JP2002259678A - Home control system, web server for home control, home controller, method for controlling home electronic appliance, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a home control system by which a user can control an electronic appliance in a house when the user is out. SOLUTION: The system consists of a web server for providing a control web screen and receiving control data via the Internet, a user terminal for displaying the control web screen and transmitting control data which is inputted according to the web screen, and a home controller for controlling a home electronic appliance based on control data which is received from the web server.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a home control system, a home control web server, a home controller, a control method for a home electronic device, and a computer program, and more particularly, to connecting a home electronic device to a home controller. To a home control system that performs centralized control or centralized management.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 15 shows an example of a conventional control method for home electronic equipment. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a television receiver (television) for receiving a television broadcast, 11 denotes a video recording device (video) connected to the television 10 for recording a television broadcast or the like, and 12 denotes indoor air conditioning (for cooling or cooling). Air conditioning for heating), 10
R to R are remote controllers for the electronic devices 10 to 12, respectively.

When controlling each of these electronic devices 10 to 12, a method of operating control means such as a switch provided on the device itself and a control for remote control called a remote controller (remote controller) are generally used. There is a way to operate the terminal. When controlling using the remote controllers 10R to 12R, the user can control the devices without going to each device. However, usually the remote control 1
Since 0R to 12R are dedicated to each electronic device, the user must carry many remote controls. In addition, the remote controllers 10R to 12R can usually be used only indoors, and the remote controllers 10R to 12R cannot control the home electronic devices 10 to 12 from outside.

Therefore, when recording a television program with the video 11, it is necessary to set a recording reservation by pressing a recording button at the start time of the television program or using a remote controller or the like in advance. If the user forgets to make a recording reservation and goes out, or if the broadcast time of the program is changed after the user goes out due to extension of baseball broadcasting, the user must return home once and change the setting, It is necessary to set a long recording time in advance in consideration of a change in program broadcast time. The same is true for the air conditioner control. It is necessary to control the air conditioner indoors. For the control during going out, it is necessary to set a timer in advance before going out, and the air conditioner cannot be controlled from outside.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional control method for home electronic equipment, and shows a home control system for controlling the electronic equipment by using a home controller. 10 is a television, 11 is a video, 12 is an air conditioner, 13 is a water heater, 14 is a microwave oven, 15 is a rice cooker, 20 is a home controller, 20R.
Is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant, information portable terminal), and 22 is a dedicated control line for the home controller 20.

[0006] Each of the electronic devices 10 to 15 in the home is connected to a home controller 20 via a dedicated control line 22.
It is controlled based on a control signal from home controller 20. That is, the home controller 20 controls each electronic device 1
Centralized control and centralized management of 0 to 15 are performed. PDA2
0R is a control terminal of the home controller 20, and performs wireless communication with the home controller 20.
The home controller 20 controls each of the electronic devices 10 to 15 based on control data transmitted from the PDA 20R.

Therefore, the user only needs to carry one PDA 20R, and does not need to carry a remote controller corresponding to the number of electronic devices. Further, by using the PDA 20R, each electronic device can be remotely controlled even when the user is away from the home controller 20.

However, in this system, the PDA
Wireless communication is directly performed between the home controller 20R and the home controller 20R. The range in which the PDA 20R can be used is the PDA
This is the range where the transmission radio wave from the 20R reaches the home controller 20, and the range is determined by the transmission power of the PDA 20R. In a normal home system, this range is limited to about several hundred meters from the home controller 20. In other words, even in this system, when the user is out,
It is not possible to control home electronic devices using the 20R.

[0009]

As described above, according to the conventional control method of household electronic equipment, there is a problem that it is impossible to control indoor electronic equipment from outside while the user is out. Also, a PD for controlling electronic devices
The user interface relating to the specifications of A, particularly operations, etc., is usually predetermined, and it is not easy to change for each user. For this reason, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated when the types and number of electronic devices to be centrally managed increase.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a home control system that allows a user who is out of the home to control an electronic device at home from a remote place. . It is another object of the present invention to provide a home control system that can easily change registered devices such as registration and deletion of home electronic devices.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home control system comprising: a web server;
It is composed of a user terminal and a home controller.
The web server provides a control web screen for inputting control data to the home electronic device to the user terminal via the Internet network, and receives the control data from the user terminal via the Internet network. The user terminal displays a control web screen provided from the web server, and transmits control data for the home electronic device input based on the web screen to the web server. The home controller is connected to the home electronic device via a control line, and controls the home electronic device based on control data received from the web server.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
By displaying the control web screen on the user terminal and inputting the control data of the electronic device on this web screen,
The control data can be transmitted to the home controller via the web server to control the home electronic device. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device can be controlled on the web screen.

[0013] In the home control system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the home controller transmits setting data relating to the home electronic device connected via the control line to the web server. Also, the web server provides a confirmation web screen for confirming the setting data of the home electronic device via the Internet network based on the setting data received from the home controller, and the user terminal is provided from the web server. Display the confirmation web screen.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
The setting data of the electronic device received from the home controller by the web server can be displayed on the user terminal on the web screen. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the setting data of the home electronic device that can be controlled on the web screen can be confirmed on the web screen.

[0015] In the home control system according to the third aspect of the present invention, the web server displays, via the Internet network, a registration web screen for registering home electronic devices controlled on the control web screen. Provide and also receive registration data via the Internet network. In addition, the user terminal displays a registration web screen provided from the web server, and transmits registration data regarding the home electronic device input based on the web screen to the web server.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
By displaying the registration web screen on the user terminal and entering the registration data of the electronic device on this web screen,
The registration data can be sent to a web server. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, a home electronic device to be controlled on the web screen can be registered in the web server on the web screen.

A home control web server according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is a control screen providing means for providing a control input web screen for inputting control data to a home electronic device via an Internet network. Control data receiving means for receiving control data for the home electronic device via the Internet network, and control data transmitting means for transmitting the received control data to a home controller to which the home electronic device is connected. You.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
The control screen providing means causes the user terminal to display a control input web screen, the control data receiving means receives control data transmitted from the user terminal based on the web screen, and the control data transmitting means receives the control data. Data can be sent to the home controller. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device can be controlled on the web screen of the user terminal.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home control web server for displaying a device selection web screen for selecting a home electronic device on the Internet network based on a database in which the home electronic devices are registered. , And the input screen providing means is configured to provide a control input web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
The selection screen providing means can display the device selection web screen on the user terminal, and the input screen providing means can display the control input web screen related to the selected home electronic device on the user terminal. That is, it is possible to select a home electronic device to be controlled on the web screen of the user terminal on the web screen of the user terminal.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a web server for home control, wherein a web screen for device selection includes:
It is composed of a web screen for selecting a configuration section of a house where a home electronic device is installed, and a web screen for selecting an electronic device associated with the selected configuration section.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
On the web screen, the user can select a configuration category of the house, and can select an electronic device associated with the selected configuration category. That is, on the web screen of the user terminal, it is possible to first select the configuration category of the house and then select the home electronic device.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home control web server according to the present invention, wherein a registration screen providing means for providing a device registration web screen for registering a home electronic device, and a home electronic device are registered. Registration data receiving means for receiving registration data for use via the Internet network, and database updating means for updating a database based on the received registration data.

With such a configuration, if a user terminal accesses a web server via the Internet network,
The registration screen providing means causes the user terminal to display a registration web screen, the registration data receiving means receives registration data transmitted from the user terminal based on the web screen, and the database updating means The database can be updated based on this. That is, the home electronic device to be controlled on the web screen of the user terminal can be registered in the web server on the web screen.

[0025] A home control web server according to the present invention according to claim 8 is a setting data receiving means for receiving setting data relating to home electronic equipment from a home controller, and a home electronic equipment based on the received setting data. And a confirmation screen providing means for providing a setting confirmation web screen for confirming the setting data relating to the setting screen via the Internet network.

With such a configuration, if a user terminal accesses a web server via the Internet network,
Based on the setting data received from the home controller by the setting data receiving means, the confirmation screen providing means can cause the user terminal to display a setting confirmation web screen. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the setting data of the home electronic device that can be controlled on the web screen can be confirmed on the web screen.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a home control web server for displaying a device selection web screen for selecting a home electronic device on the Internet network based on a database in which the home electronic devices are registered. And a confirmation screen providing unit configured to provide a setting confirmation web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
The selection screen providing means can display the device selection web screen on the user terminal, and the input screen providing means can display the setting confirmation web screen on the selected home electronic device on the user terminal. That is, it is possible to select a home electronic device whose setting is to be confirmed on the web screen of the user terminal on the web screen of the user terminal.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, a home controller according to the present invention transmits control data of a home electronic device from a web server which provides a web screen for inputting control data for the home electronic device via an Internet network. It comprises a control data receiving means for receiving, and a control means for controlling a home electronic device connected via a control line based on the received control data.

With such a configuration, if a user terminal accesses a web server via the Internet network,
The control data receiving means receives control data input from the user terminal from the web server, and the control means can control the home electronic device based on the received control data. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device connected to the home controller can be controlled from the web screen of the user terminal.

A home controller according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention includes a setting data request receiving means for receiving a request signal for setting data relating to home electronic equipment from a web server, and a home electronic device based on the received request signal. Setting data acquisition means for requesting setting data from a device via a control line and receiving setting data from a home electronic device via the control line; and transmitting setting data to transmit the acquired setting data to a web server. Means.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server via the Internet network,
The setting data request receiving means receives a setting data request signal from the web server, the setting data obtaining means obtains setting data from the home electronic device based on the request signal, and the setting data transmitting means obtains the setting data. The setting data can be transmitted to a web server. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the setting data obtained from the home electronic device can be confirmed on the web screen.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a home electronic device according to the present invention, wherein a control input web screen for inputting control data for the home electronic device is provided via an Internet network. A control data receiving step of receiving control data for the home electronic device via the Internet network, and a control data transmitting step of transmitting the received control data to a home controller to which the home electronic device is connected. You.

With such a configuration, if a user terminal accesses a web server via the Internet network,
By the control screen providing step, a control terminal web screen is displayed on the user terminal, the control data receiving step receives control data transmitted from the user terminal based on the web screen, and the control data transmitting step,
The received control data can be transmitted to the home controller. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device can be controlled on the web screen of the user terminal.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling a home electronic device according to the present invention, wherein a web screen for selecting a home electronic device is displayed based on a database in which the home electronic device is registered. There is provided a selection screen providing step provided via the Internet network, and the input screen providing step is configured to provide a control input web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen.

With such a configuration, if a user terminal accesses a web server via the Internet network,
The selection screen providing step causes the user terminal to display a device selection web screen, and the input screen providing step
A control input web screen related to the selected home electronic device can be displayed on the user terminal. That is, it is possible to select a home electronic device to be controlled on the web screen of the user terminal on the web screen of the user terminal.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for providing, via an Internet network, a control input web screen for inputting control data to a home electronic device; It is configured to execute a control data receiving step of receiving control data for the electronic device via the Internet network, and a control data transmitting step of transmitting the received control data to a home controller connected to the home electronic device. .

When a web server that executes the computer program is accessed from the user terminal via the Internet network, a control screen providing step causes the user terminal to display a control input web screen, and a control data receiving step executes the control data receiving step. The control data transmitted from the user terminal is received based on the screen, and the received control data can be transmitted to the home controller in the control data transmission step. That is, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device can be controlled on the web screen of the user terminal.

According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program for displaying, via an Internet network, a device selection web screen for selecting a home electronic device based on a database in which home electronic devices are registered. The providing selection screen providing step is performed, and the input screen providing step is configured to provide a control input web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen.

With such a configuration, if the user terminal accesses the web server that executes the computer program from the user terminal via the Internet network, the selection screen providing step causes the user terminal to display the device selection web screen, and displays the input screen. By the providing step, a control input web screen relating to the selected home electronic device can be displayed on the user terminal. That is, it is possible to select a home electronic device to be controlled on the web screen of the user terminal on the web screen of the user terminal.

[0041]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a home control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a television, 11 is a video, 12 is an air conditioner, 13 is a water heater, 14 is a microwave oven, 15 is a rice cooker, 20 is a home controller, 21 is a storage device of the home controller, 22 is a dedicated control line, 3
0 is a web server, 31 is a storage device of the web server, and 40 is a user terminal.

TV 10, video 11, air conditioner 12,
The water heater 13, the microwave oven 14, and the rice cooker 15 are examples of electronically controllable devices mainly used in ordinary households, and are also called home appliances (household appliances). These home electronic devices 10 to 15 and the home controller 20 are all installed in the same house 1,
It is connected via a dedicated control line 22. Dedicated control line 22
Is an indoor communication line for transmitting and receiving control signals between each of the electronic devices 10 to 15 and the home controller 20.

Home controller 20 and user terminal 4
Reference numeral 0 is connected to an outdoor communication line such as a public line, and is connected to a web server 30 provided by an Internet service provider (ISP) via the Internet. That is, the home controller 20, the web server 30, and the user terminal 40 are Internet servers that are constantly connected to a communication line, and are directly or indirectly interconnected to form a part of the Internet network.

However, the home controller 20 or the user terminal 40 can be configured as a client. In this case, it is necessary to connect each to an Internet server (not shown) provided by an ISP or the like via a communication line such as a public line, and to connect to an Internet network via this Internet server. As such an Internet server, the web server 30 of FIG. 1 can be used also.

The user terminal 40 includes a modem as a data transmitting / receiving device, and is connected to a communication line via the modem.
Data communication by TCP / IP is performed. The user terminal 40 has a browser for browsing the World Wide Web (WWW), and can display a desired web screen by specifying an IP address or a domain name. As the user terminal 40, an ordinary desktop personal computer, notebook personal computer, or the like is used.

The web server 30 is an Internet server that provides a WWW website, has a modem as a data transmitting / receiving device, is connected to a communication line via the modem, and performs data communication by TCP / IP. In addition, a data storage device 31 such as a hard disk is provided, and stores and holds a plurality of web screen data constituting a website. Upon receiving a request signal from another server via the Internet network, the web server 30 transmits web screen data specified by the request signal to the requesting server.

When the user terminal 40 connected to the Internet network outputs a request signal designating an IP address and a file path, if the IP address is an address corresponding to the web server 30, the request signal is sent to the web server. 30. The web server 30 receiving the request signal transmits the web screen data designated by the file path to the user terminal 40,
At 0, the web screen can be browsed.

The user terminal 40 has a data input device such as a mouse and a keyboard, and can input control data for the electronic devices 10 to 15 on a web screen provided by the web server 30. The entered control data is
The data is transmitted to the web server 30 via the Internet network. At this time, the control data is transmitted together with a device number assigned in advance to the electronic device to be controlled.

The home controller 20 has a storage device 21 such as a hard disk therein.
-15 are stored. The home controller 20 controls each of the electronic devices 10 to 15 connected to the dedicated control line 22 based on the control data. The control signals for the electronic devices 10 to 15 of the home controller 20 are not only those relating to the immediate control of the electronic device but also the future control (reservation setting) for the electronic device
There is something about. For example, video recording reservation setting and air conditioner timer setting are examples of the latter.

In the case of reservation setting, for an electronic device having a reservation setting function, the home controller 20 can immediately output a reservation setting control signal to the electronic device. When the home controller 20 has a timer function, a control signal for immediate control may be output to the control device when the reservation time has arrived.

An electronic device having a reservation setting function has a storage device therein and stores setting data for itself. The home controller 20 includes electronic devices 10 to 1
When receiving the setting data stored in the home controller 5, the setting data stored in the home controller 20 is compared with the received data. As a result, when a mismatch of the setting data is found, the data stored in the storage device 21 is updated. Thereby, in the electronic devices 10 to 15,
Even if any setting change is made, the home controller 20 can store and hold correct setting data.

FIGS. 2 to 6 are views showing an example of a web screen provided by the web server 30. FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a top page of a website provided by the web server 30 (homepage in a narrow sense). The user terminal 40 has a WWW browser, and when a browsing request is made by specifying a predetermined IP address or the like using the WWW browser, the screen of FIG. 2 is displayed in the browser.

This screen is provided with a device registration button b10, a control setting button b11, and a setting confirmation button b12. These buttons are link buttons hyperlinked to different web screens. When one of the buttons is selected using a mouse, a keyboard, or the like, a web screen linked to the button is displayed.

The device registration button b10 is a button for registering electronic devices 10 to 15 controlled by the home controller 20 on a website. The control setting button b11 is a button for inputting control data for the electronic devices 10 to 15 and remotely controlling each electronic device.
The setting confirmation button b12 is a button for browsing and confirming the setting data set for the electronic devices 10 to 15 on the web screen.

FIG. 3 shows the control setting button b1 in FIG.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a web screen displayed when 1 is selected. On this web screen, the electronic devices 10 to 15
The floor plan of the house 1 where is located is displayed.
In other words, the main configuration divisions (each room including the entrance, bathroom, etc.) of the house 1 are shown together with their shapes and arrangement information. b24, wash b2
5, consisting of entrance b27. Each displayed room b20-b
Reference numeral 27 denotes a link button, which is hyperlinked to a web screen for each room. The user selects a room of the house 1 associated with the electronic device to be controlled while viewing the floor plan.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a web screen displayed when is selected, in which electronic devices registered in association with Western-style room 2 are displayed. Here, lighting equipment b30, television b31, video b
32 and the air conditioner b33 are displayed together with the product name or model name. b30 to b33 are link buttons, which are hyperlinked to web screens related to the respective electronic devices.

FIG. 5 shows a video button b32 in FIG.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a web screen displayed when is selected, and is a video reservation setting screen installed in the Western room 2. The reservation setting screen includes an input field f40 for inputting a recording start time, an input field f41 for inputting a recording end time, an input field f42 for inputting a recording channel, and an input for inputting a recording mode. A column f43 and a setting end button b40 are provided.

When the user inputs desired start time, end time, channel, and recording mode as control data into each of the input fields f40 to f43, and selects the setting end button b40, the web server 30 performs these control operations. Data is sent. At this time, the device number assigned to the video in advance is transmitted together with the control data.

The control data includes a start time, an end time, and operation contents. The start time is the time to start the control (or the time until the start time), the end time is the time to end the control (or the time to the start time), and the operation content is from the start time to the end time. Is data related to the contents of control during the period, and differs for each target electronic device.

In the case of video recording reservation, the start time and the end time are the start time and the end time of the recording, respectively, and the operation contents are the recording channel and the recording mode. In the case of the air conditioner 12, the operation content is a mode for selecting temperature, cooling / heating, and the like, and the end time can be omitted. In the case of the rice cooker 15, if only the control of the rice cooking start is performed, only the start time can be set.

The web server 30 having received the device number and the control data stores the received data in the hard disk 3
1 is stored. Setting data of the same type has already been stored in the hard disk 31 (here, reservation 1 for the same video).
If is stored, this is updated. The web server 30 further transmits the device number and control data to the home controller 20 via the Internet network.

The home controller 20 having received the device number and the control data stores the received data in the hard disk 21. If the same type of setting data is already stored in the hard disk 21, the setting data is updated. Then, based on the control data, the dedicated control line 2
The control signal is transmitted to the electronic device specified by the device number via the control unit 2.

In the case of the reservation setting of the video 11, when the home controller 20 receives the control data, the home controller 20 immediately transmits the control data to the video 11, and the video 11 makes the reservation setting based on its own recording reservation function. However, when the home controller 20 has a timer function, it can be controlled without using the recording reservation function in the video 11. That is, the home controller 20 may transmit a recording start control signal including designation of a recording mode to the video 11 at the start of recording, and may transmit a recording end control signal at the end of recording.

When the home controller 20 has the timer function as described above, the home controller 20 centrally manages and controls the time, thereby setting the reservation for each electronic device individually. The memory function and the timer function can be omitted.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a web screen displayed on the user terminal 40 at the time of confirming the setting, in which the setting data held in the storage device 31 of the web server is displayed. On the web screen of FIG. 2, when the setting confirmation button b12 is selected, a screen for selecting the electronic devices 10 to 15 is displayed in the same manner as when the control setting button b11 is selected.

That is, a web screen of a floor plan is displayed in the same manner as in FIG.
When 26 is selected, a web screen of the electronic device associated with the Western room 2 is displayed in the same manner as in FIG. 4, and when the video button b32 is selected, the web screen of FIG. 6 is displayed. The user can check the setting data for each electronic device by looking at this confirmation screen.

FIGS. 7 to 9 are flowcharts showing an example of operations and operations in the user terminal 40. FIG.
Steps S100 to S102 are diagrams showing a registration flow for registering an electronic device whose control is to be set using the user terminal 40 on the web screen. When the device registration button b10 is selected on the web screen of FIG. 2, a web screen for selecting an electronic device is displayed (step S10).
0).

The user selects a new device to be registered from the electronic devices connected to the home controller 20 on the web screen (step S101). At this time, a room associated with the electronic device is also selected. When necessary information is input and device registration is performed in this way, the registration data is transmitted to the web server 30 and stored in the storage device 31 of the web server (step S102). The registered electronic device can input and confirm control data from the user terminal 40.

Steps S200 to S203 in FIG. 8 are diagrams showing a control setting flow for inputting control data for an electronic device on the web screen using the user terminal 40. When the control setting button b11 is selected on the web screen of FIG. 2, a web screen for selecting an electronic device is displayed (step S200). The user selects an electronic device to be controlled or set on this web screen (step S201). The web screens of FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to this step. The user inputs control data for the selected electronic device on a web screen for each electronic device (step S202). The web screen of FIG. 5 corresponds to this step. The input control data is transmitted to the web server 30 together with the device number (Step S203).

Steps S300 to S304 in FIG. 9 are diagrams showing a setting confirmation flow for confirming the setting data of the electronic device on the web screen using the user terminal 40. When the setting confirmation button b12 is selected on the web screen of FIG. 2, a web screen for selecting an electronic device is displayed (step S300). The user selects an electronic device whose setting data is desired to be confirmed on this web screen (step S301).

When an electronic device is selected, a request signal designating the device number of the selected electronic device is sent to the web server 30.
(Step S302). Web screen data for confirming the setting data of the electronic device is transmitted from the web server 30, and the user terminal 40 receives the data (step S303). The received web screen is displayed on the screen of the user terminal 40 by the WWW browser, and the user can check the setting data (step S304).

FIGS. 10 and 11 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the web server 30. Figure 1
Steps S400 to S403 of 0 are diagrams showing a reception and update flow executed in the web server 30 when control setting is performed using the user terminal 40.
At the time of control setting for the electronic device, the web server 30 receives control data transmitted from the user terminal 40 (step S400). The web server 30 collates the received control data with the setting data stored in the storage device 31 (step S401).

If the received control data is different from the set data that has already been set, the set data in the storage device 31 is updated based on this control data (step S402), and the home controller 20 is controlled. The data is transmitted together with the device number (step S4
03). Even when the registration data is received from the user terminal 40, the comparison with the registration data stored in the storage device 31 and the update of the registration data are executed in the same manner as in steps S400 to S402.

Steps S500 to S502 in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a confirmation flow executed in the web server 30 when setting confirmation of an electronic device is performed using the user terminal 40. Upon receiving the setting data request signal by designating the device number from the user terminal 40, the web server 30 requests the home controller 20 for the configuration data by designating the device number (step S500). The home controller 20 transmits the setting data of the electronic device, and the web server 30 receives the data (step S501). Based on the received data, the web server 30 creates a web screen for confirming the setting data, and transmits the web screen data to the user terminal 40 (Step S502).

FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts showing an example of the operation of the home controller 20. Steps S600 to S603 in FIG. 12 are diagrams illustrating a reception flow executed by the home controller 20 when control setting is performed using the user terminal 40. When performing control settings for electronic devices, the web server 3
0 is transmitted to the home controller 20.
Is received (step S600). The home controller 20 collates the received control data with the setting data stored in the storage device 21 (Step S60).
1). If the received control data is different from the already set setting data, the setting data in the storage device 21 is updated based on the control data (step S602), and the electronic device corresponding to the device number is The control data is transmitted (step S603).

Steps S700 to S703 in FIG.
In order to confirm the settings of the electronic device using the user terminal 40,
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a transmission flow executed in the home controller 20. The setting data is transmitted from each electronic device, and the home controller 20 receives the setting data (step S700). Home controller 20
Performs collation between the received setting data and the setting data stored in the storage device 21 (step S701).
If the received setting data is different from the already set setting data, the setting data in the storage device 21 is updated based on the control data (step S7).
02), and transmits the setting data together with the device number to the web server 30 (step S703).

When setting of the electronic device is confirmed using the user terminal 40, a request for setting data is made from the web server 30 to the home controller 20 (step S50).
0). Home controller 20 receiving this request signal
Outputs a request for setting data to each electronic device or an electronic device specified by the device number. Each electronic device or a designated electronic device transmits setting data based on this request, and the home controller 20 receives the setting data (step S700). Further, each electronic device may be configured to transmit setting data to the home controller 20 when the setting is performed using a control setting unit provided in the electronic device or when the setting is changed.

According to the present embodiment, when the user terminal 40 accesses the web server 30 via the Internet, the user terminal 40 displays a control web screen, and the control data of the electronic device is displayed on the web screen. Is input, the control data is transmitted to the home controller 20 via the web server 30, and the home electronic device 10
~ 15 can be controlled. That is, the user terminal 4
By connecting the Internet to the Internet, the home electronic devices 10 to 15 can be controlled on the web screen.

When the user terminal 40 accesses the web server 30 via the Internet, the web server 30 displays the setting data of the electronic devices 10 to 15 received from the home controller 20 on the user terminal 40 on a web screen. be able to. That is, if the user terminal 40 is connected to the Internet, the setting data of the home electronic devices 10 to 15 that can be controlled on the web screen can be confirmed on the web screen.

When the user terminal 40 accesses the web server 30 via the Internet, the user terminal 40 displays a registration web screen, and inputs registration data of the electronic devices 10 to 15 on the web screen. Thus, the registration data can be transmitted to the web server 30. In other words, if the user terminal 40 is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device 1 to be controlled on the web screen
0 to 15 can be registered in the web server 30 on the web screen.

The home controller 20, the web server 30, and the user terminal 40 can be configured as computers that execute the above-described operations based on predetermined programs and data. These computer programs can be provided by being recorded on a storage medium such as an optical storage medium or a magnetic storage medium, or transmitted as communication data on a communication line.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 14 is a diagram showing one configuration example of the home control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 10 is a television, 11 is a video,
12 is an air conditioner, 13 is a water heater, 14 is a microwave oven, 1
5 is a rice cooker, 20 is a home controller, 21 is a storage device of a home controller, 22 is a dedicated control line, 30 is a web server, 31 is a storage device of a web server, 50 is a user wireless terminal, and 51 is a base station. Compared with FIG. 1, the user radio terminal 50 and the base station 51 are different.

The user wireless terminal 50 is a cellular wireless communication terminal such as a mobile phone, and can perform wireless communication with the base station 51 that provides a wireless communication zone at its current position. The base station 51 changes. The user wireless terminal 50 has a WWW browser, the base station 51 includes an Internet server, and the user wireless terminal 50 is connected to the Internet network via the base station.

The user radio terminal 50 uses radio communication like the PDA 20R in the conventional system. However, since the PDA 20R of the conventional system directly wirelessly communicates with the home controller 20, the range in which wireless communication is possible is determined by the distance from the home controller. On the other hand, the user wireless terminal 50 can control the electronic devices 10 to 15 regardless of the distance from the home controller 20 as long as the wireless communication zone is provided. Moreover, in the case of a mobile phone, many base stations are already installed.

When the Internet server of the base station 51 is not used, it is connected to a communication line such as a public line via the base station 51, and the ISP is connected via this communication line.
It is necessary to connect to an Internet server (not shown) that provides the above. The web server 30 can also be used as such an internet server.

Further, a user terminal such as a personal computer having a WWW browser may be further connected to the user wireless terminal 50, and this user terminal may be connected to the Internet via the user wireless terminal 50 to display a web screen.

[0087]

According to the present invention, when the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device connected to the home controller can be controlled on the web screen.
For this reason, the user who is out can control the home electronic device installed in the house.

According to the present invention, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the setting data of the home electronic device connected to the home controller can be confirmed on the web screen. For this reason, the user who is out can check the data set in the home electronic device installed in the house.

According to the present invention, if the user terminal is connected to the Internet, the home electronic device connected to the home controller can be registered on the web screen on the web server. For this reason, the user can freely add or delete home electronic devices that can be controlled on the web screen, change the registered device, and easily create a web screen for each user.

[0090]

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web screen provided by a web server 30, and is a diagram illustrating an example of a top page of a website.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a web screen provided by a web server 30. In FIG. 2, a control setting button b1 is shown.
It is a web screen displayed when 1 is selected, and a floor plan of the house 1 is displayed.

FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a web screen provided by the web server 30, and FIG.
This is the web screen displayed when you select
Electronic devices registered in association with are displayed.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of a web screen provided by the web server 30, and a video button b32 in FIG.
This is the web screen displayed when you select
3 is a video reservation setting screen installed in the video recorder.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a web screen provided by the web server 30, in which setting data displayed on the user terminal 40 at the time of setting confirmation is displayed.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation and an operation in the user terminal 40, and is a diagram illustrating a registration flow for registering an electronic device whose control is to be set on a web screen.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation and an operation of the user terminal 40, and is a diagram illustrating a control setting flow for inputting control data for an electronic device on a web screen.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation and an operation in the user terminal 40, and is a diagram illustrating a setting confirmation flow for confirming setting data of an electronic device on a web screen.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation in the web server 30, and is a diagram illustrating a reception and update flow executed when control setting is performed using the user terminal 40.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the web server 30, and is a diagram illustrating a confirmation flow executed when setting confirmation of an electronic device is performed using the user terminal 40.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the home controller 20, and is a diagram illustrating a reception flow executed when control setting is performed using the user terminal 40.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of the home controller 20, and is a diagram illustrating a transmission flow executed when setting confirmation is performed using the user terminal 40.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a home control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a conventional control method for home electronic devices.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of a conventional control method for home electronic equipment, showing a home control system for controlling the electronic equipment using a home controller.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 residence, 10 TV, 11 video, 12 air conditioner, 13 water heater, 14 microwave oven, 15 rice cooker,
20 home controller, 21 data storage device, 2
2 Dedicated control line, 30 web server, 31 data storage device, 40 user terminal

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat II (reference) H04Q 9/00 301 H04Q 9/00 301D 321 321E F term (reference) 5B089 GA12 GA25 GB02 HA10 JA35 JB10 JB22 KA03 KB04 LB04 LB14 5K033 BA01 CB08 DA06 DB18 EC03 5K048 AA04 BA12 CA08 DA05 DC04 EA11 EB02 EB06 FB08 FC01 GC03 HA01 HA02 HA21

Claims (15)

[Claims] 1. A web server for providing control data for inputting control data to a home electronic device via the Internet network, receiving a control data via the Internet network, and a web server provided from the web server. A user terminal that displays a control web screen for the home electronic device and transmits control data for the home electronic device input based on the web screen to the web server; and a web server connected to the home electronic device via a control line. A home control system comprising: a home controller that controls a home electronic device based on control data received from a home controller. 2. The home controller transmits setting data relating to a home electronic device connected via a control line to a web server, and the web server transmits the home electronic device based on the setting data received from the home controller. The method according to claim 1, wherein a confirmation web screen for confirming the setting data of the device is provided via an Internet network, and the user terminal displays a confirmation web screen provided from a web server. Home control system. 3. The web server provides, via the Internet network, a registration web screen for registering home electronic devices controlled on the control web screen, and registers registration data via the Internet network. Receiving, the user terminal displaying a registration web screen provided from the web server, and transmitting registration data relating to the home electronic device input based on the web screen to the web server. Item 1. The home control system according to item 1. 4. A control screen providing means for providing a control input web screen for inputting control data for a home electronic device via an Internet network, and receiving control data for a home electronic device via the Internet network. And a control data transmitting means for transmitting the received control data to a home controller connected to the home electronic device. 5. An input screen comprising: a selection screen providing means for providing, via an Internet network, a device selection web screen for selecting a home electronic device based on a database in which the home electronic device is registered. The home control web server according to claim 4, wherein the providing unit provides a control input web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen. 6. The device selection web screen includes a web screen for selecting a configuration section of a house where a home electronic device is installed, and a web screen for selecting an electronic apparatus associated with the selected configuration section. The home control web server according to claim 5, comprising a web screen. 7. A registration screen providing means for providing a device registration web screen for registering a home electronic device, and receiving registration data for receiving registration data for registering the home electronic device via an Internet network. The home control web server according to claim 4, further comprising: a database updating unit that updates the database based on the received registration data. 8. A setting data receiving means for receiving setting data relating to a home electronic device from the home controller, and a setting confirmation web screen for confirming setting data relating to the home electronic device based on the received setting data. The home control web server according to claim 4, further comprising a confirmation screen providing unit provided via an Internet network. 9. A selection screen providing means for providing, via an Internet network, a device selection web screen for selecting a home electronic device based on a database in which the home electronic device is registered, wherein the confirmation screen 9. The home control web server according to claim 8, wherein the providing unit provides a setting confirmation web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen. 10. A control data receiving means for receiving control data of a home electronic device from a web server providing a web screen for inputting control data for the home electronic device via an Internet network, and the received control data. And a control means for controlling a home electronic device connected via a control line based on the control program. 11. A setting data request receiving means for receiving a request signal for setting data related to a home electronic device from a web server, and requesting setting data from the home electronic device via a control line based on the received request signal. Setting data receiving means for receiving setting data from the home electronic device via a control line; and setting data transmitting means for transmitting the obtained setting data to a web server. 1
The home controller according to 0. 12. An input screen providing step for providing a control input web screen for inputting control data for a home electronic device via the Internet network, and receiving control data for the home electronic device via the Internet network. And a control data transmitting step of transmitting the received control data to a home controller connected to the home electronic device. 13. A selection screen providing step of providing, via an internet network, a device selection web screen for selecting a home electronic device based on a database in which the home electronic device is registered, wherein the input screen The method of controlling a home electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the providing step provides a control input web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen. 14. An input screen providing step for providing a control input web screen for inputting control data for a home electronic device via the Internet network, and receiving control data for the home electronic device via the Internet network. And a control data transmitting step of transmitting the received control data to a home controller connected to the home electronic device. 15. A selection screen providing step of providing, via an Internet network, a device selection web screen for selecting a home electronic device based on a database in which the home electronic device is registered, executing the input screen. The computer program according to claim 14, wherein the screen providing step provides a control input web screen for the home electronic device selected based on the device selection web screen.