Apparatus information management device, apparatus information management system, apparatus information management method, and program

Abstract

This apparatus information management device (20) comprises: an acquisition unit (22) that receives event information from an apparatus (10); an identification unit (23) that acquires, from a first database (61) in which apparatus identification information for identifying the apparatus (10) and first user information for identifying a first user (40a) are associated with each other, first user information associated with the apparatus identification information; a search unit (24) that acquires second user information associated with the same attribute value as that of the first user information from a second database (62) in which a plurality of pieces of user information and attribute values indicating attributes of a plurality of users (40) are associated with each other; a determination unit (27) that determines whether or not to transmit a notification based on the event information to each of the first user (40a) and a second user (40b); and an output unit (25) that transmits the notification to the first user (40a) and the second user (40b) via an external network service (30).

Description

Device Information Management Apparatus, Device Information Management System, Device Information Management Method, and Program

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for a user to remotely operate a home appliance such as an air conditioner using a mobile terminal. In the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, the user remotely operates the home appliance using a mobile terminal in which a dedicated application program is installed. A technique is also known in which a user acquires a notification from an IoT (Internet of Things) home appliance via an SNS (Social Networking Service) business service.

[0003] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-105795

[0004] When notifications are sent from an IoT home appliance to a plurality of users, the notifications may be sent to users who do not need the notifications.

[0005] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a device information management apparatus, a device information management system, a device information management method, and a program that can send notifications to users who need notifications from devices.

[0006] One embodiment of the device information management device according to this disclosure includes: a communication circuit that communicates with a device and an external network service; an acquisition unit that receives event information from the device; an identification unit that, when the acquisition unit receives the event information, acquires first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database in which device identification information that identifies the device and first user information that identifies a first user are associated; a search unit that acquires second user information from a second database in which each of a plurality of user pieces of information that identifies each of a plurality of users including the first user is associated with attribute values ​​of attribute information indicating the attributes of each of the plurality of users, and which has the same attribute values ​​as the first user information associated with it; a determination unit that determines whether or not to send a notification based on the event information to the first user and the second user, respectively, based on determination information acquired from the second user indicated by the first user and the second user information; and an output unit that sends the notification via the external network service to the first user and the second user, respectively, who have been determined by the determination unit to send the notification.

[0007] Furthermore, one embodiment of the device information management system relating to this disclosure includes: a device having a first communication circuit; a second communication circuit communicating with an external network service; an acquisition unit that receives event information from the device; an identification unit that, when the acquisition unit receives the event information, acquires first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database in which device identification information that identifies the device and first user information that identifies a first user are associated; a search unit that acquires second user information from a second database in which each of a plurality of user information that identifies each of a plurality of users including the first user is associated with attribute values ​​of attribute information indicating the attributes of each of the plurality of users, and which has the same attribute values ​​as the first user information associated with it; a determination unit that determines whether or not to send a notification based on the event information to the first user and the second user, respectively, based on determination information acquired from the second user indicated by the first user and the second user information; and an output unit that sends the notification to the first user and the second user via the external network service, which has been determined to send a notification to the determination unit.

[0008] Furthermore, one embodiment of the device information management method relating to this disclosure is a device information management method executed by a server equipped with a communication circuit that communicates with a device and an external network service, and includes: an acquisition step of receiving event information from the device; a identification step of obtaining first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database in which device identification information that identifies the device and first user information that identifies a first user are associated, when the event information is received in the acquisition step; a search step of obtaining second user information from a second database in which each of a plurality of user information that identifies each of a plurality of users including the first user is associated with attribute values ​​of attribute information that indicates the attributes of each of the plurality of users, and the second user information that has the same attribute value as the first user information associated with it; a determination step of determining whether or not to send a notification based on the event information to the first user and the second user based on determination information obtained from the second user indicated by the first user and the second user information; and an output step of sending the notification via the external network service to the first user and the second user who are determined to be sent a notification in the determination step.

[0009] Furthermore, this disclosure can be implemented not only as the above-mentioned device information management method, but also as a program that causes a computer to execute the above-mentioned device information management method. Moreover, it can also be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium that stores that program.

[0010] The device information management device, device information management system, device information management method, and program related to this disclosure can provide notifications to users who require notifications from the device.

[0011] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overview of the device information management system according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device information management system according to the first embodiment. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the first database according to the embodiment. Figure 4 is a diagram showing an example of the second database according to the embodiment. Figure 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the device information management device according to the first embodiment. Figure 6 is a diagram showing an example of the third database according to the embodiment. Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of the fourth database according to the embodiment. Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of a notification displayed on the terminal device according to the first embodiment. Figure 9 is a diagram showing another example of the first database according to the embodiment. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device information management system according to the second embodiment. Figure 11 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the device information management device according to the second embodiment. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of a notification according to the second embodiment. Figure 13 is a diagram showing another example of the second database according to the embodiment.

[0012] (Embodiments) Hereinafter, embodiments of the equipment information management device, equipment information management system, equipment information management method, and program relating to this disclosure will be described in detail with reference to drawings. The embodiments described below are all preferred specific examples of this disclosure. The numerical values, components, arrangement positions and connection configurations of components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Furthermore, among the components in the following embodiments, components not described in an independent claim will be described as any component constituting a preferred configuration.

[0013] Please note that each figure is a schematic diagram and not necessarily a strictly accurate representation. Furthermore, in each figure, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0014] Furthermore, unless otherwise specified, ordinal numbers such as "first," "second," etc., in this disclosure do not refer to the number or order of components, etc., but are used for the purpose of avoiding confusion and distinguishing similar components, etc.

[0015] (Overview) First, an overview of the device information management system according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing an overview of the device information management system 1 according to the embodiment.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the device information management system 1 comprises one or more devices 10 and a device information management device 20. The one or more devices 10 and the device information management device 20 are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate via a public network 50 such as the Internet. Furthermore, the device information management device 20 is connected to each of the servers of a plurality of external network services 30 so as to be able to communicate via the public network 50. The servers of the external network services 30 are connected to terminal devices 41 used by users 40 so as to be able to communicate via the public network 50. For example, the server of the first external network service 30a communicates with terminal device 41a used by the first user 40a via the public network 50, and the server of the second external network service 30b communicates with terminal device 41b used by the second user 40b via the public network 50.

[0017] In other words, in the device information management system 1, the device information management device 20 communicates with the device 10 and the external network service 30 to support the exchange of information between the device 10 and the terminal device 41.

[0018] One or more devices 10 include, for example, household electrical appliances (hereinafter also referred to as home appliances, etc.) installed in a house 100. In Figure 1, a washing machine is shown as device 10a and a refrigerator as device 10b. Device 10 may be a vacuum cleaner such as a cleaning robot, or an air conditioning unit. Device 10 is not limited to home appliances, and its specific form is not particularly limited, as long as it can communicate with the device information management device 20 via the public network 50.

[0019] (First Embodiment) [Configuration] First, the configuration of the device information management system 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device information management system 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0020] The device information management system 1 comprises one or more devices 10 and a device information management device 20.

[0021] The device 10 includes household appliances installed in the house 100. For example, device 10a is a washing machine, or device 10b is a refrigerator. The device 10 includes a communication circuit 11.

[0022] Device 10 transmits event information to the device information management device 20 using the communication circuit 11. The event information is information indicating the content of the operation of device 10. For example, in the case of device 10a, which is a washing machine, it may be information indicating "washing complete" or information indicating "spinning start". The event information may also include time information.

[0023] The communication circuit 11 is a wireless communication module for the device 10 to communicate wirelessly with the device information management device 20 via the public network 50. The communication circuit 11 communicates wirelessly according to a communication standard such as NB-IoT (Narrow Band Internet of Things) or HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol). The communication standard used by the communication circuit 11 is not particularly limited. The communication circuit 11 is an example of a first communication circuit.

[0024] The device information management device 20 is a device that communicates with the device 10 and the external network service 30. The device information management device 20 is implemented, for example, by a cloud server. Specifically, the device information management device 20 comprises a communication circuit 21, an acquisition unit 22, an identification unit 23, a search unit 24, an input / output unit 25, a storage unit 26, a determination unit 27, and a communication unit 28.

[0025] The communication circuit 21 is a wireless communication module for the device information management device 20 to wirelessly communicate with the device 10 and external network services 30 via the public network 50. The communication circuit 21 performs wireless communication according to a communication standard such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) (registered trademark). The communication standard used for communication by the communication circuit 21 is not particularly limited. The communication circuit 21 is an example of a second communication circuit.

[0026] The acquisition unit 22 acquires event information from the device 10 using the communication circuit 21. The event information is information indicating the operation of the device 10. The event information includes device identification information and information indicating the content of the operation. The device identification information is information for identifying the device 10. The specific form of the device identification information is not particularly limited, as long as it is information unique to each device 10.

[0027] The identification unit 23 obtains user information associated with the device identification information contained in the event information acquired by the acquisition unit 22 by referring to the first database 61 (described later). The user information is information for identifying the user 40. The specific form of the user information is not particularly limited, as long as it is unique to each user 40.

[0028] The search unit 24 obtains user information associated with the same attribute values ​​as the user information obtained by the identification unit 23 by referring to the second database 62 (described later). The attribute values ​​are the values ​​of the user's attribute information. The attribute values ​​are assigned to the user 40 in association with the user information of the user 40, for example, when the user 40 registers for a service provided by the device information management device 20, either by input from the user 40 or by the device information management device 20.

[0029] The input / output unit 25 performs information processing to send notifications based on event information to one or more users 40 whose user information has been acquired by the identification unit 23 and the search unit 24, via the external network service 30. The input / output unit 25 is an example of an output unit.

[0030] The acquisition unit 22, the identification unit 23, the search unit 24, and the input / output unit 25 are implemented, for example, by a microcomputer, but may also be implemented by a processor or dedicated circuit. The functions of the acquisition unit 22, the identification unit 23, the search unit 24, and the input / output unit 25 are realized by hardware such as a microcomputer or processor executing a software program, such as a predetermined application program, stored in the storage unit 26.

[0031] The memory unit 26 is a storage device that stores information necessary for information processing, such as computer programs, executed by the acquisition unit 22, identification unit 23, search unit 24, and input / output unit 25, etc. The memory unit 26 is implemented using semiconductor memory.

[0032] The storage unit 26 further stores a first database 61 and a second database 62. Figure 3 is a diagram showing an example of the first database 61 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the first database 61 associates device identification information and user information. The device identification information is information for identifying the device 10. The user information is information for identifying the user. The user information associated with the device identification information is user information that indicates the user who registered the device 10 indicated by the device identification information.

[0033] In the first database 61 shown in Figure 3, the device identification information "Washing Machine A" and the user information "User A" are associated with each other.

[0034] In the following explanation, the device identification information of device 10a will be referred to as "Washing Machine A," the device identification information of device 10b as "Refrigerator A," the user information of user 40a as "User A," and the user information of user 40b as "User B."

[0035] Figure 4 shows an example of a second database 62 according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 4, the second database 62 associates each of the multiple user information entries with the attribute values ​​of attribute information that represent the attributes of each of the multiple users 40. The multiple users 40 include the first user 40a and the second user 40b. Furthermore, the second database 62 associates user information with the external network services 30 used by the user 40.

[0036] Attribute information is information used to identify the group to which user 40 belongs. Attribute information includes, for example, an attribute number. An attribute number is a unique number assigned to the group to which user 40 belongs. An attribute value is the specific value of the attribute number. In other words, multiple users 40 belonging to the same group will be associated with the same attribute number value.

[0037] The attribute values ​​of user 40 and the external network service 30 to be used are mapped to the second database 62 in advance based on input from user 40.

[0038] In the second database 62 shown in Figure 4, user information "User A" is associated with attribute value "0001" and the external network service used "First external network service 30a". Similarly, user information "User B" is associated with attribute value "0001" and the external network service used "Second external network service 30b".

[0039] Here, we will explain an example of the procedure for associating values ​​with the same attribute number in the second database 62. First, the device information management device 20 receives user information input from the first user 40a. The user information input by the first user 40a includes information to which the attribute value "0001" is associated. Based on the user information input by the first user 40a, the device information management device 20 stores the first user 40a's user information "User A" and the attribute value "0001" in the second database 62. In this way, the second database 62 associates the first user 40a's user information "User A" with the attribute value "0001".

[0040] Next, the second user 40b obtains information including the attribute value "0001" from the first user 40a, for example, by a two-dimensional barcode.

[0041] The second user 40b uses this information to input user information into the device information management device 20. The device information management device 20 then associates the user information of the second user 40b, "User B," with the attribute value "0001" stored in the second database 62. In this way, the second database 62 associates the user information of the second user 40b, "User B," with the attribute value "0001."

[0042] In this way, the same attribute value "0001" is associated with the first user 40a and the second user 40b in the second database 62.

[0043] Note that the input regarding the information indicating the external network services used by each of the users 40, and the necessity and mode of notifications from each of the devices stored in the third database 63 described later may be accepted after the association of user information and attribute values is made.

[0044] Based on the determination information obtained from the first user 40a and the second user 40b indicated by the second user information, the determination unit 27 determines whether to send a notification based on event information to each of the first user 40a and the second user 40b.

[0045] The communication unit 28 communicates message information with each of the users 40. The communication unit 28 exchanges message information with the first user 40a via the first external network service 30a, and exchanges message information with the second user 40b via the second external network service 30b.

[0046] In addition, the communication unit 28 sends the message information communicated with the first user 40a to the second user 40b. Specifically, first, the communication unit 28 receives the message information sent by the first user 40a to the communication unit 28 via the first external network service 30a. By referring to the second database 62, the communication unit 28 acquires the user information "User B" and "User C" associated with the same attribute value "0001" as the user information "User A" of the first user 40a. The communication unit 28 sends the message information to the second user 40b indicated by the user information "User B" and "User C" via the second external network service 30b. Similarly, the communication unit 28 sends the message information sent by the second user 40b to the communication unit 28 via the second external network service 30b to the first user 40a via the first external network service 30a.

[0047] In this way, the first user 40a and the second user 40b can exchange message information via the device information management apparatus 20. The communication unit 28 supports the first user 40a and the second user 40b in exchanging message information.

[0048] The determination unit 27 and the communication unit 28 are realized, for example, by a microcomputer, but may also be realized by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The function of the determination unit 27 is realized by hardware such as a microcomputer or a processor executing a software program such as a predetermined application program stored in the storage unit 26.

[0049] The external network service 30 is a service that supports communication between the device information management device 20 and the user 40, which is used by the user 40. The external network service 30 is, for example, an SNS (Social Network Service). The external network service 30 may be a mail system, or may be a dedicated application program related to the device 10 and the device information management device 20. The specific form of the external network service 30 is not particularly limited as long as the device information management device 20 can transmit information to the user 40 via wireless communication.

[0050] The first external network service 30a is an external network service used by the user 40a, and the second external network service 30b is an external network service used by the user 40b. The first external network service 30a and the second external network service 30b may be the same network service or different network services.

[0051] Terminal device 41 is an information terminal used by user 40. Terminal device 41a is an information terminal used by user 40a, and terminal device 41b is an information terminal used by user 40b. Terminal device 41a is, for example, a smartphone. Notification content from the device information management device 20 is displayed on terminal device 41. User 40 can check the operating status of device 10 by viewing the notification content displayed on terminal device 41. Terminal device 41 may be a tablet terminal or a personal computer, etc. Specifically, terminal device 41a comprises a communication circuit 42a, a display unit 43a, and an operation reception unit 44a, and terminal device 41b specifically comprises a communication circuit 42b, a display unit 43b, and an operation reception unit 44b.

[0052] The communication circuit 42 is a wireless communication module that enables the terminal device 41 to communicate wirelessly with the external network service 30. Specifically, the communication circuit 42 communicates wirelessly according to a communication standard such as LTE. The communication standard used by the communication circuit 42 is not particularly limited.

[0053] The display unit 43 is a screen on which various images are displayed. The display unit 43 is implemented by a display panel such as a liquid crystal panel or an organic EL (Electroluminescence) panel.

[0054] The operation reception unit 44 receives operations from the user 40. The operation reception unit 44 is implemented, for example, by a touch panel or the like.

[0055] [Operation] Next, the operation of the device information management device 20 according to the first embodiment will be described. Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the device information management device 20 according to the first embodiment.

[0056] The following describes the case where user 40a owns a washing machine (device 10a), as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and where the first user 40a and the second user 40b are associated with the same attribute values.

[0057] As shown in Figure 5, first, the acquisition unit 22 receives event information (S11). The device 10 transmits the event information to the device information management device 20 using the communication circuit 11. The event information transmitted to the device 10 is received by the acquisition unit 22 of the device information management device 20 via the public network 50 and the communication circuit 21.

[0058] When the acquisition unit 22 receives event information from the device 10, the identification unit 23 identifies the first user 40a (S12). The identification unit 23 obtains user information associated with the device identification information of the device 10 included in the event information by referring to the first database 61 stored in the storage unit 26. For example, in the case of the first database 61 shown in Figure 3, it identifies "User A" associated with the device identification information "Washing Machine A" of the device 10a. "User A" is an example of first user information.

[0059] Next, the search unit 24 searches for the second user 40b (S13). The search unit 24 obtains second user information associated with the same attribute values ​​as the first user information by referring to the second database 62 stored in the storage unit 26. For example, in the case of the second database 62 shown in Figure 4, the search unit 24 obtains other user information "User B" and "User C" associated with the attribute value "0001" of the attribute information associated with the user information "User A". User information "User B" and user information "User C" are second user information that each represents the second user 40b. Hereinafter, unless otherwise specified, in the following explanation, user 40 whose user information is "User B" will be described as the second user 40b.

[0060] Note that user information with the same attribute values ​​as the first user information may not exist in the second database 62. In such cases, the search unit 24 checks the second database 62 to confirm that the second user 40b does not exist.

[0061] Next, the determination unit 27 determines whether or not it is necessary to notify the user 40 (S14). Based on the determination information obtained from the user 40, the determination unit 27 determines whether or not to send a notification to the user 40 based on the event information. The processing from step S14 onward is performed for the first user 40a and the second user 40b, respectively, who were identified in steps S12 and S13.

[0062] The information used for determination is, for example, the notification requirement setting, which is set by the first user 40a and the second user 40b, respectively, to determine whether or not they need to receive notifications from the device 10. The determination unit 27 determines whether or not a notification is necessary for the user 40 based on the notification requirement setting. The notification requirement setting is set in advance by input from each user 40 and is associated with the third database 63 stored in the storage unit 26. The third database 63 shown in Figure 6 is provided for each user 40. User 40's input is accepted, for example, by tapping one of the two options displayed on the display unit 43, "Notification OK" and "No Notification OK".

[0063] Furthermore, for devices 10 that have been identified as requiring notification to user 40, the notification format is set based on user 40's input. The notification format is associated with the third database 63. User 40's input is accepted, for example, by tapping one option from a predetermined group of options displayed on the display unit 43. The predetermined group of options includes, for example, "standard Japanese," "Kansai dialect," "Hakata dialect," and "informal speech." The predetermined group of options is not particularly limited. Initial values ​​may be set for the notification requirement setting and the notification format. The initial value of the notification format may be changed as appropriate based on user 40's address, etc.

[0064] The third database 63 associates each user 40 with device identification information, a setting indicating whether or not notifications from the device 10 indicated by the device identification information are required, and the manner of such notifications. Figure 6 is an example of the third database 63 according to the embodiment. Figure 6 shows the third database 63 for user information "User A". Figure 6 shows that "User A" requires notifications from the device 10 whose device identification information is "Washing Machine A", and has set the notification manner to be in "Kansai dialect". Also, Figure 6 shows that "User A" has set that notifications from the device 10 whose device identification information is "Refrigerator A" are not required.

[0065] The determination unit 27 determines whether or not notification is required for each of the users 40 by referring to the third database 63. For example, if event information is obtained from the device 10a, the determination unit 27 refers to the third database 63 for the user information "User A" of the first user 40a and obtains that the notification requirement setting from the device identification information "Washing Machine A" of the device 10a is "Notification Required". Based on the notification requirement setting, the determination unit 27 determines that notification is required for the first user 40a.

[0066] Furthermore, for example, the information used for determination may be message information communicated by the first user 40a and the second user 40b to the communication unit 28 via the external network service 30. The determination unit 27 may determine whether or not notification to user 40 is necessary by using AI (Artificial Intelligence) to judge the content of the message information communicated by the first user 40a and the second user 40b to the communication unit 28 via the external network service. AI refers to artificial intelligence, and for example, a machine learning model such as a trained neural network. Figure 7 is an example of a fourth database 64 according to the embodiment.

[0067] The fourth database 64 stores message information exchanged between users 40 whose attribute values ​​are associated with the same user via the communication unit 28. Information indicating the time the message information was sent may also be associated with it. Here, although omitted in Figure 7, the information indicating the time may include information indicating the date (for example, information indicating the year, month, and day).

[0068] For example, if the second user 40b sends the message "I have a fever, so please buy some medicine on your way home," the message is stored in the fourth database 64, as shown in Figure 7.

[0069] The determination unit 27 analyzes the message information stored in the fourth database 64 using AI and determines that it is not appropriate to send a notification to the second user 40b. In such cases, the determination unit 27 determines that notification to the second user 40b is unnecessary.

[0070] Here, by referring to the information indicating the time when the message information in the fourth database 64 was transmitted, message information older than a predetermined period from the time the event information was acquired in step S11 is excluded from the analysis by the AI. The predetermined period is, for example, one day.

[0071] Furthermore, the determination unit 27 may combine the two methods described above to determine whether or not it is necessary to notify the user 40.

[0072] If the determination unit 27 determines that notification to the user 40 is unnecessary (No in S14), the device information management device 20 terminates its operation without sending a notification to the user 40.

[0073] If the determination unit 27 determines that notification to user 40 is necessary (Yes in S14), the input / output unit 25 obtains the notification format for user 40 that was determined to require notification (S15). For example, if user 40 is the first user 40a, the input / output unit 25 obtains the notification format from "washing machine A" of "user A," which is "Kansai dialect," by referring to the third database 63 shown in Figure 6.

[0074] The input / output unit 25 sends a notification to the user 40 that it has determined requires notification (S16). This notification is based on the notification type obtained in step S15. Specifically, the input / output unit 25 uses the communication circuit 21 to send notification information to the public network 50 and the servers of the external network service 30.

[0075] The terminal device 41 displays a notification on the display unit 43 based on the received notification information. Figure 8 shows an example of a notification displayed on the terminal device 41 according to the first embodiment. For example, when the device 10a transmits the event information "Washing finished", the display unit 43 of the terminal device 41 displays "Washing finished~~." in the Kansai dialect, as shown in Figure 8.

[0076] Finally, the input / output unit 25 determines whether or not the process has been executed for all identified users 40 (S17). For example, the input / output unit 25 counts up the number of user information obtained in the processes of steps S12 and S13. The input / output unit 25 determines whether the process has been executed for all identified users 40 who are the target of the notification if the processes from steps S14 to S16 have been executed for the number of users that have been counted up.

[0077] If it is determined that the process has been executed for all identified users 40 (Yes in S17), the device information management device 20 terminates its operation. If it is determined that the process has not been executed for all identified users 40 (No in S17), the device returns to step S14 and executes the process for the users 40 who have not been notified.

[0078] With the operation described above, the device information management device 20 can refrain from sending notifications to recipients who do not need to receive them. With such a device information management device 20, it is possible to suppress the user 40 from receiving unnecessary notifications, thereby improving the user 40's comfort.

[0079] Furthermore, the device information management device 20 can provide notifications based on the notification format set by the user 40 for the device 10.

[0080] [Modification] In the above embodiment, the first database 61 associates device identification information with user information as shown in Figure 3. However, the first database 61 may also associate device identification information with attribute values ​​of attribute information. For example, the association between device identification information and attribute values ​​of attribute information is achieved by referring to the attribute values ​​associated with the user information of the user 40 who registered the device. Figure 9 shows another example of the first database 61 according to the embodiment.

[0081] In the first database 61 shown in Figure 9, the device identification information "Washing Machine A" is associated with the attribute value "0001" in the attribute information. The attribute value "0001" is associated with the user information "User A" in the second database 62.

[0082] In this case, when the first database 61 shown in Figure 9 is used, in the process of step S12 in Figure 5 described above, the identification unit 23 refers to the first database 61 to identify the attribute value of the attribute information associated with the device identification information of the device 10 included in the event information. In the process of step S13 in Figure 5, the search unit 24 refers to the second database 62 to obtain user information associated with the attribute value of the identified attribute information. In this way, the user who is the target of notification based on the acquired event information can be identified.

[0083] [Effects, etc.] The technologies derived from the disclosures in this specification include, for example, the following technologies. The technologies derived from the disclosures in this specification will be described below, along with the effects, etc., that can be obtained by such technologies.

[0084] Technology 1 includes a communication circuit 21 that communicates with the device 10 and an external network service 30, an acquisition unit 22 that receives event information from the device 10, a specification unit 23 that, when the acquisition unit 22 receives event information, acquires the first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database 61 in which device identification information that identifies the device 10 and first user information that identifies the first user 40a are associated, and a second The device information management device 20 comprises: a search unit 24 that retrieves second user information from a database 62 that has the same attribute values ​​as the first user information among multiple user information; a determination unit 27 that determines whether or not to send a notification based on event information to the first user 40a and the second user 40b, respectively, based on determination information obtained from the second user 40b indicated by the first user 40a and the second user information; and an output unit 25 that sends a notification via an external network service 30 to the first user 40a and the second user 40b, which the determination unit 27 has determined to receive a notification from.

[0085] Such a device information management device 20 sends notifications to a first user 40a that is directly associated with the device 10 and a second user 40b that is not directly associated with the device 10. At this time, by determining whether or not it is necessary to send a notification to each of the first user 40a and the second user 40b, notifications can be sent to users 40 who require notifications from the device 10. In other words, when a user 40 requires a notification from the device 10, a notification based on event information obtained from the device 10 can be sent to the user 40.

[0086] Technology 2 is the device information management device 20 of Technology 1, in which the determination information is a notification necessity setting, where the first user 40a and the second user 40b each set whether or not they need to receive notifications from the device 10.

[0087] Such a device information management device 20 can determine whether or not to send a notification based on the notification requirement settings that have been set in advance by each of the users 40.

[0088] Technology 3 further includes a communication unit 28 that communicates message information with each of the first user 40a and the second user 40b, the determination information being message information communicated by each of the first user 40a and the second user 40b to the communication unit 28 via an external network service 30, and the determination unit 27 uses AI to determine the content of the message information to determine whether or not to send a notification to each of the first user 40a and the second user 40b, the device information management device 20 of Technology 1.

[0089] Such a device information management device 20 can acquire message information from the user 40, and by using AI to judge the content of the message information, it can determine whether or not to notify the user 40.

[0090] Technology 4 is the device information management device 20 of Technology 3, in which the communication unit 28 transmits message information communicated with the first user 40a to the second user 40b.

[0091] Such a device information management device 20 can acquire message information exchanged between the first user 40a and the second user 40b via the device information management device 20.

[0092] Technology 5 is a device information management device 20 according to any of Technologies 1 to 4, wherein the notification includes message information, and the form of the message information is one form selected in advance by the user 40 from a plurality of predetermined forms.

[0093] With such a device information management device 20, notifications can be sent to the user 40 using message information determined by the notification type set in advance by the user 40.

[0094] Technology 6 comprises a device 10 having a first communication circuit 11, a second communication circuit 21 communicating between the device 10 and an external network service 30, an acquisition unit 22 that receives event information from the device 10, and when the acquisition unit 22 receives event information, an identification unit 23 that acquires the first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database 61 in which device identification information that identifies the device 10 and first user information that identifies the first user 40a are associated, and the attribute values ​​of attribute information that indicate the attributes of each of the multiple users 40, including the first user 40a. The device information management system 1 comprises: a search unit 24 that retrieves second user information from a linked second database 62 that has the same attribute values ​​as the first user information among multiple user information; a determination unit 27 that determines whether or not to send a notification based on event information to the first user 40a and the second user 40b, respectively, based on determination information obtained from the second user 40b indicated by the first user 40a and the second user information; and an output unit 25 that sends a notification via an external network service 30 to the first user 40a and the second user 40b, which the determination unit 27 has determined to send a notification to.

[0095] This device information management system 1 sends notifications to a first user 40a, which is directly associated with the device 10, and to a second user 40b, which is not directly associated with the device 10. At this time, by determining whether or not to send a notification to each of the first user 40a and the second user 40b, notifications can be sent to users 40 who require notifications from the device 10. In other words, when a user 40 requires a notification from the device 10, a notification based on event information obtained from the device 10 can be sent to the user 40.

[0096] Technology 7 is a device information management method executed by a server 20 equipped with a communication circuit 21 that communicates with a device 10 and an external network service 30, comprising: an acquisition step of receiving event information from the device 10; an identification step of obtaining first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database 61 in which device identification information that identifies the device 10 and first user information that identifies the first user 40a are associated when event information is received in the acquisition step; and each of the multiple user information that identifies each of the multiple users 40 including the first user 40a, and attributes indicating the attributes of each of the multiple users 40. The device information management method includes a search step of obtaining second user information from a second database 62, which associates attribute values ​​of information with a second user information, that has the same attribute values ​​as the first user information among a plurality of user information; a determination step of determining whether or not to send a notification based on event information to the first user 40a and the second user 40b based on determination information obtained from the second user 40b indicated by the first user 40a and the second user information; and an output step of sending a notification via an external network service 30 to the first user 40a and the second user 40b, which were determined to receive a notification in the determination step.

[0097] This device information management method allows notifications to be sent to users 40 who require notifications from device 10.

[0098] Technology 8 is a program that causes the server 20 to execute the device information management method of Technology 7.

[0099] Such a program can send notifications to users 40 who require notifications from device 10.

[0100] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the device information management device 20 sent a notification based on event information acquired from the device 10a to the first user 40a, which is directly associated with the device 10a, and to the second user 40b, which is not directly associated with the device 10a. Here, communication takes place between the first user 40a and the device information management device 20, and between the second user 40b and the device information management device 20, but no communication takes place between the first user 40a and the second user 40b.

[0101] Therefore, conventionally, each of the multiple users 40 who receive a notification cannot know whether or not the other users 40 have seen the notification. However, knowing whether or not other users 40 have seen the notification has the advantage of allowing for more accurate decisions on whether or not to take action in response to the notification.

[0102] Therefore, the device information management system 1 according to the second embodiment can notify a user 40 whether or not another user 40 has confirmed the notification.

[0103] A second embodiment of the device information management system 1 described below will be explained.

[0104] [Configuration] First, the configuration of the device information management system 1 according to the second embodiment will be described. Figure 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the device information management system 1 according to the second embodiment.

[0105] The arrows in Figure 10 indicate the flow of information when, as described in the first embodiment, the device information management device 20 sends a notification based on event information acquired from the device 10 to the first user 40a and the second user 40b, and the first user 40a confirms the notification.

[0106] First, terminal device 41a sends response information to device information management device 20 using the first external network service 30a to indicate that it has confirmed the notification. Based on the received response information, device information management device 20 sends a notification based on the response information to terminal device 41b using the second external network service 30b.

[0107] As shown in Figure 10, the configuration of the device information management system 1 is the same as that of the device information management system 1 of the first embodiment described using Figure 2.

[0108] [Operation] Next, the operation of the device information management device 20 according to the second embodiment will be explained using Figures 11 and 12. Figure 11 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the device information management device 20 according to the second embodiment. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of a notification according to the second embodiment.

[0109] First, the input / output unit 25 sends notifications based on event information to the first user 40a and the second user 40b (S16 in Figure 5). At this time, the input / output unit 25 stores in the storage unit 26 information for identifying the notification sent to the first user 40a and information for identifying the notification sent to the second user 40b.

[0110] The input / output unit 25 receives response information indicating that the first user 40a has acknowledged the notification (S31). The response information includes information for identifying the notification. As a result, the acquisition unit 22 receives response information indicating that the first user 40a has acknowledged the notification.

[0111] When the terminal device 41a displays, for example, the notification transmitted in step S14 of Figure 5 on the display unit 43, it considers that the first user 40a has confirmed the notification and transmits response information to the device information management device 20 via the first external network service 30a. The input / output unit 25 receives the response information using the communication circuit 21.

[0112] When the input / output unit 25 receives response information, the search unit 24 searches for the second user 40b (S32). Specifically, the search unit 24 uses information for identifying the notification contained in the response information to obtain user information "User A" which indicates the first user 40a, the user who confirmed the notification. Next, by referring to the second database 62, it obtains user information "User B" which has the same attribute values ​​as user information "User A".

[0113] Finally, the input / output unit 25 transmits information to the second user 40b notifying the first user 40a of the response (S33). Using the information for identifying the notification included in the response information, the input / output unit 25 identifies the notification that corresponds to the notification that the first user 40a has confirmed among the notifications transmitted to the second user 40b. The input / output unit 25 transmits this information to the second external network service 30b so that information notifying the first user 40a that the identified notification has been responded to is added and displayed on the display unit 43b.

[0114] As shown in Figure 12, for example, the display unit 43b displays the notification described in Figure 8, with an additional icon for the first user 40a, "User A".

[0115] Furthermore, the type of information to be included in the notification is not particularly limited, as long as it can be shown to the second user 40b that the first user 40a has seen the notification. For example, textual information such as "Read: Name of first user 40a" may be included.

[0116] Furthermore, the second user 40b may only be shown the number of users 40 who have seen the notification, or simply the fact that other users 40 have seen the notification. For example, the notification described in Figure 8 may have "Number of Reads: 1" added to it.

[0117] Through the operations described above, the device information management device 20 can notify the second user 40b whether or not the first user 40a has confirmed the notification.

[0118] While the operation when the first user 40a confirms the notification has been described, the device information management device 20 operates similarly when the second user 40b confirms the notification, thereby notifying the first user 40a that the second user 40b has confirmed the notification.

[0119] (Other Embodiments) Although embodiments have been described above, this disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0120] In the second database 62 in the above embodiment, the attribute information associated with each user's information was an attribute number, but the attribute information may also be an address. In this case, the attribute value is specifically the user 40's place of residence (information indicating the address up to the street number, or up to the room number if it is an apartment building). The specific form of the attribute information is not particularly limited, as long as it is information that identifies the group to which user 40 belongs.

[0121] Figure 13 shows another example of the second database 62 according to the embodiment. Figure 13 shows the second database 62 when the attribute information is an address. Figure 13 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 4. In the second database 62 shown in Figure 13, user information "User A" is associated with the attribute value "Nishi-ku 1-2-3" and the external network service used "First external network service 30a". Also, user information "User B" is associated with the attribute value "Nishi-ku 1-2-3" and the external network service used "Second external network service 30b".

[0122] Furthermore, for example, in the above embodiment, the first database 61, the second database 62, and the third database 63 were stored in the storage unit 26, but at least one of the first database 61, the second database 62, and the third database 63 may be stored in a device other than the device information management device 20.

[0123] For example, in the above embodiment, the device information management system was implemented by multiple devices. When the device information management system is implemented by multiple devices in this way, the components of the device information management system (especially the functional components) may be distributed among the multiple devices in any manner.

[0124] Furthermore, the method of communication between devices in the above embodiment is not particularly limited. In addition, relay devices (such as gateway devices), which are not shown, may be involved in the communication between devices.

[0125] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a process executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit. Also, the order of multiple processes may be changed, or multiple processes may be executed in parallel.

[0126] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may also be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0127] Furthermore, each component may be implemented by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or they may be separate circuits. Also, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0128] Furthermore, the general or specific embodiments of this disclosure may be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. They may also be implemented as any combination of a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0129] For example, this disclosure may be implemented as a device information management method executed by a computer, such as the device information management system (device information management device) of the above embodiment, or as a program (in other words, a computer program product) that causes a computer to execute the device information management method. Furthermore, this disclosure may be implemented as a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0130] Furthermore, this disclosure also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art could conceive, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment without departing from the spirit of this disclosure.

[0131] This disclosure can be used in technologies that enable users to remotely operate communication devices such as home appliances.

[0132] 1. Device Information Management System 10, 10a, 10b Devices 11. Communication Circuit (First Communication Circuit) 20. Device Information Management Device (Server) 21. Communication Circuit (Second Communication Circuit) 22. Acquisition Unit 23. Identification Unit 24. Search Unit 25. Input / Output Unit (Output Unit) 26. Storage Unit 27. Determination Unit 28. Communication Unit 30. External Network Services 30a. First External Network Service 30b. Second External Network Service 40. Users 40a. First User 40b. Second User 41, 41a, 41b. Terminal Devices 42, 42a, 42b. Communication Circuits 43, 43a, 43b. Display Units 44, 44a, 44b. Operation Acceptance Unit 50. Public Network 61. First Database 62. Second Database 63. Third Database 64. Fourth Database

Claims

1. A device information management device comprising: a communication circuit for communicating with a device and an external network service; an acquisition unit for receiving event information from the device; an identification unit for acquiring first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database in which device identification information for identifying the device and first user information for identifying a first user are associated when the acquisition unit receives the event information; a search unit for acquiring second user information from a second database in which each of a plurality of user information pieces identifying each of a plurality of users including the first user is associated with attribute values ​​of attribute information indicating the attributes of each of the plurality of users, and which second user information has the same attribute values ​​as the first user information; a determination unit for determining whether or not to send a notification based on the event information to the first user and the second user, respectively, based on determination information acquired from the second user indicated by the first user and the second user information; and an output unit for sending the notification to the first user and the second user via the external network service, which the determination unit has determined should receive the notification.

2. The device information management device according to claim 1, wherein the determination information is a notification necessity setting, in which the first user and the second user each set whether or not they need to receive notifications from the device.

3. The device information management device according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit that communicates message information with each of the first user and the second user, wherein the determination information is the message information communicated by each of the first user and the second user to the communication unit via the external network service, and the determination unit determines whether or not to send the notification to each of the first user and the second user by determining the content of the message information using AI.

4. The device information management device according to claim 3, wherein the communication unit transmits message information communicated with the first user to the second user.

5. The device information management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the notification includes message information, and the form of the message information is one form selected in advance by the user from a plurality of predetermined forms.

6. A device information management system comprising: a device having a first communication circuit; a second communication circuit communicating with an external network service; an acquisition unit receiving event information from the device; a specification unit that, when the acquisition unit receives the event information, acquires first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database in which device identification information identifying the device and first user information identifying a first user are associated; a search unit that acquires second user information from a second database in which each of a plurality of user information identifying each of a plurality of users including the first user is associated with attribute values ​​of attribute information indicating the attributes of each of the plurality of users, and which has the same attribute values ​​as the first user information; a determination unit that determines whether or not to send a notification based on the event information to the first user and the second user, respectively, based on determination information acquired from the second user indicated by the first user and the second user information; and an output unit that sends the notification to the first user and the second user via the external network service, which the determination unit has determined should send a notification.

7. A device information management method executed by a server equipped with a communication circuit for communicating with a device and an external network service, comprising: an acquisition step of receiving event information from the device; a identification step of obtaining first user information associated with the device identification information from a first database in which device identification information identifying the device and first user information identifying a first user are associated, when the event information is received in the acquisition step; a search step of obtaining second user information from a second database in which each of a plurality of user information identifying each of a plurality of users including the first user is associated with attribute values ​​of attribute information indicating the attributes of each of the plurality of users, the second user information among the plurality of user information to which the same attribute values ​​as the first user information are associated; a determination step of determining whether or not to send a notification based on the event information to the first user and the second user based on determination information obtained from the second user indicated by the first user and the second user information; and an output step of sending the notification via the external network service to the first user and the second user to whom it has been determined in the determination step to send the notification.

8. A program that causes the server to execute the device information management method described in claim 7.

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