JP2018192083A - Autonomous vacuum cleaner - Google Patents

Abstract

To propose a highly convenient autonomous vacuum cleaner which can timely perform cleaning operation while providing cleaning operation by timer processing.SOLUTION: An autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 comprises: a communication part 36 communicating information with an operation terminal 7 through a telecommunication network 3; a clock part 41 clocking time; a storage part 39 storing cleaning start time when starting cleaning operation; and an autonomous control part 35 transmitting information notifying the operation terminal 7 of a start of the cleaning operation through the communication part 36 when time becomes before predetermined determination time of the cleaning start time, and, on the other hand, postponing the cleaning start time when receiving information including an instruction for postponing the cleaning operation from the operation terminal 7 through the communication part 36, and not performing the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time when receiving information including an instruction for suspending the cleaning operation from the operation terminal 7 through the communication part 36.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments according to the present invention relate to an autonomous vacuum cleaner.

  2. Description of the Related Art Self-propelled electronic devices that provide messages representing information about their own devices to the outside are known. This self-propelled electronic device consists of a set of a message indicating the outline of the remaining battery level and the remaining battery level measurement date, a set of a message indicating that a still image has been shot and a shooting date and time, and a message indicating that driving has started. A set of driving start date and time, and a set of message and collision date and time representing an overview of the collision situation are stored in the operation history storage unit, while a set stored in the operation history storage unit in response to a request from the terminal device Send to terminal device.

JP 2013-146314 A

  2. Description of the Related Art An autonomous electric vacuum cleaner that performs a timer process so as to start a cleaning operation at an arbitrary time is known. The user can finish cleaning the room while he / she is away by setting a timer during the time when he / she is away from the room. Thus, the autonomous vacuum cleaner capable of executing the timer process is extremely convenient.

  By the way, since the cleaning operation of an autonomous vacuum cleaner depends on conditions such as the control method of its travel route and the size of the cleaning place, it is easy to set the start time, but the end time is clear. It is difficult to make.

  However, since the user's schedule has changed, it may reduce the convenience for the user that the autonomous vacuum cleaner performs the cleaning operation according to the timer process.

  Therefore, the present invention proposes an extremely convenient autonomous vacuum cleaner that can perform a cleaning operation in a timely manner while providing a cleaning operation by a timer process.

  In order to solve the above problems, an autonomous vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a communication unit that bidirectionally communicates information with an operation terminal through a telecommunication network, a time measuring unit that measures time, and a cleaning operation. A storage unit that stores a cleaning start time to be started, and information that informs the operation terminal that the cleaning operation is to be started through the communication unit when the time comes before a predetermined determination time of the cleaning start time. When receiving information including an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation through the communication unit from the operation terminal, an instruction to postpone the cleaning start time and to stop the cleaning operation from the operation terminal through the communication unit. And a control unit that does not perform the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time when the information including the control information is received.

The system block diagram which shows the driving | operation control system containing the autonomous type vacuum cleaner which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the autonomous mobile body which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The block diagram which shows the operation terminal of the driving control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows an example of GUI of the operating terminal of the driving | running control system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The flowchart which shows the timer process of the autonomous vacuum cleaner which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the timer process of the autonomous vacuum cleaner which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the timer process of the autonomous vacuum cleaner which concerns on this embodiment.

  An embodiment of an autonomous vacuum cleaner according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an operation control system including an autonomous vacuum cleaner according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment is connected to an operation control system 2 so as to be communicable.

  The operation control system 2 provides a function of bidirectionally communicating information between the remote operation terminal 5 and the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 via a server 4 that is communicably connected to the telecommunication network 3. . In addition, the operation control system 2 provides a function of bidirectionally communicating information between the local terminal 6 and the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 via the server 4 connected to the telecommunications network 3. The remote operation terminal 5 and the local terminal 6 are collectively referred to as the operation terminal 7.

  The telecommunications network 3 includes an external network 8, a local communication network 9, and a relay communication device 11 that relays information between the local communication network 9 and the external network 8.

  The local communication network 9 is a wireless or wired telecommunication network including the relay communication device 11. The autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 and the local terminal 6 are communicably connected to the local communication network 9.

  The external network 8 includes the Internet 13. The relay communication device 11, the server 4, and the remote operation terminal 5 are connected to the Internet 13 via a public telephone network, a mobile phone network, or the like.

  The server 4 mediates information between the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 and the remote operation terminal 5. The server 4 communicates with a number of autonomous vacuum cleaners 1 via the Internet 13. The server 4 assigns an identifier to each of the many autonomous vacuum cleaners 1. The user of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 establishes two-way communication between the remote control terminal 5 and the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 at home using the identifier provided by the server 4.

  The remote control terminal 5 is connected to the Internet 13 via a public wireless line or a mobile phone line. The remote operation terminal 5 performs two-way communication with the server 4. (The remote operation terminal 5 accepts input of operation instructions such as a cleaning operation start instruction, a pause instruction, and a stop instruction of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1.) (The remote operation terminal 5 pauses during operation. Information that notifies the state of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 such as during and during stoppage is acquired from the server 4 and the state of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 is output to the screen.)

  The autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 is a so-called robot cleaner. The autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 autonomously moves over the entire surface to be cleaned in a living room and collects dust. In addition, after the cleaning operation, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 returns to the charging stand 22 and waits for the next cleaning operation. The autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 detects the relative position of the charging stand 22 by infrared communication, for example. The autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 is covered with a flat main body case 25, specifically, a hollow disk-shaped main body case 25. Autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 consumes the power of secondary battery 26 in main body case 25 and moves autonomously.

  The charging stand 22 is installed on the surface to be cleaned in the living room. The charging stand 22 can connect or disconnect the main body case 25. The charging stand 22 includes a power cord 27 that guides power from a commercial AC power source to the secondary battery 26 in a state where the main body case 25 is connected. The power cord 27 is an electric circuit that transmits power to the secondary battery 26.

  In addition, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 includes a connection determination unit 28 that determines whether the main body case 25 is connected to the charging stand 22 and power transmission from the power cord 27 to the secondary battery 26 is possible. . The connection determination unit 28 may be a contact type sensor or a non-contact type sensor.

  Next, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 which concerns on embodiment of this invention is demonstrated in detail.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an autonomous mobile body according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main body case 25, a dust container 29 provided at the rear part of the main body case 25, and a dust container 29 accommodated in the main body case 25. A fluidly connected electric blower 31, a moving part 32 for moving the main body case 25 on the surface to be cleaned, a driving part 33 for driving the moving part 32, and a main body case for the surface to be cleaned by controlling the driving part 33 An autonomous control unit 35 that autonomously moves 25, a communication unit 36 that bidirectionally communicates information with the operation terminal 7 through the telecommunications network 3, an input unit 37 that receives an instruction input to the autonomous control unit 35, and an autonomous control unit When the 35 starts the cleaning operation, the notification unit 38 that notifies the start of the cleaning operation, the secondary battery 26 that stores the electric power consumed by the electric blower 31, the drive unit 33, and the autonomous control unit 35, With There.

  The dust container 29 accumulates dust sucked from a suction port (not shown) provided on the bottom surface of the main body case 25 by the suction negative pressure generated by the electric blower 31. The dust container 29 is a filter that collects and collects dust, and inertia separation such as centrifugal separation (cyclonic separation) and straight separation (separation method that separates dust and air by the difference in inertia force between the straight air and dust). Is a separation device that accumulates dust.

  The electric blower 31 is driven by consuming the electric power of the secondary battery 26 and sucks air from the dust container 29 to generate a suction negative pressure.

  The moving unit 32 includes a pair of left and right drive wheels (not shown) disposed on the bottom surface of the main body case 25, and casters (not illustrated) disposed on the bottom surface of the main body case 25.

  The drive unit 33 is a pair of electric motors connected to each of the pair of drive wheels. The drive unit 33 drives the left and right drive wheels independently.

  The communication unit 36 establishes a wireless communication line with the relay communication device 11. The communication unit 36 transmits information to the operation terminal 7 via the relay communication device 11, and receives information from the operation terminal 7 via the relay communication device 11.

  In addition, the communication unit 36 transmits information (hereinafter referred to as “cleaning start notification information”) notifying the operation terminal 7 of starting the cleaning operation via the relay communication device 11, while via the relay communication device 11. Information including an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation (hereinafter referred to as “operation postponement instruction information”) and information including an instruction to stop the cleaning operation (hereinafter referred to as “operation stop instruction information”). To do.

  The input unit 37 may be a remote controller that transmits an operation instruction to the autonomous control unit 35 using infrared rays, in addition to, for example, a switch provided in the main body case 25.

  The secondary battery 26 is a power source for the electric blower 31, the drive unit 33, and the autonomous control unit 35, and stores electric power supplied to these.

  The notification unit 38 notifies the user or a third party around the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 of the start of the cleaning operation by sound such as sound or warning sound, or optical display such as lighting or flashing. The notification unit 38 is also used when the cleaning operation is started according to the timer process.

  The autonomous control unit 35 includes a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage unit 39 that stores various arithmetic programs executed by the microprocessor, parameters, and the like. The autonomous control unit 35 is electrically connected to the electric blower 31 and the drive unit 33. The autonomous control unit 35 performs cleaning by controlling the electric blower 31 and the drive unit 33 according to the instruction content acquired from the input unit 37 and the information acquired from the communication unit 36.

  The instruction content that the autonomous control unit 35 acquires from the input unit 37 includes an instruction to start the cleaning operation of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1, an instruction to pause the cleaning operation, an instruction to restart the cleaning operation, and an instruction to stop the cleaning operation. Includes instructions. In addition, the instruction | indication of restart of cleaning operation is synonymous with the instruction | indication of the start of cleaning operation acquired during temporary stop of cleaning operation.

  The autonomous control unit 35 includes a time measuring unit 41. The autonomous control part 35 can start the cleaning operation of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 at a time desired by the user by timer processing. The time when the cleaning operation of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 is started is hereinafter referred to as “cleaning start time ts”. The cleaning start time ts is stored in the storage unit 39 as a parameter of a calculation program executed by the autonomous control unit 35. The user can set an arbitrary cleaning start time ts from the input unit 37 or the operation terminal 7.

  The cleaning start time ts may be set for each day such as 13:00 every day. Further, the cleaning start time ts is a week such as Monday 13:00, Tuesday 14:00, Wednesday 12:30, Thursday 18:00, Friday 16:00, Saturday-(no setting), Sunday-(no setting) May be set through. Further, the cleaning start time ts may be set for each week such as every Wednesday 13:00. The cleaning start time ts may be set as a date and time, such as 13:00 on August 10th.

  Further, the autonomous control unit 35 transmits the cleaning start notification information to the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36 when the time measured by the time measuring unit 41, that is, the current time T comes before a predetermined determination time Δt of the cleaning start time ts. To do. Thereafter, the autonomous control unit 35 postpones the cleaning start time ts when it receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36. In addition, when the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 does not perform the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time ts.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an operation terminal of the operation control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the operation terminal 7 (specifically, the remote operation terminal 5 and the local terminal 6) of the operation control system 2 according to the present embodiment communicates information with the server 4 via the telecommunications network 3. Receiving an input including an instruction including a communication unit 51 that transmits and receives, a display unit 52 that displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) corresponding to each information, an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation, and an instruction to stop the cleaning operation An operation unit 55 that transmits to the terminal control unit 53 and a terminal control unit 53 that controls the operation of each unit are provided.

  The operation terminal 7 is a device that can communicate with the server 4 wirelessly or by wire, such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistance), a personal computer, or a portable game machine.

  The communication unit 51 performs bidirectional communication with the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 through the telecommunications network 3. The communication unit 51 is connected to the external network 8 using a communication network such as a public telephone network, a mobile phone network, a mobile communication network, and a satellite communication network. The communication unit 51 is, for example, IEEE 802.11 (IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b, etc.), one of the wireless LAN standards, Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered). The relay communication device 11 is connected using a short-range wireless communication standard such as a trademark.

  The display unit 52 is, for example, a liquid crystal display panel, an organic EL panel, a plasma display panel, or the like. The display unit 52 displays various GUIs (Graphical User Interfaces) to be presented to the user according to instructions from the terminal control unit 53.

  The operation unit 55 is, for example, a touch panel and a button switch.

  The display unit 52 and the operation unit 55 may be a so-called touch screen in which a display and a touch panel are combined. The touch screen detects a position touched by the user and accepts an input corresponding to the display content of the location.

  The terminal control unit 53 controls the operation of each unit of the operation terminal 7. The terminal control unit 53 is, for example, a computer including a microprocessor (not shown) and a storage device (not shown) that stores various arithmetic programs executed by the microprocessor, parameters, and the like. For example, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive (HDD), or the like is used as the storage device.

  The terminal control unit 53 includes a display control unit 56 that controls the display unit 52.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the GUI of the operation terminal of the operation control system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the display unit 52 of the operation terminal 7 according to the present embodiment displays a GUI (Graphical User Interface) corresponding to each piece of information transmitted to and received from the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1.

  Specifically, the display unit 52, as an example of a GUI, includes a cleaning start notification area 61 representing cleaning start notification information, an operation postponement instruction input area 62 that receives an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation, and an instruction to stop the cleaning operation. The operation stop instruction input area 63 to be received is displayed. The operation postponement instruction input area 62 and the operation stop instruction input area 63 are also the operation unit 55.

  5 and 6 are flowcharts showing the timer process of the autonomous vacuum cleaner according to the present embodiment.

  5 and 6 are processed before the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 starts the cleaning operation. Moreover, the timer process of FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 is performed by dividing into the process of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 side of FIG. 5 and the process of the operation terminal 7 side of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the autonomous control unit 35 of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to this embodiment, when the current time comes before a predetermined determination time Δt of the cleaning start time ts, to the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36. Send cleaning start notification information. Thereafter, the autonomous control unit 35 postpones the cleaning start time ts when it receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36. In addition, when the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 does not perform the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time ts.

  In addition, when the autonomous control unit 35 transmits the cleaning start notification information from the communication unit 36 to the operation terminal 7 and has not received the operation postponement instruction information or the operation stop instruction information by the cleaning start time ts, The cleaning operation is started at the cleaning start time ts.

  Specifically, when the cleaning start time ts is set (step S1 Yes), the autonomous control unit 35 of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 sets the current time T before the predetermined determination time Δt of the cleaning start time ts. If it becomes (step S2 Yes), cleaning start notification information will be transmitted to the operation terminal 7 through the communication part 36 (step S3). The determination time Δt is, for example, an extent to which the user can determine whether to postpone, stop, or execute the cleaning operation after the cleaning start notification information is notified to the cleaning start notification area 61 of the operation terminal 7, for example. Set to 5 minutes.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the operation terminal 7 receives the cleaning start notification information from the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 (Yes in step S4), the cleaning start notification area 61, the operation postponement instruction input area 62, and the operation stop instruction input The area 63 is displayed on the display unit 52 (step S5).

  The operation terminal 7 monitors the operation unit 55. That is, the operation terminal 7 determines whether or not the operation postponement instruction input area 62 has received an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation (step S6) and whether or not the operation stop instruction input area 63 has received an instruction to stop the cleaning operation ( Step S7) is determined.

  When the operation terminal 7 receives an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation (Yes in step S6), the operation terminal 7 transmits the operation postponement instruction information to the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 through the communication unit 51 (step S8). The cleaning start notification area 61, the operation postponement instruction input area 62, and the operation stop instruction input area 63 are deleted from the display unit 52 (step S10), and the process returns to step S4. On the other hand, when the operation stop instruction input area 63 receives an instruction to stop the cleaning operation (Yes in step S7), the operation terminal 7 transmits the operation stop instruction information to the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 through the communication unit 51 (step S7). S9), the cleaning start notification area 61, the operation postponement instruction input area 62, and the operation stop instruction input area 63 are deleted from the display unit 52 (step S10), and the process returns to step S4.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the autonomous control unit 35 transmits the cleaning start notification information from the communication unit 36 to the operation terminal 7 (step S <b> 3), and then receives whether or not the operation postponement instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7 ( Step S11) and whether or not the operation stop instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7 are monitored (step S12). Moreover, the autonomous control part 35 judges whether the present time T became the cleaning start time ts (step S13).

  If the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 by the cleaning start time ts (No at Step S11) (Yes at Step S12), the autonomous control unit 35 postpones the cleaning start time ts (Step S14). When receiving the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 via the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 may postpone the start of the cleaning operation and update the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. In this case, the autonomous control unit 35 resets the cleaning start time ts by delaying, for example, 1 hour, and restarts the process from step S1 after 1 hour. In addition, when the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 postpones the start of the cleaning operation and maintains the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. good. In this case, the autonomous control unit 35 resumes the process from step S1 at the next set cleaning start time ts (next cleaning start time ts).

  In addition, when the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 by the cleaning start time ts (No in Step S11) (Yes in Step S13), the autonomous control unit 35 performs the cleaning operation even at the cleaning start time ts. Not performed (step S15). When receiving the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 may stop the cleaning operation and erase the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. In this case, if there is a next cleaning start time ts (next cleaning start time ts), the autonomous control unit 35 restarts the process from step S1 at the next cleaning start time ts. That is, when the cleaning start time ts is set for each day, the next cleaning start time ts is deleted, and the next timer process is eliminated. When the cleaning start time ts is set throughout the week, a timer process is performed on the next day. When receiving the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 may stop the start of the cleaning operation and maintain the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. In this case, the autonomous control unit 35 resumes the process from step S1 at the next set cleaning start time ts (next cleaning start time ts). That is, it is substantially the same as the case where the start of the cleaning operation is postponed and the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39 is maintained.

  Further, when the autonomous control unit 35 does not receive the operation postponement instruction information and the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 by the cleaning start time ts (Yes in Step S11), the autonomous control unit 35 starts the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time ts ( Step S16).

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the timer process of the autonomous vacuum cleaner according to the present embodiment.

  FIG. 7 is performed after the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 starts the cleaning operation. FIG. 7 shows the process on the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 side, which is performed together with the process on the operation terminal 7 side in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the autonomous control unit 35 of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment starts the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time ts (FIG. 5, step S <b> 16), and then communicates from the operation terminal 7 to the communication unit. When the operation postponement instruction information is received through 36, the cleaning operation is interrupted and the cleaning start time is postponed. After starting the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time ts (FIG. 5, step S <b> 16), the autonomous control unit 35 stops the cleaning operation when receiving the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36.

  That is, the autonomous control unit 35 of the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 starts the cleaning operation by the timer process (FIG. 5, step S16), finishes cleaning the living room, and returns to the charging stand 22 (step S21). It is monitored whether or not the operation postponement instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7 (step S22) and whether or not the operation stop instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7 (step S23).

  When the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 after starting the cleaning operation until returning to the charging stand 22 (No at Step S21) after completing the cleaning operation (Yes at Step S22). The cleaning operation is interrupted (step S24), and the cleaning start time ts is postponed (step S25). When receiving the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 via the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 may postpone the start of the cleaning operation and update the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. In this case, the autonomous control unit 35 resets the cleaning start time ts by delaying, for example, 1 hour, and restarts the process from step S1 after 1 hour. In addition, when the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 postpones the start of the cleaning operation and maintains the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. good. In this case, the autonomous control unit 35 resumes the process from step S1 at the next set cleaning start time ts (next cleaning start time ts). When the cleaning operation is interrupted, the autonomous control unit 35 may restart the cleaning operation from the continuation of the interrupted cleaning operation, or may perform the cleaning operation from the beginning. When the cleaning operation is resumed from the continuation of the interrupted cleaning operation, the autonomous electric vacuum cleaner 1 stores in the storage unit 39 the record of the area of the cleaning place and the place where the cleaning has been completed.

  In addition, after starting the cleaning operation, the autonomous control unit 35 receives the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 before returning to the charging stand 22 (No in Step S21) (Yes in Step S23). Is canceled (step S26). When receiving the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 may stop the cleaning operation and erase the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. In this case, if there is a next cleaning start time ts (next cleaning start time ts), the autonomous control unit 35 restarts the process from step S1 at the next cleaning start time ts. That is, when the cleaning start time ts is set for each day, the next cleaning start time ts is deleted, and the next timer process is eliminated. When the cleaning start time ts is set throughout the week, a timer process is performed on the next day. When receiving the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 through the communication unit 36, the autonomous control unit 35 may stop the start of the cleaning operation and maintain the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. In this case, the autonomous control unit 35 resumes the process from step S1 at the next set cleaning start time ts (next cleaning start time ts). That is, it is substantially the same as the case where the start of the cleaning operation is postponed and the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39 is maintained.

  Further, when the autonomous control unit 35 does not receive the operation postponement instruction information and the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7 until the cleaning operation is completed, that is, before returning to the charging stand 22 (Yes in step S21), the autonomous control unit 35 performs cleaning. After driving, the vehicle returns to the charging stand 22. When the autonomous control unit 35 finishes the cleaning operation and returns to the charging stand 22, the autonomous control unit 35 may transmit information notifying that the cleaning operation has ended from the communication unit 36 to the operation terminal 7 (not shown). When the operation terminal 7 receives information notifying that the cleaning operation has been completed from the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 through the communication unit 51 (not shown), the cleaning start notification area 61, the operation postponement instruction input area 62, Then, the operation stop instruction input area 63 is deleted from the display unit 52 (step S10), and the process returns to step S4.

  Note that the autonomous control unit 35 returns to the charging stand 22 both when the cleaning operation is interrupted (step S24) and when the cleaning operation is stopped (step S26) (step S27).

  When the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7, the cleaning start time ts is postponed, and when the operation stop instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7. The cleaning operation is not performed at the cleaning start time ts. Therefore, when the user's schedule changes and the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 performs the cleaning operation according to the timer process, the user's will is reduced. Can postpone or cancel the timer process.

  In addition, the autonomous electric vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment starts the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time ts when the operation postponement instruction information or the operation stop instruction information is not received by the cleaning start time ts. Therefore, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 performs the timer process as intended by the user when the cleaning operation according to the timer process suits the user's benefit.

  Furthermore, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment interrupts the cleaning operation when the operation postponement instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7 after the cleaning operation is started at the cleaning start time ts, and the cleaning operation is stopped. When the start time ts is postponed and the operation stop instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7, the cleaning operation is stopped. Therefore, even after the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 starts the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time ts, the user's schedule changes, and the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 performs the cleaning operation according to the timer process. If the user's convenience is reduced, the timer process can be postponed or stopped at the user's will.

  Furthermore, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment may update the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39 when the operation postponement instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7. In this case, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 can interactively provide resumption of the timer process to the user.

  In addition, when the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 according to the present embodiment receives the operation postponement instruction information from the operation terminal 7, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 may maintain the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39. In this case, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 can provide timer processing according to the initial setting intention of the user.

  Further, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 may delete the cleaning start time ts stored in the storage unit 39 when receiving the operation stop instruction information from the operation terminal 7. In this case, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 can reflect the intention of the user to permanently stop the timer processing that has been set.

  Furthermore, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 may maintain the cleaning start time ts memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 39, when driving | operation stop instruction information is received from the operation terminal 7. FIG. In this case, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 can reflect the intention to temporarily stop the timer process set by the user.

  In addition, when the cleaning operation is interrupted, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 may resume the cleaning operation from the continuation of the interrupted cleaning operation. In this case, the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 can perform an efficient cleaning operation and contribute to low power consumption.

  Therefore, according to the autonomous vacuum cleaner 1 which concerns on this embodiment, while providing the cleaning operation by a timer process, it is possible to perform a cleaning operation more timely, and the convenience improves very much.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Autonomous vacuum cleaner, 2 ... Operation control system, 3 ... Telecommunications network, 4 ... Server, 5 ... Remote operation terminal, 6 ... Local terminal, 7 ... Operation terminal, 8 ... External network, 9 ... Local communication network 11 ... Relay communication device, 13 ... Internet, 22 ... Charging stand, 25 ... Main body case, 26 ... Secondary battery, 27 ... Power cord, 28 ... Connection determination unit, 29 ... Dust container, 31 ... Electric blower, 32 ... Moving unit, 33 ... Driving unit, 35 ... Autonomous control unit, 36 ... Communication unit, 37 ... Input unit, 38 ... Notification unit, 39 ... Storage unit, 41 ... Timekeeping unit, 51 ... Communication unit, 52 ... Display unit, 53 ... terminal control part, 55 ... operation part, 56 ... display control part, 61 ... cleaning start notification area, 62 ... operation postponement instruction input area, 63 ... operation stop instruction input area.

Claims (8)

A communication unit that bidirectionally communicates information with an operation terminal through a telecommunication network;
A timekeeping section that keeps time,
A storage unit for storing a cleaning start time for starting a cleaning operation;
When the time is before a predetermined determination time of the cleaning start time, the information indicating that the cleaning operation is started is transmitted to the operation terminal through the communication unit, while the cleaning operation is performed from the operation terminal through the communication unit. If the information including the instruction to postpone the cleaning operation is received, the cleaning start time is postponed, and if the information including the instruction to stop the cleaning operation is received from the operation terminal through the communication unit, the cleaning start is performed. An autonomous vacuum cleaner comprising: a control unit that does not perform the cleaning operation at a time. The control unit transmits information notifying the start of the cleaning operation from the communication unit to the operation terminal, and then includes information including an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation by the cleaning start time, or the cleaning operation The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning operation is started at the cleaning start time when information including an instruction to stop the operation is not received. After the controller starts the cleaning operation at the cleaning start time,
When receiving information including an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation through the communication unit from the operation terminal, interrupt the cleaning operation and postpone the cleaning start time,
The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when the information including an instruction to stop the cleaning operation is received from the operation terminal through the communication unit, the cleaning operation is stopped. When the control unit receives information including an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation through the communication unit from the operation terminal, the control unit postpones the start of the cleaning operation and sets the cleaning start time stored in the storage unit. The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is updated. When the control unit receives information including an instruction to postpone the cleaning operation through the communication unit from the operation terminal, the control unit postpones the start of the cleaning operation and sets the cleaning start time stored in the storage unit. The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the autonomous vacuum cleaner is maintained. When the control unit receives information including an instruction to stop the cleaning operation through the communication unit from the operation terminal, the control unit stops the cleaning operation and sets the cleaning start time stored in the storage unit. The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is erased. When the control unit receives information including an instruction to stop the cleaning operation through the communication unit from the operation terminal, the control unit stops the cleaning operation and sets the cleaning start time stored in the storage unit. The autonomous vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the autonomous vacuum cleaner is maintained. The autonomous control vacuum cleaner according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein when the cleaning operation is interrupted, the control unit restarts the cleaning operation from the continuation of the interrupted cleaning operation.

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