JP2010178317A - Facility system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a facility system in which only a necessary application is easily installed when a configuration of equipment or a system environment changes. <P>SOLUTION: The facility system includes, on a network, a center server 4 storing a plurality of applications for monitoring or controlling the functions of equipment 2; a system configuration management part 1d that manages the system configuration by detecting the entering of equipment to the network and identifying the equipment entering the network; an application execution part 1b that monitors or controls the equipment 2 by executing installed applications; and a downloading part 1c that downloads an application related to the detected equipment 2 entering the network, from the center server 4 to the application executing part 1b, when the system configuration management part 1d detects the entering of the equipment 2 to the network. The application executing part 1b installs and executes the downloaded application. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an equipment system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a home such as a detached house or an apartment house, there is an equipment system in which equipment equipment such as lighting equipment, air conditioning equipment, and television is connected to a network, and each equipment equipment is monitored and controlled via the network. In such an equipment system, an application execution means such as a home server arranged on the network is installed with an application for monitoring / controlling the function of each equipment device. Monitoring and control are performed (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).

  In such an equipment system, when an application is installed and uninstalled by the application execution means, the user selects and installs and uninstalls the application.

JP 2003-348673 A

  For example, in some personal computers, mobile phones, game machines, and the like, an administrator installs an application from a remote location via a network.

  However, in an equipment system such as a home system, the required application differs depending on conditions such as the configuration of connected equipment and the installation environment of the system, so the user must install the application as necessary. There was a problem that it took time and effort. For example, the installation of a new application associated with the addition of equipment is performed by the user selecting the target application, and the installation is performed in consideration of the type and function of each equipment and the combination of multiple equipment. The user must select the application to be performed.

  Similarly, when uninstalling an application that accompanies the deletion of equipment, the user must select the application to be uninstalled, taking into account the functions of each equipment and the combination of multiple equipment. There wasn't.

  Furthermore, when an equipment device is deleted, if the application related to the equipment device is left without being uninstalled, the memory resources of the system are wasted, and consequently a large memory capacity is required.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said reason, The objective is to provide the installation system which can install only a required application easily, when the structure and system environment of an installation apparatus change.

  The invention of claim 1 is a facility system in which a plurality of terminal devices including one or more facility devices having a predetermined function are connected to a network, and each terminal device communicates via the network. Application storage means that stores multiple applications for monitoring or controlling functions, and system configuration management that detects the entry of equipment into the network, recognizes the equipment that has entered the network, and manages the system configuration Means, an application execution means for executing the installed application to monitor or control the equipment, and a system configuration management means when the entry of the equipment to the network is detected, Download means for downloading a related application from the application storage means to the application execution means Provided to the network, the application executing means may be performed by installing the downloaded application.

  According to the present invention, when the configuration of the equipment and the system environment change, the application related to the change of the equipment and the configuration of the equipment can be automatically installed and used without any user operation. Become. That is, when the configuration of the equipment or the system environment changes, only necessary applications can be easily installed.

  The invention of claim 2 is that in claim 1, when the system configuration management means detects the entry of equipment into the network, the download means has entered the network with the equipment that has been detected to enter. An application related to a combination with other equipment is downloaded from the application storage unit to the application execution unit, and the application execution unit installs and executes the downloaded application.

  According to this invention, when a new equipment device enters the network, it automatically installs an application for interlocking control that controls the entered equipment device in combination with other equipment equipment without performing an operation by the user. It becomes possible to use it, and it becomes possible to easily install an application for interlocking control corresponding to a combination of equipment in the system.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the system configuration management unit manages the number of facility devices that have entered the network, and the download unit is selected based on the number of the facility devices. The downloaded application is downloaded from the application storage means to the application execution means, and the application execution means installs and executes the downloaded application.

  According to the present invention, when a new equipment device enters the network, it becomes possible to automatically install and use a group control application using the entered equipment device without performing an operation by the user. It becomes possible to easily install the application for group control corresponding to the number of facility devices in the system.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the system configuration management unit detects the detachment of the facility device from the network, and the application execution unit relates to the facility device in which the detachment is detected. It is characterized by uninstalling an application to be executed.

  According to the present invention, when the configuration of the equipment and the system environment change, the application related to the change of the equipment and the configuration of the system can be automatically uninstalled without any user operation. In other words, when the equipment configuration or system environment changes, unnecessary applications can be easily uninstalled, and the memory capacity required to install applications can be reduced by effectively using system memory resources. it can.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, when the system configuration management unit detects the detachment of the facility device from the network, the application execution unit enters the network with the facility device in which the detachment is detected. An application related to a combination with other equipment is uninstalled.

  According to the present invention, when a facility device is detached from the network, it is possible to automatically uninstall the interlock control application that controls the facility device that has been detached in combination with another facility device without performing an operation by the user. Therefore, it becomes possible to easily uninstall the application for interlocking control corresponding to the combination of equipment in the system.

  The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in claim 4 or 5, the application executing means uninstalls the application based on the number of facility devices that have entered the network.

  According to the present invention, when a facility device is detached from the network, the group control application using the detached facility device can be automatically uninstalled without performing any operation by the user. It is possible to easily uninstall the group control application corresponding to the number of groups.

  The invention of claim 7 is the system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the system configuration management means manages the operating time of each equipment device entering the network, and the downloading means is the operating time of each equipment equipment. The application execution unit downloads the application selected based on the application storage unit to the application execution unit, and the application execution unit installs and executes the downloaded application or unloads the application based on the operation time of each facility device. It is characterized by installing.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to automatically install and use an application relating to the life of the equipment without performing any operation by the user, and it is possible to more reliably prevent a problem caused by the life of the equipment. In addition, it is possible to automatically uninstall applications related to the life of equipment and equipment, simply by exchanging equipment that is approaching the end of life, without any user operation. It becomes possible.

  The invention of claim 8 comprises the device status monitoring means for monitoring the status of the equipment device according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the download means selects the application selected based on the monitoring result of the device status monitoring means. Downloading from the application storage unit to the application execution unit, the application execution unit installs and executes the downloaded application, or uninstalls the application based on the monitoring result of the device state monitoring unit .

  According to the present invention, only necessary applications can be automatically installed and unnecessary applications can be automatically uninstalled based on the state of the equipment without user operation. Uninstallation can be easily performed.

  The invention of claim 9 comprises the area information management means for managing the area information in which the present system is installed in any of claims 4 to 8, wherein the download means is an application selected based on the area information. Is downloaded from the application storage means to the application execution means, and the application execution means installs and executes the downloaded application, or uninstalls the application based on the regional information.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically install an application suitable for the use environment of the system in consideration of information on a region where the system is installed, and to automatically uninstall an application having a specification different from that of the region where the system is installed. Thus, it becomes possible to easily install and uninstall applications in the equipment system.

  A tenth aspect of the present invention is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the fourth to ninth aspects, further comprising time information management means for managing time information corresponding to a place where the present system is installed, wherein the download means is based on the time information. The selected application is downloaded from the application storage unit to the application execution unit, and the application execution unit installs and executes the downloaded application, or uninstalls the application based on the time information. To do.

  According to the present invention, it becomes possible to automatically install and uninstall an application suitable for the use environment of the system in consideration of the time information of the place where the system is installed, and it is easy to install and uninstall the application in the equipment system. Can be performed.

  The invention of claim 11 comprises the usage period management means for managing the usage period information of each application that can be installed and executed by the application execution means according to any one of claims 4 to 10, and the application execution The means determines an application whose usable period has passed based on the usable period information, and uninstalls the determined application.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to automatically uninstall an application whose usable period has expired, and to effectively use memory resources.

  As described above, the present invention has an effect that only necessary applications can be easily installed when the configuration of equipment or the system environment changes.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the equipment system of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the center server same as the above. It is a figure which shows another structure of the equipment system same as the above. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the table which set the installation conditions and uninstallation conditions same as the above.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an equipment system according to the present embodiment, in which terminal devices such as a home server 1 and a plurality of equipment 2 (21, 22,...) Are arranged in a house such as a detached house or an apartment house. The home system HS is configured to be communicably connected to each other via the home network NT1. Further, a router 3 is disposed in the home, and the home network NT1 is communicably connected to the Internet NT2 via the router 3, and a center server 4 is provided on the Internet NT2.

  The home server 1 includes a communication unit 1a that transmits and receives information via the home network NT1, an application execution unit 1b that executes installed applications to monitor or control the facility device 2, and an application via the home network NT1. A download unit 1c that downloads an application to the execution unit 1b and a system configuration management unit 1d that manages the configuration of the home system HS are provided as basic configurations. The application execution unit 1b is installed with an application corresponding to each function of the facility device 2 connected to the home network NT1, and monitors and controls a desired function of the facility device 2 by executing each application. be able to.

  Further, the home server 1 includes a device combination management unit 1e, a group control device management unit 1f, a device state monitoring unit 1g, a regional information management unit 1h, a time information management unit 1i, an application usage period management unit 1j, and a user information management unit 1k. The device life storage unit 1m is provided, and is used for installation and uninstallation of each application described later.

  The equipment 2 has functions such as a lighting function and an air conditioning function, and is assigned unique ID information (for example, a MAC address). In FIG. The lighting device 22 with a dimming function, one network connection type television 23, and one floor heating device 24 are monitored and controlled by the home server 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the center server 4 includes a communication unit 4a that exchanges information via the home network NT1, and an application storage unit that stores in advance a plurality of applications for monitoring or controlling each function of the equipment device 2. 4b, and constitutes an application providing means for providing an application to the application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 by access from the download unit 1c of the home server 1.

  In addition, the structure which provides all the parts of 1a-1m in FIG. Alternatively, a configuration in which functions other than the facility device 2 are distributed and provided in different devices may be employed.

Hereinafter, application installation and uninstallation by the application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 will be described. To install and uninstall applications,
(1) [Installation and uninstallation based on individual functions of equipment]
(2) [Installation and uninstallation based on the combination of equipment]
(3) [Installation and uninstallation based on the number of equipment]
(4) [Installation and uninstallation based on equipment operation time]
(5) [Installation and uninstallation based on equipment status of equipment]
(6) [Installation and uninstallation based on system regional information]
(7) [Installation and uninstallation based on system time information]
(8) [Installation and uninstallation based on application availability information]
(9) [Installation and uninstallation based on application installation conditions]
(10) "Installation and uninstallation based on user information"
There are 10 patterns.

(1) [Installation and uninstallation based on individual functions of equipment]
First, installation and uninstallation of an application based on the function of the equipment device 2 alone will be described.

  In FIG. 1, it is assumed that the temperature sensor 21 is newly connected to the home network NT1. The temperature sensor 21 transmits an entry notification indicating entry into the network to the home server 1. This entry notification includes the ID information, type, function, and the like of the equipment 2 that is the notification transmission source.

  In the home server 1, the system configuration management unit 1 d manages the ID information, type, function, number, etc. of the equipment 2 that has entered the network of the home system HS based on the entry notification from each equipment 2. When the entry notification is received from the temperature sensor 21 via the home network NT1, the system configuration management unit 1d recognizes that the temperature sensor 21 has entered the system (entry detection) and manages the system configuration. Update. That is, the home server 1 can uniquely identify the facility device 2 that has entered the network with reference to the system configuration management unit 1d.

  Then, the download unit 1c refers to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d, recognizes the entry of the temperature sensor 21, and an application (temperature sensor application) used for the independent operation of the temperature sensor is an application execution It is determined whether or not it is already installed in the section 1b. If the temperature sensor application is already installed, it is determined that there is no application downloaded from the center server 4, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the temperature sensor application is not installed, the center server 4 is inquired whether the temperature sensor application is stored.

  If the center server 4 stores a temperature sensor application in response to the inquiry from the download unit 1 c of the home server 1, the center server 4 provides the temperature server application to the home server 1. If the temperature sensor application is not stored, a message indicating that the application cannot be provided is transmitted to the home server 1. The message from the center server 4 is transmitted from the home server 1 to a display device (not shown) connected to the home network NT1, and is displayed on the screen by the display device or notified to the user by voice output.

  The application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 communicates with the temperature sensor 21 via the home network NT1 by installing the temperature sensor application downloaded by the download unit 1c and putting it into an execution state. The temperature data detected by the sensor 21 can be acquired and processed.

  In this way, by simply connecting a new equipment device 2 to the network, it becomes possible to automatically install and use an application used for independent control of the equipment device 2 that has entered, without any user operation. It becomes possible to easily install an application corresponding to each function of the facility equipment 2.

  Next, it is assumed that a certain equipment 2 is no longer necessary and has been removed from the home network NT1. Each facility device 2 periodically transmits a survival notification to the home server 1, and the system configuration management unit 1 d of the home server 1 receives the notification from the network of the facility device 2 if the survival notification is not received for a predetermined period. Detachment can be detected. For example, in FIG. 1, when the temperature sensor 21 is removed from the home network NT1, the system configuration management unit 1d of the home server 1 recognizes that the temperature sensor 21 has detached from the system (detachment detection) and manages it. Update the existing system configuration.

  Then, the application execution unit 1b refers to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d and, when recognizing the detachment of the temperature sensor 21, determines whether or not the temperature sensor application may be uninstalled. . If another temperature sensor is present in the equipment 2 in the system configuration, the process is terminated without uninstalling the temperature sensor application. On the other hand, when there is no other temperature sensor in the equipment 2 in the system configuration, the temperature sensor application is uninstalled.

  In this way, by simply removing the equipment device 2 from the network, it is possible to automatically uninstall an application used for independent control of the detached equipment device 2 without any user operation, and to uninstall the application in the equipment system. Can be performed easily. Further, by automatically uninstalling unnecessary applications, the memory resources of the home server 1 can be effectively used, and the memory capacity required for installing the applications can be reduced.

(2) [Installation and uninstallation based on the combination of equipment]
Next, installation and uninstallation of an application based on the combination of the facility devices 2 will be described.

  In FIG. 1, it is assumed that one network-connected television 23 is newly connected to the home network NT1 in a state where three lighting devices 22 having a dimming function have already entered the network. The television 23 transmits an entry notification indicating entry into the network to the home server 1.

  When the home server 1 receives the entry notification from the television 23 via the home network NT1, the system configuration management unit 1d recognizes that the television 23 has entered the system (entry detection) and manages the system. Update the configuration.

  Then, the download unit 1c refers to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d, recognizes the entry of the television 23, and thereafter (1) [Installation and Uninstallation Based on Single Function of Equipment Device] ], The application is installed and uninstalled based on the function of the television 23 alone.

  Furthermore, in this equipment system, there is a case in which interlocking control is possible by combining equipment equipments 2 having different functions, and the equipment combination management unit 1e has a combination pattern of equipment equipments 2 capable of interlocking control. It is stored together with information on applications that can be used for linked control.

  And the download part 1c judges whether the combination pattern of the television 23 which newly entered and the other equipment 2 which has already entered is stored in the apparatus combination management part 1e, and there is a combination pattern. For example, it is determined whether or not an application (application for interlocking control) used for interlock control of the combination pattern is already installed in the application execution unit 1b. In this example, one or more televisions 23 and one or more lighting devices 22 are combined, and interlocking control (theatre mode) is performed in which light control of the lighting devices 22 is performed in conjunction with the display image of the television 23. If the theater mode application for performing the interlock control is already installed, it is determined that there is no application to be downloaded from the center server 4, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the theater mode application is not installed, the center server 4 is inquired as to whether or not the theater mode application is stored.

  If the center server 4 stores a theater mode application in response to the inquiry from the download unit 1 c of the home server 1, the center server 4 provides the theater mode application to the home server 1. If the theater mode application is not stored, a message indicating that the application cannot be provided is transmitted to the home server 1.

  The application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 installs the theater mode application downloaded by the download unit 1c and puts it into the execution state, thereby communicating between the lighting device 22 and the television 23 via the home network NT1. As a result, interlocking control in the theater mode using the lighting device 22 and the television 23 can be performed.

  In this way, by simply connecting the new equipment device 2 to the network, the user can automatically install an application used for interlocking control that combines the equipment device 2 that has entered the other equipment device 2 without any user operation. It becomes possible to use it, and it becomes possible to easily install an application for interlocking control corresponding to the combination of the equipment 2 in the system.

  Next, it is assumed that the television 23 is no longer necessary and has been removed from the home network NT1. A system configuration in which the system configuration management unit 1d of the home server 1 recognizes and manages that the television 23 has been detached from the present system when it has not received a survival notification from the television 23 for a predetermined period (detachment detection). Update.

  Then, when the application execution unit 1b recognizes the detachment of the television 23 with reference to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d, whether or not the television application and the theater mode application may be uninstalled. Judging. If another television is present in the equipment 2 in the system configuration, the process is terminated without uninstalling the television application and the theater mode application. On the other hand, if there is no other television in the equipment 2 in the system configuration, the television application and the theater mode application are uninstalled.

  In this way, by simply removing the equipment device 2 from the network, it is possible to automatically uninstall the interlock control application using the detached equipment device 2 without any user operation, and for interlock control in the equipment system. Application can be easily uninstalled. Further, by automatically uninstalling unnecessary applications, the memory resources of the home server 1 can be effectively used, and the memory capacity required for installing the applications can be reduced.

(3) [Installation and uninstallation based on the number of equipment]
Next, application installation and uninstallation based on the number of facility devices 2 will be described.

  In FIG. 1, three lighting devices 22 with dimming function have already entered the network, and an application (lighting device application) used for independent operation of the lighting device 22 has already been installed. Assume that a lighting device 22 with a dimming function is newly connected to the home network NT1. The five newly connected lighting devices 22 each transmit an entry notification indicating entry into the network to the home server 1.

  When the home server 1 receives the entry notification from the five lighting devices 22 via the home network NT1, the system configuration management unit 1d recognizes that five lighting devices 22 have entered the system (entry Detection) and update the managed system configuration.

  The download unit 1c refers to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d and recognizes the entry of the five lighting devices 22, but uses it for the independent operation of the three existing lighting devices 22. Since the lighting device application is already installed in the application execution unit 1b, the lighting device application is not downloaded.

  Furthermore, in this equipment system, group control may be possible for equipment devices 2 of the same type and function that are more than a predetermined number, and the group control equipment management unit 1f supports the types and functions of the equipment equipment 2. Thus, it is stored together with information on the number of units that can be group-controlled and information on applications that can be used for the group control. In this example, “8” is set as the minimum number (group controllable minimum number) that enables group control of the lighting devices 22.

  Then, when the download unit 1c refers to the system configuration management unit 1d and recognizes that the number of lighting devices 22 has increased from three to eight, this download number “8” is designated as group control device management. This is compared with the minimum group controllable number “8” of the lighting device 22 set in the section 1f. In this case, since the number of entries is eight and group control of the lighting device 22 is possible, an application (lighting group control application) used for group control of the lighting device 22 is already installed in the application execution unit 1b. Determine whether or not. If the lighting group control application is already installed, it is determined that there is no application to be downloaded from the center server 4, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, if the lighting group control application is not installed, the center server 4 is inquired whether or not the lighting group control application is stored.

  If the center server 4 stores an illumination group control application in response to the inquiry from the download unit 1 c of the home server 1, the center server 4 provides the illumination group control application to the home server 1. If the lighting group control application is not stored, a message indicating that the application cannot be provided is transmitted to the home server 1.

  The application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 communicates with the eight lighting devices 22 via the home network NT1 by installing the lighting group control application downloaded by the download unit 1c and putting it into an execution state. And lighting group control becomes possible.

  In this way, by simply connecting a new equipment device 2 to the network, it becomes possible to automatically install and use an application used for group control of the equipment device 2 that has entered, without any user operation. It becomes possible to easily install the group control application corresponding to the number of the facility devices 2.

  Next, it is assumed that at least one lighting fixture 22 is unnecessary and has been removed from the home network NT1. The system configuration management unit 1d of the home server 1 recognizes that at least one luminaire 22 has been detached from the system due to the absence of a survival notification from the removed luminaire 22 for a predetermined period (detachment). Detection) and update the managed system configuration.

  If the application execution unit 1b recognizes the detachment of at least one lighting fixture 22 with reference to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d, can the application execution unit 1b uninstall the lighting group control application? Judge whether or not. If there are eight or more lighting fixtures 22 in the system configuration, the process is terminated without uninstalling the lighting group control application. On the other hand, if the number of lighting fixtures 22 in the system configuration is less than 8, the lighting group control application is uninstalled.

  In this way, by simply removing the equipment device 2 from the network, it is possible to automatically uninstall the group control application using the detached equipment device 2 without any user operation, and for group control in the equipment system. Application can be easily uninstalled. Further, by automatically uninstalling unnecessary applications, the memory resources of the home server 1 can be effectively used, and the memory capacity required for installing the applications can be reduced.

(4) [Installation and uninstallation based on equipment operation time]
Next, application installation and uninstallation based on the operation time of the facility device 2 will be described.

  In FIG. 1, the device life storage unit 1m of the home server 1 stores information on the service life (operation allowable time) for each type and function of the facility device 2, and the system configuration management unit 1d stores the facility device 2 Every time it enters the network, the operation time is counted. Then, the download unit 1c compares the operation time and the service life for each equipment device 2, and if the remaining operation time (service life-operation time) is less than one year, the operation status of the equipment device 2 It is determined whether or not an application (life end information providing application) for notifying the user of the replacement time is already installed in the application execution unit 1b. When the life end information providing application is already installed, it is determined that there is no application to be downloaded from the center server 4, and the process is terminated. On the other hand, when the life end information providing application is not installed, the center server 4 is inquired whether the life end information providing application is stored.

  If the center server 4 stores a life-end information provision application in response to the inquiry from the download unit 1 c of the home server 1, the center server 4 provides the life-end information provision application to the home server 1. If the life end information providing application is not stored, a message indicating that the application cannot be provided is transmitted to the home server 1.

  The application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 installs the application for providing life-end information downloaded by the download unit 1c and puts it into an execution state, thereby determining the operating status and replacement time of the equipment 2 that is approaching the end of its life. Notify the user. This life notification is transmitted to a display device (not shown) connected to the home network NT1, and is displayed on the screen by the display device or notified to the user by voice output.

  In this way, an application for providing information on the facility equipment 2 that has approached the end of life can be automatically installed and used without any user operation, and the problem caused by the life of the equipment 2 can be further improved. It can be surely prevented.

  Next, when the user notified of the necessity for device replacement by the life end information providing application replaces the facility device 2 that is approaching the end of its life, the system configuration management unit 1d of the home server 1 The managed equipment configuration is updated by deleting the approaching equipment 2 from the system configuration and adding a new equipment 2 to the system configuration.

  Then, the application execution unit 1b refers to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d, and if there is no equipment device 2 having a remaining operation time of one year or less, the application execution unit 1b unlocks the life end information provision application. install. If there is a facility device 2 with a remaining operation time of one year or less, the process is terminated without uninstalling the life-end information provision application.

  In this way, the life-end information providing application can be automatically uninstalled without replacing the equipment device 2 that has reached the end of its life by replacing it with a new one. Can be easily uninstalled. Further, by automatically uninstalling unnecessary applications, the memory resources of the home server 1 can be effectively used, and the memory capacity required for installing the applications can be reduced.

(5) [Installation and uninstallation based on equipment status of equipment]
Next, application installation and uninstallation based on the device state of the facility device 2 will be described.

  In FIG. 1, the device state monitoring unit 1 g of the home server 1 collects current state values (for example, measured values, various parameter values indicating operation states, etc.) from each facility device 2 and stores them in the system configuration management unit 1 d. Store. And the download part 1c downloads an application from the center server 4 based on the stored state value.

  For example, when the temperature sensor 21 measures the outside air temperature and the measured value becomes “0 ° C.” or less, the download unit 1c is an application for operating the floor heating device 24 (an application for floor heating). It is determined whether or not it is already installed in the execution unit 1b. If the floor heating application is already installed, it is determined that there is no application downloaded from the center server 4, and the process ends. On the other hand, when the floor heating application is not installed, the center server 4 is inquired whether or not the floor heating application is stored.

  If the center server 4 stores a floor heating application in response to the inquiry from the download unit 1 c of the home server 1, the center server 4 provides the floor heating application to the home server 1. If the floor heating application is not stored, a message indicating that the application cannot be provided is transmitted to the home server 1.

  The application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 can operate the floor heating device 24 when the outside air temperature is low by installing the application for floor heating downloaded by the download unit 1c and putting it into an execution state.

  Next, when the measured value of the outside air temperature by the temperature sensor 21 becomes “5 ° C.” or more, the application execution unit 1b uninstalls the floor heating application.

  In this way, only necessary applications can be automatically installed and unnecessary applications can be automatically uninstalled based on the state value of the equipment device 2 without any user operation, and application installation in the equipment system can be performed. Uninstallation can be easily performed. Further, by automatically uninstalling unnecessary applications, the memory resources of the home server 1 can be effectively used, and the memory capacity required for installing the applications can be reduced.

  As an example of installation based on the equipment state of the equipment 2, a configuration for installing a cooling application that operates the cooling equipment when the outside air temperature is high, or a dehumidification application that operates the dehumidification equipment when the humidity is high is used. There are a configuration to install, a configuration to install a power saving application for operating each facility device in a power saving mode when the power consumption is large, and the like.

(6) [Installation and uninstallation based on system regional information]
Next, installation and uninstallation of an application based on system area information will be described.

  In FIG. 1, the area information management unit 1h of the home server 1 stores area information of this system. The regional information includes country name data (Japan, Australia, etc.), language data (Japanese, English, etc.), etc., and each data is set by the system installer or user.

  Then, when downloading an application from the center server 4, the download unit 1 c refers to the regional information set in the regional information management unit 1 h and uses it for the center server 4 in the country and language corresponding to the regional information. Request an application. For example, if the country data is “Australia” and the language data is “English”, the English version application used in Australia (English display function used in Australia, having functions conforming to Australian law, etc.) is requested and installed. To do.

  If the area information is changed, the application execution unit 1b uninstalls the application.

  In this way, considering the information of the area where the system is installed, it is possible to automatically install applications that match the system usage environment and to automatically uninstall applications with specifications different from the area where the system is installed. Thus, it is possible to easily install and uninstall applications in the equipment system. Furthermore, the memory resources of the home server 1 can be effectively used.

(7) [Installation and uninstallation based on system time information]
Next, application installation and uninstallation based on system time information will be described.

  In FIG. 1, a time information management unit 1i of the home server 1 stores time information of this system. The time information is composed of current date data, season data, etc., and each data is set by the system installer or user.

  Then, when downloading an application from the center server 4, the download unit 1 c refers to the time information set in the time information management unit 1 i and requests the center server 4 for an application based on the time information. For example, when the current date data corresponds to the winter season data, the center server 4 is requested to install the floor heating application used for the operation of the floor heating device 24 and installed. When the season changes and the current date data corresponds to the spring of the season data, the application execution unit 1b uninstalls the floor heating application.

  For Australia, seasonal data is set as “March to May: Autumn, June to August: Winter, September to November: Spring, December to February: Summer”, so June 1 Is determined to be winter, the floor heating application is installed and the floor heating device 24 can be used, and on September 1, it is determined that winter has ended, and the floor heating application is uninstalled and the floor heating application is uninstalled. The heating device 24 becomes unusable.

  In Japan, since the seasonal data is set as “March to May: Spring, June to August: Summer, September to November: Autumn, December to February: Winter”, December 1 It is determined that it is winter, the floor heating application is installed, and the floor heating device 24 can be used. On March 1, it is determined that the winter is over, and the floor heating application is uninstalled and the floor is heated. The heating device 24 becomes unusable.

  In the above, application installation / uninstallation is performed every season of the month, but more appropriate application installation / uninstallation is performed by taking into account the predetermined time zone, time, date, etc. of the day. be able to.

  In this way, considering the time information of the place where the system is installed, it becomes possible to automatically install and uninstall the application according to the usage environment of the system, and it is easy to install and uninstall the application in the equipment system. It becomes possible. Furthermore, the memory resources of the home server 1 can be effectively used.

(8) [Installation and uninstallation based on application availability information]
Next, application installation and uninstallation based on application use period information will be described.

  When the usage status investigation application is provided from the center server 4 to the home server 1, the application execution unit 1b installs the usage situation investigation application and puts it into an execution state. The usage status investigation application is an application for creating the usage status of the home system HS as data, and the usage status data includes the execution status of each application used by the application execution unit 1b for monitoring and controlling the equipment 2 It is.

  The usage period information is added to the usage status investigation application, and the usage period information is stored in the application usage period management unit 1j of the home server 1 simultaneously with the installation in the application execution unit 1b. Here, the usable period of the usage status investigation application is one month from the installation.

  The application execution unit 1b refers to the application usage period management unit 1j, sets the usage status investigation application to an execution state within the usable period, and uninstalls the usage period after the usable period. Further, the usable period information may be added to an application other than the usage status investigation application.

As described above, an application whose usable period has expired can be automatically uninstalled, so that memory resources can be effectively used.
(9) [Installation and uninstallation based on application installation conditions]
Next, application installation and uninstallation based on application installation conditions will be described.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the home server HS1 is connected to the center server 4 via the Internet NT2 and the router 31, and the home system HS2 is connected via the Internet NT2 and the router 32, and the home systems HS1 and HS2 are connected. Has substantially the same configuration as the home system HS shown in FIG.

  In the home system HS1, a home server 11 and equipment 2 are connected to a home network NT11. As the equipment 2, one temperature sensor 21, three lighting devices 22 with dimming function, and one network A connection type television 23 is provided. The application execution unit 1b of the home server 11 is installed with a temperature sensor application and a theater mode application installed.

  In the home system HS2, the home server 12 and the equipment device 2 are connected to the home network NT12. As the equipment device 2, one temperature sensor 21 and one humidity sensor 25 are provided. Only the humidity sensor application is installed in the application execution unit 1b of the home server 12 and is in an execution state.

  When the temperature / humidity batch display application is newly added and stored in the application storage unit 4b in the center server 4, an application addition notification is transmitted to the home servers 11 and 12. The application addition notification is added with condition (installation condition) information for installing the temperature / humidity batch display application, and the download units 1c of the home servers 11 and 12 display the temperature / humidity batch display based on the installation conditions. Whether or not to download the application.

  The installation condition of the temperature / humidity batch display application is that at least one temperature sensor 21 and one humidity sensor 25 have entered the network. Since the entry state in the home system HS1 is only one temperature sensor 21: 1, the installation condition is not satisfied, and the temperature and humidity batch display application is not downloaded. On the other hand, since the entry state in the home system HS2 is the temperature sensor 21: 1 and the humidity sensor 25: 1, the installation condition is satisfied, and the temperature / humidity batch display application is downloaded from the center server 4 to the execution state. To do.

As described above, when a new application is added to the center server 4, only the home server 1 of the home system HS that satisfies the installation condition automatically downloads and installs the new application. The application can be used without troublesome operations.
(10) "Installation and uninstallation based on user information"
Next, installation and uninstallation of an application based on user information will be described.

  In FIG. 1, a user information management unit 1k of the home server 1 stores user information. The user information includes, for example, age information of the user of the home system HS and usage frequency information (times / year) of installed applications. In this example, the age information of the user: 65 years old is set by the system installer or user, and the usage frequency information of the installed theater mode application is updated by the system configuration management unit 1d as needed.

  When the entry notification is received from the temperature sensor 21 via the home network NT1, the system configuration management unit 1d recognizes that the temperature sensor 21 has entered the system (entry detection) and manages the managed system configuration. Update. That is, the home server 1 can uniquely identify the facility device 2 that has entered the network with reference to the system configuration management unit 1d.

  In FIG. 1, when the temperature sensor 21 is newly connected to the home network NT1, and the system configuration management unit 1d of the home server 1 receives the entry notification from the temperature sensor 21 via the home network NT1, the system configuration management unit 1d recognizes that the temperature sensor 21 has entered the system (entry detection), and updates the managed system configuration.

  The download unit 1c refers to the system configuration managed by the system configuration management unit 1d, recognizes the entry of the temperature sensor 21, and an application (temperature sensor application) used for independent operation of the temperature sensor is the application execution unit 1b. To determine if it is already installed. If the temperature sensor application is already installed, it is determined that there is no application to be downloaded from the center server 4, and the process ends. On the other hand, when the temperature sensor application is not installed, the temperature sensor application, that is, temperature measurement data suitable for elderly people 65 years or older is referred to by referring to the user information of the user information management unit 1k. An application for a temperature sensor that uses characters with a large font size for display is desired. Therefore, the download unit 1c inquires of the center server 4 whether or not a temperature sensor application having a large font size for display characters is stored.

  If the center server 4 stores a temperature sensor application with a large font size of display characters in response to the inquiry from the download unit 1 c of the home server 1, the center server 4 provides this temperature sensor application to the home server 1. . If a temperature sensor application having a large font size is not stored, a temperature sensor application having a normal font size is provided to the home server 4.

  The application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 installs a temperature sensor application having a large font size downloaded by the download unit 1c and puts it into an execution state, thereby displaying the measurement data in a large font size. it can. Therefore, it becomes a system in which temperature measurement data is easy to see for an elderly person 65 years or older.

  Next, the application execution unit 1b of the home server 1 has already installed and executed the theater mode application. Here, in the user information of the user management information management unit 1k, when the usage frequency information of the theater mode application is set to 0 times / year, the application execution unit 1b does not require the theater mode application for the user. It is determined that the application is a new application, and the theater mode application is uninstalled. Therefore, it is possible to automatically uninstall an application that is determined to be unnecessary based on the usage frequency of each application.

  In addition to the user age information and the usage frequency information of the installed application, the user information includes the number of users information, the usage time of the installed application, and the like based on the user information. The determination of application installation and uninstallation may be made in more detail.

  In this way, not only the type of application but also user information can be taken into account, and an application suitable for the user of the home system HS can be automatically installed and uninstalled.

  The system may be configured by appropriately combining the application installation and uninstallation patterns (1) to (10). FIG. 4 shows a table TB in which installation conditions and uninstallation conditions for each application are set. Here, even when the usage frequency of the installed application becomes 0 (times / year) as the uninstall condition for each pattern, the application may be determined to be unnecessary and uninstalled. This table configuration is merely an example, and other configurations combining the patterns (1) to (10) may be used.

  Thus, by configuring the system by appropriately combining the patterns (1) to (10), when the configuration or system environment of the facility device 2 changes, the facility device is not operated by the user. The application related to the configuration of 2 and the change of the system environment can be automatically installed and used. That is, when the configuration of the equipment 2 or the system environment changes, the equipment system can easily install only necessary applications.

  In the present embodiment, the home server 1 determines whether or not the application can be downloaded according to the entry status of the equipment 2. However, the home server 1 may transmit the entry status of the equipment device 2 to the center server 4, and the center server 4 may determine whether the application can be downloaded according to the entry status of the equipment device 2.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Home server 1a Communication part 1b Application execution part 1c Download part 1d System configuration management part 2 (21-24) Equipment 3 Router 4 Center server NT1 Residential network NT2 Internet

Claims (11)

A facility system in which a plurality of terminal devices including one or more facility devices having a predetermined function are connected to a network, and each terminal device communicates via the network,
An application storage means for storing a plurality of applications for monitoring or controlling the function of the equipment;
A system configuration management means for detecting entry of equipment into the network, recognizing equipment entering the network and managing the system configuration;
An application execution means for executing the installed application to monitor or control the equipment;
When the system configuration management means detects the entry of equipment into the network, the network comprises a download means that downloads an application related to the equipment detected in the entry from the application storage means to the application execution means.
An application execution means installs and executes a downloaded application. In the case where the system configuration management unit detects entry of a facility device into the network, the download unit detects an application related to a combination of the facility device whose entry has been detected and another facility device that has entered the network. Download from the application storage means to the application execution means,
The facility system according to claim 1, wherein the application execution unit installs and executes the downloaded application. The system configuration management means manages the number of facility devices that have entered the network,
The download means downloads an application selected based on the number of the equipment devices from the application storage means to the application execution means,
The installation system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the application execution means installs and executes the downloaded application.   4. The system configuration management unit detects the detachment of the equipment device from the network, and the application execution unit uninstalls an application related to the equipment device from which the detachment is detected. Any one of the equipment systems.   When the system configuration management unit detects the detachment of the facility device from the network, the application execution unit is an application related to a combination of the facility device that has detected the detachment and another facility device that has entered the network. The facility system according to claim 4, wherein the system is uninstalled.   The facility system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the application execution means uninstalls an application based on the number of facility devices that have entered the network. The system configuration management means manages the operating time of each equipment device that has entered the network,
The download means downloads the application selected based on the operating time of each equipment device from the application storage means to the application execution means,
The installation system according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the application execution means installs and executes the downloaded application, or uninstalls the application based on the operating time of each facility device. Equipment status monitoring means for monitoring the status of equipment,
The download unit downloads the application selected based on the monitoring result of the device state monitoring unit from the application storage unit to the application execution unit,
The installation system according to any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the application execution unit installs and executes the downloaded application, or uninstalls the application based on a monitoring result of the device state monitoring unit. Provide regional information management means to manage the regional information where this system is installed,
The download means downloads the application selected based on the regional information from the application storage means to the application execution means,
The installation system according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the application execution means installs and executes the downloaded application, or uninstalls the application based on the regional information. It has time information management means for managing time information corresponding to the place where this system is installed,
The download means downloads the application selected based on the time information from the application storage means to the application execution means,
The installation system according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the application execution unit installs and executes the downloaded application, or uninstalls the application based on the time information. Use period management means for managing usable period information of each application that is installed and executable by the application execution means,
The equipment system according to any one of claims 4 to 10, wherein the application execution unit determines an application whose usable period has passed based on the usable period information, and uninstalls the determined application. .

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