JP7573233B2 - Information terminal, communication system, and communication method - Google Patents

Description

The present disclosure relates to an information terminal , a communication system, and a communication method. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an information terminal , a communication system, and a communication method that communicate via a communication network.

Patent Document 1 discloses a residential system that functions as both a security system combined with an intercom and a home automation system (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This residential system is applied to an apartment building (communication facility) that includes multiple dwelling units (facilities). This residential system is configured so that the security system or home automation system (target device) can be operated from a mobile phone (communication terminal) via a network.

JP 2007-207058 A

In the residential system of Patent Document 1, when operating the security system or home automation system from a mobile phone via a network, it is necessary to install an IP unit in each dwelling unit and connect the IP unit to an Internet line. In addition, the users of each dwelling unit must enter into a contract for an Internet connection service with an Internet service provider (hereinafter abbreviated as provider). This causes the problem that it is troublesome to go through the process of being able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within the facility.

The purpose of this disclosure is to reduce the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage target devices within a facility.

An information terminal according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is an information terminal provided in a facility included in a collective facility including one or more facilities. The information terminal includes a first communication unit and a second communication unit. The first communication unit communicates with a communication terminal that transmits command information including at least one of a control command for controlling a target device including one or more devices provided in the facility in response to a user's operation or a status request command for requesting a status of the target device via a communication line and an external communication network of the collective facility using a first protocol. The communication line connects between a control device that controls communication of an internal communication network of the collective facility including the information terminal and the information terminal. The second communication unit communicates with a management device using a second protocol. The management device manages the target device provided in the same facility as the information terminal. When the command information is included in the information received by the first communication unit from the communication terminal, the second communication unit transmits information based on the command information to the management device. The target equipment further includes a specific equipment different from the one or more equipment installed in the facility, and the information terminal further includes a third communication unit that communicates with the specific equipment via a third protocol, and when the command information received by the first communication unit is command information for the specific equipment regarding management of the specific equipment, the third communication unit transmits information based on the command information for the specific equipment to the specific equipment.

A communication system according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes the information terminal and a management device. The management device includes a management device-side first communication unit and a management device-side second communication unit that communicate with the information terminal using the second protocol. The management device-side second communication unit communicates with the target device using a protocol different from each of the first protocol and the second protocol . When the command information is included in the information received by the management device-side first communication unit, the management device-side second communication unit transmits information based on the command information to the target device.

The communication system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the information terminal and a server system. The server system includes a server-side first communication unit. The server-side first communication unit communicates with the control device via an external communication network and an internal communication network of a collective facility. The control device controls communication of the internal communication network of the collective facility including the information terminal . The facility is provided with a management device that manages target devices provided in the facility. The server-side first communication unit transmits the command information.

The communication system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the information terminal and a gateway system. The gateway system includes a gateway-side first communication unit and a gateway-side second communication unit. The gateway-side first communication unit communicates with a control device that controls communication in an internal communication network of a collective facility. The internal communication network of the collective facility includes information terminals provided in one or more of the facilities. The gateway-side second communication unit communicates with an external communication network of the collective facility. When the gateway-side second communication unit receives the command information, the gateway-side first communication unit transmits information based on the command information to the information terminal in the same facility as the target device via the control device. If receipt confirmation information cannot be received from the destination information terminal within a predetermined waiting time from the time of transmission, the gateway-side first communication unit retransmits the information based on the command information.

A communication method according to one aspect of the present disclosure is a communication method in which an information terminal installed in a collective facility including one or more facilities communicates with a communication terminal that performs operations related to target devices installed in the facility via an internal communication network and an external communication network of the collective facility. A communication path between the communication terminal that transmits command information including at least one of a control command for controlling target devices including one or more devices installed in the facility in response to a user's operation or a status request command for requesting a status of the target device and the information terminal includes a first communication path that communicates via a control device that controls communication of the internal communication network, and a second communication path that allows communication without via the control device. The communication method includes a step of determining whether the information terminal can communicate with the communication terminal through the second communication path. The communication method includes a step of the information terminal communicating with the communication terminal through the first communication path when the information terminal cannot communicate with the communication terminal through the second communication path. The communication method includes a step of the information terminal communicating with the communication terminal through the second communication path when the information terminal can communicate with the communication terminal through the second communication path. The communication method includes a step of transmitting a control command from the information terminal to a management device that manages the target equipment when the information terminal communicates with the communication terminal via the first communication path and the information received by the information terminal from the communication terminal includes control-related information. The control-related information is information associated with the control content of the target equipment installed in the facility. The control command is a command for controlling the target equipment that is to be controlled based on the control-related information. When the target equipment further includes a specific equipment different from the one or more equipment installed in the facility, and the information received by the information terminal from the communication terminal is command information for a specific equipment related to management of the specific equipment, the information terminal transmits information based on the command information for the specific equipment to the specific equipment.

This disclosure makes it possible to reduce the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage target devices within a facility.

FIG. 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a communication system including an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a communication system including the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sequence diagram illustrating the operation of the communication system including the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram illustrating scene control in a communication system including the information terminal according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sequence diagram when a communication failure occurs in the communication system including the information terminal of the above embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a communication path in a communication system including an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 7 is a sequence diagram illustrating a case where a communication path is switched in a communication system including an information terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

(Embodiment)
(1) Overview Each drawing described in the following embodiments is a schematic drawing, and the ratio of sizes and thicknesses of each component in each drawing does not necessarily reflect the actual dimensional ratio.

Figure 1 is a schematic system configuration diagram of a communication system 1 equipped with an information terminal 10 according to this embodiment. This communication system 1 is applied to a collective facility F1 such as an apartment building.

The information terminal 10 of this embodiment is provided in a facility F10 included in a collective facility F1 including one or more facilities F10. The information terminal 10 includes a first communication unit 11 and a second communication unit 12. The first communication unit 11 communicates with the communication terminal 80 via a communication line CL1 connecting the control device 40 and the information terminal 10 and an external communication network NT2 of the collective facility F1 using a first protocol. The communication terminal 80 is a terminal for performing operations related to the target devices 30 including one or more devices 31 provided in the facility F1. The control device 40 controls communication of the internal communication network NT1 of the collective facility F1 including the information terminal 10. The second communication unit 12 communicates with the management device 20 using a second protocol. The management device 20 manages the target devices 30 provided in the same facility F10 as the information terminal 10. If the information received by the first communication unit 11 from the communication terminal 80 includes command information related to the management of the target device 30, the second communication unit 12 transmits information based on the command information to the management device 20.

Here, the collective facility F1 is assumed to be, for example, an apartment house. When the collective facility F1 is an apartment house, the multiple facilities F10 included in the collective facility F1 are individual dwelling units. The collective facility F1 is not limited to an apartment house, but may be a commercial complex in which multiple stores are located, and when the collective facility F1 is a commercial complex, each store in the commercial complex is the facility F10. The collective system F1 may also be an apartment house in which some sections (for example, sections on lower floors) are assigned to stores. The collective facility F1 may also be an office building, a theater, a movie theater, a public hall, an amusement park, a department store, a school, a hotel, an inn, a hospital, a nursing home, a kindergarten, a library, a museum, an art museum, an underground shopping mall, a station, an airport, etc. The target device 30 includes, for example, electrical equipment provided in each facility F10 of the collective facility F1, and may include at least one of, for example, lighting equipment, air conditioning control devices, cooking appliances, hot water equipment, heating equipment, an electric lock system, a power generation system (a solar power generation system, a fuel cell, etc.), and a power storage system. The communication terminal 80 is a terminal for users (e.g., residents, etc.) of the facility F10 to perform operations related to the management of the target device 30 provided in the facility F10, and includes a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc. The management of the target device 30 includes at least one of controlling the target device 30 and monitoring the state of the target device 30. The command information is information related to the management (control or monitoring) of the target device 30, and includes at least information indicating the content of the management and identification information (e.g., address, etc.) of the target device 30 to be managed. If the "management" of the target device 30 is the control of the target device 30, the command information may include a control command to control the state of the target device 30. If the "management" of the target device 30 is the monitoring of the target device 30, the command information includes a state request command to request the state of the target device 30. The state of the target device 30 may be the operating state of the target device 30 itself (e.g., operating state or stopped state, etc.), or if the target device 30 is a sensor, the detection state of the sensor, etc.

In this way, the first communication unit 11 of the information terminal 10 provided in the facility F10 communicates with the communication terminal 80 via the communication line CL1 in the apartment complex F1 and the external communication network NT2. Therefore, in each facility F10, communication between the information terminal 10 and the communication terminal 80 is possible via the external communication network NT2 without the need to connect the information terminal 10 to the external communication network NT2 (e.g., connecting an Internet line and signing a contract with a provider). Therefore, in the communication system 1 using the information terminal 10 of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the effort required for each facility F10 to be able to use the communication terminal 80 to manage the target devices 30 in the facility F10.

(2) Details Hereinafter, the communication system 1 including the information terminal 10 of the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

(2.1) Configuration A communication system 1 including an information terminal 10 according to this embodiment is applied to a collective facility F1 such as an apartment building.

The collective facility F1 includes multiple facilities F10, and further includes a shared facility F20 that is shared by users of the multiple facilities F10. The shared facility F20 may include, for example, a shared entrance to the collective facility F1, or a management room. In addition, when describing each of the multiple facilities F10, they may be referred to as facilities F11, F12, F13, F14, etc.

The shared facility F20 is provided with a control device 40, a gateway system (GW) 50, a router 61, a shared area terminal 62, etc. The shared area terminal 62 is, for example, an intercom device provided at the shared entrance.

Each of the facilities F10 is provided with an information terminal 10 and one or more target devices 30. Each of the facilities F10 is further provided with a management device 20 and a wireless LAN router 60. The target devices 30 include at least a device 31 such as an electrical device provided in the facility F10, and in this embodiment, the target devices 30 further include a specific device 32 such as an electric lock system. In other words, the target devices 30 further include a specific device 32 that is different from the one or more devices 31 provided in the facility F10.

Here, the internal communication network NT1 of the collective facility F1 includes a control device 40 and information terminals 10 of each facility F10, and the control device 40 and the information terminals 10 of each facility F10 are electrically connected via a communication line CL1, which is a pair of wires (e.g., twisted pair wires). The internal communication network NT1 also includes a gateway system 50 and a router 61. The control device 40 is connected to a gateway system 50 that performs protocol conversion between the internal communication network NT1 and the external communication network NT2. The gateway system 50 is also electrically connected to the external communication network NT2 via a router 61 such as a broadband router.

The configuration of each part of the communication system 1 will be described in more detail below with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

(2.1.1) Information Terminal The information terminal 10 includes a first communication unit 11, a second communication unit 12, a third communication unit 13, and a control unit 14. When the information terminals 10 provided in each of the facilities F11 to F14 are to be distinguished from one another, they may be referred to as information terminals 101, 102, 103, and 104.

The first communication unit 11 includes a communication module that complies with a communication standard such as Ethernet, and communicates with the communication terminal 80 using a first protocol via the communication line CL1 and the external communication network NT2. The first communication unit 11 is connected to the control device 40 via the communication line CL1, and the first communication unit 11 is connected to the external communication network NT2 via the control device 40, the gateway system 50, and the router 61. The first communication unit 11 communicates with the communication terminal 80 via the internal communication network NT1 and the external communication network NT2 of the collective facility F1. Note that in this embodiment, the first communication unit 11 and the communication terminal 80 communicate via the server 70, but the first communication unit 11 and the communication terminal 80 may also communicate directly.

The second communication unit 12 communicates with the management device 20 by wireless communication, for example, via a wireless LAN router 60 provided in the facility F10. Note that the second communication unit 12 may also communicate with the management device 20 by wired communication.

The third communication unit 13 communicates with the specific device 32 using the third protocol. In this embodiment, the specific device 32 includes an electric lock 321 that locks or unlocks the front door of the facility F10, and an electric lock control unit 322 that controls the locking and unlocking by the electric lock 321. The third communication unit 13 causes the electric lock control unit 322 to lock or unlock the electric lock 321, for example, by outputting a contact signal to the electric lock control unit 322.

The control unit 14 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the control unit 14. The control unit 14 controls communication between the first communication unit 11, the second communication unit 12, and the third communication unit 13.

The information terminal 10 is an intercom master unit installed in the facility F10, and further has the function of communicating with a door phone installed at the entrance of the facility F10 and a common area terminal 62 installed at the common entrance.

(2.1.2) Management Device The facility F10 is provided with a management device 20 that manages the target devices 30 provided in the facility F10. The management device 20 is, for example, a controller of an energy management system that manages the energy usage state in the facility F10. The management device 20 includes a management device first communication unit 21, a management device second communication unit 22, and a control unit 23. Hereinafter, the management device first communication unit 21 may be abbreviated to the first communication unit 21, and the management device second communication unit 22 may be abbreviated to the second communication unit 22.

The first communication unit 21 communicates with the information terminal 10 using the second protocol. Specifically, the first communication unit 21 communicates with the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 using a wireless communication method via the wireless LAN router 60. In this embodiment, as the second protocol, a communication protocol of a wireless communication method using radio waves as a communication medium that complies with standards such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), or low-power radio that does not require a license (specific low-power radio) is adopted. Note that the second protocol can be changed as appropriate.

The second communication unit 22 communicates with the target device 30 using a protocol different from each of the first protocol and the second protocol. Specifically, the second communication unit 22 has a function of communicating with the managed device 31 installed in the facility F10 using a wired communication method or a wireless communication method. The second communication unit 22 communicates with the managed device 31 using a communication protocol that complies with the ECHONET (Energy Conservation & Homecare Network: ECHONET) (registered trademark) standard, for example. Note that the protocol for communication between the second communication unit 22 and the device 31 is not limited to a communication protocol that complies with the ECHONET standard, and can be changed as appropriate.

The control unit 23 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the control unit 23. The control unit 23 controls communication between the first communication unit 21 and the second communication unit 22.

For example, if the information received by the first communication unit 21 (from the information terminal 10) includes command information related to the management of the target device 30, the control unit 23 causes the second communication unit 12 to transmit information based on the command information to the target device 30.

Here, the command information received from the information terminal 10 may include control-related information associated with the control content of the target device 30. The control-related information is information associated with a control command to be output to one or more target devices 30 to operate them in a setting state suited to a desired scene (for example, a scene in the life of a user using the facility F10, such as going to bed or going out). When the management device 20 receives the control-related information, the second communication unit 12 of the management device 20 transmits a control command to the target device 30 to be controlled, based on the control-related information. Note that the control-related information may be information associated with a control command to collectively switch the operating state of one or more target devices 30 to a desired operating state (on or off), and the content of the control-related information can be changed as appropriate.

(2.1.3) Target Devices The target devices 30 include one or more devices 31 and specific devices 32 installed in the facility F10.

The equipment 31 is electrical equipment etc. provided in the facility F10. The type and number of the equipment 31 are determined by the user of the facility F10, so the type and number of the equipment 31 may vary for each facility F10. The equipment 31 includes at least one of lighting equipment, air conditioning control devices, cooking appliances, hot water equipment, heating equipment, power generation systems, and power storage systems. The specific equipment 32 is electrical equipment provided in common to multiple facilities F10, and in this embodiment is, for example, an electric lock system that locks and unlocks the front door of the facility F10.

The device 31 has a communication unit 311 and a control unit 312.

The communication unit 311 communicates with the second communication unit 22 of the management device 20 via a wireless communication method or a wired communication method. Note that the communication protocol adopted by the communication unit 311 can be changed as appropriate.

The control unit 312 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, and the computer system functions as the control unit 312. The control unit 312 controls the functional units provided for each device 31. The functional units are components for realizing the functions of the device 31. For example, in the case of a device 31 such as an air conditioning device, the functional units are components for realizing the air conditioning function (such as a compressor, a heat exchanger, and a fan), and in the case of a device 31 such as a lighting fixture, the functional units are components for realizing the lighting function (such as a light source and its lighting circuit). When the information received by the communication unit 311 from the management device 20 is a control command for controlling the device 31, the control unit 312 controls the functional units and the communication unit 312 based on the control command. When the information received by the communication unit 311 from the management device 20 is for requesting the status of the device 31, the control unit 312 acquires the status of the functional units and causes the communication unit 311 to transmit status information indicating the status of the functional units to the management device 20.

The electric lock system, which is the specific device 32, has an electric lock 321 and an electric lock control unit 322, as described above.

The electric lock 321, for example, locks or unlocks the entrance door of facility F10.

The electric lock control unit 322 locks or unlocks the electric lock 321 in response to a contact signal input from the third communication unit 13 of the information terminal 10.

(2.1.4) Control Device The control device 40 is connected to a plurality of information terminals 10 provided in a plurality of facilities F10 via a communication line CL1. The control device 40 controls communication of an internal communication network NT1 including the plurality of information terminals 10. The control device 40 is also connected to a gateway system 50 via a communication line.

The control device 40 includes a communication unit 41 and a control unit 42.

The communication unit 41 communicates with the information terminal 10 via the communication line CL1, and also communicates with the gateway system 50 via a communication line.

The control unit 42 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the control unit 42. The control unit 42 controls communication between the information terminals 10 included in the internal communication network NT1.

(2.1.5) Gateway System The gateway system 50 has the function of converting communication protocols between the internal communication network NT1 of the collective facility F1 and the external communication network NT2.

The gateway system 50 includes a gateway-side first communication unit 51, a gateway-side second communication unit 52, and a control unit 53. Hereinafter, the gateway-side first communication unit 51 may be abbreviated as the first communication unit 51, and the gateway-side second communication unit 52 may be abbreviated as the second communication unit 52.

The first communication unit (gateway side first communication unit) 51 communicates with the control device 40 that controls communication in the internal communication network NT1 of the collective facility F1. More specifically, the first communication unit 51 communicates with the information terminals 10 of each facility F10 via the control device 40 using the first communication protocol.

The second communication unit (gateway side second communication unit) 52 communicates with an external communication network NT2 of the collective facility F1. Specifically, the second communication unit 52 is connected to an external communication network NT2 such as the Internet via a router 61 such as a broadband router, and communicates with a server system (hereinafter abbreviated as server) 70 via the external communication network NT2.

The control unit 53 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the control unit 53.

(2.1.6) Server System The server (server system) 70 includes a server-side first communication unit 71, a server-side second communication unit 72, a server-side third communication unit 73, and a control unit 74. Note that, hereinafter, the server-side first communication unit 71, the server-side second communication unit 72, and the server-side third communication unit 73 may be abbreviated as the first communication unit 71, the second communication unit 72, and the third communication unit 73, respectively.

The control unit 74 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the control unit 74. The control unit 74 controls communication between the first communication unit 71, the second communication unit 72, and the third communication unit 73.

The first communication unit 71 communicates with the control device 40 via the external communication network NT2 and the internal communication network NT1 of the collective facility F1. The first communication unit 71 transmits command information (to the control device 40). The command information is information related to the management of the target device 30 managed by the management device 20 that communicates with the information terminal 10. The command information related to the management of the target device 30 may include at least one of a control command for controlling the target device 30 and a status request command for requesting the transmission of the status of the target device 30. Furthermore, the command information may include control-related information associated with the control content of the target device 30. The control-related information is information associated with a control command output to one or more target devices 30 to operate them in a setting state suited to a desired scene (for example, a scene in the user's life such as going to bed or going out). By transmitting this control-related information to the information terminal 10 or the management device 20, the information terminal 10 or the management device 20 can control one or more target devices 30 to a setting state suited to the desired scene.

Here, the communication path between the first communication unit 71 and the information terminal 10 that passes through the internal communication network NT1 is referred to as the first communication path RT1 (see FIG. 1). Specifically, the first communication path RT1 is a communication path between the first communication unit 71 and the information terminal 10 that passes through the router 61, the gateway system 50, and the control device 40, and includes a part of the communication line CL1 that connects between the control device 40 and the information terminal 10.

Incidentally, multiple information terminals 10 are provided in each of the multiple facilities F10 included in the collective facility F1. These multiple information terminals 10 include a first information terminal provided in the same facility F10 as the target device 30 to be managed, and a second information terminal provided in a facility F10 different from the target device 30 to be managed. For example, when a user operates a communication terminal 80 to manage (control or monitor) the target device 30 in facility F11, the information terminal 101 provided in facility F11 becomes the first information terminal, and the information terminals 102 to 104 provided in facilities F12 to F14 become the second information terminals.

The second communication unit (server-side second communication unit) 72 communicates with the first information terminal (e.g., information terminal 101) via the second communication route RT2 (see FIG. 6). The second communication route RT2 is a communication route different from the first communication route RT1, and passes through a second information terminal (e.g., information terminal 102). Here, the second communication route RT2 between the first communication unit 71 and the information terminal 101 is a communication route that passes through the router 61, the gateway system 50, the control device 40, and the information terminal 102, and passes through one or more information terminals 10 in another facility F10. Note that the second communication route RT2 may be a communication route between the first communication unit 71 and the information terminal 101 that passes through an information terminal in an unused facility F10, or may be a communication route between the first communication unit 71 and the information terminal 101 that passes through an information terminal provided in a shared facility F20.

When a communication failure occurs on the first communication path RT1 while communicating with the information terminal 101 via the first communication path RT1, the second communication unit (server-side second communication unit) 72 transmits command information to the first information terminal 101 via the second communication path RT2. Here, a communication failure occurring on the first communication path RT1 refers to a state in which communication is disabled due to a failure of a device included in the first communication path RT1, a break in the communication line CL1 included in the first communication path RT1, etc.

When communication is possible via the first communication path RT1, the first communication unit 71 transmits command information to the first information terminal 101 via the first communication path RT1. In other words, when communication is possible via the first communication path RT1, the control unit 74 causes the first communication unit 71 to transmit command information to the first information terminal 101 via the first communication path RT1.

The third communication unit 73 communicates with the management device 20 via a third communication path RT3 (see FIG. 1) different from the first communication path RT1, without going through the control device 40 and the information terminal 10. The management device 20 manages the target devices 30 to be managed. For example, when a user of the facility F10 makes a contract for use of the Internet service with a provider, installs a terminal adapter for an Internet line in the facility F10, and connects the terminal adapter to a wireless LAN router 60, the third communication path RT3 becomes available. When a communication failure occurs on the first communication path RT1 while the third communication path RT3 is available, the third communication unit 73 transmits command information to the management device 20 via the third communication path RT3. In other words, when a communication failure occurs on the first communication path RT1, if the third communication path RT3 is available, the control unit 74 may cause the third communication unit 73 to transmit command information to the management device 20 via the third communication path RT3.

Note that the server 70 is not limited to managing the target devices 30 in one collective facility F1, but may manage the target devices 30 in multiple collective facilities F1.

(2.1.7) Communication Terminal The communication terminal 80 is a terminal used by a user of the facility F10, and is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal with communication function, or a wearable terminal with communication function.

The communication terminal 80 is used to perform operations related to the management (control or monitoring) of the target devices 30 installed in the facility F10.

The communication terminal 80 includes a communication unit 81 and a control unit 82.

The communication unit 81 has a communication module that communicates, for example, using a wireless communication method, and communicates with the server 70 via the external communication network NT2.

The control unit 82 has, for example, a computer system having a processor and a memory. The processor executes a program stored in the memory, causing the computer system to function as the control unit 82. The control unit 82 controls the operation of the communication unit 81.

The communication terminal 80 has a user interface device that accepts user operations. The user interface device is, for example, a touch panel display, a keyboard, or a voice input device. When the communication terminal 80 accepts an operation related to a target device 30 installed in a desired facility F10, the control unit 82 causes the communication unit 81 to transmit command information for managing the target device 30 to the server 70. When the server 70 receives the command information from the communication terminal 80, it causes the server 70 to transmit the command information to an information terminal 10 that is located in the same facility F10 as the target device 30 to be managed.

(2.2) Description of Operation Next, the operation of the communication system 1 including the information terminal 10 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

If the user of facility F10 (a resident or an administrator of collective facility F1, etc.) has not signed a service contract with a provider, the server 70 cannot communicate with the information terminal 10 via the third communication route RT3. Therefore, the server 70 communicates with the information terminal 10 of facility F10 using the first communication route RT1. In "(2.2.1) Individual control operation of target device", "(2.2.2) Monitoring operation of target device", and "(2.2.3) Scene control operation of target device", the operation when communication is performed between the communication terminal 80 and the information terminal 10 via the first communication route RT1 is described.

(2.2.1) Individual Control Operation of Target Device The operation when a user individually controls a target device 30 to be managed using a communication terminal 80 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Note that the sequence diagram shown in Fig. 3 is merely one example of a communication method performed by the information terminal 10, and the order of processing may be changed as appropriate, and processing may be added or omitted as appropriate.

When the communication terminal 80 transmits a control command for controlling the target device 30 to the server 70 in response to the user's operation (S1), the server 70 generates a transmission packet to be transmitted to the gateway system 50 based on the control command C1 received from the communication terminal 80. This transmission packet is generated by adding, to the control command C1, first header information H1 for controlling communication between the gateway system 50 and the information terminal 10, and second header information H2 for controlling communication between the server 70 and the gateway system 50. That is, the transmission packet is generated by encapsulating the control command C1 and adding the first header information H1 and the second header information H2 to the control command C1. The first header information H1 and the second header information H2 include, for example, a source address and a destination address. The address may include a network address such as an IP (Internet Protocol) address.

The control unit 74 of the server 70 causes the first communication unit 71 to transmit a transmission packet to the gateway system 50 in order to transmit the transmission packet from the first communication unit 71 to the information terminal 10 via the first communication path RT1 (S2).

When the second communication unit 52 of the gateway system 50 receives a transmission packet from the server 70, the control unit 53 removes the second header information H2 from the transmission packet and generates a transmission packet in which the first header information H1 is added to the control command C1. The control unit 53 then causes the transmission packet to be transmitted from the first communication unit 51 via the control device 40 to the information terminal 10 of the facility F10 in which the target device 30 to be controlled is installed (S3).

When the first communication unit 11 of the information terminal 10 receives the transmission packet, the control unit 14 removes the first header information H1 from the transmission packet to obtain a control command C1, and transmits this control command C1 to the management device 20 via the wireless LAN router 60 (S4).

When the first communication unit 21 of the management device 20 receives the control command C1, the control unit 20 outputs the control command C1 from the second communication unit 22 to the target device 30 to be controlled, and controls the target device 30 to a desired control state (S5). For example, if the control command C1 is a control command to operate an air conditioner in cooling mode, the management device 20 causes the target air conditioner to transmit the control command C1, thereby causing the target air conditioner to operate in cooling mode.

When the target device 30 to be controlled executes an operation in accordance with the control command C1, the control unit 312 of the target device 30 transmits status information indicating the control result from the communication unit 311 to the management device 20 (S6).

When the second communication unit 22 of the management device 20 receives status information from the target device 30, the control unit 23 causes the first communication unit 21 to transmit status information A1 to the information terminal 10 (S7).

When the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 receives the status information A1, the control unit 14 generates a transmission packet in which the first header information H1 is added to the encapsulated status information A1, and transmits this transmission packet from the first communication unit 11 to the gateway system 50 via the control device 40 (S8).

When the first communication unit 51 of the gateway system 50 receives a transmission packet from the information terminal 10, the control unit 53 generates a transmission packet by adding the second header information H2 to this transmission packet. The control unit 53 then causes this transmission packet to be transmitted from the second communication unit 52 to the server 70 via the router 61 (S9).

When the first communication unit 11 of the server 70 receives a transmission packet from the gateway system 50, the control unit 74 causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit the status information A1 contained in the transmission packet to the communication terminal 80 (S10). When the communication terminal 80 receives the status information A1, the communication terminal 80 displays the contents of the status information A1, for example, on a touch panel, and the user of the communication terminal 80 can understand the control result of the target device 30. In this way, when command information including a control command is transmitted from the communication terminal 80 to the information terminal 10, the first communication unit 11 of the information terminal 10 transmits the result of managing (controlling) the target device 30 based on the command information (control command) to the communication terminal 80.

(2.2.2) Monitoring Operation of Target Device The operation when a user uses a communication terminal 80 to monitor the status of a target device 30 to be managed will be described with reference to Fig. 3. When the communication terminal 80 transmits a status request command to the server 70 requesting the status of the target device 30 to be managed in response to the user's operation (S11), the server 70 generates a transmission packet to be transmitted to the gateway system 50 based on the status request command C2 received from the communication terminal 80. This transmission packet is generated by adding first header information H1 and second header information H2 to the encapsulated status request command C2. The control unit 74 of the server 70 causes the first communication unit 71 to transmit the generated transmission packet to the gateway system 50 (S12).

When the second communication unit 52 of the gateway system 50 receives a transmission packet from the server 70, the control unit 53 removes the second header information H2 from the transmission packet and generates a transmission packet in which the first header information H1 is added to the status request command C2. The control unit 53 then causes the transmission packet to be transmitted from the first communication unit 51 via the control device 40 to the information terminal 10 of the facility F10 in which the target device 30 to be monitored is installed (S13).

When the first communication unit 11 of the information terminal 10 receives the transmission packet, the control unit 14 removes the first header information H1 from the transmission packet to obtain a status request command C2, and transmits this status request command C2 to the management device 20 via the wireless LAN router 60 (S14).

When the first communication unit 21 of the management device 20 receives the status request command C2, the control unit 20 outputs the status request command C2 from the second communication unit 22 to the target device 30 to be managed (S15).

When the monitored target device 30 receives the status request command C2, the control unit 312 of the target device 30 transmits status information indicating the current status from the communication unit 311 to the management device 20 (S16).

When the second communication unit 22 of the management device 20 receives the status information from the target device 30, the control unit 23 causes the first communication unit 21 to transmit the status information A2 to the information terminal 10 (S17).

When the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 receives the status information A2, the control unit 14 generates a transmission packet in which the first header information H1 is added to the encapsulated status information A2, and transmits this transmission packet from the first communication unit 11 to the gateway system 50 via the control device 40 (S18).

When the first communication unit 51 of the gateway system 50 receives a transmission packet from the information terminal 10, the control unit 53 generates a transmission packet by adding the second header information H2 to this transmission packet. The control unit 53 then causes this transmission packet to be transmitted from the second communication unit 52 to the server 70 via the router 61 (S19).

When the first communication unit 11 of the server 70 receives a transmission packet from the gateway system 50, the control unit 74 causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit the status information A2 included in the transmission packet to the communication terminal 80 (S20). When the communication terminal 80 receives the status information A2, the communication terminal 80 displays the contents of the status information A2, for example, on a touch panel, and the user of the communication terminal 80 can grasp the status of the target device 30. In this way, when the command information transmitted from the communication terminal 80 to the information terminal 10 includes a status request command for requesting the status of the target device 30, the second communication unit 12 transmits the status request command to the management device 20. Then, when the management device 20 transmits status information indicating the status of the target device 30 to the information terminal 10, the first communication unit 11 of the information terminal 10 transmits the result of managing (monitoring) the target device 30 based on the command information (status request command) to the communication terminal 80.

(2.2.3) Scene control operation of target device A scene control operation in which a user controls one or more target devices 30 to a setting state for a desired scene using a communication terminal 80 will be described with reference to Fig. 4. Note that the sequence diagram shown in Fig. 4 is merely an example of a communication method performed by the information terminal 10, and the order of processing may be changed as appropriate, and processing may be added or omitted as appropriate.

Here, we will explain the scene control operation for controlling two target devices 30 (e.g., air conditioners and lighting fixtures) installed in facility F10 to settings for a sleep scene, for example, when going to bed. Note that in the sleep scene, the air conditioners are controlled to a stopped state and the lighting fixtures are controlled to an off state.

When a user uses the communication terminal 80 to control the state of the air conditioner and the lighting fixtures to the setting state for the sleep scene, the communication terminal 80 transmits control-related information associated with the control content of the target device 30 to the server 70 in response to the user's operation (S21). The control-related information is information that represents the scene selected by the user, and is, for example, a number associated with each of multiple scenes.

When the first communication unit 11 of the server 70 receives the control-related information from the communication terminal 80, the control unit 74 generates a transmission packet by adding the first header information H1 and the second header information H2 to the control-related information. The control unit 74 causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit this transmission packet to the gateway system 50 (S22).

When the second communication unit 52 of the gateway system 50 receives a transmission packet from the server 70, the control unit 53 removes the second header information H2 from the transmission packet and generates a transmission packet in which the first header information H1 is added to the control-related information. The control unit 53 then causes the transmission packet to be transmitted from the first communication unit 51 via the control device 40 to the information terminal 10 of the facility F10 in which the target device 30 to be controlled is installed (S23).

When the first communication unit 11 of the information terminal 10 receives a transmission packet, the control unit 14 removes the first header information H1 from the transmission packet and obtains the control-related information. The control contents of the control-related information are registered in advance in the information terminal 10, and the control unit 14 controls the air conditioning equipment and lighting fixtures to be controlled to the states specified in the control-related information based on the control-related information from the communication terminal 80.

The control unit 14 of the information terminal 10 generates a control command to stop the air conditioning equipment based on the control-related information, and transmits this control command from the second communication unit 12 to the management device 20 via the wireless LAN router 60 (S24). In other words, if the command information from the communication terminal 80 includes control-related information, the second communication unit 12 transmits a control command to the management device 20 to control the target device 30 to be controlled based on the control-related information.

When the first communication unit 21 of the management device 20 receives a control command, the control unit 20 outputs the control command from the second communication unit 22 to the air conditioning equipment to be controlled (S25) and stops the air conditioning equipment. When the air conditioning equipment performs an operation according to the control command, the air conditioning equipment transmits status information indicating the control result to the management device 20 (S26). When the second communication unit 22 of the management device 20 receives the status information from the air conditioning equipment, the control unit 23 causes the first communication unit 21 to transmit the status information to the information terminal 10 (S27).

When the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 receives status information indicating the control result of the air conditioner, the control unit 14 generates a control command to turn off the lighting fixtures based on the control-related information, and transmits this control command to the management device 20 via the wireless LAN router 60 (S28).

When the first communication unit 21 of the management device 20 receives the control command, the control unit 20 outputs the control command from the second communication unit 22 to the lighting fixture to be controlled (S29) and turns off the lighting fixture. When the lighting fixture performs an operation according to the control command, the lighting fixture transmits status information indicating the control result to the management device 20 (S30). When the second communication unit 22 of the management device 20 receives the status information from the lighting fixture, the control unit 23 causes the first communication unit 21 to transmit the status information to the information terminal 10 (S31).

When the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 receives the status information indicating the control result of the lighting fixtures, the control unit 14 determines that the control of the air conditioners and lighting fixtures based on the control-related information has been completed. The control unit 14 generates a transmission packet in which the first header information H1 is added to the status information indicating the control result of the air conditioners and lighting fixtures, and causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit this transmission packet via the control device 40 to the gateway system 50 (S32).

When the first communication unit 51 of the gateway system 50 receives a transmission packet from the information terminal 10, the control unit 53 generates a transmission packet by adding the second header information H2 to this transmission packet. The control unit 53 then causes this transmission packet to be transmitted from the second communication unit 52 to the server 70 via the router 61 (S33).

When the first communication unit 11 of the server 70 receives a transmission packet from the gateway system 50, the control unit 74 causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit the status information contained in the transmission packet to the communication terminal 80 (S34). When the communication terminal 80 receives the status information, the communication terminal 80 displays the contents of the status information on, for example, a touch panel, and the user of the communication terminal 80 can understand the control result of the scene control.

(2.2.4) Communication Path Switching Operation When a user of the facility F10 makes a contract with a provider for use of the Internet service and the third communication path RT3 becomes available, the operation of switching the communication path from the first communication path RT1 to the third communication path RT3 will be described with reference to Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. Note that the sequence diagram shown in Fig. 5 is merely an example of a communication path switching operation, and the order of the processes may be changed as appropriate, and processes may be added or omitted as appropriate.

When the information terminal 10 is able to communicate with the communication terminal 80 via the third communication route RT3, the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 in the facility F10 transmits notification information to the server 70 via the wireless LAN router 60 and the external communication network NT2, together with the address (identification information) of the information terminal 10, notifying the server 70 that communication is possible via the third communication route RT3 (S41).

When the third communication unit 73 of the server 70 receives the notification information and address from the information terminal 10, the control unit 14 changes the communication path from the first communication path RT1 to the third communication path RT3 so that communication with the information terminal 10 is performed via the third communication path RT3.

After that, when the communication terminal 80 transmits a control command to the server 70 to control the target device 30 to be managed in response to the user's operation (S42), the control unit 74 of the server 70 causes the control command from the communication terminal 80 to be transmitted from the third communication unit 73 to the information terminal 10 via the third communication path RT3 (S43).

When the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 receives the control command, the control unit 14 transmits the control command to the management device 20 via the wireless LAN router 60 (S43).

When the first communication unit 21 of the management device 20 receives the control command, the control unit 20 outputs the control command from the second communication unit 22 to the target device 30 to be controlled, and controls the target device 30 to the desired control state (S45). For example, if the control command is a control command to operate an air conditioner in cooling mode, the management device 20 causes the target air conditioner to transmit the control command, thereby causing the target air conditioner to operate in cooling mode.

When the target device 30 to be controlled executes an operation in response to the control command, the control unit 312 of the target device 30 transmits status information indicating the control result from the communication unit 311 to the management device 20 (S46).

When the second communication unit 22 of the management device 20 receives the status information from the target device 30, the control unit 23 causes the first communication unit 21 to transmit the status information to the information terminal 10 (S47).

When the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 receives the status information, the control unit 14 causes the second communication unit 12 to transmit the status information to the server 70 via the third communication path RT3 (S48).

When the third communication unit 13 of the server 70 receives the status information transmitted from the information terminal 10, the control unit 74 causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit this status information to the communication terminal 80 (S49). When the communication terminal 80 receives the status information, the communication terminal 80 displays the contents of the status information on, for example, a touch panel, and the user of the communication terminal 80 can grasp the control result of the target device 30.

Next, we will explain the operation when a communication failure occurs on the third communication path RT3 while the server 70 is communicating with the information terminal 10 via the third communication path RT3.

When the communication terminal 80 transmits a control command for controlling the target device 30 to be managed as command information to the server 70 in response to a user operation (S50), the control unit 74 of the server 70 causes the control command from the communication terminal 80 to be transmitted from the third communication unit 73 to the information terminal 10 via the third communication path RT3 (S51).

Although the above operation description does not include a description of ACK, when the information terminal 10 receives a control command transmitted from the server 70, the information terminal 10 returns an ACK to the server 70 that transmitted the control command. Therefore, if the control unit 74 of the server 70 does not receive an ACK from the information terminal 10 within a predetermined waiting time from the time of transmitting the control command, it determines that the transmission of the control command has failed and retransmits the control command (S52, S53).

When the control unit 74 of the server 70 fails to send a control command a predetermined number of consecutive retries (e.g., three times), it determines that a communication failure has occurred on the third communication path RT3. At this time, the control unit 74 of the server 70 switches the communication path with the information terminal 10 from the third communication path RT3 to the first communication path RT1, and sends a control command to the information terminal 10 via the first communication path RT1. That is, the control unit 74 of the server 70 causes the first communication unit 71 to send a control command to the gateway system 50 via the router 61 (S54).

When the second communication unit 52 of the gateway system 50 receives the control command, the control unit 53 causes the control command to be transmitted from the first communication unit 51 via the control device 40 to the information terminal 10 of the facility F10 in which the target device 30 to be controlled is installed (S55).

When the first communication unit 11 of the information terminal 10 receives the control command, the control unit 14 transmits the control command to the management device 20 via the wireless LAN router 60 (S56).

When the first communication unit 21 of the management device 20 receives the control command, the control unit 20 outputs the control command from the second communication unit 22 to the target device 30 to be controlled, and controls the target device 30 to the desired control state (S57). For example, if the control command is a control command to operate an air conditioner in cooling mode, the management device 20 causes the target air conditioner to transmit the control command, thereby causing the target air conditioner to operate in cooling mode.

When the target device 30 to be controlled executes an operation in response to the control command, the control unit 312 of the target device 30 transmits status information indicating the control result from the communication unit 311 to the management device 20 (S58).

When the second communication unit 22 of the management device 20 receives the status information from the target device 30, the control unit 23 causes the first communication unit 21 to transmit the status information to the information terminal 10 (S59).

When the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 receives the status information, the control unit 14 causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit the status information to the gateway system 50 via the control device 40 (S60).

When the first communication unit 51 of the gateway system 50 receives status information from the information terminal 10, the control unit 53 causes the second communication unit 52 to transmit this status information to the server 70 via the router 61 (S61).

When the first communication unit 11 of the server 70 receives the status information from the gateway system 50, the control unit 74 causes the first communication unit 11 to transmit the status information to the communication terminal 80 (S62). When the communication terminal 80 receives the status information, the communication terminal 80 displays the contents of the status information on, for example, a touch panel, and the user of the communication terminal 80 can grasp the status of the target device 30.

(2.2.5) Switching Operation from the Third Communication Path to the Second Communication Path in the Event of a Communication Failure When the communication terminal 80 is communicating with the information terminal 10 of the facility F10 via the third communication path RT3, and a communication failure occurs on the third communication path RT3, the operation of the communication system 1 to switch the communication path from the third communication path RT3 to the second communication path RT2 will be described with reference to Fig. 7. Note that the sequence diagram shown in Fig. 7 is merely an example of a communication path switching operation, and the order of processing may be changed as appropriate, and processing may be added or omitted as appropriate.

When the information terminal 10 becomes capable of communicating with the communication terminal 80 via the third communication route RT3, the second communication unit 12 of the information terminal 10 of the facility F10 transmits notification information to the server 70 via the wireless LAN router 60 and the external communication network NT2, notifying the server 70 that communication is possible via the third communication route RT3 (S71).

When the third communication unit 73 of the server 70 receives notification information from the information terminal 10, the control unit 14 changes the communication path from the first communication path RT1 to the third communication path RT3 so that communication with the information terminal 10 is performed via the third communication path RT3.

After that, when the user uses the communication terminal 80 to perform an operation to control the target device 30 installed in facility F11, for example, the communication terminal 80 transmits a control command to the server 70 to control the target device 30 in response to the user's operation (S72). The control unit 74 of the server 70 causes the control command from the communication terminal 80 to be transmitted from the third communication unit 73 to the information terminal 101 installed in facility F11 via the third communication route RT3 (S73).

If the control unit 74 of the server 70 does not receive an ACK from the information terminal 101 of facility F11 within a predetermined waiting time from the time of sending the control command, it determines that the transmission of the control command has failed and resends the control command (S74, S75).

When the control unit 74 of the server 70 fails to transmit a control command a predetermined number of times (e.g., three times) in succession, it determines that a communication failure has occurred on the third communication route RT3. At this time, the control unit 74 of the server 70 performs a switching operation to switch the communication route with the information terminal 101 of facility F11 from the third communication route RT3 to the second communication route RT2.

The control unit 74 of the server 70 transmits question information from the first communication unit 71 to the control device 40 via the router 61 and the gateway system 50, inquiring about the information terminal 10 of another facility F10 that relays communication with the information terminal 101 of facility F11 (S76).

When the communication unit 41 of the control device 40 receives this request signal, the control unit 42 searches for an information terminal 10 that can relay communication with the information terminal (first information terminal) 101 in facility F11 from among the information terminals (second information terminals) 10 in facilities F10 other than facility F11. The control unit 42 determines an information terminal 10 (e.g., the information terminal 102 in facility F12) that can communicate with the control device 40 via communication line CL1 and can also communicate with the destination information terminal (first information terminal) 101 via communication line CL1 as the information terminal 10 for relaying. The control unit 42 causes the communication unit 41 to return response information including identification information of the information terminal 102 used for relaying to the server 70 (S77).

When the first communication unit 71 of the server 70 receives the response information from the control device 40, the control unit 74 transmits a control command to the information terminal 101 of facility F11 via the information terminal 102 of facility F12 based on this response information. The control unit 74 transmits information including a control command and a relay command to the information terminal 102 of facility F12 via the router 61, the gateway system 50, and the control device 40 (S78). When the information terminal 102 of facility F12 receives this information, the information terminal 102 transmits the control command to the destination information terminal 101 based on the relay command via the communication line CL1 (S79).

When the information terminal 101 of facility F11 receives the control command, the information terminal 101 transmits the control command to the management device 20 via the wireless LAN router 60 (S80).

When the management device 20 receives a control command, the management device 20 outputs the control command to the target device 30 to be controlled, and controls the target device 30 to the desired control state (S81). For example, if the control command is a control command to operate an air conditioner in cooling mode, the management device 20 causes the target air conditioner to transmit the control command, thereby causing the target air conditioner to operate in cooling mode.

When the target device 30 to be controlled executes an operation in accordance with the control command, the target device 30 transmits status information indicating the control result to the management device 20 (S82).

When the management device 20 receives the status information from the target device 30, the management device 20 causes the status information from the target device 30 to be transmitted to the information terminal 101 (S83).

The information terminal 101 transmits this status information to the information terminal 102, which is the source of the control command, via the communication line CL1 (S84).

When the relay information terminal 102 receives the status information from the information terminal 101, the information terminal 102 transmits this status information to the server 70 via the control device 40, the gateway system 50, and the router 61 (S85).

When the server 70 receives the status information, the server 70 transmits this status information to the communication terminal 80 that is the sender of the control command (S86). When the communication terminal 80 receives the status information, the communication terminal 80 displays the contents of the status information on, for example, a touch panel, so that the user of the communication terminal 80 can grasp the status of the target device 30.

In this way, if a communication failure (such as a malfunction of equipment or communication line) occurs on the third communication path RT3 between the communication terminal 80 and the information terminal 101, the server 70 switches from the third communication path RT3 to the second communication path RT2. This allows communication between the communication terminal 80 and the information terminal 101 via the second communication path RT2.

Even if a communication failure (such as a malfunction of equipment or communication line) occurs on the first communication path RT1 between the communication terminal 80 and the first information terminal 10, if there is an information terminal 10 that can communicate with the first information terminal 10, which is the transmission partner of the communication terminal 80, and can communicate with the communication terminal 80 via the first communication path RT1, communication can be performed between the communication terminal 80 and the first information terminal 10 via the second communication path RT2 by switching to the second communication path RT2 that relays this information terminal 10.

(3) Modifications The above embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present disclosure. The above embodiment can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present disclosure can be achieved. In addition, the same function as the information terminal 10 may be embodied in a communication method of the information terminal 10, a computer program, or a non-transitory recording medium on which a program is recorded, etc. In one aspect, the communication method is a communication method in which an information terminal 10 provided in a facility F10 of a collective facility F1 including one or more facilities F10 communicates with a communication terminal 80 that performs operations related to a target device 30 provided in the facility F10 via an internal communication network NT1 and an external communication network NT2 of the collective facility F1. The communication path between the information terminal 10 and the communication terminal 80 includes a first communication path RT1 that communicates via a control device 40 that controls communication of the internal communication network NT1, and a second communication path RT2 that can communicate without going through the control device 40. The communication method includes a step of determining whether the information terminal 10 can communicate with the communication terminal 80 via the second communication path RT2. The communication method includes a step in which, when the information terminal 10 cannot communicate with the communication terminal 80 via the second communication route RT2, the information terminal 10 communicates with the communication terminal 80 via the first communication route RT1. The communication method includes a step in which, when the information terminal 10 can communicate with the communication terminal 80 via the second communication route RT2, the information terminal 10 communicates with the communication terminal 80 via the second communication route RT2. The communication method includes a step in which, when the information terminal 10 communicates with the communication terminal 80 via the first communication route RT1, if the information received by the information terminal 10 from the communication terminal 80 includes control state information specifying the control state of the target terminal provided in the facility F10, the information terminal 10 transmits a control command to the management device 20 that manages the target device 30 to control the target device 30 based on the control state information. A (computer) program according to one aspect is a program for causing a computer system to execute the above-mentioned communication method.

Below, we will list some variations of the above embodiment. The variations described below can be applied in appropriate combinations.

The information terminal 10, management device 20, target device 30, control device 40, gateway system 50, server system 70, and communication terminal 80 in the present disclosure include a computer system. The computer system is mainly composed of a processor and memory as hardware. The processor executes a program recorded in the memory of the computer system, thereby realizing the functions of the information terminal 10, management device 20, target device 30, control device 40, gateway system 50, server system 70, and communication terminal 80 in the present disclosure. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, may be provided through an electric communication line, or may be recorded and provided in a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive that can be read by the computer system. The processor of the computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). The integrated circuits such as IC or LSI here are called by different names depending on the degree of integration, and include integrated circuits called system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Furthermore, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) that is programmed after the manufacture of the LSI, or a logic device that allows reconfiguration of the connection relationship within the LSI or reconfiguration of the circuit partition within the LSI, can also be used as a processor. The electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip, or may be distributed among multiple chips. The chips may be integrated into one device, or may be distributed among multiple devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microcontroller is also composed of one or more electronic circuits including a semiconductor integrated circuit or a large-scale integrated circuit.

In addition, it is not essential for the information terminal 10, management device 20, target device 30, control device 40, gateway system 50, server system 70, and communication terminal 80 that multiple functions of each of the information terminal 10, management device 20, target device 30, control device 40, gateway system 50, server system 70, and communication terminal 80 are integrated into one housing. Each component of the information terminal 10, management device 20, target device 30, control device 40, gateway system 50, server system 70, and communication terminal 80 may be distributed across multiple housings. Furthermore, at least some of the functions of each of the information terminal 10, management device 20, target device 30, control device 40, gateway system 50, server system 70, and communication terminal 80 may be realized by the cloud (cloud computing) or the like.

In the above embodiment, if the gateway system 50 fails to transmit the command information to the control device 40, the gateway system 50 may retransmit the command information to the control device 40. That is, when the second communication unit (gateway side second communication unit) 52 receives command information related to the management of the target device 30 provided in the facility F10, the first communication unit (gateway side first communication unit) 51 transmits information based on the command information to the information terminal 10 in the same facility F10 as the target device 30 via the control device 40. If the first communication unit 51 cannot receive reception confirmation information from the destination information terminal 10 within a predetermined waiting time from the time of transmission, the first communication unit 51 retransmits the information based on the command information. In this way, even if an abnormality occurs in the communication between the gateway system 50 and the control device 40, the gateway system 50 retransmits the command information to the control device 40, so that the command information can be transmitted reliably.

(summary)
As described above, the information terminal (10) of the first aspect is an information terminal (10) provided in a facility (F10) included in a collective facility (F1) including one or more facilities (F10). The information terminal (10) includes a first communication unit (11) and a second communication unit (12). The first communication unit (11) communicates with a communication terminal (80) for performing operations related to a target device (30) including one or more devices (31) provided in the facility (F10) via a communication line (CL1) and an external communication network (NT2) of the collective facility (F1) by a first protocol. The communication line (CL1) connects between the information terminal (10) and a control device (40) that controls communication of an internal communication network (NT1) of the collective facility (F1) including the information terminal (10). The second communication unit (12) communicates by a second protocol with a management device (20) that manages a target device (30) provided in the same facility (F10) as the information terminal (10). When command information related to management of the target device (30) is included in information received by the first communication unit (11) from the communication terminal (80), the second communication unit (12) transmits information based on the command information to the management device (20).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the information terminal (10) of the second aspect, in the first aspect, the target device (30) further includes a specific device (32) different from the one or more devices (31) installed in the facility (F10). The information terminal (10) further includes a third communication unit (13) that communicates with the specific device (32) by a third protocol. When the command information received by the first communication unit (11) is command information for the specific device related to management of the specific device (32), the third communication unit (13) transmits information based on the command information for the specific device to the specific device (32).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the information terminal (10) of the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the command information includes a control command for controlling the target device (30).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the information terminal (10) of the fourth aspect, in any one of the first to third aspects, the command information includes control-related information associated with the control content of the target device (30).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the information terminal (10) of the fifth aspect, in the fourth aspect, the second communication unit (12) transmits a control command to the management device (20) for controlling the target device (30) to be controlled based on the control-related information.

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the sixth aspect of the information terminal (10), in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the first communication unit (11) transmits the results of managing the target device (30) based on the command information to the communication terminal (80).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the information terminal (10) of the seventh aspect, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, when the command information includes a status request command for requesting the status of the target device (30), the second communication unit (12) transmits the status request command to the management device (20).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

The eighth aspect of the management device (20) includes a management device-side first communication unit (21) that communicates with an information terminal (10) provided in a facility (F10) by a second protocol, and a management device-side second communication unit (22). The information terminal (10) includes a first communication unit (11) and a second communication unit (12). The first communication unit (11) communicates with a communication terminal (80) for performing operations related to a target device (30) provided in a facility (F10) included in a collective facility (F1) including one or more facilities (F10), via a control device (40) and an external communication network (NT2) of the collective facility (F1) by a first protocol. The control device (40) controls communication of an internal communication network (NT1) of the collective facility (F1). The second communication unit (12) communicates with the management device (20) that manages the target device (30) by a second protocol. If the information received by the management device first communication unit (21) includes command information related to the management of the target device (30), the management device second communication unit (22) transmits information based on the command information to the target device (30).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the management device (20) of the ninth aspect, in the eighth aspect, the command information includes control-related information associated with the control content of the target device (30).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the management device (20) of the tenth aspect, in the ninth aspect, the second communication unit (22) of the management device transmits a control command to the target device (30) to be controlled, based on the control-related information.

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

The server system (70) of the eleventh aspect includes a server-side first communication unit (71). The server-side first communication unit (71) communicates with the control device (40) via the external communication network (NT2) and the internal communication network (NT1) of the collective facility (F1). The control device (40) controls communication of the internal communication network (NT1) of the collective facility (F1). The internal communication network (NT1) includes an information terminal (10) provided in at least one facility (F10) included in the collective facility (F1) including one or more facilities (F10). The facility (F10) includes a management device (20) that manages the target device (30) provided in the facility (F10). The server-side first communication unit (71) transmits command information related to management of the target device (30) managed by the management device (20) that communicates with the information terminal (10).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the server system (70) of the twelfth aspect, in the eleventh aspect, a plurality of information terminals (10) are provided in a plurality of facilities (F10) included in the collective facility (F1). The plurality of information terminals (10) include a first information terminal provided in the same facility (F10) as the target device (30) to be managed, and a second information terminal provided in a facility (F10) different from the target device (30) to be managed. The server system (70) further includes a server-side second communication unit (72) that communicates with the first information terminal via a second communication path (RT2) that passes through the second information terminal, the second communication path (RT2) being different from the first communication path (RT1) between the server-side first communication unit (71) and the first information terminal. When a communication failure occurs in the first communication path (RT1), the server-side second communication unit (72) transmits command information to the first information terminal via the second communication path (RT2).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

In the server system (70) of the thirteenth aspect, in the twelfth aspect, when communication is possible via the first communication path (RT1), the server-side first communication unit (71) transmits command information to the first information terminal via the first communication path (RT1).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

The server system (70) of the 14th aspect is any of the 11th to 13th aspects, and further includes a server-side third communication unit (73). The server-side third communication unit (73) communicates with the management device (20) that manages the target device (30) to be managed via a third communication path (RT3) different from the first communication path (RT1) between the server-side first communication unit (71) and the control device (40), without going through the control device (40) and the information terminal (10). When a communication failure occurs on the first communication path (RT1), the server-side third communication unit (73) transmits command information to the management device (20) via the third communication path (RT3).

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

The gateway system (50) of the fifteenth aspect includes a gateway-side first communication unit (51) and a gateway-side second communication unit (52). The gateway-side first communication unit (51) communicates with a control device (40) that controls communication of an internal communication network (NT1) of a collective facility (F1) including an information terminal (10) provided in one or more facilities (F10) included in the collective facility (F1) including one or more facilities (F10). The gateway-side second communication unit (52) communicates with an external communication network (NT2) of the collective facility (F1). When the gateway-side second communication unit (52) receives command information related to management of a target device (30) provided in the facility (F10), the gateway-side first communication unit (51) transmits information based on the command information to an information terminal (10) in the same facility (F10) as the target device (30) via the control device (40). If confirmation information is not received from the destination information terminal (10) within a specified waiting time from the time of transmission, the first communication unit (51) on the gateway side resends information based on the command information.

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

The communication method of the sixteenth aspect is a communication method in which an information terminal (10) provided in a facility (F10) of an aggregate facility (F1) including one or more facilities (F10) communicates with a communication terminal (80) that performs operations related to a target device (30) provided in the facility (F10) via an internal communication network (NT1) and an external communication network (NT2) of the aggregate facility (F1). The communication path between the information terminal (10) and the communication terminal (80) includes a first communication path (RT1) for communicating via a control device (40) that controls communication of the internal communication network (NT1), and a second communication path (RT2) that allows communication without via the control device (40). The communication method includes a step in which the information terminal (10) determines whether or not it is possible to communicate with the communication terminal (80) via the second communication path (RT2). The communication method includes a step in which, when the information terminal (10) cannot communicate with the communication terminal (80) via the second communication path (RT2), the information terminal (10) communicates with the communication terminal (80) via the first communication path (RT1). The communication method includes a step in which, when the information terminal (10) can communicate with the communication terminal (80) via the second communication path (RT2), the information terminal (10) communicates with the communication terminal (80) via the second communication path (RT2). The communication method includes a step in which, when the information terminal (10) communicates with the communication terminal (80) via the first communication path (RT1), if the information received by the information terminal (10) from the communication terminal (80) includes control state information that specifies the control state of the target terminal installed in the facility (F10), the information terminal (10) transmits a control command to a management device (20) that manages the target device (30) to control the target device (30) based on the control state information.

This aspect reduces the amount of work required to be able to use a communication terminal to manage the target devices within a facility.

Not limited to the above aspects, various configurations (including modified examples) of the information terminal (10) according to the above embodiments can be embodied in a communication method of the information terminal (10), a (computer) program, or a non-transitory recording medium on which a program is recorded, etc. The configurations according to the second to seventh aspects are not essential for the information terminal (10) and can be omitted as appropriate. The configurations according to the ninth and tenth aspects are not essential for the management device (20) and can be omitted as appropriate. The configurations according to the twelfth to fourteenth aspects are not essential for the server system (70) and can be omitted as appropriate.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Information terminal 11 First communication unit 12 Second communication unit 13 Third communication unit 20 Management device 21 Management device side first communication unit 22 Management device side second communication unit 30 Target device 31 Device 32 Specific device 40 Control device 50 Gateway system 51 Gateway side first communication unit 52 Gateway side second communication unit 70 Server system 71 Server side first communication unit 72 Server side second communication unit 73 Server side third communication unit 80 Communication terminal CL1 Communication line NT1 Internal communication network NT2 External communication network RT1 First communication path RT2 Second communication path RT3 Third communication path

Claims (14)

An information terminal provided in a facility included in a collective facility including one or more facilities,
a communication terminal that transmits command information including at least one of a control command for controlling a target device including one or more devices installed in the facility in response to a user's operation and a status request command for requesting a status of the target device; and a first communication unit that communicates using a first protocol via a communication line connecting a control device that controls communication of an internal communication network of the collective facility including the information terminal and the information terminal, and via an external communication network of the collective facility;
a second communication unit that communicates with a management device that manages the target device and is provided in the same facility as the information terminal, using a second protocol;
When the information from the communication terminal received by the first communication unit includes the command information, the second communication unit transmits information based on the command information to the management device;
The target equipment further includes a specific equipment different from the one or more equipment installed in the facility,
the information terminal further includes a third communication unit that communicates with the specific device using a third protocol;
When the command information received by the first communication unit is command information for a specific device related to management of the specific device, the third communication unit transmits information based on the command information for the specific device to the specific device.
Information terminal. The command information includes control-related information indicating control content to be output to the one or more target devices in order to operate the one or more target devices in a setting state suited to a desired scene.
2. An information terminal according to claim 1. When the first communication unit receives the control-related information, the second communication unit transmits a control command to the management device to operate the one or more target devices in the setting state according to the desired scene based on the control-related information.
3. An information terminal according to claim 2. The first communication unit transmits a result of controlling the target device based on the control command to the communication terminal.
An information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 3. When the command information includes the status request command for requesting a status of the target device, the second communication unit transmits the status request command to the management device.
An information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A communication system comprising an information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a management device,
The management device includes:
a management device side first communication unit that communicates with the information terminal by the second protocol;
a management device side second communication unit that communicates with the target device using a protocol different from each of the first protocol and the second protocol,
When the command information is included in the information received by the first communication unit of the management device, the second communication unit of the management device transmits information based on the command information to the target device.
Communication systems. The command information includes control-related information indicating control content to be output to the one or more target devices in order to operate the one or more target devices in a setting state suited to a desired scene.
7. The communication system according to claim 6. the management device second communication unit transmits a control command for controlling the target device to be controlled based on the control related information to the target device;
8. The communication system according to claim 7. A communication system comprising an information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a server system,
The server system includes:
A control device that controls communication of an internal communication network of the collective facility including the information terminal, and a server-side first communication unit that communicates via an external communication network of the collective facility and the internal communication network,
A management device that manages target devices installed in the facility is provided in the facility,
The server-side first communication unit transmits the command information.
Communication systems. A plurality of the information terminals are provided in each of the facilities included in the collective facility,
the plurality of information terminals include a first information terminal provided in the same facility as the target device to be managed, and a second information terminal provided in the facility different from the target device to be managed,
the server system further includes a server-side second communication unit that communicates with the first information terminal via a second communication path that is different from a first communication path between the server-side first communication unit and the first information terminal and that passes through the second information terminal;
when a communication failure occurs in the first communication path, the server-side second communication unit transmits the command information to the first information terminal via the second communication path.
10. The communication system of claim 9. In a state in which communication is possible via the first communication path, the server-side first communication unit transmits the command information to the first information terminal via the first communication path.
The communication system according to claim 10. a server-side third communication unit that communicates with the management device that manages the target device to be managed via a third communication path different from the first communication path between the server-side first communication unit and the control device, without passing through the control device and the information terminal;
when a communication failure occurs on the first communication path, the server-side third communication unit transmits the command information to the management device via the third communication path.
A communication system according to any one of claims 9 to 11. A communication system comprising an information terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a gateway system,
The gateway system includes:
A gateway-side first communication unit that communicates with a control device that controls communication of an internal communication network of the collective facility including the information terminals provided in one or more of the facilities;
A gateway-side second communication unit that communicates with an external communication network of the collective facility,
When the gateway-side second communication unit receives the command information, the gateway-side first communication unit transmits information based on the command information to the information terminal in the same facility as the target device via the control device, and if reception confirmation information cannot be received from the destination information terminal within a predetermined waiting time from the time of transmission, the gateway-side first communication unit retransmits the information based on the command information.
Communication systems. A communication method in which an information terminal installed in a collective facility including one or more facilities communicates with a communication terminal that performs operations related to a target device installed in the facility via an internal communication network and an external communication network of the collective facility, the method comprising:
a communication path between the communication terminal and the information terminal, the communication path transmitting command information including at least one of a control command for controlling a target device including one or more devices installed in the facility in response to a user's operation and a status request command for requesting a status of the target device, includes a first communication path for communication via a control device that controls communication of the internal communication network, and a second communication path for communication without via the control device;
determining whether the information terminal is capable of communicating with the communication terminal via the second communication path;
When the information terminal is unable to communicate with the communication terminal via the second communication path, the information terminal communicates with the communication terminal via the first communication path;
When the information terminal is capable of communicating with the communication terminal via the second communication path, the information terminal communicates with the communication terminal via the second communication path;
a step of transmitting, when the information terminal communicates with the communication terminal via the first communication path, a control command for controlling the target device to be controlled based on the control related information from the information terminal to a management device that manages the target device if the information received from the communication terminal by the information terminal includes control related information associated with control content of the target device installed in the facility;
The target equipment further includes a specific equipment different from the one or more equipment installed in the facility,
When the information received by the information terminal from the communication terminal is specific device-oriented command information related to management of the specific device, the information terminal transmits information based on the specific device-oriented command information to the specific device.
Communication methods.

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