WO2023238298A1

WO2023238298A1 - Control device, control system, apparatus control method, and program

Info

Publication number: WO2023238298A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/023178
Authority: WO
Inventors: 雄喜小川; 正裕石原
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2022-06-08
Filing date: 2022-06-08
Publication date: 2023-12-14
Also published as: JP7221467B1; JPWO2023238298A1

Abstract

A cloud server (1) comprises: an apparatus status acquisition unit (111) that acquires apparatus status information indicating at least one of the apparatus status of each of a plurality of apparatus (3) used by a user and environmental parameters indicating the environment in which each of the plurality of apparatus (3) has been installed and which is detected by each of the plurality of apparatus (3); and a virtual apparatus status information generation unit (112) that generates virtual apparatus status information having properties different from the apparatus status information related to each of the plurality of apparatus (3) from the apparatus status information of each of the plurality of apparatus (3) on the basis of method information that defines processing content to be performed by at least one virtual apparatus in response to apparatus status information using the properties of the apparatus status information for each of the plurality of apparatus (3).

Description

Control devices, control systems, equipment control methods and programs

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

An electrical equipment status information collection system has been proposed that includes a server computer that acquires the amount of power consumed by the electrical equipment or the status of the power supply through a virtual equipment that is a software object that includes a method for acquiring the status information of the electrical equipment. (For example, see Patent Document 1). In this state information collection system, a server computer has a function of creating an included virtual device that holds state information acquired via a virtual device corresponding to each of at least one electrical device that can communicate with the server computer. Status information of at least one electrical device that can communicate with the device is provided to other server computers via the created included virtual device.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-157178

By the way, it is possible to present the environmental parameters of an environment realized by a plurality of electrical devices to the user as environmental parameters managed by one virtual electrical device that is realized by combining the functions of each of the plurality of electrical devices. Accordingly, there is a demand for enabling users to easily grasp the overall cooperation status of a plurality of electrical devices or the status of an environment realized by a plurality of electrical devices.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above reasons, and aims to provide a control device, a control method, and a program that allow a user to easily grasp the overall cooperation status of multiple devices or the environment realized by multiple devices. purpose.

In order to achieve the above object, a control device according to the present disclosure includes:
a device status acquisition unit that acquires device status information indicating at least one of the device status of each of the plurality of devices and an environmental parameter detected by each of the plurality of devices indicating an environment in which each of the plurality of devices is installed;
The device state of each of the plurality of devices is determined based on method information that defines processing content to be executed by at least one virtual device on the device state information using the property of the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. a virtual device state information generation unit that generates virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices from the information.

According to the present disclosure, the virtual device state information generation unit generates the device state information of each of the plurality of devices based on the method information that defines the processing content to be executed by the virtual device on the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. , generates virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. With this, for example, as method information, it is possible to define a process for generating virtual device state information indicating the cooperation status of the entire plurality of devices or the environmental parameters of the environment in which the plurality of devices are installed from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. The virtual device state information generation unit can generate virtual device state information indicating the cooperation status of the entire plurality of devices or the environmental parameters of the environment in which the plurality of devices are installed. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the cooperative state of the entire plurality of devices or the environment in which the plurality of devices are installed, which cannot be directly grasped from the device status information of each of the plurality of devices.

A diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a control system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure Block diagram showing the hardware configuration of a control system according to an embodiment Block diagram showing the functional configuration of a control system according to an embodiment A diagram showing an example of information stored in the device state storage unit of the cloud server according to the embodiment. A diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a virtual device storage unit of a cloud server according to an embodiment. A diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a virtual device state storage unit of a cloud server according to an embodiment. Sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the control system according to the embodiment Sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the control system according to the embodiment Sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the control system according to the embodiment Sequence diagram for explaining the operation of the control system according to the embodiment Flowchart showing an example of the flow of terminal device control processing executed by the terminal device according to the embodiment Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing executed by the cloud server according to the embodiment Flowchart showing an example of the flow of device control processing executed by the cloud server according to the embodiment

Hereinafter, a control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The control device according to the embodiment acquires device status information indicating at least one of the device status of each of the plurality of devices and an environmental parameter detected by each of the plurality of devices that indicates the environment in which each of the plurality of devices is installed. A device status acquisition unit and method information that defines the processing content to be executed by at least one virtual device on the device status information using the device status acquisition unit and the properties of the device status information of each of the multiple devices. A virtual device state information generation unit that generates virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices from the state information. Here, "virtual equipment" refers to a virtual equipment different from actual equipment that has information including environmental parameters such as temperature information of each of multiple actual equipments, and properties of each equipment state such as operation mode. It is defined as a device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the control system according to this embodiment includes a cloud server 1 that controls a plurality of devices 3, and a terminal device 5. Here, the device 3 is connected to the local network NW2 via a communication adapter 42. The local network NW2 is configured of a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) or a wired LAN. Further, the local network NW2 is connected to a wide area network NW1 such as the Internet via a broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 41. Cloud server 1 and terminal device 5 are connected to wide area network NW1. The plurality of devices 3 are, for example, an air conditioner 3A, a humidifier 3B, a temperature sensor 3C, and an air cleaner 3D. Note that the device 3 may also be a refrigerator, a CO ₂ sensor, or the like. Each of the communication adapters 42 includes a communication module for communicating with the BBR 41, and communicates with the cloud server 1 using communication protocols such as HTTP(S), MQTT, and WebSocket. Each of the devices 3 is equipped with a storage unit (not shown), and periodically stores information indicating at least one of the device status of the device and environmental parameters indicating the environment in which the device is installed. The information is stored in the storage unit in chronological order in association with time information indicating the time when the information was generated. Here, the information indicating the device state includes information indicating the ON/OFF state of the device 3, set temperature, operation mode, error details, etc. Note that the device 3 may store only information indicating at least one of the most recent device state of the device and environmental parameters in the storage unit in association with the above-mentioned timing information. Further, the information indicating the environmental parameters includes information indicating the temperature inside the room where the device 3 is installed, the outside temperature of the building where the device 3 is installed, the indoor humidity, the CO ₂ concentration, etc. When the device 3 acquires the device status request information from the cloud server 1, the device 3 generates device status notification information for notifying the cloud server 1 of its own status, and sends the information to the cloud server 1 via the communication adapter 42. Send. Here, the device status request information is information for requesting the above-mentioned device status notification information to be transmitted to the cloud server 1. Additionally, the device status notification information includes device status information that indicates the most recent device status or environmental parameters stored in the storage unit of the device 3, property information that indicates properties of the device status information, and information that indicates when the device status information was generated. It includes timing information and device identification information for identifying the device 3.

The terminal device 5 is, for example, a smartphone, and as shown in FIG. 506, and a bus 509 that connects these to each other. The main storage unit 502 includes volatile memory such as RAM (Random Access Memory), and is used as a work area for the CPU 501. The auxiliary storage unit 503 is a nonvolatile memory such as a semiconductor flash memory, and stores programs for the CPU 501 to execute various processes. The display unit 504 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro-Luminescence) display. The input unit 505 is, for example, a transparent touch pad placed over the display unit 504. The communication unit 506 is connected to the wide area network NW1, and transmits information transferred from the CPU 501 to the cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1, and transmits information received from the cloud server 1 via the wide area network NW1 to the CPU 501. or transfer it.

By reading out the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 503 to the main storage unit 502 and executing it, the CPU 501 acquires the virtual machine status information acquisition unit 511, the display control unit 512, the reception unit 513, and the command notification, as shown in FIG. The registration information management section 514 functions as a registration information management section 515, a registration information notification section 516, and a notification acquisition section 517. Further, the auxiliary storage unit 503 shown in FIG. 2 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a virtual machine state storage unit 531 that stores virtual machine state information indicating the state of the virtual machine, and a registration information storage unit 532. The registration information storage unit 532 stores model information and device identification information of each of the plurality of devices 3, and authority information indicating the authority to change settings for each virtual device in association with each other. Here, as a virtual device, for example, an "air conditioner with a humidity sensor" defined using the function of the air conditioner 3A and the humidity detection function of the humidifier 3B, the function of the air conditioner 3A and the humidifier 3B "Air conditioner with humidification function" defined using the function of , and "air conditioner with humidification function" defined using the function of the temperature sensor 3C and the function of detecting multiple other environmental parameters (for example, the humidity detection function of the humidifier 3B). environmental sensors. In addition, if the cloud server 1 has a function of acquiring pollen information from a weather server (not shown) connected to the wide area network NW1, the virtual equipment may include, for example, the function of an air purifier 3D and the pollen information acquired from the weather server. "Air purifier with pollen sensor" can be defined using the information. Furthermore, the cloud server 1 branches the power supplied from the grid power supply to the main power line to each of the plurality of devices 3, and the power conditioner (not shown) connected to the main power line. When equipped with a function to acquire power information from a power measuring device (not shown) that measures charging power or discharging power, etc., an "energy management device" is installed as a virtual device using the power information acquired from the power measuring device, for example. can be defined.

When the virtual device status information acquisition unit 511 acquires the virtual device status information that notifies the status of the virtual device transmitted from the cloud server 1 and the corresponding device identification information, the virtual device status information acquisition unit 511 acquires the acquired virtual device status information and device identification information. and are stored in the virtual device state storage unit 531 in association with each other. The reception unit 513 accepts the details of the operation performed by the user on the input unit 505, and notifies the command notification unit 514 or the registered information management unit 515 of operation information indicating the accepted operation details. For example, the reception unit 513 allows a user to input a virtual device addition operation to the input unit 505 to add a new virtual device to the cloud server 1, or to delete a virtual device registered in the cloud server 1. When a virtual device deletion operation or a virtual device setting change operation for changing the virtual device settings is performed, the contents of these operations are accepted.

When the command notification unit 514 is notified of the operation information indicating that the settings of the virtual device are to be changed from the reception unit 513, the command notification unit 514 generates setting change command information based on the changed settings of the virtual device indicated by the operation information. Send to cloud server 1. Here, the setting change command information includes device identification information of the virtual device whose settings are to be changed, post-change setting information that indicates the settings after the change, and user identification information that identifies the user who changes the settings. , is included. When the registration information management unit 515 is notified of operation information including device identification information, model information, and authority information of a newly registered virtual device from the reception unit 513, the registration information management unit 515 stores the device identification information, model information, and other information included in the notified operation information. The information and authority information are stored in the registered information storage unit 532 in association with each other. On the other hand, when the registration information management unit 515 is notified from the reception unit 513 of operation information including the device identification information of the virtual device whose registration is to be deleted from among the already registered virtual devices, the registration information management unit 515 controls the operation information included in the notified operation information. The device identification information and the corresponding model information and authority information are deleted from the registration information storage section 532, and the device identification information is notified to the registration information notification section 516.

When the aforementioned various information corresponding to the virtual device is newly stored in the registration information storage section 532, the registration information notification section 516 includes the newly stored various information and corresponds to the newly stored various information. Virtual device addition command information is generated and sent to the cloud server 1 to instruct the virtual device registered in the cloud server 1 to be updated by adding a virtual device. Here, the virtual device addition command information includes device identification information and model information of the newly added virtual device, property information indicating the properties to be used in the newly added virtual device, and setting changes for the newly added virtual device. and user identification information that identifies the user who is permitted to do so. On the other hand, when the device identification information, model information, and authority information that are associated with each other are deleted from the registration information storage section 532, the registration information notification section 516 receives the deleted device identification information notified from the registration information management section 515. , and generates virtual device deletion command information that instructs the cloud server 1 to update the virtual device registered in the cloud server 1 by deleting the deleted virtual device from the registration information storage unit 532, and sends it to the cloud server 1. Here, the virtual device deletion command information includes device identification information of the virtual device to be deleted.

Upon acquiring the error notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1, the notification acquisition unit 517 extracts error code information indicating the cause of the error included in the acquired error notification information, and sends the extracted error code information to the display control unit 512. Notice. Here, the error code information includes error code information indicating that the cause of the error is that the user of the terminal device 5 does not have the authority to change the settings of the virtual device, and the content of the setting change to the virtual device is prohibited by the virtual device whose settings are to be changed. Examples include error code information indicating that the error has occurred. Further, upon acquiring the warning notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1, the notification acquisition unit 517 extracts the device identification information and property information of the virtual device to be deleted included in the acquired warning notification information, and The device identification information and property information of the device are notified to the display control unit 512.

The display control unit 512 forms a virtual machine state notification image for notifying the user of the state of the virtual machine based on the virtual machine state information stored in the virtual machine state storage unit 531. Then, the display control unit 512 causes the display unit 504 to display the formed virtual device status notification image. Further, when the display control unit 512 is notified of the above-mentioned error code information from the notification acquisition unit 517, the display control unit 512 forms an error notification image including an error message corresponding to the error code information based on the notified error code information. , causes the display unit 504 to display the formed error notification image. Further, when the display control unit 512 is notified of the device identification information and property information of the virtual device to be deleted from the notification acquisition unit 517, the display control unit 512 receives the device identification information and property information of the virtual device to be deleted. , a warning notification image containing a warning message warning that the content of virtual device state information of a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted will be affected by the deletion of the virtual device; A warning notification image is displayed on the display unit 504.

Note that some of the functions of the terminal device 5 may be omitted depending on the user of the terminal device 5. For example, a terminal device 5 owned by a construction contractor who manages the construction of a plurality of devices 3 has all the functions described above, whereas a terminal device 5 owned by a user of a plurality of devices 3 manages registration information. The functions of the registration information notification section 515, the registration information notification section 516, and the registration information storage section 532 may not be provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cloud server 1 includes a CPU 101, a main storage section 102, an auxiliary storage section 103, a communication section 106, a timekeeping section 108, and a bus 109 that interconnects them. CPU 101 is, for example, a multi-core processor. The main storage unit 102 has volatile memory such as RAM, and is used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary storage unit 103 is composed of a large-capacity nonvolatile memory, and stores programs for realizing various functions of the cloud server 1. The communication unit 106 is connected to the wide area network NW1. The clock unit 108 has, for example, an RTC (Real Time Clock), and notifies the CPU 101 of clocked time information.

By reading the program stored in the auxiliary storage unit 103 into the main storage unit 102 and executing it, the CPU 101 sends the device status acquisition unit 111, the virtual device status information generation unit 112, and the virtual device status information notification as shown in FIG. unit 113, command acquisition unit 114, error determination unit 115, error notification unit 116, control information generation unit 117, control information notification unit 118, virtual device update unit 119, authority registration unit 120, cooperation determination unit 121, warning notification unit 122 It also functions as an operation result notification section 123. Further, the auxiliary storage unit 103 shown in FIG. 2 includes, as shown in FIG. 3, a device status storage unit 131, a virtual device storage unit 132, a virtual device master information storage unit 133, a virtual device status storage unit 134, It has an authority information storage section 135 and a control information storage section 136. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the device state storage unit 131 stores device state information indicating at least one of the device state of each device 3 and an environmental parameter detected by each device 3 that indicates the environment in which each device 3 is installed. and property information indicating properties of the device status information are stored in association with a combination of device identification information and model information of the corresponding device 3. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the device status storage unit 131 stores property information PAR[0,2] (ON/ON/ OFF state), PAR[0,3] (set temperature), PAR[0,4] (wind direction), PAR[0,5] (wind speed) and the environment in which device 3A is installed. This indicates that property information PAR[0,0] (temperature) indicating the indicated environmental parameter and device status information corresponding to PAR[0,1] (outside temperature) are stored. Further, the device status storage unit 131 stores property information PAR[1,2] (ON/OFF status) indicating the status of the humidifier 3B, PAR[1] for the humidifier 3B identified by the device identification information IDE[1]. , 6] (set humidity), PAR [1, 7] (tank water amount), PAR [1, 8] (operation mode coefficient), and environmental parameters indicating the environment in which the humidifier 3B is installed. This indicates that property information PAR[1,0] (humidity) is stored. Here, when the operation mode coefficient of the humidifier 3B is "strong", "medium", and "weak", for example, the coefficient corresponding to each operation mode is "3.0", "2.0", "2.0", etc. It can be set to "0" or "1.0". The example shown in FIG. 4 shows that it is set to "weak", that is, "1.0".

For example, as shown in FIG. 5A, the virtual device storage unit 132 stores virtual device information including property information indicating properties used in the virtual device, method information, and compatible device information, and stores the corresponding virtual device. It is stored in association with a combination of device identification information to be identified and model information indicating the type of virtual device. Examples of the virtual equipment include the aforementioned "air conditioner with humidification function" and "energy management device." Here, the method information is information that defines the processing content that at least one virtual device executes on the device status information using the properties of the device status information of each of the devices 3. In other words, the method information is information that defines the processing content that at least one virtual device executes on the device status information using the properties of the device status information of each of the devices 3. This represents a method of calculating virtual device state information using device state information that has. The property information can be represented by, for example, properties defined in the ECHONET Lite Web API (registered trademark) guidelines. For example, the method information is defined using property information indicating the tank water volume of the humidifier 3B for an "air conditioner with humidification function", and defines a formula for calculating the remaining humidification time from the tank water volume. There is a method that defines a so-called information synchronization method that copies the device state information of the corresponding device 3 as it is. Further, the method information may define a logical operation on the state of the device 3 indicated by the device state information, or a difference operation between the environmental parameter indicated by the past device state information and the current environmental parameter. Further, the corresponding device information indicates the device identification information of the device 3 corresponding to the virtual device, and corresponds to the device identification information of the device 3 from which the virtual device obtains the device information for obtaining the virtual device status information.

In the example shown in FIG. 5A, the virtual device storage unit 132 stores information such as the ON/OFF state, set temperature, set humidity, and remaining humidification time for the air conditioner VA with a humidifying function identified by the device identification information IDVE[0]. The property information VPAR[0,2], VPAR[0,3], VPAR[0,6], VPAR[0,9] indicating the device status of the virtual device and the device 3 corresponding to the virtual device installed. This indicates that property information VPAR[0,8] indicating comfort, which is an environmental parameter indicating the environment, and method information corresponding to each property information are stored. Here, the property information VPAR[0,2] indicating the ON/OFF state of the virtual device is the device state information corresponding to the property information PAR[0,2] indicating the ON/OFF state of the air conditioner 3A, and the humidifier This indicates that it corresponds to the logical sum of the property information PAR [1, 2] indicating the ON/OFF state of the device 3B and the corresponding device state information. That is, both the ON/OFF state of the air conditioner 3A corresponding to the property information PAR[0,2] and the ON/OFF state of the humidifier 3B corresponding to the property information PAR[1,2] are in the ON state. If it is, the ON state is set, and if at least one is in the OFF state, the OFF state is set. In addition, the set temperature and set humidity of the virtual equipment corresponding to the property information VPAR[0,3] and VPAR[0,6] are the set temperature of the air conditioner 3A corresponding to the property information PAR[0,3], respectively. This indicates that the set humidity of the humidifier 3B corresponding to the property information PAR[1,6] is to be adopted as is. Furthermore, the comfort indicated by the air conditioner VA with humidification function corresponding to the property information VPAR[0,8] corresponds to the property information PAR[0,0], PAR[0,5], and PAR[1,0]. It is calculated using a function whose arguments are the temperature detected by the air conditioner 3A, the wind speed of the air conditioner 3A, the humidity detected by the humidifier 3B, and the parameter SP indicating the season. There is. In addition, the remaining humidification time of the air conditioner VA with humidification function corresponding to the property information VPAR[0,9] is determined by the amount of water in the tank of the humidifier 3B corresponding to the property information PAR[1,7]. , 8] by the product of the operation mode coefficient of the humidifier 3B and a preset coefficient C1. Here, as the coefficient C1, for example, the amount of water consumed per unit time of the humidifier 3B when the humidifier 3B is operated in the "weak" operation mode can be adopted.

Returning to FIG. 3, the virtual device master information storage unit 133 stores method template information, which is the source of the method information, for each of a plurality of preset virtual devices, in correspondence with model information indicating the type of virtual device. and remember it. Method information is generated by setting properties of device state information used in a virtual device and instantiating method template information associated with model information of a virtual device that uses the method information.

For example, as shown in FIG. 5B, the virtual device state storage unit 134 converts the virtual device state information and property information of each virtual device stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 into a combination of device identification information and model information of the virtual device. Store in association.

Returning to FIG. 3, the authority information storage unit 135 stores authority information indicating the authority to change the settings of the device 3 and the virtual device in association with the device identification information of the device 3 and the virtual device. Here, the authority information includes user identification information that identifies a user who is permitted to change settings for each of the device 3 and the virtual device. The control information storage unit 136 stores control information for controlling the operation of the device 3.

The device state acquisition unit 111 receives the device state notification from each of the plurality of devices 3 by transmitting the device state request information described above to each of the plurality of devices 3 each time a preset device state acquisition time arrives. Get information. Here, the device state acquisition unit 111 detects that the above-mentioned device state acquisition time has arrived based on time information measured by the clock unit 108. This device state acquisition timing is set to arrive at, for example, every 30 minutes. Note that the arrival interval of the device status acquisition timing may be set separately for each virtual device, for example. For example, for the virtual device "Energy Management Device", the arrival interval of the device status acquisition time for the corresponding device 3 is set to 30 minutes, and for the virtual device "Environmental Sensor", the device status acquisition time for the corresponding device 3 is set to 30 minutes. The arrival interval may be set to 5 minutes. Furthermore, upon acquiring the device status notification information, the device status acquisition unit 111 extracts the device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information of the device 3 included in the acquired device status notification information. In this way, the device state acquisition unit 111 indicates at least one of the device state of each of the plurality of devices 3 and the environmental parameter detected by each of the plurality of devices 3 and indicating the environment in which each of the plurality of devices 3 is installed. Get device status information. The device status acquisition unit 111 stores the acquired device status information and property information in the device status storage unit 131 in association with the combination of device identification information and model information of the device 3 that is the source of the extracted device status notification information. let Here, if the generation time of the acquired device state information is later than the immediately previous device state acquisition time, the device state acquisition unit 111 uses the acquired device state information to store the device state in the device state storage unit 131. Update information. On the other hand, if the generation time of the acquired device status information is earlier than the previous device status acquisition time, the device status acquisition unit 111 generates the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 131 using the acquired device status information. Avoid updating. In addition, after being notified of the device identification information of the device 3 to which the control information is to be transmitted from the control information notification unit 118, the device status acquisition unit 111 responds to a response transmitted from the device 3 identified by the notified device identification information. Once the information is acquired, the device status information is acquired from the device 3 by transmitting a device status request to the device 3 that is the source of the response information. Here, the response information is information for notifying that the device 3 to which the control information is transmitted has acquired the control information transmitted from the cloud server 1.

The virtual device state information generation unit 112 generates virtual device state information from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices 3 based on the virtual device method information stored in the virtual device storage unit 132. Here, the virtual device state information generation unit 112 can generate virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of the device 3. Such virtual device status information includes the device status of the device 3 corresponding to the virtual device, such as the remaining humidification time of the virtual device, comfort, etc., and the environment in which the device 3 corresponding to the virtual device is installed. Examples include information indicating parameters. The virtual device state information generation unit 112 stores the generated virtual device state information in the virtual device state storage unit 134 in association with the combination of device identification information and model information of the virtual device. The virtual device state information notification unit 113 generates virtual device state notification information including the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 and the device identification information of the virtual device corresponding to the virtual device state information, and transmits the generated virtual device state notification information to the terminal device 5. do. Further, after starting the operation based on the control information notified from the control information notification unit 118 and the control information transmitted by the control information notification unit 118 stored in the device status storage unit 131, the virtual device status information generation unit 112 Based on the device state information of the devices 3, it is determined whether the settings of each device 3 corresponding to the virtual device as the setting change target have been changed normally. When the virtual device state information generation unit 112 determines that the settings of the device 3 have been changed normally, the virtual device state information generation unit 112 generates virtual device state information from the device state information after the setting change and stores it in the virtual device state storage unit 134. On the other hand, if the virtual device status information generation unit 112 determines that the settings of the device 3 have not been changed normally, it avoids generating the virtual device status information.

Upon acquiring the aforementioned setting change command information transmitted from the terminal device 5, the command acquisition unit 114 extracts the device identification information, post-change setting information, and user identification information of the virtual device included in the acquired setting change command information. do. Then, the command acquisition unit 114 notifies the error determination unit 115 of the device identification information, post-change setting information, and user identification information of the extracted virtual device. Further, when the error determination unit 115 determines that there is no error, the command acquisition unit 114 notifies the control information generation unit 117 of the device identification information and changed setting information of the extracted virtual device.

The error determination unit 115 determines whether the user of the terminal device 5 that is the source of the setting change command information is the 3 or determine whether the user has the authority to change the settings of the virtual device. Here, the error determination unit 115 refers to the authority information stored in the authority information storage unit 135 and determines whether the user information notified by the command acquisition unit 114 is the device identification of the virtual device notified from the command acquisition unit 114. It is determined whether the information matches any of the user information included in the authority information corresponding to the information. If the error determination unit 115 does not match any of the user information included in the authority information, the error determination unit 115 determines that the user of the terminal device 5 does not have the authority to change the settings of the virtual device. The error code information indicating the error code is notified to the error notification unit 116. Furthermore, based on the device identification information and post-change setting information of the virtual device notified from the command acquisition unit 114, the error determination unit 115 determines whether the content of the setting change for the virtual device identified by the device identification information is the target of the setting change. If the setting change is prohibited in the virtual device, the error notification unit 116 is notified of error code information indicating that the content of the setting change is prohibited in the virtual device whose settings are to be changed. On the other hand, if the error determination unit 115 determines that the user information notified from the command acquisition unit 114 is included in the authority information and the content of the setting change is permitted, it notifies the command acquisition unit 114 that there is no error. do. When the error notification unit 116 is notified of the error code information from the error determination unit 115 , the error notification unit 116 generates error notification information including the notified error code information and transmits it to the terminal device 5 .

The control information generation unit 117 determines whether or not the setting change target based on the setting change command information is a virtual device, and if the setting change target is the actual device 3, controls the operation of the device 3 only for that device 3. Generate control information for On the other hand, when the control information generation unit 117 determines that the setting change target based on the setting change command information is a virtual device, the control information generation unit 117 refers to the corresponding device information of the virtual device whose settings are changed stored in the virtual device storage unit 132, and Identify the device 3 corresponding to the device. Then, the control information generation unit 117 generates control information for controlling the operation of each of the identified devices 3. The control information generation unit 117 stores the generated control information in the control information storage unit 136 in association with the device identification information of the corresponding device 3. The control information notification unit 118 transmits the control information stored in the control information storage unit 136 to each of the devices 3 identified by the device identification information associated with the control information. Furthermore, when the control information notification unit 118 transmits the control information, it notifies the device status acquisition unit 111 of the device identification information associated with the transmitted control information, and also sends the control information and the device identification of the virtual device whose settings are to be changed. information to the operation result notification unit 123.

When the virtual device update unit 119 acquires the virtual device addition command information that instructs to add a new virtual device transmitted from the terminal device 5, the virtual device update unit 119 updates the device identification information, property information, and information included in the acquired virtual device addition command information. Extract model information. Then, the virtual device update unit 119 identifies method template information corresponding to the extracted model information from among the method template information stored in the virtual device master information storage unit 133. Next, the virtual device update unit 119 generates method information by instantiating the specified method template information by setting the property indicated by the extracted property information as a property of the device status information used in the virtual device. Then, the virtual device update unit 119 causes the virtual device storage unit 132 to newly store the property information, the generated method information, and the corresponding device identification information and model information in the virtual device storage unit 132. Update the stored virtual device information. On the other hand, when the virtual device update unit 119 acquires virtual device deletion command information sent from the terminal device 5 and instructs to delete various information corresponding to the virtual device already stored in the virtual device storage unit 132, the virtual device update unit 119 The virtual device information is updated by deleting the property information, method information, and model information corresponding to the device identification information included in the device deletion command information.

When the authority registration unit 120 acquires virtual device addition command information that instructs to add a new virtual device from the terminal device 5, the authority registration unit 120 transfers the user identification information included in the acquired virtual device addition command information to the acquired virtual device addition command information. The authority information stored in the authority information storage unit 135 is updated in addition to the authority information corresponding to the device identification information included in the command information. On the other hand, when the authority registration unit 120 acquires virtual device deletion command information that instructs to delete various information corresponding to the virtual device already stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 from the terminal device 5, the authority registration unit 120 deletes the acquired virtual device. The authority information stored in the authority information storage unit 135 is updated by deleting the authority information corresponding to the device identification information included in the command information.

When updating virtual device information by deleting any one of the virtual device information stored in the virtual device storage section 132 from the virtual device storage section 132, the cooperation determination section 121 determines which virtual device to delete. It is determined whether there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted using virtual device information. If there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted, the cooperation determination section 121 notifies the warning notification section 122 of the device identification information and property information of the virtual device that cooperates. When the warning notification unit 122 is notified of the device identification information of the virtual device from the cooperation determination unit 121, the warning notification unit 122 generates warning information including the notified device identification information and transmits it to the terminal device 5.

The operation result notifying unit 123 determines whether the device 3 has started operating based on the control information notified from the control information notifying unit 118 and the control information transmitted by the control information notifying unit 118 stored in the device state storage unit 131. Based on the device state information, it is determined whether the settings of each of the devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device to be changed have been changed normally. If the operation result notification unit 123 determines that the settings of the device 3 have not been changed normally, the operation result notification unit 123 generates operation result notification information that notifies that the setting change has failed, and sends it to the terminal device 5. On the other hand, if the operation result notification unit 123 determines that the settings of the device 3 have been successfully changed, it generates operation result notification information including the virtual device status information after the settings have been changed, and transmits the generated operation result notification information to the terminal device 5 .

Next, the operation of the control system according to this embodiment will be explained with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. First, as shown in FIG. 6, when a preset device status acquisition time arrives, device status request information that requests the device 3 to transmit device status information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the device 3. (Step S1). On the other hand, upon acquiring the device state request information, the device 3 generates the above-mentioned device state notification information in response to the device state request information (step S2). Next, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the device 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S3). On the other hand, upon acquiring the device status notification information, the cloud server 1 extracts the device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information of the device 3 included in the acquired device status notification information. Then, the cloud server 1 updates the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 131 using the extracted device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information (step S4). Next, the cloud server 1 generates virtual device state information from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices 3 stored in the device state storage section 131 based on the method information of the virtual device stored in the virtual device storage section 132. , updates the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 with the generated virtual device state information (step S5). Thereafter, the cloud server 1 stores a virtual device state that includes updated virtual device state information of at least one virtual device stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134, property information indicating its properties, and device identification information of the virtual device. Generate notification information (step S6). Next, the generated virtual device status notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S7). On the other hand, upon acquiring the virtual device status notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1, the terminal device 5 extracts the virtual device status information, property information, and device identification information included in the acquired virtual device status notification information. The virtual device state information, property information, and device identification information are stored in the virtual device state storage unit 531 in association with each other (step S8). Next, the terminal device 5 generates a virtual device state notification image for notifying the user of the state of the virtual device based on the virtual device state information, property information, and device identification information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 531. is formed, and the formed virtual device status notification image is displayed on the display unit 504 (step S9).

It is also assumed that the user performs a virtual device addition operation on the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5 to add a new virtual device to the cloud server 1. Here, in the virtual device addition operation, for example, the terminal device 5 displays names representing multiple types of virtual devices set in advance on the display unit 504, and the user selects the name of the virtual device that the user wants to add from among the displayed names. When , the model information and property information corresponding to the selected virtual device may be selected. When this virtual device addition operation is performed, the terminal device 5 generates the above-mentioned virtual device addition command information that instructs to add a new virtual device based on the operation details of the virtual device addition operation (step S10). . Thereafter, the generated virtual device addition command information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S11). On the other hand, upon acquiring the virtual device addition command information from the terminal device 5, the cloud server 1 extracts device identification information, property information, and model information included in the acquired virtual device addition command information (step S12). Thereafter, the cloud server 1 identifies method template information corresponding to the extracted virtual device model information from among the method template information stored in the virtual device master information storage unit 133 (step S13). Next, the cloud server 1 generates method information for the identified method template information by setting the property indicated by the extracted property information to the property of the device state information used in the virtual device and instantiating it (step S14). ). Next, the cloud server 1 stores the virtual device storage unit 132 in a manner that adds virtual device information consisting of property information indicating the set properties, generated method information, and corresponding device identification information and model information. The stored virtual device information is updated, and the user identification information included in the acquired virtual device addition command information is added to the authority information corresponding to the device identification information included in the acquired virtual device addition command information. The authority information stored in the information storage unit 135 is updated (step S15).

Further, as shown in FIG. 7, assume that the user performs a virtual device deletion operation on the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5 to delete a virtual device registered in the cloud server 1. In this case, the terminal device 5 generates the above-mentioned virtual device deletion command information that instructs to delete the virtual device based on the operation details of the virtual device deletion operation (step S16). Thereafter, the generated virtual device deletion command information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S17). On the other hand, upon acquiring the virtual device deletion command information from the terminal device 5, the cloud server 1 extracts the device identification information of the virtual device to be deleted (step S18). Next, the cloud server 1 refers to the virtual device information stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 and uses the virtual device information of the virtual device identified by the extracted device identification information to create a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device. Assume that it is determined that there is no device (step S19). In this case, the cloud server 1 updates the virtual device information stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 by deleting the device identification information of the extracted virtual device and the corresponding combination of property information, method information, and model information. At the same time, the authority information stored in the authority information storage unit 135 is updated by deleting the authority information corresponding to the device identification information of the virtual device included in the acquired virtual device deletion command information (step S20).

Further, suppose that after steps S17 and S18 are executed, the cloud server 1 determines that there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device that uses the virtual device information of the virtual device identified by the extracted device identification information ( Step S21). In this case, the cloud server 1 generates warning notification information including device identification information and property information of the virtual devices to be linked (step S22). Subsequently, the generated warning notification information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S23). On the other hand, upon acquiring the warning notification information, the terminal device 5 extracts the device identification information and property information included in the acquired warning notification information (step S24). Thereafter, based on the extracted device identification information and property information, the terminal device 5 issues a warning that the virtual device state information of the virtual device identified by the device identification information will be affected by deleting the virtual device. A notification image is formed and displayed on the display unit 504 (step S25).

Further, assume that the user performs a virtual device setting change operation on the input unit 505 of the terminal device 5 to change the settings of the virtual device. In this case, the terminal device 5 generates the above-mentioned setting change command information based on the operation details of the virtual device setting change operation (step S26). Next, the generated setting change command information is transmitted from the terminal device 5 to the cloud server 1 (step S27). On the other hand, upon acquiring the setting change command information, the cloud server 1 extracts the device identification information, user identification information, and post-change setting information of the virtual device included in the acquired setting change command information (step S28). Next, the cloud server 1 refers to the authority information stored in the authority information storage unit 135, determines that the user has change authority based on the extracted user identification information (step S29), and determines that the user has change authority based on the changed setting information. Assume that it is determined that the settings can be changed (step S30). Assume that the cloud server 1 determines that the setting change target is a virtual device, as shown in FIG. 8 (step S31). In this case, the cloud server 1 refers to the corresponding device information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134, identifies the device 3 corresponding to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed (step S32), and controls the specified connected device. Information is generated (step S33). Thereafter, the generated control information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the device 3 (step S34). Then, when the device 3 acquires the control information, response information for notifying the cloud server 1 that the device 3 has acquired the control information is transmitted from the device 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S35). Here, after transmitting the control information to the device 3, the cloud server 1 transmits the control information to the device 3 again if the response information is not acquired within a preset period. Next, the device 3 starts operating based on the acquired control information (step S36). Note that, after acquiring the control information, the device 3 may start operating based on the acquired control information, and then transmit the response information to the cloud server 1.

On the other hand, when the cloud server 1 acquires the response information, device status request information is sent from the cloud server 1 to the device 3, requesting the device 3 that is the source of the acquired response information to send the device status information ( Step S37). On the other hand, upon acquiring the device status request information, the device 3 generates device status notification information including device status information after starting operation based on the acquired control information (step S38). Subsequently, the generated device status notification information is transmitted from the device 3 to the cloud server 1 (step S39). On the other hand, upon acquiring the device status notification information, the cloud server 1 extracts the device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information of the device 3 included in the acquired device status notification information. Then, the cloud server 1 updates the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 131 using the extracted device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information (step S40). Next, it is assumed that the cloud server 1 determines that the settings of all the devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed have been changed normally (step S41). In this case, the cloud server 1 uses the device status information of all the devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed stored in the device status storage unit 131 based on the method information of the virtual device stored in the virtual device storage unit 132. Virtual device state information is generated, and the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 whose settings are to be changed is updated with the generated virtual device state information (step S42). Thereafter, the cloud server 1 generates operation result notification information indicating that the setting change including the virtual device state information after the setting change was successful for the virtual device whose settings are to be changed (step S43), and generates the generated operation result notification. Information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S44). On the other hand, upon acquiring the operation result notification information, the terminal device 5 forms an operation result notification image indicating that the setting change was successful, based on the virtual device status information after the setting change included in the acquired operation result notification information. and is displayed on the display section 504 (step S45).

Further, suppose that after the processes of steps S27 and S28 are executed, the cloud server 1 determines that there is no change authority based on the authority information stored in the authority information storage unit 135 and the extracted user identification information ( Step S46). In this case, the cloud server 1 generates error notification information including error code information indicating that the user of the terminal device 5 does not have the authority to change settings of the virtual device (step S47), and the generated error notification information As shown in FIG. 9, the information is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S48). On the other hand, upon acquiring the error notification information, the terminal device 5 forms an error notification image based on the error code information included in the acquired error notification information and displays it on the display unit 504 (step S49).

Further, after the processes of steps S27 and S28 are executed, and after determining that the cloud server 1 has change authority as described above (step S29), based on the device identification information and post-change setting information of the extracted virtual device, Assume that it is determined that the settings cannot be changed (step S50). In this case, the cloud server 1 generates error notification information including error code information indicating that the content of the setting change is prohibited in the virtual device whose settings are to be changed (step S51), and the generated error notification information , is transmitted from the cloud server 1 to the terminal device 5 (step S52). On the other hand, upon acquiring the error notification information, the terminal device 5 forms an error notification image based on the error code information included in the acquired error notification information and displays it on the display unit 504 (step S53).

Next, the terminal device control process executed by the terminal device 5 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. Note that this terminal device control process is started, for example, when the terminal device 5 is powered on. First, the virtual device status information acquisition unit 511 determines whether virtual device status notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1 has been acquired (step S201). Here, if the virtual device status information acquisition unit 511 determines that virtual device status notification information has not been acquired (step S201: No), the process of step S204, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the virtual device status information acquisition unit 511 determines that the virtual device status notification information has been acquired (step S201: Yes), the virtual device status information, property information, and device identification information included in the acquired virtual device status notification information. The extracted virtual device state information, property information, and device identification information are associated with each other and stored in the virtual device state storage unit 531 (step S202). Next, the display control unit 512 generates a virtual device status notification for notifying the user of the status of the virtual device based on the virtual device status information, property information, and device identification information stored in the virtual device status storage unit 531. An image is formed, and the formed virtual device status notification image is displayed on the display unit 504 (step S203).

Thereafter, the reception unit 513 determines whether the above-described virtual device addition operation has been received (step S204). Here, if the accepting unit 513 determines that the virtual device addition operation is not accepted (step S204: No), the process of step S206, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, when the reception unit 513 determines that the virtual device addition operation has been accepted (step S204: Yes), it notifies the registration information management unit 515 of operation information indicating the operation details, and the registration information management unit 515 receives the notification. The device identification information, model information, and authority information included in the operation information are associated with each other and stored in the registration information storage unit 532. Then, the registration information notification unit 516 generates the above-mentioned virtual device addition command information including the device identification information, model information, and authority information newly stored in the registration information storage unit 532, and transfers the generated virtual device addition command information to the cloud. It is transmitted to server 1 (step S205). Next, the reception unit 513 determines whether or not the virtual device deletion operation described above has been received (step S206). Here, if the accepting unit 513 determines that the virtual device deletion operation is not accepted (step S206: No), the process of step S208, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, when the reception unit 513 determines that the virtual device deletion operation has been accepted (step S206: Yes), it notifies the registration information management unit 515 of operation information indicating the operation details, and the registration information management unit 515 receives the notification. The device type information and authority information corresponding to the device identification information included in the operation information are deleted, and the registered information notification unit 516 is notified of the deleted device identification information. Then, the registration information notification unit 516 generates the above-mentioned virtual device deletion command information including the device identification information notified from the registration information management unit 515, and transmits the generated virtual device deletion command information to the cloud server 1 (step S207).

Subsequently, the notification acquisition unit 517 determines whether or not the warning notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1 has been acquired (step S208). Here, if the notification acquisition unit 517 determines that the warning notification information has not been acquired (step S208: No), the process of step S211, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the notification acquisition unit 517 determines that the warning notification information has been acquired (step S208: Yes), it extracts the device identification information and property information included in the acquired warning notification information (step S209). Then, the notification acquisition unit 517 notifies the display control unit 512 of the extracted device identification information and property information. Thereafter, the display control unit 512 forms the above-mentioned warning notification image and displays it on the display unit 504 based on the device identification information and property information notified from the notification acquisition unit 517 (step S210).

Next, the receiving unit 513 determines whether or not the above-mentioned setting change command operation has been received (step S211). Here, if the accepting unit 513 determines that the setting change command operation has not been accepted (step S211: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, when the reception unit 513 determines that the setting change command operation has been received (step S211: Yes), the reception unit 513 notifies the command notification unit 514 of operation information indicating the content of the operation. Then, the command notification unit 514 generates the above-mentioned setting change command information, and transmits the generated setting change command information to the cloud server 1 (step S212). Subsequently, the notification acquisition unit 517 determines whether or not the operation result notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1 has been acquired (step S213). Here, if the notification acquisition unit 517 determines that the operation result notification information has not been acquired (step S213: No), the process of step S215, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, when the notification acquisition unit 517 determines that the operation result notification information has been acquired (step S213: Yes), the notification acquisition unit 517 notifies the display control unit 512 of the virtual device state information included in the acquired operation result notification information. Then, the display control unit 512 forms an operation result notification image and displays it on the display unit 504 based on the virtual device status information notified from the notification acquisition unit 517 (step S214).

Thereafter, the notification acquisition unit 517 determines whether or not the error notification information transmitted from the cloud server 1 has been acquired (step S215). Here, if the notification acquisition unit 517 determines that the error notification information has not been acquired (step S215: No), the process of step S201 is executed again. On the other hand, if the notification acquisition unit 517 determines that the error notification information has been acquired (step S215: Yes), it notifies the display control unit 512 of the error code information included in the acquired error notification information. Then, the display control unit 512 forms an error notification image and displays it on the display unit 504 based on the error code information notified from the notification acquisition unit 517 (step S216). After that, the process of step S201 is executed again.

Next, the device control process executed by the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. Note that this device control process is started when a program for executing the device control process is started in the cloud server 1. First, the device status acquisition unit 111 determines whether a preset device status acquisition time has arrived, as shown in FIG. 11 (step S101). Here, if the device status acquisition unit 111 determines that the device status acquisition time has not yet arrived (step S101: No), the process of step S107, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, when the device status acquisition unit 111 determines that the device status acquisition time has arrived (step S101: Yes), it transmits device status request information to the device 3 (step S102). As a result, the device status acquisition unit 111 acquires the above-mentioned device status notification information transmitted from the device 3 (step S103), and the device 3 that is the source of the device status notification information included in the acquired device status notification information. Extract device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information. Then, the device status acquisition unit 111 updates the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 131 using the extracted device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information (step S104). Next, the virtual device state information generation unit 112 generates virtual device state information from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices 3 based on the virtual device method information stored in the virtual device storage unit 132. Then, the virtual device state information generation unit 112 updates the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 with the generated virtual device state information (step S105). Next, the virtual device state information notification unit 113 generates virtual device state notification information that includes the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 and the device identification information of the virtual device corresponding to the virtual device state information. It is transmitted to the terminal device 5 (step S106).

Thereafter, the virtual device update unit 119 determines whether or not the above-mentioned virtual device addition command information transmitted from the terminal device 5 has been obtained (step S107). Here, if the virtual device update unit 119 determines that virtual device addition command information has not been acquired (step S107: No), the process of step S112, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the virtual device update unit 119 determines that the virtual device addition command information has been acquired (step S107: Yes), it extracts the device identification information, property information, and model information included in the acquired virtual device addition command information ( Step S108). Next, the virtual device update unit 119 identifies method template information corresponding to the extracted model information from among the method template information stored in the virtual device master information storage unit 133 (step S109). Next, the virtual device update unit 119 generates method information for the specified method template information by setting the property indicated by the extracted property information to the property of the device status information used in the virtual device and instantiating it ( Step S110). Thereafter, the virtual device update unit 119 updates the virtual device information stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 by adding property information indicating the set property, generated method information, and corresponding device identification information and model information. Update. Further, the authority registration unit 120 stores authority information in a form that adds the user identification information included in the acquired virtual machine addition command information to the authority information corresponding to the device identification information included in the acquired virtual machine addition command information. The authority information stored in the unit 135 is updated (step S111).

Next, the virtual device update unit 119 determines whether or not the above-mentioned virtual device deletion command information transmitted from the terminal device 5 has been obtained (step S112). Here, if the virtual device update unit 119 determines that virtual device deletion command information has not been acquired (step S112: No), the process of step S117, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, if the virtual device update unit 119 determines that the virtual device deletion command information has been acquired (step S112: Yes), it extracts the device identification information of the virtual device to be deleted included in the virtual device deletion command information (step S113). . Subsequently, the cooperation determining unit 121 determines whether there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device that uses the virtual device information of the virtual device identified by the extracted device identification information (step S114). Here, when the cooperation determination unit 121 determines that there is a virtual device to cooperate with (step S114: Yes), the warning notification unit 122 sends a warning notification including the device identification information and property information of the virtual device to cooperate with each other. After generating the information and transmitting it to the terminal device 5 (step S115), the process of step S117, which will be described later, is executed. On the other hand, it is assumed that the cooperation determination unit 121 determines that there is no virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device that uses the virtual device information of the virtual device to be deleted (step S114: No). In this case, the virtual device update unit 119 updates the virtual device information stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 by deleting the property information, method information, and model information corresponding to the device identification information included in the virtual device deletion command information. Update. The authority registration unit 120 also updates the authority information stored in the authority information storage unit 135 by deleting the authority information corresponding to the device identification information included in the acquired virtual device deletion command information (step S116).

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the command acquisition unit 114 determines whether or not the above-mentioned setting change command information transmitted from the terminal device 5 has been acquired (step S117). Here, if the command acquisition unit 114 determines that the setting change command information has not been acquired (step S117: No). The process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the command acquisition unit 114 determines that the setting change command information has been acquired (step S117: Yes), the device identification information of the device 3 or the virtual device, the changed setting information, and the usage information are included in the acquired setting change command information. The user identification information is extracted (step S118). Next, the error determination unit 115 determines whether the user of the terminal device 5 that is the source of the setting change command information is 3, or it is determined whether the user has the authority to change the settings of the virtual device (step S119). Here, if the error determination unit 115 determines that there is no authority to change the settings (step S119: No), the error notification unit 116 generates error notification information and transmits it to the terminal device 5 (step S120), The process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the error determination unit 115 determines that there is authority to change the settings (step S119: Yes), the error determination unit 115 determines whether the extracted device It is determined whether settings can be changed for the device 3 or virtual device identified by the identification information (step S121). Here, if the error determination unit 115 determines that the content of the setting change for the device 3 or the virtual device is prohibited by the virtual device whose settings are to be changed, and that the setting change is impossible (step S121: No), an error occurs. The notification unit 116 generates error notification information and transmits it to the terminal device 5 (step S120), and the process of step S101 is executed again. On the other hand, if the error determination unit 115 determines that the settings of the virtual device identified by the extracted device identification information can be changed (step S121: Yes), the control information generation unit 117 determines that the virtual device storage unit 132 Referring to the stored device identification information of the virtual device, it is determined whether the setting change target is a virtual device (step S122). When the control information generation unit 117 determines that the setting change target is a virtual device (step S122: Yes), the control information generation unit 117 refers to the corresponding device information stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 and specifies the device 3 to be controlled. (Step S123). Thereafter, the control information generation unit 117 generates control information for the specified device 3 and stores it in the control information storage unit 136 in association with the device identification information of the device 3. Then, the control information notification unit 118 transmits the control information stored in the control information storage unit 136 to the device 3 identified by the device identification information corresponding to the control information (step S123). On the other hand, if the control information generation unit 117 determines that the setting change target is not the virtual device but the actual device 3 (step S122: No), the process of step S124 is executed for the setting change target device 3.

Next, upon acquiring the response information transmitted from the device 3 that is the destination of the control information (step S125), the device status acquisition unit 111 transmits device status request information to the device 3 that is the source of the response information (step S125). S126). Thereby, the device status acquisition unit 111 acquires the aforementioned device status notification information transmitted from the device 3 that is the source of the response information (step S127), and the device status notification information included in the acquired device status notification information. Device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information of the sending device 3 are extracted. Then, the device status acquisition unit 111 updates the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 131 using the extracted device status information, property information, device identification information, and model information (step S128). Subsequently, the virtual device status information generation unit 112 and the operation result notification unit 123 determine whether the settings of all the devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed have been changed normally (step S129). Here, if the operation result notification unit 123 determines that the settings of any of the devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed have not been changed normally (step S129: No), the setting change of the virtual device has failed. Operation result notification information is generated and sent to the terminal device 5 (step S131). On the other hand, if the virtual device state information generation unit 112 determines that the settings have been successfully changed for all devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed (step S129: Yes), the virtual device state information generation unit 112 determines that the virtual device stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 Based on the method information, virtual device state information is generated from the device state information of all the devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed. Then, the virtual machine state information generation unit 112 updates the virtual machine state information stored in the virtual machine state storage unit 134 with the generated virtual machine state information (step S130). Thereafter, the operation result notification unit 123 performs an operation to notify that the virtual device status information stored in the virtual device status storage unit 134, the device identification information of the corresponding virtual device, and the settings of the included virtual device have been successfully changed. Result notification information is generated and transmitted to the terminal device 5 (step S131). Next, the process of step S101 is executed again.

As described above, according to the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment, the virtual device state information generation unit 112 generates a plurality of device state information from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices 3 based on the method information of the virtual device. Virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each device 3 is generated. As a result, for example, as method information, processing is performed to generate virtual device state information indicating the cooperation status of the entire plurality of devices 3 or the environmental parameters of the environment in which the plurality of devices 3 are installed from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices 3. With the definition, the virtual device state information generation unit 112 can generate virtual device state information that indicates the cooperation status of the plurality of devices 3 as a whole or the environmental parameters of the environment in which the plurality of devices 3 are installed. Therefore, the user can easily grasp the cooperative state of the plurality of devices 3 as a whole or the environment in which the plurality of devices 3 are installed, which cannot be directly grasped from the device status information of each of the plurality of devices 3. Here, the virtual device has virtual device state information indicating a different state from the device state information corresponding to the actual device 3. Therefore, the user can grasp the state of the virtual device indicated by the virtual device state information through the terminal device 5 without being aware of the actual device 3, which is highly convenient.

Further, in the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment, when the virtual device update unit 119 acquires virtual device addition command information including property information and model information of a newly added virtual device, the acquired virtual device addition command The virtual device storage unit 132 generates method information for a new virtual device based on the property information and model information included in the information, and stores the virtual device information in a manner that adds the virtual device information including the generated method information and property information. Update the virtual device information. This eliminates the need for an operation to create method information for a virtual device on the terminal device 5, which has the advantage that the user can easily register a new virtual device via the terminal device 5.

Furthermore, in the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment, when the cooperation determination unit 121 updates the virtual device information by deleting the virtual device information from the virtual device storage unit 132, the virtual device status information of the virtual device to be deleted is Determine whether there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted. Then, when the cooperation determining unit 121 determines that there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted, the warning notification unit 122 issues a warning including device identification information and property information of the virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted. Notification information is generated and sent to the terminal device 5. This allows the user to check in advance whether or not the deletion of a virtual device will affect the virtual device state information of the virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted.

In addition, in the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment, the device status acquisition unit 111 acquires device status information from a plurality of devices 3 every time the device status acquisition time arrives, and when the acquired device status information is generated. If it is later than the previous device status acquisition time, the device status information stored in the device status storage unit 131 is updated using the acquired device status information. On the other hand, if the generation time of the acquired device status information is earlier than the previous device status acquisition time, the device status acquisition unit 111 determines the status of the device stored in the device status storage unit 131 using the acquired device status information. Avoid updating information. Thereby, the update frequency of the device state storage unit 131 can be reduced, and the processing load on the cloud server 1 can be reduced accordingly.

Furthermore, in the cloud server 1 according to the present embodiment, the virtual device storage section 132 stores the above-mentioned compatible device information in association with the device identification information of the virtual device, and the control information generation section 117 stores the above-mentioned compatible device information in association with the device identification information of the virtual device. Based on the compatible device information stored in the device 132, control information for controlling the operation of each of the plurality of devices 3 indicated by the compatible device information is generated. Here, the control information generation unit 117 generates control information for the plurality of devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device based on the method information of the virtual device, and transmits the generated control information to the plurality of virtual devices. This allows the control information generation unit 117 to efficiently specify the device 3 related to the virtual device whose settings are to be changed, thereby making it possible to smoothly change the settings of the virtual device.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, when the virtual device update unit 119 updates virtual device information by deleting the virtual device information from the virtual device storage unit 132, the virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted uses the virtual device state information of the virtual device to be deleted. If there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted, it may have a function of automatically changing the property information of the virtual device to be deleted to the property information of another device 3 or virtual device. In this case, the cloud server 1 associates and stores the property information of each virtual device stored in the virtual device storage unit 132 and the property information of the device 3 or another virtual device that can be replaced with the property information. What is necessary is to include a property relationship information storage unit (not shown) that stores the property information. Then, when updating the virtual device information by deleting the virtual device information from the virtual device storage section 132, the virtual device update unit 119 uses the virtual device state information of the virtual device to be deleted. If there is a device, identify the property information of device 3 or another virtual device that corresponds to the property information of the virtual device to be deleted stored in the property-related information storage unit, and delete the virtual device linked to the virtual device to be deleted. The property information of the virtual device may be changed to the specified property information.

According to this configuration, when a virtual device is deleted, the effect of deleting the virtual device on the virtual device state information of a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted can be reduced. Therefore, there is an advantage that the user can smoothly perform operations to add or delete virtual devices.

In the embodiment, an example has been described in which, when the device 3 acquires the device status request information from the cloud server 1, the device 3 generates the above-mentioned device status notification information and transmits it to the cloud server 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the device 3 may spontaneously and periodically generate device status notification information and transmit it to the cloud server 1. In this case, each time the device status acquisition unit 111 of the cloud server 1 determines that device status notification information has been acquired from the device 3, a series of processes from steps S104 to S106 shown in FIG. Bye.

In the control system according to the embodiment, the cloud server 1 transmits device state request information to the device 3 every time the device state acquisition time arrives at a constant cycle. However, in this case, there is a risk that communication costs will increase. On the other hand, in this modification, since the device 3 voluntarily and periodically transmits the device status notification information, there is no need to transmit the device status request information, and there is an advantage that the communication cost can be reduced accordingly. .

In the embodiment, the cloud server 1 generates virtual device state information at the timing when the device state notification information is acquired, and updates the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 with the generated virtual device state information. An example was explained. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the cloud server 1 generates virtual device state information at a different update cycle of virtual device state information, without synchronizing with the timing at which the virtual device state information is acquired, and the generated virtual device The virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 may be updated with the state information.

In the embodiment, when the virtual machine state information stored in the virtual machine state storage unit 134 is updated, the cloud server 1 sends a virtual machine state notification based on the updated virtual machine state information immediately after the update. An example in which information is generated and transmitted to the terminal device 5 has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and after the cloud server 1 updates the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134, the cloud server 1 sends virtual device state notification information to the cloud server 1, which is transmitted from the terminal device 5. The virtual device state notification information may not be transmitted unless the virtual device state request information that requests transmission is obtained. Here, in the terminal device 5, for example, with the virtual device status notification image displayed on the display unit 504, the user updates the virtual device status notification image displayed on the display unit 504 via the input unit 505. When performing an image update operation for this purpose, the virtual device state information transmitted from the cloud server 1 may be acquired by transmitting virtual device state request information to the cloud server 1. Here, as an image update operation, for example, an update button image is displayed in the part of the virtual device status notification image that is touched by the user when updating the virtual device status notification image, and the user inputs It may be an operation of touching a portion corresponding to the update button image in the section 505.

According to this configuration, in the cloud server 1, even if the virtual device state information stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134 is updated, unless the terminal device 5 transmits the virtual device state request information to the cloud server 1, the Since the virtual machine state notification information based on the updated virtual machine state information is not transmitted from the server 1 to the terminal device 5, there is an advantage that the communication cost is reduced accordingly.

In the embodiment, the control information generation unit 117 spontaneously generates control information for the plurality of devices 3 corresponding to the virtual device based on the virtual device state information of the virtual device stored in the virtual device state storage unit 134. It may be something that does. For example, it is assumed that the cloud server 1 can acquire pollen information from a weather server connected to the wide area network NW1, and that an "air conditioner with a pollen sensor" is defined as a virtual device. In this case, the control information generation unit 117 generates a virtual Control information for causing the air conditioner 3A corresponding to the device to perform ventilation operation may be generated and transmitted to the air conditioner 3A.

In the embodiment, the terminal device 5 displays names representing multiple types of virtual devices set in advance on the display unit 504, and the user selects the name of the virtual device to be added from among the displayed names. An example in which a virtual device addition operation is performed has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the user may be able to freely select a combination of property information and model information of the device 3.

Furthermore, the various functions of the cloud server 1 and the terminal device 5 according to the present disclosure can be realized using a normal computer system, not a dedicated system. For example, a computer connected to a network stores a program for executing the above operations on a non-temporary recording medium that can be read by the computer system (CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read Only Memory), etc.). By distributing the program and installing the program on a computer system, the cloud server 1 and the terminal device 5 that execute the above-described process may be configured.

Furthermore, the method of providing the program to the computer is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a bulletin board system (BBS) on a communication line and distributed to computers via the communication line. Then, the computer starts this program and executes it like other applications under the control of the OS (Operating System). Thereby, the computer functions as the cloud server 1 or the terminal device 5 that executes the above-described processing.

The present disclosure is capable of various embodiments and modifications without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the embodiments described above are for explaining this disclosure, and do not limit the scope of this disclosure. That is, the scope of the present disclosure is indicated by the claims rather than the embodiments. Various modifications made within the scope of the claims and the meaning of the disclosure equivalent thereto are considered to be within the scope of this disclosure.
This includes any changes made thereto as appropriate.

The present disclosure is suitable as a control device that controls multiple devices that cooperate with each other.

1 Cloud server, 3, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D equipment, 41 BBR, 42 Communication adapter, 5 Terminal device, 101,501 CPU, 102,502 Main storage unit, 103,503 Auxiliary storage unit, 106,506 Communication unit , 108 Time measurement unit, 109,509 Bus, 111 Equipment status acquisition unit, 112 Virtual equipment status information generation unit, 113 Virtual equipment status information notification unit, 114 Command acquisition unit, 115 Error determination unit, 116 Error notification unit, 117 Control information Generation unit, 118 Control information notification unit, 119 Virtual device update unit, 120 Authority registration unit, 121 Cooperation determination unit, 122 Warning notification unit, 123 Operation result notification unit, 131 Device status storage unit, 132 Virtual device storage unit, 133 Virtual Equipment master information storage unit, 134, 531 Virtual equipment status storage unit, 135 Authority information storage unit, 136 Control information storage unit, 504 Display unit, 505 Input unit, 511 Virtual equipment status information acquisition unit, 512 Display control unit, 513 Reception Department, 514 Command Notification Department, 515 Registration Information Management Department, 516 Registration Information Notification Department, 517 Notification Acquisition Department, 532 Registration Information Storage Department, NW1 Wide Area Network, NW2 Local Network

Claims

a device status acquisition unit that acquires device status information indicating at least one of the device status of each of the plurality of devices and an environmental parameter detected by each of the plurality of devices indicating an environment in which each of the plurality of devices is installed;
The device state of each of the plurality of devices is determined based on method information that defines processing content to be executed by at least one virtual device on the device state information using the property of the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. a virtual device state information generation unit that generates virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices from the information;
Control device.
a virtual device storage unit that stores virtual device information including method information corresponding to each of the at least one virtual device;
When virtual device addition command information that includes property information indicating properties used in the virtual device and model information indicating the type of the virtual device and instructs to newly add the virtual device is acquired, the acquired virtual device addition The method information of the new virtual device is generated based on the property information and the model information included in the command information, and the virtual device information including the property information and the generated method information is added. further comprising: a virtual device updating unit that updates the virtual device information stored in the virtual device storage unit;
The control device according to claim 1.
When updating the virtual device information in such a way that any one of the virtual device information of each of the at least one virtual device is deleted from the virtual device storage unit, the virtual device state information of the virtual device to be deleted is used. further comprising a cooperation determination unit that determines whether there is a virtual device that cooperates with the virtual device to be deleted;
The control device according to claim 2.
an equipment status storage unit that stores the equipment status information of each of the plurality of equipment;
Acquire the device status information from the plurality of devices, which is set in advance and that periodically arrives, from the plurality of devices. Each time a device status acquisition time arrives, the device status information is acquired from the plurality of devices, and the obtained device status information is obtained. If the generation time is later than the previous equipment status acquisition time, the equipment status information stored in the equipment status storage unit is updated using the acquired equipment status information, and the acquired equipment status information is updated. If the generation time is earlier than the immediately preceding equipment state acquisition time, avoiding updating of the equipment state information stored in the equipment state storage unit using the acquired equipment state information;
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
The virtual device information includes corresponding device information corresponding to the virtual device indicating the plurality of devices corresponding to the device state information used to generate the virtual device information,
further comprising a control information generation unit that generates control information for controlling operations of each of the plurality of devices based on the corresponding device information included in the virtual device information;
The control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
a terminal device;
A control device capable of communicating with the terminal device and controlling a plurality of devices,
The control device includes:
a device status acquisition unit that acquires device status information indicating at least one of the device status of each of the plurality of devices and an environmental parameter detected by each of the plurality of devices indicating an environment in which each of the plurality of devices is installed;
The device state of each of the plurality of devices is determined based on method information that defines processing content to be executed by at least one virtual device on the device state information using the property of the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. a virtual device state information generation unit that generates virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices from the information;
a virtual device status information notification unit that transmits the virtual device status information to the terminal device;
control system.
acquiring device status information indicating at least one of the device status of each of the plurality of devices and an environmental parameter detected by each of the plurality of devices indicating an environment in which each of the plurality of devices is installed;
The device state of each of the plurality of devices is determined based on method information that defines processing content to be executed by at least one virtual device on the device state information using the property of the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. generating from the information virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices;
Equipment control method.
computer,
a device status acquisition unit that acquires device status information indicating at least one of the device status of each of the plurality of devices and an environmental parameter detected by each of the plurality of devices indicating an environment in which each of the plurality of devices is installed;
The device state of each of the plurality of devices is determined based on method information that defines processing content to be executed by at least one virtual device on the device state information using the property of the device state information of each of the plurality of devices. a virtual device state information generation unit that generates virtual device state information having properties different from the device state information of each of the plurality of devices from the information;
A program to function as