Air conditioning management system, air conditioning management device, and backup method

Abstract

An air conditioning management system (1000) manages air conditioning-related data related to air conditioning. The air conditioning management system (1000) comprises an air conditioner (Ar1) and an air conditioning management device (100) that manages the air conditioning-related data. The air conditioning management device (100) comprises a first storage device (10M), a second storage device (20M), and a control device (30) that controls the air conditioner (Ar1). The air conditioning-related data includes first data and second data of lower importance than the first data. The control device (30) executes a first update process (S60) for updating storage of first data in the first storage device (10M) and the second storage device (20M) and a second update process (S20) for updating the storage of second data stored in either one of the first storage device (10M) or the second storage device (20M).

Description

Air conditioning control system, air conditioning control device, and backup method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an air conditioning management system, an air conditioning management device, and a method for backing up data in an air conditioning management system.

[0002] Air conditioners consisting of an indoor unit and an outdoor unit are installed in various buildings such as commercial facilities, office buildings, residential apartments, and private homes. Patent Document 1 (JP 2008-75969 A) describes an air conditioning management device for managing such air conditioners. The air conditioning management device in Patent Document 1 has an internal memory medium such as a hard disk, and the memory medium stores integrated data indicating the amount of power used by the air conditioner.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that a user connects an external memory medium such as a USB (Universal Serial Bus) to an air conditioning control device, and the integrated data is backed up to the external memory medium. If a memory medium inside the air conditioning control device, such as a hard disk, fails, the air conditioning control device of Patent Document 1 can use the external memory medium to restore the memory medium inside the air conditioning control device to the point of backup.

[0004] JP 2008-75969 A

[0005] In recent years, air conditioning control devices have been required to back up various data on memory media for various reasons, such as compliance with laws and regulations, applying for subsidies, and improving air conditioner service. For example, air conditioning control devices are required to back up not only integrated data indicating the amount of power used, but also historical data indicating the air conditioner's past operating history. For this reason, the amount of data stored as backups in air conditioning control devices has tended to increase in recent years.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that suppresses an increase in the amount of backup data in an air conditioning management system that manages air conditioners.

[0007] The air conditioning management system in the present disclosure is an air conditioning management system that manages air conditioning-related data related to air conditioning. The air conditioning management system includes an air conditioner and an air conditioning management device that manages the air conditioning-related data. The air conditioning management device includes a first storage device, a second storage device, and a control device that controls the air conditioner. The air conditioning-related data includes first data and second data that is less important than the first data. The control device executes a first update process that updates the storage of the first data in the first storage device and the second storage device, and a second update process that updates the storage of the second data stored in either the first storage device or the second storage device.

[0008] According to the present disclosure, in an air conditioning management system that manages air conditioners, an increase in the amount of data to be backed up can be suppressed.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an air conditioning management system according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the types of data stored in a storage device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart for executing update processing of backup data of various data. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a table for explaining billing data. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing processing during a period when a storage device is operating normally. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a flowchart for executing failure detection processing. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart for executing restoration processing of a storage device. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example of restoration processing. FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram showing restoration processing when an abnormality occurs in a storage device. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an air conditioning management system according to a second embodiment.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of the technical concept according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. The names and functions of the components are also the same. Therefore, detailed descriptions thereof will not be repeated.

[0011] Embodiment 1. <Configuration of Air Conditioning Management System> Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining the configuration of an air conditioning management system 1000 according to Embodiment 1. The air conditioning management system 1000 includes an air conditioning management apparatus 100, an air conditioner Ar1, and an input / output device 400. The air conditioner Ar1 is a so-called multi-air conditioner that includes an outdoor unit 210 and indoor units 311, 312, and 313. The indoor unit 311 is located in room R1. The indoor units 312 and 313 are located in room R2.

[0012] The indoor unit 311 may correspond to a "first indoor unit" in the present disclosure. Furthermore, each of the indoor units 312 and 313 may correspond to a "second indoor unit" in the present disclosure.

[0013] The air conditioning management device 100 manages the air conditioner Ar1. More specifically, the air conditioning management device 100 sends control commands to the air conditioner Ar1 to control its operation. The air conditioning management device 100 also collects and stores data from the air conditioner Ar1. The air conditioning management device 100 has a control device 30, a communication interface 40, and storage devices 10M and 20M. The air conditioning management device 100 is a system controller that integrates hardware and software and controls the entire air conditioning management system 1000.

[0014] The control device 30 includes a processor 31 and a memory 32. The processor 31 is a computing entity (computer) that executes various processes by executing various programs. The processor 31 includes, for example, a central processing unit (CPU) and a micro-processing unit (MPU). The processor 31 has the function of executing various processes by executing programs, but some or all of these functions may be implemented by application-specific integrated circuits such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

[0015] That is, the term "processor" is not limited to a processor in the narrow sense that executes processing using a stored program, such as a CPU or MPU, but may also include hardwired circuits such as an ASIC or FPGA. Therefore, the processor 31 can also be interpreted as a processing circuitry in which processing is predefined by computer-readable code and / or hardwired circuits. The processor 31 may be configured on a single chip or multiple chips.

[0016] Furthermore, the processor 31 and related processing circuits may be configured as multiple computers interconnected by wire or wirelessly via a local area network, a wireless network, etc. The processor 31 and related processing circuits may also be configured as a cloud computer that performs calculations remotely based on input data and outputs the calculation results to another device in a remote location.

[0017] The memory 32 is configured by a volatile memory such as a dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or a static random access memory (SRAM), or a non-volatile memory such as a read only memory (ROM) or a flash memory.

[0018] Each of the storage devices 10M and 20M stores various programs executed by the processor 31, various data, and the like. The storage devices 10M and 20M may be one or more non-transitory computer-readable media or one or more computer-readable storage media. The storage devices 10M and 20M may be, for example, an SD card, a hard disk drive (HD), or a solid-state drive (SSD). The storage devices 10M and 20M may also be optical media such as CDs and DVDs. In FIG. 1, the storage device 10M may correspond to the "first storage device" in this disclosure. In FIG. 1, the storage device 20M may correspond to the "second storage device" in this disclosure.

[0019] In the first embodiment, the storage device 10M is a storage device that the control device 30 references for data necessary for controlling the air conditioner Ar1. On the other hand, the storage device 20M is a storage device for backing up data. Hereinafter, the storage device that references for data necessary for controlling the air conditioner Ar1 may be referred to as the "main storage device," and the storage device for backing up data may be referred to as the "backup storage device."

[0020] The control device 30 is connected to the outdoor unit 210 and the input / output device 400 via a communication interface 40. The input / output device 400 may be, for example, a display, a keyboard, a mouse, or a touch panel. A user S shown in FIG. 1 is, for example, the owner of the building in which the air conditioner Ar1 is installed, and is the administrator who manages the building and the air conditioning management system 1000. The user S uses the input / output device 400 to issue commands to the air conditioning management device 100. For example, the user S can use the input / output device 400 to determine the upper and lower limits of the set temperatures that can be set for the indoor units 311 to 313.

[0021] As shown in Fig. 1, in the first embodiment, air conditioner Ar1 is used by user A and user B. User A is a user who uses room R1 in which indoor unit 311 is located. User B is a user who uses room R2 in which indoor units 312 and 313 are located. In other words, users A and B are renting rooms R1 and R2, respectively, in a building owned by user S.

[0022] As shown in Fig. 1, users A and B share and use air conditioner Ar1. User S determines the usage ratio of air conditioner Ar1 for each of users A and B using billing data described below, and periodically bills users A and B for the usage fee for air conditioner Ar1. User A may correspond to the "first user" in this disclosure. User B may correspond to the "second user" in this disclosure.

[0023] 2 is a diagram illustrating the types of data stored in the storage devices 10M and 20M. Important data and history data are stored in the storage devices 10M and 20M. The important data includes applications, initial setting data, and billing data, and is stored in both the storage devices 10M and 20M. Hereinafter, the applications and initial setting data will be collectively referred to as "control data." The control data is data for controlling and operating the air conditioner Ar1.

[0024] The application data includes, for example, firmware for causing the air conditioning management device 100 to execute various processes, data related to the OS (Operating System), etc. The application data includes data for realizing the functions of the air conditioning management device, such as communication with the air conditioner Ar1, control, and data input / output.

[0025] The initial setting data is data that is set when installing the air conditioner Ar1, and includes data indicating the relationship between the indoor units 311 to 313 and the rooms in the building. In the example of the first embodiment, the initial setting data includes information indicating that the indoor unit 311 is located in room R1, and that the indoor units 312 and 313 are located in room R2.

[0026] The control device 30 controls the air conditioner Ar1 by referencing the application data and the initial setting data. In other words, if either the application data or the initial setting data is lost, the air conditioning management device 100 will not be able to function as the air conditioning management device 100 that manages the air conditioner Ar1. In other words, the control data made up of the application data and the initial setting data is the minimum necessary data for operating the air conditioning management device 100 and is the most important data. For this reason, the control data is stored in both the memory devices 10M and 20M.

[0027] The control device 30 operates the air conditioning management device 100 by repeatedly referencing the control data. Control data is stored in both storage devices 10M and 20M, but in the first embodiment, the control device 30 refers to the control data stored in storage device 10M of the storage devices 10M and 20M. In the first embodiment, when the storage devices 10M and 20M are operating normally, the storage device 10M is the "main storage device" and the storage device 20M is the "backup storage device."

[0028] The billing data is data used to bill users A and B who use air conditioner Ar1 for usage fees. If the billing data were to be lost, inconveniences such as user S being unable to properly bill users A and B for usage fees may occur. In the first embodiment, the billing data is also stored as important data in both storage device 10M and storage device 20M. Even if the billing data is lost, the air conditioning management device 100 can continue to operate as the air conditioning management device 100 that manages air conditioner Ar1. Therefore, in the air conditioning management system 1000, the importance of billing data is lower than the importance of control data.

[0029] The billing data includes information that user A uses indoor unit 311 and user B uses indoor units 312 and 313. That is, storage devices 10M and 20M store user A in association with indoor unit 311 and user B in association with indoor units 312 and 313. Other information included in the billing data will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 4.

[0030] As described above, in the first embodiment, the application data, initial setting data, and billing data are stored in both the storage device 10M and the storage device 20M because they are important for the operation of the air conditioning management system 1000. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 2, the history data is stored in only one of the storage device 10M and the storage device 20M.

[0031] The history data is data that indicates the operation history of the air conditioner Ar1, and the operation data and the maintenance data may each correspond to the history data. Note that, in the air conditioning management system 1000 of the first embodiment, an example is described in which two types of history data, operation data and maintenance data, are stored, but the air conditioning management system 1000 may store only one of the history data, either operation data or maintenance data.

[0032] The operating data indicates the history of the cooling / heating operating states of the indoor units 311 to 313, the set temperatures set in the indoor units 311 to 313, the indoor temperatures of rooms R1 and R2, etc. In other words, the operating data is information indicating the past state of air conditioner Ar1 and how users S, A, and B used air conditioner Ar1. The operating data is stored in the storage device 20M.

[0033] The maintenance data is information that indicates the temperature of the refrigerant contained in the air conditioner Ar1, the output of the compressor, the rotation speed of the fan contained in the outdoor unit 210, etc. The maintenance data is information that indicates a detailed operation history of the air conditioner Ar1, and is information intended for the dealer of the air conditioner Ar1, etc. The dealer of the air conditioner Ar1 can use the maintenance data to investigate the cause of a breakdown of the air conditioner Ar1, or to conduct research to improve the quality of the air conditioner Ar1. The maintenance data is stored in the memory device 10M.

[0034] Even if the history data is lost, the air conditioning management device 100 can continue to operate to manage the air conditioner Ar1. In other words, the air conditioning management device 100 can function as the air conditioning management device 100 that manages the air conditioner Ar1 without using the history data. Furthermore, even if the history data is lost, user S can still bill users A and B for the usage fee as long as the billing data is not lost.

[0035] Therefore, the history data is data less important than the important data. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, the operating data less important than the important data is stored in the storage device 20M, but not in the storage device 10M. Furthermore, the maintenance data less important than the important data is stored in the storage device 10M, but not in the storage device 20M. Note that the control data may correspond to the "first data" in the present disclosure. The history data may correspond to the "second data" in the present disclosure. The billing data may correspond to the "third data" in the present disclosure.

[0036] <Backup Update Process> Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a flowchart for executing the update process of backup data of various data. In the first embodiment, the processor 31 of the control device 30 executes a control program included in the application data, thereby executing the flowchart shown in Fig. 3. The flowchart shown in Fig. 3 is executed when the storage devices 10M, 20M are operating normally.

[0037] After power is supplied to the air conditioning management device 100, the control device 30 periodically executes the process of the flowchart in Figure 3. "Periodic execution" means, for example, execution every minute. The control device 30 determines whether five minutes have passed since the last update of the history data (step S10).

[0038] If five minutes have passed since the last update of the history data (YES in step S10), the control device 30 executes a history data update process (step S20). The control device 30 updates the maintenance data in the storage device 10M and the operation data in the storage device 20M every five minutes. That is, in the first embodiment, the history data is updated every five minutes. The history data update process may correspond to the "second update process" in the present disclosure.

[0039] More specifically, the control device 30 stores information indicating the heating / cooling status, set temperature, and room temperature of the indoor units 311-313 for the most recent five minutes in the storage device 20M. The control device 30 also stores information indicating the refrigerant temperature, compressor output, fan rotation speed, and other information for the most recent five minutes of the air conditioner Ar1 in the storage device 10M. That is, the control device 30 completes the history data update process by adding the history data for the most recent five minutes to the past history data every five minutes. After completing the history data update process, the control device 30 completes the process.

[0040] If five minutes have not passed since the last update of the history data (NO in step S10), the control device 30 determines whether 30 minutes have passed since the last update of the billing data (step S30). That is, the billing data is updated every 30 minutes. If 30 minutes have passed since the last update of the billing data (YES in step S30), the control device 30 executes a billing data update process (step S40). The billing data update process may correspond to the "third update process" in this disclosure.

[0041] 4 is a diagram showing a table for explaining billing data. In the first embodiment, the billing data is calculated based on the operation data. The control device 30 calculates the billing data based on the heating / cooling status and set temperature of the indoor units 311 to 313 for the last 30 minutes.

[0042] First, an example of calculating billing data for a 30-minute period from 12:00 to 12:30 will be described. Referring to the period from 12:00 to 12:30 shown in the operating data in FIG. 4 , indoor unit 311 is controlled to cooling mode with a set temperature of 28°C, while indoor units 312 and 313 are controlled to neither cooling nor heating mode. During the period from 12:00 to 12:30, refrigerant is not circulating in indoor units 312 and 313, and indoor units 312 and 313 are not operating. In other words, user B is not using air conditioner Ar1, and only user A is using air conditioner Ar1. Therefore, the control device 30 calculates the usage ratio of air conditioner Ar1 between user A and user B, 1:0, as billing data for the period from 12:00 to 12:30. In the first embodiment, the billing data is the usage ratio of air conditioner Ar1 between users A and B for each 30-minute period.

[0043] As shown in FIG. 4 , the billing data includes the amount of power (kWh) consumed by air conditioner Ar1 every 30 minutes. The control device 30 calculates the amount of power consumed by air conditioner Ar1 based on, for example, the compressor output, and stores the calculated amount of power in storage devices 10M and 20M as billing data. User S can calculate the amount of power consumed by each of user A and user B using the amount of power consumed by air conditioner Ar1 every 30 minutes and the usage ratio of air conditioner Ar1 between user A and user B. Specifically, user S can determine that user A should be charged a fee equivalent to 10 kWh of power consumed between 12:00 and 12:30, but that user B should not be charged a fee because user B did not use air conditioner Ar1.

[0044] Next, an example will be described in which billing data is calculated for a 30-minute period from 12:30 to 13:00. As shown in Figure 4, during the period from 12:30 to 13:00, indoor unit 311 is controlled to a cooling state with a set temperature of 28°C. Indoor units 312 and 313 are also controlled to a cooling state with a set temperature of 28°C.

[0045] That is, during the period from 12:30 to 13:00, user A operates one indoor unit 311 in cooling mode with a set temperature of 28°C, while user B operates two indoor units 312, 313 at the same set temperature. Therefore, the control device 30 calculates the usage ratio of air conditioner Ar1 between user A and user B as 1:2 during the period from 12:00 to 12:30. User S can determine that user A should be charged a fee equivalent to 10 kWh of power consumption and user B should be charged a fee equivalent to 20 kWh of power consumption during the period from 12:30 to 13:00.

[0046] Next, an example will be described in which billing data is calculated for a 30-minute period from 13:00 to 13:30. As shown in Figure 4, during the period from 13:00 to 13:30, indoor unit 311 is controlled to a cooling state with a set temperature of 18°C. Indoor units 312 and 313 are controlled to a cooling state with a set temperature of 28°C. In other words, during the period from 12:30 to 13:00, user A operates one indoor unit 311 in a cooling state with a set temperature of 18°C, and user B operates two indoor units 312 and 313 in a cooling state with a set temperature of 28°C, which consumes less power than the set temperature of 18°C.

[0047] In this case, the control device 30 of the first embodiment calculates the usage ratio of the air conditioner Ar1 between user A and user B as 1:1. In other words, the control device 30 of the first embodiment calculates, during cooling operation, a higher usage ratio for users who have set the set temperature low, and a lower usage ratio for users who have set the set temperature high. In this way, the air conditioning management device 100 of the first embodiment determines the usage ratio of the air conditioner Ar1 between user A and user B based on the operating state and set temperature of the indoor unit. User S can determine that a fee equivalent to 20 kWh of power consumption should be charged to user A during the period from 1:00 to 1:30 PM, and that a fee equivalent to 20 kWh of power consumption should likewise be charged to user B.

[0048] The control device 30 calculates the usage rates of the air conditioner Ar1 for the users A and B based on the operating data for the most recent 30 minutes, and stores the calculation results as billing data in both the storage devices 10M and 20M. Every 30 minutes, the control device 30 adds the billing data for the most recent 30 minutes to the past billing data, thereby completing the billing data update process.

[0049] 3, if 30 minutes have not passed since the last update of the billing data (NO in step S30), the control device 30 determines whether one month has passed since the last update of the control data (step S50). If one month has passed since the last update of the control data (YES in step S50), the control device 30 executes a control data update process (step S60). The control data update process may correspond to the "first update process" in this disclosure.

[0050] As described above, the control data is data such as firmware and OS, and is data for realizing the functions of the air conditioning management device 100, such as communication, control, and input / output. The control data can be updated periodically. For example, the control data is updated by the distributor of the air conditioning management device 100 when they perform version upgrades, such as repairing bugs that have occurred in the firmware or OS, or adding functions to the air conditioning management device 100.

[0051] If the control data stored in the storage device 10M has been updated one month after the last update of the control data, the control device 30 similarly rewrites the control data in the storage device 20M with the new version. That is, the control device 30 overwrites the contents of the latest version of the control data stored in the main storage device 10M into the backup storage device 20M.

[0052] Unlike the update processes for history data and billing data, the update process for control data overwrites the data itself without accumulating it. Because the need to update control data occurs less frequently than the update processes for history data and billing data, the interval at which control data is updated is set longer than the interval at which history data and billing data are updated. This makes it possible to prevent an increase in the number of unnecessary control data update processes in the first embodiment. As described above, the control device 30 controls the air conditioner Ar1 by referencing the data stored in the main storage device 10M. By making the update period for the backup of control data longer than the update period for the backup of history data, the air conditioning management system 1000 can reduce the number of times the control device 30 accesses the backup storage device 20M.

[0053] If one month has not passed since the last update of the control data (NO in step S50), the control device 30 ends the process. As shown in Fig. 3, the air conditioning management device 100 in the first embodiment executes the update process of various data every time a predetermined period has passed while the storage devices 10M and 20M are operating normally.

[0054] That is, in the air conditioning management system 1000 of embodiment 1, important data is automatically backed up at predetermined intervals. This improves the real-time nature of the data saved as backups compared to when backups are manually updated. That is, in embodiment 1, the amount of data lost from the contents before restoration when a backup is restored can be reduced. Furthermore, in the air conditioning management system 1000 of embodiment 1, data can be backed up without incurring the workload of manually updating backups.

[0055] The one-month update interval for the control data may correspond to the "first predetermined period" in the present disclosure. The five-minute update interval for the history data may correspond to the "second predetermined period" in the present disclosure. The 30-minute update interval for the billing data may correspond to the "third predetermined period" in the present disclosure.

[0056] 5 is a conceptual diagram showing the processing performed during a period when the storage devices 10M and 20M are operating normally. As shown in FIG. 5, the control device 30 performs a read process for referencing control data and a write process for updating various data on the main storage device 10M. The control device 30 also performs a write process for updating various data on the backup storage device 20M. When the OS used in the air conditioning management device 100 is Linux (registered trademark), the backup data write process uses, for example, the rsync command.

[0057] In this way, in the air conditioning management system 1000 of embodiment 1, important data is stored in both storage devices 10M, 20M, while history data is stored in only one of storage devices 10M, 20M. Therefore, in the air conditioning management system 1000 of embodiment 1, the amount of data to be backed up is reduced compared to when both important data and history data are stored in both storage devices 10M, 20M. In other words, in embodiment 1, it is possible to suppress an increase in the amount of data to be backed up. Figure 2 shows "free space (NULL)," and in embodiment 1, this free space can be used for other processes within the air conditioning management system 1000.

[0058] As the amount of data to be backed up decreases, the time required for the backup update process decreases. If the time required for the backup update process were long, the contents of the main storage device 10M would change during the backup update process, reducing the real-time nature of the backup data. In the first embodiment, the increase in the amount of backup data can be suppressed, thereby reducing the time required for the backup update process and preventing a reduction in the real-time nature of the backup data.

[0059] The backup storage device 20M has free space corresponding to the data capacity of the maintenance data, and the main storage device 10M has free space corresponding to the data capacity of the operating data. This allows the air conditioning management system 1000 to use this free space as a temporary storage area while the system is operating normally, and further allows historical data to be copied to this free space when the restoration process described below is executed.

[0060] <Failure Detection Processing> Fig. 6 is a flowchart for executing the failure detection processing. As with the flowchart of Fig. 3, the flowchart of Fig. 6 is executed by the processor 31 executing a control program included in the application data.

[0061] The control device 30 starts executing the flowchart of FIG. 6 when executing a read process or a write process on the main storage device 10M. Hereinafter, the read process and the write process will be collectively referred to as "access process." The control device 30 determines whether the storage device 10M can be recognized (step S110). If the main storage device 10M cannot be recognized (NO in step S110), the control device 30 determines that a failure of the storage device 10M has been detected, executes a restore process for the storage device 10M (step S150), and ends the process. The restore process for the storage device 10M will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

[0062] If the storage device 10M can be recognized (YES in step S110), the control device 30 executes an access process to the storage device 10M (step S120). The control device 30 determines whether the access process to the storage device 10M was successful (step S130). Specifically, if the access process is a read process, the control device 30 determines whether the desired data was successfully read from the storage device 10M. If the access process is a write process, the control device 30 determines whether the desired data was successfully written to the storage device 10M.

[0063] If the access process to the storage device 10M fails (NO in step S130), the control device 30 determines that a failure of the storage device 10M has been detected, executes a restore process for the storage device 10M (step S150), and terminates the process. If the access process to the storage device 10M is successful (YES in step S130), the control device 30 determines whether there is an abnormality in the format (step S140).

[0064] That is, the control device 30 recognizes the formatting method (FAT32, NTFS, etc.) of the file system added to the beginning of the storage device 10M. If the recognized formatting method is not a predetermined formatting method, the control device 30 determines that an abnormality has occurred in the formatting method of the storage device 10M (NO in step S140), executes a restore process for the storage device 10M (step S150), and ends the process. If no abnormality has occurred in the formatting method of the storage device 10M (YES in step S140), the control device 30 ends the process.

[0065] <Restoration process of storage device> Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a flowchart for executing restoration process of the storage device 10M. As with the flowcharts of Fig. 3 and 6, the flowchart of Fig. 7 is executed by the processor 31 executing a control program included in the application data.

[0066] The control device 30 starts executing the flowchart of Fig. 7 when executing the process of step S150 in Fig. 6. The control device 30 switches the storage device 20M from backup to main (step S200). That is, the control device 30 switches the reference destination of the control data necessary for controlling the air conditioner Ar1 from the storage device 10M to the storage device 20M.

[0067] The control device 30 stops updating various data for the failed storage device 10M (step S210). The control device 30 transitions its state to provisional mode (step S220). The provisional mode is a mode in which the air conditioner Ar1 is managed using only one main storage device without using a backup storage device. The control device 30 operates the air conditioning management device 100 using the storage device 20M that has been switched to the main storage device.

[0068] The control device 30 determines whether the failed storage device has returned to a normal state (step S230). If the storage device has not returned to a normal state (NO in step S230), the control device 30 repeats the process of step S230.

[0069] During the provisional mode, the control device 30 notifies the user S that the storage device 10M has failed. The control device 30 notifies the user S of the failure of the storage device 10M using, for example, a lamp, a speaker, or a display. Upon recognizing that the storage device 10M has failed, the user S replaces the failed storage device 20M with a storage device 30M that is operating normally, for example, as shown in FIG. 9 , which will be described later.

[0070] When user S replaces storage device 20M with storage device 30M, control device 30 determines that the storage device is back to normal (YES in step S230) and executes a restoration process (step S240). The restoration process is a process of writing various data stored in storage device 10M, which has been switched to the main storage device, to storage device 30M. In other words, the data in storage device 10M is copied to storage device 30M, which has been installed in place of storage device 10M.

[0071] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a restoration process. In the example of FIG. 8, the application data, initial setting data, billing data, and operating data in the storage device 20M are copied to a newly installed storage device 30M. As a result, in the first embodiment, the storage device 30M can function as a backup storage device, and the storage device 20M can function as a main storage device. After restoration, as shown in FIG. 8, maintenance data since the restoration is accumulated and stored in the storage device 30M. In the example of FIG. 8, an example in which operating data is also copied to the storage device 30M is illustrated. However, it is sufficient that at least the application data, initial setting data, and billing data are copied in the restoration process; operating data does not necessarily have to be copied.

[0072] 9 is a conceptual diagram showing the restoration process when an abnormality occurs in the storage device 10M. As shown in FIG. 9, when the storage device 10M fails, a read process that references control data and a write process that updates various data are executed on the storage device 20M that has been switched to the main storage device. The control device 30 also executes the restoration process on the storage device 30M that has been newly installed in place of the storage device 10M. In this way, in the first embodiment, when the storage device 10M fails, the data that was backed up in the storage device 20M can be automatically restored to the newly installed storage device 30M.

[0073] A specific procedure for the restoration process will be described below. When the storage devices 10M, 20M are USB memories, each of the storage devices 10M, 20M is connected to the control device 30 via a USB port. The control device 30 has a main USB port for connecting to the main storage device and a backup USB port. The control device 30 is preset to recognize a USB memory connected to the main USB port as the main storage device 10M.

[0074] As described above, if the main storage device 10M fails, the maintenance company or user S of the air conditioning management system 1000 removes the main storage device 10M from the control device 30 and switches the port through which the storage device 20M is connected to the control device 30 from the backup port to the main port. The maintenance company or user S then connects the new storage device 30M to the backup USB port. This allows the control device 30 to recognize the storage device 20M as the main storage device.

[0075] As another example, if the main storage device 10M is normal and the backup storage device 20M has failed, the maintenance company or user S removes the backup storage device 20M from the control device 30 and connects a new storage device 30M to the backup USB port. Note that in the air conditioning management system 1000, even if the storage devices 10M, 20M are not USB memories but are SD cards, hard disk drives, or solid state drives, the specific procedures for the restoration process described above can be carried out in the same manner.

[0076] Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, an example was described in which history data is stored in only one of the storage devices 10M and 20M. In the second embodiment, a configuration will be described in which history data is backed up to an external storage device.

[0077] Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of an air conditioning management system 1000A according to Embodiment 2. Note that in Fig. 10, description of the configuration that overlaps with that of air conditioning management system 1000 in Fig. 1 will not be repeated.

[0078] The air conditioning management device 100 in the second embodiment further includes an external communication interface 50 for communicating with external devices, in addition to the communication interface 40. The air conditioning management device 100 in the second embodiment is connected to the Internet IN via the external communication interface 50.

[0079] The air conditioning management device 100 in embodiment 2 backs up history data and important data to an external server 40M connected via the Internet IN. The control device 30 in embodiment 2 executes an update process to update history data in either the storage device 10M or the storage device 20M, and also executes an update process to similarly update history data in the external server 40M. As a result, in embodiment 2, history data can also be backed up, making the air conditioning management system 1000A redundant.

[0080] Furthermore, the air conditioning management system 1000A of the second embodiment has an air conditioner Ar2 in addition to the air conditioner Ar1. The air conditioner Ar2 includes an outdoor unit 220 and indoor units 321, 322, and 323. As in the first embodiment, in the air conditioning management system 1000A that manages the air conditioners Ar1 and Ar2, an increase in the amount of backup data in the storage devices 10M and 20M can be suppressed. Note that the external server 40M may correspond to the "third storage device" in this disclosure.

[0081] <Modification> In the above-described embodiment, the input / output device 400 is provided as a separate unit from the air conditioning control device 100. However, the input / output device 400 may be provided integrally with the air conditioning control device 100. For example, the input / output device 400 may be configured as a touch screen within the air conditioning control device 100.

[0082] In the above example, the billing data is calculated based on the operation data. In some cases, the billing data may be calculated based on other data, such as maintenance data, in addition to the operation data. In other words, the billing data may be data that indicates the usage ratio of the air conditioner Ar1 between user A and user B.

[0083] 4, the calculation of billing data has been described for the case where the air conditioner is controlled to be in a cooling state. During heating operation, the control device 30 calculates a higher usage rate for a user who sets a high temperature setting, and a lower usage rate for a user who sets a low temperature setting.

[0084] In the above example, the update interval for history data is 5 minutes, the update interval for billing data is 30 minutes, and the update interval for important data is one month. However, the update intervals for each data are not limited to these periods. In some aspects, for example, the update interval for history data may be one minute, the update interval for billing data may be 10 minutes, and the update interval for control data may be one week. Alternatively, the update interval for history data may be 60 minutes, the update interval for billing data may be one day, and the update interval for control data may be one year. Furthermore, the update interval for important data may be shorter than the update interval for history data. For example, the update interval for history data may be one day, and the update intervals for billing data and control data may be 30 minutes.

[0085] In the above example, the air conditioner Ar1 is shared by users A and B, but the number of users who share the air conditioner Ar1 is not limited to two, and may be three, five, or ten. Of course, the user may be a group rather than an individual.

[0086] The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered to be illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, not by the above description, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0087] 10M, 20M, 30M storage device, 30 control device, 31 processor, 32 memory, 40 communication interface, 40M external server, 50 external communication interface, 100 air conditioning control device, 210, 220 outdoor unit, 311 to 313, 321 to 323 indoor unit, 400 input / output device, 1000, 1000A air conditioning control system, A, B, S user, Ar1, Ar2 air conditioner, IN Internet, R1, R2 room.

Claims

1. An air conditioning management system that manages air conditioning-related data relating to air conditioning, comprising: an air conditioner; and an air conditioning management device that manages the air conditioning-related data, the air conditioning management device comprising a first storage device, a second storage device, and a control device that controls the air conditioner, the air conditioning-related data including first data and second data that is less important than the first data, and the control device executes a first update process that updates storage of the first data in the first storage device and the second storage device, and a second update process that updates storage of the second data stored in either the first storage device or the second storage device.

2. The air conditioning management system according to claim 1, wherein the first data includes control data for operating the air conditioner.

3. An air conditioning management system as described in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second data includes history data indicating an operation history of the air conditioner.

4. An air conditioning management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a storage device among the first storage device and the second storage device that does not store the second data has free space corresponding to the data capacity of the second data.

5. An air conditioning management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device executes the first update process at every first specified period, and executes the second update process at every second specified period.

6. The air conditioning management system according to claim 5, wherein the first specified period is longer than the second specified period.

7. An air conditioning management system as described in claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the air conditioning-related data further includes third data that is less important than the first data and more important than the second data, and the control device executes a third update process that updates the storage of the third data in the first storage device and the second storage device every third specified period, and the third specified period is shorter than the first specified period and longer than the second specified period.

8. The air conditioning management system of claim 7, wherein the air conditioners comprise: a first indoor unit used by a first user; and a second indoor unit used by a second user; and the third data includes billing data indicating the usage rate of the air conditioners by each of the first user and the second user.

9. The air conditioning management system according to claim 8, wherein the usage ratio is determined based on the operating states of the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit.

10. An air conditioning management system according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the usage ratio is determined based on temperatures set in the first indoor unit and the second indoor unit.

11. An air conditioning management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control device detects whether the first storage device has failed, and if it determines that the first storage device has failed, executes a restoration process to copy the first data stored in the second storage device to a new first storage device that has replaced the first storage device.

12. An air conditioning management system as described in any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a third storage device connected to the air conditioning management device via the Internet, and the control device further updates the storage of the second data in the third storage device.

13. An air conditioning management device that manages air conditioning-related data relating to an air conditioner, comprising: a first storage device; a second storage device; and a control device that controls the air conditioner, wherein the air conditioning-related data includes first data and second data that is less important than the first data, and the control device executes a first update process that updates storage of the first data in the first storage device and the second storage device, and a second update process that updates storage of the second data stored in either the first storage device or the second storage device.

14. A data backup method in an air conditioning management system that manages air conditioning-related data relating to air conditioners, the air conditioning management system comprising: a first storage device; a second storage device; and a control device that controls the air conditioners, the air conditioning-related data including first data and second data that is less important than the first data, the backup method comprising: updating storage of the first data in the first storage device and the second storage device; and updating storage of the second data stored in either the first storage device or the second storage device.

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