JP6386222B2 - Network system, controlled device, and controlled device control method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a network system, a control device, a controlled device, and a controlled device control method.

  A plurality of controlled devices such as home appliances (for example, a TV, an air conditioner, a lighting device, a fire sensor, and a refrigerator) and a control device that controls the operation of the controlled devices are a LAN (local area network) or the like. A network system connected to each other via a communication network is known.

  In such a network system, when a control device transmits an operation instruction signal for instructing execution of a desired operation to a certain controlled device, before transmitting the operation instruction signal, It is necessary to confirm whether or not the controlled device is in a state where the operation can be performed.

  Therefore, the control device transmits a state request signal to the controlled device before transmitting the operation instruction signal, and the controlled device indicates its own state in response to reception of the state request signal. A device status signal is returned to the control device.

  Based on the content of the received device status signal, the control device determines whether the controlled device is in a state where the desired operation can be performed, and is in a state where the desired operation can be performed. Only when it is determined, the operation instruction signal is transmitted to the controlled device.

  Thus, the controlled device that has received the operation instruction signal performs an operation instructed by the operation instruction signal.

  As related technology, Patent Document 1 discloses product information such as a manufacturer name and model number of a home appliance in the communication control device 14 that controls a plurality of home appliances 12a to 12e connected via the home network 10. Is associated with the product information of the home appliance, and the product information table 20 for storing the information in association with the address information of the home appliance, the condition for executing the linked operation with respect to the change in the state of the household appliance, and the contents of the linked operation When the packet regarding the state change is received from the home appliance, the product operation table 22 is stored on the basis of the address information of the home appliance that has transmitted the packet. The product information of the home appliance is searched, and the linked operation is executed by referring to the linked operation table 22 based on the searched product information. It determines whether to satisfy a condition, if the condition is satisfied, Techniques for performing interlocking operations content registered in interlocking operation table 22 is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 discloses object configuration information stored in advance in the device object storage unit 131 in the adapter 102 compliant with the home network standard, to which the electrical device 106 that does not conform to the home network standard is connected. Discloses a technique for connecting the electrical device 106 to the home network 110 when the object configuration information of the electrical device 106 connected to the adapter 102 matches.

  Further, in Patent Document 3, even when a new device is added to the sub-network 143 or 153, the user can add a device list or function information of the new device to the communication device or the like of the main network (IP network 100). A technique for enabling the new device to be controlled from the IP network 100 without registering the IP address is disclosed.

JP 2008-028477 A JP 2009-225481 A JP 2007-328799 A

  However, in the network system described above, transmission / reception operations of the status request signal and the device status signal are necessary before the control device transmits the operation instruction signal. As a result, the traffic of the communication network increases due to the transmission / reception of these signals. There is a problem in that a delay in execution instruction of a desired operation to the controlled device is caused.

  In any of Patent Documents 1 to 3, when a controlled device is instructed to execute a desired operation, whether or not the controlled device can execute the desired operation. There is no description of any technique for determining whether or not.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a network system, a control device, a controlled device, and a controlled device control method that solve the above-described problems.

The network system system of the present invention includes:
Multiple controlled devices, each assigned a unique device address;
Control equipment,
A network for performing communication between the control device and the controlled device,
The control device is
An input unit for a user to select a desired one of the plurality of controlled devices as a selected controlled device and to input desired operation contents and desired conditions related to the selected controlled device When,
A signal generating unit that generates an operation instruction signal including the device address assigned to the selected controlled device, operation instruction content data indicating the desired operation content, and operable condition data indicating the desired condition; ,
A first network communication unit for transmitting the operation instruction signal to the network;
Including
Each of the plurality of controlled devices is
A device status table in which its current status is registered;
A second network communication unit that receives the operation instruction signal from the network and detects whether or not the device address included in the operation instruction signal matches the device address assigned to the network;
If the second network communication unit detects a match of the device address, the current state registered in the device state table is the desired condition indicated by the operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal. It is determined whether or not a condition is satisfied, and when the desired condition is satisfied, an operation corresponding to the desired operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal is executed. And a signal analysis unit for instructing.

The control device of the present invention is
When a user selects a desired one of a plurality of controlled devices each assigned a unique device address as a selected controlled device, and the state of the selected controlled device satisfies a desired condition An input unit for inputting the desired condition and the content of the desired operation in order to cause the selected controlled device to execute a desired operation only in
A signal generator that generates an operation instruction signal including the device address assigned to the selected controlled device, operation instruction content data indicating the content of the desired operation, and operable condition data indicating the desired condition When,
A network communication unit that transmits the operation instruction signal to a network connected to the plurality of controlled devices.

The controlled device of the present invention is
A device status table in which its current status is registered;
A network communication unit that receives an operation instruction signal from a control device via a network and detects whether a device address included in the operation instruction signal matches a device address assigned to the device;
If the network communication unit detects a match of the device address, whether or not the current state registered in the device state table satisfies the condition indicated by the operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal A signal analysis unit for instructing the related circuit portion to execute an operation corresponding to the operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal.

The first controlled device control method of the present invention includes:
The device address assigned to the selected controlled device that is the controlled device selected by the user from among a plurality of controlled devices each assigned a unique device address, and the operation related to the selected controlled device A signal generation step of generating an operation instruction signal including operation instruction content data indicating contents and operable condition data indicating conditions related to the selected controlled device;
A first transmission step of transmitting the operation instruction signal from the control device to a communication network;
A receiving step in which the selected controlled device to which the device address included in the operation instruction signal is assigned receives the operation instruction signal from the communication network;
Whether the current state registered in the device state table in which the current state of the selected controlled device is registered satisfies the condition indicated by the operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal. When the condition is satisfied and the condition is satisfied, the operation execution instructing the related circuit portion in the selected controlled device to execute the operation corresponding to the operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal An instruction step.

The second controlled device control method of the present invention is:
Designates the device address assigned to the selected controlled device that is the controlled device selected by the user from among the plurality of controlled devices each assigned a unique device address, and the status of the selected controlled device Signal generation that generates an operation instruction signal including the specified condition and data indicating the content of the specified operation, which is used to cause the selected controlled device to execute the specified operation only when the condition is satisfied Steps,
Transmitting to the communication network the operation instruction signal from the control device.

The third controlled device control method of the present invention is:
A receiving step in which a controlled device to which a device address included in the operation instruction signal is assigned receives the operation instruction signal from a communication network;
It is determined whether or not the current state registered in the device state table in which the current state of the controlled device is registered satisfies the condition indicated by the operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal. An operation execution instruction step for instructing execution of an operation corresponding to the operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal to the related circuit portion in the controlled device when the condition is satisfied. .

  According to the present invention, traffic of the communication network when the controlled device performs a desired operation only when the state of the controlled device that communicates with the controlling device via the communication network satisfies a desired condition. And the speeding up of the execution instruction of the desired operation to the controlled device can be achieved.

It is a block diagram which shows embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the content of the apparatus state table which memorize | stored the present state of the controlled apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process in case the control apparatus in embodiment of this invention transmits an operation instruction | indication signal to a to-be-controlled device. It is a figure showing the mode of a display part and an input part when a user inputs each data of apparatus selection, operation possible conditions, and operation instruction content with respect to a controlled apparatus from the control apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention. . It is a flowchart showing the flow of the process which receives the operation instruction | indication signal from the control apparatus in embodiment of this invention, and sets operation instruction | indication content to controlled apparatus itself. It is a figure which shows the content of the apparatus state table which memorize | stored the present state of the to-be-controlled apparatus when the abnormality occurrence state exists in embodiment of this invention.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the network system according to the present embodiment includes a control device 101, a plurality of controlled devices 201, 301, 401, and 501 each assigned a unique device address, and a wireless or wired communication network 109. Consists of

  The control device 101 includes a display unit 102, an input unit 103, a signal generation unit 104, a signal analysis unit 105, and a network communication unit 108. The control device 101 is not a dedicated device, and may be, for example, a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a smartphone, or the like.

  The controlled device 201 includes a device state table 202, a signal generation unit 204, a signal analysis unit 205, and a network communication unit 208. Although not shown, controlled device 301, controlled device 401, and controlled device 501 similarly include a device state table, a signal analysis unit, and a network communication unit.

  The controlled devices 201, 301, 401, and 501 are electric devices such as an air conditioner, a lighting fixture, a television, and an air purifier.

  Furthermore, the controlled devices 201, 301, 401, and 501 include, in addition to the device status table, the signal analysis unit, and the network communication unit, the components (not shown) that realize the original functions of the controlled device. Including.

  The network 109 is used for communication between the network communication unit 108 of the control device 101 and the network communication units of the controlled devices 201, 301, 401, and 501.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  Hereinafter, a case where the controlled device 201 is the air conditioner (1) of the two air conditioners (1) and (2) will be described as an example.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the contents of the device state table 202 that stores the current state of the controlled device 201.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the device status table 202 includes an “item” column and a “current status” column.

  In the “item” column, item names “operation state”, “abnormal state”, and “room temperature” are registered, and in the “current state” column, these item names “operation state”, “ “Non-operating”, “None”, and “30 degrees” are registered corresponding to “abnormal state” and “room temperature”.

  Next, a case where the user controls the controlled device 201 via the control device 101 will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing flow when the control device 101 transmits an operation instruction signal to the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)).

  First, as described below, the user selects a “device selection” button and inputs items of “operable condition” and “operation instruction content” (step S51).

  That is, first, the user displays “device selection” displayed as “air conditioner (1)” displayed in the “device selection” area of the display screen shown in FIG. 4 displayed on the display unit 102 of the control device 101. Select a button.

  Here, on the display screen of the display unit 102, as shown in FIG. 4, initially, in the “device selection” area, names of controlled devices (for example, air conditioners (1) and (2) ), Illumination (1) and (2), television, air cleaner, etc.) and a “transmit” button for instructing transmission of an operation instruction signal are displayed.

  When the control device 101 is a personal computer and the input unit 103 is a mouse, these buttons are selected by operating the mouse to move the cursor to a desired button position on the display screen of the display unit 102. This is done by clicking with the mouse. Further, when the display unit 102 is a touch panel display device including the input unit 103, selection is performed by touching a desired button displayed on the display screen of the display unit 102 with a user's finger or the like. Is called. The selection of the buttons described here is an example, and the present invention is not limited to these.

  Thus, when the “select device” button displayed as “air conditioner (1)” is selected, the selected “select device” is displayed in the “operation instruction input” area of the display screen of the display unit 102 as shown in FIG. ”Button (that is, items to be input as“ operable condition ”and“ operation instruction content ”corresponding to the controlled device corresponding to the button (also referred to as“ selected controlled device ”)).

  In FIG. 4, items to be input as “operable condition” are “abnormality occurrence:”, “operation state:”, and “room temperature:”, and items to be input as “operation instruction content” “Status:”, “Operation mode:” and “Set temperature:”. Then, the user sets the items “abnormality occurrence:”, “operation state:”, and “room temperature:” of “operable condition” to “none”, “not working”, and “28 degrees or more”, respectively. It is assumed that “startup”, “cooling”, and “25 degrees” are input as items “operation state:”, “operation mode:”, and “set temperature:” of the “operation instruction content”, respectively.

  As an input method for these items, for example, these items can be selected from a pull-down menu displayed when the item is selected in the same manner as the button selection described above, or directly using a mouse and a keyboard. Various methods such as input can be adopted.

  Next, the contents of the items “operational condition” and “operation instruction content” input by the user in this way are passed to the signal generation unit 104, and the signal generation unit 104 receives the “operational condition” that has been passed. Based on the content of each item of “operation instruction content”, an operation instruction signal including the operable condition data, the operation instruction content data, and the device address of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) is generated (step S52). .

  Here, the operable condition data includes information indicating the condition items “no abnormality has occurred”, “the operating state is not operating”, and “room temperature is 28 ° C. or higher”. Is “start-up”, “operation mode is cooling” and “set temperature is 25 degrees”.

  Next, when the user selects the “Send” button displayed on the display screen of the display unit 102 by the same method as described above, the operation instruction signal generated in step 52 is the network communication unit of the control device 101. 108 is transmitted to the network 109 (step S53).

  Next, the operation of the controlled device 201 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The network communication unit 208 of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) receives the operation instruction signal from the network 109, and the device address included in this signal is the device address assigned to itself (the controlled device 201). Since they match, the operation instruction signal is captured (step S71).

  The signal analysis unit 205 of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) analyzes the content of the operation instruction signal (step S72), and obtains operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal (step S73).

  The signal analysis unit 205 analyzes the condition information indicated by the operable condition data acquired in step S73, and the conditions to be satisfied are that the items “operation state”, “abnormality occurrence state”, and “room temperature” are “not operating”, respectively. ”,“ None ”, and“ 28 degrees or more ”, and whether or not the state of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) satisfies all of these condition items is shown in the device state table 202 shown in FIG. Is confirmed by referring to (step S74).

  Specifically, the items “operating state” are all “inactive” and the condition is satisfied, and the items “abnormality occurrence state” are both “not operating” and the condition is satisfied. The condition regarding “room temperature” is “28 degrees or more”, and “room temperature” registered in the device state table 202 is “30 degrees” of 28 degrees or more, which also satisfies the condition. That is, the state of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) satisfies all the condition items indicated by the operable condition data.

  The signal analysis unit 205 of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) includes the operation instruction content included in the operation instruction signal only when all the condition items are satisfied in step S74 (YES in step S74). The related circuit portion in the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) is instructed to perform the operation indicated by the data (step S75).

  Specifically, the signal analysis unit 205 of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) analyzes the operation instruction content data, and the operation instruction content data indicates “operation state is activated”, “operation mode is cooling”, and “ Recognizing that “the set temperature is 25 degrees”, it instructs the related circuit portion of the controlled device 201 (air conditioner (1)) to start the cooling operation at the set temperature of 25 degrees.

  On the other hand, in step S74, the contents of the state device table 202 correspond to the items “operating state”, “abnormal state” and “room temperature”, as shown in FIG. When “30 degrees” is registered, the condition for the item “abnormal state” among the condition items to be satisfied obtained from the analysis result of the condition information indicated by the operable condition data is “none”. On the other hand, in the state device table 202, “present” is registered in the “current state” column corresponding to the item “abnormal state” in the “item” column, and this condition item is not satisfied (step). NO at S74).

  Therefore, the signal generation unit 204 generates response information indicating that the instructed operation cannot be performed, and passes the response information to the network communication unit 208 (step S76).

  The network communication unit 208 receives the response information generated by the signal generation unit 204, and the response information includes a device address of the control device 101 (each controlled device stores a device address of the control device 101 in advance). )) Is transmitted to the network 109 (step S77).

  When there are a plurality of control devices each assigned a unique device address, each control device adds its own device address to the operation instruction signal when transmitting the operation instruction signal. The controlled device that has transmitted and received the operation instruction signal including its own device address acquires the device address of the control device included in the operation instruction signal, and sends a response signal with the acquired device address added to the response information. Transmit to the network 109.

  The network communication unit 108 of the control device 101 receives the response signal, detects that the device address included in the response signal matches the device address assigned to itself, and uses the response signal as the signal analysis unit 105. To pass. The signal analysis unit 105 analyzes the response information in the response signal and displays the content of the response information on the display screen of the display unit 102, so that the user can know that the designated operation has not been executed.

  Note that the response information may include information indicating which of the conditions is not satisfied and the indicated operation has not been executed.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the communication when the controlled device performs a desired operation only when the state of the controlled device that communicates with the controlling device via the communication network satisfies the desired condition. There is an effect that it is possible to reduce network traffic and to speed up the execution instruction of a desired operation to the controlled device.

  The reason for this is that the control device and the controlled device do not send and receive a signal for confirming in advance to the controlled device whether or not the state of the controlled device satisfies the desired condition. The controlled device transmits only an operation instruction signal including operable condition data indicating a desired condition and operation instruction content data indicating the desired operation to the controlled device. This is because, based on the operable condition data, it is determined whether or not it is possible to execute the desired operation, and if desired, the desired operation is executed.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Control apparatus 102 Display part 103 Input part 104 Signal generation part 105 Signal analysis part 108 Network communication part 109 Network 201 Controlled apparatus 202 Apparatus state table 204 Signal generation part 205 Signal analysis part 208 Network communication part 301 Controlled apparatus 401 Controlled Equipment 501 Controlled equipment

Claims (8)

Multiple controlled devices, each assigned a unique device address;
Control equipment,
A network for performing communication between the control device and the controlled device,
The control device is
An input unit for a user to select a desired one of the plurality of controlled devices as a selected controlled device and to input desired operation contents and desired conditions related to the selected controlled device When,
A signal generating unit that generates an operation instruction signal including the device address assigned to the selected controlled device, operation instruction content data indicating the desired operation content, and operable condition data indicating the desired condition; ,
A first network communication unit that transmits the operation instruction signal to the network;
Each of the plurality of controlled devices is
A device status table in which its current status is registered;
A second network communication unit that receives the operation instruction signal from the network and detects whether or not the device address included in the operation instruction signal matches the device address assigned to the network;
If the second network communication unit detects a match of the device address, the current state registered in the device state table is the desired condition indicated by the operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal. It is determined whether or not a condition is satisfied. When the desired condition is satisfied, an operation corresponding to the desired operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal is executed Instruct
And a signal analyzer that includes the desired condition in response information to the control device indicating that the instructed operation could not be performed when the desired condition is not satisfied. The operation instruction signal includes a device address assigned to the control device,
When the signal analysis unit determines that the desired condition is not satisfied,
The second network communication unit sends a response signal including the device address assigned to the control device and the response information indicating that the desired condition is not satisfied from the second network communication unit. Send it to the network,
The control device receives the response signal from the network, detects whether the device address included in the response signal matches a device address assigned to itself, and detects a match of the device address 2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein response information included in the response signal is displayed on a display unit. Each of the controlled devices stores a device address assigned to the control device in advance,
When the signal analysis unit determines that the desired condition is not satisfied,
The second network communication unit, the device address assigned to the control device,
A response signal including the response information indicating that the desired condition is not satisfied is transmitted from the second network communication unit to the network;
The control device receives the response signal from the network, detects whether the device address included in the response signal matches a device address assigned to itself, and detects a match of the device address 2. The network system according to claim 1, wherein response information included in the response signal is displayed on a display unit. A device status table in which its current status is registered;
A network communication unit that receives an operation instruction signal from a control device via a network and detects whether a device address included in the operation instruction signal matches a device address assigned to the device;
If the network communication unit detects a match of the device address, the device state table is registered the current state is indicated by the operating conditions data included in the operation instruction signal, the control device by the user It is determined whether or not a desired condition input via the operation instruction is satisfied. When the desired condition is satisfied, an operation corresponding to the operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal is executed. A signal analysis unit that includes the desired condition in response information to the control device that indicates that the designated operation cannot be performed when the related circuit portion is instructed and the desired condition is not satisfied. Controlled equipment characterized by The device address assigned to the selected controlled device that is the controlled device selected by the user from among a plurality of controlled devices each assigned a unique device address, and the operation related to the selected controlled device A signal generation step for generating an operation instruction signal including operation instruction content data indicating contents and operable condition data indicating a desired condition input by the user via the control device, related to the selected controlled device When,
A first transmission step of transmitting the operation instruction signal to the communication network from the control device,
A receiving step in which the selected controlled device to which the device address included in the operation instruction signal is assigned receives the operation instruction signal from the communication network;
Whether or not the current state registered in the device state table in which the current state of the selected controlled device is registered satisfies the desired condition indicated by the operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal When the desired condition is satisfied, execution of the operation corresponding to the operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal is performed in the related circuit portion in the selected controlled device. An operation execution instructing step of including the desired condition in response information to the control device indicating that the instructed operation could not be executed when the desired condition is not satisfied. Control method for controlled equipment. The operation instruction signal includes a device address assigned to the control device,
In the operation execution instruction step, when it is determined that the desired condition is not satisfied,
A second transmission step in which the selected controlled device transmits a response signal including the device address assigned to the control device and the response information indicating that the desired condition is not satisfied, to the communication network; When,
The control device to which the device address included in the response signal is assigned receives the response signal from the communication network and displays response information included in the response signal on a display unit provided in the control device. The controlled device control method according to claim 5, further comprising: a display step. Each of the controlled devices stores a device address assigned to the control device in advance,
In the operation execution instruction step, when it is determined that the desired condition is not satisfied,
A second transmission step in which the selected controlled device transmits a response signal including the device address assigned to the control device and the response information indicating that the desired condition is not satisfied, to the communication network; When,
The control device to which the device address included in the response signal is assigned receives the response signal from the communication network and displays response information included in the response signal on a display unit provided in the control device. The controlled device control method according to claim 5, further comprising: a display step. A receiving step in which a controlled device to which a device address included in the operation instruction signal is assigned receives the operation instruction signal from a communication network;
The current state registered in the device state table in which the current state of the controlled device is registered is input by the user via the control device, which is indicated by the operable condition data included in the operation instruction signal. It is determined whether or not a desired condition is satisfied, and when the desired condition is satisfied, execution of an operation corresponding to the operation content indicated by the operation instruction content data included in the operation instruction signal is performed in the controlled device. An operation execution instructing step of including the desired condition in response information to the control device indicating that the instructed operation could not be executed when the desired circuit condition is not satisfied. A controlled device control method comprising:

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