JP2008072588A - Information remote control system and program therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem that when connection setting is unexpectedly destroyed, it can not be recovered as before. <P>SOLUTION: An information remote control system can be configured so that when changing setting by a network setting means 106, only network setting of which connection can be confirmed by a server connection confirming means 115 is backed up by a network setting backup/restore means 116, so that when it becomes necessary to restore network setting, secure network setting having a result of connection with a server can be restored. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an information remote control system having a function of acquiring and processing information such as news, weather forecast, and accurate time from a server in addition to a remote control function of a device, and a program thereof.

  An example of an information remote control system conventionally used (for example, see Patent Document 1) will be described with reference to FIG.

  In FIG. 7, 701 is a server, 702 is information providing means, 703 is server control means, 704 is information remote control, 705 is network setting means, 706 is device operation means, 707 is information acquisition / processing means, and 708 is display / input. Means 709, information remote controller control means, 710, equipment, 711, equipment function providing means, 712, equipment control means, and 713, the Internet.

  In order to acquire information from the server 701 through the Internet 713 when the information remote controller 704 is installed, network setting is performed using the network setting unit 705 under the management of the information remote controller control unit 709.

  When the user gives an information display instruction from the display / input unit 708, the information acquisition / processing unit 707 acquires / processes information from the information providing unit 702 through the server control unit 703 of the server 701, and the display / input unit 708. Display information.

When the user gives a device operation instruction from the display / input unit 708, the device operation unit 706 transmits the instruction to the device control unit 712 through the information remote controller control unit 709, and the device function providing unit 711 transmits the user's intention. The device function is provided (for example, when the device 710 is a hot water supply device, the supply of hot water at a set temperature or the automatic filling of a bath).
JP 2004-356696 A

  The conventional information remote control system and the information remote control have the following problems, which are not considered or described in the conventional patent literature.

  Remote controls for devices that are frequently used, such as water heaters, are often placed at easy-to-operate positions in the living room or kitchen, and in addition to the single function of the device remote control, a complex function such as information browsing is expected. Is done. However, in order to provide the information browsing function, it is necessary to perform network setting in addition to the device setting as the device remote controller.

  In general, when performing a setting operation of a remote controller having a composite function, it is natural that only the setting that should be performed is performed without touching a setting item that is unknown to the user. However, the skills and feelings of the setting workers are various, and the setting information in the dark cloud will destroy the device information, network connection information, and authentication information for connecting to the server once set correctly Often occurs.

In such a case, the installation operator is aware that the setting has been broken because the setting of the device does not match the state of the site or the information cannot be viewed by connecting to the network. Since I don't know how to set it, I tried to do it a few more times, which broke the setting and was troubled.

  Under these circumstances, it is easy to imagine that the wrong settings will be backed up simply by providing a function to back up and restore the settings, so it is guaranteed that the correct settings have been made. A mechanism to save the file is required.

  Further, such work for restoring the setting is also required when the memory area storing the operation setting is destroyed by an unintended factor such as a lightning strike.

  In addition, even if the network settings are set correctly for the device alone, if the network route to the server is disconnected or the device settings in the middle are incorrect, information browsing or remote control using a mobile phone, etc. The network function cannot be used.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of restoring only settings for which correctness is guaranteed when restoring backed-up settings.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a mechanism capable of confirming settings other than the information remote control main body when normally connected to the server by confirming the backed up setting information when the network connection is not possible.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the information remote control system of the present invention, when the network setting by the network setting means is executed, confirms the connection with the server by the server connection confirmation confirming means, and only when the connection is made By backing up the network settings using the network settings backup / restore means, a function is provided to restore only normal settings when restoring settings.

  The information remote control system according to the present invention provides only a setting for which correctness is guaranteed when restoring the setting. Even when the settings are destroyed, it is possible to provide a function for easily restoring the settings.

  A first invention is an information remote control system comprising a server for providing information, a device, and an information remote controller for displaying the information and operating the device, and the network setting for connecting the information remote to the server. Means, device setting means for performing basic settings such as function selection setting and connected device display setting of the device, device operation means for operating the device, data processing processing, error processing, Information acquisition / processing means for setting the operation date / time of the equipment and remote control of the equipment, server connection confirmation means for confirming that the server can be connected, and network setting backup for backing up / restoring the network settings -An information remote control system equipped with restoration means.

  As a result, when the setting is changed by the network setting means, only the network setting whose connection is confirmed by the server connection checking means can be backed up and restored by the network setting backup / restoring means, and the network setting needs to be restored. It is possible to provide an information remote control system capable of restoring a reliable network setting with a connection record with a server when it occurs.

  According to a second aspect of the invention, the information remote controller includes a device setting transmission unit that transmits a device setting to the server upon completion of device setting by the device setting unit, and a device setting restore unit that acquires and restores the device setting from the server, The server is an information remote control system provided with device setting management means for storing and managing transmitted device settings.

  As a result, when a restore request is received from the device setting restore means to the server, the device settings of the information remote controller can be restored by returning the device settings selected by the device setting management means, and the device settings need to be restored. Thus, it is possible to provide an information remote control system capable of restoring a reliable device setting recognized by the server.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information remote control system including backup setting display means for displaying the settings backed up by the network setting backup / restore means.

  By this, when the network connection is not possible, by checking the information of the backed up settings, it is possible to check the settings other than the information remote control unit when it is normally connected to the server, and check the reason why the network connection is not possible A possible information remote control system can be provided.

  A fourth invention is a program for executing at least a part of the information remote control system according to any one of the first to third aspects by a computer. Since it is a program, it is possible to easily realize at least a part of the information remote control system of the present invention by cooperating hardware resources such as an electric / information device, a computer, and a server. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an information display system (information remote control system) according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a server, 102 is information providing means, 103 is server connection confirmation response means, 104 is server control means, 105 is information remote control, 106 is network setting means, 107 is device operation means, 108 is information acquisition / Processing means 109, display / input means 110, equipment setting means 110, information remote control means 111, equipment 112, equipment function providing means 114, equipment control means 114, server connection confirmation means 115, network Setting backup / restoring means 117 is the Internet.

  The server 101 includes information providing means 102, server connection confirmation response means 103, and server control means 104.

  The information remote controller 105 includes a network setting unit 106, a device operation unit 107, an information acquisition / processing unit 108, a display / input unit 109, a device setting unit 110, an information remote control unit 111, a server connection confirmation unit 115, a network setting backup / restore. Consists of means 116.

  The device 112 includes device function providing means 113 and device control means 114.

  The server 101 is equipped with a workstation, the device 112 is equipped with a water heater, the information providing means 102 is equipped with web server software, the server connection confirmation response means 103 is equipped with a CGI program, and the server control means 104 is equipped with an OS. A motherboard with a memory, storage device, and network connection function. An OS is installed in the information remote control means, and a motherboard with a serial communication function and a network connection function with the memory, storage device, and device is displayed. The input means 109 is a touch panel that can be displayed and accepted by the user, the equipment control means 114 is a microcomputer having a serial communication function with the information remote controller, and the equipment function providing means 111 is the equipment control means 114. A hot water supply machine that boiles hot water or supplies hot water to the faucet This configuration can be easily realized by there.

  The Internet 117 is not limited to the Internet and may be a communication network. In addition, the device 112 is not limited to a water heater, and any electric device may be used.

  The operation and action of the information remote control system and information remote control configured as described above will be described below.

  First, in order to use this system, the setting operation performed by the setting operator will be described.

  In order to prepare an environment for connection to the Internet 117 when the information remote controller 105 is installed, the information remote controller 111 displays a network setting screen through the display / input unit 109 by the network setting unit 106. The setting operator inputs network setting information such as an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, and a DNS server address through the provided screen.

  Further, by inputting authentication information for performing individual identification of the information remote controller 105 by the server 101, individual information directed to the owner of the information remote controller connected from the server 101 can be distributed.

  The network setting means 106 provides a network connection environment based on the set information thereafter, and in response to a user information display request, the connection to the server 101 connected to the Internet 117 and the individual identification information to the server 101 Make a submission.

  Also, in the device setting operation, according to the operation screen provided from the device setting means 110, the installation location name setting, model name display setting, bath function (bath automatic / (Insulation time / reservation setting / temperature setting) Basic settings such as operation display setting, hot water supply temperature setting, and a test run operation for confirming that the device 112 operates normally are performed.

  Next, basic operations of the system and the remote controller after the setting work is completed will be described.

  The user selects the operation content from the operation menu screen as shown in FIG. 2 displayed on the display / input unit 109 by the information remote controller 111.

  (1) When the user selects information display from the operation menu screen, the information remote controller control unit 111 uses the information acquisition / processing unit 108 based on the connection information set by the network setting unit 106 to provide information on the server 101. Information provided by the providing means 102 is acquired / processed and displayed on the display / input means 109.

  (2) When the user selects device operation from the operation menu screen, the information remote controller 111 uses the device operation unit 107 to display the operable functions of the device 112 on the display / input unit 109.

  Based on the device operation instruction selected by the user from the displayed operable functions, the information remote controller 111 transmits the operation instruction to the device controller 114 by a serial communication message, and receives the received instruction from the device controller 114. When the device function providing unit 113 operates, an operation instruction operation intended by the user is executed. For example, when the operation instruction is to start hot water supply, the device function providing unit 113 starts supplying hot water set in advance from the hot water supply port.

  The information acquisition / processing unit 108 acquires the current accurate time from the information providing unit 102 of the server 101 periodically (for example, once a day), and sets the date / time managed by the information remote control unit 111. Synchronize with the correct date and time of the server 101.

  Further, the information / acquisition processing means 108 periodically (for example, once a day) inquires of the information providing means 102 of the server 101 about the presence or absence of new information. The means 109 has a function of reporting to the user that there is new arrival information.

  Next, the network setting backup / restore operation, which is the object of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the network setting backup operation will be described.

  When network setting is started, the information remote controller 111 causes the network setting unit 106 to display a network setting screen through the display / input unit 109. The setting operator inputs an IP address, a subnet mask, a default gateway, a DNS server address, and authentication information for performing individual identification of the information remote controller 105 on the server 101 through the provided screen (S101).

  Based on the information input to the network setting means 106, the server connection confirmation means 115 starts server connection confirmation (S102). When the connection confirmation from the server connection confirmation means 115 reaches the server control means 104, the server control means 104 confirms the authentication information registered in the information providing means 102 using the server connection confirmation response means 103 and connects to the server. If it is confirmed that the information can be received, a server connection confirmation response (S104) is returned to the information remote controller 105.

  The server connection confirmation unit 115 waits for a response (S105) from the start of server connection confirmation (S102). Wait until a time-out (for example, 30 seconds) is reached (S106). If no response is received, a setting error display (S108) is displayed to prompt the user to re-execute the network setting. When the server connection confirmation response (S104) arrives within the time-out period, the network setting input by the network setting backup / restore means 116 is backed up (S107).

  The network settings to be backed up here are the settings in which the connection is guaranteed because the connection confirmation has been performed in the server 101.

  Next, the restore operation will be described.

The network settings backed up in the above operation are used because the network operator that has been set correctly is destroyed when the setting worker performs the setting work in the dark clouds, or the memory area where the network settings are saved is lightning, etc. This is a case where it is destroyed due to an unintended factor, and is executed by the network setting backup / restore means 116.

  Since the network settings backed up at this time are network settings for which connection with the server is guaranteed, the network settings backed up are simply written back and the information remote controller 105 is restarted to restore the settings. Can be completed.

  By the operation described above, when the setting is changed by the network setting unit 106, only the network setting whose connection is confirmed by the server connection checking unit 115 can be backed up by the network setting backup / restore unit 116. When the network settings that have been set correctly are destroyed by performing the setting work, or the memory area that stores the operation settings is destroyed due to unintended factors such as lightning strikes, it becomes necessary to restore the network settings. It is possible to provide an information remote control system capable of restoring a reliable network setting having a connection record with a server.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an information remote control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 4, 401 is a device setting transmission unit, 402 is a device setting restore unit, and 403 is a device setting management unit.

  About the information remote control system comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are given to the portions showing the same operations as those in (Embodiment 1).

  The setting operation and the basic operation are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  The device setting backup / restore operation will be described with reference to FIG.

  In the device setting operation, in accordance with the operation screen provided from the device setting means 110, the installation location name setting, model name display setting, bath function (floor automatic / warming time) of the floor heating function (temperature setting / reservation setting) of the device 112 are provided. (Reservation setting / temperature setting) Basic settings such as operation display setting, hot water supply temperature setting, and a test run operation for confirming that the device 112 operates normally are performed (S201).

  When the setting is completed, the device setting unit 110 confirms whether all are completed (S202). When all the settings are completed, the device setting is transmitted to the server 101 through the device setting transmission unit 401 (S203). The device setting is stored in the device setting management unit 403 (S204).

  At this time, if the network setting is incomplete, transmission is suspended until the network setting is completed, and is transmitted and stored in the server 101 when the network setting is completed. Thereafter, every time any setting is changed, the device setting is transmitted to the device setting management unit 403, and a plurality of device settings are stored in the device setting management unit 403.

  Among the plurality of device settings saved by the device setting management unit 403, the server administrator uses the device setting management unit 403 to set the setting used at the time of device setting restoration at the timing of starting the service to the customer or the setting timing of a new device. The setting to be used at the time of setting restoration is determined (S205).

When the setting operator performs setting work in the dark clouds, the device settings that have been set correctly once are destroyed, or the memory area that stores the device settings is destroyed due to unintended factors such as lightning strikes, the setting restore operation starts. In step S206, when the device setting restoration unit 402 issues a restore data request to the device setting management unit 403 of the server 101 (S207), the device setting management unit 403 acquires the device setting used for the restoration determined in step S205. Then, a restore data response (209) is sent to the device setting restore means 402 (S208). The device setting restore unit 402 reflects the received restore data (S210), restarts the information remote controller 105 (S211), and completes the restore operation.

  By the operation described above, when a restore request is received from the device setting restore unit 402 to the server 101, the device setting selected by the device setting management unit 403 from the device settings transmitted by the device setting transmitting unit 401 is returned. Thus, it is possible to restore the device settings of the information remote controller 105, and to provide an information remote controller system capable of restoring the reliable device settings accepted by the server when the device settings need to be restored. .

  As shown in FIG. 6, the information remote controller may include backup setting display means 601 for displaying settings backed up by the network setting backup / restore means.

  If a network connection failure occurs and the cause is not the information remote control system but the settings of the devices that make up the network path, the network connection will not be restored even if the backed up settings are simply restored. Therefore, the following can be confirmed by viewing the settings backed up by the backup setting display means 601.

  For example, from the IP address, the difference between the IP address at the time of previous connection and the IP address of the current information remote controller can be confirmed. If the IP address is different, the router managing the routing of the IP address of the information remote controller By confirming whether the DHCP server device is additionally installed or changed to the wrong setting, it is possible to cope with the cancellation of the network connection disabled state.

  The default gateway can check the IP address to which the information remote controller connects to the server. If it is different, check whether there is a change in the network configuration or a change in the DHCP server device such as a router. Thus, it is possible to cope with the cancellation of the network connection disabled state.

  Further, since the DNS server address can confirm the server that converts the URL for connecting the information remote controller to the server to the IP address, if it is different, the setting of the server that provides the network route is changed. In addition, by confirming that the router setting that manages routing has not changed to the wrong setting, it is possible to cope with the cancellation of the network connection disabled state.

  By this, when the network connection is not possible, by checking the information of the backed up settings, it is possible to check the settings other than the information remote control unit when it is normally connected to the server, and check the reason why the network connection is not possible A possible information remote control system can be provided.

In addition, the means described in the first and second embodiments use hardware resources such as a CPU (or microcomputer), a RAM, a ROM, a storage / recording device, an electrical / information device including an I / O, a computer, a server, and the like. You may implement in the form of the program made to cooperate. In the case of a program, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording it on a recording medium such as magnetic media or optical media, or by distributing it using a communication line such as the Internet.

  As described above, in the present invention, when there is a device having some other function such as a remote control function in addition to acquiring information from the network, the correctness is guaranteed when restoring the setting. By providing only the settings, once the settings are normally set, the settings can be easily restored even if the normal settings are destroyed due to an error in installation work or an unintended cause.

  This operation can be applied not only to the information remote control system, even if the function other than the information acquisition is a telephone function or a housework / cooking function.

The block diagram which shows the information display remote control system structure in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure explaining the operation screen in Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure explaining network setting backup operation in Embodiment 1 of this invention The block diagram which shows the structure of the information display remote control system in Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure explaining apparatus setting backup / restoration operation in Embodiment 2 of this invention The block diagram which shows the other structure of the information display remote control system in Embodiment 2 of this invention. Block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional information remote control system

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Server 102 Information provision means 103 Server connection confirmation response means 104 Server control means 105 Information remote control 106 Network setting means 107 Equipment operation means 108 Information acquisition / processing means 109 Display / input means 110 Equipment setting means 111 Information remote control means 112 Equipment 113 Equipment function providing means 114 Equipment control means 115 Server connection confirmation means 116 Network setting backup / restoring means 117 Internet 401 Equipment setting transmitting means 402 Equipment setting restoring means 403 Equipment setting management means 601 Backup setting display means

Claims (4)

In an information remote control system comprising a server for providing information, a device, and an information remote controller for displaying the information and operating the device, connected by a network,
The information remote controller includes a network setting unit for connecting to the server, a device setting unit for performing basic settings such as a function selection setting and a connected device display setting for the device, a device operation unit for operating the device, Information acquisition / processing means for acquiring information from the server and performing data processing processing, error processing, operation date / time setting of the device, and remote control of the device, and server connection for confirming that the server is connectable A network setting backup / restore unit that backs up and restores the network setting information, and when changing the setting by the network setting unit, only the network setting information that can be confirmed by the server connection checking unit Information to be backed up / restored by the network setting backup / restore means Remote control system. The information remote controller includes device setting transmission means for transmitting device setting information to the server upon completion of device setting by the device setting means, and device setting restore means for acquiring and restoring the device setting information from the server,
The server includes device setting management means for storing and managing the transmitted device setting information, and the device setting information selected by the device setting management means when the server receives a restore request from the device setting restoring means. The information remote control system according to claim 1, wherein device setting restoration of the information remote controller is performed by returning the information. 3. The information remote control system according to claim 1, wherein the information remote control includes backup setting display means for displaying settings backed up by the network setting backup / restore means. 4. The program for performing at least one part of the information remote control system of any one of Claims 1-3 by a computer.

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