WO2018051461A1

WO2018051461A1 - Equipment control device, equipment control system, equipment control method, and program

Info

Publication number: WO2018051461A1
Application number: PCT/JP2016/077278
Authority: WO
Inventors: 諭司花井; 聡司峯澤; 遠藤　聡
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2016-09-15
Filing date: 2016-09-15
Publication date: 2018-03-22
Also published as: JP6707141B2; JPWO2018051461A1

Abstract

A recommendation generating unit (132) generates recommendation information for each user, including at least advice for the user with regard to using a piece of equipment, or information indicating a recommended operation of the equipment. A recommendation adjusting unit (133) adjusts recommendation information having mutually conflicting content, from among the recommendation information generated for each user by the recommendation generating unit (132). A recommendation notifying unit (134) notifies each user of the adjusted recommendation information content that has been adjusted by the recommendation adjusting unit (133), together with the basis on which the adjustment was made.

Description

Device control apparatus, device control system, device control method and program

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

Technology that discriminates recommended operation of devices and advice on using devices from biometric information and position information acquired from smartphones and wearable terminals held by users and outputs them as recommended information (recommended information) Are known.

For example, in Patent Document 1, a body motion value indicating a user's body motion is obtained using an acceleration sensor mounted on an operation terminal possessed by the user, and the background of the air conditioning setting screen is a color corresponding to the body motion value. It describes about the invention displayed. As a result, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, the temperature setting determination material can be presented to the user, and the user can easily set the temperature of the air conditioning. Further, Patent Document 1 describes that when a temperature setting for air conditioning is performed by a plurality of users, an average value is set to a set temperature, or a set temperature is determined according to the priority of the user. Yes.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2015-099007

When outputting recommendation information to each of a plurality of users, there is a possibility that recommendation information with conflicting contents may be output to each user because the preference is different for each user, which confuses the users. In order to avoid such a situation, the method described in Patent Document 1 is used to adjust the content of recommendation information with which content is competing, or by adopting recommendation information with high priority, etc., It is also conceivable to output the recommended information after adjustment to each user.

However, in this case, the adjusted recommendation information is output to each user instead of the optimum recommendation information for himself / herself, which may cause the user to feel uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a device control device and the like that can appropriately notify recommended information to a user.

In order to achieve the above object, the device control apparatus according to the present invention provides:
A device control device connected to a device via a communication network,
For each user, a recommendation generation unit that generates recommendation information including at least information indicating advice for the user in using the device or recommended operation of the device;
Among the recommendation information generated for each user by the recommendation generation unit, a recommendation adjustment unit that adjusts recommendation information of contents competing with each other,
A recommendation notification unit that notifies the user of the content of the adjusted recommendation information adjusted by the recommendation adjustment unit, together with the basis of the adjustment;
Is provided.

According to the present invention, it is possible to appropriately notify the recommendation information to the user.

The figure which shows the whole structure of the apparatus control system which concerns on Embodiment 1. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a device control apparatus according to a first embodiment. The figure which shows the example of recommendation information typically The figure which shows the example of recommendation information typically The figure which shows the example of adjusted recommendation information typically The figure which shows the example of the recommendation display screen The figure which shows the example of the recommendation display screen Flowchart of recommendation notification processing according to the first embodiment. Flowchart of recommendation execution processing according to the first embodiment The figure which shows the example of the recommendation display screen The block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus control apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. Flowchart of recommendation execution processing according to the second embodiment

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same or corresponding parts are denoted by the same reference numerals.

(Embodiment 1)
A device control system 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the device control system 1 includes a device control device 10 installed in a house 100, a plurality of devices 30, a plurality of display terminals 40, a plurality of environmental sensors 50, and a plurality of user states. An acquisition sensor 60. The device control apparatus 10 is connected to a plurality of devices 30, a plurality of display terminals 40, a plurality of environment sensors 50, and a plurality of user state acquisition sensors 60 via the communication network 20. The communication network 20 is, for example, a LAN (Local Area Network), and may be wired or wireless.

The plurality of devices 30 are electrical devices that are communicably connected to the device control apparatus 10 via the communication network 20. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the device 30 is a television 30A, an air conditioner 30B, a lighting 30C, or the like. The device 30 may be an electrical device other than that shown in FIG. 1, and may be, for example, a refrigerator, an IH cooking device, an air conditioning device, a power conditioner, a storage battery, or the like. The device 30 operates based on an instruction (control command) from the device control apparatus 10. In addition, the device 30 transmits information (operation information) indicating the operation state at that time to the device control apparatus 10 periodically or when the operation state changes.

Each of the plurality of display terminals 40 is a smartphone or a tablet terminal provided with a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL display, and provides various information to the user. For example, the recommendation information received from the device control apparatus 10 is displayed on the display terminal 40. In addition, the user who uses each display terminal 40 is fixed by the prior setting.

The plurality of environment sensors 50 are various sensors for measuring the environment in and around the house 100. For example, the environment sensor 50 is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an illuminance sensor, a human sensor, or the like installed inside or outside the house 100. The environment sensor 50 periodically transmits the measurement value to the device control apparatus 10.

The plurality of user state acquisition sensors 60 are various sensors for measuring user position information, biological information, and the like. The user state acquisition sensor 60 is, for example, a health care product such as a weight scale, a thermometer, and a blood pressure monitor that can communicate with the device control apparatus 10 wirelessly, a smartphone having a position information acquisition function carried by the user, a pulse, a body temperature, and the like. A wearable terminal capable of acquiring the biometric information. The user state acquisition sensor 60 periodically transmits to the device control apparatus 10 together with the identification information of the user who measured the measured value.

The device control apparatus 10 monitors the state of each device 30 and controls the operation. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the device control device 10 includes a communication unit 11, a storage unit 12, and a control unit 13.

The communication unit 11 includes a NIC (Network Interface Card), for example, and is a communication interface for connecting the device control apparatus 10 to the communication network 20.

The storage unit 12 serves as a so-called secondary storage device (auxiliary storage device), and includes, for example, a readable / writable nonvolatile semiconductor memory (for example, a flash memory), a hard disk drive, or the like. The storage unit 12 includes a device information storage unit 121, an environment storage unit 122, a user information storage unit 123, a recommendation information storage unit 124, an adjusted recommendation information storage unit 125, and a schedule storage unit 126.

The device information storage unit 121 stores various types of information about the device 30 such as a model name, a list of functions and setting items, and performance for each device 30.

The environment storage unit 122 stores information regarding the environment inside and outside the house 100. For example, the environment storage unit 122 sequentially stores the temperature, humidity, illuminance, and the like in the house 100 measured by the environment sensor 50 together with the measurement date and time. The environment storage unit 122 also sequentially stores weather forecast information, disaster warning information, and the like acquired from an external server, mainframe, or the like via the Internet.

The user information storage unit 123 stores various types of information related to each user registered as a user of the device control system 1. In this embodiment, three users, “Father”, “Mother”, and “Child”, are registered as users. Specifically, the user information storage unit 123 is measured for each user by personal information such as name, age, height, weight, normal heat, identification information of the display terminal 40 possessed by the user, and a user state acquisition sensor 60. The user position information, biometric information, preference information indicating personal preferences, priority when adjusting recommendation information, and the like are stored. The preference information is referred to when generating the recommendation information. The preference information of the device 30 such as the preset temperature and air volume of the air conditioner 30B preferred by the user, and whether the user attaches importance to energy saving or comfort. Information indicating the orientation such as (or a ratio to be emphasized), information indicating whether the user is hot or cold, and the like are included.

The recommendation information storage unit 124 stores recommendation information including advice on using the device 30 and recommended operation of the device 30 for each user. Note that the recommended operation includes an operation that is not immediately executed, such as cooling the air conditioner 30B after 10 minutes.

Here, FIGS. 3A and 3B schematically show examples of recommendation information stored in the recommendation information storage unit 124. FIG. In this example, the recommendation information is made up of information indicating the user to be recommended, the target device, the type indicating whether the recommendation content is a recommended action or advice to the user, and the content of the recommendation. . FIG. 3A shows recommendation information for the user “Father”. FIG. 3B shows recommendation information for the user “mother”.

Referring back to FIG. 2, the adjusted recommendation information storage unit 125 stores adjusted recommendation information adjusted so that the content does not conflict.

Here, in the recommendation information for the user “father” shown in FIG. 3A and the recommendation information for the user “mother” shown in FIG. 3B, the content of the recommended operation conflicts between the air conditioner 30B and the television 30A. is doing. Therefore, the air conditioner 30B and the television 30A cannot be operated simultaneously as recommended. Therefore, adjusted recommendation information adjusted so as not to compete for the users “father” and “mother” is generated as shown in FIG. 4 and stored in the adjusted recommendation information storage unit 125. In the adjusted recommendation information, the recommended set temperature of the air conditioner 30B is an average value of the users “father” and “mother”. Also, the viewing channel of the television 30A is selected with priority given to the recommended operation of the user “Father”.

Returning to FIG. 2, the schedule of each user is registered in the schedule storage unit 126. When the user operates the display terminal 40, the schedule is registered in the schedule storage unit 126.

The control unit 13 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores programs such as an operating system, a RAM (Random Access Memory) that serves as a work area, and the like. The control unit 13 executes a program stored in the storage unit 12 and controls the entire device control apparatus 10.

Moreover, the control part 13 is provided with the apparatus control part 131, the recommendation production | generation part 132, the recommendation adjustment part 133, and the recommendation alerting | reporting part 134 as a functional structure.

The device control unit 131 transmits a control command to the device 30 to control the operation of the device. For example, when the user instructs the execution of the recommended operation indicated by the recommendation information, the device control unit 131 transmits a control command to the target device 30 via the communication unit 11 so that the recommended operation is performed. .

The recommendation generation unit 132 generates recommendation information including the recommended operation and advice of the device 30 that is optimal for the user, and stores the recommendation information in the recommendation information storage unit 124.

For example, the recommendation generation unit 132 refers to the user preference information stored in the user information storage unit 123 and recommends that the user who places importance on comfort operate the air conditioner 30B at the normal cooling set temperature. Generate recommendation information for action.

In addition, the recommendation generation unit 132 refers to the user preference information stored in the user information storage unit 123, and the cooling that is higher than the normal cooling set temperature for a user who places importance on energy saving or a cold user. The recommendation information which makes the recommended operation to drive the air conditioner 30B at the set temperature is generated.

Further, the recommendation generation unit 132 refers to the user preference information stored in the user information storage unit 123, and causes the hot user to operate the air conditioner 30B at a cooling set temperature lower than the normal cooling set temperature. Recommendation information is generated with the recommended action.

In addition, the recommendation generation unit 132 refers to the user's schedule registered in the schedule storage unit 126, and when there is a TV program that the user is scheduled to view at present or within 5 minutes, or a television that matches the user's preference. When a program is currently being broadcast, recommendation information that advises viewing of the television program is generated.

The recommendation adjustment unit 133 determines whether there is recommendation information whose contents compete with each other among the recommendation information stored in the recommendation information storage unit 124. When there is such recommendation information, the recommendation adjustment unit 133 generates adjusted recommendation information whose contents are adjusted so as not to compete, and stores the adjusted recommendation information in the adjusted recommendation information storage unit 125.

For example, for the same air conditioner 30B, recommended information for the user “mother” as the recommended operation for “cooling operation at a set temperature of 27 ° C.” and recommended operation for the user “father” as the “set temperature” Consider a case where recommendation information “cooling operation at 25 ° C.” is stored in the recommendation information storage unit 124. In this case, since both recommended operations compete, the recommendation adjusting unit 133 generates adjusted recommendation information in which the recommended operation is “cooling operation at a set temperature of 26 ° C.” obtained by averaging the set temperatures of both.

Note that the recommendation adjustment unit 133 does not simply average in this way, but obtains for each user using an evaluation function using the measurement values of the user state acquisition sensor 60 and the environment sensor 50, the user's schedule, and the like as parameters. The recommendation information may be adjusted by calculating a weighted average value using the evaluation value as a weight. Alternatively, the recommendation adjustment unit 133 may select the recommendation information of the user having the maximum evaluation value as the adjusted recommendation information.

In addition, when adjusting the recommendation information, the same evaluation function may be used for all items of the recommended action and advice, or different evaluation functions may be used for each recommended action and advice item. . For example, in the case of adjustment of recommendation information related to the set temperature of the air conditioner 30B, the user having poor physical condition and the planned occupancy time using the outdoor temperature, the indoor temperature, the body temperature of the resident user, the amount of activity, the physical condition, and the user's schedule as indices An evaluation function that increases a user's evaluation value for a long time may be used.

The recommendation notification unit 134 performs processing for notifying the target user of the content of the recommendation information generated by the recommendation generation unit 132. In addition, when the recommended adjustment information is generated by the recommendation adjustment unit 133, the recommendation notification unit 134 performs a process for notifying the target user of the content of the adjusted recommendation information together with the basis of the adjustment. . Specifically, the recommendation notification unit 134 displays on the display terminal 40 of each user a recommendation display screen that displays the content of recommendation information, the content of adjusted recommendation information, the basis for adjustment, and the like for the user. Data is transmitted and displayed on the display terminal 40.

Here, an example of the recommendation display screen is shown in FIG. In this example, the content of the recommendation information is not adjusted because the content does not compete, so only the content of the recommendation information is displayed. The recommendation display screen includes a recommendation display unit 2 and a recommendation execution reception unit 3.

The recommendation display unit 2 notifies the recommended operation display area 2A for displaying the recommended operation of the device 30, the advice display area 2B for displaying advice, the basis for generating the recommendation information, and the presence / absence of conflicts with other recommendation information. Notification display area 2C.

The recommendation execution accepting unit 3 accepts an instruction from the user as to whether or not to execute the recommended action displayed in the recommended action display area 2A. The received instruction is transmitted to the device control apparatus 10 via the communication network 20. Note that the recommendation execution accepting unit 3 may be configured to accept an instruction as to whether or not to execute the recommended operation for each device 30.

Subsequently, FIG. 6 shows an example of a recommendation display screen when there is a conflict in the recommendation information. The recommendation display screen shown in FIG. 6 further includes an adjusted recommendation display unit 4 in addition to the recommendation display unit 2. In addition, the recommendation display screen includes an adjusted recommendation execution receiving unit 5 instead of the recommendation execution receiving unit 3 (FIG. 5).

The adjusted recommendation display unit 4 includes an adjusted recommended operation display area 4A that displays the recommended operation of the adjusted device 30, an adjusted advice display area 4B that displays the adjusted advice, and an adjustment that displays the basis of the adjustment. And a ground display area 4C.

For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the viewing content of the television 30 A recommended by the recommendation information competes differently among users, so that the viewing program of the user “Father” currently registered in the schedule is displayed. It is preferentially selected and displayed in the adjusted recommended operation display area 4A as the recommended operation of the television 30A. In addition, in the adjustment ground display area 4C, “schedule priority“ father ”” and the grounds for adjustment are displayed.

Further, in the example shown in FIG. 6, the set temperature of the air conditioner 30 B recommended by the recommendation information competes differently among users, and thus the set temperature obtained by averaging these is adjusted as the recommended operation of the air conditioner 30 B. Displayed in the completed recommended operation display area 4A. In addition, in the adjustment ground display area 4C, “set temperature averaging” and the grounds for adjustment are displayed.

The adjusted recommendation execution accepting unit 5 receives an instruction from the user as to whether or not to execute the recommended action displayed in the adjusted recommended action display area 4A. The received instruction is transmitted to the device control apparatus 10 via the communication network 20. The adjusted recommendation execution accepting unit 5 may be configured to accept an instruction as to whether or not to execute the adjusted recommended operation for each device 30.

Subsequently, the operation of the device control apparatus 10 will be described.

(Recommendation notification process)
First, a recommendation notification process for generating recommendation information and notifying a user of a recommended action or advice will be described. For example, the control unit 13 of the device control apparatus 10 is shown in the flowchart of FIG. 7 at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 10 minutes) or when an instruction to start processing is given from the user via the display terminal 40. A recommendation notification process is executed.

First, the control unit 13 erases all the recommendation information and the adjusted recommendation information stored in the recommendation information storage unit 124 and the adjusted recommendation information storage unit 125 (step S101).

Subsequently, the control unit 13 selects one user who has not yet generated recommendation information from among users registered as users (step S102). And the control part 13 discriminate | determines whether this user exists in the house 100 with reference to the positional information on the user memorize | stored in the user information storage part 123 (step S103). The control unit 13 refers to the schedule information even when the user is not in the house 100, and determines that the user exists in the house 100 when returning home within a predetermined time (for example, within 10 minutes). May be.

When there is no user in the house 100 (step S103; No), since it is not necessary to notify the recommended operation and advice of the device 30 to the user, the process proceeds to step S105.

On the other hand, when the user exists in the house 100 (step S103; Yes), the control unit 13 displays the preference information stored in the user information storage unit 123, the environment information stored in the environment storage unit 122, and the like. Referring to this, recommendation information suitable for the user is generated (step S104), and the process proceeds to step S105.

In step S105, the control unit 13 determines whether or not recommendation information has been generated for all users registered as users (step S105). When the recommendation information has not been generated for all users (step S105; No), the process returns to step S102, and the control unit 13 repeats the process of selecting the user and generating the recommendation information (steps S102 to S102). S104).

On the other hand, when the recommendation information is generated for all users (step S105; Yes), the control unit 13 determines whether or not there is recommendation information with content competing with each other among the recommendation information generated for each user. (Step S106). If there is no such recommendation information (step S106; No), the process proceeds to step S108.

On the other hand, when there is recommendation information with contents competing with each other (step S106; Yes), the control unit 13 generates adjusted recommendation information adjusted so that the contents of the recommendation information do not compete with each other, and the adjusted recommendation information is stored. Stored in the unit 125 (step S107). Then, the process proceeds to step S108.

In step S 108, the control unit 13 generates, for each user, screen data of a recommendation display screen that displays the content of the recommendation information generated for the user, and the content of the adjusted recommendation information and the basis of the adjustment when adjusted. And it transmits to the display terminal 40 which the user possesses (step S108). Thus, a recommendation display screen as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is displayed on the display terminal 40 possessed by the user. Thus, the recommendation notification process ends.

(Recommendation execution process)
Next, the recommendation execution process will be described. When the user wants to operate the device 30 with the recommended operation of the recommendation display screen displayed on the display terminal 40, the user instructs the device control apparatus 10 to that effect by touching or selecting a specific part of the screen. For example, when the recommendation display screen shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 is displayed, the user may touch and indicate “Yes” in the recommendation execution accepting unit 3 or the adjusted recommendation execution accepting unit 5. When the recommended operation execution instruction is received, the control unit 13 of the device control apparatus 10 starts a recommendation execution process shown in the flowchart of FIG.

In addition, when the recommendation display screen of the same recommended operation is displayed on the display terminals 40 of a plurality of users, the recommendation execution process is started only when the execution of the recommended operation is instructed by all or a majority of users. May be.

When the recommendation execution process is started, first, the control unit 13 generates a control command for operating the device 30 with the instructed recommended operation (step S201). Note that when the recommended operation is for a plurality of devices 30, the control unit 13 generates a control command for each device 30.

Subsequently, the control unit 13 transmits the generated control command to the device 30 to be controlled (step S202). The device 30 that has received the control command is controlled to perform a recommended operation by executing the control command.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 13 displays a message notifying that the recommended operation has been performed on the display terminal 40 that is the instruction transmission source (step S 203). In FIG. 9, “Recommended operation has been executed” is displayed in the notification display area 2 C, and the user who sees this display can confirm that the device 30 has operated in the recommended operation. Thus, the recommendation execution process ends.

As described above, according to the device control apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, when the content of the recommendation information generated for each user competes, the recommendation information whose content is adjusted so as to avoid the conflict is generated. And when notifying the user of the content of adjusted recommendation information, the basis of the adjustment is also notified. Therefore, the user can easily know not only the recommended operation and advice that have been adjusted, but also how the adjustment has been made. Therefore, even when a recommended action or advice that does not match his / her intention is displayed, the user's discomfort and discomfort can be reduced, and the content of the recommendation information can be appropriately notified to the user.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, as shown in the recommendation display screen shown in FIG. 6, when the content of the recommendation information is adjusted, the content of the recommendation information before the adjustment is also displayed without being erased. User discomfort and discomfort can be further reduced.

(Embodiment 2)
In the device control apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment described above, when the execution of the recommended operation of the recommendation information or the adjusted recommendation information is instructed, the instructed recommended operation is executed as it is. On the other hand, the second embodiment is characterized in that the recommended operation is not executed when a predetermined constraint condition is not satisfied.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the device control apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment newly includes a recommendation execution determination unit 135 in the control unit 13.

The recommendation execution determination unit 135 determines whether or not the recommended operation satisfies a predetermined constraint condition when an execution of the recommended operation of the recommendation information is instructed. If it is determined that the constraint condition is not satisfied, the device control unit 131 does not cause the device 30 to execute the instructed recommended operation.

Note that, as the constraint condition, for example, a condition that takes into account the power status in the house 100 is set. Specifically, a constraint condition for preventing the power consumption and the electricity bill from exceeding the upper limit value, a constraint condition for permitting the operation only in the energy saving mode, and the like are set.

Also, as other constraint conditions, for example, conditions taking into account the user's physical condition are set. Specifically, the user's physical condition is determined from the measurement value of the user state acquisition sensor 60, and when the physical condition is not good (for example, when the body temperature is equal to or higher than a predetermined value), the set temperature of the air conditioner 30B is determined in advance. Restrictions are set that limit the range.

In addition, as another constraint condition, for example, when the device 30 is in scheduled operation or used by another user, a condition for prohibiting a recommended operation for changing the operation of the device 30 is set. .

Subsequently, the operation of the recommendation execution process executed by the device control apparatus 101 according to the second embodiment will be described. For example, when receiving an instruction for starting recommended operation of recommended information or adjusted recommended information from the user via the display terminal 40, the control unit 13 of the device control apparatus 101 performs a recommendation execution process shown in the flowchart of FIG. Start.

When the recommendation execution process is started, first, the control unit 13 (recommendation execution determination unit 135) determines whether or not the instructed recommended action satisfies a predetermined constraint condition (step S301).

For example, the control unit 13 determines that the constraint condition is not satisfied when the total power consumption in the house 100 exceeds a predetermined upper limit value due to the operation of the device 30 in the instructed recommended operation. In addition, for example, the control unit 13 is in a case where the user who instructs the recommended operation or the user who is in the same room as the user is in poor physical condition, and the recommended operation is an operation for setting the set temperature of the air conditioner outside a predetermined range. It is determined that the constraint condition is not satisfied. For example, the control unit 13 determines that the constraint condition is not satisfied when the target device 30 of the recommended operation is currently being used by a scheduled operation or by another user.

When it is determined that the constraint condition is not satisfied (step S301; No), the control unit 13 transmits a message to that effect to the display terminal 40 that is the instruction transmission source for display (step S302).

On the other hand, if it is determined that the constraint condition is satisfied (step S301; Yes), the control unit 13 performs a control command for operating the device 30 with the recommended operation instructed as in the recommendation execution process of the first embodiment. Is generated (step S303) and transmitted to the target device 30 (step S304). As a result, the recommended operation is performed in the device 30 that has received the control command. And the control part 13 displays the message which alert | reports that the apparatus 30 operate | moved by recommended operation on the display terminal 40 which is the transmission source of an instruction | indication (step S305), and a recommendation execution process is complete | finished.

As described above, according to the device control apparatus 101 according to the present embodiment, even when execution of the recommended operation for recommendation information is instructed, the recommended operation is not executed if the recommended operation does not satisfy the constraint condition. . Therefore, the execution of the recommended operation can be adjusted (restricted) from a viewpoint different from the generation of recommendation information such as the health of the user, the power usage status, the usage status of the device 30, and the like. It becomes possible to do.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in each of the above embodiments, one piece of recommendation information is generated for each user and the content (recommended action or advice) is displayed. However, a plurality of pieces of recommendation information are generated by applying a plurality of recommendation generation patterns. Each recommended operation and advice may be displayed in comparison. At that time, the recommendation level may be displayed for each recommendation generation pattern with the number of stars, color, or the like. Note that the recommendation level may be set to a fixed value for each recommendation generation pattern. For example, recommendation information generated with priority on comfort is recommended level 1, recommendation information generated with priority on energy saving is recommended level 2, recommendation information generated with priority on users with poor physical condition is recommended level 5, etc. A recommendation level may be set in advance.

Further, for example, in the above-described embodiments, when the recommendation information competes, one adjusted recommendation information is generated. However, a plurality of adjusted recommendation information is generated using different adjustment methods, and each is displayed on the recommendation display screen. May be displayed in comparison with the contents (recommended action or advice) and the basis for the adjustment.

For example, when the cooling set temperature of the air conditioner 30B competes between the recommendation information, the control unit 13 displays the adjusted recommended operation display on the recommendation display screen for the average value, the minimum value, and the maximum value of the competing cooling set temperatures. The area 4A is displayed so that the user can select it. In addition, the control unit 13 performs “adjustment with average value”, “adjustment with priority on comfort”, “adjustment with priority on energy saving”, etc. as adjustment grounds corresponding to these values (average value, minimum value, maximum value). What is necessary is just to display on the adjustment ground display area 4C.

Similarly, when the illuminance of the illumination 30C is competing between the recommendation information, the control unit 13 similarly adjusts the average value, the minimum value, and the maximum value of the competing illuminance in the recommended recommended operation display area of the recommendation display screen. 4A is displayed so that the user can select it. In addition, the control unit 13 adjusts with the maximum value because it is difficult to see when it is dark as adjustment basis corresponding to each of these values (average value, minimum value, maximum value) Or the like may be displayed in the adjustment ground display area 4C.

By doing in this way, when the recommendation information competes, the user can select a plurality of candidates and control the device, so that the convenience of the user can be further improved.

In addition, for example, multiple items such as “adjustment with priority among users”, “adjustment with poor physical condition user priority”, “adjustment according to device usage frequency”, etc., for the item of recommendation information in which competition has occurred It is also possible to display a list of the adjustment methods, let the user designate one of them, and adjust and display the recommendation information with the designated adjustment method.

Further, the room in the house 100 where the user is located is specified from the position information output function of the display terminal 40, and the recommendation information is displayed only for the device 30 in the specified room, or the device 30 in another room is displayed. It may be displayed separately from the recommended recommendation information. It should be noted that the user may designate the current room by operating the display terminal 40.

In the above embodiments, the recommendation display screen is displayed on the display terminal 40 to notify the user of the content of the recommendation information and the adjusted recommendation information. However, the notification method is not limited to this. For example, the device control apparatus 10 may notify the user of the content of the recommendation information or the adjusted recommendation information by mail or voice.

Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the recommendation display screen output to the user's display terminal 40 displayed only the recommendation information and adjusted recommendation information for this user, the recommendation information of all the users was displayed. A recommendation display screen that can be switched and displayed with a tab or the like may be output to the display terminal 40 or a PC (Personal Computer) connected to the Internet.

In each of the above embodiments, by applying the program executed by the device control apparatus 10 to an existing computer, the computer can be made to function as the device control apparatus 10 according to the present invention.

Such a program distribution method is arbitrary. For example, a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read-Only Memory), a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), an MO (Magneto Optical Disk), or a memory card. It may be stored and distributed in the network, or distributed via a communication network such as the Internet.

The present invention is capable of various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the above-described embodiment is for explaining the present invention, and does not limit the scope of the present invention. That is, the scope of the present invention is shown not by the embodiments but by the claims. Various modifications within the scope of the claims and within the scope of the equivalent invention are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

The present invention can be suitably employed in a system such as HEMS (Home Energy Management System).

1 device control system, 100 housing, 10, 101 device control device, 11 communication unit, 12 storage unit, 121 device information storage unit, 122 environment storage unit, 123 user information storage unit, 124 recommendation information storage unit, 125 adjusted recommendation Information storage unit, 126 schedule storage unit, 13 control unit, 131 device control unit, 132 recommendation generation unit, 133 recommendation adjustment unit, 134 recommendation notification unit, 135 recommendation execution determination unit, 20 communication network, 30 device, 30A TV, 30B Air conditioner, 30C lighting, 40 display terminal, 50 environment sensor, 60 user status acquisition sensor, 2 recommendation display section, 2A recommended operation display area, 2B advice display area, 2C notification display area, 3 recommendation execution Biasing unit, 4 adjusted recommendation display unit, 4A adjusted recommended operating display area, 4B adjusted advice display area, 4C adjustment rationale display area, 5 adjusted recommendation executing accepting unit

Claims

A device control device connected to a device via a communication network,
For each user, a recommendation generation unit that generates recommendation information including at least information indicating advice for the user in using the device or recommended operation of the device;
Among the recommendation information generated for each user by the recommendation generation unit, a recommendation adjustment unit that adjusts recommendation information of contents competing with each other,
A recommendation notification unit that notifies the user of the content of the adjusted recommendation information adjusted by the recommendation adjustment unit, together with the basis of the adjustment;
A device control device comprising:
The recommendation notification unit notifies the user of the content of the recommendation information before adjustment together with the content of the adjusted recommendation information.
The device control apparatus according to claim 1.
The recommendation adjustment unit generates a plurality of adjusted recommendation information using different adjustment methods,
The recommendation notification unit notifies the user of the contents of the generated plurality of adjusted recommendation information together with the basis of each adjustment,
The apparatus control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
The recommendation adjustment unit generates the adjusted recommendation information using an adjustment method specified by a user.
The apparatus control apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.
A device control unit that controls the target device to perform the recommended operation when the user instructs execution of the recommended operation indicated by the content of the adjusted recommendation information notified by the recommendation notification unit;
The apparatus control apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 4.
The device control unit does not control the target device to perform the recommended operation when the recommended operation does not satisfy a predetermined constraint.
The device control apparatus according to claim 5.
The recommendation generation unit generates the recommendation information based on the user preference.
The apparatus control apparatus of any one of Claim 1 to 6.
A device control system comprising: the device control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and a display terminal,
The recommendation notification unit transmits, to the display terminal, screen data of a recommendation display screen that displays the content of the adjusted recommendation information adjusted by the recommendation adjustment unit together with the basis of the adjustment to the user.
The display terminal displays the recommendation display screen;
Equipment control system.
A device control method using a computer,
The recommendation adjustment unit adjusts the recommendation information of content competing with each other,
The recommendation notification unit notifies the user of the content of the adjusted recommendation information adjusted by the recommendation adjustment unit together with the basis for the adjustment.
Device control method.
A computer connected to the device via a communication network
A recommendation adjustment unit that adjusts recommendation information of content that competes with each other,
A recommendation notification unit that notifies the user of the content of the adjusted recommendation information adjusted by the recommendation adjustment unit together with the basis of the adjustment;
Program to function as.