CN111434989A

CN111434989A - Communication system and external terminal

Info

Publication number: CN111434989A
Application number: CN201911304274.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 山田友美
Original assignee: Rinnai Corp
Current assignee: Rinnai Corp
Priority date: 2019-01-15
Filing date: 2019-12-17
Publication date: 2020-07-21
Also published as: JP2020112320A; JP7465626B2

Abstract

The invention provides a communication system and an external terminal. The communication system of the present invention may have a heating cooker and an external terminal capable of communicating with the heating cooker. The heating cooker may have a battery and a battery remaining amount detection portion capable of detecting a remaining amount of the battery. The cooking device may be configured to transmit the battery remaining capacity related information related to the battery remaining capacity to the external terminal when the battery remaining capacity detected by the battery remaining capacity detecting unit is equal to or less than a first threshold value. The external terminal may inform, in a case where the information related to the remaining amount of the battery is received, battery remaining amount reduction information related to the reduction of the remaining amount of the battery according to the information related to the remaining amount of the battery. According to the present invention, it is possible to inform the user of the reduction in the remaining battery power before the battery power exhaustion of the heating cooker occurs.

Description

Communication system and external terminal

Technical Field

The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a communication system and an external terminal.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a communication system including a heating cooker and an external terminal capable of communicating with the heating cooker.

[ Prior art documents ]

[ patent document ]

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2005-341080

Disclosure of Invention

[ technical problem to be solved by the invention ]

The heating cooker may be operated by power supply from a battery such as a dry battery or a rechargeable battery, rather than by power supply from a commercial power system. In such a configuration, when the battery power is depleted due to a decrease in the remaining battery power, the operation of the heating cooker cannot be continued. In the present specification, there are provided a communication system and an external terminal, in the communication system having a heating cooker and the external terminal, it is possible to notify a user of a decrease in remaining battery power (a shortage of battery power) before a depletion of battery power occurs in the heating cooker.

[ technical means for solving problems ]

The communication system disclosed in the present specification may have a heating cooker and an external terminal capable of communicating with the heating cooker. The heating cooker may have a battery and a battery remaining amount detection portion capable of detecting a battery remaining amount of the battery. The cooking device may be configured to transmit the battery remaining capacity related information related to the battery remaining capacity to the external terminal when the battery remaining capacity detected by the battery remaining capacity detecting unit is equal to or less than a first threshold value. The external terminal may inform, when receiving the information related to the remaining battery power, battery remaining power reduction information related to the reduction of the remaining battery power according to the information related to the remaining battery power.

According to the above configuration, at the time point when the remaining battery power of the heating cooker becomes equal to or less than the first threshold value, the external terminal can notify the user that the remaining battery power of the heating cooker has decreased. It is possible to inform the user of the decrease in the remaining amount of the battery (the shortage of the battery) before the exhaustion of the battery occurs in the heating cooker.

In the communication system, the heating cooker may transmit, to the external terminal, inoperable information indicating that operation is impossible using power from the battery, when the remaining battery power detected by the remaining battery power detecting unit is equal to or less than a second threshold value that is lower than the first threshold value. The external terminal may notify that the heating cooker cannot be operated by the electric power from the battery when the inoperable information is received.

According to the above configuration, when the remaining battery power of the heating cooker is equal to or lower than the second threshold value and the battery power is exhausted immediately or when the battery power is exhausted, the external terminal can notify the user that the heating cooker is not operated or the heating cooker is not operated soon due to the exhausted battery power.

In the communication system, the battery remaining capacity reduction information may include information on an operable period indicating a period during which the heating cooker can be operated by using the power from the battery. The operable period may be determined based on the battery remaining capacity-related information.

According to the above configuration, the user can know when the battery is replaced or charged by informing the user of the operable period of the heating cooker determined based on the remaining battery capacity through the external terminal. The convenience of the user can be improved.

In the communication system, the external terminal may determine the operable period based on the battery remaining capacity-related information.

According to the above configuration, the user can be informed of the operable period of the heating cooker determined according to the remaining battery capacity through the external terminal with a simple configuration.

The communication system may further include an external server capable of communicating with the heating cooker and the external terminal. The external server may receive the battery remaining capacity related information from the heating cooker, may determine the operable period based on the battery remaining capacity related information, and may transmit operable period information indicating the operable period to the external terminal.

According to the above configuration, since it is not necessary to perform processing for determining the operable period based on the remaining battery level in the heating cooker or the external terminal, the load of processing in the heating cooker or the external terminal can be reduced.

The present specification also discloses an external terminal capable of communicating with the heating cooker. The heating cooker may have a battery and a battery remaining amount detection portion capable of detecting a battery remaining amount of the battery. The external terminal may have a computer that performs processing in accordance with a program. The program may cause the computer to execute: when battery remaining capacity related information related to the battery remaining capacity detected by the battery remaining capacity detection unit is received from the heating cooker, battery remaining capacity reduction information related to reduction of the battery remaining capacity is notified based on the battery remaining capacity related information.

According to the above configuration, the user can be notified of the decrease in the remaining battery level (battery power shortage) via the external terminal before the battery power shortage occurs in the heating cooker.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a communication system 1 according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of the heating cooker 2 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the heating cooker 2 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the mobile terminal 100 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the hot water supply remote controller 200 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the management server 300, the cooking recipe server 500, and the application server 600 according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the heating cooker 2 of the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing performed by the mobile terminal 100 of the embodiment.

[ description of reference ]

1: a communication system; 2: a heating cooker; 4: a main body; 4 a: a front surface; 6: a panel; 8 a: a stent (Trivet); 8 b: a support; 8 c: a support; 10 a: a range burner; 10 b: a range burner; 10 c: a range burner; 12 a: a temperature sensor; 12 b: a temperature sensor; 12 c: a temperature sensor; 20: an oven; 21: an oven burner; 22: a toaster door; 24: a range operating part; 26: an oven operating part; 40: a power switch; 42 a: a heating amount operation part; 42 b: a heating amount operation part; 42 c: a heating amount operation part; 44: a control panel operation part; 46: a stove display part; 48 a: a range setting operation part; 48 b: a range setting operation part; 48 c: a range setting operation part; 60: a heating amount operation part; 62: a control panel operation part; 64: an oven display section; 66: an oven setting operation section; 68: a battery; 70: a battery remaining capacity detection unit; 72: BTI/F; 80: a control unit; 82: a memory; 100: a mobile terminal; 102: a display unit; 104: an operation section; 106: BTI/F; 108: Wi-FiI/F; 110: a control unit; 112: a memory; 200: a hot water supply remote controller; 202: a display unit; 204: an operation section; 206: BTI/F; 208: Wi-FiI/F; 210: a control unit; 212: a memory; 300: a management server; 310: a control unit; 320: a storage unit; 500: a cooking recipe server; 510: a control unit; 520: a storage unit; 600: an Application server (Application server); 610: a control unit; 620: a storage unit; 700: the internet; 800: a Wi-Fi router.

Detailed Description

(examples)

(configuration of communication System 1)

A communication system 1 will be explained with reference to fig. 1. The communication system 1 has a heating cooker 2, a mobile terminal 100, a hot water supply remote controller 200, a management server 300, a cooking recipe server 500, and an application server 600.

The heating cooker 2 and the portable terminal 100 can communicate with each other by Bluetooth (hereinafter, referred to as "BT") communication in accordance with a Bluetooth (registered trademark) system. In addition, the heating cooker 2 and the hot water supply remote controller 200 can communicate with each other by BT communication. The mobile terminal 100 and the hot water supply remote controller 200 are respectively capable of performing Wi-Fi communication in a Wi-Fi (registered trademark) manner to be connected to the internet 700. The management server 300, the cooking recipe server 500, and the application server 600 are connected to the internet 700, respectively.

The heating cooker 2 is manufactured by an equipment manufacturing company and sold to users by an equipment sales company. The management server 300 and the cooking recipe server 500 are managed by the device manufacturing company. The mobile terminal 100 is sold to a user by a mobile terminal providing company. The application server 600 is managed by a mobile terminal providing company. The hot water supply remote controller 200 is a remote controller of a hot water supply apparatus (not shown) manufactured by an apparatus manufacturing company and sold to a user by an apparatus sales company.

(Structure of heating cooker 2)

As shown in fig. 2 and 3, the heating cooker 2 is a gas-fired built-in range (build stop) used in an integrated kitchen. As shown in fig. 2, the heating cooker 2 has a main body 4 and a panel 6, wherein a front surface 4a of the main body 4 is exposed to the front side of the integrated kitchen; the panel 6 is disposed on the upper portion of the main body 4 and exposed to a counter top (counter top) of the integrated kitchen. 3

supports

8a, 8b, 8c, 3

range burners

10a, 10b, 10c and

temperature sensors

12a, 12b, 12c are provided on the panel 6, wherein 3

supports

8a, 8b, 8c support a heating object, that is, a cooking vessel such as a pot or a frying pan; 3

range burners

10a, 10b, 10c are provided corresponding to the

respective holders

8a, 8b, 8c, and heat the object to be heated supported by the

respective holders

8a, 8b, 8 c; the

temperature sensors

12a, 12b, and 12c are provided corresponding to the

respective range burners

10a, 10b, and 10 c. A gas supply passage (not shown) is connected to the burner 10 a. The gas supply passage is provided with a flow rate adjustment valve (not shown) for adjusting the supply amount of the gas to be supplied to the burner 10 a. The burner 10a is ignited by operating an igniter (not shown) in a state where gas is supplied to the burner 10 a. By adjusting the supply amount of the gas supplied to the burner 10a, the heating amount of the burner 10a can be adjusted. By stopping the supply of the gas to the burner 10a, the burner 10a can be turned off. The burner 10b, 10c has the same structure as the burner 10 a. The

temperature sensors

12a, 12b, and 12c detect the presence of the heating target supported by the

holders

8a, 8b, and 8c, and detect the temperature of the bottom of the heating target.

The main body 4 has an oven 20, an oven door 22, a range operating part 24, and an oven operating part 26, wherein the oven 20 is provided inside the main body 4 for receiving food materials; an oven door 22 disposed on the front surface 4a of the main body 4 for opening and closing the oven 20; the range operating part 24 is provided on the right side of the toaster door 22 on the front surface 4a of the main body 4; the toaster operation part 26 is provided on the left side of the toaster door 22 at the front surface 4a of the main body 4. Further, an oven burner 21 (see fig. 3) for heating the food contained in the oven 20 is provided inside the oven 20.

The range operation portion 24 includes a power switch 40 of the heating cooker 2, 3 heating

amount operation portions

42a, 42b, and 42c, and a control panel operation portion 44. The heating

amount operating portions

42a, 42b, and 42c correspond to the

range burners

10a, 10b, and 10c, respectively. The heating

amount operating units

42a, 42b, and 42c are operating units for igniting and extinguishing the

burner

10a, 10b, and 10c and adjusting the heating amount of the

burner

10a, 10b, and 10 c.

The control panel operating portion 44 has a range display portion 46 and range setting

operating portions

48a, 48b, 48 c. The range display unit 46 displays the operating states of the

range burners

10a, 10b, and 10 c. The user can set the temperature of the heating target heated by the

range burners

10a, 10b, 10c, set the automatic cooking, and the like by operating the range

setting operation units

48a, 48b, 48 c.

The oven operating part 26 has a heating amount operating part 60 and a control panel operating part 62. The user can perform ignition and extinction of the oven burner 21 and adjust the heating amount of the oven burner 21 by operating the heating amount operating unit 60.

The control panel operation portion 62 has an oven display portion 64 and an oven setting operation portion 66. The oven display unit 64 displays the operating state of the oven burner 21 and the like. The user can set the temperature of the heating target heated by the oven burner 21, set the automatic cooking, and the like by operating the oven setting operation unit 66.

As shown in fig. 3, the heating cooker 2 further includes a battery 68, a remaining battery level detecting unit 70, a BTI/F (interface abbreviation) 72, and a control unit 80. In fig. 3, the range burners 10b and 10c, the temperature sensors 12b and 12c, the heating

amount operating portions

42b and 42c, and the range setting

operating portions

48b and 48c are not shown for clarity of illustration. The battery 68 is, for example, a dry battery or a rechargeable battery, and supplies electric power to the electronic components of the heating cooker 2. The battery remaining capacity detection unit 70 detects a physical quantity that serves as an index indicating the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68. In the present embodiment, the remaining battery level detecting portion 70 detects the terminal voltage of the battery 68 as an index indicating the remaining battery level of the battery 68. The BTI/F72 is a wireless I/F for performing BT communication with an external device. The heating cooker 2 can perform BT communication with the mobile terminal 100 and the hot water supply remote controller 200 through the BTI/F72.

The control unit 80 controls the operation of the heating cooker 2. The control unit 80 includes a nonvolatile memory 82. The control unit 80 controls the operation of the heating cooker 2 in accordance with a main program stored in the memory 82. Further, the memory 82 stores pattern information of the heating cooker 2, user information indicating a user of the heating cooker 2, operation information indicating a use start timing and a use number of the heating cooker 2, a use frequency of each operation mode, error information indicating an error history, battery remaining capacity information indicating a battery remaining capacity of the battery 68, and the like. Also, the memory 82 can store cooking recipe data. The control unit 80 controls the operations of the

oven burners

10a, 10b, and 10c, the oven burner 21, and the like according to the cooking recipe data stored in the memory 82 when performing the automatic cooking.

(Structure of Mobile terminal 100)

The mobile terminal 100 is a mobile terminal device such as a mobile phone or a smartphone. As shown in fig. 4, the mobile terminal 100 has a display section 102, an operation section 104, a BTI/F106, a Wi-FiI/F108, and a control section 110. The display unit 102 is a display for displaying various information. The display unit 102 can function as a so-called touch panel (i.e., the operation unit 104). The operation portion 104 has a plurality of keys. The user can input various instructions to the mobile terminal 100 by operating the operation unit 104. The BTI/F106 is a wireless I/F for performing BT communication with an external device. The mobile terminal 100 can perform BT communication with the heating cooker 2 through the BTI/F106. Wi-FiI/F108 is a wireless I/F for performing Wi-Fi communication with external devices. The mobile terminal 100 is able to communicate with a Wi-Fi router 800 connected to the internet 700 through a Wi-FiI/F108. In addition, when the mobile terminal 100 has a mobile phone communication I/F (not shown) that can communicate with a mobile phone communication network (not shown), the mobile terminal 100 may be connected to the internet 700 through the mobile phone communication network without the Wi-Fi router 800. The control unit 110 controls the operation of the mobile terminal 100. The control unit 110 has a nonvolatile memory 112. The memory 112 can store therein an application program (application software). The control section 110 can execute an application program stored in the memory 112.

(Structure of hot water supply remote controller 200)

The hot water supply remote controller 200 is attached to a wall surface near the kitchen in which the heating cooker 2 is installed, presents information of the hot water supply device to the user, and receives an operation input to the hot water supply device from the user. As shown in FIG. 5, the hot water supply remote controller 200 has a display section 202, an operation section 204, a BTI/F206, a Wi-FiI/F208, and a control section 210. The display unit 202 is a display for displaying various information. The operation portion 204 has a plurality of keys. The user can input various instructions to the hot water supply remote controller 200 by operating the operation unit 204. The BTI/F206 is a wireless I/F for performing BT communication with an external device. The hot water supply remote controller 200 can perform BT communication with the heating cooker 2 through the BTI/F206. Wi-FiI/F208 is a wireless I/F for performing Wi-Fi communication with external devices. The hot water supply remote controller 200 is able to communicate with a Wi-Fi router 800 connected to the internet 700 via Wi-FiI/F208. The control unit 210 controls the operation of the hot water supply remote controller 200. The control unit 210 has a nonvolatile memory 212.

(Structure of management Server 300)

The management server 300 shown in fig. 6 is a server device for collecting device information of the heating cooker 2. The management server 300 includes a control unit 310 and a storage unit 320. The control unit 310 receives device information such as the type information, the user information, the operation information, the error information, and the battery remaining capacity information from the heating cooker 2, and stores the information in the storage unit 320.

(Structure of cooking recipe Server 500)

The cooking recipe server 500 is a server device for providing cooking recipe data to the heating cooker 2. The cooking recipe server 500 has a control unit 510 and a storage unit 520. The storage unit 520 stores a plurality of cooking recipe data corresponding to automatic cooking that can be executed by the heating cooker 2. Upon receiving a request for downloading cooking recipe data for heating cooker 2 from mobile terminal 100 or hot water supply remote controller 200, control unit 510 transmits cooking recipe data specified from the cooking recipe data stored in storage unit 520 to heating cooker 2. The transmission of the cooking recipe data from the cooking recipe server 500 to the heating cooker 2 may be performed by the mobile terminal 100, or may be performed by the hot water supply remote controller 200.

(Structure of application Server 600)

The application server 600 is a server device for providing an application to the mobile terminal 100. The application server 600 includes a control unit 610 and a storage unit 620. The storage unit 620 stores a plurality of application programs including a heating cooker application program. When a request for downloading an application program is generated from mobile terminal 100, control unit 610 transmits an application program designated from among the application programs stored in storage unit 620 to mobile terminal 100.

The cooking device application is provided by a device manufacturing company of the cooking device 2, and is an application for causing the cooking device 2 and the mobile terminal 100 to operate in cooperation. When the mobile terminal 100 executes the heating cooker application, the mobile terminal 100 acquires device information from the heating cooker 2 and transmits the acquired device information to the management server 300. When the user selects cooking recipe data to be downloaded via the mobile terminal 100 while the mobile terminal 100 is executing the cooking device application, the mobile terminal 100 transmits a download request for the cooking recipe data of the cooking device 2 to the cooking recipe server 500, and transmits the cooking recipe data from the cooking recipe server 500 to the cooking device 2.

In the communication system 1 of fig. 1, even when BT communication is not established between the mobile terminal 100 and the heating cooker 2 or when the mobile terminal 100 is not executing the heating cooker application, the device information can be transmitted from the heating cooker 2 to the management server 300 via the hot water supply remote controller 200 as long as BT communication is established between the hot water supply remote controller 200 and the heating cooker 2. In this case, when the user inputs a transmission instruction of the appliance information to the hot water supply remote controller 200, the hot water supply remote controller 200 acquires the appliance information from the heating cooker 2. Then, the hot water supply remote controller 200 transmits the acquired device information to the management server 300. Even when BT communication is not established between the mobile terminal 100 and the heating cooker 2, when BT communication is established between the hot water supply remote controller 200 and the heating cooker 2 and the mobile terminal 100 executes the heating cooker application program, various data can be transmitted and received between the mobile terminal 100 and the heating cooker 2 by the hot water supply remote controller 200 and the management server 300.

(processing when the remaining battery power of the heating cooker 2 is reduced)

Next, with reference to fig. 7 and 8, the processing performed by each of heating cooker 2 and mobile terminal 100 when the remaining battery level of battery 68 of heating cooker 2 is reduced will be described. When the power switch 40 is operated to turn ON (ON) the power, the heating cooker 2 executes the processing of fig. 7. When the heating cooker application is started, the mobile terminal 100 performs the process of fig. 8.

(treatment by heating cooker 2)

In S2 of fig. 7, the control unit 80 detects the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 by the battery remaining capacity detection unit 70.

At S4, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the remaining battery power of the battery 68 detected at S2 exceeds a first threshold. The first threshold is set as a remaining battery level that urges the user to replace or charge the battery 68. In a case where the remaining battery power of the battery 68 exceeds the first threshold value (in the case of yes), the process returns to S2. If the remaining battery level of the battery 68 is equal to or lower than the first threshold value (in the case of "no"), the process proceeds to S6.

At S6, the control unit 80 determines whether or not the remaining battery power of the battery 68 detected at S2 exceeds a second threshold. The second threshold value is set to a value lower than the first threshold value. For example, the second threshold value is a value slightly larger than the battery remaining amount of the battery 68 required for communication using the BTI/F72. In the case where the battery remaining capacity exceeds the second threshold value (in the case of yes), the process proceeds to S8. If the remaining battery capacity is equal to or less than the second threshold value (in the case of "no"), the process proceeds to S10.

In S8, the control unit 80 transmits the value of the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 as battery remaining capacity information to the mobile terminal 100. After S8, the process returns to S2.

At S10, control unit 80 transmits, to mobile terminal 100, non-communication information indicating that communication is not possible due to the depletion of the battery level of battery 68. After S10, the process returns to S2.

In the processing of fig. 7, when the remaining battery level of the battery 68 is equal to or lower than the first threshold value (in the case of "no") at S4, the heating cooker 2 may additionally use the range display unit 46, the oven display unit 64, or another notification mechanism to notify the user that the remaining battery level of the battery 68 has decreased. Similarly, in the case where the remaining battery level of the battery 68 is equal to or lower than the second threshold value (in the case of "no") at S6, the heating cooker 2 may additionally use the range display unit 46, the oven display unit 64, or another notification mechanism to notify the user that the heating cooker 2 cannot communicate due to the exhaustion of the battery level of the battery 68.

(processing by the mobile terminal 100)

In S12 of fig. 8, the control unit 110 determines whether or not battery remaining capacity information is received from the heating cooker 2. In the case where the battery remaining capacity information is received (in the case of "yes"), the process proceeds to S14.

At S14, control unit 110 determines a period during which heating cooker 2 can perform communication using BTI/F72, that is, a communicable period, based on the remaining battery level of battery 68 determined from the remaining battery level information. The control unit 110 can determine the communicable period of the heating cooker 2 based on the remaining battery capacity of the battery 68 by, for example, storing a table indicating the correspondence between the remaining battery capacity of the battery 68 and the communicable period of the heating cooker 2 in advance. In S14, the control unit 110 may determine a cooking period, which is a period during which the heating cooker 2 can perform heating cooking using the

range burners

10a, 10b, and 10c or the oven burner 21, based on the remaining battery power of the battery 68.

In S16, control unit 110 notifies the user that the remaining battery level of battery 68 of heating cooker 2 is decreasing. For example, the control unit 110 displays the communication enabled period (and/or the cooking enabled period) of the heating cooker 2 calculated in S14 on the display unit 102 together with a message indicating that the remaining battery capacity of the battery 68 of the heating cooker 2 is decreasing. After S16, the process returns to S12.

In S12, if the battery remaining capacity information is not received (in the case of no), the process proceeds to S18. In S18, control unit 110 determines whether or not the information that communication is not possible has been received from heating cooker 2. In a case where the communication disabled information is not received (in a case of "no"), the process returns to S12. If the information which cannot be communicated is received (yes), the process proceeds to S20.

At S20, control unit 110 notifies the user that cooking device 2 is unable to communicate because the battery level of battery 68 is depleted. For example, the control unit 110 displays a message indicating that the heating cooker 2 cannot communicate because the battery level of the battery 68 is depleted on the display unit 102. After S20, the process returns to S12.

Communication between heating cooker 2 and mobile terminal 100 may be cut off for various reasons. For example, the cooking device 2 may not communicate because the remaining battery level of the battery 68 of the cooking device 2 is reduced or the battery level is depleted, or the cooking device 2 and the mobile terminal 100 may not communicate because the remaining battery level of the battery 68 of the cooking device 2 is sufficient, but the communication is disabled due to interference of radio waves, a circuit failure, or the like. According to the above embodiment, when the remaining battery level of the battery 68 is equal to or lower than the first threshold value during normal communication between the heating cooker 2 and the mobile terminal 100, the remaining battery level information is transmitted from the heating cooker 2 to the mobile terminal 100, and the mobile terminal 100 notifies the user of the decrease in the remaining battery level. With such a configuration, when communication between heating cooker 2 and mobile terminal 100 is interrupted, the user can appropriately determine whether this is due to the battery state of heating cooker 2 being depleted due to a decrease in the battery remaining amount of battery 68 or due to another cause.

In the above embodiment, the user of the mobile terminal 100 may be the same as or different from the user of the heating cooker 2. For example, the user of cooking device 2 and the user of mobile terminal 100 may be family members living separately. In this case, when the user of the portable terminal 100 is notified of the information on the remaining battery level of the battery 68 of the heating cooker 2, the user of the heating cooker 2 can be contacted to urge the user to replace or charge the battery 68.

In the above embodiment, a part of the processing of fig. 8 may be performed by the management server 300 instead of the mobile terminal 100. For example, the control unit 310 of the management server 300 may perform the process of S14 in fig. 8 instead of the control unit 110 of the mobile terminal 100. In this case, the control portion 310 receives battery remaining capacity information from the heating cooker 2 or the mobile terminal 100, determines a communicable period (and/or a cookable period) of the heating cooker 2 based on the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 determined from the battery remaining capacity information, and transmits information indicating the determined communicable period (and/or cookable period) of the heating cooker 2 to the mobile terminal 100. With such a configuration, the load of processing performed by the control unit 110 of the mobile terminal 100 can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the case where the mobile terminal 100 is used as an external terminal that receives the battery remaining amount information and the non-communicable information from the heating cooker 2 and notifies the user of the same has been described, but the hot water supply remote controller 200 may be used as the external terminal instead of the mobile terminal 100. In this case, at S8 or S10 in fig. 7, the control unit 80 of the heating cooker 2 transmits the battery remaining capacity information or the non-communicable information to the hot water supply remote controller 200. In addition, the processes of S12-S20 of fig. 8 are executed by the control unit 210 of the hot water supply remote controller 200 instead of the control unit 110 of the mobile terminal 100.

In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the control unit 80 of the heating cooker 2 transmits the value of the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 as the battery remaining capacity information to the portable terminal 100 in S8 of fig. 7 has been described. In contrast, in S8 of fig. 7, the control unit 80 of the heating cooker 2 may be configured not to transmit the value of the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 but to transmit only information indicating that the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 is decreasing to the portable terminal 100. In this case, the control section 110 of the mobile terminal 100 does not perform the process of determining the communicable period (and/or the cookable period) at S14, but displays only a message indicating that the remaining battery level of the battery 68 of the heating cooker 2 is decreasing on the display section 102 at S16.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the second threshold value used in S6 of fig. 7 is set to a value slightly larger than the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 necessary for performing communication using the BTI/F72 has been described. In contrast, the second threshold value used in S6 in fig. 7 may be a battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 required for cooking using the

range burners

10a, 10b, 10c or the oven burner 21 (which is normally larger than the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 required for communication using the BTI/F72), or may be a value slightly larger than the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 required for cooking. In this case, even if the remaining battery level of the battery 68 is lower than the second threshold value, communication using the BTI/F72 can be performed, and therefore, in S6 of fig. 7, the process may proceed to S8 when the remaining battery level of the battery 68 is equal to or higher than the second threshold value, and the process may proceed to S10 when the remaining battery level of the battery 68 is lower than the second threshold value.

As described above, the communication system 1 according to one or more embodiments includes the heating cooker 2 and the mobile terminal 100 (an example of an external terminal) that can communicate with the heating cooker 2. The heating cooker 2 includes a battery 68 and a battery remaining amount detection unit 70 capable of detecting a battery remaining amount of the battery 68. When the remaining battery power detected by the remaining battery power detecting unit 70 is equal to or less than the first threshold value, the heating cooker 2 transmits remaining battery power information (an example of remaining battery power-related information relating to the remaining battery power) indicating the value of the remaining battery power of the battery 68 to the mobile terminal 100. When receiving the battery remaining capacity information, the mobile terminal 100 notifies information indicating that the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 of the heating cooker 2 is decreasing and a communicable period of the heating cooker 2 (battery remaining capacity decrease information related to the decrease in the battery remaining capacity) based on the battery remaining capacity information.

According to the above configuration, at the time point when the remaining battery power of heating cooker 2 becomes equal to or less than the first threshold value, it is possible to notify the user through mobile terminal 100 that the remaining battery power of heating cooker 2 has decreased. The user can be informed of the decrease in the remaining battery power before the battery power exhaustion of the heating cooker 2 occurs.

In the communication system 1 according to one or more embodiments, the heating cooker 2 transmits, to the portable terminal 100, the non-communicable information (an example of non-operational information) indicating that communication is not possible (an example of operation) using the electric power from the battery 68, when the remaining battery power detected by the remaining battery power detecting unit 70 is equal to or less than the second threshold value which is lower than the first threshold value. When the mobile terminal 100 receives the communication disabled information, it notifies the heating cooker 2 of a message indicating that communication is disabled by the power from the battery 68.

According to the above configuration, when the remaining battery power of the heating cooker 2 is equal to or less than the second threshold value and the battery power is exhausted immediately, the user can be notified by the portable terminal 100 that the heating cooker 2 cannot communicate due to the exhausted battery power.

In the communication system 1 according to one or more embodiments, the remaining battery charge reduction information notified to the user by the mobile terminal 100 includes information on a communicable period (an example of an operable period) indicating a period during which communication (an example of an operation) can be performed in the heating cooker 2 by using power from the battery 68. The communication-possible period is determined based on the battery remaining capacity information.

According to the above configuration, the user can know when the battery 68 is replaced or charged by informing the user of the communicable period of the heating cooker 2 determined based on the remaining battery capacity via the portable terminal 100. The convenience of the user can be improved.

In the communication system 1 according to one or more embodiments, the mobile terminal 100 determines the communication-enabled period based on the battery remaining capacity information.

According to the above configuration, the user can be informed of the operable period of the heating cooker 2 determined according to the remaining battery capacity through the mobile terminal 100 by a simple configuration.

The communication system 1 according to one or more embodiments further includes a management server 300 (an example of an external server) that can communicate with the heating cooker 2 and the mobile terminal 100. The management server 300 receives the battery remaining capacity information from the heating cooker 2, determines a communicable period based on the battery remaining capacity information, and transmits communicable period information indicating the communicable period to the mobile terminal 100.

According to the above configuration, since it is not necessary to perform processing for determining a communicable period based on the remaining battery power in heating cooker 2 or mobile terminal 100, the load of processing in heating cooker 2 or mobile terminal 100 can be reduced.

The mobile terminal 100 (an example of an external terminal) according to one or more embodiments can communicate with the heating cooker 2. The heating cooker 2 includes a battery 68 and a battery remaining amount detection unit 70 capable of detecting a battery remaining amount of the battery 68. The mobile terminal 100 has a computer that executes processing in accordance with a heating cooker application (an example of a program). The heating cooker application causes the computer of the mobile terminal 100 to execute the following processing: when battery remaining capacity information (an example of battery remaining capacity-related information relating to the battery remaining capacity) indicating the value of the battery remaining capacity detected by the battery remaining capacity detection portion 70 is received from the heating cooker 2, a message indicating that the battery remaining capacity of the battery 68 of the heating cooker 2 is decreasing and a communicable period of the heating cooker 2 (battery remaining capacity decrease information relating to the decrease in the battery remaining capacity) are notified based on the battery remaining capacity information.

According to the above configuration, the user can be notified of the decrease in the remaining battery power by the portable terminal 100 before the battery power is exhausted in the heating cooker 2.

Specific examples of the present invention have been described above in detail, but these are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. The technical means described in the present invention include various modifications and changes made to the specific examples illustrated above. The technical elements described in the specification and the drawings exhibit technical applicability by themselves or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the technical aspects of the present invention at the time of application. In addition, the technical solutions illustrated in the present specification or the drawings can achieve a plurality of objects at the same time, and achieving one of the objects has technical applicability per se.

Claims

1. A communication system having a heating cooker and an external terminal capable of communicating with the heating cooker,

the heating cooker has a battery and a battery remaining capacity detecting portion capable of detecting a battery remaining capacity of the battery,

the cooking device transmits battery remaining capacity related information related to the battery remaining capacity to the external terminal when the battery remaining capacity detected by the battery remaining capacity detecting section is equal to or less than a first threshold value,

and under the condition that the external terminal receives the information related to the residual battery capacity, informing the reduction information of the residual battery capacity related to the reduction of the residual battery capacity according to the information related to the residual battery capacity.

2. The communication system of claim 1,

the cooking device transmits, to the external terminal, a non-operation information indicating that the cooking device is not operable by the power from the battery when the remaining battery power detected by the remaining battery power detecting unit is equal to or less than a second threshold value lower than the first threshold value,

the external terminal notifies that the heating cooker cannot be operated by the electric power from the battery when the operation disabling information is received.

3. The communication system according to claim 1 or 2,

the battery remaining capacity reduction information includes information on an operable period indicating a period during which the heating cooker can be operated by using the power from the battery,

the operable period is determined based on the information on the remaining battery capacity.

4. The communication system of claim 3,

the external terminal determines the operable period according to the information related to the remaining battery capacity.

5. The communication system of claim 3,

and an external server capable of communicating with the heating cooker and the external terminal,

the external server receives the battery remaining amount-related information from the heating cooker, determines the operable period based on the battery remaining amount-related information, and transmits operable period information representing the operable period to the external terminal.

6. An external terminal capable of communicating with a heating cooker,

the external terminal has a computer that performs processing in accordance with a program,

the program causes the computer to execute:

when battery remaining capacity related information related to the battery remaining capacity detected by the battery remaining capacity detection unit is received from the heating cooker, battery remaining capacity reduction information related to reduction of the battery remaining capacity is notified based on the battery remaining capacity related information.