JP2018055140A - Management apparatus and management system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an increase in management processing due to complication of authentication and grouping processing.SOLUTION: The management apparatus comprises an acquisition unit and a registration unit. The acquisition unit acquires information on authentication from a device terminal. When authentication of a device terminal is completed, the registration unit registers the device terminal to a preset group for registering predetermined device terminals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a management apparatus and a management system.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique for grouping and managing device terminals such as various electronic devices (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “devices”) is known.

JP 2014-93666 A

  However, in the above-described technology, when various processes such as device authentication (setting) and grouping (registration) are performed, procedures such as device authentication and grouping become complicated and management processing increases. There are challenges.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a management apparatus and a management system that can suppress an increase in management processing due to complicated authentication and grouping processing.

  The management apparatus according to the present embodiment includes an acquisition unit and a registration unit. The acquisition unit acquires information related to authentication from one device terminal. When the authentication of one device terminal is completed, the registration unit registers one device terminal in a group that is set in advance and for registering a predetermined device terminal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress an increase in management processing due to complicated authentication and grouping processing.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of management processing in the management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in the management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the management apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the group information storage unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of management processing in the management system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in the management system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the management apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the condition information storage unit according to the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in the management system according to the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of management processing in which automatic registration and condition determination registration are combined.

  Management devices 100 and 100A according to Embodiments 1 to 3 described below acquire an acquisition unit that acquires information related to authentication from one device terminal (in the embodiment, a control target device 50 (for example, device B); the same applies hereinafter). 131 and registration units 132 and 132A for registering one device terminal to a group for registering a predetermined device terminal that is a preset group when authentication of the one device terminal is completed. It has.

  In the management apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment described below, the registration unit 132 automatically registers one device terminal to the group based on the information related to authentication acquired by the acquisition unit 131.

  In the management device 100A according to the second embodiment described below, the acquisition unit 131 acquires information related to selection of a group by a user among a plurality of groups set in advance, and the registration unit 132A is Register one device terminal to the selected group.

  In addition, in the management device 100A according to the second embodiment described below, the registration unit 132A transfers one device terminal to a group in which one device terminal satisfies the group participation condition among each of the groups selected by the user. sign up.

  Further, in the management device 100A according to the third embodiment described below, the acquisition unit 131 acquires information related to addition of a new group by the user, and the registration unit 132A includes participation conditions for the new group added by the user. If the condition is satisfied, one device terminal is registered in a new group.

  Moreover, the management system 1 according to Embodiments 1 to 3 described below includes a device terminal and management devices 100 and 100A.

[Embodiment 1]
First, a management system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a management system according to the first embodiment.

  The management system 1 according to the first embodiment includes a management device 100 (device A) and a control target device 50 (device B). For example, the management apparatus 100 is communicably connected to the control target device 50 via a predetermined network. The management system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 may include a plurality of control target devices 50 and a plurality of management devices 100.

  Further, the user terminal 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 may be included in the management system 1 or may not be included in the management system 1 as long as it can communicate with the management apparatus 100. Moreover, there may be a plurality of user terminals 10. For example, the management system 1 may be an energy management system such as a system called HEMS (Home Energy Management System).

  The management apparatus 100 may be a home gateway that is a network device that connects a public network and a home network. Note that a device (device) that performs management processing such as the management device 100 and a device (device) that performs network control such as a home gateway may be separate. Further, the control target device 50 may be various electrical appliances (device terminals) such as lighting devices, televisions, air conditioning devices, storage batteries, and the like included in a HEMS (Home Energy Management System).

  The user terminal 10 is an information processing device used by a user. The user terminal 10 may be any device as long as it has a predetermined screen and can provide information to the user. For example, the user terminal 10 may be an information processing device that can be carried by the user, and may be a smartphone, a tablet terminal, a notebook PC (Personal Computer), a mobile phone, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), or the like. It may be realized. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, a case where a smartphone is used as the user terminal 10 will be described. For example, the user terminal 10 transmits and receives various types of information to and from the management device 100 according to user operations. In addition, the user terminal 10 displays various information received from the management apparatus 100 on a predetermined screen. For example, the user terminal 10 displays the screens SC11 to SC13 (see FIG. 3) received from the management apparatus 100 on a predetermined screen. In addition, when the screen images of the screens SC11 to SC13 and the like here are shown as objects to be transmitted and received in the sequence diagram of FIG. 2 and the like, data for displaying the screens SC11 to SC13 and the like on the screen of the user terminal 10 and the like is displayed. Shall mean. The same applies to SC21 to SC25 (see FIG. 7), SC31, and SC32 (see FIG. 10).

  For example, the management apparatus 100 is a manager (information processing apparatus) that determines or instructs connection of the control target device 50. Further, for example, the control target device 50 is a target device that is authenticated and connected by the management apparatus 100, and is also a device to be grouped. The management apparatus 100 is assumed to be included in devices that are grouped in the management system 1. The management apparatus 100 may be limited to the management function, and the grouping may be formed only by the control target apparatus 50 group excluding the management apparatus 100.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, a predetermined protocol PT1 (hereinafter also referred to as “protocol A”) is used for communication between the management apparatus 100 and the control target device 50. For example, in the communication based on the protocol A including the transmission medium and the upper communication protocol, the management apparatus 100 can determine whether the control target device 50 can be connected. For example, when the connection between the management apparatus 100 and the control target device 50 is permitted in communication using the protocol A, the management apparatus 100 uses predetermined identification information (ID), a password, or authentication information such as an electronic certificate. Then, the control target device 50 is authenticated. The protocol A is a protocol that can establish a safe communication path between the management apparatus 100 and the control target device 50. Further, for example, the protocol A is also used as a communication path for distributing a group key on a secure communication path constructed by the above-described procedure.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, a predetermined protocol PT2 (hereinafter also referred to as “protocol B”) is used for communication between the management apparatus 100 and the control target device 50. For example, the protocol B is a protocol that allows the management apparatus 100 to acquire attribute information of the control target device 50. For example, the protocol B may be a protocol that conforms to the ECHONET Lite standard.

  For example, in communication using the protocol B, a command or a command using secure encrypted communication on a one-to-one two-party limited group formed between the management apparatus 100 and the control target device 50 after successful authentication by the protocol A. It is assumed that data is transmitted / received.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, a predetermined protocol PT3 (hereinafter also referred to as “protocol C”) is used for communication between the management apparatus 100 and the user terminal 10. The user terminal 10 is an operation terminal of the management apparatus 100 and performs various settings and controls on the management apparatus 100 using the protocol C. The protocol C can use various transmission media such as an infrared remote controller and Wi-Fi (registered trademark) (Wireless Fidelity). The user terminal 10 is equipped with an operation UI (User Interface). In addition, when the management apparatus 100 can output information through a UI screen or the like, the user terminal 10 does not have to have a UI for operation.

[Processing by management system]
From here, the management process by the management system 1 which concerns on Embodiment 1 is demonstrated using FIG.2 and FIG.3. FIG. 2 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of management processing in the management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in the management system according to the first embodiment. For example, screens SC <b> 11 to SC <b> 13 in FIG. 3 show UI operation screens on the user terminal 10. Hereinafter, the flow of authentication processing and information provision to the user in the management system 1 will be described with reference to the screens SC11 to SC13 in FIG. 3 as appropriate based on the sequence diagram in FIG.

  First, the user terminal 10 starts an application (step S101). For example, the user terminal 10 activates an application for performing various settings and controls on the management apparatus 100. Then, the user terminal 10 requests the screen SC11 from the management apparatus 100 (Step S102). As described above, in this case, the user terminal 10 requests data related to the screen SC11 for displaying the screen SC11.

  The management apparatus 100 that has acquired the request for the screen SC11 from the user terminal 10 transmits the screen SC11 to the user terminal 10 in response to the request (step S103). As described above, in this case, the management apparatus 100 transmits data related to the screen SC11 for displaying the screen SC11 to the user terminal 10.

  In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC11 in FIG. 3 on the screen (step S104). For example, the screen SC11 is a device authentication / registration start screen, and displays a message prompting the control target device 50 to shift to the initial setting mode.

  Thereafter, the user using the user terminal 10 performs an operation for starting the initial setting operation of the control target device 50 in accordance with the screen SC11. For example, when the user presses “Next” in the screen SC11 displayed on the user terminal 10, operation information for starting the initial setting operation of the control target device 50 is transmitted from the user terminal 10 to the management apparatus 100. (Step S105).

  Thereafter, the management apparatus 100 searches for the control target device 50 so that the control target device 50 can be initialized (step S106). For example, the management apparatus 100 searches for the device B, and shifts to waiting for search reception from the control target device 50 (device B). Further, the control target device 50 starts connection to the management apparatus 100 (step S107).

  When the management device 100 completes the search for the control target device 50, the management device 100 and the control target device 50 start authentication connection processing with each other (step S108). For example, the process in S108 is an authentication connection in the transport layer. The authentication in S108 may be an authentication model that uses a certificate (electronic certificate) stored in each device (device A, device B, etc.). In this case, each device (device A, device B, etc.) may acquire and use a certificate issued by a predetermined certificate authority. The predetermined certificate authority may be any certificate authority as long as it has a function of issuing a predetermined certificate, and may be a certificate authority on a predetermined network with which the management apparatus 100 can communicate. . Further, the authentication information included in the certificate may include information related to attributes of devices such as controllers and devices. For example, the management apparatus 100 transmits the screen SC12 to the user terminal 10 (step S109).

  In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC12 in FIG. 3 on the screen (step S110). For example, the screen SC12 is a screen indicating that the control target device 50 is being authenticated, and the screen SC12 is displayed on the user terminal 10, whereby the control target device 50 is being authenticated or registered to the user. Recognize that.

  When the authentication connection process between the management device 100 and the control target device 50 is completed (step S111), the management device 100 registers the control target device 50 in a predetermined group (step S112). For example, the management apparatus 100 registers the control target device 50 in the group X stored in the group information storage unit 121 (see FIG. 5). Note that the management apparatus 100 (device A) is included in the group X.

  Then, the management apparatus 100 transmits the group X key to the control target device 50 so that secure encrypted communication is possible between the devices included in the group X (step S113). As a result, the management apparatus 100 shares the group X key with the control target device 50.

  In addition, the management device 100 transmits the screen SC13 to the user terminal 10 (step S114).

  In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC13 in FIG. 3 on the screen (step S115). For example, the screen SC13 is a screen indicating completion of device authentication / registration and registration of the control target device 50 (device B) to the group X, and the screen SC13 is displayed on the user terminal 10. The user is made to recognize that the control target device 50 (device B) has been added to the group X.

  Further, encrypted communication using the group X key is performed between the management apparatus 100 and the control target device 50 (step S116). As a result, safe group communication is possible between the management apparatus 100 and the control target device 50.

  Thus, in the first embodiment, the management apparatus 100 sets the group X in advance. In this case, the control target device 50 or the like that has succeeded in device authentication connection implicitly belongs to the group X. For example, the group X can be a group name such as “My Devices”, and can be any group that the user has set (owned).

[Configuration example of management device]
Next, the configuration of the management apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the management apparatus according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the management apparatus 100 includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120, and a control unit 130. Note that the management device 100 has an input unit (for example, a keyboard and a mouse) that receives various operations from an administrator of the management device 100, and a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal display) for displaying various types of information as a UI screen. You may have.

  The communication unit 110 is realized by a NIC (Network Interface Card), for example. The communication unit 110 is connected to a predetermined network (not shown) by wire or wirelessly. And the communication part 110 transmits / receives information between the control object apparatus 50, the user terminal 10, etc. via the predetermined network which is not shown in figure. For example, the communication unit 110 communicates with the control target device 50 using the protocol A or the protocol B. For example, the communication unit 110 communicates with the user terminal 10 using the protocol C.

  The storage unit 120 is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory device such as a RAM or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 120 according to the first embodiment includes a group information storage unit 121 as illustrated in FIG.

  The group information storage unit 121 stores group information. FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the group information storage unit according to the first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the group information storage unit 121 includes items such as “group ID”, “group”, and “device information” as group information. “Device information” includes items such as “# 1” and “# 2”. The “device information” includes items corresponding to the device to which the device belongs, such as “# 3” and “# 4”.

  “Group ID” indicates information for identifying a group. “Group” indicates the name of the group. “# 1” and “# 2” in “device information” indicate devices belonging to the group.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the group identified by the group ID “GP1” is “group A”. Further, it is shown that “device A” and “device F” belong to group A. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, the group identified by the group ID “GP2” is “group X”. In addition, “device A” and “device B” belong to group X. For example, the device B belonging to the group X is added to the group X in the examples shown in FIGS.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 4, the control unit 130 has an internal memory for storing a program that defines various processing procedures and the necessary data, and executes various processes using these programs. The closely related components include an acquisition unit 131, a registration unit 132, and a transmission unit 133.

  The acquisition unit 131 acquires various types of information. The acquisition unit 131 acquires various types of information from an external information processing apparatus. In addition, the acquisition unit 131 acquires various types of information from the storage unit 120. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires information related to authentication from the control target device 50. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires a connection start request from the control target device 50. For example, the acquisition unit 131 acquires various types of information used for authentication of the control target device 50 from the control target device 50.

  The registration unit 132 registers various information. When the authentication of the control target device 50 is completed, the registration unit 132 registers the control target device 50 in a group that is set in advance and for registering a predetermined device terminal. For example, the registration unit 132 automatically registers the control target device 50 in the group based on the information related to authentication acquired by the acquisition unit 131. In the example of FIG. 2, the registration unit 132 registers the control target device 50 (device B) in the group X when the control target device 50 (device B) has been authenticated.

  The transmission unit 133 transmits various information. The transmission unit 133 transmits various types of information to an external information processing apparatus. For example, the transmission unit 133 transmits the screens SC11 to SC13 to the user terminal 10. For example, the transmission unit 133 transmits the group X key to the control target device 50 so that secure encrypted communication can be performed between the devices included in the group X.

[Embodiment 2]
In the management system 1 according to the first embodiment, an example in which the control target device 50 authenticated by the management apparatus 100 is automatically registered in a predetermined group (group X) is shown. On the other hand, the management system 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the user selects a group in which the control target device 50 is registered. This point will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same parts as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The management system 1 according to the second embodiment is different from the management system 1 according to the first embodiment in that a management apparatus 100A is included instead of the management apparatus 100. The management apparatus 100A has the same function as the management apparatus 100 except that the control target device 50 is registered in the group based on the participation condition of each group.

  From here, the management processing by the management system 1 which concerns on Embodiment 2 is demonstrated using FIG.6 and FIG.7. FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating a procedure of management processing in the management system according to the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in the management system according to the second embodiment. For example, screens SC <b> 21 to SC <b> 25 in FIG. 7 show UI operation screens on the user terminal 10. In the following, the flow of authentication processing and information provision to the user in the management system 1 will be described with reference to the screens SC21 to SC25 in FIG. 7 as appropriate based on the sequence diagram in FIG.

  First, the user terminal 10 starts an application (step S201). For example, the user terminal 10 activates an application for performing various settings and controls on the management apparatus 100A. Then, the user terminal 10 requests the screen SC21 from the management apparatus 100A (Step S202).

  The management apparatus 100A that has acquired the request for the screen SC21 from the user terminal 10 transmits the screen SC21 to the user terminal 10 in response to the request (step S203).

  In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC21 in FIG. 7 on the screen (step S204). For example, the screen SC21 is a device authentication / registration start screen, and displays a message that prompts the control target device 50 to shift to the initial setting mode.

  Thereafter, the user using the user terminal 10 performs an operation for starting the initial setting operation of the control target device 50 in accordance with the screen SC21. In the example of FIG. 7, when the user presses “Next” in the screen SC21 displayed on the user terminal 10, the user terminal 10 causes the management apparatus 100A to start the initial setting operation of the control target device 50. Operation information is transmitted (step S205).

  Then, the management apparatus 100A transmits the screen SC22 to the user terminal 10 (Step S206). In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC22 in FIG. 7 on the screen (step S207). For example, the screen SC22 is a screen that allows the user U1 to select a group in which the control target device 50 to be authenticated participates. When the screen SC22 is displayed on the user terminal 10, the control target device 50 is assigned to the user. Confirm whether you want to participate. For example, four groups of group A, group B, group X, and group Y are displayed as selectable groups on the screen SC22. For example, the screen SC22 can present four groups, group A, group B, group X, and group Y, in a selectable list format such as a check box. Note that the user can designate a plurality of groups at the same time.

  In the example of FIG. 7, the user selects the group A and the group X among the groups in the screen SC22 displayed on the user terminal 10, and the user presses “Next” to manage from the user terminal 10. Selection information indicating that group A and group X have been selected is transmitted to apparatus 100A (step S208).

  After that, the management apparatus 100A searches for the control target device 50 so that the control target device 50 can be initialized (step S209). For example, the management apparatus 100A searches for the device B, and shifts to waiting for search reception from the control target device 50 (device B). In addition, the control target device 50 starts connection to the management apparatus 100A (step S210).

  When the management device 100A completes the search for the control target device 50, the management device 100A and the control target device 50 start the authentication connection process (step S211). Then, the management apparatus 100A transmits the screen SC23 to the user terminal 10 (Step S212). In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC23 in FIG. 7 on the screen (step S213). For example, the screen SC23 is a screen indicating that the control target device 50 is being authenticated, and the screen SC22 is displayed on the user terminal 10 so that the control target device 50 is being authenticated or registered to the user. Recognize that.

  When the authentication connection process between the management apparatus 100A and the control target device 50 is completed (step S214), the management apparatus 100A performs control when there is a group designation that requires attribute information confirmation to the control target apparatus 50. The attribute information is acquired for the target device 50 using the protocol B (step S215). For example, when ECHONET Lite is used for the protocol B, for the designation of the group X “Company A product group”, the property of the manufacturer code is GET-operated from the management apparatus 100A to the control target device 50, and the value is acquired. To do. For example, the ECHONET Lite standard is a communication protocol used in a home appliance control system such as HEMS. In order to realize state monitoring and control of home appliances and the like, a controller (for example, the management apparatus 100A) can control home appliances (for example, control targets). A message format for transmitting to the device 50) and a function set for each device are defined.

  For the designation of the group Y “remote operation target”, the value of the remote operation property is acquired. In the group X, if the acquired value is the company A, the conditions are matched, and the control target device 50 is registered in the group X of the management apparatus 100A. If it is not company A, the conditions are inconsistent and an error message described later is prepared. Group A and group B are groups that do not require acquisition of attribute information to devices. For example, in the case of an automatic monitoring target device group, a service that periodically acquires and monitors the operation status of the target device from the management apparatus 100A Is a device group to which is applied. Moreover, if it is the operation target apparatus from a smart phone, let 100A of management apparatuses be the apparatus group which receives operation from a smart phone with respect to a target apparatus. In either case, if specified, it is an option to unconditionally register to the group.

  For example, the management apparatus 100A determines whether the control target device 50 can be registered in the group A and the group X (step S216). Then, the management apparatus 100A registers the control target device 50 in the group A or the group X based on the determination result (step S217). In addition, since the group A is a group that does not require a condition, the control target device 50 is registered in the group A.

  On the other hand, since group X is a group that requires the condition that it is a product of company A, the condition is satisfied if the controlled device 50 (device B) is a product of company A, and group X is also registered in step S217. The In this case, the management apparatus 100A transmits the group A key and the group X key to the control target device 50 so that secure encrypted communication is possible between the devices included in the group A and the group X (step S218). . Accordingly, the management apparatus 100A shares the group A key and the group X key with the control target device 50. In this case, the management apparatus 100A transmits the screen SC24 to the user terminal 10 (step S219).

  In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC24 in FIG. 7 on the screen (step S220). For example, the screen SC24 is a screen indicating that the device authentication / registration is completed and the registration of the control target device 50 (device B) in the group A and the group X is completed. The screen SC24 is displayed on the user terminal 10. As a result, the user is made aware that the control target device 50 (device B) has been added to the group A and the group X. In this case, encrypted communication using the group A key or the group X key is performed between the management apparatus 100A and the control target device 50 (step S221). Thereby, safe group communication is possible between the management apparatus 100A and the control target device 50.

  In addition, since the group X is a group that requires the condition that it is a product of the company A, the conditions do not match if the control target device 50 (device B) is a product other than the company A, and the group X is determined in step S217. Not registered. In this case, the management apparatus 100A transmits the group A key to the control target device 50 so that secure encrypted communication is possible between the devices included in the group A (step S218). Thereby, the management apparatus 100A shares the group A key with the control target device 50. In this case, the management apparatus 100A transmits the screen SC25 to the user terminal 10 (step S219).

  In this case, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC25 in FIG. 7 on the screen (step S220). For example, the screen SC25 is a screen indicating that device authentication / registration has been completed, registration of the control target device 50 (device B) to the group A has been completed, and registration to the group X has failed. Displaying SC25 on the user terminal 10 allows the user to recognize that the control target device 50 (device B) has been added only to the group A. Further, for example, the screen SC25 displays a reason that the device B is not registered in the group X because it is a product manufactured by B company. In this case, encrypted communication using the group A key is performed between the management apparatus 100A and the control target device 50 (step S221). Thereby, safe group communication is possible between the management apparatus 100A and the control target device 50. Note that the user terminal 10 may display a screen that prompts the user to give up the group X or to retry.

[Configuration example of management device]
Next, the configuration of the management apparatus 100A according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the management apparatus according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 8, the management apparatus 100A includes a communication unit 110, a storage unit 120A, and a control unit 130A.

  The storage unit 120A is realized by, for example, a semiconductor memory element such as a RAM or a flash memory, or a storage device such as a hard disk or an optical disk. The storage unit 120A according to the second embodiment is different from the storage unit 120 in that it includes a condition information storage unit 122, as illustrated in FIG.

  The condition information storage unit 122 stores information (condition information) regarding conditions for participation in the group. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in the condition information storage unit according to the second embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the condition information storage unit 122 includes items such as “group ID”, “group”, and “condition information” as the condition information. The “condition information” has an item such as “# 1”. The “condition information” includes items of a number corresponding to conditions for belonging to the group, such as “# 2” and “# 3”.

  “Group ID” indicates information for identifying a group. “Group” indicates the name of the group. “# 1” and “# 2” in the “condition information” indicate conditions for belonging to the group.

  In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the group identified by the group ID “GP1” is “group A”. In addition, “# 1” in “condition information” is “−” for group A, indicating that there is no condition for participation in group A. In the example illustrated in FIG. 9, the group identified by the group ID “GP2” is “group X”. Group X indicates that the condition for belonging is “manufactured by Company A”.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 8, the control unit 130A has a program defining various processing procedures and an internal memory for storing required data, and executes various processes using these programs. The closely related components include an acquisition unit 131, a registration unit 132A, and a transmission unit 133.

  The acquisition unit 131 acquires information related to selection of a group by the user among a plurality of groups set in advance. In the example of FIG. 6, the acquisition unit 131 acquires information indicating that the user has selected the group A and the group X among the groups in the screen SC22 displayed on the user terminal 10.

  The registration unit 132 </ b> A registers various information in the same manner as the registration unit 132. The registration unit 132A registers the control target device 50 in the group selected by the user. The registration unit 132A registers the control target device 50 in a group in which the control target device 50 satisfies the group participation condition among each of the groups selected by the user.

[Embodiment 3]
In the management system 1 according to the first and second embodiments, the case where the control target device 50 is registered in a preset group has been described as an example. However, in the management system 1 according to the third embodiment, the management apparatus 100A. May add a new group in response to an input from the user. This point will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part as Embodiment 1, 2, and description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of display in the management system according to the third embodiment. For example, screens SC31 to SC32 in FIG. 10 show UI operation screens in the user terminal 10. Hereinafter, the flow of adding a new group in the management system 1 will be described using screens SC31 to SC32 in FIG.

  FIG. 10 transmits to the user terminal 10 a screen SC31 showing a selection group prepared in advance by the management apparatus 100A and options that can be newly created. Then, the user terminal 10 displays the screen SC31.

  In the example of FIG. 10, the user presses the button BT displayed as “new creation” in the screen SC31 displayed on the user terminal 10 (step S301). In this way, when the user presses the button BT, a request is transmitted from the user terminal 10 to the management apparatus 100A, and the management apparatus 100A transmits the screen SC32 to the user terminal 10.

  The screen SC32 shows an example in which the group α is displayed as a screen that can be set by specifying a plurality of conditions / options. In the example of FIG. 10, when the user presses “Confirm” on the screen SC32, a group including two conditions in which the manufacturer code is T company and the remote operation is ON is created in the group α as shown in the screen SC32. Processing is performed (step S302). Then, the management apparatus 100A creates a new group α (step S303). As a result, the management apparatus 100A creates a group α that uses the conditions shown in the group information GC31 as a participation condition, and allows the management apparatus 100A to register a new group α. The management process after adding a new group is the same as the management process (steps S201 to S221 etc.) in the second embodiment.

[Embodiments 1 to 3]
Note that the management processes in the first to third embodiments described above may be appropriately combined. This point will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a flowchart of management processing in which automatic registration and condition determination registration are combined. In the example of FIG. 11, a case where the management apparatus 100A performs management processing will be described as an example.

  First, the management apparatus 100A determines whether the target device has a group that corresponds to automatic registration (step S401). For example, when there is a group corresponding to automatic registration in the target device (step S401: Yes), the management apparatus 100A registers the target device in the corresponding group (step S402), and performs step S403. On the other hand, when there is no group corresponding to automatic registration in the target device (step S401: No), the management apparatus 100A performs step S403.

  Thereafter, when there is a group selected by the user (step S403: Yes), the management apparatus 100A determines whether the selected group has a registration condition (step S404). For example, if the selected group has a registration condition (step S404: Yes), the management apparatus 100A determines whether the target device satisfies the registration condition (step S405). For example, when the target device satisfies the registration condition (step S405: Yes), the management device 100A registers the target device in the selected group (step S406). For example, if the selected group does not have a registration condition (step S404: No), the management apparatus 100A registers the target device in the selected group (step S406).

  If there is no group selected by the user (step S403: No), the management apparatus 100A ends the process. For example, when the target device does not satisfy the registration condition (step S405: No), the management apparatus 100A ends the process.

  Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof as well as included in the scope and gist of the invention. In addition, these embodiments and their modifications can be combined as appropriate within a range that does not contradict the processing contents.

1 Management system 50 Device to be controlled (device B)
100, 100A management device (equipment A)
110 communication unit 120, 120A storage unit 121 group information storage unit 122 condition information storage unit 130, 130A control unit 131 acquisition unit 132, 132A registration unit 133 transmission unit

Claims (6)

An acquisition unit for acquiring information related to authentication from one device terminal;
A registration unit that registers the one device terminal in a group that is set in advance and that registers a predetermined device terminal when authentication of the one device terminal is completed;
A management apparatus comprising: The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit automatically registers the one device terminal in the group based on information related to authentication acquired by the acquisition unit. The acquisition unit acquires information related to selection of a group by a user among a plurality of groups set in advance,
The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit registers the one device terminal in a group selected by the user. The management apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the registration unit registers the one device terminal to a group in which the one device terminal satisfies a group participation condition among each of the groups selected by the user. The acquisition unit acquires information on addition of a new group by a user,
The management apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the registration unit registers the one device terminal in the new group when the participation condition of the new group added by the user is satisfied. With equipment terminals;
A management apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
A management system comprising:

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