JP2006092035A - Remote monitor control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a home security system which has an improved crime prevention function compared with a conventional similar system and is used for home medical care and home nursing by improving a sensor part. <P>SOLUTION: A remote monitor control system is composed of a home controller connected to the Internet, a control unit which is connected to the home controller and monitors and controls electric appliances, a server 2 connected to the Internet, a remote monitor control program and a portable user terminal. A user transmits a request for controlling an electronic appliance to the server 2 through the portable terminal from a Web page which the user is browsing, and the server transmits the request to the home controller. Then, the home controller transmits a control command to the control unit. The control unit executes the control command to provide the controller with the status data of the electric appliance. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote monitoring control system. In particular, the present invention relates to a remote monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling an unauthorized intruder in a building, equipment installed in the building, an operating state of home appliances, and the like. More specifically, the present invention relates to a remote monitoring and control system for controlling equipment and home appliances installed in a building using an Internet network, a wired or wireless communication network, and the like.

  In recent years, many electrical appliances, crime prevention equipment, and disaster prevention equipment have been installed in homes that bring comfort and convenience to daily life. Home appliances such as rice cookers, electronic pots, microwave cookers, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, dryers, etc. are often equipped with functions such as time reservation and can operate while at home or on the go. It is. As disaster prevention equipment, gas leak detectors, fire detectors, etc., and crime prevention equipment, electronic locks with security functions, security cameras, and security devices installed on doors and windows are increasing.

  For the purpose of connecting these electrical products via a network and operating them from the outside, industry standards are being promoted. For example, the Japan Electrical Manufacturers 'Association (JEMA) JEM (Standards of the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association) 1427 (HA terminal, JEM-A) standard. This standard stipulates the HA terminal used for transmission of control signals and monitor signals when connecting terminal equipment capable of expressing the controlled and monitored operation status in binary to the home automation system. It stipulates the configuration, HA tube electron tube voltage and insulation performance, connection conditions, performance, testing, HA terminal and terminal device designation, display, safety and reliability, and HA terminal physical conditions.

  In many cases, a TV broadcast program is recorded by a recording device such as a video tape recorder (VTR) or a DVD recorder, and then viewed again after the program broadcast is completed. There is a case where a program to be recorded is reserved in this recording device and recorded even when going out. However, if an important program is forgotten or a program that wants to be recorded on the go is available, it is convenient to record the desired program by operating the recording device from the go.

  In addition, it is convenient to operate the air conditioner or adjust the room temperature in accordance with the time of returning home, or to adjust the hot water temperature by operating the water heater in the bath. It is also important to be able to monitor the operating status of these electrical products while at home or going out, and to respond immediately to the occurrence of abnormal situations.

  In this way, a remote monitoring control system that can respond to the need to monitor and control electrical appliances in a home from a remote location is disclosed in the following patent document. In Patent Document 1, a home server is constructed in a home, and this is connected to each electrical product to monitor and control each electrical product. Furthermore, the home server is connected to the Internet. Using a mobile phone or a personal computer, it is possible to check the status of each electrical product from a remote location via the Internet and a home server, and control it.

In Patent Document 2, a control device capable of monitoring and controlling each electrical product is installed in each home, and this control device is connected to a center server in a mediation center via a wireless communication network or the Internet. . A customer connects to the center server from a mobile communication terminal, monitors electrical appliances in the home, and controls them. In addition, when an abnormality occurs in each electric product, a control device that detects the abnormality contacts the center server. The center server can contact the customer's mobile terminal using an email or packet communication about the occurrence of an abnormality in the electrical product, and the customer can immediately respond to the occurrence of the abnormality.
Japanese Patent Publication 2001-313987 Japanese Patent Publication No. 2002-325288

  Thus, it is possible to monitor electrical products and operate them remotely. Moreover, although there is a system for detecting and reporting an unauthorized intruder as a crime prevention measure, it is convenient if it can be operated from the outside. In addition, security and security businesses provide security-dedicated systems. In this system, human sensors, video cameras, etc. are installed in the building, connected to business providers via dedicated communication lines, and monitored online. However, the cost is high and it is not suitable especially for small houses and offices. A home server dedicated to crime prevention may be built at home and monitored. In this case, the cost is similarly increased.

The present invention has been made based on the technical background as described above, and achieves the following objects.
An object of the present invention is to provide a remote monitoring control system for monitoring and controlling an unauthorized intruder of a building, equipment installed in the building, an operating state of home appliances, and the like.
Another object of the present invention is to monitor and control the unauthorized operation of an intruder in a building, the equipment installed in the building, the operating state of home appliances, etc. using a communication network such as the Internet network, wired or wireless. A remote monitoring control system is provided.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following means.
The remote monitoring control system of the present invention shows the operation status of a communication terminal (modem, terminal adapter, router) for connecting to a communication network (Internet, wireless communication, public wired communication network) for transmitting information, and electrical equipment. Control means (control unit, IR controller) for receiving status data and transmitting a control signal to the electrical device, executing a program stored in a memory, communicating with the communication terminal, and A home controller having a central processing unit for communicating with the control means, user data in which information about a user who monitors the electrical equipment is registered, and a first identification assigned to identify the communication terminal Number (IP), second identification number (ID) assigned to identify the control unit A database having the database stored in a storage device, a server connected to the communication network, a remote monitoring control program for operating the home controller on the server via the communication network and remotely operating the database; The remote monitoring control means comprises a communication means for a user to transmit data to the remote monitoring control program. The server and the home controller can communicate with the communication network via the communication terminal.

  The remote monitoring control system of the present invention has the following features. The control means transmits a first signal (a signal from the control unit to the home controller) indicating the operating state of the electric device to the home controller, and the home controller uses the first signal to transmit a second signal ( A signal from a home controller to a server) and transmit it to the server, and the remote monitoring control program uses the user data, the second signal, the first identification number, and the second identification number, A third function is a signal for specifying an electric device and notifying the user of an operation state of the specified electric device, wherein the user requests the status data and / or controls the electric device; When a signal is transmitted from the communication means to the server, the third signal, the user data, the first identification number, and the previous A command signal is generated using a second identification number, and the generated command signal is transmitted to the home controller. The home controller receives the command signal and analyzes the content of the command signal. To the control means and report the execution of the contents of the command signal to the server.

  Further, the program has a security mode for monitoring an abnormality of the electrical device, and when the security mode is set, the first signal transmitted from the control means to the home controller is set again. When the status data is different from the value, the program may determine that the electric device is abnormal, create the second signal having the content of the abnormality, and transmit the second signal to the server.

  In addition, the electrical device includes opening / closing of a door of a building, opening / closing of a window, sensor means for detecting breakage of a window glass, photographing means for photographing a room condition of a building, and sound generation One or more of a sound generation means and a moving object detection means for detecting a moving object in the room of the building, and the program has an error in the status data of the sensor means and / or the moving object detection means. In some cases, the photographing may be performed by the photographing unit and / or the sound may be generated by the voice unit.

  Furthermore, the security mode is provided by the control means having personal authentication based on ecological information, one or more authentication functions selected from a key and a button, or the remote control means in which the user transmits a control signal from the remote monitoring control means. Is set or the setting of the security mode is canceled.

  Still further, when the status data of the sensor means and / or the moving object detection means is abnormal, the program takes the picture by the photographing means, and the security mode is set within a first predetermined time set in advance. If the setting is not canceled, the sound is generated by the sound means, and if the setting of the security mode is not canceled within a preset second predetermined time, the sound is generated by the sound means, and the content of the abnormality It is preferable that the second signal having the above is generated and transmitted to the server, and the setting of the security mode is canceled only from the remote monitoring control unit.

  Furthermore, the image and / or video captured by the imaging unit is recorded on a recording medium connected to the imaging unit and / or connected to the communication network, so that the user, the server, and the security It should be sent to one or more selected from the company.

  Furthermore, a dedicated web page for the user is created on the server, and data indicating the operating state of the electrical device is reflected on the web page, and the user is a mobile terminal owned by the user. Browsing the web page from the Internet connection service and / or an electronic computer connected to the Internet, grasping the operating state of the electrical device, requesting the status data and / or the third signal It is good to transmit to the server.

  Furthermore, the remote monitoring control program reflects the operation status of the electric device on the web page being browsed by the user and / or sends an e-mail to the user's e-mail address for notification. Good.

  The electrical equipment is among household appliances, disaster prevention equipment, security equipment, security equipment, nursing care equipment, medical equipment, environmental measuring equipment, power supply controller, power measuring equipment, OA equipment, infrared controlled equipment, and personal authentication equipment. It is good that it is 1 or more selected from.

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
According to the present invention, it is possible to remotely monitor an unauthorized intruder in a building, equipment installed in the building, the operating state of home appliances, and the like, and control these electric products from a remote location.
The present invention can detect an unauthorized intruder in a building and inform the user.

[Summary of the Invention]
The best mode of the present invention will be described. The remote monitoring and control system of the present invention is installed in a building such as a home or office, and can monitor and control electrical products in the building, a portable terminal device owned by the user, and a network. And a server somewhere. Hereinafter, all electric and electronic devices such as home appliances, electric products, electronic devices, and various sensors in a building are collectively referred to as electric products unless otherwise specified.

  The server 2 is connected to both the home controller and the user's portable terminal via a network. The home controller acquires status data such as the operation status of each electric product and transmits it to the server, and the server transmits these pieces of information to the user's portable terminal to contact the user. The control data of each electric product is input and stored in advance in the server. The home controller in each home is connected to the server, so that control data of each electric product can be shared.

  In this way, the user can know the state of the electrical products in the building, and can transmit a control signal for controlling the electrical products from the portable terminal to the home controller via the server. . The home controller receives this control signal and controls the designated electrical product. In addition, the user can transmit a command to that effect from the portable terminal in order to obtain status data such as the operating status of each electrical product. This command is transmitted to the home controller via the server.

  The home controller receives this command, and transmits information on the designated electrical product to the user's portable terminal in the same manner as described above. A web page about a building to be monitored by a user is opened on a web server connected to the Internet, and the user performs online monitoring and control by accessing the web page.

  The details of the remote monitoring control system of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows an outline of a remote monitoring control system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing a home network centered on a home controller installed in the home. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an overview of the server. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of the home controller. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the operation of the remote monitoring control system.

[Structure of remote monitoring and control system]
FIG. 1 shows an overview of a remote monitoring control system. In FIG. 1, a house 1, a server 2, and mobile terminals 3 and 4 are displayed. The house 1 is a building such as a home or office to which a home controller (described later) of the remote monitoring control system is installed. The control data of each electric product is input and stored in the server 2 in advance. The server 2 is an electronic computer for accumulating status data of each electric product transmitted from the home controller and contacting the user's portable terminal 3. The server 2 may be in any place as long as it can communicate with the home controller and the user's portable terminal 3.

  The server may be installed, for example, in a management center of a trader who performs a task of providing a remote monitoring control system. The portable terminal 3 is an electronic terminal that is owned by a user who monitors the home 1 and electrical appliances in the home 1 and controls the home appliance 1 and can communicate with the server 2. Hereinafter, the mobile terminal 3 will be described assuming a mobile phone unless otherwise described.

  The home controller in the house 1 and the server 2 are connected by the Internet 6 so that data can be transmitted and received. The home 1 may be connected to the ISP via a public communication network such as a general subscriber telephone network or FTTH, and may be connected to the Internet 6 via this. Alternatively, the connection may be made using an ADSL line or CATV line provided by a provider that provides an Internet connection service.

  The mobile terminal 3 is connected to a wireless communication network 7 that provides a mobile phone, a PHS phone service, and the like. The server 2 may be connected to the wireless communication network 7 via a dedicated line to realize high speed communication. Thereby, the server 2 and the portable terminal 3 can perform data communication. The mobile terminal 3 may use an Internet connection service provided by the wireless communication network 7. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the mobile terminal 3 uses an Internet connection service provided by the wireless communication network 7. The mobile terminal 3 has a screen 5 on which a web page on the Internet can be browsed, and from this screen 5 it is possible to fill in a form entry field provided on the web page.

  A web page for information on the house 1 is opened on a web server connected to the Internet. Users access this web page for online monitoring and control. The web server may be the same or different electronic computer as the server 2. Here, the description will be made assuming that the computer is the same as the server 2. The server 2 sends a mail to the electronic mail address of the user's portable terminal 3 so that the server 2 can contact the user. The user uses the browser function of the mobile terminal 3 to perform personal authentication using an ID and password, browse a user-specific web page, and control the electrical products in the house 1 within the screen. Set up.

[Home controller structure]
FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram showing the home network 10 in the home 1. The home network 10 is built around a home controller 11 installed in the home 1. The home network 10 includes a home controller 11, a router 12, an electronic device operation unit group 13, and the like. The router 12 is for connecting to the Internet 6. The router 12 is connected to the Internet 6 and enables communication between the server 2 and the home controller 11.

  The home controller 11 is a main control device for monitoring and operating the electric appliance in the house 1, acquires the operating state of the electric appliance voluntarily or by an instruction from the server 2, and stores the data in the server 2 and a function of operating each electric product based on the command and data transmitted from the server 2. The home controller 11 is connected to the server 2 via a wireless line using a packet communication terminal or the like in a place where the environment for connecting to the Internet 6 cannot be maintained (not shown).

  The electronic device operation unit group 13 is a variety of control units 14 to 18 that operate while connected to an electrical product, acquire status data of the electrical product, and operate the electrical product. The security setting unit 14 is a kind of control unit. The security setting unit 14 is a control unit that incorporates a biometric authentication device such as fingerprint authentication and iris authentication, thereby authenticating the user, monitoring setting of the home network 10 and releasing it.

  The control units 14 to 18 of the electronic device operation unit group 13 are multi-connected to the home controller 11. Electrical appliances 21 to 24 to be controlled are connected to the control units 14 to 18, respectively. The control units 14 to 18 of the electronic device operation unit group 13 are used by being connected to various electric products, sensors, opening / closing drive units, and power supply control devices installed in the house 1, and acquiring respective status data, It is for control. One electric product is basically connected to one control unit 14-18.

  FIG. 2 shows only four representative devices controlled by the control units 14 to 18. Here, typical ones are shown. The control unit 15 is connected with power cords for various electric products 21 such as a bathroom water heater controller, an electric lock controller for the house 1, an electric shutter for each window of the house 1, a ventilation fan, etc. Control such as disconnection of. Further, by connecting the power cords of lighting devices such as rooms and entrances, it is possible to notify lighting status data to the home controller 11 and to control lighting ON / OFF.

It is also possible to connect the control unit 15 to a camera or the like having a photo shooting and video shooting function to perform photo shooting and video shooting. In this case, the captured image, video, and photograph may be stored in a shooting device, or may be stored in a storage medium such as a personal computer or a recorder connected to the device. Of course, since these devices are connected to the Internet 6, it is possible to send a mail to a registered address.
The control unit 16 is connected to various sensors 22, receives detection signals transmitted from the sensors 22, and transmits them to the home controller 11. The sensor 22 includes an intrusion detector that is installed at the entrance of the house 1, doors and windows in the house 1, and detects opening / closing of the sensor 22, a human sensor for detecting a human body in or around the house 1, and a fire detector There are crime prevention and disaster prevention detectors such as gas leak detectors.

  The control unit 17 is connected to various measuring devices 23, receives the measurement result of the measuring device 23, and transmits it to the home controller 11. As the measuring device 23, a room temperature measuring device installed in each room of the house 1, a power / gas usage meter of the house 1, and the like can be considered. In addition, when there are cared persons and patients in the home, a body temperature / pulse measuring device and blood pressure measuring device can be used as the measuring device 23 and connected to the control unit 17 to be used for home medical care, home care, etc. it can. It is also possible to connect to a button for requesting care, an emergency button, or the like.

  The infrared control unit 18 and the IR controller 19 operate the electrical products 24 and 25 such as an air conditioner, a television, a video tape recorder (VTR) and a DVD recorder, and an acoustic system controlled by the infrared remote controller. . The IR controller 19 is directly connected to the IR output terminal of the home controller 11, and the infrared control unit 18 is included in the electronic device operation unit group 13 and is multi-connected like the other control units 15 to 17. is there. Only one of the IR controller 19 and the infrared control unit 18 may be used.

  These infrared control unit 18 and IR controller 19 have a learning function. For example, the learning function is used because the set temperature of the air conditioner changes depending on the season, the temperature of the day, and the like. The home controller 11 has a power adapter 20 for being supplied with power from an AC 100V power source in a general home. When the AC 100V power source cannot be used due to a power failure or the like, power is supplied from a battery or the like.

[Structure of server 2]
FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of the server 2. The server 2 includes an input / output device 31 and a communication interface 32 for communicating with a communication network, and a storage device 33 stores a program 34, a database 35, and web content 36. The server 2 includes a display 37, a CPU 38, a RAM 39, and a ROM 40. The programs 34 stored in the storage device 33 are a remote monitoring control program 41, a mail program 42, and an external cooperation program 43.

  The remote monitoring control program 41 is a program for transmitting / receiving data to / from the home controller 11 and exchanging between the web content 36 and the mail program 42, and is the main program of the remote monitoring control system. The mail program 42 is a program for creating a mail for contacting a user, transmitting the created mail, and managing a mail transmission history and the like. The external cooperation program 43 is a program that is used when the remote monitoring control system is linked to another system different from the remote monitoring control system.

  The database 35 includes a user management table 45, a password management table 46, an IP management table 47, an ID management table 48, a manufacturer device information table 49, a mail information table 50, a message table 51, a web page management table 52, and the like. The user management table 45 includes data related to the user such as the user's name, management identification number, address, contact information, and e-mail address.

  The password management table 46 is a table for managing IDs and passwords for user authentication when a user logs in. The IP management table 47 is a table having data for managing IP addresses allocated to the user's router 12. The IP address allocated to the user's router 12 is not necessarily a fixed IP, and the user's home 1 may be specified from the URL address by using dynamic DNS.

  The ID management table 48 is a table for managing an identification number assigned to each control unit 11 of the electronic device operation unit group 13 that operates and controls a user's electric appliance. This identification number is a 64-bit number that is unique throughout the world, and a device to be monitored and controlled can be specified by this identification number. The manufacturer device information table 49 is a table composed of data for operating a user's electrical product, and is managed for each manufacturer, model, and model number that supplies the electrical product.

  The e-mail information table 50 is a table for managing e-mails sent to and received from e-mail addresses registered by the user. The message table 51 is a table that stores the format, samples, and the like of emails sent to and received from the email address registered by the user. The web page management table 52 is a table that stores data for web pages of the web content 36 created to confirm the login page and the status of the house 1 monitored by the user.

  The server 2 also stores a remote monitoring control program 41 for realizing a remote monitoring control system. The remote monitoring control program 41 has a wireless communication function for transmitting / receiving data to / from the wireless communication network 7 and a function for communicating with the Internet 6. Further, it has a database access function for accessing the database 35.

  The web content 36 is HTML content made up of a web page 53 that is created exclusively for each user and is accessible to each user. On the user's web page 53, information on the house 1 monitored by the user and the electrical products in the house 1 are posted, and the user can check the operation state with the portable terminal 3 or the like. Further, there is a web page 54 for an administrator, and the administrator can manage the remote monitoring control system from this web page. The administrator of the remote monitoring control system can register new users and electric products of each user from the web page 54.

[Home controller structure]
FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of the home controller 11. The home controller 11 includes an input / output device 131, an I / O control unit 132, a display 137, a CPU 138, a RAM 139, and a ROM 140. The ROM 140 stores a program for controlling the home controller 11. The display 137 is for displaying the operation status of the home controller 11 and data necessary for the user. The display 137 is an LED that indicates a communication state between the home controller 11 and a connected device such as the router 12 or an electronic device operation unit group.

  The I / O control unit 132 is for controlling data communication between the home controller 11 and connected devices such as the router 12 and the electronic device operation unit group 13. The home controller 11 has an ETHERNET connection terminal, a two-wire serial network interface, an RS232C interface, and an infrared transmission interface. The ETHERNET connection terminal is connected to the router 12 with an ETHERNET cable to perform communication. The two-wire serial network interface is connected to the electronic device operation unit group 13 for communication.

  The RS232C interface is a terminal for connecting a packet communication terminal. This is used when the router 12 cannot connect to the Internet 6 or when it is desired to control by packet communication from a mobile phone or the like. The infrared transmission interface is a terminal for connecting the IR controller 19. The CPU 138 is a central processing unit for operating the entire home controller 11 by a program stored in the ROM 140. The RAM 140 is a memory for storing data necessary during operation of the program stored in the ROM 140.

  In these memories, data necessary for communication with the router 12 and the electronic device operation unit group 13 connected to the home controller 11 is stored. Each control unit 14-18 has two terminals for cable connection, respectively. By connecting cables for IN and OUT to these two terminals, the control units 14 to 18 are connected in a longline manner. Then, the closest one is connected to the home control 11. When the home controller 11 is connected to the control units 14 to 18 of the electronic device operation unit group 13, the home controller 11 uses a bus line formed by two ends of a signal line and a ground line as a half-duplex transmission line. .

  The bus line line extending from the I / O control unit 132 is branched from the middle, and the control units of the control units 14 to 18 are connected to the bus line line. That is, the control unit of each controlled device is configured to hang from the bus line. In the transmission control, the I / O control unit 132 takes the initiative, the downlink transmission period from the I / O control unit 132 to the control unit of the controlled device, and the control unit of the controlled device to the I / O control unit. The uplink transmission period to 132 is alternately provided.

  In downlink transmission and uplink transmission, the I / O control unit 132 determines the transmission destination of the downlink transmission and the transmission source of the uplink transmission, and sequentially switches the control unit of the controlled device of the transmission destination or the transmission source. Thus, it is possible to communicate with the control units of all controlled devices by performing downlink transmission or uplink transmission. Since such a control method is adopted, the connection order of the control units 14 to 18 of the electronic device operation unit group 13 is arbitrary.

  In addition, the home controller 11 has a setting jumper for setting the type of the mounted CPU 64. Alternatively, the home controller 11 may include a setting jumper for setting the bus line of the I / O control unit 132, particularly the two-wire serial network interface. This is used when determining the order of the control units 14 to 18 communicating from the I / O control unit 132.

[Overview of overall operation of remote monitoring and control system]
[Method of connecting server 2 and home controller 11]
The server 2 and the home controller 11 are connected by the TCP protocol via the Internet 6 and transmit / receive data. When the user connects to the server 2 from the web page 53 using the portable terminals 3 and 4 and requests the home controller 11 for confirmation or control, the server 2 uses the TCP protocol to the home controller 11. Connecting. The home controller 11 also connects to the server 2 from the home controller 11 using the TCP protocol when detecting an abnormality of the electrical product in the house 1 and notifying the server 2. If data transmission / reception is not performed between the home controller 11 and the server via the TCP protocol for a predetermined time, for example, for 5 minutes, the home controller 11 disconnects the connection using the TCP protocol.

  Communication between the server 2 and the home controller 11 is performed in two ways. First, when the home controller 11 detects an abnormality of an electrical product in the house 1, an alarm signal to that effect is transmitted to the server 2. The other is a command transmitted from the server 2 to the home controller 11 according to a user instruction and a response to the command. This response is transmitted from the home controller 11 to the server 2. The command is a request for status data of each electric product, control of the electric product, or the like. The response of the home controller 11 is the status data of the electric product, the control result, and the like.

  The server 2 transmits one command to the home controller 11, waits for a response, and takes a polling format in which the next command is transmitted when a response from the home controller 11 is received. When the server 2 sends a command to the home controller 11 and does not respond within a predetermined time and times out, an error message is displayed on the screen of the mobile terminal that the user is browsing and a retry button is displayed. . When the user selects this retry button, the server 2 transmits the command to the home controller 11 again.

  In the case where the TCP protocol connection with the home controller 11 results in a connection loss, the server 2 repeats retries if it is trying to perform data communication. The home controller 11 does not store any information about the control units 15 to 18 connected thereto in the internal memory. All information about the control units 15 to 18 is received from the server 2. Therefore, the home controller 11 transmits an alarm signal indicating that to the server 2 when it is activated. The server 2 transmits necessary data and commands for the alarm signal to the home controller 11.

[Operation overview]
[How to check the current operating status of home appliances]
An outline of the operation of the remote monitoring control system will be described. The flowchart of FIG. 5 shows an outline of the operation of the remote monitoring control system. In order to know the current state of the electrical product in the house 1, the user uses the Internet connection function of the mobile terminal 3 to enter and browse the user-specific web page 53 (S 10). At this time, the user needs to perform user authentication using a password. A request for acquiring the current state of each electrical product from the web page 53 is made to the remote monitoring control program 41 of the server 2.

  When the user browses the web page 53, the browser requests the remote monitoring control program 41 for the state of the electrical product displayed on the page (S11). The remote monitoring control program 41 receives a user request (S12) and creates a command to be transmitted to the home controller 11 (S13). Then, the remote monitoring control program 41 establishes a TCP connection with the home controller 11, transmits a command indicating a data request to the home controller 11 (S14), and waits for a response (S15).

  The home controller 11 receives the command from the server 2, executes it, and returns the result. The remote monitoring control program 41 receives the response from the home controller 11 and outputs it in the HTML format (S16). The status of the electric product is reflected on the web page 53 that the user is browsing (S17). Therefore, the user can confirm the state of the electrical product in the house 1 (S18). When the user closes the browser window being browsed, the confirmation of the state of the electrical product in the house 1 is completed (S19).

[Login, main menu, confirmation screen example]
Examples of screens displayed on the screen 5 of the mobile terminal 3 when the user accesses the user-specific web page 53 from the mobile terminal 3 are shown in FIGS. FIG. 6A shows an example of a screen when user authentication is performed. The user performs user authentication using an ID and a password registered in advance in the password management table 46 of the database 35. An example of a screen displayed when the user authentication is successful is the “main menu” screen illustrated in FIG.

  On this screen, a menu “confirm operation state” 60 for confirming the operation state of the electrical product is prepared. FIG. 7 shows an example of a screen displayed when this menu “confirmation of operation state” 60 is entered. On the screen of FIG. 7, a list of electrical products monitored by the user is displayed, and the operation state is displayed.

[Report mail]
The remote monitoring control system periodically monitors the status of the electrical product in the house 1 to the user and reports the result to the user. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating a report mail for reporting the current status confirmation of the electrical product in the house 1 to the user and transmitting it to the user. The remote monitoring control program 41 acquires the IP address assigned to the router 12 of the user's house 1 from the IP address management table 47 of the database 35 in order to create a report mail (S20).

  The remote monitoring control program 41 creates a command to be transmitted to the home controller 11 (S21). The remote monitoring control program 41 transmits a command created for the IP address (S22). When the transmission of the command is completed, it waits until a response from the home controller 11 arrives (S23). When the response having the status data of the electrical product in the house 1 arrives from the home controller 11, the contact information of the user is acquired from the mail information table 50 of the database 35 (S24).

  Then, the mail program 42 creates a report mail (S25). The mail program 42 transmits the created report mail to the user's mobile terminal 3 (S26). In this way, a series of procedures in which the server 2 processes the report mail indicating the status confirmation of the electrical product in the house 1 from the user is completed. FIG. 9 shows an example of this report mail. FIG. 9A is an example of a simple report mail indicating only whether there is an abnormality in the electrical product in the house 1.

  FIG. 9 b shows an example of a report mail that displays whether or not there is an abnormality in the electrical product in the house 1 and shows the state of each electrical product in detail. In the report mail, the name 61 of the user, the simple address 62 of the house 1, the confirmation date and time 63, and the current status 64 and 65 are displayed. The confirmation date and time 63 is the date and time when the electrical product in the house 1 is confirmed, and is displayed as the month and date. The current statuses 64 and 65 are data indicating whether or not the electrical product in the house 1 was normal when the electrical product in the house 1 was confirmed.

[Processing at home controller 11]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the home controller 11 receives a command from the server 2 and performs processing according to the instruction. The home controller 11 communicates with the router 12 via the Internet 6 to receive a command from the server 2 and transmit a response. Therefore, the router 12 connected to the home controller 11 always monitors and waits for data transmitted from the net and transmitted to the IP address of the house 1 (S30). The home controller 11 receives the command (S31) and analyzes the content of the command (S32).

  When requesting the status data of the electrical product of the house 1, it is connected to each of the control units 15 to 18 to request the status data of the electrical product (S 33). Each control unit 15-18 transmits status data to the home controller 11 (S34). The home controller 11 receives the replies from the control units 15 to 18 and creates a response to the command of the server 2 (S35). The response of the created command is transmitted to the server 2 (S36). When the transmission of the command response is completed, the process waits for the next command (S36 → S30). In this way, a series of processing in the home controller 11 is completed.

[Intruder detection and photography]
FIG. 11 shows an operation example when an intrusion into the house 1 is detected and a warning or a photograph is taken. The user sets the remote monitoring control system to the absence setting when leaving (S101). The home controller 11 performs setting so as to monitor the devices connected to the control units 15 to 18 (S102). Thereby, the sensor installed in the door or window detects the opening and closing, and when the door or window is opened, the abnormal status data is output. An infrared sensor that is installed in the house 1 and an ultrasonic sensor that detects window glass breakage using ultrasonic waves caused by window glass breakage are also set to the abnormality detection setting (S103).

  When the door sensor detects the opening of the door (S104), the photographing device takes a picture (S105). Then, a threatening sound is generated from the speaker (S106). Then, the home controller 11 receives the sensor abnormality status data and transmits an alarm signal to the server 2 (S107). The server 2 creates an email indicating that an abnormal signal has occurred in the house 1 and transmits it to the user's mobile terminal 3 (S108). When the door is opened, it is determined that someone has entered the house 1 and photographing is performed with the photographing device.

  However, in the case of a legitimate user, since the door is opened with the correct key, the absence setting of the remote monitoring control system is canceled, and each sensor does not output abnormal status data. However, in the case of malfunction, the security setting of the remote monitoring control system is canceled by means determined anew. For example, pressing a button for canceling the security setting of the remote monitoring control system is an example. Further, the security setting can be canceled by the user authentication of the security setting unit 14.

  Thus, when the security setting of the remote monitoring control system is canceled, the generation of threatening sound is stopped (S109, S113). If the security setting of the remote monitoring control system is not canceled, the moving object is sensed by the human sensor, and a photograph of the vicinity is taken (S110 to S112 → S109). The imaging device may be a far infrared camera. It is also possible to record using a recording device instead of or simultaneously with the imaging device. Of course, it is also possible to record by recording only the voice (the voice microphone and speaker of the home controller 11 are not shown). This captured image, recorded video, and recorded audio data can be saved and used as evidence if it is related to a crime at a later date.

[Example of an email that reports an anomaly]
FIG. 12 illustrates an example of mail sent from the server 2 to the user. The e-mail displays the user's name and abnormality confirmation time. Then, the message “Abnormality of the entrance door sensor has been confirmed” (“a” in FIG. 12) and “Intruder has been confirmed” (“b” in FIG. 12) are displayed. Yes. It is also possible to take a pre-determined response such as “I have sent a contact e-mail to the security contractor. Other emergency contact numbers are 03-1234-****”.

[Another example of intruder detection]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating another example of detecting an intruder. When the door is opened by the human sensor or when an intruder is detected, a photograph is taken by the photographing device (S320 to S322). The photographing by this photographing device is performed when the inside of the house 1 is detected when a moving object such as a legitimate user of the house 1, an intruder, a door, or opening / closing of a window is detected. If the user of the house 1 does not press the security release button within a predetermined time, for example, within 20 seconds, a threatening sound starts to be generated from the speaker (S323 to S325).

  If the security release button is not pressed within a predetermined time, for example, 10 seconds, notification to the server 2 is started (S326 to S328). Whether or not the user is a valid user is determined based on whether or not the security release button is pressed. The security release button may be user authentication by the security setting unit 14 (see FIG. 2) (S330, S331). As described above, when notification to the server 2 is started (S328), security cannot be released by the security release button, and photography is continuously performed (S329 → S321). In this case, as described below, the security is canceled by instructing the security cancellation from the user's portable terminal 3.

[Setting example]
FIG. 14 shows an example of this security cancellation. When entering from the “standard setting list” 66 menu of FIG. 6B, the screen of FIG. 14A is displayed. This screen displays a list of security settings for setting the remote monitoring control system. A plurality of security settings are provided, and each can be set. When setting, a list of electrical products of the house 1 is displayed, and it is possible to make detailed settings for each (not shown). Then, when the currently set setting is entered (in this case, “standard absence setting”), the screen of FIG. 14B is displayed. Thus, the security setting can be canceled.

  FIG. 15 shows an example of a screen showing settings for controlling an electrical product. Here, the current status of the electrical product and each changeable setting are displayed. FIG. 15A shows an example in which AV equipment is controlled. Here, the AV device (DVD) is recording, and can be stopped or a new recording reservation can be added. When adding a recording reservation, the recording start date and time and channel are set. When recording is reserved in this way, a desired program can be recorded from the outside without omission.

  FIG. 15B is an example of controlling the air conditioner. Here, the air conditioner is in a stopped state, and the operation setting of the air conditioner can be performed. The operation of the air conditioner can be set at a temperature by designating a time for starting the operation, such as 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or the like. Setting the user in this manner before returning home is comfortable because the air conditioner is operating and the room is adjusted to the specified temperature when returning home.

〔Web page〕
The user can access the web content 36 shown in FIG. 3 from the mobile terminals 3 and 4 possessed by the user, and can view information on the house and make various settings. It is. This has been described above. Further, the user can access from a personal computer or the like connected to the Internet 6 and access a web page 53 (see FIG. 3) dedicated to the user. The remote monitoring and control system automatically recognizes from which type of terminal the user is accessing, and provides content in a format suitable for the terminal in consideration of the processing capability of the terminal.

  For example, when the user accesses from a mobile phone, the contents of the screen as shown in FIGS. When a user accesses from a personal computer, contents as shown in FIGS. The user activates a browser such as a personal computer that is connected to the Internet 6 and operates to browse the web page 53.

  16 to 18 will be described. When the user accesses the web page 53, a "login" area 101 for the user to input login information and perform user authentication, and a "main menu" area 102 for displaying the main menu of the remote monitoring control system A “display” area 103 for displaying the menu selected in the main menu is displayed. Initially, it is necessary to perform user authentication with the user's login name and password. User authentication is performed in the “login” area 101 using a login name and a password as in FIG.

  The “main menu” area 102 is basically the same as the menu viewed from the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 6B, but is richer and easier to see. The “display” area 103 displays the current status of the electrical product. This is basically the same screen as FIG. Here, a link 104 to a printing screen (not shown and detailed description is omitted) is displayed so that these data can be printed.

  A “display” area 103 in FIG. 17 displays a screen for controlling the electrical product. This is an example of an AV device (DVD). This screen is basically the same as FIG. There are many reservation menus that can be recorded with AV equipment (DVD), and settings can be confirmed. A “display” area 103 in FIG. 18 displays a screen for controlling the electrical product. This is an example of an air conditioner. The screen is basically the same as that in FIG. 15B, and the setting can be confirmed.

[Web page for administrators]
When a new user enters the remote monitoring control system, the administrator registers the user. Examples of screens for this registration are shown in FIGS. The administrator registers basic information about the new user from the screen of FIG. The user name, the initial password, the IP address assigned to the user's router 12, the mail address of the contact address, and the like. In addition, “regular notification email” indicating whether the status of the electrical product in the home 1 is regularly notified by email, “startup email” indicating whether to notify by email when the home network 1 is started up, standby time, There are columns such as buzzer ringing time.

  Further, from the screen of FIG. 20, in order to register the electrical products of the user's house 1, those products are registered in groups. To register a group, enter the group name in “Group Name” and press the “Register” button. Here, the entrance, kitchen, security, and the like of the house 1 are classified and registered according to the type of electrical product and the place where it is installed or arranged. Also, at the bottom of the screen, a “module registration menu” that is a menu for registering control units 14 to 19 for controlling home appliances and the like, and a “unit setting menu” for setting the same are displayed. ing. The registration information registered from FIGS. 19 and 20 is registered in each table of the database 35.

  The present invention is preferably used in the field of security security for detecting unauthorized intruders in buildings. Also, it may be used in fields such as remote monitoring, remote control, security measures, disaster prevention measures, environmental monitoring, power failure measures, etc., which monitor and control equipment installed in buildings and the operating state of electrical products. It can be used for home medical care and nursing care systems.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of the entire remote monitoring control system of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram conceptually illustrating a home network. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a configuration outline of the server. FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram showing an outline of the home controller 11. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an outline of the overall operation of the remote monitoring control system. FIG. 6 is a screen example displayed on the screen 5 of the mobile terminal 3. FIG. 7 is a screen example displayed on the screen 5 of the mobile terminal 3. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a procedure for creating and sending a report mail to the user at the server. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a report mail. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure in which the home controller 11 receives a command from the server 2 and performs processing according to the instruction. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation example when an intrusion to the house 1 is detected and a warning or a photograph is taken. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an example of mail transmitted from the server 2 to the user. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of detecting an intruder into a house. FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a screen for setting and releasing security. FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating an example of a setting screen for controlling an electrical product. FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page dedicated to a user when the user accesses from a personal computer. FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page dedicated to a user when the user accesses from a personal computer. FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of a web page dedicated to a user when the user accesses from a personal computer. FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of a screen on which an administrator registers a user. FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen on which an administrator performs group registration.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Home 2 ... Server 3, 4 ... Mobile terminal 5 ... Screen 6 ... Internet 7 ... Wireless communication network 10 ... Home network 11 ... Home controller 12.・ ・ Router 13 ・ ・ ・ Electronic equipment operation unit group 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 ・ ・ ・ Control unit 19 ・ ・ ・ IR controller 20 ・ ・ ・ Power adapter 21, 24, 25 ・ ・ ・ Electrical product 22 ..Sensor 23 ... Measurement device 31 ... Input / output device 32 ... Communication interface 33 ... Storage device 34 ... Program 35 ... Database 36 ... Web content 37 ... Display 38 ... CPU
39 ... RAM
40 ... ROM
41 ... Remote monitoring control program 42 ... Mail program 43 ... External linkage program 45 ... User management table 46 ... Password management table 47 ... IP management table 48 ... ID management table 49 ... Maker device information table 50 ... Mail information table 51 ... Message table 52 ... Web page management table 53 ... Web page 54 ... Web page for managers 61 ... On Output device 62 ... I / O control unit 63 ... Display device 64 ... CPU
65 ... RAM
66 ... ROM
101 ... "Login" area 102 ... "Main menu" area 103 ... "Display" area

Claims (9)

A communication terminal for connecting to a communication network for transmitting information;
Control means for receiving status data indicating the operating state of the electrical device and transmitting a control signal to the electrical device;
A home controller comprising a central processing unit for executing a program stored in a memory, communicating with the communication terminal, and communicating with the control means;
User data in which information about a user who monitors the electrical equipment is registered, a first identification number assigned to identify the communication terminal, and a second identification number assigned to identify the control unit A database,
Storing the database in a storage device, and a server connected to the communication network;
A remote monitoring control program for operating and remotely operating the home controller on the server via the communication network;
The remote monitoring control means comprising the communication means for the user to transmit data to the remote monitoring control program,
The server and the home controller are remote monitoring and control systems capable of communicating with the communication network via the communication terminal,
The control means transmits a first signal indicating an operation state of the electric device to the home controller,
The home controller creates a second signal using the first signal and sends it to the server,
The remote monitoring control program is
Using the user data, the second signal, the first identification number, and the second identification number, the electric device is identified,
Having the function of notifying the user of the operating status of the identified electrical device;
When the user transmits a request for the status data and / or a third signal, which is a signal for controlling the electrical device, from the communication means to the server, the third signal, the user data, the first data Creating a command signal using the first identification number and the second identification number;
Transmitting the created command signal to the home controller;
The home controller is
The remote monitoring control system, wherein the command signal is received, the content of the command signal is analyzed and transmitted to the control means, and the execution of the content of the command signal is reported to the server. In claim 1,
The program has a security mode for monitoring an abnormality of the electrical device,
When the security mode is set, if the first signal transmitted from the control means to the home controller has status data different from a newly set value, the program indicates that the electric device is abnormal. Judgment,
The remote monitoring control system, wherein the second signal having the abnormality content is generated and transmitted to the server. In claim 2,
The electrical equipment includes opening / closing of a building door, opening / closing of a window, sensor means for detecting breakage of a window glass, photographing means for photographing a room condition of a building, and sound generation for generating sound. Means, one or more of the moving object detection means for detecting a moving object in the room of the building,
When the status data of the sensor means and / or the moving object detection means is abnormal, the program generates the sound by the photographing means and / or the sound by the sound means. Supervisory control system. In claim 2 or 3,
The security mode is set by the control means having personal authentication based on biological information, one or more authentication functions selected from a key and a button, or the remote control means in which the user transmits a control signal from the remote monitoring control means. Alternatively, the remote monitoring control system is characterized in that the setting of the security mode is canceled. In claim 4,
When the status data of the sensor means and / or the moving object detection means is abnormal, the program takes the picture with the photographing means,
If the setting of the security mode is not canceled within a preset first predetermined time, the sound is generated by the sound means,
If the setting of the security mode is not canceled within a preset second predetermined time, the sound is generated by the sound means, the second signal having the content of the abnormality is created and transmitted to the server,
The remote monitoring control system, wherein the setting of the security mode is set to be released only from the remote monitoring control means. In one selected from claims 3-5,
The image and / or video taken by the photographing means is recorded on a recording medium connected to the photographing means and / or connected to the communication network, and the user, the server, and the security company. A remote monitoring control system characterized by being transmitted to one or more selected from the above. In one selected from claims 1-6,
Create a dedicated web page for the user on the server,
The web page reflects data indicating the operating state of the electrical equipment,
The user browses the web page from a computer connected to the Internet and / or a service connected to the Internet of a mobile terminal owned by the user,
The remote monitoring and control system characterized by grasping the operating state of the electrical device and transmitting the request for the status data and / or the third signal to the server. In one selected from Claims 1-7,
The remote monitoring control program reflects the operation status of the electric device on the web page being browsed by the user and / or sends an e-mail to the e-mail address of the user for notification. A remote monitoring and control system. In one selected from claims 1-8,
The electrical equipment is among household appliances, disaster prevention equipment, security equipment, security equipment, nursing care equipment, medical equipment, environmental measuring equipment, power supply controller, power measuring equipment, OA equipment, infrared controlled equipment, and personal authentication equipment. A remote monitoring and control system characterized by being one or more selected from

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