JP2006277600A - Remote control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control system that prevents unauthorized use and enables remote control of equipment from a terminal device shortly after a request for the issuance of identification information. <P>SOLUTION: A center apparatus 1, the equipment 2 and the terminal device 3 establish data communication via the Internet NT. The equipment 2 comprises an identification information issuance part 23 for issuing identification information to the terminal device 3, an identification information storage part 22 for storing the issued identification information, and an interface 24 for delivering the identification information stored in the identification information storage part 22 to the terminal device 3. The terminal device 3 comprises an interface 35 for receiving the identification information output from the interface 24 of the equipment 2, and an identification information setting part 34 for storing the identification information input from the interface 35. The identification information set in the equipment 2 and terminal device 3 is transmitted to the center apparatus 1, and the terminal device 3 remote-controls the equipment 2 via the center apparatus 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote control system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technology is known in which equipment such as a water heater is connected to a terminal device through a communication network so that the equipment can be remotely monitored and operated by the terminal device (for example, Patent Document 1). In the technique described in Patent Document 1, a center device is provided in a communication network in order to exchange data between a terminal device and facility equipment. The center device manages the correspondence between the terminal device and the equipment. After the identification information (ID and password) is input from the terminal device and the link between the terminal device and the center device is established, the center device is operated remotely. When the instruction contents are transmitted to the center apparatus, the instruction contents for remote operation are transferred from the center apparatus to the equipment.
JP 2003-279121 A

  By the way, when a resident changes like a rental apartment house, it is necessary to disable the operation of the equipment from the terminal device after the resident has moved out. It is necessary to enable remote operation of the equipment immediately.

  If it is the above-mentioned composition, remote control of the equipment by a terminal device will become impossible by invalidating the discernment information of a terminal device in a center device after a resident leaves. On the other hand, in issuing the identification information, when the resident requests the issuance of the identification information, the identification number is notified by mail to the address where the equipment is installed. The reason for using mail for notification of identification information is that if this identification information is known to a third party, the equipment is illegally used using the third party's terminal device. However, when mail is used for issuing the identification information, it takes time until the identification information arrives at the resident, and there arises a problem that the remote control function cannot be used immediately after moving in.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above reasons, and its purpose is to enable remote operation of equipment by a terminal device from a request for issuing identification information while preventing unauthorized use by a third party. It is to provide a remote control system that shortens the time required for the process.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a terminal device for performing remote control of a facility device by performing data communication through the communication network between the facility device capable of remote operation by data communication through a communication network and the facility device. An identification information issuing unit that issues identification information for use in data communication through the communication network between the equipment and the terminal device, and an identification information issuing unit. Includes an identification information storage unit that stores the identification information issued for the subsequent data communication, and an output unit that outputs the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, the other of the equipment and the terminal device, An input unit that inputs identification information output from the output unit without going through a communication network, and an identification information setting unit that stores the identification information input from the input unit in preparation for subsequent data communication It is characterized in.

  The invention of claim 2 comprises a center device for transferring data between the terminal device and the equipment on the communication network according to the invention of claim 1, and the center device has the identification information issuing unit The equipment and terminal that the identification information corresponds to when the issued identification information is registered and the data communication between the equipment and the terminal device matches the equipment and the terminal device using the correspondence relationship of the identification information. A data transfer unit is provided for transferring data to and from the apparatus.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, after the identification information issuing unit is requested to issue the identification information, the identification information is used when the identification information is used within a specified expiration date. The center device is provided with a time limit management unit that is valid in data communication and expires when it is not used within the valid time limit.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the second or third aspect, the identification information passed from the facility device to the terminal device is used when the terminal device establishes a link with the center device. It is characterized by accompanying information to be used.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the identification information is issued when the identification information is used within a specified validity period after the identification information issuing unit is requested to issue the identification information. The facility device is provided with a time limit management unit that makes information valid in subsequent data communication and expires when the information is not used within the valid time limit.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the output unit includes a display capable of graphic display, and the input unit captures a graphic pattern displayed on the display And an identification information extraction unit that extracts identification information included in the graphic pattern imaged by the imaging device and stores the identification information in the identification information setting unit.

  The invention of claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the identification information storage unit has a storage area for storing a plurality of the identification information, and each identification information has a remote operation instruction. The priority order for accepting the content is set, and when the content instructed from the terminal device does not match the operation of the equipment at the time of the instruction, the equipment in the content instructed using the identification information having the highest priority at the time of the instruction The facility device is provided with a priority order identifying unit for operating the device.

  The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 7, the priority order identifying unit can set a priority order for each instruction content given to the equipment.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the equipment is an effective mode for enabling remote operation from the terminal device and an invalid mode for invalidating regardless of identification information. And a mode switching unit for switching between the two.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, one of the equipment and the terminal device issues identification information, and the identification information is input to the other of the equipment and the terminal device without going through the communication network. The device and the terminal device each have identification information. Thereafter, data communication can be performed between the terminal device and the equipment using the identification information, and the equipment can be remotely operated in accordance with an instruction from the terminal device. Furthermore, since the identification information is passed between the equipment and the terminal device without going through the communication network, the time from the issue of the identification information to the remote operation by the terminal device is shortened.

  In addition, since the identification information is passed between the equipment and the terminal device without going through the communication network, the possibility that the identification information is leaked between the equipment and the terminal device is low, and the identification information is passed to a third party. There are advantages that unauthorized use of equipment due to leakage can be prevented, and safety of identification information can be ensured. Note that if the identification information given to the terminal device from the output unit of the equipment is different from the identification information given to the equipment, the correspondence between the two pieces of identification information is verified according to a predetermined rule (that is, encrypted) ), It is possible to more reliably prevent unauthorized remote operation of equipment by other terminal devices.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 2, since the identification information set between the equipment and the terminal device is registered in the center device, and the center device is interposed when performing remote operation of the equipment from the terminal device, The center apparatus has an advantage that it is possible to manage the history of remote operation and the history of operation of equipment.

  According to the configurations of the inventions of claims 3 and 5, the identification information is invalidated unless the identification information set in the terminal device is used within the specified expiration date after the issue of the identification information is requested. Therefore, even when the identification information is erroneously set to the terminal device that is not intended to be combined with the equipment, the identification information set to the terminal device can be automatically expired.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 4, since information used when the terminal device establishes a link with the center device is attached to the identification information, the terminal device manually inputs information such as the address of the center device. When the terminal device instructs remote operation of the equipment, the terminal device can be automatically connected to the center device to notify the center device of the content of the instruction.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 6, since the graphic pattern displayed on the display device of the equipment is imaged by the imaging device provided in the terminal device and the identification information included in the captured graphic pattern is extracted, the terminal device There is an advantage in that it takes less time to input the identification information to the terminal, and the identification information is encrypted by the graphic pattern, so that the possibility of the leakage of the identification information is reduced. A two-dimensional bar code or the like can be used as the graphic pattern, and a camera-equipped mobile phone available on the market can be used as a terminal device for remotely controlling equipment.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 7, since a plurality of pieces of identification information are stored in the equipment device, the equipment device can be remotely operated by a plurality of terminal devices. Moreover, even if an instruction to change the operation of the equipment is made from another terminal device while the equipment is operating according to an instruction from one of the terminal devices, the instruction is given because it follows the instruction with the highest priority. The operation of the equipment is uniquely determined without causing confusion in the contents. For example, the priority order can be determined for each owner of the terminal device.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 8, by setting the priority for each instruction content, the authority of the owner of the terminal device can be made different depending on the content of the remote operation. For example, it is possible to set such that important instructions such as operation and stop of equipment are given by a specific owner, and anyone can give relatively minor instructions.

  According to the configuration of the ninth aspect of the invention, since it is possible to switch whether the remote operation from the terminal device is enabled or disabled, when the user of the equipment moves and does not use the equipment. It can be disabled even if the previous user operates the terminal device as an invalid mode, and when a new user uses it, by issuing new identification information, the new terminal device Remote operation of equipment can be made possible.

(Embodiment 1)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a center device 1 composed of a computer, a facility device 2 that can communicate with the center device 2 via a communication network, and a center device 2 can communicate with the center device 2 via a communication network. It is composed of a certain terminal device 3. Although the terminal device 3 can give an instruction to remotely operate the equipment device 2, data communication instructing the remote operation is performed through the center device 1. In the following description, the Internet is assumed as a communication network. Further, the equipment 2 is assumed to be a gas water heater with a remote control device (hereinafter abbreviated as “hot water heater”), and the terminal device 3 is a computer or a mobile phone with camera (hereinafter referred to as “mobile phone”) functioning as a WWW browser. Abbreviated as “telephone”). A remote control device provided in the water heater includes a display such as a liquid crystal display and a plurality of switches, and can set a hot water supply temperature, an operation time of the water heater, and the like.

  In the remote operation system of the present embodiment, the center device 1 is interposed when a remote operation instruction is given from the terminal device 3 to the equipment 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the center device 1, the equipment 2, and the terminal device 3 include communication units 11, 21, and 31, respectively, so that data communication can be performed with each other via the Internet NT.

  The center device 1 is a computer that executes a program that realizes the following functions, and corresponds to the identification information individually set in the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 in order to associate the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3. The correspondence database 13 in which the relationship is registered, and the authentication unit 12 that verifies the correspondence between the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 by referring to the correspondence database 13 when the terminal device 3 remotely operates the equipment device 2. With. The identification information is composed of a character string. In addition, the center device 1 includes a remote operation processing unit 10 that exchanges data between the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3, and when the correspondence relationship between the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 is verified by the authentication unit 12. The remote operation processing unit 10 enables remote operation of the equipment 2 by the corresponding terminal device 3. The remote operation processing unit 10, the authentication unit 12, and the correspondence database 13 constitute a data transfer unit 14.

  The equipment 2 includes the remote control device as described above, and the remote control device can operate / stop the equipment 2 and control the temperature, and can check the operation / stop status and set temperature. ing. The equipment 2 includes an equipment control processing unit 20 composed of a microprocessor. In addition to the communication unit 21 described above, an identification information storage unit 22 for storing identification information set uniquely for each equipment 2 is also provided. Provided. The identification information storage unit 22 uses a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and stores the identification information issued by the center device 1 in the identification information storage unit 22 as will be described later. In the state where the identification information is stored in the identification information storage unit 22, the facility device 2 intermittently communicates with the center device 1, and the facility control processing is performed when the remote device instruction content is transmitted from the center device 1. The unit 20 controls or monitors the equipment device 2.

  The terminal device 3 includes a terminal processing unit 30 composed of a microprocessor, and functions as a WWW browser as described above. Accordingly, the terminal device 3 can display the display device 32 that displays the screen data transmitted from the center device 1, and the remote control instruction content can be input to the equipment 3 according to the content displayed on the display device 32. An operation unit 33 including a switch group is provided. In addition, an identification information setting unit 34 in which identification information for associating the terminal device 3 with the equipment 2 is registered is also provided. The identification information setting unit 34 is composed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and can store identification information delivered from the equipment 2 without going through the Internet NT in the identification information setting unit 34 as will be described later.

  Below, the operation | movement at the time of performing remote control of the equipment 2 using the terminal device 3 is demonstrated. As shown in FIG. 2, normally, a confirmation request is transmitted intermittently and periodically for the presence or absence of an operation instruction at an appropriate time interval from the equipment device 2 to the center apparatus 1 (P1). If the terminal device 3 corresponding to the facility device 2 has not established a link with the center device 1 at the time, the center device 1 returns a response without an instruction to the facility device 2 (P2).

  On the other hand, the terminal device 3 requests the center device 1 to establish a link (P3), and whether or not there is an operation instruction from the equipment 2 in a state where the link is established between the center device 1 and the terminal device 3. When a confirmation request is made (P1), it is confirmed whether or not the equipment 2 corresponds to the terminal device 3 that has established a link. That is, when a link is requested from the terminal device 3 to the center device 1, the center device 1 collates the identification information included in the data transmitted from the terminal device 3 to the center device 1 in the correspondence database 13 and is registered in advance. If the terminal device 3 can be confirmed, a link with the terminal device 3 is established and a standby state is established. In the standby state, identification information of the equipment 2 corresponding to the terminal device 3 is held in the authentication unit 12. Here, if there is an inquiry about whether there is an operation instruction from the equipment 2 corresponding to the terminal device 3 to the center device 1, the equipment 2 is authenticated. Thus, since the identification information of the terminal device 3 is automatically transmitted to the center device 1 when the terminal device 3 establishes a link with the center device 1, an operation for inputting the identification information to the terminal device 3 is unnecessary. It is.

  At this time, since the remote control instruction has not been received from the terminal device 3, the center device 1 returns a response with no instruction to the equipment 2 (P2). On the other hand, data for generating a screen for remote operation is transmitted to the terminal device 3 (P4). When the terminal device 3 receives data from the center device 1, the terminal device 3 displays buttons and a display for remote operation on the screen of the display device 32 included in the terminal device 3. When the remote operation screen is displayed on the terminal device 3, the remote operation can be instructed. Therefore, when the operation content is instructed on the screen using the operation unit 33, data including the desired operation content is stored in the terminal device 3. To the center device 1 (P5).

  After the remote control instruction content is transmitted from the terminal device 3 to the center device 1, when the facility device 2 requests the center device 1 to confirm whether or not there is an operation instruction (P1), the center device 1 The data including the instruction content from 3 is transmitted to the equipment 2 (P6). Through such a series of operations, the instruction content from the terminal device 3 is transmitted to the facility device 2 via the center device 1, and the facility device 2 can be operated according to the instruction content. The facility device 2 notifies the center device 1 that it has operated in accordance with the instruction content (P7), and the center device 1 that has received this notification informs the terminal device 3 that the facility device 2 has operated in response to the instruction content. Notify (P8).

  By the way, as described above, the center device 1 needs to register the identification information between the equipment 2 and the terminal device 3 in association with each other in the correspondence database 13. It is also necessary to store identification information corresponding to the identification information registered in the center device 1 in the identification information storage unit 22 of the equipment device 2 and the identification information setting unit 34 of the terminal device 3. Below, the technique which sets identification information to the center apparatus 1, the equipment 2, and the terminal device 3 is demonstrated.

  In the present invention, when the terminal device 3 remotely controls the equipment 2, the instruction content from the terminal 3 is transmitted to the equipment 2 via the center device 1. Identification information with the terminal device 3 is managed. However, the equipment device 2 has the authority to issue the identification information of the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3. In addition, since the identification information of the equipment device 2 needs to be changed when the user of the equipment device 2 changes, the identification information of the equipment device 2 is variable.

  The equipment 2 includes an identification information issuing unit 23 that issues identification information. The identification information issuing unit 23 generates appropriate identification information by operating an operation unit (not shown) provided in the remote control device of the equipment device 2. For this operation, a dedicated operation unit that is not normally operated by the user of the equipment 2 can be used. Further, identification information may be issued by operating a switch, which is an operation unit provided in the remote control device, in a specific procedure. In any case, the identification information issuing unit 23 issues identification information by a specific operation input.

  The equipment device 2 is also provided with an interface 24 as an output unit for giving the issued identification information to the terminal device 3. Although various configurations can be adopted for the interface 24, in the present embodiment, an area that can display a two-dimensional barcode such as a QR code is provided on a display provided in a remote control device of the equipment 2. The interface 24 is configured to display the identification information on the display device with a two-dimensional barcode.

  The terminal device 3 is provided with an interface 35 corresponding to the interface 24 of the equipment device 2. The interface 35 includes a camera 35a that is an imaging device, and an identification information extraction unit 35b that extracts the URL and identification information of the center device 1 from the graphic pattern when the graphic pattern of the two-dimensional barcode is captured by the camera 35a. Have. The URL and identification information of the center device 1 extracted by the interface 35 are registered in the identification information setting unit 34. After the URL and identification information of the center device 1 are registered in the identification information setting unit 34, the terminal device 3 can call the center device 1 through the Internet NT using the URL. That is, the URL is information used when the terminal device 3 establishes a link with the center device 1.

  After transferring the identification information to the terminal device 3, the facility device 2 notifies the center device 1 of the issued identification information and requests the center device 1 to temporarily register the identification information. The identification information transmitted to the center device 1 is both the identification information set for the equipment 2 and the identification information set for the terminal device 3. In the center apparatus 1, the identification information requested for temporary registration is temporarily registered in the correspondence database 13, and the provisional registration is returned to the equipment 2.

  Before the remote control of the equipment device 2 using the identification information registered in the identification information setting unit 34 in the terminal device 3, the identification information of the center device 1, the equipment device 2, and the terminal device 3 is Check the settings. In this confirmation work, first, the terminal device 3 accesses the center device 1 and sends a confirmation request by transmitting identification information to the center device 1. On the other hand, the facility device 2 intermittently communicates with the center device 1 from the time when the identification information is issued, and inquires of the center device 1 whether there is a confirmation request from the terminal device 3. When making this inquiry, the identification information of the terminal device 3 is transmitted.

  In the authentication unit 12 of the center device 1, the identification information of the facility device 2 transmitted from the facility device 2, the identification information of the facility device 2 and the terminal device 3 transmitted from the terminal device 3, and the identification issued from the center device 1 The information is collated, and if the relationship between the identification information is correct, the facility device 2 is notified that a confirmation request has been made.

  In the facility control processing unit 20 provided in the facility device 2, when the center device 1 is notified that there is a confirmation request, the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit 22 is used as the identification information of the facility device 2. Determine. After the identification information of the facility device 2 is confirmed, the facility device 2 notifies the center device 1 that the identification information has been confirmed. When the center device 1 confirms the confirmation of the identification information in the facility device 2, the center device 1 The identification information issued from is confirmed, and the terminal device 3 is also notified of confirmation of the issued identification information. Receiving this notification, the terminal device 3 determines to use the identification information stored in the identification information setting unit 34. The identification information of the center apparatus 1, the equipment device 2, and the terminal apparatus 3 is determined by the above procedure.

  The URL of the center device 1 is held by the equipment device 2 and is therefore given from the equipment device 2 to the terminal device 3. Further, when the identification information is given from the equipment 2 to the terminal device 3, not only the identification information of the terminal 3 but also the identification information of the equipment 2 may be given. In this case, when the terminal device 3 establishes a link with the center device 1, not only the identification information of the terminal device 3 but also the identification information of the equipment device 2 can be transmitted. Becomes easier. In addition, when a relationship based on a predetermined rule is set for the identification information between the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3, the identification information transmitted from the equipment device 2 to the center device 1 is only the identification information of the equipment device 2, and the terminal device The identification information transmitted from 3 to the center device 1 is set as only the identification information of the terminal device 3, and the center device 1 sets only the relationship between the identification information, so that the identification information between the equipment 2 and the terminal device 3 can be changed. Verification can be performed. If this configuration is adopted, even if the identification information leaks to a third party on the Internet NT, the equipment 2 and the terminal device 3 cannot be associated with each other, and safety against unauthorized use of the equipment 2 by a third party. Becomes even higher.

  The processing procedure from the issue of the identification information to the determination of the identification information is summarized in FIG. First, when the equipment device 2 issues the identification information and displays the identification information represented by the two-dimensional barcode, the terminal device 3 acquires the identification information by reading (imaging) the two-dimensional barcode (P11). The terminal device 3 stores the acquired identification information in the identification information setting unit 34. In addition, the facility device 2 transmits the issued identification information to the center device 1 and requests temporary registration (P12). The center device 1 notifies the equipment device 2 that the identification information has been provisionally registered (P13). Thereafter, when the terminal device 3 establishes a link with the center device 1 (P14), the terminal device 3 confirms the identification information to the center device 1. At this time, the identification information of the terminal device 3 is transmitted to the center device 1. In addition, the facility device 2 inquires of the center device 1 whether there is a confirmation request from the terminal device 3 to the center device 1 (P15). When there is a confirmation connection inquiry from the equipment device 2 after the confirmation connection from the terminal device 3, the center device 1 notifies the facility device 2 that the confirmation connection has been made (P16). When the facility device 2 is notified from the center device 1 that the confirmation connection has been made, the identification information is confirmed, and the center device 1 is also requested to confirm the identification information (P17). In response to this request, the center device 1 also determines the identification information, and notifies the terminal device 3 of the confirmation of the identification information (P18).

  By the way, when the facility device 2 issues identification information (P11), the center device 1, the facility device 2, and the terminal device 3 are on standby until they are determined as identification information (P18). Since such a state is inconvenient, in this embodiment, the period from the time when the equipment device 2 issues the identification information (P11) to the time when the equipment device 2 identification information is confirmed (P16) is limited. That is, the expiration date management unit 27 is provided in the facility device 2 and the expiration date is associated with the issued identification information. The expiration date is stored and managed for each piece of identification information issued in the facility device 2. However, an expiration date may be attached to the identification information. In this case, since it is not necessary to store the expiration date in the equipment device 2, the processing load on the equipment device 2 is reduced.

  In the time limit management unit 27, the equipment device 2 counts the period after issuing the identification information until the center apparatus 1 notifies the confirmation of the identification information, and when this period exceeds the expiration date, that is, the expiration date. If the terminal device 3 cannot be notified of the confirmation of the identification information, the issued identification information is discarded and expired. In short, when the terminal device 3 uses the identification information issued by the facility device 2 within the expiration date and requests the center device 1 to confirm the identification information, the center device 1 follows the procedure shown in steps P15 to P18 in FIG. When the terminal device 3 does not use the identification information within the expiration date, the identification information is discarded and expired, and the terminal device 3 sends the center device 1 to the center device 1. Even if a request for confirmation of identification information is made, it is ignored. Therefore, it is not necessary for the center apparatus 1 to hold the issued identification information indefinitely without being determined indefinitely, and the processing load on the center apparatus 1 is reduced accordingly.

  In addition, the time limit management unit 27 can be provided in the center device 1 instead of the equipment device 2, and in that case, the expiration date is counted from the time when the identification information issued by the equipment device 2 is received (P 12), When the link from the terminal device 3 to the center device 1 is established (P16), it may be determined whether it is within the expiration date. Moreover, when issuing identification information in the equipment 2, the expiration date may be specified together.

  As the interfaces 24 and 35 for passing the identification information from the equipment 2 to the terminal device 3, a combination of a display and a camera is used. Specifications may be adopted in which the data communication terminal provided is wired or a wireless transmission path such as a wireless LAN or IrDA is formed. When the terminal device 3 includes an IC card, A slot for an IC card is provided in the device 2, and the IC card is inserted into the slot of the equipment device 2, and the equipment device 2 requests the center device 1 to issue the identification information. It may be written. Furthermore, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which identification information is displayed on a display provided in the remote control device of the equipment 2 and the identification information is input to the terminal device 3 by the operation unit 33 provided in the terminal device 3.

  In the above-described configuration example, the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 are associated one-to-one. However, if the remote operation of one equipment device 2 is performed by a plurality of terminal devices 3, a plurality of people are provided. It becomes possible to share the equipment 2 with. Therefore, a plurality of pieces of identification information may be set in the identification information storage unit 22 of the equipment device 2 and may be associated one-to-many. In this configuration, a state in which a plurality of pieces of identification information are registered in the equipment device 2 is selected, and the registered number of identification information is further input. Thereafter, if the center device 1 is requested to issue identification information, the procedure shown in FIG. 3 is repeated for the number of terminal devices 3 corresponding to the input registered number, and the number of registered information is stored in the identification information storage unit 22. Is stored, and the identification information is set in the terminal devices 3 corresponding to the number of registrations. Thus, when performing remote operation of one equipment 2 with a plurality of terminal devices 3, the range of the instruction content given to the equipment 2 may be associated with the identification information. For example, it is possible to provide a terminal device 3 that can be remotely operated for all functions of the facility device 2 and a terminal device 3 that can be remotely operated only for some functions. In this case, a data table may be provided in the center device 1 or the equipment 2 so that the identification information is associated with the function. Or when setting identification information in the terminal device 3, the code regarding the function of the equipment 2 which can be instructed by remote operation is also set, and the terminal device 3 is connected to the center device 1 for remote operation. When the link is established by the above, a configuration is adopted in which only the function corresponding to the code set in the terminal device 3 among the screens transmitted from the center device 1 is enabled.

  When a plurality of terminal devices 3 can remotely control one equipment device 2, another terminal device 3 is operated during the period in which the equipment device 2 is operating according to an instruction from one of the terminal devices 3. May cause other operation instructions to be input, which may cause confusion in the operation of the equipment 2. Therefore, in order to validate only one of the instruction contents when a plurality of instruction contents collide, a priority order is set for each identification information, and when a plurality of instruction contents are given, the priority order is set. It is desirable to follow the content indicated by the high identification information. The priority order is identified by a priority order identifying unit 25 (provided in the equipment 2 in the illustrated example) provided in the center device 1 or the equipment 2. When the priority order identifying unit 25 is provided in the center device 1, unified management of the relationship between the identification information and the priority order becomes possible, but the processing load is concentrated on the center device 1. In order to reduce the processing load of the center apparatus 1, the priority order identifying unit 25 may be provided in the equipment device 2.

  Since a plurality of types of instructions can be given to the equipment 2, the priority order of the terminal device 3 may be set for each instruction content. For example, when remote control of operation / stop and temperature setting is enabled, the priority order for the operation / stop instruction and the priority order for temperature setting may be different. The priority order is also managed by the priority order identifying unit 25 according to the instruction content of the equipment 2. The priority order managed by the priority order identifying unit 25 can be changed as appropriate after the identification information is registered in the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 by operating the operation unit provided in the remote control device of the equipment device 2. .

  By the way, in the equipment 2 such as a water heater installed in a rental apartment house, it is necessary to change the identification information every time the resident changes, and the resident owns the resident after moving out. It is necessary to prohibit remote operation of the equipment 2 from the terminal device 3. Therefore, the equipment device 2 is provided with a mode switching unit 26 for switching between an effective mode for enabling the remote operation from the terminal device 3 and an invalid mode for disabling the remote operation regardless of the identification information. In the invalid mode, the facility device 2 does not check the center device 1 for operation instructions, and in the valid mode, the facility device 2 intermittently and periodically checks the center device 1 for operation instructions. To do. Switching from the invalid mode to the valid mode is automatically performed when the facility device 2 requests the center device 1 to issue identification information. On the other hand, switching from the valid mode to the invalid mode is usually instructed from the center device 1. Furthermore, after requesting the issuance of identification information, the facility device 2 automatically enters the invalid mode even when it is not confirmed that the identification information is set in the terminal device 3 within the above-described expiration date.

  Note that when the facility device 2 requests the center device 1 to issue identification information, it is possible to specify an effective period and an effective time zone of the identification information. When an effective period or an effective time zone is designated, the identification information issued by the center device 1 can be used only during the designated period or time zone. In other words, the valid mode is set only during the designated period or time period, and the invalid mode is set to invalidate the remote operation during other periods or time periods.

  In the present invention, since the facility device 2 is remotely operated from the terminal device 3 through the center device 1, the terminal device 3 is not limited to a mobile phone, and a computer or PDA connected to the center device 1 via the Internet is connected. It can also be used to remotely operate the equipment 2.

  By the way, it is desirable that the identification information registered in the identification information setting unit 34 of the terminal device 3 is obtained by changing the identification information set in the equipment 2 according to a certain rule. This rule is also applied to the center apparatus 1. That is, the center device 1 can determine that the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 correspond to each other when the identification information received from the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 satisfies the above rule. . If such a relationship is applied to the identification information, even if the identification information leaks to a third party while the identification information is transmitted over the Internet NT, if the above rules are not known, the identification information is Since the equipment device 2 cannot be remotely controlled by using it, the safety for the identification information is increased.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the center device 1 is interposed when the terminal device 3 remotely controls the equipment 2, but the present embodiment omits the center device 1. Therefore, when performing the remote device of the equipment device 2 from the terminal device 3, the terminal device 3 and the equipment device 2 communicate directly. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, in order to remotely operate the equipment 2 using the terminal device 3, as shown in FIG. 4, the terminal 3 establishes a link with the equipment 2 (P21), and the equipment 2, the terminal device 3 is authenticated. After the authentication, the facility device 2 transmits data for generating a screen for remote operation to the terminal device 3 (P22). By receiving this data, the terminal device 3 displays buttons and a display for remote operation on the screen of the display device 32. Since the terminal device 3 can instruct remote operation when a screen for remote operation is displayed, the operation content is instructed on the screen using the operation unit 33 (P23). When the equipment 2 operates in response to the remote operation instruction from the terminal device 3, the equipment 2 notifies the terminal 3 that it has operated in accordance with the content of the instruction (P24).

  As described above, since the terminal device 3 establishes a link with the facility device 2 and the terminal device 3 controls the facility device 2 by directly communicating with the facility device 2, the center device 1 is unnecessary. It is. However, in the Internet NT, it is not possible to set a fixed address for the equipment device 2 and the equipment device 2 is invisible from the terminal device 3. Therefore, when using this procedure, the equipment device 2 and the terminal device are used. At present, the Internet NT cannot be used as a communication network between the communication network 3 and the telephone network, for example. However, if IPv6 is adopted even for the Internet NT, the terminal device 3 can be directly accessed from the outside, and this procedure can also be adopted for the Internet NT.

  The procedure for registering the identification information issued by the equipment 2 in the terminal device 3 is simple. As shown in FIG. 5, the equipment 2 first issues the identification information and displays the identification information represented by a two-dimensional barcode. When displayed, the terminal device 3 acquires identification information by reading (imaging) the two-dimensional barcode (P31). The terminal device 3 stores the acquired identification information in the identification information setting unit 34. Thereafter, the terminal device 3 confirms that the identification information can be used by establishing a link with the facility device 2 using the registered identification information (P32). When the equipment device 2 requests confirmation from the terminal device 3, it issues the issued identification information and notifies the terminal device 3 that the link has been successfully established (P33). The terminal device 3 that has received this notification determines the identification information stored in the identification information setting unit 34. Through such a series of operations, the equipment device 2 and the terminal device 3 respectively hold identification information.

  In each example described above, the facility device 2 issues identification information, but the terminal device 3 may be provided with an identification information issuing unit so that the terminal device 3 issues identification information. In that case, the direction of the process P11 in FIGS. 3 and 5 is reversed, but other procedures may be used as they are. Moreover, it is possible to interchange the equipment 2 and the terminal device 3 also about another procedure.

It is a block diagram which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the procedure of the remote operation in the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the setting procedure of the identification information same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the procedure of the remote operation in Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing which shows the setting procedure of the identification information same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Center apparatus 2 Equipment 3 Terminal apparatus 14 Data delivery part 15 Identification information issuing part 22 Identification information storage part 23 Identification information issuing part 24 Interface (output part)
25 Priority Order Identification Unit 26 Mode Switching Unit 27 Time Limit Management Unit 34 Identification Information Setting Unit 35 Interface (Input Unit)
35a Camera (imaging device)
35b Identification information extraction unit NT Internet

Claims (9)

  A facility device capable of remote operation by data communication through a communication network, and a terminal device for performing data communication with the facility device through the communication network and performing remote operation of the facility device; One of the terminal devices is an identification information issuing unit that issues identification information used when performing data communication through the communication network between the equipment and the terminal device, and the identification information issued by the identification information issuing unit. An identification information storage unit stored in preparation for data communication, and an output unit that outputs the identification information stored in the identification information storage unit, the other of the equipment and the terminal device is the identification output from the output unit An input unit that inputs information without going through a communication network, and an identification information setting unit that stores identification information input from the input unit in preparation for subsequent data communication,隔操 operation system.   A center device that exchanges data between the terminal device and the equipment on the communication network, wherein the center device registers the identification information issued by the identification information issuing unit, and the equipment and the terminal device. A data transfer unit that compares the equipment and the terminal device using the correspondence relationship of the identification information and exchanges data between the equipment and the terminal device corresponding to the identification information. The remote control system according to claim 1, wherein:   After the identification information issuance request is issued to the identification information issuing unit, the identification information is valid in the subsequent data communication when the identification information is used within the specified validity period, and invalidated when the identification information is not used within the validity period. The remote control system according to claim 2, wherein a time limit management unit is provided in the center device.   The identification information passed from the equipment to the terminal device is accompanied by information used when the terminal device establishes a link with the center device. 3. The remote control system according to 3.   After the identification information issuance request is issued to the identification information issuing unit, the identification information is valid in the subsequent data communication when the identification information is used within the specified validity period, and invalidated when the identification information is not used within the validity period. The remote control system according to claim 1, further comprising a time limit management unit that is provided in the equipment.   The output unit includes a display capable of graphic display, and the input unit extracts an imaging device that captures a graphic pattern displayed on the display, and identification information included in the graphic pattern captured by the imaging device. The remote operation system according to claim 1, further comprising an identification information extraction unit that is stored in the identification information setting unit.   The identification information storage unit has a storage area for storing a plurality of the identification information, and each identification information is set with a priority order for receiving instruction contents of remote operation, and the contents instructed from the terminal device are The equipment device further includes a priority order identifying unit that operates the equipment device with the contents instructed by using the identification information having the highest priority at the time of instruction when the operation does not coincide with the operation of the equipment device. The remote control system according to claim 6.   8. The remote operation system according to claim 7, wherein the priority order identification unit can set a priority order for each instruction content given to the equipment.   The said equipment is provided with the mode switching part which switches the effective mode which validates the remote operation from the said terminal device, and the invalid mode which makes it invalid irrespective of identification information, The Claim 1 thru | or 8 characterized by the above-mentioned. The remote control system according to any one of claims.

Images