JP2016184219A - Program creation support device and program creation support method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a program creation support device for creating a program for controlling a control object apparatus to be used in a building.SOLUTION: A program creation support device includes: a control command storage section 11 for storing a control command for controlling a control object apparatus by the control item such that content of a control item preset for the control object apparatus is switched; a use pattern acquisition section 12 for acquiring a use pattern when a user uses the control object apparatus in a building; a control command display section 13 for extracting a control command corresponding to a control item whose content is switched when the control object apparatus is controlled according to the use pattern from the control command storage section to display it on a screen; and a program generation distribution section 14 for creating a control application by incorporating a control command displayed on the screen.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a program creation support apparatus and a program creation support method, and more particularly to a program creation support apparatus and program creation support used when creating a program for controlling energy consuming equipment and energy supply equipment used in a building. Regarding the method.

  As energy management systems in buildings, there are known systems that monitor energy supply and demand in buildings using ICT technology, such as HEMS (Home Energy Management System) and FEMS (Factor Energy Management System). In the energy monitoring system described above, a management server is usually installed in a building. This management server generally has a function of remotely controlling energy consuming devices and energy supply devices in the building. More specifically, a specific dedicated program (hereinafter referred to as a control program) is installed in the management server, and by executing this control program, remote control of equipment in the building by the management server is realized. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2013-161153 A

  Conventionally, when creating the above-described control program, the creation work is advanced after grasping the specifications of the device to be controlled and the communication protocol at the time of control. For this reason, conventionally, much time and labor have been required to create a control program.

  On the other hand, after the control program is created, an operation for confirming whether the control target device is normally controlled when the program is executed, that is, the operation of the program is confirmed. At this time, the operation may be checked after actually preparing the control target device. For example, in Patent Document 1, in the construction of a house as a building, each device is installed at a predetermined position in the house, and then the operation of the control program is checked with each device as a control target. It has become. At the time of confirming the operation, the worker confirms whether or not the device is normally controlled while sequentially moving to the place where each control target device is installed.

  However, if the operation check of the control program is performed according to the procedure described in Patent Document 1 described above, the control program is not completed until each device is installed in the building and the operation check is completed for each device. Become. On the other hand, while the control program is not completed, it is difficult to grasp what device control is performed on the control program and what merits can be enjoyed by the device control. In many cases, those who use equipment in a building (including those who will become users in the future) are interested in these contents. Therefore, the control program is required to be created more easily while reflecting the usage pattern when the user uses the control target device in the building.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to make it easier for a user to create a control program that reflects the usage pattern of a device to be controlled. Is to provide a simple program creation support device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a program creation support method capable of facilitating creation of a control program reflecting a usage pattern of a device to be controlled by a user.

  According to the program creation support device of the present invention, the above-described problem is a program used when creating a program for controlling at least one of energy consuming equipment and energy supply equipment used in a building as a control target equipment. A creation support apparatus for controlling the control target device so that (A) a control command that configures the program and the content of a control item set in advance for the control target device is switched. A control command storage unit that stores a control command for each control item; (B) a usage pattern acquisition unit that acquires a usage pattern when a user uses the control target device in the building; The control item corresponding to the control item whose contents are switched when the control target device is controlled according to the usage pattern. A control command display unit for extracting a control command from the control command storage unit and displaying it on the screen; and (D) executing the program created by incorporating the control command displayed on the screen and executing the control This is solved by including a simulation execution unit that performs a simulation related to a case in which the target device is controlled.

In the program creation support apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, the control commands constituting the program are stored for each control item. Among them, the control item whose contents are switched when the control target device is controlled according to the usage pattern of the user, and the corresponding control command are extracted and displayed on the screen. Thereby, the creator of the program can create the program by using (incorporating) the control command displayed on the screen. As a result, the creation of the program becomes easier.
Further, after the program is created, a simulation is performed regarding a case where the control target device is controlled by executing the program. As described above, by performing simulation on the execution result of the program, it is possible to easily check the operation of the program.

Further, a more preferable configuration of the program creation support apparatus of the present invention will be described. The usage pattern acquisition unit includes the usage schedule of the control target device and the contents of the control items at the time of use of the control target device. The usage pattern including at least one of the above may be acquired.
In the above configuration, the usage pattern includes the usage schedule of the control target device and the contents of the control items at the time of use of the control target device. By creating a program in consideration of these contents, a program that more accurately reflects the behavior of the user in the building is created.

Further, a more preferable configuration of the program creation support apparatus of the present invention will be described. A drawing unit that draws a picture of the building in which the control target device is installed on the screen, and the simulation execution unit draws on the screen. In the rendered picture, the process of changing at least one graphic according to the execution result of the program is performed as the simulation among the control target device and a predetermined portion in the building associated with the control target device, In the process, the graphic associated with the control item whose contents are switched when the program is executed may be changed according to the execution result of the program.
In the above configuration, after drawing a picture of the building on the screen, as a simulation after creating the program, a graphic is generated for the control target device and a predetermined part in the building associated with the control target device according to the execution result of the program. Process to change. This makes it possible to reproduce the case when the created program is executed on the screen. As a result, it is possible to easily check the operation of the program on the screen without actually preparing the control target device.

Further, a more preferable configuration of the program creation support apparatus of the present invention will be described. The simulation execution unit calculates a fee corresponding to an energy consumption amount consumed during a unit period in the building in the case. May be performed as the simulation.
In the above configuration, as a simulation after the program is created, a process of calculating a fee (for example, a utility cost) equivalent to the energy consumption consumed in the unit period in the building when the program is executed is performed. Thereby, the user can quantitatively grasp the merit (financial merit) obtained through device control by the program. In addition, since the program creation work is simplified by the program creation support apparatus of the present invention, it is easier to modify and change the program. Therefore, it is easier to create a program so as to maximize the above-mentioned merit (in other words, to minimize the charge) by appropriately modifying and changing the program while looking at the trial calculation result.

Further, in the configuration in which the fee calculation is performed as a simulation, when there are a plurality of usage patterns for the control target device, the simulation execution unit may perform the process of calculating the fee for each usage pattern.
In the above configuration, when there are a plurality of usage patterns, a charge is estimated for each usage pattern, so it is possible to determine which usage pattern is the most economical. As a result, the building user can select an appropriate usage pattern, and a program that provides a greater merit is adopted for the program.

Further, in a more preferable configuration of the present invention, when there are a plurality of the control target devices in the building, the control command storage unit assigns the control command for each control target device to each control item. It is good to remember.
In the above configuration, when there are a plurality of devices to be controlled in a building, a control command is prepared for each device. For this reason, a program can be easily created even when there are a plurality of devices to be controlled in a building.

Further, to describe a more preferable configuration of the program creation support device of the present invention, when the control target device is controlled by a server installed in the building, the control command storage unit, as the control command, It is preferable that an API use command required for requesting the server to control the control target device through an API installed in the server is stored for each control item.
In the above configuration, the use command of the API implemented in the server is stored in the control command storage unit. That is, when creating a program, a command for requesting the server to control the control target device through the API (that is, an API use command) is incorporated. With such a configuration, the program creator does not need to grasp the communication protocol of the control target device, and therefore, the program can be created more easily.

Further, a more preferable configuration of the program creation support apparatus according to the present invention will be described. The program for controlling the device to be controlled is created via the home server that is the server installed in the house as the building. It is good to use when doing.
In the above configuration, the program creation support apparatus of the present invention is used when creating a program for controlling a device used in a house. On the other hand, according to the program creation support apparatus of the present invention, the creation of a program becomes easier. For this reason, for example, when making a business talk with a prospective home purchaser, a sample program is presented to that person, or a program according to the lifestyle of the prospective home purchase is created and presented during the business talk. It can be used as a tool for promoting home sales.

In addition, according to the program creation support method of the present invention, the above-described problem is to create a program for controlling at least one of energy consuming equipment and energy supply equipment used in a building as a control target equipment. A program creation support method, in which (A) a computer acquires a usage pattern when a user uses the control target device in the building, and (B) a control command in which the computer constitutes the program Then, from the control command storage unit that stores the control command for controlling the control target device so that the content of the control item preset for the control target device is switched, for each control item, The control item whose contents are switched when the device to be controlled is controlled according to the usage pattern. And (C) the computer executes the program created by incorporating the control command displayed on the screen to execute the program to be controlled. Performing a simulation on a case in which control is performed.
By using the above method, a program creator can more easily create a program using a control command displayed on the screen. In addition, after the program is created, it is possible to more easily check the operation of the program by performing a simulation related to a case where the control target device is controlled by executing the program.

  According to the program creation support apparatus and the program creation support method of the present invention, it is possible to more easily create and check the operation of a program reflecting a usage pattern of a control target device by a user. As a result, it becomes easy to present the results when the program is executed to the building user, and it is also possible to easily cope with the case where the program is modified or changed. As described above, by using the program creation support apparatus and program creation support method of the present invention, taking advantage of the ease of program creation and operation confirmation, a program dedicated to the user can be provided according to the user's request. It becomes possible to provide.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of the building which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram regarding apparatus control by a home server. It is explanatory drawing about the procedure which produces a program using the program creation assistance apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the function of the program creation assistance apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a part of control command memorize | stored in the control command memory | storage part. It is the figure which showed the general flow of program creation. It is the figure which showed an example of the input screen of a usage pattern. It is the figure which showed the example of a screen for program creation assistance. It is the figure which showed the screen where the control command is displayed. It is the figure which showed the flow of the program verification. (A) and (B) of FIG. 11 are diagrams showing an example of a screen displaying the presence or absence of an error in the program. It is the figure which showed an example of the screen for program operation confirmation. It is a figure which shows an example of the screen which displayed the trial calculation result of the energy bill.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, this embodiment) will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following, a house will be described as an example of a building. However, a house is merely an example of a building, and may be a building other than a house (for example, a commercial building, a building in a factory, a facility such as a hospital or school, a store, or the like).

<< About the outline of the program creation support apparatus according to this embodiment >>
First, an outline of the program creation support apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. The program creation support apparatus according to the present embodiment is an apparatus used when creating a program (hereinafter referred to as a control application) for controlling an energy consuming device or an energy supply device used in a house as a control target device.

  The program creation support apparatus according to the present embodiment is used as a tool for promoting home sales when a customer who plans to purchase a home visits a predetermined store (for example, a sales branch of a home sales company). More specifically, a clerk in the above-mentioned store explains remote control of home appliances as one of the functions provided in the house while recommending the house to be sold. At that time, the store clerk introduces the above-mentioned control app as a program for realizing remote control of the in-home equipment, and actually creates the control app during customer service and further demonstrates it. Including the contents, the use of the program support apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail below. Hereinafter, the program support apparatus according to the present embodiment is referred to as “application development terminal 10”.

  In describing the use of the application development terminal 10, the house H to be sold will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a house H to be sold. The house H shown in FIG. 1 is a two-story house and has a plurality of rooms (specifically, a living room R1, a bathroom R2, a child room R3, and a bedroom R4). However, the house H to be sold is not limited to the configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, and the number of floors, the number of rooms, the floor plan, and the like can be arbitrarily set.

  The house H to be sold is a house adopting HEMS. More specifically, the home server 1 is installed in the house H, and the home server 1 remotely controls energy consuming equipment and energy supply equipment installed in the house. Here, the “energy consuming device” is a device that operates by consuming energy such as electricity, gas, and water among the devices used in the house H. In the case illustrated in FIG. As an example, the illumination 2, the air conditioner 3, and the hot water supply device 4 are mentioned. “Energy supply equipment” refers to equipment used in the home H that creates energy such as electricity and heat (hot water supply) or temporarily stores it and releases it as needed. In the case illustrated in FIG. 1, a solar power generation device 5, a storage battery 6, and a household fuel cell 7 are cited as an example. The energy consuming device and the energy supply device illustrated in FIG. 1 are merely examples. That is, the types and number of energy consuming devices and energy supply devices installed in the house H are not limited to the contents illustrated in FIG.

  On the other hand, the home server 1 described above is installed in the house H, and the energy consuming device and the energy consuming device installed in each place of the house H are controlled as control target devices. The device control by the home server 1 is performed by starting the control application. Specifically, the control application is installed as application software in a predetermined terminal (hereinafter, application execution terminal 100), and is activated when a user of the terminal performs a predetermined operation. The application execution terminal 100 is configured by a PC installed in the house H, a mobile phone carried by a resident of the house H, a smartphone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like.

  When the control application is executed, as shown in FIG. 2, the application execution terminal 100 and the home server 1 communicate with each other, and the home server according to a control execution request (hereinafter, request data) output from the application execution terminal 100. 1 comes to control a control object apparatus. FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram related to device control by the home server 1.

  More specifically, the home server 1 analyzes the request data received from the application execution terminal 100 to identify the device designated as the control target device and the content of the control item. Here, the “control item” is an item that is set in advance for the control target device and changes its contents when the control target device is controlled. Specifically, the on / off state, the operation mode, and the setting are set. Value (target reached value), other operating conditions, and the like.

  Then, the home server 1 outputs a control signal for switching the content of the control item to the specified content toward the specified control target device. Thereby, a control object apparatus comes to be controlled. Further, at the end of the control, a response signal is output from the control target device toward the home server 1. When the home server 1 receives the response signal, the home server 1 transmits a response message indicating that the control is normally performed to the application execution terminal 100. At this point, a series of device control processes is completed.

  As described above, the control application according to the present embodiment is a program for controlling the control target device via the home server 1. Strictly speaking, the control app requests the home server 1 to control the control target device. It is a program for.

  By the way, the specifications of the above control application vary depending on the type of equipment installed in the house H and the lifestyle of the resident of the house H. That is, the control application is appropriately customized according to the life pattern (in other words, the usage pattern of the control target device) of the resident of the house H who is the user of the control target device or the device.

  For this reason, when creating a control application, it is necessary to reflect the usage pattern of the control target device by a user who uses the control target device in the house H (that is, a resident of the house H). And the application development terminal 10 is to be used in order to satisfy such a request. Hereinafter, the general flow of developing a control application using the application development terminal 10 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a procedure for creating a control application using the application development terminal 10. The application creation procedure proceeds in the order of (a), (b), (c), and (d) in the figure.

  The store clerk P of the store where the customer C who plans to purchase a home visits, as shown in FIG. 3A, through the customer service, the specifications and number of energy consuming equipment and energy supply equipment installed in the home H to be purchased, And the customer C listens to the usage pattern when using each device in the house H. Thereafter, the store clerk P inputs information heard from the customer C to the application development terminal 10 and then creates a control application using the application development terminal 10 as shown in FIG.

  Here, referring to a specific method of creating a control application, in the present embodiment, a control command necessary for controlling the control target device according to the usage pattern heard from the customer C is specified, and the control A control application is to be created in a form that incorporates commands. The “control command” constitutes a control application, and is a command for controlling the control target device so that the content of the control item is switched. More specifically, the control command according to the present embodiment is a command for requesting the home server 1 to perform control such that the content of the control item specified for the specified control target device is switched. Yes.

  The control command will be described in more detail. The control command according to the present embodiment is a use command of an API (hereinafter referred to as a device control API) installed in the home server 1. The device control API is an API for requesting the home server 1 to control the device to be controlled from an external device, and is open for control application development. That is, the control application includes a use command for the device control API. When the control application is executed, control of the control target device is requested to the home server 1 through the API.

  As described above, in this embodiment, it is possible to create a control application by incorporating a use command for an API for device control. As a result, when creating a control application, the clerk P who is the creator can create a control application if he / she knows the above usage commands without knowing the specifications and communication protocol of the control target device. It becomes.

  Then, when the control application is completed, the clerk P distributes the completed control application from the application development terminal 10. As shown in (c) of FIG. 3, the control application distributed from the application development terminal 10 is downloaded to the application execution terminal 100 prepared in the store and installed in the terminal.

  Thereafter, the clerk P operates the application execution terminal 100 to execute the control application in a simulated manner, and confirms the operation of the control application. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3D, the clerk P presents the execution result of the control application to the customer C through the display 10 a of the application development terminal 10. More specifically, the application development terminal 10 performs a simulation related to a case where the control target device is controlled by executing the control application. The result of this simulation is displayed on the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 and is confirmed by both the store clerk P and the customer C. The simulation performed by the application development terminal 10 will be described in detail later.

  A control application is to be created by the procedure as described above. Finally, after confirming the simulation result, the customer C determines whether to adopt the control application. The control application that has been adopted is the customer C at the time of purchase of the house H or at the time of delivery of the house H (that is, a purchaser of the house H and a user who uses the control target device in the house H). Provided to. The method of providing the control application is not particularly limited. For example, the control application can be provided in the form of notifying the URL of the download site of the control application and the input information (password, etc.) required for the download. It is.

<< Configuration of application development terminal >>
Next, the configuration of the application development terminal 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the application development terminal 10 is composed of a computer, and more specifically, is configured by a personal computer managed by the store clerk P. That is, the application development terminal 10 includes a CPU, a memory such as a ROM and a RAM, a hard disk drive, a communication interface, an input device including a keyboard and a mouse, and a display 10a as an output device. The display 10a is a device constituting a display screen (screen). In addition, a dedicated program (hereinafter referred to as an application creation support program) is stored in the memory. When the application creation support program is executed by the CPU, the application development terminal 10 exhibits its function.

  The configuration of the application development terminal 10 will be described again in terms of functions. The application development terminal 10 includes a control command storage unit 11, a usage pattern acquisition unit 12, a control command display unit 13, and a program generation / distribution unit 14 as shown in FIG. A drawing unit 15, a request data receiving unit 16, a response message transmitting unit 17, a case reproduction processing unit 18, and a trial calculation processing unit 19. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the application development terminal 10 in units of functions. Hereinafter, each functional unit will be described individually.

(Control command storage)
The control command storage unit 11 is configured by a hard disk drive of the application development terminal 10 and, as shown in FIG. 5, API use commands for device control are classified by control item, more strictly, by control item content. I remember it. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a part of the control commands (device control API use commands) stored in the control command storage unit 11.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the house H has a plurality of devices to be controlled. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, the control command storage unit 11 stores a control command for each control target device for each control item. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, for lighting arranged in the living room, a command for setting the content to “on state” and “off state” for “on / off state” as a control item, And a command for "

  In the present embodiment, the control command storage unit is configured by a hard disk drive built in the application development terminal 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the control command storage unit may be configured by an external hard disk drive or database server connected to the application development terminal 10.

(Usage pattern acquisition unit)
The usage pattern acquisition unit 12 is realized by the CPU, the memory, the input device, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 cooperating with the application creation support program. The usage pattern acquisition unit 12 acquires a usage pattern when a user (including a future user) uses the control target device in the house H. More specifically, the usage pattern acquisition unit 12 accepts the input operation when the salesperson P inputs a usage pattern heard from the customer C during customer service, and acquires the input usage pattern as data.

  The usage pattern acquired in the present embodiment includes the usage schedule of the control target device (specifically, the time zone in which the control target device is used within one day), and the contents of the control items when the control target device is used. (In an easy-to-understand manner, the operation state of the control target device) is included. However, contents other than these may be included in the usage pattern, for example, usage frequency (number of times), day of the week to be used, and the like may be included.

(Control command display section)
The control command display unit 13 is realized when the CPU, the memory, the input device, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 cooperate with the application creation support program. The control command display unit 13 extracts one control command from the control command storage unit 11 and displays it on the screen.

  More specifically, the store clerk P specifies the control target device and the contents of the control items that change when the device is controlled from the usage pattern heard from the customer C, and then specifies the identification result. This is performed using the input device of the application development terminal 10. The control command display unit 13 identifies the content of the designated control target device and the control item based on the content of the designated operation received by the input device, and the control command storage unit stores the control command corresponding to the identification result. 11 to extract. Then, the control command display unit 13 displays the extracted control command on the display 10a. That is, the control command displayed by the control command display unit 13 is a control command corresponding to a control item whose contents are switched when the control target device is controlled according to the usage pattern among the control commands related to the control target device.

(Program generation and distribution part)
The program generation / distribution unit 14 is realized by the cooperation of the CPU, the memory, the communication interface, the input device, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 with the application creation support program. The program generation / distribution unit 14 receives an input operation (program input operation) of the clerk P and generates a control application. In particular, in the present embodiment, the control application is generated by incorporating a control command displayed on the display 10 a by the control command display unit 13. That is, the store clerk P incorporates the control command displayed on the display 10a into the control application in the process of being created by copying and pasting the program during the program creation work. In the present embodiment, since the control application can be created by such a procedure, the control application can be easily created.

  In addition, when receiving a distribution request from an external device (for example, the application execution terminal 100), the program generation / distribution unit 14 distributes the control application related to the request to the device.

(Drawing part)
The drawing unit 15 is realized when the CPU, the memory, the input device, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 cooperate with the application creation support program. The drawing unit 15 draws a picture of the house H to be sold, more specifically, a model diagram VH of the house H on the display 10a as shown in FIGS. Outlined about the drawing drawn on the display 10a, the space in the house H is divided into room-specific parts (specifically, a living part VR1, a bathroom part VR2, a child room part VR3, a bedroom part VR4). Moreover, the energy consumption apparatus and energy supply apparatus which were installed in the house H are drawn collectively. These devices are to be drawn on the display 10a as devices to be controlled. The control target device to be drawn may be determined in advance as a predetermined device, and may be appropriately changed (added / deleted) according to the request of the customer C.

(Request data reception part)
The request data receiving unit 16 is realized by the CPU, the memory, the communication interface, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 cooperating with the application creation support program. The request data receiving unit 16 is provided in the application development terminal 10 in order to check the operation of the created control application. More specifically, when a control application is created, the store clerk P confirms the operation of the control application. In this operation check, the application execution terminal 100 receives (downloads) the control application from the application development terminal 10 and then executes the control application. At this time, when the control application is normally executed, the application execution terminal 100 transmits data requesting control of the control target device, that is, request data. On the other hand, the request data transmitted from the application execution terminal 100 is accepted (received) by the application development terminal 10 in the operation confirmation stage of the control application.

(Response message transmitter)
The response message transmission unit 17 is realized by the CPU, the memory, the communication interface, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 cooperating with the application creation support program. Similar to the request data reception unit 16, the response message transmission unit 17 is provided in the application development terminal 10 in order to check the operation of the control application. More specifically, when the request data reception unit 16 receives the request data in the operation check of the control application, the response message transmission unit 17 analyzes the request data and specifies the contents of the control target device and the control item. . Thereafter, the response message transmission unit 17 transmits a response message indicating that the content of the specified control item has been switched to the desired content due to the control of the specified control target device, to the application execution terminal 100. In such a case, the response message is displayed on the display screen of the application execution terminal 100 as shown in FIG.

(Case reproduction processing part)
The case reproduction processing unit 18 is realized by the CPU, the memory, the communication interface, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 cooperating with the application creation support program. The case reproduction processing unit 18 corresponds to a simulation execution unit that performs a simulation related to a case where the control target device is controlled by executing the created control application. More specifically, when the request data receiving unit 16 receives request data in the operation check of the control application, the case reproduction processing unit 18 executes a case reproduction process as a simulation when the control application is executed. Here, the case reproduction process is a drawing of the house H (model diagram VH) drawn by the drawing unit 15 on the display 10a. Among the predetermined parts in the house H associated with the control target device and the control target device, This is a process of changing at least one graphic according to the execution result of the control application. More specifically, in the case reproduction process, the graphic associated with the control item whose contents are switched when the control app is executed is changed according to the execution result of the control app. . “Graphic” is the specific contents of visual expression for a picture drawn on the display 10a, and includes color schemes, textures, gradations such as light and shade, presence / absence of operations such as highlighting and blinking, and other visual representations. Includes features.

(Estimation processing department)
The trial calculation processing unit 19 is realized by the CPU, the memory, the hard disk drive, and the display 10a of the application development terminal 10 cooperating with the application creation support program. Similar to the case reproduction processing unit 18, the trial calculation processing unit 19 corresponds to a simulation execution unit. More specifically, when the request data receiving unit 16 receives the request data in the operation check of the control application, the trial calculation processing unit 19 executes a trial calculation process as a simulation when the control application is executed. Here, the trial calculation process is a process of trial calculation of a charge corresponding to the energy consumption consumed during the unit period in the house H in the case where the control application is executed (that is, the utility cost). Incidentally, in this embodiment, it is supposed that the utility cost equivalent to the energy consumption consumed in the house H in one month is calculated. However, the unit period for calculating the utility cost is not limited to one month, and can be set to an arbitrary period (for example, one day or one year).

  The details of the case reproduction process and the trial calculation process described above will be described again later.

<< About the flow of creating a control application using an application development terminal >>
Next, a control application creation flow (hereinafter, application creation flow) using the application development terminal 10 having the above-described functions will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a rough flow of the application creation flow. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen when a usage pattern is input. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a screen example when the application creation support program is started. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a screen on which control commands are displayed. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a flow of program verification including operation check of the control application. (A) and (B) of FIG. 11 are diagrams showing examples of screens displaying the presence or absence of errors in the control application. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a screen when the case reproduction process is executed. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a screen that displays the result of the trial calculation of the utility cost calculated in the trial calculation process.

  The application creation flow described below proceeds according to the program creation support method of the present invention. In other words, each process constituting the program creation support method of the present invention corresponds to each step in the following application creation flow, and the specific contents of each step will be described below. In the following, each step in the application creation flow will be described from the viewpoint of GUI (Graphical User Interface), but the operation content and screen display described below are merely examples, and are limited to the following content. It is not a thing.

  The control application creation work according to the application creation flow is performed when a salesperson P is in a business talk with a customer C who is considering purchasing the house H at a branch office (ie, a store) of the house H sales company. More specifically, the store clerk P demonstrates a control application as one of customer service for the customer C. That is, when the clerk P recommends the customer H to the purchase target house H, the remote control function of the home appliance that is a function of the house H will be described. Then, when explaining the effect brought about by the remote control function of the home appliance, the store clerk P actually creates a control application and executes the control application in a simulated manner. This makes it possible to visually explain the effects brought about by the remote control function of the home appliance.

  Explaining the general flow of the application creation flow, as shown in FIG. 6, a usage pattern acquisition step S001, a control command extraction step S002, a coding step S003, a program distribution step S004, and a verification step S005 are sequentially performed. The These steps are carried out by the store clerk P using a computer (personal computer) that functions as the application development terminal 10. That is, each step in the application creation flow is realized by starting an application creation support program and executing the program. Hereinafter, each step will be described in detail.

  The usage pattern acquisition step S001 is a step in which the computer acquires a usage pattern when the customer C uses the control target device in the house H. More specifically, after starting the application creation support program, the clerk P causes the display 10a to display an input screen (hereinafter, a usage pattern input screen) illustrated in FIG. Then, the store clerk P listens to the usage pattern including the usage schedule used by the customer C and the contents of the control items at the time of use for each of the plurality of functions to be controlled installed in the house H. Hereinafter, among the devices in the house H, the case where the lighting in the living room and the air conditioner in the living room are controlled devices will be specifically described.

  The store clerk P listens to a time zone when the lighting of the living room is used when the customer C comes to live in the house H when the customer C is in contact with the customer C. And the salesclerk P inputs the utilization time zone of the lighting of the listened living room to said input screen. Thereby, the computer as the application development terminal 10 has a usage pattern indicating the usage schedule when the customer C uses the lighting in the living room H and the contents of the control items (specifically, the on / off state) at the time of use. get.

  Similarly, the store clerk P listens to the time zone in which the air conditioner in the living room is used, the operation mode at the time of use, and the set temperature. Then, the store clerk P inputs the usage time zone of the air conditioner in the living room, the operation mode at that time, and the set temperature to the input screen. Thereby, the computer as the application development terminal 10 allows the customer C to use the living air conditioner in the house H and the contents of the control items at the time of use (specifically, the on / off state, the operation mode, and the set temperature). ) Is acquired.

  The contents of the control items input as the usage pattern are not limited to the on / off state, the operation mode, and the set temperature, but other contents (for example, the magnitude of the output) as long as the contents can be switched by the control. Etc.) may be included.

  The control command extraction step S002 is a step in which the computer as the application development terminal 10 extracts one command from the control commands stored in the hard disk drive of the computer and displays it on the display 10a. The control command to be extracted in step S002 is a control command corresponding to a control item whose contents are switched when the control target device is controlled according to the usage pattern acquired in the previous step S001. Hereinafter, in order to explain in an easy-to-understand manner, a case where a living air conditioner is controlled according to a usage pattern will be described as an example.

  In describing the control command extraction step S002, the screen (hereinafter, operation screen) displayed on the display 10a in step S002 will be described first. The operation screen in step S002 is displayed on the display 10a by performing a predetermined screen operation after starting the application creation support program. The operation screen is roughly divided into three display areas as shown in FIG. In the figure, the first display area Sd1 is an area for displaying a model diagram VH (the drawing drawn by the drawing unit 15 described above) in which the house H to be sold is drawn. In the first display area Sd1, energy consuming devices such as air conditioners and energy supply devices such as storage batteries arranged in the house H are drawn as icons Ic.

  The second display area Sd2 is an area for displaying the control command extracted in step S002. The third display area Sd3 displays the received date, the control command included in the data, and the content of the control requested by the command as history for several request data received in the past. It is an area. As described above, if a control command in the request data is displayed as a history of request data received in the past, the control command can be referred to later and used when creating a control application.

  In the operation screen configured as described above, when the control command for controlling the living air conditioner according to the usage pattern is extracted and displayed, the clerk P displays the icon of each device drawn in the first display area Sd1. Click the icon Ic imitating the air conditioner in Ic. More specifically, a mouse button (not shown) is double-clicked with the mouse pointer Mp over the icon Ic. By accepting such a click operation, the computer as the application development terminal 10 identifies a device designated as a control target device among the devices drawn in the first display area Sd1.

  When the icon Ic imitating the air conditioner in the living room is clicked, the control item display window WP shown in FIG. 9 is popped up by the function of the application creation support program. This control item display window WP is displayed in order to display the contents of the control items of the living room air conditioner. Further, in the window WP, as shown in FIG. 9, buttons (for example, buttons with characters such as “temperature”, “cooling”, and “heating” in the figure) are provided for each control item. Yes. Then, the store clerk P selects and clicks one button from the buttons provided in the control item display window WP in order to designate one content of the control item. More specifically, the mouse button is double-clicked with the mouse pointer Mp over the button. By accepting such a click operation, the computer as the application development terminal 10 specifies the content designated by the store clerk P as the content of the control item of the air conditioner in the living room.

  Thereafter, the computer extracts a control command corresponding to the contents of the specified control target device and control item from the hard disk drive. Strictly speaking, the computer extracts one command from the control commands stored in the hard disk drive, using the specified control target device and the contents of the control item as keys. Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the computer displays the extracted control command in the second display area Sd2. Note that the control command displayed in the second display area Sd2 is, of course, a control command for controlling the content of the control item specifying the specified control target device to be switched.

  The coding step S003 is a process in which the computer as the application development terminal 10 actually creates a control application. That is, the computer constructs a control application in accordance with the store clerk P's program input operation. In the present embodiment, the store clerk P copies and pastes the control application displayed in the second display area Sd2 as a program input operation and incorporates it in the source code of the control application. Creation of a control application proceeds in such a manner. That is, in this embodiment, a control application for creating a control application is created by displaying a control command for controlling the designated control target device so that the content of the designated control item is switched on the display 10a. According to such a procedure, the store clerk P can quickly and easily create a control application while serving the customer C.

  Further, the control application created by the above procedure reflects the usage pattern of the control target device heard from the customer C in step S001. That is, the computer as the application development terminal 10 can acquire the usage pattern and create a control application dedicated to the customer C based on the usage pattern.

  The program distribution step S004 is a process in which the computer as the application development terminal 10 distributes the control application after the control application is created. More specifically, in this step S004, the store clerk P performs a predetermined input operation after finishing the creation of the control application, and distributes the control application from the computer. On the other hand, the store clerk P downloads the control application distributed from the computer to the application execution terminal 100 through a wireless LAN or the like in the store. As a result, the control application is installed in the application execution terminal 100.

  The verification step S005 is a step performed for confirming the operation of the control app distributed in the previous step S004 (in other words, the created control app) and for grasping the effect when the control app is executed. This step S005 proceeds according to the procedure shown in FIG. More specifically, this step S005 starts when the store clerk P operates the application execution terminal 100 in which the control application is installed, and the control application is simulated on the application execution terminal 100 (S011). When the control application is executed, request data that is data for requesting control of the control target device is transmitted from the application execution terminal 100. This request data is originally received by the home server 1 of the house H, but is to be received by a computer used as the application development terminal 10 in the verification stage of the control application.

  When the computer as the application development terminal 10 receives the request data normally (S012), the application execution terminal 100 sends a response message indicating that the contents of the control items are switched to the desired contents under the control of the control target device. (S013). In such a case, the response message is displayed on the display screen of the application execution terminal 100 as shown in FIG. 11A (S014).

  On the other hand, if the computer does not accept the request data even though the control application is executed, the response message is not sent. If the above response message is not received within a certain time after the control application is executed, an error message as shown in FIG. 11B is displayed on the display screen of the application execution terminal 100. (S017).

  The case where the computer as the application development terminal 10 has received the request data normally will be described again. After the response message is transmitted, the case reproduction process and the trial calculation process are performed (S015, S016). Hereinafter, each process will be described in detail.

(Case reproduction process)
The case reproduction process is a simulation performed by a computer as the application development terminal 10 for the purpose of confirming the operation of the control application without using an actual control target device. More specifically, in the case reproduction process, a case in which a control application is executed to control a control target device is visually reproduced graphically. More specifically, in the case reproduction process, the daily flow of the house H is reproduced in a short time, and among them, the control target device whose contents of the control items are switched by the execution of the control application and its incidental part I am going to change the graphics. Hereinafter, in order to explain the case reproduction process in an easy-to-understand manner, a case where a living air conditioner is controlled according to a usage pattern, in other words, a case where a control application for controlling a living air conditioner is executed will be described as a specific example. .

  When case reproduction processing is performed for a case where the living air conditioner is controlled according to the usage pattern, the graphic of the air conditioner and the living part VR1 is changed in conjunction with execution of the control application. Here, the living part VR1 corresponds to a predetermined part of the house H associated with the air conditioner in the living room which is the control target device in the model diagram VH. In other words, the “predetermined portion in the house H associated with the control target device” means a state (for example, an indoor environment) when the control target device is controlled, such as a room where the control target device is installed in the house H. It is the part that changes.

  The above case reproduction process will be described in more detail. Of the day of the house H to be reproduced with a reduced time, the time at which the living room air conditioner is controlled by the execution of the control application (specifically, the living room air conditioner activation) As shown in FIG. 12, the color scheme of the icon Ic indicating the living room air conditioner changes in the model diagram VH. Strictly speaking, the color scheme of the icon Ic changes from an off-state color (for example, black) to an on-state color (for example, white). In addition, the color scheme of the living part VR1 changes accordingly. Strictly speaking, the color scheme of the living portion VR1 changes according to the operation mode and the set temperature of the air conditioner at that time. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, when the operation mode at the time when the air conditioner in the living room is controlled is heating, the color scheme of the living portion VR <b> 1 changes to a warm color and the operation is performed. When the mode is cooling, the color scheme of the living part VR1 changes to a cold color.

  Then, during the period in which the control application is simulated, the graphic (color arrangement) of the air conditioner and the living part VR1 changes every time the contents of the control items for the living air conditioner are switched. Thus, in this embodiment, the case when the control application is executed is reproduced using the model diagram VH drawn on the display 10a. Thereby, the clerk P can visually present the case when the control application is executed to the customer C through the display 10a. In other words, the customer C can easily grasp which device is operated by the execution of the control application by looking at the display 10a.

  In the case reproduction process of the present embodiment, the graphic of the device to be controlled and the portion associated therewith is changed. In addition to this, for example, a picture of a resident of the house H is added to the model diagram VH. A graphic change (animation) may be made such that a resident in the figure moves according to the usage pattern of the device. With such a configuration, the clerk P can check the control content of the control target device by executing the control application while checking the action pattern of the customer C. As a result, the clerk P can appropriately and easily create a control application that matches the lifestyle of the customer C.

(Trial calculation)
The trial calculation process is a simulation performed by a computer as the application development terminal 10 for the purpose of quantitatively confirming the effect when the control application is executed. Specifically, in the trial calculation process, the utility cost corresponding to the energy consumption consumed for one month in the house H is calculated in the case where the control target device is controlled by executing the control application. More specifically, in the trial calculation process, the computer predicts the energy consumption for one month in the house H when the control application is executed and the control target device is controlled according to the usage pattern of the customer C. . Information necessary for predicting energy consumption (specifically, input parameters and prediction formulas at the time of prediction) is stored in a hard disk drive or the like built in the computer.

  Further, the computer calculates the utility cost of the house H for one month based on the prediction result of the energy consumption and the unit price of the energy charge (unit price of the electric charge or gas charge). And the trial calculation result of a utility bill is displayed on the display 10a as shown in FIG. Thereby, the clerk P can present the effect (monetary merit) obtained by executing the control application to the customer C. That is, the customer C can easily grasp the financial merit obtained by controlling the control target device according to the usage pattern designated by the customer C by looking at the display 10a.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 13, when displaying the trial calculation result of a utility bill, it is good to display together the utility cost at the time of controlling a control object apparatus according to a model pattern as a comparison object. Here, the model pattern is stored in advance by the computer as a default usage pattern.

  Alternatively, the customer C may list a plurality of usage patterns, perform a trial calculation process for each usage pattern, and display the trial calculation result of the utility cost on the display 10a in a state that can be compared for each usage pattern. With such a configuration, it is possible to appropriately select a usage pattern (that is, the most economical usage pattern) that provides the most monetary merit from among the usage patterns listed by customer C.

<< Other Embodiments >>
The program creation support apparatus and the program creation support method of the present invention have been described above by way of examples, but the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, the program creation support device of the present invention is used as a tool for promoting home sales. That is, in the above embodiment, in order to demonstrate the control application used by the customer C considering the purchase of the house H in the house H (specifically, confirmation of the effect by the implementation of the control application). The program support apparatus of the present invention is used. However, the use of the program creation support device is not limited to the use as a tool for promoting house sales, but may be used as a tool for recommending the renovation of the house H or the introduction of new equipment. Furthermore, the program creation support apparatus of the present invention is not limited to the one used as a business tool, and may be used when a user of a building such as a resident of the house H creates a control application by himself. . The program creation support apparatus of the present invention may be used in a program development contest.

  In the above embodiment, the program creation support apparatus of the present invention is configured by a single computer (specifically, a personal computer used by the store clerk P). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the program creation support apparatus of the present invention may be configured by a plurality of computers. That is, the functions of the application development terminal 10 described above may be divided and functions corresponding to each of a plurality of computers may be assigned. When the computer program creation support apparatus of the present invention is configured with two computers, one may be a computer on the clerk P side and the other may be a computer on the customer C side.

  In the above embodiment, the number of control target devices whose contents of control items are switched when the control application is executed is not mentioned, but the number can be arbitrarily set.

1 Home server 2 Lighting (energy consuming equipment)
3 Air conditioner (energy consuming equipment)
4 Hot water supply equipment (energy consuming equipment)
5 Solar power generation equipment (energy supply equipment)
6 Storage battery (energy supply equipment)
7 Household fuel cell (energy supply equipment)
10 Application development terminal (Program creation support device)
10a Display (screen)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Control command memory | storage part 12 Usage pattern acquisition part 13 Control command display part 14 Program generation delivery part 15 Drawing part 16 Request data reception part 17 Response message transmission part 18 Case reproduction process part 19 Trial calculation process part 100 Application execution terminal C Customer H House (building)
Ic Icon Mp Mouse pointer P Clerk Sd1 First area Sd2 Second area Sd3 Third area VH Model diagram WP Control item display window

Claims (9)

A program creation support device used when creating a program for controlling at least one of energy consumption devices and energy supply devices used in a building as a control target device,
A control command that configures the program, and stores a control command for controlling the control target device so that the content of the control item set in advance for the control target device is switched. A control command storage unit,
A usage pattern acquisition unit that acquires a usage pattern when a user uses the device to be controlled in the building;
A control command display unit that extracts the control command corresponding to the control item whose contents are switched when the control target device is controlled according to the usage pattern, and displays the control command on the screen;
A program creation support device comprising: a simulation execution unit that performs a simulation on a case in which the control target device is controlled by executing the program created by incorporating the control command displayed on the screen .   The said usage pattern acquisition part acquires the said usage pattern containing at least one of the usage schedule of the said control object apparatus, and the content of the said control item at the time of utilization of the said control target apparatus. The program creation support device according to 1. A drawing unit for drawing a picture of the building in which the control target device is installed on the screen;
The simulation execution unit, according to the execution result of the program, displays at least one graphic of the control target device and a predetermined portion in the building associated with the control target device in the picture drawn on the screen. The process to change is performed as the simulation,
3. The program creation according to claim 1, wherein, in the processing, the graphic associated with the control item whose contents are switched when the program is executed is changed according to an execution result of the program. Support device.   The said simulation implementation part performs the process which estimates the charge equivalent to the energy consumption consumed in the said building during the unit period in the said case as the said simulation. The program creation support device according to item.   5. The program creation support according to claim 4, wherein, when there are a plurality of usage patterns for the control target device, the simulation execution unit performs the process of calculating the fee for each usage pattern. apparatus.   The control command storage unit stores the control command for each of the control target devices for each control item when there are a plurality of the control target devices in the building. The program creation support device according to any one of the above.   When the control target device is controlled by a server installed in the building, the control command storage unit controls the control target device to the server through an API installed in the server as the control command. 7. The program creation support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a use command of the API necessary for making a request is stored for each control item.   The program creation according to claim 7, wherein the program creation is used when creating the program for controlling the control target device via a home server that is the server installed in a house as the building. Support device. A program creation support method for creating a program for controlling at least one of energy consuming equipment and energy supply equipment used in a building as a control target equipment,
A computer acquires a usage pattern when a user uses the control target device in the building;
A control command for configuring the program for controlling the control target device so that the contents of the control items preset for the control target device are switched for each control item. From the stored control command storage unit, extracting the control command corresponding to the control item whose contents are switched when the control target device is controlled according to the usage pattern, and displaying it on the screen;
A computer that executes a program created by incorporating the control command displayed on the screen and performs a simulation on a case in which the control target device is controlled. Method.

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