Communication system and communication control method

Abstract

A communication system according to the present invention comprises a communication control device (1) and a cloud server (2) that can communicate with the communication control device (1) over a wide area network and controls an apparatus (3). The cloud server (2) has a filter selection unit (217) that selects filter information for filtering electronic messages to be transmitted to the cloud server (2) over the wide area network at the communication control device (1) on the basis of operation information that indicates operation details for the apparatus (3) transmitted from a terminal device (4) and acquired over the wide area network. The communication control device (1) has a filtering unit (112) that filters electronic messages transmitted from the apparatus (3) and acquired over a local network on the basis of the selected filter information.

Description

Communication system and communication control method

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

[0002] There is provided a message processing device that includes a receiving unit that receives messages from a network, a selecting unit that inspects the messages received from the receiving unit and discards the messages if they meet predetermined conditions, a converting unit that converts the messages received from the selecting unit, and a calculation processing unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Here, the calculation processing unit processes the messages received from the converting unit using a pre-specified application program.

[0003] International Publication No. 2013 / 157582

[0004] Incidentally, when a message processing device such as that described in Patent Document 1 is connected to a device via a network and processes messages sent from the device, there is a demand to reduce the amount of communication on the network by preventing the device from sending messages that should be discarded because they meet predetermined conditions.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a communication system and a communication control method that can reduce the amount of communication on a network.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the communication system of the present disclosure comprises: a communication control device capable of communicating with an appliance via a first network; and an appliance control device capable of communicating with the communication control device via a second network different from the first network and controlling the appliance, wherein the appliance control device or the communication control device has a filter selection unit that selects filter information in the communication control device for filtering messages to be sent to the appliance control device via the second network, and the communication control device has a filtering unit that filters messages sent from the appliance and acquired via the first network based on the selected filter information.

[0007] According to the present disclosure, a filter selection unit selects filter information in a communication control device for filtering messages to be transmitted to a device control device via a second network. Then, a filtering unit filters messages transmitted from devices and acquired via a first network based on the selected filter information. As a result, a portion of the messages transmitted from devices and acquired via the first network is discarded by the communication control device through filtering rather than being sent to the second network, thereby reducing the amount of communication on the second network.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a communication system according to an embodiment; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a filter storage unit according to an embodiment; FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a state storage unit according to an embodiment; FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a filter identification information storage unit according to an embodiment; Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing to be executed Block diagram showing the functional configuration of a communication system according to a modified example Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing to be executed by a cloud server according to a modified example Block diagram showing the functional configuration of a communication system according to a modified example Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing to be executed by a cloud server according to a modified example Block diagram showing the functional configuration of a communication system according to a modified example Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing to be executed by a cloud server according to a modified example Block diagram showing the functional configuration of a communication system according to a modified example Diagram showing an example of information stored in a filter storage unit according to a modified example Flowchart showing an example of the flow of communication control processing to be executed by a communication control device according to a modified example Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing to be executed by a cloud server according to a modified example Block diagram showing the functional configuration of a communication system according to a modified example

[0009] A communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The communication system according to the embodiment includes a communication control device capable of communicating with devices via a first network, and a device control device capable of communicating with the communication control device and terminal devices via a second network different from the first network and controlling the devices. Here, the device control device or the communication control device has a filter selection unit that selects filter information for filtering messages to be sent to the device control device via the second network in the communication control device based on operation information indicating operation content for the device transmitted from the terminal device and acquired via the second network. The communication control device also has a filtering unit that filters messages transmitted from the devices and acquired via the first network based on the selected filter information.

[0010] As shown in FIG. 1 , the communication system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 2 and a communication control device 1 that acquires information transmitted from a device 3 and transmits the acquired information to the cloud server 2. The cloud server 2 is a device management device that manages the status of the device 3 that is capable of communicating with the communication control device 1 via a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet and a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 8. The device 3 and the communication control device 1 are also capable of communicating with each other via a local area network NW2. The local area network NW2 is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). Furthermore, the cloud server 2 is capable of communicating with a terminal device 4 carried by a user via the wide area network NW1.

[0011] The device 3 is, for example, an air conditioner equipped with a wireless module, and communicates with the communication control device 1 via the local network NW2 using communication middleware such as ECHONETLite (registered trademark). Each time a status transmission time arrives for the device 3 to transmit preset status information indicating its own status to the cloud server 2, the device 3 generates status information indicating its own status and transmits it to the communication control device 1. Here, if the device 3 is, for example, an air conditioner, the status information includes any of set temperature information indicating the set temperature, operation mode information indicating the operation mode of the device 3 such as "cooling" or "heating," air volume information indicating the air volume, and wind direction information indicating the wind direction.

[0012] The terminal device 4 is, for example, a smartphone, and as shown in FIG. 2 , includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 401, a main memory 402, an auxiliary memory 403, a display 404, an input unit 405, a communication unit 406, and a bus 409 connecting these units to one another. The main memory 402 has a volatile memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) and is used as a work area for the CPU 401. The auxiliary memory 403 is a non-volatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory and stores programs for the CPU 401 to execute various processes. The display 404 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The input unit 405 is, for example, a transparent touchpad placed on top of the display 404. The communication unit 406 is connected to the wide area network NW1 and transmits information transferred from the CPU 401 to the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1, and transfers information obtained from the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1 to the CPU 401.

[0013] When the user launches an application for operating the device 3, the terminal device 4 displays an operation screen image for the user to operate the device 3 on the display unit 404. When the user then performs a setting preparation operation on the input unit 405 to change the settings of the device 3, the terminal device 4 generates operation information indicating that the setting preparation operation has been performed and transmits it to the cloud server 2. When the user then performs a device setting operation on the input unit 405 to change the settings of the device 3, the terminal device 4 generates operation information including operation content information indicating the content of the operation performed on the device 3 through the device setting operation and device identification information identifying the device 3 to be operated, and transmits the generated operation information to the cloud server 2. When the terminal device 4 then acquires device status information transmitted from the cloud server 2, the device status information notifying the state of the device 3 after the operation based on the operation information has been performed on the device 3, the terminal device 4 extracts the status information of the device 3 and device-related information (described below) included in the acquired device status information, and forms the above-mentioned operation screen image based on the extracted status information and device-related information, and displays it on the display unit 404.

[0014] The communication control device 1 includes a CPU 101, a main memory unit 102, an auxiliary memory unit 103, a communication unit 106, and a bus 109 connecting the various units. The main memory unit 102 is a volatile memory such as RAM and is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory unit 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 communication control device 1. The communication unit 106 has, for example, a wireless module and performs wireless communication with the device 3 and the BBR 8. The wireless module has a signal generation circuit that generates wireless signals and an antenna. Furthermore, when the communication control device 1 is powered on, the communication 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 communication control device 1 side, and stores the key information in the main memory unit 102.

[0015] In the communication control device 1, the CPU 101 loads the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executes it, thereby functioning as a first electronic message acquisition unit 111, a filtering unit 112, a first electronic message transmission unit 113, a second electronic message acquisition unit 114, a second electronic message transmission unit 115, and a filter setting unit 116, as shown in Fig. 3. The auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in Fig. 2 also has a filter storage unit 131, as shown in Fig. 3. The filter storage unit 131 stores filter information in association with filter identification information that identifies the filter information, as shown in Fig. 4, for example. The filter information includes discard target message information that indicates information on discard target messages that are to be discarded by filtering, and device identification information that identifies the device 3 that sent the message. Here, for example, if the device message transmitted from device 3 conforms to the ECHONETLite standard, the discard target message information may include information including a source ECHONETLite object code (SEOJ), an ECHONETLite service code (ESV), and an ECHONETLite property code (EPC). For example, at least one of an IP address and a MAC (Media Access Control) address assigned to device 3 may be used as the source device identification information. In the example shown in FIG. 4 , the filter information identified by the filter identification information “IDF[0]” indicates that a message containing “wind direction information” transmitted from “device 1,” whose source is identified by the device identification information “IDE[0],” is to be discarded without being transmitted to the cloud server 2. The filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 may be composed of a combination of multiple discard target message information and the device identification information of device 3, the source of the message. That is, a combination of a plurality of pieces of discard target message information and the device identification information of the device 3 that is the sender of the message may be associated with one piece of filter identification information.

[0016] Returning to FIG. 3 , the first message acquisition unit 111 acquires a device message transmitted from the device 3 and notifies the filtering unit 112 of the acquired device message. This device message is, for example, status notification information including status information indicating the status of the device 3. The filtering unit 112 identifies filter information identified by the filter identification information notified by the filter setting unit 116 from the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131, and filters the device message transmitted from the device 3 and acquired via the local network NW2 based on the identified filter information. Specifically, the filtering unit 112 determines whether the acquired device message matches a message to be discarded specified in the filter information. Here, for example, if the device message transmitted from the device 3 complies with the ECHONETLite standard, the filtering unit 112 determines whether the ECHONETLite object code, ECHONETLite service code, and ECHONETLite property code included in the device message match those included in the set filter information. If the acquired device message matches a message to be discarded specified in the filter information, the filtering unit 112 discards the device message, and if they do not match, the filtering unit 112 notifies the first message sending unit 113. Here, if the filter information identified by the filter identification information notified from the filter setting unit 116 is made up of a combination of multiple pieces of message information to be discarded and the device identification information of the device 3 that is the sender of the message, the filtering unit 112 filters each of the device messages transmitted from the multiple devices 3 and acquired via the local network NW2.

[0017] When the first message sending unit 113 is notified of a device message by the filtering unit 112, it encapsulates the entire notified device message and sends it to the cloud server 2. Here, the first message sending unit 113 encrypts the entire notified device message using key information shared with the cloud server 2, for example, and then adds wide area communication header information for communication between the communication control device 1 and the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1 to generate a message, and sends the generated message to the cloud server 2 via the BBR 8. This wide area communication header information includes header information of each communication layer, such as an MQTTS (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport over SSL) header, a TCP header, and an IP header.

[0018] When the second message acquisition unit 114 acquires a message transmitted from the cloud server 2, it removes the wide-area communication header information included in the acquired message and then performs a decapsulation process to decrypt the encrypted message using key information shared with the cloud server 2. This message may be, for example, control information for controlling the device 3 or filter notification information (described later). If the message obtained by removing the wide-area communication header information and decrypting it is filter notification information, the second message acquisition unit 114 notifies the filter setting unit 116 of the filter notification information. On the other hand, if the message is not filter notification information, the second message acquisition unit 114 notifies the second message transmission unit 115 of the message as is. When the second message transmission unit 115 receives a message from the second message acquisition unit 114, 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.

[0019] When the filter setting unit 116 receives the filter notification information from the second message obtaining unit 114, the filter setting unit 116 extracts the filter identification information included in the received filter notification information and notifies the filtering unit 112 of the extracted filter identification information.

[0020] Returning to FIG. 2 , the cloud server 2 includes a CPU 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, a communication unit 206, a clock unit 208, and a bus 209 connecting the various units. The CPU 201 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main memory unit 202 is composed of volatile memory and is used as a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory unit 203 is composed of 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 clock unit 208 has, for example, a real-time clock and generates time information and transfers it to the CPU 201. In addition, the cloud server 2 shares key information for encrypting device messages with the communication control device 1 by, for example, executing an SSL handshake protocol from the communication control device 1, and stores the key information in the main memory unit 102 in association with control device identification information that identifies the communication control device 1 on the wide area network NW1. The control device identification information includes, for example, host name information indicating a host name assigned to the communication control device 1, identification information including the host name information, IP address information, and the like.

[0021] The CPU 201 loads the programs stored in the auxiliary storage unit 203 into the main storage unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a notification information acquisition unit 211, a status update unit 212, a status notification unit 213, an operation information acquisition unit 214, a control information generation unit 215, a control information transmission unit 216, a filter selection unit 217, and a filter notification unit 218, as shown in FIG. 3 . The auxiliary storage unit 203 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a device information storage unit 231, a status storage unit 232, and a filter identification information storage unit 233, as shown in FIG. 3 . The device information storage unit 231 stores the MAC address information and IP address information of the device 3 in association with device-related information indicating the name of the device 3, an identification number for identifying the device 3 at the application layer, and the like. The status storage unit 232 stores status information indicating the status of the device 3 in association with the device-related information of the device 3, as shown in FIG. 5A , for example. In the example shown in FIG. 5A, "Device 1" and "Device 2" are air conditioners, and the operating state is set to "on," the operation mode is set to "cooling mode," the set temperature is set to "24°C," the air volume is set to "weak," and the air direction is set to "automatic."

[0022] 5B , the filter identification information storage unit 233 stores filter identification information that identifies filter information used when operating the device 3, in association with operation content information that indicates the operation content for the device 3 and device identification information of the device 3 to be operated. Here, if the device 3 conforms to the ECHONETLite standard, for example, the operation content information includes an ECHONETLite object code that indicates the group, class, etc. to which the device 3 to be operated belongs, and an ECHONETLite service code and ECHONETLite property code that reflect the operation content. Furthermore, the filter identification information storage unit 233 stores filter identification information used in each communication control device 1 in association with device identification information that identifies the corresponding communication control device 1.

[0023] 3 , when the notification information acquisition unit 211 acquires a message transmitted from the communication control device 1, it deactivates wide-area communication header information included in the acquired message and then executes a decapsulation process to decrypt the encrypted message using key information shared with the communication control device 1, thereby acquiring status notification information. The notification information acquisition unit 211 then extracts status information included in the acquired status notification information and notifies the status update unit 212. When the status information is notified from the notification information acquisition unit 211, the status update unit 212 uses the notified status information to update the status information stored in the status storage unit 232. When the status information stored in the status storage unit 232 is updated after the operation information acquisition unit 214 acquires the operation information, the status notification unit 213 generates device status information including the updated status information and transmits the generated device status information to the terminal device 4.

[0024] When the operation information acquisition unit 214 acquires the above-mentioned operation information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it extracts the operation content information and the device-related information of the device 3 to be operated contained in the acquired operation information, and notifies the control information generation unit 215 or the filter selection unit 217 of the extracted operation content information and device-related information.

[0025] The control information generation unit 215 identifies MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, based on the operation content information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 and the identified MAC address information and IP address information, i.e., the device identification information, the control information generation unit 215 generates control information that includes the notified MAC address information and IP address information and is used to control the device 3 to be operated based on the operation content indicated by the operation content information. The control information transmission unit 216 encrypts the entire generated control information using key information shared with the communication control device 1, and then adds the above-mentioned wide area communication header information to the control information transmission unit 1, thereby generating a telegram.

[0026] The filter selection unit 217 identifies MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214, from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the filter selection unit 217 selects filter identification information corresponding to the operation content information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 and the identified MAC address information and IP address information, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233. Then, the filter selection unit 217 generates filter notification information including the selected filter identification information and notifies the filter notification unit 218. Furthermore, the filter selection unit 217 determines whether the filter information adopted in the communication control device 1 is default filter information, depending on whether the filter identification information included in the filter notification information last transmitted to the communication control device 1 is preset default filter identification information. Here, when the filter selection unit 217 determines that the filter information used in the communication control device 1 is not the default filter information, it determines, based on the time information input from the timer unit 208, whether a preset reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 1. Then, when the filter selection unit 217 determines that the reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 1, it selects filter identification information that corresponds to the MAC address information and IP address information of the device 3 that is the target of operation and that is used in normal operation, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233. The filter notification unit 218 encrypts the entire generated filter notification information using key information shared with the communication control device 1, and then performs encapsulation processing to add the above-mentioned wide area communication header information, thereby transmitting the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 1.

[0027] Next, the operation of the communication system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 9 . First, as shown in FIG. 6 , when a user performs a setting preparation operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to change the settings of the device 3, the terminal device 4 generates operation information including operation content information indicating the operation content for the device 3 to be operated and device-related information for the device 3 (step S1). Here, the terminal device 4 displays, for example, an operation screen image GA1 as shown in FIG. 7A on the display unit 404. The operation screen image GA1 includes status display images M11, M12, M13, and M14 indicating the status of the device 3, and button images BU11, BU12, BU13, and BU14 selected when selecting a setting item to be changed for the device 3. The setting preparation operation described above involves, for example, the user touching, with finger F, a portion of the input unit 405, which is a touchpad, corresponding to button image BU14 representing the setting item "wind direction" while the terminal device 4 is displaying the operation screen image GA1 on the display unit 404. In this case, the terminal device 4 displays an operation screen image in which the pop-up image PG1 is combined with the operation screen image GA1 on the display unit 404, as shown in Fig. 7B, for example. Here, the pop-up image PG1 includes button images BU141, BU142, and BU143 that indicate the setting contents for the device 3 to be operated.

[0028] 6 , 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 from the terminal device 4, the cloud server 2 identifies, from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231, the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of the device 3 to be operated, which is included in the received operation information. The cloud server 2 then selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, the operation content information, MAC address information, and IP address information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214, i.e., the filter identification information corresponding to the device identification information, and generates filter notification information including the selected filter identification information (step S3). Subsequently, the generated filter notification information is subjected to the aforementioned encapsulation process, and the encapsulated filter notification information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the communication control device 1 (step S4). On the other hand, when the communication control device 1 acquires filter notification information, it performs the aforementioned decapsulation process on the acquired filter notification information, then extracts the filter identification information contained in the acquired filter notification information (step S5), and identifies the filter information identified by the filter identification information from the filter information stored in the filter memory unit 131 (step S6).

[0029] Thereafter, when the aforementioned status transmission time arrives, the device 3 generates status notification information including status information indicating the status of the device 3 (step S7), and the generated status notification information is transmitted from the device 3 to the communication control device 1 (step S8). Meanwhile, the communication control device 1 refers to the identified filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 and determines that the acquired status notification information is a message to be discarded (step S9). Here, the communication control device 1 makes its determination by comparing the IP address information and MAC address information of the device 3 that sent the status notification information, the information indicating various codes included in the status notification information, and the identified filter information. In this case, the communication control device 1 discards the acquired status notification information without transmitting it to the cloud server 2 (step S10). Note that, when the filter information identified by the filter identification information is composed of a combination of multiple pieces of discardable message information and the device identification information of the device 3 that sent the device message, as described above, the communication control device 1 filters each of the device messages transmitted from the multiple devices 3 and acquired via the local network NW2.

[0030] Next, suppose that the user performs a device setting operation on the input unit 405 of the terminal device 4 to change the settings of the device 3. This device setting operation involves, for example, the user touching a portion of the input unit 405, which is a touchpad, corresponding to one of button images BU141, BU142, or BU143 while the terminal device 4 is displaying a pop-up image PG1 as shown in FIG. 7B on the display unit 404. In this case, as shown in FIG. 6 , the terminal device 4 generates operation information including operation content information indicating the operation content of the device setting operation and the MAC address information and IP address information of the device 3 to be operated (step S11), and the generated operation information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the cloud server 2 (step S12). Meanwhile, upon receiving the operation information, the cloud server 2 generates control information for controlling the device 3 to be operated based on the operation content information and the MAC address information and IP address information of the device 3 to be operated, included in the operation information (step S13). Next, the generated control information is subjected to the above-described encapsulation process, and the encapsulated control information is then transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the communication control device 1, as shown in Fig. 8 (step S14). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the control information, the communication control device 1 performs the above-described decapsulation process on the acquired control information, and the decapsulated control information is then transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the device 3 (step S15). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the control information, the device 3 operates based on the acquired control information (step S16).

[0031] Thereafter, the device 3 generates status notification information indicating the state of the device 3 after operating based on the control information (step S17). Here, if the device 3 is, for example, an air conditioner and changes the wind direction setting based on the control information, the device 3 generates status notification information indicating the state of the wind direction after the change. The generated status notification information is then transmitted from the device 3 to the communication control device 1 (step S18). Meanwhile, when the communication control device 1 acquires the status notification information, it refers to the identified filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 and determines that the acquired status notification information is a message that is not to be discarded (step S19). In this case, the communication control device 1 performs the aforementioned encapsulation process on the acquired status notification information, and then transmits the encapsulated status notification information from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S20).

[0032] Meanwhile, when the cloud server 2 acquires the status notification information, it performs the aforementioned decapsulation process on the acquired status notification information and then extracts the status information included in the decapsulated status notification information. The cloud server 2 then uses the extracted status information to update the status information stored in the status storage unit 232 (step S21). Next, the cloud server 2 generates device status information including the updated status information stored in the status storage unit 232 and the device-related information of the corresponding device 3 (step S22), and the generated device status information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the terminal device 4 (step S23). Meanwhile, when the terminal device 4 acquires the device status information, it extracts the status information and device-related information of the device 3 included in the acquired device status information, and forms the aforementioned operation screen image based on the extracted status information and device-related information, and displays it on the display unit 404 (step S24).

[0033] Next, let us assume that the cloud server 2 determines that a predetermined reference time has elapsed since it last received operation information transmitted from the terminal device 4 (step S25). In this case, the cloud server 2 selects filter identification information that identifies filter information to be used in a predetermined steady state from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, and generates filter notification information including the selected filter identification information (step S26). The generated filter notification information is then encapsulated, and the encapsulated filter notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 2 to the communication control device 1 (step S27). Meanwhile, upon receiving the filter notification information, the communication control device 1 performs the deencapsulation process described above on the obtained filter notification information, extracts the filter identification information included in the obtained filter notification information (step S28), and, as shown in FIG. 9 , identifies the filter information identified by the filter identification information from the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 (step S29).

[0034] Thereafter, when the aforementioned status transmission time arrives, the device 3 generates status notification information including status information indicating the status of the device 3 (step S7), and the generated status notification information is transmitted from the device 3 to the communication control device 1 (step S8). Meanwhile, the communication control device 1 refers to the identified filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 and determines that the acquired status notification information is a message that is not to be discarded (step S30). In this case, the communication control device 1 performs the aforementioned encapsulation process on the acquired status notification information, and then transmits the encapsulated status notification information from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 2 (step S31). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the status notification information, the cloud server 2 performs the aforementioned decapsulation process on the acquired status notification information and extracts the status information included in the decapsulated status notification information. The cloud server 2 then uses the extracted status information to update the status information stored in the status storage unit 232 (step S32).

[0035] Next, a communication control process executed by the communication control device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10 . This communication control process is initiated, for example, when the communication control device 1 is powered on. First, the second message acquisition unit 114 acquires a message transmitted from the cloud server 2 and performs a decapsulation process on the acquired message, thereby determining whether the acquired message is filter notification information (step S101). If the second message acquisition unit 114 determines that the acquired message is not filter notification information (step S101: No), the process of step S103, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the second message acquisition unit 114 determines that the acquired message is filter notification information (step S101: Yes), the second message acquisition unit 114 notifies the filter setting unit 116 of the filter notification information. Here, the filter setting unit 116 extracts filter identification information included in the filter notification information notified by the second message acquisition unit 114 and notifies the filtering unit 112 of the extracted filter identification information. Then, the filtering unit 112 identifies the filter information identified by the filter identification information notified by the filter setting unit 116 from the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 (step S102).

[0036] Next, the second message acquisition unit 114 determines whether the acquired message is control information (step S103). If the second message acquisition unit 114 determines that the acquired message is not control information (step S103: No), the processing of step S105 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the second message acquisition unit 114 determines that the acquired message is control information (step S103: Yes), it notifies the second message transmission unit 115 of the control information. Then, the second message transmission unit 115 transmits the control information to the device 3 based on the destination IP address information and destination MAC address information included in the control information notified by the second message acquisition unit 114 (step S104).

[0037] Next, the first message acquisition unit 111 determines whether or not it has acquired status notification information transmitted from the device 3 (step S105). If the first message acquisition unit 111 determines that it has not acquired status notification information (step S105: No), it executes the process of step S101 again. On the other hand, if the first message acquisition unit 111 determines that it has acquired status notification information (step S105: Yes), it notifies the filtering unit 112 of the acquired status notification information. Then, the filtering unit 112 determines whether or not the notified status notification information is to be discarded, based on filter information identified from the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 (step S106). Here, when the filter information identified by the filter identification information is composed of a combination of multiple pieces of discard-target message information and the device identification information of the device 3 that sent the device message, as described above, the filtering unit 112 determines whether or not the status notification information corresponding to each of the multiple devices 3 is to be discarded. If the filtering unit 112 determines that the notified status notification information is to be discarded (step S106: Yes), it discards the notified status notification information (step S107), and then the processing of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the filtering unit 112 determines that the notified status notification information is not to be discarded (step S106: No), it notifies the notified status notification information to the first message sending unit 113. Then, the first message sending unit 113 executes the above-mentioned encapsulation processing on the status notification information notified by the filtering unit 112, and then transmits the encapsulated status notification information to the cloud server 2 (step S108). Then, the processing of step S101 is executed again.

[0038] Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 2 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11 . This device control process is initiated, for example, when an application for executing the device control process is launched in the cloud server 2. First, the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines whether operation information including operation content information indicating the above-described setting preparation operation, transmitted from the terminal device 4, has been acquired (step S201). If the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines that operation information including operation content information indicating the setting preparation operation has not been acquired (step S201: No), the process of step S204, described below, is executed. On the other hand, if the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines that operation information including operation content information indicating the setting preparation operation has been acquired (step S201: Yes), the operation information acquisition unit 214 extracts the operation content information and device-related information of the device 3 to be operated from the acquired operation information, and notifies the filter selection unit 217 of the extracted operation content information and device-related information. Here, the filter selection unit 217 identifies MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the filter selection unit 217 selects filter identification information corresponding to the operation content information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 and the identified MAC address information and IP address information, i.e., the device identification information, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233 (step S202). Next, the filter selection unit 217 generates filter notification information including the selected filter identification information and notifies the filter notification unit 218. Then, the filter notification unit 218 performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated filter notification information, and then transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 1 (step S203).

[0039] Next, the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines whether or not it has acquired operation information transmitted from the terminal device 4, the operation information including operation content information indicating the device setting operation (step S204). If the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines that it has not acquired operation information including operation content information indicating the device setting operation (step S204: No), it executes the processing of step S209, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines that it has acquired operation information including operation content information indicating the device setting operation (step S204: Yes), it extracts the operation content information and device-related information of the device 3 to be operated from the acquired operation information, and notifies the control information generation unit 215 of the extracted operation content information and device-related information. The control information generation unit 215 then identifies the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information notified from the operation information acquisition unit 214, from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. The control information generating unit 215 then generates control information, including the notified MAC address information and IP address information, for controlling the device 3 to be operated based on the operation content indicated by the operation content information, based on the operation content information notified by the operation information acquiring unit 214 and the identified MAC address information and IP address information. The control information transmitting unit 216 performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated control information, and then transmits the encapsulated control information to the communication control device 1 (step S205).

[0040] Thereafter, the notification information acquisition unit 211 acquires the status notification information transmitted from the communication control device 1, performs the aforementioned decapsulation process on the acquired status notification information, and extracts the status information contained in the decapsulated status notification information (step S206). The notification information acquisition unit 211 then notifies the status update unit 212 of the extracted status information. Next, the status update unit 212 updates the status information stored in the status storage unit 232 using the status information notified by the notification information acquisition unit 211 (step S207). Next, the status notification unit 213 generates device status information including the updated status information to be stored in the status storage unit 232, and transmits the generated device status information to the terminal device 4 (step S208).

[0041] Next, the notification information acquisition unit 211 acquires a message transmitted from the communication control device 1, and determines whether the message is status notification information as a result of performing the aforementioned decapsulation process on the acquired message (step S209). If the notification information acquisition unit 211 determines that the acquired message is not status notification information (step S209: No), the process of step S212 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the notification information acquisition unit 211 determines that the acquired message is status notification information (step S209: Yes), the notification information acquisition unit 211 extracts status information included in the acquired status notification information (step S210), and the status update unit 212 uses the extracted status information to update the status information stored in the status storage unit 232 (step S211).

[0042] Thereafter, the filter selection unit 217 determines whether the filter information employed in the communication control device 1 is default filter information (step S212). If the filter selection unit 217 determines that the filter information employed in the communication control device 1 is default filter information (step S212: Yes), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the filter selection unit 217 determines that the filter information employed in the communication control device 1 is not default filter information (step S212: No), the filter selection unit 217 determines whether a preset reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 1 (step S213). If the filter selection unit 217 determines that the reference time has not yet elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 1 (step S213: No), the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0043] On the other hand, if the filter selection unit 217 determines that the reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 1 (step S213: Yes), it selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, filter identification information that corresponds to the MAC address information and IP address information of the device 3 that is the target of operation and that is used in steady state (step S214). Next, the filter selection unit 217 generates filter notification information including the selected filter identification information and notifies the filter notification unit 218. Then, the filter notification unit 218 performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated filter notification information, and then transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 1 (step S215). Next, the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0044] As described above, in the communication system according to the present embodiment, the filter selection unit 217 of the cloud server 2 selects filter information for filtering messages to be transmitted to the cloud server 2 via the local network NW2 in the communication control device 1, based on operation information indicating the content of an operation on the device 3 transmitted from the terminal device 4 and acquired via the wide area network NW1. Then, the filtering unit 112 of the communication control device 1 filters the messages transmitted from the device 3 and acquired via the local network NW2, based on the selected filter information. As a result, part of the messages transmitted from and acquired by the device 3 is discarded by filtering in the communication control device 1 without being sent to the wide area network NW1, and the amount of communication traffic on the wide area network NW1 can be reduced accordingly.

[0045] In a communication system in which a user checks the status of a device 3 in his or her home and operates the device 3 via a wide area network NW1, it is desirable to minimize the time lag between the actual status of the device 3 and the status of the device 3 displayed on the display unit 404 of the terminal device 4. However, in order to reduce this time lag, frequent communication with the device 3 increases the amount of communication over the wide area network NW1, causing traffic congestion in the wide area network NW1 and potentially resulting in communication disruptions and the loss of necessary information. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the amount of communication over the wide area network NW1. Furthermore, the communication control device 1 may communicate with the cloud server 2 via the wide area network NW1 using a communication service provided by an Internet service provider. In this case, the Internet service provider may set the fee charged for using the communication service to increase or decrease depending on the amount of communication over the wide area network NW1. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce the amount of communication over the wide area network NW1 in order to reduce the amount of communication charged for using the wide area network NW1.

[0046] In contrast, in the communication system of this embodiment, the filter information used by the communication control device 1 is dynamically changed depending on the operation performed by the user on the device 3, thereby reducing the amount of communication on the wide area network NW1, thereby easing traffic and suppressing charges, while reducing the risk that the user will miss information necessary to check the status of the device 3 and control the device 3.

[0047] Furthermore, the filter selection unit 217 of the cloud server 2 according to this embodiment selects filter information based on the above-described operation information, and then selects preset default filter information after a preset reference time has elapsed. This allows optimal filtering of status notification information for both the time period when the user is operating the device 3 and the other time periods. This reduces the risk of missing out on necessary status notification information in each time period.

[0048] Furthermore, the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 131 according to this embodiment may be composed of a combination of multiple pieces of discard-target message information and the device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the messages. That is, a combination of multiple pieces of discard-target message information and the device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the messages may be associated with a single piece of filter identification information. When the filter information identified by the filter identification information is composed of a combination of multiple pieces of discard-target message information and the device identification information of the device 3 that transmitted the device messages, as described above, the filtering unit 112 determines whether the status notification information corresponding to each of the multiple devices 3 is to be discarded. This allows, for example, when an operation is performed on one device 3, filtering can be performed on not only device messages transmitted from the device 3 that is the target of operation, but also device messages transmitted from at least one other device 3 under the control of the communication control device 1. Furthermore, when traffic congestion in the wide area network NW1 is high, there is a risk that filtering device messages for a single device 3 alone may not be sufficient to eliminate so-called message loss, communication delays, and the like. In contrast, the filtering unit 112 according to this embodiment can also filter device messages sent from devices 3 other than the device 3 to be operated, thereby suppressing the occurrence of so-called message loss, communication delays, etc.

[0049] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, as shown in FIG. 12 , the cloud server 2002 may include a schedule storage unit 2234 that stores operation content information indicating operations to be performed on the device 3 during at least one predetermined time period, in association with time period information indicating the time period and device-related information for the device 3 to be operated. Note that in FIG. 12 , the same components as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 . When a user performs a schedule registration operation on the input unit 405 to automatically operate the device 3 according to a predetermined schedule, the terminal device 4 generates schedule information indicating the schedule set by the schedule registration operation. The terminal device 4 then generates schedule notification information including the generated schedule information and the device-related information for the corresponding device 3, and transmits the generated schedule notification information to the cloud server 2002.

[0050] The cloud server 2002 also includes a schedule acquisition unit 2219 that, upon acquiring the aforementioned schedule notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4, extracts the schedule information contained in the acquired schedule notification information and the device-related information of the device 3 corresponding to the schedule information, and updates the schedule information stored in the schedule memory unit 2234 using the extracted schedule information and device-related information.

[0051] When the control information generation unit 2215 determines that the control time for controlling at least one device 3 has arrived by referring to the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234, it identifies the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of each of the at least one device 3 to be controlled from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, based on the operation content information corresponding to the time zone information to which the control time belongs and the identified MAC address information and IP address information, i.e., the device identification information, the control information generation unit 2215 generates control information for controlling the device 3 to be operated based on the operation content indicated by the operation content information, which includes the notified MAC address information and IP address information.

[0052] When the filter selection unit 2217 determines that the control time for controlling at least one device 3 has arrived by referring to the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234, it identifies the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of each of the at least one device 3 to be controlled from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the filter selection unit 2217 selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, the operation content information corresponding to the time period information to which the control time belongs and the filter identification information corresponding to the identified MAC address information and IP address information.

[0053] Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 2002 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 13 . Note that in FIG. 13 , the same processes as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 11 . First, the schedule acquisition unit 2219 determines whether or not it has acquired the aforementioned schedule notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4 (step S2201). If the schedule acquisition unit 2219 determines that it has not acquired the schedule notification information (step S2201: No), it executes the process of step S2203, which will be described later. On the other hand, if the schedule acquisition unit 2219 determines that it has acquired the schedule notification information (step S2201: Yes), it extracts the schedule information included in the acquired schedule notification information and the device-related information of the device 3 corresponding to the schedule information, and updates the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234 using the extracted schedule information and device-related information (step S2202).

[0054] Next, the filter selection unit 2217 and the control information generation unit 2215 refer to the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234 and determine whether the control time for controlling at least one device 3 has arrived (step S2203). If the filter selection unit 2217 and the control information generation unit 2215 determine that the control time has not yet arrived (step S2203: No), a series of processes from step S209 onward are executed. On the other hand, if the filter selection unit 2217 and the control information generation unit 2215 determine that the control time has arrived (step S2203: Yes), the filter selection unit 2217 identifies the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of at least one device 3 to be controlled from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. The filter selection unit 2217 then selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, filter identification information corresponding to the operation content information corresponding to the time zone information to which the control target period belongs and the identified MAC address information and IP address information (step S2204). The filter notification unit 218 then performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated filter notification information, and transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 1 (step S2205). The control information generation unit 2215 then identifies, from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231, MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of at least one device 3 to be controlled. Based on the operation content information corresponding to the time zone information to which the control target period belongs and the identified MAC address information and IP address information, the control information generation unit 2215 generates control information for controlling the device 3 to be operated based on the operation content indicated by the operation content information, including the notified MAC address information and IP address information. Then, the control information transmitting unit 216 performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated control information, and then transmits the encapsulated control information to the communication control device 1 (step S205). Next, a series of processes from step S206 onwards are executed.

[0055] In this modification, an example in which the cloud server 2002 includes the schedule storage unit 2234 has been described, but the terminal device 4 may also include the schedule storage unit, for example. In this case, the terminal device 4 may have a function of referring to the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit and transmitting, each time the above-mentioned control time arrives, control time notification information that includes the above-mentioned operation content information and device-related information of the device 3 to be operated to the cloud server and notifies the cloud server that the control time has arrived. The cloud server may also have a control time notification information acquisition unit that, upon acquiring the above-mentioned control time notification information, extracts the operation content information and device-related information included in the acquired control time notification information and notifies the control information generation unit and the filter selection unit of the extracted operation content information and device-related information.

[0056] According to this configuration, when at least one device 3 is operated based on schedule information, a portion of the message sent and acquired from the device 3 can be discarded by filtering in the communication control device 1 without being sent to the wide area network NW1, thereby reducing the amount of communication in the wide area network NW1.

[0057] In an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14 , for example, the cloud server 3002 may include a communication traffic prediction unit 3220 that predicts communication traffic on the wide area network NW1 and a communication traffic determination unit 3221 that determines whether the predicted communication traffic is equal to or greater than a predetermined communication traffic threshold. Note that in FIG. 14 , the same components as those in the embodiment and the modified example described using FIG. 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3 or 12 . The communication traffic prediction unit 3220 predicts communication traffic on the wide area network NW1 based on schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234. For example, when controlling at least one device 3 whose control timing arrives in the same immediate time slot, the communication traffic prediction unit 3220 predicts, as the communication traffic on the wide area network NW1, the sum of the data volumes of control information transmitted from the cloud server 3002 to the communication control device 1 and status notification information transmitted from the device 3 to the cloud server 3002 via the communication control device 1.

[0058] The communication volume determination unit 3221 determines whether the predicted communication volume is equal to or greater than a predetermined communication volume threshold. If the communication volume determination unit 3221 determines that the predicted communication volume is equal to or greater than the predetermined communication volume threshold, the communication volume determination unit 3221 notifies the filter selection unit 3217 of filtering request information requesting filtering of status notification information transmitted from the device 3 to the cloud server 3002.

[0059] The cloud server 3002 also includes a schedule acquisition unit 2219 that, upon acquiring the aforementioned schedule notification information transmitted from the terminal device 4, extracts the schedule information contained in the acquired schedule notification information and the device-related information of the device 3 corresponding to the schedule information, and updates the schedule information stored in the schedule memory unit 2234 using the extracted schedule information and device-related information.

[0060] When the filter selection unit 3217 is notified of filtering request information from the communication volume determination unit 3221, it refers to the device-related information included in the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234, and identifies the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of at least one device 3 to be controlled from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the filter selection unit 3217 selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, the operation content information corresponding to the time zone information to which the control target period belongs and the filter identification information corresponding to the identified MAC address information and IP address information.

[0061] Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 3002 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 15 . Note that in FIG. 15 , the same processes as those in the embodiment or the modification described with reference to FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 11 and 13 . First, when the processes of steps S2201 and S2202 are executed, the communication traffic prediction unit 3220 predicts the communication traffic of the wide area network NW1 based on the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234. Then, the communication traffic determination unit 3221 determines whether the predicted communication traffic is equal to or greater than a predetermined communication traffic threshold (step S3201). Here, if the communication traffic determination unit 3221 determines that the predicted communication traffic is less than the communication traffic threshold (step S3201: No), the process of step S2203 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the communication traffic determination unit 3221 determines that the predicted communication traffic is equal to or greater than the communication traffic threshold (step S3201: Yes), the communication traffic determination unit 3221 notifies the filter selection unit 3217 of the filtering request information. The filter selection unit 3217 then references the device-related information included in the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234 and identifies, from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231, the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of at least one device 3 to be controlled. The filter selection unit 3217 then selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, operation content information corresponding to the time period information to which the control target period belongs and filter identification information corresponding to the identified MAC address information and IP address information (step S3202). Next, the filter selection unit 3217 generates filter notification information including the selected filter identification information and notifies the filter notification unit 218. The filter notification unit 218 then performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated filter notification information, and transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 1 (step S3203).

[0062] Next, the control information generator 2215 refers to the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234 and determines whether the control time for controlling at least one device 3 has arrived (step S2203). If the control information generator 2215 determines that the control time has not yet arrived (step S2203: No), a series of processes from step S209 onward are executed. On the other hand, if the control information generator 2215 determines that the control time has arrived (step S2203: Yes), a series of processes from step S205 onward are executed.

[0063] According to this configuration, filtering is performed only during the time period when the traffic volume of the wide area network NW1 is equal to or greater than the traffic volume threshold, so that the traffic volume of the wide area network NW1 can be kept below the traffic volume threshold while transmitting as much status notification information as possible to the cloud server 3002. Therefore, the time lag between the actual status of the device 3 and the status of the device 3 displayed on the terminal device 4 can be reduced.

[0064] In an embodiment, as shown in Fig. 16, for example, the cloud server 6002 may include a processing load prediction unit 6220 that predicts the future processing load of the cloud server 6002 itself, and a load increase period identification unit 6221 that identifies a time period during which the predicted processing load of the cloud server 6002 will be equal to or greater than a predetermined reference processing load. Note that in Fig. 16, the same components as those in the embodiment and the modified example described using Fig. 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Fig. 3 or 12. Each time a predetermined processing load prediction period for predicting the overall future processing load of the cloud server 6002 itself periodically arrives, the processing load prediction unit 6220 predicts the transition of the processing load of the entire cloud server 6002 from the processing load prediction period to a point in time when a predetermined prediction target period has elapsed since the processing load prediction period, based on the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234.

[0065] The load increase period identifying unit 6221 identifies a load increase period during which the predicted processing load of the cloud server 6002 increases to or exceeds a preset reference processing load from the processing load prediction time until a preset prediction target period has elapsed from the processing load prediction time. Then, the load increase period identifying unit 6221 notifies the filter selecting unit 6217 of load increase period information indicating the identified load increase period.

[0066] When the filter selection unit 6217 determines that the start of the load increase period indicated by the load increase period information notified from the load increase period identification unit 6221 has arrived, the filter selection unit 6217 references the device-related information included in the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234, and identifies the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of at least one device 3 to be controlled from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the filter selection unit 6217 selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, filter identification information that identifies filter information that restricts information to be transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 6002 and corresponds to the identified MAC address information and IP address information. On the other hand, when the filter selection unit 6217 determines that the end of the load increase period indicated by the load increase period information notified from the load increase period identification unit 6221 has arrived, the filter selection unit 6217 selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, filter identification information that corresponds to the identified MAC address information and IP address information and that is to be used in steady state.

[0067] Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 3002 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 17 . Note that in FIG. 17 , the same processes as those in the embodiment or the modification described with reference to FIG. 13 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIGS. 11 and 13 . First, after steps S2201 and S2202 are executed, the processing load prediction unit 6220 determines whether the aforementioned processing load prediction time has arrived (step S6201). If the processing load prediction unit 6220 determines that the processing load prediction time has not yet arrived (step S6201: No), the processing load prediction unit 6220 executes the processing load prediction of the entire cloud server 6002 from the processing load prediction time until a predetermined prediction period has elapsed since the processing load prediction time, based on the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234 (step S6202).

[0068] Next, the load increase period identifying unit 6221 identifies a load increase period during which the predicted processing load increases to or exceeds the reference processing load (step S6203). At this time, the load increase period identifying unit 6221 notifies the filter selecting unit 6217 of load increase period information indicating the identified load increase period.

[0069] Next, the filter selection unit 6217 determines whether the start of the load increase period has arrived based on the notified load increase period information (step S6204). If the filter selection unit 6217 determines that the start of the load increase period has not yet arrived (step S6204: No), the process of step 2203 is executed. On the other hand, if the filter selection unit 6217 determines that the start of the load increase period has arrived (step S6204: Yes), the filter selection unit 6217 refers to the device-related information included in the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234, and identifies the MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information of at least one device 3 to be controlled from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. The filter selection unit 6217 then selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, filter identification information that identifies filter information that restricts information to be transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 6002 and that corresponds to the specified MAC address information and IP address information (step S6205). The filter selection unit 6217 then generates filter notification information including the selected filter identification information and notifies the filter notification unit 218. The filter notification unit 218 then performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated filter notification information, and transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 1 (step S6206).

[0070] Next, a series of processes from step S2203 to step S212 are executed, and in step S212, the filter selection unit 6217 determines that the filter information used in the communication control device 1 is not the default filter information (step S212: No). In this case, the filter selection unit 6217 determines whether the end of the load increase period has arrived (step S6207). Here, if the filter selection unit 6217 determines that the end of the load increase period has not yet arrived (step S6207: No), the process of step S2201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the filter selection unit 6217 determines that the end of the load increase period has arrived (step S6207: Yes), the series of processes from step S214 onwards are executed.

[0071] According to this configuration, an increase or decrease in the processing load on the entire cloud server 6002 is predicted in advance based on the schedule information stored in the schedule storage unit 2234, and filter identification information is set that identifies filter information that restricts information to be transmitted to the cloud server 6002 only during load increase periods when the processing load is equal to or greater than the reference processing load. As a result, information to be transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 6002 is restricted only during load increase periods when the processing load on the cloud server 6002 is equal to or greater than the reference processing load, and outside of the load increase periods, traffic is allowed to be surplus so that even if a large amount of necessary information is transmitted from the communication control device 1 to the cloud server 6002, the cloud server 6002 can process it. As a result, the update response of the status information of the device 3 in the cloud server 6002 can be maintained throughout the load increase periods and periods other than the load increase periods.

[0072] Furthermore, when the filter set in the filtering unit 112 of the communication control device 1 is switched to a normal filter, the cloud server 6002 may temporarily increase the reception processing capability of information transmitted from the communication control device 1, for example, the number of reception processes executed simultaneously. That is, the cloud server 6002 may dynamically change the reception processing capability based on the processing load of its own device and the selected filter information.

[0073] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which cloud server 2 transmits filter notification information including filter identification information to communication control device 1. However, this is not limiting, and for example, as shown in Fig. 18 , cloud server 4002 may generate filter notification information including filter information to be adopted in communication control device 1 and transmit it to communication control device 4001. Note that in Fig. 18 , components similar to those in the embodiment are assigned the same reference numerals as in Fig. 3. Cloud server 4002 has a filter storage unit 4235 that stores filter information.

[0074] 19 , the filter storage unit 4235 stores filter information to be adopted when performing an operation on a device 3, in association with operation content information indicating the operation content on the device 3 and device identification information of the device 3 to be operated. The filter storage unit 4235 also stores filter information to be adopted by each communication control device 1 in association with device identification information that identifies the corresponding communication control device 1.

[0075] 18 , the filter selection unit 4217 identifies MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 from the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the filter selection unit 4217 selects filter information corresponding to the operation content information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 and the identified MAC address information and IP address information from the filter identification information stored in the filter storage unit 4235. Then, the filter selection unit 4217 generates filter notification information including the selected filter information and notifies the filter notification unit 4218. Furthermore, the filter selection unit 4217 determines whether the filter information adopted in the communication control device 1 is default filter information based on whether the filter information included in the filter notification information last transmitted to the communication control device 1 is preset default filter information. Here, if the filter selection unit 4217 determines that the filter information used in the communication control device 1 is not the default filter information, it determines, based on the time information input from the timer unit 208, whether a preset reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 1. Then, if the filter selection unit 4217 determines that the reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 1, it selects filter information that corresponds to the MAC address information and IP address information of the device 3 that is the target of operation and that is used in normal operation, from the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 4235. The filter notification unit 4218 performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the entire generated filter notification information, and transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 1.

[0076] The filter storage unit 4131 of the communication control device 4001 stores only the filter information adopted by the communication control device 4001. The communication control device 4001 also includes a filter acquisition unit 4117 that, upon receiving filter notification information transmitted from the cloud server 4002 from the second message acquisition unit 114, extracts the filter information contained in the received filter notification information and stores the extracted filter information in the filter storage unit 4131. The filtering unit 4112 filters the device message transmitted from the device 3 and acquired via the local network NW2, based on the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 4131.

[0077] Next, the communication control process executed by the communication control device 4001 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 20 . Note that in FIG. 20 , the same processes as those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 10 . First, the second message acquisition unit 114 acquires a message transmitted from the cloud server 4002, performs a decapsulation process on the acquired message, and determines whether the acquired message is filter notification information (step S4101). If the second message acquisition unit 114 determines that the acquired message is not filter notification information (step S4101: No), the process of step S103 is executed. On the other hand, if the second message acquisition unit 114 determines that the acquired message is filter notification information (step S4101: Yes), the second message acquisition unit 114 notifies the filter acquisition unit 4117 of the filter notification information. The filter acquisition unit 4117 extracts filter information included in the filter notification information notified by the second message acquisition unit 114 and stores the extracted filter information in the filter storage unit 4131 (step S4102). Next, a series of processes from step S103 to step S105 are executed, and it is assumed that the first message acquisition unit 111 determines that status notification information has been acquired (step S105: Yes). In this case, the filtering unit 4112 determines whether the notified status notification information is to be discarded based on the filter information stored in the filter storage unit 4131 (step S106). Thereafter, a series of processes from step S106 onward are executed.

[0078] Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 4002 according to this modification will be described with reference to FIG. 21 . Note that in FIG. 21 , processes similar to those in the embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 11 . First, the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines whether operation information including operation content information indicating the above-described setting preparation operation, transmitted from the terminal device 4, has been acquired (step S201). If the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines that operation information including operation content information indicating the setting preparation operation has not been acquired (step S201: No), a series of processes from step S204 onward are executed. On the other hand, if the operation information acquisition unit 214 determines that operation information including operation content information indicating the setting preparation operation has been acquired (step S201: Yes), the operation information acquisition unit 214 extracts the operation content information and device-related information of the device 3 to be operated from the acquired operation information, and notifies the filter selection unit 4217 of the extracted operation content information and device-related information. Here, the filter selection unit 4217 identifies MAC address information and IP address information corresponding to the device-related information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 from among the MAC address information and IP address information stored in the device information storage unit 231. Then, the filter selection unit 4217 selects filter information corresponding to the operation content information notified by the operation information acquisition unit 214 and the identified MAC address information and IP address information from among the filter identification information stored in the filter storage unit 4235 (step S4201). Next, the filter selection unit 4217 generates filter notification information including the selected filter information and notifies the filter notification unit 4218. Then, the filter notification unit 4218 performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated filter notification information, and then transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 4001 (step S4202). Subsequently, a series of processes from steps S204 to S212 are executed.

[0079] If the filter selection unit 4217 determines in step S212 that the filter information used in the communication control device 4001 is not the default filter information (step S212: No), it determines whether a preset reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 4001 (step S213). If the filter selection unit 4217 determines in step S213 that the reference time has elapsed since the last time filter notification information was transmitted to the communication control device 4001 (step S213: Yes), it selects, from the filter identification information stored in the filter storage unit 4235, filter information that corresponds to the MAC address information and IP address information of the device 3 that is the target of operation and that is used in normal operation (step S4203). Next, the filter selection unit 4217 generates filter notification information including the selected filter information and notifies the filter notification unit 4218. Then, the filter notification unit 4218 performs the above-mentioned encapsulation process on the generated filter notification information, and then transmits the encapsulated filter notification information to the communication control device 4001 (step S215). Subsequently, the process of step S201 is executed again.

[0080] According to this configuration, the storage capacity of the filter storage unit 4131 of the communication control device 4001 can be reduced.

[0081] 22 , for example, communication control device 5001 may include filter updating unit 5119 that updates filter information stored in filter storage unit 131, and first update request acquiring unit 5118. Here, when first update request acquiring unit 5118 acquires first update request information including filter information and filter identification information transmitted from terminal device 4, it extracts the filter information and filter identification information included in the acquired first update request information and notifies filter updating unit 5119 of the extracted information. Then, filter updating unit 5119 updates the filter information and filter identification information stored in filter storage unit 131 by storing the filter information and filter identification information notified by first update request acquiring unit 5118 in the filter storage unit 131 in association with each other.

[0082] Furthermore, the cloud server 5002 may include a filter identification information update unit 5223 that updates a combination of filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233, and a second update request acquisition unit 5222. Here, when the second update request acquisition unit 5222 acquires second update request information including the filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information transmitted from the terminal device 4, it extracts the filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information included in the acquired second update request information and notifies the filter identification information update unit 5223 of the extracted information. Then, the filter identification information update unit 5223 updates the filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information stored in the filter identification information storage unit 233 by storing the filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information notified by the second update request acquisition unit 5222 in the filter identification information storage unit 233 in association with each other.

[0083] Furthermore, terminal device 5004 may include filter generation unit 5411 and update request notification unit 5412. Here, when the user performs a filter update operation on input unit 405 to update filter information registered in communication control device 5001, filter generation unit 5411 accepts the filter update operation, generates filter information and filter identification information for identifying the filter information based on the operation content of the filter update operation, and notifies update request notification unit 5412. Also, when the user performs a filter update operation on input unit 405 to update filter identification information registered in cloud server 5002, filter generation unit 5411 accepts the filter update operation, generates filter identification information and corresponding operation content information and device identification information based on the operation content of the filter update operation, and notifies update request notification unit 5412.

[0084] When update request notification unit 5412 is notified of the filter information and filter identification information from filter generation unit 5411, it generates first update request information including the notified filter information and filter identification information and transmits it to communication control device 5001. Furthermore, when update request notification unit 5412 is notified of the filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information from filter generation unit 5411, it generates second update request information including the notified filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information and transmits it to cloud server 5002.

[0085] According to this configuration, the user can update, via the terminal device 5004, the combination of filter information and filter identification information stored in the communication control device 5001, or the combination of filter identification information, operation content information, and device identification information stored in the cloud server 5002. This makes it easier for the user to select, from the status notification information sent from the device 3 to the communication control device 5001, the status notification information to be sent to the cloud server 5002 and the status notification information to be discarded by the communication control device 5001, thereby improving convenience for the user.

[0086] In the embodiment, an example has been described in which the filter selection unit 217 selects filter information for a filter to be set in the communication control device 1 based on operation information transmitted from the terminal device 4 and acquired via the network NW1. However, this is not limiting. For example, the cloud server 2 may include an event monitoring unit (not shown) that monitors whether an event requiring operation of the device 3 has occurred based on the status information stored in the status storage unit 232. When the event management unit determines that an event requiring operation of the device 3 has occurred, the filter selection unit 217 may select filter information based on device-related information for the device 3 to be operated. Alternatively, the cloud server 2 may be linked to another cloud server and be able to acquire operation information transmitted from another terminal device to the other cloud server from the other cloud server. In this case, the cloud server 2 may select filter information based on operation information acquired from the other cloud server.

[0087] Furthermore, the various functions of the communication control device 1 and cloud server 2 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). A computer capable of realizing the aforementioned functions may be configured by loading and installing the program on a computer. Furthermore, if the functions are realized by sharing the responsibilities of an operating system (OS) and an application, or by collaboration between the OS and an application, only the parts other than the OS may be stored on the recording medium.

[0088] Furthermore, each program may be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed via a communication network. For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board system (BBS) on the communication network and distributed via the network. These programs may then be started and executed under the control of the OS in the same way as other application programs, thereby enabling the above-described processing to be performed.

[0089] 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 the meaning of equivalent disclosures are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0090] The present disclosure is suitable for a communication system including a HEMS installed in a home.

[0091] 1, 4001, 5001 Communication control device, 2, 2002, 3002, 4002, 5002, 6002 Cloud server, 3 Device, 4, 5004 Terminal device, 8 BBR, 101, 201, 401 CPU, 102, 202, 402 Main memory unit, 103, 203, 403 Auxiliary memory unit, 106, 206, 406 Communication unit, 109, 209, 409 Bus, 111 First message acquisition unit, 112, 4112 Filtering unit, 113 First message transmission unit, 114 Second message acquisition unit, 115 Second message transmission unit, 116 Filter setting unit, 131, 4131, 4235 Filter storage unit, 208 Timer unit, 211 Notification information acquisition unit, 212 Status update unit, 213 Status notification unit, 214 Operation information acquisition unit, 215, 2215 Control information generation unit, 216 Control information transmission unit, 217, 4217, 2217, 3217, 6217 Filter selection unit, 218, 4218 Filter notification unit, 231 Device information storage unit, 232 Status storage unit, 233 Filter identification information storage unit, 404 Display unit, 405 Input unit, 2219 Schedule acquisition unit, 2234 Schedule storage unit, 3220 Communication volume prediction unit, 3221 Communication volume determination unit, 4117 Filter acquisition unit, 5118 First update request acquisition unit, 5119 Filter update unit, 5222 Second update request acquisition unit, 5223 Filter identification information update unit, 5411 Filter generation unit, 5412 Update request notification unit, 6220 Processing load prediction unit, 6221 load increase period identification unit, BU11, BU12, BU13, BU14, BU141, BU142, BU143 button image, GA1 operation screen image, M11, M12, M13, M14 status display image, NW1 wide area network, NW2 local network, PG1 popup image

Claims

1. A communication system comprising: a communication control device capable of communicating with a device via a first network; and a device control device capable of communicating with the communication control device via a second network different from the first network and controlling the device, wherein the device control device or the communication control device has a filter selection unit that selects filter information in the communication control device to filter messages to be sent to the device control device via the second network, and the communication control device has a filtering unit that filters messages sent from the device and acquired via the first network based on the selected filter information.

2. The communication system according to claim 1, wherein the device control device is capable of communicating with a terminal device via the second network, and the filter selection unit selects the filter information based on operation information indicating the operation content for the device transmitted from the terminal device and acquired via the second network.

3. The communication system according to claim 2, wherein the operation information includes device identification information that identifies the device to be operated, and the filter selection unit selects the filter information for filtering messages sent from the device identified by the device identification information.

4. The communication system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the device control device or the communication control device further has a filter identification information storage unit that stores filter identification information that identifies the filter information in association with a combination of operation content information that indicates the operation content and device identification information that identifies the device to be operated, the filter selection unit selects filter identification information that corresponds to the combination of the operation content information and the device identification information included in the acquired operation information, and the filtering unit filters the acquired message based on the filter information identified by the selected filter identification information.

5. A communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the terminal device has a display unit for displaying an operation screen image that notifies the status of the device, and the filter selection unit selects, based on the operation information, filter identification information that identifies the filter information for filtering in a manner that discards messages other than messages that include status information that indicates the status of the device necessary for forming the operation screen image.

6. The communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the filter selection unit selects the filter information based on the operation information, and then selects the preset filter information after a preset reference time has elapsed.

7. A communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the device control device or the terminal device further has a schedule storage unit that stores operation content information indicating the operation content to be executed on the device in each of at least one predetermined time period, in association with time period information indicating the time period, and the filter selection unit selects the filter information based on the operation content information stored in the schedule storage unit that is associated with time period information indicating the time period to which the filter information is selected belongs.

8. A communication system according to any one of claims 2 to 7, wherein the device control device further has a communication volume prediction unit that predicts communication volume of the second network, and the filter selection unit selects the filter information based on the operation information when the predicted communication volume is equal to or greater than a predetermined communication volume threshold.

9. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the device control device further comprises: a processing load prediction unit that predicts the processing load in the device control device; and a load increase period identification unit that identifies a load increase period during which the predicted processing load will increase to or exceed a predetermined reference processing load; and the filter selection unit selects the filter information based on the identified load increase period.

10. A communication system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the communication control device further comprises: a filter storage unit that stores the filter information in association with filter identification information that identifies the filter information; and a filter update unit that updates the filter information.

11. The communication system according to claim 10, wherein, when the filter update unit receives update request information including new filter information transmitted from a terminal device, the filter update unit updates the filter information stored in the filter storage unit using the filter identification information included in the received update request information.

12. A communication control method comprising the steps of: a communication control device capable of communicating with a device via a first network; or a device control device capable of communicating with the communication control device via a second network different from the first network and controlling the device; selecting filter information in the communication control device for filtering messages to be sent to the device control device via the second network; and a communication control device filtering messages sent from the device and acquired via the first network based on the selected filter information.

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