JP2004135043A - Equipment control mobile terminal and equipment control method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To actualize a specified environment by notifying electronic equipment to be controlled of specified time and desired contents to take place at the time in the form of input information. <P>SOLUTION: The present invention comprises transmission and reception parts 11 and 12 which communicate with the electronic equipment, a storage part 13 which stores control information of the electronic equipment, input/output parts 14 and 15 which send and receive information to and from a user, an analysis part 16 which generates time-series control data for controlling the electronic equipment according to the control information and input information, and a timer part 17 which performs management as to whether the specified time comes according to the control data. Once an input is received from the user, control data of the electronic equipment needed to realize the specified environment at the specified time are generated and when the current time reaches the control time, control contents are sent to the electronic equipment to be controlled one after another according to the control data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a device control portable terminal that appropriately controls various electronic devices.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Today's electronic devices (air conditioners, electric kettles, televisions, audio players, personal computers, etc.) have the ability to remotely configure various settings.
[0003]
As a conventional remote control method, a method in which a user remotely controls an electronic device through a network is disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
[0004]
In addition, a method of automatically setting a device according to a user's preference regardless of a user's location or a device to be set has been disclosed (for example, see Patent Document 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-186057 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2000-349896 A
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in such a conventional technique, when an environment at a set time is desired (for example, a room gradually becomes brighter at 7:00 in the morning, a bath is boiling at 7:00 in the morning, etc.), The user had to consider when and how to set which device.
[0007]
When the user's location changes and the electronic device to be set changes, the user knows what kind of device is available, what kind of settings can be made for that device, and sets each target device that can be set. It was necessary to set a timer for.
[0008]
The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and calculates, as input information, a time and setting contents desired to occur at that time, an electronic device to be controlled and the control content thereof, and a time-series An object of the present invention is to create a control data sequence and control an electronic device based on the control data sequence, thereby realizing an environment of set contents at a set time.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a receiving unit that receives a functional capability from an electronic device, a transmitting unit that transmits control content to the electronic device, function information of the electronic device, and a control target. A function index database necessary to determine the electronic device to be used, a device index database, input information, a user dictionary required to calculate the control content from the input information, and control contents to be transmitted to the electronic device are described in time series. A storage unit that stores the control data string obtained by the user, an input unit that receives input such as input information from the user, an output unit that allows the user to check the input information or the contents of the user dictionary, and the input information. The electronic device to be controlled is identified using the electronic device database, the function identification database, the device identification database, and the user dictionary. A control unit for calculating the control time and the content of the control and generating a control data sequence; and a timer unit for managing whether the control time has reached the current time based on the control data sequence. Terminal.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration example according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an electronic device to be controlled includes an air conditioner 20a, a water heater 20b, an electric pot 20c, an electric blind 20d, a lighting 20e, and a CD player 20f. The device control portable terminal 10 controls each electronic device 20. Each electronic device 20 holds an electronic device product name, identification information, and functional capability, which will be described in detail later, and transmits these information to the device control mobile terminal 10. It has a function of receiving and performing processing based on the control contents.
[0011]
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of the device control portable terminal 10. A receiving unit 11 for receiving an electronic device product name, identification information, and functional capability from the electronic device 20; a transmitting unit 12 for transmitting control content to the electronic device 20; an electronic device database, a function identification database A storage unit 13 for holding a device index database, input information, a user dictionary, and a control data string, an input unit 14 for receiving input of input information and the like from a user, and a user confirming settings and a user dictionary. And an analysis unit 16 for calculating an electronic device to be controlled and calculating the control time and control content thereof, and a timer unit 17 for managing the current time.
[0012]
FIG. 11 is a sequence chart showing an outline of the processing procedure of the present invention. The device control portable terminal 10 previously stores in the storage unit 13 an electronic device database 100a shown in FIG. 3, a function index database 170 shown in FIG. 7, a device index database 180 shown in FIG. 8, and user dictionaries 190 and 191 shown in FIG. ing. At the start of the process, the columns of the identification information 103 and the functional capability 104 of the electronic device database in FIG. 3 are blank. The electronic device database 100a, the function identification database 170, the device identification database 180, and the user dictionaries 190 and 191 may be held in advance when the device control portable terminal 10 is purchased, or may be downloaded from the Internet. The user dictionaries 190 and 191 may be registered, changed, or deleted by the user. The target operation items of the electronic device database 100a, the function identification database 170, the device identification database 180, and the user dictionaries 190 and 191 indicate the category of what the electronic device product does. Specifically, for example, it is classified into five categories: “air conditioning”, “bathing”, “cooking”, “brightness adjustment”, and “volume adjustment”. Note that this classification is not limited to these five. In the case where a new electronic device product cannot be dealt with, for example, when the above-mentioned five categories cannot be dealt with, it is dealt with by newly increasing the categories.
[0013]
In ST1 of FIG. 11, the device control portable terminal 10 registers the information received from the electronic device 20 in the electronic device database 100a, and completes the electronic device database 100b shown in FIG. FIG. 12 shows a sequence chart detailing this processing procedure. First, in ST11, when the user carries the device control portable terminal 10 and enters a room or issues an information transmission request to the electronic device 20, the device control portable terminal 10 transmits the electronic device product from the electronic device 20. The receiving unit 11 receives the name, the identification information, and the functional capability. Here, the identification information is identification information uniquely attached to the electronic device 20, and the device control portable terminal 10 controls the electronic device 20 using the identification information. The functional capability is functional information of the electronic device 20. For example, in the case of an electric pot, "boiling and heat retaining mode can be set" and "heat retaining level can be set in 100 steps from 1 degree to 100 degrees." ”,“ Recognition of time required for boiling ”,“ Recognition of open / closed state of lid ”,“ Recognition of hot water quantity ”,“ Recognition of hot water state ”,“ Recognition of lock state of hot water ” Possible ". Next, in ST12, the received electronic device product name is compared with the electronic device product name 102 (FIG. 3) of the electronic device database 100a. In ST13, it is determined whether or not the same electronic device product name exists in the electronic device database 100a. If there is, in ST14, the identification information received in the same line as the electronic device product name in the electronic device database 100a is displayed. And register the functional ability. If the same electronic device product name does not exist in ST13, a new line is created in the electronic device database 100a in ST15, and the received electronic device product name, identification information, and functional capability are registered. In ST16, the target operation and function identification data and device identification data corresponding to the new electronic device product name are downloaded from the Internet or received from the electronic device 20, and the electronic device database 100a, the function identification database 170, the device identification Register in the database 180. By performing the operations from ST11 to ST16 for all the electronic devices 20, the electronic device database 100b in FIG. 4 is completed. An electronic device product in which the columns of the identification information 103 and the functional capability 104 are filled is an electronic device that can be controlled.
[0014]
Next, in ST2 of FIG. 11, the device control portable terminal 10 receives input information from the user through the input unit 14. FIG. 5 shows an example of the input screen. FIG. 13 shows a sequence chart of a user input operation. First, a set time is input in ST21. In FIG. 5, the set time is input as “7:00”. Next, in ST22, a target operation is selected for each setting content. This target operation is the same as the target operation 101 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of the electronic device database. FIG. 5 shows an example in which the target operation is selected by a radio button. In FIG. 5, the setting content is a situation that the user wants to occur at a set time (7:00 in the example of FIG. 5), and a plurality of settings can be made. Each setting content is represented by a target operation, an explanation, a level, and a way of change, as shown in FIG. Note that a plurality of set times can be registered. Next, in ST23, when explanation, level, and manner of change are required, they are input. In the description, when determining the electronic device to be controlled from the input information in ST3 of FIG. 11, particularly when it is desired to limit the functions of the electronic device, the same terms as those in the description of the function determination database 170 (FIG. 7) are used. (Such as a text input method or a selection method). At the level, enter a numerical value that quantitatively represents the setting. The degree of change indicates how to change the value up to the value set in the level. For example, if it is desired to gradually lower the room temperature over about one hour and keep the room temperature at 25 degrees at 7:00, select the air conditioning in ST22 and input 25 degrees in the level in ST23 and 1 hour in the degree of change. I do. If it is desired to boil the bath at 40 degrees at 7:00, the input is selected in ST22, and in ST23, the bath and the level are input as 40 degrees in the explanation. The level and the degree of change will be described in detail in ST4 of FIG. 11, but by using a user dictionary and registering terms in the user dictionary in advance, a qualitative expression such as "slowly" is specified. (Such as a text input method or a selection method). Next, ST22 and ST23 are repeated by the number of contents to be set, and if there are no more contents to be set, the input is terminated. The input information for one set time is, for example, data as shown in FIG. 6 and is stored in the storage unit 13 of the device control portable terminal 10. In addition, the preset time and the setting content registered in advance may be read from the storage unit 13 and the user may rewrite, add, or delete the setting content only at a necessary place.
[0015]
Next, in ST3 of FIG. 11, the analysis unit 16 determines a device to be controlled. FIG. 14 shows a sequence chart. ST31 to ST37 are performed for each setting content. First, in ST31, using the function index database 170 as shown in FIG. 7, function information necessary for realizing the input setting contents is obtained. The function identification database 170 is stored in the storage unit 13 of the device control portable terminal 10 in advance, and includes items of a target operation, a description, necessary functions, and additional functions. The required function is a function that is always required to realize the target operation of the setting content, and the additional function is a function that is convenient if it is necessary to realize more limited content in the description of the setting content. When there is no information in the item of the description in the input information, information on the necessary function and the additional function is obtained from the item whose target operation matches the input information in the function indexing database 170. For example, in the case of the setting content 1 of the input information 160 shown in FIG. 6, although the air conditioning is input as the target operation, nothing is input in the description item, so the target operation is not set in the function indexing database 170 in FIG. From the items indicating the air conditioning, the necessary functions are “function to change room temperature” and “blowing function”. The additional functions are a function of changing the room temperature and a function of sending a cold wind or a warm wind. Further, in the case of the setting content 2 of the input information 160, since the bathing is input for the target operation and the bath is input for the description, the target operation indicates the bathing in the function indexing database 170, and the bath is indicated by the item of the description. From the items, the necessary function is "the function to supply hot water from the faucet", and the additional function is "the function to heat the water in the bathtub".
[0016]
Next, in ST32 and ST34, information on electronic devices capable of realizing necessary functions and additional functions is obtained using the device index database 180 as shown in FIG. The device identification database is stored in the storage unit 13 of the device control portable terminal 10 in advance, and includes items of a target operation, a function, and a product name of the electronic device. First, in ST32, an electronic device that can realize the additional function is searched. In the target operation and function of the device index database, an item that matches the target operation of the input information and the additional function obtained in ST31 is searched to obtain information on the electronic device product name. For example, in the case of the setting content 1 of the input information 160 shown in FIG. 6, the additional functions are “function to change room temperature” and “function to send cold wind or warm wind”. When searching from the device index database 180, "air conditioner" is obtained. In the case of the setting content 3 of the input information 160, the additional function is “the function to grind coffee beans” when the function indexing database 170 is referred to, so that “coffee maker” is obtained. Next, in ST33, it is checked whether or not the electronic device obtained in ST32 exists indoors with reference to the electronic device database 100b as shown in FIG. When the electronic device is present in a room such as an air conditioner, the electronic device is set as an electronic device to be controlled in ST37. If it does not exist indoors, such as a coffee maker, in ST34, an electronic device that satisfies the required functions is searched. The search method is the same as in ST32. In the case of the setting content 3 of the input information 160, since the necessary function is “the function of heating water”, an “electric pot” is obtained. In ST35, similarly to ST33, it is checked whether the electronic device exists in the room. If there is, in ST37, the electronic device is set as the electronic device to be controlled. If not, the user is notified via the output unit 15 as an unrealizable setting item in ST36.
[0017]
Next, in ST4 of FIG. 11, the analysis unit 16 determines the control time and the control content. FIG. 15 shows a sequence chart. ST41 to ST44 are performed for each electronic device. First, in ST41, information on the functional capability of the electronic device to be controlled obtained in ST3 is acquired from the electronic device database 100b in FIG. Next, in ST42, if the level of the input information is not input as a numerical value, the input information is converted into a target value using a user dictionary (level) 190 as shown in FIG. Similarly, when the input information is not changed as a numerical value, the input information is converted into the arrival time using the user dictionary (how to change) 191. The user dictionary (level) 190 and the user dictionary (how to change) 191 may store some terms (levels, how to convert) in the storage unit 13 of the device control portable terminal 10 in advance, or use the Internet. It may be downloaded, or the user may individually register, change, or delete. The user dictionary (level) 190 includes items of a target operation, a registered word, and a target value. The user dictionary (how to change) 191 has items of target operation, registered word, and arrival time. The target value and the arrival time mean controlling the target value to reach the target value by the set time over the arrival time. Next, in ST43, the control start time is obtained by subtracting the above-mentioned arrival time from the set time. Next, in ST44, using the functional capability acquired in ST41, the setting contents are obtained at regular intervals (for example, every 10 minutes) from the start time to the set time. Further, if necessary, transmission and reception are performed with the electronic device, and information obtained from the electronic device is also used. For example, in the case of the setting content 1 of the input information 160 shown in FIG. 6, the level is “25 degrees” and the numerical value is input, so that the conversion is not performed, and the changing method is “gradually”. The arrival time is converted to "1 hour" using the user dictionary (how to change) 191 in FIG. Since the set time is 7:00, the control start time is 6:00. Then, the room temperature is changed little by little over one hour, and finally the target value is set to 25 degrees at 7:00. Therefore, at 6:00, the cooling is started with the air volume: low and the set temperature of 27 degrees. At 6:10 and 6:20, the settings are not changed, and the settings are reset at 6:30 with the air volume: weak and the set temperature at 26 degrees. At 6:40, the setting is not changed, and the air flow is set to 6:50 and the setting temperature is set to 25 degrees. In the case of air-conditioning, whether to use cooling or heating is determined from the difference between the outside temperature and the room temperature obtained from the electronic device and the target temperature. As another example, in the case of the setting content 3 of the input information 160 in FIG. 6, since the level is input as "Hot hot", the level is converted to "95 degrees" using the user dictionary (level) 190 in FIG. Further, since there is no designation as to the manner of change, the case where the user dictionary (how to change) 191 is blank (default value) is converted to “30 minutes”. The control start time is 6:30. Here, the current amount of hot water is obtained from the electric kettle, the time required for the obtained hot water amount to be boiled to 95 degrees is obtained using the time required for boiling in a full state, and the obtained time is set to the set time 7:00. May be set as the control start time. If it is determined that water has not entered the electric kettle when the amount of hot water is acquired, a warning message may be output to the user. Then, at the control start time, boiling is started at the set temperature of 95 degrees. The processes from ST41 to ST44 are performed in all the electronic devices to be controlled obtained in ST3.
[0018]
Next, in ST5 of FIG. 11, a control data string is created. This is a process of rearranging the information of the control time, control content, and control target electronic device obtained in ST4 in time series, and creates a control data sequence as shown in FIG. The control target electronic device registers identification information, not a product name.
[0019]
Finally, in ST6 of FIG. 11, when the control time becomes the current time, the control content is transmitted to the electronic device to be controlled. FIG. 16 shows a sequence chart. First, in ST61, the current time is obtained from the timer unit 17 of the device control portable terminal 10, and is compared with the control time of the control data sequence 200 (FIG. 10) created in ST5 of FIG. If not, wait until the current time. When the control time has become the current time, the control content is reviewed in ST62. This is a confirmation as to whether the control content 203 (FIG. 10) obtained in ST4 may be used or whether there is no more optimal control content. For example, in the case of the setting content 1 of the input information 160 shown in FIG. 6, when the air conditioner is inquired about the room temperature at 6:00, there is 30 degrees, and in the control content 203 (FIG. 10) obtained in ST4, at the time of the setting time 7:00. If the temperature does not decrease to 25 degrees, the control content transmitted to the air conditioner at 6:00 is changed to "air volume: medium, set temperature 27 degrees" instead of "air volume: weak, set temperature 27 degrees". In addition, in the case of the setting content 3 of the input information 160, when the electric pot is inquired of the electric pot at 6:30, if the water does not enter, the control content 203 is cleared because the water becomes empty. Next, in ST63, the revised control content is transmitted to the electronic device to be controlled. The electronic device that has received the control content performs processing according to the control content. The processing from ST61 to ST63 is performed until the current time reaches the set time or there is no more data in the control data string.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, electronic devices are divided into categories of target operations, and a function necessary for realizing the setting content input by the user in the analysis unit 16 is obtained, and control is performed from the necessary function. The approach of determining the target electronic device and the control content eliminates the need for the user to individually input information on the electronic device to be controlled. By inputting a small amount of information such as the set time and the set contents (target operation, supplementary explanation, level, how to change), it is possible to control the electronic equipment necessary to realize the set contents. In addition, a plurality of electronic devices can be controlled with one set content by categorizing the target operation. Therefore, the user does not need to know the functions of the individual electronic devices, and does not need to consider the control content for each electronic device, so that the burden on the user is reduced. In addition, since the timer function is realized by the timer unit 17, control can be performed in accordance with the set time even when the electronic device does not have the timer function. Further, even when the user's location changes and the controllable electronic device changes, the user can realize the environment of the setting contents at the setting time without changing the setting contents.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration example of an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a device control portable terminal shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is an electronic device held by the device control portable terminal 10; Diagram showing an example of the format of data 100 (initial state)
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a format of electronic device data 100 held by the device control portable terminal 10 (a state in which identification information and functional capabilities held by the electronic device 20 are added).
FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a screen (user interface) when a user inputs input information to the device control portable terminal 10. FIG. 6 is an example of a format of input information 160 inputted to the device control portable terminal 10. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a function index database 170 held by the device control portable terminal 10. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a format of a device index database 180 held by the device control portable terminal 10. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a format of user dictionaries 190 (level) and 191 (how to change) held by the device control portable terminal 10. FIG. 10 is an example of a format of a control data sequence 200 created by the device control portable terminal 10. FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of an outline of processing executed in the device control portable terminal 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of an electronic device database registration process in ST1 of the sequence chart illustrated in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a user input process in ST2 of the sequence chart illustrated in FIG. Sequence chart [FIG. 14] A sequence chart illustrating an example of a process of determining a control target device in ST3 of the sequence chart shown in FIG. 11. [FIG. 15] A process of determining a control time and control contents in ST4 of the sequence chart shown in FIG. FIG. 16 is a sequence chart illustrating an example of a process of transmitting control contents to the electronic device in ST6 of the sequence chart illustrated in FIG.
Reference Signs List 10 device control portable terminal 11 receiving unit 12 transmitting unit 13 storing unit 14 input unit 15 output unit 16 analyzing unit 17 timer unit 20 electronic device 100 electronic device database 101 target operation 102 electronic device product name 103 identification information 104 function capability 150 input screen 1
151 input screen 2
160 Input information 170 Function index database 180 Device index database 190 User dictionary (level)
191 User dictionary (how to change)
200 control data sequence 201 control time 202 control target electronic device (identification information)
203 control contents

Claims (5)

A receiving unit that receives, from an electronic device capable of remote control, an electronic device product name, device-specific identification information, and functional capabilities of the device;
The user designates, as input information, the time specified by the user and the situation desired to occur at that time, based on the classification name of the electronic device product name for each target operation, the set value, and the set content represented by the time to reach the set value. An input unit,
An output unit for a user to confirm the input information,
An electronic device database in which the classification name for each target operation, the identification information, and the functional capability are described, and a function indexing database and a device indexing database necessary for identifying an electronic device to be controlled from the electronic devices. A storage unit to hold,
Necessary for realizing the setting contents by using a classification name for each target operation common to the input information and the electronic device database, the function identification database, and the device identification database held in the storage unit as a key. An analysis unit that seeks electronic functions to be controlled, control times and control contents from the necessary functions, and creates a time-series control data sequence,
A timer unit that compares the current time and the control time of the control data sequence, and makes a transmission request to a transmission unit described below when the control time becomes the current time,
A device control portable terminal comprising: a transmission unit configured to, upon receiving a transmission request from the timer unit, transmit the control content described in the control data string to the electronic device to be controlled. In the storage unit, by further holding a user dictionary that converts a user-specific expression into a quantitative value,
2. The device control portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the user can input the set value and the arrival time of the input information not in numerical values but in terms unique to the user. By storing input information from the user in the storage unit,
In the input unit, when receiving a request from the user to call the input information held in the storage unit,
The device control portable terminal according to claim 1, wherein the input information held in the storage unit can be acquired. In the input unit, when a request to call the input information held in the storage unit is received from the user,
The device control portable terminal according to claim 3, wherein the input information is output to an output unit, and the input information can be changed, added, or deleted. A step of receiving, from an electronic device capable of remote control, an electronic device product name, device-specific identification information, and functional capabilities of the device,
The user designates, as input information, the time specified by the user and the situation desired to occur at that time, based on the classification name of the electronic device product name for each target operation, the set value, and the set content represented by the time to reach the set value. Process and
The input information, a classification name for each target operation, the identification information, an electronic device database in which the functional capabilities are described, and a function identification database required to determine an electronic device to be controlled from the electronic devices and In the device indexing database, a function required to realize the setting content is obtained by using a common classification name for each target operation as a key, and from the necessary function, an electronic device to be controlled, a control time, a control content Calculating a time-series control data sequence,
A current time is compared with a control time of the control data sequence, and when the control time reaches the current time, the control content described in the control data sequence is transmitted to the electronic device to be controlled. And a device control method.

Images