JP3929733B2 - Home appliance, home appliance server device and relay device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a home appliance, a home appliance server device that provides services to the home appliance via a public network, and a relay device that relays communication between the home appliance and the home appliance server device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, home appliances having a communication function with other information processing apparatuses and the like have been developed. For example, IEEE 1394 is known as a communication protocol between so-called audio-visual devices such as a television device, a recording device, and an audio device. In IEEE 1394, a communication procedure between audiovisual equipment and the like is defined, and a cooperative operation between audiovisual equipment is possible.
[0003]
In addition, ECHONET is known as a protocol that can be used as an interface between power home appliances (so-called white goods) such as air conditioners, hot water management devices, lighting devices, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, and the like. ing. In this echo net, in addition to those that communicate using radio lines such as radio waves and infrared rays, those that communicate using a wired line such as a power line are standardized. In this Echonet, the functions of each device are defined as objects, and the control procedure is unified. By using such an echo net, cooperative operation between home appliances, centralized management, and the like are possible.
[0004]
In addition, since these protocols cannot directly communicate with a network such as the Internet as they are, gateway devices that perform conversion with TCP / IP protocols generally used in these networks have been developed. By using such a gateway device, a plurality of home appliances connected via a network can be controlled from a remote location.
[0005]
In order to absorb the difference in the environment for each user or the difference in the request for each user, a program to be managed from a remote location via a network is downloaded to the above-mentioned home appliances, It is desired to store a program that receives management from a remote location and to enter an operation state that accepts management from a remote location via a network.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the communication protocol unified by all the household appliances as mentioned above is not established, the communication protocol which can be utilized with a household appliance varies with the environment where the said household appliance is installed.
[0007]
In addition, it is difficult to mount a program corresponding to all communication protocols in each home appliance in advance so as to be compatible with all installation environments from the viewpoint of cost restrictions and the like.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and includes a home appliance, a home appliance server device, a gateway device, and a home appliance control system capable of easily realizing remote management of home appliances having different installation environments. The purpose is to provide.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-described problem, the household electrical appliance according to claim 1 of the present invention is a household electrical appliance that applies to a household electrical appliance server device that provides a service via a public network, and belongs to a plurality of categories. Communicating with the home appliance server apparatus via the local network or the public network, and identification information holding means for holding unique identification information assigned in advance so as not to overlap between home appliances that can communicate with the home appliance server apparatus Identification information of the home appliance (first home appliance) is stored in the home appliance server apparatus that holds the communication means and the identification information of the home appliance of the same owner for each owner and manages the provision of service for each owner. And a service requesting means for transmitting a service provision request for the home appliance (second home appliance) of the owner of the home appliance.
[0010]
Moreover, the household electrical appliance which concerns on Claim 4 of this invention is a household electrical appliance using the service provided from the household electrical appliance server apparatus which provides a service via a public network, Comprising: Same as the identification information holding means for holding unique identification information assigned in advance so that there is no duplication between household appliances that can perform communication, and the communication means for communicating with the household appliance server device via a local network or public network Appliances that hold identification information of home appliances of each owner for each owner, and that the home appliance server device that manages the provision of services for each owner sends a service request (first home appliance) To the service use software to be transmitted in response to the service identification request and the service provision request for the home appliance (second home appliance) or the home appliance Providing a service from the home appliance server by receiving a command for instructing the activation of the service use software incorporated through the communication means, and executing the service use software according to the received service use software or command. And service using means for receiving the service.
[0011]
Home appliances refer to electronic devices used in homes and the like. For example, electric home appliances such as air conditioners, hot water supply management devices, lighting devices, washing machines, refrigerators, microwave ovens, etc. This includes so-called audio-visual equipment such as a device, a recording device, and an audio device.
[0012]
Moreover, the household appliance server apparatus which concerns on Claim 12 of this invention is a household appliance server apparatus which provides the service with respect to household appliances via a public network, Comprising: The household appliance which belongs to several categories and can communicate with the said household appliance server apparatus Identification information holding means for holding for each owner unique identification information assigned in advance so that there is no duplication between devices, and the household appliance (first household appliance) requested to use the service. The receiving means for receiving the service use request including the identification information of the first household electrical appliance and the information indicating the household electrical appliance (second household electrical appliance) that uses the service; Confirmation means for confirming whether or not the owner corresponding to the identification information of the first household electrical appliance owns the household electrical appliance corresponding to the information indicating the second household electrical appliance received; When the owner corresponding to the service usage request confirms that the second home appliance is owned, the service use software or service use software pre-installed in the home appliance is addressed to the second home appliance. Transmission means for transmitting a command instructing activation.
[0013]
A relay device according to claim 22 of the present invention is a relay installed between a home network to which home appliances using a service provided by a home appliance server device connected via a public network are connected and the home appliance server device. The home appliance is a device that is assigned an address (local address) that is valid only within the local network, and has information indicating the address or address of the home appliance server device received from the home appliance via the local network. A receiving unit that receives a relay request, and a transmission unit that performs transmission to the home appliance server device via a public network in accordance with the address of the home appliance server device in the received relay request or information indicating the address. To do.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention can be applied to, for example, a home appliance control system that collectively manages home appliances.
[0015]
First embodiment
(Constitution)
The home appliance control system according to the first embodiment to which the present invention is applied includes, for example, a private network such as a first 10 and a second network 20 installed in a building 1 as shown in FIG. Home appliance server device 40 and terminal device 50, and base station 65 and gateway device 60 connected to each other via a third network (public network such as the Internet) 30 outside the building 1. Mobile terminal device 70 connected to the mobile phone.
[0016]
The first network 10 is a network to which, for example, audio visual (AV) audio home appliances are connected. For example, the first network 10 is a wired network using a protocol such as IEEE1394 as a physical layer. The network 10 includes, for example, a television receiver (TV device) 12 connected via a wired line 11, a recording device 13 for recording / reproducing image information using a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, and an optical disk. And physical layer protocol conversion and path control between the audio device 14 for recording / reproducing audio information such as music using a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, and a memory, and the wired line 11 and the network 30 A router device 19 is provided.
[0017]
The TV device 12 includes, for example, a communication I / F 121 that performs communication with the wired line 11, an input unit 122 that inputs an instruction from a user via, for example, a remote controller, a switch provided in the main body, and the like, an image, data, and the like A receiving unit 123 that receives a broadcast, a Web browser 124 that acquires content provided by HTTPd 42a, a display unit 125 that displays an image received by the receiving unit or an image indicating a request for an instruction to the user, and the entire apparatus And a home appliance ID holding unit 129 that holds a unique home appliance ID for each device.
[0018]
The TV device 12 can use, for example, a service (for example, content distribution) provided by the home appliance server device 40 or an application service for a service provided by the home appliance server device 40.
[0019]
The router device 19 includes, for example, a communication I / F 291 that performs communication with the network 30, a communication I / F 292 that performs communication with the network 10, and a routing control unit 193 that executes processing such as path control.
[0020]
The second network 20 is a network to which, for example, power home appliances, so-called white home appliances, are connected. For example, the second network 20 includes a wireless network using a wireless communication protocol as a physical layer. This network 20 includes an air conditioner 22, a hot water supply management device 23, a refrigerator 24, a microwave oven 25 (partially not shown) connected via a wireless line 21, and route control between the wireless line 21 and the network 30. A router device 29 is provided. The network 20 is not limited to this wireless network, and may be a wired network using a power line or the like as a communication path.
[0021]
The air conditioner 22 includes, for example, a wireless communication I / F 221 that performs communication with the router device 29 via the wireless line 21, and an input unit 222 that inputs an instruction from the user via, for example, a remote controller, a switch provided in the main body, or the like. A wireless communication I / F 223 that performs wireless communication with the above-described router device 29 using, for example, infrared rays, IEEE802.11 or Bluetooth (trademark), a temperature sensor 224 that measures a room temperature, and a compressor, a heat exchanger, and the like. An outdoor unit control unit 225 that controls the outdoor unit that it has, a control unit 226 that controls the operation of the outdoor unit control unit 225 according to instructions supplied via the home appliance server device 40, and the like for each individual device Home appliance ID holding unit 229 that holds the home appliance ID of the home appliance.
[0022]
The hot water supply management device 23 includes, for example, a communication I / F 231 that communicates with the router device 29 via, for example, the wireless line 21, a display unit 232 having a display screen, an input unit 233 for inputting an instruction from the user, and a display unit 232, the control part 234 which controls the input part 233 grade | etc., Is provided.
[0023]
The refrigerator 24 includes, for example, a communication I / F 241 that communicates with the router device 29 via the wireless line 21, a display unit 242 having a display screen, an input unit 243 that inputs an instruction from a user, a display unit 242, and an input A control unit 244 for controlling the unit 243 and the like.
[0024]
The microwave oven 25 includes, for example, a communication I / F 251 for communicating with the router device 29 via the wireless line 21, a display unit 252 having a display screen, an input unit 253 for inputting an instruction from a user, a display unit 252, And a control unit 254 for controlling the input unit 253 and the like.
[0025]
The router device 29 includes, for example, a communication I / F 291 that performs communication with the network 30, a wireless communication I / F 292 that performs wireless communication with the communication I / F 221 described above, and a routing control unit 293 that performs processing such as route control. It has.
[0026]
The network 30 includes a network using a metal cable as a transmission path such as ISDN, CATV, ADSL, and an analog dedicated line, or a network using an optical fiber as a transmission path such as FTTH. Communication is performed using a protocol. Alternatively, a part of the network 30 in the building 1 may be configured by using a network such as IEEE802.3, for example, and a part outside the building 1 may be configured by the network as described above.
[0027]
The home appliance server device 40 includes an information processing device having an auxiliary storage device such as an MPU, a memory, and an HDD, and executes processing such as control of the operation of devices connected to the networks 10 and 20 described above. The home appliance server device 40 is configured to provide services such as control of devices connected to the networks 10 and 20 or the service according to instructions from the communication interface (I / F) 41 and the terminal device 50 or the mobile terminal device 70. A service providing unit 42 that provides an application service and the like, and a database (DB) 43 that holds data and the like used by the service providing unit for providing the service are provided.
[0028]
The communication I / F 41 executes communication control for using the service provided by the service providing unit 42 via the network 30.
[0029]
The service providing unit 42 includes, for example, an HTTP server (HTTPd) 42a that provides a service using a Web browser functioning on the TV device 12, the terminal devices 50, 70, and the like as a front end, and a DB that controls access to the DB 43. And an engine 42b. The DB 43 includes a customer DB 42a that holds information about individual users (customers), and a home appliance DB 42b that holds information such as functions about individual home appliances.
[0030]
In the above configuration, the router devices 19 and 29 are provided in the network 10 and the network 20, respectively, but only one router device having a communication I / F corresponding to each of the wired line 11 and the wireless line 21 is provided. Alternatively, the network 10 or the network 20 may be subdivided and three or more router devices may be provided.
[0031]
The above-described TV device 12, air conditioner 22,... Are so-called “network home appliances” each implementing the TCP / IP protocol. Each of the TV device 12, the air conditioner 22,... Is assigned a unique IP address (global address) that is unique to all devices connected to the network 30. The version of this IP address may be IPv4 or IPv6, but the home appliances 22 and 23 connected to the network 20 and the router device 29 have the same version of the IP address.
[0032]
In this home appliance control system, at least one unique identification information (home appliance ID) is assigned to all devices managed by the home appliance server device 40. The home appliance ID is managed so that there is no duplication even if the manufacturer of the device is different. The home appliance ID is embedded and held in the home appliance ID holding units 129 and 229 at the time of manufacture so that the home appliance ID cannot be altered. Furthermore, if necessary, the home appliance ID is held by a method such as encryption so that it is not directly known. Specifically, for example, it can be mounted as a register or the like in an IC chip constituting the control units 126 and 226.
[0033]
As the home appliance ID, an IP address (global address), a Bluetooth-ID, a MAC (Media Access Control) address such as IEEE 1394 EUI 64 can be used as it is. Since these addresses are inherently managed so that there is no duplication between individual devices, diverting them as home appliance IDs can contribute to reducing the management burden of home appliance IDs. Even when other addresses are diverted as home appliance IDs in this way, these addresses and home appliance IDs are managed as independent values having logically different meanings, and the home appliance server device 40 is individually Used to identify home appliances.
[0034]
In the customer DB 43a, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, information (user name) for identifying individual users, information about the user (user information), and home appliance IDs (ownership of all home appliances owned by the user) Home appliance ID), information indicating the type and model number of the home appliance (type / model number), information indicating the communication method to the home appliance (access: for example, IPv6 or IPv4), the address of the owned home appliance ( A correspondence table that associates (address) and information indicating whether remote control of the home electric appliance is possible (remote control availability) is stored.
[0035]
The address of the home appliance may be the IP address value itself, or may be a name (for example, DNS name) assigned to the home appliance. If the name is a name, the home appliance server device must first perform an operation of converting the value of the name into an IP address.
[0036]
The user name only needs to be information unique to each user, and may be information given for management purposes such as a customer number.
[0037]
The information about the user includes, for example, information indicating the user's address, name, age, occupation, telephone number, network connection service provider (provider), e-mail address, user's preference, and the like. Moreover, the description method of the information about the user may include all the devices of the family, for example, the representative of the information of the householder instead of a single user. The company name may be registered as the owner.
[0038]
The home appliance ID of the owned home appliance is the home appliance ID held in the above-described home appliance ID holding units 129 and 229. This home appliance ID is input to the DB engine 42b in association with the name of the user when the user purchases the home appliance. Specifically, for example, when a user purchases a home appliance, a form for filling in an address, name, etc. is provided from a store or the like, and the contents entered by the user, for example, by a store clerk or the like via the network 30 Input is performed via a terminal device connected to the home appliance server device 40, and the terminal device supplies the input information to the DB engine 42b.
[0039]
Or you may receive the application of utilization of services, such as remote control via a household appliance server, at the time of this purchase. In this case, for example, the user is provided with a use application form that fills in information specifying the service to be used together with the address, name, etc., and the address, name, age, occupation, telephone number, e-mail that the user has entered in the use application form In the same manner as described above, the store clerk or the like of the store supplies the DB engine 42b with the information such as the preference and the information indicating the service to be used and the purchased appliance.
[0040]
The information supplied to the DB engine 42b as described above is supplied to the customer DB 43a via the DB engine 42b, and information such as home appliance ID indicating the home appliance purchased by the user is included in the user name and user information of the user. Correspondingly, it is recorded in the correspondence table in the customer DB 43a.
[0041]
It should be noted that only the items necessary for providing the service are required to fill in each item of the use application form, and the items that are not necessarily required may be arbitrarily set by the user. In addition, the user's address, name, and other information and the home appliance ID may be registered not at the time of purchase of the device but at any time after purchase, or when applying for use of a service provided by the home appliance server. This application may be input to the DB 43 by the operator of the home appliance server device 40 in accordance with, for example, a telephone call from the user or an application form mailed from the user. It is also possible to operate the Web browser running on the terminal device connected to the terminal 30 and input via the HTTPd 42a.
[0042]
In the customer DB 43a, the home appliance ID and the like of the registered device are managed for each user name or for each user whose user information such as the same user name and address is the same. In FIG. 2, for each user who has the same user name, address, and other conditions, information about home appliances owned by the user is managed.
[0043]
By configuring the customer DB 43a as described above, a list of home appliances owned by the user can be searched using the user name or user information as a search key.
[0044]
In addition, in this customer DB 43a, in association with the home appliance ID of each device, the type of home appliance (for example, a TV device, a recording device, an air conditioner, a hot water supply management device, etc.), the manufacturer / model number of the home appliance, Information indicating manufacturing date, purchase history, maintenance record, and the like is recorded.
[0045]
Further, in the customer DB 43a, as shown in FIG. 2 described above, an access method from the home appliance server to the home appliance (“access” in FIG. 2 is different from a network such as the Internet, a telephone, or other methods). Information, information indicating whether it is always connected, so-called dial-up or other methods for setting connection when necessary, and information indicating whether address conversion or the like may occur in the middle), address of the home appliance ( IP address, telephone number, information indicating the address of the proxy server, information indicating the access method, etc.) are recorded in association with the home appliance ID of each home appliance.
[0046]
In addition, at the time of purchasing home appliances or applying for a service, some of the information corresponding to the home appliance ID may be blank. For example, since the IP address of a home appliance is set when the home appliance is connected to a network, it is generally considered that the IP address is unknown at the time of purchase.
[0047]
In this case, information such as access and address in FIG. 2 described above is registered before service provision is started. Specifically, for example, when a home appliance purchased by a user is connected to the home network 20 or the like, an IP address is assigned to the home appliance. Thereafter, the home appliance sends information indicating the home appliance ID of the own device, the assigned IP address (IPv4 address, IPv6 address, DNS name, etc.) and the access method to the DB engine 42b via the router device 29 or the like. Supply and request registration. Each home appliance holds the address of the home appliance server device 40 and the access method to the home appliance server device 40 in advance, and each home appliance supplies a home appliance ID, an IP address, etc. to the home appliance server device 40 accordingly. To do.
[0048]
When the home appliance ID, IP address, etc. are supplied in this way, the DB engine 42b of the home appliance server device 40 registers the supplied home appliance ID, IP address, etc. in the customer DB 43a.
[0049]
The customer DB 43a is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2. For example, the customer DB 43a has the same logical structure as the customer DB 43a, but is physically distributed in a plurality of files. They may be stored and associated by pointers.
[0050]
Further, in the home appliance DB 43b, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, functions that can be used for individual home appliances are held in association with information (types and model numbers) for identifying the home appliances here. Yes. Further, in this home appliance DB 43b, information about home appliances, for example, specifications such as external dimensions and power consumption or an image showing an overview of the home appliances are stored in association with home appliance IDs or product model numbers. May be.
[0051]
(Operation)
(1) Supplying programs to home appliances
By the way, household appliances such as the TV device 12 and the air conditioner 22 described above are configured to be able to manage operations according to communication messages with the outside via the communication I / F 121 or the wireless communication I / F 221. Yes. For this reason, if these devices and the home appliance server device 40 are connected and the service state provided by the home appliance server device 40 is used, the home appliance server device 40 for remote operation, remote maintenance, software distribution, etc. provides, for example. You will be able to use services that
[0052]
In this embodiment, since the TCP / IP protocol is implemented in the home appliances connected to each of the networks 10 and 20, communication with the home appliance server device 40 is possible if connected to the network 30 via the router devices 19 and 29. Will be able to do.
[0053]
The control unit of each home appliance holds in advance information (for example, “server.kaden.co.jp”) such as a URL (Unified Resource Locator) indicating the address of the home appliance server device 40 that provides the service. . Alternatively, the IP address (for example, “Z”) may be held as it is.
[0054]
Or you may make it acquire the address of the household appliance server apparatus 40 which provides a service from the data which the receiving part 123 grade | etc., Of TV apparatus 12 received, for example. Specifically, for example, information for identifying the home appliance in association with a video such as a commercial of a home appliance that provides a service (for example, an air conditioner 22), and a home appliance server device that provides a service for the home appliance Supply 40 addresses.
[0055]
Alternatively, the user separately acquires the address of the home appliance server device 40, inputs the acquired address via, for example, the Web browser 124, and supplies the input address to the home appliance that receives the service. Good.
[0056]
In addition, in order for the user to actually use the service provided by the home appliance server device 40, a program for executing processing for using the service is provided to the home appliance or is installed in the home appliance in advance. The program must be ready for execution.
[0057]
By the way, a request for providing a service to the home appliance server device 40 includes a terminal device 50 having a function of inputting an instruction from the user and a display function of displaying an instruction to the user, the mobile terminal device 70, the TV device 12, and the like. This is done using equipment.
[0058]
For example, when receiving provision of a remote operation service for the air conditioner 22, the user operates the TV device 12, for example, and requests the home appliance server apparatus 40 to provide the remote control service.
[0059]
Specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the user inputs information such as the address and name described above into an application form that the Web browser 124 of the TV apparatus 12 displays on the display unit 125. An application for remote control service 22 is instructed (S1). This application form may be stored in advance in the TV device 12 in the same manner as the above-described home appliance ID, for example. Alternatively, only the URL of the form to be applied may be stored in the TV device 12, and the web browser 124 may acquire the application form from the URL according to an instruction from the user.
[0060]
Information about the user such as the address and name entered in the application form, the home appliance ID (in this case, “A” which is the home appliance ID of the TV device 12), and a service requesting provision (in this case, air conditioning) When information or the like for identifying the remote control of the device 22 is input, the Web browser 124 generates an application message including the information, encrypts it, and transmits it to the home appliance server device 40. Specifically, the application message is encrypted and transmitted by a procedure such as SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). The transmitted application message is supplied to the home appliance server device 40 via the communication I / F 121, the router device 19, and the network 30 (S2). Note that the home appliance ID of the TV device 12 may be automatically passed to the home appliance server device 40 without being input by the user.
[0061]
The supplied application message is supplied to the DB engine 42b via the communication I / F 41 and HTTPd 42a. The DB engine 42b extracts the home appliance ID in the supplied application message. The DB engine 42b refers to the customer DB 43a, and the user information (user name) corresponding to the home appliance ID and the type / model number of the home appliance. Etc. are acquired (S3). Furthermore, the DB engine 42b acquires information such as an image of the home appliance from the home appliance DB 43b and supplies it to the HTTPd 42a. The HTTPd 42a is a data (for example, HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language) format that displays a confirmation screen for a service provision application including a display instruction of supplied image data, a definition of a button for inputting a confirmation instruction from a user, and the like. XML (eXtensible) Markup Language) format data). The generated data is supplied to the TV apparatus 12 via the communication I / F 41 (S4).
[0062]
In the data of such a confirmation screen, for example, display of purchase history, maintenance history, etc. acquired by the DB engine 42b from the customer DB 43a may be defined.
[0063]
By the way, before creating such confirmation screen data, the DB engine 42b refers to the correspondence table stored in the home appliance DB 43b, and the home appliance corresponding to the type / model number of the home appliance acquired in S3 is described above. The available functions may be confirmed, and it may be determined whether the service requested by the user is actually available. In this case, if the service requested by the user is available, the HTTPd 42a executes the process of S4. If the service is not available, the HTTPd 42a generates data indicating that the service is not available separately and transmits it to the TV apparatus 12. To do.
[0064]
By performing such a process, the user can recognize whether or not the service can be used, and the service providing request process can be executed again, thereby contributing to an improvement in operability.
[0065]
When the confirmation screen data as described above is supplied, the Web browser 124 causes the display unit 125 to display a screen corresponding to the data, and requests confirmation from the user (S5).
[0066]
When the user who sees such a confirmation screen operates the input unit 122 and inputs a confirmation instruction, the Web browser 124 generates a confirmation response message and transmits it to the home appliance server device 40 (S6).
[0067]
When such a confirmation response is supplied, the HTTPd 42a transmits a predetermined command to the air conditioner 22 after performing processing such as authentication of the air conditioner 22 and key exchange by SSL (S7), for example. Then, after setting the air conditioner 22 to receive the program, a program for receiving remote control is supplied (S8).
[0068]
This program is supplied to the control unit 225 via the router device 29 and the wireless communication I / F 221, stored in a memory or the like provided in the control unit 225, and enters an execution state (S 9).
[0069]
In this state, for example, when a remote control command is supplied from the home appliance server device 40 to the air conditioner 22, the air conditioner 22 can control the operation in accordance with the command.
[0070]
When the program is successfully provided, the DB engine 42b changes the information (remote control availability) in the customer DB 43a corresponding to the home appliance that provided the program from “No” to “Yes”.
[0071]
By the way, in this household appliance control system, the same protocol (for example, TCP / IP) is used between the household appliance server apparatus 40 and the TV apparatus 12 that requests service provision or the air conditioner 22 that receives service provision.・ Direct communication is possible due to the end-to-end relationship. For this reason, as described above, the application message is supplied to the home appliance server device 40 via the router device 19, and the program supplied accordingly is supplied to the air conditioner 22 receiving the service via the router device 29 as it is. can do.
[0072]
Moreover, in this household appliance control system, the household appliance ID intrinsic | native to each household appliance is hold | maintained, and the household appliance ID of the household appliance which each user owns is managed. For this reason, the user corresponding to the home appliance ID can be specified on the home appliance server device 40 side only by providing the home appliance ID at the time of request for service provision.
[0073]
In addition, by holding the type / model number and usable function of the home appliance corresponding to the home appliance ID, it is possible to identify the available function corresponding to the home appliance ID and confirm it when applying for service provision. be able to.
[0074]
In the above description, the case where the user requests the home appliance server device 40 to provide the remote control service of the air conditioner 22 using the TV device 12 has been described, but the input unit for inputting an instruction from the user and the user If it has a display unit for displaying, a service request may be made to the home appliance server device 40 using another terminal device such as the terminal device 50, the portable terminal device 70, or other home appliances. .
[0075]
In the above description, in the application message, only the home appliance ID of the home appliance that transmits the application message (in the above example, “A”, which is the home appliance ID of the TV device 12), is transmitted. Processing for obtaining a list of home appliance IDs of home appliances owned by the user of the home appliance that transmitted the application message with reference to the customer DB 43a, and performing display corresponding to these home appliance IDs and selection thereof Is generated (for example, data in HTML format or XML format), supplied to the Web browser 124 via the HTTPd 42a, and the home appliance ID is selected according to the instruction input by the user in response to this. Also good. Moreover, you may make it designate the household appliance ID of the household appliances which receive provision of service in the above-mentioned application message.
[0076]
Further, in the above description, the service provided by the user is shown in the case of specifying in the above application message. However, the DB engine 42b uses the home appliance corresponding to the home appliance ID supplied from the TV device 12 or the like. The available functions are acquired from the correspondence table held in the home appliance DB 43b, and data including a display of usable functions and a description of processing for selecting them is generated, and the user is instructed accordingly. The function may be a service targeted for application. Or according to the function etc. which DB engine 42b acquired from household appliance DB43b, you may make it confirm to a user whether the service of application object is guessed and the guessed service is OK.
[0077]
(2) Use of services (remote control)
As described above, when the program for receiving the remote control service from the home appliance server device 40 enters the execution state, the air conditioner 22 inputs the instruction command from the home appliance server device 40 in addition to the instruction input from the input unit 222. Will be in a state of monitoring.
[0078]
For example, the user can use the remote control service by using either the terminal device 50 or the mobile terminal device 70. In the following description, a case where the mobile terminal device 70 is used will be described.
[0079]
When the user instructs the use of the remote control service, the mobile terminal device 70 executes a login process for the home appliance server device 40 (S11). In this login process, the mobile terminal device 70 transmits authentication information to the home appliance server device 40. When it is confirmed that the authentication information is valid, the home appliance server device 40 exchanges a key for encrypted communication with the mobile terminal device 70 using, for example, SSL. If necessary, authentication for identity verification such as input of a user ID and password assigned to the user in advance may be performed.
[0080]
When the key exchange is completed, the Web browser 74 of the mobile terminal device 70 requests the HTTPd 42a to transmit data (home appliance control page) for instructing the remote control of the air conditioner 22 (S12).
[0081]
In response to such a request, the HTTP d 42a supplies, for example, data in which an input field for inputting a command or a command selection input is defined to the web browser 74 as data of a home appliance control page (S13).
[0082]
When such data is supplied, the web browser 74 causes the display unit 73 to display an image corresponding to the data. In this image, for example, a display that prompts the user to input a temperature to be set is included. For example, the user presses the “2” and “5” keys provided on the input unit 72 to set the set temperature. When requesting that the temperature be set to 25 ° C. (S14), a message indicating that the set temperature of the air conditioner 22 is set to 25 ° C. is generated by the Web browser 74, and the message (temperature setting request) is transmitted to the home appliance server device 40. (S15).
[0083]
When such a temperature setting request is received, the DB engine 42b acquires information such as an access method (access in FIG. 2) and an address from the correspondence table in the customer DB 43a to the air conditioner 22 of the user. The service providing unit 42 executes an authentication process and a key exchange process with the air conditioner 22 by the acquired access method (S16).
[0084]
If these processes are successful, the service providing unit 42 encrypts the temperature setting request from the Web browser 74 described above, adds a digital signature, and supplies the request to the air conditioner 22 (S17).
[0085]
The control unit 225 confirms the signature of the supplied temperature setting request. If it is valid, the control unit 225 decodes the temperature setting request (S18), and interprets and executes the decoded command (S19).
[0086]
Further, when such remote control is successful, the control unit 225 generates information indicating that fact and transmits it to the home appliance server device 40 (S20), and the home appliance server device 40 transmits this to the mobile terminal device 70. The information may be transferred (S21), and the display unit 73 may notify that the remote control is successful (S22).
[0087]
(effect)
As described above, in the home appliance control system of the first embodiment, it is possible to easily control home appliances connected to a home network from a remote terminal device such as a mobile terminal device. Therefore, it is possible to easily realize management from a remote place even for home appliances having different installation environments.
[0088]
(Modification)
Note that the protocol used in the communication between the TV device 12 being processed and the home appliance server device 40 shown in FIG. 4 or the communication between the mobile terminal device 70 and the home appliance server device 40 being processed shown in FIG. The command is not particularly limited, and may be a standardized command defined by, for example, HTTP or a command uniquely defined.
[0089]
In the case of using HTTP, even if devices such as a firewall and a proxy are arranged between the home appliance server device 40, the home appliance server device 40 can be easily changed by appropriately changing the settings of these devices. It is possible to communicate with
[0090]
Second embodiment
In the home appliance control system of the first embodiment described above, the TCP / IP protocol is implemented in home appliances connected to the second network 20 such as the air conditioner 22 and the hot water supply management device 23, and each home appliance. An IP address was assigned to each of the devices 22 and 23.
[0091]
However, in Echonet, it is not always necessary to implement a protocol such as TCP / IP in each device, so it is connected to the network 30 via a gateway device that converts the protocol of Echonet and the protocol such as TCP / IP. It can also be configured to.
[0092]
(Constitution)
In the home appliance control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, a network 80 is provided instead of the network 20 in FIG. In this network 80, unlike the above-described network 20, communication is performed using an Echonet original protocol.
[0093]
Unlike the above-described first embodiment, no IP address is assigned to the air conditioner 22 and the hot water supply management device 23 connected to the network 80. Note that the home appliance ID is assigned as a unique value to each of the devices 22, 23, and 89, as in the first embodiment.
[0094]
Therefore, in this network 80, instead of the router device 29 described above, a gateway that converts a protocol (echo net) used in the network 80 and a protocol (TCP / IP) used in the network 30. A device 89 is provided.
[0095]
The gateway device 89 includes a communication I / F 891 for connecting to the network 30, and an echo net I / F 892 for connecting to the air conditioner 22, the hot water supply management device 23, and the like via the wireless line 21 constituting the network 80. And a protocol conversion unit 893 that performs protocol conversion. This gateway device relays a message addressed to the home appliance server device 40 including, for example, a home appliance ID from a home appliance, between the network 80 and the network 30. Specifically, for example, DNS name resolution or protocol conversion for message relay is performed, and communication between home appliances such as home appliance server device 40 and air conditioner 22 is relayed.
[0096]
In an echo net used in the network 80, data is transmitted and received in units of packets (echo net packets) as shown in FIG. 7, for example. This Echonet packet is composed of a header portion (Echonet header) and a payload portion (Echonet data).
[0097]
The echo net header stores information for identifying a destination device (destination echo net address), information for identifying a source device (source echo net address), and the like. Each address is represented by an echo net address assigned to each device in the echo net.
[0098]
The echo net data includes information indicating an object in the transmission source device (transmission source object), information indicating the object in the transmission destination device (transmission destination object), properties, services, and the gateway device 89 according to the home appliance server. A destination URI (Unified Resource Identifier) of a message to be transferred to the device 40, a transfer parameter of the main body, and the like are stored.
[0099]
In the Echonet, the communication partner is specified by an Echonet address assigned to each device and an object indicating a function in each device. For example, in the air conditioner 22, for example, an object for acquiring a room temperature, an object for acquiring / changing a set temperature, and the like are defined. The gateway device 89 defines a relay object that receives a relay request to the network 30. In the home appliance that needs to request the gateway device 89 to relay to the network 30, a relay object that requests relay is defined for the relay object of the gateway device 89.
[0100]
Note that FIG. 7 shows that when a polling request to be described later is sent to a URI whose IP address is “Z” (home appliance server device 40) and whose directory name is “/ kaden”, it is addressed to the relay object of the gateway device 89. An example of an echonet packet to be transmitted is shown.
[0101]
Further, the TCP / IP packet used in the network 30 is composed of a header and a payload as shown in FIG. 8, for example.
[0102]
The header stores the IP address (destination IP address) of the destination device, the IP address (source IP address) of the source device, the port number of the destination, and the like. In the payload, for example, a message addressed to HTTPd 42a is stored.
[0103]
FIG. 8 shows an example of a packet that the gateway device 89 transmits to the home appliance server device 40 in response to the echo net packet (polling packet) shown in FIG.
[0104]
・ Packet relay
In order to convert the echonet packet and the TCP / IP packet as described above, the protocol conversion unit 893 of the gateway device 89 performs TCP / IP packet transmission / reception that performs transmission / reception of the TCP / IP packet, for example, as shown in FIG. Unit 301, an echo net packet transmitting / receiving unit 302 for transmitting / receiving an echo net packet, and a packet converting unit 303 for converting a packet. The echo net packet transmitting / receiving unit 302 or the packet converting unit 303 corresponds to the above-described relay object.
[0105]
In this home appliance control system, similarly to the first embodiment described above, communication from the home appliance server device 40 to the home appliance connected to the network 20 is performed according to the HTTP protocol, which is an upper protocol on the TCP / IP protocol.
[0106]
Therefore, the packet conversion unit 303 includes a correspondence table holding unit 310 that holds a table for converting HTTP packets and Echonet packets, and an HTTP from the home appliance server device 40 supplied from the TCP / IP packet transmission / reception unit 301. A status line header extraction unit 311 that extracts a status line header from the header of the packet, a transfer parameter extraction unit 312 that extracts a transfer parameter from the payload of the HTTP packet, and a transfer parameter insertion unit 313 that inserts the transfer parameter into an echonet packet. An echo packet forming unit 314 that forms an echo packet and supplies the echo packet to the echo net packet transmitting / receiving unit 302.
[0107]
The packet conversion unit 303 also includes a URI extraction unit 321 that extracts a destination URI from the echo packet data, a transfer parameter extraction unit 322 that extracts a transfer parameter from the echo packet data, and a transfer parameter inserted in the HTTP packet. A transfer parameter insertion unit 323 that performs the processing, and an HTTP packet forming unit 324 that forms an HTTP packet addressed to the home appliance server device 40.
[0108]
The correspondence table holding unit 310 stores a correspondence table for conversion between HTTP packets and Echonet packets, for example, as shown in FIG.
[0109]
The correspondence table holding unit 310 holds a correspondence table indicating a correspondence relationship between a command using the above-described echo net packet and a command using an HTTP packet (for example, an HTTP command for the HTTPd 42a). By referring to the correspondence table, it is possible to know the correspondence between the command by the echo net packet and the HTTP command.
[0110]
Specifically, in this correspondence table, the destination URI (for example, the IP address [Z] and the HTTPd42a directory [/ kaden] of the address) in the echonet data and the echonet address of the home appliance that communicates with the URI (For example, an echo net address [E1] of the air conditioner 22) is stored in association with each other.
[0111]
In this home appliance control system, protocol conversion between the network 80 and the network 30 is possible by the gateway device 89 having such a configuration. Accordingly, one-to-one (end-to-end) communication can be performed between application levels executed by the home appliance server device 40 and home appliances connected to the network 80. In this case, the communication may be encrypted in an end-to-end manner. By doing in this way, it becomes possible to perform arbitrary communication between a household appliance server apparatus and household appliances, without being known by a gateway apparatus.
[0112]
Polling
Incidentally, as described above, the packet conversion between the network 80 and the network 30 is possible. Thus, communication can be started from the air conditioner 22 and the hot water supply management device 23 connected to the network 80 by specifying the URI of the home appliance server device 40. However, from the home appliance server device 40 side, communication cannot be started by directly specifying home appliances such as the air conditioner 22 connected via the gateway device 89. This is because the home appliances are not set so that IP communication can be performed directly with the home appliance server device.
[0113]
For this reason, in this home appliance control system, transmission to the home appliance server device 40 is started at predetermined time intervals from the home appliance side receiving the provision of the remote control service. Such a transmission operation at predetermined intervals is called polling. The home appliance that has polled receives the reception if there is a response from the home appliance server device 40 to the polling, but does not receive a response within a predetermined time (the packet from the polling response is controlled by the home appliance server). If no command or the like is mounted, the system waits until the next polling time.
[0114]
The home appliance server device 40 ignores polling if there is no need for transmission to the home appliance (may return null), but starts transmission as a response to polling if transmission to the home appliance is necessary.
[0115]
In this home appliance control system, the start of communication from the home appliance server device 40 side is substantially realized by such polling processing.
[0116]
In addition, about this polling period, the default value is defined and this value may be changeable to arbitrary values by control from a household appliance server apparatus.
[0117]
・ Configuration of customer DB
In addition, the home appliance server device 40 realizes provision of a service in an environment where home appliances that need to perform such polling processing and home appliances that can perform direct communication using the TCP / IP protocol are mixed. In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, for example, whether direct communication by TCP / IP is possible as an access indicating a communication method to each home appliance in the correspondence table in the customer DB 43a, or a polling process is necessary. Is stored. When direct communication by TCP / IP is possible, for example, information [IPv4, IPv6] indicating the version of TCP / IP is held as access, and information indicating that is required when polling processing is required. And [Polling from device] and information indicating the polling interval [every 30 seconds] are held.
[0118]
In addition, when communication by TCP / IP is possible, an IP address (for example, IP address [X] of the TV device 12) is held as an address. However, when polling processing is necessary, an echo net address is set. Retained. Note that the echonet address of the home appliance is unknown before polling, but if polling is performed, the echonet address defined in the payload of the polling TCP / IP packet is extracted and stored as an address.
[0119]
In addition, information on the access method to the home gateway device or router device that performs the above-described polling relay, and the address or name thereof may be described in the customer DB. Of course, the home gateway device itself may have a home appliance ID, and these may be registered in the customer DB.
[0120]
(Operation)
(1) Supplying programs to home appliances
In the home appliance control system configured as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, the user operates the TV device 12 to apply for the provision of the service, as shown in FIG. The processing (S31 to S36) until the confirmation response is transmitted in response to the confirmation response from the home appliance server device 40 is the same as S1 to S6 in FIG. 4 described above. Different.
[0121]
The HTTP d 42 a that has received the confirmation response from the TV apparatus 12 confirms the customer DB 43 a shown in FIG. 11 described above, and acquires an access method for the air conditioner 22 that is a service provision target. Thereby, the HTTPd 42a knows that the communication with the air conditioner 22 needs to be polled, and in order to start polling from the air conditioner 22, the user turns on the power of the air conditioner 22 and A message for instructing connection (power-on instruction) is generated and transmitted to the TV apparatus 12 (S37). When the TV apparatus 12 receives such a power-on instruction, the TV apparatus 12 displays an image for instructing the user to turn on the air-conditioner 22 on the display unit 125 (S38).
[0122]
This image shows, for example, “Turn on the power switch of the air conditioner so that it can be connected to the network (Internet connection) (If necessary, turn on the power to the gateway device)”. When such an image is displayed on the display unit 125 of the TV apparatus 12, the user is prompted to turn on the air conditioner 22 and connect to the network 80.
[0123]
In response to this, the user turns on the air conditioner 22 and connects the air conditioner 22 to the network 80 if necessary (S39).
[0124]
In response to this, the power supply of the air conditioner 22 is turned on (S40), the setting of the echo net of the air conditioner 22 is initialized, for example, the echo net address is determined (S41).
[0125]
Thereafter, the air conditioner 22 searches the network 80 for a node (such as another home appliance) having a “network relay function”. Specifically, for example, requests for attribute notification are sequentially issued to nodes (such as other home appliances) connected to the network 80, and a node having a “network relay function” (in this case, the gateway device 89) is detected. To do. Thereafter, a notification of the attribute is requested to the detected node, that is, the gateway device 89 (S42), and a response (attribute notification) to this is supplied to the air conditioner 22 (S43). As a result, when the gateway device 89 knows that it has a relay function (network relay function) for the network 30, the air conditioner 22 requests to relay the above-mentioned polling message to the home appliance server device 40. The echo net packet is transmitted to the gateway device 89 (S44). This packet is relayed by the gateway device 89 and transmitted to the home appliance server device 40 as a TCP / IP packet (for example, an HTTP packet for the HTTPd 42a) (S45).
[0126]
Specifically, as the polling TCP / IP packet, for example, a POST method packet defined in the HTTP protocol is used. In this packet, a predetermined type, for example, a MIME type such as “X-echonet-gateway” is specified as a message addressed to the home appliance server device 40 to be transmitted. Thereby, the household appliance server apparatus 40 which received such a packet can know that the said packet is a command from an echo net node (in this case, the gateway apparatus 89). In addition, the message includes the value of the home appliance ID of the transmission home appliance, and the home appliance server device 40 is from which home appliance (node having the home appliance ID) the received polling packet is. You will be able to know information about.
[0127]
In response to the polling as described above, the HTTPd 42a, like S7 to S8 in FIG. 4 described above, performs processing such as authentication of the air conditioner 22, exchange of keys, etc., supply of a program that receives remote control for the air conditioner 22, etc. Processing is executed (S46 to S50). At this time, the gateway device 89 converts the protocol and relays the packet (S47, S50).
[0128]
Thereby, the program which implement | achieves the operation | movement which air conditioner 22 receives remote control is stored in the memory etc. with which the control part 225 of the air conditioner 22 is equipped, and it will be in an execution state (S51).
[0129]
In this state, for example, when a remote control command is supplied from the home appliance server device 40 to the air conditioner 22, the air conditioner 22 can control the operation in accordance with the command.
[0130]
When the program is successfully provided, the DB engine 42b changes the information (remote control availability) in the customer DB 43a corresponding to the home appliance that provided the program from “No” to “Yes”.
[0131]
(2) Use of services (remote control)
As described above, when the program for receiving the remote control service from the home appliance server device 40 enters the execution state, the air conditioner 22 inputs the instruction command from the home appliance server device 40 in addition to the instruction input from the input unit 222. Will be in a state of monitoring.
[0132]
For example, the user can use the remote control service by using either the terminal device 50 or the mobile terminal device 70. In the following description, a case where the mobile terminal device 70 is used will be described.
[0133]
In this home appliance control system, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the authentication / key exchange (S60) of the mobile terminal device 70 and the transmission of the home appliance control page to the HTTPd 42a are performed in the same manner as the processing from S11 to S15 in FIG. Processing up to the request (S61), provision of the home appliance control page (S62), instruction input (S63), and transmission of the setting request (S64) is executed.
[0134]
Thereafter, the DB engine 42b acquires information such as an access method (access in FIG. 11) and an address from the correspondence table in the customer DB 43a to the air conditioner 22 of the user.
[0135]
In this case, since polling processing is necessary for communication to the air conditioner 22, the HTTPd 42a is provided with the protocol packet of the polling packet (S65) from the air conditioner 22 being converted (S66) and being provided (S66). stand by. When the polling packet is supplied, the HTTP d 42a transmits a temperature setting request addressed to the air conditioner 22 to the gateway device 89 as a response to this packet (S68). This temperature setting request is relayed by the gateway device 89 (S69) and supplied to the air conditioner 22 (S70).
[0136]
The control unit 225 of the air conditioner 22 changes the set temperature in response to the temperature setting request supplied from the home appliance server device 40 (S71).
[0137]
(effect)
In this home appliance control system, as described above, when remote control is performed from the home appliance server device 40 to the air conditioner 22, waiting for polling (for example, once every 30 seconds) from the air conditioner 22 to the home appliance server device 40. A remote control command is transmitted as a response to this polling.
[0138]
As a result, in this home appliance control system, remote control is possible even for home appliances that cannot start communication from the home appliance server device side because they cannot communicate with a protocol used in an external network such as the Internet. Etc. can be provided.
[0139]
Moreover, in this household appliance control system, since it can issue the control command with the polling period with respect to the household appliance server apparatus 40 from a household appliance at the latest, it contributes to an improvement in responsiveness easily by setting a polling period suitably. be able to.
[0140]
Third embodiment
When connecting a home network and an external network such as the Internet, a firewall (F / W) that restricts access between these networks may be provided in order to improve security.
[0141]
In addition, in a home network, a router device for connecting to an external network using a local address may include an address translation unit such as NAT (Network Address Translation) or IP masquerade. The address conversion unit is also required when the IP address versions of the home network and the external network are different.
[0142]
When these F / Ws, address conversion units, and the like are interposed, a communication protocol (for example, TCP / IP) common to the home appliance server device 40 and home appliances is implemented as in the first embodiment described above. However, there may be a case where communication between these cannot be performed directly.
[0143]
(Constitution)
In the home appliance control system according to the third embodiment of the present invention, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, a network 90 is provided instead of the network 20 in FIG. In the network 90, as in the network 20 described above, communication is performed using, for example, the TCP / IP protocol. For this reason, each home appliance connected to the network 90 is assigned an IP address.
[0144]
In this home appliance control system, a router device 99 is provided instead of the router device 29 in FIG. The router device 99 includes, for example, a communication I / F 991 that performs communication with the network 30, a wireless communication I / F 992 that performs wireless communication with the communication I / F 221 described above, processing such as path control and address conversion when necessary. And a routing control unit 993 for executing.
[0145]
The routing control unit 993 performs conversion between the address system used in the external network 30 (for example, global address, IPv4, etc.) and the address system used in the internal network 90 (for example, private address, IPv6, etc.). And relay packets.
[0146]
Specifically, the address conversion in the routing control unit 993 is performed by the above-described processing such as NAT or IP masquerade as long as it is a conversion between a global address and a private address. Alternatively, the address conversion may be performed by a process that also converts a correspondence relationship such as a protocol higher than the network address, such as a port number.
[0147]
Instead of the address conversion or together with the address conversion, the routing control unit 993 may be provided with an application gateway function such as PROXY.
[0148]
Note that the address conversion function such as NAT, the application gateway function and the like are not necessarily provided in the router device 99 but may be provided on the network 30 side. A plurality of these functions can be provided between the home appliance and the home appliance server device 40.
[0149]
By the way, the direct access between the network 30 and the network 90 is restricted by the above address translation or application gateway. Therefore, in this home appliance control system, the home appliance server device 40 cannot directly specify the IP address of the air conditioner 22 or the like connected to the network 90 and start communication, as in the second embodiment. .
[0150]
For this reason, in this home appliance control system, similarly to the above-described second embodiment, home appliances that can receive remote control poll the home appliance server device 40 at predetermined time intervals.
[0151]
In the packet (polling packet) for this purpose, for example, as shown in FIG. 15, the address “Z” of the home appliance server device 40 is designated as the destination address in the header, and a predetermined protocol is designated as the destination port number. (For example, “HTTP” indicating HTTPd 42a) is designated. Further, in the payload of this packet, a predetermined command (POST command) and the like are defined as in FIG.
[0152]
In addition, the home appliance server device 40 is provided with a service in an environment in which home appliances that need to perform the polling process as described above and home appliances that can perform direct communication are mixed, for example, as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 16, information indicating whether direct communication by TCP / IP is possible or polling processing is necessary as access indicating the communication method to each home appliance in the correspondence table in the customer DB 43a. It is supposed to keep it. When direct communication by TCP / IP is possible, for example, information [IPv4, IPv6] indicating the version of TCP / IP is held as access, and information indicating that is required when polling processing is required. And [Polling from device] and information indicating the polling interval [every 30 seconds] are held.
[0153]
In addition, when communication by TCP / IP is possible, an IP address (for example, IP address [X] of the TV device 12) is held as an address. However, when polling processing is necessary, the packet reaches directly. Information [Unreachable] indicating that it cannot be held is held.
[0154]
In addition, information on the access method to the router device that performs the above-described polling relay, and information on the address or name may be described in the customer DB. Of course, the router device itself may have a home appliance ID, and these may be registered in the customer DB.
[0155]
(Operation)
(1) Supplying programs to home appliances
In the home appliance control system configured as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 17, the user operates the TV device 12 to apply for the provision of the service, as shown in FIG. In response to this, a confirmation response is transmitted in response to the confirmation response from the home appliance server device 40, and the processing (S81 to S90) until the user turns on the power of the air conditioner 22 is the same as S31 in FIG. Although it is the same as that to S40, the subsequent processing is different.
[0156]
When the power supply of the air conditioner 22 is turned on (S90), the setting of the network 90 is initialized in the air conditioner 22 by the wireless communication I / F 221. For example, a unique private address is determined for the air conditioner 22 in the network 90. (S91).
[0157]
Thereafter, the air conditioner 22 transmits the above-described polling packet to the router device 99 (S92). The packet is subjected to address conversion and the like by the router device 99 and relayed (S93), and transmitted to the home appliance server device 40 (S94).
[0158]
In response to such polling, the HTTPd 42a performs processing such as authentication of the air conditioner 22, exchange of keys, supply of a program that receives remote control for the air conditioner 22, etc., as in S48 to S50 in FIG. Are executed (S95 to S100). At this time, address conversion or the like is performed by the router device 99 to relay the packet (S96, S99).
[0159]
Thereby, the program which implement | achieves the operation | movement which air conditioner 22 receives remote control is stored in the memory etc. with which the control part 225 of the air conditioner 22 is equipped, and it will be in an execution state (S101).
[0160]
In this state, for example, when a remote control command is supplied from the home appliance server device 40 to the air conditioner 22, the air conditioner 22 can control the operation in accordance with the command.
[0161]
When the program is successfully provided, the DB engine 42b changes the information (remote control availability) in the customer DB 43a corresponding to the home appliance that provided the program from “No” to “Yes”.
[0162]
(2) Use of services (remote control)
As described above, when the program for receiving the remote control service from the home appliance server device 40 enters the execution state, the air conditioner 22 inputs the instruction command from the home appliance server device 40 in addition to the instruction input from the input unit 222. Will be in a state of monitoring.
[0163]
In this home appliance control system, for example, as shown in FIG. 18, authentication / key exchange (S110) of the mobile terminal device 70 and transmission of the home appliance control page to the HTTPd 42a are performed in the same manner as the processing from S60 to S64 in FIG. Processing up to the request (S111), provision of the home appliance control page (S112), instruction input (S113), and transmission of the setting request (S114) is executed.
[0164]
Thereafter, the DB engine 42b acquires information such as an access method (access in FIG. 16) and an address from the correspondence table in the customer DB 43a to the air conditioner 22 of the user.
[0165]
In this case, since polling is required for communication to the air conditioner 22, the HTTPd 42a is provided with the polling packet (S120) from the air conditioner 22 being subjected to address conversion by the router device 99 (S121). (S122). When the polling packet is supplied, the HTTP d 42a transmits a temperature setting request addressed to the air conditioner 22 to the router device 99 as a response to this packet (S123). This temperature setting request is relayed by the router device 99 (S124) and supplied to the air conditioner 22 (S125).
[0166]
The control unit 225 of the air conditioner 22 changes the set temperature in response to the temperature setting request supplied from the home appliance server device 40 (S126).
[0167]
(effect)
In this home appliance control system, as described above, when remote control is performed from the home appliance server device 40 to the air conditioner 22, waiting for polling (for example, once every 30 seconds) from the air conditioner 22 to the home appliance server device 40. A remote control command is transmitted as a response to this polling.
[0168]
Thereby, in this household appliance control system, services, such as remote control, can be provided also to the household appliances which cannot start communication from the external network side, such as the internet.
[0169]
In addition, in this home appliance control system, it is possible to issue a control command at a polling cycle from the home appliance to the home appliance server device at the latest, so that the responsiveness can be easily improved by appropriately setting the polling cycle. Can do.
[0170]
In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where “apparatus-specific identification information” is used as the home appliance ID has been described. However, in the world, a plurality of identification information independent of each other may exist simultaneously. For example, a value of EUI 64, a value of an IP address, a value of a telephone number, a serial number, etc. For this reason, as the home appliance ID, for example, “what number of the EUI 64”, “what number of the telephone number”, “what identification information of the attribute”, “what number of the identification information” It can also be defined in the form.
[0171]
【The invention's effect】
In the present invention, the home appliance server device that provides the service from the home appliance (first home appliance) that requests the use of the service, the identification information of the first home appliance, and the home appliance that uses the service (second A service use request including information indicating a home appliance) is transmitted. The household appliance server apparatus which received such a use request respond | corresponds to the information which shows the 2nd household appliances which the owner corresponding to the identification information of the 1st household appliances received with reference to the identification information holding means received. Check whether or not the home appliance is owned. If it is confirmed that the home appliance is owned, start the service use software addressed to the second home appliance or the service use software pre-installed in the home appliance. Send the command to instruct. The second home appliance that has received such service use software or command executes the service use software according to the received service use software or command and receives a service from the home appliance server.
[0172]
Thereby, the service according to the household appliances which a user owns can be provided, for example, the control program according to the installation environment etc. of household appliances can be provided. For this reason, the management from the remote place of the household appliances from which installation environment differs can be implement | achieved easily.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home appliance control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence table stored in a customer DB of a home appliance server device that constitutes the home appliance control system.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence table stored in a home appliance DB of a home appliance server device that constitutes the home appliance control system.
FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating a program providing process in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a remote control process in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home appliance control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a format of an echonet packet transmitted / received in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a format of a TCP / IP packet transmitted / received in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a gateway device constituting the home appliance control system.
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a correspondence table held in a correspondence table holding unit configuring the gateway device.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence table stored in a customer DB of a home appliance server device that constitutes the home appliance control system.
FIG. 12 is a sequence diagram showing a program providing process in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 13 is a sequence diagram showing a remote control process in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home appliance control system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a format of a TCP / IP packet transmitted / received in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing an example of a correspondence table stored in a customer DB of a home appliance server device that constitutes the home appliance control system.
FIG. 17 is a sequence diagram showing a program providing process in the home appliance control system.
FIG. 18 is a sequence diagram showing a remote control process in the home appliance control system.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Building, 10 ... 1st network (AV type | system | group), 11 ... Wired line, 12 ... TV apparatus, 121 ... Communication I / F, 122 ... Input part, 123 ... Reception part, 124 ... Web browser, 125 ... Display , 126: control unit, 129 ... home appliance ID holding unit, 13 ... recording device, 14 ... audio device, 19 ... router device, 191 ... communication I / F, 192 ... communication I / F, 193 ... routing control unit, 20 2nd network (white matter system), 21 ... wireless line, 22 ... air conditioner, 221 ... wireless communication I / F, 222 ... input unit, 223 ... temperature sensor, 224 ... outdoor unit control unit, 225 ... control unit 229 ... Home appliance ID holding unit, 23 ... Hot water supply management device, 24 ... Refrigerator, 25 ... Microwave oven, 26 ... Washing machine, 29 ... Router device, 291 ... Communication I / F, 292 ... Wireless communication I / F, 293 ... routing 30: third network (Internet system), 40: home appliance server device, 41: communication I / F, 42 ... service providing unit, 42a ... HTTPd, 42b ... DB engine, 43 ... DB, 43a ... customer DB 43b ... Home appliance DB, 50 ... Terminal device, 51 ... Communication I / F, 52 ... Input unit, 53 ... Display unit, 54 ... Web browser, 60 ... Gateway device, 65 ... Base station 70 ... Mobile terminal device, 71 ... Communication I / F, 72 ... Input unit, 73 ... Display unit, 74 ... Web browser, 80 ... Network, 89 ... Gateway device, 891 ... Communication I / F, 892 ... Echonet I / F, 893 ... Protocol conversion unit, DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 90 ... Network, 99 ... Router apparatus, 991 ... Communication I / F, 992 ... Wireless communication I / F, 993 ... Routing control part

Claims (21)

A home appliance that applies to a home appliance server device that provides a service via a public network,
Identification information holding means for holding unique identification information assigned in advance so as not to overlap between home appliances belonging to a plurality of categories and capable of communicating with the home appliance server device;
A communication means for communicating with the home appliance server device via a local network or a public network;
In the home appliance server device that manages for each owner the identification information of the home appliances of the same owner, the services that can be provided to each home appliance, and the services that are already provided to each home appliance . Service request means for transmitting a request to start providing a service not provided to the second home appliance to the home appliance (second home appliance) of the owner of the home appliance . Household appliances characterized by that. The service request means includes
Confirmation display means for displaying an image according to data relating to the second home appliance supplied from the home appliance server device in response to the identification information of the first home appliance or a request to start providing service;
When there is a confirmation input from the user in response to the display by the confirmation display means, confirmation information indicating that the confirmation input has been made is sent to the second home appliance according to the confirmation information by the service use software or the The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a confirmation transmission unit that transmits to the server device that transmits a command instructing activation of service use software incorporated in the home appliance in advance. The service request means includes
In response to the identification information of the first home appliance or the request to start providing the service, an image corresponding to a power input or network connection instruction for the second home appliance to the user supplied from the home appliance server device Instruction display means for displaying
When there is a completion input from the user according to the display by the instruction display means, the completion information indicating that the completion input has been received is started to provide a service to the second home appliance according to the completion information The home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising: a completion transmission unit configured to transmit to the server device. A home appliance that uses a service provided from a home appliance server device that provides a service via a public network,
Identification information holding means for holding unique identification information assigned in advance so as not to overlap between home appliances belonging to a plurality of categories and capable of communicating with the home appliance server device;
A communication means for communicating with the home appliance server device via a local network or a public network;
Same identification information of the owner of the home appliance, which can be provided to each home device service, and home electronics server device that manages each owner service provided already with each home device, the home appliance (second Provision of services for the home appliances (second home appliances) and identification information of the home appliances transmitted by the home appliances (first home appliances) that transmit a request to start providing services not provided to the home appliances) Receiving means for receiving via the communication means a command for instructing activation of service use software to be transmitted in response to a start request or service use software incorporated in advance in the home appliance;
A home appliance comprising: service use software that executes the service use software according to the received service use software or command and receives a service provided from the home appliance server.   5. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first home appliance and the second home appliance are connected to different local networks.   The local area network to which the first household electrical appliance is connected and the local area network to which the second household electrical appliance is connected are connected to the public network via different router devices that relay to the public network. The household electrical appliance according to claim 5, wherein A unique address (global address) is assigned to each device connected to the public network in the first home appliance and the second home appliance,
The packet from the home appliance server device is directly reachable to the second home appliance via the public network;
5. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the home appliance server device holds the address or name in association with identification information of the home appliance. The second home appliance is assigned an address (local address) that is valid only within the local network to which the second home appliance is connected,
The home appliance server device holds information indicating that the local address is assigned in correspondence with the identification information of the home appliance,
Communication between the second home appliance and the home appliance server device is:
The second home electrical appliance has a relay means provided between the local network to which the second home electrical appliance is connected and the public network, and the relay having the address of the home appliance server device or information indicating the address Send a request,
5. The home appliance according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the relay device performs relaying according to an address being relayed or information indicating an address. The second home appliance is assigned an address (private address) that is unreachable from the public network side,
Communication between the second home appliance and the home appliance server device is:
The second home appliance transmits a relay request having an address of the home appliance server device or information indicating an address to a relay means provided between the second home appliance and the home appliance server device;
5. The home appliance according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the relay device performs relaying according to an address being relayed or information indicating an address.   The communication from the home appliance server device to the second home appliance is performed as a response to transmission from the second home appliance to the home appliance server device every predetermined time. The home appliance described.   10. The home appliance according to claim 7, wherein an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol is used as a communication protocol between the second home appliance and the home appliance server apparatus. A home appliance server device that provides services to home appliances via a public network,
Unique identification information assigned in advance so that there is no duplication between home appliances that belong to multiple categories and can communicate with the home appliance server device, services that can be provided to each home appliance, and already provided to each home appliance. Identification information holding means for holding management information for managing each service for each owner;
The identification information of the first household electrical appliance transmitted from the household electrical appliance (first household electrical appliance) that requests the start of provision of the service to the household electrical appliance (second household electrical appliance) for which the service is not provided, and the service receiving means for receiving a service request including information indicating the second home device utilizing,
Whether the owner corresponding to the received identification information of the first household electrical appliance owns the household electrical appliance corresponding to the information indicating the received second household electrical appliance with reference to the identification information holding means Confirming means to change the management information when possessing , and
When the confirmation means confirms that the owner corresponding to the service use request owns the second home electric appliance, the confirmation means sends the service use software or the electric home appliance to the second home appliance. Transmitting means for transmitting a command for instructing activation of service utilization software incorporated in advance. Device data holding means for holding data relating to the second home appliance;
13. The home appliance according to claim 12, further comprising: device data transmitting means for transmitting data indicating the second home appliance to the first home appliance in response to a service use request received by the receiving means. Server device. In response to a request to start providing the service, an instruction transmission unit that transmits an instruction to the user to the first home appliance;
A service provision control means for starting provision of a service to the second household electrical appliance when completion information corresponding to the transmitted instruction to the user is received from the first household electrical appliance. Item 12. A home appliance server device according to item 12.   13. The home appliance server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the first home appliance and the second home appliance are connected to different local networks.   The local area network to which the first household electrical appliance is connected and the local area network to which the second household electrical appliance is connected are connected to the public network via different router devices that relay to the public network. The household appliance server apparatus of Claim 15 characterized by the above-mentioned. A unique address (global address) is assigned to each device connected to the public network in the first home appliance and the second home appliance,
A packet from the home appliance server device is directly reachable to the second home appliance via the public network;
13. The home appliance server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the identification information holding unit holds the address in correspondence with identification information of the home appliance. The second home appliance is assigned an address (local address) that is valid only within the local network to which the second home appliance is connected,
The identification information holding means holds information indicating that the local address is assigned in correspondence with the identification information of the home appliance,
Communication between the second home appliance and the home appliance server device is:
The second home electrical appliance has a relay means provided between the local network to which the second home electrical appliance is connected and the public network having the address of the home appliance server device or information indicating the address Send a request,
13. The home appliance server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the relay apparatus performs relaying according to an address being relayed or information indicating an address. The second home appliance is assigned an address (private address) that is unreachable from the public network side,
Communication between the second home appliance and the home appliance server device is:
The second home appliance transmits a relay request having an address of the home appliance server device or information indicating an address to a relay means provided between the second home appliance and the home appliance server device;
13. The home appliance server apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the relay apparatus performs relaying according to an address being relayed or information indicating an address.   The communication from the home appliance server device to the second home appliance is performed as a response to transmission from the second home appliance to the home appliance server device every predetermined time. The home appliance server device described.   20. The home appliance server apparatus according to claim 17, wherein an HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) protocol is used as a communication protocol between the second home appliance and the home appliance server apparatus.

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