Communication method and control device

Abstract

To provide a communication method that can simplify the work of connecting an apparatus installed in a facility to a router.SOLUTION: A communication method includes a first connection step S12 that accepts a connection using first short-range wireless communication of an apparatus 30 installed in a facility, a registration step S13 that registers the connected apparatus 30 in a control device 20, and a setting step S19 that sets first connection information used for the apparatus 30 to connect to the control device 20, to a router 40 by transmitting the first connection information to the router 40 that can connect to a wide-area communication network.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a communication method and a control device. [Background Art]

[0002] In recent years, the introduction of EMS (Energy Management Systems) into residences has progressed. According to EMS, "visualization", which displays the usage amount of energy such as electricity or gas used in a residence on a monitor, is realized. As a technology related to EMS, Patent Document 1 discloses an EMS device monitoring apparatus capable of accurately monitoring the power consumption of devices. [Prior Art Literature] [Patent Literature]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2013 / 179671 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] The present invention provides a communication method and the like that can simplify the work of connecting a device installed in a facility to a router. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] A communication method according to one aspect of the present invention is a communication method executed by a control device provided in a facility, the method comprising: a first connection step of accepting a connection via first short-range wireless communication from a device provided in the facility; a registration step of registering the connected device in the control device; and a setting step of setting the connection information in the router by transmitting the connection information, which is used by the device to connect to the control device, to a router connectable to a wide area communication network.

[0006] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program that causes the control device to execute the communication method.

[0007] A control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a control device installed in a facility, comprising: a first communication unit that accepts connections of equipment installed in the facility via first short-range wireless communication; a registration unit that registers the equipment connected to the first communication unit with the control device; and a communication control unit that sets the connection information used by the equipment to connect to the control device with the router by transmitting the connection information to a router that can connect to a wide-area communication network using the first communication unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] A communication method, etc., according to one aspect of the present invention can simplify the process of connecting equipment installed in a facility to a router. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a sequence diagram of Example 1 of the registration operation. [Figure 3] Figure 3 shows the key points of Example 1 of the registration process. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a sequence diagram of Example 2 of the registration operation. [Figure 5] Figure 5 shows an example of an equipment list. [Figure 6] Figure 6 shows an example of a notification screen. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection configurations of components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, components in the following embodiments that are not described in an independent claim will be described as optional components.

[0011] Please note that each figure is a schematic diagram and not necessarily a strictly accurate representation. Furthermore, in each figure, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0012] (Embodiment) [composition] First, the configuration of the control system according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the control system according to the embodiment.

[0013] The control system 10 is a system that can display the amount of electricity used in the house 70 on the display unit 22 of the control device 20. Furthermore, the control system 10 is a system that can control multiple devices 30 installed in the house 70 by communicating with them.

[0014] The control system 10 comprises a control device 20, a plurality of devices 30, a router 40, a mobile terminal 50, and a weather information distribution server 60. The control device 20, the plurality of devices 30, and the router 40 are installed inside the residence 70 (more specifically, on the premises of the residence 70), while the weather information distribution server 60 is installed outside the residence 70. The mobile terminal 50 is located inside the residence 70. The residence 70 is an example of a facility, specifically a detached house, but it may also be an apartment building. The control system 10 may also be applied to facilities other than the residence 70, such as accommodation facilities.

[0015] The control device 20 is an EMS controller having an energy management function. The control device 20 manages the power consumption in a residence 70 based on the power usage amount (in other words, power consumption) measured by a power measuring device (not shown). Further, the control device 20 can also perform control of a device 30 communicatively connected to the control device 20. The control device 20 is not limited to an EMS controller, and may be another controller or a gateway device. The control device 20 includes an operation accepting unit 21, a display unit 22, an information processing unit 23, a storage unit 24, a first communication unit 25, and a second communication unit 26.

[0016] The operation accepting unit 21 accepts operations from a resident of the residence 70 or the like. The operation accepting unit 21 is implemented by, for example, a touch panel, but may also be implemented by a hardware key or the like.

[0017] The display unit 22 displays images. The display unit 22 is implemented by, for example, a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) panel. Note that the display unit 22 may be provided separately from the control device 20 in some cases.

[0018] The information processing unit 23 performs display processing and the like for displaying the power consumption in the residence 70 on the display unit 22. The information processing unit 23 is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be implemented by a processor. As functional components, the information processing unit 23 includes an acquisition unit 27, a registration unit 28, and a communication control unit 29. The functions of the acquisition unit 27, the registration unit 28, and the communication control unit 29 are implemented, for example, by a microcomputer or a processor or the like constituting the information processing unit 23 executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 24.

[0019] The storage unit 24 is a storage device that stores a computer program and the like executed by the information processing unit 23. The storage unit 24 is implemented by, for example, a semiconductor memory.

[0020] The first communication unit 25 is a communication circuit for the control device 20 to perform first short-range wireless communication with the devices 30 and the router 40. The communication standard of the first short-range wireless communication is, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark).

[0021] The second communication unit 26 is a communication circuit for the control device 20 to perform second short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 50. The communication standard of the second short-range wireless communication is, for example, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy).

[0022] The plurality of devices 30 are devices installed in a residence 70. At least a part of the plurality of devices 30 is controlled by the control device 20 by being registered in the control device 20. The plurality of devices 30 include lighting equipment, air conditioning equipment, ventilation equipment, air purifiers, electric shutters, electric locks, heat pump water heaters, fuel cell power generation systems, photovoltaic power generation systems, power storage systems, delivery boxes, and chargers / dischargers for electric vehicles, etc.

[0023] The router 40 is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router installed in the residence 70. The router 40 is a device that relays the first short-range wireless communication between the control device 20 and the devices 30, and the control device 20 and the devices 30 are connected to the router 40. Further, the router 40 is connected to a wide area communication network 80 such as the Internet, and the control device 20 and the devices 30 connected to the router 40 can connect to the wide area communication network 80 via the router 40.

[0024] The mobile terminal 50 is a portable information terminal carried by a worker who installs the control device 20 and the plurality of devices 30 in the residence 70, and specifically, it is a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or the like. The mobile terminal 50 can perform second short-range wireless communication with the control device 20.

[0025] The weather information distribution server 60 is a cloud server that distributes weather-related information to the control device 20. The weather information distribution server 60 can communicate with the control device 20 via the wide-area communication network 80. Weather-related information includes weather forecast information and weather warning information. Weather warning information indicates that a warning (including advisories) has been issued for strong winds or heavy rain, etc.

[0026] [Example of registration operation 1] The control device 20 can control the devices 30 registered with the control device 20 in response to operations performed by the resident on the control device 20. Here, if the house 70 is a newly built house or a renovated house, that is, if the house 70 is a house that will be handed over to the resident, the devices 30 are registered with the control device 20 before the house 70 is handed over to the resident. This allows the resident to control the devices 30 immediately after moving in without having to perform any registration work.

[0027] Here, the router 40 is not installed before the dwelling 70 is handed over to the resident, is the resident's property, and is often installed after they move in. Generally, the resident needs to install the router 40 after moving in and connect the control device 20 and the equipment 30 to the router 40.

[0028] In the control system 10, the control device 20 has the function of operating as a Wi-Fi® access point (similar to the function of a router 40). The control system 10 uses this function of the control device 20 to perform a registration operation that simplifies the process for residents to connect the control device 20 and the device 30 to the router 40. An example of such a registration operation 1 is described below. Figure 2 is a sequence diagram of registration operation example 1.

[0029] A worker (for example, someone belonging to a construction company) installs the control device 20 and multiple devices 30 in the house 70. At this time, the router 40 is not installed in the house 70. After installing the control device 20 and multiple devices 30, the worker operates the control device 20 in access point mode (S11). The worker also performs operations such as connecting each of the multiple devices 30 to the control device 20 (first communication unit 25) using first short-range wireless communication, and the first communication unit 25 (communication control unit 29) of the control device 20 accepts the connection of each of the multiple devices 30 to the first communication unit 25 (S12). In other words, the first communication unit 25 (communication control unit 29) permits the connection of each of the multiple devices 30 to the first communication unit 25.

[0030] For example, the operator connects each of the multiple devices 30 to the control device 20 by inputting (performing an input operation) the first connection information pre-configured in the control device 20 to the multiple devices 30. In other words, in step S12, the first connection information is stored in each of the multiple devices 30, and each of the multiple devices 30 connects to the control device 20 using the first connection information. The first connection information includes the SSID (Service Set Identifier) ​​and the encryption key. The SSID is the identification information of the control device 20 when the control device 20 functions as an access point.

[0031] Furthermore, the operator may connect each of the multiple devices 30 to the control unit 20 in accordance with the procedures specified by WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup, registered trademark) or Wi-Fi Easy Connect (registered trademark). In other words, the control unit 20 may be equipped with a function that supports WPS (registered trademark) or Wi-Fi Easy Connect (registered trademark). This allows the operator to connect each of the multiple devices 30 to the control unit 20 without directly entering the SSID and encryption key, and prevents the operator from learning the SSID and encryption key of the control unit 20. In this case as well, the first connection information is stored in each of the multiple devices 30.

[0032] Next, the operator performs an operation to instruct the registration process. The registration unit 28 of the control device 20 performs the registration process for the multiple devices 30 according to the operation received by the operation reception unit 21 (S13). The registration process includes storing (registering) the identification information of the devices 30 in the storage unit 24. Although not shown in Figure 2, the control device 20 and the devices 30 perform first short-range wireless communication as needed during the registration process.

[0033] Subsequently, the house 70 is handed over to the resident, who installs the router 40 in the house 70. The resident gives an instruction to the control device 20 to transmit the first connection information (SSID and encryption key) set in the control device 20 (first communication unit 25), and the operation reception unit 21 receives the instruction (S14). Based on the received instruction, the information processing unit 23 transitions to the first connection information transfer mode (S15). While the first communication unit 25 of the control device 20 is operating in transfer mode, it broadcasts the first connection information via first short-range wireless communication for a predetermined period (for example, 120 seconds) (S16). During this predetermined period, even devices that do not have the first connection information set can receive the first connection information if they are located within the communication range of the first short-range wireless communication.

[0034] Next, the resident issues an instruction to the router 40 to receive the first connection information, and the router 40 accepts the instruction (S17). Based on the accepted instruction, the router 40 transitions to the mode for receiving the first connection information (S18). While operating in the receiving mode, the router 40 monitors the information being broadcast via the first short-range wireless communication and waits for the first connection information.

[0035] Router 40 receives the broadcasted first connection information (S19) and updates the second connection information, which is pre-configured in Router 40, with the received first connection information (S20). In other words, the first connection information is configured in Router 40. After updating the connection information, Router 40 transitions to client mode (S21), connects to the control device 20 using the first connection information via first short-range wireless communication (S22), and sends a completion notification to the control device 20 indicating that the reception of the first connection information is complete (S23).

[0036] The first communication unit 25 of the control device 20 receives a completion notification. The information processing unit 23 transitions from access point mode to client mode upon receiving the completion notification (S24). Meanwhile, the router 40 transitions from client mode to access point mode after sending the completion notification (S25). As a result, the connection destination of the multiple devices 30 is automatically changed from the control device 20 to the router 40 (S26), and the control device 20 also connects to the router 40 (as a client).

[0037] The processes described in steps S11 to S26 above are summarized in Figure 3. Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the key points of Example 1 of the registration operation. The control system 10 sets the first connection information (Figure 3(a)), which was used for the communication connection (communication connection between the control device 20 and the multiple devices 30) for registering the multiple devices 30 with the router 40 after the multiple devices 30 have been registered (Figure 3(b)). As a result, the connection destination of the multiple devices 30 is automatically changed from the control device 20 to the router 40, thus simplifying the process for residents to connect the control device 20 and the devices 30 to the router 40.

[0038] [Example of registration operation 2] Incidentally, the registration of equipment 30 to the control device 20 is performed manually by the worker installing the control device 20 and multiple pieces of equipment 30 in the house 70, while referring to instructions and other documents prepared by the designer of the house 70 (specifically, the designer of electrical equipment). However, workers may forget or make mistakes in the registration process, making it a challenge to prevent the omission of equipment 30 from being registered.

[0039] Therefore, in the control system 10, the control device 20 may automatically register the equipment 30. The registration operation in the control system 10 will be described below. Figure 4 is a sequence diagram of example 2 of the registration operation.

[0040] The designer of the house 70 prepares an equipment list in advance. In other words, the equipment list is prepared by someone other than the worker who will install the control device 20 and the residents of the house 70 (the designer of the house 70). The designer of the house 70 also converts the equipment list into a two-dimensional code and creates a printed sheet of paper with the two-dimensional code. The worker obtains this sheet of paper and reads the two-dimensional code with the mobile terminal 50. The mobile terminal 50 obtains the equipment list by reading the two-dimensional code (S31) (S32). Figure 5 shows an example of an equipment list.

[0041] As shown in Figure 5, the equipment list contains information indicating the identification information of one or more pieces of equipment 30 that should be registered with the control device 20. In Figure 5, for the sake of simplicity, the equipment name (e.g., air conditioning equipment) is used as the identification information.

[0042] In the example shown in Figure 5, the equipment list also includes setting information for equipment 30 (hereinafter also referred to as first setting information). The first setting information includes setting information for function settings and setting information for name settings. Function settings refer to settings that should be set in advance for equipment 30, such as the brightness setting for lighting equipment and the temperature setting for air conditioning equipment. Name settings refer to names that should be set in the control device 20, and often the name is a combination of the type of equipment and the installation location, such as "living room air conditioner".

[0043] Next, the mobile terminal 50 transmits the acquired device list to the control device 20 (second communication unit 26) via second short-range wireless communication (S33). The communication standard for the second short-range wireless communication is different from that of the first short-range wireless communication, but may be the same.

[0044] The second communication unit 26 of the control device 20 receives the device list. The acquisition unit 27 acquires the device list and stores the acquired device list in the storage unit 24 (S34).

[0045] Furthermore, the operator operates the control device 20 in access point mode (S35). The operator also performs operations such as connecting the equipment 30 to the control device 20 via first short-range wireless communication, and the first communication unit 25 (communication control unit 29) of the control device 20 accepts the connection of the equipment 30 to the first communication unit 25 (S36). The processing in steps S35 and S36 is the same as the processing in steps S11 and S12.

[0046] If a device 30 connected to the first communication unit 25 in step S36 is included in the device list acquired in step S34, the registration unit 28 automatically performs the registration process for the device 30 (S37). On the other hand, the registration unit 28 does not perform the registration process for devices 30 that are connected to the first communication unit 25 in step S12 but are not included in the device list.

[0047] Furthermore, if the registration unit 28 determines that the device 30 is included in the device list, it sets the function of the device 30 and sets the name of the device 30 based on the first setting information included in the device list (S38).

[0048] After the processing in step S38, the house 70 is handed over to the resident, and based on the resident's actions, the same processing as in steps S14 to S26 of registration operation example 1 is performed.

[0049] Thus, in the control system 10, after acquiring the equipment list, the control device 20 automatically registers the equipment 30 when it becomes possible to communicate with the equipment 30 included in the equipment list. As a result, once the operator connects the equipment 30 to the control device 20, the remaining processing is performed automatically, thus suppressing the occurrence of equipment 30 being missed in the registration of the equipment 30 to the control device 20.

[0050] Generally, if equipment 30 is not registered, it would require the contractor who designed the house 70, or the construction company that installed the equipment 30, to send visitors to the house 70, but according to registration example 2, such troublesome procedures can be avoided.

[0051] Furthermore, the designer of the house 70 may prepare setting information regarding the settings of the control device 20 (hereinafter also referred to as second setting information) in addition to the equipment list, and in step S22, the second setting information may be acquired by the mobile terminal 50 in addition to the equipment list. In this case, the acquisition unit 27 acquires the second setting information in addition to the equipment list, and the registration unit 28 configures the control device 20 based on the acquired second setting information.

[0052] An example of a setting for the control device 20 is the setting for scene control. Scene control is a function that allows multiple devices 30 to be controlled at once. For example, if a scene control to turn on the lighting equipment, turn on the air conditioning equipment, and open the electric shutter is set in the control device 20 in advance, the resident can turn on the lighting equipment, turn on the air conditioning equipment, and open the electric shutter by operating the operation reception unit 21 (for example, with a one-touch operation).

[0053] The designer of the house 70 converts the second setting information, which indicates the scene control settings (how each device 30 should operate), into a two-dimensional code and creates a printed sheet of paper with this two-dimensional code. This enables the automation of scene control settings.

[0054] Another setting for the control device 20 is the on / off setting for the weather warning linkage function. The weather warning linkage function is a function that causes the device 30 to perform a predetermined operation in preparation for a power outage in the near future (a power outage caused by strong winds or heavy rain, etc.) when the control device 20 receives (acquires) weather warning information from the weather information distribution server 60 (when a weather warning has been issued). For example, if the device 30 includes a battery storage system, a heat pump water heater, and a fuel cell power generation system, when a weather warning is issued, the battery storage system will charge the battery, the heat pump water heater will heat water, and the fuel cell power generation system will perform a startup process (a process that uses electricity to transition to a state where power generation is possible).

[0055] The designer of House 70 will create a two-dimensional code for the second setting information indicating whether the weather warning linkage function is set (on or off), and will prepare a printed sheet of paper with this two-dimensional code. This will enable the automation of setting the weather warning linkage function.

[0056] [Variations on how to obtain the equipment list] Furthermore, a method for obtaining a device list without using the mobile terminal 50 (two-dimensional code) is also possible. If the control device 20 is equipped with a connection interface such as an SD card (registered trademark) slot or a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector, the control device 20 (acquisition unit 27) may acquire the device list from a recording medium (SD card (registered trademark) or USB memory) connected to the said connection interface.

[0057] For example, the designer of house 70 records the equipment list on a recording medium. The worker obtains this recording medium and connects it to the control device 20. As a result, the acquisition unit 27 can acquire the equipment list.

[0058] The method of obtaining the equipment list using the recording medium described above has the advantage that the control device 20 can obtain the equipment list even when the control device 20 is unable to perform the second short-range wireless communication using the second communication unit 26.

[0059] [Notification of the presence of unregistered devices] As described above, the control system 10 automatically registers the equipment 30 included in the equipment list, but if the equipment 30 is not connected to the control device 20, the equipment 30 cannot be registered. In other words, there is a possibility that the equipment 30 included in the equipment list may not be registered due to installation errors by the operator or other reasons.

[0060] Therefore, the control device 20 may issue a notification if there is a device that is included in the device list but is not registered with the control device 20.

[0061] For example, if the registration unit 28 detects that there are still unregistered devices in the device list even after a certain period of time has elapsed since the registration of one device 30 included in the device list was completed, it displays a notification screen on the display unit 22. Figure 6 is an example of a notification screen.

[0062] As shown in Figure 6, the registration unit 28 displays, for example, the identification information (name) of an unregistered device 30 on the display unit 22. This allows the operator to easily identify which device 30 is unregistered and to easily check whether there is anything wrong with the unregistered device 30.

[0063] It is not mandatory for notifications from the registration unit 28 to be realized by displaying a notification screen; notifications from the registration unit 28 may also be realized by sound output from a speaker (not shown) provided by the control device 20. Furthermore, notifications from the registration unit 28 may be realized by a combination of displaying a notification screen and sound output from the speaker.

[0064] [Effects, etc.] The following describes examples of inventions that can be obtained from the disclosures in this specification, and explains the effects and other benefits that can be obtained from such inventions.

[0065] Invention 1 is a communication method performed by a control device 20 installed in a dwelling 70, and includes a first connection step S12 (or S36) of accepting a connection of a device 30 installed in the dwelling 70 by first short-range wireless communication, a registration step S13 (or S37) of registering the connected device 30 with the control device 20, and a setting step S19 of setting the first connection information in the router 40 by transmitting the first connection information used by the device 30 to connect to the control device 20 to a router 40 that can be connected to a wide-area communication network 80. Dwelling 70 is an example of a facility.

[0066] With this communication method, the first connection information is set in the router 40, which allows the connection destination of the device 30 to be changed from the control device 20 to the router 40. Therefore, this communication method simplifies the process of connecting the device 30 installed in the house 70 to the router 40.

[0067] Invention 2 is the communication method of Invention 1, wherein the connection information includes identification information of the control device 20.

[0068] With this communication method, the first connection information, which includes the identification information of the control device 20, is set in the router 40, thereby changing the connection destination of the device 30 from the control device 20 to the router 40. Therefore, this communication method simplifies the process of connecting the device 30 installed in the house 70 to the router 40.

[0069] Invention 3 is a communication method according to Invention 1 or 2, wherein the person who operates the control device 20 to perform the first connection step S12 (or S36) is different from the person who operates the control device 20 to perform the setting step S19.

[0070] This communication method allows another person (resident) who wants to connect device 30 to router 40 to use the connection made by the person (worker) who connected device 30 to control device 20, thereby simplifying the process of connecting device 30 to router 40.

[0071] Invention 4 further includes an acquisition step S34 in which a device list is obtained from the mobile terminal 50 by performing a second short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal 50, and in the registration step S37, the devices 30 included in the device list that are connected to the control device 20 are registered with the control device 20, wherein this is a communication method according to any of Inventions 1 to 3.

[0072] This communication method allows you to register devices 30 that are included in the device list, thereby preventing devices 30 that are not included in the device list from being mistakenly registered.

[0073] Invention 5 is a communication method of Invention 4, wherein the mobile terminal 50 obtains a device list by reading a two-dimensional code and transmits the obtained device list to the control device 20 via second short-range wireless communication.

[0074] This communication method allows the mobile terminal 50 to read a two-dimensional code, thereby retrieving a list of devices stored in the mobile terminal 50.

[0075] Invention 6 is a communication method according to any of Inventions 1 to 5, wherein the communication standard for the first short-range wireless communication is Wi-Fi (registered trademark), and the first connection step is performed according to the procedure specified by WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup, registered trademark) or Wi-Fi Easy Connect (registered trademark).

[0076] With this communication method, a person operating the control device 20 to perform the first connection step S12 (or S36) can connect the device 30 to the control device 20 without directly inputting the first connection information. Therefore, the communication method can prevent the person operating the control device 20 to perform the first connection step S12 (or S36) from knowing the first connection information of the control device 20.

[0077] Invention 7 is a program that causes the control device 20 to execute any of the communication methods of Inventions 1 to 6.

[0078] According to this program, by setting the first connection information in the router 40, the connection destination of the device 30 can be changed from the control device 20 to the router 40. Therefore, the program can simplify the process of connecting the device 30 installed in the house 70 to the router 40.

[0079] Invention 8 is a control device 20 installed in a house 70, comprising: a first communication unit 25 that accepts connections of equipment 30 installed in the house 70 via first short-range wireless communication; a registration unit 28 that registers equipment 30 connected to the first communication unit 25 with the control device 20; and a communication control unit 29 that sets first connection information in a router 40 that can connect to a wide-area communication network 80 by transmitting first connection information used by equipment 30 to connect to the control device 20 using the first communication unit 25.

[0080] With such a control device 20, the connection destination of the device 30 can be changed from the control device 20 to the router 40 by setting the first connection information in the router 40. Therefore, the control device 20 can simplify the process of connecting the device 30 installed in the house 70 to the router 40.

[0081] (Other embodiments) Although embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0082] For example, in the above embodiment, the control system was implemented by multiple devices. In this case, the components of the control system may be distributed among the multiple devices in any way. Alternatively, the control system may be implemented by a single device.

[0083] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the processing performed by a specific processing unit may be performed by another processing unit. Also, the order of multiple processing units may be changed, or multiple processing units may be executed in parallel.

[0084] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may also be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0085] Furthermore, each component may be implemented by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or they may be separate circuits. Also, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0086] Furthermore, general or specific embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. Alternatively, they may be implemented as any combination of a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0087] For example, the present invention may be implemented as a control device or control system according to the above embodiment. Alternatively, the present invention may be implemented as a method executed by a control device or control system, or as a program for causing a computer to execute such a method. The present invention may also be implemented as a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0088] Furthermore, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art could conceive, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0089] 10 Control Systems 20 Control device 21 Operation Reception Section 22 Display section 23 Information Processing Department 24 Memory section 25. First Communications Department 26. Second Communications Department 27 Acquisition Department 28 Registration Department 29 Communication Control Unit 30 equipment 40 routers 50 Mobile devices 60 Weather Information Distribution Server 70 Housing (Facilities) 80 Wide-area telecommunications network

Claims

1. A communication method executed by a control device installed in a facility, A first connection step that accepts a connection of equipment installed in the aforementioned facility via first short-range wireless communication, A registration step of registering the connected device with the control device, The set step includes transmitting the connection information used by the device to connect to the control device to a router that can connect to a wide-area communication network, thereby setting the connection information to the router. Communication method.

2. The connection information includes identification information of the control device. The communication method according to claim 1.

3. The person who operates the control device to perform the first connection step and the person who operates the control device to perform the setting step are different people. The communication method according to claim 1.

4. Furthermore, the process includes an acquisition step of obtaining a device list from the mobile terminal by performing a second short-range wireless communication with the mobile terminal. In the registration step, the devices included in the device list that are connected to the control device are registered with the control device. The communication method according to claim 1.

5. The mobile terminal obtains the device list by reading the two-dimensional code and transmits the obtained device list to the control device via the second short-range wireless communication. The communication method according to claim 4.

6. The communication standard for the aforementioned first short-range wireless communication is Wi-Fi (registered trademark). The first connection step is performed in accordance with the procedures specified by WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup, registered trademark) or Wi-Fi Easy Connect (registered trademark). The communication method according to claim 1.

7. A program for causing the control device to execute the communication method described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A control device installed in the facility, A first communication unit that accepts connections from equipment installed in the aforementioned facility via first short-range wireless communication, A registration unit that registers the equipment connected to the first communication unit with the control device, The device comprises a communication control unit that transmits connection information used to connect the device to the control device to a router that can connect to a wide-area communication network using the first communication unit, thereby setting the connection information to the router. Control device.

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