JP2015015619A - Operation terminal - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent the continuation of an unintended operating state due to incapability of remote operation when an abnormality on a communication line occurs after equipment is remotely operated with an incorrect operation and the communication line is not restored for a while.SOLUTION: An operation terminal includes: an operation reception unit for receiving a remote operation content from a user and for receiving setting of an OFF timer to the remote operation content; a transmitter/receiver unit for transmitting the remote operation content received by the operation reception unit and the OFF timer to a home appliance; a timer setting determination unit for determining whether or not the OFF timer setting to the remote operation content, received by the operation reception unit, is necessary; and a notification unit for notifying to set the OFF timer before the transmission of the operation content by the transmitter/receiver unit, when the timer setting determination unit determines that the OFF timer setting is necessary.

Description

  The present invention relates to an operation terminal that controls an electric device via a server.

  Conventionally, this type of operation terminal transmits operation information for controlling a device such as power ON / OFF of the device when the device is remotely operated via a communication line (for example, Patent Document 1). reference).

JP-A-10-271570

  A power supply device with a remote control device described in Patent Document 1 includes a remote control device that remotely instructs on / off of an electric product, a receiving unit that receives an instruction signal issued from the remote control device, and a reception Interpreting means for interpreting the content of the instruction signal received by the means, and power supply means for turning on or off the power supply to the electrical product according to the interpretation result of the interpreting means.

  Thereby, the power supply to a plurality of electrical products can be turned ON / OFF by remote control from the remote control device.

  However, in the above conventional configuration, if an abnormality occurs in the communication line, the device cannot be operated from a remote terminal. For example, after the device is turned on with an incorrect setting, the communication line has an abnormality. When the communication line does not recover for a while, there is a problem that the power cannot be turned off remotely and an unintended operation state continues.

  In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, the operation terminal of the present invention receives the contents of the remote operation by the user, and also receives an operation reception unit that receives an OFF timer setting for the content of the remote operation, and the remote operation content received by the operation reception unit. Transmitter / receiver for transmission to home appliances, timer setting determination unit for determining whether or not an OFF timer should be set for the remote operation content received by the operation reception unit, and an OFF timer required by the timer setting determination unit When it is determined that the operation content is determined by the transmission / reception unit, the notification unit performs notification so as to set an OFF timer before transmitting the operation content.

  As a result, when the operation content is transmitted to the home appliance, the OFF timer can be set and transmitted together. Therefore, when a network failure between the home appliance and the operation terminal occurs, the remote operation cannot be stopped. Even if it falls into, the home appliance can be automatically shifted to a safe state (stopped state).

Since the operation terminal of the present invention can set and transmit an OFF timer as necessary when transmitting operation information to the home appliance, it automatically shifts the home appliance to a safe state (stopped state). When a necessary operation is performed, an OFF timer is set and transmitted when operation information is transmitted to the home appliance even if a network failure between the home appliance and the operation terminal occurs and the remote operation cannot be stopped. Therefore, the home appliance can be automatically shifted to a safe state (stopped state).

The block diagram which shows the whole communication system in this Embodiment Block configuration diagram of a communication system according to Embodiment 1 The figure which shows the operation | movement flow of the remote operation in the communication system of Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the operation | movement flow by the side of the portable terminal of the remote control in the communication system of Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the screen transition of the portable terminal in Embodiment 1. The figure which shows the screen transition of the portable terminal of Embodiment 1 in a form different from FIG. Block configuration diagram of a communication system according to Embodiment 2 The figure which shows the screen transition of the portable terminal in Embodiment 2. The figure which shows the screen transition of the portable terminal in conditions different from FIG. 8 in Embodiment 2. Block configuration diagram of a communication system according to Embodiment 3 The figure which shows the screen transition of the portable terminal in Embodiment 3. Block configuration diagram of a communication system according to Embodiment 4 The figure which shows the screen transition of the portable terminal in Embodiment 4.

  A first invention is an operation terminal for remotely operating a home electric appliance, and accepts a remote operation content by a user and receives an OFF timer setting for the remote operation content, and a remote received by the operation reception unit It is turned off by the transmission / reception unit that transmits the operation content to the home appliance, the timer setting determination unit that determines whether the OFF timer setting is necessary or unnecessary for the remote operation content received by the operation reception unit, and the timer setting determination unit When it is determined that a timer is necessary, a notification unit is provided for performing notification so as to set an OFF timer before the operation content is transmitted by the transmission / reception unit.

  According to this, when the operation content is transmitted to the home appliance, it can be set and transmitted together with the OFF timer. Therefore, when a network failure occurs between the home appliance and the operation terminal, it cannot be stopped by remote operation. Even if it falls into a state, the home appliance can be automatically shifted to a safe state (stopped state).

  In particular, according to the second invention, in the first invention, there is provided a model specifying unit for specifying the model of the home appliance, and a notification adjusting unit for invalidating the function of the notification unit according to the model specified by the model specifying unit. It is.

  According to this, the presence or absence of the OFF timer can be changed even with the same operation content, and an operation command can be sent for each different product number even with different home appliances or the same home appliance without being aware of the user.

  In particular, according to the third invention, in the first invention, the function of the distance detection unit that detects whether or not the device is within a predetermined distance from the home appliance and the function of the notification unit if the detection distance by the distance detection unit is within a predetermined value. A notification adjusting unit for invalidation is provided.

  According to this, since it is possible to operate the home appliance by changing the presence or absence of the OFF timer inside and outside the home for the same home appliance, the same operation can be performed at a location close to and away from the home appliance without being conscious of the user. The contents of operation commands can be changed.

The fourth invention is the function of the notification unit when the identification unit identifies whether or not the home appliance is in the same network network as the first invention, and the identification unit functions when the identification unit identifies the same network network. Is provided with a notification adjusting unit that invalidates the.

  According to this, for example, when a user joins a network to which a home appliance belongs, such as a home wireless LAN environment, and when accessing from a public communication network, the home appliance is operated by changing the presence or absence of the OFF timer. Can do.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 shows a communication system in the present embodiment. The communication system includes a mobile terminal 100, a server 200, a relay device 300, and a home appliance 400.

  The mobile terminal 100 is, for example, a mobile phone or a smartphone. The mobile terminal 100 can obtain (download) an application program from the outside, and the processing of the mobile terminal 100 described below is executed by the application program.

  Server 200 connected to mobile terminal 100 via a public line processes, stores, or forwards various signals transmitted from mobile terminal 100 to a relay device.

  The relay device 300 is a home gateway installed in a user's home of the home appliance 400, for example, and relays various signals transmitted from the server 200 via the Internet line to the home appliance 400, and from the home appliance 400 Various signals to be transmitted are relayed to the server 200.

  The home appliance 400 is a home appliance installed in a user's house, such as a television, a recorder, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a rice cooker, a microwave oven, or a water heater. In addition, home appliance 400 includes communication device 500 so that wireless communication with relay device 300 is possible. Note that the communication device 500 may be configured separately so as to be removable from the home appliance 400.

  Wireless communication between the relay device 300 and the communication device 500 is realized by various communication means (communication standards) such as a wireless LAN, Bluetooth (registered trademark), and specific low power wireless.

  FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 100, the server 200, the relay device 300, and the home appliance 400.

  The mobile terminal 100 includes an operation reception unit 110, a display unit 120, a notification unit 130, a transmission / reception unit 140, and a control unit 150.

  The operation reception unit 110 is configured by buttons physically provided on the mobile terminal 100.

  The display unit 120 is a display that displays various information related to the function of the mobile terminal 100.

In recent years, a touch panel having the functions of the operation receiving unit 110 and the display unit 120 has become widespread, and the operation receiving unit 110 may be realized by buttons displayed on the display unit 120.

  The notification unit 130 includes a display display, illumination, LED, speaker, and the like, and performs notification to notify that when the user has not set the OFF timer as will be described later.

  The transmission / reception unit 140 is a means for communicating with the server 200 and performs transmission / reception via a wireless public line.

  The control unit 150 controls the operation reception unit 110, the display unit 120, and the transmission / reception unit 140.

  The server 200 includes a transmission / reception unit 210.

  The transmission / reception unit 210 performs communication with the mobile terminal 100 and communication with the relay device 300. In the embodiment, it is described that the transmission / reception unit 210 performs communication with the mobile terminal 100 and communication with the relay apparatus 300. However, the transmission / reception unit 210 may be configured separately from the transmission unit and the reception unit. It is possible to appropriately configure the transmission / reception unit by separating communication and communication with the relay device 300.

  The server 200 executes various functions for relaying, but the description is omitted in this embodiment.

  The relay device 300 includes a transmission / reception unit 310 that receives various signals transmitted from the server 200 and relays the signals to the home appliance 400.

  The relay device 300 performs various functions for relaying, but the description thereof is omitted in the present embodiment.

  The home appliance 400 includes a load unit 410, a control unit 420, and a communication device 500.

  The load unit 410 is an engine that converts a power source that is power of the home appliance 400 into motion. If an example is given, if household appliances 400 are washing machines, load part 410 will correspond to a motor which rotates a washing tub. Moreover, if the household appliances 400 are air conditioners, the load part 410 is equivalent to a compressor.

  The control unit 420 controls the load unit 410 and the communication device 500.

  FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating a mechanism for transmitting an operation signal from portable terminal 100 and remotely operating home appliance 400 in response to the operation signal.

  First, a user of the mobile terminal 100 inputs operation content information of the home appliance 400 using the operation reception unit 110, and the control unit 150 generates an operation signal including the operation content information and transmits the operation signal including the operation content information to the server 200 via the transmission / reception unit 140. (Step S300).

  The server 200 that has received the operation signal relays the operation signal to the relay device 300, and the relay device 300 relays the operation signal to the home appliance 400. In addition, although the server 200 and the relay apparatus 300 relay between the portable terminal 100 and the household appliances 400, the description is abbreviate | omitted in FIG.

When communication device 500 receives the operation signal transmitted from relay device 300 (step S340), control unit 420 controls the operation of load unit 410 according to the operation content information included in the operation signal (step S380).

  In FIG. 4, the user of the mobile terminal 100 inputs operation content information of the home appliance 400 using the operation reception unit 110, and the control unit 150 generates an operation signal including the operation content information and transmits the operation signal via the transmission / reception unit 140. FIG. 5 is a processing flow diagram showing the flow until transmission to the server 200 in more detail.

  First, the operation reception part 110 receives the operation content information of the household appliances 400 which the user input (step S400). Here, it is assumed that the operation content information includes at least setting values related to the operation of home appliance 400 (for example, settings related to modes, temperature settings, etc.).

  Next, the control unit 150 functions as a timer setting determination unit, and confirms whether or not an OFF timer setting is necessary when transmitting the operation content information (step S410).

  In step S410, if the control unit 150 determines that the OFF timer setting is unnecessary, the control unit 150 generates an operation signal including operation content information and transmits the operation signal to the server 200 via the transmission / reception unit 140 (step S300).

  On the other hand, if the control unit 150 determines that the OFF timer setting is necessary in step S410, the control unit 150 prompts the user to input the OFF timer setting value via the notification unit 130 (step S420).

  In addition, as a method of determining the necessity of the OFF timer of the control unit 150, for example, it is necessary if an OFF timer setting requires an operation mode and is not set, an OFF timer setting is necessary and an operation mode is not necessary if it has been set, It is mentioned that it is unnecessary if the operation mode does not require the OFF timer setting.

  Also, it is determined whether the time specified in the previous OFF timer setting has elapsed, and if it has elapsed, it may be determined by the elapsed time so that the OFF timer setting is necessary, or it may be determined that it is always necessary good.

  Further, when the user desires that the set value of the OFF timer may be the same every time, it may be determined that the OFF timer setting is unnecessary and not notified.

  Here, as an operation mode that requires an OFF timer setting, there is a setting for operating a home appliance such as power ON.

  In addition, as the operation mode that does not require the OFF timer setting, there are settings related to stopping home appliances and operation settings of home appliances. For example, in the case of an air conditioner, settings such as temperature, wind direction, and air volume are listed. It is done.

  According to the above processing, when operating information is transmitted to the home appliance, an OFF timer can be set and transmitted as necessary, so that the home appliance is automatically shifted to a safe state (stopped state). When a necessary operation is performed, for example, when a network failure occurs between the home appliance and the operation terminal, even if the remote operation cannot be stopped, an OFF timer is set when sending operation information. The device can be automatically shifted to a safe state (stopped state).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a display mode of the display unit 120 and a transition of the display mode when the display unit 120 is caused to function as the notification unit 130.

  As shown on the left side of FIG. 5, the user inputs a setting value on the setting screen for the home appliance 400 displayed on the display unit 120. At this time, it is assumed that the user has not set the timer. In FIG. 5, “−” means that the timer is not set.

  When the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the display unit 120 transitions to the display form shown on the right side of FIG. As shown on the right side of FIG. 5, the display unit 120 displays “Please set timer OFF.” And prompts the user to input an OFF timer setting value.

  If the user presses the confirm button after setting the timer on the left side of FIG. 5, no display as shown on the right side of FIG. 5 is displayed.

  FIG. 6 shows another form of display form and display form transition shown in FIG. When the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the display unit 120 transitions to the display form shown on the right side of FIG.

  On the right side of FIG. 6, the user can be prompted to input an OFF timer setting value, and the OFF timer setting value can be determined on the same screen.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when operating information is transmitted to a home appliance, an OFF timer can always be set and transmitted, so that a network failure has occurred between the home appliance and the operation terminal. In such a case, the home electric appliance can be automatically shifted to a safe state (stopped state) even if it cannot be stopped by remote operation.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 7 is a block configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 100, the server 200, the relay device 300, and the home appliance 400. Compared to FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 100 includes a model specifying unit 160.

  The model identifying unit 160 identifies the model of the home appliance 400 (for example, a television, a recorder, an air conditioner, a vacuum cleaner, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a rice cooker, a microwave oven, a water heater, etc.) and is input by the user. Is specified by

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a display form of the display unit 120 and a transition of the display form when the display unit 120 is caused to function as the notification unit 130 and the model specifying unit 160.

  As in the display form shown on the left side of FIG. 8, the display unit 120 functions as the model specifying unit 160, and the user can specify the model of the home appliance 400 to be remotely operated.

  When the user presses a button with a model name written in order to identify the model (assuming that the air conditioner is pressed in FIG. 8), the display form transitions to the display form shown in the middle of FIG.

  The display form shown in the middle of FIG. 8 is the same as the display form on the left side of FIGS. 5 and 6. Here, when the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the display unit 120 is displayed on the right side of FIG. Transition to the display mode shown in FIG. The display form shown on the right side of FIG. 8 is the same as the display form shown on the right side of FIG. 5, and the display unit 120 displays “Please set timer OFF.” And inputs the OFF timer setting value to the user. Encourage you to.

  Next, in the display mode shown on the left side of FIG. 8, the display mode and transition when the user specifies another model will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user presses the button of the refrigerator in the display form shown on the left side of FIG. 9, the display form transitions to the display form shown in the middle of FIG. Here, when the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the display unit 120 transitions to the display form shown on the right side of FIG.

  In FIG. 9, the display unit 120 displays “Please set timer OFF.” And does not prompt the user to input the OFF timer setting value. As described above, whether to prompt the user to set the timer OFF is switched according to the model specified by the user via the model specifying unit 160 (display unit 120).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the presence or absence of the OFF timer can be changed even with the same operation content, and an operation command is sent to different home appliances or different product numbers for the same home appliances without being aware of the user. Can do.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 10 is a block configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 100, the server 200, the relay device 300, and the home appliance 400. Compared to FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 100 includes a distance detection unit 170.

  The distance detection unit 170 identifies the current position of the mobile terminal 100 and the distance between the home appliance 400, the position information acquired from the GPS installed in the mobile terminal, and the preset position of the home appliance 400. The distance is automatically detected by comparing the information.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a display form of the display unit 120 and a transition of the display form when the display unit 120 includes the distance detection unit 170.

  As shown on the left side of FIG. 11, the user inputs a setting value on the setting screen for the home appliance 400 displayed on the display unit 120. At this time, it is assumed that the user has not set the timer. In FIG. 11, “−” means that the timer is not set.

  When the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the distance detection unit 170 determines the distance between the home appliance and the mobile terminal 100 held by the user, and determines that the distance is farther than the in-home range. The display unit 120 transitions to the display form shown on the right side of FIG. As shown on the right side of FIG. 11, the display unit 120 displays “Please set timer OFF.” And prompts the user to input an OFF timer setting value.

  In the left side of FIG. 11, if the user presses the confirm button after setting the timer, or even if the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the distance detection unit 170 determines that the distance is within the home range. If it is determined, the display as shown on the right side of FIG. 11 is not displayed at all.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, for the same home appliance, the home appliance can be operated by changing the presence or absence of the OFF timer inside and outside the home, so that the location close to the home appliance without the user being conscious The operation command content can be changed by the same operation at a remote location.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 12 is a block configuration diagram of the mobile terminal 100, the server 200, the relay device 300, and the home appliance 400. Compared to FIG. 2, the mobile terminal 100 includes an identification unit 180.

The identification unit 180 identifies the network to which the mobile terminal 100 is connected.
A network to which the mobile terminal 100 is connected is automatically set from a wireless LAN SSID or a mobile phone base station.

  FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a display form of the display unit 120 and a transition of the display form when the display unit 120 includes the identification unit 180.

  As shown on the left side of FIG. 13, the user inputs a setting value on the setting screen for the home appliance 400 displayed on the display unit 120. At this time, it is assumed that the user has not set the timer. In FIG. 13, “−” means that the timer is not set.

  When the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the type of network to which the identification unit 180 is connected is determined, and when it is determined that communication is being performed by connecting to the public line network, the display unit 120 transitions to the display form shown on the right side of FIG. As shown on the right side of FIG. 13, the display unit 120 displays “Please set timer OFF.” And prompts the user to input an OFF timer setting value.

  In the left side of FIG. 13, when the user presses the confirm button after setting the timer, or when the user presses the confirm button without setting the timer, the identification unit 180 is connected to the home appliance 400 connected to the home. When it is determined that communication is established with a wireless LAN, no display as shown on the right side of FIG. 13 is displayed.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the user joins a network to which home appliances belong, such as a home wireless LAN environment, and when accessing from the public communication network, the presence or absence of the OFF timer You can operate home appliances by changing

  As described above, the operation terminal according to the present invention can be applied to a mobile terminal such as a smartphone that can remotely operate home appliances connected to a network from outside the house.

100 Mobile terminal 200 Server 300 Relay device 400 Home appliance 500 Communication device

Claims (4)

An operation terminal for remotely controlling home appliances,
An operation accepting unit that accepts remote operation content by a user and accepts an OFF timer setting for the remote operation content;
A transmission / reception unit that transmits the remote operation content received by the operation reception unit and an OFF timer to the home appliance;
A timer setting determination unit for determining whether or not the setting of an OFF timer is necessary or unnecessary for the remote operation content received by the operation reception unit;
When the timer setting determination unit determines that an OFF timer is necessary, a notification unit that performs notification to set the OFF timer before transmitting the operation content by the transmission / reception unit;
Operation terminal equipped with. A model identifying unit that identifies the model of the home appliance;
A notification adjusting unit that disables the function of the notification unit according to the model specified by the model specifying unit;
The operation terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: A distance detection unit for detecting whether or not a predetermined distance from the home appliance;
If the detection distance by the distance detection unit is within a predetermined value, a notification adjustment unit that invalidates the function of the notification unit,
The operation terminal according to claim 1, further comprising: An identification unit for identifying whether or not the home appliance is in the same network network;
A notification adjusting unit that disables the function of the notification unit when the identification unit is identified as being in the same network network;
The operation terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

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