JP2005184711A - Remote control management server, remote control management method, program and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a remote control management environment excellent in operability matched with the use of a user and high in availability by avoiding a useless operation or a dangerous operation which is difficult to notice because of remote control and setting the setup for avoiding the useless operation or the dangerous operation by the user. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of combination of operations to a plurality of electronic apparatuses such as a refrigerator 5a, a bath 5b and the like and private situations corresponding to said operations are registered on a DB in a home server 4, and the home server 4 issues requests to the electronic apparatuses to acquire states of the electronic apparatuses and judges based on the registered combination of the operations and the situations whether or not an operation request received from a user terminal 2 via the Internet 1 is suitable. If it is decided that the operation request from the user terminal 2 is not suitable, the execution of operations to the electronic apparatuses is limited based on the operation request and it is notified to the user terminal 2 that the operation request is not suitable. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation management server, a remote operation management method, a program, and a record, which can bidirectionally communicate management information of a device or apparatus installed in a specific home from a remote location and can be remotely controlled via a wide area network It relates to the medium.

  Conventionally, it has been possible to obtain management information of a device or apparatus installed in a home from a user terminal in a remote place.

It was also possible to operate a device or device installed in the home from a remote location. There exists patent document 1 in this kind of patent document.
JP 2003-046661 A

  However, in the above conventional technology, when operating a device or device installed in a home from a remote location, it is difficult to notice because it is in a remote location, and dangerous operations that occur by combining multiple operations and situations (for example, There is a high possibility that the user performs an additional operation (for example, an operation of opening the window and operating the air conditioner).

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to operate one or a plurality of electronic devices each having a communication unit installed in advance in a predetermined premises. Registering a plurality of combinations with on-site situations corresponding to the operation, requesting each electronic device, obtaining the state of each electronic device, and operating the registered electronic device; Based on the combination with the on-site situation corresponding to the operation, it is determined whether or not the operation request from the information processing apparatus received via the wide area network is appropriate, and the operation request from the information processing apparatus is appropriate. If it is determined that the operation request is not, the execution of the operation to the electronic device is restricted based on the operation request, and the information processing apparatus is notified that the operation request is not appropriate, so that it is difficult to notice because it is a remote operation. In addition to avoiding unnecessary operations and dangerous operations, users can set avoidance operations and dangerous operation avoidance settings, making them easy to use and highly useful. To provide a remote operation management server, a remote operation management method, a program, and a recording medium that can provide a remote operation management environment.

  The first invention of the present invention is capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus (the user terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1) via a wide area network, and is provided with an individual communication unit installed in a predetermined premises. In a remote operation management server (home server 4 shown in FIG. 1) capable of communicating with a plurality of electronic devices (electronic device 5 shown in FIG. 1), an operation to the electronic device is performed based on an operation request from the information processing apparatus. Operation executing means (processing by the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 2, step S511 in FIG. 7), and acquisition means (request by the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 2) that requests each electronic device and acquires the state of each electronic device. , Step S500 in FIG. 7) and storage means (database 205 shown in FIG. 2, warning / prohibition shown in FIG. 6) for storing a plurality of combinations of the operation on the electronic device and the premises corresponding to the operation. Whether or not the operation request from the information processing apparatus is appropriate based on the combination of the operation to the electronic device stored in the storage unit and the on-site situation corresponding to the operation. When the determination means (the processing by the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 2, steps S501 and S503 in FIG. 7) determines that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate, the operation execution means And control means for notifying the information processing apparatus that the operation request is not appropriate (processing by the CPU 201 shown in FIG. 2, steps S501 to S512 in FIG. 7). .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the combination of the operation to the electronic device stored in the storage means and the state of the premises corresponding to the operation is an operation of the premises that prohibits the operation to the electronic device and the operation. The determination means includes a combination of an operation to the electronic device stored in the storage means and a combination of a situation on the premises that prohibits the operation, from the information processing apparatus. This is for determining whether or not the operation request is prohibited (step S501 in FIG. 7), and the control means determines that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is prohibited by the determination means. If it is, the operation execution by the operation execution means is prohibited, and the information processing apparatus is notified that the operation request is prohibited (step S502 in FIG. 7).

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the combination of the operation on the electronic device stored in the storage means and the state of the premises corresponding to the operation is the combination of the operation on the electronic device and the premises corresponding to the operation. A combination of a situation and a plurality of alternative operations for the operation (step S503 in FIG. 7), and the control unit determines that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate by the determination unit Is characterized by prohibiting operation execution by the operation executing means and notifying the information processing apparatus of a warning for the operation request and a plurality of alternative operations (steps S503 to S512 in FIG. 7).

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a history storage unit that stores a history of operation execution by the operation execution unit, and the control unit determines that an operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate by the determination unit. In this case, a history corresponding to the operation request stored in the history storage means is notified to the information processing apparatus (step S512 in FIG. 7).

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a remote that can communicate with an information processing apparatus via a wide area network and that can communicate with one or a plurality of electronic devices individually provided with a communication unit installed in a predetermined premises. In the remote operation management method in the operation management server, an operation execution step (step S511 in FIG. 7) for executing an operation on the electronic device based on an operation request from the information processing apparatus, and requesting each electronic device. An acquisition step (step S500 in FIG. 7) for acquiring the state of each electronic device and a registration step (step (not shown)) for registering a plurality of combinations of operations on the electronic device and on-site situations corresponding to the operations. And whether or not the operation request from the information processing apparatus is appropriate based on the combination of the operation to the electronic device stored in the registration step and the local situation corresponding to the operation. A determining step (steps S501 and S503 in FIG. 7) and a limiting step (in FIG. 7) for restricting the execution of the operation when it is determined by the determining step that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate. Steps S501 to S512) and a notification step (Steps S502, S504, S508, and S510 in FIG. 7) for notifying the information processing apparatus that the operation request is not appropriate.

  A sixth invention of the present invention is a program for executing the remote operation management method described in the fifth invention.

  A seventh aspect of the present invention is characterized in that a program for executing the remote operation management method described in the fifth aspect is stored in a recording medium so as to be readable by a computer.

  According to the present invention, a plurality of combinations of operations on one or a plurality of electronic devices individually provided with a communication unit that are installed in advance on a predetermined premises and on-premises situations corresponding to the operations are registered, Also, requesting each electronic device to obtain the state of each electronic device, and based on a combination of the operation to the registered electronic device and the state of the premises corresponding to the operation, a wide area network is established. Whether or not the operation request from the information processing apparatus received via the information processing apparatus is appropriate, and if it is determined that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate, to the electronic device based on the operation request In addition to restricting the execution of the operation, and notifying the information processing apparatus that the operation request is not appropriate, it is possible to avoid useless operations and dangerous operations that are difficult to notice because of remote operation, Since it is possible for the user to make settings for avoiding useless operations and dangerous operations, it is possible to provide a remote operation management environment that is easy to use and highly useful for the user.

  Therefore, it is possible to provide a function of issuing a warning or prohibiting an operation when a remote operation is useless or dangerous, and a safe remote operation management environment is constructed. be able to.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

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

  As shown in FIG. 1, the information providing system of the present embodiment responds to a request from a user terminal 2 through a home server (server device) 4 in a home 3 connected by the Internet 1 as a wide area network. For example, it is constructed as a system that provides, as a service, management information of electronic devices or devices 5 (5a, 5b) such as a refrigerator and a bath heater in the home 3.

  Here, the home server 4 is connected to various electronic devices including home appliances and various crime prevention devices installed in a predetermined premises such as in a house, and processes the user's operation request from a remote location to process the electronic device. It is a device with a function to operate. In addition, although referred to as a home server, a server device installed in a premises including offices and other facilities as well as a server set in a home is shown. Further, it may be installed in a service center or the like that performs maintenance and the like.

  The user terminal 2 is an information processing apparatus including a personal computer (hereinafter “PC”), a mobile phone terminal, a PDA, and the like, and displays information to be posted on an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, various buttons, and the Internet. The WWW browser device is provided.

  As a communication means for connecting the user terminal and the ISP (Internet Service Provider), a modem or TA (terminal adapter) for connecting to the ISP using a general telephone line may be used. Alternatively, it may be configured to be used in an IPv6 environment that can be connected to the Internet independently, and each on-premises electronic device may be connected to the Internet independently. In recent years, the introduction of IPv6 that directly assigns an IP address to home appliances and the like has been studied. In this IPv6 environment, home appliances and the like can be connected to the Internet independently, so the management target is connected to the home network in the house. Even if not, you can use the service if you are connected to a wide area network. Other than the home server as the personal authentication function, it is not necessary to use the home server when using the service, so the cost is reduced.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration in the home 3 including the home server 4 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the system in the home 3 includes a server device (home server) 4 as a main device, a plurality of home appliances 5 (5a to 5c), and a communication network 300 that connects them.

  The home server (server device) 4 is a control device that controls the entire information processing apparatus and executes various processes described later. As shown in FIG. 2, the home server 4 has a configuration in which a CPU 201, a ROM 202, a RAM 203, an HD 204, a DB 205, an input device 206, a display device 207, a printing device 208, a communication interface 209, and the like are connected via a bus. It has become.

  The CPU 201 controls the entire server device, and executes various control processes such as storage and reading of information in the DB 205 in the HD 204.

  The ROM 202 is a read-only memory that stores programs for the CPU 201 to execute various processes. A RAM 203 is a work area used when the CPU 201 executes the program stored in the ROM 202, and is a readable / writable memory that stores data such as parameters when various processes are executed.

  The HD 204 and DB 205 are storage means for storing home appliance information in a form that can be read out to a medium of an information storage medium such as a hard disk or an optical disk. This DB 205 contains user management information including user authentication information (identification information), IP address for accessing each electronic device 5, information on various electronic devices, and other various information described later including service contents. Manage memory.

  Reference numerals 206, 207, and 208 denote an input device, a display device, and a printing device, respectively. The operation information can be input, displayed, and printed if necessary. Further, the home server 4 is connected to each home appliance 5 via the communication interface 209.

  Reference numerals 5 (5a, 5b, 5c) denote home appliances or devices such as a refrigerator and a bath, and each communication unit is connected to the Internet via a home server. Each home appliance (for example, a refrigerator) includes a communication interface 211 for communicating with the outside via the home server 4, a home appliance control unit 212 for controlling the operation of the refrigerator, and a state management unit 213 for managing the state. It has. Other devices and apparatuses have the same configuration.

  The state management unit 213 manages the information by incorporating a DB 214 or the like that stores related information of each home appliance, and the user accesses the home network from the outside in order to obtain necessary information. To get information. Specific related information refers to product inventory information.

  With such a configuration, the home server 4 provides information on various devices or devices in the home to users outside the home according to the request, and enables predetermined operations on these devices.

  Hereinafter, the control processing operation of the first embodiment in the information providing system of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a first control processing operation in the information providing system of the present invention. S301 to S305 indicate steps in the user terminal 2 shown in FIG. 1, and are executed by a CPU (not shown) of the user terminal 2 loading and executing a program stored in a recording medium. . S401 to S412 indicate steps in the home server 4 shown in FIG. 2, and are executed by the CPU 201 of the home server 4 loading the program stored in the HD or other recording medium into the RAM 202 and executing it. .

  First, when the CPU of the user terminal 2 detects the input of a connection command for connecting the user terminal 2 to the Internet 1 and accessing the home server 4 (S301), the CPU of the user terminal 2 starts from the user terminal 2. The home server 4 is accessed via the Internet 1.

  On the home server 4 side, when the CPU 201 confirms the connection information from the user terminal 2 (S401: YES), a login screen (not shown) is transmitted to request identification information from the user terminal 2 (S402). The reception of identification information from the user terminal 2 is awaited. If reception of the identification information from the user terminal 2 is not confirmed within the predetermined time (S403: NO), the CPU 201 of the home server 4 determines that there is no intention to use this system and ends the process. To do.

  On the user terminal 2 side, the log-in screen sent from the home server 4 is received and displayed on a monitor (not shown) to wait for input of identification information from the user. Then, when detecting that the identification information from the user has been input, the CPU of the user terminal 2 transmits the input identification information to the home server 4 (S302).

  On the home server 4 side, when the CPU 201 receives the identification information from the user terminal 2 (S403: YES), the process proceeds to step S404, and the authentication processing of the received identification information is changed to the user management information stored in the database 205. Based on this (S404).

  In step S405, the CPU 201 of the home server 4 determines whether or not the authentication has been normally performed (authentication OK). If it is determined that the authentication has failed, the process ends.

  On the other hand, when the CPU 201 of the home server 4 determines in step S405 that the authentication has been normally performed (authentication OK), the CPU 201 of the home server 4 subsequently stores its own database 205 in step S406. A screen (the screen showing the operable service items shown in FIG. 4A) that presents the type of the registered distribution information is transmitted (presented) to the user terminal 2, and the distribution request information from the user terminal 2 is displayed. Request. In step S407, reception of the desired information from the user terminal 2 is awaited. If reception of the desired information is not confirmed from the user terminal 2 within the predetermined time (S407: NO), the CPU 201 of the home server 4 determines that there is no intention to use this system and ends the process. To do.

  On the user terminal 2 side, a screen (FIG. 4A) showing operable service items sent from the home server 4 is received and displayed on a monitor (not shown) to display desired information (operations) from the user. Wait for input of possible items). That is, because the setting process described above registers the inventory information of the refrigerator 5a at the home 3 and the information of the bath heater 5b as the management information of the user, the screen as shown in FIG. These pieces of information are displayed as selectable “operable service items”. When the CPU of the user terminal 2 detects that the desired information is input from the user, the CPU transmits the input desired information to the home server 4 (S303).

  For example, a case where the user requests inventory information of the refrigerator 5a in the home as distribution information (management information) will be described as an example. When the user wants to know the inventory information of the refrigerator 5 in the home 3 for preparation of meals, for example, when the user designates “refrigerator”, the desired information of the refrigerator information (including inventory information) is displayed. It is transmitted from the terminal 2 to the home server 4 (S303).

  On the home server 4 side, if it is determined in step S407 that the CPU 201 has received the desired information from the user terminal 2, the process proceeds to step S408, and the CPU 201 of the home server 4 responds to the request from its own database 205. The device (refrigerator 5a) is detected to obtain an IP address, etc., and based on this, the refrigerator 5a is accessed, and the state management unit 213 of the refrigerator 5a is requested to transmit refrigerator inventory information. In step S409, the refrigerator 5a Waits for reception of distribution data from. When acquiring related information based on a request from the user terminal, the related information is acquired from the user terminal 2 taking into account the usage history of the user authenticated by the user authentication.

  Moreover, the refrigerator 5a which received the request | requirement from the home server 4 extracts inventory information, and returns it to the home server 4 as delivery data.

  On the home server 4 side, when the CPU 201 receives distribution data (inventory information) extracted from the refrigerator 5a and transmitted in step S409 (S409: YES), the distribution data (inventory information) is transmitted to the user terminal. 2 (S410). At this time, the home server 4 simultaneously searches the database 205 to extract information related to the information received from the refrigerator 5a, and transmits the extracted information to the user terminal 2. In step S411, a command input from the user terminal 2 is waited. Although not shown in the flowchart, if reception of a command from the user terminal 2 is not confirmed within a predetermined time (S411: NO), the CPU 201 of the home server 4 intends to use this system. If it is determined that there is no, the process is terminated.

  On the user terminal 2 side, the CPU of the user terminal 2 receives the information sent from the home server 4 and displays it on a monitor (not shown) (FIG. 4B). Wait for input (eg, power ON, power OFF, temperature setting, etc.). When the CPU of the user terminal 2 detects that the desired operation from the user has been input, the CPU transmits a command indicating the input desired operation to the home server 4.

  On the home server 4 side, if it is determined in step S411 that the CPU 201 has received a command from the user terminal 2, the process proceeds to step S412 and the CPU 201 of the home server 4 performs information control according to the command. The process is performed and the process is terminated.

  As described above, the user acquires the related information desired by the user from the home appliance state management unit 213 via the home server 4 at the user terminal 2. The use of the information providing system can be terminated by acquiring these pieces of information, but further services (device operations) can be continued. That is, thereafter, when the user makes a predetermined input according to the setting screen, the home server 4 side provides further related information or issues a control command to the device or apparatus.

[Second Embodiment]
In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the home server 4 operates the home appliances and the like in the home 3 based on the command from the user terminal 2 has been described. However, a combination of “state” and “operation” that is not common sense For example, a combination of “turn on the cooler power” when the window is open, or “refreshing the bath” when the bath is not filled with water, etc. May attempt to perform an operation stored in the DB as a prohibited operation or a warning operation in advance, the home server 4 may notify the user to that effect. Thereby, the danger by remote operation can be avoided.

  Hereinafter, registration of the combination of “state” and “operation”, which is not possible in common sense, to the home server 4 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a registration screen for registering a combination of “status” and “operation” that cannot be commonly found in the home server 4 shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 5, reference numeral 500 denotes a warning / prohibition setting screen, which is transmitted from the home server 4 to the user terminal 2 in response to a request from the user terminal 2 and displayed on the monitor of the user terminal 2.

  Reference numeral 501 denotes a level selection field in which “warning” or “prohibition” can be selected. An operation selection field 502 is used to select an operation to be warned or prohibited. Reference numeral 503 denotes a situation selection field, which can select a situation in which the operation selected in the operation selection field 502 is to be warned or prohibited.

  For example, a combination of the operation of “turning on the cooler power” and the situation of “the window is open”, or the operation of “cooking the bath” and the situation of “the bath is not filled with water” In addition, a combination of operations such as “nobody in the house” and “open the door”, a combination of “sudden power outage” and “video reservation” is not possible, When a situation that is almost impossible for the user to predict occurs, the user sets the prohibited operation and the warning operation in advance.

  As a result, when an operation command is transmitted from the user terminal 1, the home server 4 inquires whether the combination of prohibition and warning registered in advance by the user does not correspond, and processing of prohibition and warning This eliminates the need for user damage and wasteful requests.

  Reference numeral 504 denotes a plurality of correction operation selection fields, and a plurality of correction operations can be selected as alternative operations when the operation selected in the operation selection field 502 becomes the status selected in the status selection field 503. For example, in the case of a combination of an operation of “turning on the cooler power” and a situation where “the window is open”, “close window” + “ “Turn on the cooler power” is set as correction 1, and “Cooler power on stop” is set as correction 2. An alternative of a combination of the state of “nobody in the house” and the operation of “opening the door” has “cancel operation” as modification 1.

  A registration button 505 is used to register and set the settings on the warning / prohibition setting screen 500 in the DB 205 as shown in FIG. A cancel button 506 invalidates the setting on the warning / prohibition setting screen 500.

  Thus, each user can register the contents of the combination of the prohibition or warning. That is, a customized service can be provided for each user by a combination of prohibition / warning.

  In addition, although the structure registered about the combination of an operation and a situation is demonstrated here, the combination of the several operation which should be prohibited and should be prohibited, for example, the operation which drains the water of a bath, and the cooking of a bath A combination of operations that create the relationship between the above situation and the combination of operations, such as a combination of operations or a combination of opening a window and operating an air conditioner, may be registered. . In addition, from the relationship between the above situation and the set of operations when judging the prohibition / warning, a set of operations that result in the creation of the relationship between the situation and the set (for example, an operation for draining the bath water and an additional bath preparation) Or a combination of an operation of opening a window and an operation of operating an air conditioner, etc.), and when there is an operation request for a combination corresponding to the combination, it may be configured to prohibit / warn.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the warning / prohibition setting set on the warning / prohibition setting screen shown in FIG. 5, and is stored in the DB 205 shown in FIG.

  The control processing operation of the second embodiment in the information providing system of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a second control processing operation in the information providing system of the present invention. The same steps as those in FIG. 3 are given the same step numbers. S501 to S512 indicate steps in the home server 4 shown in FIG. 2, and are executed when the CPU 201 of the home server 4 loads the program stored in the HD or other recording medium into the RAM 202 and executes it. .

  On the home server 4 side, when the CPU 201 determines in step S500 (corresponding to steps S408 to S411 in FIG. 3) that the command from the user terminal 2 has been received, in step S501 and subsequent steps, The CPU 201 determines whether the received command is appropriate and performs various controls.

  First, in step S501, whether the received command includes a prohibition combination is determined based on the warning / prohibition setting (FIG. 6) stored in the database 205 and information acquired from various electronic devices.

  If it is determined in step S501 that the command received by the CPU 201 includes a prohibited combination, the process proceeds to step S502, information indicating suspension of operation is transmitted to the user terminal 2, and the process returns to step S405. .

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S501 that the command received by the CPU 201 does not include a prohibited combination, the process advances to step S503 to determine whether or not the received command includes a warning combination.

  If it is determined in step S503 that the command received by the CPU 201 includes a warning combination, the process proceeds to step S504, where information indicating the contents of the corresponding combination is transmitted to the user terminal 2, and the user terminal 2 Is displayed on the monitor as shown in FIG.

  Next, in step S505, the CPU 201 determines whether there is a history of using the command in the past. If it is determined that there is a history of using the command in the past, the process proceeds to step S506, where the past history is stored. A screen for selecting whether to display (FIG. 8B) is transmitted to the user terminal 2 and displayed on the monitor of the user terminal 2. In step S507, whether or not a history is displayed from the user terminal 2 is displayed. Wait for a reply. If reception of presence / absence of history display is not confirmed from the user terminal 2 within the predetermined time (S507: NO), the process proceeds to step S509.

  If it is determined in step S507 that the CPU 201 has received history display from the user terminal 2, the process advances to step S508, and the CPU 201 displays a screen showing the contents of the usage history stored in the database 205. (FIG. 8C) is transmitted to the user terminal 2 and displayed on the monitor of the user terminal 2. In step S509, the correction information display screen as an alternative operation registered in the database 205 (FIG. d)) is transmitted to the user terminal 2, displayed on the monitor of the user terminal 2, and the process proceeds to step S510.

  In step S510, the user is prompted to select correction information. When the command is changed, the process returns to step S407.

  On the other hand, if the command is not changed in step S510, the process proceeds to step S511.

  In step S511, it waits for reception of a command (including correction information selection information) from the user terminal 2. If reception of a command (including correction information selection information) is not confirmed from the user terminal 2 within a predetermined time (S511: NO), the CPU 201 of the home server 4 is willing to use this system. If it is determined that there is no, the process ends.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step S511 that the CPU 201 has received a command (including correction information selection information) from the user terminal 2, the CPU 201 of the home server 4 selects correction information selection information in step S512. The information control process corresponding to the correction information is stored, the contents of the information control process corresponding to the correction information selection information are stored in the usage history in the DB 205, and the process ends.

  As described above, in the information providing system according to the present embodiment, a user at a remote location can use a specific IP address via the home server 4 from a user terminal 2 to a specific device or apparatus at home. Can be accessed directly.

  Further, the present invention can receive the same service when a server such as a data storage organization such as a service center is provided instead of the home server. In that case, it is necessary to first store and register information such as a password for the user to authenticate himself / herself on the service center side. As a result, a plurality of users can be managed collectively.

  In this case, home electrical devices and the like can communicate with a service center server via the Internet or the like.

  If the combination of the operation and status instructed from the user terminal corresponds to the combination of prohibition / warning registered in the database by the user in advance, the prohibition or warning process is performed to avoid useless operations and danger. Execution of an operation can be suppressed.

  In addition, the user can set and register the combination of prohibition and warning.

  Furthermore, a set of operation and status registered in the warning can be executed in accordance with an instruction from the user.

  Therefore, when operating home appliances, etc. from a remote location, it is free to issue warnings or prohibit against dangers and wasteful operations caused by combinations of multiple operations and situations that are difficult to notice because they are remote locations. It is possible to provide a remote operation environment with high utility value.

  The configuration and contents of the various types of data in FIG. 6 are not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the configuration is made up of various configurations and contents depending on the application and purpose.

  Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention can take an embodiment as a system, apparatus, method, program, recording medium, or the like, and specifically includes a plurality of devices. The present invention may be applied to a system or may be applied to an apparatus composed of one device.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by an information providing system to which the user terminal 2 and the home server 4 of this embodiment can be applied will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a memory map of a recording medium (storage medium) that stores various data processing programs that can be read (read) by the server according to the present invention.

  Although not specifically shown, information for managing a program group stored in the recording medium, for example, version information, creator, etc. is also stored, and information depending on the OS on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons may also be stored.

  Further, data depending on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, when a program or data to be installed is compressed, a program to be decompressed may be stored.

  The functions shown in FIGS. 3 and 7 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when an information group including a program is supplied to the output device from a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external recording medium via a network. Is.

  As described above, a recording medium recording software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the recording medium in the recording medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention can also be achieved by reading and executing the programmed program code.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the recording medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the recording medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

  As a recording medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, DVD-ROM, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, A silicon disk or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (operating system) or the like running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where the function of the above-described embodiment is realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Furthermore, after the program code read from the recording medium is written in a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted in the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the case where the CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

  Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, by reading the recording medium storing the program represented by the software for achieving the present invention into the system or apparatus, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. .

  Furthermore, by downloading and reading out a program represented by software for achieving the present invention from a server, database, etc. on a network using a communication program, the system or apparatus can enjoy the effects of the present invention. It becomes.

  It can also be used for various IP home appliance operations, crime prevention systems, pet monitoring systems, and the like.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the information provision system which shows 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure in the house containing the home server shown in FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the 1st control processing operation | movement in the information provision system of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the monitor of the user terminal shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a registration screen for registering a combination of “status” and “operation” that cannot be commonly found in the server apparatus illustrated in FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a warning / prohibition setting set on the warning / prohibition setting screen shown in FIG. 5. It is a flowchart which shows the 2nd control processing operation | movement in the information provision system of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the operation screen displayed on the monitor of the user terminal shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the memory map of the recording medium (storage medium) which stores the various data processing program which can be read (read) by the server apparatus based on this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Internet 2 User terminal 3 Home 4 Home server (server device)
5 Home appliance 201 CPU
202 ROM
203 RAM
204 HD
205 DB
211 Communication Interface 212 Home Appliance Control Unit 213 State Management Unit

Claims (7)

In a remote operation management server capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a wide area network and capable of communicating with one or a plurality of electronic devices individually provided with a communication unit installed in a predetermined premises,
Based on an operation request from the information processing apparatus, operation execution means for executing an operation on the electronic device;
Obtaining means for requesting each electronic device to obtain the state of each electronic device;
Storage means for storing a plurality of combinations of operations on the electronic device and on-site situations corresponding to the operations;
Determining means for determining whether or not an operation request from the information processing apparatus is appropriate based on a combination of an operation on the electronic device stored in the storage means and a local situation corresponding to the operation; ,
When the determination unit determines that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate, the operation execution by the operation execution unit is restricted and the information processing apparatus is notified that the operation request is not appropriate. Control means;
A remote operation management server characterized by comprising: The combination of the operation to the electronic device stored in the storage means and the state of the premises corresponding to the operation includes a combination of the operation to the electronic device and the state of the premises that prohibits the operation. ,
Whether the determination means is one in which an operation request from the information processing apparatus is prohibited based on a combination of an operation on the electronic device stored in the storage means and a local situation where the operation is prohibited. To determine whether or not
The control unit prohibits the operation execution by the operation execution unit and the operation request when the operation request from the information processing apparatus is prohibited by the determination unit. The remote operation management server according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is notified of the fact. The combination of the operation on the electronic device and the on-site situation corresponding to the operation stored in the storage means includes the operation on the electronic device, the on-site situation corresponding to the operation, and a plurality of alternative operations for the operation. Including a combination of
The control unit prohibits the operation execution by the operation execution unit when the determination unit determines that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate, and also warns the operation request and a plurality of alternative operations. The remote operation management server according to claim 1, wherein the information processing apparatus is notified. Providing history storage means for storing a history of operation execution by the operation execution means;
The control means notifies the information processing apparatus of a history corresponding to the operation request stored in the history storage means when the judgment means judges that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate. The remote operation management server according to claim 3. In a remote operation management method in a remote operation management server capable of communicating with an information processing apparatus via a wide area network and capable of communicating with one or a plurality of electronic devices individually provided with a communication unit installed in a predetermined premises ,
Based on an operation request from the information processing apparatus, an operation execution step of executing an operation on the electronic device;
An acquisition step of requesting each electronic device to acquire the state of each electronic device;
A registration step of registering a plurality of combinations of operations on the electronic device and on-site situations corresponding to the operations;
A determination step of determining whether or not an operation request from the information processing apparatus is appropriate based on a combination of an operation on the electronic device stored in the registration step and a premises situation corresponding to the operation; ,
When it is determined by the determination step that the operation request from the information processing apparatus is not appropriate, a limiting step for limiting the operation execution;
A notification step of notifying the information processing apparatus that the operation request is not appropriate;
A remote operation management method characterized by comprising:   A program for executing the remote operation management method according to claim 5.   A recording medium storing a computer-readable program for executing the remote operation management method according to claim 5.

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