JP2019126096A - Control method of terminal device for remotely controlling plurality of devices, program executed by terminal device, and recommendation method executed by terminal device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a technology that enables easy remote control of a plurality of devices.SOLUTION: There is provided a control method of a terminal device used in a device control system for remotely operating a plurality of devices. A memory of the terminal device stores setting information in which a plurality of operation target devices that receive at least one predetermined operation are set. The control method includes a first determination step of determining whether the setting information includes a plurality of operation target devices, a first display step of displaying an image including an instruction area for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation collectively to all of the plurality of operation target devices on a display of the terminal device, and an output step of outputting control data for giving instructions of the predetermined operation to the plurality of operation target devices when the instruction area is operated on the image and it is determined that the setting information includes a plurality of operation target devices.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 11

Description

  The present invention relates to a technology for remotely operating an air conditioner installed in a building from a car.

  Recent advances in communication technology make it possible to remotely control home appliances installed in a building from a car (see Patent Document 1). According to Patent Document 1, a user in a car operates a communication terminal to call a home server disposed in the user's house. The user then uses the called home server to make a reservation setting for the operation of the home appliance in the house. As a result, the user can remotely control the home appliance.

JP, 2002-64881, A

  In general, many users own multiple air conditioners. Although the technology of Patent Document 1 enables the user to remotely control the air conditioner, the user is required to perform various operations to remotely control one air conditioner. If the user tries to operate a plurality of air conditioners, the amount of operation required of the user is enormous.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables remote control of a plurality of air conditioners easily.

  A control method of a terminal device according to one aspect of the present invention is used for a device control system that remotely operates a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building via a network. In the control method of the terminal device, setting information in which a plurality of operation target devices which receive at least one predetermined operation among the plurality of air conditioners is stored is stored in the memory of the terminal device. The control method includes a first determination step of causing the computer of the terminal device to determine whether the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices, and the computer performs the plurality of operations on the display of the terminal device. A first display step of displaying an image including an instruction area for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation collectively to all of the target devices, the instruction area is operated on the image, and the computer performs the setting And D. outputting the control data for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation to the plurality of operation target devices if it is determined that the information includes the plurality of operation target devices.

  A program according to another aspect of the present invention is executed by a terminal device used in an equipment control system that remotely operates a plurality of air conditioning equipment installed in a building via a network. The memory of the terminal device stores setting information in which a plurality of operation target devices that receive a predetermined operation among the plurality of air conditioners are set. The program causes the computer of the terminal device to determine whether the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices. The program causes the display of the terminal device to display an image including an instruction area for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation collectively to all of the plurality of operation target devices. If the program determines that the designated area is operated on the image and the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices, the computer causes the computer to execute the predetermined operation on the plurality of operation target devices. Control data for giving an instruction is output to the network.

  The recommendation method according to still another aspect of the present invention is executed by a device control system that remotely operates a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building via a network. Does the recommendation method include the plurality of operation target devices in the setting information using a memory in which setting information in which a plurality of operation target devices receiving a predetermined operation is set among the plurality of air conditioners is stored? The step of determining whether or not to display an image including an instruction area for giving the instruction of the predetermined operation collectively to all of the plurality of operation target devices; and the instruction area is operated on the image And, if it is determined that the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices, outputting control data for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation to the plurality of operation target devices to the network. .

  The present invention enables a user to easily operate a plurality of devices remotely.

It is a flowchart showing the general | schematic process which the control system which carries out remote control of the some air conditioner installed in the building from a car via a network shows the rough process (1st Embodiment). It is a conceptual diagram of the process in step S110 of the flowchart shown by FIG. 1 (1st Embodiment). It is a conceptual diagram of the process in step S120 of the flowchart shown by FIG. It is a conceptual diagram of the process in step S120 of the flowchart shown by FIG. 1 (1st Embodiment). It is a conceptual diagram of the process in step S130 of the flowchart shown by FIG. 1 (1st Embodiment). It is a conceptual diagram showing communication between a communication terminal and an air-conditioner (a 1st embodiment). It is a conceptual diagram of the process in step S150 of the flowchart shown by FIG. It is a schematic block diagram showing the exemplary hardware constitutions of the communication terminal shown by FIG. 5 (2nd Embodiment). It is an example image which a user utilizes in order to set up a plurality of candidate operation devices and start conditions of remote control (3rd embodiment). It is an example image which a user utilizes in order to set up a plurality of candidate operation devices and start conditions of remote control (3rd embodiment). It is an example image which a user utilizes in order to set up a plurality of candidate operation devices and start conditions of remote control (3rd embodiment). It is an example image which a user utilizes in order to set up a plurality of candidate operation devices and start conditions of remote control (3rd embodiment). It is an example image which a user utilizes in order to set up a plurality of candidate operation devices and start conditions of remote control (3rd embodiment). It is an example image which a user utilizes in order to set up a plurality of candidate operation devices and start conditions of remote control (3rd embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of a touch panel display when an image shown in Drawing 8E is displayed (3rd embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of a touch panel display when an image shown in Drawing 8F is displayed (3rd embodiment). It is a table showing setting data stored in a memory of the communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 (third embodiment). It is an exemplary image which a user utilizes to set the position of a building (fourth embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of a touch panel display when an image shown in Drawing 12 is displayed (4th embodiment). It is a conceptual diagram of the control system containing a communication terminal (5th Embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (fifth embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (fifth embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (fifth embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (fifth embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (sixth embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (sixth embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of the communication terminal when the image shown in FIG. 8C is displayed (sixth embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of the communication terminal when the image shown in FIG. 8D is displayed (sixth embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of the communication terminal when the image shown in FIG. 16A is displayed (sixth embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of the communication terminal when the image shown in FIG. 16B is displayed (sixth embodiment). It is a flowchart showing schematic processing of the communication terminal when the image shown in FIG. 15D is displayed (sixth embodiment). It is an exemplary image displayed on a display when a user uses an application program (seventh embodiment). It is an exemplary image displayed on a display when a user uses an application program (seventh embodiment). It is an exemplary image displayed on a display when a user uses an application program (eighth embodiment). It is an exemplary image displayed on a display when a user uses an application program (9th embodiment). It is an exemplary image displayed on a display when a user uses an application program (10th embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (Eleventh embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (Eleventh embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (Eleventh embodiment). The communication terminal shown in FIG. 7 is an exemplary image presented to the user (Eleventh embodiment). It is a schematic block diagram showing the exemplary functional composition of the communication terminal of 12th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram showing the exemplary functional composition of the server apparatus of 13th Embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram showing the exemplary functional composition of the air conditioner of a 14th embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram showing the exemplary functional composition of the communication terminal of 15th Embodiment. It is a conceptual diagram of vehicles VC which run near the boundary of a control field. It is a schematic flowchart showing the process which the communication terminal shown by FIG. 30 performs. FIG. 31 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary operation of the communication terminal shown in FIG. 30 (sixteenth embodiment). 21 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommendation determination processing (a seventeenth embodiment). It is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S1340 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 34 (17th embodiment). It is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S1360 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 34 (17th embodiment). FIG. 35 is a schematic flowchart representing processing in step S1380 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 34 (17th embodiment). FIG. It is a table showing the data of the air-conditioning equipment stored in the 1st storage part of the communication terminal shown in Drawing 30 (18th embodiment). It is a table | surface showing the air conditioner determined as operation object apparatus by image display determination processing (18th Embodiment). It is a schematic flowchart of an image display determination process (18th Embodiment). It is a schematic flowchart of the process performed in step S1240 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 33 (19th embodiment). 21 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommendation determination processing (20th embodiment). 21 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommendation determination processing (21st embodiment). It is a schematic block diagram showing the exemplary functional composition of the communication terminal of 22nd Embodiment. It is a schematic flowchart showing the procedure for determining an operation mode (23rd Embodiment). It is a schematic flowchart showing the other procedure for determining an operating mode (23rd Embodiment). It is a table | surface which shows the data stored in the 1st memory | storage part of the communication terminal shown by FIG. 30 (24th Embodiment). It is a rough flowchart showing the method to determine the display order of an image from the difference between the temperature set by the user and the measured temperature (25th Embodiment). It is a schematic block diagram showing the exemplary functional composition of the server apparatus of 26th Embodiment. [Fig. 27] Fig. 27 is a schematic flowchart illustrating on-recommendation determination processing (seventh embodiment). FIG. 50 is a schematic flowchart representing processing in step S1850 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 49 (seventh embodiment). [Fig. 28] Fig. 28 is a schematic flowchart illustrating on-recommendation determination processing (28th embodiment). FIG. 31 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary operation of the communication terminal shown in FIG. 30 (29th embodiment). It is an illustrative image which the display part of the communication terminal shown by FIG. 30 displays (30th Embodiment). It is an illustrative image which the display part of the communication terminal shown by FIG. 30 displays (30th Embodiment). FIG. 53B is a table showing exemplary data generated by the operation on the image shown in FIGS. 53A and 53B (Twentieth Embodiment). It is a table | surface showing the data of the operation target apparatus used as the transmission destination of the control data for making an operation stop (30th Embodiment). It is an illustrative image which the display part of the communication terminal shown by FIG. 30 displays (30th Embodiment). It is an illustrative image which the display part of the communication terminal shown by FIG. 30 displays (30th Embodiment). It is an illustrative image which the display part of the communication terminal shown by FIG. 30 displays (30th Embodiment). It is a rough flowchart showing setting processing for setting operation candidate apparatus (the 31st embodiment). A communication terminal shown in FIG. 30 is an exemplary image presented to a user (Twenty-Second Embodiment). A communication terminal shown in FIG. 30 is an exemplary image presented to a user (Twenty-Second Embodiment). A communication terminal shown in FIG. 30 is an exemplary image presented to a user (Twenty-Second Embodiment). A communication terminal shown in FIG. 30 is an exemplary image presented to a user (Twenty-Second Embodiment). [Fig. 33] A schematic flowchart illustrating start processing of the off recommendation process (33rd embodiment). FIG. 61 is a schematic flowchart representing step S2140 (off recommendation process) of the flowchart shown in FIG. 60 (33rd embodiment). 45 is a schematic flowchart representing an off-recommendation determination process (a thirty-fourth embodiment). FIG. 62 is a schematic flowchart representing a process of step S2330 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 62 (34th embodiment). It is a schematic flowchart of an image display determination process (35th Embodiment). FIG. 60 is a schematic flowchart of processing executed in step S2240 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 61 (36th embodiment). 37 is a schematic flowchart showing an off-recommendation determination process (a thirty-seventh embodiment). 45 is a schematic flowchart illustrating an off-recommendation determination process (a thirty-eighth embodiment). FIG. 68 is a schematic flowchart representing processing in step S2340 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 67 (Embodiment 38).

  Various embodiments of the technology for remotely operating an air conditioner installed in a building from a car will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The technology for remotely operating an air conditioner installed in a building from a car can be clearly understood by the following description.

<Issues found by the present inventors>
The present inventors studied the technology disclosed in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 and found out the problems included in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1. The problems included in the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 will be described below.

  According to Patent Document 1, a user (for example, a driver) operates a communication terminal in a car to access a home server. Thereafter, the user makes a reservation setting for the home appliance through the home server.

  When the time set for reservation approaches, the home server transmits, to the communication terminal, confirmation image data for confirming whether the target home electric appliance may execute the operation specified by the reservation setting. . If the user approves the execution of driving, a permission signal for permitting driving of the target home appliance is transmitted from the communication terminal to the home server. In response to the permission signal, the home server generates a control signal for performing the reserved operation. The control signal is transmitted from the home server to the target air conditioner.

  When the home appliance properly receives the control signal, the home appliance generates a notification signal for notifying that it is operating properly according to the control signal. The notification signal is transmitted from the home appliance to the home server. The home server transfers the notification signal to the communication terminal.

  The disclosed technology of Patent Document 1 can also be used to remotely control a plurality of air conditioners. For example, the user can remotely control the first air conditioner and the second air conditioner that adjusts the temperature of a room different from the room in which the first air conditioner adjusts the temperature.

  The user can set the first time as the reservation time for the first air conditioner. The user can set a second time different from the first time to the second air conditioner as the reservation time.

  When the first time approaches, the home server transmits, to the communication terminal, confirmation image data for confirming whether the first air conditioner may execute the operation defined by the reservation setting. When the second time approaches, the home server transmits, to the communication terminal, confirmation image data for confirming whether the second air conditioner may execute the operation defined by the reservation setting. Therefore, every time confirmation image data is transmitted, the user needs to operate the communication terminal.

  Many users do not want frequent operation of the communication terminal in the car. The user may want to finish the operation on the communication terminal in a short period when the car is stopped by the signal. The disclosed technology of Patent Document 1 does not meet the needs of such users.

First Embodiment
As described above, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires frequent operations from the user. In the first embodiment, a technique is described that allows the user to easily perform remote control on a plurality of air conditioners.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing a schematic process executed by a control system that remotely controls a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building from a car via a network. A schematic process performed by the control system will be described with reference to FIG.

  The flowchart of FIG. 1 can be suitably used to activate a plurality of air conditioners. In the following description, the process according to the flowchart of FIG. 1 is referred to as “on recommendation process”.

(Step S110)
In step S110, the control system specifies a plurality of operation target devices to be subjected to remote control. Thereafter, step S120 is performed.

(Step S120)
In step S120, the control system identifies the position of the vehicle. If the position of the vehicle satisfies the predetermined condition, step S130 is performed.

(Step S130)
In step S130, the control system presents the user with an operation image. When the user executes a predetermined operation on the operation image, step S140 is performed.

(Step S140)
In step S140, the control system generates control data in accordance with the user's operation. Control data is output from the communication terminal to the network. In the following embodiments, the terminal device is exemplified by the communication terminal. The communication terminal may be an on-board unit (for example, a car navigation system) attached to a vehicle. Alternatively, the communication terminal may be a portable terminal (eg, a smart phone) carried by the user. Further alternatively, the communication terminal may be another device capable of outputting control data from the car to the network. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific communication terminal. After the output of control data from the communication terminal to the network, step S150 is performed.

(Step S150)
In step S150, control data is output from the network to a plurality of operation target devices. Each of the plurality of operation target devices generates a notification signal indicating that control data has been received. The notification signal is output from the plurality of operation target devices to the communication terminal through the network. The communication terminal generates a notification image indicating that control data has been sent to each of the plurality of operation target devices in response to the notification signal. The user can check the notification image to confirm whether the remote control has been properly performed.

  FIG. 2 is a conceptual view of the process in step S110. The process in step S110 is described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The memory of the communication terminal stores in advance information on a plurality of air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4 owned by the user. The user presets, in the memory, operation candidate devices to be subjected to remote control using the control system. If the user defines a plurality of air conditioners as operation candidate devices, the process of step S110 is continued. FIG. 2 shows that the user sets the air conditioners AC1, AC2, and AC3 as operation candidate devices. The operation candidate device may be set according to the needs of the user. Therefore, the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to the specific setting of the operation candidate device.

  The memory stores not only the information on the operation candidate device but also the information on the temperature condition defined for each of the air conditioners AC1, AC2 and AC3 set as the operation candidate device. The temperature conditions determine the start conditions for activating the air conditioners AC1, AC2, and AC3. For example, the user may set the lower limit temperature of 20 ° C. and the upper limit temperature of 30 ° C. as the temperature condition for the air conditioner AC1. The user may set the lower limit temperature of 22 ° C. and the upper limit temperature of 33 ° C. as the temperature condition for the air conditioner AC2. The user may set the lower limit temperature of 18 ° C. and the upper limit temperature of 35 ° C. as the temperature conditions for the air conditioner AC3.

  A computer at the communication terminal (e.g., a CPU (Central Processing Unit) compares the outside air temperature to the temperature condition. The outside air temperature may mean the temperature outside the vehicle. Alternatively, the outside air temperature may be more than one It may mean the temperature of the room in which the air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3 and AC4 are installed The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific position where the outside air temperature is measured.

  FIG. 2 shows that the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 are selected as the operation target devices by the computer. If the information on the outside air temperature acquired by the computer indicates 34 ° C., the computer selects the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 as the operation target devices. The air conditioners AC1 and AC2 operate in the cooling mode under the control of the control system. That is, the setting of the upper limit temperature described above is used as a start condition for starting the operation in the cooling mode.

  If the information on the outside air temperature acquired by the computer indicates 18 ° C., the computer selects the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 as the operation target devices. The air conditioners AC1 and AC2 operate in the heating mode under the control of the control system. That is, the setting of the above-mentioned lower limit temperature is used as a start condition for starting the operation in the heating mode. The upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature may be determined by the preference of the user. Therefore, the principle of the present embodiment is not limited to specific values of the upper limit temperature and the lower limit temperature.

  3A and 3B are conceptual diagrams of the process in step S120. The process in step S120 is described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the computer of the communication terminal selects a plurality of air conditioners (air conditioners AC1, AC2) as the operation target devices, step S120 is executed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the control system presets a control region CR surrounding a building HM in which the air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4 are installed. The size and shape of the control region CR may be determined by the user. Alternatively, the size and shape of the control region CR may be determined by the control system. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific size or a specific shape of the control region CR.

  The computer of the communication terminal acquires position information regarding the position of the vehicle VC. Acquisition of position information may depend on GPS technology used in a general car navigation system. The principles of the present embodiment are not limited to any particular technique for obtaining location information. In the following embodiments, a car is exemplified by a vehicle VC.

  FIG. 3A shows that the vehicle VC is present in the control region CR. FIG. 3B shows that the vehicle VC is present in an area outside the control area CR. The computer of the communication terminal determines whether the vehicle VC exists in the control region CR based on the position information.

  FIG. 4 is a conceptual view of the process in step S130. The process in step S130 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3A, and 4.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, when the computer of the communication terminal determines that the vehicle VC is in the control area CR, step S130 is executed.

  In step S130, the touch panel display of the communication terminal displays an operation image OIM for giving an instruction to start remote control to the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 selected as the operation target devices. Operation image OIM includes an operation area OPR operated by the user. The operation area OPR may be a general icon button. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific image design displayed as the operation area OPR.

  If the user operates the operation area OPR, the user can give both the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 an instruction to start remote control. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the user can give instructions to start the remote control to the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 with a small amount of operation.

  FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram showing communication between the communication terminal 100 and the air conditioners AC1 and AC2. The process in step S140 is described with reference to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5.

  When the user operates the operation area OPR, the computer of the communication terminal 100 on the vehicle VC generates control data for starting remote control of the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 selected as the operation target devices. Control data is output from communication terminal 100 to network NTW. Control data may be subjected to predetermined signal processing on the network NTW. Alternatively, control data may be transmitted directly to the air conditioners AC1, AC2 via the network NTW. The principles of this embodiment are not limited to any particular signal processing on control data on the network NTW.

  The network NTW transmits control data to the air conditioners AC1 and AC2. When the air conditioner AC1 receives the control data, the air conditioner AC1 generates notification data representing the receipt of the control data. Notification data is transmitted from the air conditioner AC1 to the network NTW. When the air conditioner AC2 receives the control data, the air conditioner AC2 generates notification data representing receipt of the control data. Notification data is transmitted from the air conditioner AC2 to the network NTW. The notification data transmitted from the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 is transferred from the network NTW to the communication terminal 100.

  If the network NTW does not receive notification data from the air conditioner AC1, the network NTW may generate notification data indicating that the transmission of control data to the air conditioner AC1 has failed. If the network NTW does not receive notification data from the air conditioner AC2, the network NTW may generate notification data indicating that transmission of control data to the air conditioner AC2 has failed. In these cases, notification data representing failure in transmission of control data is transmitted from the network NTW to the communication terminal 100. Therefore, communication terminal 100 can grasp the result of transmission of control data.

  FIG. 6 is a conceptual view of the process in step S150. The process in step S150 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.

  The computer of communication terminal 100 generates notification images NI1 and NI2 in accordance with the notification data transmitted from network NTW. The computer of the communication terminal 100 generates a notification image NI1 representing the result of transmission of control data to the air conditioner AC1 in accordance with the notification data corresponding to the air conditioner AC1. The computer of the communication terminal 100 generates a notification image NI2 representing the result of transmission of control data to the air conditioner AC2 according to the notification data corresponding to the air conditioner AC2. Therefore, unlike the operation image, communication terminal 100 displays a plurality of notification images NI1 and NI2.

Second Embodiment
The processes described in the context of the first embodiment can be performed by various communication terminals. In a second embodiment, an exemplary communication terminal is described.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary hardware configuration of communication terminal 100 described in the context of the first embodiment. An exemplary hardware configuration of communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

  Communication terminal 100 includes a CPU 110, a bus 120, a data communication device 130, a memory 140, an information acquisition device 150, and a touch panel display 160. The CPU 110 is connected to the data communication device 130, the memory 140, the information acquisition device 150, and the touch panel display 160 through the bus 120. The CPU 110 executes a program that controls the data communication device 130, the memory 140, the information acquisition device 150, and the touch panel display 160. In the following embodiments, a computer is exemplified by the CPU 110.

  The data communication device 130 is used for transmission of control data and reception of notification data described with reference to FIG. In addition, the data communication device 130 may receive information representing the temperature in the building HM from the air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4. Data communication device 130 may be designed based on general communication techniques for transmitting and receiving data. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of the data communication device 130.

  The memory 140 includes a first storage area 141 and a second storage area 142. The first storage area 141 is used to store information identifying the air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3, and AC4 described with reference to FIG. In addition, the first storage area 141 is used to store information on the setting of the operation candidate device described with reference to FIG. The second storage area 142 is used to store information on the temperature conditions described with reference to FIG. The second storage area 142 may be secured in a memory element different from the first storage area 141. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific structure of the memory 140.

  Memory 140 may store other information in addition to the information described above. For example, memory 140 may store information regarding the location of building HM.

  The information acquisition device 150 may be a GPS device that acquires position information related to the position of the vehicle VC. In addition, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature outside the vehicle VC may be used as the information acquisition device 150.

  Touch panel display 160 includes a display 161 and an operation detection sensor 162. The display 161 displays the operation image OIM described with reference to FIG. In addition, the display 161 displays the plurality of notification images NI1 and NI2 described with reference to FIG. The operation detection sensor 162 detects the user's operation on the operation area OPR described with reference to FIG. 4.

  Instead of touch panel display 160, a display device used exclusively for displaying operation image OIM and a plurality of notification images NI1, NI2 and an input device used exclusively for receiving user operations may be used.

  The CPU 110 executes a program for performing the process described with reference to FIG. The program may be stored in memory 140 in advance. Alternatively, the program may be called by CPU 110 from another storage medium.

  In step S110 described with reference to FIG. 1, the program causes the CPU 110 to read the information in the first storage area 141 and the information in the second storage area 142. In addition, the program causes the CPU 110 to acquire information on the outside air temperature. The CPU 110 may obtain information on the outside air temperature through the data communication device 130. Alternatively, the CPU 110 may acquire information on the outside air temperature from the information acquisition device 150.

  From the information read from the first storage area 141, the CPU 110 can find that the user has set the air conditioners AC1, AC2, and AC3 as operation candidate devices receiving remote control (see FIG. 2). . The CPU 110 can find out, from the information read out from the second storage area 142, information on the temperature set as the start condition for starting the remote control with respect to the air conditioners AC1, AC2, AC3.

  The program causes the CPU 110 to compare the information on the outside air temperature with the information on the temperature set as the start condition. As a result, the CPU 110 can determine to treat the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 as the operation target devices.

  In step S120 described with reference to FIG. 1, the program causes the CPU 110 to acquire information on the position of the vehicle VC from the information acquisition device 150. The program causes the CPU 110 to read the information on the location of the building HM from the memory 140. The program then causes CPU 110 to compare the information on the location of vehicle VC with the information on the location of building HM. As a result, the CPU 110 can determine whether the vehicle VC exists in the control region CR (see FIGS. 3A and 3B).

  If CPU 110 determines that vehicle VC is present in control region CR, the program causes CPU 110 to generate image data representing operation image OIM described with reference to FIG. 4 (see FIG. 1). Described in step S130). The image data is output from the CPU 110 to the touch panel display 160. The touch panel display 160 displays the operation image OIM on the display 161 according to the image data.

  When the user operates the operation area OPR in the operation image OIM, the operation detection sensor 162 generates a detection signal indicating that the user has operated the operation area OPR. The detection signal is output from the operation detection sensor 162 to the CPU 110.

  When the CPU 110 receives the detection signal, the program causes the CPU 110 to generate control data (step S140 described with reference to FIG. 1). Control data is output from the CPU 110 to the data communication device 130. Thereafter, as described with reference to FIG. 5, control data is transmitted to the air conditioners AC1 and AC2 through the network NTW.

  The network NTW sends notification data as described with reference to FIG. The data communication device 130 receives the notification data. The notification data is output from the data communication device 130 to the CPU 110.

  When the CPU 110 receives the notification data, the program causes the CPU 110 to generate image data representing the notification images NI1 and NI2. The image data is output from the CPU 110 to the touch panel display 160. Touch panel display 160 displays notification images NI1 and NI2 on display 161 (step S150 described with reference to FIG. 1).

Third Embodiment
As described in the context of the first embodiment, the user sets a plurality of operation candidate devices in order to specify the operation target device. In addition, the user sets, for each of the plurality of operation candidate devices, a temperature that defines the start condition of the remote control. In a third embodiment, an exemplary method for setting multiple operation candidate devices and start conditions is described.

  8A-8F illustrate exemplary images that a user may use to set multiple operation candidate devices and remote operation start conditions. An exemplary method for setting multiple operation candidate devices and start conditions is described with reference to FIGS. 7-8F.

  When the application program is installed in the communication terminal 100, the icon ICN shown in FIG. 8A is displayed on the display 161. When the user double-clicks on the icon ICN, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8B.

  The image shown in FIG. 8B includes two input windows WD01, WD02 and two icon buttons IB01, IB02. The image shown in FIG. 8B is used to authenticate the user. A unique identification number is assigned in advance to the user. In addition, the user presets a password for using the application program. Therefore, a third party can not use the application program without permission.

  The user inputs the identification number into the input window WD01. In addition, the user inputs a password into the input window WD02. Thereafter, when the user presses the icon button IB01, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8C. If the user presses the icon button IB02, the display 161 redisplays the image shown in FIG. 8A.

  The image shown in FIG. 8C includes seven icon buttons IB03, IB04, IB05, IB06, IB07, IB08, IB09. The five icon buttons IB03, IB04, IB05, IB06, and IB07 respectively indicate a plurality of air conditioners owned by the user. FIG. 8C shows that the user has five air conditioners.

  One of the five air conditioners is installed in the living room. The other one of the five air conditioners is installed in the kitchen room. The other one of the five air conditioners is installed in the bedroom. The other one of the five air conditioners is located in one of the two children's rooms. The remaining one of the five air conditioners is installed in the other children's room. The user can operate the five icon buttons IB03, IB04, IB05, IB06, IB07, respectively, to give various settings to each of the five air conditioners. When the user presses icon button IB03, display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8D. As a result, the user can set the operation of the air conditioner installed in the living room.

  The image shown in FIG. 8D includes four icon buttons IB10, IB11, IB12, IB13. When the user presses icon button IB11, display 161 displays an image (see FIG. 8E) for the user to select one of settings relating to on-recommendation processing and settings relating to off-recommendation processing. In the following description, the term "off recommendation process" means a process for stopping the air conditioner by remote control from the communication terminal 100.

  The image shown in FIG. 8E includes three icon buttons IB14, IB15, IB16. When the user presses the icon button IB14, an image (see FIG. 8F) for setting a plurality of operation candidate devices and a start condition is displayed.

  The image shown in FIG. 8F includes two display windows WD03, WD04, and six icon buttons IB17, IB18, IB19, IB20, IB21, IB22. Display window WD03 displays the above-mentioned lower limit temperature. When the user presses the icon button IB17, the value of the lower limit temperature increases. When the user presses the icon button IB18, the value of the lower limit temperature decreases. Display window WD04 displays the above-described upper limit temperature. When the user presses the icon button IB19, the value of the upper limit temperature increases. When the user presses the icon button IB20, the value of the upper limit temperature decreases. Therefore, the user can set the start condition by operating the icon buttons IB17, IB18, IB19, and IB20. FIG. 8F shows that the air conditioner in the living room is activated according to the remote control from the communication terminal 100 when the outside air temperature becomes 15 ° C. or lower, or when the outside air temperature becomes 25 ° C. or higher.

  The user can use the image shown in FIG. 8F to determine operation candidate devices as well as the start conditions. If the user presses the icon button IB21, the air conditioner in the living room is registered as the operation candidate device. If the user does not press the icon button IB21, the air conditioner in the living room is not treated as an operation candidate device.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of touch panel display 160 when the image shown in FIG. 8E is displayed. The schematic processing of the touch panel display 160 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8D to 9.

(Step S210)
In step S210, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8E. As a result, the user is required to make settings regarding on-recommendation processing or settings regarding off-recommendation processing. Thereafter, step S220 is performed.

(Step S220)
At step S220, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has requested display of the previously displayed image (ie, the image shown in FIG. 8D). If the user presses the icon button IB16, step S230 is performed. Otherwise, step S240 is performed.

(Step S230)
In step S230, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8D. Thereafter, the user performs a predetermined operation on the image shown in FIG. 8D.

(Step S240)
In step S240, the touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has requested the setting regarding the on-recommendation processing. If the user presses the icon button IB14, step S250 is performed. Otherwise, step S260 is performed.

(Step S250)
In step S250, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8F. Thereafter, the user performs a predetermined operation on the image shown in FIG. 8F.

(Step S260)
In step S260, the touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has requested the setting regarding the off-recommendation process. If the user presses the icon button IB15, step S270 is performed. Otherwise, step S210 is performed.

(Step S270)
In step S270, the display 161 displays an image for setting for the off-recommendation process. The user performs predetermined settings on the image for performing settings relating to the off-recommendation process.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of touch panel display 160 when the image shown in FIG. 8F is displayed. A schematic process of the touch panel display 160 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8E to 10.

(Step S310)
Step S310 is performed after step S250 described with reference to FIG. In step S310, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8F. Thereafter, step S320 is performed.

(Step S320)
At step S320, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has requested display of the previously displayed image (ie, the image shown in FIG. 8E). If the user presses the icon button IB22, step S330 is performed. Otherwise, step S340 is performed.

(Step S330)
In step S330, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8E. Thereafter, the user performs a predetermined operation according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

(Step S340)
In step S340, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user is trying to adjust the upper limit temperature. If the user wants to adjust the upper temperature limit, the user presses the icon button IB19 or the icon button IB20. Thereafter, step S350 is performed. Otherwise, step S360 is performed.

(Step S350)
In step S350, the display 161 updates the numerical values in the display window WD04 in response to the pressing of the icon button IB19 or the icon button IB20. Thereafter, step S360 is performed.

(Step S360)
In step S360, the touch panel display 160 determines whether the user is trying to adjust the lower limit temperature. If the user wants to adjust the lower temperature limit, the user presses the icon button IB17 or the icon button IB18. Thereafter, step S370 is performed. Otherwise, step S380 is performed.

(Step S370)
In step S370, the display 161 updates the numerical values in the display window WD03 in response to the pressing of the icon button IB17 or the icon button IB18. Thereafter, step S380 is executed.

(Step S380)
In step S380, it is determined whether the user is about to register the target air conditioner as an operation candidate device. If the user registers the target air conditioner as the operation candidate device, the user presses the icon button IB21. Thereafter, step S390 is executed. Otherwise, step S310 is performed.

(Step S390)
In step S390, the display 161 displays an image for setting for the off-recommendation process. The user performs predetermined settings on the image for performing settings relating to the off-recommendation process.

  FIG. 11 is a table representing setting data stored in the memory 140. The setting data stored in the memory 140 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 10 and 11.

  As a result of the process described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10, the memory 140 can store the setting data shown in FIG. FIG. 11 shows that the user sets the air conditioner installed in the living room, the kitchen room, the bedroom and the children's room (2) as the operation candidate equipment in step S380 described with reference to FIG. Indicates that the air conditioner installed in the room (1) is not set as the operation candidate device. Therefore, while the air conditioners installed in the living room, the kitchen room, the bedroom and the children's room (2) may be targets of remote control described in connection with the first embodiment, the air conditioning equipment in the children's room (2) The installed air conditioners are excluded from the remote control targets described in the context of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 11, the user sets the upper limit temperature to 25 ° C. for the air conditioners installed in the living room, the kitchen room and the children's room (2) in step S340 described with reference to FIG. The upper limit temperature is set to 30 ° C. for the air conditioner installed in the bedroom. Therefore, if the outside air temperature exceeds 25 ° C., the air conditioners installed in the living room, the kitchen room and the children's room (2) cool under the remote control described in connection with the first embodiment. Operate in mode. If the outside air temperature exceeds 30 ° C., all the air conditioners set as operation candidate devices operate in the cooling mode under the remote control described in the context of the first embodiment.

  In FIG. 11, the user sets the lower limit temperature to 10 ° C. for the air conditioners installed in the living room, the kitchen room and the children's room (2) in step S360 described with reference to FIG. The upper limit temperature is set to 5 ° C. for the air conditioner installed in the bedroom. Thus, if the outside air temperature falls below 10 ° C., the air conditioners installed in the living room, the kitchen room and the children's room (2) will heat up under the remote control described in connection with the first embodiment. Operate in mode. If the outside air temperature is below 5 ° C., all the air conditioners set as operation candidate devices operate in the heating mode under the remote control described in connection with the first embodiment.

Fourth Embodiment
As described in connection with the first embodiment, in order to determine whether a vehicle is present in the control area, the user sets the position of the target building. In a fourth embodiment, an exemplary method for setting the location of a building is described.

  FIG. 12 shows an exemplary image that the user utilizes to set the location of the building HM. An exemplary method for setting the position of the building HM will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 7, 8C and 12.

  The user can cause the display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 8C using the method described in the context of the third embodiment. When the user presses icon button IB08, display 161 displays the image shown in FIG.

  The image shown in FIG. 12 includes three icon buttons IB23, IB24, IB25. The user can press the icon button IB23 to set the position of the building HM. When the user presses icon button IB23, touch panel display 160 interlocks with the GPS device used as information acquisition device 150, and determines the position of communication terminal 100 when icon button IB23 is pressed as the position of building HM. You may

  The user can press the icon button IB24 to cancel the setting regarding the position of the building HM set as described above. If the user presses the icon button IB25, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8C.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of touch panel display 160 when the image shown in FIG. 12 is displayed. A schematic process of the touch panel display 160 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 7, 8C, 12 and 13.

(Step S410)
In step S410, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. Thereafter, step S420 is performed.

(Step S420)
At step S420, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has requested display of the previously displayed image (ie, the image shown in FIG. 8C). If the user presses the icon button IB25, step S430 is performed. Otherwise, step S440 is performed.

(Step S430)
In step S430, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8C. Thereafter, the user performs a predetermined operation on the image shown in FIG. 8C.

(Step S440)
In step S440, the touch panel display 160 determines whether the user requests setting of the position of the building HM. If the user wants to set the position of the building HM, the user presses the icon button IB23. Thereafter, step S450 is performed. Otherwise, step S460 is performed.

(Step S450)
In step S450, touch panel display 160 may register the position of communication terminal 100 when icon button IB23 is pressed as the position of building HM. Information on the position of the building HM is output from the touch panel display 160 to the memory 140. Thereafter, step S460 is performed.

(Step S460)
In step S460, the touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has requested cancellation of the setting regarding the position of the building HM. If the user wants to set the position of the building HM, the user presses the icon button IB24. Thereafter, step S470 is performed. Otherwise, step S410 is performed.

(Step S470)
In step S470, the CPU 110 erases the information on the position of the building HM from the memory 140. As a result, the setting of the position of the building HM is released properly. Thereafter, step S410 is performed.

Fifth Embodiment
As described in the context of the first embodiment, the communication terminal receives notification data from the air conditioner. If, in addition to the notification data, the communication terminal acquires operation data representing the state of operation of the air conditioner after receiving the control data, the user operates the air conditioner appropriately under the above-mentioned remote control. You can check if you In the fifth embodiment, a control system capable of transmitting the operation data representing the status of the operation of the air conditioner as notification data from the air conditioner to the communication terminal will be described.

  FIG. 14 is a conceptual view of a control system 200 in which the user includes the communication terminal 100. A control system 200 is described with reference to FIG.

  The control system 200 includes a server device 300 in addition to the communication terminal 100 described in the context of the first embodiment. Server apparatus 300 is communicably connected to communication terminal 100 through Internet communication network ITN. The control data described in the context of the first embodiment is transmitted from the communication terminal 100 to the server apparatus 300 via the Internet communication network ITN.

  Thereafter, the control data is transmitted from the server device 300 to the air conditioner group ACG through the Internet communication network ITN. The air conditioner group ACG includes a plurality of air conditioners installed in the building HM. Each of the plurality of air conditioners receiving the control data operates in accordance with the control data.

  Each of the plurality of air conditioners operating according to the control data generates notification data indicating that the control data has been received. Notification data indicating that control data has been received is transmitted from the air conditioner group ACG to the server 300 via the Internet communication network ITN. The server device 300 then transmits the notification data to the communication terminal 100.

  15A to 15D show exemplary images that the communication terminal 100 presents to the user. The image which communication terminal 100 presents to a user is explained with reference to Drawing 1, Drawing 4, Drawing 7, and Drawing 14-Drawing 15D.

  In step S130 described with reference to FIG. 1, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 15A. The image shown in FIG. 15A corresponds to the operation image OIM described with reference to FIG.

  The image shown in FIG. 15A includes two icon buttons IB26, IB27. Icon buttons IB26 and IB27 correspond to the operation area OPR described with reference to FIG.

  If the user presses icon button IB26, communication terminal 100 may interrupt the process shown in FIG. When the user presses icon button IB27, CPU 110 generates control data. As described with reference to FIG. 14, the control data is transmitted to the air conditioner group ACG through the server device 300 (step S140 of FIG. 1).

  The control data is received by the plurality of air conditioners identified as the operation target device in step S110 described with reference to FIG. Each of the plurality of air conditioners specified as the operation target device then generates notification data. As described with reference to FIG. 14, notification data is transmitted to the communication terminal 100 through the server device 300.

  When the communication terminal 100 receives notification data from each of the plurality of air conditioners specified as the operation target device, the display 161 sequentially displays the images shown in FIGS. 15B and 15C. FIG. 15B shows an image corresponding to the air conditioner installed in the living room. FIG. 15C shows an image corresponding to the air conditioner installed in the kitchen room.

  The image shown in FIG. 15B includes icon buttons IB28 and IB29. When the user presses the icon button IB28, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 15C. When the user presses the icon button IB29, the communication terminal 100 requests the air conditioner installed in the living room to notify of the operating status. The air conditioner installed in the living room generates operation data representing an operation situation. The operation data is then sent from the air conditioner installed in the living room to the communication terminal 100. As a result, the display 161 displays detailed information on the operation of the air conditioner installed in the living room (see FIG. 15D).

  The image shown in FIG. 15C includes icon buttons IB30 and IB31. When the user presses icon button IB30, communication terminal 100 ends the process shown in FIG. When the user presses the icon button IB31, the display 161 displays detailed information on the operation of the air conditioner installed in the kitchen room.

  The image shown in FIG. 15D shows detailed information on the operation of the air conditioner installed in the living room. The image shown in FIG. 15D represents that the air conditioner in the living room is operating in the cooling mode. The image shown in FIG. 15D includes information such as the set temperature, the set air volume, the set wind direction, the current temperature of the living room, and the current humidity of the living room. Therefore, the user can visually confirm that the air conditioner operating in the living room is operating properly.

  The image shown in FIG. 15D includes an icon button IB32. When the user presses the icon button IB32, the display 161 redisplays the image shown in FIG. 15B.

Sixth Embodiment
Typical air conditioning equipment can be operated in various operation modes (for example, cooling mode, heating mode, automatic mode and dehumidification mode). If the user can change the setting of each operation mode from the vehicle, the user can enjoy a comfortable environment from the time the user enters the building. In the sixth embodiment, a communication terminal is described which allows a user in a vehicle to change the setting of the operation mode of the air conditioner.

  16A and 16B show images that the communication terminal 100 presents to the user. With reference to FIGS. 7, 8C, 8D, 14, 15D, 16A, and 16B, the communication terminal 100 that allows changing the setting of the operation mode of the air conditioner is described.

  The user can cause the display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 8C using the method described in the context of the third embodiment. When the user presses icon button IB03, display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8D. If the user then presses the icon button IB10, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 16A.

  The image shown in FIG. 16A includes a setting area SR and three icon buttons IB33, IB34, and IB35. The setting area SR includes a first icon row FIC, a second icon row SIC, and a display window WD05. Each of the first icon row FIC and the second icon row SIC includes a plurality of icon buttons for changing the setting of the operation mode. The user can operate these icon buttons to change the setting of the operation mode. Information on setting of the operation mode is displayed on display window WD05. Therefore, the user can visually confirm the setting of the driving mode. Data relating to the setting of the operation mode is stored in the memory 140.

  When the user presses icon button IB33, information on setting of the operation mode is transmitted from communication terminal 100 to air conditioner group ACG through server device 300. As a result, the target air conditioner changes the setting of the operation mode.

  When the user presses the icon button IB34, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 15D. When the user presses the icon button IB35, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8D again.

  When the target air conditioner receives the information on the setting of the operation mode, the target air conditioner generates notification data indicating that data transmission from the communication terminal 100 has been appropriately performed. The notification data is transmitted from the air conditioner group ACG to the communication terminal 100 through the server device 300. As a result, the data communication device 130 receives the notification data.

  When the data communication device 130 receives the notification data, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 16B. As a result, the user can confirm that the communication of the information on the setting of the operation mode has been properly performed.

  The image shown in FIG. 16B includes two icon buttons IB36 and IB37. When the user presses icon button IB 36, display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 15D. When the user presses the icon button IB37, the display 161 redisplays the image shown in FIG. 16A.

  FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of the communication terminal 100 when the image shown in FIG. 8C is displayed. A schematic process of the communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8B, 8C, 11, 13 and 17.

(Step S505)
When the user inputs an identification number and a password on the image shown in FIG. 8B, step S505 is started. In step S505, the CPU 110 executes the processing for reading out the data described with reference to FIG. 11 from the memory 140. Thereafter, step S510 is performed.

(Step S510)
In step S510, CPU 110 determines whether or not the data described with reference to FIG. 11 has been properly read. If the CPU 110 fails to read data, step S515 is executed. Otherwise, step S520 is performed.

(Step S515)
In step S515, the CPU 110 causes the display 161 to display an error image indicating that the data has not been read properly. Thereafter, step S505 is performed.

(Step S520)
In step S520, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display the image described with reference to FIG. 8C. Thereafter, step S525 is performed.

(Step S525)
In step S525, the user presses one of the icon buttons IB03 to IB09 on the image described with reference to FIG. 8C. Thereafter, step S530 is executed.

(Step S530)
In step S530, touch panel display 160 determines whether or not icon button IB09 has been pressed. If the user has pressed the icon button IB09, step S535 is executed. Otherwise, step S540 is performed.

(Step S535)
In step S535, touch panel display 160 generates a notification signal indicating that icon button IB09 has been pressed. The notification signal is output from touch panel display 160 to CPU 110. The CPU 110 executes a predetermined background operation in response to the notification signal, and ends the process.

(Step S540)
In step S540, touch panel display 160 determines whether any one of icon button IB03 to icon button IB07 has been pressed or whether icon button IB08 has been pressed. If the user has pressed any one of the icon buttons IB03 to IB07, step S545 is executed. Otherwise, step S550 is performed.

(Step S545)
In step S545, the display 161 displays an operation selection screen for the air conditioner corresponding to the pressed icon button (one of the icon button IB03 to the icon button IB07). FIG. 8D shows an image displayed by the display 161 when the icon button IB03 is pressed.

(Step S550)
In step S550, the process described with reference to FIG. 13 is performed.

  FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of the communication terminal 100 when the image shown in FIG. 8D is displayed. The schematic processing of the communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8C to 8E, 14, 15D, 16A, 17 and 18.

(Step S605)
When step S545 described with reference to FIG. 17 is started, step S605 is performed. In step S605, touch panel display 160 determines whether or not the user has pressed icon button IB13 (see FIG. 8D). If the user has pressed the icon button IB13, step S610 is executed. Otherwise, step S615 is performed.

(Step S610)
In step S610, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8C. The user then performs a predetermined operation according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

(Step S615)
In step S615, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has pressed icon button IB10 (see FIG. 8D). If the user wishes to change the setting of the operating mode described with reference to FIG. 16A, the user presses the icon button IB10. Thereafter, step S620 is performed. Otherwise, step S625 is performed.

(Step S620)
In step S620, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 16A. Thereafter, the user changes the setting of the driving mode on the image shown in FIG. 16A.

(Step S625)
In step S625, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has pressed icon button IB11 (see FIG. 8D). If the user wants to execute the processing such as registration of the operation target device described in the context of the third embodiment, the user presses the icon button IB11. Thereafter, step S630 is performed. Otherwise, step S635 is performed.

(Step S630)
In step S630, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8E. If the user presses the icon button IB14, the user can register the operation target device described in the context of the third embodiment for the on-recommendation process. If the user presses the icon button IB15, the user can execute registration processing for the off-recommendation processing.

(Step S635)
In step S635, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has pressed icon button IB12 (see FIG. 8D). If the user wants to check the operating condition of the air conditioner, the user presses the icon button IB12. Thereafter, step S640 is performed. Otherwise, step S605 is performed.

(Step S640)
In step S640, touch panel display 160 generates a notification signal indicating that the user has pressed icon button IB12. The notification signal is output from touch panel display 160 to CPU 110. The CPU 110 generates a request signal for requesting notification of the operation status in response to the notification signal. The request signal is output from the CPU 110 to the data communication device 130. Thereafter, the request signal is transmitted from the data communication device 130 through the server device 300 to the air conditioner group ACG. Thereafter, step S645 is performed.

(Step S645)
If the air conditioner receives the request signal properly, the air conditioner generates operating data. Thereafter, as described with reference to FIG. 14, the operation data is transmitted to the communication terminal 100 through the server device 300. In this case, the data communication apparatus 130 notifies the CPU 110 of the reception of the operation data. Thereafter, step S650 is performed. If the air conditioner does not properly receive the request signal, or if the operation data is not properly transmitted, step S655 is performed.

(Step S650)
In step S650, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 15D. As a result, the user can visually confirm the operating condition of the air conditioner.

(Step S655)
In step S655, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display an error image indicating that the communication of operation data has failed. Thereafter, step S605 is performed.

  FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of the communication terminal 100 when the image shown in FIG. 16A is displayed. A schematic process of the communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8D, 14, 15D, 16A, 16B, 18 and 19.

(Step S705)
When step S620 described with reference to FIG. 18 is started, step S705 is performed. In step S705, the CPU 110 requests the memory 140 for the information previously set for the operation mode. Thereafter, step S710 is performed.

(Step S710)
If the memory 140 does not store information previously set for the operation mode, step S715 is executed. If the memory 140 stores information previously set for the operation mode, the CPU 110 can acquire the information previously set for the operation mode. Thereafter, step S720 is performed.

(Step S715)
In step S715, the CPU 110 sets a default value. The CPU 110 generates image data using default values. Image data is output from the CPU 110 to the touch panel display 160. The touch panel display 160 displays the image shown in FIG. 16A on the display 161. In this case, an image represented by the default value is displayed in the display window WD05. Thereafter, step S720 is performed.

(Step S720)
In step S720, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 16A. In this case, an image created on the basis of the information set previously for the operation mode is displayed in the display window WD05.

(Step S725)
In step S725, the user operates the first icon row FIC and / or the second icon row SIC to change the setting for the exercise mode. Thereafter, step S730 is performed.

(Step S730)
In step S730, the display 161 displays the updated setting of the operation mode. Thereafter, step S735 is executed.

(Step S735)
In step S735, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has pressed icon button IB35. If the user has pressed the icon button IB35, step S740 is performed. Otherwise, step S745 is performed.

(Step S740)
In step S740, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8D. The user then performs a predetermined operation according to the flow chart described with reference to FIG.

(Step S745)
In step S745, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has pressed icon button IB33. If the user has pressed the icon button IB33, step S750 is executed. Otherwise, step S770 is performed.

(Step S750)
In step S 750, CPU 110 transmits, from data communication device 130, information set by the user using touch panel display 160. Thereafter, step S755 is executed.

(Step S755)
In step S755, if the air conditioner receives the information set by the user using touch panel display 160 from data communication device 130, the air conditioner generates notification data indicating that the information has been properly transmitted. . The notification data is transmitted from the air conditioner group ACG to the communication terminal 100 through the server device 300. If the data communication device 130 receives the notification data, the CPU 110 determines that the communication of the information set by the user using the touch panel display 160 is successful. In this case, step S760 is performed. Otherwise, step S765 is performed.

(Step S760)
In step S760, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 16B. The user performs a predetermined operation on the image shown in FIG. 16B.

(Step S765)
In step S765, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display an error image indicating that the communication of the information set by the user using touch panel display 160 has failed. Thereafter, step S705 is executed.

(Step S770)
In step S 770, touch panel display 160 determines whether or not the user has pressed icon button IB 34 (see FIG. 16A). If the user has pressed the icon button IB34, step S775 is performed. Otherwise, step S705 is performed.

(Step S775)
In step S775, the CPU 110 generates a request signal for requesting operation information. The request signal is output from the CPU 110 to the data communication device 130. The data communication device 130 transmits a request signal. Thereafter, step S780 is executed.

(Step S780)
If the air conditioning device receives a request signal from the data communication device 130, the air conditioning device generates operation data representing an operating condition. As described with reference to FIG. 14, the operation data is transmitted from the air conditioner group ACG to the communication terminal 100 through the server device 300. If the data communication device 130 receives the operation data, the CPU 110 determines that the communication of the request signal is successful. In this case, step S785 is performed. Otherwise, step S790 is performed.

(Step S785)
In step S 785, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 15D. The user performs a predetermined operation on the image shown in FIG. 15D.

(Step S790)
In step S 790, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display an error image indicating that the operation status request process has failed. Thereafter, step S705 is executed.

  FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of the communication terminal 100 when the image shown in FIG. 16B is displayed. The schematic processing of the communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 14, 15D, 16A, 16B, 19 and 20.

(Step S810)
When step S760 described with reference to FIG. 19 is started, step S810 is performed. In step S810, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 16B. Thereafter, step S820 is performed.

(Step S820)
In step S820, touch panel display 160 determines whether or not the user has pressed icon button IB37 (see FIG. 16B). If the user has pressed the icon button IB37, step S830 is executed. Otherwise, step S840 is performed.

(Step S830)
In step S830, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 16A. The user then performs a predetermined operation according to the flowchart described with reference to FIG.

(Step S840)
In step S 840, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has pressed icon button IB 36 or not. If the user has pressed the icon button IB36, step S850 is executed. Otherwise, step S810 is performed.

(Step S850)
In step S850, CPU 110 generates a request signal for requesting operation information. The request signal is output from the CPU 110 to the data communication device 130. The data communication device 130 transmits a request signal. Thereafter, step S860 is performed.

(Step S860)
If the air conditioning device receives a request signal from the data communication device 130, the air conditioning device generates operation data representing an operating condition. As described with reference to FIG. 14, the operation data is transmitted from the air conditioner group ACG to the communication terminal 100 through the server device 300. If the data communication device 130 receives the operation data, the CPU 110 determines that the communication of the request signal is successful. In this case, step S870 is performed. Otherwise, step S 880 is performed.

(Step S870)
In step S870, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 15D. The user performs a predetermined operation on the image shown in FIG. 15D.

(Step S 880)
In step S 880, CPU 110 causes display 161 to display an error image indicating that the operation status request process has failed. Thereafter, step S810 is performed.

  FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a schematic process of the communication terminal 100 when the image shown in FIG. 15D is displayed. A schematic process of the communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8D, 15B to 16B, and 21.

(Step S910)
When the icon button IB12 shown in FIG. 8D, the icon button IB29 shown in FIG. 15B, the icon button IB31 shown in FIG. 15C, the icon button IB34 shown in FIG. 16A or the icon button IB36 shown in FIG. Step S910 is executed. In step S910, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 15D. Thereafter, step S920 is performed.

(Step S920)
In step S920, touch panel display 160 determines whether the user has pressed icon button IB37. If the user has pressed the icon button IB37, step S930 is executed. Otherwise, step S910 is performed.

(Step S930)
In step S930, the display 161 displays one of the images shown in FIG. 8D, FIG. 15B, FIG. 15C, FIG. 16A or FIG. 16B. The user then performs a predetermined operation on the displayed image.

Seventh Embodiment
The application program described in the context of the third embodiment requires processing for authenticating the user each time the user launches the application program. The user may find the input operation for the authentication process troublesome. In the seventh embodiment, an application program is described which allows the user to omit the input operation for the authentication process.

  22A and 22B illustrate exemplary images displayed on display 161 when the user uses an application program. The application program is described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 8C, 22A and 22B.

  When the user double-clicks on the icon ICN in the image shown in FIG. 8A, the display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 22A. Similar to the image shown in FIG. 8B, the image shown in FIG. 22A includes input windows WD01, WD02 and icon buttons IB01, IB02.

  The image shown in FIG. 22A includes an icon button IB38 and a check box CBX. When the user presses the icon button IB38, the display 161 displays an explanation on the operation on the image shown in FIG. 22A. Therefore, the user can easily use the application program. When the user checks the check box CBX, the user can cause the display 161 to display the image shown in FIG. 22B without displaying the image shown in FIG. 22A in the subsequent use. That is, the display 161 can change the display image directly from the image shown in FIG. 8A to the image shown in FIG. 22B.

  In addition to the icon buttons in the image shown in FIG. 8C, the image shown in FIG. 22B includes a scroll bar SRB and an icon button IB39 for instructing the user to log out. If the user owns a large number of air conditioners, the user can operate the scroll bar SRB to display an icon button representing the target air conditioner on the display 161. The user can press the icon button IB39 to end the application program.

Eighth Embodiment
Unlike the setting change to the operation mode of the air conditioner and the confirmation of the operating condition of the air conditioner, the setting of the air conditioner (setting for specifying the operation candidate device) described in relation to the third embodiment is frequently performed It does not happen. Therefore, the icon button used for setting for identifying the operation candidate device belongs to a category different from the icon button used for changing the setting of the operation mode of the air conditioner and the icon button used for confirming the operation state. The application program may be designed to be visually recognized by the user. In the eighth embodiment, the icon button used for setting for identifying the operation candidate device is the icon button used for changing the setting of the operation mode of the air conditioner and the icon button used for confirming the operation status An application program is described that can allow a user to visually identify as belonging to different categories.

  FIG. 23 shows an exemplary image displayed on display 161 when a user uses an application program. The application program is described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8D, 8E and 23.

  Similar to the image shown in FIG. 8D, the image shown in FIG. 23 includes icon buttons IB10, IB12, IB13. The image shown in FIG. 23 includes an icon button IB40 instead of the icon button IB11 in the image shown in FIG. 8D. The icon button IB40 is displayed below the icon buttons IB10 and IB12. In addition, the icon button IB40 is different in shape and size from the icon buttons IB10 and IB12. Since the text “initial setting” is attached on the icon button IB40, the user can visually recognize that the icon button IB40 does not need to be used frequently. When the user presses icon button IB40, display 161 displays the image shown in FIG. 8E.

The Ninth Embodiment
The application program may be designed so that the user can set the operation candidate device and cancel the setting on one screen. In the ninth embodiment, an application program that allows the user to perform setting of the operation candidate device and cancellation of the setting on one screen is described.

  FIG. 24 shows an exemplary image displayed on display 161 when the user uses an application program. The application program is described with reference to FIGS. 7, 8F, 11, and 24.

  Similar to the image shown in FIG. 8F, the image shown in FIG. 24 includes display windows WD03 and WD04, and icon buttons IB17, IB18, IB19, IB20, and IB22. The image shown in FIG. 24 includes icon buttons IB41 and IB42 instead of the icon button IB21 in the image shown in FIG. 8F. When the user presses the icon button IB41, the target air conditioner is registered as the operation candidate device. The fact that the target air conditioner has been registered as the operation candidate device is stored in the memory 140. When the user presses the icon button IB42, registration of the target air conditioner as an operation candidate device is cancelled. In this case, the data (see FIG. 11) stored in the memory 140 is updated so that the registration of the target air conditioner as the operation candidate device is cancelled.

Tenth Embodiment
As described in connection with the fourth embodiment, the user can register the position of the target building using the application program. The application program may allow the user to set not only the position of the target building but also the control range surrounding the position of the target building. In the tenth embodiment, an application program is described which allows the user to set not only the position of the target building but also the control range.

  FIG. 25 illustrates an exemplary image displayed on display 161 when the user uses an application program. The application program is described with reference to FIGS. 3A, 7, 12 and 25.

  Similar to the image shown in FIG. 12, the image shown in FIG. 25 includes icon buttons IB23, IB24, IB25. The image shown in FIG. 25 further includes icon buttons IB43 and IB44 and a display window WD06.

  The user can operate the icon buttons IB43 and IB44 to set a circular control area CR centered on the position of the building HM. The radius of the control area CR is displayed in the display window WD06.

  Thereafter, when the user presses the icon button IB23, the information representing the position of the building HM and the information of the circular control area CR centered on the building HM are stored in the memory 140. When the user presses the icon button IB24, the information representing the position of the building HM and the information of the circular control area CR centered on the building HM are erased from the memory 140.

Eleventh Embodiment
The communication terminal described in the context of the fifth embodiment displays an image for confirming once whether the user performs remote operation or not. If the communication terminal requires the user to make a plurality of confirmations as to whether or not to execute the remote control, the remote control against the user's will is less likely to occur. In the eleventh embodiment, a communication terminal which asks the user for a plurality of confirmations as to whether or not to execute the remote control is described.

  26A to 26D show exemplary images that the communication terminal 100 presents to the user. Communication terminal 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 14, 15B, and 26A to 26D.

  As in the fifth embodiment, the communication terminal 100 presents the image shown in FIG. 26A to the user. When the user presses icon button IB26, communication terminal 100 presents the image shown in FIG. 26B to the user.

  The image shown in FIG. 26B includes two icon buttons IB45 and IB46. When the user presses icon button IB45, communication terminal 100 transmits control data. When the user presses icon button IB46, communication terminal 100 interrupts the process. Control data is transmitted only when the user presses the icon button IB26 in the image shown in FIG. 26A and then presses the icon button IB45 in the image shown in FIG. 26B. Therefore, remote control against the user's will is less likely to occur.

  When communication terminal 100 receives notification data representing the receipt of control data of the air conditioner, communication terminal 100 presents the image shown in FIG. 26C to the user. Similar to the image shown in FIG. 15B, the image shown in FIG. 26C includes an icon button IB29. Unlike the image shown in FIG. 15B, the icon button IB28 is excluded from the image shown in FIG. 26B.

  When the user presses icon button IB29, communication terminal 100 presents the image shown in FIG. 26D to the user. Even if the user does not press icon button IB29, communication terminal 100 presents the user with the image shown in FIG. 26D after a predetermined period has elapsed since the display of the image shown in FIG. 26C. Therefore, the user can confirm the operating condition of the target air conditioner.

Twelfth Embodiment
The designer can design a communication terminal having various functions based on the design principle of the communication terminal described in the context of the second embodiment. In a twelfth embodiment, an exemplary communication terminal is described.

  FIG. 27 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary functional configuration of the communication terminal 100A of the twelfth embodiment. An exemplary functional configuration of communication terminal 100A will be described with reference to FIGS. 7, 11, 14 and 27.

  Communication terminal 100A includes control unit 111, determination unit 112, first acquisition unit 113, communication unit 131, first storage unit 143, second storage unit 144, second acquisition unit 151, and display unit. And an input unit 164. Control unit 111 generally controls the operation of communication terminal 100A. Therefore, the determination unit 112, the first acquisition unit 113, the communication unit 131, the first storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, the second acquisition unit 151, the display unit 163, and the input unit 164 are under the control of the control unit 111. Perform a predetermined operation.

  The control unit 111, the determination unit 112, and the first acquisition unit 113 correspond to the CPU 110 described with reference to FIG. The determination unit 112 executes a determination process performed by the CPU 110. The first acquisition unit 113 generates a request signal for requesting the air conditioner to operate.

  The communication unit 131 corresponds to the data communication device 130 described with reference to FIG. 7. The communication unit 131 transmits various signals (for example, the request signal generated by the first acquisition unit 113) to the server device 300 described with reference to FIG. In addition, the communication unit 131 receives various signals (for example, operation data generated in response to a request signal) from the server apparatus 300.

  The first storage unit 143 and the second storage unit 144 correspond to the memory 140 described with reference to FIG. 7. The first storage unit 143 stores the data described with reference to FIG. The second storage unit 144 stores information on the position of the building HM set by the user, using the method described in the context of the fourth embodiment.

  The second acquisition unit 151 corresponds to the information acquisition device 150 described with reference to FIG. 7. The second acquisition unit 151 acquires information on the position of the vehicle. The second acquisition unit 151 may be a GPS device of a car navigation system generally mounted on a vehicle. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific device used as the second acquisition unit 151.

  The display unit 163 and the input unit 164 correspond to the touch panel display 160 described with reference to FIG. 7. The display unit 163 corresponds to the display 161 described with reference to FIG. 7. The display unit 163 may be a display of a car navigation system. Alternatively, the display unit 163 may be a display of a smartphone or another portable terminal. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific device used as the display unit 163.

  The input unit 164 may be integrally formed with the display unit 163. In this case, the input unit 164 corresponds to the operation detection sensor 162. Alternatively, the input unit 164 may be a different device from the display unit 163. Thus, the input unit 164 may be a keyboard, a mouse device or another input device. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited to a specific device used as the input unit 164.

13th Embodiment
As described in the context of the fifth embodiment, the communication terminal communicates various signals with the server device. In the thirteenth embodiment, an exemplary server device is described.

  FIG. 28 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary functional configuration of the server device 300A of the thirteenth embodiment. An exemplary functional configuration of the server device 300A will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3A, 3B, 14, 15A, 27 and 28.

  The server device 300A can be used as the server device 300 described with reference to FIG. The server apparatus 300A is designed to communicate various signals with the communication terminal 100A described with reference to FIG.

  The server device 300A includes a control unit 310, a communication unit 320, a notification unit 330, and an estimation unit 340. Control unit 310 generally controls the operation of server apparatus 300A. Therefore, the communication unit 320, the notification unit 330, and the estimation unit 340 perform predetermined operations under the control of the control unit 310.

  The communication unit 320 of the server device 300A receives control data from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A. The communication unit 320 transmits control data to the air conditioner group ACG. The air conditioners of the air conditioner group ACG that received the control data generate notification data representing the reception of the control data. Notification data representing reception of control data is transmitted from the air conditioner of the air conditioner group ACG to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A. The communication unit 320 of the server device 300A transmits notification data indicating reception of control data to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A.

  If the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A does not receive notification data representing reception of control data for a predetermined period after transmission of control data to the air conditioner group ACG, the control unit 310 sends notification data to the notification unit 330. To generate The notification data generated by the control unit 310 indicates that communication of control data has failed. The notification data is output from the notification unit 330 of the server device 300A to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A. The communication unit 320 of the server device 300A transmits notification data to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A.

  The control unit 111 of the communication terminal 100A reads out information on the position of the building HM from the second storage unit 144. Information on the position of the building HM is output from the control unit 111 of the communication terminal 100A to the communication unit 131. Information on the position of the building HM is thereafter transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A. Information on the position of the building HM is output from the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A to the estimation unit 340. Therefore, the estimation unit 340 can obtain information on the position of the building HM.

  The second acquisition unit 151 of the communication terminal 100A generates position data representing the position of the vehicle VC. The position data is output from the second acquisition unit 151 to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A. The communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A transmits the position data to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A. The position data is then output from the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A to the estimation unit 340. Therefore, the estimation unit 340 can acquire not only the information on the position of the building HM and the information on the control area CR, but also the information on the position of the vehicle VC.

  The estimation unit 340 can grasp whether the vehicle VC is moving away from or approaching the building HM using the information on the position of the building HM and the information on the position of the vehicle VC. If the vehicle VC leaves the building HM, the estimation unit 340 can estimate that the destination of the vehicle VC is not the building HM. If the vehicle VC approaches from the building HM, it can be estimated that the destination of the vehicle VC is the building HM. The trigger signal is output from the estimation unit 340 to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A.

  The communication unit 320 of the server device 300A transmits a trigger signal to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A. After the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100A receives the trigger signal, the control unit 111 of the communication terminal 100A causes the display unit 163 to display the image shown in FIG. 15A. That is, communication terminal 100A switches the process described with reference to FIG. 1 from step S120 to step S130 according to the trigger signal.

Fourteenth Embodiment
As described in connection with the fifth embodiment, the air conditioner communicates various signals with the server device. In a fourteenth embodiment, an exemplary air conditioner is described.

  FIG. 29 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary functional configuration of the air conditioner 400A of the fourteenth embodiment. An exemplary functional configuration of the air conditioner 400A will be described with reference to FIGS. 14, 28 and 29.

  The air conditioner 400A can be used as the air conditioner of the air conditioner group ACG described with reference to FIG. The air conditioner 400A is designed to communicate various signals with the server device 300A described with reference to FIG.

  The air conditioner 400A includes a control unit 410, a communication unit 420, a temperature data generation unit 430, an operation unit 440, an operation data generation unit 450, and a notification unit 460. Control unit 410 controls the overall operation of air conditioner 400A. Therefore, the communication unit 420, the temperature data generation unit 430, the operation unit 440, the operation data generation unit 450, and the notification unit 460 perform predetermined operations under the control of the control unit 410.

  The communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives control data from the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A. Control unit 410 causes operation unit 440 to execute the operation defined by the control data. The operation data generation unit 450 generates operation data representing an operation state of the operation unit 440. The operation data is output from the operation data generation unit 450 to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A. The communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A transmits the operation data to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A.

  The temperature data generation unit 430 measures the temperature around the air conditioner 400A. The temperature data generation unit 430 generates temperature data representing the measured temperature. Temperature data is also transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A.

  Notification unit 460 generates notification data for notifying that control data has been received by air conditioner 400A. The notification data is output from the notification unit 460 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A. The communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A transmits the notification data to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A.

The fifteenth embodiment
The control region described in the context of the first embodiment may not be defined along the travel path of the vehicle. Thus, the vehicle may travel along the boundary of the control area. In this case, the vehicle may enter the control area multiple times. If the communication terminal inquires whether or not remote control is necessary every time the control region is entered multiple times, the user may feel bothered with frequent inquiries from the communication terminal. In the fifteenth embodiment, a communication terminal that does not inquire too frequently about whether remote control is necessary is described.

  FIG. 30 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary functional configuration of a communication terminal 100B of the fifteenth embodiment. An exemplary functional configuration of the communication terminal 100B will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 7, 15A, 15D, 28 and 30. The reference numeral commonly used between the twelfth embodiment and the fifteenth embodiment means that the element to which the common reference numeral is attached has the same function as that of the twelfth embodiment. Therefore, the description of the twelfth embodiment is incorporated into these elements.

  As in the twelfth embodiment, the communication terminal 100B includes the first acquisition unit 113, the communication unit 131, the first storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, the second acquisition unit 151, and the display unit 163. , And the input unit 164. The description of the twelfth embodiment applies to these elements.

  The communication terminal 100B further includes a control unit 111B, a determination unit 112B, and a clock unit 114. The control unit 111 </ b> B and the clock unit 114 correspond to the CPU 110 described with reference to FIG. 7.

  Control unit 111B controls the overall operation of communication terminal 100B. Therefore, the determination unit 112B, the first acquisition unit 113, the clock unit 114, the communication unit 131, the first storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, the second acquisition unit 151, the display unit 163, and the input unit 164 Perform predetermined operations under the control of

  The control unit 111B activates the timer unit 114 from the time when the display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 15A. The clock unit 114 may be a timer that operates only for a predetermined period TP.

  If the timer is activated when the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B receives the trigger generated by the estimation unit 340 of the server device 300A, the determination unit 112B displays the image shown in FIG. 15A. It may be determined that it is not necessary. Therefore, communication terminal 100B ends the process without performing step S130 described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 31 is a conceptual view of a vehicle VC traveling near the boundary of the control region CR. Communication terminal 100B is further described with reference to FIGS. 15A, 30, and 31.

  Vehicle VC shown in FIG. 31 enters control region CR at time t0. Thereafter, the vehicle VC escapes from the control region CR, and enters the control region CR again at time t1. If the difference between time t1 and time t0 is less than the threshold period defined by the clock unit 114, the display unit 163 does not display the image shown in FIG. 15A at time t1. If the difference between time t1 and time t0 exceeds the threshold period defined by the timing unit 114, the display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 15A.

  FIG. 32 is a schematic flowchart showing processing performed by the communication terminal 100B. The operation of communication terminal 100B will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 30, and 32.

(Step S1110)
In step S1110, the communication terminal 100B executes a series of processes (on-recommend process) described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, step S1120 is executed.

(Step S1120)
In step S1120, communication terminal 100B stands by for a fixed time. Thereafter, step S1110 is performed.

Sixteenth Embodiment
The communication terminal described in connection with the fifteenth embodiment can operate in accordance with the operation principle described in connection with the first embodiment. In the sixteenth embodiment, the operation of the communication terminal is described.

  FIG. 33 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary operation of the communication terminal 100B. Exemplary operations of communication terminal 100B are described with reference to FIGS. 1, 15A, 30, and 33.

(Step S1210)
In step S1210, the communication terminal 100B performs on-recommendation determination processing. The on-recommendation determination process corresponds to steps S110 and S120 described with reference to FIG. After the on-recommendation determination process, step S1220 is executed.

(Step S1220)
In step S1220, the communication terminal 100B executes an image display determination process. The image display determination process is used to determine whether the image shown in FIG. 15A is displayed. After the image display determination process, step S1230 is executed.

(Step S1230)
In step S1230, if the image shown in FIG. 15A is displayed, step S1240 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1240)
In step S1240, the user determines whether to perform remote control. If the user presses the icon button IB26 shown in FIG. 15A, the on-recommendation process ends. If the user presses the icon button IB27 shown in FIG. 15A, a remote control process is performed. The remote control process corresponds to steps S130 to S150 described with reference to FIG.

Seventeenth Embodiment
In the on-recommendation determination process described in the context of the sixteenth embodiment, the communication device cooperates with the server apparatus to execute various processes. In the seventeenth embodiment, an on-recommendation determination process is described.

  FIG. 34 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommendation determination processing. The on-recommendation determination process will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 28, 30, 31, and 34.

(Step S1310)
In step S1310, the determination unit 112B determines whether it is the first on-recommendation determination process after the control region CR is set. If the on-recommendation determination process has already been executed after the control region CR is set, step S1320 is executed. If the first on-recommendation determination process is being performed, step S1330 is performed.

(Step S1320)
In step S1320, determination unit 112B determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process. If a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process, step S1330 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1330)
In step S1330, control unit 111B causes determination unit 112B to read data (see FIG. 11) representing the air conditioners owned by the user from first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1340 is executed.

(Step S1340)
In step S1340, the communication terminal 100B performs a predetermined determination process on the air conditioner. After the determination process for the air conditioner, step S1350 is executed.

(Step S1350)
In step S1350, determination unit 112B determines whether the result of the determination process of step S1340 represents the presence of the first candidate device. The term "first candidate device" means an air conditioner that meets the start condition. If the result of the determination process indicates the presence of the first candidate device, step S1360 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1360)
In step S1360, the estimation unit 340 of the server device 300A performs an estimation process regarding the destination of the vehicle VC. After the estimation process, step S1370 is performed.

(Step S1370)
In step S1370, determination unit 112B determines whether the destination of vehicle VC is a target building. If the determination unit 112B determines that the destination of the vehicle VC is a target building, step S1380 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1380)
In step S1380, a process is performed to determine the position of vehicle VC relative to control region CR.

  FIG. 35 is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S1340 described with reference to FIG. The on-recommendation determination process is further described with reference to FIGS. 11, 28 to 31, 34 and 35.

(Step S1341)
In step S1341, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B generates a request signal for requesting temperature data. Thereafter, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit a request signal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the server device 300A. When the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives the request signal, the controller 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the temperature data generation unit 430 to generate temperature data representing the temperature of the space where the air conditioner 400A is disposed. The temperature data generation unit 430 outputs the temperature data to the communication unit 420. The temperature data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server device 300A. When the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B receives the temperature data, step S1342 is executed.

(Step S1342)
In step S1342, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads data on the start condition from the first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1343 is executed.

(Step S1343)
In step S1343, the determination unit 112B compares the temperature data with data related to the start condition. If the temperature data satisfies the start condition, step S1344 is executed. Otherwise, step S1345 is performed. For example, if the temperature of the living room is 30 ° C., step S1344 is performed in the process for the air conditioner installed in the living room shown in FIG. If the temperature of the living room is 22 ° C., step S1345 is executed in the process for the air conditioner installed in the living room shown in FIG.

(Step S1344)
In step S1344, the air conditioner to be processed is selected as a first candidate device. Information on the air conditioner selected as the first candidate device is temporarily stored in the first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1345 is executed.

(Step S1345)
In step S1345, the determination unit 112B determines whether the process for all the air conditioners owned by the user is completed. If the process has not been completed for all the air conditioners owned by the user, step S1342 is executed. Otherwise, the communication terminal 100B ends the process in step S1340 described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 36 is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S1360 described with reference to FIG. The on-recommendation determination process will be further described with reference to FIGS. 28, 30, 34 and 36.

(Step S1361)
In step S1361, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B requests the second acquisition unit 151 of the communication terminal 100B to generate position information on the position of the vehicle. The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads out the position information on the position of the target building from the second storage unit 144 of the communication terminal 100B. Thereafter, step S1362 is executed.

(Step S1362)
In step S1362, position information of the vehicle and the building is output from the second acquisition unit 151 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B. Position information of the vehicle and the building is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A. Thereafter, step S1363 is executed.

(Step S1363)
In step S1363, when the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A receives the position information of the vehicle and the building, the control unit 310 of the server device 300A causes the estimation unit 340 to estimate the destination of the vehicle. If the position information indicates that the vehicle is moving away from the building, the estimation unit 340 may determine that the destination of the vehicle is not a building. If the position information indicates that the vehicle approaches the building, the estimation unit 340 may determine that the destination of the vehicle is a building. Data representing the determination result is transmitted from the communication unit 320 of the server device 300A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B. The estimation unit 340 may estimate the destination of the vehicle using another method. The principles of the present embodiment are not limited to any particular method for estimating the destination of a vehicle.

  FIG. 37 is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S1380 described with reference to FIG. The on recommendation process is further described with reference to FIGS. 25, 30, 33, 34 and 37. FIG.

(Step S1381)
In step S1381, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads out the position information on the position of the target building and the radius of the control area from the second storage unit 144. In FIG. 37, the position of the building is represented by the symbol “P0”. In FIG. 37, the radius of the control area is represented by the symbol "R". Under the setting shown in FIG. 25, “R” is “5 km”. After the reading of the position information, step S1382 is executed.

(Step S1382)
In step S1382, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B requests the second acquisition unit 151 to generate position information on the position of the vehicle. Communication terminal 100B handles the position of the vehicle indicated by the position information acquired in step S1382 as a reference position. In FIG. 37, the reference position is represented by the symbol "P1". After the position information on the position of the vehicle is generated, step S1383 is executed.

(Step S1383)
In step S1383, the communication terminal 100B performs a standby process. The waiting time may be constant. Alternatively, the waiting time may be changed according to the speed of the vehicle. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited at all by the waiting time. After the waiting time has elapsed, step S1384 is executed.

(Step S1384)
In step S1384, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B requests the second acquisition unit 151 to generate position information on the position of the vehicle again. Communication terminal 100B handles the position of the vehicle indicated by the position information acquired in step S1384 as a determination position. In FIG. 37, the determination position is represented by a symbol “P2”. After the position information on the position of the vehicle is generated, step S1385 is executed.

(Step S1385)
In step S1385, the difference between the position "P1" of the vehicle and the position "P0" of the building is larger than the radius "R" of the control area, and the position "P2" of the vehicle and the position "P0" of the building If the difference between and is smaller than the radius "R" of the control area, step S1386 is performed. Otherwise, step S1387 is performed.

(Step S1386)
In step S1386, control unit 111B of communication terminal 100B determines to continue the process. Therefore, after step S1386, step S1220 described with reference to FIG. 33 is performed.

(Step S1387)
In step S1387, the determination unit 112B determines to handle the determination position P2 as the reference position P1. Thereafter, step S1383 is executed.

Eighteenth Embodiment
In the image display determination process described in the context of the sixteenth embodiment, it is determined whether an image prompting the user to determine the determination of the execution of the remote control is displayed. In the eighteenth embodiment, an image display determination process is described.

  FIG. 38A is a table representing data of the air conditioner stored in the first storage unit 143 in step S1344 described with reference to FIG. FIG. 38B is a table showing an air conditioner determined as an operation target device by the image display determination process. The image determination process will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 30, 33, 35, 38A, and 38B.

  If the temperature data represents a temperature of 26 ° C., the air conditioning installed in the living room, the kitchen room and the children's room (2) as a result of the processing in step S1344 performed under the settings shown in FIG. A device is selected as a first candidate device.

  If the air conditioner installed in the children's room (2) is in operation, step S1240 described with reference to FIG. 33 need not be performed. Therefore, the determination unit 112B excludes the air conditioner installed in the children's room (2) from the operation target device.

  FIG. 39 is a schematic flowchart of the image display determination process. Referring to FIG. 11, FIG. 15A, FIG. 28 to FIG. 30, FIG. 33, and FIG. 38A to FIG.

(Step S1221)
In step S1221, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads data of the first candidate device from the first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1222 is executed.

(Step S1222)
In step S1222, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B generates a request signal for requesting operation data. The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to output a request signal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the server device 300A. When the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives the request signal, the control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the operation data generator 450 to generate operation data. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit the operation data. The operation data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server device 300A. Thereafter, step S1223 is executed.

(Step S1223)
In step S1223, the control unit 111B causes the determination unit 112B to determine whether the air conditioner 400A to be processed is in operation based on the operation data. If the determination unit 112B determines that the air conditioner 400A to be processed is operating, step S1224 is executed. Otherwise, step S1225 is performed.

(Step S1224)
In step S1224, the determination unit 112B determines to treat the air conditioner 400A to be processed as a second candidate device. Thereafter, step S1225 is executed.

(Step S1225)
In step S1225, the determination unit 112B determines whether the above-described process is completed for all of the first candidate devices. If the above process has been completed for all of the first candidate devices, step S1226 is executed. Otherwise, step S1222 is performed. If the air conditioner shown in FIG. 38A is selected as the first candidate device, the above process is completed for the air conditioners installed in the living room, the kitchen room and the children's room (2) If so, step S1225 is executed.

(Step S1226)
In step S1226, the determination unit 112B determines whether the air conditioner selected as the second candidate device includes the air conditioner set by the user as the operation candidate device. If the air conditioner selected as the second candidate device includes the air conditioner set as the operation candidate device by the user, the determination unit 112B is selected as the second candidate device and the user operates the second candidate device. The air conditioners set as the candidate devices are temporarily stored in the first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1227 is executed. In other cases, the control unit 111B interrupts the process. Comparing the data shown in FIG. 38A with the data shown in FIG. 11, since the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen room and children's room (2) are set by the user as operation candidate devices, step S1227 Will be executed.

(Step S1227)
In step S1227, control unit 111B causes display unit 163 to display the image shown in FIG. 15A. Thereafter, step S1230 described with reference to FIG. 33 is performed.

Nineteenth Embodiment
In the image display determination process described in the context of the eighteenth embodiment, if the communication terminal can determine the operation target device, a process for remotely operating the operation target device is executed. In the nineteenth embodiment, a process for remotely operating an operation target device will be described.

  FIG. 40 is a schematic flowchart of the process performed in step S1240 described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIGS. 15A to 15C, 28 to 30, 33, 38B, 39 and 40, the process performed in step S1240 is performed.

(Step S1241)
In step S 1241, if the user presses icon button IB 27 (see FIG. 15A), control unit 111 B of communication terminal 100 B sets the first data of all the air conditioners (see FIG. 38B) selected as the operation target device. It is read from the storage unit 143. The data read from the first storage unit 143 may include setting data that defines the operation of the air conditioner selected as the operation target device. After the control unit 111B reads the data of all the air conditioners selected as the operation target device, step S1242 is executed.

(Step S1242)
In step S1242, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit the read setting data as control data. The control data is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the server device 300A. When the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives the control data, the operation unit 440 of the air conditioner 400A executes an operation determined by the control data. The notification unit 460 of the air conditioner 400A generates notification data indicating that the control data has been received. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit notification data. The notification data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server device 300A. Thereafter, step S1243 is executed.

(Step S1243)
In step S1243, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the display unit 163 to display an image (see FIGS. 15B and 15C) representing the communication result of the control data according to the notification data. Thereafter, step S1244 is performed.

(Step S1244)
In step S1244, the communication terminal 100B determines whether the user has requested operation data. If the user requests motion data (if the user presses icon button IB29, IB31 (see FIGS. 15B and 15C)), step S1245 is performed. Otherwise, step S1247 is performed.

(Step S1245)
In step S1245, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B generates a request signal for requesting operation data. The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit a request signal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the server device 300A. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the operation data generation unit 450 to generate operation data in response to the request signal. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A transmits the operation data to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A. The operation data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server device 300A. Thereafter, step S1246 is executed.

(Step S1246)
In step S1246, control unit 111B causes display unit 163 to display the operation status represented by the operation data. Thereafter, step S1247 is executed.

(Step S1247)
The determination unit 112B of the communication terminal 100B determines whether or not the above-described process has been applied to all operation target devices.

The Twentieth Embodiment
In the on-recommendation determination process described in the context of the seventeenth embodiment, the determination process on the air conditioner is performed prior to the determination process on the position of the vehicle. Alternatively, the determination process for the air conditioner may be performed later than the determination process for the position of the vehicle. In the twentieth embodiment, another on-recommendation determination process is described.

  FIG. 41 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommendation determination processing. The on-recommendation determination process will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 28, 30, 31, 35 to 37, and 41.

(Step S1410)
In step S1410, determination unit 112B determines whether or not it is the first on-recommendation determination process after control region CR is set. If the on-recommendation determination process has already been executed after setting the control area CR, step S1420 is executed. If the first on-recommendation determination process is being performed, step S1430 is performed.

(Step S1420)
In step S1420, determination unit 112B determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process. If a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process, step S1430 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1430)
In step S1430, the estimation unit 340 of the server device 300A performs the estimation process described with reference to FIG. After the estimation process, step S1440 is performed.

(Step S1440)
In step S1440, determination unit 112B determines whether the destination of vehicle VC is a target building. If the determination unit 112B determines that the destination of the vehicle VC is a target building, step S1450 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1450)
In step S1450, the process described with reference to FIG. 37 is performed, and it is determined whether vehicle VC has entered control region CR. Thereafter, step S1460 is executed.

(Step S1460)
In step S1460, control unit 111B causes determination unit 112B to read data representing the air conditioner owned by the user (see FIG. 11) from first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1470 is executed.

(Step S1470)
In step S1470, communication terminal 100B performs the determination process described with reference to FIG.

Twenty-First Embodiment
In the various embodiments described above, a determination process is performed on the position of the vehicle. Therefore, if the user has not set in advance the position of the target building, the on-recommendation determination process is preferably interrupted before the communication terminal performs various processes. In addition, if the determination process for the position of the vehicle is performed, the estimation process for the destination of the vehicle is not necessarily required. Therefore, the on-recommendation determination process may be greatly simplified. In the twenty-first embodiment, a simplified on-recommendation process is described.

  FIG. 42 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommendation determination processing. The on-recommendation determination processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 25, 30, 31, 35, 37 and 42.

(Step S1510)
In step S1510, the determination unit 112B determines whether it is the first on-recommendation determination process after the control region CR is set. If the on-recommendation determination process has already been executed after setting the control area CR, step S1520 is executed. If the first on-recommendation determination process is being performed, step S1530 is performed.

(Step S1520)
In step S1520, determination unit 112B determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process. If a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process, step S1530 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1530)
In step S1530, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads data on the building HM from the second storage unit 144. If the user does not perform the setting described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 25, the control unit 111B can not read out data relating to the building HM, and thus interrupts the on-recommendation determination process. If the control unit 111B reads data on the building HM from the second storage unit 144, step S1540 is executed.

(Step S1540)
In step S1540, the process described with reference to FIG. 37 is executed to determine whether vehicle VC has entered control region CR. Thereafter, step S1550 is executed.

(Step S1550)
In step S1550, control unit 111B causes determination unit 112B to read data representing the air conditioner owned by the user (see FIG. 11) from first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1560 is executed.

(Step S1560)
In step S1560, communication terminal 100B performs the determination process described with reference to FIG.

Twenty-Second Embodiment
The communication terminal may acquire information on the outside air temperature without communicating with the air conditioner. In this case, the air temperature outside the vehicle and the building is acquired by the communication terminal. In the twenty-second embodiment, a communication terminal capable of acquiring information on the outside air temperature without communicating with an air conditioner will be described.

  FIG. 43 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary functional configuration of a communication terminal 100C of the twenty-second embodiment. An exemplary functional configuration of communication terminal 100C will be described with reference to FIGS. 35 and 43. The reference numerals used in common between the fifteenth and twenty-second embodiments mean that the elements to which the common reference numerals are attached have the same functions as in the fifteenth embodiment. Therefore, the description of the fifteenth embodiment is incorporated into these elements.

  As in the fifteenth embodiment, the communication terminal 100C includes the first acquisition unit 113, the determination unit 112B, the clock unit 114, the communication unit 131, the first storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, and A second acquisition unit 151, a display unit 163, and an input unit 164 are provided. The description of the fifteenth embodiment applies to these elements.

  The communication terminal 100C further includes a control unit 111C and a third acquisition unit 152. The control unit 111C corresponds to the CPU 110 described with reference to FIG. The third acquisition unit 152 corresponds to the information acquisition device 150 described with reference to FIG. 7. The third acquisition unit 152 may be a temperature measuring element that measures the temperature outside the vehicle.

  Control unit 111C controls the overall operation of communication terminal 100C. Therefore, the determination unit 112B, the first acquisition unit 113, the clock unit 114, the communication unit 131, the first storage unit 143, the second storage unit 144, the second acquisition unit 151, the third acquisition unit 152, the display unit 163, and the input unit 164 performs a predetermined operation under the control of the control unit 111C.

  The communication terminal 100C performs the same operation as the operation described in connection with the fifteenth embodiment, except for step S1341 described with reference to FIG. In step S1341, the control unit 111C causes the third acquisition unit 152 to acquire information on the air temperature outside the vehicle. Thereafter, the communication terminal 100C executes steps S1342 to S1345 using the information acquired by the third acquisition unit 152. Therefore, in step S1341, the communication terminal 100C may not communicate with the home appliance.

Twenty-Third Embodiment
The communication terminal may determine the operation mode based on the acquired information on the outside air temperature. In the twenty-third embodiment, a communication terminal which determines an operation mode in accordance with the outside air temperature will be described.

  FIG. 44 is a schematic flowchart showing a procedure for determining an operation mode. With reference to FIGS. 29, 30, 35, 40 and 44, a method for determining the operating mode is described.

(Step S1610)
When step S1343 described with reference to FIG. 35 is started, step S1610 is performed. In FIG. 44, the upper limit temperature set by the user is represented by the symbol "UTH". FIG. 44 represents the outside air temperature represented by the temperature data acquired in step S1341 described with reference to FIG. 35 by a symbol “THD”. In step S1610, the determination unit 112B compares the outside air temperature THD with the upper limit temperature UTH. If the outside air temperature THD exceeds the upper limit temperature, step S1620 is performed. Otherwise, step S1630 is performed.

(Step S1620)
In step S1620, the communication terminal 100B selects the cooling mode. In this case, in step S1242 described with reference to FIG. 40, the communication terminal 100B transmits control data for the cooling mode. The operating unit 440 of the air conditioner 400A operates to adjust the temperature of the room toward the target temperature set lower than the upper limit temperature according to the control data.

(Step S1630)
In FIG. 44, the lower limit temperature set by the user is represented by the symbol "LTH". In step S1610, the determination unit 112B compares the outside air temperature THD with the lower limit temperature LTH. If the outside air temperature THD is lower than the lower limit temperature, step S1640 is executed. In other cases, since the start condition is not satisfied, step S1345 shown in FIG. 35 is performed.

(Step S1640)
In step S1640, communication terminal 100B selects the heating mode. In this case, in step S1242 described with reference to FIG. 40, the communication terminal 100B transmits control data for the heating mode. The operating unit 440 of the air conditioner 400A operates to adjust the temperature of the room toward the target temperature set higher than the lower limit temperature according to the control data.

  FIG. 45 is a schematic flowchart showing another procedure for determining the operation mode. A method for determining the operating mode is described with reference to FIGS. 29, 30, 35, 40 and 45.

(Step S1650)
In step S1650, determination unit 112B determines whether or not outside temperature THD is between upper limit temperature UTH and lower limit temperature LTH. If the outside air temperature THD is between the upper limit temperature UTH and the lower limit temperature LTH, the start condition is not satisfied, so step S1345 shown in FIG. 35 is performed. Otherwise, step S1660 is performed.

(Step S1660)
In step S1660, communication terminal 100B selects the automatic mode. In this case, in step S1242 described with reference to FIG. 40, the communication terminal 100B transmits control data for the automatic mode. The operating unit 440 of the air conditioner 400A operates to adjust the temperature of the room toward the target temperature set between the lower limit temperature and the upper limit temperature according to the control data.

Twenty-Fourth Embodiment
After transmission of the control data, a plurality of images representing the transmission status of the control data are displayed. The display order of the plurality of images may be predetermined. In a twenty-fourth embodiment, a method for determining a display order of a plurality of images is described.

  FIG. 46 is a table showing data stored in the first storage unit 143. A method for determining the display order of a plurality of images will be described with reference to FIGS. 15B, 15C, 30, 38B, 40 and 46.

  FIG. 46 shows that priorities are set for a plurality of air conditioners owned by the user. The control unit 111B refers to the priority data and executes the various processes described above in accordance with the priority. The priority may be set by the user. Alternatively, priorities may be set automatically by the application program. The principles of the present embodiment are not limited to any particular method for determining priority.

  FIG. 38B shows that the air conditioner installed in the living room and the air conditioner installed in the kitchen room are selected as the operation target devices. As shown in FIG. 46, the air conditioners installed in the living room are assigned higher priority than the air conditioners installed in the kitchen room. Therefore, the processing loop of steps S1243 to S1248 described with reference to FIG. 40 is performed on the air conditioner installed in the living room, and then performed on the air conditioner installed in the kitchen room . As a result, the display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 15C next to the image shown in FIG. 15B.

The Twenty Fifth Embodiment
The display order of the images may depend on the difference between the temperature set by the user and the measured temperature. In the twenty-fifth embodiment, a method of determining the display order of images from the difference between the temperature set by the user and the measured temperature is described.

  FIG. 47 is a schematic flowchart showing a method of determining the display order of images from the difference between the temperature set by the user and the measured temperature. A method for determining the display order of a plurality of images will be described with reference to FIGS. 35, 40, 43 and 47.

(Step S1710)
In step S1710, the determination unit 112B determines whether the communication unit 131 has transmitted control data for the cooling mode. The selection technique between the cooling mode and the heating mode may be based on the principle of the twenty-third embodiment. If the determination unit 112B determines that the communication unit 131 has transmitted control data for the cooling mode, step S1720 is executed. Otherwise, step S1760 is performed.

(Step S1720)
In step S1720, the control unit 111B sets the processing group of the upper limit temperature set for the operation target device from the data of the operation target device read in step S1241 described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, step S1730 is executed.

(Step S1730)
In step S1730, control unit 111B determines that the difference between temperature THD represented by the temperature data acquired in step S1341 described with reference to FIG. 35 and the upper limit temperature set for the operation target device is Find the largest air conditioner. Thereafter, step S1740 is executed.

(Step S1740)
In step S1740, control unit 111B sets the processing order for the processing loop of steps S1243 to S1248 shown in FIG. The data of the air conditioner to which the processing order is set is removed from the processing group. Thereafter, step S1750 is executed.

(Step S1750)
In step S1750, determination unit 112B determines whether the above-described process has been applied to all operation target devices. If the above process is applied to all operation target devices, the process is terminated. Otherwise, step S1720 is performed.

(Step S1760)
In step S1760, the control unit 111B sets the processing group of the lower limit temperature set for the operation target device from the data of the operation target device read in step S1241 described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, step S1770 is executed.

(Step S1770)
In step S1770, control unit 111B determines that the difference between temperature THD represented by the temperature data acquired in step S1341 described with reference to FIG. 35 and the lower limit temperature set for the operation target device is Find the largest air conditioner. Thereafter, step S1780 is executed.

(Step S1780)
In step S1780, control unit 111B sets the processing order for the processing loop of steps S1243 to S1248 shown in FIG. The data of the air conditioner to which the processing order is set is removed from the processing group. Thereafter, step S1790 is executed.

(Step S1790)
In step S1790, determination unit 112B determines whether the above-described process has been applied to all operation target devices. If the above process is applied to all operation target devices, the process is terminated. Otherwise, step S1760 is performed.

  As a result of the above-described processing, the display unit 163 preferentially displays the transmission result of the air conditioner where the large temperature difference is found.

Twenty-Sixth Embodiment
If the user has not set the information on the location of the target building, the communication terminal described in the context of the twenty-first embodiment interrupts the processing. If the communication terminal is used with a server device having a function of estimating the position of a building, the process can be continued. In this case, the communication terminal can execute various processes using the position of the building estimated by the server device. In the twenty-sixth embodiment, an exemplary server apparatus is described.

  FIG. 48 is a schematic block diagram showing an exemplary functional configuration of a server device 300B of the twenty-sixth embodiment. An exemplary functional configuration of server device 300B will be described with reference to FIGS. 36 and 48. The reference numeral commonly used between the thirteenth embodiment and the twenty-sixth embodiment means that the element to which the common reference numeral is attached has the same function as that of the thirteenth embodiment. Therefore, the description of the thirteenth embodiment is incorporated into these elements.

  The server device 300 </ b> B includes a communication unit 320 and a notification unit 330. The description of the thirteenth embodiment is incorporated into these elements.

  The server device 300B further includes a control unit 310B and an estimation unit 340B. The control unit 310B controls the overall operation of the server device 300B. Therefore, the communication unit 320, the notification unit 330, and the estimation unit 340B perform predetermined operations under the control of the control unit 310B.

  The estimation unit 340B includes a first estimation unit 341 and a second estimation unit 342. The first estimation unit 341 executes the process of step S1363 described with reference to FIG.

  The server device 300B may periodically receive the information on the position of the vehicle generated by the second acquisition unit 151 of the communication terminal 100B. In this case, the server device 300B can roughly grasp the movement pattern of the vehicle. The second estimation unit 342 can estimate the position of the target building based on the movement pattern of the vehicle.

  If the target building is the user's home, the second estimation unit 342 can estimate that the user's home is present near the position of the vehicle that is often stopped long. The principle of this embodiment is not limited to the specific estimation method used by the second estimation unit 342.

Twenty-Seventh Embodiment
In the on-recommendation determination process, position information of a building estimated by the server device may be used. In the twenty-seventh embodiment, an on-recommendation determination process using location information of a building estimated by a server device is described.

  FIG. 49 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommend determination processing. The on-recommendation determination process will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 25, 30, 31, 35 to 37, 48 and 49.

(Step S1805)
In step S1805, determination unit 112B of communication terminal 100B determines whether or not it is the first on-recommendation determination process after control region CR is set. If the on-recommendation determination process has already been executed after the control region CR is set, step S1810 is executed. If the first on-recommendation determination process is being performed, step S1815 is performed.

(Step S1810)
In step S1810, the determination unit 112B determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process. If the predetermined period has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process, step S1815 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1815)
In step S1815, control unit 111B causes determination unit 112B to read data (see FIG. 11) representing the air conditioners owned by the user from first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1820 is performed.

(Step S1820)
In step S1820, the communication terminal 100B performs the determination process described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, step S1825 is performed.

(Step S1825)
In step S1825, the determination unit 112B determines whether the result of the determination process of step S1820 represents the presence of the first candidate device. If the result of the determination process indicates the presence of the first candidate device, step S1830 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1830)
In step S1830, the server device 300B performs the estimation process described with reference to FIG. After the estimation process, step S1835 is performed.

(Step S1835)
In step S1835, the determination unit 112B determines whether the destination of the vehicle VC is the target building HM. If the determination unit 112B determines that the destination of the vehicle VC is the target building HM, step S1840 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1840)
In step S1840, control unit 111B of communication terminal 100B reads data related to building HM from second storage unit 144. If the user has made the settings described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 25, step S1845 is executed. Otherwise, step S1850 is performed.

(Step S1845)
In step S1845, the series of processes described with reference to FIG. 37 is performed.

(Step S1850)
In step S1850, communication terminal 100B cooperates with server device 300B to perform estimation processing regarding the position of vehicle VC.

  FIG. 50 is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S1850 described with reference to FIG. The process in step S1850 is further described with reference to FIGS. 30, 33, and 48 to 50.

(Step S1851)
In step S1851, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B requests the second acquisition unit 151 to generate position information on the position of the vehicle. Communication terminal 100B handles the position of the vehicle indicated by the position information acquired in step S1851 as a reference position. In FIG. 50, the reference position is represented by the symbol "P1". After position information on the position of the vehicle is generated, step S1852 is executed.

(Step S1852)
In step S1852, the control unit 310B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit position information on the position of the vehicle. Position information on the position of the vehicle is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300B. Thereafter, step S1853 is executed.

(Step S1853)
In step S1853, the communication terminal 100B performs a standby process. The waiting time may be constant. Alternatively, the waiting time may be changed according to the speed of the vehicle. The principle of the present embodiment is not limited at all by the waiting time. After the waiting time has elapsed, step S1854 is executed.

(Step S1854)
In step S1854, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B requests the second acquisition unit 151 to generate position information on the position of the vehicle again. Communication terminal 100B handles the position of the vehicle indicated by the position information acquired in step S1854 as a determination position. In FIG. 50, the determination position is represented by a symbol “P2”. After the position information on the position of the vehicle is generated, step S1855 is executed.

(Step S1855)
In step S1855, control unit 310B of communication terminal 100B causes position information related to the position of the vehicle to be transmitted to communication unit 131 of communication terminal 100B. Position information on the position of the vehicle is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300B. Thereafter, step S1856 is executed.

(Step S1856)
In step S1856, the control unit 310B of the server device 300B requests the second estimation unit 342 for the estimated position “PE” of the building. The difference between the position "P1" of the vehicle and the estimated position "PE" of the building is greater than the radius "R" of the control area and between the position "P2" of the vehicle and the estimated position "PE" of the building If the difference between them is smaller than the radius "R" of the control area, step S1857 is performed. Otherwise, step S1858 is performed.

(Step S1857)
In step S1857, control unit 310B of server device 300B causes notification unit 330 to generate a notification signal notifying that the vehicle has entered the control area. The notification signal is transmitted from the communication unit 320 of the server device 300B to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B. The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B determines to continue the process in response to the notification signal. Therefore, after step S1857, step S1220 described with reference to FIG. 33 is performed.

(Step S1858)
In step S1858, the determination unit 112B determines to handle the determination position P2 as the reference position P1. Thereafter, step S1853 is executed.

Twenty-Eighth Embodiment
In the on-recommendation determination process described in the context of the twenty-seventh embodiment, the determination process on the air conditioner is performed prior to the determination process on the position of the vehicle. Alternatively, the determination process for the air conditioner may be performed later than the determination process for the position of the vehicle. In the twenty-eighth embodiment, another on-recommendation determination process is described.

  FIG. 51 is a schematic flowchart showing on-recommendation determination processing. The on-recommendation determination processing will be described with reference to FIGS. 11, 12, 25, 30, 31, 35-37, and 49-51.

(Step S1910)
In step S1910, determination unit 112B determines whether or not it is the first on-recommendation determination process after control region CR is set. If the on-recommendation determination process has already been performed after the control region CR is set, step S1920 is performed. If the first on-recommendation determination process is being performed, step S1930 is performed.

(Step S1920)
In step S1920, the determination unit 112B determines whether or not a certain period of time has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process. If a predetermined period has elapsed since the previous execution of the on-recommendation process, step S1930 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1930)
In step S1930, the server device 300B performs the estimation process described with reference to FIG. After the estimation process, step S1940 is performed.

(Step S1940)
In step S1940, determination unit 112B determines whether the destination of vehicle VC is the target building HM. If the determination unit 112B determines that the destination of the vehicle VC is the target building HM, step S1950 is executed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S1950)
In step S1950, control unit 111B of communication terminal 100B reads data relating to the building HM from second storage unit 144. If the user has made the settings described with reference to FIGS. 12 and 25, step S1960 is performed. Otherwise, step S1970 is performed.

(Step S1960)
In step S1960, the series of processes described with reference to FIG. 37 is performed. Thereafter, step S1980 is executed.

(Step S1970)
In step S1970, the communication terminal 100B cooperates with the server device 300B to perform the estimation process described with reference to FIG. Thereafter, step S1980 is executed.

(Step S1980)
In step S1980, control unit 111B causes determination unit 112B to read data (see FIG. 11) representing the air conditioner owned by the user from first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S1990 is performed.

(Step S1990)
In step S1990, the communication terminal 100B performs the determination process described with reference to FIG.

The Twenty-ninth Embodiment
As a result of the on-recommendation determination process described in the context of the seventeenth embodiment, an air conditioner to be treated as a first candidate device is found. As a result of the on-recommendation determination process, if there is no air conditioner to be treated as the first candidate device, the subsequent process is not required. In the twenty-ninth embodiment, an on recommendation process of determining the necessity of the image display determination process according to the result of the on recommendation process is described.

  FIG. 52 is a schematic flowchart showing an exemplary operation of the communication terminal 100B. An exemplary operation of communication terminal 100B will be described with reference to FIG. The step numbers used in common between the sixteenth embodiment and the twenty-ninth embodiment mean that the processes to which the common step numbers are attached are the same as in the sixteenth embodiment. Therefore, the description of the sixteenth embodiment is incorporated into these steps.

(Step S1210)
In step S1210, the communication terminal 100B performs on-recommendation determination processing. As described in the context of the seventeenth embodiment, as a result of the on-recommendation determination process, the communication terminal 100B can find an air conditioner to be treated as a first candidate device. After the on-recommendation determination process, step S1215 is executed.

(Step S1215)
In step S1215, the communication terminal 100B determines whether there is an air conditioner to be treated as a first candidate device. If there is no air conditioner to be treated as the first candidate device, the communication terminal 100B ends the on-recommendation process. Otherwise, step S1220 is performed. The processes after step S1220 are the same as in the sixteenth embodiment.

The thirtieth embodiment
The principles of the various embodiments described above enable the air conditioning in the building to be activated and the environment in the building to be comfortable to the user before the user arrives at the target building. The user may notice that the air conditioner in the building remains in operation after leaving the target building. The remote control technology described in the above-described various embodiments (a device control system for remotely controlling a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building from a car through a network, a terminal device used for the device control system, a terminal device The program executed and the recommendation method) can also be applied to the user stopping the air conditioner in the building after leaving the target building. In the thirtieth embodiment, the user's operation in the off-recommendation process for stopping the air conditioner in the building after leaving the target building is described.

  FIG. 53A and FIG. 53B show an exemplary image displayed by the display unit 163 of the communication terminal 100B. The operation of the user in the off-recommendation process will be described with reference to FIGS. 8E, 30, 53A, and 53B.

  When the user performs a predetermined operation on the image displayed on the display unit 163 according to the operation method described in the context of the third embodiment, the display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 8E. Can. Thereafter, when the user presses the icon button IB15, the display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 53A or 53B.

  The image shown in FIG. 53A includes two icon buttons IB47 and IB48. When the user presses icon button IB47, the target air conditioner can be set as an operation candidate device to receive the off recommendation process. When the user presses icon button IB48, display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 8E again.

  The image shown in FIG. 53B includes three icon buttons IB49, IB50, and IB51. When the user presses icon button IB49, the target air conditioner can be set as an operation candidate device to receive the off recommendation process. When the user presses icon button IB50, the setting as the operation candidate device can be canceled. When the user presses icon button IB51, display unit 163 redisplays the image shown in FIG. 8E.

  FIG. 54 is a table showing exemplary data generated by the operations on the images shown in FIGS. 53A and 53B. Referring to FIGS. 30, 53A-54, data generated by the operations on the images shown in FIGS. 53A and 53B will be described.

  As a result of the operation on the image shown in FIGS. 53A and 53B, the data shown in FIG. 54 is stored in the first storage unit 143. When the user presses the icon buttons IB47 and IB49, the setting as the operation candidate device becomes valid. When the user presses the icon button IB50, the setting as the operation candidate device is invalidated. FIG. 54 shows that the setting as the operation candidate device for the air conditioner installed in the living room, the kitchen room, the children's room (1) and the children's room (2) is effective. FIG. 54 shows that the setting as the operation candidate device for the air conditioner installed in the bedroom is invalid. In the present embodiment, the setting information is exemplified by the data shown in FIG.

  FIG. 55 is a table representing data of an operation target device as a transmission destination of control data for stopping operation. The off-recommendation process is described with reference to FIGS. 30, 54 and 55.

  The communication terminal 100B performs an off-recommendation process, and selects an operation target device from a plurality of air conditioners set as operation candidate devices. Figure 55 shows that as a result of the off-recommendation process, the air conditioners installed in the living room and the children's room (1) are from the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen room, children's room (1) and children's room (2). , Represents that it has been selected as the operation target device.

  FIG. 56 is an exemplary image displayed by the display unit 163 of the communication terminal 100B that is performing the off-recommendation process. The off recommendation process is further described with reference to FIGS. 30, 55 and 56.

  After determining the operation target device, the communication terminal 100B causes the display unit 163 to display the image shown in FIG. The image shown in FIG. 56 includes two icon buttons IB52 and IB53. When the user presses icon button IB52, communication terminal 100B ends the off-recommendation process without transmitting control data. When the user presses the icon button IB53, control data is transmitted to the air conditioners installed in the living room and the children's room (1). As a result, the air conditioners installed in the living room and the children's room (1) can stop operation. In the present embodiment, the start instruction image is exemplified by the image shown in FIG. The instruction image area is exemplified by the icon button IB53.

  57A and 57B are exemplary images displayed by the display unit 163 after transmission of control data. The off recommendation process is further described with reference to FIGS. 30, 54, 57A, and 57B.

  The setting of the display order of images after transmission of control data may depend on the principle described in the context of the twenty-fourth embodiment. FIG. 54 shows priorities assigned to a plurality of air conditioners in the off-recommendation process. The air conditioners installed in the living room are assigned higher priority than the air conditioners installed in the children's room (1). Therefore, the display unit 163 displays the transmission result of the control data to the air conditioner installed in the children's room (1) next to the transmission result of the control data to the air conditioner installed in the living room. The priority may be set by the user. Alternatively, priorities may be set automatically by the application program. The principles of the present embodiment are not limited to any particular method for determining priority. In the present embodiment, the first target device is exemplified by the air conditioner installed in the living room. The second target device is exemplified by the air conditioner installed in the children's room (1). The first notification image is exemplified by the image shown in FIG. 57A. The second notification image is exemplified by the image shown in FIG. 57B.

  The image shown in FIG. 57A includes two icon buttons IB54 and IB55. When the user presses icon button IB54, display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 57B. When the user presses the icon button IB55, the display unit 163 displays the detailed operation status of the air conditioner installed in the living room.

  The image shown in FIG. 57B includes two icon buttons IB56 and IB57. When the user presses icon button IB56, the user's operation in the off-recommendation process ends. When the user presses icon button IB57, display unit 163 displays the detailed operation status of the air conditioner installed in the children's room (1).

The thirty-first embodiment
Similar to the on-recommendation process, the user performs a setting process for setting operation candidate devices for each of a plurality of air conditioners for the off-recommendation process. In the thirty-first embodiment, a setting process for setting an operation candidate device is described.

  FIG. 58 is a schematic flowchart showing setting processing for setting an operation candidate device. The setting process for setting the operation candidate device will be described with reference to FIGS. 8E, 9, 30, 53A to 54, and 58.

(Step S2010)
When step S270 described with reference to FIG. 9 is performed, the process of step S2010 is started. In step S2010, the display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 53A or 53B. Thereafter, step S2020 is performed.

(Step S2020)
In step S2020, the determination unit 112B determines whether the user operates the input unit 164 and presses the icon button IB48. If the determination unit 112B determines that the user operates the input unit 164 and presses the icon button IB48, step S2030 is executed. Otherwise, step S2040 is performed.

(Step S2030)
In step S2030, the display unit 163 displays the image shown in FIG. 8E. Thereafter, the process described with reference to FIG. 9 is performed.

(Step S2040)
In step S2040, the determination unit 112B determines whether the user operates the input unit 164 and presses one of the icon buttons IB47, IB49, and IB50. If the determination unit 112B determines that the user operates the input unit 164 and presses one of the icon buttons IB47, IB49, and IB50, step S2050 is executed. Otherwise, step S2010 is performed.

(Step S2050)
In step S2050, control unit 111B updates the data (see FIG. 54) stored in first storage unit 143 according to the user's operation. Thereafter, step S2010 is performed.

The Thirty-Second Embodiment
The communication terminal described in the context of the thirtieth embodiment displays an image for confirming once whether the user performs remote control. If the communication terminal requires the user to make a plurality of confirmations as to whether or not to execute the remote control, the remote control against the user's will is less likely to occur. In the thirty-second embodiment, a communication terminal that asks the user for a plurality of confirmations as to whether or not to perform remote control is described.

  59A to 59D show exemplary images that the communication terminal 100B presents to the user. Communication terminal 100B will be described with reference to FIGS. 30, 57A, 57B, 59A to 59D.

  Similar to the thirtieth embodiment, the communication terminal 100B presents the image shown in FIG. 59A to the user. When the user presses icon button IB53, communication terminal 100B presents the image shown in FIG. 59B to the user.

  The image shown in FIG. 59B includes two icon buttons IB58, IB59. When the user presses icon button IB58, communication terminal 100B transmits control data. When the user presses icon button IB59, communication terminal 100B interrupts the process. Control data is transmitted only when the user presses the icon button IB53 in the image shown in FIG. 59A and then presses the icon button IB58 in the image shown in FIG. 59B. Therefore, remote control against the user's will is less likely to occur. In the present embodiment, the start instruction image is exemplified by the images shown in FIGS. 59A and 59B. The instruction image area is exemplified by icon buttons IB53 and IB58.

  When the communication terminal 100B receives notification data indicating reception of control data from the air conditioner, the communication terminal 100B presents the image shown in FIG. 59C to the user. FIG. 59C includes icon button IB60. Icon button IB60 corresponds to icon button IB55 referring to FIG. 57A and icon button IB57 described with reference to FIG. 57B, respectively.

  When the user presses icon button IB60, communication terminal 100B presents the image shown in FIG. 59D to the user. Even if the user does not press icon button IB60, communication terminal 100B presents the user with the image shown in FIG. 59D after a predetermined period has elapsed since the display of the image shown in FIG. 59C. Therefore, the user can confirm the operating condition of the target air conditioner.

The Thirty-Third Embodiment
As described in the context of the thirtieth embodiment, the off-recommendation process is performed to shut down the air conditioners in the building. Therefore, the off-recommendation process is preferably performed early. In the thirty-third embodiment, an off recommendation process performed early is described.

  FIG. 60 is a schematic flowchart showing start processing of the off-recommendation processing. The start process of the off recommendation process will be described with reference to FIGS. 30, 56, 59A, and 60.

(Step S2110)
Step S2110 is performed until communication terminal 100B receives power supply from the vehicle. When communication terminal 100B receives power supply from the vehicle, step S2120 is executed.

(Step S2120)
In step S2120, the clock unit 114 starts clocking. In FIG. 60, the time length measured by the clock unit 114 is represented by the symbol “TC”. Information on the time length TC is output from the clock unit 114 to the determination unit 112B. After the output of the information on the time length TC from the timer unit 114 to the determination unit 112B, step S2130 is executed.

(Step S2130)
In step S2130, the determination unit 112B compares the time length TC represented by the information received from the timing unit 114 with the threshold period TP of a predetermined length. The comparison result is output from determination unit 112B to control unit 11B. If the comparison result indicates that the time length TC is less than the threshold period TP, step S2140 is performed. Otherwise, the process ends.

(Step S2140)
In step S2140, the comparison result indicating that the time length TC is less than the threshold period TP is output from the determination unit 112B to the control unit 111B. The control unit 111B that has received the comparison result determines to execute the off-recommendation process. As a result of the off-recommendation process, the user can stop the operation of the air conditioner installed in the building from the vehicle. In the present embodiment, the predetermined period is exemplified by the threshold period TP. The state information is exemplified by the comparison result.

  In the off-recommendation process, the image shown in FIG. 56 or 59A is displayed. If the user does not press the icon button IB53 for a first predetermined period, step S2140 may be terminated. In this case, the image shown in FIG. 56 or 59A may be erased from the display unit 163. Display portion 163 may display a map representing the traveling position of the vehicle, instead of the image shown in FIG. 56 or 59A. In this case, based on the control principle described in the context of the fifteenth embodiment, the application program is performed so that off-recommendation processing is not performed during the second predetermined period from the display time of the image shown in FIG. Is preferably designed. In the present embodiment, the first elapsed period is exemplified by a first predetermined period. The second elapsed period is exemplified by a second predetermined period.

  FIG. 61 is a schematic flowchart showing step S2140 (off recommendation process) described with reference to FIG. An exemplary operation of the off-recommendation process is described with reference to FIGS. 30, 54, 56, 59A, 60 and 61.

(Step S2210)
In step S2210, the communication terminal 100B executes an off-recommendation determination process. In the off-recommendation determination process, the process of confirming the setting of the operation candidate device and the position of the vehicle described with reference to FIG. 54 is performed. After the off-recommendation determination process, step S2220 is executed.

(Step S2220)
In step S2220, the communication terminal 100B executes an image display determination process. The image display determination process is used to determine whether the image shown in FIG. 56 or 59A is displayed. After the image display determination process, step S2230 is executed.

(Step S2230)
If the image shown in FIG. 56 or 59A is displayed in step S2230, step S2240 is performed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process.

(Step S2240)
In step S2240, the communication terminal 100B starts the remote control process. As a result, the user can stop the operation of the air conditioner from the car.

The Thirty-Fourth Embodiment
In the off-recommendation determination process described in the context of the thirty-third embodiment, the communication device cooperates with the server apparatus to execute various processes. In the thirty-fourth embodiment, an off-recommendation determination process is described.

  FIG. 62 is a schematic flowchart showing the off-recommendation determination process. The off-recommendation determination process is described with reference to FIGS. 52A to 54 and 62.

(Step S2310)
In step S2310, control unit 111B causes determination unit 112B to read data (see FIG. 54) representing the air conditioner owned by the user from first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S2320 is executed.

(Step S2320)
In step S2320, the determination unit 112B determines whether there is an operation candidate device. The user uses the images described with reference to FIG. 53A or FIG. 53B to any of the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen room, bedroom, children's room (1) and children's room (2). If the operation candidate device is not set, the determination unit 112B determines that the operation candidate device does not exist. Alternatively, the user presses the icon button IB50 described with reference to FIG. 53B against the air conditioners installed in the living room, kitchen room, bedroom, children's room (1) and children's room (2) If the setting of the operation candidate device is canceled, the determination unit 112B determines that the operation candidate device does not exist. In these cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the process. Otherwise, step S2330 is performed. In the present embodiment, the first determination step is exemplified by step S2320.

(Step S2380)
In step S2380, processing is performed to determine the position of the vehicle VC relative to the position of the building.

  FIG. 63 is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S2330 described with reference to FIG. The off-recommendation determination process is further described with reference to FIGS. 30, 62, and 63.

(Step S2331)
In step S2331, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads out the position information on the position of the target building from the second storage unit 144. In FIG. 63, the position of the building is represented by the symbol “PB”. After the position information on the position of the target building is read out, step S2332 is executed. In the present embodiment, the second determination step is exemplified by step S2231. The second position information is exemplified by position information on the position of the building.

(Step S2332)
In step S2332, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B requests the second acquisition unit 151 to generate position information on the position of the vehicle. In FIG. 63, the position of the vehicle is represented by the symbol "PC". After the position information on the position of the vehicle is generated, step S2333 is executed. In the present embodiment, the second determination step is exemplified by step S2232. The first position information is exemplified by position information on the position of the vehicle.

(Step S2333)
In step S2333, determination unit 112B of communication terminal 100B determines whether the distance between the position "PC" of the vehicle and the position "PB" of the building is less than a predetermined distance threshold. If the distance threshold is greater than the distance between the vehicle position "PC" and the building position "PB", step S2334 is performed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the off-recommendation process. In the present embodiment, the control area is exemplified by the area defined by the distance threshold. The second determination step is exemplified by step S2333.

(Step S2334)
In step S2334, control unit 111B of communication terminal 100B determines to continue the process. Therefore, after step S2334, step S2220 described with reference to FIG. 33 is performed.

The Thirty-Fifth Embodiment
In the image display determination process described in the context of the thirty-third embodiment, it is determined whether an image prompting the user to determine the determination of the remote control execution is displayed. In the thirty-fifth embodiment, an image display determination process is described.

  FIG. 64 is a schematic flowchart of the image display determination process. Referring to FIGS. 28 to 30, 54, 56, 59A, 61 and 64, the image display determination process is performed.

(Step S2221)
In step S2221, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads the data shown in FIG. 54 from the first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S2222 is executed.

(Step S2222)
In step S2222, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B generates a request signal for requesting operation data. The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to output a request signal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the server device 300A. When the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives the request signal, the control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the operation data generator 450 to generate operation data. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit the operation data. The operation data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server device 300A. Thereafter, step S2223 is executed.

(Step S2223)
In step S2223, the control unit 111B causes the determination unit 112B to determine whether the air conditioner 400A to be processed is in operation based on the operation data. If the determination unit 112B determines that the air conditioner 400A to be processed is operating, step S2224 is executed. Otherwise, step S2225 is performed. In the present embodiment, the first determination step is exemplified by step S2223.

(Step S2224)
In step S2224, the determination unit 112B determines to treat the air conditioner 400A to be processed as a processing candidate device to be subjected to further processing. Thereafter, step S2225 is executed. In the present embodiment, the first determination step is exemplified by step S2224.

(Step S2225)
In step S2225, the determination unit 112B determines whether or not the above-described processing is completed for all the air conditioners 400A in the data shown in FIG. If the above-described processing is completed for all the air conditioners 400A in the data shown in FIG. 54, step S2226 is executed. Otherwise, step S2222 is performed. If the air conditioner shown in FIG. 38A is selected as the first candidate device, the above process is completed for the air conditioners installed in the living room, the kitchen room and the children's room (2) If so, step S2226 is executed.

(Step S2226)
In step S2226, the determination unit 112B determines whether the air conditioner selected as the processing candidate device includes the air conditioner set by the user as the operation candidate device. If the air conditioner selected as the process candidate device includes the air conditioner 400A set by the user as the operation candidate device, the determination unit 112B is selected as the process candidate device, and the user is the operation candidate The air conditioning device set as the device is temporarily stored in the first storage unit 143. Thereafter, step S2227 is executed. In other cases, the control unit 111B interrupts the process.

(Step S2227)
In step S2227, control unit 111B causes display unit 163 to display the image shown in FIG. 56 or 59A. Thereafter, step S2230 described with reference to FIG. 61 is performed. In the present embodiment, the first display step is exemplified by step S2227.

The thirty-sixth embodiment
In the image display determination process described in the context of the thirty-fifth embodiment, if the communication terminal can determine the operation target device, a process for remotely operating the operation target device is executed. In the thirty-sixth embodiment, a process for remotely operating an operation target device is described.

  FIG. 65 is a schematic flowchart of a process performed in step S2240 described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIGS. 28 to 30, 56 to 57B, 59A, 61, and 65, the process executed in step S2240 is performed.

(Step S2241)
In step S2241, if the user presses the icon button IB53, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads the data of all the air conditioners 400A selected as the operation target device from the first storage unit 143. The data read from the first storage unit 143 may include setting data that defines the operation of the air conditioner 400A selected as the operation target device. After the control unit 111B reads the data of all of the air conditioner 400A selected as the operation target device, step S2242 is executed.

(Step S2242)
In step S2242, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit the read setting data as control data. The control data is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the server device 300A. When the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A receives the control data, the operation unit 440 of the air conditioner 400A stops in accordance with the control data. The notification unit 460 of the air conditioner 400A generates notification data indicating that the control data has been received. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to transmit notification data. The notification data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server device 300A. Thereafter, step S2243 is executed. In the present embodiment, the output step is exemplified by step S2242.

(Step S2243)
In step S2243, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the display unit 163 to display an image (see FIGS. 57A and 57B) representing the communication result of the control data according to the notification data. Thereafter, step S2244 is executed. In the present embodiment, the second display step is exemplified by step S2243. The plurality of notification images are illustrated by the images shown in FIGS. 57A and 57B.

(Step S2244)
In step S2244, communication terminal 100B determines whether the user has requested operation data. If the user requests motion data (if the user presses icon button IB 55, IB 57 (see FIGS. 57A and 57B)), step S2245 is performed. Otherwise, step S2247 is performed.

(Step S2245)
In step S2245, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B generates a request signal for requesting operation data. The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B causes the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to transmit a request signal. The request signal is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A via the server device 300A. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A causes the operation data generation unit 450 to generate operation data in response to the request signal. The control unit 410 of the air conditioner 400A transmits the operation data to the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A. The operation data is transmitted from the communication unit 420 of the air conditioner 400A to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B via the server device 300A. Thereafter, step S2246 is executed. In the present embodiment, the obtaining step is exemplified by step S2245.

(Step S2246)
In step S2246, control unit 111B causes display unit 163 to display the operation status represented by the operation data. Thereafter, step S2247 is executed. In the present embodiment, the second display step is exemplified by step S2246.

(Step S2247)
The determination unit 112B of the communication terminal 100B determines whether or not the above-described process has been applied to all operation target devices.

The Thirty-Seventh Embodiment
If the user has not set the position of the building, the communication terminal may end the off-recommendation process. In the thirty-seventh embodiment, an off-recommendation determination process that is ended if the user has not set the position of a building is described.

  FIG. 66 is a schematic flowchart showing the off-recommendation determination process. The off recommendation determination process is described with reference to FIG. The step numbers commonly used between the thirty-fourth embodiment and the thirty-seventh embodiment mean that the processes given the common step number are the same as the thirty-fourth embodiment. Therefore, the description of the thirty-fourth embodiment is incorporated into these steps.

  As in the thirty-fourth embodiment, the off-recommendation determination process includes step S2310, step S2320, and step S2330. It is incorporated into these steps.

(Step S2325)
Step S2325 is performed between step S2320 and step S2330. In step S2320, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B reads out the position information on the position of the target building from the second storage unit 144. If the control unit 111B fails to read out the position information, the off recommendation process ends. Otherwise, step S2330 is performed.

The 38th embodiment
If the user has not set the position of the building, the off-recommendation process may be continued using the estimated position of the building using the server apparatus described in the context of the twenty-sixth embodiment. In the thirty-eighth embodiment, an off-recommendation determination process using an estimated position of a building is described.

  FIG. 67 is a schematic flowchart showing the off-recommendation determination process. The off recommendation determination process is described with reference to FIG. The step number used in common between the thirty-seventh embodiment and the thirty-eighth embodiment means that the process to which the common step number is attached is the same as the thirty-seventh embodiment. Therefore, the description of the thirty-seventh embodiment is incorporated into these steps.

  As in the thirty-seventh embodiment, the off-recommendation determination process includes step S2310, step S2320, step S2330, and step S2325. It is incorporated into these steps.

(Step S2340)
If the control unit 111B fails to read out the position information in step S2325, step S2340 is executed. In step S2340, an estimation process is performed to estimate the position of the building.

  FIG. 68 is a schematic flowchart showing the process in step S2340 described with reference to FIG. The off-recommendation determination process is further described with reference to FIGS. 30, 48, 61, 67 and 68.

(Step S2341)
In step S2341, the control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B requests the second acquisition unit 151 to generate position information on the position of the vehicle. In FIG. 68, the position of the vehicle is represented by the symbol "PC". After position information on the position of the vehicle is generated, step S2342 is executed.

(Step S2342)
In step S2342, control unit 310B of communication terminal 100B causes position information regarding the position of the vehicle to be transmitted to communication unit 131 of communication terminal 100B. Position information on the position of the vehicle is transmitted from the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B to the communication unit 320 of the server device 300B. Thereafter, step S2343 is executed.

(Step S2343)
In step S2343, the control unit 310B of the server device 300B requests the second estimation unit 342 for the estimated position “PE” of the building. If the predetermined distance threshold exceeds the distance between the position "PC" of the vehicle and the estimated position "PE" of the building, step S2343 is performed. In other cases, the communication terminal 100B ends the off-recommendation process.

(Step S2344)
In step S2344, control unit 310B of server device 300B notifies of a notification signal of notifying that the distance threshold is greater than the distance between the position "PC" of the vehicle and the estimated position "PE" of the building. To generate The notification signal is transmitted from the communication unit 320 of the server device 300B to the communication unit 131 of the communication terminal 100B. The control unit 111B of the communication terminal 100B determines to continue the process in response to the notification signal. Therefore, after step S2344, step S2220 described with reference to FIG. 61 is performed.

  The control method of a terminal device according to one aspect of the above-described embodiment is applied to a terminal device used in a device control system that remotely operates a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building from a car via a network . In the control method, when state information indicating that a predetermined period has not elapsed from the time when power supply to the terminal device is started is input to the computer of the terminal device, the computer causes the terminal device to A first determination step of determining whether the setting information stored in the memory includes a plurality of operation target devices to which the plurality of air conditioners receive the remote control; and the computer is configured to execute the plurality of air conditioners. If it is determined that the plurality of operation target devices are included, the computer is caused to determine whether or not the car is present in a control area of a predetermined size defined around the building. A determination step, and if the computer determines that the car is within the control area, an open for giving an instruction to start the remote control on the display of the terminal device A first display step for displaying an instruction image, and an instruction image area commonly used for the plurality of operation target devices to instruct the start of the remote control are operated on the start instruction image Then, the control data for causing the computer to start the remote control for the plurality of operation target devices is output to the network, and the control data is sent to the plurality of operation target devices to the display. And a second display step of displaying a plurality of notification images representing that has been done.

  According to the above configuration, the user can operate the instruction image area on the start instruction image, and can easily instruct the start of remote control to a plurality of operation target devices. Thereafter, since the display displays a plurality of notification images, the user can visually confirm whether the instruction to start the remote control has been properly transmitted to the operation target device.

  In the above configuration, the second determination step may include causing the computer to acquire first position information on a current position of the car and second position information indicating a position of the building.

  According to the above configuration, the computer can appropriately determine whether the vehicle is present in the control area based on the first position information and the second position information. Therefore, the user does not request remote control of a plurality of operation target devices from a position too far from the building. Therefore, unnecessary operation of the operation target device is less likely to occur.

  In the above configuration, the first display step may cause a timer of the terminal device to measure a first elapsed period from an execution time at which the first display step is executed, and the instruction in the first elapsed period. And, if the image area is not manipulated, causing the timer to measure a second elapsed period. The first display step may not be performed again during the second elapsed period.

  According to the above configuration, the display does not frequently display the start instruction image. Therefore, the user does not unnecessarily request remote control of a plurality of operation target devices.

  In the above configuration, the control method may further include an acquiring step of causing the computer to acquire information indicating an operating state of each of the plurality of operation target devices after receiving the control data. The second display step may include displaying the information indicating the operating state of each of the plurality of operation target devices after receiving the control data.

  According to the above configuration, the user can visually confirm whether or not the plurality of operation target devices are operating properly.

  In the above configuration, the plurality of operation target devices may include a first target device and a second target device. The plurality of notification images may include a first notification image created for the first target device and a second notification image created for the second target device. The setting information may predetermine that the first notification image is displayed before the second notification image. The second display step may cause the display to display the first notification image earlier than the second notification image.

  According to the above configuration, the display can give information on the operation target device to the user first according to a predetermined order.

  The program which concerns on the other aspect of the above-mentioned embodiment is performed by the terminal device utilized for the apparatus control system which remote-controls the some air conditioner installed in the building from the vehicle via the network. The program causes the computer of the terminal device to receive state information indicating that a predetermined period has not elapsed since the time when power supply to the terminal device was started has not passed. The setting information stored in the memory is used to determine whether the plurality of air conditioners include a plurality of operation target devices to be remotely controlled. If the program determines that the plurality of air conditioners include the plurality of operation target devices, the program causes the computer to control the vehicle in a predetermined size defined around the building. It is determined whether or not it exists in the area. The program causes the display of the terminal to display a start instruction image for giving an instruction to start the remote control if the computer determines that the vehicle is in the control area. The program is stored in the computer when the instruction image area commonly used for the plurality of operation target devices is operated on the start instruction image to instruct the start of the remote control. Control data for starting the remote control to a plurality of operation target devices is output to the network, and a plurality of notification images indicating that the control data has been sent to the plurality of operation target devices are displayed on the display. Let

  According to the above configuration, the user can operate the instruction image area on the start instruction image, and can easily instruct the start of remote control to a plurality of operation target devices. Thereafter, since the display displays a plurality of notification images, the user can visually confirm whether or not the instruction to start the remote control has been properly transmitted to each of the operation target devices.

  The recommendation method according to still another aspect of the above-described embodiment is executed by a device control system that remotely operates a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building from a car via a network. The recommendation method comprises the steps of: determining whether the plurality of air conditioners include a plurality of operation target devices receiving remote control using a memory storing setting information for specifying the plurality of air conditioners; If it is determined that the air conditioner of the present invention includes a plurality of operation target devices to receive the remote control, whether the car exists in a control area of a predetermined size defined around the building. Instructing the start of the remote control, displaying the start instruction image for giving an instruction to start the remote control, if it is determined that the vehicle is in the control area; If the instruction image area commonly used for the plurality of operation target devices is operated on the start instruction image, the remote control for the plurality of operation target devices is started Comprising a step of outputting the control data because to the network, and displaying a plurality of notification image indicating that the control data is sent to the plurality of operation target apparatus, the.

  According to the above configuration, the user can operate the instruction image area on the start instruction image, and can easily instruct the start of remote control to a plurality of operation target devices. Thereafter, since the display displays a plurality of notification images, the user can visually confirm whether the instruction to start the remote control has been properly transmitted to the operation target device.

  The principles of the various embodiments described above may be combined to suit the requirements for control of multiple devices.

  The principle of the above-mentioned embodiment is suitably used for control to air conditioning equipment.

100 to 100 C ········································・ CPU
111, 111B, 111C ........... Control unit 112, 112B ..... ·········································· ···················································· ····································································· Second memory area 143 ....... Memory unit 160 ···································· Touch panel display 16 ······································· · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · Control system 400A · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · ·. ································································· ······································································· ········································ Operation image OPR ······ ················································· · · · · · · Vehicle

Claims (9)

A control method of a terminal device used in a device control system for remotely controlling a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building via a network, comprising:
The memory of the terminal device stores setting information in which a plurality of operation target devices that receive at least one predetermined operation among the plurality of air conditioning devices are set,
(I) a first determination step of causing the computer of the terminal device to determine whether the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices;
(Ii) a first display step of causing the display of the terminal device to display an image including an instruction area for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation collectively to all of the plurality of operation target devices;
(Iii) If the instruction area is operated on the image, and the computer determines that the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices, the computer may perform the operation on the plurality of operation target devices. Outputting the control data for giving an instruction of a predetermined operation to the network. The control method according to claim 1, wherein the instruction of the predetermined operation is an operation of stopping operation of the plurality of operation target devices. The control method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the instruction of the predetermined operation is an operation of starting operation of the plurality of operation target devices. The control method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a second display step of displaying a plurality of notification images indicating that the control data has been sent to the plurality of operation target devices on the display. . The computer further comprises a second determination step of determining whether the terminal device is present in a control area of a predetermined size defined around the building.
The control method according to claim 4, wherein the first display step displays the image on the display of the terminal device if the computer determines that the terminal device is present in the control area. The computer further comprises an acquiring step of acquiring information representing an operating state of each of the plurality of operation target devices after receiving the control data,
The control method according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the second display step includes displaying the information indicating the operating state of each of the plurality of operation target devices after receiving the control data. The plurality of operation target devices include a first target device and a second target device,
The plurality of notification images include a first notification image created for the first target device and a second notification image created for the second target device.
The setting information defines in advance that the first notification image is displayed before the second notification image.
The control method according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the second display step causes the display to display the first notification image prior to the second notification image. A program executed by a terminal device used for a device control system for remotely controlling a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building via a network,
The memory of the terminal device stores setting information in which a plurality of operation target devices that receive a predetermined operation among the plurality of air conditioners are set,
(I) having the computer of the terminal device determine whether or not the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices;
(Ii) the computer causes the display of the terminal device to display an image including an instruction area for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation collectively to all of the plurality of operation target devices;
(Iii) When the instruction area is operated on the image and it is determined that the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices, the computer is configured to perform the predetermined operation on the plurality of operation target devices. A program for outputting control data giving an instruction to the network. A recommendation method performed by a device control system for remotely operating a plurality of air conditioners installed in a building via a network,
It is determined whether the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices using a memory storing setting information in which a plurality of operation target devices receiving a predetermined operation is set among the plurality of air conditioners Step to
Displaying an image including an instruction area for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation collectively to all of the plurality of operation target devices;
If the instruction area is operated on the image, and it is determined that the setting information includes the plurality of operation target devices, control data for giving an instruction of the predetermined operation to the plurality of operation target devices is used. Outputting to the network.