JP3601489B2 - Centralized control system for household equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a centralized control system for home appliances, and more particularly to a system for centrally controlling a plurality of home appliances.
[0002]
[Prior art]
At present, a plurality of devices such as an air conditioner (hereinafter, referred to as an air conditioner) for performing heating and cooling and a water heater are often present in a home. In particular, recently, it is not uncommon to install an air conditioner in each room in a home.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
As described above, a plurality of devices (such as an air conditioner) are often provided in a home. However, at present, operation control of each device is performed for each device.
In contrast, air conditioner manufacturers and others offer and sell centralized controllers that can control multiple air conditioners at once. The centralized controller incorporates a control program developed by a manufacturer, and allows a user to make various settings within a range of functions of the control program. For example, on the centralized touch panel of the controller, the user can perform on / off control setting for each time zone of each device and air volume adjustment.
[0004]
However, few homes have decided to introduce such a centralized controller. The reason for this is that, first of all, there are few types of centralized controllers prepared by the manufacturer due to small demand, and it is difficult to find a centralized controller capable of controlling according to the demands of the user (home). If a user lacks the features they need, has too many features that the user does not need and is too complex for the user, or if the display screen does not suit the user's preferences, such a centralized controller Willingness to buy is lost.
[0005]
In addition, if the arrangement of devices or the lifestyle changes after the centralized controller is installed, changing the control contents will take a long time and high cost, and the centralized controller is expensive. One reason is that the centralized controller for home appliances is not popular.
On the other hand, it is difficult for a manufacturer that manufactures and sells a centralized controller to develop various types of centralized controllers that meet various user needs despite the small number of units sold. In other words, developing and preparing a large number of control programs built in the centralized controller by the manufacturer increases the price of the centralized controller and hinders the spread of systems for centralized control of home appliances.
[0006]
An object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of centrally controlling a plurality of devices in a home, which is relatively inexpensive, easily adapts to the needs of each home, and in which control changes after introduction are relatively easy. To provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A centralized control system for home appliances according to claim 1 includes a general-purpose controller, a program creation device, and a server. The general-purpose controller is capable of centrally controlling a plurality of devices and is connected to a plurality of devices at home. The program creation device creates a control program necessary for centrally controlling a plurality of devices, and provides the control program to a general-purpose controller. The server provides the program creating device with a tool that can be used for creating a control program. In addition, the server provides a tool to a plurality of program creation devices, accumulates some of the control programs created by the program creation device, and includes an excellent one of the accumulated control programs in the tool. To the program creation device.
[0008]
A centralized control system for home appliances according to a second aspect includes a general-purpose controller, a program creation device, and a server. The general-purpose controller is capable of centrally controlling a plurality of devices and is connected to a plurality of devices at home. The program creation device creates a control program necessary for centrally controlling a plurality of devices, and provides the control program to a general-purpose controller. The server provides the program creating device with a tool that can be used for creating a control program. In addition, the server has a database for providing tools to a plurality of program creation devices and for storing excellent control programs created by the program creation devices.
[0009]
Here, a hardware controller and a software controller, which are conventionally integrated as a centralized controller, are separated as a general-purpose controller and a control program, and a control program is provided to the general-purpose controller from a program creation device such as a personal computer. . Then, a server is provided so that the control program can be easily created in the program creation device, and a tool is provided from the server to the program creation device.
[0010]
Since the control program can be created by the program creating device in this way, it becomes possible for a home user to create a unique control program according to his / her preference and necessity. Further, even when it is desired to change the control program, the control program can be easily corrected. Furthermore, here, a system has been established in which a server is provided and a tool is provided from the server to the program creation device, thereby assisting a home user in creating a control program. Therefore, even a user who does not have special skills can create a control program with some knowledge and understanding.
[0011]
On the other hand, when it is difficult for the user to create the control program by himself, it is conceivable that a supplier or the like that supplies the device to be controlled creates the control program with the program creating device. Also in this case, since the server provides the tool to the program creating device, the supplier can relatively easily create the control program.
[0012]
In addition, here, the best control programs created by various creators, such as home users, will be stored on the server. , So that a user or the like can use the control program when creating the control program. For this reason, it can be expected that more than just the idea of centralized control by only some people, such as program developers of manufacturers, will be gathered.
[0013]
The connection between the general-purpose controller and the plurality of devices may be made using a power line carrier communication line, a general-purpose controller and a plurality of devices may be connected to a home LAN, or the power line carrier communication line may be connected to the LAN. Both may be used.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
<Overview of the system>
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a centralized control system for home appliances according to an embodiment of the present invention. This system is a system for centrally controlling a plurality of air conditioners 21, 22, and 23 in the home 10a, and mainly includes a general-purpose controller 30 in the home 10a and a personal computer (hereinafter, a personal computer) in the home 10a. ) 40 and a server 90 prepared by the manufacturer 90a. In addition, in order to cope with a case where the user of the home 10a does not have the personal computer 40, an equipment contractor or a special contract shop (hereinafter referred to as an equipment contractor) 70a additionally participates in the present system.
[0015]
<Configuration in user's home 10a>
In the home 10a, there is a wired or wireless LAN 11, and a power line carrier communication line 12 to which the air conditioners 21, 22, 23 are connected via adapter boards 21a, 22a, 23a, as shown in FIG. Both 11 and 12 are connected via a gateway 13. The gateway 13 is a relay device having a command bridging function between the two 11 and 12.
[0016]
The LAN 11 is a network spanning homes using the IEEE 1394 network / bus technology, and is connected to a personal computer 40 having an IEEE 1394 interface.
The personal computer 40 creates a centralized control program (hereinafter, referred to as a control program) necessary for centrally controlling the plurality of air conditioners 21, 22, and 23, and sends the control program to the home server 31 of the general-purpose controller 30. Play the role of downloading.
[0017]
The personal computer 40 is set to be able to communicate with the main server 50 via the communication network 60. The personal computer 40 has its own address information as data. When the personal computer 40 is connected to the main server 50 via a communication network 60 such as the Internet, the data (address information) is used for collation and the like. The user can download and use various tools, which will be described later, from the main server 90 of the maker 90a when creating the control program on the personal computer 40.
[0018]
Further, a general-purpose controller 30 is connected to a home network including the LAN 11 and the power line carrier communication line 12. The general-purpose controller 30 is a device for centrally controlling the plurality of air conditioners 21, 22, and 23. The general-purpose controller 30 includes a home server 31 that stores a control program and control data, and a touch panel-type general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel. 32. The home server 31 is connected to the power line carrier communication line 12, and the home server 31 is connected to the LAN 11. As a control program used by the general-purpose controller 30, a program created by the user of the home 10a on the personal computer 40 is used in principle.
[0019]
The control program is stored in the flash ROM or the disk device of the general-purpose controller 30 so that the control program can be used even when the personal computer 40 is not operating. As described above, in the present system, since the air conditioners 21, 22, and 23 are controlled by the general-purpose controller 30, no problem occurs even when the power of the personal computer 40 is turned off.
[0020]
<Configuration of server 90 of manufacturer 90a>
A maker 90a that manufactures the air conditioners 21, 22, and 23 prepares a server 90 for the present system, and provides necessary tools from the server 90 to a creator of a control program.
As shown in FIG. 1, the server 90 can communicate with the personal computer 40 in each home 10a and the personal computer 71 owned by the equipment company 70a via the communication network 60. Here, the communication network 60 is assumed to be the Internet, but may be a wired communication network or a wireless communication network as long as it is a connection means capable of data communication, such as a dedicated line or a public line. Here, the server 90 is arranged on the WEB, and the server 90 provides necessary tools to the user, the equipment supplier 70a, and the like 70a on the WEB (free and paid).
[0021]
The database 91 of the server 90 stores various data such as sample data and template data of the control program, development tools for developing the control program, and reference materials that can be referred to when creating the control program.
As will be described later, another database 92 of the server 90 stores a control program created by a user of the home 10a or an equipment company 70a.
[0022]
<State of 70a, etc. of equipment contractors>
For a user of the home 10a who is unfamiliar with the program creation or who cannot own the control program because he or she does not own the personal computer 40, the equipment contractor 70a creates the control program on behalf of the user and provides a low fee. From the user. The amount of this fee can be suppressed to a level at which the user can easily request the equipment contractor 70a when changing the design of the room, purchasing or replacing the air conditioner.
[0023]
The equipment supplier 70a receives support for creating and customizing a control program from the manufacturer 90a in the form of receiving the development tools and the template data. For this support, in some cases, a fee is paid from the equipment supplier 70a to the manufacturer 90a in the form of a technical support contract fee.
Further, it is desirable that the equipment contractor 70a accumulates and holds sample data and template data unique to the company.
[0024]
<Example of creating control program by user etc.>
Next, the creation and modification of the control program by the user of the home 10a or the facility contractor 70a will be described with an example.
The program creator performs a control program creation operation on the personal computers 40 and 71. The personal computers 40 and 71 can access the server 90 on the WEB by connecting to the communication network (Internet) 60, and the program creator first obtains sample data or template data of the control program provided by the maker 90a. Obtain (download). Further, a development tool for facilitating the creation and customization of the control program, for example, a program creation application having a control function menu and an interactive electronic manual is downloaded from the server 90.
[0025]
Furthermore, the program creator can also refer to reference materials (technical materials) published by the server 90 and download data relating to individual devices as necessary.
FIGS. 2 and 3 show display screens on the general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel 32 when a sample of a control program for centrally controlling a plurality of air conditioners is executed collectively. In FIG. 2, all rooms of the home 10a are drawn, so that it is possible to grasp at a glance in which room the air conditioner is installed. In the room where the air conditioner is installed, a first display unit 51 that displays a picture of the air conditioner, a second display unit 52 that indicates whether the air conditioner is in an operating state, and air conditioning by touching Third display units 53 each showing a button for switching the machine ON / OFF are provided. When the user touches a part displaying the name of a room on the screen shown in FIG. 2, a screen showing the control state of a specific air conditioner in the room is started up as shown in FIG. Here, operations such as temperature setting, timer setting, air volume adjustment, and cooling / heating switching can be performed.
[0026]
It is assumed that the user of the home 10a feels the lack of the function with respect to the sample of the control program having the control function on the display screen shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as described above. For example, it is assumed that a user wants such a function because a timer cannot be set for each air conditioner on a weekly basis at present. In such a case, the user (program creator) can customize the sample control program to add desired functions. Specifically, data of a program routine having a required function is downloaded from the server 90 using a development tool if necessary, and the sample data is modified.
[0027]
By modifying the control program of the sample in this manner, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a button 64 called “weekly timer” is added to the display screen of the general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel 32, and by touching the button 64 The screen as shown in FIG. 5 is activated, and the timer can be set on a weekly basis. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, the display screen in which all the rooms of the home 10a are drawn is provided with a button 54 called "List of weekly timers", and the program is modified so that the setting screen of the weekly timer is activated therefrom. You can also.
[0028]
For the user of the home 10a who has abandoned the creation of the control program, the maker 90a introduces the equipment supplier 70a or the like that creates the program, or the maker 90a itself creates the program.
<Collection and sorting of production programs by manufacturers>
The server 90 provides tools for creating a control program to a plurality of program creators, that is, users of the home 10a, equipment contractors 70a, and the like, and accumulates the control programs created in various places in a database 92. Then, for a work (control program) with a high degree of perfection that can be used elsewhere, the user pays for the purchase. The purchased control program is stored in a library for the equipment company 70a. These control programs will not be released free of charge to general users in order to maintain a reasonable price.
[0029]
In order to accumulate the control program in the server 90, the maker 90a devises such that the user or the equipment supplier 70a of each home 10a sends the control program created on the personal computers 40 and 71 by e-mail or the like. It is desirable. For example, it is conceivable to take measures to receive advice from the expert of the maker 90a for the created control program, and to return something like compensation to the program creator based on the evaluation of the sent control program.
[0030]
<Main benefits of home 10a users>
In this system, the hardware part and the software part, which are conventionally integrated as a centralized controller, are separated as a general-purpose controller 30 and a control program. Then, a control program is created by the personal computers 40 and 71, and the control program is downloaded from the personal computers 40 and 71 to the general-purpose controller 30. In addition, a server 90 is installed on the maker 90a side so that tools can be provided to the personal computers 40 and 71 so that the control program can be easily created on the personal computers 40 and 71.
[0031]
As described above, in the present system, the control program can be created on the personal computers 40 and 71, so that the user of the home 10a can create a unique control program according to his / her preference and necessity. it can. Even when the user of the home 10a cannot create the program by himself, the user can request the facility company 70a or the like that creates the program to create the program and obtain a control program reflecting his / her opinion.
[0032]
Also, when you want to change the centralized control of the air conditioner according to the season, change the centralized control according to moving or changing the house, or change the centralized control according to additional purchase or replacement of equipment The control program can be easily modified on the personal computers 40 and 71.
On the other hand, the system configuration is such that the control program is created or customized by the user of the home 10a or the equipment contractor 70a instead of the expert of the maker 90a. The provision of this program supports the creation of control programs, so even users who do not have special skills can create control programs with some knowledge and understanding. I have.
[0033]
<Main advantages of maker 90a>
In this system, some of the control programs created by various creators such as the user of the home 10a are optionally sent to the maker 90a and accumulated in the database 92 of the server 90.
As described above, when the control program reflecting the concept of the user of the home 10a and the use state of the air conditioner is stored in the server 90, the maker 90a analyzes the control program and extracts user needs regarding the control of the air conditioner. become able to. Then, the manufacturer 90a can use the user needs for the development of the air conditioner and the general-purpose controller 30.
[0034]
Also, in order to purchase a work (control program) with a high degree of perfection that can be used elsewhere and put it in a library for the equipment supplier 70a, etc., a sample of the control program by only some people such as the program developer of the maker 90a In addition, it can be expected that the server 90 owns various control programs reflecting the user's consciousness as samples.
[0035]
Further, in the present system, since the control program is created and customized by the user of the home 10a or the equipment supplier 70a instead of the expert of the maker 90a, the software development burden on the maker 90a is reduced. Is done.
<Main advantages of 70a such as equipment contractors>
If the equipment contractors 70a acquire the technical ability to independently create and customize the control program, the air conditioner customers will select the equipment contractors 70a having such technical ability. Differentiation can be achieved.
[0036]
In particular, in addition to the control program samples provided by the maker 90a, if the company own samples and model data are accumulated, it is also possible to link them to the sales of air conditioners as their own characteristics.
[Other embodiments]
(A)
In the above embodiment, the system for centrally controlling the plurality of air conditioners 21, 22, and 23 in the home 10a is provided. However, the target of the centralized control is not limited to only the air conditioners, and may be a television or a video. It is also possible to target various appliances in the home 10a, such as home appliances such as audio, rice cookers and refrigerators, and water heaters. In such a case, it is necessary for not only the air conditioner maker 90a but also other equipment manufacturers to participate in the present system and provide various data.
[0037]
(B)
In the above embodiment, it is assumed that the provision of the tools from the server 90 to the personal computers 40 and 71 and the transfer of the control program from the personal computers 40 and 71 to the general-purpose controller 30 are performed via a network. If it is not provided, or if it is desired to provide the tool for a fee, it is conceivable to provide the tool or transfer the program via a recording medium such as a compact disc.
[0038]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the hardware part and the software part, which are conventionally integrated as a centralized controller, are separated as a general-purpose controller and a control program so that a control program can be created by a program creation device. Thus, home users can create their own control programs according to their preferences and needs. Further, even when it is desired to change the content of the centralized control due to replacement of a device, the control program can be easily modified. Furthermore, here, a system has been established in which a server is provided and a tool is provided from the server to the program creation device, thereby assisting a home user in creating a control program.
[0039]
On the other hand, if it is difficult to create a control program at home because there is no computer in the home, a vendor that supplies multiple devices can use the computer of the vendor to create the control program on behalf of It is.
In addition, tools that include excellent control programs created by a wide variety of people can be included in the tool so that users can use them when creating control programs. It is expected that more than just the idea of centralized control by only some people, such as the elderly, will be gathered.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a centralized control system for home appliances according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows one display screen on a general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel when a sample control program is executed.
FIG. 3 is a display screen on a general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel when a sample control program is executed.
FIG. 4 is a display screen on a general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel when a created control program is executed.
FIG. 5 is a display screen on a general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel when a created control program is executed.
FIG. 6 is a display screen on a general-purpose liquid crystal operation panel when a created control program is executed.
[Explanation of symbols]
10a Home 21, 22, 23 Air conditioner (multiple devices)
30 General-purpose controller 40 Personal computer (program creation device; home computer)
60 communication network 70a equipment contractor (trader)
71 Personal computer (program creation device; vendor computer)
90 Server 90a Manufacturer

Claims (2)

A general-purpose controller (30) connected to a plurality of devices (21, 22, 23) in the home (10a) and capable of centrally controlling the plurality of devices (21, 22, 23);
A program creation device (40, 71) for creating a control program necessary for centrally controlling the plurality of devices (21, 22, 23) and providing the control program to the general-purpose controller (30); ,
A server (90) for providing the program creation device (40, 71) with a tool that can be used for creating the control program;
Equipped with a,
The server (90) provides the tool to a plurality of the program creating devices (40, 71) and accumulates some of the control programs created by the program creating devices (40, 71). Providing an excellent one of the stored control programs to the program creating device (40, 71) by including the excellent control program in the tool;
Centralized control system for home appliances.   A general-purpose controller (30) connected to a plurality of devices (21, 22, 23) in the home (10a) and capable of centrally controlling the plurality of devices (21, 22, 23);
  A program creation device (40, 71) for creating a control program necessary for centrally controlling the plurality of devices (21, 22, 23) and providing the control program to the general-purpose controller (30); ,
  A server (90) for providing the program creation device (40, 71) with a tool that can be used for creating the control program;
With
  The server (90) provides the tool to a plurality of the program creation devices (40, 71), and provides an excellent one of the control programs created by the program creation devices (40, 71). Having a database (92) for storing;
Centralized control system for home appliances.

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