JP2011182344A - Electric appliance control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device capable of controlling a number of home electric appliances. <P>SOLUTION: A home gateway 10 performs data communication by radio between a power supplying device such as a power source tap 31, a wall socket 32 and a wall switch 33 and a home electric appliance control device such as an infrared learning remote controller 34, a USB adapter 35 and a JEM-A adapter 36, and manages status data indicating the state of power supply to a home electric appliance connected to these power supply devices or the state of a home electric appliance controlled by these home electric appliance control devices. When a user displays a Web page distributed from the home gateway 10 using a PC 11 and instructs the status change of a desired home electric appliance on that Web page, the home gateway 10 transmits control data corresponding to the user instruction to the power supply devices or the home electric appliance control devices. As a result, the user can remotely control existent various home electric appliances. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling the status of electrical equipment arranged in a predetermined space.

  There is a technique in which a user remotely controls the status of various electric devices arranged indoors, such as ON / OFF, from the outside. A system constructed by such a technique is generally known as an HA (Home Automation) system. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses that even when a user is outdoors, by giving an instruction from a mobile phone to a home gateway disposed indoors via the Internet, for example, ON / OFF of an electric device such as an air conditioner. HA systems that can be turned off have been proposed.

JP 2008-283433 A

  In a conventional HA system, an electrical device whose status is to be changed by remote operation needs to have a communication interface for performing wired or wireless data communication with a management device that manages the status of the electrical device. is there. Therefore, an electric device that does not have such a communication interface, that is, an electric device that is not compatible with the HA system cannot be incorporated into the HA system.

  In addition, conventional HA systems often use communication standards that are independently adopted by individual electrical equipment manufacturers or communication protocols that are originally formulated, and are manufactured and sold by different electrical equipment manufacturers. It is difficult to use these electrical devices in one HA system.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a mechanism capable of seamlessly controlling more electrical devices as compared with a control system for electrical devices exemplified by a conventional HA system.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides:
A management device comprising Internet communication means for performing data communication with an external device in accordance with the Internet protocol, and storage means for storing status data indicating the status of the electrical equipment for each of the one or more electrical equipments;
A control device comprising a control signal output means for outputting a control signal, which is a signal for controlling the status of the electric device, to each of the one or more electric devices;
The management device comprises wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the control device,
The control device includes wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the management device,
The wireless communication means of the management device is status data relating to the one electrical device stored in the storage device in accordance with instruction data for instructing control of the one electrical device received from an external device by the Internet communication device. Control data for instructing control of the one electrical device is transmitted to the control device based on the status indicated by
When control data for instructing the control device to control one electrical device is transmitted to the control device by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit controls the one electrical device according to the control data. Storing the status data indicating the status of the one electrical device after being stored as status data relating to the one electrical device,
When control data instructing control of one electrical device is received from the control device by the wireless communication unit of the control device, the control signal output unit sends a control signal to the one electrical device according to the control data. An electrical device control system for output is provided (first embodiment).

In the first embodiment above,
The control device includes status data acquisition means for acquiring status data indicating the changed status from the electrical device when the status of the electrical device is changed for each of the one or more electrical devices,
The wireless communication means of the control device transmits the status data acquired by the status data acquisition means to the management device,
When the status data regarding one electrical device transmitted from the control device is received by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit stores the status data indicating the status data or the status indicated by the status data. A configuration may be adopted in which the data is stored as status data relating to the one electrical device (second embodiment).

In the first embodiment described above,
The control signal output means is a copy of the infrared code for an electric device that receives an input of a control signal that is an infrared code output from an infrared remote controller and controls the status of the own machine according to the control signal. A configuration for outputting a control signal may be employed (third embodiment).

In the above first or second embodiment,
The control signal output means may be configured to output a control signal in accordance with the JEM-A standard to an electric device having a JEM-A terminal (fourth embodiment).

In the above first or second embodiment,
The control signal output means may be configured to output a control signal in accordance with the USB standard to an electric device having a USB terminal (fifth embodiment).

The present invention also provides
Management comprising Internet communication means for performing data communication with an external device according to the Internet protocol, and storage means for storing status data indicating the status of power supply to each of the one or more electric devices Equipment,
Input means for receiving power input from a power source, output means for outputting the power to each of the one or more electrical devices, and energization state between the input means and the output means for each of the one or more electrical devices A control device comprising an energization state control means for controlling
The management device comprises wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the control device,
The control device includes wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the management device,
The wireless communication unit of the management device is configured to store the one electrical device stored in the storage unit according to instruction data instructing control of power supply to the one electrical device received from the external device by the Internet communication unit. Control data for instructing control of power supply to the one electrical device based on the status indicated by the status data regarding the control device,
When the control data for instructing the control device to control the power supply to one electrical device is transmitted to the control device by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit powers the one electrical device according to the control data Storing status data indicating the status of the power supply after the supply control is performed as status data relating to the one electrical device;
When the control data instructing the control of power supply to one electrical device is received from the control device by the wireless communication unit of the control device, the energization state control unit is configured to control the electrical device according to the control data. An electrical equipment control system for controlling an energization state between an input means and the output means is provided (sixth embodiment).

In the sixth embodiment above,
The control device includes an operator that can take two or more discrete statuses or continuously changing statuses in response to a user's physical operation,
The energization state control means controls the energization state between the input means and the output means for each of one or more electrical devices according to the status of the operation element,
The wireless communication unit of the control device, when the control by the energization state control unit related to one electrical device is performed according to the status of the operation element, of the one electrical device after the control is performed Sending status data indicating the energized state to the management device;
When the status data regarding one electrical device transmitted from the control device is received by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit stores the status data indicating the status data or the status indicated by the status data. A configuration may be adopted in which the data is stored as status data relating to the one electrical device (seventh embodiment).

In the above sixth or seventh embodiment,
The control device includes a measuring unit that measures the amount of electric power supplied from the output unit to the electric device with respect to each of the one or more electric devices.
A configuration may be employed in which the wireless communication unit of the control device transmits power amount data indicating the amount of power measured by the measuring unit to the management device (eighth embodiment).

In any one of the first to eighth embodiments,
The management device performs data communication between an internal Internet communication unit that performs data communication with an external device in an internal network to which the control device belongs, and an external device on the Internet as the Internet communication unit. An external Internet communication means,
The management device includes routing means for routing data communicated by the internal internet communication means and data communicated by the external internet communication means,
The management device includes Web server means that functions as a Web server that transmits Web page data instructing display of a Web page in response to a request from an external device belonging to the internal network.
The internal internet communication means receives the instruction data transmitted as a response to the web page data transmitted by the web server means;
The external Internet communication means transmits request data for requesting establishment of a communication connection to an external Web server device belonging to the Internet, and is predetermined with the external Web server device using the transmission of the request data as a trigger. Establishing a communication connection with the external Web server device by performing data communication of
The management device stores status data stored in the storage unit with the external Web server device via a communication connection established with the external Web server device by the external Internet communication unit. Synchronization means for performing the synchronization processing of
The external Internet communication means may be configured to receive the instruction data transmitted from the external Web server device via a communication connection established with the external Web server device ( Ninth embodiment).

In the ninth embodiment,
Operation data acquisition means that belongs to the internal network and acquires operation data indicating the contents of user operations, Internet communication means that performs data communication according to the Internet protocol, and image data that indicates a Web page according to Web page data Web page generating means for generating, moving picture generating means for sequentially generating image data indicating a plurality of still images constituting the moving picture by decoding encoded moving picture data indicating the moving picture, the Web page generating means and the moving picture generating A configuration including a terminal function providing device including image data output means for outputting the image data generated by the means to the display device may be employed (tenth embodiment).

In the ninth or tenth embodiment,
An electronic key comprising: a nonvolatile memory that stores identification data in a nonvolatile manner; and a data output terminal that is detachably attached to a terminal device and that allows the identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory to be read out to the terminal device With
The Internet communication means of the management device may be configured to receive the identification data read by the external device from the electronic key attached to the external device (11th embodiment).

In any one of the first to eleventh embodiments,
The storage means stores one or more pieces of the control data in association with a plurality of event identification data for identifying a predetermined event, and the wireless communication means of the management device uses the event identification data stored in the storage means. When an event to be identified occurs, a configuration may be adopted in which one or more control data stored in the storage means in association with the event identification data is transmitted to the control device (a twelfth embodiment). ).

In the twelfth embodiment,
A sensor that detects a physical change in the environment or measures a physical state of the environment and outputs a signal indicating the result of the detection or measurement, and data corresponding to the signal output from the sensor as notification data An observation device comprising notification data transmission means for wireless transmission,
The management device includes notification data receiving means for receiving notification data transmitted from the notification data transmitting means,
The predetermined event may be configured to include reception of predetermined notification data by the notification data receiving means (a thirteenth embodiment).

In the thirteenth embodiment,
The observation apparatus includes an operator that can take two or more discrete statuses or a continuously changing status in response to a physical operation of a user,
The sensor may be configured to detect a change in status in the operation element provided in the observation device or measure the status (fourteenth embodiment).

In any one of the first to fourteenth embodiments described above,
The management device receives audio-visual data indicating at least one of a moving image, a sound, and a still image according to one format received from an external device by the Internet communication means of the management device, and another format different from the one format. Conversion means for converting into audiovisual data according to
The Internet communication means of the management device may be configured to transmit audiovisual data generated by the conversion by the conversion means to an external device (fifteenth embodiment).

In any one of the first to fifteenth embodiments,
The wireless communication unit of the management device and the wireless communication unit of the control device may each be configured to perform data communication according to the ZigBee standard (sixteenth embodiment).

  According to the electrical equipment control system of the first embodiment of the present invention, a dedicated communication interface is provided as long as the electrical equipment receives an input of a control signal from the outside and controls the status according to the control signal. Even if it is not, the status of the electric device can be controlled by remote control. At that time, there is no need to run a data communication line between the management device and the electrical device.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, as long as the electrical equipment can output status data indicating the status of its own device to the outside, for example, a switch, knob, slider, etc. provided in the electrical equipment Even when the user directly controls the status by operating the operator, the status management by the management device can be continued and performed correctly.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, electrical equipment that can be controlled by the infrared remote controller can be controlled by remote operation from another space where the electrical equipment cannot be seen. .

  According to the electric equipment control system concerning the 4th embodiment of the present invention, it becomes possible to control the electric equipment provided with the communication interface according to JEM-A standard by remote control.

  According to the electrical device control system of the fifth embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to control an electrical device having a communication interface according to the USB standard by remote operation.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention, the electrical equipment that can control the ON / OFF of the operation according to the presence / absence of energization, and the power during the operation are controlled according to the amount of electrical supply The status of possible electrical devices can be controlled by remote control. At that time, there is no need to run a data communication line between the management device and the electrical device.

  According to the electrical device control system of the seventh embodiment of the present invention, the user directly controls the energization state of the electrical device by operating the operation elements such as switches, knobs, and sliders provided in the control device. Even when the management is performed, the status management by the management device can be continuously performed correctly.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention, the power consumption of the electrical equipment that receives power supply from the power supply via the control device is accumulated in the management device and can be used for analysis and the like. The so-called smart grid can optimize the amount of power supply. Further, when the user is electrically separated from the control device (that is, the so-called outlet is removed), the separation can be detected by the management device, and the status management by the management device can be continuously performed correctly.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the ninth embodiment of the present invention, the user can control indoor electrical equipment by remote control using a terminal device having a browser function, both indoors and outdoors. it can.

  According to the electrical equipment control system of the tenth embodiment of the present invention, it is downloaded from an external device via the Internet using a television or the like that does not have a communication interface that performs data communication according to the Internet protocol. It is possible to display a moving image according to the moving image data and to control the electric device by remote control.

  According to the electrical equipment control system of the eleventh embodiment of the present invention, the management device is controlled so as to control the electrical equipment only in accordance with an instruction from a terminal device equipped with a USB memory possessed by a legitimate user, for example. By configuring, it is possible to eliminate control by an unauthorized remote operation of an electric device by an unauthorized user. In addition, by configuring the management device to control different electrical devices in response to the same instruction depending on the user, it is possible to control the electrical devices customized for each user. These can also be performed by inputting a password, for example. However, compared with that case, the security is high and the user is easy.

  According to the electrical device control system of the twelfth embodiment of the present invention, for example, by giving one instruction, each of the plurality of electrical devices can be set to a predetermined status. In addition, for example, it is possible to set each of the plurality of electrical devices to a predetermined status at a predetermined time.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, for example, when opening / closing of a door or destruction of a window glass is detected, electrical equipment such as an indoor lighting lamp, a television, or a stereo is turned on. It is possible to check the intrusion of suspicious people indoors and to report the occurrence of abnormalities such as indoor elderly people falling off the bed to the email addresses of outdoor parties Become.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, for example, when the user goes out, the user presses the buttons of the small wireless remote controller to turn off the electrical equipment that does not require the operation while absent, By pressing the buttons of the small wireless remote controller when returning home, it becomes possible to start the operation of necessary electrical devices all at once.

  According to the electrical equipment control system according to the fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, since the difference in the format of the audiovisual data is absorbed by the management device, for example, a television that supports only decoding of the format of the specific audiovisual data is used. In addition, it is possible to reproduce a moving image according to audiovisual data in various formats that can be downloaded via the Internet.

  According to the electrical equipment control system of the sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, the power consumption is small compared to the case where wireless communication according to a standard capable of high-speed data communication such as WiFi is used, and infrared communication is used. It is also possible to control an electric device arranged in a place that cannot be seen as compared with the case where it is used.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an electrical equipment control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the home gateway according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the Web server device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a power strip and the like according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of an infrared learning remote controller or the like according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the multistation according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the USB key according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a remote control key and the like according to one embodiment of the present invention.

(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an electrical equipment control system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The electrical equipment control system 1 uses a terminal device having a browser function to remotely control various electrical equipment (hereinafter referred to as “home appliances”) placed indoors, both indoors and outdoors that can access the Internet. It is an HA system that can be controlled.

  Further, the electrical equipment control system 1 is a home security system that provides countermeasures against disasters such as illegal intruders and fires, a multimedia content providing system that mainly provides audiovisual content such as videos by streaming, etc. It also has a function as a home medical system that provides services such as countermeasures and health / medical consultation in the event of abnormal physical condition.

  The core of the electrical equipment control system 1 is arranged between a LAN (Local Area Network) 91 that interconnects indoor network-compatible equipment wirelessly or by wire and an outdoor Internet 92, and functions as a so-called broadband router. Home gateway 10.

  The home gateway 10 has a function of managing the status of home appliances integrated in the electrical device control system 1 in addition to a function as a router, and corresponds to a management device in the claims of the present application. The home gateway 10 has a Web server function that distributes Web pages for remote control of various home appliances (hereinafter referred to as “indoor operation instruction pages”) to devices belonging to the LAN 91. The user can use the terminal device as a remote controller for various home appliances by accessing the indoor operation instruction page indoors using a terminal device having a browser function and giving instructions on the page.

  The home gateway 10 also has a mailer function, and performs processing such as automatically transmitting a photograph of an intruder taken by a network camera connected to the LAN 91 to the user's e-mail address.

  The LAN 91 includes a PC 11 such as a notebook PC (Personal Computer) or a desktop PC, a smartphone 12 that is a mobile terminal device having a browser function, a network-compatible game machine 13, a network-compatible audio player 14, and a network-compatible video player 15. , A TV (Television Set) TV 16 having a browser function, a NAS (Network Attached Storage) 17, a network camera 18, and a multi-station which is a device that provides a browser function and a multimedia content playback function to a non-network compatible TV Various network-compatible devices such as 19 can be connected. These network compatible devices are examples, and all types of network compatible devices connectable to the LAN 91 can be integrated into the electric device control system 1.

  The multi-station 19 is a device having a browser function and a function as a so-called media server, and corresponds to a terminal function providing device in the claims of the present application. The browser function provided by the multi-station 19 generates an image signal indicating a web page to be displayed in response to a user operation and an accompanying audio signal, and the generated image signal and audio signal are directly transmitted to the multi-station 19. This is a function for outputting to the TV 21, which is a connected network-incompatible TV.

  The functions as the media server provided by the multistation 19 are, for example, the following (1) to (3).

(1) Manage multimedia data such as video data and music data stored in each DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) compatible audiovisual device connected in the LAN 91, and use those multimedia data as needed After format conversion, the data is transmitted to the terminal device in the LAN 91 by streaming or the like.

(2) The multimedia data transmitted from the Internet 92 via the home gateway 10 is converted in format as necessary, and then transmitted to the terminal devices in the LAN 91 by streaming or the like.

(3) Output to the TV 21 an image signal and an audio signal indicating the content reproduction content according to the multimedia data.

  As described above, the TV 21 is a network-incompatible TV, and functions as a browser or a multimedia content playback device by being directly connected to the multi-station 19. The multi-station 19 includes video / audio output terminals in accordance with various standards such as an F-type antenna terminal, a composite terminal, an S terminal, an RGB 21-pin terminal, various D terminals, and an HDMI terminal. By connecting to the multi-station 19 with a cable via a video / audio input terminal conforming to any of the above standards, it is possible to receive image signals indicating browser screens and various still images / moving images, and audio and music associated therewith. The voice signal to be shown is acquired from the multi-station 19, and the images are displayed or the voice is pronounced.

  The home gateway 10 performs data communication with the above-described various network-compatible devices via the LAN 91, for example, a wired LAN communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “IEEE802.3 interface”) in accordance with IEEE802.3. ) And a wireless LAN communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “IEEE802.11 interface”) according to the IEEE 802.11 series (IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11n, etc.).

  In addition to these communication interfaces, the home gateway 10 includes a wireless LAN communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “IEEE802.15 interface”) according to the IEEE 802.15 series (Bluetooth, ZigBee, etc.).

  The IEEE 802.15 series (Bluetooth, UWB, ZigBee, etc.) has a low communication speed and a relatively short communication distance, but can provide stable communication with low power. This is a data communication standard suitable for data communication. The inventor of the present application has determined that ZigBee, which consumes less power and can produce a communication interface module at a low cost, is the most suitable for the HA system among the IEEE 802.15 series. Therefore, the IEEE 802.15 interface provided in the home gateway 10 is compatible with ZigBee.

  The electrical equipment control system 1 includes a power tap 31, a wall outlet 32, a wall switch 33, an infrared learning remote controller 34, a USB adapter 35, and a JEM-A adapter as equipment for the home gateway 10 to perform data communication via the IEEE802.15 interface. 36. Each of these devices is a device having a function of controlling or instructing the status of such home appliances to electrically connected home appliances or home appliances capable of communicating by infrared rays. It corresponds to a control device. Each of these devices has a ZigBee-compliant IEEE802.15 interface, and performs wireless data communication with the home gateway 10 to provide the current status of the home appliance to be controlled to the home gateway 10. And in response to an instruction from the home gateway 10, control or a control instruction is performed for the home appliance to be controlled.

  The power strip 31 and the wall outlet 32 can be connected to a power plug of a home appliance that can be controlled to be turned on and off depending on whether or not electricity is supplied, such as a desk light 41, an electric heating carpet 42, and a fan 43. In addition, these household appliances are illustrations, Comprising: All the household appliances which can control ON / OFF of operation | movement by the presence or absence of electricity supply may be connected to the power strip 31 or the wall outlet 32. FIG.

  The wall switch 33 can be connected to home appliances such as a ceiling light 44 and a ventilating fan 45 that can be controlled to be turned on / off depending on whether or not electricity is supplied, by electric wiring in the wall surface. In addition, these household appliances are illustrations, Comprising: All the household appliances which can control ON / OFF of operation | movement by the presence or absence of electricity supply can be connected to the wall switch 33. FIG.

  The power tap 31, the wall outlet 32, and the wall switch 33 continuously measure the amount of power supplied to the connected home appliance for each of the power supply ports included in the power tap 31, and the power amount data indicating the measurement result Is periodically transmitted to the home gateway 10 wirelessly through an IEEE802.15 interface, for example.

  The infrared learning remote controller 34 copies an infrared code output by an infrared remote controller widely used in home appliances such as an air conditioner and various audio visual devices, and outputs the copied infrared code to the home appliance at an intended timing. It is an apparatus provided with the function of.

  However, unlike the existing infrared learning remote controller, the infrared learning remote controller 34 has an IEEE802.15 interface and performs wireless data communication with the home gateway 10. For this reason, when the infrared learning remote controller 34 learns the infrared code, the infrared code learning web page provided by the home gateway 10 is displayed on a terminal device such as the PC 11 and the terminal device is operated, so that a high display capability is achieved. Compared to many existing infrared learning remotes that do not have, the work can be done comfortably.

  Note that the infrared code data indicating the learned infrared code is stored in the infrared learning remote controller 34, but the infrared code data may be stored in the home gateway 10. In that case, the infrared learning remote controller 34 may simply have a function of outputting an infrared code according to the infrared code data transmitted from the home gateway 10 via the IEEE802.15 interface.

  For example, an air conditioner 51, a TV 52, an audio player 53, a video player 54, and a ceiling light 55 can be integrated into the electrical device control system 1 as home appliances controlled by the infrared learning remote controller 34. Note that these home appliances are merely examples, and any home appliances whose status is controlled by an infrared code can be integrated into the electrical device control system 1 under the control of the infrared learning remote controller 34.

  The USB adapter 35 is an adapter for integrating a PC peripheral device having a terminal conforming to the USB (Universal Serial Bus) standard (hereinafter referred to as “USB peripheral device”) into the electric device control system 1, and IEEE802.15. By providing wireless communication with the home gateway 10 by providing an interface, a control signal in accordance with an instruction from the home gateway 10 is output to the USB peripheral device, and data acquired by the USB peripheral device is returned to the home Transmit to the gateway 10.

  For example, a USB camera 61 and a USB microphone 62 can be integrated into the electrical device control system 1 as home appliances controlled by the USB adapter 35. Note that these USB peripheral devices are examples, and various USB peripheral devices can be integrated into the electric device control system 1 under the control of the USB adapter 35.

  The JEM-A adapter 36 is used for integrating a home appliance controller (hereinafter referred to as “JEM-A controller”) having a terminal conforming to the JEM-A (JEMA standard HA terminal-A) standard into the electrical equipment control system 1. It is an adapter, has an IEEE802.15 interface, and performs wireless data communication with the home gateway 10 to output a control signal in accordance with an instruction from the home gateway 10 to the JEM-A controller and JEM- Status data indicating the status of the home appliance controlled by the A controller is acquired from the JEM-A controller and transmitted to the home gateway 10.

  For example, a conductive curtain 71, an air conditioner 72, an electronic lock 73, a ceiling light 74, a floor heater 75, and the like can be integrated into the electric equipment control system 1 as home appliances controlled by the JEM-A adapter 36. In addition, these household appliances are illustrations, Comprising: Various household appliances controlled by a JEM-A controller can be integrated in the electric equipment control system 1 by control of the JEM-A adapter 36. FIG.

  The home gateway 10 includes an FM modulation communication interface (hereinafter referred to as “FM interface”) having a transmission frequency of 426 MHz in addition to the above-described IEEE 802.3 interface, IEEE 802.11 interface, and IEEE 802.11 interface.

  A transmission frequency of 426MHz is used as a low-power security waveband, and some existing security devices such as door sensors, threatening lights, security cameras, motion sensors, etc. have a communication interface using FM modulation system using this frequency There are many. The home gateway 10 includes an FM interface in order to enable integration of those existing security devices into the electric device control system 1.

  The electrical device control system 1 is a device in which the home gateway 10 performs data communication via the FM interface, for example, a door sensor 81, a threatening light 82, a security camera 83, a low-frequency sensor 84, a motion sensor 85, a temperature sensor 86, and smoke detection. A sensor 87, an emergency switch 88, and a remote control key 89 are provided. Each of these devices is equipped with a sensor that detects physical changes in the environment and measures the physical state of the environment. The home gateway uses FM modulation as the notification data based on the signal output from the sensor. 10 and corresponds to the observation device in the claims of the present application.

  Each of these devices has an FM interface with a transmission frequency of 426 MHz. By performing wireless data communication with the home gateway 10, notification data is transmitted to the home gateway 10, and the types of devices are also included. Depending on the instruction from the home gateway 10, operations and processing such as light emission and sound generation (for example, in the case of the threatening light 82), start of imaging (for example, in the case of the security camera 83), and the like are performed.

  The door sensor 81, the threatening light 82, the security camera 83, the motion sensor 85, the temperature sensor 86, the smoke detection sensor 87, and the emergency switch 88 are known as general security devices having an FM interface.

  The low-frequency sensor 84 detects low-frequency air vibrations, so that, for example, it does not react to living sounds in the room, but the door can be located in the same building, such as on the first and second floors. It is a sensor that reacts to the opening and closing of the.

  The remote control key 89 is a remote control carried by each user, and includes, for example, a “go home” button to be pressed when returning home and an “out” button to be pressed when going out. When the user presses these buttons, via the FM interface, The remote control key 89 has a function of transmitting a remote control ID uniquely assigned to the remote control key 89 and a button ID for identifying the pressed button to the home gateway 10.

  As will be described later, the home gateway 10 has a function of executing a specific process set in advance in response to the occurrence of a specific event. Therefore, for example, when the user A goes out, simply pressing the “going out” button of his / her remote control key 89 turns off unnecessary power in all rooms, turns on the sensor function of the security device, and locks the electronic lock. It is possible to instruct the electric appliance control system 1 to control various home appliances. Similarly, for example, when the user A comes home, simply pressing the “return home” button of his remote control key 89 turns off the sensor function of the security device, unlocks the electronic lock, and turns on the lighting of his room. It is possible to instruct the electric appliance control system 1 to control various home appliances.

  Connected to the Internet 92 is a Web server device 901 that distributes Web pages (hereinafter referred to as “outdoor operation instruction pages”) for a user to remotely control various home appliances at home from outside. The outdoor operation instruction page is a Web page that basically plays the same role as the indoor operation instruction page distributed by the home gateway 10 within the LAN 91. The Web server device 901 corresponds to an external Web server device in the claims of the present application.

  In the outdoor operation instruction page, it is necessary to accurately display the current status of various home appliances arranged indoors. Therefore, the Web server device 901 shares status data indicating the status of various home appliances with the home gateway 10 through synchronization processing.

  In order to avoid the risk of information leakage, it is prohibited for the home gateway 10 to transmit data in the LAN 91 to the Internet 92 in response to a request initiated from the Internet 92 called so-called inbound. Further, depending on the mechanism adopted by the Internet provider that provides a connection service to the Internet 92 for the home gateway 10, it may be inbound in an indoor relay device such as an ADSL modem or an optical modem or an outdoor relay device such as a proxy server device. In some cases, data transmission to the Internet 92 side is prohibited.

  Therefore, in the electrical device control system 1, the URL of the Web server device 901 is stored in advance in the home gateway 10, and when the home gateway 10 is connected to the Internet 92, the home gateway 10 side sends the URL to the Web server device 901. A mechanism for requesting establishment of a communication connection is employed.

  More specifically, first, the home gateway 10 transmits request data for requesting establishment of a communication connection to the Web server device 901, and the transmission of the request data is used as a trigger between the home gateway 10 and the Web server device 901. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection is established. Thereafter, the home gateway 10 and the Web server device 901 maintain a VPN connection, and establish a communication session on the VPN connection as necessary, and are required for status data synchronization and transmission of a control instruction from the Web server device 901 to the home gateway 10. Perform data communication.

  A user accesses the Web server device 901 outdoors using, for example, the PC 11 to display an outdoor operation instruction page, and confirms the status of various home appliances in the home on the page, and gives instructions for remote operation of the page. Can go. Similarly, the user connects to the Internet 92 via the mobile phone communication network 93 using the smartphone 12, for example, and accesses the Web server device 901 to display the outdoor operation instruction page. It is possible to check the status of various home appliances in the home and to give instructions for remote control thereof.

  Various servers that provide various kinds of information to devices in the LAN 91 in the electrical equipment control system 1 are connected to the Internet 92. In FIG. 1, as an example of such a server device, a content distribution server 902 that transmits multimedia data, an image (between a user and a medical professional) that provides information on health and medical care as necessary. A home medical server 903 that relays bidirectional communication using still images / moving images) and audio is shown.

  By the way, in the electrical equipment control system 1, the USB key 910 can be used as a device that can easily avoid information leakage and avoid illegal content distribution. The USB key 910 corresponds to an electronic key in the claims of the present application.

  The USB key 910 includes a USB terminal and is attached to a terminal device such as the PC 11 including the USB terminal. A USB key ID, which is a unique identifier, is stored in the USB key 910. For example, when the user accesses the home gateway 10 indoors and displays an indoor operation instruction page, or accesses the co-web server device 901 outdoors. However, when the outdoor operation instruction page is displayed, the user ID and password are required for personal authentication. At this time, if the USB key 910 is attached to the terminal device, the USB key ID stored in the USB key 910 together with the input user ID and password is also used for the home gateway 10 or the Web server device 901 (hereinafter simply “ Home gateway 10 etc.) ”.

  In the home gateway 10 or the like, for example, one of two security levels of “high” and “low” is set for each home appliance operation that can be instructed by the user. The operation of the security level “low” is an operation related to control that the home gateway 10 or the like is permitted to execute without requiring the reception of the USB key ID. The operation of the security level “high” is an operation related to control that is permitted to be executed only when the home gateway 10 or the like receives a correct USB key ID.

  For example, as an operation of the security level “high”, unlocking of the electronic lock 73, viewing of paid content, and the like can be considered.

  Since the USB key 910 cannot physically share a plurality of names at the same time, for example, the security performance is higher than that of a user ID and password that can be stolen without the knowledge of a legitimate user. Furthermore, in the case of a user ID and password, for example, by sharing a plurality of names, it is possible to illegally view paid content by a plurality of names. Viewing is difficult.

  Note that when necessary personal authentication is ensured only by mounting the USB key 910, the input of the user ID and password may be omitted. In this case, the user can complete the personal authentication simply by attaching the USB key 910, which is convenient.

  Below, among various devices constituting the electrical equipment control system 1, the home gateway 10, the Web server device 901, the power strip 31 to the wall switch 33, the infrared learning remote controller 34 to the JEM-A adapter 36, which are characteristic in light of the existing technology. The functional configuration of the multistation 19, the USB key 910, and the remote control key 89 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the home gateway 10. In the present embodiment, the home gateway 10 is configured as a so-called dedicated machine, but is generally provided with two communication interfaces for performing data communication with other communication devices in the LAN 91 and the Internet 92. The home gateway 10 may be realized by a simple PC performing processing according to the application program according to the present invention.

The home gateway 10 includes the following functional components.
Internet communication unit 101: performs various data communication with an external device according to the Internet protocol. An internal Internet communication unit 1011 that performs various data communications with various devices such as the PC 11, the smartphone 12, and the game machine 13 that are disposed indoors via the LAN 91, a Web server device 901, and a content distribution server via the Internet 92 902, an external Internet communication unit 1012 that performs various data communications with various devices such as the home medical server 903.

  The internal Internet communication unit 1011 has an IEEE 802.3 interface and an IEEE 802.11 interface. The external Internet communication unit 1012 has an IEEE 802.3 interface.

Storage unit 102: For each of various types of home appliances arranged indoors, the status of power supply such as the amount of power supply in the ON / OFF state of the power supply to the home appliance or the power supply amount in the ON / OFF or ON state of the home appliance Stores status data indicating the status of the home appliance such as the degree (for example, the degree of brightness of the ceiling light).
In addition, user data including a combination of a user ID, a password, and a USB key ID for authenticating the user identity, data indicating the reproduction status of the user's multimedia content, data indicating the purchase status of the paid content, and the like are stored. .
Furthermore, in order to turn off household appliances related to lighting or air conditioning for event IDs that identify events such as notification data indicating that the “going out” button has been pressed, for example, from the USB key 910 carried by the user A Event / action data associated with one or more control data such as the control data is stored.

Wireless communication unit 103: An IEEE802.15 interface is provided, and various data communication is performed with the power strip 31 to the JEM-A adapter 36.
Routing unit 104: data communicated with a device connected to LAN 91 by internal Internet communication unit 1011 and data communicated with a device connected to Internet 92 by external Internet communication unit 1012 Do routing between.

Web server unit 105: In response to a request from a terminal device connected to the LAN 91, transmits Web page data for instructing display of an indoor operation instruction page.
Synchronization unit 106: Synchronization of status data and user data stored in the storage unit 102 with the Web server device 901 via the VPN connection established with the Web server device 901 by the external Internet communication unit 1012 Process.

  Notification data receiving unit 107: Receives any notification (for example, notification that door opening / closing by the door sensor 81 has been detected) transmitted from any one of the door sensor 81 to the remote control key 89.

Conversion unit 108: The format of multimedia data transmitted from a device connected to the Internet 92, such as the content distribution server 902, by the external Internet communication unit 1012 is changed to the multimedia data transmission destination device connected to the LAN 91. Convert to a decodable format (ie, transcode by decoding and encoding).
FM communication unit 109: includes an FM interface, and performs various data communication with the door sensor 81 to the remote control key 89.

  Control unit 100: Controls each functional component included in the home gateway 10. Examples of control performed by the control unit 100 are as follows.

  When a user operates a terminal device connected to the LAN 91 and gives an instruction on the indoor operation instruction page, the terminal device instructs the internal Internet communication unit 1011 to control power supply to the home appliance or control the home appliance. Data is sent. Further, when the user operates a terminal device connected to the Internet 92 to give an instruction on the outdoor operation instruction page, similar instruction data is transmitted from the terminal device to the Web server device 901, and the external Internet is synchronized with the synchronization process. The instruction data is transmitted to the communication unit 1012.

  When the internal Internet communication unit 1011 or the external Internet communication unit 1012 receives the instruction data, the control unit 100 indicates the current status of the home appliance indicated by the status data stored in the storage unit 102 based on the received instruction data. Generate control data to instruct control of power supply or home appliance to change to the indicated status, and send the generated control data to the home appliance or to the home appliance (or send an infrared code to the home appliance) ) The internal Internet communication unit 1011, the wireless communication unit 103, or the FM communication unit 109 is controlled to transmit to any of the power strips 31 to JEM-A adapter 36.

  When the control data is generated as described above and the control data is transmitted to the internal Internet communication unit 1011, the wireless communication unit 103, or the FM communication unit 109, the control unit 100 uses the power after the control is performed according to the control data. Generates status data indicating the status of the home appliance after the control is performed according to the supply status or the control data, and overwrites and updates the status data of the home appliance stored in the storage unit 102 with the generated status data The storage unit 102 is controlled to do so.

  In addition, for example, when the user directly turns on or off the wall switch 33, the status of power supply to any home appliance regardless of the control data transmitted from the home gateway 10 or either When the status of the home appliance is changed, status data indicating the changed status is transmitted to the internal Internet communication unit 1011, the wireless communication unit 103, or the FM communication unit 109. In that case, the control unit 100 controls the storage unit 102 to overwrite and update the status data of the home appliance stored in the storage unit 102 with the status data received by the internal Internet communication unit 1011 or the like.

  Moreover, from the power strip 31 to the wall switch 33 having a power amount measuring function, a JEM-A adapter 36 connected to a JEM-A compatible home appliance having a power amount measuring function, and the like, For example, power amount data indicating a measurement result of the amount of power supplied to the home appliance is periodically transmitted to the wireless communication unit 103 or the like. In that case, the control unit 100 stores the power amount data received by the wireless communication unit 103 or the like in the storage unit 102 and, for example, in the storage unit 102 in response to a request from any terminal device connected to the LAN 91. Web page data for displaying information on the power consumption of each home appliance is generated based on the stored electric energy data, and the generated Web page data is transmitted to the requesting terminal device by the Web server unit 105.

  Further, the control unit 100 controls the external Internet communication unit 1012 to cause the Web server device 901 to transmit request data for requesting establishment of a VPN connection, and the Web server device that is started with the transmission of the request data as a trigger By causing the external Internet communication unit 1012 to perform data communication according to a predetermined protocol with the 901, a VPN connection is established with the Web server device 901, and the VPN connection established as necessary is placed on the VPN connection. Establish a communication session.

  In addition, when an event identified by an event ID included in any event / action data stored in the storage unit 102 occurs, the control unit 100 stores one or more stored in association with the event ID. The internal Internet communication unit 1011, the wireless communication unit 103, or the FM communication unit 109 is controlled to transmit the control data to the corresponding devices.

  In addition, the control unit 100 transmits a multimedia data transmission request from the terminal device connected to the LAN 91 to the content distribution server 902, and the multimedia data is transmitted from the content distribution server 902 in response to the transmission request. In such a case, the internal Internet communication unit 1011 is controlled so as to obtain information on the format of multimedia data that can be decoded by the requesting terminal device from the terminal device, and from the content distribution server 902 according to the obtained information. The conversion unit 108 is controlled so as to convert the format of the transmitted multimedia data into a format that can be decoded by the requesting terminal device, and the multimedia data obtained by the conversion is transmitted to the requesting terminal device. So that the inside It controls the Netto communication unit 1011.

  The above is an example of control performed by the control unit 100.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of the Web server device 901. In this embodiment, the Web server device 901 is configured as a so-called dedicated machine, but a general PC having a communication interface for performing data communication with other communication devices on the Internet 92 is provided. The Web server device 901 may be realized by performing processing according to the application program according to the present invention.

The Web server device 901 includes the following functional components.
Communication unit 9011: Performs various data communications with an external device via the Internet 92.
Storage unit 9012: Stores data similar to the status data and user data stored in the storage unit 102 of the home gateway 10.

Web server unit 9013: In response to a request from a terminal device connected to the Internet 92, transmits Web page data for instructing display of an outdoor operation instruction page.
Synchronization unit 9014: Synchronizes status data and user data stored in the storage unit 9012 with the home gateway 10 via the VPN connection established with the home gateway 10 by the communication unit 9011.
Control unit 9010: Controls each functional component included in the Web server device 901.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the power tap 31 to the wall switch 33. The power tap 31 to the wall switch 33 include the following functional components.
Input unit 301: Receives power input from a power source.
Output unit 302: Outputs the power input to the input unit 301 to each of one or more connected home appliances.
Energization state control unit 303: Controls the energization state between the input unit 301 and the output unit 302 for each of one or more home appliances connected to the output unit 302.
Wireless communication unit 304: An IEEE802.15 interface is provided, and various data communication is performed with the home gateway 10.
Control unit 300: Controls each functional component included in the power tap 31 to the wall switch 33.

  A part of the power strip 31 and the wall outlet 32 and the wall switch 33 are provided with an operation element 305 such as a button for a user to perform an ON / OFF operation or a slider for adjusting the degree of illumination brightness, for example. I have. The operation element 305 takes one of two or more discrete or continuously changing electrical statuses in response to a physical operation such as pressing a button or sliding a slider by the user.

  The energization state control unit 303 of the power tap 31 to the wall switch 33 including the operation element 305 controls the energization state between the input unit 301 and the output unit 302 according to the current status of the operation element 305.

  In addition, a part of the power tap 31 to the wall switch 33 measures the amount of electric power supplied from the output unit 302 and displays the electric energy data indicating the measurement result for each of one or more home appliances connected to the output unit 302. A measurement unit 306 to be generated and a storage unit 307 for temporarily storing the electric energy data generated by the measurement unit 306 are provided.

  Examples of control performed by the control unit 300 are as follows.

  When the control data transmitted from the home gateway 10 is received by the wireless communication unit 304, the control unit 300 controls the energization state control unit 303 to realize the energization state according to the control data.

  Further, when the energization state control unit 303 controls the energization state in response to a user operation on the operation element 305, the control unit 300 generates and generates status data indicating the energization state after the control is performed. The wireless communication unit 304 is controlled to transmit the status data thus transmitted to the home gateway 10.

  In addition, regarding the power tap 31 to the wall switch 33 including the measurement unit 306, the control unit 300 wirelessly transmits, for example, periodically the power amount data temporarily stored in the storage unit 307 to the home gateway 10. The communication unit 304 is controlled.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the infrared learning remote controller 34 to the JEM-A adapter 36. The infrared learning remote controller 34 to the JEM-A adapter 36 include the following functional components.
Control signal output unit 311: Outputs a control signal, which is a signal for controlling the status of the home appliance, to home appliances of 1 or more.
Wireless communication unit 312: An IEEE802.15 interface is provided, and various data communication is performed with the home gateway 10.
Status data acquisition unit 313: When the home appliance of the control signal output by the control signal output unit 311 is a home appliance that outputs status data indicating the changed status when the status of the own device is changed, Get status data from the appliance.
Control unit 310: Controls each functional component included in the infrared learning remote controller 34 to the JEM-A adapter 36.

  Examples of control performed by the control unit 310 are as follows.

  When control data transmitted from the home gateway 10 is received by the wireless communication unit 312, the control unit 310 causes the control signal output unit 311 to output a control signal according to the received control data.

  In addition, when the status data acquisition unit 313 acquires status data, the control unit 310 controls the wireless communication unit 312 to transmit the acquired status data to the home gateway 10.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the multi-station 19. The multistation 19 includes the following functional components.
The operation data acquisition unit 191 includes, for example, an IEEE802.15 interface and receives operation data transmitted by a wireless keyboard according to the Bluetooth standard in response to a user operation.
Internet communication unit 192: Performs various data communication with an external device connected to the LAN 91 according to the Internet protocol.

Web page generation unit 193: When Web page data is received by the Internet communication unit 192, image data indicating the screen content of the Web page is generated according to the received Web page data.
Conversion unit 194: Converts the format of multimedia data received from a device such as NAS 17 connected to LAN 91 by Internet communication unit 192 into a format that can be decoded by the request source device connected to LAN 91. (Ie, transcoding by decoding and encoding).

Moving image generation unit 195: When moving image data is received by the Internet communication unit 192, the received moving image data is decoded to sequentially generate image data indicating a plurality of still images constituting the moving image.
Still image generation unit 196: When still image data is received by the Internet communication unit 192, the received still image data is decoded and image data that can be output from the image data output unit 198 is generated.
Voice generation unit 197: When voice data is received by the Internet communication unit 192, the received voice data is decoded and voice data that can be output from the voice data output unit 199 is generated.

Image data output unit 198: The image data generated by the Web page generation unit 193, the moving image generation unit 195, or the still image generation unit 196 corresponds to the input terminal of the image data used for connection to the multi-station 19 of the TV 21. Output after converting to format.
Audio data output unit 199: The audio data generated by the audio generation unit 197 is converted into a format corresponding to the audio data input terminal used for connection to the multi-station 19 of the TV 21, and then output.
Control unit 190: Controls each functional component included in the multi-station 19.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the USB key 910. The USB key 910 includes the following functional components.
Nonvolatile memory 9101: USB key ID unique to USB key 910 is stored.
Data output terminal 9102: Removably attached to the USB terminal, and the USB key ID stored in the data output terminal 9102 is transferred to the apparatus in response to a request from the attached apparatus.
Control unit 9100: Controls each functional component included in the USB key 910.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the functional configuration of the door sensor 81 to the remote control key 89. The door sensor 81 to the remote control key 89 include the following functional components.
Sensor 801: Detection of a physical change in the environment (for example, detection of a change in magnetic force associated with opening and closing of the door in the magnetic type door sensor 81) and measurement of a physical state of the environment (for example, imaging in the security camera 83), A signal indicating the result of detection or measurement is output.
Notification data transmission unit 802: includes an FM interface, and transmits data corresponding to a signal output from the sensor 801 to the home gateway 10 as notification data.
Control unit 800: Controls each functional component included in the door sensor 81 to the remote control key 89.

  Further, the emergency switch 88 and the remote control key 89 are provided with operators 803 such as an emergency button, a “return home” button, and a “go out” button. In that case, the sensor 801 detects a change in the electrical status of the operation element 803 accompanying the user's operation.

  As described above, according to the electrical equipment control system 1, a user can use a terminal device having a browser function such as the PC 11 or the smartphone 12, indoors or outdoors, which can be connected to the Internet 92. Various home appliances can be remotely controlled.

  Moreover, according to the electrical equipment control system 1, when the user registers the operation to be performed by various home appliances in response to the occurrence of a predetermined event, for example, when the door sensor 81 detects the opening / closing of the door. Necessary to operate home appliances such as ceiling light 44 and TV 16 in addition to the operation of ordinary security equipment such as threatening light 82, etc., to increase the threatening effect, or to press home button or remote control key 89 Operations such as ON / OFF for various home appliances can be performed simultaneously.

  Moreover, according to the electric equipment control system 1, in addition to the HA system and the home security system, the multimedia content providing system is integrated as one system. Therefore, for example, when the user is watching a movie or the like, there is a trespasser or when an abnormality occurs in an elderly person living in another room, the TV 16 used for watching a movie. A warning message such as "There may be someone trying to illegally enter through the window of the child room on the second floor." "Grandpa may have fallen from the bed in the bedroom on the second floor." By displaying, a more comfortable living environment can be realized.

  Furthermore, according to the electric equipment control system 1, in addition to the HA system, the home security system, and the multimedia content providing system, the home medical system is integrated as one system. For this reason, even a user who has a TV 21 that is not compatible with a network and does not have a terminal device such as a PC 11 that has a browser function, for example, by purchasing a USB camera 61 and a USB microphone 62, home medical care can be easily performed. An environment for receiving services can be established.

(Modification)
The above-described embodiments can be variously modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention. Examples of these modifications are shown below.

  In the electrical equipment control system 1 described above, once the home gateway 10 and the Web server device 901 establish a VPN connection, the VPN connection is maintained for a long period of time. Instead, for example, the home gateway 10 periodically requests a communication connection to the Web server device 901 (for example, every 5 minutes), and is established between the home gateway 10 and the Web server device 901 using the request as a trigger. The home gateway 10 and the Web server device 901 may be configured to release the communication connection after the synchronization processing of status data and user data using the communication connection is completed.

  In that case, the Web server device 901 receives the instruction data related to the remote operation of the home appliance received from the PC 11 or the like via the Internet 92 after the last synchronization process together with the time data indicating the reception timing of the instruction data for the next synchronization process. Remember until the timing. When the synchronization process is performed, the Web server device 901 transmits the data to the home gateway 10. As a result, home appliances 10 can be controlled by the home gateway 10 in accordance with an instruction from an outdoor user.

  Further, in the electrical equipment control system 1 described above, both the home gateway 10 and the multistation 19 can perform multimedia data format conversion, but only one of them can perform format conversion. If the device such as the TV 21 has a format conversion function or does not require a format conversion, neither the home gateway 10 nor the multi-station 19 need to have a format conversion function. .

  In the electrical equipment control system 1 described above, the multi-station 19 has a function as a so-called media server (a management function of multimedia data stored in a device connected to the LAN 91). The gateway 10 may be configured to have the function. Further, for example, when another device having a media server function is connected to the LAN 91, or when the media server function is unnecessary, neither the home gateway 10 nor the multistation 19 need to have the media server function. .

  Moreover, in the electric equipment control system 1 described above, the Web server device 901 and the home gateway 10 synchronize status data and the like, thereby enabling remote operation of home appliances from outside. In a network environment in which Web page data can be distributed in response to a request from the Internet 92, the Web server device 901 need not be provided.

  The various communication protocols employed in the electrical equipment control system 1 described above are examples, and data communication using other communication protocols such as other existing communication protocols or communication protocols newly employed in the future is possible. You may employ | adopt in the electric equipment control system 1. FIG.

  Further, the Web server device 901 may be a single device, or may be realized as a server device group by a plurality of server devices operating in cooperation.

  The electrical equipment control system according to the present invention can be widely used in the service industry that provides HA services or home security services.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Electrical equipment control system, 10 ... Home gateway, 11 ... PC, 12 ... Smartphone, 13 ... Game machine, 14 ... Audio player, 15 ... Video player, 16 ... TV, 17 ... NAS, 18 ... Network camera, 19 ... Multi-station, 21 ... TV, 31 ... Power tap, 32 ... Wall outlet, 33 ... Wall switch, 34 ... Infrared learning remote control, 35 ... USB adapter, 36 ... JEM-A adapter, 41 ... Desk light, 42 ... Electric carpet, 43 ... Electric fan, 44 ... Ceiling light, 45 ... Ventilation fan, 51 ... Air conditioner, 52 ... TV, 53 ... Audio player, 54 ... Video player, 55 ... Ceiling light, 61 ... USB camera, 62 ... USB microphone, 71 ... Conductive curtain 72 ... Air conditioner 73 ... Electronic lock 74 ... Siri Glight, 75 ... floor heater, 81 ... door sensor, 82 ... threatening light, 83 ... security camera, 84 ... low frequency sensor, 85 ... motion sensor, 86 ... temperature sensor, 87 ... smoke sensor, 88 ... emergency switch, 89 ... Remote control key, 91 ... LAN, 92 ... Internet, 93 ... Mobile phone communication network, 100 ... Control unit, 101 ... Internet communication unit, 102 ... Storage unit, 103 ... Wireless communication unit, 104 ... Routing unit, 105 ... Web server 106: Synchronizing unit 107: Notification data receiving unit 108 ... Conversion unit 109 109 FM communication unit 190 Control unit 191 Operation data acquisition unit 192 Internet communication unit 193 Web page generation unit 194 ... Conversion unit, 194 ... Movie generation unit, 195 ... Movie generation unit, 196 ... Still image generation unit, 197 ... Audio generation unit 198 ... Image data output unit, 199 ... Audio data output unit, 300 ... Control unit, 301 ... Input unit, 302 ... Output unit, 303 ... Energization state control unit, 304 ... Wireless communication unit, 305 ... Operator, 306 ... Measurement 307: Storage unit, 310: Control unit, 311 ... Control signal output unit, 312 ... Wireless communication unit, 313 ... Status data acquisition unit, 800 ... Control unit, 801 ... Sensor, 802 ... Notification data transmission unit, 803 ... Operator 901 ... Web server device 902 ... Content distribution server 903 ... Home medical server 910 ... USB key 1011 ... Internal internet communication unit 1012 ... External internet communication unit 9010 ... Control unit 9011 ... Communication unit 9012: Storage unit, 9013 ... Web server unit, 9014 ... Synchronization unit, 9100 ... Control unit, 9101 ... Not used Volatile memory, 9102 ... Data output terminal

Claims (16)

A management device comprising Internet communication means for performing data communication with an external device in accordance with the Internet protocol, and storage means for storing status data indicating the status of the electrical equipment for each of the one or more electrical equipments;
A control device comprising a control signal output means for outputting a control signal, which is a signal for controlling the status of the electric device, to each of the one or more electric devices;
The management device comprises wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the control device,
The control device includes wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the management device,
The wireless communication means of the management device is status data relating to the one electrical device stored in the storage device in accordance with instruction data for instructing control of the one electrical device received from an external device by the Internet communication device. Control data for instructing control of the one electrical device is transmitted to the control device based on the status indicated by
When control data for instructing the control device to control one electrical device is transmitted to the control device by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit controls the one electrical device according to the control data. Storing the status data indicating the status of the one electrical device after being stored as status data relating to the one electrical device,
When control data instructing control of one electrical device is received from the control device by the wireless communication unit of the control device, the control signal output unit sends a control signal to the one electrical device according to the control data. Output electrical equipment control system. The control device includes status data acquisition means for acquiring status data indicating the changed status from the electrical device when the status of the electrical device is changed for each of the one or more electrical devices,
The wireless communication means of the control device transmits the status data acquired by the status data acquisition means to the management device,
When the status data regarding one electrical device transmitted from the control device is received by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit stores the status data indicating the status data or the status indicated by the status data. The electrical equipment control system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical equipment control system is stored as status data relating to the electrical equipment. The control signal output means is a copy of the infrared code for an electric device that receives an input of a control signal that is an infrared code output from an infrared remote controller and controls the status of the own machine according to the control signal. The electric device control system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is output. The electrical device control system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal output unit outputs a control signal according to a JEM-A standard to an electrical device having a JEM-A terminal. The electric device control system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal output unit outputs a control signal in accordance with the USB standard to an electric device having a USB terminal. Management comprising Internet communication means for performing data communication with an external device according to the Internet protocol, and storage means for storing status data indicating the status of power supply to each of the one or more electric devices Equipment,
Input means for receiving power input from a power source, output means for outputting the power to each of the one or more electrical devices, and energization state between the input means and the output means for each of the one or more electrical devices A control device comprising an energization state control means for controlling
The management device comprises wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the control device,
The control device includes wireless communication means for performing wireless data communication with the management device,
The wireless communication unit of the management device is configured to store the one electrical device stored in the storage unit according to instruction data instructing control of power supply to the one electrical device received from the external device by the Internet communication unit. Control data for instructing control of power supply to the one electrical device based on the status indicated by the status data regarding the control device,
When the control data for instructing the control device to control the power supply to one electrical device is transmitted to the control device by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit powers the one electrical device according to the control data Storing status data indicating the status of the power supply after the supply control is performed as status data relating to the one electrical device;
When the control data instructing the control of power supply to one electrical device is received from the control device by the wireless communication unit of the control device, the energization state control unit is configured to control the electrical device according to the control data. An electrical equipment control system for controlling an energization state between an input means and the output means. The control device includes an operator that can take two or more discrete statuses or continuously changing statuses in response to a user's physical operation,
The energization state control means controls the energization state between the input means and the output means for each of one or more electrical devices according to the status of the operation element,
The wireless communication unit of the control device, when the control by the energization state control unit related to one electrical device is performed according to the status of the operation element, of the one electrical device after the control is performed Sending status data indicating the energized state to the management device;
When the status data regarding one electrical device transmitted from the control device is received by the wireless communication unit of the management device, the storage unit stores the status data indicating the status data or the status indicated by the status data. The electrical device control system according to claim 6, wherein the electrical device control system stores the status data relating to the one electrical device. The control device includes a measuring unit that measures the amount of electric power supplied from the output unit to the electric device with respect to each of the one or more electric devices.
The electric equipment control system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the wireless communication unit of the control device transmits power amount data indicating the amount of power measured by the measuring unit to the management device. The management device performs data communication between an internal Internet communication unit that performs data communication with an external device in an internal network to which the control device belongs, and an external device on the Internet as the Internet communication unit. An external Internet communication means,
The management device includes routing means for routing data communicated by the internal internet communication means and data communicated by the external internet communication means,
The management device includes Web server means that functions as a Web server that transmits Web page data instructing display of a Web page in response to a request from an external device belonging to the internal network.
The internal internet communication means receives the instruction data transmitted as a response to the web page data transmitted by the web server means;
The external Internet communication means transmits request data for requesting establishment of a communication connection to an external Web server device belonging to the Internet, and is predetermined with the external Web server device using the transmission of the request data as a trigger. Establishing a communication connection with the external Web server device by performing data communication of
The management device stores status data stored in the storage unit with the external Web server device via a communication connection established with the external Web server device by the external Internet communication unit. Synchronization means for performing the synchronization processing of
The external Internet communication means receives the instruction data transmitted from the external Web server device via a communication connection established with the external Web server device. Electrical equipment control system as described in. Operation data acquisition means that belongs to the internal network and acquires operation data indicating the contents of user operations, Internet communication means that performs data communication according to the Internet protocol, and image data that indicates a Web page according to Web page data Web page generating means for generating, moving picture generating means for sequentially generating image data indicating a plurality of still images constituting the moving picture by decoding encoded moving picture data indicating the moving picture, the Web page generating means and the moving picture generating The electrical equipment control system according to claim 9, further comprising: a terminal function providing device comprising image data output means for outputting the image data generated by the means to the display device. An electronic key comprising: a nonvolatile memory that stores identification data in a nonvolatile manner; and a data output terminal that is detachably attached to a terminal device and that allows the identification data stored in the nonvolatile memory to be read out to the terminal device With
The electrical equipment control system according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the Internet communication unit of the management device receives the identification data read by the external device from the electronic key attached to the external device. The storage means stores one or more pieces of the control data in association with a plurality of event identification data for identifying a predetermined event, and the wireless communication means of the management device uses the event identification data stored in the storage means. The electrical device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein when an event to be identified occurs, one or more control data stored in the storage unit in association with the event identification data is transmitted to the control device. Control system. A sensor that detects a physical change in the environment or measures a physical state of the environment and outputs a signal indicating the result of the detection or measurement, and data corresponding to the signal output from the sensor as notification data An observation device comprising notification data transmission means for wireless transmission,
The management device includes notification data receiving means for receiving notification data transmitted from the notification data transmitting means,
The electrical equipment control system according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined event includes reception of predetermined notification data by the notification data receiving unit. The observation apparatus includes an operator that can take two or more discrete statuses or a continuously changing status in response to a physical operation of a user,
The electrical equipment control system according to claim 13, wherein the sensor detects a change in status in the operation element included in the observation device or measures the status. The management device receives audio-visual data indicating at least one of a moving image, a sound, and a still image according to one format received from an external device by the Internet communication means of the management device, and another format different from the one format. Conversion means for converting into audiovisual data according to
The electrical equipment control system according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the Internet communication unit of the management device transmits audiovisual data generated by the conversion by the conversion unit to an external device. The electric equipment control system according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the wireless communication unit of the management device and the wireless communication unit of the control device each perform data communication according to the ZigBee standard.

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