JP7649967B2 - Refrigerator Control System - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a refrigerator control system, a refrigerator, a program, and a terminal device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a building supply system that can preserve food in a refrigerator during a power outage. This building supply system includes a power supply vehicle that can be connected to a specified building, and a refrigerator, and when a power outage occurs in the specified building, the power supply vehicle supplies power to the refrigerator.

JP 2018-078689 A

This disclosure provides a refrigerator control system, a refrigerator, a program, and a terminal device that can maintain the cooling capacity of a refrigerator for a long period of time during a power outage without using an external power source.

A refrigerator control system according to the present disclosure includes a refrigerator, a server capable of communicating with the refrigerator, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server, and when an installed program is not running and push notification cannot be performed, the terminal device uses a function of the program to inquire of the server whether or not a warning related to a cause of a power outage has been issued for an area including a location of the refrigerator at the time of starting the program and at predetermined intervals while the program is running, and the server inquires of a weather warning server whether or not the warning has been issued for the area at predetermined intervals, and in response to the inquiry about whether the warning has been issued, the weather warning server notifies the user that the warning has been issued. and transmits to the terminal device query instruction information inquiring about transition of an operation mode of the refrigerator from a first mode to a second mode in which an internal temperature of the refrigerator is lower than that of the first mode, and upon receiving the query instruction information, the terminal device queries a user of the refrigerator as to whether or not to transition to the second mode, and upon receiving an instruction to transition to the second mode, transmits transition instruction information for transitioning to the second mode to the server, and the server transmits the transition instruction information to the refrigerator, and the refrigerator stores a refrigerator ID, and upon receiving the transition instruction information, if the refrigerator ID added to the received transition instruction information matches the stored refrigerator ID, the refrigerator transitions the operation mode from the first mode to the second mode.

The refrigerator control system, refrigerator, program, and terminal device disclosed herein lower the temperature inside the refrigerator when an alarm is issued related to the cause of a power outage, and therefore can lower the temperature inside the refrigerator before a power outage occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of the refrigerator can be maintained for a long period of time during a power outage without using an external power source.

Diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator control system A block diagram showing the functional configuration of a refrigerator, a refrigerator control server, and a terminal device. Flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system Flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface that the operation control unit displays on a touch panel. Flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system

(The knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure)
In the above-described conventional technology, while the cooling capacity of the refrigerator can be maintained during a power outage, it is necessary to use an external power source such as a power supply vehicle.
In view of this, the present disclosure provides a refrigerator control system, a refrigerator, a program, and a terminal device that can maintain the cooling capacity of a refrigerator for a long period of time during a power outage without using an external power source.

Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, in some cases, more detailed explanations than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or duplicate explanations of substantially the same configurations may be omitted.
It should be noted that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[1-1. Configuration]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a refrigerator control system 1000.

The refrigerator control system 1000 is a system in which devices connected to a global network GN control the refrigerator 1 via the global network GN. The global network GN includes the Internet, a telephone network, and other communication networks.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a refrigerator 1. In FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is installed in the home H of a user P. The refrigerator 1 includes a main box 10 with an open front, in which five storage compartments are formed: a refrigerator compartment 11, an ice-making compartment 12, a fresh-freezing compartment 13, a freezer compartment 14, and a vegetable compartment 15. The opening at the front of the refrigerator compartment 11 is provided with a rotating left door 11A and a right door 11B. The ice-making compartment 12, the fresh-freezing compartment 13, the freezer compartment 14, and the vegetable compartment 15 are each provided with drawers 12A, 13A, 14A, and 15A for storing food.

In this embodiment, the refrigerator 1 is connected for communication with a communication device 2 installed in the home H of a user P, and communicates with a refrigerator control server 3 via the communication device 2. The refrigerator control server 3 corresponds to an example of a "server."

The communication device 2 connects to the global network GN and communicates with the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN. The communication device 2 functions as an interface device for connecting the refrigerator 1 to the global network GN. When the terminal device 4 has established a communication connection with the communication device 2, the communication device 2 also functions as an interface device for connecting the terminal device 4 to the global network GN. The communication device 2 has functions such as a modem-related function, a router function, and a NAT (Network Address Translation) function. The communication device 2 transfers data exchanged between the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN. The communication device 2 also transfers data exchanged between the terminal device 4 that has established a communication connection and the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a terminal device 4 having a touch panel 42. The terminal device 4 is configured, for example, by a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and is used by a user P of the refrigerator 1. An application program for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 1 is installed in the terminal device 4. In the following description, the application program for controlling the operation of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as a "refrigerator control app" and is assigned the reference number "413."
The refrigerator control application 413 corresponds to an example of a "program" and an "application program".

In FIG. 1, a user P who is at home is indicated by a dotted line, and a user P who has left home H is indicated by a solid line. When the terminal device 4 is used by a user P who is at home, the terminal device 4 uses the function of the refrigerator control app 413 to communicate with the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN, either via the communication device 2 or without the communication device 2, to control the operation of the refrigerator 1. When the terminal device 4 is used by a user P who has left home H, the terminal device 4 uses the function of the refrigerator control app 413 to communicate with the refrigerator control server 3 connected to the global network GN, either via the communication device 2 or without the communication device 2, to control the operation of the refrigerator 1.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a refrigerator control server 3. The refrigerator control server 3 is a server device that controls the operation of the refrigerator 1, and is connected to the global network GN to communicate with the refrigerator 1, a terminal device 4, and a weather warning server 5.
In each drawing, refrigerator control server 3 is represented by a single block, but this does not necessarily mean that refrigerator control server 3 is configured as a single server device. For example, refrigerator control server 3 may be configured to include multiple server devices with different processing contents. In addition, in each drawing, refrigerator control server 3 and weather warning server 5 are illustrated as separate server devices, but refrigerator control server 3 and weather warning server 5 may be configured as the same server device.

The weather warning server 5 is a server device that provides weather warning issuance information. The weather warning issuance information is information indicating whether or not a weather warning has been issued for the area including the location of the refrigerator 1. Weather warnings are warnings related to factors that may cause power outages, such as heavy rain, heavy snow, high tides, floods, high waves, strong winds, and blizzards.

The area of the weather warning information provided by the weather warning server 5 may be an area including the location of the refrigerator 1, for example, a primary subdivision area, a secondary subdivision area, or another area.
In addition, in each drawing, the weather warning server 5 is represented by one block, but this does not necessarily mean that the weather warning server 5 is composed of a single server device. For example, the weather warning server 5 may be composed of multiple server devices with different processing contents.

Next, the functional configurations of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control server 3, and the terminal device 4 will be described.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the refrigerator 1, the refrigerator control server 3, and the terminal device 4.

First, the functional configuration of the refrigerator 1 will be described.
The refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator control unit 16, a refrigerator communication unit 17, a cooling unit 18, and a sensor unit 19.

The refrigerator control unit 16 includes a refrigerator processor 160, which is a processor that executes programs such as a CPU or MPU, and a refrigerator memory unit 161, and controls each part of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator control unit 16 executes various processes through cooperation between hardware and software, such that the refrigerator processor 160 reads out a control program 1611 stored in the refrigerator memory unit 161 and executes the processes.

The refrigerator memory unit 161 has a memory area for storing programs executed by the refrigerator processor 160 and data processed by the refrigerator processor 160. The refrigerator memory unit 161 stores a control program 1611 executed by the refrigerator processor 160, setting data 1612 related to the settings of the refrigerator 1, a refrigerator ID 1613 which is identification information of the refrigerator 1, and various other data. An example of the refrigerator ID 1613 is the serial number of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator memory unit 161 has a non-volatile memory area for non-volatilely storing programs and data. The refrigerator memory unit 161 may also have a volatile memory area and may constitute a work area for temporarily storing programs executed by the refrigerator processor 160 and data to be processed.

The refrigerator communication unit 17 has communication hardware that complies with a specific communication standard, and communicates with devices connected to the global network GN according to the specific communication standard under the control of the refrigerator control unit 16. In this embodiment, the refrigerator communication unit 17 communicates with the refrigerator control server 3 according to the specific communication standard. The communication standard used by the refrigerator communication unit 17 may be a wireless communication standard (e.g., IEEE802.11a/11b/11g/11n/11ac, Bluetooth (registered trademark)) or a wired communication standard.

The cooling unit 18 includes mechanisms for cooling each storage compartment of the refrigerator 1, such as a compressor 181, a condenser 182, a capillary tube 183, a cooler 184, a cooling fan 185 that sends the cold air generated by the cooler 184 to each storage compartment, and a damper 186 that divides the cold air sent by the cooling fan 185, and cools each storage compartment of the refrigerator 1 according to the control of the refrigerator control unit 16.

The sensor unit 19 includes various sensors such as a temperature sensor 191 that detects the temperature inside the refrigerator 1 and an opening/closing sensor that detects the opening and closing of the doors and drawers provided in the refrigerator 1, and outputs the detection values of each sensor to the refrigerator control unit 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the sensor unit 19 includes, as temperature sensors 191, a refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 191A, an ice-making compartment temperature sensor 191B, a fresh freezing compartment temperature sensor 191c, a freezer compartment temperature sensor 191D, and a vegetable compartment temperature sensor 191E.

The refrigerator compartment temperature sensor 191 a is provided at a predetermined position in the refrigerator compartment 11 and detects the temperature inside the refrigerator compartment 11 .
Ice making chamber temperature sensor 191B is provided at a predetermined position in ice making chamber 12 and detects the temperature inside ice making chamber 12.
The fresh freezing compartment temperature sensor 191C is provided at a predetermined position in the fresh freezing compartment 13 and detects the temperature inside the fresh freezing compartment 13.
The freezer compartment temperature sensor 191D is provided at a predetermined position in the freezer compartment 14 and detects the temperature inside the freezer compartment 14.
The vegetable compartment temperature sensor 191E is provided at a predetermined position in the vegetable compartment 15 and detects the temperature inside the vegetable compartment 15.

The refrigerator control unit 16 switches the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 between a normal operation mode and a power outage pre-cooling operation mode in which the amount of cooling inside the refrigerator 1 is increased more than in the normal operation mode. The normal operation mode is an operation mode in which normal operation is performed with less cooling inside the refrigerator 1 than in the power outage pre-cooling operation. On the other hand, the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is an operation mode in which power outage pre-cooling operation is performed with more cooling inside the refrigerator 1 than in the normal operation. The normal operation mode corresponds to an example of the "first mode", and the power outage pre-cooling operation mode corresponds to an example of the "second mode".

By performing power outage pre-cooling operation before a power outage occurs, refrigerator 1 can lower the temperature inside refrigerator 1 to a level lower than during normal operation before the power outage occurs. As a result, refrigerator 1 can maintain the temperature inside refrigerator 1 for a long period of time during a power outage, and can prevent the freshness of food stored in refrigerator 1 from decreasing during a power outage.

In the power failure pre-cooling operation, the refrigerator control unit 16, for example, increases the rotation speed of the compressor 181 from the rotation speed during normal operation to increase the amount of cooling inside the refrigerator 1. Also, for example, in the power failure pre-cooling operation, the refrigerator control unit 16 increases the rotation speed of the cooling fan 185 from the rotation speed during normal operation to increase the amount of cold air circulating in the refrigerator 1 and increase the amount of cooling inside the refrigerator 1. Also, for example, in the power failure pre-cooling operation, the refrigerator control unit 16 increases the rotation speed of the compressor 181 from the rotation speed during normal operation and increases the rotation speed of the cooling fan 185 from the rotation speed during normal operation to increase the amount of cooling inside the refrigerator 1. As a result, in the power failure pre-cooling operation, the temperature inside the refrigerator 1 is lowered by, for example, 3°C compared to normal operation. In the power failure pre-cooling operation, the temperature inside the refrigerator 1 may be lowered for all storage compartments, or the temperature inside any storage compartment, such as only the refrigerator compartment 11, may be lowered.

When the refrigerator control unit 16 receives, via the refrigerator communication unit 17, transition instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 to transition the operation mode to power failure pre-cooling operation mode, it transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode and starts power failure pre-cooling operation. When the refrigerator control unit 16 receives, via the refrigerator communication unit 17, termination instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 to terminate the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, it terminates the power failure pre-cooling operation and transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the power failure pre-cooling operation mode to the normal operation mode.

When a temperature detection trigger for detecting the inside temperature of refrigerator 1 occurs, refrigerator control unit 16 determines whether the inside temperature of each storage chamber of refrigerator 1 is equal to or lower than a predetermined temperature based on the detection value output by each temperature sensor 191. This predetermined temperature is determined in advance for each storage chamber through prior testing and simulation based on the viewpoint of suppressing deterioration of the freshness of the stored food. This predetermined temperature is set for each storage chamber according to the type of food stored in the storage chamber. When refrigerator control unit 16 determines that the inside temperature of any storage chamber exceeds the predetermined temperature, refrigerator control unit 16 transmits to refrigerator control server 3 inside temperature notification information indicating that the inside temperature is a temperature that may affect the freshness of the food. On the other hand, when refrigerator control unit 16 determines that the inside temperatures of all storage chambers are equal to or lower than the predetermined temperature, refrigerator control unit 16 does not transmit to refrigerator control server 3 inside temperature notification information.
The temperature detection trigger is at least one of the following: the power is turned on to the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerator 1 starts up; and the timing for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerator 1 while the refrigerator 1 is running has arrived.

Next, the functional configuration of the refrigerator control server 3 will be described.
The refrigerator control server 3 includes a server control unit 30 and a server communication unit 31.

The server control unit 30 includes a server processor 300, which is a processor that executes programs such as a CPU or MPU, and a server memory unit 310, and controls each part of the refrigerator control server 3. The server control unit 30 executes various processes through cooperation between hardware and software, such that the server processor 300 reads the control program 311 stored in the server memory unit 310 and executes the processes.

The server memory unit 310 has a memory area for storing programs executed by the server processor 300 and data processed by the server processor 300. The server memory unit 310 stores a control program 311 executed by the server processor 300, setting data 312 related to the settings of the refrigerator control server 3, a refrigerator control database 313, and various other data. The server memory unit 310 has a non-volatile memory area for non-volatilely storing programs and data. The server memory unit 310 may also have a volatile memory area and constitute a work area for temporarily storing programs executed by the server processor 300 and data to be processed.

The refrigerator control database 313 is a database that stores various information related to the operation control of the refrigerator 1. Each record R stored in the refrigerator control database 313 includes a user ID 3131, a refrigerator ID 1613, refrigerator communication information 3132, terminal device communication information 3133, and installation location information 3134. Each record R stored in the refrigerator control database 313 may further include one or more other types of information.

The user ID 3131 is identification information that identifies the user P who uses the refrigerator control app 413, and is appropriately assigned to the user P who uses the refrigerator control app 413.

As described above, refrigerator ID 1613 is identification information for refrigerator 1.

Refrigerator communication information 3132 is information for communicating with refrigerator 1 with refrigerator ID 1613 associated with the same record R. Refrigerator communication information 3132 includes, for example, address information and security information.

The terminal device communication information 3133 is information for communicating with a terminal device 4 on which a refrigerator control app 413 is installed and which is used by a user P with a user ID 3131 associated with the same record R. The terminal device communication information 3133 includes, for example, address information and security information.

The installation location information 3134 is information indicating the installation location of the refrigerator 1. In this embodiment, the installation location of the refrigerator 1 is the home H of the user P, so the installation location information 3134 indicates the address and postal code of the home H, etc.

The server communication unit 31 has communication hardware that complies with a specific communication standard, and communicates with devices connected to the global network GN according to the specific communication standard under the control of the server control unit 30. In this embodiment, the server communication unit 31 communicates with the refrigerator 1, the terminal device 4, and the weather warning server 5.

Next, the functional configuration of the terminal device 4 will be described.
The terminal device 4 includes a terminal control unit 40, a terminal communication unit 41, and a touch panel 42. The terminal control unit 40 corresponds to an example of a "control unit".

The terminal control unit 40 includes a terminal processor 400, which is a processor that executes programs such as a CPU or MPU, and a terminal storage unit 410, and controls each unit of the terminal device 4. The terminal control unit 40 executes various processes through cooperation between hardware and software, such that the terminal processor 400 reads a control program 411 stored in the terminal storage unit 410 and executes the process. A refrigerator control app 413 is pre-installed in the terminal device 4. The refrigerator control app 413 is read from the terminal storage unit 410 by the terminal processor 400 and executed, causing the terminal control unit 40 to function as a setting unit 401, a communication control unit 402, and an operation control unit 403. Details of these functional units will be described later.

The terminal storage unit 410 has a storage area for storing programs executed by the terminal processor 400 and data processed by the terminal processor 400. The terminal storage unit 410 stores a control program 411 executed by the terminal processor 400, setting data 412 related to the settings of the terminal device 4, a refrigerator control app 413, a user ID 3131, and various other data. The terminal storage unit 410 has a non-volatile storage area for non-volatilely storing programs and data. The terminal storage unit 410 may also have a volatile storage area and constitute a work area for temporarily storing programs executed by the terminal processor 400 and data to be processed.

The terminal communication unit 41 has communication hardware that complies with a specific communication standard, and communicates with devices connected to the global network GN according to the specific communication standard under the control of the terminal control unit 40. The terminal communication unit 41 communicates with the refrigerator control server 3 according to the specific communication standard using the function of the refrigerator control app 413. The communication standard used by the terminal communication unit 41 is a wireless communication standard.

The touch panel 42 includes a display panel such as a liquid crystal display panel, and a touch sensor that is overlaid on or integrated with the display panel. The display panel displays various images under the control of the terminal control unit 40. The touch sensor detects touch operations and outputs the detected operations to the terminal control unit 40. The terminal control unit 40 executes processing corresponding to the touch operations based on the input from the touch sensor.

As described above, the terminal control unit 40 functions as a setting unit 401, a communication control unit 402, and an operation control unit 403.

The setting unit 401 performs various settings related to the functions of the refrigerator control app 413. For example, the setting unit 401 performs various settings related to the functions of the refrigerator control app 413 by setting a setting value to a corresponding setting item in the app setting data stored in a predetermined storage area accessible by the refrigerator control app 413. Note that the app setting data is data related to the settings of the functions of the refrigerator control app 413, and includes various setting items.

The setting unit 401 sets the installation location of the refrigerator 1. For example, the setting unit 401 displays a user interface on the touch panel 42 for allowing the user P to input the address and postal code of the home H, and sets the input address and postal code as the installation location of the refrigerator 1. The installation location information 3134 indicating the installation location of the refrigerator 1 set by the setting unit 401 is output to the communication control unit 402.

The communication control unit 402 controls the terminal communication unit 41 to send and receive various information to and from the refrigerator control server 3. When the setting unit 401 outputs the installation location information 3134, the communication control unit 402 adds the user ID 3131 stored in the terminal storage unit 410 and transmits the output installation location information 3134 to the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41. When the refrigerator control server 3 receives the installation location information 3134 from the terminal device 4, it refers to the refrigerator control database 313 and updates the installation location information 3134 held by record R of the user ID 3131 added to the received installation location information 3134 to the received installation location information 3134.

When the communication control unit 402 acquires the end instruction information from the operation control unit 403, it transmits the end instruction information to the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41. When transmitting the end instruction information to the refrigerator control server 3, the communication control unit 402 adds the user ID 3131 stored in the terminal storage unit 410 to the end instruction information.

When the operation control unit 403 receives an instruction to end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode from the user P, it generates end instruction information and outputs it to the communication control unit 402. For example, the operation control unit 403 displays a user interface on the touch panel 42 to inquire whether to end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, and when an instruction to end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is received from the user interface, it generates and outputs the end instruction information.

[1-2. Operation]
Next, the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 in the first embodiment will be described.
Fig. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000. In Fig. 3, a flowchart FA shows the operation of the refrigerator control server 3, and a flowchart FB shows the operation of the refrigerator 1.

At the start of the flowchart FB shown in FIG. 3, the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is the normal operation mode. Also, in the flowchart FA shown in FIG. 3, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 processes one record R out of the records R stored in the refrigerator control database 313.

The server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines whether a weather warning has been issued for the area including the location where the refrigerator 1 is installed (step SA1).

For example, in step SA1, the server control unit 30 inquires whether a weather warning has been issued for the area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1 by sending information to the weather warning server 5 via the server communication unit 31. This inquiry is executed at predetermined time intervals (for example, every 10 minutes). The information sent to the weather warning server 5 during the inquiry includes the installation location information 3134 of the record R to be processed. The weather warning server 5 determines whether a weather warning has been issued for the area including the installation location indicated by the installation location information 3134 included in the received information, for example, based on a predetermined database in which areas are associated with the presence or absence of a weather warning. If the weather warning server 5 determines that a weather warning has been issued, it sends weather warning issuance information indicating that a weather warning has been issued to the refrigerator control server 3 as a response to the inquiry. If the weather warning server 5 determines that a weather warning has not been issued, it sends weather warning issuance information indicating that a weather warning has not been issued to the refrigerator control server 3 as a response to the inquiry. If the weather warning issuance information received in response to the inquiry indicates that a weather warning has been issued, the server control unit 30 makes a positive determination in step SA1. On the other hand, if the weather warning issuance information received in response to the inquiry indicates that a weather warning has not been issued, the server control unit 30 makes a negative determination in step SA1.

If the server control unit 30 determines that no weather warning has been issued for the area including the location of the refrigerator 1 (step SA1: NO), it ends this process.

On the other hand, if the server control unit 30 determines that a weather warning has been issued for the area including the location of the refrigerator 1 (step SA1: YES), it sends transition instruction information to the refrigerator 1 via the server communication unit 31 based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 contained in the record R being processed (step SA2).

Referring to the flowchart FB, the refrigerator control unit 16 of the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not the refrigerator communication unit 17 has received transition instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SB1).

If the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that transition instruction information has not been received (step SB1: NO), it executes the process of step SB1 again.

When the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that it has received the transition instruction information (step SB1: YES), it transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and starts the power outage pre-cooling operation (step SB2).

Returning to the explanation of flowchart FA, when the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 sends the transition instruction information to the refrigerator 1, it determines whether the issued weather warning has been lifted (step SA3).

For example, in step SA3, the server control unit 30, similar to step SA1, inquires of the weather warning server 5 as to whether or not a weather warning has been issued for the area including the location of the refrigerator 1. If the weather warning issuance information received from the weather warning server 5 in response to the inquiry indicates that a weather warning has been issued, the server control unit 30 makes a negative judgment in step SA3, and if it indicates that a weather warning has not been issued, the server control unit 30 makes a positive judgment in step SA3.

If the server control unit 30 determines that the issued weather warning has not been lifted (step SA3: NO), it executes the process of step SA3 again.

On the other hand, if the server control unit 30 determines that the issued weather warning has been lifted (step SA3: YES), it transmits end instruction information via the server communication unit 31 based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 contained in the processing record R (step SA4).

Returning to the explanation of flowchart FB, when the refrigerator control unit 16 starts power outage pre-cooling operation, the refrigerator communication unit 17 determines whether or not it has received end instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SB3).

If the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that it has not received termination instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SB3: NO), it executes the processing of step SB3 again.

On the other hand, if the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that it has received end instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SB3: YES), it transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from power failure pre-cooling operation mode to normal operation mode and ends power failure pre-cooling operation (step SB4).

As described above, when a weather warning is issued, the refrigerator control system 1000 causes the refrigerator 1 to transition from the normal operation mode to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode. This allows the internal temperature of the refrigerator 1 to be lowered when a weather warning is issued, so that the internal temperature of the refrigerator 1 can be lowered before a power outage occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long period of time during a power outage without using an external power source.

In the above-described operation of the refrigerator control system 1000, the end trigger for the refrigerator 1 to end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is reception of end instruction information for the refrigerator 1 due to cancellation of a weather warning. However, the end trigger for ending the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is not limited thereto.
A number of other termination triggers will now be described.

<First Other End Trigger>
In a configuration in which the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is ended by the first other end trigger, refrigerator 1 includes a refrigerator operation unit as a functional unit. The refrigerator operation unit includes an operation means such as an operation switch provided at a predetermined position, for example, on the front surface of right door 11B or inside refrigerator compartment 11, detects an operation by user P on the operation means, and outputs the detection result to refrigerator control unit 16. The refrigerator operation unit may include a touch panel together with or instead of the operation switch. Refrigerator control unit 16 executes a process corresponding to the operation on the operation means based on an input from the refrigerator operation unit.
When the operation of user P received by the refrigerator operation unit is an operation indicating an instruction to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode or an operation indicating a change in the temperature inside the refrigerator, the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that an end trigger has occurred, transitions from the power outage pre-cooling operation mode to the normal operation mode, and ends the power outage pre-cooling operation.

<Second Other End Trigger>
In a configuration in which the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is terminated by a second other termination trigger, the refrigerator 1 receives termination instruction information from the terminal device 4 via the refrigerator control server 3.
When the operation control unit 403 of the terminal device 4 receives an instruction to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode or an instruction to change the inside temperature from user P, it outputs end instruction information to the communication control unit 402. The communication control unit 402 adds user ID 3131 stored in the terminal storage unit 410 and transmits the end instruction information output by the operation control unit 403 to the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41.
When the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 receives the termination instruction information from the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 31, it refers to the refrigerator control database 313 to identify record R including the user ID 3131 added to the termination instruction information. Next, the server control unit 30 sends the termination instruction information received from the terminal device 4 to the refrigerator 1 via the server communication unit 31 based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 included in the identified record R.
When the refrigerator control unit 16 of the refrigerator 1 receives the termination instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 via the refrigerator communication unit 17, the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that a termination trigger has occurred, transitions the refrigerator from the power failure pre-cooling operation mode to the normal operation mode, and terminates the power failure pre-cooling operation.

In the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000, it may be determined whether any one of the termination triggers shown in FIG. 3, the first other termination trigger, and the second other termination trigger has occurred, or it may be determined whether any one of a plurality of termination triggers has occurred. However, it is preferable that the termination trigger for the power outage pre-cooling operation mode includes at least the termination trigger shown in FIG. 3, i.e., receiving termination instruction information when an issued weather warning is lifted. This is because the refrigerator 1 can reliably end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode when the weather warning is lifted, thereby suppressing unnecessary cooling inside the refrigerator and an increase in power consumption.

The operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 shown in FIG. 3 is related to the operation mode of the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator control system 1000 executes the operation shown in FIG. 4 in parallel with the operation shown in FIG. 3.

Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000. In Figure 4, flowchart FC shows the operation of the refrigerator 1, flowchart FD shows the operation of the refrigerator control server 3, and flowchart FE shows the operation of the terminal device 4.

The refrigerator control unit 16 of the refrigerator 1 determines whether or not a temperature detection trigger has occurred (step SC1). As described above, the temperature detection trigger is at least one of the following: the power is turned on to the refrigerator 1 and the refrigerator 1 starts up; and the timing for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerator 1 while the refrigerator 1 is running has arrived.

When the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that a temperature detection trigger has occurred (step SC1: YES), it determines whether the internal temperatures of all storage compartments are below a predetermined temperature (step SC2).

If the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that the internal temperatures of all storage compartments are below the predetermined temperature (step SC2: YES), it performs the process of step SC1 again.

On the other hand, if the refrigerator control unit 16 determines that the internal temperature for all storage compartments is not below the predetermined temperature, i.e., that the internal temperature for any storage compartment exceeds the predetermined temperature (step SC2: NO), the refrigerator control unit 16 transmits internal temperature notification information to the refrigerator control server 3 via the refrigerator communication unit 17 (step SC3). In step SC3, the refrigerator control unit 16 transmits the internal temperature notification information to which the refrigerator ID 1613 stored in the refrigerator memory unit 161 is added. The internal temperature notification information may include information indicating the storage compartments whose internal temperatures exceed the predetermined temperature.

Referring to the flowchart FD, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines whether or not the server communication unit 31 has received internal temperature notification information from the refrigerator 1 (step SD1).

If the server control unit 30 determines that it has not received internal temperature notification information from the refrigerator 1 (step SD1: NO), it executes the process of step SD1 again.

On the other hand, if the server control unit 30 determines that it has received internal temperature notification information from the refrigerator 1 (step SD1: YES), it refers to the refrigerator control database 313 to identify record R that includes the refrigerator ID 1613 that was added to the internal temperature notification information (step SD2).

Based on the terminal device communication information 3133 contained in the identified record R, the server control unit 30 transmits the internal temperature notification information received from the refrigerator 1 to the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 31 (step SD3).

Referring to the flowchart FE, the communication control unit 402 of the terminal device 4 determines whether or not the in-fridge temperature notification information has been received by the terminal communication unit 41 (step SE1).

If the communications control unit 402 determines that the inside temperature notification information has not been received (step SE1: NO), it executes the process of step SE1 again.

On the other hand, if the communication control unit 402 determines that the inside temperature notification information has been received (step SE1: YES), the operation control unit 403 notifies the user through the touch panel 42 that the inside temperature is a temperature that may affect the freshness of the food (step SE2). Note that the notification mode in step SE2 is not limited to a display on the touch panel 42, and may be, for example, an audio output from a speaker provided in the terminal device 4.

The operation of FIG. 4 has the following effects. That is, if the temperature inside the refrigerator when power is restored is a temperature that may affect the freshness of food, user P can quickly recognize this fact after the power is restored. Therefore, user P can quickly take action to prevent the deterioration of food freshness after the power is restored. As described above, by performing the operation shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator control system 1000 can further prevent the deterioration of food freshness due to a power outage.

[1-3. Effects, etc.]
As described above, refrigerator control system 1000 includes refrigerator 1 and refrigerator control server 3 capable of communicating with refrigerator 1. When a weather warning is issued for an area including the installation location of refrigerator 1, refrigerator control server 3 transmits transition instruction information to refrigerator 1 to transition the operation mode of refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode in which the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 is lower than in the normal operation mode. Upon receiving the transition instruction information, refrigerator 1 transitions the operation mode from the normal operation mode to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

Fridge 1, which can communicate with refrigerator control server 3, also includes a refrigerator control unit 16 that receives transition instruction information from refrigerator control server 3 to transition the operation mode of refrigerator 1 from normal operation mode to power outage pre-cooling operation mode when a weather warning is issued for an area including the location where refrigerator 1 is installed, and transitions the operation mode of refrigerator 1 from normal operation mode to power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

As a result, when a weather warning is issued, the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 is lowered, so that the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 can be lowered before a power outage occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long period of time during a power outage without using an external power source.

When the weather warning is lifted, the refrigerator control server 3 sends end instruction information to the refrigerator 1 to end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. When the refrigerator 1 receives the end instruction information, it ends the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

In addition, when the weather warning is lifted, the refrigerator control unit 16 receives termination instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 to terminate the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, and terminates the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

When a weather warning is lifted, there is little need to continue the power outage pre-cooling operation mode because the possibility of a power outage due to weather is low. Therefore, the power outage pre-cooling operation mode can be ended at an appropriate time, and unnecessary cooling inside the refrigerator and an increase in power consumption can be suppressed. In addition, since a weather warning that has been issued is generally lifted, the refrigerator 1 can reliably end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and unnecessary cooling inside the refrigerator and an increase in power consumption can be more reliably suppressed.

When refrigerator 1 receives an operation from user P of refrigerator 1 to change the temperature inside refrigerator 1, refrigerator 1 ends the power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

When the refrigerator control unit 16 receives an operation from the user P of the refrigerator 1 to change the temperature inside the refrigerator 1, it ends the power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

Accepting a change to the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 is likely an indication that user P has attempted to end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode and change the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 from the power failure pre-cooling operation mode temperature to another temperature. Therefore, with this configuration, refrigerator 1 can end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode at the timing desired by user P.

The refrigerator control system 1000 includes a terminal device 4 capable of communicating with the refrigerator control server 3. When the terminal device 4 receives an instruction to end the power failure pre-cooling operation mode from a user P of the refrigerator 1, it transmits termination instruction information to the refrigerator control server 3 to terminate the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. When the refrigerator control server 3 receives the termination instruction information, it transmits the termination instruction information to the refrigerator 1. When the refrigerator 1 receives the termination instruction information, it terminates the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

Accepting a change to the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 is likely an indication that user P has attempted to end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode and change the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 from the power outage pre-cooling operation mode temperature to another temperature. Thus, with this configuration, refrigerator 1 can end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode at a time desired by user P. In addition, since user P can end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode by operating terminal device 4, user P can end the power outage pre-cooling operation mode at a time desired by user P even if user P is not present at the location where refrigerator 1 is installed, such as home H.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the refrigerator control system 1000 is configured to automatically switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode when a weather warning is issued. In the second embodiment, the refrigerator control system 1000 is configured to, when a weather warning is issued, inquire of the user P as to whether or not to switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, and, after the inquiry, switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode when the user P gives an instruction to switch to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

[2-1. Configuration]
The operation control unit 403 in the second embodiment displays various user interfaces on the touch panel 42, makes an inquiry as to whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode, and receives an instruction to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

Figure 5 shows an example of a user interface that the operation control unit 403 displays on the touch panel 42.

When the operation control unit 403 receives inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3, if the display screen of the touch panel 42 is the non-app screen HAG, the operation control unit 403 causes the first user interface UI1 to be displayed on the touch panel 42 in the form of a push notification. The inquiry instruction information will be described later. The non-app screen HAG refers to a screen other than the app screen AG related to the refrigerator control app 413, such as a home screen.

The first user interface UI1 includes inquiry information J1 that inquires of the user P as to whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to power outage pre-cooling operation mode. When the first user interface UI1 is touched by the user P, the operation control unit 403 transitions the display screen of the touch panel 42 from the non-app screen HAG to the app screen AG that displays the second user interface UI2. Note that when the operation control unit 403 receives inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3, if the display screen of the touch panel 42 is the app screen AG, the operation control unit 403 causes the touch panel 42 to display the second user interface UI2 superimposed on the app screen AG without displaying the first user interface UI1.

The second user interface UI2 includes inquiry information J1 that inquires of the user P as to whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. The second user interface UI2 also includes a YES button B1 and a NO button B2. The YES button B1 is a software button for accepting an instruction from the user P to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. The NO button B2 is a software button for accepting an instruction from the user P not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode.

When the user P touches the NO button B2, the operation control unit 403 stops displaying the second user interface UI2 without transitioning the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode. On the other hand, when the user P touches the YES button B1, the operation control unit 403 transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and displays the third user interface UI3 on the touch panel 42 instead of the second user interface UI2.

The third user interface UI3 includes operation start information J2 that transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to power failure pre-cooling operation mode and indicates that the refrigerator 1 has started power failure pre-cooling operation.

[2-2. Operation]
Next, the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000 according to the second embodiment will be described.
Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of refrigerator control system 1000 according to embodiment 2. In Fig. 6, flowchart FF shows the operation of terminal device 4, flowchart FG shows the operation of refrigerator control server 3, and flowchart FH shows the operation of refrigerator 1.

In Figure 6, steps that are the same as those in the flowchart shown in Figure 3 are given the same step numbers, and detailed descriptions of those steps are omitted.

At the start of each flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 is normal operation mode, as in FIG. 3. Also, in the flowchart FG shown in FIG. 6, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 is processing one record R.

Referring to the flowchart FG, if the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines that a weather warning has been issued (step SA1: YES), the server communication unit 31 transmits inquiry instruction information to the terminal device 4 to inquire about transitioning to power outage pre-cooling operation mode based on the terminal device communication information 3133 contained in the record R being processed (step SG1).

Referring to flowchart FF, the communication control unit 402 of the terminal device 4 determines whether or not inquiry instruction information has been received from the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41 (step SF1).

If the communication control unit 402 determines that no inquiry instruction information has been received from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SF1: NO), it performs the process of step SF1 again.

If the communication control unit 402 determines that inquiry instruction information has been received from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SF1: YES), the operation control unit 403 displays the first user interface UI1 or the second user interface UI2 on the touch panel 42 and inquires of the user P whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to power outage pre-cooling operation mode (step SF2).

Next, the communication control unit 402 determines whether the terminal communication unit 41 has received warning cancellation information from the refrigerator control server 3 indicating that the weather warning has been cancelled (step SF3).

A case where the communication control unit 402 makes a negative decision in step SF3 will be described later.
If the communications control unit 402 determines that the alarm cancellation information has not been received from the refrigerator control server 3 (step SF3: NO), the operation control unit 403 determines whether or not an instruction to switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode has been received from the user P (step SF4). If the YES button B1 of the second user interface UI2 is touched, the operation control unit 403 makes a positive determination in step SF4.

Next, if the operation control unit 403 determines that an instruction to switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode has not been received from the user P (step SF4: NO), it determines whether an instruction not to switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode has been received from the user P (step SF6). If the NO button B2 of the second user interface UI2 is touched, the operation control unit 403 makes a positive determination in step SF6.

If the operation control unit 403 determines that an instruction not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode has not been received from the user P (step SF6: NO), the operation control unit 403 returns the process to step SF3 and performs the determination of step SF3 again.

On the other hand, if the operation control unit 403 determines that an instruction not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode has been received from the user P (step SF6: YES), it stops displaying the second user interface UI2 and ends the inquiry as to whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode (step SF7).

Returning to the explanation of step SF4, if the operation control unit 403 receives an instruction to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode (step SF4: YES), the operation control unit 403 transmits transition instruction information to the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41 (step SF5).

Referring to flowchart FG, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines whether or not migration instruction information has been received from the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 31 (step SG2).

If the server control unit 30 determines that the server communication unit 31 has not received transition instruction information from the terminal device 4 (step SG2: NO), it determines whether the issued weather warning has been lifted (step SG3).

If the server control unit 30 determines that the issued weather warning has been lifted (step SG3: YES), it transmits warning lifting information to the terminal device 4 via the server communication unit 31 based on the terminal device communication information 3133 contained in the record R being processed (step SG4).

Referring to flow chart FF, when the communication control unit 402 of the terminal device 4 determines that it has received the alarm cancellation information (step SF3: YES), the operation control unit 403 stops displaying the first user interface UI1 and the second user interface UI2, and ends the inquiry as to whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode (step SF7).

Returning to the explanation of step SG3 with reference to flowchart FG, if the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 determines that the issued weather warning has not been lifted (step SG3: NO), it performs the processing of step SG2 again.

Returning to the explanation of step SG2, if the server control unit 30 determines that the server communication unit 31 has received migration instruction information from the terminal device 4 (step SG2: YES), the server control unit 30 transmits the migration instruction information received from the terminal device 4 to the refrigerator 1 via the server communication unit 31 based on the refrigerator communication information 3132 contained in the record R being processed (step SA2).

In the second embodiment, the termination trigger for the refrigerator 1 to terminate the power failure pre-cooling operation mode is not limited to receiving termination instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 due to the lifting of a weather warning. As in the first embodiment, the refrigerator control unit 16 may determine whether any one of the termination triggers shown in FIG. 6, the first other termination trigger described above, and the second other termination trigger described above has occurred, or may determine whether any one of a plurality of termination triggers has occurred. However, for the same reason as described in the first embodiment, it is preferable that the termination trigger for the power failure pre-cooling operation mode includes at least the termination trigger shown in FIG. 6, i.e., receiving termination instruction information due to the lifting of a weather warning.

In addition, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the refrigerator control system 1000 executes the operation shown in FIG. 4 in parallel with the operation shown in FIG. 6. As a result, in the second embodiment, the operation shown in FIG. 4 achieves the same effect as in the first embodiment.

[2-3. Modifications]
Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described.
In this modification, when refrigerator control app 413 is started and/or at predetermined time intervals while refrigerator control app 413 is running, communications control unit 402 inquires of refrigerator control server 3 whether or not a weather warning has been issued for the area including the location of refrigerator 1. Hereinafter, the timing of this inquiry is referred to as "warning confirmation timing." Note that, in this modification, starting refrigerator control app 413 includes starting in the background.

In this modified example, the terminal storage unit 410 stores the installation location information 3134. This installation location information 3134 indicates the installation location of the refrigerator 1 controlled by the refrigerator control app 413 installed on the terminal device 4.

When the time to check whether a weather warning has been issued arrives, the communication control unit 402 inquires of the refrigerator control server 3 whether a weather warning has been issued for the area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1 by sending information to the refrigerator control server 3 via the terminal communication unit 41. The information sent to the refrigerator control server 3 upon inquiry includes the installation location information 3134 stored in the terminal memory unit 410.

As described in step SA1 of the first embodiment, the server control unit 30 of the refrigerator control server 3 inquires whether a weather warning has been issued for the area including the location of the refrigerator 1 by sending information to the weather warning server 5 via the server communication unit 31. Then, when the server control unit 30 receives weather warning issuance information indicating that a weather warning has been issued as a response to the inquiry to the weather warning server 5, it sends inquiry instruction information to the terminal device 4. On the other hand, when the server control unit 30 receives weather warning information indicating that a weather warning has not been issued, it sends information indicating that to the terminal device 4.

When the communication control unit 402 of the terminal device 4 receives the inquiry instruction information, it executes the process from step SF2 onwards shown in the flowchart FF of FIG. 6. In response, the refrigerator control server 3 executes the process from step SG2 onwards shown in the flowchart FG of FIG. 6, and the refrigerator 1 executes the process from flowchart FH of FIG. 6.

This modified example provides the following effects.
If the refrigerator control app 413 is not running and the push notification setting is not configured, or if push notification cannot be performed due to the specifications of the terminal device 4, the refrigerator control app 413, etc., it may not be possible to make an inquiry as to whether or not to switch to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode even if a weather warning is issued and inquiry instruction information is received from the refrigerator control server 3. In other words, if push notification cannot be performed, it may not be possible to lower the internal temperature of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode before the occurrence of a power outage. This leads to a shortened period during which the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 can be maintained during a power outage.
Therefore, in this modification, when refrigerator control app 413 is started and/or at predetermined time intervals while refrigerator control app 413 is running, communication control unit 402 inquires of refrigerator control server 3 as to whether or not a weather warning has been issued for the area including the location of refrigerator 1. When terminal device 4 receives inquiry instruction information from refrigerator control server 3, it inquires as to whether or not to switch to power outage pre-cooling operation mode.
This increases the possibility that the user P can be inquired about whether or not to switch to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and increases the possibility that the internal temperature of the refrigerator 1 can be lowered from the normal operation mode before a power outage occurs even when the terminal device 4 cannot issue a push notification. Therefore, when the terminal device 4 cannot issue a push notification, it increases the possibility that the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long period of time during a power outage.

[2-4. Effects, etc.]
As described above, the refrigerator control app 413 causes the terminal control unit 40 of the terminal device 4, which is capable of communicating with the refrigerator control server 3 and which is capable of communicating with the refrigerator 1, to function as a communication control unit 402 that receives, from the refrigerator control server 3, inquiry instruction information that inquires of the user of the refrigerator 1 as to whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode when a weather warning is issued for an area including the installation location of the refrigerator 1, and an operation control unit 403 that, when the communication control unit 402 receives the inquiry instruction information, inquires of the user P as to whether or not to transition the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and, after the inquiry, transitions the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode when an instruction to transition to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is received from the user P.

The terminal device 4, which can communicate with the refrigerator control server 3 and can communicate with the refrigerator 1, receives inquiry instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 to inquire of the user P of the refrigerator 1 whether or not to switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 from the normal operation mode to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode when a weather warning is issued for an area including the location of the refrigerator 1, and when the inquiry instruction information is received, inquires of the user P whether or not to switch the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and after the inquiry, when an instruction to switch to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode is received from the user P, the terminal device 4 is provided with a terminal control unit 40 that switches the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

As a result, when a weather warning is issued, the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 is lowered, so that the internal temperature of refrigerator 1 can be lowered before a power outage occurs. Therefore, the cooling capacity of refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long period of time during a power outage without using an external power source. In addition, when an instruction to switch to power outage pre-cooling operation is received, the operation mode of refrigerator 1 is switched to power outage pre-cooling operation mode, so that the operation of refrigerator 1 in the power outage pre-cooling operation mode started by refrigerator 1 can be prevented from operating refrigerator 1 unintended by user P.

The communication control unit 402 queries the refrigerator control server 3 as to whether or not a weather warning has been issued at least at the timing of starting the refrigerator control app 413 and at predetermined intervals while the refrigerator control app 413 is running, and receives query instruction information from the refrigerator control server 3 if a weather warning has been issued.

This increases the likelihood that the user P can be asked whether or not to switch to power outage pre-cooling operation mode, and increases the likelihood that the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 can be maintained for a long period of time during a power outage if the terminal device 4 cannot send a push notification.

When the weather warning for the area including the installation location of refrigerator 1 is lifted, communication control unit 402 receives warning lift information indicating that the weather warning has been lifted from refrigerator control server 3. When communication control unit 402 receives the warning lift information, operation control unit 403 ends the inquiry as to whether or not to transition to power outage pre-cooling operation mode.

When the weather warning is lifted, the possibility of a power outage due to weather is low, so there is little need to switch the operation mode of refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode. Therefore, the inquiry as to whether to switch to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode can be ended at an appropriate time. In addition, because the inquiry can be ended at an appropriate time, unnecessary cooling of the interior of the refrigerator and an increase in power consumption due to cooling can be avoided.

The refrigerator control app 413 is an application program that can be installed on the terminal device 4.

As a result, a terminal device 4 that does not have the function of switching the operation mode of the refrigerator 1 to the power outage pre-cooling operation mode can be made into a terminal device 4 that has this function by installing the refrigerator control app 413. Therefore, a general-purpose terminal device 4 can be made into a terminal device 4 that can maintain the cooling capacity of the refrigerator 1 for a long period of time during a power outage without using an external power source.

Other Embodiments
As described above, the first and second embodiments have been described as examples disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to these, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. In addition, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first and second embodiments to create new embodiments.
Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the refrigerator 1 transitions from the normal operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode when the refrigerator 1 starts the power failure pre-cooling operation, but the operation mode from which the transition occurs is not limited to the normal operation mode and may be any operation mode other than the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the refrigerator 1 transitions from the power failure pre-cooling operation mode to the normal operation mode when the refrigerator 1 ends the power failure pre-cooling operation, but the operation mode to which the transition occurs is not limited to the normal operation mode and may be any operation mode other than the power failure pre-cooling operation mode. Here, an operation mode other than the power failure pre-cooling operation mode corresponds to an example of the "first mode".

In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, a weather warning is exemplified as an warning related to a cause of a power outage, but the warning related to a cause of a power outage may be a warning other than a weather warning, such as an earthquake warning, a flood warning, a tsunami warning, an eruption warning, or a fire warning. In this case, the cause of the power outage is a factor other than weather. In this case, a server device that provides information indicating whether or not a warning other than a weather warning has been issued is connected to the global network GN instead of or together with the weather warning server 5, and the refrigerator control server 3 inquires of the server device whether or not a warning has been issued.

For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the refrigerator control server 3 may add the refrigerator ID 1613 when sending the transition instruction information to the refrigerator 1, and the refrigerator 1 may transition the operation mode to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode only when the refrigerator ID 1613 added to the transition instruction information matches the refrigerator ID 1613 stored in the refrigerator storage unit 161. This provides the following effects. If the operation mode is transitioned to the power failure pre-cooling operation mode without relying on the refrigerator ID 1613, if the refrigerator communication information 3132 associated with the refrigerator ID 1613 in the refrigerator control database 313 is not appropriate information, the refrigerator 1 may start the power failure pre-cooling operation unintended by the user P. For example, if the installation location of the refrigerator 1 changes due to moving, etc., and the address on the network changes as a result, if the refrigerator control database 313 is not appropriately updated, the refrigerator 1 may start the power failure pre-cooling operation unintended by the user P. Therefore, as in the above-mentioned refrigerator, by configuring the refrigerator to transition to power failure pre-cooling operation mode only when the refrigerator ID 1613 added to the transition instruction information matches the refrigerator ID 1613 stored in the refrigerator storage unit 161, the refrigerator 1 intended by the user P can reliably start power failure pre-cooling operation.

For example, the types of compartments formed in the main box 10 of the refrigerator 1 are not limited to the refrigerator compartment 11, ice-making compartment 12, fresh-freezing compartment 13, freezer compartment 14, and vegetable compartment 15, and there may be fewer compartments, or other types of compartments may be formed. Also, the number of doors provided at the opening on the front of the refrigerator compartment 11 may be one.

For example, one or more temperature sensors 191 may be provided in each storage compartment of the refrigerator 1, or there may be storage compartments that do not have a temperature sensor 191.

For example, the functions of the refrigerator control unit 16, the server control unit 30, and the terminal control unit 40 may be realized by multiple processors or semiconductor chips.

The components shown in FIG. 2 are merely examples, and the specific implementation form is not particularly limited. In other words, it is not necessary to implement hardware that corresponds to each component individually, and it is of course possible to implement a configuration in which one processor executes a program to realize the functions of each component. Also, some of the functions realized by software in the above-described embodiment may be implemented as hardware, or some of the functions realized by hardware may be realized by software. In addition, the specific detailed configurations of the other components of the refrigerator 1, refrigerator control server 3, and terminal device 4 may also be changed as desired without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the step units of the operation shown in Figures 3, 4, and 6 are divided according to the main processing content in order to make it easier to understand the operation of the refrigerator control system 1000, and the present invention is not limited by the manner in which the processing units are divided or the names of the processing units. The processing units may be divided into more step units depending on the processing content. Also, one step unit may be divided so that it includes more processing. Also, the order of the steps may be changed as appropriate within the scope of the present invention.

The above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology disclosed herein, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. may be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

As described above, the refrigerator control system, refrigerator, program, and terminal device disclosed herein can be used to maintain the cooling capacity of a refrigerator during a power outage.

1 Refrigerator 3 Refrigerator control server (server)
4 Terminal device 16 Refrigerator control unit 40 Terminal control unit (control unit)
402 Communication control unit 403 Operation control unit 413 Refrigerator control application (program, application program)
1000 Refrigerator control system P User

Claims (5)

A refrigerator control system including a refrigerator, a server capable of communicating with the refrigerator, and a terminal device capable of communicating with the server,
The terminal device
when an installed program is not running and a push notification cannot be performed, inquiring of the server as to whether or not a warning related to a cause of a power outage has been issued by a function of the program for an area including a location of the refrigerator, at the time of starting the program and for each predetermined period while the program is running;
The server,
inquiring of a weather warning server at predetermined intervals as to whether or not the warning has been issued for the area;
receive, from the weather warning server as a response to the inquiry as to whether the warning has been issued, warning issuance information indicating that the warning has been issued, and transmit to the terminal device inquiry instruction information inquiring about transition of an operation mode of the refrigerator from a first mode to a second mode in which an internal temperature of the refrigerator is lower than that of the first mode;
The terminal device
When the inquiry instruction information is received, the refrigerator inquires of a user of the refrigerator as to whether or not to transition to the second mode;
When an instruction to transition to the second mode is received, transition instruction information for transitioning to the second mode is transmitted to the server;
The server,
Transmitting the transition instruction information to the refrigerator,
The refrigerator includes:
Store the refrigerator ID,
when the transition instruction information is received, if a refrigerator ID added to the received transition instruction information matches a stored refrigerator ID, the operation mode is transitioned from the first mode to the second mode.
Refrigerator control system. the server transmits, when the alarm for the area is released, to the refrigerator, end instruction information for ending the second mode;
When the refrigerator receives the end instruction information, the refrigerator ends the second mode.
2. The refrigerator control system of claim 1. The refrigerator includes:
when an operation to change the internal temperature of the refrigerator is received from a user of the refrigerator, the second mode is terminated.
The refrigerator control system according to claim 1 or 2. A terminal device capable of communicating with the server is provided,
when the terminal device receives an instruction to end the second mode from a user of the refrigerator, the terminal device transmits end instruction information for ending the second mode to the server;
When the server receives the end instruction information, the server transmits the end instruction information to the refrigerator,
When the refrigerator receives the end instruction information, the refrigerator ends the second mode.
A refrigerator control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3. when the refrigerator is powered on and the internal temperature of any of the storage compartments of the refrigerator exceeds a predetermined temperature, the terminal device notifies the user that the internal temperature is a temperature that may affect the freshness of food.
A refrigerator control system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images