JP2015089176A - Electric apparatus monitor device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To issue an alarm in a manner to enable easy recognition thereof if no viewer is present in the vicinity of a power monitor device, when monitoring the power consumption of an electric apparatus at home etc. and issuing an alarm if the power consumption becomes an abnormal value.SOLUTION: The electric apparatus monitor device includes a controller for an AV apparatus network, which is proposed as an in-home network system for providing video displayed on a television receiver, an apparatus having a display element such as the television receiver, etc., so as to detect an operating state of the connected display apparatus. In the event of abnormal power consumption, the electric apparatus monitor device changes an alarm issue destination in a manner to enable easy recognition by the viewer.

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrical equipment monitoring apparatus that monitors deterioration and abnormality of electrical equipment.

  In recent years, the introduction of energy management systems for homes has progressed, and the number of homes equipped with home networks has increased for ordinary homes. The home energy management system is a controller (hereinafter referred to as this controller) that connects electrical devices in the home via a network, visualizes the power consumption state, monitors power consumption, and controls each electrical device. Is called a power consumption monitoring controller). The power consumption monitoring controller monitors the power consumption state of each electrical device by constantly detecting the power consumption of the home electrical devices connected to the power consumption monitoring network. In addition, the power consumption monitoring device includes a gas leak sensor and a security sensor. By the way, in each household, there are refrigerators and surveillance cameras for crime prevention that interfere with life when power consumption is completely lost. There has been proposed a technology that issues an alarm when an abnormal state such as no power consumption of an electrical device is detected, when a gas leak is detected, or when a person is detected by a security sensor or security camera. Yes. Using this technology, the user can detect a failure of an electrical device whose power consumption is abnormal, and take protective measures such as repairing the failed electrical device before it interferes with daily life. Can handle emergency situations such as crime prevention and gas leaks.

  On the other hand, the home network is a digital living network alliance (hereinafter referred to as AV equipment) that connects television receivers, DVD recorders, etc., stores video and images in memory, and shares video and images among multiple television receivers. A network of network associations (hereinafter simply referred to as an AV equipment network) has also become popular in homes, mainly digital television receivers equipped with a hard disk. In the AV device network, for example, a television receiver, a digital media player (hereinafter abbreviated as “player”) that plays video and images, usage status information of devices corresponding to the players connected to the AV device network, and digital media There is a digital media controller (hereinafter referred to as an AV equipment network controller) for control through a renderer (hereinafter referred to as a repeater) and a digital media server (hereinafter referred to as a content server) that stores video and images. To do. In a home connected to the home via an AV equipment network, the AV equipment network controller is controlled when a video or image stored in the content server is viewed on a television receiver in the room, and the repeater is turned on. Thus, the desired video or image on the television receiver, which is stored in the content server, is selected and displayed on the television receiver in the room. In this case, the AV device network controller can indicate, as information, that the controlled television receiver is being used via the repeater, and the screen is viewed by the viewer. I can understand that.

JP 2004-222374 A

Here, for example, when the power consumption of the refrigerator in the home connected to the power consumption monitoring network is completely lost, the power consumption monitoring controller detects that the power consumption has become zero and issues an alarm. However, if the viewer who wants to notify the alarm is not in a place where the alarm displayed on the power consumption monitoring controller can be recognized, the alarm may not be recognized and a quick response to the alarm may not be possible. There was a problem.

The electrical equipment monitoring apparatus according to the present invention is
A power consumption monitoring communication unit that has a power consumption monitoring network and communicates with the power consumption monitoring electrical device by the power consumption monitoring network;
AV device network communication means having an AV device network and performing communication with the AV device network electrical device by the AV device network;
Using the information acquired by the power consumption monitoring communication means, the information of power consumption monitoring electrical equipment connected to the power consumption monitoring network is acquired and the power consumption monitoring operation status determination means for determining the operation status;
AV device network usage information acquisition means for acquiring usage information of an AV device network electrical device connected to the AV device network using information acquired by the AV device network communication means;
AV device network information transmitting means for transmitting information to a repeater mounted on the AV device network electrical device;
Connection means for connecting the power consumption monitoring communication means and the AV equipment network communication means;
With
An alarm is issued to the AV device network electrical device determined based on the result of the operation status determined by the power consumption monitoring operation status determination unit and the result of the usage information acquired by the AV device network usage information acquisition unit. It is characterized by reporting.

  Since the monitoring apparatus according to the present invention can flexibly change the alarm issuing condition and the issuing means after linking the AV device network and the power consumption monitoring network, when the power consumption monitoring controller issues an alarm, It is possible to confirm the data held by the AV equipment network controller that constructs the equipment network, and to issue an alarm via a television receiver or the like having a repeater function in an operating state. An easy-to-recognize alarm can be provided.

It is the schematic of the system in connection with Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a sequence diagram of the power consumption monitoring controller concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a block diagram of the power consumption monitoring controller concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an AV device network controller that is a control unit of the AV device network according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a processing flow figure (front part) of AV apparatus network controller microcontroller in connection with Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a processing flow figure (rear part) of the AV equipment network controller microcontroller concerning Embodiment 1 of this invention. 1 is a block diagram of a content server connected to a home network of an AV equipment network according to Embodiment 1 of the invention. It is a figure which shows the content stored in the content server. It is a figure which shows the screen display which projected the alarm content stored in the content server. It is the schematic of the system in connection with Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, the electrical device monitoring apparatus connects an AV device network controller, a repeater, and a content server that constitute an AV device network to a power consumption monitoring controller 101 that constitutes a power consumption monitoring network. By referring to the history of control of the AV device network controller, the power consumption state of the power consumption monitoring connection device possessed by the power consumption monitoring controller can be displayed on a display device that is easy for the viewer to recognize. It can be done.

FIG. 1 shows an example of an electrical equipment monitoring apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The power consumption monitoring equipment 108 is a power consumption monitoring device controlled by a power consumption monitoring controller 101. The monitoring refrigerator 102 is connected, and two AV receiver networks 107, that is, a television receiver A (player A) 103 having a repeater function and a television receiver B (player B) 104 having a repeater function, are provided. This is a system in which a content server 106 such as a hard disk device in which content is stored and an AV device network controller 105 as a means for controlling a television receiver or the like connected to the AV device network 107 are connected. The AV device network controller 105 and the power consumption monitoring controller 101 are also connected to each other.
In the figure, a dotted line with an arrow indicated by P indicates a flow of content from the content server 106 to the player. In this case, the AV device network 107 is used. Also, a dotted line with an arrow indicated by Q indicates transmission / reception of signals of mutual operation state and transmission / reception of control signals between the player (in this case, a television receiver) and the AV device network controller. Also in this case, the AV device network 107 is used. A dotted line with an arrow indicated by R indicates transmission / reception of signals between the AV device network controller 105 and the power consumption monitoring controller 101. For example, which player is used or an alarm is generated. Requests are made. Furthermore, a dotted line with an arrow indicated by S indicates transmission / reception of a signal from the power consumption monitoring refrigerator 102 to the power consumption monitoring controller 101. For example, a signal indicating the power consumption amount of the power consumption monitoring refrigerator is transmitted. . In this case, the power consumption monitoring network 108 is used.

  Next, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 shown in FIG. 1 will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 is a power consumption monitoring microcontroller (in particular, the term “microcontroller” is referred to here. This controller uses a microcomputer and a driver as one device of power consumption monitoring In order to distinguish from a normal power consumption monitoring controller without the term “micro”, the same applies hereinafter) 301 and a power consumption monitoring network driver 305, and this power consumption monitoring microcontroller 301 includes an AV device network controller communication unit 302 and a power consumption monitoring controller unit 303. As a function as a well-known power consumption monitoring controller, the power consumption monitoring connected device is measured and the measured data is obtained. It is stored in the power consumption monitoring information storage unit 304. In addition to these, in the power consumption monitoring microcontroller 301, a program that issues a warning of abnormality of the power consumption monitoring connection device in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  Next, the AV device network controller 105 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 4 (a), the AV equipment network controller 105 is a microcontroller of the AV equipment network controller (herein, particularly referred to as "microcontroller" is a microcomputer and a driver as a chip. This is for distinguishing from a normal AV device network controller that is used and does not have the term “micro” (the same applies hereinafter) 401 and a network driver 405 of the AV device network controller. The AV device network controller 105 has a function of controlling a television receiver having a repeater function. The AV device network device operation storage unit 404 shown in FIG. As indicated by 406, which television receiver is reproducing the content by which repeater is acquired by communicating with each repeater and stored. The operation storage content 406 of the AV device network device in FIG. 4B is that the television receiver A (player A) 103 is in the playback state of the content A in this embodiment, and the television receiver B (player B) ) 104 indicates a stop state. At this time, the microcontroller 401 of the AV equipment network controller is performing the processing flow shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is in an operating state.

  Next, the content server 106 in FIG. 1 includes a content server network driver 602 and a content storage unit 601 as shown in FIG. 7, and the content storage unit 601 includes an AV device as shown in FIG. Content to be displayed on a network television receiver or the like and alarm content (an example of which is shown in FIG. 9) are stored in advance.

  In FIG. 1, a television receiver A (player A) 103 and a television receiver B (player B) 104 having a repeater function are devices connected to an AV device network 107, and each television receiver is connected to the AV device network 107. Is controlled by the AV equipment network controller 105 via the repeater function of the.

  In the first embodiment, the power consumption monitoring refrigerator 102, which is a power consumption monitoring electrical device, generally stores fresh food and the like, and is in a state where power is constantly consumed, and power consumption is zero. It is impossible to assume that it will occur except in special cases such as a power outage. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the power consumption monitoring refrigerator 102 is handled as a device whose power consumption must not be “0 (zero)”.

Here, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 monitors the power consumption state of the devices constituting the power consumption monitoring network, for example, the power consumption monitoring refrigerator 102.
On the other hand, the AV device network controller 105 selects the content stored in the content server 106 in advance, and the television receiver A (player A) 103 or the television receiver B having the repeater function. (Player B) 104 can be instructed to play the content. As shown in FIG. 4A, the AV device network controller 105 includes a network driver 405 of the AV device network controller, a controller unit 402 of the AV device network, a power consumption monitoring controller communication unit 403, and an AV device network device operation storage unit. In the present embodiment, the AV device network controller 105 is controlled, and the content A is reproduced by the television receiver A (player A) 103.

  Therefore, as shown in the operation memory content 406 of the player in FIG. 4B, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 communicates with the AV device network controller 105 so that the television receiver A (player A) 103 has the content. It can be easily confirmed that A is in the reproduction state.

Next, the operation will be described.
The power consumption monitoring controller 101 of FIG. 1 measures the power consumption of the power consumption monitoring setting device in the power consumption measurement step 201 (hereinafter, “step” is abbreviated as “ST”) 201 shown in FIG. . In ST202, when the power consumption of the device whose power consumption should not be “0” (the power consumption monitoring refrigerator 102 in FIG. 1 in this embodiment) is not “0”, the power consumption measurement ST201 of the set device is performed. Return and continue to measure the power consumption of the power consumption monitoring electrical equipment. However, if the power consumption is “0” in ST202, it is determined that there is a problem, and the process proceeds to the AV device network use state detection function ST203.
In ST 203 for detecting whether or not the AV device network is in use, the AV device network controller communication unit 302 shown in FIG. 3 communicates with the AV device network controller 105. The AV device network controller 105 is performing the flow processing shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, proceeds from ST501 to the state of waiting for communication with the power consumption monitoring controller 101, proceeds to ST502, and then proceeds from the power consumption monitoring controller 101 to the AV device network. If there is communication for confirming the operation state, the process proceeds to ST503, and the operation state of the player currently controlled via the repeater is confirmed.

If the operation state of the device in the AV device network is stopped, it is determined that the device in the AV device network is not in use, and the process proceeds to ST504, where the AV device network is not in use for the power consumption monitoring controller 101. However, when the television receiver controlled by the AV device network controller 105 via the repeater is not stopped, for example, in the present embodiment, the operation storage of the AV device network device in FIG. As shown in the contents 406, when the content A indicates the reproduction state in the television receiver A, it is determined that the AV device network is in the use state, and the process proceeds to ST505, and the power consumption monitoring controller 101 transmits the AV. Notify that the device network is in use.
Therefore, in ST203 that detects whether the AV device network of the power consumption monitoring controller 101 in FIG. 2 is in use, the device connected to the network of the AV device network according to the communication content from the AV device network controller 105. Whether or not is in use can be detected.

  In ST203 for detecting whether or not the AV device network is in use, if the AV device network is not in use, the process proceeds to ST204 and does not go through the television receiver of the connected device of the AV device network as usual. If the AV device network is in use, the process proceeds to ST205, and the alarm is issued through the AV device network device in use to the AV device network controller 105 via the network driver 405 of the AV device network controller. Communicate to alert you. The AV device network controller 105 notifies the power consumption monitoring controller of the use state of the AV device network device in ST504 or ST505 shown in FIG. 5, and then returns to ST501 to be in a power consumption monitoring controller communication waiting state.

In the case of communication from ST205 in FIG. 2 so as to issue an alarm through the AV device network device in use, the determination in ST502 in FIG. 5 is not communication for AV device network operation confirmation. Proceed to ST506. In ST506, it is confirmed whether or not the AV device network device in use is the television receiver A (player A) 103. If the AV device network device in the operating state is the television receiver A (player A) 103, the process proceeds to ST507, and the alarm content of the content server is processed to be played back by the television receiver A (player A) 103. I do. In ST506, if the player in use is not the television receiver A (player A) 103, the process proceeds to ST508, where it is confirmed whether the television receiver B (player B) 104 is in use. If receiver B (player B) 104 is in use, the alarm content of the content server is played back on television receiver B (player B) 104 in ST509.

    If the alarm content can be reproduced by the television receiver A (player A) 103 or the television receiver B (player B) 104 while the AV device network is in use, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 in ST510. Notify that the alarm has been issued and complete the program.

    However, after proceeding to ST508, it is confirmed whether or not the television receiver B (player B) 104 is in use. If the television receiver B (player B) 104 is not in use, the process goes to ST501 in FIG. Returning, it waits for the communication from the power consumption monitoring controller 101 and does not communicate the notification that issued the alarm to the power consumption monitoring controller 101.

    In ST205, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 issues an alarm request to the AV device network controller 105, and then the AV device network controller 105 is a television receiver (player A) that is actually connected to the AV device network. ) 103 or that a warning is issued from the television receiver (player B) 104 can be detected by the processing of ST510 in FIG.

    However, it is also conceivable that the viewer stops viewing the content or the like before the AV device network controller 105 receives the alarm request and issues the alarm. In such a case, in order to prevent an alarm from being issued, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 notifies the AV device network controller 105 to issue an alarm in ST205, and then proceeds to ST206 to perform the AV device network controller 105. The AV device network controller 105 terminates the program as it is, but if there is no notification, the process proceeds to ST204. The monitoring controller 101 itself issues a normal state alarm. In this way, when the viewer stops viewing the player connected to the AV device network, it is possible to detect that the viewing has been stopped and issue an alarm.

  As described above, the power consumption state of the power consumption monitoring controller 101 and the control information such as the AV device network device operation storage unit 404 in the AV device network controller 105 constituting the AV device network are confirmed. This makes it possible to display an alarm so that the viewer of the player can easily recognize the alarm.

  In the first embodiment described above, the power consumption monitoring controller 101 and the content server 106 are separately provided. However, by providing the power consumption monitoring controller 101 with a content server function (server function), the content storage unit 601 is provided in advance. No need to store alarm content.

  Therefore, by setting in advance in advance location information indicating where the television receiver A (player A) 103 and the television receiver B (player B) 104 connected to the AV device network are installed. By associating the information with the information in the action memory content 406 of the player, it becomes possible to determine the alarm report destination considering not only the usage information of the player but also the arrangement information, and more reliably to the viewer An alarm can be issued.

  In the first embodiment described above, an alarm is issued when the power consumption of the power consumption monitoring refrigerator 102 becomes 0 (zero). This is a constant criterion as described below. By setting the range, it is also possible to configure so as to issue an alarm when the reference range is exceeded.

  Further, as a method for setting the above-mentioned constant reference range of power consumption, a fixed calculation method from the past power consumption fluctuation range, for example, less than half of the minimum power consumption of the past power consumption fluctuation range, or By configuring the reference range to be at least twice the reference range, the reference range can be automatically set.

  Specifically, in a power consumption monitoring refrigerator or the like, the power consumption of the compressor tends to increase as the difference between the internal temperature and the outside air temperature increases. Therefore, in the power consumption monitoring refrigerator, the power consumption in summer is high and the power consumption in winter is low. If the summer power consumption trend is used as the standard range and an alarm is issued when the standard range is deviated, the alarm will be issued at all times because the fluctuation range itself will be low in winter. It will be. This is not desirable, and it is necessary to be able to set and configure the calculation method as described above in consideration of the past power consumption fluctuation range for each season.

  In the first embodiment, the target to be alerted is selected based on the usage information of the currently used AV device network device. However, the AV device network device operation storage unit 404 and the past AV device network device operation storage are selected. By referring to the contents statistically, it is possible to issue an alarm to AV equipment network equipment that the viewer is currently watching or may watch at any interval such as hourly, daily, weekly, etc. By configuring so that an alarm is issued to an AV device network device that the viewer may recognize even if it is not currently used, or an AV device network device having a repeater function An alarm can be issued for all, and the viewer can recognize the alarm more reliably.

  Further, in the first embodiment, when a specific control is executed, such as turning on or off a power supply that satisfies a predetermined condition for a power consumption monitoring electrical device that is determined to have an abnormality, Subsequent to the alarm notification described above, it is possible to further improve the convenience of the viewer by notifying the viewer of the control content using the AV device network communication means.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the first embodiment, the system configuration does not include components for performing external communication such as the Internet. In the second embodiment, in addition to the components of the first embodiment, a modem 109 is connected to one or both of the AV device network 107 and the power consumption monitoring network 108 as shown in FIG. The AV device network controller 105 or the power consumption monitoring controller 101 is connected to an external network including the Internet by providing a mail transmission function for external communication, etc. Since it is possible to notify an alarm by e-mail or the like to a mobile phone or the like, it is possible to notify an abnormality of a device in use at home, and the convenience for the user can be further improved.
In FIG. 10, a dotted line T with an arrow indicates signal transmission from the AV device network controller 105 to the modem 109. Note that the dotted dotted lines P, Q, R, and S are the same as those in FIG. 1, and thus the description thereof is omitted here.
It should be noted that the present invention can be freely combined with each other within the scope of the invention, and each embodiment can be appropriately modified or omitted.

101 power consumption monitoring controller, 102 power consumption monitoring refrigerator, 103 player A (television receiver A), 104 player B (television receiver B), 105 AV equipment network controller, 106 content server, 302 AV equipment network controller communication , 303 Power consumption monitoring controller unit, 304 Power consumption monitoring information storage unit, 305 Power consumption monitoring network driver, 401 AV device network controller microcontroller, 402 AV device network controller unit, 403 Power consumption monitoring controller communication unit, 404 AV Device network device operation storage unit, 405 AV device network controller network driver, 406 operation storage content, 601 content storage unit, 6 2 content server network driver.

Claims (7)

A power consumption monitoring communication unit that has a power consumption monitoring network and communicates with the power consumption monitoring electrical device by the power consumption monitoring network;
AV device network communication means having an AV device network and performing communication with the AV device network electrical device by the AV device network;
Using the information acquired by the power consumption monitoring communication means, the information of power consumption monitoring electrical equipment connected to the power consumption monitoring network is acquired and the power consumption monitoring operation status determination means for determining the operation status;
AV device network usage information acquisition means for acquiring usage information of an AV device network electrical device connected to the AV device network using information acquired by the AV device network communication means;
AV device network information transmitting means for transmitting information to a repeater mounted on the AV device network electrical device;
Connection means for connecting the power consumption monitoring communication means and the AV equipment network communication means;
With
An alarm is issued to the AV device network electrical device determined based on the result of the operation status determined by the power consumption monitoring operation status determination unit and the result of the usage information acquired by the AV device network usage information acquisition unit. Electric equipment monitoring device characterized by reporting.   2. The AV device network electrical device that issues an alarm is estimated by using the AV device network usage information acquisition unit and the arrangement information of the AV device network electrical device registered in advance. The electrical equipment monitoring apparatus of description.   The power consumption monitoring operation status judging means uses the power consumption information obtained by the power consumption monitoring communication means, and judges that an abnormality has occurred when the power consumption reference range is set in advance. The electric equipment monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The power consumption monitoring operation status judging means uses the power consumption information obtained by the power consumption monitoring communication means, uses the fluctuation range of the past power consumption as a power consumption reference range, and judges whether there is an abnormality. The electric equipment monitoring apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   When the power consumption monitoring operation status determination unit determines that an abnormality has occurred in the power consumption monitoring electrical device, the usage history of the AV device network electrical device obtained by the AV device network usage information acquisition unit is used. Thus, it is assumed that the AV device network electrical device that is likely to be used at present is estimated, and that the abnormality has occurred using the AV device network information transmission unit toward the estimated AV device network electrical device. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the abnormality occurrence information of the determined power consumption monitoring electric apparatus is transmitted.   When it is determined that the operating status of the power consumption monitoring electrical device is abnormal, the power of the power consumption monitoring electrical device determined to have occurred is operated using the power consumption monitoring communication means, and the AV device The electrical device monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation notification using a network communication unit is notified.   7. One or both of the power consumption monitoring communication means and the AV device network communication means include remote communication means including the Internet or the like. Electrical equipment monitoring equipment.

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