JP6739044B2 - Information providing system, information providing method, and control program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an information providing system that provides information on the use of electric equipment, and an information providing method and a control program used in this information providing system.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are known systems that provide weather information such as weather forecasts at various locations. The Meteorological Agency provides high-temperature caution information as weather information for the prevention of heat stroke. In some cases, the weather information provided by conventional systems is insufficient for users. Patent Document 1 describes an air quality monitoring device that assists in determining whether or not a window may be opened for ventilation because the air quality of the outside air may be poor. Since this air quality monitoring device collects information from the window sensors of a plurality of dwelling units within a predetermined range to notify the user terminal if one or more of the windows is in the open state, the user directly measures the air quality of the outside air. You can open the window based on the notification even if you do not understand.

International Publication No. 2016/021150

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a lifestyle in which electric equipment (air conditioning equipment, etc.) is not wastefully used has become widespread from the viewpoints of global environment conservation and saving. In addition, in order to prevent heat stroke on hot and humid days, for example, in a home with elderly people, sick people, infants, etc., it is necessary to use an air conditioner (air conditioner) having a cooling function rather than be patient. It is sometimes said that air conditioners should be used appropriately.

However, although it is possible to refer to the weather information such as high temperature caution information for each region provided by the conventional system, whether or not to use the air conditioning equipment in the facility such as an individual house It is not always easy to judge whether or not). This is because the conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) of the individual facilities can differ greatly depending on the topography, altitude, etc. of the location area (for example, a municipality, or even a narrow area) of the individual facility. Further, the technique of Patent Document 1 provides information for opening a window, but does not provide information useful for determining whether or not to operate an electric device such as an air conditioner.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information providing system that can provide useful information for determining whether or not to operate an electric device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an information providing method and a control program used in this information providing system.

In order to achieve the above object, an information providing system according to an aspect of the present invention includes, for each of a plurality of facilities equipped with an electric device, an acquisition unit that acquires use condition information indicating a use condition of the electric device of the facility, and a predetermined unit. A receiving unit that receives request information relating to a request for providing information indicating the usage status of electrical equipment in a facility near the ground, a specifying unit that specifies a range in the vicinity of the predetermined place based on the request information, and An output unit that generates provision information and outputs the provision information based on the usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit for the facilities within the range specified by the specification unit among the plurality of facilities. ..

In order to achieve the above object, the information providing system according to one aspect of the present invention provides usage status information, which is power information indicating the power used by the electric device of the facility, for each of the plurality of facilities including the electric device. Based on the request information, an acquisition unit that acquires, a reception unit that receives request information related to a request for provision information that indicates a status of action estimated from power information related to the use of electric equipment in a facility near a predetermined location, and the request information. The identification unit that identifies a range in the vicinity of the predetermined place, and the facility within the range identified by the identification unit among the plurality of facilities based on the usage status information obtained by the acquisition unit. And an output unit that estimates the behavior at the facility within the range, generates provision information based on the estimated behavior, and outputs the provision information.

In order to achieve the above object, the information providing method according to an aspect of the present invention includes an acquisition step of acquiring usage status information indicating a usage status of the electric device of the facility for each of a plurality of facilities including the electric device. A receiving step of receiving request information relating to a request for providing information indicating the usage status of electrical equipment in a facility near the predetermined place, and a specifying step of specifying a range near the predetermined place based on the request information. A provision step of generating provision information and providing the provision information based on the usage status information acquired in the acquisition step for the facilities within the range specified in the specifying step among the plurality of facilities; including.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, the information providing method according to an aspect of the present invention provides usage status information, which is power information indicating power used by the electric device of the facility, for each of the plurality of facilities including the electric device. An acquisition step of acquiring, a reception step of receiving request information related to a request for provision information indicating a status of behavior estimated from power information related to use of electric equipment in a nearby facility at a predetermined location, and a reception step based on the request information A specific step of specifying a range in the vicinity of the predetermined place, and the facility within the range specified in the specific step among the plurality of facilities is specified based on the usage status information acquired in the acquisition step. And a provision step of generating provision information based on the estimated behavior and providing the provision information.

Further, in order to achieve the above object, a control program according to an aspect of the present invention is a control program for causing a computer to execute the above information providing method, and in the receiving step, the reception of the request information is performed. The requesting information is received, and in the providing step, the providing information is provided by transmitting the providing information to the source of the request information.

According to the present invention, useful information can be provided for determining whether to operate an electric device.

It is a block diagram of an information providing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of usage status information used in the information providing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of request information used in the information providing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a screen displayed based on provision information in the information provision system according to the first embodiment. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of information providing processing in the information providing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a sequence of exchanging information between each device in the information providing system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of usage status information used in the information providing system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of request information used in the information providing system according to the second embodiment. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of information providing processing in the information providing system according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the use condition information used with the information provision system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of request information used in the information providing system according to the third embodiment. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of information providing processing in the information providing system according to the third embodiment. It is a block diagram (1) of the information provision system which concerns on other embodiment. It is a block diagram (2) of the information provision system which concerns on other embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Each of the embodiments shown here shows one specific example of the present invention. Therefore, the numerical values, shapes, materials, constituent elements, arrangements and connection forms of constituent elements, steps (processes) and order of steps, and the like shown in the following embodiments are examples and limit the present invention. is not. Among the constituents in the following embodiments, constituents not described in independent claims are constituents that can be arbitrarily added. In addition, each drawing is a schematic diagram and is not necessarily strictly illustrated.

Hereinafter, the information providing system 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The information providing system collects and accumulates usage status information indicating the usage status of electrical equipment of each facility from each of a plurality of facilities, and generates information based on the usage status information in response to a user (user) request. This is a system for providing (information for provision). The provision information is information useful for the user to determine whether or not to operate the electric device, and is, for example, information indicating the usage status of the electric device in a facility within a certain geographical range. In the present embodiment, as a more specific example, an example in which a material for determining whether or not to operate an air conditioner (air conditioner) that is a specific type of electric device in a house of a user is provided. Hereinafter, an information providing system that provides information for use that indicates the usage status of air conditioners at facilities (houses, etc.) in the neighborhood of a user's house (for example, the proportion of houses that use the air conditioners in the neighborhood) 10 will be described.

(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the information providing system 10 is configured to include a server 100, facilities 20a to 20c including air conditioners 21a to 21c, and an information terminal 200. The server 100 and the facilities 20a to 20c (devices in the facility) can communicate with each other via a communication network 30 for wired communication or wireless communication. The communication network 30 is a communication path that may include a wide area network such as the Internet or a telephone line network. The information terminal 200 can also communicate with the server 100 via the communication network 30. In the present embodiment, the server 100 collects and accumulates the usage status information from the facilities 20a to 20c, and the server 100 provides the provision information to the information terminal 200 in response to a request from the information terminal 200 used by the user.

The facilities 20a to 20c are facilities of electric power consumers, and are, for example, detached houses, dwelling units of condominiums, stores, offices, and the like. The facilities 20a to 20c shown in FIG. 1 are representative of a plurality of facilities for which the server 100 in the information providing system 10 collects usage information, and the number of facilities is not particularly limited. The plurality of facilities for which the server 100 collects the usage status information are located in various places, and for example, a plurality (for example, several hundreds) in a certain range (one municipality, or a certain distance range such as several kilometers or tens of kilometers). , Thousands, etc.) can exist.

The facility 20a includes an air conditioner 21a, and devices in the facility 20a periodically (for example, every 10 minutes) transmit to the server 100 usage status information indicating whether or not the air conditioner 21a is in operation. The facilities 20b and 20c are similar to the facility 20a. As a specific example, a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) controller that manages energy such as electric power in the facility 20a generates usage status information by detecting the operating status of HEMS equipment such as the air conditioner 21a, and causes the server 100 to generate the usage status information. Send. The HEMS controller communicates with the air conditioning equipment 21a based on a communication protocol such as ECHONET Lite (registered trademark) via, for example, a local area network (LAN) in the facility 20a, thereby operating the air conditioning equipment 21a. (Whether or not it is operating) can be detected. The operating condition (whether or not the air conditioner 21a is in operation) is, for example, whether the air conditioner 21a is in a power-on state or a power-off state. For example, the condition in which the air conditioner 21a consumes only so-called standby power is , May be treated as being not in operation. Any method may be used to detect the operating status of the air conditioner 21a. For example, the HEMS controller measures the power used (consumed) by the air conditioner 21a by a current sensor installed in the branch circuit for the air conditioner 21a of the distribution board in the facility 20a, in addition to the communication with the air conditioner 21a. Therefore, the operating status may be detected. In addition, for example, the amount of power used in the facility 20a is measured from the measurement result of the current sensor added to the main breaker connected to the power system of the distribution board in the facility 20a, or in the part closer to the power system than the distribution board. The operating status of the air conditioner 21a in the facility 20a may be estimated from the measurement result obtained by a meter for reading electricity (smart meter) or the like. A device (for example, a HEMS controller) in the facility 20a may hold an address for communication with the server 100 and periodically send the usage status information to the server 100, or a cycle from the server 100. The usage status information may be transmitted in response to a specific request. Further, here, for convenience of description, the facility 20a will be described as including one air conditioner 21a. If the facility 20a is provided with a plurality of air conditioners, the usage status information may be indicated as being in operation when, for example, one or more are in operation, or more in detail how many are in operation. However, it may indicate how many are not operating. The usage status information may include information for identifying the location. FIG. 2 shows an example of usage status information. In the example of the figure, the usage status information includes a location and an operating/non-operating state. The location is information indicating the location of the location of the facility 20a, and in the example of FIG. 2, the location is indicated by the longitude and the latitude. For example, the location may be indicated by a city name, a lot number, or the like. The operating/non-operating state is, for example, information indicating whether or not the air conditioner 21a is operating. The usage status information may include information that can be used by the server 100 to identify the location of the facility 20a, instead of directly indicating the location itself. The information that can be used to identify the location of the facility 20a in the server 100 is, for example, identification information of the facility 20a or identification information (user ID) of a resident of the facility 20a that is registered in advance in the server 100 in association with the location. Etc.

The information terminal 200 is a terminal (computer) having a user interface such as a smartphone or a personal computer (PC), and has portability, for example. The information terminal 200 includes a display device such as a display and a projector, an input device such as a touch panel, a pointing device, and a keyboard, a memory, a communication circuit, and a processor. The information terminal 200 has a function of accepting an operation of a user who is a resident of a facility located in a certain predetermined place and requesting the server 100 for providing information indicating the judgment material for deciding whether or not to operate the air conditioner. Have. This request is made by transmitting request information to the server 100. In addition, the information terminal 200 has a function of performing display based on the providing information acquired by receiving the information from the server 100. The request information may include information for specifying a predetermined place. FIG. 3 shows an example of the request information. In the example of the figure, the request information includes a predetermined place and a range designation. The predetermined place in the request information is information indicating the position of the place where the facility of the user who operates the information terminal 200 is located, and in the example of FIG. 3, the predetermined place is indicated by the longitude and the latitude. For example, the predetermined place may be indicated by a municipality name, a lot number, or the like. The range designation is information for designating a range (size of range, etc.) near the user's facility. FIG. 3 shows an example in which the range designation “1” predetermined by the server 100 is designated by the user as a range designation within a distance of 10 km from a predetermined place. For example, the user may specify another range classification (for example, a range within 20 km from a predetermined place, such as a range within the same city as the predetermined place). The request information in the example of FIG. 3 is a request for providing information indicating the usage status of the air conditioning equipment in each nearby facility within a distance of 10 km from a predetermined location of longitude x and latitude y. The range designation may be a numerical value indicating the distance. Further, the range designation may indicate a unit such as the same city or the same town. Note that the request information is not the information directly indicating the predetermined place itself, but is the identification information of the facility of the user or the user ID that is registered in advance in the server 100 in association with the predetermined place. It may include information that can be used specifically.

The server 100 is a computer including a communication interface, a memory, and a processor (microprocessor). The communication interface is a communication circuit or the like for wireless communication or wired communication. The memory is a ROM that holds a control program and data in advance, a RAM that is used to store data and the like when executing the control program, and may include, for example, a non-volatile memory. The server 100 may include a storage device such as a hard disk device in addition to the memory. The processor executes a control program stored in the memory to control the communication interface and the like to perform various processes. The server 100 may have a display device (display) as a user interface and an input device (keyboard, touch panel, etc.).

As shown in FIG. 1, the server 100 includes, as functional components, an acquisition unit 110, a storage unit 120, a reception unit 130, a specification unit 140, and an output unit 150.

The acquisition unit 110 is realized by, for example, a communication interface or the like, and acquires, from each of the facilities 20a to 20c, usage status information indicating a usage status of an electric device of the facility (specifically, any of the air conditioners 21a to 21c). To do. Specifically, the acquisition unit 110 acquires the usage status information of the facilities 20a to 20c from the devices in the facilities, and stores (accumulates) the acquired usage status information in the storage unit 120. The acquisition unit 110 may acquire the collection of usage status information by receiving the collection result from an external device (such as another server) that collects the usage status information for each of the facilities 20a to 20c. Further, the usage status information may be power information relating to the power usage of the facility, which can be used to estimate the operation (usage status) of the electrical equipment of the facility. That is, the power information is treated as the usage status information by estimating the operation of the electric device by the server 100.

The storage unit 120 is realized by a storage area of a storage medium such as a memory, and holds the usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit 110.

The reception unit 130 is realized by, for example, a communication interface or the like, and receives request information relating to a request for provision information indicating the usage status of air conditioning equipment in a facility near a predetermined location. Specifically, the receiving unit 130 receives the request information by receiving it from the information terminal 200.

The specifying unit 140 is realized by a processor or the like that executes the control program stored in the memory, and specifies the range in the vicinity of the predetermined place based on the request information received by the receiving unit 130. The specifying unit 140 specifies a predetermined place of longitude x and latitude y based on the request information specifying the range division “1” in the example of FIG. 3, and the distance from the specified predetermined place is within 10 km. Identify the range as a neighborhood range. The identification unit 140 transmits the identified neighborhood range to the output unit 150. Note that, regarding the neighborhood range specified by the identifying unit 140, in addition to the range within a predetermined fixed distance (for example, 10 km), in the case where the request information indicates the distance, It may be specified in the range. Further, when the request information indicates a unit such as a municipality, it may be specified in the same range as the predetermined place by the unit of the municipality as map data. Alternatively, the lot number may be designated in the request information. For example, a resident of a dwelling unit in an apartment house (predetermined place) may use the air conditioner in another dwelling unit in the same apartment house by designating the lot number in the prescribed place in the request information. You may request information to provide for the situation.

The output unit 150 generates provision information and outputs the provision information. The output unit 150 includes the provision information generation unit 151 realized by a processor or the like that executes the control program stored in the memory, and is further realized by, for example, a communication interface. The output unit 150 outputs the provision information by transmitting it to the information terminal 200 that is the transmission source of the request information. The information terminal 200 that receives the providing information presents the providing information to the user. For example, the information terminal 200 presents the providing information to the user by displaying a screen based on the received providing information on a display or the like.

The provision information generation unit 151 generates provision information based on the usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit 110 for the facilities within the range specified by the specification unit 140 among the plurality of facilities (facility 20a to 20c). To do. The provision information generation unit 151 includes, for example, provision information including information on the total number of facilities in the range (neighboring range) specified by the specification unit 140 and in which the air conditioners of the facility are operating. To generate. The information on the total number of facilities may be, for example, the total number itself, or may be the ratio (ratio) of the total number of facilities in the neighboring range where the air conditioners are operating to the total number of facilities in the neighboring range. Good. The providing information may include a list of the usage status information collected from the facilities within the range specified by the specifying unit 140, or information such as an average value and a distribution obtained by statistically processing the usage status information. It may be included, or may include a map (image or the like) in which the position on the map and the usage state are associated with each other. The output unit 150 further receives a graphical user interface (GUI: Graphical User Interface) that accepts an operation of changing the air conditioning equipment in the facility located at a predetermined location from the non-operating state to the operating state when transmitting the provision information to the information terminal 200. ) Information may be transmitted.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a screen displayed on the information terminal 200 based on the provision information generated by the provision information generation unit 151 and transmitted from the output unit 150. The providing information screen 50 of this example includes a usage status display area 51 showing usage status of air conditioning equipment in each facility in a range near a predetermined place indicated by the request information, and an advice display area 52 showing recommended action. , A use button 53 and an end button 54. In the usage status display area 51 in the example of FIG. 4, the total number of facilities that operate air-conditioning equipment (houses that are using air-conditioning equipment) is 1600, and facilities that are not operating (houses that do not use air-conditioning equipment) Etc.) is 400, indicating that the ratio of usage is 80%. The advice display area 52 is an area showing recommended actions, and shows advice (message) to recommend the use of the air conditioner. The information displayed in the usage status display area 51 and the advice display area 52 is information included in the provision information generated by the provision information generation unit 151. The provision information generation unit 151 includes, for example, advice information for recommending the use of the air conditioner only when the usage rate shown in the usage status display area 51 is higher than a predetermined threshold value. The use button 53 is, for example, a GUI component as an option for executing a program for transmitting a control signal for operating the air conditioner. For example, the information terminal 200 used by the user may be installed with a program for transmitting a control signal for remotely controlling the air conditioner in the facility of the user, or the server 100 adds the program to the provision information. Then, the information may be transmitted to the information terminal 200. The use button 53 may be a GUI component for displaying a screen for setting the control contents of the air conditioner. Further, instead of the use button 53, a GUI component for setting the control contents of the air conditioner and a GUI component for operating the air conditioner according to the set contents may be displayed. Further, the use button 53 may be a GUI component for giving an instruction to shift the air conditioner from the operating state to the stopped state. That is, the user may be allowed to specify the control contents of the air conditioning equipment by the GUI. The end button 54 is a GUI component as an option for ending the display of the providing information screen 50.

(motion)
Hereinafter, an operation example of the information providing system 10 having the above configuration will be described focusing on the operation of the server 100.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of the information providing process in the information providing system 10. Hereinafter, the information providing process by the server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The information providing process is a process for the server 100 to provide the providing information as a material for determining whether to operate the air conditioner in response to a request from the information terminal 200 by the user.

The server 100 uses the acquisition unit 110 to collect usage status information indicating the usage status of the air conditioning equipment of each of the plurality of facilities (facility 20a to 20c) (step S11). The collection (reception, etc.) of the usage status information in step S11 is repeatedly performed, for example, periodically. The collected usage status information is stored in the storage unit 120, which allows the server 100 to refer to the latest usage status (whether or not the air conditioning equipment is operating) of the air conditioning equipment in each facility.

When the server 100 receives the request information (information related to the request for the providing information indicating the usage status of the air conditioner in the neighboring facility of the predetermined place) from the reception unit 130 (step S12), the next step S13 to. The processing in S15 is performed. That is, the server 100 causes the specifying unit 140 to specify the range of the vicinity of the predetermined place based on the request information (step S13). Subsequently, the server 100 causes the provision information generation unit 151 to generate provision information based on the usage status information acquired in step S11 for the facilities within the range specified in step S13 among the plurality of facilities ( Step S14). Then, the server 100 uses the output unit 150 to transmit the provision information to the information terminal 200 that is the transmission source of the request information (step S15). After that, the server 100 returns to the processing in step S11 again.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a sequence of information exchange between the device of the facility 20a, the device of the facility 20b, the server 100, and the information terminal 200. It should be noted that description of other facilities (facility 20c) is omitted here.

The device (for example, HEMS controller) of the facility 20a transmits the latest usage status information to the server 100 (step S101). The transmission of the usage status information may be made in response to a request from the server 100. The device of the facility 20b also transmits the latest usage status information to the server 100 (step S102). As a result, the server 100 grasps the usage status of the air conditioning equipment in each facility.

The information terminal 200 transmits request information for requesting information on the usage status of the air conditioning equipment in the facility near the user's facility, and the server 100 receives the request information (step S103). Then, the server 100 transmits the provision information generated according to the request information to the information terminal 200 (step S104). As a result, the information terminal 200 can present the providing information (information that serves as a material for determining whether or not to operate the air conditioner of the user's facility) to the user.

Thereafter, the usage status information is sequentially transmitted from the facilities 20a and 20b to the server 100 (steps S105 and S106).

As described above, according to the information providing system 10, the user can know the usage status of the air conditioner in the nearby facility, which is useful for determining whether to operate the air conditioner in the user's facility (house or the like). it can. For example, in a season when an air conditioner is used for cooling, if the ratio of facilities in operation of the air conditioner in the neighborhood of the user's facility is high, it can be estimated that the neighborhood is hot. it can. In this case, for example, if the user is in the user's house (facility), it is possible to operate the air conditioner to prevent the user from suffering from heat stroke. Further, when the user is out and before returning home, it is possible to remotely control and operate the air conditioner so that the user can return home comfortably. Further, in this case, if the user is out while leaving the elderly person in the house, it is possible to prevent the elderly person from suffering from heat stroke by remotely controlling and operating the air conditioner.

(Embodiment 2)
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which a part of the processing content of the information providing system 10 described above is modified will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, the server 100 collects, for each facility, usage status information including information for identifying the location of the facility and information indicating whether or not the air conditioner is operating at the facility. Here is an example. In the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the usage status information further includes information indicating an attribute of the facility, and the server 100 provides information based on the attribute of the facility. Note that the information providing system of the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as the information providing system 10 shown in the first embodiment, and therefore each component will be described using the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. .. The information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as the information providing system 10 according to the first embodiment in points not particularly shown here (see FIG. 1 ). Here, each facility will be described as a house (for example, a detached house, a dwelling unit of an apartment house, etc.).

FIG. 7 shows an example of usage status information that each facility (facility 20a to 20c) periodically transmits to the server 100 in the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment. In the example of the figure, the usage status information includes a location, a working/non-working status, a house attribute, and a resident attribute. This location and the operating/non-operating state are the same as those shown in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The house attribute and the resident attribute are attributes about the facility.

The housing attributes include, for example, a housing type element, a housing orientation element, a housing height element, and a housing age element. The house type element indicates the distinction between a detached house and an apartment house. The element relating to the orientation of the house indicates the division of the direction in which the maximum opening of the house faces, for example, in four divisions of north, south, west, and east, or in eight divisions. expressed. Elements related to the height of the house are, for example, the first floor to the third floor, the fourth floor to the sixth floor, the seventh floor to the ninth floor, etc., and the number of floors is divided into arbitrary units. , Each dwelling unit of an apartment complex is a category corresponding to the floor on which it is located. The element regarding the age of the house indicates the division related to the number of years elapsed since the house (building) was completed. For example, less than 10 years, 10 years or more and less than 30 years, 30 years or more, etc. It is divided into units.

The resident attribute is an attribute related to the resident of the house, and specifically includes an element related to the age of the resident such as the presence or absence of an elderly person. In the information providing system 10, the age of the elderly may be defined in any way. It can be defined that the elderly person is, for example, a person over 65 years old.

The request information transmitted by the information terminal 200 used by the user in the information providing system 10 of the present embodiment to the server 100 has an attribute that matches the attribute (house attribute and resident attribute) of the user's house (house in a predetermined place). This is a request for information regarding the usage status of air conditioners in the neighboring homes that the user has. An example of the request information is shown in FIG. In the example of the figure, the request information includes a predetermined place, a range designation, a house attribute, and a resident attribute. The location and the range designation are the same as those shown in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). The house attribute and the resident attribute are attributes of the house (facility) of the user who uses the information terminal 200. The request information in the example of FIG. 8 is that, of the neighboring houses within a distance of 10 km from a predetermined place (location of the user's house) of longitude x and latitude y, a south-facing condominium of less than 10 years old is built. This is a request for provision information indicating the usage status of the air conditioners in a dwelling unit (house) on the first to third floors, where the dweller includes an elderly person.

Hereinafter, an operation example of the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on the operation of the server 100.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of the information providing process in the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the information providing process by the server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. The information providing process is a process for the server 100 to provide the providing information as a material for determining whether to operate the air conditioner in response to a request from the information terminal 200 by the user.

The server 100 collects, from the plurality of houses (facility 20a to 20c), use status information indicating the use status of the air conditioner, the house attribute, the resident attribute, and the like by the acquisition unit 110 (step S21).

In the case where the server 100 receives request information (information relating to a request for providing information indicating the usage status of air-conditioning equipment in a house in the vicinity of the user's house, the request information is received by the receiving unit 130) (Step S22), the processing in the following steps S23 to S26 is performed. That is, the server 100 uses the specifying unit 140 to specify the range in the vicinity of a predetermined place (user's house) based on the request information (step S23), and further based on the request information, the attributes of the house (house attributes and residents). The attribute is specified (step S24). Subsequently, the server 100 uses the providing information generating unit 151 for a house having a same attribute as the specified attribute within the range specified by the specifying unit 140 among the plurality of houses (facility 20a to 20c). The provision information is generated based on the status information (information on the operating/non-operating state, etc.) (step S25). Then, the server 100 causes the output unit 150 to transmit the provision information to the information terminal 200 that is the transmission source of the request information (step S26). After that, the server 100 returns to the processing in step S21 again.

As described above, according to the information providing system 10, the user has an air conditioner in a nearby facility having the same attribute (housing attribute, resident attribute), which is useful for determining whether or not to operate the air conditioner in the user's house. You can know information based on the usage status of. For example, in the season when the user is an elderly person and the air conditioner is used for cooling, a neighboring house having the same housing attributes as the user's house (the first to third floors of south-facing condominiums under 10 years old) The user can acquire information based on the usage status of the air conditioners in a housing group in which the resident includes an elderly person. If the ratio of housings in operation of air conditioners is high in these housing groups, it is estimated that the temperature is high enough for elderly people to use the air conditioners in housings with similar environmental conditions to users. can do. In this case, for example, when the user is in the user's house, it is possible to operate the air conditioner and prevent the user from suffering from heat stroke.

(Embodiment 3)
Hereinafter, another embodiment in which a part of the processing content of the information providing system 10 according to the first embodiment described above is modified will be described.

In the first embodiment described above, the server 100 collects, for each facility, usage status information including information for identifying the location of the facility and information indicating whether or not the air conditioner is operating at the facility. Here is an example. This air conditioner is an example of a specific type of device, and may be replaced with another electric device such as a washing machine. The present embodiment further shows an example that can support a plurality of types of devices. That is, in the present embodiment, an example will be described in which the usage status information includes information indicating whether or not various electric devices in the facility are operating, not limited to air conditioning devices. Note that the information providing system of the present embodiment has basically the same configuration as the information providing system 10 shown in the first embodiment, and therefore each component will be described using the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment. .. The information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment is the same as the information providing system 10 according to the first embodiment in points not particularly shown here (see FIG. 1 ).

In the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment, the server 100 collects usage status information related to usage statuses of various electric devices (for example, air conditioners, washing machines, etc.) in a plurality of facilities (facility 20a to 20c). To do. Then, the server 100 transmits the providing information to the information terminal 200 according to the request information received from the information terminal 200 used by the user. However, this request information includes type designation information that is the designation of the type of electric device by the user. Therefore, the server 100 can provide the providing information based on the usage status of the electric device of the type specified by the request information in each facility near the user's facility.

FIG. 10 shows an example of usage status information that each facility (facility 20a to 20c) periodically transmits to the server 100 in the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment. In the example of the figure, the usage status information includes a location, a device type, and an operating/non-operating state. This location is the same as that shown in the first embodiment (see FIG. 2). The type of device as the type designation information is a type such as an air conditioner, a washing machine, or the like, and is a type that distinguishes the main function of an electric device, for example. The operating/non-operating state is information indicating whether or not the electric device indicated by the device type is in operation. Each facility transmits usage status information to the server 100 for each of various types of electrical equipment in the facility. As a result, the acquisition unit 110 of the server 100 receives (acquires) the usage status information and stores it in the storage unit 120. As described above, the usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit 110 is information indicating the usage status in association with each type of electric device.

The request information transmitted from the information terminal 200 used by the user to the server 100 in the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment is the type of electricity specified by the user in a facility near the user's facility (a facility located in a predetermined place). It is a request for information regarding the usage status of the device. An example of the request information is shown in FIG. In the example of the figure, the request information includes a predetermined place, a range designation, and a device type. The location and the range designation are the same as those shown in the first embodiment (see FIG. 3). This type of device is the type of electric device specified by the user. For example, when the user wants to obtain information on whether or not to use the air conditioning equipment, the information terminal 200 transmits the request information designating the air conditioning equipment to the server 100. In addition, for example, when the user wants to obtain the judgment information as to whether or not to use the washing machine (whether or not to wash), the information terminal 200 transmits the request information designating the washing machine to the server 100.

Hereinafter, an operation example of the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment will be described focusing on the operation of the server 100.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of the information providing process in the information providing system 10 according to the present embodiment. Hereinafter, the information providing process by the server 100 will be described with reference to FIG. In the information providing process, in response to a request from the information terminal 200 by the user specifying the type of electric device by the user, the server 100 provides the providing information useful as a material for determining whether to operate the electric device of the type. This is a process for doing.

The server 100 uses the acquisition unit 110 to collect usage status information indicating the usage status of various electric devices in each of the plurality of facilities (facility 20a to 20c) (step S31).

When the server 100 receives request information (information relating to a request for providing information indicating the usage status of the type of electric device specified by the user in a facility near the user's facility) from the reception unit 130 (step S32), and the processing in the following steps S33 to S36 is performed. That is, in the server 100, the specifying unit 140 specifies the range in the vicinity of the predetermined place (user's facility) based on the request information (step S33), and further specifies the type of electric device based on the request information. (Step S34). Next, the server 100 uses the provision information generation unit 151 to check the electric devices of the same type as the specified type in the facilities within the range specified by the specifying unit 140 among the plurality of facilities (facility 20a to 20c). The provision information is generated based on the usage status information (information on the working/non-working status, etc.) (step S35). Then, the server 100 uses the output unit 150 to transmit the provision information to the information terminal 200 that is the transmission source of the request information (step S36). After that, the server 100 returns to the processing in step S31 again.

As described above, according to the information providing system 10, the user can determine whether or not to operate a specific type of electric device such as an air conditioner or a washing machine in the user's facility, which is useful for determining whether or not the same type in a nearby facility You can know the usage status of electrical equipment. For example, if the ratio of the facilities that are operating the washing machine in the nearby facility group is high to some extent according to the request information that the user has specified the washing machine, the It can be estimated that the weather around the facility is suitable for hanging up laundry. Therefore, the user can easily make a decision to use the washing machine.

(Other embodiments, etc.)
Although the information providing system 10 has been described above with reference to the first to third embodiments, the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and it goes without saying that various changes, additions, omissions, and the like are possible.

In the above embodiment, the information terminal 200 operated by the user is shown to be a portable smartphone or the like, but the information terminal communicating with the server 100 in the information providing system 10 may be a stationary type. Good. FIG. 13 shows an information providing system 10a in which the server 100 and the stationary information terminal 200a communicate with each other. As shown in the figure, the stationary information terminal 200a installed in the user's facility 20d communicates with the server 100 instead of the information terminal 200 described above. The information terminal 200a is a computer, and may be a PC, a HEMS controller, or the like. The HEMS controller or the like may use a device such as a touch panel connected via the LAN in the facility 20d as a user interface of the own device. The information terminal 200a transmits request information (see FIG. 3) to the server 100 and receives providing information from the server 100. The information terminal 200a may display the screen as shown in FIG. 4 based on the received providing information. At this time, when the user operates the use button 53, the information terminal 200a transmits a control signal via the LAN in the facility 20d, or directly transmits a control signal (for example, a remote control signal such as infrared rays). By doing so, the air conditioner 21d in the user's facility 20d may be operated. Further, the information terminal 200a may sequentially transmit the usage status information (see FIG. 2) regarding whether or not the air conditioner 21d in the facility 20d is in operation to the server 100. The information providing system 10a is the same as the information providing system 10 in points not specifically shown here.

Further, the function sharing between the server 100 and the information terminal 200 in the information providing system 10 shown in the above-described embodiment may be changed in any way. FIG. 14 shows an information providing system 10b in which the function sharing is changed. The function sharing between the server 100a and the information terminal 200b in the information providing system 10b is such that the information terminal 200b side includes the same functional components as those of the server 100 described above. In the example of FIG. 14, the information terminal 200b includes an acquisition unit 110a, a storage unit 120, a reception unit 130a, a specification unit 140, and an output unit 150a. The information terminal 200b may be a portable terminal such as a smartphone or a stationary device such as a HEMS controller. For example, the server 100a receives and collects usage status information indicating the usage status of the electrical equipment of the facility from each of the facilities 20a to 20c (specifically, devices in the facility), and retains the usage status information. Information may be provided to the information terminal 200b. The acquisition unit 110a of the information terminal 200b acquires the usage status information from the server 100a and stores it in the storage unit 120. The acquisition unit 110a may acquire the usage status information from a server outside the information providing system 10b, or may acquire the usage status information from each of the facilities 20a to 20c. The receiving unit 130a is realized by an input device as a user interface, and receives request information input by the user (for example, a request for providing information indicating the usage status of an air conditioner in a nearby facility at a predetermined location). The specifying unit 140 specifies a range in the vicinity of a predetermined place based on the request information received by the receiving unit 130a. The output unit 150a includes the above-described provision information generation unit 151. The output unit 150a is realized by, for example, a display as a user interface, and outputs the providing information generated by the providing information generating unit 151 (for example, displaying a screen based on the providing information on a display or the like). The information providing system 10b is the same as the information providing system 10 in points not particularly shown here.

Further, the information providing system 10 shown in the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and the information providing system for providing information is not necessarily the information terminal 200 and the facility like the information providing system 10 of the first embodiment. It may not be configured to include 20a to 20c. The information providing system may be configured by the server 100 alone, for example.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the usage status information includes the information for specifying the location of the facility, but it is not always necessary to include the information. For example, if the facility connected to the server 100 via a specific leased line and the location are separately associated in the server 100, the server 100 will link the usage status information received from the specific leased line and the location of the facility. We can grasp correspondence. Similarly, the request information may not include the information for specifying the predetermined place. For example, if the server 100 separately associates a device of a facility connected to the server 100 with a specific dedicated line in the server 100, the server 100 will request the request information received from the specific dedicated line and the specific place. You can grasp the correspondence of.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the information terminal 200 presents the providing information to the user by displaying the screen (see FIG. 4) has been shown, but the information terminal 200 may use a method other than the display (for example, voice output or the like). ), the provision information may be presented to the user.

Further, in the above-described second embodiment, as the housing attributes, the elements for distinguishing a detached house from an apartment house, the elements for the orientation of the house, the elements for the height of the house, and the elements for the age of the house are shown. However, these are only examples. For example, only some of these elements may be set as the housing attribute.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, an example has been shown in which the user can request the server or the like for provision information related to the usage status of a specific type of electric device (for example, an air conditioner). It is also possible to specify the function of the electric device and request the provision information related to the usage status of the function. In this case, for example, the request information (see FIG. 3) includes the function designation information that designates the function of a specific type of electric device (for example, air conditioner). Examples of the function of the specific type of electric device include a “cooling function”, a “dehumidifying function”, and a “heating function” when the specific type of electric device is an air conditioner. The function of the electric device here may be, for example, what is called an operation mode or the like. Further, the usage status information transmitted by the device of each facility and received by the acquisition unit 110 indicates whether or not each function of a specific type of electric device (for example, an air conditioner) is operating. When the receiving unit 130 of the server 100 receives the request information including the function specifying information, the specifying unit 140 further specifies the function based on the request information. The output unit 150 also generates provision information based on whether the function identified by the identification unit 140, which is indicated by the usage status information, is operating. Thereby, the server 100 can provide a material for determining whether or not to operate the "cooling function", for example, in distinction from the "dehumidifying function" of the air conditioner. Further, the user may be able to request the providing information indicating the set temperature. On the other hand, the server 100 may include the number of facilities for each temperature at a predetermined interval in the provision information and provide the provision information. Further, the server 100 collects information such as the temperature and humidity of the facility at the time of collecting the usage status of the electric devices from each facility, and provides the provision information generated based on the collected information such as the temperature and humidity. May be.

In addition, although the usage status information about a certain facility shown in the above-described embodiment indicates whether or not the electric device in the facility is in operation, instead of this, it indicates the amount of electric power used in the facility. It may be. As a result, the user can obtain the provision information regarding the power consumption in the facility near the predetermined location, and can refer to the provision information when determining whether to operate the electric device in the predetermined location. .. The server 100 may retain the usage status information collected from each facility for a certain period in the past, search and extract the past usage status information based on certain conditions, and utilize the information to generate the provision information. .. Further, the server 100 may estimate the action in the facility based on the usage status information as the power information indicating the amount of power used in the facility, and provide the provision information based on the estimation result. Estimated behaviors include returning home, sleeping, etc. of the residents of the facility. For example, a user (for example, a guardian of a child) who lives in a house in a predetermined place obtains from the server 100 the provision information indicating the estimated return home status of the child in a nearby house (facility), so that only the child at home can obtain it. If you are not home, you may be able to contact your child, search, etc. Further, the execution order of the procedure of various processes (for example, the procedure of the information providing process shown in FIGS. 5, 9, and 12) in the above-described information providing system 10, 10a, and 10b is not necessarily the same as that described above. Without being limited, the execution order can be changed, a plurality of procedures can be performed in parallel, or a part of the procedures can be omitted without departing from the scope of the invention. Further, all or part of the above-described information providing process may be realized by hardware of the device in the information providing system 10 or software. The processing by software is realized by a processor included in a device (for example, a server, an information terminal, etc.) in the information providing system 10, 10a, 10b executing a control program stored in a memory. Further, the control program may be recorded in a recording medium and distributed or distributed. For example, by installing the distributed control program in a device (computer) and causing the processor of the device to execute the program, the device can perform all or part of the information providing process.

Further, a form realized by arbitrarily combining the constituent elements and functions shown in the above-described respective embodiments and modified examples is also included in the scope of the present invention.

It should be noted that various comprehensive or specific aspects of the present invention include one or a combination of an apparatus, a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, a computer-readable recording medium, and the like.

Hereinafter, the information providing system, the information providing method, and the configuration, modification, effects, and the like of the control program used in the information providing system according to one aspect of the present invention will be described.

(1) The information providing systems 10, 10a, and 10b according to one aspect of the present invention show the usage status of each of the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c equipped with electric equipment (for example, air conditioners 21a to 21c). Acquisition units 110 and 110a that acquire the usage status information that is shown, and a reception unit that receives request information relating to a request for provision information that shows the usage status of electrical equipment in a facility near a predetermined location (for example, the location of the user's facility 20d) 130 and 130a, an identifying unit 140 that identifies a range in the vicinity of a predetermined location based on the request information, and acquisition units 110 and 110a for the facilities within the range identified by the identifying unit 140 among the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c. Output units 150 and 150a that generate provision information based on the use status information acquired by and output the provision information.

As a result, useful information (providing information) based on the usage status of the electric device in the vicinity of the predetermined place is provided in order to determine whether or not to operate the electric device (eg, air conditioner) in the predetermined place. obtain.

(2) For example, the accepting unit 130 may accept the request information by receiving it, and the output unit 150 may output the providing information by transmitting it to the source of the request information.

As a result, the user can send the request information from any information terminal (for example, a stationary device or a smartphone having portability) to the device (for example, the server 100) included in the information providing system to obtain the providing information. It becomes possible to obtain.

(3) For example, the usage status information about each of the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c includes information for specifying the location of the facility, and the acquisition units 110 and 110a include the insides of the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c. The request information may be acquired by receiving the usage status information from the device, and the request information may include information for specifying the predetermined location.

As a result, the position of the user's facility is set as the predetermined place, and the user includes the information for specifying the predetermined place in the request information to obtain the provision information based on the usage status of the electric device near the user's facility. Is possible.

(4) For example, the usage status information on each of the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c further includes information indicating the attribute of the facility, the request information indicates the attribute of the facility located at the predetermined location, and the specifying unit 140 Further, the attribute of the facility is specified based on the request information, and the output units 150 and 150a have the same attribute as the specified attribute within the range specified by the specifying unit 140 among the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c. The provision information may be generated based on the usage status information about the facility.

As a result, the usage status information, which is the basis of the provision information, is narrowed down by the attribute of the facility. Therefore, the user can obtain the information based on the usage status of the electric device in the nearby facility having the same attribute as the user's facility.

(5) For example, the above-mentioned facility is a house, and the attributes of the above-mentioned facility relate to an element (an element of the type of house) that distinguishes a detached house from an apartment house, an element related to the orientation of the house, and a height of the house. At least one or more of the elements and the elements related to the age of the house may be included.

As a result, the user can acquire useful information based on the usage status of the electric device in the house having commonality with the user's house.

(6) For example, the above-mentioned facility attribute may include an element related to the age of the resident of the house.

Thereby, for example, as a material for determining whether to operate the electric device in the facility where the elderly person is present, information based on the usage status of the electric device in the facility group where the elderly person is present in the vicinity of the facility can be provided.

(7) For example, the usage status information indicates whether or not a specific type of electric device (for example, an air conditioner) is in operation, and the output units 150 and 150a are specified by the specifying unit 140 among the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c. The provision information may be generated by including information regarding the total number of facilities that are facilities within a certain range and in which a specific type of electric device of the facility is operating. The information on the total number of facilities in which the electric device is in operation may include information on the total number of facilities in which the electric device is in operation at a predetermined time (for example, one hour ago).

As a result, the user can know the total number of facilities in the vicinity where a specific type of electric device is operating, and the like, and the user can easily determine whether to operate that type of electric device.

(8) For example, when outputting the provision information, the output units 150 and 150a further change a specific type of electric device in a facility located in a predetermined place from a non-working state to a working state, or from a working state to a non-working state. It is also possible to output the information for GUI for accepting the operation of changing to the state.

This may allow a user to easily operate a specific type of electric device via the GUI.

(9) For example, the usage status information acquired by the acquisition units 110 and 110a is information indicating whether or not each function of the above-described specific type of electric device is in operation, and the request information is specified. The specifying unit 140 further specifies the function based on the request information, including the function specifying information specifying the function of the type of electric device, and the output units 150 and 150a are specified by the specifying unit 140 indicated by the usage status information. The provision information may be generated based on whether or not the function is operating.

As a result, the user can obtain provision information based on the usage status of the "cooling function" instead of the usage status of the "dehumidifying function" of the air conditioning equipment by making a request specifying the "cooling function" of the air conditioning equipment. Can be possible. This provision information is useful for the user as a material for determining whether or not to operate the "cooling function" of the air conditioning equipment.

(10) For example, the usage status information acquired by the acquisition units 110 and 110a is information indicating the usage status in association with each type of electrical device, and the request information specifies the type of electrical device. Including the type designation information, the specifying unit 140 further specifies the type of the electric device based on the request information, and the output units 150 and 150a indicate the usage status corresponding to the electric device of the type specified by the specifying unit 140. The providing information may be generated based on the usage status information.

As a result, the user makes a request specifying any type of electric device (for example, a washing machine, an air conditioner, etc.) to provide useful information as a material for determining whether to operate the electric device of that type. Can get

(11) For example, the output units 150 and 150a may generate the provision information by including the information indicating the recommended behavior.

As a result, the user can know the action to be performed, and it can be possible to quickly determine whether or not to operate the electric device.

(12) In the information providing systems 10, 10a, and 10b according to one aspect of the present invention, for each of a plurality of facilities 20a to 20c equipped with electric devices (for example, air conditioners 21a to 21c), the electric power used by the electric devices of the facilities. Related to a request for provision information indicating the status of actions estimated from the acquisition units 110 and 110a that acquire usage status information, which is power information indicating the power consumption information, and the power information related to the usage of electric devices in nearby facilities at a predetermined location. Receiving units 130 and 130a that receive request information, a specifying unit 140 that specifies a range in the vicinity of a predetermined location based on the request information, and a facility within the range specified by the identifying unit 140 among the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c. The behavior of the facility within the specified range is estimated based on the usage status information acquired by the acquisition units 110 and 110a, the provision information is generated based on the estimated behavior, and the provision information is output. Output parts 150 and 150a are provided.

Thereby, useful information (providing information) based on the situation of the behavior estimated in the vicinity of the predetermined place can be provided for determining whether or not to take the action in the predetermined place.

(13) The information providing method according to one aspect of the present invention provides usage status information indicating the usage status of each of the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c equipped with the electrical device (for example, the air conditioners 21a to 21c). An acquisition step of acquiring (for example, steps S11, S21, S31, S101, S102 and the like) and a reception step of receiving request information relating to a request for provision information indicating the usage status of electric equipment in a facility near a predetermined location (for example, step S12, S22, S32, S103, etc.) and a specific step (for example, steps S13, S23, S33) of specifying a range in the vicinity of a predetermined place based on the request information, and a specific step of the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c. A provision step of generating provision information and providing the provision information based on the use status information acquired in the acquisition step for facilities within the specified range (for example, steps S14, S15, S25, S26, S35, S36, S104, etc.). Here, the accepting step may accept the request information via a user interface (for example, an input device or the like) in the information terminal 200b. In the providing step, the providing information may be provided (presented) to the user via a user interface (for example, a display or the like) of the information terminal 200b.

This can provide useful provision information for determining whether or not to operate an electric device (for example, an air conditioner) in a predetermined place.

(14) The information providing method according to an aspect of the present invention is electric power information indicating the electric power used by each of the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c equipped with electric equipment (for example, air conditioners 21a to 21c). Providing an acquisition step (for example, steps S11, S21, S31, S101, S102, etc.) for acquiring certain usage status information, and a status of action estimated from power information related to usage of an electric device in a nearby facility at a predetermined location Acceptance step (for example, steps S12, S22, S32, S103, etc.) for receiving the request information relating to the request for usage information, and a specific step for specifying the neighborhood range of the predetermined place based on the request information (for example, steps S13, S23, S33) and, based on the usage status information acquired in the acquisition step for the facilities in the range specified in the specific step among the plurality of facilities 20a to 20c, the behavior in the facility in the specified range is estimated, A providing step (for example, steps S14, S15, S25, S26, S35, S36, S104, etc.) for generating the providing information based on the estimated behavior and providing the providing information is included. Here, the accepting step may accept the request information via a user interface (for example, an input device or the like) in the information terminal 200b. In the providing step, the providing information may be provided (presented) to the user via a user interface (for example, a display or the like) of the information terminal 200b.

Thereby, useful providing information can be provided for determining whether or not to take action in a predetermined place.

(15) A control program according to an aspect of the present invention is a control program for causing a computer (for example, the server 100) to execute any one of the above-described information providing methods, and in the receiving step, request information is received. This is performed by receiving the request information (for example, steps S12, S22, S32), and in the providing step, the providing information is provided by transmitting the providing information to the source of the request information (for example, steps S14 and S15). , S25, S26, S35, S36).

If this control program is installed in a computer, the device can perform the information providing process and function as the server 100 in the information providing system. This information providing system (server 100) provides useful providing information for determining whether to operate an electric device (for example, an air conditioner) in a predetermined place or to perform a specific action. obtain.

10, 10a, 10b Information providing system 20a-20d Facility 21a-21d Air-conditioning equipment 110, 110a Acquisition part 130, 130a Reception part 140 Specific part 150, 150a Output part

Claims (15)

An acquisition unit that acquires usage status information indicating the usage status of the electric device of the facility for each of the plurality of facilities including the electric device,
A reception unit that receives request information relating to a request for provision information indicating the usage status of electrical equipment in a facility near a predetermined location,
Based on the request information, a specifying unit that specifies a range in the vicinity of the predetermined place,
Based on the usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit for the facilities within the range specified by the specification unit among the plurality of facilities, the information including the recommendation of the operation of the electric device in the non-operational state is provided. An information providing system including: an output unit that generates information and outputs the providing information. The reception unit receives by receiving the request information,
The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit outputs the provision information by transmitting the provision information to a transmission source of the request information. The usage status information for each of the plurality of facilities includes information for identifying the location of the facility,
The acquisition unit, for each of the plurality of facilities, by receiving the usage status information from the device in the facility,
The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the request information includes information for specifying the predetermined place. The usage status information for each of the plurality of facilities further includes information indicating attributes of the facility,
The request information indicates an attribute of a facility located in the predetermined place,
The specifying unit further specifies an attribute of the facility based on the request information,
The output unit is configured to generate the provision information based on the usage status information about a facility having the same attribute as the identified attribute within the range identified by the identifying unit among the plurality of facilities. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The facility is a residence,
The attribute includes at least one or more of an element for distinguishing a detached house from an apartment house, an element for orientation of a house, an element for height of a house, and an element for age of a house. Information provision system described. The information providing system according to claim 5, wherein the attribute includes an element regarding an age of a resident of a house. The usage status information indicates whether or not a specific type of electric device is in operation,
The output unit includes the information about the total number of facilities within the range specified by the specifying unit among the plurality of facilities and in which the electric device of the specific type of the facility is in operation, and is provided. The information providing system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which generates usage information. The output unit, when outputting the provision information, further changes the specific type of electric device in the facility located at the predetermined location from a non-operating state to an operating state, or from an operating state to a non-operating state. The information providing system according to claim 7, which outputs information for a graphical user interface that receives an operation to be changed. The usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit is information indicating whether or not the function is in operation for each function of the specific type of electric device,
The request information includes function designation information that designates a function of the specific type of electric device,
The specifying unit further specifies a function based on the request information,
The information providing system according to claim 7, wherein the output unit generates the provision information based on whether or not the function identified by the identification unit indicated by the usage status information is operating. The usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit is information indicating the usage status in association with each type of electric device,
The request information includes type designation information for designating a type of electric device,
The specifying unit further specifies the type of electric device based on the request information,
The said output part produces|generates the said provision information based on the said usage status information which shows the usage status corresponding to the electric equipment of the kind specified by the said specification part, The any one of Claims 1-6. Information provision system described. The information providing system according to claim 1, wherein the output unit includes the information indicating the recommended behavior to generate the providing information. An acquisition unit that acquires usage status information that is power information indicating the power used by the electric device of the facility for each of the plurality of facilities including the electric device,
A reception unit that receives request information related to a request for provision information indicating the status of behavior estimated from power information related to use of electric equipment in a facility near a predetermined location,
Based on the request information, a specifying unit that specifies a range in the vicinity of the predetermined place,
Of the plurality of facilities, the behavior of the facility within the specified range is estimated based on the usage status information acquired by the acquisition unit for the facility within the range specified by the specifying unit, and based on the estimated behavior And an output unit that generates information for provision including information that recommends the operation of an electric device in a non-operating state and outputs the information for provision. An acquisition step of acquiring usage status information indicating the usage status of the electric device of the facility for each of the plurality of facilities including the electric device,
A reception step of receiving request information relating to a request for provision information indicating the usage status of electric equipment in a facility near a predetermined location,
A specifying step of specifying a range in the vicinity of the predetermined place based on the request information;
Based on the usage status information acquired in the acquisition step for the facilities within the range specified in the specification step among the plurality of facilities, the information including the recommendation of the operation of the electric device in the non-operational state is provided. An information providing method including a providing step of generating information and providing the providing information. An acquisition step of acquiring usage status information, which is electric power information indicating the electric power used by the electric device of the facility for each of the plurality of facilities including the electric device,
A receiving step of receiving request information relating to a request for provision information indicating a status of action estimated from power information relating to use of electric equipment in a facility near a predetermined location,
A specifying step of specifying a range in the vicinity of the predetermined place based on the request information;
Of the plurality of facilities, the behavior in the facility within the specified range is estimated based on the usage status information acquired in the acquisition step for the facility within the range specified in the specific step, and the estimated behavior is obtained. An information providing method, including: based on which information for recommending the operation of an electric device in a non-operating state is included to generate information for provision, and providing the information for provision. A control program for causing a computer to execute the information providing method according to claim 13 or 14,
In the reception step, the reception of the request information is performed by receiving the request information,
A control program, wherein in the providing step, the providing of the providing information is performed by transmitting the providing information to a transmission source of the request information.

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