JP6791924B2 - Power management system, content distribution device, and power management method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power management system, a content distribution device, and a power management method for managing the power consumption of a load device provided to a power consumer.

In recent years, there has been increasing interest in energy conservation, and systems such as the HEMS (Home Energy Management System) for power management in units of houses and the BEMS (Building Energy Management System) for power management in building units are attracting attention. Has been done.

In addition, a system has been proposed that supports energy saving in consumers by cooperating with a server provided outside the electricity consumer (hereinafter, simply referred to as "customer") (see Patent Document 1).
The server described in Patent Document 1 receives information on the amount of power consumption from a consumer, determines the type of power consumption (peak amount, normal power amount, base power amount) that is excessive in the consumer, and the present invention. In order to reduce the excessive power consumption, select one of the load devices provided to the customer, and give the customer an energy saving action plan to reduce the power consumption of the selected load device. Send.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-176373

However, although the system described in Patent Document 1 can contribute to energy saving by providing an energy saving action plan according to the power consumption of the consumer, the added value according to the current situation of the user is added. It is not possible to provide high service.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a power management system, a content distribution device, and a power management method capable of providing high value-added services to users.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following features.

The power management system according to the present invention can communicate with a content distribution device provided outside the consumer, which transmits content data to the user device, and the content distribution device, and is provided on the consumer. In a power management system having a power management device for controlling the device, the power management device transmits the power consumption of the load device to the content distribution device, and the content distribution device receives the power consumption from the power management device. It is characterized in that the content data based on the power consumption of the load device is transmitted to the user device.

The power management system according to the present invention is a power management system having a server and a power management device capable of communicating with the server and managing the power state of a user's device, and the power management device is a power management device. The power state of the device is transmitted to the server, and the server determines whether or not the user will go out in the future based on the statistical information of the power state received from the power management device and the current power state of the power state. It is characterized by estimating.

The server according to the present invention can communicate with a power management device that manages the power state of the user's device, and obtains statistical information on the power state of the device received from the power management device and the current power state of the power state . Based on this, it is characterized in that it is estimated whether or not the user will go out in the future.

The power management method according to the present invention is a power management method of a power management system having a server and a power management device capable of communicating with the server and managing the power state of a user's device, the power of which is described. The user is based on a step in which the management device transmits the power state of the device to the server, the power state statistical information received by the server from the power management device, and the current power state of the power state. It is characterized by having a step of estimating whether or not to go out in the future.

It is an overall block diagram of the content distribution system which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the installation environment of HEMS which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram of HEMS which concerns on embodiment. It is a graph for demonstrating the operation specific example which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram of the content server which concerns on embodiment. It is an operation flow diagram of HEMS which concerns on embodiment. It is operation flow diagram of the content server which concerns on embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings according to the following embodiments, the same or similar parts are designated by the same or similar reference numerals.

(Overall system configuration)
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a content distribution system according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the content distribution system according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of sensors 10 and HEMS 100 provided in the customer's home, and a content server 200 managed by the content distribution provider.

The HEMS 100 manages the power consumption of the plurality of load devices 15 (see FIG. 2) provided to the consumer based on the output signals of the plurality of sensors 10. In this embodiment, the HEMS 100 corresponds to a power management device.

The HEMS 100 and the content server 200 can communicate with each other via the Internet 20.

The content server 200 distributes content data to the HEMS 100 based on the information received from the HEMS 100 via the Internet 20. In this embodiment, the content server 200 corresponds to a content distribution device. The content data is, for example, an electronic coupon, advertising information, or the like.

Here, the content server 200 is not limited to the case where the content data is distributed to the HEMS 100, and the content data may be distributed to the user's mobile terminal 30 (see FIG. 2) or the like.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an installation environment of the HEMS 100 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, a sensor 10-1 for measuring the power consumption of a living room load device 15-1 (for example, a lighting device) and a kitchen load device 15-2 (for example, for example) in a customer's house. , Rice cooker, IH cooker, etc.), and a sensor 10-2 for measuring the power consumption are installed.

The HEMS 100 acquires the power consumption of the load device 15-1 in the living room based on the output signal of the sensor 10-1. Further, the HEMS 100 acquires the power consumption of the kitchen load device 15-2 based on the output signal of the sensor 10-2.

The HEMS 100 controls communication with the content server 200 according to the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15. In the present embodiment, the HEMS 100 requests the content server 200 for content data corresponding to the user's behavior estimated based on the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15.

When the privacy protection setting is not made, the HEMS 100 may notify the content server 200 of the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15.

On the other hand, when the privacy protection setting is made, the HEMS 100 requests the content data from the content server 200 without notifying the content server 200 of the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15. To do.

According to the information received from the HEMS 100, the content server 200 displays the content data corresponding to the user's behavior estimated based on the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15 by the user's device (for example, the HEMS 100 and / or). It is delivered to the mobile terminal 30).

(Structure of HEMS)
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the HEMS 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the HEMS 100 includes a sensor interface 110, a user interface 120, a communication unit 130, a storage unit 140, and a control unit 150.

The sensor interface 110 periodically acquires the output signals of each of the plurality of sensors 10 by communicating with the plurality of sensors 10 under the control of the control unit 150. Communication with the plurality of sensors 10 may be wired communication or wireless communication. The sensor interface 110 outputs the output signal of the sensor 10 to the control unit 150.

The user interface 120 outputs information to the user and inputs information from the user under the control of the control unit 150. The user interface 120 includes, for example, a display for displaying an image, a speaker for outputting audio, and various buttons for receiving user operations. However, the display and the buttons may be integrated as a touch panel.

The communication unit 130 is connected to the Internet 20 via a router or the like, and communicates with the content server 200 under the control of the control unit 150.

The storage unit 140 is, for example, an HDD and / or a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 140 stores in advance a program executed by the control unit 150, information on the load device 15, and information on content data to be requested from the content server 200. Under the control of the control unit 150, the storage unit 140 stores the power consumption of the load device 15 and statistical information based on the power consumption.

The control unit 150 is, for example, a CPU. The control unit 150 performs the following control by executing the program stored in the storage unit 140.

First, the control unit 150 acquires the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15 based on the output signals of the plurality of sensors 10, and obtains the acquired power consumption for each load device 15 and for each time zone. It accumulates in the storage unit 140. The control unit 150 acquires statistical information (fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount) for each load device 15 by performing statistical processing on the power consumption amount stored in the storage unit 140. The fluctuation tendency of the power consumption means, for example, the average power consumption (normal power consumption) for each time zone.

Secondly, the control unit 150 compares the current power consumption amount with the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount for each load device 15. When there is a load device 15 in which the difference between the current power consumption and the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 150 determines that the load device 15 is in a state different from the normal use state. to decide.

Thirdly, the control unit 150 estimates the user's behavior according to the place (kitchen, living room, etc.) where the load device 15 determined to be in a state different from the normal use state is installed. The control unit 150 refers to the storage unit 140 to determine the category of the content data corresponding to the estimated user behavior.

Fourth, the control unit 150 controls the communication unit 130 so as to transmit the content data distribution request including the information of the determined category to the content server 200.

By transmitting the content data distribution request to the content server 200 in this way, it is possible to prevent the power consumption information from leaking to the outside of the consumer, so that the privacy of the user can be protected.

However, when such privacy protection is not required, the control unit 150 may notify the content server 200 of the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15. In this case, the content server 200 performs the same processing as the first to third processing described above.

Information on the presence or absence of the privacy protection setting is stored in advance in, for example, the storage unit 140. The information may be manually updated by a user operation, or may be automatically updated by the control unit 150.

Here, specific examples of the above-mentioned first to fourth processes will be described. FIG. 4 is a graph for explaining a specific example in the case of detecting the difference between the power consumption in the normal time and the power consumption on a specific day and requesting the content data.

FIG. 4A is a graph showing the average power consumption of the kitchen load device 15-2 for each time zone. As shown in FIG. 4A, the kitchen load device 15-2 tends to consume a large amount of power during breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

FIG. 4B is a graph showing the average power consumption of the kitchen load device 15-2 and the living room load device 15-1 for each time zone. As shown in FIG. 4 (b), when power is consumed in the load device 15-1 in the living room (that is, when the user is presumed to be at home), breakfast and lunch are consumed by this consumer. , The power consumption of the kitchen load device 15-2 tends to increase during the time of dinner.

The control unit 150 derives these trends by statistical processing and manages each load device 15 as a state of normal power consumption.

FIG. 4C is a graph showing the transition of power consumption on a specific day. As shown in FIG. 4 (c), the load device in the kitchen tends to increase from before 18:00 even though the user is likely to be at home due to the power consumption of the load device 15-1 in the living room. The power consumption of 15-2 has not increased.

With such a state as a trigger, the control unit 150 presumes that the user eats out or buys a lunch box without cooking for dinner. Then, the control unit 150 requests the content server 200 for content data (electronic coupon, etc.) belonging to the home delivery category such as a lunch box.

In FIG. 4C, the power consumption of the living load device 15-1 before 18:00 is in a normal state, but when the power consumption is also reduced, the user can use the control unit 150. It is estimated that the user will go out, and the content server 200 is requested to have content data (electronic coupons, etc.) belonging to the restaurant category.

For example, the storage unit 140 stores in advance the load device 15, user actions related to the load device 15, and content data categories related to the actions. By referring to the storage unit 140, the control unit 150 can estimate the user's behavior and determine the category of the content data.

(Content server configuration)
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the content server 200.

As shown in FIG. 5, the content server 200 includes a communication unit 210, a storage unit 220, and a control unit 230.

The communication unit 210 is connected to the Internet 20 via a router or the like, and communicates with the HEMS 100 under the control of the control unit 230.

The storage unit 220 is, for example, an HDD and / or a semiconductor memory. The storage unit 220 stores in advance a program executed by the control unit 230, information on the load device 15, and information on content data to be distributed. Further, the storage unit 220 stores the power consumption of the load device 15 and statistical information based on the power consumption under the control of the control unit 230.

The control unit 230 is, for example, a CPU. The control unit 230 performs the following control by executing the program stored in the storage unit 220.

When the communication unit 210 receives the content data distribution request from the HEMS 100, the control unit 230 transfers the content data matching the category to the HEMS 100 according to the category (home delivery, restaurant, etc.) included in the content data distribution request. The communication unit 210 is controlled so as to deliver the data. However, when another delivery destination (for example, the address of the mobile terminal 30) associated with the HEMS 100 is set in advance, the content data may be delivered to the other delivery destination.

On the other hand, when the communication unit 210 receives the notification of the power consumption amount from the HEMS 100, the control unit 230 performs the following control.

First, the control unit 230 stores the power consumption in the storage unit 220 for each load device 15 and for each time zone. The control unit 230 acquires statistical information (fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount) for each load device 15 by performing statistical processing on the power consumption amount stored in the storage unit 220. The fluctuation tendency of the power consumption means, for example, the average power consumption (normal power consumption) for each time zone.

Secondly, the control unit 230 compares the current power consumption amount with the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount for each load device 15. When there is a load device 15 in which the difference between the current power consumption and the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the control unit 230 determines that the load device 15 is in a state different from the normal use state. to decide.

Thirdly, the control unit 230 estimates the user's behavior according to the place (kitchen, living room, etc.) where the load device 15 determined to be in a state different from the normal use state is installed. The control unit 230 refers to the storage unit 220 to determine a category of content data corresponding to the estimated user behavior.

For example, the storage unit 220 stores in advance the load device 15, the behavior of the user related to the load device 15, and the category of the content data related to the behavior. The control unit 230 can estimate the user's behavior and determine the category of the content data by referring to the storage unit 220.

Fourth, the control unit 230 controls the communication unit 210 so as to deliver the content data matching the determined category to the HEMS 100. However, when another delivery destination (for example, the address of the mobile terminal 30) associated with the HEMS 100 is set in advance, the content data may be delivered to the other delivery destination.

(Operation flow)
The operation flow of each of the HEMS 100 and the content server 200 will be described below.

FIG. 6 is an operation flow diagram of the HEMS 100.

As shown in FIG. 6, in step S101, the control unit 150 acquires the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15 based on the output signals of the plurality of sensors 10, and uses the acquired power consumption as the load device. It is stored in the storage unit 140 every 15 and every time zone.

In step S102, the control unit 150 acquires statistical information (fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount) for each load device 15 by performing statistical processing on the power consumption amount stored in the storage unit 140.

In step S103, the control unit 150 confirms the presence or absence of the privacy protection setting. When the privacy protection setting is made (step S103; YES), the control unit 150 advances the process to step S104. On the other hand, when the privacy protection setting is not made (step S103; NO), the control unit 150 proceeds to the process in step S106.

In step S104, the control unit 150 compares the current power consumption amount with the normal power consumption amount (fluctuation tendency) for each load device 15.

When there is a load device 15 in which the difference between the current power consumption and the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption is equal to or greater than the threshold value (step S104; YES), the control unit 150 differs from the normal use state of the load device 15. It is determined that the state is in the state, and the process proceeds to step S105. On the other hand, when there is no load device 15 in which the difference between the current power consumption amount and the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value (step S104; NO), the control unit 150 returns the process to step S101.

In step S105, the control unit 150 estimates the user's behavior according to the place (kitchen, living room, etc.) in which the load device 15 determined to be in a state different from the normal use state is installed, and said that. Determine the category of content data that corresponds to the estimated user behavior.

In step S106, the control unit 150 controls the communication unit 130 so as to transmit the content data distribution request including the information of the determined category or the notification of the power consumption amount to the content server 200.

In step S107, the communication unit 130 receives the content data from the content server 200. When the reception of the content data is completed (step S108; YES), in step S109, the control unit 150 controls the user interface 120 to display the content data. Alternatively, when another delivery destination (for example, the address of the mobile terminal 30) is preset, the control unit 150 controls the communication unit 130 so as to transfer the content data to the other delivery destination. May be good.

FIG. 7 is an operation flow diagram of the content server 200.

As shown in FIG. 7, in step S201, the control unit 230 confirms whether the communication unit 210 has received the notification of the power consumption amount from the HEMS 100 or the content data distribution request. When the notification of the power consumption amount is received (step S201; YES), the control unit 230 advances the process to step S202. On the other hand, when the content data distribution request is received (step S201; NO), the control unit 230 advances the process to step S205.

In step S202, the control unit 230 acquires the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15 by the communication unit 210, and stores the power consumption in the storage unit 220 for each load device 15 and for each time zone. The control unit 230 acquires statistical information (fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount) for each load device 15 by performing statistical processing on the power consumption amount stored in the storage unit 220.

In step S203, the control unit 230 compares the current power consumption amount with the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount for each load device 15. When there is a load device 15 in which the difference between the current power consumption and the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption is equal to or greater than the threshold value (step S203; YES), the control unit 150 differs from the normal use state of the load device 15. It is determined that the state is in the state, and the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, when there is no load device 15 in which the difference between the current power consumption amount and the fluctuation tendency of the power consumption amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value (step S203; NO), the control unit 150 returns the process to step S201.

In step S204, the control unit 230 estimates the user's behavior according to the place (kitchen, living room, etc.) where the load device 15 determined to be in a state different from the normal use state is installed, and said that. Determine the category of content data that corresponds to the estimated user behavior.

In step S205, the control unit 230 controls the communication unit 210 so as to deliver the content data matching the category to the HEMS 100. However, when another delivery destination (for example, the address of the mobile terminal 30) associated with the HEMS 100 is set in advance, the content data may be delivered to the other delivery destination.

(Summary)
As described above, the HEMS 100 requests the content server 200 for content data corresponding to the user's behavior estimated based on the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15. As a result, the user can receive the service according to his / her behavior from the content server 200.

In the present embodiment, when the difference between the current power consumption of the predetermined load device 15 and the normal power consumption of the predetermined load device 15 among the plurality of load devices 15 is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the HEMS 100 Requests the content server 200 to provide content data corresponding to the user's behavior estimated according to the location where the predetermined load device 15 is installed. As a result, the user's behavior is estimated according to the location where the load device 15 is installed, triggered by the fact that the power consumption of the load device 15 is different from the normal one, so that the user's behavior can be accurately performed. Can be estimated.

In the present embodiment, the HEMS 100 notifies the content server 200 of the power consumption when the privacy protection setting is not made, and notifies the content server 200 of the power consumption when the privacy protection setting is made. The content data is requested to the content server 200 without notifying the content server 200. As a result, when the privacy of the user should be protected, the power consumption information can be kept secret without being uploaded.

The content server 200 distributes content data corresponding to the user's behavior estimated based on the power consumption of each of the plurality of load devices 15 to the user's device (for example, the mobile terminal 30 or the HEMS 100). .. As a result, it is possible to provide a service according to the user's behavior to the user.

In the present embodiment, when the difference between the current power consumption of the predetermined load device 15 and the normal power consumption of the predetermined load device 15 among the plurality of load devices 15 is equal to or greater than the threshold value, the content The server 200 distributes content data corresponding to the user's behavior estimated according to the place where the predetermined load device 15 is installed to the user's device (for example, the mobile terminal 30 or the HEMS 100). As a result, the user's behavior is estimated according to the location where the load device 15 is installed, triggered by the fact that the power consumption of the load device 15 is different from the normal one, so that the user's behavior can be accurately performed. Can be estimated.

In the present embodiment, the content server 200 receives a notification of the power consumption amount from the HEMS 100 when the privacy protection setting is not made in the HEMS 100, and the power consumption amount when the privacy protection setting is made in the HEMS 100. The content data distribution request is received from the HEMS 100 without receiving the notification from the HEMS 100. As a result, when the privacy of the user should be protected, the information on the power consumption amount can be kept secret without being received from the HEMS 100.

[Other Embodiments]
The statements and drawings that form part of this disclosure should not be understood to limit the invention. Various alternative embodiments, examples and operational techniques will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the HEMS 100 as the power management device according to the present invention has been described. However, not limited to the HEMS 100, a BEMS or the like that manages power on a building-by-building basis may be used as the power management device according to the present invention.

10 ... Sensor, 15 ... Load device, 20 ... Internet, 30 ... Mobile terminal, 100 ... HEMS, 110 ... Sensor interface, 120 ... User interface, 130 ... Communication unit, 140 ... Storage unit, 150 ... Control unit, 200 ... Content Server, 210 ... Communication unit, 220 ... Storage unit 230 ... Control unit

Claims (7)

A power management system having a server and a power management device capable of communicating with the server and managing the power state of a user's device.
The power management device transmits the power status of the device to the server.
The server is a power management system that estimates whether or not the user will go out in the future based on the statistical information of the power state received from the power management device and the current power state of the power state. The power management system according to claim 1, wherein the server further estimates whether or not the user will go out in the future based on the position information of the device. The power management according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the server transmits content data corresponding to the outing to the power management device or a distribution destination associated with the power management device when the user goes out in the future. system. The power management system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the communication between the power management device and the server is not set for privacy protection. The power management system according to claim 3 , wherein the delivery destination is a mobile terminal of the user. It is possible to communicate with a power management device that manages the power state of the user's device, and based on the power state statistical information of the device received from the power management device and the current power state of the power state , the user will be able to use the future. A server that estimates whether or not to go out. It is a power management method of a power management system having a server and a power management device capable of communicating with the server and managing the power state of a user's device.
A step in which the power management device transmits the power status of the device to the server.
A power management method in which the server estimates whether or not the user will go out in the future based on the statistical information of the power state received from the power management device and the current power state of the power state. ..