JP2005175969A - Adapter - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that it is difficult to extend functions in a household electrical appliance. <P>SOLUTION: An additional function part 102 performs a processing for realizing an additional function not originally provided in an air conditioner 14 on the basis of state information acquired by a first sensor 104a and a second sensor 104b and generates an operation instruction to the air conditioner 14. The additional function part 102 outputs the generated operation instruction to the air conditioner 14. Thus, the air conditioner 14 can be handled through a home network 3 as if the air conditioner 14 is provided with the additional function. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to network technology, and more particularly to an apparatus for connecting a home appliance to a home appliance network.

With the advance of network technology, networks such as the Internet are rapidly spreading. Attempts have been made in various places to connect household electrical devices (hereinafter simply referred to as “home appliances”) to such a network so that the home appliances can be operated via the network. Generally, home appliances compatible with a network receive a command for instructing a predetermined operation via the network, and execute an operation corresponding to the command. In order to allow home appliances that do not have a function of receiving such commands to join a network, an adapter is provided between the network and the home appliance and enables participation in the network via the adapter ( For example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-283503 A

  The functions of home appliances are improving day by day. These advances will make home appliances more convenient and easier to use. Functions newly added to home appliances can generally be used only by home appliances that support the functions, and the functions cannot be used by home appliances that do not support such functions. For example, if the home has an air conditioner that has only a temperature sensor and operates based on information from the temperature sensor, it is impossible even if the user wants to use the human sensor function with the air conditioner, The user had to purchase an air conditioner having a human sensor function or give up the human sensor function.

  The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables a user's desired function to be realized even by a home appliance that does not originally have the function.

  One embodiment of the present invention is an adapter device for connecting a home appliance to a home network. The adapter is connected to a net communication unit that performs communication using the first control information via the first communication line, and a home appliance having the first function via the second communication line, and the second control information is transmitted to the adapter. A device communication unit that communicates with home appliances using a conversion unit that converts the first control information and the second control information to each other so that the device connected to the first communication line and the home appliance can communicate with each other And an input device for acquiring information necessary for realizing the second function different from the first function, and second control information for realizing the second function based on the information acquired by the input device And a control unit that outputs to the home appliance via the device communication unit. Thereby, the adapter can actively control the home appliance based on the information acquired by the input device. Moreover, the household electrical appliance connected to the adapter can be handled as if it had the additional function. The “first communication line” may be a communication line for connecting to a network that can be interconnected with a plurality of devices such as a home network. The “second communication line” may be a communication line for directly connecting to a single home appliance.

  This adapter acquires, via the first communication line, a device information acquisition unit that acquires device information for specifying a home appliance, and an additional program for realizing a second function corresponding to the home appliance based on the device information. A program acquisition unit to be acquired may be further included, and the control unit may determine control information for realizing the second function by executing an additional program.

  The program acquisition unit may specify the type of the input device, correspond to the home appliance specified by the device information, and acquire an additional program corresponding to the type of the input device. Further, the program acquisition unit may acquire a conversion program for realizing the conversion process in the conversion unit based on the device information via the first communication line.

  The input device may be detachable. The input device may be a sensor for collecting the state of the external environment.

  The adapter may further include an output unit that distributes information acquired by the input device to the control unit and the network communication unit. As a result, this adapter can also function as a sensor node in the home network.

  The adapter may further include a setting unit that sets whether to enable processing in the additional function unit. Further, the setting unit may set whether or not to validate the process in the control unit according to the operation state of the home appliance.

  When the first control information relates to the first function, the conversion unit converts the first control information into the second control information and provides it to the device communication unit, and the first control information relates to the second function. In this case, the conversion unit may provide the first control information to the control unit.

  It should be noted that any combination of the above-described constituent elements and a conversion of the expression of the present invention between a method, an apparatus, a system, a recording medium, a computer program, etc. are also effective as an aspect of the present invention.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the household appliances which do not have a predetermined function can be handled as if it had the function, and a highly versatile and convenient adapter can be provided.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a home network system 1 according to the embodiment. The home network system 1 in each home is provided with a home network 3 formed using, for example, a power line, and includes a home server 2 that performs home communication control, a washing machine 5, a microwave oven 6, and an air conditioner. N 14 (hereinafter simply referred to as “air conditioner 14”) is connected to the home network 3. Here, the washing machine 5, the microwave oven 6, and the air conditioner 14 are connected to the home network 3 via the first adapter 100a, the second adapter 100b, and the third adapter 100c, respectively. Hereinafter, the first adapter 100a, the second adapter 100b, and the third adapter 100c are collectively referred to as the adapter 100, and household appliances such as the washing machine 5, the microwave 6, the air conditioner 14, and a video (not shown). Are collectively referred to as home appliances 7. That is, the adapter 100 is connected between the home network 3 and the home appliance 7.

  The adapter 100 receives control information (hereinafter simply referred to as “first control information”) such as a command conforming to a communication standard such as ECONET received via the home network 3 and communication unique to the connected home appliance 7. Control information such as commands conforming to the standard (hereinafter simply referred to as “second control information”) is mutually converted, and the home appliance 7 is allowed to participate in the home network 3. With such a conversion function, for example, a plurality of home appliances 7 having different communication standards coexist in the home network 3 even in a situation where a plurality of communication standards expected in a transition period until the home appliance network becomes widespread, for example. be able to.

  Moreover, although mentioned later for details, the adapter 100 is provided with input devices, such as a human sensitive sensor, and controls the household appliances 7 currently connected based on the information acquired by the input device. That is, the adapter 100 supplements a function that the connected home appliance 7 does not originally have, and behaves as if the home appliance 7 has the function with respect to the home network 3. Thereby, the household electrical appliance 7 which is not provided with the function which a user desires can be functioned as if it had the function. Hereinafter, the function supplemented by the adapter 100 is referred to as “additional function”. For example, the adapter 100 realizes a function of automatically operating the air conditioner 14 when there is a person in the room as an additional function. That is, the adapter 100 includes a human sensor as an input device, and outputs second control information that instructs the air conditioner 14 to drive when a person is detected. Thereby, even if the air conditioner 14 is not equipped with a human sensor, it can be treated as if it is an air conditioner 14 with a human sensor.

  The home server 2 is connected to a network 10 such as the Internet via a provider server 9. The provider server 9 and the home server 2 are connected by a communication line such as a telephone line or an optical fiber.

  The soft library server 12 stores conversion programs and additional programs used in the adapter 100. The “conversion program” is used to mutually convert first control information conforming to a predetermined communication standard used in the home network 3 and second control information conforming to a predetermined communication standard for the home appliance 7 The program and various setting data used by the program. The “additional program” is a program for realizing an additional function in the adapter 100 and various setting data used by the program.

  Then, the soft library server 12 provides the conversion program and the additional program being stored to the adapter 100. Although details will be described later, the adapter 100 acquires a conversion program corresponding to the connected home appliance 7 from the software library server 12. Then, the conversion function is realized by executing the conversion program. Further, the adapter 100 acquires an additional program from the software library server 12 and implements the additional function by executing the additional program. As described above, by realizing the conversion function and the additional function by the program, the adapter 100 having the same hardware can be used for a plurality of types of home appliances 7.

  The index server 13 stores information for specifying a conversion program and an additional program that can be used in the adapter 100 for each home appliance 7 and instructs the conversion program and the additional program that the adapter 100 should acquire. For example, the index server 13 holds information for specifying the storage location of the conversion program and the additional program in association with the device identification code for specifying the home appliance 7. For example, the storage location is held as an address such as a URL (Uniform Resource Locator). Further, the additional program is associated with sensor information for specifying a sensor necessary for executing the additional program. That is, an additional program is prepared for each sensor to be used. When there is an inquiry from the adapter 100, the index server 13 returns the address of the storage location of the conversion program and the additional program associated with the device identification code. The adapter 100 identifies the software library server 12 from the network 10 based on the address, and acquires a necessary conversion program and additional program.

  In another example, the soft library server 12 and the index server 13 may be provided as a single server. In short, it is only necessary that the network 10 has a configuration for specifying the conversion program and the additional program to be acquired by the adapter 100 based on the device identification code and the sensor information and providing the conversion program to the adapter 100.

  The base station 16 receives information for controlling the home appliance 7 wirelessly from a mobile terminal 15 such as a mobile phone. Then, the operation instruction from the portable terminal 15 is transferred to the home server 2 via the network 10. As described above, the operation instruction to the home appliance 7 can be performed not only from a device directly connected to the home network 3 but also from a device outside the home network 3.

  FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram of the adapter 100 of FIG. 1 and an internal configuration diagram of the air conditioner 14. The net communication unit 118 performs communication by connecting to the home network 3 through a first communication line such as a power line or 100Base-T. The adapter-side device communication unit 122 communicates by connecting to the home appliance-side device communication unit 50 of the air conditioner 14 via a second communication line different from the first communication line. The adapter-side device communication unit 122 may perform wired communication using, for example, RS-232C, or may perform communication using wireless or the like.

  The conversion unit 120 converts the first control information received from the home network 3 via the network communication unit 118 into the second control information and outputs the second control information to the adapter-side device communication unit 122. The conversion unit 120 also converts the second control information received from the air conditioner 14 via the adapter-side device communication unit 122 into the first control information and outputs the first control information to the network communication unit 118. The conversion unit 120 realizes this conversion processing by executing a conversion program held in the conversion program storage unit 116. For example, the conversion program forms a table in which the first control information is associated with the second control information corresponding to the first control information, and the first control information and the second control are referred to with reference to the table. Information may be converted between each other.

  Also, the conversion unit 120 determines whether or not the first control information received via the network communication unit 118 is first control information to be processed in the additional function unit 102 described later. When it is determined that the first control information is to be processed in the additional function unit 102, the conversion unit 120 supplies the first control information to the additional function unit 102. When determining that it is not the first control information to be processed in the additional function unit 102, the conversion unit 120 converts the first control information into the second control information and outputs the second control information to the adapter-side device communication unit 122. For example, in the conversion program, the first control information to be output to the additional function unit 102 is set as a table, and when the conversion unit 120 receives the first control information included in the table, the first control information is output. Information may be output to the additional function unit 102. As a result, the adapter 100 can appropriately process the control signal for the additional function that the air conditioner 14 does not have in the additional function unit 102, and thus behaves as if the air conditioner 14 has the additional function. be able to.

  The additional function unit 102 is a unit for realizing an additional function. The additional function unit 102 includes a first sensor 104a and a second sensor 104b (hereinafter simply referred to as “sensor 104”), a connection unit 106 that is detachably connected to the sensor 104, and an output unit that outputs a detection value acquired by the sensor 104. 108, an additional program storage unit 114 that stores the additional program, and a control unit 110 that performs processing for realizing an additional function based on the additional program. The sensor 104 is an input device for acquiring the state of the external environment, such as a human sensor, a temperature sensor, a camera, an infrared sensor, a microphone, and a barcode reader. The sensor 104 outputs status information indicating the acquired status of the external environment to the output unit 108 via the connection unit 106.

  The output unit 108 outputs the status information to the control unit 110 and broadcasts it to the home network 3 via the network communication unit 118. That is, the output unit 108 broadcasts the status information to the home network 3, so that the adapter 100 can also function as a sensor node in the home network 3.

  The control unit 110 executes the additional program stored in the additional program storage unit 114 to generate second control information for realizing the additional function based on the state information supplied from the output unit 108. Then, the control unit 110 outputs the second control information to the air conditioner 14 via the adapter side device communication unit 122. When a plurality of sensors 104 are mounted, the additional program storage unit 114 may hold a plurality of additional programs corresponding to the sensors 104, and the control unit 110 may execute these additional programs in parallel. In addition, the control unit 110 may realize a single additional function using state information from the plurality of sensors 104.

  The connection unit 106 may be connectable to a plurality of sensors 104, or may be connectable to a single sensor 104. Further, the connection unit 106 identifies the connected sensor 104 and outputs sensor information for identifying the sensor 104 to the program acquisition unit 112. In another example, a predetermined sensor may be fixedly connected to the connection unit 106.

  The program acquisition unit 112 acquires a device identification code from the air conditioner 14 when connected to the air conditioner 14 via the adapter-side device communication unit 122. Next, the program acquisition unit 112 acquires the conversion program associated with the device identification code from the software library server 12 of FIG. 1 via the network communication unit 118. Then, the program acquisition unit 112 stores the acquired conversion program in the conversion program storage unit 116. The conversion unit 120 performs conversion processing by using the conversion program stored in the conversion program storage unit 116 in this way.

  Further, the program acquisition unit 112 acquires an additional program for realizing the additional function from the software library server 12 and stores it in the additional program storage unit 114. Based on the sensor information and the device identification code, the program acquisition unit 112 uses the connected sensor 104 to acquire an additional program that realizes an additional function corresponding to the connected air conditioner 14. Then, the program acquisition unit 112 stores the acquired additional program in the additional program storage unit 114. The control unit 110 implements an additional function using the additional program stored in the additional program storage unit 114 in this way. The program acquisition unit 112 acquires the conversion program and starts acquiring additional programs when it is confirmed that the air conditioner 14 can be connected to the home network 3 by the conversion program.

  The setting unit 124 sets whether to enable an additional function in the additional function unit 102. The setting unit 124 detects the operating state of the air conditioner 14 and determines whether or not to enable the additional function in the additional function unit 102 based on the detected operating state. Specifically, the setting unit 124 inquires of the air conditioner 14 about the operation state via the adapter side device communication unit 122. When the acquired operation state indicates that the operation is in progress, the setting unit 124 allows the control unit 110 to output the second control information to the air conditioner 14. That is, the control unit 110 outputs the second control information for realizing the additional function to the air conditioner 14. When the acquired operation state indicates that the operation is stopped, or when there is no response from the air conditioner 14, the setting unit 124 does not allow the control unit 110 to output the second control information to the air conditioner 14. That is, the control unit 110 does not output the second control information for realizing the additional function to the air conditioner 14.

  In another example, the setting unit 124 provides a setting screen to an operation terminal such as a user's computer via the network communication unit 118, and uses the setting screen to determine whether to enable an additional function from the user. Such a setting may be accepted. The setting unit 124 may include an operation panel such as a switch, and may accept a setting as to whether or not to enable the additional function from the user via the operation panel. That is, the setting unit 124 may receive an instruction from the user as to whether or not to enable the additional function via a predetermined user interface.

  When it is set to enable the additional function, the control unit 110 performs processing based on the additional program, and outputs second control information as the processing result. In addition, when it is set not to enable the additional function, the control unit 110 does not perform processing based on the additional program. In other words, since the additional function unit 102 can actively issue an operation instruction to the air conditioner 14 based on the state information obtained from the sensor 104, the air conditioner 14 may operate against the user's will. possible. Therefore, providing the setting unit 124 can prevent the air conditioner 14 from being operated against the user's will.

  Further, the additional function unit 102 may be realized by adding a function of the same type as the function of the air conditioner 14 in advance, such as a function of automatically setting the room temperature using a temperature sensor. In this case, for example, when the first control information for setting the room temperature is received from the home network 3, the control signal can be interpreted by the control unit 110 and the air conditioner 14 side. For this reason, when the same type of function as the function that the air conditioner 14 has in advance is used as an additional function, whether the process in the additional function unit 102 is used preferentially or the process in the air conditioner 14 is used preferentially It is necessary to decide. As described above, when the same type of function as the function that the air conditioner 14 has in advance is set as an additional function, the setting unit 124 causes the air conditioner 14 side or the additional function unit 102 side to perform processing, that is, the air conditioner 14 The user is allowed to select either the additional function unit 102 side or the additional function unit 102 side. Then, the setting unit 124 performs the process on the selected air conditioner 14 or the additional function unit 102 side.

  Specifically, the setting unit 124 instructs the conversion unit 120 to output the first control information received from the home network 3 to the side designated to preferentially process. For example, when processing is specified on the additional function unit 102 side, the conversion unit 120 outputs the first control information to the control unit 110. In addition, when it is specified that processing is performed on the air conditioner 14 side, the conversion unit 120 outputs second control information corresponding to the first control information to the air conditioner 14 via the adapter-side device communication unit 122.

  In another example, the setting unit 124 may automatically set the air conditioner 14 side or the additional function unit 102 side. Specifically, for example, a flag that specifies that the additional function unit 102 is used preferentially is added to the additional program, and when the flag is detected, the control unit 110 adds the flag to the setting unit 124. It may be instructed to use the function unit 102.

  The air conditioner 14 has a home appliance side device communication unit 50 for connecting to the adapter 100, an identification code storage unit 52 for storing a device identification code for specifying the air conditioner 14, and a compressor, for example, and functions as an air conditioner. An air conditioner processing unit 54 for realizing the above. The home appliance side device communication unit 50 interprets the second control information and operates the air conditioner processing unit 54. When a device identification code is requested, the home appliance side device communication unit 50 reads the device identification code from the identification code storage unit 52 and provides it to the adapter side device communication unit 122.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram showing processing between the adapter 100, the air conditioner 14, and the software library server 12 of FIG. This figure is a sequence diagram when the sensor 104 is fixedly connected to the adapter 100. The adapter 100 operates as a human sensor node in the home network 3 of FIG. 1 (S10). On the other hand, the air conditioner 14 starts functioning as an air conditioner that operates based on the second control information (S12). The air conditioner 14 is connected to the adapter 100 (S14). When the connection of the air conditioner 14 is confirmed (Y in S16), the adapter 100 requests the conversion program corresponding to the air conditioner 14 from the software library server 12 (S18). The soft library server 12 provides the corresponding conversion program to the adapter 100 (S20).

  The adapter 100 executes the conversion program and causes the air conditioner 14 to participate in the home network 3. When the air conditioner 14 can be connected to the home network 3 (Y in S22), the adapter 100 converts the first control information received from the home network 3 into the second control information, and instructs the air conditioner 14 to perform a predetermined operation (S24). ). As a result, the air conditioner 14 logically operates as a network air conditioner conforming to the communication standard in the home network 3 (S26).

  Further, after acquiring the conversion program, the adapter 100 requests the additional program from the software library server 12 (S28). The soft library server 12 provides the corresponding additional program to the adapter 100 (S30). Then, the adapter 100 realizes an additional function by executing the additional program (S32). The adapter 100 performs a predetermined calculation process based on the state information from the human sensor and generates an operation instruction as necessary. If there is an operation instruction (Y in S34), the adapter 100 issues an operation instruction to the air conditioner 14 (S36). As a result, the air conditioner 14 operates as a network air conditioner with a human sensor (S38).

  If the air conditioner 14 is not connected in step 16 (N in S16), the adapter 100 continues to operate as a human sensor node (S10). If the air conditioner 14 cannot be connected to the home network 3 in step 22 (N in S22), the adapter 100 continues to operate as a human sensor node (S10). If there is no operation instruction in step 34 (N in S34), the adapter 100 continues to operate as a human sensor node (S10).

  FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram showing processing between the adapter 100, the air conditioner 14, and the software library server 12 of FIG. This diagram is a sequence diagram when the sensor 104 can be attached to and detached from the adapter 100. Steps denoted by the same reference numerals as those described in FIG. 3 have substantially the same functions and operations as those already described. The following description will focus on points that are different from the steps already described. First, the adapter 100 detects whether or not the sensor 104 is connected to the connection unit 106 in FIG. 2 (S40). When the sensor 104 is connected (Y in S40), it functions as a node that provides the function of the sensor (S10). If the sensor 104 is not connected (N in S40), the process proceeds to step 16.

  If the air conditioner 14 can be connected to the home network 3 in step 22 (Y in S22), the adapter 100 detects again whether or not the sensor 104 is connected to the connection unit 106 (S42). If the sensor 104 is connected (Y in S42), the software library server 12 is requested for an additional program (S28). If the sensor 104 is not connected (N in S42), the process proceeds to step 16.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of an air conditioner setting screen 150 of the air conditioner 14 connected to the home network 3 via the adapter 100 of FIG. The basic setting area 152 is provided with a GUI (Graphical User Interface) used for various settings for functions that the air conditioner 14 has in advance. In the additional setting area 154, a GUI used for various settings for the additional function realized by the additional function unit 102 of FIG. 2 is provided. The user uses the GUI displayed in the additional setting area 154 to set whether or not to enable the additional function. The GUI provided in the additional setting area 154 is dynamically formed according to the additional function in the adapter 100. As described above, the additional setting area 154 is provided on the same screen as the basic setting area 152 and is displayed as if the air conditioner 14 has an additional function. By doing so, the user can make various settings without being aware of the presence of the adapter 100, and can provide a convenient user interface.

  The air conditioner setting screen 150 is based on a file for forming the air conditioner setting screen 150 generated according to a document description language such as HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) (hereinafter simply referred to as “screen information file”). Displayed on the user's computer. Such a screen information file may be generated, for example, by the setting unit 124 of FIG. 2, may be generated by the home server 2 of FIG. 1, or generates a setting screen of each home appliance 7 on the home network 3. May be generated by an apparatus for. In short, in addition to the functions that the air conditioner 14 has in advance, a screen information file for forming a setting screen having a user interface for operating additional functions may be generated in any device.

  As an example, a form in which the home server 2 of FIG. 1 generates a screen information file will be described with reference to the sequence diagram of FIG. If the air conditioner 14 can be connected to the home network 3 in step 22 in FIG. 3, the network communication unit 118 in FIG. 2 sends a code indicating that the air conditioner 14 has joined the home network 3 and a GUI request code for the air conditioner 14. Broadcast. The home server 2 receives these codes and starts processing for generating a screen information file.

  Specifically, the home server 2 uses individual elements such as buttons and input fields for forming a GUI necessary for generating the screen information file of the air conditioner 14, and data indicating the arrangement of these elements (hereinafter referred to as the following). For example, “arrangement data” is acquired from the network 10 of FIG. And the home server 2 arrange | positions each element based on arrangement | positioning data, and produces | generates a screen information file. At this stage, elements for operating the additional function are not arranged.

  When the additional function is realized in step 32 of FIG. 3, the network communication unit 118 broadcasts a GUI request code when the additional function is added to the air conditioner 14. The GUI request code may be stored in the additional program. The home server 2 starts processing for generating a screen information file based on the newly received GUI request code. Here, the arrangement data corresponding to the newly received GUI request code is distributed, for example, by the provider of the additional program. The home server 2 arranges each element based on the new arrangement data and generates a screen information file. Thereby, the screen information for forming the setting screen according to the additional function can be dynamically generated.

  In another example, arrangement data of elements necessary for setting an additional function is prepared on the network 10, and the home server 2 adds the arrangement data as difference information to the original arrangement data to display the screen. Information may be generated.

  In yet another example, the network communication unit 118 broadcasts information specifying a function that the air conditioner 14 has in advance and information specifying an additional function to the home network 3 as object information, and the home server 2 Based on the information, necessary elements may be acquired from the network 10 to generate a screen information file.

  When the screen information file is provided from a device other than the adapter 100, the setting value input via the air conditioner setting screen 150 displayed based on the screen information file is transferred to the adapter 100 by the transfer unit. The transfer unit is formed, for example, by executing a predetermined program on the home server 2.

  The present invention has been described based on the embodiments. This embodiment is an exemplification, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to combinations of the respective constituent elements and processing processes, and such modifications are also within the scope of the present invention. is there.

1 is a configuration diagram of a home network system according to an embodiment. FIG. It is an internal block diagram of the adapter of FIG. 1, and an internal block diagram of an air conditioner. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process between the adapter of FIG. 1, an air conditioner, and a software library server. It is a sequence diagram which shows the process between the adapter of FIG. 1, an air conditioner, and a software library server. It is a figure which shows an example of the setting screen of the air-conditioner connected to the home network via the adapter of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 home network system, 2 home server, 3 home network, 7 home appliance, 10 network, 12 soft library server, 13 index server, 14 air conditioner, 15 mobile terminal, 16 base station, 50 home appliance side device communication unit, 52 identification code Storage unit 54 Air conditioner processing unit 100 Adapter 102 Additional function unit 104 Sensor 106 Connection unit 108 Output unit 110 Control unit 112 Program acquisition unit 114 Additional program storage unit 116 Conversion program storage unit 118 Net Communication unit, 120 conversion unit, 122 adapter side device communication unit, 124 setting unit, 150 air conditioner setting screen, 152 basic setting area, 154 additional setting area.

Claims (10)

A net communication unit that performs communication using the first control information via the first communication line;
A device communication unit that connects to the home appliance having the first function via the second communication line, and communicates with the home appliance using the second control information;
A converter that converts the first control information and the second control information to each other to enable communication between the device connected to the first communication line and the home appliance;
An input device for acquiring information necessary for realizing a second function different from the first function;
A control unit that determines second control information for realizing the second function based on the information acquired by the input device, and outputs the second control information to the home appliance via the device communication unit;
An adapter comprising: A device information acquisition unit for acquiring device information for identifying the home appliance;
Based on the device information, a program acquisition unit that acquires an additional program for realizing the second function according to the home appliance via the first communication line;
The adapter according to claim 1, further comprising: determining the second control information for realizing the second function by executing the additional program.   The said program acquisition part specifies the type of the said input device, respond | corresponds to the household appliances specified by the said apparatus information, and acquires the additional program according to the type of the said input device. Adapter described in.   The said program acquisition part acquires the conversion program for implement | achieving the conversion process in the said conversion part based on the said apparatus information via the said 1st communication line. adapter.   The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the input device is detachable.   The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the input device is a sensor for collecting a state of an external environment.   The adapter according to claim 1, further comprising an output unit that distributes information acquired by the input device to the control unit and the network communication unit.   The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a setting unit configured to set whether to enable processing in the control unit.   The adapter according to claim 8, wherein the setting unit sets whether to enable processing in the control unit according to an operating state of the home appliance.   When the first control information relates to the first function, the conversion unit converts the first control information into second control information and provides the second control information to the device communication unit, and the first control information is The adapter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, when related to a second function, the conversion unit provides the control unit with the first control information.

Images