JP2002260133A - Information terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve safety by providing emergency information by switching an television without any involvement of a user in case of abnormality of gas or the like. SOLUTION: If a gas leak alarm 102 detects an abnormal condition, an information terminal device 104 connected to the television 103 transmits an alarm signal to the information terminal device 104. The information terminal device 104 which receives the information transmits a control signal to the television using a infrared-emitting means 213, reflects the signal on a house wall and makes the television 103 receive it for input switching control or switching television power-on control. By displaying information such as gas leak on the television 103, thereby notifying the user of an emergency for high safety.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an STB (Set) for communicating with gas equipment and meter equipment and displaying information on a television.
Top Box) type information terminal device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional information terminal device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-322.
272. The device information receiver is connected to the TV, receives the signal sent by the meter reader, converts it to a TV signal, and inputs it to the TV.
The information sent by the meter reader is displayed on the television.

[0003]

However, the device information receiver having the above-described conventional configuration can receive the device status and meter reading information transmitted by the meter and display the information on a television. Since the user changes the video input to a TV video input or an available channel, information cannot be displayed without the user. In addition, there is a problem that it is not possible to automatically switch to emergency information display in order to transmit highly urgent information to the user.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and has a function of acquiring sensor information with a sensor device having a communication function, and a function of transmitting and receiving communication information by connecting to a network. The information terminal device further comprises an infrared light emitting unit for displaying the sensor information or the communication information on a television.

[0005] By providing the infrared light emitting means, in the case of highly urgent information according to the information obtained by the information terminal device,
The information terminal device can automatically control the television and display emergency information such as fire detection, intruder detection, and gas abnormality detection.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention according to claim 1 has a function of acquiring sensor information with a sensor device having a communication function and a function of connecting to a network to transmit and receive communication information. An information terminal device provided with infrared light emitting means for displaying information or the communication information on a television.

The provision of the infrared light emitting means makes it possible to control the television by the information terminal device based on the sensor information or the information obtained from the network. Even if the user does not change the channel or the video input, the television can be controlled. Is automatically controlled, and information can be automatically displayed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information terminal device in which the sensor information or communication information displayed on the television includes security information such as an emergency call, an emergency call, and abnormality detection information. By automatically changing the input on the TV and displaying the emergency information, the emergency information can be promptly transmitted to the user. By displaying the information, security is improved, and accidents and the like can be suppressed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the infrared light emitting means comprises:
This is an information terminal device provided in the front direction of the information terminal device.
By providing the infrared light emitting means in the front direction of the information terminal device, it is possible to control the television by reflecting the infrared signal on the wall surface of the room facing the television screen and causing the television to receive the infrared signal.

[0010]

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

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an information display system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 1, 101 is a gas meter installed in a user's house,
102 is a gas leak alarm, 103 is a television for receiving a television broadcast used in a user's house, 104
Is connected to the TV via the video input terminal and has the function of browsing the homepage on the Internet, as well as gas meters, gas leak alarms, CO alarms installed in houses,
An information terminal device that is a set-top box (Set Top Box: STB) that has a function of communicating with gas appliances such as a water heater and communicates gas abnormalities and meter readings of a gas meter. 105 is an information terminal device, a gas meter, and a gas leak alarm. Wireless devices connected to each other and provided for wireless communication between the gas equipment and the information terminal device 104;
Is a telephone line used to access an external service, 107 is a provider for connecting to the Internet by connecting via a telephone line 106 from a modem provided in the information terminal device, 108 is the Internet, and 109 is an Internet connection. , A central server of a management center of a gas supplier that performs safety monitoring of gas supply, meter reading of gas consumption or information service.

Next, the configurations of the information terminal device 104 and the television 103 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the information terminal device. The same components as those in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a control input means which is constituted by a switch and is provided on the main body of the information terminal device 104, and 202 denotes an LED which indicates the arrival of an information message from the management center or indicates that a gas abnormality has occurred. The display means 203 provided to inform the user that a gas abnormality has occurred,
Voice means 204 composed of a speaker, a buzzer, etc. that sounds when an emergency call is made, 204 is an information processing means for calculating and processing input information and data, and generating and transmitting control signals and data, 205 is communication, etc. Information storage means, which is a memory for storing and storing the information and data obtained in
6 is HTML, XML, Java obtained by communication
Internet parsing means 207, which is a browser that parses content information on the Internet described in script, java, etc., is connected to a telephone line, and is configured with a modem for dial-up connection to a provider and Internet connection. 1 means of communication, 2
08 is a communication protocol conversion means for converting a TCP / IP protocol of a standard communication protocol used on the Internet into a unique communication protocol of a gas wireless communication system, 209 is a gas meter, a gas leak alarm, a CO alarm, a water heater, etc. The second communication means 210, which is a wireless communication means provided for performing wireless communication with the gas equipment, has an antenna 211 connected to the second communication means for performing wireless communication and the wireless device provided in the gas meter 101, respectively. Is a TV signal generating means for generating a signal for displaying information obtained by communication on the TV, 212 is a signal modulating means for modulating a TV control signal transmitted from the information processing means 204, and 213 is provided on the front of the information terminal device 104. Provided is an infrared light emitting means for transmitting a modulated signal by infrared light, and the infrared light emitting means 213 includes: Assuming that it is installed on a TV or on a TV stand, etc., it is spatially open and the light emitting unit is directed toward the front, which is the direction in which you watch TV, and the transmitted infrared signal is blocked by an object. Has been reduced.

Reference numeral 214 denotes a light receiving means for receiving a modulation signal for controlling the television, 215 a signal demodulation means for demodulating the signal, 216 a control means for the television 103, 217 a television display means which is a display screen of the television, and 218 a television display means. TV signal demodulation means for converting a signal input as a video composite signal to the information terminal device 104 into information to be displayed on a TV.

FIG. 3 shows the information terminal device 104 and the television 1
FIG. 4 is an external view of FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is a view showing contents displayed when a gas leak is detected by a gas leak alarm, and FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing operations up to displaying information on a television when a gas leak occurs. Next, a case where the gas leak alarm device 102 detects a gas leak and displays information on a television will be described. The operation will be described with reference to the operation flowcharts of FIGS. 2 and 5. (Step 1) When the gas leak alarm 102 detects a gas leak, an alarm output is sent out by the function of the gas leak alarm 102.

(Step 2) When an alarm output is sent out by the gas leak alarm 102, the signal is sent to the wireless device 10
The received alarm signal is converted into a radio signal and radiated as a radio wave via the antenna 210.

(Step 3) The information terminal device 104
The radio wave is received by the antenna 210 connected to the communication means 209, the alarm signal is demodulated by the second communication means 209, and the gas leak alarm is confirmed by the information terminal device 104.

(Step 4) In order to notify the user that a gas leak has occurred, the display means 202 (gas abnormal LED 301 in FIG. 3) is turned on and off, and a sound (for example, “Are there any gas leaks?” Stop the gas. ") Or make a sound. Then, the alarm signal data is transmitted to the information processing means 204 by the communication protocol conversion means 208 by the communication protocol conversion means 208 in order to transmit the alarm signal data according to the unique protocol of the gas wireless communication system to the Internet 108.
l), TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) / IP
(Internet Protocol) to generate data by placing alarm signal data thereon, control the first communication means 207, connect to a provider, and transmit data over the Internet 108. Then, the center server 1 of the management center of the gas supplier existing on the Internet 108
At 09, the alarm signal data is received, and it is displayed and confirmed that a gas leak has occurred at the user's house on a display or the like.

(Step 5) The center server 109 of the management center or the person in charge transmits an HTML document describing a situation description and a coping method according to the alarm signal data to the information terminal device of the user. And the Internet 10
The HTML document of the coping method sent to 8 is received by the provider 107 and transmitted from the provider 107 to the information terminal device 104 of the user via the telephone line.

(Step 6) The coping method The document is received by the first communication unit 207 (modem) of the information terminal device 104, and is processed by the information processing unit 204 in the information storage unit 20.
5 is stored. Then, the message receiving LED 302 as the display means 202 in FIG. 3 is turned on to notify the user that the message has arrived from the management center.

(Step 7) The gas abnormal LED 301
Blinks, the message LED 302 is turned on, and the maker code of the television used by the user is registered in the information storage means 205 in advance, and a “video input switching signal” corresponding to the maker code is transmitted to the information processing means 2.
04. Then, the signal is converted to signal modulation means 2
The signal is modulated by 12 and the infrared signal is transmitted by the infrared ray 213.

As shown in FIG. 6, the transmitted infrared signal is reflected by the wall surface 602 of the user's house 601, and the reflected infrared signal is transmitted to the control signal by the light receiving means 214 of the television 103. To receive. The received “video input switching signal” is demodulated by the signal demodulation unit 215 and the control unit 216 performs control so as to change to the video input. At that time, the information terminal device 10
Numeral 4 denotes a method in which the information processing means 204 reads the coping method data stored in the information storage means 205, analyzes the contents by the Internet syntax analysis means 206, and sends out the contents by the television signal generation means 211. The received signal is demodulated by the television signal demodulation means 218 on the 103 side, and the above-mentioned coping method is displayed by the television display means.

(Step 8) The contents of the coping method document (FIG. 4) in which pictures and pictures are put on the television 103 in an easy-to-understand manner are displayed, and the user copes with gas leakage according to the contents.

As described above, when a gas abnormality such as a gas leak is detected, the television is automatically controlled by the information terminal device 104 by an infrared signal according to its urgency.
According to the information displayed on the television, the situation of the gas abnormality can be easily confirmed and dealt with.

Further, the document of the coping method is stored in the information terminal device 10.
4 in the information storage means 205, and when receiving a signal from the gas leak alarm, controls the television in the same manner as described above,
An abnormality occurrence status and a coping method may be displayed.

Similarly, when the gas meter 101 shown in FIG. 1 or other gas equipment not shown in this embodiment, such as a CO alarm or a water heater, becomes abnormal, the same processing is used to perform the abnormality. The information terminal device 104 displays an HTML document on the television using the information terminal device 104 to provide details, a return procedure, a coping procedure, and the like, so that the user can easily understand the information and cope with it.

Further, instead of the gas leak alarm 102, a sensor device for monitoring whether or not an elderly person living alone is safe or not, for example, a sensor for counting the number of times a pot or a refrigerator is used, or a device under a bed or futon. It can also be used as a system for installing, connecting a sensor device or the like that detects a normal / abnormal sleeping state, and detecting abnormalities in life and notifying family members and nursing care facilities when abnormalities are detected.

Further, the gas supplier management center 10
When the gas meter reading is performed from 9, the communication path and processing will be described with reference to FIG. 1.
09 transmits the meter reading request data on the TCP / IP protocol to the Internet 108 from a LAN of the gas supplier through a dedicated line or the like. The meter reading request data arrives at the provider 107, and the provider 107 connects the modem to the modem of the information terminal device 104 via the telephone line 106 to transmit the meter reading request data. Information terminal device 1
The meter reading request data received in the information terminal device 10
4 is converted into a protocol of a unique wireless communication system by the communication protocol conversion means 208 of the information terminal device 104.
Wireless communication with the wireless device 105 of the gas meter 101 and transmits meter reading request data to the gas meter.

The gas meter 101 transmits the meter reading data to the information terminal device 104 by the wireless device 105. Then, the information terminal device 104 transmits the meter reading data to the center server 109 via the telephone line 106, the provider 107, and the Internet 108. Further, the gas meter 10 at the user's house is operated by the same communication path and processing.
1. Control of a water heater and the like can also be performed. Although not shown in the present embodiment, the power meter and the water meter can also be measured by a similar operation from a management server of a power company or a water bureau.

The information of the HTML document to be distributed includes not only information on how to deal with gas leaks, but also meter readings of gas consumption.
Rate information, usage information of gas appliances, various guidance information,
Advertising information, garbage collection / power outage / gas construction and other regional information,
Manual information (electronic manual) such as how to use the equipment and setting procedures may be used. Similarly, information can be displayed using the information terminal device 104, and the television can be controlled according to the information.

Although the HTML document of the return procedure and the like can be distributed and directly transmitted to the information terminal device 104, the address of the WEB server where the information (for example, a procedure for coping) to be shown to the user exists. That is, U
An RL (URL: Uniform Resource Locater) is transmitted by e-mail or the like, and information can be provided and displayed by having the user access this address.

Further, a gas supplier or another service provider can construct an information service server or an order terminal server on the Internet and provide services to users through the information terminal device 104.

The information to be transmitted can be provided even if it is not described in the Internet content description language HTML or XML.

In this embodiment, the gas equipment has been described as the equipment for communicating with the information terminal device 104. However, electric equipment such as a refrigerator, an air conditioner, and a washing machine, an electric water heater, and the like.
Composed of other equipment such as hot water flush toilet seats, fuel cell generators, and solar generators, and configured as a system for monitoring and maintaining equipment failures, and when a failure occurs, air conditioner filter replacement, and periodic replacement parts The information on the replacement time of the device can be communicated with each device to control the television and display it on the television.

In this embodiment, the information terminal device 104 is equipped with a modem as the first communication means 207,
It has been described that a connection is made to the provider by dialing through the Internet 06 and to the Internet by a dial-up connection of the provider. However, the line to be connected does not need to be a telephone line (analog), and ISDN, ADSL,
It may be a CATV or an optical fiber. Instead of a dial-up connection, an IP connection having a fixed IP may be used. In addition, it is possible to connect to the Internet via a LAN such as Ethernet (registered trademark). Further, the communication need not be wired communication, but may be a wireless LAN, PHS, wireless packet communication network, or the like.

It is also possible to assign a fixed IP address to the information terminal device, in which case the provider 10
7 may be omitted.

Although the second communication means has been described as being wireless, it need not be wireless communication but may be wired communication.

Further, the center server 109 may be constituted by a plurality of servers such as a meter reading server, a safety monitoring server, and a service server for performing electronic commerce. Also, the information terminal device 10 is provided by a server other than the gas supplier.
4 can also provide services and information.

The wireless communication device for gas equipment provided in the information terminal device 104 may be externally or internally provided. Similarly, the antenna 210 is described as being externally configured. However, an internal antenna may be used.

Further, the signal for controlling the television may be not only the "video input switching signal" but also a power ON / OFF control signal.

As described above, according to the configuration of this embodiment, when a security event of high urgency such as a gas abnormality occurs, the urgency controls the television for displaying information by an infrared signal. Since switching to video input can be performed, information can be provided without the user's hand in an emergency. In addition, since security information with a high degree of urgency, such as gas leaks and gas abnormalities, is handled, it is possible to promptly confirm the situation to the user and visually inform the user of how to deal with it, improving safety and improving user convenience. The performance is improved. In addition, by providing the infrared light emitting means 213 in the front direction, it is possible to reduce the shielding of a signal to be transmitted and to make the light reflected by the wall surface 602 to be easily received by the light receiving means 214 of the television 103.

[0042]

As described above, when the configuration of the present invention is used, the television can be controlled by the information received by the information terminal device, and the information can be displayed. When a security event of high urgency such as a gas abnormality occurs, an infrared signal is transmitted from the infrared light emitting means provided in the information terminal device to the TV that displays information, and the input of the TV is controlled by the urgency. Therefore, switching to video input can be performed, so that emergency information can be transmitted without the user's hand in an emergency. In addition, since security information with a high degree of urgency such as gas leaks and gas abnormalities is handled, it is possible to quickly inform the user of the situation and the measures to be taken, thereby improving safety and user convenience. Is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an information display system using an information terminal device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an information terminal device in the system.

FIG. 3 is an external view of the information terminal device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing contents displayed on a television by the information terminal device when a gas leak occurs.

FIG. 5 is an operation flowchart of an information display system using an information display device when a gas leak occurs.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a situation of video input change control by the information terminal device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 103 Television 101 Gas meter (sensor device) 102 Gas leak alarm (sensor device) 104 Information terminal device 108 Internet (network network) 213 Infrared light emitting means

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Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A function of acquiring sensor information with a sensor device having a communication function and a function of transmitting and receiving communication information by connecting to a network, and transmitting the sensor information or / and the communication information to a television. An information terminal device provided with an infrared light emitting means for displaying. 2. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor information or communication information displayed on the television includes security information such as emergency call, emergency call, and abnormality detection information. 3. The information terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the infrared light emitting means is provided in a front direction of the information terminal device.