Control system and control method

Abstract

The control system includes a device management server (VS2), a terminal device (2), an application individual server (VS1), and an application storage server (VS3). When the application storage server (VS3) acquires application request information, it selects a first application and transmits application information indicating the contents of the selected first application to the terminal device (2). When a user performs a preset operation on the input unit (205), the terminal device (2) has an application acquisition unit (218) that acquires the application information transmitted from the application storage server (VS3) by transmitting application request information to the application storage server (VS3), and an operation notification unit (217) that generates operation information for the device (3) based on the application information and transmits the information to the application individual server (VS1).

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] There has been proposed a device management system that includes a management device that manages at least one device to be managed, and a control server for controlling the management device (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this device management system, the management device establishes a wireless connection with a mobile terminal operated by a user, and in response to an instruction from the mobile terminal via the wireless connection, performs communication settings for communicating with the control server, collects the operating status of the device to be managed, and transmits management information including the collected operating status of the device to the control server. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-185677 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In device management systems such as that described in Patent Document 1, there is a demand for improving user convenience by making it relatively easy to add or change applications for operating managed devices in response to the addition or modification of managed devices.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a control system and a control method that can improve convenience for users. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the control system according to the present disclosure comprises: a device management server that controls a first device and a second device different from the first device; A terminal device having an input unit; an application individual server that generates setting information indicating a setting of the first device; an application storage server that stores first application information indicating a content of a first application for generating first operation information indicating a first operation preset for the first device; The application storage server includes: an application selection unit that, when receiving application request information that requests transmission of the first application information and is transmitted from the terminal device, selects the first application information corresponding to the application request information; an application notification unit that transmits the selected first application information to the terminal device; The terminal device further includes: storing in advance second application information indicating the content of a second application for generating second operation information indicating a second operation preset for the second device; A user inputs the first operation for the first device through the input unit. Multiple times line If , Each time the first operation is performed an application acquisition unit that acquires the first application information transmitted from the application storage server by transmitting the application request information to the application storage server; an operation notification unit that executes the first application corresponding to the acquired first application information, thereby generating first operation information indicating the first operation on the first device, and transmits the first operation information to the application individual server, and when a user performs the second operation on the second device using the input unit, executes the second application corresponding to the second application information, thereby generating second operation information indicating the second operation on the second device, and transmits the second operation information to the application individual server; The application individual server includes: a setting information generating unit that, when acquiring the first operation information transmitted from the terminal device, generates first setting information indicating setting contents of the first device based on the acquired first operation information, and, when acquiring the second operation information transmitted from the terminal device, generates second setting information indicating setting contents of the second device based on the acquired second operation information; a setting information notification unit that transmits the first setting information or the second setting information to the device management server, The device management server has a device control unit that, when it acquires the first setting information, controls the first device based on the acquired first setting information, and, when it acquires the second setting information, controls the second device based on the acquired second setting information. Effect of the Invention

[0007] According to the present disclosure, when a user performs a first operation on a first device stored in an application storage server using an input unit, an application acquisition unit of a terminal device generates application request information requesting transmission of a first application and transmits the application request information to the application storage server. Meanwhile, when the application storage server acquires the application request information, the application storage server selects a first application corresponding to the acquired application request information and transmits first application information indicating the selected first application to the terminal device. As a result, in the application storage server, when a first device is added or changed, the application storage server can simply add or change the first application stored in the application storage server, and the added or changed first device can be operated from the terminal device. Therefore, it becomes easier to install the first application in the terminal device when a device is added or changed, and this increases the convenience for the user. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a control system according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a device state storage unit according to an embodiment; [Figure 4B] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a linkage information storage unit according to an embodiment; [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a base operation screen image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 shows an example of a first application device operation screen image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows an example of a second application device operation screen image displayed on a display unit of a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 14] FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an operation of a control system according to an embodiment. [Figure 15] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a terminal device control process executed by a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 16] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of a terminal device control process executed by a terminal device according to an embodiment; [Figure 17] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a common cloud control process executed by a device management server according to an embodiment. [Figure 18]1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a common cloud control process executed by a device management server according to an embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 11 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of a control system according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] A control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The control system according to the embodiment includes a device control server that controls a first device, a terminal device having an input unit, and a web server. The web server has a first setting information generating unit that generates first setting information indicating the setting contents of the first device based on the acquired operation information when it receives operation information transmitted from the terminal device and indicates a first operation performed by a user on the input unit and is transmitted from the terminal device, and a first setting information notifying unit that transmits the first setting information to the device control server. The terminal device further has an operation notifying unit that generates operation information indicating the first operation and transmits it to the web server when the user performs a first operation on the first device on the input unit. The device control server has a device control unit that controls the first device based on the acquired first setting information when it receives the first setting information transmitted from the web server.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1, the control system according to the present embodiment includes a physical server 1 that controls a plurality of devices 3 installed in a building, and a terminal device 2. Here, the devices 3 are connected to a local network NW2 constructed in the building. The local network NW2 is a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN. The physical server 1 and the terminal device 2 are connected to a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet. The physical server 1 and the devices 3 communicate with each other via the local network NW2, a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 4, and the wide area network NW1. In addition, in the physical server 1, a device control server VS1 for controlling the devices 3, a device management server VS2 for managing the state of the devices 3, and a web server VS3 for managing a first application for operating the devices 3 are each realized as a virtual server.

[0011] The devices 3 are, for example, air conditioners, lighting fixtures, rice cookers, etc., and each device has a communication interface for communicating with the BBR4 via the local network NW2. Each device 3 has a function of generating device status notification information including device status information indicating its own operating status, device identification information identifying its own device, and device type information indicating its own type, and transmitting the information to the physical server 1 whenever a preset device status notification time arrives. Furthermore, each device 3, upon acquiring control information transmitted from the device control server VS1, starts operating based on the acquired control information. Then, after starting operation based on the control information, the device 3 generates device status notification information including device status information indicating its own status after starting operation, and its own device identification information and device type information, and transmits the information to the device control server VS1.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the physical server 1 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a main memory 102, an auxiliary memory 103, a communication unit 106, and a bus 109 connecting the various units. The CPU 101 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory 102 is a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as a working area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory 103 has a non-volatile memory, functions as a ROM (Read Only Memory) and storage, and stores programs for implementing various functions of the device control server VS1, the device management server VS2, and the web server VS3 described above on the physical server 1. The communication unit 106 communicates with the device 3 via the wide area network NW1 and BBR4, and with the terminal device 2 via the wide area network NW1.

[0013] The CPU 101 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes them, thereby functioning as an application individual server VS1, a device management server VS2, and an application storage server VS3, as shown in FIG. 3. The application individual server VS1 has an operation information acquisition unit 1111, a setting information generation unit 1112, a setting information notification unit 1113, and a device status notification unit 1114. The application individual server VS1 has a function of generating setting notification information including setting information indicating changed setting contents of the device 3 based on operation information transmitted from the terminal device 2 by executing a preset application, and transmitting the setting notification information to the device management server VS2. When the operation information acquisition unit 1111 acquires the operation information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it notifies the acquired operation information to the setting information generation unit 1112. The setting information generation unit 1112 generates setting information indicating new setting contents for the device 3 identified by the device identification information included in the operation information, based on the operation content information included in the notified operation information. Then, the setting information notification unit 1113 generates setting notification information including the generated setting information and device identification information of the device 3 to be operated, and notifies the device management server VS2 of the same.

[0014] When the device status notification unit 1114 acquires device status notification information transmitted from the device management server VS2, it extracts device status information and device identification information contained in the acquired device status notification information, and generates device status notification information from the extracted information. Then, the device status notification unit 1114 transmits the generated device status notification information to the terminal device 2. Furthermore, when the device status notification unit 1114 acquires device status request information from the terminal device 2, it transmits the acquired device status request information to the device management server VS2.

[0015] The device management server VS2 has a device status acquisition unit 1211, a device status notification unit 1212, an operation information acquisition unit 1213, a setting information generation unit 1214, a setting information acquisition unit 1215, a user information acquisition unit 1216, an authentication processing unit 1217, a device information acquisition unit 1218, a device control unit 1221, a push notification determination unit 1219, and a push notification unit 1220. The device management server VS2 also has a device status storage unit 1231, a device information storage unit 1232, a user information storage unit 1233, and a setting storage unit 1234. The device status storage unit 1231 stores device status information indicating the status of each device 3 in association with device identification information for identifying the device 3. 4A, the device information storage unit 1232 stores device information composed of device type information indicating the type of each device 3 and device identification information of each device 3 in association with user identification information identifying a user who uses the device 3. The example shown in Fig. 4A indicates that a user identified by user identification information IDU[0] is using a water heater identified by device identification information IDD[0] (XXXX) and an air conditioner identified by device identification information IDD[1] (YYYY).

[0016] 3, the user information storage unit 1233 stores user identification information used for user authentication processing and password information indicating a password that the user is prompted to input in a login operation when starting an application for operating the device 3 in the terminal device 2, in association with each other. The setting storage unit 1234 stores setting information indicating the setting contents for each device 3, in association with the device identification information of the corresponding device 3.

[0017] When the device status acquisition unit 1211 acquires device status notification information transmitted from the device 3, it extracts device status information, device identification information, and device type information included in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted device status information, device identification information, and device type information in the device status storage unit 1231 in association with each other. When the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 1231 is updated, the device status notification unit 1212 generates device status notification information including the updated device status information and the corresponding device status information, device identification information, and device type information of the device 3, and transfers it to the application individual server VS1. Also, when the device status notification unit 1212 acquires device status information request information transmitted from the application individual server VS1, it specifies the device status information, device identification information, and device type information stored in the device status storage unit 1231 corresponding to the user identification information included in the device status information request information in response to the request. Then, the device status notification unit 1212 generates device status notification information including the specified device status information, device identification information, and device type information, and transmits it to the application individual server VS1.

[0018] When the operation information acquisition unit 1213 acquires the operation information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it notifies the setting information generation unit 1214 of the acquired operation information. Here, the operation information includes device identification information of the device 3 to be operated and operation content information indicating the operation content of the operation performed on the device 3. The setting information generation unit 1214 generates setting information indicating new setting content for the device identified by the device identification information included in the operation information, based on the operation content information included in the notified operation information. Then, the setting information generation unit 1214 stores the generated setting information and the device identification information of the device 3 to be operated in the setting storage unit 1234 in association with each other.

[0019] When the user information acquisition unit 1216 acquires user registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it extracts the user information and password information included in the acquired user registration request information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the information in the user information storage unit 1233. When the authentication processing unit 1217 acquires authentication information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it determines whether or not the combination of user identification information and password information included in the acquired authentication information exists among the combinations of user identification information and password information stored in the user information storage unit 1233. If the combination included in the acquired authentication information exists among the combinations stored in the user information storage unit 1233, the authentication processing unit 1217 determines that the authentication has been successful, and transmits operation permission notification information notifying that the user is permitted to operate the device 3 to the terminal device 2 that has transmitted the authentication information.

[0020] When the device information acquisition unit 1218 acquires device registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it extracts the device identification information, device type information, and user identification information contained in the acquired device registration request information, and stores the extracted information in the device information storage unit 1232 in association with each other.

[0021] When the setting information acquisition unit 1215 acquires setting notification information transmitted from the application individual server VS1, it extracts the setting information included in the acquired setting notification information and the device identification information of the corresponding device 3, and stores the extracted setting information and device identification information in association with each other in the setting storage unit 1234. When the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 1234 is updated, the device control unit 1221 generates control information for controlling the corresponding device 3 based on the updated setting information. Then, the device control unit 1221 transmits the generated control information to the corresponding device 3.

[0022] The PUSH notification determination unit 1219 determines whether or not to transmit PUSH notification information to the terminal device 2 based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 1231. Here, the PUSH notification determination unit 1219 holds determination condition information indicating a determination condition for determining that an abnormality has occurred for each device 3, and determines to transmit PUSH notification information to the terminal device 2 if the state of the device 3 satisfies the determination condition indicated by the determination condition information based on the determination condition information. When it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the device 3, the PUSH notification unit 1220 generates message information based on the device status information of the device 3, generates PUSH notification information including the device status information, device identification information, device type information, and the generated message information of the device 3, and transmits the generated message information to the terminal device 2.

[0023] The terminal device 2 is, for example, a smartphone, and includes a CPU 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, a display unit 204, an input unit 205, a communication unit 206, and a bus 209 that connects them to each other, as shown in FIG. 2. The main memory unit 202 has a volatile memory and is used as a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory unit 203 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory, and stores programs for the CPU 201 to execute various processes. The display unit 204 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The input unit 205 is, for example, a transparent touch pad that is placed on top of the display unit 204. The communication unit 206 is connected to the wide area network NW1, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 201 to the device control server VS1 and the device management server VS2 via the wide area network NW1, and transfers information received from the device management server VS2 via the wide area network NW1 to the CPU 201.

[0024] The CPU 201 reads out the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a device status acquisition unit 211, a display control unit 212, a user registration unit 213, an authentication processing unit 214, a simplified operation notification unit 215, an application identification unit 216, an operation notification unit 217, an application acquisition unit 218, a PUSH notification acquisition unit 220, and a device registration unit 221, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in Fig. 2 also has a device status storage unit 231, a link information storage unit 232, and an application storage unit 233, as shown in Fig. 3. The device status storage unit 231 stores device status information indicating the state of each device 3 in association with device identification information for identifying the device 3 and device type information indicating the type of the device 3. The link information storage unit 232 stores link information indicating a correspondence between application type information indicating the types of the first application and the second application for generating operation information indicating an operation on the device 3 and device type information indicating the type of the device 3 to be operated, as shown in FIG. 4B, for example. In the example shown in FIG. 4B, when the device type of the device 3 is a water heater or a bathroom heater, the first applications of application types CA[0] and CA[2] running on the web server VS3 are used as applications for operating the device 3. Also, when the device type of the device 3 is an air conditioner, the application of application type CA[1] running on the terminal device 2 is used as an application for operating the device 3. The application storage unit 233 stores application information transmitted from the application storage server VS3.

[0025] 3, when the device status acquisition unit 211 acquires device status notification information transmitted from the device management server VS2, it extracts device status information, device identification information, and device type information contained in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted device status information, device identification information, and device type information in association with one another in the device status storage unit 231. Furthermore, when the user performs a base operation screen image display operation on the input unit 205 to display a base operation screen image on the display unit 204, the device status acquisition unit 211 accepts the base operation screen image display operation, generates device status information request information including the user identification information of the user, and transmits it to the device management server VS2, thereby acquiring the device status notification information transmitted from the device management server VS2.

[0026] When an operation to select the device 3 is performed on the input unit 205 while a base operation screen image set in advance for selecting the device 3 to be operated is formed and displayed on the display unit 204, the display control unit 212 displays an device operation screen image for operating the selected device 3 on the display unit 204. Here, when operation permission notification information is notified from the authentication processing unit 214, the display control unit 212 forms a base operation screen image including at least one button image to be selected when operating the device 3, and displays it on the display unit 204. Also, when a user operates the input unit 205 to select one of the at least one button image while the base operation screen image is displayed on the display unit 204, the display control unit 212 displays an device operation screen image for operating the device 3 on the display unit 204. Here, the display control unit 212 forms a base operation screen image including a message image indicating the state of the device 3 based on the device state information stored in the device state storage unit 231, and displays it on the display unit 204. Furthermore, the display control unit 212 manages device operation screen images corresponding to the respective pieces of application type information, and forms a device operation screen image corresponding to the application type information notified from the application identification unit 216 .

[0027] Furthermore, when the display control unit 212 is notified of the PUSH notification information from the PUSH notification acquisition unit 220, the display control unit 212 forms a PUSH notification image including a button image to be selected when operating the device 3 based on the notified PUSH notification information, and displays it on the display unit 204. Here, when the user performs an operation to select a button image included in the PUSH notification image, the display control unit 212 forms a device operation screen image including notification content indicated by the PUSH notification image based on the notified PUSH notification information in response to this, and displays it on the display unit 204. For example, when the application type information corresponding to the device type information included in the PUSH notification information indicates a first application, when the user performs an operation to select a button image included in the PUSH notification image, the display control unit 212 forms a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 by the first application, and displays it on the display unit 204. On the other hand, if the application type information corresponding to the device type information included in the PUSH notification information indicates a second application, when the user performs an operation to select a button image included in the PUSH notification image, the display control unit 212 forms a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 by the second application and displays it on the display unit 204.

[0028] When the user performs a user registration operation on the input unit 205 to register the user in the device management server VS2, the user registration unit 213 accepts the user registration operation, generates user registration request information including user information including user identification information input in the user registration operation and password information, and transmits the information to the device management server VS2. When the user performs a login operation on the input unit 205, the authentication processing unit 214 accepts the login operation, generates authentication information including the user identification information and password information input in the login operation, and transmits the information to the device management server VS2. Then, when the authentication processing unit 214 acquires operation permission notification information transmitted from the device management server VS2, it notifies the display control unit 212, the device registration unit 221, and the simplified operation notification unit 215 of the acquired operation permission notification information.

[0029] When the operation permission notification information has been notified from the authentication processing unit 214, and the user performs a device registration operation on the input unit 205 to register the device 3 to be used in the device management server VS2, the device registration unit 221 accepts the device registration operation and generates device registration request information including the device identification information, device type information, and user identification information of the device 3 input by the device registration operation. Then, the device registration unit 221 transmits the generated device registration request information to the device management server VS2.

[0030] When operation permission notification information has been notified from the authentication processing unit 214, when the user performs a simple setting change operation on the input unit 205 to make a simple setting change that has been preset for the device 3, the simple operation notification unit 215 accepts the simple setting change operation, generates operation information indicating the operation content of the simple setting change operation, and transmits it to the device management server VS2.

[0031] When the user performs an operation target selection operation on the input unit 205 to select the device 3 whose setting contents are to be changed, the application identification unit 216 accepts the operation target selection operation and identifies the device type information of the device 3 whose setting contents are to be changed. Then, the application identification unit 216 refers to the linkage information stored in the linkage information storage unit 232, identifies the application type information corresponding to the identified device type information, and notifies the display control unit 212 of the identified application type information. Furthermore, when the application identification unit 216 identifies the application type information of the first application, it notifies the operation notification unit 217 and the application acquisition unit 218 of the identified application type information. On the other hand, when the application identification unit 216 identifies the application type information of the second application, it notifies the operation notification unit 217 of the identified application type information. Here, the first application is an application that needs to be downloaded from the application storage server VS3 to the terminal device 2 and then installed in the terminal device 2, and the second application is an application that is installed in the terminal device 2 in advance.

[0032] When the operation permission notification information has been notified from the authentication processing unit 214 and the application type information has been notified, and the user performs a setting change operation on the input unit 205 to change the settings of the device 3, the operation notifying unit 217 accepts the setting change operation, generates operation information indicating the operation content of the setting change operation, and transmits it to the application individual server VS1. Specifically, when the user performs a setting change operation on the input unit 205 while a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 by the first application or the second application is displayed on the display unit 204, the operation notifying unit 217 accepts the setting change operation, generates operation information indicating the operation content of the setting change operation, and transmits it to the application individual server VS1.

[0033] When the application type information is notified, the application acquisition unit 218 transmits application request information to the application storage server VS3, thereby acquiring application information transmitted from the application storage server VS3. Then, the application acquisition unit 218 stores the acquired application information in the application storage unit 233. Then, the display control unit 212 displays, on the display unit 204, a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 by the first application, based on the application information stored in the application storage unit 233.

[0034] When the push notification acquisition unit 220 acquires push notification information transmitted from the device control server VS1, it notifies the display control unit 212 of the acquired push notification information.

[0035] When the application storage server VS3 acquires application request information from the terminal device 2, it identifies an application corresponding to the acquired application request information. Then, the application storage server VS3 transmits application information indicating the identified application to the terminal device 2. The application storage server VS3 has an application selection unit 1311, an application notification unit 1312, and an application storage unit 1331. The application storage unit 1331 stores a plurality of types of first applications. When the application selection unit 1311 acquires application request information transmitted from the terminal device 2, it selects a first application corresponding to the acquired application request information from among the first applications stored in the application storage unit 1331. The application notification unit 1312 transmits application information indicating the selected first application to the terminal device 2.

[0036] Next, the operation of the control system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 5 to Fig. 14. First, it is assumed that a user performs the above-mentioned user registration operation on the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2. In this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the user registration operation (step S1) and generates user registration request information including user information including the user identification information input in the user registration operation and password information (step S2). Next, the generated user registration request information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the device management server VS2 (step S3). On the other hand, when the device management server VS2 acquires the user registration request information, it extracts the user information and password information included in the acquired user registration request information and stores them in the user information storage unit 1233 (step S4).

[0037] Next, it is assumed that the user performs a login operation via the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2. In this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the login operation (step S5) and generates authentication information including the user identification information and password information input in the accepted login operation (step S6). After that, the generated authentication information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the device management server VS2 (step S7). On the other hand, when the device management server VS2 acquires the authentication information, it refers to the user information and password information stored in the user information storage unit 1233 and executes authentication processing (step S8). Here, if the device management server VS2 determines that the authentication is successful (step S9), operation permission notification information notifying the user that operation of the device 3 is permitted is transmitted from the device management server VS2 to the terminal device 2 (step S10).

[0038] Thereafter, it is assumed that the user performs a device registration operation on the input unit 205 to register the device 3 used by the user in the device management server VS2. In this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the device registration operation (step S11) and generates device registration request information including the device identification information, device type information, and user identification information of the device 3 input by the device registration operation (step S12). Next, the generated device registration request information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the device management server VS2 (step S13). On the other hand, when the device management server VS2 acquires the device registration request information, it extracts the device identification information, device type information, and user identification information included in the acquired device registration request information, and stores the extracted information in the device information storage unit 1232 in association with each other (step S14).

[0039] As shown in FIG. 6, when a preset device status notification time arrives, the device 3 generates device status notification information including device status information indicating its own operation information and device identification information of its own device (step S15). Then, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the device 3 to the device management server VS2 (step S16). On the other hand, when the device management server VS2 acquires the device status notification information, it extracts the device status information and device identification information included in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted information in the device status storage unit 1231 in association with each other (step S17). Next, when the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 1231 is updated, the device management server VS2 generates device status notification information including the updated device status information and the corresponding device identification information (step S18). Then, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the device management server VS2 to the application individual server VS1 (step S19). On the other hand, when the application individual server VS1 acquires the device status notification information, it extracts the device status information and the device identification information included in the acquired device status notification information (step S20). After that, the device management server VS2 generates device status notification information including the extracted device status information, device identification information, and device type information corresponding to the user identification information of the user of the terminal device 2 that is the transmission source of the device registration request information (step S21). Then, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the application individual server VS1 to the terminal device 2 (step S22). On the other hand, when the terminal device 2 acquires the device status notification information, it extracts the device status information, device identification information, and device type information included in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted information in the device status storage unit 231 (step S23). Next, the terminal device 2 forms a base operation screen image including a message image indicating the status of the device 3 based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 231, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S24).

[0040] Here, the terminal device 2 displays a base operation screen image GA1 on the display unit 204, for example, as shown in Fig. 7. The base operation screen image GA1 includes button images BU11, BU12, BU13, and BU14 that are selected when performing a simple operation such as changing only the on / off setting of the device 3, button images BU15, BU16, BU17, and BU18 that are selected in an operation target selection operation for selecting the device 3 that is the target of change when changing the setting contents of the device 3, and message images M11, M12, M13, and M14 that indicate the status of the device 3.

[0041] Returning to FIG. 6, it is assumed that the user performs a login operation via the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2, and after a series of processes from steps S5 to S10 described above are executed, the user performs a base operation screen image display operation on the input unit 205 to display the base operation screen image GA1 described above on the display unit 204, as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the base operation screen image display operation (step S25) and generates device status information request information including user identification information (step S26). Then, the generated device status information request information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the device management server VS2 (step S27). On the other hand, when the device management server VS2 acquires the device status information request information, it identifies the device status information, device identification information, and device type information corresponding to the user identification information included in the device status information request information from the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 1231, and generates device status notification information including the identified device status information, device identification information, and device type information (step S28). The generated device status notification information is then transmitted from the device management server VS2 to the terminal device 2 (step S29). On the other hand, upon acquiring the device status notification information, the terminal device 2 extracts the device status information, device identification information, and device type information contained in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted information in the device status storage unit 231 (step S30). Next, the terminal device 2 forms a base operation screen image including a message image indicating the status of the device 3 based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 231, and displays the base operation screen image on the display unit 204 (step S31).

[0042] Here, it is assumed that the user performs a simple setting change operation on the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2 to perform a simple setting change of the device 3. This simple setting change operation is, for example, an operation in which the user touches the parts of the input unit 205, which is a touch pad, corresponding to the button images BU11, BU12, BU13, and BU14, while the terminal device 2 displays the base operation screen image GA1 as shown in Fig. 7 on the display unit 204. Returning to Fig. 8, in this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the above-mentioned simple setting change operation (step S32) and generates operation information including device identification information of the device 3 to be operated and operation content information indicating the operation content (step S33). Then, the generated operation information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the device management server VS2 (step S34). On the other hand, when the device management server VS2 acquires the operation information, it generates setting information indicating new setting contents for the device 3 identified by the device identification information included in the operation information based on the operation content information included in the operation information, generates setting notification information including the generated setting information and the device identification information of the device 3 to be operated, and stores the setting notification information in the setting storage unit 1234 (step S35). Then, the device management server VS2 generates control information for controlling the corresponding device 3 based on the updated setting information (step S36), and the generated control information is transmitted from the device management server VS2 to the device 3 (step S37). On the other hand, when the device 3 acquires the control information, it starts operating based on the acquired control information as shown in FIG. 9 (step S38). Next, after the series of processes from the above-mentioned steps S15 to S23 are executed again, the terminal device 2 forms a base operation screen image including a message image indicating the state of the device 3 based on the device state information of the device 3 after the setting information is updated, stored in the device state storage unit 231, and displays the base operation screen image on the display unit 204 (step S24).

[0043] Also, assume that the user performs an operation target selection operation on the input unit 205 to select the device 3 operated via the first application as the device 3 whose setting contents are to be changed. This operation target selection operation is, for example, an operation in which the user touches a portion of the input unit 205, which is a touchpad, corresponding to any one of the button images BU15, BU16, BU17, and BU18, while the terminal device 2 displays the base operation screen image GA1 as shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 204. Returning to FIG. 9, in this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the operation target selection operation (step S39) and specifies the device type information of the device 3 whose setting contents are to be changed. Here, assume that the terminal device 2 specifies the application type information of the first application corresponding to the specified device type information by referring to the linkage information stored in the linkage information storage unit 232 (step S40). In this case, application request information requesting transmission of the specified first application is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the application storage server VS3 (step S41). On the other hand, when the application storage server VS3 acquires the application request information, it selects an application corresponding to the acquired application request information (step S42). Next, application information indicating the selected application is transmitted from the application storage server VS3 to the terminal device 2 (step S43). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the application information, the terminal device 2 stores the acquired application information in the application storage unit 233. Then, based on the application information stored in the application storage unit 233, the terminal device 2 forms a device operation screen image corresponding to the application type information indicating the first application and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S44).

[0044] Here, the terminal device 2 displays, for example, a device operation screen image GA2 as shown in Fig. 10 on the display unit 204. The device operation screen image GA2 includes message images M21 and M22 indicating the status of the device 3, and a button image BU21 selected when changing the setting contents of the device 3.

[0045] Returning to FIG. 9, it is assumed that the user performs a setting change operation on the input unit 205 to change the setting contents of the device 3. This setting change operation is, for example, an operation in which the user touches a portion of the input unit 205, which is a touchpad, corresponding to the button image BU21 while the terminal device 2 displays the device operation screen image GA2 as shown in FIG. 10 on the display unit 204, and then changes the setting contents. Returning to FIG. 9, in this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the setting change operation (step S45), and generates operation information including device identification information of the device 3 to be operated and operation content information indicating the operation content, as shown in FIG. 11 (step S46). Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the generated operation information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the application individual server VS1 (step S47). On the other hand, when the application individual server VS1 acquires the operation information, it generates setting information indicating new setting contents for the device 3 identified by the device identification information included in the operation information, based on the operation content information included in the acquired operation information, and generates setting notification information including the generated setting information and the device identification information of the device 3 to be operated (step S48). The application individual server VS1 then notifies the device management server VS2 of the generated setting notification information (step S49). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the setting notification information, the device management server VS2 extracts the setting information contained in the acquired setting notification information and the device identification information of the corresponding device 3, and stores the extracted setting information and device identification information in the setting storage unit 1234 in association with each other (step S50). Thereafter, the device control server VS1 generates control information for controlling the corresponding device 3 based on the updated setting information (step S51), and the generated control information is transmitted from the device control server VS1 to the device 3 (step S52). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the control information, the device 3 starts operating based on the acquired control information (step S53).

[0046] Next, the device 3 generates device status notification information including device status information indicating its own operation information and device identification information of its own device (step S54). Then, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the device 3 to the device management server VS2 (step S55). On the other hand, when the device management server VS2 acquires the device status notification information, it extracts the device status information and device identification information included in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted information in the device status storage unit 1131 in association with each other (step S56). Next, when the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 1131 is updated, the device management server VS2 generates device status notification information including the updated device status information and the corresponding device identification information, and device status notification request information requesting notification of the device status information to the terminal device 2 (step S57). Then, the generated device status notification information and device status notification request information are notified from the device management server VS2 to the application individual server VS1 (step S58). On the other hand, when the application individual server VS1 acquires the device status notification information and the device status notification request information, it extracts the device status information and the device identification information included in the acquired device status notification information (step S59). After that, as shown in FIG. 12, the application individual server VS1 generates device status notification information including the extracted device status information, device identification information, and device type information corresponding to the user identification information of the user of the terminal device 2 that is the transmission source of the device registration request information (step S60). Then, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the application individual server VS1 to the terminal device 2 (step S61). On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, when the terminal device 2 acquires the device status notification information, it extracts the device status information, device identification information, and device type information included in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted information in the device status storage unit 231 (step S62). Next, the terminal device 2 forms a device operation screen image including a message image indicating the status of the device 3 based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 231, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S63).

[0047] Also, assume that the user performs an operation target selection operation on the input unit 205 to select the device 3 operated via the second application as the device 3 whose setting contents are to be changed. This operation target selection operation is, for example, an operation in which the user touches a portion of the input unit 205, which is a touch pad, corresponding to any one of the button images BU15, BU16, BU17, and BU18, while the terminal device 2 displays the base operation screen image GA1 as shown in FIG. 7 on the display unit 204. Returning to FIG. 12, in this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the operation target selection operation (step S64) and specifies the device type information of the device 3 whose setting contents are to be changed. Here, assume that the terminal device 2 specifies the application type information of the second application corresponding to the specified device type information by referring to the linkage information stored in the linkage information storage unit 232 (step S65). In this case, the terminal device 2 forms a device operation screen image according to the application type information indicating the second application and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S66).

[0048] Here, the terminal device 2 displays, for example, a device operation screen image GA3 as shown in Fig. 13 on the display unit 204. The device operation screen image GA3 includes message images M31 and M32 indicating the state of the device 3, button images BU31, BU32, BU33, BU34, and BU35 selected when changing the setting contents of the device 3, and a thermal image GA31 captured by an imaging unit (not shown) attached to the device 3.

[0049] Returning to FIG. 12, it is assumed that the user performs a setting change operation on the input unit 205 to change the setting contents of the device 3. This setting change operation is, for example, an operation in which the user touches a portion of the input unit 205, which is a touchpad, corresponding to any one of the button images BU31, BU32, BU33, BU34, and BU35 to change the setting contents while the terminal device 2 displays the device operation screen image GA3 as shown in FIG. 13 on the display unit 204. Returning to FIG. 12, in this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the setting change operation (step S67), generates setting information indicating new setting contents for the device 3 identified by the device identification information of the device 3 specified in the setting change operation based on the operation contents of the setting change operation, and generates setting notification information including the generated setting information and the device identification information of the device 3 to be operated (step S68). Then, the generated setting notification information is notified from the terminal device 2 to the application individual server VS1 (step S69). After that, a series of processes from the above-mentioned steps S48 to S63 are executed.

[0050] Also, it is assumed that the device management server VS2 has determined that it is necessary to transmit PUSH notification information to the terminal device 2 based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 1231 (step S70). Here, the device management server VS2 determines that it is necessary to transmit PUSH notification information to the terminal device 2, for example, when a failure occurs in the device 3 and the device status information indicates that the device 3 is in an abnormal state. In this case, the device management server VS2 generates PUSH notification information (step S71), and the generated PUSH notification information is transmitted from the device management server VS2 to the terminal device 2 (step S72). On the other hand, when the terminal device 2 acquires the PUSH notification information, it forms a PUSH notification image based on the acquired PUSH notification information and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S73). Here, it is assumed that the application type information corresponding to the device type information included in the PUSH notification information indicates the first application. In this case, when the user performs a PUSH notification image selection operation to select a button image included in the PUSH notification image, the terminal device 2 accepts the PUSH notification image selection operation (step S74). Next, the terminal device 2 refers to the cooperation information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 232, and identifies the application type information indicating the first application corresponding to the device type information included in the PUSH notification information (step S75). After that, a series of processes from the above-mentioned step S41 onwards are executed.

[0051] Next, the terminal control process executed by the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 15 and Fig. 16. The terminal control process is started when the terminal device 2 is powered on and a program for executing the terminal control process is started. First, as shown in Fig. 15, the user registration unit 213 judges whether the above-mentioned user registration operation has been accepted (step S201). If the user registration unit 213 judges that the user registration operation has not been accepted (step S201: No), the process of step S203 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the user registration unit 213 judges that the user registration operation has been accepted (step S201: Yes), the user registration unit 213 generates user registration request information including user information including user identification information input in the user registration operation and password information, and transmits the generated information to the device management server VS2 (step S202).

[0052] Next, the authentication processing unit 214 judges whether or not the login operation described above has been accepted (step S203). If the authentication processing unit 214 judges that the login operation has not been accepted (step S203: No), the process of step S226 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 214 judges that the login operation has been accepted (step S203: Yes), the authentication processing unit 214 generates authentication information including the user identification information and password information inputted in the login operation and transmits the information to the device management server VS2 (step S204). Next, the authentication processing unit 214 judges whether or not the operation permission notification information transmitted from the device management server VS2 has been acquired (step S205). If the authentication processing unit 214 judges that the operation permission notification information has not been acquired (step S205: No), the process of step S226 described later is executed. On the other hand, when the authentication processing unit 214 determines that the operation permission notification information has been acquired (step S205: Yes), it notifies the display control unit 212, the device registration unit 221, and the simplified operation notification unit 215 of the acquired operation permission notification information. Then, the device registration unit 221 determines whether or not the above-mentioned device registration operation has been accepted (step S206). Here, when the device registration unit 221 determines that the device registration operation has not been accepted (step S206: No), the process of step S211 described later is executed. On the other hand, when the device registration unit 221 determines that the device registration operation has been accepted (step S206: Yes), it generates device registration request information including the device identification information, device type information, and user identification information of the device 3 input by the device registration operation. Then, the device registration unit 221 transmits the generated device registration request information to the device management server VS2 (step S207).

[0053] Thereafter, when the device status acquisition unit 211 acquires device status notification information transmitted from the device management server VS2 (step S208), it extracts the device status information, device identification information, and device type information contained in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted device status information, device identification information, and device type information in the device status storage unit 231 in association with one another (step S209). Next, the display control unit 212 forms the above-mentioned base operation screen image based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 231, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S210).

[0054] Next, the device status acquisition unit 211 judges whether or not the above-mentioned base operation screen image display operation has been received (step S211). Here, if the device status acquisition unit 211 judges that the base operation screen image display operation has not been received (step S211: No), the process of step S216 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the device status acquisition unit 211 judges that the base operation screen image display operation has been received (step S211: Yes), the device status acquisition unit 211 generates device status information request information including user identification information and transmits it to the device management server VS2 (step S212), thereby acquiring device status notification information transmitted from the device management server VS2 (step S213). After that, the device status acquisition unit 211 extracts the device status information, device identification information, and device type information included in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted device status information, device identification information, and device type information in the device status storage unit 231 in association with each other (step S214). Next, the display control unit 212 forms the above-mentioned base operation screen image based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 231, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S215).

[0055] 16, the simple operation notification unit 215 determines whether or not the simple setting change operation described above has been accepted (step S216). If the simple operation notification unit 215 determines that the simple setting change operation has not been accepted (step S216: No), the process of step S218 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the simple operation notification unit 215 determines that the simple setting change operation has been accepted (step S216: Yes), it generates operation information indicating the operation content of the simple setting change operation and transmits it to the device management server VS2 (step S217).

[0056] Thereafter, the application identifying unit 216 judges whether or not the above-mentioned operation target selection operation has been received (step S218). Here, if the application identifying unit 216 judges that the operation target selection operation has not been received (step S218: No), the process of step S226 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the application identifying unit 216 judges that the operation target selection operation has been received (step S218: Yes), the application identifying unit 216 identifies the device type information of the device 3 that is the target of the change of the setting contents. Then, the application identifying unit 216 refers to the cooperation information stored in the cooperation information storage unit 232, identifies the application type information corresponding to the identified device type information, and notifies the display control unit 212 of the identified application type information. Here, the application identifying unit 216 judges whether or not the application type information of the first application has been identified (step S219). If the application identifying unit 216 judges that the application type information of the first application has been identified (step S219: Yes), the application identifying unit 216 notifies the application acquisition unit 218 of the application type information. Then, when the application type information is notified, the application acquisition unit 218 transmits application request information to the application storage server VS3 (step S220). As a result, the application acquisition unit 218 acquires the application information transmitted from the application storage server VS3, and stores the acquired application information in the application storage unit 233 (step S221). Then, based on the application information stored in the application storage unit 233, the display control unit 212 forms a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 via the first application, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S222).

[0057] Next, the operation notification unit 217 judges whether or not the above-mentioned setting change operation has been received (step S223). If the operation notification unit 217 judges that the setting change operation has not been received (step S223: No), the process of step S228 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the operation notification unit 217 judges that the setting change operation has been received (step S223: Yes), the operation notification unit 217 generates operation information indicating the operation content of the setting change operation and transmits it to the application individual server VS1 (step S224). Then, the process of step S228 described below is executed.

[0058] Furthermore, if the application identification unit 216 determines in step S219 that the application type information of the second application has been identified (step S219: No), the display control unit 212 forms a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 based on the function realized by executing the second application, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S225).

[0059] Thereafter, the operation notifying unit 217 judges whether or not the above-mentioned setting change operation has been accepted (step S226). If the operation notifying unit 217 judges that the setting change operation has not been accepted (step S226: No), the process of step S228 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the operation notifying unit 217 judges that the setting change operation has been accepted (step S226: Yes), the operation notifying unit 217 generates operation information indicating the operation content of the accepted setting change operation and transmits it to the application individual server VS1 (step S227).

[0060] Next, the PUSH notification acquisition unit 220 judges whether or not the PUSH notification information transmitted from the device management control server VS1 has been acquired (step S228). If the PUSH notification acquisition unit 220 judges that the PUSH notification information has been acquired (step S228: Yes), the acquired PUSH notification information is notified to the display control unit 212. Then, the process of step S219 is executed again. On the other hand, if the PUSH notification acquisition unit 220 judges that the PUSH notification information has not been acquired (step S228: No), the authentication processing unit 214 judges whether or not the user is logged in (step S229). If the authentication processing unit 214 judges that the user is logged out (step S229: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 214 judges that the user is logged in (step S229: Yes), the authentication processing unit 214 judges whether or not the user has accepted a logout operation (step S230). If the authentication processing unit 214 determines that the logout operation has not been received (step S230: No), the process of step S206 is executed again. On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 214 determines that the logout operation has been received (step S230: Yes), the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0061] Next, the device management process executed by the device management server VS2 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 17 and 18. The device management process is started when a program for implementing the device management server VS2 is started in the physical server 1. First, the user information acquisition unit 1216 judges whether or not the user registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 2 is acquired (step S101). If the user information acquisition unit 1216 judges that the user registration request information has not been acquired (step S101: No), the process of step S103 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the user information acquisition unit 1216 judges that the user registration request information has been acquired (step S101: Yes), the user information acquisition unit 1216 extracts the user information and password information included in the acquired user registration request information, and stores the extracted information in the user information storage unit 1233 in association with each other (step S102).

[0062] Next, the authentication processing unit 1217 judges whether or not the authentication information transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been acquired (step S103). If the authentication processing unit 1217 judges that the authentication information has not been acquired (step S103: No), the process of step S107 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 1217 judges that the authentication information has been acquired (step S103: Yes), the authentication processing unit 1217 executes the authentication process using the combination of the user identification information and password information stored in the user information storage unit 1233 and the combination of the user identification information and password information included in the acquired authentication information (step S104). Then, the authentication processing unit 1217 judges whether or not the authentication has been successful as a result of the authentication process (step S105). If the authentication processing unit 1217 judges that the authentication has failed (step S105: No), the process of step S107 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the authentication processing unit 1217 determines that the authentication is successful (step S105: Yes), it transmits the above-mentioned operation permission notification information to the terminal device 2 that is the transmission source of the authentication information (step S106).

[0063] Next, the device information acquisition unit 1218 judges whether or not device registration request information transmitted from the terminal device 2 has been acquired (step S107). If the device information acquisition unit 1218 judges that device registration request information has not been acquired (step S107: No), the process of step S112 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the device information acquisition unit 1218 judges that device registration request information has been acquired (step S107: Yes), the device information acquisition unit 1218 extracts device identification information, device type information, and user identification information included in the acquired device registration request information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the information in the device information storage unit 1232 (step S108). After that, if the device status acquisition unit 1211 acquires device status notification information notified by the device control server VS1 (step S109), the device status acquisition unit 1211 extracts device status information and device identification information included in the acquired device status notification information, and associates the extracted device status information and device identification information with each other, and stores the information in the device status storage unit 1231 (step S110). Next, when the device status information stored in the device status memory unit 1231 is updated, the device status notification unit 1212 generates device status notification information including the updated device status information and the device status information, device identification information and device type information of the corresponding device 3, and transmits the information to the terminal device 2 (step S111).

[0064] Next, the device status acquisition unit 1211 judges whether or not the device status notification information notified from the device control server VS1 has been acquired (step S112). If the device status acquisition unit 1211 judges that the device status notification information has not been acquired (step S112: No), the process of step S114 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the device status acquisition unit 1211 judges that the device status notification information has been acquired (step S112: Yes), the device status acquisition unit 1211 extracts the device status information and the device identification information included in the acquired device status notification information, and stores the extracted device status information and the device identification information in the device status storage unit 1231 in association with each other (step S113).

[0065] Thereafter, the device status notifying unit 1212 judges whether or not it has acquired device status information request information transmitted from the terminal device 2 or device status notification request information transmitted from the device control server VS1 (step S114). If the device status notifying unit 1212 judges that it has acquired neither device status information request information nor device status notification request information (step S114: No), the process of step S116 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the device status notifying unit 1212 judges that it has acquired device status information request information or device status notification request information (step S114: Yes), it generates device status notification information including the device status information, device identification information, and device type information of the device 3 corresponding to the updated device status information stored in the device status storage unit 1231, and transmits the generated information to the terminal device 2 (step S115).

[0066] Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the operation information acquisition unit 1213 judges whether or not it has acquired operation information transmitted from the terminal device 2 (step S116). Here, if the operation information acquisition unit 1213 judges that it has not acquired operation information (step S116: No), the process of step S119 described later is executed. On the other hand, if the operation information acquisition unit 1213 judges that it has acquired operation information (step S116: Yes), it notifies the setting information generation unit 1214 of the acquired operation information. Then, the setting information generation unit 1214 generates setting information indicating new setting contents for the device identified by the device identification information included in the operation information based on the operation content information included in the notified operation information, and stores the generated setting information in the setting storage unit 1234 (step S117). Next, when the setting information stored in the setting storage unit 1234 is updated, the device control unit 1221 generates control information for controlling the corresponding device 3 based on the updated setting information, and transmits the generated control information to the corresponding device 3 (step S118).

[0067] Thereafter, the setting information acquisition unit 1215 judges whether or not the setting notification information transmitted from the application individual server VS1 has been acquired (step S119). If the setting information acquisition unit 1215 judges that the setting notification information has not been acquired (step S119: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the setting information acquisition unit 1215 judges that the setting notification information has been acquired (step S119: Yes), the setting information acquisition unit 1215 extracts the setting information included in the acquired setting notification information and the device identification information of the corresponding device 3, and stores the extracted setting information and the device identification information in the setting storage unit 1234 in association with each other (step S120). Next, the device control unit 1221 generates control information for controlling the corresponding device 3 based on the updated setting information stored in the setting storage unit 1234, and transmits the generated control information to the corresponding device 3 (step S121). Then, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0068] As described above, according to the control system of the present embodiment, when the user operates the device 3 via the input unit 205 to operate the device 3 through a function realized by executing the first application stored in the application storage server, the application acquisition unit 218 of the terminal device 2 generates application request information requesting transmission of the first application and transmits it to the application storage server VS3. On the other hand, when the application storage server VS3 acquires the application request information, it identifies the first application corresponding to the acquired application request information and transmits application information indicating the identified first application to the terminal device 2. As a result, in the application storage server VS3, in response to the addition or modification of the device 3, the terminal device 2 can operate the added or modified device 3 simply by adding or modifying the first application stored in the application storage server VS3. Therefore, it becomes easier to install the first application in the terminal device 2 when the device 3 is added or modified, and the convenience of the user can be increased accordingly.

[0069] Furthermore, in the terminal device 2 according to this embodiment, application information indicating a second application for performing a preset operation on the device 3 is stored in advance in the application storage unit 233. Then, the operation notification unit 217 generates operation information for operating the device 3 via the second application based on the application information indicating the second application, and transmits the operation information to the application individual server VS1. This allows the user to selectively operate the device 3 corresponding to the first application and the device 3 corresponding to the second application without being aware of the difference between them, thereby improving user convenience.

[0070] Furthermore, the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment includes an association information storage unit 232 that stores association information indicating a correspondence relationship between application type information indicating a type of an application and device type information indicating a type of a device 3 to be operated, and an application identification unit 216 that identifies, based on the association information, application type information corresponding to the device type information of the device 3 selected by an operation target selection operation for selecting an operation target performed by the user on the input unit 205. Thereby, for example, when adding a new application corresponding to an operation of the device 3, it is possible to realize appropriate processing according to the type of the application by simply newly storing association information indicating a correspondence relationship between the application type information of the newly added application and the device type information of the corresponding device 3 in the association information storage unit 232.

[0071] Furthermore, the display control unit 212 of the terminal device 2 according to this embodiment forms the above-mentioned base operation screen image based on device status information indicating the status of the device 3, and displays it on the display unit 204. Then, while the base operation screen image is displayed on the display unit 204, the display control unit 212 forms a device operation screen image corresponding to the first application or a device operation screen image corresponding to the second application in accordance with a selected button image, and displays it on the display unit 204. This allows the device 3 corresponding to the first application and the device 3 corresponding to the second application to be managed in an integrated manner in the base operation screen image, thereby improving user convenience.

[0072] Furthermore, when the terminal device 2 according to the present embodiment acquires PUSH notification information, it forms a PUSH notification image including at least one of a button image selected when transitioning to a device operation screen image corresponding to the first application and a button image selected when transitioning to a device operation screen image corresponding to the second application based on the acquired PUSH notification information, and displays the PUSH notification image on the display unit 204. As a result, a user who visually recognizes the PUSH notification image displayed on the display unit 204 of the terminal device 2 can quickly display the device operation screen image on the display unit 204 and check the status of the device 3, simply by performing an operation to select the button image.

[0073] Furthermore, when the display control unit 212 according to this embodiment acquires PUSH notification information, it forms a device operation screen image including the notification content indicated by the PUSH notification information based on the acquired PUSH notification information, and displays the image on the display unit 204. This allows the user to check the notification content indicated by the PUSH notification information on the device operation screen image, so that, for example, if the PUSH notification information notifies of an abnormality in the device 3, such as a malfunction that has occurred in the device 3, the user can quickly grasp the abnormality in the device 3 by checking the device operation screen image.

[0074] Although the embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, when the display control unit 212 of the terminal device 2 displays on the display unit 204 a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 based on a function realized by executing the second application, and the input unit 205 is operated to select the device 3 to be operated via the first application, the display unit 204 may display a device operation screen image for operating the device 3. Specifically, the terminal device 2 may display on the display unit 204 a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 via the second application, the device operation screen image including a button image for transitioning to a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 via the first application. In this case, when the display unit 204 displays a device operation screen image corresponding to the second application, the display unit 204 may display a device operation screen image for operating the device 3 via a function of a web server, when a button image included in the device operation screen image is selected.

[0075] For example, as shown in FIG. 19, the terminal device 2 specifies the application type information of the second application (step S64), forms a device operation screen image corresponding to the application type information indicating the second application, and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S65). Here, it is assumed that the user performs an operation target selection operation on the input unit 205 to select a button image for transitioning to a device operation screen image corresponding to the first application included in the device operation screen image. In this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the operation target selection operation (step S2001) and specifies the application type information of the first application (step S2002). Then, application request information requesting transmission of the specified first application is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the application storage server VS3 (step S41). On the other hand, when the application storage server VS3 acquires the application request information, it identifies an application corresponding to the acquired application request information (step S42). Then, application information indicating the identified application is transmitted from the application storage server VS3 to the terminal device 2 (step S43). On the other hand, when the terminal device 2 acquires the application information, it stores the acquired application information in the application storage unit 233. Then, the terminal device 2 forms a device operation screen image based on the application information stored in the application storage unit 233 and displays it on the display unit 204 (step S2003). Next, a series of processes from step S45 onwards are executed.

[0076] According to this configuration, when an appliance 3 operated by a function realized by executing a second application on a terminal device 2 and an appliance 3 operated by a function realized by executing a first application are operated in cooperation with each other, the operability of the appliance 3 for the user can be improved.

[0077] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the cooperation information storage unit 232 stores cooperation information indicating a correspondence relationship between application type information indicating a type of an application for performing an operation on the device 3 and device type information indicating a type of the device 3 to be operated. However, this is not limited to this, and in the case of a first application or a second application that does not depend on the device 3, the cooperation information storage unit 232 may store cooperation information indicating a correspondence relationship between service type information indicating a type of a service provided to a user by the first application or the second application and device type information of at least one device 3.

[0078] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the application individual server VS1, device management server VS2, and application storage server VS3 are realized in the physical server 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the application individual server VS1, device management server VS2, and application storage server VS3 may each be realized in a separate physical server. Alternatively, any two of the application individual server VS1, device management server VS2, and application storage server VS3 may be realized in one physical server, and the remaining one may be realized in another physical server.

[0079] In addition, the various functions of the physical server 1 and the terminal device 2 according to the present disclosure can be realized by using a normal computer system, not by a dedicated system. For example, a program for executing the above operations may be stored in a non-transitory recording medium (such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory)) that can be read by a computer system and distributed to a computer connected to a network, and the program may be installed in the computer system to configure the physical server 1 and the terminal device 2 that execute the above processes.

[0080] The method of providing the program to the computer is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a bulletin board (BBS (Bulletin Board System)) on a communication line and distributed to the computer via the communication line. The computer then starts up the program and executes it under the control of an OS (Operating System) in the same way as other applications. In this way, the computer functions as a physical server 1 and a terminal device 2 that execute the above-mentioned processes.

[0081] Although the embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to these. The present disclosure includes appropriate combinations of the embodiments and modifications, and appropriate modifications thereto. [Industrial Applicability]

[0082] The present disclosure is suitable as a control system that allows an appliance to be operated from a terminal device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1 Physical server, 2 Terminal device, 3 Device, 4 BBR, 101, 201 CPU, 102, 202 Main memory, 103, 203 Auxiliary memory, 106, 206 Communication unit, 109, 209 Bus, 204 Display unit, 205 Input unit, 211, 1211 Device status acquisition unit, 212 Display control unit, 213 User registration unit, 214, 1217 Authentication processing unit, 215 Simplified operation notification unit, 216 Application identification unit, 217 Operation notification unit, 218 Application acquisition unit, 220 PUSH notification acquisition unit, 221 Device registration unit, 231, 1231 Device status memory unit, 233, 1331 Application memory unit, 1232 Device information memory unit, 232 Link information memory unit, 1111, 1213 Operation information acquisition unit, 1112, 1214 Setting information generation unit, 1113 Setting information notification unit, 1114, 1212 Device status notification unit, 1215 Setting information acquisition unit, 1216 User information acquisition unit, 1218 Device information acquisition unit, 1219 PUSH notification determination unit, 1220 PUSH notification unit, 1221 Device control unit, 1233 User information storage unit, 1234 Setting storage unit, 1311 Application selection unit, 1312 Application notification unit, BU11, BU12, BU13, BU14, BU15, BU16, BU17, BU18, BU21, BU31, BU32, BU33, BU34, BU35 Button image, GA1 Base operation screen image, GA2, GA3 Device operation screen image, GA31 Thermal image, M11, M12, M13, M14, M21, M22, M31, M32 Message image, NW1 Wide area network, NW2 local network, VS1 application individual server, VS2 device management server, VS3 application storage server

Claims

1. A device management server that controls a first device and a second device different from the first device, A terminal device having an input unit, An application-specific server that generates setting information indicating the settings of the first device, An application storage server that stores first application information indicating the content of a first application for generating first operation information indicating a preset first operation on the first device, and is provided with, The application storage server, When obtaining application request information that requests the transmission of the first application information and is transmitted from the terminal device, an application selection unit that selects the first application information corresponding to the application request information, An application notification unit that transmits the selected first application information to the terminal device, and has, The terminal device further, Holds in advance second application information indicating the content of a second application for generating second operation information indicating a preset second operation on the second device, When the user performs the first operation on the first device on the input unit, an application acquisition unit that transmits the application request information to the application storage server and acquires the first application information transmitted from the application storage server, By executing the first application corresponding to the acquired first application information, generating first operation information indicating the first operation on the first device and transmitting it to the application-specific server, and when the user performs the second operation on the second device on the input unit, an operation notification unit that generates the second operation information indicating the second operation on the second device by executing the second application corresponding to the second application information and transmits it to the application-specific server, and has, The application-specific server, When acquiring the first operation information transmitted from the terminal device, based on the acquired first operation information, first setting information indicating the setting content of the first device is generated. When acquiring the second operation information transmitted from the terminal device, based on the acquired second operation information, second setting information indicating the setting content of the second device is generated. A setting information generation unit; A setting information notification unit that transmits the first setting information or the second setting information to the device management server; When the device management server acquires the first setting information, it controls the first device based on the acquired first setting information. When it acquires the second setting information, it has a device control unit that controls the second device based on the acquired second setting information. Control system.

2. A device management server that controls a first device and a second device; A terminal device having an input unit; An application individual server that generates setting information indicating the setting of the first device; An application storage server that stores first application information indicating the content of a first application for generating first operation information indicating a preset first operation on the first device; The application storage server; When acquiring application request information requesting transmission of the first application information transmitted from the terminal device, an application selection unit that selects the first application information corresponding to the application request information; An application notification unit that transmits the selected first application information to the terminal device; The terminal device further; Holds in advance second application information indicating the content of a second application for generating second operation information indicating a preset second operation on the second device; When a user performs the first operation on the first device with respect to the input unit, an application acquisition unit that acquires the first application information transmitted from the application storage server by transmitting the application request information to the application storage server, An operation notification unit that generates first operation information indicating the first operation on the first device by executing the first application corresponding to the acquired first application information and transmits it to the application individual server, and at the same time, generates second operation information indicating the second operation on the second device by executing the second application corresponding to the second application information and transmits it to the application individual server, The application individual server, When acquiring the first operation information transmitted from the terminal device, a setting information generation unit that generates first setting information indicating the setting content of the first device based on the acquired first operation information, and when acquiring the second operation information transmitted from the terminal device, generates second setting information indicating the setting content of the second device based on the acquired second operation information, A setting information notification unit that transmits the first setting information and the second setting information to the device management server, When the device management server acquires the first setting information, it has a device control unit that controls the first device based on the acquired first setting information, The terminal device further, The correspondence relationship between the first application type information indicating the type of the application for performing the first operation and the device type information indicating the type of the device that is the operation target of the first operation, and the correspondence relationship between the second application type information indicating the type of the application for performing the second operation and the device type information indicating the type of the device that is the operation target of the second operation, and a cooperation information storage unit that stores the cooperation information indicating the above, An application specifying unit that further specifies first application type information or second application type information corresponding to the device type information of the device selected by an operation target selection operation for selecting an operation target performed by a user on the input unit based on the cooperation information. Control system.

3. The terminal device A display unit, In a state where a preset base operation screen image for selecting a device that is an operation target of the first operation or the second operation is formed and displayed on the display unit, when an operation for selecting the first device is performed on the input unit, a first device operation screen image for performing the first operation on the first device is displayed on the display unit, and in a state where the base operation screen image is formed and displayed on the display unit, when an operation for selecting the second device is performed on the input unit, a second device operation screen image for performing the second operation on the second device is displayed on the display unit. A display control unit. The control system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The device management server A device information storage unit that stores device information including device identification information for identifying the first device and the second device in association with user identification information for identifying users of the first device and the second device. A device state storage unit that stores device state information indicating the states of the first device and the second device respectively in association with the device identification information. Specify the device identification information included in the device information associated with the user identification information of the user of the terminal device stored in the device information storage unit, and send the device state information corresponding to the specified device identification information stored in the device state storage unit to the terminal device. A device state notification unit. The display control unit forms the base operation screen image based on the device state information and displays it on the display unit. The control system according to claim 3.

5. The machine management server further has a PUSH notification unit that transmits PUSH notification information for prompting the user to operate the first device or the second device to the terminal device. The terminal device has a PUSH notification acquisition unit that acquires the PUSH notification information. Based on the acquired PUSH notification information, the display control unit forms a preset PUSH notification image and displays it on the display unit. When an operation of selecting the PUSH notification image is performed on the input unit while the PUSH notification image is being displayed on the display unit, the first device operation screen image or the second device operation screen image is displayed on the display unit. The control system according to claim 3.

6. Based on the PUSH notification information, the display control unit forms the first device operation screen image or the second device operation screen image including the notification content indicated by the PUSH notification information. The control system according to claim 5.

7. When an operation of selecting the first device is performed on the input unit while the second device operation screen image is being displayed on the display unit, the display control unit displays the first device operation screen image for performing the first operation on the first device on the display unit. The control system according to claim 3.

8. A terminal device having an input unit pre - holds second application information indicating the content of a second application for generating second operation information indicating a preset second operation for a second device different from the first device. When the user performs a preset first operation on the first device on the input unit, the terminal device transmits application request information for requesting transmission of first application information indicating the content of a first application for generating first operation information indicating the content of the first operation on the first device to an application storage server that stores the first application information. When the application storage server acquires the application request information transmitted from the terminal device, it selects the first application information corresponding to the application request information. The application storage server transmits the selected first application information to the terminal device. The terminal device acquires the first application information transmitted from the application storage server. The terminal device generates first operation information indicating the first operation by executing the first application corresponding to the first application information, and transmits the first operation information to the application individual server. When the application individual server acquires the first operation information transmitted from the terminal device, it generates first setting information indicating the setting content of the first device based on the acquired first operation information. The application individual server transmits the first setting information to the device management server that controls the first device. When the device management server acquires the first setting information, it controls the first device based on the acquired first setting information. When the user performs the second operation on the second device with respect to the input unit, the terminal device generates second operation information indicating the second operation on the second device by executing the second application corresponding to the second application information, and transmits the second operation information to the application individual server. When the application individual server acquires the second operation information transmitted from the terminal device, it generates second setting information indicating the setting content of the second device based on the acquired second operation information. The application individual server transmits the second setting information to the device management server that controls the second device. When the machine management server acquires the second setting information, a step of controlling the second device based on the acquired second setting information is included. Control method.

9. A terminal device having an input unit pre-holds second application information indicating the content of a second application for generating second operation information indicating a preset second operation for a second device. A step of storing in the cooperation information storage unit cooperation information indicating a correspondence relationship between first application type information indicating the type of an application for performing a preset first operation on a first device and device type information indicating the type of the device that is the operation target of the first operation, and a correspondence relationship between second application type information indicating the type of an application for performing the second operation and device type information indicating the type of the device that is the operation target of the second operation. When the user of the terminal device performs the first operation on the first device on the input unit, a step of specifying the first application type information corresponding to the device type information of the device selected by an operation target selection operation for selecting the operation target that the user has performed on the input unit based on the cooperation information. A step of transmitting application request information requesting transmission of first application information indicating the content of a first application for generating first operation information indicating the content of the first operation on the first device based on the specified first application type information to an application storage server that stores the first application information. When the application storage server acquires the application request information transmitted from the terminal device, a step of selecting the first application information corresponding to the application request information. A step of the application storage server transmitting the selected first application information to the terminal device. A step of the terminal device acquiring the first application information transmitted from the application storage server. The step in which the terminal device generates first operation information indicating the first operation by executing the first application corresponding to the first application information and transmits the first operation information to the application-specific server; The step in which, when the application-specific server acquires the first operation information transmitted from the terminal device, the application-specific server generates first setting information indicating the setting content of the first device based on the acquired first operation information; The step in which the application-specific server transmits the first setting information to the device management server that controls the first device; The step in which, when the device management server acquires the first setting information, the device management server controls the first device based on the acquired first setting information; When the user performs the second operation on the second device on the input unit, the terminal device specifies the second application type information corresponding to the device type information of the device selected by the operation target selection operation for selecting the operation target that the user has performed on the input unit based on the cooperation information; The step in which the terminal device generates second operation information indicating the second operation by executing the second application for generating the second operation information indicating the second operation corresponding to the application of the type indicated by the specified second application type information and transmits the second operation information to the application-specific server; The step in which, when the application-specific server acquires the second operation information transmitted from the terminal device, the application-specific server generates second setting information indicating the setting content of the second device based on the acquired second operation information; The step in which the application-specific server transmits the second setting information to the device management server that controls the second device; The step in which, when the device management server acquires the second setting information, the device management server controls the second device based on the acquired second setting information, including: A control method.

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