WO2021038694A1

WO2021038694A1 - Remote manipulation system and air conditioner

Info

Publication number: WO2021038694A1
Application number: PCT/JP2019/033356
Authority: WO
Inventors: 雄彦森田; 文夫齋藤
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2019-08-26
Filing date: 2019-08-26
Publication date: 2021-03-04

Abstract

A manipulation terminal (250) comprises: a user information acquisition unit that collects user information, which includes at least one of user's surrounding environment information, user's location information, user's activity state information, and user's physiological state information which is information indicating the user's physiological state, while the user is moving from a remote place to the the place where an air conditioner is installed; and a remote manipulation information setting unit that sets remote manipulation information, which includes estimated arrival information with which the estimated time of arrival of the user at the place where the air conditioner is installed can be recognized and remote operating condition information that specifies the conditions for operating the air conditioner. The air conditioner (100) is provided with an air conditioner control unit that controls the air conditioner at a time earlier than the estimated time of arrival according to the corrected remote operating condition information obtained by correcting the remote operating condition information on the basis of the user information.

Description

Remote control system and air conditioner

The present invention relates to a remote control system and an air conditioner capable of controlling a device from an operation terminal.

Conventionally, there is a technology that enables remote control of control devices from mobile terminals such as smartphones by connecting control devices such as air conditioners to the network. Patent Document 1 discloses a device control system including a device control device capable of controlling devices in a facility and a terminal device. The terminal device transmits the estimated arrival time information that can recognize the estimated time of arrival at the facility to the device control device. The device control device receives the estimated arrival information received from the terminal device based on the arrival estimation information that can recognize the estimated time of arrival of the terminal device at the facility, which is created based on the position information of the terminal device and the position information of the facility. Judgment regarding the validity of the estimated time of arrival indicated by is made, and the equipment is controlled based on the judgment result. The device is specifically an air conditioning device. In the device control system of Patent Document 1, the device is operated so that the user can obtain comfort when the user actually arrives at the device installation location after instructing the estimated time of arrival at the device installation location by remote control. Controls the air conditioning equipment of.

JP-A-2017-92794

However, in the device control system of Patent Document 1, the comfort experienced by the user actually depends on the user's surrounding environment, activity state, physiological state, etc. until the arrival at the installation location of the air conditioning device. Will change. For example, as the user's surrounding environment, when the air-conditioning device controls the room temperature to be the same after spending one hour outdoors in a hot summer and after spending the same hour in an air-conditioned building. The comfort you experience is different.

In the former, a refreshing feeling can be obtained even if the room temperature is relatively high. However, since the air-conditioning device operates in air-conditioning based on a set temperature determined regardless of the user's surrounding environment, the air-conditioning device may operate more than necessary and waste energy may be consumed. is there. On the contrary, in the latter case, the user may be dissatisfied because sufficient comfort cannot be obtained. Similarly, the comfort experienced by the user arriving at the location of the air conditioner depends on the user's activity status such as whether the user was exercising vigorously or the user's physiological condition such as body temperature, blood pressure, and pulse rate. Is different.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and in a remote control system capable of controlling an air conditioner from an operation terminal, the comfort experienced by the user when the air conditioner is remotely controlled from a communication terminal. The purpose is to obtain a remote control system that can reduce energy consumption while maintaining the above.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the remote control system according to the present invention is connected to the air conditioner via a communication network, and is carried by the user to operate the air conditioner. It is equipped with an operation terminal for remote control of the air conditioner from a remote location. The operation terminal is information indicating the surrounding environment of the user and information indicating the location of the user while the user moves from a remote location to the installation location of the air conditioner. Collects user information including at least one of the user's location information, the user's activity state information which is information indicating the user's activity state, and the user's physiological state information which is information indicating the user's physiological state. Remote control information including the user information acquisition unit, the arrival schedule information that can recognize the arrival time of the user at the installation location of the air conditioner, and the remote operation condition information that indicates the operation conditions of the air conditioner. It is provided with a remote control information setting unit in which is set. The air conditioner includes an air conditioner control unit that controls the air conditioner at a time earlier than the scheduled arrival time according to the corrected remote operation condition information in which the remote operation condition information is corrected based on the user information.

The remote control system according to the present invention is a remote control system capable of controlling an air conditioner from an operation terminal, and when the air conditioner is remotely controlled from a communication terminal, energy is maintained while maintaining the comfort experienced by the user. It has the effect of reducing consumption.

The figure which shows the structure of the air conditioning system which is the remote control system which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. A block diagram showing a functional configuration of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The figure which shows an example of the hardware composition of the processing circuit which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. A block diagram showing a functional configuration of an operation terminal according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the air conditioning system shown in FIG. 1, a flowchart showing a processing flow of the operating terminal when the air conditioner is remotely controlled from the operating terminal. In the air conditioner system shown in FIG. 1, a flowchart showing a processing flow of the air conditioner when the air conditioner is remotely controlled from an operation terminal. The figure which shows an example of the accumulated data of the user information accumulated in Embodiment 1 of this invention. A diagram showing the average temperature experienced by the user up to the current time, calculated from the ambient temperature data shown in FIG. A diagram showing the average temperature experienced by the user up to the current time, calculated from the ambient temperature data shown in FIG. The figure which shows another example of the accumulated data which is the user information accumulated in Embodiment 1 of this invention. A diagram showing the average temperature experienced by the user up to the current time, calculated from the ambient temperature data shown in FIG. The figure which shows the example of the determination condition used for updating the remote operation condition information in Embodiment 1 of this invention.

The remote control system and the air conditioner according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Further, in the following drawings including FIG. 1, the relationship between the sizes of the constituent parts may differ from the actual one.

Embodiment 1.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an air conditioning system 300, which is a remote control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the indoor unit 1 of the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The air conditioner system 300 includes an air conditioner 100, an adapter 210, a router 220, a server 240, and an operation terminal 250 that communicates with the server 240.

(Air conditioner 100)
The air conditioner 100 air-conditions the air-conditioning target space 401. A plurality of air conditioners 100 are provided, including an air conditioner 100_1, an air conditioner 100_2, ... An air conditioner 100_n. FIG. 1 shows a case where n = 2. The number of air conditioners 100 may be one. The air conditioner 100 includes an indoor unit 1, an outdoor unit 2, and a controller 20. The indoor unit 1 and the outdoor unit 2 are connected by a refrigerant pipe 3.

The indoor unit 1 supplies air-conditioned air to the air-conditioned space 401. The air conditioning target space 401 is exemplified by a room of a house, a warehouse, a room of a building, and the like. In the first embodiment, it is assumed that the indoor unit 1 is installed in the ceiling 402. The indoor unit 1 includes a receiving unit 11, an indoor unit control unit 12, an indoor temperature sensor 13, a display unit 14, a blower fan 15, and a wind direction plate unit 16.

The receiving unit 11 can communicate with the indoor unit control unit 12, receives the controller information transmitted from the controller 20 attached to the indoor unit 1, and transmits the controller information to the indoor unit control unit 12. The controller information is information on the control conditions of the air conditioner 100 set in the controller 20 by the user.

The indoor temperature sensor 13 periodically measures the indoor temperature and transmits it to the indoor unit control unit 12.

The display unit 14 is a notification unit that displays information such as the operating state of the air conditioner 100 and transmits it to the user. The display unit 14 may perform display using a light emitting diode (LED) lamp, or may perform character display using a full segment or the like. The indoor unit 1 may be provided with a function of notifying the user of information by generating a voice as a notification unit in addition to the display unit 14.

The indoor unit control unit 12 is an air conditioner control unit that controls the operation of the air conditioner 100. Upon receiving the controller information, the indoor unit control unit 12 controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 according to the controller information. Further, when the indoor unit control unit 12 receives the remote control information which is the information for remotely controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100, the indoor unit control unit 12 controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 according to the remote control information. The remote control information includes the arrival schedule information that can recognize the user's scheduled arrival time to the air conditioning target space 401, which is the installation location of the air conditioner 100, and the operation of the air conditioner 100 by remote control from the operation terminal 250. Includes remote operation condition information that indicates conditions.

The indoor unit control unit 12 includes an information input unit 121, an information input / output unit 122, a calculation unit 123, an output unit 124, and an indoor unit storage unit 125.

The information input unit 121 is an interface between the reception unit 11 and the indoor unit control unit 12, and receives and processes the controller information from the reception unit 11 that has received the controller information transmitted from the controller 20, and performs the calculation unit 123. Send to.

The information input / output unit 122 is an interface between the adapter 210 and the indoor unit control unit 12, and receives and processes the remote control information from the adapter 210 that has received the remote control information transmitted from the server 240. Further, the information input / output unit 122 processes the information in the indoor unit control unit 12 and transmits it to the adapter 210. As the information transmitted from the information input / output unit 122 to the adapter 210, controller information is exemplified.

The calculation unit 123 executes the calculation at an arbitrary timing and transmits the calculation result information to the information input / output unit 122, the output unit 124, and the indoor unit storage unit 125. The arbitrary timing exemplifies the timing at which the calculation unit 123 receives the information, such as when the calculation unit 123 receives the remote control information and when the calculation unit 123 receives the controller information. The calculation unit 123 executes various calculations based on information such as control setting values and programs stored in the indoor unit storage unit 125 and controller information transmitted from the information input unit 121.

The output unit 124 is an interface between the display unit 14, the blower fan 15, the wind direction plate unit 16, and the indoor unit control unit 12, receives information on the calculation result transmitted from the calculation unit 123, and receives the calculation result. An operation instruction is output to each part of the display unit 14, the blower fan 15, and the wind direction plate unit 16 based on the information of.

The indoor unit storage unit 125 is a storage unit that stores information such as various control setting values and programs for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100. The indoor unit storage unit 125 is a non-volatile storage unit, and is composed of a storage medium such as a flash memory. In the indoor unit storage unit 125, information such as a control set value or a program is read out by the calculation unit 123 based on information such as controller information and remote control information. Then, after the calculation is performed by the calculation unit 123, the calculation result is transmitted to each unit of the output unit 124 and the information input / output unit 122.

The calculation unit 123 is composed of, for example, a microcomputer. The arithmetic unit 123 is realized, for example, as a processing circuit having a hardware configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the processing circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention. When the function of the arithmetic unit 123 is realized by the processing circuit shown in FIG. 3, the function of the arithmetic unit 123 is realized by the processor 101 executing the program stored in the memory 102. Further, a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories may cooperate to realize the function of the calculation unit 123. Further, a part of the functions of the arithmetic unit 123 may be implemented as an electronic circuit, and the other part may be realized by using the processor 101 and the memory 102.

Further, even if the processor executes a program stored in the memory in the same manner as the arithmetic unit 123, a part of the functions of the information input unit 121 and the information input / output unit 122 may be realized. Good. Further, the processor and memory that realize a part of the functions of the information input unit 121 and the information input / output unit 122 may be the same as the processor 101 and the memory 102 that realize the arithmetic unit 123, or may be different. It may be a processor and memory.

Further, the indoor unit 1 includes a blower fan 15 that supplies air to the air conditioning target space 401, a wind direction plate unit 16 that adjusts the direction of the air blown from the blower fan 15, and a room (not shown) to which the refrigerant is supplied. It has a heat exchanger. The wind direction plate unit 16 is composed of a rotatable wind direction plate and a component such as a motor for rotating the wind direction plate.

The outdoor unit 2 is installed, for example, outdoors 403, on the roof of a building, or the like. The outdoor unit 2 has a throttle device that depressurizes the refrigerant, a compressor that compresses the refrigerant, a four-way valve that switches the flow path of the refrigerant, and outdoor heat that functions as an evaporator during heating operation and as a condenser during cooling operation. It has a exchanger, an outdoor blower fan attached to the outdoor heat exchanger to supply air to the outdoor heat exchanger, and an outside air temperature sensor for measuring the outside air temperature. The diaphragm device may be provided on the outside of the outdoor unit 2.

Further, the outdoor unit 2 has an outdoor unit control unit capable of communicating with the indoor unit control unit 12. The outdoor unit control unit is provided in, for example, an electric component box arranged in the upper part of the compressor room in which a compressor or the like is mounted. The outdoor unit control unit controls the rotation speed of the compressor and the opening degree of the throttle device based on the information received from the indoor unit control unit 12. The components of the outdoor unit 2 described above are not shown.

The drive unit of the air conditioner 100 corresponds to the blower fan 15 and the wind direction plate unit 16 of the indoor unit 1, the compressor of the outdoor unit 2, the throttle device, the four-way valve, the outdoor blower fan, and the like. The indoor unit 1 may have a plasma dust collecting unit or the like attached to a dust collecting filter provided in the indoor unit 1. The plasma dust collector has, for example, a counter electrode and a power supply. The plasma dust collector also corresponds to the drive unit.

The controller 20 is connected to the receiving unit 11 of the indoor unit 1 by the communication line 21. The controller 20 transmits the controller information, which is the information of the control conditions of the air conditioner 100 set in the controller 20, from the user to the indoor unit control unit 12. The controller 20 may be a remote controller capable of wirelessly communicating with the indoor unit 1 and remotely controlling the air conditioner 100. One controller 20 is provided for the air conditioner 100. A plurality of controllers 20 may be provided for one air conditioner 100. In this case, one air conditioner 100 can be remotely controlled by each of the plurality of controllers 20. Further, one controller 20 may be provided for each of the plurality of air conditioners 100. In this case, one controller 20 can remotely control a plurality of air conditioners 100.

(Adapter 210)
The adapter 210 can communicate with the information input / output unit 122 of the indoor unit control unit 12 of the indoor unit 1 and exchanges information with the indoor unit control unit 12. Further, the adapter 210 is capable of wireless communication with the router 220, and is connected to the external network 230, which is a communication network, via the router 220. In the first embodiment, the air conditioner 100 does not have the adapter 210 as a component, but the air conditioner 100 may have the adapter 210 as a component. The adapter 210 is of the adapter 210_1, the adapter 210_2, ... the adapter 210_n, which are individually provided for the plurality of air conditioners 100 of the air conditioner 100_1, the air conditioner 100_2, ... the air conditioner 100_n. There are multiple units. FIG. 1 shows a case where n = 2.

(Router 220)
The router 220 is a communication device that relays data between the air conditioner 100 and the operation terminal 250 between two or more different networks. That is, the router 220 relays between a network configured by connecting the controller 20, the indoor unit control unit 12, and the adapter 210, and a network configured by connecting the operation terminal 250, the server 240, the external network 230, and the like. It is a communication device. The router 220 is connected to the adapter 210 by wireless communication to communicate with the adapter 210, and is also connected to the server 240 via the external network 230 to communicate with the server 240.

The external network 230 is, for example, the Internet network 231. The server 240 is connected to the Internet network 231.

(Server 240)
The server 240 is a server that communicates with the indoor unit 1 via the external network 230, the router 220, and the adapter 210, and also communicates with the operation terminal 250 via the external network 230. For the server 240, for example, a cloud server can be used. When the remote control information is input to the operation terminal 250 in the outdoor 403, the operation content corresponding to the remote control information is transmitted to the server 240 via the Internet network 231 and temporarily stored in the server 240. The server 240 periodically exchanges information with the indoor unit control unit 12 of the indoor unit 1 via the adapter 210. Information is exchanged, for example, about once every five minutes.

The indoor unit control unit 12 outputs information about the indoor unit 1 to the adapter 210. The adapter 210 transmits the information received from the indoor unit 1 to the router 220. The router 220 transmits the information received from the adapter 210 to the server 240 via the Internet network 231.

The server 240 outputs the information stored in the server 240 to the Internet network 231 when replying to the transmission of the information from the indoor unit control unit 12. The router 220 receives the information transmitted from the server 240 via the Internet network 231. The router 220 sends the received information to the adapter 210. The adapter 210 transmits the information received from the router 220 to the indoor unit control unit 12. In this way, the server 240 and the indoor unit 1 regularly exchange information with each other.

(Operation terminal 250)
The operation terminal 250 is a terminal such as a mobile phone, a smartphone, or a personal computer, and can communicate with the server 240 via the Internet network 231. The operation terminal 250 is a terminal that the user can carry and remotely control the operation of the air conditioner 100 from a remote location of the outdoor 403. The operation terminal 250 is not limited to the above, and may be any terminal that can communicate with the server 240 via the Internet network 231. The operation terminal 250 is provided with a plurality of operation terminals 250_1, operation terminals 250_2, ... Operation terminals 250_m. FIG. 1 shows a case where m = 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the operation terminal 250 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The operation terminal 250 includes a terminal operation unit 251 for receiving operations from the user, a terminal display unit 252 for displaying various information such as operation information, and a terminal communication unit for transmitting and receiving information such as remote operation information to and from the server 240. 253 and. Further, the operation terminal 250 includes a position information acquisition unit 254 that acquires position identification information that makes it possible to specify the position of the operation terminal 250 in the calculation unit 123 of the indoor unit 1, and a user information acquisition unit 255 that acquires user information 260. , The remote control information setting unit 256 in which the remote control information is set, the terminal storage unit 257 that stores various information, and the terminal that controls the entire operation of the operation terminal 250 and controls the remote control of the air conditioner 100. It has a control unit 258 and.

The remote control information setting unit 256 sets the arrival schedule information and the set temperature that can recognize the user's scheduled arrival time to the air conditioning target space 401, which is the installation location of the air conditioner 100, received by the terminal operation unit 251. The remote operation condition information including the remote operation condition information indicating the operation condition in the remote operation of the air conditioner 100 including the air conditioner 100 and the remote control information including the remote operation information are set. That is, when a user in the outdoor 403, which is a remote location away from the installation location of the air conditioner 100, plans to move to the installation location of the air conditioner 100, when the user arrives at the installation location of the air conditioner 100. To make the user comfortable, the estimated time of arrival or the estimated time required for the user to arrive at the installation location of the air conditioner 100 from the present time is input to and set in the remote control information setting unit 256. The estimated time of arrival and the estimated time required are the estimated arrival times of the user who can recognize the estimated time of arrival of the user to the air conditioning target space 401 where the air conditioner 100 is installed.

For example, the user having the operation terminal 250 sets the information in the operation terminal 250 that he / she plans to move to the installation location of the air conditioner 100 one hour later. That is, the time one hour after the current time is set as the estimated arrival time in the remote control information setting unit 256 of the operation terminal 250.

Further, as the remote operation condition information, information such as air volume adjustment, setting temperature adjustment, and angle adjustment of the wind direction plate unit 16 can be set. Further, the operation mode desired by the user may be set as the remote operation condition information. The operation mode is selected from operation modes such as cooling, heating, dehumidification and humidification.

The remote control information set in the remote control information setting unit 256 is transmitted from the terminal communication unit 253 to the server 240 via the Internet network 231 and temporarily stored in the server 240. Then, the remote control information stored in the server 240 is transmitted from the server 240 to the indoor unit control unit 12. The remote control information transmitted from the server 240 is sent to the indoor unit control unit 12 via the Internet network 231 and the router 220 and the adapter 210.

When the indoor unit control unit 12 receives the remote operation information, the installation location of the air conditioner 100 becomes a set temperature at the scheduled arrival time based on the arrival schedule information included in the remote operation information, so that the user is comfortable. Conditions such as the set temperature, wind speed, and wind direction of the air conditioning operation in the air conditioner 100 are controlled.

The indoor unit control unit 12 controls the increase / decrease in the rotation speed of the blower fan 15 when it receives, for example, remote operation condition information instructing the air volume adjustment. Further, when the indoor unit control unit 12 receives the remote operation condition information instructing the change of the set temperature, the indoor unit control unit 12 controls the adjustment of the opening degree of the throttle device and the increase / decrease of the rotation speed of the compressor. Further, when the indoor unit control unit 12 receives the remote operation condition information instructing the adjustment of the angle of the wind direction plate unit 16, the indoor unit control unit 12 operates a motor (not shown) for driving the wind direction plate unit 16.

The operation terminal 250 has a remote control application program used for operating the air conditioner 100 by remote control. The remote control information setting unit 256 is composed of a remote control application program.

The user information acquisition unit 255 has a function of acquiring user information 260 while the user moves from a remote location to the air conditioning target space 401 where the air conditioner 100 is installed. The user information 260 is set by the user in the remote control information setting unit 256, and the user sets the remote control information in the remote control condition information of the remote control information received by the indoor unit control unit 12 of the indoor unit 1. This information is used to correct the information according to the user's condition while the user moves from the air conditioner 100 to the air conditioner space 401 where the air conditioner 100 is installed.

The user information 260 is information on the surrounding environment of the user, which is information indicating the environment around the place where the user is, information on the location of the user, which is information indicating the position where the user is, and information indicating the activity status of the user. Information on the active state and information on the physiological state of the user, which is information indicating the physiological state of the user, are exemplified. The user information acquisition unit 255 can collect at least one of the user information 260.

The user's surrounding environment is exemplified by the temperature around the user, the humidity around the user, and the wind speed around the user. The information on the user's surrounding environment can be rephrased as the information on the surrounding environment of the operation terminal 250. The user's position information is position identification information that enables the position of the operation terminal 250 to be specified in the calculation unit 123 of the indoor unit 1 described above, and can be rephrased as the position information of the operation terminal 250. The activity state of the user is exemplified by the walking state of the user, the exercise state of the user, and the sleeping state of the user.

The user information 260 acquired by the user information acquisition unit 255 is transmitted from the user information acquisition unit 255 to the server 240 via the terminal communication unit 253 and the Internet network 231 and is temporarily stored in the server 240. The user information 260 stored in the server 240 is transmitted from the server 240 to the indoor unit control unit 12. The user information 260 transmitted from the server 240 is sent to the indoor unit control unit 12 via the Internet network 231 and the router 220 and the adapter 210.

The indoor unit control unit 12 is scheduled to arrive using the remote control information including the above-mentioned estimated arrival time and remote operation condition information of the user and the user information 260 until the user arrives at the installation location of the air conditioner 100. The operating conditions such as the set temperature, wind speed, and wind direction of the air conditioning operation of the air conditioner 100 are controlled so that the installation location of the air conditioner 100 becomes comfortable at the time. Details of the specific control method will be described later.

The terminal control unit 258 is realized as, for example, a processing circuit having a hardware configuration shown in FIG. When the function of the terminal control unit 258 is realized by the processing circuit shown in FIG. 3, the function of the terminal control unit 258 is realized by the processor 101 executing the program stored in the memory 102. Further, a plurality of processors and a plurality of memories may cooperate to realize the function of the terminal control unit 258. Further, a part of the functions of the terminal control unit 258 may be implemented as an electronic circuit, and the other part may be realized by using the processor 101 and the memory 102.

Further, by executing the program stored in the memory in the same manner as the terminal control unit 258, the functions of the terminal operation unit 251, the terminal communication unit 253, the position information acquisition unit 254, and the user information acquisition unit 255 are performed. It may be configured so that a part of the above is realized. Further, the processor and memory that realize a part of the functions of the terminal operation unit 251, the terminal communication unit 253, the position information acquisition unit 254, and the user information acquisition unit 255 are the processors that realize the terminal control unit 258. It may be the same as 101 and memory 102, or it may be a different processor and memory.

Next, the operation of the air conditioning system 300 will be described. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the operation terminal 250 when the air conditioner 10 is remotely controlled from the operation terminal 250 in the air conditioning system 300 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the air conditioner 100 when the air conditioner 10 is remotely controlled from the operation terminal 250 in the air conditioner system 300 shown in FIG. C10 and C20 in FIGS. 5 and 6 represent communication from the operation terminal 250 to the indoor unit control unit 12 of the air conditioner 100. The information transmitted from the operation terminal 250 is actually transmitted from the operation terminal 250 to the indoor unit control unit 12 via the Internet network 231, the server 240, the Internet network 231 and the router 220 and the adapter 210 as described above. However, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the transmission path on the way from the operation terminal 250 to the indoor unit control unit 12 is omitted. The case where there is only one user will be described below.

When a user who has an operation terminal 250 in a remote place plans to move to the installation location of the air conditioner 100, the air from the operation terminal 250 is intended to be a comfortable environment at the installation location of the air conditioner 100 at the time of arrival. It is assumed that the air conditioner 100 is remotely controlled. Here, as an example, consider a case where the current season is summer and the operation mode is set to cooling and the operation of the air conditioner 100 is started. Further, it is assumed that the installation location of the air conditioner 100 is the room of the user's home.

In the following description, symbols starting with an uppercase letter "T" such as the set temperature T_target and the room temperature T_room are used as symbols indicating the temperature. In addition, symbols starting with a lowercase letter "t" such as estimated arrival time t_arrival and control start time t_start are used as symbols representing time or time.

(Processing flow of operation terminal 250)
In step S10, the user sets remote control information from a remote location using the operation terminal 250. The user inputs the estimated arrival time t_arrival to the room, which is the arrival schedule information, the operation mode and the set temperature T_target of the air conditioner 100, which is the remote operation condition information, into the operation terminal 250 and sets the remote operation information setting unit 256. By doing so, the remote control information is set. The user sets, for example, the estimated arrival time t_arrival: 15:00, the operation mode: cooling, and the set temperature T_target: 28.0 ° C. in the remote control information setting unit 256 of the operation terminal 250.

In step S20, the remote control information set in step S10 is transmitted to the indoor unit control unit 12 of the air conditioner 100 by the communication C10.

In step S30, the terminal control unit 258 determines whether or not the user has arrived at the room where the air conditioner is installed. As a method for determining whether or not the user has arrived at the room, the terminal control unit 258 is a method in which the user inputs information indicating that the user has arrived at the room to the operation terminal 250 when the user arrives at the installation location. , And a method of determining using the position information of the operation terminal 250 is exemplified.

Further, when the terminal control unit 258 has another device or the air conditioner 100 around the room having a short-range wireless communication function, the operation terminal 250 is connected to the air conditioner 100 or the other device. When short-distance wireless communication becomes possible or the wireless reception level exceeds a predetermined value, it may be determined that the user has arrived at the installation location. Short-range wireless communication is communication such as WiFi (registered trademark) and Bluetooth (registered trademark) having a communicable range of about 100 m or less.

If the user has already arrived at the room, it becomes Yes in step S30, and a series of remote control processes is completed. If the user has not arrived at the room, the result is No in step S30, and the process proceeds to step S40.

Steps S40 to S60 are a series of processes in which the user information acquisition unit 255 collects the user information 260 at each predetermined information collection interval t_A and transmits the user information 260 to the air conditioner 100 by the communication C20. The predetermined information collection interval t_A is an interval at which the user information acquisition unit 255 collects the user information 260, and is stored in advance in the user information acquisition unit 255. An example of the information collection interval t_A is 5 minutes.

In step S40, the user information acquisition unit 255 determines whether or not the information collection interval t_A has elapsed. If the information collection interval t_A has not elapsed, the result is No in step S40, and the process returns to step S30. When the information collection interval t_A has elapsed, it becomes Yes in step S40, and the process proceeds to step S50.

In step S50, the user information acquisition unit 255 collects the user information 260. Here, as an example, a case where the ambient air temperature T_user, which is the ambient air temperature of the user, is collected as information on the user's ambient environment will be described. As a method of acquiring the ambient air temperature T_user, a method of using an external device attached to the operation terminal 250 and linking with the operation terminal 250 to enable information communication or a temperature sensor built in the main body of the operation terminal 250, and a method of the operation terminal 250. An example is a method of acquiring weather information from an external network 230 such as the Internet network 231 based on the location information.

In step S60, the user information acquisition unit 255 transmits the user information 260 acquired in step S50 to the air conditioner 100 by communication C20. That is, the user information acquisition unit 255 transmits the ambient air temperature T_user, which is the information on the user's ambient environment acquired in step S50, to the air conditioner 100. After that, the process returns to step S30.

In step S10, the transmission of the user information 260 when the remote control information in step S10 has not been set is not particularly described, but the user always has the user regardless of whether or not the remote control information is set. The information 260 may be collected and the user information 260 may be transmitted to the air conditioner 100 every time the information collection interval t_A elapses. By performing such processing, the air conditioner 100 can use the user information 260 retroactively from the time when the user sets the remote control information. Therefore, the user information 260 immediately after receiving the remote control information. It becomes possible to perform control based on.

Further, even after the user has arrived at the room in step S30, the user information acquisition unit 255 may continue to transmit the user information 260 to the air conditioner installed in another place. When the user arrives at the room and then moves to another place, the control based on the user information 260 can be smoothly performed even with the air conditioner installed in the other place. It will be possible.

Further, when the user information 260 is transmitted when the remote control information is not set, or when the user information 260 is transmitted when the user information 260 has arrived at the installation location of the air conditioner 100 in which the remote control information is set. For example, the information collection interval t_A is set to 30 minutes, and the time interval for transmitting the user information 260 is lengthened. Then, the information collection interval t_A is set to 5 minutes only when the remote control information has been set and the user has not arrived at the installation location of the air conditioner 100. In this way, the information collection interval t_A may be changed based on whether or not the remote control information is set, thereby reducing less important communications.

(Processing flow of air conditioner 100)
On the other hand, in step S110, the air conditioner 100 receives and stores the remote control information set in the remote control information setting unit 256 sent by the communication C10. That is, the indoor unit control unit 12 of the indoor unit 1 receives and stores information on the estimated time of arrival t_arrival: 15:00, the operation mode: cooling, and the set temperature T_target: 28.0 ° C.

In step S120, the indoor unit control unit 12 calculates the control start time t_start, which is the time when the operation of the air conditioner 100 should be started. In order to make the room comfortable at the estimated arrival time t_arrival, it is necessary to start the control of the operation of the air conditioner 100 at the control start time t_start which is a time before the estimated arrival time t_arrival. The time required to control the room temperature to a certain temperature can be calculated from the information on the capacity of the air conditioner 100, the size of the room, the room temperature of the current room, the outside air temperature, and the like. The outside air temperature is information indicating the inflow state of heat from the outside into the air conditioning target space 401.

First, for the room temperature T_room of the current room, the time t_c required to control the room temperature from the room temperature T_room to the set temperature T_target is obtained. Since the control start time t_start is a time that is retroactive by the required time t_c from the estimated arrival time t_arrival, it can be obtained by "control start time t_start = estimated arrival time t_arrival-required time t_c". As an example, when the room temperature T_room: 32.0 ° C. and the set temperature T_target: 28.0 ° C. and the required time t_c = 5 minutes, the control start time t_start is 14:55.

In step S130, the indoor unit control unit 12 determines whether or not the current time has reached the control start time t_start. If the current time has reached the control start time t_start, the result is Yes in step S130, and the process proceeds to step S180. If the current time has not reached the control start time t_start, the result is No in step S130, and the process proceeds to step S140.

In step S140, the indoor unit control unit 12 determines whether or not new user information 260 has been received. If the new user information 260 has not been received, the result is No in step S140, and the process returns to step S120. If the new user information 260 is received, the result is Yes in step S140, and the process proceeds to step S150.

In step S150, the indoor unit control unit 12 stores and stores the ambient air temperature T_user, which is the user information 260 sent and received by the communication C20, in the indoor unit storage unit 125.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of accumulated data of user information 260 accumulated in the first embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the indoor unit control unit 12 receives and stores the ambient air temperature data, which is the data of the ambient air temperature T_user. That is, the accumulated data here are a plurality of ambient temperature data.

The indoor unit control unit 12 records the estimated arrival time t_arrival set from the operation terminal 250 as the time t_0, and the ambient temperature T_user at the time t_0 as the ambient temperature data Tu_0 in the indoor unit storage unit 125. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the time t_0 is 14:00. The ambient air temperature data Tu_0 is 32.0 ° C. The indoor unit control unit 12 receives the ambient temperature data of the next ambient temperature T_user at "time t_1 = time t_0 + information collection interval t_A", which is the time after the information collection interval t_A elapses from the time t_0. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the information collection interval t_A is 5 minutes. The time t_1 is 14:05. Further, the indoor unit control unit 12 uses the ambient air temperature data of the ambient air temperature T_user at time t_1 as the ambient air temperature data Tu_1 to an address identified in the indoor unit storage unit 125 so as to be different from the storage address of the ambient air temperature data Tu_0. Store. The ambient air temperature data Tu_1 is 33.0 ° C.

After that, the indoor unit control unit 12 receives new ambient air temperature data at each information collection interval t_A, and sequentially stores the ambient air temperature data. That is, the indoor unit control unit 12 sets the ambient temperature data when “time t_n = time t_0 + (n × information collection interval t_A)” as “ambient temperature data Tu_n” with respect to a positive integer n, and sets the indoor unit storage unit 12. Store in 125.

In step S160, the indoor unit control unit 12 reads out the stored user information, processes the read stored user information, and calculates the information necessary for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100. The stored user information is the data of the user information 260 up to the present stored in the indoor unit storage unit 125, and here is the ambient temperature data up to the present stored in the indoor unit storage unit 125. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the average temperature experienced by the user up to the current time, calculated from the ambient air temperature data shown in FIG. 7.

When the current time is time t_n, the indoor unit control unit 12 reads out the ambient air temperature data Tu_0, the ambient air temperature data Tu_1, ..., The ambient air temperature data Tu_n, and calculates the average value to calculate the current time. The average temperature Tu_avage, which is the average temperature of the temperature experienced by the user up to that point, is calculated. In FIG. 8, when the current time is 14:00, which is the time t_0, there is only one ambient air temperature data, so the average air temperature Tu_avage is equal to the ambient air temperature data Tu_0 and is 32.0 ° C.

At 14:05, which is the time t_1, the average air temperature Tu_avage is 32.5 ° C., which is the average value of the ambient air temperature data Tu_0 and the ambient air temperature data Tu_1. After that, every time the information collection interval t_A elapses, the ambient air temperature data that is the target for calculating the average temperature Tu_avage will increase.

When calculating the average temperature Tu_avage, it is not always necessary to use a simple average, and considering that old information has little effect, a method such as weighting and averaging the time closer to the present can be considered.

In addition, when the user moves through a temporarily cooled room on the way, the average temperature Tu_avage is calculated except for the ambient temperature data that stores the low temperature for a short time, for example. By calculating, the influence of ambient temperature data when passing through a temporarily cooled room may be removed. For example, in FIG. 7, at 14:40, which is the time t_8, the ambient air temperature data Tu_8 is 25.5 ° C. In this case, since only one of the ambient temperature data Tu_8 is significantly different from the other ambient temperature data, it is conceivable to calculate the average temperature Tu_avage by excluding the ambient temperature data Tu_8.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the average air temperature of the temperature experienced by the user up to the current time, calculated from the ambient air temperature data shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 9 shows an example in which the average temperature Tu_avage is calculated by excluding the ambient temperature data that is significantly different from other ambient temperature data. In FIG. 9, the average air temperature Tu_avage from time t_8 to time t_10 is different from that in FIG. In FIG. 9, after the time t_8, the ambient air temperature data Tu_8 is excluded, and the average temperature Tu_avage is calculated from the ambient temperature data before the time t_7 and the ambient temperature data after the time t_9.

In addition, when the user moves outdoors, such as 403, after spending about 5 minutes or more in the air-conditioned room while moving, the temperature experienced before the time when the user was in the air-conditioned room is It is unlikely that it will significantly affect the comfort the user feels when they finally arrive at the room. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing another example of stored data which is user information 260 stored in the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the average air temperature of the temperature experienced by the user up to the current time, calculated from the ambient air temperature data shown in FIG.

In FIG. 11, the ambient temperature data at 14:20 at time t_4 and the ambient temperature data at 14:25 at time t_5 record 25.5 ° C. twice in a row. In the calculation example of the average temperature Tu_avage at this time, the indoor unit control unit 12 determines that the user was in the air-conditioned room for at least 5 minutes or more at 14:25 at time t_5.

Then, the indoor unit control unit 12 temporarily resets the calculation of the average temperature Tu_avage at 14:30, which is time t_6, ignores all the ambient temperature data before 14:25, which is time t_5, and surrounds the surroundings after time t_6. Only the temperature data is used to calculate the average temperature Tu_avage. That is, since the only valid ambient air temperature data at time t_6 is the ambient air temperature data Tu_6, the indoor unit control unit 12 uses the ambient air temperature data Tu_6: 32.5 ° C. as it is for the average air temperature Tu_avage at time t_6. Then, the indoor unit control unit 12 sets the average temperature Tu_avage from only the ambient temperature data after the time t_6, such that the average temperature Tu_avage is set to the average value of the ambient air temperature data Tu_6 and the ambient temperature data Tu_7 at the subsequent time t_7. I'm calculating.

In step S170, the remote unit control unit 12 is remote, which is the information calculated in step S160 based on the user information 260 and the control information for controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100 stored in the indoor unit control unit 12. The remote operation condition information is updated based on the operation condition information. As an example of updating the remote operation condition information, a case where the indoor unit control unit 12 updates the set temperature T_target according to the relationship between the average temperature Tu_avage and the set temperature T_target will be described.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of a determination condition used for updating remote operation condition information in the first embodiment of the present invention. The indoor unit control unit 12 updates the set temperature T_target at each information collection interval t_A, for example, according to the determination conditions shown in the determination table of FIG. The temperature difference determination value T_judge is a threshold value for determining whether or not to update the remote operation condition information. The correction value T_add is a correction value used when updating the remote operation condition information. Here, the temperature difference determination value T_judge and the correction value T_add are predetermined and stored in the indoor unit control unit 12.

In order to determine whether or not the indoor unit control unit 12 updates the remote operation condition information, two types of determination conditions, condition 1 and condition 2, are used. The indoor unit control unit 12 first classifies the cases using the condition 1. Condition 1 is a magnitude relationship between the average temperature Tu_avage and the set temperature T_target. The indoor unit control unit 12 determines whether (a) the average temperature Tu_avage> the set temperature T_target, or (b) the average temperature Tu_avage ≤ the set temperature T_taget. The indoor unit control unit 12 classifies the cases using the condition 1, and (a) when the average temperature Tu_avage> the set temperature T_target, further classifies the cases using the condition 2 to obtain remote operation condition information. Determine whether to update.

-In the case of (a) average temperature Tu_avage> set temperature T_taget in condition 1 When the average temperature Tu_avage is larger than the set temperature T_tage, the indoor unit control unit 12 classifies the cases using condition 2. Condition 2 is a magnitude relationship between the temperature difference between the average temperature Tu_avarage and the set temperature T_target and the temperature difference determination value T_judge. The indoor unit control unit 12 compares the value of "average temperature Tu_avarage-set temperature T_target" with the temperature difference determination value T_judge. Here, even if the room temperature when the user arrives at the room does not reach the set temperature T_tage, the temperature difference between the average temperature Tu_average and the set temperature T_tage is determined with respect to the average temperature Tu_avage experienced by the user. It is assumed that the user can obtain comfort when the value is larger than the value T_judge, that is, when "average temperature Tu_avarage-set temperature T_target> temperature difference determination value T_judge". For example, when a user returns to a room after spending time in a hot outdoor 403 in the summer, a refreshing feeling can be obtained even if the room temperature is relatively high.

Therefore, when the indoor unit control unit 12 is "average temperature Tu_avarage-set temperature T_target> temperature difference determination value T_judge", the indoor unit control unit 12 adds the correction value T_add so as to correct the set temperature T_target to the higher temperature side.

On the contrary, when the temperature difference between the average temperature Tu_avage and the set temperature T_tage is equal to or less than the temperature difference determination value T_judge, that is, when "average temperature Tu_avage-set temperature T_tage ≤ temperature difference determination value T_judge", the set temperature T_tage is Not updated, left as is. In this case, if the set temperature T_taget is corrected to the high temperature side, the user may not be able to experience the comfort, so the set temperature T_taget is not updated.

As an example, consider a case where the average temperature Tu_avage is obtained as shown in FIG. 9 with the temperature difference determination value T_judge: 5 ° C. and the correction value T_add: 1.0 ° C. When the original set temperature T_target is 28.0 ° C., the average temperature Tu_avage is 33.0 ° C. or lower between 14:00 at time t_0 and 14:45 at time t_9. Therefore, between 14:00 at time t_0 and 14:45 at time t_9, "average temperature Tu_avarage-set temperature T_target ≤ temperature difference determination value T_judge", and the set temperature T_taget is not corrected in any case.

Next, at 14:50, which is the time t_10, the average temperature Tu_avage: 33.1 ° C., so that "average temperature Tu_avage-set temperature T_tage> temperature difference determination value T_judge" is established. Here, the indoor unit control unit 12 adds a correction value T_add: 1.0 ° C. to the set temperature T_target, and updates the set temperature T_target to “28.0 ° C. + 1.0 ° C. = 29.0 ° C.”. As a result, the indoor unit control unit 12 can control the operation of the air conditioner 100 so as to save energy while maintaining the comfort experienced by the user.

-In condition 1, (b) When the average temperature Tu_avage ≤ set temperature T_taget When the average temperature Tu_avage is equal to or lower than the set temperature T_target, the user's surrounding environment is a space conditioned by another air conditioner or the like. Is assumed. In terms of realizing energy saving, it is not necessary to update the set temperature T_target. Therefore, the indoor unit control unit 12 can control the operation of the air conditioner 100 so as to save energy by not performing the case classification using the condition 2 and not updating the set temperature T_target. However, if comfort is emphasized, it is possible to make corrections in the direction of lowering the set temperature T_target.

As described above, by repeating steps S120 to S170, the set temperature T_target is updated based on the average temperature Tu_avage experienced by the user until the current time reaches the control start time t_start. As a result, the indoor unit control unit 12 can control the operation of the air conditioner 100 so as to save energy. When the set temperature T_taget is updated, the control start time t_start is also recalculated and updated in step S120 in accordance with the update of the set temperature T_taget.

In step S180, when the current time reaches the control start time t_start, the indoor unit control unit 12 is based on the control information reflecting the user information 260, that is, based on the updated set temperature T_start. , Actually start controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100. In one example, the set temperature T_target is corrected based on the average value of the temperature experienced by the user during the period from the time when the remote control information is set on the operation terminal 250 to the control start time t_start, and the time when the estimated arrival time is t_arrival. The operation of the air conditioner 100 is controlled so that the indoor temperature of the room becomes the corrected set temperature T_taget. As a result, the indoor unit control unit 12 can control the operation of the air conditioner 100 so as to suppress energy consumption and obtain comfort during the period from the control start time t_start to the estimated arrival time t_arrival. Become.

As described above, when the user arrives at the room, the set temperature T_target is updated and may not match the set temperature T_target initially set by the user in step S10. That is, even if the user's comfort is ensured when the user arrives at the room, the room temperature is controlled to a temperature different from the temperature initially set by the user.

For example, if the set temperature T_target set by the user is 28.0 ° C., but the operation of the air conditioner 100 is controlled with the set temperature T_target set to 26.0 ° C., after the user arrives at the room. Over time, it may feel too cold and uncomfortable, and the energy-saving effect may be impaired. Therefore, after the user arrives at the room, the indoor unit control unit 12 may control the temperature of the conditioned air toward the initially set temperature T_target. The indoor unit control unit 12 controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 so that, for example, the set temperature T_target is initially set after a lapse of a predetermined time from the time when the user arrives at the room. That is, the indoor unit control unit 12 controls the air conditioner 100 after the estimated time of arrival has elapsed, targeting the operating state indicated in the remote operation condition information set in the remote control information setting unit 256. The predetermined time is, for example, 30 minutes.

Further, after the user arrives at the room, the updated set temperature T_target may be maintained and the user may be notified that the set temperature T_target has been changed according to the user's experience. The user who receives the notification may operate the controller 20 again at the set temperature T_target desired by the user.

When the set temperature T_target is changed so as to be higher than the set temperature T_taget in step S170, the room temperature is brought to the set temperature T_target in a time shorter than the required time t_c obtained in step S120. Can be done. Therefore, the indoor unit control unit 12 appropriately recalculates the required time t_c and controls so as to delay the control start time t_start, thereby shortening the operating time of the air conditioner 100 and reducing the energy consumption. Is possible.

Further, the indoor unit control unit 12 operates without changing the control start time t_start, for example, by suppressing the difference between the blowing temperature of the air-conditioned air blown from the indoor unit 1 and the indoor temperature to be small. It is also possible to reduce energy consumption. The indoor unit control unit 12 may be set so that the combination of operating time, blowing temperature, wind speed, wind direction, etc. is appropriate so as to suppress energy consumption as much as possible.

Contrary to the above, when the set temperature T_target is changed so as to be lower than the set temperature T_target in step S170, even if the control of the operation of the air conditioner 100 is started at the control start time t_start, There is a possibility that the set temperature T_target cannot be reached by the estimated arrival time t_arrival. The indoor unit control unit 12 controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 so that the indoor temperature T_room approaches the set temperature T_target as much as possible.

Further, in the above example, the user information 260 has been accumulated from the time when the user sets the operation of the air conditioner 100 on the operation terminal 250, regardless of whether or not the user's remote control information is set. Instead, the user information 260 is always transmitted from the operation terminal 250 to the air conditioner 100, and if the user information 260 is stored in the air conditioner 100, it goes back from the time when the user sets the remote control information. User information 260 can be used.

At this time, since the capacity of the indoor unit storage unit 125 is finite, the information that can be stored is limited. Here, it is considered that old information such as one day or more ago is not necessary for controlling the air conditioner 100. Therefore, if the old user information 260 is deleted, the latest necessary user information 260 can be secured. For example, by deleting the information before the predetermined regulation time t_B for each information collection interval t_A, the user information 260 from before the regulation time t_B to the current time can be used.

Further, in the above example, it has been described that the indoor unit control unit 12 in the air conditioner 100 performs arithmetic processing such as recording and accumulating user information 260 and calculating the average temperature Tu_avage, but for remote control of the operation terminal 250. Arithmetic processing such as storage of user information 260 and calculation of average temperature Tu_avage may be performed in the application program or the server 240.

In the above, the case where the ambient air temperature T_user is collected as the user information 260 and the air conditioner 100 is operated in an energy-saving manner while maintaining comfort by assuming the user's sensible temperature has been described. As for the utilization of the ambient temperature T_user, not only energy-saving operation but also the outside environment and the place where the air conditioner 100 is installed are used to prevent adverse effects on health due to sudden temperature changes such as so-called heat shock. It is also conceivable to control so that the temperature difference does not become too large. In this case, when the difference between the outside air temperature and the set temperature T_target is larger than the predetermined temperature difference, the indoor unit control unit 12 changes the set temperature T_target so that the difference becomes smaller.

An example of utilizing information other than the ambient air temperature T_user as user information 260 will be described. The user information acquisition unit 255 acquires the user's pulse rate information as the user information 260 and transmits it to the indoor unit control unit 12. The indoor unit control unit 12 uses the user's pulse rate information as user information 260, calculates an average value in the same manner as described above, and corrects the set temperature T_taget and the control start time t_start based on the average value of the pulse rate. Controls the operation of the air conditioner 100.

In this case, the indoor unit control unit 12 estimates that the user is in a vigorous exercise state when the pulse rate increases. When you are sweating a lot due to strenuous exercise, your body suddenly gets too cold when you enter the air-conditioned room. Therefore, the indoor unit control unit 12 prevents heat shock even when the temperature difference between the outside environment and the air temperature at the place where the air conditioner 100 is installed is smaller than when not exercising. To control. The pulse rate of the user can be acquired by using an external device attached to the operation terminal 250 and cooperating with the operation terminal 250 so as to be able to perform information communication, or a sensor built in the main body of the operation terminal 250. As the external device, for example, a wristband type activity meter linked with a smartphone can be used.

Further, the user information acquisition unit 255 may acquire information on the amount of sweating of the user as user information 260 and transmit it to the indoor unit control unit 12. The indoor unit control unit 12 uses the user's sweating amount information as user information 260, calculates an average value in the same manner as described above, and corrects the set temperature T_target and the control start time t_start based on the average value of the sweating amount. Controls the operation of the air conditioner 100. The amount of sweating of the user can be acquired by using an external device attached to the operation terminal 250 and cooperating with the operation terminal 250 so as to be able to perform information communication, or a sensor built in the main body of the operation terminal 250.

As another example, the user information acquisition unit 255 acquires the user's blood pressure information as the user information 260 and transmits it to the indoor unit control unit 12. Assuming the cooling operation of the air conditioner 100, if the body suddenly cools down, the blood pressure may rise, which may have an adverse effect on health. Therefore, when the user's blood pressure is higher than the preset reference value, the indoor unit control unit 12 prevents the user's blood pressure from fluctuating by performing control such as changing the set temperature T_target to a higher temperature. It becomes possible. The higher temperature is exemplified by a temperature 2 ° C. higher than the set temperature T_target, for example. The blood pressure of the user can be acquired by using an external device attached to the operation terminal 250 and cooperating with the operation terminal 250 so as to be able to perform information communication, or a sensor built in the main body of the operation terminal 250.

Further, in the above, the case where there is one user has been described, but when there are a plurality of users, the air conditioner based on the operation of the operation terminal 250 of each user and the user information 260 of each user. It is conceivable that the control of 100 driving will compete and the comfort of all users will not be satisfied. As an example of controlling the operation of the air conditioner 100 in such a case, when the first user carries the operation terminal 250_1 and the second user carries the operation terminal 250_2, the two users are separated. Consider the case of leaving a place and heading for the same place where the air conditioner 100 is installed.

If there is a difference in the estimated arrival times of the two users, the installation location of the air conditioner 100 will be manned when one user arrives first, so priority is given to the operation from the user who is scheduled to arrive first. Is reasonable. However, since it does not always arrive at the scheduled time, it is possible that two users arrive at the installation location of the air conditioner 100 in the reverse order of the setting. Considering this, it is preferable to consider both users to some extent and control both users so that the comfort is not significantly impaired.

The operation control method of the air conditioner 100 when there are a plurality of users will be described below. For example, the first user performs a remote control information setting operation from the operation terminal 250_1 with an estimated arrival time of 14:50 and a set temperature of 26.0 ° C. The second user performs a remote control information setting operation from the operation terminal 250_2, in which the estimated arrival time is 15:00 and the set temperature is 28.0 ° C.

In this case, the indoor unit control unit 12 sets the control start time t_start based on the remote control information from the operation terminal 250_1 with the earlier estimated arrival time and the user information 260 of the first user received from the operation terminal 250_1. Control information such as temperature T_taget is calculated and updated. This is the main control information. Further, the indoor unit control unit 12 is a main user as a user who should be treated with priority given to the first user.

On the other hand, when the indoor unit control unit 12 controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 based on the remote control information from the operation terminal 250_2 and the user information 260 of the second user received from the operation terminal 250_2, The control information is calculated and updated, and used as the sub control information. Further, the indoor unit control unit 12 has a second user as a sub-user.

The indoor unit control unit 12 basically controls the operation of the air conditioner 100 based on the main control information, but the position information of the first user and the second user are set at predetermined fixed time intervals. The arrival times of the first user and the second user are predicted based on the location information of the user. As a result, if the estimated time of arrival of the secondary user is earlier than the estimated time of arrival of the primary user, the primary user and the secondary user are replaced based on the estimated estimated arrival time instead of the set estimated arrival time. That is, the indoor unit control unit 12 has the second user as the main user and the first user as the sub-user. As a result, the operation of the air conditioner 100 can be controlled based on the user information 260 so that the user who actually arrives at the installation location of the air conditioner 100 first can obtain comfort.

Further, although the case where the air conditioner 100 is started to be operated is shown above, an operation for changing the set temperature of the air conditioner 100 which is already in operation may be performed on the operation terminal 250.

As described above, the air conditioner system 300 according to the first embodiment provides the user's arrival schedule information to the installation location of the air conditioner 100 and the operating conditions for remote control of the air conditioner 100 including the set temperature. The user sets the remote control information including the remote control condition information to be instructed in the remote control information setting unit 256 of the operation terminal 250. When the indoor unit control unit 12 receives the remote control information and the user information, the indoor unit control unit 12 corrects the information included in the remote control information based on the user information and controls the operation of the air conditioner 100. As a result, the air conditioner 100 can perform driving that reflects the environment in which the user is placed or the state of the user himself / herself, instead of driving according to the remote control condition information set by the user, and the comfort experienced by the user. It is possible to operate with reduced energy consumption while maintaining the above.

Therefore, according to the air conditioning system 300 according to the first embodiment, when the air conditioner 100 is remotely controlled from the operation terminal 250, it is possible to suppress energy consumption while maintaining the comfort experienced by the user. It has the effect of being able to do it.

The configuration shown in the above-described embodiment shows an example of the contents of the present invention, and the technologies of the embodiments can be combined with each other, or can be combined with another known technology. However, it is possible to omit or change a part of the configuration without departing from the gist of the present invention.

1 indoor unit, 2 outdoor unit, 3 refrigerant piping, 11 receiver, 12 indoor unit control unit, 13 indoor temperature sensor, 14 display unit, 15 blower fan, 16 wind direction plate unit, 20,20_1,20_2,20_n controller, 21 Communication line, 100,100_1,100_2,100_n air conditioner, 101 processor, 102 memory, 121 information input unit, 122 information input / output unit, 123 calculation unit, 124 output unit, 125 indoor unit storage unit, 210,210_1,210_2 , 210_n adapter, 220 router, 230 external network, 231 Internet network, 240 server, 250, 250_1,250_2,250_m operation terminal, 251 terminal operation unit, 252 terminal display unit, 253 terminal communication unit, 254 location information acquisition unit, 255 User information acquisition unit, 256 remote operation information setting unit, 257 terminal storage unit, 258 terminal control unit, 260 user information, 300 air harmony system, 401 air temperature harmonization target space, 402 ceiling, 403 outdoor, t_A information collection interval, T_add Correction value, t_arrival scheduled arrival time, t_B regulation time, t_c required time, T_judge temperature difference judgment value, T_room room temperature, t_start control start time, T_taget set temperature, T_user ambient temperature, Tu_avarage average temperature.

Claims

With an air conditioner
An operation terminal that is connected to the air conditioner via a communication network and is carried by the user to remotely control the operation of the air conditioner from a remote location.
With
The operation terminal is
While the user moves from the remote location to the installation location of the air conditioner, the information indicating the surrounding environment of the user, which is the information indicating the surrounding environment of the place where the user is, and the information indicating the position where the user is located. A user including at least one of a user's location information, a user's activity state information which is information indicating the user's activity state, and a user's physiological state information which is information indicating the user's physiological state. The user information acquisition department that collects information and
Remote control information including arrival schedule information that can recognize the arrival schedule time of the user to the installation location of the air conditioner and remote operation condition information that indicates the operation conditions of the air conditioner is set. Remote control information setting unit and
With
The air conditioner is
Provided with an air conditioner control unit that controls the air conditioner at a time before the estimated arrival time according to the corrected remote operation condition information in which the remote operation condition information is corrected based on the user information.
A remote control system featuring.
The user information is information on the ambient temperature of the user.
The remote operation condition information is information on the set temperature.
The remote control system according to claim 1.
The air conditioner control unit
The control start time for starting the control of the air conditioner is calculated based on the arrival schedule information and the remote operation condition information.
The set temperature and the control start time are corrected based on the information on the ambient temperature of the user, which is periodically collected by the user information acquisition unit.
Controlling the air conditioner according to the corrected set temperature and the corrected control start time.
2. The remote control system according to claim 2.
The user information is the location information of the user,
The air conditioner control unit acquires temperature information corresponding to the location indicated by the user's position information based on the user's position information, and uses the temperature information as information on the ambient temperature of the user. Correcting the set temperature and the control start time,
The remote control system according to claim 3.
The user information is information on the pulse of the user or information on the blood pressure of the user.
The remote operation condition information is information on the set temperature.
The remote control system according to claim 1.
The air conditioner control unit
The control start time for starting the control of the air conditioner is calculated based on the arrival schedule information and the remote operation condition information.
The set temperature and the control start time are corrected based on the pulse information of the user or the blood pressure information of the user periodically collected by the user information acquisition unit.
Controlling the air conditioner according to the corrected set temperature and the corrected control start time.
The remote control system according to claim 5.
The air conditioner control unit controls the air conditioner after the lapse of the scheduled arrival time, aiming at the operating state indicated in the remote operation condition information set in the remote control information setting unit.
The remote control system according to any one of claims 3, 4 and 6.
There are a plurality of different operating terminals carried by different users,
The air conditioner control unit is set on the operation terminal carried by the user who has an earlier scheduled arrival time, based on the user's position information set in the remote control information setting unit of the plurality of operation terminals. Controlling the air conditioner with priority given to the corrected remote operation condition information in which the remote operation condition information is corrected based on the user information of the user who has an earlier scheduled arrival time.
The remote control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the remote control system is characterized.
An air conditioner that controls operation based on information transmitted from an operation terminal carried by a user in a remote location.
An air conditioner control unit that controls the air conditioner based on the information transmitted from the operation terminal is provided.
The air conditioner control unit
Information on the user's surrounding environment, which is information indicating the surrounding environment of the user's location, collected by the operation terminal while the user moves from the remote location to the installation location of the air conditioner, the user. Of the user's location information, which is information indicating the location of the user, the user's activity status information, which is information indicating the user's activity status, and the user's physiological status information, which is information indicating the user's physiological condition. With user information, including at least one of
Remote control information including arrival schedule information that can recognize the arrival schedule time of the user to the installation location of the air conditioner, remote operation condition information that indicates the operation conditions of the air conditioner, and
Received
To control the air conditioner at a time earlier than the estimated time of arrival according to the corrected remote operation condition information in which the remote operation condition information is corrected based on the user information.
An air conditioner featuring.
The user information is information on the ambient temperature of the user.
The remote operation condition information is information on the set temperature.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 9.
The air conditioner control unit
The control start time for starting the control of the air conditioner is calculated based on the arrival schedule information and the remote operation condition information.
Based on the information on the ambient temperature of the user collected periodically, the set temperature and the control start time are corrected.
Controlling the air conditioner according to the corrected set temperature and the corrected control start time.
10. The air conditioner according to claim 10.
The user information is information on the pulse of the user or information on the blood pressure of the user.
The remote operation condition information is information on the set temperature.
9. The air conditioner according to claim 9.
The air conditioner control unit
The control start time for starting the control of the air conditioner is calculated based on the arrival schedule information and the remote operation condition information.
Based on the user's pulse information or the user's blood pressure information collected periodically, the set temperature and the control start time are corrected.
Controlling the air conditioner according to the corrected set temperature and the corrected control start time.
12. The air conditioner according to claim 12.
The air conditioner control unit controls the air conditioner with the target of the operating state indicated in the remote operation condition information transmitted from the operation terminal after the lapse of the estimated time of arrival.
11. The air conditioner according to claim 11 or 13.
There are a plurality of different operating terminals carried by different users,
Based on the user's position information transmitted from the plurality of operation terminals, the air conditioner control unit receives the remote operation condition information transmitted from the operation terminal carried to the user having an earlier scheduled arrival time. Controlling the air conditioner with priority given to the corrected remote operation condition information corrected based on the user information of the user whose scheduled time is early.
The air conditioner according to any one of claims 9 to 14.