CN115698610A

CN115698610A - Refrigerator control system, refrigerator, program, and terminal device

Info

Publication number: CN115698610A
Application number: CN202180040402.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 中川雅至; 垣内翔太; 中村智裕; 小柳智之
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-06-10
Filing date: 2021-06-04
Publication date: 2023-02-03
Also published as: JP2021196079A; WO2021251292A1

Abstract

A refrigerator control system (1000) comprises: a refrigerator (1); and a refrigerator control server (3) capable of communicating with the refrigerator (1). When a weather alarm is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator (1), the refrigerator control server (3) transmits, to the refrigerator (1), transition instruction information for causing the operation mode of the refrigerator (1) to transition from a normal operation mode to a power failure pre-cooling operation mode in which the interior temperature of the refrigerator (1) is lower than that in the normal operation mode. Upon receiving the transition instruction information, the refrigerator (1) shifts the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

Description

Refrigerator control system, refrigerator, program, and terminal device

Technical Field

The invention relates to a refrigerator control system, a refrigerator, a program and a terminal device.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a power supply system for a building capable of preserving food in a refrigerator at the time of power failure. The building power supply system includes a power supply vehicle connectable to a predetermined building and a refrigerator, and supplies power to the refrigerator through the power supply vehicle when a power failure occurs in the predetermined building.

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-078689

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides a refrigerator control system, a refrigerator, a program and a terminal device, which can maintain the cooling capacity of the refrigerator in a power failure time period even if an external power supply is not used.

The refrigerator control system according to the present invention is a refrigerator control system including a refrigerator and a server capable of communicating with the refrigerator, wherein the server transmits, to the refrigerator, transition instruction information for causing a transition of an operation mode of the refrigerator from a1 st mode to a2 nd mode in which an interior temperature of the refrigerator is lower than that of the 1 st mode when an alarm related to a cause of occurrence of a power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator, and the refrigerator shifts the operation mode from the 1 st mode to the 2 nd mode when the transition instruction information is received.

The refrigerator according to the present invention is a refrigerator capable of communicating with a server, and includes a refrigerator control unit that receives, from the server, transition instruction information for transitioning an operation mode of the refrigerator from a1 st mode to a2 nd mode in which an interior temperature of the refrigerator is lower than that of the 1 st mode, and transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator from the 1 st mode to the 2 nd mode, when an alarm regarding a cause of power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator.

The program according to the present invention causes a control unit of a terminal device capable of communicating with a server capable of communicating with a refrigerator to function as a communication control unit and an operation control unit, wherein the communication control unit receives inquiry instruction information from the server to inquire a user of the refrigerator whether or not to shift an operation mode of the refrigerator from a1 st mode to a2 nd mode having a lower temperature than the 1 st mode when an alarm related to a cause of power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator, the operation control unit inquires the user whether or not to shift an operation mode of the refrigerator to the 2 nd mode when the inquiry instruction information is received by the communication control unit, and shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator to the 2 nd mode when an instruction to shift to the 2 nd mode is received from the user after the inquiry.

The terminal device according to the present invention is a terminal device capable of communicating with a server that is communicable with a refrigerator, and includes a control unit that receives, from the server, inquiry instruction information asking a user of the refrigerator whether or not to shift an operation mode of the refrigerator from a1 st mode to a2 nd mode having a lower temperature than the 1 st mode when an alarm related to a cause of occurrence of a power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator, asks the user whether or not to shift an operation mode of the refrigerator to the 2 nd mode when the inquiry instruction information is received, and shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator to the 2 nd mode when an instruction to shift to the 2 nd mode is received from the user after the inquiry.

In the refrigerator control system, the refrigerator, the program, and the terminal device according to the present invention, the temperature in the refrigerator is lowered when the alarm related to the cause of the power failure is issued, so that the temperature in the refrigerator can be lowered before the power failure occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of the refrigerator can be maintained for a long time during the power failure even without using an external power supply.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerator control system.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing functional configurations of the refrigerator, the refrigerator control server, and the terminal device.

Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the touch panel by the operation control unit.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system.

Detailed Description

(knowledge findings which form the basis of the present disclosure, etc.)

In the above-described conventional technology, the cooling capacity of the refrigerator can be maintained at the time of power failure, and on the other hand, an external power supply such as a power supply vehicle needs to be used.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a refrigerator control system, a refrigerator, a program, and a terminal device that can maintain the cooling capacity of the refrigerator for a long period of time during a power failure without using an external power supply.

The embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the detailed description may be omitted to the extent necessary. For example, a detailed description of already known matters or a repetitive description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. In addition, the drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to sufficiently understand the present invention, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the scope of claims.

(embodiment mode 1)

Embodiment 1 will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 4.

[1-1. Structure ]

Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a refrigerator control system 1000.

The refrigerator control system 1000 is a system in which an apparatus connected to a global network GN controls the refrigerator 1 via the global network GN. The global network GN includes the internet, telephone network, and other communication networks.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a refrigerator 1. In fig. 1, a refrigerator 1 is installed at home H of a user P. The refrigerator 1 has a main body 10 with an open front, and 5 storage chambers of a refrigerating chamber 11, an ice making chamber 12, a fresh freezing chamber 13, a freezing chamber 14, and a vegetable chamber 15 are formed in the main body 10. A rotary left door 11A and a rotary right door 11B are provided at the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 11. Drawers 12A, 13A, 14A, and 15A for storing foods are provided in the ice making chamber 12, the fresh freezing chamber 13, the freezing chamber 14, and the vegetable chamber 15, respectively.

The refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment is connected to a communication device 2 provided in the home H of the user P, and communicates with a refrigerator control server 3 via the communication device 2. The refrigerator control server 3 corresponds to an example of "server".

The communication device 2 is connected to the global network GN, and communicates with the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN. The communication device 2 functions as an interface device for connecting the refrigerator 1 to the global network GN. When the terminal device 4 establishes a communication connection with the communication device 2, the communication device 2 functions as an interface device for connecting the terminal device 4 to the global network GN. The communication device 2 has functions such as a modem function, a router function, and a Network Address Translation (NAT) function. The communication device 2 transmits data transmitted and received between the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN. The communication device 2 transmits data transmitted and received between the terminal device 4 that establishes a communication connection and the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a terminal device 4 having a touch panel 42. The terminal device 4 is used by the user P of the refrigerator 1, for example, by a smartphone or a tablet terminal. An application program for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 1 is installed in the terminal device 4. In the following description, an application program for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a "refrigerator control application" and is denoted by a reference numeral "413" (see fig. 2).

The refrigerator control application 413 corresponds to an example of "program" and "application program".

In fig. 1, a user P at home is indicated by a dotted line, and a user P who has gone out from home H is indicated by a solid line. When the terminal device 4 is used by a user P at home, the operation of the refrigerator 1 is controlled by the function of the refrigerator control application 413 by communicating with the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN via the communication device 2 or without via the communication device 2. When the terminal apparatus 4 is used by the user P who has left out from the home H, the refrigerator control application 413 controls the operation of the refrigerator 1 by communicating with the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN without passing through the communication apparatus 2.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a refrigerator control server 3. The refrigerator control server 3 is a server device that controls the operation of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator control server 3 is connected to the global network GN, and communicates with the refrigerator 1, the terminal device 4, and the weather alert server 5.

Note that, although the refrigerator control server 3 is represented by 1 module in fig. 1, this does not necessarily mean that the refrigerator control server 3 is configured by a single server device. For example, the refrigerator control server 3 may be configured to include a plurality of server devices having different processing contents. In fig. 1, the refrigerator control server 3 and the weather alarm server 5 are illustrated as separate server devices, but the refrigerator control server 3 and the weather alarm server 5 may be configured as the same server device.

The weather alert server 5 is a server device that provides weather alert distribution information. The weather alarm distribution information is information indicating whether or not a weather alarm is distributed to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator 1. Weather alerts are, for example, alerts relating to the occurrence of a power outage event such as heavy rain, snow, flood, wave, storm or snowstorm.

The area of the weather alert distribution information provided by the weather alert server 5 may be an area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1, and may be, for example, a primary subdivided area, a secondary subdivided area, or another area defined in the japanese weather hall.

In fig. 1, the weather alert server 5 is represented by 1 module, but this does not necessarily mean that the weather alert server 5 is constituted by a single server device. For example, the weather alert server 5 may be configured to include a plurality of server devices having different processing contents.

Next, the functional configurations of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control server 3, and the terminal device 4 will be described. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configurations of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control server 3, and the terminal device 4.

First, a functional structure of the refrigerator 1 will be described. The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator control unit 16, a refrigerator communication unit 17, a cooling unit 18, and a sensor unit 19.

The refrigerator control Unit 16 includes a refrigerator processor 160, which is a processor that executes a program such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro-Processing Unit), and a refrigerator storage Unit 161, and controls each Unit of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator controller 16 executes various processes in cooperation with hardware and software so that the refrigerator processor 160 reads the control program 1611 stored in the refrigerator storage 161 and executes the processes.

The refrigerator storage unit 161 has a storage area for storing a program executed by the refrigerator processor 160 and data processed by the refrigerator processor 160. The refrigerator storage unit 161 stores a control program 1611 executed by the refrigerator processor 160, setting data 1612 relating to setting of the refrigerator 1, a refrigerator ID1613 as identification information of the refrigerator 1, and other various data. As the refrigerator ID1613, the manufacturing number of the refrigerator 1 can be cited as an example. The refrigerator storage unit 161 has a nonvolatile storage area for nonvolatile storage of programs and data. The refrigerator storage unit 161 has a volatile storage area, and constitutes a work area for temporarily storing a program executed by the refrigerator processor 160 and data to be processed.

The refrigerator communication unit 17 includes communication hardware according to a predetermined communication standard. The refrigerator communication unit 17 communicates with the devices connected to the global network GN according to a predetermined communication standard under the control of the refrigerator control unit 16. In the present embodiment, the refrigerator communication unit 17 communicates with the refrigerator control server 3 in accordance with a predetermined communication standard. The communication standard used by refrigerator communication unit 17 may be a wireless communication standard (e.g., ieee802.11a/11b/11g/11n/11ac, bluetooth (registered trademark)) or a wired communication standard.

Cooling unit 18 includes a compressor 181, a condenser 182, a capillary tube 183, a cooler 184, a cooling fan 185 for sending the cold air generated by cooler 184 to each storage compartment, a damper 186 for branching the cold air sent by cooling fan 185, and other mechanisms for cooling each storage compartment of refrigerator 1. The cooling unit 18 cools each storage chamber of the refrigerator 1 under the control of the refrigerator control unit 16.

The sensor unit 19 includes various sensors such as a temperature sensor 191 for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator 1 and an open/close sensor for detecting the opening and closing of a door or a drawer provided in the refrigerator 1, and outputs the detection values of the sensors to the refrigerator control unit 16 for each sensor. As shown in fig. 2, sensor unit 19 includes, as temperature sensors 191, a refrigerating compartment temperature sensor 191A, an ice-making compartment temperature sensor 191B, a fresh-freezing compartment temperature sensor 191C, a freezing compartment temperature sensor 191D, and a vegetable compartment temperature sensor 191E.

Refrigerating room temperature sensor 191A is provided at a predetermined position of refrigerating room 11, and detects the temperature in refrigerating room 11. The ice making chamber temperature sensor 191B is provided at a predetermined position of the ice making chamber 12, and detects the interior temperature of the ice making chamber 12. The fresh freezing chamber temperature sensor 191C is provided at a predetermined position of the fresh freezing chamber 13, and detects the temperature in the freezer of the fresh freezing chamber 13. Freezer compartment temperature sensor 191D is provided at a predetermined position of freezer compartment 14 and detects the temperature inside freezer compartment 14. Vegetable room temperature sensor 191E is provided at a predetermined position of vegetable room 15, and detects the temperature inside vegetable room 15.

The refrigerator control unit 16 shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to either the normal operation mode or the power failure pre-cooling operation mode in which the cooling amount in the refrigerator of the refrigerator 1 is increased as compared with the normal operation mode. The normal operation mode is an operation mode in which normal operation is performed in which the amount of cooling in the interior of the refrigerator 1 is smaller than in the blackout precooling operation. On the other hand, the blackout pre-cooling operation mode is an operation mode in which blackout pre-cooling operation is performed in which the amount of cooling in the interior of the refrigerator 1 is increased compared to the normal operation. The normal operation mode corresponds to an example of "mode 1", and the power outage pre-cooling operation mode corresponds to an example of "mode 2".

By performing the blackout precooling operation before the occurrence of the blackout, the refrigerator 1 can lower the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 before the occurrence of the blackout than that in the normal operation. As a result, the refrigerator 1 can maintain the temperature in the refrigerator for a long period of time during a power failure, and therefore, a decrease in freshness of food items stored in the refrigerator 1 during the power failure can be suppressed.

In the power-off precooling operation, the refrigerator control unit 16 increases the cooling amount in the interior of the refrigerator 1 by increasing the rotation speed of the compressor 181, for example, to a higher value than that in the normal operation. Alternatively, for example, during the power-off precooling operation, the refrigerator control unit 16 increases the rotation speed of the cooling fan 185 to be higher than that during the normal operation, and increases the circulation amount of the cold air in the refrigerator 1, thereby increasing the cooling amount in the interior of the refrigerator 1. Alternatively, for example, in the power-off precooling operation, the refrigerator control unit 16 increases the rotation speed of the compressor 181 to be higher than the rotation speed during the normal operation, and increases the rotation speed of the cooling fan 185 to be higher than the rotation speed during the normal operation, thereby increasing the cooling amount in the refrigerator 1. Thus, in the power-off precooling operation, the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 is, for example, 3 ℃. In the power-off precooling operation, the interior temperature may be decreased for all the storage compartments, or for example, the interior temperature may be decreased only for any storage compartment such as the refrigerating compartment 11.

When the refrigerator communication unit 17 receives the shift instruction information for shifting the operation mode to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode from the refrigerator control server 3, the refrigerator control unit 16 shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode, and starts the blackout pre-cooling operation. When the refrigerator communication unit 17 receives the end instruction information for ending the blackout precooling operation mode from the refrigerator control server 3, the refrigerator control unit 16 ends the blackout precooling operation and shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the blackout precooling operation mode to the normal operation mode.

When a temperature detection trigger for detecting the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 is generated, the refrigerator control unit 16 determines whether or not the interior temperature of the storage chamber of each refrigerator 1 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature, based on the detection value output from each temperature sensor 191. The predetermined temperature is determined in advance by a prior test or simulation in each storage chamber from the viewpoint of suppressing a decrease in freshness of the stored food. The predetermined temperature is set for each storage chamber to a temperature corresponding to the type of food stored in the storage chamber. When it is determined that the interior temperature exceeds the predetermined temperature for any of the storage compartments, the refrigerator control unit 16 transmits, to the refrigerator control server 3, interior temperature notification information indicating that the interior temperature is a temperature that may affect the freshness of the food. On the other hand, when it is determined that the interior temperature is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature for all the storage rooms, the refrigerator control unit 16 does not transmit the interior temperature notification information to the refrigerator control server 3.

The temperature detection trigger is at least one of a time when the refrigerator 1 is started by turning on the power to the refrigerator 1 and a time when the temperature in the refrigerator is detected during the start of the refrigerator 1.

Next, a functional configuration of the refrigerator control server 3 will be described. The refrigerator control server 3 includes a server control unit 30 and a server communication unit 31.

The server control unit 30 includes a server processor 300, which is a processor that executes programs such as a CPU and an MPU, and a server storage unit 310, and controls each unit of the refrigerator control server 3. The server control unit 30 executes various processes in cooperation with hardware and software so that the server processor 300 reads the control program 311 stored in the server storage unit 310 and executes the processes.

The server storage unit 310 has a storage area for storing a program executed by the server processor 300 and data processed by the server processor 300. The server storage unit 310 stores a control program 311 executed by the server processor 300, setting data 312 of the setting design of the refrigerator control server 3, a refrigerator control database 313, and other various data. The server storage unit 310 has a nonvolatile storage area in which programs and data are stored in a nonvolatile manner. The server storage unit 310 may have a volatile storage area, and may constitute a work area for temporarily storing a program executed by the server processor 300 and data to be processed.

The refrigerator control database 313 is a database that stores various information related to the operation control of the refrigerator 1. One record R stored in the refrigerator control database 313 has a user ID3131, a refrigerator ID1613, refrigerator communication information 3132, terminal device communication information 3133, and setting location information 3134. The 1 record R stored in the refrigerator control database 313 may further include 1 or more other types of information.

The user ID3131 is identification information for identifying the user P who uses the refrigerator control application 413, and is appropriately assigned to the user P who uses the refrigerator control application 413.

As described above, the refrigerator ID1613 is identification information of the refrigerator 1.

Refrigerator communication information 3132 is information for communicating with the refrigerator 1 of the refrigerator ID1613 associated with the same record R. The refrigerator communication information 3132 includes address information, security information, and the like, for example.

The terminal device communication information 3133 is information for communicating with the terminal device 4 of the refrigerator control application 413 used by the user P installed with the user ID3131 corresponding to the same record R. The terminal device communication information 3133 includes address information, security information, and the like, for example.

Installation location information 3134 is information indicating the installation location of refrigerator 1. In the present embodiment, the installation location of the refrigerator 1 is the home H of the user P, and therefore the installation location information 3134 indicates the address, zip code, and the like of the home H.

The server communication unit 31 includes communication hardware conforming to a predetermined communication standard. The server communication unit 31 communicates with the devices connected to the global network GN according to a predetermined communication standard under the control of the server control unit 30. In the present embodiment, the server communication unit 31 communicates with the refrigerator 1, the terminal device 4, and the weather alert server 5.

Next, a functional configuration of the terminal device 4 will be described. The terminal device 4 includes a terminal control unit 40, a terminal communication unit 41, and a touch panel 42. The terminal control unit 40 corresponds to the "control unit" of the invention.

The terminal control unit 40 includes a terminal processor 400 and a terminal storage unit 410, which are processors of programs such as a linear CPU and an MPU, and controls each unit of the terminal device 4. The terminal control unit 40 executes various processes in cooperation of hardware and software so that the terminal processor 400 reads the control program 411 stored in the terminal storage unit 410 and executes the processes. The refrigerator control application 413 is installed in the terminal device 4 in advance. The refrigerator control application 413 is read from the terminal storage unit 410 by the terminal processor 400 and executed, thereby causing the terminal control unit 40 to function as the setting unit 401, the communication control unit 402, and the operation control unit 403. Details of these functional units will be described later.

The terminal storage unit 410 has a storage area for storing a program executed by the terminal processor 400 and data processed by the terminal processor 400. The terminal storage unit 410 stores a control program 411 executed by the terminal processor 400, setting data 412 relating to setting of the terminal device 4, a refrigerator control application 413, a user ID3131, and other various data. The terminal storage unit 410 has a nonvolatile storage area in which programs and data are stored in a nonvolatile manner. The terminal storage unit 410 may have a volatile storage area, and may have a work area for temporarily storing a program executed by the terminal processor 400 and data to be processed.

The terminal communication unit 41 includes communication hardware conforming to a predetermined communication standard. The terminal communication unit 41 communicates with the devices connected to the global network GN according to a predetermined communication standard under the control of the terminal control unit 40. The terminal communication unit 41 communicates with the refrigerator control server 3 in accordance with a predetermined communication standard by the function of the refrigerator control application 413. The communication standard used by the terminal communication unit 41 is a wireless communication standard.

The touch panel 42 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, and a touch sensor provided so as to overlap with or be integrated with the display panel. The display panel displays various images under the control of the terminal control unit 40. The touch sensor detects a touch operation and outputs the touch operation to the terminal control unit 40. The terminal control unit 40 executes processing corresponding to a touch operation based on an input from the touch sensor.

As described above, the terminal control unit 40 functions as the setting unit 401, the communication control unit 402, and the operation control unit 403.

The setting unit 401 performs various settings regarding the functions of the refrigerator control application 413. For example, the setting unit 401 sets a setting value in a corresponding setting item in application setting data stored in a predetermined storage area accessible by the refrigerator control application 413, thereby performing various settings regarding the function of the refrigerator control application 413. The application setting data is data related to setting of the functions of the refrigerator control application 413, and includes various setting items.

Setting unit 401 sets the installation location of refrigerator 1. For example, the setting unit 401 displays a user interface for the user P to input the address and zip code of the user P from the home H on the touch panel 42, and sets the input address and zip code as the installation location of the refrigerator 1. Installation location information 3134 indicating the installation location of refrigerator 1 set by setting unit 401 is output to communication control unit 402.

The communication control unit 402 controls the terminal communication unit 41 to transmit and receive various information to and from the refrigerator control server 3. If the installation location information 3134 is output from the setting unit 401, the communication control unit 402 adds the user ID3131 stored in the terminal storage unit 410, and transmits the output installation location information 3134 to the refrigerator control server 3 using the terminal communication unit 41. If the refrigerator control server 3 receives the setting place information 3134 from the terminal device 4, the setting place information 3134 possessed by the record R attached to the user ID3131 in the received setting place information 3134 is updated to the received setting place information 3134 with reference to the refrigerator control database 313.

When the communication control unit 402 acquires the end instruction information from the operation control unit 403, the terminal communication unit 41 transmits the end instruction information to the refrigerator control server 3. When transmitting the end instruction information to the refrigerator control server 3, the communication control unit 402 adds the user ID3131 stored in the terminal storage unit 410 to the end instruction information.

When receiving an instruction to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode from the user P, the operation control unit 403 generates end instruction information and outputs the end instruction information to the communication control unit 402. The operation control unit 403 displays a user interface for inquiring whether to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode on the touch panel 42, for example, and generates and outputs end instruction information when an instruction to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is received on the user interface.

[1-2. Actions ]

Next, the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 according to embodiment 1 will be described. Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000. In fig. 3, a flowchart FA shows an operation of the refrigerator control server 3, and a flowchart FB shows an operation of the refrigerator 1.

At the start time of the flowchart FB shown in fig. 3, the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is assumed to be the normal operation mode. In the flowchart FA shown in fig. 3, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 sets one of the records R stored in the refrigerator control database 313 as a processing target.

The server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines whether or not a weather alarm is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator 1 (step SA 1).

For example, in step SA1, the server control unit 30 transmits information to the weather alert server 5 via the server communication unit 31, and inquires whether a weather alert is issued to an area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1. The inquiry is performed at regular intervals (e.g., every 10 minutes). The information transmitted to the weather alert server 5 at the time of the inquiry includes installation location information 3134 that the record R to be processed has. The weather alarm server 5 determines whether or not a weather alarm is issued to the area of the installation location indicated by the installation location information 3134 included in the received information, based on, for example, a predetermined database in which the area is associated with the presence or absence of the weather alarm being issued. When determining that a weather alarm has been issued, the weather alarm server 5 transmits weather alarm issue information indicating that a weather alarm has been issued to the refrigerator control server 3 as a response to the inquiry. When it is determined that the weather alarm has not been issued, the weather alarm server 5 transmits weather alarm issue information indicating that the weather alarm has not been issued to the refrigerator control server 3 as a response to the inquiry. When the weather-alarm distribution information received as a response to the inquiry indicates that the weather alarm is distributed, the server control unit 30 makes an affirmative determination in step SA 1. On the other hand, when the weather alarm distribution information received as a response to the inquiry indicates that the weather alarm is not distributed, the server control unit 30 makes a negative determination at step SA 1.

When determining that the weather alarm is not issued to the area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1 (no in step SA 1), the server control unit 30 ends the present process.

On the other hand, when the server control unit 30 determines that the weather alarm is issued to the area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1 (yes in step SA 1), the server communication unit 31 transmits the transition instruction information to the refrigerator 1 based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 included in the record R to be processed (step SA 2).

Referring to the flowchart FB, the refrigerator control unit 16 of the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not the refrigerator communication unit 17 has received the transition instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SB 1).

When determining that the migration instruction information has not been received (no in step SB 1), the refrigerator control unit 16 performs the process of step SB1 again.

When determining that the transfer instruction information has been received (yes in step SB 1), the refrigerator control unit 16 shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and starts the power outage pre-cooling operation (step SB 2).

Returning to the description of the flowchart FA, if the transition instruction information is transmitted to the refrigerator 1, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines whether or not the issued weather alarm is released (step SA 3).

For example, in step SA3, the server control unit 30 inquires of the weather alert server 5 whether a weather alert is issued to an area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1, as in step SA 1. The server control unit 30 makes a negative determination at step SA3 when the weather alarm distribution information received from the weather alarm server 5 as a response to the inquiry indicates that a weather alarm is distributed, and makes an affirmative determination at step SA3 when the weather alarm distribution information indicates that a weather alarm is not distributed.

When the server control unit 30 determines that the issued weather alarm has not been released (no in step SA 3), the process of step SA3 is performed again.

On the other hand, when the server control unit 30 determines that the issued weather alarm has been released (yes in step SA 3), the server communication unit 31 transmits end instruction information based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 included in the record R to be processed (step SA 4).

Returning to the description of the flowchart FB, if the power-off precooling operation is started, the refrigerator control unit 16 determines whether or not the refrigerator communication unit 17 has received the end instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SB 3).

When determining that the end instruction information has not been received from the refrigerator control server 3 (no in step SB 3), the refrigerator control unit 16 performs the process of step SB3 again.

On the other hand, when determining that termination instruction information has been received from refrigerator control server 3 (yes in step SB 3), refrigerator control unit 16 shifts the operation mode of refrigerator 1 from the power-off pre-cooling operation mode to the normal operation mode, and terminates the power-off pre-cooling operation (step SB 4).

As described above, when the weather alarm is issued, the refrigerator control system 1000 shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. This reduces the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 when the weather alarm is issued, and therefore the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 can be reduced before the power failure occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long time during a power failure even without using an external power supply.

In the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 described above, the termination trigger for terminating the power failure pre-cooling operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is the state in which the refrigerator 1 receives the termination instruction information in response to the release of the weather alarm. However, the end trigger for ending the blackout pre-cooling operation mode is not limited to this. Here, a plurality of other end triggers will be described.

< 1 st other end trigger >

In the configuration for ending the blackout pre-cooling operation mode by the other end trigger of the 1 st embodiment, the refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator operation unit as a functional unit. The refrigerator operating unit includes, for example, an operating unit such as an operating switch provided at a predetermined position such as a front surface of the right door 11B or inside the refrigerator compartment 11. The refrigerator 1 detects an operation of the operation unit by the user P, and outputs a detection result to the refrigerator control unit 16. The refrigerator operating unit may include an operation switch and a touch panel at the same time or may include a touch panel instead of the operation switch. The refrigerator control unit 16 performs processing corresponding to an operation on the operation unit based on an input from the refrigerator operation unit.

When the operation of the user P received by the refrigerator operation unit is an operation indicating an instruction to end the blackout precooling operation mode or an operation indicating a change in the interior temperature, the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that an end trigger has occurred, shifts from the blackout precooling operation mode to the normal operation mode, and ends the blackout precooling operation.

< 2 nd other end trigger >

In the configuration in which the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is ended by the other end trigger of the 2 nd, the refrigerator 1 receives end instruction information from the terminal device 4 via the refrigerator control server 3.

When receiving an instruction to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode or an instruction to change the interior temperature from the user P, the operation control unit 403 of the terminal apparatus 4 outputs end instruction information to the communication control unit 402. The communication control unit 402 adds the user ID3131 stored in the terminal storage unit 410, and the terminal communication unit 41 transmits the end instruction information output by the operation control unit 403 to the refrigerator control server 3.

If the end instruction information is received from the terminal device 4 by the server communication unit 31, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 refers to the refrigerator control database 313 and specifies the record R including the user ID3131 added to the end instruction information. Next, the server control unit 30 transmits the end instruction information received from the terminal device 4 to the refrigerator 1 by the server communication unit 31 based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 included in the identified record R.

If the refrigerator communication unit 17 receives the end instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3, the refrigerator control unit 16 of the refrigerator 1 determines that the end trigger has occurred, shifts from the blackout pre-cooling operation mode to the normal operation mode, and ends the blackout pre-cooling operation.

In the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000, it may be determined whether any one of the end trigger shown in fig. 3, the other 1 st end trigger, and the other 2 nd end trigger has occurred, or whether any one of a plurality of arbitrary end triggers has occurred. However, it is preferable that the termination trigger of the blackout precooling operation mode includes at least the termination trigger shown in fig. 3, that is, the termination instruction information is received when the issued weather alarm is released. This is because, when the weather alarm is released, the refrigerator 1 can reliably end the blackout pre-cooling operation mode, and can suppress unnecessary cooling in the refrigerator and increase in power consumption.

The operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 shown in fig. 3 is an operation related to the operation mode of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator control system 1000 executes the operation shown in fig. 4 in parallel with the operation shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000. In fig. 4, a flowchart FC shows the operation of the refrigerator 1, a flowchart FD shows the operation of the refrigerator control server 3, and a flowchart FE shows the operation of the terminal device 4.

The refrigerator control unit 16 of the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not a temperature detection trigger has occurred (step SC 1). As described above, the temperature detection trigger is at least one of the time when the refrigerator 1 is started by turning on the power supply to the refrigerator 1 and the time when the temperature inside the refrigerator is detected during the start of the refrigerator 1.

When determining that the temperature detection trigger has occurred (yes in step SC 1), the refrigerator control unit 16 determines whether or not the interior temperatures of all the storage chambers are equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature (step SC 2).

When the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that the interior temperature of all the storage chambers is equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature (yes in step SC 2), the process of step SC1 is performed again.

On the other hand, when the condition that the interior temperatures of all the storage chambers are equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, that is, when the interior temperature of any one of the storage chambers exceeds the predetermined temperature is not satisfied (no in step SC 2), the refrigerator control unit 16 transmits the interior temperature notification information to the refrigerator control server 3 via the refrigerator communication unit 17 (step SC 3). In step SC3, the refrigerator controller 16 adds the refrigerator ID1613 stored in the refrigerator storage 161 and transmits the interior temperature notification information. The inside temperature notification information may include information indicating a storage chamber whose inside temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature.

Referring to flowchart FD, server control unit 30 of refrigerator control server 3 determines whether or not the inside temperature notification information is received from refrigerator 1 by server communication unit 31 (step SD 1).

When determining that the interior temperature notification information has not been received from the refrigerator 1 (no in step SD 1), the server control unit 30 performs the process of step SD1 again.

On the other hand, when determining that the in-refrigerator temperature notification information has been received from the refrigerator 1 (step SD1: yes), the server control unit 30 refers to the refrigerator control database 313 and specifies the record R including the refrigerator ID1613 added to the in-refrigerator temperature notification information (step SD 2).

The server control unit 30 transmits the interior temperature notification information received from the refrigerator 1 to the terminal device 4 by the server communication unit 31 based on the terminal device communication information 3133 included in the specified record R (step SD 3).

Referring to the flowchart FE, the communication control unit 402 of the terminal apparatus 4 determines whether or not the terminal communication unit 41 has received the interior temperature notification information (step SE 1).

When determining that the interior temperature notification information has not been received (no in step SE 1), the communication control unit 402 performs the process of step SE1 again.

On the other hand, when the communication control unit 402 determines that the in-house temperature notification information has been received (yes in step SE 1), the operation control unit 403 notifies that the in-house temperature is a temperature that may affect the freshness of the food through the touch panel 42 (step SE 2). Note that the notification method in step SE2 is not limited to the display on the touch panel 42, and may be, for example, an audio output from a speaker included in the terminal apparatus 4.

By performing the operation of fig. 4, the following effects are exhibited. That is, when the temperature in the refrigerator at the time of recovery from the power failure is a temperature that can affect the freshness of the food, the user P can promptly recognize the temperature after recovery from the power failure. Therefore, the user P can promptly take action to suppress the decrease in freshness of the food after the power failure is recovered. As described above, the refrigerator control system 1000 can further suppress a decrease in food freshness due to a power failure by performing the operation shown in fig. 4.

[1-3. Effects, etc. ]

As described above, the refrigerator control system 1000 includes the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerator control server 3 communicable with the refrigerator 1. When a weather alarm is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control server 3 transmits, to the refrigerator 1, transition instruction information for causing the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to transition from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode in which the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 is lower than that in the normal operation mode. When the refrigerator 1 receives the transition instruction information, the operation mode is switched from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

The refrigerator 1 that can communicate with the refrigerator control server 3 includes a refrigerator control unit 16, and receives, from the refrigerator control server 3, transition instruction information for transitioning the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode when a weather alarm is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator 1, and transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode.

This reduces the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 when the weather alarm is issued, and therefore the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 can be reduced before the power failure occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long time during a power failure even without using an external power supply.

When the weather alarm is released, the refrigerator control server 3 transmits termination instruction information for terminating the blackout pre-cooling operation mode to the refrigerator 1. Upon receiving the end instruction information, the refrigerator 1 ends the power-off pre-cooling operation mode.

When the weather alarm is released, the refrigerator control unit 16 receives end instruction information for ending the blackout pre-cooling operation mode from the refrigerator control server 3, and ends the blackout pre-cooling operation mode.

When the weather alarm is released, the possibility of power failure due to weather causes is low, and therefore the necessity of continuing the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is low. Therefore, the power outage pre-cooling operation mode can be ended at an appropriate timing, and unnecessary cooling in the interior and an increase in power consumption can be suppressed. In general, since the issued weather alarm is released, the refrigerator 1 can reliably terminate the blackout pre-cooling operation mode, and can more reliably suppress unnecessary cooling in the refrigerator and an increase in power consumption.

When receiving an operation for changing the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 from the user P of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator 1 ends the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

When receiving an operation to change the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 from the user P of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control unit 16 ends the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

Receiving a change in the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 is likely to indicate that the user P intends to terminate the blackout pre-cooling operation mode and then change the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 from the temperature in the blackout pre-cooling operation mode to another temperature. Therefore, with this configuration, refrigerator 1 can end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode at a desired timing of user P.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a terminal device 4 capable of communicating with the refrigerator control server 3. When receiving an instruction to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode from the user P of the refrigerator 1, the terminal device 4 transmits end instruction information to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode to the refrigerator control server 3. If the refrigerator control server 3 receives the end instruction information, the end instruction information is transmitted to the refrigerator 1. After receiving the end instruction information, the refrigerator 1 ends the power-off pre-cooling operation mode.

Receiving a change in the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 is likely to indicate that the user P wants to end the blackout pre-cooling operation mode and then change the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 from the temperature in the blackout pre-cooling operation mode to another temperature. Therefore, with this configuration, refrigerator 1 can end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode at a desired timing of user P. Further, since the user P can end the blackout pre-cooling operation mode by operating the terminal device 4, the user P can end the blackout pre-cooling operation mode at a desired timing even when the user P is not at the installation location of the refrigerator 1 such as the home H.

(embodiment mode 2)

Next, embodiment 2 will be described with reference to fig. 5 and 6.

In embodiment 2, the same components as those in embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. The refrigerator control system according to embodiment 2 has the same configuration as the refrigerator control system 1000 shown in fig. 1, and the functional configurations of the refrigerator, the refrigerator control server, and the terminal device are the same as the block diagram shown in fig. 2.

In embodiment 1, the refrigerator control system 1000 is configured to automatically shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode when a weather alarm is issued. In embodiment 2, the refrigerator control system 1000 is configured to inquire of the user P whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode when the weather alarm is issued, and to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode when the user P gives an instruction to shift to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode after the inquiry.

[2-1. Structure ]

The operation control unit 403 according to embodiment 2 displays various user interfaces on the touch panel 42, and makes an inquiry as to whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and receives an instruction to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface displayed on the touch panel 42 by the operation control section 403.

When receiving the inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3, the operation control unit 403 displays the 1 st user interface UI1 on the touch panel 42 in the form of a push notification if the display screen of the touch panel 42 is the non-application screen HAG. In addition, the inquiry instruction information will be explained later. The non-application screen HAG is, for example, a screen other than the application screen AG of the refrigerator control application 413 such as a home screen.

The 1 st user interface UI1 comprises: inquiry information J1 inquiring whether or not the user P shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. When the user P touches the 1 st user interface UI1, the operation control unit 403 switches the display screen of the touch panel 42 from the non-application screen HAG to the application screen AG on which the 2 nd user interface UI2 is displayed. When the inquiry instruction information is received from the refrigerator control server 3, if the display screen of the touch panel 42 is the application screen AG, the operation control unit 403 displays the 2 nd user interface UI2 on the application screen AG while not displaying the 1 st user interface UI1 on the touch panel 42.

The 2 nd user interface UI2 comprises: inquiry information J1 inquiring whether or not the user P shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. In addition, the 2 nd user interface UI2 includes a yes button B1 and a no button B2. The yes button B1 is a software button for receiving an instruction from the user P to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. No button B2 is a software button for receiving an instruction from user P not to shift the operation mode of refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

When the no button B2 is touched by the user P, the operation control unit 403 stops the display of the 2 nd user interface UI2 without shifting the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. On the other hand, when the button B1 is touched by the user P, the operation control unit 403 shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, and causes the 3 rd user interface UI3 to be displayed on the touch panel 42 instead of the 2 nd user interface UI 2.

The 3 rd user interface UI3 includes: the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is shifted to the blackout precooling operation mode, and operation start information J2 indicating the start of the blackout precooling operation of the refrigerator 1 is displayed.

[2-2. Actions ]

Next, the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 according to embodiment 2 will be described.

Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 according to embodiment 2. In fig. 6, a flowchart FF shows the operation of the terminal device 4, a flowchart FG shows the operation of the refrigerator control server 3, and a flowchart FH shows the operation of the refrigerator 1.

In fig. 6, the same steps as those in the flowchart shown in fig. 3 are denoted by the same step numbers, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

The start time of each flowchart shown in fig. 6 is the same as that in fig. 3, and the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is the normal operation mode. In addition, in flowchart FG shown in fig. 6, server control unit 30 of refrigerator control server 3 sets any one of records R as a processing target.

Referring to flowchart FG, when server control unit 30 of refrigerator control server 3 determines that a weather alarm has been issued (yes in step SA 1), server communication unit 31 transmits inquiry instruction information for making an inquiry about the shift to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode to terminal device 4, based on terminal device communication information 3133 included in record R to be processed (step SG 1).

Referring to the flowchart FF, the communication control unit 402 of the terminal device 4 determines whether or not the inquiry instruction information is received from the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41 (step SF 1).

When determining that the inquiry instruction information has not been received from the refrigerator control server 3 (no in step SF 1), the communication control unit 402 performs the process of step SF1 again.

When the communication control unit 402 determines that the inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 is received from the refrigerator control server 3 (yes in step SF 1), the operation control unit 403 displays the 1 st user interface UI1 or the 2 nd user interface UI2 on the touch panel 42, and inquires of the user P whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode (step SF 2).

Next, the communication control unit 402 determines whether or not alarm release information indicating release of the weather alarm is received from the refrigerator control server 3 by the terminal communication unit 41 (step SF 3).

The case where the communication control section 402 makes a negative determination in step SF3 will be described later.

When the communication control unit 402 determines that the alarm release information has not been received from the refrigerator control server 3 (no in step SF 3), the operation control unit 403 determines whether or not an instruction to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is received from the user P (step SF 4). When the "yes" button B1 of the 2 nd user interface UI2 is touched and operated, the operation control unit 403 determines affirmatively in step SF 4.

Next, when determining that no instruction to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode has been received from the user P (no in step SF 4), the operation control unit 403 determines whether or not an instruction to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode has been received from the user P (step SF 6). When the no button B2 of the 2 nd user interface UI2 is touched and operated, the operation control unit 403 makes an affirmative determination in step SF 6.

When the operation control unit 403 determines that no instruction is received from the user P to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode (no in step SF 6), the process returns to step SF3, and the determination in step SF3 is performed again.

On the other hand, when the operation control unit 403 determines that an instruction to not shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode has been received from the user P (yes in step SF 6), the display of the 2 nd user interface UI2 is stopped, and the inquiry as to whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is ended (step SF 7).

Returning to the explanation of step SF4, when receiving an instruction to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode (yes in step SF 4), the operation control unit 403 transmits the shift instruction information to the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41 (step SF 5).

Referring to the flowchart FG, server control unit 30 of refrigerator control server 3 determines whether or not the transfer instruction information is received from terminal device 4 via server communication unit 31 (step SG 2).

When determining that the transfer instruction information has not been received from the terminal device 4 by the server communication unit 31 (no in step SG 2), the server control unit 30 determines whether or not the issued weather alarm is released (step SG 3).

When determining that the issued weather alarm is released (yes in step SG 3), the server control unit 30 transmits alarm release information to the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 31 based on the terminal device communication information 3133 included in the record R to be processed (step SG 4).

Referring to flowchart FF, if it is determined that communication control unit 402 of terminal device 4 has received the alarm release information (yes in step SF 3), operation control unit 403 stops the display of user interface 1 and user interface 2 1, and ends the inquiry as to whether or not to shift the operation mode of refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode (step SF 7).

Referring to the flowchart FG, returning to the description of step SG3, when the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines that the issued weather alarm has not been released (no in step SG 3), the process of step SG2 is performed again.

Returning to the description of step SG2, when the server control unit 30 determines that the migration instruction information has been received from the terminal device 4 by the server communication unit 31 (yes in step SG 2), the migration instruction information received from the terminal device 4 is transmitted to the refrigerator 1 via the server communication unit 31 based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 included in the record R to be processed (step SA 2).

In embodiment 2, the termination trigger for terminating the blackout pre-cooling operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is not limited to receiving termination instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 in response to the release of the weather alarm. As in embodiment 1, the refrigerator control unit 16 may determine whether or not any one of the end trigger shown in fig. 6, the 1 st other end trigger described above, and the 2 nd other end trigger described above has occurred, or may determine whether or not any one of a plurality of arbitrary end triggers has occurred. However, for the same reason as that described in embodiment 1, it is preferable that the termination trigger of the blackout pre-cooling operation mode includes at least the termination trigger shown in fig. 6, that is, the termination instruction information is received in response to the release of the weather alarm.

In embodiment 2 as well, the refrigerator control system 1000 executes the operation shown in fig. 4 in parallel with the operation shown in fig. 6, as in embodiment 1. Thus, in embodiment 2, the same effect as in embodiment 1 is exhibited by the operation shown in fig. 4.

(2-3. Modification)

Next, a modification of embodiment 2 will be described.

In the present modification, the communication control unit 402 inquires of the refrigerator control server 3 whether or not a weather alarm is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator 1 at least at one time point for each predetermined time period between the time when the refrigerator control application 413 is activated and the time when the refrigerator control application 413 is activated. Hereinafter, the time when the inquiry is made is referred to as "distribution confirmation time". In the present modification, the meaning of activation of the refrigerator control application 413 includes activation in the background.

In the present modification, the terminal storage unit 410 stores installation location information 3134. The installation location information 3134 indicates the installation location of the refrigerator 1 controlled by the refrigerator control application 413 installed in the terminal device 4.

When the distribution confirmation time arrives, the terminal communication unit 41 transmits information to the refrigerator control server 3, and thereby the communication control unit 402 inquires of the refrigerator control server 3 whether or not a weather alarm is distributed to an area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1. The information transmitted to the refrigerator control server 3 in the inquiry includes installation location information 3134 stored in the terminal storage unit 410.

As described in step SA1 of embodiment 1, the server communication unit 31 transmits information to the weather alert server 5, and the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 inquires whether or not a weather alert is issued to an area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1. In response to the inquiry from the weather alarm server 5, the server control unit 30 transmits inquiry instruction information to the terminal device 4 when receiving weather alarm issue information indicating that a weather alarm has been issued. On the other hand, when receiving weather alarm information indicating that no weather alarm is issued, the server control unit 30 transmits information indicating that no weather alarm is issued to the terminal device 4.

Upon receiving the inquiry instruction information, the communication control unit 402 of the terminal device 4 performs the processing after step SF2 shown in the flowchart FF of fig. 6. Subsequently, the refrigerator control server 3 performs the processing of step SG2 and thereafter shown in the flowchart FG in fig. 6, and the refrigerator 1 performs the processing of the flowchart FH in fig. 6.

According to this modification, the following effects are exhibited.

In the case where the refrigerator control application 413 is not activated and the push notification is not set, or in the case where the push notification cannot be performed in accordance with the specification of the terminal device 4, the refrigerator control application 413, or the like, there is a possibility that the inquiry as to whether or not the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is to be shifted may not be performed even if the weather alarm is issued and the inquiry instruction information is received from the refrigerator control server 3. That is, if the push notification cannot be performed, there is a possibility that the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 cannot be lowered from the normal operation mode until the power failure occurs. This shortens the period during which the cooling capacity of refrigerator 1 can be maintained during a power failure.

Therefore, in the present modification, at least one time point for each predetermined time period between the time when the refrigerator control application 413 is activated and the time when the refrigerator control application 413 is activated, the communication control unit 402 inquires of the refrigerator control server 3 whether or not a weather alarm is issued to an area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1. When receiving the inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3, the terminal device 4 makes an inquiry as to whether or not to shift to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

This can improve the possibility that the user P can make an inquiry as to whether or not to shift to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode. Therefore, even when the terminal device 4 cannot perform the push notification, the possibility that the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 can be lowered from the normal operation mode before the power failure occurs can be increased. Therefore, even when the terminal device 4 cannot perform the push notification, the possibility that the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long time in the event of a power failure can be improved.

[2-4. Effect, etc. ]

As described above, the refrigerator control application 413 causes the terminal control unit 40 of the terminal device 4 that can communicate with the refrigerator control server 3, in which the refrigerator control server 3 can communicate with the refrigerator 1, to function as the communication control unit 402 and the operation control unit 403 as described below. That is, the refrigerator control application 413 functions as the communication control unit 402 for the terminal control unit 40: when a weather alarm is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator 1, inquiry instruction information is received from the refrigerator control server 3 to inquire of a user of the refrigerator 1 whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. In addition, the refrigerator control application 413 functions as the operation control unit 403 for the terminal control unit 40: when the communication control unit 402 receives the inquiry instruction information, it inquires the user P whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, and when an instruction to shift to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is received from the user P after the inquiry, the communication control unit shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

The terminal device 4 capable of communicating with the refrigerator control server 3 includes a terminal control unit 40, and the refrigerator control server 3 is capable of communicating with the refrigerator 1. When a weather alarm is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator 1, the terminal control unit 40 receives inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 to inquire of the user P of the refrigerator 1 whether to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, inquires of the user P whether to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode when the inquiry instruction information is received, and shifts the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode when an instruction to shift to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is received from the user P after the inquiry.

This reduces the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 when the weather alarm is issued, and therefore the interior temperature of the refrigerator 1 can be reduced before the power failure occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long time during a power failure even without using an external power supply. Further, when receiving an instruction to shift to the blackout pre-cooling operation, the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is shifted to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode, so that it is possible to prevent the operation in the blackout pre-cooling operation mode, which is started by the refrigerator 1, from becoming an operation of the refrigerator 1 which is not intended by the user P.

The communication control unit 402 inquires of the refrigerator control server 3 whether or not a weather alarm is issued at least at one time point of each predetermined time period between the time when the refrigerator control application 413 is activated and the time when the refrigerator control application 413 is activated, and receives inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 when the weather alarm is issued.

This can increase the possibility that the user P can be asked whether or not to shift to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, and even when the terminal device 4 cannot perform push notification, the possibility that the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long time during power failure can be increased.

When the weather alarm is released for the area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1, the communication control unit 402 receives alarm release information indicating that the weather alarm has been released from the refrigerator control server 3. When the communication control unit 402 receives the alarm release information, the operation control unit 403 ends the inquiry as to whether or not to shift to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

When the weather alarm is released, since the possibility of power failure due to weather is low, the necessity of shifting the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is low. Therefore, the inquiry as to whether or not to shift to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode can be completed at an appropriate timing. Further, since the inquiry can be ended at an appropriate timing, unnecessary cooling in the interior and an increase in power consumption due to the cooling can be avoided.

The refrigerator control application 413 is an application that can be installed on the terminal device 4.

In this way, by installing the refrigerator control application 413, the terminal device 4 that does not have the function of shifting the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode can be set as the terminal device 4 having the function. Thus, the general-purpose terminal device 4 can be used as the terminal device 4 that can maintain the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 for a long time during a power failure without using an external power supply.

(other embodiments)

As described above, embodiment 1 and embodiment 2 are explained as examples disclosed in the present application. However, the technique of the present invention is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like are made. Further, the components described in embodiment 1 and embodiment 2 can be combined to form a new embodiment.

Therefore, other embodiments are exemplified below.

In the above embodiments, the case where the refrigerator 1 shifts the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the blackout precooling operation mode when the refrigerator 1 starts the blackout precooling operation is exemplified, but the operation mode to be switched is not limited to the normal operation mode, and may be any operation mode other than the blackout precooling operation mode. In the above embodiments, the case where the refrigerator 1 shifts the operation mode from the blackout pre-cooling operation mode to the normal operation mode when the refrigerator 1 finishes the blackout pre-cooling operation is exemplified, but the operation mode to be switched is not limited to the normal operation mode, and may be any operation mode other than the blackout pre-cooling operation mode. Here, the operation modes other than the power failure pre-cooling operation mode correspond to an example of "mode 1".

In the above embodiments, the weather alarm is given as an example of the alarm related to the cause of the power failure, but the alarm related to the cause of the power failure may be an alarm other than the weather alarm such as an earthquake alarm, a flood alarm, a tsunami alarm, a volcanic fire alarm, or a fire alarm. In this case, the cause of the power outage is a cause other than weather. In this case, a server device is connected to the global network GN in place of the weather alert server 5 or together with the weather alert server 5, information indicating the presence or absence of an alert other than a weather alert is provided, and the refrigerator control server 3 inquires of the server device whether or not an alert is issued.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, the following configuration may be adopted: when the transfer instruction information is transmitted to the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control server 3 adds the refrigerator ID1613 to the transfer instruction information, and only when the refrigerator ID1613 added to the transfer instruction information matches the refrigerator ID1613 stored in the refrigerator storage unit 161, the refrigerator 1 shifts the operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. This produces the following effects. If the configuration is such that the mode is shifted to the blackout pre-cooling operation mode without depending on the refrigerator ID1613, if the refrigerator communication information 3132 associated with the refrigerator ID1613 is not appropriate information in the refrigerator control database 313, there is a possibility that the refrigerator 1 may start the blackout pre-cooling operation, which is not intended by the user P. For example, if the installation location of the refrigerator 1 is changed by moving, and the address on the network is also changed, if the refrigerator control database 313 is not updated appropriately, the refrigerator 1 may start the power-off precooling operation, which is undesirable for the user P. Thus, as in the refrigerator described above, by configuring to shift to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode only when the refrigerator ID1613 added to the shift instruction information matches the refrigerator ID1613 stored in the refrigerator storage unit 161, it is possible to reliably start the power outage pre-cooling operation of the refrigerator 1 desired by the user P.

The kinds of chambers formed in the main body 10 of the refrigerator, for example, are not limited to the refrigerating chamber 11 ice making chamber 12, the fresh freezing chamber 13, the freezing chamber 14, and the vegetable chamber 15, and thus other kinds of chambers may be formed at least, or may be further formed. The number of doors provided in the front opening of refrigerating room 11 may be 1.

For example, one or more temperature sensors 191 may be provided in each storage compartment of the refrigerator 1, or a storage compartment in which no temperature sensor 191 is provided may be provided.

For example, the functions of the refrigerator control unit 16, the server control unit 30, and the terminal control unit 40 may be realized by a plurality of processors or semiconductor chips.

The components shown in fig. 2 are examples, and the specific mounting method is not particularly limited. That is, it is not necessary to install hardware corresponding to each unit independently, and it is needless to say that the functions of each unit may be realized by executing a program by one processor. In the above-described embodiments, a part of the functions realized by software may be realized by hardware, or a part of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software. The specific details of the other components of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control server 3, and the terminal device 4 may be modified as desired without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the step units of the operations shown in fig. 3, 4, and 6 are steps of dividing the refrigerator control system 1000 according to the main processing contents in order to facilitate understanding of the operations, and the present invention should not be limited to the division manner and name of the processing unit. More step units may be divided according to the processing contents. Further, the division may be performed so that 1 step unit includes more processes. The order of the steps can be appropriately changed within a range not to hinder the gist of the present invention.

The above-described embodiments are illustrative of the technology of the present invention, and various changes, substitutions, additions, omissions, and the like can be made within the scope of the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Industrial applicability of the invention

As described above, the refrigerator control system, the refrigerator, the program, and the terminal device according to the present invention can be used for maintaining the cooling capacity of the refrigerator during a power outage.

Description of the reference numerals

1. Cold storage

3. Refrigerator control server (Server)

4. Terminal device

16. Refrigerator control unit

40. Terminal control unit (control unit)

402. Communication control unit

403. Operation control unit

413. Refrigerator control application (program, application program)

1000. Refrigerator control system

And P users.

Claims

1. A refrigerator control system comprising a refrigerator and a server capable of communicating with the refrigerator, characterized in that:

the server is configured to transmit, to the refrigerator, transition instruction information for causing the operation mode of the refrigerator to transition from the 1 st mode to the 2 nd mode in which the interior temperature of the refrigerator is lower than that in the 1 st mode when an alarm regarding the cause of power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator,

the refrigerator shifts the operation mode from the 1 st mode to the 2 nd mode upon receiving the shift instruction information.

2. The refrigerator control system of claim 1, wherein:

the server transmits end instruction information for ending the 2 nd mode to the refrigerator when the alarm is released to the area,

the refrigerator terminates the mode 2 when receiving the termination instruction information.

3. A refrigerator control system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein:

the refrigerator terminates the 2 nd mode when an operation of changing the interior temperature of the refrigerator is received from a user of the refrigerator.

4. A refrigerator control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein:

further comprising a terminal device capable of communicating with the server,

the terminal device, when receiving an instruction to end the 2 nd mode from a user of the refrigerator, transmits end instruction information for ending the 2 nd mode to the server,

the server, when receiving the end instruction information, transmits the end instruction information to the refrigerator,

and the refrigerator terminates the 2 nd mode when receiving the termination instruction information.

5. A refrigerator capable of communicating with a server, characterized in that:

the system includes a refrigerator control unit that receives, from the server, transition instruction information for transitioning the operation mode of the refrigerator from a1 st mode to a2 nd mode in which the interior temperature of the refrigerator is lower than that in the 1 st mode, and transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator from the 1 st mode to the 2 nd mode, when an alarm regarding the cause of power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein:

the refrigerator control unit receives, from the server, end instruction information for ending the 2 nd mode when the alarm is released for the area, and ends the 2 nd mode.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that:

the refrigerator control unit terminates the 2 nd mode when receiving an operation of changing the interior temperature of the refrigerator from a user of the refrigerator.

8. A program, characterized by:

a control unit of a terminal device capable of communicating with a server capable of communicating with a refrigerator is caused to function as a communication control unit and an operation control unit,

the communication control unit receives, from the server, inquiry instruction information for inquiring a user of the refrigerator whether or not to shift an operation mode of the refrigerator from a1 st mode to a2 nd mode in which an interior temperature is lower than that of the 1 st mode when an alarm regarding a cause of power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator,

the operation control unit may inquire of the user whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator to the 2 nd mode when the communication control unit receives the inquiry instruction information, and may shift the operation mode of the refrigerator to the 2 nd mode when the communication control unit receives an instruction to shift to the 2 nd mode from the user after the inquiry.

9. The program of claim 8, wherein:

the communication control unit functions as follows: at least one time point per predetermined time at the time of starting the program and during the starting of the program, inquiring the server whether the alarm is issued, and receiving the inquiry instruction information from the server when the alarm is issued.

10. The program according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that:

the communication control unit functions as follows: receiving alarm release information indicating that the alarm has been released from the server in a case where the alarm is released to the area,

the operation control unit functions as follows: when the communication control unit receives the alarm release information, the communication control unit ends the inquiry as to whether or not to shift to the 2 nd mode.

11. The program according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that:

the program is an application program that can be installed on the terminal device.

12. A terminal device capable of communicating with a server, wherein the server is capable of communicating with a refrigerator, the terminal device comprising:

the system includes a control unit configured to receive, from the server, inquiry instruction information for inquiring a user of the refrigerator whether or not to shift an operation mode of the refrigerator from a1 st mode to a2 nd mode in which an interior temperature is lower than that of the 1 st mode when an alarm regarding a cause of power failure is issued to an area including an installation location of the refrigerator,

when the inquiry instruction information is received, the user is inquired whether or not to shift the operation mode of the refrigerator to the 2 nd mode, and when an instruction to shift to the 2 nd mode is received from the user after the inquiry, the operation mode of the refrigerator is shifted to the 2 nd mode.