JP7511176B2 - CONTROL SYSTEM, CONTROL METHOD, AND PROGRAM - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to a control system, a control method, and a program. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a control system, a control method, and a program that control processing when a fire occurs.

Patent Document 1 discloses an alarm linkage system that links multiple alarm systems installed in multiple homes. Each alarm system is equipped with multiple home alarm devices that mutually warn each other when a fire is detected. In the alarm linkage system, when a fire is detected by the alarm system of one home, a fire linkage signal is transmitted to the alarm systems of the other homes, and an abnormality alarm is output indicating an abnormality in the linked alarm system.

JP 2012-252689 A

In the alarm linkage system configured as above, when a fire is detected by the alarm system of a certain house, a fire linkage signal is transmitted to the alarm systems of other houses that have been registered in advance. Therefore, if a fire breaks out in one house and spreads to a large extent, there is a possibility that the fire linkage signal will not be transmitted to houses that may be affected by the fire.

The objective of this disclosure is to provide a control system, a control method, and a program that can execute processing according to the scale of a fire's spread.

A control system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes an acquisition unit, an estimation unit, and a processing unit. The acquisition unit acquires detection results from a detection unit. The detection unit is disposed in a facility and detects fire-related events related to a fire. The estimation unit estimates the scale of a fire occurring in the facility based on the detection results acquired by the acquisition unit. The processing unit performs processing according to the estimation result of the estimation unit. The processing unit includes an area setting unit that sets a notification area for outputting notification information related to a fire according to the estimation result of the estimation unit, and an information notification unit that outputs the notification information to a notification destination terminal present in the notification area set by the area setting unit.

A control method according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a first process, a second process, a third process, and a fourth process . In the first process, a detection result is obtained from a detection unit. The detection unit is disposed in a facility and detects a fire-related event related to a fire. In the second process, a scale of a fire occurring in the facility is estimated based on the detection result obtained in the first process. In the third process, a notification area is set in which notification information related to the fire is output according to the estimation result in the second process. In the fourth process, the notification information is output to a notification destination terminal present in the notification area set in the third process.

A program according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a program for causing a computer system to execute the control method.

The present disclosure provides a control system, control method, and program that can execute processing according to the scale of a fire's spread.

FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of an entire system including a control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an application example of the control system. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the control system. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a notification area to which the control system notifies notification information.

(Embodiment)
(1) Overview Each drawing described in the following embodiments is a schematic drawing, and the ratio of sizes and thicknesses of each component in each drawing does not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratio.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control system 10 according to this embodiment includes an acquisition unit 21, an estimation unit 22, and a processing unit 23. The acquisition unit 21 acquires detection results from the detection unit D1. The detection unit D1 is disposed in the facility 100 and detects fire-related events related to a fire. The estimation unit 22 estimates the scale of the spread of a fire occurring in the facility 100 based on the detection results acquired by the acquisition unit 21. The processing unit 23 performs processing according to the estimation results of the estimation unit 22.

Here, the term "fire-related events" includes, for example, a first event that changes depending on the size or intensity of the fire, and a second event that affects the size or intensity of the fire. Examples of the first event include a temperature rise accompanying the outbreak of a fire, the generation of smoke, and the generation of incompletely combusted gases. Examples of the second event include the presence of flammable gases and flammable materials near the location of the fire, the operating state of heating appliances, cooking appliances, and other appliances installed in the facility 100, and the like. In addition, the "scale of fire expansion" refers to the size of the fire or the range to which the fire will spread. The "prediction of the scale of fire expansion" may include predicting the scale to which a fire that has occurred in the facility 100 will expand (for example, a small fire, partial burning, half burning, or complete burning), and predicting whether the fire will spread to the surroundings of the facility 100 and the range of the fire's spread. Furthermore, the "processing" performed by the processing unit 23 includes at least a notification process that notifies terminals installed in other facilities or users of other facilities within the range of the fire spread of the possibility of the fire spreading, and may also include a notification process that notifies public or private firefighting organizations of the estimated scale of the fire's spread.

In the control system 10 of this embodiment, the estimation unit 22 estimates the scale of fire expansion based on the detection results of fire-related events acquired by the acquisition unit 21. The processing unit 23 then performs processing according to the estimation results of the estimation unit 22, so that processing can be performed according to the scale of fire expansion. Therefore, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a control system 10 that can execute processing according to the scale of fire expansion.

The control system 10 of this embodiment is applied to a facility 100 such as a detached house (see Figures 1 and 2). When a fire breaks out in the facility 100 such as a detached house, the control system 10 estimates the scale of the fire's spread and performs processing according to the estimation result. In this embodiment, it is assumed that the facility 100 is a detached house, but the facility 100 is not limited to a detached house and may be an apartment building (condominium). Furthermore, the facility 100 is not limited to a house and may be a non-house, for example, an office building, a theater, a movie theater, a public hall, an amusement park, a complex, a restaurant, a department store, a school, a hotel, an inn, a hospital, a nursing home, a kindergarten, a library, a museum, an art museum, an underground shopping mall, a station, an airport, etc.

(2) Details (2.1) Configuration Hereinafter, the control system 10 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

The control system 10 of this embodiment is disposed in a facility 100 such as a house, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, an example will be described in which a control system 10 is disposed in each of a plurality of facilities 100 in a residential area C1 in which a plurality of facilities 100 stand side by side, as shown in Fig. 4. In the example of Fig. 4, sections B1 to B9 in which 12 facilities 100 are arranged in two rows are disposed across a road. Note that it is not essential that the control system 10 is disposed in all of the plurality of facilities 100 (houses) in the residential area C1, and it is also possible that the control system 10 is not disposed in some of the facilities 100.

Figure 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a facility 100 in which a control system 10 is installed. In addition to the control system 10, the facility 100 is also equipped with a detection unit D1, a wind detection sensor 5, and a relay device 40. The relay device 40 is connected to a network NT1 such as the Internet, and has a relay function for relaying communications between the control system 10 installed in the facility 100 and an external system 200 or the like connected to the network NT1. The external system 200 may include, for example, a server operated by a business operator that provides a service for monitoring the status of multiple facilities 100, or a public institution such as a local government.

Detection unit D1 is disposed in facility 100 and detects fire-related events related to fires occurring in facility 100. In this embodiment, a fire detector 1, a smoke detector 2, a gas detector 3, and a heat detector 4 are disposed in facility 100 as detection unit D1. It is not essential that detection unit D1 includes all of fire detector 1, smoke detector 2, gas detector 3, and heat detector 4. Detection unit D1 may include one or more of fire detector 1, smoke detector 2, gas detector 3, and heat detector 4, and may also include sensors that detect other fire-related events.

Fire detector 1 is installed on the ceiling or wall of the space in which it is to be installed within facility 100. Fire detector 1 has, for example, a temperature sensor such as a thermopile and a photoelectric smoke sensor that detects the presence or absence of smoke, and detects whether or not a fire has occurred based on at least one of heat and smoke. Fire detector 1 has wireless communication capabilities, and when it detects the occurrence of a fire, it wirelessly transmits a fire detection signal.

In this embodiment, multiple fire detectors 1 are arranged within facility 100. In the following description, when multiple fire detectors 1 need to be distinguished from one another, they may be referred to as fire detectors 1A-1E. As shown in FIG. 2, multiple fire detectors 1A-1E are arranged in multiple spaces E1-E5 within facility 100, respectively. Here, of the multiple fire detectors 1A-1E, for example, fire detector 1A is used as a parent detector, and the other fire detectors 1B-1E are used as child detectors. Fire detectors 1A-1E wirelessly communicate with each other, and when child fire detectors 1B-1E detect a fire, they notify the occurrence of the fire by both sound and light, and wirelessly transmit a fire detection signal to parent fire detector 1A. When the master fire detector 1A receives a fire detection signal from any of the fire detectors 1B-1E, it notifies the occurrence of a fire with both sound and light, and transmits an interlocking signal to the fire detectors 1 other than the fire detector among the fire detectors 1B-1E, causing the fire detectors 1 other than the fire detector to also notify the occurrence of a fire with both sound and light. When the master fire detector 1A detects a fire with itself or receives a fire detection signal from the slave fire detectors 1B-1E, it wirelessly transmits an alarm signal notifying the occurrence of a fire to the control system 10. Here, if the fire detectors 1B-1E detect a fire even after receiving the interlocking signal, they wirelessly transmit a fire detection signal to the fire detector 1A. Whenever the number of fire detectors 1 that have detected a fire changes, the master fire detector 1A wirelessly transmits information indicating the number of fire detectors 1 that have detected a fire to the control system 10.

The smoke detection unit 2 includes a photoelectric smoke sensor that detects the concentration of smoke in the environment, and a wireless communication function for wireless communication with the control system 10. When smoke is detected by the smoke sensor, the smoke detection unit 2 wirelessly transmits concentration information indicating the concentration of the smoke to the control system 10.

The gas detection unit 3 includes an electrochemical or semiconductor gas sensor capable of detecting the type of gas contained in the air in the environment, and a wireless communication function for wireless communication with the control system 10. When the gas detection unit 3 detects a target gas by the gas sensor, it wirelessly transmits information indicating the type and concentration of the gas detected by the gas sensor to the control system 10.

The heat detection unit 4 is installed, for example, on the outer wall of the facility 100, and detects heat caused by a fire outside the facility 100. The heat detection unit 4 may be installed inside the facility 100, and may detect heat caused by a fire inside the facility 100. The heat detection unit 4 includes a temperature sensor, such as a thermistor or thermopile, for detecting the surrounding temperature, and a wireless communication function for wireless communication with the control system 10. The heat detection unit 4 wirelessly transmits information indicating the detection result of the temperature sensor to the control system 10.

The control system 10 of this embodiment also works in conjunction with a wind detection sensor 5 arranged in the facility 100. The wind detection sensor 5 is arranged, for example, in a location in the facility 100 that comes into contact with outside air (such as the roof of the facility 100). The wind detection sensor 5 is composed of an anemometer or the like that measures the direction and force of the wind blowing around the facility 100. The wind detection sensor 5 has a wireless communication function that wirelessly communicates with the control system 10, and wirelessly transmits information indicating the detection results of the wind direction and force to the control system 10. Note that the wind detection sensor 5 is not limited to one that detects both wind direction and force, and may be one that detects at least one of wind direction and force.

Here, the wireless communication function provided by the detection unit D1 and the wind detection sensor 5 includes, for example, a wireless communication interface that complies with the Wi-SUN (registered trademark) standard (international standard IEEE 802.15.4g). The detection unit D1 and the wind detection sensor 5 perform wireless communication using radio waves in the 920 MHz radio frequency band, for example. Note that the wireless communication function provided by the detection unit D1 and the wind detection sensor 5 is not limited to one that includes a wireless communication interface that complies with the Wi-SUN (registered trademark) standard, but may also include a wireless communication interface that complies with standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and ZigBee (registered trademark), or may include a wireless communication interface that uses a unique communication method that does not comply with a standard.

The control system 10 includes a signal processing unit 20, a first communication unit 31, a second communication unit 32, and a storage unit 33. In this embodiment, the control system 10 also serves as a controller for a Home Energy Management System (HEMS) that manages the energy used in the facility 100. Note that the control system 10 is not limited to a system that also serves as the control of the HEMS, and may be a dedicated system.

The first communication unit 31 performs wireless communication with the detection unit D1 and the wind detection sensor 5 arranged in the facility 100. The first communication unit 31 has a wireless communication interface that complies with the Wi-SUN (registered trademark) standard, for example, and performs wireless communication using radio waves in the 920 MHz radio frequency band. The first communication unit 31 may also have a wireless communication interface that complies with standards such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) and ZigBee (registered trademark).

The second communication unit 32 communicates with the external system 200, the external information acquisition system 300, the fire command server 400, etc., via the relay device 40 and the network NT1. The second communication unit 32 also communicates with an information terminal 50 used by a user who uses the facility 100 via the relay device 40 or via the relay device 40 and the network NT1. The second communication unit 32 can also communicate with a control system 10 installed in another facility 100, or an information terminal 50 used by a user who uses another facility 100, via the relay device 40 and the network NT1. Here, the information terminal 50 may be a display-integrated terminal device installed in the facility 100, or may be a portable information terminal (e.g., a smartphone or tablet computer) carried by the user.

The memory unit 33 is composed of a device selected from a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), and the like. The memory unit 33 stores identification information of the fire detector 1, the smoke detector 2, the gas detector 3, the heat detector 4, and the wind detector 5 arranged in the facility 100, and installation location information regarding their installation locations. The memory unit 33 also stores information regarding the number, use, and location of multiple rooms (spaces E1 to E5) provided in the facility 100 as facility information regarding the facility 100. The memory unit 33 also stores information regarding the types of equipment used in the facility 100 (for example, heating appliances such as an air conditioner 90 and an electric heater, and cooking appliances such as a gas stove) and their installation locations as facility information.

The signal processing unit 20 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the signal processing unit 20.

The signal processing unit 20 has the functions of the acquisition unit 21, estimation unit 22, and processing unit 23 described above, and further has the function of an information providing unit 26.

The acquisition unit 21 acquires information indicating the detection results from the fire detector 1, smoke detector 2, gas detector 3, and heat detector 4, which are the detection unit D1, via the first communication unit 31. The acquisition unit 21 also acquires the detection results from the wind detection sensor 5 via the first communication unit 31. The acquisition unit 21 also acquires external information from the external information acquisition system 300 linked to the control system 10 via the second communication unit 32. The external information is, for example, information related to a fire occurring in the facility 100, and may include, for example, information posted on an electronic bulletin board or blog, information transmitted through a social networking service (SNS), meteorological information regarding the current and future weather (temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind direction, wind force, etc.) in the area including the facility 100, and the like. The external information acquisition system 300 is, for example, a server of a business operator that operates an electronic bulletin board or blog, a server of a business operator that provides a SNS, a server of a business operator that provides a weather service that provides meteorological data regarding the current weather and forecast data regarding future weather, and the like.

When the estimation unit 22 determines that a fire has broken out in the facility 100 based on the detection result of the detection unit D1, it estimates the scale of the fire's expansion. The process of estimating the scale of the fire expansion by the estimation unit 22 will be described in more detail in "(2.3) Estimation process".

The processing unit 23 includes the functions of an area setting unit 24 and an information notification unit 25.

The area setting unit 24 sets a notification area for outputting notification information related to a fire based on the result of estimation by the estimation unit 22. The notification information includes at least information notifying the occurrence of a fire, and may also include information notifying the scale of the fire's spread, or information encouraging evacuation from the fire. The process of setting the notification area by the area setting unit 24 will be described in more detail in "(2.4) Notification Area Setting Process".

In this embodiment, the estimation unit 22 repeatedly executes a process of estimating the scale of the fire expansion at any time interval, and the area setting unit 24 dynamically changes the notification area when the estimation result by the estimation unit 22 changes. That is, the area setting unit 24 resets the notification area when the estimation result by the estimation unit 22 changes. When the estimation result by the estimation unit 22 changes in a direction that increases the scale of the fire, the area setting unit 24 resets the notification area to set a wider range as the notification area, thereby reducing the possibility that notification information will not be output to notification destination terminals in an area affected by the fire. When the estimation result by the estimation unit 22 changes in a direction that decreases the scale of the fire, the area setting unit 24 resets the notification area to set a narrower range as the notification area, thereby preventing unnecessary notification information from being output to notification destination terminals in an area not affected by the fire.

The information notification unit 25 outputs notification information to notification destination terminals present in the notification area set by the area setting unit 24. The information notification unit 25, for example, causes the second communication unit 32 to transmit the notification information to notification destination terminals of one or more facilities 100 present in the notification area via the relay device 40 and the network NT1. Here, the notification destination terminals may include a control system 10 installed in the facility 100 present in the notification area, or an information terminal 50 used by a user who uses the facility 100. The notification destination terminal may include a server operated by a private security company or the like, and upon receiving notification information from the facility 100, the server may instruct a security company patrolman to make a patrol or notify a public firefighting organization.

The information providing unit 26 outputs the information used by the estimation unit 22 to estimate the scale of the fire (this information is also called the estimation source information) to the external system 200. The estimation source information includes fire-related information acquired by the acquisition unit 21 from the detection unit D1, and includes, for example, at least one of the detection results of the fire detector 1, the smoke detection unit 2, the gas detection unit 3, and the heat detection unit 4. The information providing unit 26 transmits the estimation source information from the second communication unit 32 to the external system 200 via the relay device 40 and the network NT1. The external system 200 can independently evaluate the scale of the fire that has occurred in the facility 100 based on the estimation source information transmitted from the facility 100. The information providing unit 26 may transmit the estimation source information from the second communication unit 32 to the fire command server 400 via the relay device 40 and the network NT1, and the fire command server 400 can collect and store the fire estimation source information. The firefighting command server 400 is, for example, a server operated by a public firefighting organization, and issues instructions to units carrying out firefighting activities.

(2.2) Description of Operation The operation of the control system 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Note that the flowchart shown in Fig. 3 is merely an example of a control method according to this embodiment, and the order of processes may be changed as appropriate, and processes may be added or omitted as appropriate.

The detection unit D1 and the wind detection sensor 5 arranged in the facility 100 perform detection operations at appropriate timing, and the acquisition unit 21 of the control system 10 performs a process (first process) of acquiring detection results from the detection unit D1 and the wind detection sensor 5 via the first communication unit 31 (ST1). In the first process, the acquisition unit 21 may acquire external information from the external information acquisition system 300 via the second communication unit 32. For example, the acquisition unit 21 may perform a process of acquiring information indicating the detection result from the detection unit D1 every time a certain period of time elapses, or may perform a process of acquiring information indicating the detection result from the detection unit D1 using some event (for example, an instruction input from the external system 200) as a trigger. The acquisition unit 21 may also acquire information indicating the detection result transmitted from the detection unit D1 at any timing.

Next, the estimation unit 22 determines whether or not a fire has occurred based on the detection result of the detection unit D1, and if it determines that a fire has occurred, performs a process (second process) of estimating the scale of the fire's spread (ST2). The estimation process by the estimation unit 22 will be described in more detail in "(2.3) Estimation process".

Then, the processing unit 23 performs processing (third processing) according to the estimation result of the estimation unit 22 (ST3). Specifically, the area setting unit 24 sets a notification area to which notification information is to be notified according to the scale of fire expansion. For example, the area setting unit 24 sets a radius L1 according to the scale of fire expansion, and sets an area surrounded by a circle R1 of radius L1 centered on the facility 100 as the notification area. The process of setting the notification area by the area setting unit 24 will be described in more detail in "(2.4) Notification Area Setting Process".

Then, the information notification unit 25 causes the second communication unit 32 to transmit notification information to notification destination terminals that are present in the notification area (e.g., the area surrounded by the circle R1) and to notification destination terminals that are linked to the facility 100 that is present within the notification area.

The control system 10 repeatedly executes processes ST1 to ST3, monitors the occurrence of a fire in the facility 100, and in the event of a fire, estimates the scale of the fire's spread, sets a notification area, and outputs notification information to notification destination terminals within the notification area.

The destination terminal that receives the notification information from the control system 10 performs a process of notifying the user of the destination terminal of the notification information. This allows the user of the destination terminal to take action based on the notification information, such as evacuating, calling for the evacuation of people in the vicinity, or reporting the occurrence of a fire to a public firefighting organization.

The information notification unit 25 may change the content of the notification information depending on the scale of the fire expansion estimated by the estimation unit 22. For example, the larger the scale of the fire expansion, the more notification information that strongly urges users of the notification destination terminals to evacuate may be sent, and the number of users who actually start evacuating among those who receive the notification information can be increased.

(2.3) Estimation Processing The estimation unit 22 estimates the scale of a fire's spread based on the detection results of the fire detector 1, the smoke detection unit 2, the gas detection unit 3, and the heat detection unit 4. A specific example of this is described below.

In this embodiment, a plurality of detection units D1 each detecting a fire-related event are arranged in the facility 100. Specifically, a plurality of fire detectors 1, a smoke detector 2, a gas detector 3, and a heat detector 4 are arranged in the facility 100. It is estimated that the more detection units D1 (e.g., fire detectors 1, etc.) among the plurality of detection units D1 arranged in the facility 100 that detect a fire-related event occurring in association with a fire, the larger the scale of the fire. Therefore, the estimation unit 22 estimates that the larger the number of detection units D1 that detect a fire-related event, the larger the scale of the current fire, and therefore the wider the range of the fire spread, that is, the larger the scale of the fire expansion. In addition, since it is estimated that the speed at which the range of the fire spreads increases when the momentum of the fire is large, the estimation unit 22 determines that the larger the number of changes per unit time in the number of detection units D1 that detect a fire-related event, the larger the scale of the fire expansion. In this way, the estimation unit 22 estimates the scale of the fire based on at least one of the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event and the number of changes per unit time in the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event. The larger the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event and the larger the increase in the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event per unit time, the larger the scale of the current fire and the wider the range of the fire spreading, and the larger the scale of the fire spreading can be determined. On the other hand, the smaller the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event and the smaller the increase in the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event per unit time, the smaller the scale of the current fire and the narrower the range of the fire spreading, and the smaller the scale of the fire spreading can be determined. In other words, the estimation unit 22 estimates the scale of the fire spreading based on at least one of the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event and the number of changes per unit time in the number of the detection units D1 that have detected the fire-related event, and the more accurately the scale of the fire spreading can be estimated. In addition, if the number of detection units D1 that have detected a fire-related event decreases, or if the rate of change in this number per unit time decreases, it can be inferred that the fire is weakening, and in such a case, the estimation unit 22 will estimate the scale of the fire to be smaller.

The estimation unit 22 may also estimate the scale of the fire based on the type of gas detected by the gas detection unit 3. For example, it is estimated that the fire will grow stronger as the concentration of flammable gases such as oxygen and methane increases. Therefore, the estimation unit 22 may estimate that the fire will grow stronger and the range over which the fire will spread will increase as the concentration of flammable gas increases, that is, the fire will grow larger. Furthermore, when the concentration of flammable gas decreases and the concentration of carbon dioxide and the like increases, the estimation unit 22 may determine that the fire is weakening and estimate that the fire will grow smaller.

The estimation unit 22 may also estimate the scale of the fire's expansion based on at least one of the concentration of smoke detected by the smoke detection unit 2 and the amount of change in that concentration per unit time. For example, the estimation unit 22 determines that the fire is more powerful as the concentration of smoke increases, and estimates that the scale of the fire will be larger than when the concentration is low, i.e., the scale of expansion will be greater. Furthermore, when the amount of change in the smoke concentration per unit time is relatively large, the estimation unit 22 estimates that the scale of the fire's expansion will be larger than when the amount of change is relatively small. In this way, the estimation unit 22 estimates the scale of the fire's expansion according to the concentration of smoke, and can more accurately estimate the scale of the fire's expansion.

The estimation unit 22 may also estimate the scale of the fire's expansion based on at least one of the temperature detected by the heat detection unit 4 and the amount of change in temperature per unit time. For example, the estimation unit 22 determines that the higher the temperature detected by the heat detection unit 4, the stronger the fire, and estimates that the scale of the fire will be larger than when the temperature is low, that is, the scale of the fire's expansion will be larger. Furthermore, when the amount of change per unit time of the temperature detected by the heat detection unit 4 is relatively large, the estimation unit 22 estimates that the scale of the fire's expansion will be larger than when the amount of change is relatively small. In this way, the estimation unit 22 estimates the scale of the fire's expansion according to the temperature detected by the heat detection unit 4, and can more accurately estimate the scale of the fire's expansion.

The estimation unit 22 may estimate the scale of the fire's expansion based on the detection result of the detection unit D1 acquired by the acquisition unit 21 and the facility information stored in the memory unit 33. For example, the estimation unit 22 may estimate, based on the facility information, that if the source of the fire is a space with a lot of combustibles, the scale of the fire will be larger than if the source of the fire is a place with few combustibles, that is, the scale of the fire will be larger. The estimation unit 22 may also estimate the range of the fire's expansion by taking into account the size and location of the space where the fire originated (first or second floor), the presence or absence of windows, etc.

In addition, if only one of the multiple detection units D1 arranged in the same space detects fire-related information and the other detection units D1 do not detect fire-related information, the estimation unit 22 may determine that the detection of the fire-related information is a false detection. This makes it possible to prevent notification information from being erroneously output to the notification destination terminal.

(2.4) Notification area setting process In the above embodiment, the area setting unit 24 sets a radius L1 according to the scale of the fire spread estimated by the estimation unit 22, and sets the area surrounded by a circle R1 of radius L1 centered on the facility 100 where the fire occurred as the notification area.

The area setting unit 24 sets the notification area to a larger range as the scale of fire expansion estimated by the estimation unit 22 increases, and the notification information is output to a larger range as the scale of fire expansion increases. For example, the area setting unit 24 sets the radius L1 to a larger value as the scale of fire expansion increases, thereby setting the notification area to a larger range. As the scale of fire expansion increases, it is estimated that the effects of the fire will occur over a wider range, so by outputting the notification information over a wider range, the notification information can be notified to notification destination terminals that are within the range affected by the fire.

The area setting unit 24 may set the notification area based on the detection results of the wind detection sensor 5 in addition to the estimation results of the estimation unit 22. For example, since the range of fire spread tends to be wider downwind than upwind, the area setting unit 24 may set an elliptical region as the notification area so that the downwind area is wider than the upwind area. Also, since the stronger the wind, the wider the range of fire spread tends to be, the area setting unit 24 may set the notification area so that the stronger the wind, the wider the notification area is.

The area setting unit 24 may also set multiple division areas (for example, multiple divisions B1 to B6 that are a collection of multiple facilities 100) in the area (residential area C1) surrounding the facility 100, and set one or more division areas selected from the multiple division areas as the notification area. For example, the area setting unit 24 sets a radius L1 according to the scale of the spread of the fire estimated by the estimation unit 22, and sets a division that is at least partially included in a circle R1 of radius L1 centered on the facility 100 where the fire occurred as the notification area. In the example of FIG. 4, since the circle R1 includes parts of the four divisions B2, B4, B5, and B6, the area setting unit 24 sets these divisions B2, B4, B5, and B6 as the notification area, and transmits notification information to the notification destination terminals that exist within the notification area. In FIG. 4, the divisions B2, B4, B5, and B6 set as the notification area are distinguished from the other divisions by adding dots. This allows the control system 100 to output notification information on a per-zone basis, making it possible to avoid a situation in which notification information is sent to some facilities 100 in the same zone, while notification information is not output to other facilities 100.

The area setting unit 24 may set the notification area based on the estimation result of the estimation unit 22 and the external information acquired by the acquisition unit 21 from the external information acquisition system 300. That is, the area setting unit 24 may set the notification area based on the estimation result of the estimation unit 22 and the external information acquired by the external information acquisition system 300. For example, when the external information is meteorological data related to the current weather or forecast data of future weather, the area setting unit 24 sets the notification area to a wide range when the air is dry and the wind is strong, and sets the notification area to a narrow range when the humidity is high and rain is forecast. When the external information is information such as SNS related to a fire that has broken out in the facility 100, the area setting unit 24 can reevaluate the scale of the fire's expansion by further considering the information such as SNS, and set the notification area according to the scale of the expansion.

(3) Modifications The above embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The above embodiment can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. In addition, the same function as the control system 10 may be embodied in a control method, a computer program, or a non-transitory recording medium on which a program is recorded. The control method according to one aspect includes a first process, a second process, and a third process. In the first process (ST1), a detection result is obtained from the detection unit D1. The detection unit D1 is disposed in the facility 100 and detects a fire-related event related to the fire. In the second process (ST2), the scale of the expansion of a fire occurring in the facility 100 is estimated based on the detection result obtained in the first process. In the third process (ST3), a process according to the estimation result in the second process is performed. The (computer) program according to one aspect is a program for causing a computer system to execute the above control method.

Below, we will list some variations of the above embodiment. The variations described below can be applied in appropriate combinations.

The control system 10 in the present disclosure includes a computer system. The computer system is mainly composed of a processor and a memory as hardware. The function of the control system 10 in the present disclosure is realized by the processor executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, provided through an electric communication line, or recorded and provided in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, an optical disk, or a hard disk drive that can be read by the computer system. The processor of the computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). The integrated circuits such as IC or LSI referred to here are called differently depending on the degree of integration, and include integrated circuits called system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Furthermore, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that is programmed after the manufacture of the LSI, or a logic device that can reconfigure the connection relationship inside the LSI or reconfigure the circuit partition inside the LSI, can also be adopted as a processor. The multiple electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip, or may be distributed across multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into one device, or may be distributed across multiple devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microcontroller is also composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

In addition, it is not essential for the control system 10 that multiple functions are concentrated in one housing, and the components of the control system 10 may be distributed across multiple housings. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of the control system 10 may be realized by the cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

In the above embodiment, the processing unit 23 outputs the notification information to the notification destination terminal located in the notification area, but the notification information may be output to a specific device outside the notification area. For example, the memory unit 33 of the control system 10 has contact information (e.g., email address) of the specific device preset therein. The specific device is an information terminal or the like used by a person related to the user of the facility 100 (e.g., family members and relatives living apart, related parties belonging to the same organization (school, company, etc.), or acquaintances, etc.). When a fire breaks out in the facility 100, the information notification unit 25 outputs notification information notifying the scale of the fire's expansion to the specific device, and can notify the person related to the user of the facility 100 of the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the above embodiment, the information notification unit 25 may determine whether or not to output notification information to the notification destination terminal, for example, depending on the estimation result of the estimation unit 22. The information notification unit 25 outputs notification information to the notification destination terminal only when the scale of expansion estimated by the estimation unit 22 is greater than a predetermined judgment threshold. As a result, when the scale of expansion of the fire is equal to or less than the judgment threshold, the notification information is not sent to the notification destination terminal, thereby preventing unnecessary notification information from being sent to the notification destination terminal.

(summary)
As described above, the control system (10) of the first aspect includes an acquisition unit (21), an estimation unit (22), and a processing unit (23). The acquisition unit (21) acquires a detection result from a detection unit (D1) that is disposed in a facility (100) and detects a fire-related event related to a fire. The estimation unit (22) estimates the scale of the spread of a fire occurring in the facility (100) based on the detection result acquired by the acquisition unit (21). The processing unit (23) performs processing according to the estimation result of the estimation unit (22).

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the control system (10) of the second aspect, in the first aspect, the processing unit (23) includes an area setting unit (24) and an information notification unit (25). The area setting unit (24) sets a notification area for outputting notification information related to a fire according to the estimation result of the estimation unit (22). The information notification unit (25) outputs the notification information to a notification destination terminal that exists in the notification area set by the area setting unit (24).

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the third aspect of the control system (10), in the second aspect, the area setting unit (24) resets the notification area when the prediction result of the prediction unit (22) changes.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the fourth aspect of the control system (10), in the second or third aspect, the area setting unit (24) sets the notification area based on the estimation result of the estimation unit (22) and the detection result of the wind detection sensor (5) that detects at least one of the wind direction and wind speed.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the fifth aspect of the control system (10), in any of the second to fourth aspects, the area setting unit (24) sets the notification area to a larger range as the scale of the fire expansion predicted by the prediction unit (22) becomes larger.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the sixth aspect of the control system (10), in any of the second to fifth aspects, the area setting unit (24) sets a plurality of divided areas in the area surrounding the facility (100) and sets one or more divided areas selected from the plurality of divided areas as the notification area.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the seventh aspect of the control system (10), in any of the second to sixth aspects, the area setting unit (24) sets the notification area based on the estimation result of the estimation unit (22) and the external information acquired by the external information acquisition system (300) that acquires the external information.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the eighth aspect of the control system (10), in any of the second to seventh aspects, the information notification unit (25) changes the content of the notification information according to the scale of the fire expansion predicted by the prediction unit (22).

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the ninth aspect of the control system (10), in any of the first to eighth aspects, the estimation unit (22) estimates the scale of the fire's expansion based on the detection results acquired by the acquisition unit (21) and facility information related to the facility (100).

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the tenth aspect of the control system (10) of any one of the first to ninth aspects, a plurality of detection units (D1) are arranged in the facility (100). The estimation unit (22) estimates the scale of the expansion based on at least one of the number of detection units (D1) that have detected a fire-related event and the change in the number per unit time.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the control system (10) of the eleventh aspect, in any of the first to tenth aspects, the detection unit (D1) includes a gas detection unit (3) that detects gas. The estimation unit (22) estimates the scale of expansion based on the type of gas detected by the gas detection unit (3).

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the control system (10) of the twelfth aspect, in any one of the first to eleventh aspects, the detection unit (D1) includes a smoke detection unit (2) that detects smoke. The estimation unit (22) estimates the scale of the expansion based on at least one of the concentration of the smoke detected by the smoke detection unit (2) and the amount of change in the concentration per unit time.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

In the control system (10) of the thirteenth aspect, in any of the first to twelfth aspects, the detection unit (D1) includes a heat detection unit (4) that detects the ambient temperature. The estimation unit (22) estimates the scale of expansion based on at least one of the temperature detected by the heat detection unit (4) and the amount of change in temperature per unit time.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

The control system (10) of the 14th aspect, in any one of the first to 13th aspects, further includes an information providing unit (26) that outputs the information used by the estimation unit (22) to estimate the scale of expansion to an external system.

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

The control method of the fifteenth aspect includes a first process (ST1), a second process (ST2), and a third process (ST3). In the first process (ST1), a detection result is obtained from a detection unit (D1) that is arranged in the facility (100) and detects a fire-related event related to a fire. In the second process (ST2), the scale of the spread of a fire occurring in the facility (100) is estimated based on the detection result obtained in the first process (ST1). In the third process (ST3), a process is performed according to the estimation result in the second process (ST2).

According to this aspect, it is possible to execute processing according to the scale of the fire's expansion.

The program of the sixteenth aspect is a program for causing a computer system to execute the control method of the fifteenth aspect.

Not limited to the above aspects, various configurations (including modified examples) of the control system (10) according to the above embodiment can be embodied as a control method, a (computer) program, or a non-transitory recording medium on which a program is recorded, etc.

The configurations according to the second to fourteenth aspects are not essential to the control system (10) and may be omitted as appropriate.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Fire detector 2 Smoke detector 3 Gas detector 4 Heat detector 5 Wind detector 10 Control system 21 Acquisition unit 22 Estimation unit 23 Processing unit 24 Area setting unit 25 Information notification unit 26 Information provision unit D1 Detection unit ST1 First process ST2 Second process ST3 Third process

Claims (15)

an acquisition unit that is disposed in the facility and acquires a detection result from a detection unit that detects a fire-related event related to a fire;
an estimation unit that estimates a scale of a fire occurring in the facility based on the detection result acquired by the acquisition unit;
a processing unit that performs processing according to a result of the estimation by the estimation unit ,
The processing unit,
an area setting unit that sets a notification area for outputting notification information regarding a fire according to a result of the estimation by the estimation unit;
an information notification unit that outputs the notification information to a notification destination terminal that exists in the notification area set by the area setting unit,
Control system. the area setting unit resets the notification area when the estimation result of the estimation unit changes.
The control system of claim 1 . the area setting unit sets the notification area based on an estimation result of the estimation unit and a detection result of a wind detection sensor that detects at least one of a wind direction and a wind speed.
3. A control system according to claim 1 or 2. The area setting unit sets the notification area to a larger range as the scale of the spread of the fire estimated by the estimation unit becomes larger.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. the area setting unit sets a plurality of sectional areas in an area surrounding the facility, and sets one or more sectional areas selected from the plurality of sectional areas as the notification area;
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The area setting unit sets the notification area based on an estimation result of the estimation unit and the external information acquired by an external information acquisition system that acquires the external information.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The information notification unit changes the content of the notification information according to the scale of the spread of the fire estimated by the estimation unit.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The estimation unit estimates a scale of the spread of the fire based on the detection result acquired by the acquisition unit and facility information related to the facility.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7. A plurality of the detection units are arranged in the facility,
The estimation unit estimates the scale of the expansion based on at least one of the number of the detection units that detected the fire-related event and a change in the number of the detection units per unit time.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The detection unit includes a gas detection unit that detects a gas,
The estimation unit estimates the scale of expansion based on the type of gas detected by the gas detection unit.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 9. The detection unit includes a smoke detection unit that detects smoke,
The estimation unit estimates the scale of the increase based on at least one of the concentration of smoke detected by the smoke detection unit and the amount of change in the concentration per unit time.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The detection unit includes a heat detection unit that detects an ambient temperature,
The estimation unit estimates the scale of expansion based on at least one of the temperature detected by the heat detection unit and an amount of change in the temperature per unit time.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 11. An information providing unit that outputs information used by the estimation unit to estimate the enlargement scale to an external system.
A control system according to any one of claims 1 to 12. A first process of acquiring a detection result from a detection unit disposed in the facility and detecting a fire-related event related to a fire;
A second process of estimating a scale of a fire occurring in the facility based on the detection result acquired in the first process;
A third process of setting a notification area for outputting notification information regarding a fire according to a result of the estimation in the second process;
and a fourth process of outputting the notification information to a notification destination terminal that is present in the notification area set in the third process.
Control methods. In the computer system,
To execute the control method according to claim 14,
Program.

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