CN113079710A - Connection management device, connection management system, and connection management method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to a connection management apparatus, a connection management system, and a connection management method. The connection management device of an embodiment includes an acquisition unit, a determination unit, and a display control unit. The acquisition unit acquires identification information of an electronic device included in a signal transmitted from the wirelessly connectable electronic device. The determination unit determines, based on the category information, a category of the electronic device and access information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquisition unit, the category information being information in which at least one of the identification information and the category of the electronic device is associated with access information indicating a method of connecting the electronic device to a network. The display control unit causes the display unit to display the type of the electronic device and the access information determined by the determination unit. According to the connection management device of the present embodiment, it is possible to assist a user in connecting an intelligent home appliance to a network.

Description

Connection management device, connection management system, and connection management method

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application claims priority from japanese patent application No. 2019-202608 and japanese patent application No. 2019-202664, filed on 11/7/2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present application relate to a connection management apparatus, a connection management system, and a connection management method.

Background

In recent years, home appliances (home appliances) having a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) function have become popular. Such home devices are called smart home devices. By connecting the smart home appliance to the internet, the user can confirm the state of the smart home appliance, for example, by using a smart phone while going out, or remotely operate the smart home appliance.

However, some users do not recognize that the purchased home devices are smart home devices. In addition, some users do not know how to connect the smart home to the internet even though they recognize that the purchased home device is a smart home.

[ Prior art documents ]

[ patent document ]

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2014-200692

Disclosure of Invention

[ technical problem to be solved by the invention ]

The invention aims to help a user to connect an intelligent household appliance with the Internet.

[ technical means for solving problems ]

According to an aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a connection management apparatus having an acquisition section, a determination section, and a display control section. The acquisition unit is configured to acquire identification information of an electronic device included in a signal transmitted from the wirelessly connectable electronic device. The determination section determines, from category information, a category of the electronic device and access information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquisition section, wherein the category information is information in which at least one of the identification information and the category of the electronic device is associated with access information indicating a method of connecting the electronic device to the internet. The display control unit displays the type of the electronic device and the access information determined by the determination unit on the display unit.

In another embodiment of the present application, the connection management apparatus further includes a detection unit configured to detect the signal transmitted from the electronic device, and the acquisition unit acquires identification information of the electronic device included in the signal from the detection unit.

In another embodiment of the present application, the acquisition unit acquires, from a communication relay apparatus, identification information of an electronic apparatus included in the signal detected by the communication relay apparatus.

In another embodiment of the present application, the acquisition unit acquires, from an external information processing apparatus, identification information of the electronic device included in the signal detected by the communication relay device.

In another embodiment of the present application, the acquisition unit acquires the category information from an external information processing device.

In another embodiment of the present application, the access information is a URL that enables downloading of an application program that enables setting of a network connection of the electronic device, and the display control unit causes the display unit to display the URL in a form that can be read by a terminal device that can be connected to a network.

In another embodiment of the present application, the display control unit displays, on the display unit, device detection information indicating that there is the electronic device connectable to the network when the acquisition unit acquires the identification information of the electronic device, and displays, on the display unit, the access information when an operation requesting display of details of the device detection information is input by an operator.

In another embodiment of the present application, the display control unit displays an input screen on which authentication information of the electronic device can be input, on the display unit, and when the authentication information of the electronic device is input, the display unit displays the access information.

In another embodiment of the present application, the display control unit displays the types and the identification information of the plurality of electronic devices on the display unit in order from the signal having the strongest radio wave intensity among the signals when the identification information of the plurality of electronic devices is acquired by the acquisition unit, and displays an input screen on the display unit, on which the authentication information of the selected electronic device can be input, when any one of the types and the identification information of the plurality of electronic devices is selected by the operator.

According to another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a connection management system having a server apparatus and a connection management apparatus. The server device has a receiving unit that receives identification information of an electronic device that can be wirelessly connected from the communication relay apparatus; the transmitting unit transmits the identification information of the electronic device to the connection management apparatus. The connection management apparatus has an acquisition unit that acquires identification information of the electronic device from the server apparatus, and a display control unit; the display control unit causes a display unit to display a type of an electronic device and access information indicating a method of connecting the electronic device to a network.

In another embodiment of the present application, the transmission unit of the server device further transmits, to the connection management device, category information in which at least one of the identification information and the category of the electronic device is associated with access information indicating a method of connecting the electronic device to a network, the connection management device further includes a determination unit that determines the category of the electronic device and the access information corresponding to the identification information based on the category information, and the display control unit of the connection management device causes the display unit to display the category of the electronic device and the access information determined by the determination unit.

According to still another aspect of embodiments of the present application, there is provided a connection management method having an acquisition step of acquiring identification information of an electronic apparatus included in a signal transmitted by the wirelessly connectable electronic apparatus; in the determining step, the category of the electronic device and the access information corresponding to the identification information acquired in the acquiring step are determined from category information that associates at least one of the identification information and the category of the electronic device with access information representing a method of connecting the electronic device to a network; in the display control step, the type of the electronic device and the access information determined in the determining step are displayed on a display unit.

According to still another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a connection management apparatus having a storage section that stores connection information relating to connection settings of a communication relay device, an acquisition section, and a transmission section; the acquisition unit acquires identification information of an electronic device included in a signal transmitted from the wirelessly connectable electronic device; the transmission unit transmits the connection information to the electronic device that is a transmission source of the signal.

In another embodiment of the present application, the transmission unit further transmits identification information of the connection management apparatus to the electronic device, and the connection management apparatus further includes a reception unit that receives a notification including information about the electronic device from the communication relay apparatus, and a display control unit; the display control unit causes a display unit to display information related to the electronic device included in the notification when the notification received by the receiving unit includes identification information of the connection management apparatus.

In another embodiment of the present application, the electronic device further includes a detection unit configured to detect the signal transmitted by the electronic device, and the acquisition unit acquires identification information of the electronic device included in the signal from the detection unit.

In another embodiment of the present application, the acquisition unit acquires, from the communication relay apparatus, identification information of the electronic apparatus included in the signal detected by the communication relay apparatus.

In another embodiment of the present application, the acquisition unit acquires, from an external information processing apparatus, identification information of the electronic device included in the signal detected by the external information processing apparatus.

In another embodiment of the present application, the display control unit displays an input screen on which authentication information of the electronic device can be input, on the display unit, and the transmission unit transmits the connection information to the electronic device when the authentication information of the electronic device is input.

In another embodiment of the present application, when the acquisition unit acquires identification information of a plurality of electronic devices, the display control unit displays the types and identification information of the plurality of electronic devices on the display unit in order from a signal having a strongest radio wave intensity among the signals, and displays an input screen on the display unit, on which authentication information of the electronic device selected by an operator among the types and identification information of the plurality of electronic devices can be input.

According to still another aspect of an embodiment of the present application, there is provided a connection management system having a server apparatus and a connection management apparatus. The server device includes a receiving unit that receives, from the communication relay apparatus, information indicating a signal transmitted by the wirelessly connectable electronic device detected by the communication relay apparatus; the transmission unit transmits the identification information of the electronic device included in the signal to the connection management apparatus. The connection management apparatus has an acquisition unit that acquires identification information of the electronic device from the server apparatus, a storage unit, and a transmission unit; the storage unit stores connection information for connecting to the communication relay apparatus; the transmitting unit transmits the connection information to the electronic device.

In another embodiment of the present application, the connection management system further includes a communication relay device for adjusting communication with the connection management device. The transmitting unit of the connection management apparatus further transmits identification information of the connection management apparatus to the electronic device, and the communication relay device receives the identification information of the electronic device and the identification information of the connection management apparatus from the electronic device, associates the received information on the electronic device with the identification information of the electronic device and the identification information of the connection management apparatus, and distributes the information as a notification. The connection management apparatus further has a receiving section that receives the notification from the communication relay device, and a display control section; the display control unit causes a display unit to display information related to the electronic device included in the notification when the notification received by the receiving unit includes identification information of the connection management apparatus.

According to still another aspect of embodiments of the present application, there is provided a connection management method that causes a computer to execute an acquisition step of acquiring identification information of an electronic apparatus included in a signal transmitted by the electronic apparatus that is wirelessly connectable, and a transmission step of transmitting the identification information; in the transmitting step, the connection information relating to the connection setting of the communication relay apparatus is transmitted to the electronic apparatus which is the transmission source of the signal.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a house in which a television device according to the first embodiment is installed.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a hardware configuration of the television device according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television device according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of category information according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the acquired SSID according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for identifying the type of the home appliance and the access information according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode of the device detection information according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode of a two-dimensional code according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of display target information according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a process flow of connection management of the home appliance according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a display flow of the two-dimensional code according to modification 1.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television device according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an image of a flow of connection management processing of a home appliance according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a house in which the television device according to the third embodiment is installed.

Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television device according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television device according to the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance according to the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a house in which the television device according to the fifth embodiment is installed.

Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the server device according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 22 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television device according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 23 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of a home appliance according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 24 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of a home appliance according to the sixth embodiment.

[ notation ] to show

1: a user; 10. 10a, 10 b: a television device; 11. 1101: an acquisition unit; 12. 1012: a determination section; 13. 1013: a display control unit; 14: a receiving section; 15. 1015: a storage unit; 16. 1016: a transmission unit; 17: a receiving section; 20: a home appliance device; 20 a: a washing machine; 20 b: a refrigerator; 20 c: an air conditioner; 30: a wireless LAN router; 40: a smart phone; 50: a server device; 51: a receiving section; 52: a transmission unit; 55: a storage unit; 90: device detection information; 91: determining a button; 92. 92a to 92 c: two-dimensional codes; 110: a display panel; 113: a wireless communication device; 116: a storage device; 119: a remote controller; 151. 1151: category information; 152: displaying the object information; 153: connection information; 1101: selecting a picture; 1102: inputting a picture; n: a network; s1, S2, S3, S5: and (5) connecting a management system.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment)

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a house H in which a television apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment is installed. In the present embodiment, a case where the television apparatus 10 is used in a house of a general household will be described as an example. Further, the house H is not limited to a single building, but may be a single dwelling in a collective dwelling.

As shown in fig. 1, in a house H, for example, a television device 10, a washing machine 20a, a refrigerator 20b, an air conditioner (air conditioner) 20c, and a wireless LAN router 30 are provided.

The washing machine 20a, the refrigerator 20b, and the air conditioner 20c are intelligent home appliances having a wireless communication function. Hereinafter, the washing machine 20a, the refrigerator 20b, and the air conditioner 20c will be collectively referred to as "home appliances 20". The home appliance 20 is an example of the electronic device according to the present embodiment. Further, the electronic device may also include a wireless LAN router 30.

The wireless LAN router 30 is capable of wirelessly connecting the television apparatus 10 and the home electric appliance 20, and relaying communication connection between the television apparatus 10 and the home electric appliance 20 and the network N. The wireless LAN router 30 is an example of a communication relay apparatus in the present embodiment. The standard for the wireless LAN is not particularly limited, and is based on, for example, Wi-Fi (registered trademark) standard.

Further, the wireless LAN router 30 may also have the function of a wired LAN router. The wireless LAN router 30 may also be used as a modem or an optical line termination device, or a modem or an optical line termination device may be provided separately from the wireless LAN router 30.

The network N is, for example, the Internet (Internet).

The home appliance 20 is connected to the wireless LAN router 30 through the wireless LAN, and is thereby connected to the network N through the wireless LAN router 30.

The home appliance 20 functions as an access point of the wireless LAN in a state where it is not wirelessly connected to the wireless LAN router 30. More specifically, the home appliance 20 transmits a signal including an SSID (Service Set Identifier) of the home appliance 20 by wireless communication in a state where the home appliance is not wirelessly connected to the wireless LAN router 30. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, washing machine 20a transmits the SSID "yyyzzz _ bb _ xxxx" of washing machine 20 a. The SSID is an example of identification information of the home appliance 20 in the present embodiment.

In addition, since the home appliance 20 operates as a Client (Client) of the wireless LAN in a state of being wirelessly connected to the wireless LAN router 30, the SSID is not transmitted to the surroundings.

The television apparatus 10 displays various image contents distributed via broadcast waves or the internet, for example. The television apparatus 10 is an example of the connection management apparatus in the present embodiment.

The connection management system S1 in the present embodiment includes the television device 10 and the wireless LAN router 30. In addition, the connection management system S1 may further include the home device 20.

The number of wireless LAN routers 30 and home electric appliances 20 installed in house H and the type of home electric appliances 20 are not limited to the example shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the television apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 2, the television apparatus 10 includes, for example: an antenna 101, an input terminal 102a, input terminals 102b and 102c, a tuner 103, a demodulator 104, a demultiplexer 105, an a/D (analog signal/digital signal) converter 106, a selector 107, a signal Processing Unit 108, a speaker 109, a display panel 110, an operation Unit 111, a light receiving Unit 112, a wireless communication device 113, a CPU (Central Processing Unit)114, a memory 115, and a storage device 116.

The antenna 101 receives a broadcast signal of digital broadcasting and supplies the received broadcast signal to the tuner 103 through the input terminal 102 a. The tuner 103 extracts a broadcast signal of a desired channel from the broadcast signals supplied from the antenna 101, and supplies the extracted broadcast signal to the demodulator 104. The broadcast signal is also called a broadcast wave.

The demodulator 104 demodulates the broadcast signal supplied from the tuner 103, and supplies the demodulated signal to the demultiplexer 105. The demultiplexer 105 separates the broadcast signal supplied from the demodulator 104 and generates an image signal and an audio signal, and supplies the generated image signal and audio signal to the selector 107.

The selector 107 is configured to select one signal from the plurality of signals supplied from the demultiplexer 105, the a/D converter 106, and the input terminal 102c, and supply the selected one signal to the signal processing unit 108.

The signal processing unit 108 is configured to perform predetermined signal processing on the image signal supplied from the selector 107 and supply the processed image signal to the display panel 110. The signal processing unit 108 is configured to perform predetermined signal processing on the audio signal supplied from the selector 107 and supply the processed audio signal to the speaker 109.

The speaker 109 is configured to output audio or various sounds based on the audio signal supplied from the signal processing unit 108. In addition, the speaker 109 changes the volume of the output audio or various sounds according to the control of the CPU 114.

The display panel 110 is configured to display an image such as a still picture or a video based on an image signal supplied from the signal processing unit 108 or control of the CPU 114. The display panel 110 is an example of a display unit.

The input terminal 102b receives analog signals (image signals and audio signals) input from the outside. The input terminal 102c receives digital signals (image signals and audio signals) input from the outside. The a/D converter 106 a/D-converts the analog signal supplied from the input terminal 102b to generate a digital signal and supplies the digital signal to the selector 107.

The operation unit 111 receives an operation input from a user (operator). In addition, the light receiving section 112 receives infrared rays from the remote control 119.

The wireless communication device 113 wirelessly communicates with the wireless LAN router 30. The wireless communication device 113 is, for example, a wireless LAN module.

In addition, the wireless communication device 113 detects a signal including an SSID emitted from an access point of a surrounding wireless LAN. For example, the wireless communication device 113 detects a signal transmitted from the home electric appliances 20 around the television apparatus 10. Wireless communication device 113 transmits the SSID of home appliance 20 included in the detected signal to CPU 114. The wireless communication device 113 is an example of the detection unit in the present embodiment.

The television apparatus 10 may further include a cable interface for wired connection. In addition, when the wireless LAN router 30 has the function of a wired LAN router, the television apparatus 10 may be connected to the wireless LAN router 30 by a wire. In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 10 may be connected to a router other than the wireless LAN router 30, a modem, or an optical line terminal apparatus.

The CPU114 is a control unit that controls the entire television apparatus 10.

The Memory 115 is a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores various computer programs executed by the CPU114, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that provides a work area for the CPU114, or the like.

The storage device 116 is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive) or the like. The storage device 116 stores the signal selected by the selector 117 as video data, for example. In addition, the memory 115 and the storage device 116 store various information for the CPU114 to execute processing.

The hardware configuration of the television apparatus 10 shown in fig. 2 is an example, and is not limited thereto.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment. As shown in fig. 3, the television device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a determination unit 12, a display control unit 13, a reception unit 14, and a storage unit 15.

The storage unit 15 stores category information 151 and display object information 152. The storage unit 15 is, for example, a storage device 116 or a memory 115.

Fig. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of the category information 151 according to the first embodiment. The category information 151 associates the SSID of the home device 20, the category of the home device 20, and access information indicating a method of connecting the home device 20 to a network.

More specifically, as shown in fig. 4, the category information 151 of the present embodiment is stored in association with the category of the home appliance 20, information that can specify the SSID of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the category of the home appliance 20, and a two-dimensional code.

The home appliance 20 is classified into, for example, "refrigerator", "washing machine", "air conditioner", and the like. The category of the home device 20 may also be information indicating a service provided by the home device 20 or a function provided by the home device 20.

For example, when one home appliance 20 has a plurality of functions, information indicating the plurality of functions may be recorded. The type of the home appliance 20, the service provided by the home appliance 20, or the function provided by the home appliance 20 is not limited to a character string such as "refrigerator". For example, the information indicating the category of the home appliance 20, the service provided by the home appliance 20, or the function provided by the home appliance 20 may be an icon or image information displaying "refrigerator" or "air conditioner". Further, both the character string and the icon or the image information may be recorded in the category information 151. Further, the icon or the image information may be recorded in the storage unit 15 separately from the category information 151.

In the example shown in fig. 4, the home appliance 20 corresponding to "bb is located 8 to 9 th from the left side" in the SSID is "washing machine". The SSID "yyyzzz _ bb _ xxxx" of the washing machine 20a illustrated in FIG. 1 meets this condition.

The SSID conditions shown in fig. 4 are examples, and the method for defining the SSID corresponding to the category of each home appliance 20 is not limited to this. The SSID (for example, "yyyzzz _ bb _ xxxx") of each home appliance 20 may be directly recorded in the category information 151. The category information 151 is information that associates the SSID of the home appliance 20 with the category of the home appliance 20, and the access information may be stored in association with the SSID of the home appliance 20.

The two-dimensional code is, for example, a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) that can download an application program that enables setting of network connection of the home appliance 20. The two-dimensional code is an example of access information indicating a procedure of connecting the home appliance 20 to the network in the present embodiment. The two-dimensional code is an example of a format that can be read by a terminal device that can be connected to the network N.

In the present embodiment, the application program that enables setting of the network connection of the home appliance 20 is, for example, an application program executable on a smartphone.

The form of the two-dimensional code is not particularly limited, and is assumed to be a QR (registered trademark) code in the present embodiment. In addition, the category information 151 may record a character string of a URL without recording a two-dimensional code. The access information is not limited to the URL, and may be in other forms as long as the user is presented with the procedure of connecting the home appliance 20 to the network.

The information included in the category information 151 is not limited to the example shown in fig. 4. For example, the category information 151 may be information in which any one of identification information and a category of the home appliance information 20 is associated with access information. Further, information such as the manufacturer of the home appliance 20 may be recorded in the category information 151.

Although the category information 151 in fig. 4 is illustrated as a database in a table format, the data structure of the category information 151 is not limited to this. For example, a database in which identification information of the home appliance 20 is associated with the category and a database in which the category of the home appliance 20 is associated with the access information may be separately stored in the storage unit 15.

In the present embodiment, the category information 151 may be stored in the storage unit 15 before the television device 10 is on the market, or may be recorded or updated from the outside via the network N or a storage medium after the television device 10 is started to be used. Alternatively, the access information may be transmitted from the home device 20 to the television apparatus 10.

The display target information 152 is an SSID list of the home appliance 20 that is a target of the two-dimensional code displayed on the display panel 110 by the display control unit 13 described later. Details of the display target information 152 will be described later.

Returning to fig. 3, the acquisition unit 11 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20 included in the signal transmitted from the home appliance 20 that can be wirelessly connected. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 11 acquires, from the wireless communication device 113, the SSID included in the signal detected by the wireless communication device 113. Further, since the wireless communication device 113 detects not only the SSID included in the signal transmitted from the home appliance 20 but also the SSID included in the signal transmitted from the peripheral device, the SSID acquired by the acquisition unit 11 from the wireless communication device 113 may include the SSID of a device other than the home appliance 20.

The acquisition section 11 feeds the acquired SSID to the determination section 12.

Returning to fig. 3, the identification unit 12 identifies the type and access information of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the SSID acquired by the acquisition unit 11, based on the type information 151.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the acquired SSID according to the first embodiment. In fig. 5, for convenience of explanation, the types of electronic devices including the home appliance 20 and the router are shown in association with the detected SSID.

In the example shown in fig. 5, SSIDs of a plurality of wireless LAN routers and a plurality of home appliances 20 are acquired by the acquisition unit 11.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for identifying the type and access information of the home appliance 20 according to the first embodiment. The specification unit 12 specifies an SSID that matches the SSID recorded in the category information 151 among the SSIDs included in the detection result acquired from the wireless communication device 113 by the acquisition unit 11. In the example shown in fig. 6, the determination unit 12 determines the SSID corresponding to the category "refrigerator", "washing machine", or "air conditioner" in the category information 151 among the SSIDs acquired by the acquisition unit 11. The specification unit 12 specifies two-dimensional codes corresponding to these SSIDs.

The determination unit 12 sends the determination result to the display control unit 13. The specification unit 12 records the SSID of the specified home appliance 20 in the display target information 152.

Returning to fig. 3, the display control unit 13 causes the display panel 110 to display the type of the home appliance 20 and the two-dimensional code specified by the specification unit 12.

More specifically, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20, the display control unit 13 causes the display panel 110 to display device detection information indicating that there is a home appliance 20 connectable to the network N. The display control unit 13 causes the display panel 110 to display the two-dimensional code when the user inputs an operation requesting details of the device detection information.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode of the device detection information 90 according to the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the device detection information 90 is, for example, information such as "there is a refrigerator connectable to the smart home service" as shown in fig. 7.

As shown in fig. 7, for example, the display control unit 13 causes the device detection information 90 to be displayed not on the entire screen of the display panel 110 but on a part of the display panel 110. For example, the display range of the device detection information 90 is a size that does not obstruct the viewing of the video content or the like displayed on the display panel 110. The display mode of the device detection information 90 is not limited to the example shown in fig. 7. For example, when the information indicating the type of the home appliance 20, the service provided by the home appliance 20, or the function provided by the home appliance 20 is an icon or image information, the display control unit 13 may display the icon or image information corresponding to the detected type of the home appliance 20 as the device detection information 90 on the display panel 110. The display control unit 13 may display not only the device detection information 90 but also the type of the home appliance 20 by an icon or image information instead of a character string in another screen display. The display control unit 13 may display both the character string and the icon or the image information at the same time.

In addition, the smart home service refers to a service for managing a living environment by applying an IoT (Internet of Things) technology or smart home appliances, etc. The content of this information is an example, and the display form and content of the device detection information 90 are not limited to this.

The notification indicating the existence of the home appliance 20 connectable to the network N is an example of the device detection information in the present embodiment.

As shown in fig. 7, for example, the display control unit 13 causes the display panel 110 to display a determination button 91, and the determination button 91 is used to receive an operation for requesting the display of the details of the device detection information 90. When the user presses the determination button 91, the display control unit 13 receives a notification that the operation has been performed from the receiving unit 14 described later. In this case, the display control unit 13 displays the two-dimensional code on the display panel 110.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display mode of the two-dimensional codes 92a to 92c according to the first embodiment.

The display control unit 13 may display information 93a to 93c describing application programs downloadable from URLs indicated by the two-dimensional codes 92a to 92c in the vicinity of the two-dimensional codes 92a to 92 c. Hereinafter, the two-dimensional code 92a to the two-dimensional code 92c will be simply referred to as the two-dimensional code 92 without being particularly distinguished. When the information 93a to 93c are not particularly distinguished, they are simply referred to as information 93.

For example, by reading the two-dimensional code 92 displayed on the display panel 110 with a camera mounted on the smartphone 40, a download screen of an application program that enables network connection setting of the home appliance 20 can be opened on the smartphone 40. In other words, the display control unit 13 displays the two-dimensional code 92, thereby guiding the user 1 to the download screen of the application program.

The smartphone 40 is an example of a terminal device connectable to the network N in the present embodiment. The terminal device connectable to the network N is not limited to the smartphone 40, and may be a tablet terminal or the like.

In fig. 8, the two-dimensional code 92 is displayed on the entire screen of the display panel 110, but the two-dimensional code 92 may be displayed on a part of the display panel 110.

The display control unit 13 continues to display the device detection information 90 shown in fig. 7 until the two-dimensional barcode 92 indicating the access information of the home device 20 is displayed on each of the detected home devices 20.

For example, when the two-dimensional code 92 is displayed on the display panel 110, the display control unit 13 records information indicating that the two-dimensional code 92 has been displayed in the display target information 152, and the display target information 152 is stored in the storage unit 15.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display target information 152 according to the first embodiment. As an example of the display target information 152, the SSID of the home appliance 20 is associated with the display completion flag. The display completion flag is information indicating that the two-dimensional code 92 is displayed on the display panel 110, and the two-dimensional code 92 indicates access information of the home appliance 20.

After the display control unit 13 displays the two-dimensional code 92 on the display panel 110 by the operation of the user 1, the display completion flag is set to the SSID corresponding to the two-dimensional code 92 in the display target information 152.

After the two-dimensional code 92 is displayed on the display panel 110, if the home appliance 20 is not connected to the wireless LAN router 30, the home appliance 20 continues to transmit a signal including the SSID. In this case, even if the SSID of the home appliance 20 is detected again, the display completion flag is set in the display target information 152, and therefore the display control unit 13 does not display the device detection information 90 indicating that the home appliance 20 is detected on the display panel 110.

Further, when the user 1 inputs an operation to cause the two-dimensional code 92 of the home appliance 20 whose display is completed to be displayed again, the display control unit 13 may cause the display panel 110 to display the two-dimensional code 92 whose display was completed in the past again.

Returning to fig. 3, the receiving unit 14 receives various operations of the user 1. For example, the receiving unit 14 receives the content of an operation input by the user from the light receiving unit 112 or the operating unit 112. The receiving section 14 transmits the received operation to the display control section 13.

Next, a description will be given of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 executed in the television apparatus 10 configured as described above.

Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 according to the first embodiment. The processing in this flowchart is repeatedly executed when the power of the television apparatus 10 is turned on, for example.

First, the acquisition unit 11 acquires one or more SSIDs of the home appliance 20 included in signals transmitted from one or more home appliances 20 from the wireless communication device 113 (S101). The acquisition section 11 delivers the acquired SSID to the determination section 12.

Then, the specification unit 12 specifies the type of the home appliance 20 and the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to the one or more SSIDs acquired by the acquisition unit 11, based on the type information 151 stored in the storage unit 15 (S102). The specification unit 12 records one or more SSIDs of the specified home appliance 20 in the display target information 152 stored in the storage unit 15. The specification unit 12 associates the SSID with the type of the home appliance 20 and the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to the acquired one or more SSIDs, and sends the same to the display control unit 13 as a specification result.

Next, the display control unit 13 refers to the display target information 152 stored in the storage unit 15, and determines whether or not there is a two-dimensional code 92 that has not been displayed in the past among the two-dimensional codes 92 corresponding to the one or more SSIDs specified by the specifying unit 12 (S103).

For example, the display control unit 13 determines that the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to the SSID having the display completion flag set in the display target information 152 is completely displayed. When the display completion flag is set to all of the one or more SSIDs specified by the specification unit 12 in the display target information 152, the display control unit 13 determines that the two-dimensional code 92 that is not displayed is not present in the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to each of the one or more SSIDs specified by the specification unit 12 (no in S103). In this case, the flow ends.

Further, when there is an SSID whose display completion flag is not set in the display target information 152, of the one or more SSIDs specified by the specification unit 12, the display control unit 13 determines that there is a two-dimensional code 92 that has not been displayed in the past in the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to each of the one or more SSIDs specified by the specification unit 12 (yes in S103).

In this case, the display control unit 13 causes the display panel 110 to display the device detection information 90 and the determination button 91 (S104).

Next, the reception unit 14 determines whether the ok button 91 is pressed by the user (S105). If the reception unit 14 does not receive that the user 1 has pressed the ok button 91 (no in S105), the process of S105 is repeated.

When receiving that the user 1 has pressed the ok button 91 (yes in S105), the reception unit 14 notifies the display control unit 13 that the ok button 91 has been pressed.

Then, the display control unit 13 displays, on the display panel 110, a two-dimensional code that has not been displayed in the past among the two-dimensional codes 92 of the home appliance 20 specified by the specification unit 12 (S106). As shown in fig. 8, the display control unit 13 may display information 93 explaining the type of the home appliance 20 and the like in the vicinity of the two-dimensional code 92. Here, the flow ends.

In the prior art, some users do not realize that the purchased household appliances are intelligent household appliances. In addition, some users do not know how to connect the smart home to the internet even though they recognize that the purchased home device is a smart home. In such a case, it is difficult for the user to apply the function of the home appliance, which is an intelligent home appliance.

In contrast, in the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, by acquiring the SSID included in the signal transmitted from the home appliance 20 that is wirelessly connectable, and displaying the two-dimensional code 92 on the display panel 110, the two-dimensional code 92 indicates the type of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the SSID and the method of connecting the home appliance 20 to the network N, it is possible to assist the user 1 in connecting the home appliance 20 to the network N.

For example, even when the user 1 does not recognize that the home appliance 20 is an intelligent home appliance, the user can easily grasp that the home appliance 20 is an intelligent home appliance and the method of connecting the home appliance 20 to the network N by displaying the two-dimensional code 92 on the television apparatus 10.

Further, even when it is difficult for the user 1 to find a method of connecting the home appliance 20 to the network N from the internet or the like, or when a burden is felt when performing a complicated operation of the smartphone 40, for example, the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to the home appliance 20 is displayed on the television apparatus 10, so that the operation of connecting the home appliance 20 to the network N can be easily performed.

In the present embodiment, a signal including the SSID transmitted from the home appliance 20 is detected using the wireless communication device 113 built in the television apparatus 10. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily detect an intelligent home appliance that is not connected to the wireless LAN router 30.

In the present embodiment, a URL for downloading an application program that enables setting of a network connection of home appliance 20 is displayed on display panel 110 in a readable form by smartphone 40. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the user 1 can easily download the application program that can be set for network connection by reading the URL displayed on the display panel 110 in a form readable by the smartphone 40 using the smartphone 40. As described above, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, even when the user 1 is not familiar with the operation of the smartphone 40, it is possible to assist the user 1 in connecting the home appliance 20 to the network 4.

In the present embodiment, when the SSID of the home appliance 20 is acquired, the device detection information 90 indicating that the home appliance 20 connectable to the network N is present is displayed on the display panel 110, and when an operation requesting the display of details of the device detection information 90 is input by the user 1, the two-dimensional code 92 is displayed on the display panel 110. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the user 1 can display the two-dimensional code 92 on the display panel 110 at a desired time point. For example, in a case where the device detection information 90 is displayed when the user 1 views video content or the like, the user 1 may cause the two-dimensional code 92 to be displayed after the viewing of the video content or the like is finished.

In the present embodiment, the wireless communication device 113 is used as an example of the detection unit, but the detection unit may be implemented by software. For example, the acquisition unit 11 of the television apparatus 10 may correspond to the detection unit and the acquisition unit in the claims.

(modification 1)

In the first embodiment described above, the television apparatus 10 displays the access information (the two-dimensional code 92) of all the detected home appliances 20, but the television apparatus 10 may restrict the displayed access information.

For example, the SSID detected by wireless communication device 113 of television apparatus 10 is not necessarily transmitted by home appliance 20 installed in house H. In particular, when the house H is a collective house, the television apparatus 10 may detect the SSID of the smart home appliance installed in other residences located at the upper, lower, left, and right sides.

In the present modification, only the two-dimensional code 92 relating to the network connection setting of the home appliance 20 installed in the house H among the home appliances 20 whose SSID was detected by the wireless communication device 113 of the television apparatus 10 is displayed.

For example, the display control unit 13 of the present modification displays an input screen for inputting the PIN code of the home appliance 20 on the display panel 110, and when the PIN code of the home appliance 20 is input, displays the two-dimensional code 92 of the smart appliance 20 on the display panel 110. Next, the following description will be made specifically with reference to fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a display flow of the two-dimensional code 92 according to modification 1. As shown in fig. 11, when the SSIDs of the plurality of home appliances 20 are acquired by the acquisition unit 11, the display control unit 13 of the present modification displays the types and SSIDs of the home appliances 20 on the display panel 110 in order from the signal with the strongest radio wave intensity among the signals including the SSIDs. This screen is referred to as a selection screen 1101. The display time of the selection screen 1101 is, for example, after the user 1 presses the determination button 91, the determination button 91 is used to receive an operation for requesting the details of the display device detection information 90.

If the radio wave intensity of the signal is strong, the home appliance 20 that transmits the signal is highly likely to be installed in the house H, and if the radio wave intensity of the signal is weak, the home appliance 20 that transmits the signal is less likely to be installed in the house H.

For example, if only one washing machine 20a is installed in the house H, a plurality of SSIDs of the category "washing machine" are detected as shown in fig. 11. In this case, the washing machine having a strong radio wave intensity is highly likely to be the washing machine 20a installed in the house H. In the example shown in fig. 11, the user 1 selects a washing machine having a strong radio wave intensity.

In addition, when the user 1 selects any one of the types and SSIDs of the plurality of home appliances 20, the display control unit 13 of the present modification displays an input screen 1102 on the display panel 110, on which a PIN (Personal Identification Number) code of the selected home appliance 20 can be input.

The PIN code of the home appliance 20 is an example of the authentication information in the present modification. In general, when the home appliance 20 is an intelligent home appliance, the PIN code of the home appliance 20 is recorded on the main body of the home appliance 20. User 1 confirms the PIN code described in the main body of home appliance 20 and inputs the PIN code into input screen 1102 using remote controller 119 or operation unit 111. The authentication information is not limited to the PIN code, and may be information that can identify each home appliance 20.

For example, the acquisition unit 11 acquires the PIN code of the home appliance 20 from the home appliance 20 via the wireless communication device 113. The acquisition unit 11 notifies the display control unit 13 of the acquired PIN code.

When the PIN code input by the user 1 matches the PIN code of the home appliance 20, the display control unit 13 causes the display panel 110 to display the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to the home appliance 20. In addition, as in the example described with reference to fig. 8, the display control unit 13 displays on the display panel 110 information 93 for describing an application downloadable from the URL indicated by the two-dimensional code 92.

In addition, when only the SSID of one of the home appliances 20 acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is acquired, the display control unit 13 may not display the selection screen 1101. In this case, for example, after the user 1 presses the determination button 91, the display control unit 13 displays the input screen 1102.

When the PIN code input by the user 1 does not match the PIN code of the home appliance 20, the display control unit 13 does not initially display the SSID and the category of the home appliance 20 on the selection screen 1101. After that, the display control unit 13 does not initially display the device detection information 90 and the input screen 1102 related to the home appliance 20.

When the user 1 desires to display the input screen 1102 of the home appliance 20 not to be displayed again, the user 1 performs an operation of selecting the option "display all" on the selection screen 1101. In this case, the display control unit 13 causes the acquisition unit 11 to display the SSIDs of all the home appliances 20 acquired on the selection screen 1101, including the SSIDs of the home appliances 20 whose PIN codes do not match. The method of displaying the home appliance 20 again on the selection screen 1101 or the input screen 1102 in which the PIN codes do not match is not limited to this.

The home appliance 20 that is not the object of initial display is not limited to the home appliance 20 that is not set to the PIN code. For example, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires the SSID of another home appliance 20 of the same category as the home appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30, the SSID of the other home appliance 20 may be removed from the initial display object of the selection screen 1101. For example, in the house H, in the case where the washing machine 20a connected to the wireless LAN router 30 already exists, the SSID of another washing machine, which is likely to be a washing machine installed in another residence, is obtained.

In addition, there are some types of home appliances 20, and a plurality of home appliances are generally provided in one house H. Therefore, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires the SSID of another home appliance 20 of the same type as the home appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30, it is also possible to determine whether or not to remove the SSID from the display object according to the type of the home appliance 20. For example, one washing machine is generally installed in one house H, but a plurality of air conditioners are sometimes installed in one house.

In the present modification, for example, in the case where the SSID of another home appliance 20 of the same category as the home appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30 is obtained for a home appliance 20 of the category in which one house H is generally provided, the SSID of the another home appliance 20 is not set as an object of initial display. In addition, in a case where a plurality of home appliances 20 of the same category are generally installed in one house H, and the SSID of another home appliance 20 of the same category as that of the home appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30 is obtained, the SSID of the another home appliance 20 is initially displayed on the selection screen 1101. For example, in the case where the SSID of another home appliance 20 of the same category as the home appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30 is acquired, whether or not the SSID of the other home appliance 20 is to be displayed may be stored in the storage unit 15 in advance.

When the connection between the home electric appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30 and the wireless LAN router 30 is completed, the display control unit 30 resumes the initial display of the newly detected SSID for such a home electric appliance 20 that is generally installed in one house H. For example, when the SSID of the home appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30 is recorded in the storage unit 15, and the SSID of the home appliance 20 already connected to the wireless LAN router 30 is deleted from the storage unit 15, the display control unit 13 restores the initial display of the newly detected SSID. Even when the wireless communication device 113 performs the SSID search again, the display control unit 13 may resume the initial display of the newly detected SSID. As described above, when the user 1 performs an operation of selecting the option "display all" on the selection screen 1101, the display control unit 13 causes the selection screen 1101 to display the SSIDs of all the home appliances 20 acquired by the acquisition unit 11 that are not the initial display target.

As described above, in the television apparatus 10 of the present modification, when the input screen 1102 on which the PIN code of the home appliance 20 can be input is displayed on the display panel 110 and the PIN code of the home appliance 20 is input, the two-dimensional code 92 of the home appliance 20 is displayed on the display panel 110. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present modification, it is possible to avoid displaying the two-dimensional code 92 of the home appliance 20 installed at the residence of another person on the display panel 110, and thereby it is possible to reduce the possibility that the user 1 downloads an erroneous application program or cannot recognize the two-dimensional code 92 of the home appliance 20 installed at the house H. Therefore, the television device 10 of the present modification can improve convenience in addition to the effects of the first embodiment.

In the television apparatus 10 according to the present modification, when the SSIDs of the plurality of home appliances 20 are acquired, the types and SSIDs of the home appliances 20 are displayed on the display panel 110 in order from the signal having the strongest radio wave intensity among the signals including the SSIDs. In the television apparatus 10 according to the present modification, when any one of the types and SSIDs of the plurality of home appliances 20 is selected by the user 1, the input screen 1102 on which the PIN code of the selected home appliance 20 can be input is displayed on the display panel 110. Therefore, the television apparatus 10 according to the present modification can assist the user 1 in identifying the home appliance 20 installed in the house H.

(second embodiment)

In the first embodiment described above, when the home appliance 20 connectable to the network N is detected, the television apparatus 10 displays the type of the home appliance 20 and the two-dimensional code 92 indicating the method of connecting the home appliance 20 to the network N. In the second embodiment, when a home appliance 20 connectable to the network N is detected, the television apparatus 10 connects the home appliance 20 to the wireless LAN router 30.

As illustrated in fig. 1, in the present embodiment, a house H is provided with, for example, a television apparatus 10, a home appliance 20 including a washing machine 20a, a refrigerator 20b, an air conditioner 20c, and the like, and a wireless LAN router 30.

In the present embodiment, the home appliance 20 receives connection information on connection to the wireless LAN router 30 and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 from the television apparatus 10, and performs connection setup with the wireless LAN router 30 based on the connection information. The device ID of the television apparatus 10 is an example of identification information of the television apparatus 10 in the present embodiment.

Further, the home appliance 20 transmits the device ID of the television apparatus 10, which is the transmission source of the connection information, to the wireless LAN router 30. For example, the home appliance 20 associates information related to the home appliance 20 with the device ID of the television apparatus 10 that is the transmission source of the connection information, and transmits the information to the wireless LAN router 30. These processes are executed by a processor such as a CPU of home appliance 20, for example.

The information on the home appliance 20 is, for example, information indicating the state of the home appliance 20. For example, in the case where the home appliance 20 is the washing machine 20a, the information on the home appliance 20 is a notification that the washing machine 20a has finished washing, or the like.

The wireless LAN router 30 according to the present embodiment has the same functions as those of the first embodiment, and broadcasts (distributes) information on the home appliance 20 connected to the wireless LAN router 30 to the surroundings by wireless communication. Further, information on the home appliance 20 is transmitted from the home appliance 20 to the wireless LAN router 30.

More specifically, the wireless LAN router 30 broadcasts information related to the home appliance 20, identification information such as the SSID of the home appliance 20, and identification information of the television apparatus 10 that transmits connection information related to connection with the wireless LAN router 30 to the home appliance 20 in association with each other. These processes are executed by a processor such as a CPU of the wireless LAN router 30, for example.

The contents of the connection information and the functions of the television apparatus 10 for transmitting the connection information on connection with the wireless LAN router 30 to the home appliance 20 will be described later.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment. As shown in fig. 12, the television device 10 includes an acquisition unit 11, a determination unit 1012, a display control unit 1013, a reception unit 14, a storage unit 1015, a transmission unit 16, and a reception unit 17.

The acquisition unit 11 and the reception unit 14 have the same functions as those of the first embodiment.

Storage unit 1015 stores category information 1151 and connection information 153.

The category information 1151 of the present embodiment is information for associating the SSID of the home appliance 20 with the category of the home appliance 20. Specifically, the category information 1151 of the present embodiment corresponds to information obtained by removing access information (two-dimensional code 92) from the category information 151 of the first embodiment described with reference to fig. 4.

In addition, the connection information 153 is information relating to connection settings of the wireless LAN router 30. For example, the connection information 153 associates the SSID of the wireless LAN router 30 with the password of the wireless LAN router 30.

In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30 are connected, and the connection information 153 is, for example, information input to the television apparatus 10 when the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30 are connected. For example, when the receiving unit 14 receives a connection setting operation with the wireless LAN router 30 by the user 1, the connection information 153 is stored in the storage unit 1015 by the receiving unit 14.

When the acquisition unit 11 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20, the transmission unit 16 transmits the connection information 153 to the home appliance 20, which is the transmission source of the signal including the SSID.

More specifically, when the user 1 inputs the PIN code of the home appliance 20 into the input screen 1102, the transmission unit 16 transmits the connection information 153 to the home appliance 20, and the input screen 1102 is displayed on the display panel 110 by the display control unit 1013 described later. When transmitting the connection information 153 to the home appliance 20, the transmitting unit 16 associates the device ID of the television apparatus 10 with the connection information 153 and transmits the associated information. The device ID of the television apparatus 10 is stored in the storage unit 1015, for example.

The receiving unit 17 receives a notification including information on the home appliance 20 from the wireless LAN router 30. If the notification is a notification to the television apparatus 10, the notification includes information on the home appliance 20 and the device ID of the television apparatus 10. In addition, in the case where the notification is not a notification for the television apparatus 10, the device ID of the television apparatus 10 is not included in the notification.

When the notification received by receiving unit 17 includes the device ID of television apparatus 10, display control unit 1013 of the present embodiment causes display panel 110 to display information about home appliance 20 included in the notification. For example, when the device ID included in the notification received by the receiving unit 17 matches the device ID stored in the storage unit 1015, the display control unit 1013 determines that the notification received by the receiving unit 17 includes the device ID of the television apparatus 10. In addition, when the notification received by receiving unit 17 does not include the device ID of television apparatus 10, display control unit 1013 causes display panel 110 to not display information about home appliance 20 included in the notification. With such a configuration, for example, when a plurality of television apparatuses 10 are installed in the house H, the display control unit 1013 of the television apparatus 10 for the user 1 to perform wireless connection installation of the home appliance 20 displays a notification relating to the home appliance 20, and the display control unit 1013 of the other television apparatus 10 does not display the notification. By filtering the display objects in this manner, it is possible to reduce the display of unnecessary notifications on the television apparatus 10.

The specification unit 1012 specifies the category of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the SSID acquired by the acquisition unit 11, based on the category information 1151. The determination unit 1012 sends the determination result to the display control unit 13.

In addition, as in the first embodiment, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20, the display control unit 1013 causes the display panel 110 to display device detection information 90 indicating that there is a home appliance 20 connectable to the network N. At this time, the display control unit 1013 includes the type of the home appliance 20 specified by the specification unit 1012 in the appliance detection information 90 and displays the same.

In addition, as in modification 1, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires SSIDs of a plurality of home appliances 20, the display control unit 1013 displays on the display panel 110 a selection screen 1101 in which the types and SSIDs of the home appliances 20 are shown in order from the signal having the strongest radio wave intensity among the signals including the SSIDs.

In addition, display control unit 1013 displays on display panel 110 an input screen 1102 on which a PIN code of home appliance 20 can be input, as in modification 1. When the user 1 inputs the correct PIN code of the home appliance 20, the display control unit 1013 notifies the transmission unit 16 that the user 1 inputs the correct PIN code of the home appliance 20. The display control unit 1013 may have the same function as that of the first embodiment.

Next, the flow of the connection management processing of the home appliance 20 executed by the television apparatus 10 according to the second embodiment configured as described above will be described in detail with reference to fig. 13 and 14.

Fig. 13 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 according to the second embodiment. Fig. 14 is a diagram showing an example of an image of a flow of the connection management processing of the home appliance 20 according to the second embodiment.

As shown in fig. 14, the connection management system S2 in the present embodiment includes the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30, as in the first embodiment. In addition, the connection management system S2 may further include the home device 20.

First, the washing machine 20a transmits a signal including the SSID of the washing machine 20a (S201).

Then, the wireless communication device 113 of the television apparatus 10 detects the signal. In addition, the acquisition unit 11 of the television device 10a acquires the SSID of the washing machine 20a from the wireless communication device 113.

Next, the specifying unit 1012 of the television apparatus 10 specifies the type of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the SSID acquired by the acquisition unit 11 (S202). In the example shown in fig. 13 and 14, the specification unit 1012 specifies the type of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the SSID acquired by the acquisition unit 11 as "washing machine" based on the type information 1151.

Then, display determination unit 1013 of television apparatus 10a causes display panel 110 to display device detection information 90 and determination button 91, where device detection information 90 indicates that home appliance 20 of the "washing machine" type was detected (S203). When receiving that the user 1 has pressed the ok button 91, the receiving unit 14 of the television apparatus 10a notifies the display control unit 1013 that the ok button 91 has been pressed.

Then, the display control unit 1013 of the television apparatus 10a causes the display panel 110 to display the selection screen 1101 (S204).

At this time, the display control unit 1013 of the television apparatus 10a does not perform initial display on the selection screen 1101 for the home appliance 20 in which the PIN code input by the user does not match the PIN code of the home appliance 20. In addition, as in modification 1, when the user 1 selects the option of "display all" on the selection screen 1101, the display control unit 1013 causes the selection screen 1101 to display the SSIDs of all the home electric devices 20 acquired by the acquisition unit 11. In addition, if the SSID acquired by the acquisition unit 11 is the SSID of one of the home appliances 20, the display control unit 1013 may not display the selection screen 1101.

In the example shown in fig. 13, in a selection screen 1101, the user 1 selects the washing machine 20 a. In this case, display control unit 1013 of television apparatus 10a causes display panel 110 to display input screen 1102 on which the PIN code of washing machine 20a is input (S205).

When the PIN code input to input screen 1102 matches the PIN code of washing machine 20a, display control unit 1013 notifies transmission unit 16 that the correct PIN code of home appliance 20 has been input by user 1. In this case, the transmission unit 16 associates the connection information 153 with the device ID of the television apparatus 10a and transmits the association information to the washing machine 20a, which is the transmission source of the signal including the SSID (S206).

The washing machine 20a performs connection setting (wireless connection setting) with the wireless LAN router 30 based on the connection information 153 received from the television apparatus 10 (S207). In the example shown in fig. 13, the washing machine 20a transmits the password defined in the connection information 153 to the wireless LAN router 30(S208), the wireless LAN router 30 being the transmission source of the SSID defined in the connection information 153 received from the television apparatus 10.

When the password transmitted from the washing machine 20a matches the password of the wireless LAN router 30, the wireless LAN router 30 authenticates the wireless connection with the washing machine 20a (S209). Accordingly, a wireless communication connection between the washing machine 20a and the wireless LAN router 30 is established.

In addition, the washing machine 20a associates the information about the washing machine 20a with the device ID of the television apparatus 10a and transmits to the wireless LAN router 30 (S210).

The wireless LAN router 30 broadcasts a notification that the information about the washing machine 20a received from the washing machine 20a is associated with the device ID of the television apparatus 10a (S211).

The receiving sections 17 of the television devices 10a and 10b receive a notification including information about the washing machine 20a broadcast by the wireless LAN router 30. In the examples shown in fig. 13 and 14, the notification includes the device ID of the television apparatus 10a but does not include the device ID of the television apparatus 10 b.

In this case, display control unit 1013 of television apparatus 10a causes display panel 110 to display information about washing machine 20a included in the notification received by receiving unit 17 (S212).

Further, the display control unit 1013 of the television apparatus 10b causes the display panel 110 to not display information related to the washing machine 20a included in the notification received by the receiving unit 17 (S213). Here, the processing involved in the sequence diagram ends.

In this manner, the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment acquires the SSID included in the signal transmitted from the home appliance 20 that can be wirelessly connected, and transmits the connection information 153 of the wireless LAN router 30 to the home appliance 20 that is the transmission source of the signal. The television apparatus 10 transmits the connection information 153 to the home appliance 20, and thereby the home appliance 20 can be automatically connected to the network N. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, in addition to the same effects as those of the first embodiment, it is possible to assist the home electric appliance 20 in connecting to the network N.

In addition, in the case where the device ID of the television apparatus 10 is transmitted to the home appliance 20 and the notification received from the wireless LAN router 30 includes the device ID of the television apparatus 10, the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment displays information about the home appliance 20 included in the notification on the display panel 110. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the notification relating to the home appliance 20 is displayed on the television apparatus 10 that performs the wireless LAN connection setting of the home appliance 20, it is possible to reduce the number of cases where an unnecessary notification is displayed on another television apparatus.

For example, the television apparatus 10a is installed in the living room of the house H, and the television apparatus 10b is installed in the child room. In this case, when the user 1 operates the television apparatus 10a installed in the living room to perform wireless LAN connection setting of the home appliance 20, the user 1 may confirm a notification related to the home appliance 20 on the television apparatus 10a installed in the living room and not confirm the notification on the television apparatus 10b installed in the child room. In such a case, according to the present embodiment, since the notification is displayed on the television apparatus 10a for confirmation by the user 1, the user 1 can easily grasp the state of the home appliance 20.

In the present embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a signal including an SSID transmitted by the home appliance 20 is detected by the wireless communication device 113 built in the television apparatus 10. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to easily detect an intelligent home appliance that is not connected to the wireless LAN router 30.

In addition, as in modification 1, the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment causes the display panel 110 to display an input screen 1102 on which the PIN code of the home appliance 20 can be input. When the PIN code of the home appliance 20 is input, the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment transmits the connection information 153 to the home appliance 20. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the transmission of the connection information 153 to the home appliance 20 installed at the residence of another person.

In addition, as in modification 1, when the SSIDs of a plurality of home appliances 20 are acquired, the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment displays the types and SSIDs of the home appliances 20 on the display panel 110 in order from the signal having the strongest radio wave intensity among the signals including the SSIDs. In addition, in the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the user 1 selects any one of the types and SSIDs of the plurality of home appliances 20, an input screen 1102 on which the PIN code of the selected home appliance 20 can be input is displayed on the display panel 110. Therefore, the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment can assist the user 1 in identifying the home appliance 20 installed in the house H.

In fig. 13 and 14, an example in which two television apparatuses 10 are installed in the house H is described, but one television apparatus 10 may be installed in the house H, or three or more television apparatuses may be installed in the house H. The television apparatus 10a and the television apparatus 10b installed in the house H have the same function. In fig. 13 and 14, the washing machine 20a is taken as an example, but the same processing is executed even for other types of home appliances 20.

In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 10 transmits the device ID of the television apparatus 10 when transmitting the connection information 153 to the home appliance 20, but the transmission time of the device ID is not limited to this. For example, the device ID included in the notification about the home appliance 20 may be changed later, or a plurality of device IDs may be added. For example, the display control unit 1013 of the television apparatus 10 may display, on the display panel 110, an operation screen on which the user 1 can perform an operation of transmitting the device ID to the wireless LAN router 30.

In the present embodiment, the wireless LAN router 30 collects the SSIDs of the home appliances 20 collectively, but as in the third embodiment, both the wireless communication device 113 of the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30 may detect the SSID of the home appliance 20.

In the present embodiment, when the notification received from the wireless LAN router 30 does not include the device ID of the television apparatus 10, the display control unit 1013 of the television apparatus 10 causes the information about the home appliance 20 included in the notification to be not displayed on the display panel 110, but the processing for the case where the notification received from the wireless LAN router 30 does not include the device ID of the television apparatus 10 is not limited to this. For example, in a case where the notification received from the wireless LAN router 30 does not include the device ID of the television apparatus 10, the display control unit 1013 may display information on the home appliance 20 and information indicating that the electronic device not included in the notification is present, on a part of the display panel 110. The information on the home appliance 20 is, for example, the type of the home appliance 20. For example, the display control unit 1013 may display a character string indicating the category of the home appliance 20 or a part of the character string on the display panel 110.

(third embodiment)

In the first and second embodiments, the television apparatus 10 detects the SSID of the home appliance 20. In the third embodiment, the wireless LAN router 30 detects the SSID of the home appliance 20 and provides the detection result to the television apparatus 10.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing an example of a house in which the television device 10 according to the third embodiment is installed. In the present embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, for example, a television device 10, a home electric appliance 20 including a washing machine 20a, a refrigerator 20b, an air conditioner 20c, and the like, and a wireless LAN router 30 are provided in a house H.

The connection management system S3 of the present embodiment includes the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30, as in the first and second embodiments. In addition, the connection management system S3 may further include the home device 20.

As in the first and second embodiments, the home appliance 20 of the present embodiment transmits a signal including the SSID of the home appliance 20 by wireless communication in a state where the home appliance is not wirelessly connected to the wireless LAN router 30. When the home appliance 20 is wirelessly connected to the wireless LAN router 30, the transmission of the signal including the SSID is stopped.

The wireless LAN router 30 of the present embodiment detects a signal including the SSID of the home appliance 20, and transmits the SSID of the home appliance 20 included in the detected signal to the television apparatus 10.

Fig. 16 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television apparatus 10 according to the third embodiment. As shown in fig. 16, the television device 10 includes an acquisition unit 1011, a specification unit 12, a display control unit 2013, a reception unit 14, and a storage unit 15.

The storage unit 15 stores the category information 151 and the display object information 152, as in the first embodiment. The specification unit 12 and the reception unit 14 have the same functions as those of the first embodiment.

The acquisition unit 1011 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20 transmitted from the wireless LAN router 30 via the wireless communication device 113. In addition, as in the first embodiment, the acquisition unit 1011 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20 detected by the wireless communication device 113 via the wireless communication device 113.

When the SSID of the home appliance 20 transmitted by the wireless LAN router 30 and the SSID of the home appliance 20 detected by the wireless communication device 113 include the same SSID, the acquisition unit 1011 selects the SSID with a strong radio wave intensity. For example, when the signal detected by the wireless communication device 113 from the home appliance 20 is stronger than the radio wave intensity of the signal transmitted by the wireless LAN router 30 acquired by the wireless communication device 113, the acquisition unit 1011 selects the SSID of the home appliance 20 detected by the wireless communication device 113.

The acquisition unit 1011 acquires the PIN code of the home appliance 20 from the wireless LAN router 30 or the wireless communication device 113.

More specifically, when the signal including the SSID detected by the wireless communication device 113 from the home appliance 20 is stronger than the signal radio wave intensity of the SSID of the home appliance 20 transmitted by the wireless LAN router 30 notified by the wireless communication device 113, the acquisition unit 1011 acquires the PIN code of the home appliance 20 from the home appliance 20 via the wireless communication device 113 for the home appliance 20.

When the signal including the SSID detected by the wireless communication device 113 from the home appliance 20 is weaker than the signal radio wave intensity of the SSID of the home appliance 20 transmitted by the wireless communication device 113 to notify the wireless LAN router 30, the acquisition unit 1011 acquires the PIN code of the home appliance 20 from the wireless LAN router 30 via the wireless communication device 113 for the home appliance 20.

As in the first embodiment, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20, the display control unit 2013 displays, on the display panel 110, the device detection information 90 indicating that there is a home appliance 20 connectable to the network N, the device detection information 90.

In addition, as in modification 1, when the acquisition unit 11 acquires SSIDs of a plurality of home appliances 20, the display control unit 1013 displays on the display panel 110 a selection screen 1101 in which the types and SSIDs of the home appliances 20 are shown in order from the signal having the strongest radio wave intensity among the signals including the SSIDs.

In addition, display control unit 1013 displays on display panel 110 an input screen 1102 on which a PIN code of home appliance 20 can be input, as in modification 1. When the PIN code input by user 1 matches the PIN code of home appliance 20, display control unit 1013 displays two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to home appliance 20 on display panel 110.

Next, a description will be given of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 executed by the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment configured as described above.

Fig. 17 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 according to the third embodiment. In fig. 17, an air conditioner 20c and a washing machine 20a are illustrated as examples of the home appliance 20. In the house H, the distance between the television apparatus 10 and the air conditioner 20c is shorter than the distance between the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30. In addition, the distance between the television device 10 and the washing machine 20a is longer than the distance between the television device 10 and the wireless LAN router 30.

First, the washing machine 20a transmits the SSID of the washing machine 20a (S301). The wireless LAN router 30 detects the SSID of the washing machine 20 a.

Next, the wireless LAN router 30 transmits the detected SSID of the washing machine 20a to the television device 10 (S302). The wireless communication device 113 of the television apparatus 10 receives the signal. The acquisition unit 1011 of the television device 10 acquires the SSID of the washing machine 20a from the wireless communication device 113.

Further, the air conditioner 20c transmits the SSID of the air conditioner 20c (S303). Then, the wireless communication device 113 of the television apparatus 10 detects the signal. The acquisition unit 1011 of the television apparatus 10 acquires the SSID of the air conditioner 20c from the wireless communication device 113.

Next, the specifying unit 12 of the television apparatus 10a specifies the type of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the SSID acquired by the acquisition unit 1011 (S304).

Then, the display control unit 2013 of the television device 10 causes the display panel 110 to display the device detection information 90 indicating that the home appliance 20 is detected and the ok button 91 (S305). Then, upon receiving that the ok button 91 is pressed by the user 1, the receiving unit 14 of the television apparatus 10 notifies the display control unit 2013 that the ok button 91 has been pressed.

Then, the display control unit 2013 of the television device 10 causes the display panel 110 to display the selection screen 1101 (S306). Further, as in modification 1 and the second embodiment, the display control unit 2013 does not set the home appliance 20 in which the PIN code input by the user 1 does not match the PIN code of the home appliance 20, as an initial display target of the selection screen 1101. The process of re-displaying the home appliance 20 that is not the initial display target is the same as in modification 1 and the second embodiment.

Then, in the selection screen 1101, the user 1 selects any one of the home appliances 20. In this case, the display control unit 2013 of the television device 10 displays on the display panel 110 an input screen 1102 for receiving an input of the PIN code of the selected home appliance 20 (S307).

Then, when the PIN code input on the input screen 1102 matches the PIN code of the selected home appliance 20, the display control unit 2013 of the television device 10 causes the display panel 110 to display the two-dimensional code 92 corresponding to the home appliance 20 (S308). Here, the processing involved in the sequence diagram ends.

In this way, the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20 included in the signal detected by the wireless LAN router 30 from the wireless LAN router 30. Therefore, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, in addition to the effects of the first embodiment, even for the home appliances 20 installed at a remote location from the television apparatus 10, the SSID can be acquired by the wireless LAN router 30, and a wider range of home appliances 20 can be detected.

In the present embodiment, the description has been given taking an example in which the television apparatus 10 acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20 from one wireless LAN router 30, but the television apparatus 10 may also acquire the SSID of the home appliance 20 from a plurality of wireless LAN routers 30.

In the present embodiment, both the wireless communication device 113 of the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30 detect the SSID of the home appliance 20, but the wireless LAN router 30 may be configured to collect the SSIDs of the home appliances 20 collectively.

In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 10 specifies the type of the home appliance 20, but the wireless LAN router 30 may specify the type of the home appliance 20 and transmit the specification result to the television apparatus 10.

In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 10 displays the selection screen 1101 and the input screen 1102 before displaying the two-dimensional code 92, but may be configured not to display the selection screen 1101 and the input screen 1102.

(fourth embodiment)

In the fourth embodiment, the configuration in which the wireless LAN router 30 provides the television apparatus 10 with the detection result of the SSID of the home appliance 20 is applied to the second embodiment, as in the third embodiment.

The wireless LAN router 30 of the present embodiment has the same functions as those of the third embodiment. The home appliance 20 of the present embodiment has the same functions as those of the second embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television apparatus 10 according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in fig. 18, the television device 10 includes an acquisition unit 1011, a specification unit 1012, a display control unit 1013, a reception unit 14, a storage unit 1015, a transmission unit 16, and a reception unit 17.

As in the second embodiment, the storage unit 1015 stores the category information 1151 and the connection information 153.

The determination unit 1012, the display control unit 1013, the reception unit 14, the transmission unit 16, and the reception unit 17 have the same functions as those of the second embodiment.

The acquisition unit 1011 has the same function as that of the third embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 according to the fourth embodiment.

The processing from the transmission of the SSID of the washing machine 20a in S401 to the display of the input screen 1102 in S407 is the same as the processing from S301 to S307 in the third embodiment shown in fig. 17.

The processing from the transmission processing of the connection information 153 and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 in S408 to the processing of determining not to display the information on the washing machine 20a in S415 is the same as the processing of S206 to S213 in the second embodiment shown in fig. 13.

As described above, according to the television apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, since the SSID of the home appliance 20 included in the signal detected by the wireless LAN router 30 is acquired from the wireless LAN router 30, in addition to the effect of the second embodiment, the SSID can be acquired by the wireless LAN router 30 with respect to the home appliance 20 installed at a remote location from the television apparatus 10, and a wider range of home appliances 20 can be detected.

(fifth embodiment)

In the fifth embodiment, the connection management system further includes a server device in the cloud environment.

Fig. 20 is a diagram showing an example of a house in which the television device 10 according to the fifth embodiment is installed. As shown in fig. 20, a house H is provided with, for example, a television apparatus 10, a home electric appliance 20 including a washing machine 20a, a refrigerator 20b, an air conditioner 20c, and the like, and a wireless LAN router 30. In addition, the wireless LAN router 30 is communicatively connected to the server apparatus 50 on the cloud environment via the network N.

The connection management system S5 of the present embodiment includes the television device 10 and the server device 50. The connection management system S5 may include the wireless LAN router 30 and the home appliance 20.

In the present embodiment, the wireless LAN router 30 detects a signal including the SSID of the home appliance 20, and transmits the SSID of the home appliance 20 included in the detected signal to the server device 50.

The server device 50 includes a control device such as a CPU, a storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory), an external storage device such as a HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or a CD Drive device, a display device such as a display screen device, and an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and is a hardware configuration using a general computer. The server 50 may be configured by a plurality of computers. The server device 50 is an example of an external information processing device in the present embodiment.

Fig. 21 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the server device 50 according to the fifth embodiment. As shown in fig. 21, the server device 50 includes a receiving unit 51, a transmitting unit 52, and a storage unit 55.

The storage unit 55 stores the category information 151. The category information 151 stored in the storage unit 55 is changed by a manager or the like when a new home appliance 20 is sold, when the SSID coding system of the home appliance 20 is changed, or when a URL that allows an application program that enables network connection setting of the home appliance 20 to be downloaded is changed. The storage unit 55 may store different category information 151 for each device ID of each television apparatus 10.

The receiving unit 51 receives the SSID of the home appliance 20 from the wireless LAN router 30, and the SSID of the home appliance 20 is included in the signal transmitted from the SSID of the home appliance 20 detected by the wireless LAN router 30.

The transmitting unit 52 transmits the SSID of the home appliance 20 received by the receiving unit 51 to the television apparatus 10.

Further, the transmitting unit 52 transmits the category information 151 stored in the storage unit 55 to the television apparatus 10.

Fig. 22 is a block diagram showing an example of functional blocks of the television apparatus 10 according to the fifth embodiment. As shown in fig. 22, the television device 10 of the present embodiment includes an acquisition unit 1011, a specification unit 12, a display control unit 2013, a reception unit 14, a transmission unit 1016, and a storage unit 15.

As in the third embodiment, the storage unit 15 stores category information 151 and display object information 152. The specification unit 12, the display control unit 2013, and the reception unit 14 have the same functions as those of the third embodiment.

The acquisition unit 1011 of the present embodiment acquires the SSID of the home appliance 20 transmitted from the server device 50 via the wireless LAN router 30 and the wireless communication device 113.

The acquisition unit 1011 of the present embodiment has the same functions as those of the third embodiment, and acquires the category information 151 transmitted from the server device 50 via the wireless LAN router 30 and the wireless communication device 113.

The acquisition unit 1011 stores the acquired category information 151 in the storage unit 15. For example, when the storage unit 15 already stores the category information 151, and the server device 50 transmits new category information 151, the acquisition unit 1011 replaces the stored category information 151 with the new category information 151.

The transmission unit 1016 transmits the device ID of the television apparatus 10 to the wireless LAN router 30.

Next, a description will be given of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 executed in the connection management system S5 of the present embodiment configured as described above.

Fig. 23 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 according to the fifth embodiment. Before the process in the sequence diagram starts, the connection setup between the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30 is completed.

First, the transmission unit 1016 of the television apparatus 10 transmits the device ID of the television apparatus 10 to the wireless LAN router 30 (S501).

Then, the wireless LAN router 30 transmits the device ID of the television apparatus 10 to the server apparatus 50 (S502).

Next, the transmission unit 52 of the server device 50 transmits the category information 151 stored in the storage unit 55 to the television device 10 (S503). When the storage unit 55 of the server apparatus 50 stores different category information 151 for each device ID of the television apparatus 10, the transmission unit 52 of the server apparatus 50 transmits the category information 151 corresponding to the device ID of the television apparatus 10 on the receiving side.

The acquisition unit 1011 of the television apparatus 10 stores the category information 151 acquired by the server apparatus 50 in the storage unit 15.

In addition, the washing machine 20a transmits the SSID of the washing machine 20a (S504). The wireless LAN router 30 detects the SSID of the washing machine 20 a.

Further, the air conditioner 20c transmits the SSID of the air conditioner 20c (S505). The wireless LAN router 30 detects the SSID of the air conditioner 20 c.

Then, the wireless LAN router 30 associates the device ID of the television apparatus 10, the SSID of the washing machine 20a, and the SSID of the air conditioner 20c and transmits them to the server apparatus 50 (S506). The receiving portion 51 of the server device 50 receives the SSID of the washing machine 20a and the SSID of the air conditioner 20c from the wireless LAN router 30.

Next, the transmission unit 52 of the server device 50 transmits the SSID of the washing machine 20a and the SSID of the air conditioner 20c received by the reception unit 51 to the television device 10 (S507).

The process from S508 to S512 for specifying the type of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the acquired SSID until the process of displaying the two-dimensional code 92 is similar to the processes of S304 to S308 in the third embodiment shown in fig. 17.

As described above, the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same advantages as the third embodiment, and the category information 151 is acquired from the server apparatus 50, so that the category and the access information of the home appliance 20 can be specified from the latest category information 151.

Further, the connection management system S5 of the present embodiment includes the television device 10 and the server device 50, and thereby can collectively manage the detected SSID of the home appliance 20 on the server device 50 side.

In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 10 specifies the type of the home appliance 20, but the server apparatus 50 may specify the type of the home appliance 20 and transmit the specification result to the television apparatus 10. In the case of this configuration, the server device 50 includes the specifying unit 12.

Note that the category information 151 and the display object information 152 may not be stored in the storage unit 15 of the television apparatus 10, but may be stored in the storage unit 55 of the server apparatus 50.

The storage unit 55 of the server device 50 may store a purchase history of the home appliance 20 of the user 1 of the television apparatus 10. With such a configuration, for example, the transmission unit 52 of the server device 50 can transmit access information (for example, the two-dimensional code 92) for connecting the purchased home electric appliance 20 to the network N to the television apparatus 10. The transmission time of this information may be after the user 1 purchases the home appliance 20, or may be before the wireless LAN router 30 detects the SSID of the purchased home appliance 20.

Alternatively, in a case where the home appliances 20 purchased by the user 1 include a home appliance 20 having a function of being connectable to the network N but not being connected to the wireless LAN router 30, the transmission unit 52 of the server device 50 may transmit access information for connecting the home appliance 20 to the network N to the television apparatus 10.

(sixth embodiment)

In the sixth embodiment, as in the fifth embodiment, the server device 50 in the cloud environment is added to the fourth embodiment.

As in the fifth embodiment described with reference to fig. 20, the connection management system S5 of the present embodiment includes the television apparatus 10 and the server apparatus 50. The connection management system S5 may include the wireless LAN router 30 and the home appliance 20.

In addition, the server device 50 of the present embodiment includes a receiving unit 51, a transmitting unit 52, and a storage unit 55, as in the fifth embodiment.

The receiving unit 51 of the present embodiment receives information on the home appliance 20 and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 from the wireless LAN router 30, in addition to having the same functions as those of the fifth embodiment.

The transmitting unit 52 of the present embodiment has the same function as that of the fifth embodiment, and transmits the information on the home appliance and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 received by the receiving unit 51 to the television apparatus 10.

The storage unit 55 of the present embodiment stores category information 1151. The contents of the category information 1151 are the same as those in the second and fourth embodiments. The storage unit 55 may store category information 1151 that differs for each device ID of the television apparatus 10.

In addition, the television device 10 includes an acquisition unit 1011, a specification unit 1012, a display control unit 1013, a reception unit 14, a storage unit 1015, a transmission unit 16, and a reception unit 17, as in the fourth embodiment.

The acquisition unit 1011 of the present embodiment has the same function as that of the fourth embodiment, and acquires the category information 151 transmitted from the server device 50 via the wireless LAN router 30 and the wireless communication device 113. The acquisition unit 1011 stores the acquired category information 151 in the storage unit 15.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the case where the wireless LAN router 30 regulates only the communication of the television apparatus 10 and the server apparatus 50 via the network N, it will be described as transmission and reception of information between the television apparatus 10 and the server apparatus 50.

The transmitter 16 of the present embodiment transmits the device ID of the television apparatus 10 to the wireless LAN router 30, in addition to having the same function as that of the fourth embodiment.

Next, a description will be given of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 executed in the connection management system S5 of the present embodiment configured as described above.

Fig. 24 is a sequence diagram showing an example of a flow of connection management processing of the home appliance 20 according to the sixth embodiment. Before the process in the sequence diagram starts, the connection setup between the television apparatus 10 and the wireless LAN router 30 is completed.

The process from S601 to S607 of transmitting the device ID of the television apparatus 10 to the process of transmitting the device ID of the television apparatus 10, the SSID of the washing machine 20a, and the SSID of the air conditioner 20c is the same as the processes of S501 to S507 in the fifth embodiment shown in fig. 23.

The process from S608 to S608 of specifying the type of the home appliance 20 corresponding to the acquired SSID until S616 of transmitting the information on the washing machine 20a and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 is the same as the processes from S404 to S412 in the fourth embodiment shown in fig. 19.

Further, the wireless LAN router 30 transmits information on the washing machine 20a and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 to the server apparatus 50 (S617). The receiving unit 51 of the server apparatus 50 receives information about the washing machine 20a and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 from the wireless LAN router 30.

Further, the transmitting unit 52 of the server device 50 transmits the information about the washing machine 20a and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 received by the receiving unit 51 to the television apparatus 10 (S618).

Then, display control unit 1013 of television apparatus 10 causes display panel 110 to display information about washing machine 20a (S619).

As described above, the television apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has the same advantages as those of the fourth embodiment, and can specify the type and access information of the home appliance 20 from the latest type information 1151 by acquiring the type information 1151 from the server apparatus 50.

In the present embodiment, the television apparatus 10 specifies the type of the home appliance 20, but the server apparatus 50 may specify the type of the home appliance 20 and transmit the specification result to the television apparatus 10. In the case of this configuration, the server device 50 includes the specifying unit 12.

In the present embodiment, the server apparatus 50 transmits the information on the home appliance 20 and the device ID of the television apparatus 10 received from the wireless LAN router 30 to the television apparatus 10, but the wireless LAN router 30 may be configured to broadcast the information on the home appliance 20 and the device ID of the television apparatus 10, as in the second and fourth embodiments.

(modification 2)

In the first to sixth embodiments and the modified examples described above, the television apparatus 10 is used as an example of the connection management apparatus, but the connection management apparatus is not limited to the television apparatus 10. For example, the connection management apparatus may also be a monitoring apparatus that centrally manages a plurality of rooms in a hotel, a public place, or the like.

The connection management device may be an STB (Set Top Box), a PC (Personal Computer) with a television function, or the like, or may be a recording/playing device such as a BD (Blu-ray Disc) recorder or a DVD recorder.

(modification 3)

In the first to sixth embodiments and the modified examples described above, the method of identifying the type of the home appliance 20 or the service provided by the home appliance 20 based on the SSID of the home appliance 20 has been described, but the method of identifying the type of the home appliance 20 is not limited to this.

Further, the home appliance 20 may transmit a beacon (beacon) including information indicating the type of the home appliance 20 or the service provided by the home appliance 20. In this case, the beacon is encrypted. In the case of such a configuration, the determination unit 12 of the television apparatus 10 decrypts the beacon to determine the type of the home appliance 20 or the service provided by the home appliance 20.

The category of the home device 20 or the service provided by the home device 20 may be represented by a bit value (bit) at a specific position in the SSID of the home device 20. In the case of this configuration, the storage unit 15 of the television device 10 stores information in which the bit value of the specific position in the SSID is associated with the type of the home appliance 20 or the service provided by the home appliance 20. The specification unit 12 specifies the type of the home appliance 20 or the service provided by the home appliance 20, based on the bit value of the specific position in the SSID of the home appliance 20 and the information stored in the storage unit 15.

Further, the home device 20 may change the transmission interval of the signal including the SSID according to the type of the home device 20 or the service provided by the home device 20. In the case of this configuration, the specification unit 12 of the television apparatus 10 specifies the type of the home appliance 20 or the service provided by the home appliance 20 based on the reception interval of the signal transmitted from the home appliance 20.

The programs executed by the television apparatus 10 according to the first to sixth embodiments and the modified examples are installed in advance in a ROM or the like and provided.

The programs executed by the television apparatus 10 according to the first to sixth embodiments and the modified examples described above may be provided by storing the programs in a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, an FD (flexible Disk), and a CD-R, DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) in an installable format or in an executable format.

Further, the programs executed by the television apparatus 10 according to the first to sixth embodiments and the modification may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the internet and may be provided by being downloaded via the network. The programs executed by the television apparatus 10 according to the first to sixth embodiments and the modified examples described above may be provided or distributed via a network such as the internet.

The programs executed in the television apparatus 10 according to the first to sixth embodiments and the modified examples are configured as a module configuration including the above-described respective units (the acquisition unit, the determination unit, the display control unit, the reception unit, the transmission unit, and the reception unit), and a CPU (processor) as actual hardware reads and executes the programs from the ROM, thereby loading the respective units on the main storage device, and generating the acquisition unit, the determination unit, the display control unit, the reception unit, the transmission unit, and the reception unit on the main storage device.

In addition, the programs executed in the server apparatuses 50 of the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, and the modified examples described above are provided by being installed in advance in a ROM or the like.

The program executed by the server apparatus 50 according to the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, and the modified examples described above may be provided by being stored in a computer-readable storage medium such as a CD-ROM, FD, or CD-R, DVD in an installable format or an executable format.

Further, the program executed by the server device 50 according to the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, and the modified examples described above may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the internet, and may be provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, the programs executed by the server devices 50 according to the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, and the modified examples described above may be provided or distributed via a network such as the internet.

The programs executed in the server apparatus 50 according to the fifth embodiment, the sixth embodiment, and the modified examples are configured as a module configuration including the above-described respective units (transmission unit, reception unit), and a CPU (processor) as actual hardware reads and executes the programs from the ROM, thereby loading the respective units on the main storage device and generating the transmission unit and the reception unit on the main storage device.

As described above, according to the first to sixth embodiments, the user 1 can be assisted in connecting the intelligent home appliance to the network N.

Some embodiments of the present application have been described, but these embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the present application. The innovative embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the present application. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the present application, and are included in the invention of the scope described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims (12)

1. A connection management device has an acquisition section, a determination section, and a display control section,

   the acquisition unit configured to acquire identification information of an electronic device included in a signal transmitted from the electronic device capable of wireless connection;

   the determination section determining, from category information, a category of the electronic device and access information corresponding to the identification information acquired by the acquisition section, the category information being information associating at least one of the identification information and the category of the electronic device with access information indicating a method of connecting the electronic device to a network;

   the display control unit causes a display unit to display the type of the electronic device and the access information determined by the determination unit.
2. The connection management apparatus according to claim 1, further having a detection section for detecting a signal emitted by the electronic device,

   the acquisition unit acquires, from the detection unit, identification information of the electronic device included in the signal.
3. The connection management apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the acquisition unit acquires, from a communication relay device, identification information of an electronic device included in the signal detected by the communication relay device.
4. The connection management device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

   the acquisition unit acquires, from an external information processing device, identification information of the electronic device included in the signal detected by the communication relay apparatus.
5. The connection management device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the acquisition unit acquires the category information from an external information processing device.
6. The connection management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the access information is a URL of an application program capable of downloading a network connection setting of the electronic device,

   the display control unit causes the display unit to display the URL in a form that can be read by a terminal device that can be connected to a network.
7. The connection management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the display control unit displays, on the display unit, device detection information indicating that there is the electronic device connectable to the network when the acquisition unit acquires the identification information of the electronic device,

   when an operation requesting display of details of the device detection information is input by an operator, the access information is displayed on the display unit.
8. The connection management device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the display controller causes the display to display an input screen on which authentication information of the electronic apparatus can be input, and when the authentication information of the electronic apparatus is input, causes the display to display the access information.
9. The connection management apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the display control unit displays the types and the identification information of the plurality of electronic devices on the display unit in order from a signal having a strongest radio wave intensity among the signals when the identification information of the plurality of electronic devices is acquired by the acquisition unit, and displays an input screen on the display unit on which the authentication information of the selected electronic device can be input when any one of the types and the identification information of the plurality of electronic devices is selected by an operator.
10. A connection management system having a server apparatus and a connection management apparatus,

    the server device has a receiving section and a transmitting section, wherein,

    the receiving unit receives identification information of an electronic device that can be wirelessly connected from the communication relay device;

    the transmitting section transmits identification information of the electronic device to the connection management apparatus,

    the connection management apparatus has an acquisition section and a display control section, wherein,

    the acquisition unit acquires identification information of the electronic device from the server device;

    the display control unit causes a display unit to display a type of an electronic device and access information indicating a method of connecting the electronic device to a network.
11. The connection management system according to claim 10,

    the transmission unit of the server device further transmits, to the connection management device, category information in which at least one of the identification information and the category of the electronic device is associated with access information indicating a method of connecting the electronic device to a network,

    the connection management apparatus further has a determination section that determines the category of the electronic device corresponding to the identification information and the access information based on the category information,

    the display control unit of the connection management apparatus causes the display unit to display the type of the electronic device and the access information determined by the determination unit.
12. A connection management method having an acquisition step, a determination step, and a display control step, wherein,

    acquiring identification information of an electronic device included in a signal transmitted from the wirelessly connectable electronic device in the acquiring step;

    in the determining step, the category of the electronic device and the access information corresponding to the identification information acquired in the acquiring step are determined from category information that associates at least one of the identification information and the category of the electronic device with access information representing a method of connecting the electronic device to a network;

    in the display control step, the type of the electronic device and the access information determined in the determining step are displayed on a display unit.

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