JP6713974B2 - Server, network system, and information processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technique for remotely controlling an electric device.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, a technique related to control of an electric device using network communication has been known. For example, Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2016-114270 (Patent Document 1) discloses an air conditioning management system. According to Patent Document 1, there is provided an air conditioning management system including at least one air conditioning device and a centralized monitoring device that centrally manages the air conditioning device, the information processing terminal being connectable to the central monitoring device via a communication line. The information processing terminal has a schedule information receiving unit that receives input of schedule information of an air conditioner from a user, a schedule information management unit that stores a plurality of schedule information received by the schedule information receiving unit, and a schedule information management unit. The schedule information transmitting unit for selecting the schedule information to be transmitted to the air conditioner from the plurality of stored schedule information and transmitting the schedule information to the centralized monitoring device, wherein the centralized monitoring device is configured to transmit the schedule information transmitted from the information processing terminal. Is acquired via a communication line, and the acquired schedule information is transmitted to the air conditioning equipment.

International Publication 2014/0244444 pamphlet (Patent Document 2) discloses a home electric appliance, a home electric appliance system, and a server device. According to Patent Document 2, a home electric appliance, a home electric appliance system, and a server device that start and stop operation according to a set time when a reservation is made, and that are highly convenient for the reservation of the operation are provided. Receiving a setting signal indicating the start time of the scheduled operation of the home electric appliance from the remote controller and the mobile terminal, which is a reserved electric home appliance that starts and stops the operation at the set time Unit, a storage unit that stores the contents of the setting signal, and a control unit that controls the operation of the home electric appliance, and the control unit sets the operation time zone determined by the setting signal from the remote controller and the setting from the mobile terminal. If the operation time zone determined by the signal at least partially overlaps, select the earlier operation start time set by each of the remote controller and the mobile terminal and start the operation at the selected time. To do.

JP, 2016-114270, A International Publication No. 2014/024444 Pamphlet

An object of the present invention is to provide a server, a network system, and an information processing method that can efficiently control an electric device remotely.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a communication interface and a timer command for providing an electric device when a request for the timer command is received from the electric device via the communication interface when a predetermined condition is satisfied. A server including a processor is provided.

As described above, according to the present invention, there are provided a server, a network system, and an information processing method capable of efficiently controlling an electric device from a remote place.

It is an image figure showing the whole network system 1 composition concerning a 1st embodiment. It is a block diagram showing the composition of air-conditioner 100 concerning a 1st embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the LED lighting rule concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flow chart which shows information processing of air-conditioner 100 concerning a 1st embodiment. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a server 300 according to the first embodiment. FIG. It is an image figure which shows the apparatus data 321 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the apparatus state data 322 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the pairing data 323 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the timer data 324 concerning 1st Embodiment. 6 is a flowchart showing information processing of the server 300 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a communication terminal such as a smartphone 400 according to the first embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the 1st example of a screen of the smart phone 400 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the 2nd example of a screen of the smart phone 400 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram showing a function which network system 1 concerning a 1st embodiment has. It is an image figure which shows the 1st use case of the network system 1 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the 2nd use case of the network system 1 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is an image figure which shows the 3rd use case of the network system 1 concerning 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the information processing of the server 300 concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the information processing of the server 300 concerning 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same parts are designated by the same reference numerals. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed description thereof will not be repeated.
<First Embodiment>
<Overall configuration of network system 1>

First, the overall configuration of the network system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The network system 1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a server 300 for an application for controlling home appliances, a communication terminal such as a smartphone 400 that exchanges various data with the server 300, a modem 500 and a WiFi (registered trademark). It includes electric equipment such as the air conditioner 100 that exchanges various data with the server 300 via the router 600.

In addition, the electric device is not limited to the air conditioner 100, but a home appliance such as a refrigerator, a washing machine, and a self-propelled cleaner, a hard disk recorder, a music player, an AV (audio/visual) device such as a projector, a solar power generator, an intercom, It may be housing equipment such as a water heater. The communication terminal is not limited to the smartphone 400, and may be a tablet, a game machine, a wearable terminal, a personal computer, or another communication device.
<Outline of operation of network system 1>

In the network system 1 according to the present embodiment, the home appliance control application program of the smartphone 400 can acquire information on the air conditioner 100 or remotely control the air conditioner 100 via the server 300. .. In particular, the user can set the timer of the air conditioner 100 through the application of the smartphone 400.

More specifically, the application of the smartphone 400 registers the timer command in the server 300. The air conditioner 100 requests the server 300 for the next timer command each time the timer is executed. In response to a request from the air conditioner 100, the server 300 immediately provides the timer command to the air conditioner 100, or provides the timer command to the air conditioner 100 at the next periodic access from the air conditioner 100. As a result, the load on the server 300 and the load on the network system 1 can be reduced. This is because even if most of the users set the timer command at a good time, the server 300 can shift the timing at which the timer command is provided to the air conditioner 100.

Hereinafter, a specific configuration of the network system 1 for realizing such a function will be described in detail.
<Configuration of air conditioner 100>

One aspect of the configuration of the air conditioner 100 that constitutes the network system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment has the CPU 110, the memory 120, the LED light 130, the operation unit 140, the communication interface 160, the speaker 170, the remote control receiving unit 180, and the device driving unit 190 as main components. Including and

The CPU 110 controls each unit of the air conditioner 100 by executing a program stored in the memory 120 or an external storage medium.

The memory 120 is realized by various RAMs, various ROMs, and the like. The memory 120 is a program executed by the CPU 110, data generated by execution of the program by the CPU 110, data input via the operation unit 140, data received from the remote controller 199, from the server 300 via the router or the Internet. It stores the received data and the like.

More specifically, the memory 120 according to the present embodiment has a memory area 121 for storing information on one timer ON command from the remote controller 199 and a memory area 121 for storing information on one timer OFF command from the remote controller. Memory area 122 and a memory area 123 for storing information regarding one timer instruction from the server 300. A memory area 1231 for storing information indicating whether or not the next command is stored in the server 300 is also prepared.

The LED light 130 is turned on based on a signal from the CPU 110. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, CPU 110 turns on LED light 130 when the timer is set. Then, when the timer time is reached and the reserved instruction is executed, the CPU 110 turns off the LED light 130. However, the CPU 110 turns on the LED light 130 when the next timer command is accumulated in the server 300. If communication is interrupted for 24 hours or more after the timer is set, the CPU 110 turns off the LED light 130.

Returning to FIG. 2, the operation unit 140 is realized by a button or the like, receives an instruction from the user, and inputs the instruction to the CPU 110. The operation unit 140 may form a touch panel.

The communication interface 160 exchanges data with other devices by wire communication or wireless communication. That is, the communication interface 160 receives data from the CPU 110 and transmits the data to another device such as the server 300, or conversely, receives various data from another device by controlling the communication interface 160. And inputs it to the CPU 110. For example, the CPU 110 periodically uploads information on the air conditioner 100 to the server 300 or receives a control command from the application of the smartphone 400 via the communication interface 160.

Then, particularly in the present embodiment, when CPU 110 executes the timer command with reference to area 123 for storing information regarding one timer command from server 300, the next command is accumulated in server 300. A new timer command is requested from the server 300 via the communication interface 160 with reference to the area 1231 for storing information indicating whether or not there is information. Then, the CPU 110, based on the data from the server 300, an area 123 for storing information regarding one timer command from the server 300 and information indicating whether or not the next command is accumulated in the server 300. The area 1231 for storing is rewritten.

The speaker 170 outputs various voices, sounds, and melodies based on the signal from the CPU 110.

The remote controller receiving unit 180 detects an infrared signal from a remote controller or the like and inputs the received signal to the CPU 110. For example, the CPU 110 receives a power ON/OFF command, other control commands, various data, and the like from the remote controller via the remote controller receiving unit 180.

The device drive unit 190 controls each unit of the electric device, for example, a compressor, a fan, other motors, a heater, and the like, based on a signal from the CPU 110. The air conditioner 100 according to the present embodiment realizes a cooling function, a heating function, a blowing function, an ion generating function, etc. by the device driving section 190.

In the present embodiment, CPU 110 of air conditioner 100 periodically executes the following information processing. Referring to FIG. 4, CPU 110 refers to memory 120 and determines whether or not the time corresponding to the timer command from remote controller 199 has been reached (step S102). When the time corresponding to the timer command from remote controller 199 is reached (YES in step S102), CPU 110 executes the timer command (step S104).

When the time corresponding to the timer command from remote controller 199 has not been reached (NO in step S102), CPU 110 determines whether or not the time corresponding to the timer command from server 300 has been reached (step). S112). When the time corresponding to the timer command from server 300 has been reached (YES in step S112), CPU 110 executes the timer command (step S114).

If there is a timer command accumulated in the server 300 based on the information 1231 indicating whether the timer command is accumulated in the server 300 (YES in step S116), the CPU 110 determines, An immediate request for the next timer command is issued to the server 300 via the communication interface 160 (step S118).

If the time corresponding to the timer command from the server 300 has not been reached (NO in step S112), or if there is no timer command accumulated in the server 300 (NO in step S116), The CPU 110 waits until the next timing.

Further, when the air conditioning operation is being executed by the command from the server 300, the CPU 110 of the air conditioner 100 performs the air conditioning operation after a lapse of the first predetermined time, for example, 24 hours after communication is interrupted. It is preferable to stop. Alternatively, the CPU 110 of the air conditioner 100 causes the server 300 to send the first predetermined time, for example, 24 hours after the communication is interrupted, regardless of the duration of the air-conditioning operation instructed by the server 300. It is preferable to stop the air conditioning operation related to the command. Note that the automatic cleaning of the filter, the internal cleaning, and the blowing may be performed for more than 24 hours. That is, an operation that the user feels uncomfortable (for example, there is an air conditioning operation such as a cooling operation or a heating operation in which the compressor is driven. Such an air conditioning operation consumes a large amount of power and a high electricity bill. Since it is such an operation, there is a high possibility that the user will be uncomfortable). Alternatively, it is a safe operation even if the operation is continued as it is (an operation in which a large current does not flow like when the compressor is driven, for example, the automatic filter cleaning operation described above, an internal cleaning operation (a mold in the heat exchanger of the indoor unit is The operation such as drying so as not to grow) and the blowing operation) may be performed over 24 hours.
<Structure of server 300>

One aspect of the configuration of the server 300 that constitutes the network system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The server 300 includes a CPU 310, a memory 320, a display 330, an operation unit 340, a communication interface 360, and a clock 380 as main components.

The CPU 310 controls each unit of the server 300 by executing the program stored in the memory 320. For example, the CPU 310 executes a program stored in the memory 320 and refers to various types of data to execute various types of processing described below.

The memory 320 is realized by various types of RAM, various types of ROM, and the like, and may be included in the server 300, removable from various interfaces of the server 300, or the server 300. It may be a recording medium of another device accessible from. The memory 320 is a program executed by the CPU 310, data generated by execution of the program by the CPU 310, input data, device data 321, device status data 322, pairing data 323, timer data 324, and other present embodiments. It stores the database and the like used for the home appliance management service according to the above form.

As shown in FIG. 6, the device data 321 includes, for each device such as the air conditioner 100, device identification information, device type, user identification information, a name for identifying a room, and device identification information. It includes an operation instruction for specifying the current operation and an operation state such as various measurement results acquired by the sensor. The CPU 310 refers to the device data 321 based on a request from an application of a communication terminal such as the smartphone 400, and relates to a device, which has been paired with the smartphone 400, that is arranged in the designated room. Provide information.

As shown in FIG. 7, the device status data 322 is to request the server 300 for each device, the device ID, the current operating status of the device, the number of ON/OFF switching operations, and the timer command. The interval and the time of the next timer instruction request are stored. Here, the operation for which the number of times ON/OFF is switched may be the heating operation, the cooling operation, the air blowing operation, or the ion generating operation. The operation may be air cleaning operation, humidification operation, or the like, or other operation. Alternatively, the number of times the power is turned ON/OFF may be simply used. When the operation of the device is switched ON/OFF, the CPU 310 provides the current operation state to the communication terminal that has already been paired with the device via the communication interface 360. In addition, the operating state includes a command executed by the air conditioner 100, a timer command that has been passed to the air conditioner 100, information indicating whether or not the next command is stored in the server 300 stored in the air conditioner 100, and the like. , Including measurement data of various sensors.

As shown in FIG. 8, the pairing data 323 includes a pairing ID and identification information of paired devices for each combination of devices. For example, the correspondence relation between the air conditioner 100 and the identification information of the smartphone 400 or the user for remotely controlling the air conditioner 100 is included.

As shown in FIG. 9, the timer data 324 includes a timer ID, a device ID, a timer time, a timer command, a repeat setting, etc. for each timer command input to an application of a communication terminal such as the smartphone 400. To store. The repeated setting corresponds to the application program of the smartphone 400, and includes information for repeating the same timer instruction every day, information for repeating the same timer instruction every week, and the like. The timer data 324 preferably stores, for each timer command, information indicating whether or not the air conditioner 100 stores that the next command is stored in the server 300.

Returning to FIG. 5, display 330 displays a text or an image based on a signal from CPU 310. The operation unit 340 receives an instruction from a service administrator or the like and inputs the instruction to the CPU 310.

The communication interface 360 transmits the data from the CPU 310 to another device such as the air conditioner 100 or the smartphone 400 via the Internet, a carrier network, a router, or the like. Conversely, the communication interface 360 receives data from another device via the Internet, a carrier network, a router, etc., and transfers it to the CPU 310.

Then, when the CPU 310 of the server 300 according to the present embodiment receives data from a device such as the air conditioner 100 via the communication interface 360, the CPU 310 executes the following information processing.

Referring to FIG. 10, CPU 310 reads the identification information of the electric device from the received data (step S302). The CPU 310 determines whether or not the data from the electric device this time is an immediate request for the next timer command due to execution of the timer (step S304). When the received data is an immediate request for the next timer command due to the execution of the timer (YES in step S304), CPU 310 refers to timer data 324 and stores the next data stored for the device. It is determined whether or not there is data of the timer instruction, such as a repeat timer instruction or a one-time timer instruction (step S306).

If there is timer command data accumulated for the device (YES in step S306), CPU 310 refers to device state data 322, and the execution time of the next timer command is the next regular time. It is determined whether or not it is before the request of the specific timer instruction (step S308). When the execution time of the next timer command is before the time of the request of the next periodic timer command (YES in step S308), CPU 310 refers to timer data 324 and further It is determined whether or not the timer instruction (the next timer instruction) has been accumulated (step S310). If the next timer instruction is accumulated (YES in step S310), CPU 310 stores the first timer instruction and the next timer instruction via communication interface 360. And the data indicating that the data is transmitted to the device (step S312). The CPU 310 waits for data from the next device.

More specifically, in the present embodiment, an application of a communication terminal such as smartphone 400 can receive a plurality of types of repetitive timer commands or one-time timer commands for each device such as air conditioner 100. .. That is, the timer data 324 of the server 300 stores a plurality of timer commands for each device. However, the memory 120 of the device such as the air conditioner 100 may be able to store only one timer command from the server 300. Therefore, in the present embodiment, CPU 110 of air conditioner 100 receives the first timer data and the data indicating that the next timer data is accumulated from server 300 via communication interface 160. And stores them in an area 123 for storing one instruction from the server 300 and an area 1231 for storing information indicating that the next instruction is accumulated in the server 300. Keep it. Then, as in step S114 in FIG. 4, when the CPU 110 executes the timer instruction or when there is a stored timer instruction (YES in step S116), the server 300 via the communication interface 160. The next timer instruction is acquired from (step S118).

Returning to FIG. 10, when the next timer data is not accumulated (NO in step S310), CPU 310 causes the first timer data and the next timer data to be transmitted through communication interface 360. Data indicating that the timer data is not accumulated is transmitted to the device (step S314). The CPU 310 waits for data from the next electric device. Even when there is no next timer instruction (NO in step S306), when the execution time of the next timer instruction is after the time of the next periodic timer instruction request (step S306). (NO in S308), CPU 310 waits for data from the next electric device.

If the received data is not an immediate request due to execution of a timer command (NO in step S304), CPU 310 determines whether the current data from the device is a periodic request for a timer command from air conditioner 100. It is determined whether or not (step S322). If the received data is a periodic request for a timer command (YES in step S322), CPU 310 refers to timer data 324 and refers to the timer command data accumulated for the device, For example, it is determined whether or not there is a repeat timer instruction or a one-time timer instruction (step S324). If there is timer command data accumulated for the device (YES in step S324), CPU 310 executes the process from step S310.

If the received data is not a periodic request for a timer command from the air conditioner 100 (NO in step S322), the CPU 310 determines that the received data is the current operating state of the electric device, the ON/OFF count number, or the like. Is determined (step S332). When the received data indicates the current operating state of the device or the above-described ON/OFF count number (YES in step S332), the current operating state or ON/OFF of the device. The count number of is stored in the device status data 322 (step S334). When the count number of ON/OFF has increased from the previous value (YES in step S336), CPU 310 refers to device data 321 and determines the current operating state via communication interface 360. The data is transmitted to one or more communication terminals that have already been paired with the device (step S338). The CPU 310 waits for data from the next device.

If the received data does not indicate the current operating state of the device or the number of ON/OFF counts (NO in step S332), CPU 310 executes other processing (step S340), and then Await data from the device.
<Structure of smartphone 400>

One aspect of the configuration of the communication terminal such as the smartphone 400 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 11. The smartphone 400 includes a CPU 410, a memory 420, a display 430, an operation unit 440, a communication interface 460, a speaker 470, a microphone 480, and the like as main components.

The CPU 410 controls each unit of the smartphone 400 by executing the program stored in the memory 420.

The memory 420 is realized by various RAMs, various ROMs, and the like. The memory 420 is used for a program executed by the CPU 410, such as an application program for controlling a home electric appliance, data generated by executing the program by the CPU 410, input data, and other home electric appliance management services according to the present embodiment. Stores a database etc.

The display 430 displays a text or an image based on the signal from the CPU 410. The operation unit 440 receives a command from a user or the like and inputs the command to the CPU 410. For example, CPU 410 displays an operation screen on display 430 based on an application program for controlling home appliances such as air conditioner 100, and receives an input of a remote control command to air conditioner 100 via operation unit 440. The display 430 and the operation unit 440 may be touch panels.

The communication interface 460 transmits the data from the CPU 410 to another device such as the server 300 via the Internet, a carrier network, a router, or the like. Conversely, the communication interface 460 receives data from the other device via the Internet, carrier network, router, etc., and transfers the data to the CPU 410.

The speaker 470 outputs sound based on the data from the CPU 410, and the microphone 480 receives the sound and inputs the sound data to the CPU 410.

In the present embodiment, CPU 410 receives a user's instruction via operation unit 440 and activates an application program for controlling home appliances. CPU410 receives the data regarding the air-conditioner 100 which has been paired from the server 300 via the communication interface 460, and displays the data regarding the air-conditioner 100 on the display 430 as shown in FIG. The CPU 410 receives a command for the air conditioner 100 via the operation unit 440 and transmits the command to the server 300 via the communication interface 460. The server 300 controls the air conditioner 100 based on the instruction.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, CPU 410 executes, through operation unit 440, when air conditioner 100 is operated/stopped by an operation by remote controller 199 in the room, and timer setting from an application is executed. ON/OFF of the mode in which the notification is received from the server 300 when the server is turned on, and ON/OFF of the mode in which the notification is notified when the member “changes the registration information” or “delete the device” is accepted.
<Configuration of network system 1>

Since configured as above, the network system 1 according to the present embodiment has the following functions. Referring to FIG. 14, server 300 includes timer information recording unit 320A implemented by memory 320 and the like, communication unit 360A implemented by communication interface 360 and the like, and timer information implemented by CPU 310 executing a control program. The provision method selection part 310A is included. Based on the execution time of the next timer command and the time of the next periodic timer request, the timer information providing method selection unit 310A immediately sends the next timer command in response to the request of the next timer command from the air conditioner 100. In addition, it has a function of selecting whether to provide to the air conditioner 100 or to wait for the next timer command to be provided until the next periodic request from the air conditioner 100.

The electric devices such as the air conditioners 100A and 100B include timer information storage units 120A and 120B implemented by the memory 120 and the like, and regular acquisition units 161A and 161B implemented by the processor 110 executing the control program and the communication interface 160. And the immediate acquisition units 162A and 162B. The regular acquisition units 161A and 161B periodically request the server 300 for a timer command to acquire the next timer command. The immediate acquisition units 162A and 162B acquire the next timer command by requesting the next timer command from the server 300 each time the timer command is executed.
<Use Case of Network System 1>

With the configuration as described above, the following processing is performed in the network system 1 according to the present embodiment. First, the server 300 stores a timer command that is remotely set by a communication terminal such as the smartphone 400. Then, the server 300 transmits the timer command before the next periodic request in response to the timer execution request from the air conditioner 100, or the next timer in response to the periodic request from the air conditioner 100. Send instructions. The air conditioner 100 receives information indicating whether or not the next timer command is prepared, and turns on the LED light indicating that the next timer command is present. The air conditioner 100 turns on the LED for the timer until the next timer command is exhausted.

For example, with reference to FIG. 15, a case where a timer command is set in advance and a new non-repeating timer command is input by the user will be described. As shown in FIG. 15A, (1) the user sets a new timer command via the smartphone 400. (2) The server 300 transmits to the air conditioner 100 that there is a new timer command. At this time, since the air conditioner 100 has a preset timer command, the LED light for the timer is turned on. (3) The air conditioner 100 replies to the server 300 that it has accepted that there is a timer command. (4) The server 300 causes the smartphone 400 to display that the air conditioner 100 has normally accepted that there is a timer command.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 15, when the previous timer setting time is reached, the air conditioner 100 executes the previous timer instruction and immediately requests the server 300 for the next timer instruction. In this case, the server 300 immediately provides the next timer command to the air conditioner 100 when the execution time of the next timer command is before the next periodic request, and the execution time of the next timer command is the next time. If it is after the periodic request, the next timer command is provided to the air conditioner 100 when the next periodic request is received. Here, the server 300 notifies the air conditioner 100 that there is no further timer command. The air conditioner 100 lights the LED light for the timer. When the next timer set time is reached, (1) the air conditioner 100 executes the next timer command, as shown in FIG. (2) The air conditioner 100 turns off the timer LED because there is no further timer command.

Next, with reference to FIG. 16, a case where a timer command that is repeated every day is further input by the user when the timer command is set in advance will be described. As shown in (a) of FIG. 16, (1) the user sets a new timer command via the smartphone 400. (2) The server 300 transmits to the air conditioner 100 that there is a new timer command. At this time, since the air conditioner 100 has a preset timer command, the LED light for the timer is turned on. (3) The air conditioner 100 replies to the server 300 that it has accepted that there is a timer command. (4) The server 300 causes the smartphone 400 to display that the air conditioner 100 has normally accepted that there is a timer command.

As shown in (b) of FIG. 16, when the previous timer time is reached, the air conditioner 100 executes the previous timer command and immediately requests the server 300 for the next timer command. In this case, the server 300 immediately provides the next timer command to the air conditioner 100 when the execution time of the next timer command is before the next periodic request, and the execution time of the next timer command is the next time. If it is after the periodic request, the next timer command is provided to the air conditioner 100 when the next periodic request is received. Here, the server 300 notifies the air conditioner 100 that there is a next timer command. The air conditioner 100 lights the LED light for the timer. When the next timer setting time is reached, as shown in (c) of FIG. 16, (1) the air conditioner 100 executes the next timer instruction, and (2) there is the next timer instruction. Leave the LED on.

Next, a case will be described with reference to FIG. 17 in which a daily repeating timer command for heating operation ON at 7:00 am and a daily repeating timer command for heating operation OFF at 8:00 am are input. As illustrated in (a) of FIG. 17, the server 300 transmits a timer command for 7:00 am to the air conditioner 100. In this case, the air conditioner 100 is notified that there is a next timer command. At this time, the air conditioner 100 turns on the LED light for the timer. As a result, when the timer set time of 7:00 am is reached, the air conditioner 100 turns on the heating operation as shown in (b) of FIG.

Since the air conditioner 100 has the next timer command at 8:00, as shown in FIG. 17C, the air conditioner 100 immediately requests the server 300 for the next timer command. In this case, the server 300 immediately provides the next timer command to the air conditioner 100 when the execution time of the next timer command is before the next periodic request, and the execution time of the next timer command is the next time. If it is after the periodic request, the next timer instruction is provided to the air conditioner 100 when the next periodic request is received. Here, the server 300 further notifies the air conditioner 100 that there is the next timer command. Since the air conditioner 100 has a timer for 8:00 am (next timer), the LED light for the timer is turned on. As a result, when the timer set time is reached, as shown in (d) of FIG. 17, the CPU 110 turns off the heating operation, and immediately requests the server 300 for a timer command at 7 o'clock tomorrow. Also in this case, the server 300 immediately provides the next timer command to the air conditioner 100 when the execution time of the next timer command is before the next periodic request, and the execution time of the next timer command is the next time. If it is after the periodic request, the next timer command is provided to the air conditioner 100 when the next periodic request is received. The server 300 further notifies the air conditioner 100 that there is a next timer command. Since the air conditioner 100 has a timer command for 7:00 am, the LED light for the timer is turned on. In this way, when the daily repeating timer is set, the timer LED remains lit.
<Second Embodiment>

In the first embodiment, in step S308 of FIG. 10, whether to immediately transmit the timer instruction based on whether or not the execution time of the next timer instruction is before the request of the next periodic timer instruction. It was to decide whether or not. However, as shown in FIG. 18, when the CPU 310 of the server 300 has timer command data accumulated for the target electric device (YES in step S306), the CPU 310 determines that It may be determined whether or not the timer command is a command for turning off various functions (step S308B). If the next timer instruction is an instruction to turn off various functions (YES in step S308B), CPU 310 may execute step S310. Conversely, if the next timer command is not a command to turn off various functions (NO in step S308B), CPU 310 waits until the next periodic timer command request by the electric device. Good.
<Third Embodiment>

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 19, when the CPU 310 of the server 300 has timer command data accumulated for the target electric device (YES in step S306), the CPU 310 is currently It may be determined whether the processing or communication of the server 300 is busy (step S308C). Then, if the processing and communication are not currently congested (NO in step S308C), CPU 310 may execute step S310. Then, if the processing and communication of the server 300 are congested (YES in step S308C), the processing may wait until the next periodic timer command request from the electric device.
<Fourth Embodiment>

Further, in the case of YES in step S116 of FIG. 4, the following processing may be executed. When the processor 110 of the air conditioner 100 executes the timer command that has already been received from the server 300 (step S114) and stores information indicating that there is a next timer command (YES in step S116). ), and after waiting for any period from 0 seconds to a predetermined time, the next timer command may be requested to the server 300 via the communication interface 160. Note that the predetermined time is, for example, 10 minutes, 5 minutes, 1 minute, 30 minutes, or a fine time unit in which the user can easily set the timer. Further, the predetermined time may be predetermined at the time of production. This also makes it possible to reduce the maximum load of the server 300 and network communication even if many users set the timer at a sharp time.
<Fifth Embodiment>

Other devices may perform some or all of the roles of the respective devices of the network system 1 according to the first to fourth embodiments. For example, another device may play a part or all of the roles of each of the server 300, the air conditioner 100, and the smartphone 400, or a part or all of the roles of each of these devices may be shared by a plurality of devices. You may.

Further, the timer command is not limited to the type input by the user, and may be ON/OFF of various functions of various devices. For example, the techniques of the first to fourth embodiments can be used for controlling ON/OFF of the power supply of microcomputers of various devices.
<Summary>

In the above-described embodiment, when the communication interface 360 receives a request for a timer command from the electric device 100 via the communication interface 360, the timer command is transmitted to the electric device 100 when a predetermined condition is satisfied. A server 300 is provided that includes a processor 310 for providing.

Preferably, the processor 310 determines that the predetermined condition is satisfied when the timer command is to be executed within a predetermined time from the current time, and transmits the timer command to the electric device 100 via the communication interface 360. provide.

Preferably, a network system 1 including the server 300 and the electric device 100 is provided. The electric device 100 periodically provides the server 300 with a request for a timer command.

Preferably, a network system 1 including the server 300 and the electric device 100 is provided. The electric device 100 provides a request for the next timer command to the server 300 only when the next timer command is present when the timer command is executed based on the next timer command presence/absence information.

Preferably, the electric device is the air conditioner 100.

In the above-described embodiment, processor 310 receives a request for a timer command from electric device 100 via communication interface 360, and processor 310 determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied. And a step of causing the processor 310 to provide a timer command to the electric device 100 via the communication interface 360 when a predetermined condition is satisfied.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the above description but by the claims, and is intended to include meanings equivalent to the claims and all modifications within the scope.

1: Network system 100: Air conditioner 100A: Air conditioner 100B: Air conditioner 110: CPU
120: Memory 120A: Timer information storage unit 120B: Timer information storage unit 121: Memory area 122: Memory area 123: Memory area 1231: Memory area 130: LED light 140: Operation unit 160: Communication interface 161A: Periodic acquisition unit 161B: Periodic acquisition unit 162A: Immediate acquisition unit 162B: Immediate acquisition unit 170: Speaker 180: Remote control reception unit 190: Device drive unit 199: Remote control 300: Server 310: CPU
310A: Timer information providing method selection unit 320: Memory 320A: Timer information recording unit 321: Device data 322: Device status data 323: Pairing data 324: Timer data 330: Display 340: Operation unit 360: Communication interface 360A: Communication unit 380: Clock 400: Smartphone 410: CPU
420: Memory 430: Display 440: Operation part 460: Communication interface 470: Speaker 480: Microphone 500: Modem 600: Router

Claims (4)

Communication interface,
When an immediate request for a timer command is received from an electric device via the communication interface, it is determined whether or not the first timer command to be executed is accumulated by the time of the periodic request for the next timer command. If the first timer instruction to be executed is accumulated by the time of the periodical request of the next timer instruction, the first timer instruction and the second timer instruction to be executed next are stored. server and a pulp processor to provide the information indicating whether there is the electric appliance. A network system including a server and an electric device,
The electric device periodically requests a timer command from the server,
When the server receives an immediate request for a timer command from the electric device, the server determines whether or not the first timer command to be executed is accumulated by the time when the next timer command is periodically requested. , when the first timer instruction to be executed until the periodic requests for the next timer instruction is stored, there is the the first timer instruction, the second timer instruction to be executed next Providing information indicating whether or not to the electric device,
When the electric device receives from the server information indicating that there is the second timer command to be executed next, the electric device also issues a timer command to the server when executing the first timer command. Request a network system. The network system according to claim 2, wherein the electric device is an air conditioner. The processor accepting an immediate request for a timer command from the electrical device via the communication interface;
The processor determining whether or not a first timer instruction to be executed has been accumulated by the time the next timer instruction is requested;
If the first timer instruction to be executed until the next request timer instruction is stored, the processor, the instructions the first timer via said communication interface, the to be executed next And a step of providing the electric device with information indicating whether or not there is a second timer instruction.

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