Home system, server, owner authentication method, and owner authentication program

Abstract

This home system comprises: a server: facility equipment installed in a facility such as a house and capable of communicating with the server; and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server. The server determines whether the terminal device is in the facility, and when the terminal device is in the facility, authenticates a user of the terminal device in the facility as an owner of the facility.

Description

Home system, server, owner authentication method and owner authentication program

[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-044903, filed on Mar. 21, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] The number of home appliances that can be connected to the Internet is increasing. Smart home systems that utilize home appliances connected to the Internet to provide residents with comfortable and convenient functions have been proposed. For example, smart locks that can remotely lock and unlock front doors using smartphones have been introduced as part of smart home systems.

[0003] When the occupant of a house where a smart home system is installed changes, the users who can use the smart home system must be changed from the previous occupant to the new occupant. Unless the registration of users who can use the smart home system (hereinafter also referred to as "user registration") is properly changed, it is difficult to ensure the security of the smart home system.

[0004] A method has been proposed to ensure the security of a smart home system when the resident of a house in which the smart home system is installed changes. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an apartment building system in which personal information stored in a residential terminal is deleted when a resident moves out.

[0005] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-124861

[0006] However, if the resident of a home where a smart home system has been installed changes and the user registration is not changed appropriately, the conventional smart home system will not be able to determine that the resident of the home has changed, making it difficult for the new resident to begin using the smart home system safely.

[0007] In light of the above circumstances, an object of the present disclosure is to provide a home system, a server, an owner authentication method, and an owner authentication program that a new resident of a facility such as a home can easily and safely begin using.

[0008] A home system according to a first aspect of the present disclosure includes a server, facility equipment installed in a facility and capable of communicating with the server, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server, wherein the server determines whether the terminal device is located in the facility, and when the terminal device is located in the facility, authenticates a user of the terminal device located in the facility as the owner of the facility.

[0009] A server according to a second aspect of the present disclosure is a server capable of communicating with facility equipment and terminal devices installed in a facility, which determines whether the terminal device is located at the facility, and when the terminal device is located at the facility, authenticates the user of the terminal device located at the facility as the owner of the facility.

[0010] An owner authentication method according to a third aspect of the present disclosure is a method for authenticating an owner who can use facility equipment installed in a facility, which determines whether a terminal device is present in the facility, and, when the terminal device is present in the facility, authenticates a user of the terminal device present in the facility as the owner of the facility.

[0011] An owner authentication program according to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure is a program for authenticating an owner who can use facility equipment installed in a facility, determining whether a terminal device is present at the facility, and, when the terminal device is present at the facility, authenticating the user of the terminal device at the facility as the owner of the facility.

[0012] It is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a home system according to one embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of a smartphone of the home system. It is a sequence diagram of the home system. It is another sequence diagram of the home system.

[0013] A home system 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG.

[0014] [Home System 100] Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of the home system 100. The home system 100 includes a household appliance 1, a control device 2, a dedicated remote control 3, an access point 4, a smartphone 6, and a server 7. The server 7 includes a device management server 8 and a user management server 9. The access point 4, the smartphone 6, the device management server 8, and the user management server 9 are connected via a network NW.

[0015] The network NW may be a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, a private network (LAN) within the building where the home system 100 is installed, or a combination thereof. The network NW may be either a wired or wireless network. Communication between devices may involve other devices such as an access point.

[0016] The residential equipment 1 is a device attached to a residential home HO as equipment. The residential home HO to which the residential equipment 1 is attached includes buildings intended for residential use as well as buildings not intended for residential use, such as offices, schools, and hospitals. The residential home HO is an example of a "facility." The residential equipment 1 is an example of a "facility equipment" attached to a facility as equipment. The facility equipment also includes building equipment in buildings not intended for residential use (for example, buildings). Furthermore, the facility equipment includes not only equipment installed within the residential home HO, but also equipment installed on the premises on which the residential home HO (building) is located.

[0017] The housing equipment 1 includes an open / close sensor 1A, an electric lock 1B, an electric shutter 1C, a camera 1D, an air conditioner 1E, etc. The housing equipment 1 may also include an energy management device such as a distribution board or a solar power generation device, sensors such as a temperature / humidity sensor or a human presence sensor, a faucet device, a toilet device, smart home appliances, etc. The housing equipment 1 has a manual control input mechanism that accepts manual control instructions from a user and a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from a server 7 or the like.

[0018] The household equipment 1 can communicate with the access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or wired LAN communication. The household equipment 1 may also communicate with the access point 4 via a control device 2 that can communicate via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication).

[0019] In this embodiment, the open / close sensor 1A, the electric lock 1B, and the electric shutter 1C communicate with the control device 2 via short-range wireless communication WC2, and then communicate with the access point 4 via the control device 2. The camera 1D and the air conditioner 1E communicate with the access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi. Note that the communication format of the household equipment 1 is not limited to this.

[0020] The household equipment 1 has a facility network including a local area network (LAN) connected by wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication, and a personal area network (PAN) connected by short-range wireless communication WC2. The facility network may also include other networks.

[0021] The control device 2 is a device that controls the connected household equipment 1. The control device 2 also relays communication between the household equipment 1 and the access point 4.

[0022] The control device 2 has an antenna and the like, and has a function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or wired LAN communication, and a function of communicating via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or ZigBee (registered trademark). The control device 2 can communicate with the household equipment 1 via the short-range wireless communication WC2. The control device 2 can communicate with the access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication.

[0023] The control device 2 can also communicate with a smartphone 6 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or short-range wireless communication WC2. For example, the control device 2 can control a plurality of household equipments 1 based on instructions from the smartphone 6.

[0024] The opening / closing sensor 1A detects the open / closed state of an opening in the house HO. The opening / closing sensor 1A detects, for example, a door or a shoji screen attached to the opening by using magnetism or the like.

[0025] The open / closed state of the opening detected by the open / close sensor 1A is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the open / closed state of the opening detected by the open / close sensor 1A using the smartphone 6 whether the user is at home or out.

[0026] The electric lock 1B is a device that prevents the opening and closing of doors and sliding screens attached to the opening of the house HO, and is a lock that can be electrically locked and unlocked. The electric lock 1B is also called a "smart lock." A user can lock and unlock the electric lock 1B using a card key, tag key, remote control key, smartphone 6, etc. as a key. In the following description, the card key, tag key, remote control key, smartphone 6, etc. used as the key for the electric lock 1B are also referred to as a "key device." The electric lock 1B may be an electronic lock powered by a battery built in.

[0027] The electric lock 1B has an antenna and a function of communicating via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication). The electric lock 1B can communicate with a key device via the short-range wireless communication WC2.

[0028] The electric lock 1B has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can remotely control the electric lock 1B using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

[0029] The locked / unlocked status of electric lock 1B is acquired by smartphone 6 via server 7. For example, the user can check the locked / unlocked status of electric lock 1B using smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

[0030] The electric shutter 1C is a device that electrically drives a shutter to open and close an opening in a house HO. For example, the electric shutter 1C is a device that is attached to a window and drives the shutter to open and close the window. The electric shutter 1C is an example of an electric opening and closing device.

[0031] The electric shutter 1C communicates with a dedicated remote control 3 via infrared communication or the like. The electric shutter 1C is operated from a short distance by the dedicated remote control 3. The electric shutter 1C may be capable of communicating with a paired smartphone 6 via short-range wireless communication WC2. In this case, the electric shutter 1C is operated from a short distance by the smartphone 6.

[0032] The electric shutter 1C has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, a user can remotely operate the electric shutter 1C using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

[0033] The open / closed state of the opening controlled by the electric shutter 1C is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the open / closed state of the opening controlled by the electric shutter 1C using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

[0034] The camera 1D is an outdoor camera or an indoor camera attached to the house HO. For example, the camera 1D is a security camera installed near the front door of the house HO.

[0035] The images captured by the camera 1D are acquired by the server 7 or the like. The images captured by the camera 1D are acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the images captured by the camera 1D using the smartphone 6 whether at home or out.

[0036] The camera 1D communicates with a dedicated remote control 3 via infrared communication or the like. The camera 1D is operated from a short distance using the dedicated remote control 3. The camera 1D may be capable of communicating with a paired smartphone 6 via short-range wireless communication WC2. In this case, the camera 1D is operated from a short distance using the smartphone 6.

[0037] The camera 1D has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can remotely control the camera 1D using the smartphone 6 whether at home or out.

[0038] The operating status of the camera 1D is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the operating status of the camera 1D using the smartphone 6 whether at home or out.

[0039] The air conditioner 1E is an air conditioning device installed in a house HO. The air conditioner 1E can detect the temperature and humidity of the room in which it is installed.

[0040] The air conditioner 1E communicates with the dedicated remote control 3 via infrared communication or the like. The air conditioner 1E is operated from a short distance using the dedicated remote control 3. The air conditioner 1E may also be able to communicate with a paired smartphone 6 via short-range wireless communication WC2. In this case, the air conditioner 1E is operated from a short distance using the smartphone 6.

[0041] The air conditioner 1E has a remote control input mechanism that accepts remote control instructions from the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can remotely control the air conditioner 1E using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

[0042] The operating status of the air conditioner 1E is acquired by the smartphone 6 via the server 7. For example, the user can check the operating status of the air conditioner 1E using the smartphone 6 whether they are at home or out.

[0043] [Access Point 4] The access point 4 is installed in the home HO and has the function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi or via wired LAN communication. The access point 4 communicates with the household equipment 1 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication. The access point 4 relays communication with the household equipment 1 via wireless LAN communication WC1 or wired LAN communication to the network NW via the Internet provider ISP.

[0044] 2 is a functional block diagram of the smartphone 6. The smartphone 6 is an example of a mobile terminal or terminal device. The mobile terminal or terminal device is not limited to the smartphone 6, and may be, for example, a mobile phone, a smart watch, a tablet terminal, a personal computer, etc.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 2 , the smartphone 6 includes a control unit 61 , a wireless communication unit 62 , a touch panel 63 , a camera 64 , and a microphone 65 .

[0046] The control unit 61 is a computer capable of executing programs, including a processor such as a CPU, a memory into which programs can be read, a storage unit into which programs and data can be stored, and an input / output control unit. The functions of the control unit 61 are realized by the processor executing a program provided to the control unit 61. The program provided to the control unit 61 is also referred to as an application. The control unit 61 controls the wireless communication unit 62, the touch panel 63, the camera 64, and the microphone 65.

[0047] The wireless communication unit 62 has an antenna and the like, and has a function of communicating via wireless LAN communication WC1 such as Wi-Fi, a function of communicating via short-range wireless communication WC2 such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or NFC (Near Field Communication), and a function of communicating via high-speed wireless communication WC3 that can be connected to a network NW using a fourth-generation communication standard, a fifth-generation communication standard, or the like.

[0048] The wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the household equipment 1, the control device 2, and the access point 4 via wireless LAN communication WC1 (LAN) based on instructions from the control unit 61. The wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the household equipment 1 and the control device 2 via short-range wireless communication WC2 (PAN) based on instructions from the control unit 61. The wireless communication unit 62 can communicate with the device management server 8 and the user management server 9 via high-speed wireless communication WC3 connected to a base station and the network NW based on instructions from the control unit 61.

[0049] The touch panel 63 is, for example, a capacitance type touch panel. Input operations input by the user to the touch panel 63 are acquired by the control unit 61. The touch panel 63 displays a display screen based on instructions from the control unit 61. The touch panel 63 functions as an operation unit for inputting operations and a display unit for displaying the display screen.

[0050] A smart home application AP is installed on the smartphone 6, which is an application that provides comfortable and convenient functions to the user by utilizing the household equipment 1 connected to the network NW.

[0051] The smart home application AP can check the status of the household equipment 1 based on a user request. The user can check the status of the household equipment 1 using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away from home. For example, the smart home application AP can obtain the lock status of the electric lock 1B via the network NW and notify the user by displaying it on the touch panel 63. The user can check the locked / unlocked status of the electric lock 1B using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away from home.

[0052] The smart home application AP can generate remote control instructions for the household equipment 1. The remote control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the device management server 8 via the network NW. The household equipment 1 performs control based on the control instructions acquired via the network NW. The user can remotely control the household equipment 1 using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away from home. For example, the user can remotely control an electric shutter 1C using the smart home application AP whether they are at home or away from home.

[0053] The smart home application AP can register or change the setting information of the control device 2 by communicating with the control device 2 via the network NW or by communicating with the control device 2 by short-range wireless communication WC2.

[0054] [Server 7] The server 7 is configured by, for example, one or more servers and can be connected to the network NW. The server includes hardware such as a processor such as a CPU, memory, a recording medium such as a hard disk or flash memory, and a communication device. The functions of the server 7 are realized by a program executed in the processor of the server. The server may be an on-site server, or a cloud server that provides IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), SaaS (Software as a Service), or the like, or may be a server that combines these. In the following description, "server" includes any of the above servers.

[0055] The server 7 includes a device management server 8 and a user management server 9. The device management server 8 and the user management server 9 may be the same server.

[0056] [Device Management Server 8] The device management server 8 is a server that manages the household equipment 1. The device management server 8 acquires control instructions for the household equipment 1 that are generated in the smart home application AP. The control instructions for the household equipment 1 are acquired by the household equipment 1.

[0057] The device management server 8 acquires the status of the household equipment 1 based on a user request. The status of the household equipment 1 is acquired by the smart home application AP.

[0058] [User Management Server 9] The user management server 9 is configured by, for example, one or more servers and can be connected to the network NW. The functions of the user management server 9 are realized by a program executed in a processor of the server.

[0059] The user management server 9 is a server that manages the registration of users who can use the home system 100 (hereinafter also referred to as "user registration"). The user management server 9 assigns a user code to each registered user. The user code is a code that is unique in the home system 100 and identifies the user in the home system 100. The user code is, for example, a user ID.

[0060] User registration is information that associates a user code that identifies a user with the household equipment 1 that the user can use. User registration may be recorded collectively for multiple household equipment 1 installed in the home HO, or may be recorded separately for each household equipment 1. A registered user can use the associated household equipment 1.

[0061] A user of the home system 100 can obtain a user code from the user management server 9. The user code obtained by the user is registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6. The user code is also recorded in the device management server 8. A control instruction for the household equipment 1 generated by the user in the smart home application AP is obtained by the device management server 8 and the household equipment 1, which are associated based on the user code.

[0062] Next, a description will be given of the operation of the home system 100. Hereinafter, the operation of the home system 100 will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of the home system 100 shown in FIG.

[0063] In step S100, the server 7 detects a change in the owner of the home HO. For example, the server 7 determines that the Internet provider ISP of the home HO has changed by detecting a change in the global IP address of any of the communication paths with the home equipment 1 (such as the access point 4, the control device 2, or the home equipment 1 to which a global IP address has been assigned). The server 7 detects a change in the owner of the home HO by determining that the Internet provider ISP of the home HO has changed. Note that the detection of a change in the owner of the home HO is not limited to this, and other detection methods may also be used.

[0064] In step S110, the server 7 requests the smartphone 6 to search for the household equipment 1 connected via the facility network. The smartphone 6 for which the server 7 requests the search is the smartphone 6 of a user who has registered with the household equipment 1 of the house HO. The server 7 may also request the smartphone 6 to search for the control device 2 or the access point 4 connected via the facility network.

[0065] In step S120, the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 searches for household equipment 1 connected via the facility network.

[0066] The household equipment 1 that can communicate with the smartphone 6 via the facility network responds to the smartphone 6 in step S130.

[0067] In step S140, the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 reports the detection of the household equipment 1 to the server 7.

[0068] In step S150, the server 7 determines whether the smartphone 6 is located in the home HO. Specifically, if the household equipment 1 detected by the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is installed in the home HO, the server 7 determines that the smartphone 6 is located in the home HO. This is to indicate that the smartphone 6 is connected to the facility network of the home HO and has communicated with the household equipment 1.

[0069] In step S160, the server 7 authenticates that the user registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is the new owner who has moved into the house HO (owner authentication).

[0070] In step S170, the server 7 registers the user (new owner) registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 as a user who can use the home system 100, and permits the new owner to use the home system 100.

[0071] If the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 cannot detect the household equipment 1, or if the household equipment 1 detected by the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is not installed in the home HO, the server 7 determines that the user registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is the previous owner of the home HO. The server 7 invalidates the registration of the user who could use the household equipment 1. The previous owner of the home HO who was registered as a user will no longer be able to use the household equipment 1.

[0072] Next, another operation of the home system 100 will be described with reference to a sequence diagram of the home system 100 shown in FIG.

[0073] In step S200, the server 7 detects a change in the owner of the house HO, similarly to step S100.

[0074] In step S210, the server 7 transmits to the smartphone 6 an operation instruction for the household equipment 1. The smartphone 6 requested to be searched by the server 7 is the smartphone 6 of a user who has been registered as a user for the household equipment 1 of the house HO.

[0075] At this time, it is desirable that the server 7 disables remote control instructions to the household equipment 1 from the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 .

[0076] In step S220, the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 notifies the user of an operation instruction for the household equipment 1 by, for example, displaying it on the touch panel 63.

[0077] The user performs operations in accordance with the operation instructions for the household equipment 1. For example, the operation instructions for the household equipment 1 include "open and close the door on which the opening / closing sensor 1A is installed twice," "lock and unlock the electric lock 1B twice," "open and close the electric shutter 1C twice," "change the settings of the camera 1D," and "change the set temperature of the air conditioner 1E to 25 degrees." The operation instructions for the household equipment 1 relate to operations that cannot be performed unless the user of the smartphone 6 is at the house HO.

[0078] In step S230, the dedicated remote control 3 operates the household equipment 1 from a short distance based on the user's operation input. The paired smartphone 6 may also operate the household equipment 1 from a short distance based on the user's operation input.

[0079] In step S240, the server 7 acquires the change in the state of the household equipment 1.

[0080] In step S250, the server 7 determines that the smartphone 6 is in the home HO if the state of the household equipment 1 has changed in accordance with the operation instructions for the household equipment 1. This is because if the user of the smartphone 6 is not in the home HO, the household equipment 1 cannot be operated from a short distance by operating the dedicated remote control 3 or the smartphone 6.

[0081] In step S260, the server 7 authenticates that the user registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is the new owner who has moved into the house HO (owner authentication).

[0082] In step S270, the server 7 registers the user (new owner) registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 as a user who can use the home system 100, and permits the new owner to use the home system 100.

[0083] If the state of the household equipment 1 has not changed in accordance with the operation instructions for the household equipment 1, the server 7 determines that the user registered in the smart home application AP of the smartphone 6 is the previous owner of the home HO. The server 7 invalidates the registration of the user who could use the household equipment 1. The previous owner of the home HO who was registered as a user will no longer be able to use the household equipment 1.

[0084] According to the home system 100 of this embodiment, a new resident of a house can easily and safely start using the home system 100 as a user. The user authenticated as the new owner may be any resident residing in the house HO, and may also be a group of multiple people, such as a family. When a group of multiple people is registered as users, all registered users may be authenticated as owners, or an arbitrarily set user may be authenticated as the owner.

[0085] While one embodiment of the present disclosure has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment and includes design modifications within the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the components shown in the above-described embodiment and modifications can be configured in any suitable combination.

[0086] The programs for the smartphone 6, server 7, and the like are recorded on a computer-readable recording medium. The programs recorded on this recording medium are loaded into a computer system and executed. The term "computer system" as used herein includes hardware such as an OS and peripheral devices. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into a computer system. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" may also include devices that dynamically store programs for a short period of time, such as communication lines used when transmitting programs via networks such as the Internet or telephone lines, or devices that store programs for a fixed period of time, such as volatile memory within the computer system that serves as the server or client. The programs may be designed to implement some of the functions described above, or may be capable of implementing the functions in combination with programs already stored in the computer system, or may be implemented using a programmable logic device such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0087] 100... Home system, AP... Smart home application, 1... Housing equipment, 2... Control device, 3... Dedicated remote control, 4... Access point, 6... Smartphone, 7... Server, 8... Device management server, 9... User management server,

Claims

1. A home system comprising: a server; facility equipment installed in a facility and capable of communicating with the server; and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server, wherein the server determines whether the terminal device is located in the facility; and, when the terminal device is located in the facility, authenticates a user of the terminal device located in the facility as the owner of the facility.

2. The home system according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is connectable to a facility network installed in the facility, and the server determines that the terminal device is located in the facility when the terminal device is connectable to the facility network.

3. The home system according to claim 2, wherein the server determines that the terminal device is located in the facility when the terminal device is capable of communicating with the facility equipment connected via the facility network.

4. The home system of claim 1, wherein the server sends an operation instruction for the facility equipment to the terminal device, acquires the status of the facility equipment from the facility equipment, and, when the status of the facility equipment changes in accordance with the operation instruction, determines that the terminal device that received the operation instruction is within the facility.

5. The home system according to claim 1, wherein the server performs authentication of the owner of the facility when any global IP address of a communication path to the facility equipment is changed.

6. A server capable of communicating with facility equipment and terminal devices installed in a facility, which determines whether the terminal device is located at the facility, and when the terminal device is located at the facility, authenticates the user of the terminal device located at the facility as the owner of the facility.

7. The server according to claim 6, wherein the terminal device is connectable to a facility network installed in the facility, and when the terminal device is connectable to the facility network, the server determines that the terminal device is located in the facility.

8. The server according to claim 7, wherein the server determines that the terminal device is located in the facility when the terminal device is capable of communicating with the facility equipment connected via the facility network.

9. The server according to claim 6, which transmits operational instructions for the facility equipment to the terminal device, acquires the status of the facility equipment from the facility equipment, and determines that the terminal device that received the operational instruction is within the facility when the status of the facility equipment changes in accordance with the operational instructions.

10. The server according to claim 6, wherein when any global IP address of a communication path to the facility equipment is changed, authentication of the owner of the facility is performed.

11. A method for authenticating an owner who can use facility equipment installed in a facility, the method comprising: determining whether a terminal device is present in the facility; and, if the terminal device is present in the facility, authenticating a user of the terminal device present in the facility as the owner of the facility.

12. An owner authentication program that authenticates an owner who can use facility equipment installed in a facility, the program determining whether a terminal device is located in the facility, and, when the terminal device is located in the facility, authenticating the user of the terminal device located in the facility as the owner of the facility.

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