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

Abstract

The device management system includes a device information storage unit (231) that stores address information of devices (3) that belong to a local network (NW2), an address acquisition unit (115) that transmits address request information requesting the devices (3) to transmit address information to devices (3) that belong to the same class based on the class to which the devices (3) belong when the devices (3) are classified by classes set in the ECHONET Lite standard, and thereby acquires address response information including address information transmitted from the devices (3), for all of a plurality of pre-set classes, and a device information update unit (215) that updates the address information stored in the device information storage unit (231) using the address information contained in the address response information.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] A home device management device has been proposed that manages ECHONET devices, which are devices that comply with the ECHONET (registered trademark) standard, via a home network (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This home device management device receives individual identification information acquisition responses transmitted from each ECHONET device by multicasting an individual identification information acquisition request, which requests the ECHONET devices connected to the home network to acquire properties of individual identification information, which is identification information unique to the device as defined by the ECHONET standard. The home device management device then registers and manages the individual identification information contained in the received individual identification information acquisition response in an individual identification information management table in association with the ECHONET address of the sender of the individual identification information acquisition response. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-172462 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the home device management device described in Patent Document 1, if the buffer capacity for temporarily storing individual identification information acquisition responses is insufficient or if the communication bandwidth of the home network is insufficient, when multiple ECHONET devices connected to the home network simultaneously transmit individual identification information acquisition responses in response to individual identification information acquisition requests received at the same time, there is a risk that the individual identification information acquisition responses will be missed. Furthermore, the home device management device may prioritize communication speed and communicate with the ECHONET devices using a connectionless communication protocol such as UDP. In this case, the home device does not perform a process to confirm the reception of the individual identification information acquisition response for the ECHONET device that sent the individual identification information acquisition response. Therefore, there is a risk that the individual identification information of the ECHONET device whose individual identification information acquisition response was missed will be left unregistered in the individual identification information management table.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a device management system, a device management apparatus, and a device management method that are capable of appropriately managing devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the device management system according to the present disclosure includes: Multiple In the network to which the device belongs Multiple The above equipment each a device management system for managing device identification information for identifying the device, the device identification information being assigned to the device; The plurality of devices are classified into a plurality of classes when classified according to a predetermined classification criterion, a device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of the devices that belong to the network; Selecting any one of the plurality of classes, device identification information request information requesting the device to transmit the device identification information The one selected By transmitting to said device belonging to the class, If there is at least one device that belongs to the selected class and belongs to the network, Acquire device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from the device and then selecting another class from the plurality of classes and transmitting the device identification information request information to the devices belonging to the selected other class, thereby obtaining device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from at least one device belonging to the selected other class if there is at least one device belonging to the selected other class and belonging to the network. To do that, The pluralityAll classes Until the election of a repeating device identification information acquisition unit; and a device information update unit that updates the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit using the device identification information included in the device identification information response information. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present disclosure, the device identification information acquisition unit transmits the device identification information request information to devices belonging to the same class based on the class to which the devices belong when classifying the devices according to the classification criteria, thereby acquiring the device identification information response information transmitted from the devices, and repeats this process for at least one preset class. This allows the device identification information acquisition unit to acquire the device identification information response information transmitted from the devices on a class-by-class basis, thereby reducing the possibility of missing device identification information response information, which occurs when attempting to acquire a large amount of device identification information response information at the same time. Therefore, consistency between the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit and the device identification information of devices actually belonging to the network can be ensured, allowing devices to be managed appropriately. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a device management system according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a device management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a device management system according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in an address storage unit according to the first embodiment; [Figure 4B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a transmission method storage unit according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a device information storage unit according to the first embodiment; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7A] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of address request information according to the first embodiment; [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of address request information according to the first embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the first embodiment. [Figure 13] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device control process executed by a cloud server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 14] 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device control process executed by a cloud server according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a device management system according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the device management system according to the second embodiment. [Figure 20] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device control process executed by a cloud server according to a second embodiment. [Figure 21] 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a device control process executed by a cloud server according to a second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] (Embodiment 1) A device management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The device management system according to the embodiment manages device identification information that identifies devices in a network to which the devices belong. The device management system includes: a device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of devices belonging to the network; a device identification information acquisition unit that transmits device identification information request information to devices belonging to the same class based on the class to which the devices belong when classified according to preset classification criteria, and acquires device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from the device, repeating this process for at least one preset class; and a device information update unit that updates the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit using the device identification information included in the device identification information response information.

[0010] As shown in Fig. 1, the device management system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 2 and a control device 1 that controls the operation of the device 3 by transmitting control information acquired from the cloud server 2 to the device 3. The control device 1 is connected to a local network NW2 to which the device 3 and a router 8 are connected, and the device 3 and the control device 1 can communicate with each other via the local network NW2. The local network NW2 is, for example, a wireless local area network (LAN). The cloud server 2 can communicate with the control device 1 and terminal devices 4 via a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet and a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 8.

[0011] The device 3 has a function of communicating with the control device 1 using a communication protocol conforming to, for example, the ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) standard. The device 3 includes an address acquisition unit (not shown) that acquires IP address information from the router 8 by transmitting connection request information to the router 8, and an address storage unit (not shown) that stores the IP address information acquired by the address acquisition unit from the router 8. The device 3 also includes an address response unit (not shown) that, upon receiving address request information from the control device 1 requesting transmission of the device 3's address information, generates address response information including the address information assigned to the device 3 and transmits the address response information to the control device 1. The address information includes IP address information indicating the IP address assigned to the device 3 by the DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) function unit 811 of the router 8 and MAC address information indicating a MAC address unique to the device 3. Upon receiving control information transmitted from the control device 1, the device 3 starts operating based on the acquired control information and transmits control information acquisition response information to the control device 1 to notify the control device 1 that the control information has been acquired. Furthermore, when the device 3 reaches a preset device status notification time for notifying the control device 1 of its own status, the device 3 generates device status information including parameter information indicating its own status and host information indicating its own host name, name, etc., and transmits the generated device status information to the control device 1. Furthermore, the device 3 employs a connectionless protocol, such as UDP (User Datagram Protocol), as a transport layer protocol for transmitting at least address response information to the control device 1.

[0012] 2, the router 8 has a DHCP function unit 811, and functions as a DHCP server in addition to the function of a normal router. When the DHCP function unit 811 receives connection request information from the device 3 or the control device 1 after communication with the device 3 or the control device 1 is cut off or when the device 3 or the control device 1 is started up, the DHCP function unit 811 identifies an IP address to be assigned to the device 3 or the control device 1 that has sent the connection request information from an address pool consisting of multiple pre-set IP addresses. Then, the DHCP function unit 811 transmits IP address information indicating the identified IP address to the device 3 or the control device 1 that has sent the connection request information.

[0013] The terminal device 4 is, for example, a smartphone, and has a display unit (not shown) and an input unit (not shown). The terminal device 4 communicates with the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1. When a user operates the input unit to change the settings of the device 3, the terminal device 4 generates operation information including the changed settings of the device 3 and host information of the device 3 in response to the operation information and transmits the operation information to the cloud server 2. When a user operates the input unit to newly store address information and host information of the device 3 in the device information storage unit 231 of the cloud server 2 (described later), the terminal device 4 generates operation information including the host information of the device 3 to be newly stored in response to the operation information and transmits the operation information to the cloud server 2. Here, the host information is information indicating the host name, device name, etc. of the device 3. When the terminal device 4 receives device status notification information indicating the status of the device 3 from the cloud server 2, the terminal device 4 forms a device status notification image indicating the status of the device 3 based on the received device status notification information and displays the image on the display unit.

[0014] The control device 1 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 101, a main memory 102, an auxiliary memory 103, a communication unit 107, and a bus 109 connecting the various components. The main memory 102 is a volatile memory such as a random access memory (RAM) and is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory 103 has a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor memory, functions as a read-only memory (ROM) and storage, and stores programs for implementing various functions of the control device 1. The communication unit 107 includes, for example, a wireless module and performs wireless communication with the device 3 and the router 8. The wireless module includes a signal generation circuit that generates wireless signals and an antenna, and the data link layer communicates using, for example, a communication protocol of the IEEE 802.11 series. When the control device 1 is powered on, the control device 1 shares key information for encrypting messages with the cloud server 2 by executing, for example, a secure sockets layer (SSL) handshake protocol from the control device 1 side, and stores the key information in the main memory 102.

[0015] In the control device 1, the CPU 101 loads the program stored in the auxiliary memory unit 103 into the main memory unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as an encapsulated message acquisition unit 111, a message transmission unit 112, a message acquisition unit 113, an event occurrence detection unit 114, and an encapsulated message transmission unit 116, as shown in Figure 3.

[0016] 2, when the encapsulated message acquisition unit 111 acquires a message encapsulated with wide-area communication header information for communication between the cloud server 2 and the control device 1, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 111 removes the wide-area communication header information from the acquired message and performs a decapsulation process on the encrypted payload of the encapsulated message using the key information described above. Here, the wide-area communication header information includes information for communication based on an application layer protocol such as HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol over SSL) or MQTTS (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport over SSL). Here, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 111 notifies the message transmission unit 112 of the decapsulated message.

[0017] When the message sending unit 112 is notified of a decapsulated message by the encapsulated message acquisition unit 111, it transmits the notified message to the device 3 based on the destination IP address information and destination MAC address information included in the notified message. Furthermore, when the message sending unit 112 transmits control information from the message to the device 3, it notifies the event occurrence detection unit 114 of control information transmission notification information indicating that the control information has been transmitted.

[0018] When the message acquisition unit 113 acquires the device status information transmitted from the device 3, it notifies the encapsulated message transmission unit 116 of the acquired device status information. Furthermore, when the message acquisition unit 113 acquires the above-mentioned control information acquisition response information transmitted from the device 3, it notifies the event occurrence detection unit 114 of the acquired control information acquisition response information.

[0019] If control information acquisition response information is not notified from message acquisition unit 113 by the time a preset time has elapsed after control information transmission notification information is notified from message transmission unit 112, event occurrence detection unit 114 determines that an address update event has occurred in which the IP address of device 3, the destination of the control information, is updated. This IP address update event occurs, for example, when the lease period for the IP address assigned to device 3 by DHCP function unit 811 of router 8 expires. Upon detecting the occurrence of an address update event, event occurrence detection unit 114 notifies encapsulated message transmission unit 116 of event occurrence notification information.

[0020] When the encapsulated message sending unit 116 receives device status information from the message acquiring unit 113, it encrypts the received device status information using the key information and then performs encapsulation processing to add the wide-area communication header information. Then, the encapsulated message sending unit 116 transmits the encapsulated device status information to the cloud server 2 based on the wide-area communication header information. Furthermore, when the encapsulated message sending unit 116 receives event occurrence notification information from the event occurrence detecting unit 114, it encrypts the received address update event occurrence notification information using the key information and then performs encapsulation processing to add the wide-area communication header information. Then, the encapsulated message sending unit 116 transmits the encapsulated event occurrence notification information to the cloud server 2 based on the wide-area communication header information.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2 , the cloud server 2 includes a CPU 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, a communication unit 206, and a bus 209 connecting the various units. The CPU 201 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 202 is configured as a volatile memory and is used as a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory unit 203 is configured as a large-capacity non-volatile memory and stores programs for implementing various functions of the cloud server 2. The communication unit 206 is connected to the wide area network NW1. The cloud server 2 also shares key information for encrypting messages with the control device 1 by, for example, executing an SSL handshake protocol from the control device 1, and stores the key information in the main memory unit 102 in association with control device identification information that identifies the control device 1 on the wide area network NW1. Examples of the control device identification information include host name information indicating a host name assigned to the control device 1, identification information including the host name information, IP address information, etc.

[0022] In the cloud server 2, the CPU 201 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as an operation information acquisition unit 211, a device control unit 212, an encapsulated message transmission unit 213, an encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, a device information update unit 215, a device status update unit 216, a device status notification unit 217, a device information request unit 218, an address acquisition unit 225, and a transmission method setting unit 227, as shown in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in Fig. 2 has a device information storage unit 231, a device status storage unit 232, an address storage unit 241, a class information storage unit 242, and a transmission method storage unit 243, as shown in Fig. 3. 4A, the address storage unit 241 is a device identification information storage unit that stores address information included in address response information acquired from device 3 by multicasting address request information (described below) to device 3 via the control device 1, and address information included in address response information acquired from device 3 by broadcasting the address request information described above to device 3 via the control device 1, in association with class code information indicating the class to which the device 3 belongs when the device 3 is classified according to preset classification criteria. This class code information indicates, for example, a class code defined in the ECHONET Lite standard. In the example shown in Figure 4A, the address response information obtained from device 3 by multicasting address request information to device 3 with class code "0x01" contains address information ADR[0], ADR[1] and host information IDE[0], IDE[1], and the address response information obtained from device 3 by broadcasting address request information to device 3 with class code "0x01" contains address information ADR[0], ADR[1], ADR[2] and host information IDE[0], IDE[1], IDE[2].

[0023] Returning to FIG. 3, the class information storage unit 242 stores class code information indicating a class code that identifies at least one preset class. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, the transmission method storage unit 243 stores transmission method information indicating a method for transmitting address request information to device 3, in association with class code information indicating the class to which device 3, the destination of the address request information, belongs. The example shown in FIG. 4B indicates that the address request information is to be broadcast to devices 3 that belong to a class identified by class code "0x01" (e.g., a class of air-conditioning-related devices including "air conditioners"). On the other hand, it indicates that the address request information is to be multicast to devices 3 that belong to a class identified by class code "0x02" (e.g., a class of home and facility-related devices including "lighting fixtures") and devices 3 that belong to a class identified by class code "0x03" (e.g., a class of cooking and housework-related devices including "refrigerators").

[0024] 5, the device information storage unit 231 stores MAC address information of multiple devices 3 connected to the local network NW2 in association with network identification information that identifies the local network NW2. Furthermore, for each piece of network identification information, the device information storage unit 231 stores address information and host information for each of multiple devices 3 connected to the local network NW2 identified by the network identification information in association with each other. Returning to FIG. 3, the device status storage unit 232 stores parameter information indicating the device status of the device 3 in association with the host information of the device 3. The device information storage unit 231 may also store host information in association with host information that identifies the device 3 at the application layer.

[0025] When the operation information acquisition unit 211 acquires operation information transmitted from the terminal device 4, if the acquired operation information indicates a setting change operation for the device 3, it notifies the device control unit 212 of the host information of the target device 3 included in the operation information and the changed setting content information. On the other hand, if the acquired operation information indicates the above-mentioned device information registration operation, the operation information acquisition unit 211 notifies the device information request unit 218 of the host information included in the operation information.

[0026] When the device information requesting unit 218 is notified of the host information by the operation information acquiring unit 211, it stores the notified host information in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the device information requesting unit 218 notifies the address acquiring unit 225 of device information request information that requests the device 3 to transmit address information, which is device identification information that identifies the device 3 in the local network NW2, and host information. This address information includes IP address information and MAC address information.

[0027] The address acquisition unit 225 is a device identification information acquisition unit that, upon receiving device information request information, transmits address request information requesting the transmission of the address information to devices 3 belonging to the same class based on the class to which the devices 3 belong, thereby acquiring address response information including the address information transmitted from the devices 3. The address acquisition unit 225 then repeats the process of transmitting address request information to acquire address response information for at least one class corresponding to the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242. Here, upon receiving device information request information, the address acquisition unit 225 selects one piece of class code information from the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242, generates address request information to be multicast transmitted to devices 3 belonging to the class indicated by the selected class code information, and notifies the encapsulated message transmission unit 213 of the generated address request information. Thereafter, the address acquisition unit 225 acquires address response information from the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, and then generates address request information to be broadcast transmitted to devices 3 belonging to the class indicated by the selected class code information, and notifies the encapsulated message transmission unit 213 of the generated address request information. On the other hand, when event occurrence notification information is notified from encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, address acquisition unit 225 selects one piece of class code information from the class code information stored in class information storage unit 242, generates address request information to be transmitted to device 3 by the transmission method indicated by transmission method information corresponding to the selected class code information stored in transmission method storage unit 243, and notifies encapsulated message transmission unit 213 of the generated address request information. Thereafter, when address response information is notified from encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, address acquisition unit 225 extracts address information and host information included in the notified address response information, and stores the extracted address information and host information in address storage unit 241 in association with class code information indicating the transmission method of the address request information and the class of device 3 as the destination.

[0028] When the device control unit 212 receives from the operation information acquisition unit 211 the model information, host information, and changed setting content information of the device 3 to be operated, the device control unit 212 generates control information based on the received host information and setting content information. Furthermore, the device control unit 212 determines whether or not the control content of the device 3 needs to be updated, based on the parameter information of each device 3 stored in the device status storage unit 232. If the device control unit 212 determines that the control content of the device 3 needs to be updated, the device control unit 212 generates control information corresponding to the updated control content of the device 3, including the host information corresponding to the controlled device 3 stored in the device information storage unit 231. The device control unit 212 then adds address information corresponding to the host information of the controlled device 3 stored in the device information storage unit 231 to the generated control information, and then notifies the encapsulated message transmission unit 213.

[0029] When the encapsulated message sending unit 213 receives control information from the device control unit 212, it encrypts the received control information and then performs encapsulation processing to add the wide-area communication header information described above. Then, the encapsulated message sending unit 213 transmits the encapsulated control information to the control device 1 based on the wide-area communication header information. Furthermore, when the encapsulated message sending unit 213 receives address request information from the address acquisition unit 225, it encrypts the received address request information using the key information described above and then performs encapsulation processing to add the wide-area communication header information described above. Then, the encapsulated message sending unit 213 transmits the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 based on the wide-area communication header information.

[0030] When the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 acquires an encapsulated message transmitted from the control device 1, it executes a decapsulation process in which it removes the wide-area communication header information from the acquired encapsulated message and decrypts the encrypted payload of the encapsulated message using the shared key information described above. Here, if the decapsulated message is address response information, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 notifies the address acquisition unit 225 of the address response information. On the other hand, if the decapsulated message is device status information, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 notifies the device status update unit 216 of the device status information.

[0031] If the address information stored in address storage unit 241 contained in the address response information acquired by multicasting the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class matches the address information contained in the address response information acquired by broadcasting the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class, transmission method setting unit 227 then sets the transmission method of the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the class to multicast transmission. On the other hand, if the address information contained in the address response information acquired by multicasting the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class does not match the address information contained in the address response information acquired by broadcasting the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class, transmission method setting unit 227 then sets the transmission method of the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the class to broadcast transmission. 4A, for example, if the address information acquired by multicast transmission to devices 3 belonging to the class with class code "0x01" does not match the address information acquired by broadcast transmission to devices 3 belonging to the class with class code "0x01," the transmission method setting unit 227 stores transmission method information indicating broadcast transmission in association with the class code information indicating the class code "0x01" in the transmission method storage unit 243 as shown in FIG. 4B. On the other hand, if the address information acquired by multicast transmission to devices 3 belonging to the class with class code "0x02" matches the address information acquired by broadcast transmission to devices 3 belonging to the class with class code "0x02," for example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the transmission method setting unit 227 stores transmission method information indicating multicast transmission in association with the class code information indicating the class code "0x02" in the transmission method storage unit 243 as shown in FIG. 4B.That is, transmission method setting unit 227 compares the address information stored in address storage unit 241, which is included in the address response information acquired by multicasting the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class, with the address information acquired by broadcasting the address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class, and if the two match, sets the transmission method information of the corresponding class code information to multicast transmission, and stores it in transmission method storage unit 243 in association with the class code information of the device 3 that is the destination of the address request information. On the other hand, if the two do not match, transmission method setting unit 227 stores transmission method information indicating broadcast transmission in transmission method storage unit 243 in association with the class code information of the device 3 that is the destination of the address request information.

[0032] When either the MAC address information or the IP address information of the device 3 corresponding to each piece of host information stored in the address storage unit 241 is updated, the device information update unit 215 refers to the transmission method information corresponding to each piece of class code information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243, and selects address information and related information corresponding to the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information corresponding to the class code information from the address information and host information corresponding to each of the two types of transmission methods associated with the class code information stored in the address storage unit 241. Then, the device information update unit 215 updates the IP address information and MAC address information stored in the device information storage unit 231 using the selected MAC address information and IP address information.

[0033] When the device status update unit 216 is notified of device status information from the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, it extracts the parameter information, model information, and host information contained in the notified device status information, and stores the extracted information in the device status memory unit 232 in association with each other.

[0034] The device status notification unit 217 generates device status notification information including the parameter information and model-related information stored in the device status storage unit 232 and transmits it to the terminal device 4.

[0035] Next, the operation of the device management system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10. Here, a case will be described in which devices 3A and 3B belonging to different classes are connected to a local network NW2. First, assume that a user of the device 3 adds the device 3 to the local network NW2 and then performs the device information registration operation described above on the input unit of the terminal device 4. In this case, the terminal device 4 generates operation information including the host information of the newly added device 3 entered by the user through the device information registration operation (step S1). The generated operation information is then transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S2). Meanwhile, upon receiving the operation information, the cloud server 2 selects one piece of class code information from the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S3). Here, the class code information indicates the class to which the device 3A, an air conditioner, belongs. Next, the cloud server 2 generates address request information including the selected class code information and having a destination IP address set to a multicast address (step S4). As shown in Fig. 7A, the source IP address of this address request information is set to the IP address of the control device 1, and the address request information also includes class code information. In the example shown in Fig. 7A, the class code information "0x01" indicating the class of air conditioning-related devices including air conditioners is selected. Returning to Fig. 6, the cloud server 2 then encrypts the generated address request information using the key information described above, and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S5). The encapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the control device 1 (step S6).

[0036] On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the encapsulated address request information, it decapsulates the address request information by decrypting the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address request information and then using key information to decapsulate the information (step S7). Next, the decapsulated address request information is multicast from the control device 1 to device 3A, which is an air conditioner (step S8). On the other hand, when the device 3A acquires the address request information, if the class indicated by the class code information included in the address request information matches the class to which the device 3A belongs, it generates address response information including the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information of the device 3A (step S9), and the generated address response information is transmitted from device 3A to the control device 1 (step S10). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S11). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S12). On the other hand, when cloud server 2 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it releases the wide area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and decapsulates it by decrypting it using the key information (step S13). Next, cloud server 2 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in association with each other in address storage unit 241 (step S14).

[0037] Thereafter, the cloud server 2 generates address request information that includes the selected class code information and has the destination IP address set to the broadcast address (step S15). This address request information, for example, as shown in FIG. 7B, has the source IP address set to the IP address of the control device 1 and also includes class code information. The example shown in FIG. 7B illustrates a case where the class code information selected is "0x01," which indicates the class of air conditioning-related devices, including air conditioners. Returning to FIG. 6, the cloud server 2 then encrypts the generated address request information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S16). The encapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the control device 1 (step S17). Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 8, upon receiving the encapsulated address request information, the control device 1 decapsulates the address request information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the received address request information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S18). The decapsulated address request information is then broadcast from the control device 1 to the device 3A, which is an air conditioner (step S19). On the other hand, when device 3A acquires the address request information, if the class indicated by the class code information included in the address request information matches the class to which device 3A belongs, device 3A generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S20), and the generated address response information is transmitted from device 3A to control device 1 (step S21). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S22). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to cloud server 2 (step S23). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it releases the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decrypts it using the key information to decapsulate it (step S24).Next, cloud server 2 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information contained in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in address storage unit 241 in association with each other (step S25).

[0038] Thereafter, the cloud server 2 compares the address information stored in the address storage unit 241, which is included in the address response information acquired by multicasting the address request information to the devices 3 belonging to the same class, with the address information acquired by broadcasting the address request information to the devices 3 belonging to the same class. If the two information match, the control device 1 stores transmission method information indicating multicast transmission in the transmission method storage unit 243, in association with the class code information of the devices 3 to which the address request information is to be sent. On the other hand, if the two information do not match, the control device 1 stores transmission method information indicating broadcast transmission in the transmission method storage unit 243, in association with the class code information of the devices 3 to which the address request information is to be sent (step S26).

[0039] Next, the cloud server 2 selects another piece of class code information from the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S27). Here, it is assumed that the class code information indicates the class to which the lighting fixture device 3B belongs. Next, the cloud server 2 generates address request information that includes the selected class code information and has a destination IP address set to a multicast address (step S28), encrypts the generated address request information using the key information, and then encapsulates the information by adding wide-area communication header information (step S29). The encapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the control device 1 (step S30). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated address request information, the control device 1 decapsulates the address request information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the address request information and then decrypting the address request information using the key information (step S31). Next, the decapsulated address request information is transmitted by multicast from the control device 1 to the lighting fixture device 3B (step S32). On the other hand, when device 3B acquires the address request information, if the class indicated by the class code information included in the address request information matches the class to which device 3B belongs, device 3B generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S33), and the generated address response information is transmitted from device 3B to control device 1 (step S34). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S35). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to cloud server 2, as shown in FIG. 9 (step S36). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it releases the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decapsulates it using the key information (step S37). Thereafter, cloud server 2 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the extracted information in address storage unit 241 (step S38).

[0040] Next, the cloud server 2 generates address request information that includes the selected class code information and has the destination IP address set to a broadcast address (step S39). The generated address request information is encrypted using the key information and then encapsulated by adding wide-area communication header information (step S40). The encapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the control device 1 (step S41). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated address request information, the control device 1 decapsulates the address request information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the received address request information and then decrypting the address request information using the key information (step S42). The decapsulated address request information is then broadcast from the control device 1 to device 3B, which is a lighting fixture (step S43). Meanwhile, upon receiving the address request information, if the class indicated by the class code information included in the address request information matches the class to which the device 3B belongs, the device 3B generates address response information that includes the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information of the device 3B (step S44). The generated address response information is transmitted from the device 3B to the control device 1 (step S45). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S46). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S47). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it decapsulates it by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S48). Next, the cloud server 2 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with each other (step S49).

[0041] Next, the cloud server 2 compares the address information stored in the address storage unit 241, which is included in the address response information acquired by multicasting the address request information to the devices 3 belonging to the same class, with the address information acquired by broadcasting the address request information to the devices 3 belonging to the same class. If the two match, the control device stores transmission method information indicating multicast transmission in the transmission method storage unit 243, in association with the class code information of the devices 3 to which the address request information is to be sent. On the other hand, if the two match, the control device stores transmission method information indicating broadcast transmission in the transmission method storage unit 243, in association with the class code information of the devices 3 to which the address request information is to be sent (step S50).

[0042] Thereafter, the cloud server 2 updates the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information stored in the device information storage unit 231 using the MAC address information, IP address information, and host information of the devices 3A and 3B stored in the address storage unit 241 (step S51).

[0043] Next, as shown in FIG. 10, assume that the address update event described above occurs, such as a communication interruption with the devices 3A, 3B, or the control device 1, or a reboot of the devices 3A, 3B, or the control device 1. In this case, the DHCP function unit 811 of the router 8 assigns new IP addresses to the devices 3A, 3B, and the control device 1 connected to the network NW1. In this case, upon detecting the occurrence of the address update event, the control device 1 generates event occurrence notification information (step S52). Next, the control device 1 encrypts the generated event occurrence notification information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S53). Subsequently, the encapsulated event occurrence notification information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S54). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated event occurrence notification information, the cloud server 2 decapsulates the acquired event occurrence notification information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the event occurrence notification information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S55). Thereafter, the cloud server 2 determines that an address update event has occurred based on the decapsulated event occurrence notification information (step S56). In this case, the cloud server 2 selects one piece of class code information from the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S57). Next, based on the transmission method information corresponding to the selected class code information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243, the cloud server 2 generates address request information including the selected class code information and setting the destination IP address to an address corresponding to the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information (step S58). Here, if the transmission method information indicates multicast, the destination IP address is set to a multicast address, and if the transmission method information indicates broadcast, the destination IP address is set to a broadcast address. Next, the cloud server 2 encrypts the generated address request information using the above-mentioned key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S59). Next, the cloud server 2 transmits the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 (step S60).On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the encapsulated address request information, it releases the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address request information and then decapsulates it using key information (step S61). The decapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the control device 1 to the device 3A using the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information (step S62). On the other hand, when the device 3A acquires the address request information, if the class indicated by the class code information included in the address request information matches the class to which the device 3A belongs, it generates address response information including the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information of the device 3A (step S63), and the generated address response information is transmitted from the device 3A to the control device 1 (step S64). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S65). The encapsulated address response information is then transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S66). On the other hand, when cloud server 2 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it decapsulates the address response information by removing the wide area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decrypting the information using the key information (step S67). Next, cloud server 2 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in association with each other in address storage unit 241 (step S68).

[0044] Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the cloud server 2 selects another piece of class code information from the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S69). Then, based on the transmission method information corresponding to the selected class code information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243, the cloud server 2 generates address request information that includes the selected class code information and sets the destination IP address to an address corresponding to the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information (step S70). Next, the cloud server 2 encrypts the generated address request information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S71). The encapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the control device 1 (step S72). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated address request information, the control device 1 decapsulates the address request information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the received address request information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S73). The decapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the control device 1 to the device 3B using the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information (step S74). On the other hand, when device 3B acquires the address request information, if the class indicated by the class code information included in the address request information matches the class to which device 3B belongs, device 3B generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S75), and the generated address response information is transmitted from device 3B to the control device 1 (step S76). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S77). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S78). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it decapsulates the acquired address response information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S79).Next, cloud server 2 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information contained in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in address storage unit 241 in association with each other (step S80).

[0045] Next, the cloud server 2 refers to the transmission method information corresponding to each piece of class code information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243, and selects address information and related information corresponding to the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information corresponding to the class code information from the address information and host information corresponding to each of the two types of transmission methods associated with each piece of class code information stored in the address storage unit 241. Then, the device information update unit 215 updates the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information stored in the device information storage unit 231 using the MAC address information, IP address information, and host information of the selected devices 3A and 3B (step S81).

[0046] Furthermore, when the aforementioned device status notification time arrives, for example, the device 3A generates the aforementioned device status information (step S82), and the generated device status information is transmitted from the device 3A to the control device 1 (step S83). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the device status information, the control device 1 encrypts the acquired device status information using the aforementioned key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S84). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the encapsulated device status information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S85). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the device status information, the cloud server 2 decapsulates the acquired device status information by removing the wide-area communication header information and then performing a decryption process using the aforementioned key information (step S86). Next, the cloud server 2 extracts the parameter information, model information, and host information of the device 3A included in the device status information, associates them with each other, and stores them in the device status storage unit 232 (step S87).

[0047] Next, it is assumed that the cloud server 2 determines, based on the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 232, that the control content of the device 3A needs to be updated (step S88). In this case, the cloud server 2 generates control information corresponding to the updated control content of the device 3A (step S89), encrypts the generated control information using the key information described above, and then encapsulates the control information by adding wide-area communication header information (step S90). Next, the encapsulated control information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the control device 1 (step S91). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated control information, the control device 1 decapsulates the received control information by removing the wide-area communication header information and then performing a decryption process using the key information described above (step S92). Thereafter, the decapsulated control information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the device 3A based on the destination IP address information and MAC address information included in the control information (step S93). Meanwhile, upon receiving the control information, the device 3A starts operating based on the received control information (step S94).

[0048] Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 2 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14. This device control process is started, for example, when a program for executing the device control process is started in the cloud server 2, and then an SSL handshake protocol is executed with the cloud server 2 to establish a connection with the cloud server 2. First, the operation information acquisition unit 211 determines whether or not operation information indicating a device information registration operation transmitted from the terminal device 4 has been acquired (step S101: No). Here, if the operation information acquisition unit 211 determines that operation information indicating a device information registration operation has not been acquired (step S101: Yes), the operation information acquisition unit 211 executes the process of step S114, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the operation information acquisition unit 211 determines that operation information indicating a device information registration operation has been acquired (step S101: Yes), the operation information acquisition unit 211 notifies the device information request unit 218 of the host information included in the acquired operation information. Then, when the device information requesting unit 218 is notified of the host information from the operation information acquiring unit 211, it stores the notified host information in the device information storage unit 231 and notifies the address acquiring unit 225 of device information request information. Then, when the address acquiring unit 225 is notified of the device information request information, it selects one piece of class code information from the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S102).

[0049] Next, the address acquisition unit 225 generates address request information in which the destination IP address is set to a multicast address. Then, the encapsulated message transmission unit 213 encrypts the generated address request information using the above-mentioned key information, performs encapsulation processing to add the above-mentioned wide-area communication header information, and then transmits the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 based on the wide-area communication header information (step S103). Next, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 decapsulates the acquired encapsulated message to determine whether or not address response information has been acquired (step S106). Here, if the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 determines that address response information has not been acquired (step S104: No), the processing of step S106 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 determines that address response information has been acquired (step S104: Yes), the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 notifies the address acquisition unit 225 of the address response information. Then, the address acquisition unit 225 extracts the address information and host information contained in the notified address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with class code information indicating the method of transmitting the address request information and the class of the destination device 3 (step S105).

[0050] Next, the address acquisition unit 225 generates address request information in which the destination IP address is set to a broadcast address. Then, the encapsulated message transmission unit 213 encrypts the generated address request information using the above-mentioned key information, performs encapsulation processing to add the above-mentioned wide-area communication header information, and then transmits the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 based on the wide-area communication header information (step S106). Next, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 decapsulates the acquired encapsulated message to acquire address response information (step S107), and notifies the address acquisition unit 225 of the address response information. Then, the address acquisition unit 225 extracts the address information and host information included in the notified address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with class code information indicating the method of transmitting the address request information and the class of the destination device 3 (step S108).

[0051] Thereafter, the address acquiring unit 225 determines whether or not it has acquired address response information for all classes indicated by all of the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S109). If the address acquiring unit 225 determines that there is a device 3 belonging to a class for which it has not yet acquired address response information (step S109: No), the process of step S102 is executed again. On the other hand, it is assumed that the address acquiring unit 225 has determined that it has acquired address response information for all classes indicated by all of the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S109: Yes). In this case, the transmission method setting unit 227 sets transmission method information for each class by comparing the address information included in the address response information acquired by multicasting the address request information stored in the address storage unit 241 to the devices 3 belonging to the same class with the address information included in the address response information acquired by broadcasting the address request information to the devices 3 belonging to the same class, and stores the transmission method information in the transmission method storage unit 243 (step S110). If the two aforementioned values ​​match, transmission method setting unit 227 sets the transmission method information of the corresponding class code information to multicast transmission, and stores the transmission method information in transmission method storage unit 243 in association with the class code information of device 3, the destination of the address request information. On the other hand, if the two aforementioned values ​​do not match, transmission method setting unit 227 stores transmission method information indicating broadcast transmission in transmission method storage unit 243 in association with the class code information of device 3, the destination of the address request information.

[0052] Next, the device information update unit 215 refers to the transmission method information corresponding to each piece of class code information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243, and selects address information and device identification information corresponding to the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information corresponding to the class code information from the address information and host information corresponding to each of the two types of transmission methods associated with each piece of class code information stored in the address storage unit 241. Then, the device information update unit 215 uses the selected MAC address information and IP address information to update the IP address information and MAC address information stored in the device information storage unit 231 (step S111).

[0053] Next, the device control unit 212 determines whether a control content update event has occurred (step S112). Here, the device control unit 212 determines that a control content update event has occurred if the operation information acquisition unit 211 notifies the device control unit 212 of the host information and changed setting content information of the device 3 to be operated, or if the device control unit 212 determines that the control content of the device 3 needs to be updated based on the parameter information of each device 3 stored in the device status storage unit 232. Here, if the device control unit 212 determines that a control content update event has not occurred (step S112: No), the device control unit 212 executes the processing of step S114 described below. On the other hand, if the device control unit 212 determines that a control content update event has occurred (step S112: Yes), the device control unit 212 generates control information corresponding to the updated control content of the device 3, including the host information corresponding to the device 3 to be controlled stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the encapsulated message sending unit 213 encrypts the generated control information using the above-mentioned key information, then performs an encapsulation process to add the above-mentioned wide area communication header information, and then sends the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 based on the wide area communication header information (step S113).

[0054] 14, the address acquisition unit 225 determines whether or not the above-mentioned address update event has occurred (step S114). Here, when the address acquisition unit 225 receives event occurrence notification information from the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, the address acquisition unit 225 determines that an address update event has occurred. Here, if the address acquisition unit 225 determines that an address update event has not occurred (step S114: No), the processing of step S122, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the address acquisition unit 225 determines that an address update event has occurred (step S114: Yes), the address acquisition unit 225 selects one piece of class code information from the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S115), and specifies the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information corresponding to the selected class code information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243 (step S116). Next, the address acquisition unit 225 generates address request information in which the destination IP address is set to an address corresponding to the specified transmission method. The encapsulated message sending unit 213 then encrypts the generated address request information using the key information, performs encapsulation processing to add the wide-area communication header information, and transmits the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 based on the wide-area communication header information (step S117). Subsequently, the encapsulated message acquiring unit 214 decapsulates the acquired encapsulated message to acquire address response information (step S118), and notifies the address acquiring unit 225 of the address response information. The address acquiring unit 225 then extracts the address information and host information included in the notified address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with class code information that indicates the method of transmitting the address request information and the class of the destination device 3 (step S119).

[0055] Thereafter, the address acquiring unit 225 determines whether or not it has acquired address response information for all classes indicated by all of the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S120). If the address acquiring unit 225 determines that there is a device 3 belonging to a class for which it has not yet acquired address response information (step S120: No), the process of step S115 is executed again. On the other hand, it is assumed that the address acquiring unit 225 has determined that it has acquired address response information for all classes indicated by all of the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242 (step S120: Yes). In this case, when either the MAC address information or the IP address information of the device 3 corresponding to each piece of host information stored in the address storage unit 241 is updated, the device information updating unit 215 refers to the transmission method information corresponding to each piece of class code information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243, and selects address information and related information corresponding to the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information corresponding to the class code information from the address information and host information corresponding to each of the two types of transmission methods associated with each piece of class code information stored in the address storage unit 241. Then, the device information update unit 215 uses the selected MAC address information and IP address information to update the IP address information and MAC address information stored in the device information storage unit 231 (step S121).

[0056] Next, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 decapsulates the acquired encapsulated message to determine whether or not device status information has been acquired (step S122). If the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 determines that device status information has not been acquired (step S122: No), the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 determines that device status information has been acquired (step S122: Yes), the device status update unit 216 notifies the device status update unit 216 of the acquired device status information. Then, upon receiving the device status information from the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, the device status update unit 216 extracts parameter information, model information, and host information included in the notified device status information, associates these pieces of extracted information with each other, and stores them in the device status storage unit 232 (step S123). Thereafter, the process of step S101 is executed again.

[0057] As described above, in the device management system according to the present embodiment, the address acquisition unit 225 acquires address response information transmitted from a device 3 by transmitting address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class based on the class to which the device 3 belongs, and repeats this process for all classes indicated by the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242. This allows the address acquisition unit 225 to acquire address response information transmitted from the device 3 on a class-by-class basis, thereby reducing the possibility of missing address response information, which occurs when attempting to acquire a large amount of address response information at the same time. This ensures consistency between the address information and host information stored in the device information storage unit 231 and the address information and host information of the device 3 actually belonging to the local network NW2, thereby enabling the device 3 to be managed appropriately.

[0058] When sending address request information to devices 3 belonging to a local network NW2, there may be devices 3 that cannot acquire the address request information even if the address request information is multicast. For example, a router 8 may manage a local network NW2 that is made up of multiple physical segments based on IGMP (Internet Group Management Protocol). In this case, if there is a device 3 in the local network NW2 that does not support IGMP, the address request information multicast to that device may not be delivered. This raises the risk that the device 3 that does not support IGMP may not be managed appropriately.

[0059] In contrast, in the device management system according to this embodiment, if a device 3 that does not support IGMP exists within the local network NW2, address request information is broadcast to devices 3 that belong to the same class as the device 3. As a result, even if the IGMP snooping function of the router 8 is enabled, for example, the address request information can be delivered to all devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2, and address response information transmitted from all devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2 can be obtained. Therefore, the devices 3 can be managed appropriately.

[0060] Furthermore, in the device management system according to this embodiment, address request information is multicast to a class consisting only of IGMP-compatible devices 3. This reduces traffic on the local network NW2, thereby suppressing communication delays.

[0061] (Embodiment 2) The device management system according to this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the content of the address response information is changed depending on the number of devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 15, the device management system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 2002 and a control device 1 that controls the operation of the device 3 by transmitting control information acquired from the cloud server 2002 to the device 3. In Fig. 15, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 3. Furthermore, the cloud server 2002 has the same hardware configuration as the cloud server 2 described in the first embodiment. Therefore, the hardware configuration according to this embodiment will be described using the same reference numerals as those in Fig. 2.

[0063] In cloud server 2002, CPU 201 loads the program stored in auxiliary memory unit 203 into main memory unit 202 and executes it, thereby functioning as operation information acquisition unit 211, device control unit 212, encapsulated message transmission unit 213, encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, device information update unit 215, device status update unit 216, device status notification unit 217, device information request unit 218, address acquisition unit 2225, transmission method setting unit 227, and device number identification unit 2219.

[0064] When the number of devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2 is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference device number, the address acquisition unit 2225 transmits address request information requesting the transmission of address information of the devices 3 to the devices 3 belonging to the same class based on the class to which the devices 3 belong, as described in the first embodiment, thereby acquiring address response information including address information transmitted from the devices 3, and repeats this process for at least all of the classes corresponding to the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242. On the other hand, when the number of devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2 is less than a predetermined reference device number, the address acquisition unit 2225 transmits address request information to all of the devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2, thereby simultaneously acquiring address response information from all of the devices 3. When the address acquisition unit 2225 receives device information request information from the device information request unit 218 or event occurrence notification information from the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, the address acquisition unit 2225 notifies the device number request information to the device number determination unit 2219, thereby acquiring device number information (described below) from the device number determination unit 2219. The address acquisition unit 2225 then determines whether the number of devices indicated by the acquired device number information is equal to or greater than the reference device number. The address acquisition unit 2225 then extracts the address information and host information included in the address response information notified from the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214, and stores the extracted address information and host information in the address storage unit 241 in association with class code information indicating the method of transmitting the address request information and the class of the destination device 3.

[0065] When the device number determination unit 2219 is notified of device number request information from the address acquisition unit 2225, it determines the number of devices based on the number of combinations of model information and host information of devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2 together with the control device 1, which are stored in the device information storage unit 231, and notifies the address acquisition unit 2225 of the device number information indicating the determined number of devices.

[0066] Next, the operation of the control system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 16 to 19. In FIGS. 16 to 19, the same processes as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 6 and 8 to 12. First, after the processes of steps S1 and S2 described in the first embodiment are executed, the cloud server 2002 identifies the number of devices based on the number of combinations of model information and host information of the devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2 together with the control device 1, which are stored in the device information storage unit 231 (step S2001). Assume that the cloud server 2002 determines that the number of devices Ne indicated by the device number information is less than a predetermined reference number of devices Neth (step S2002). In this case, the cloud server 2002 generates address request information in which the destination IP address is set to a multicast address (step S2003). Next, the cloud server 2002 encrypts the generated address request information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S2004). The encapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2002 to the control device 1 (step S2005). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated address request information, the control device 1 decapsulates the address request information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the received address request information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S2006). The decapsulated address request information is then multicast from the control device 1 to all devices 3A and 3B belonging to the local network NW2 (steps S2007 and S2008). Here, class code information is not specified in the address request information. Therefore, upon receiving the address request information, all of the devices 3A and 3B belonging to different classes in the local network NW2 generate address response information accordingly. Therefore, when device 3A receives the address request information, it generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S2009), and the generated address response information is sent from device 3A to the control device 1 (step S2010).On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S2011). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2002 (step S2012). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2002 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it decapsulates the acquired address response information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S2013). Next, the cloud server 2002 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 (step S2014). Similarly, when the device 3B acquires the address request information, it generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information in response to the address request information (step S2015). The generated address response information is transmitted from the device 3B to the control device 2001 (step S2016). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information described above and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information, as shown in Fig. 17 (step S2017). The encapsulated address response information is then transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2002 (step S2018). On the other hand, when the cloud server 2002 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it decapsulates the acquired address response information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S2019). Next, the cloud server 2002 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with each other (step S2020).

[0067] Next, the cloud server 2002 generates address request information in which the destination IP address is set to a broadcast address (step S2021). After that, the cloud server 2002 encrypts the generated address request information using the above-mentioned key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S2022). Next, the encapsulated address request information is transmitted from the cloud server 2002 to the control device 1 (step S2023). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated address request information, the control device 1 decapsulates the address request information by removing the wide-area communication header information added to the received address request information and then decrypting it using the key information (step S2024). After that, the decapsulated address request information is broadcast from the control device 1 to all devices 3A and 3B belonging to the local network NW2 (steps S2025 and S2026). On the other hand, upon receiving the address request information, the device 3A generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S2027), and transmits the generated address response information from the device 3A to the control device 1 (step S2028). On the other hand, upon receiving the address response information, the control device 1 encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S2029). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2002 (step S2030). On the other hand, upon receiving the encapsulated address response information, the cloud server 2002 releases the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decapsulates it using the key information (step S2031). Next, the cloud server 2002 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with each other (step S2032).Furthermore, upon receiving the address request information, the device 3B also generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S2033), and transmits the generated address response information from the device 3B to the control device 1 (step S2034). Meanwhile, upon receiving the address response information, the control device 1 encrypts the received address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S2035). The encapsulated address response information is then transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2002, as shown in FIG. 18 (step S2036). Meanwhile, upon receiving the encapsulated address response information, the cloud server 2002 decapsulates the received address response information by decrypting it using the key information (step S2037). The cloud server 2002 then extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information contained in the decapsulated address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with each other (step S2038).

[0068] Thereafter, the cloud server 2002 compares the address information stored in the address storage unit 241, which is included in the address response information acquired by multicasting the address request information to the devices 3A and 3B belonging to the same class, with the address information acquired by broadcasting the address request information to the devices 3A and 3B belonging to the same class. If the two information match, the control device stores transmission method information indicating multicast transmission in the transmission method storage unit 243, in association with the class code information of the device 3 to which the address request information is to be sent. On the other hand, if the two information do not match, the control device 1 stores transmission method information indicating broadcast transmission in the transmission method storage unit 243 (step S2039).

[0069] Next, cloud server 2002 refers to the transmission method information stored in transmission method storage unit 243, and selects address information and host information associated with the transmission method information from the address information and host information stored in address storage unit 241. Then, device information update unit 215 updates the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information stored in device information storage unit 231 using the MAC address information, IP address information, and host information of the selected devices 3A and 3B (step S2040).

[0070] Suppose that an address update event described in the first embodiment occurs thereafter. In this case, the cloud server 2002 identifies the number of devices based on the number of combinations of model information and host information of the devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2 together with the control device 1, stored in the device information storage unit 231 (step S2041). Here, it is assumed that the cloud server 2002 determines that the number of devices Ne indicated by the device number information is less than a predetermined reference number of devices Neth (step S2042). In this case, the cloud server 2002 generates address request information in which the destination IP address is set to an address corresponding to the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information, based on the transmission method information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243 (step S2043). Next, the cloud server 2002 encrypts the generated address request information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S2044). The encapsulated address request information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2002 to the control device 1 (step S2045). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the encapsulated address request information, it releases the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address request information and then decapsulates it using the key information (step S2046). Thereafter, the decapsulated address request information is transmitted from the control device 1 to both devices 3A and 3B using the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information (steps S2047 and S2048). On the other hand, when the device 3A acquires the address request information, it generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S2049), and the generated address response information is transmitted from the device 3A to the control device 1 (step S2050). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding the wide-area communication header information (step S2051). Next, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2002 (step S2052).On the other hand, when the cloud server 2002 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it releases the wide-area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and then decrypts it using key information to decapsulate it (step S2053), as shown in FIG. 19. Next, the cloud server 2002 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, associates the extracted information with each other, and stores the associated information in the address storage unit 241 (step S2054). Similarly, when the device 3B acquires the address request information, it generates address response information including its own IP address information, MAC address information, and host information (step S2055), and transmits the generated address response information from the device 3B to the control device 1 (step S2056). On the other hand, when the control device 1 acquires the address response information, it encrypts the acquired address response information using the key information and then encapsulates it by adding wide-area communication header information (step S2057). Then, the encapsulated address response information is transmitted from the control device 1 to the cloud server 2002 (step S2058). On the other hand, when cloud server 2002 acquires the encapsulated address response information, it releases the wide area communication header information added to the acquired address response information and decrypts it using the key information to decapsulate it (step S2059). Next, cloud server 2002 extracts the IP address information, MAC address information, and host information included in the decapsulated address response information, associates these pieces of extracted information with each other, and stores them in address storage unit 241 (step S2060). Thereafter, the series of processes from step S80 onwards described in the first embodiment are executed.

[0071] Next, a device control process executed by the cloud server 2002 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 20 and 21. Note that in Figs. 20 and 21, processes similar to those in Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Figs. 13 and 14. First, in step S101, the operation information acquisition unit 211 determines that operation information indicating a device information registration operation has been acquired (step S101: Yes) and notifies the device information requesting unit 218 of the host information included in the acquired operation information. Upon receiving the host information from the operation information acquisition unit 211, the device information requesting unit 218 stores the notified host information in the device information storage unit 231 and notifies the address acquisition unit 225 of device information request information. In this case, the address acquisition unit 2225 notifies the device number identification unit 2219 of the device number request information. The device number determination unit 2219 then determines the number of devices based on the number of combinations of model information and host information of the devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2 together with the control device 1, which are stored in the device information storage unit 231 (step S2101), and notifies the address acquisition unit 2225 of device number information indicating the determined number of devices. Next, the address acquisition unit 2225 determines whether the number of devices indicated by the notified device number information is equal to or greater than a reference device number (step S2102). If the address acquisition unit 2225 determines that the number of devices indicated by the device number information is equal to or greater than the reference device number (step S2102: Yes), the series of processes from step S102 onwards are executed. On the other hand, if the address acquisition unit 2225 determines that the number of devices indicated by the device number information is less than the reference device number (step S2102: No), the destination IP address is set to a multicast address, and address request information is generated that is multicast to be transmitted to all devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2. Then, the encapsulated message sending unit 213 encrypts the generated address request information using the above-mentioned key information, performs encapsulation processing to add the above-mentioned wide-area communication header information, and then transmits the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 based on the wide-area communication header information (step S2103). Subsequently, the encapsulated message acquiring unit 214 decapsulates the acquired encapsulated message, thereby determining whether or not address response information has been acquired (step S2104).If the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 determines that it has not acquired address response information (step S2104: No), it executes the processing of step S2106, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 determines that it has acquired address response information (step S2104: Yes), it notifies the address acquisition unit 225 of the address response information. The address acquisition unit 225 then extracts the address information and host information included in the notified address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with transmission method information that indicates the method of transmitting the address request information (step S2105).

[0072] Thereafter, the address acquisition unit 2225 generates address request information in which the destination IP address is set to a broadcast address and is broadcast to all devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2. Then, the encapsulated message transmission unit 213 encrypts the generated address request information using the key information and then performs encapsulation processing to add the wide-area communication header information. Then, based on the wide-area communication header information, the encapsulated address request information is transmitted to the control device 1 (step S2106). Next, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 decapsulates the acquired encapsulated message to acquire address response information (step S2107), and notifies the address acquisition unit 2225 of the acquired address response information. Then, the address acquisition unit 2225 extracts address information and host information included in the notified address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with transmission method information indicating the method of transmitting the address request information (step S2108). Next, a series of processes from steps S110 to S114 is executed.

[0073] 21, when the address acquisition unit 2225 determines in step S114 that an address update event has occurred (step S114: Yes), it notifies the device number identification unit 2219 of device number request information. The device number identification unit 2219 then identifies the number of devices based on the number of combinations of model information and host information of the devices 3 that belong to the local network NW2 together with the control device 1, which are stored in the device information storage unit 231 (step S2109), and notifies the address acquisition unit 2225 of device number information indicating the identified number of devices. Next, the address acquisition unit 2225 determines whether the number of devices indicated by the notified device number information is equal to or greater than a reference device number (step S2110). Here, when the address acquisition unit 2225 determines that the number of devices indicated by the device number information is equal to or greater than the reference device number (step S2110: Yes), a series of processes from step S115 onwards are executed. On the other hand, if the address acquisition unit 2225 determines that the number of devices indicated by the device number information is less than the reference number of devices (step S2110: No), it identifies the transmission method indicated by the transmission method information stored in the transmission method storage unit 243 for the destination IP address (step S2111), and generates address request information set to the address corresponding to the identified transmission method. Then, the encapsulated message transmission unit 213 encrypts the generated address request information using the above-mentioned key information and then performs encapsulation processing to add the above-mentioned wide-area communication header information, and then transmits the encapsulated address request information to the control device 1 based on the wide-area communication header information (step S2112). Thereafter, the encapsulated message acquisition unit 214 decapsulates the acquired encapsulated message to acquire address response information (step S2113), and notifies the address acquisition unit 2225 of the acquired address response information. Then, the address acquisition unit 2225 extracts the address information and host information included in the notified address response information, and stores the extracted information in the address storage unit 241 in association with transmission method information indicating the method of transmitting the address request information (step S2114). After that, a series of processes from step S121 onwards are executed.

[0074] As described above, according to the device management system of this embodiment, a transmission method is selected depending on the number of devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2. Specifically, when the number of devices 3 is small and the control device 2001 is unlikely to miss any address response information even if it receives address response information from all devices 3 at the same time, the control device 2001 transmits address request information to all devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2, thereby obtaining address response information transmitted from all devices 3 in a relatively short time. This has the advantage that when a new device 3 is added to the local network NW2 or an address update event occurs, the address information and host information stored in the device information storage unit 231 of the cloud server 2002 can be quickly updated.

[0075] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, in each embodiment, the operation information may include flag information indicating whether or not the operation information is associated with the addition of a new device 3 to the local network NW2, and the cloud server 2, 2002 may set a method for transmitting address request information to the device 3 only when the flag information included in the operation information transmitted from the terminal device 4 indicates the addition of a new device 3.

[0076] According to this configuration, the frequency with which the method of sending address request information to device 3 is reset can be reduced, thereby shortening the time required to update the address information and host information stored in the device information storage unit 231.

[0077] In each embodiment, device 3 may monitor whether the IP address assigned to device 3 has been changed, and if the IP address assigned to device 3 has been changed, generate address change notification information notifying that the IP address has been changed and transmit the information to control device 1 as the destination. In this case, event occurrence detection unit 114 may determine that the above-mentioned address update event has occurred when it acquires address change notification information from device 3. Also, in each embodiment, event occurrence detection unit 114 may determine that an address update event has occurred when it determines that the IP address assigned to control device 1 has been changed.

[0078] According to this configuration, the occurrence of an address update event can be directly detected, thereby increasing the accuracy of detecting the address update event, and accordingly reducing unnecessary updates to the address information and host information stored in the device information storage unit 231.

[0079] In each embodiment, an example has been described in which the cloud server 2, 2002 includes the device information storage unit 231, but this is not limiting, and the control device 1 may also include the device information storage unit. For example, the control device 1 may include: a device information storage unit that stores address information and host information of devices 3 belonging to the local network NW2; an address acquisition unit that, based on the class to which the device 3 belongs, transmits address request information to devices 3 belonging to the same class, thereby acquiring address response information including the address information and host information transmitted from the device 3, for all classes indicated by the class code information stored in the class information storage unit 242; and a device information update unit that updates the address information and host information stored in the device information storage unit using the address information and host information included in the address response information.

[0080] In each embodiment, the IP address has been described as an IPv4 IP address, but this is not limiting and an IPv6 IP address may also be used.

[0081] Furthermore, the various functions of the control devices 1, 2001 and cloud servers 2, 2002 according to the present disclosure may be realized by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware may be written as a program, and the program may be stored and distributed on a computer-readable recording medium such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or MO (Magneto-Optical Disc). The program may then be read and installed on a computer to configure a computer capable of realizing each of the above-described functions. Furthermore, if each function is realized by sharing the work between an operating system (OS) and an application, or by cooperation between the OS and the application, only the parts other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0082] Furthermore, each program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed via a communication network. For example, the program can be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communication network and distributed via the network. These programs can then be launched and run under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-mentioned processing to be performed.

[0083] The present disclosure allows various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments are intended to explain the present disclosure and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure. In other words, the scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, not the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and within the meaning of the disclosure equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0084] The present disclosure is suitable for a control system equipped with a HEMS installed in a home. [Explanation of symbols]

[0085] 1 control device, 2,2002 cloud server, 3,3A,3B equipment, 4 terminal device, 8 router, 101,201 CPU, 102,202 main memory unit, 103,203 auxiliary memory unit, 107,206 communication unit, 109,209 bus, 111,2111 encapsulated message acquisition unit, 112 message transmission unit, 113 message acquisition unit, 114 event occurrence detection unit, 116 encapsulated message transmission unit, 211 operation information acquisition unit, 212 equipment control unit, 213 encapsulated message transmission unit, 214 encapsulated message acquisition unit, 215 equipment information update unit, 216 equipment status update unit, 217 equipment status notification unit, 218 equipment information request unit, 225,2225 address acquisition unit, 227 transmission method setting unit, 231 Device information storage unit, 232 device status storage unit, 241 address storage unit, 242 class information storage unit, 243 transmission method storage unit, 811 DHCP function unit, 2219 device number identification unit, NW1 wide area network, NW2 local network

Claims

1. A device management system for managing device identification information assigned to each of a plurality of devices in a network to which a plurality of devices belong, Multiple of the aforementioned devices are classified into multiple classes when classified according to a pre-set classification criterion. A device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of the devices belonging to the network, A device identification information acquisition unit selects one of the multiple classes and sends device identification information request information to the device belonging to the selected class, thereby obtaining device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from at least one device belonging to the selected class if there is at least one device belonging to the selected class and belonging to the network, and then selects another class from the multiple classes and sends the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the other selected class, thereby obtaining device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from at least one device belonging to the other selected class if there is at least one device belonging to the other selected class and belonging to the network, and repeats this process until all of the multiple classes have been selected. The device includes a device information update unit that updates the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit using the device identification information included in the device identification information response information. Equipment management system.

2. A device management system for managing device identification information assigned to a device in a network to which the device belongs, A device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of the devices belonging to the network, A transmission method setting unit sets a method for sending device identification information request information to the device that requests the device to transmit the device identification information, A device identification information acquisition unit repeatedly performs the following for all of at least one pre-set class: when the device is classified according to a pre-set classification criterion, it transmits the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, thereby acquiring device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from the device; The device information update unit updates the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit using the device identification information included in the device identification information response information, The device identification information acquisition unit acquires the device identification information response information transmitted from the device by multicasting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, and also acquires the device identification information response information transmitted from the device by broadcasting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class. The transmission method setting unit is: If the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by multicast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class matches the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by broadcast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, the method of transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the class is then set to multicast transmission. If the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by multicast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class does not match the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by broadcast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, the method of transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the class is then set to broadcast transmission. Equipment management system.

3. The device identification information acquisition unit, when the number of devices belonging to the network is equal to or greater than a predetermined reference number of devices, repeatedly obtains device identification information response information, including the device identification information transmitted from the devices, by transmitting the device identification information request information to the devices belonging to the same class based on the class to which the devices belong, for all of the multiple classes, and when the number of devices is less than the reference number of devices, it obtains the device identification information response information transmitted from the devices by transmitting the device identification information request information to all of the devices belonging to the network. The device management system according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A device identification information storage unit stores the device identification information obtained from the device by multicasting the device identification information request information to the device, and the device identification information obtained from the device by broadcasting the device identification information request information to the device, in association with transmission method information indicating the method of transmitting the device identification information request information. The system further includes a transmission method storage unit that stores transmission method information indicating the transmission method for the device identification information request information set by the transmission method setting unit, The device information update unit updates the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit using the device identification information associated with the transmission method information stored in the transmission method storage unit, selected from the device identification information stored in the device identification information storage unit. The equipment management system according to claim 2.

5. A device management device for managing device identification information assigned to each of the multiple devices in a network to which multiple devices belong, the device management device Multiple of the aforementioned devices are classified into multiple classes when classified according to a pre-set classification criterion. A device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of the devices belonging to the network, A device identification information acquisition unit selects one of the multiple classes and sends device identification information request information to the device belonging to the selected class, thereby obtaining device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from at least one device belonging to the selected class if there is at least one device belonging to the selected class and belonging to the network, and then selects another class from the multiple classes and sends the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the other selected class, thereby obtaining device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from at least one device belonging to the other selected class if there is at least one device belonging to the other selected class and belonging to the network, and repeats this process until all of the multiple classes have been selected. The system includes a device information update unit that updates the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit using the device identification information included in the device identification information response information. Equipment management device.

6. A device management device for managing device identification information assigned to a device in a network to which the device belongs, A device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of the devices belonging to the network, A device identification information acquisition unit repeatedly performs the following for all of at least one pre-set class: when the device is classified according to a pre-set classification criterion, it sends a device identification information request to the device that belongs to the same class, requesting the device to transmit the device identification information, thereby acquiring device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from the device; A device information update unit updates the device identification information stored in the device information storage unit using the device identification information included in the device identification information response information, It includes a communication method setting unit that sets the method for transmitting the device identification information request information to the device, The device identification information acquisition unit acquires the device identification information response information transmitted from the device by multicasting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, and also acquires the device identification information response information transmitted from the device by broadcasting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class. The aforementioned communication method setting unit is: If the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by multicast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class matches the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by broadcast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, the method of transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the class is then set to multicast transmission. If the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by multicast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class does not match the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by broadcast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, the method of transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the class is then set to broadcast transmission. Equipment management device.

7. A device management method comprising a device management device managing device identification information assigned to each of a plurality of devices in a network to which a plurality of devices belong, the device management device manages device identification information that identifies each of the plurality of devices, Multiple of the aforementioned devices are classified into multiple classes when classified according to a pre-set classification criterion. The steps include: selecting one of the multiple classes, sending a device identification information request to the device belonging to the selected class to request the device to transmit the device identification information, obtaining device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from at least one device belonging to the selected class if there is at least one device belonging to the selected class and belonging to the network, and then selecting another class from the multiple classes, sending the device identification information request to the device belonging to the other selected class to obtain device identification information response information including the device identification information transmitted from at least one device belonging to the other selected class if there is at least one device belonging to the other selected class and belonging to the network, and repeating this until all of the multiple classes have been selected. The process includes the step of updating the device identification information stored in a device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of the devices belonging to the network, using the device identification information included in the device identification information response information. Equipment management method.

8. A device management method comprising a device management device managing device identification information assigned to a device in a network to which the device belongs, the device management device manages device identification information that identifies the device, The steps of obtaining device identification information response information, including the device identification information transmitted from the device, by sending device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class as the device, based on the class to which the device belongs when the device is classified according to a predetermined classification criterion, for all of at least one predetermined class, and A step of updating the device identification information stored in a device information storage unit that stores the device identification information of the devices belonging to the network, using the device identification information contained in the device identification information response information; The steps include: obtaining the device identification information response information transmitted from the device by multicasting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, and obtaining the device identification information response information transmitted from the device by broadcasting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class; The process includes the following steps: if the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by multicast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class matches the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by broadcast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, then the method for transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the class is set to multicast transmission; and if the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by multicast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class does not match the device identification information included in the device identification information response information obtained by broadcast transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the same class, then the method for transmitting the device identification information request information to the device belonging to the class is set to broadcast transmission. Equipment management method.

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