CN112449441A - Household appliance system and household appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a household appliance system and a household appliance, which can save the labor cost of a user for connecting the household appliance to a communication device. The home appliance system of the present invention has a first home appliance device and a second home appliance device. The first home appliance stores first connection information for connecting with a communication device that relays communication, and communicates with the communication device using the first connection information. The second home appliance acquires the first connection information from the first home appliance by communicating with the first home appliance, and communicates with the communication device using the acquired first connection information.

Description

Household appliance system and household appliance

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a home appliance system and a home appliance device.

Background

In order to connect a home appliance to a communication device such as a wireless access point, it is necessary to set connection information for connecting to the communication device in the home appliance. However, the work performed by the user to set the connection information in the home appliance may be troublesome.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-85050

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is directed to provide a home appliance system and a home appliance capable of saving labor required by a user to connect the home appliance to a communication device.

The home appliance system of the present invention has a first home appliance device and a second home appliance device. The first home appliance stores first connection information for connecting with a communication device that relays communication, and communicates with the communication device using the first connection information. The second home appliance acquires the first connection information from the first home appliance by communicating with the first home appliance, and communicates with the communication device using the acquired first connection information.

According to the above configuration, if the first home appliance is connected to the communication device, the second home appliance can be connected to the communication device without inputting information for connection to the communication device to the second home appliance purchased after the first home appliance by the user.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a configuration diagram of a home appliance system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram of a home appliance of an embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram of the terminal device of the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a connection information list according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a connection information list according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a timing chart of the home appliance system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a change in a screen displayed on the terminal device according to the embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a timing chart of the home appliance system according to the embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

1 … a communication device; 2 … home appliances; 2a … refrigerator; 2b … washing machine; 2c … microwave oven; 3 … terminal device; 4 … management server; 10 … home electrical system; 21 … a communication unit; 22 … storage section; 23 … control unit; 24 … an operating part; a 25 … output; 26 … clocks; 27 … household electrical appliance function part; 31 … a communication part; a 32 … control section; a 33 … display part; 34 … input; 231 … mode control section; 232 … connection information acquisition unit; 233 … connection information providing section; 234 … updating part; 321 … a home appliance connection instruction unit; 2321 … is connected to the control unit; 2322 … acquisition unit; 2323 … connection completion notification unit; 2331 detection section 2331 …; 2332 … screening section; 2333 … a detection notification unit; 2334 … is connected to the information transmitting unit.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a home appliance system and a home appliance according to the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present specification, the term "connection" may be a connection by a wireless method or a connection by a wired method.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a home appliance system 10 according to an embodiment. The home appliance system 10 includes: communication device 1, home electric appliance 2, terminal device 3, and management server 4. The home appliance 2 is, for example, a stationary home appliance, but is not limited thereto. The home appliance 2 may be a household appliance called a white home appliance, or may be an information appliance called a black home appliance. Examples of the white goods include refrigerators, washing machines, microwave ovens, rice cookers, and vacuum cleaners. The black household appliances are televisions, smart sound boxes and the like. Fig. 1 shows a refrigerator 2a, a washing machine 2b, and a microwave oven 2c as examples of the home appliance 2.

The communication apparatus 1 constitutes a home network in a home. The home network is a subnet of the network in the home appliance system 10. The communication device 1 performs wireless communication or wired communication with the home appliance 2 and the terminal device 3. The communication device 1 has a function of a router for relaying communication between the home electric appliance 2 and the terminal device 3 connected thereto. The communication device 1 is also connected to an external network such as the internet. The communication device 1 has a function of a gateway for connecting a home network and an external network. The communication device 1 relays, by the gateway function, communication between the home appliance 2 and the terminal device 3 connected to the home network and the management server 4 connected to the external network.

In the present embodiment, a case where the communication device 1 is a wireless lan (local Area network) router will be described as an example. The wireless LAN router comprises: a function of a router relaying communication, and a function of a wireless LAN access point performing interconversion between a wireless LAN and a wired LAN.

The home appliance 2 has a function of communicating by a wireless LAN. The home appliance 2 can operate in an AP (access point) mode and a station mode. The AP mode is an example of the second mode. The workstation mode is an example of the first mode. The home appliance 2 in the AP mode operates as an AP serving as a master of the wireless LAN, and communicates with another home appliance 2 in the workstation mode. The home appliance 2 in the station mode operates as a client of the wireless LAN slave unit and is connected to the AP. The AP to which the connection is made is the communication device 1 or the other home appliance 2 in the AP mode. In order for a client to connect to an AP, connection information of the AP is required. The connection information includes an ssid (service Set identifier) and an encryption key. The connection information for connecting to the communication device 1 is referred to as communication device connection information, and the connection information for connecting to the home appliance 2 is referred to as home appliance connection information. The communication apparatus connection information is an example of the first connection information, and the home appliance connection information is an example of the second connection information.

The terminal apparatus 3 is a computer terminal used by a user. The terminal device 3 is, for example, a smartphone. The terminal device 3 may be a tablet terminal, a personal computer, a television set, or the like. The terminal device 3 has at least one of a function of performing communication using a wireless LAN and a function of performing communication using a public network. The public network may include an external network to which the management server 4 is connected. When the terminal device 3 is a smartphone, the terminal device 3 includes: a function of performing wireless LAN communication with the communication apparatus 1 as a client, and a function of performing mobile communication using a mobile phone network as a public network.

The management server 4 is, for example, a cloud server. The management server 4 communicates with the home appliance 2 via the communication device 1. The management server 4 performs the following processing: a process of transmitting data and instructions to the home appliance 2, and a process of receiving and recording various information such as the internal state or the external state of the home appliance 2 from the home appliance 2. The management server 4 stores user information of each user in which a service related to the home appliance 2 is registered. The user information includes a user ID, address information of the home appliance 2 installed in the user's house, and address information of the user's terminal device 3, which are set so as to be associated with each other. The user ID is identification information of the user. The address information of the home appliance 2 is used as identification information of the home appliance 2. The address information of the terminal apparatus 3 is used as identification information of the terminal apparatus 3.

An outline of the operation of the home appliance system 10 shown in fig. 1 will be described. Before connection with the communication device 1, the home appliance 2 sets its own connection information and interconnection home appliance information. The setting of the information is performed, for example, when the home appliance manufacturer manufactures the home appliance 2, when the home appliance is shipped, when the home appliance 2 is sold, or the like. The self connection information is the home appliance connection information of the home appliance. The interconnection home device information includes home device connection information of other home devices 2 that can be interconnected with the home device 2. In addition, common interconnected home appliance information (that is, the same home appliance connection information) may be set for a plurality of home appliances 2 conforming to a predetermined protocol. At this time, the interconnection home appliance information includes: home appliance connection information of each home appliance 2 constituting a group of home appliances 2 that can be connected to each other. This group of mutually connectable home electric devices 2 is referred to as a mutually connected group. The interconnection group may be a group composed of products of the same home appliance manufacturer, or a group composed of products of a plurality of home appliance manufacturers (alliances), for example. The interconnection group may be a group configured based on any one or more kinds of information such as the type of home appliance, a combination of the home appliance manufacturer and the type of home appliance, and the like.

In order for the home appliance 2 purchased by the user to communicate with the communication device 1 through the wireless LAN as a client, it is necessary to set communication device connection information for connecting with the communication device 1 in the home appliance 2. Therefore, first, communication device connection information is set in the 1 st home appliance 2, and the communication device 1 is connected thereto. In setting the communication device connection information for the 1 st home appliance 2, for example, the following method is used. The 1 st home appliance 2 is referred to as a refrigerator 2 a. The terminal device 3 can perform wireless LAN communication with the communication device 1 using the communication device connection information. After the terminal device 3 is connected to the refrigerator 2a in the AP mode, the communication device connection information is transmitted to the refrigerator 2a using an application (hereinafter, referred to as application software) installed in the terminal device 3. The refrigerator 2a is set with communication device connection information received from the terminal device 3. In addition to this method, the communication device connection information may be set in the refrigerator 2a by a simple connection method such as WPS (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)). The refrigerator 2a connects with the communication apparatus 1 using the communication apparatus connection information.

Next, as the 2 nd home electric appliance 2, the washing machine 2b is connected to the home network. The washing machine 2b is set with the interconnected home appliance information including the home appliance connection information of the refrigerator 2 a. The washing machine 2b, if it detects the refrigerator 2a of the AP mode, connects with the refrigerator 2a using the home appliance connection information of the refrigerator 2 a. The refrigerator 2a transmits the stored communication device connection information to the washing machine 2 b. The refrigerator 2a may notify the terminal device 3 that there is an access from the washing machine 2b before transmitting the communication device connection information. When the user inputs connection OK for notification, the terminal apparatus 3 transmits a signal indicating that connection is permitted. The refrigerator 2a receives the signal and transmits communication device connection information to the washing machine 2 b. The washing machine 2b connects with the communication device 1 using the communication device connection information received from the refrigerator 2 a.

Next, as the 3 rd home electric appliance 2, the microwave oven 2c is connected to the home network. The microwave oven 2c is set with interconnection home appliance information including home appliance connection information of at least one of the refrigerator 2a and the washing machine 2 b. When the microwave oven 2c detects the refrigerator 2a in the AP mode, the connection to the refrigerator 2a is performed using the home appliance connection information of the refrigerator 2 a. Alternatively, when the microwave oven 2c detects the washing machine 2b in the AP mode, the connection to the washing machine 2b is performed using the home appliance connection information of the washing machine 2 b. The refrigerator 2a or the washing machine 2b connected to the microwave oven 2c transmits the stored communication device connection information to the microwave oven 2 c. The refrigerator 2a or the washing machine 2b may notify the terminal device 3 that there is an access from the microwave oven 2c, and transmit the communication device connection information when a signal indicating permission of connection is returned from the terminal device 3 in response to the notification. The microwave oven 2c connects to the communication device 1 using the received communication device connection information.

The home appliance 2 often includes a button, a dial, or the like corresponding to the home appliance function of the home appliance 2 as a user interface so that the user can easily use the home appliance function. When the user operates such a user interface to set the communication device connection information in the home appliance 2, it may take a lot of time. Therefore, in the present embodiment, communication device connection information for connecting to the communication device 1 is set for the new home appliance 2 by the home appliance 2 connected to the communication device 1 in the user house. Therefore, it is not necessary for the home appliances 2 of the 2 nd and subsequent stations to input the communication device connection information to the home appliance 2 or to a smartphone or the like connected to the home appliance 2 by the user himself. For example, if communication device connection information is set in the 1 st home appliance 2 by a sales shop or an operator who has performed installation work, even a user who is not used to use a smartphone or the like or a user who does not have a smartphone can connect the home appliances 2 after the 2 nd home appliance 2 to the communication device 1.

Fig. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the home appliance 2. Fig. 2 shows only the functional blocks related to the present embodiment. The home appliance 2 includes: a communication unit 21, a storage unit 22, a control unit 23, an operation unit 24, an output unit (report unit) 25, a clock 26, and a home appliance function unit 27.

The communication unit 21 receives control from the control unit 23 and performs communication in accordance with the standard of the wireless LAN. When the station mode is selected, the communication unit 21 communicates with the communication device 1 using the communication device connection information, or wirelessly communicates with another home appliance 2 in the AP mode using the home appliance connection information. In addition, when the AP mode is used, the communication unit 21 performs wireless communication with the other home appliance 2 in the station mode.

The storage unit 22 stores various information including a connection information list and permission codes. The connection information list includes communication device connection information, self connection information, and interconnection home appliance information. When the home appliance 2 is shipped, the connection information list includes the own connection information and the interconnection home appliance information, and the communication device connection information is not set. The permission code indicates an interconnection group that permits communication. As the permission code, for example, information indicating the manufacturer of the home appliance can be used.

The control unit 23 controls the entire home appliance 2. The control unit 23 includes: a mode control unit 231, a connection information acquisition unit 232, a connection information providing unit 233, and an update unit 234. The mode control unit 231 controls the communication unit 21 to operate in the station mode, the AP mode, or both the station mode and the AP mode.

The connection information acquiring unit 232 acquires communication device connection information of the communication device 1 from the other home appliance 2. The connection information acquisition unit 232 includes: a connection control unit 2321, an acquisition unit 2322, and a connection completion notification unit 2323.

When the communication device connection information is included in the connection information list stored in the storage unit 22, the connection control unit 2321 controls the communication unit 21 so as to connect to the communication device 1 through the wireless LAN using the communication device connection information. When the communication apparatus connection information is not included in the connection information list, the connection control unit 2321 controls the communication unit 21 so as to connect to another home appliance 2 through the wireless LAN using the home appliance connection information included in the inter-connected home appliance information in the connection information list. After acquiring the communication device connection information, the connection control unit 2321 controls the communication unit 21 to stop communication with the other home appliance 2 and to connect to the communication device 1 using the acquired communication device connection information.

The acquisition unit 2322 acquires the communication device connection information from the other home appliance 2 connected by the wireless LAN, and writes the acquired communication device connection information into the connection information list. The connection completion notifying unit 2323 notifies the terminal apparatus 3 of the completion of the wireless connection after the communication unit 21 connects to the communication apparatus 1 by the wireless LAN.

The connection information providing unit 233 provides the communication device connection information to the other home appliance 2. The connection information providing unit 233 includes: a detection unit 2331, a screening unit 2332, a detection notification unit 2333, and a connection information transmission unit 2334.

When the communication unit 21 starts communication with another home appliance 2, the detection unit 2331 determines that a new home appliance 2 is detected. The screening unit 2332 performs screening to determine whether or not to permit connection to the new home appliance 2. The screening unit 2332 performs this determination by comparing the interconnection group indicated by the information received from the new home appliance 2 with the interconnection group indicated by the permission code stored in the storage unit 22. As the information indicating the interconnection group, for example, a vendor code indicated by the first 24 bits of a mac (medium Access control) address can be used. The screening unit 2332 determines that connection is permitted if the provider code acquired from the MAC address of the new home appliance 2 is the permission code stored in the storage unit 22, and determines that connection is not permitted if the provider code is not the permission code.

When the screening unit 2332 determines that connection is permitted, the detection notification unit 2333 transmits a new home appliance notification to notify that the new home appliance 2 is detected, to the terminal device 3. Alternatively, the detection notification unit 2333 may output a notification by the output unit 25 in order to report that the new home appliance 2 is detected. When receiving a connection permission response indicating permission of connection from the terminal device 3 in association with the new home appliance notification, the connection information transmitting unit 2334 notifies the new home appliance 2 of the communication device connection information. Alternatively, when the operation unit 24 receives a user operation indicating that connection is permitted in accordance with the notification output by the output unit 25, the connection information transmitting unit 2334 notifies the new home appliance 2 of the communication device connection information.

The updating unit 234 updates the authentication key of the home appliance connection information according to a predetermined rule. The update unit 234 receives the permission code from the management server 4, and updates the permission code stored in the storage unit 22.

The operation unit 24 is a user interface for inputting by a user operation. The operation unit 24 is, for example, a button, a dial, a switch, or the like provided in the operation panel. The operation unit 24 notifies the control unit 23 of an operation performed by the user. The operation unit 24 may be a device that receives a signal indicating an operation performed by a user on a remote controller of the home appliance 2 from the remote controller. The output unit 25 outputs various kinds of information based on the signal received from the control unit 23. The output unit 25 also has a function as a notification unit that notifies that the new home appliance 2 is detected. The output unit 25 is, for example, a display device, a lamp, a speaker, or the like. The home appliance function unit 27 realizes a home appliance function as the home appliance 2. For example, if the home appliance 2 is a refrigerator, the home appliance function part 27 has functions required for the refrigerator (e.g., control functions of a compressor and a fan).

Fig. 3 is a functional block diagram showing the configuration of the terminal apparatus 3. Fig. 3 shows only the functional blocks related to the present embodiment. The terminal device 3 includes: a communication unit 31, a control unit 32, a display unit 33, and an input unit 34.

The communication unit 31 communicates with the communication device 1 in accordance with the standard of the wireless LAN. The communication unit 31 may perform communication according to a standard other than the wireless LAN. For example, when the terminal device 3 is a smartphone, the communication unit 31 performs wireless communication using a mobile phone line in accordance with the 4G standard such as lte (long Term evolution).

The control unit 32 controls each unit of the terminal apparatus 3. The control unit 32 includes a home appliance connection instructing unit 321. The home appliance connection instructing unit 321 is generated by installing application software in the terminal device 3. The home appliance connection instructing unit 321 transmits a signal indicating whether or not to permit connection to the home network to the new home appliance 2 in accordance with an operation performed by the user using the input unit 34.

The display unit 33 displays various information under the control of the control unit 32. The display unit 33 is configured by, for example, a liquid crystal display device, an Organic EL (Organic Electro-Luminescence) display device, or the like. The input unit 34 is a user interface for inputting by a user operation. The input unit 34 is, for example, a button or a key. The input unit 34 notifies the control unit 32 of the input operation. When the display unit 33 is a touch panel, the input unit 34 is a touch sensor disposed on the touch panel. When the terminal apparatus 3 is a television or the like, the input unit 34 may receive a signal indicating an operation performed by a user on a remote controller from the remote controller.

The operation of the home appliance system 10 will be described in detail. A home appliance 2 connected to the communication device 1 and providing communication device connection information to another home appliance 2 is referred to as a first home appliance, and a home appliance 2 connected to the communication device 1 by acquiring communication device connection information from the first home appliance is referred to as a second home appliance. Hereinafter, a case where the first home appliance is the refrigerator 2a and the second home appliance is the washing machine 2b will be described as an example. Note that "a" is attached to the reference numerals of the respective parts of the refrigerator 2a, and "b" is attached to the reference numerals of the respective parts of the washing machine 2 b. For example, communication unit 21, storage units 22 and … of refrigerator 2a are referred to as communication unit 21a and storage units 22a and …, and communication unit 21, storage units 22 and … of washing machine 2b are referred to as communication unit 21b and storage units 22b and ….

The home appliance system 10 performs one or more of the following safety operations (1) to (3). The security action (1) is to update the encryption key. The security operation (2) is to limit a period during which the first home appliance operates in the AP mode. The security action (3) is a screening using the MAC address. Hereinafter, the case where all of the safety operations (1) to (3) are performed will be described.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a list of connection information stored in the storage unit 22a of the refrigerator 2 a. When the refrigerator 2a is connected to the communication device 1, the communication device connection information of the communication device 1 is set in the connection information list as shown in fig. 4. Further, the home appliance connection information of the refrigerator 2a is set in the self connection information. The home appliance connection information of the refrigerator 2a is SSID "resizoko" and an authentication key "12345678". The information on the interconnected home appliances includes an SSID and an authentication key of each home appliance 2 that can be interconnected. The inter-connected home appliance information may not include the self-connection information. Although fig. 4 shows an example in which the SSID and the authentication key are different for each type of the home appliance 2 (refrigerator, washing machine, and the like), at least one of the SSID and the authentication key that connect home appliance information to each other may be common (the same) among a plurality of types of home appliances 2.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a list of connection information stored in the storage unit 22b of the washing machine 2 b. When the washing machine 2b is shipped, as shown in fig. 5, the self connection information and the interconnected home appliance information are set, but the communication device connection information is not set. The interconnected home appliance information includes home appliance connection information indicating the SSID "resizoko" and the authentication key "12345678" of the refrigerator 2 a.

The authentication key of each home appliance 2 set in the connection information list shown in fig. 4 and 5 is an initial value. The update unit 234a of the refrigerator 2a and the update unit 234b of the washing machine 2b update the authentication keys of the home appliances 2 at a common timing, for example, by using a common predetermined algorithm.

Fig. 6 is a timing diagram of the home appliance system 10. The refrigerator 2a installed in the user house is connected to the communication apparatus 1 in the workstation mode by the wireless LAN using the communication apparatus connection information (step S105). The refrigerator 2a stops the AP mode. Communication device connection information is set in the connection information list stored in the storage unit 22a of the refrigerator 2a (step S110). The terminal apparatus 3 is also connected to the communication apparatus 1 by the wireless LAN (step S115). On the other hand, the storage unit 22b of the washing machine 2b writes a connection information list shown in fig. 5 at the time of shipment (step S120). The order of step S105, step S110, step S115, and step S120 may be reversed.

The washing machine 2b purchased by the user is installed in the user's house. When the user inputs the start of the AP mode using the operation unit 24a of the refrigerator 2a, the refrigerator 2a starts the operation of the AP mode (step S125). Specifically, the mode control unit 231a of the refrigerator 2a controls the communication unit 21a to operate in the station mode and the AP mode for a predetermined time such as 10 minutes. The communication unit 21a may operate simultaneously in two modes, i.e., a station mode and an AP mode, by using different radio channels, or may switch between the station mode and the AP mode in a time-sharing manner. The communication unit 21a broadcasts the SSID of the refrigerator 2a set in the self-connection information of the connection information list at predetermined intervals. On the other hand, the update unit 234a of the refrigerator 2a acquires the current time from the clock 26a at a predetermined cycle, for example. The updating unit 234a reads out the authentication key of the initial value of the refrigerator 2a from the connection information list, and calculates the authentication key valid until the next cycle by performing an operation using a predetermined algorithm at the current time on the read-out authentication key.

Next, the user operates the operation unit 24b of the washing machine 2b to turn on the power supply (step S130). Connection control unit 2321b of washing machine 2b determines whether or not the communication device connection information has been acquired, based on whether or not the communication device connection information is included in the connection information list stored in storage unit 22 b. When the communication apparatus connection information is not included in the connection information list stored in the storage unit 22b, the connection control unit 2321b determines that the communication apparatus connection information has not been acquired yet, and starts the acquisition process of the communication apparatus connection information.

After the acquisition process is started, the mode control unit 231b of the washing machine 2b controls the communication unit 21b to operate in the workstation mode. The communication section 21b receives the broadcasted SSID from the refrigerator 2a, and notifies the connection information acquisition section 232b of the received SSID. Since the received SSID is included in the home appliance connection information in the connection information list, the connection control unit 2321b reads the authentication key of the initial value associated with the received SSID. The updating unit 234b acquires the current time from the clock 26b, and calculates the authentication key by performing an operation using the same algorithm as that of the refrigerator 2a using the current time for the authentication key that has been read out. The connection control unit 2321b instructs the communication unit 21b to perform wireless connection using the received SSID and the calculated authentication key. Communication unit 21b of washing machine 2b wirelessly connects to communication unit 21a of refrigerator 2a in accordance with the instruction from connection control unit 2321b (step S135). The communication unit 21b sets the MAC address of the washing machine 2b in a signal transmitted to the refrigerator 2a when the wireless connection is made.

The communication unit 21a of the refrigerator 2a receives a signal transmitted from the washing machine 2b for wireless connection, and outputs the received signal to the connection information providing unit 233 a. The detection part 2331a detects the connection of the new home appliance 2 by receiving a signal from the washing machine 2b (step S140). The screening section 2332a obtains the supplier code from the MAC address of the washing machine 2b set in the received signal. When the acquired vendor code is the permitted code stored in the storage unit 22a, the screening unit 2332a determines that the connection is permitted (step S145).

When the screening unit 2332a determines that the connection is permitted, the detection notification unit 2333a of the refrigerator 2a transmits a new home appliance notification from the communication unit 21a to the terminal device 3 in the workstation mode (step S150). The detection notification unit 2333a may also transmit a new home appliance notification to the management server 4. In the new home appliance notification, identification information of the refrigerator 2a is set as information of the sender. The identification information may be address information of the refrigerator 2a, or may be other information. Further, detection notification unit 2333a may receive information relating to washing machine 2b from washing machine 2b and set the received information in the new home appliance notification. The information related to the washing machine 2b is, for example, the type, product name, and identification information of a home appliance such as "washing machine".

The communication apparatus 1 broadcasts a new home appliance notification addressed to the terminal apparatus 3 received from the refrigerator 2a by using the wireless LAN. Alternatively, the communication device 1 outputs the new home appliance notification addressed to the management server 4 received from the refrigerator 2a to the external network. The management server 4 reads out, from the user information stored in advance, the address information of the terminal device 3 corresponding to the identification information of the refrigerator 2a set in the new home appliance notification. The address information of the terminal apparatus 3 may be address information used as an addressee address in the case of transmitting data to the terminal apparatus 3 via a home network, or may be address information used as an addressee address in the case of transmitting data to the terminal apparatus 3 by mobile communication. The management server 4 uses the read address information as the destination address, and transmits a new home appliance notification to the terminal apparatus 3.

The communication unit 31 of the terminal apparatus 3 receives the new home appliance notification and outputs the new home appliance notification to the control unit 32. The home appliance connection instructing unit 321 of the control unit 32 displays the connection permission inquiry screen on the display unit 33 (step S155). The connection permission inquiry screen includes information indicating that the new home appliance 2 is detected and a button for inputting whether or not to permit connection. The information displayed on the connection permission query screen may include information related to the washing machine 2 b. When the user inputs permission of connection through the input unit 34 in accordance with the display (step S160), the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 transmits a permission response from the communication unit 31 (step S165). The communication unit 21a of the refrigerator 2a receives the connection permission response via the communication device 1 or via the management server 4, and outputs the response to the connection information providing unit 233a (step S170). Upon receiving the connection permission response, connection information transmitting unit 2334a reads the communication device connection information of communication device 1 from storage unit 22a and transmits the read communication device connection information from communication unit 21a to washing machine 2b (step S175).

The communication unit 21b of the washing machine 2b receives the communication device connection information and outputs the same to the connection information acquiring unit 232b (step S180). The acquisition unit 2322b writes the received communication apparatus connection information into the connection information list stored in the storage unit 22 b. The connection control unit 2321b controls the communication unit 21b so as to end the wireless connection with the refrigerator 2a and wirelessly connect with the communication device 1 using the received communication device connection information. The communication unit 21b wirelessly connects to the communication device 1 in accordance with the instruction from the connection control unit 2321b (step S185).

After the washing machine 2b establishes wireless connection with the communication device 1, the connection completion notifying unit 2323b transmits a wireless connection completion notification from the communication unit 21b (step S190). The communication device 1 broadcasts the wireless connection completion notification received from the washing machine 2b by using the wireless LAN. The communication unit 31 of the terminal apparatus 3 outputs the received radio connection completion notification to the control unit 32. The home appliance connection instructing unit 321 of the control unit 32 displays the connection completion on the display unit 33.

Further, after step S155, when the user inputs connection non-permission using the input unit 34 of the terminal device 3, the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 transmits a connection non-permission response from the communication unit 31 in place of the connection permission response. Detection notifying unit 2333a of refrigerator 2a, upon receiving the connection non-permission response from terminal device 3, controls communication unit 21a so as to terminate the wireless connection with washing machine 2 b. Further, when the connection permission response is not received from the terminal device 3 within a predetermined time after the new home appliance notification is transmitted, the detection notification unit 2333a controls the communication unit 21a to terminate the wireless connection with the washing machine 2 b. Further, after notifying that the washing machine 2b is not permitted to connect, the detection notification unit 2333a may control the communication unit 21a so as to terminate the wireless connection with the washing machine 2 b. The acquiring unit 2322b of the washing machine 2b may output an alarm such as connection non-permission to the output unit 25b when the communication device connection information is not received and connection non-permission is received, or when the wireless connection with the refrigerator 2a is completed.

In addition, the connection information providing unit 233a of the refrigerator 2a may display a message indicating that the connection from the washing machine 2b is received and the process is underway, such as "washing machine is being connected" and information related to the washing machine 2b, on the output unit 25a between step S145 and step S170. Further, the connection information providing unit 233a of the refrigerator 2a may display a message indicating normal completion on the output unit 25a when the communication device connection information is transmitted to the washing machine 2b, and display a message indicating connection non-permission on the output unit 25a when the washing machine 2b is not permitted to be connected. Through these displays, the user can confirm that the washing machine 2b has been connected to the refrigerator 2a and whether the communication device connection information is successfully provided.

Note that, the detection notification unit 2333a of the refrigerator 2a may output a notification indicating that a new home appliance is detected by the output unit 25a in addition to the processing of step S150 or instead of the processing of step S150. The output unit 25a receives the control from the detection notification unit 2333a and outputs information to the effect that a new home appliance is detected. For example, the output unit 25a may display a message indicating that the new home appliance is detected on the display, may turn on a lamp indicating that the new home appliance is detected, or may output the detected new home appliance by voice. When receiving a notification from the operation unit 24a that the user has performed an operation to permit connection in response to the output indicating that the new home appliance is detected, the connection information transmitting unit 2334a of the refrigerator 2a performs the process of step S175. Further, when receiving a signal indicating that the user has performed an operation to prohibit connection from operation unit 24a, detection notification unit 2333a of refrigerator 2a performs the same processing as when receiving a response to prohibit connection from terminal device 3.

In addition, when it is determined by the screening process in step S145 that the connection of the washing machine 2b is not permitted, the refrigerator 2a may issue a notification to the terminal device 3 or may make a report from the output unit 25 a. For example, the detection notification unit 2333a notifies the terminal device 3 of information indicating that a new home appliance to which connection is not permitted has accessed, and displays the information, or reports the information via the output unit 25 a.

As described above, the management server 4 stores the user information in which the user who uses the service related to the home appliance 2 is registered. The user who has registered the user information is, for example, a user who remotely operates the home appliance 2, a user who receives information such as stock management of a refrigerator at a remote place, a user who receives information related to the use state of the home appliance 2 by a monitoring function, or the like. The home appliance system 10 may register the washing machine 2b connected to the home network in the user information stored in the management server 4. The registration process is performed as follows.

At the time of transmitting the communication device connection information in step S175, connection information transmitter 2334a of refrigerator 2a transmits information indicating the user ID associated with the identification information of refrigerator 2a and the address information of management server 4 to washing machine 2 b. The refrigerator 2a may acquire the user ID from the management server 4, or may read the user ID from the storage unit 22 a. When acquiring the user ID from the management server 4, the refrigerator 2a transmits a user ID query in which the identification information of the own device is set to the management server 4. The management server 4 specifies the user information using the identification information of the refrigerator 2a set in the user ID inquiry, and notifies the refrigerator 2a of the user ID set in the specified user information. The update unit 234b of the washing machine 2b receives the user ID and the address information of the management server 4 from the refrigerator 2 a. The updating unit 234b generates a registration request in which the received user ID and the identification information of the own device are set. The updating unit 234b uses the address information of the management server 4 as the address of the recipient and transmits the generated registration request. The communication device 1 outputs the registration request to the management server 4 received from the washing machine 2b to the external network. The management server 4 specifies the user information by using the user ID set in the registration request, and adds the identification information set in the washing machine 2b in the registration request to the specified user information.

Alternatively, the updating unit 234a of the refrigerator 2a uses the address information of the management server 4 as the address of the recipient, and transmits the registration request in which the identification information of the washing machine 2b is set. The updating unit 234a sets address information of the refrigerator 2a to the sender of the registration request. The updating unit 234a may further set the user ID in the registration request. Alternatively, the terminal device 3 may read the identification information set in the washing machine 2b notified of the completion of the wireless connection to generate a registration request, and transmit the registration request to the management server 4. The terminal apparatus 3 sets address information of the terminal apparatus 3 to a sender of the registration request. The management server 4 specifies the user information using the address information or the user ID set in the refrigerator 2a or the terminal device 3 requested to be registered, and adds the identification information set in the washing machine 2b requested to be registered to the specified user information.

Further, the user ID of the purchaser may be registered in the washing machine 2b by a salesperson who sells the washing machine 2b or a worker who performs an installation work of the washing machine 2 b. In this case, the refrigerator 2a may receive information of the user ID from the washing machine 2b, and may transmit or report a notification to inquire about whether or not to connect only when the user ID is the same as the user ID associated with the own device.

When the security operation (1) is not performed, the authentication key of each home appliance 2 is a fixed value. In this case, the updating unit 234 of the home appliance 2 does not perform the update process of the authentication key. If the safety operation (3) is not performed, the refrigerator 2a does not perform the process of step S145.

In addition, the refrigerator 2a may always or periodically perform the AP mode without performing the safety action (2). In this case, the mode control part 231a of the refrigerator 2a controls to always or periodically perform the AP mode waiting for connection from the new electric home appliance 2 in a state before the washing machine 2b is set (i.e., before the washing machine 2b acquires the communication device connection information). Then, the refrigerator 2a continues to always or periodically execute the AP mode even after the communication device connection information is transmitted to the washing machine 2b, and waits for a new second home appliance. The mode control unit 231b of the washing machine 2b may perform control so as to always or periodically execute the AP mode after establishing wireless connection with the communication device 1. Thereby, the washing machine 2b waits for a connection from the new home appliance 2 in addition to the refrigerator 2a and operates as the first home appliance. Alternatively, when washing machine 2b starts the operation in the AP mode, refrigerator 2a may end the AP mode. For example, after the washing machine 2b establishes wireless connection with the communication device 1, the mode control unit 231a of the refrigerator 2a receives a wireless connection completion notification from the communication device 1 or the washing machine 2b, or from the terminal device 3 that received the wireless connection completion notification, and stops the AP mode. The mode control unit 231a of the refrigerator 2a may stop the AP mode when the broadcasted SSID of the washing machine 2b is received from the washing machine 2b that started the AP mode.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a change in the screen displayed on the terminal device 3. Upon receiving the notification of the new home appliance, the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 displays the connection permission inquiry screen 400 on the display unit 33. The connection permission query screen 400 has: a message display area 401, a connection allowed button 402, and a connection not allowed button 403. In the message display area 401, a message including information to the effect that the new home appliance 2 is detected and an inquiry as to whether or not to permit connection is displayed. When information on the washing machine 2b is set in the new home appliance notification, the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 may display the information in the message display area 401. For example, the home appliance connection indicator 321 displays "washing machine found". ". If the user touches the connection permission button 402, the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 of the terminal apparatus 3 transmits a connection permission response from the communication unit 31. If the user touches the connection disallowance button 403, the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 transmits a connection disallowance response from the communication unit 31.

When the user touches the connection permission button 402, the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 displays the connection completion screen 410 on the display unit 33 if the terminal apparatus 3 receives the wireless connection completion notification. The connection completion screen 410 includes: a message display area 411 and a confirmation button 412. In the message display area 411, a message to the effect that the connection is completed is displayed. If the user touches the ok button 412, the home appliance connection instructing unit 321 ends the display of the connection completion screen 410.

The 1 st home device 2 may not have the connection information acquiring unit 232 and may not store the inter-connection home device information. The home appliance 2 that does not provide the communication device connection information may not include the connection information providing unit 233. The home appliance 2 not providing the communication device connection information may operate in the workstation mode, or may not include the mode control unit 231 when not operating in the AP mode.

Next, the extension of the interconnection group will be explained. Here, the home appliance 2 of the home appliance manufacturer a is referred to as a home appliance (a), and the home appliance 2 of the home appliance manufacturer B is referred to as a home appliance (B). The first home appliance is a refrigerator 2a of a home appliance manufacturer a, and the second home appliance is a washing machine 2B of a home appliance manufacturer B. When the connection between the home appliances 2 is limited to the same home appliance manufacturer, the storage unit 22a of the refrigerator 2a stores a permission code indicating the home appliance manufacturer a.

After the refrigerator 2a is connected to the home network, the home appliance (a) of the home appliance manufacturer a and the home appliance (B) of the home appliance manufacturer B can be connected to each other. The management server 4 transmits a permission code indicating the home appliance manufacturer B to the refrigerator 2 a. The updating unit 234a of the refrigerator 2a adds the received permission code to the storage unit 22 a. In the storage unit 22B of the washing machine 2B, the connection information list, the permission code indicating the home appliance manufacturer a, and the permission code indicating the home appliance manufacturer B are written at the time of shipment. The home appliance connection information of each home appliance (a) including the refrigerator 2a and the home appliance connection information of each home appliance (B) are set in the inter-connection home appliance information written in the connection information list of the storage unit 22B.

As described above, by updating the permission code stored in the refrigerator 2a, the refrigerator 2a can determine that the connection is permitted in step S145 when receiving the wireless connection from the washing machine 2b in step S135 in fig. 6. Therefore, even when the number of home appliance manufacturers who can connect the home appliances 2 to each other increases, the communication device connection information can be provided from the home appliance 2 installed before the connection can be made to the home appliance 2 of the home appliance manufacturer who can connect the home appliances 2 to each other after the connection is made. Further, the home appliance 2 of the home appliance manufacturer that can be connected to each other is made common to the update algorithm of the authentication key.

The communication device connection information may be added to the interconnected home appliance information stored in the home appliance 2 after shipment of the home appliance 2. For example, the management server 4 may automatically add the information by transmitting the communication device connection information added to the information of the interconnected home appliances to the home appliances 2. The management server 4 may acquire the additional communication device connection information from a connection information providing server connected via an external network. The updating unit 234 of the home appliance 2 adds the communication device connection information received from the management server 4 to the inter-connected home appliance information in the connection information list stored in the storage unit 22. The communication device connection information added to the home electric device 2 may be communication device connection information of another home electric device 2 of the same home electric device manufacturer as the home electric device 2, or communication device connection information of home electric devices 2 of other home electric device manufacturers that can be connected to each other. In the above example in which the home appliance (a) of the home appliance manufacturer a and the home appliance (B) of the home appliance manufacturer B can be connected to each other after the refrigerator 2a is connected to the home network, the management server 4 transmits home appliance connection information of the home appliance (B) to the refrigerator 2 a. The updating unit 234a of the refrigerator 2a adds the received home appliance connection information of the home appliance (B) to the interconnected home appliance information in the connection information list stored in the storage unit 22 a. Thus, when operating in the workstation mode, the refrigerator 2a can be connected to the home appliance (B) operating in the AP mode. In this way, if the management server 4 automatically adds the information, it is convenient for the user.

Alternatively, the update unit 234 of the home appliance 2 may acquire the communication device connection information added to the interconnected home appliance information without accessing the connection information providing server via the management server 4 in accordance with the user operation performed by the operation unit 24. In this case, the updating unit 234 may transmit the communication device connection information acquired from the connection information providing server to the management server 4 to inquire the authenticity. When receiving the information indicating the authenticity from the management server 4 in response to the inquiry, the updating unit 234 adds the communication device connection information acquired from the connection information providing server to the inter-connected home appliance information in the connection information list stored in the storage unit 22. In this way, it is preferable to add the communication device connection information acquired without passing through the management server 4 only when the authenticity is confirmed, from the viewpoint of ensuring security.

In addition, the general interconnected home appliance information may be set in advance for the home appliances 2 conforming to the protocols entered by the plurality of manufacturers. The interconnection home appliance information common to all types of home appliances 2 (refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) of manufacturers conforming to the protocol may be set, or the interconnection home appliance information common to the same type of home appliances 2 of the manufacturers conforming to the protocol may be set. In this case, it is particularly difficult to secretly manage the interconnection home device information (SSID and authentication key). Therefore, the authentication key can be changed by a predetermined algorithm based on the current time or the like.

For example, the connection between the home appliances 2 is limited to the same home appliance manufacturer B, and thereafter, the home appliance (a) of the home appliance manufacturer a and the home appliance (B) of the home appliance manufacturer B can be connected to each other. Before the mutual connection is possible, the washing machine 2B of the home appliance manufacturer B is shipped, and after the mutual connection is possible, the refrigerator 2a of the home appliance manufacturer a is shipped. The washing machine 2B has the interconnected home appliance information including the home appliance connection information of the home appliance (B) and the permission code indicating the home appliance manufacturer B written therein. In the refrigerator 2a, the inter-connection home appliance information including the home appliance connection information of the home appliance (a) and the home appliance connection information of the home appliance (B), and the permission code indicating the home appliance manufacturer a and the permission code indicating the home appliance manufacturer B are written. When the user purchases the washing machine 2b as the second home appliance after connecting the refrigerator 2a to the communication device 1 as the first home appliance, the washing machine 2b is connected to the refrigerator 2a by any one of the following methods, and the washing machine 2b acquires communication device connection information from the refrigerator 2 a.

The method 1 is a method of using home appliance connection information of a common rule for a home appliance (a) of a home appliance manufacturer a and a home appliance (B) of a home appliance manufacturer B. For example, home appliance connection information used as home connection information by the home appliance (B) is used as the home connection information for the home appliance (a). The interconnected home appliance information set in the home appliance (B) may be set in the interconnected home appliance information of the home appliance (a). Further, there is a possibility that another home appliance 2, which uses the same home appliance connection information as the refrigerator 2a as the self connection information, is connected to the communication device 1. Therefore, only the refrigerator 2a is operated in the AP mode, and the other home appliance 2 is not operated in the AP mode. Thus, the washing machine 2b can detect only the refrigerator 2a as an AP and connect as a client.

The 2 nd method is a method in which the refrigerator 2a uses the home appliance connection information of the home appliance (B) as the self connection information. The home appliance connection information of the home appliance (B) is set in the interconnected home appliance information of the washing machine 2B, but the home appliance connection information of the home appliance (a) is not set. Therefore, when the refrigerator 2a operates in the AP mode, the home appliance connection information of the home appliance (B) is used as the self connection information, and the refrigerator operates as if the home appliance (B) is in the AP mode. Specifically, the management server 4 transmits the home appliance connection information of any one of the home appliances (B) of the home appliance manufacturer B to the home appliance (a) of the home appliance manufacturer a as the second self connection information. The second self-connection information is included in the interconnected home appliance information stored in the washing machine 2 b. When operating in the AP mode, the mode control unit 231a of the refrigerator 2a controls the communication unit 21a to use the second self-connection information received from the management server 4 instead of the self-connection information. The mode control unit 231a of the refrigerator 2a may perform control so as to use the self-connection information when the AP mode is started. When the wireless connection from the other home electric appliance 2 does not reach the predetermined time or longer, the mode control unit 231a of the refrigerator 2a controls to use the second self-connection information or controls to use the second self-connection information by periodically switching when the user inputs an instruction using the operation unit 24 a. After the connection information transmitting unit 2334a transmits the communication device connection information to the washing machine 2b, the mode control unit 231a of the refrigerator 2a uses the self-connection information when operating in the AP mode.

The 3 rd method is a method in which the washing machine 2b as the second home appliance operates in the AP mode. Fig. 8 is a sequence diagram showing the operation of the home appliance system 10 when the second home appliance operates in the AP mode. In fig. 8, the same processes as those in the timing chart shown in fig. 6 are given the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

In the connection information list written in the storage unit 22a of the refrigerator 2a at the time of shipment, the interconnected home appliance information including the home appliance connection information of the washing machine 2b is set (step S205). The refrigerator 2a is connected to the communication device 1 (step S105), and communication device connection information is held (step S110). The terminal apparatus 3 is also connected to the communication apparatus 1 (step S115).

After the user sets the purchased washing machine 2b in the user' S home, the power of the washing machine 2b is turned on (step S130). Further, the user inputs the start AP mode using the operation unit 24b of the washing machine 2 b. The mode control unit 231b of the washing machine 2b controls the communication unit 21b to operate in the AP mode (step S210). The communication unit 21b broadcasts the SSID of the own device set in the connection information list at predetermined intervals. On the other hand, the update unit 234b of the washing machine 2b reads out the authentication key of the initial value of the washing machine 2b from the connection information list. The updating unit 234b periodically updates the read authentication key.

The communication part 21a of the refrigerator 2a receives the broadcasted SSID from the washing machine 2b and notifies the connection information providing part 233a of the received SSID. Since the received SSID is included in the home appliance connection information in the connection information list, the detection unit 2331a detects the connection of the new home appliance 2 (step S215). The detection unit 2331a reads out the authentication key of the initial value associated with the received SSID. The updating unit 234a calculates the authentication key by performing an operation using the same algorithm as that of the washing machine 2b on the authentication key of the read initial value. The detection unit 2331a instructs the communication unit 21a to perform wireless connection using the received SSID and the calculated authentication key. Communication unit 21a of refrigerator 2a wirelessly connects to communication unit 21b of washing machine 2b in accordance with the instruction from detection unit 2331a (step S220).

The processes of the home appliance system 10 from step S145 to step S190 are the same as those of fig. 6. After the process of step S180, the mode control unit 231b of the washing machine 2b controls the communication unit 21b to operate in the workstation mode (step S225).

The home appliance system 10 may perform the processing of fig. 8 regardless of whether the interconnection group is changed. In addition, if the washing machine 2b is operated in the AP mode by the processing of step S210 in fig. 8, wireless connections may be received from the plurality of home appliances 2 connected to the communication device 1. In this case, the washing machine 2b selects 1 home electric appliance 2 such as the sender of the wireless connection request received earliest and performs wireless connection.

The home appliance system 10 may not have the terminal device 3. In this case, the refrigerator 2a performs the process of step S175 without performing the processes of steps S150 to S170. The washing machine 2b does not perform the process of step S190.

The home appliance system 10 may not have the management server 4. In this case, the update of the permission code stored in the home appliance 2 is not performed. Further, the communication device 1 may perform only data transmission in the home network without being connected to the external network.

When the home appliance 2 does not perform the screening of the safety operation (3), the screening unit 2332 is not provided. When the screening is not performed, even when the number of the home appliances 2 that can be connected to each other is increased, it is not necessary to instruct the addition of the permission code from the management server 4 to the home appliances 2.

In the above embodiment, the following is explained: when a new household appliance 2 of the 2 nd and subsequent household appliances 2 is installed at home in a state where the household appliance 2 is registered as being capable of performing remote communication with the management server 1 and the terminal device 3 via the home network and the external network, the connection process is started with the power-on of the 2 nd and subsequent household appliances 2 as a trigger. Not limited to this, the second home appliance, which is the second and subsequent home appliances 2, may start the connection process in response to the user's operation. Specifically, the user performs an operation of inputting the user's intention as to whether or not to use the communication function, using the operation unit 24 of the second home appliance. The connection control unit 2321 of the second home appliance starts the connection process when receiving a notification from the operation unit 24 that an operation using the communication function is input. Alternatively, the second home appliance may start the connection process when the power plug is inserted into the outlet and the second home appliance is supplied with power, instead of turning on the power, that is, turning on the power switch.

In the above embodiment, the following is explained: when the user does not permit connection to the new home appliance, the connection processing between the first home appliance and the second home appliance is terminated, and information for communication is not registered with respect to the newly detected second home appliance. In this case, even if the second home device to which the user is not permitted to connect is detected on the home network later, the user may not be confirmed whether to connect or not without performing the connection processing. For example, the detection notifying unit 2333 of the first home appliance stores the connection prohibition home appliance information in which the identification information of the second home appliance is set in the storage unit 22 when a connection prohibition response is received from the terminal device 3 for the new home appliance notification or when a signal indicating that the connection prohibition operation is performed is received from the operation unit 24. The first home appliance detection notification unit 2333 transmits the connection prohibition home appliance information to the home appliance 2 or the management server 4 connected to the home network. The home appliance 2 and the management server 4 store the connection prohibition home appliance information received from the first home appliance. After storing the connection prohibition home appliance information, the home appliance 2 including the first home appliance does not perform the connection processing when receiving a wireless connection from another home appliance 2 specified by the connection prohibition home appliance information. After storing the connection prohibition home appliance information, the management server 4 returns a connection prohibition response when the identification information of the home appliance 2 indicated by the connection prohibition home appliance information is set in the new home appliance notification received from the home appliance 2 operating as the first home appliance. In general, the home appliance 2 can use the functions of the home appliance itself such as refrigeration, washing, and air conditioning without using the communication function. By not performing the connection processing as described above, it is possible to avoid the user from feeling cumbersome by repeatedly confirming whether or not to perform communication connection to the user who does not intend to use the communication function, with respect to the specific home electric appliance 2. The start of the connection process for enabling the newly installed home appliance 2 to perform communication is particularly advantageous in the case of the power-on mode.

In the above embodiment, the following is explained: after the communication device connection information is registered in the home appliances 2 of the 2 nd and subsequent stations to enable a new connection to the home network and remote communication with the terminal device 3 and the management server 4 is also possible, the AP mode may be continued for both the home appliance 2 that has been newly connectable and the home appliance 2 that has been initially connected to the home network, or only the home appliance 2 that has been newly connectable may be in the AP mode and the home appliance 2 that has been initially connected may be in the AP mode. Not limited to this, the home device 2 that continues the AP mode may be determined by another method.

For example, only the home appliance 2 that is initially connected to the communication apparatus 1 or registered in the management server 4 among the plurality of home appliances 2 connected to the communication apparatus 1 installed in the home network may continue the AP mode. Alternatively, the user may select the home device 2 that continues the AP mode. In this case, the user instructs the home appliance 2 that continues the AP mode to continue the AP mode by using the operation unit 24. Instead of operating the home appliance 2, the user may transmit the identification information of the home appliance 2 that continues the AP mode to the management server 4 using the terminal device 3, and the management server 4 may transmit an instruction to continue the AP mode to the home appliance 2 that has received the identification information. The home appliance 2 that has performed the operation of instructing to continue the AP mode by the operation unit 24 or has received the instruction to continue the AP mode from the management server 4 continues the AP mode, and the other home appliance 2 does not continue the AP mode. The user may instruct the home appliance 2 that does not continue the AP mode to end the AP mode by using the operation unit 24. The management server 4 may transmit an instruction to end the AP mode to the home appliance 2 that does not continue the AP mode.

Still alternatively, the home device 2 that continues the AP mode may be selected based on the formed random number. For example, any one of the home appliances 2 connected to the home network or the management server 4 generates a random number, and selects a home appliance 2 that continues the AP mode among the home appliances 2 connected to the home network based on the generated random number. The home device 2 or the management server 4 transmits an instruction to continue the AP mode to the selected home device 2.

Further alternatively, by setting the priority order specific to each home electric appliance 2 in advance at the time of shipment, it is possible to uniquely identify the home electric appliance 2 which continues the AP mode. For example, each of the home appliances 2 connected to the home network via the communication device 1 transmits the information of the priority order of the own appliance stored in the storage unit 22 to the other home appliances 2. The mode control unit 231 of each home appliance 2 continues the AP mode when the priority order of the home appliance is highest, and ends the AP mode when the priority order of the home appliance is lower than that of any other home appliance 2. Further, priority information is received from each of the plurality of home appliances 2 connected to the same home network as the management server 4, and an instruction to continue the AP mode is transmitted to the home appliance 2 having the highest priority.

Although the wireless LAN is described as an example, the communication device 1 may communicate with the home appliance 2 and the terminal device 3 by using another wireless communication method such as bluetooth (registered trademark). In the case of using bluetooth (registered trademark), the communication apparatus connection information is the MAC address of the communication apparatus 1 and a general key for generating a connection key for encrypting communication with the communication apparatus 1. The MAC address of the communication device 1 is set in the beacon transmitted by the communication device 1. When the communication device 1 performs wired communication with the home appliance 2, the home appliance 2 may be connected to the communication device 1 by a cable or the like, or power line transmission communication may be used. For such wired communication, for example, a wired LAN is used. When an interface of a wired LAN is laid in advance in a building of a house, the communication device 1 and the home electric appliance 2 are connected to the interface by a LAN cable. In the case of wired communication, the communication apparatus connection information is identification information of the communication apparatus 1 (for example, address information of the communication apparatus 1), and a key for encrypting communication with the communication apparatus 1 or information for generating the key. The home device connection information includes identification information of the home device 2 (for example, address information of the home device 2), and a key for encrypting communication with the home device 2 or information for generating the key.

As described above, the second home appliance purchased by the user communicates with the first home appliance connected to the communication device such as the router, acquires the communication device connection information for the first home appliance to communicate with the communication device, and connects to the communication device using the acquired communication device connection information. Therefore, if the first home appliance is connected to the communication device, the second home appliance can be connected to the communication device even if the user does not input information for connecting to the communication device to the second home appliance purchased after the first home appliance.

The first home appliance and the second home appliance perform wireless communication with the communication device using the communication device connection information. Therefore, the user can save the time and effort for physically connecting the purchased home appliance to the wired network. In addition, a general communication module can be used as the communication unit of the first home appliance and the second home appliance by using wireless LAN, bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like for wireless communication.

In addition, the first home device can simultaneously communicate with the communication apparatus in the workstation mode and communicate with the second home device in the AP mode. The first home device always or periodically executes the AP mode to wait for connection from the second home device before setting the second home device and before turning on the power. Therefore, the first home appliance can receive a connection from the second home appliance while continuing to communicate with the communication device, and can provide the communication device connection information. Alternatively, when the second home appliance operates in the AP mode, the first home appliance installed in the user house can discover the second home appliance newly installed in the user house and provide the communication device connection information.

In addition, the second home appliance is preset with home appliance connection information for communicating with the first home appliance, for example, at the time of shipment or the like. Therefore, even if the user does not input information for connecting to the first home appliance to the second home appliance, the second home appliance can connect to the first home appliance and acquire information for connecting to the communication device.

The same second connection information is set in each of the home appliances conforming to the protocol. Therefore, for example, when a user newly purchases another home appliance of the same home appliance manufacturer as the purchased home appliance or a home appliance of a home appliance manufacturer that can be connected to each other, the newly purchased home appliance can be connected to the communication device without setting by the user.

When the second home appliance does not acquire the communication device connection information after the power is turned on, the second home appliance is connected to the first home appliance to acquire the communication device connection information. Therefore, after the user purchases the second home appliance, the second home appliance can acquire the communication device connection information by turning on the power supply at the first time.

The first home appliance notifies the user of the start of communication with the second home appliance to the terminal device, or displays the communication on the display of the first home appliance. Therefore, the user can know that the process for connecting the second home appliance to the communication device has started normally. Further, when the home appliances of other users in the vicinity attempt a connection process capable of communicating with the management server 4 or the terminal device 3 of the user, it is possible to know this. When the first home appliance receives a connection permission from the terminal device of the user or when the first home appliance is operated to permit the connection, the first home appliance transmits the communication device connection information to the second home appliance. Therefore, whether or not to connect the second home appliance to the communication device can be determined by the user's intention. In addition, when the home appliances of the other users in the vicinity are connected to the first home appliance, the user can connect the home appliances of the other users to the communication device of the user without connecting them.

In addition, the second home appliance, if obtaining the communication device connection information from the connected first home appliance, switches the connection target to the communication device using the communication device connection information. Therefore, the second home appliance can be connected to the communication device even if the user does not perform an operation. In addition, since the communication between the first home appliance and the second home appliance is not continued for more than a necessary time, the processing load of the first home appliance can be reduced.

In addition, the communication device has a function as a gateway. Therefore, the home appliance can be connected to an external network such as the internet.

According to at least one embodiment described above, the connection information transmitting unit and the connection information acquiring unit are provided, so that the labor and time required for a user to connect the home appliance to the communication device can be saved.

The home appliance 2 and the terminal device 3 have a cpu (central processing unit), a memory, an auxiliary storage device, and the like connected by a bus, and function as devices having the above-described functions by executing programs. Further, a part of each function of the home appliance 2 and the terminal device 3 may be implemented by hardware such as asic (application Specific Integrated circuit), pld (Programmable Logic device), fpga (field Programmable Gate array), or the like. The program for executing the above functions may be recorded in a computer-readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium is a removable medium such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM, a CD-ROM, or the like; a storage device such as a hard disk incorporated in a computer system. The program may also be transmitted through an electrical communication line.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are given as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims (16)

1. An electric home appliance system, comprising:

a first home appliance that stores first connection information for connecting with a communication device that relays communication, and communicates with the communication device using the first connection information; and

a second home appliance that acquires the first connection information from the first home appliance by communicating with the first home appliance, and communicates with the communication device using the acquired first connection information.

2. The appliance system of claim 1, wherein,

the first household appliance is a stationary household appliance.

3. The appliance system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the first home appliance acquires the first connection information from a terminal device of a user by communicating with the terminal device, and stores the acquired first connection information.

4. The home appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein,

the first connection information is information for communicating with the communication apparatus by wireless.

5. The appliance system of claim 4, wherein,

the first connection information is an SSID and an encryption key of the wireless LAN.

6. The home appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein,

the first home appliance is capable of executing a first mode in which communication with the communication device is performed using the first connection information and a second mode in which connection of the second home appliance to the first home appliance is accepted using second connection information different from the first connection information,

the second mode is always or periodically executed to wait for a connection from the second home device before setting up the second home device.

7. The household electrical appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the second home device is capable of executing a mode of accepting connection from the first home device to the second home device using second connection information different from the first connection information,

the mode is always or periodically executed to wait for a connection from the first home device before the second home device acquires the first connection information.

8. The household electrical appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

and the second household appliance stores second connection information used for communicating with the first household appliance before acquiring the first connection information.

9. The appliance system of claim 8, wherein,

the second connection information is common information set for a plurality of home appliances conforming to a predetermined protocol.

10. The household electrical appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 9,

the second home appliance determines whether the first connection information has been acquired after a power of the second home appliance is turned on, and communicates with the first home appliance to acquire the first connection information from the first home appliance if it is determined that the first connection information has not been acquired.

11. The home appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 10,

the first home appliance performs at least one of notification to a terminal device of a user and a predetermined report by a report unit of the first home appliance before receiving a connection from the second home appliance and transmitting the first connection information to the second home appliance.

12. The appliance system of claim 11, wherein,

the first home appliance transmits the first connection information to the second home appliance when receiving a signal indicating that connection is permitted from the terminal device in response to the notification or when receiving an operation of a user indicating that connection is permitted by an operation unit of the first home appliance.

13. The home appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 12,

the second home appliance stops communication with the first home appliance and communicates with the communication device using the acquired first connection information, when the first connection information is acquired from the first home appliance.

14. The home appliance system according to any one of claims 1 to 13,

the communication device relays communication between the first and second home appliances connected to the communication device and an external network.

15. An electric home appliance, comprising:

a storage unit that stores connection information for connecting to a communication device that relays communication;

a communication unit that communicates with the communication device using the connection information; and

and a connection information transmitting unit that transmits the connection information to another home appliance when the connection information is connected to the other home appliance.

16. An electric home appliance, comprising:

a connection information acquisition unit that acquires, from another home appliance, connection information for connecting to a communication device that relays communication, by communicating with the other home appliance; and

a communication unit that communicates with the communication device using the connection information.

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