JP4569256B2 - Information display system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an information display system, a first server, and an information display system used for displaying various information including information related to living and usage of electricity, gas, water, etc., on an information terminal installed at home. It is about the program.

  An example of a conventionally used information display system and server (for example, see Patent Document 1) will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 5, 501 is a usage measuring means, 502 is a water heater, 503 is a device, 508 is a server, 509 is a server control means, 510 is a customer database, 512 is a usage providing means, 513 is an information terminal, 514 is a display Means 515 is information terminal control means, 516 is authentication information submitting means, and 1017 is the Internet.

  When the device 503 is operated, gas is used in the water heater 502, and the usage amount is measured by the usage amount measuring unit 501. The information terminal 513 connects the usage amount measured by the usage amount measurement unit 501 to the server 508 using the authentication information submitted by the authentication information submission unit 516 in accordance with an instruction from the information terminal control unit 515, and passes through the server control unit 509. Authentication information and usage amount are registered in the customer database 510 of the server 508 to indicate that the connection is from the information terminal 513 of a specific customer.

When the usage amount display instruction is issued by the user, the information terminal control unit 515 connects to the server 508 using the authentication information submitted by the authentication information submission unit 516. The server control unit 509 extracts the usage amount from the customer database 510 using the submitted authentication information, generates an HTML file to be displayed on the information terminal 513 using the usage amount providing unit 512, and sends it to the information terminal 513. Returns a response. In the information terminal 513, the information terminal control means 515 interprets the HTML file and displays the usage amount through the display means 514.
JP-A-8-129677

  The conventional information display system has the following problems, which are not considered or described in the conventional patent literature.

  A company that installs electricity, gas, and water usage measurement means to manage usage information such as usage and charges, and provides information terminals that provide valuable information such as news, weather forecasts, and bulletin boards from the Internet. Companies that provide services are often different. In addition, in order to manage and provide the usage amount to be measured, it is necessary to perform customer management using a database including personal information such as an individual address and a telephone number in order to charge a user. Similarly, companies that provide information terminals need to manage customers using a database that includes personal addresses and telephone numbers in order to charge users for information charges.

  Data containing personal information must be strictly managed so that it is not leaked to others at the responsibility of the company that kept the customer information, so even when providing information using the same information terminal, Complicated arrangements are required for sharing and sharing authentication methods between servers. In addition, when displaying information on usage, etc., a mechanism for displaying the usage without requiring the user to input authentication information each time is implemented in order to ensure user convenience and eliminate the mechanism for responding to inquiries from users. There is a need.

  The present invention solves the above-described conventional problems, and authentication of an information terminal is performed between a server of a company that sells the information terminal (referred to as a first server) and the information terminal, and the information providing company The connection to the server (referred to as the second server) is made through the first server, and the connection to the second server must be disclosed to the installation operator in order to perform the installation. By using data that does not contain personal information as a keyword for connection, the same level of security can be provided even if the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal is omitted from the function of the second server, and authentication by the user It is an object of the present invention to provide an information display system, a first server, and a program thereof capable of displaying information and usage amount without inputting information.

  In order to solve the conventional problem, the information display system according to the present invention provides a keyword for connection between the first server and the second server in advance as installation information input when an information terminal installation operator installs the information terminal. When the authentication information is obtained by connecting to the first server using the installation information, the installation information is stored by the installation information submitting / storing means of the information terminal. When connecting to the server, the authentication is established using the first server and the authentication information, and the information terminal is used to connect the installation information based on the connection destination information acquired from the first server to the second server. By directly issuing an information display request to the first server as a keyword, connecting to the second server via the first server, and delivering the information of the second server from the first server to the information terminal The second server connects the installation information It is only necessary to prepare information for each customer as a keyword and send the information to the information terminal via the first server. Even if the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal is omitted from the function of the second server, the same level of security is provided. Can have sex. Further, at this time, it is possible to provide an information display system capable of displaying information provided by the customer information providing means of the second server without the user inputting authentication information every time.

  In the information display system according to the present invention, the information terminal includes an installation information switching unit, and the installation information used as a connection keyword is changed for each of the plurality of second servers, whereby independent information management is performed for each server. It is possible to provide an information display system capable of

  In the information display system of the present invention, authentication of an information terminal is performed between a first server of a company that sells the information terminal and the information terminal, and the first connection is made to the second server of the company that provides information. Through the server. A mechanism for authenticating the information terminal from the function of the second server by using data that does not include personal information that must be disclosed to the installation worker for connection to the second server. Even if is omitted, the same level of security can be provided, and information and usage can be displayed without the input of authentication information by the user.

  1st invention is the information display system provided with the 1st server, the 2nd server, and the information terminal, Comprising: The said 1st server preserve | saved in the 1st customer database and the 1st customer database Authentication information providing means for providing the authentication information, wherein the information terminal registers the authentication information storage means for storing the authentication information acquired from the first server and the first customer database. Installation information submitting / storing means for submitting and storing the installation information, and the second server has a second customer database and customer-specific information providing means for providing information for each customer, and the information When the terminal acquires information for each customer of the second server, the information terminal uses the authentication information to connect to the first server to acquire connection destination information to the second server, and Key for connecting installation information Via the first server as over de and information display system connected to the second server.

  As a result, installation information to be input when an information terminal installation operator installs is determined in advance as a connection keyword between the first server and the second server, and the installation information is used for the first server. When connecting and acquiring authentication information, this installation information is stored by means of the information terminal installation information submitting / storing means, and when the information terminal connects to the second server thereafter, the authentication information is used with the first server. Based on the connection destination information to the second server acquired from the first server, the information terminal issues an information display request directly to the first server using the installation information as a connection keyword. By connecting to the second server via the first server and delivering the information of the second server from the first server to the information terminal, the second server uses the installation information as a keyword for connection. Prepare every information, the first Via chromatography server to the information terminal need only send information can also be given the security of the same level by omitting the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal from the function of the second server. Further, at this time, it is possible to provide an information display system capable of displaying information provided by the customer information providing means of the second server without the user inputting authentication information every time.

  A second invention is a first server that communicates with an information terminal and a second server, wherein the first server provides a first customer database and authentication information stored in the first customer database. Authentication information providing means, and when the information terminal acquires information for each customer of the second server, the information terminal uses the authentication information to connect to the first server and The server connection destination information is acquired, and the installation information stored in the information terminal is used as a connection keyword to be a first server that mediates connection with the second server.

  As a result, installation information to be input when an information terminal installation operator installs is determined in advance as a connection keyword between the first server and the second server, and the installation information is used for the first server. When connecting and acquiring authentication information, the installation information is stored by means of the information terminal installation information submitting / storing means, and thereafter, when the information terminal connects to the second server, the information terminal and the first server are authenticated. Authentication is established using information, and based on the connection destination information acquired from the first server to the second server, the information terminal displays the information directly on the first server using the installation information as a connection keyword. By issuing a request, connecting to the second server via the first server, and delivering the information of the second server from the first server to the information terminal, the second server uses the installation information as a keyword for connection. Prepare information for each customer Need only send information to the information terminal via a first server, it can also be given the security of the same level by omitting the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal from the function of the second server. In addition, at this time, it is possible to provide the first server capable of displaying information provided by the customer information providing means of the second server without the user inputting authentication information every time.

  3rd invention is an information display system provided with the usage-amount measuring means which measures usage-amounts, such as electricity, gas, and water, a 1st server, a 2nd server, and an information terminal, Comprising: The first server has a first customer database and authentication information providing means for providing authentication information stored in the first customer database, and the information terminal is acquired from the first server. Authentication information storage means for storing authentication information, and installation information submission / storage means for submitting and storing installation information for registration in the first customer database, wherein the second server is a second customer When the information terminal acquires the usage amount for each customer of the second server, the information terminal includes: a database and a usage amount providing unit for each customer that provides measurement data of the usage amount measuring unit for each customer; Using the authentication information An information display system for connecting to the first server, acquiring connection destination information to the second server, and connecting to the second server via the first server using the installation information as a connection keyword. And

  As a result, installation information to be input when an information terminal installation operator installs is determined in advance as a connection keyword between the first server and the second server, and the installation information is used for the first server. When connecting and acquiring authentication information, this installation information is stored by the installation information submitting / storing means. Thereafter, when the information terminal connects to the second server and executes the usage amount display request, Authentication is established using the authentication information, and the information terminal uses the installation information directly as the connection keyword to the first server based on the connection destination information acquired from the first server to the second server. A second server by issuing a quantity information display request, connecting to the second server via the first server, and delivering the usage information for each customer of the second server from the first server to the information terminal; Uses installation information as a keyword for connection It is only necessary to prepare usage for each customer and send information to the information terminal via the first server. Even if the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal is omitted from the function of the second server, the same level of security is provided. Can have sex. At this time, it is possible to provide an information display system capable of displaying information provided by the usage amount providing unit for each customer of the second server without the user inputting authentication information every time.

  4th invention is a 1st server which communicates with an information terminal and a 2nd server, Comprising: The said 1st server is the 1st customer database and the authentication information preserve | saved in the said 1st customer database. Authentication information providing means for providing, when the information terminal acquires the usage amount of each customer of the second server, the information terminal uses the authentication information to connect to the first server and The connection destination information to the second server is acquired, and the first server that mediates the connection between the second server and the information terminal using the installation information stored in the information terminal as a connection keyword.

  As a result, installation information to be input when an information terminal installation operator installs is determined in advance as a connection keyword between the first server and the second server, and the installation information is used for the first server. When connecting and acquiring authentication information, this installation information is stored by the installation information submitting / storing means. Thereafter, when the information terminal connects to the second server and executes the usage amount display request, Authentication is established using the authentication information, and the information terminal uses the installation information directly as the connection keyword to the first server based on the connection destination information acquired from the first server to the second server. A second server by issuing a quantity information display request, connecting to the second server via the first server, and delivering the usage information for each customer of the second server from the first server to the information terminal; Uses installation information as a keyword for connection It is only necessary to prepare usage information for each customer and send information to the information terminal via the first server. Even if the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal is omitted from the function of the second server, the same level of security is provided. Can have sex. Further, at this time, it is possible to provide a server capable of displaying information provided by the usage amount providing unit for each customer of the second server without the user inputting authentication information every time.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the information terminal system has an information display system provided with a control function of a device that uses a target measured by the usage amount measuring means, so that the user is aware of the usage amount when using the device. Therefore, it is possible to provide an information terminal that can suppress useless measurement target usage.

  6th invention can provide the information display system which can provide various information to a user by setting it as the information display system characterized by providing two or more 2nd servers.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the information terminal includes an installation information switching means, and an information display system capable of independent information management for each server by changing the installation information used as a connection keyword for each second server. Can be provided.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, encrypted communication is used for communication between the first server, the second server, and the information terminal so that a connection keyword is not known to a third party. An information system and a server can be provided.

  A ninth invention is a program for causing a computer to execute at least part of the functions of the information display system according to any one of the first, third, and fifth to eighth inventions. Since it is a program, it is possible to easily realize at least a part of the information terminal of the present invention by cooperating hardware resources such as an electric / information device, a computer, and a server. In addition, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording on a recording medium or distributing the program using a communication line.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Here, description will be made using the usage amount of electricity, gas, and water as an example of information displayed by the information display system.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an information display system and an information terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a usage amount measuring means, 102 is a water heater, 103 is a device, 104 is a first server, 105 is a first server control means, 106 is a first customer database, 107 is an authentication information providing means, 108 is a second server, 109 is a second server control means, 110 is a second customer database, 111 is a usage amount providing means for each customer (information providing means for each customer), 112 is an information terminal, 113 is a display means, Reference numeral 114 denotes information terminal control means, 115 denotes installation information submission / storage means, 116 denotes authentication information storage means, and 117 denotes the Internet.

  The usage metering means 101 is a gas meter, the water heater 102 is a gas combustion device, the equipment 103 is a bath, the first server 104 and the second server 108 are workstations, the first server control means 105 and The second server control means 109 is equipped with an OS, a memory, a storage device, a motherboard having a network connection function, the first customer database 106, the second customer database 110 includes database software, authentication information providing means 107, The authentication information submitting means 116 is software built on the control means, the customer usage amount providing means 111 is web server software having a function of processing the submitted connection keyword, and the display means 113 is information for the user. Touch panel that can display and accept operations, information terminal control means 114, installation information submission Storage means 115, the authentication information storage section 117 by using a microcomputer, the configuration can be easily realized.

  In addition to the bath, the device 103 can be a hot water faucet, a hot water floor heating device that functions using hot water generated by the hot water heater 102, a bathroom dryer, or the like. May be. In addition, the water heater 102 may be a gas water heater, an oil water heater, an electric water heater, a heat pump water heater, or the like that uses electricity for control, and may be other devices without being limited thereto. The Internet 117 is not limited to the Internet and may be a communication network.

  Here, the first server 104 and the information terminal 112 are provided by the information providing company, and the second server 108 and the usage amount measuring means 101 are provided separately from the information providing company by the electricity, gas, and water supply company. Shall. The first server 104 provides information such as news, weather forecasts, cooking recipes, and local circulation boards to the information terminal 112, and the second server 108 manages the usage measured by the usage measuring means 101. And charge the user.

  About the information display system and server comprised as mentioned above, the operation | movement and an effect | action are demonstrated below.

  The operation of this system requires three major operations shown in FIG. The first is (1) information acquisition preparation operation (S0 to S3) for exchanging authentication information and installation information for displaying information, and the second is (2) connection destination information acquisition operation for acquiring connection destination information ( (S4 to S5) The third is (3) a display operation (S6 to S10) in which the user actually makes a display request and executes display.

  First, (1) information acquisition preparation operation of FIG. 2 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a flow of information performed between the first server 104 and the information terminal 112 in the information acquisition preparation operation.

  Installation information is confirmed between the first server 104 and the second server 108 (S0 in FIG. 2). For example, in the case of a newly built apartment, a number uniquely determined for each property for which the information terminal 112 is adopted (for example, 12345678), and information can be easily exchanged without including personal information by assigning a room number (for example, 302). In the case of room # 123456780302). This installation information is used as a connection keyword for identifying a customer when connecting to the second server.

  After the installation is completed for the user, the customer information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) is requested to be submitted together with the specific information of the information terminal 112 (for example, the information terminal serial number). Information is registered in the first customer database 106. The information providing company that operates the first server can charge customers for information or send management information to the customer using the customer information in the first customer database 106.

  When the information terminal 112 is installed, the information terminal control unit 114 connects to the first server 104 as an initial setting operation. At this time, the information terminal 112 submits the unique information (for example, the serial number of the information terminal) stored in the memory, and at the same time, when the installation operator or the user instructs by the interface displayed on the display means 113, The installation information submission / storage means 116 submits the installation information (S1).

  The installation information input here is stored in the information terminal by the installation information submission / storage means 115 (S2). When the installation information is submitted, authentication information (for example, authentication character string “0001”) uniquely determined from the authentication information providing means 107 is given to the information terminal 112 (S3). In the information terminal 113, the information terminal control unit 114 receives this authentication information and stores it in the authentication information storage unit 116.

  The unique information (information terminal serial number) submitted here is registered in the first customer database 106 of the first server 104, and authentication information ("0001") and customer information (name, address, telephone number, etc.) Is associated (FIG. 3).

  Thereafter, when the information terminal 112 connects to a server that provides information, the information terminal control means 114 extracts the authentication information from the authentication information storage means 116 and submits it, so that the first server 104 is connected to the information terminal. It is possible to recognize which customer terminal 112 is, and to provide different information for each information terminal 112.

  It should be noted that the authentication information obtained here is a security property unless the procedure and information system used for authentication are completed only between the first server 104 and the information terminal 112 and are not disclosed to the second server 108. Can be further enhanced.

  Next, (2) connection destination information acquisition operation of FIG. 2 will be described. The information terminal 112 connects to the first server periodically (for example, once a month) using the authentication information and requests connection destination information (S4). In response to a request from the information terminal 112, the first server 104 returns a list of second servers 108 capable of mediating information as connection destination information (for example, an HTML format file) (S5). For this reason, although not shown, the first server 104 and the second server 108 can reply to the request from the information terminal 112 by notifying each other's IP address or preparing a VPN line. Maintain state.

  Next, (3) display operation of FIG. 3 will be described. The information terminal 112 displays the connection destination information obtained in S5 on the touch panel provided by the display unit 113 in response to a command from the information terminal control unit 114, and receives an instruction passed when the user touches the touch panel. The usage amount display of the usage amount measuring unit 101 and the display operation of information provided by the first server 104 are performed.

  In the usage amount display, when the usage amount display is instructed by the user through the touch panel interface prepared by the display means 113, the installation information is acquired from the information terminal control means 114 and the installation information submission / storage means 115, Authentication information is acquired from the authentication information storage means 116. Based on the information obtained here, for example, the HTTP protocol user agent information (for example, installation information = “123456780302”, authentication information = “0001” and delimited by a blank such as “01234567803020001”) is set as the first A usage amount display request is submitted to the server 104 (S6).

  The first server 104 confirms that the request is a legitimate request from the information terminal 112 with the authentication information, and only the installation information obtained by removing the authentication information from the second server 108 is used as user agent information (for example, “ 123456780302 ") as a connection keyword and a usage amount display request is transmitted (S7). The second server 108 inquires the usage amount providing unit 111 for each customer based on the installation information from the first server 104 as a connection keyword (S8), and is processed into an HTML file that can be displayed on the information terminal 112. The usage amount information for each customer is acquired and returned to the first server 104 as usage amount information for each customer (S9). The first server 104 returns the received usage amount information for each customer to the information terminal 112 (S10), and the usage amount for each customer is displayed on the display means 113 of the information terminal 112.

  Here, when there are a plurality of second servers, the installation information submission / storage means 115 registers the installation information for each server, and the installation information submission / storage means 115 for each connection destination acquired in S5 of FIG. By switching the installation information as the connection keyword to be submitted to the connection destination, various information can be provided to the user while managing the connection information independently for each connection destination server.

  Through the operation as described above, authentication of the information terminal 112 is performed between the first server 104 of the company that sells the information terminal and the information terminal 112, and is connected to the second server 108 of the company that provides the information. Is performed via the first server 104, and the connection to the second server uses data that does not include personal information that must be disclosed to the installation operator for installation as a connection keyword. Thus, even if the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal is omitted from the function of the second server 108, the same level of security can be provided, and information and usage amount display can be performed without the user entering authentication information. An information display system, a server, and a program thereof that can be performed can be provided.

  Although the usage amount display has been described in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the installation information is not limited to the usage amount display but can be used as display request information for any information.

  Further, although the usage amount display has been described in detail in the present embodiment, it goes without saying that the usage fee can be displayed by multiplying the unit price or the monthly usage amount can be changed.

  In addition, the installation information is used as the connection keyword for displaying the usage amount. However, since the usage amount measuring unit 101 exists for each house, for example, a usage fee billing number according to the usage amount, etc. Any number may be used as long as it is a different number for each house and can be handled by the second customer database 110.

  In the present embodiment, the display unit 114 has been described as a touch panel capable of displaying and accepting operations. However, other means may be used for accepting operations.

  Needless to say, security can be improved by performing encrypted communication for data transmission / reception.

  In addition, when the function of the second server 108 is to provide information for each customer instead of providing usage, the usage for each customer providing unit 111 may provide information for each customer such as the timetable of the nearest station and the weather forecast for the area. It acts as a customer information providing means for storing and providing information, and provides information for each customer upon request.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of an information display system and an information terminal according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram in which the information terminal control means 114 is connected to the water heater 102 in FIG. The operation and action of the information display system and information terminal configured as shown in FIG. 4 will be described below.

  By the same operation as in the first embodiment, the information terminal 113 can connect to the second server 108 and display the usage amount measured by the usage amount measuring unit 101.

  The information terminal 113 is connected to the water heater 102 and is configured to transmit a user command from the touch panel provided by the display unit 113. The information terminal 112 can control the operation of the device 103 by displaying a command for instructing the operation start or stop of the terminal device 103 connected to the water heater 102 on the display unit 113 and transmitting a user instruction. As a result, the user can check the amount of gas used by the device 103 on the information terminal 112 that controls the operation of the device 103.

  As described above, the information display system and the information terminal of the present invention are provided with a control function of a device that uses the object measured by the usage amount measuring means, so that the user can use the measurement target when using the device. Since the amount of use can be conscious, useless use can be suppressed.

  Although only the operation start and stop have been described as the control function of the information terminal 113, it goes without saying that various operations such as reservation and temperature setting can be performed by the interface displayed on the display unit 114. Nor.

  In addition, the information terminal control unit 114 can perform a remote operation through the Internet 117 by receiving a command for remotely operating the operation of the water heater 102 through the Internet 117.

  In addition, the means described in the first and second embodiments use hardware resources such as a CPU (or microcomputer), a RAM, a ROM, a storage / recording device, an electrical / information device including an I / O, a computer, a server, and the like. You may implement in the form of the program made to cooperate. In the case of a program, the program can be distributed / updated and installed easily by recording it on a recording medium such as magnetic media or optical media, or by distributing it using a communication line such as the Internet.

  As described above, the information display system, the first server, and the program thereof according to the present invention automatically authenticate the information terminal between the first server of the company that sells the information terminal and the information terminal. The connection to the second server of the company that provides the service is made through the first server, and the connection to the second server must be disclosed to the installation operator for installation. By using data that does not contain personal information as a connection keyword, even if the mechanism for authenticating the information terminal is omitted from the function of the second server, the same level of security can be provided, and further, by the user It is possible to provide an information display system, a server, and a program thereof capable of displaying information and usage amount without inputting authentication information.

  This operation can be applied not only to the usage amount display described in the embodiment, but also to applications such as position information display by GPS and status display of the security system by the function of the second server of the connection destination.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the information display system in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and a server. The figure explaining the flow of the information relevant to each operation | movement in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the state of the 1st customer database of the information display system and server in Embodiment 1 of this invention, and an information terminal The block diagram which shows the structure of the information display system in Embodiment 2 of this invention, and a server. The block diagram which shows the structure of the information display system which is a prior art example, and an information terminal

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Usage amount measurement means 102 Hot-water heater 103 Equipment 104 1st server 105 1st server control means 106 1st customer database 107 Authentication information provision means 108 2nd server 109 2nd server control means 110 2nd customer Database 111 Usage provision means for each customer (information provision means for each customer)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 112 Information terminal 113 Display means 114 Information terminal control means 115 Installation information presentation / storage means 116 Authentication information storage means 117 Internet 501 Usage amount measurement means 502 Water heater 503 Equipment 508 Server 509 Server control means 510 Customer database 512 Usage amount provision means 513 Information terminal 514 Display means 515 Information terminal control means 516 Authentication information submission means 517 Internet

Claims (2)

An information display system comprising a first server, a second server, and an information terminal,
The first server and the second server store installation information that is information that can identify a residence of a user where the information terminal is installed,
The first server has a database that stores customer information that can identify the user and authentication information that is uniquely determined for each installation information,
The information terminal transmits a terminal serial number that can identify the information terminal and the installation information to the first server,
The first server that has received the terminal serial number and installation information transmitted from the information terminal stores customer information, authentication information, and a terminal serial number in association with the installation information, and also supports the information terminal. Sent the authentication information to the information terminal,
The information terminal that has received the authentication information transmits a connection destination information request and the authentication information to the first server,
The first server that has received the connection destination information request and authentication information transmitted from the information terminal transmits connection destination information indicating the second server to the information terminal;
When the information terminal requests usage amount information from the second server, the information terminal transmits the authentication information and the installation information to the first server together with a usage amount display request . The information display system according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of second servers.

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