JP2012208546A - Information analysis device, network system, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of requiring a high cost for introducing a system.SOLUTION: An information analysis device includes: an identification information storage part for storing identification information used for identifying a permitted user having a permission to use the operation information of an electric device; an information acquisition part for acquiring the operation information of an electric device to be used by a permitted user from an operation information server for collecting/storing, via a network, the operation information from a plurality of electric devices a plurality of users respectively use; and an analysis part for analyzing the operation information acquired by the information acquisition part.

Description

  The present invention relates to an information analysis device, a network system, and a program.

2. Description of the Related Art A network system using a network home appliance controller that performs overall control of network home appliances in a home network constructed with network home appliances is known (for example, see Patent Document 1).
Patent Document 1 JP 2006-172416 A

  If the home appliance controller is not introduced and the home appliance is not network-compatible, the benefits of introducing the system cannot be enjoyed. Therefore, there has been a problem that a large cost is required for introducing the system.

  The information analysis apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an identification information storage unit that stores identification information for identifying an authorized user who is a user permitted to use operation information of an electrical device, and a plurality of users respectively From an operation information server that collects and stores operation information from multiple electric devices via a network and stores the operation information of the electric device used by the authorized user, and analyzes the operation information acquired by the information acquisition unit An analysis unit.

  A network system according to a second aspect of the present invention includes the information analysis apparatus and an operation information server.

  The program according to the third aspect of the present invention uses an identification information storage unit that stores identification information for identifying an authorized user who is a user who is permitted to use the operation information of an electrical device, and a plurality of users use the computer. The information acquisition unit that acquires the operation information of the electric device used by the authorized user from the operation information server that collects and stores the operation information from the plurality of electric devices via the network, and analyzes the operation information acquired by the information acquisition unit It functions as an analysis unit.

  It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

1 shows the overall configuration of a network system 100. An example of a block configuration of the electrical device 30, the operation information server 10, and the information providing server 20 is shown. An example of the operation | movement flow from starting to a stop of the electric equipment 30 is shown. Information managed by the operation information server 10 is shown in a table format. An example of the table which the information provision server 20 manages is shown. An example of the flow of the analysis process by the analysis part 250 is shown. An example of the operation | movement flow which updates the operation | movement setting value of the electric equipment 30a is shown.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all the combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solving means of the invention.

  FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of the network system 100. The network system 100 includes an operation information server 10, information providing servers 20a and 20b, electric devices 30a and 30b, an electric device 32, a watt-hour meter 40, and a user terminal 140. The electric device 30, the electric device 32, and the watt-hour meter 40 are provided in the residence 170. The dwelling 170 is supplied with power from the power system via the power line 180.

  In the description of the present embodiment, the plurality of information providing servers 20a and 20b may be collectively referred to as the information providing server 20. The operation information server 10 and the information providing server 20 are connected to a network 192a such as the Internet.

  The electric device 30 and the electric device 32 are electric power load devices provided to electric power consumers. The electric device 30 and the electric device 32 operate by consuming electric power supplied via the power line 180. The electric device 30 and the electric device 32 operate according to the operation setting value set by the user. In addition, the electric device 30 and the electric device 32 operate according to the operation setting automatically set by the device itself. For example, the electric device 30a as an air conditioner operates according to a room temperature setting value, an air volume setting value, etc. as part of the operation setting value. In addition, the electric device 30b as a heater-type electric water heater operates according to a target lift-up temperature setting value as a part of the operation setting value.

  The electric device 30 has a function of measuring power consumption that is power consumption. The electrical device 30 has a communication function for communicating with the network 192a, and sends operation information including the measured power consumption and operation setting value to the network 192a. For example, the electrical device 30 communicates with a communication device 172 such as a router through power line communication, and sends operation information to the network 192a via the communication device 172. The electrical device 30 sends operation information in a predetermined data format such as an XML format. The electrical device 30 may designate the destination and transmit the operation information, or may transmit the operation information without limiting the destination as in broadcast. Unlike the electrical device 30, the electrical device 32 does not measure the power consumption and does not send operation information.

  The watt-hour meter 40 measures the amount of power consumed in the residence 170. Specifically, the watt-hour meter 40 measures the amount of power supplied to the electrical device 30 and the electrical device 32. For example, the watt-hour meter 40 measures a power integration value obtained by integrating the power supplied to the electrical device 30 and the electrical device 32. The watt-hour meter 40 transmits the measured power integrated value to the network 192b. Specifically, the watt-hour meter 40 wirelessly communicates with a communication device 90 provided on a utility pole or the like, and transmits an integrated power value to the network 192b via the communication device 90. The watt-hour meter 40 may transmit the power integration value in a predetermined data format such as an XML format. Examples of the integrated power value include a 30-minute integrated value obtained by integrating the power supplied to the electrical device 32 for 30 minutes. The integrated power value transmitted to the network 192b is used in, for example, an electric power company.

  The network 192b may be a different network from the network 192a. The network 192b is, for example, a network dedicated to an electric power company, and may be configured with a relatively high-security dedicated line. The integrated power value transmitted from the watt-hour meter 40 may be provided to the network 192a via the relay device 194 interposed between the network 192a and the network 192b. In the description of this embodiment, the entire network 192a, relay device 194, and network 192b may be collectively referred to as a network 190. Note that the network 192a and the network 192b may be the same network.

  The operation information server 10 is provided to be able to communicate with the electrical device 30 and the information providing server 20 via the network 190. The operation information server 10 collects operation information sent from the electrical device 30 via the network 190. The operation information server 10 may directly communicate with the electric device 30 and receive the operation information transmitted by the electric device 30 from the electric device 30. Further, the operation information server 10 may collect the operation information by receiving the operation information transmitted by the electric device 30 by broadcast. The operation information server 10 acquires the integrated power value transmitted from the watt-hour meter 40 via the network 192b, the relay device 194, and the network 192a.

  The information providing server 20 acquires the operation information of the electric device 30 from the operation information server 10 when permitted by the user of the electric device 30. In addition, the information providing server 20 acquires the integrated power value stored in the operation information server 10 from the operation information server 10 when permitted by the user of the electrical device 30. Then, the information providing server 20 analyzes the operation information and the integrated power value, and provides the analysis result to the user of the electrical device 30. For example, the information providing server 20 analyzes the operation information and presents an operation setting value recommended for increasing the power use efficiency to the user.

  For example, the information providing server 20a may calculate a recommended operation setting value for the electric device 30a based on dwelling unit information such as the floor area of the dwelling 170. For example, when the floor area of the residence 170 is relatively small, the information providing server 20a presents a low air volume setting value to the user. In this way, the information providing server 20a can provide advice for the purpose of energy saving. On the other hand, the information providing server 20b may analyze the operating state of the electrical device 30 and the like, determine the living state of the resident living in the residence 170, and provide it to the user. For example, when the electric device 30a operates stably and the electric device 30b operates stably, it can be determined that the resident is living a stable life. According to the information providing server 20b, it is possible to provide a service for monitoring the living conditions of the elderly. The user can freely select which of the information providing servers 20a and 20b receives the service provision.

  According to the network system 100, the electric device 30 provides operation information to the operation information server 10 independently. For this reason, even if the user does not network all the electric devices, information for increasing the power efficiency of the electric device 30 can be provided to the user. Therefore, a service with high added value can be provided to the user without imposing a large cost burden on the user. In addition, a favorite service can be selected from services provided by the plurality of information providing servers 20. For example, not only services aimed at saving energy, but also services that monitor the living status of the elderly from the operating status of electrical equipment, services that remotely monitor the operating status of electrical equipment for single users, etc. A suitable necessary service can be selected. In addition, according to the network system 100, it is possible to provide an environment in which a plurality of service providers compete for service contents, and as a result, it can be expected that the product level of the electrical equipment is improved.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a block configuration of the electric device 30, the operation information server 10, and the information providing server 20.

  The electrical device 30 includes a communication unit 270, a device control unit 280, and a memory unit 290. The memory unit 290 stores operation setting values. The device control unit 280 controls each unit of the electrical device 30 according to the operation setting value stored in the memory unit 290. When changing the operation setting value, the device control unit 280 stores the changed operation setting value in the memory unit 290. The memory unit 290 may have a nonvolatile storage area, and the operation setting value may be stored in the nonvolatile storage area. Examples of the operation setting value include an operation mode setting value for setting an operation mode, an air volume setting value for setting an air volume, a temperature setting value for setting a temperature, and the like.

  The device control unit 280 measures the power consumed by the electrical device 30. In addition, the device control unit 280 manages time information such as date and time, and measures the time when the electric device 30 is operated based on the time information. The device control unit 280 causes the communication unit 270 to transmit operation information such as power consumption information and operation time to the operation information server 10.

  The operation information server 10 includes a communication unit 210 and a data storage unit 220. The communication unit 210 receives operation information from the electrical device 30 via the network 192a. In addition, the communication unit 210 receives the integrated power value via the network 192a. The communication unit 210 receives the integrated power value in association with a customer ID as an example of user identification information. Examples of the customer ID include, but are not limited to, a number assigned to a user who has signed an electricity supply contract. Any information can be used as the user identification information as long as it can identify the user.

  The data storage unit 220 stores the operation information and the integrated power value received by the communication unit 210. The communication unit 210 transmits the data stored in the data storage unit 220 to the information providing server 20 in accordance with a request from the information providing server 20.

  The operation information server 10 can be realized by an information processing apparatus such as a computer. The motion information server 10 may be realized by a plurality of information processing apparatuses. For example, data such as operation information may be distributed and stored in a plurality of information processing apparatuses.

  The information providing server 20 receives the operation information and the integrated power value from the operation information server 10. The information providing server 20 includes a communication unit 230, a user information storage unit 240, and an analysis unit 250. The communication unit 230 can function as an information acquisition unit and an information provision unit in the present invention. The analysis unit 250 analyzes the operation information and the integrated power value received by the communication unit 230. The communication unit 230 transmits the analysis result analyzed by the analysis unit 250 to the user. For example, the communication unit 230 transmits the analysis result to the electrical device 30.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of an operation flow from starting up to stopping the electrical device 30. This flow is started, for example, when the power switch of the electrical device 30 is turned on.

  In step S402, the device control unit 280 starts measuring power consumption.

  Subsequently, in step S <b> 404, the device control unit 280 reads the operation setting value from the memory unit 290. For example, the device control unit 280 reads the operation setting value stored in the nonvolatile storage area of the memory unit 290. In step S406, the device control unit 280 starts operation with the read operation setting value.

  In step S408, it is determined whether an event for transmitting operation information has occurred. For example, this event occurs when the operation setting value is changed by the user. For example, this event occurs when the air volume setting is changed from “weak” to “strong”. This event also occurs when the power switch of the electrical device 30 is turned off. Further, this event may occur immediately after activation, or this event may occur every time a predetermined time elapses.

  When this event occurs, in step S410, the device control unit 280 causes the time information indicating the current date and time, the total operating time up to the present time, the integrated value of power consumption since the power is turned on, the integrated operating time, The average value of the power consumption during the period from the transmission of the previous operation information to the present, the information indicating the time length of the period, etc. are calculated as the operation information.

  In step S <b> 412, the communication unit 210 transmits the calculated operation information to the network 190. Here, the communication unit 210 transmits operation identification information including user identification information such as a customer ID, device identification information for identifying a device, and the like.

  In step S414, the device control unit 280 determines whether to stop the operation. For example, when the power switch of the electrical device 30 is turned off, it is determined to stop the operation. If the operation is not stopped, the process proceeds to step S408. When stopping the operation, in step S416, the power supply to each part of the electrical device 30 is interrupted, and the process is terminated.

  In step S412, the communication unit 210 may transmit data representing each value included in the operation information in the XML format. For example, XML data having elements such as user identification information, device identification information, and power consumption as elements may be transmitted. Specifically, XML data having a character string indicating each item as an element name and the value of each item as content may be transmitted. By transmitting data in XML format, it becomes easy to widely use operation information.

  The data format is not limited to the XML format. The format is not limited to the XML format as long as different service providers can freely read out the respective values, and other markup languages such as SGML and other standardized data formats can be applied.

  FIG. 4 shows information managed by the operation information server 10 in a table format. The data storage unit 220 of the operation information server 10 stores an XML-format electronic file storing the received operation information and integrated power value as a table 510.

  Specifically, the table 510 associates user identification information with XML-format electronic file names. The data storage unit 220 may store data for a predetermined period in a single electronic file for each user. For example, the data storage unit 220 may create a new element every time new XML data is received, and store the received XML data as the contents of the created element. The data storage unit 220 may create a new electronic file when a predetermined period elapses, and store data for the next period in the electronic file.

  FIG. 5 shows an example of a table managed by the information providing server 20. The user information storage unit 240 stores a user attribute table 610 and a permitted user table 620.

  The user attribute table 610 stores user identification information, dwelling unit information, and resident information in association with each other. The user identification information is information for identifying an authorized user who is permitted to use the operation information.

  For example, the user may transmit to the information providing server 20 whether to permit the use of the operation information using the user terminal 140. For example, the user accesses a website provided by the information providing server 20 using the user terminal 140 and inputs user identification information and the like through the user terminal 140. Thereby, the user requests the information providing server 20 to register as an authorized user. When the information providing server 20 receives a request for registration as an authorized user, the information providing server 20 stores the input user identification information in the user information storage unit 240.

  In addition, the information providing server 20 accepts registration of dwelling unit information that is information on the dwelling 170 in which the electrical device 30 is provided. As the dwelling unit information, the type of dwelling unit, the total floor area, the heat loss coefficient (Q value) as an index representing the heat insulation performance of the dwelling 170, the building age, and the like can be exemplified. As a type of dwelling unit, information for identifying whether it is an apartment house or a detached house can be exemplified.

  In addition, the information providing server 20 receives resident information that is information of a resident living in the residence 170. As resident information, the information which shows the family composition of the family who lives in the residence 170 can be illustrated. For example, the number of residents, the age of the residents, etc. can be exemplified as the resident information. More specifically, as the resident information, an age group indicating the age range and the number of residents belonging to the age group can be exemplified. As the age division, for example, the age division divided every five years may be applied.

  The permitted user table 620 stores a list of user identification information of users who are permitted to use the dwelling unit information and the resident information. The analysis unit 250 uses the dwelling unit information and the resident information stored in the user attribute table 610 in association with the user identification information of this list when analyzing the operation information of the electric equipment used by other users. A user can access the information providing server 20 using the user terminal 140 and register whether or not to allow his / her dwelling unit information and resident information to be used.

  FIG. 6 shows an example of the flow of analysis processing by the analysis unit 250. This flow is started, for example, when the user accesses the information providing server 20 using the user terminal 140 and requests the information providing server 20 to analyze the operation information. Here, the user who requested the analysis is called a request user.

  In step S <b> 702, the analysis unit 250 acquires the operation information and the integrated power value corresponding to the user identification information of the requesting user from the operation information server 10 via the communication unit 230.

  Subsequently, in step S704, data on dwelling unit information is read from the user information storage unit 240. In step S706, the resident information data is read out.

  Subsequently, in step S708, a user whose living environment is similar to the requesting user is specified from among other users permitted to use the dwelling unit information and the resident information. Specifically, a user whose registered dwelling unit information and resident information are similar to the requesting user's dwelling unit information and resident information is specified from among other users who are permitted to use the dwelling unit information and resident information. The identified user is called a similar user.

  Subsequently, in step S <b> 710, the analysis unit 250 acquires the operation information and the integrated power value corresponding to the user identification information of the similar user from the operation information server 10 via the communication unit 230.

  In step S712, the analysis unit 250 compares the data acquired in step S702 with the data acquired in step S710, and generates advice information for the requesting user.

  For example, the analysis unit 250 selects, from similar users, a user who operates the same type of electrical device with lower power consumption than the requesting user. And the analysis part 250 compares the operation setting value of an electric equipment between the selected user and a request user. The analysis unit 250 generates advice information that recommends operating the electrical device 30 with the operation setting value corresponding to the selected user when it is determined that the operation is performed with a different operation setting value. For example, regarding the electrical device 30a that is an air conditioner, if the selected user's air conditioner is operating at a lower air volume than the requested user's electrical device 30a, the requested user is encouraged to operate the electrical device 30a at a lower air volume. Generate advice information. Further, the analysis unit 250 advises that the operation setting value as a new control value for operating the electric device 30a with an air volume lower than the standard value at the time of factory shipment is incorporated in the memory unit 290 of the electric device 30a, for example. May be generated.

  In addition, the analysis unit 250 selects a user who has a power integrated value lower than the power integrated value corresponding to the requesting user from similar users. For example, when the requesting user uses the electric device 30b which is a heater type electric water heater, and the selected user uses a heat pump type hot water heater, the requesting user should introduce a heat pump type hot water heater. Generate suggested advice information.

  In step S714, the analysis unit 250 generates HTML data for displaying the generated advice information, and transmits the HTML data to the user terminal 140 via the communication unit 230. As described above, the HTML data may include a button element for displaying a button for the user to accept a proposal for incorporating a new operation setting value in the electric device 30a.

  FIG. 7 shows an example of an operation flow for updating the operation setting value of the electrical device 30a. This flow is started when the information providing server 20 receives a request for updating the operation setting value of the electrical device 30 from the user terminal 140. For example, this flow is started when the user operates the user terminal 140 to select the above-described button element.

  By selecting the button element, information for requesting the update of the operation setting value is transmitted from the user terminal 140 to the information providing server 20 (step S802).

  In step S804, the communication unit 230 establishes communication with the communication unit 270 of the electrical device 30. In step S806, the communication unit 230 transmits operation setting value data as a new control value.

  In step S808, the device control unit 280 performs an update using the received operation setting value. Specifically, the device control unit 280 writes the data of the operation setting value received via the communication unit 270 in the corresponding storage area of the memory unit 290.

  When the update is completed, in step S810, the communication unit 270 transmits to the information providing server 20 that the update is completed. When the information providing server 20 receives the information indicating that the update has been completed, in step S812, the communication unit 230 transmits information indicating that the operation setting value has been updated to the user terminal 140. When the user terminal 140 receives information indicating that the update has been completed, in step S814, the user terminal 140 displays that the update has been completed on the display.

  According to the network system 100 described above, advice for operating the electrical device 30 with high power efficiency can be provided to the user. Further, the user can update the operation setting value of the electric device 30 with a simple operation. Therefore, according to the network system 100, the electric device 30 can be operated with the operation setting value suitable for the user's living environment and the like only by introducing the electric device 30 having a function of transmitting operation information.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. It is apparent from the scope of the claims that the embodiments added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The order of execution of each process such as operations, procedures, steps, and stages in the apparatus, system, program, and method shown in the claims, the description, and the drawings is particularly “before” or “prior to”. It should be noted that the output can be realized in any order unless the output of the previous process is used in the subsequent process. Regarding the operation flow in the claims, the description, and the drawings, even if it is described using “first”, “next”, etc. for convenience, it means that it is essential to carry out in this order. It is not a thing.

  20 Information providing server, 30, 32 Electrical equipment, 40 Energy meter, 90 Communication equipment, 100 Network system, 140 User terminal, 170 Housing, 172 Communication equipment, 180 Power line, 190 Network, 192 Network, 194 Relay device, 210 Communication Unit, 220 data storage unit, 230 communication unit, 240 user information storage unit, 250 analysis unit, 270 communication unit, 280 device control unit, 290 memory unit, 610 user attribute table, 620 permitted user table

Claims (13)

An identification information storage unit that stores identification information for identifying a permitted user who is a user permitted to use the operation information of the electrical device;
An information acquisition unit that acquires operation information of the electric device used by the authorized user from an operation information server that collects and stores operation information from a plurality of electric devices used by each of the plurality of users via a network;
An information analysis apparatus comprising: an analysis unit that analyzes operation information acquired by the information acquisition unit. The information analysis apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an information providing unit that provides an analysis result by the analysis unit to the authorized user. The analysis unit analyzes the operation information acquired by the information acquisition unit, and generates recommended operation information for recommended operation of the electric device used by the authorized user,
The information analysis apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the information providing unit includes providing the recommended operation information to the user. The information acquisition unit further acquires operating environment information indicating an operating environment of the electrical device via a network,
The information analysis apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the analysis unit generates, as the recommended operation information, an operation setting value suitable for an operation environment of the electric device based on the operation environment information. The information acquisition unit acquires dwelling unit information, which is information on dwelling units provided with the electrical equipment, as the operating environment information,
The information analysis apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the analysis unit generates an operation setting value suitable for the dwelling unit based on the dwelling unit information. The information analysis apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the dwelling unit information includes at least one of a total floor area, a Q value, and a building age of a building constituting the dwelling unit. The dwelling unit information includes information indicating whether or not the dwelling unit provided with the electrical device is a dwelling unit included in an apartment house,
When the dwelling unit provided with the electric device is a dwelling unit included in the apartment house, the analysis unit compares the operation information with the operation information of the electric device of another dwelling unit, and calculates the operation setting value. The information analysis apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, which is generated. The information acquisition unit acquires information indicating a resident configuration living in a dwelling unit provided with the electrical equipment as the operating environment information,
The said analysis part compares the said operation information with the operation information of the electric equipment of the dwelling unit with which the said resident structure is similar, The said operation setting value is produced | generated as described in any one of Claim 4 to 7 Information analysis device. The analysis unit generates a control value for recommended operation of the electric device,
The information analysis apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the information providing unit provides the control value to the electric device. An information analysis apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A network system comprising the operation information server. The network system according to claim 10, further comprising: a user terminal that transmits to the information analysis apparatus whether or not to permit use of operation information of the electrical device. The network system according to claim 11, wherein the user terminal acquires an analysis result by the analysis unit from the information analysis apparatus via a network and presents the result to the authorized user. A program, a computer,
An identification information storage unit that stores identification information for identifying a permitted user who is a user permitted to use the operation information of the electrical device;
An information acquisition unit that acquires operation information of the electric device used by the authorized user from an operation information server that collects and stores operation information from a plurality of electric devices used by a plurality of users via a network;
A program that functions as an analysis unit that analyzes operation information acquired by the information acquisition unit.

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