WO2004098127A1

WO2004098127A1 - Control unit, electrical equipment, control system, control method and control program

Info

Publication number: WO2004098127A1
Application number: PCT/JP2004/005128
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sachio Nagamitsu; Etsuko Kanai
Original assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2003-04-25
Filing date: 2004-04-09
Publication date: 2004-11-11
Also published as: JP2004342081A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control unit, electrical equipment, a control system, a control method and a control program, and its object is to reduce communication traffic and lighten the burden imposed in developing application software. In order to attain the object, in the control unit, the electrical equipment, the control system, the control method and the control program according to the present invention, an object-information management section 21 unifies and manages the object information of electrical equipment demanded by control sections 11, 12, a binding-information management section 22 unifies and manages the binding information between pieces of electrical equipment demanded by the control sections 11, 12, and a historical-information management section 23 unifies and manages the historical information of electrical equipment demanded by the control sections 11, 12.

Description

Control Unit, Electrical Equipment, Control System, Control Method and Control Program

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a control unit, electrical equipment, a control system, a control method and a control program which control a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment connected via a communication line. Specifically, it relates to a control unit, electrical equipment, a control system, a control method and a control program which control household electrical appliances connected via an indoor communication line.

Background Art

In recent years, home network systems have een developed, such as an HBS (or home bus standard) and an ECHONET (or energy conservation and home-care network) standard. In such a home network system, various household electrical appliances, housing equipment and control units for home use, are connected each other via an indoor communication line. This creates a home network, and thus, each piece of equipment links together and operates organically . In addition , an outdoor network and a home network are connected each other, and thus, the operation of a household electrical appliance or the like is indicated from an outdoor terminal. Through such operations, the home network system helps conservation of energy or care for the elderly, and provides safe and comfortable living. For example, a remote maintenance system is proposed in which using the above described home network system, a home server updates a model which has some trouble and thereby decides precisely what the trouble is according to how household electrical equipment is used. This prior art is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-342185 specification (Patent Document

1).

In addition, in the above described ECHONET standard, ECHONET communication middle-ware is defined which is capable of easily executing the processing of remotely controlling facility-system equipment or monitoring the state of the equipment using application software. This middle-ware executes communication protocol processing, the holding of information for the communication protocol processing, and the management of various pieces of information on the state of its own equipment or some other equipment or the like. A basic API (or application program interface) is also defined which mediates between the ECHONET communication middle-ware and the application software . This facilitates the development of the application software.

However, if the ECHONET communication middle-ware is used in the above described prior-art example, each piece of application software communicates control information individually to several pieces of equipment to be controlled via the ECHONET communication middle-ware. Therefore, if a large number of application programs are simultaneously executed, that increases communication traffic over anetwork.

Moreover, each piece of application software manages control information individually. Therefore, even though some pieces of control information are common among the pieces of application software, they have to be managed for each piece of application software. This increases control information, and in addition, the load borne in developing application software becomes heavier.

Disclosure of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide a control unit, electrical equipment, a control system, a control method and a control program which are capable of reducing communication traffic, and lightening the burden imposed in developing application software.

The control unit according to the present invention, which controls a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment connected via a communication line, includes: a communicating means for communicating with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling means for controlling the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing means having, an object -information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information.

In the control unit according to the present invention, the information managing means is divided into the object-information managing means for managing information of,s object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information, and the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means.

Preferably, the information managing means further has a historical-information managing means for managing information on the history of the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information. In this case, the information managing means is divided into the object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information, the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information, and the historical-information managing means for managing information on the history of the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object, binding information and historical information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object, binding information and historical information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means.

Preferably, the object-information managing means manages information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service, among the pieces of control information; and the binding-information managing means manages binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service. In this case, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means. In addition, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service is managed, and binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service is managed. Therefore, when executing a predetermined service, the electrical equipment which you will communicate with can be specified. Thus, there is no need to broadcast a control command to all the electrical equipment connected to the control unit, as is the case conventionally. In short, all you have to do is to transmit the control command only to the electrical equipment which is used for the service , thereby reducing communication traffic.

Preferably, the control unit further includes a service-information managing means for managing as service information, among the pieces of control information. information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service. In this case, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for control processing executed by the controlling means. In addition, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service is managed, and binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service is managed. Therefore, when executing a predetermined service, the electrical equipment which you will communicate with can be specified. Thus, there is no need to broadcast a control command to all the electrical equipment connected to the control unit, as is the case conventionally. In short, all you have to do is to transmit the control command only to the electrical equipment which is used for the service, thereby reducing communication traffic .

Preferably, if there is information of object necessary for control of the electrical equipment by the controlling means except information of object which is acquired from the electrical equipment via the communicating means, the object-information managing means acquires the information of >bject from a server unit which is connected via an external communication line, using the communicating means.

In this case, information of object which cannot be acquired from the electrical equipment via the communicating means can be acquired from a server unit via an external communication line. This enables you to acquire detailed information of object, or easily acquire newly-added information of object. Therefore, the application software which is used for control processing executed by the controlling means can be easily upgraded and changed.

Preferably, the controlling means has: a first controlling means for executing first control processing; and a second controlling means for executing second control processing which is different from the first control processing. In this case, information of object, binding information and historical information which are used for different control processing can be efficiently acquired and managed. This allows several pieces of control processing to be efficiently executed.

Preferably, the object-information managing means extracts acquisition timing which is common to timing in acquiring first information of object which is used by the first controlling means and timing in acquiring second information of object which is used by the second controlling means, and in the extracted acquisition timing, acquires information of object from the electrical equipment using the communicating means.

In this case , common acquisition timing for information of object is extracted, and in the extracted acquisition timing, information of object is acquired from the electrical equipment. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object.

Preferably, the binding-information managing means extracts acquisition timing which is common to timing in acquiring first binding information which is used by the first controlling means and timing in acquiring second binding information which is used by the second controlling means, and in the extracted acquisition timing, acquires binding information from the electrical equipment using the communicating means.

In this case, common acquisition timing for binding information is extracted, and in the extracted acquisition timing, binding information is acquired from the electrical equipment. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring binding information.

Preferably, the historical-information managing means extracts acquisition timing which is common to timing in acquiring first historical information which is used by the first controlling means and timing in acquiring second historical information which is used by the second controlling means, and in the extracted acquisition timing, acquires historical information from the electrical equipment using the communicating means.

In this case, common acquisition timing for historical information is extracted, and in the extracted acquisition timing, historical information is acquired from the electrical equipment. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring historical information.

Preferably, the object-information managing means stores, without duplication, information of object which is_rι common to first information of object which is used by the first controlling means and second information of object which is used by the second controlling means. In this case, information of object which is common to several pieces of control processing is stored without duplication. Therefore, each piece of control processing can be smoothly executed using information of object necessary at the minimum.

Preferably, the binding-information managing means stores, without duplication, binding information which is common to first binding information which is used by the first controlling means and second binding information which is used by the second controlling means . In this case, binding information which is common to several pieces of control processing is stored without duplication. Therefore, each piece of control processing can be smoothly executed using binding information necessary at the minimum.

Preferably, the binding-information managing means executes, without duplication, control processing which the first controlling means executes using first binding information and control processing which the second controlling means executes using second binding information. In this case , several pieces of control processing are executed without duplication. Therefore, each piece of control processing can be efficiently executed, thereby reducing communication traffic.

Preferably, the historical-informationmanagingmeans stores, without duplication, historical information which is common to first historical information which is used by the first controlling means and second historical information which is used by the second controlling means. In this case, historical information which is common to several pieces of control processing is storedwithout duplication . Therefore , each piece of control processing can be smoothly executed using historical information necessary at the minimum.

The control method according to the present invention, for controlling a control unit which is connected to a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment via a communication line, includes: a communicating step in which the control unit communicates with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling step in which the control unit controls the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing step in which the control unit manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing step having, an object-information managing step in which the control unit manages information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which the control unit manages binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information. In the control method according to the present invention, the information managing step is divided into the object-information managing step of managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information and the binding-information managing step of managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for executing the controlling step.

The control program according to the present invention , for a control unit which controls a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment connected via a communication line, allows the control unit to function as: a communicating means for communicating with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling means for controlling the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information.

If the control program according to the present invention is executed in the control unit, the information managingmeans is divided into the object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information, and the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means .

The electrical equipment according to the present invention, which is controlled by a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, includes: a communicating means for communicating with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling means for allowing the electrical equipment to be controlled by the control unit, using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit, the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.

In the electrical equipment according to the present invention, the information managing means is divided into the object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information, and the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means .

Preferably, the information managing means further has a historical-information managing means for managing information on the history of the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information. In this case, the information managing means is divided into the object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information, the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units among the pieces of control information , and the historical-information managing means for managing information on the history of the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object, binding information and historical information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object, binding information and historical information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means.

Preferably, the object-information managing means manages information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service, among the pieces of control information; and the binding-information managing me„ans manages binding information between the control units which execute the service. In this case, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the control units which βsεβcute the service can be efficiently managed. This makes it possible to lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means. In addition, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service is managed, and binding information between the control units which execute the service is managed. Therefore, when executing a predetermined service, the control unit which you will communicate with can be specified. Thus, there is no need to broadcast a control result to all the control units connected to the electrical equipment, as is the case conventionally. In short, all you have to do is to transmit the control result only to the control unit which is used for the service, thereby reducing communication traffic.

Preferably, the electrical equipment further includes l a service-information managing means for managing as service information, among the pieces of control information, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the control units which execute the service. In this case, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the control units which execute the service can be efficiently managed. This makes it possible to lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is^used for the control processing executed by the controlling means. In addition, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service is managed , and binding information between the control units which execute the service is managed. Therefore, when executing a predetermined service, the control unit which you will communicate with can be specified. Thus, there is no need to broadcast a control result to all the control units connected to the electrical equipment, as is the case conventionally. In short, all you have to do is to transmit the control result only to the control unit which is used for the service, thereby reducing communication traffic.

Preferably, if there is service information necessary for control of the electrical equipment by the controlling means except service information which is acquired from the electrical equipment via the communicating means, the object-information managing means acquires the service information from a server unit which is connected via an external communication line, using the communicating means.

In this case, service information which cannot be acquired from the control unit via the communicating means can be acquired from a server unit via an external communication line. This enables you to easily acquire newly-added service information. Therefore, the application software which is used for control processing executed by the controlling means can be easily upgraded and changed.

Preferably, the object-information managing means discriminates between information of object used for a first service which is executed by the first controlling means and information of object used for a second service which is executed by the second controlling means, and stores them; and the binding-information managing means discriminates between binding information used for the first service which is executed by the first controlling means and binding information which is used for the second service which is executed by the second controlling means, and stores them. In this case, information of object and binding information which are used for several services is discriminated and stored. Therefore, each piece of control processing can be smoothly executed using information of object and binding information which correspond to each service.

The control method according to the present invention, for controlling electrical equipment which is controlled by a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, includes: a communicating step in which the electrical equipment communicates with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling step in which the electrical equipment allows itself to be controlled by the control unit, using control information; and an information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means, and the control unit, the information managing step having, an object-information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which ^■the electrical equipment manages binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information. In the control method according to the present invention, the information managing step is divided into the object-information managing step of managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information and the binding-information managing step of managing binding information between the control units among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for executing the controlling step.

The control program according to the present invention , for electrical equipment which is controlled by a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, allows the electrical equipment to function as: a communicating means for communicating with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling means by which the electrical equipment is allowed to be controlled by the control unit, using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit , the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information , and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.

If the control program according to the present invention is executed in the electrical equipment, the information managing means is divided into the ob ect-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information , and the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means.

The control system according to the present invention, which controls electrical equipment using a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, in which: the control unit includes: a communicating means for communicating with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling means for controlling the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing means having, an.object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and the electrical equipment includes: a communicating means for communicating with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling means for allowing the electrical equipment to be controlled from the control unit, using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit, the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment , among the pieces of control information , and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.

In the control systemaccording to the present invention , the information managing means of the control unit is divided into the object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information, and the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. In addition, the information managing means of the electrical equipment is divided into the object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the ellectrical equipment among the pieces of control information, and the binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for the control processing executed by the controlling means .

The control method according to the present invention, for controlling electrical equipment using a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, includes: a communicating step in which the control unit communicates with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling step in which the control unit controls the electrical equipment using control information; an information managing step in which the control unit manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing step having, an object-information managing step in which the control unit manages information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which the control unit manages binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information; a communicating step in which the electrical equipment communicates with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling step in which the electrical equipment allows itself to be controlled from the control unit, using control information; and an information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit, the information managing step having, an object-information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information. In the control method according to the present invention, the information managing step in the control unit is divided into the object-information managing step of managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information and the binding-information managing step of managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. In addition, the information managing step in the electrical equipment is divided into the object-information managing step of managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information and the binding-information managing step of managing binding information between the control units among the pieces of control information. Hence, information of object and binding information can be efficiently acquired and managed. This makes it possible to reduce communication traffic in acquiring information of object and binding information, and lighten the burden imposed in developing the application software which is used for executing the controlling step. The objects, features, aspects and advantages according to the present invention will be more evident, using the following detailed description and attached drawings

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a home network system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a GW controller shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart, showing object-information acquisition processing of the GW controller shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart, showing binding-information acquisition processing of the GW controller shown in Fig. 2.

Fig.5 is a flow chart, showing historical-information acquisition processing of the GW controller shown in Fig. 2.

Figs. 6A and 6B are representations, showing how the GW controller shown in Fig. 2 helps reduce the number of times where communication is executed, andhow it helps lighten the burden imposed in developing an application.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a home network system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a GW controller of an indoor control system according to,>the second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 9 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of household electrical equipment of the indoor control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 10 is a flow chart, showing service-information acquisition processing of the GW controller shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart, showing service execution processing of the GW controller shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 12 is a representation, showing services which are executed between several controllers and several pieces of electrical equipment .

Fig. 13 is a representation, showing services which are executed between a single controller and several pieces of electrical equipment .

Best Mode for Implementing the Invention

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment)

In Fig. 1, the home network system includes a GW controller 101, several pieces of electrical equipment 102 to 105 , and an indoor communication line 106. The GW controller 101, the several pieces of electrical equipment 102 to 105 and the indoor communication line 106 are installed in an ordinary house, an apartment or the like. The GW controller 101 is connected via the indoor communication line 106 to the electrical equipment 102 to 105, so that it can communicate with them. Using control information, it controls the operation of the electrical equipment 102 to 105. The electrical equipment 102 to 105 is the equipment which can be connected to a home network, including not only so-called household electrical appliances, but also housing equipment, a sensor which measures and detects an environment in a house, or the like. As the generic term of these pieces of equipment, the "electrical equipment" is used in this specification. Herein, the control information represents the information which is configured by the following object information (object means functions of each equipment), binding information, historical information, and the like.

The GW controller 101 is connected via an outdoor communication line 300 to a server 200, so that it can communicate with it . According to demands made by the GW controller 101, the server 200 provides object information or the like on the several pieces of electrical equipment 102 to 105 and the like.

The server 200 is configured by a publicly-known server computer and the like. It includes a communication processing section 201, a control section 202, and an object-information storage section 203. In the object-information storage section 203, object information on each type of electrical equipment is stored in advance as a database, and its contents are suitably updated. According to demands from the GW controller 101, the control section 202 reads out object information on the corresponding electrical equipment from the object-information storage section 203. Then, using the communication processing section 201 , it transmits the ob ect information to the GW controller 101. The outdoor communication line 300 is an outdoor communication network, such as a telephone line, a switched line or a dedicated line including a digital line, and the like. However, the outdoor communication line 300 is not limited especially to those example, and thus, various wide-area networks can be used. For example, a dedicated line, another public line, the Internet, or the like, may also be used. In addition, either a cabled system or a radio system may also be used.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of the GW controller 101 shown in Fig. 1. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given about an example of the case where the electrical equipment 102 to 105 shown in Fig. 1 are a hot-water supply apparatus, an air conditioner, an infrared sensor and an alarm device, respectively.

The GW controller 101 is connected via the indoor communication line 106 to a hot-water supply apparatus 102, an air conditioner 103, an infrared sensor 104 and an alarm device 105, so that it can communicate with them. The GW controller 101 is configured by a CPU (or central processing unit), a ROM (or read only memory), a RAM (or random access memory), a gateway (or GW) , an operation section, a liquid-crystal display unit, and the like. It executes a predetermined program using the CPU or the like, and thereby, functions as control sections 11, 12, a control I/O (or input/output ) section 13, an information management section 20, and a communication processing section 31. Herein, to the GW controller 101, a storage unit such as a hard disk drive and a memory card may also be added, if necessary. In^addition, the numbers of control sections and pieces of electrical equipment are not limited especially to the above described example, and thus, it can be varied according to the control processing which is to be executed.

The control sections 11, 12, and the control I/O (or input/output) section 13 are realized by executing predetermined control application software using the CPU or the like. The information management section 20 executes predetermined queuing middle-ware using the CPU or the like, and thereby, functions as an object-information management section 21, a binding-information management section 22, a historical-information management section 23.

The communication processing section 31 is realized by executing predetermined communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software, using the CPU or the like. It controls the communication with the household electrical equipment 102 to 105 via the indoor communication line 106. In addition, the communication processing section 31 also has a gateway function of controlling the communication with the server 200 via the outdoor communication line 300. Herein, as the communication processing section, the function of communicating with the household electrical equipment 102 to 105 and the gateway function may also be separately provided. Besides, as described later, if the household electrical equipment 102 to 105 are the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 , then the communication processing section 31 rarely communicates with the outdoor.

According to this embodiment, as the communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software of the communication processing section 31, there are used ECHONET communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software in a publicly-known ECHONET standard. The hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 includes a communication interface standardized in the ECHONET. Thus, they are the full ECHONET equipment which can be individually connected to a home network.

Herein, as long as they can be connected to a home network, the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 are not limited especially to the above described example. For example, they may also be flex ECHONET equipment. In addition, the communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software are not limited especially to ECHONET communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software in the above described ECHONET standard. Another type of communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software may also be used.

The control section 11 is realized, for example, by executing energy-conservation application software using the CPU or the like. Thus, it executes predetermined energy-conservation control processing. The control section 12 is realized, for example, by executing security application software using the CPU or the like. Thus, it executes predetermined security control processing. The control I/O (or input/output) section 13 functions as a graphical user interface, for example, by executing predetermined control-I/O application software using the CPU or the like. Thus, it is used for the input of control information by a user, the display of a control result, and the like. The object-information management section 21, using the communication processing section 31 , acquires and manages object information of each piece of electrical equipment from the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105. This object information is information on the function or the like of electrical equipment, which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment so that the operation of the electrical equipment can be controlled. As the object information transmitted from the electrical equipment, there are the product name, the functions, the name of a manufacturer, the model number, and the like, of each piece of equipment. For example, if it is the air conditioner 103, they are equivalent to information on turning on/off, temperature, humidity, the setting of a direction, a timer, and the like. Herein, these pieces of object information are stored beforehand in a predetermined memory inside of each piece of equipment when the equipment is manufactured.

As the timing when the object-information management section 21 acquires the above described object information, the hot-water supply apparatus 102, there are the time when the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 are first connected to the indoor communication line 106, the time when they are disconnected because they have trouble or because they are discarded, and another such time . If the air conditioner 103 , the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 are products of the manufacturer which provides the energy-conservation application software of the control section 11, and if the hot-water supply apparatus 102 is a product of another manufacturer, then the hot-water supply apparatus 102 becomes equipment other than the objects which is to be managed. Hence, the timing when the ob ect-information management section 21 acquires object information from the hot-water supply apparatus 102 may also be limited only to the time when the hot-water supply apparatus 102 is first connected to the indoor communication line 106.

Exceptionally, object information on the infrared sensor 104 may also be acquired while its operation is halted to replace its batteries and when it returns into operation after the replacement. This is because its batteries are regularly replaced. In addition, with respect to the air conditioner 103, the electric power supply to each piece of equipment including the communication processing section is completely cut off during the periods other than and between the summer season and the winter season and during other such periods. Therefore, its object information may also be acquired when the air conditioner 103 is connected again to the indoor communication line 106.

If the control sections 11, 12 or the like cannot execute adequate control processing using only the object information transmitted from the hot-water supply apparatus 102, there are the time when the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105, then the object-information management section 21 acquires andmanages further detailed object information on each piece of electrical equipment from the server 200. The object information acquired from the server 200 is equivalent to the one except information on functions which are realized using a remote control, an operation button and the like that are attached to the electrical equipment. For example, with respect to the air conditioner 103, it is equivalent to a method (or command) for using the function of reading out the values which are measured by a built-in room-temperature sensor, or information on a temperature range which can be set using the remote control. In this case, using this object information on a temperature range, the control I/O section 13 can display, as a graphical user interface, the maximum value and minimum value of set-temperatures on the liquid-crystal display unit.

The binding-information management section 22 manages binding information which represents linking operations between the pieces of electrical equipment. This helps each control section 11, 12 specify which function of a certain piece of electrical equipment is used in what timing, based on the object information of another piece of electrical equipment which is connected to the indoor communication line 106.

For example, if the control section 11 executes energy-conservation control processing, it detects a person being in a room or not, using human-detection information obtained by the infrared sensor 104. When no person is detected there, it controls the air conditioner 103 so that its set-temperature is moderated to execute an energy-conservation operation and it is on standby until a person enters the room. If the control section 12 executes security control processing, it detects a stranger trespassing upon a house, using human-detection information obtained by the infrared sensor 104. Then, it executes control of allowing the alarm device 105 to sound its alarm so that the person who lives in the house can be notified. Or, the control section 12 executes control of notifying a security company via the GW controller 101.

In the above described energy-conservation control processing, when a compressor of the air conditioner 103 is in continuous operation, its power will not be varied frequently from a viewpoint of its efficiency and lifetime. Accordingly, in order to properly control the room temperature using the air conditioner 103, human-detection information from the infrared sensor 104 does not need to be acquired more frequently than every minute. On the other hand, in the security control processing, shortly after the infrared sensor 104 has detected a trespasser, a security company needs to be notified via the GW controller 101. Thus, in each piece of control processing, the timing when human-detection information is transmitted from the infrared sensor 104 differs. However, based on the binding information of each control section 11, 12, the binding-information management section 22 decides common acquisition timing for the infrared sensor 104, and reduces the number of transmissions from the infrared sensor 104.

Furthermore, there is a case where a new function is provided which is created by linking and uniting a f nction of the electrical equipment which is newly connected to the indoor communication line 106 and a function of the electrical equipment which is already connected. For example, it is the case where the air conditioner 103 is first connected to the indoor communication line 106, and thereafter, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 which are purchased for a security purpose is newly connected to the indoor communication line 106. The infrared sensor 104 can be used for the above described energy-conservation control processing and security control processing. Hence, even a new function can be flexibly handled.

On the other hand, there is also a case where the infrared sensor 104 can detect a person who lives in a house onlywhen the personmoves . If the person is watching television almost without a single move, then the infrared sensor 104 cannot detect the person. At this time, if the television is connected to the indoor communication line 106, a remote-control operation of the television can be detected. This makes it possible to detect the person staying or not, thereby executing the above described energy-conservation control processing.

Moreover, when a fire breaks out, its report cannot be made using the infrared sensor 104 alone. However, for example, if a room-temperature sensing function by a room-temperature sensor of the air conditioner 103 is used together with it, then the fire report can be made using the alarm device 105. Accordingly, when the person who lives in a house is absent, the alarm device 105 can be used not only for a security purpose , but also for a disaster-prevention purpose. In this case, the object-information management section 21 acquires, from the server 200, object information such as a command to operate the room-temperature sensing function by the room-temperature sensor of the air conditioner 103.

The above described binding information is used even in the control I/O section 13. For example, if several infrared sensors 104 are placed in a house, which infrared sensor has detected a trespasser is displayed on a liquid-crystal display unit. This enables the person to become aware intuitively and promptly of where the trespasser has entered the house from. If those several infrared sensors 104 are used at the same time for energy-conservation processing, when the person is not at home, the person can judge at a glance whether useless setting is executed, or whether the air conditioner 103 is in continuous operation in a room where which infrared sensor is placed. This enables the person to deal with the situation by giving a notice immediately, stopping the operation compulsively, and another means.

The historical-information management section 23 acquires and manages historical information from each piece of electrical equipment. The historical information is operational historical information which represents the operational condition, the state of malfunction, or the like, of each piece of electrical equipment. Herein, if historical information on all the pieces of electrical equipment which are connected to the indoor communication line 106 is collected and stored, that heightens a communication load borne on the indoor communication line 106 and increases the volume of data enormously. Therefore, the types, the collection timing, or the like, of historical information to be stored need to be set appropriately.

For example, if the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 are a product of the manufacturer which provides energy-conservation application software of the control section 11, and if the hot-water supply apparatus 102 is a product of another manufacturer, then there is no need to manage the history of the hot-water supply apparatus 102. The historical-information management section 23 manages historical information on the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device

In the case of the air conditioner 103, if historical information on the operation time, or the like, of a compressor is required for trouble prediction of the air conditioner 103, then the historical-information management section 23 acquires the historical information together when it acquires object information on turning on/off. Or, if there is an indication of trouble, it selects detailed historical information especially necessary for the trouble prediction, and acquires the historical information more frequently than usual.

In the case of the infrared sensor 104, it breaks down less frequently, and thus, there are fewer items which should be managed as historical information. For example, historical information on the lifetime of built-in batteries is managed. Therefore, the historical-information management section 23 allows the infrared sensor 104 to acquire historical information every several days. In the case of the alarm device 105 , it must start to operate if something wrong occurs . Hence, it must be confirmed at all times whether it can be operated. Thus, the historical-information management section 23 acquires historical information regularly from the alarm device 105 and confirms its operation.

This historical information is used in the control I/O section 13. For example, the control I/O section 13 displays , as a graphical user interface, the electrical equipment which has trouble, or the electrical equipment which has a sign of trouble, on a liquid-crystal display unit. This enables even an elderly person or a child to specify extremely easily the electrical equipment which has trouble, or the electrical equipment which has a sign of trouble.

Herein, if the control I/O section 13 is provided, not only with the liquid-crystal display unit, but also with a wide-use communication port such as a USB (or universal serial bus), then using this wide-use communication port, a maintenance company may also store historical information which represents operational history in a small-sizedportable terminal for maintenance . In this case, necessary historical information can be collected more efficiently than in the case where historical information which is managed individually for each control section 11, 12 is designated and stored individually.

According to this embodiment, the communication processing section 31 is equivalent to an example of the communicating means; the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13, an example of the controlling means; the information management section 20, an example of the information managing means; the object-information management section 21, an example of the object-information managing means; the binding-information management section 22, an example of the binding-information managing means; and the historical-information management section 23, an example of the historical-information managing means.

Next, description will be given of an operation of the GW controller 101 configured as described above. Fig. 3 is a flow chart, showing object-information acquisition processing of the GW controller 101 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13 of the GW controller 101 output acquisition-item data and acquisition-timing data of each piece of object information which is used for the processing of themselves to the object-information management section 21. Then, the object-information management section 21 analyses the acquisition-item data and acquisition-timing data of each piece of object information (in a step SI).

Next, based on the analysis result, the object-information management section 21 decides object information to be acquired so that object information to be stored is not duplicated. Then, it extracts common acquisition-timing and decides acquisition-timing necessary at the minimum (in a step S2).

Next, the object-information management section 21 judges whether or not it is the decided acquisition-timing (in a step S3). If it is the acquisition-timing, then using the communication processing section 31, it demands object information of each piece of electrical equipment (in a step S4) .

Next, the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105 accept the object-information demand (in a step Sll). Then, it transmits the object information of themselves which is stored inside of them to the GW controller 101 (in a step S12) .

Next, the communication processing section 31 of the GW controller 101 receives the transmitted object information (in a step S5). Then, the object-information management section 21 stores the received object information for each piece of electrical equipment (in a step S6).

Next, the object-information management section 21 judges whether or not the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13 need some other object information as the object information to be demanded (in a step S7). If there is no need for some other object information, then the processing is completed. On the other hand, if some other object information is necessary, then it demands the necessary object information of the server 200 (in a step S8).

Next, the communication processing section 201 of the server 200 receives the transmission demand of the object information. Then, the control section 202 reads out the demanded object information from the object-information storage section 203 (in a step S21) . Next, the control section 202 transmits the read-out object information using the communication processing section 201 (in a step S22).

Next, the communication processing section 31 of the GW controller 101 receives the transmitted object information (in a step S9) . Then, it stores the received object information for each piece of electrical equipment (in a step S10), and the processing is completed. The object information acquired in the above described processing is managed in the object-information management section 21. Then, it is used for control processing which is executed by the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13.

Thus, the object-information management section 21 unifies and manages the object information of each piece of electrical equipment. Therefore, the common acquisition-timing of the object information is extracted, and the object information is acquired from the electrical equipment in the acquisition-timing necessary at the minimum. This reduces communication traffic when the object information is acquired. In addition, the object information which is common to several pieces of control processing can be stored without being duplicated, thus allowing each piece of control processing to be smoothly executed using the object information necessary at the minimum.

Moreover, the object information which cannot be acquired from each piece of electrical equipment can be acquired from the server 200. This enables you to acquire detailed object information, or easily acquire newly-added object information. Therefore, the application software which is used for control processing executed by the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13 can be easily upgraded and changed.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart, showing binding-information acquisition processing of the GW controller 101 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 4, the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13 of the GW controller 101 output acquisition-item data and acquisition-timing data of each piece of binding information which is used for the processing of themselves to the binding-information management section 22. Then, the binding-information management section 22 analyses the acquisition-item data and acquisition-timing data of each piece of binding information (in a step S31).

Next, based on the analysis result, the binding-information management section 22 decides binding information to be acquired so that binding information to be stored is not duplicated. Then, it extracts common acquisition-timing and decides acquisition-timing necessary at the minimum (in a step S32).

Next, the binding-information management section 22 judges whether or not it is the decided acquisition-timing (in a step S33) . If it is the acquisition-timing, then using the communication processing section 31, it demands binding information of the corresponding electrical equipment (in a step S34) .

Next, the corresponding electrical equipment among the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105, accepts the binding-information demand (in a step S41). Then, it transmits the demanded binding information to the GW controller 101 (in a step S42).

Next, the communication processing section 31 of the GW controller 101 receives the transmitted binding information (in a step S35). Then, the binding-information management section 22 stores the received binding information (in a step S36). The binding information acquired in the above described processing is managed in the binding-information management section 22. Then, it is used for control processing which is executed by the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13.

Thus, the binding-information management section 22 unifies and manages the binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment. Therefore, the common acquisition-timing of the binding information is extracted, and the binding information is acquired from the electrical equipment in the acquisition-timing necessary at the minimum. This reduces communication traffic when the binding information is acquired. In addition, the binding information which is common to several pieces of control processing can be stored without being duplicated, thus allowing each piece of control processing to be smoothly executed using the binding information necessary at the minimum.

Fig.5 is a flow chart , showing historical-information acquisition processing of the GW controller 101 shown in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 5, the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13 of the GW controller 101 output acquisition-item data and acquisition-timing data of each piece of historical information which is used for the processing of themselves to the historical-information management section 23. Then, the historical-information management section 23 analyses the acquisition-item data and acquisition-timing data of each piece of historical information (in a step S51).

Next, based on the analysis result, the historical-information management section 23 decides historical information to be acquired so that historical information to be stored is not duplicated. Then, it extracts common acquisition-timing and decides acquisition-timing necessary at the minimum (in a step S52).

Next, the historical-information management section 23 judges whether or not it is the decided acquisition-timing (in a step S53). If it is the acquisition-timing , then using the communication processing section 31 , it demands historical information of the corresponding electrical equipment (in a step S54 ) .

Next, the corresponding electrical equipment among the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105, accepts the historical-information demand (in a step S61). Then, it transmits the demanded historical information to the GW controller 101 (in a step S62).

Next, the communication processing section 31 of the GW controller 101 receives the transmitted historical information (in a step S55 ) . Then, the historical-information management section 23 stores the received historical information (in a step S56). The historical information acquired in the above described processing is managed in the historical-information management section 23. Then, it is used for control processing which is executed by the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13.

Thus, the historical-information management section 23 unifies and manages the historical information of the electrical equipment. Therefore, the common acquisition-timing of the historical information is extracted, and the historical information is acquired from the electrical equipment in the acquisition-timing necessary at the minimum. This reduces communication traffic when the historical information is acquired. In addition, the historical information which is common to several pieces of control processing can be stored without being duplicated, thus allowing each piece of control processing to be smoothly executed using the historical information necessary at the minimum.

Fig. 6 is a representation, showing how the GW controller 101 shown in Fig. 2 helps reduce the number of times where communication is executed, and how it helps lighten the burden imposed in developing an application. Aiming at simplifying their description, the communication processing section 31 is not shown in Fig. 6.

An example shown in Fig. 6 represents the case where in energy-conservation control processing: object information is acquired from the hot -water supply apparatus

102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105; binding information is acquired from the air conditioner 103 and the infrared sensor 104; and historical information is acquired from the air conditioner

103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105. On the other hand, in security control processing: object information is acquired from the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105; binding information is acquired from the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105; and historical information is acquired from the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105.

In the case of the GW controller 101 shown in Fig. 2, as shown in Fig. 6A, the control section 11: executes the energy-conservation control processing; outputs acquisition-timing data and acquisition-item data of the object information to the object-information management section 21; outputs acquisition-timing data and acquisition-item data of the binding information to the binding-information management section 22; and outputs acquisition-timing data and acquisition-item data of the historical information to tlie historical-information management section 23. On the other hand, the control section 12: executes the security control processing; outputs acquisition-timing data and acquisition-item data of the object information to the object-information management section 21; outputs acquisition-timing data and acquisition-item data of the binding information to the binding-information management section 22; and outputs acquisition-timing data and acquisition-item data of the historical information to the historical-information management section 23.

Next, the object-information management section 21 analyses the acquisition-timing data and the acquisition-item data of each piece of object information from the control sections 11, 12. Then, it acquires the object information from the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105. The binding-information management section 22 analyses the acquisition-timing data and the acquisition-item data of each piece of binding information from the control sections 11, 12. Then, it acquires the binding information from the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105. The historical-information management section 23 analyses the acquisition-timing data and the acquisition-item data of each piece of historical information from the control sections 11, 12. Then, it acquires the historical information from the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105.

As a result, in the GW controller 101, as shown in Fig. 6A, communication is executed ten times between the object-information management section 21, the binding-information management section 22 and the historical-information management section 23, and the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105.

On the other hand, in an example which is shown as a comparison example in Fig. 6B, each control section 41, 42 includes, inside of itself, an object-information management section, a binding-information management section and a historical-information management section, respectively. The control section 41 executes the energy-conservation control processing. The object-information management section of the control section 41 acquires the object information from the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105; the binding-information management section of the control section 41 acquires the binding information from the air conditioner 103 and the infrared sensor 104; and the historical-information management section of the control section 41 acquires the historical information from the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105. On the other hand, the control section 42 executes the security processing. The object-information management section of the control section 42 acquires the object information from the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105; the binding-information management section of the control section 42 acquires the binding information from the air conditioner 103 , the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105; and the historical-information management section of the control section 42 acquires the historical information from the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105. As a result, in the example shown in Fig. 6B, communication is executed nineteen times between the control sections 41, 42, and the hot-water supply apparatus 102, the air conditioner 103, the infrared sensor 104 and the alarm device 105. Accordingly, according to this embodiment, the number of times where communication is executed can be reduced to about half. In addition, the burden imposed in developing an application can be lightened to a great extent. This is extremely useful if the indoor communication line 106 is a low-speed and low-capacity communication medium. Besides, resources such as a memory of installed equipment also decrease, thereby allowing larger, or more, control applications to be loaded.

In the description described above, the object-information management section 21, the binding-information management section 22 and the historical-information management section 23 are equipped inside of the GW controller 101. However, that is not limited especially to this example. Inside of the electrical equipment 102 to 105, the object-information management section 21, the binding-information management section 22 and the historical-information management section 23 may also be provided.

Moreover, in the description described above, object information or the like is demanded and acquired from the side of the GW controller 101. However, that is not limited especially to this example. Unless the timing in which object information or the like is transmitted is supposed to be varied, it may also be autonomously transmitted to the GW controller 101 from the side of the electrical equipment 102 to 105. In this case, an autonomous-distribution network can be built up, which will be increasingly useful in the future.

(Second Embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings . According to the first embodiment, the GW controller 101 is provided with the object-information management section 21, the binding-information management section 22 and the historical-information management section 23. According to the second embodiment, in addition to that, electrical equipment includes an object-information management section, a binding-information management section and a historical-information management section.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a home network system according to the second embodiment of the present invention . Herein , in Fig .7 , the same components as those of the home network system shown in Fig. 1 have the same reference numerals , and their description is omitted.

In Fig. 7, the home network system includes a GW controller 401 , a controller 402 , several pieces of electrical equipment 111 to 118, and an indoor communication line 106. The controller 401 , the several pieces of electrical equipment 111 to 118 and the indoor communication line 106 are installed in an ordinaryhouse , an apartment or the like . The GW controller 401 and the controller 402 are connected via the indoor communication line 106 to the electrical equipment 111 to 118, so that it can communicate with them. Using control information, it controls the operation of the electrical equipment 111 to 118. The electrical equipment 111 to 118 is the equipment which can be connected to a home network, including not only so-called household electrical appliances , but also housing equipment , a sensor whichmeasures and detects an environment in a house, or the like. Herein, the control information represents the information which is configured by the following object information, binding information, historical information, service information, and the like.

The GW controller 401 is connected via an outdoor communication line 300 to a server 200, so that it can communicate with it. It has a gateway function of executing indoor/outdoor communication. The controller 402 is connected via the indoor communication line 106 to the indoor GW controller 401 and the electrical equipment 111 to 118, so that it can communicate with them. It has no gateway function of executing indoor/outdoor communication.

The server 200 is configured by a publicly-known server computer and the like. It includes a communication processing section 201, a control section 202, an object-information storage section 203 and a service-information storage section 204. In the object-information storage section 203, object information on each type of electrical equipment is stored in advance as a database , and its contents are suitably update . In the service-information storage section 204, object information on the electrical equipment which is used to realize each service and binding information between the electrical equipment which executes a service application is stored in advance as a database, and its contents are suitably updated. Herein, the service information represents object information on the electrical equipment which is used to^realize each service and binding information between the electrical equipment which executes the services . According to demands from the GW controller 401, the control section 202 reads out object information on the corresponding electrical equipment from the object-information storage section 203. Then, using the communication processing section 201, it transmits the object information to the GW controller 401. In addition, the control section 202 , according to demands from the GW controller 401 , reads out the corresponding service information from the service-information storage section 204. Then, using the communication processing section 201, it transmits the service information to the GW controller 401.

Fig. 8 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of a GW controller of an indoor control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Herein, in Fig. 8, the same components as those of the GW controller 101 shown in Fig. 2 have the same reference numerals, and their description is omitted. Hereinafter, a specific description will be given about an example of the case where the electrical equipment 111 to 118 shown in Fig. 7 are a co-generation system (power-generation hot-water supply) apparatus, a dishwasher, an IH (or induction heating) rice cooker, lighting, a bath, a human-detection sensor (or infrared sensor), a washing machine/drier, and an air conditioner, respectively.

In Fig. 8, the indoor control system includes a GW controller 401 , a controller 402 , several pieces of electrical equipment 111 to 118, and an indoor communication line 106. The controller 401, the controller 402, the several pieces of>electrical equipment 111 to 118 and the indoor communication line 106 are installed in an ordinary house, an apartment or the like. Herein, except the fact that the communication processing section 31 has no gateway function, the controller 402 has the same configuration as the GW controller 401, and thus, its description is omitted.

The GW controller 401 is connected via the indoor communication line 106 to the electrical equipment 111 to 118, so that it can communicate with them. Using control information, it controls the operation of the electrical equipment 111 to 118. The electrical equipment 111 to 118 is the equipment which can be connected to a home network, including not only so-σalledhousehold electrical appliances , but also housing equipment , a sensor which measures and detects an environment in a house, and the like. Herein, the control information represents the information which is configured by the following object information, binding information, historical information, service information, and the like.

The GW controller 401 is connected via an outdoor communication line 300 to a server 200, so that it can communicate with it. According to demands made by the GW controller 401, the server 200 provides service information, object information on the several pieces of electrical equipment 111 to 118 or the like, or the like.

The GW controller 401 is connected via the indoor communication line 106 to a power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111 , a dishwasher 112 , an IH rice cooker 113 , lighting 114, a bath 115, a human-detection sensor 116, a washing machine/drier 117, and an air conditioner 118, so that it can communicate with them. The GW controller 401 is configured by^a CPU (or central processing unit), a ROM (or read only memory) , a RAM (or random access memory) , a gateway (or GW) , an operation section, a liquid-crystal display unit, and the like. It executes a predetermined program using the CPU or the like, and thereby, functions as control sections 11, 12, a control I/O (or input/output) section 13, an information management section 20 , and a communication processing section 31. Herein, to the GW controller 401, a storage unit such as a hard disk drive and a memory card may also be added, if necessary. In addition, the numbers of control sections and pieces of electrical equipment are not limited especially to the above described example, and thus, it can be varied according to the control processing which is to be executed.

The control sections 11 , 12 , and the control I/O section 13 are realized by executing predetermined control application software using the CPU or the like. The information management section 20 executes predetermined queuing middle-ware using the CPU or the like, and thereby, functions as an object-information management section 21, a binding-information management section 22, a historical-information management section 23.

The communication processing section 31 is realized by executing predetermined communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software, using the CPU or the like. It controls the communication with the household electrical equipment 111 to 118 via the indoor communication line 106. In addition, the communication processing section 31 also has a gateway (GW) function of controlling the communication with the server 200 via the outdoor communication line 300. Herein, as the communication processing section, the function of communicating with the household electrical equipment 111 to 118 and the gateway function may also be separately provided.

According to this embodiment, as the communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software of the communication processing section 31, there are used ECHONET communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software in a publicly-known ECHONET standard. The power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, the dishwasher 112, the IH rice cooker 113, the lighting 114, the bath 115, the human-detection sensor 116, the washing machine/drier 117, and the air conditioner 118 includes a communication interface standardized in the ECHONET. Thus, they are the full ECHONET equipment which can be individually connected to a home network.

The control section 11 is realized, for example, using the CPU or the like, and by executing power-generation hot-water supply service software which is application software, predetermined control processing for power-generation hot-water supply is executed. The control section 12 is realized, for example, by executing application software for crime-prevention reporting, using the CPU or the like. Thus, it executes predetermined control processing for crime-prevention reporting. The control I/O (or input/output) section 13 functions as a graphical user interface, for example, by executing predetermined control-I/O application software using the CPU or the like. Thus, it is used for the input of control information by a user, the display of a control result, and the like.

The object-information management section 21 acquires and manages object information which is used for a function or a service that is realized by executing the application preset in the GW controller 401, or object information which is used for a service that is realized by executing a new application obtained from the server 200 by way of the communication line 300. The object information is defined as a service or an applicationwhich can be realizedby combining the functions held by the pieces of electrical equipment which are described later. It also includes various pieces of object information which can execute that , and is expressed in a program language such as an XML which can interpret a predetermined format or a program.

For example, the object-information management section 21 stores information on turning on/off, the temperature of hot water and the rate of hot-water flow among the pieces of object information held by the bath 115 which is used to realize a power-generation hot-water supply service , by allowing that information to correspond to the power-generation hot-water supply service. Similarly, the object-information management section 21 stores information on turning on/off and the temperature of hot water among the pieces of object information held by the dishwasher 112 which is used to realize a power-generation hot-water supply service, by allowing that information to correspond to the power-generation hot-water supply service. In other words, the object-information management section 21 manages, for each service, the object information of each piece of electrical equipment which is used to realize each service.

The object-information management section 21, using the communication processing section 31 , acquires and manages object information of each piece of electrical equipment from the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, the dishwasher 112, the IH rice cooker 113, the lighting 114, the bath 115, the human-detection sensor 116 , the washing machine/drier 117, and the air conditioner 118. This object information is information on the function or the like of electrical equipment, which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment so that the operation of the electrical equipment can be controlled. As the object information transmitted from the electrical equipment, there are the product name, the functions, the name of a manufacturer, the model number, and the like, of each piece of equipment. For example, if it is the bath 115, they are equivalent to information on turning on/off, the temperature of hot water, the rate of hot-water flow, and the like. Herein, these pieces of object information are stored beforehand in a predetermined memory inside of each piece of equipment when the equipment is manufactured.

The binding-information management section 22 manages binding information which represents linking operations between the pieces of electrical equipment. This helps each control section 11, 12 specify which function of a certain piece of electrical equipment is used for which service, based on the object information of another piece of electrical equipment which is connected to the indoor communication line 106.

The historical-information management section 23 acquires and manages historical information from each piece of electrical equipment. The historical information is operational historical information which represents the operational condition, the state of malfunction, or the like, of each piece of electrical equipment.

Next, Fig. 9 is a block diagram, showing the configuration of household electrical equipment of the indoor control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

In Fig. 9, the indoor control system includes, in addition to the GW controller 401 which has a gateway function, the controller 402 which has no gateway function, and the bath 115 which is one of the several pieces of electrical equipment. The controller 402, the controller 402, the electrical equipment 115 and the indoor communication line 106 are installed in an ordinary house, an apartment or the like. Although the GW controller 401 is also connected to the outdoor, the GW controller 402 is connected via the indoor communication line 106 to the electrical equipment 115 and the like, so that it can communicate with them. Using control information, it controls the operation of the electrical equipment 115 and the like. Herein, the electrical equipment 115 is merely an example, and thus, it is the equipment which can be connected to a home network, including another household electrical appliance, housing equipment, a sensor which measures and detects an environment in a house, and the like. The electrical equipment 115 is connected via the indoor communication line 106 to the GW controller 401 , the controller 402, and the other pieces of electrical equipment 111 to 114, 116 to 118, so that it can communicate with them. The electrical equipment 115 is configured by a CPU (or central processing unit), a ROM (or read only memory), a RAM (or random access memory), a gateway (or GW) , and the like. It executes a predetermined program using the CPU or the like, and thereby, functions as control sections 41, 42, an information management section 50, and a communication processing section 61. Herein, to the electrical equipment 115, an operation section and a liquid-crystal display unit, or a storage unit such as a hard disk drive and a memory card may also be added, if necessary. In addition, the numbers of control sections and controllers are not limited especially to the above described example, and thus, it can be varied according to the control processing which is to be executed. In addition, if necessary, a control I/O section which is similar to the GW controller 401 may also be added to the electrical equipment 115.

The control sections 41, 42 are realized by executing predetermined control application software using the CPU or the like. The information management section 50 manages the control information which is communicated between the control sections 41, 42, and the GW controller 401 and controller 402. It executes predetermined queuing middle-ware using the CPU or the like, and thereby, functions as an object-information management section 51, a binding-information management section 52, a historical-information management section 53.

The communication processing section 61 is realized by executing predetermined communication middle-ware and lower-layer communication software, using the CPU or the like. It controls the communication with the GW controller 401 and controller 402 via the indoor communication line 106.

The control section 41 is realized, for example, using the CPU or the like, and by executing power-generation hot-water supply service software, predetermined control processing for power-generation hot-water supply is executed . The control section 42 is realized, for example, using the CPU or the like, and by executing hot-water supply service software, predetermined control processing for hot-water supply is executed.

The object-information management section 51 manages the object information which is defined for the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information. In addition, the object-information management section 51 manages the object information of the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service among the pieces of control information. For example, the object-information management section 51 stores information on turning on/off, the temperature of hot water and the rate of hot-water flow among the pieces of object information held by the bath 115 which is used for a power-generation hot-water supply service, by allowing that information to correspond to the power-generation hot-water supply service. The binding-information management section 52 manages the binding information between the controllers which execute the service software among the pieces of control information. The historical-information management section 53 manages the historical information of the electrical equipment among the pieces of control information.

In Fig. 9, the binding-information management section 52 is controlled according to the object information based on the service sent from the controller 402. At that time, with respect to the electrical equipment 115, which service is.* to be realized, and to do that, which function is to be assigned and operated from which controller, are recorded. Specifically, as described later in Fig. 12, conventional electrical equipment executes bi-directional communication and operates in response to a control command from a specific controller. At that time, broadcast communication is executed in many cases, and thereby, communication traffic tends to increase. Especially, in the circumstances where several controllers are used, it is not specified enough which controller has sent a communication, or which controller is supposed to receive it. This creates useless communication traffic.

However, according to this embodiment, the binding-information management section 52 specifies which service is to be realized, and to do that, which function is to be used from which controller. Therefore, even in the circumstances where several controllers are used, which controller a communication has come from, or which controller it should go to, can be recognized. This reduces communication traffic.

Furthermore, in some cases, different controllers directs, in arbitrary timing, one and the same electrical equipment to execute control processing. In that case, the binding-information management section 52 merges them, and thus , judges it common if those control commands are identical . Then, it converts the two control commands into one control command, and transmits it. This reduces communication traffic over a network.

According to the present invention, in the same way as the side of the GW controller 401 and controller 402, the information management section 50 is provided even on the side of the electrical equipment 115. This configuration allows communication to be efficiently executed and controlled.

Next, an operation of the control system configured as described above will be described. Fig. 10 is a flow chart, showing service-information acquisition processing of the GW controller 401 shown in Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 10, the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13 of the GW controller 401 set a service which is used for the processing of themselves (in a step S71) .

Next, the object-information management section 21 judges whether or not a new service needs to be acquired (in a step S72). If a new service is acquired, then using the communication processing section 31, it demands service information of the server 200 (in a step S73) . Herein, unless a new service is acquired, then a shift is made to a step S76.

Next, the communication processing section 201 of the server 200 receives the transmission demand of the object information. Then, the control section 202 reads out the demanded service information from the service-information storage section 204 (in a step S81) . Next, the control section 202 transmits the read-out service information using the communication processing section 201 (in a step S82).

Next, the communication processing section 31 of the GW controller 401 receives the transmitted service information (in a step S74). The object-information management section 21 stores, for each service, the object information of the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service from among the pieces of received service information. The binding-information management section 22 stores the binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service from among the pieces of received service information (in a step S75) . The service information acquired in the above described processing is managed in the object-information management section 21 and the binding-information management section 22. Then, it is used for control processing which is executed by the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13.

Next, the communication processing section 31 of the GW controller 401 transmits the service information acquired from the server 200 to each piece of electrical equipment which is used to realize the service (in a step S76). Next, the communication processing section 61 of the electrical equipment 111 to 118 receives the service information (in a step S91). The ob ect-information management section 51 stores, for each service, the object information of the electrical equipment which is used to realize a predetermined service from among the pieces of received service information . The binding-information management section 52 stores the binding information between the controllers which execute the service application from among the pieces of received service information (in a step S92) . The service information acquired in the above described processing is managed in the object-information management section 51 and the binding-information management section 52. Hence, the object information of the electrical equipment which is used to realize the service is supposed to be managed, by allowing the object information to correspond to that service. Herein, if the electrical equipment has a gateway function, the above described processing on the side of the GW controller 101 may also be executed on the side of the electrical equipment. In that case, the pieces of electrical equipment acquire the service information individually from the server 200. In addition, in the service-information acquisition processing shown in Fig. 10, the GW controller 401 transmits the service information acquired from the server 200 to the electrical equipment. However, the present invention is not limited especially to this . The GW controller 401 may also transmit the service information acquired from the server 200 to the other controller 402.

Fig. 11 is a flow chart, showing service execution processing of the GW controller 401 shown in Fig. 8.

As shown in Fig. 11, the control sections 11, 12 and the control I/O section 13 of the GW controller 401 starts to execute a service application for realizing a service (in a step S101). The service application is executed, for example, if a user inputs a start instruction via the control I/O section 13.

Next, the object -information management section 21 reads out object information on the electrical equipment which is used for the executed service application . In addition , the binding-information management section 22 reads out binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service application (in a step S102). The communication processing section 31 transmits a control command, from the read-out object information and binding information, to the electrical equipment which has the object information that is used to realize that service (in a step S 103 ) .

Next, the communication processing section 61 of the electrical equipment 111 to 118 receives the control command transmitted from the GW controller 401 (in a step Sill). Herein, if it receives control commands from several controllers, or if several control commands based on several service applications from a single controller, the binding-information management section 52 judges whether or not there are identical control commands among the several control commands. If there are identical control commands, they are united to form one control command and are controlled. Based on the received control command, the object-information management section 51 of the electrical equipment 111 to 118 reads out the object information on the electrical equipment which is used for the executed service application (in a step S112) .

Next, the control sections 41, 42 specifies the object information that is ^"used to realize that service from the read-out object information, and executes the control based on the control command ( in a step S113 ) . Next , the communication processing section 6.1 transmits the control result after the service application has been executed to the GW controller 401 (in a step S114). The communication processing section 31 of the GW controller 401 receives the control result (in a step S104). Then, the service execution processing is completed.

Herein, in the above described service execution processing, the description has been given of the service which is realized between the GW controller 401 and the electrical equipment 111 to 118. However, the present invention is not limited especially to this. It can be applied to the service which is realized between the controller 402 which has no gateway function and the electrical equipment 111 to 118.

Fig. 12 is a representation, showing services which are realized between several controllers and several pieces of electrical equipment. In Fig. 12, there are described several conceivable services which are executed between several controllers and several pieces of electrical equipment . Herein, in Fig. 12, description is given of an example in which a power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, a dishwasher 112, an IH rice cooker 113, lighting 114, a bath 115, a human-detection sensor 116, a washing machine/drier 117, and an air conditioner 118, are used as the several pieces of electrical equipment.

The GW controller 401 executes a hot-water supply control service 121, a crime-prevention reporting service 122 , a washing-course service 123 , and a tele-control service 124, with respect to the bath 115, the human-detection sensor 116, the washing machine/drier 117, and the air conditioner 118, respectively. Herein, the hot-water supply control service 121, the crime-prevention reporting service 122, the washing-course service 123, and the tele-control service 124 are services which are implementedwhen the control section 11 of the GW controller 401 executes a hot-water supply control service application, a crime-prevention reporting service application, a washing-course service application, and a tele-control service application, respectively.

On the other hand, the GW controller 402 executes a power-generation hot-water supply service 125 , with respect to the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, the dishwasher 112, the IH rice cooker 113, the lighting 114, the bath 115, the washing machine/drier 117, and the air conditioner 118. Herein, the power-generation hot-water supply service 125 is a service which is implemented when the control section of the GW controller 402 executes a power-generation hot-water supply service application. Herein, thehuman-detection sensor 116 is household electrical equipment which has only the function unnecessary for the power-generation hot-water supply service 125.

Thus, if you consider the actual situation in this industrial sector, first of all, the GW controller 401 which has a gateway function may come into wide use. However, if the controller 402 is considered to be the main-body controller of fuel-cell co-generation equipment in which power generation or hot-water supply is implemented simply even as a service which is closed indoors such as a home network, then a great number of pieces of household electrical equipment can be controlled, or using their operation information, information on their loads can be provided. Herein, several pieces of service information from the outdoor are downloaded from the GW controller 401 , and in order to realize several service , those pieces of household electrical equipment are directly controlled in many cases.

In other words , several controllers are placed together indoors, and if you focuses on electrical equipment, one piece of electrical equipment more frequently accesses each function based on the services of several controllers and operates. In that case, in terms of communication information between each controller and each piece of electrical equipment , a service to be realized, or which function should be used for that service, is managed and grasped. This prevents communication traffic from increasing sharply.

Specifically, with respect to the bath 115, its hot-water supply control is executedwith the power-generation hot-water supply service 125 from the controller 402. It is used like a remote-control terminal with the hot-water supply control service 121 from the GW controller 401, and its monitoring or control is executed. Therefore, the bath 115 is controlled via the two communication paths of the controller 402 and the GW controller 401. In this case, both the power-generation hot-water supply service 125 and the hot-water supply control service 121 are a service which relates to hot-water supply. Thereby, the bath 115 accepts the control commands from the two controllers, which may confuse it. However, in the control system according to the second embodiment , the object-information management section 51 manages the object information used for the power-generation hot-water supply service 125 and the object information used for the hot-water supply control service 121. Accordingly, the control section 41 which realizes the power-generation hot-water supply service 125 and the control section 42 which realizes the hot-water supply control service 121 can discriminate between the two pieces of object information, with respect to which object information the control sections 41, 42 should use each other. Thereby, confusion which may be caused by accepting the control commands from the two controllers can be avoided. In addition, the binding-information management section 52 manages the binding information between the controllers which realize services. This makes it possible to execute a communication necessary at the minimum, even though a multicast is executed, thereby realizing efficient communication. Besides, the information on hot-water supply which should essentially be delivered to the controller 402 from the bath 115 can be prevented from being delivered via the GW controller 401.

Thus, the object-information management section 51 unifies and manages the object information of each piece of electrical equipment. Therefore, the common acquisition-timing of the object information is extracted, and the object information is acquired from the electrical equipment in the acquisition-timing necessary at the minimum. This reduces communication traffic when the object information is acquired. In addition, the object information which is common to several pieces of control processing can be stored without being duplicated, thus allowing each piece of control processing to be smoothly executed using the object information necessary at the minimum. In addition, the duplication of a control command which is sent from different controllers to one and the same piece of electrical equipment can be reduced. This reduces communication traffic when control processing is executed.

Furthermore, Fig. 13 is a representation, showing services which are executed between a single controller and several pieces of electrical equipment . In Fig.13, the single controller 402 realizes several services. The controller 402 only communicates with the electrical equipment necessary only for a specific service from among the several services. Specifically, in the case where the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111 is operated by monitoring the power consumption of household electrical equipment, if the power consumption of the electrical equipment can be projected, that can efficiently shorten the rise time of the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, thus helping conservation of energy. In this way, the power consumption of each piece of electrical equipment is projected, and thus, the operation of the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111 is controlled, which is called a projection control service for power-generation hot-water supply.

Moreover, in the case where pieces of electrical equipment are individually used, if the power load of each piece of electrical equipment is monitored, and some of the pieces of electrical equipment , such as the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, the dishwasher 112 and the washing machine/drier 117, operate during the same hours, then as a conceivable service, it is desirable that the period of time when any of the pieces of electrical equipment is used be shifted. The usage of several pieces of electrical equipment during the same hours is restricted, thus reducing communication traffic when control processing is executed. In this way, if several pieces of electrical equipment during the same hours are operated, the period of time when each piece of electrical equipment is used is shifted, which is called a load-leveling control service .

As shown in Fig. 13, the controller 402 executes a power-generation hot-water supply projection control service 126, with respect to the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, the dishwasher 112, the IH rice cooker 113, the lighting 114, the bath 115, the washing machine/drier 117, and the air conditioner 118, respectively. Herein, the power-generation hot-water supply projection control service 126 is a service which is implemented when the control section of the GW controller 402 executes a power-generation hot-water supply projection control service application.

In addition, the controller 402 executes a load-leveling control service 127, with respect to the power-generation hot-water supply apparatus 111, the dishwasher 112, and the washing machine/drier 117, respectively. Herein, the load-leveling control service 127 is a service which is implemented when the control section of the GW controller 402 executes a load-leveling control service application.

Thus, as the framework of management control of a home network, the object-information management section 51 unifies and manages the object information on the pieces of electrical equipment which are used to realize services. In addition, the binding-information management section 52 grasps which controller holds a certain service application and which function is operated. This reduces communication traffic, and in addition, the binding information which is common to several pieces of control processing can be stored without being duplicated. Thus, communication traffic can be reduced using the binding information necessary at the minimum, and in this respect, each piece of control processing can be efficiently executed.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, the number of times where communication is executed can be reduced, and services in each piece of electrical equipment can certainly be discriminated. This simplifies the description of control software, thereby lightening to a great extent the burden imposed in developing an application in an indoor control system.

In the description described above, the object-information management section 21, the binding-information management section 22 and the historical-information management section 23 are equipped inside of the GW controller 401 , so that they can be effectively used to communicate with the electrical equipment. However, that is not limited especially to this example. They can also be used for communication for the purpose of the exchange of information between controllers, or for communication only between pieces of electrical equipment without placing any controller between.

In the above description, the power-generation hot-water supply projection control service and the load-leveling control service are a service which relates mainly to the demand and supply of generated electricity. However, that is not limited especially to this example, and thus, similar services are possible even for hot-water supply.

Furthermore, as general cases, object information or the like is demanded and acquired, as described above, from the side of the GW controller 401. However, the present invention is not limited especially to this example. Unless the timing when object information or the like is transmitted and received is changed, then it may also be transmitted, for example, autonomously, and if necessary, from the side of the electrical equipment 115, to the GW controller 401, and in addition, to the other pieces of electrical equipment llltoll4, 116toll8. In this case, an autonomous -distribution network can be built up, which will be increasingly useful in the future.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the GW controller 401 and the controller 402 are configured by including the object-information management section 21, the binding-information management section 22 and the historical-information management section 23. However, the present invention is not limited especially to this example. They may also be configured by only including the object-information management section 21 and the binding-information management section 22. In addition, according to this embodiment, the object-information management section 21 manages the object information of the electrical equipment which is used to realize a predetermined service among the pieces of control information, and the binding-information management section 22 manages the binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which realize the service. However, the present invention is not limited especially to this example. A service-information management section which manages, as service information, the object information of the electrical equipment which is used to realize a predetermined service among the pieces of control information and the binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which realize the service, may also be provided separately from the object-information management section 21, the binding-information management section 22 and the historical-information management section 23. Still further, according to this embodiment, the electrical equipment 115 is configured by including the object-information management section 51, the binding-information management section 52 and the historical-information management section 53. However, the present invention is not limited especially to this example. It may also be configured by only including the object-information management section 51 and the binding-information management section 52. In addition, according to this embodiment, the ob ect-information management section 51 manages the object information of the electrical equipment which is used to realize a predetermined service among the pieces of control information, and the binding-information management section 52 manages the binding information between the controllers which realize the service . However, the present invention is not limited especially to this example. A service-information management section which manages , as service information, the object information of the electrical equipment which is used to realize a predetermined service among the pieces of control information and the binding information between the controllers which realize the service, may also be provided separately from the object-information management section 51, the binding-information management section 52 and the historical-information management section 53.

According to those configurations, service information, object information and binding information are managed. This prevents useless communication information from being transmitted through unnecessary paths . Therefore, when electrical equipment is operated, the volume of communication is reduced, thereby lightening a communication load. In addition, each piece of electrical equipment can discriminate its communication with several controllers. This makes it possible to realize an efficient and accurate service .

The present invention has been described in detail. However, the above description is examples in all its aspects, and thus, the present invention is not limited to those. Hence, it is to be understood that innumerable variations which are not illustrated can be conceived without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Industrial Applicability

The control unit , the electrical equipment , the control system, the control method and the control program according to the present invention are capable of reducing communication traffic, and lightening the burden imposed in developing application software. Hence, they are useful as a control unit, electrical equipment , a control system, a control method, a control program, and the like, which control a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment connected via a communication line.

Claims

1. A control unit which controls a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment connected via a communication line, characterized by including: a communicating means for communicating with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling means for controlling the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment , among the pieces of control information , and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment , among the pieces of control information.

2. The control unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the information managing means further has a historical-information managing means for managing information on the history of the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information.

3. The control unit according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that :

•■> the object-information managing means manages information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service, among the pieces of control information; and the binding-information managing means manages binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service.

4. The control unit according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized by further including a service-information managing means for managing as service information, among the pieces of control information, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment which execute the service.

5. The control unit according to any one of claims 1 to

4, characterized in that if there is information of object necessary for control of the electrical equipment by the controlling means except information of object which is acquired from the electrical equipment via the communicating means, the object-information managing means acquires the information of object from a server unit which is connected via an external communication line, using the communicating means .

6. The control unit according to any one of claims 2 to

5, characterized in that the controlling means has: a first controlling means for executing first control processing; and

>> a second controlling means for executing second control processing which is different from the first control processing.

7. The control unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the object-information managing means extracts acquisition timing which is common to timing in acquiring first information of object which is used by the first controlling means and timing in acquiring second information of object which is used by the second controlling means, and in the extracted acquisition timing, acquires information of object from the electrical equipment using the communicating means.

8. The control unit according to claim 6 or 7 , characterized in that the binding-information managing means extracts acquisition timing which is common to timing in acquiring first binding information which is used by the first controlling means and timing in acquiring second binding information which is used by the second controlling means, and in the extracted acquisition timing, acquires binding information from the electrical equipment using the communicating means.

9. The control unit according to any one of claims 6 to

8, characterized in that the historical-information managing means extracts acquisition timing which is common to timing in acquiring first historical information which is used by the first controlling means and timing in acquiring second historical information which is used by the second controlling means, and in the extracted acquisition timing, acquires historical information from the electrical equipment using the communicating means .

10. The control unit according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the object-information managing means stores, without duplication, information of object which is common to first information of object which is used by the first controlling means and second information of object which is used by the second controlling means.

11. The control unit according to any one of claims 6 to 10 , characterized in that the binding-information managing means stores, without duplication, binding information which is common to first binding information which is used by the first controlling means and second binding information which is used by the second controlling means.

12. The control unit according to any one of claims 6 to 11 , characterized in that the binding-information managing means executes, without duplication, control processing which the first controlling means executes using first binding information and control processing which the second controlling means executes using second binding information.

13. The control unit according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that the historical-information managing means stores, without duplication, historical information which is common to first historical information which is used by the first controlling means and second historical information which is used by the second controlling means .

14. A control method for controlling a control unit which is connected to a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment via a communication line, characterized by including: a communicating step in which the control unit communicates with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling step in which the control unit controls the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing step in which the control unit manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing step having, an object -information managing step in which the control unit manages information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which the control unit manages binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control in ormation.

15. A control program for a control unit which controls a plurality of pieces of electrical equipment connected via a communication line, characterized by allowing the control unit to function as : a communicating means for communicating with the electrical equipment through the communication line;

-^v a controlling means for controlling the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment , among the pieces of control informatio , and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment , among the pieces of control information.

16. Electrical equipment which is controlled by a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, characterized by including: a communicating means for communicating with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling means for allowing the electrical equipment to be controlled by the control unit, using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit , the information managing means having, an object -in ormation managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.

17. The electrical equipment according to claim 16, characterized in that the information managing means f rther has a historical-information managing means for managing information on the history of the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information.

18. The electrical equipment according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that: the object-information managing means manages information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service, among the pieces of control information; and the binding-information managing means manages binding information between the control units which execute the service.

19. The electrical equipment according to claim 16 or 17, characterized by further including a service-information managing means for managing as service information, among the pieces of control information, information of object on the electrical equipment which is used for a predetermined service and binding information between the control units which execute the service.

20. The electrical equipment according to claim 19, characterized in that if there is service information necessary for control of the electrical equipment by the controllingmeans except service information which is acquired from the electrical equipment via the communicating means, the object-information managing means acquires the service information from a server unit which is connected via an external communication line, using the communicating means.

21. The electrical equipment according to any one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that the controlling means has: a first controlling means for executing first control processing; and a second controlling means for executing second control processing which is different from the first control processing.

22. The electrical equipment according to claim 21, characterized in that: the object-information managing means discriminates between information of object used for a first service which is executed by the first controlling means and information of object used for a second service which is executed by the second controlling means, and stores them; and the binding-information managing means discriminates between binding information used for the first service which is executed by the first controlling means and binding information which is used for the second service which is executed by the second controlling means, and stores them.

23. A control method for controlling electrical equipment which is controlled by a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, characterized by including: a communicating step in which the electrical equipment communicates with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling step in which the electrical equipment allows itself to be controlled by the control unit, using control information; and an information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit, the information managing step having, an object -information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.

24. A control program for electrical equipment which is controlled by a plurality of control units connected via a communication line , characterized by allowing the electrical equipment to function as: a communicating means for communicating with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling means by which the electrical equipment is allowed to be controlled by the control unit, using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit, the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.

25. A control system which controls electrical equipment using a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, characterized in that: the control unit includes: a communicating means for communicating with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling means for controlling the electrical equipment using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing means having, an object-in ormation managing means for managing information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment , among the pieces of control information , and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment , among the pieces of control information, and the electrical equipment includes: a communicating means for communicating with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling means for allowing the electrical equipment to be controlled from the control unit , using control information; and an information managing means for managing control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit, the information managing means having, an object-information managing means for managing information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing means for managing binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.

26. A control method for controlling electrical equipment using a plurality of control units connected via a communication line, characterized by including: a communicating step in which the control unit communicates with the electrical equipment through the communication line; a controlling step in which the control unit controls the electrical equipment using control information; an information managing step in which the control unit manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the electrical equipment, the information managing step having, an object-information managing step in which the control unit manages information of object which is defined for each piece of electrical equipment , among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which the control unit manages binding information between the pieces of electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information; a communicating step in which the electrical equipment communicates with the control unit through the communication line; a controlling step in which the electrical equipment allows itself to be controlled from the control unit, using control information; and an information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages control information which is communicated between the controlling means and the control unit, the information managing step having, an object-information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages information of object which is defined for the electrical equipment, among the pieces of control information, and a binding-information managing step in which the electrical equipment manages binding information between the control units, among the pieces of control information.