JP4868028B2 - Remote control system and service equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a remote operation system, a remote operation method, a remote operation adapter, and a service device, and in particular, controls various household electrical appliances in a home from a mobile phone having an Internet connection function and a homepage browsing function (browser). The present invention relates to a remote operation technology that performs the above.

  As a conventional system for performing remote operation of a home appliance or the like in a remote place, for example, a remote operation system disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2000-59867 can be given. In the remote operation system described in this publication, operation control information for operating and controlling an electrical product or the like at a remote location is transmitted to the electrical product or the like by an electronic mail distributed via the Internet, and the electrical product or the like is transmitted. Etc. are operated and controlled.

  In the remote operation system using the above-mentioned electronic mail, the user describes the name of the device to be remotely operated and the operation content in the electronic mail and transmits it. For example, when a VTR recording operation is performed, an e-mail with a description content such as “[Video] [3/30, 21: 00 to 22:00, 3 × speed]” is transmitted. The control device installed in the home accesses the e-mail instructing the remote operation by checking the content of the e-mail to the mail server at regular intervals, and receives the e-mail when it arrives. Then, the received electronic device controls the electrical product connected to the control device according to the description content.

JP 2000-59867 A

By the way, especially in the case of household electric appliances, users are accustomed to operations using a direct-view user interface using a remote controller attached to the device. For example, taking the operation of an air conditioner as an example, the operation of the air conditioner is controlled using buttons such as “cooling” and “heating” on the remote control, and the set temperature is also displayed on the liquid crystal display device provided on the remote control. While watching the current set temperature, change the set temperature using the “Up” and “Down” buttons on the remote control. In order to perform this in the system using the electronic mail, for example, an electronic mail describing “[air conditioner] [cooling, 25 ° C.]” or the like is transmitted.

  Now, in order to send an e-mail, an environment connected to the Internet is required. In general, a personal computer connected to the Internet is often used, but recently, it has become possible to send electronic mail from the mobile phone using the Internet. However, it is difficult to prepare an environment for using a personal computer connected to the Internet, except when using the personal computer at work, for example, when the above-described operation of the air conditioner is performed from outside. On the other hand, when sending an e-mail from a mobile phone, it is possible to send an e-mail regardless of location, but in the case of a mobile phone, the operation interface for character input is basically a numeric keypad. There is a problem that it takes much time to create an e-mail document.

An object of the present invention is to provide a remote operation system and a service device that can be controlled so as to remotely operate devices such as household electrical appliances in a home with a simple operation.

In order to achieve the above object, the configuration described in the claims is adopted. For example, a remote operation system including a mobile phone, a service device, and a remote operation adapter connected to the device via a communication line, the mobile phone based on a user operation. Receiving a control instruction of a device connected to the remote operation adapter and transmitting the control instruction to the service device, the service device identifying on a communication line assigned to the remote operation adapter Connect to the remote operation adapter using the database having information and the identification information of the database, and generate and transmit control instruction information to the remote operation adapter based on the control instruction transmitted by the control instruction means and a transmitting unit, the remote control adapter, on the basis of the control instruction information transmitted by said transmitting means It characterized in that it comprises a control means for controlling the device connected to the隔操operation adapter.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the remote control system and service apparatus which can be controlled so that apparatuses, such as household appliances in a household, can be remotely operated by simple operation can be provided.

It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the remote control system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the internet connection service by a mobile telephone in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the service equipment of a service provision provider in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the customer authentication homepage in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the customer database in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the homepage classified by customer and the homepage classified by apparatus in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the remote control adapter in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structural example of the apparatus control table in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the example of the flow of a process in the remote control system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a remote control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In FIG. 1, 101 is a mobile phone, 102 is a mobile phone operator, 103 is the Internet, 104 is a service provider having the service device 100, 105 is a public line, 106 is a remote control adapter, 107 is a network-compatible home appliance, 108 is a home network, 121 is a home appliance manufacturer A, 122 is a home appliance manufacturer B, and 123 is a home appliance manufacturer C.

  The mobile phone 101 is a mobile phone that can use a mobile phone service provided by the mobile phone carrier 102. In the present embodiment, the mobile phone can use a voice call and an Internet service by data communication as the mobile phone service. It is. The mobile phone operator 102 provides an Internet connection service using the mobile phone shown in FIG.

  Details of the Internet connection service will be described later. The cellular phone operator 102 is connected to the Internet 103 by an Internet connection service. A service provider 104 having the service device 100 is connected to the Internet 103. As a result, it is possible to access the home page provided by the service provider 104 from the cellular phone 101 through the cellular phone operator 102 and the Internet 103.

  The service device 100 of the service provider 104 is connected to a remote operation adapter 106 installed in a home through a public line 105 such as a general telephone line or a digital telephone line. Instead of the public line 105, another communication line such as a dedicated line may be used.

  A network-compatible home appliance 107 is connected to a remote operation adapter 106 installed in a home via a home network 108. As the home network 108, one using data transmission using a power line or one using wireless data transmission is used. The network-compatible home appliance is a home appliance having a function of connecting to the home network 108, and is, for example, an air conditioner, a lighting device, a television, or a VTR.

  The information providing devices of home appliance manufacturers A 121, B 122, and C 123 are connected to the Internet 103 through an Internet connection service, and a service provider 104 having the service device 100 can access a home page provided by the home appliance manufacturer through the Internet 103. It becomes.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of an Internet connection service using a mobile phone provided by the mobile phone carrier 102. The mobile phone 101 and the mobile phone carrier 102 are connected by a wireless network 109. When using the Internet connection service, communication is performed between the cellular phone 101 and the cellular phone carrier 102 using a unique protocol determined by the cellular phone carrier.

  The mobile phone 101 has means for performing communication using a unique protocol and a browser for displaying a home page on the display device of the mobile phone based on the received data (here, a WWW browser for reading the contents of the WWW server). Installed. On the other hand, the cellular phone operator 102 is connected to the Internet 103 through a dedicated line 110 or the like, and is connected to a service provider 104 that is also connected through a dedicated line or the like.

  Communication is performed between the cellular phone carrier 102 and the service provider 104 by TCP / IP (Transmisson Control Protocol / Internet Protocol) which is a general communication protocol in the Internet. When the mobile phone carrier 102 converts the original protocol and TCP / IP, the home page provided by the service provider 104 connected to the Internet 103 is used using the browser installed in the mobile phone 101. It becomes possible to browse.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the service device 100 of the service provider 104 in this embodiment. The service device 100 has a WWW (World Wide Web) server 201, and in this WWW server 201, a customer authentication home page 202, a customer-specific home page 203, and a model-specific home page linked to the customer-specific home page 203 (described later in FIG. 6). And a customer database 204, a customer-specific program 205 linked to a homepage for each customer, a line connection means 206 for connecting to the public line 105, and the like.

  In FIG. 1, when the mobile phone 101 accesses the service provider 104 through the mobile phone carrier 102 and the Internet 103, the customer authentication home page 202 is first displayed on the screen of the mobile phone 101.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the customer authentication home page 202 includes an area 302 for inputting a user ID, an area 303 for inputting a user password, and a button 304 for instructing logon. The user of the remote operation service inputs the user ID and the user password on the customer authentication home page 202 displayed on the mobile phone 101, and then selects the logon button 304, thereby providing the service provider 104 with the user. Request to log on to the remote control service.

  The service provider 104 uses the customer database 204 based on the user ID and user password entered on the customer authentication homepage 202 and the telephone number of the mobile phone 101 sent from the mobile phone operator 103. Perform user authentication.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in this embodiment, at least a telephone number 305, an ID 306, a password 307, a home page 308, and a remote operation adapter telephone number 309 are prepared as a list in the customer database 204. A telephone number 305 is a telephone number of the mobile phone 101 and is sent from the mobile phone carrier 102 as described above.

  An ID 306 and a password 307 are a user ID and a user password that a user (customer) who uses the remote operation service using the mobile phone 101 inputs on the customer authentication home page 202. In general, regarding the ID 306, when the user (customer) subscribes to (registers for use) the remote operation service provided by the service provider, the service provider 104 determines and determines the user (customer) in advance. As for the password 307, the service provider 104 determines a temporary password and notifies the user, and the user can then change it to an arbitrary password.

  The home page 308 indicates a home page URL (Uniform Resource Locator) for each user, and the home page for each user is accessed based on this URL. The remote operation adapter telephone number 309 is the telephone number of the public line to which the user (customer) remote operation adapter 106 is connected.

  When the user ID and the user password input by the user of the mobile phone 101 on the customer authentication home page 202 match the contents held in the customer database 204, the customer database 204 is stored in the user's mobile phone 101. The customer-specific home page 203 specified by the URL of the home page 308 shown is displayed.

  If the mobile phone 101 can hold user identification information for each homepage once accessed and can handle cookies and OPS (Open Profiling Standard), the service device 100 of the service provider 104 can By using a mechanism such as a cookie or OPS, the user (customer) does not need to enter the user ID or user password on the customer authentication home page 202 when the user (customer) accesses for the second time or later. It is also possible.

  In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the customer-specific home page 203 includes a list 311 of devices that can be remotely operated by the user (customer) using a remote operation service, a password change 312, an inquiry 313, and the like. Consists of service menus. Here, the password change 312 requests to change the password 307 held in the customer database 204, and the inquiry 313 transmits an inquiry about the remote operation service to the service provider 104.

  The user of the remote operation service selects a device (home appliance) to be operated, such as an air conditioner, on the customer-specific home page 203 displayed on the mobile phone 101. In the present embodiment, the selection of a device (home appliance) on the customer-specific home page 203 is performed by selecting a target device (home appliance) with a highlighted cursor. If an air conditioner is selected in the list 311 of devices (home appliances) on the customer-specific home page 203, a device-specific home page 301 corresponding to the air conditioner linked to the customer-specific home page 203 is displayed.

  This device-specific home page 301 is an operation panel for an air conditioner. For example, a list 315 of operation modes (cooling, heating, ventilation, off), a check box 314 for selecting an operation mode, a display 317 of a room temperature set value, and a setting of a set room temperature A button 316 for raising the value, a button 318 for lowering the set room temperature value, a button 319 for instructing to return to the customer-specific home page 203, and a decision button 320 for notifying that the setting contents have been decided.

  When operating the air conditioner using the remote operation service, the user of the mobile phone 101 can check the desired operation mode check box 314 from the operation mode list 315 on the device-specific home page 301 displayed on the mobile phone 101. Then, the display 317 of the room temperature setting value is set to a desired room temperature setting by a button 316 for increasing the setting value of the setting room temperature and a button 318 for lowering the setting room temperature value, and then the decision button 320 is selected.

  When an operation is performed on the customer-specific homepage 203 or the model-specific homepage 301 with the mobile phone 101, the service provider 104 operates the customer-specific program 205. The customer-specific program 205 is linked to the customer-specific homepage 203 or the model-specific homepage 301, and controls the line connection means 206 according to the air-conditioner settings set in the model-specific homepage 301, for example. The remote control adapter 106 installed in the (customer) home is instructed to operate the air conditioner.

  When the service provider 104 connects to the customer's remote operation adapter 106, the service provider 104 controls the line connection unit 206 and makes a call to the telephone number indicated by the remote operation adapter telephone number 309 indicated by the customer database 204. Thus, the remote operation adapter 106 is connected.

  Here, in accordance with the operation of the customer-specific program 205, it is considered that the control instruction content to the home appliance instructed to the remote operation adapter 106 differs depending on the manufacturer, product type, etc. of the home appliance. Therefore, the service provider 104 uses the service device 100 or a host device (not shown) of the service provider to control customer appliance control specification data, which is basic data for creating the customer-specific program 205 and the model-specific homepage 301, etc. Are obtained from information providing devices such as home appliance manufacturers A121, B122, and C123 via the Internet 103. At this time, the service provider 104 pays the home appliance manufacturer that received the information. This consideration may be payment of money by an online payment system corresponding to the amount of information provided, or control monitor information of each home appliance provided to a home appliance manufacturer.

  FIG. 7 shows a configuration of the remote operation adapter 106 in the present embodiment. The remote operation adapter 106 includes line connection means 211 connected to the public line 105, a control unit 212 that controls the remote operation adapter 106, and data for controlling the network-compatible home appliance 107 connected to the remote operation adapter 106. Is stored in the device control table 213 and the home network interface 214 for connecting to the home network 108.

  As described above, the service provider 104 gives an instruction to control the device through the public line 105 in order to control home appliances in the home. The remote operation adapter 106 receives this instruction from the public line 105 through the line connection unit 211. Upon receiving this instruction, the control unit 212 generates a command for controlling the target device using the device control table 213 from the content of the instruction, and is connected to the home network 108 via the home network interface 214. The product 107 is controlled.

  The configuration of the device control table 213 in the present embodiment is shown in FIG. The device control table 213 holds a device ID 321, a device name 322, an operation ID 323, an operation name 324, a network 325, a device address 326, and a command 327.

  The device ID 321 is an ID number indicating an operation target device (home appliance), and has a unique value in the home, in other words, in the device managed by the remote operation adapter 106. The device name 322 is a name of the device (home appliance).

  In the present embodiment, the device ID 321 of the air conditioner is defined as “09”. The device ID 321 is a value used when the service provider 104 instructs the remote operation adapter 106 to operate through the public line 105. The operation ID 323 is an ID number indicating the content of the operation, and the operation name 324 indicates the content of the operation. Similar to the device ID 321, the operation ID 323 is a value used when the service provider 104 instructs the remote operation adapter 106 to perform an operation. That is, the service provider 104 instructs the remote operation adapter 106 to operate the home appliance using the device ID 321 and the operation ID 323.

  In this embodiment, for example, when performing an operation instruction to set the operation mode of the air conditioner to cooling, the service provider 104 sends the values of device ID 321 = 09 and operation ID 323 = 01 to the remote operation through the public line 105. It transmits to the adapter 106.

  The network 325 is an ID number indicating a home network to which a device (home appliance) is connected. In the configuration diagram of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 7, there is only one type of home network 108, but there are cases where a plurality of types of networks are used as home networks used in the home.

  The network (network ID) 325 indicates to which network the device is connected when a plurality of networks are connected to the remote operation adapter 106 in this way. In the device control table 213 of this embodiment shown in FIG. 8, as described above, the network to which the remote operation adapter 106 of this embodiment is connected is only the home network 108 shown in FIG. "Is set. The device address 326 indicates an address of the device (home appliance) on the network.

  The command 327 is a command for instructing the operation target device (home appliance) to operate, and the control unit 212 converts the command 327 into the device (indicated by the device address 326 on the network indicated by the network 325 ( The appliance (home appliance) is controlled by transmitting to the home appliance) through the home network interface 214.

  Note that the network 325, device address 326, and command 327 shown in FIG. 8 are examples, and generally values according to specifications determined by the home network 108 are used.

  The processing flow of the remote operation service using this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. First, the mobile phone 101 connects to the Internet connection service of the mobile phone carrier 102 (step 401). Thereby, the cellular phone operator 102 displays the menu of the Internet connection service on the display device of the cellular phone 101 (step 402). The user selects a remote operation service from the displayed menu. Thereby, the mobile phone 101 is connected to the service provider 104 (step 403). This connection is as described above, and the mobile phone 101 is connected to the service provider 104 through the mobile phone operator 102 and the Internet 103. Details of the connection between the mobile phone 101 and the service provider 104 are as described with reference to FIG.

  When connected from the cellular phone 101, the service provider 104 transmits the customer authentication home page 202 described in FIG. 4 to the cellular phone 101 (step 404). As a result, the customer authentication home page 202 is displayed on the display device of the mobile phone 101, and the user inputs the user ID and the user password and presses the logon button 304. Thus, the input ID and password are transmitted to the service provider 104 (step 405). At this time, the cellular phone carrier 102 transmits the telephone number of the cellular phone 101 to the service provider 104.

  The service provider 104 performs customer authentication using the received ID, password, and telephone number (step 406). As described with reference to FIG. 3, customer authentication is performed by referring to the customer database 204 based on the input ID, password, and phone number of the mobile phone 101 sent from the mobile phone carrier 102.

  In step 406 of customer authentication, when it is authenticated that the user of the mobile phone 101 is a regular customer, the service provider 104 performs public line connection (step 407). As described in FIGS. 3 and 5, the service provider 104 makes a remote operation of the user (customer) through the public line 105 by calling the remote operation adapter telephone number 309 held in the customer database 204. Connection is made to the adapter 106 (step 408). In parallel with this, the service provider 104 transmits the customer-specific home page 203 to the mobile phone 101 (step 409). This is also performed by transmitting the customer-specific home page 203 to the URL indicated by the home page 308 held in the customer database 204, as described in FIGS.

  In step 408, the remote operation adapter 106 that has received a call from the service provider 104 performs authentication (step 410). This is to protect the remote operation adapter 106 from unauthorized use, and the other party who made the call, that is, the other party who is trying to connect to the remote operation adapter 106, has registered the use registration (subscription registration) by the user. This is for confirming that the service provider 104 is a service provider. Although a specific authentication method is not described here, a method using the telephone number of the service provider 104 or a general password method can be used.

  When the remote operation adapter 106 confirms that the other party making the call is the service provider 104 in step 410 of authentication, the status of the network-compatible home appliance 107 connected to the remote operation adapter 106 For example, in the case of an air conditioner, the operating state (whether it is in cooling operation, heating operation or stopped state), the set room temperature, and the like are transmitted to the service provider 104 (step 411).

  On the other hand, the user (customer) selects a device (home appliance) that he / she wants to operate with the mobile phone 101 on the customer-specific home page 203 transmitted in step 409 (step 412). As described with reference to FIG. 6, the customer-specific home page 203 displays a list of devices (home appliances) that can be operated first. The user selects a device (home appliance) to be operated from among them.

  The service provider 104 transmits the device-specific home page 301 corresponding to the selected device (home appliance) sent from the mobile phone 101 to the mobile phone 101 (step 413). At this time, the device-specific home page 301 is created using the status of the device (home appliance) sent from the remote operation adapter 106 as necessary. In the present embodiment, the home page 301 for each air conditioner device has been described with reference to FIG. 6, but regarding the set room temperature 317 and the current operation status (cooling / heating / ventilation / stopped state). Is displayed according to the status of the device (home appliance) sent from the remote operation adapter 106.

  The user (customer) instructs the operation of the device (home appliance) on the device-specific home page 301 displayed on the mobile phone 101 (step 414). As described with reference to FIG. 6, for example, in the case of an air conditioner, the operation mode and the room temperature are set, and the determination button 320 is pressed, and then transmitted from the mobile phone 101 to the service provider 104.

  As described with reference to FIG. 3, when the service provider 104 receives an instruction for operating a device (home appliance) from the mobile phone 101, the service provider 104 transmits the public line 105 through the customer line program 205 linked to the customer-specific home page 203. The remote control adapter 106 is instructed to control the device (home appliance) (step 415). When the service provider 104 instructs the remote operation adapter 106 to control the device (home appliance), the remote operation adapter 106 controls the network-compatible home appliance 107 connected to the home network 108 as described in FIG. Step 416).

  When the device control step 416 ends, the remote operation adapter 106 transmits to the service provider 104 as a result, for example, whether it has ended normally or abnormally (step 417). Upon receiving the device control result from the remote operation adapter 106, the service provider 104 disconnects the public line 105 (step 419). In addition, the service provider 104 transmits a device-specific homepage reflecting the device control result to the mobile phone 101 (418).

  As described above, the remote operation system according to the present embodiment is installed in each home by using the Internet connection service provided by the mobile phone operator and accessing the home page provided by the service provider from the mobile phone. The remote operation adapter can be instructed to operate home appliances connected to the remote operation adapter while viewing the operation screen on the screen. It can be done easily.

  In addition, the user (customer) who uses the remote operation service by the service provider is charged by the service provider, and this charge includes a charge according to the usage record for each predetermined period, or a predetermined period. A flat-rate billing every time, a billing according to a usage record every predetermined period, a basic amount billing, or the like can be considered.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Service equipment 101 Mobile phone 102 Mobile phone operator 103 Internet 104 Service provider 105 Public line 106 Remote operation adapter 107 Home appliance for network 108 Home network 109 Wireless network 110 Dedicated line 121 Home appliance manufacturer A
122 Home Appliance Manufacturer B
123 Home appliance manufacturer C
201 WWW Server 202 Customer Authentication Homepage 203 Customer-specific Homepage 204 Customer Database 205 Customer-Specific Program 206 Line Connection Means 211 Line Connection Means 212 Control Unit 213 Device Control Table 214 Home Network Interface 301 Device-Specific Homepage

Claims (8)

A remote operation system including a mobile phone, a service device, and a remote operation adapter connected to the device via a communication line,
The mobile phone includes a control instruction unit that receives a control instruction of a device connected to the remote operation adapter based on a user operation, and transmits the control instruction to the service device.
The service device connects to the remote operation adapter using a database having identification information on a communication line assigned to the remote operation adapter, and the identification information included in the database, and instructs the remote operation adapter to perform the control instruction. Transmission means for generating and transmitting control instruction information based on the control instruction transmitted by the means,
The remote operation adapter includes a control unit that controls a device connected to the remote operation adapter based on control instruction information transmitted by the transmission unit. The mobile phone includes input means for inputting authentication information based on a user operation,
The service device includes an authentication unit that performs authentication based on authentication information input by the input unit,
The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein the control instruction unit receives a control instruction of a device connected to the remote operation adapter on the condition that the authentication unit is authenticated. The service device and the remote control adapter are connected via a communication line,
3. The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein the identification information on the communication line assigned to the remote operation adapter is a number on the communication line. The remote operation system according to claim 1, wherein the device connected to the remote operation adapter is a home appliance. A service device connected to a mobile phone via a communication line and connected to a remote control adapter for controlling the device via a communication line;
Receiving means for receiving a control instruction of the device transmitted from the mobile phone;
A database having identification information on a communication line assigned to the remote control adapter;
Transmitting means for connecting to the remote operation adapter using identification information included in the database, and generating and transmitting control instruction information to the remote operation adapter based on the control instruction received by the receiving means;
A service device comprising: Comprising storage means for storing information necessary for authentication;
The receiving means receives a control instruction sent from the mobile phone on condition that the authentication information sent by the mobile phone matches the information stored by the storage means. Item 6. The service device according to Item 5. The service device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the identification information on the communication line assigned to the remote operation adapter is a number on the communication line. The service device according to claim 5, wherein the device connected to the remote operation adapter is a home appliance.

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