JP2014233139A - Controller, information display method, program, and equipment management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a user with more useful information on energy saving.SOLUTION: A controller 2 detects the start or stop of electric equipment 3. When detecting the start of the electric equipment 3, the controller 2 predicts and displays power consumption when the electric equipment 3 is operated for a subsequent predetermined period of time (e.g. for an hour). Additionally, when detecting the stop of the electric equipment 3, the controller 2 acquires and displays an actual value of an electricity charge required because the electric equipment 3 is operated during a period from the last start to this stop.

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller, information display method, program, and device management system that display information related to electrical devices in a house.

  In recent years, the general public is increasingly interested in energy saving. For example, in general homes and the like, a technique that allows a user to easily monitor the power usage status of the home is well known.

  For example, Patent Document 1 describes a system that connects home appliances, housing equipment, and the like to a distribution board, monitors the status of each power, and displays the amount of power used. Thereby, the user can grasp the power usage situation in the home, and can obtain useful information regarding energy saving in the home.

JP 2012-191825 A

  By the way, when displaying the electric power consumption etc. of the electric equipment mentioned above, if the information of the content according to the operation state of the electric equipment can be displayed, more useful information regarding energy saving can be provided to the user. However, the system described in Patent Document 1 does not include a technical idea from such a viewpoint.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a controller, an information display method, a program, and a device management system that can provide a user with more useful information regarding energy saving. .

In order to achieve the above object, the controller of the present invention provides:
A controller that is connected to an electric appliance in a residence via a communication network,
Detecting means for detecting start or stop of the electrical device;
When the detection means detects activation, a prediction means for predicting power consumption in a predetermined period in the future of the electrical equipment;
When the detection means detects a stop, the result acquisition means for acquiring the power consumption by the current operation of the electrical equipment;
Display control means for displaying on the display means information on the power consumption predicted by the prediction means or information on the power consumption acquired by the results acquisition means,
It is characterized by that.

  According to the present invention, when the activation or the stop of the electric device is detected, the information of the contents according to the situation is displayed. Therefore, it is possible to provide the user with more useful information regarding energy saving.

1 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a device management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the controller of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of a power consumption recording table. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the control part with which the controller of embodiment is provided. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the display process of embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the starting display process of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of an information output screen at the time of starting. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the stop display process of embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the information output screen at the time of a stop. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the other example of the apparatus management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the other example of the apparatus management system which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a device management system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device management system 1 is a system for monitoring the state of each electrical device 3 (3A, 3B, 3C,...) In the residence 7 and controlling the operation. The device management system 1 includes a controller 2 and each electrical device 3.

  The controller 2 manages each electrical device 3 by communicating with each electrical device 3 in the residence 7 via the home network 4. As shown in FIG. 2, the controller 2 includes a device communication unit 21, a display unit 22, an input unit 23, an audio output unit 24, a storage unit 25, and a control unit 26.

  The device communication unit 21 includes, for example, an interface for wireless communication, and performs data communication with the electrical device 3 via the home network 4 under the control of the control unit 26.

  The display unit 22 includes a liquid crystal panel and the like, and displays various screens and the like for managing the electric device 3 under the control of the control unit 26.

  The input unit 23 is a touch panel, for example, and performs a process of receiving an operation input from the user. For example, when a touch panel is employed as the input unit 23, a transparent flat plate capacitive sensor that detects a change in electrostatic capacitance is mounted on the liquid crystal display. When this capacitive sensor detects contact (press) on the touch surface (for the user, the display screen of the liquid crystal display) with the user's fingertip or a dedicated pen, the position information (coordinate data) is controlled. Is output to the unit 26. The control unit 26 determines the operation content of the user based on the position information. When the user performs an input operation through the input unit 23, a signal corresponding to the operation content is output to the control unit 26.

  The audio output unit 24 includes a speaker, a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter), and the like, and outputs an audio signal under the control of the control unit 26. For example, when the information is displayed when the electric device 3 is started or stopped, the audio output unit 24 outputs an audio signal for informing that effect.

  The storage unit 25 plays a role as a so-called secondary storage device (auxiliary storage device), and includes, for example, a readable / writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory or the like such as a flash memory. The storage unit 25 stores a list of electric devices 3 to be managed, a list of operation contents of the electric devices 3, screen data for managing the electric devices 3, programs executed by the control unit 26, and the like. The storage unit 25 also includes electricity bill calculation data 251 and a power consumption recording table 252.

  The electricity bill calculation data 251 is data including parameters for calculating the electricity bill from the power consumption of the electrical device 3. Specifically, the electricity charge calculation data 251 includes information indicating an electricity charge (unit price of electricity charge) per unit power amount. In addition, when the electricity bill varies depending on the time zone, the electricity bill calculation data 251 includes a corresponding parameter for electricity bill calculation (electricity unit price) for each time zone. In the present embodiment, appropriate electricity bill calculation data 251 corresponding to the area to which the residence 7 belongs is stored in the storage unit 25.

  Returning to FIG. 2, a power consumption history acquired from each electrical device 3 is recorded in the power consumption recording table 252. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, in the power consumption record table, for each electrical device 3, the acquisition date and time of power consumption, its value (power consumption value (W)), and the operating state of the electrical device 3 Are recorded. The operating state of the electric device 3 indicates whether or not the electric device 3 is operating in a state where the original function is exerted, and there are two types of “operating” and “stopped”. To do. In the example of FIG. 3, the power consumption value in the operation state “stopped” is not 0 (W), but this is due to standby power.

  Returning to FIG. 2, the control unit 26 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), etc. (none of which are shown), and the CPU uses the RAM as a work memory. The controller 2 as a whole is controlled by appropriately executing various programs stored in the ROM and the storage unit 25. In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the control unit 26 functionally includes a power consumption recording unit 261, a start / stop detection unit 262, a prediction unit 263, a result acquisition unit 264, and a display control unit 265. .

  While the controller 2 is operating, the power consumption recording unit 261 requests the electric device 3 to acquire the power consumption and the operating state periodically (for example, every 30 seconds) via the home network 4. Then, the acquired information is recorded in the power consumption recording table 252.

  The start / stop detection unit 262 refers to the power consumption recording table 252 each time the power consumption recording unit 261 records the latest entry in the power consumption recording table 252, thereby identifying the electrical device 3 that has been started or stopped immediately before. To detect. Specifically, the start / stop detection unit 262 refers to the power consumption recording table 252 and when the electrical device 3 that has been in the operation state “stopped” changes to the operation state “in operation”. Then, it is determined that the electric device 3 is activated. In addition, the start / stop detection unit 262 refers to the power consumption recording table 252, and when the electrical device 3 that has been in the operating state “running” has changed to the operating state “stopped”, It is determined that the device 3 has stopped.

  For example, let us consider a case where information as shown in FIG. 3 is registered in the power consumption recording table and the entry of the acquisition date “April 15, 2013 14:00:00” is the latest. In this case, the start / stop detection unit 262 determines that the television has started at this point because the operating state has changed from “stopped” to “running” in this latest entry. In addition, the start / stop detection unit 262 determines that the air conditioner has stopped at this point because the operating state has changed from “running” to “stopped” in this latest entry.

  Returning to FIG. 4, the prediction unit 263 predicts an electricity bill when the electric device 3 whose activation is detected by the activation / stop detection unit 262 will operate for the next hour.

  The actual result acquisition unit 264 acquires the actual value of the electric charge in the current operation of the electric device 3 for which the start / stop detection unit 262 has detected a stop.

  The display control unit 265 displays a screen for displaying the predicted value of the electricity price predicted by the prediction unit 263, the actual value of the electricity price acquired by the result acquisition unit 264, and the like on the display unit 22.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the electrical device 3 is an air conditioner, a television, a water heater, or the like used in the residence 7, and is connected to a power line 6 that supplies power from the commercial power source 5. Further, the electrical device 3 transmits the current power consumption value and the operating state to the controller 2 via the home network 4 in response to a request from the controller 2. Even if the operating state of the electrical device 3 is “stopped”, this transmission process is executed.

(Display processing)
Subsequently, in the electrical equipment management system 1 configured as described above, when the electrical equipment 3 is started or stopped, a process (display process) of displaying a predicted value, actual value, etc. of the electrical charge of the electrical equipment 3 The operation will be described. The control unit 26 of the controller 2 executes the display process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 every time the power consumption recording unit 261 records the latest entry in the power consumption recording table 252.

  First, the start / stop detection unit 262 refers to the power consumption recording table 252 and detects the electrical device 3 that has been started or stopped immediately before (step S10).

  When the activated or stopped electric device 3 is not detected (step S10; not detected), the display process ends.

  When the activated electrical device 3 is detected (step S10; activation detection), the control unit 26 executes activation display processing for displaying useful information when the electrical device 3 is activated (step S20). When the startup display process ends, the display process ends.

  When the electrical device 3 stopped in step S10 is detected (step S10; stop detection), the control unit executes a stop display process for displaying useful information when the electrical device 3 is stopped (step S30). When the stop display process ends, the display process ends.

(Startup display processing)
Next, details of the above-described activation display process (step S20) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the activation display process is started, first, the prediction unit 263 of the controller 2 is consumed in the next hour by the electrical device 3 (hereinafter referred to as the activation device 3) detected by the activation / stop detection unit 262. The amount of power is predicted (step S21).

  Specifically, the prediction unit 263 determines that the operating state “operating” at the same time period (same month) and at the same time period as the current power consumption history of the activation device 3 recorded in the power consumption recording table 252 last year. Get the history of. When such a power consumption history cannot be acquired, the prediction unit 263 uses the power consumption history for the most recent month recorded in the power consumption recording table 252 to determine whether the operation state “Driving” What is necessary is just to acquire the history of “medium”. Then, the prediction unit 263 calculates an average value of power consumption per hour from the acquired power consumption history as a predicted value of power consumption for the next hour. Note that when the system has just been operated and almost no past history is recorded in the power consumption recording table 252, the prediction unit 263 sets the electrical device 3 that is predetermined for each type of the electrical device 3 to 1. An average value of power consumption when operating for hours may be used as a predicted value.

  Subsequently, the prediction unit 263 refers to the electricity charge calculation data 251 and calculates an electricity charge corresponding to the power consumption predicted in step S21 (step S22).

  Subsequently, the display control unit 265 controls the audio output unit 24 to output an audio signal for notifying the user of information display (step S23). Then, the display control unit 265 displays a screen (start-up information output screen) for displaying the predicted value of the electricity bill calculated in step S22 on the display unit 22 (step S24). The start display process is thus completed.

  FIG. 7 shows a display example of the startup information output screen. In this example, in the startup device information display area E1 of the startup information output screen, the expected value of the electricity bill calculated in step S22 together with the name of the startup device 3 and the startup date and time is “Electricity Charge Forecast: XX yen (1 hour When used) ”is displayed. By confirming this display, the user can grasp how much electricity fee will be charged in the future by the activated electric device 3. In addition, in the electricity rate unit price display area E2 of the startup information output screen, the electricity rate unit price for each time included in the electricity rate calculation data 251 is displayed together with the current time. By confirming this display, the user can grasp the timing at which the unit price of the electricity rate fluctuates, and refrains from starting the electrical device 3 until the time when the electricity rate is reduced (stops the activated electrical device 3). ) Etc. can be taken.

(Stop display processing)
Next, details of the above-described stop display process (step S30) will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the stop display process is started, first, the result acquisition unit 264 of the controller 2 refers to the power consumption recording table 252 and the electrical device 3 (hereinafter referred to as the stopped device 3) in which the start / stop detection unit 262 detects the stop. ) And the actual operation value from the previous start to the current stop and the actual power consumption are calculated (step S31). Note that the result acquisition unit 264 displays the latest history of the power consumption history of the stopped device 3 recorded in the power consumption record table 252 that has changed from “stopped” to “running”. What is necessary is just to distinguish from the history at the time of starting.

  For example, let us consider a case where information as shown in FIG. 3 is registered in the power consumption recording table 252 and the entry of the acquisition date “April 15, 2013 14:00:00” is the latest. In this case, the time when the air conditioner stops is 14:00:00. In addition, the time when the air conditioner was last activated is specified as 13:00:00. Accordingly, the result acquisition unit 264 acquires the actual value of the power consumption from the history of power consumption between 13:00 and 14:00.

  Returning to FIG. 8, subsequently, the result obtaining unit 264 refers to the electricity charge calculation data 251 and calculates the electricity charge corresponding to the power consumption calculated in step S31 (step S32).

  Subsequently, the display control unit 265 controls the audio output unit 24 to output an audio signal for notifying the user of information display (step S33). The display control unit 265 displays a screen (stop information output screen) for displaying the actual value of the electricity bill calculated in step S32 on the display unit 22 (step S34). The stop display process ends here.

  FIG. 9 shows a display example of the stop time information output screen. In this example, the operation time calculated in step S32 and step S33 and the actual value of the electricity bill are displayed in the stop device information display area E3 of the stop time information output screen together with the name of the stop device 3, the stop date and time. . By confirming this display, the user can grasp how much the electricity bill was charged by the current operation of the electric device 3.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the controller 2 detects the start or stop of the electric device 3, the controller 2 uses the electric power according to the start or stop state as information on the detected power consumption of the electric device 3. Displays the estimated value and actual value of the fee. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, information with appropriate contents is displayed at an appropriate timing, so that more useful information regarding energy saving can be provided to the user.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, since an electricity bill is displayed as information regarding the electric power consumption of the electric equipment 3, a display more easily understood by the end user can be realized.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, Of course, the various correction in the part which does not deviate from the summary of this invention is possible.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, each electric device 3 has been described as having a function of transmitting its power consumption value and operating state to the controller 2, but does not have such a function. The present invention is also applicable to the controller 2 that manages the electrical equipment 3.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 10A, the device management system 1 newly includes a power measurement sensor (unit) 8 and a CT (current transformer) 9 (9A, 9B, 9C,...).

  The power measurement sensor 8 is installed on the power line 6 that connects the commercial power supply 5 and the electric device 3, and measures the power consumption of the entire electric device 3 in the residence 7. Each CT 9 measures the value of the current supplied to each electrical device 3. Each CT 9 is connected to a power measurement sensor 8. The power measurement sensor 8 is connected to the controller 2 via a dedicated line, and transmits the power consumption value measured by itself and the current value measured by each CT 9 to the controller 2. As shown in FIG. 10B, the power measurement sensor 8 and the controller 2 may be connected via the home network 4.

  The power consumption recording unit 261 of the controller 2 regularly (for example, every 30 seconds) the power consumption value of the entire electric device 3 measured by the power measurement sensor 8 and the current of each electric device 3 measured by each CT 9. Get the value. Then, the power consumption recording unit 261 calculates the power consumption of each electrical device 3 based on the acquired power value and current value, and records them in the power consumption recording table 252. At this time, the power consumption recording unit 261 indicates that the electrical device 3 operating with power consumption equal to or higher than a threshold (for example, 5 W) is “operating” and the electrical device operating with power consumption less than the threshold. 3 is determined as the operating state “stopped”, and recorded together in the power consumption recording table 252. By doing in this way, this invention becomes applicable also to the controller 2 which manages the electric equipment 3 which does not have the function to transmit the value of power consumption and an operating state to the controller 2. FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the present invention can be applied to a terminal device 10 wirelessly connected to the controller 2 and a device management system 1 newly provided with a terminal device 11 connected via the Internet. is there. The terminal devices 10 and 11 are terminals such as a tablet terminal and a smartphone having a communication function. In this case, the controller 2 transmits the screen data of the start time information output screen and the stop time information output screen to the terminal devices 10 and 11 in the start display processing and the stop display processing, and starts up on the liquid crystal display of these devices. An information output screen or a stop time information output screen may be displayed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the control part 26 of the controller 2 estimated and displayed the electric bill at the time of driving the electric equipment 3 which detected starting for 1 hour in the starting display process. However, the operation time for predicting the electricity bill is not limited to one hour, but is arbitrary. Moreover, you may vary the operation time for estimating an electric bill for every electric equipment 3. FIG. For example, when the electrical device 3 is a television, when the activation is detected, the predicted value of the electricity charge after one hour of use is displayed, whereas when the air conditioner is likely to be used for a relatively long time, 3 You may display the estimated value of the electricity bill after time use. By doing in this way, the display which reflected the usage condition of the electric equipment 3 becomes possible.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, when the electric equipment 3 started, the predicted value of the electric bill of the electric equipment 3 was displayed, However, You may display the predicted value etc. of power consumption. Similarly, in the above-described embodiment, when the electric device 3 is stopped, the actual value of the electric charge until the electric device 3 is stopped is displayed. However, the actual value of the power consumption may be displayed.

  Further, in the above embodiment, when the start time information output screen is displayed in the start display process or when the stop time information output screen is displayed in the stop display process, an audio signal for notifying that is output. However, instead of outputting the audio signal, the housing of the controller 2 may be vibrated or the screen of the display unit 22 may be blinked. In short, as long as it is a means for attracting the user's attention, any means can be adopted as the notification means when displaying the start time information output screen or the stop time information output screen.

  In addition, for example, by applying an operation program that defines the operation of the controller 2 according to the present embodiment to an existing personal computer, an information terminal device, or the like, the personal computer or the like may function as the controller 2 according to the present invention. Is possible.

  Further, the distribution method of such a program is arbitrary. For example, the program can be read by a computer such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an MO (Magneto Optical Disk), or a memory card. It may be distributed by storing in a recording medium, or distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device management system, 2 Controller, 3 Electrical equipment, 4 Home network, 5 Commercial power supply, 6 Power line, 7 Housing, 8 Power measurement sensor, 9 CT, 10, 11 Terminal device, 21 Equipment communication part, 22 Display part, 23 Input unit, 24 audio output unit, 25 storage unit, 26 control unit, 251 data for calculating electricity bill, 252 power consumption recording table, 261 power consumption recording unit, 262 start / stop detection unit, 263 prediction unit, 264 result acquisition unit H.265 display control unit

In order to achieve the above object, the controller of the present invention provides:
A controller that is connected to an electric appliance in a residence via a communication network,
Detecting means for detecting start and stop of the electrical device;
When the detection means detects activation, a prediction means for predicting power consumption in a predetermined period in the future of the electrical equipment;
When the detection means detects a stop, the result acquisition means for acquiring the power consumption by the current operation of the electrical equipment;
Information on the power consumption predicted by the prediction unit when the detection unit detects activation is displayed on the display unit, and the power consumption acquired by the result acquisition unit when the detection unit detects a stop. information on and a display control means for displaying on said display means,
It is characterized by that.

Claims (6)

A controller that is connected to an electric appliance in a residence via a communication network,
Detecting means for detecting start or stop of the electrical device;
When the detection means detects activation, a prediction means for predicting power consumption in a predetermined period in the future of the electrical equipment;
When the detection means detects a stop, the result acquisition means for acquiring the power consumption by the current operation of the electrical equipment;
Display control means for displaying on the display means information on the power consumption predicted by the prediction means or information on the power consumption acquired by the results acquisition means,
A controller characterized by that. The display control means causes the display means to display an electricity bill corresponding to the power consumption amount as information on the power consumption amount.
The controller according to claim 1. The display control means includes
Along with the information on the power consumption, information indicating the timing at which the unit price of the electricity rate fluctuates is displayed on the display means.
The controller according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the above-mentioned. An information display method using a computer connected to a residential electric device via a communication network,
A detection step in which the computer detects activation or stop of the electrical device;
When the detection is detected in the detection step, the computer predicts a power consumption amount in a predetermined period in the future of the electric device;
When detecting the stop in the detection step, the computer acquires a power consumption amount by the current operation of the electrical equipment,
A display control step in which the computer displays information on the power consumption predicted in the prediction step or information on the power consumption acquired in the results acquisition step on a display unit;
An information display method comprising: A computer connected to the electrical equipment in the house via a communication network
Detecting means for detecting activation or deactivation of the electrical device;
When the detection means detects activation, a prediction means for predicting power consumption in a predetermined period in the future of the electrical equipment;
If the detection means detects a stop, the result acquisition means for acquiring the amount of power consumed by the current operation of the electrical equipment,
Display control means for causing the display means to display information related to the power consumption predicted by the prediction means or information related to the power consumption acquired by the result acquisition means;
Program to function as. A device management system comprising a controller and a residential electric device connected to the controller via a communication network,
The controller is
Detecting means for detecting start or stop of the electrical device;
When the detection means detects activation, a prediction means for predicting power consumption in a predetermined period in the future of the electrical equipment;
When the detection means detects a stop, the result acquisition means for acquiring the power consumption by the current operation of the electrical equipment;
Display control means for causing the display means to display information relating to the power consumption amount predicted by the prediction means or information relating to the power consumption amount acquired by the result acquisition means,
A device management system characterized by that.

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