CN114087790A

CN114087790A - Hot water supply system

Info

Publication number: CN114087790A
Application number: CN202110801010.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 安福洋伸; 祝圭佑; 坂上大希; 岸栄一; 松村寛树
Original assignee: Noritz Corp
Current assignee: Noritz Corp
Priority date: 2020-07-29
Filing date: 2021-07-15
Publication date: 2022-02-25

Abstract

The invention provides a hot water supply system and a server, which can more satisfactorily accept the lease use of a hot water supply device among users and more satisfactorily rent the hot water supply device in a collective housing among owners of the collective housing. The hot water supply system includes: a hot water supply device; and a server capable of communicating with the hot water supply device (10) via an external communication network. The hot water supply device includes: a usage status monitoring unit that monitors a usage status of the hot water supply device; and a use status transmitting unit that transmits use status information relating to the use status to the server. Further, the server includes: a charging information generating unit that generates charging information relating to a usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus based on the usage status information received from the usage status transmitting unit; a storage unit that stores a destination address of the billing information in association with the hot water supply device; and a charging information transmitting unit that transmits the charging information to the destination address via the external communication network.

Description

Hot water supply system

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hot water supply system including a hot water supply device and a server, and a server capable of communicating with the hot water supply device via an external communication network.

Background

Conventionally, there is known a hot water supply device that supplies hot water generated by a hot water supply device to a faucet, a bath, a faucet, or the like in a kitchen. In recent years, a hot water supply system has been developed which includes a server capable of communicating with a hot water supply apparatus via an external communication network such as the Internet (Internet).

For example, in a bathing system described in patent document 1 below, a bathing device including a water heater and a server are configured to be communicable via a network. In the system, the bathing time detected by the bathing device is sent to a server, and further the bathing time is sent from the server to a mobile terminal associated with the bathing device.

[ Prior art documents ]

[ patent document ]

[ patent document 1] Japanese patent laid-open No. 2020-47182

Disclosure of Invention

[ problems to be solved by the invention ]

In recent years, a rental business of a hot water supply apparatus is being developed. In the rental service, a fixed amount of money for monthly payment is paid to the operator. However, the usage of the hot water supply apparatus may vary every month. Therefore, if the user pays the same fixed amount as in the other months in the month in which the hot water supply apparatus is not used, the user feels an unreasonable feeling. Therefore, the user may stop the rental use of the hot water supply apparatus, and it is difficult for the operator to smoothly advance the rental business.

In addition, in such a payment method, when the collective housing performs a rental business, a fee is incurred for the hot water supply apparatus installed in the housing that is not occupied, and the owner of the collective housing feels that the fee is paid wastefully. Therefore, the owner may stop the rental, and it is difficult for the operator who has developed the rental business to smoothly develop the business.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a hot-water supply system and a server that can perform rental use of hot-water supply apparatuses more satisfactorily among users. It is another object of the present invention to provide a hot water supply system and a server that can more satisfactorily lease a hot water supply device in a collective housing among owners of the collective housing.

[ means for solving problems ]

A first embodiment of the present invention relates to a hot water supply system. The hot water supply system of the present embodiment includes: a hot water supply device; and a server capable of communicating with the hot water supply device via an external communication network. Here, the hot water supply apparatus includes: a usage status monitoring unit that monitors a usage status of the hot water supply device; and a use status transmitting unit that transmits use status information related to the use status to the server. Further, the server includes: a charging information generating unit that generates charging information related to a usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus based on the usage status information received from the usage status transmitting unit; a storage unit that stores a destination address of the billing information in association with the hot water supply apparatus; and a charging information transmitting unit that transmits the charging information to the destination address via the external communication network.

According to the hot water supply system of the present embodiment, the usage cost is set based on the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus. Thus, when the usage of the hot water supply device is low in the unit setting period of the usage cost, the usage cost is suppressed to be low. Then, the billing information is transmitted from the server to the destination address and notified to the user. Thus, the user can grasp the charging state in advance, and the hot water supply device can be used safely. Therefore, the user can continue the rental use of the hot water supply apparatus more satisfactorily.

In the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the usage status transmitter may transmit the usage status information to the server at least once during a predetermined period, and the charging information generator may generate the charging information during the predetermined period based on the usage status information received during the predetermined period.

According to this configuration, since the service status information is transmitted to the server at least once within the predetermined period, the server can grasp the service status of the hot water supply apparatus within the predetermined period and can smoothly generate the charging information within the predetermined period based on the received service status information.

In the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the hot water supply device may be a combustion type hot water supply device that heats water using combustion gas generated by burning fuel, for example. In this case, the usage information may include at least one of a combustion amount, a combustion time, and a hot water supply time of the hot water supply device.

When the hot water supply device is a combustion type hot water supply device, by setting the use state information as described above, the use state of the hot water supply device can be smoothly grasped in the server, and the billing information can be appropriately generated.

Alternatively, in the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the hot water supply device may be a cogeneration (cogeneration) type hot water supply device that generates electric power by a generator and generates hot water by using waste heat from the generator. In this case, the usage information may include at least one of a hot water supply amount and a power generation time of the hot water supply device.

In this way, when the hot water supply apparatus is a cogeneration-type hot water supply apparatus, by setting the use state information as described above, the use state of the hot water supply apparatus can be smoothly grasped in the server, and the billing information can be appropriately generated.

In the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the charging information generating unit may be configured to generate the charging information such that the usage charge increases as an accumulated usage value of the hot water supply device increases based on the usage status information during a unit setting period of the usage charge.

Further, the charging information generating unit may be configured to change the setting method of the usage charge on the condition that a total usage accumulated value from the time of starting the usage of the hot water supply apparatus based on the usage state information exceeds a predetermined threshold value, so that an amount of the usage charge in a unit setting period of the usage charge is lower than a case where the total usage accumulated value does not exceed the threshold value.

In this way, by adjusting the method of setting the usage charge according to the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus, the user can continue the rental use of the hot water supply apparatus more ideally, and the operator can advance the rental business more smoothly.

A second embodiment of the present invention relates to a hot water supply system. The hot water supply system of the present embodiment includes: a plurality of hot water supply devices forming an aggregate; and a server capable of communicating with the plurality of hot water supply devices via an external communication network. Here, the hot water supply device transmits the use performance information on the use performance of the hot water supply device to the server. The server includes a charging information generating unit that generates charging information corresponding to the presence or absence of a use record of the hot water supply device for each of the hot water supply devices constituting the aggregate, based on the use record information.

According to the hot water supply system of the present embodiment, billing information is generated for each hot water supply device constituting the aggregate according to the presence or absence of the actual usage performance of the hot water supply device. Thus, for example, when hot water supply devices are introduced to respective houses of a collective house by rental and the hot water supply devices constitute a collective, costs for the hot water supply devices installed in the houses that are not occupied can be suppressed even if the hot water supply devices are not used. Therefore, the sense of incongruity of the owner of the collective housing that introduces the hot water supply apparatus by rental can be eliminated, and therefore the owner can rent the hot water supply apparatus in the collective housing more satisfactorily.

In the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the server may include: a storage unit that stores a transmission destination address of the billing information in association with the aggregate; and a charging information transmitting unit that transmits the charging information of each of the hot water supply devices constituting the aggregate to the destination address via the external communication network.

According to this configuration, the charging information is transmitted from the server to the destination address, and is notified to the owner of the aggregate of the plurality of hot water supply apparatuses. Thus, the owner can grasp the charging condition in advance, and the lease of the hot water supply device can be performed more satisfactorily.

In the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the hot water supply device may be configured to transmit the usage record information to the server at least once in a unit setting period of a charging, and the charging information generation unit may be configured to generate the charging information based on the usage record information received in the unit setting period.

According to this configuration, since the service device transmits the service performance information to the server at least once during the unit setting period of the charging, the service device can grasp the service performance of the hot water supply device during the unit setting period, and can smoothly generate the charging information during the unit setting period based on the received service performance information.

In the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the usage record information may include information on a frequency of use of the hot water supply device, and the charging information generating unit may determine that the usage record of the hot water supply device is available when the frequency of use of the hot water supply device is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value in a unit setting period of charging.

According to this configuration, since the usage frequency is used for the determination of the usage performance, even if the hot water supply device is operated by an inspection or the like before the check, the usage performance is not regarded as being present as long as the usage frequency is not less than the predetermined threshold value. Therefore, the actual performance of the use of the hot water supply apparatus can be appropriately determined, and the use cost can be set more appropriately.

In the hot water supply system according to the present embodiment, the usage record information may include information on a usage frequency of the hot water supply apparatus, and the charging information generating unit may change the method of setting the usage charge such that an amount of the usage charge in a unit setting period of the charging is lower than a case where the cumulative usage frequency is not equal to or greater than the threshold, on a condition that a cumulative usage frequency from a start of use of the hot water supply apparatus is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold.

In this way, since the method of setting the usage charge is adjusted according to the current usage state of the hot water supply apparatus, the owner of the integrated home can continue the rental of the hot water supply apparatus more ideally, and the operator can smoothly advance the rental business.

[ Effect of the invention ]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a hot water supply system and a server that can perform rental use of a hot water supply apparatus more satisfactorily among users. Further, it is possible to provide a hot-water supply system and a server that can perform lease of a hot-water supply device more satisfactorily among users.

The effects and significance of the present invention will be further apparent from the following description of the embodiments. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example for carrying out the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to the contents described in the embodiment below.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system according to an embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of respective devices constituting the hot water supply system according to the embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the combustion system and the piping of the water heater according to the embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the billing database according to the embodiment.

Fig. 5 (a) to 5 (c) are diagrams each showing a method of setting the usage charge in the unit setting period according to the embodiment. Fig. 5 (d) to 5 (f) are diagrams each showing a method of setting the usage charge in the unit setting period when the total usage cumulative value exceeds the predetermined threshold value in the embodiment.

Fig. 6 (a) is a flowchart showing a process of generating and transmitting billing information in the control unit of the server according to the embodiment. Fig. 6 (b) is a flowchart showing a process of changing the setting method of the usage charge based on the total usage cumulative value according to the embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system according to modification 1.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of respective devices constituting a hot water supply system according to modification 1.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of a hot water supply apparatus according to embodiment 3, which is disposed in a house.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of the hot water supply system according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a configuration of a usage performance database held in a storage unit of a server according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a period use record setting process performed by the control unit of the server according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the process of generating and transmitting the billing information by the control unit of the server according to embodiment 3.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a usage performance database held in a storage unit of a server according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing an update process of the usage performance database performed by the control unit of the server according to embodiment 4.

Fig. 17 (a) is a flowchart showing a charge setting process performed by the control unit of the server when the usage charge is changed according to the total usage cumulative value in embodiment 4. Fig. 17 (b) is a flowchart showing a charge setting process performed by the control unit of the server when the usage charge is reduced by the accumulated value of usage for each period in the modification.

Fig. 18 (a) to 18 (c) are diagrams each showing a method of setting the usage charge based on the normal fluctuation setting in the unit setting period of the modification. Fig. 18 (d) to 18 (f) show the method of setting the usage charge based on the low fluctuation setting in the unit setting period of the modification example.

Fig. 19 (a) and 19 (b) are diagrams showing a method of determining the presence or absence of a period use performance by using an unused threshold value of a modification and setting a use charge.

[ description of symbols ]

1: hot water supply system

10: hot water supply device

40: external communication network

50: server

111a, 141 a: usage monitoring unit

133 a: usage status transmitting unit

501 a: charging information generation unit

501 b: charging information transmitting unit

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of a hot water supply system 1 according to an embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a business model is constructed in the hot water supply system 1 when the hot water supply apparatus 10 is leased to the user. The water heater 10 transmits the usage information related to the usage of the water heater 10 to the server 50 via the external communication network 40. The server 50 calculates the usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus 10 based on the received usage state information, and transmits the charging information including the calculated usage charge to the mobile terminal apparatus 30 associated with the hot water supply apparatus 10. The user can confirm the billing information of the hot water supply apparatus 10 via the mobile terminal apparatus 30. The usage cost is calculated, for example, in a monthly manner.

As shown in fig. 1, the hot water supply system 1 includes a hot water supply device 10 and a server 50. When the mobile terminal apparatus 30 is in the home H10, the server 50 can communicate with the mobile terminal apparatus 30 via the router (router)20 and the external communication network 40. Further, even when the mobile terminal apparatus 30 is outside the house, the server 50 can communicate with the mobile terminal apparatus 30 via the external communication network 40 and a communication system (a base station or a router of a private party) disposed outside the house.

The hot water supply device 10 includes a hot water supply unit 11, a remote controller 12, and a remote controller 13. The water heater 11 is a gas water heater that supplies hot water using gas as fuel. That is, the hot water supply device 10 is a combustion type hot water supply device that heats water using combustion gas generated by burning fuel gas. The water heater 10 may be a combustion-type water heater that heats water using combustion gas generated by burning fuel oil.

The hot water generated by the hot water supply unit 11 is supplied to a faucet, a bath, a faucet, or the like in a kitchen via pipes connected to the hot water supply ports 11a, respectively. When the water heater 11 has a floor heating function, or a bathroom heating function and a heating function by a panel heater, hot water is supplied from the water heater 11 to the devices that realize these functions.

The

remote controllers

12 and 13 are connected to the water heater 11, and are used to set various functions of the water heater 10. The remote controller 12 includes a display unit 121 and an input unit 122, and the remote controller 13 includes a display input unit 131 including a touch panel and an operation button 132. The operator can arbitrarily set the temperature of the hot water, the hot water supply, and the like by operating the input unit 122 on the screen displayed on the display unit 121. The operator can also set the heating water or the like by operating the display input unit 131.

The remote controller 12 is provided in a bathroom, and the remote controller 13 is provided in a kitchen or the like.

Hereinafter, the remote controller 12 installed in the bathroom will be referred to as "bathroom remote controller 12", and the remote controller 13 installed in the kitchen or the like will be referred to as "kitchen remote controller 13".

The input unit 122 of the bathroom remote controller 12 includes an operation button 122 a. The

operation buttons

122a and 132 are buttons for switching the water heater 11 between an operation on state and an operation off state.

When the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 are in the operation off state, the display unit 121 and the display input unit 131 are in the off state, and the operation buttons other than the operation button 122a and the operation button 132 are not received. When the operation button 122a and the operation button 132 are operated to turn on the operation, the display unit 121 and the display input unit 131 are turned on to display the setting contents, and the operation of each operation button can be accepted.

Further, the input unit 122 and the display input unit 131 include buttons for changing the temperature of the hot water. The operator can change the set temperature of the hot water supply by operating this button. In addition, the input unit 122 and the display input unit 131 include buttons for controlling the operation of the water heater 11, such as buttons for performing a reheating function, a foot bath hot water function, a foot bath water function, and a bath automatic function.

The router 20 is a communication relay for connecting each machine located inside a building (here, in-house H10) to the external communication network 40. When the mobile terminal device 30 is located in the house H10, the mobile terminal device 30 can communicate with the server 50 by connecting to the router 20 by wireless communication. The mobile terminal device 30 is, for example, a mobile phone. Alternatively, the mobile terminal device 30 may be another portable terminal device such as a portable tablet terminal. The external communication network 40 is, for example, the international internet.

A server 50 for managing the hot water supply apparatus 10 is connected to the external communication network 40. The kitchen remote controller 13 communicates with the server 50 via the router 20 and the external communication network 40.

In the kitchen remote controller 13, an application program of the hot water supply system 1 is downloaded and installed from the server 50. The application program contains address information (e.g., an Internet Protocol (IP) address) for accessing the server 50. The kitchen remote controller 13 accesses the server 50 based on the address information to perform communication.

The address information of the kitchen remote controller 13 is transmitted to the server 50 at the time of initial setting, and is registered in the server 50. Further, Identification (ID) information (Identification information) of the kitchen remote controller 13 is transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 to the server 50 and registered in the server 50.

Further, the address information of the mobile terminal device 30 is registered in the server 50 in association with the ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13. For example, address information (Email address) of an Email receivable by the mobile terminal device 30 is registered as the address information of the mobile terminal device 30. As will be described later, the server 50 transmits the billing information of the hot water supply apparatus 10 (kitchen remote controller 13) associated with the mobile terminal apparatus 30, using the address information as a transmission destination address.

Fig. 2 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of respective devices constituting the hot water supply system 1.

The water heater 11 includes a control unit 111, a storage unit 112, a communication unit 113, and a detection unit 114. The control unit 111 includes a microcomputer, and controls each unit in the water heater 11 by a program stored in the storage unit 112. The storage unit 112 includes a memory and stores a predetermined control program.

In the present embodiment, the function of the usage monitoring unit 111a is given to the control unit 111 by a control program stored in the storage unit 112. As will be described later, the usage monitoring unit 111a monitors the usage of the hot water supply apparatus 10 based on the detection results of various sensors (detection unit 114) disposed in the hot water supply unit 11.

The communication unit 113 communicates with the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 according to control from the control unit 111. The communication unit 113 is connected to the communication unit 125 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the communication unit 135 of the kitchen remote controller 13 via the two-wire communication line L1 and the two-wire communication line L2. Further, the two-wire communication line L1 and the two-wire communication line L2 are connected to each other inside the communication unit 113. Therefore, the communication unit 125 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the communication unit 135 of the kitchen remote controller 13 are connected to each other by the two-wire communication line L1 and the two-wire communication line L2. Therefore, a signal transmitted from any one of the communication unit 113, the communication unit 125, and the communication unit 135 is simultaneously transmitted to the other communication units.

The detection unit 114 includes various sensors disposed in the water heater 11. For example, the detection unit 114 includes a combustion sensor for detecting a combustion operation of the water heater 11, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of hot water, a flow sensor for detecting supply of hot water, and the like. The usage state monitoring unit 111a detects the combustion amount, the combustion time, the hot water supply time, and the like of the water heater 11 based on the outputs of these sensors, and transmits the detection results to the kitchen remote controller 13.

Fig. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the combustion system and the piping of the water heater 11.

As shown in fig. 3, the water heater 11 includes a hot water supply unit 210, a reheating unit 220, and a bypass unit 230, in addition to the configuration shown in fig. 2.

The hot water supply unit 210 includes a water supply pipe 211, a hot water supply heat exchanger 212, a hot water supply pipe 213, a hot water supply burner 214, and an air supply fan 215. The water supply line 211 is connected to a water supply pipe and a hot water supply heat exchanger 212, and the hot water supply line 213 is connected to the hot water supply heat exchanger 212, the bathroom faucet 3, and the exterior faucet 4. The hot water supply burner 214 is supplied with gas (fuel gas) through a hot water supply gas line 217 opened and closed by a gas solenoid valve 216. The hot water supply burner 214 burns gas as fuel. The air supply fan 215 supplies air for combustion to the hot water supply burner 214.

Reheating section 220 comprises a return line 221, a bath heat exchanger 222, a return line 223, a bath burner 224, and a circulation pump 225. The return line 221 is connected to the circulation connection 2a of the bath 2 and the bathing heat exchanger 222, and the outgoing line 223 is connected to the bathing heat exchanger 222 and the circulation connection 2 a.

The bathing gas burner 224 is supplied with gas (fuel gas) through a bathing gas line 227 opened and closed by a gas solenoid valve 226. The bath burner 224 burns gas as fuel. Air supply fan 215 is shared between hot water supply unit 210 and reheating unit 220, and air for combustion is supplied from air supply fan 215 to bathing burner 224. In the return line 221, a circulation pump 225 and a water level sensor S6 are disposed. The water level sensor S6 detects the water level in the bath 2 based on the water pressure in the return line 221.

The bypass portion 230 includes a bypass line 231 and a hot water supply solenoid valve 232. The bypass line 231 is connected to the hot water supply line 213 and the return line 221. The hot water supply solenoid valve 232 opens and closes the bypass line 231.

The controller 111 controls the hot water supply burner 214, the air supply fan 215, and the gas solenoid valve 216 of the hot water supply unit 210, the bath burner 224 of the reheating unit 220, the circulation pump 225, and the gas solenoid valve 226, and the hot water supply solenoid valve 232 of the bypass unit 230.

When the bathroom tap 3 or the external tap 4 is turned on, the hot water supply function is performed. Water from a water supply pipe is introduced into the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 through the water supply pipe 211, and is combusted by the hot water supply burner 214 to be heated in the hot water supply heat exchanger 212. The water introduced into the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 is heated to become hot water, and the hot water is supplied to the bathroom faucet 3 or the external faucet 4 through the hot water supply line 213. When the bathroom faucet 3 or the exterior faucet 4 is turned off, the water supply from the tap water pipe to the water supply pipe 211 is stopped, and the combustion of the hot water supply burner 214 is stopped.

The control unit 111 controls the hot water supply unit 210 to perform a hot water supply function (a bathing automatic function). At this time, the hot water supply solenoid valve 232 is opened, and water from the water supply pipe is introduced into the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 through the water supply pipe 211 and heated in the hot water supply heat exchanger 212. The hot water from the hot water supply heat exchanger 212 is introduced into the return line 221 through the hot water supply line 213 and the bypass line 231.

A part of the hot water introduced into the return line 221 flows through the return line 221 toward the circulation joint 2a, and is injected into the bath 2 through the circulation joint 2 a. The surplus hot water introduced into the return line 221 flows through the return line 221 toward the bath heat exchanger 222, flows through the bath heat exchanger 222 and the outward line 223, and is injected into the bath 2 through the circulation joint 2 a.

When hot water is supplied and hot water is stored in the bath 2, the return line 221, the bath heat exchanger 222, and the outward line 223 are filled with water. Thus, the water level in the bath 2 can be detected by the water level sensor S6. When it is detected by the water level sensor S6 that the water level in the bath 2 has reached a predetermined water level, the hot water supply solenoid valve 232 is closed, the water supply from the tap water pipe to the water supply pipe 211 is stopped, and the combustion of the hot water supply burner 214 is stopped.

In addition, the control section 111 controls the reheating section 220 to perform a reheating function. At this point, the circulation pump 225 is on and the bath burner 224 is burning. The hot water in the bath 2 circulates between the circulation path comprising the return line 221, the bath heat exchanger 222 and the outgoing line 223 and the bath 2, during which it is heated by the bath heat exchanger 222.

The water heater 11 includes, in addition to the water level sensor S6: a flow sensor S1 for detecting the flow rate of the water supply pipe 211, a thermistor S2 for detecting the temperature of water introduced into the water supply pipe 211, a thermistor S3 for detecting the temperature of hot water heated by the hot water supply heat exchanger 212, a combustion sensor S4 for detecting the combustion operation of the hot water burner 214, and a combustion sensor S5 for detecting the combustion operation of the shower burner 224. These sensors are included in the detection section 114 of fig. 2.

The usage monitoring unit 111a in fig. 2 calculates the combustion amount of the water heater 11 by a predetermined calculation formula based on the gas flow rate determined by the opening/closing amount of the gas solenoid valve 216 and the air supply amount determined by the rotation speed of the air supply fan 215, for example, while the combustion sensor S4 detects the combustion operation of the hot water supply burner 214. Alternatively, while the combustion sensor S4 detects the combustion operation of the hot water supply burner 214, the usage monitor 111a calculates the combustion amount of the hot water supply heater 11 by a predetermined calculation formula based on the difference between the temperatures detected by the thermistor S2 and the thermistor S3, respectively, and the flow rate detected by the flow rate sensor S1.

Alternatively, the usage state monitoring unit 111a detects the combustion operation period detected by the combustion sensor S4 or the combustion sensor S5 as the combustion time of the water heater 11. Alternatively, the usage state monitoring unit 111a detects the hot water supply time of the water heater 11 as a period of time during which the flow rate sensor S1 detects a flow rate exceeding a predetermined threshold value after the combustion sensor S4 detects the combustion operation.

The usage monitoring unit 111a transmits the detection results to the kitchen remote controller 13 as usage information indicating the usage of the hot water supply apparatus 10 at any time.

Returning to fig. 2, the bathroom remote controller 12 includes a control unit 123, a storage unit 124, and a communication unit 125 in addition to the display unit 121 and the input unit 122. The display unit 121 includes a liquid crystal panel, for example. The input unit 122 includes various operation buttons such as a temperature setting button. The display portion 121 may also be a touch panel.

The control unit 123 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 124. The storage unit 124 includes a memory and stores a predetermined control program. The communication unit 125 communicates with the water heater 11 and the kitchen remote controller 13 under the control of the control unit 123.

The kitchen remote controller 13 includes a control unit 133, a storage unit 134, a communication unit 135, and a wireless communication unit 136, in addition to the display input unit 131 and the operation button 132 described above.

The control unit 133 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control in accordance with a program stored in the storage unit 134. The storage unit 134 includes a memory and stores a predetermined control program.

In the present embodiment, the function of the usage status transmitting unit 133a is given to the control unit 133 by a control program stored in the storage unit 134.

The usage status transmitter 133a transmits the usage status information received from the usage status monitor 111a of the water heater 11 to the server 50 together with its own ID information at a predetermined timing. The usage status transmitting unit 133a transmits the usage status information to the server 50 at least once via the wireless communication unit 136 within a unit setting period (for example, one month) for calculating the usage cost of the hot water supply apparatus 10.

For example, when the usage information is transmitted only once in a unit setting period, the usage transmitting unit 133a accumulates the usage information (for example, any one of the combustion amount, the combustion time, and the hot water supply time) received from the usage monitoring unit 111a in the unit setting period, and transmits the accumulated result to the server 50. Alternatively, when the usage information is transmitted a plurality of times in a unit setting period, the usage transmitting unit 133a accumulates the usage information (for example, any of the above-described combustion amount, combustion time, and hot water supply time) received from the usage monitoring unit 111a during a period from the previous transmission time to the current transmission time, and transmits the accumulation result to the server 50 at each transmission time. In addition, the usage status transmitting unit 133a may transmit the received usage status information to the server 50 every time the usage status information is received from the usage status monitoring unit 111 a.

The communication unit 135 communicates with the water heater 11 and the bathroom remote controller 12 under the control of the control unit 133. The wireless communication unit 136 is a wireless communication module that can wirelessly communicate with the router 20. The server 50 registers address information and ID information of the wireless communication unit 136 as address information and ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 (hot water supply apparatus 10).

The server 50 includes a control unit 501, a storage unit 502, and a communication unit 503. The control Unit 501 includes a Central Processing Unit (CPU), and performs predetermined control by a program stored in the storage Unit 502. The storage unit 502 includes a memory and a hard disk, and stores a predetermined control program and a database. The communication unit 503 performs predetermined control according to control from the control unit 501.

In the present embodiment, the function of the billing information generation unit 501a and the function of the billing information transmission unit 501b are provided to the control unit 501 by a control program stored in the storage unit 502.

The billing information generation unit 501a calculates the usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus 10 per set period of time based on the usage status information received from the usage status transmission unit 133a of the kitchen remote controller 13, and generates billing information including the calculated usage charge. The billing information transmitting unit 501b transmits the billing information generated by the billing information generating unit 501a to the mobile terminal device 30 associated with the kitchen remote controller 13.

Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the billing database held in the storage unit 502 of the server 50.

In fig. 4, "kitchen remote controller ID" refers to ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 (ID information of the wireless communication unit 136). The term "accumulated value of use of period" refers to an accumulated value of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 in a unit setting period currently in progress. The "total usage cumulative value" refers to a cumulative usage value of the hot water supply apparatus 10 from the time of starting the use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 (the time of starting the rental) to the present time. The "usage charge" refers to a usage charge calculated based on the accumulated value of the usage period. The "destination address" refers to a destination address of the billing information. In the present embodiment, address information (Email address) of an Email receivable by the mobile terminal apparatus 30 is set as a destination address.

The "period usage cumulative value" is a value obtained by accumulating the usage information received from the kitchen remote controller 13 during the currently ongoing unit setting period. For example, when the combustion amount of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is used for calculating the usage cost, the accumulated value of the usage period is calculated by accumulating the combustion amount received as the usage state information from the kitchen remote controller 13 in the currently ongoing unit setting period. When the combustion time or the hot water supply time of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is used for calculating the usage charge, the accumulated value of the usage period is calculated by accumulating the combustion time or the hot water supply time received as the usage state information from the kitchen remote controller 13 in the currently ongoing unit setting period.

In addition, when the usage status information is transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 only once in the unit setting period, that is, when the cumulative value of the usage status information in the unit setting period is transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 to the server 50 at the end of the unit setting period, the cumulative value is maintained for the period usage cumulative value in fig. 4.

The "total usage cumulative value" is obtained by cumulatively adding up the usage cumulative value of the hot water supply apparatus 10 from the time of starting the use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 (the time of starting the rental period) to the current time. More specifically, each time the period use accumulated value in fig. 4 is updated, the control unit 501 in fig. 2 adds the difference value between the period use accumulated values before and after the update to the total use accumulated value before and after the update, thereby updating the total use accumulated value.

The "usage charge" is obtained by applying a predetermined rule to the cumulative value of the usage period. The usage charge is obtained by the charging information generation unit 501a in fig. 2. The charging information generation unit 501a sets the usage charge such that the usage charge increases as the cumulative value of the usage of the hot water supply apparatus 10 increases based on the usage status information in a unit setting period.

Fig. 5 (a) to 5 (c) are diagrams each showing a method of setting the usage charge per unit setting period.

In the setting method of fig. 5 (a), the usage cost increases linearly with an increase in the period usage integrated value. In this setting method, when the usage integrated value is zero (or equal to or less than the threshold value of the degree of error) during the period, the usage cost of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is set to zero.

In the setting method of fig. 5 (b), the usage charge linearly increases from the initial amount M1 as the usage accumulated value increases. In this setting method, when the usage cumulative value is zero (or equal to or less than the threshold value of the degree of error) during the period, the usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is set to the initial amount M1, but the initial amount M1 is set to an amount (for example, about 1/10) that is lower than the usage charge obtained in the case of the average frequency of usage by all users.

In the setting method of fig. 5 (c), the usage charge is increased stepwise from the initial amount M2 as the usage accumulated value of the period increases. In this setting method, when the usage accumulated value is zero (or equal to or less than the threshold value of the degree of error) during the period, the usage charge of the water heater 10 is set to the initial amount M2. At this time, the initial amount M2 is also set to an amount that is lower than the usage charge obtained when the average usage frequency of all users is high.

The method of setting the usage cost is not limited to the setting method shown in fig. 5 (a) to 5 (c). For example, in the setting method shown in fig. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the usage charge linearly increases with an increase in the period usage cumulative value, but the usage charge may be set such that the rate of increase in the usage charge gradually decreases with an increase in the period usage cumulative value, for example. In the setting method of fig. 5 (c), the width and height of each step are fixed, but the width and height of each step may be set to vary according to a predetermined rule. For example, each step may be set such that the width of the step becomes longer as the use integrated value becomes larger.

In the present embodiment, the setting method of the usage charge is changed on the condition that the total usage cumulative value in fig. 4 exceeds the predetermined threshold value so that the amount of the usage charge in the unit setting period is lower than the case where the total usage cumulative value does not exceed the threshold value.

Fig. 5 (d) to 5 (f) are diagrams each showing a method of setting the usage charge per unit setting period when the total usage cumulative value exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

Here, when the total usage cumulative value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the usage charge setting methods in fig. 5 (a) to 5 (c) are changed to the usage charge setting methods in fig. 5 (d) to 5 (f), respectively. As shown in fig. 5 (d) to 5 (f), the rate of increase in the usage charge with respect to the period usage cumulative value becomes smaller in the method of setting the usage charge after the change than in the method of setting the usage charge before the change. Thus, the usage charge for using the accumulated value for the same period is reduced on the condition that the total usage accumulated value exceeds the threshold value.

The method of reducing the use cost is not limited to this, and other methods may be used. For example, in the setting methods of fig. 5 (b) and 5 (c), the initial amount M1 and the initial amount M2 may be further decremented on the condition that the total usage cumulative value exceeds the threshold value, or only the initial amount M1 and the initial amount M2 may be decremented from the setting methods of fig. 5 (b) and 5 (c) while maintaining the rate of increase of the usage charge with respect to the usage cumulative value in the meantime in the setting methods of fig. 5 (b) and 5 (c). In the setting method of fig. 5 (a), the usage charge may be set such that the rate of increase in the usage charge gradually decreases from the rate of increase in fig. 5 (a) with an increase in the period usage cumulative value on the condition that the total usage cumulative value exceeds the threshold value.

In the billing database of fig. 4, the usage charge set for the period usage accumulated value based on such a setting method is held in the column of "usage charge". In the billing database, the cumulative value of the period usage, the cumulative value of the total usage, the usage charge, and the transmission destination address of the hot water supply apparatus 10 specified by the kitchen remote controller ID are held in association with each kitchen remote controller ID.

Fig. 6 (a) is a flowchart showing the process of generating and transmitting the billing information performed by the control unit 501 of the server 50.

When the use status information is received from the kitchen remote controller 13 (S101: yes), the control unit 501 specifies the kitchen remote controller ID on the billing database of fig. 4 based on the ID information received together with the use status information. Then, the control unit 501 updates the cumulative value of the period usage and the cumulative value of the total usage associated with the determined kitchen remote controller ID, based on the usage status information received in step S101 (S102). Subsequently, the control unit 501 determines whether or not a unit setting period for charging (for example, one month) has elapsed, that is, whether or not the unit setting period has ended (S103).

If the unit setting period has not elapsed (no in S103), the control unit 501 returns the process to step S101 and repeats the same process. Thus, the control unit 501 updates the accumulated value of the period usage and the accumulated value of the total usage in the billing database in association with the ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 every time the usage status information is received from the kitchen remote controller 13 (yes in S101).

When the unit setting period has elapsed (yes in S103), the control unit 501 generates the charging information in the unit setting period by the function of the charging information generation unit 501a in fig. 2 (S104). Specifically, the control unit 501 applies the accumulated value of the period usage in the billing database to the setting method illustrated in fig. 5 (a) to 5 (f), and sets the usage charge for the unit setting period.

For example, when the setting method shown in fig. 5 (a) or 5 (b) is used, the control unit 501 applies the accumulated value of the usage period to a calculation formula that defines the setting method, and calculates the usage charge for the unit setting period. When the setting method of fig. 5 (c) is used, the control unit 501 extracts the usage charge associated with the accumulated value of the period usage, for example, in a table defining the setting method, and acquires the extracted usage charge as the usage charge for the unit set period.

The control unit 501 registers the usage charge thus acquired in the billing database in association with the ID information of the corresponding kitchen remote controller 13. Then, the control unit 501 generates the charging information for the unit setting period based on the registered usage charge, the period usage accumulated value associated with the ID information in the charging database, and information indicating the unit setting period to be charged.

Subsequently, the control unit 501 transmits the generated billing information to the mobile terminal device 30 associated with the kitchen remote controller 13 by the function of the billing information transmitting unit 501b (S105). Specifically, the control unit 501 transmits the billing information to the transmission destination address (here, Email address) associated with the ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 in the billing database. Thereby, the control unit 501 ends the processing in fig. 6 (a).

The user of the hot water supply apparatus 10 can refer to the billing information transmitted in step S105 of fig. 6 (a) in his/her mobile terminal apparatus 30. Thus, the user can smoothly grasp the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10 and the usage cost due to the usage status.

Fig. 6 (b) is a flowchart showing a process for changing the setting method of the usage charge based on the total usage cumulative value. The control unit 501 of the server 50 performs the above processing by the function of the billing information generation unit 501 a.

When the total usage cumulative value in the billing database is updated based on the usage state information received from the kitchen remote controller 13 (yes in S111), the control unit 501 of the server 50 determines whether or not the updated total usage cumulative value Vt exceeds a predetermined threshold Vth (S111). Here, the threshold Vth is set to a value to the extent that the total usage cumulative value Vt reaches due to continuous use for a predetermined period (for example, one year to several years) when the hot water supply apparatus 10 is used in an even usage state.

If the total usage cumulative value Vt does not exceed the threshold Vth (S112: no), the control unit 501 returns the process to step S111. On the other hand, when the total usage cumulative value Vt exceeds the threshold Vth (yes in S112), the control unit 501 changes the method of setting the usage charge to be further reduced (S113). The setting method is changed by, for example, the methods illustrated in fig. 5 (d) to 5 (f). Thereby, the control unit 501 ends the process of fig. 6 (b).

In this way, when the setting method of the usage charge is changed, the control unit 501 (the charging information generating unit 501a) generates the charging information in step S104 in fig. 6 (a) based on the changed setting method. For example, if the total usage integrated value Vt exceeds the threshold Vth in the middle of the unit setting period, the control unit 501 sets the usage charge in the unit setting period by the changed setting method. Alternatively, if the total usage cumulative value Vt exceeds the threshold Vth in the middle of the unit setting period, the control unit 501 may set the usage charge in the unit setting period by the setting method before the change and set the usage charge by the setting method after the change from the next unit setting period.

In this way, by reducing the usage cost, the user can continue to use the hot water supply apparatus 10 with more satisfaction for a long period of time with a good sense of mind.

Further, the method of setting the usage charge may not be changed at all. For example, the method of setting the usage charge may be changed to a method of setting: a plurality of threshold values Vth having different values are set, and the usage charge is further reduced each time the total usage accumulated value Vt exceeds each threshold value. By reducing the usage cost a plurality of times in this manner, the user can continue to use the hot water supply apparatus 10 more satisfactorily.

< effects of the embodiment >

According to the embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

As shown in fig. 5 (a) to 5 (c), the usage cost is set based on the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10. Thus, when the usage of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is low during the unit setting period of the usage cost, the usage cost is suppressed to be low. Then, the billing information is transmitted from the server 50 to the destination address and notified to the user. Thus, the user can grasp the status of billing in advance before paying the usage fee, and can use the hot water supply apparatus 10 securely. Therefore, the user can continue the rental use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 more satisfactorily.

In the configuration shown in fig. 2, the usage status transmitter 133a transmits at least one-time usage status information to the server 50 for a predetermined period (unit setting period), and the billing information generator 501a generates billing information for the predetermined period based on the usage status information received during the predetermined period. According to this configuration, since the service status information is transmitted to the server 50 at least once within the predetermined period, the server 50 can grasp the service status of the hot water supply apparatus 10 within the predetermined period and can smoothly generate the charging information within the predetermined period based on the received service status information.

Here, the usage information includes at least one of a combustion amount, a combustion time, and a hot water supply time of the hot water supply device 10. By setting the usage state information in this manner, the server 50 can smoothly grasp the usage state of the hot water supply apparatus 10, and can appropriately generate the billing information.

As shown in fig. 5 (a) to 5 (f) and 6 (b), the billing information generation unit 501a changes the method of setting the usage charge such that the amount of the usage charge per set period is less than that in the case where the total usage cumulative value Vt does not exceed the threshold Vth, on the condition that the total usage cumulative value Vt from the start of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 based on the usage state information exceeds the predetermined threshold Vth. By adjusting the method of setting the usage charge in accordance with the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10 in this way, the user can continue to rent the hot water supply apparatus 10 more optimally, and the operator can advance rental business more smoothly.

< example 1 of variation

In the above embodiment, the hot water supply apparatus 10 is a combustion type hot water supply apparatus that heats water using combustion gas generated by burning fuel, but the configuration of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is not limited to this. For example, the hot water supply apparatus 10 may be a cogeneration-type hot water supply apparatus that generates electric power by a generator and generates hot water by using waste heat from the generator.

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the hot water supply system 1 when the hot water supply apparatus 10 is a cogeneration-type hot water supply apparatus.

As shown in fig. 7, the hot water supply apparatus 10 includes a hot water supply unit 14, a fuel cell unit 15, and a circulation pipe 16 in addition to the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 shown in the above embodiment. That is, in the present modification, the water heater 11 in the above embodiment is replaced with the water heating unit 14 and the fuel cell unit 15, and the water heating unit 14 and the fuel cell unit 15 are connected by the circulation pipe 16. Like the embodiment, the kitchen remote controller 13 can communicate with the server 50 via the router 20 and the external communication network 40.

The hot water supply unit 14 includes a hot water storage tank 14a, an auxiliary burner 14b, and a circuit board 14 c. The fuel cell unit 15 internally includes a generator 15a, a heat exchanger 15b, and a circuit substrate 15 c. The generator 15a includes a fuel cell, and generates electricity by a chemical reaction using fuel gas as a raw material. The generated dc power is converted into ac power via an inverter and output from the fuel cell unit 15. The output ac power is used as power for electric equipment installed in house H10, for example.

The fuel cell unit 15 is also used as a heat source of the hot water supply unit 14. That is, the water in the hot water storage tank 14a of the hot water supply unit 14 is heated by the waste heat generated at the time of power generation. Specifically, the water stored in the hot water storage tank 14a is circulated to the heat exchanger 15b in the fuel cell unit 15 through the circulation pipe 16. In the heat exchanger 15b, heat is exchanged between the high-temperature exhaust gas generated at the time of power generation and the water circulated through the circulation pipe 16. Thereby, the water is heated. The heated water is returned to the hot water storage tank 14a via the circulation pipe 16. In this way, the water in the hot water storage tank 14a is stored.

During hot water supply, hot water (hot water) stored in the hot water storage tank 14a is supplied to a front faucet in a kitchen or a hot water supply port (not shown) of a shower fixture, a bath, a faucet, or the like in a bathroom. At this time, the hot water in the hot water storage tank 14a is heated by the auxiliary burner 14b as appropriate and supplied to the hot water supply port. The supplementary burner 14b is used when the temperature of the hot water in the hot water storage tank 14a is low, which is suitable for hot water supply.

The circuit board 14c is provided with a circuit unit for driving and controlling the hot water supply unit 14. The circuit board 15c is provided with a circuit portion for driving and controlling the fuel cell 15. These

circuit boards

14c, 15c are communicably connected to each other.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of the bathroom remote controller 12, the kitchen remote controller 13, the hot water supply unit 14, the fuel cell unit 15, and the server 50. The configurations of the bathroom remote controller 12, the kitchen remote controller 13, and the server 50 are the same as those of fig. 2 in the above-described embodiment.

The hot water supply unit 14 includes a control unit 141, a storage unit 142, a communication unit 143, and a drive unit 144. The control unit 141, the storage unit 142, and the communication unit 143 are included in a circuit unit provided on the circuit board 14 c.

The control unit 141 includes a microcomputer, and controls each unit of the hot water supply unit 14 by a control program stored in the storage unit 142. The storage section 142 includes a memory, stores a control program, and is used as a work area at the time of control processing.

The communication unit 143 communicates with the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 according to control from the control unit 141. The communication unit 143 is connected to the communication unit 125 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the communication unit 135 of the kitchen remote controller 13 via the two-wire communication line L1 and the two-wire communication line L2. Further, the communication unit 143 communicates with the communication unit 153 of the fuel cell 15 under the control of the control unit 141.

The driving portion 144 includes: a fan for supplying air to the auxiliary burner 14b, a pump for circulating hot water via the circulation pipe 16, an electromagnetic valve for supplying and blocking fuel gas to the auxiliary burner 14b, and the like. In addition, the hot water supply unit 14 includes: various sensors such as a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 14a, a water level sensor for detecting the amount of the hot water stored in the hot water storage tank 14a, and a combustion sensor for detecting combustion in the auxiliary burner 14 b. The controller 141 drives the driver 144 based on detection signals from these sensors to perform control such as heat storage and hot water supply.

The fuel cell unit 15 includes a control unit 151, a storage unit 152, a communication unit 153, and a drive unit 154. The control unit 151, the storage unit 152, and the communication unit 153 are included in a circuit unit provided on the circuit board 15 c.

The control unit 151 includes a microcomputer, and controls each unit of the fuel cell unit 15 by a control program stored in the storage unit 152. The storage section 152 includes a memory, stores a control program, and is used as a work area at the time of control processing.

The communication unit 153 communicates with the communication unit 143 of the hot water supply unit 14 under the control of the control unit 151. The driving unit 154 includes an electromagnetic valve, a heater, and the like that supply and block the fuel gas to the generator 15 a. In addition, the fuel cell unit 15 includes various sensors. The control unit 151 drives the driving unit 154 based on detection signals from these sensors to control power generation.

In the present modification, the function of the usage monitoring unit 141a is provided to the control unit 141 of the hot water supply unit 14 by a control program stored in the storage unit 142 of the hot water supply unit 14.

The usage status monitoring unit 141a monitors the operating states of the hot water supply unit 14 and the fuel cell unit 15, and transmits information indicating the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10 to the kitchen remote controller 13 based on the monitoring result. For example, the usage status monitoring unit 141a detects the amount of hot water supplied to the hot water supply unit 14 based on the output of a flow sensor disposed in a hot water supply line of the hot water supply unit 14. The usage state monitoring unit 141a detects the power generation time of the power generator 15a by communication with the fuel cell unit 15. The usage monitoring unit 141a transmits the detection results to the kitchen remote controller 13 as usage information indicating the usage of the hot water supply apparatus 10 at any time.

In this modification, as in the above-described embodiment 1, the function of the use status transmitting unit 133a is also provided to the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13. The usage status transmitter 133a transmits the usage status information received from the usage status monitor 141a of the hot water supply unit 14 to the server 50 together with its own ID information at a predetermined timing. In the above embodiment, as in the above embodiment, the usage status transmitter 133a transmits the usage status information to the server 50 at least once via the wireless communication unit 136 within a unit setting period (for example, one month) for calculating the usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus 10.

For example, when the usage information is transmitted only once in a unit setting period, the usage transmitting unit 133a accumulates the usage information (for example, any one of the hot water supply amount and the power generation time) received from the usage monitoring unit 141a in the unit setting period, and transmits the accumulated result to the server 50. Alternatively, when the usage information is transmitted a plurality of times in a unit setting period, the usage transmitting unit 133a accumulates the usage information (for example, any of the above-described hot water supply amount and power generation time) received from the usage monitoring unit 141a during a period from the previous transmission time to the current transmission time, and transmits the accumulation result to the server 50 at each transmission time. In addition, the usage status transmitting unit 133a may transmit the received usage status information to the server 50 every time the usage status monitoring unit 141a receives the usage status information.

In the present modification, the control unit 501 of the server 50 also constructs a billing database shown in fig. 4 in the storage unit 502 based on the usage status information received from the kitchen remote controller 13. Further, the control unit 501 executes the processing of fig. 6 (a) and 6 (b) to generate billing information, and transmits the generated billing information to the destination address registered in the billing database. The usage cost for the unit setting period is set by the setting method shown in fig. 5 (a) to 5 (f), for example.

In the present modification, as in the above-described embodiment, since the usage charge is set based on the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10, the usage charge is suppressed to be low when the usage of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is small during the unit setting period of the usage charge. Further, since the billing information is transmitted from the server 50 to the destination address and notified to the user, the user can grasp the status of billing in advance, and can use the hot water supply apparatus 10 with confidence. Therefore, the user can continue the rental use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 more satisfactorily.

The usage information includes at least one of the hot water supply amount and the power generation time of the hot water supply device 10. In the case where the hot water supply apparatus 10 is a cogeneration-type hot water supply apparatus like this modification, by setting the use state information in this manner, the server 50 can smoothly grasp the use state of the hot water supply apparatus 10, and can appropriately generate the billing information.

< other modification >

In the above embodiment, the destination of transmission of the billing information is the mobile terminal device 30, but the destination of transmission of the billing information is not limited to this. For example, a fixed terminal device such as a fixed-type personal computer disposed in H10 in a house may be a destination of the billing information. In this case, the billing information may be set to, for example, an address of an electronic mail receivable by the fixed terminal apparatus.

The transmission of the billing information may not necessarily be performed by e-mail, and may be performed by another method. For example, the notification of the billing information may also be performed by a push notification to the mobile terminal apparatus 30. At this time, the destination address registered in the billing database is changed to address information for push notification to the mobile terminal device 30.

The billing information may be transmitted from the server 50 to the kitchen remote controller 13 and displayed on the kitchen remote controller 13. At this time, the router 20 relays communication between the server 50 and the wireless communication unit 136 of the kitchen remote controller 13, thereby transmitting the billing information from the server 50 to the kitchen remote controller 13.

In the flowchart of fig. 6 (a), the charging information is transmitted to the destination address at the end time point of the unit setting period, but the charging information including the usage charge up to the end time point may be transmitted to the destination address at a predetermined time point within the unit setting period, such as an intermediate point of the unit setting period. Accordingly, the user can grasp the usage charge and the usage state of the hot water supply apparatus 10 in the middle of the unit setting period, and can predict the usage charge in the unit setting period. Further, the user can appropriately correct the frequency of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 and the like in the following by grasping the usage cost and the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10 in the middle of the unit setting period.

In the above-described embodiment, the unit setting period for charging is, for example, one month, but the unit setting period is not limited to this. For example, the unit setting period may be set to another period such as two months or three months.

The usage information indicating the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is not limited to the combustion amount, the combustion time, and the hot water supply time of the hot water supply apparatus 10 illustrated in the above embodiment or the hot water supply amount and the power generation time of the hot water supply apparatus 10 illustrated in the modification 1, and may be other information as long as the usage charge can be set based on the usage status of the hot water supply apparatus 10. For example, the time when the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 are in the operation on state may be used as the use state information.

In the above-described embodiment, any one of a plurality of parameters (the combustion amount, the combustion time, and the hot water supply time in the above description) exemplified as the usage state information is used for setting the usage charge, but two or more of these parameters may be combined by a predetermined rule (for example, a calculation formula) to obtain the accumulated value of the period usage for setting the usage charge. This point is the same as in modification 1.

In the above embodiment, the usage monitor 111a is provided in the water heater 11, and the usage transmitter 133a is provided in the kitchen remote controller 13, but the arrangement of the usage monitor 111a and the usage transmitter 133a is not limited to this. For example, the usage monitoring unit 111a may be provided in the bathroom remote controller 12 or the kitchen remote controller 13. Alternatively, when a control device other than the control device shown in fig. 2 is disposed in the hot-water supply system 1, the use-state monitoring unit 111a may not be provided in the control device, and the use-state transmitting unit 133a may be provided in the control device as long as the control device can communicate with the server 50. This point is the same as in modification 1.

In addition, when the usage state monitoring unit is disposed in a device other than the water heater 11, information for monitoring the usage state (for example, detection results of the flow sensor S1, the thermistor S2, the thermistor S3, the combustion sensor S4, and the combustion sensor S5 in fig. 3, or the opening/closing amount of the gas solenoid valve 216) is transmitted to the device as needed. The usage monitoring unit monitors the usage of the hot water supply device based on the received information.

In the above embodiment, the wireless communication unit 136 is provided in the kitchen remote controller 13 constituting the hot water supply apparatus 10, but the wireless communication unit may be provided in the hot water supply unit 11 to connect the hot water supply unit 11 to the router 20. Alternatively, a control unit including a wireless communication unit may be disposed in the hot water supply apparatus 10 in addition to the hot water supply unit 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13, and the control unit may be connected to the router 20. In this case, the kitchen remote controller 13 in the above embodiment controls the kitchen remote controller through the control unit.

The configuration of the hot water supply device 10 is not limited to the configuration shown in the above embodiment and modification 1, and may be another configuration. For example, the hot water supply device 10 may be a structure having no bathing function, or may be a structure having only bathing function. The hot water supply device 10 is not limited to the use of gas fuel, and may be a hot water supply device using fuel oil as fuel.

In the embodiment and the modification 1, the usage monitoring unit, the usage transmitting unit, the billing information generating unit, and the billing information transmitting unit are implemented by software functions based on a control program, but they may be implemented by hardware using a logic circuit.

In addition, the process shown in fig. 6 (b) may be omitted, and the method of setting the usage cost may be fixed to one.

< embodiment 3 >

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system 1 according to embodiment 3.

In embodiment 3, a business model is constructed in the hot water supply system 1 when the hot water supply apparatus 10 is leased to the owner of the apartment B10. The hot water supply apparatus 10 is installed in each house H10 of the apartment B10, and a plurality of hot water supply apparatuses 10 introduced into the apartment B10 constitute one aggregate. The hot water supply device 10 in each house H10 transmits the use result information on the use result of the hot water supply device 10 to the server 50 via the external communication network 40. The server 50 calculates the usage charge of each hot water supply apparatus 10 based on the received usage record information, and transmits the billing information including the calculated usage charge to the mail address of the owner associated with the collective housing B10. The owner can confirm the billing information of the hot water supply apparatus 10 by referring to the received mail using the mobile terminal apparatus 30. The usage cost is calculated, for example, in a monthly manner.

As shown in fig. 9, the hot water supply system 1 includes a plurality of hot water supply apparatuses 10 and a server 50 that receives various information from the hot water supply apparatuses 10. The hot water supply device 10 and the server 50 are communicably connected to each other via the wireless communicator 22, the router 21, and the external communication network 40. The mobile terminal device 30 and the server 50 are communicably connected to each other via the external communication network 40 and a communication system (a base station or various routers).

The collective housing B10 is, for example, an apartment, a senior-apartment, or the like, and the housing H10 corresponds to one house in the collective housing B10. The collective housing B10 is divided into a plurality of housings H10, and the hot water supply device 10 and the wireless communication device 22 introduced by rental are disposed in each housing H10.

The

remote controllers

The remote controller 12 is provided in a bathroom, and the remote controller 13 is provided in a kitchen or the like. Hereinafter, the remote controller 12 installed in the bathroom will be referred to as "bathroom remote controller 12", and the remote controller 13 installed in the kitchen or the like will be referred to as "kitchen remote controller 13".

operation buttons

The kitchen remote controller 13 and the wireless communicator 22 in the same house H10 are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. The wireless communication device 22 in each house H10 is connected to the router 21 provided in the collective house B10. The router 21 is a communication relay for connecting each device located in the collective housing B10 to the external communication network 40.

The mobile terminal device 30 is, for example, a mobile phone. Alternatively, the mobile terminal device 30 may be another portable terminal device such as a portable tablet terminal. The external communication network 40 is, for example, the internet.

The server 50 is connected to the external communication network 40. The kitchen remote controller 13 communicates with the server 50 via the wireless communicator 22, the router 21, and the external communication network 40.

In the kitchen remote controller 13, an application program of the hot water supply system 1 is downloaded and installed from the server 50. The application contains address information (e.g., an IP address) for accessing the server 50. The kitchen remote controller 13 accesses the server 50 based on the address information to perform communication.

Address information and ID information (identification information) of the kitchen remote controller 13 are transmitted to the server 50 at the time of initial setting, and are registered in the server 50.

Then, in association with the hot water supply apparatuses 10 constituting the collective group (here, the hot water supply apparatuses 10 in all the houses H10 provided in the collective house B10), the server 50 registers the destination addresses for transmitting the billing information of these hot water supply apparatuses 10. Here, the mail address of the owner of the collective housing B10 (mail address receivable by the mobile terminal device 30) is registered in the server 50 in association with the ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 constituting the hot water supply apparatus 10. As will be described later, the server 50 transmits the billing information of the hot water supply apparatus 10 (kitchen remote controller 13) in the collective house B10 to the mail address.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of the hot water supply apparatus 10 disposed in the house H10.

The detection unit 114 includes various sensors disposed in the water heater 11. For example, the detection unit 114 includes a combustion sensor for detecting a combustion operation of the water heater 11, a temperature sensor for detecting a temperature of hot water, a flow sensor for detecting supply of hot water, and the like.

The bathroom remote controller 12 includes a control unit 123, a storage unit 124, and a communication unit 125 in addition to the display unit 121 and the input unit 122. The display unit 121 includes a liquid crystal panel, for example. The input unit 122 includes various operation buttons such as a temperature setting button. The display portion 121 may also be a touch panel.

In embodiment 3, the function of the performance transmitting unit 133a is given to the control unit 133 by a control program stored in the storage unit 134.

The usage record transmitter 133a transmits the usage record information related to the usage record of the water heater 11 to the server 50 together with the ID information of the server at a predetermined timing. In embodiment 3, the use result information is 1 indicating that the water heater 11 is operated or 0 indicating that the water heater 11 is not operated. That is, the usage performance transmitting unit 133a transmits the usage performance information on the operation/non-operation of the water heater 11 for a period of time defined by a predetermined timing. The usage record transmitter 133a transmits the usage record information to the server 50 via the wireless communication unit 136 at least once during a unit setting period (for example, one month) for calculating the usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus 10.

For example, when the service condition information is transmitted only once during the unit setting period, the service performance transmitting unit 133a determines whether or not the water heater 11 is operated during the unit setting period, and transmits the service performance information (0 or 1) based on the determination result to the server 50. Alternatively, when the usage status information is transmitted a plurality of times within the unit setting period, the usage performance transmitting unit 133a determines whether or not the water heater 11 has been operated during the period from the previous transmission time to the current transmission time, and transmits the usage performance information (0 or 1) based on the determination result to the server 50 at each transmission time. Alternatively, each time the water heater 11 is operated, the use record transmitter 133a transmits use record information (here, 1) indicating that operation to the server 50.

The communication unit 135 communicates with the water heater 11 and the bathroom remote controller 12 under the control of the control unit 133. The wireless communication unit 136 is a wireless communication module that can perform wireless communication with the wireless communication device 22 disposed in the same house H10. The wireless communication unit 136 communicates with the router 21 via the wireless communication device 22. In the server 50, ID information (for example, a Media Access Control (MAC) address) of the wireless communication unit 136 is registered as ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 (hot water supply apparatus 10).

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of the hot water supply system 1. Fig. 11 shows only the wireless communication unit 136 and the wireless communication device 22 disposed in each of the houses H10 for convenience.

The router 21 is communicably connected to the wireless communication device 22 disposed in each house H10. The router 21 is connected to the external communication network 40, and relays communication between the wireless communication unit 136 in the house H10 and the server 50.

The server 50 includes a control unit 501, a storage unit 502, and a communication unit 503. The control unit 501 includes a CPU, and performs predetermined control by a program stored in the storage unit 502. The storage unit 502 includes a memory and a hard disk, and stores a predetermined control program and a database. The communication unit 503 performs predetermined control according to control from the control unit 501.

In embodiment 3, the control unit 501 is provided with the functions of the billing information generation unit 501a and the billing information transmission unit 501b by a control program stored in the storage unit 502.

The charging information generating unit 501a sets a usage charge corresponding to the presence or absence of the usage record of the hot water supply apparatus 10 for each hot water supply apparatus 10 in the collective housing B10 based on the usage record information received from the usage record transmitting unit 133a of the kitchen remote controller 13, and generates charging information including the set usage charge. The charging information transmitting unit 501b transmits the charging information generated by the charging information generating unit 501a to the destination address (here, mail address) associated with the hot water supply apparatus 10.

Fig. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of the usage performance database held in the storage unit 502 of the server 50. The use performance database is held in the storage unit 502 for each collective housing ID for identifying the collective housing B10.

In fig. 12, the "kitchen remote controller ID" refers to ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 (ID information of the wireless communication unit 136). The "period use performance" refers to the presence or absence of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 in the currently ongoing unit setting period. The "destination address" refers to a destination address of the billing information. In the present embodiment, address information of electronic mails receivable by the mobile terminal device 30 (mail addresses of owners of the owned collective housing B10) is set as the destination addresses.

In addition, the transmission destination address is not limited to the mail address. For example, the destination address may be address information that enables a message to be transmitted to an application program of the hot water supply system 1 that is running on the mobile terminal device 30 held by the owner.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing a process of setting a period use record performed by the control unit 501 of the server 50.

The processing of fig. 13 is performed for each hot water supply apparatus 10 (kitchen remote controller ID) registered in the performance database of fig. 12. The processing in fig. 13 is performed by the function of the charging information generation unit 501a in fig. 11.

The control unit 501 sets the period use actual results in the use actual results database to "none" in response to the start of the unit setting period (S101). Next, when the use record information is received from the use record transmitting unit 133a of the kitchen remote controller 13 (yes in S102), the control unit 501 determines whether or not the received use record information is 1 (S103). If the use result information is 1 (yes in S103), the control unit 501 sets the period use result in the use result database to "present" (S104). On the other hand, if the use result information is 0 (no in S103), the control unit 501 skips the processing in step S104. Thus, when the use record information indicating that the water heater 11 is used is received, the period use record is set to "present".

The control unit 501 returns the process to step S102 and repeats the same process for a period in which the unit setting period has not elapsed (no in S105). Subsequently, when the unit setting period has elapsed (S105: YES), the control unit 501 ends the process of FIG. 13.

According to the processing shown in fig. 13, the period use record in the use record database is set to "present" even if the use status information indicating that the water heater 11 is operated is received from the kitchen remote controller 13 only once during the unit setting period.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart showing the process of generating and transmitting the billing information by the control unit 501 of the server 50.

The processing in fig. 14 is performed on the aggregate of the hot water supply apparatuses 10 installed in the aggregate house B10. The control unit 501 performs the processing of fig. 14 on the aggregate with reference to the use actual results information (use actual results database) obtained by the processing of fig. 13 with respect to the unit setting period as the processing target. Steps S201 to S205 are performed by the function of the billing information generation unit 501a in fig. 11, and step S206 is performed by the function of the billing information transmission unit 501b in fig. 11.

The control unit 501 refers to the period use record of one hot water supply device 10 (kitchen remote controller ID) constituting the aggregate, and determines whether the period use record is "present" (S201). If the period use result is "yes" (S201: yes), the control unit 501 sets the charge for the use of the target hot water supply apparatus 10 in the unit setting period (S202). In embodiment 3, the usage charge set in step S202 is a fixed amount. On the other hand, if the result of use is "none" in the referred period (S201: no), the control unit 501 sets the usage charge of the target hot water supply apparatus 10 to zero in the unit setting period (S203).

Then, the control unit 501 adds information for specifying the target hot water supply apparatus 10, information indicating the unit setting period, and the like to the usage charge set in step S202 or step S203, and generates billing information for the unit setting period (S204).

Then, the control unit 501 determines whether or not the processing of steps S201 to S204 is finished for all the water heaters 10 (kitchen remote controllers ID) constituting the aggregate (S205). If the processing of all the hot water supply apparatuses 10 has not been completed (no in S205), the control unit 501 returns the processing to step S201, changes the target hot water supply apparatus 10, and performs the processing of steps S201 to S204 again.

On the other hand, when the processing of all the hot water supply devices 10 is completed (yes in S205), the control unit 501 transmits the billing information generated in step S204 for all the hot water supply devices 10 constituting the aggregate to the transmission destination address (mail address) associated with the aggregate of the hot water supply devices 10 in the use record database via the external communication network 40 (see fig. 9 and 2) (S206). At this time, information for identifying the aggregation (for example, information for specifying the collective housing B10) may be transmitted at the same time. Thus, the process of fig. 14 ends.

< Effect of embodiment 3 >

According to embodiment 3, the following effects can be obtained.

As shown in fig. 13, the period use performance is set to "present" or "absent" based on the use performance information. In step S204 of fig. 14, the control unit 501 of the server 50 generates billing information corresponding to the period use record (presence/absence of the use record of the hot water supply apparatus 10) for each hot water supply apparatus 10 of the collective housing B10 (aggregate) by the function of the billing information generation unit 501 a. According to this configuration, when the hot water supply apparatus 10 is introduced to each house H10 of the collective house B10 by rental, the cost of the hot water supply apparatus 10 installed in the house H10 that is not occupied can be suppressed even if it is not used. Therefore, the sense of incongruity of the owner of the collective housing B10 that has been introduced into the hot water supply apparatus 10 by rental can be eliminated, and therefore the owner can rent the hot water supply apparatus 10 in the collective housing B10 more satisfactorily.

In embodiment 3, when the interim use performance is "none", the use fee is set to zero. This makes it possible to further eliminate the sense of discomfort felt by the owner because the cost incurred by the hot water supply apparatus 10 installed in the unoccupied house H10 is zero.

As shown in fig. 12, the storage unit 502 of the server 50 stores a usage performance database in which the destination address of the billing information is stored in association with the aggregation house B10 (aggregation). In step S206 in fig. 14, the control unit 501 of the server 50 transmits the billing information of each hot water supply apparatus 10 in the collective housing B10 to the destination address via the external communication network 40 by the function of the billing information transmitting unit 501B. With this configuration, the billing information is transmitted from the server 50 to the destination address and notified to the owner of the collective housing B10. This enables the owner to grasp the status of billing in advance, and thus can rent the hot water supply apparatus 10 more satisfactorily.

As described with reference to fig. 10, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 transmits the use record information to the server 50 at least once during the unit setting period of the fee charging by using the function of the record transmitting unit 133 a. The control unit 501 of the server 50 generates billing information based on the use record information received in the unit setting period by the function of the billing information generation unit 501 a. According to this configuration, since the service performance information is transmitted to the server 50 at least once during the unit setting period of the charging, the server 50 can grasp the service performance of the hot water supply apparatus 10 during the unit setting period, and can smoothly generate the charging information during the unit setting period based on the received service performance information.

< embodiment 4 >

In embodiment 3, information (0 or 1) relating to the operation/non-operation of the water heater 11 is used as the use result information. In contrast, in embodiment 4, information on the frequency of use of the hot water supply device 10 is used as the use result information. Hereinafter, the number of operations of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is exemplified as the information on the frequency of use. The control unit 501 of the server 50 sets the period use record in the unit setting period based on the information on the use frequency. The other structure of embodiment 4 is the same as embodiment 3.

Fig. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of the use performance database held in the storage unit 502 of the server 50.

In the usage record database shown in fig. 15, items of the period usage cumulative value and the total usage cumulative value are added as compared with fig. 12. The term "accumulated value of use of period" refers to an accumulated value of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 in a unit setting period currently in progress. The "total usage cumulative value" refers to a cumulative usage value of the hot water supply apparatus 10 from the time of starting the use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 (the time of starting the rental) to the present time.

The "period use accumulated value" is a value obtained by accumulating the use result information (the number of times of operation) transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 in the currently ongoing unit setting period. In addition, when the usage state information (the number of times of operation) is transmitted only once from the kitchen remote controller 13 within the unit setting period, that is, when the cumulative value of the usage state information within the unit setting period is transmitted from the kitchen remote controller 13 to the server 50 at the end of the unit setting period, the cumulative value is set for the period usage cumulative value in fig. 12.

The "total usage cumulative value" is obtained by adding cumulative values of the hot water supply apparatuses 10 from the time of starting the use of the hot water supply apparatuses 10 (the time of starting the rental) until the present time. More specifically, each time the accumulated value is used during updating, the total-use accumulated value is updated by adding the difference value between the accumulated values used during periods before and after updating.

Fig. 16 is a flowchart showing the update process of the usage performance database performed by the control unit 501 of the server 50.

The processing of fig. 16 is performed for each of the water heaters 10 (kitchen remote controllers ID) registered in the performance database of fig. 15. The processing in fig. 16 is performed by the function of the charging information generation unit 501a in fig. 11.

When the use record information is received from the use record transmitting unit 133a of the kitchen remote controller 13 (yes in step S111), the control unit 501 updates the period use accumulated value and the total use accumulated value in the use record database corresponding to the kitchen remote controller ID received together with the use record information, based on the period use record (operation count) received in step S111 (S112). Subsequently, the control unit 501 determines whether or not the unit setting period (for example, one month) has elapsed, that is, whether or not the unit setting period has ended (S113).

If the unit setting period has not elapsed (no in S113), the control unit 501 returns the process to step S111 and repeats the same process. Thus, the control unit 501 updates the period use cumulative value and the total use cumulative value associated with the ID information of the kitchen remote controller 13 in the use performance database every time the use status information is received from the kitchen remote controller 13 (S111: yes). On the other hand, when the unit setting period has elapsed (yes in S113), the control unit 501 advances the process to step S114.

The control unit 501 determines whether or not the final period use accumulated value Vm updated in step S112 is equal to or greater than the threshold Vth1 (S114). Here, the threshold Vth1 is set to a value of 1 or more and may be regarded as a predetermined value that the hot water supply apparatus 10 is not substantially used in a unit setting period.

When the accumulated value Vm of the period use is equal to or greater than the threshold Vth1 (yes in S114), the control unit 501 sets the period use result associated with the hot water supply device 10 (kitchen remote controller ID) to "present" (S115). On the other hand, if the period use accumulated value Vm is smaller than the threshold Vth1 (S114: no), the control unit 501 sets the period use performance associated with the hot water supply apparatus 10 (kitchen remote controller ID) to "none" (S116). Thereby, the control unit 501 ends the processing of fig. 16.

In this way, when the period use actual results are set, the control unit 501 executes the processing of fig. 14 based on the set period use actual results. The processing of fig. 14 is the same as that of embodiment 3. In this way, the billing information generated for all the hot water supply devices 10 constituting the aggregate is transmitted to the destination address. The owner of the collective housing B10 can check the usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus 10 in each housing H10 by referring to the billing information.

The usage charge set in step S202 in fig. 14 may be changed according to the total usage cumulative value in fig. 15. For example, if the total usage cumulative value is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, that is, if the hot water supply apparatus 10 is continuously used for a long period of time, the usage cost may be reduced.

Fig. 17 (a) is a flowchart showing a charge setting process (step S202 in fig. 14) performed by the control unit 501 of the server 50 when the usage charge is changed based on the total usage cumulative value.

The control unit 501 determines whether or not the total usage cumulative value Vt associated with the kitchen remote controller ID to be processed in the usage performance database is smaller than the threshold Vth2 (S211). Here, the threshold Vth2 is set to a value to the extent that the total usage cumulative value Vt reaches due to continuous use for a predetermined period (for example, one year to several years) when the hot water supply apparatus 10 introduced by rental is used in an average usage state.

If the total usage cumulative value Vt is smaller than the threshold Vth2, that is, if the total usage cumulative value Vt is not equal to or greater than the threshold Vth2 (S211: yes), the control unit 501 sets the usage charge of the target hot water supply apparatus 10 to the normal amount of money in the unit setting period (S212). On the other hand, if the total usage integrated value Vt is equal to or greater than the threshold Vth2 (S211: no), the control unit 501 sets the usage charge of the target hot water supply device 10 to a low value in the unit setting period (S213). In this case, the usage fees set in step S212 and step S213 are both fixed amounts of money, and the usage fee set in step S213 is an amount of money (for example, 10% less) than the usage fee set in step S212. Thus, the charge setting processing in fig. 17 (a) is ended.

Further, the method of setting the usage charge may not be changed at all. For example, the method of setting the usage charge may be changed to a method of setting: a plurality of threshold values Vth2 having different values are set, and the usage cost is further reduced each time the total usage accumulated value Vt exceeds each threshold value. By reducing the usage cost a plurality of times in this manner, the user can continue to use the hot water supply apparatus 10 more satisfactorily.

< Effect of embodiment 4 >

According to embodiment 4, the following effects can be obtained.

In embodiment 4, the number of operations (frequency of use) of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is used as the use result information. As shown in fig. 16, when the accumulated value of the period use (the frequency of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10) is equal to or greater than the threshold Vth1 in the unit setting period, the control unit 501 of the server 50 determines that there is a result of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 by the function of the billing information generation unit 501a, and sets the result of the period use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 to "present". According to this configuration, when the hot water supply apparatus 10 is operated by an inspection before the check, etc., and the usage frequency does not reach the threshold Vth1 or more, it is not regarded as the actual usage. Therefore, the performance of the use of the hot water supply apparatus 10 can be determined more appropriately, and the use cost can be set more appropriately.

As shown in fig. 17 (a), the control unit 501 changes the method of setting the usage charge so that the amount of the usage charge per unit setting period is lower than that in the case where the total usage integrated value Vt is not equal to or greater than the threshold Vth2, on the condition that the total usage integrated value Vt (the frequency of use accumulated from the start of use of the hot water supply apparatus 10) is equal to or greater than the threshold Vth2 (S211: no) by the function of the billing information generation unit 501 a. According to this configuration, since the method of setting the usage charge is adjusted according to the current usage state of the hot water supply apparatus 10, the owner of the collective housing B10 can continue the rental of the hot water supply apparatus more ideally, and the operator can smoothly advance the rental business.

< other modification >

In embodiment 4, when the period use performance of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is "present", the use fee per set period is set to a fixed amount, but the use fee may be set based on the period use accumulated value. At this time, the control unit 501 sets the usage charge so that the usage charge increases with an increase in the period usage cumulative value by the function of the billing information generation unit 501 a.

Fig. 18 (a) to 18 (c) are diagrams each showing a method of setting the usage charge based on the normal fluctuation setting in the unit setting period. The setting method is applied to step S202 in fig. 14.

In the setting method of fig. 18 (a), the usage cost increases linearly with an increase in the period usage integrated value. In the setting method of fig. 18 (b), the usage charge linearly increases from the fixed amount M1 as the usage accumulated value increases. In the setting method of fig. 18 (c), the usage charge is increased stepwise from the fixed amount M2 with an increase in the usage accumulated value. These setting methods are executed by the control unit 501 (the charging information generation unit 501a) of the server 50 based on a calculation formula or a table.

In this way, even when the usage charge is set based on the period usage cumulative value, it is preferable to reduce the usage charge based on the period usage cumulative value, as in the case of (a) of fig. 17.

Fig. 17 (b) is a flowchart showing a charge setting process (step S202 in fig. 14) performed by the control unit 501 of the server 50 when the usage charge is reduced by the accumulated value of the usage period. In the charge setting processing in fig. 17 (b), compared with fig. 17 (a), step S222 and step S223 are added instead of step S212 and step S213, respectively.

When the total usage cumulative value Vt is smaller than the threshold Vth2 (S221: yes), the control unit 501 sets the usage charge of the target hot water supply device 10 based on the normal variation setting in the unit setting period by the function of the billing information generation unit 501a (S222). On the other hand, when the total usage integrated value Vt is equal to or greater than the threshold Vth2 (S211: no), the control unit 501 sets the usage charge of the target hot water supply apparatus 10 to the low fluctuation setting within the unit setting period by the function of the billing information generation unit 501a (S223). In the present modification, the usage fees set in step S222 and step S223 are both varied amounts, and the usage fee set in step S223 is an amount lower than the usage fee set in step S222.

Fig. 18 (d) to 18 (f) are diagrams each showing a method of setting the usage charge based on the low fluctuation setting in the unit setting period.

As shown in fig. 18 (d) to 18 (f), in the low fluctuation setting, the rate of increase in the usage cost with respect to the period usage integrated value becomes smaller than in the normal fluctuation setting shown in fig. 18 (a) to 18 (c). Thus, the usage charge for the period usage integrated value is decremented from the usage charge set in the normal fluctuation setting on the condition that the total usage integrated value is equal to or greater than the threshold Vth 2.

The setting of the usage charge based on the normal fluctuation setting and the low fluctuation setting is not limited to the method shown in fig. 18 (a) to 18 (f), and may be other methods. For example, the rate of increase in the usage charge may gradually become smaller and the rate of increase in the usage charge may gradually become larger as the usage cumulative value increases.

As shown in fig. 15, when the use record database stores the use accumulated value of the period, the use charge corresponding to the presence or absence of the use record of the hot water supply device 10 in the unit set period can be set without determining the presence or absence of the use record of the period using the threshold Vth 1. That is, the usage charge corresponding to step S202 and step S203 can be set without step S201 in fig. 14. In this case, the item in which the actual results are used during the period is omitted from the actual results database in fig. 15.

Fig. 19 (a) is a diagram showing a method of setting a usage charge by determining the presence or absence of a period usage result without using the threshold Vth 1. In the setting method shown in fig. 19 (a), the usage fee is zero if the cumulative value of the period usage is in a range smaller than the threshold Vth1, and the usage fee is M3 (fixed amount) if the cumulative value of the period usage is in a range equal to or larger than the threshold Vth 1.

The setting method of fig. 19 (b) may be used instead of the setting method of fig. 19 (a). In the setting method of fig. 19 (b), if the period use integrated value is in the range smaller than the threshold Vth1, the use fee is 0 as in fig. 19 (a), and if the period use integrated value is in the range of the threshold Vth1 or more, the use fee linearly increases from M4 with an increase in the period use integrated value.

The setting method shown in fig. 19 (a) and 19 (b) is executed by the control unit 501 (the charging information generation unit 501a) of the server 50 based on a calculation formula or a table. Thus, the use charge corresponding to the presence or absence of the use result of the hot water supply device 10 in the unit setting period can be set without determining the presence or absence of the use result of the period in step S201 of fig. 14.

In embodiment 4, the use result information is the number of times the hot water supply apparatus 10 is operated in a predetermined period, but the use result information is not limited to this, and may be other information related to the frequency of use. For example, the information on the use frequency used as the performance information may be the operation time of the water heater 11, the number of on/off operations of the operation button 132 of the kitchen remote controller 13 or the operation button 122a of the bathroom remote controller 12, or the operation on time. In these cases, as in the case where the use performance information is the number of times of operation, in the processing of fig. 16, the period use cumulative value and the total use cumulative value on the use performance database are calculated by accumulating these parameter values and updated. Then, the period use performance is set based on the period use cumulative value, and the use fee is set in the process of (a) of fig. 17.

In embodiment 4, the information on the use frequency used as the use result information may be information on the use amount of the hot water supply apparatus 10 (for example, the combustion amount, the combustion time, or the hot water supply time). At this time, the control unit 111 of the water heater 11 calculates the usage amounts based on the detection results of various sensors (a combustion sensor for detecting a combustion operation, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of hot water, a flow sensor for detecting the supply of hot water, and the like) included in the detection unit 114, and transmits the calculation results to the kitchen remote controller 13. The controller 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 transmits the usage amount received from the hot water supply unit 11 to the server 50 by using the function of the performance transmitter 133 a. At this time, the usage amount is accumulated, and the period usage accumulated value and the total usage accumulated value on the usage performance database are calculated and updated.

In the above embodiment, the water heater 10 is provided in a single collective housing B10 to form an aggregate, but the unit of the aggregate is not limited to a building unit. For example, an aggregate may be formed by each floor of the same building, or one aggregate may be formed for a plurality of buildings owned by the same owner.

In the above-described embodiment, the use charge when the use performance information is "none" is set to zero, but the use charge is not limited to zero, and may be set to a charge (for example, about 1/10) lower than the use charge when the use performance information is "present". In this case, since the cost of the hot water supply device 10 in the unutilized house H10 can be suppressed, the sense of incongruity of the owner of the collective house B10 can be suppressed.

In embodiment 3, the performance information is 0 or 1 indicating whether the water heater 11 is operated or not, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the performance information may be information indicating whether the water heater 11 is used or not. For example, the usage performance information may also be "present" or "absent".

In the above embodiment, as shown in fig. 12 and 7, the use performance database is held for each collective housing ID of the collective housing B10, but the use performance database is not limited to this, and may be held for each address information of the router 21 of the collective housing B10. In fig. 12 and 7, the kitchen remote controller IDs are collectively registered in the performance database for each of the corresponding collective homes B10 (aggregates), but the kitchen remote controller IDs may be collectively registered in the performance database not for each of the collective homes B10. In this case, information (the collective housing ID or the address information of the router 21) indicating which collective housing B10 (the collective housing) is included may be set for each record corresponding to the kitchen remote controller ID.

In the above embodiment, the wireless communication unit 136 is provided in the kitchen remote controller 13 constituting the hot water supply apparatus 10, but the wireless communication unit may be provided in the hot water supply unit 11, and the hot water supply unit 11 may be connected to the wireless communication unit 22. Alternatively, a control unit including a wireless communication unit may be disposed in the water heater 10 in addition to the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13, and the control unit may be connected to the wireless communication unit 22. At this time, the kitchen remote controller 13 in the above embodiment performs control by the control means.

In the above embodiment, the hot water supply apparatus 10 is a combustion type hot water supply apparatus that heats water using combustion gas generated by combusting fuel, but the configuration of the hot water supply apparatus 10 is not limited to this. For example, the water heater 10 may be a water heater using fuel oil as fuel. The hot water supply apparatus 10 may be a cogeneration-type hot water supply apparatus that generates electric power by a generator and generates hot water by using waste heat from the generator. In this case, as the operation state of the hot water supply apparatus, the operation state of the power generation system may be added together with the operation state of the hot water supply system to generate the use performance information.

In addition, the embodiments of the present invention may be variously modified within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A hot water supply system, comprising:

a hot water supply device; and

a server capable of communicating with the hot water supply device via an external communication network,

the hot water supply apparatus includes:

a usage status monitoring unit that monitors a usage status of the hot water supply device; and

a usage status transmitting unit that transmits usage status information related to the usage status to the server,

the server includes:

a charging information generating unit that generates charging information related to a usage charge of the hot water supply apparatus based on the usage status information received from the usage status transmitting unit;

a storage unit that stores a destination address of the billing information in association with the hot water supply apparatus; and

and a charging information transmitting unit that transmits the charging information to the destination address via the external communication network.

2. The hot water supply system according to claim 1,

the usage status transmitting unit transmits the usage status information to the server at least once within a predetermined period,

the charging information generation unit generates the charging information in the predetermined period based on the usage status information received in the predetermined period.

3. The hot water supply system according to claim 1 or 2,

the hot water supply device is a combustion type hot water supply device for heating water by using combustion gas generated by combusting fuel,

the usage information includes at least one of a combustion amount, a combustion time, and a hot water supply time of the hot water supply device.

4. The hot water supply system according to claim 1 or 2,

the hot water supply device is a cogeneration-type hot water supply device that generates electric power by a generator and generates hot water by using waste heat from the generator,

the usage information includes at least one of a hot water supply amount and a power generation time of the hot water supply device.

5. The hot water supply system according to claim 1 or 2,

the charging information generating unit generates the charging information such that the usage charge increases as a usage cumulative value of the hot water supply apparatus increases based on the usage status information during a unit setting period of the usage charge.

6. The hot water supply system according to claim 1 or 2,

the charging information generation unit changes the method of setting the usage charge such that the amount of the usage charge per unit setting period of the usage charge is smaller than that in the case where the total usage accumulated value does not exceed the threshold value, on condition that the total usage accumulated value from the time of starting the use of the hot water supply apparatus based on the usage status information exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

7. A hot water supply system, comprising:

a plurality of hot water supply devices forming an aggregate; and

a server capable of communicating with the plurality of hot water supply devices via an external communication network,

the hot water supply device transmits the use actual results information related to the use actual results of the hot water supply device to the server,

the server includes a charging information generating unit that generates charging information corresponding to the presence or absence of a usage record of the hot water supply device for each of the hot water supply devices constituting the aggregate, based on the usage record information.

8. A hot-water supply system as claimed in claim 7,

the server includes:

a storage unit that stores a destination address of the billing information in association with the aggregate; and

and a charging information transmitting unit that transmits the charging information of each of the hot water supply devices constituting the aggregate to the destination address via the external communication network.

9. A hot-water supply system according to claim 7 or 8,

the hot water supply device transmits the use performance information to the server at least once within a unit setting period of charging,

the billing information generation unit generates the billing information based on the use record information received during the unit setting period.

10. A hot-water supply system according to claim 7 or 8,

the use performance information includes information on the frequency of use of the hot water supply device,

the charging information generating unit determines that there is a result of use of the hot water supply apparatus when the frequency of use of the hot water supply apparatus is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value within a unit setting period of charging.

11. A hot-water supply system according to claim 7 or 8,

the charging information generation unit changes the method of setting the usage charge on the condition that an accumulated usage frequency from the start of use of the hot water supply apparatus is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, so that the amount of usage charge in a unit setting period of the charging is lower than when the accumulated usage frequency is not equal to or greater than the threshold value.