WO2024121877A1

WO2024121877A1 - Management device, flying body, management method, control method, and program

Info

Publication number: WO2024121877A1
Application number: PCT/JP2022/044652
Authority: WO
Inventors: 崇大牛島; 昌彦高木
Original assignee: 三菱電機株式会社
Priority date: 2022-12-05
Filing date: 2022-12-05
Publication date: 2024-06-13

Abstract

Provided is a management device capable of acquiring operation data from an air conditioner installed at a position where communication by IoT connection is not possible.　The management device comprises: a designation acquisition unit that acquires designation information of the air conditioner; a flying body control unit that causes a flying body to fly near the air conditioner indicated by the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit; and a data acquisition unit that acquires the operation data via the flying body from the air conditioner indicated by the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit.

Description

Management device, aircraft, management method, control method, and program

The present invention relates to a management device, an aircraft, a management method, a control method, and a program.

In recent years, air conditioners have been connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), which makes it possible to remotely monitor the operation data of the air conditioner and update the control firmware of the air conditioner.
Patent Document 1 also discloses a support system for air conditioning devices that takes video of the indoor or outdoor unit using a smartphone, sends it to a center, and then determines whether the unit is in a state where it can be left alone, whether the user can respond, or whether the user cannot respond, and sends the result back.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-173815

However, with IoT connections, communication is not always possible at the location where the air conditioning unit is installed, and there are cases where operating data cannot be obtained.

The present invention was made in consideration of these circumstances, and provides a management device, an aircraft, a management method, a control method, and a program that can acquire operating data from air conditioning units installed in locations where communication via IoT connection is not possible.

This invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and one aspect of the invention is a management device that includes a designation acquisition unit that acquires designation information for an air conditioning device, an air vehicle control unit that flies an air vehicle to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit, and a data acquisition unit that acquires operating data from the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit via the air vehicle.

Another aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned management device, in which the aircraft acquires the operating data from the air conditioning device via short-range wireless communication, and the data acquisition unit acquires the operating data from the aircraft via long-range wireless communication.

In another aspect of the present invention, the management device described above includes a countermeasure determination unit that determines a countermeasure based on the operating data acquired by the data acquisition unit, and a notification unit that sends a message indicating the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit to a contact point for a user of the air conditioning device or a maintenance personnel.

In another aspect of the present invention, the management device is provided with a countermeasure determination unit that determines a countermeasure based on the operating data acquired by the data acquisition unit, and an update FW processing unit that transmits firmware for the air conditioning device, which corresponds to the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit, to the air conditioning device via the air vehicle.

In another aspect of the present invention, the management device is configured as described above, and the data acquisition unit acquires the operating data upon receiving a request to acquire operating data from the air conditioning device.

Another aspect of the present invention is the above-mentioned management device, in which the data acquisition unit instructs the air conditioning device on the operation content via the air vehicle and acquires the operation data when the air conditioning device is operating in accordance with the operation content.

In another aspect of the present invention, the management device is provided with a notification unit that transmits information indicating the time when the air conditioning device will operate according to the operation content to a user of the air conditioning device.

Another aspect of the present invention is an airborne vehicle that relays data transmission and reception between an air conditioning device and a management device, and when it is unable to communicate with the air conditioning device, it approaches the air conditioning device to transmit and receive data to and from the air conditioning device, and when it is unable to communicate with the management device, it moves away from the air conditioning device to transmit and receive data to and from the management device.

Another aspect of the present invention is a management method using a management device, the management method having a first step of acquiring designation information for an air conditioning device, a second step of flying an aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired in the first step, and a third step of acquiring, via the aircraft, operating data from the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired in the first step.

Another aspect of the present invention is a control method for an airborne vehicle that relays data transmission and reception between an air conditioning device and a management device, the control method having a step of approaching the air conditioning device and transmitting data to and from the air conditioning device when communication with the air conditioning device is not possible, and a step of moving away from the air conditioning device and transmitting data to and from the management device when communication with the management device is not possible.

Another aspect of the present invention is a program for causing a computer to function as a designation acquisition unit that acquires designation information for an air conditioning device, an aircraft control unit that flies an aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit, and a data acquisition unit that acquires operating data from the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit via the aircraft.

The management device of the present invention has the advantage of being able to obtain operating data from air conditioning units installed in locations where communication via IoT connection is not possible.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning unit management system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning device 100, a drone 200, and a management device 300 according to the embodiment. 13 is a table showing an example of the contents stored in a management DB 304 according to the embodiment. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a management device 300 according to the embodiment. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an air conditioning unit search screen of the management device 300 according to the embodiment. FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an abnormality content input screen of the management device 300 according to the embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of flight control of the drone 200 according to the embodiment. 13 is a flowchart showing another example of flight control of the drone 200 according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of each device according to the embodiment.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an air conditioning device management system according to one embodiment of the present invention. The air conditioning device 100 has at least one of a cooling function and a heating function, and transmits operation data of the device itself to the drone 200 via wireless communication. The operation data may be transmitted via a communication adapter connected to the air conditioning device 100. The operation data is data indicating the operating state of the air conditioning device 100, such as the set temperature, compressor rotation speed, refrigerant temperature, fan rotation speed, etc., and may include past data.

The drone 200 is an air vehicle such as a multicopter, and acquires operating data from the air conditioning device 100 via a first wireless communication SRC, and transmits the operating data to the management device 300 via a second wireless communication LRC that is different from the first wireless communication. The first wireless communication SRC is a short-range wireless communication with a communication distance of several meters to several tens of meters, such as Bluetooth (registered trademark) or wireless LAN (Local Area Network). The second wireless communication LRC is a long-range wireless communication with a communication distance of several hundred meters or more, such as 4G or 5G cellular communication. This allows the management device 300 to acquire the operating data even when the air conditioning device 100 is unable to communicate with the management device 300 via the second wireless communication LRC because the radio waves of the second wireless communication LRC have difficulty reaching the air conditioning device 100, such as between buildings.

The management device 300 receives information specifying the air conditioning device 100 received from the terminal 400 via the network NET or input by the operator OP, and acquires the operating data of the air conditioning device 100 from the drone 200 via the second wireless communication LRC. The management device 300 may be realized by one or more computers executing a program.

The terminal 400 is a computer such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer that is used by a user or maintenance personnel of the air conditioning device 100. The terminal 400 accepts input of information that specifies the air conditioning device 100, and transmits the information to the management device 300 via the network NET.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the configuration of the air conditioning apparatus 100, drone 200, and management device 300 according to this embodiment. The air conditioning apparatus 100 includes an air conditioning apparatus control unit 101 and a first short-range communication unit 102. The air conditioning apparatus control unit 101 controls the air conditioning apparatus 100 and generates operation data. The first short-range communication unit 102 has a communication function of the first wireless communication SRC, and transmits the operation data generated by the air conditioning apparatus control unit 101 to the drone 200. Furthermore, when the first short-range communication unit 102 receives an update FW (firmware) from the drone 200, it causes the air conditioning apparatus control unit 101 to control the air conditioning apparatus 100 using the update FW.

The drone 200 comprises a flight control unit 201, a relay unit 202, a second short-range communication unit 203, and a first long-range communication unit 204. The flight control unit 201 flies the drone 200 to the vicinity of the air conditioning unit 100 in accordance with instructions from the management device 300. The flight control unit 201 may be instructed to fly to the destination, with the position of the air conditioning unit 100 as the destination, and may autonomously control the drone 200 to fly to the destination, or may receive instructions one by one from the air conditioning unit 100 and fly the drone 200 in accordance with the instructions.

The relay unit 202 relays communication between the air conditioning device 100 and the management device 300 using the second short-range communication unit 203 and the first long-range communication unit 204. For example, the relay unit 202 acquires operating data from the air conditioning device 100 using the second short-range communication unit 203, and transmits the operating data to the management device 300 using the first long-range communication unit 204. The relay unit 202 also acquires an updated FW from the management device 300 using the first long-range communication unit 204, and transmits the updated FW to the air conditioning device 100 using the second short-range communication unit 203. The second short-range communication unit 203 wirelessly communicates with the air conditioning device 100 via the first wireless communication SRC. The first long-range communication unit 204 wirelessly communicates with the management device 300 via the second wireless communication LRC.

The management device 300 comprises an air vehicle control unit 301, a designation acquisition unit 302, an update FW processing unit 303, a management DB 304, a notification unit 305, a second long-distance communication unit 306, a data acquisition unit 307, and a countermeasure determination unit 308. The designation acquisition unit 302 acquires designation information for the air conditioning device 100. For example, the designation acquisition unit 302 accepts designation information for the air conditioning device 100 input to the management device 300 by an operator OP using input means such as a keyboard or mouse of the management device 300. The designation acquisition unit 302 also receives designation information for the air conditioning device 100 from the terminal 400. Here, the designation information for the air conditioning device 100 is information that designates the air conditioning device 100, and is, for example, the serial number of the air conditioning device 100, a user ID, or the address or name of the property where the air conditioning device 100 is installed.

The air vehicle control unit 301 flies the drone 200 to the vicinity of the air conditioning device 100 for which the designation information has been acquired by the designation acquisition unit 302. When controlling the drone 200, the air vehicle control unit 301 may use the second wireless communication LRC, or may use a communication means different from the second wireless communication LRC.

The second long-distance communication unit 306 wirelessly communicates with the drone 200 by the second wireless communication LRC. Note that the second long-distance communication unit 306 does not have a function for performing the second wireless communication LRC, and may be communicatively connected to a device that transmits and receives radio waves for performing the second wireless communication LRC. The update FW processing unit 303 and the data acquisition unit 307 communicate with the drone 200 via the second long-distance communication unit 306.

The data acquisition unit 307 acquires operation data from the air conditioning apparatus 100 of the designated information acquired by the designation acquisition unit 302 via the drone 200. The data acquisition unit 307 may transmit a request for operation data including the identification information of the air conditioning apparatus 100 (for example, a serial number such as a manufacturing number, and an address of the air conditioning apparatus 100 in the first wireless communication) to the air conditioning apparatus 100 via the drone 200. The air conditioning apparatus 100 checks (authenticates) whether or not the request for operation data includes its own identification information, and when it does, transmits operation data in response to the request. This makes it possible to acquire operation data of the air conditioning apparatus 100 of the designated information even when multiple air conditioning apparatuses 100 are arranged closely together and the drone 200 can communicate with these multiple air conditioning apparatuses 100 via the first wireless communication. The identification information of the air conditioning apparatus 100 may be information such as the address of the air conditioning apparatus 100 in the first wireless communication.

The data acquisition unit 307 may also instruct the air conditioning device 100 on the operation content via the drone 200, and acquire operation data when the air conditioning device 100 is operating in accordance with the instructed operation content. This instruction on the operation content may be included in the request for operation data, or may be transmitted before the request for operation data. Furthermore, when the data acquisition unit 307 instructs the air conditioning device 100 on the operation content, the notification unit 305 may transmit information indicating the time when the air conditioning device 100 will operate in accordance with the operation content to the user of the air conditioning device 100.

The data acquisition unit 307 may also acquire the operating data upon receiving a request to acquire operating data from the air conditioning device 100. This request to acquire operating data is transmitted by short-range wireless communication, and the data acquisition unit 307 may receive this request to acquire operating data via the drone 200. The air conditioning device 100 may transmit a request to acquire operating data when it detects an abnormality in its own device. This makes it possible, for example, for the drone 200 to patrol the vicinity of multiple air conditioning devices 100 and to acquire operating data only from the air conditioning device 100 that has detected an abnormality.

The countermeasure determination unit 308 determines a countermeasure based on the operating data acquired by the data acquisition unit 307. The countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit 308 may be work by a user or maintenance personnel, updating the firmware of the air conditioning device 100, etc. Furthermore, the countermeasure determination unit 308 may determine the frequency with which to acquire operating data from the air conditioning device 100 based on the operating data acquired by the data acquisition unit 307. For example, when it is determined from the operating data that the time when parts will need to be replaced is approaching, the countermeasure determination unit 308 may increase the frequency with which it acquires operating data.

The notification unit 305 sends a message indicating the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit 308 to the contact information of the user of the air conditioning device 100 or the maintenance personnel. The message may be sent by email, SMS (Short Message Service), or other means. The notification unit 305 may send a message indicating the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit 308 when the countermeasure is an operation to be performed by the user or the maintenance personnel. For example, if the countermeasure is an operation of the air conditioning device 100, such as changing the set temperature, the message may be sent to the user. Also, if the countermeasure is a specialized operation, such as replacing parts of the air conditioning device 100, the message may be sent to the maintenance personnel.

The update FW processing unit 303 transmits the firmware (update FW) of the air conditioning device 100, which corresponds to the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit 308, to the air conditioning device 100 via the drone 200. The firmware of the air conditioning device 100 includes a program executed by a processor that controls the air conditioning device 100 or data referenced by the processor. The update FW processing unit 303 may generate the update FW, may select it from pre-stored ones, or may use firmware created by an engineer according to the countermeasure as the update FW. For example, if an abnormal noise occurs when the compressor or fan of the air conditioning device 100 reaches a specific rotation speed, an update FW that limits operation at that rotation speed is transmitted to the air conditioning device 100.

The management DB 304 stores information on multiple air conditioning devices 100. The designation acquisition unit 302 may select one air conditioning device 100 from the multiple air conditioning devices 100 stored in the management DB 304. The information on the air conditioning device 100 may also include contact information (e.g., email address, telephone number) of the user or maintenance personnel of the air conditioning device 100, and the notification unit 305 may read the contact information from the management DB 304 and use it when sending a message to the contact information of the user or maintenance personnel. The information on the air conditioning device 100 may also include information that identifies the firmware currently being used by the air conditioning device 100, and the update FW processing unit 303 may use the information to generate or select an update FW.

3 is a table showing an example of the contents stored in the management DB 304 according to this embodiment. In the example shown in FIG. 3, the management DB 304 stores the following information about the air conditioning device 100: air conditioning device #, model, user ID, address, property name, latitude, longitude, altitude, FW version, user contact information, and maintenance personnel contact information. The air conditioning device # is identification information such as the serial number of the air conditioning device 100. The model is information indicating the model of the air conditioning device 100. The user ID is a user ID that identifies the user of the air conditioning device 100. The address is the address where the air conditioning device 100 is installed. The property name is the name of the building or facility where the air conditioning device 100 is installed. The latitude, longitude, and altitude indicate the installation location of the air conditioning device 100. The FW version is a version number that identifies the firmware currently being used by the air conditioning device 100. The user contact information is contact information such as the email address and telephone number of the user of the air conditioning device 100. The maintenance personnel contact information is the email address, telephone number, and other contact information of the maintenance personnel for the air conditioning device 100.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the management device 300 according to this embodiment. First, the designation acquisition unit 302 acquires designation information for the air conditioning device 100 (step Sa1). Next, the air vehicle control unit 301 flies the drone 200 to the vicinity of the air conditioning device 100 for which the designation information has been acquired by the designation acquisition unit 302 (step Sa2). Next, the data acquisition unit 307 acquires operating data from the air conditioning device 100 (step Sa3). At this time, the operating data is transmitted to the management device 300 via the drone 200, and is received by the second long-distance communication unit 306.

Next, the countermeasure determination unit 308 analyzes the operation data acquired by the data acquisition unit 307 and determines a countermeasure (step Sa4). If the countermeasure determined in step Sa4 is a firmware update (step Sa4-Yes), the update FW processing unit 303 selects or generates an update FW (step Sa5). Next, the update FW processing unit 303 transmits the update FW selected or generated in step Sa5 to the air conditioning device 100 via the drone 200 (step Sa6).

If the solution determined in step Sa4 is to contact the user (step Sa7-Yes), the notification unit 305 contacts the user contact (step Sa8). The user contact is contacted, for example, by sending a message by email according to the solution. If the solution determined in step Sa4 is neither to update the firmware nor to contact the user, that is, to contact maintenance personnel (step Sa7-No), the notification unit 305 contacts the maintenance personnel contact (step Sa9). The maintenance personnel contact is contacted, for example, by sending a message by email according to the solution.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an air conditioning device search screen of the management device 300 according to this embodiment. The air conditioning device search screen G1 in FIG. 5 is a screen for the operator OP to specify an air conditioning device 100. The air conditioning device search screen G1 includes a user ID input area IA1, an address input area IA2, a model input area IA3, a search result table TB1, a search button B1, and a cancel button B2. The user ID input area IA1, the address input area IA2, and the model input area IA3 are areas for inputting search conditions. There may be areas for inputting other information about the air conditioning device 100, such as the air conditioning device # and the property name, as search conditions. The search result table TB1 displays information about the air conditioning devices 100 that match the search conditions. The search result table TB1 displays inspection buttons B3 and B4 for each air conditioning device 100 that match the search conditions. When the inspection buttons B3 and B4 are pressed, the corresponding air conditioning device 100 is specified.

When the operator OP receives a call from a user, the operator OP inputs the user ID, address, and model of the device that he/she has heard from the user into the corresponding input fields IA1, IA2, and IA3, and presses the search button B1. When the search button B1 is pressed, a table TB1 of search results is displayed. The operator OP specifies the air conditioning device 100 by pressing one of the inspection buttons B3 and B4 that corresponds to the air conditioning device 100. When either the inspection button B3 or B4 is pressed, the management device 300 displays an abnormality content input screen. Note that when either the inspection button B3 or B4 is pressed, the management device 300 may fly the drone 200 to the vicinity of the air conditioning device 100 without displaying the abnormality content input screen.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an abnormality content input screen of the management device 300 according to this embodiment. The abnormality content input screen G2 in FIG. 6 is a screen on which the operator OP inputs abnormality content of the air conditioning device 100. The management device 300 displays the abnormality content input screen G2 when any of the inspection buttons are pressed on the air conditioning device search screen. The abnormality content input screen G2 includes a table TB2 displaying information about the air conditioning device 100, a candidate list of abnormalities TB3, a data acquisition button B5, and a cancel button B6.

Table TB2 displays information about the air conditioning device 100 that corresponds to the pressed inspection button and is the target of data acquisition. The abnormality content candidate list TB3 displays a list of abnormality content candidates. In addition, a check box C1 is displayed for each candidate in the candidate list TB3. The data acquisition button B5 is a button that instructs the management device 300 to fly the drone 200 to acquire operating data.

The operator OP checks the checkbox C1 corresponding to the abnormality content heard from the user over the phone, and presses the data acquisition button B5. The data acquisition unit 307 may change the item of operating data to be acquired and the operating content of the air conditioning device 100 when acquiring the operating data, depending on the abnormality content that has been checked. Furthermore, the countermeasure determination unit 308 may determine the countermeasure based on the abnormality content that has been checked in addition to the operating data.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of flight control of the drone 200 according to this embodiment. FIG. 7 shows an example of flight control when the air conditioning device 100 transmits operating data to the management device 300. When the drone 200 flies close to the air conditioning device 100, the relay unit 202 determines whether or not communication with the air conditioning device 100 is possible using the second short-range communication unit 203 (step Sb1). If communication is not possible (step Sb1-No), the flight control unit 201 controls the drone 200 to approach the air conditioning device 100 (step Sb2), and returns to step Sb1.

Also, when communication is possible in step Sb1 (step Sb1-Yes), the relay unit 202 acquires operating data from the air conditioning device 100 using the second short-range communication unit 203 (step Sb3). Next, the relay unit 202 determines whether or not communication with the management device 300 is possible using the first long-range communication unit 204 (step Sb4). When communication is not possible (step Sb4-No), the flight control unit 201 controls the drone 200 to move away from the air conditioning device 100 (step Sb5), and returns to step Sb4.

Furthermore, when communication is possible in step Sb4 (step Sb4-Yes), the relay unit 202 uses the first long-distance communication unit 204 to transmit the operating data acquired in step Sb3 to the management device 300 (step Sb6). The relay unit 202 determines whether all the operating data has been acquired from the air conditioning device 100 and transmitted (step Sb7). If the data has not been transmitted (step Sb7-No), the process returns to step Sb1. If the data has been transmitted (step Sb7-Yes), the process ends.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing another example of flight control of the drone 200 according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is an example of flight control when the management device 300 transmits an updated FW to the air conditioning device 100. When the drone 200 flies close to the air conditioning device 100, the relay unit 202 determines whether or not communication with the management device 300 is possible using the first long-distance communication unit 204 (step Sc1). If communication is not possible (step Sc1-No), the flight control unit 201 controls the drone 200 to move away from the air conditioning device 100 (step Sc2), and returns to step Sc1.

If communication is possible in step Sc1 (step Sc1-Yes), the relay unit 202 acquires an updated FW from the management device 300 using the first long-distance communication unit 204 (step Sc3). Next, the relay unit 202 determines whether communication with the air conditioning device 100 is possible using the second short-distance communication unit 203 (step Sc4). If communication is not possible (step Sc4-No), the flight control unit 201 controls the drone 200 to approach the air conditioning device 100 (step Sc5), and returns to step Sc4.

In addition, when communication is possible in step Sc4 (step Sc4-Yes), the relay unit 202 uses the second short-range communication unit 203 to transmit the updated FW acquired in step Sc3 to the air conditioning device 100 (step Sc6). The relay unit 202 determines whether or not all of the updated FW has been acquired from the management device 300 and transmitted (step Sc7). If it has not been transmitted (step Sc7-No), the process returns to step Sc1. If it has been transmitted (step Sc7-Yes), the process ends.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of each device according to this embodiment.
The devices are the management device 300 and the terminal 400. Each device is configured to include an input/output module I, a storage module M, and a control module P. The input/output module I is realized by including a part or all of the communication module H11, the connection module H12, the pointing device H21, the keyboard H22, the display H23, the button H3, the microphone H41, the speaker H42, the camera H51, or the sensor H52. The storage module M is realized by including a drive H7. The storage module M may further be configured to include a part or all of the memory H8. The control module P is realized by including a memory H8 and a processor H9. These hardware components are connected to each other so as to be able to communicate with each other via a bus, and are supplied with power from a power source H6.

The connection module H12 is a digital input/output port such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB). In the case of a portable device, the pointing device H21, the keyboard H22, and the display H23 are touch panels. The sensor H52 is an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a GPS receiving module, a proximity sensor, or the like. The power source H6 is a power supply unit that supplies electricity required to operate each device. In the case of a portable device, the power source H6 is a battery. The drive H7 is an auxiliary storage medium such as a hard disk drive or a solid state drive. The drive H7 may be a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM or a flash memory, or a magneto-optical disk drive or a flexible disk drive. In addition, the drive H7 is not limited to being built into each device, but may be an external storage device connected to the connector of the connection module H12. The memory H8 is a main storage medium such as a random access memory. The memory H8 may be a cache memory. The memory H8 stores instructions when the instructions are executed by one or more processors H9. The processor H9 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor H9 may be an MPU (Microprocessing Unit) or a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The processor H9 reads out programs and various data from the drive H7 via the memory H8 and performs calculations to execute instructions stored in one or more memories H8.

The input/output module I is used for the flying object control unit 301, the designation acquisition unit 302, the notification unit 305, the second long-distance communication unit 306, etc. The memory module M realizes the management DB 304. The control module P is used to implement each unit of the management device 300. Note that in this specification, the descriptions of the management device 300, the terminal 400, the flying object control unit 301, the designation acquisition unit 302, the update FW processing unit 303, the management DB 304, the notification unit 305, the second long-distance communication unit 306, the data acquisition unit 307, and the countermeasure determination unit 308 may be replaced with the description of the control module P.

In this embodiment, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit are treated together as one air conditioning device 100, but each of the indoor unit and the outdoor unit may be treated as one air conditioning device 100. Also, one or more indoor units and one or more outdoor units may be treated together as one air conditioning device 100.

The following embodiment may also be adopted.
(1) One embodiment is a management device that includes a designation acquisition unit that acquires designation information for an air conditioning device, an aircraft control unit that flies an aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit, and a data acquisition unit that acquires operating data from the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit via the aircraft.
This allows the management device to obtain operating data even from air conditioning apparatuses installed in locations where communication via IoT connection is not possible.

(2) Another embodiment is the management device of (1) above, wherein the aircraft acquires the operating data from the air conditioning unit via short-range wireless communication, and the data acquisition unit acquires the operating data from the aircraft via long-range wireless communication.
As a result, even if communication via IoT connection is not possible at the location where the air conditioning unit is installed, if long-distance wireless communication is possible in the vicinity, operating data can be obtained from the air conditioning unit.

(3) Another embodiment is a management device as described above in (1) or (2), comprising a countermeasure determination unit that determines a countermeasure based on the operating data acquired by the data acquisition unit, and a notification unit that sends a message indicating the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit to a contact point of a user or maintenance personnel of the air conditioning device.
This allows users or maintenance personnel to be notified of corrective actions based on the operational data.

(4) Another embodiment is a management device as described above in (1) to (3), comprising: a countermeasure determination unit that determines a countermeasure based on the operating data acquired by the data acquisition unit; and an update FW processing unit that transmits firmware corresponding to the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit, the firmware of the air conditioning device, to the air conditioning device via the air vehicle.
This makes it possible to transmit firmware for the air conditioning apparatus that corresponds to countermeasures based on the operating data to the air conditioning apparatus.

(5) Another embodiment is a management device according to any one of (1) to (4) above, which receives a request for acquiring operating data from the air conditioning device and acquires the operating data.
This makes it possible to obtain operating data from air conditioning apparatuses that have detected a malfunction, for example, and for which the acquisition and analysis of operating data is required.

(6) Another embodiment is a management device of any of (1) to (5) above, wherein the data acquisition unit instructs the air conditioning device on operating content via the air vehicle and acquires the operating data when the air conditioning device is operating in accordance with the operating content.
This makes it possible to obtain operating data when the air conditioner is operating in accordance with the instructed operating details.

(7) Another embodiment is the management device of (6) above, which is equipped with a notification unit that transmits information indicating the time when the air conditioning device will operate in accordance with the operational content to a user of the air conditioning device.
This makes it possible to notify a user of the air conditioner that the operation details of the air conditioner will change.

(8) Another embodiment is an aircraft that relays data transmission and reception between an air conditioning device and a management device, and when it is unable to communicate with the air conditioning device, it approaches the air conditioning device to transmit and receive data with the air conditioning device, and when it is unable to communicate with the management device, it moves away from the air conditioning device to transmit and receive data with the management device.
This makes it possible to relay data transmission and reception between the air conditioning device and the management device even if the flying object is not in a location where it can communicate with the air conditioning device and the management device simultaneously.

(9) Another embodiment is a management method using a management device, the management method having a first step of acquiring designation information for an air conditioning device, a second step of flying an aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired in the first step, and a third step of acquiring operating data from the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired in the first step via the aircraft.
This allows the management device to obtain operating data even from air conditioning apparatuses installed in locations where communication via IoT connection is not possible.

(10) Another embodiment is a control method for an aircraft that relays data transmission and reception between an air conditioning device and a management device, the control method having a step of approaching the air conditioning device and transmitting data to and from the air conditioning device when communication with the air conditioning device is not possible, and a step of moving away from the air conditioning device and transmitting data to and from the management device when communication with the management device is not possible.
This makes it possible to relay data transmission and reception between the air conditioning device and the management device even if the flying object is not in a location where it can communicate with the air conditioning device and the management device simultaneously.

(11) Another embodiment is a program for causing a computer to function as a designation acquisition unit that acquires designation information for an air conditioning device, an aircraft control unit that flies an aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit, and a data acquisition unit that acquires operating data from the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit, via the aircraft.
This allows the management device to obtain operating data even from air conditioning apparatuses installed in locations where communication via IoT connection is not possible.

In addition, a program for implementing the functions of the management device 300 and terminal 400 in Figs. 1 and 2 may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium, and the program recorded on the recording medium may be read into a computer system and executed to implement the management device 300 and terminal 400. Note that the term "computer system" here includes hardware such as the OS and peripheral devices.

Furthermore, if the WWW system is used, the "computer system" also includes the home page providing environment (or display environment).
In addition, "computer-readable recording medium" refers to portable media such as flexible disks, optical magnetic disks, ROMs, and CD-ROMs, as well as storage devices such as hard disks built into computer systems. Furthermore, "computer-readable recording medium" also includes those that dynamically store a program for a short period of time, such as a communication line when transmitting a program via a network such as the Internet or a communication line such as a telephone line, and those that store a program for a certain period of time, such as volatile memory inside a computer system that serves as a server or client in such cases. Furthermore, the above program may be one that realizes part of the above-mentioned functions, or may be one that can realize the above-mentioned functions in combination with a program already recorded in the computer system.

　Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes that do not deviate from the gist of the present invention are also included.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Air conditioning device 101 Air conditioning device control unit 102 First short-range communication unit 200 Drone 201 Flight control unit 202 Relay unit 203 Second short-range communication unit 204 First long-range communication unit 300 Management device 301 Aircraft control unit 302 Designation acquisition unit 303 Update FW processing unit 304 Management DB
305 Notification unit 306 Second long distance communication unit 307 Data acquisition unit 308 Countermeasure determination unit 400 Terminal

Claims

A designation acquisition unit that acquires designation information for the air conditioning device;
an aircraft control unit that flies an aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit;
a data acquisition unit that acquires operating data from the air conditioning apparatus of the designated information acquired by the designated acquisition unit, via the flying object.
The flying object acquires the operating data from the air conditioning apparatus via short-range wireless communication,
The data acquisition unit acquires the driving data from the aircraft through long-distance wireless communication.
The management device according to claim 1 .
A countermeasure determination unit that determines a countermeasure based on the driving data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
The management device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a notification unit that transmits a message indicating the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit to a contact point of a user or maintenance personnel of the air conditioning apparatus.
A countermeasure determination unit that determines a countermeasure based on the driving data acquired by the data acquisition unit;
The management device according to claim 1 , further comprising: an update FW processing unit that transmits firmware corresponding to the countermeasure determined by the countermeasure determination unit, the firmware of the air conditioning device, to the air conditioning device via the air vehicle.
The management device according to claim 1, wherein the data acquisition unit acquires the operating data upon receiving a request to acquire operating data from the air conditioning device.
The management device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the data acquisition unit instructs the air conditioning device on operation details via the aircraft, and acquires the operation data when the air conditioning device is operating according to the operation details.
The management device according to claim 6, further comprising a notification unit that transmits information to a user of the air conditioning device indicating the time when the air conditioning device will operate according to the operation content.
An aircraft that relays data transmission and reception between an air conditioning device and a management device,
When communication with the air conditioner is not possible, the device approaches the air conditioner and transmits and receives data to and from the air conditioner.
When communication with the management device is not possible, the air conditioning device moves away from the air conditioning device and transmits and receives the data to and from the management device.
Flying vehicle.
A management method by a management device, comprising:
A first step of acquiring designation information for an air conditioning device;
a second step of flying the aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning device of the designation information acquired in the first step;
A management method comprising: a third step of acquiring operating data from the air conditioning apparatus of the specified information acquired in the first step, via the flying object.
A method for controlling an air vehicle that relays data transmission and reception between an air conditioning device and a management device, comprising:
When communication with the air conditioner is not possible, approaching the air conditioner and transmitting/receiving data to/from the air conditioner;
and when communication with the management device is not possible, moving away from the air conditioning apparatus and causing the air conditioning apparatus to transmit and receive the data to and from the management device.
Computer,
A designation acquisition unit that acquires designation information for the air conditioning device;
an aircraft control unit that flies an aircraft to the vicinity of the air conditioning apparatus of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit;
A program for causing the designation acquisition unit to function as a data acquisition unit that acquires operating data, via the aircraft, from the air conditioning apparatus of the designation information acquired by the designation acquisition unit.