Equipment management system, equipment management device, relay device, equipment management method and program

Abstract

The device management system includes a relay device (1) capable of communicating with a device (3) via a local network, a cloud server (2) capable of communicating with the relay device (1) via a wide area network and managing the device (3), and a terminal device (4) capable of communicating with the relay device (1) via the local network. When the relay device (1) acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device (4), it transmits the relay device information to the terminal device (4). When the terminal device (4) acquires the relay device information, it transmits relay device identification information and user identification information included in the acquired relay device information to the cloud server (2). When the cloud server (2) acquires the user identification information and relay device identification information transmitted from the terminal device (4), it stores the acquired user identification information and relay device identification information in a device information storage unit (231) in association with each other.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] A system has been proposed that includes a relay device that can be connected to multiple devices and a device control device connected to the relay device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the relay device searches for devices connected to the relay device and transmits address information of the searched devices to the device control device, and the device control device manages the address information of the searched devices received from the relay device in association with the address information of the relay device. Then, in response to a user input, the device control device transmits a control message to the relay device that includes address information of one device that controls one of the searched devices, and the relay device converts the control message received from the device control device into a control message addressed to one device using a predetermined method and transmits the control message to one device. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-204808 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, in the system described in Patent Document 1, there is a demand for associating a relay device with a user of the device, so that when, for example, the owner of the relay device is changed, the device control device can be restricted from controlling the device via the relay device, thereby preventing the device from being operated in an inappropriate manner.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned reasons, and aims to provide a device management system, a device management device, a relay device, a device management method, and a program that can prevent devices from being operated inappropriately. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the device management system according to the present disclosure includes: a first relay device capable of communicating with the device via a first network; a device management device that is capable of communicating with the first relay device via a second network different from the first network and that manages the device; a terminal device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, the device management device has a device information storage unit that stores device identification information for identifying the device, first relay device identification information for identifying the first relay device, and user identification information for identifying a user of the device in a mutually associated manner, and transmits device search request information to the first relay device to request a search for the device that can communicate with the first relay device via the first network, to the first relay device, thereby acquiring first device information including the device identification information and the first relay device identification information transmitted from the first relay device, and stores the device identification information and the first relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information in a mutually associated manner in the device information storage unit, and upon acquiring the user identification information, the first relay device identification information, and device identification information transmitted from the terminal device, stores the acquired user identification information, the first relay device identification information, and device identification information in a mutually associated manner in the device information storage unit; When the first relay device acquires the device discovery request information, the first relay device acquires the second device information transmitted from the device via the first network by transmitting device information request information to the device that can communicate with the first relay device via the first network, the device information request information requesting the device to transmit second device information including the device identification information, and generates and transmits the first device information including the device identification information and the first relay device identification information included in the acquired second device information to the device management device; when the first relay device acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device, the first relay device transmits the relay device information including the first relay device identification information to the terminal device; When the terminal device acquires the relay device information and the first device information, it transmits the first relay device identification information included in the acquired relay device information and the device identification information and the user identification information included in the acquired first device information to the device management device. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, when a relay device acquires relay device information request information transmitted from a terminal device, the relay device transmits the relay device information to the terminal device, and when the terminal device acquires the relay device information, the relay device transmits the first relay device identification information and the user identification information included in the acquired relay device information to the device management device. Then, when the device management device acquires the user identification information and the first relay device identification information transmitted from the terminal device, the device management device stores the acquired user identification information and the first relay device identification information in a device information storage unit in association with each other. This allows the first relay device identification information and the device identification information to be managed in association with the user identification information, and therefore it is possible to prevent the device identified by the device identification information from being inappropriately operated by a user other than the user identified by the user identification information associated with the device identification information. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a device management system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a device management system according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a device management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a device information storage unit according to the first embodiment; [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a device information storage unit according to the first embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment; [Figure 8] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of relay processing executed by a relay device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 9] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device management process executed by a cloud server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a device management system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a device management system according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a device information storage unit according to the second embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 15] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of relay processing executed by a relay device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a device management system according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 17] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a device management system according to a third embodiment. [Figure 18]FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a communication quality storage unit according to the third embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the device management system according to the third embodiment. [Figure 21] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of relay processing executed by a relay device according to a third embodiment. [Figure 22] A flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device management process executed by a cloud server according to a third embodiment. [Figure 23] FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a device management system according to a modified example. [Figure 24] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a delay time history storage unit according to a modified example. [Diagram 25] 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device management process executed by a cloud server according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, a device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The device management system according to the embodiment includes a first relay device capable of communicating with a device via a first network, a device management device capable of communicating with the first relay device via a second network different from the first network and controlling the device, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network. The device management device has a device information storage unit that stores device identification information identifying a device, first relay device identification information identifying the first relay device, and user identification information identifying a user of the device in association with each other, and transmits device search request information requesting a search for the device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network to the first relay device, thereby acquiring first device information including the device identification information and the first relay device identification information transmitted from the first relay device, and stores the device identification information and the first relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information in association with each other in the device information storage unit, and when the user identification information and relay device identification information transmitted from the terminal device are acquired, the acquired user identification information and the relay device identification information are stored in association with each other in the device information storage unit. When the first relay device acquires device search request information, it transmits device information request information to a device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, requesting that the device transmit second device information including device identification information, thereby acquiring second device information transmitted from the device via the first network, generating first device information including device identification information contained in the acquired second device information and transmitting it to the device management device, and when it acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device, requesting that the first relay device transmit relay device information including the first relay device identification information, it transmits the relay device information to the terminal device. When the terminal device acquires the relay device information, it transmits the first relay device identification information and user identification information contained in the acquired relay device information to the device management device.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the device management system according to the present embodiment includes a cloud server 2 and a relay device 1 that acquires control information transmitted from the cloud server 2 and transmits the acquired control information to a device 3. The cloud server 2 is capable of communicating with the relay device 1 via a wide area network NW1 and a gateway device 8, and is a device management device that manages the device 3. The device 3 and the relay device 1 are capable of communicating with each other via local networks NW21 and NW22. The wide area network NW1 is, for example, the Internet. The local networks NW21 and NW22 are, for example, wireless LANs (Local Area Networks). Furthermore, a terminal device 4 owned by a user is capable of communicating with the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1.

[0011] The device 3 is, for example, an air conditioner equipped with a wireless module, and communicates with the relay device 1 via the local networks NW21 and NW22 using communication middleware such as ECHONETLite (registered trademark). When the device 3 acquires device information request information transmitted from the relay device 1, the device 3 transmits device information including device identification information for identifying the device itself to the relay device 1 in response to the request. Here, the device identification information is, for example, IP address information assigned to the device 3 within the local networks NW21 and NW22 to which the device 3 belongs. The device 3 also transmits device status information indicating the state of the device itself to the cloud server 2 via the relay device 1. When a preset device status notification time arrives, the device 3 generates device status information in response to the request and transmits the generated device status information to the cloud server 2 via the relay device 1.

[0012] The terminal device 4 is, for example, a smartphone, and includes, as shown in FIG. 2, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 401, a main memory unit 402, an auxiliary memory unit 403, a display unit 404, an input unit 405, a wide area communication unit 406, a local communication unit 407, and a bus 409 connecting these units to each other. The main memory unit 402 has a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as a working area for the CPU 401. The auxiliary memory unit 403 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs for the CPU 401 to execute various processes. The display unit 404 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The input unit 405 is, for example, a transparent touch pad arranged on top of the display unit 404. The local communication unit 407 is connected to the local networks NW21 and NW22, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 401 to the relay device 1 via the local networks NW21 and NW22, and transfers information received from the relay device 1 via the local networks NW21 and NW22 to the CPU 401. The local communication unit 407 communicates with the relay device 1 based on a first communication protocol conforming to the ECHONETLite standard, for example. The wide area communication unit 406 is connected to the wide area network NW1, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 401 to the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1, and transfers information received from the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1 to the CPU 401. The first communication protocol is not limited to the communication protocol conforming to the ECHONETLite standard described above, and may be a communication protocol set in advance and dedicated to the device management system according to this embodiment. The wide area communication unit 406 communicates with the cloud server 2 based on a second communication protocol such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT).

[0013] The CPU 401 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 403 into the main storage unit 402 and executes them, thereby functioning as a device registration request unit 411, a relay device search unit 412, a connected device information acquisition unit 413, a display control unit 414, a registered device notification unit 415, a user information setting unit 416, an operation information notification unit 417, and a device status acquisition unit 418, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 403 shown in Fig. 2 also has a connected device information storage unit 431, a user information storage unit 432 that stores user information related to the user of the terminal device 4, and a device status storage unit 433, as shown in Fig. 3. The connected device information storage unit 431 stores device identification information of the relay device 1 that can communicate with the terminal device 4 and the devices 3 that can communicate with the terminal device 4 via the local networks NW21 and NW22.

[0014] The user information storage unit 432 stores user identification information for identifying a user of the terminal device 4 and authentication information for authenticating the user in the cloud server 2. Here, the authentication information may be, for example, password information preset for the user. The device status storage unit 433 stores parameter information indicating at least one of the operation status of each device 3 used by the user and the surrounding environment of the device 3 in association with the device identification information of the device 3.

[0015] When the user performs a device registration start operation on the input unit 405, the relay device searching unit 412 accepts the device registration start operation and generates relay device information request information that requests the relay device 1 connected to the local networks NW21 and NW22 to which the terminal device 4 is connected to transmit relay device information including relay device identification information that identifies the relay device 1. Here, the relay device identification information is, for example, IP address information that identifies the relay device 1 in the wide area network NW1. Then, the relay device searching unit 412 broadcasts the generated relay device information request information via the local networks NW21 and NW22 to acquire the relay device information transmitted from the relay device 1. In addition, the relay device searching unit 412 notifies the device registration request unit 411 and the connected device information acquisition unit 413 of the relay device identification information included in the acquired relay device information.

[0016] The connected device information acquisition unit 413 generates connected device information request information that includes the relay device identification information notified from the relay device search unit 412 and requests the cloud server 2 to transmit connected device information. Here, the connected device information includes device identification information of the relay device 1 identified by the relay device identification information included in the connected device information request information and each of the devices 3 that can communicate via the local networks NW21 and NW22. The connected device information acquisition unit 413 transmits the generated connected device information request information to the cloud server 2 to acquire the connected device information transmitted from the cloud server 2, and stores the device identification information included in the acquired connected device information in the connected device information storage unit 431.

[0017] When the user performs an operation to request an update of a registration target device on the input unit 405, the device registration request unit 411 accepts the operation to request an update of the registration target device and generates connected device information update request information including relay device identification information. Then, the connected device information acquisition unit 413 transmits the generated connected device information update request information to the cloud server 2. The cloud server 2 identifies a relay device to be updated for the connected device information update from the relay device identification information included in the connected device information update request information, and transmits device search request information to the relay device. Note that, although an example in which the cloud server 2 manages the connected device information has been shown in the present embodiment, a configuration in which the connected device information is managed by the relay device and the terminal device 4 acquires the connected device information from the relay device 1 may be used.

[0018] The display control unit 414 forms a connected device notification image for notifying a user of relay devices 1 (1A, 1B) with which the terminal device 4 can communicate via local networks NW21, NW22 and devices 3 with which it can communicate, based on the device identification information stored in the connected device information storage unit 431, and causes the display unit 404 to display the image. In addition, when the user performs a device status viewing operation on the input unit 405 to view the status of the device 3, the display control unit 414 accepts the device status viewing operation and forms a device status notification image using parameter information stored in the device status storage unit 433, and causes the display unit 404 to display the image.

[0019] For example, when the user performs a registration device selection operation on the input unit 405 to select a device 3 to be registered in the cloud server 2 as a device 3 that the user can operate while a connected device notification image is displayed on the display unit 404, the registered device notification unit 415 accepts the registration device selection operation and generates registration target device notification information including device identification information of the selected device 3, user identification information, authentication information, and relay device identification information of the relay device 1 that can communicate with the terminal device 4. Then, the registered device notification unit 415 transmits the generated registration target device notification information to the cloud server 2. When the user performs a user registration operation on the input unit 405 to register user identification information and authentication information, the user information setting unit 416 accepts the user registration operation and stores the user identification information and the authentication information in the user information storage unit 432.

[0020] When the user performs a device operation on input unit 405 to change the settings of device 3, operation information notifying unit 417 accepts the device operation and generates operation information including user identification information, authentication information, and device identification information of device 3 to be operated, and indicating device contents for device 3. Then, operation information notifying unit 417 transmits the generated operation information to cloud server 2. When device status acquiring unit 418 acquires device status notification information transmitted from cloud server 2, it updates the parameter information stored in device status storage unit 433 using the parameter information and device identification information of each device 3 included in the acquired device status notification information.

[0021] Returning to Fig. 2, the cloud server 2 includes a CPU 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, a communication unit 206, and a bus 209 connecting the various units. The CPU 201 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 202 is made up of a volatile memory and is used as a working area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory unit 203 is made up of a large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of the cloud server 2. The communication unit 206 is connected to a wide area network NW1.

[0022] The CPU 201 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as a device search request unit 211, a device information acquisition unit 212, a connected device information notification unit 213, a device information setting unit 214, an operation information acquisition unit 216, an authentication unit 217, a control information generation unit 218, and a control information notification unit 219, as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in FIG. 2 also has a device information storage unit 231, as shown in FIG. 3. The device information storage unit 231 stores device identification information of the device 3, relay device identification information of the relay device 1 that can be notified via the device 3 and the local networks NW21 and NW22, user identification information, and authentication information, in association with each other, as shown in FIG. 4A, for example. The device information storage unit 231 may store only the user identification information. In this case, an authentication information storage unit (not shown) that stores the authentication information in association with the user identification information may be provided. The device state storage unit 232 stores parameter information indicating at least one of the operation state of each device 3 and the surrounding environment of the device 3 in association with the device identification information of the device 3, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example.

[0023] 3, when the device search request unit 211 acquires device registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it generates device search request information that requests the relay device 1 to search for a device 3 that can communicate with the relay device 1 via the local networks NW21 and NW22. Then, the device search request unit 211 transmits the generated device search request information to the relay device 1. The device information acquisition unit 212 acquires device information transmitted from the relay device 1 by transmitting the device search request information to the relay device 1, extracts device identification information of the device 3 and relay device identification information of the relay device 1 that is the transmission source of the device information, which are included in the acquired device information, and stores the extracted device identification information and relay device identification information in the device information storage unit 231 in association with each other.

[0024] When the connected device information notification unit 213 acquires the above-mentioned connected device information request information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it identifies device identification information corresponding to the relay device identification information included in the acquired connected device information request information from the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the connected device information notification unit 213 generates connected device information including the identified device identification information and transmits it to the terminal device 4. When the device information setting unit 214 acquires the above-mentioned registration target device notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it stores the user identification information and authentication information included in the acquired registration target device notification information in the device information storage unit 231 in association with a combination of the device identification information and relay device identification information included in the acquired registration target device notification information.

[0025] When the operation information acquisition unit 216 acquires the operation information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it notifies the authentication unit 217 of the acquired operation information. The authentication unit 217 refers to the user identification information and authentication information stored in the device information storage unit 231, and executes authentication processing based on the user identification information and authentication information included in the operation information. Here, the authentication unit 217 determines that the authentication is successful when the combination of the device identification information, user identification information, and authentication information of the device 3 to be operated, which is included in the operation information, exists among the combinations stored in the device information storage unit 231. On the other hand, the authentication unit 217 determines that the authentication is unsuccessful when the combination of the device identification information, user identification information, and authentication information of the device 3 to be operated, which is included in the operation information, does not exist among the combinations stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, when the authentication unit 217 determines that the authentication is successful, it notifies the control information generation unit 218 of the operation information. The control information generating unit 218 generates control information for controlling the device 3 based on the operation content indicated by the notified operation information and the device identification information. The control information notifying unit 219 specifies relay device identification information corresponding to the device identification information of the device 3 to be controlled stored in the device information storage unit 231, encapsulates the generated control information by adding header information for transmission to the relay device 1 identified by the specified relay device identification information, and transmits the encapsulated control information to the relay device 1.

[0026] When the device status acquisition unit 226 acquires encapsulated device status information transmitted from the relay device 1, it extracts parameter information of the device 3 included in the acquired device status information, and stores the extracted parameter information in association with the device identification information of the device 3 that is the transmission source of the device status information. When the device status notification unit 227 acquires operation information indicating the above-mentioned device status viewing operation transmitted from the terminal device 4, it notifies the authentication unit 217 of the acquired operation information. Then, when the authentication unit 217 determines that the authentication is successful, the device status notification unit 227 generates device status notification information including the parameter information and device identification information of the device 3 stored in the device status storage unit 232, and transmits the generated device status notification information to the terminal device 4.

[0027] 2, the relay device 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a communication unit 106, and a bus 109 connecting the respective units. The main memory unit 102 is a volatile memory and is used as a working area for the CPU 101, and the auxiliary memory unit 103 has a non-volatile memory and stores programs for realizing various functions of the relay device 1. The communication unit 106 communicates with the device 3 and the gateway device 8 via the local networks NW21 and NW22.

[0028] In the relay device 1, the CPU 101 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a search request acquisition unit 111, a device search unit 112, a device information notification unit 113, a relay device information notification unit 114, a control information acquisition unit 115, and a control information transmission unit 116, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Fig. 2 also has a device information storage unit 131 and a relay device information storage unit 132, as shown in Fig. 3. The device information storage unit 131 stores device identification information of each of the devices 3 that can communicate with the relay device 1 via the local networks NW21 and NW22. The relay device information storage unit 132 stores relay device identification information that identifies the relay device 1 that is preset in the relay device 1.

[0029] When the search request acquisition unit 111 acquires the above-mentioned device search request information transmitted from the cloud server 2, it notifies the device search unit 112 of the acquired device search request information. When the device search unit 112 acquires the device search request information, it broadcasts device information request information requesting transmission of device information to all devices 3 connected to the local networks NW21 and NW22 to which the relay device 1 is connected. In response to this, the device search unit 112 acquires device information transmitted from each device 3, and stores device identification information included in the acquired device information in the device information storage unit 131. The device information notification unit 113 generates device information including the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131, and transmits the generated device information to the cloud server 2. When the relay device information notification unit 114 acquires the above-mentioned relay device information request information from the terminal device 4 via the local networks NW21 and NW22, it transmits relay device information including the relay device identification information stored in the relay device information storage unit 132 to the terminal device 4 in response to this.

[0030] When the control information acquisition unit 115 acquires the above-mentioned encapsulated control information transmitted from the cloud server 2, the control information acquisition unit 115 executes a decapsulation process for removing header information from the acquired control information. Then, the control information acquisition unit 115 notifies the control information transmission unit 116 of the decapsulated control information. Based on the device identification information included in the notified control information, the control information transmission unit 116 transmits the control information to the device 3 identified by the device identification information. When the device status acquisition unit 121 acquires the device status information transmitted from the device 3, the device status notification unit 122 notifies the acquired device status information. When the device status notification unit 122 is notified of the device status information, the device status notification unit 122 encapsulates the notified device status information by adding header information for transmission to the cloud server 2, and transmits the encapsulated device status information to the cloud server 2.

[0031] Next, the operation of the device management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. First, as shown in Fig. 5, when a user performs the above-mentioned device registration start operation via the terminal device 4, the terminal device 4 accepts the device registration start operation and generates relay device information request information for requesting the relay devices 1A and 1B with which the terminal device 4 can communicate via the local networks NW21 and NW22 to transmit relay device information (step S1). Next, the generated relay device information request information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the relay devices 1A and 1B (step S2). On the other hand, when the relay devices 1A and 1B acquire the relay device information request information, in response to this, the relay device information including the relay device identification information stored in the relay device information storage unit 132 is transmitted from the relay devices 1A and 1B to the terminal device 4 (step S3).

[0032] Furthermore, when the terminal device 4 acquires the relay device information, it extracts relay device identification information included in the acquired relay device information, and generates the above-mentioned device registration request information including the extracted relay device identification information (step S4). Next, the generated device registration request information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S5). Meanwhile, when the cloud server 2 acquires the device registration request information from the terminal device 4, it generates the above-mentioned device search request information in response to the device registration request information (step S6). Then, the generated device search request information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the relay devices 1A and 1B (step S7). Meanwhile, when the relay devices 1A and 1B acquire the device search request information, respectively, the above-mentioned device information request information is broadcast from the relay devices 1A and 1B to the devices 3A and 3B that can communicate with them via the local networks NW21 and NW22 (steps S8 and S9). On the other hand, when the devices 3A and 3B acquire the device information request information, the device information including the device identification information of the devices 3A and 3B is transmitted from the devices 3A and 3B to the relay devices 1A and 1B (steps S10 and S11). On the other hand, when the relay devices 1A and 1B acquire the device information, the relay devices 1A and 1B store the device identification information of the devices 3A and 3B included in the acquired device information in the device information storage unit 131, and generate device information including the device identification information and the relay device identification information of the relay devices 1A and 1B (step S12). After that, the generated device information is transmitted from the relay devices 1A and 1B to the cloud server 2 (step S13). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the device information, it extracts the device identification information and the relay device identification information included in the acquired device information, and stores the extracted device identification information and the relay device identification information in the device information storage unit 231 in association with each other (step S14).

[0033] Moreover, the terminal device 4 generates the above-mentioned connection device information request information including the relay device identification information (step S15). Then, the generated connection device information request information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S16). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the connection device information request information, it extracts the relay device identification information included in the acquired connection device information request information, and identifies the device identification information corresponding to the extracted relay device identification information from the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the cloud server 2 generates connection device information including the identified device identification information (step S17). After that, as shown in FIG. 6, the generated connection device information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the terminal device 4 (step S18). On the other hand, when the terminal device 4 acquires the connection device information, it forms a connection device notification image using the connection device identification information included in the acquired connection device information, and displays it on the display unit 404 (step S19).

[0034] Here, it is assumed that the user who owns the terminal device 4 performs a registration device selection operation to select the devices 3A and 3B to be registered in the cloud server 2 while the above-mentioned connected device notification image is displayed on the display unit 404 of the terminal device 4. In this case, the terminal device 4 accepts the registration device selection operation and generates registration target device notification information including the device identification information of the devices 3A and 3B selected by the registration device selection operation and the user identification information and authentication information stored in the user information storage unit 432 (step S20). Next, the generated registration target device notification information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S21). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the registration target device notification information, it extracts the device identification information, user identification information, and authentication information included in the acquired registration target device notification information, and stores the extracted user identification information and authentication information in the device information storage unit 231 in association with the extracted device identification information (step S22).

[0035] Also, assume that the user performs a device operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to change the settings of the devices 3A and 3C. In this case, the terminal device 4 accepts the device operation and generates operation information including information indicating the changed settings of the devices 3A and 3C, device identification information, user identification information, and authentication information (step S23), and the generated operation information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S24). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the operation information, it executes an authentication process using the user identification information and authentication information included in the acquired operation information. Then, when the cloud server 2 determines that the authentication is successful (step S25), it generates control information for changing the settings of the devices 3A and 3C based on the operation information (step S26). Next, the generated control information is encapsulated and then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the relay devices 1A and 1B (step S27). On the other hand, when the relay devices 1A and 1B acquire the control information, they decapsulate the acquired control information, and the decapsulated control information is transmitted from the relay devices 1A and 1B to the devices 3A and 3C (step S28). On the other hand, when the devices 3A and 3C acquire the control information, they start operating with the changed settings based on the acquired control information (step S29).

[0036] After that, when the above-mentioned device status notification time arrives, as shown in FIG. 7, the devices 3A and 3C generate device status information (step S30), and the generated device status information is transmitted from the devices 3A and 3C to the relay devices 1A and 1B (step S31). On the other hand, when the relay devices 1A and 1B acquire the device status information, they perform encapsulation for transmitting the acquired device status information to the cloud server 2, and then the encapsulated device status information is transmitted from the relay devices 1A and 1B to the cloud server 2 (step S32). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the device status information, it updates the parameter information of the devices 3A and 3C stored in the device status storage unit 232 using the parameter information and device identification information of the devices 3A and 3C included in the acquired device status information (step S33). In addition, the devices 3B and 3D also generate device status information (step S34), and the generated device status information is transmitted from the devices 3B and 3D to the relay devices 1A and 1B (step S35). On the other hand, when the relay devices 1A and 1B acquire the device status information, they perform encapsulation for transmitting the acquired device status information to the cloud server 2, and then the encapsulated device status information is transmitted from the relay devices 1A and 1B to the cloud server 2 (step S36). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the device status information, it updates the parameter information of the devices 3B and 3D stored in the device status storage unit 232 by using the parameter information and device identification information of the devices 3B and 3D included in the acquired device status information (step S37).

[0037] Next, it is assumed that the user performs a device status viewing operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to view the status of the devices 3A and 3C (3B and 3D). In this case, the terminal device 4 accepts the device status viewing operation and generates operation information including device identification information, user identification information, and authentication information (step S38), and the generated operation information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S39). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the operation information, it executes an authentication process using the user identification information and authentication information included in the acquired operation information. Then, when the cloud server 2 determines that the authentication is successful (step S40), it generates device status notification information including the parameter information and device identification information of the devices 3A and 3C (3B and 3D) stored in the device status storage unit 232 based on the operation information (step S41). Then, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the terminal device 4 (step S42). On the other hand, when the terminal device 4 acquires the device status notification information, it uses the parameter information and device identification information of the devices 3A, 3C (3B, 3D) contained in the acquired device status notification information to store the parameter information of the devices 3A, 3C (3B, 3D) in the device status memory unit 433, and forms a device status notification image based on the parameter information and device identification information stored in the device status memory unit 433, and displays it on the display unit 404 (step S43).

[0038] Next, the relay process executed by the relay device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 8. This relay process is started, for example, when the relay device 1 is powered on and the connection of the relay device 1 to the local networks NW21 and NW22 is completed. First, the search request acquisition unit 111 determines whether or not it has acquired device search request information transmitted from the cloud server 2 (step S101). If the search request acquisition unit 111 determines that it has not acquired device search request information (step S101: No), the process of step S105 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the search request acquisition unit 111 determines that it has acquired device search request information (step S101: Yes), it notifies the device search unit 112 of the acquired device search request information. Then, the device search unit 112 broadcasts the above-mentioned device information request information to all the devices 3 connected to the local networks NW21 and NW22 to which the relay device 1 is connected (step S102). As a result, the device searching unit 112 acquires device information transmitted from each device 3, and stores the device identification information included in the acquired device information in the device information storage unit 131 (step S103). Next, the device information notifying unit 113 generates device information including the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 131, and transmits the generated device information to the cloud server 2 (step S104).

[0039] Next, the relay device information notification unit 114 judges whether or not the relay device information request information has been acquired from the terminal device 4 via the local networks NW21 and NW22 (step S105). If the relay device information notification unit 114 judges that the relay device information request information has not been acquired (step S105: No), the process of step S107 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the relay device information notification unit 114 judges that the relay device information request information has been acquired (step S105: Yes), the relay device information including the relay device identification information stored in the relay device information storage unit 132 is transmitted to the terminal device 4 (step S106).

[0040] Thereafter, the control information acquisition unit 115 determines whether or not the encapsulated control information transmitted from the cloud server 2 has been acquired (step S107). If the control information acquisition unit 115 determines that the control information has not been acquired (step S107: No), the process of step S109 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the control information acquisition unit 115 determines that the control information has been acquired (step S107: Yes), the control information acquisition unit 115 executes a decapsulation process for removing header information from the acquired control information. Then, based on the device identification information included in the decapsulated control information, the control information is transmitted to the device 3 identified by the device identification information (step S108).

[0041] Next, the device status acquisition unit 121 determines whether or not the device status information transmitted from the device 3 has been acquired (step S109). If the device status acquisition unit 121 determines that the device status information has not been acquired (step S109: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the device status acquisition unit 121 determines that the device status information has been acquired (step S109: Yes), it notifies the device status notification unit 122 of the acquired device status information. Then, the device status notification unit 122 encapsulates the notified device status information by adding header information for setting the destination to the cloud server 2, and then transmits the information to the cloud server 2 (step S110). Here, the header information includes the relay device identification information of the relay device 1. Then, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0042] Next, the device management process executed by the cloud server 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 9. This device management process is started, for example, when a program for executing the device management process is started in the cloud server 2. First, the device search request unit 211 determines whether or not the device registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S201). If the device search request unit 211 determines that the device registration request information has not been acquired (step S201: No), the process of step S204 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the device search request unit 211 determines that the device registration request information has been acquired (step S201: Yes), the device search request unit 211 generates device search request information in response to this and transmits it to the relay device 1 (step S202). As a result, the device information acquisition unit 212 acquires the device information transmitted from the relay device 1, extracts the device identification information of the device 3 contained in the acquired device information and the relay device identification information of the relay device 1 that sent the device information, and stores the extracted device identification information and relay device identification information in correspondence with each other in the device information storage unit 231 (step S203).

[0043] Next, the connected device information notifying unit 213 judges whether or not the above-mentioned connected device information request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S204). If the connected device information notifying unit 213 judges that the connected device information request information has not been acquired (step S204: No), the process of step S206 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the connected device information notifying unit 213 judges that the connected device information request information has been acquired (step S204: Yes), the connected device information notifying unit 213 specifies device identification information corresponding to the relay device identification information included in the acquired connected device information request information from among the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the connected device information notifying unit 213 generates connected device information including the specified device identification information and transmits it to the terminal device 4 (step S205).

[0044] Next, the device information setting unit 214 judges whether or not the above-mentioned registration target device notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S206). If the device information setting unit 214 judges that the registration target device notification information has not been acquired (step S206: No), the process of step S208 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the device information setting unit 214 judges that the registration target device notification information has been acquired (step S206: Yes), the device information setting unit 214 extracts the user identification information and authentication information included in the acquired registration target device notification information, and stores the extracted user identification information and authentication information in the device information storage unit 231 in association with the combination of the device identification information and the relay device identification information included in the registration target device notification information (step S207).

[0045] Thereafter, the device status acquisition unit 226 determines whether or not the encapsulated device status information transmitted from the relay device 1 has been acquired (step S208). If the device status acquisition unit 226 determines that the device status information has not been acquired (step S208: No), the process of step S210 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the device status acquisition unit 226 determines that the device status information has been acquired (step S208: Yes), the device status storage unit 232 updates the parameter information of the device 3 corresponding to the device identification information of the device 3 that is the transmission source of the acquired device status information, with the parameter information of the device 3 included in the device status information (step S209).

[0046] Next, the operation information acquisition unit 216 judges whether or not the operation information indicating the above-mentioned device operation transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S210). If the operation information acquisition unit 216 judges that the operation information indicating the device operation has not been acquired (step S210: No), the process of step S213 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the operation information acquisition unit 216 judges that the operation information indicating the device operation has been acquired (step S210: Yes), it notifies the authentication unit 217 of the acquired operation information. Then, the authentication unit 217 refers to the user identification information and the authentication information stored in the device information storage unit 231, executes an authentication process based on the user identification information and the authentication information included in the operation information, and judges whether or not the authentication has been successful (step S211). If the authentication unit 217 judges that the authentication has failed (step S211: No), the process of step S213 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication unit 217 determines that the authentication is successful (step S211: Yes), the control information generation unit 218 generates control information for controlling the device 3 based on the operation content indicated by the operation information and the device identification information. Then, the control information notification unit 219 specifies relay device identification information corresponding to the device identification information of the device 3 to be controlled stored in the device information storage unit 231, encapsulates the generated control information by adding header information for transmission to the relay device 1 identified by the specified relay device identification information, and transmits the encapsulated control information to the relay device 1 (step S212).

[0047] Next, the device status notification unit 227 judges whether or not it has acquired operation information indicating the device status viewing operation transmitted from the terminal device 4 (step S213). If the device status notification unit 227 judges that it has not acquired operation information indicating the device status viewing operation (step S213: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the device status notification unit 227 judges that it has acquired operation information indicating the device status viewing operation (step S213: Yes), it notifies the authentication unit 217 of the acquired operation information. Then, the authentication unit 217 refers to the user identification information and authentication information stored in the device information storage unit 231, executes authentication processing based on the user identification information and authentication information included in the operation information, and judges whether or not the authentication has been successful (step S214). If the authentication unit 217 judges that the authentication has failed (step S214: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the authentication unit 217 determines that the authentication is successful (step S214: Yes), the device status notifying unit 227 generates device status notification information including the parameter information and device identification information of the device 3 stored in the device status storage unit 232, and transmits the generated device status notification information to the terminal device 4 (step S215). After that, the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0048] As described above, in the device management system according to the present embodiment, when the relay device information notification unit 114 of the relay device 1 acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it transmits the relay device information to the terminal device 4, and when the terminal device 4 acquires the relay device information, it transmits registration target device notification information including the relay device identification information and the user identification information included in the acquired relay device information to the cloud server 2. Then, when the device information setting unit 214 of the cloud server 2 acquires the registration target device notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it stores the user identification information and the relay device identification information included in the acquired registration target device notification information in association with each other in the device information storage unit 231. This allows the relay device identification information and the device identification information to be managed in association with the user identification information, and therefore it is possible to prevent the device 3 identified by the device identification information from being inappropriately operated by a user other than the user identified by the user identification information associated with the device identification information.

[0049] (Embodiment 2) The device management system according to the present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that it includes a second relay device capable of communicating with the device and the first relay device via the first network. Here, the device information storage unit according to the present embodiment stores, together with the device identification information, second relay device identification information for identifying the second relay device in association with the first relay device identification information. In addition, the device management device transmits, to the first relay device, first device search request information requesting a search for a device and the second relay device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, and transmits, via the first relay device, second device search request information requesting a search for a device capable of communicating with the second relay device via the first network. Then, the device management device acquires first device information including the device identification information, the first relay device identification information, and the second relay device identification information transmitted from the first relay device by transmitting the first device search request information to the first relay device, and stores the device identification information and the second relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information and the first relay device identification information in association with each other in the device information storage unit. Moreover, the device management device acquires third device information including the device identification information and the second relay device identification information transmitted from the second relay device by transmitting the second device search request information to the second relay device, and stores the device identification information and the second relay device identification information contained in the acquired third device information in the device information storage unit in association with each other. When the first relay device acquires the first device search request information, the first relay device acquires the second device information transmitted from the device and the second relay device via the first network by transmitting device information request information to the device and the second relay device. The first relay device generates first device information including the device identification information and the second relay device identification information contained in the acquired second device information and transmits it to the device management device. When the first relay device acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device, which requests the first relay device to transmit relay device information including the first relay device identification information, the first relay device transmits the relay device information to the terminal device.When the second relay device acquires the device search request information, the second relay device acquires the fourth device information transmitted from the device via the first network by transmitting device information request information requesting a device capable of communicating with the second relay device via the first network to transmit fourth device information including device identification information, and generates third device information including the device identification information contained in the acquired fourth device information and transmits it to the device management device. Also, when the second relay device acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device requesting the second relay device to transmit relay device information including the second relay device identification information, the second relay device transmits the relay device information to the terminal device.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 10, the device management system according to the present embodiment includes a cloud server 2002, a relay device 1, and a relay device 2005 capable of communicating with the relay device 1 via a local network NW21. In FIG. 10, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1. The relay device 1 is capable of communicating with the devices 3 (3A, 3B), the relay device 2005, and the gateway device 8 via the local network NW21. The relay device 2005 is capable of communicating with the relay device 1 and the gateway device 8 via the local network NW21, and is capable of communicating with the devices 3 (3C, 3D) via the local network NW22. The cloud server 2002 is capable of communicating with the relay devices 1 and 2005 via the wide area network NW1 and the gateway device 8. The hardware configurations of the cloud server 2002 and the relay device 2005 are similar to those of the cloud server 2 and the relay device 1 described in the first embodiment, respectively. Therefore, the hardware configuration of cloud server 2002 and relay device 2005 according to this embodiment will be described using the reference numerals in FIG. 2 as appropriate.

[0051] The CPU 201 of the cloud server 2002 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as a device search request unit 211, a device information acquisition unit 212, a connected device information notification unit 213, a device information setting unit 214, an operation information acquisition unit 216, an authentication unit 217, a control information generation unit 218, a control information notification unit 219, a device status acquisition unit 226, and a device status notification unit 227, as shown in Fig. 11. Note that in Fig. 11, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 also has a device information storage unit 2231 and a device status storage unit 232. As shown in FIG. 12, for example, the device information storage unit 2231 stores the device identification information of the device 3 and the relay device identification information “RADDR[1]” of the relay device 2005 capable of communicating with the relay device 1 via the local network NW2 in association with the relay device identification information of the relay device 1 capable of notifying the device 3 and the relay device 2005 via the local network NW2, the user identification information, and the authentication information.

[0052] Returning to Fig. 11, in the relay device 2005, the CPU 101 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a search request acquisition unit 111, a device search unit 112, a device information notification unit 113, a relay device information notification unit 514, a control information acquisition unit 115, a control information transmission unit 116, a device status acquisition unit 121, and a device status notification unit 522. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Fig. 2 also has a device information storage unit 131 and a relay device information storage unit 132 as shown in Fig. 3. When the relay device information notification unit 514 acquires the above-mentioned relay device information request information from the terminal device 4 via the local network NW2, it transmits relay device information including the relay device identification information stored in the relay device information storage unit 132 to the terminal device 4 in response to the request. Furthermore, when relay device information notification unit 514 receives device information request information transmitted from relay device 1, it transmits device information including relay device identification information stored in relay device information storage unit 132 to relay device 1 in response to the request. When device status notification unit 522 receives device status information from device status acquisition unit 121, it transfers the received device status information to relay device 1 as is.

[0053] Next, the operation of the device management system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 13 and Fig. 14. First, as shown in Fig. 13, a series of processes from step S1 to step S7 are executed, and when the relay device 1 acquires device search request information, the above-mentioned device information request information is broadcast from the relay device 1 to the devices 3A, 3B and the relay device 2005 that can communicate with the relay device 1 via the local network NW2 (steps S8, S2001). On the other hand, when the devices 3A and 3B acquire device information request information, device information including device identification information of the devices 3A and 3B is transmitted from the devices 3A and 3B to the relay device 1 (step S10). Also, when the relay device 2005 acquires device information request information, device information including relay identification information of the relay device 2005 is transmitted from the relay device 2005 to the relay device 1 (step S2002). On the other hand, when the relay device 1 acquires the device information, it stores the device identification information of the devices 3A and 3B or the relay device identification information of the relay device 2005 included in the acquired device information in the device information storage unit 131, and generates device information including the device identification information, the relay device identification information, and the relay device identification information of the relay device 1 (step S12). After that, a series of processes in steps S13 and S14 are executed.

[0054] The above-mentioned device search request information is also transmitted from the cloud server 2002 to the relay device 2005 via the relay device 1 (step S2003). On the other hand, when the relay device 2005 acquires the device search request information, the above-mentioned device information request information is broadcast from the relay device 2005 to the devices 3C and 3D that can communicate with the relay device 2005 via the local network NW22 (step 2004). On the other hand, when the devices 3C and 3D acquire the device information request information, the devices 3C and 3D transmit device information including the device identification information of the devices 3C and 3D to the relay device 2005 (step S2005). On the other hand, when the relay device 2005 acquires the device information, the relay device 2005 stores the device identification information of the devices 3C and 3D included in the acquired device information in the device information storage unit 131, and generates device information including the device identification information and the relay device identification information of the relay device 2005 (step S2006). Thereafter, the generated device information is transmitted from the relay device 2005 to the cloud server 2002 via the relay device 1 (step S2007). On the other hand, upon acquiring the device information, the cloud server 2002 extracts the device identification information and the relay device identification information included in the acquired device information, and stores the extracted device identification information and the relay device identification information in the device information storage unit 2231 in association with each other (step S2008).

[0055] Also, as shown in FIG. 14, it is assumed that the user performs a device operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to change the settings of the devices 3C and 3D. In this case, a series of processes in steps S23 and S24 described in the first embodiment are executed. Then, when the cloud server 2002 determines that the authentication is successful (step S25), it generates control information for changing the settings of the devices 3C and 3D based on the operation information (step S2009). Then, the generated control information is encapsulated and then transmitted from the cloud server 2002 to the relay device 1 (step S2010). On the other hand, when the relay device 1 acquires the control information, the acquired control information is transmitted from the relay device 1 to the relay device 2005 (step S2011). On the other hand, when the relay device 2005 acquires the control information, it decapsulates the acquired control information, and the decapsulated control information is transmitted from the relay device 2005 to the devices 3C and 3D (step S2012). On the other hand, upon acquiring the control information, the devices 3C and 3D start operating with the changed settings based on the acquired control information (step S2013).

[0056] Next, the relay process executed by the relay device 2005 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 15. Note that in FIG. 15, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8. First, when a series of processes from step S101 to S104 are executed, the relay device information notification unit 514 judges whether or not the device information request information transmitted from the relay device 1 is acquired (step S2101). Here, when the relay device information notification unit 514 judges that the device information request information is not acquired (step S2101: No), the process of step S105 described later is executed. On the other hand, when the relay device information notification unit 514 judges that the device information request information is acquired (step S2101: Yes), the device information including the relay device identification information stored in the relay device information storage unit 132 is transmitted to the relay device 1 (step S2102). Then, a series of processes from step S105 to step S108 are executed.

[0057] Thereafter, the device status acquisition unit 121 determines whether or not device status information transmitted from the device 3 has been acquired (step S2103). If the device status acquisition unit 121 determines that device status information has not been acquired (step S2103: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the device status acquisition unit 121 determines that device status information has been acquired (step S2103: Yes), it notifies the device status notification unit 522 of the acquired device status information. Then, the device status notification unit 522 transmits the notified device status information as is to the relay device 1 (step S2104). Next, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0058] As described above, according to the device management system of this embodiment, even when multiple relay devices 1, 2005 form a so-called mesh network, it is possible to associate each relay device 1, 2005 with user identification information.

[0059] (Embodiment 3) The device management system of this embodiment differs from embodiment 1 in that there are multiple first relay devices that can communicate with the device via the first network, and the device management device selects one of the multiple first relay devices based on communication quality information that indicates the communication quality of communication between the multiple first relay devices and the device.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 16, the communication system according to the present embodiment includes a cloud server 3002, a plurality of relay devices 3001 (3001A, 3001B), and a terminal device 4. In FIG. 16, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1. The relay devices 3001 (3001A, 3001B) are capable of communicating with the devices 3 (3A, 3B) and the gateway device 8 via the local network NW2. The cloud server 3002 is capable of communicating with the relay device 3001 via the wide area network NW1 and the gateway device 8. The hardware configurations of the cloud server 3002 and the relay device 3001 according to the present embodiment are the same as those of the cloud server 2 and the relay device 1 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the hardware configurations of the cloud server 3002 and the relay device 3001 according to the present embodiment will be described using the reference numerals in FIG. 2 as appropriate. When device 3 receives the control information transmitted from relay device 3001, device 3 transmits response information including device identification information of device 3 to relay device 3001, which is the source of the control information, notifying that the control information has been received.

[0061] The CPU 201 of the cloud server 3002 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as a device search request unit 3211, a device information acquisition unit 212, a connected device information notification unit 213, a device information setting unit 214, an operation information acquisition unit 216, an authentication unit 217, a control information generation unit 218, a control information notification unit 3219, a communication quality acquisition unit 3220, a relay device selection unit 3221, a response acquisition unit 3222, a connection status management unit 3223, a recovery monitoring unit 3224, a device status acquisition unit 226, and a device status notification unit 227, as shown in Fig. 17. Note that in Fig. 17, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 also includes a device information storage unit 231, a communication quality storage unit 3232, a connection status storage unit 3233, and a device status storage unit 232. 18, the communication quality storage unit 3232 stores, for each of the multiple relay devices 3001, communication quality information indicating the quality of communication between the device 3 and the gateway device 8 in association with the relay device identification information of each of the multiple relay devices 3001. Here, as the communication quality information, for example, information indicating Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) of wireless signals arriving from the device 3 and the gateway device 8 in each of the multiple relay devices 3001 can be used.

[0062] Returning to FIG. 17, the connection status storage unit 3233 stores connection status information indicating a connection status between the device 3 and the gateway device 8 for each of the multiple relay devices 3001 in association with the relay device identification information of each of the multiple relay devices 3001. When the device search request unit 3211 acquires device registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 4, the device search request unit 3211 generates device search request information that requests the relay device 3001 to search for a device 3 that can communicate with the relay device 3001 via the local network NW2 in response to the device registration request information. Then, the device search request unit 3211 transmits the generated device search request information to the relay device 3001 selected by the relay device selection unit 3221. When the control information is notified from the control information generation unit 218, the control information notification unit 3219 notifies the relay device selection unit 3221 of the device identification information included in the notified control information. Then, the control information notification unit 3219 transmits the control information to the relay device 3001 selected by the relay device selection unit 3221.

[0063] When the communication quality acquisition unit 3220 acquires the communication quality information transmitted from each of the multiple relay devices 3001, the communication quality acquisition unit 3220 stores the acquired communication quality information in the communication quality storage unit 3232 in association with the relay device identification information of the relay device 3001 that is the transmission source of the communication quality information added to the communication quality information. The relay device selection unit 3221 selects one of the multiple relay devices 3001 based on the communication quality information stored in the communication quality storage unit 3232. Here, when the relay device selection unit 3221 is notified of the device identification information included in the control information from the control information notification unit 3219, it identifies the relay device identification information corresponding to the notified device identification information from the relay device identification information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the relay device selection unit 3221 selects, for example, the relay device 3001 with the largest RSSI indicated by the communication quality information from the multiple relay devices 3001 identified by the identified relay device identification information. Then, relay device selection unit 3221 notifies control information notification unit 3219 of relay device identification information of selected relay device 3001. Furthermore, relay device selection unit 3221 refers to the connection state information stored in connection state storage unit 3233, and excludes relay devices 3001 identified by relay device identification information corresponding to connection state information indicating that communication is cut off from selection candidates.

[0064] When the response acquisition unit 3222 acquires response information, which will be described later, transmitted from the relay device 3001, the response acquisition unit 3222 notifies the connection status management unit 3223 of the acquired response information. When the connection status management unit 3223 acquires response information transmitted from the relay device 3001 within a preset response waiting time after the control information notification unit 3219 transmits control information to the relay device 3001, the connection status management unit 3223 determines that communication between the cloud server 3002 and the device 3 is possible via the relay device 3001. Then, the connection status management unit 3223 stores connection status information indicating that communication via the relay device 3001 is normal in the connection status storage unit 3233 in association with the relay device identification information of the relay device 3001. On the other hand, when the connection status management unit 3223 cannot acquire response information transmitted from the relay device 3001 within the above-mentioned response waiting time after the control information notification unit 3219 transmits control information to the relay device 3001, the connection status management unit 3223 determines that communication between the cloud server 3002 and the device 3 via the relay device 3001 is interrupted. Then, connection status management unit 3223 stores connection status information indicating that communication via relay device 3001 is cut off in connection status storage unit 3233 in association with relay device identification information of relay device 3001. Recovery monitoring unit 3224 periodically encapsulates response request information for requesting device 3 to transmit response information by adding header information for setting relay device 3001, whose communication has been determined to be cut off, as the destination, and transmits the encapsulated information to relay device 3001.

[0065] In the relay device 3001, the CPU 101 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a search request acquisition unit 111, a device search unit 112, a device information notification unit 113, a relay device information notification unit 114, a control information acquisition unit 115, a control information transmission unit 116, a communication quality detection unit 3117, a communication quality notification unit 3118, a response acquisition unit 3119, and a response notification unit 3120. In addition, the auxiliary storage unit 103 has a device information storage unit 131 and a relay device information storage unit 132.

[0066] For example, when the communication unit 106 has a wireless module, the communication quality detection unit 3117 detects the RSSI of a wireless signal arriving from the device 3 or the gateway device 8, generates communication quality information indicating the detected RSSI, and notifies the communication quality notification unit 3118. The communication quality notification unit 3118 adds relay device identification information of the relay device 3001 to the notified communication quality information, and then transmits the information to the cloud server 3002. When the response acquisition unit 3119 acquires response information transmitted from the device 3, it notifies the response notification unit 3120 of the acquired response information. The response notification unit 3120 adds relay device identification information of the relay device 3001 to the notified response information, performs an encapsulation process of adding header information for setting the destination to the cloud server 3002, and then transmits the information to the cloud server 3002.

[0067] Next, the operation of the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 18 and FIG. 19. In FIG. 19 and FIG. 20, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7. Also, it is assumed that the cloud server 3002 acquires communication quality information transmitted from the relay devices 3001A and 3001B at a preset period, and sequentially stores the acquired communication quality information in the communication quality storage unit 3232. It is assumed that the user performs a device operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to change the settings of the device 3B when a communication failure occurs in the relay device 3001A. In this case, the terminal device 4 accepts the device operation and generates the above-mentioned operation information (step S23), and the generated operation information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 3002 (step S24). On the other hand, when the cloud server 3002 executes an authentication process using the user identification information and authentication information included in the acquired operation information and determines that the authentication is successful (step S25), it generates control information for changing the settings of the device 3B based on the operation information (step S26). Next, the cloud server 3002 selects one of the multiple relay devices 3001A and 3001B based on the communication quality information stored in the communication quality storage unit 3232 (step S3001). Next, the generated control information is encapsulated and then transmitted from the cloud server 3002 to the selected relay device 3001A (step S3002). After that, it is assumed that the cloud server 3002 determines that a preset response waiting time has elapsed without receiving response information transmitted from the relay device 3001A (step S3003). In this case, the cloud server 3002 determines that the communication between the cloud server 3002 and the devices 3A and 3B via the relay device 3001A is interrupted, and updates the connection status information corresponding to the relay device identification information of the relay device 3001A to connection status information indicating that the communication via the relay device 3001A is interrupted (step S3004).

[0068] Next, the cloud server 3002 again selects the relay device 3001B based on the updated connection state information stored in the connection state storage unit 3233 (step S3005). Then, the above-mentioned control information is encapsulated and then transmitted from the cloud server 3002 to the selected relay device 3001B (step S3006). On the other hand, when the relay device 3001B acquires the control information, it decapsulates the acquired control information, and the decapsulated control information is transmitted from the relay device 3001B to the device 3B (step S3007). On the other hand, when the device 3B acquires the control information, it starts operating with the changed settings based on the acquired control information (step S3008). Also, when the device 3B acquires the control information, in response to this, the device 3B transmits response information to the relay device 3001B that is the transmission source of the control information (step S3009). On the other hand, when the relay device 3001B acquires the response information, it encapsulates the acquired response information, and the encapsulated response information is transmitted from the relay device 3001B to the cloud server 3002 (step S3010). After the control information is transmitted from the cloud server 3002 to the relay device 3001B, the response request information is periodically transmitted from the cloud server 3002 to the relay device 3001A (step S3011).

[0069] Thereafter, when relay device 3001A is restored, response request information is transmitted from cloud server 3002 to relay device 3001A (step S3012), and the response request information is decapsulated and then transmitted from cloud server 3002 to device 3B (step S3013). On the other hand, when device 3B acquires the response request information, response information is transmitted from device 3B to relay device 3001A in response thereto (step S3014). On the other hand, when relay device 3001A acquires the response information, it encapsulates the acquired response information, and the encapsulated response information is transmitted from relay device 3001A to cloud server 3002 (step S3015). On the other hand, when cloud server 3002 receives the response information transmitted from relay device 3001A, it determines that communication between cloud server 3002 and device 3B via relay device 3001A has been restored, and updates the connection status information corresponding to the relay device identification information of relay device 3001A to connection status information indicating that communication via relay device 3001A is normal (step S3016).

[0070] Next, it is assumed that the user again performs a device operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to change the settings of the device 3B. In this case, the terminal device 4 accepts the device operation and generates the above-mentioned operation information (step S23), and the generated operation information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 3002 (step S24). On the other hand, when the cloud server 3002 executes an authentication process using the user identification information and authentication information included in the acquired operation information and determines that the authentication is successful (step S25), it generates control information based on the operation information (step S26). Next, it is assumed that the cloud server 3002 selects the relay device 3001A based on the communication quality information stored in the communication quality storage unit 3232 (step S3017). In this case, the generated control information is encapsulated and then transmitted from the cloud server 3002 to the selected relay device 3001A (step S3018). On the other hand, when the relay device 3001A acquires the control information, it decapsulates the acquired control information, and the decapsulated control information is transmitted from the relay device 3001A to the device 3B (step S3019). On the other hand, when the device 3B acquires the control information, it starts operating with the changed settings based on the acquired control information (step S3020).

[0071] Next, the relay process executed by the relay device 3001 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 21. In FIG. 21, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 8. First, after a series of processes from step S101 to S106 are executed, the control information acquisition unit 115 judges whether or not it has acquired encapsulated control information or response request information transmitted from the cloud server 3002 (step S3101). Here, if the control information acquisition unit 115 judges that it has acquired neither the control information nor the response request information (step S3101: No), it executes the process of step S3103 described later. On the other hand, if the control information acquisition unit 115 judges that it has acquired the control information or the response request information (step S3101: Yes), it executes a decapsulation process of releasing the header information for setting the control information or the response request information addressed to the relay device 3001 from the acquired control information or the response request information. Then, based on the device identification information included in the decapsulated control information or response request information, the control information or response request information is transmitted to the device 3 identified by the device identification information (step S3102).

[0072] Next, the response acquisition unit 3119 and the device status acquisition unit 121 respectively determine whether or not they have acquired the response information and the device status information transmitted from the device 3 (step S3013). If the response acquisition unit 3119 and the device status acquisition unit 121 determine that they have not acquired the response information and the device status information (step S3013: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the response acquisition unit 3119 and the device status acquisition unit 121 determine that they have acquired the response information and the device status information (step S3013: Yes), they notify the response notification unit 3120 and the device status notification unit 122 of the acquired response information and the device status information, respectively. Then, the response notification unit 3120 and the device status notification unit 122 add the relay device identification information of the relay device 3001 to the notified response information and the device status information, perform encapsulation by adding header information for setting the destination to the cloud server 3002, and transmit the information to the cloud server 3002 (step S3014). Then, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0073] Next, the device management process executed by the cloud server 3002 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 22. In FIG. 22, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9. In addition, the communication quality acquisition unit 3220 performs a process of acquiring communication quality information periodically transmitted from the relay devices 3001A and 3001B in parallel with the device management process, and storing the acquired communication quality information in the communication quality storage unit 3232 in association with the relay device identification information of the relay device 3001 that is the transmission source of the communication quality information added to the communication quality information. First, the device search request unit 211 determines whether or not the device registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S201), and if it is determined that the device registration request information has been acquired (step S201: Yes), generates device search request information accordingly (step S3201). Next, the relay device selection unit 3221 selects one of the multiple relay devices 3001 based on the communication quality information stored in the communication quality storage unit 3232, and the device search request unit 3211 transmits the generated device search request information to the relay device 3001 selected by the relay device selection unit 3221 (step S3202). Then, a series of processes from steps S203 to S210 are executed.

[0074] Thereafter, when the operation information acquisition unit 216 determines in step S210 that it has acquired operation information indicating a device operation (step S210: Yes), the authentication unit 217 refers to the user identification information and authentication information stored in the device information storage unit 231, executes authentication processing based on the user identification information and authentication information included in the operation information, and determines that the authentication is successful (step S211: Yes). In this case, the control information generation unit 218 generates control information for controlling the device 3 based on the operation content and device identification information indicated by the operation information (step S3203). Next, the relay device selection unit 3221 selects one of the multiple relay devices 3001 based on the communication quality information stored in the communication quality storage unit 3232. Then, the control information notification unit 3219 transmits the control information to the relay device 3001 selected by the relay device selection unit 3221 (step S3204).

[0075] Next, the response acquisition unit 3222 determines whether or not the response information transmitted from the relay device 3001 has been acquired (step S3205). If the response acquisition unit 3222 determines that the response information has not been acquired (step S3205: No), the response acquisition unit 3222 determines whether or not the response waiting time has elapsed (step S3206). If the response acquisition unit 3222 determines that the response waiting time information has not yet elapsed (step S3206: No), the process of step S3205 is executed again. On the other hand, if the response acquisition unit 3222 determines that the response waiting time information has elapsed (step S3206: Yes), the connection status management unit 3223 determines that the communication between the cloud server 3002 and the device 3 via the relay device 3001 has been interrupted, and updates the connection status information corresponding to the relay device identification information of the relay device 3001 stored in the connection status storage unit 3233 to connection status information indicating that the communication via the relay device 3001 has been interrupted (step S3207). Next, the recovery monitor 3224 starts periodically transmitting response request information to the relay device 3001 for which communication has been determined to be cut off (step S3208), after which the process of step S3203 is executed.

[0076] Also, when the response acquisition unit 3222 determines in step S3205 that the response information has been acquired (step S3205: Yes), a series of processes from step S213 to S215 are executed. Next, it is determined whether or not the response information has been acquired from the relay device 3001, which is the destination of the response request information, by the recovery monitoring unit 3224 (step S3209). Here, when the response acquisition unit 3222 determines that the response information has not been acquired from the relay device 3001, which is the destination of the response request information (step S3209: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, the response acquisition unit 3222 determines that the response information has been acquired from the relay device 3001, which is the destination of the response request information (step S3209: Yes). In this case, the recovery monitoring unit 3224 determines that the state has been restored to a state in which communication between the cloud server 3002 and the device 3 is possible via the relay device 3001, and stops the transmission of the response request information. Furthermore, connection status management unit 3223 updates the connection status information stored in connection status storage unit 3233, which corresponds to the relay device identification information of relay device 3001 that is the destination of the response request information, to connection status information indicating that communication via relay device 3001 is normal (step S3210). Next, the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0077] As described above, the device management system according to the present embodiment can maintain the quality of communication between the cloud server 3002 and the device 3 via the relay device 3001 at a relatively high level.

[0078] Furthermore, cloud server 3002 according to the present embodiment monitors whether communication with device 3 via each of multiple relay devices 3001 has been interrupted, and when it is determined that communication with device 3 via a selected relay device 3001 has been interrupted, selects another relay device 3001. This allows cloud server 3001 to maintain communication with device 3 via any of multiple relay devices 3001, thereby preventing a situation in which device 3 cannot be operated or parameter information of device 3 cannot be obtained due to a communication failure with device 3.

[0079] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the cloud server may calculate, for each relay device, a delay time from when the cloud server transmits device search request information to the relay device until when the cloud server acquires device information transmitted from the relay device, and select a relay device based on the calculated delay time.

[0080] The device management system according to this modification includes a cloud server 4002, a relay device 4001, and a terminal device 4, as shown in Fig. 23, for example. In Fig. 23, the same components as those in the third embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 17. The hardware configurations of the cloud server 4002 and the relay device 4001 are similar to those of the cloud server 2 and the relay device 1 described in the first embodiment, respectively. Therefore, the hardware configurations of the cloud server 4002 and the relay device 4001 according to this embodiment will be described using the reference numerals in Fig. 2 as appropriate.

[0081] The CPU 201 of the cloud server 4002 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them to function as a device search request unit 4211, a device information acquisition unit 4212, a connected device information notification unit 213, a device information setting unit 214, an operation information acquisition unit 216, an authentication unit 217, a control information generation unit 218, a control information notification unit 219, a relay device selection unit 4221, a response acquisition unit 3222, a connection status management unit 3223, a recovery monitoring unit 3224, a delay time calculation unit 4225, a device status acquisition unit 226, and a device status notification unit 227. The auxiliary storage unit 203 also includes a device information storage unit 231, a connection status storage unit 3233, a delay time history storage unit 4234, and a device status storage unit 232. 24, for example, the delay time history storage unit 4234 stores a history of delay time information indicating the above-mentioned delay time for each of the multiple relay devices 4001 in association with the relay device identification information of each of the multiple relay devices 4001. Returning to FIG. 23, when the equipment discovery request unit 4211 transmits equipment discovery request information to the relay device 4001, it notifies the delay time calculation unit 4225 of the relay device identification information of the relay device 4001 that is the transmission destination of the equipment discovery request information. Furthermore, when the equipment information acquisition unit 4212 acquires the equipment information, it notifies the delay time calculation unit 4225 of the relay device identification information of the relay device 4001 that is the transmission source of the equipment information.

[0082] The delay time calculation unit 4225 calculates a delay time for each relay device 4001, from when the device discovery request unit 4211 transmits device discovery request information to the relay device 4001 until when the device information acquisition unit 4212 acquires the device information transmitted from the relay device 4001. Here, the delay time calculation unit 4225 calculates a delay time from when the relay device identification information is notified from the device discovery request unit 4211 until when the same relay device identification information is notified from the device information acquisition unit 4212. The delay time calculation unit 4225 stores delay time information indicating the calculated delay time in the delay time history storage unit 4234 in association with the relay device identification information that identifies the corresponding relay device 4001.

[0083] The relay device selection unit 4221 selects one of the multiple relay devices 4001 based on the delay time for each of the multiple relay devices 4001 stored in the delay time history storage unit 4234. Specifically, the relay device selection unit 4221 calculates the average delay time for each of the multiple relay devices 4001, and selects the relay device 4001 with the smallest average delay time. Then, the relay device selection unit 4221 notifies the control information notification unit 3219 of relay device identification information that identifies the selected relay device 4001.

[0084] In the relay device 4001, the CPU 101 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a search request acquisition unit 111, a device search unit 112, a device information notification unit 113, a relay device information notification unit 114, a control information acquisition unit 115, a control information transmission unit 116, a response acquisition unit 3119, and a response notification unit 3120. In addition, the auxiliary storage unit 103 has a device information storage unit 131 and a relay device information storage unit 132.

[0085] Next, the device management process executed by the cloud server 4002 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 25. In FIG. 25, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 9. First, the device search request unit 4211 determines whether the device registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S201). If it is determined that the device registration request information has been acquired (step S201: Yes), the device search request information is generated accordingly and transmitted to the relay device 4001 (step S202). As a result, the device information acquisition unit 4212 acquires the device information transmitted from the relay device 4001, extracts the device identification information of the device 3 included in the acquired device information and the relay device identification information of the relay device 4001 that is the transmission source of the device information, and stores the extracted device identification information and the relay device identification information in the device information storage unit 231 in association with each other (step S203). Next, the delay time calculation unit 4225 calculates the above-mentioned delay time for each relay device 4001, and stores delay time information indicating the calculated delay time in the delay time history storage unit 4234 in association with relay device identification information for identifying the corresponding relay device 4001 (step S4201). Then, a series of processes from steps S204 to S210 are executed.

[0086] Thereafter, when the operation information acquisition unit 216 determines in step S210 that it has acquired operation information indicating a device operation (step S210: Yes), the authentication unit 217 refers to the user identification information and authentication information stored in the device information storage unit 231, executes authentication processing based on the user identification information and authentication information included in the operation information, and determines that the authentication is successful (step S211: Yes). In this case, the control information generation unit 218 generates control information for controlling the device 3 based on the operation content and device identification information indicated by the operation information (step S3203). Next, the relay device selection unit 4221 selects one of the multiple relay devices 4001 based on the delay time for each of the multiple relay devices 4001 stored in the delay time history storage unit 4234. Then, the control information notification unit 3219 transmits the control information to the relay device 4001 selected by the relay device selection unit 4221 (step S4202). Next, a series of processes from steps S3205 to S3210 are executed.

[0087] According to this configuration, it is possible to reduce the delay time of communication between the cloud server 4002 and the device 3 via the relay device 4001, and therefore the responsiveness of the device 3 can be improved.

[0088] In each embodiment, the cloud server 2, 3002 may include a relay device communication availability storage unit (not shown) that stores communication availability information indicating whether a user can communicate with the device 3 via the relay device 1, 2005, 3001 in association with user identification information. Here, the communication availability information is determined based on, for example, the specifications of the relay devices 1, 2005, 3001. Then, the device search request unit 211 may select the relay device 1, 2005, 3001 to which the device search request information is to be sent based on the communication availability information stored in the relay device communication availability storage unit, and transmit the device search request information only to the selected relay device 1, 2005, 3001.

[0089] In addition, the various functions of the relay devices 1, 2005, 3001, and 4001 and the cloud servers 2, 2002, 3002, and 4002 according to the present disclosure may be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware may be written as a program, and the program may be stored and distributed in a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or an MO (Magneto-Optical Disc), and the program may be read and installed in a computer to configure a computer capable of realizing each of the above-mentioned functions. In addition, when each function is realized by sharing the work between an OS (Operating System) and an application, or by cooperation between the OS and an application, only the parts other than the OS may be stored in the recording medium.

[0090] Furthermore, each program may be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed via a communication network. For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board (BBS, Bulletin Board System) on the communication network and distributed via the network. These programs may then be started and executed under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-mentioned processing to be performed. [Industrial Applicability]

[0091] The present disclosure is suitable as a device management system that remotely controls devices from a cloud server via a relay device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0092] 1, 1A, 1B, 2005, 3001, 3001A, 3001B, 4001 relay device, 2, 2002, 3002, 4002 cloud server, 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D device, 4 terminal device, 8 gateway device, 101, 201, 401 CPU, 102, 202, 402 main memory unit, 103, 203, 403 auxiliary memory unit, 106, 206 communication unit, 109, 209, 409 bus, 111 search request acquisition unit, 112 device search unit, 113 device information notification unit, 114, 514 relay device information notification unit, 115 control information acquisition unit, 116 control information transmission unit, 121 device status acquisition unit, 122, 522 Device status notification unit, 131, 231, 2231 Device information storage unit, 132 Relay device information storage unit, 211, 3211, 4211 Device search request unit, 212, 4212 Device information acquisition unit, 213 Connected device information notification unit, 214 Device information setting unit, 216 Operation information acquisition unit, 217 Authentication unit, 218 Control information generation unit, 219, 3219 Control information notification unit, 226 Device status acquisition unit, 227 Device status notification unit, 232 Device status storage unit, 404 Display unit, 405 Input unit, 406 Wide area communication unit, 407 Local communication unit, 411 Device registration request unit, 412 Relay device search unit, 413 Connected device information acquisition unit, 414 Display control unit, 415 Registered device notification unit, 416 User information setting unit, 417 Operation information notification unit, 418 Device status acquisition unit, 431 connected device information storage unit, 432 user information storage unit, 433 device status storage unit, 3117 communication quality detection unit, 3118 communication quality notification unit, 3119, 3222 response acquisition unit, 3120 response notification unit, 3220 communication quality acquisition unit, 3221, 4221 relay device selection unit, 3222 response acquisition unit, 3223 connection status management unit, 3224 recovery monitoring unit, 3232 communication quality storage unit, 3233 connection status storage unit, 4225 delay time calculation unit, 4234 delay time history storage unit, NW1 wide area network, NW2, NW21, NW22 local network

Claims

1. a first relay device capable of communicating with the device via a first network; a device management device that is capable of communicating with the first relay device via a second network different from the first network and that manages the device; a terminal device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, the device management device has a device information storage unit that stores device identification information for identifying the device, first relay device identification information for identifying the first relay device, and user identification information for identifying a user of the device in a mutually associated manner, and transmits device search request information to the first relay device, requesting a search for the device that can communicate with the first relay device via the first network, to the first relay device, thereby acquiring first device information including the device identification information and the first relay device identification information transmitted from the first relay device, and stores the device identification information and the first relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information in a mutually associated manner in the device information storage unit, and upon acquiring the user identification information, the first relay device identification information, and device identification information transmitted from the terminal device, stores the acquired user identification information, the first relay device identification information, and device identification information in a mutually associated manner in the device information storage unit; When the first relay device acquires the device search request information, the first relay device acquires the second device information transmitted from the device via the first network by transmitting device information request information to the device that can communicate with the first relay device via the first network, the device information request information requesting the device to transmit second device information including the device identification information, and generates and transmits to the device management device first device information including the device identification information and the first relay device identification information included in the acquired second device information; when the first relay device acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device, the first relay device transmits the relay device information including the first relay device identification information, When the terminal device acquires the relay device information and the first device information, the terminal device transmits, to the device management device, the first relay device identification information included in the acquired relay device information, and the device identification information and the user identification information included in the acquired first device information. Equipment management system.

2. a second relay device capable of communicating with the device and the first relay device via a first network; the device information storage unit stores, together with device identification information for identifying the device, second relay device identification information for identifying the second relay device in association with the first relay device identification information; the device management device transmits, to the first relay device, first device search request information requesting a search for the device and the second relay device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, and transmits, to the second relay device, second device search request information requesting a search for the device capable of communicating with the second relay device via the first network, thereby acquiring the first device information including the device identification information, the first relay device identification information, and the second relay device identification information transmitted from the first relay device, and stores the device identification information and the second relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information and the first relay device identification information in association with each other in the device information storage unit, and acquires third device information including the device identification information and the second relay device identification information transmitted from the second relay device, and stores the device identification information and the second relay device identification information included in the acquired third device information in association with each other in the device information storage unit; When the first relay device acquires the first device search request information, the first relay device acquires the second device information transmitted from the device and the second relay device via the first network by transmitting the device information request information to the device and the second relay device that are capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, generates the first device information including the device identification information and the second relay device identification information included in the acquired second device information, and transmits it to the device management device, and when the first relay device acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device, requesting the first relay device to transmit relay device information including the first relay device identification information, transmits the relay device information to the terminal device; When the second relay device acquires the device search request information, the second relay device acquires the fourth device information transmitted from the device via the first network by transmitting device information request information to the device that can communicate with the second relay device via the first network, the device information request information requesting the device to transmit fourth device information including the device identification information, and generates third device information including the device identification information included in the acquired fourth device information and transmits it to the device management device. When the second relay device acquires relay device information request information transmitted from the terminal device, the second relay device transmits the relay device information including the second relay device identification information to the terminal device. The device management system according to claim 1 .

3. a plurality of first relay devices are present and are capable of communicating with the device via a first network; the equipment management device has a communication quality storage unit that stores communication quality information indicating communication quality of communications between the plurality of first relay devices and the equipment in association with first relay device identification information of each of the plurality of first relay devices, selects one of the plurality of first relay devices based on the communication quality information, and when operation information including the user identification information transmitted from the terminal device is acquired, generates control information for controlling the equipment based on the operation information, and transmits the generated control information to the selected first relay device. The device management system according to claim 1 .

4. a plurality of first relay devices are present and are capable of communicating with the device via a first network; the device management device calculates, for each of the first relay devices, a delay time until acquiring the first device information transmitted from the first relay devices after transmitting the device search request information to the first relay devices, selects one of the first relay devices based on the delay time for each of the first relay devices, and when operation information including the user identification information transmitted from the terminal device is acquired, generates control information for controlling the device based on the operation information, and transmits the generated control information to the selected first relay device. The device management system according to claim 1 .

5. the device management device monitors whether communication between the plurality of first relay devices and the device has been interrupted, and when it is determined that communication between a selected first relay device and the device has been interrupted, selects another of the plurality of first relay devices. The device management system according to claim 3 .

6. The device management device monitors whether communication between the plurality of first relay devices and the device has been interrupted, and when it is determined that communication between a selected first relay device and the device has been interrupted, selects another first relay device from among the plurality of first relay devices. The device management system according to claim 4.

7. the device management device communicates with the first relay device based on a first communication protocol; the terminal device communicates with the first relay device based on a second communication protocol different from the first communication protocol; The device management system according to claim 1 .

8. A first relay device capable of communicating with a device via a first network, and a device management device capable of communicating with the device via a second network different from the first network and controlling the device, a device information storage unit that stores device identification information for identifying the device, relay device identification information for identifying the first relay device, and user identification information for identifying a user of the device in association with each other; a search request unit configured to transmit, to the first relay device, device search request information requesting a search for the device that is capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network; a device information acquiring unit that acquires first device information including the device identification information and the relay device identification information transmitted from the first relay device by transmitting the device search request information to the first relay device, and that associates the device identification information and the relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information with each other and stores them in the device information storage unit; a device information setting unit that, when acquiring the user identification information, the relay device identification information, and the device identification information transmitted from a terminal device that can communicate with the first relay device via the first network, stores the acquired user identification information, the relay device identification information, and the device identification information in the device information storage unit in association with each other; Equipment management device.

9. A relay device capable of communicating with a device via a first network and capable of communicating with a device management device that manages the device via a second network different from the first network, a first device searching unit that, upon receiving device search request information transmitted from the device management device, requests a search for the device capable of communicating via the first network, transmits device information request information to the device, the first device information request information including device identification information for identifying the device, to the device capable of communicating via the first network, thereby acquiring the second device information transmitted from the device via the first network; a first device information notification unit that generates first device information including the device identification information included in the acquired second device information and transmits the first device information to the device management device; a first relay device information notification unit that, when receiving relay device information request information that requests transmission of relay device information including relay device identification information that identifies the terminal device, said first relay device information notification unit transmits said relay device information to said terminal device, said first relay device information request information being transmitted from said terminal device that is capable of communicating via said first network, Relay device.

10. 1. An equipment management method executed by an equipment management system including: a first relay device capable of communicating with an equipment via a first network; an equipment management device capable of communicating with the first relay device via a second network different from the first network and controlling the equipment; and a terminal device capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, a step of storing, in a device information storage unit, device identification information for identifying the device, first relay identification information for identifying the first relay, and user identification information for identifying a user of the device, in association with each other, by the device management device; a step of transmitting, to the first relay, device search request information requesting a search for the device capable of communicating with the first relay via the first network, by the device management device; When the first relay device acquires the device search request information, the first relay device transmits, to the device, device information request information requesting transmission of second device information including the device identification information to the device that is capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, thereby acquiring, via the first network, the second device information transmitted from the device; a step of the first relay device generating first device information including the device identification information included in the acquired second device information and the first relay device identification information, and transmitting the first device information to the device management device; a step of the device management device acquiring the first device information transmitted from the first relay device, and storing the device identification information and the first relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information in the device information storage unit in association with each other; a step of, when the first relay device receives relay device information request information, which is transmitted from the terminal device and requests the first relay device to transmit relay device information including the relay device identification information, transmitting the relay device information to the terminal device; When the terminal device acquires the relay device information, the terminal device transmits the relay device identification information included in the acquired relay device information, and the device identification information and the user identification information included in the acquired first device information to the device management device; when the equipment management device acquires the user identification information, the relay device identification information, and the equipment identification information transmitted from the terminal device, the equipment management device stores the acquired user identification information, the relay device identification information, and the equipment identification information in the equipment information storage unit in association with each other, Equipment management method.

11. Computer, a device information storage unit that stores device identification information for identifying a device, relay device identification information for identifying a first relay device capable of communicating with the device via a first network, and user identification information for identifying a user of the device, in association with each other; a search request unit that transmits, to the first relay device, device search request information that requests a search for the device that is capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network; a device information acquiring unit that acquires first device information including the device identification information and the relay device identification information transmitted from the first relay device by the device search request information being transmitted to the first relay device via a second network different from the first network, and that associates the device identification information and the relay device identification information included in the acquired first device information with each other and stores them in the device information storage unit; a device information setting unit that, when acquiring the user identification information, the relay device identification information, and the device identification information transmitted from a terminal device that is capable of communicating with the first relay device via the first network, stores the acquired user identification information, the relay device identification information, and the device identification information in the device information storage unit in association with each other; A program to function as a

12. Computer, a first device searching unit that, upon receiving device search request information transmitted from a device management device that manages devices, requests a search for the device capable of communicating via a first network, transmits, to the device, device information request information requesting transmission of second device information including device identification information that identifies the device, thereby acquiring, via the first network, the second device information transmitted from the device; a first device information notification unit that generates first device information including the device identification information included in the acquired second device information and transmits the first device information to the device management device; a first relay device information notification unit that, upon receiving relay device information request information that requests transmission of relay device information including relay device identification information that identifies the first relay device, transmitted from a terminal device that is capable of communicating via the first network, transmits the relay device information to the terminal device; A program to function as a

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