JP2007053639A - Control system, controller, and program for controller - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a control system which allows a user to remotely control a plurality of controllers which are installed in his or her home and capable of controlling various devices, through a server device on the outside of his or her home and which is capable of reducing the burden of registration work of information associating the controller group in his or her home with the user. <P>SOLUTION: In the server device constituting the control system, a device ID of one controller and a user ID are previously registered. Each of a plurality of controllers connected to a router in the user's home has a device ID stored for discriminating the controller itself from the other controllers and acquires a router MAC address from the router by an APR request and transmits communication data including the device ID and the router MAC address to the server device, and the server device classifies received communication data having the MAC address to the same group to register and manage the device ID. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a control system related to remote control of devices, and in particular, a control system for controlling each device via each control device in each LAN by a server device connected to a plurality of LANs via a network. About.

Conventionally, a remote control monitoring system is known in which each user connects a mobile terminal or the like to the Internet and remotely controls various devices provided in each user's home via a server device on the Internet (for example, Patent Document 1).
In this remote control monitoring system, various devices in the user's home are connected to a gateway device having a function of controlling the device, and the server device sends a command to the gateway device via the network in response to a control instruction from the user. This tells the gateway device to control various devices.

When the user accesses the server device using a mobile terminal or the like, the server device performs user authentication and transmits a command to the gateway device in the user's home according to a control instruction from the user who has been successfully authenticated.
In order to realize this user authentication and the like, the server device holds registration information in which user identification information such as a user ID and password is associated with gateway device identification information. It is conceivable that the registration operation for inputting the registration information is performed by, for example, an administrator of the server device.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-280717

  However, when a plurality of gateway devices are installed in the user's home, conventionally, the gateway device that has been introduced is provided for each gateway device to perform registration work for associating the gateway device identification information with the user identification information. When there are many users, the registration work takes a lot of time. In addition, when a plurality of gateway devices are sequentially introduced with time, the troublesomeness of performing the registration work every time of introduction is also a problem.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and allows a user to remotely control a plurality of control devices installed in a user's home and capable of controlling various devices via a server device outside the home. It is an object of the present invention to provide a control system that can reduce the burden of registering information for associating a control device group in a user's home with the user, and to provide a technique related to the control system And

  In order to solve the above problems, in a control system according to the present invention, each LAN formed by connecting a plurality of control devices is connected to a server device for managing information of each control device via each router. A control system configured to be connected to a network, wherein the control device stores device identification information for identifying the device itself from other control devices, and the server identification information is stored in the server device. And transmitting means for transmitting to the device identification information transmitted from the LAN side to the network side based on the device identification information transmitted from the LAN side. Group identification information for distinguishing from a control device group in a LAN different from the LAN is attached, and the server device transmits device identification information and group identification transmitted from each router. Receiving means for sequentially receiving a set of information and registration information obtained by classifying each device identification information according to the corresponding group identification information based on the information of each set received by the receiving means And a registration unit.

  Under the premise that each control device constituting the LAN in the user's home is connected to an external network via one router, the server device of the control system according to the present invention can Since the device identification information of the control device is associated with the same group identification information and classified as the same group, for example, registration work for associating user identification information such as a user ID with the device identification information of one control device If this is done only once, as a result, it will be indirectly associated with all device identification information classified as being in the same group, so the burden of registration work will be reduced. It will be able to plan.

  Here, the control device includes a receiving unit that receives a control instruction from the server device, and a control unit that controls a device connected to the own device in accordance with the received control instruction from the server device. The registration unit holds, as the registration information, user identification information for identifying a user of the control device in association with each category into which the device identification information is classified, and the server device stores the user A command from a user identified based on the identification information is acquired, and a control instruction is issued to the control device identified by any device identification information in the category corresponding to the user identification information in accordance with the command. It is good also as providing the remote control means to send out.

  As a result, the user identification information is directly or indirectly associated with each piece of device identification information classified as the same group, so that the user can perform remote control only by associating the user identification information once. When a command indicating a control instruction is given to the server device through a portable terminal or the like, the device can be controlled through each control device constituting the LAN in the user's home. Even if a control device constituting a LAN such as a user's home is added after the server device is associated with the user identification information, the device identification information is transferred from the control device to the server device. After being transmitted and received by the server device, the user can remotely control the control device by issuing a command to the server device via a portable terminal or the like.

  Further, the group identification information accompanying the device identification information transferred from the LAN side to the network side by the router is a global IP address assigned to the router, and each of the LAN and the network is coupled to each other. When the router receives the device identification information transmitted from the control device in the LAN to the server, the router adds the global IP address assigned to the router, and sends the device identification information via the network. It is good also as having the function to transmit toward the said server.

  Thereby, even if the control device does not hold information common to all the control devices in the same LAN, each LAN can be identified by the global IP address of the router set by the router in the communication data, and Because common information is set in the communication data from all the control devices transferred through the same router, all control devices in the user's home are required without requiring any special input by the administrator or the user. It becomes possible to manage in association.

Further, the transmission means executes the transmission of the device identification information a plurality of times, and each time the reception means receives a set of device identification information and group identification information from the same router, The registration unit may update the registration information by reclassifying the device identification information so as to be associated with the group identification information.
Thereby, even if the global IP address assigned to the router is not fixed but fluctuates, the registration information in the server apparatus can be updated in accordance with the fluctuation.

Further, the control device comprises an acquisition means for acquiring group identification information for distinguishing a control device group in the LAN to which the own device belongs from a control device group in a LAN other than the LAN from the outside of the own device, The transmission unit may transmit the group identification information to the server device in addition to the device identification information.
As a result, information that can identify each LAN is transmitted from any control device in the same LAN to the server device, so that the information can be obtained without any special input by an administrator or the like. By using this, it becomes possible to manage the control devices in the same LAN in association with each other on the server device side, which reduces the burden of registration work for associating the user with the control device. Connected.

The acquisition unit of the control device may acquire the MAC address of the router on the LAN side to which the control device belongs as the group identification information.
Thereby, the control device uses the MAC address of the router as common information that particularly contributes to associating all the control devices in the same LAN, and the MAC address of the router is different for each router in each user's home. User-specific management in the system now functions correctly.

  Each LAN to which each control device belongs includes one reference device, and the reference device includes reference storage means for storing reference identification information for identifying another reference device and its own device. Receiving a request from a control device in the LAN to which the own device belongs, reference transmission means for transmitting reference identification information to the control device, and the acquisition means of the control device provides a reference in the LAN to which the control device belongs. The reference identification information may be acquired as the group identification information by issuing a request to the apparatus.

As a result, the control device uses the reference identification information, for example, the MAC address of the master control device, as common information that particularly contributes to associating all the control devices in the same LAN. Become functional.
In addition, the control device includes a master control device, and the master control device further transmits restriction instruction information for restricting the update time of the registration information to the server device. The receiving means further receives the restriction instruction information, and the registration means updates the restriction instruction information received by the receiving means. Only within a specific time range according to the time restriction, the device identification information received from the other control device in the LAN to which the master control device that is the transmission source of the restriction instruction information belongs to the registration information. It may be reflected.

Thereby, the security as a control system improves compared with the case where registration information can be updated anytime.
In addition, the control device includes a master control device, and the master control device further includes request information for instructing the server device to request a predetermined notification process. And the receiving means further receives the request information, and the server device further includes the registration information when the request information is received by the receiving means. A predetermined notification instruction is sent to each control device identified by all other device identification information associated with the same group identification information as the device identification information of the master control device that is the transmission source of the request information. Notification control means for transmitting may be provided, and the control device may further include notification means for performing predetermined notification when a predetermined notification instruction is received from the server device.

Thereby, it becomes possible for the user or the like to easily confirm whether or not each control device is correctly registered by the predetermined notification.
In addition, the control device includes a receiving unit that receives a control instruction from a server device, and a control unit that controls a device connected to the device according to the received control instruction from the server device, The registration means holds, as the registration information, user identification information for identifying a user of a device in association with each category into which each device identification information is classified, and the server device further includes the registration Based on the registration information held by the means, each device identification information can be selected so that the user identified by the user identification information can select each device identification information in a category associated with the user identification information. A selection means for receiving selection information indicating one or more pieces of device identification information selected by the user from the outside of the device, and the user identification information A command from a user identified based on the user ID is acquired, and according to the command, any one of the device identification information that is device identification information in the category corresponding to the user identification information and indicated by the selection information Remote control means for sending a control instruction to the control device identified by the device identification information may be provided.

As a result, the user can arbitrarily select only a specific one of the plurality of control devices constituting the LAN such as the user's home, and can be determined as a target that can be remotely controlled from the server device.
In addition, the control device according to the present invention is a control device that receives remote control from a server device connected to each control device belonging to each of a plurality of LANs via a network and controls devices connected to the own device. Thus, the storage means for storing the device identification information for identifying the own device from other control devices and the control device group in the LAN to which the own device belongs are distinguished from the control device group in the LAN other than the LAN. Acquisition means for acquiring group identification information from the outside of the apparatus itself, and transmission means for transmitting the apparatus identification information and the group identification information to the server apparatus.

  Thereby, when used in combination with the server device of the control system described above, the server device manages, so that the burden of registration work for associating the user identification information with the control device in the user's home can be reduced. It becomes like this. This is because all control devices in the user's home transmit the same group identification information to the server device, and therefore, the control devices in the same user's home are associated with each other.

  In the control system according to the present invention, each LAN formed by connecting a plurality of control devices including a master control device is connected to a server device for managing information of each control device via each router. A control system configured in combination with a network, wherein the control device includes storage means for storing device identification information for identifying the device itself from other control devices, and a control device other than the master control device Comprises a registration request means for transmitting a registration request accompanied by the device identification information of the own device to the master control device in the LAN to which the own device belongs, and the master control device receives a request from a control device other than the master control device. When receiving a registration request, the server includes a transmission unit that transmits a set of the device identification information of the control device that is the registration request source and the device identification information of the own device to the server device. Receiving means for sequentially receiving a set of device identification information of the master control device and device identification information of a control device other than the master control device, which is transmitted from each master control device via each router; Registration information obtained by classifying the device identification information of each control device other than the master control device according to the device identification information of the corresponding master control device based on each set of information received by the receiving means. And a registration unit for holding.

  Thereby, when each control device other than the master control device in a certain LAN issues a registration request, the device identification information related to the request source and the device identification information of the master control device are transmitted to the server device, Since all other control devices in the LAN are classified as similar by the device identification information of the master control device in the server device, for example, user identification information such as a user ID is classified as device identification information of one control device. If the registration work to be associated is performed only once, as a result, it becomes indirectly associated with the device identification information of all similar control devices, so the load of the registration work is reduced. Mitigation can be achieved.

<Embodiment 1>
Hereinafter, the control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described.
<Control system configuration>
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a control system 10 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
The control system 10 is a system configured by connecting the network 40 to which the server device 20 is connected and the LAN in each user's home via each router in each user's home. The server device 20 that is a computer can be accessed through the network 40 using the terminals 30a and 30b and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in user X's home, a LAN composed of a control device 100a connected to the equipment device 110a and a control device 100b connected to the equipment device 110b is a router for coupling to the network 40. 120a, and in user Y's home, the control device 100c is connected to the equipment 110c, the control device 100d is connected to the equipment 110d, and the control device 100e is connected to the equipment 110e. LAN connected to the router 120b for connection to the network 40. In the figure, reference numerals that are the same in the numeral part and different in only the alphabet part are used for each device and each component that perform substantially the same function from the functional aspect.

Here, the equipment devices 110a and 110b and the like are various devices that can be controlled from the outside by inputting an electrical signal, such as an air conditioner, a floor heating device, an electric shutter, a lighting fixture, and a security camera.
The control devices 100a and 100b and the like are gateway devices having a function of communicating with the server device 20, and include a memory, a microprocessor, various circuits, and the like, and a program stored in the internal memory is executed by the microprocessor or the like. Thus, the function of controlling the equipment 110a, 110b, etc. according to the received command is realized.

When the user accesses and instructs the server device 20 via the portable terminal, the server device 20 transmits a command corresponding to the instruction to the control device installed in the user, and as a result, the equipment Will perform a specific process corresponding to the instruction.
Note that FIG. 1 shows the facilities in the homes of two users, user X and user Y, but in operation of the control system 10, the network 40 includes more than two user homes. It is assumed that each LAN is connected and used.

FIG. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of the control device and the server device of the control system 10. The figure focuses on each device in the user X's home and the server device 20.
As shown in the figure, the server device 20 includes a communication unit 21, a registration unit 22, and a remote control unit 23 as functional components.
Here, the communication unit 21 receives communication data sent from the control device 100a or the like or data sent from the portable terminal 30a or the like by a communication control circuit, and commands for controlling the control device 100a etc. Has a function of transmitting communication data having the contents of

The registration unit 22 has a function of recording registration information in which information for identifying each control device and information for identifying each user are associated with each other on a recording medium such as a hard disk and updating the information as needed.
Further, the remote control unit 23 has a function of transmitting a command to any one of the control devices in the user's home via the communication unit 21 in accordance with an instruction from the user.

Although not particularly shown, the server device 20 also has a function of a normal computer, and includes an input mechanism such as a keyboard, a display device, and the like.
The control device 100a includes a device ID storage unit 101a, a transmission unit 102a, a reception unit 103a, and a device control unit 104a. Similarly, the control device 100b also includes a device ID storage unit 101b, a transmission unit 102b, a reception unit 103b, and a device control unit. 104b.

  Here, the device ID storage unit 101a is a storage area that stores a device ID that is an identifier (ID: Identifier) unique to the control device 100a. This device ID is a MAC address (Media Access Control Address) that is a physical address of Ethernet (registered trademark) individually determined for an Ethernet (registered trademark) card or the like of the control device, and is a device in the control device 100a. The storage content of the ID storage unit 101a does not match the storage content of a device ID storage unit (for example, the device ID storage unit 101b) in another control device.

  The transmission unit 102a has a function of transmitting data to the outside of the control device 100a. The control device 100a uses the transmission unit 102a to send a TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) and IP (IP) to the server device 20 in order to check whether the server device 20 is ready to issue a command indicating a control instruction. Polling is performed by periodically transmitting communication data in a predetermined format according to the Internet Protocol. Each control device is preset with the global IP address of the server device 20.

The accepting unit 103a has a function of receiving communication data transmitted from the server device 20 and transmitting a command to the device control unit 104a.
In addition, the device control unit 104a has a function of controlling the facility device 110a by sending a control electrical signal to the facility device 110a in accordance with the transmitted command.
In addition to the basic functions of the router, the router 120a has a so-called address conversion function that is provided in general routers in recent years. That is, the router 120a performs communication in which the transmission source IP address in the IP header of the communication data transmitted from the control device to the server device 20 is replaced with the global IP address assigned to the network 40 side of the own device. The function of sending data to the network 40 side and the communication data, which is the response content from the server device 20 to the sent communication data, is sent to the own device based on the global IP address. And a function of transmitting data to the control device.

<Data handled by the control system>
Hereinafter, communication data transmitted from each control device to the server device 20 via each router will be described.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a format of communication data transmitted from the control device to the server device 20.

As shown in the figure, the communication data transmitted by the control device is in accordance with TCP and IP, and includes an IP header 310 including a source IP address 301, a TCP header 320, and a communication command as TCP segment data. 330. Further, the communication command 330 includes a device ID 331.
The control device sets its own device ID as the device ID 331 in the communication data. For example, in the control device 100a, the device ID stored in the device ID storage unit 101a is set in the communication data.

  In addition, the control device sets an IP address assigned to the own device, for example, a private IP address, as the transmission source IP address 301 in the communication data, and transmits the communication data. Thereafter, the part of the source IP address 301 is rewritten to the global IP address of the router by the router having the address conversion function, and the communication data is transmitted to the server device 20.

Hereinafter, the registration information recorded by the registration unit 22 of the server device 20 will be described.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a data configuration and example contents of registration information.
The registration information 200 is configured by associating a control device ID 201, a group ID 202, a user ID 203, and user information 204.
Here, the control device ID 201 is information for identifying each control device. The server device 20 acquires the device ID 331 in the communication data received from the control device, and records the device ID as the control device ID 201 in the registration information.

  The group ID 202 is information for identifying a control device group in each user home for each user home. Accordingly, each control device ID for identifying each of a plurality of control devices in the same user's house is associated with one group ID. The server device 20 acquires the transmission source IP address 301 in the communication data set by the router, that is, the global IP address of the router, and uses the transmission source IP address as the group ID in the registration information. It is recorded in association with the control device ID based on the device ID 331 in the middle.

The user ID 203 is user identification information associated with the group ID on a one-to-one basis. Therefore, it can be said that the user ID is associated one-to-one with one control device (hereinafter also referred to as “master control device”) as a representative in the user's home.
The user information 204 is personal information for the user identified by the user ID, such as a password for user authentication, billing information, and an address.

  In the example of FIG. 1, the device ID of the control device 100a in user X in FIG. 1 is 00001C1B6202H, the device ID of the control device 100b is 00001C1E7301H, the global IP address of the router 120a is 85FE050BH, and the user Y In this example, the device ID of the home control device 100c is 00111F1F9200H, the device ID of the control device 100d is 00001C663202H, the device ID of the control device 100e is 00213F371C01H, and the global IP address of the router 120b is 85FE0602H. . It should be noted that the registration of registration information related to the fact that the user of the master control device 100a is the user X and the user of the master control device 100c is the user Y is performed by the administrator of the server device 20 or the like, for example, 00001C1B6202H. Corresponding to the control device ID, a user ID of user X 35962 and a password for user authentication such as A3982 are set in the registration information, and a user ID 48169 corresponding to the control device ID of 00111F1F9200H A user ID of Y and a password such as C5117 are set in the registration information.

<Operation of control device>
Hereinafter, the operation of each control device will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a control process performed by the control device.
Each of the control devices 100a, 100b, etc. executes the control process shown in the figure while operating while receiving power supply. Here, the control process will be described focusing on the control device 100a.

  The control device 100a executes the processing loop in FIG. 5 once, for example, at intervals of 3 minutes, and thereby polls the server device 20 periodically. In other words, the control device 100a generates communication data including the device ID stored in the device ID storage unit 101a in the communication command (see FIG. 3), and the server unit via the router 120a and the like is transmitted by the transmission unit 102a. The communication data is transmitted to 20 (step S11).

  When transmitting the communication data toward the server device 20, the control device 100a includes the global IP address of the server device 20 set in the control device 100a as a transmission destination in the IP header of the communication data. In addition, the communication command in the communication data transmitted in step S11 indicates that the server apparatus 20 asks whether or not it is ready to issue a command indicating a control instruction.

  Further, when communication data is returned from the server device 20 in response to polling, the control device 100a accepts the communication data by the accepting unit 103a, and whether or not the content is an instruction to control the equipment. Only in the case of a control instruction, the device control unit 104b is caused to send an electric signal for control according to the control instruction to the outside to control the equipment device 110a (step S13). ).

<Operation of server device>
Hereinafter, the operation of the server device 20 will be described.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating server processing performed by the server device 20.
The server device 20 determines whether an input related to user registration has been made by an administrator or the like through an input mechanism such as a keyboard (step S21), and determines whether communication data has been received from the control device ( Step S23) Furthermore, it is determined whether or not the user has issued an access request from the mobile terminal or the like (Step S27). These determinations are repeated, and when a positive determination result is obtained, Perform specific processing as shown. Here, the input related to the user registration in step S21 is to input the information for associating the device ID of the master control device with the user ID and user information for the user who has installed the control device in the house. That means. Further, the access request in step S27 is made by transmitting data including the designation of the user ID and password to the server device 20.

If the determination in step S21 is affirmative, the registration unit 22 of the server device 20 associates the device ID of the master control device with the user ID and user information based on the information input through the input mechanism. The registration information (see FIG. 4) is updated (step S22).
If the determination in step S23 is affirmative, the registration unit 22 of the server device 20 includes the device ID in the communication command in the communication data received from the control device via the communication unit 21 and the communication data. The registration information is updated so as to acquire the source IP address in the IP header and associate them with each other (step S24). That is, the registration information is updated with the device ID as the item of the control device ID 201 in the registration information and the transmission source IP address as the group ID 202 in the registration information. However, when the mutual association is already indicated in the registration information, the update of the registration information is omitted.

  Subsequent to step S24, when a communication instruction via a portable terminal or the like from a user recognized as a regular user by user authentication (step S28) described later is received by the communication unit 21 (step S25), remote control is performed. The unit 23 generates communication data in which a command corresponding to the control instruction is set, and transmits the communication data to the control device specified in the control instruction (step S26).

  If the determination in step S27 is affirmative, that is, if it is detected that the user has issued an access request with designation of a user ID and password from the portable terminal or the like, the server device 20 Authentication is performed (step S28). Only when the authentication is successful, the user ID is recognized as a legitimate user, the device ID of the master control device corresponding to the user ID specified in the access request in the registration information, and the master control device The device ID of the other device associated with the same group ID is returned to the user's mobile terminal, etc. The user is prompted for a control instruction (step S29). In the user authentication in step S28, when the user ID specified in the access request and the password match the set of the user ID corresponding to each other in the registration information and the password included in the user information. It is determined that authentication has succeeded only for a limited time.

When a control instruction is transmitted from the user's portable terminal or the like to the server device 20 in response to the prompt from the user in step S29, the control instruction is made by designating one of the control devices. In response to this control instruction, the above-described steps S25 and S26 are executed.
<Specific cooperation of control system>
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation of each control device that performs the above-described operation and the server device 20 will be described based on a specific example.

FIG. 7 is an image diagram showing a cooperative operation between the server device 20 and each control device and router in the user's home.
In this figure, attention is paid to each control device and router in the user X home shown in FIG.
Here, it is assumed that 85FE050AH is assigned as the global IP address to router 120a in user X's home, the assignment is changed later, and 85FE050B is newly assigned as the global IP address.

Hereinafter, the cooperative operation will be described in order along the flow from the top to the bottom of FIG.
The master control device 100a in user X's home has a MAC address of 00001C1B6202H as a device ID, and transmits the device ID when polling. That is, communication data (see FIG. 3) including the device ID is transmitted to the server device 20 according to TCP and IP.

  The communication data sent from the control device 100a arrives at the router 120a, and when the router 120a transfers the communication data to the network 40, the part of the source IP address of the IP header in the communication data is replaced with the router. The address is changed to 85FE050AH to indicate the global IP address on the network 40 side of 120a, and the transfer is performed. As a result, the server device 20 receives the communication data, acquires the device ID and the transmission source IP address from the contents, and registers them so as to reflect them in the registration information as the control device ID and the group ID. Update information.

  Each control device performs polling periodically. FIG. 7 shows an example in which the assignment of the global IP address of the router 120a is changed before the second polling is performed after the master control device 100a performs the first polling in FIG. In the communication data transferred to the server device 20 side by the router 120a in response to the second polling, the transmission source IP address is changed to 85FE050BH. Correspondingly, on the server device 20 side, the set of the device ID and the source IP address in the received communication data is different from the existing one in the registration information. As shown, the registration information is updated.

  Further, FIG. 7 shows an example in which it is assumed that the control device 100b is connected to the LAN in the user X home and starts operating at the time after the master control device 100a performs the second polling in FIG. The control device 100b starts polling, transmits communication data including a device ID of 00001C1E7301H to the server device 20, and the router 120a is currently assigned to itself as the transmission source IP address of the IP header of the communication data. 85FE050BH, which is a global IP address, is set, and communication data is transferred to the network 40 side. In response to this, the server device 20 updates the registration information.

  As a result of the last registration information update shown in FIG. 7, the registration information illustrated in FIG. 4 is obtained. Thus, each communication data transmitted for polling from each control device in user X's home is transmitted to the server device 20 via the same router 120a, and the address conversion function of the router 120a. Thus, since the same value is set as the source IP address in the communication data, on the server device 20 side, the device IDs for identification of all control devices in the user X home are set to the same value. Registration information associated with a value can be created.

Since the global IP address assigned to each router installed in each user's home is different from each other at a certain point in time, it can be used as information that makes it possible to distinguish a user's home LAN from other user's home LANs. it can. Therefore, in the registration information, the value of one group ID associated with each device ID of each control device connected to the LAN in the user X home and each device of each control device connected to the LAN in the other user home The value of one group ID associated with the ID is a different value.
<Embodiment 2>
Hereinafter, the control system 14 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described.

The control system 14 according to the second embodiment is obtained by modifying a part of the control system 10 shown in the first embodiment.
As in the control system 10, the control system 14 is a system configured by connecting a network 40 to which a server device is connected and a LAN in each user's home via each router in each user's home. In the system 14, the LAN in the user's home is configured by connecting one or more control devices, and the control device is also connected to the equipment and is the same as the control system 10 (see FIG. 1). However, in the control system 14, the control device installed in each user's home performs polling by including the MAC address of the router in the home in the communication command portion of the communication data, and in response to this, the server device The registration unit is different from the control system 10 in that the MAC address of the router is registered as a group ID in the registration information.

<Control system configuration>
FIG. 8 is a functional configuration diagram of the control device and the server device of the control system 14 according to the second embodiment.
The figure focuses on each device in the user X's home and the server device 920. Also, among the constituent elements in FIG. 8, the same constituent elements as those shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 2 and the like) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The server device 920 is a partial modification of the server device 20 shown in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the communication device 21, the registration unit 922, and the remote control unit 23 are provided as functional components. Prepare.
Here, the registration unit 922 has a function of recording registration information in which information for identifying each control device and information for identifying each user are associated with each other on a recording medium such as a hard disk and updating the information as needed. Have This registration information has the same data structure as that shown in FIG. However, the registration unit 922 receives the communication data when receiving the polling by the transmission of the communication data from the control device, and receives the device ID of the control device and the MAC address of the router from the communication data. Each has a function of setting as a control device ID and a group ID in the registration information shown in FIG.

Although not particularly shown, the server device 920 also has a function of a normal computer, and includes an input mechanism such as a keyboard, a display device, and the like.
The control device 140a is a partial modification of the control device 100a shown in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the device ID storage unit 101a, the transmission unit 102a, the acquisition unit 141a, the reception unit 103a, and the device Similarly, the control device 140b includes a device ID storage unit 101b, a transmission unit 102b, an acquisition unit 141b, a reception unit 103b, and a device control unit 104b.

Here, the acquisition unit 141a has a function of acquiring the MAC address on the LAN side from the router 120a through the LAN.
The transmission unit 102a has a function of transmitting data to the outside of the control device 140a. In order to check whether the server device 920 is ready to issue a command indicating a control instruction, the control device 140a uses the transmission unit 102a to send the server device 920 in a predetermined format according to TCP and IP. Polling is performed by periodically transmitting communication data.

The format of this communication data is shown in FIG. This communication data differs from the communication data format shown in the first embodiment in that the router MAC address 342 that is the MAC address acquired from the router is stored in the communication command header in the communication command 340.
Each control device is preset with the global IP address of the server device 920.

The control device 140a and the control device 140b are control devices installed in the user X's home, but the internal configuration of each control device installed in another user's home is the same as that of the control device 140a described above. .
<Operation of control device>
Hereinafter, the operation of each control device will be described.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a control process performed by the control device.
Each of the control devices 140a, 140b, etc. executes the control process shown in FIG. Here, the control process will be described focusing on the control device 140a.
The control device 140a is connected to the LAN in the user's home and activated, and then acquires the IP address on the router LAN side assigned by the DHCP server (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol Server), or the router LAN input by the user A router MAC address is acquired by sending an ARP request in accordance with ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) to the LAN by specifying the IP address of the side and sending the ARP request to the LAN (step S41).

  Next, the control device 140a generates communication data including the device ID stored in the device ID storage unit 101a and the router MAC address acquired in step S41 in the communication command (see FIG. 9), and transmits it. The unit 102a transmits the communication data to the server device 920 via the router 120a or the like (step S42). Note that the communication command in the communication data transmitted in step S42 indicates that the server apparatus 920 asks whether it is ready to issue a command indicating a control instruction.

  Further, when communication data is returned from the server device 920 in response to polling, the control device 140a accepts the communication data by the accepting unit 103a, and whether or not the content is an instruction to control the equipment. Only in the case of a control instruction, the device control unit 104b is caused to send an electric signal for control according to the control instruction to the outside to control the equipment device 110a (step S13). ).

Note that the control device 140a executes the processing loop relating to steps S42, S12, and S13 in FIG. 10 once, for example, at intervals of 3 minutes.
<Operation of server device>
The server device 920 basically performs the operation illustrated in FIG. 6 in the same manner as the server device 20 illustrated in the first embodiment. However, in step S24, the received device ID and the source IP address are not associated with the control device ID and the group ID in the registration information, respectively, but the received device ID and the router MAC address are included in the registration information. Are associated with each other as a group ID.

<Cooperation of control system>
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation of each control device that performs the above-described operation and the server device 920 will be described.
FIG. 11 is an image diagram showing a cooperative operation between the server device 920 and each control device and router in the user's home.

This figure focuses on the control device 140a, control device 140b, and router in the user X home.
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation will be described in order along the flow from the top to the bottom of FIG.
The master control device 140a in user X's home transmits an ARP request to the router 120a, acquires a router MAC address as a reply, and then transmits the router MAC address and device ID to perform polling. That is, communication data (see FIG. 9) including the device ID and the router MAC address is transmitted to the server device 920 according to TCP and IP.

  The communication data transmitted from the control device 140a is transferred to the network 40 side via the router 120a and finally reaches the server device 920. As a result, the server device 920 receives the communication data, acquires the device ID and the router MAC address from the contents, and reflects these in the registration information as the control device ID and the group ID. Update.

  Similarly to the control device 140a, the control device 140b transmits an ARP request to the router 120a, acquires the router MAC address as a reply, and then transmits the router MAC address and the device ID for polling. Do. At this time, the same router MAC address as the router MAC address transmitted to the server device 920 at the time of polling by the control device 140a in the same LAN is transmitted.

  The communication data transmitted from the control device 140b is transferred to the network 40 side via the router 120a and finally reaches the server device 920. As a result, the server device 920 receives the communication data, acquires the device ID and the router MAC address from the contents, and reflects these in the registration information as the control device ID and the group ID. Update. As a result of this update, the registration information is in a state in which both the control device ID for identification of the control device 140a and the control device ID for identification of the control device 140b are associated with the group ID having the same value. .

Note that when polling is performed again from the control device 140a, the server device 920 side receives a set of the device ID and the router MAC address already reflected in the registration information. Update of is omitted.
Since the MAC address predetermined for each router installed in each user's home is different from each other, it can be used as information that makes it possible to distinguish the LAN in the user's home from the LAN in another user's home. Therefore, in the registration information, the value of one group ID associated with each device ID of each control device connected to the LAN in the user X home and each device of each control device connected to the LAN in the other user home The value of one group ID associated with the ID is surely a different value.
<Embodiment 3>
Hereinafter, the control system 15 according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described.

A control system 15 according to the third embodiment is obtained by modifying a part of the control system 14 shown in the second embodiment.
The control system 15 is a system configured by connecting the network 40 to which the server device 920 is connected and the LAN in each user's home via each router in each user's home, similarly to the control system 14, In the control system 15, the LAN in the user's home is configured by connecting one or more control devices, and the control device is the same as the control system 14 in that it is connected to the equipment. However, in the control system 15, the control device installed in each user's home includes the device ID of the master control device in the home (hereinafter also referred to as “master device ID”) in the communication command portion of the communication data. Polling is performed, and in response thereto, the registration unit of the server device is different from the control system 14 in that the master device ID is registered as a group ID in the registration information.

For this reason, among the control devices, the master control device and other control devices have slightly different configurations.
<Control system configuration>
FIG. 12 is a functional configuration diagram of the control device and the server device of the control system 15 according to the third embodiment.

The figure focuses on each device in the user X's home and the server device 920. In addition, among the constituent elements in FIG. 12, the same constituent elements as those shown in the first or second embodiment (FIG. 2, FIG. 8, etc.) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be made. Description is omitted.
The registration unit 922 of the server device 920 records registration information in which information for identifying each control device and information for identifying each user are associated with each other on a recording medium such as a hard disk, and updates the information as needed. It has a function. This registration information has the same data structure as that shown in FIG. However, the registration unit 922 receives the communication data when receiving the polling by the transmission of the communication data from the control device, receives the device ID of the control device and the master device ID from the communication data, Each has a function of setting as a control device ID and a group ID in the registration information shown in FIG.

  The master control device 150 is one of the control devices in the LAN, and includes a device ID storage unit 101a, a transmission unit 102a, a reception unit 103a, and a device control unit 104a, and a device ID return request from another control device. Is transmitted, the device ID stored in the device ID storage unit 101a of the own device is returned to the control device that is the data transmission source.

The control device 160 other than the master control device includes a device ID storage unit 101b, a transmission unit 102b, an acquisition unit 161, a reception unit 103b, and a device control unit 104b.
Here, the transmission unit 102 a has a function of transmitting data to the outside of the control device 160. The control device 160 has a function of transmitting, that is, broadcasting data indicating a device ID reply request to all devices in the LAN through the transmission unit 102a.

The acquisition unit 161 has a function of acquiring the device ID returned by the master control device 150 in response to the data broadcast indicating the device ID reply request.
In addition, the control device 160 uses the transmission unit 102a to send the server device 920 to the server device 920 according to TCP and IP in order to check whether the server device 920 is ready to issue a command indicating a control instruction. Polling is performed by periodically transmitting communication data in the format.

  The format of this communication data is shown in FIG. This communication data is different from the communication data format shown in the second embodiment in that the communication command header in the communication command 350 includes a master device ID 352 that is a device ID acquired from the master control device. The control device 150 uses the device ID of its own device as the device ID in the communication data for polling and the master device ID.

  The master control device 150 is a control device installed in the user X's home, but the internal configuration of each master control device installed in each other user's home also includes the master control device 150 described above. It is the same. The control device 160 is a control device installed in the user X's home, but the internal configuration of one or more control devices other than the master control device installed in each other user's home also includes the above-described control. Similar to the device 160.

<Operation of control device>
Hereinafter, the operation of the control device 160 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a control process performed by the control device 160.
The control device 160 executes the control processing shown in the figure while operating with the supply of power.

Since the control device 160 is connected to the LAN in the user's home and is activated, the control device 160 broadcasts data indicating a device ID reply request to the LAN, and the master control device transmits the device ID in response thereto. Is received to acquire a master control ID (step S51).
Next, the control device 150 generates communication data including the device ID stored in the device ID storage unit 101a and the master device ID acquired in step S51 in the communication command (see FIG. 13) and transmits the communication data. The unit 102a transmits the communication data to the server device 920 via the router 120a or the like (step S52). Note that the communication command in the communication data transmitted in step S52 indicates that the server apparatus 920 asks whether it is ready to issue a command indicating a control instruction.

  Further, when communication data is returned from the server device 920 in response to polling, the control device 150 accepts the communication data by the accepting unit 103a, and whether or not the content is a control instruction for the equipment. Only in the case of a control instruction, the device control unit 104b is caused to send an electric signal for control according to the control instruction to the outside to control the equipment device 110a (step S13). ).

Note that the control device 150 executes the processing loop relating to steps S52, S12, and S13 in FIG. 13 once, for example, at intervals of 3 minutes.
The master control device 150 also performs the operation shown in FIG. 14 except that it does not perform step S51 and performs polling with communication data that does not include a device ID of a device other than its own device.

<Operation of server device>
The server device 920 basically performs the operation shown in FIG. However, in step S24, the received device ID and the source IP address are not associated with the control device ID and the group ID in the registration information, but the received device ID and the master device ID are included in the registration information. Are associated with each other as a group ID.

<Cooperation of control system>
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation of each control device that performs the above-described operation and the server device 920 will be described.
FIG. 15 is an image diagram showing a cooperative operation between the server device 920 and each control device and router in the user's home.

This figure focuses on the control device 150, the control device 160, and the router in the user X home.
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation will be described in order along the flow from the top to the bottom of FIG.
Master control device 150 in user X's home transmits communication data including the device ID of the device itself to server device 920 in accordance with TCP and IP. The communication data sent from the master control device 150 is transferred to the network 40 side via the router 120a and finally reaches the server device 920. As a result, the server device 920 receives the communication data, acquires the master device ID from the contents, and updates the registration information using this as the control device ID and the group ID.

Next, the control device 160 broadcasts a device ID reply request within the LAN. In response to this, the master control device 150 returns a master device ID.
Subsequently, the control device 160 acquires the master device ID sent from the master control device 150, transmits the master device ID and the device ID, and performs polling. That is, communication data (see FIG. 13) including the device ID of the device itself and the master device ID is transmitted to the server device 920 according to TCP and IP.

  The communication data transmitted from the control device 160 is transferred to the network 40 side via the router 120a and finally reaches the server device 920. As a result, the server device 920 receives the communication data, acquires the device ID and the master device ID from the contents, and reflects these in the registration information as the control device ID and the group ID. Update. As a result of this update, the registration information is in a state in which both the control device ID for identification of the control device 150 and the control device ID for identification of the control device 160 are associated with a group ID having the same value. .

Since the device ID of the master control device installed in each user's home, that is, the MAC address of the master control device is different from each other, it can be used as information that makes it possible to distinguish the LAN in the user home from the LAN in other user homes. it can. Therefore, in the registration information, the value of one group ID associated with each device ID of each control device connected to the LAN in the user X home and each device of each control device connected to the LAN in the other user home The value of one group ID associated with the ID is surely a different value.
<Embodiment 4>
Hereinafter, the control system 16 according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described.

The control system 16 according to the fourth embodiment is obtained by modifying a part of the control system 10 shown in the first embodiment.
The control system 16 is a system configured by connecting the network 40 to which the server device is connected and the LAN in each user's home via each router in each user's home, as in the control system 10, and also the control system 16 In the system 16, the LAN in the user's home is configured by connecting one or more control devices, and the control device is also connected to the equipment and is similar to the control system 10 (see FIG. 1). However, in the control system 16, the master control device, which is one of the control devices installed in each user's home, designates a period during which registration information is allowed to be updated with respect to the server apparatus and limits the period. Communication data including a communication command to that effect is transmitted, and in response to this, the server apparatus side is different from the control system 10 in that the registration information is updated only within the designated period.

<Control system configuration>
FIG. 16 is a functional configuration diagram of the control device and the server device of the control system 16 according to the fourth embodiment.
The drawing shows the devices in user Y's home, that is, the master control device 400, the control devices 100d and 100e, the equipment 110c to 110e, the router 120b, and the server device 420. In addition, among the constituent elements in FIG. 16, the same constituent elements as those shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 2 and the like) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The server device 420 is a partial modification of the server device 20 shown in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the communication unit 21, the registration unit 422, and the remote control unit 23 are provided as functional components. Prepare.
Here, the registration unit 422 includes a registration availability determination unit 425 that determines whether to permit or prohibit recording or updating of registration information, and only when the registration availability determination unit 425 permits recording or updating, such as a hard disk or the like. The recording information is recorded or updated on the recording medium. This registration information has the same data structure as that shown in FIG.

Although not particularly illustrated, the server device 420 also has a function of a normal computer, and includes an input mechanism such as a keyboard, a display device, and the like.
The control device 400 is a partial modification of the control device 100c equivalent to the control device 100a shown in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, the device ID storage unit 101c, the transmission unit 102c, and the registration period designation A unit 405, a reception unit 103c, and a device control unit 104c.

  The registration period designating unit 405 stores registration period information whose content is, for example, 30 minutes, and has a function of transmitting the registration period information to the transmission unit 102c. The master control device 400 transmits the registration period information from the registration period specifying unit 405 to the transmission unit 102c, and causes the transmission unit 102c to include the registration period information in the communication command in the communication data, and The communication data is transmitted to the destination.

<Cooperation of control system>
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation of each control device that performs the above-described operation and the server device 420 will be described.
FIG. 17 is an image diagram showing a cooperative operation between the server device 420 and each control device and router in the user's home.

In the figure, attention is paid to each control device and router in user Y's home.
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation will be described in order along the flow from the top to the bottom of FIG.
The master control device 400 in the user Y home transmits, for example, communication data including registration period information indicating 30 minutes or the like and a device ID to the server device 420 according to TCP or IP.
The communication data sent from the master control device 400 reaches the router 120b, and when the router 120b transfers the communication data to the network 40, the transmission source IP address portion of the IP header in the communication data is The change is made to indicate the global IP address of the router 120b on the network 40 side, and the transfer is performed. As a result, the server apparatus 420 receives the communication data, sets the time indicated by the registration period information in the received communication data to the timer by the registration availability determination unit 425, and until the time elapses. The registration information update is permitted, and after the elapse of time, the determination regarding the permission and the prohibition is performed so as to prohibit the update of the registration information. This determination regarding permission and prohibition is made every time communication data is received from each control device in the LAN identified by the transmission source IP address included in the communication data from the master control device 400.

Further, the server device 420 acquires the device ID and the transmission source IP address in the communication data received from the master control device 400, and registers them so as to reflect them in the registration information as the control device ID and the group ID. Update information.
Subsequently, when it is described that polling is performed from the control device 100d before the time set in the above-described timer elapses, in this case, the server device 420 receives communication data from the control device 100d. Then, the device ID and the transmission source IP address assigned by the router 120b are acquired from the contents, and the registration information is updated so that these are reflected in the registration information as the control device ID and the group ID.

Subsequently, when it is described that polling has been performed from the control device 100e after the time set in the timer has elapsed, in this case, the registration permission determination unit 425 prohibits the update of the registration information, and thus the server device 420. Does not update the registration information based on the communication data from the control device 100e.
Thereby, since the registration work related to each control device other than the master control device installed in each user's home is performed only within a limited time, an improvement in security can be expected. For example, a situation may occur in which a registered control device is replaced with an unauthorized control device at a certain time after a certain period of time when registration information is permitted to be updated, and control of equipment is executed illegally. The possibility of prevention increases.
<Embodiment 5>
Hereinafter, the control system 17 according to Embodiment 5 of the present invention will be described.

A control system 17 according to the fifth embodiment is obtained by modifying a part of the control system 10 shown in the first embodiment.
The control system 17 is a system configured by connecting the network 40 to which the server device is connected and the LAN in each user's home via each router in each user's home, as in the control system 10. In the system 17, the LAN in the user's home is configured by connecting one or more control devices, and the control device is also connected to the equipment, and is the same as the control system 10 (see FIG. 1). However, in the control system 17, a master control device that is one of the control devices installed in each user's home requests a communication command (hereinafter referred to as "notification request") that requests a predetermined notification process to the server device. In response to this, the server apparatus responds to a predetermined notification process, that is, all the controls belonging to the same LAN as the master control apparatus and registered in the server apparatus. The control system 10 is different from the control system 10 in that a notification instruction is transmitted to the apparatus, and each control apparatus that receives the notification instruction performs predetermined notification.

<Control system configuration>
FIG. 18 is a functional configuration diagram of the control device and the server device of the control system 17 according to the fifth embodiment.
The figure focuses on each device in user Y's home, that is, master control device 500, control devices 600d and 600e, equipment devices 110c to 110e, router 120b, and server device 520. In addition, among the constituent elements in FIG. 18, the same constituent elements as those shown in the first embodiment (FIG. 2 and the like) are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The server device 520 is a partial modification of the server device 20 shown in the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 18, the functional components include a communication unit 21, a registration unit 22, a remote control unit 23, and A notification corresponding unit 521 is provided.
Here, the notification handling unit 521 has a function of performing a predetermined notification process when communication data including a notification request command is received from each master control device via the communication unit 21. This predetermined notification process searches for registration information based on the device ID in the received communication data, and extracts all device IDs associated with the same group ID as the device ID in the registration information. In this process, a command indicating a notification instruction is returned to each control device identified by each extracted device ID when polling is received from the control device side.

Although not particularly shown, the server device 520 also has a function of a normal computer, and includes an input mechanism such as a keyboard, a display device, and the like.
The control device 500 is a partial modification of the control device 100c shown in the first embodiment, etc. As shown in FIG. 18, the device ID storage unit 101c, the transmission unit 102c, the notification unit 501, the reception unit 103c, A device control unit 104c is provided.

The notification unit 501 is notified that the command indicating the notification instruction from the server device 520 is received by the reception unit 103c, and triggered by the transmission, the predetermined light emitting member provided in the master control device 500 is notified. It has a function of controlling to start light emission. The predetermined light emitting member is, for example, a light emitting diode, and emits red light, for example.
The control device 600d is a partial modification of the control device 100d. As shown in FIG. 18, the control device 600d includes a device ID storage unit 101d, a transmission unit 102d, a notification unit 601, a reception unit 103d, and a device control unit 104d. The controller 600e basically has the same configuration.

Here, the notification unit 601 has a function equivalent to that of the notification unit 501 in the master control device 500. That is, the reception unit 103d is notified that the command indicating the notification instruction from the server device 520 is received, and the predetermined issuing member provided in the control device 600d starts to emit light when triggered by the reception. It has a function to control.
<Cooperation of control system>
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation of each control device and the server device 520 that perform the above-described operations will be described.

FIG. 19 is an image diagram showing a cooperative operation between the server device 520 and each control device and router in the user's home.
The figure focuses on each control device and router in the user Y's home.
Hereinafter, the cooperative operation will be described in order along the flow from the top to the bottom of FIG.
After registration in server device 520 regarding each control device in user Y's home is completed, master control device 500 transmits a notification request command to server device 520.

Correspondingly, in the server device 520, the notification corresponding unit 521 refers to the registration information and identifies all control devices belonging to the same LAN as the master control device 500.
Thereafter, when polling is performed from each specified control device, the server device 520 returns a command indicating a notification instruction to the control device, and in response to the notification instruction command, a notification unit of each control device. Performs light emission control of the light emitting member, and notification is realized in each control device. In FIG. 19, the polling from each control device is not shown.

Thereby, since all the control devices including the master control device installed in the user Y home and registered in the server device 520 emit the predetermined light emitting member, the user Y emits the light emission. By confirming, it becomes possible to confirm which control device has been registered.
<Embodiment 6>
Hereinafter, a control system according to Embodiment 6 of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as “registration confirmation type control system”) will be described.

  The registration confirmation type control system according to the sixth embodiment is a modification of the processing content of the server device 20 in the control system 10 shown in the first embodiment, and the information related to each control device is transferred to the server device side. Registration is a system in which registration information is first generated and updated as provisional registration, and then handled as main registration after the user confirms it. In this system, the user can make only the control device for which the main registration has been made the target of remote control via the server device.

Hereinafter, server processing performed by the server device in the registration confirmation type control system will be described.
FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing server processing according to the registration confirmation type control system. Note that the server process related to the registration confirmation type control system is a partly modified server process (see FIG. 6) shown in the first embodiment, and the same processing contents are denoted by the same reference numerals in FIG. ing.

  The server device determines whether an input relating to user registration has been made by an administrator or the like through an input mechanism such as a keyboard (step S21), and determines whether communication data has been received from the control device (step S21). S23) Furthermore, it is determined whether or not an access request is issued from the portable terminal or the like by the user (step S27), and when these determinations are repeated and an affirmative determination result is obtained, each of the following is shown: Perform specific processing.

If the determination in step S21 is affirmative, the server device updates the registration information (see FIG. 4) so as to associate the device ID of the master control device with the user ID and user information (step S22).
When the determination in step S23 is affirmative, the registration unit 22 of the server device transmits the device ID in the communication command in the communication data received from the control device via the communication unit 21 and the IP in the communication data. The source IP address in the header is acquired, and the registration information is updated and provisionally registered so as to correlate them with each other (step S71). That is, the registration information is updated with the device ID as the item of the control device ID 201 in the registration information and the transmission source IP address as the group ID 202 in the registration information. However, when the mutual association is already indicated in the registration information, the update of the registration information is omitted.

In order to indicate temporary registration, a temporary registration flag indicating temporary registration is provided for each control device in the registration information, and the temporary registration flag is turned on at the time of temporary registration. The master control device is treated as being fully registered by updating the registration information in step S22.
Subsequent to step S <b> 71, when the communication unit 21 receives a control instruction from a user who is recognized as a legitimate user by user authentication (step S <b> 28) for the registered control device. In step S72, the remote control unit 23 generates communication data in which a command corresponding to the control instruction is set, and transmits the communication data to the control device specified in the control instruction (step S26).

  If the determination in step S27 is affirmative, that is, if it is detected that an access request is issued from the portable terminal or the like with the user ID and password specified, the server device performs user authentication. (Step S28), only when the authentication is successful, the user is recognized as a regular user and is associated with the same group ID as the device ID of the master control device corresponding to the user ID specified in the access request in the registration information. It is determined whether or not the main registration has been completed by determining whether or not there is a device whose temporary registration flag is turned on among the device IDs of all other control devices that have been registered (step S73). .

  If there is a temporary registration flag turned on, it is determined that the registration has not been completed, and the server device assigns a group ID corresponding to the user ID to all control devices other than the corresponding master control device. The device ID is returned as data indicating the provisional registration contents to the user's portable terminal or the like, and the server device communicates with the portable terminal or the like, so that the user selects the control device to be the main registration target. In response, the selected device ID is fully registered (step S74). That is, the temporary registration flag for the selected device ID is turned off, and the information regarding the device ID is deleted from the registration information for the device ID that has not been selected.

FIG. 21 shows an example of a screen displayed on the user's portable terminal or the like based on the data indicating the provisional registration contents in step S74. For example, the user selects a control device to be registered in the check boxes 801 and 802 and then presses down the main registration button 803, so that the control device to be registered in the server device via the portable terminal or the like can be selected. Notification will be made.
Subsequently, data indicating device IDs of all the registered control devices associated with the same group ID as the device ID of the master control device corresponding to the user ID specified in the access request in the registration information. To the user's portable terminal or the like, and prompts the user to give a control instruction to one of the control devices (step S75). When a control instruction is transmitted from the user's portable terminal or the like to the server device in response to the prompt from the user in step S29, the control instruction is made by designating one of the control devices. Steps S72 and S26 described above are executed according to the control instruction.

<Supplement>
The control system according to the present invention has been described based on the first to sixth embodiments. However, the control system can be modified as follows, and the present invention is not limited to the control system shown in the above-described embodiment. It is.
(1) In the above-described embodiment, the user performs remote control via the mobile terminal and the server device via the control device in the user's house, but the facility device outputs information such as a sensor. In the case of a possible device, information output by the facility device may be transmitted from the control device to the server device and finally transmitted to the user's mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be a so-called mobile phone, and the user is not limited to the mobile terminal, and may access the server device via a stationary personal computer or the like.

  (2) In the above-described embodiment, the control device in each user's home polls the server device. However, the server device acquires the global IP address assigned to the control device by some method. In addition, without polling, a command indicating control content may be transmitted to the control device when control is required from the server device. However, even in this case, the control device transmits communication data as shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 9 or FIG. It is necessary to.

(3) In the above-described embodiment, communication is performed between the control device and the server device using TCP. However, for example, the communication command illustrated in FIG. 3 is transmitted using User Datagram Protocol (UDP). You may do it.
(4) In the above-described embodiment, the device control unit in the control device transmits an electrical signal for device control to the facility device in accordance with the command transmitted from the server device side. The power supply to the equipment may be controlled by controlling a switch on the power supply line to the equipment, and the equipment control unit only needs to control the operation of the equipment as a result.

(5) The processing procedure (see FIG. 6 and the like) of the server device shown in the above-described embodiment is merely an example, and a partial change in processing content, a change in processing order, or the like may be performed. For example, when a user accesses a server device, user authentication using a password is performed. However, user authentication is not necessarily performed.
(6) In the above-described embodiment, the device ID of the control device is a MAC address. However, the device ID is not necessarily limited to this, and may be a value assigned in advance so that each control device can be identified. It's enough.

(7) In the above-described embodiment, the server device includes the keyboard and the display device. However, the server device does not have to be provided. In this case, the administrator can perform registration work via the network. Alternatively, the registration operation may be performed by mounting a recording medium in which registration information is recorded in advance on the server device.
(8) In the above-described embodiment, the router has an address translation function. However, in the control systems shown in the second and third embodiments, the router may not have the address translation function.

  (9) In Embodiment 4 described above, the master control device transmits registration period information indicating the length of time, such as 30 minutes, to the server device. For example, the master control device updates the registration information. The server device is notified of the start or end of the request twice, at the start time of the permission period and at the end time of the permission period, and in response to this, the registration permission determination unit 425 of the server device starts. The update of the registration information may be permitted only during the period from the start to the end, and the update of the registration information may be prohibited at other times.

  (10) Although the above-described Embodiments 4, 5, and 6 are all modified from the control system 10 shown in Embodiment 1, the control device and server device shown in Embodiment 2 or 3 are included. You may combine with a control system. That is, in the fourth, fifth, and sixth embodiments, a method that uses the device ID of the master device as the group ID in the registration information or a method that uses the MAC address of the router as the group ID may be adopted.

  (11) In the third embodiment described above, each control device in each user's home obtains a master device ID from the master control device, and transmits it to the server device by including it in the communication command portion of the communication data. However, the control device transmits a registration request accompanied by the device ID of the own device to the master control device, and in response to this, the master control device combines the transmitted device ID and the master device ID of the own device to form a server device. To the server device of the registration request source control device may be requested. That is, the transmission source of the set of the device ID of the control device and the master device ID of the master control device is not limited to the control device, and the master control device may be the transmission source.

  (12) A computer program for causing the processor of the control device to execute the control processing (see FIGS. 10 and 14) shown in the above-described Embodiments 2 and 3 is recorded on a recording medium or via various communication paths. It can also be distributed and distributed. Examples of such a recording medium include a flash memory, an IC card, an optical disk, a flexible disk, and a ROM. The computer program distributed and distributed is used by being stored in a memory of a device having a hardware configuration necessary for the control device, and the device executes the computer program in the second or third embodiment. The control device shown is realized.

It is a lineblock diagram of control system 10 concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. 2 is a functional configuration diagram of a control device and a server device of the control system 10. FIG. It is a figure which shows the format of the communication data transmitted toward the server apparatus 20 from a control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the data structure and content example of registration information. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing which a control apparatus performs. 4 is a flowchart illustrating server processing performed by the server device 20. It is an image figure which shows the cooperation operation | movement with the server apparatus 20, each control apparatus in a user's house, and a router. It is a functional block diagram of the control apparatus and server apparatus of the control system 14 which concern on Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a figure which shows the format of communication data. It is a flowchart which shows the control processing which a control apparatus performs. It is an image figure which shows cooperation operation | movement with the server apparatus 920, each control apparatus in a user's house, and a router. It is a function block diagram of the control apparatus and server apparatus of the control system 15 which concern on Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the format of communication data. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a control process performed by a control device 160. It is an image figure which shows cooperation operation | movement with the server apparatus 920, each control apparatus in a user's house, and a router. It is a function block diagram of the control apparatus and server apparatus of the control system 16 which concern on Embodiment 4. It is an image figure which shows the cooperation operation | movement with the server apparatus 420, each control apparatus in a user's house, and a router. FIG. 10 is a functional configuration diagram of a control device and a server device of a control system 17 according to a fifth embodiment. It is an image figure which shows cooperation operation | movement with the server apparatus 520, each control apparatus in a user's house, and a router. It is a flowchart which shows the server process which concerns on a registration confirmation type | mold control system. It is a figure which shows the example of a screen displayed on a user's portable terminal etc. based on the data which show provisional registration content.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Control system 20 Server apparatus 21 Communication part 22 Registration part 23 Remote control part 30a, 30b Portable terminal 40 Network 100a-100e Control apparatus 101a Device ID memory | storage part 102a Transmission part 103a Reception part 104a Equipment control part 110a-110e Equipment 120a, 120b router

Claims (13)

Each of the LANs connected to a plurality of control devices is a control system configured in combination with a network to which a server device for managing information of each control device is connected via each router,
The controller is
Storage means for storing device identification information for identifying the device itself from other control devices;
Transmission means for transmitting the device identification information to the server device,
Based on the device identification information transmitted from the LAN side, the device identification information transferred by the router to the network side includes a control device group in the LAN different from the LAN. With group identification information to distinguish it from
The server device
Receiving means for sequentially receiving a set of device identification information and group identification information transmitted from each router;
A control system comprising: registration means for holding registration information that is obtained by classifying each device identification information according to corresponding group identification information based on each set of information received by the receiving means. The controller is
Receiving means for receiving a control instruction from the server device;
In response to a control instruction received from the server device, the control device controls the device connected to the device,
The registration unit holds, as the registration information, user identification information for identifying a user of the control device in association with each category into which each device identification information is classified,
The server device
A command from a user identified based on the user identification information is acquired, and a control is performed on a control device identified by any device identification information in a category corresponding to the user identification information according to the command. The control system according to claim 1, further comprising remote control means for sending an instruction. The group identification information accompanying the device identification information transferred from the LAN side to the network side by the router is a global IP address assigned to the router,
Each router that connects each LAN and the network includes:
When device identification information transmitted from the control device in the LAN to the server is received, a global IP address assigned to the router is added, and the device identification information is sent to the server via the network. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the control system has a function of transmitting toward the terminal. The transmission means performs the transmission of the device identification information a plurality of times,
Each time the receiving unit receives a set of device identification information and group identification information from the same router, the registration unit reclassifies the device identification information so as to be associated with the group identification information. The control system according to claim 3, wherein the registration information is updated. The controller is
An acquisition means for acquiring group identification information for distinguishing a control device group in a LAN to which the own device belongs from a control device group in a LAN other than the LAN;
The control system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission unit transmits the group identification information to the server device in addition to the device identification information. The control system according to claim 5, wherein the acquisition unit of the control device acquires a MAC address of a router on a LAN side to which the control device belongs as the group identification information. Each LAN to which each control device belongs includes one reference device,
The reference device is
Reference storage means for storing reference identification information for identifying another reference device and its own device;
When receiving a request from a control device in the LAN to which the device belongs, a reference transmission means for transmitting reference identification information to the control device,
The control system according to claim 5, wherein the acquisition unit of the control device acquires reference identification information as the group identification information by issuing a request to a reference device in a LAN to which the control device belongs. Among the control devices, a master control device is included,
The master control device further includes restriction means for sending restriction instruction information for restricting the update time of the registration information to the server device with the device identification information of the device itself,
The receiving means further receives the restriction instruction information,
The registration means is provided within the LAN to which the master control device that is the transmission source of the restriction instruction information belongs, only within a specific time range according to the update time restriction indicated in the restriction instruction information received by the reception means. The control system according to claim 1, wherein device identification information received from another control device is reflected in the registration information. Among the control devices, a master control device is included,
The master control device further comprises request means for transmitting request information for instructing a request for predetermined notification processing to the server device, with the device identification information of the device itself,
The receiving means further receives the request information,
Further, when the request information is received by the receiving unit, the server device is associated with the same group identification information as the device identification information of the master control device that is the transmission source of the request information in the registration information. A notification instruction means for transmitting a predetermined notification instruction to each control device identified by each of all other device identification information;
The control device further includes:
The control system according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit configured to perform a predetermined notification when a predetermined notification instruction is received from the server device. The controller is
Receiving means for receiving a control instruction from the server device;
In response to a control instruction received from the server device, the control device controls the device connected to the device,
The registration unit holds, as the registration information, user identification information for identifying a user of a device in association with each classification into which each device identification information is classified,
The server device further includes:
Each of the devices so that the device identification information associated with the user identification information can be selected for the user identified by the user identification information based on the registration information held by the registration means. A selection means for receiving from the outside of the own device selection information indicating one or more pieces of device identification information selected by the user after sending the identification information to the outside of the own device;
A command from a user identified based on the user identification information is acquired, and in response to the command, device identification information in a category corresponding to the user identification information and device identification information indicated by the selection information 6. The control according to claim 1, further comprising remote control means for sending a control instruction to a control device identified by any one of the device identification information. system. A control device that receives remote control from a server device connected to each control device belonging to each of a plurality of LANs via a network, and controls devices connected to the device,
Storage means for storing device identification information for identifying the device itself from other control devices;
An acquisition means for acquiring group identification information for distinguishing a control device group in a LAN to which the own device belongs from a control device group in a LAN other than the LAN;
A control device comprising: transmission means for transmitting the device identification information and the group identification information to the server device. For receiving remote control from a server device connected to each control device belonging to each of a plurality of LANs via a network, controlling a device connected to the own device, and identifying the own device from other control devices A program for causing a control device that stores device identification information in its own device to perform predetermined processing,
The predetermined process is:
An acquisition step of acquiring from the outside of the control device group identification information for distinguishing a control device group in the LAN to which the control device belongs from a control device group in a LAN other than the LAN;
A program comprising: a transmission step of transmitting the device identification information and the group identification information to the server device. A control system configured by connecting each of a plurality of control devices including a master control device to a network to which a server device for managing information of each control device is connected via each router. Because
The control device comprises storage means for storing device identification information for identifying the device itself from other control devices,
The control device other than the master control device includes a registration request means for transmitting a registration request accompanied by the device identification information of the own device to the master control device in the LAN to which the own device belongs.
When the master control device receives a registration request from a control device other than the master control device, the master control device sends a set of the device identification information of the control device that is the registration request source and the device identification information of the self device to the server device. A transmission means for transmitting,
The server device
Receiving means for sequentially receiving a set of device identification information of the master control device and device identification information of a control device other than the master control device transmitted from each master control device via each router;
Registration information obtained by classifying the device identification information of each control device other than the master control device according to the device identification information of the corresponding master control device based on each set of information received by the receiving means. And a registration means for holding the control system.

Images