JP2005079957A - Information apparatus and its controlling method and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prolong the operating time of a security function with a backup battery by limiting communication content concerning a low emergency function in a system for controlling a crime prevention device and household electric appliance from an information apparatus using a network. <P>SOLUTION: In an information system for controlling a crime prevention device, e.g. a human detection sensor 7, and a household electric appliance, e.g. a refrigerator 9, through radio by limiting communication with a terminal depending on the residual capacity of a battery during operation with a battery power, low emergency inquiry processing of the set temperature, operating mode, or the like, of the refrigerator 9 is forbidden when the family is absent and the security function is operating. Consequently, power saving operation of an information apparatus 1 is attained and operation of the security function can be prolonged as much as possible. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an information system configured to include information devices that control terminal devices such as home appliances and crime prevention devices through a network, in particular, information that allows a security function to operate for a longer time even when operating on a battery due to a power failure or the like. The present invention relates to a system, a control method thereof, and a program.

  In recent years, the development of communication network infrastructure has been remarkable, and there has been a sudden change in households other than home appliances such as washing machines, air conditioners, refrigerators, water heaters, open / close sensors and motion sensors attached to windows and doors. Technologies that can remotely control crime prevention devices such as emergency remote controls with information devices that are central control devices in the home, and check the status of operations using mobile phones from outside the home have been put into practical use. .

  These information systems use the communication line to upload home appliance information to the center server, upload intruder detection information from security devices, and notify by e-mail or telephone. The information itself is left as a log trail. Conversely, the center server downloads the latest information data of the region and home appliances so that it can be easily viewed on the information appliance, and the latest information on cooking recipes for home appliances and new control methods for security devices is also available on the information appliances. It can be downloaded to home appliances and crime prevention devices via the Internet, and can be used more effectively.

  In these information systems, especially information systems that implement security functions by communicating with security devices, it is common to have a backup battery power supply in case of a power failure or interruption of commercial power by an intruder. Yes, in the event of a power failure, this battery power supply is switched to perform a curative operation until the power failure is restored.

  This battery power supply can be configured using primary batteries or secondary batteries. However, secondary batteries can always be charged and fully charged, but on the other hand, performance may be degraded in regular charging conditions. A discharge management circuit is required. For this reason, in the situation where the frequency of a power failure is falling like these days, it may be comprised with a primary battery.

  In general, information devices in the home regularly communicate with terminal devices such as home appliances and crime prevention devices, and information devices are turned on and off from home appliances such as air conditioners and refrigerators. In addition to communication for checking the status, setting temperature, operation mode setting status, etc., and control for starting and stopping the operation, communication with the security device is performed for checking the remaining battery level. In addition, it mediates communication such as uploading and downloading from each terminal device to the center server.

  For communication between information devices and terminal devices, a polling method in which each terminal device returns a response message in response to a status inquiry message periodically sent to the terminal device triggered by the information device side, or an intruder There is a standby method in which the information device waits for a notification message transmitted from time to time due to a trigger in which an event has occurred on the terminal device side, such as detection of an event or the end of operation of the washing machine, or a method using these in combination.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a system for controlling crime prevention devices and home appliances from information devices using a network (see Patent Document 1), for example, a human sensor as a crime prevention device is proposed. Is used for sensing the location of a householder in the house and turning off the air conditioner in a room where the householder does not live.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-220882

  Regarding the battery power source for backup of information equipment, the capacity of the battery is limited, and naturally the time during which the operation can be continued by the battery power source is also limited. However, although the power consumption in the terminal device can be reduced in the conventional configuration, the power consumption of the information device itself as the central control device is not saved. Therefore, the operation time of the backup power source of the information device itself must be extended. The operating time of the entire system will not change.

  In recent years, the frequency of power outages has decreased, and the duration of power outages tends to be shorter. Therefore, in general, the primary battery replaces the battery correctly after a power failure. In the case of a secondary battery, it is thought that there will be no problem with the backup operation during a power failure due to recharging when the power is restored. A function that is not considered to be very urgent, such as checking that the home appliance is operating without knowing that the power outage is not rare, such as an intruder shutting off the commercial power supply. If the operation is frequently performed, a decrease in the capacity of the battery is accelerated, and there is a possibility that the information device stops due to a shortage of the remaining battery capacity.

  The present invention solves such a problem, particularly when a householder is going out while operating a security device while operating a security device. The function to check the status and start driving is considered to be far less urgent. Therefore, by prohibiting or restricting communication related to these functions, the power consumption of the battery power supply of information equipment can be suppressed. It is possible to save power and to operate a highly urgent security function for a longer time.

  In order to solve such a problem, the present invention provides a power supply means that operates with either a commercial power supply or a battery power supply in an information device that connects a terminal device including one or more crime prevention devices via a network. The content of communication with the terminal device is limited by the remaining battery level during operation with the battery power source.

  As a result, even if operation is performed with a backup battery power supply due to a power failure, the security function is prioritized and the communication content related to other less urgent functions is restricted according to the remaining battery level. Therefore, it is possible to preferentially extend the operation time of the security function.

  Since the present invention has the configuration described above, the security function can be operated for a longer period of time, so that even if a security device detects an intruder, it can promptly notify the center server or a mobile phone of a householder. It is possible to provide an information system with higher crime prevention.

  In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information device for connecting a terminal device including one or a plurality of crime prevention devices via a network, comprising a power source that operates by either a commercial power source or a battery power source. By restricting the communication content with the terminal device based on the remaining battery level during operation, priority is given to the security function according to the remaining battery level even when the backup battery power is activated due to a power failure or the like. By restricting the communication content related to other less urgent functions and conserving the battery, the operation time of the security function is preferentially extended.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information device in which a terminal device including one or a plurality of crime prevention devices is connected via a network and connected to a center server via an outside network, and either a commercial power source or a battery power source is provided. Power supply means that operates according to the above, and during operation with the battery power supply, by restricting communication with at least one of the terminal device or the center server by the remaining battery power, Even if it becomes active, the security function is prioritized according to the remaining battery level and communication content related to other less urgent functions is restricted to save battery power. The extension is preferentially performed.

  In addition to any one of the first to second inventions, the third invention prevents communication with a terminal device other than the security device when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold. Therefore, it is possible to extend the operation time by focusing on the security function with high urgency.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any one of the first to second aspects, when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold, communication with a terminal device other than the security device refers to the set state. By restricting communication for the purpose of communication and controlling only the contents of control such as start and stop of operation, it becomes possible to extend the operation time by focusing on highly urgent security functions, as well as gas equipment etc. Even equipment that handles heat or water can be safely stopped.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to any of the first to second aspects, whether or not there is communication content from the information device to the terminal device when the remaining amount of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold value. By not performing polling communications that make inquiries, it is possible to extend the operation time by focusing on highly urgent security functions, and by restricting from the least urgent functions, it is possible to control household appliances even during power outages. We do not impair convenience.

  In addition to any one of the first to second inventions, the sixth invention does not perform standby processing for communication from a terminal device other than a security device when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold. By doing so, it is possible to extend the operation time by focusing on highly urgent security functions, and since it is possible to execute the inquiry of the state by the trigger of the information device without restriction, Convenience can be maintained.

  In the seventh invention, in addition to any one of the first to second inventions, the restriction of the communication content is to transmit a message to the information device when the security device detects, and the information device notifies By setting only during the warning operation, the convenience of home appliance control by the information device is not impaired when the security function is not activated at home.

  According to an eighth aspect of the invention, in addition to any of the first to seventh aspects of the invention, all the operations during operation with a battery power source are included when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold. It is possible to extend the operation time to the maximum by focusing on the high security functions.

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information device in which a terminal device including one or a plurality of crime prevention devices is connected via a network and connected to a center server via an external network, and either a commercial power source or a battery power source is provided. The step of controlling the power supply means that operates according to the above, the step of determining the remaining amount of the battery during operation with the battery power source, and the content of communication with the terminal device when the remaining amount of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold The information device control method includes a step of restricting contents to be communicated through the outside line network according to a predetermined condition. As a result, even if the backup battery power is activated due to a power outage or the like, priority is given to the security function according to the remaining battery level to limit the communication content related to other less urgent functions. It is a control method that can preferentially extend the operation time of the security function by saving the battery power.

  The tenth invention is in the form of a program for causing a computer to execute at least one control content of the information device according to any one of the first to eighth inventions. According to this configuration, since it is a program, a part or all of the information equipment of the present invention can be easily realized using a microcomputer or the like. Further, the program can be easily distributed by recording it on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
The system in the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an information system in which household electrical appliances that are terminal devices installed in each home and security devices are connected. The information device 1 communicates with and controls each device in the home as a central processing unit in the home, and exchanges information with the communication device outside the home such as the center server 10 and a mobile phone, and various information is received by the householders. It is configured by installing a program on a personal computer or handy terminal equipped with an operation unit for inputting settings and a display unit such as a liquid crystal display. The outside network 2 is a public network represented by an information communication network such as the Internet network, a mobile phone network, a general subscriber telephone network, and the like. The line connection means 3 connects the outside line network 2 and the information equipment 1 and is composed of line connection equipment such as a modem, a router, and a splitter. The communication device 4 is a communication device that communicates with the center server 10 and the information device 1 from outside the home, such as a mobile phone or a general phone, via the outside network 2. In addition, as a representative example of the information device 1 and household appliances and security devices connected by wire (not shown) or wirelessly, in this embodiment, the washing machine 5, the air conditioner 6, the refrigerator 9, and the approach and movement of a person are detected. A human sensor 7 for opening and closing, an opening / closing sensor 8 for detecting an intruder by opening and closing a door and a sash, and the like are illustrated.

  The information device 1 is normally operated by a commercial power source supplied to a home. However, when the commercial power source is not energized due to a power failure or the like, the information device 1 is configured to operate by switching to a built-in backup battery power source (not shown). )

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic flow chart when the information device 1 is operated by the commercial power source and the battery power source during a power failure. When the information device 1 starts operation, it monitors the occurrence of a power failure while performing normal operation (step S1) with a commercial power source that communicates with each terminal device and the center server 10 (step S2). The normal operation S1 will be described later with reference to FIG. The power failure generation monitoring process is such that the power supply line voltage value is read at regular intervals in the program of the information device 1 and compared with a threshold value, or an interrupt signal is generated by a comparator circuit or the like so that the power failure processing program is executed. You may comprise.

  When the occurrence of a power failure is not detected in step 2 (in the case of NO), the normal operation in step S1 is continued, but when the occurrence of a power failure is detected (in the case of YES), the information device 1 uses liquid crystal to save power. After the screen is turned off (step S3), the power failure operation when a power failure occurs is entered. During the power failure operation, it is determined whether the power failure is restored and commercial power is supplied again (step S5). If the power failure is restored (in the case of YES), the process returns to step S1. If the power failure has not been restored (in the case of NO), it is determined whether or not there is a remaining battery level (step S6). If there is a remaining battery level (in the case of YES), the process returns to step S4 to perform a power failure operation. Continue. When there is no remaining battery power (in the case of NO), a system shut-off process such as saving the information on the volatile memory of the information device 1 to the nonvolatile memory and stopping the operating system is performed (step S7), and the battery power supply End energization from.

  Note that turning off the LCD screen in the event of a power failure is a significant power saving effect to extend the operating time of battery power, but depending on the system configuration, it may not be necessary to turn it off. Of course, it is possible to save electricity by cutting off the power to other components.

  Next, processing contents of the information processing 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present invention, at the time of a power failure operation that performs battery operation, priority is given to the processing contents to be executed as compared with the normal operation that operates with a commercial power supply, and the security function that has the highest priority in an information system such as the present invention is provided. It can function longer due to limited battery capacity.

  First, FIG. 3 shows an example of a general operation content when the information device 1 is operating with a commercial power source. Each vertical line in FIG. 3 indicates the passage of time, and the time passes downward. It means that you are doing. The processing in the frame on the vertical line shows the contents of the approximate processing that each device whose name is written on each vertical line performs at each time point. When the information device 1 first transmits a status inquiry message to the refrigerator 9 (step S11), in response to this, the refrigerator 9 returns a status such as the set temperature in the cabinet or the open / closed state of the door to notify the status. (Step 12). The information device 1 that has received the reply content stores the updated content in comparison with the previous reply content from the refrigerator. Subsequently, the information device 1 transmits a state inquiry message to the air conditioner 6 (step S13), and receives and stores a reply from the air conditioner 9 (step S14) such as the current cooling set temperature.

  Hereinafter, similarly, a status inquiry is made to each terminal device to be controlled by the information device 1, and a status notification from each terminal device is received. These processes are repeated again once the terminal devices to be controlled make a round.

  In addition, in addition to the periodic processing such as the above-described state inquiry, the communication contents between the information device 1 and each terminal device include processing for controlling the information device 1 with a trigger for a specific terminal device, There is also a process for transmitting a message to the information device 1 by a trigger from the terminal device when an event such as detection of an intruder occurs in the terminal device.

  For example, in FIG. 3, when a user who is out of the office operates the mobile phone 4 via the center server 10 to drive the air conditioner 6 before returning home (step S21), the center server 10 sends a message ( Step S22) is transmitted to the information device 1. The information device 1 transmits an operation instruction message for starting the operation to the air conditioner 6 (step S23). The air conditioner 6 receives the operation instruction message and starts operation, and whether or not the operation is normal or an error occurs. A result such as whether it has occurred is returned to the information device 1 (step S24).

  If an intruder occurs and the human sensor 7 detects this (step S25), the detected content is transmitted to the information device 1 (step S26), and the information device 1 receives this. A notification is sent to a predetermined contact such as the cellular phone 4 of the householder (step S27). The householder who has received the notification performs a reception operation such as pressing a button to stop the notification of the information device 1 (step S28).

  Although the round robin method in which the state inquiry sequence is sequentially performed for each terminal device in FIG. 3 and the state inquiry is sequentially performed from the beginning when it is performed to the end is described as an example, the state inquiry is performed at random timing. Or a sequence in which the terminal device with a high priority is performed at a higher frequency.

  Next, an example of processing when a power failure occurs and operates with a battery power source will be described with reference to the schematic flowcharts of FIGS.

  First, Fig. 4 saves power by stopping the processing of periodic status inquiries during a power outage, extends the time in which the information device 1 can operate the battery, and extends the security function by communicating with the security device for a longer time. It is what makes it work. In FIG. 4, the routine status inquiry process corresponding to steps S11 to S20 in FIG. 3 is stopped, and the householder corresponding to steps S11 to S24 operates to drive the air conditioner 9 with the mobile phone 4 from the outside. The process is limited to only the process when an event such as an operation for reporting the detection of an intruder corresponding to S25 to S28 occurs.

  By prioritizing event processing in this way, the frequency of communication can be reduced, so that the power required for communication can be saved, and as a result, the operation time of the information device 1 by the battery power source can be extended. become.

  Further, FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram in the case where the communication is performed only with the security device during the power failure operation and the communication with the home appliance is not performed. The operation instruction of the air conditioner 6 instructed in steps S31 to S33 in FIG. 5 is discarded by the information device 1 in the event of a power failure, and a message indicating that communication with the air conditioner cannot be performed during the power failure is returned. If the communication stop with the home appliance is uploaded to the center server 10 from the information device 1 to the effect that a power outage is occurring, the center server 10 can return an error status. Furthermore, if the configuration is such that the notification from the security device is made through a general telephone line during a power failure, a configuration in which communication with the center server 10 is not performed is also possible.

  If the method of not communicating with home appliances during a power failure operation as shown in FIG. 5 is too inconvenient, for example, what is the temperature setting of the room temperature of the air conditioner? The communication that confirms the current state of home appliances is not restricted and executed, and a method that only performs control-related communication that actually operates or stops the air conditioner can also achieve power saving effects. is there.

  Furthermore, as shown in steps S35 and S38 in FIG. 6, the microcomputer of the information processing 1 itself enters a power saving mode or enters a sleep state such as shutting off power to peripheral circuits except during communication processing. If it is made to return from the sleep state by the trigger by reception of the telegram radio wave from the center server 10 or the terminal device, further power saving operation can be performed and the battery operating time of the information device 1 can be extended. It will be possible.

  Note that it is also effective to prioritize the processing contents described above and execute the process when the remaining battery level is below a predetermined threshold, such as 10% or less without performing the remaining battery level. . Of course, a configuration in which the threshold value is set in several stages and the communication content limit range is changed in stages may be used. The battery constituting the battery power source described above may be a primary battery, a secondary battery that is charged during operation with a commercial power source, or a combination thereof.

  Finally, home appliances may include lighting equipment, hot water heaters, hot water usage systems, gas meters, water meters, and power meters. At this time, for example, in the description of FIG. 5, it is assumed that the home appliance is not controlled during the operation with the battery power source, but the communication is stopped for safety such as a gas meter that needs to shut off the gas urgently at the time of disaster. Communication with household appliances that are dangerous is to be continued. Further, the configuration range of the information system is not limited to the range including the outside network such as the center server as in the embodiment, and is configured only by the home information device and the terminal device not connected to the center server 10. Of course, even a system configuration within a certain range is acceptable.

  As described above, since the information system according to the present invention can operate the security function for a longer time even in the event of a power failure, the home appliance and the security device are not inferior in the security function dedicated device and the backup time. Can provide an information system that can take advantage of the combined control.

Configuration explanatory diagram schematically showing the entire system according to an embodiment of the present invention The flowchart explaining the process which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining the process which operate | moves with the commercial power source which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The flowchart explaining an example of the operation | movement sequence at the time of the power failure which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention The flowchart explaining another example of the operation | movement sequence at the time of the power failure which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention The flowchart explaining an example in the case of shifting to a power saving mode during non-communication processing in the operation sequence at the time of a power failure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Information equipment 2 External network 3 Line connection means 4 Mobile phone (communication equipment)
5 Washing machines (terminal equipment)
6 Air conditioner (terminal equipment)
7 Human sensor (security device)
8 Open / close sensor (security device)
9 Refrigerator (terminal equipment)

Claims (10)

An information device for connecting a terminal device including one or a plurality of crime prevention devices via a network is provided with a power supply means that operates by either a commercial power source or a battery power source, and the battery remains during operation with the battery power source. An information device that restricts communication with terminal devices by volume. In an information device that connects a terminal device including one or a plurality of crime prevention devices via a network and is connected to a center server through an external network, power supply means that operates with either a commercial power source or a battery power source. And an information device that restricts communication with at least one of the terminal device and the center server according to a remaining battery level during operation with the battery power source. The information device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein communication with a terminal device other than a security device is not performed when the remaining amount of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold value. When the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold, communication with terminal devices other than security devices is limited to communication for reference of the setting status, and only communication content that controls starting and stopping of driving, etc. The information device according to any one of claims 1 to 2. The information device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein polling communication for inquiring whether there is communication content from the information device to the terminal device is not performed when the remaining amount of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold value. . The information device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein a standby process for communication from a terminal device other than the security device is not performed when the remaining amount of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold value. The information device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the communication is restricted only when the information device is set during a warning operation for performing notification. An information device that is used when the remaining battery level falls below a predetermined threshold value in any one of claims 1 to 7 during operation with a battery power source. In an information device that connects a terminal device including one or a plurality of crime prevention devices via a network and is connected to a center server through an external network, power supply means that operates with either a commercial power source or a battery power source. A step of controlling, a step of determining a remaining amount of the battery during operation with the battery power source, a communication content with a terminal device when the remaining amount of the battery falls below a predetermined threshold, and the outside line network A control method for an information device, comprising a step of restricting the content to be communicated according to a predetermined condition. A program for causing a computer to execute at least one control content of the information device according to claim 1.

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