JP6584178B2 - Control device, refrigerator and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a control device that controls the temperature in a refrigerator, a refrigerator, and a program.

  In the refrigerator, the temperature inside the refrigerator rises by taking in and out the articles, and the rise in temperature is remarkable especially when the door is opened for a long time or when many foods are put together after shopping.

  Since the goods in the warehouse may be damaged as the temperature in the warehouse rises, it is desirable to minimize this temperature rise, but as a means, the packaging form and weight of the articles stored in the refrigerator from a remote location Based on the received information, a method has been proposed in which the refrigerator is pre-cooled once so that the inside temperature is lower than the set temperature and then returned to the set temperature when a specific condition is satisfied. Yes.

  In Patent Document 1, the user of the refrigerator estimates the appropriate temperature, saves the trouble of setting the freezer temperature, first cools the inside of the refrigerator below the normal set temperature based on the article information, and then A refrigerator that returns to a normal set temperature is disclosed.

JP 2003-156275 A

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, the time from the purchase of an article to be stored in the freezer to the time when the user actually stores the article in the freezer is not taken into account. The pre-cooling operation will be performed for a long time.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the above situations, and it aims at enabling it to perform a pre-cooling operation according to the timing which goods are stored in a refrigerator.

In order to achieve the above object, a control device according to the present invention is a control device that changes a temperature in a refrigerator compartment installed in a user's house from a first set temperature. The control device includes a set temperature information reception unit, a precooling request reception unit, a position estimation reception unit, a control command generation unit, a control command transmission unit, a storage unit, and a return time estimation unit . The set temperature information receiving unit receives the first set temperature from the refrigerator. The pre-cooling request receiving unit receives a pre-cooling request signal indicating the necessity of storing the article in the refrigerator from the storage temperature of the article purchased by the user outside the house. The position estimation receiving unit receives position estimation information that can estimate the position of the user. When it is determined by the pre-cooling request signal that the article needs to be stored, and the position estimation information determines that the user's estimated position is within a limited range from the refrigerator, A control command for changing the set temperature in the cabinet to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature is generated. The control command transmission unit transmits the control command to the refrigerator. A memory | storage part memorize | stores the electricity bill information classified by time zone imposed on a user's house. The return time estimation unit calculates the return time of the user from the position estimation information. Then, when the electricity charge in the previous time zone is lower than the electricity charge in the time zone corresponding to the return time, the control command generation unit determines the temperature in the warehouse from the start time in the time zone corresponding to the return time. A control command for changing the set temperature in the cabinet to the second set temperature is generated at a time that is necessary to go back from the set temperature to the second set temperature.

  According to the present invention, by presuming the user's position and changing the set temperature of the refrigerator, the pre-cooling operation can be performed in accordance with the timing when goods are stored in the refrigerator.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the refrigerator control system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the refrigerator which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a control device according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the function structural example of the auto-lock apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of a POS terminal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an information server according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a pre-cooling request transmission process according to the first embodiment. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a precooling process according to the first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structural example of the refrigerator control system which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of an information terminal according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of a control device according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of position information transmission processing according to the second embodiment. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation of a precooling process according to the second embodiment. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware constitutions which control each apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Below, the form for implementing this invention is demonstrated in detail with reference to drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of a refrigerator control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. The refrigerator control system 100 includes a refrigerator 1, a control device 2, an auto lock device 3, a POS terminal 6, and an information server 7. The refrigerator 1 keeps the internal temperature at the first set temperature input by the user. The control apparatus 2 transmits the control command which changes the temperature in a store | warehouse | chamber to the 2nd preset temperature lower than 1st preset temperature to the refrigerator 1, and controls the temperature in a store | warehouse | chamber. The auto-lock device 3 is, for example, at the entrance / exit of a building (a condominium, etc.) where the user lives, and controls locking and unlocking of the entrance / exit. The auto-lock device 3 transmits to the control device 2 unlock information indicating that it has been unlocked when unlocked. The control device 2 is connected to an external network 5 via the router 4.

  The POS terminal 6 is a terminal of a POS (point of sales system) system of a store where a user purchases an article. The POS terminal 6 may be a stand-alone POS register or a POS server connected to one or more POS registers. The information server 7 manages destination information and article information. The destination information is information in which ID information for identifying the user is associated with address information indicating the destination address of the control device 2 that controls the user's refrigerator 1. The article information is information in which article identification information for identifying an article sold at a store is associated with temperature information indicating the storage temperature (normal temperature, refrigeration, freezing, etc.) of the article. The POS terminal 6 and the information server 7 are connected to the network 5.

  The POS terminal 6 acquires from the information server 7 address information corresponding to the user who purchased the article and temperature information of the article purchased by the user. When the storage temperature of the article purchased by the user is refrigerated or frozen, the POS terminal 6 transmits a precooling request signal requesting the start of the precooling operation to the destination address of the control device 2 that controls the user's refrigerator 1. When receiving the unlocking information from the auto-lock device 3 after receiving the pre-cooling request signal from the POS terminal 6, the control device 2 transmits a control command for setting the internal temperature to the second set temperature to the refrigerator 1. In the refrigerator control system 100, based on the unlocking information from the auto-lock device 3, it is determined whether or not the estimated position of the user is within a limited range from the home (the entrance of the building where the user lives). The unlock information in the present embodiment is position estimation information of the present invention.

  The refrigerator 1 sets the internal temperature to the second set temperature in accordance with the control command received from the control device 2. Thereafter, when the refrigerator 1 detects that the door is opened, the temperature inside the refrigerator is returned to the first set temperature. Or, after detecting that the door has been opened and then closed again, after confirming that the door does not open continuously for a certain period of time, the internal temperature is returned to the first set temperature. May be.

  FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. The refrigerator 1 includes an input unit 11, a storage unit 12, a set temperature information transmission unit 13, a control command reception unit 14, an open / close detection unit 15, and a cooling unit 16. The input unit 11 includes, for example, an LED display provided on the door portion of the refrigerator 1 and a touch pad, and receives a user's first set temperature input. The input unit 11 stores set temperature information indicating the input first set temperature in the storage unit 12. The set temperature information transmission unit 13 transmits the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 12 to the control device 2. The timing for transmitting the set temperature information may be transmitted periodically, or may be transmitted every time the first set temperature is changed. The control command receiving unit 14 receives a control command from the control device 2. The control command receiving unit 14 sends the received control command to the cooling unit 16.

  The cooling unit 16 is composed of, for example, a compressor, an evaporator, a circulation fan, a temperature sensor, and the like, and cools the article by setting the temperature in the warehouse to the first set temperature indicated by the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 12. When the cooling unit 16 receives the control command from the control command receiving unit 14, the cooling unit 16 changes the internal temperature according to the control command. The open / close detection unit 15 is, for example, an open / close sensor, and detects opening / closing of the door of the refrigerator 1. When the opening / closing detection unit 15 detects that the door of the refrigerator 1 is opened, the opening / closing detection unit 15 notifies the cooling unit 16 of the opening. When the cooling unit 16 changes the temperature in the storage according to the control command and is notified of opening the door from the open / close detection unit 15, the first setting indicated by the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 12 stores the temperature in the storage. Return to temperature. In the present embodiment, information indicating that the door has been opened is the measurement information of the present invention.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the control device according to the first embodiment. The control device 2 includes a set temperature information receiving unit 21, a storage unit 22, a precooling request receiving unit 23, a control command generating unit 24, an unlocking information receiving unit 25, and a control command transmitting unit 26. The set temperature information receiving unit 21 receives set temperature information from the refrigerator 1. The set temperature information receiving unit 21 stores the received set temperature information in the storage unit 22. The precooling request receiving unit 23 receives a precooling request signal from the POS terminal 6. The precooling request receiving unit 23 sends the received precooling request signal to the control command generating unit 24. The unlock information receiving unit 25 receives the unlock information from the auto-lock device 3. The unlock information receiving unit 25 sends the received unlock information to the control command generating unit 24. The unlock information receiving unit 25 in the present embodiment is a position estimation receiving unit of the present invention.

  After receiving the pre-cooling request signal from the pre-cooling request receiving unit 23 and then receiving the unlocking information from the unlocking information receiving unit 25, the control command generating unit 24 refers to the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 22 and stores A control command is generated to make the temperature inside the second set temperature lower than the first set temperature. The control command generator 24 sends the generated control command to the control command transmitter 26. The control command transmission unit 26 transmits the control command received from the control command generation unit 24 to the refrigerator 1. In addition, the control apparatus 2 may be incorporated in the refrigerator 1, and the one control apparatus 2 may control the some refrigerator 1. FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the auto-lock device according to the first embodiment. The auto-lock device 3 includes an ID information acquisition unit 31, a locking / unlocking unit 32, a storage unit 33, and an unlocking information transmission unit 34. The ID information acquisition unit 31 is, for example, an ID card reader, and reads the user ID information from the user ID card. The ID information acquisition unit 31 sends the read user ID information to the locking / unlocking unit 32. The storage unit 33 stores permission information that is a list of ID information of users who are permitted to lock and unlock. When receiving the ID information from the ID information acquisition unit 31, the locking / unlocking unit 32 refers to the permission information stored in the storage unit 33, and if it is the ID information of the user permitted to lock and unlock, Or unlock. When unlocked, the locking / unlocking unit 32 sends the unlocking information to the unlocking information transmitting unit 34. The locking / unlocking part 32 is the locking / unlocking means of the present invention. The unlocking information transmitting unit 34 transmits the unlocking information received from the locking / unlocking unit 32 to the control device 2. In the first embodiment, the configuration in which the auto-lock device 3 transmits the unlocking information to the control device 2 has been described. However, it may output a signal indicating that the entrance / exit of the building where the user lives is unlocked. For example, it is not limited to the automatic lock device 3.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the POS terminal according to the first embodiment. The POS terminal 6 includes an ID information acquisition unit 61, an ID information transmission unit 62, an address information reception unit 63, a purchased product information acquisition unit 64, a purchased product information transmission unit 65, a temperature information reception unit 66, a pre-cooling. A request generation unit 67 and a pre-cooling request transmission unit 68 are provided. The ID information acquisition unit 61 is, for example, a store membership card reader, and reads the user ID information from the user membership card. The ID information acquisition unit 61 sends the read user ID information to the ID information transmission unit 62. The ID information transmission unit 62 transmits the ID information received from the ID information acquisition unit 61 to the information server 7.

  The address information receiving unit 63 receives address information corresponding to the user who purchased the article from the information server 7. The address information receiving unit 63 sends the received address information to the pre-cooling request generating unit 67. The purchased product information acquisition unit 64 is, for example, a barcode reader that reads a barcode of an article purchased by a user and acquires purchased product information that is article identification information of the article purchased by the user. The purchased product information acquisition unit 64 sends the acquired purchased product information to the purchased product information transmission unit 65. The purchased product information transmission unit 65 transmits the purchased product information received from the purchased product information acquisition unit 64 to the information server 7.

  The temperature information receiving unit 66 receives temperature information of an article purchased by the user from the information server 7. The temperature information receiving unit 66 may receive attribute information related to the article purchased by the user from the information server 7 and extract temperature information from the attribute information. The temperature information receiving unit 66 sends the received temperature information to the pre-cooling request generating unit 67. Based on the temperature information received from the temperature information receiving unit 66, the pre-cooling request generating unit 67 determines whether there is a refrigerated or frozen storage item among the items purchased by the user. When there is a storage temperature of the article purchased by the user that is refrigerated or frozen, that is, when the storage temperature of the article purchased by the user is a temperature that requires entry into the refrigerator 1, the pre-cooling request generation unit 67. Generates a pre-cooling request signal and sends it to the pre-cooling request transmission unit 68.

  When the storage temperature of the article purchased by the user is refrigerated, a pre-cooling request signal for the refrigerator compartment is generated, and when the storage temperature of the article purchased by the user is frozen, a pre-cooling request signal for the freezer compartment is generated. The pre-cooling request signal for the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment may be separated. Further, the precooling request generation unit 67 determines whether or not the item purchased by the user is a vegetable based on the item identification information. If the item is a vegetable, the precooling request generation unit 67 generates a precooling request signal for the vegetable room. Good. That is, when the refrigerator 1 has a plurality of storage rooms having different storage temperatures, the set temperature information transmission unit 13 transmits the set temperature information determined for each storage room for the number of storage rooms. The pre-cooling request generation unit 67 is a pre-cooling request signal for the number of storage rooms indicating the necessity of storing the articles for each storage room when the storage temperature of the goods purchased by the user is a temperature that needs to be stored in the storage room. Is generated. In this case, the set temperature information receiving unit 21 of the control device 2 receives the set temperature information determined for each store room for the number of store rooms and stores it in the storage unit 22. The pre-cooling request receiving unit 23 receives a pre-cooling request signal of a storage room indicating the necessity of storing an article among the plurality of storage rooms. When the control command generating unit 24 receives the unlocking information from the unlocking information receiving unit 25 after receiving the precooling request signal of the storage chamber indicating the necessity of storing the article from the precooling request receiving unit 23, the control command generating unit 24 A control command for generating a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature is generated.

  The precooling request transmission unit 68 transmits the precooling request signal received from the precooling request generation unit 67 to the control device 2. In the pre-cooling request signal, the storage temperature may include information indicating the number or amount of refrigerated or frozen articles, the storage temperature, and the like. When the pre-cooling request signal includes information indicating the number or amount of refrigerated or frozen articles, the storage temperature, and the like, the control command generation unit 24 of the control device 2 determines the storage temperature as the storage temperature. It is preferable to generate a control command for adjusting the temperature to the number and amount of refrigerated and frozen items, the storage temperature, and the like. Thereby, the inside of a store | warehouse | chamber can be precooled according to the articles | goods to store newly, and the unnecessary precooling operation can be abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the information server according to the first embodiment. The information server 7 includes an ID information receiving unit 71, an address information transmitting unit 72, a storage unit 73, a purchased product information receiving unit 74, and a temperature information transmitting unit 75. The ID information receiving unit 71 receives ID information from the POS terminal 6. The ID information receiving unit 71 sends the received ID information to the address information transmitting unit 72. The address information transmission unit 72 refers to the destination information stored in the storage unit 73, and transmits address information corresponding to the ID information received from the ID information reception unit 71 to the POS terminal 6. The purchased product information receiving unit 74 receives purchased product information from the POS terminal 6. The purchased product information receiving unit 74 sends the received purchased product information to the temperature information transmitting unit 75. The temperature information transmitting unit 75 refers to the item information stored in the storage unit 73 and transmits temperature information corresponding to the item identification information included in the purchased item information received from the purchased item information receiving unit 74 to the POS terminal 6.

  The refrigerator control process executed by the refrigerator control system 100 includes a precooling request transmission process executed by the POS terminal 6 and the information server 7 and a precooling process executed by the control device 2 and the refrigerator 1.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of the pre-cooling request transmission process according to the first embodiment. The pre-cooling request transmission process starts when the POS terminal 6 and the information server 7 are activated.

  If the ID information acquisition unit 61 of the POS terminal 6 does not acquire the user ID information (step S11; NO), the ID information acquisition unit 61 repeats step S11 and waits for the acquisition of the user ID information. If ID information acquisition part 61 acquires a user's ID information (Step S11; YES), it will send to ID information transmission part 62. The ID information transmission unit 62 transmits the ID information received from the ID information acquisition unit 61 to the information server 7 (step S12).

  When receiving the ID information from the POS terminal 6 (step S21), the ID information receiving unit 71 of the information server 7 sends it to the address information transmitting unit 72. The address information transmission unit 72 refers to the destination information stored in the storage unit 73, and transmits address information corresponding to the ID information received from the ID information reception unit 71 to the POS terminal 6 (step S22).

  When receiving the address information from the information server 7 (step S13), the address information receiving unit 63 of the POS terminal 6 sends the address information to the precooling request generating unit 67. When the purchased product information acquisition unit 64 does not acquire the purchased product information (step S14; NO), the purchased product information acquisition unit 64 repeats step S14 and waits for acquisition of the purchased product information. When the purchased product information acquisition unit 64 acquires the purchased product information (step S14; YES), the purchased product information acquisition unit 64 sends it to the purchased product information transmission unit 65. The purchased product information transmission unit 65 transmits the purchased product information received from the purchased product information acquisition unit 64 to the information server 7 (step S15).

  The purchased product information receiving unit 74 of the information server 7 receives the purchased product information from the POS terminal 6 (step S23), and sends it to the temperature information transmitting unit 75. The temperature information transmission unit 75 refers to the item information stored in the storage unit 73 and transmits temperature information corresponding to the item identification information included in the purchased item information received from the purchased item information receiving unit 74 to the POS terminal 6 ( Step S24), the process is terminated.

  When the temperature information receiving unit 66 of the POS terminal 6 receives the temperature information from the information server 7 (step S16), the temperature information receiving unit 66 sends the temperature information to the precooling request generating unit 67. Based on the temperature information received from the temperature information receiving unit 66, the pre-cooling request generation unit 67 determines whether or not the article purchased by the user has a refrigerated or frozen storage temperature (step S17). If there is no refrigerated or frozen item stored in the article purchased by the user (step S17; NO), the pre-cooling request generating unit 67 ends the process. If there is an article purchased by the user whose storage temperature is refrigerated or frozen (step S17; YES), the precooling request generation unit 67 generates a precooling request signal (step S18) and sends it to the precooling request transmission unit 68. send. The precooling request transmission unit 68 transmits the precooling request signal received from the precooling request generation unit 67 to the control device 2 (step S19), and ends the process.

  In addition, before execution of step S19, it may be made possible to input whether or not the pre-cooling request signal can be transmitted from an input unit (not shown) provided in the POS terminal 6. This makes it possible for the user not to transmit the pre-cooling request signal when he / she does not take the purchased article home or when he / she does not store it in the refrigerator 1. When the user selects transmission rejection of the pre-cooling request signal, step S19 is not executed and the process ends.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the pre-cooling process according to the first embodiment. The refrigerator 1 and the control device 2 are always activated, but the control device 2 may not be activated normally, and in this case, the pre-cooling process is started when the control device 2 is activated. To do.

  When the pre-cooling request receiving unit 23 of the control device 2 does not receive the pre-cooling request signal from the POS terminal 6 (step S31; NO), it repeats step S31 and waits for the reception of the pre-cooling request signal. When receiving the precooling request signal (step S31; YES), the precooling request receiving unit 23 sends it to the control command generating unit 24. When unlocking information is not received from the auto-lock device 3 (step S32; NO), the unlocking information receiving unit 25 repeats step S32 and waits for reception of unlocking information. When receiving the unlocking information (step S32; YES), the unlocking information receiving unit 25 sends the unlocking information to the control command generating unit 24.

  The control command generation unit 24 refers to the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 22, and generates a control command for setting the temperature in the warehouse to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature (step S33). This is sent to the control command transmitter 26. The control command transmission unit 26 transmits the control command received from the control command generation unit 24 to the refrigerator 1 (step S34), and ends the process.

  An effective time may be set in the pre-cooling request signal. In this case, if unlock information is not received in step S32 for a certain time (for example, 6 hours), the user determines that the purchased article is not stored in the refrigerator 1, and invalidates the pre-cooling request signal.

  When receiving the control command from the control device 2 (step S41), the control command receiving unit 14 of the refrigerator 1 sends the control command to the cooling unit 16. When the cooling unit 16 receives the control command from the control command receiving unit 14, the cooling unit 16 changes the internal temperature according to the control command (step S42). When the opening / closing detection unit 15 does not detect the opening of the refrigerator 1 (step S43; NO), the opening / closing detection unit 15 repeats step S43 and waits for the opening of the refrigerator 1. When the opening / closing detection unit 15 detects the opening of the refrigerator 1 (step S43; YES), the opening / closing detection unit 15 notifies the cooling unit 16 of the opening. When notified of opening from the open / close detection unit 15, the cooling unit 16 returns the internal temperature to the first set temperature indicated by the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 12 (step S44), and ends the process. .

  In addition, after changing the temperature in a store | warehouse | chamber in step S42, when the preset temperature information of the lower 1st preset temperature is input into the input part 11 of the refrigerator 1, and the preset temperature information of the memory | storage part 12 is updated. The cooling unit 16 is the first setting indicated by the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 12, even if the open / close detection unit 15 does not detect the opening of the refrigerator 1 (step S 43; NO). You may make it the structure made into temperature. Alternatively, after transmitting the control command to the refrigerator 1 in step S34, the set temperature information receiving unit 21 of the control device 2 receives the set temperature information of the lower first set temperature, and the set temperature information of the storage unit 22 is When updated, the control command generation unit 24 generates a control command for setting the temperature in the warehouse to the first set temperature indicated by the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 22, and the control command transmission unit 26 sets the refrigerator in the refrigerator. 1 may be used.

  In addition to the pre-cooling process, the set temperature information transmission unit 13 of the refrigerator 1 transmits the set temperature information to the control device 2 at a determined timing, and the set temperature information reception unit 21 of the control device 2 receives the set temperature information from the refrigerator 1. Is received and stored in the storage unit 22.

  The second set temperature may be stored in the storage unit 22 of the control device 2 separately from the set temperature information indicating the first set temperature, or the first set temperature is stored in the storage unit 12 of the refrigerator 1. It may be stored separately from the set temperature information shown.

  Or when the refrigerator 1 changes the temperature in a warehouse according to a control command (step S42), you may overwrite the setting temperature information which the memory | storage part 12 memorize | stores from the 1st setting temperature to the 2nd setting temperature. In this case, when the refrigerator 1 returns the internal temperature to the first set temperature (step S44), the refrigerator 1 inquires the control device 2 about the first set temperature, and the control device 2 sets the refrigerator 1 to the first set temperature. The temperature may be responsive. Alternatively, the control device 2 is notified that the refrigerator 1 satisfies the condition for returning the internal temperature to the first set temperature (step S43; YES), and the control device 2 sets the internal temperature to the first set temperature. You may make it the structure which transmits the control command returned to to the refrigerator 1. FIG.

  Or after the control apparatus 2 transmits the control command which makes the temperature in a warehouse the 2nd preset temperature to the refrigerator 1, the measurement information measured with the refrigerator 1 is acquired regularly, and the temperature in a warehouse is 1st. When the condition for returning to one set temperature is satisfied (for example, when the detection information that detects opening / closing of the door of the refrigerator 1 is periodically acquired and the opening is detected), the temperature in the cabinet is set to the first set temperature. A control command may be generated and transmitted to the refrigerator 1.

  As described above, according to the refrigerator control system 100 of the first embodiment, the precooling operation is performed in accordance with the timing of entering the refrigerator 1 by estimating the user's position and changing the set temperature of the refrigerator 1. be able to.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the refrigerator control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The refrigerator control system 200 according to the second embodiment includes an information terminal 8 equipped with a position detection function possessed by the user, instead of the POS terminal 6 of the refrigerator control system 100 according to the first embodiment. The position detection function may be, for example, GPS (Global Positioning System) or position detection by a wireless LAN. The refrigerator control system 200 does not include the auto-lock device 3, and instead of unlocking information from the auto-lock device 3, the estimated position of the user is limited from home based on the location information from the information terminal 8. It is determined whether it is within the range. The information terminal 8 is a smartphone possessed by the user, for example, and functions as the information terminal 8 by installing a dedicated application of the refrigerator control system 200. Other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the information terminal according to the second embodiment. The information terminal 8 includes a storage unit 81, an ID information transmission unit 82, an address information reception unit 83, a purchased product information acquisition unit 84, a purchased product information transmission unit 85, a temperature information reception unit 86, and a position information generation. Unit 87, position information transmission unit 88, start notification reception unit 89, and position detection unit 90. The storage unit 81 stores user ID information in advance. When the user activates the dedicated application of the information terminal 8, the ID information transmission unit 82 transmits the ID information stored in the storage unit 81 to the information server 7. The ID information may be transmitted by a user operation.

  The address information receiving unit 83 receives address information corresponding to the user who purchased the article from the information server 7. The address information receiving unit 83 sends the received address information to the position information generating unit 87. The purchased product information acquisition unit 84 is, for example, a barcode reader function, reads the barcode of the article purchased by the user, and acquires the purchased product information that is the article identification information of the article purchased by the user. The purchased product information acquisition unit 84 sends the acquired purchased product information to the purchased product information transmission unit 85. The purchased product information transmission unit 85 transmits the purchased product information received from the purchased product information acquisition unit 84 to the information server 7.

  The temperature information receiving unit 86 receives temperature information of the article purchased by the user from the information server 7. The temperature information receiving unit 86 sends the received temperature information to the position information generating unit 87. The position detection unit 90 detects the position of the information terminal 8 and sends detection information indicating the position of the information terminal 8 to the position information generation unit 87. Based on the temperature information received from the temperature information receiving unit 86, the position information generating unit 87 determines whether or not the article purchased by the user has a refrigerated or frozen storage temperature. If the article purchased by the user has refrigerated or frozen storage temperature, the position information generating unit 87 generates position information including the detection information received from the position detecting unit 90 and the pre-cooling request signal, and the address The address information received from the information receiving unit 83 is sent to the position information transmitting unit 88 together with the address information. The position information transmission unit 88 transmits the position information received from the position information generation unit 87 to the control device 2 indicated by the received address information. The position information in the present embodiment is the position estimation information of the present invention, and the position detection unit 90 is the position detection means of the present invention.

  The position information may include information indicating the number or amount of refrigerated or frozen articles, the storage temperature, and the like. When the position information includes information indicating the number or amount of refrigerated or frozen items, the storage temperature, and the like, the control command generation unit 24 of the control device 2 generates a control command “Limit from home”. The storage range may be set according to the number and amount of refrigerated or frozen articles, the storage temperature, and the like.

  The start notification receiving unit 89 receives a start notification signal for notifying that the pre-cooling operation has been started from the control device 2, and sends it to the position information generating unit 87. The position information generation unit 87 and the position information transmission unit 88 repeatedly generate position information until the start notification signal is received from the start notification reception unit 89 and continue to transmit the position information to the control device 2. The pre-cooling request signal may be included only in the position information generated first after the position information generating unit 87 determines that there is an article purchased by the user whose storage temperature is refrigerated or frozen.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the control device according to the second embodiment. The control device 2 according to the second embodiment includes a position information receiving unit 27 and a position determining unit 28 instead of the precooling request receiving unit 23 and the unlocking information receiving unit 25 of the control device 2 according to the first embodiment. In addition, a start notification transmission unit 29 is provided.

  The position information receiving unit 27 receives position information from the information terminal 8. The position information receiving unit 27 sends the received position information to the position determining unit 28. The position determination unit 28 determines whether or not the position indicated by the position information received from the position information receiving unit 27 is within a limited range from the home. When the position is within a limited range from home, the position determination unit 28 notifies the control command generation unit 24 that the position of the information terminal 8 is within the limited range from home. When notified from the position determination unit 28 that the position of the information terminal 8 is within a limited range from the home, the control command generation unit 24 refers to the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 22 and stores A control command for generating a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature is generated. The position information receiving unit 27 in the present embodiment is a position estimation receiving unit of the present invention.

  When the control command generator 24 sends the generated control command to the control command transmitter 26, the control command generator 24 generates a start notification signal for notifying that the pre-cooling operation has started, and sends the start notification signal to the start notification transmitter 29. The start notification transmission unit 29 transmits the start notification signal received from the control command generation unit 24 to the information terminal 8. Other configurations are the same as those of the control device 2 of the first embodiment.

  The refrigerator control process executed by the refrigerator control system 200 includes a position information transmission process executed by the information terminal 8 and the information server 7 and a precooling process executed by the control device 2 and the refrigerator 1.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the position information transmission process according to the second embodiment. The position information transmission process starts when the dedicated application of the information terminal 8 and the information server 7 are activated. Steps S61 to S64 executed by the information server 7 are the same as steps S21 to S24 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  When the user activates the dedicated application of the information terminal 8, the ID information transmission unit 82 of the information terminal 8 transmits the ID information stored in the storage unit 81 to the information server 7 (step S51). When receiving the address information from the information server 7 (step S52), the address information receiving unit 83 sends the address information to the position information generating unit 87. If the purchased product information acquisition unit 84 does not acquire purchased product information (step S53; NO), the purchased product information acquisition unit 84 repeats step S53 and waits for acquisition of purchased product information. When the purchased product information acquisition unit 84 acquires the purchased product information (step S53; YES), the purchased product information acquisition unit 84 sends it to the purchased product information transmission unit 85. The purchased product information transmission unit 85 transmits the purchased product information received from the purchased product information acquisition unit 84 to the information server 7 (step S54). When receiving the temperature information from the information server 7 (step S55), the temperature information receiving unit 86 sends the temperature information to the position information generating unit 87.

  Based on the temperature information received from the temperature information receiving unit 86, the position information generating unit 87 determines whether or not the article purchased by the user has a refrigerated or frozen storage temperature (step S56). If there is no refrigerated or frozen item stored in the article purchased by the user (step S56; NO), the position information generating unit 87 ends the process. If there is a storage temperature of the article purchased by the user that is refrigerated or frozen (step S56; YES), the position information generator 87 generates position information (step S57) and sends it to the position information transmitter 88. . The position information transmission unit 88 transmits the position information received from the position information generation unit 87 to the control device 2 (step S58).

  When the start notification receiving unit 89 does not receive the start notification signal from the control device 2 (step S59; NO), the position information generating unit 87, the position information transmitting unit 88, and the start notification receiving unit 89 receive the start notification signal from the control device 2. Steps S57 to S59 are repeated until is received. When the start notification receiving unit 89 receives a start notification signal from the control device 2 (step S59; YES), the process ends.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the pre-cooling process according to the second embodiment. The refrigerator 1 and the control device 2 are always activated, but the control device 2 may not be activated normally, and in this case, the pre-cooling process is started when the control device 2 is activated. To do. Since step S81-step S84 which the refrigerator 1 performs are the same as that of step S41-step S44 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  When the position information receiving unit 27 of the control device 2 does not receive position information from the information terminal 8 (step S71; NO), the position information receiving unit 27 repeats step S71 and waits for reception of position information. When receiving the position information (step S71; YES), the position information receiving unit 27 sends the position information to the position determining unit 28. The position determination unit 28 determines whether or not the position indicated by the position information received from the position information reception unit 27 is within a limited range from the home (step S72).

  When the position indicated by the position information is not within the limited range from the home (step S72; NO), the position information receiving unit 27 and the position determining unit 28 until the position indicated by the position information is within the limited range from the home. Steps S71 and S72 are repeated. When the position indicated by the position information is within a limited range from the home (step S72; YES), the position determination unit 28 instructs the control command generation unit 24 that the position of the information terminal 8 is within the limited range from the home. Notify that there is.

  When notified from the position determination unit 28 that the position of the information terminal 8 is within a limited range from the home, the control command generation unit 24 refers to the set temperature information stored in the storage unit 22 and stores A control command for setting the temperature to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature is generated (step S73) and sent to the control command transmitting unit 26. The control command transmission unit 26 transmits the control command received from the control command generation unit 24 to the refrigerator 1 (step S74). The control command generator 24 generates a start notification signal for notifying that the pre-cooling operation has started (step S75), and sends it to the start notification transmitter 29. The start notification transmission unit 29 transmits the start notification signal received from the control command generation unit 24 to the information terminal 8 (step S76), and ends the process.

  The information terminal 8 may have a function of receiving a precooling request signal from the user and transmitting the precooling request signal to the control device 2. In this case, when the control device 2 receives the pre-cooling request signal from the information terminal 8, the control device 2 forcibly transmits a control command to the refrigerator 1 to set the internal temperature to the second set temperature lower than the first set temperature. . Further, the position information receiving unit 27 and the position determining unit 28 may be included in the information terminal 8, and the information terminal 8 may transmit a pre-cooling request to the control device 2. In this case, the functional configuration of the control device 2 may be the same as that of the first embodiment.

  A configuration in which the user inputs the current location to the information terminal 8 or a configuration in which the user inputs the return time is also possible. In this case, the information terminal 8 does not need to have a position detection function, and the position information transmission unit 88 transmits information indicating the current location input by the user and information indicating the return time input by the user to the control device 2. . Based on these pieces of information, the control device 2 determines whether or not the estimated position of the user is within a limited range from home. In this case, the information indicating the current location input by the user and the information indicating the return time input by the user are the position estimation information of the present invention.

  As described above, according to the refrigerator control system 200 of the second embodiment, the present invention can be applied even if a store where a user purchases an article does not introduce a POS system. Further, since the location information of the information terminal 8 possessed by the user is used, the present invention can be applied even when the building where the user lives is not auto-locked or when the distance from the doorway to the refrigerator 1 is short.

  FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration for controlling each device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator 1, the control device 2, the auto-lock device 3, the POS terminal 6, the information server 7, and the information terminal 8 that constitute the refrigerator control system 100 and the refrigerator control system 200 include a processor 101 as a hardware configuration that controls the respective devices. A memory 102 and an interface 103 are provided. Each function of these devices is realized by the processor 101 executing a program stored in the memory 102. The interface 103 connects each device and establishes communication, and may include a plurality of types of interfaces 103 as necessary. FIG. 14 shows an example in which each of the processor 101 and the memory 102 is configured as one, but a plurality of processors 101 and a plurality of memories 102 may cooperate to execute each function.

  Further, when the above functions are realized by sharing an OS (Operating System) and an application, or by cooperation between the OS and the application, only the part other than the OS may be stored in the medium.

  Furthermore, each program can be superimposed on a carrier wave and distributed via a communication network. For example, the program may be posted on a bulletin board (BBS, Bulletin Board System) on a communication network, and the program may be distributed via the network. Then, the above-described processing may be executed by starting these programs and executing them in the same manner as other application programs under the control of the operating system.

  Information stored in each component of the refrigerator control system 100 and the refrigerator control system 200 is collectively managed by a cloud server existing on the network, and the component accesses the cloud server as necessary to store information. Reading and writing may be performed. In this case, the component does not have to include a storage unit.

  In the above embodiment, the information server 7 is a single component. For example, the server that stores and manages the destination information and the server that stores and manages the article information may be independent servers. Good. The POS terminal 6 may store and manage at least one of destination information and article information. Further, the ID information acquired by the POS terminal 6, the ID information acquired by the auto-lock device 3, and the ID information stored by the information terminal 8 may be any information that can uniquely identify the user, not the same ID information. May be.

  In the above embodiment, the stop condition of the pre-cooling operation is to detect the opening of the refrigerator 1, but is not limited thereto. For example, the time required for the user to come in front of the refrigerator 1 from the estimated position of the user, which is the precondition for the precooling operation, is set, and the precooling operation is automatically performed when the set time elapses after the precooling operation is started. You may make it stop automatically. Alternatively, the temperature sensor provided in the cooler may detect that the temperature in the cabinet has risen, and may be a pre-cooling operation stop condition, or may be equal to or lower than the first set temperature after the temperature in the cabinet has risen. It is good also as a stop condition of precooling operation, detecting that it became temperature. Or it is good also as a stop condition of a pre-cooling operation | movement by detecting that fixed time passed since the temperature in a warehouse rose. In this case, the temperature information in the storage is the measurement information of the present invention, and the temperature sensor is the temperature detection unit of the present invention.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the control device 2 stores the electricity charge information for each time zone, and includes a return time estimation unit that calculates the return time from the estimated position of the user, and the electricity charge in the time zone corresponding to the return time is in the previous time zone. In the case where the temperature is higher than the start time of the time zone corresponding to the return home time, the time that is required to change the temperature in the warehouse from the first set temperature to the second set temperature, A control command for changing the internal temperature to the second set temperature may be transmitted to the refrigerator 1. Thereby, the pre-cooling operation can be performed more economically. The time when the electricity rate is constant is called a time zone, and the electricity rate changes every time zone.

  Alternatively, the control device 2 includes a power reduction request receiving unit that receives power consumption reduction request time zone information, and a return time estimation unit that calculates the return time from the estimated position of the user, and the return time is a request to reduce power consumption. Necessary to change the internal temperature from the first set temperature to the second set temperature from the start time of the power consumption reduction request time zone when it is included in the application period (reduction request time zone) You may make it transmit the control command which changes the temperature in a store | warehouse | chamber to the 2nd preset temperature at the time which goes back for a certain time. Thereby, the pre-cooling operation more adapted to the needs of society can be performed. When the control device 2 is built in the refrigerator 1, the return time estimation unit is the return time estimation means of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refrigerator, 2 Control apparatus, 3 Auto-lock apparatus, 4 Router, 5 Network, 6 POS terminal, 7 Information server, 8 Information terminal, 11 Input part, 12 Storage part, 13 Set temperature information transmission part, 14 Control command reception part , 15 Open / close detection unit, 16 Cooling unit, 21 Set temperature information receiving unit, 22 Storage unit, 23 Precooling request receiving unit, 24 Control command generating unit, 25 Unlocking information receiving unit, 26 Control command transmitting unit, 27 Position information receiving Unit, 28 position determination unit, 29 start notification transmission unit, 31 ID information acquisition unit, 32 locking / unlocking unit, 33 storage unit, 34 unlocking information transmission unit, 61 ID information acquisition unit, 62 ID information transmission unit, 63 address information Receiving unit, 64 purchased product information acquiring unit, 65 purchased product information transmitting unit, 66 temperature information receiving unit, 67 precooling request generating unit, 68 precooling request transmitting unit, 71 ID Information receiving unit, 72 address information transmitting unit, 73 storage unit, 74 purchased product information receiving unit, 75 temperature information transmitting unit, 81 storage unit, 82 ID information transmitting unit, 83 address information receiving unit, 84 purchased product information acquiring unit, 85 Purchased product information transmission unit, 86 Temperature information reception unit, 87 Position information generation unit, 88 Position information transmission unit, 89 Start notification reception unit, 90 Position detection unit, 100,200 Refrigerator control system, 101 Processor, 102 Memory, 103 interface.

Claims (13)

A control device that changes the temperature in the refrigerator compartment installed in the user's house from the first set temperature,
A set temperature information receiving unit for receiving the first set temperature from the refrigerator;
A pre-cooling request receiving unit for receiving a pre-cooling request signal indicating the necessity of storing the article in the refrigerator from a storage temperature of the article purchased by the user outside the house;
A position estimation receiving unit that receives position estimation information capable of estimating the position of the user;
When it is determined by the pre-cooling request signal that the article needs to be stored, and the position estimation information determines that the estimated position of the user is within a limited range from the refrigerator, A control command generator for generating a control command for changing the set temperature in the chamber to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature;
A control command transmitter for transmitting the control command to the refrigerator;
A storage unit for storing hourly electricity bill information imposed on the user's house;
E Bei and a return home time estimating unit for calculating a return home time of the user from the location estimation information,
The control command generation unit, when the electricity charge in the time zone before that is cheaper than the electricity charge in the time zone corresponding to the return time, the temperature in the warehouse from the start time of the time zone corresponding to the return time Generates the control command to change the set temperature in the cabinet to the second set temperature at a time that is necessary to go back from the first set temperature to the second set temperature. ,
Control device. A control device that changes the temperature in the refrigerator compartment installed in the user's house from the first set temperature,
A set temperature information receiving unit for receiving the first set temperature from the refrigerator;
A pre-cooling request receiving unit for receiving a pre-cooling request signal indicating the necessity of storing the article in the refrigerator from a storage temperature of the article purchased by the user outside the house;
A position estimation receiving unit that receives position estimation information capable of estimating the position of the user;
When it is determined by the pre-cooling request signal that the article needs to be stored, and the position estimation information determines that the estimated position of the user is within a limited range from the refrigerator, A control command generator for generating a control command for changing the set temperature in the chamber to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature;
A control command transmitter for transmitting the control command to the refrigerator;
A power reduction request receiving unit that receives power consumption reduction request time zone information imposed on the user's house;
E Bei and a return home time estimating unit for calculating a return home time of the user from the location estimation information,
When the return time is included in the reduction request time zone indicated by the reduction request time zone information, the control command generator generates the first set temperature from the start time of the reduction request time zone. Generating the control command for changing the set temperature in the warehouse to the second set temperature at a time that is necessary to go back to the second set temperature from the time required.
Control device. The location estimation information, the control device according to claim 1 or 2 which is unlocking information of the user detected by the unlocking means provided on the entrance of a house of the user. The location estimation information, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the user is one that the location information indicating a location of the information terminal detected by on-board position detecting means to the information terminal possessed were obtained from the position estimation receiver The control device described in 1. The location estimation information is information input by the user, information indicating the current position of the user or information indicating a return home scheduled time is obtained from the position estimation receiver according to claim 1 or 2, The control device described in 1. The set temperature information receiving unit receives the first set temperature predetermined for each of a plurality of storage rooms having different storage temperatures of the refrigerator for the number of storage rooms,
The pre-cooling request receiving unit receives a pre-cooling request signal of a storage room that needs to receive the article among the plurality of storage rooms,
The control command generation section one of claims 1 to 5 for generating a control command for changing the set temperature of the storage compartment has to be warehousing the articles in the lower than the first set temperature second set temperature The control device according to claim 1. A measurement information receiving unit for receiving measurement information measured in the refrigerator;
The control command generation unit transmits the control command for changing the set temperature in the cabinet to the second set temperature by the control command transmission unit, and then the measurement information is the set temperature in the cabinet. To determine whether or not it matches the condition to restore the original, and if the condition is met, generate a control command to return the set temperature in the warehouse to the first set temperature,
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the control command transmission unit transmits the control command for returning the set temperature in the storage to the first set temperature to the refrigerator. The control device according to claim 7 , wherein the measurement information includes at least one of information indicating that the refrigerator has been opened and temperature information in the storage. A set temperature information transmitting unit that transmits the first set temperature in the cabinet to the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 ,
A control command receiving unit for receiving a control command for changing the temperature in the cabinet from the control device;
A cooling unit that changes the temperature in the storage to the temperature in the storage included in the control command;
Refrigerator. A set temperature information transmitting unit for transmitting the first set temperature in the store to a control device that changes the temperature in the store of the refrigerator installed in the user's house from the first set temperature;
A control command receiving unit for receiving a control command for changing the set temperature in the cabinet from the control device to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature;
According to the control command, a cooling unit that changes the temperature in the warehouse to the second set temperature,
A temperature detector for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator;
With
After the cooling unit changes the temperature in the cabinet according to the control command, the temperature detection unit again lowers the temperature below the first set temperature after the temperature in the cabinet becomes equal to or higher than the first set temperature. If it is detected that became a refrigerator to return the temperature in the pre-Symbol chamber to said first set temperature. A set temperature information transmitting unit for transmitting the first set temperature in the store to a control device that changes the temperature in the store of the refrigerator installed in the user's house from the first set temperature;
A control command receiving unit for receiving a control command for changing the set temperature in the cabinet from the control device to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature;
According to the control command, a cooling unit that changes the temperature in the warehouse to the second set temperature,
A temperature detector for detecting the temperature in the refrigerator;
With
After the cooling unit changes the temperature in the storage according to the control command, the temperature detection unit again lowers the temperature below the first set temperature after the temperature in the storage becomes equal to or higher than the first set temperature. refrigerators for notifying the control device that you have detected that became. To a computer that changes the temperature in the refrigerator cabinet installed in the user's house from the first set temperature,
Receiving the first set temperature from the refrigerator;
Receiving a pre-cooling request signal indicating the necessity to store the article in the refrigerator from the storage temperature of the article purchased by the user outside the house;
Receiving position estimation information capable of estimating the position of the user;
When it is determined by the pre-cooling request signal that the article needs to be stored, and the position estimation information determines that the estimated position of the user is within a limited range from the refrigerator, Generate a control command to change the set temperature in the cabinet to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature,
Sending the control command to the refrigerator ;
Storing the electricity rate information according to the time zone imposed on the user's house,
A program for executing a process for calculating the return time of the user from the position estimation information ,
In the processing, when the electricity charge in the time zone before that is cheaper than the electricity charge in the time zone corresponding to the return time, the temperature in the warehouse is changed from the start time of the time zone corresponding to the return time. Generating the control command to change the set temperature in the cabinet to the second set temperature at a time that is necessary to go back from the set temperature to the second set temperature.
program.   To a computer that changes the temperature in the refrigerator cabinet installed in the user's house from the first set temperature,
  Receiving the first set temperature from the refrigerator;
  Receiving a pre-cooling request signal indicating the necessity to store the article in the refrigerator from the storage temperature of the article purchased by the user outside the house;
  Receiving position estimation information capable of estimating the position of the user;
  When it is determined by the pre-cooling request signal that the article needs to be stored, and the position estimation information determines that the estimated position of the user is within a limited range from the refrigerator, Generate a control command to change the set temperature in the cabinet to a second set temperature lower than the first set temperature,
  Sending the control command to the refrigerator;
  Receiving power consumption reduction request time zone information imposed on the user's home,
  A program for executing a process for calculating the return time of the user from the position estimation information,
  In the processing, when the return time is included in the reduction request time zone indicated by the reduction request time zone information, the temperature in the warehouse is changed from the first set temperature to the first set temperature from the start time of the reduction request time zone. Generating the control command for changing the set temperature in the warehouse to the second set temperature at a time that is necessary to go back to the second set temperature.
  program.

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