JP5046416B2 - Home energy management system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an in-home energy management system that remotely controls an in-home remote control target device with an out-of-home terminal, and particularly relates to prevention of leakage of registered information.

Various energy uses such as gas appliances that use gas energy such as gas stoves and electric appliances that use electric energy such as air conditioners, as well as composite equipment that uses gas and electric power in a gas hot water supply system, etc. Equipment is installed.
Conventionally, for example, a technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been devised as a technique for remotely controlling these energy-using devices.
Patent Document 1 discloses a remote control for remotely operating a water heater main body by connecting information received from an external network connected to the home server apparatus by connecting the home server apparatus and an interface provided in the water heater main body. A water heater network system that displays on a display unit is disclosed. In the home server device, registration information such as a user ID and a password used when connecting from an external network is registered. In addition, in order to prevent unauthorized remote operation by the previous resident, the home server device is provided with an initializing means for registering the previous resident's registration information. It was manually initialized.

JP 2005-249291 A

  However, although it is equipped with initialization means, it is a human system initialization work, and there is a possibility that registration information may not be initialized due to forgetting initialization or initialization operation error, etc. It is not perfect for prevention of remote operation.

  Therefore, in the present invention, in view of the above problems, even if the previous resident forgets to delete the registration information in the device by the initialization means when replacing the resident, the new resident will register the registration information of the previous resident. It is an object to provide an in-home energy management system that can be made invisible (enhancement of information leakage prevention) and can implement countermeasures against malicious users by restricting device operations by previous residents.

In order to solve the above-described problem, a residential energy management system according to the invention of claim 1 has a communication interface capable of communicating a predetermined communication protocol signal, and is remotely controlled according to a remote control command included in the communication protocol signal. A remote control target device to be controlled, a target device interface for connecting to the communication interface, a LAN interface for connecting to the Internet network, and a gas usage amount and a power usage amount used in the remote control target device. A management control device for managing energy usage based on the input energy usage information, and a remote interface to the LAN interface via a LAN or Internet network. Output remote control information including control commands, before An external terminal for remotely operating a remote control target device; and an energy usage detector that detects at least the power usage of the remote control target device and sends it to the information input unit as the energy usage information, The management control device, based on the power usage included in the input energy usage information, when detecting a power failure of the commercial power source for a predetermined time or more, the lock control unit that locks the energy usage management function , An authentication control unit for authenticating the external terminal when receiving the remote control information from an external terminal; and a communication protocol including the remote control command when the external terminal is authenticated and not in the locked state A signal is output to remotely control a predetermined operation of the device to be remotely controlled, and the remote control information or the browsing request information is received. If, and when the is in the locked state, configured with a communication control unit for transmitting lock status information including the elapsed time until the start of power failure time and power restoration for a given external terminal.

In the residential energy management system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the management control device calculates the usage data in a predetermined form from at least the power usage included in the energy usage information, and based on the obtained usage data. If the calculation display control unit that creates a web page by graphing and the browsing request information including the browsing request command for the web page from the external terminal, and if the lock control unit is not in a locked state, the web page is A communication control unit that enables browsing.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a residential energy management system including a security device that outputs an abnormality detection signal to a management control device, and abnormal state information when the abnormality detection signal is input to the management control device. Control operation to switch to either one of the security operation mode to be transmitted to the security operation mode or the security non-operation mode in which the abnormal state information is not transmitted to the predetermined external terminal even when the abnormality detection signal is input Security operation switching means, and when the management control device is in an abnormality detection signal input interface for inputting the abnormality detection signal, and in a security operation mode, the lock control unit is not in a locked state, and an abnormality occurs. When a detection signal is input, the contents of the abnormal condition are determined from the abnormality detection signal. A communication control unit for transmitting an abnormal state information including for a given external terminal configured to have a.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the lock control unit that locks the energy usage management function is provided, when the tenant is replaced, the previous resident deletes the registration information in the device by the initialization means. even forgot to, new tenants is that such can not view the registration information of the previous tenants.
In the locked state, the start time of the power failure, the elapsed time until the power is restored, and the like can be grasped by the external terminal, and it becomes easy to estimate the degree of damage in the house due to the power failure.

Furthermore, since authentication is a condition when remote operation is performed by an external terminal, it is possible to limit the previous resident so that the new resident cannot operate the device, and it is possible to implement measures against malicious users. .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to regularly check the amount of energy used even when the user is away from home, thereby preventing the use of unnecessary energy.

According to the invention of claim 3 , intrusion information and the like of a suspicious person can be obtained from an external terminal on the go, and crime and disaster prevention can be more effectively performed.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a system explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of a residential energy management system (hereinafter referred to as the present system) 1 according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a circuit block diagram of a management control device 3 constituting the system. .

  Gas, electric power, and tap water, which are public energy, are drawn into the home 7 of FIG. 1 through a gas meter, a water meter, and a power meter (not shown). As the energy use equipment, for example, a gas hot water supply system (hereinafter referred to as a hot water supply system) that uses gas, tap water and energy of different powers in combination and boiles hot water supplied to a bath or a floor heater with gas. 8 and other composite devices, gas-using devices such as gas stoves that mainly use gas energy, and power-consuming devices such as air conditioners and lighting devices that use power energy are installed at predetermined positions in the home 7 respectively.

  The hot water supply system 8 includes first and second communication interfaces that enable communication of the first communication protocol signal and the second communication protocol signal, respectively, and a protocol conversion control unit that performs protocol conversion between the first and second communication protocol signals. 60, a gas-use hot water supply unit (hereinafter referred to as a hot water supply unit) 35 that controls hot water supply according to a hot water supply control command included in the input second communication protocol signal, and a bath remote controller that operates in the bathroom and operates the hot water supply unit 35 And bath and floor heating equipment.

  In addition to the hot water supply system 8 configured as described above, the system 1 includes one of a first hot water supply system interface for connection to the first communication interface, a LAN interface for connection to the Internet network 32, and energy usage information. And a management control device 3 that manages the gas usage and the power usage based on the inputted gas usage information and the power usage information.

Further, the present system 1 has a second hot water supply system interface that is connected to the second communication interface to enable communication of the second communication protocol signal, and outputs a second communication protocol signal including a hot water supply control command to supply a hot water supply unit. The remote controller 41 for operation as a home terminal 6 that controls hot water supply 35, the external terminal 5 that is communicably connected to the LAN interface via the LAN or the Internet network 32, and the amount of power used by the power usage device are detected. The power consumption detector is one of the energy usage detectors that are sent to the information input unit as usage information.
FIG. 1 shows a state in which the management control device 3 is assembled to the home distribution board 21 in the home 7.

  The management control device 3 in FIG. 2 inputs a digital signal that is an abnormality detection signal output from a security device such as the human sensor 38 and the window sensor 39 and also outputs a digital signal and a digital output interface (digital input). IF and digital output IF) 11, a current sensor interface (current sensor IF) 12 for inputting current information including a current value detected by a current sensor 28 that is a power usage detector, and a power source for driving the management control device 3 A voltage value detector 20 that is a power usage detector that detects the voltage value of the unit and outputs it as voltage information, a power measurement processing unit 13 that calculates the power value of the measurement object from the obtained current information and voltage information, LAN interface (LAN-IF) 14 connected to the Internet network 32 via the router 31 and operation A device control terminal for connecting a control line of a device control unit 15 that generates and outputs an operation control signal of the target device and an HA device (air conditioner 36, gas stove 37) such as an electric device or a gas device that is the operation control target device. (HA terminal) 15a, an external device interface (external device IF) 16 for connecting the protocol conversion control unit 60 of the hot water supply system 8, a storage unit 18 for storing measurement data and the like, and output comparison result information A display unit 22 as a comparison result display means for displaying the contents of the comparison result, an arithmetic processing unit 19 having a CPU for performing predetermined calculations on each input data and controlling the respective units, a storage unit 18 and an arithmetic unit It is comprised from the initialization control part 24 which initializes the resident's registration information registered into the process part 19. FIG. Here, the registration information is all information registered by the resident.

  A human sensor 38 and a window sensor 39 are connected to the digital input IF 11 as security devices. The human sensor 38 and the window sensor 39 are configured to output an abnormality detection signal to the digital input IF 11 when an abnormality is detected. The current sensor IF12 is connected to a current sensor 28 attached to a load electric circuit 27 on the output side of the main switch 26. The LAN-IF 14 is connected to the Internet network 32 via the router 31. In addition, a personal computer (PC) 33 is connected to the router 31, and the energy usage status can be easily grasped on the screen of the PC 33 by communicating with the management control device 3 in the home 7. Furthermore, as described later, it is possible to send and receive e-mails and data to and from the mobile phone 34 which is an external terminal. Note that the PC 33 can see the energy usage status from a remote location as long as it is a communication environment that can connect to the Internet network 32 as well as the home 7. Furthermore, a Web camera 40 is connected to the LAN-IF 14 via a router 31 so that camera images can be displayed on the PC 33.

  In the device control unit 15, a control line connected to an HA terminal (home automation terminal based on the Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association (JEMA) unified standard) of an electric device such as an air conditioner 36 or a gas stove 37 such as a gas stove 37 that is an operation control target device. Is connected to the device control terminal 15a, and on / off control can be performed by operation control information including an operation control command. The external device IF 16 functions as a first hot water supply system interface connected to the first communication interface with the protocol conversion control unit 60.

  The hot water supply unit 35 is connected to a hot water supply unit that supplies hot water of a predetermined temperature to a bath or floor heating, a gas usage detector 23 that detects a gas usage, and a protocol conversion control unit 60, and can communicate by predetermined serial communication. And a serial communication interface that outputs gas usage information including the detected gas usage, and a hot water supply unit controller that controls the operation thereof. The gas usage information including the gas usage detected by the gas usage detector 23 is output from the serial communication interface to the protocol conversion control unit 60 by a serial communication protocol such as RS232C by the control of the hot water supply unit controller. The protocol conversion control unit 60 converts the protocol into the RS485 communication protocol and inputs the converted protocol to the external device IF 16 of the management control device 3.

  Further, the hot water supply unit 35 is connected to an operation remote controller 41 (home terminal 6) for performing remote control operations and a bath remote controller. The remote controller 41 for operation is connected to the hot water supply unit controller of the hot water supply unit 35 so that an operation control signal can be communicated, and is connected to the external device IF 16 of the management control device 3 so as to function as the home terminal 6 of the system 1. They are connected via the conversion control unit 60.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the operation remote controller 41 converts the communication state signal corresponding to the communication state of the electronic mail transmitted / received by the management control device 3 from the first communication protocol signal to the second communication protocol signal. At the same time, even when a security operation mode for transmitting abnormal state information to a predetermined external terminal 5 when an abnormality detection signal is input to the management control device 3 or when an abnormality detection signal is input, abnormal state information A switching control signal including contents corresponding to one of the operation modes is set as the second communication protocol signal so as to switch to one of the operation modes of the security non-operation mode that does not transmit to the predetermined external terminal 5, A second hot water supply system interface that converts the first communication protocol signal through the protocol conversion control unit 60 and outputs the first communication protocol signal to the management control device 3. A terminal-side remote control communication interface (terminal-side remote control communication IF) 45 as a switch, and a switching operation button switch 46 as one of security operation switching means for switching the two operation modes of the management control device 3 every time it is pressed. Based on the communication status signal, the mail communication status is displayed in a predetermined figure, and the display unit 47 for displaying that the security mode is switched between the two operation modes, and the communication status signal and the switching control signal are stored. Storage section 48, a terminal control section 49 that controls each section and functions as one of security operation switching means, and a notification section 50 that emits an operation sound or the like and functions as an abnormality notification section.

The terminal-side remote control communication IF 45 is configured to input a hot water supply information signal output from the hot water supply unit control unit of the hot water supply unit 35 and to output a hot water supply control signal to the hot water supply unit control unit of the hot water supply unit 35.
Here, the hot water supply information signal refers to a signal including hot water supply information such as hot water temperature, tap water temperature, current set temperature, monthly average gas usage, daily average gas usage of the hot water supply unit 35, It is generated by the hot water supply unit controller. The hot water supply control signal is a signal for controlling the operation of the hot water supply unit 35 and is generated by the operation remote controller 41.

  The operation remote controller 41 further includes a power button switch 52 that turns on / off the power supply of the hot water supply unit 35 when pressed, and a temperature setting button switch 53 that sets the hot water temperature of the hot water supply unit 35 when pressed. The display unit 47 is configured to display hot water supply information such as the hot water supply temperature of the hot water supply unit 35 from the hot water supply information signal.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the protocol conversion control unit 60 communicates with the RS485 communication IF 57 that is connected to the external device IF 16 of the management control device 3 so as to be capable of mutual communication with the RS485 communication protocol that is the first communication protocol. Via a serial communication IF 59 that is communicably connected to the hot water supply unit 35 and a conversion-side remote control communication IF 58 that is a second communication interface that is connected to the terminal-side remote control communication IF 45 of the home terminal 6 so as to be able to communicate with each other using a remote control communication protocol. Thus, protocol conversion control is performed between the RS485 communication protocol, the remote control communication protocol, and the serial communication protocol.

  The system 1 having the above configuration operates as follows. First, in the management control device 3, a predetermined calculation is executed by the power measurement processing unit 13 based on the current information input to the current sensor IF 12 and the voltage information detected by the voltage value detector 20 in the management control device 3. Then, the power of the measurement target circuit is calculated. Further, the arithmetic processing unit 19 calculates the power consumption (the amount of received power from the commercial power system) from the hourly power data. The calculation data is periodically saved in the storage unit 18 each time. On the other hand, the gas usage is calculated based on the gas usage information output from the gas usage detector 23 in the hot water supply unit 35 and input to the external device IF 16 of the management control device 3 via the protocol conversion control unit 60. Similarly, it is periodically stored in the storage unit 18 as well.

  The arithmetic processing unit 19 functions as a lock control unit that locks (stops the function of) a predetermined function (lock function S1). That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the lock control unit detects the occurrence of a power failure based on the stored power consumption (S1-1), and then returns to the power source (S1-2) for a preset time or more. When a state in which no power is supplied passes (S1-3, Y), the status flag corresponding to whether or not the lock state is set is turned ON so that the lock state is set, and the security device is set to the security non-operation mode. (S1-4). Each unit is controlled to execute this series of lock functions S1.

  In addition, the arithmetic processing unit 19 functions as a periodic state report control unit (periodic state reporting function S2). That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the periodic status report control unit in the present system 1 combines the lock function S1 and uses the gas usage amount and the power usage amount stored in the storage unit 18 to periodically state the energy usage amount. Data is generated and stored in the storage unit 18 (S2-1). After a preset report time has elapsed (S2-2, Y), if the status flag is OFF (S2-3, N), it is registered in advance. Periodic state data is transmitted to a predetermined external terminal 5 such as a user who has been sent, for example, in the form of a mail, and the amount of energy used is reported (S2-4). When the status flag is ON (S2-3, Y), the mail transmission to the predetermined external terminal 5 is stopped (S2-5). Each unit is controlled to execute this series of periodic status reporting function S2.

  According to the regular status reporting function S2, the amount of energy used can be periodically checked even when the user is away from home, and wasteful use of energy can be prevented.

  Next, the arithmetic processing unit 19 functions as an arithmetic display control unit that creates a graph on a Web page according to a preset format. For example, on the Web page, the amount of power used for each hour stored in the storage unit 18 is shown as a line graph, and the amount of generated power such as the amount of gas generated power or the amount of photovoltaic power generated is shown as a bar graph. In addition, instantaneous power (power consumption) is shown as a bar graph at predetermined time intervals. Further, as another Web page, the generated power and the amount of power used may be displayed as numerical values and may be displayed as a band graph. Moreover, you may display with an arrow whether it is in a power receiving state or is selling electricity. Various setting states may be displayed. This Web page is also created for gas and water as needed and stored in the storage unit 18.

  Then, the arithmetic processing unit 19 controls each unit so as to execute the energy management / setting check function S3. As shown in FIG. 8, when the energy management / setting check function S3 is combined with the lock function S1 and a browsing request is received from a browser of a PC or a mobile phone (S3-1), the status flag is OFF. (S3-2, N), the Web page stored in the storage unit 18 can be browsed (S3-3). Here, the arithmetic processing unit 19 also functions as an authentication control unit having an authentication condition as to whether or not a password that matches a preset mail address and password can be input, and controls each unit.

  When the status flag is ON (S3-2, Y), an email address and password input frame is displayed on the display screen of the external terminal 5 (S3-4), and the email address and password are entered into this input frame for authentication. Is successful (S3-5), the status flag is turned off (S3-6), the web page is disclosed in accordance with the extracted browsing request command statement, and the web page data is transmitted to the external terminal 5. Each unit is controlled to execute this series of energy management / setting check function S3.

  According to this energy management / setting check function S3, even if the previous resident forgets to delete the registration information in the device by the initialization control unit at the time of resident replacement, authentication is performed by entering an e-mail address and password. As long as this is not possible, the new resident will not be able to view the registration information of the previous resident, and it will be possible to strengthen the prevention of leakage of registration information.

  The arithmetic processing unit 19 functions as a communication control unit, and notifies the home terminal 6 of the communication state of the browsing request mail. The home terminal 6 determines the communication state of the browsing request mail corresponding to the communication state signal input from the terminal-side remote control communication IF 45 by the terminal control unit 49. If the terminal control unit 49 determines from the communication status signal that the browsing request mail has been normally received, the terminal unit 49 causes the display unit 47 of FIG. After that, the display is turned on for a predetermined time.

  As described above, if the external terminal 5 includes a browser capable of displaying a Web page, the energy usage amount can be displayed on the screen via the Internet network 32, so that a dedicated display means can be used from outside. In addition, you can check the energy usage at home in an easy-to-read form. In the home 7 where devices using gas and power as different energies coexist, it becomes possible to manage the gas usage and the power usage at the same time. Further, since the communication state of the browsing request mail is configured to be notified to the home terminal 6, the home terminal 6 can check the communication state with the external terminal 5.

  Further, the storage unit 18 stores the upper limit value of the power usage amount and the upper limit value of the gas usage amount as reference values. The arithmetic processing unit 19 compares the calculated gas usage amount or power usage amount with the reference value, and if any one of them exceeds the reference value, the detected energy usage information is larger than the reference value. As a result, a comparison result mail which is comparison result information including the contents of the comparison result is transmitted to a predetermined external terminal 5 such as a mobile phone 34. The communication status signal corresponding to the communication status of the transmitted comparison result mail and the notification signal generated by the arithmetic processing unit 19 are output to the terminal-side remote control communication IF 45 of the home terminal 6. Thereafter, the device control unit 15 is controlled, and the corresponding energy using device is turned off.

  For example, a fixed sentence such as “The power has exceeded 1000 watts. The air conditioner is turned off.” Is created in advance, and the corresponding sentence is transmitted. Thereafter, when a predetermined time has elapsed, for example, the air conditioner 36 is turned off. In the case of gas, the same operation is performed, and a notification operation is performed and a turn-off operation is performed by transmitting a comparison result mail.

  Further, the home terminal 6 determines the communication state corresponding to the communication state signal input from the terminal-side remote control communication IF 45 by the terminal control unit 49. If the terminal control unit 49 determines from the communication status signal that the transmission of the comparison result mail has been normally completed, the terminal control unit 49 causes the display unit 47 to flash the mail mark 55 with a predetermined envelope on the display for a predetermined time. Lights up for a predetermined time. If it is determined that the mail has ended abnormally, a cross mark is added to the mail mark 55 and displayed on the display unit 47 for a predetermined time.

  In this way, when the energy usage exceeds the reference value, an e-mail is transmitted to the external terminal 5 to notify the resident, so that the resident can know it even if he is not at home. Therefore, the resident can know that the energy usage situation at home has deteriorated from the outside, and can easily take necessary measures. In addition, the resident can know the comparison result including the content of whether or not the energy usage exceeds a preset reference value even when the user is away from home, and the area for grasping the comparison result can be expanded. In addition, since the communication status of the comparison result mail is notified to the home terminal 6, the communication status with the external terminal 5 can be confirmed by the home terminal 6, and if the comparison result mail has not arrived, By using an alternative means such as a telephone by a home person who has confirmed the wearing state, the contents of the comparison result mail can be more reliably transmitted to the user of the external terminal 5, and the reliability of the system 1 can be improved.

  In addition, when the reference value is exceeded, energy saving can be surely achieved by automatically turning off the related energy use device. Further, if the power setting is set in accordance with the power capacity of the home distribution board 21, it is possible to prevent the circuit breaker from operating and causing a power failure.

  Next, the arithmetic processing unit 19 controls each unit to execute the security function S4. As shown in FIG. 9, the security function S4 combines the lock function S1 and receives a command to switch to the security operation mode by the security operation switching means (S4-1). When the status flag is OFF (S4- 2, N), the switched security operation mode is maintained (S4-3), and when the human sensor 38 or the window sensor 39 as a security device detects an abnormality (S4-4), the user's external terminal 5 registered in advance An abnormal state mail is transmitted (S4-5). When the status flag is ON (S4-2, Y), switching to the security operation mode is rejected (S4-6).

  That is, when the human sensor 38 or the window sensor 39 operates, the arithmetic processing unit 19 inputs an abnormality detection signal to the digital input IF 11 that is an abnormality detection signal input interface, and calculates an energy usage amount and a preset reference value. Similar to the comparison result mail transmitted along with the calculation result, if it is determined that the abnormality detection signal includes an abnormality, the abnormal state mail is transmitted to the predetermined external terminal 5 as abnormality state information including the content of the abnormality. The human sensor 38 is activated by switching the operation mode from the non-operation state to the operation state of the management control device 3 by pressing the switching operation button switch 46 of the home terminal 6.

  Here, when the switching operation button switch 46 is pressed, a pressing signal indicating the pressed state is output to the protocol conversion control unit 60 as remote control communication data. The protocol conversion control unit 60 converts the press signal into the RS485 communication protocol and outputs it to the external device IF 16 of the management control device 3. The arithmetic processing unit 19 switches the operation mode in the management state to the security operation mode by receiving the press signal. After switching, the arithmetic processing unit 19 outputs a display signal instructing display contents to the home terminal 6 via the protocol conversion control unit 60 in response to the press signal. Upon receipt of the display signal, the home terminal 6 displays, for example, a “watch” character string 56 on the display unit 47 of FIG. 3 as a predetermined character string indicating the content of the display signal.

  When the human sensor 38 detects intrusion (approach) of a person in the security operation mode, the human sensor 38 outputs an abnormality detection signal as security information. When the management control device 3 detects the abnormality detection signal, the contents of the abnormal state are judged from the abnormality detection signal, and an abnormal state mail including the content of the abnormal state is created in advance, such as “A suspicious person has been detected in the room”. The fixed form is transmitted to a predetermined external terminal 5. At the same time, a security buzzer 50 as a notification unit of the home terminal 6 rings and a character string 54 of “abnormal”, for example, is flashed on the display unit 47 of FIG. The same applies when the window sensor 39 performs a detection operation.

  According to this security function, intrusion information of a suspicious person as information indicating an abnormal state can be obtained at the external terminal 5 on the go, crime prevention and disaster prevention can be performed more effectively, security in the home can be improved, and quick It becomes possible to deal with it. Further, since the communication state of the abnormal state mail is notified to the home terminal 6, the communication state with the external terminal 5 can be confirmed by the home terminal 6, and if the abnormal state mail has not arrived, By using an alternative means such as a telephone by a home person who has confirmed the arrival state, the contents of the abnormal state mail can be transmitted to the user of the external terminal 5 more reliably, and the reliability of the system 1 can be improved.

  On the other hand, from the external terminal 5, the energy using device connected to the device control unit 15 can be remotely controlled. The arithmetic processing unit 19 includes a password for remote control, and controls each unit to execute the remote control function S5 after password authentication. As shown in FIG. 10, the remote control function S5 is used in combination with the lock function S1 to send a remote control mail as remote control information including a remote control command for remotely controlling the energy using device transmitted from the external terminal 5. Receive (S5-1). Here, in the remote control mail, the password of the external terminal 5, the name of the remote control target device, and the operation state such as on / off are input. When the authentication is successful with the password extracted from the remote control mail (S5-2, Y), when the status flag is OFF (S5-3, N), the remote control target device and the remote control command are transmitted from the remote control mail. For example, the device control unit 15 is controlled to turn on / off an electric device such as an air conditioner 36 or a gas device such as a gas stove 37 corresponding to the remote control command.

  On the other hand, when the password authentication fails (S5-2, N) and the status flag is OFF (S5-6, Y), the fact that the authentication has failed is returned to the predetermined external terminal 5 (S5-6). ). If the password authentication is successful (S5-2, Y) and the status flag is ON (S5-3, Y), the command is rejected and a function lock state is returned to the predetermined external terminal 5. (S5-7).

  According to the remote control function S5, the gas equipment and the power equipment can be remotely controlled by e-mail operation from the outside via the Internet network 32, so that the amount of energy used in the home 7 can be surely reduced and the energy can be saved. Play. In addition, since the communication state of the operation control mail is configured to be notified to the home terminal 6, the home terminal 6 can check the communication state with the external terminal 5. When remote control is performed using the external terminal 5, it is subject to authentication using a remote control password, so it can be restricted so that the new resident cannot operate the device by the previous resident, and measures against malicious users Can also be realized.

In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, As shown below, it is also possible to change suitably the shape and structure of each part in the range which does not deviate from the meaning of this invention.
(1) The remote control target device is not limited to an HA device such as an air conditioner connected to the HA terminal, but may be a hot water supply system, a security device, a Web camera, or the like.
(2) The initialization control unit can be configured to be able to delete registration information of the entire system including not only the management control device but also control target devices such as a hot water supply system, a home terminal, and an HA device.
(3) When the communication control unit receives the remote control information, the browsing request information, or the abnormal state information, and is in the locked state by the lock control unit, the communication control unit displays the lock state information including the content of the locked state in the mail format. You may transmit with respect to a predetermined | prescribed external terminal. In this case, as the contents of the locked state, the start time of the power failure, the elapsed time until the power return, etc. can be grasped in the mail format, and it becomes easy to estimate the degree of damage in the house due to the power failure. Moreover, you may display with the browser of an external terminal.

It is a system explanatory view of a residential energy management system according to the present invention. It is a circuit block diagram of a management control apparatus. It is an external view of a home terminal. It is a circuit block diagram of a home terminal. It is a circuit block diagram of a protocol conversion control unit and the like. It is a flowchart which shows a lock function. It is a flowchart which shows a regular condition report function. It is a flowchart which shows an energy management and setting check function. It is a flowchart which shows a security function. It is a flowchart which shows a remote control function.

Explanation of symbols

  1 .... Home energy management system, 3 .... Management control device, 5 .... External terminal, 6 .... Home terminal, 7 .... Home, 19 ... Operation processing unit (communication control unit, calculation display control unit, lock control) Part, authentication control part, periodic status report control part), 23 .... gas usage detector, 28 .... current sensor (power usage detector), 32 .... Internet network.

Claims (3)

A remote control target device having a communication interface capable of communicating a predetermined communication protocol signal and remotely controlled in accordance with a remote control command included in the communication protocol signal;
To obtain energy usage information including a target device interface for connecting to the communication interface, a LAN interface for connecting to the Internet network, and a gas usage amount and a power usage amount used in the remote control target device. A management control device for managing energy usage based on the input energy usage information,
An external terminal for outputting remote control information including the remote control command to the LAN interface via a LAN or the Internet, and remotely operating the device to be remotely controlled;
An energy usage detector that detects at least the power usage of the remote control target device and sends it to the information input unit as the energy usage information;
With
The management control device includes:
A lock control unit that locks the energy usage management function when a power failure of a commercial power source for a predetermined time or more is detected based on the power usage included in the input energy usage information ;
When the remote control information is received from the external terminal, an authentication control unit that performs authentication for the external terminal;
When the external terminal is authenticated and not in the locked state, a communication protocol signal including the remote control command is output to remotely control a predetermined operation of the remote control target device, and the remote control information or browsing A communication control unit that transmits lock state information including a power failure start time and an elapsed time until power recovery to a predetermined external terminal when the billing information is received and in the locked state. In-house energy management system. The management control device includes:
A calculation display control unit that calculates usage data of a predetermined form from at least the power usage included in the energy usage information, and creates a Web page by graphing based on the obtained usage data;
A communication control unit that enables browsing of a Web page when receiving browsing request information including a browsing request command of a Web page from the external terminal and not being locked by the lock control unit;
The residential energy management system according to claim 1 . A security device that outputs an abnormality detection signal to the management control device;
Security operation mode for transmitting abnormal state information to a predetermined external terminal when the abnormality detection signal is input to the management control device, or abnormal state information even when the abnormality detection signal is input Security operation switching means for performing switching control to any one of security non-operation modes that are not transmitted to a predetermined external terminal,
The management control device includes:
An abnormality detection signal input interface for inputting the abnormality detection signal;
When in the security operation mode, when not in the locked state by the lock control unit, and when an abnormality detection signal is input, abnormal condition information including the contents of the abnormal condition is determined from the abnormality detection signal. And a communication control unit that transmits to a predetermined external terminal,
The residential energy management system according to claim 1 or 2 .

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