JP2002130764A - Control system, server, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system which confirms the motion of equipment by operating equipment via a network, and when the equipment malfunctions, informs a user of the malfunction. SOLUTION: When the user 5 of the equipment 9 conducts a trial run of the equipment 9, the user 5 requests the server computer 3 of the control system 1 to set trial run information and makes the trial run through the network 21. When the equipment 9 malfunctions during the operation, the equipment 9 transmits error information to the server computer 3 through the network 21, and the computer 3 informs a user-side computer 7 of an error message.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control system for remotely operating and remotely monitoring equipment owned by a user via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, equipment such as heating and cooling has been tested for its function before the season to confirm its function. Alternatively, for equipment (an air conditioner, a floor heating device, and the like) connected to a heat source device having an automatic test run function, dispatched personnel operate the heat source device to test-run the equipment and confirm operation. I have. Commissioning requires that personnel be dispatched to the user. When an operation error occurs in the equipment, the error code displayed on the equipment is described in an instruction manual or service technical data.

[0003]

However, the trial operation of the equipment has problems such as dispatching personnel, adjusting the schedule of service implementation, and concentrating the service implementation time. Therefore, costs such as labor costs are incurred. Further, it is difficult for the user to independently determine the error code displayed on the equipment when the operation error of the equipment is performed, and to cope with the error.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to operate equipment via a network to check the operation, and to notify a user when the equipment malfunctions. To provide a control system for performing the control.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a control system in which equipment, a terminal, and a server are connected via a network. When the terminal sends an instruction to the server via a network, the server performs a trial operation of the facility device.

In the control system according to the first invention, the equipment, the terminal, and the server are connected via a network, and the server performs a trial operation of the equipment in accordance with an instruction from the terminal.

[0007] A second invention is a server connected to equipment and a terminal via a network. When an instruction is sent from the terminal via the network, the server is connected to the equipment. The server is characterized by performing a trial run.

[0008] The server of the second invention is connected to the equipment and the terminal via a network, and holds information on the equipment owned by the user. When an instruction is sent from the terminal, the server performs a trial operation of the equipment.

A third invention is a recording medium on which a program for realizing the server of the second invention is recorded.

[0010] A recording medium according to a third invention is a recording medium for realizing the server according to the second invention. This recording medium can be distributed, and the program can be distributed via a network.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a control system in which equipment, a terminal, and a server are connected via a network.
The control system sends error information to the server, and the server creates an error message based on the error information and sends the error message to the equipment or the terminal.

[0012] In a control system according to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the equipment, the terminal, and the server are connected via a network.
When an error occurs in the equipment, the equipment sends the error information to the server, and the server creates an error message based on the error information and sends it to the equipment or the terminal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a server connected to facility equipment and a terminal via a network. When error information is sent from the facility equipment, the server is configured based on the error information. , An error message is created and sent to the equipment or the terminal.

[0014] The server of the fifth invention is connected to the equipment and the terminal via a network, and creates an error message based on the error information sent from the equipment. Send to equipment or terminal.

A sixth invention is a recording medium on which a program for realizing the server according to the fifth invention is recorded.

A recording medium according to a sixth aspect is a recording medium for realizing the server according to the fifth aspect. This recording medium can be distributed, and the program can be distributed via a network.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control system 1 includes a server computer 3, a user-side computer 7, and equipment (equipment 9,
And the like, and are connected to each other via a network 21 such as the Internet.

The companies that operate the server computer 3 shown in FIG. 1 are public companies, communication companies, broadcast companies, and the like. The server computer 3 includes a customer database 23 storing information of the user 5 (eg, user ID, name, address, telephone number, owned equipment, etc.),
A device information database 25 storing information on the devices owned by the device (eg, ID, rating, user setting items, error messages, etc.) of the device, and device monitoring information (eg, various device settings, remote test run result information) And a remote monitoring database 27 storing error information and the like.

User computer 7 of user 5
Can be connected via the network 21 to the server computer 3 and the plurality of facility devices 9, 11, etc. of the user 5. Although the user computer 7 is used here, the computer need not be a computer, and any medium that can be connected to the network 21 may be used. The medium that can be connected to the network 21 includes, for example, a web television, a game device with a communication function, a mobile phone, and a PH.
S, PDA (Personal Digital Ass
(instant).

In FIG. 1, the user-side computer 7 is installed at the location of the user 5, but the installation location is not limited to the location of the user 5, and may be, for example, a management company or a repair company of equipment. It may be installed in a place.

A plurality of equipments 9 and 11 of the user 5
Is, for example, a multi air conditioner, which is connected to the network 21 and whose operation can be remotely controlled from the server computer 3 or the like. When an error occurs, the error information can be transmitted to the outside (the server computer 3 or the user computer 7) via the network 21.

Alternatively, when the equipment is a gas hot water heating / cooling system 13, the equipment such as the air conditioner 17 and the floor heating 19 may be connected to the heat source unit 15 by a composite line 29 (signal line and hot water piping).
Connected by Further, the heat source unit 15 is connected to the network 2
1 and can remotely control the operation of the heat source device 15 from the server computer 3. That is, the heat source device 15 is operated from the server computer 3 and the composite wire 29 is
The operation of the equipment such as the air conditioner 17 and the floor heating 19 connected by the remote control can be remotely controlled. The air conditioner 17 and the floor heating 1
When an error occurs in equipment such as 9, the error information can be sent to the heat source device 15 via the composite line 29, and the error information can be transmitted to the outside (the server computer 3 or the user computer 7) via the network 21. .

FIG. 2 shows the server computer 3.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing details of a customer database 23, a device information database 25, and a remote monitoring database 27 in detail.

The customer database 23 has a user ID,
Information such as a user's name, address, telephone number, and equipment owned by each user is stored.

The device information database 25 includes devices A,
Items that can be set by the user, device error messages, and the like are stored for each of B, C, and so on. The error message indicates the content of the error corresponding to the error code. The error message may also include a simple repair method. For example, in the device A, the content with an error code of 1000 is “temperature abnormal”.
Then, the error message may include a repair method such as "check of thermostat".

The remote monitoring database 27 stores device monitoring information for each user. For example, user ID
However, the user of T00100 owns the devices A and B, and the monitoring information stores the set temperature of the device A, the time of the on timer, the time of the off timer, and the set temperature of the device B. Further, past error information and the like are stored for each user.

FIGS. 3 and 4 are a flowchart and a flowchart showing a procedure for remote-testing the equipment 9. The procedure of the remote test run will be described with reference to FIGS.

For example, when the equipment 9 is an air conditioner, the user 5 performs a test run before the season to check the operation. First, the user 5 requests the server computer 3 from the user-side computer 7 via the network 21 for a trial run service (step 201,
Step 301). Note that, as described above, the request for the trial operation service is not limited to the user 5 and may be made by a management company or a repair company of facility equipment.

The server computer 3 transmits the equipment owned by the user 5 and the setting information stored in the customer database 23 and the equipment information database 25 to the network 2.
1 to the user-side computer 7 (step 2).
02, step 302).

The user 5 determines the equipment 9 to be trial-run, inputs setting items from the user-side computer 7, and sends them to the server computer 3 via the network 21 (steps 203 and 303). The setting items of the equipment 9 are, for example, items such as heating of an air conditioner, cooling temperature, operation of an air volume changeover switch, and operation confirmation of a thermo function.

Next, the server computer 3 checks information on the state of the equipment 9 specified by the user 5 via the network 21 (step 204, step 30).
4). That is, it is checked whether the facility equipment 9 is in a state in which test operation is possible, specifically, whether the main power is turned on, or whether there is any abnormality in the facility equipment 9 itself, the pipe connection part, or the like. Further, information such as various set values of the equipment 9 is checked.

The server computer 3 receives the setting information and the like from the equipment 9 (step 205), and sends the data to the user-side computer 7 (step 206, step 305). When the user 5 receives the information that “the equipment 9 is not test-operable”, the user 5 requests a management company, a repair company, or the like to have the equipment 9 adjusted or repaired.

The user 5 inputs the set value of the trial operation of the equipment 9 to the user computer 7 (step 20).
7), and send the set value to the server computer 3 via the network 21 (step 208, step 30)
6). The set value of the test operation is, for example, the temperature of the heating / cooling, the air volume, and the like.

The server computer 3 is connected to the network 2
1 starts a trial operation of the equipment 9 (step 2).
09, step 307). That is, the temperature of the heating / cooling or the like is set in the equipment 9, the equipment 9 is operated, and it is determined whether or not the heating / cooling is actually performed to that temperature.

The equipment 9 finishes the trial operation (step 2).
10) The result of the test run is transmitted to the server computer 3 via the network 21 (step 211, step 308). The server computer 3 stores the data of the test operation result in the remote monitoring database 27 (Step 212, Step 309). The test run result is the user 5
Are test operation data, such as a heating / cooling switching function, a temperature adjustment function, and an air volume switching function, designated by the user.

The server computer 3 creates a message to the user 5 in response to the result of the test run (for example, "no abnormality", "abnormal air volume switching", "abnormal cooling function, check refrigerant", etc.). , Network 2
1 to the user-side computer 7 (step 2).
13, step 310). The user-side computer 7
The test run result and message are displayed (step 214,
Step 311).

The user 5 judges the necessity of repair or adjustment of the equipment 9 based on the test operation result and the message. When the user-side computer 7 is located at a management company, a repair company for equipment, or the like, there is an effect that the equipment 9 can be managed without bothering the user 5.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of facility devices of the user 5, the user-side computer 7,
Using the control system 1 configured by connecting the server computer 3 to the network 21, a remote trial operation of the equipment can be performed. Therefore, necessary test operation work can be performed without dispatching personnel. Further, by storing the past test run history and the like in the server computer 3, there is also an effect that it can be used for repair and adjustment.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are a flowchart and a flowchart showing a procedure for remotely monitoring the equipment 9. The remote monitoring procedure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 assuming that the equipment 9 has generated an error.

The equipment 9 generates an error during operation (step 401, step 501). For example, it is assumed that the equipment 9 is an air conditioner, the blow function has failed, and the equipment has automatically stopped.

The equipment 9 itself makes an error determination (steps 402 and 502) and outputs error information. Conventionally, an error code is displayed on the display means (for example, a 4-digit display) of the equipment 9 itself using numbers and alphabets. The equipment 9 includes an error occurrence time,
The error information including the error code is transmitted to the network 21.
(Step 4)
03, step 503). Alternatively, the data is transmitted to the server computer 3 via the user-side computer 7 (steps 404 and 503).

The server computer 3 stores the error information in the remote monitoring database 27 (step 40).
5, step 504). That is, the remote monitoring database 2
7 stores the history of the error information of the device owned by the user 5.

When error information is sent from the equipment 9,
The server computer 3 refers to the device information database 25 and extracts an error message and a repair method corresponding to the error code (Steps 406 and 505).

The server computer 3 transmits the error message and the like to the user computer 7 via the network 21 (steps 407 and 50).
6).

The user-side computer 7 displays the error message, the repair method, and the like (steps 408 and 507). When the user-side computer 7 is located at a management company, a repair company for equipment, or the like, the equipment 9 can be repaired and managed without bothering the user 5.

Further, an error message may be sent to the equipment 9 itself, and the equipment 9 itself may display this error message.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of equipment devices of the user 5, the user-side computer 7,
When an error occurs in equipment using the control system configured by connecting the server computer 3 to the network 21, an error message, a repair method, and the like are sent from the server computer 3 to the user-side computer 7. Therefore, necessary error processing can be performed without dispatching personnel. Further, by storing the past error history and the like in the remote monitoring database 27 of the server computer 3, there is also an effect that it can be used for repair and adjustment.

Further, depending on the content of the error, if the error can be easily repaired, the user computer 7
It is also possible to give an instruction to the equipment 9 via the network 21 and perform remote repair. For example, there is a case where recovery is made by resetting the temperature setting.

[0049]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided a control system for operating equipment and confirming operation via a network and notifying a user when the equipment malfunctions. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a database of a server computer 3;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure of a remote test run.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a remote test run.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a procedure of remote monitoring.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of remote monitoring.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Control system 3 ... Server computer 5 ... User 7 ... User side computer 9 ... Equipment 11 ... Equipment 13 ... Gas hot water heating / cooling system 15 ... Heat source Machine 17 Air conditioner 19 Floor heating 21 Network 23 Customer database 25 Device information database 27 Remote monitoring database 29 Signal lines and hot water piping

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301B 321 321E F-term (Reference) 3L060 AA04 CC19 DD01 EE01 EE21 EE31 3L061 BA05 BB01 3L070 DE05 DE09 5K048 AA06 BA08 BA21 DA02 DC07 EB08 FB04 FB05 GB01 GB08 HA01 HA02 5K101 KK11 LL01

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A control system in which equipment, a terminal, and a server are connected via a network, wherein the terminal sends an instruction to the server via the network, A control system, wherein the server performs a trial operation of the equipment. 2. The server retains information on equipment that the user has, and when instructed by the terminal, sends information on the equipment that the user has to the user, and the terminal transmits the information to the user. The equipment and the setting information to be subjected to a test run are determined based on the determined information and sent to the server, and the server performs a test operation of the equipment based on the equipment and the setting information. The control system as described. 3. A server connected to the equipment and the terminal via a network, wherein when an instruction is sent from the terminal via the network, a test operation of the equipment is performed. A server, characterized in that: 4. Holding information on facility equipment owned by a user, when receiving an instruction from the terminal, sending information on facility equipment owned by the user to the user, and setting equipment and equipment to perform a trial run from the terminal. 4. The server according to claim 3, wherein when the information is sent, a trial operation of the equipment is performed based on the equipment and the setting information. 5. The server according to claim 3, wherein a test operation result of the equipment is stored. 6. The server according to claim 3, wherein a test operation result of the equipment is transmitted to the terminal. 7. A recording medium on which a program for realizing the server according to claim 3 is recorded. 8. A control system in which equipment, a terminal, and a server are connected via a network, wherein the equipment sends error information to the server when an error occurs. A control system, wherein the server creates an error message based on the error information and sends the message to the equipment or the terminal. 9. The control system according to claim 8, wherein the error message includes repair information. 10. A facility device via a network,
A server connected to the terminal, when error information is sent from the equipment, creates an error message based on the error information, and sends the error message to the equipment or the terminal; A server characterized by the above-mentioned. 11. The server according to claim 10, wherein the error message includes repair information. 12. A recording medium on which a program for realizing the server according to claim 10 is recorded.