JP2006129184A - Network electric appliance control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a communication fee by controlling and operating network electric appliances from a portable terminal by radio communication other than a public line in a customer premise. <P>SOLUTION: This network electric appliance control system is provided with: a electric appliance controller 2 that has a communicating means with the outside and controls network electric appliances 3 in accordance with a control instruction received by the communicating means; the network electric appliances connected to the electric appliance controller; a portable terminal 1 that has a communicating means for a public line and a communicating means except the public line and can be connected to the electric appliance controller by the communicating means except the public line; and an ASP server 11 connected to the portable terminal and the electric appliance controller by the public line. The portable terminal 1 transmits a control instruction to the electric appliance controller 2 by the communicating means except the public line to operate the network electric appliances 3 connected to the electric appliance controller 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a network home appliance control system capable of network home appliance control by a portable terminal.

  Conventionally, as a centralized control system for home appliances and home equipment, there is a system that uses a dedicated terminal such as a multi-function remote controller in which control instructions for home appliances are installed in advance. In addition, with the widespread use of mobile phones with internet connection functions, network home appliance control systems that control network home appliances regardless of whether they are outside or in the home using mobile phones as user interface terminals in network home appliance control systems using the Internet There is. However, in the latter conventional network home appliance control system, a public line is used as a communication line regardless of whether in the house or in the house, and thus there is a problem that the user is burdened with an internet connection fee even in the home control.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional technical problem, and uses a portable terminal having wireless communication functions for both a public line and a non-public line, and does not incur an internet connection fee at home control. An object of the present invention is to provide a network home appliance control system that can control network home appliances by communication.

  The network home appliance control system according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a home appliance control device that has a communication means with the outside and controls network home appliances according to a control command received by the communication means, and the home appliance control device. A mobile terminal having a connected network home appliance, a public line communication means and a communication means other than the public line, and connectable to the home appliance control device by the communication means other than the public line, the mobile terminal and the home appliance An ASP server connected by a device control device and a public line, the portable terminal transmits a control command to the home appliance control device by a communication means other than the public line, and the device connected to the home appliance control device The network home appliance control application software for operating the network home appliance is stored.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the network home appliance control system according to the first aspect, the communication means other than the public line of the portable terminal is a wireless communication means using radio waves.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the network home appliance control system according to the first aspect, the ASP server has a user information database in which user information is registered, and the user information database is searched when the portable terminal accesses the ASP server. Then, the login user is specified.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the network home appliance control system according to the third aspect, the ASP server stores unique information of the portable terminal at the first login from the portable terminal, and the portable terminal at the second and subsequent logins. It is characterized in that the user is specified using the unique information.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the network home appliance control system according to the third aspect, the ASP server stores connection information including at least a network address of the home appliance control device in advance, and the connection information is stored as necessary. The portable terminal is downloaded to the portable terminal, and the portable terminal and the home appliance control apparatus are connected using the connection information.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the network home appliance control system according to claim 3, wherein the ASP server stores connection information including at least a network address of a network home appliance connected to the home appliance control device in advance, Connection information is downloaded to the mobile terminal as necessary, and the mobile terminal is operated by the mobile terminal using the connection information.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the network home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the network home appliance control application software stored in the portable terminal is rewritable.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the network home appliance control system according to claim 7, wherein the network home appliance control application software stored in the portable terminal is read from a physical medium such as a memory card. It is characterized by this.

  The invention of claim 9 is the network home appliance control system of claim 7, wherein the network home appliance control application software stored in the mobile terminal is stored in the ASP server and downloaded to the mobile terminal through the public line It is characterized by being made.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the network home appliance control system according to claim 9, wherein the ASP server receives version information of the application software downloaded when the network home appliance control application software is downloaded to a specific mobile terminal. The version information is stored in correspondence with the unique information, the version information is compared when the application software is re-downloaded, and double download of the application software is suppressed.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to control network home appliances from outside the home through the Internet using a portable terminal having both a public line and a non-public line wireless communication function, and there is no internet connection fee in the house. Network home appliances can be controlled and operated by wireless communication, and communication charges for public lines can be saved.

  Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to automatically connect to the home appliance control device without performing connection setting between the portable terminal and the target home appliance control device, and even if the type of network home appliance is changed, the application software It becomes possible to control network home appliances by changing.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, network home appliance control application software can be sold by a dealer or bundled with a network device, and network home appliance control application software can also be sold on the web, making it easy to upgrade, etc. Can be.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a network home appliance control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. An IT home gateway 2 that is a network home appliance control device connected to the Internet broadband network is installed in the house. The IT home gateway 2 incorporates home appliance control software such as ECHONET (registered trademark), for example. When a home appliance control command is transmitted via the Internet or a home network, the IT home gateway 2 The network home appliance 3 connected to the home gateway 2 operates according to this control command.

  The network home appliance 3 is connected by a wired or wireless communication medium such as Ethernet (registered trademark), Bluetooth (registered trademark), or wireless LAN (in this embodiment, connected by Bluetooth), and from the IT home gateway 2 A desired operation is performed by receiving a prescribed control command. The mobile terminal 1 has a second communication means 101 other than the public line such as Bluetooth, wireless LAN, and IrDA in addition to the public line used as a normal telephone line. It is connected to IT Home Gateway 2.

  In addition, there is an ASP (Application Service Provider) server 11 connected to the Internet outside the house, which can be connected from the mobile terminal 1 and a PC connected to the Internet. The ASP server 11 is provided with a user information database (DB) 13. In this database 13, user information is registered in advance by user registration, user information such as a login ID and password to the ASP server 11, and a network address (MAC address) of the IT home gateway 2. The setting information of the network home appliance 3 such as the setting information and the network address, type, and model name of the network home appliance 3 connected to the IT home gateway 2 is stored. The registration information is managed by a relational database or the like, and if the user can be specified by the login ID, the setting information of the IT home gateway 2 and the setting information of the network home appliance 3 can be easily accessed based on the user. The ASP server 11 also manages a home appliance application database 12 that holds control application software for various network home appliances 3 of each company.

  FIG. 2 shows a download sequence of the network home appliance control application software from the ASP server 11. First, the download page of the ASP server 11 is accessed from the portable terminal 1 that can be connected to the Internet. At this time, the ASP server 11 acquires the mobile phone terminal ID (step SQ101). Then, the ASP server 11 refers to the user information DB 13 stored in advance (step SQ102). If the same terminal ID already exists, the ASP server 11 specifies the access user and proceeds to the network home appliance control application software download process (step SQ103). ). If the same ID does not exist, it is determined that the user is a new user, a login screen is transmitted (step SQ104), and the user is prompted to input a user ID and password to the ASP server 11 (step SQ105). If the login is successful, the terminal ID is stored in the user information DB 13 (step SQ106). Thus, by performing a user check with the terminal ID, it is possible to omit the user ID and password input at the time of subsequent login.

  In the network home appliance application software download process, first, the version of the already downloaded application software registered in the network home appliance control application DB 12 of the ASP server 11 is checked (step SQ107). If the download of the application software is new or the version of the downloaded application software is not the latest version, the download process is started (step SQ108). On the other hand, if the version of the downloaded application software is the latest version, the fact is notified to the user (step SQ109) and the download is judged by the user (step SQ110). If the user does not request download, the process ends as it is (step SQ111). After downloading the network home appliance control application software (step SQ113), the ASP server 11 stores the version information of the application software (step SQ114), and the mobile phone 1 stores the downloaded application software and terminates (step SQ113). SQ115).

  By managing the version history of the downloaded application software for each mobile phone 1, unnecessary double downloading of the same version can be prevented, and the Internet connection cost of the mobile phone can be reduced. Become. In addition, since these processes perform transmission / reception of personal information on the Internet, it is desirable to perform encrypted communication represented by SSL.

  FIG. 3 shows an example of a user interface screen at the time of download processing of the network home appliance control application software of the mobile phone 1. FIG. 3A shows a login screen. When the user logs in from this screen, the process proceeds to the page shown in FIG. If the “□□ remote control” button is selected here, the screen proceeds to the screen of FIG. The screen shown in Fig. 3 (c) has three options: "1. What is a remote control", "2. Terms of use" and "3. If selected, the process proceeds to (d) of FIG. 3, the process proceeds to FIG. 3 (e) when “2. Terms of use” is selected, and the process proceeds to FIG. 3 (f) when “3. Here, the download service is started by selecting the “download” button in FIG. 3F, and the ASP server 11 stores the terminal ID.

  FIG. 4 is a download sequence diagram of connection information of the home appliance control apparatus and connection information of the network home appliance. When the network home appliance control application is activated (step SQ201), it is checked whether or not the setting information is stored in the mobile phone 1 (step SQ202). If the setting information is stored, a connection request is automatically issued to the desired IT home gateway 2 (step SQ203). If there is no setting information, a setting information download request is sent to the ASP server. At this time, the terminal ID is also transmitted simultaneously (step SQ204).

  The ASP server 11 that has received the setting information download request identifies the access user from the terminal ID, and uses this as a key for the connection information of the IT home gateway 2 and the connection information of the network home appliance 3 as the home appliance control device in the user information DB 13. An inquiry is made and setting information is generated in accordance with a predetermined format (step SQ205). This setting information includes information necessary for the mobile phone 1 to automatically connect to the IT home gateway 2, as represented by a network address (MAC address), and information necessary for transmission of a network home appliance control command. It is. Then, this setting information is transmitted to the mobile phone 1 (step SQ206), and the mobile phone 1 stores it in itself (step SQ207) and uses it as the automatic connection setting information for the next and subsequent times.

  Normally, it is necessary to manually input connection destination information for network connection. However, according to the network home appliance control system of the present embodiment, it is possible to reduce the labor of manual input, and in particular, the input interface is limited. For some mobile phones, this is a very useful tool.

  Next, when a connection request is transmitted to the IT home gateway 2 (step SQ208), a PIN code (passkey) input is requested (step SQ209) to ensure the security of the Bluetooth communication path, and this is input (step SQ210). Is completed (step SQ211), the GUI screen of the network home appliance control application software is displayed (step SQ212). At this time, by storing the Bluetooth pass key for the IT home gateway 2 in the mobile phone 1, it is possible to save the trouble of inputting the Bluetooth pass key at the next startup.

  Thereafter, the user performs an operation (step SQ213), and when the user transmits a control command from the mobile phone 1 to the IT home gateway 2 (step SQ214), the IT home gateway 2 transmits a control command to the network home appliance 3 (step SQ215). The network home appliance 3 responds with a control result (step SQ216), and the IT home gateway 2 transmits this result to the mobile phone 1 (step SQ217).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the user interface screen of the mobile phone 1 when downloading the connection information of the IT home gateway and the connection information of the network home appliance when there is no setting information in the setting information check. When the “□□ remote control” icon is selected in FIG. 5A and the “Start” button is selected, the screen proceeds to the screen of FIG. 5B, and when the “OK” button is selected, the download in FIG. The screen proceeds to the download completion screen shown in FIG. When the “OK” button in FIG. 5D is selected, the screen advances to the IT home gateway pass key input screen shown in FIG. 5E. When the pass key is input on this screen and the “CONNECT” button is selected, the screen shown in FIG. ) And (g). When the “OK” button is selected in FIG. 5G, the screen is switched to the remote control screen in FIG.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface screen when setting information download fails. FIG. 6A is the same as the screen of FIG. 5C, and if the setting information download fails, the screen proceeds to the screen of FIG. 6B, where “1. Re-download” is selected in the screen. Returning to the screen of FIG. 6 (a) again, selecting “2. End application” ends the network home appliance application software.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface screen when the IT home gateway connection fails. FIG. 7A is the same as the screen of FIG. 5F, and when the connection to the IT home gateway 2 fails, the screen proceeds to the screen of FIG. 7B, where “1. Reconnection” in the screen. 7 is selected again, the screen returns to the screen of FIG. 7A. When “2. Exit application” is selected, the application software is ended.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a user interface screen of the mobile phone 1 when there is setting information in the setting information check. FIG. 8A is the same screen as FIG. 5A. When the “□□ remote control” icon is selected in FIG. 8A and the “Start” button is selected, “IT” in FIG. 8B is displayed. Go directly to the “Connecting to Home Gateway” dialog. The subsequent steps are the same as those shown in FIGS. Further, when the connection to the IT home gateway fails, the process is the same as in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

  FIG. 9 is an example of a user interface screen for air conditioner control displayed on the display of the mobile phone 1 for the network home appliance control application software. The current setting status and the like are confirmed in the display area RG1, and an operation is selected in the operation area RG2.

  As described above, in the embodiment of the present invention, when home control is performed by the mobile phone 1, the running cost is low because the public line is not used. Further, in normal infrared communication, it is necessary to be able to see through, but network home appliances in other rooms can be controlled by using Bluetooth or other radio waves. Further, by specifying a user when accessing the ASP server 11, information suitable for the user's system environment can be transmitted. Further, by storing the terminal-specific information of the mobile phone 1 on the ASP server 11 side, it is possible to identify the user without inputting the user ID / password at the second and subsequent logins. Further, the mobile phone 1 can be automatically connected to the target IT home gateway 2 without setting the connection between the mobile phone 1 and the target IT home gateway 2, and the mobile phone 1 and the target network home appliance. 3, the control signal of the network home appliance 3 can be transmitted.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if the type of the target network home appliance 3 is changed, it is possible to control the network home appliance by changing the network home appliance control application software, and the network home appliance control application software is It can be sold at home appliance stores or bundled with network home appliances. Furthermore, network home appliance control application software can be sold on the web, and upgrades and the like are facilitated.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, unnecessary double download of the network home appliance control application software can be prevented, and the Internet connection fee can be saved in this respect.

  In the above embodiment, the mobile phone 1 is exemplified as a mobile terminal. However, if the mobile terminal has communication functions other than the public line and the public line, the mobile phone 1 is a device having the same function as the mobile phone. It does not matter.

The block diagram of the network household appliance control system of one embodiment of this invention. The sequence diagram which shows the version management of the network household appliance control application software performed between an ASP server and a mobile telephone in the said embodiment, and a download procedure. Explanatory drawing which shows the transition of the GUI screen of a mobile telephone at the time of the download process of the said network household appliance control application software. In the said embodiment, the sequence figure of the network household appliance control process performed among an ASP server, a mobile telephone, IT home gateway, and a network household appliance. Explanatory drawing which shows the transition of the GUI screen of a mobile telephone at the time of download processing of the connection information of IT home gateway and the connection information of a network household appliance when there is no setting information by a setting information check. Explanatory drawing which shows the transition of the GUI screen of a mobile telephone at the time of download failure of setting information. Explanatory drawing which shows the transition of the GUI screen of a mobile telephone at the time of IT home gateway connection failure. Explanatory drawing which shows the transition of the GUI screen of a mobile telephone when there exists setting information by a setting information check. Explanatory drawing which shows the GUI screen for the air-conditioner control displayed on the display of a mobile telephone.

Explanation of symbols

1 Mobile phone 2 IT home gateway 3 Network home appliance 4 Modem 11 ASP server 12 Network home appliance control application database 13 User information database

Claims (10)

Home appliance control device that has external communication means and controls network home appliances according to a control command received by the communication means, network home appliances connected to the home appliance control device, and public line communication means And a communication terminal other than the public line, and a portable terminal connectable to the home appliance control device by a communication means other than the public line, and an ASP server connected to the portable terminal and the home appliance control apparatus via a public line And
The mobile terminal stores network home appliance control application software for operating the network home appliance connected to the home appliance control device by transmitting a control command to the home appliance control device by a communication means other than the public line. A network home appliance control system.   The network home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the communication means other than the public line of the portable terminal is a wireless communication means using radio waves.   2. The ASP server according to claim 1, wherein the ASP server has a user information database in which user information is registered, and the login user is specified by searching the user information database when accessing the ASP server from the portable terminal. Network home appliance control system.   The ASP server stores the unique information of the portable terminal at the first login from the portable terminal, and identifies the user by using the unique information of the portable terminal at the second and subsequent logins. 3. The network home appliance control system according to 3.   The ASP server stores connection information including at least a network address of the home appliance control device in advance, downloads the connection information to the portable terminal as necessary, and uses the connection information to connect the portable terminal and the portable terminal. The network home appliance control system according to claim 3, wherein the home appliance control device is connected.   The ASP server stores in advance connection information including at least a network address of a network home appliance connected to the home appliance control apparatus, and downloads the connection information to the portable terminal as necessary. The network home appliance control system according to claim 3, wherein the portable terminal is operated to operate the network home appliance.   The network home appliance control system according to claim 1, wherein the network home appliance control application software stored in the portable terminal is rewritable.   The network home appliance control system according to claim 7, wherein the network home appliance control application software stored in the portable terminal is read from a physical medium such as a memory card.   8. The network according to claim 7, wherein the network home appliance control application software stored in the mobile terminal is stored in the ASP server and downloaded to the mobile terminal through the public line. Home appliance control system. The ASP server stores the version information of the application software downloaded at the time of downloading the network home appliance control application software with respect to a specific mobile terminal in association with the unique information of the mobile terminal, and the re-downloading of the application software The network home appliance control system according to claim 9, wherein version information is compared to suppress double download of application software.

Images