JP7716906B2 - Layout information management device, layout information management system, layout information generating method and program - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a layout information management device, a layout information management system, a layout information generation method, and a program.

A network device has been proposed for registering the installation locations within a building of devices connected to a home network in a management server (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This network device displays, on a display terminal, a floor plan image showing the layout of rooms within a building, and icon images corresponding to devices connected to the home network that are superimposed on the floor plan image. When a user operates the display terminal to move an icon image to a portion of the floor plan image that corresponds to the room in which the device corresponding to the icon image is installed, the installation location of the device corresponding to the icon image within the building is registered in the management server from the position of the icon image after movement on the floor plan image.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-198252

However, with the network device described in Patent Document 1, the user must first determine the location of each piece of equipment installed in a building, and then move the icon image onto the floor plan image based on the determined location. This means that it takes a certain amount of time to complete the registration of the equipment installed in a building. For this reason, there is a demand to reduce the burden on users by shortening the time required to register the locations of equipment installed in a building.

This disclosure has been made in light of the above-mentioned reasons, and aims to provide a layout information management device, layout information management system, layout information generation method, and program that can reduce the burden on users when registering layout information.

In order to achieve the above object, a layout information management device according to the present disclosure includes:
a device configuration acquisition unit that acquires device configuration information that associates device type information indicating the type of device installed in a building with room identification information that identifies a room in the building in which the device is installed;
a device information acquisition unit that acquires device information including the device type information unique to the device from the device;
and a determination unit that determines a layout of the devices corresponding to the device information based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information.

According to the present disclosure, the device configuration acquisition unit acquires device configuration information that associates device type information indicating the type of device installed in a building with room identification information that identifies the room in the building in which the device is installed. Furthermore, the device information acquisition unit acquires device information from the devices, including device type information unique to the device. The determination unit then determines the layout of the devices corresponding to the device information based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information. This allows the user to determine the device layout without actually checking the rooms in the building in which the devices are installed, thereby eliminating the need for the user to actually visit the building and check the device layout, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a layout information management system according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a layout information management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a layout information management system according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of information stored in a device configuration storage unit according to an embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a layout information storage unit according to the embodiment; 1A is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a floor plan information storage unit according to an embodiment; FIG. 1B is a diagram showing an example of information stored in a mark image storage unit according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall operation of a layout information management system according to an embodiment; 1A is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a terminal device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1B is a diagram showing another example of an operation screen of a terminal device according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall operation of a layout information management system according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a terminal device according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a sequence diagram showing an example of the overall operation of a layout information management system according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of an operation screen of a terminal device according to an embodiment; 1 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a layout information generation process executed by a layout information management device according to an embodiment; FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a layout information management system according to a modified example.

A layout information management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. The layout information management system according to this embodiment is realized as one function of an energy management system that monitors and controls the operation of each device installed in a home via a network, for example. The layout information management system manages layout information indicating the layout of each device in the home required by such an energy management system. The layout information management system according to this embodiment includes a device configuration acquisition unit that acquires device configuration information that associates device type information indicating the type of device installed in a building with room identification information that identifies the room in the building in which the device is installed; a device information acquisition unit that acquires device information from the devices, including the device type information unique to the devices; and a determination unit that determines the layout of the devices corresponding to the device information, based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information.

The layout information management system according to this embodiment is installed in a residence H, where electrical devices 4 (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4I, 4J) are arranged in rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5, as shown in FIG. 1. This layout information management system includes a layout information management device 1 and a terminal device 2. Each of the electrical devices 4 arranged in rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 is equipped with a communication module (not shown) and is capable of communicating with the layout information management device 1 via a local network NW2. The layout information management device 1 is also capable of communicating with the terminal device 2 via the local network NW2. The local network NW2 is, for example, a wireless LAN (Local Area Network). A broadband router (hereinafter referred to as "BBR") 81 connected to a wide area network NW1 is connected to the local network NW2. The wide area network NW1 is, for example, the Internet. Furthermore, a cloud server 3 and a terminal device 5 are connected to the wide area network NW1. The layout information management device 1 can communicate with the cloud server 3 via the local network NW2, BBR 81, and the wide area network NW1. The terminal device 5 can also communicate with the cloud server 3 via the wide area network NW1.

Electrical devices 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, and 4E are, for example, an air conditioner, a television, a rice cooker, a microwave, and a refrigerator installed in room R1, which may be a living room. Electrical devices 4F, 4G, and 4J are, for example, air conditioners installed in room R2, which may be a reception room, room R3, which may be a children's room, and room R5, which may be a bedroom, respectively. Electrical device 4H is, for example, a television installed in room R2, and electrical device 4I is, for example, a water heater installed in room R4, which may be a bathroom. Each of the electrical devices 4 (4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4I, and 4J) has the function of communicating with the layout information management device 1 via the local network NW2. When connected to the local network NW2, an electrical device 4 transmits connection request information to the layout information management device 1, including MAC (Media Access Control) address information indicating the MAC address assigned to the electrical device. Furthermore, when the user performs an installation location notification operation to notify the layout information management device 1 of the installation location of the electrical device 4, the electrical device 4 acquires the MAC address information assigned to the device and transmits it to the layout information management device 1.

The cloud server 3 includes a device configuration storage unit (not shown) for managing device configuration information that associates, for at least one residence H, device type information indicating the type of electrical device 4 installed in each room in the residence H with room identification information that identifies each room. When the cloud server 3 acquires device configuration information transmitted from the terminal device 5, it registers the acquired device configuration information in the device configuration storage unit in association with the residence identification information that identifies the corresponding residence H. When the cloud server 3 acquires device configuration request information from the layout information management device 1 requesting the transmission of device configuration information for the residence H in which the layout information management device 1 is installed, it identifies the device configuration information that corresponds to the acquired device configuration request information from the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit. The cloud server 3 then transmits the identified device configuration information to the layout information management device 1 that transmitted the device configuration request information.

The terminal device 5 is, for example, a personal computer, and is owned by a contractor who installs the electrical equipment 4 in the residence H. Before installing the electrical equipment 4 in the residence H, the contractor inputs the above-mentioned equipment configuration information into the terminal device 5. The terminal device 5 then accepts the input equipment configuration information and transmits the accepted equipment configuration information to the cloud server 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the layout information management device 1 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a main memory 102, an auxiliary memory 103, operation buttons 105, a communication unit 106, a timer 107, and a bus 109 interconnecting each unit. The main memory 102 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 101. The auxiliary memory 103 is a non-volatile memory such as a magnetic disk or semiconductor flash memory, and stores programs for implementing the various functions of the layout information management device 1. The operation button 105 is a button switch that is pressed when powering on the layout information management device 1. The communication unit 106 has, for example, a wireless module, and communicates with the electrical equipment 4 and BBR 81 via the local network NW2. The timer 107 has, for example, an RTC (Real Time Clock).

By reading the programs stored in the auxiliary memory unit 103 into the main memory unit 102 and executing them, the CPU 101 functions as a device configuration acquisition unit 111, a preparation completion notification unit 112, a connection request acquisition unit 113, a device information acquisition unit 114, a determination unit 115, a detection status notification unit 116, a layout information notification unit 117, a room identification information acquisition unit 118, and a device identification information acquisition unit 119, as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore, the auxiliary memory unit 103 shown in Figure 2 has a device configuration storage unit 131, a device information storage unit 132, and a layout information storage unit 133, as shown in Figure 3. The device configuration storage unit 131 stores device configuration information indicating the configuration of the electrical devices 4 installed in each of the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in the residence H. As shown in FIG. 4, for example, the device configuration storage unit 131 stores device type information indicating the type of electrical devices 4 installed in each of the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in the residence H in association with room identification information (e.g., ID101, ID102, ID103, ID104, and ID105) that identifies each of the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5.

Returning to Figure 3, the device information storage unit 132 stores device information obtained from the electrical devices 4 installed in residence H. Here, the device information includes device type information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information unique to each electrical device 4, as well as MAC address information indicating the MAC address assigned to each electrical device 4. The device type information indicates the type of electrical device 4, such as "air conditioner" or "television." The MAC address information is individual information required to identify each electrical device 4 on the local network NW2. The manufacturer information indicates the manufacturer that produced the electrical device 4. The link information indicates the URL (Uniform Resource Locator) of a website on which the instruction manual for the electrical device 4 is posted.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, the layout information storage unit 133 stores the device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information contained in the device information for each electrical device 4 in association with the room identification information for the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in which the electrical device 4 is located.

Returning to FIG. 3, the device configuration acquisition unit 111 acquires device configuration information from the cloud server 3 by transmitting to the cloud server 3 device configuration request information that requests the cloud server 3 to transmit the above-mentioned device configuration information corresponding to the residence H in which the layout information management device 1 is installed. Here, the device configuration acquisition unit 111 transmits the device configuration request information to the cloud server 3 when, for example, the user operates the operation button 105 to turn on the layout information management device 1. Upon acquiring the device configuration information, the device configuration acquisition unit 111 associates the device type information and room identification information included in the acquired device configuration information with each other and stores them in the device configuration storage unit 131.

When the preparation completion notification unit 112 associates the device type information and room identification information included in the device configuration information acquired by the device configuration acquisition unit 111 and stores them in the device configuration storage unit 131, it transmits preparation completion notification information to the terminal device 2 notifying that preparation for acquiring device information of the electrical device 4 is complete. After the preparation completion notification unit 112 transmits the preparation completion notification information, the connection request acquisition unit 113 acquires connection request information sent from the electrical device 4, and then extracts MAC address information included in the acquired connection request information and notifies the device information acquisition unit 114.

The device information acquisition unit 114 acquires device information from the electrical device 4 by transmitting device information request information that requests the electrical device 4, which is the sender of the connection request information, to transmit the aforementioned device information based on the MAC address information notified by the connection request acquisition unit 113. Here, the device information acquisition unit 114 simultaneously broadcasts the device information request information to all electrical devices 4 connected to the local network NW2, for example, using UDP (User Datagram Protocol). The device information acquisition unit 114 stores the acquired device information in the device information storage unit 132. Here, if the device information acquired from the electrical device 4 does not include device type information, the device information acquisition unit 114 may generate device type information based on the MAC address information included in the acquired device information and then store the information in the device information storage unit 132.

The determination unit 115 determines the layout of each electrical device 4 corresponding to each piece of device information based on the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 and the device type information included in the device information stored in the device information storage unit 132. Specifically, the determination unit 115 compares the device type information included in the device information with the device type information included in the device configuration information. Here, it is assumed that the determination unit 115 determines that there is only one piece of device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132 that matches one piece of device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131. In other words, it is assumed that the determination unit 115 determines, based on the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132, that there is only one candidate electrical device 4 that corresponds to one piece of device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131. In this case, the determination unit 115 refers to the device configuration information to identify the room identification information corresponding to that device type information. The determination unit 115 then determines the layout of that one electrical device 4 to be rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 identified by the specified room identification information. The determination unit 115 stores the specified room identification information, the corresponding device type information, and the MAC address information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information associated with the device type information in the layout information storage unit 133. The determination unit 115 also notifies the detection status notification unit 116 of the specified room identification information, the corresponding device type information, and the MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information associated with the device type information.

Furthermore, it is assumed that the determination unit 115 determines that, among the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132, there is a plurality of pieces of device type information that match the device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131. That is, it is assumed that the determination unit 115 determines, based on the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132, that there are a plurality of candidates for electrical device 4 that correspond to one of the pieces of device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131. In this case, the determination unit 115 generates multiple candidate notification information that notifies that there are a plurality of candidates for electrical device 4 that correspond to one of the pieces of device identification information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131. Then, the determination unit 115 notifies the detection status notification unit 116 of the generated multiple candidate notification information, the identified room identification information, the corresponding device type information, and the MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information associated with the device type information. After that, when the room identification information acquisition unit 118 acquires room identification information and the device identification information acquisition unit 119 acquires MAC address information, the determination unit 115 determines the layout of the electrical devices 4 assigned with the acquired MAC address information to be rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 identified by the acquired room identification information. The determination unit 115 associates the acquired room identification information, the acquired MAC address information, and the device type information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information associated with the MAC address information with each other and stores them in the layout information storage unit 133. The determination unit 115 also notifies the detection status notification unit 116 of the acquired room identification information, the acquired MAC address information, and the device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information associated with the MAC address information. The determination unit 115 also determines, based on time information measured by the clock unit 107, whether a predetermined reference time has elapsed since the preparation completion notification unit 112 transmitted the preparation completion notification information to the terminal device 2. Then, when the determination unit 115 determines that the aforementioned reference time has elapsed, it determines whether the connection of all electrical devices 4 indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 has been completed.

When the detection status notification unit 116 is notified of the room identification information, device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information by the determination unit 115, it transmits connected device information including this information to the terminal device 2. Furthermore, when the detection status notification unit 116 is notified of the multiple candidate notification information, room identification information, device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information by the determination unit 115, it transmits the multiple candidate notification information along with the above-mentioned connected device information to the terminal device 2. Furthermore, when the determination unit 115 determines that there is an electrical device 4 whose connection has not yet been completed among the device type information indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131, the detection status notification unit 116 transmits unconnected notification information to the terminal device 2 notifying that there is an electrical device 4 that has not yet been connected.

After the detection status notification unit 116 transmits the multiple candidate notification information to the terminal device 2, the room identification information acquisition unit 118 acquires room identification information from the terminal device 2 and notifies the determination unit 115 of the room identification information of rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 indicated in the acquired room identification information. After the detection status notification unit 116 transmits the multiple candidate notification information to the terminal device 2, the device identification information acquisition unit 119 acquires MAC address information from the electrical device 4 and notifies the determination unit 115 of the acquired MAC address information.

When the determination unit 115 determines that the connection of all electrical devices 4 indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 has been completed, the layout information notification unit 117 transmits the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 133 to the terminal device 2.

The terminal device 2 is a tablet terminal, smartphone, etc., and, as shown in FIG. 2, has a CPU 201, a main memory unit 202, an auxiliary memory unit 203, a display unit 204, an input unit 205, a communication unit 206, and a bus 209 interconnecting the various units. The main memory unit 202 is a volatile memory used as a work area for the CPU 201. The auxiliary memory unit 203 is a non-volatile memory that stores programs for implementing the various functions of the terminal device 2. The display unit 204 is, for example, an LCD display, and displays various information or operation screen images input from the CPU 201 on the display screen. The input unit 205 has, for example, a transparent touchpad superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 204, and when a user touches the touchpad to operate it, it outputs information corresponding to the operation to the CPU 201. The communication unit 206 has a wireless module and communicates wirelessly with the layout information management device 1.

By loading the programs stored in the auxiliary memory unit 203 into the main memory unit 202 and executing them, the CPU 201 functions as an acquisition unit 211, a display control unit 212, a reception unit 213, a location notification unit 214, and a floor plan registration unit 215, as shown in FIG. 3. The auxiliary memory unit 203 shown in FIG. 2 also includes a floor plan information storage unit 231, a mark image storage unit 232, a message storage unit 233, and a layout information storage unit 234, as shown in FIG. 3. The floor plan information storage unit 231 stores floor plan information indicating the arrangement of rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 within the residence H. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 6(A), for example, the floor plan information storage unit 231 stores floor number information indicating the floors on which rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 are located, and room name information indicating the names of each room R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5, in association with room identification information.

6(B), the mark image storage unit 232 stores mark image information representing mark images GAM1, GAM2, GAM3, GAM4, GAM5, and GAM6 used to represent the type of each electrical device 4, in association with device type information. Returning to FIG. 3, the message storage unit 233 stores first message information to be displayed on the display unit 204 when the aforementioned preparation completion notification information is acquired from the layout information management device 1, second message information to be displayed on the display unit 204 when only the aforementioned connected device information is acquired from the layout information management device 1, and third message information to be displayed on the display unit 204 when both the connected device information and multiple candidate notification information are acquired from the layout information management device 1. Here, the second message information notifies that connection of the electrical device 4 corresponding to the connected device information to the local network NW2 has been completed, and the third message information notifies that there are multiple candidates for the electrical device 4 corresponding to the connected device information. The layout information storage unit 234 stores the layout information of each electrical device 4 obtained from the layout information management device 1.

Returning to FIG. 3, when the acquisition unit 211 acquires preparation completion notification information, connected device information, or multiple candidate notification information from the layout information management device 1, it notifies the display control unit 212 of the acquired preparation completion notification information, connected device information, or multiple candidate notification information. In addition, when the acquisition unit 211 acquires layout information from the layout information management device 1, it stores the acquired layout information in the layout information storage unit 234.

When the display control unit 212 receives preparation completion notification information from the acquisition unit 211, it causes the display unit 204 to display message information corresponding to the preparation completion notification information stored in the message storage unit 233. Furthermore, when the display control unit 212 receives connected device information from the acquisition unit 211, it identifies room name information corresponding to the room identification information included in the connected device information from the room name information stored in the floor plan information storage unit 231. The display control unit 212 then acquires the aforementioned second message information from the message storage unit 233 along with the identified room name information and the device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information included in the connected device information, and causes the display unit 204 to display them. Furthermore, when the display control unit 212 receives connected device information and multiple candidate notification information from the acquisition unit 211, it acquires the aforementioned third message information from the message storage unit 233 along with the identified room name information and the device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information included in the connected device information, and causes the display unit 204 to display them.

Furthermore, when the acquisition unit 211 acquires layout information from the layout information management device 1 and stores it in the layout information storage unit 234, the display control unit 212 acquires floor plan information from the floor plan information storage unit 231 and generates an operation screen image including a floor plan image showing, for example, residence H and rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 within residence H based on the acquired floor plan information. The display control unit 212 also acquires layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 234 and, based on the acquired layout information, identifies mark images from the mark image storage unit 232 to be displayed at positions corresponding to each of rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in the floor plan image. The display control unit 212 then superimposes the identified mark images at positions corresponding to each of rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in the floor plan image included in the generated operation screen image, and displays them on the display unit 204.

When the user operates the input unit 205, the reception unit 213 receives input information corresponding to the operation. Here, when the user performs an operation on the layout information management device 1 via the input unit 205 to specify the room in which the electrical device 4 to be operated is to be installed, the reception unit 213 receives an operation to specify the installation location. The reception unit 213 then notifies the location notification unit 214 of operation information corresponding to the received operation. Furthermore, when the user performs an operation on the input unit 205 to register floor plan information on the terminal device 2, the reception unit 213 receives an operation to register the floor plan information. The reception unit 213 then notifies the floor plan registration unit 215 of operation information corresponding to the received operation.

The floor plan registration unit 215 generates floor plan information based on the operation information notified by the reception unit 213 and stores it in the floor plan information storage unit 231. The location notification unit 214 generates room identification information including room identification information that identifies the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 specified by the user based on the operation information notified by the reception unit 213, and transmits the room identification information to the layout information management device 1.

Next, the operation of the layout information management system according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 7 to 12. It is assumed that a user has previously registered floor plan information for residence H on terminal device 2. First, a contractor installing electrical equipment 4 in residence H operates terminal device 5 to register the configuration of the electrical equipment 4 to be installed in each room R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 of residence H on cloud server 3. In this case, terminal device 5 accepts the equipment configuration information entered by the contractor registering the configuration of the electrical equipment 4 (step S1). Next, the accepted equipment configuration information is transmitted from terminal device 5 to cloud server 3 (step S2). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the equipment configuration information, cloud server 3 associates the acquired equipment configuration information with residence identification information that identifies the corresponding residence H and stores it in the equipment configuration storage unit (step S3).

Next, when the layout information management device 1 is powered on, the layout information management device 1 transmits device configuration request information to the cloud server 3, requesting the cloud server 3 to transmit device configuration information for the residence H in which the layout information management device 1 is installed (step S4). The device configuration request information includes residence identification information that identifies the residence H in which the layout information management device 1 is installed. Assume that the terminal device 2 is running a program for displaying the layout of the electrical devices 4 in each room R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in the residence H on the display unit 204. The terminal device 2 is also displaying an operation screen image GA11 on the display unit 204, including a floor plan image GAH showing the floor plan of the residence H, as shown in FIG. 8A, for example. Returning to FIG. 7, upon receiving the device configuration request information, the cloud server 3 identifies the device configuration information corresponding to the residence identification information included in the acquired device configuration request information (step S5). The identified device configuration information is then transmitted from the cloud server 3 to the layout information management device 1 (step S6). On the other hand, when the layout information management device 1 acquires device configuration information, it stores the acquired device configuration information in the device configuration storage unit 131.

Next, the layout information management device 1 sends preparation completion notification information to the terminal device 2, notifying the terminal device 2 that preparation for acquiring device information about the electrical device 4 is complete (step S7). Meanwhile, upon receiving the preparation completion notification information, the terminal device 2 displays on the display unit 204 an operation screen image including a message urging the connection of the electrical device 4 to the local network NW2 (step S8). Here, the terminal device 2 displays on the display unit 204 an operation screen image GA12 including a message image M11 indicating that it is attempting to detect electrical devices 4 connected to the local network NW2, and a message image M12 urging the connection of the electrical device 4 to the local network NW2, as shown in FIG. 8(B), for example.

Returning to FIG. 7, suppose the user performs an operation on electrical device 4 to connect electrical device 4 to local network NW2. In this case, connection request information requesting connection to layout information management device 1 is transmitted from electrical device 4 to layout information management device 1 (step S9). Subsequently, when layout information management device 1 acquires the connection request information, device information request information requesting electrical device 4 to transmit the aforementioned device information is transmitted from layout information management device 1 to electrical device 4 (step S10). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the device information request information, electrical device 4 generates device information including its own device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information (step S11). The generated device information is then transmitted from electrical device 4 to layout information management device 1 (step S12). Here, upon acquiring the device information, layout information management device 1 stores the acquired device information in device information storage unit 132.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the layout information management device 1 compares the device type information included in the device information stored in the device information storage unit 132 with the device type information included in the device configuration information (step S13). Assume that the layout information management device 1 determines that the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132 contains only one candidate electrical device 4 that corresponds to one of the device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S14). In this case, the layout information management device 1 references the device configuration information to identify the room identification information corresponding to this device type information. The layout information management device 1 then transmits connected device information, including the identified room identification information, the corresponding device type information, and the MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information associated with the device type information, to the terminal device 2 (step S15). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the connected device information, the terminal device 2 identifies, from the room name information stored in the floor plan information storage unit 231, the room name information corresponding to the room identification information included in the connected device information. The terminal device 2 then acquires the second message information from the message storage unit 233 along with the identified room name information and the device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information included in the connected device information, and displays an operation screen image including these on the display unit 204 (step S16). The layout information management device 1 also generates layout information including the identified room identification information, the corresponding device type information, and the MAC address information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information associated with the device type information (step S17). The layout information management device 1 stores the generated layout information in the layout information storage unit 133.

The layout information management device 1 also determines that, among the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132, there are multiple candidates for electrical device 4 that correspond to one of the device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S18). In this case, the layout information management device 1 generates multiple candidate notification information notifying that there are multiple candidates for electrical device 4 that correspond to one of the device identification information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S19). Next, the generated multiple candidate notification information and the aforementioned connected device information are transmitted from the layout information management device 1 to the terminal device 2 (step S20). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the connected device information, the terminal device 2 identifies room name information corresponding to the room identification information included in the connected device information from the room name information stored in the floor plan information storage unit 231. Then, the terminal device 2 acquires the identified room name information, the device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information included in the connected device information, as well as the aforementioned third message information from the message storage unit 233, and displays an operation screen image including these on the display unit 204 (step S21). Here, the terminal device 2 displays on the display unit 204 an operation screen image GA2 including a table image M2 configured from the room name information, device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information, as well as the second message information and third message information, as shown in FIG. 10, for example.

Returning to FIG. 9 , suppose the user then performs an installation location notification operation on the terminal device 2 and the electrical device 4 to notify the layout information management device 1 of the installation location of one of the multiple candidate electrical device 4 locations. Specifically, the user enters a room R1, R2, R3, R4, or R5 in which one of the multiple candidate electrical device 4 locations is installed, and performs an operation to input room information for the room R1, R2, R3, R4, or R5 into the input unit 205 of the terminal device 2. The user also performs an operation to notify the layout information management device 1 that the electrical device 4 is the target electrical device 4 for which an installation location notification is to be made. In this case, the terminal device 2 accepts the input room information (step S22), and room identification information identifying the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, or R5 indicated by the accepted room information is transmitted from the terminal device 2 to the layout information management device 1 (step S23). Furthermore, when the installation location notification operation is performed, the electrical device 4 acquires its own MAC address information (step S24). Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the acquired MAC address information is sent from the electrical device 4 to the layout information management device 1 (step S25).

Meanwhile, upon acquiring the room identification information and MAC address information, the layout information management device 1 generates layout information including the room identification information of rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 indicated by the room identification information, the MAC address information, and the device type information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information associated with the MAC address information (step S26). Here, the layout information management device 1 stores the generated layout information in the layout information storage unit 133.

Then, based on the time information measured by the timer 107, the layout information management device 1 determines that a predetermined reference time has elapsed since the preparation completion notification information was transmitted from the layout information management device 1 to the terminal device 2 (step S27). The layout information management device 1 then determines that the connection of all electrical devices 4 indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration memory 131 has been completed (step S28). In this case, the layout information stored in the layout information memory 133 of the layout information management device 1 is transmitted from the layout information management device 1 to the terminal device 2 (step S29). Meanwhile, upon acquiring the layout information, the terminal device 2 displays, on the display 204, an operation screen image including a floor plan image of the residence H and mark images corresponding to each of the electrical devices 4 installed in the residence H, based on the acquired layout information (step S30). Here, the terminal device 2 causes the display unit 204 to display an operation screen image GA3 in which mark images GAM1, GAM2, GAM3, GAM4, GAM5, and GAM6 of the electrical appliances 4 are superimposed on areas A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5 corresponding to rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in the floor plan image GAH of the residence H, as shown in FIG. 12, for example.

Furthermore, when the layout information management device 1 determines that a reference time has elapsed since the preparation completion notification information was transmitted from the layout information management device 1 to the terminal device 2 (step S27), it determines that there is an electrical device 4 that has not yet been connected in the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S31). In this case, unconnected notification information including device type information of the unconnected electrical device 4 is transmitted from the layout information management device 1 to the terminal device 2 (step S32). Meanwhile, upon receiving the unconnected notification information, the terminal device 2 displays on the display unit 204 an operation screen image including message information notifying that there is an unconnected electrical device 4 that includes the device type information included in the received unconnected notification information (step S33).

Next, the layout information generation process executed by the layout information management device 1 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13. This layout information update process is initiated when the layout information management device 1 is powered on. First, the device configuration acquisition unit 111 transmits the above-mentioned device configuration request information to the cloud server 3 (step S101) to acquire device configuration information from the cloud server 3 (step S102). Here, upon acquiring the device configuration information, the device configuration acquisition unit 111 associates the device type information and room identification information included in the acquired device configuration information with each other and stores them in the device configuration storage unit 131.

Next, the preparation completion notification unit 112 transmits the above-mentioned preparation completion notification information to the terminal device 2 (step S103). Subsequently, the connection request acquisition unit 113 determines whether or not connection request information transmitted from the electrical device 4 has been acquired after the preparation completion notification unit 112 transmitted the preparation completion notification information (step S104). If the connection request acquisition unit 113 determines that it has not acquired the connection request information (step S104: No), the processing of step S114 described below is executed. On the other hand, if the connection request acquisition unit 113 determines that it has acquired the connection request information (step S104: Yes), it extracts MAC address information included in the acquired connection request information and notifies the device information acquisition unit 114.

Next, the device information acquisition unit 114 acquires device information from the electrical device 4 (step S106) by transmitting the aforementioned device information request information to the electrical device 4 that is the sender of the connection request information based on the MAC address information notified by the connection request acquisition unit 113 (step S105). Here, the device information acquisition unit 114 stores the acquired device information in the device information storage unit 132.

The determination unit 115 then compares the device type information included in the device information stored in the device information storage unit 132 with the device type information included in the device configuration information (step S107). Next, the determination unit 115 determines whether the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132 contains multiple candidates for electrical devices 4 that correspond to one of the device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S108). Here, let us assume that the determination unit 115 determines that the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132 contains only one candidate for electrical devices 4 that corresponds to one of the device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S108: No). In this case, the determination unit 115 references the device configuration information to identify the room identification information that corresponds to the device type information. The determination unit 115 then notifies the detection status notification unit 116 of the identified room identification information, the corresponding device type information, and the MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information associated with the device type information.

Next, the detection status notification unit 116 transmits the connected device information, including the room identification information, device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information notified by the determination unit 115, to the terminal device 2 (step S109). Subsequently, the processing of step S115, which will be described later, is executed.

On the other hand, suppose the determination unit 115 determines that, among the device type information stored in the device information storage unit 132, there are multiple candidates for electrical device 4 that correspond to one of the device type information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S108: Yes). In this case, the determination unit 115 generates multiple candidate notification information notifying that there are multiple candidates for electrical device 4 that correspond to one of the device identification information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S110). The determination unit 115 then notifies the detection status notification unit 116 of the generated multiple candidate notification information, the identified room identification information, the corresponding device type information, and the MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information associated with the device type information.

Thereafter, the detection status notification unit 116 transmits both the connected device information notified by the determination unit 115, including the room identification information, device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information, and the multiple candidate notification information notified by the determination unit 115, to the terminal device 2 (step S111). Next, after transmitting the multiple candidate notification information to the terminal device 2, the room identification information acquisition unit 118 and the device identification information acquisition unit 119 determine whether they have acquired room identification information and MAC address information from the terminal device 2 and the electrical device 4, respectively, within a preset waiting time (step S112). Here, it is assumed that at least one of the room identification information acquisition unit 118 and the device identification information acquisition unit 119 determines that they have not acquired room identification information or MAC address information within the aforementioned waiting time (step S112: No). In this case, the detection status notification unit 116 generates error information and transmits it to the terminal device 2 (step S113).

On the other hand, suppose that the room identification information acquisition unit 118 and the device identification information acquisition unit 119 determine that they have acquired room identification information and MAC address information within the aforementioned waiting time (step S112: Yes). In this case, the room identification information acquisition unit 118 notifies the determination unit 115 of the room identification information of rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 indicated by the acquired room identification information. The device identification information acquisition unit 119 also notifies the determination unit 115 of the acquired MAC address information. The determination unit 115 then notifies the detection status notification unit 116 of the room identification information notified by the room identification information acquisition unit 118, the device type information and MAC address information notified by the device identification information acquisition unit 119, and the corresponding manufacturer information and device name information. Next, the detection status notification unit 116 transmits connected device information, including the room identification information, device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information notified by the determination unit 115, to the terminal device 2 (step S114).

Then, the determination unit 115 generates layout information including the identified room identification information, corresponding device type information, and MAC address information, manufacturer information, device name information, and link information associated with the device type information, and stores this in the layout information storage unit 133 (step S115). Next, the determination unit 115 determines, based on the time information measured by the timing unit 107, whether a preset reference time has elapsed since the preparation completion notification unit 112 transmitted the preparation completion notification information to the terminal device 2 (step S116). Here, if the determination unit 115 determines that the reference time has not yet elapsed since the preparation completion notification unit 112 transmitted the preparation completion notification information to the terminal device 2 (step S116: No), the processing of step S104 is executed again.

On the other hand, if the determination unit 115 determines that the aforementioned reference time has elapsed (step S116: Yes), it determines whether the connection of all electrical devices 4 indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 has been completed (step S117). Here, if the determination unit 115 determines that there is an electrical device 4 that has not yet been connected among the electrical devices 4 indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 (step S117: No), the detection status notification unit 116 transmits unconnected notification information including device type information of the unconnected electrical devices 4 to the terminal device 2 (step S118). Next, the processing of step S104 is executed again.

On the other hand, suppose the determination unit 115 determines that the connection of all electrical devices 4 indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 has been completed (step S117: Yes). In this case, the layout information notification unit 117 transmits the layout information stored in the layout information storage unit 133 to the terminal device 2 (step S119). Thereafter, the layout information generation process ends.

As described above, according to the layout information management device 1 of this embodiment, the device configuration acquisition unit 111 acquires device configuration information including device type information of the electrical devices 4 installed in the residence H and room identification information identifying the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 in which the electrical devices 4 are installed. Furthermore, the device information acquisition unit 114 acquires device information including device type information for each electrical device 4 from the electrical devices 4. The determination unit 115 then determines the layout of each electrical device 4 corresponding to the device information based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information. This allows the layout of the electrical devices 4 to be identified without the user having to actually check the rooms in the residence H in which the electrical devices 4 are installed. This eliminates the need for the user to actually visit the residence H and check the layout of each electrical device 4, thereby reducing the burden on the user.

Furthermore, in the layout information management device 1 according to this embodiment, when there are multiple instances of the same device type information in the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131, the determination unit 115 determines the layout of each of the multiple electrical devices 4 corresponding to the same device type information based on the room identification information acquired by the room identification information acquisition unit 118 and the MAC address information acquired by the device identification information acquisition unit 119. This makes it possible to correctly determine the layout even when multiple electrical devices 4 of the same type are installed in the residence H.

Furthermore, in the layout information management device 1 according to this embodiment, the device information acquisition unit 114 acquires device information from the electrical devices 4 within a predetermined reference time after the layout information management device 1 is powered on. Then, when the layout of each electrical device 4 indicated by the device configuration information is determined by the determination unit 115 based on the device information acquired from the electrical devices 4 within the aforementioned reference time, the layout information notification unit 117 transmits the layout information to the terminal device 2. This prevents the layout information from being left unsent to the terminal device 2 even after the aforementioned reference time has elapsed after the layout information management device 1 is powered on, allowing the user to quickly determine the appropriateness of the layout information.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the terminal device 2 may have all the functions of the layout information management device 1. In this case, the terminal device 2 may communicate directly with each electrical device 4 via the local network NW2.

The layout information management device 2001 according to this modified example is a tablet terminal, smartphone, etc., and has the same hardware configuration as the terminal device 2 described in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14. Hereinafter, the hardware configuration of the layout information management device 2001 will be described using the same reference numerals as the terminal device 2 described in the embodiment. Note that in FIG. 14, the same components as those in embodiment 1 are assigned the same reference numerals as in FIG. 3. The CPU 201 of the layout information management device 2001 reads out programs stored in the auxiliary memory unit 203 into the main memory unit 202 and executes them, thereby functioning as a device configuration acquisition unit 2111, a preparation completion notification unit 2112, a connection request acquisition unit 113, a device information acquisition unit 114, a determination unit 115, a detection status notification unit 2116, a room identification information acquisition unit 2118, a device identification information acquisition unit 119, a display control unit 2212, a reception unit 213, and a floor plan registration unit 215. The auxiliary storage unit 203 also includes a device configuration storage unit 131, a device information storage unit 132, a layout information storage unit 133, a floor plan information storage unit 231, a mark image storage unit 232, and a message storage unit 233.

The device configuration acquisition unit 2111 sends device configuration request information to the cloud server 3, for example, when a user performs an operation to acquire device configuration information via the input unit 205 of the layout information management device 2001. When the device configuration acquisition unit 2111 acquires the device configuration information, it associates the device type information and room identification information included in the acquired device configuration information with each other and stores them in the device configuration storage unit 131. The preparation completion notification unit 2112 notifies the display control unit 2212 of preparation completion notification information that notifies that preparation for acquiring device information of the electrical device 4 is complete. Here, the determination unit 115 determines whether the aforementioned reference time has elapsed since the preparation completion notification unit 112 notified the display control unit 2212 of the preparation completion notification information.

When the detection status notification unit 2116 is notified of room identification information, device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information by the determination unit 115, it notifies this information to the display control unit 2212. Furthermore, when the detection status notification unit 2116 is notified of multiple candidate notification information, room identification information, device type information, MAC address information, manufacturer information, and device name information by the determination unit 115, it notifies this information to the display control unit 2212. Furthermore, when the determination unit 115 determines that there is device type information indicated by the device configuration information stored in the device configuration storage unit 131 that has not yet been connected, the detection status notification unit 2116 notifies the display control unit 2212 of unconnected notification information notifying that there is an electrical device 4 that has not yet been connected.

When the reception unit 213 receives an operation specifying the room in which the electrical device 4 to be operated is to be installed, it notifies the room identification information acquisition unit 2118 of operation information corresponding to the received operation. Then, based on the operation information notified from the reception unit 213, the room identification information acquisition unit 2118 generates room identification information that identifies the rooms R1, R2, R3, R4, and R5 specified by the user, and notifies the determination unit 115 of the operation information.

Returning to FIG. 3, when the acquisition unit 211 acquires preparation completion notification information, connected device information, or multiple candidate notification information from the layout information management device 1, it notifies the display control unit 212 of the acquired preparation completion notification information, connected device information, or multiple candidate notification information. In addition, when the acquisition unit 211 acquires layout information from the layout information management device 1, it stores the acquired layout information in the layout information storage unit 234.

When the display control unit 2212 receives preparation completion notification information from the preparation completion notification unit 2112, it causes the display unit 204 to display message information corresponding to the preparation completion notification information stored in the message storage unit 233. Furthermore, when the display control unit 2212 receives room identification information, device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information from the detection status notification unit 2116, it identifies room name information corresponding to the notified room identification information from the room name information stored in the floor plan information storage unit 231. The display control unit 212 then retrieves the identified room name information, device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information, as well as the aforementioned second message information from the message storage unit 233, and causes the display unit 204 to display them. Furthermore, when the display control unit 212 receives multiple candidate notification information from the detection status notification unit 2116, it retrieves the identified room name information, the device type information, manufacturer information, and device name information notified by the detection status notification unit 2116, as well as the aforementioned third message information from the message storage unit 233, and displays them on the display unit 204.

With this configuration, the functions of the layout information management device 1 and terminal device 2 described in the embodiment can all be realized by a single layout information management device 2001, thereby simplifying the configuration of the local network NW2.

In an embodiment, the layout information management device 1 may have the functions of the acquisition unit 211, display control unit 212, reception unit 213, location notification unit 214, and floor plan registration unit 215 of the terminal device 2. Alternatively, the terminal device 2 may have some of the functions of the layout information management device 1.

Furthermore, the various functions of the layout information management device 1, 2001 and terminal device 2 according to the present disclosure may be implemented by software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. In this case, the software or firmware is written as a program and stored in the auxiliary storage units 103 and 203. Furthermore, the various functions of the layout information management device 1 and terminal device 2 according to the present disclosure can be implemented using a computer system rather than a dedicated system. For example, a program for executing the above operations may be stored on a non-transitory recording medium readable by a computer system (such as a flexible disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory), DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or MO (Magneto-Optical Disc)) and distributed to a computer connected to a network. The layout information management device 1, 2001, and terminal device 2 that execute the above-described processes may be configured by installing the program on the computer system.

Furthermore, the method for providing the program to the computer is arbitrary. For example, the program may be uploaded to a server on a communication line and distributed to the computer via the communication line. The computer then launches the program and executes it like any other application under the control of the OS (Operating System). In this way, the computer functions as the layout information management device 1 and terminal device 2 that execute the above-mentioned processing.

This disclosure is suitable for generating layout information for multiple electrical devices that make up an energy management system within a building, such as a residence or office building.

1, 2001 Layout information management device, 2, 5 Terminal device, 3 Cloud server, 4, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 4F, 4G, 4H, 4I, 4J Electrical equipment, 101, 201 CPU, 102, 202 Main memory unit, 103, 203 Auxiliary memory unit, 105 Operation button, 106, 206 Communication unit, 107 Timer unit, 109, 209 Bus, 111, 2111 Device configuration acquisition unit, 112, 2112 Preparation completion notification unit, 113 Connection request acquisition unit, 114 Device information acquisition unit, 115 Determination unit, 116, 2116 Detection status notification unit, 117 Layout information notification unit, 118, 2118 Room identification information acquisition unit, 119 Device identification information acquisition unit, 131 Device configuration storage unit, 132 Device information storage unit, 133 Layout information storage unit, 204 Display unit, 204a Display screen, 205 Input unit, 211 Acquisition unit, 212, 2212 Display control unit, 213 Reception unit, 214 Location notification unit, 215 Floor plan registration unit, 231 Floor plan information storage unit, 232 Mark image storage unit, 233 Message storage unit, 234 Layout information storage unit, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A10 Area, GA2, GA3, GA11, GA12 Operation screen image, GAM1, GAM2, GAM3, GAM4, GAM5, GAM6 Mark image, GAH Floor plan image, H Residence, M2 Table image, M11, M12 Message image, NW1 Wide area network, NW2 Local network

Claims (7)

a device configuration acquisition unit that acquires device configuration information that associates device type information indicating the type of device installed in a building with room identification information that identifies a room in the building in which the device is installed;
a device information acquisition unit that acquires device information including the device type information unique to the device from the device;
a determination unit that determines a layout of the devices corresponding to the device information based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information,
Layout information management device. a room identification information acquisition unit that acquires room identification information that identifies a room in which one of the plurality of devices is installed;
a device identification information acquisition unit that acquires device identification information transmitted from the one device when a preset operation is performed on the one device,
when the device configuration information includes a plurality of pieces of the same device type information, the determination unit determines a layout of each of the plurality of devices corresponding to the same device type information based on the room identification information and the device identification information.
2. The layout information management device according to claim 1. a layout information notification unit that transmits layout information indicating the layout of the device determined by the determination unit to a terminal device;
the device information acquisition unit acquires the device information from the device within a preset reference time after power-on;
the layout information notification unit, when a layout is determined for the device indicated by the device configuration information based on the device information acquired from the device within the reference time by the determination unit, transmits the layout information to the terminal device.
3. The layout information management device according to claim 1. A display unit;
a display control unit that causes the display unit to display layout information indicating the layout of the devices determined by the determination unit,
the device information acquisition unit acquires the device information from the device within a preset reference time after power-on;
the display control unit, when a layout is determined for the device indicated by the device configuration information based on the device information acquired from the device within the reference time by the determination unit, causes the layout information to be displayed on the display unit.
3. The layout information management device according to claim 1. A terminal device;
a device configuration acquisition unit that acquires device configuration information that associates device type information indicating the type of device installed in a building with room identification information that identifies a room in the building in which the device is installed;
a device information acquisition unit that acquires device information including the device type information unique to the device from the device;
a determination unit that determines a layout of each of the devices corresponding to the device information based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information;
a layout information notification unit that transmits layout information indicating the layout of the device determined by the determination unit to the terminal device,
Layout information management system. a step in which the layout information management system acquires equipment configuration information that associates equipment type information indicating the type of equipment installed in a building with room identification information that identifies a room in the building in which the equipment is installed;
a step in which the layout information management system acquires, from the device, device information including the device type information specific to the device;
and a step in which the layout information management system determines a layout of each of the devices corresponding to the device information based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information.
Layout information generation method. Computer,
a device configuration acquisition unit that acquires device configuration information that associates device type information indicating the type of device installed in a building with room identification information that identifies a room in the building in which the device is installed;
a device information acquisition unit that acquires device information including the device type information unique to each of the devices from the devices;
a determination unit that determines a layout of each of the devices corresponding to the device information based on the device configuration information and the device type information included in the device information;
A program to function as a