JP2008101799A - Air conditioning management device, air conditioning management method and air conditioning management program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air conditioning management system, capable of performing switching between cooling schedule and heating schedule of an air conditioner by remote control. <P>SOLUTION: The air conditioning management device 30 configured to be communicable with an air conditioner 70 capable of acquiring a mode showing cooling operation or heating operation from a remote control 80 comprises a storage part and a processing part. The storage part has a function to store the mode, a validity flag showing whether the mode is valid or not, and a schedule showing an operation schedule of the air conditioner 70 in conformation with each other, and the processing part has functions to determine, upon acquisition of the mode from the remote control 80 through the air conditioner 70, whether the validity flag corresponding to the acquired mode is valid or not, and to control the air conditioner 70, when it is not valid, based on the schedule corresponding to the acquired mode. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling and managing an air conditioner.

  Conventionally, there are various technologies in an air conditioning management system that controls the operation of an air conditioner installed in a building. For example, a central monitoring device that monitors and controls the air conditioner together with building lighting, elevators, etc. is provided, and each air conditioner is based on an operation control signal that the central monitoring device transmits to each air conditioner. There is technology to control the operation of the machine. However, with the technology in which the central monitoring device collectively controls the operation of the air conditioner in this way, the scale of the building becomes large, and if there are many air conditioners installed in the building, the central monitoring device will fail. If this occurs, there is a possibility that operation control of a large number of air conditioners cannot be performed.

In addition, a technology for providing an air conditioning management device as an autonomous decentralized control device that relays between a central monitoring device and an air conditioner, and giving this air conditioning management device a function to control the operation of the air conditioner is disclosed (for example, a patent). Reference 1). As a result, it is possible to perform operation control by the air conditioning management device, so when the central monitoring device malfunctions compared to the technology in which the central monitoring device collectively controls the air conditioner, etc. However, it is possible to reduce the number of air conditioners that cannot perform operation control.
JP-A-6-241544

  However, in the air conditioning management system in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, information necessary for controlling the operation of the air conditioner is input via the central monitoring device, and the air conditioning management device is based on the information. Although it is possible to switch between the cooling schedule and the heating schedule of the air conditioner, there is a problem that switching between the cooling schedule and the heating schedule of the air conditioner cannot be performed by remote control operation.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable switching between a cooling schedule and a heating schedule of an air conditioner by a remote control operation in an air conditioning management system.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an air conditioner capable of acquiring a mode indicating a cooling operation or a heating operation from a remote controller, and an air conditioning management device configured to be able to communicate includes a storage unit and a processing unit. It was. The storage unit has a function of storing a mode, an effective flag indicating whether or not the mode is effective, and a schedule indicating an operation schedule of the air conditioner in association with each other, and the processing unit is configured to perform air conditioning from a remote controller. If the mode is acquired via the machine, it is determined whether or not the valid flag corresponding to the acquired mode is valid, and if not valid, the function of controlling the air conditioner based on the schedule corresponding to the acquired mode is provided. I decided to have it.

  According to the present invention, in an air conditioning management system, it is possible to switch between a cooling schedule and a heating schedule of an air conditioner by remote control operation.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “embodiment”) will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioning management system in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the air conditioning management system 1 includes an air conditioning management device 30, an air conditioner 70, and a remote controller 80. In a building, it is preferable that autonomous distributed control devices (not shown) are installed at various places in the building and each autonomous distributed control device (not shown) autonomously performs processing. As a result, even if one autonomous decentralized control device (not shown) is under maintenance or is stopped due to the occurrence of an abnormality, the other autonomous decentralized control device (not shown) is not affected and the process is performed. Can continue. In this case, an autonomous decentralized control device (not shown) may be provided with the function of the air conditioning management device 30. And the structure provided with the central monitoring apparatus 10 which monitors an autonomous distributed control apparatus (not shown) is preferable.

  The central monitoring device 10 is communicably connected to the air conditioning management device 30 via a cable such as a LAN (Local Area Network) cable 20. The central monitoring device 10 displays a processing log in the air conditioning management device 30 and sets and displays information held by the air conditioning management device 30. In addition, the central monitoring device 10 may be able to remotely start and stop the air conditioner 70. The remote start / stop of the air conditioner 70 is, for example, using a digital signal such as “1: operation” or “0: stop” by a user operation, the LAN cable 20, the air conditioning management device 30, the transmission line 40, and device control. This is done via the device 50 and the transmission line 60. Although FIG. 1 shows a state where one central monitoring device 10 is installed, the number of central monitoring devices 10 is not particularly limited. Moreover, it is preferable to use BACnet (A Data Communication Protocol for Building Automation and Control Networks) (registered trademark) which is an international communication standard for communication with the air conditioning management device 30. As a result, a device compatible with BACnet (registered trademark) can be used as the air conditioning management device 30, and a flexible system can be constructed regardless of the vendor of the air conditioning management device 30.

  The air conditioning management device 30 is communicably connected to the central monitoring device 10 via a cable such as the LAN cable 20 and is communicably connected to the device control device 50 via the transmission line 40. For communication with the device control apparatus 50 via the transmission line 40, it is preferable to use LonWorks (Local Operating Network) (registered trademark), which is an intelligent distributed control network technology developed by Echelon, USA. As a result, a device compatible with LonWorks (registered trademark) can be used as the device control device 50, and a flexible system can be constructed regardless of the vendor of the device control device 50. The air conditioning management device 30 has a function of managing the operation schedule information of the air conditioner 70 and controlling the air conditioner 70 based on the operation schedule information. The driving schedule information will be described later. In addition, when the air-conditioning management device 30 further manages the schedule control information and receives a mode indicating the air-conditioning operation mode from the air conditioner 70, the air-conditioning management device 30 refers to the operation schedule information and determines whether or not the mode has been switched. In this case, the schedule after switching is acquired from the schedule control information, and the air conditioner 70 is controlled based on the schedule. The mode and schedule control information will be described later. Furthermore, the air conditioning management device 30 may transfer the mode, status information, and failure information described later from the device control device 50 to the central monitoring device 10 via the LAN cable 20 from the air conditioning management device 30. As a result, the user of the central monitoring apparatus 10 can monitor the mode, state information, and failure information of the air conditioner 70. The mode, status information, and failure information may be transferred constantly, or may be performed every predetermined time such as every second, every 10 seconds, and the timing of the transfer is not particularly limited. Absent.

  The device control device 50 is connected to the air conditioning management device 30 via the transmission line 40 so as to be communicable, and is connected to the air conditioner 70 via the transmission line 60 so as to be communicable. The device control device 50 is a device that relays transmission / reception of information between the air conditioning management device 30 and the air conditioner 70. By connecting to the plurality of air conditioners 70, the transmission line 60 can be reduced. It is possible to plan. Moreover, the structure which directly connects the air-conditioning management apparatus 30 and the air conditioner 70 without using the apparatus control apparatus 50 may be sufficient.

  The air conditioner 70 is communicably connected to the device control device 50 via the transmission line 60, and is communicably connected to the remote controller 80 via the transmission line 60. The air conditioner 70 has a function of operating based on control from the air conditioning management device 30. In addition, when the air conditioner 70 receives a mode from the remote controller 80, the air conditioner 70 updates its own mode. The air conditioner 70 transmits its mode to the air conditioning management device 30 through the device control device 50 and the transmission line 40 as a digital signal such as “0: cooling” or “1: heating”, for example. Similarly, status information indicating whether the air conditioner 70 is operating / stopped is also air conditioning managed as a digital signal such as “0: stopped” or “1: operating” via the device control device 50 and the transmission line 40. It is good also as transmitting to the apparatus 30. Similarly, failure information indicating normality / failure of the air conditioner 70 is also converted into a digital signal such as “0: normal” or “1: failure” via the device control device 50 and the transmission line 40 and the air conditioning management device 30. It is good also as transmitting to. Transmission of the mode, status information, and failure information may be performed constantly, or may be performed every predetermined time such as every 1 second, every 10 seconds, and the transmission timing is not particularly limited. Absent.

  The remote controller 80 is communicably connected to the air conditioner 70 via the transmission line 60. The remote controller 80 is attached to the wall of the room where the air conditioner 70 is installed. The remote controller 80 receives a mode input from a person (user) in the room by operating a button on the remote controller 80 or the like. The mode is transmitted to the air conditioner 70. In addition, here, the air conditioner 70 and the remote controller 80 are connected by the transmission line 60, but the air conditioner 70 and the remote controller 80 may be connected by radio so that they can communicate with each other.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the configuration of the air conditioning management device according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the air conditioning management device will be described with reference to FIG. 2 (see FIG. 1 as appropriate).
As shown in FIG. 2, the air conditioning management device 30 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 31, a memory (storage unit) 32, and an input / output interface 33.
The CPU 31 has a function of executing the air conditioning management program 321 stored in the memory 32. The air conditioning management program 321 describes the processing executed by the air conditioning management device 30.
The memory 32 stores an air conditioning management program 321, and stores operation schedule information 1000 and schedule control information 2000 used in the air conditioning management program 321. In addition, the CPU 31 has a function of storing data required when the air conditioning management program 321 is executed.
The input / output interface 33 has a function of transmitting and receiving signals between the LAN cable 20 and the transmission line 40.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of operation schedule information in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the driving schedule information will be described with reference to FIG. 3 (see FIG. 1 as appropriate). As shown in FIG. 3, the operation schedule information 1000 includes device identification information 110, a mode 120, schedule identification information 130, and a valid flag 140.
The device identification information 110 is information for identifying the air conditioner 70. The mode 120 is information indicating a mode (cooling or heating). The schedule identification information 130 is information for identifying a schedule. The valid flag 140 is information regarding whether or not the mode 120 is valid. For example, “ON” can be used when the mode 120 is valid, and “OFF” can be used when the mode 120 is invalid.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of schedule control information in the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the schedule control information will be described with reference to FIG. 4 (see FIG. 1 as appropriate). As shown in FIG. 4, the schedule control information 2000 includes schedule identification information 210 and an entry time 220 and a turn-off time 230 that are schedules.
The schedule identification information 210 is information for identifying a schedule. The on time 220 is a time at which the driving is started, and the off time 230 is a time at which the driving is finished. In the present embodiment, the set temperature at the time of cooling operation and heating operation by the air conditioner 70 is determined in advance, but information on the set temperature is added to the schedule identification information 210, and this setting is performed. The temperature may be changed from the central monitoring device 10. In that case, the air-conditioning management device 30 may control the air conditioner 70 based on the set temperature. Further, there may be a plurality of entry times 220 and turn-off times 230 instead of one each.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the air conditioning management device in the present embodiment. With reference to FIG. 5 (refer to FIGS. 1 to 4 as appropriate), processing executed by the air conditioning management device will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the air conditioning management device 30 receives a mode input from the air conditioner 70 via the device control device 50 (step S <b> 101). Here, the mode transmitted from the air conditioner 70 to the air conditioning management device 30 can be input from the user via the remote controller 80. Subsequently, it is determined whether or not the mode has been changed (step S102). Specifically, the device identification information 110 and the mode 120 that match the device identification information of the air conditioner 70 that is the mode transmission source and the input mode are searched from the operation schedule information 1000, and the valid flag of the corresponding data is retrieved. It is determined whether 140 is OFF. Here, it is assumed that the mode of the air conditioner 70 is changed from the remote controller 80. If the mode has not been changed (“No” in step S102), the process returns to step S101. If the mode has been changed (“Yes” in step S102), it is determined whether or not the mode has been changed to cooling (step S103). Specifically, it is determined whether or not the input mode is “cooling”.

  When the mode is changed to cooling (“Yes” in step S103), the cooling of the operation schedule information is enabled and the heating is disabled (step S104). Specifically, the device identification information 110 and the mode 120 that match the device identification information of the air conditioner 70 that is the transmission source of the mode and the mode “cooling” are searched from the operation schedule information 1000, and the valid flag of the corresponding data is retrieved. 140 is set to ON, and the device identification information 110 and the mode 120 that match the device identification information and the mode “heating” of the air conditioner 70 that is the transmission source of the mode are searched from the operation schedule information 1000, and the corresponding data is retrieved. The valid flag 140 is set to OFF.

  Next, a cooling schedule is acquired from the schedule control information 2000, and operation is performed (step S105). Specifically, the schedule identification information 210 that matches the schedule identification information 130 of the corresponding data in step S102 is searched from the schedule control information 2000, and the mode is determined based on the entry time 220 and the cut time 230 of the acquired data. Is controlled. Then, it returns to step S101 and continues a process.

  When the mode is changed to heating, that is, when the mode is not changed to cooling (“No” in step S103), heating in the operation schedule information is enabled and cooling is disabled (step S106). Specifically, the device identification information 110 and the mode 120 that match the device identification information and the mode “heating” of the air conditioner 70 that is the transmission source of the mode are searched from the operation schedule information 1000, and the valid flag of the corresponding data is retrieved. 140 is set to ON, and the device identification information 110 and the mode 120 that match the device identification information of the air conditioner 70 that is the transmission source of the mode and the mode “cooling” are searched from the operation schedule information 1000, and the corresponding data is retrieved. The valid flag 140 is set to OFF.

  Next, a heating schedule is acquired from the schedule control information, and operation is performed (step S107). Specifically, the schedule identification information 210 that matches the schedule identification information 130 of the corresponding data in step S102 is searched from the schedule control information 2000, and the mode is determined based on the entry time 220 and the cut time 230 of the acquired data. Is controlled. Then, it returns to step S101 and continues a process.

  According to the embodiment described above, in the air conditioning management system, it is possible to switch between the cooling schedule and the heating schedule of the air conditioner by remote control operation. Accordingly, it is possible to switch between the cooling schedule and the heating schedule of the air conditioner according to the sensible temperature of the person (user) in each room.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the air-conditioning management system in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the air-conditioning management apparatus in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the driving schedule information in this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the schedule control information in this embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the air-conditioning management apparatus in this embodiment in this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Air-conditioning management system 10 Central monitoring device 20 LAN cable 30 Air-conditioning management device 31 CPU
32 memory 33 input / output interface 40 transmission line 50 device control device 60 transmission line 70 air conditioner 80 remote controller 110 device identification information 120 mode 130 schedule identification information 140 valid flag 210 schedule identification information 220 on time 230 off time 321 air conditioning management program 1000 Operation schedule information 2000 Schedule control information

Claims (5)

An air conditioner capable of acquiring a mode indicating a cooling operation or a heating operation from a remote control, and an air conditioning management device configured to be communicable,
A storage unit that stores a mode, an effective flag indicating whether the mode is effective, and a schedule indicating an operation schedule of the air conditioner;
When the mode is acquired from the remote controller via the air conditioner, it is determined whether or not the valid flag corresponding to the acquired mode is valid, and if not valid, the schedule corresponding to the acquired mode is determined. An air conditioning management device comprising: a processing unit that controls the air conditioner based on the air conditioning device. The schedule is
The air-conditioning management apparatus according to claim 1, comprising information related to a time at which the operation of the air conditioner is started and information related to an end time. An air conditioner capable of acquiring a mode indicating a cooling operation or a heating operation from a remote control, and an air conditioning management method by an air conditioning management device configured to be communicable,
The air conditioning management device
A storage unit that stores a mode, an effective flag indicating whether the mode is effective, a schedule indicating an operation schedule of the air conditioner, and a processing unit that processes information;
The processor is
When the mode is acquired from the remote controller via the air conditioner, it is determined whether or not the valid flag corresponding to the acquired mode is valid, and if not valid, the schedule corresponding to the acquired mode is determined. And controlling the air conditioner based on the air conditioning management method. The schedule is
The air-conditioning management method according to claim 3, comprising information related to a time at which the operation of the air conditioner starts and information related to an end time.   An air conditioning management program capable of causing a computer to execute the air conditioning management method according to claim 3 or 4.

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