CN112789450A

CN112789450A - Air purifier and network system

Info

Publication number: CN112789450A
Application number: CN201980063293.9A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 白石贤一
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2018-10-02
Filing date: 2019-09-25
Publication date: 2021-05-11
Also published as: JPWO2020071184A1; JP7370335B2; WO2020071184A1

Abstract

Provided is a network system (1), wherein the network system (1) is provided with an air purifier (200); a user terminal (300) capable of acquiring a current location; and a server (100) for increasing an output of the air purifier upon detecting that the user leaves a configured area of the air purifier based on data from the user terminal.

Description

Air purifier and network system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a technique for effectively utilizing a device having an air purification function.

Background

Various techniques have been proposed for air conditioners such as air cleaners. For example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 6-71125 (patent document 1) discloses an air cleaner. According to patent document 1, an air cleaner provided with a pollution degree sensor for detecting a pollution degree of indoor air and starting an air cleaning operation by an output thereof is provided with a human body sensor for detecting a human body and a control circuit for performing a detection operation of causing an air flow to the pollution degree sensor by a human body detection output by the human body sensor, and the detection operation is performed only when a human body having a high possibility of indoor air pollution is present indoors.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese unexamined patent publication No. 6-71125

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a technique for effectively utilizing a device having an air purifying function.

Means for solving the problems

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a network system including an air purifier; a user terminal capable of acquiring a current location; and a server for increasing an output of the air purifier when it is detected that the user is away from the configured area of the air purifier based on the data from the user terminal.

Advantageous effects

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a technique for effectively utilizing a device having an air purifying function.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration and operational overview of a network system 1 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 2 illustrates one aspect of the configuration of the server 100 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing user information data 121 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram showing device information data 122 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram showing terminal information data 123 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing information processing in the server 100 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 illustrates one aspect of the configuration of an air cleaner 200 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 illustrates an aspect of the configuration of the user terminal 300 according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a flowchart showing information processing in the server 100 according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration and operational overview of the network system 1 according to embodiment 4.

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.

< first embodiment >

< overview of overall Structure and operation of network System 1 >

First, the overall configuration of the network system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 (a). The network system 1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a server 100, an air cleaner 200 connectable to the server 100 via the internet, a router, and the like, and a user terminal 300 connectable to the server 100 via the internet, a router, and the like.

Further, the air cleaner 200 may have a function of cleaning air, and may be not only a device dedicated to air cleaning placed on a floor, but also an air cleaner having a humidifying function, an air conditioner having an air cleaning function, or the like. The user terminal 300 is not limited to a smartphone, and may be a tablet terminal, a wearable terminal, a game machine, a personal computer, a speaker, or the like as long as the user can carry and have a communication function.

Next, an outline of the operation of the network system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1(a) to (C). As shown in fig. 1(a), when a user is in a room of a house, an office, or the like in which the air purifier 200 is placed, the air purifier 200 performs a normal operation based on an operation command from the user. As shown in fig. 1(B), when the user goes out, the server 100 detects the user going out via the user terminal 300, and enhances the operation intensity of the air purifier 200. As shown in fig. 1(C), when the user goes home, the server 100 returns the air purifier 200 to normal operation. Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the network system 1 for realizing such a function will be described in detail.

< hardware configuration of Server 100 >

One aspect of the hardware configuration of the server 100 constituting the network system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 2. The server 100 includes a cpu (central Processing unit)110, a memory 120, an operation unit 140, and a communication interface 160 as main components.

CPU110 controls each unit of server 100 by executing a program stored in memory 120. For example, the CPU110 executes a program stored in the memory 120, and executes various processes described later by referring to various data.

The Memory 120 is implemented by various RAMs (Random Access memories), various ROMs (Read-Only memories), and the like, and may be a component built in the server 100, a component that can be attached to and detached from various interfaces of the server 100, or a recording medium of another device that can be accessed from the server 100. The memory 120 stores a program executed by the CPU110, data generated by the CPU110 executing the program, input data, user information data 121, device information data 122, terminal information data 123, a database used for another remote control service according to the present embodiment, and the like.

Referring to fig. 3, the user information data 121 according to the present embodiment includes, for each user registered in the service, correspondence relationships among user identification information, a user name, identification information of a group to which the user belongs, an address of the user, identification information of a user terminal 300 which the user has, information indicating whether the user is currently out of the office, a time when the user is out of the office, and the like. The group to which the user belongs may include family of the user, roommates of the user, and departments to which the user belongs.

Referring to fig. 4, the device information data 122 according to the present embodiment includes, for each air purifier 200 registered in the service, correspondence relationships between identification information of the air purifier 200, identification information of a user of the air purifier 200, a model name, a model number, and the like of the air purifier 200.

Referring to fig. 5, the terminal information data 123 according to the present embodiment includes, for each user terminal 300 registered in the service, a correspondence relationship between identification information of the user terminal 300, identification information of a user of the user terminal 300, current position information of the user terminal 300, and the like.

Returning to fig. 2, operation unit 140 receives a command from a service manager or the like, and inputs the command to CPU 110.

Communication interface 160 transmits data from CPU110 to other devices such as air purifier 200 and user terminal 300 via the internet, a carrier network, a router, and the like. Conversely, communication interface 160 receives data from other devices such as air purifier 200 and user terminal 300 via the internet, a carrier network, a router, and the like, and hands over to CPU 110.

< information processing in Server 100 >

Next, with reference to fig. 6, information processing in the server 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. The CPU110 of the server 100 executes the following processing when receiving data from the user terminal 300 via the communication interface 160.

The CPU110 acquires the identification information and current position information of the user terminal 300 from the received data (step S102). The current location information is obtainable by the user terminal 300 itself using a GPS (Global Positioning System) function, a WiFi (registered trademark) access point of a base station, and the like. In addition, other functions may be used as long as the method can estimate the position information of the terminal. CPU110 refers to user information data 121 and reads out the address of the user, that is, the location where air purifier 200 corresponding to the user is placed. The CPU110 determines whether the user, i.e., the user terminal 300, is going out, i.e., whether it is leaving from the own home, based on the address of the user and the current location information (step S104).

When the user is going out (yes in step S104), CPU110 records the time of the outgoing by turning on the flag indicating that the user is going out in user information data 121, specifies air purifier 200 corresponding to the user with reference to device information data 122, and transmits data for instructing to increase the intensity of the air cleaning operation to air purifier 200 via communication interface 160 (step S106). The CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via the communication interface 160.

When the user is at home (no in step S104), CPU110 refers to device information data 122 while turning off the flag indicating that the user is going out in user information data 121, specifies air purifier 200 corresponding to the user, and transmits data instructing a return to the normal air purification operation to air purifier 200 via communication interface 160 (step S108). The CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via the communication interface 160.

< hardware construction of air purifier 200 >

With reference to fig. 7, an aspect of the hardware configuration of the air cleaner 200 constituting the network system 1 will be described. The air purifier 200 according to the present embodiment includes, as main components, a CPU210, a memory 220, a display 230, an operation unit 240, a communication interface 260, a speaker 270, a microphone 280, and a device driver 290.

The CPU210 controls various parts of the air purifier 200 by executing a program stored in the memory 220 or an external storage medium.

The memory 220 is implemented by various RAMs, various ROMs, and the like. The memory 220 stores an adjustment program or other program executed by the CPU210, data generated by the CPU210 executing the program, data received from the server 100, data input via the operation unit 24, and the like.

The display 230 outputs characters, images, and the like based on a signal from the CPU 110. The operation unit 240 is implemented by a button, a touch panel, or the like, receives a command from a user, and inputs the command to the CPU 210. The display 230 and the operation unit 240 may constitute a touch panel 250.

The communication interface 260 is implemented by a communication module of an antenna, a connector, or the like. The communication interface 260 exchanges data with other devices through wired communication or wireless communication via a router or the like. In the present embodiment, the CPU210 receives various control commands from other devices such as the server 100 and the user terminal 300 or transmits various information to other devices such as the server 100 and the user terminal 300 via the communication interface 260.

The speaker 270 outputs sound based on a signal from the CPU 210. The microphone 280 creates a sound signal from sound from the outside and inputs it to the CPU 210.

The device driving section 290 controls various parts of the electric device (such as a motor, an actuator, a heater, and an infrared transmitting device for a remote controller) according to a signal from the CPU210, thereby sucking or discharging air, removing dust or bugs in the air using a filter, or releasing ions.

In the present embodiment, the CPU210 receives a command to start or end the normal air cleaning operation, a command to set an operation mode, or a command to set an operation intensity via the operation unit 240, and controls the device driving unit 290 based on the command. Alternatively, CPU210 receives a command to start or end the normal air cleaning operation, a command to set the operation mode, or a command to set the operation intensity from server 100 via communication interface 260, and controls device driving unit 290 based on the command.

< construction of user terminal 300 >

Next, one aspect of the configuration of the user terminal 300 constituting the network system 1 will be described with reference to fig. 8. The user terminal 300 according to the present embodiment includes, as main components, a CPU310, a memory 320, a display 330, an operation unit 340, a communication interface 360, a speaker 370, a microphone 380, a GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) antenna 390, and the like.

The CPU310 controls the respective parts of the user terminal 300 by executing the program stored in the memory 320.

The memory 320 is implemented by various RAMs or various ROMs and the like. The memory 320 stores programs executed by the CPU310 of various application programs and the like, data generated by the CPU310 executing the programs, data received from the server 100 or the air purifier 200, data input via the operation part 340, information for specifying the user of the user terminal 300, and the like.

Display 330 displays images or text based on data from CPU 310. For example, the CPU310 causes the display 330 to display a message based on text data from the server 100 via the communication interface 360. The operation unit 340 is configured by an instruction device, a switch, or the like, and inputs various commands from a user to the CPU 310. Further, the user terminal 300 may include a touch panel 350 including the display 330 and the operation unit 340.

The communication interface 360 transmits and receives data to and from other devices such as the server 100 and the air cleaner 200 via the internet, a carrier network, a router, and the like. For example, the CPU310 receives various data from the server 100 via the communication interface 360 or transmits various commands received from the user to other devices such as the server 100 or the air purifier 200 via the touch panel 350 according to the application program of the memory 320.

The speaker 370 outputs sound based on data from the CPU 310. For example, the CPU310 outputs sound data from the server 100 to the speaker 370 via the communication interface 360. The microphone 380 inputs the acquired sound signal to the CPU 310. For example, CPU310 transmits sound data acquired from microphone 380 to server 100 via communication interface 360.

GNSS antenna 390 receives signals from a plurality of satellites and hands over to CPU 310. In the present embodiment, the CPU310 periodically calculates the current position of the user terminal 300 based on signals from a plurality of satellites received by the GNSS antenna 390, and transmits the current position information to the server 100 via the communication interface 360.

Further, CPU310 may determine whether or not user terminal 300 is near air cleaner 200 or whether or not user terminal 300 is at the home of the user, using, for example, near field communication or an IC tag, without being limited to GNSS antenna 390. That is, the server 100 may determine whether the user is out or at home based on information other than the GNSS data related to the user terminal 300.

< second embodiment >

In the above-described embodiment, the air purifier 200 is controlled based on whether the user is currently out. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 9, confirmation is obtained to the user when the operation intensity of air cleaner 200 is automatically increased, or the user goes out and returns to the original normal air cleaning operation when a predetermined time has elapsed. More specifically, when CPU110 of server 100 receives data from user terminal 300 via communication interface 160, CPU110 of server 100 executes the following processing.

Referring to fig. 9, CPU110 acquires the identification information and current position information of user terminal 300 from the received data (step S102). CPU110 refers to user information data 121 and reads out the address of the user, that is, the location where air purifier 200 corresponding to the user is placed. CPU110 determines whether the user, i.e., user terminal 300, is out (step S104).

When the user is out (yes in step S104), CPU110 sets the flag in user information data 121 that the user is going out to be on, records the time of the out, and determines whether the out flag is switched from off to on this time (step S212). When the appearance flag is switched from OFF to ON this time (yes in step S212), CPU110 inquires of user terminal 300 via communication interface 160 whether or not the operation intensity of air cleaner 200 can be increased (step S214). Thus, CPU310 of user terminal 300 outputs an inquiry from server 100 from display 330 or speaker 370, and receives a response from the user via operation unit 240.

If the CPU110 receives the permission of the user (in the case of yes at step S216), it refers to the device information data 122, identifies the air purifier 200 corresponding to the user, and transmits data instructing to increase the intensity of the air cleaning operation to the air purifier 200 via the communication interface 160 (step S218). The CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via the communication interface 160.

When the user' S permission is not obtained (no in step S216), CPU110 specifies air purifier 200 corresponding to the user with reference to device information data 122, and transmits data instructing a return to the normal air cleaning operation to air purifier 200 via communication interface 160 (step S228). The CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via the communication interface 160.

If the outgoing flag is not switched from OFF to ON this time (no in step S212), CPU110 determines whether or not a predetermined time, for example, 2 hours has elapsed since the time of outgoing (step S222). When a predetermined time has elapsed since the time of going out (yes in step S222), CPU110 refers to device information data 122, identifies air purifier 200 corresponding to the user, and transmits data instructing a return to the normal air purification operation to air purifier 200 via communication interface 160 (step S228). The CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via the communication interface 160.

If a predetermined time has not elapsed from the time of going out (no in step S222), CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via communication interface 160.

When the user is at home (no in step S104), CPU110 turns off the flag in user information data 121 to which the user intends to go out, and determines whether or not the going-out flag has been switched off from this time (step S232). When the appearance flag is switched from on to off at this time (yes at step S232), CPU110 refers to device information data 122, identifies air purifier 200 corresponding to the user, and transmits data instructing a return to the normal air cleaning operation to this air purifier 200 via communication interface 160 (step S234). The CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via the communication interface 160.

If the out flag is not switched from on to off this time (no in step S232), CPU110 waits for data from the next user terminal 300 via communication interface 160.

< third embodiment >

The server 100 can determine whether the user has gone out or come home, and can execute processing at the time of going out or processing at the time of coming home according to the distance from the own home or office.

For example, when the user is away from his/her home or office by a first predetermined distance (e.g., 500m or more), the server 100 may execute the process in the case of yes at step S104 in fig. 9, that is, the process at the time of outgoing after step S212.

Further, when the user is away from the second predetermined distance, for example, 10km or more, and when the user returns from the own home, office, or the like to within a third predetermined distance, for example, 2km or the like, the server 100 may execute the process in the case of no at step S104 in fig. 9, that is, the process at the time of returning home after step S232. Further, when the user returns home without leaving the second predetermined distance, for example, 10km or more, and when the user returns from his/her home or office to within the first predetermined distance, for example, 500m or more, the server 100 may execute the process in the case of no at step S104 in fig. 9, that is, the process at the time of returning home after step S232.

In addition, the travel time from the home or office of the user can be used without being limited to the distance from the home or office. For example, the first predetermined distance may be replaced with a first predetermined time (e.g., 5 minutes), the second predetermined distance may be replaced with a second predetermined time (e.g., 1 hour), or the third predetermined distance may be replaced with a third predetermined time (e.g., 20 minutes).

< fourth embodiment >

Further, the air purifier 200 may also be controlled based on the current locations of a plurality of users (e.g., family members, etc.) using the air purifier 200. For example, as shown in fig. 10, the network system 1 according to the present embodiment can deal with a case where one person is out, but another person is at home, and the like.

In the present embodiment, since the life cycle, the movement pattern, the movement speed, and the like of each user are different, it is preferable that the first predetermined distance, the second predetermined distance, the third predetermined distance, and the like are set to different values for each user. Similarly, the first predetermined time, the second predetermined time, the third predetermined time, and the like are also preferably set to different values for each user.

In this case, if the exit flag is switched from off to on even if the user is a single person (yes in step S212 in fig. 9), CPU110 refers to user information data 121, determines all users in the same family as the user, and inquires via communication interface 160 whether or not user terminals 300 of all users in the family can increase the operation intensity of air purifier 200 (step S214). Then, if the CPU110 has obtained the permission of an arbitrary user (yes in step S216), it refers to the device information data 122, identifies the air purifier 200 corresponding to the user, and transmits data instructing to increase the intensity of the air cleaning operation to the air purifier 200 via the communication interface 160 (step S218). Note that, only when permission is obtained for all users (yes at step S216), the CPU110 may specify the air cleaner 200 corresponding to the user with reference to the device information data 122 and transmit data instructing to increase the intensity of the air cleaning operation to the air cleaner 200 via the communication interface 160 (step S218).

If the exit flag is switched from off to on even if the user is a single person (if yes at step S232), CPU110 specifies air purifier 200 corresponding to the user with reference to device information data 122, and transmits data instructing a return to the normal air purification operation to air purifier 200 via communication interface 160 (step S234).

In step S212, the CPU110 may refer to the user information data 121, and execute the processing from step S214 when the outgoing flag of all users of the same family as the user is on. More specifically, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the confirmation process (steps S214 and S216) may not be performed to the user.

< fifth embodiment >

A part or all of the functions of the respective devices of the network systems 1 according to the first to fourth embodiments may be performed by other devices. For example, other devices may play a part or all of the roles of the server 100, the air purifier 200, and the user terminal 300, or a plurality of devices may play a part or all of the roles of the server 100, the air purifier 200, and the user terminal 300, or any one of the server 100, the air purifier 200, and the user terminal 300 may play a part or all of the roles of any one of the server 100, the air purifier 200, and the user terminal 300.

For example, the air purifier 200 may determine whether the user is out of the home instead of the server 100. Specifically, CPU210 of air purifier 200 may also determine through bluetooth (registered trademark), WiFi (registered trademark) communication directly via communication interface 260, or WiFi (registered trademark) communication using a router via communication interface 260. When communication with the user terminal 300 is possible, the CPU210 may determine that the user is located in a predetermined area, that is, at home, and may determine that the user is not located in the predetermined area, that is, is going out, if the communication is interrupted.

< summary >

In the above-described embodiment, there is provided an air cleaner including a communication interface for communicating with communication terminals in a predetermined area, wherein the operation output is increased when all the communication terminals of a plurality of users registered in advance are recognized to have departed from the predetermined area via the communication interface.

Preferably, the air purifier returns to the output immediately before leaving the prescribed area in a case where one or more user terminals return to within the prescribed area. Further, the case where one or more user terminals return to the predetermined area includes (1) a case where one of the communication terminals of the plurality of users registered in advance (first, the communication terminal that returns to the predetermined area) returns to the predetermined area, (2) a case where all of the communication terminals of the plurality of users registered in advance return to the predetermined area, (3) a case where one or all of the communication terminals of the plurality of users registered in advance, which are set in advance, return to the predetermined area, and the like.

In the above embodiment, there is provided a network system including an air cleaner; a user terminal capable of acquiring a current location; and a server for increasing an output of the air purifier upon detecting that the user has moved away from the configured area of the air purifier based on the data from the user terminal.

Preferably, the server confirms whether the output of the air purifier can be increased through the user terminal when detecting that the user has gone out.

In the above embodiment, there is provided a network system including an air cleaner; a plurality of user terminals capable of acquiring a current location; and a server for increasing an output of the air purifier after confirming whether the output of the air purifier can be increased via the plurality of user terminals when it is detected that any one user leaves a configuration area of the air purifier based on data from any one of the plurality of user terminals.

In the above embodiment, there is provided a network system including an air cleaner; a plurality of user terminals capable of acquiring a current location; and a server for increasing an output of the air purifier when it is detected that all users belonging to the group are away from a configuration area of the air purifier based on data from the plurality of user terminals.

Preferably, the server returns the output of the air purifier to a location immediately before the user leaves the air purifier when a prescribed time has elapsed since the output of the air purifier was increased.

Preferably, the server increases the output of the air purifier when the user comes back within a prescribed distance from the air purifier.

Preferably, when the user comes back within the configured area of the air purifier, the server returns the output of the air purifier to just before the user leaves the configured area of the air purifier.

The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the scope of the claims rather than the description above, and is intended to include all modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the scope of the claims.

Description of the reference numerals

1 network system

100 server

110 CPU

120 memory

121 user information data

122 device information data

123 terminal information data

140 operating part

160 communication interface

200 air purifier

210 CPU

220 memory

230 display

240 operating part

250 touch panel

260 communication interface

270 speaker

280 microphone

290 device driving part

300 user terminal

310 CPU

320 memory

330 display

340 operating part

350 touch panel

360 communication interface

370 loudspeaker

380 microphone

390 GNSS antenna.

Claims

1. An air cleaner includes a communication interface for communicating with communication terminals in a predetermined area, and when all the communication terminals that recognize a plurality of users registered in advance have left the predetermined area via the communication interface, an operation output is increased.

2. The air purifier of claim 1, wherein in the event that more than one user terminal returns to within the prescribed area, returning to the output immediately prior to leaving the prescribed area.

3. A network system is characterized by comprising:

an air purifier;

a user terminal capable of acquiring a current position; and

a server for increasing an output of the air purifier upon detecting that a user has left a configured area of the air purifier based on data from the user terminal.

4. The network system according to claim 3, wherein the server confirms whether the output of the air purifier can be increased by the user terminal when it is detected that the user has gone out.

5. A network system is characterized by comprising:

an air purifier;

a plurality of user terminals capable of acquiring a current location; and

a server which, upon detecting that any one user leaves the configuration area of the air purifier based on data from any one of the plurality of user terminals, increases the output of the air purifier after confirming whether the output of the air purifier can be increased via the plurality of user terminals.

6. A network system is characterized by comprising:

an air purifier;

a plurality of user terminals capable of acquiring a current location; and

a server for increasing an output of the air purifier upon detecting, based on data from the plurality of user terminals, that all users belonging to a group have left the configured area of the air purifier.

7. The network system according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the server returns the output of the air purifier to a place just before the user leaves the configured area of the air purifier when a prescribed time elapses after the output of the air purifier is increased.

8. The network system of claim 7, wherein the server increases the output of the air purifier when the user returns within a specified distance from the air purifier.

9. The network system of claim 8, wherein when the user comes back within the configured area of the air purifier, the server returns the output of the air purifier to a point just before the user leaves the configured area of the air purifier.