JP2020155901A - Hot water supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a hot water supply device in which a user hardly takes misapprehension as failure on the hot water supply device side when a reproduction of a content is interrupted due to deterioration of a circumference radio wave environment.SOLUTION: A hot water supply device 10 comprises: a radio communication part 137 that can receive sound data transmitted via an external communication network 30; a data buffer part 134b in which the sound data received from the radio communication part 137 is temporally stored; speakers 126 and 136 that reproduce the sound data read from the data buffer part 134b; a control part 133 that controls the reproduction of the sound data; and display parts 121 and 131 that perform a radio display during the reproduction of the sound data. The control part 133 makes the display parts 121 and 131 change a display form of the radio display in accordance with a residual quantity of the sound data stored in the data buffer part 134b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water supply device, and is particularly suitable for use in a hot water supply device in which an operation related to the hot water supply device is performed by a remote controller arranged in a kitchen, a bathroom, or the like.

In the hot water supply device, content data such as voice data and video data is downloaded from a content distribution server such as Internet radio and Internet TV via the Internet line, and the downloaded content data is placed in a bathroom, kitchen, etc. If a configuration that can be played back by (hereinafter, abbreviated as a remote control) is adopted, it is convenient for people who are taking a bath or cooking to easily watch the content.

For example, Patent Document 1 describes an in-vehicle device capable of listening to Internet radio.

JP-A-2018-195939

A streaming method is usually adopted for the distribution of the content data from the distribution server and the reproduction of the distributed content data. In this case, since the downloaded content data is played back while being buffered, the playback of the content is less likely to be interrupted even if the surrounding radio wave environment changes slightly.

However, depending on the conditions of the house where the water heater is installed, it is assumed that the surrounding radio wave environment may change significantly. In such a case, even if the streaming method is adopted, the content, that is, the audio or video may be interrupted due to the exhaustion of the content data in the buffer during playback. Then, at that time, the user may mistakenly think that a failure has occurred on the hot water supply device side such as the remote controller.

In view of such a problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot water supply device that is hard for the user to mistake as a failure on the hot water supply device side when the reproduction of contents is interrupted due to deterioration of the surrounding radio wave environment. ..

The hot water supply device according to the main aspect of the present invention includes a receiving unit capable of receiving content data transmitted via an external communication network, a buffer unit in which the content data received by the receiving unit is temporarily stored, and a buffer unit. It includes a reproduction unit that reproduces the content data read from the buffer unit, a control unit that controls the reproduction of the content data, and a notification unit that gives a predetermined notification during the reproduction of the content data. Here, the control unit causes the notification unit to change the form of the notification according to the remaining amount of the content data stored in the buffer unit.

The "content data" means data to be reproduced, such as audio data and video data.

According to the above configuration, by confirming the change in the form of notification, the user may interrupt the playback of the content when the remaining amount of the content data is reduced and the playback of the content is not smooth. I can understand that there is. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to misunderstand that the failure is on the water heater side when the playback of the content is interrupted.

In the hot water supply device according to the present embodiment, the control unit determines whether or not the content data is received by the receiving unit, and the notification unit is notified according to the result of the determination of the quality and the remaining amount. Can be configured to change.

According to the above configuration, it is accurately detected whether or not the content is being played smoothly by considering not only the remaining amount of the content data but also the quality of the reception state of the content data, and the notification according to the detection is performed. The form of can be changed. Therefore, the user can more accurately grasp that the reproduction of the content may be interrupted.

The hot water supply device according to this aspect may be configured to include a first device and a second device connected to the first device so as to be able to communicate by wire. In this case, the first device is provided with the receiving unit, the buffer unit, and the control unit, and the second device is provided with the reproducing unit and the notification unit. Then, the control unit transmits information for causing the notification unit to change the form of the notification to the second device by the wired communication.

According to the above configuration, even when the content is reproduced by the second device not provided with the receiving unit and the buffer unit and the notification is performed during the reproduction, the content data in the buffer unit is performed in the second device. The form of notification can be changed according to the remaining amount of. Therefore, the user can grasp in advance that the playback of the content may be interrupted even when the content is being viewed on the second device, and when the playback of the content is interrupted, the hot water supply device side. It is difficult to misunderstand that it is a failure in.

In the above configuration, the first device is a first remote controller arranged in a room other than the bathroom, and the second device is a second remote controller arranged in the bathroom. Such a configuration can be adopted.

The receiving unit may be configured to be connected to an external communication network via a router arranged in the house. At this time, since the bathroom is often located at the edge of the house, it tends to be far from the room where the router is placed, and the wall from the room where the router is placed to the bathroom to go through the dressing room. And doors tend to increase. Therefore, when the second remote controller is provided with the receiving unit, the radio waves from the router are difficult to reach, and the reception state of the content data tends to be deteriorated.

With the above configuration, since the receiving unit is provided not in the second remote controller but in the first remote controller, the content data reception state is unlikely to deteriorate. Therefore, the playback of the content on the second remote controller is less likely to be interrupted.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hot water supply device that is hard for the user to mistake as a failure on the hot water supply device side when the reproduction of the content is interrupted due to the deterioration of the surrounding radio wave environment.

The effects or significance of the present invention will be further clarified by the description of the embodiments shown below. However, the embodiments shown below are merely examples when the present invention is put into practice, and the present invention is not limited to those described in the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply device according to an embodiment. 2 (a) and 2 (b) are diagrams for explaining the operation buttons provided on the operation unit of the remote controller according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of a water heater, a bathroom remote controller, and a kitchen remote controller according to the embodiment. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing a configuration of a storage unit of the kitchen remote controller according to the embodiment. 4 (b) and 4 (c) are diagrams showing the configurations of the first correspondence table and the second correspondence table according to the embodiment, respectively. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process of the radio function executed by the control unit of the bathroom remote controller according to the embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control process of the radio function executed by the control unit of the kitchen remote controller according to the embodiment. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display process included in the control process of FIG. 6 according to the embodiment. 8 (a) to 8 (c) are diagrams for explaining the display for the radio function according to the embodiment. 9 (a) and 9 (b) are diagrams showing the configurations of the third correspondence table and the fourth correspondence table according to the first modification, respectively. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a display process included in the control process of FIG. 6 according to the first modification.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply device 10. 2A and 2B are diagrams for explaining the operation buttons provided on the operation units 122 and 132 of the remote controllers 12 and 13.

The hot water supply device 10 includes a water heater 11 and remote controllers 12 and 13. The water heater 11 is a gas water heater that supplies hot water using gas as fuel. The hot water generated by the water heater 11 is supplied to the faucet of the kitchen, the bathtub, the curan, etc. via the pipes connected to the hot water supply port 11a. When the water heater 11 has a floor heating function, a bathroom heating function, and a heating function by a panel heater, hot water is supplied from the water heater 11 to a device that realizes these functions.

The hot water supply device 10 has a hot water supply function for supplying hot water to a faucet, a hot water filling function for filling a bathtub, a heat retaining function for keeping the hot water after the hot water is filled in the bathtub, and a function for keeping the hot water in the bathtub. It has a reheating function to reheat and an additional hot water function to add hot water to the bathtub. The bath automatic function is configured by the hot water filling function and the subsequent heat retention function. In some cases, the bath automatic function is composed only of the hot water filling function. In the heat retention function and the reheating function, the hot water circulates between the bathtub and the water heater 11 and the circulating hot water is heated, so that the hot water becomes hot.

The remote controllers 12 and 13 are connected to the water heater 11 and are used to make various settings for each function of the water heater 10. The remote controllers 12 and 13 include display units 121 and 131 and operation units 122 and 132, respectively. By operating the operation units 122 and 132 according to the screens displayed on the display units 121 and 131, the operator can make arbitrary settings for hot water filling, hot water supply temperature adjustment, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, various operation units 122 and 132 include operation buttons 122a and 132a, automatic bath buttons 122b and 132b, reheating buttons 122c and 132c, footbath buttons 122d and 132d, and radio buttons 122e and 132e. Operation buttons are provided.

When the remote controllers 12 and 13 are in the operation off mode (the state in which the water heater 11 does not perform the hot water supply operation even if the hot water tap such as the faucet is opened and the water flow exceeds the reference flow rate), the display units 121 and 131 Is in the off state, and operations of operation buttons other than the operation buttons 122a and 132a are not accepted. When the operation buttons 122a and 132a are operated to enter the operation on mode (a state in which the water heater 11 can perform hot water supply operation when a hot water tap such as a curan is opened and water flow exceeds a reference flow rate), the display unit 121, The 131 lights up to display the setting contents, and the operations of the operation buttons other than the operation buttons 122a and 132a can be accepted.

The bath automatic buttons 122b and 132b are operation buttons for starting and stopping the operation of the bath automatic function. The reheating buttons 122c and 132c are operation buttons for starting and stopping the operation of the reheating function. The footbath buttons 122d and 132d are operation buttons for starting and stopping the operation of the footbath function. The radio buttons 122e and 132e are operation buttons operated when listening to the radio.

The remote controllers 12 and 13 are provided with audio input / output ports 12a and 13a for inputting and outputting audio.

The remote controller 12 is installed in the bathroom, and the remote controller 13 is installed in the kitchen or the like. Hereinafter, the remote controller 12 installed in the bathroom will be referred to as a "bathroom remote controller 12", and the remote controller 13 installed in the kitchen or the like will be referred to as a "kitchen remote controller 13".

The kitchen remote controller 13 can be connected to the router 20 installed in the home H10 by wireless communication. In the present embodiment, the radio audio data of a predetermined broadcasting station is transmitted from the radio server 40 to the kitchen remote controller 13 via the external communication network 30 (for example, an Internet line) and the router 20. As a result, the sound of the radio is output from the sound input / output port 13a of the kitchen remote controller 13. Further, the audio signal converted from the audio data of the radio is transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 to the bathroom remote controller 12. As a result, the sound of the radio is output from the sound input / output port 12a of the bathroom remote controller 12. In this way, the user can enjoy the radio in the kitchen or in the bathroom.

The hot water supply device 10 may be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal device from inside the house H10 and outside the house. In this case, the management server for performing the remote control is connected to the external communication network 30. The control information input to the mobile terminal device is transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the management server, and is transmitted from the management server to the kitchen remote controller 13. In this way, the control information is set in the kitchen remote controller 13, and the control according to the control information is executed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13.

The water heater 11 includes a control unit 111, a storage unit 112, a communication unit 113, and a sensor group 114.

The control unit 111 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and controls each unit in the water heater 11 according to a control program stored in the storage unit 112. The storage unit 112 includes a memory, stores a control program, and is used as a work area during control processing.

The communication unit 113 communicates with the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 according to the control from the control unit 111. The communication unit 113 is connected to the communication unit 125 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the communication unit 135 of the kitchen remote controller 13 by a 2-core communication line L10.

The sensor group 114 includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water flowing through the pipe connected to the hot water supply port 11a, a flow rate sensor that detects the flow rate of hot water flowing through the pipe, a water level sensor that detects the water level of the bathtub to which the hot water supply device 10 is connected, and the like. It is equipped with various sensors. The control unit 111 controls the supply of hot water and the like based on the detection signals from the sensor group 114.

The bathroom remote controller 12 includes a control unit 123, a storage unit 124, a communication unit 125, and a speaker 126, in addition to the display unit 121 and the operation unit 122 described above. The display unit 121 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. As described above, the operation unit 122 includes various operation buttons for on / off operation, filling with hot water, reheating, and the like. The display unit 121 may be a touch panel.

The control unit 123 includes a CPU and performs predetermined control according to a control program stored in the storage unit 124. The storage unit 124 includes a memory, stores a control program, and is used as a work area during control processing.

The communication unit 125 communicates with the water heater 11 according to the control from the control unit 123. The communication unit 125 is connected to the communication unit 113 of the water heater 11 and the communication unit 135 of the kitchen remote controller 13 by a 2-core communication line L10.

The speaker 126 outputs a predetermined sound according to the control from the control unit 123. The speaker 126 outputs audio through the audio input / output port 12a.

In addition to the display unit 131 and the operation unit 132 described above, the kitchen remote controller 13 includes a control unit 133, a storage unit 134, a communication unit 135, a speaker 136, and a wireless communication unit 137. The display unit 131 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. As described above, the operation unit 132 includes various operation buttons for on / off operation, filling with hot water, reheating, and the like. The display unit 131 may be a touch panel.

The control unit 133 includes a CPU and performs predetermined control according to a control program stored in the storage unit 134. The storage unit 134 includes a memory, stores a control program, and is used as a work area during control processing.

The communication unit 135 communicates with the water heater 11 according to the control from the control unit 133. The communication unit 135 is connected to the communication unit 113 of the water heater 11 and the communication unit 125 of the bathroom remote controller 12 by a 2-core communication line L10.

The speaker 136 outputs a predetermined sound according to the control from the control unit 133. The speaker 136 outputs audio through the audio input / output port 13a.

The wireless communication unit 137 is a wireless communication module capable of wireless communication with the router 20. The wireless communication unit 137 is connected to the external communication network 30 via the router 20.

In the present embodiment, the radio audio data distributed from the radio server 40 can be reproduced by the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13. That is, the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 are equipped with a radio function. A streaming method is used for reproducing the radio sound by the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 by this radio function. A user who performs radio reproduction can output the radio sound of a desired broadcasting station by operating the radio button 122e of the bathroom remote controller 12 or the radio button 132e of the kitchen remote controller 13.

The radio function will be described in detail below.

FIG. 4A is a diagram showing the configuration of the storage unit 134 of the kitchen remote controller 13.

The storage unit 134 of the kitchen remote controller 13 is provided with a received data storage unit 134a, a data buffer unit 134b, and a remaining amount storage unit 134c for the radio function.

The radio audio data reproduced by the radio function is transmitted from the radio server 40 in an amount unit that can be reproduced for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) each time an acquisition request is made from the hot water supply device 10 side, that is, the kitchen remote controller 13 side. Will be done. The received data storage unit 134a stores one voice data (hereinafter, referred to as “unit voice data”) received by the wireless communication unit 137. When all the unit audio data is stored in the received data storage unit 134a and it is confirmed that the unit audio data is normal (no data omission), the storage of the unit audio data in the received data storage unit 134a is completed. Then, the unit audio data is transferred from the received data storage unit 134a to the data buffer unit 134b. After that, based on the new acquisition request, the next unit voice data is received by the wireless communication unit 137 and stored in the received data storage unit 134a.

The data buffer unit 134b temporarily stores, that is, buffers the unit voice data transferred from the received data storage unit 134a. In the present embodiment, the data buffer unit 134b is configured to be able to buffer three unit voice data. The number of unit audio data that can be buffered in the data buffer unit 134b may be a number other than three as long as it is plural.

When the buffering of the three unit audio data is completed, the audio reproduction is started, and the unit audio data is sequentially read from the data buffer unit 134b. When one unit audio data is read out, if the storage of the new unit audio data in the received data storage unit 134a is completed, the new unit audio data is immediately stored in the data buffer from the received data storage unit 134a. Transferred to section 134b.

The remaining amount storage unit 134c stores the number of unit voice data stored in the data buffer unit 134b. The number of unit audio data corresponds to the remaining amount of audio data in the data buffer unit 134b. When one unit audio data is buffered in the data buffer unit 134b while the radio function is being executed, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote control 13 counts the number of unit audio data in the remaining amount storage unit 134c by one. When the number is increased and one unit audio data is read from the data buffer unit 134b, the number of unit audio data in the remaining amount storage unit 134c is decreased by one.

In the present embodiment, while the radio function is being executed, the display unit 121 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the display unit 131 of the kitchen remote controller 13 are displayed for the radio function (hereinafter, referred to as "radio display"), and the radio display is performed. The display form of is changed according to the remaining amount of audio data stored in the data buffer unit 134b.

The storage unit 134 of the kitchen remote controller 13 and the storage unit 124 of the bathroom remote controller 12 are provided with a first correspondence table T1 and a second correspondence table T2 used for radio display, respectively.

4 (b) and 4 (c) are diagrams showing the configurations of the first correspondence table T1 and the second correspondence table T2, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4B, in the first correspondence table T1, the display form of the radio display and the display form thereof are displayed on the bathroom remote controller 12 in association with the number of unit audio data in the data buffer unit 134b. A display command for instructing is registered. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, the display form is registered in the second correspondence table T2 in association with the display command.

The radio display is preferably performed by characters, patterns (marks), etc., and it is desirable that each display form makes it easy for the user to intuitively understand the magnitude and presence of the remaining amount of voice data. In the present embodiment, as an example, the number of unit voice data is 0, 1, 2, 3, and the letter "E", one musical note pattern, and two musical notes, respectively. A picture, a picture of three notes is used.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process of the radio function executed by the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a control process of the radio function executed by the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a display process included in the control process of FIG. 8 (a) to 8 (c) are diagrams for explaining a display for a radio function.

First, a case where radio reproduction is performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 will be described. In this case, the bathroom remote controller 12 executes the control process of FIG. 5, and the kitchen remote controller 13 executes the control process of FIG.

When the radio button 122e is operated on the bathroom remote controller 12, the control unit 123 accepts this operation and starts the control process of FIG.

With reference to FIG. 5, the control unit 123 causes the display unit 121 to perform the radio display D1 according to the display mode at the start (S101). The display form at the start of the radio display D1 may be, for example, blinking of a pattern of three musical notes as shown in FIG. 8A.

Next, the control unit 123 transmits a start signal for starting the radio function to the kitchen remote controller 13 via the communication unit 125 and the 2-core communication line L10 (S102).

In the kitchen remote controller 13, the control unit 133 acquires the start signal via the communication unit 135 and starts the control process of FIG.

With reference to FIG. 6, the control unit 133 first determines whether or not the radio reproduction is performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 (S201). Here, since it is determined that the radio reproduction is performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 (S201: NO), the control unit 133 performs the initial operation (S202). Specifically, the control unit 133 transmits an authentication key to the radio server 40 via the wireless communication unit 137, the router 20, and the external communication network 30, obtains authentication by the radio server 40, and then sends the authentication key from the radio server 40. From the list of broadcasting stations that have been received, select the same broadcasting station as when playing the radio last time, and decide on the broadcasting station this time. The list of broadcasting stations includes broadcasting station information for identifying each broadcasting station.

Next, the control unit 133 starts acquiring and buffering the radio audio data from the radio server 40 (S203). That is, the control unit 133 transmits a voice data acquisition request together with the broadcasting station information to the radio server 40 via the wireless communication unit 137 and the like. The unit audio data of the radio of the selected broadcasting station is transmitted from the radio server 40, received by the wireless communication unit 137, and stored in the received data storage unit 134a. When the storage of the unit voice data in the received data storage unit 134a is completed, the control unit 133 moves the unit voice data to the data buffer unit 134b and buffers it. Then, the control unit 133 transmits the acquisition request to the radio server 40 again, and acquires the next unit voice data. After that, acquisition and buffering of such unit audio data are repeated.

When buffering is started, the control unit 133 detects the number of unit voice data in the data buffer unit 134b as the remaining amount of voice data (S204). The number of unit voice data in the data buffer unit 134b is stored in the remaining amount storage unit 134c. Next, the control unit 133 performs the display process of FIG. 7 (S205). The processes of S204 and S205 are repeated until the buffering to the data buffer unit 134b is completed, that is, until the data buffer unit 134b is filled with the three unit voice data (S206: NO).

With reference to FIG. 7, the control unit 133 determines whether or not the remaining amount of detected voice data, that is, the number of unit voice data has changed since the previous detection (S301). If there is a change in the remaining amount of voice data as a result of the determination (S301: YES), the control unit 133 refers to the first corresponding table T1 and is based on the remaining amount of voice data, that is, the number of unit voice data. , The display form of the radio display D1 is determined (S302).

Next, the control unit 133 determines whether or not the radio reproduction is performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 (S303). Here, since it is determined that the radio reproduction is performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 (S303: YES), the control unit 133 issues a display command corresponding to the determined display mode via the communication unit 135 and the 2-core communication line L10. It is transmitted to the bathroom remote controller 12 (S304).

When the remaining amount of voice data is detected for the first time, the determination of S301 is passed through. Therefore, the processes of S302 and S304 are performed, and the display command is transmitted.

With reference to FIG. 5 again, in the bathroom remote controller 12, the control unit 123 monitors the reception of the display command after the transmission of the start signal in S102 (S103). Then, when the display command transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 is received by the communication unit 125 (S103: YES), the control unit 123 acquires the display command. Then, the control unit 123 causes the display unit 121 to change the display form of the radio display D1 so as to have a display form corresponding to the acquired display command by referring to the second correspondence table T2 (S104).

In this way, until the buffering to the data buffer unit 134b is completed, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 sequentially issues a display command according to the remaining amount (accumulated amount) of the voice data on the 2-core communication line. It is transmitted to the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12 by wired communication by L10, and the display unit 121 of the bathroom remote controller 12 is made to change the display form of the radio display D1 through the control unit 123. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, as the remaining amount of audio data in the data buffer unit 134b, that is, the number of unit audio data increases as the buffering progresses, the radio display D1 becomes more and more. It will shift to a display format that corresponds to a large remaining amount. By looking at the radio display D1 of the display unit 121, the user can predict the timing at which the radio reproduction is started.

With reference to FIG. 6 again, in the kitchen remote controller 13, when the data buffer unit 134b is filled with the three unit voice data and the buffering is completed (S206: YES), the control unit 133 buffers the data buffer unit 134b. Playback of the generated audio data is started (S207). That is, the control unit 133 sequentially reads the unit voice data from the data buffer unit 134b and converts the unit voice data into a reproducible analog voice signal by the speakers 126 and 136. Then, the control unit 133 transmits an audio signal to the bathroom remote controller 12 via the communication unit 135 and the 2-core communication line L10. In the bathroom remote controller 12, the signal output circuit (not shown) to the speaker 126 is switched in the control unit 123, and the audio signal received by the communication unit 125 is directly passed through the control unit 123 and output to the speaker 126. .. In this way, the sound of the radio is reproduced by the speaker 126.

The radio audio signal transmitted via the 2-core communication line L10 is received in a frequency band far away from the frequency band used for transmitting and receiving setting information such as hot water filling and state information such as hot water temperature. Therefore, the audio signal of the radio does not affect the transmission / reception of setting information and status information.

When the reproduction of the audio data is started, the control unit 133 again detects the remaining amount of the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b (S208), and performs the display process of FIG. 7 (S209). Further, in the bathroom remote controller 12, the control unit 123 continues to process S103 and S104. As a result, even while the voice data is being played back, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 sequentially issues a display command according to the remaining amount (accumulated amount) of the voice data to the bathroom remote controller by wired communication using the 2-core communication line L10. It is transmitted to the control unit 123 of the 12 and causes the display unit 121 of the bathroom remote controller 12 to change the display form of the radio display D1 through the control unit 123.

When the communication environment between the wireless communication unit 137 and the radio server 40 is good and the voice data reception state of the wireless communication unit 137 is good, the unit voice data is stored in the reception data storage unit 134a. Since the storage time required to complete is shorter than the reading interval of the unit audio data from the data buffer unit 134b, the unit audio data is read into the data buffer unit 134b during the reproduction of the audio data almost at the same time. New unit audio data is saved. Therefore, in this case, the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b is maintained at the maximum remaining amount, and the display form of the radio display D1 on the display unit 121 of the bathroom remote controller 12 is also maintained at the display form corresponding to the maximum remaining amount. To.

On the other hand, if the communication environment between the wireless communication unit 137 and the radio server 40 deteriorates and the voice data reception state of the wireless communication unit 137 deteriorates, the storage time may be longer than the read interval. .. Alternatively, it is possible that the unit voice data cannot be received temporarily. In this case, since the storage of the new unit voice data cannot keep up with the reading of the unit voice data, the remaining amount of the voice data in the data buffer unit 134b decreases. After that, if the reception state of the voice data in the wireless communication unit 137 returns to a good state, the remaining amount of the voice data increases, and the remaining amount can be recovered to the maximum. Further, if the deterioration of the reception state continues for a long time, the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b may be exhausted.

As described above, when the remaining amount of audio data in the data buffer unit 134b increases or decreases during playback of audio data, the display unit 121 of the bathroom remote controller 12 displays the audio data as shown in FIG. 8 (c). The display form of the radio display D1 changes according to the increase or decrease in the remaining amount. That is, when the remaining amount of audio data decreases and the audio reproduction becomes unsuccessful, the radio display D1 shifts to a display form (a form with few notes) indicating that the audio reproduction is not performed smoothly, and the audio data When the remaining amount of the sound is increased and the sound reproduction is smooth, the radio display D1 shifts to a display form (a form having many notes) indicating that the sound reproduction is being performed smoothly. As a result, the user can check the radio display D1 of the display unit 121 during radio playback, and can understand that the voice may be interrupted when the voice playback is not smooth.

Subsequently, referring to FIG. 6, the control unit 133 determines whether or not the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b is exhausted during the reproduction of the audio data (S210). When the number of unit voice data in the data buffer unit 134b becomes 0, the control unit 133 determines that the voice data has been exhausted (S210: YES). In this case, the control unit 133 stops the reproduction of the audio data by stopping the operation of reading the unit audio data from the data buffer unit 134b (S211).

The control unit 133 waits for the audio data buffering to be completed again while detecting and displaying the remaining amount of the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b (S204 to S206). After that, when the reception state of the voice data in the wireless communication unit 137 is improved and the buffering is completed, the control unit 133 resumes the reproduction of the voice data (S207).

When ending the radio reproduction, the user operates the radio button 122e of the bathroom remote controller 12.

With reference to FIG. 5, when the radio button 122e is operated in the bathroom remote controller 12, the control unit 123 determines that the end operation has been performed (S105: YES), and sends the end signal to the communication unit 135 and the 2-core communication line L10. It is transmitted to the kitchen remote controller 13 via (S106). Then, the control unit 123 causes the display unit 121 to erase the radio display D1 (S107).

With reference to FIG. 6, in the kitchen remote controller 13, when the end signal is transmitted from the bathroom remote controller 12, the control unit 133 determines that the end operation has been performed (S212: YES), and reproduces, acquires, and buffers the audio data. Is stopped (S213). In this way, the radio playback on the bathroom remote controller 12 ends.

Next, a case where radio reproduction is performed by the kitchen remote controller 13 will be described. In this case, the kitchen remote controller 13 executes the control process shown in FIG.

When the radio button 132e is operated on the kitchen remote controller 13, the control unit 133 accepts this operation and starts the control process of FIG. Hereinafter, only the differences between the control process of FIG. 6 and the display process of FIG. 7 and the radio reproduction with the bathroom remote controller 12 will be described.

Since the radio reproduction is performed by the kitchen remote controller 13 (S201: NO), the control unit 123 causes the display unit 121 to perform the radio display D1 according to the display form at the start (S216), and then performs the initial operation (S202). ).

Further, in the display process of FIG. 7, since it is determined in S303 that the radio reproduction is not performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 (S303: NO), the control unit 133 determines the display mode based on the remaining amount of audio data. The display unit 131 is made to change the display form of the radio display D1 (S305). As a result, the display form of the radio display D1 of the display unit 131 changes as shown in FIG. 8B until the buffering of the audio data to the data buffer unit 134b is completed, and the audio data is reproduced. During this period, the display form changes as shown in FIG. 8C.

Further, when the control unit 133 starts the reproduction of the audio data when the buffering is completed (S207), the control unit 133 outputs the audio signal to the speaker 136 of the kitchen remote controller 13. As a result, the sound of the radio is reproduced by the speaker 136.

Further, when the radio reproduction is ended, the radio button 132e of the kitchen remote controller 13 is operated. When the radio button 132e is operated, the control unit 133 determines that the end operation has been performed (S212: YES), and stops the reproduction, acquisition, and buffering of the audio data (S213). Then, since the radio display D1 is displayed on the display unit 131 (S214: YES), the control unit 133 causes the display unit 131 to erase the radio display D1 (S215).

<Effect of embodiment>
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

While the radio sound is being reproduced by the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13, the display form of the radio display D1 of the display units 121 and 131 is changed according to the remaining amount of the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b. As a result, by checking the radio display D1, the user can grasp that the voice may be interrupted when the remaining amount of the voice data is reduced and the voice reproduction is not smooth. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to misunderstand that the failure is on the hot water supply device 10 side when the sound is interrupted.

Further, the kitchen remote control 13 is provided with a wireless communication unit 137 for receiving voice data and a data buffer unit 134b for buffering voice data, and data is connected to the kitchen remote control 13 via wired communication. A speaker 126 for reproducing the sound data read from the buffer unit 134b and a display unit 121 for performing the radio display D1 are provided. Then, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 transmits a display command to the bathroom remote controller 12 by wired communication, so that the display form of the radio display D1 of the display unit 121 is changed. According to this configuration, even when the radio sound is reproduced by the bathroom remote controller 12 not provided with the wireless communication unit 137 and the data buffer unit 134b and the radio display D1 is performed, the data buffer unit 134b is performed in the bathroom remote controller 12. The display form of the radio display D1 can be changed according to the remaining amount of the audio data in the radio display. Therefore, the user can grasp in advance that the reproduced sound may be interrupted even when listening to the radio sound with the bathroom remote controller 12, and when the sound is interrupted, the hot water supply device. It is difficult to misunderstand that it is a failure on the 10th side.

Furthermore, since the bathroom is often located at the edge of the house, it tends to be far from the room where the router 20 is placed, and from the room where the router 20 is placed to the bathroom to go through the dressing room. There are many walls and doors. Therefore, when the bathroom remote controller 12 is provided with the wireless communication unit, the radio waves from the router 20 are difficult to reach, and the reception state of voice data tends to deteriorate.

In this respect, in the present embodiment, since the wireless communication unit 137 is provided not in the bathroom remote controller 12 but in the kitchen remote controller 13, the reception state of voice data is unlikely to deteriorate. Therefore, the sound reproduced by the bathroom remote controller 12 is less likely to be interrupted.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the application example of the present invention in addition to the above embodiment. ..

<Change example 1>
In the above embodiment, the display mode of the radio display D1 is changed according to the remaining amount of the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b while the audio data is being reproduced.

On the other hand, in this modification, while the audio data is being played back, the display mode of the radio display D1 is the remaining amount of the audio data in the data buffer unit 134b and the reception state of the audio data in the wireless communication unit 137. It is changed according to the quality.

The storage unit 134 of the kitchen remote controller 13 is provided with a third compatible table T3 in addition to the first compatible table T1, and the storage unit 124 of the bathroom remote controller 12 is provided with a fourth compatible table T4 in addition to the second compatible table T2. Is provided.

9 (a) and 9 (b) are diagrams showing the configurations of the third correspondence table T3 and the fourth correspondence table T4 according to the first modification, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the third correspondence table T3 is associated with the number of unit voice data in the data buffer unit 134b and the quality of the voice data reception state in the wireless communication unit 137, and is associated with the radio. The display form of the display D1 and the display command for instructing the bathroom remote controller 12 of the display form are registered. Further, as shown in FIG. 9B, the display form is registered in the fourth correspondence table T4 in association with the display command.

In this modified example, as an example, the radio display D1 has the letter "E", 1 depending on the remaining amount of audio data in the data buffer unit 134b and the quality of the audio data reception state in the wireless communication unit 137. The blinking of the pattern of one musical note, the pattern of one musical note, the pattern of two musical notes, and the pattern of three musical notes are designed to take five display forms.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a display process included in the control process of FIG. 6 according to the first modification.

In the control process of FIG. 6, the display process of FIG. 10 is executed instead of the display process of FIG. 7 executed in S209 after the start of reproduction of the audio data.

With reference to FIG. 10, the control unit 133 determines whether or not the voice data reception state of the wireless communication unit 137 is good or bad (S401). For example, the control unit 133 measures the amount of audio data stored in the received data storage unit 134a within a unit time to obtain the storage speed, and when the storage speed is larger than a predetermined threshold value, the reception state is good. When the storage speed is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is determined that the reception state is not good (poor).

Next, the control unit 133 refers to the third correspondence table T3, and determines the display form of the radio display D1 based on the remaining amount of audio data and the quality of the reception state (S402). If the determined display form is different from the display form of the current radio display D1 (S403: YES), the control unit 133 determines whether or not the radio reproduction is performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 (S404).

When radio playback is being performed by the bathroom remote controller 12 (S404: YES), the control unit 133 transmits a display command corresponding to the determined display mode to the bathroom remote controller 12 via the communication unit 135 and the 2-core communication line L10. (S405). In the bathroom remote controller 12, the display command is received, and the control unit 123 displays the radio display D1 on the display unit 121 so that the display form corresponds to the received display command by referring to the fourth corresponding table T4. Change the form.

On the other hand, when the kitchen remote controller 13 is performing radio reproduction (S404: NO), the control unit 133 causes the display unit 131 to change the display form of the radio display D1 so as to have the determined display form (S406).

In this modified example, if the remaining amount of audio data is reduced or the reception state of audio data is deteriorated and the audio reproduction is not smooth, the radio display D1 indicates that the audio reproduction is not performed smoothly. If the sound reproduction becomes smooth due to the shift to the form (the form with few notes), the remaining amount of audio data increases or the reception state of the audio data improves, the radio display D1 shows the audio reproduction smoothly. It shifts to the display form (a form with many notes) that indicates that it is being performed in. As a result, the user can check the radio display D1 of the display units 121 and 131 during radio playback, and can understand that the voice may be interrupted when the voice playback is not smooth. Therefore, it is difficult for the user to misunderstand that the failure is on the hot water supply device 10 side when the sound is interrupted.

Moreover, by considering not only the remaining amount of audio data but also the quality of the reception state of audio data, it is accurately detected whether or not the audio reproduction is smooth, and the display form of the radio display D1 according to the detection is You can make changes. Therefore, the user can more accurately grasp that the voice may be interrupted.

<Other changes>
In the above embodiment, the kitchen remote controller 13 is provided with the wireless communication unit 137, so that the voice data from the radio server 40 is received on the kitchen remote controller 13 side. However, by providing the bathroom remote controller 12 with a wireless communication unit, voice data may be received on the bathroom remote controller 12 side. In this case, the storage unit 124 of the bathroom remote controller 12 is provided with a reception data storage unit, a data buffer unit, and a remaining amount storage unit. Then, the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12 executes the control process of FIG. 6, and the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 executes the control process of FIG.

Alternatively, the water heater 11 may be provided with a wireless communication unit so that voice data can be received on the water heater 11 side. In this case, the storage unit 112 of the water heater 11 is provided with a reception data storage unit, a data buffer unit, and a remaining amount storage unit. Then, the control process of FIG. 6 is executed by the control unit 111 of the water heater 11, and the control process of FIG. 5 is executed by the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13.

Further, in addition to the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13, a control unit having a wireless communication unit is arranged in the hot water supply device 10, and this control unit is connected to the router 20 to acquire voice data. You may. In this case, for example, the voice data acquired by the control unit can be transmitted to the kitchen remote controller 13 by wired communication.

Further, in the above embodiment, the radio sound can be reproduced by both the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13. However, the radio sound may not be reproduced by either the bathroom remote controller 12 or the kitchen remote controller 13.

Further, in the above embodiment, since the hot water supply device 10 is provided with a radio function, the radio sound is reproduced by the speakers 126 and 136 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13. However, since the hot water supply device 10 has a function of reproducing a moving image such as a television image which is a content other than the radio, the moving image (image) is displayed on the display units 121 and 131 and the speakers 126 and 136 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13. And audio) may be played. In this case, the hot water supply device 10 is connected to the moving image distribution server via the router 20 and the external communication network 30. Video data including video data and audio data is distributed from the distribution server by a streaming method. In the hot water supply device 10, the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 execute the control process of FIG. 5 and the control process of FIG. 6 for which the processing target is moving image data, respectively.

Further, the number of remote controllers is not limited to two, and may be one or three or more.

In addition, various modifications of the embodiment of the present invention can be made as appropriate within the scope of the claims.

10 Hot water supply device 30 External communication network 12 Bathroom remote controller (second device, second remote controller)
13 Kitchen remote controller (first device, first remote controller)
121, 131 Display unit (notification unit)
126, 136 Speaker (playback unit)
133 Control unit 134b Data buffer unit (buffer unit)
137 Wireless communication unit (receiver)

Claims (4)

A receiver that can receive content data transmitted via an external communication network,
A buffer unit in which content data received by the receiving unit is temporarily stored, and a buffer unit.
A playback unit that reproduces the content data read from the buffer unit, and a playback unit.
A control unit that controls the playback of content data,
It is equipped with a notification unit that gives a predetermined notification during playback of content data.
The control unit causes the notification unit to change the form of the notification according to the remaining amount of content data stored in the buffer unit.
A hot water supply device characterized by this. In the hot water supply device according to claim 1,
The control unit determines the quality of the reception state of the content data in the reception unit, and causes the notification unit to change the form of the notification according to the determination result of the quality and the remaining amount.
A hot water supply device characterized by this. In the hot water supply device according to claim 1 or 2.
A first device and a second device connected to the first device in a wired communication manner are provided.
The first device is provided with the receiving unit, the buffer unit, and the control unit.
The second device is provided with the reproduction unit and the notification unit.
The control unit transmits information for causing the notification unit to change the form of the notification to the second device by the wired communication.
A hot water supply device characterized by this. In the hot water supply device according to claim 3,
The first device is a first remote controller arranged in a room other than the bathroom.
The second device is a second remote controller located in the bathroom.
A hot water supply device characterized by this.

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