EP3889789A1

EP3889789A1 - Control system, apparatus management system, control method, and program

Info

Publication number: EP3889789A1
Application number: EP19891516.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mai CHINZAKA; Hideaki Takahashi; Keiichi Tanaka
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-11-30
Filing date: 2019-10-30
Publication date: 2021-10-06
Also published as: JP7285497B2; JP2020087362A; EP3889789A4; WO2020110563A1

Abstract

An object of the present disclosure is to provide the user with information about the status of a device at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device. A control system (100) is configured to be connected to a device (1) to be ready to communicate with the device (1). The control system (100) includes an acquisition unit (51) and an output unit (52). The acquisition unit (51) acquires device information from the device (1). The device information is information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device (1) itself. The output unit (52) outputs early signs information about any early signs of the internal event. The early signs information is based on the device information.

Description

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to a control system, a device management system, a control method, and a program. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a control system configured to be connected to a device to be ready to communicate with the device, a device management system including the control system, a method for controlling the control system, and a program.

Background Art

Patent Literature 1 discloses an exemplary known fire alarm device. The fire alarm device includes: a fire detection unit for determining whether or not either a temperature or a smoke concentration is greater than a fire threshold value and deciding, when finding the temperature or smoke concentration greater than the fire threshold value, that a fire should be present, thereby detecting the presence of the fire; and an alarm unit for lighting, when detecting the presence of the fire, an indicating lamp as a fire warning and emitting an alarm sound as an alert to the presence of the fire. The fire alarm device further includes a replacement detection unit for detecting that a replacement timing has come; and an alert unit for calling a replacement alert when detecting that the replacement timing has come.

Citation List

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2016-192117 A

Summary of Invention

Regarding an internal event (such as the replacement timing) that may occur to the fire alarm device (device) itself, even if the user is notified of the internal event after the internal event has happened, it could be too late to notify the user of such an event. Nevertheless, if the fire alarm device (device) itself calls the replacement alert simply at an earlier time, then such an unnecessarily early replacement alert could make the user uncomfortable and could possibly impair the usefulness of the fire alarm device.
In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a control system, a device management system, a control method, and a program, all of which are configured or designed to provide the user with device status information at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device.
A control system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is configured to be connected to a device to be ready to communicate with the device. The control system includes an acquisition unit and an output unit. The acquisition unit acquires device information from the device. The device information is information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device itself. The output unit outputs early signs information about any early signs of the internal event. The early signs information is based on the device information.
A device management system according to another aspect of the present disclosure includes the control system described above and the device or a plurality of the devices.
A control method according to still another aspect of the present disclosure is a method for controlling a control system, which is connected to a device to be ready to communicate with the device. The control method includes an acquiring step and an outputting step. The acquiring step includes acquiring device information from the device. The device information is information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device itself. The outputting step includes outputting early signs information about any early signs of the internal event. The early signs information is based on the device information.
A program according to yet another aspect of the present disclosure is designed to cause a computer system to perform the control method described above.

Brief Description of Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates a block configuration of a device management system including a control system according to an exemplary embodiment and a plurality of devices;
FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary application of the device management system;
FIG. 3 illustrates an external server and a telecommunications device in the device management system; and
FIG. 4 illustrates, with special attention paid to the degree of dirtiness of a slave device, out of the plurality of devices, how the device management system operates.

Description of Embodiments

(1) Overview

Note that the drawings to be referred to in the following description of embodiments are all schematic representations. That is to say, the ratio of the dimensions (including thicknesses) of respective constituent elements illustrated on the drawings does not always reflect their actual dimensional ratio.
A control system 100 according to this embodiment is connected to a device 1 to be ready to communicate with the device 1. Also, a device management system 200 according to this embodiment includes the control system 100 and a plurality of devices 1 as shown in FIG. 1.
Each device 1 is supposed to detect a particular event, for example. In other words, each device 1 includes a detection unit 3 for outputting a detection signal to be generated as a signal indicative of the particular event.
As used herein, the "particular event" includes, for example, an event that calls for disaster prevention measures. That is to say, the device 1 is supposed to be a disaster prevention device. Also, the "event that calls for disaster prevention measures" is herein supposed to be a fire. That is to say, the device 1 is supposed to be a fire detector. In particular, the device 1 is supposed to be a fire alarm device having a detection capability of detecting the presence of a fire and an alarm capability of calling an alert when detecting the presence of a fire. In the following example, the detector 1 is supposed to be a "residential" fire alarm device. However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. The device 1 emits a sound such as an alarm sound when detecting the presence of a fire, for example. Nevertheless, the event that calls for disaster prevention measures does not have to be a fire but may also be an inundation or an earthquake, for example. Alternatively, the event that calls for disaster prevention measures may also be leakage of a gas or the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) due to incomplete combustion, for example. Furthermore, the "particular event" does not have to include the event that calls for disaster prevention measures. In other words, the device 1 does not have to be a disaster prevention device but may also be an air conditioner, for example.
As used herein, the "particular event" is supposed to include not only an event that calls for disaster prevention measures but also an internal event that is going to happen to the device 1 itself.
As used herein, the "internal event" refers to an event, of which the degree advances with the passage of time, for example. The "internal event" may include at least one of a timing to replace the device 1 (replacement timing), a malfunction of the device 1 (such as a malfunction of a circuit component thereof and disconnection), a low battery level (i.e., a state where its battery 23 is on the verge of running out), the dirtiness of the device 1, or an abnormal temperature inside the device 1. In the following description, the internal event is supposed to include a replacement timing, a malfunction, a low battery level, and dirtiness.
The detection unit 3 may include, for example, a first detection unit 31 for detecting a fire, a second detection unit 32 for detecting a replacement timing, a third detection unit 33 for detecting a malfunction of the device 1, a fourth detection unit 34 for detecting a low battery level, and a fifth detection unit 35 for detecting the degree of dirtiness (see FIG 1).
The device management system 200 is applicable for use in a facility 7 (see FIG. 2). Specifically, a plurality of devices 1 are installed on the ceiling, wall, or any other building component located in their installation space inside the facility 7. In this embodiment, the plurality of devices 1 are respectively installed (at their respective installation locations L1) in spaces E1-E5 inside the facility 7 as shown in FIG. 2.
The control system 100 may be, for example, a single controller 5 housed in a single housing and may be a home energy management system (HEMS) controller installed in the facility 7, for example. However, the control system 100 does not have to be such a controller 5 housed in the single housing but may also include a plurality of controllers in which multiple functions are distributed or may further include an external server device.
As described above, the device 1 may be implemented as a fire alarm device, for example, and the facility 7 is supposed to be a single-family dwelling house, for example. However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. The facility 7 may also be a multi-family dwelling house (condominium) (i.e., what is called a "mansion" in Japan). Alternatively, the facility 7 may also be a non-residential facility 7. Examples of such non-residential facilities include office buildings, theaters, movie theaters, public halls, amusement facilities, complex facilities, restaurants, department stores, schools, hotels, inns, hospitals, nursing homes for the elderly, kindergartens, libraries, museums, art museums, underground shopping malls, railway stations, and airports.
In this embodiment, the control system 100 (controller 5) includes an acquisition unit 51 and an output unit 52. The acquisition unit 51 acquires, from the device 1, device information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device 1 itself. The output unit 52 outputs early signs information about any early signs of an internal event. The early signs information is based on the device information.
According to this configuration, the control system 100 outputs early signs information about any early signs of an internal event that is going to happen to a device 1 itself. This allows a destination device, for example, to learn about the early signs of the internal event via the control system 100. This enables the user to be provided with information about the device's 1 status at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device 1.

(2) Details

(2.1) Overall configuration

Next, an overall configuration for the controller 5 (control system 100) and device management system 200 according to this embodiment will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1, the device management system 200 includes the controller 5 and a plurality of (e.g., five in the example illustrated in FIG. 1) devices 1. Optionally, the device management system 200 may further include a telecommunications device 6 and an external server 8 (see FIG. 3).
The plurality of devices 1 are implemented as so-called "synchronous fire alarm devices." That is to say, the device management system 200 is configured such that no matter which of the plurality of devices 1 detects the presence of a fire, the device 1 emits an alarm sound in synch with (i.e., along with) the other devices 1. In this embodiment, a network is formed between the plurality of devices 1 to make each device 1 ready to communicate with the other devices 1. In this embodiment, out of the five devices 1, a device 1A serves as a master device, the other devices 1B―1E serve as slave devices, and communication may be readily established between the master device and the slave devices (see FIG. 2). In the following description, the four devices 1B―1E serving as slave devices will be hereinafter collectively referred to as "slave devices 101" and the device 1A serving as a master device will be hereinafter referred to as a "master device 102".
In this embodiment, the device 1 may be implemented as a battery-driven fire alarm device, for example. However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, the device 1 may also be electrically connected to an external power supply (such as a commercial power supply) and may be driven by converting AC power (having an effective value of 100 V, for example) supplied from the external power supply into DC power.
In the following description, each of the plurality of devices 1 is supposed to be installed on the ceiling surface of one of the rooms or the staircase inside the facility 7 (e.g., single-family dwelling house in this example) as shown in FIG. 2. Specifically, the devices 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E are arranged in spaces E1, E2, E3, E4, and E5, respectively. The space E1 may be a living room, for example. The space E2 may be a bedroom, for example. The space E3 may be a staircase, for example. The space E4 may be a kid's room, for example. The space E5 may be a kitchen, for example. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary situation where a fire is present in the space E1 used as a living room. The respective devices 1 will be described in detail later in the "(2.2) Device" section.
The controller 5 is configured to manage the plurality of devices 1. The controller 5 is connected to the plurality of devices 1 to be ready to communicate with the plurality of devices 1 by wireless communication, for example. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, the controller 5 is installed beside the flight of stairs on the first floor in the space E3. The controller 5, the telecommunications device 6, and the external server 8 will be described in detail later in the "(2.3) Controller" section.

(2.2) Device

Next, configuration(s) for the devices 1 will be described. If one device 1, serving as a master device 102, out of the plurality of devices 1 has a different configuration from the other devices 1 serving as slave devices 101, then the master device 102 and the slave devices 101 will be described separately from each other.
The device 1 is configured to detect the presence of an event (e.g., a fire in this example) that calls for disaster prevention measures. The device 1 has a detection capability of detecting the presence of a fire in the facility 7 and an alarm capability of calling an alert when detecting the presence of the fire in the facility 7. As shown in FIG. 1, the device 1 includes a control unit 10, a storage unit 20, a first communications unit 21, a second communications unit 22, a battery 23, a detection unit 3, and an alert unit 4. In addition, the device 1 further includes circuit modules such as an audio circuit and a lighting circuit. The battery 23 may be a lithium battery, for example, and the device 1 is driven by the power supplied from the battery 23.
The control unit 10 includes a computer system including a processor and a memory, for example. The computer system performs the function of the control unit 10 by making the processor execute a program stored in the memory. In this embodiment, the program to be executed by the processor is stored in advance in the memory of the computer system. However, this is only an example and should not be construed as limiting. The program may also be distributed after having been stored in a storage medium such as a memory card or downloaded via a telecommunications line such as the Internet.
The detection unit 3 includes the first detection unit 31, the second detection unit 32, the third detection unit 33, the fourth detection unit 34, and the fifth detection unit 35 as described above (see FIG. 1).
The first detection unit 31 has the capability of detecting information about a fire, against which an alarm sound needs to be emitted (i.e., has the detection capability). In this embodiment, the first detection unit 31 may be implemented as a photoelectric sensor for detecting smoke, for example. Therefore, the information about the fire includes information about smoke, for example. However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, the first detection unit 31 does not have to be a photoelectric sensor but may also be a fixed temperature sensor for detecting heat, for example. As shown in FIG. 1, the first detection unit 31 includes a light-emitting unit 311 such as a light-emitting diode (LED) and a photodetector unit 312 such as a photodiode, for example. The light-emitting unit 311 and the photodetector unit 312 are arranged in the labyrinth of the housing of its own device such that the photosensitive plane of the photodetector unit 312 is off the optical axis of the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 311. In the presence of a fire, smoke may flow into the labyrinth through holes provided through the housing.
If there is no smoke in the labyrinth of the housing, then the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 311 hardly reaches the photosensitive plane of the photodetector unit 312. On the other hand, if there is any smoke in the labyrinth of the housing, then the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 311 is scattered by the smoke, thus causing some of the scattered light to impinge on the photosensitive plane of the photodetector unit 312. That is to say, the first detection unit 31 makes the photodetector unit 312 receive the light emitted from the light-emitting unit 311 which has been scattered by the smoke. The first detection unit 31 outputs an electrical signal (first detection signal), representing a voltage level corresponding to the quantity of light received at the photodetector unit 312, to the control unit 10. Alternatively, the first detection unit 31 may convert the quantity of light into a smoke concentration and output a first detection signal representing a voltage level corresponding to the smoke concentration.
The second detection unit 32 is configured to detect a replacement timing of the device 1. If the device 1 is a fire alarm device, a decision is made that when about ten years has passed since the installation of the device 1 (since when the device 1 was powered for the first time), it should be about time to replace the device 1 (i.e., the replacement timing should have come). When ten years has passed since its installation, the device 1 could no longer be able to sense a fire or call an alert to the fire due to the life of its internal circuit components and a low battery level, for example. That is why it is recommended that the device 1 should be replaced when generally ten years has passed since its installation (i.e., with ten years regarded as a reference replacement timing). The second detection unit 32 includes a timer, for example, and measures, by using the timer, the cumulative time for which the device 1 has been used since the device 1 was powered for the first time, for example. The second detection unit 32 outputs an electrical signal (as a second detection signal), representing the cumulative time of use, to the control unit 10.
The third detection unit 33 is configured to detect a malfunction of the device 1. Examples of malfunctions include a malfunction of a circuit component and disconnection. The third detection unit 33 monitors a voltage value or current value (as an electrical physical quantity) of a predetermined electric circuit in various circuits as the target of detection or the temperatures of its circuit components, for example. The third detection unit 33 may include a resistance divider circuit and other suitable circuits. The third detection unit 33 may also include a heat detection element such as a thermistor. The third detection unit 33 outputs an electrical signal (as a third detection signal), representing the voltage value, the current value, or the temperature, for example, to the control unit 10.
The fourth detection unit 34 is configured to detect a low battery level of the battery 23. The fourth detection unit 34 monitors the battery voltage of the battery 23. The fourth detection unit 34 outputs an electrical signal (as a fourth detection signal), representing the battery voltage of the battery 23, to the control unit 10. Optionally, the fourth detection unit 34 may store in advance, in a memory, characteristic data showing the correspondence between the battery voltage of the battery 23 and capacity and may output, as the fourth detection signal, a capacity (in percent) corresponding to the battery voltage detected.
The fifth detection unit 35 is configured to detect the degree of dirtiness. As used herein, the "dirtiness" refers to the dirtiness of the first detection unit 31. Specifically, the dirtiness refers to the dirtiness that could affect the smoke detection performance of the first detection unit 31. Examples of the dirtiness include dirt, dust, oil, and insects that may adhere to the lens surface of the light-emitting unit 311 and photodetector unit 312 or be deposited in the labyrinth. Particularly if the device 1 is installed in a kitchen (space E5), then the degree of dirtiness will advance more quickly due to oil or smoke involved with cooking, for example, than in a situation where the device 1 is installed in any other space. As the degree of dirtiness advances, the voltage level, corresponding to the quantity of light received at the photodetector unit 312, is more and more likely to rise from the voltage level at the time of shipping of the device 1 to the point of causing the device 1 to be activated erroneously, even though smoke involved with a fire has not actually entered the labyrinth. In other words, the advancement of the degree of dirtiness could make the device 1 too sensitive to avoid being erroneously activated frequently. The fifth detection unit 35 outputs an electrical signal (as a fifth detection signal), representing the concentration of smoke in the labyrinth (or the quantity of light received at the photodetector unit 312), to the control unit 10. The smoke concentration may be obtained based on the quantity of light represented by the first detection signal provided by the first detection unit 31, for example. In other words, the fifth detection unit 35 may be covered by the first detection unit 31.
As can be seen, the detection units 3 (31-35) output first to fifth detection signals, generated as signals indicative of their respective particular events (namely, fire, replacement timing, malfunction, low battery level, and dirtiness), to the control unit 10.
The alert unit 4 includes a display unit 41 and an audio unit 42 as shown in FIG. 1. The alert unit 4 has the capability of alerting, when the presence of a fire is detected in the facility 7, the user to the presence of the fire (i.e., an alert capability). In this embodiment, the alert unit 4 alerts the user with light and sound.
The audio unit 42 has the capability of alerting the user to the presence of a fire. The audio unit 42 emits a sound (i.e., an acoustic wave). When the control unit 10 decides that a fire should be present in the facility 7, the audio unit 42 emits an alarm sound to alert the user to the presence of the fire.
The audio unit 42 may be implemented as a loudspeaker that transduces an electrical signal into a sound. The loudspeaker includes a diaphragm and emits an alarm sound by mechanically vibrating the diaphragm in accordance with the electrical signal. The audio unit 42 emits an alarm sound (such as a beep) under the control of the control unit 10. The audio unit 42 suitably emits an alarm sound, of which the loudness (i.e., the sound pressure level) is variable. For example, the alarm sound may include a sweep sound that is swept from a low-frequency sound to a high-frequency sound. The alarm sound may be accompanied by, for example, a verbal warning message such as "Fire! Fire!" In this embodiment, the alarm sound is supposed to be made up of the sweep sound and the verbal warning message continuous with the sweep sound. If the device 1 itself triggers the synchronized alarm emission (i.e., serves as a triggering device (located at the origin of the fire)), then the device 1 may emit the verbal warning message such as "Fire! Fire!" On the other hand, if the device 1 is notified of the presence of the fire (i.e., serves as one of the triggered devices that are caused to emit the alarm sound in synch with the triggering device), then the device 1 may emit a verbal warning message such as "Fire in another room! Fire in another room!"
When the device 1 receives an operating command externally at an operating member such as a press button or pull cord exposed on the surface of the housing of the device 1 (i.e., when subjected to a press operation or a pull operation) while the alarm sound is being emitted, the audio unit 42 stops emitting the alarm sound.
Also, when the control unit 10 decides that any of the internal events (including the replacement timing, the malfunction, the low battery level, and the dirtiness) should be happening, the audio unit 42 emits a sound alerting the user to the internal event happening. Such a sound will be hereinafter referred to as an "alert sound" to be distinguished from the alarm sound emitted in the presence of a fire. The alert sound about the replacement timing of the device 1 may be accompanied by a verbal warning message "It's about time to replace it," for example. The alert sound about the malfunction may be accompanied by a verbal warning message "Out of order," for example. The alert sound about the low battery level may be accompanied by a verbal warning message "Battery is running out." The alert sound about the dirtiness may be accompanied by a verbal warning message "Clean it," for example. The alert sound is emitted at a volume approximately 60-70% the volume of the alarm sound.
The audio unit 42 also emits the alarm sound and the alert sound as a test while an operation test is being conducted. The operation test may be carried out when the device 1 is subjected to either a press operation on the operating member or a pull operation on a pull cord.
The display unit 41 has the capability of alerting the user to the presence of the fire. The display unit 41 may be implemented as an indicating lamp including a red LED 410 as a light source. The display unit 41 is OFF normally (i.e., while monitoring for any fire) and starts flashing (or lighting) when the control unit 10 decides that a fire should be present. When the alarm sound stops being emitted, flashing is stopped under the control of the control unit 10.
The storage unit 20 is implemented as a device selected from the group consisting of a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and other storage devices. The storage unit 20 stores a unique identifier (identification information) assigned to itself (its own device). The "identifier (identification information)" may be the IP address, the Mac address, or the name of the device 1, for example. In addition, the storage unit 20 also stores message data about the verbal warning messages to be emitted as a part of the alarm sound and a part of the alert sound. Optionally, the storage unit 20 may be a memory of the control unit 10.
The first communications unit 21 includes a communications interface for communicating wirelessly with the other devices 1 by using a radio wave falling within a first frequency band. The first frequency band may correspond to a radio frequency band in accordance with the regulations of the Fire Service Act in the country of Japan, for example. The first frequency band may correspond, for example, to the wireless station of the low-power security system, namely, the 420 MHz band. However, the first frequency band does not have to be the 420 MHz band but may also be changed as appropriate in accordance with applicable regulations of the Radio Act or Fire Service Act defined in any of various other countries. The detection information may be transmitted and received between the plurality of devices 1 via the first communications unit 21. As used herein, the "detection information" refers to notification information that a fire has been detected in the facility 7 and may include, for example, the identifier of the source device and a result of detection. The device information may also be transmitted and received between the plurality of devices 1 via the first communications unit 21. The device information is information about the second to fifth detection signals.
The second communications unit 22 includes a communications interface for communicating wirelessly with the controller 5 by using a radio wave falling within a second frequency band, which is different from the first frequency band. The second frequency band may be, for example, the 920 MHz band compliant with the Wi-SUN® standard (which is an international wireless communication standard IEEE 802.15.4g). However, the second frequency band does not have to be the 920 MHz band but may also be changed as appropriate in accordance with applicable regulations of the Radio Act or Fire Service Act defined in any of various other countries. Out of the plurality of devices 1, the master device 102 includes the second communications unit 22. The second communications unit 22 is not an essential constituent element for, and may be omitted from, the slave devices 101. Alternatively, if each of a plurality of devices 1 having the same configuration is able to operate either as the slave device 101 or the master device 102 by turning a switch, for example, then the device 1 switched to operate as a slave device 101 may have its capability as the second communications unit 22 disabled, even though the device 1 has that capability. The second communications unit 22 transmits either the detection information of its own device or the detection information provided by another device to the controller 5. In addition, the second communications unit 22 transmits the device information of its own device and the device information provided by another device to the controller 5.
The control unit 10 determines, based on the first detection signal provided by the first detection unit 31, whether or not a fire is present. For example, when finding the voltage level of the first detection signal equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value, the control unit 10 may decide that a fire should be present.
When its own device detects the presence of a fire or when its own device receives detection information from another device, the control unit 10 makes the audio unit 42 start emitting an alarm sound. For example, to make the audio unit 42 deliver a verbal warning message as the alarm sound, the control unit 10 generates, based on message data stored in the storage unit 20, an audio signal representing the verbal warning message. Then, the audio unit 42 delivers the verbal warning message (as a part of an alarm sound) based on the audio signal generated by the control unit 10. Furthermore, the control unit 10 further controls the display unit 41 to make the display unit 41 emit flashing light.
When a slave device 101 detects the presence of a fire, the control unit 10 of the slave device 101 makes the first communications unit 21 transmit detection information to the master device 102 to serve as a triggering device that triggers the synchronized alarm emission. On the other hand, when receiving the detection information from the slave device 101 (serving as the triggering device) via the first communications unit 21, the control unit 10 of the master device 102 makes the second communications unit 22 transmit the detection information provided by the triggering device to the controller 5. In addition, to trigger the synchronized alarm emission, the control unit 10 of the master device 102 further makes the first communications unit 21 transmit an instruction to emit an alarm to the other slave devices 101.
Meanwhile, when the master device 102 detects the presence of a fire by itself, the control unit 10 of the master device 102 makes the second communications unit 22 transmit the detection information to the controller 5 and also makes the first communications unit 21 to transmit an instruction to emit an alarm to the slave devices 101 to serve as a triggering device that triggers the synchronized alarm emission.
The control unit 10 of each device 1 also determines whether or not a fire is present even while emitting the alarm sound. When finding the voltage level represented by the first detection signal less than the threshold value (i.e., when deciding that there should be no fire (smoke) any longer) while the alarm sound is being emitted, the control unit 10 instructs the audio unit 42 to stop emitting the alarm sound and also instructs the display unit 41 to stop emitting the flashing light.
In addition, the control unit 10 of each device 1 also monitors the second detection signal provided by the second detection unit 32. The control unit 10 determines, based on the second detection signal, whether or not the cumulative time of use of its own device has exceeded ten years. On deciding that the cumulative time of use has reached ten years, the control unit 10 may make the display unit 41 emit flashing light as an alert or may make the audio unit 42 emit a verbal warning message "It's about time to replace it," for example.
Furthermore, the control unit 10 of each device 1 also monitors the third detection signal provided by the third detection unit 33. The control unit 10 determines, based on the third detection signal, whether or not any malfunction has occurred to its own device. Specifically, when finding the voltage value (or current value) represented by the third detection signal less than a reference value, for example, the control unit 10 decides that a malfunction should have occurred to its own device. Depending on the electric circuit as the target of detection, the control unit 10 may decide, when finding the voltage value (or current value) represented by the third detection signal greater than the reference value, that a malfunction should have occurred to its own device. Alternatively, when finding the temperature represented by the third detection signal greater than a reference value, the control unit 10 may decide that a malfunction should have occurred to its own device. In any case, when deciding that a malfunction should have occurred to its own device, the control unit 10 may make the display unit 41 emit flashing light as an alert or may make the audio unit 42 emit an alert sound accompanied by a verbal warning message "Gone out of order," for example.
Furthermore, the control unit 10 of each device 1 also monitors the fourth detection signal provided by the fourth detection unit 34. The control unit 10 determines, based on the fourth detection signal, whether or not the battery has run out. Specifically, when finding the battery level represented by the fourth detection signal and corresponding to the battery voltage of the battery 23 less than 10% of the capacity, the control unit 10 decides that the battery should have run out. When deciding that the battery of its own device should have run out, the control unit 10 may make the display unit 41 emit flashing light as an alert or may make the audio unit 42 emit an alert sound accompanied by a verbal warning message "Battery has run out," for example.
Furthermore, the control unit 10 of each device 1 also monitors the fifth detection signal provided by the fifth detection unit 35. The control unit 10 determines, based on the fifth detection signal, whether or not the degree of dirtiness has reached a significant degree. Specifically, when finding the minimum value of the smoke concentration represented by the fifth detection signal during a predetermined period (of one month, for example) equal to or greater than a first threshold value and less than a second threshold value, the control unit 10 decides that the degree of dirtiness has reached a significant degree. The first threshold value is less than the second threshold value. The second threshold value corresponds to a threshold value, at or over which a decision is made that a fire should be present. When deciding that the degree of dirtiness should have reached a significant degree, the control unit 10 may make the display unit 41 emit flashing light as an alert or may make the audio unit 42 emit an alert sound accompanied by a verbal warning message "Clean it," for example. Note that the fifth detection unit 35 is not an essential constituent element. Alternatively, the control unit 10 may determine, based on the first detection signal provided by the first detection unit 31, whether or not the degree of dirtiness has reached a significant degree.
The control unit 10 of each slave device 101 makes the first communications unit 21 transmit the device information of its own device, in association with the identifier of its own device, to the master device 102. Meanwhile, the control unit 10 of the master device 102 makes the second communications unit 22 transmit the device information and identifier, provided by the slave device 101, to the controller 5. In addition, the control unit 10 of the master device 102 also makes the second communications unit 22 transmit the device information of its own device, in association with the identifier of its own device, to the controller 5.
Note that the "device information" as used herein is not information including the decision made by the control unit 10 that an internal event (such as replacement timing, malfunction, low battery level, or dirtiness) should be happening. In other words, the device information is not output at the very timing when the decision is made that the internal event should be happening but is output at regular intervals, for example, to the controller 5. The device information is information about the second to fifth detection signals provided by the second to fifth detection units (32-35). The device information may be output to the controller 5 either almost as it is or after having been processed. The device information may be instantaneous values represented by the second to fifth detection signals or a value calculated based on a moving average (i.e., a moving average value).

(2.3) Controller

The controller 5 may be implemented as, for example, a home energy management system (HEMS) controller as described above and may communicate with a plurality of electrical devices provided for the facility 7. The plurality of electrical devices may include air conditioners and water heaters, for example. In this embodiment, the controller 5 may further communicate with the master device 102 (device 1A) provided for the facility 7. In addition, the controller 5 may also communicate with the plurality of slave devices 101 (devices 1B―1E) via the master device 102.
The controller 5 includes a control unit 50, a communications unit 61, a storage unit 62, and a display unit 63 as shown in FIG. 1. The controller 5 further includes an alert unit U1. In this embodiment, however, the display unit 63 corresponds to the alert unit U1 (see FIG. 1).
The control unit 50 includes a computer system including a processor and a memory, for example. The computer system performs the function of the control unit 50 by making the processor execute a program stored in the memory. In this embodiment, the program to be executed by the processor is stored in advance in the memory of the computer system. However, this is only an example and should not be construed as limiting. The program may also be distributed after having been stored in a storage medium such as a memory card or downloaded via a telecommunications line such as the Internet.
The communications unit 61 includes a first (communications) interface 61A for communicating with the master device 102 and other devices. The first interface 61A receives various pieces of information from the master device 102 and other devices by wireless communication using a radio wave falling within the second frequency band (such as the 920 MHz band). The communications unit 61 further includes a second (communications) interface 61B for communicating with the telecommunications device 6 and the external server 8 over a network NT1 (see FIG. 3) such as the Internet. The second interface 61B may communicate with the telecommunications device 6 via another device such as the external server 8. Examples of the telecommunications device 6 include the facility 7 user's (e.g., resident's) own smartphone, tablet terminal, or any other device with communication capability. In this embodiment, the telecommunications device 6 is supposed to be a smartphone. In the telecommunications device 6, installed is a dedicated application software program that allows the telecommunications device 6 to wirelessly communicate with the controller 5. The external server 8 is a server device corresponding to the contact address X1 (to be described later). In FIG. 3, the number of the external server 8 provided is one. However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, a plurality of external servers 8 may be provided. That is to say, there may be a plurality of contact addresses X1.
The storage unit 62 is implemented as a device selected from the group consisting of a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and other storage devices.
The storage unit 62 stores the respective identifiers (identification information) of the plurality of devices 1, for example. In addition, the storage unit 62 further stores information (such as email addresses and phone numbers) about the contact addresses X1, the telecommunications device 6, and the server device managed by a security company, for example. Optionally, at least part of these pieces of information stored in the storage unit 62 may be stored in another device (such as an external server device provided outside of the facility 7) separately from the controller 5.
As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 50 includes an acquisition unit 51 and an output unit 52. In other words, the control unit 50 performs the functions of the acquisition unit 51 and the output unit 52.
In addition, the control unit 50 further includes a decision unit 53, an instruction unit 54, and a switching unit 55 as shown in FIG. 1. In other words, the control unit 50 further performs the functions of the decision unit 53, the instruction unit 54, and the switching unit 55.
The acquisition unit 51 is configured to acquire the detection information, providing notification that a fire has been detected in the facility 7, from the master device 102 via the first interface 61A.
In addition, the acquisition unit 51 is also configured to acquire, from the device(s) 1, the device information about the internal event that is going to happen to the device 1 itself (e.g., information about the replacement timing, malfunction, low battery level, and dirtiness in this embodiment). In this embodiment, a plurality of devices 1 are provided. The acquisition unit 51 acquires, from the master device 102 via the first interface 61A, the device information about the master device 102 itself and the device information about the four slave devices 101. The acquisition unit 51 may acquire the device information about the five devices 1 either at a time or separately (i.e., at multiple different timings) from the master device 102. The acquisition unit 51 may acquire the device information from the master device 102 at regular intervals, for example, but may also acquire the device information at an arbitrary timing. For example, the controller 5 may instruct the master device 102 to transmit the device information at the reception request from either the external server 8 or the telecommunications device 6, for example.
In this embodiment, the acquisition unit 51 acquires, as the device information, a detection signal generated as a signal indicative of a particular event and provided by the detection unit 3 of any of the devices 1, from the device 1. In other words, the device 1 includes the detection unit 3 and the device information is information about the detection signal provided by the detection unit 3 as described above. In this embodiment, however, the detection signal is supposed to include the second to fifth detection signals provided by the second to fifth detection units 32-35 of the detection unit 3. That is to say, the controller 5 receives, as the device information, the second to fifth detection signals generated as signals indicative of particular events, except a fire as an event that calls for disaster prevention measures, i.e., generated as signals indicative of the internal events.
The decision unit 53 determines, based on the second to fifth detection signals acquired by the acquisition unit 51, whether or not the device 1 shows any early signs of an internal event.
Next, it will be described what the "early signs of an internal event" are. As described above, at a point in time when an internal event (which is any one of replacement timing, malfunction, low battery level, or dirtiness) is happening to its own device, the device 1 makes its own alert unit 4 call an alert to that effect. In contrast, the decision unit 53 determines, before a determination is made that the internal event should be happening, whether or not there any early signs of that internal event. In the following description, a value for use as a criterion for determining whether or not there are any early signs of the internal event will be hereinafter referred to as an "early signs value."
For example, regarding replacement timing, if a determination is made that the replacement timing should have come when the cumulative time of use has reached ten years, then the early signs are shown when the cumulative time of use has reached nine years and eleven months (which is an early signs value). Also, regarding malfunction, if a determination is made that the malfunction should have occurred at a point in time when the voltage value, for example, becomes less than a reference value, then the early signs are shown when the voltage value becomes less than a value (early signs value) that is greater than the reference value. Furthermore, regarding low battery level, if a determination is made that the battery should have run out when the battery level becomes less than 10% of the capacity, then the early signs are shown when the battery level becomes less than 20% (early signs value) of the capacity.
Regarding the dirtiness, if a determination is made that the degree of dirtiness should have reached a significant degree at a point in time when the minimum value of the smoke concentration during a predetermined period is equal to or greater than a first threshold value but less than a second threshold value, then the early signs are shown when the minimum value of the smoke concentration is equal to or greater than a third threshold value (early signs value), which is smaller than the first threshold value, but less than the first threshold value.
The decision unit 53 refers to, according to the type of the detection signal acquired from the master device 102, the early signs value that is stored in advance in the storage unit 62, thereby determining whether or not each device 1 shows any early signs of the internal event detected.
Optionally, the control unit 50 may accumulate, in the storage unit 62, the device information of the respective devices 1 which has been received. The decision unit 53 may determine, based on the device information accumulated, whether or not each device 1 shows any early signs of the internal event. In other words, the decision unit 53 does not have to perform the decision processing at the timing when the device information is acquired. For example, if the device information is acquired once a day, then the decision processing may be performed once a month.
Optionally, the decision unit 53 may make various types of analysis based on the device information of the respective devices 1 that has been accumulated in the storage unit 62. For example, when finding the rate of increase or decrease in a value shown by a detection signal of one device 1 steep enough, the control unit 50 may decide that early signs of an internal event should be shown.
The output unit 52 is configured to, when the acquisition unit 51 acquires the detection information, make the second interface 61B output (transmit) a notification that a fire is present in the facility 7 to a server device managed by a security company, for example.
In addition, the output unit 52 is also configured to output, based on the device information, early signs information about the early signs of an internal event. Specifically, the output unit 52 outputs early signs information, including the decision made by the decision unit 53, to a predetermined external contact address X1.The contact address X1 is herein supposed to be, for example, an external server 8 managed by a builder (which is also called a "house maker" in Japan) or building contractor of the facility 7. However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Optionally, the contact address X1 may include the telecommunications device 6 owned by the user such as a resident of the facility 7. The output unit 52 refers to the information, stored in the storage unit 62, about the contact address X1 to make the second interface 61B output the early signs information.
The display unit 63 may be implemented as a thin display device such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electroluminescent (OEL) display. The display unit 63 may display for example, the information acquired by the acquisition unit 51. The display unit 63 corresponds to the alert unit U1 configured to, when the early signs information indicates that the device 1 shows some early signs of an internal event, alert the user (such as a resident) to that effect. The control unit 50 makes the display unit 63 indicate that there are some early signs of the internal event. Alternatively, the display unit 63 may display the device information acquired from the respective devices 1, no matter whether there are any early signs or not. Optionally, the display unit 63 may display, as a graphic representation, the device information accumulated in the storage unit 62. Providing the controller 5 with the alert unit U1 allows the controller 5 to alert the user to the early signs of the internal event that is going to happen to the device 1.
In some cases, it may be known in advance to the user of the facility 7 that in a space (such as the space E5) where one device 1 is installed, a particular type of activity (such as cooking) that is highly likely to affect the device information output from the device 1 will be performed for a certain period of time. Specifically, if cooking involving a lot of smoke is carried out, for example, then the smoke concentration represented by the fifth detection signal could increase during the certain period of time.
To cope with this situation, the instruction unit 54 is configured to output, to the device 1, the instruction information which used to selectively enable or disable the device 1 to output, or from outputting, the device information. On accepting an operating command from the user, the controller 5 makes the instruction unit 54 output instruction information in accordance with the operating command to the device 1 (master device 102). If the display unit 63 is implemented as a touchscreen display device, for example, then the device 1 may be selectively enabled to output, or disabled from outputting, the device information (i.e., the device 1 may be switched from the output enabled state to the output disabled state, or vice versa) by performing a touch operation on the setting screen displayed on the display unit 63. Alternatively, the device 1 may also be switched from the output enabled state to the output disabled state, or vice versa, in response to a press operation on an operating button provided beside the display unit 63. Optionally, a switching period (e.g., from 11 o'clock to 13 o'clock) may also be specified. Furthermore, the target device 1 to be subjected to switching may be specified by its identifier or all devices 1 may be specified at a time.
On receiving, from the controller 5, instruction information that a target device 1 should be disabled from outputting the device information, the master device 102 stops outputting the device information of the target device 1. In other words, even when acquiring the device information from the target device 1, the master device 102 does not output the device information to the controller 5. Alternatively, the master device 102 may instruct the target device 1 to stop outputting the device information.
Providing the controller 5 with the instruction unit 54 facilitates stopping (or disabling) output of the device information from the device 1 either at the user's request or depending on the surrounding environment.
Meanwhile, the switching unit 55 is configured to selectively enable or disable the output unit 52 to output, or from outputting, the early signs information. On accepting an operating command from the user, the controller 5 may make the switching unit 55 selectively enable or disable the output unit 52 to output, or from outputting, the early signs information in accordance with the operating command. If the display unit 63 is implemented as a touchscreen display device, for example, then the output unit 52 may be selectively enabled to output, or disabled from outputting, the early signs information (i.e., the output unit 52 may be switched from the output enabled state to the output disabled state, or vice versa) in response to a touch operation on the setting screen displayed on the display unit 63. Alternatively, the output unit 52 may also be switched from the output enabled state to the output disabled state, or vice versa, in response to a press operation on an operating button provided beside the display unit 63. Optionally, a switching period may also be specified.
Providing the controller 5 with the switching unit 55 facilitates stopping (or disabling) output of the early signs information from the controller 5 either at the user's request or depending on the surrounding environment.
Optionally, the controller 5 may include only one, not both, of the instruction unit 54 and the switching unit 55.

(2.4) Operation

Next, it will be described briefly how the device management system 200 operates. In the following description, its operation will be described with reference to FIG. 4 with attention paid to only the degree of dirtiness of one slave device 101.
The slave device 101 makes the fifth detection unit 35 of the detection unit 3 detect a smoke concentration (in Step ST1) and outputs, at 0 o'clock every day, device information including information about the fifth detection signal representing the smoke concentration of its own device, to the master device 102 (in Step ST2). The slave device 101 makes the first communications unit 21 output (transmit) the device information.
When acquiring the device information of the slave device 101 via the first communications unit 21, the master device 102 makes the second communications unit 22 output (transmit) the device information to the controller 5 (in Step ST3).
Every time the controller 5 acquires the device information of the slave device 101, the controller 5 stores the device information in the storage unit 62 to accumulate the device information of the slave device 101 (in Step ST4). The controller 5 makes the decision unit 53 determine, once a month (e.g., at 0 o'clock at the end of every month), based on the device information accumulated about the slave device 101, whether or not the slave device 101 shows any early signs of the degree of dirtiness reaching a significant degree.
When finding the minimum value of the smoke concentration during the one-month period equal to or greater than the early signs value (third threshold value) but less than the first threshold value, for example, the controller 5 decides that there should be some early signs of the degree of dirtiness reaching a significant degree (in Step ST5). Then, the controller 5 provides the external server 8, serving as the contact address X1, with the early signs information (in Step ST6).
By checking the early signs information received, the contact address X1 learns that the chances of a fire warning being emitted erroneously due to the significant degree of dirtiness are increasing in the particular slave device 101 at the facility 7 that is the source device of the early signs information. This allows a person at the contact address X1 to prompt the user of the slave device 101 to do maintenance of, or replace, the slave device 101 before a determination is made that the degree of dirtiness should have actually reached the significant of degree.
If the slave device 101 were used continuously without being maintained or replaced, then the degree of dirtiness thereof would further advance with the passage of time. Meanwhile, the slave device 101 itself monitors the fifth detection signal (representing the smoke concentration). When a determination is made that the degree of dirtiness should have reached the significant degree, its own alert unit 4 will emit an alert sound accompanied by a verbal warning message "Clean it." In that case, the slave device 101 will also notify the controller 5, via the master device 102, of the decision that the degree of dirtiness should have reached the significant degree.
According to this sequence, the controller 5 (control system 100) outputs the early signs information about the early signs of the degree of dirtiness (which is an exemplary internal event) of the device 1 reaching the significant degree. This allows the destination device (i.e., the contact address X1) to learn about the early signs of the internal event via the control system 100. That is to say, this increases the chances of the user being notified of the early signs of the internal event by the contact address X1, not by the alert sound emitted from the device 1 itself. This allows the user to be provided with information about the status of the device 1 at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device 1.
In addition, providing the controller 5 with the decision unit 53 for determining whether or not there are any early signs of the internal event allows the device 1 to have a simplified configuration, compared to a situation where the device 1 is provided with the function of determining whether or not the device 1 itself shows any early signs of the internal event.
Furthermore, the "internal event" herein refers to an event, of which the degree advances with the passage of time. Thus, the early signs of the internal event may be detected easily before the internal event happens. This allows the destination device (i.e., the contact address X1) to be notified easily of the early signs of the internal event.

(3) Variations

Note that the embodiment described above is only an exemplary one of various embodiments of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Rather, the exemplary embodiment may be readily modified in various manners depending on a design choice or any other factor without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The functions of the control system 100 and device 1 according to the exemplary embodiment described above may also be implemented as, for example, respective methods for controlling the control system 100 and the device 1, a computer program, or a non-transitory storage medium that stores the computer program.
Next, variations of the exemplary embodiment will be enumerated one after another. The variations to be described below may be adopted in combination as appropriate. In the following description, the exemplary embodiment described above will be hereinafter sometimes referred to as a "basic example."
The control unit 50 of the control system 100 and the control unit 10 of the device 1 according to the present disclosure each include a computer system. The computer system may include, as principal hardware components, a processor and a memory. The functions of the control unit 50 of the control system 100 and the control unit 10 of the device 1 according to the present disclosure may be performed by making the processor execute a program stored in the memory of the computer system. The program may be stored in advance in the memory of the computer system. Alternatively, the program may also be downloaded through a telecommunications line or be distributed after having been recorded in some non-transitory storage medium such as a memory card, an optical disc, or a hard disk drive, any of which is readable for the computer system. The processor of the computer system may be made up of a single or a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). As used herein, the "integrated circuit" such as an IC or an LSI is called by a different name depending on the degree of integration thereof. Examples of the integrated circuits include a system LSI, a very large-scale integrated circuit (VLSI), and an ultra large-scale integrated circuit (ULSI). Optionally, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) to be programmed after an LSI has been fabricated or a reconfigurable logic device allowing the connections or circuit sections inside of an LSI to be reconfigured may also be adopted as the processor. Those electronic circuits may be either integrated together on a single chip or distributed on multiple chips, whichever is appropriate. Those multiple chips may be integrated together in a single device or distributed in multiple devices without limitation. As used herein, the "computer system" includes a microcontroller including one or more processors and one or more memories. Thus, the microcontroller may also be implemented as a single or a plurality of electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.
Also, in the embodiment described above, the plurality of constituent elements (or the functions) of each of the control system 100 and the device 1 are integrated together in a single housing. However, this is not an essential configuration for the control system 100 or the device 1. Alternatively, those constituent elements (or functions) of each of the control system 100 and the device 1 may be distributed in multiple different housings. Still alternatively, at least some functions of the control system 100 (e.g., some functions of the control system 100) may be implemented as a cloud computing system as well. Likewise, at least some functions of the device 1 (e.g., some functions of the device 1) may be implemented as a cloud computing system as well. Conversely, the plurality of functions of the control system 100 may be integrated together in a single housing as the controller 5 and the plurality of functions of the device 1 may be integrated together in a single housing as in the basic example described above.
In the basic example described above, the controller 5 includes the decision unit 53 for performing decision processing about the early signs of an internal event. However, the decision unit 53 is not an essential constituent element for the controller 5. Instead, the decision processing may be performed by any of the devices 1. In other words, the control unit 10 of the device 1 may be configured to determine, based on a detection signal generated as a signal indicative of a particular event and output by the detection unit 3 of its own device, whether or not the device 1 shows any early signs of the internal event. Still alternatively, the control unit 10 of the master device 102 may also be configured to determine, based on the detection signals provided by the respective detection units 3 of its own device and the slave devices 101, whether not only its own device but also the respective slave devices 101 show any early signs of the internal event. The device 1 (such as the master device 102) may transmit the decision to the controller 5. Meanwhile, the acquisition unit 51 of the controller 5 may be configured to acquire the decision as the device information from the device 1. This allows the controller 5 to have a simplified configuration, compared to the basic example in which the function of determining whether or not the device 1 shows any early signs of the internal event is provided for the controller 5.
The decision processing described above does not have to be performed by the controller 5 and the devices 1 but may also be performed by a server device provided outside of the facility 7. In other words, the control system 100 may include the controller 5 and a single or a plurality of external server devices. In that case, the controller 5 may transfer the device information, acquired from any of the devices 1, to one of the external server devices, receive the result of the decision processing performed by the external server device, and then output the early signs information to the contact address X1.Alternatively, while the controller 5 performs the decision processing as in the basic example described above, the controller 5 may transmit the decision to the external server device and the external server device may output the early signs information to the contact address X1.Optionally, the external server device may store the history of the early signs information associated with each facility 7, the history of the device information, the early signs values, and other pieces of information and values.
In the basic example described above, the controller 5 outputs the early signs information, including the decision indicating whether or not the device 1 shows any early signs of the internal event, to the contact address X1.However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, the controller 5 may output not only the early signs information but also the device information acquired from the device 1 to the contact address X1 directly (i.e., the values represented by the respective detection signals or their corresponding information as they are). In addition, if a determination is made that the internal event should be happening, the controller 5 may output not only the early signs information but also determination information, indicating to that effect, to the contact address X1. If the determination information is output to the contact address X1, the alert unit 4 of the device 1 is highly likely to be alerting, or have alerted, the user to occurrence of the internal event.
In the basic example described above, only one early signs value is assigned to each internal event. However, this is only an example of the present disclosure and should not be construed as limiting. Alternatively, a plurality of early signs values may be assigned to each internal event. That is to say, the early signs before the degree of dirtiness is determined to have reached the significant degree may be classified into multiple stages. Specifically, the early signs values may include a first early signs value, a second early signs value, and a third early signs value. When finding the smoke concentration (indicating the degree of dirtiness) equal to or greater than the first early signs value but less than the second early signs value, the controller 5 may output, to the contact address X1, the early signs information indicating that the early signs have entered the first stage. Likewise, when finding the smoke concentration equal to or greater than the second early signs value but less than the third early signs value, the controller 5 may output, to the contact address X1, the early signs information indicating that the early signs have entered the second stage. Furthermore, when finding the smoke concentration equal to or greater than the third early signs value but less than the first threshold value, the controller 5 may output, to the contact address X1, the early signs information indicating that the early signs have entered the third stage.
Optionally, the early signs values associated with the respective internal events may be changed as appropriate via either the controller 5 or an external server device that is able to communicate with the controller 5. For example, the early signs value for the low battery level (which is set at 20% of the capacity in the basic example described above) may be set at 25% for a device 1 at a certain facility 7 and may be set at 30% for a device 1 at another facility 7.

(4) Resume

As can be seen from the foregoing description, a control system (100) according to a first aspect is configured to be connected to a device (1) to be ready to communicate with the device (1). The control system (100) includes an acquisition unit (51) and an output unit (52). The acquisition unit (51) acquires device information from the device (1). The device information is information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device (1) itself. The output unit (52) outputs early signs information about any early signs of the internal event. The early signs information is based on the device information. According to the first aspect, the control system (100) outputs early signs information about any early signs of an internal event that is going to happen to a device (1). This allows a destination device to learn about the early signs of the internal event via the control system (100). This enables the user to be provided with information about the device's (1) status at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device (1).
In a control system (100) according to a second aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with the first aspect, the acquisition unit (51) suitably acquires, as the device information, a detection signal provided by a detection unit (3) of the device (1). The detection signal is generated as a signal indicative of a particular event. According to the second aspect, the detection signal provided by the detection unit (3) is acquired as the device information, thus allowing early signs information about any early signs of the internal event to be output based on the detection signal.
A control system (100) according to a third aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with the second aspect, suitably further includes a decision unit (53) to determine, based on the detection signal, whether or not the device (1) shows any early signs of the internal event. The output unit (52) suitably outputs the early signs information including a decision made by the decision unit (53). The third aspect allows the device (1) to have its configuration simplified, compared to a situation where the decision function of determining whether or not the device (1) shows any early signs of the internal event is provided on the device (1) end, for example.
In a control system (100) according to a fourth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with the first aspect, the acquisition unit (51) suitably acquires, as the device information, a decision from the device (1). The decision is made based on a detection signal to determine whether or not the device (1) shows any early signs of the internal event. The detection signal is provided by a detection unit (3) of the device (1) and generated as a signal indicative of a particular event. The fourth aspect allows the control system (100) to have its configuration simplified, compared to a situation where the decision function of determining whether or not the device (1) shows any early signs of the internal event is provided on the control system (100) end, for example.
In a control system (100) according to a fifth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to fourth aspects, the output unit (52) suitably outputs the early signs information to a predetermined external contact address (XI). The fifth aspect allows the early signs of the internal event happening to the device (1) to be learned about at an external contact address (XI), for example.
A control system (100) according to a sixth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to fifth aspects, suitably further includes an alert unit (U1). When the early signs information indicates that there are early signs of the internal event, the alert unit (U1) calls an alert to the early signs of the internal event. The sixth aspect allows the control system (100) to alert the user to the early signs of the internal event.
A control system (100) according to a seventh aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to sixth aspects, suitably further includes an instruction unit (54). The instruction unit (54) outputs instruction information to the device (1). The instruction information is used to selectively enable or disable the device (1) to output, or from outputting, the device information. The seventh aspect facilitates stopping (or disabling) output of the device information from the device (1) either at the user's request or depending on the surrounding environment.
A control system (100) according to an eighth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to seventh aspects, suitably further includes a switching unit (55) to selectively enable or disable the output unit (52) to output, or from outputting, the early signs information. The eighth aspect facilitates stopping (or disabling) output of the early signs information from the control system (100) either at the user's request or depending on the surrounding environment.
In a control system (100) according to a ninth aspect, which may be implemented in conjunction with any one of the first to eighth aspects, the internal event is suitably an event, a degree of which advances with the passage of time. The ninth aspect allows the destination device to be notified in advance of the early signs of the internal event, the degree of which advances with the passage of time, before the internal event happens.
A device management system (200) according to a tenth aspect includes the control system (100) according to any one of the first to ninth aspects and the device (1) or a plurality of the devices (1). The tenth aspect provides a device management system (200) that allows the user to be provided with information about the device's (1) status at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device (1).
A control method according to an eleventh aspect is a method for controlling a control system (100), which is connected to a device (1) to be ready to communicate with the device (1). The control method includes an acquiring step and an outputting step. The acquiring step includes acquiring device information from the device (1). The device information is information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device (1) itself. The outputting step includes outputting early signs information about any early signs of the internal event. The early signs information is based on the device information. The eleventh aspect provides a control method that allows the user to be provided with information about the device's (1) status at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device (1).
A program according to a twelfth aspect is designed to cause a computer system to perform the control method of the eleventh aspect. The twelfth aspect provides a function that allows the user to be provided with information about the device's (1) status at an earlier time while reducing the chances of impairing the usefulness of the device (1).
Note that the constituent elements according to the second to ninth aspects are not essential constituent elements for the control system (100) but may be omitted as appropriate.

Reference Signs List

100: Control System
51: Acquisition Unit
52: Output Unit
53: Decision Unit
54: Instruction Unit
55: Switching Unit
U1: Alert Unit
1: Device
3: Detection Unit
X1: Contact Address
200: Device Management System

Claims

A control system configured to be connected to a device to be ready to communicate with the device, the control system comprising:
an acquisition unit configured to acquire device information from the device, the device information being information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device itself; and

an output unit configured to output early signs information about any early signs of the internal event, the early signs information being based on the device information.
The control system of claim 1, wherein
the acquisition unit is configured to acquire, as the device information, a detection signal provided by a detection unit of the device, the detection signal being generated as a signal indicative of a particular event.
The control system of claim 2, further comprising a decision unit configured to determine, based on the detection signal, whether or not the device shows any early signs of the internal event, wherein
the output unit is configured to output the early signs information including a decision made by the decision unit.
The control system of claim 1, wherein
the acquisition unit is configured to acquire, as the device information, a decision from the device, the decision being made based on a detection signal to determine whether or not the device shows any early signs of the internal event, the detection signal being provided by a detection unit of the device and generated as a signal indicative of a particular event.
The control system of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
the output unit is configured to output the early signs information to a predetermined external contact address.
The control system of any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising an alert unit configured to, when the early signs information indicates that there are early signs of the internal event, call an alert to the early signs of the internal event.
The control system of any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an instruction unit configured to output instruction information to the device, the instruction information being used to selectively enable or disable the device to output, or from outputting, the device information.
The control system of any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a switching unit configured to selectively enable or disable the output unit to output, or from outputting, the early signs information.
The control system of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein
the internal event is an event, a degree of which advances with passage of time.
A device management system comprising:
the control system of any one of claims 1 to 9; and

the device or a plurality of the devices.
A control method for controlling a control system, the control system being connected to a device to be ready to communicate with the device, the control method comprising the steps of:
acquiring device information from the device, the device information being information about an internal event that is going to happen to the device itself; and

outputting early signs information about any early signs of the internal event, the early signs information being based on the device information.
A program designed to cause a computer system to perform the control method of claim 11.