JP2019190690A - Water heating appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a water heating appliance capable of notifying a user that communication via a communication line with a relay device is disconnected by detecting the disconnection of the communication.SOLUTION: A water heating appliance 100 includes a communication part, detection means, and a notification part. The communication part is configured so as to communicate via a communication line 50 with a relay device 40 configured so as to transmit and receive information with a management device 20 of the water heating appliance 100 via the communication line. The detection means is configured so as to detect that communication with the relay device 40 in the communication part is disconnected. The notification part is configured so as to notify a user of the disconnection of the communication when the detection means detects that the communication with the relay device 40 is disconnected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a hot water device, and more specifically, relays a hot water device (for example, a hot water heater, a multi-hot water system, a reheating device for hot water in a bathtub, a filtering device, or a hot water heating device) and a management device. The present invention relates to a hot water apparatus in a configuration in which communication connection is performed by an apparatus.

  The present applicant has disclosed a remote management system for a multi-hot water supply system, which is an example of a hot water utilization facility, in International Publication No. 2017/068996 (Patent Document 1). In the remote management system of Patent Document 1, various types of information on the hot water supply system are transmitted to the remote management server using a communication adapter connected to the hot water supply system as a relay device.

  For example, the communication adapter is communicably connected to a hot water supply system via a two-core communication line, and is communicably connected to a router connected to a communication network such as the Internet. When the communication adapter is connected to the remote management server via the router and the communication network, bidirectional information transmission via the communication network is possible between the hot water supply system and the remote management server. Power to the communication adapter is supplied from the hot water supply system via a two-core communication line.

International Publication No. 2017/068996

  The communication adapter described in Patent Document 1 includes a communication abnormality detection function between the communication adapter and the hot water supply system, a communication abnormality detection function between the communication adapter and the router, and between the router and the remote monitoring server. A communication abnormality detection function is provided.

  However, when an abnormality occurs in the two-core communication line such as the two-core communication line being disconnected from the communication adapter, the physical connection between the hot water supply system and the communication adapter is interrupted. Information cannot be sent to or received from the system. Furthermore, since the physical connection between the hot water supply system and the communication adapter is interrupted, the communication adapter cannot receive power supply from the hot water supply system, and thus becomes inoperable.

  For this reason, the communication adapter cannot execute the above-described abnormality detection function, and as a result, there is a concern that the user cannot notice the occurrence of the abnormality of the two-core communication line at an early stage. In addition, since the cause of the communication abnormality cannot be specified, the user requests repair work from the support center, and there is a concern that it may waste time to reconnect the 2-core communication line to the communication adapter. Is done.

  The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect that communication via a communication line with a relay device has been interrupted and notify the user. It is to provide a hot water device that can be used.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the hot water device includes a communication unit, a detection unit, and a notification unit. A communication part is comprised so that communication via a communication line may be performed between the relay apparatuses comprised so that information may be transmitted / received between the management apparatuses of a hot water apparatus via a communication network. The detection means is configured to detect that communication with the relay device in the communication unit is interrupted. The notification unit is configured to notify the user of the interruption of the communication when the detection unit detects the interruption of the communication with the relay device.

  According to the hot water device, when communication between the hot water device and the relay device is interrupted due to an abnormality in the communication line, the user can be notified of the communication interruption. We can inform you quickly. According to this, it is possible to suppress wasteful time consumption for reconnecting the communication line to the relay device. In addition, the user does not need to regularly check the communication line in order to suppress such wasteful time consumption. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

  Preferably, the hot water device further includes a remote controller for inputting a user instruction. The notification unit is configured using a remote controller.

  If it does in this way, interruption of communication can be notified to a user using a remote controller.

  Preferably, the remote controller is configured to execute communication with the communication unit via the communication line. The detecting means notifies the remote controller of the interruption of the communication when the interruption of the communication with the relay device is detected.

  In this way, since the communication controller can notify the remote controller of communication interruption via communication via the communication line, the user can be notified of the communication interruption using the remote controller.

  Preferably, the remote controller is configured to execute communication with the communication unit via the communication line. The detection means and the notification unit are configured using a remote controller.

  In this way, the remote controller monitors the communication between the hot water device and the relay device that is executed via the communication line, thereby confirming that the communication between the hot water device and the relay device has been interrupted. Since it can be detected, it is possible to promptly notify the user of the interruption of communication.

  Preferably, the relay device is installed outdoors, and the remote controller is installed indoors. If it does in this way, interruption of communications can be quickly notified to a user who is indoors.

  Preferably, the relay device operates by receiving power supply from the hot water device via the communication line. In this way, even when the power supply to the relay device is interrupted together with the interruption of communication due to the abnormality of the communication line, the interruption of communication can be detected and notified to the user.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the hot water apparatus which can detect that the communication via the communication line between relay apparatuses was interrupted | blocked and can alert | report to a user can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the remote management system of the hot water apparatus with which the communication system which concerns on this Embodiment is applied. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the structure of a communication system further. It is a figure for demonstrating the structural example of a communication adapter. It is a figure which shows the example of installation of the hot water apparatus and communication adapter in the communication system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a sequence diagram explaining the flow of a process of the communication interruption | blocking detection of the hot water apparatus by the communication system which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 10 is a sequence diagram for explaining a flow of processing for detecting a communication interruption by the communication system according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of installation of the hot water apparatus and communication adapter in the communication system which concerns on Embodiment 3. FIG.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same or corresponding parts in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will not be repeated in principle.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a remote management system for hot water equipment to which the communication system according to the present embodiment is applied.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a communication system 10 according to Embodiment 1 includes a hot water device 100 and a communication adapter 40. Hot water apparatus 100 includes a water heater 101 and a remote controller (hereinafter also simply referred to as “remote controller”) 150 for inputting an operation operation command of water heater 101. In addition, it replaces with the water heater 101, and the hot water apparatus 100 may be comprised including the multi hot water supply system, the reheating apparatus of the hot water in a bathtub, a filtration apparatus, or a hot water heating apparatus.

  The water heater 101 includes a controller 110. The controller 110 is typically constituted by a microcomputer. The hot water device 100 can be installed outdoors, for example, around the outer wall of a house, in a garage, or the like. Remote controller 150 may be disposed indoors.

  The communication adapter 40 can be installed together with the hot water device 100 outdoors, for example, around the outer wall of a house or in a garage. The communication adapter 40 has a wireless communication function for communicating with a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) router 60 disposed indoors or the like using a predetermined communication protocol (for example, IEEE802.11n). Details of the communication adapter 40 will be described later.

  The wireless LAN router 60 is connected to the Internet network (communication network). The wireless LAN router 60 can wirelessly connect a plurality of wireless LAN slave units by functioning as a base unit of a wireless LAN. The communication adapter 40 can operate as a wireless LAN slave unit. When a communication connection (wireless link) with the wireless LAN router 60 is established, the communication adapter 40 can be connected to the Internet via the wireless LAN router 60.

  The hot water heater 101 and the remote controller 150 constituting the hot water device 100 are connected to the communication adapter 40 by the communication line 50. Accordingly, the hot water device 100 (the water heater 101 and the remote controller 150) can transmit and receive data to and from the communication adapter 40 in both directions. In addition, data is transmitted and received bidirectionally between the remote controller 150 and the water heater 101 via the communication line 50.

  As the communication line 50, for example, a two-core communication line can be used. Hereinafter, the communication line 50 is also referred to as a two-core communication line 50. By configuring the water heater 101 to convert the power supplied from the external power supply 15 such as a commercial system into a power supply voltage for an external device and output it to the two-core communication line 50, the operation power supply of the remote controller 150 and the communication adapter 40 Can be supplied from the water heater 101. In this case, communication data can be superimposed on the power supply voltage in the two-core communication line 50.

  Furthermore, in the hot water facility remote management system according to the present embodiment, management center 20 and support center 70 are connected to a communication network (typically the Internet). The management center 20 includes a cloud server 21a and an application server 21b. The cloud server 21a and the application server 21b are connected so as to be able to communicate with each other via an Internet network or a dedicated line, and can provide various services in cooperation with each other.

  The cloud server 21a is mainly connected to a large number of communication adapters 40 installed in homes, accommodation facilities, etc., and communicates with these communication adapters 40 so that each customer such as a home and each accommodation facility. Collects and manages various types of information on the hot water device 100 of For example, the information to be collected can include hot water supply amount and fuel consumption per unit time, hot water supply temperature, error information generated in each hot water device 100, and the like.

  The application server 21b manages a large number of user accounts for a large number of users such as homes and accommodation facilities, and accepts logins from operation terminals such as smartphones (not shown) held by the user. Various services are provided to operation terminals owned by.

  Preferably, dedicated application software for using a service provided by the application server 21b can be installed in a smartphone so that a login operation and various operations after login can be performed from the application software. Alternatively, by providing a web-based service, it is possible to perform login and other operations using an appropriate web browser.

  Note that the application server 21b provides only application services for user terminals such as smartphones, and customer information including user accounts can be configured to be managed by another customer information management center. Alternatively, the cloud server 21a and the application server 21b may be configured by an integrated server device.

  Services provided by the cloud server 21a and the application server 21b can be designed as necessary. For example, a connected device confirmation service, an operation information collection management service, an error monitoring service, a maintenance monitoring service, a remote operation service, and the like can be provided.

  According to the connected device confirmation service, the model and system configuration of the hot water device 100 connected to the communication adapter 40 described later can be confirmed. Further, based on the information collected from the hot water device 100 by the communication adapter 40, the model and system configuration can be determined on the server side.

  According to the operation information collection management service, the operation information of the hot water device 100 can be collected and managed from the communication adapter 40 periodically every unit time (for example, every hour). The operation information to be collected is arbitrary. For example, the accumulated hot water supply amount or the accumulated fuel consumption amount per unit time can be collected. The collected driving information can be used to create development materials by big data analysis. The operation information may include information from an optional device (not shown).

  According to the error monitoring service, when an error occurs in the hot water device 100, information related to the error is acquired from the communication adapter 40 and notified to the terminal 71 of the support center 70 or to the user's e-mail address. It can be performed.

  According to the maintenance monitor service, the operation status of the hot water device 100 can be monitored in real time when the hot water device 100 is repaired. Specifically, the operation status of the hot water device 100 connected to the designated communication adapter 40 can be monitored in real time by the tablet terminal 80 for field workers connected to the cloud server 21a.

  Alternatively, in the hot water utilization facility remote management system according to the present embodiment, it is possible to further provide a remote operation service for hot water equipment 100. For example, from a terminal 71 of the support center 70, a tablet terminal 80 for field workers, and a smartphone (not shown) owned by the user, a predetermined operation of the hot water device 100, for example, on / off of a hot water supply operation switch It is possible to perform a switching operation, a hot water supply set temperature changing operation, and the like via a communication network (Internet). Furthermore, it is possible to add an optional device (not shown) as a target for remote operation. At this time, the remote operation by the user can be performed by logging in to the application server 21b from a smartphone (not shown) or the like. In addition, as part of the service of the remote management system, it is also possible to display the operation information collected from the communication adapter 40 while logged in so that it can be viewed on a smartphone (not shown) or the like.

  The various services described above are enabled by data communication between the management center 20 (hereinafter also simply referred to as the server 20) and the hot water device 100 by the communication system 10.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for further explaining the configuration of the communication system 10.
Referring to FIG. 2, water heater 101 includes a communication unit 102, a controller 110, a memory 115, devices 120, and a sensor 130.

  The communication unit 102 performs bidirectional data communication with each of the remote controller 150 (communication unit 160), an optional device (not shown), and the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50. To do.

  The equipment 120 includes a burner for heating, a valve for controlling flow, and the like. The memory 115 stores a program for controlling the operation of the water heater 101. The sensor 130 includes a temperature sensor and a flow rate sensor for controlling the operation of the equipment 120. The controller 110 controls the operation of the water heater 101 by software processing by executing a program stored in the memory 115.

  Specifically, when the operation command from the user input to the remote controller 150 is received by the communication unit 102 from the remote controller 150 via the two-core communication line 50, the controller 110 performs the water heater according to the operation command. The operation of the devices 120 is controlled using the detection value of the sensor 130 so that the device 101 is operated.

  Remote controller 150 includes a communication unit 160, a controller 170, a memory 175, a display screen 180, and a switch 185.

  The communication unit 160 performs two-way data communication with each of the water heater 101 (communication unit 102), an optional device (not shown), and the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50. Execute.

  The switch 185 can typically be configured by a push button or a touch button. When an electrical signal is input to the controller 170 in accordance with the operation of the switch 185, the controller 170 can detect the operation of the switch 185 by the user.

  The display screen 180 can be constituted by, for example, a fluorescent display tube or a liquid crystal panel. The display screen 180 displays information that can be visually recognized by the user, such as characters and line drawings, under the control of the controller 170. When the display screen 180 is configured by a touch panel, a part or all of the switch 185 can be a soft switch displayed on the touch panel by software processing.

  The controller 170 is typically constituted by a microcomputer. The controller 170 outputs a signal indicating an operation command corresponding to the operation of the switch 185 from the communication unit 160 to the water heater 101 by software processing by executing a program stored in the memory 175. Alternatively, the controller 170 controls the display content of the display screen 180.

Next, a configuration example of the communication adapter 40 will be described with reference to FIG.
Referring to FIG. 3, communication adapter 40 includes a control unit 41, communication units 42 and 43, a power supply circuit 44, a memory 45, an antenna 47, and a connector 48. A two-core communication line 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is connected to the connector 48.

  The control unit 41 can be configured by a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 41a and an interface (I / F) 41b. The communication unit 42 can exchange information by bidirectionally transmitting / receiving data to / from the hot water device 100 (the water heater 101 and the remote controller 150) via the two-core communication line 50 connected to the connector 48. Configured.

  The communication unit 43 is configured to be able to exchange information by transmitting and receiving data to and from the wireless LAN router 60 and a smartphone (not shown) by wireless communication via the antenna 47. The power supply circuit 44 receives power supply from the two-core communication line 50 connected to the connector 48 and generates an operating power supply voltage for each element in the communication adapter 40.

  The memory 45 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 45a and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 45b. For example, the ROM 45a stores a program for controlling the operation of the communication adapter 40, and the control unit 41 reads the program stored in the ROM 45a and expands it in the RAM 45b during the startup process. The control unit 41 controls the operation of the communication adapter 40 by executing a program expanded in the RAM 45b.

  In FIG. 3, the memory 45 and the control unit 41 are shown as separate elements, but part or all of the memory 45 may be built in the control unit 41. Similarly, in FIG. 2, the memory 115 can be built in the controller 110, and the memory 175 can be built in the controller 170.

  The communication adapter 40 can communicate with the server 20 via the communication network (Internet) using the communication unit 43. Thereby, the communication adapter 40 can periodically transmit the operation information of the hot water device 100 for the operation information collection management service to the management center 20. On the other hand, the management center 20 can also transmit data and information to the communication adapter 40. Thus, data communication for configuring a remote management system can be executed between the hot water device 100 and the server 20 using the communication adapter 40 provided as a relay device.

  1 to 3, the management center (server) 20 corresponds to an example of a “management apparatus”, and the two-core communication line 50 corresponds to an example of a “communication line”. The remote controller 150 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to an embodiment of a “notification unit” for notifying a user.

  In the remote management system according to the present embodiment, the communication adapter 40 can be installed together with the hot water device 100 outdoors, for example, around the outer wall of a house or in a garage. FIG. 4 shows an installation example of the hot water device 100 and the communication adapter 40.

  In the example of FIG. 4, the communication adapter 40 is connected to the hot water device 100 via the communication line 50 outdoors. The communication adapter 40 includes a substrate 52 on which the control unit 41 and the power supply circuit 44 shown in FIG. 3 are mounted. A terminal block 54 as a connector 48 is provided on the substrate 52, and a two-core communication line 50 is connected to the terminal block 54. The substrate 52 and the terminal block 54 are covered with a cover (not shown).

  Similarly, the water heater 101 is also provided with a terminal block 140 for connecting the two-core communication line 50 to the controller 110. The terminal block 140 is covered with a front cover (not shown) together with the controller 110. The terminal block 140 is further connected with a two-core communication line 50 that connects the controller 110 and the remote controller 150. The remote controller 150 is disposed indoors together with the wireless LAN router 60.

  Here, it is assumed that the two-core communication line 50 is disconnected from the connector 48 (terminal block 54) due to a mischief or accident by a third party outdoors. In this case, since the physical connection between the hot water device 100 and the communication adapter 40 is interrupted, the communication adapter 40 cannot transmit / receive data to / from the hot water device 100.

  Furthermore, since the physical connection between the hot water device 100 and the communication adapter 40 is interrupted, the communication adapter 40 cannot receive power supply from the water heater 101, and thus becomes inoperable. Therefore, the communication adapter 40 cannot transmit / receive data to / from the server 20. Such a situation may occur even when the two-core communication line 50 is disconnected.

  When an abnormality occurs in the two-core communication line 50 such that the two-core communication line 50 is disconnected from the communication adapter 40 in this way, the communication adapter 40 is disconnected from both the communication with the hot water device 100 and the communication with the server 20. . Therefore, the abnormality of the two-core communication line 50 cannot be notified from the communication adapter 40 side to the hot water device 100 or the server 20. In addition, since the communication between the hot water device 100 and the server 20 is also blocked, the various services described above cannot be functioned.

  Therefore, there is a concern that the user who is indoors cannot notice the abnormality of the two-core communication line 50 at an early stage. As a result, the user cannot identify the cause of the communication abnormality, so he / she requests repair work from the support center 70, and is useless to reconnect the two-core communication line 50 to the connector 48 of the communication adapter 40. There is a concern that time may be consumed.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the hot water device 100 detects that the communication between the hot water device 100 and the communication adapter 40 is cut off, and notifies the user of the interruption of the communication.

  FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of processing for detecting communication interruption of hot water device 100 by the communication system according to Embodiment 1.

  Referring to FIG. 5, controller 110 of water heater 101 requests transmission of information to control unit 41 of communication adapter 40 by communication C10. The control unit 41 of the communication adapter 40 transmits information as a response to the request from the water heater 101 by communication C20. The information transmitted by the communication adapter 40 includes, for example, information on the hot water supply set temperature of the water heater 101. Communications C10 and C20 are executed by exchanging data between the communication unit 102 of the water heater 101 and the communication unit 42 of the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50.

  Subsequently, the controller 110 of the water heater 101 requests the controller 170 of the remote controller 150 to transmit information through communication C30. The controller 170 of the remote controller 150 transmits information as a response to the request from the water heater 101 by communication C40. The information transmitted by the remote controller 150 includes, for example, information on the hot water supply set temperature of the water heater 101. Communications C30 and C40 are executed by exchanging data between the communication unit 102 of the water heater 101 and the communication unit 160 of the remote controller 150 via the two-core communication line 50.

  The communications C10 to C40 can be repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals between the water heater 101 and the devices (communication adapter 40, remote controller 150, and other optional devices) connected to the two-core communication line 50. In one cycle, the water heater 101 requests the devices to transmit information in order, and receives information from each device. However, the controller 110 of the water heater 101 can also execute an interrupt process in response to an operation input to the remote controller 150.

  The controller 110 of the water heater 101 requests the controller 170 of the communication adapter 40 to transmit information again through communication C10. However, when the two-core communication line 50 is disconnected from the connector 48 (terminal block 54 in FIG. 4) of the communication adapter 40, or when the two-core communication line 50 is disconnected, the water heater 101, the communication adapter 40, Therefore, the control unit 41 of the communication adapter 40 cannot execute the communication C20.

  The controller 110 of the water heater 101 detects that the communication between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 is interrupted when there is no response of the communication adapter 40 by the communication C20 by the process P10. In this process P10, for example, the controller 110 of the water heater 101 communicates with the communication adapter 40 when there is no response from the communication adapter 40 even after a predetermined time has elapsed after requesting transmission of information through the communication C10. It can be determined that it has been blocked. That is, the controller 110 of the water heater 101 constitutes “detection means” for detecting that communication with the communication adapter 40 in the communication unit 102 has been interrupted.

  When the controller 110 of the water heater 101 detects that the communication with the communication adapter 40 is interrupted, the controller 110 of the remote controller 150 notifies the controller 170 of the remote controller 150 of the disconnection by communication C50. The communication C50 is executed by communication on the two-core communication line 50, similarly to the communication C30.

  When the controller 170 of the remote controller 150 receives the notification by the communication C50, the process P20 notifies the user that the communication between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 has been interrupted. For example, the remote controller 150 displays the communication cutoff notification screen on the display screen 180. The remote controller 150 may output a voice indicating that the communication has been interrupted instead of the notification screen or together with the notification screen.

  As described above, according to the communication system according to Embodiment 1, in the configuration in which information is transmitted and received between the hot water device 100 and the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50, the hot water device 100 is When the disconnection of communication between 100 and the communication adapter 40 is detected, the remote controller 150 is used to notify the user of the disconnection of the communication. According to this, in the case where communication between the hot water device 100 and the communication adapter 40 is interrupted due to the two-core communication line 50 being disconnected from the communication adapter 40 installed outdoors or the two-core communication line 50 being disconnected, etc. It is possible to promptly notify the user who is indoors of the interruption of the communication. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wasted time for reconnecting the two-core communication line 50 to the connector 48 of the communication adapter 40. In addition, the user does not need to regularly check the two-core communication line 50 in order to suppress such wasteful time consumption. As a result, user convenience can be improved.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, the controller 170 of the water heater 101 detects that the communication between the own device and the communication adapter 40 is cut off, and notifies the remote control 150 via the two-core communication line 50 of the cut-off of the communication. Thus, the configuration in which the remote controller 150 notifies the user of the interruption of the communication has been described.

  In the second embodiment, a configuration is described in which the remote controller 150 connected to the two-core communication line 50 detects the disconnection of communication between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 and notifies the user of the disconnection of the communication. To do.

  FIG. 6 is a sequence diagram illustrating the flow of processing for detecting communication interruption by the communication system according to the second embodiment.

  Referring to FIG. 6, controller 110 of water heater 101 requests transmission of information to control unit 41 of communication adapter 40 through the same communication C10 as in FIG. 5. The control unit 41 of the communication adapter 40 transmits information as a response to the request from the water heater 101 by the same communication C20 as in FIG. Communications C10 and C20 are executed by exchanging data between the communication unit 102 of the water heater 101 and the communication unit 42 of the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50.

  Subsequently, the controller 110 of the water heater 101 requests the controller 170 of the remote controller 150 to transmit information through the same communication C30 as in FIG. The controller 170 of the remote controller 150 transmits information as a response to the request from the water heater 101 through the same communication C40 as in FIG. Communications C30 and C40 are executed by exchanging data between the communication unit 102 of the water heater 101 and the communication unit 160 of the remote controller 150 via the two-core communication line 50.

  In the present embodiment, remote controller 150 performs communication P30 and communication adapter 40 of hot water heater 101 via two-core communication line 50 through process P30 in parallel with communications C30 and C40 with hot water heater 101. The communication unit 42 is configured to monitor transmission / reception of data executed.

  Similarly to FIG. 5, the communication C <b> 10 to C <b> 40 is repeatedly executed at predetermined intervals between the water heater 101 and the devices (communication adapter 40, remote controller 150, and other optional devices) connected to the two-core communication line 50. The

  The controller 110 of the water heater 101 requests the control unit 41 of the communication adapter 40 to transmit information again through the communication C10. However, when the two-core communication line 50 is disconnected from the connector 48 (terminal block 54 in FIG. 4) of the communication adapter 40, the physical connection between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 is interrupted. The control unit 41 of the communication adapter 40 cannot execute the communication C20.

  The remote controller 150 monitors transmission / reception of data executed between the communication unit 102 of the water heater 101 and the communication unit 42 of the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50 by the process P30. Therefore, when there is no response of the communication adapter 40 by the communication C20, the remote controller 150 detects that the communication between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 is cut off by the process P40. In this process P40, for example, when the controller 170 of the remote controller 150 does not respond to the communication adapter 40 even after a predetermined time has elapsed since the information transmission by the communication C10 is requested, the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 It can be determined that the communication is interrupted. In other words, the controller 170 of the remote controller 150 constitutes “detection means” for detecting that communication with the communication adapter 40 in the communication unit 102 of the water heater 101 is interrupted.

  When the controller 170 of the remote controller 150 detects that the communication between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 is cut off, the process P50 cuts off the communication between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 for the user. Inform you. In the process P50, as in the process P20 of FIG. 5, the remote controller 150 displays the communication cutoff notification screen on the display screen 180. The remote controller 150 may output a voice indicating that the communication has been interrupted instead of the notification screen or together with the notification screen. That is, in the present embodiment, remote controller 150 constitutes “detection means” and “notification unit”.

[Embodiment 3]
In the above-described second embodiment, the remote controller 150 configured as a device separate from the water heater 101 is used to detect the interruption of communication between the hot water device 100 (water heater 101) and the communication adapter 40. Although the example which comprises the "detection means" and the "notification part" for alert | reporting the interruption | blocking of the said communication to a user was demonstrated, using the remote control integrated with the water heater 101, a "detection means" and "notification part" May be configured.

  FIG. 7 shows an installation example of the hot water device 100 and the communication adapter 40 in the communication system according to the third embodiment. The example of FIG. 7 differs from the installation example shown in FIG. 4 in that a remote controller 152 is installed in the main body of the water heater 101.

  The remote controller 152 is installed on a front cover (not shown) of the water heater 101 and is connected to the controller 110 by a two-core communication line 50. The remote controller 152 has the same configuration as that of the remote controller 150 shown in FIG. 2, and includes a communication unit, a controller, a memory, a display screen, and a switch. The remote controller 152 performs bidirectional data communication with each of the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50.

  The remote controller 152 can further monitor data communication performed between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 via the two-core communication line 50. That is, the remote controller 152 detects the interruption of communication between the water heater 101 and the communication adapter 40 by executing the communication interruption detection process shown in FIG. 6, and notifies the user of the interruption of the communication. Configured as follows. Therefore, also by the communication system according to the third embodiment, the same effects as those of the second embodiment described above can be achieved.

  In the configuration example of FIG. 1, the configuration example in which the communication adapter 40 is connected to the Internet via the wireless LAN router 60 has been described. However, in the remote management system to which the communication system according to the present embodiment is applied, The communication connection between the communication adapter 40 and the server 20 can be in any form. For example, even if a wired LAN router is used instead of the wireless LAN router 60, a communication connection via the Internet can be established between the communication adapter 40 and the server 20. In this case, the communication adapter 40 (communication unit 43) can be configured to communicate with a wired LAN router using a predetermined protocol (for example, Ethernet standard IEEE802.3 or the like).

  Alternatively, the wired LAN router can be configured as a dedicated router dedicated to the communication adapter 40 to form an integrated communication device together with the communication adapter 40. As such a dedicated router, for example, a broadband router and a switching hub having a constant connection function with the Internet, a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server function, and a HUB function are used. The dedicated router is, for example, a 3G router.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

  10 communication system, 15 external power supply, 20 management center (server), 21a cloud server, 21b application server, 40 communication adapter, 41 control unit, 42, 43 communication unit, 44 power supply circuit, 45, 115, 175 memory, 45a ROM , 45b RAM, 47 antenna, 48 connector, 50 2-core communication line, 52 board, 54, 140 terminal block, 60 wireless LAN router, 70 support center, 71 terminal, 80 tablet terminal, 100 hot water equipment, 101 water heater, 102 , 160 communication unit, 110, 170 controller, 120 devices, 130 sensor, 150, 152 remote control, 180 display screen, 185 switch.

Claims (6)

A hot water device,
A communication unit for performing communication via a communication line with a relay device configured to transmit and receive information to and from the management device of the hot water device via a communication network;
Detecting means for detecting that communication with the relay device in the communication unit is interrupted;
A hot water apparatus comprising: a notification unit configured to notify the user of the interruption of communication when the detection unit detects the interruption of communication with the relay device. A remote controller for inputting user instructions;
The hot water device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit is configured using the remote controller. The remote controller is configured to execute communication with the communication unit via the communication line,
The hot water device according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit notifies the remote controller of the interruption of communication when the interruption of communication with the relay device is detected. The remote controller is configured to execute communication with the communication unit via the communication line,
The hot water apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the detection unit and the notification unit are configured using the remote controller. The relay device is installed outdoors,
The hot water device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the remote controller is installed indoors.   The hot water apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the relay device operates by receiving power supply from the hot water apparatus via the communication line.

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