Water heater control device and water heater control method

Abstract

To update a water heater at an appropriate time while considering the user of the water heater.SOLUTION: A control unit 14 starts processing to update software that runs on a water heater 10 when the current time is in an available time zone for permitting to update the software, the available time zone being stored in advance, and when the water heater 10 is suspended at the time. When the water heater 10 enters active state after starting the processing to update the software running on the water heater 10, the control unit 14 interrupts the processing to update the software until the water heater 10 is suspended again. The control unit 14 stores a time zone that does not overlap an operation time zone which has been set in advance based on the active state of the water heater 10, as the available time zone.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a hot water supply control device and a hot water supply control method.

Background Art

[0002] Office equipment such as printers provides various functions such as printing functions by executing firmware (hereinafter, FW: Firmware). Regarding the firmware, update data for the purpose of defect repair and function update is supplied from equipment manufacturers and the like. Although the update process of the firmware is a necessary process, during the update, the use of the original home appliance is restricted, etc., which imposes temporary inconvenience. Therefore, a technique has been proposed to select, as the time for executing the firmware update process, a time that imposes as little burden on the user as possible.

[0003] For example, the electronic device described in Patent Document 1 has the following features. "In an electronic device having firmware update means for updating firmware via a network, the firmware update means includes update notification receiving means for receiving a notification notifying firmware update from the network, inquiry means for notifying the administrator of the electronic device of the notification content received by the update notification receiving means and inquiring about the update method, setting means for receiving the inquiry result from the administrator by the inquiry means and setting the firmware update method, and update means for updating the firmware by the update method set by the setting means."

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Unlike office equipment, which has predetermined usage times such as during working hours, common household appliances such as water heaters are used in homes, and because each family member has different lifestyles, even if a time slot for not using the water heater is set in advance, it is often used unexpectedly. For example, in one household, even if the father has set a time in advance to allow software updates during the early morning hours when usage is infrequent, unexpected usage may occur, such as when his son wakes up early and suddenly fills the bathtub with water.

[0006] Such sudden use, combined with a malfunction caused by a firmware update, can lead to inconveniences such as a sudden loss of hot water. Therefore, while pre-setting firmware update times to generally coincide with periods of low usage, a flexible update process that also accommodates sudden use is required. However, conventional technologies such as those described in Patent Document 1 only offer simple settings for determining whether or not firmware updates are possible, based on a single policy such as "the result of an inquiry from the administrator," and are not capable of handling flexible update processes.

[0007] This invention was made with these circumstances in mind, and its main objective is to perform updates to water heaters at appropriate times while taking into consideration the use of the water heaters. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To solve the above problems, this Disclosure The water heater control device has the following features: Water heater control unit teeth, A pre-set operating time period for heating the water stored in the water heater's tank, thereby putting the water heater into operation, and a time period that does not overlap with the aforementioned operating time period. Valid time frame for allowing software updates and It is being kept, The current time is within the aforementioned valid period, and the current time is The aforementioned The control unit has a mechanism that initiates a process to update the software running on the water heater when the water heater is stopped. And, The control unit sets the operating time to the late-night hours when electricity rates are low, and the one hour before and after those late-night hours.It is characterized by the following: Other features will be described later. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform updates to the water heater at an appropriate time while taking into consideration the usage of the water heater. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the hot water supply system according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a hardware configuration diagram of the water heater control device according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This flowchart shows the configuration process before a firmware update according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] This flowchart shows the firmware update process that is executed after the setup process shown in Figure 3 of this embodiment. [Figure 5] This is a display screen diagram of the remote control according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[0012] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of the hot water supply system 100. The hot water supply system 100 includes a water heater 10, a server 21, a network 22, and a wireless router 23. Server 21 provides the water heater 10 with software such as firmware to operate the water heater 10 via network 22. The water heater 10 is connected to network 22, such as the internet, via a wireless router 23 that performs wireless communication such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and updates itself with the firmware received from server 21.

[0013] The water heater 10 has, as a hot water supply function, a tank 12 for storing water and hot water, a heat pump unit 11 which is a heat source machine for heating the water supplied from the tank 12, and a bathtub 13 which is the destination for providing the heated hot water. Note that the water heater 10 of the present embodiment heats the water taken out from the lower part of the tank 12 with the heat pump unit 11 and returns it to the upper part of the tank 12 to fill the tank 12 with hot water (such as boiling up or adding more boiling water), and supplies the hot water stored in the upper part of the tank 12 to the bathtub 13, the kitchen, etc. The tank 12 is always filled with hot water or water, and due to the density difference between hot water and water, hot water accumulates in the upper part and water accumulates in the lower part. Furthermore, the water heater 10 has, as a control function, a remote controller 15 which receives operations from the user and displays various information on the screen, a wireless unit 16 for communicating with the wireless router 23, and a control unit 14 which controls each component of the water heater 10 to perform FW update.

[0014] Note that the control unit 14 may be provided inside the water heater 10, or may be connected to one or more water heaters 10 wirelessly or by wire as a water heater control device which is a housing separate from the water heater 10. By using a water heater control device separate from the water heater 10, for example, even in the case of an apartment building where individual households use separate water heaters 10, one water heater control device can perform FW update for multiple water heaters 10 collectively. The control unit 14 of the water heater control device stores the valid time zone for permitting software update, and when the current time is within the valid time zone and the water heater 10 is in the stopped state, it starts the process of updating the software operating on the water heater 10.

[0015] Here, the water heater 10 is in one of the following states. · The "stopped state" of the water heater 10 means that, for example, neither boiling up nor adding more boiling water is being performed, and hot water is not being used in the bath (filling the bath) or the kitchen, and the heat pump unit 11, the solenoid valve, etc. are not operating (the control unit 14 is not performing control such as boiling up). That is, it is a state where firmware update is possible. The "operating state" of the water heater 10 refers to a state in which the water heater 10 is not stopped, for example, a state in which the control unit 14 is performing control such as heating, and a state in which firmware updates are not possible.

[0016] Figure 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the water heater control unit. The water heater control device is configured as a computer 900 having a CPU 901, RAM 902, ROM 903, HDD 904, communication I / F 905, input / output I / F 906, and media I / F 907. The communication interface 905 is connected to an external communication device 915. The input / output interface 906 is connected to the input / output device 916. The media interface 907 reads and writes data to the recording medium 917. Furthermore, the CPU 901 improves and controls each processing unit by executing a program (also called an application or app) loaded into the RAM 902. This program can also be distributed via a communication line or by recording it on a recording medium 917 such as a CD-ROM and distributing it that way.

[0017] Figure 3 is a flowchart showing the configuration process before the firmware update. The control unit 14 accepts inputs for initial settings, such as input for time zone classification and input for enabling wireless LAN (S11). Time zone classification refers to the time period for electricity charges in the contract with the power company to which the user of the water heater 10 has a contract. For example, in one contract, the off-peak hours when electricity rates are lower are defined as "11 PM to 7 AM," while in another contract, the off-peak hours may be defined as "12 AM to 7 AM." Therefore, the control unit 14 accepts input for each time period, such as "nighttime hours," "daytime hours," and "peak hours." As a means of inputting these time periods, the user may directly specify the time, such as "11pm to 7am," for each time period, or the user may input the contract number of the power company and obtain the time, such as "11pm to 7am," from a pre-prepared correspondence table (contract number → time period correspondence).

[0018] The input for enabling the wireless LAN is a setting that allows the wireless unit 16 of the water heater 10 to connect to the network 22 via the wireless router 23, and is entered from the remote control 15 via the third screen 203 in Figure 5, which will be described later. With this setting, the water heater 10 and the server 21 can communicate, and the water heater 10 can receive firmware from the server 21. Then, the control unit 14 determines whether or not to enable the wireless LAN (S12). If the answer in S12 is No (i.e., the wireless LAN is disabled), it cannot receive firmware from the server 21, so it returns to processing S11.

[0019] Furthermore, the control unit 14 accepts input for the effective time period for firmware updates (S13). The control unit 14 sets the time period "8am to 10pm" as the default (initially displayed) effective time period when input in S13, excluding the time period "10pm to 8am" which has a one-hour buffer before and after the nighttime period "11pm to 7am". In this way, by providing a one-hour buffer before and after the nighttime period, it is possible to avoid starting firmware updates during the preparation time and post-processing time associated with the time period change.

[0020] Here, the late-night hours of 11 PM to 7 AM, when electricity rates are low, are considered suitable for preparing hot water, even though bathtub 13 is not currently in use, as shown in the example of operating conditions below. Therefore, it is a time when the system is frequently used. • Example of operating state: "Hot water" is a mode in which hot water storage operation is performed using off-peak electricity, etc., to fill tank 12 with hot water at night. • Example of operating state: "Hot water depletion prevention" is a mode that is activated when the water level in tank 12 decreases, and while supplying water to tank 12, it also heats that water.

[0021] The control unit 14 saves the default effective time period confirmed by the user, "8am to 10pm," or the time period directly entered by the user, "2pm to 4pm," as the input result of S13, as an effective time period included in the time period "7am to 11pm" excluding the late-night period "11pm to 7am." Here, the control unit 14 determines (S14) whether the effective time period for FW updates entered in S13 overlaps with the time period during which the operating state is expected, such as the late-night period set in S11. If the answer in S14 is Yes (if there is an overlap), the process returns to S13 and prompts the user to re-enter the effective time period for FW updates. If the answer in S14 is No, the control unit 14 saves the valid time period for the FW update entered in S14 (S15).

[0022] Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the firmware update process that is executed after the configuration process shown in Figure 3. The control unit 14 determines whether new firmware for FW update exists on the server (S21). If the answer in S21 is Yes, the control unit 14 determines whether the current time falls within the FW update valid time period "8am to 10pm" saved in S15 (S22). If the answer in S22 is Yes, the control unit 14 determines whether the water heater 10 is currently operating (S23). If the answer in S22 is No or in S23 is Yes, the control unit 14 returns to processing in S22.

[0023] If the system is in a stopped state (No) in S23, the control unit 14 starts the FW update using the firmware read from the server 21 (S24). If an unexpected interruption occurs during the FW update in S24, such as a sudden use of the water heater 10 by the user or a power outage, the control unit 14 prioritizes the operation of the water heater 10 by suspending the FW update. After the cause of the interruption is resolved, the control unit 14 retryes the FW update. An operation state due to a sudden use of the water heater 10 by the user occurs, for example, when the amount of hot water in the tank is insufficient during the day or evening, and the tank 12 is filled with hot water by manually performing a hot water storage operation ("tank refilling"). In other words, if the water heater 10 transitions to an operating state after the control unit 14 has started the process of updating the software running on the water heater 10, the control unit 14 will suspend the software update process until the water heater 10 returns to a stopped state.

[0024] Figure 5 shows the display screen of the remote control 15. The remote control 15 displays the following screens in this order: first screen 201 → second screen 202 → third screen 203 → fourth screen 204 → fifth screen 205 → sixth screen 206. The first screen 201 serves as the main menu screen, displaying the system menu selected via the remote control 15 from the tab menu (operation, notifications, system, others), and "Wireless LAN function settings" selected via the remote control 15 from that system menu (power contract settings, factory settings, wireless LAN function settings). When the user presses the "OK" button on the remote control 15 from "Wireless LAN function settings," the first screen 201 transitions to the second screen 202.

[0025] The second screen 202 displays the firmware update setting selected via the remote control 15 from the wireless LAN settings menu (pairing settings, delete all registered devices, firmware update settings). When the user presses the "OK" button on the remote control 15 from "Firmware Update Settings," the second screen 202 transitions to the third screen 203. The third screen 203, as S11 in Figure 3, highlights "Enabled" selected on the remote control 15 from the firmware update setting selection (Enabled, Disabled). When the user presses the "OK" button on the remote control 15 from "Enabled," the setting to enable the wireless LAN is entered (Yes in S12), and the third screen 203 transitions to the fourth screen 204.

[0026] The fourth screen, 204, displays instructions for firmware update settings (please set the time period during which firmware updates can be performed; the remote control will be inoperable for a few minutes during the firmware update). When the user presses the "OK" button on the remote control 15 from this display state, the fourth screen, 204, transitions to the fifth screen, 205. The fifth screen, 205, is designated as S13 in Figure 3 and is a screen for entering the time period for firmware updates. In Figure 5, an input field is displayed that allows the user to directly modify the time value in the range "00:00~00:00". When the user presses the "OK" button on the remote control 15 from this display state, the fifth screen 205 transitions to the sixth screen 206.

[0027] On this fifth screen 205, the control unit 14 prompts the user to input the effective time period from a display screen showing the operating time period, such as the nighttime period "11pm to 7am". The operating time period is a time period that has been set in advance as the expected operating state of the water heater 10. The control unit 14 then saves the valid time period entered from the fifth screen 205, which is a time period that does not overlap with the operating time period (a time period that is marked as No in S14). The control unit 14 may also use the late-night hours when electricity rates are low as the operating time period, and the time period when the water heating function that heats the water stored in the tank of the water heater 10 is operated. Screen 206 (Screen 6) is the screen showing the completion of the firmware update time setting.

[0028] Furthermore, one or more of the following additional information may also be displayed as supplementary information on screen 205 (screen 5). • The late-night time slot set in S11, "for example, 11 PM to 7 AM." • The default effective time period, calculated from the nighttime hours set in S11, is "for example, 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM" (omitted in Figure 5). • The time period for the last firmware update setting (omitted in Figure 5). This prevents the re-entry of input in S13 from occurring as a result of determining Yes in S14.

[0029] In the embodiment described above, the control unit 14 permits a firmware update (S24) if the time period for firmware updates is set in advance (Yes in S22) and the water heater 10 is not currently operating (No in S23), that is, if the water heater 10 is stopped. This allows the control unit 14 to appropriately cancel the firmware update even during the time period previously permitted as the time period for firmware updates if there is a sudden increase in user usage. In other words, the control unit 14 can perform the update of the water heater 10 at an appropriate time while taking into consideration the use of the water heater 10.

[0030] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and it goes without saying that various other applications and modifications can be taken as long as they do not depart from the gist of the invention as described in the claims. For example, the embodiments described above describe the configuration of the hot water supply system 100 in detail and specifically in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and are not necessarily limited to those that include all the components described. Also, it is possible to replace a part of the configuration of one embodiment with a component of another embodiment. It is also possible to add a component of another embodiment to the configuration of one embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to add, replace, or delete other components for a part of the configuration of each embodiment.

[0031] Furthermore, some or all of the above configurations, functions, and processing units may be implemented in hardware, for example, by designing them as integrated circuits. Broadly defined processor devices such as FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays) and ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) may be used as hardware. Furthermore, each component of the hot water supply system 100 according to the above-described embodiment may be implemented on any hardware, as long as the respective hardware can send and receive information from each other via a network. Also, the processing performed by a certain processing unit may be implemented by a single piece of hardware, or by distributed processing by multiple pieces of hardware. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 10 Water heaters 11 Heat pump unit 12 tanks 13 Bathtub 14. Control Unit (Water Heater Control Unit) 15 Remote control 16 Wireless Units 21 servers 22 Networks 23 Wireless Routers 100 Hot water supply system

Claims

1. The system stores a pre-set operating time period for operating the water heater by performing a boiling operation to heat the water stored in the water heater's tank, and an effective time period that does not overlap with the operating time period and permits software updates. The system has a control unit that, when it is currently within the effective time period and the water heater is currently stopped, initiates a process to update the software operating on the water heater. The control unit is characterized in that it operates during the late-night hours when electricity rates are low, and the one hour before and after those late-night hours. Water heater control device.

2. The control unit is characterized in that, after starting the process of updating the software running on the water heater, if the water heater transitions to an operating state, it interrupts the process of updating the software until the water heater returns to a stopped state. The water heater control device according to claim 1.

3. The control unit is characterized by allowing the user to input the effective time period from a display screen that shows the operating time period. The water heater control device according to claim 1.

4. The water heater control device stores a pre-set operating time period for operating the water heater by heating the water stored in the water heater's tank, and a valid time period that does not overlap with the operating time period and permits software updates. The system has a control unit that, when it is currently within the effective time period and the water heater is currently stopped, initiates a process to update the software operating on the water heater. The control unit is characterized in that it operates during the late-night hours when electricity rates are low, and the one hour before and after those late-night hours. Water heater control method.

5. The control unit is characterized in that, after starting the process of updating the software running on the water heater, if the water heater transitions to an operating state, it interrupts the process of updating the software until the water heater returns to a stopped state. The water heater control method according to claim 4.

6. The control unit is characterized by allowing the user to input the effective time period from a display screen that shows the operating time period. The water heater control method according to claim 4.

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