JP7799460B2 - Air conditioning control device and air conditioning control system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an air conditioner control device and an air conditioner control system .

The air conditioner management device described in Patent Document 1 displays a list of multiple device icons corresponding to the air conditioners to be managed in the management target display area of the management screen. The operating status area of the management screen displays the operating status of the single air conditioner corresponding to the selected device icon.

International Publication No. 2015/111288

The air conditioning management device in Patent Document 1 did not allow managers to easily compare the air environment of each room in the building under management.

The present invention aims to provide an air conditioning management device that allows users to easily compare the air environment of each room in a building under management.

The air conditioning management device of the present invention comprises a display unit, a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a display control unit. The first acquisition unit acquires equipment information indicating which room in a building to be managed each of multiple air conditioners is installed in. The second acquisition unit acquires sensor information detected by a sensor provided in each of the multiple air conditioners. The display control unit controls the display unit to display a list of environmental information indicating the air environment in each room based on the equipment information and the sensor information.

The present invention provides an air conditioning management device that allows easy comparison of the air environment in each room in a building under management.

1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management system including an air conditioner management device according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a server. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a management terminal. FIG. 10 illustrates an example of a device information management table. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sensor information management table. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a management screen.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same or equivalent parts in the drawings will be designated by the same reference symbols and will not be described repeatedly.

First, referring to Figure 1, the configuration of a management system 100 including an air conditioning management device 40 according to an embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management system 100.

As shown in FIG. 1, the management system 100 has m (m is a positive integer) air conditioners 11-1m and n (n is a positive integer) air purifiers 21-2n in a building to be managed. The m air conditioners 11-1m and n air purifiers 21-2n are examples of "multiple air conditioners."

The management system 100 further includes an air conditioner management device 40. The m air conditioners 11-1m and n air purifiers 21-2n are connected to the air conditioner management device 40 via a network 30. The air conditioner management device 40 includes a server 41 and a management terminal 42. The server 41 and the management terminal 42 are connected so that they can communicate with each other.

Next, the configuration of the server 41 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the server 41.

As shown in FIG. 2, the server 41 has a communication unit 50, a control unit 60, and a memory unit 70.

The communication unit 50 communicates with each of the m air conditioners 11-1m and n air purifiers 21-2n via the network 30. The communication unit 50 also communicates with the management terminal 42.

The memory unit 70 includes a storage device and stores data and computer programs. The memory unit 70 includes a main storage device such as a semiconductor memory and an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive. Data stored in the memory unit 70 includes a device information management table 71 and a sensor information management table 72.

The control unit 60 includes a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor of the control unit 60 controls each component of the server 41 by executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 70.

Next, the configuration of the management terminal 42 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the management terminal 42.

As shown in FIG. 3, the management terminal 42 has an operation display unit 80, a communication unit 85, a control unit 90, and a memory unit 95.

The operation display unit 80 is an input and display device for operation by the administrator. The operation display unit 80 includes a touch panel 81. The operation display unit 80 may further include operation buttons. The operation display unit 80 is an example of a "display unit."

The communication unit 85 communicates with the server 41.

The memory unit 95 includes a storage device and stores data and computer programs. The memory unit 95 includes a main storage device such as a semiconductor memory.

The control unit 90 includes a processor such as a CPU. The processor of the control unit 90 controls each component of the management terminal 42 by executing a computer program stored in the storage unit 95. The control unit 60 of the server 41 controls the operation of the operation display unit 80 via the control unit 90 of the management terminal 42.

Next, the device information management table 71 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 4. Figure 4 shows an example of the device information management table 71.

As shown in Figure 4, each data entry in the device information management table 71 includes information on the device ID, device type, floor, room, settings, device abnormality, and maintenance. The floor and room information is an example of "device information" that indicates in which room within the building being managed each of the multiple air conditioners is installed, and is written by the administrator. The settings, device abnormality, and maintenance information are an example of "status information" that indicates the device status of each of the multiple air conditioners.

Next, the sensor information management table 72 will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 5. Figure 5 shows an example of the sensor information management table 72.

As shown in FIG. 5, each data entry in the sensor information management table 72 includes information on the device ID, room temperature, humidity, and air cleanliness. The room temperature, humidity, and air cleanliness information correspond to examples of "sensor information" detected by sensors installed in each of the multiple air conditioners.

As shown in FIG. 2, the processor of the control unit 60 functions as a first acquisition unit 61, a second acquisition unit 62, a display control unit 63, an environment determination unit 64, a reception unit 65, a third acquisition unit 66, a maintenance determination unit 67, and a report generation unit 68.

The first acquisition unit 61 acquires "device information" from the device information management table 71.

The second acquisition unit 62 acquires "sensor information" from m air conditioners 11 to 1m and n air purifiers 21 to 2n. The "sensor information" acquired by the second acquisition unit 62 is written to the sensor information management table 72.

The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display a list of "environmental information" indicating the air environment in each room based on the "device information" and "sensor information."

For example, if an air conditioner and an air purifier are installed in a room and each obtains the room temperature, a representative value is used as the room temperature displayed as environmental information. The representative value may be calculated, for example, by obtaining the average value from sensor information from multiple devices. Using sensor information from multiple devices makes it easier to detect device malfunctions. Different devices may also be used depending on the type of sensor information. For example, sensor information from a device that detects temperatures close to the floor surface may be used preferentially as environmental information for room temperature. This makes it possible to more faithfully display the environment that the user in the space actually feels.

The environment determination unit 64 determines whether the air environment in the room needs to be improved based on the "environmental information." The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display the determination result of the environment determination unit 64. In particular, the display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display a room icon corresponding to the room, and controls the operation display unit 80 to display the determination result of the environment determination unit 64 in the color of the room icon.

The reception unit 65 receives collective operations for the air conditioners installed in the rooms corresponding to the room icons displayed on the operation display unit 80.

The third acquisition unit 66 acquires "status information" from m air conditioners 11-1m and n air purifiers 21-2n. The "status information" acquired by the third acquisition unit 66 is written to the device information management table 71. The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display the "status information."

The maintenance determination unit 67 determines whether maintenance work is required for the air conditioner based on the "status information." The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display the determination results of the maintenance determination unit 67.

The report generation unit 68 generates a report showing the history of changes in the air environment of a specified room in a managed building.

Next, the management screen 200 displayed on the operation display unit 80 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Figure 6 shows an example of the management screen 200.

As shown in FIG. 6, the management screen 200 includes a display format switching area 210, a display range switching area 220, a managed object display area 230, a warning area 240, and a collective operation area 250.

The display format switching area 210 includes a floor map icon, a room list icon, and an equipment list icon. The floor map icon is an icon for displaying a list of room icons in floor map format in the managed object display area 230. The room list icon is an icon for displaying a list of room icons in a matrix format in the managed object display area 230. The equipment list icon is an icon for displaying a list of equipment icons corresponding to air conditioners in a matrix format in the managed object display area 230. In the illustrated example, the room list icon has been selected by touch operation and is displayed highlighted.

The display range switching area 220 includes an all icon, a 1st floor west icon, a 1st floor east icon, a 2nd floor icon, and a 3rd floor icon. The administrator can use the icons displayed in the display range switching area 220 to specify a specific floor or area. The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display a list of "environment information" for only the rooms included in the specified floor or specified area in the building under management. In the illustrated example, the 1st floor east icon has been selected by touch operation and is displayed highlighted.

The managed object display area 230 includes room icons or equipment icons, depending on the selection made in the display format switching area 210. In the illustrated example, the managed object display area 230 includes a first room icon 231, a second room icon 232, a third room icon 233, a fourth room icon 234, a fifth room icon 235, and a sixth room icon 236. The first room icon 231 to the sixth room icon 236 each indicate "environmental information" and "equipment operation information." For example, the first room icon 231 indicates that the temperature of Room 1, located in the east area on the first floor, is 20°C, the humidity is 75%, the air cleanliness level (air quality) is 4, and the air conditioner and air purifier are operating.

As mentioned above, the environment determination unit 64 determines whether or not the room's air environment needs to be improved based on the "environmental information." The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display the environment determination unit 64's determination result in the color of the room icon. In the illustrated example, the room temperature exceeds the first threshold, so it is determined that improvement of the air environment is necessary, and the third room icon 233 and the fourth room icon 234 are displayed in red. Furthermore, the room temperature falls below the second threshold, so it is determined that improvement of the air environment is necessary, and the sixth room icon 236 is displayed in blue. The first room icon 231 and the second room icon 232 are determined that improvement of the air environment is not necessary, and are displayed in green. The fifth room icon 235 is displayed in gray because the air conditioner is not operating.

When the administrator touches any of the first room icon 231 to sixth room icon 236, the management screen 200 switches to an equipment operation screen (not shown). On the equipment operation screen, the administrator can remotely operate the air conditioner installed in the selected room.

The warning area 240 includes a temperature monitoring icon 241, an air quality monitoring icon 242, an error occurrence icon 243, and a maintenance/consumable replacement icon 244.

The display control unit 63 controls the operation and display unit 80 to display an environmental information icon corresponding to "environmental information." Furthermore, when the environment determination unit 64 determines that the air environment in any room needs to be improved, the display control unit 63 controls the operation and display unit 80 to highlight the specific environmental information icon corresponding to the specific environmental information determined to need improvement. The temperature monitoring icon 241 and the air quality monitoring icon 242 each correspond to an example of an "environmental information icon."

The temperature monitoring icon 241 is an environmental information icon corresponding to the room temperature. If the environment determination unit 64 determines that the temperature of any room needs to be improved, the display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to highlight the temperature monitoring icon 241 in red.

The air quality monitoring icon 242 is an environmental information icon corresponding to the air cleanliness of the room. If the environment determination unit 64 determines that the air cleanliness of any room needs to be improved, the display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to highlight the air quality monitoring icon 242 in red.

When a specific environmental information icon is selected, the display control unit 63 controls the display so that only room icons corresponding to specific rooms determined to require improvement in the air environment are displayed in the managed object display area 230. At this time, even if the display format of the room icons in the managed object display area 250 is floor map format, the display control unit 63 automatically switches this to a matrix format.

The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display a status information icon corresponding to the "status information." Furthermore, when the maintenance determination unit 67 determines that maintenance work is required for any of the air conditioners, the display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to highlight a specific status information icon corresponding to the specific status information for which maintenance work has been determined to be required. The error occurrence icon 243 and the maintenance/consumable replacement icon 244 each correspond to an example of a "status information icon."

The error occurrence icon 243 is a status information icon corresponding to the presence or absence of an equipment abnormality. If the maintenance determination unit 67 determines that maintenance work related to an equipment abnormality is required for any of the air conditioners, the display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to highlight the error occurrence icon 243 in red.

The maintenance/consumable replacement icon 244 is a status information icon that indicates whether maintenance is required. If the maintenance determination unit 67 determines that any of the air conditioners requires maintenance work, the display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to highlight the maintenance/consumable replacement icon 244 in red.

When a specific status information icon is selected, the display control unit 63 controls the display so that only the room icon corresponding to the specific room in which the specific air conditioner determined to require maintenance work is installed is displayed in the managed object display area 230. At this time, the display control unit 63 automatically switches the display format of the room icons in the managed object display area 250 to a floor map format, even if the display format is a matrix format, in consideration of the convenience of the maintenance work.

The collective operation area 250 includes an air conditioner icon 251 and an air purifier icon 252.

When the administrator touches the air conditioner icon 251 or the air purifier icon 252, a bulk operation screen (not shown) pops up on the management screen 200. On the bulk operation screen, the administrator can perform bulk operations on the air conditioners installed in the rooms corresponding to the room icons displayed in the managed object display area 230. Specifically, when the administrator touches the air conditioner icon 251, the reception unit 65 accepts the bulk operation for the air conditioners installed in the rooms corresponding to the room icons displayed in the managed object display area 230. When the administrator touches the air purifier icon 252, the reception unit 65 accepts the bulk operation for the air purifiers installed in the rooms corresponding to the room icons displayed in the managed object display area 230.

The management screen 200 further includes a settings icon 260 and a report icon 270.

When the administrator touches the settings icon 260, the management screen 200 switches to a settings screen (not shown). On the settings screen, the administrator can determine setting values such as the first and second thresholds referenced by the environment determination unit 64.

When the administrator touches the report icon 270, the management screen 200 switches to a report screen (not shown). As described above, the report generation unit 68 generates a report showing the history of changes in the air environment of a specified room in a building under management. The display control unit 63 controls the operation display unit 80 to display the report generated by the report generation unit 68 in a color corresponding to the color of the room icon.

According to this embodiment, an air conditioning management device 40 is provided that can easily compare the air environment of each room in a building under management.

When the display format or display range of room icons in the managed object display area 230 is switched, the display control unit 63 may change the display mode of specific room icons among the room icons that should be displayed after the switch. For example, the display control unit 63 controls the room icon to temporarily stand out, corresponding to a specific room determined to require improvement in the air environment. For example, the display control unit 63 controls the display mode of a specific room icon among the room icons that should be displayed after the switch to be highlighted, with a short delay after the switch in the display format or display range of the room icons in the managed object display area 230. This allows the user to visually confirm the change. This makes it easier for the user to recognize the existence of rooms that require improvement. The display control unit 63 also controls the room icon to temporarily stand out, corresponding to a specific room in which a specific air conditioner determined to require maintenance work is installed.

The above description of the embodiments describes preferred embodiments of the present invention, and therefore may include various technically preferable limitations. However, the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to these aspects unless there is a specific description limiting the present invention. In other words, the components in the above embodiments can be appropriately replaced with existing components, etc., and various variations, including combinations with other existing components, are possible. The description of the above embodiments does not limit the content of the invention described in the claims.

This invention can be used in the field of air conditioning control devices.

11-1m Air conditioner (air conditioner)
21-2n Air purifier (air conditioner)
40 Air conditioner management device 41 Server 42 Management terminal 60 Control unit 61 First acquisition unit 62 Second acquisition unit 63 Display control unit 64 Environment determination unit 65 Reception unit 66 Third acquisition unit 67 Maintenance determination unit 68 Report generation unit 70 Storage unit 71 Device information management table 72 Sensor information management table 80 Operation display unit (display unit)
200 Management screen 210 Display format switching area 220 Display range switching area 230 Managed object display area 231 to 236 First to sixth room icons (room icons)
240 Caution area 241 Temperature monitoring icon (environmental information icon)
242 Air quality monitoring icon (environmental information icon)
243 Error occurrence icon (status information icon)
244 Maintenance/Consumables replacement icon (status information icon)
250 Bulk operation area 251 Air conditioner icon 252 Air purifier icon

Claims (12)

A display unit;
a first acquisition unit that acquires device information indicating in which room in a building to be managed each of the plurality of air conditioners is installed;
a second acquisition unit that acquires sensor information detected by a sensor provided in each of the plurality of air conditioners;
a display control unit that controls the display unit to display a list of a plurality of room icons corresponding to each room and including environmental information indicating the air environment of each of the rooms, based on the device information and the sensor information; and
an environment determination unit that determines whether or not improvement of the air environment is necessary for each of the rooms based on the environmental information of each of the rooms;
The reception department and
Equipped with
the display control unit controls the display unit to display only the room icons corresponding to the plurality of rooms when the environment determination unit determines that improvement of the specific air environment is necessary in the plurality of rooms;
The reception unit is an air conditioner management device that receives a collective operation for the air conditioners installed in the plurality of rooms corresponding to the room icons displayed on the display unit . The air conditioning management device of claim 1, wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display a list of the environmental information for only rooms included in a specified floor or area of the building. The air conditioner management device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display the determination result of the environment determination unit. The air conditioning management device according to claim 3 , wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display the determination result of the environment determination unit in the color of a room icon. The air conditioning management device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to highlight a specific environmental information icon corresponding to the specific air environment . further comprising a third acquisition unit that acquires status information indicating the device status of each of the plurality of air conditioners;
The air conditioner management device according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display the status information. a maintenance determination unit that determines whether maintenance work is required for the air conditioner based on the status information;
The air conditioner management device according to claim 6 , wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display the determination result of the maintenance determination unit. The air conditioning management device of claim 7, wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display a status information icon corresponding to the status information, and when the maintenance determination unit determines that maintenance work is required for any of the air conditioners, controls the display unit to highlight a specific status information icon corresponding to the specific status information for which maintenance work is determined to be required . The air conditioning management device of claim 8, wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display only a room icon corresponding to a specific room in which a specific air conditioner that has been determined to require maintenance work is installed when the specific status information icon is selected. The air conditioning control device according to claim 4 , further comprising a report generation unit that generates a report indicating a history of changes in the air environment of a specified room in the building. The air conditioner management device according to claim 10 , wherein the display control unit controls the display unit to display the report generated by the report generation unit in a color corresponding to the color of the room icon. an acquisition unit that acquires environmental information indicating the air environment of each room in a building to be managed;
a display control unit that displays a list of a plurality of room icons corresponding to the respective rooms and including the environmental information of each of the rooms on a display unit;
an environment determination unit that determines whether or not improvement of the air environment is necessary for each of the rooms based on the environmental information of each of the rooms;
The reception department and
Equipped with
when the environment determination unit determines that improvement of the specific air environment in a plurality of rooms is necessary, the display control unit displays only the room icons corresponding to the plurality of rooms on the display unit;
The reception unit receives a collective operation for the air conditioners installed in the plurality of rooms corresponding to the room icons displayed on the display unit.
Air conditioner management system.