JP2021047742A - Hot water system, water heater, and server - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent a trouble from occurring between a water heater communicably connected to an apparatus management device and the apparatus management device due to update of firmware.SOLUTION: A hot water supply system 1 includes a hot water supply device 10 communicably connected to an apparatus management device 50 for managing an electric apparatus at home and a server 20 communicably connected to the hot water supply device 10 through an external communication network 40, and can update firmware installed in the hot water supply device 10 by update firmware transmitted from the server 20. The server 20 transmits the update firmware of which connection verification between the hot water supply device 10 and the apparatus management device 50 connected to the hot water supply device 10 is completed to the hot water supply device 10. The hot water supply device 10 updates the firmware by the update firmware of which connection verification is completed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a hot water system including a hot water device such as a hot water supply device and a server capable of communicating with the hot water device via an external communication network. The present invention also relates to a water heating device and a server.

In recent years, the HEMS (Home Energy Management System) that manages the energy consumed in the home is becoming widespread. In the HEMS, the electric devices in the home are connected to the device management devices constituting the HEMS via the home network. The device management device monitors and controls the operation of electrical devices so that energy is consumed efficiently (see Patent Document 1).

As an electric device installed in a home, a hot water supply device, which is one of the hot water devices, can be connected to the above-mentioned device management device and managed. In this case, the hot water supply device is remotely operated from the device management device, or the energy (gas, electricity) usage amount and the water consumption amount of the hot water supply device are displayed on the monitor of the device management device.

Japanese Patent No. 61577444

The above-mentioned device management devices have been developed by various manufacturers. The manufacturer of the equipment management device and the manufacturer of the hot water supply device perform connection verification between the device management device and the hot water supply device in advance to confirm that there is no problem in operation. Therefore, by connecting the device management device and the hot water supply device guaranteed by the connection verification, it is unlikely that an operation abnormality or the like will occur in these devices at the initial stage of connection.

By the way, recently, a configuration is adopted in which a water heater is connected to a server via an external communication network such as the Internet so that the firmware installed in the water heater is updated by the latest firmware downloaded from the server. It is becoming possible to do so.

When the water heater includes a water heater and a remote controller for operation, and each of the water heater and the remote controller has a control unit and a storage unit, the firmware used for controlling each operation is the storage unit. It is stored in and each firmware can be updated.

However, if the equipment management device is already connected to the hot water supply device and the firmware of the hot water supply device is updated as described above, the device management device may not be able to handle it depending on the contents, etc., and the hot water supply device and device management There is a concern that problems may occur in data communication with the device and remote control of the hot water supply device from the device management device.

In view of such a problem, the present invention prevents the hot water device communicably connected to the device management device from causing a problem with the device management device due to a firmware update. The purpose.

The first aspect of the present invention is a hot water device communicably connected to a device management device that manages electrical equipment in a home, and a server communicably connected to the hot water device via an external communication network. The present invention relates to a hot water system in which the firmware mounted on the hot water device can be updated by the updated firmware transmitted from the server. In the hot water system according to the present embodiment, the server transmits the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed to the hot water device. The hot water device updates the firmware with the updated firmware for which the connection verification has been completed.

Here, the "updated firmware" is new firmware that is rewritten from the current firmware by the update, and includes not only the whole firmware but also a part of the firmware.

According to the hot water system according to this aspect, it is prevented that the firmware of the hot water device is updated by the update firmware for which the connection verification has not been performed between the hot water device and the device management device. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring between the hot water device and the device management device due to the firmware update.

In the water heating device according to this aspect, the server may be configured to include a storage unit, a control unit, and a communication unit. In this case, the storage unit identifies the updated firmware for which connection verification has been completed between the device management device and the hot water device in association with the first specific information that identifies the device management device. 2 Store specific information. Then, when the control unit receives a request from the hot water device, the control unit transmits the second specific information associated with the first specific information of the device management device to which the requested hot water device is connected. When the update with the update firmware specified by the second specific information referred to and referred to is not performed in the hot water device that has received the request, the update firmware is requested via the communication unit. It is transmitted to the received water heating device.

According to the above configuration, when the update firmware of the hot water device is created, the device management device is specified only after the connection verification with the update firmware is completed between the hot water device and the device management device. 1 Associate with specific information to identify the updated firmware for which connection verification has been completed. Second specific information is stored in the storage unit, and the updated firmware that has been verified for connection can be sent from the server to the hot water device. Update You can update with firmware. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring between the hot water device and the device management device due to the firmware update.

Moreover, the storage unit contains the second specific information that identifies the updated firmware for which the connection verification has been completed between the device management device and the hot water device in association with the first specific information that identifies the device management device. Since it is stored, it is possible to send the updated firmware whose connection has been verified according to the type (model) of the device management device connected to the hot water device.

With such a configuration, the water heating device may be further configured to acquire the first specific information from the device management device to which the water heating device is connected and transmit it to the server.

With such a configuration, the server can send the updated firmware whose connection has been verified according to the type of the device management device to the hot water device by using the first specific information transmitted from the hot water device.

In the hot water system according to this aspect, the hot water device may be configured to include a control unit and a communication unit. In this case, the communication unit receives from the server specific information that identifies the updated firmware for which connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed. .. Then, when the update with the updated firmware specified by the specific information is not completed, the control unit requests the server to transmit the updated firmware.

According to the above configuration, when the update firmware of the hot water device is created, the connection verification is completed only after the connection verification with the updated firmware is completed between the hot water device and the device management device. Specific information that identifies the update firmware is sent to the hot water device, the hot water device can request the transmission of the update firmware whose connection has been verified, and the hot water device can be updated by the update firmware. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring between the hot water device and the device management device due to the firmware update.

A second aspect of the present invention is a hot water device that is communicably connected to a device management device that manages electrical devices in a home, and is communicably connected to a server via an external communication network. The present invention relates to a hot water device in which the firmware mounted on the device can be updated by the updated firmware transmitted from the server. The water heating device according to this embodiment includes a communication unit for communicating with the server, the water heating device acquired from the server via the communication unit, and the device management device connected to the water heating device. A control unit for updating the firmware by the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the two has been completed is provided.

In the water heating device according to the present embodiment, the communication unit provides specific information for identifying the updated firmware for which connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed. It may be configured to receive from the server. In this case, the control unit requests the server to transmit the updated firmware when the update with the updated firmware specified by the specific information is not completed.

According to the hot water device according to the present aspect, as in the hot water system of the first aspect, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring between the hot water device and the device management device due to a firmware update.

A third aspect of the present invention is a water heating device that is communicably connected to a device management device that manages electrical equipment in the home, and is mounted on the water hot device that is communicably connected via an external communication network. The present invention relates to a server capable of transmitting updated firmware for updating the firmware to the hot water device. The server according to this aspect is the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the communication unit for communicating with the hot water device, the hot water device, and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed. Is provided to the water heating device via the communication unit.

In the server according to this embodiment, the second specific information that identifies the device management device is linked to the second specific information that specifies the updated firmware for which connection verification has been completed between the device management device and the hot water device. A configuration may be adopted in which a storage unit for storing specific information is further provided. In this case, when the control unit receives a request from the hot water device, the second specific information associated with the first specific information of the device management device to which the requested hot water device is connected. When the update with the update firmware specified by the second specific information referred to is not performed in the hot water device that has received the request, the update firmware is requested via the communication unit. It is transmitted to the hot water device that has received.

According to the server according to this aspect, as in the case of the hot water system of the first aspect, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring between the hot water device and the device management device due to a firmware update.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the hot water device communicably connected to the device management device from causing a problem with the device management device due to a firmware update.

The effects or significance of the present invention will be further clarified by the description of the embodiments shown below. However, the embodiments shown below are merely examples when the present invention is put into practice, and the present invention is not limited to those described in the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circuit block of each device constituting the hot water supply system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3A is a diagram showing a configuration of an information management database according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a configuration of an updated firmware information database according to the first embodiment. .. FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing an information registration process executed on the kitchen remote controller side of the hot water supply device according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart on the server side according to the first embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the information registration process to be executed. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an update process executed on the kitchen remote controller side of the hot water supply device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an update process executed on the server side according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 (a) is a flowchart showing a version notification process executed on the server side according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 7 (b) is a flowchart showing the kitchen remote controller side of the hot water supply device according to the second embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the version notification processing to be executed. FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing an update process executed on the kitchen remote controller side of the hot water supply device according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8B is a flowchart executed on the server side according to the second embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the update process to be performed.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<First Embodiment>
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a hot water supply system 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the hot water supply system 1 includes a hot water supply device 10 and a server 20. The hot water supply device 10 is communicably connected to the server 20 via the router 30 and the external communication network 40. Further, the hot water supply device 10 is communicably connected to the device management device 50 installed in the building (here, the home H10) via the router 30.

The hot water supply device 10 includes a water heater 11 and remote controllers 12 and 13. The water heater 11 is a gas water heater that supplies hot water using gas as fuel. The hot water generated by the water heater 11 is supplied to the faucet of the kitchen, the bathtub, the curan, etc. via the pipes connected to the hot water supply port 11a. When the water heater 11 has a floor heating function, a bathroom heating function, and a heating function by a panel heater, hot water is supplied from the water heater 11 to a device that realizes these functions.

The remote controllers 12 and 13 are connected to the water heater 11 and are used to make various settings for each function of the water heater 10. The remote controllers 12 and 13 include display units 121 and 131 and input units 122 and 132, respectively. The user can make arbitrary settings for hot water filling, hot water supply temperature control, and the like by operating the input units 122 and 132 according to the screens displayed on the display units 121 and 131. The remote controller 12 is installed in the bathroom, and the remote controller 13 is installed in the kitchen or the like.

Hereinafter, the remote controller 12 installed in the bathroom will be referred to as a "bathroom remote controller 12", and the remote controller 13 installed in the kitchen or the like will be referred to as a "kitchen remote controller 13".

The input units 122 and 132 of the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 include operation buttons 122a and 132a. The operation buttons 122a and 132a are buttons for switching the hot water supply device 10 between the operation on state and the operation off state.

When the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 are in the operation off state (the state in which the water heater 11 does not perform the hot water supply operation even if the water heater such as the curan is opened and the water flow exceeds the reference flow rate), the display unit 121 , 131 are in the off state, and operations of operation buttons other than the operation buttons 122a and 132a are not accepted. When the operation buttons 122a and 132a are operated and the operation is turned on (a state in which the water heater 11 can perform hot water supply operation when a hot water tap such as a curan is opened and water flow exceeds a reference flow rate), the display unit 121, The 131 lights up to display the setting contents, and the operations of the operation buttons other than the operation buttons 122a and 132a can be accepted.

Further, the input units 122 and 132 include buttons for changing the hot water supply temperature. The user can change the set temperature of the hot water supply by operating this button. In addition, the input units 122 and 132 include buttons for controlling the operation of the water heater 11, such as buttons for executing the bath automatic function and the reheating function. The automatic bath function is a function to keep the hot water in the bathtub warm after filling the bathtub with hot water, and the reheating function is a function to reheat the hot water in the bathtub.

The router 30 is a wireless router for connecting the hot water supply device 10, that is, the kitchen remote controller 13, to the server 20 via the external communication network 40. The kitchen remote controller 13 is connected to the router 30 by wireless communication. The external communication network 40 is, for example, the Internet.

The server 20 transmits the updated firmware for updating the firmware mounted on the hot water supply device 10 to the hot water supply device 10, that is, the kitchen remote controller 13 via the external communication network 40 and the router 30. The updated firmware is new firmware that is rewritten from the current firmware by the update. All of the firmware is often rewritten to the updated firmware, but some of the firmware may be rewritten to the updated firmware. A plurality of hot water supply devices 10 can be communicably connected to the server 20 via the external communication network 40.

The device management device 50 is, for example, a device that constitutes a HEMS (Home Energy Management System) that manages energy consumed in the home, and communicates with electric devices such as an air conditioner and a television installed in the home H10. Manage the electrical equipment. The device management device 50 is connected to the router 30 by wireless communication. Further, the device management device 50 is connected to a management server (not shown) via the router 30 and the external communication network 40.

As one of the above-mentioned electric devices, the hot water supply device 10 is communicably connected to the device management device 50 via the router 30. By remote control of the device management device 50, it is possible to control the operation of the hot water supply device 10, for example, to execute a function such as hot water filling. Further, by providing the information from the hot water supply device 10, it is possible to display the information related to the hot water supply device 10, for example, the amount of gas used and the amount of water used on the monitor of the device management device 50.

The hot water supply device 10 may be remotely controlled by a mobile terminal device from inside the house H10 and outside the house. In this case, the control information input to the mobile terminal device is transmitted from the mobile terminal device to the server 20, and is transmitted from the server 20 to the kitchen remote controller 13. In this way, the control information is set in the kitchen remote controller 13, and the control according to the control information is executed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing circuit blocks of each device constituting the hot water supply system 1.

The water heater 11 includes a control unit 111, a storage unit 112, a communication unit 113, and a sensor group 114.

The control unit 111 includes a microcomputer and controls each unit in the water heater 11. The storage unit 112 includes a memory and stores firmware for controlling the water heater 11. The communication unit 113 communicates with the bathroom remote controller 12 and the kitchen remote controller 13 according to the control from the control unit 111.

The sensor group 114 includes a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of hot water flowing through the pipe connected to the hot water supply port 11a, a flow rate sensor that detects the flow rate of hot water flowing through the pipe, a water level sensor that detects the water level of the bathtub to which the hot water supply device 10 is connected, and the like. It is equipped with various sensors. The control unit 111 controls the supply of hot water and the like based on the detection signals from the sensor group 114.

The bathroom remote controller 12 includes a control unit 123, a storage unit 124, and a communication unit 125, in addition to the display unit 121 and the input unit 122 described above. The display unit 121 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The input unit 122 includes various operation buttons such as the operation button 122a and a touch panel laminated on the display unit 121.

The control unit 123 includes a microcomputer and performs predetermined control. The storage unit 124 includes a memory and stores firmware for controlling the bathroom remote controller 12. The communication unit 125 communicates with the water heater 11 according to the control from the control unit 123. In addition, the bathroom remote controller 12 is provided with a speaker for outputting sound.

The kitchen remote controller 13 includes a control unit 133, a storage unit 134, and a communication unit 135, in addition to the display unit 131 and the input unit 132 described above. The display unit 131 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal panel. The input unit 132 includes various operation buttons such as an operation button 132a and a touch panel laminated on the display unit 131.

The control unit 133 is provided with a microcomputer and performs predetermined control. The storage unit 134 includes a memory and stores firmware for controlling the kitchen remote controller 13. The communication unit 135 communicates with the water heater 11 according to the control from the control unit 133.

Further, the kitchen remote controller 13 includes a wireless communication unit 136. Here, the wireless communication unit 136 is a wireless communication module capable of wireless communication with the router 30. An IP address for identifying a device on a LAN (Local Area Network) set in the home H10 is assigned to the wireless communication unit 136 (wireless communication module). Further, the wireless communication unit 136 holds the above-mentioned MAC address. In addition, the kitchen remote controller 13 is provided with a speaker for outputting sound.

The server 20 includes a control unit 201, a storage unit 202, and a communication unit 203. The control unit 201 includes a CPU and performs predetermined control according to a program stored in the storage unit 202. The storage unit 202 includes a memory and stores a predetermined control program and database. The communication unit 203 performs predetermined communication according to the control from the control unit 201.

In the hot water supply system 1 of the present embodiment, each firmware mounted on the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13 of the hot water supply device 10 is updated by the updated firmware transmitted (downloaded) from the server 20. However, when each firmware of the hot water supply device 10 is updated, the device management device 50 cannot take measures depending on the contents and the like, and data communication between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 and the device management device 50 There is a concern that a problem may occur in the remote control of the hot water supply device 10.

Therefore, in the hot water supply system 1 of the present embodiment, an update process that can suppress the occurrence of the above-mentioned problems is executed. In this update process, the server 20 transmits to the hot water supply device 10 the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 connected to the hot water supply device 10 has been completed. Then, the hot water supply device 10 updates the firmware with the updated firmware for which the connection verification has been completed. The update process will be described in detail below.

The storage unit 202 of the server 20 is provided with an information management database 202a that manages the information of the hot water supply device 10 used for the update process and the information of the device management device 50.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the configuration of the information management database 202a.

In the information management database 202a, for each hot water supply device 10 connected to the device management device 50, the identification number (ID) of the hot water supply device 10, the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13 are provided as hot water supply device information. The firmware version is registered, and the model number of the device management device 50 and the firmware version are registered as the management device information. That is, in the information management database 202a, the version of each firmware of the hot water supply device 10 and the model number and firmware version of the device management device 50 are managed in association with the identification number of the hot water supply device 10.

The model number is specific information (first specific information) for specifying the device management device 50. If the device management device 50 can be specified, information other than the model number, for example, a model name or a manufacturer name may be registered in the information management database 202a as specific information.

Further, the storage unit 202 of the server 20 is provided with an update firmware information database 202b used for the update process.

FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the configuration of the updated firmware information database 202b.

In the update firmware information database 202b, the update firmware version whose connection has been verified is registered for each of the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13 in association with the model number and the firmware version of the device management device 50. There is.

When the update firmware corresponding to the firmwares of the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13 of the hot water supply device 10 is created, each of the updated firmwares is stored in the storage unit 202 of the server 20, and the updated firmware of each update firmware is stored. The version is managed by the storage unit 202. The manufacturer of the hot water supply device 10 and the manufacturer of the device management device 50 verify the connection between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 that have been rewritten to each updated firmware by the update, and confirm that there is no problem in operation. .. The connection verification is performed for each device management device 50 having a different model number and firmware version, and when the connection verification is completed, the update firmware version for which the connection verification has been completed is the update firmware version for which the connection verification has been completed, and the update firmware information. It is registered in the database 202b. The version of the update firmware whose connection has been verified is specific information (second specific information) for identifying the update firmware whose connection has been verified.

When there are a plurality of models of the hot water supply device 10 that can be connected to the server 20, it is preferable that the information management database 202a and the update firmware information database 202b are prepared for each model.

Next, the information registration process for registering the hot water supply device information and the management device information in the information management database 202a will be described.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart showing an information registration process executed on the kitchen remote controller 13 side of the hot water supply device 10, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart showing an information registration process executed on the server 20 side. ..

The information registration process is executed, for example, when the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 are first connected, that is, paired.

With reference to FIG. 4A, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 transmits an information acquisition request for acquiring the model number and the firmware version to the device management device 50 as the management device information (S101). The device management device 50 transmits the management device information to the hot water supply device 10 in response to the information acquisition request.

When the wireless communication unit 136 receives the management device information from the device management device 50 via the router 30 (S102: YES), the control unit 133 stores the acquired management device information in the storage unit 134 (S103).

The storage unit 134 stores the identification number of the water heater 10, and the firmware versions of the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13 as the hot water supply device information. The control unit 133 reads the hot water supply device information from the storage unit 134, and transmits the acquired management device information to the server 20 via the wireless communication unit 136 (S104).

With reference to FIG. 4B, when the communication unit 203 receives the hot water supply device information and the management device information (S201), the control unit 201 of the server 20 registers these information in the information management database 202a (S202). ..

The device management device 50 may periodically update its own firmware, for example, by downloading the updated firmware from the management server. In this case, the firmware version is updated to the updated firmware version. Therefore, even after the information registration process is performed, the control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 acquires the firmware version from the device management device 50 and updates the version periodically, for example, at a fixed time every day. For example, it is transmitted to the server 20.

Similarly, in the water heater 10, when each firmware is updated by the updated firmware, the firmware version is updated to the updated firmware version. Therefore, even if the version of each firmware of the hot water supply device 10 is updated by the update, the control unit 133 transmits the version to the server 20. When the control unit 201 of the server 20 receives the updated version of the device management device 50 and the hot water supply device 10, the version registered in the information management database 202a is rewritten to these versions.

Next, the update process will be described.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an update process executed on the kitchen remote controller 13 side of the hot water supply device 10. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an update process executed on the server 20 side.

The control unit 133 of the kitchen remote controller 13 executes the update process periodically, for example, at a predetermined time every day. The control unit 201 of the server 20 repeatedly executes the update process.

With reference to FIG. 5, in the kitchen remote controller 13, the control unit 133 transmits a firmware upgrade request for updating the firmware to the server 20 via the wireless communication unit 136 (S301). At this time, the control unit 133 adds the identification number of the hot water supply device 10 to the firmware upgrade request.

With reference to FIG. 6, in the server 20, the control unit 201 monitors whether or not the communication unit 203 has received the firmware upgrade request from the hot water supply device 10 (S401). When the firmware upgrade request is transmitted as described above and the communication unit 203 receives the request (S401: YES), the control unit 201 performs a process of comparing versions (S402). That is, in the information management database 202a, the control unit 201 sets the version of each firmware of the hot water supply device 10, the model number of the device management device 50, and the version of the firmware associated with the identification number added to the firmware upgrade request. refer. Further, the control unit 201 refers to the update firmware version of the hot water supply device 10 whose connection has been verified, which is associated with the model number and the firmware version of the device management device 50 in the update firmware information database 202b. Then, the version of each firmware is compared with the version of the updated firmware whose connection has been verified (S402).

When all the versions match (S403: YES), the control unit 201 transmits an unnecessary notification indicating that the update is unnecessary to the hot water supply device 10 via the communication unit 203 (S404). On the other hand, if any of the versions does not match (S403: NO), the firmware whose version does not match has not been updated by the update firmware whose connection has been verified, so that the version of the control unit 201 does not match. A certain connection-verified update firmware is transmitted to the hot water supply device 10 via the communication unit 203 (S405).

With reference to FIG. 5 again, when the firmware upgrade request is transmitted in the kitchen remote controller 13, the control unit 133 notifies whether or not the wireless communication unit 136 has received the update firmware whose connection has been verified, and unnecessary notification. It monitors whether or not it has been received (S302, S303).

Upon receiving the updated firmware (S302: YES), the control unit 133 executes the update by the updated firmware (S304). For example, when the control unit 133 acquires the updated firmware of the kitchen remote controller 13, the control unit 133 rewrites the firmware in the storage unit 134 with the updated firmware. When the control unit 133 acquires the updated firmware of the water heater 11 or the bathroom remote controller 12, the control unit 133 transmits the updated firmware to the water heater 11 or the bathroom remote controller 12 via the communication unit 135 to control the control unit 111 or the bathroom remote controller 12. The unit 123 is made to rewrite the firmware in the storage unit 112 or the storage unit 124 with the updated firmware. Then, the control unit 133 updates the version stored in the storage unit 134 with respect to the updated firmware.

On the other hand, when the unnecessary notification is received (S303: YES), the control unit 133 ends the update process without updating any firmware.

<Effect of the first embodiment>
According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

In the hot water supply system 1, the server 20 transmits to the hot water supply device 10 the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 connected to the hot water supply device 10 has been completed. Specifically, in the server 20, the update firmware information database 202b is associated with the model number that identifies the device management device 50, and the connection verification has been completed between the device management device 50 and the hot water supply device 10. Remember the version that identifies the firmware. Then, when the control unit 201 receives the firmware upgrade request from the hot water supply device 10, the control unit 201 refers to the version associated with the model number of the device management device 50 to which the requested hot water supply device 10 is connected, and refers to the referenced version. When the update with the update firmware specified in is not performed by the requested hot water supply device 10, the updated firmware is transmitted to the requested hot water supply device 10 via the communication unit 203. The hot water supply device 10 updates the firmware with the updated firmware for which connection verification has been completed.

According to this configuration, when the update firmware for the hot water supply device 10 is created, the device management device 50 must complete the connection verification with the update firmware between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50. The update firmware whose connection has been verified can be transmitted from the server 20 to the hot water supply device 10 connected to the hot water supply device 10, and the hot water supply device 10 can be updated by the update firmware. Therefore, it is prevented that the firmware of the hot water supply device 10 is updated by the update firmware for which the connection verification has not been performed. Therefore, a problem occurs between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 due to the firmware update. Can be prevented from occurring.

Further, in the update firmware information database 202b, there is a version that identifies the update firmware for which connection verification has been completed between the device management device 50 and the hot water supply device 10 by associating it with a model number that identifies the device management device 50. Since it is stored, it is possible to send the updated firmware whose connection has been verified according to the type (model) of the device management device 50 connected to the hot water supply device 10.

Further, since the hot water supply device 10 acquires a model number that identifies the device management device 50 from the device management device 50 and transmits the model number to the server 20, the server 20 uses the model number according to the type of the device management device 50. The updated firmware whose connection has been verified can be sent to the water heater 10.

<Second Embodiment>
In the hot water supply system 1 of the first embodiment, the server 20 determines whether or not to transmit the update firmware from the server 20 to perform the update. On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the hot water supply device 10 side determines whether or not to transmit the update firmware from the server 20 to perform the update.

Hereinafter, the update process in the hot water supply system 1 of the present embodiment will be described.

In the present embodiment, in order to be used for the update process, the latest update firmware version for which connection verification has been completed between the water heater 10 and the device management device 50 connected to the water heater 10 is the server. 20 notifies the hot water supply device 10. First, a process for notifying this version (hereinafter, referred to as "version notification process") will be described.

FIG. 7A is a flowchart showing the version notification process executed on the server 20 side, and FIG. 7B is a flowchart showing the version notification process executed on the kitchen remote controller 13 side of the hot water supply device 10. ..

Similar to the first embodiment, the storage unit 202 of the server 20 includes an information management database 202a and an update firmware information database 202b.

With reference to FIG. 7A, in the server 20, the control unit 201 has the update firmware whose connection has been verified and is associated with the model number and the firmware version of any of the device management devices 50 in the update firmware information database 202b. (S501), it is monitored whether or not the version (at least one version of the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13) has been updated. When the above version is updated (S501: YES), the control unit 201 confirms the model number and the firmware version of the device management device 50 whose version has been updated in the updated firmware information database 202b, and confirms the model number and the firmware version. The hot water supply device 10 to which the device management device 50 having the firmware version is connected is extracted from the information management database 202a, and the updated connection-verified updated firmware version after the update is transmitted to the hot water supply device 10 (S502).

With reference to FIG. 7B, in the kitchen remote controller 13, the control unit 133 monitors whether or not the wireless communication unit 136 has received the updated firmware version whose connection has been verified from the server 20 (S601). When the version of the updated firmware whose connection has been verified is transmitted as described above and the wireless communication unit 136 receives this (S601: YES), the control unit 133 stores the version of the updated firmware whose connection has been verified to the storage unit 134. Save (S602). As a result, the latest connection-verified updated firmware versions of the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13 are stored in the storage unit 134.

Next, the update process will be described.

FIG. 8A is a flowchart showing an update process executed on the kitchen remote controller 13 side of the hot water supply device 10, and FIG. 8B is a flowchart showing an update process executed on the server 20 side.

With reference to FIG. 8A, in the kitchen remote controller 13, the control unit 133 has verified the latest connection with the current firmware version in the storage unit 134 for the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13. Compare with the updated firmware version of (S701). When all the versions match (S702: YES), the control unit 133 ends the update process. On the other hand, if any of the versions does not match (S702: NO), the firmware whose version does not match has not been updated by the update firmware whose connection has been verified, so that the control unit 133 has a version mismatch. A firmware upgrade request for transmitting a certain connection-verified update firmware is transmitted to the server 20 via the wireless communication unit 136 (S703). The firmware upgrade request is added with the identification number of the water heater 10 and the version of the updated firmware whose connection has been verified for transmission.

With reference to FIG. 8B, in the server 20, the control unit 201 monitors whether or not the communication unit 203 has received the firmware upgrade request from the hot water supply device 10 (S801). When the firmware upgrade request is transmitted as described above and the communication unit 203 receives the request (S801: YES), the control unit 201 supplies the updated firmware for which transmission has been verified to the hot water via the communication unit 203. It is transmitted to the device 10 (S802).

When the kitchen remote controller 13 receives the updated firmware (S704: YES) with reference to FIG. 8A again, the control unit 133 executes the update by the updated firmware (S705).

<Effect of the second embodiment>
According to this embodiment, the following effects can be achieved.

In the hot water supply system 1, in the hot water supply device 10, the wireless communication unit 136 updates the version of the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 connected to the hot water supply device 10 has been completed. Upon receiving from the server 20, the control unit 133 requests the server 20 to transmit the updated firmware when the update with the received version of the updated firmware is not completed. The server 20 transmits the updated firmware for which the connection verification has been completed, which is requested to be transmitted, to the hot water supply device 10, and the control unit 133 of the hot water supply device 10 updates the firmware with the update firmware for which the connection verification has been completed. Do.

According to this configuration, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the firmware of the hot water supply device 10 from being updated by the update firmware for which the connection verification has not been performed between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a problem from occurring between the hot water supply device 10 and the device management device 50 due to a firmware update.

<Change example>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made to the application examples of the present invention in addition to the above-described embodiment.

For example, in the first embodiment, the storage unit 202 of the server 20 is provided with the information management database 202a. Then, in the information management database 202a, the identification number (ID) of the hot water supply device 10 which is the hot water supply device information, the hot water supply device 10, that is, the versions of the firmwares of the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13, and the management device information are displayed. The model number and firmware version of a certain device management device 50 have been registered. However, the storage unit 202 of the server 20 does not have to be provided with the information management database 202a. In this case, in the update process, not only the identification number but also the hot water supply device information other than the identification number and the management device information are added to the firmware upgrade request from the hot water supply device 10 of S301. Then, the control unit 201 of the server 20 uses the hot water supply device information and the management device information in the process of comparing the versions of S402.

Further, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the wireless communication unit 136 is provided in the kitchen remote controller 13 constituting the hot water supply device 10, but the wireless communication unit is provided in the water heater 11 or the bathroom remote controller 12. The water heater 11 or the bathroom remote controller 12 may be connected to the router 30. In this case, the processing of FIGS. 4 (a) and 5 of the first embodiment and the processing of FIGS. 7 (b) and 8 (a) of the second embodiment performed by the kitchen remote controller 13 are performed by the water heater 11. It may be performed by the control unit 111 or the control unit 123 of the bathroom remote controller 12. Alternatively, even if a repeater (adapter) having a wireless communication unit is arranged in the hot water supply device 10 in addition to the water heater 11, the bathroom remote controller 12, and the kitchen remote controller 13, and the repeater is connected to the router 30 by wire or wirelessly. Good. In this case, the repeater includes a control unit and a storage unit in addition to the wireless communication unit, and the control unit performs the processing of FIGS. 4 (a) and 5 of the first embodiment and FIG. 7 of the second embodiment ( The processes of b) and FIG. 8 (a) are executed. In this configuration, the firmware also exists in the storage unit of the repeater. Therefore, the firmware version of the repeater is also registered in the information management database 202a and the update firmware information database 202b, and the firmware of the repeater is also updated by the update process.

Further, when a device (heating terminal) that realizes a floor heating function, a bathroom heating function, and a heating function by a panel heater is connected to the water heater 11, they are updated by the update processing of the first embodiment and the second embodiment. The device firmware may also be updated.

Further, the hot water supply device 10 is not limited to the one using gas fuel, and may be a hot water supply device using oil as fuel. The hot water supply device 10 may be of a storage type using a storage tank, or may be configured to further include a power generation unit such as a fuel cell.

Further, the hot water system of the present invention can be applied to a hot water system other than the hot water supply system 1, for example, a hot water system including a hot water heating heat source machine and a server, or a hot water system including a bath kettle and a server. Similarly, the hot water device of the present invention can be applied to a hot water device other than a hot water supply device such as a hot water heating heat source machine and a bath kettle.

In addition, various modifications of the embodiment of the present invention can be made as appropriate within the scope of claims.

1 Hot water supply system (hot water system)
10 Hot water supply device (hot water device)
13 Kitchen remote controller 20 Server 40 External communication network 50 Equipment management device 133 Control unit 136 Wireless communication unit (communication unit)
201 Control unit 202 Storage unit 202b Update firmware information database 203 Communication unit

Claims (8)

The water heater is equipped with a water heater that is communicably connected to an equipment management device that manages electrical equipment in the home and a server that is communicably connected to the water heater via an external communication network. In a hot water system where the firmware can be updated by the updated firmware sent from the server.
The server transmits the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed to the hot water device.
The hot water device updates the firmware with the updated firmware for which the connection verification has been completed.
A hot water system that features that. In the hot water system according to claim 1,
The server includes a storage unit, a control unit, and a communication unit.
The storage unit is associated with the first specific information that identifies the device management device, and the second specific information that identifies the updated firmware for which connection verification has been completed between the device management device and the hot water device. Remember,
The control unit
When a request is received from the water heating device, the second specific information associated with the first specific information of the device management device to which the requested water hot device is connected is referred to.
When the update with the update firmware specified by the second specific information referred to is not performed by the hot water device for which the request has been received, the update firmware for which the request has been received is transmitted via the communication unit. Send to the hot water device,
A hot water system that features that. In the hot water system according to claim 2.
The hot water device acquires the first specific information from the device management device to which the hot water device is connected and transmits the first specific information to the server.
A hot water system that features that. In the hot water system according to claim 1,
The water heating device includes a control unit and a communication unit, and includes a control unit and a communication unit.
The communication unit receives from the server specific information that identifies the updated firmware for which connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed.
When the update with the updated firmware specified by the specific information is not completed, the control unit requests the server to transmit the updated firmware.
A hot water system that features that. A hot water device that is communicably connected to a device management device that manages electrical equipment in the home, is communicably connected to a server via an external communication network, and is equipped with firmware mounted on the water hot device. In a water heater that can be updated by the update firmware sent from the server
A communication unit for communicating with the server,
Control to update the firmware by the updated firmware for which the connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device acquired from the server via the communication unit has been completed. Department and
A water heating device characterized by being provided with. In the water heating device according to claim 5,
The communication unit receives from the server specific information that identifies the updated firmware for which connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed.
When the update with the updated firmware specified by the specific information is not completed, the control unit requests the server to transmit the updated firmware.
A water heating device characterized by that. Update firmware for updating the firmware installed in the water heater, which is connected to the water heater that is communicably connected to the equipment management device that manages the electrical equipment in the home and that is communicably connected via the external communication network. In a server capable of transmitting to the hot water device
A communication unit for communicating with the hot water device,
A control unit that transmits the updated firmware for which connection verification between the hot water device and the device management device connected to the hot water device has been completed to the hot water device via the communication unit.
A server characterized by being equipped with. In the server according to claim 7.
A storage unit that stores the second specific information that identifies the updated firmware for which connection verification has been completed between the device management device and the hot water device in association with the first specific information that identifies the device management device. With more
The control unit
When a request is received from the water heating device, the second specific information associated with the first specific information of the device management device to which the requested water hot device is connected is referred to.
When the update with the update firmware specified by the second specific information referred to is not performed by the hot water device for which the request has been received, the update firmware for which the request has been received is transmitted via the communication unit. Send to the hot water device,
A server that features that.

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