JPH0583764A - Home automation system device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a home information board by which the action condition confirmation of equipment, and the retrieval and control operation of control object equipment are facilitated and the delicate service matching a user is enabled. CONSTITUTION:The home automation system device has a display device and a transparent touch panel device provided on the display surface of the display device, and by depressing an operation key displayed at a display through a transparent touch panel, the prescribed action is performed, and a key image and arrangement such as a room selection image 36 displayed when a menu image 30 and an equipment control key 34a displayed at first are depressed, and a control image 42 displayed when a place key 38 is depressed are constituted based on the information inherent to a user. The information inherent to the user can be given from the external part by using the home bus or the telephone line, etc., and stored in the non-volatile memory or the power back-up memory.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention provides user-specific setting information provided to provide a detailed service tailored to the user, such as its usage pattern, environment, conditions, etc. The present invention relates to a home automation system device having an in-home information panel that has been reduced in number and set time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an operation key for controlling a device using a CRT of a home-use television and a pictograph showing a device installation place name are displayed in parallel on the same screen and cannot be displayed on one screen. Had a home appliance controller that displayed in the same format on the next screen. However, in order to find the device to be controlled, it was necessary to sequentially scan other screens until the target device was displayed on the screen. Similarly, when checking the operating status of a device, you must sequentially read other screens until the device you want to check and the installation location of the device are displayed on the screen. It took time.

In addition, the user must set the operation keys displayed on the screen, the pictograph showing the installation place name, and the information (such as an address) necessary for communication with the controlled device before use. Moreover, the setting operation gives a complicated impression such as sequential selection for each control target device, and like the above, the more control devices there are, the more time and effort it takes.
Further, the number of pictographs displayed on the screen is limited, and thus it is difficult to set all the installation place names, controlled devices, etc. as desired by the user.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the above-mentioned prior art, the user is given a feeling of complexity and a waste of operating time for checking the operation status of the device, searching for the device to be controlled, control operation, and setting operation, and There is a problem that the content of the display screen is unsatisfactory.

An object of the present invention is to solve such problems, and it is possible to easily confirm the operation status of equipment, search for control target equipment, control operation, and set operation, and to use it as a home information board. It is an object of the present invention to provide a home automation system device having an in-home information panel that can provide detailed services tailored to users, such as usage patterns, environment, and conditions.

[0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a home automation system having an in-house information panel that can efficiently and easily set and change the user-specific information that is indispensable for providing the fine service. It is to provide a device.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a display device having means for displaying functions and operation contents of a home information board as an operation screen and a transparent touch panel arranged on the display surface of the display device. In the home information panel that displays a new operation screen by pressing an operation key displayed on the operation screen via the transparent touch panel device, a non-volatile memory or a power-backed memory is provided. The contents of the memory can be set or changed from an external device directly or via a home bus. User-specific information is set in the memory, and the home information board is based on the contents. The operation screen showing the operation contents of is constructed and means for displaying on the display device is provided.

Further, as the construction of the operation screen, a floor plan of the user's house is adopted, and necessary operation keys are selected and displayed when necessary.

[0009]

According to the in-home information board according to the present invention, an operation screen displaying the function and operation contents of the in-home information board is displayed on the display device provided in the in-home information board, and is arranged on the display surface of the display device. When pressed through the transparent touch panel device, an operation corresponding to the pressed function key can be performed.

On the in-home information panel, information peculiar to the user (for example, floor plan of the user's home, installed equipment name, etc.) is set, and an operation screen and a key image displayed on the display device are constructed based on the information. By doing so, the user can immediately understand and recognize the operation contents such as the place and the device.

By setting and changing the user-specific information from an external device, the operation can be reduced and the setting time can be shortened.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a home automation system using the in-home information board of the present embodiment as a main control device. Reference numeral 1 is a home information board, 2 is a home bus for transmitting information in the home, and 3 is a home. A dwelling unit adapter that is an interface between the system and an external system.
A telephone line 4, an external information bus 5 for transmitting video information, and a connection line 7 for a doorphone 6 with a camera are connected to the.
Telephone system terminal 9 is connected to home bus 2 via telephone IFU 8.
Or a sub-controller 10 installed in a room other than the room where the in-home information panel 1 is installed to monitor or control the device, a camera IFU 12 that is an interface for connecting the monitor camera 11, a device 13 to be controlled such as an air conditioner. An IFU 14 which is an interface for connecting the device, an information outlet 15 for connecting a device having an interface which can be directly connected to the home bus 2, and the like are connected.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main part of the in-home information panel 1. 16 is a main control unit including a processing device, 17 is a memory unit for storing control software and various data, 22 is a display device, and 19 is a display. An image control unit that outputs an image to the device 22, 23 is a transparent touch panel device, 18 is a key input control unit that inputs from the outside through the transparent touch panel device 23, 20 is a voice control unit, 21
Is an HBS that forms an interface with the home bus 2.
Control unit, 24 is a speaker, 25 is a microphone, 50
Is an external input / output interface (RS-232C) for connecting a personal computer or the like.

3 and 4, the display device 22 is fitted into the main body case 26 of the home information board 1,
The touch panel device 23 covers the surface of the display device 22 and the fixed key portion 27 printed on the body case 26.
Is attached. Further, the speaker 24 and the microphone 25 are attached inside the main body case 26.

The main control unit 16 controls the image control unit 19, the key input control unit 18, the voice control unit 20, the HBS control unit 21 and exchanges data with the software stored in the memory unit 17. The memory unit 17 has a non-volatile memory or a memory whose power source is backed up, and a part of software and various data are stored in the memory. The image controller 19 displays various images on the display device 22 according to the control signal from the main controller 16. Further, the video signal of an externally installed television camera or the like is received through the home bus 2 and the HBS control unit 21 and displayed on the display device 22. By depressing a portion indicating an operation key in the image displayed on the display device 22 or the fixed key portion 27 through the transparent touch panel device 23, the depression position is input by the main control portion 16 through the key input control portion 18, The determination is made, control is performed according to the operation key, and the next image is displayed on the display device 22 through the image control unit 19. The voice control unit 20 is the main control unit 1.
In response to the control signal from 6, the voice signal from the microphone 25 is accumulated and the accumulated voice is output to the speaker 24. In addition, the microphone 2 via the HBS controller 21
Output audio signal from 5 to home bus 2, home bus 2
A voice signal from an external device connected to the speaker 24 is output to the speaker 24 to enable a two-way call between the in-home information panel 1 and the external device. The HBS control unit 21 exchanges data with the home bus 2 according to a control signal from the main control unit 1, and controls “ON”, “OFF”, etc. of another device connected to the home bus 2 according to the content of this data. And various information can be transmitted.

FIG. 5 shows the menu key 29 of the fixed key section 27.
It is a menu screen displayed when is pressed. The screen key portion 31 overlapping the display device 22 of the transparent touch panel device 23 includes a title display portion 32 and an operation key display portion 33.
In the present embodiment, the operation key display section 33 displays function keys showing 11 menus and a setting key 35 for changing the mode. These function keys are displayed as pictographs of pictures and characters, so that the function of each key is easy to understand. The function keys displayed on the menu screen 30 are set according to the user's wishes, but the information is stored in the memory unit 17 and once set,
Unless changed, the menu screen displayed by operating the menu key 29 is the set screen. Note that 28 is a telephone key and 34a is a device control key.

FIG. 6 is an operation flow when the device control key 34a displayed on the menu screen 30 is pressed. When the device control key 34a is pressed on the menu screen 30, a room selection screen 36, which is a function screen for selecting a room, is displayed. The room selection screen 36 is laid out in accordance with the actual floor plan of the house by using the screen as a plan view of the floor plan of the house. A pictograph 39 indicating the size of the place is laid out around the place key 38, which is a function key for indicating the room in which the control device is installed and for selecting the room. When the relevant location key 38 (living room in this embodiment) is pressed, the equipment keys 41a, 41b, 41c, which are pictured of the controlled device 13 installed in the room indicated by the location key 38, are displayed on the screen. A control screen 42, which is laid out according to the arrangement of the control target devices 13 in a plan view of the room, is displayed. Related equipment key 41
When a, 41b, or 41c is pressed, a predetermined control signal is sent from the home information panel to the IFU 14 to which the device indicated by the pressed device key 41a, 41b, or 41c is connected via the home bus 2, and the corresponding You can control the operating status of the device. When the control operation is completed, by pressing the screen completion key 43 provided on the fixed key unit 27, the room selection screen 36 is displayed again, and the devices in other rooms are controlled by the above-described procedure. You can
When the screen completion key 43 is pressed on the room selection screen 36, the screen returns to the menu screen 30 and the device control operation ends.

The user-specific information such as the floor plan of the actual home and the plan of the room and the pictograph displayed on the screen are stored in the memory unit 17 when the home information panel is installed, and the screen is displayed based on the information. Composed.

The information unique to the user (for example, the floor plan of the user's house, the room name, the name of the equipment installed in each room, the arrangement of the equipment in the room, etc.) and the pictograph displayed on the screen are exclusively changed to the information outlet 15. It is possible to set and change by connecting the device and transferring the data via the home bus 2 and storing it in the non-volatile memory of the memory unit 17 or the memory backed up by the power supply. It does not need to be reset because it is retained even when the information board power supply is stopped. In this embodiment, the EIAJ HBS is used.
According to the standard, the control channel is used for the transfer of the data, but in order to improve the transfer efficiency, a mode for temporarily limiting the interruption of the short message while using the long message normal packet is provided, and other modes are provided through the home bus 2. The device is notified of the mode to prohibit the short message interruption except the emergency, and then the data transfer is performed. In addition to the information unique to the user, a part of the application software is stored in the memory unit 17, and by changing the software according to the procedure, addition or change of the function of the in-home information panel,
You can upgrade.

FIG. 7 shows a home bus command transmission / reception sequence for the data transfer in this embodiment. In this figure, the vertical direction represents the time axis, and commands between the devices connected to the home bus are indicated by arrows from the transmission source to the transmission destination. By sending a control channel usage restriction request command from the in-home information panel to the dwelling unit adapter, the dwelling unit adapter sends a control channel usage restriction notification command to all devices connected to the home bus simultaneously, and the system is not in an emergency. Switch to the mode in which the use of the control channel of
A control channel use permission command is transmitted to the in-home information panel which is the request source, and the priority use right of the control channel is given. After that, the in-home information panel sends a data transfer request command to the dedicated changing device connected to the information outlet, and the data of the long telegram normal packet from the changing device (for example, the floor plan of the user's house, the user, etc. The control channel use end command is transmitted to the dwell unit adapter after repeating the reception until reception of the unique information and some application software). In response to the control channel use end command, the dwelling unit adapter sends a control channel use restriction release notification command to all home bus connected devices by broadcast to return the system to the normal mode.

The transfer of such data may be performed in the sequence as shown in FIG. 8 using the information channel in the HBS standard. Furthermore, if the telephone line 4 is used, information can be transferred from a service center outside the house or the like, instead of connecting a dedicated changing device to the information outlet 15. Further, a personal computer or the like may be connected to the external input / output interface 50 provided in the home information board 1 to transfer data.

FIG. 9 shows a home bus command transmission / reception sequence when a personal computer is connected to the external input / output interface and a part of the application software stored in the non-volatile memory of the memory unit 17 or the memory whose power is backed up is changed. is there. During data transfer (software change), the home information panel is in a pseudo-offline state.
Do not reply CK / NAK. After the data transfer is completed, the in-home information panel notifies the dwell unit adapter of the ready state by sending a registration request command, and is incorporated into the system to start the service.

[0024]

According to the present invention, in a home information board,
A means for displaying the operation keys on the display device and operating by pressing the operation keys is provided through the transparent touch panel device arranged on the display surface of the display, based on the user-specific information arbitrarily set by the user. Since the operation screen is configured and displayed on the display device, the user can save time for searching and operating, and there are few erroneous operations.

Further, since the key image displayed on the display device can be arbitrarily and easily changed, the user's satisfaction is improved.

Further, since user-specific information can be set and software can be changed from an external device, setting operations for the installer can be reduced, and can be performed easily and quickly at the time of initial installation and version upgrade. , Maintainability is improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of a home information board according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a structural diagram of a home information board according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the home information board shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a menu screen according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an operational flowchart of device control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a home bus command transmission / reception sequence diagram for data transfer in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a home bus command transmission / reception sequence diagram for data transfer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a home bus command transmission / reception sequence diagram for data transfer in still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Home Information Board 2 Home Bus 3 Dwelling Unit Adapter 4 Telephone Line 13 Controlled Device 14 IFU 15 Information Outlet 17 Memory Part 22 Display Device 23 Transparent Touch Panel Device 30 Menu Screen 36 Room Selection Screen 42 Control Screen 34a Device Control Key 38 Location Key 41a , 41b, 41c Equipment key

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Shuji Okawa 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Hitachi Ltd. Yokohama factory (72) Inventor Yoshimi Miyamoto 292 Yoshida-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Ceremony Hitachi Co., Ltd. Yokohama factory

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A display device and a transparent touch panel device provided on a display surface of the display device, wherein when a key image representing an operation key is displayed on a display screen of the display device, The display facing portion of the key image portion on the transparent touch panel device becomes a function key,
Information set in advance in a home automation system device having a home information panel in which a screen in which the function keys in a section corresponding to the function key are arranged is displayed based on the preset information by operating the function key. A home automation system device, which can be added or changed from an external device. 2. The home automation system according to claim 1, wherein when used in a home automation system conforming to the HBS standard, information preset in the home information panel is transferred from a device connected to the home bus using a control channel of the home bus. A home automation system device comprising information setting means for setting. 3. The control channel to the other device connected to the home bus according to claim 2, wherein the information transfer packet is a long telegram normal packet, and in order to suppress interruption of a short telegram and improve transfer efficiency. A home automation system device having a dedicated mode for limiting or prohibiting the use of, or limiting or prohibiting interruption of short telegrams. 4. The information according to claim 1, which is used in a home automation system compliant with the HBS standard, transfers information preset in the home information panel from a device connected to the home bus using an information channel of the home bus. A home automation system device comprising information setting means for setting. 5. The home according to claim 1, further comprising information setting means for transferring and setting information preset in the home information panel from a service center outside the home using a telephone line. Automation system equipment. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the in-home information panel is provided with an external input / output interface, and an external device such as a personal computer is connected to the in-home information panel as means for externally adding information preset in the in-home information panel. A home automation system device characterized by transmitting and setting information. 7. The information according to claim 1, wherein the information preset in the in-home information panel is user-specific information such as floor plan, room name, telephone number, equipment installation location, equipment name, and the like. Home automation system equipment. 8. The home automation system device according to claim 1, wherein the information preset in the home information panel is a key image displayed on the display device. 9. The home automation system device according to claim 1, wherein the information preset in the in-home information panel is control software for the in-home information panel.