JP5564662B2 - Device control program, device control apparatus, and device control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a plurality of devices connected via a network.

  In recent years, devices such as various home appliances, lighting, housing equipment, and various sensors installed in a house are beginning to be connected to a home network. Therefore, the number of scenes in which various services such as energy saving and entertainment will remotely control devices in a house will increase in the future depending on the user's behavior, occupancy status, and environmental information detected by sensors (context). Conceivable.

  In such a scene, since there is a possibility that a plurality of services may control the same device, exclusive control is required so as not to cause a control contradiction between services. Specifically, when the “program recording service” starts recording with the DVD recorder, exclusive control is required such that the “energy saving service” does not turn off the power of the DVD recorder. For this reason, even if a device controlled by a certain device receives a control command from another device, exclusive control has been proposed in which the control command is rejected.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-94752

  By using such exclusive control, it is possible to avoid contradictory control from a plurality of services in a certain device, but this alone may be insufficient. Specifically, when the “program recording service” starts recording on the DVD recorder, the “energy saving service” is not connected to the power outlet (outlet) to which the DVD recorder is connected or the distribution board is controlled exclusively. There is a possibility of switching off the distribution board. In this way, when a service controls a device, the service is not provided correctly unless exclusive control is performed not only on the device that is directly controlled but also on the related device (related device). There is. Therefore, it is necessary for each service to exclusively control related devices, but it is difficult to specify a device installed in a user's house, and exclusive control of related devices has not been performed.

  Therefore, in view of the problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that allows exclusive control of not only a device that is a direct control target but also a device related thereto.

When a control device that controls a plurality of devices connected via a network receives a notification of a change in the operating status of a device, it stores history information that associates the change time of the operating status with the change information of the operating status. To accumulate. Further, the control device refers to the history information stored in the storage unit, identifies a related device whose operating status changes in conjunction with the device related to the operating status change notification, and determines the device related to the operating status change notification. Is stored in the storage unit. When receiving an exclusive control command for exclusive control of the device, the control device locks the device related to the exclusive control command. When receiving a control command for controlling the device, the control device refers to the related information stored in the storage unit, locks the related device whose operation status changes in conjunction with the device related to the control command, and Controls the device related to the control command.

  In addition to the devices that are directly controlled, related devices related thereto can also be controlled exclusively.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the information system with which the device control apparatus was integrated. It is a structural diagram which shows an example of the internal structure of a home server. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of a home server. It is a data structure figure showing an example of a history table. It is a data structure figure which shows an example of a change table. It is a data structure figure which shows an example of a lock table. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a device control process. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a device control process. It is a data structure figure which shows an example of a device list. It is a data structure figure which shows an example of a search range table. It is a data structure figure which shows an example of a threshold value table. It is a data structure figure which shows an example of a profile table. It is a flowchart which shows the other example of a device control process. It is explanatory drawing of the log | history table (1) in Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the log | history table (2) in Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the change table (1) in Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the log | history table (3) in Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the change table (2) in Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the lock table (1) in Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the lock table (2) in Example 1. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the log | history table (1) in Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the log | history table (2) in Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the change table (1) in Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the log | history table (3) in Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the change table (2) in Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the lock table (1) in Example 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of the lock table (2) in Example 2. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an example of an information system in which a device control apparatus is incorporated.

  In the user's house 100, a DVD recorder 110, a smart outlet 120, an air conditioner 130, a temperature sensor 140, an electric window 150, and a distribution board 160 are installed as an example of a device DVC that can be remotely controlled. The DVD recorder 110, the smart outlet 120, the air conditioner 130, the temperature sensor 140, the electric window 150, and the distribution board 160 are connected to a home network 200, which is a private network, via a wired LAN (Local Area Network). In addition, a home server 170 that functions as a device control apparatus is connected to the home network 200 via a wired LAN.

The DVD recorder 110 is, for example, a DLNA (Digital Lithium) which is an example of a communication protocol.
Using ving Network Alliance (registered trademark), it is possible to notify the home server 170 of changes in the operating status, and to set recording reservations according to control commands from the outside.

  The smart outlet 120 and the distribution board 160 use, for example, ECHONET (Energy Conservation and Home Network (registered trademark)), which is an example of a communication protocol, to regularly supply power consumption of the device DVC connected to each terminal. The server 170 can be notified, and the power consumption of the device DVC connected to each terminal can be notified in accordance with an external control command. Further, the smart outlet 120 and the distribution board 160 can cut off the power supply to each terminal according to a control command from the outside. In this embodiment, the smart outlet 120 and the distribution board 160 measure the power consumption of the device DVC connected to each terminal every predetermined time (for example, 1 second), and the measured value is sent to the home server 170. Shall be notified.

  For example, the air conditioner 130 and the electric window 150 can notify the home server 170 of a change in the operation status using ECHONET, and can change the operation status according to a control command from the outside.

  The temperature sensor 140 can notify the current temperature (room temperature) to the home server 170 periodically using, for example, ECHONET, or notify the current temperature in response to an external request. In the present embodiment, the temperature sensor 140 measures the room temperature regularly (for example, every minute) and notifies the home server 170 of the measured value.

  The communication protocol of the various devices DVC installed in the house 100 is not limited to DLNA or ECHONET, and various known communication protocols can be employed. In the information system shown in FIG. 1, each device DVC is connected to the home network 200 via a wired LAN, but may be connected to the home network 200 via a wireless LAN. Furthermore, each device DVC may be connected to the home network 200 by a wireless communication technology such as ZigBee (registered trademark) or Bluetooth (registered trademark) by using various adapters.

  The home network 200 is connected to the Internet 300 via the broadband router 180. As an example of a service for remotely controlling the device DVC installed in the house 100, for example, a server 400 of a service provider that provides “program recording service”, “energy saving service”, “air conditioning service”, and the like is connected to the Internet 300 Has been. The “program recording service” is a service for realizing program recording by remotely controlling a recording device (such as a DVD recorder 110) installed in the house 100 when a user makes a reservation for a TV program using a mobile phone. is there. The “energy saving service” is a service for reducing power consumption by remotely controlling the air conditioner 130, the electric window 150, and the like installed in the house 100 according to the user's environmental information. The “air conditioning service” is a service for setting the room temperature to the set temperature by remotely controlling the air conditioner 130 and the electric window 150 installed in the house 100 when the user sets the room temperature using a mobile phone, for example.

  Although it is usually impossible for the server 400 connected to the Internet 300 to access the device DVC in the house 100, it can be realized by setting port forwarding with the broadband router 180. Specifically, by setting the broadband router 180 to transfer communication data for a specific port number to the home server 170, the device DVC can be remotely controlled. Access from the server 400 connected to the Internet 300 to the device DVC may be realized using a technique other than port forwarding.

As shown in FIG. 2, the home server 170 is a computer in which a memory A, a processor B such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a hard disk C, a drive device E that reads a removable disk D, and a communication device F are connected by a bus G. is there. The hard disk C functions as a storage unit. The removable disk D is a portable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory) and a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk Read Only Memory). Instead of the removable disk D, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory with a built-in flash memory may be used. The communication device F is, for example, a NIC (Network Interface Card) that connects the bus G and the home network 200.

  The hard disk C of the home server 170 stores a history table 172, a change table 174, and a lock table 176, respectively, as shown in FIG. The history table 172 is a table for storing changes in the operating status of the device DVC in time series. As shown in FIG. 4, the time when the operating status changes, the device ID for identifying the device DVC, and the changed operating status The history information that associates the property that identifies the situation and the value of the property is retained. As shown in FIG. 5, the change table 174 includes related information that associates a device DVC (trigger device) whose operating status has changed with a device DVC (related device) whose operating status has changed in conjunction with the trigger device. Hold. The trigger device and the related device each include a device ID, a property, and its value (change characteristic). The lock table 176 is a table for storing the exclusive control status of the device DVC. As shown in FIG. 6, the lock ID for specifying the lock for realizing the exclusive control, the service ID for specifying the service content, and the direct A device ID that identifies a device DVC to be controlled and lock information that associates a related lock ID are stored. Here, the related lock ID indicates the lock ID that triggered the execution of the lock specified by the lock ID. The history table 172 may hold history information over a predetermined period such as one month, for example, considering that the device DVC installed in the house 100 is changed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the processor B of the home server 170 executes the device control program expanded in the memory A, so that the history information storage unit 170A, the related information storage unit 170B, the device lock unit 170C, And a device control unit 170D. The history information accumulation unit 170A accumulates history information in the history table 172 in chronological order when a change notification of the operation status is received from the device DVC. The related information storage unit 170B stores the related information in the change table 174 when the history information storage unit 170A stores the history information in the history table 172. The device lock unit 170C updates the lock table 176 for managing the lock information of the device DVC when receiving a lock command (exclusive control command) or an unlock command from the server 400. The device control unit 170D updates the lock table 176 and controls the device DVC in response to reception of a control command from the server 400.

  7 and 8 show device control processing executed in cooperation by the history information storage unit 170A, the related information storage unit 170B, the device lock unit 170C, and the device control unit 170D of the home server 170. The device control process is executed when an event notification is received, specifically when an operation status change notification is received from the device DVC, or when various commands arrive from the server 400.

  In step 1 (abbreviated as “S1” in the figure. The same applies hereinafter), the history information storage unit 170A analyzes the notified event, so that the event is a change notification of the operating status of the device DVC. Determine. If the history information storage unit 170A determines that it is an operation status change notification, the history information storage unit 170A advances the process to step 2 (Yes). No).

  In step 2, the history information storage unit 170A updates the history table 172 stored in the hard disk C. That is, the history information storage unit 170A generates history information that associates the time when the operating status of the device DVC changes, the device ID of the device whose operating status has changed, the changed operating status property, and the property value. Information is added to the history table 172.

  In step 3, the related information storage unit 170 </ b> B refers to the history table 172 of the hard disk C, and extracts related device candidates whose operating status has changed in conjunction with the device DVC related to the operating status change notification. That is, the related information storage unit 170B refers to the history table 172, and acquires the time (event occurrence time) of the device DVC related to the change notification of the operation status. In addition, the related information storage unit 170B refers to the history table 172 again, and the property value has changed beyond a predetermined threshold (for example, 1) within a predetermined time including the event occurrence time (for example, 3 seconds before and after). Are searched for and extracted as candidates of related devices.

  In step 4, the related information storage unit 170 </ b> B determines whether there is a related device candidate, that is, whether a related device candidate has been extracted in step 3. Then, if it is determined that there is a related device candidate, the related information storage unit 170B proceeds to step 5 (Yes), whereas if it is determined that there is no related device candidate, the related information storage unit 170B ends the process (No).

  In step 5, the related information storage unit 170 </ b> B updates the change table 174 stored in the hard disk C. That is, the related information storage unit 170B generates related information that associates the device ID, property, and its change characteristic of the related device with the device ID, property, and its value of the device DVC related to the change notification of the operation status. Then, this related information is added to the change table 174.

  In step 6, the device lock unit 170C analyzes the notified event to determine whether the event is a lock command or a lock release command. If the device lock unit 170C determines that the command is a lock command or an unlock command, the process proceeds to step 7 (Yes), while if it is determined that the device is not a lock command or an unlock command, the process proceeds to step 11. Proceed to No (No).

  In step 7, the device lock unit 170C extracts the service ID for specifying the service content and the device ID of the device DVC to be locked or unlocked from the lock command or the unlock command.

  In step 8, the device lock unit 170C refers to the lock table 176 of the hard disk C and determines whether the device DVC to be locked or unlocked is locked by another service. That is, the device lock unit 170C refers to the lock table 176, and does the lock information including the device ID extracted in step 7 include information including a service ID different from the service ID extracted in step 7? Whether or not it is locked by another service is determined. If it is determined that the device lock unit 170C is not locked by another service, the process proceeds to step 9 (Yes). If it is determined that the device lock unit 170C is locked by another service, the process proceeds to step 10. Advance (No).

In step 9, the device lock unit 170C updates the lock table 176 stored in the hard disk C. That is, if the event is a lock command, the device lock unit 170C generates lock information in which the service ID and the device ID extracted in step 7 are associated with the lock ID, and the lock information is stored in the lock table 176. to add. If the event is a lock release command, the device lock unit 170C stores the lock information including the service ID and the device ID extracted in step 7 and the lock ID of this lock information in the related lock ID. The lock information is deleted from the lock table 176.

  In step 10, the device lock unit 170C indicates an error indicating that the device DVC targeted by the lock command or unlock command is locked by another service to the server 400 that issued the lock command or unlock command. Return the message.

  In step 11, the device control unit 170D analyzes the notified event to determine whether the event is a control command for remotely controlling the device DVC. If the device control unit 170D determines that the command is a control command, the device control unit 170D advances the processing to step 12 (Yes), while determining that the command is not a control command, terminates the processing (No).

  In step 12, the device control unit 170D extracts, from the control command, a device ID that specifies the device DVC to be controlled and a control content that specifies how to control the device DVC.

  In step 13, the device control unit 170D refers to the lock table 176 of the hard disk C, and locks the device DVC to be controlled based on whether lock information including the device ID extracted in step 12 exists. It is determined whether it is in the middle. If the device control unit 170D determines that the device DVC is locked, the process proceeds to step 14 (Yes), whereas if the device control unit 170D determines that the device DVC is not locked, the process proceeds to step 17 (No). ).

  In step 14, the device control unit 170D refers to the change table 174 of the hard disk C, and extracts related devices of the device DVC to be controlled. That is, the device control unit 170D extracts a property and its value from the control command, and specifies related information including the device ID, the property and its value extracted from the control command as a trigger device. In addition, the device control unit 170D extracts the device ID, property, and value thereof from the related device of the specified related information, and corresponds to the related device including the extracted change characteristics of the device ID, property, and value. Identify the trigger device. And device control part 170D extracts the trigger device which has device ID different from device ID of a control command among the specified trigger devices as a related device.

  In step 15, the device control unit 170D determines whether or not there is a related device, that is, whether or not the related device has been extracted in step 4. If the device control unit 170D determines that there is a related device, the process proceeds to step 16 (Yes), whereas if it is determined that there is no related device, the process proceeds to step 17 (No).

  In step 16, the device control unit 170D updates the lock table 176 stored in the hard disk C. That is, the device control unit 170D locks the lock ID specified by the service ID extracted from the control command, the device ID extracted from the related device, and the service ID and device ID extracted from the control command. Lock information associated with the ID is generated, and this lock information is added to the lock table 176.

In step 17, the device control unit 170D controls the device DVC based on the control command.
According to such device control processing, when there is an operational status change notification from the device DVC, history information that associates the event occurrence time, device ID, property, and value thereof is added to the history table 172. Also, triggered by the change notification of the operating status, other devices whose property values have changed beyond a predetermined threshold within a predetermined time including the event occurrence time are searched from the history table 172 as related device candidates. . Then, the related information that associates the device ID, property, and value of the device DVC related to the change notification of the operating status with the device ID, property, and value (change characteristic) of the device DVC related to the related device candidate is changed. Added to table 174.

  Therefore, in the user's house 100, related device candidates whose operation status changes in conjunction with the device DVC are automatically accumulated according to changes in the operation status of various devices DVC. Therefore, it is not necessary for the user or a service provider providing various services to know the related device in advance, and it is possible to easily cope with the addition of a new device DVC. Can be improved.

  When the lock command or unlock command arrives from the server 400 that provides various services, the lock table 176 for exclusive control is updated if the device DVC to be locked or unlocked is not locked by another service. Is done. On the other hand, when the lock command or unlock command arrives from the server 400 that provides various services, if the device DVC to be locked or unlocked is locked by another service, the device DVC is locked by another service. An error message indicating exclusive control is returned.

  Further, when a control command arrives from the server 400 that provides various services, if the device DVC to be controlled is locked, the operation status changes in conjunction with the device DVC to be controlled from the change table 174. Related devices are extracted. If there is a related device, the lock table 176 is updated so that the related device is locked in addition to the device DVC to be controlled. On the other hand, if there is no related device, it is determined that the device DVC to be controlled has no influence on others. Then, the device DVC is controlled based on the control command.

  For this reason, using the history information automatically stored in response to the notification of the change in the operating status of the device DVC, exclusive control of the related device whose operating status changes in conjunction with the device DVC to be controlled is executed. It will be. Therefore, when a certain service controls the device DVC, not only the device DVC that is the direct control target but also the related devices related thereto are exclusively controlled so that the service is correctly provided. Become.

Here, in step 3 of FIG. 7, when the related information storage unit 170B extracts related device candidates, the following processing may be further performed.
As shown in FIG. 9, the extraction of related device candidates may be executed only for the device DVC specified by the device ID listed in the device list 500 using the device list 500 in which the device ID is listed. Good. In this way, extraction of related device candidates is executed only when the operating status of a specific device DVC changes, so that extraction efficiency can be improved through so-called narrowing down of search targets. As the specific device DVC, for example, a device that is mainly operated by the user, such as a television, a DVD recorder, an air conditioner, a PC (Personal Computer), and a lighting, is assumed.

Further, the predetermined time for extracting related device candidates is obtained by using a search range table 510 as shown in FIG. 10, and a device DVC (search target device) to be searched and a device DVC ( A value corresponding to the trigger device) may be taken. In this way, the predetermined time can be dynamically changed according to the characteristics of the search target device and the event. Note that the search range table 510 shown in FIG. 10 shows an example when the communication protocol is ECHONET.

  The search range table 510 holds a record in which the search target device type and its value, the trigger device type, value, property and property value, and the search range are associated with each other. The search target device type stores “CategoryID” indicating that the information stored in the value of the search target device indicates the type of the device, or “DeviceID” indicating that the information stored in the value of the search target device is the device ID. Is done. In the value of the search target device, a value corresponding to the type of the search target device is stored. As the type of the trigger device, “CategoryID” or “DeviceID” is stored in the trigger device type. In the value of the trigger device, a value corresponding to the type of the trigger device is stored. The property of the trigger device stores the property of the event that triggered the extraction of the related device candidate. The property value of the trigger device stores a value corresponding to the property of the trigger device. The search range stores a time for defining a predetermined time, for example, a half of a predetermined time for defining a time width centered on the event occurrence time. If the type, value, property, and property value of the trigger device are not specified, the entry is left blank.

The search range table 510 shown in FIG. 10 stipulates that the search range of the search target device whose type is “Outlet” is 1 second before and after the event occurrence time, regardless of the trigger device. The search range of the search target device whose device ID is “Thermometer1” is 3 minutes before and after the event occurrence time, regardless of the property and property value of the trigger device, when the device ID of the trigger device is “AirConditioner1”. It is specified that there is. The search range of the search target device whose device ID is “Thermometer2” is around the event occurrence time if the property ID is “OperationStatus” and the property value is “On” if the device ID of the trigger device is “AirConditioner2”. If the property is “OperationStatus” and the property value is “Off” for 5 minutes, it is specified that it is 3 minutes before and after the event occurrence time.

  Furthermore, the threshold for extracting the candidate for the related device may be a value corresponding to the event characteristics of the device DVC to be searched using a threshold table 520 as shown in FIG. In this way, the predetermined threshold can be dynamically changed according to the event characteristics of the device DVC to be searched. Note that the threshold value table 520 shown in FIG. 11 shows an example when the communication protocol is ECHONET.

  The threshold table 520 holds a record in which the type, value, and property of the search target device are associated with the threshold. The search target device type stores “CategoryID” indicating that the information stored in the value of the search target device indicates the type of the device, or “DeviceID” indicating that the information stored in the value of the search target device is the device ID. Is done. In the value of the search target device, a value corresponding to the type of the search target device is stored. The property of the search target device stores the property of an event that is a target for extracting related device candidates. The threshold value stores a value for determining that it is a candidate for a related device when the property value changes within a predetermined time including the event occurrence time. If the type and value of the search target device are not specified, the entry is left blank.

The threshold value table 520 shown in FIG. 11 stipulates that when a property “OperationStatus” of a certain device DVC is changed, this device is determined as a related device candidate. This is a valid specification method when the property is a string,
The threshold “CHANGED” is a fixed value indicating that there is some change in the property value. For the search target device whose type is "Outlet", the property "SmallSensorInstantPower" is 1.
It is specified that when this change occurs, it is determined that this device is a candidate for a related device. It is specified that a search target device whose type is “Thermometer” determines that this device is a candidate for a related device when the property “MeasuredTemp” changes by 1 or more.

  Note that the device list 500, the search range table 510, and the threshold table 520 may be set in advance by a user or a service provider and stored in the hard disk C of the home server 170 by a known means, for example.

  By the way, when a device DVC control command arrives from the server 400 that provides various services, it may not always be appropriate to exclusively control the related device. In winter, when the air conditioner 130 installed in the living room is turned on, the room temperature of the living room rises. On the other hand, when the electric window 150 installed in a room different from the living room is opened, the room Room temperature falls. For this reason, in the device control apparatus described above, the electric window 150 is determined to be a related device related to the air conditioner 130. However, when the air conditioner 130 is exclusively controlled, if the electric window 150 installed in a different room is also exclusively controlled, for example, it is desired to ventilate the room in which the electric window 150 is installed. It will not be possible.

  For this reason, the device control unit 170D of the home server 170 uses the profile table 530 (see FIG. 12) stored in the hard disk C, and related devices installed in a room different from the device DVC that is directly controlled. Exclusive control may be performed so as not to lock. The profile table 530 holds installation location information that associates a device ID, a device type, and an installation location.

  Then, the device control unit 170D of the home server 170 further executes Step 21 and Step 22 as shown in FIG. 13 between Step 15 and Step 16 shown in FIG.

In step 21, the device controller 170D reads the profile table 530 of the hard disk C.
In step 21, the device control unit 170D determines whether the installation location of the device DVC directly controlled by the control command and the related device are different. If the device control unit 170D determines that the installation locations are different, the process proceeds to step 16 (Yes), whereas if the device control unit 170D determines that the installation locations are the same, the process proceeds to step 17 (No).

  In this way, when a control command arrives from the server 400 that provides various services, the device DVCs installed in different rooms are not simultaneously exclusively controlled, and user convenience can be ensured. .

  When the power supply of the air conditioner 130 is turned on, the room temperature rises due to the heating operation in the winter, but the room temperature falls due to the cooling operation in the summer. When the electric window 150 is opened, the room temperature decreases in the winter, but the room temperature increases or decreases in the summer depending on the time zone. As described above, the operation status that changes in conjunction with the device DVC varies depending on the season (for example, summer, winter, intermediate period) and the time zone (for example, morning, afternoon, night). Further processing may be added.

The hard disk C of the home server 170 stores a change table 174 shown in FIG. 5 that is different for each season and time zone. The device control unit 170D of the home server 170 may select the change table 174 according to the season and time zone when referring to or updating the change table 174.

In this way, exclusive control of the device DVC according to the season and time zone is executed.
In the above embodiment, the device control apparatus is operated in the home server 170. However, the device control apparatus may be operated in the device DVC, the broadband router 180, or the like with a built-in computer.

Next, for the purpose of facilitating understanding of the above embodiment, an example assuming a specific example will be described. In the following description, ECHONET is used as a communication protocol unless otherwise specified.
[Example 1]
As preconditions of the first embodiment, the device ID of the DVD recorder 110 is “DVD1”, the device ID of the smart outlet 120 to which the power cable of the DVD recorder 110 is connected is “Outlet1”, and the service ID of the “program recording service” is Assume that it is “RecordService”.

  The smart outlet 120 measures the power consumption of the DVD recorder 110 every second, generates an event in which the device ID is “Outlet1”, the property is “SmallSensorInstantPower”, and the property value is set to the power measurement value. Is transmitted to the home server 170. On the other hand, when receiving an event from the smart outlet 120, the home server 170 generates history information in which the event occurrence time, the device ID, the property, and its value (power consumption) are associated. As shown in FIG. Are sequentially stored in the history table 172 of the hard disk C in time series. Here, in the history table 172 shown in FIG. 14, the power consumption measured by the smart outlet 120 changes within the range of 1 to 2 or 39 to 40 because of fluctuations in standby or operation or measurement errors. Because.

When the user turns on the power of the DVD recorder 110, the DVD recorder 110 generates an event in which the device ID is set to “DVD1”, the property is set to “OperationStatus”, and the property value is set to “On”. To the server 170. On the other hand, when receiving an event from the DVD recorder 110, the home server 170 generates history information associating the event occurrence time, device ID, property, and its value, and this history information is stored in the hard disk C as shown in FIG. Are stored in the history table 172. Note that the history table 172 shown in FIG. 15 stores only history information related to the DVD recorder 110 for the purpose of simplifying the explanation.

Further, the home server 170 refers to the history table 172 stored in the hard disk C and refers to a predetermined time (eg, before and after 3) including the time “2011/1/4 09:12:15” when the operating status of the DVD recorder 110 changes. Second device DVC whose operating status has changed in a second). In the history table 172 shown in FIG. 14, the power consumption measured at the smart outlet 120 at time “2011/1/4 09:12:15” has changed from 1 W to 40 W over a predetermined threshold. Is determined to be a related device of the DVD recorder 110. Then, the home server 170 generates related information that associates the device ID, property, and value of the DVD recorder 110 with the device ID, property, and change characteristics of the smart outlet 120, and as shown in FIG. This related information is added to the change table 174 of the hard disk C.

When the user switches off the smart outlet 120, the smart outlet 120 generates an event in which the device ID is set to “Outlet1”, the property is set to “OperationStatus”, and the property value is set to “Off”. To 170.
On the other hand, when receiving an event from the smart outlet 120, the home server 170 generates history information in which the event occurrence time, the device ID, the property, and its value are associated, and the history information is stored in the hard disk C as shown in FIG. Are sequentially accumulated in the history table 172 in time series.

The home server 170 refers to the history table 172 stored in the hard disk C, and the operating status changes at a predetermined time including the time “2011/1/4 10:07:15” when the operating status of the smart outlet 120 changes. Search for devices. In the history table 172 shown in FIG. 17, the power consumption measured at the smart outlet 120 at the time “2011/1/4 10:07:15” has changed from 2 W to 0 W over a predetermined threshold. 18 generates related information as shown in FIG. 18 by the procedure as described above, and adds this related information to the change table 174 of the hard disk C.

  The server 400 providing the “program recording service” generates a lock command for the DVD recorder 110 whose device ID is “DVD1” as follows, and transmits this lock command to the home server 170. The lock command is described in, for example, XML (eXtensible Markup Language).

<? xml version = ”1.0” encoding = ”UTF-8”?>
<controlCommand>
<serviceId> RecordService </ serviceId>
<targetDeviceId> DVD1 </ targetDeviceId>
<command> lock </ command>
<paramList />
</ controlCommand>
When the home server 170 receives the lock command from the server 400, the home server 170 refers to the lock table 176 stored in the hard disk C and locks the DVD recorder 110 whose device ID is “DVD1” by a service other than the “program recording service”. It is determined whether or not it has been done. Since the DVD recorder 110 is not locked, the home server 170 generates lock information in which, for example, the lock ID is “3”, the service ID is “RecordService”, and the device ID is “DVD1”. As shown at 19, this lock information is added to the lock table 176.

  The server 400 that provides the “program recording service” generates the following control command to turn on the power of the DVD recorder 110, and transmits this control command to the home server 170.

<? xml version = ”1.0” encoding = ”UTF-8”?>
<controlCommand>
<serviceId> RecordService </ serviceId>
<targetDeviceId> DVD1 </ targetDeviceId>
<command> set </ command>
<paramList>
<property name = ”OparationStatus”> On </ property>
</ paramList>
</ controlCommand>
When the home server 170 receives the control command from the server 400, the home server 170 refers to the change table 174 (see FIG. 18) stored in the hard disk C and identifies the related device related to the DVD recorder 110. In other words, the home server 170 refers to the change table 174 and identifies related devices associated with the trigger device whose device ID is “DVD1”, property is “OperationStatus”, and property value is “On”. Further, the home server 170 refers to the change table 174 again, and searches for another related device in which the device ID is “Outlet1”, the property is “SmallSensorInstantPower”, and the property value is “Down”. Furthermore, the home server 170 specifies the trigger device of the searched related device, that is, the smart outlet 120 whose device ID is “Outlet1” as the related device. For example, the home server 170 has a lock ID “4”.
Then, lock information in which the service ID is set to “RecordService”, the device ID is set to “Outlet1”, and the related lock ID is set to “3” is generated, and the lock information is added to the lock table 176 as shown in FIG.

  In such a state, for example, when the server 400 that provides the “energy saving service” tries to turn off the smart outlet 120, the lock table 176 registers that the smart outlet 120 is locked. Command execution is rejected. This avoids contradictory control from a plurality of services in a certain device DVC.

  Further, the server 400 providing the “program recording service” generates the following unlock command when the program recording service has been provided, and transmits the unlock command to the home server 170.

<? xml version = ”1.0” encoding = ”UTF-8”?>
<controlCommand>
<serviceId> RecordService </ serviceId>
<targetDeviceId> DVD1 </ targetDeviceId>
<command> unlock </ command>
<paramList />
</ controlCommand>
When the home server 170 receives the lock release command from the server 400, in addition to the lock information whose device ID is “DVD1” from the lock table 176, the home server 170 has the device ID of which the lock ID is set as the related lock ID. Delete the lock information that is “outlet1”. For this reason, exclusive control of the DVD recorder 110 and the smart outlet 120 is not performed, and the DVD recorder 110 and the smart outlet 120 can be freely controlled from the server 400 that provides other services.

[Example 2]
As preconditions of the second embodiment, “air conditioning service” for remotely controlling the air conditioner 130 connected to the home network 200 and “ventilation service” for remotely controlling the electric window 150 and the ventilation fan connected to the home home network 200. And are in operation.

  The temperature sensor 140 measures the room temperature every minute, generates an event in which the device ID is “Thermometer1”, the property is “MeasuredTemp”, and the property value is set to the measured temperature, and this event is transmitted to the home server 170 To do. On the other hand, when receiving an event from the temperature sensor 140, the home server 170 generates history information in which the event occurrence time, the device ID, the property, and its value (room temperature) are associated with each other, as shown in FIG. The data are sequentially stored in the history table 172 of the hard disk C in time series.

When the user turns on the air conditioner 130, the air conditioner 130 generates an event in which the device ID is “AirConditioner1”, the property is “OperationStatus”, and the property value is “On”. Is transmitted to the home server 170. On the other hand, when receiving an event from the air conditioner 130, the home server 170 generates history information in which the event occurrence time, the device ID, the property, and its value are associated, and the history information is stored in the hard disk as shown in FIG. It accumulates in the C history table 172. In the history table 172 shown in FIG. 22, only history information regarding the air conditioner 130 is stored for the sake of simplicity.

Further, the home server 170 refers to the history table 172 stored in the hard disk C and refers to a predetermined time (for example, before and after the time “2011/1/7 13:15:00” when the operating status of the air conditioner 130 changes). Search for another device DVC whose operating status has changed in 3 minutes). In the history table 172 shown in FIG. 21, the room temperature is 16. at the time “2011/1/7 13:18:00”.
Since the temperature has changed from 5 ° C. to 17.6 ° C. beyond a predetermined threshold, the temperature sensor 140 is determined to be an associated device of the air conditioner 130. Then, the home server 170 generates related information that associates the device ID, property, and value of the air conditioner 130 with the device ID, property, and change characteristics of the temperature sensor 140, as shown in FIG. The related information is added to the change table 174 of the hard disk C.

When the user opens the electric window 150, the electric window 150 has a device ID “Window1”,
An event in which the property is set to “OpeningStatus” and the property value is set to “Found” (open) is generated, and this event is transmitted to the home server 170. On the other hand, when receiving an event from the electric window 150, the home server 170 generates history information associating the event occurrence time, device ID, property, and its value, and this history information is stored in the hard disk C as shown in FIG. Is added to the history table 172 stored in. Note that, in the history table 172 shown in FIG. 24, only history information regarding the electric window 150 is stored for the sake of simplicity.

In addition, the home server 170 refers to the history table 172 stored in the hard disk C, and includes a predetermined time including the time “2011/1/7 12:01:13” when the operating status of the electric window 150 changes (
For example, another device DVC whose operation status has changed in three minutes before and after is searched. In the history table 172 shown in FIG. 21, the room temperature is changed from 18.0 ° C. to 16 at time “2011/1/7 12:04:00”.
. The temperature sensor 140 is determined to be an associated device of the electric window 150 because it has changed beyond a predetermined threshold value to 8 ° C. And the home server 170 produces | generates the relevant information which linked | related the device ID, property, and its value of the electric window 150, and the device ID, property, and its change characteristic of the temperature sensor 140, and as shown in FIG. This related information is added to the change table 174 of the hard disk C.

The server 400 providing the “air conditioning service” generates a lock command for the air conditioner 130 whose device ID is “AirConditioner1” as follows, and transmits this lock command to the home server 170.

<? xml version = ”1.0” encoding = ”UTF-8”?>
<controlCommand>
<serviceId> AirConditioningService </ serviceId>
<targetDeviceId> AirConditionser1 </ targetDeviceId>
<command> lock </ command>
<paramList />
</ controlCommand>
When the home server 170 receives the lock command from the server 400, the home server 170 refers to the lock table 176 stored in the hard disk C, and the air conditioner 130 whose device ID is “AirConditioner1” is locked by a service other than the “air conditioning service”. It is determined whether or not it has been done. Then, since the air conditioner 130 is not locked, the home server 170 generates lock information in which, for example, the lock ID is “2”, the service ID is “AirConditioningService”, and the device ID is “AirConditioner1”. This lock information is added to the lock table 176 as shown in FIG.

  Next, the server 400 providing the “air conditioning service” generates the following control command to turn on the power of the air conditioner 130, and transmits this control command to the home server 170.

<? xml version = ”1.0” encoding = ”UTF-8”?>
<controlCommand>
<serviceId> AirConditioningService </ serviceId>
<targetDeviceId> AirConditiner1 </ targetDeviceId>
<command> set </ command>
<paramList>
<property name = ”OparationStatus”> On </ property>
</ paramList>
</ controlCommand>
When the home server 170 receives the control command from the server 400, the home server 170 refers to the change table 174 stored in the hard disk C and identifies related devices related to the air conditioner 130. In other words, the home server 170 refers to the change table 174 and identifies a related device associated with the trigger device whose device ID is “AirConditiner1”, property is “OperationStatus”, and property value is “On”. The home server 170 refers to the change table 174 again, and searches for another related device in which the device ID is “Thermometer1”, the property is “MeasuredTemp”, and the property value is “Down”. Furthermore, the home server 170 specifies the trigger device of the searched related device, that is, the electric window 150 whose device ID is “Window1” as the related device.

  At this time, the home server 170 refers to the profile table 530 (see FIG. 12) stored in the hard disk C, and since the air conditioner 130 and the electric window 150 are both installed in the dining room, as shown in FIG. In addition, lock information for locking the electric window 150 is added to the lock table 176. For example, in the case of a device having a different installation location from the air conditioner 130, such as the DVD recorder 110, the lock information for locking the device is not added to the lock table 176.

  In such a state, for example, when the server 400 providing the “ventilation service” tries to open the electric window 150, it is registered in the lock table 176 that the electric window 150 is locked. Is rejected. This avoids contradictory control from a plurality of services in a certain device DVC.

  Since the subsequent operation is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof is omitted.

110 DVD recorder 120 Smart outlet 130 Air conditioner 140 Temperature sensor 150 Electric window 160 Distribution board 170 Home server (control device)
170A History information storage unit 170B Related information storage unit 170C Device lock unit 170D Device control unit 172 History table 174 Change table 176 Lock table 180 Broadband router 200 Home network 500 Device list 510 Search range table 520 Threshold table 530 Profile table A Memory B Processor C Hard disk (storage unit)
DVC device

Claims (10)

To a control device that controls a plurality of devices connected via a network,
When receiving a change notification of the operation status of the device, the history information associating the change time of the operation status with the change information of the operation status is accumulated in a storage unit,
With reference to the history information accumulated in the storage unit, the related device whose operating status changes in conjunction with the device related to the operating status change notification is specified, and the device information related to the operating status change notification; Storing related information associated with information on the related device in the storage unit;
When an exclusive control command for exclusive control of the device is received, the device related to the exclusive control command is locked,
When receiving a control command for controlling the device, referring to related information stored in the storage unit, locks the related device whose operation status changes in conjunction with the device related to the control command, and Control devices related to control commands,
Device control program that executes processing. The storage unit further stores installation location information of the device,
The process of locking the related device refers to the device installation location information stored in the storage unit, and when the installation location of the device related to the control command and the installation location of the related device are the same, Lock the associated device;
The device control program according to claim 1. The storage unit further stores the related information for each season and time zone,
The process of storing the related information in the storage unit and the process of locking the related device select the related information according to the season and time zone, and execute each process.
The device control program according to claim 1 or 2. The process of specifying the related device specifies, as the related device, a device whose information indicating the operating status has changed by a predetermined threshold or more in conjunction with the device related to the notification of the operating status change.
The device control program according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The predetermined threshold varies according to characteristics of the device.
The device control program according to claim 4. The process of specifying the related device is performed by targeting the history information within a predetermined time including the change time of the operation status of the device related to the change notification of the operation status among the history information accumulated in the storage unit. Identify the device,
The device control program according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The predetermined time changes according to the characteristics of the device related to the change notification of the operation status, and the characteristics of the device to be specified as the related device,
The device control program according to claim 6. The storage unit further stores a list of devices to be accumulated in the history information,
The process of accumulating the history information in the storage unit refers to a list stored in the storage unit and accumulates the history information for devices registered in the list.
The device control program according to any one of claims 1 to 7. When a change notification of the operating status of the device is received from any of a plurality of devices connected via a network, history information that associates the change time of the operating status with the change information of the operating status is accumulated. A history information storage unit to
With reference to the history information stored in the history information storage unit, the related device whose operating status changes in conjunction with the device related to the operating status change notification is specified, and the device related to the operating status change notification is identified. A related information storage unit that stores related information that associates information with information about the related device;
A device lock unit that locks a device related to the exclusive control command when receiving an exclusive control command for exclusive control of the device;
When a control command for controlling the device is received, the related information stored in the related information storage unit is referenced, and the related device whose operation status changes in conjunction with the device related to the control command is locked. A device control unit for controlling a device according to the control command;
A device control apparatus. A control device that controls a plurality of devices connected via a network,
When receiving a change notification of the operation status of the device, the history information associating the change time of the operation status with the change information of the operation status is accumulated in a storage unit,
With reference to the history information accumulated in the storage unit, the related device whose operating status changes in conjunction with the device related to the operating status change notification is specified, and the device information related to the operating status change notification; Storing related information associated with information on the related device in the storage unit;
When an exclusive control command for exclusive control of the device is received, the device related to the exclusive control command is locked,
When receiving a control command for controlling the device, referring to related information stored in the storage unit, locks the related device whose operation status changes in conjunction with the device related to the control command, and Control devices related to control commands,
A device control method for executing processing.

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