1
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
AIR CONDITIONING CONTROL SYSTEM
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED
AND EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
DESCRIPTION
5 Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an air
conditioning control system that controls an air
conditioner by using information indicating a position of a
remote control terminal.
10
Background
[0002] An air conditioning control system that controls
an air conditioner by using information indicating a
position of a terminal device is known (see, for example,
15 Patent Literature 1). A conventional air conditioning
control system includes a terminal device, a wearable
terminal, and an air conditioner that performs air
conditioning under the control of the terminal device. The
terminal device includes a function of remotely controlling
20 the air conditioner and a function of detecting a position
of the terminal device. The wearable terminal includes a
function of detecting temperature around a user.
Citation List
25 Patent Literature
[0003] Patent Literature 1: International Publication No.
WO 2016/157283
Summary
30 Technical Problem
[0004] However, the conventional air conditioning
control system does not take into account a mode in which a
plurality of users is associated with one air conditioner.
3
When the plurality of users is associated with the one air
conditioner, and the plurality of users includes a user who
returns home relatively early and a user who returns home
relatively late, it is required to provide a technique that
properly executes air conditioning for 5 the plurality of
users.
[0005] The present invention has been made in view of
the above, and an object of the present invention is to
provide an air conditioning control system that properly
10 executes air conditioning for a plurality of users when the
plurality of users is associated with one air conditioner,
and the plurality of users includes a user who arrives at a
building from outside the building relatively early and a
user who arrives thereat relatively late.
15
Solution to Problem
[0006] In order to solve the above problem and achieve
the object, an air conditioning control system according to
the present invention includes an air conditioner, a
20 plurality of remote control terminals each including a
function of remotely controlling the air conditioner, and a
server for controlling the air conditioner. The air
conditioner includes an outdoor unit including a
temperature sensor that detects temperature of outside air.
25 The plurality of remote control terminals each includes a
position detection unit, a travel speed acquisition unit, a
terminal storage unit that stores information indicating a
position of a building where the air conditioner is
installed, a terminal control unit, and a terminal
30 communication unit. The position detection unit detects a
current position of a remote control terminal including the
position detection unit. The travel speed acquisition unit
measures a speed of travel of a remote control terminal
4
including the travel speed acquisition unit. The terminal
control unit calculates a time required for a user of a
remote control terminal including the terminal control unit
to arrive at the building from outside the building on the
basis of information obtained from the 5 position detection
unit, the travel speed acquisition unit, and the terminal
storage unit of the remote control terminal including the
terminal control unit. The terminal communication unit
transmits, to the server, information indicating the time
10 required that is calculated by the terminal control unit of
a remote control terminal including the terminal
communication unit. The server includes a server storage
unit storing a database that associates the air conditioner
with the user of each of the plurality of remote control
15 terminals, a server communication unit that receives the
information indicating the time required for the user of
each of the plurality of remote control terminals from each
of the plurality of remote control terminals, and a
calculation unit that calculates, on the basis of the
20 information received by the server communication unit, an
estimated time at which a user who arrives at the building
first arrives at the building among the plurality of users
indicated by information included in the database. The
server communication unit transmits a command for changing
25 air conditioning setting to the air conditioner in stages
from a time when the calculation unit calculates the
estimated time to the estimated time calculated by the
calculation unit.
30 Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0007] The air conditioning control system according to
the present invention can properly execute air conditioning
for the plurality of users when the plurality of users is
5
associated with one air conditioner, and the plurality of
users includes the user who arrives at the building from
outside the building relatively early and the user who
arrives thereat relatively late.
5
Brief Description of Drawings
[0008] FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating a
configuration of an air conditioning control system
according to a first embodiment.
10 FIG. 2 is a second diagram illustrating the
configuration of the air conditioning control system
according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating an example of the
operation of an air conditioner included in the air
15 conditioning control system according to the first
embodiment when a cooling mode is set as the operation mode
of the air conditioner.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a
procedure of the operation of a server included in the air
20 conditioning control system according to a second
embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processor when the
processor implements a part or all of the functions of a
terminal communication unit, a terminal control unit, a
25 position detection unit, a reception unit, and a travel
speed acquisition unit included in a first remote control
terminal of the air conditioning control system according
to the first embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating processing circuitry
30 when the processing circuitry implements a part or all of
the terminal communication unit, the terminal control unit,
the position detection unit, the reception unit, and the
travel speed acquisition unit included in the first remote
6
control terminal of the air conditioning control system
according to the first embodiment.
Description of Embodiments
[0009] An air conditioning control system 5 according to
embodiments of the present invention will now be described
in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the
present invention is not limited to the embodiments.
[0010] First Embodiment.
10 FIG. 1 is a first diagram illustrating a configuration
of an air conditioning control system 1 according to a
first embodiment. The air conditioning control system 1
includes an air conditioner 2. The air conditioner 2
includes an outdoor unit 3 and an indoor unit 4, the
15 outdoor unit 3 including a temperature sensor 31 that
detects the temperature of the outside air. The outdoor
unit 3 is installed outside a house 81, and the indoor unit
4 is installed inside the house 81. The house 81 is an
example of a building.
20 [0011] The air conditioning control system 1 further
includes a first remote control terminal 5 and a second
remote control terminal 6 each including a function of
remotely controlling the air conditioner 2. That is, the
first remote control terminal 5 and the second remote
25 control terminal 6 both include the function of remotely
controlling the indoor unit 4. The first remote control
terminal 5 and the second remote control terminal 6 are
examples of a plurality of remote control terminals. The
first remote control terminal 5 and the second remote
30 control terminal 6 are both devices that can be carried by
a user.
[0012] The air conditioning control system 1 further
includes a server 7 for controlling the air conditioner 2.
7
The server 7 is installed outside the house 81. The server
7 is connected to Internet 82. The Internet 82 is located
outside the house 81. The air conditioning control system
1 further includes a router 8 connected to the indoor unit
4 by a wireless local area network. 5 The router 8 is
installed inside the house 81. The air conditioning
control system 1 further includes a modem 9 connected to
the router 8. The modem 9 is installed inside the house 81.
The modem 9 is also connected to the Internet 82.
10 [0013] As described above, the router 8 is connected to
the indoor unit 4, and the modem 9 is connected to the
router 8 and the Internet 82. That is, the indoor unit 4
is connected to the Internet 82 via the router 8 and the
modem 9. The first remote control terminal 5 and the
15 second remote control terminal 6 are both connected to the
server 7. As described above, the server 7 is connected to
the Internet 82. That is, the first remote control
terminal 5 and the second remote control terminal 6 are
both connected to the indoor unit 4 via the server 7, the
20 Internet 82, the modem 9, and the router 8.
[0014] The indoor unit 4 may be connected to the
Internet 82 by a connection method other than the
connection method described above. For example, the indoor
unit 4 may be connected to the Internet 82 using a part or
25 all of a wired local area network, Bluetooth (registered
trademark), and a specified low power radio.
[0015] The first remote control terminal 5 includes a
function of receiving radio waves from a plurality of
global positioning system satellites and detecting the
30 current position of the first remote control terminal 5 on
the basis of the radio waves received. The second remote
control terminal 6 includes a function of receiving radio
waves from a plurality of global positioning system
8
satellites and detecting the current position of the second
remote control terminal 6 on the basis of the radio waves
received. FIG. 1 illustrates only one global positioning
system satellite 83 among the plurality of global
positioning system satellites. A method 5 of detecting the
current position of each of the plurality of remote control
terminals is not limited to the method of using the radio
waves from the plurality of global positioning system
satellites.
10 [0016] FIG. 2 is a second diagram illustrating the
configuration of the air conditioning control system 1
according to the first embodiment. As described above, the
outdoor unit 3 includes the temperature sensor 31 that
detects the temperature of the outside air. The
15 temperature sensor 31 is, for example, a thermistor or a
temperature sensor integrated circuit. The outdoor unit 3
further includes a control unit 32 that controls air
conditioning, and an internal/external communication unit
33 that communicates with the indoor unit 4.
20 [0017] The control unit 32 controls, for example, a
compressor and an outdoor unit fan (not shown) as well as
the flow rate of a refrigerant. The control unit 32
controls the internal/external communication unit 33 to
transmit information indicating the temperature detected by
25 the temperature sensor 31 to the indoor unit 4 in a
predetermined cycle. The internal/external communication
unit 33 need not transmit the information indicating the
temperature detected by the temperature sensor 31 to the
indoor unit 4 in the above cycle.
30 [0018] The internal/external communication unit 33 may
transmit the information indicating the temperature
detected by the temperature sensor 31 to the indoor unit 4
at a timing when the temperature detected by the
9
temperature sensor 31 changes. The internal/external
communication unit 33 may transmit the information
indicating the temperature detected by the temperature
sensor 31 to the indoor unit 4 in the above cycle and also
at the timing when the temperature 5 detected by the
temperature sensor 31 changes.
[0019] The indoor unit 4 includes an internal/external
communication unit 41 that communicates with the outdoor
unit 3, a control unit 42 that controls air conditioning,
10 and a communication unit 43 that communicates with the
router 8. As described above, the indoor unit 4 is
connected to the Internet 82 via the router 8 and the modem
9. The server 7 is connected to the Internet 82. That is,
the communication unit 43 communicates with the server 7
15 via the router 8, the modem 9, and the Internet 82. The
communication unit 43 may be placed inside the indoor unit
4 or may be attached to the outside of a casing of the
indoor unit 4.
[0020] The control unit 42 controls, for example, an
20 indoor unit fan, a flap, and a louver (not shown). In
addition, the control unit 42 controls the communication
unit 43 to transmit, to the server 7, the information
indicating the temperature detected by the temperature
sensor 31, the information being received from the outdoor
25 unit 3 by the internal/external communication unit 41.
When transmitting the information indicating the
temperature detected by the temperature sensor 31 to the
server 7, the communication unit 43 transmits information
indicating a target indoor temperature to the server 7.
30 [0021] The indoor unit 4 also includes a function of
receiving an infrared signal from a remote control and
performing air conditioning in conjunction with the outdoor
unit 3 on the basis of the signal received, the infrared
10
signal corresponding to an operation performed on the
remote control by a user inside the house 81. The indoor
unit 4 also includes a function of performing air
conditioning in conjunction with the outdoor unit 3 on the
basis of data transmitted from the server 5 7 for controlling
air conditioning.
[0022] The first remote control terminal 5 includes a
terminal communication unit 51 that communicates with the
server 7 via the Internet 82, a terminal control unit 52
10 that controls the components of the first remote control
terminal 5, and a position detection unit 53 that detects
the current position of the first remote control terminal 5.
For example, the position detection unit 53 detects the
current position of the first remote control terminal 5 on
15 the basis of the radio waves from the plurality of global
positioning system satellites. The position detection unit
53 may detect the current position of the first remote
control terminal 5 by a method other than the method of
using the radio waves from the plurality of global
20 positioning system satellites.
[0023] The first remote control terminal 5 further
includes a terminal storage unit 54 that stores information
indicating the position of the house 81 in which the air
conditioner 2, specifically the indoor unit 4, is installed.
25 The terminal storage unit 54 also stores identification
information of a user of the first remote control terminal
5. The terminal storage unit 54 is implemented by a
semiconductor memory, for example. The first remote
control terminal 5 further includes a display unit 55 that
30 displays an air conditioning state of the indoor unit 4.
The terminal communication unit 51 receives information
indicating the air conditioning state of the indoor unit 4
from the server 7, and the display unit 55 displays the air
11
conditioning state of the indoor unit 4 under the control
of the terminal control unit 52 on the basis of the
information received by the terminal communication unit 51.
The display unit 55 is implemented by a liquid crystal
display device, 5 for example.
[0024] The first remote control terminal 5 further
includes a reception unit 56 that receives an instruction
regarding air conditioning of the indoor unit 4 from the
user of the first remote control terminal 5. The reception
10 unit 56 also includes a function of receiving information
related to the user of the first remote control terminal 5.
An example of the information related to the user of the
first remote control terminal 5 is the identification
information of the user of the first remote control
15 terminal 5. The identification information stored in the
terminal storage unit 54 is information that is input to
the first remote control terminal 5 by the user of the
first remote control terminal 5 using the reception unit 56
and is received by the reception unit 56. For example, a
20 part of the reception unit 56 is a keyboard, an operation
button, or a device that reads information from a recording
medium. The display unit 55 and the reception unit 56 may
be implemented by one touch panel.
[0025] The first remote control terminal 5 further
25 includes a travel speed acquisition unit 57 that measures
the speed of travel of the first remote control terminal 5.
For example, the travel speed acquisition unit 57 measures
the speed of travel of the first remote control terminal 5
using an acceleration sensor. The travel speed acquisition
30 unit 57 may measure the speed of travel of the first remote
control terminal 5 on the basis of a change in the current
position detected by the position detection unit 53.
[0026] The terminal control unit 52 calculates a time
12
required for the user of the first remote control terminal
5 to return to the house 81 from outside the house 81 on
the basis of information obtained from the position
detection unit 53, the terminal storage unit 54, and the
travel speed acquisition unit 57. 5 Specifically, the
terminal control unit 52 calculates the time required for
the user of the first remote control terminal 5 to return
to the house 81 from outside the house 81 on the basis of
the current position of the first remote control terminal 5
10 detected by the position detection unit 53, the information
indicating the position of the house 81 stored in the
terminal storage unit 54, and the speed of travel of the
first remote control terminal 5 measured by the travel
speed acquisition unit 57.
15 [0027] The terminal communication unit 51 transmits
information indicating the time required calculated by the
terminal control unit 52 to the server 7. For example, the
terminal communication unit 51 transmits the information
indicating the time required to the server 7 at
20 predetermined time intervals. The terminal communication
unit 51 may transmit information indicating a new time
required to the server 7 when a difference between the time
required, which is indicated by the information previously
transmitted to the server 7, and the new time required,
25 which is calculated by the terminal control unit 52 after
the transmission of the previous information, exceeds a
predetermined time.
[0028] The terminal communication unit 51 transmits the
information indicating the new time required to the server
30 7 when, for example, the time obtained by subtracting an
“elapsed time” and the “new time required calculated by the
terminal control unit 52 after the transmission of the
previous information” from the “time required indicated by
13
the information previously transmitted” exceeds “10
minutes”. The “elapsed time” is the time from the time
when the previous information is transmitted to the time
when the terminal control unit 52 calculates the new time
required after the transmission of the previous 5 information.
[0029] The second remote control terminal 6 includes a
terminal communication unit 61 that communicates with the
server 7 via the Internet 82, a terminal control unit 62
that controls the components of the second remote control
10 terminal 6, and a position detection unit 63 that detects
the current position of the second remote control terminal
6. For example, the position detection unit 63 detects the
current position of the second remote control terminal 6 on
the basis of the radio waves from the plurality of global
15 positioning system satellites. The position detection unit
63 may detect the current position of the second remote
control terminal 6 by a method other than the method of
using the radio waves from the plurality of global
positioning system satellites.
20 [0030] The second remote control terminal 6 further
includes a terminal storage unit 64 that stores information
indicating the position of the house 81 in which the air
conditioner 2, specifically the indoor unit 4, is installed.
The terminal storage unit 64 also stores identification
25 information of a user of the second remote control terminal
6. The terminal storage unit 64 is implemented by a
semiconductor memory, for example. The second remote
control terminal 6 further includes a display unit 65 that
displays an air conditioning state of the indoor unit 4.
30 The terminal communication unit 61 receives information
indicating the air conditioning state of the indoor unit 4
from the server 7, and the display unit 65 displays the air
conditioning state of the indoor unit 4 under the control
14
of the terminal control unit 62 on the basis of the
information received by the terminal communication unit 61.
The display unit 65 is implemented by a liquid crystal
display device, for example.
[0031] The second remote control 5 terminal 6 further
includes a reception unit 66 that receives an instruction
regarding air conditioning of the indoor unit 4 from the
user of the second remote control terminal 6. The
reception unit 66 also includes a function of receiving
10 information related to the user of the second remote
control terminal 6. An example of the information related
to the user of the second remote control terminal 6 is the
identification information of the user of the second remote
control terminal 6. The identification information stored
15 in the terminal storage unit 64 is information that is
input to the second remote control terminal 6 by the user
of the second remote control terminal 6 using the reception
unit 66 and is received by the reception unit 66. For
example, a part of the reception unit 66 is a keyboard, an
20 operation button, or a device that reads information from a
recording medium. The display unit 65 and the reception
unit 66 may be implemented by one touch panel.
[0032] The second remote control terminal 6 further
includes a travel speed acquisition unit 67 that measures
25 the speed of travel of the second remote control terminal 6.
For example, the travel speed acquisition unit 67 measures
the speed of travel of the second remote control terminal 6
using an acceleration sensor. The travel speed acquisition
unit 67 may measure the speed of travel of the second
30 remote control terminal 6 on the basis of a change in the
current position detected by the position detection unit 63.
[0033] The terminal control unit 62 calculates a time
required for the user of the second remote control terminal
15
6 to return to the house 81 from outside the house 81 on
the basis of information obtained from the position
detection unit 63, the terminal storage unit 64, and the
travel speed acquisition unit 67. Specifically, the
terminal control unit 62 calculates the 5 time required for
the user of the second remote control terminal 6 to return
to the house 81 from outside the house 81 on the basis of
the current position of the second remote control terminal
6 detected by the position detection unit 63, the
10 information indicating the position of the house 81 stored
in the terminal storage unit 64, and the speed of travel of
the second remote control terminal 6 measured by the travel
speed acquisition unit 67.
[0034] The terminal communication unit 61 transmits
15 information indicating the time required calculated by the
terminal control unit 62 to the server 7. For example, the
terminal communication unit 61 transmits the information
indicating the time required to the server 7 at
predetermined time intervals. The terminal communication
20 unit 61 may transmit information indicating a new time
required to the server 7 when a difference between the time
required, which is indicated by the information previously
transmitted to the server 7, and the new time required,
which is calculated by the terminal control unit 62 after
25 the transmission of the previous information, exceeds a
predetermined time.
[0035] The terminal communication unit 61 transmits the
information indicating the new time required to the server
7 when, for example, the time obtained by subtracting an
30 “elapsed time” and the “new time required calculated by the
terminal control unit 62 after the transmission of the
previous information” from the “time required indicated by
the information previously transmitted” exceeds “10
16
minutes”. The “elapsed time” is the time from the time
when the previous information is transmitted to the time
when the terminal control unit 62 calculates the new time
required after the transmission of the previous information.
[0036] The server 7 includes a server 5 communication unit
71 that communicates with the indoor unit 4 and the
plurality of remote control terminals. The server
communication unit 71 includes a function of receiving
information indicating the time required for the user of
10 each of the plurality of remote control terminals from each
of the plurality of remote control terminals. As described
above, the first remote control terminal 5 and the second
remote control terminal 6 are examples of the plurality of
remote control terminals.
15 [0037] The server 7 further includes a server storage
unit 72 that stores information, and a server control unit
73 that controls to store information in the server storage
unit 72. Specifically, the server control unit 73 controls
to store information obtained from the indoor unit 4 in the
20 server storage unit 72. The server storage unit 72 is
implemented by a semiconductor memory, for example. The
information obtained from the indoor unit 4 is received by
the server communication unit 71. An Example of the
information obtained from the indoor unit 4 is a part or
25 all of information indicating the temperature of the
outside air, information indicating the target indoor
temperature, information indicating whether the indoor unit
4 is operating or stopped, information indicating the
operation mode, information indicating the wind direction,
30 information indicating the air volume, information
indicating an abnormality in the event of the abnormality,
individual identification information of the indoor unit 4,
and information related to the outdoor unit 3. The
17
individual identification information of the indoor unit 4
is, for example, one or both of information indicating a
media access control (MAC) address of the indoor unit 4 and
information indicating a serial number of the indoor unit 4.
[0038] The server control unit 5 73 also includes a
function of controlling to store, in the server storage
unit 72, information that the server communication unit 71
receives from the plurality of remote control terminals.
Examples of the information that the server communication
10 unit 71 receives from the plurality of remote control
terminals are the identification information of the user of
each of the plurality of remote control terminals
transmitted from each of the plurality of remote control
terminals, the information indicating the time required for
15 the user of each of the plurality of remote control
terminals, and operation information regarding air
conditioning. The time required for each user is the time
required for the user to return to the house 81 from
outside the house 81.
20 [0039] The server storage unit 72 stores a database in
which the air conditioner 2 is associated with the user of
each of the plurality of remote control terminals. The
database is an aggregate of information in which the
identification information, the information indicating the
25 time required, and the operation information regarding air
conditioning are associated with one another for each user.
Note that the time required for a user who is in the house
81 is zero minute. In the first embodiment, the air
conditioner 2 is associated with the user of each of the
30 plurality of remote control terminals on the basis of the
individual identification information of the indoor unit 4
and the identification information of the user.
[0040] The server control unit 73 causes the server
18
communication unit 71 to transmit, to the indoor unit 4,
the information indicating the target indoor temperature
and the information instructing the indoor unit 4 to
operate or stop on the basis of the time required for the
user of each of the plurality of remote 5 control terminals
associated with the air conditioner 2 and the temperature
of the outside air.
[0041] The server 7 further includes a calculation unit
74 that calculates, on the basis of the information
10 received by the server communication unit 71, an estimated
time when a user who returns to the house 81 first returns
to the house 81 among the plurality of users indicated by
the information included in the database that is stored in
the server storage unit 72. The server communication unit
15 71 transmits a command for changing the air conditioning
setting to the air conditioner 2 in stages from a time when
the calculation unit 74 calculates the estimated time to
the estimated time calculated by the calculation unit 74.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating an example of the
20 operation of the air conditioner 2 included in the air
conditioning control system 1 according to the first
embodiment when a cooling mode is set as the operation mode
of the air conditioner 2. More specifically, FIG. 3
illustrates an example of the command for changing the air
25 conditioning setting from when all the users associated
with the air conditioner 2 are out of the house 81 to when
the user who first returns to the house thereafter returns
to the house. In FIG. 3, “OPERATING” indicates that the
air conditioner 2 is operating. In FIG. 3, “STOPPED”
30 indicates that the operation of the air conditioner 2 is
stopped.
[0043] The following description assumes that the
plurality of remote control terminals is the first remote
19
control terminal 5 and the second remote control terminal 6.
First, the server control unit 73 of the server 7 includes,
in the database, information indicating the target indoor
temperature at a time point when the time required for the
first remote control terminal 5 or the 5 time required for
the second remote control terminal 6 is zero minute. The
time point when the time required is zero minute on the
left side of FIG. 3 is a time point when the user who goes
out later goes out between the user of the first remote
10 control terminal 5 and the user of the second remote
control terminal 6.
[0044] When the time required for the first remote
control terminal 5 and the time required for the second
remote control terminal 6 are both no longer zero minute,
15 the server control unit 73 determines that the user of the
first remote control terminal 5 and the user of the second
remote control terminal 6 have both gone out, and starts
controlling the command for changing the air conditioning
setting. Upon determining that the user of the first
20 remote control terminal 5 and the user of the second remote
control terminal 6 have both gone out, the server control
unit 73 controls the command for changing the air
conditioning setting using the shorter time required
between the time required for the first remote control
25 terminal 5 and the time required for the second remote
control terminal 6.
[0045] The server control unit 73 causes the server
communication unit 71 to transmit the command for changing
the air conditioning setting to the indoor unit 4 in stages
30 such that the target indoor temperature is gradually
increased as the time required increases. Once the time
required is a first reference time or longer, the server
control unit 73 causes the server communication unit 71 to
20
transmit a command for stopping the operation to the indoor
unit 4. The example of FIG. 3 sets the first reference
time to 120 minutes. The control performed by the server
control unit 73 once the time required is the first
reference time or longer allows the 5 air conditioning
control system 1 to reduce the power consumed by the air
conditioner 2 when the user of the first remote control
terminal 5 and the user of the second remote control
terminal 6 have both gone out. That is, the air
10 conditioning control system 1 can perform energy-saving air
conditioning.
[0046] Once the time required is less than a second
reference time, the server control unit 73 causes the
server communication unit 71 to transmit a command for
15 starting the operation to the indoor unit 4. As in the
example of FIG. 3, the first reference time and the second
reference time may be the same. The server control unit 73
causes the server communication unit 71 to transmit the
command for changing the air conditioning setting to the
20 indoor unit 4 in stages such that the target indoor
temperature is gradually decreased as the time required
decreases.
[0047] The server control unit 73 causes the server
communication unit 71 to transmit the command for changing
25 the air conditioning setting to the indoor unit 4 in stages
such that a difference between the temperature of the
outside air and the target indoor temperature falls within
a predetermined range just before the time required reaches
zero minute. Just before the time required reaches zero
30 minute is just before the user who returns to the house 81
first returns thereto between the user of the first remote
control terminal 5 and the user of the second remote
control terminal 6.
21
[0048] Once the time required is zero minute, the server
control unit 73 causes the server communication unit 71 to
transmit, to the indoor unit 4, a command for allowing the
temperature of a room where the indoor unit 4 is installed
to reach the target indoor temperature on 5 the basis of the
information indicating the target indoor temperature
included in the database.
[0049] As described above, the server 7 calculates the
estimated time when the user who returns to the house 81
10 first among the plurality of users returns to the house 81,
and transmits the command for changing the air conditioning
setting to the air conditioner 2 in stages from the time
when the estimated time is calculated to the estimated time
calculated. Therefore, the air conditioning control system
15 1 can properly execute air conditioning for the plurality
of users when the plurality of users is associated with the
one air conditioner 2, and the plurality of users includes
the user who returns to the house relatively early and the
user who returns thereto relatively late.
20 [0050] Furthermore, the server 7 compares the times
required for the plurality of users and transmits the
command for changing the air conditioning setting to the
air conditioner 2. Therefore, when the plurality of users
is all out of the house 81, a difference between the
25 temperature of the outside air at the time when the user
who returns to the house the earliest among the plurality
of users returns to the house and the temperature in the
room of the house 81 is smaller than that of a case where
the server 7 does not transmit the command for changing the
30 air conditioning setting to the air conditioner 2. As a
result, the air conditioning control system 1 can achieve
air conditioning with relatively little heat shock.
[0051] In addition, the operation of the air conditioner
22
2 is stopped when the plurality of users is all out of the
house 81, whereby the air conditioning control system 1 can
achieve energy-saving air conditioning.
[0052] Second Embodiment.
Next, an air conditioning control system 5 according to
a second embodiment will be described. The configuration
of the air conditioning control system according to the
second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the
air conditioning control system 1 according to the first
10 embodiment, but the function of a part of the components is
different between the first embodiment and the second
embodiment. The second embodiment mainly describes the
part different from the first embodiment.
[0053] The server control unit 73 included in the server
15 7 determines that a part of the users has gone out when the
part of the users among the plurality of users, which is
indicated by the information included in the database
stored in the server storage unit 72, has gone out of the
house 81. When the server control unit 73 determines that
20 the part of the users has gone out, the server
communication unit 71 transmits a command for changing the
air conditioning setting, which reduces a difference
between the temperature detected by the temperature sensor
31 and the target indoor temperature, to the air
25 conditioner 2, specifically the indoor unit 4.
[0054] When the command for changing the air
conditioning setting is transmitted to the air conditioner
2, the server 7 notifies the user who is in the house 81
that the change of the air conditioning setting is started.
30 When the user who is in the house 81 performs an operation
related to the air conditioning setting in the case where
the change of the air conditioning setting is performed,
the air conditioner 2 cancels the change of the air
23
conditioning setting.
[0055] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of
a procedure of the operation of the server 7 included in
the air conditioning control system according to the second
embodiment. The server 7 acquires information 5 indicating
the time required from each of the first remote control
terminal 5 and the second remote control terminal 6 (S1).
That is, in step S1, the server 7 acquires from the first
remote control terminal 5 the information indicating the
10 time required that is the time required for the user of the
first remote control terminal 5 to return to the house 81
from outside the house 81, and at the same time acquires
from the second remote control terminal 6 the information
indicating the time required that is the time required for
15 the user of the second remote control terminal 6 to return
to the house 81 from outside the house 81.
[0056] Next, the server 7 determines whether or not
there is a user in the house 81 (S2). When determining
that there is a user in the house 81 (Yes in S2), the
20 server 7 determines whether or not there is a user who is
out of the house 81 (S3). When determining that there is a
user who is out (Yes in S3), the server 7 determines
whether or not the user has been out for more than one hour
(S4).
25 [0057] When determining that the user has been out for
more than one hour (Yes in S4), the server 7 determines
whether or not the time required for the user who is out to
return to the house is less than 30 minutes (S5). When
determining that the time required for the user who is out
30 to return to the house is less than 30 minutes (Yes in S5),
the server 7 notifies the user who is in the house 81 that
air conditioning control for reducing heat shock is to be
started (S6).
24
[0058] The “one hour” in step S4 and the “30 minutes” in
step S5 are examples of criteria for determination, and one
or both of the “one hour” and the “30 minutes” may be
replaced with another time. For example, one or both of
the “one hour” and the “30 minutes” may 5 be changed by the
user.
[0059] For example, when executing the operation of step
S6, the server 7 transmits information to the remote
control terminal that the air conditioning control for
10 reducing heat shock is to be started, and causes the remote
control terminal to display a message indicating the
information. When executing the operation of step S6, the
server 7 may transmit the information to the indoor unit 4
that the air conditioning control for reducing heat shock
15 is to be started, and may cause a buzzer installed in the
indoor unit 4 to sound or a light emitting diode installed
in the indoor unit 4 to blink.
[0060] After executing the operation of step S6, the
server 7 starts the air conditioning control for reducing
20 heat shock (S7). Specifically, the server 7 stores
information indicating the target indoor temperature at the
start of the control, transmits a command for changing air
conditioning setting for lowering the target indoor
temperature to the indoor unit 4 at the time of cooling,
25 and transmits a command for changing air conditioning
setting for raising the target indoor temperature to the
indoor unit 4 at the time of heating such that a difference
between the target indoor temperature and the temperature
of the outside air falls within a predetermined range.
30 [0061] The server 7 thereafter acquires information
indicating the time required from each of the first remote
control terminal 5 and the second remote control terminal 6
(S8). The server 7 determines whether or not there is a
25
user who is out of the house 81 (S9). When determining
that no user is out (No in S9), the server 7 ends the air
conditioning control for reducing heat shock (S10). For
example, in step S10, the server 7 transmits a command to
the indoor unit 4 for changing the set 5 temperature to the
target indoor temperature at the start of the air
conditioning control for reducing heat shock. When
determining that there is a user who is out (Yes in S9),
the server 7 determines whether or not a user who is at
10 home has performed an operation related to air conditioning
(S11).
[0062] When the server 7 determines that the user at
home has performed the operation related to air
conditioning (Yes in S11), the operation of the server 7
15 proceeds to step S10. When the server 7 determines that
the user at home has not performed the operation related to
air conditioning (No in S11), the operation of the server 7
proceeds to step S8.
[0063] The operation of the server 7 proceeds to step S1
20 when the server 7 determines in step S3 that no user is out
(No in S3), determines that the user has been out for less
than one hour (No in S4), or determines that the time
required for the user who is out to return to the house is
30 minutes or longer (No in S5). The server 7 ends the
25 processing when determining that there is no user in the
house 81 (No in S2) and after performing the operation of
step S10.
[0064] As described above, the air conditioning control
system according to the second embodiment performs the air
30 conditioning control for reducing heat shock on the basis
of the time required even when not all the plurality of
users are out. That is, even when a part of the users
returns home later than the other users, the air
26
conditioning control system according to the second
embodiment can achieve air conditioning with relatively
little heat shock for the part of the users.
[0065] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a processor 91
when the processor 91 implements a 5 part or all of the
functions of the terminal communication unit 51, the
terminal control unit 52, the position detection unit 53,
the reception unit 56, and the travel speed acquisition
unit 57 included in the first remote control terminal 5 of
10 the air conditioning control system 1 according to the
first embodiment. That is, a part or all of the functions
of the terminal communication unit 51, the terminal control
unit 52, the position detection unit 53, the reception unit
56, and the travel speed acquisition unit 57 may be
15 implemented by the processor 91 that executes a program
stored in a memory 92. The processor 91 is a central
processing unit (CPU), a processing unit, an arithmetic
unit, a microprocessor, or a digital signal processor (DSP).
FIG. 5 also illustrates the memory 92.
20 [0066] In the case where the processor 91 implements a
part or all of the functions of the terminal communication
unit 51, the terminal control unit 52, the position
detection unit 53, the reception unit 56, and the travel
speed acquisition unit 57, the part or all of the functions
25 are implemented by the processor 91 and software, firmware,
or a combination of software and firmware. The software or
firmware is described as a program and stored in the memory
92. The processor 91 implements a part or all of the
functions of the terminal communication unit 51, the
30 terminal control unit 52, the position detection unit 53,
the reception unit 56, and the travel speed acquisition
unit 57 by reading and executing the program stored in the
memory 92.
27
[0067] When the processor 91 implements a part or all of
the functions of the terminal communication unit 51, the
terminal control unit 52, the position detection unit 53,
the reception unit 56, and the travel speed acquisition
unit 57, the first remote control terminal 5 5 includes the
memory 92 for storing the program that results in the
execution of a part or all of steps executed by the
terminal communication unit 51, the terminal control unit
52, the position detection unit 53, the reception unit 56,
10 and the travel speed acquisition unit 57. The program
stored in the memory 92 can also be said to be one that
causes a computer to execute a procedure or method executed
by a part or all of the terminal communication unit 51, the
terminal control unit 52, the position detection unit 53,
15 the reception unit 56, and the travel speed acquisition
unit 57.
[0068] The memory 92 is, for example, a non-volatile or
volatile semiconductor memory such as a random access
memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an
20 erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or an
electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM
(registered trademark)); a magnetic disk; a flexible disk;
an optical disk; a compact disc; a mini disc; a digital
versatile disk (DVD); or the like.
25 [0069] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a processing
circuitry 93 when the processing circuitry 93 implements a
part or all of the terminal communication unit 51, the
terminal control unit 52, the position detection unit 53,
the reception unit 56, and the travel speed acquisition
30 unit 57 included in the first remote control terminal 5 of
the air conditioning control system 1 according to the
first embodiment. That is, a part or all of the terminal
communication unit 51, the terminal control unit 52, the
28
position detection unit 53, the reception unit 56, and the
travel speed acquisition unit 57 may be implemented by the
processing circuitry 93.
[0070] The processing circuitry 93 is dedicated hardware.
The processing circuitry 93 is, for 5 example, a single
circuit, a complex circuit, a programmed processor, a
parallel-programmed processor, an application specific
integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array
(FPGA), or a combination of these.
10 [0071] Some of the plurality of functions included in
the terminal communication unit 51, the terminal control
unit 52, the position detection unit 53, the reception unit
56, and the travel speed acquisition unit 57 may be
implemented by software or firmware, while the rest of the
15 plurality of functions may be implemented by dedicated
hardware. The plurality of functions included in the
terminal communication unit 51, the terminal control unit
52, the position detection unit 53, the reception unit 56,
and the travel speed acquisition unit 57 can thus be
20 implemented by hardware, software, firmware, or a
combination of these.
[0072] A part or all of the functions of the terminal
communication unit 61, the terminal control unit 62, the
position detection unit 63, the reception unit 66, and the
25 travel speed acquisition unit 67 included in the second
remote control terminal 6 of the air conditioning control
system 1 according to the first embodiment may be
implemented by a processor that executes a program stored
in a memory. The memory is a memory for storing the
30 program that results in the execution of a part or all of
steps executed by the terminal communication unit 61, the
terminal control unit 62, the position detection unit 63,
the reception unit 66, and the travel speed acquisition
29
unit 67. A part or all of the functions of the terminal
communication unit 61, the terminal control unit 62, the
position detection unit 63, the reception unit 66, and the
travel speed acquisition unit 67 may be implemented by
processing circuitry. The processing 5 circuitry is
processing circuitry similar to the processing circuitry 93.
[0073] A part or all of the functions of the server
communication unit 71, the server control unit 73, and the
calculation unit 74 included in the server 7 of each of the
10 air conditioning control system 1 according to the first
embodiment and the air conditioning control system
according to the second embodiment may be implemented by a
processor that executes a program stored in a memory. The
memory is a memory for storing the program that results in
15 the execution of a part or all of steps executed by the
server communication unit 71, the server control unit 73,
and the calculation unit 74. A part or all of the
functions of the server communication unit 71, the server
control unit 73, and the calculation unit 74 may be
20 implemented by processing circuitry. The processing
circuitry is processing circuitry similar to the processing
circuitry 93.
[0074] The configuration illustrated in the above each
embodiment merely illustrates an example of the content of
25 the present invention, and can thus be combined with
another known technique or partially omitted and/or
modified without departing from the gist of the present
invention.
30 Reference Signs List
[0075] 1 air conditioning control system; 2 air
conditioner; 3 outdoor unit; 4 indoor unit; 5 first
remote control terminal; 6 second remote control terminal;
30
7 server; 8 router; 9 modem; 31 temperature sensor; 32,
42 control unit; 33, 41 internal/external communication
unit; 43 communication unit; 51, 61 terminal
communication unit; 52, 62 terminal control unit; 53, 63
position detection unit; 54, 64 terminal 5 storage unit; 55,
65 display unit; 56, 66 reception unit; 57, 67 travel
speed acquisition unit; 71 server communication unit; 72
server storage unit; 73 server control unit; 74
calculation unit; 81 house; 82 Internet; 83 global
10 positioning system satellite; 91 processor; 92 memory; 93
processing circuitry.
31
We Claim :
1. An air conditioning control system comprising:
an air conditioner;
a plurality of remote control terminals each including
a function of remotely controlling the air 5 conditioner; and
a server to control the air conditioner, wherein
the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit including
a temperature sensor to detect temperature of outside air,
the plurality of remote control terminals each
10 includes a position detection unit, a travel speed
acquisition unit, a terminal storage unit to store
information indicating a position of a building where the
air conditioner is installed, a terminal control unit, and
a terminal communication unit,
15 the position detection unit detects a current position
of a remote control terminal including the position
detection unit,
the travel speed acquisition unit measures a speed of
travel of a remote control terminal including the travel
20 speed acquisition unit,
the terminal control unit calculates a time required
for a user of a remote control terminal including the
terminal control unit to arrive at the building from
outside the building on the basis of information obtained
25 from the position detection unit, the travel speed
acquisition unit, and the terminal storage unit of the
remote control terminal including the terminal control unit,
the terminal communication unit transmits, to the
server, information indicating the time required that is
30 calculated by the terminal control unit of a remote control
terminal including the terminal communication unit,
the server includes a server storage unit to store a
database that associates the air conditioner with the user
32
of each of the plurality of remote control terminals, a
server communication unit to receive the information
indicating the time required for the user of each of the
plurality of remote control terminals from each of the
plurality of remote control terminals, 5 and a calculation
unit to calculate, on the basis of the information received
by the server communication unit, an estimated time at
which a user who arrives at the building first arrives at
the building among the plurality of users indicated by
10 information included in the database, and
the server communication unit transmits a command for
changing air conditioning setting to the air conditioner in
stages from a time when the calculation unit calculates the
estimated time to the estimated time calculated by the
15 calculation unit.
2. An air conditioning control system comprising:
an air conditioner;
a plurality of remote control terminals each including
20 a function of remotely controlling the air conditioner; and
a server to control the air conditioner, wherein
the air conditioner includes an outdoor unit including
a temperature sensor to detect temperature of outside air,
the plurality of remote control terminals each
25 includes a position detection unit, a travel speed
acquisition unit, a terminal storage unit to store
information indicating a position of a building where the
air conditioner is installed, a terminal control unit, and
a terminal communication unit,
30 the position detection unit detects a current position
of a remote control terminal including the position
detection unit,
the travel speed acquisition unit measures a speed of
33
travel of a remote control terminal including the travel
speed acquisition unit,
the terminal control unit calculates a time required
for a user of a remote control terminal including the
terminal control unit to arrive at 5 the building from
outside the building on the basis of information obtained
from the position detection unit, the travel speed
acquisition unit, and the terminal storage unit of the
remote control terminal including the terminal control unit,
10 the terminal communication unit transmits, to the
server, information indicating the time required that is
calculated by the terminal control unit of a remote control
terminal including the terminal communication unit, and
the server includes a server storage unit to store a
15 database that associates the air conditioner with the user
of each of the plurality of remote control terminals, a
server control unit to determine that a part of a plurality
of users indicated by information included in the database
has gone out when the part of the users has gone out of the
20 building, and a server communication unit to transmit, to
the air conditioner, a command for changing air
conditioning setting that reduces a difference between the
temperature detected by the temperature sensor and a target
indoor temperature when the server control unit determines
25 that the part of the users has gone out.
3. The air conditioning control system according to claim
2, wherein
the server notifies the user who is in the building
30 that a change of the air conditioning setting is started
when the command for changing the air conditioning setting
is transmitted to the air conditioner.
34
4. The air conditioning control system according to claim
3, wherein
the air conditioner cancels the change of the air
conditioning setting when the user who is in the building
performs an operation related to the 5 air conditioning
setting in a case where the change of the air conditioning
setting is performed.