JP6200668B2 - Device control apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a device control apparatus and a method for operating a plurality of energy devices installed in a building by remote control (hereinafter referred to as remote control).

Generally, as a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote controller) that operates various energy consuming devices and energy creation devices such as air conditioners, lighting fixtures, storage batteries, and power generators installed in buildings such as houses, it is broadly divided into physical Two types are used: remote control and software remote control.
The physical remote controller is a remote controller for each energy device including a casing having an operation surface and a display screen, and is installed on a wall of a building room for each energy device. The software-like remote controller controls the energy device from a personal computer or a portable information terminal via a home network or the like.

The physical remote control requires installation of various remote controls in a limited space on the wall, so the construction is complicated, and once the remote control is installed, the operation location is limited to the installation location. The software remote control is advantageous in that it does not have such a drawback.
However, the conventional software-like remote control has a screen configuration for each device to be controlled, and when a different device is controlled, a screen transition is accompanied. Therefore, improvement in operability is desired. In addition, the remote control program differs depending on the manufacturer of the device, and when devices from different manufacturers coexist in the building, there are many devices that cannot be operated by the remote controller.

Therefore, a GUI screen corresponding to a network home appliance installed in the house is provided from an ASP server outside the house that can be connected to the home server via the Internet, and from an operation terminal installed in the house. A technology that enables control of home appliances has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).
In Patent Document 1, when a network home appliance is newly connected to a home network in a house, the home server detects it and receives information on a newly entered home appliance and can connect to the home server via the Internet. Information (manufacturer name, product name, model, ID, etc.) of the newly entered home appliance is transferred to the provided ASP server outside the house.

  When operating and controlling home appliances from an operation terminal in a house, the home server receives an operation on the operation terminal, accesses the ASP server, and is connected to the home network from the operation terminal from the ASP server. Provided with a GUI screen that allows access to other home appliances. In addition, when an operation request is transmitted from the operation terminal by specifying a home appliance, the operation request is transmitted again to the linked ASP server via the home server, and the ASP server receives the GUI of the corresponding home appliance registered in advance. Call the service screen and send it to the operation terminal.

Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-346188 (paragraphs 0028, 0030, 0031)

However, in the invention of Patent Document 1, since it is necessary to acquire information on the GUI service screen of the screen for controlling the home appliance from the ASP server outside the house each time, for example, when the Internet connection is disconnected, the home appliance Could not be operated.
Equipped with an easy-to-operate screen that does not involve screen transitions for each device, and even when home appliances from different manufacturers are installed in a building, the operation screen for all devices can be provided as an integrated system. The equipment control device was not known.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to integrate the operation screens of all the devices even when home appliances from different manufacturers are installed in a building. An object of the present invention is to provide a device control apparatus and method that can be provided as a system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a device control apparatus having a screen with good operability that does not involve screen transition for each device and a method thereof.

According to the apparatus control apparatus of claim 1, the object is an apparatus control apparatus that controls a plurality of energy devices in a building connected via an in-building network using a remote control (hereinafter, remote control) operation screen. In addition, a grid pattern storage unit that stores a grid pattern in which rectangular unit grids are arranged in a grid with a gap, a remote control unit for each device group, and an object of a screen component that displays an operation state are stored. The screen part object storage means and the grid pattern storage means acquire the grid pattern and obtain a plurality of screen part objects from the screen part object storage means, and the lines forming the outer periphery of the object are: By a single unit grid or a collection of adjacent unit grids To match the lines forming the outer periphery of the region formed by displaying on the screen, the screen component for each of the equipment group, remote operation screen displaying multiple side by side in a single of the remote control screen Each of the display means, the remote control operation means, the operation object storage means for storing an object in the operation state display field for displaying the operation state, and the remote control operation means and the operation state display field for the plurality of energy devices A display for storing, for each of the screen parts, setting means for setting whether or not to display the screen parts, and whether or not the remote control operation means and the display of the operation state display column set by the setting means are necessary The remote control operation screen display means refers to the display necessity storage means using information for specifying the screen parts as a key. The remote control means for the plurality of energy devices to be displayed on the screen parts set to be displayed by the setting means and the specific information of the operation state display column are acquired, and the acquired remote control operation means and Using the specific information in the operation state display field as a key, the operation object storage unit is referred to, and the remote control operation unit and the operation state display field object of the plurality of energy devices set to be displayed by the setting unit are displayed. By acquiring and displaying on the corresponding screen parts, the remote control means and the operation state display column of the plurality of energy devices can be visually recognized without screen transition for each energy device. And displaying them side by side on the single remote control operation screen .

According to the device control method of claim 4 , the object is a device control method for controlling a plurality of energy devices in a building connected via an intra-building network using a remote control operation screen, wherein the unit is a rectangular unit. The grid pattern is obtained from grid pattern storage means for storing grid patterns arranged in a grid with a gap, and remote control operation means for each device group and screen part objects for displaying the operation state are obtained. A region obtained by acquiring a plurality of objects of the screen components from the stored screen component object storage means, and a line forming the outer periphery of the object is formed by a single unit grid or an assembly of adjacent unit grids By displaying on the screen so as to coincide with the line forming the outer periphery of each device group, The serial screen component comprises a display procedure of the remote operation screen displaying a plurality arranged in a single said remote operation screen, display procedure of the remote control screen, the remote control unit and the operating state of the plurality of energy devices For each of the display fields, whether to display on the screen part is set by setting means, and the remote control operation means set by the setting means and the operation state are set using the information for specifying the screen part as a key The display of whether or not the operation status display field for displaying is displayed on the screen component set to be displayed by the setting unit with reference to the display necessity storage unit that stores for each screen component. Acquire specific information of the remote control operation means and the operation state display column of a plurality of energy devices, and specify the acquired specific information of the remote control operation means and the operation state display column The remote control operation means and the operation of the plurality of energy devices set to be displayed by the setting means with reference to the remote control operation means and the operation object storage means for storing the object in the operation state display column By acquiring the object in the state display column and displaying it on the corresponding screen part, the remote control means and the operation state display column of the plurality of energy devices are not accompanied by a screen transition for each energy device. This is solved by displaying the images side by side on the single remote control operation screen in a state where they can be visually recognized .

In this way, since the grid pattern is formed by arranging rectangular unit grids in a grid pattern with a gap, the grid pattern is obtained from the grid pattern storage means, and a plurality of screen component objects are stored in the screen component object storage. The line obtained from the means and forming the outer periphery of the object is displayed on the screen so as to coincide with the line forming the outer periphery of the region formed by a single unit grid or an assembly of adjacent unit grids. Thus, a plurality of screen parts can be displayed on the screen with a gap just by arranging and displaying a plurality of screen parts for each device group on the screen.
Therefore, if control screens of various devices are prepared as screen components, the screen components of these devices can be displayed side by side on a single screen, and a screen with good operability that does not involve screen transitions for each device, etc. It can be set as the equipment control apparatus provided.
In recent years, manufacturers of energy equipment have tended to adopt standards for equipment communication protocols, which makes it easier to unify the control signal system of each equipment connected to the building network. This makes it easy to control each device in the building from the device controller. Combined with the development of such a technical environment, the utility value of a technology for centrally performing control and operation information display of a plurality of devices in a building from one remote control operation screen, such as the present invention, is further increased. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device control device that is dramatically improved in operability as compared with a conventional remote control device.
In addition, the user or the like can set the operation means displayed on the screen parts for operating each device and the display of the operation state. Therefore, since devices that are rarely operated from the remote control operation screen can be omitted from the remote control operation screen, the remote control operation screen can be set according to the frequency of use, and the remote control operation screen according to the user's preference is obtained. be able to.

At this time, as described in claim 2, the display unit of the remote control operation screen receives information indicating the setting and operating state of the device from the corresponding device via the in-building network, and the information It is preferable to display the remote control operation means and the operation state by using.
As described above, since the information indicating the setting of the device and the operating state is received via the in-building network, the information indicating the latest setting of the device and the operating state can be quickly and easily acquired each time. A time difference is unlikely to occur with the remote control operation screen, and a remote control operation screen with good response can be obtained.

At this time, as described in claim 3 , when receiving a request signal for requesting display of the remote control operation screen, the display unit of the remote control operation screen acquires the grid pattern and the objects of the plurality of screen parts. It is preferable that the remote control operation screen is displayed by displaying a plurality of the screen parts for each device group side by side on the screen.
Since it is configured in this way, each time the user displays the remote control operation screen, the grid pattern and the object are arranged, so after the equipment in the building is newly installed or after the display setting is changed However, there is no need to change settings when the remote control operation screen is displayed, and there is no complication when displaying the remote control operation screen.

According to the present invention, since the grid pattern is formed by arranging rectangular unit grids in a grid pattern with a gap, the grid pattern is acquired from the grid pattern storage unit, and an object of a plurality of screen components is displayed on the screen component. Acquired from the object storage means and displayed on the screen so that the line forming the outer periphery of the object coincides with the line forming the outer periphery of the region formed by a single unit grid or an assembly of adjacent unit grids By doing so, it is possible to display a plurality of screen parts on the screen with a gap just by arranging and displaying a plurality of screen parts for each device group on the screen.
Therefore, if control screens of various devices are prepared as screen components, the screen components of these devices can be displayed side by side on a single screen, and a screen with good operability that does not involve screen transitions for each device, etc. It can be set as the equipment control apparatus provided.
In recent years, manufacturers of energy equipment have tended to adopt standards for equipment communication protocols, which makes it easier to unify the control signal system of each equipment connected to the building network. This makes it easy to control each device in the building from the device controller. Combined with the development of such a technical environment, the utility value of a technology for centrally performing control and operation information display of a plurality of devices in a building from one remote control operation screen, such as the present invention, is further increased. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device control device that is dramatically improved in operability as compared with a conventional remote control device.

1 is an explanatory diagram of an overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the remote control top screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the grid pattern which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the remote control top screen table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the setting screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the display item table which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the display process of the remote control top screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the screen component name screen which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the detailed operation screen for every air-conditioner based on one Embodiment of this invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the structure demonstrated below does not limit this invention, Of course, it can change variously along the meaning of this invention.
<Energy equipment control system>
The energy equipment control system (hereinafter referred to as this system) S of the present embodiment is a terminal in the house H under control of the home server 10 as a equipment control device for each of the energy equipment installed in the house H as a building. This is a system that controls using a remote controller (hereinafter referred to as a remote control) top screen 100 displayed on a computer (hereinafter referred to as a terminal) 30.
In this specification, energy equipment includes both energy consuming equipment such as lighting, air conditioners, equipment, and storage batteries, and energy creation equipment such as solar batteries, and is hereinafter simply referred to as equipment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the present system S includes a home network constructed in a house H and controlled by the home server 10, and a terminal computer 30 (hereinafter referred to as “communication”) connected to the home network via the home server 10. Terminal 30) and each device 1-5.
The home network is configured by, for example, a wired IP network using an Ethernet (registered trademark) cable or a wireless IP network using IEEE 802.1x or Bluetooth (registered trademark).
In the system S, when a device is installed in the house H, the device is automatically recognized, and registration processing to the home server 10 is performed. A device once registered in the home server 10 can be controlled via a home network from a remote control screen displayed on the screen of the terminal 30.

  The home server 10 is the center of the system S, and passes data and control signals to and from communication target devices (for example, the devices 1 to 5 and the terminal 30) existing in the house H through the home network. That is, the home server 10 can communicate with a device used in the house H through the home network and control the operation state of the device. Here, the operation state is a concept indicating items that can be controlled with respect to the operation of the device, such as the start / stop (on / off) of the device, the operation mode such as cooling and heating, and the operation management value such as the set temperature.

Further, the home server 10 has a function of generating display data for causing the terminal 30 to display a remote control screen for controlling each device in the house H and transmitting the display data to the terminal 30.
As shown in FIG. 1, the home server 10 includes a CPU 10a, a ROM 10b, a RAM 10c, a communication interface (indicated as a communication I / F in FIG. 1) 10d, and an HDD 10e as main hardware components. Various programs, tables, object data, and the like are stored. Then, when the program is executed by the CPU 10a, the functions of the home server 10 described above are exhibited.

The programs stored in the HDD 10e include a communication program, a device control program, a device recognition program, an operation check program, and a display data generation program.
The communication program is a program for communicating with a device that is communicably connected to the home server 10 via a home network and exchanging data with the device. As shown in FIG. 1, the home server 10 according to the present embodiment is connected to the Internet 12 via a router 11, and is connected to an external server (not shown) existing outside the house H by the communication program. It is also possible to exchange data between them.

The device control program is a program for remotely controlling devices in the house H through a home network. Specifically, the device control program switches the operation state according to the conditions specified by the user toward the device specified as the control target by the user. A control signal for output.
The device recognition program is a program for automatically recognizing a device that is communicably connected to the home server 10.

The operation check program is a program for inspecting whether or not the operation state of the device is normally switched when the device is remotely controlled. More specifically, when the operation check program is executed, a designation operation for designating a device to be inspected can be received. When the operation confirmation program receives the designation operation, the operation confirmation program activates the device control program described above, and causes the device control program to output a control signal toward the device designated as the inspection target. Thereafter, an inspector (for example, a construction company) confirms whether or not the operation state of the device is normally switched according to the control signal, and the operation confirmation program receives the confirmation result.
In addition, the HDD 10e of the home server 10 stores a device setting information table to be stored by associating information such as the identification number of each device and an arrangement location, the identification information of each device, model information, control function information, and the like. Stores a device information table.

  Further, the HDD 10 e of the home server 10 includes a grid pattern file for designating display positions and display sizes of a plurality of display objects displayed on the remote control top screen 100 of FIG. 2 and a screen component 110 included in the remote control top screen 100. , 120, 130, a remote control top screen component table, a display item table for storing display items of the screen components 110, 120, 130 included in the remote control top screen 100 and display settings of the display items, and a plurality of display item tables An object folder including display objects and a background screen folder are stored.

The grid pattern file is a file that stores the grid pattern 200 shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the grid pattern 200 of the present embodiment includes a square unit grid 210 with a predetermined width in a rectangular area having four sides located at a predetermined distance from the four sides of the remote control top screen 100. It consists of a pattern that is arranged side by side with a gap 211 therebetween.
That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the remote control top screen 100 has a coordinate system in which the right to right direction from the upper right to the X axis and the front lower direction to the Y axis are configured, and the X and Y directions from the origin (0, 0). The grids are arranged from the positions of the coordinates (53 px, 74 px) separated by 53 px and 74 px, respectively. Each grid is a square having a length of 83 px in the X and Y directions, and is arranged vertically and horizontally with a gap of 22 px in width.

  In the present embodiment, the screen components 110, 120, and 130 are rectangular, and are positioned on the grid pattern 200 by specifying the coordinates of the upper left corners 110a, 120a, and 130a and the lower right corners 110b, 120b, and 130b. Is identified.

The upper left corners 110a, 120a, and 130a can be arranged only at the position of the upper left corner 210a (X1, Y1) of each unit grid 210. X1 and Y1 are expressed by the following equations.
X1 = a + n1 * (b + c) (px)
However, a: Distance from the origin to the first unit grid 210 in the X-axis direction (53 px in this embodiment)
b: Length of the unit grid 210 in the X-axis direction (83 px in this embodiment)
c: Length of the gap 211 in the X-axis direction (22 px in this embodiment)
n1: 0 or more and an integer less than or equal to the number along the X axis of the unit grid 210 (in this embodiment, an integer of 0 to 7)
Y1 = d + n1 ′ × (e + f) (px)
Where d: distance from the origin to the first unit grid 210 in the Y-axis direction (74 px in this embodiment)
e: Length of the unit grid 210 in the Y-axis direction (83 px in this embodiment)
f: Length of the gap 211 in the XY axis direction (22 px in this embodiment)
n1 ′: an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to the number along the Y axis of the unit grid 210 (in this embodiment, an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 5)

The lower right corners 110b, 120b, and 130b can be arranged only at the position of the lower right corner 210b (X2, Y2) of each unit grid 210. X2 and Y2 are expressed by the following equations.
X2 = a + b + n1 * (b + c) (px)
However, a: Distance from the origin to the first unit grid 210 in the X-axis direction (53 px in this embodiment)
b: Length of the unit grid 210 in the X-axis direction (83 px in this embodiment)
c: Length of the gap 211 in the X-axis direction (22 px in this embodiment)
n1: 0 or more and an integer less than or equal to the number along the X axis of the unit grid 210 (in this embodiment, an integer of 0 to 7)
Y2 = d + e + n1 ′ × (e + f) (px)
Where d: distance from the origin to the first unit grid 210 in the Y-axis direction (74 px in this embodiment)
e: Length of the unit grid 210 in the Y-axis direction (83 px in this embodiment)
f: Length of the gap 211 in the XY axis direction (22 px in this embodiment)
n1 ′: an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to the number along the Y axis of the unit grid 210 (in this embodiment, an integer greater than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 5)

The remote control top screen component table of FIG. 4 includes screen component identification information that identifies screen components 110, 120, and 130 to be included in the remote control top screen 100, display settings that indicate whether to display the screen components, and It includes a display start point and a display end point, an object name of a screen part name to be displayed before the remote control top screen 100 is displayed, and detailed screen identification information for transitioning to a detailed screen.
The display start point and the display end point determine the setting value of the display position of the screen component on the screen. The display start point is a value that specifies the upper left coordinate of the screen component, and the display end point is a value that specifies the lower right coordinate. Only the values X1, Y1) and (X2, Y2) can be specified.
For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the storage battery screen component 110 has a start point of (53 px, 74 px) and an end point of (451 px, 367 px). They are displayed in a range that covers a total of 12 grid areas in the Y direction.

  In addition, the display setting indicating whether to display the screen parts, the display start point, and the display end point are set in advance by default, but the screen part display setting field 310 and the screen part layout change screen of the setting screen 300 in FIG. The user can change a screen component layout change screen (not shown) displayed by clicking the display button 320.

The display item table of FIG. 6 is a table in which the display items of each screen and the setting of whether or not to display the display items are registered, and information set by the user on the setting screen 300 of FIG. As items, screen identification information for specifying screen components, display items, and display contents in the items are provided.
The object folder stores objects of screen parts 110, 120, and 130 to be included in the remote control top screen 100 and objects of display items displayed on the screen parts 110, 120, and 130. Each object stores the identification information of the object as the name of the file.

  The background screen folder stores data of the background screen of the remote control screen. A background screen is registered in the background screen folder by default, but the user registers a background screen on a background setting screen (not shown) displayed by clicking the background setting button 140 on the remote control top screen 100 of FIG. Then, the background screen data is registered in the background screen folder.

  A plurality of devices according to the present embodiment are installed in the house H. In FIG. 1, only the air conditioner 1, the air conditioner 2, the illumination 3, the illumination 4, and the storage battery 5 among the devices used in the house H are illustrated for the purpose of facilitating the explanation. However, the example illustrated in FIG. 1 is merely an example of a device used in the house H. Of course, more devices than the device illustrated in FIG. It may be controllable.

  Each of the devices is arranged at a predetermined setting position in the house H, communicates with the home server 10 at the setting position, and receives a control signal output from the home server 10. Here, the set position is determined in advance at the stage of examining the layout before starting the construction of the house H.

  Each device according to the present embodiment is automatically recognized on the home server 10 side when connected to the home server 10 so as to be communicable. Specifically, the equipment including the air conditioners 1 and 2 and the lighting 3 and 4 and the storage battery 5 is equipment that adopts the standard called ECHONET standard proposed by the ECHONET (Echonet) consortium, or a standard based on the standard. It is the equipment that has been adopted. Such a device is automatically recognized on the home server 10 side when connected to the home server 10 in a communicable manner according to the ECHONET standard, and further used in the house H. Are registered in the home server 10. Here, as a technique for automatically recognizing and registering a device, a known technique (for example, Plug and Play (registered trademark) technique) can be used.

  In this embodiment, when installing a device that does not employ the ECHONET standard or a standard compliant with the standard, control information, function information, and the like are manually registered in the storage unit of the home server 10, and the home server 10 By being communicably connected to the home server 10, the home server 10 automatically recognizes it.

  The terminal 30 is an information processing terminal used by the user in the house H, has a browsing function, and is communicably connected to the home server 10 via the home network. Further, the terminal 30 displays information indicated by the data from the home server 10 on the display. That is, the terminal 30 displays the remote control top screen 100 or the like for controlling each device on the display.

<Automatic registration to home server 10>
Automatic registration of each device to the home server 10 is executed according to the following flow.
In designing and building the house H, the house maker examines the specifications of the home network based on the equipment configuration in the house H, option settings, and the like. Subsequently, a drawing is created based on the specifications of the adopted network configuration, the equipment configuration in the house H, and the like.

  Then, based on the created drawing, equipment installation work is performed. In this construction, a house maker and an electrician perform electrical wiring in the house H and install equipment. At this time, the home server 10 and the terminal 30 are also installed.

When the installation work of the equipment by the housing manufacturer is completed, the person in charge of the housing manufacturer inspects the connection, wiring, presence / absence of energization, operation, etc. of the equipment.
Next, the person in charge of the house maker connects an inspection terminal (not shown) to the home server 10 and performs connection and operation check between each device and the home server 10.
In this operation confirmation, first, when a predetermined operation is performed on the inspection terminal, a list of devices that are candidates for operation confirmation is displayed on the operation confirmation screen of the inspection terminal.
When any of the listed devices is selected on the screen, a device-specific operation confirmation screen for that device is displayed. When a control signal output button (not shown) is clicked on the operation confirmation screen for each device, the inspection terminal requests the home server 10 to execute control, and the home server 10 that has received this request changes the operating state. A control signal to be switched is output to the device designated as the inspection target.

  The inspector goes to the place where the device designated as the inspection target is arranged and confirms whether or not the operation state has been switched normally. Here, if the device designated as the inspection target is a normal device, the control signal is received through the home network, and the operation state is normally switched according to the control signal. Judge that the operation has been confirmed. On the other hand, if the operation state of the device is not switched normally due to the reason that the device itself is defective, the device is re-installed and then inspected again.

  Thereafter, the inspector inputs the set position of the device for which the operation has been confirmed to be performed in an unillustrated arrangement location input field displayed on the device-specific operation confirmation screen.

After that, when a completion button (not shown) displayed on the operation confirmation screen for each device is pressed, input data in the placement location input field and data indicating the date and time when the completion button is pressed are generated on the inspection terminal side. These data are transmitted to the home server 10 together with a unique identification number of the device.
Upon receiving these pieces of information, the home server 10 registers them in the device setting information table.

When registration of the home server 10 in the device setting information table is completed, the home server 10 automatically performs initial registration of model information and control function information of each device.
The initial registration process is controlled by the CPU of the home server 10.
First, a transmission request signal for an identification number, model information, and control function information is transmitted to the device, and the identification number, model information, and control function information are received from the device. The received information is registered in the device information table of the home server 10. This process is performed for all devices connected to the home network.
Here, the unique identification number of the device is, for example, a MAC address, a global IP address, or the like. The model information includes the type name, manufacturer name, model name, product number, etc., of the equipment such as an air conditioner and a lighting fixture. Control function information is the name of the function that can be controlled and the details of the control, such as the presence / absence of cooling / heating / dehumidification function, switching control procedure, temperature setting procedure, presence / absence of room temperature measurement function and room temperature measurement procedure, etc. If there is, it is information necessary to specify and operate a target home appliance remotely such as a recording reservation procedure.
When the above connection, operation check, and initial registration are completed, the operation of the home network according to the present embodiment is explained to the client, and then the house H is handed over to the client to complete the construction of the home network.

<Setting of remote control top screen 100>
As shown in the remote control top screen 100 of FIG. 2 and the display item table of FIG. 6, the screen layout of the device remote control top screen 100 is set by default. , 130 can be changed and the number of display items can be reduced.
A setting screen 300 for changing the layout of the remote control top screen 100 is shown in FIG.
When various setting tabs 151 are clicked on the remote control top screen 100 in FIG. 2, the home server 10 displays the setting screen 300 in FIG. 5 on the terminal 30.
The setting screen 300 in FIG. 5 includes a screen component display setting field 310 for setting whether to display each screen component 110, 120, and 130, and a layout change screen display button for displaying a screen component layout change screen (not shown). 320 and a display item setting field 330 for changing display items of the screen components 110, 120, and 130.

The screen component display setting field 310 can be set to non-display by setting one of the screen components 110, 120, and 130 that is not required to be displayed to “off”.
A layout change screen (not shown) is a screen in which the arrangement of the screen components 110, 120, and 130 can be changed and the size can be enlarged / reduced by the user by dragging and dropping with the mouse. Displayed by clicking the button 320.
Also, in the display item setting field 330, among display items of the screen parts 110, 120, and 130 set by default, display unnecessary items can be set to “off” by setting them to “off”. is there.
FIG. 5 shows an example in which the switch buttons of the main bedroom, toilet, and bathroom of the switch screen component 130 are set to non-display.
The setting contents in the display item setting field 330 are registered in the display item table of FIG. 6 of the HDD 10e of the home server 10.

<Remote control processing>
Processing for displaying the remote control top screen 100 for remote control of the devices in the house H by the home server 10 will be described based on the flowchart of FIG. The processing of this flowchart is controlled by the CPU 10a of the home server 10.
First, when the tab of the home remote control is clicked on the top screen (not shown) of the terminal 30, the process of the flowchart of FIG. 7 starts.

First, in step S1, a grid pattern is acquired from the grid pattern file stored in the HDD 10e of the home server 10 and displayed.
Next, in step S2, the remote controller top screen component table of FIG. 4 is referred to, and the identification information of the screen component whose display setting is on is acquired.
In the remote control top screen component table of FIG. 4, a plurality of pieces of screen component identification information for specifying screen components are registered, and the necessity of display is set on or off by the user on the setting screen 300 for each. In the example of FIG. 4, a storage battery screen component 110, an air conditioner screen component 120, and a switch screen component 130 are originally prepared on the system, and the user can display all of these screen components. Is set to on.

Next, in step S3, the display item table of FIG. 6 is referred to using each piece of screen component identification information acquired in step S2 as a key, and display items to be displayed on these screen components are acquired.
In step S4, the background screen 142 is acquired from the background screen folder and displayed on the background of the screen.

Next, in step S5, the screen component name screens 161, 162, and 163 shown in FIG. 8 are displayed in the display areas of the screen components 110, 120, and 130 related to the identification information acquired in step S2.
In this step, the screen component name object name, the display start point, and the display end point are acquired by referring to the remote control top screen component table of FIG. 4 using the identification information of the screen component acquired in step S2 as a key, and this screen component name object is acquired. An object having a name is acquired from the object folder and displayed in the area specified by the display start point and the display end point.

Next, in step S6, the screen component name screens 161, 162, and 163 are faded out by a known method and erased from the screen, and the display object of the screen component related to the identification information acquired in step S2 of FIG. Overlaid on the grid pattern 200 and displayed.
In this step, using the identification information of the screen part acquired in step S2 as a key, the object folder is referred to extract the object of the corresponding screen part and is superimposed on the grid pattern 200 to display the remote control top screen part of FIG. It is displayed at the position specified by the display start point and display end point acquired from the table.
At this time, the display size of the object of the screen component is compressed and converted by a known method so as to fit the area specified by the display start point and the display end point.
Since the positions of the screen components 110, 120, and 130 are specified by specifying the coordinates of the upper left corner and the lower right corner, the screen components 110, 120, and 130 are drawn so as to overlap with a rectangle or a square formed by a set of integer grids in the vertical and horizontal directions. Is done.

In step S7, the screen parts 110, 120, and 130 are laid out to display display item objects.
In this step, the object folder is referred to using the identification information of the display item of each screen component acquired in step S3 as a key, the object of the corresponding display item is extracted, and the same scale as the scale converted and converted in step S6, They are displayed on the display objects of the screen components 110, 120, and 130 displayed in step S4.
In this step, one display item in the display item table of FIG. 6 is read and it is determined whether the display setting is on. If it is not on, the next display item is read without executing anything for the display item. If it is on, an information transmission command signal for requesting transmission of information to be displayed by the display item is transmitted to the corresponding device, and the requested information is received and displayed.
The same processing is executed by sequentially reading the display items in the display item table of FIG. 6, displaying all objects of display items whose display setting is on, displaying the remote control top screen 100 of FIG. 2, and performing the processing of the flowchart. finish.

The remote control top screen 100 of FIG. 2 includes a screen component 110 for remote-controlling the storage battery 5, a screen component 120 for remote-controlling the air conditioners 1 and 2, and a screen component 130 for remote-controlling the lights 3 and 4. ing.
The screen component 110 of the storage battery 5 includes an operation state display column 111 indicating the current operation state, an automatic operation button 112 for instructing automatic operation, a stop button 113 for instructing stop, and a charging display lamp indicating that charging is in progress. 114, a discharging indicator lamp 115 indicating that discharging is in progress. In FIG. 2, the operation state display column 111 indicates that automatic operation is being performed and discharging is being performed, and the battery charge rate is 80%.

The screen parts 120 of the air conditioners 1 and 2 display the operation states and operation buttons of all the air conditioners 1 and 2 in the house H. The operation state display field 121 indicating the current operation state, the energy saving comfort function Energy saving comfort button 122 for instructing control in the power saving mode, power saving button 123 for instructing control in the power saving function, schedule screen display button 124 for transitioning to a schedule display screen (not shown) for displaying the control schedule for the day, A detailed display button 125 for displaying a detailed operation screen 400 for each air conditioner is provided.
In FIG. 2, the operation state display column 121 indicates that the cooling operation is being performed by the power saving function in the “just satisfied” mode.
The screen components 130 of the lightings 3 and 4 are provided with power switches 131 for lighting of parking lots, living rooms, kitchens, and children's rooms.

2 displays the operating states and operation buttons of all the air conditioners 1 and 2 in the house H. On the pop-up screen, the operating state and operation buttons of the individual air conditioners 1 and 2 are displayed. It is also possible to display.
When the detailed display button 125 of the screen component 120 in FIG. 2 is clicked, the detailed operation screen 400 in FIG. 9 is displayed.
When the detail display button 125 is clicked, the home server 10 refers to the remote controller top screen component table of FIG. 4 using the identification information of the screen component as a key, and acquires the identification information of the detailed screen.

With reference to the detailed screen identification information as a key, a detailed screen display item table (not shown) is referred to, and an object is acquired from the object folder for the display item whose display setting is on.
Here, one display item in a detailed screen display item table (not shown) is read to determine whether the display setting is on. If it is not on, the next display item is read without executing anything for the display item. If it is on, an information transmission command signal requesting transmission of information to be displayed in the display item is transmitted to the corresponding device, the requested information is received and displayed, and the detailed operation screen 400 of FIG. Is displayed.

  The detailed operation screen 400 in FIG. 9 includes an air conditioner selection column 401 for selecting an air conditioner for displaying detailed information, a temperature / humidity display column 402 for displaying the room temperature and humidity of the selected air conditioner, A setting display field 403 that displays an air volume and a set temperature, and includes a change button for the set temperature, and a collective button 404 for switching to display for all the air conditioners in the house H are provided.

H Housing S Energy equipment control system 1, 2 Air conditioner 3, 4 Lighting 5 Storage battery 10 Home server 10a CPU
10b ROM
10c RAM
10d Communication interface 10e HDD
11 router 12 internet 30 terminal computer 100 remote control top screen 110, 120, 130 screen parts 110a, 120a, 130a, 110b, 120b, 130b, 210a, 210b angle 200 grid pattern 210 unit grid 211 gap 300 setting screen

Claims (4)

A device control device that controls a plurality of energy devices in a building connected via a building network using a remote control (hereinafter, remote control) operation screen,
Grid pattern storage means for storing a grid pattern in which rectangular unit grids are arranged in a grid with a gap;
Remote control operation means for each device group and screen part object storage means for storing screen part objects for displaying the operation state ;
The grid pattern is acquired from the grid pattern storage unit and a plurality of objects of the screen parts are acquired from the screen part object storage unit, and a line forming the outer periphery of the object is a single unit grid or By displaying on the screen so as to coincide with the line forming the outer periphery of the area formed by the aggregate of the unit grids adjacent to each other, the screen component for each device group is displayed as a single remote control operation screen. Means for displaying a remote control operation screen for displaying a plurality of images side by side ,
Operation object storage means for storing the remote control operation means and an object in a driving state display column for displaying the driving state;
Setting means for setting whether to display on each of the screen parts for each of the remote control means and the operation state display column of the plurality of energy devices;
Display necessity storage means for storing, for each screen component, whether the remote control operation means set by the setting means and the display necessity of the operation state display column are necessary,
The display unit of the remote control operation screen refers to the display necessity storage unit using information specifying the screen component as a key, and displays the plurality of screens displayed on the screen component set to be displayed by the setting unit The specific information of the remote control operation means and the driving state display column of the energy device is acquired, the operation object storage unit is referred to using the acquired specific information of the remote control operation unit and the driving state display column as a key, and the setting unit By acquiring the remote control means of the plurality of energy devices set to be displayed at the object and the object of the operation state display column, and displaying them on the corresponding screen parts, the plurality of energy devices of the plurality of energy devices In a state where the remote control means and the operation state display column are visible without screen transition for each energy device, Device control apparatus and displaying side by side in serial single remote control screen.   The display means for the remote control operation screen receives information indicating the setting and operating state of the equipment from the corresponding equipment via the in-building network, and using the information, the remote control operation means and the The apparatus control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an operation state is displayed. The display unit of the remote control operation screen acquires the grid pattern and the objects of the plurality of screen parts when receiving a request signal for requesting display of the remote control operation screen, displays the object on the screen, and the device group 3. The device control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the remote control operation screen is displayed by displaying a plurality of the screen parts arranged on the screen. A device control method for controlling a plurality of energy devices in a building connected via a building network using a remote control operation screen,
A screen component that obtains the grid pattern from a grid pattern storage unit that stores a grid pattern in which rectangular unit grids are arranged in a grid with a gap, and displays a remote control operation unit and an operating state for each device group A plurality of objects of the screen parts are obtained from the screen part object storage means for storing the objects, and a line forming the outer periphery of the object is formed by a single unit grid or an assembly of the adjacent unit grids. to match the lines forming the outer periphery of the area, by displaying on the screen, the screen component for each of the equipment group, the remote operation screen displaying multiple side by side in a single of the remote control screen With display procedures,
The display procedure of the remote control operation screen is as follows:
For each of the remote control means and the operation state display column of the plurality of energy devices, whether to display on the screen parts, set by the setting means,
A display for storing, for each screen part, information indicating whether the remote control operation means set by the setting means and whether or not the operation state display column for displaying the operation state is necessary are used with the information specifying the screen part as a key. With reference to the necessity storage means, the remote control means of the plurality of energy devices to be displayed on the screen parts set to be displayed by the setting means and specific information of the operation state display column are obtained, Using the acquired remote control operation means and operation state display field specific information as a key, the remote control operation means and the operation object storage means for storing the object of the operation state display field are referred to and set to be displayed by the setting means. The remote control means of the plurality of energy devices and the object in the operation state display field are acquired and placed on the corresponding screen part. By displaying, the remote control operation means and the operation state display column of the plurality of energy devices are arranged on the single remote control operation screen in a state where they can be visually recognized without screen transition for each energy device. A device control method characterized by displaying .

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