JP2016025622A - Controller and program used for controller - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce a possibility for a control instruction of which the priority is regarded higher to be continuously implemented for an excessively long time in a controller which receives control instructions from a plurality of manipulation devices and controls equipment to be controlled in accordance with the received control instruction.SOLUTION: A control instruction 60A is acquired from a manipulation device A, a control instruction 60B is acquired from a manipulation device B, it is discriminated whether the control instruction 60A or 60B is more preferential, and a control command 70A corresponding to the control instruction 60A decided more preferential is transmitted to equipment X to be controlled. On the basis of a condition that an operational state 80A corresponding to the control instruction 60A decided more preferential is continued in the equipment X to be controlled for a priority time PA, in place of the control instruction 60A decided more preferential, a control command 70B corresponding to the control instruction 60B that is not decided more preferential is transmitted to the equipment X to be controlled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a controller that receives control instructions from a plurality of operating devices and controls a controlled apparatus according to the received control instructions, and a program used for the controller.

  Conventionally, a technique is known in which a controller receives a control instruction from another device (operation device) and controls a controlled apparatus (for example, a hot water supply device, a power storage device, or an indoor air conditioner) in accordance with the received control instruction.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, when a controller that receives control instructions from a plurality of operation devices competes with a control instruction received from the plurality of operation devices, control from the operation device closest to the controlled device is performed. A technique for giving priority to instructions is disclosed. Moreover, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the control with the next priority is realized after the control with high priority is completed.

JP 2013-009033 A

  However, in the above-described technology, the next control is not performed until the high-priority control is completed. Therefore, the priority control is executed for a long time until unnecessary, and as a result, the control that is not prioritized is realized. May be overly delayed.

  For example, an electric water heater is installed as a controlled device in a building, and a control instruction is sent from the operation device in the building to the controller to request additional water (increase the amount of hot water in the hot water storage tank). It is assumed that the hot water supply is executed by controlling the electric water heater based on this control instruction. Then, after that, it is assumed that the operating device outside the building transmits a control instruction for stopping hot water addition to the controller for the purpose of peak shift or leveling of power consumption in the area.

  In this case, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the control instruction for requesting hot water is prioritized over the control instruction for stopping hot water, hot water is increased until the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank reaches the upper limit (full tank). Will continue. However, it may not be necessary to prioritize the hot water control after the hot water tank capacity has reached a sufficient level, even if it is not the upper limit. It is preferable to stop hot water filling for leveling.

  In view of the above, the present invention receives a control instruction from a plurality of operating devices, and a controller that controls the controlled device according to the received control instruction, the control instruction that is regarded as having a high priority continues to be realized for an excessively long time. The purpose is to reduce the possibility of being lost.

  In order to achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention obtains the first control instruction (60A) from the first operating device (2, 4, 16, 192), and the second operating device (2 4, 16, 192) from the acquisition means (194) for acquiring the second control instruction (60B) and the determination means for determining which of the first control instruction and the second control instruction has priority ( 140) and first control means (150 to 150) for transmitting to the controlled device (X) a control command corresponding to the control command determined to be given priority among the first control command and the second control command. 180) and the operation state (80A) corresponding to the control instruction of the one determined to be prioritized continues for a predetermined priority time (PA) in the controlled device. Instead of the control instruction, the first control finger And a second control means for transmitting a control command corresponding to a control instruction of the person who is not determined as priority of the second control instruction to the controlled device (210 to 240), a controller with.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the first control instruction (60A) is acquired from the first operating device, and the second control is performed from the second operating device (2, 4, 5, 16, 17). A program used for a controller (19) that acquires an instruction (60B) and transmits a control command according to the first control instruction and the second control instruction to a controlled device (X), Determining means (140) for determining which of the first control instruction and the second control instruction has priority, and which of the first control instruction and the second control instruction has been determined to have priority First control means (150 to 180) for transmitting a control command according to the control device to the controlled device, and an operating state (80A) according to the control instruction determined to be prioritized is predetermined in the controlled device. Priority time (PA) continues Therefore, instead of the control instruction determined to be prioritized, a control instruction corresponding to the control instruction of the first control instruction and the second control instruction that has not been determined to be prioritized is provided. It is a program that causes the controller to function as second control means (210 to 240) to be transmitted to the controlled device.

  Thus, the controller operates the controlled device based on the control instruction that is determined to be prioritized, and the control instruction that is determined to be prioritized based on the lapse of the predetermined priority time. Instead, the control instruction that has not been determined to be prioritized is realized. Therefore, if the operation state that realizes the control instruction that is determined to be prioritized continues for the priority time, the operation is terminated, so the control instruction that is regarded as having a high priority may continue to be realized for an excessively long time. Is reduced.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis in the said and the claim shows the correspondence of the term described in the claim, and the concrete thing etc. which illustrate the said term described in embodiment mentioned later. .

1 is a configuration diagram of an energy management system 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a configuration diagram of a HEMS controller 19. FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control instruction | indication 60. FIG. It is a flowchart of the process performed when a HEMS controller receives a control instruction | indication. It is a flowchart of the process which a HEMS controller performs when priority time passes. FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of Case 1. This is a record of control commands recorded in the executing list 191b. This is the priority condition information of the power storage device. It is priority condition information of a hot water supply apparatus. It is priority condition information of an indoor air conditioner. FIG. 10 is a timing diagram of Case 2. FIG. 10 is a timing diagram of Case 3.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described. An energy management system 100 according to the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is a system for realizing a CEMS (Cluster Energy Management System or Community Energy Management System).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the energy management system 100 is supplied with electric power from the system power source 1 and includes a CEMS server 2, a remote center 3, an out-of-home operating device 4, and a plurality of consumers (an example of a building). 10a to 10c).

  The consumers 10a to 10c included in the energy management system 100 are built in the same area. The number of customers included in the energy management system 100 may be about 10 units, about 100 units, or about 1000 units. However, in the present embodiment, as an example, three customers 10a to 10c are energized. It is included in the management system 100. In the present embodiment, each of the customers 10a to 10c is also a supplier with a power generation device installed.

  Since all the apparatuses installed in the consumers 10a to 10c have the same configuration, the same reference numerals are used. Inside each of the customers 10a to 10c or in the vicinity of the outside, there are a distribution board 11, a hot water supply device 12, a power generation device 13, a power storage device 14, a device group 15, a home operation device 16, a gateway 18, and a HEMS controller 19. Installed.

  The distribution board 11 is supplied with power from the grid power source 1 via the local power line 21 and further connected to the equipment 12, 13, 15, 18, 19 installed in the same consumer via the residential power line 22. Has been. The distribution board 11 supplies the power received from the system power source 1 and the like to the devices 12, 13, 15, 18, and 19 via the home power line 22. Conversely, power is supplied from the power generation device 13 and the power storage device 14 to the distribution board 11, and the power supplied from the distribution board 11 is supplied to the device group 15 in the same consumer or the distribution board 11 in another consumer. In some cases, power is supplied.

  The hot water supply device 12 is an electric water heater provided with a heat pump unit and a hot water storage tank. The heat pump unit heats water by the electric power supplied from the distribution board 11 to boil the hot water, and the heated hot water is stored in the hot water storage tank. Store in. Hot water stored in the hot water storage tank is used to be supplied to a bath, kitchen, etc. via a pipe (not shown), and is used to raise the temperature of tap water by exchanging heat with tap water. It is done.

  The power generation device 13 is a device that supplies power to the distribution board 11 or the power storage device 14 by generating power, and can be realized by a solar power generation device, for example. The power storage device 14 includes a secondary battery that is charged by receiving power supply from the power generation device 13 and a charge / discharge control device that controls charging and discharging by the secondary battery. The device group 15 includes a plurality of devices that operate by receiving power from the distribution board 11 such as indoor air conditioners, lighting, electronic locks, and floor heating devices. Since the operations of the devices 11 to 15 are controlled by the HEMS controller 19, each corresponds to an example of a controlled device.

  The home operation device 16 is a device such as a mobile phone (smart phone), a tablet computer, a stationary personal computer, etc., and is connected via a HEMS controller 19 installed in the same consumer and a LAN (local area network) in the consumer. To communicate. The in-home operating device 16 creates a control instruction according to the user's operation, and transmits this control instruction to the HEMS controller 19 via the LAN.

  The gateway 18 is a gateway device that connects a LAN in a consumer in which the gateway 18 is installed and the above-described wide area network outside the consumer. The customer's HEMS controller 19 and the CEMS server 2, and the customer's HEMS controller 19 and the remote center 3 can communicate via the gateway 18.

  The HEMS controller 19 is a device that controls the operation of the controlled devices 11 to 15 installed in the same consumer and provides the user with information such as the operating state of the controlled devices 11 to 15.

  The CEMS server 2 is a device that performs peak shift or leveling of energy supply and demand of the entire energy management system 100 by communicating with each HEMS controller 19 via the gateway 18 of each customer 10a to 10c. The CEMS server 2 corresponds to an example of the operation device, like the operation devices 4 and 16.

  The remote center 3 is a device that receives a control instruction from the out-of-home operating device 4 via a wide-area communication network such as the Internet, and transmits the received control instruction to each customer 10a to 10HEMS controller 19.

  The out-of-home operating device 4 is a communication device such as a mobile phone (smart phone), a portable tablet computer, and a stationary personal computer, and can communicate with the remote center 3 via a wide-area communication network such as the Internet. Yes. The out-of-home operating device 4 creates a control instruction based on the user's input operation, and transmits this control instruction to the remote center 3 via the wide area communication network.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the HEMS controller 19 of each customer 10a-10c has the memory 191, the manual operation part 192, the display part 193, the communication interface 194, and the calculating part 195, respectively.

  The memory 191 includes a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory and a volatile memory such as a RAM. In the nonvolatile memory, in addition to the program executed by the calculation unit 195, data of the priority condition information 191a, the in-execution list 191b, and the standby list 191c are recorded.

  The priority condition information 191a is provided for the number of controlled devices 11 to 15 corresponding to each of the controlled devices 11 to 15 installed in the same consumer as the HEMS controller 19. The same applies to the executing list 191b and the standby list 191c.

  The manual operation unit 192 (corresponding to an example of an operation device) is a device that directly receives a user's input operation, and can be realized by, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a camera, and the like. The display unit 193 is a device that displays an image to the user.

  The communication interface 194 includes a LAN interface for communicating with the in-home operating device 16 and the gateway 18 via the above-described LAN, and a control communication interface for communicating with the controlled devices 11 to 15.

  The calculation unit 195 executes various programs recorded in the memory 191 to perform communication using the communication interface 194 as necessary, and causes the display unit 193 to display an image.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the energy management system 100 configured as described above will be described. First, transmission of a control instruction will be described. As an example in which the control instruction is transmitted, an example transmitted from the out-of-home operating device 16 installed in the same consumer to the HEMS controller 19, an example transmitted from the out-of-home operating devices 4 and 5, a CEMS server There are three examples transmitted from 2.

[Creation and transmission of control instructions in home operation device 16]
The in-home operating device 16 transmits a control instruction based on a user input operation on the in-home operating device 16. Specifically, it is assumed that the user performs an input operation on the in-home operating device 16 in one of the customers 10a to 10c (here, the customer 10a is taken as an example). The contents of the input operation include the name of one specific controlled device among the controlled devices 11 to 15 installed in the consumer 10a and the instruction content for the one controlled device (for example, operation start, stop, charge) Start, discharge start, etc.).

  Then, the in-home operating device 16 creates a control instruction based on the name of the specific one controlled device specified by the input operation and the instruction content for the one controlled device.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the control instruction 60 is data including four data, that is, an occurrence date / time 61, an operation source device name 62, a control target device name 63, and instruction content 64. In the case of the above-described example, the calculation unit 45 sets the current date and time as the generation date and time 61, and sets the operation source device name 62 as the device name assigned to the own device (the home operation device 16).

  It is assumed that the device name (corresponding to an example of identification information of the operating device) assigned to the own device is recorded in advance in a nonvolatile storage medium in the memory 41. This device name is identification information for uniquely identifying each operation device among all the operation devices regardless of whether inside or outside the house. Therefore, the own device can be distinguished from other operation devices by the operation source device name 62. For example, as the device name, a MAC (Meida Access Control) address of the device may be used, or a computer name given by the user for each device may be used.

  In addition, the calculation unit 45 obtains the name of the specific one controlled device specified by the user's input operation and the instruction content for the one controlled device as the control target device name 63 and the instruction content 64, respectively. To do.

  Then, the in-home operating device 16 includes the generation date / time 61, the control source device name 62, the control target device name 63, and the instruction content 64 created in this way in the control instruction 60. Further, the control instruction 60 is transmitted to the HEMS controller 19 in the customer 10a via the LAN in the customer 10a. At this time, the transmitted control instruction 60 passes through the LAN in the customer 10a, but does not pass through a network (including a wide area network) outside the gateway 18. Of course, the LANs in the other customers 10b and 10c do not pass.

[Creation and transmission of control instructions in out-of-home operating device 4]
In addition, it is assumed that the user performs an input operation on the remote operation device 4 in a remote place far away from the consumers 10a to 10c. The content of the input operation is a name of a specific one of the consumers 10a to 10c (here, referred to as the customer 10a) and a specific one of the controlled devices 11 to 15 installed in the consumer 10a. It defines the name of one controlled device and the instruction content for the one controlled device.

  Then, the out-of-home operating device 4 is based on the name of the specific one consumer 10a defined by the input operation, the name of the specific one controlled device, and the content of the instruction to the one controlled device. Thus, a control instruction having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 is created.

  Specifically, the generation date and time 61, the operation source device name 62, and the instruction content 64 are created in the same manner as when the control instruction is created in the home operation device 16. For the control target device name 63, the out-of-home operating device 4 uses both the name of the specific one consumer 10a defined by the user's input operation and the name of the specific one controlled device. The data including the control name is the control target device name 63. Thereby, the control target device name 63 includes not only the name of the controlled device to be controlled but also the name of the customer 10a in which the controlled device is installed.

  Then, the calculation unit 45 includes the generation date and time 61, the operation source device name 62, the control target device name 63, and the instruction content 64 created in this way in the control instruction 60. Further, the control instruction 60 is transmitted to the remote center 3 via the wide area network.

  The remote center 3 receives the control instruction 60 transmitted from the remote operation device 4 in this way via the wide area network, and the demand included in the operation target device name 63 in the received control instruction 60. Read the name of the house. Then, the control instruction 60 is transmitted to the HEMS controller 19 installed in the consumer having the read name. The control instruction 60 transmitted in this way reaches the HEMS controller 19 via the wide area network, the gateway 18, and the LAN in the customer. Thus, the remote center 3 has a relay function for the control instruction 60. When the remote center 3 relays the control instruction 60 in this manner, the remote center 3 indicates that the own machine (remote center 3) has relayed the control instruction 60 received from the outside operating device 4. The relay data is included and transmitted to the HEMS controller 19.

[Creation and transmission of control instruction in CEMS server 2]
The CEMS server 2 creates a control instruction and transmits it to each HEMS controller 19 in order to perform peak shift or leveling of energy supply and demand of the entire energy management system 100.

  Specifically, in the HEMS controller 19 of each customer 10a to 10c, the calculation unit 195 repeatedly creates performance data periodically and transmits it to the CEMS server 2 using the communication interface 194. And the CEMS server 2 receives the performance data.

  These actual data include the supply and demand of energy (electric power, etc.) at the consumer, such as the amount of power used by the consumer at the installation destination of the HEMS controller 19, the amount of hot water stored in the hot water supply device 12, the amount of electricity stored in the power storage device 14 Actual data is included. The calculation unit 195 of each HEMS controller 19 receives the supply and demand results (power consumption, power usage amount) of each controlled device 11-15 received via the communication interface 194 from each controlled device 11-15 installed in the same consumer. Based on the amount of stored hot water, the amount of electricity stored, etc., the data of these supply and demand results are created.

  The CEMS server 2 predicts the amount of energy supply and demand of the entire consumers 10a to 10c in a period after the current time based on each received performance data. Then, based on the prediction result of the energy demand and supply of the entire consumer customers 10a to 10c, the customer demand 10a to 10c is subjected to a peak shift or leveling of energy supply and demand in a period after the present time. An operation plan for the controlled devices 10a to 10c is created.

  The operation plan is a schedule (time table) for how and in which time zone the operation of the controlled devices 11 to 15 is controlled. It is well known how to create an operation plan for performing peak shift or leveling of energy supply and demand based on prediction results of energy supply and demand, and is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-156937. Yes.

  Then, the CEMS server 2 transmits a control instruction 60 having the configuration shown in FIG. 3 to the HEMS controller 19 at a necessary timing in accordance with the created operation plan. For example, in the operation plan, when the power storage device 14 of the customer 10a starts discharging at time T1, the CEMS server 2 starts creating the control instruction 60 when the time T1 arrives. The current date and time is set as the occurrence date and time 61, and the operation source device name 62 is set as the device name assigned to the own device (CEMS server 2).

  It is assumed that the device name (corresponding to an example of the identification information of the operation device) assigned to the CEMS server 2 is recorded in advance in a nonvolatile storage medium in the CEMS server 2. This device name is identification information for uniquely identifying each operating device. Therefore, the CEMS server 2 can be distinguished from other operation devices by the operation source device name 62. For example, as the device name, a MAC (Meida Access Control) address of the device may be used, or a computer name given by the user for each device may be used.

  Further, the CEMS server 2 sets the data including both the names of the power storage devices 14 that are the operation targets as the operation target device name 63. Further, the CEMS server 2 sets the operation content 64 to “discharge start” which is an instruction content for the controlled device (power storage device 14) to be operated.

  The CEMS server 2 includes the generation date and time 61, the operation source device name 62, the control target device name 63, and the instruction content 64 created in this way in the control instruction 60, and the same customer 10a as the power storage device 14 that is the operation target. The control instruction 60 is transmitted to the HEMS controller 19 installed in the system. The control instruction 60 transmitted in this way reaches the HEMS controller 19 via the wide area network, the gateway 18, and the LAN in the customer.

[Creation of control instruction in HEMS controller 19]
In addition, it is assumed that the user performs an input operation on the manual operation unit 192 of the HEMS controller 19 installed in a certain consumer (here, the consumer 10a as an example). The content of the input operation defines the name of one specific controlled device among the controlled devices 11 to 15 installed in the consumer 10a and the instruction content for the one controlled device.

  In accordance with this input, the manual operation unit 192 outputs a signal indicating the name of the controlled device and the content of the instruction to the calculation unit 195. This signal corresponds to an example of a control instruction.

  Based on the name of the specific one controlled device specified by the input operation and the instruction content for the one controlled device, the arithmetic unit 195 that has acquired this signal controls the control instruction having the configuration shown in FIG. 60 is created. About the creation method, it is the same as the method at the time of creation of the control instruction 60 in the in-home operation device 16. Then, the calculation unit 195 records the created control instruction 60 in the memory 191.

[Handling of control instructions in the HEMS controller 19]
Next, the operation of the HEMS controller 19 that receives the control instruction 60 transmitted as described above will be described with reference to a plurality of examples. In each of the HEMS controllers 19, the calculation unit 195 executes the processes shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

[Case 1]
First, Case 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the calculation unit 195 starts the process of FIG. 4 based on the fact that any one of the control instructions 60 described above (hereinafter referred to as the control instruction 60A) is acquired from the controller device A at the time point t1. The operating device A may be any of the operating devices 2, 4, 16, and 192.

  In addition, the control target device name 63 included in the received control instruction 60 </ b> A is generated by the distribution panel 11, the hot water supply device 12, or the like among the controlled devices 11 to 15 installed in the same consumer as the calculation unit 195. The device 13, the power storage device 14, or another device group 15 (for example, an air conditioner) may be used. Hereinafter, the controlled device corresponding to the control target device name 63 included in the control instruction 60A is referred to as a controlled device X.

  In the process of FIG. 4, first, in step 105, the calculation unit 195, based on the control target device name 63 in the received control instruction 60A, includes a plurality of pieces of priority condition information 191a recorded in the memory 191 and a plurality of executing items. One set to be used is specified from the list 191b and the plurality of waiting lists 191c. Specifically, the priority condition information 191a, the in-execution list 191b, and the standby list 191c corresponding to the controlled device X with the control target device name 63 are specified.

  Subsequently, in step 110, the in-execution list 191b specified in the immediately preceding step 105 is read, and it is determined whether or not the read out execution list 191b includes a control instruction record.

  The in-execution list 191b corresponding to the controlled device X includes a record of a control instruction being executed in the controlled device X. The record in the running list 191b is added when a control command is transmitted to the controlled device X based on a certain control instruction, and the operation according to the control command in the controlled device X is performed only for the priority time described later. It is deleted when it continues.

  In this example, it is assumed that no record is recorded in the running list 191b in a state where the controlled device X is not yet operated. In this case, in step 110, it is determined that there is no control instruction in the execution list, and the process proceeds to step 160.

  In step 160, a record based on the received control instruction 60A is added to the executing list. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the added record includes the occurrence date and time 61, the operation source device name 62, the control target device name 63, and the instruction content 64 included in the received control instruction 60A. This data includes control start date and time 65 and priority time 66.

  The control start date and time 65 is a time at which control of the controlled device X is started in accordance with the control instruction 60A. For example, the calculation unit 195 may adopt the current date and time when step 160 is executed as the control start date and time.

  The priority time 66 is read from the priority condition information 191a corresponding to the controlled device X out of the priority condition information 191a recorded in the memory 191 of the own device. The priority condition information 191a is illustrated in FIGS.

  In each priority condition information 191a, the priority is an index for determining which is to be prioritized when a plurality of control instructions 60 compete for the same controlled device. The priority is highest in A, and thereafter the priority decreases in the order of B, C, D, E, and F. The priority time is an upper limit time during which the priority of the control instruction 60 is guaranteed.

  FIG. 8 shows the priority condition information 191 a corresponding to the power storage device 14. In this priority condition information 191a, different priorities (A, B, C) and different priority times are assigned for each instruction content of charging, stopping, and discharging of the power storage device 14. However, the priority time is not set for “discharge” having the lowest priority C. In the example of FIG. 8, for each instruction content, a single priority and a single priority time are assigned regardless of other conditions. The high priority in the order of “charge”, “stop”, and “discharge” is based on the idea that it is basically important to increase the amount of power stored in the power storage device in case of a disaster. For the same reason, “stop” has a longer priority time than “charge”.

  FIG. 9 shows priority condition information 191 a corresponding to the hot water supply device 12. The priority condition information 191a is assigned a different priority and a different priority time for each state of the hot water supply device 12, for each type of operation source, and for each instruction content.

  Here, the state of the hot water supply device 12 is specifically the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank provided in the hot water supply device 12 (that is, the amount of hot water in the tank), and more specifically, the amount of hot water in the tank. It is expressed as a percentage value where the upper limit (the amount of hot water when full) is 100%. The calculation unit 195 receives information on the amount of hot water in the tank from the hot water supply device 12 periodically (for example, every minute) using the control communication interface of the communication interface 194.

  As the type of operation source, specifically, remote operation or local operation is adopted. The remote operation corresponds to a case where the operation source device is the out-of-home operation device 4 and a case where the operation source device is the CEMS server 2. The local operation corresponds to a case where the operation source device is the home operation device 16 installed in the same consumer as the own device (HEMS controller 19) and a case where the operation source device is the manual operation unit 192 of the own device. .

  In addition, “increase in hot water operation” and “stop in hot water” are set as instruction contents. The “hot water renewal operation” is an operation instruction to supply hot water to the hot water storage tank to increase the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank, and the “hot water supply stop” is an operation instruction to stop supplying hot water to the hot water storage tank. .

  According to the priority condition information 191a in FIG. 9, when the amount of hot water in the tank is as small as 0% or more and less than 20%, the “hot water increase operation” is “stop hot water supply” regardless of whether it is a local operation or a remote operation. "".

  When the amount of hot water in the tank is 20% or more and less than 50%, the “hot water renewal operation” by local operation remains the highest priority. In this case, however, the “hot water increase operation” by remote operation has a lower priority than the “hot water stop operation” by local operation, even though it has priority over “hot water stop operation” by the same remote operation. This is because the amount of hot water in the tank has increased slightly and the urgency to store hot water has decreased, and basically local operation by users in the consumer should be given priority over remote operation. It is possible.

  When the amount of hot water in the tank becomes 50% or more and 100% or less, regardless of whether the operation is a local operation or a remote operation, “hot water stoppage” is given priority over “hot water supply operation”. In particular, the reason why “stop hot water stop” by remote operation is given priority over “hot water hot run” by local operation is as follows. In this case, since the amount of hot water in the tank is sufficient, the “hot water supply” from the CEMS server 2 is aimed at the peak shift or leveling of the energy supply and demand of the entire system 100 rather than the local operation by the personal request by the user in the consumer. The remote operation of “stop” may be prioritized.

  In addition, the priority time of “hot water increase operation” by local operation and the priority time of “hot water increase operation” by remote operation decrease as the amount of hot water in the tank increases. This is because if the amount of hot water in the tank increases, the amount of hot water that needs to be added at a minimum is also considered to decrease.

  FIG. 10 shows the priority condition information 191 a corresponding to the indoor air conditioner in the device group 15. The priority condition information 191a is assigned a different priority and a different priority time for each operating environment of the indoor air conditioner, for each type of operation source, and for each instruction content.

  Here, the operating environment of the indoor air conditioner is specifically the indoor temperature at which the indoor air conditioner is installed. The calculation unit 195 receives information on the indoor temperature of the installation destination from the indoor air conditioner periodically (for example, every minute) using the control communication interface of the communication interface 194. As the type of operation source, specifically, remote operation or local operation is adopted. In addition, “cooling”, “heating”, and “stop” are set as instruction contents.

  According to the priority condition information 191a in FIG. 10, when the room temperature is relatively cold, such as less than 20 ° C., “heating”, “stop”, and “cooling” are performed regardless of local operation or remote operation. Priority is given in order.

  When the room temperature is 20 ° C. or higher and lower than 30 ° C., “stop” has priority over “heating” over “cooling” regardless of whether the operation is a local operation or a remote operation. Therefore, for example, the “stop” instruction content transmitted from the CEMS server 2 has priority over the “cooling” or “heating” instruction content input from the manual operation unit 192 or the home operation device 16. In the case where the room temperature is approximately 20 ° C. or more and less than 30 ° C., the “stop” operation for the purpose of peak shift or leveling of energy supply and demand of the entire system 100 from the CEMS server 2 is prioritized. Because.

  Further, in terms of the relationship between “cooling” and “heating”, local operation always takes priority over remote operation. This is because when the room temperature is 20 ° C. or higher and lower than 30 ° C., the choice of cooling and heating varies greatly depending on the users in the consumer.

  When the room temperature is comparatively hot at 30 ° C. or higher, priority is given to “cooling”, “stop”, and “heating” in this order regardless of local operation or remote operation. Also, overall, local operations tend to have a longer priority time than remote operations.

  The user of the HEMS controller 19 can change the contents of each priority condition information 191a by operating the manual operation unit 192 of the HEMS controller 19. When the user inputs the change content using the manual operation unit 192, the calculation unit 195 reflects the input change content in the priority condition information 191a in the memory 191.

  Here, the description returns to the record to be added to the executing list 191b in step 160. The computing unit 195 reads the priority time 66 included in the record to be added from the priority condition information 191a corresponding to the controlled device X. Specifically, only one priority time corresponding to the instruction content 64 included in the received control instruction 60A is extracted from the priority condition information 191a.

  In this extraction, according to the contents of the priority condition information 191a, necessary information is used among the current operating state, operating environment, and operation source of the controlled device X, and the priority time that matches the used information is calculated. One may be extracted.

  For example, when the controlled device X is the power storage device 14, there is only one priority time corresponding to the instruction content 64 without using the current operating state, operating environment, and operation source of the controlled device X. Extract it.

  Further, for example, when the controlled device X is the hot water supply device 12, the latest amount of hot water in the tank acquired from the hot water supply device 12 and the operation source determined based on the operation source device name 62 in the control instruction 60A. Use, the instruction content 64, the amount of hot water in the tank, and one priority time that matches the operation source are extracted.

  Also, for example, when the controlled device X is an indoor air conditioner, the latest installation room temperature acquired from the indoor air conditioner and the operation source determined based on the operation source device name 62 in the control instruction 60A , One priority time that matches the instruction content 64, the amount of hot water in the tank and the operation source is extracted.

  Subsequently, in step 170, the arithmetic unit 195 creates a control command 70A based on the received control instruction 60A and transmits it to the controlled device X. Specifically, the instruction content 64 is read from the control instruction 60A, and data including the instruction content 64 is used as the control instruction 70A. Thereby, the control instruction 70A is created. Then, the control target device name 63 is extracted from the control instruction 60A, and the control command 70A is transmitted to the controlled device X having the extracted control target device name 63. The transmission of the control command 70A is performed using the above-described control communication interface in the communication interface 194. After step 170, the calculation unit 195 ends the process of FIG.

  The controlled device X that has received the control command 70A performs an operation for realizing the operation content included in the received control command 70A. As a result, the operating state of the controlled device X becomes the operating state 80A. For example, if the controlled device X that received the control command is the power storage device 14 and the operation content included in the received control command is “discharge start”, the power storage device 14 starts discharging. For example, if the controlled device X that has received the control command is the power storage device 14 and the operation content included in the received control command is “stop”, the power storage device 14 realizes an operation to end discharging or charging. Further, for example, if the controlled device X that has received the control command is an indoor air conditioner and the operation content included in the received control command is “cooling”, the indoor air conditioner starts the cooling operation.

  In the period from time t1 to immediately before time t2, the HEMS controller 19 does not acquire the control instruction 60 including the controlled device X as the controlled device name 63, and the priority time in the controlled device X is Suppose that it does not pass. Therefore, during this period, the arithmetic unit 195 does not perform the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponding to the controlled device X.

  Further, during this period, the operating state 80A continues. For example, if the controlled device X is the power storage device 14, the operating state of being charged, the operating state of being stopped, or the operating state of being discharged is continuing. In addition, about charge, when the electrical storage apparatus 14 becomes a full charge, the electrical storage apparatus 14 will complete charge automatically by having achieved the charge target. However, in this case, it is assumed that the battery is not fully charged during this period. In addition, regarding the discharge, the power storage device 14 automatically completes the discharge because the discharge target is achieved when the amount of power stored in the power storage device 14 becomes zero. However, in this case, it is assumed that the amount of stored electricity does not become zero during this period. Further, for example, if the controlled device X is the hot water supply device 12, the operation state in which hot water is being operated or the operation state in which hot water is being stopped is continued. Regarding the hot water renewal operation, the hot water supply device 12 automatically completes the hot water renewal operation when the target of the hot water renewal operation is achieved when the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank reaches the upper limit (full tank). However, in this example, it is assumed that the amount of hot water stored in the hot water storage tank does not reach the upper limit during this period.

  Note that the calculation unit 195 determines whether or not the priority time has elapsed for a certain controlled device based on the control start date and time 65 and the priority time 66 included in each record in each in-execution list 191b.

  Specifically, for each record, the priority time 66 is added to the control start date and time 65 included in the record, the date and time obtained as a result of the addition is set as the date and time, and the date and time are compared with the current date and time. Specifically, it is determined whether the current date is before the deadline date, or whether the current date is after the deadline date.

  If there is at least one record determined that the current date is after the expiration date, it is determined that the priority time has elapsed for the controlled device, and one record is determined that the current date is after the expiration date. If not, it is determined that the priority time has not elapsed for the controlled device.

  After that, at time t2, the calculation unit 195 restarts the process of FIG. 4 based on the fact that any one of the above-described control instructions 60 (hereinafter referred to as the control instruction 60B) is acquired from the controller device B. The operating device B may be any of the operating devices 2, 4, 16, and 192, but is an operating device different from the operating device A.

  Further, the control target device name 63 included in the received control instruction 60B is the device name of the controlled device X. In addition, the instruction content 64 included in the control instruction 60B is a content that realizes an operation that cannot be performed simultaneously with the instruction content 64 included in the control instruction 60A (that is, competing). For example, when the instruction content 64 included in the control instruction 60A is “charge” and the instruction content 64 included in the control instruction 60B is “stop”, both compete.

  In the process of FIG. 4, first, in step 105, the calculation unit 195 performs control of the control target device name 63 in the same manner as already described based on the control target device name 63 in the received control instruction 60 </ b> B. The priority condition information 191a, the in-execution list 191b, and the standby list 191c corresponding to the device X are specified.

  Subsequently, in step 110, the execution list 191b specified in the immediately preceding step 105 is read out, and it is determined by the same method as already described whether or not the read execution list 191b includes a control instruction record. . In this example, since the execution list 191b of the controlled device X includes a record based on the control instruction 60A, it is determined that there is a control instruction in the execution list, and the process proceeds to step 120.

  In step 120, it is determined whether or not the control instruction in the execution list 191b and the received control instruction 60B conflict. In this example, it is determined that there is a conflict and the process proceeds to step 130.

  Although different from the present case, if it is determined in step 120 that the control instruction in the running list 191b and the received control instruction 60B do not conflict, the process proceeds to step 160. As an example of determining that there is no conflict, the controlled device X is an indoor air conditioner, the instruction content 64 included in the execution list 191b is “heating”, and the instruction content 64 included in the control instruction 60B is “set temperature”. If it is “increase by 1 ° C.”, the two do not compete. In this case, in step 160, a record based on the control instruction 60B is added to the executing list 191b by the same method as already described. As a result, there are two records included in the running list 191b. Further, in the subsequent step 170, the control instruction based on the control instruction 60B is transmitted to the controlled apparatus X by the same method as already described, thereby causing the controlled apparatus X to realize the operation state according to the control instruction 60B. .

Even when the instruction content 64 included in the execution list 191b and the instruction content 64 included in the control instruction 60B are exactly the same, they do not conflict. In this case, the arithmetic unit 195 may proceed from step 120 to steps 160 and 170 as described above, but may not proceed to step 160 and may end the process of FIG.
Even when the operation source device name 62 included in the executing list 191b and the operation source device name 62 included in the control instruction 60B are the same, that is, when the operation source devices are the same, the two do not compete. In this case, by proceeding from step 120 to step 160, the control instruction 60B after the previous control instruction 60A is prioritized.

  Return to the explanation of this case. In step 130, the priority condition information 191a corresponding to the controlled device X is read from the memory 191. Subsequently, in step 140, based on the priority condition information 191a read out in the immediately preceding step 130, whether the received control instruction 60B has priority over the control instruction recorded in the execution list 191b (that is, the priority is Or higher).

  For example, when the controlled device X is the power storage device 14, it corresponds to the priority corresponding to the instruction content 64 in the received control instruction 60B and the instruction content 64 in the record recorded in the execution list 191b. The priority is specified from the priority condition information 191a in FIG.

  Further, for example, when the controlled device X is the hot water supply device 12, the latest amount of hot water in the tank acquired from the hot water supply device 12 and the operation source determined based on the operation source device name 62 in the control instruction 60B are used. Then, one priority level that matches the instruction content 64 in the control instruction 60B, the amount of hot water in the tank and the operation source is specified from the priority condition information 191a in FIG. Then, using the amount of hot water in the tank and the operation source determined based on the operation source device name 62 in the record of the execution list 191b, the instruction content 64 in the record of the execution list 191b, the amount of hot water in the tank, and One priority matching the operation source is specified from the priority condition information 191a in FIG.

  Further, for example, when the controlled device X is an indoor air conditioner, the latest installation room temperature acquired from the indoor air conditioner and the operation source determined based on the operation source device name 62 in the control instruction 60B, Is used to specify one priority from the priority condition information 191a in FIG. 9 that matches the instruction content 64 in the control instruction 60B, the room temperature, and the operation source. Then, using the room temperature and the operation source determined based on the operation source device name 62 in the record in the execution list 191b, the instruction content 64 of the record in the execution list 191b, the room temperature, and the operation source One priority level that matches is specified from the priority condition information 191a in FIG.

  In any of the above three examples, if the priority of the control instruction 60B is higher than the priority of the record in the execution list 191b, the received control instruction 60B is higher than the control instruction recorded in the execution list 191b. It is determined that priority is given, and the process proceeds to step 140. If the priority of the control instruction 60B is lower than the priority of the record in the execution list 191b, it is determined that the received control instruction 60B does not have priority over the control instruction recorded in the execution list 191b. Proceed to step 180.

  In this example, it is determined that the received control instruction 60B has no priority over the control instruction recorded in the execution list 191b, and the process proceeds to step 180. In step 180, a record based on the received control instruction 60B is added to the waiting list 191c. The added record includes the same content as the control instruction 60B. After step 180, the process of FIG.

  Thus, in this example, when the record based on the control instruction 60A is recorded in the execution list 191b at time t2, the control instruction 60B for the controlled device X having a lower priority than the control instruction 60A is Received by the HEMS controller 19. The HEMS controller 19 records the control instruction 60B in the standby list 191c without immediately reflecting the control instruction 60B based on the fact that the priority of the control instruction 60B is lower than the priority of the control instruction 60A. Therefore, there is no change in the contents of the running list 191b, and the operating state of the controlled device X remains unchanged and remains in the operating state 80A.

  In the period from time t2 to immediately before time t3, the HEMS controller 19 does not acquire the control instruction 60 including the controlled device X as the control target device name 63, and the priority time ( It is assumed that the priority time in the record of the priority condition information 191a does not elapse. Therefore, during this period, the arithmetic unit 195 does not perform the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponding to the controlled device X. Further, during this period, the operating state 80A continues. In this example, it is assumed that the controlled device X does not automatically complete the operation due to the achievement of the operation target of the controlled device X during this period.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the priority time PA in the controlled device X has elapsed from time t1 at time t3. As described above, the calculation unit 195 determines that the priority time has passed based on the control start date and time 65 and the priority time 66 included in the record in the running list 191b corresponding to the controlled device X, and FIG. Start processing.

  In the process of FIG. 5, first, in step 210, the target record for which it is determined that the priority time has elapsed is deleted from the running list 191b of the controlled device X. In this example, as a result, no record exists in the running list 191b corresponding to the controlled device X.

  Subsequently, in step 220, it is determined whether or not a control instruction record is included in the standby list 191c of the controlled device X. In this example, since the record based on the control instruction 60B is included in the waiting list 191c at time t2, it is determined that the record is included, and the process proceeds to step 230.

  In step 230, the record having the highest priority among the control instruction records in the waiting list 191c is moved to the executing list 191b. The priority of the record of the control instruction in the waiting list 191c is specified using the priority condition information 191a by the same method as the priority determination in step 140 of FIG. In this example, the record based on the control instruction 60B is moved to the in-execution list 191b.

  When moving a record from the standby list 191c to the executing list 191b, first, the record to be moved in the standby list 191c is read, and the record is deleted from the standby list 191c. Further, the control start date and time 65 and the priority time 66 shown in FIG. 7 are added to the read record by the same method as in step 160 of FIG. 4, and the resulting record is added to the executing list 191b.

  Subsequently, in step 240, the control command 70B is created and transmitted based on the record moved to the executing list 191b, that is, the record of the control instruction 60B. Specifically, the instruction content 64 is read from the record of the control instruction 60B, and data including the instruction content 64 is set as the control instruction 70B. Thereby, the control instruction 70B is created. Then, the control target device name 63 is extracted from the record of the control instruction 60B, and the control command 70B is transmitted to the controlled device X having the extracted control target device name 63. The transmission of the control command 70B is performed using the above-described control communication interface in the communication interface 194. After step 240, the calculation unit 195 ends the process of FIG.

  The controlled device X that has received the control command 70B ends the operation state 80A that has been realized so far based on the control command 70A, and performs an operation to realize the operation content included in the received control command 70B. As a result, the operating state of the controlled device X shifts to the operating state 80B.

  For example, it is assumed that the controlled device X is the hot water supply device 12 and the operation device A is the home operation device 16 or the manual operation unit 192. Then, at time t1, it is assumed that the user in the consumer operates the in-home operating device A so as to perform a hot water renewal operation because he is concerned that the hot water in the hot water storage tank will run out and become unusable. As a result, it is assumed that the HEMS controller 19 has acquired the control instruction 60 </ b> A including “hot water adding operation” as the instruction content 64.

  However, it is assumed that the electric demand in the area of the system 100 has become tight at time t2. Then, in order to reduce the use of electric power in the area of the system 100, the CEMS server 2 instructs the HEMS controller 19 of the customer to stop the hot water increase control of the hot water supply device 12 of the customer. Is sent. This control instruction 60B includes “stop hot water stop” as the instruction content 64.

  Since the control instruction 60A and the control instruction 60B compete, the control instruction 60A has priority at time t2. However, at the time t3 after the time to boil the amount of hot water that is considered to be used for the time being (i.e., the priority time PA) has elapsed, as indicated by the CEMS server 2, the hot water increase control is performed before the hot water storage tank becomes full. Is stopped.

  As described above, the memory 191 is determined to be prioritized based on the fact that the controlled device X is operated based on the control instruction 60A that is determined to be prioritized and the operation is performed for a predetermined priority time PA. Instead of the control instruction 60A, the control instruction 60B that has not been determined to be prioritized is realized. Therefore, if the operation state that realizes the control instruction 60A that is determined to be prioritized continues for the priority time, the operation is terminated, and therefore, the control instruction 60A that is regarded as having a high priority continues to be realized for an excessively long time. The possibility is reduced.

  In particular, since the operation based on the control instruction 60B is started before the target of the operation based on the control instruction 60A is achieved and the controlled device X automatically completes the operation, the operation based on the control instruction 60A is awaited. Instead, the operation based on the control instruction 60B can be started at an appropriate time.

  Also, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, the predetermined priority time is different if the instruction content of the control instruction A, the state of the controlled device X, the operating environment, the type, and the operation source determined to be prioritized are different. Are set differently. Therefore, the priority time can be set flexibly. The same applies to the priority setting.

[Case 2]
Next, Case 2 will be described with reference to FIG. This case is different from case 1 when the HEMS controller 19 acquires the control instruction 60B from the controller device B. Specifically, in case 1, the HEMS controller 19 acquires the control instruction 60B before the priority time PA elapses after acquiring the control instruction 60A. On the other hand, in case 2, the HEMS controller 19 acquires the control instruction 60B after the priority time PA has elapsed after acquiring the control instruction 60A. Note that the control instruction 60A and the control instruction 60B of the present example have the same contents as the control instruction 60A and the control instruction 60B of the case 1.

  In this example, first, the calculation unit 195 of the HEMS controller 19 starts the process of FIG. 4 based on the fact that the control instruction 60A is acquired from the controller device A at time t4. The operation content of the calculation unit 195 when the control instruction 60A is acquired is the same as the operation content of the case 1. Roughly described, the calculation unit 195 includes a control instruction record based on the control instruction 60A in the execution list 191b based on the acquisition of the control instruction 60A (step 160), and a control instruction corresponding to the control instruction 60A. 70A is transmitted to the controlled device X. The operation of the controlled device X that has received the control command 70A is the same, and the operation state 80A is entered.

  In the period from time t4 to immediately before time t5, the HEMS controller 19 does not acquire the control instruction 60 including the controlled device X as the control target device name 63, and the priority time ( It is assumed that the priority time in the record of the priority condition information 191a does not elapse. Therefore, during this period, the arithmetic unit 195 does not perform the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponding to the controlled device X.

  Further, during this period, the operating state 80A continues. For example, if the controlled device X is the power storage device 14, the operating state of charging, the operating state of being stopped, or the operating state of being discharged does not achieve the purpose of the operation and continues without being automatically completed. Yes.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the priority time PA in the controlled device X has elapsed from time t1 at time t5. The priority time PA is as described in the case 1. As described above, the calculation unit 195 determines that the priority time has passed based on the control start date and time 65 and the priority time 66 included in the record in the running list 191b corresponding to the controlled device X, and FIG. Start processing.

  In the process of FIG. 5, first, in step 210, the target record for which it is determined that the priority time has elapsed is deleted from the running list 191b of the controlled device X. In this example, as a result, no record exists in the running list 191b corresponding to the controlled device X.

  Subsequently, in step 220, it is determined whether or not a control instruction record is included in the standby list 191c of the controlled device X. In this example, since no record is included in the standby list 191c of the controlled device X, it is determined that the record is not included, and the processing of FIG. As a result, at the time t5, no record is included in the running list 191b of the controlled device X, and no record is included in the standby list 191c of the controlled device X. Even if the record corresponding to the control instruction 60A disappears from the running list 191b, the controlled device X continues the operation state 80A.

  In the period from time t5 to immediately before time t6, the HEMS controller 19 does not acquire the control instruction 60 including the controlled device X as the controlled device name 63, and the priority time ( It is assumed that the priority time in the record of the priority condition information 191a does not elapse. Therefore, during this period, the arithmetic unit 195 does not perform the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponding to the controlled device X. Further, during this period, the operating state 80A continues. In this example, it is assumed that the controlled device X does not automatically complete the operation due to the achievement of the operation target of the controlled device X during this period.

  Thereafter, at time t6, the arithmetic unit 195 resumes the process of FIG. 4 based on the acquisition of the control instruction 60B from the controller device B. In the process of FIG. 4, first, in step 105, the calculation unit 195 performs control of the control target device name 63 in the same manner as already described based on the control target device name 63 in the received control instruction 60 </ b> B. The priority condition information 191a, the in-execution list 191b, and the standby list 191c corresponding to the device X are specified.

  Subsequently, in step 110, the execution list 191b specified in the immediately preceding step 105 is read out, and it is determined by the same method as already described whether or not the read execution list 191b includes a control instruction record. . In this example, since no record is included in the executing list 191b of the controlled device X, it is determined that there is no control instruction in the executing list, and the process proceeds to step 160.

  In step 160, as already described, a record based on the received control instruction 60B is added to the executing list. In the subsequent step 170, as already described, the control command 70B is created based on the received control instruction 60B and transmitted to the controlled device X. After step 170, the calculation unit 195 ends the process of FIG. The controlled device X that has received the control command 70B performs an operation for realizing the operation content included in the received control command 70A. As a result, the operating state of the controlled device X is changed from the operating state 80A to the operating state. Move to 80B. Thereafter, the operating state 80B continues.

  As described above, after the operating state 80A of the controlled device X based on the control instruction 60A has passed the priority time PA, the HEMS controller 19 immediately acquires the control instruction 60B having a lower priority than the control instruction 60A. The controlled device X is shifted to the operating state 80B based on the control instruction 60B.

[Case 3]
Next, Case 3 will be described with reference to FIG. In Case 3, unlike Cases 1 and 2, the HEMS controller 19 first acquires the control instruction 60B from the controller device B (time t7), and then acquires the control instruction 60A from the controller device A (t8). Note that the control instruction 60A and the control instruction 60B of the present example have the same contents as the control instruction 60A and the control instruction 60B of the case 1.

  In this example, first, the calculation unit 195 of the HEMS controller 19 starts the process of FIG. 4 based on the acquisition of the control instruction 60B from the controller device A at time t7. The operation content of the calculation unit 195 when the control instruction 60B is acquired is that the control instruction 60A, the control instruction 70A, and the operation state 80A are respectively controlled with respect to the operation when the control instruction 60A is acquired at the time point t1 of case 1. This is equivalent to the instruction 60B, the control instruction 70B, and the operation state 80B. Roughly described, the calculation unit 195 includes a control instruction record based on the control instruction 60B in the execution list 191b based on the acquisition of the control instruction 60B (step 160), and a control instruction corresponding to the control instruction 60B. 70B is transmitted to the controlled device X. The operation of the controlled device X that has received the control command 70B is the same, and the operation state 80B is entered.

  In the period from time t7 to immediately before time t8, the HEMS controller 19 does not acquire the control instruction 60 including the controlled device X as the controlled device name 63, and the priority time ( It is assumed that the priority time in the record of the priority condition information 191a does not elapse. Therefore, during this period, the arithmetic unit 195 does not perform the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponding to the controlled device X. Also, during this period, the operating state 80B continues. That is, the operation state 80B of the controlled device X does not achieve the operation purpose and continues without being automatically completed.

  Thereafter, at time t8, the arithmetic unit 195 resumes the process of FIG. 4 based on the acquisition of the control instruction 60A from the controller device A. As already described, the control instruction 60A and the control instruction 60B conflict. It is assumed that the priority time of the controlled device X (priority time in the record of the priority condition information 191a) has not elapsed at time t8.

  In the process of FIG. 4, first, in step 105, the calculation unit 195 performs the control of the control target device name 63 in the same manner as already described based on the control target device name 63 in the received control instruction 60 </ b> A. The priority condition information 191a, the in-execution list 191b, and the standby list 191c corresponding to the device X are specified.

  Subsequently, in step 110, the execution list 191b specified in the immediately preceding step 105 is read out, and it is determined by the same method as already described whether or not the read execution list 191b includes a control instruction record. . In this example, since the execution list 191b of the controlled device X includes a record based on the control instruction 60B, it is determined that there is a control instruction in the execution list, and the process proceeds to step 120.

  In step 120, it is determined whether or not the control instruction in the execution list 191b and the received control instruction 60A conflict. In this example, it is determined that there is a conflict and the process proceeds to step 130.

  In step 130, the priority condition information 191a corresponding to the controlled device X is read from the memory 191. Subsequently, in step 140, based on the priority condition information 191a read out in the immediately preceding step 130, whether or not the received control instruction 60A has priority over the control instruction recorded in the execution list 191b has already been described. Judgment is done in the same way.

  In this example, it is determined that the received control instruction 60A has priority over the control instruction recorded in the execution list 191b, and the process proceeds to step 150.

  In step 150, among the records in the execution list 191b, the record determined to be in conflict with the control instruction 60A in step 120 is moved to the waiting list. Specifically, the record is read from the executing list 191b, and the record is deleted from the executing list 191b. Then, the control start date and time 65 and the priority time 66 are deleted from the read record and added to the waiting list 191c. In this example, as a result, the number of records included in the running list 191b becomes zero.

  Subsequently, in step 160, a record based on the received control instruction 60A is added to the in-execution list by the method described at time t1 of case 1. In the subsequent step 170, the control command 70A is created and transmitted to the controlled device X based on the received control instruction 60A by the method described at the time point t1 of case 1. After step 170, the calculation unit 195 ends the process of FIG. The controlled device X that has received the control command 70A performs an operation for realizing the operation content included in the received control command 70A. As a result, the operating state of the controlled device X is changed from the operating state 80B to the operating state. Move to 80A. Thereafter, the operating state 80B continues.

  Thus, even if the operating state 80B of the controlled device X based on the control instruction 60B has not passed the priority time PA, the HEMS controller 19 immediately receives the control instruction 60A having a higher priority than the control instruction 60B. The controlled device X is shifted to the operating state 80A based on the control instruction 60A.

  In the period from time t8 to immediately before time t9, the HEMS controller 19 does not acquire the control instruction 60 including the controlled device X as the controlled device name 63, and the priority time ( It is assumed that the priority time in the record of the priority condition information 191a does not elapse. Therefore, during this period, the arithmetic unit 195 does not perform the processing of FIGS. 4 and 5 corresponding to the controlled device X. Further, during this period, the operating state 80A continues. As a result, the operation state 80A of the controlled device X does not achieve the operation purpose and continues without being automatically completed.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the priority time PA in the controlled device X has elapsed from time t8 at time t9. As described above, the calculation unit 195 determines that the priority time has passed based on the control start date and time 65 and the priority time 66 included in the record in the running list 191b corresponding to the controlled device X, and FIG. Start processing.

  In the process of FIG. 5, first, in step 210, the target record for which it is determined that the priority time has elapsed is deleted from the running list 191b of the controlled device X. In this example, as a result, no record exists in the running list 191b corresponding to the controlled device X.

  Subsequently, in step 220, it is determined whether or not a control instruction record is included in the standby list 191c of the controlled device X. In this example, since the record based on the control instruction 60B is included in the waiting list 191c at time t8, it is determined that the record is included, and the process proceeds to step 230.

  In Step 230, as described above, the record having the highest priority among the control instruction records in the waiting list 191c is moved to the in-execution list 191b. In this example, the record based on the control instruction 60B is moved to the in-execution list 191b.

  Subsequently, in step 240, as described above, the control command 70B is generated based on the record moved to the in-execution list 191b, that is, the record of the control instruction 60B, and transmitted to the controlled device X. After step 240, the calculation unit 195 ends the process of FIG.

  The controlled device X that has received the control command 70B ends the operation state 80A that has been realized so far based on the control command 70A, and performs an operation to realize the operation content included in the received control command 70B. As a result, the operating state of the controlled device X shifts to the operating state 80B.

  As described above, the operation state 80B based on the control instruction 60B that has been temporarily stopped by the acquisition of the control instruction 60A is realized again based on the fact that the duration of the operation 80A exceeds the priority time.

  In the above embodiment, the portion other than the manual operation unit 192 in the HEMS controller 19 corresponds to an example of the controller. Further, the controller device A corresponds to an example of a first controller device, the controller device B corresponds to an example of a second controller device, the control instruction 60A corresponds to an example of a first control instruction, and the control instruction 60B. Corresponds to an example of a second control instruction.

  Further, the calculation unit 195 of the HEMS controller 19 functions as an example of the first control unit by executing steps 150 to 180 in FIG. 4, and an example of the second control unit by executing steps 210 to 240 in FIG. 5. Function as.

(Other embodiments)
In addition, this invention is not limited to above-described embodiment, In the range described in the claim, it can change suitably. In addition, in the above embodiment, the elements constituting the embodiment are not necessarily essential unless explicitly stated as essential and clearly considered essential in principle. Needless to say. Further, in the above embodiment, when numerical values such as the number, numerical value, quantity, range, etc. of the constituent elements of the embodiment are mentioned, it is particularly limited to a specific number when clearly indicated as essential and in principle. The number is not limited to a specific number except for cases. In the above embodiment, when referring to the shape, positional relationship, etc. of components, the shape, position, etc., unless otherwise specified and in principle limited to a specific shape, positional relationship, etc. It is not limited to relationships. The present invention also allows the following modifications to the above embodiment. In addition, the following modifications can select application and non-application to the said embodiment each independently. In other words, any combination of the following modifications can be applied to the above-described embodiment.

(Modification 1)
In the above embodiment, the calculation unit 195 deletes the control instruction in the running list 191b and moves it to the standby list 191c in step 150, but this need not be the case. For example, only the control instruction in the running list 191b may be deleted, and the movement to the standby list 191c may not be performed. In this case, in the case 3 shown in FIG. 12, the operation state 80A continues for the transition to the time point t9.

2 CEMS server (operation device)
4 Outside operation device (operation device)
11-15, X Controlled device 16 In-home operation device (operation device)
19 HEMS controllers 60A, 60B Control instructions 70A, 70B Control commands 80A, 80B Operating state 192 Manual operation unit (operation device)
PA priority time

Claims (9)

The first control instruction (60A) is acquired from the first operating device (2, 4, 16, 192), and the second control instruction (60B) is acquired from the second operating device (2, 4, 16, 192). Acquisition means (194) for acquiring
Determination means (140) for determining which of the first control instruction and the second control instruction has priority;
First control means (150 to 180) for transmitting a control command corresponding to a control command determined to be given priority among the first control command and the second control command to the controlled device (X);
Based on the fact that the operating state (80A) corresponding to the control instruction determined to be prioritized continues for a predetermined priority time (PA) in the controlled device, the control instruction determined to be prioritized is replaced with the control instruction determined to be prioritized. Second control means (210-240) for transmitting a control command corresponding to a control command that has not been determined to have priority among the first control command and the second control command to the controlled device; , With a controller.   The second control means is the one determined to be prioritized before the target of operation of the controlled device for realizing the control instruction determined to be prioritized is achieved and the operation is completed. Based on the fact that the operating state of the controlled device according to the control instruction has passed a predetermined priority time, instead of the control instruction determined to be prioritized, the control instruction not determined to be prioritized is used. The controller according to claim 1, wherein a control command according to the command is transmitted to the controlled device.   3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined priority time is set to be different if the instruction content of the control instruction determined to be prioritized is different. 4.   The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined priority time is set to be different if the state of the controlled device is different.   The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the predetermined priority time is set to be different if the operating environment of the controlled device is different.   6. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined priority time is set to be different if the type of the controlled device is different.   The predetermined priority time is set to be different if the type of the operation device from which the control instruction that has been determined to be preferred among the first operation device and the second operation device is different. The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that:   The determination means determines whether to give priority to the first control instruction or the second control instruction. The instruction content of the first control instruction, the instruction content of the second control instruction, the controlled object The controller according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines based on at least one of a state of the device, an operating environment of the controlled device, and a type of the controlled device. A first control instruction (60A) is obtained from the first operating device, a second control instruction (60B) is obtained from the second operating device (2, 4, 5, 16, 17), and the first And a program used for the controller (19) that transmits a control command corresponding to the second control command to the controlled device (X),
Determination means (140) for determining which of the first control instruction and the second control instruction has priority;
First control means (150 to 180) for transmitting to the controlled device a control command corresponding to a control command that is determined to be given priority among the first control command and the second control command; and Based on the fact that the operating state (80A) corresponding to the control instruction determined to be prioritized continues for a predetermined priority time (PA) in the controlled device, the control instruction determined to be prioritized is replaced with the control instruction determined to be prioritized. As a second control means (210-240) for transmitting to the controlled device a control command corresponding to the control command that has not been determined to have priority among the first control command and the second control command. A program for causing the controller to function.

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