JP4838748B2 - Home appliance automatic driving system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic driving technology for household electric appliances (hereinafter referred to as “home appliances”) using a job operation system.

  In digital home appliances such as TV and video, automatic driving functions such as an alarm function and scheduled recording are provided.

  For example, in the system described in Patent Document 1 below, a home appliance network includes several home appliances connected to a device controller via the network, and the device controller has a configuration including one common graphical user interface. is doing.

  Moreover, in the system described in Patent Document 2, switching between home appliances connected to a home network, a home server connected to the home network and having a function of controlling drive of home appliances, and home mode and absence mode is performed. And an operation terminal for instructing the home server. The home server includes means for detecting time, and stores the operation information of the home appliance collected by the operation information collection means and the time at that time as a drive history. When the operation terminal is switched to the absence mode, the driving history is statistically calculated and an operation schedule including an estimated driving time and an operation method for each home appliance is created. And according to this operation schedule, a drive instruction is outputted to household appliances.

JP 2006-72992 A JP 2005-277965 A

  Many of the automatic driving functions in the current digital information devices are provided with only a simple schedule function in which the contents that can be set are limited to date and time information, and are not convenient.

  For example, an advanced function that can dynamically change a schedule triggered by an unpredictable event such as weather is not provided, and the function is poor in terms of convenience.

  For example, although the technology described in Patent Document 1 is for automatically driving home appliances by a home appliance controller having a schedule function, an advanced schedule function is not provided. Moreover, in patent document 2, although the method of changing a schedule dynamically by the combination with an external sensor is disclosed, the advanced function which controls the operation | movement order of each household appliance is not provided.

  The present invention is characterized in that a more advanced function is provided in the home appliance automatic operation system.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, a job-related definition that is associated with a database that stores a job definition, a schedule definition, a calendar definition, and a job network definition that associates a table related to each of the definitions. A job management manager for performing management, and a job execution agent as software for operating a job as a unit of behavior of a home appliance requested to be executed by the job management manager on an embedded system incorporated in the home appliance to be executed; A terminal device accessible to the job management manager, wherein the job management manager operates on a personal computer and defines the job transmitted from the terminal device. Store in database Means for requesting the job execution agent to execute a job based on the execution schedule described in the schedule definition specified by the preset job network definition and the calendar information described in the calendar definition And the job execution agent has a function of receiving a job execution request from the job management manager and controlling the home appliance to execute the job according to a schedule. An automatic operation system for equipment is provided.

  It is a definition related to a job, and a home appliance can be automatically operated based on a job definition, a schedule definition, a calendar definition, and a table relating to each. At this time, the details regarding the automatic driving can be determined by the schedule setting.

  Preferably, the terminal device includes means for confirming the definition of the job and the scheduled execution result by connecting to the job management manager host. Thereby, the setting of the automatic driving | operation of household appliances can be changed from a portable terminal, and a setting and driving | operation confirmation can be performed.

  The job execution agent is software improved so that the job execution agent in the job operation system operates on the embedded system, and is software improved so as to operate on the OS of the home appliance. . By providing means for requesting the job execution agent to execute a job in response to a predefined event, the schedule can be adjusted based on the occurrence of an event related to the automatic operation of the home appliance.

  According to the home appliance automatic driving system of the present invention, there is an advantage that the advanced automatic driving function can be provided as one function of the home appliance by incorporating the job operation system as a home appliance operation control device.

  As mentioned above, there are few proposals that give advanced functions to home appliance systems, but in job operation systems that operate on general-purpose machines and workstations adopted by companies, in addition to the function to control the job execution order For example, a job execution function for dynamically changing the output by using parameters inherited from a preceding job as input, and a function for automatically executing a job triggered by an email reception event are realized.

  The inventor has come up with the realization of the advanced automatic driving function of a known job operation system as a function of home appliances by incorporating the job operation system as a home appliance operation control device.

  Hereinafter, based on said consideration, the automatic operation system of the household appliances by one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated concretely, referring drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an embodiment of a job operation system employed in a company. In the job operation system shown in FIG. 1, job execution agents 104 and 105 acting as job agents, a job management manager 102 for managing jobs, and a terminal 101 operated by an operator are connected by a network 103. . A job connected to the job management manager 102 from the terminal 101 is stored in a database 106 held by the job management manager 102. The job set by the operator on the terminal 101 is stored in the database 106.

  The job management manager 102 controls the execution schedule and execution order of the jobs defined by the above processing, and issues a job execution request to the job execution agents 104 and 105 when the execution time is reached. The job execution agents 104 and 105 execute the received job. Note that jobs that are actually executed are arranged in a form (execution module or script) that can be executed on the job execution agent.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration example of an automatic home appliance driving system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a home appliance such as a television 202, an air conditioner 203, and a music player 204, and a home server. A host device 201 that functions as an operation terminal is connected via a home network.

  As will be described later, the host device 201 is provided with a known job execution management manager that operates on a general-purpose OS. In the system shown in FIG. 2, an example is shown in which the home server and the operation terminal are provided on the same host 201, but these may be arranged on different hosts.

  Further, the home network shown in FIG. 2 is connected to, for example, a public network (such as the Internet) 206 via a gateway 205 such as a modem. Reference numeral 207 denotes an information server that provides services for providing various types of information, and is connected to the public network 206. Accordingly, the host device 201, the home appliances 202 to 204, and the information server 207 are all configured to be capable of bidirectional communication, and the communication means includes a network such as a known type of IP protocol. Protocol can be used.

  Each of the home appliances 202 to 204 is provided with job execution agents 202a to 204a as embedded devices, and the operation of the home appliance itself can be controlled by the job management manager. For example, the following functions provided in the job operation system can be used as the operation condition here.

(1) Schedule function This is a function for causing home appliances to execute a preset operation at a preset time. For example, as a wake-up means, a setting can be made such that a music player is activated at a predetermined time every day to play music.

(2) Calendar function In conjunction with the schedule function of (1), the day of the week classification such as weekdays, holidays, and holidays can be set. For example, it is possible to operate such as not sounding a wake-up music on holidays.

(3) Event execution function When an unpredictable event occurs, it is possible to cause the home appliance to execute an arbitrary operation. For example, it is possible to perform operations such as receiving external information such as weather, train operation status, and road traffic congestion notified from the information server 207 to the home network as events and displaying them on a television. Further, by interlocking with the schedule function of (1) above, since the transportation facilities are congested during rainy weather, it is possible to operate to wake up 30 minutes earlier than the preset time.

(4) Execution order control function Function to control the operation order of home appliances. The operation of each home appliance and its execution order can be centrally managed by the job management manager. The control target here is not limited to the operation order of functions within a single home appliance, but the execution order of all home appliances under the management of the job management manager can be controlled in units of functions of each home appliance. For example, the current home theater system requires a plurality of operations such as starting a TV and setting a channel as an external input, and then starting a video and an audio. However, these operations can be performed with a single button.

(5) Recovery function This is a function for executing another operation as an alternative operation when a preset operation fails for some reason. For example, if there is no music source because the CD has been forgotten to be inserted into the music player, the TV can be activated as an alternative operation.

(6) Parameter function This function dynamically changes the execution result of a preset job according to input parameters. For example, it is possible to change the music to be played every day using the date and day of the week as input.

  FIG. 3 shows a system configuration of the job operation system in the home appliance. As shown in FIG. 3, the home appliance includes a job execution agent 301 (indicated by 202a, for example, in FIG. 2) as an embedded device, and an operating system 302. The job execution agent 301 is a home appliance. The operating system (OS) 302 is configured to operate. The operating system 302 requests the device control apparatus 303 that controls the hardware of the home appliance to execute the job requested by the job execution agent 301. The job referred to here is, for example, a command having a function of “turning on the main power” or “playing back music”, and this command is provided by each home appliance manufacturer, for example. Can be used.

  FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing a system configuration example of the automatic operation system for home appliances according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, in the home appliance automatic operation system according to the present embodiment, the operation terminal 404 can set a schedule / calendar, an execution order / event as a job definition. The job defined on the operation terminal 404 is stored in the database 403 of the job management manager 402. The defined job is actually started by registering for execution. A job management manager 402 monitors the schedule and event of the job that has been started, and is executed in the home appliance according to execution order control in a preset order. Further, information on the scheduled job execution results is stored in the database 403 and can be confirmed by referring to the operation terminal 404.

  More specifically, the job management manager 402 includes a schedule control unit that controls a schedule, an execution order control unit that controls the execution order of jobs, and an event processing unit that performs event processing. The home appliance job execution processing unit 401 substantially corresponds to the functions of the job execution agent 301, the operating system 302, and the device control device 303 in FIG.

  5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating examples of data structures stored in the database 403 of the job management manager 402. As shown in FIG. 5, the database 403 includes a job network definition 501, a job definition 502, a schedule definition 503, a calendar definition 504, and a preliminary performance management 505. For example, the job network definition 501 includes a name, a comment related thereto, a name of a preceding job network, a schedule definition number, and a calendar definition number. The job definition 502 includes a job name, its comment, an attribute, a parent job network name (a name corresponding to the job network definition 501), a preceding job name, an execution command name, and a parameter. . The schedule definition 503 has schedule (start time) data corresponding to the number of the schedule definition. The calendar definition 504 includes a calendar definition number and its definition contents, for example, January 1, 2007 is off, July 15 is on, July 16 is on. The preliminary performance management 505 has a job name, its start date and time, and end date and time. This corresponds to the past log.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an operation example of the home appliance automatic control system according to the present embodiment. The example shown in FIG. 6 is an example for realizing energy saving operation of an air conditioner. It is the figure which represents typically the operation schedule of the air conditioner which considers the existence of the private power generation device. Using the schedule function in the system configuration shown in FIG. 4, the schedule definition shown in FIG. An execution request is made to start the air conditioner (cooling unit) at the timing (7:00) indicated by reference numeral 602. In response to this, the job execution agent 301 instructs the device controller 303 of the air conditioner to start up via the OS 302, and the air conditioner starts at the timing (7:00) based on the execution request. Then, by the same mechanism, the operation of the air conditioner is stopped at a timing 603 (17:00) indicated by reference numeral 603.

  In addition, it is possible to cope with a situation that is difficult to predict at the time when the execution request is made. For example, when a solar power generator is provided in the home shown in FIG. Thus, the cooling start mode 604 is changed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the morning (period t1) and night (period t3), the efficiency of private power generation is lower than during the day (period t2) (see reference numeral 601). As time passes, the power generation efficiency increases (period t1). On the other hand, from the evening, the power generation efficiency decreases as time goes on (period t3). On the other hand, in the period t2, the efficiency of private power generation is substantially constant.

  Therefore, from the viewpoint of energy saving, the mode of the air conditioner can be divided into a power saving mode and a normal mode, and the air conditioner mode can be automatically changed. For example, since the private power generation efficiency is still low at 7:00 in the morning when the air conditioner is activated, the power saving mode is automatically set as shown in the time schedule of reference numeral 604. Then, during the operation period of the air conditioner (7:00 to 17:00), the power saving mode is switched to the normal mode at the timing when the private power generation efficiency is changed (timing between t1 and t2). If it is the operation period even in the evening, it is possible to automatically switch from the normal mode to the power usage mode at the timing of switching between the period t2 and the period t3.

  In the above example, the in-house power generation efficiency is determined based on the time values set in advance for the periods t1, t2, and t3. For example, information such as the weather of the day acquired from the information server 207 is used. In addition, it is also possible to estimate the power generation efficiency of the day and switch between the normal mode and the power saving mode during automatic operation based on that. In addition, depending on the day of the week, it is also possible to set based on the calendar definition 504 so as to delay the start-up time on the weekend. If there is a long trip, it is set in advance so that automatic driving is stopped during that time. Is also possible. Of course, it is also possible to perform setting / setting change by remote operation to the job management manager from the portable terminal via the gateway. Settings and settings can be changed in this case by rewriting the schedule definition and rewriting the calendar definition.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing more specific contents for performing the operation as shown in FIG. The description will be made with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the job network 701 for controlling the cooling device (definition of 5011 in FIG. 5A), the cooling start job network 702 (definition of 5012 in FIG. 5A), and the cooling stop job A network 704 (definition 5013 in FIG. 5A) and a job network 707 (definition 5014 in FIG. 5A) for changing the start mode are configured. The cooling startup job network 702 includes a startup job 703 (definition of 5021 in FIG. 5A), and the schedule function according to the present embodiment (schedule control unit 402 in FIG. 4, definition of 5031 in FIG. 5A). Then, cooling is started according to a preset schedule. Subsequent to the cooling start job network 702, a cooling stop job network 704 and a recovery job 706 (definition 5023 in FIG. 5A) for stopping the job network 701 when the start fails are defined. With the execution order control function (execution order control unit 402 in FIG. 4) and the recovery function according to the present embodiment, the cooling stop job network 704 is executed only when the job network 701 ends normally, If the job network 701 is abnormally terminated, a recovery job 706 is executed. The cooling stop job network 704 includes a stop job 705 (definition of 5022 in FIG. 5A), and the cooling stop processing is performed according to a schedule set in the same manner as the cooling start job network 702.

  A job network 707 (definition of 5014 in FIG. 5A) for changing the cooling start mode includes a first job 708 (definition of 5024 in FIG. 5A) that receives a power generation state (parameter) as an event, and a cooling start mode. A second job 709 (definition of 5025 in FIG. 5A). The second job 709 for changing the cooling start mode is executed only when an event is received in the first job 708 by the execution order control function (FIG. 4: the execution order control unit 402). In accordance with the contents of the event taken over by the parameter function according to the form (for example, the situation of private power generation, which corresponds to “$ event” of 5025 in FIG. 5A), the cooling start mode is controlled to be changed. The job network 701 is executed only for a preset date or period in the calendar function 701 (definition of 5041 in FIG. 5B), for example, in the summer season (for example, July 15 to September 15). Can be.

  As described above, according to the automatic operation system for home appliances according to the present embodiment, by incorporating the job operation system as an operation control device for home appliances, the advanced automatic operation function of the proven job operation system can be achieved. There is an advantage that it can be provided as one function.

  The present invention can be used in an automatic operation system for home appliances.

It is a figure which shows the example of an outline of a job operation system. It is a functional block diagram which shows the structural example which integrated the household appliance automatic operation system by one embodiment of this invention in the house. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the job operation system in the household appliance by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of 1 structure of the household appliance automatic operation system by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the database structure of a job management manager. It is a figure which shows an example of the database structure of a job management manager, and is a figure following FIG. 5A. It is a figure which shows the operation example of the household appliance automatic driving | operation by this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the specific structure for performing operation | movement like FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 201 ... Host apparatus, 202 ... Television, 202a-204a ... Job execution agent, 203 ... Air conditioner, 204 ... Music player, 205 ... Gateway, 206 ... Public line network, 207 ... Information server, 402 ... Job management manager, 403 ... Database 404, operating terminals.

Claims (4)

A definition related to a job, a job definition, a schedule definition for defining a schedule content for causing a home appliance to execute a preset operation at a preset time, and the schedule definition In order to associate a calendar definition that defines an instruction on the calendar to execute or not execute an operation for each day of the week, and a table related to each, in association with the scheduling function based on A job that manages a job that is associated with a database that stores a name, a schedule definition number for identifying the schedule definition, and a job network definition that describes the calendar definition number for identifying the calendar definition An admin manager,
A job execution agent as software for operating a job as a unit of behavior of a home appliance requested to be executed by the job management manager on an embedded system incorporated in the home appliance to be executed;
An automatic operation system for home appliances having a terminal device accessible to the job management manager,
The job management manager
Means for operating on a personal computer and storing / obtaining a definition related to the job transmitted from the terminal device in a database; an execution schedule described in the schedule definition specified by the preset job network definition; Means for requesting the job execution agent to execute a job based on the calendar information described in the calendar definition,
The job execution agent is:
A function of performing a control of accepting a job execution request from the job management manager and causing the home appliance to execute the job according to a schedule ;
The database further stores a recovery definition that defines a recovery operation for controlling an alternative operation of the home appliance,
An automatic operation system for home appliances comprising means for executing an alternative operation when an operation fails based on the recovery definition . The database further stores an event execution definition that defines the contents of an event execution function for causing a home appliance to execute an arbitrary operation change caused by the occurrence of an event, triggered by an unpredictable event,
2. The means for linking the event execution definition and the schedule definition to reflect an operation change defined in the event execution definition in a schedule defined in the schedule definition. Automatic operation system for home appliances described in 1. The database further stores an execution order definition for controlling the operation order of home appliances,
The automatic operation system for home appliances according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for executing an operation of a single home appliance or a plurality of home appliances based on the execution order definition. The database further stores a parameter definition that defines a parameter for dynamically changing an execution result of a preset job according to an input parameter,
The automatic operation system for home appliances according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising means for changing to an operation based on a changed input parameter based on the parameter definition.

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