Ventilation system 130... Dehumidification equipment group 131, 132...Dehumidifier 181, 182, 183, 184... Walls of the study 191, 192, 193, 194... bedroom walls 200...Environmental Sensor Group 201~235...Temperature sensor

Claims

1. An environmental sensor is placed between furniture positioned facing a wall that partitions a room in a house and the wall, An information processing device having a first communication interface, an input interface, a display, and a terminal controller connected to the Internet and the above-mentioned environmental sensor, It comprises a management server having a second communication interface connected to the internet, a management memory, and a management controller. The above terminal controller is Environmental information acquisition process that acquires environmental information, which is a detected value periodically detected by the above environmental sensor, through the above first communication interface, The system performs an estimation information transmission process, which transmits estimation information that corresponds to the above environmental information and can estimate the occurrence of mold to the management server via the first communication interface and the Internet. The above management controller is The estimated information described above is received through the second communication interface, and an estimated information storage process is performed to store the received estimated information in the management memory. The above terminal controller is Through the above input interface, an instruction reception process receives instructions for advice requests, Based on the receipt of the above advice request instruction, the system executes an advice request transmission process that sends the advice request to the management server via the above first communication interface and the Internet. Based on receiving the above advice request through the second communication interface, the above management controller Based on the above estimated information, a first judgment value determination process is performed to determine a first judgment value indicating the frequency of conditions in which mold can grow, A second judgment value acquisition process that acquires a second judgment value corresponding to the above furniture, which indicates the likelihood of mold growth, Based on the first and second judgment values ​​described above, an advice generation process generates advice information indicating whether to move the furniture from its current position or maintain its current position. The system performs an advice transmission process that transmits the above advice information to the information processing device via the above second communication interface and the Internet. The above terminal controller is An advice receiving process that receives the above advice information through the above input interface, An advice system that performs an advice display process to display the received advice information on the above-mentioned display.

2. The above environmental sensors are individually identified by their sensor IDs. The above furniture is individually identified by its furniture ID. The above request for advice includes the user ID and room ID. The above terminal controller is A correspondence information acquisition process that acquires correspondence information indicating the correspondence between the above furniture ID, the above sensor ID, and the above room ID, The process of transmitting the above correspondence information to the management server via the first communication interface and the Internet is performed. The above management controller is The above correspondence information is received through the second communication interface, and a correspondence information storage process is executed to store the received correspondence information in the management memory. The above estimation information transmission process is a process of transmitting the above estimation information, which is associated with identification information including at least one of the furniture ID and the sensor ID and the user ID, to the management server. The advice system according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned second judgment value acquisition process is a process for acquiring the above-mentioned second judgment value corresponding to the above-mentioned identification information.

3. A heater positioned between the above-mentioned furniture and the above-mentioned wall, further comprising heaters individually identified by heater IDs, The above heater ID is associated with the above furniture ID in the above correspondence information. The above terminal controller is Based on the determination that condensation may occur according to the above environmental information, a heater drive process is further executed to drive the heater. The advice system according to claim 2, wherein the above estimated information and the above first judgment value are the number of times the heater drive process is executed.

4. The above room is further equipped with a corresponding device, which is a ventilation or dehumidifying device. The above terminal controller is Based on the determination that condensation may occur according to the environmental information detected by the environmental sensor identified by the above sensor ID, a corresponding process is further executed to drive the corresponding device. The advice system according to claim 2, wherein the above estimated information and the above first judgment value are the number of times the above corresponding process associated with the above sensor ID is executed.

5. The advice system according to claim 1, wherein the above-mentioned second judgment value is a numerical value corresponding to the type, material, and size of the furniture, and is a numerical value indicating the ease with which mold can grow.

6. Multiple of the above environmental sensors are arranged in a matrix on the above wall. The above terminal controller is The placement location acquisition process is executed to obtain the placement location of the furniture indicated by the above furniture ID. The advice system according to claim 2, wherein the above-mentioned correspondence information acquisition process is a process of associating the above-mentioned furniture ID with the above-mentioned sensor ID based on the above-mentioned placement location.

7. The above terminal controller or the above management server is The advice system according to claim 1, which, based on the first judgment value described above, performs a period determination process to determine the sampling period, which is the period during which the environmental sensor acquires detected values.

Images