JP2003111155A - Electric apparatus control method, electric apparatus control system, electric apparatus, repeating installation, central installation, computer program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electric apparatus control method, an electric apparatus control system, an electric apparatus, a repeating installation, a central installation, computer programs, and a recording medium, where data sent from a terminal device are diminished in volume so as to reduce a load imposed on a user for inputting data into a terminal device, when the operation of the electric apparatus is controlled by the terminal device through the intermediary of the central installation, and the previously designated cooking can be done through a simple operation by the use of the electric apparatus. SOLUTION: Designating information and identification information as to an electric apparatus are sent from a portable telephone 410 to a web server 210 (S5, S11, S19, and S27), and control data request information is sent to the web server 210 when information is inputted into an electronic oven through a switch key (S52). When the web server 210 receives the control data request information (S36), the web server 210 acquires the control data (S40) and sends them to the electronic oven 310 (S41), and the electronic oven 310 heats and does cooking on the basis of the received control data (S44).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electric device control method for controlling the operation of various electric devices such as a microwave oven, a microwave oven, a video recorder, etc., according to an instruction from a terminal device such as a mobile phone. The present invention relates to an electric device control system, an electric device used in the system, a relay device, a central device, a computer program for causing a computer to function as each of the devices, and a recording medium for recording the computer program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, various electric device control methods have been proposed for controlling the operation of electric devices such as so-called home electric appliances using data stored in a server computer or the like by using a communication line such as the Internet. There is. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of an electric device control system for realizing a conventional electric device control method. In the figure, 1 is a communication line such as the Internet, and the communication line 1 has a web server 2 and a relay device 6 having means for transmitting and receiving information between the web server 2 and the communication line 1. And the microwave oven 3 are connected to the relay device 6. The microwave oven 3 and the relay device 6 are the microwave oven 3
It is provided in the house 10 which is a private residence of the user who uses.

The web server 2 has a plurality of instruction information (control specification information; data for instructing a menu such as miso soup or gratin) and control information corresponding to the instruction information (data for controlling heating temperature and heating time). It has a storage unit (not shown) that stores and. In addition, the microwave oven 3
It has a display unit (for example, a liquid crystal panel) 3a and an input unit (for example, a touch panel) 3b.

In the case of the electric equipment control system as described above, the web server 2 transmits a plurality of the instruction information to the microwave oven 3 via the communication line 1 and the relay device 6 (white arrow 91), and the electronic signal is transmitted. The range 3 displays each of the received plurality of instruction information on the display unit 3a. From the plurality of instruction information displayed on the display unit 3a, the input unit 3 by the user
The instruction information selected by the operation of b is the web server 2
Is transmitted to (white arrow 92). The web server 2 that has received the selected instruction information further acquires control information corresponding to the instruction information from the storage unit, and transmits the acquired control information to the microwave oven 3 (white arrow 93). The microwave oven 3 operates based on the received control information.

Therefore, it is not necessary to store a large number of instruction information and control information corresponding to the instruction information in the microwave oven 3, and it is not necessary for the user to input the control information. Request the control information to the web server 2 using, and obtain the control information, and then the microwave oven 3
Can be made to perform a required operation (cooking).

FIG. 19 is an explanatory view showing the concept of an electric equipment control system for realizing another conventional electric equipment control method. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a communication line such as the Internet. The communication line 1 is connected with a web server 2 and a terminal device 4 using a mobile phone or the like.
Is a receiving unit 3 which is an electric device provided in the house 10.
It can be connected to the microwave oven 3 having c.

The web server 2 has a storage section (not shown) in which a plurality of instruction information and control information corresponding thereto are stored, as in the case described with reference to FIG. The terminal device 4 also includes a display unit 4a such as a liquid crystal panel, an input unit 4b such as function keys, and a memory (not shown) that stores the received control information.

In the case of the electric equipment control system as described above, a plurality of instruction information is transmitted from the web server 2 to the terminal device 4 (white arrow 91), and the terminal device 4 displays the received instruction information on the display unit 4a. To display. The user uses the display unit 4a.
The desired instruction information is selected from the instruction information displayed at and is input using the input unit 4b. The input instruction information is transmitted from the terminal device 4 to the web server 2 (white arrow 92), and the web server 2 acquires the control information corresponding to the received instruction information. Then the web server 2
Transmits the acquired control information to the terminal device 4 (white arrow 93), and the user operates the input unit 4b of the terminal device 4 so as to transmit the control information to the microwave oven 3. The control information is transmitted from 4 to the microwave oven 3 (white arrow 94). The microwave oven 3 operates based on the received control information.

Therefore, it is not necessary to store a large number of instruction information and control information corresponding to the instruction information in the microwave oven 3, and it is not necessary for the user to input the control information. Can be used to request the control information from the web server 2, and the control information can be acquired via the terminal device 4 to cause the microwave oven 3 to perform a required operation.

Since the terminal device 4 is portable, it is possible to use the terminal device 4 not only when the user is inside the house 10 but also when he is out (for example, when shopping). You can check and select the instruction information. When the user is out, the terminal device 4 receives the control information in advance, and the input unit 4b
For example, the microwave oven 3 can be operated by operating after returning home.

[0011]

By the way, in the case of the electric equipment control system shown in FIG. 18, the microwave oven 3
In addition, it is necessary to include the display unit 3a and the input unit 3b in addition to the means for transmitting and receiving the instruction information and the control information to and from the relay device 6, which causes a problem that the structure of the microwave oven 3 becomes complicated.

Further, in the case of the other electric equipment control system shown in FIG. 19, when a mobile phone or the like is used as the terminal device 4, the communication capacity such as the processing speed or the memory capacity is generally small, so that the web server 2 There is a problem that the receiving time becomes long when receiving the control information, and the control information cannot be stored when the information amount of the control information is large.

Further, when a personal computer is used as the terminal device 4 instead of a mobile phone, communication capacity such as processing speed or memory capacity can be increased, but it is inconvenient to carry, and when going out or shopping. Alternatively, there is a problem that it is difficult for the user to use during cooking.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and transmits control specification information and electric device identification information unique to electric devices from a terminal device such as a mobile phone to a central device such as a web server. , The central device acquires the control information based on the received information, and transmits the acquired control information to the electric device, so that the electric device has a simple structure instead of a complicated structure, and the terminal having a relatively low communication capability. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric device control method and an electric device control system that do not cause a harmful effect even if the device is used.

Further, the electric device requests the central device for control information, and the central device transmits the control information acquired in response to the control information to the electric device, whereby the terminal device preliminarily controls the central device by the central device. If the user requests to obtain the control information, it is possible to obtain the control information from the central device when the electric device is equipped, for example, when the user presses a push button, and the convenience of the electric device is improved. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved electric device control method and electric device control system.

Further, since the terminal device is provided with a memory or the like for storing the electric device identification information, it is not necessary to input the electric device identification information every time the user operates the terminal device to control the electric device. An object is to provide an electric device control method and an electric device control system.

Further, according to the present invention, control specific information and relay device identification information unique to the relay device are transmitted from a terminal device such as a mobile phone to a central device such as a web server, and the central device acquires electrical equipment identification information. Along with the above, the control information is acquired based on the control identification information and the electric device identification information, and the acquired control information is relayed by the relay device and transmitted to the electric device. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric device control method and an electric device control system which have a simple structure and do not cause a harmful effect due to the use of a terminal device having a relatively low communication capability.

Further, the terminal device transmits the electric equipment identification information to the central device in addition to the control identification information and the relay device identification information, so that the central device receives the electric equipment identification information and the control identification information received from the terminal device. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric device control method and an electric device control system capable of acquiring control information based on information.

Further, the central device requests the relay device for the electric device identification information, and in response thereto, the relay device transmits the electric device identification information to the central device, and the central device identifies the transmitted electric device identification information. By receiving the information, the central device can obtain the electric device identification information from the relay device,
It is possible to obtain control information based on the obtained electric device identification information and the control identification information received from the terminal device, and it is not necessary to input and transmit the electric device identification information from the terminal device by a user operation or the like. An object is to provide a device control method and an electric device control system.

Further, since the terminal device is provided with the memory or the like for storing the relay device identification information, it is not necessary to input the relay device identification information every time the user operates the terminal device to control the electric equipment. An object is to provide an electric device control method and an electric device control system.

Also, when the terminal device is provided with a memory or the like for storing the electric device identification information, the user controls the electric device via the central unit and the relay device.
An object of the present invention is to provide an electric device control method and an electric device control system in which it is not necessary to input electric device identification information each time the terminal device is operated.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric device, a relay device, and a central device used in the electric device control system described above.

A further object is to provide a computer program for causing a computer to function as each of the relay device and the central device, and a recording medium for recording the computer program. So, for example,
Each of the relay device or the central device according to the present invention can also be realized by downloading a computer program from a server connected to the Internet and loading the computer program in a memory, and package software or the like, for example, the computer. Program recorded C
The relay device or the central device according to the present invention can also be realized by reading and executing the computer program from a D-ROM or the like.

[0024]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric device control method, comprising: a central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device; and the central device. In a method of controlling an electric device using a terminal device connected via a communication line between the central device and the central device, the central device is configured to control the operation of the electric device based on the control information. It is characterized in that control information is acquired by referring to a database, the acquired control information is transmitted to the electric device via a communication line, and the electric device operates based on the received control information.

The electric equipment control system according to the second invention is
The control information includes a central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device, and a terminal device connected to the central device via a communication line. In the electric device control system for controlling the operation of the electric device based on, the terminal device, the control specifying information for specifying the control information, and the electric device identification information unique to the electric device, via a communication line. The central device comprises means for transmitting to the central device, and the central device controls by referring to the database based on the means for receiving the control specifying information and the electric device identification information, and the received control specifying information and electric device identification information. And a means for transmitting the acquired control information to the electric device related to the received electric device identification information via a communication line. Vessel is characterized in that it comprises means for receiving control information.

The electric equipment control system according to the third invention is
In the electric device control system according to the second aspect of the present invention, the electric device further comprises means for transmitting control information request information requesting control information to the central device via a communication line, and the central device is configured to control information. The central apparatus further comprises a unit for receiving request information, and when the central apparatus receives the control information request information, transmits the acquired control information to the electric device.

An electric equipment control system according to the fourth invention is
In the electric equipment control system according to the second invention or the third invention, the terminal device is further provided with means for storing the electric equipment identification information.

The electric equipment control system according to the fifth aspect of the present invention is
A central device that can read information from a database that stores control information that controls the operation of the electric device, and a relay device that relays communication between the electric device and the central device.
An electric equipment control system for controlling the operation of the electric equipment based on the control information, comprising: a terminal device connected to the central device via a communication line; A control device is provided with means for transmitting control identification information for identifying information and relay device identification information unique to the relay device to the central device via a communication line, the central device including the control identification information and the relay device identification information. Receiving means, means for obtaining electrical equipment identification information unique to the electrical equipment, and means for obtaining control information by referring to the database based on the received control identification information and the obtained electrical equipment identification information. And a means for transmitting the acquired control information to the relay device related to the received relay device identification information, wherein the relay device receives the control information and the received control information. The and means for transmitting to the electrical device, the electrical device is characterized in that it comprises means for receiving control information.

The electric equipment control system according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is
In the electric device control system according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the terminal device includes means for transmitting electric device identification information to the central device via a communication line in addition to the control identification information and the relay device identification information, The central device is characterized by including means for receiving electrical device identification information in addition to the control identification information and the relay device identification information.

The electric equipment control system according to the seventh invention is
In the electric device control system according to the fifth invention or the sixth invention, the central device includes means for transmitting identification information request information requesting electric device identification information to the relay device via a communication line, The relay device receives the identification information request information, a means for acquiring electric device identification information according to the received identification information request information, and the acquired electric device identification information to the central device via the communication line. Transmitting means, and the central unit further comprises means for receiving electrical equipment identification information.

An electric equipment control system according to the eighth invention is
In the electric device control system according to any one of the fifth to seventh inventions, the terminal device further comprises means for storing the relay device identification information.

An electric equipment control system according to the ninth invention is
In the electric equipment control system according to the fifth invention or the sixth invention, the terminal device further comprises means for storing the electric equipment identification information.

An electric device according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is an electric device that operates based on control information, and transmits control information request information for requesting control information and means for communicably connecting to another device. And means for receiving control information related to the control information request information.

A relay device according to the eleventh invention is a relay device for relaying communication between an electric device and a central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device. In the above, it is characterized by comprising means for receiving the control information transmitted from the central device, and means for transmitting the received control information to the electric device.

A relay apparatus according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the relay apparatus according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, wherein the relay apparatus receives the identification information request information for requesting the electric apparatus identification information unique to the electric apparatus, and the received identification information request information. It is characterized by further comprising means for acquiring electric device identification information according to the above and means for transmitting the acquired electric device identification information.

The central apparatus according to the thirteenth aspect of the invention is provided with means for communicatively connecting to another apparatus, and can read the information from the database storing the control information for controlling the operation of the electric equipment. In the central device, means for receiving control identification information for identifying control information, means for obtaining electrical equipment identification information unique to the electrical equipment, and the database based on the received control identification information and the obtained electrical equipment identification information Means for obtaining control information by referring to
And a means for transmitting the acquired control information to the electric device related to the received electric device identification information.

A central device according to a fourteenth invention is the central device according to the thirteenth invention, further comprising means for receiving control information request information for requesting control information, and when the control information request information is received, it is acquired. The control information is transmitted to the electric device.

The central unit according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention comprises means for communicatively connecting to another device, and provides control information for controlling the operation of the electric equipment communicatively connected via the relay device. A central device capable of reading information from a stored database, means for receiving control identification information for identifying control information, and relay device identification information unique to the relay device, and electrical device identification information unique to an electrical device. Based on the received control identification information and the acquired electric device identification information, the control information is acquired by referring to the database, and the acquired control information is relayed according to the received relay device identification information. And means for transmitting to the device.

A central device according to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention is the central device according to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, which comprises means for transmitting identification information request information for requesting electrical device identification information to the relay device.
Means for receiving electrical equipment identification information relating to the identification information request information.

A computer program according to the seventeenth invention causes a computer to relay communication between an electric device and a central unit capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device. In the computer program for, the computer is caused to function as a unit for receiving the control information transmitted from the central device and a unit for transmitting the received control information to the electric device.

A computer program according to an eighteenth invention is the computer program according to the seventeenth invention, wherein the computer receives means for receiving identification information request information for requesting electrical equipment identification information unique to the electrical equipment. It is characterized by further functioning as a unit for acquiring electric device identification information according to the identification information request information and a unit for transmitting the acquired electric device identification information.

A computer program according to a nineteenth aspect of the present invention causes a computer having means for communicably connecting to another device to transmit control information stored in a database in advance for controlling the operation of an electric device. In the computer program of, the computer receives the control identification information for identifying the control information, a means for obtaining the electrical equipment identification information unique to the electrical equipment, the received control identification information and the obtained electrical equipment identification information. Based on
It is characterized in that it functions as a unit for acquiring control information by referring to the database and a unit for transmitting the acquired control information to the electric device related to the received electric device identification information.

A computer program according to a twentieth aspect of the present invention is the computer program according to the nineteenth aspect of the present invention, further causing the computer to function as means for receiving control information request information for requesting control information, and receiving control information request information. In this case, the acquired control information is transmitted to the electric device.

A computer program according to a twenty-first aspect of the present invention controls the operation of an electric device communicatively connected via a relay device to a computer having means for communicatively connecting with another device. In a computer program for transmitting control information stored in a database, a computer receives control specification information for specifying control information, and relay device identification information unique to the relay device, and a device unique to an electric device. A means for acquiring electric device identification information, a means for acquiring control information by referring to the database based on the received control identification information and the acquired electric device identification information, and the acquired control information,
It is characterized by functioning as means for transmitting to the relay device related to the received relay device identification information.

A computer program according to a twenty-second aspect of the present invention is the computer program according to the twenty-first aspect of the present invention, wherein the computer transmits to the relay device identification information request information requesting electrical equipment identification information.
It is characterized by further functioning as a means for receiving the electric device identification information related to the identification information request information.

The recording medium according to the twenty-third aspect of the invention allows a computer to perform communication between an electric device and a central unit capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device. In a computer-readable recording medium for recording a computer program for relaying, the computer receives the control information transmitted from the central device, and transmits the received control information to the electric device. It is characterized by recording a computer program to function as.

The recording medium according to the twenty-fourth aspect of the present invention is for causing a computer having means for communicably connecting to another device to transmit control information stored in a database in advance for controlling the operation of an electric device. In a computer-readable recording medium for recording the computer program, the computer receives a control specifying information for specifying control information, a means for acquiring electric device identification information unique to an electric device, and a receiving device. Based on the acquired control identification information and the acquired electric device identification information, functions as a unit for acquiring the control information by referring to the database, and a unit for transmitting the acquired control information to the electric device related to the received electric device identification information. It is characterized in that it records a computer program for causing it to be recorded.

The recording medium according to the twenty-fifth aspect of the present invention controls in advance the operation of an electric device communicatively connected to a computer equipped with a means for communicatively connecting to another device via a relay device. In a computer-readable recording medium for recording a computer program for transmitting control information stored in a database,
A computer that receives control identification information that identifies control information and relay device identification information that is unique to the relay device; a unit that acquires electrical device identification information that is unique to an electric device; and the received control identification information and Based on the acquired electrical device identification information, a computer program that functions as a unit that refers to the database to obtain control information and a unit that transmits the obtained control information to the relay device related to the received relay device identification information is recorded. It is characterized by doing.

First invention, second invention, tenth invention, thirteenth invention
According to the invention, the 19th invention, and the 24th invention, control specific information and electric device identification information unique to an electric device are transmitted from a terminal device such as a mobile phone to a central device such as a web server, and the central device receives the information. Based on the control specific information and the electric device identification information, the control information is acquired by referring to the database, and the acquired control information is transmitted to the electric device. Therefore, the electric device does not have a complicated structure but a simple structure. An electric device control method, an electric device control system, an electric device, a central device, a computer program for causing a computer to function as the electric device or the central device, which does not cause a harmful effect due to the use of a terminal device having a relatively low ability. Also, it is possible to realize a recording medium for recording the computer program.

In the third, fourteenth, and twentieth inventions, the electric device sends control information request information to the central device to request the control information, and the central device receives the received control information request. In order to transmit the control information acquired according to the information to the electric device, if the terminal device requests the central device to acquire the control information in advance, the electric device has, for example, a push button. When the user presses, the control information can be retrieved from the central device, and the convenience of the electric device is further improved, the electric device control system, the central device used for the electric device control system, and the computer A computer program that functions as a device can be realized.

In the case of the fourth aspect of the invention, the terminal device is provided with the memory or the like for storing the electric device identification information, so that the electric device identification information is stored every time the user operates the terminal device to control the electric device. It is possible to realize an electric device control system that does not require input.

The fifth invention, the eleventh invention, the fifteenth invention, the seventeenth invention, the twenty-first invention, the twenty-third invention, and the twenty-fifth invention.
According to the invention, the terminal device such as a mobile phone transmits the control identification information and the relay device identification information to the central device such as the web server, and the central device acquires the electrical device identification information, and at the same time, the control information and the electrical device. The control information is acquired based on the identification information, and the acquired control information is relayed by the relay device and transmitted to the electric device.
The electric device does not have a complicated structure but a simple structure, and even if a terminal device having a relatively low communication capability is used, no harmful effect caused by the use of the electric device control system, the relay device, the central device, and the computer are relayed. It is possible to realize a computer program for functioning as a device or a central device, and a recording medium for recording the computer.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the terminal device transmits the electric device identification information in addition to the control identification information and the relay device identification information to the central device, whereby the central device receives the electric device received from the terminal device. It is possible to realize an electric device control system capable of acquiring control information based on the identification information and the control identification information.

7th invention, 12th invention, 16th invention, 1st invention
According to the eighth invention and the twenty-second invention, the central device transmits the identification information request information to the relay device to request the electrical device identification information, and in response to this, the relay device sends the electrical device identification information to the central device. And the central device receives the transmitted electric device identification information,
The electric device identification information can be acquired from the relay device, the control information can be acquired based on the acquired electric device identification information, and the control identification information received from the terminal device. It is possible to realize a computer program that causes an electric device control system, a relay device, and a computer that do not need to input and transmit device identification information to function as the relay device or the central device.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the terminal device is provided with the memory or the like for storing the relay device identification information, so that the relay device identification information is stored every time the user operates the terminal device to control the electric equipment. It is an object of the present invention to provide an electric equipment control system that does not require input.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, since the terminal device is provided with the memory or the like for storing the electric device identification information, even when the user controls the electric device via the central unit and the relay device, An object of the present invention is to provide an electric device control system that does not require input of electric device identification information each time it is operated.

[0057]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. (Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the concept of an electric device control system according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a communication line such as the Internet.
Includes a web server (central device) 210 and a display unit 40.
6 and a mobile phone (terminal device) including the input key unit 407
410 and a microwave oven (electric device) 310 including a display unit 306, an input unit 307, and a one-touch key 317 are connected by wire or wirelessly. The microwave oven 31
0 is installed in the house 10. In addition, although the case where the microwave oven 310 is used as an electric device is described in the present embodiment, other electric devices (for example, a video deck, an air conditioner, etc.) may be used. Similarly, a case where the mobile phone 410 is used as the terminal device will be described.
It goes without saying that it may be another PDA or personal computer.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric equipment control system. As mentioned above, microwave oven 3
10, the terminal device 410, and the web server 210 are connected to each other via the communication line 1.

The microwave oven 310 includes a CPU 301,
The CPU 301 has a ROM 303, a
It controls the operations of the RAM 304, the cooking unit 308, the storage unit 309, the transmission / reception unit 315, the display unit 306, the input unit 307, and the like.

The ROM 303 is a PROM, a mask ROM
In addition to the programs required to operate the microwave oven 310, a part of the storage area 311 stores electric device identification information of the microwave oven 310, that is, information such as a maker name, a product name, and a model number. Remembered RAM304
Temporarily stores various data generated during the calculation of the CPU 301, and also temporarily stores data transmitted / received via the transmitting / receiving unit 315.

The display unit 306 is controlled by the CPU 301 to display the operating state of the apparatus or an input instruction to the user, and the input unit 307 is a function key necessary for the user to operate, a start key, And a one-touch key 317 and the like. The transmission / reception unit 315 is connected to the communication line 1 and transmits / receives information to / from the web server 210 based on a predetermined communication protocol, and the web server 21 is transmitted via the transmission / reception unit 315.
The information received from 0 is stored in the storage unit 309.

The heating / cooking unit 308 operates based on control information indicating cooking conditions such as heating time and heating temperature. The control information is, as will be described later, the web server 2.
10 is received via the communication line 1 and stored in the storage unit 309. Further, the CPU 301 uses the one-touch key 31
7 is operated by the user, the electric device identification information is read from the storage area 311 of the ROM 303, and the electric device identification information is transmitted to the web server 210 via the transmission / reception unit 315.

The mobile phone 410 includes a CPU 401, and the CPU 401 connects the ROM 413, R
The operation of the AM 404, the transmission / reception unit 405, the display unit 406, and the input key unit 407 is controlled.

The ROM 413 is a PROM, a mask ROM
And the like, and stores programs necessary for operating the mobile phone 410. RAM404 is a CPU
In addition to temporarily storing various data generated during the calculation of 401, the data transmitted / received via the transmitting / receiving unit 405 is temporarily stored. A registration unit 414 is provided in the RAM 404 as a part of the storage area.
In 4, the electric device identification information of the microwave oven 310 can be registered.

Further, the mobile phone 410 is preinstalled with software such as a web browser (hereinafter referred to as a browser) for displaying a web page. Therefore, the user can select the required location (for example, wherever he or she goes).
Then, it is possible to start a browser using the mobile phone 410 and browse the web page displayed on the display unit 406. By operating the input key unit 407, the transmission / reception unit 405 and the communication line 1 are used. Thus, information can be sent and received to and from the web server 210 to request control information.

The display unit 406 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, displays the operating state of the mobile phone 410 or an input instruction to the user, and displays information and commands input from the input key unit 407 such as a telephone number and various commands. In addition to
A web page or the like received via the transmission / reception unit 405 can be displayed.

Further, the mobile phone 410 is controlled by the CPU 401, converts an analog voice signal input from a microphone (not shown) into a digital voice signal and transmits the digital voice signal, and converts the received digital voice signal into an analog voice signal. Then, it has a normal voice communication function for outputting from a speaker (not shown).

The web server 210 has a CPU 201, which is connected to the RAM 20 via a bus 202.
4, transmitting / receiving unit 205, input / output unit 206, auxiliary storage unit 20
7, the operation of the timer 212 and the storage unit 203 is controlled.

The RAM 204 temporarily stores various data generated during the calculation of the CPU 201, and also the transmitting / receiving unit 20.
The data transmitted / received via 5 is temporarily stored. The transmission / reception unit 205 is a modem or the like for communicating with the microwave oven 310 and the mobile phone 410 via the communication line 1, and is controlled by the CPU 201 to transmit / receive data such as web page data or control information. .

The storage unit 203 comprises a hard disk or the like, and a part of the storage area of the storage unit 203 is an instruction database 213 and a reservation database 214, which can be appropriately accessed according to a command from the CPU 201, and information can be stored. It can be read and written.
The instruction database 213 stores a plurality of instruction information (control specific information; data for instructing menus such as miso soup and gratin) and control information for operating the microwave oven 310 in association with each other, and the reservation database The 214 stores the instruction information and the electric device identification information received via the transmission / reception unit 205 and the data of the time when the instruction information and the electric device identification information are received for a predetermined period (for example, 24 hours). The instruction database 213 and the reservation database 214 are the web server 2
10 does not necessarily have to be provided. For example, it may be provided in an external bird disk or another server and connected to the web server 210.

The timer 212 is controlled by the CPU 201 to measure the time when the instruction information and the electric device identification information are received, and the elapsed time from the time. When the predetermined time has elapsed, the CPU 201 controls the storage unit 203 to erase the instruction information and the electric device identification information and the reception time data stored in the reservation database 214.

A computer program for operating the web server 210 is downloaded via the communication line 1 and the transmission / reception unit 205, or recorded on a recording medium REC1 such as a CD-ROM for recording the computer program. The web server 210 described above can also be realized by reading the computer program in the auxiliary storage unit 207, loading the computer program in the RAM 204, and executing the computer program.

The web page data provided by the web server 210 and the data such as the instruction information are read from the recording medium REC1 using the auxiliary storage unit 207 and stored in the storage unit 203. Alternatively, the administrator of the web server 210 inputs data using the input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a scanner, and the input / output unit 206 including a display device such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display, and the input data is Are stored in the storage unit 203.

The flow of operation of the electric device control system according to the first embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 6 to 10. First, the user uses the mobile phone 410 to access the web server 21.
When 0 is accessed, the web server 210 transmits instruction information (control specific information), that is, menu page data for displaying a menu page to input a menu (S1). The mobile phone 410 receives the menu page data (S
2) The output is displayed on the display unit 406 to display the image (S3).

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when a menu page is displayed on the display unit 406 of the mobile phone 410 by the menu page data. As the menu, menu names such as boiled vegetables, meat and potatoes, and gratin are shown side by side, and under each menu name, the manufacturer and model number of the microwave oven that can cook the menu are shown. There is. Further, each menu name is an image map, and by selecting each menu name, a web page showing a cooking method, ingredients, etc. corresponding to the menu name is displayed. Further, a check button 22a is provided on the left side of each menu name, and after pressing the check button 22a, the enter button 22b is pressed.

The mobile phone 410 determines whether or not the menu is selected (S4). That is, as shown in FIG.
When the enter button 22b of No. is operated, it is determined that the menu is selected (S4: YES), and the instruction information related to the selected menu is transmitted to the web server 210 (S).
5). When the enter button 22b is not operated (S4: NO), the process waits until the menu is selected.

Upon receiving the instruction information (S6), the web server 210 then determines whether or not to register the electric device identification information, which is unique information that can identify the target microwave oven 310. Registration page data for requesting a response as to whether or not it is transmitted to the mobile phone 410 (S7). The mobile phone 410 receives the registration page data (S8), and displays the registration page on the display unit 406 based on the received registration page data (S9).

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when a registration page is displayed on the display unit 406 of the mobile phone 410 by the registration page data. The registration page displays the content asking the user whether or not the electric appliance identification information such as the microwave oven manufacturing company and the model number has been registered. That is, the “registered” button 20a to be pressed when the electric device identification information has already been registered in the mobile phone 410, the “register” button 20b to be pressed when registering the electrical device identification information, and the unregistered button 20b. A "do not register" button 20c that is pressed when registration is not performed is displayed.

The mobile phone 410 has buttons 20a-20
Based on the operation of the user c, it is determined whether or not the electric device identification information is already registered, or whether or not to be registered (S10). That is, when the user presses the button 20a on the registration page, it is determined that the electric device identification information is registered in the registration unit 414 (S10: registered). When the button 20b is pressed, the electric device identification information is not registered, and it is determined that the registration is performed this time (S10: not registered). When the button 20c is pressed, the electric device identification information is not registered. It is the registration, and it is determined that the registration is performed manually by the user without registration (S10: non-registration).

When it is determined in step 10 that the electric device identification information has already been registered by pressing the button 20a (S10: registered), the mobile phone 410 is registered.
Transmits the electric device identification information registered in the registration unit 414 to the web server 210 (S11), and the web server 210 receives this (S12).

On the other hand, if it is determined in step 10 that the button 20c is pressed and manual input is performed (S10: non-registration), the mobile phone 410 is set to the web server 2
The non-registration information is transmitted to 10 (S13). The web server 210 which received this (S14) transmits the input page data for displaying the input page for inputting the electric device identification information to the mobile phone 410 (S15), and receives the mobile phone 410. (S16), display unit 40
The input page is displayed at 6 (S17).

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when the input page is displayed on the display unit 406 of the mobile phone 410 by the input page data. On the input page, a pull-down menu bar 21a for selecting the manufacturer of the microwave oven 310, a pull-down menu bar 21b for selecting the model number of the microwave oven 310, and a text box for entering the manufacturing number. 21c is provided. Also, a send button 21d that is pressed when all selections and inputs are completed is provided.

The mobile phone 410 determines whether or not the electric device identification information has been input (S18). That is, when the transmission button 21d shown in FIG. 5 is operated by the user, it is determined that the input of the electric device identification information is completed (S1).
8: YES), the input electric device identification information is transmitted to the web server 210 (S19), and the web server 210 receives this (S20). If the send button 21d is not operated in step 18 (S18: NO),
Wait for input to complete. When the non-registration information is received in step 14 and the electric device identification information is received in step 20, when the communication between the mobile phone 410 and the web server 210 is completed, the mobile phone 410 is terminated.
The electric device identification information temporarily stored in the RAM 404 or the like is deleted.

On the other hand, in step 10, the button 20b
When is pressed, if it is determined that the electrical device identification information is unregistered and registration is performed (S10: unregistered), the mobile phone 410 transmits the unregistered information to the web server 210 (S21). Receiving this (S22), the web server 210 transmits to the mobile phone 410 the input page data for displaying the same input page as that shown in FIG. 5 for inputting the electric device identification information (S23). The mobile phone 410 that received this (S24) displays the display unit 406.
The input page is displayed at (S25).

Here, the mobile phone 410 determines whether or not the electric device identification information has been input (S26). That is,
When the send button 21d shown in FIG. 5 is operated by the user, it is determined that the input of the electric device identification information is completed (S26: YES), and the input electric device identification information is transmitted to the web server 210 (S27). ), Web server 2
10 receives this (S28). Web server 210
If the electric device identification information is received in step 28 after the unregistered information is received in step 22,
The electronic device identification information is transmitted to the mobile phone 4 using a known technique such as a.
Reply to 10 (S29). Mobile phone 4 that received this
10 (S30), the received electric device identification information is registered in the registration unit 414 (S31). The electric device identification information registered in the registration unit 414 may be at least in a data format that can be recognized by the web server 210, and may not necessarily be understandable by a user or the like. Also,
When it is determined that the input is not completed in step 26 (S26: NO), the process waits until the electric device identification information is input.

As a result of determining whether the electric device identification information is registered, unregistered, or unregistered in step 10, the web which received the electric device identification information in any of step 12, step 20, or step 28 Server 21
0 registers the electric device identification information and the instruction information received in step 6 in the reservation database 214 (S3).
2). In this case, the time when the electric device identification information is received is also registered.

The web server 210 measures the elapsed time from the reception time using the timer 212 (S33) and determines whether or not a predetermined time has passed (S34). When the predetermined time has elapsed (S34: YES), the instruction information and the electric device identification information stored in the reservation database 214 and the reception time are deleted (S35), and the operation of this system ends.

When it is determined in step 34 that the predetermined time has not elapsed (S34: NO), it is determined whether control information request information is received from the microwave oven 310 (S36). When the control information request information has not been received (S36: NO), the operation from step 34 is performed again. Here, the control information request information is information for requesting control information, and includes electric device identification information of the microwave oven 310 itself.

The microwave oven 310 in the standby state (S50) determines whether or not the one-touch key 317 has been operated (S51), and if not operated (S5).
1: NO) Wait until operated. When the one-touch key 317 is operated (S51: YE
S), control information request information including the electrical device identification information stored in the storage area is transmitted to the web server 210 (S).
52).

When it is determined in step 36 that the control information request information is received (S36: YES), the web server 210 searches the reservation database 214 (S3).
7) Obtain electric device identification information and instruction information corresponding to the electric device identification information included in the control information request information received from the microwave oven 310 (S38). Next, the web server 210 searches the instruction database 213 (S
39), control information is acquired based on the acquired electric device identification information and instruction information (S40).

The obtained control information is stored in the web server 210.
From the microwave oven 310 to the microwave oven 310 (S41), and the microwave oven 310 receiving this (S42) stores the received control information in the storage unit 309 (S43), and further reads the control information from the storage unit 309. Heating cooking is started (S44).

In the above description, the storage unit 30
The control information stored in 9 may be stored until it is erased by the user, and the control information once stored may be used in the microwave oven 310 many times. Further, the operation of measuring the elapse of a predetermined time by using the timer 212 is not essential.

Further, as the operation of the web server 210,
The case has been described in which the one-touch key 317 of the microwave oven 310 is pressed to receive the control information request information, and then the control information based on the already received electric device identification information and instruction information is acquired. However, the one-touch key 317 is pressed. The control information may be acquired before the electric device identification information and the instruction information are acquired.

Further, in the above description, the description of the abnormality processing for the abnormality such as the case where the transmission is executed without selecting the instruction information or the case where the incorrect identification information is received is omitted.

According to the electric equipment control system as described above, the control information is designated by using the portable telephone 410, and the designated control information is transmitted from the web server 210 to the microwave oven 310. The structure of 310 becomes simpler than the conventional structure.

Further, since the control information is not transmitted from the mobile phone 410, the information input and transmitted by the mobile phone 410 is only the electric device identification information and the instruction information, which has a relatively small amount of data. It is not necessary to use a terminal device with high communication capability.

Further, when the electric device identification information is registered in the mobile phone 410, it becomes possible to omit the input and transmission / reception of the electric device identification information from the next time.

By transmitting the electric device identification information and the instruction information to the web server 210 in advance using the mobile phone 410, for example, when the user returns home, the one-touch key 317 of the microwave oven 310 can be operated. Since cooking can be performed using the microwave oven 310, convenience is improved.

Furthermore, since the electric device identification information is downloaded from the web server 210 when the one-touch key 317 is operated, it is not necessary to always connect the microwave oven 310 to the communication line 1, and the security can be improved. .

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of an electric equipment control system according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a communication line such as the Internet, and the communication line 1 has a web server (central device) 23.
0, a mobile phone (terminal device) 430, and a home server (relay device) 530 are connected by wire or wirelessly, and the home server 530 further includes a microwave oven (terminal device) 330 and other electric appliances. The devices 340, 340 ... (For example, home electric appliances such as a VCR and a refrigerator) are connected via a LAN or the like.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the electric equipment control system. As described above, the web server 230, the mobile phone 430, and the home server 530 are connected to each other via the communication line 1, and the home server 530 serves as a base point for the microwave oven 330 and the electric device 34.
0, 340, ... Are connected by a LAN or the like.

The microwave oven 330 has a CPU 301,
The CPU 301 has a ROM 303, a
RAM 304, heating / cooking unit 308, storage unit 309, transmission / reception unit 325, display unit 306, and one-touch key 337.
And controls the operation of the input unit 307 and the like. Here, the components designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same functions, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted, but ROM
A part of a storage area 321 is provided in 303, and the electric device identification information of the microwave oven 330 is stored in the storage area 321. Further, the transmitting / receiving unit 325 uses the home server 53
0 is connected.

The mobile phone 430 has a CPU 401, and the CPU 401 uses the bus 402 to read the ROM 423, R
The operation of the AM 404, the transmission / reception unit 405, the display unit 406, and the input key unit 407 is controlled. Here, the first embodiment
Since the components denoted by the same reference numerals have the same function, detailed description thereof will be omitted, but the ROM 423 stores a program for encrypting and decrypting information by SSL. CPU401 using a program
Encrypts the instruction information or the electric device identification information, and then transmits the encrypted information through the transmitting / receiving unit 405. Further, when the program encrypted by SSL is received, the program is used to decrypt the program at a predetermined timing.

A browser is installed in advance on the mobile phone 430. Therefore, the user can start the browser by using the mobile phone 430 and browse the web page displayed on the display unit 406 at a place where the user is out, and by operating the input key unit 407, the web server 230 It is possible to send and receive information to and from.

The web server 230 has a CPU 201, which is connected to the RAM 20 via a bus 202.
4, transmitting / receiving unit 205, input / output unit 206, auxiliary storage unit 20
7, and the operation of the storage unit 203 is controlled. Here, the components denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment have the same functions, and thus detailed description will be omitted, but a part of the storage area of the storage unit 203 is the same as the instruction database 233. Therefore, it is possible to access appropriately according to the instruction of the CPU 201, and it is possible to read and write information. The instruction database 233 stores a plurality of instruction information, a plurality of electric device identification information, and control information in association with each other.

Further, a known mailer is stored in the storage unit 203, the mailer is used, the mail address is described in the header, and the microwave oven 330 or the electric device 3 is written in the text.
Describe the electrical device identification information about electrical devices such as 40,
It is possible to create an e-mail with the control information of the electric device having the electric device identification information attached as an attached file.

Further, the storage unit 203 stores a program for encrypting and decrypting information by SSL, and the CPU 201 uses the program to encrypt instruction information, electrical equipment identification information, electronic mail, or the like. Further, when the information encrypted by SSL is received, it is possible to decrypt the information at a predetermined timing by using the program.

The computer program for operating the web server 230 is downloaded via the communication line 1 and the transmission / reception unit 205, or recorded on a recording medium REC2 such as a CD-ROM for recording the computer program. The web server 230 described above can also be realized by reading the computer program in the auxiliary storage unit 207, loading the computer program in the RAM 204, and executing the computer program.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the structure of the home server 530. Home server 530 is CPU 50
1, the CPU 501 uses the bus 502 for RA
M504, input / output unit 506, auxiliary storage unit 507, storage unit 503, first transmission / reception unit 505, and second transmission / reception unit 535
Control the behavior of.

The RAM 504 temporarily stores various data generated during the calculation of the CPU 501, and also has a first section described later.
The data transmitted / received via the transmission / reception unit 505 and the second transmission / reception unit 535 is temporarily stored. Also, the input / output unit 50
6 is an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse, and C
A display device such as an RT or a liquid crystal display is used, and is used by an administrator of the home server 530 to set or change a password for accessing the home server 530, for example. The password input at this time is stored in the storage unit 503.

The storage unit 503 uses a hard disk or the like, and a part of the storage area of the storage unit 503 is a reservation database 533 and an identification database 534, which can be appropriately accessed according to a command of the CPU 501 and can store information. It can be read and written.
The reservation database 533 stores the received control information and electric device identification information, and the identification database 534 includes the microwave oven 330 and the electric devices 340, 340, ... Connected to the home server 530.
It stores electrical equipment identification information relating to the above. The identification database 534 may be stored by inputting the electric device identification information by the user, but the microwave oven 330 and the electric devices 340, 340, ... Are connected to the home server 530. At the time
The electrical equipment identification information regarding the connected device may be automatically recognized and stored.

Further, in the storage area 531 which is a part of the storage unit 503, the identification information (mail address, URL, etc.) of the web server 230 is stored. In addition to this, the storage unit 503 stores a program for encrypting and decrypting information by SSL, which makes it possible to encrypt the information to be transmitted and when the information encrypted by the SSL is received. Can be decrypted using the program.

Further, in a part of the storage area of the storage unit 503, referring to the header or the text of the received electronic mail,
A known mailer that sorts the e-mail into each folder is stored.

The first transmission / reception unit 505 is a modem or the like for communicating with each of the web server 230 and the mobile phone 430 via the communication line 1, and is controlled by the CPU 501 to transmit / receive data such as electronic mail. The second transmission / reception unit 535 is a modem or the like for communicating with the microwave oven 330 or the electric devices 340, 340, ... Connected to the home server 530, and is controlled by the CPU 501 to send a request signal or Sends and receives data such as control information.

A computer program for operating the home server 530 is downloaded via the communication line 1 and the first transmitting / receiving unit 505, or is recorded on a recording medium REC3 such as a CD-ROM for recording the computer program. The home server 530 described above can also be realized by reading the recorded computer program in the auxiliary storage unit 507, loading it into the RAM 504, and executing it.

The operation flow of the electric equipment control system according to the second embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 15 to 17. First, the user uses the mobile phone 430 to access the web server 230.
In the case of accessing to, the web server 230 transmits instruction information (control specific information), that is, menu page data for displaying a menu page for inputting a menu, to the mobile phone 430 (S60). The mobile phone 430 receives the menu page data (S6
1), the output is displayed on the display unit 406 to display it (S62). The displayed menu page is the same as that shown in FIG. 3 used in the description of the first embodiment.

The mobile phone 430 determines whether or not the menu is selected (S63). That is, when the user operates the enter button 22b of FIG. 3, it is determined that the menu is selected (S63: YES), and the instruction information related to the selected menu is transmitted to the web server 230 (S64). When the enter button 22b is not operated (S63: NO), the process waits until the menu is selected.

The web server 230 that has received the instruction information (S65) then inputs the client information using the identification information (relay device identification information: mail address etc.) of the home server 530 and the password. Input page data to display the page, the mobile phone 4
The mobile phone 43 which has transmitted this to S30 (S66) and has received this (S66)
When 0 (S67), the input page is displayed on the display unit 406 (S68).

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when an input page is displayed on the display unit 406 of the mobile phone 430 by the input page data. In the input page, a text box 24a for inputting a mail address which is identification information of the home server 530, a text box 24b for inputting a password for accessing the home server 530, and all input and selection. And a send button 24c for pressing when is completed.

The mobile phone 430 determines whether or not the input of the client information is completed (S69). That is, when the send button 24c shown in FIG. 14 is pressed by the user, it is determined that the input of the client information is completed (S69: YES), and the input client information is sent to the web server 230 (S70). If the send button 24c is not pressed (S69: N
O), wait until client information is input.

Upon receiving the client information (S71), the web server 230 transmits request information (identification information request information) requesting the transmission of the electric device identification information regarding the microwave oven 330 to the home server 530 having the identification information. (S72). Home server 5 that received the request information
30 (S73), searches the identification database 534 (S74), acquires the stored electric device identification information (S75), and further transmits the acquired electric device identification information to the web server 230 (S76).

The web server 230 having received the electric device identification information (S77) searches the instruction database 233 (S78), and combines the instruction information received in step 65 and the electric device identification information received in step 77. The control information corresponding to is acquired (S79), the acquired control information and the received electric device identification information are encrypted, and transmitted to the home server 530 having the identification information in the client information (S80). In addition, the data transmitted in step 80 has the text in which the electric device identification information is described, and the control information is attached as an attached file to the web server 230.
The identification information of is sent as an e-mail with the header described.

When the home server 530 receives the control information and the electric device identification information as an encrypted electronic mail (S81), it decrypts them and registers them in the reservation database 533 (S82). That is, the home server 53
0 refers to the header of the decrypted e-mail, and if the identification information of the web server 230 is described in the header, the e-mail is distributed to a predetermined folder, and the body of the e-mail distributed to the folder is referenced. Then, the electric device identification information is read, the attached file of the electronic mail is opened to read the control information, and the read set of the electric device identification information and the control information is stored in the reservation database 533.

Next, the home server 530 determines whether or not the control information request information is received from the microwave oven 330 (S83). When the control information request information has not been received (S83: NO), it waits until it is received.

The microwave oven 330 in the standby state (S90) determines whether or not the one-touch key 337 has been operated (S91), and if not operated (S9).
1: NO) Wait until operated. When the one-touch key 337 is operated (S91: YES), RO
The control information request information including the electric device identification information stored in M303 is transmitted to the home server 530 (S9).
2).

When it is determined in step 83 that the control information request information is received (S83: YES), the home server 530 searches the reservation database 533 (S8).
4), detecting the electric device identification information corresponding to the electric device identification information included in the received control information request information, and converting the control information stored in association with the electric device identification information to the electric device identification information. It transmits to the microwave oven 330 which it has (S85).

The microwave oven 330 that has received the control information (S86) stores the received control information in the storage unit 309 (S87), further reads the control information from the storage unit 309 and heats it using the cooking unit 308. Start cooking (S
88).

In the above description, the web server 2
Although 30 is supposed to acquire the electric device identification information by receiving it from the home server 530, even if it is acquired by receiving the electric device identification information input from the mobile phone 430, as in the first embodiment. Good. In this case, the operations from step 72 to step 77 can be omitted. Also, the RAM 404 of the mobile phone 430
By registering the electric device identification information and the identification information of the home server 530 in advance, the convenience is further improved.

[0129] In addition to the encrypted communication between the web server 230 and the home server 530, the mobile phone 430 is also used.
Also, encrypted communication may be performed between the web server 230 and the web server 230, and any method other than SSL may be used as the encryption and decryption means. The communication between the web server 230 and the home server 530 is not limited to e-mail, and other methods such as FTP may be used. Further, in the above description, the description of the abnormality processing for the abnormality such as the case where the transmission is executed without selecting the instruction information or the case where the incorrect client information is received is omitted.

According to the electric equipment control system as described above, the web server 230 acquires the control information based on the information (instruction information and electric equipment identification information) received from the mobile phone 430 and the home server 530, Since the acquired control information is transmitted to the microwave oven 330, the structure of the microwave oven 330 becomes simpler than the conventional structure.

Further, since the control information is not transmitted from the mobile phone 430, and the information input and transmitted by the mobile phone 430 is only the instruction information having a relatively small data amount, the communication capability is high. There is no need to use a terminal device.

Further, the home server 530 sends the control information to the microwave oven 330 and the electric devices 340, 34 based on the electric device identification information transmitted from the web server 230.
Since it can be distributed to 0, ..., the home server 53
Even if multiple electric devices are connected to 0,
The control information can be transmitted to the target electric device.

[0133]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION First invention, second invention, tenth invention, first invention
According to the third invention, the nineteenth invention, and the twenty-fourth invention, the electric device may have a simple structure instead of a complicated structure, and even if a terminal device having a relatively low communication capability is used, no adverse effect due to it occurs. Electric device control method, electric device control system, electric device, central device, computer program for causing a computer to function as the electric device or central device,
Also, it is possible to realize a recording medium for recording the computer program.

According to the third invention, the fourteenth invention, and the twentieth invention, if the terminal device is used to request the control information to be acquired in advance by the central device, the electric device is equipped with, for example. , An electric device control system capable of retrieving control information from a central device when a user presses a push button, and improving convenience of electric devices, a central device used in the electric device control system, and a computer It is possible to realize a computer program that causes the computer to function as the central device.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, it is possible to realize an electric device control system in which it is not necessary to input the electric device identification information every time the user operates the terminal device to control the electric device.

The fifth invention, the eleventh invention, the fifteenth invention, the seventeenth invention, the twenty-first invention, the twenty-third invention, and the twenty-fifth invention.
According to the invention, similarly to the above, the electric device does not have a complicated structure but a simple structure, and even if a terminal device having a relatively low communication capability is used, an electric device control system that does not cause a harmful effect due to the electric device control system, A relay device, a central device, a computer program for causing a computer to function as each of the relay device or the central device, and a recording medium for recording the computer can be realized.

According to the sixth invention, the central device can realize an electric device control system capable of acquiring control information based on the electric device identification information and the control specifying information received from the terminal device.

Seventh invention, twelfth invention, sixteenth invention, first
According to the eighth invention and the twenty-second invention, the central device can acquire the electric device identification information from the relay device, and based on the acquired electric device identification information and the control specifying information received from the terminal device, the central device transmits the control information. An electric device control system, a relay device, which can be acquired and does not need to input and transmit electric device identification information from a terminal device by a user operation or the like.
A computer program for causing a computer to function as the relay device or the central device can be realized.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide an electric equipment control system in which it is not necessary to input the relay apparatus identification information every time the user operates the terminal device to control the electric equipment.

According to the ninth aspect of the invention, even when the user controls the electric device via the central unit and the relay unit, the electric device control system is not required to input the electric device identification information each time the terminal device is operated. The purpose is to provide.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a concept of an electric device control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric device control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when a menu page is displayed on a display unit of a mobile phone according to menu page data.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when a registration page is displayed on a display unit of a mobile phone by registration page data.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when an input page is displayed on a display unit of a mobile phone according to input page data.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of the electric device control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an electric device control system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a home server.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing a screen when the input page is displayed on the display unit of the mobile phone by the input page data.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for explaining an operation flow of the electric device control system according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of an electric device control system for realizing a conventional electric device control method.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the concept of an electric device control system for realizing another conventional electric device control method.

[Explanation of symbols]

210,230 Web server 213, 233 instruction database 214 reservation database 310,330 microwave oven 317,337 One-touch key 340 electrical equipment 410,430 mobile phones 414 Registration Department 530 home server REC1 to REC3 recording media

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 5B019 GA10 HF10                 5K048 AA04 BA12 CA08 DC07 EA11                       EB02 FC01 HA01 HA02 HA05                       HA07 HA13 HA23                 5K101 KK11 LL12 MM07 NN03 NN18                       NN21 PP04 RR11 SS07 TT06                       UU16

Claims (25)

[Claims] 1. A central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of electric equipment, and a terminal device connected to the central device via a communication line. In the electric device control method for controlling the operation of the electric device based on the control information, in response to a request from the terminal device, the central device acquires the control information by referring to the database, and the acquired control information Is transmitted to the electric device via a communication line, and the electric device operates based on the received control information. 2. A central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of electric equipment, and a terminal device connected to the central device via a communication line. In the electric device control system for controlling the operation of the electric device based on the control information, the terminal device, control specifying information for specifying control information, and electric device identification information unique to the electric device, The central device includes means for transmitting to the central device via a communication line, the central device receiving the control identification information and electrical device identification information, and the database based on the received control identification information and electrical device identification information. And a means for transmitting the acquired control information to the electric device related to the received electric device identification information via a communication line. For example, the electrical equipment, electrical equipment control system, characterized in that it comprises means for receiving control information. 3. The electric device further comprises means for transmitting control information request information requesting control information to the central apparatus via a communication line, and the central apparatus receiving the control information request information. 3. The electric device control system according to claim 2, further comprising: and the central device, when receiving the control information request information, transmitting the acquired control information to the electric device. 4. The terminal device further comprises means for storing the electric device identification information.
Or the electric device control system according to item 3. 5. A central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of an electric device, a relay device for relaying communication between the electric device and the central device, and the central device. In the electric equipment control system for controlling the operation of the electric equipment based on the control information, the terminal equipment specifies the control information. A unit for transmitting control identification information and relay device identification information specific to the relay device to the central device via a communication line, wherein the central device receives the control identification information and the relay device identification information. And a means for acquiring electric device identification information unique to the electric device, and referring to the database based on the received control identification information and the acquired electric device identification information. Control means, and means for transmitting the acquired control information to the relay device related to the received relay device identification information, wherein the relay device receives the control information and the received control information. An electric device control system, comprising: a means for transmitting to the electric device; wherein the electric device includes means for receiving control information. 6. The terminal device includes means for transmitting electrical equipment identification information to the central device via a communication line in addition to the control identification information and the relay device identification information, and the central device is provided with the control identification information. In addition to information and relay device identification information,
The electric device control system according to claim 5, further comprising means for receiving electric device identification information. 7. The central device comprises means for transmitting identification information request information for requesting electrical device identification information to the relay device via a communication line, and the relay device receives the identification information request information. Means, means for acquiring electric equipment identification information according to the received identification information request information, and means for transmitting the acquired electric equipment identification information to the central device via the communication line, the central device, 7. The electric device control system according to claim 5, further comprising means for receiving electric device identification information. 8. The terminal device further comprises means for storing the relay device identification information.
7. The electric equipment control system according to any one of 7 to 7. 9. The terminal device further comprises means for storing the electric device identification information.
Alternatively, the electric device control system according to item 6. 10. An electric device that operates based on control information, means for communicatively connecting to another device, means for transmitting control information request information for requesting control information, and the control information. And a means for receiving control information relating to the request information. 11. A relay device for relaying communication between an electric device and a central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device, wherein the central device transmits the information. A relay device comprising means for receiving the received control information and means for transmitting the received control information to the electric device. 12. A unit for receiving identification information request information for requesting electric device identification information unique to the electric device, a unit for acquiring electric device identification information according to the received identification information request information, and the acquired electric device. The relay device according to claim 11, further comprising: a unit that transmits device identification information. 13. A central device, comprising means for communicatively connecting to another device, capable of reading the information from a database storing the control information for controlling the operation of an electric device, Based on the received control specification information and the acquired electric device identification information, the control information is referred to based on the received control specifying information and the electric device identification information unique to the electric device. A central apparatus comprising: a means for acquiring and a means for transmitting the acquired control information to an electric device related to the received electric device identification information. 14. The control device further comprises means for receiving control information request information for requesting control information, and transmits the acquired control information to the electric device when the control information request information is received. Central apparatus according to item 13. 15. Information is stored in a database that stores control information for controlling the operation of an electric device that is communicatively connected to another device and that is communicatively connected to another device. In a central device that can be read, means for receiving control identification information for identifying control information and relay device identification information unique to the relay device, means for obtaining electric device identification information unique to an electric device, and receiving Means for acquiring control information by referring to the database based on the control specifying information and the acquired electric device identification information,
A central device, comprising means for transmitting the acquired control information to the relay device related to the received relay device identification information. 16. The apparatus comprises: means for transmitting identification information request information for requesting electrical equipment identification information to the relay device; and means for receiving electrical equipment identification information related to the identification information request information. The central device according to claim 15. 17. A computer program for causing a computer to relay communication between an electric device and a central unit capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device, the computer program comprising: And a computer program causing the control unit to function as a unit for receiving the control information transmitted from the central apparatus and a unit for transmitting the received control information to the electric device. 18. A means for receiving identification information request information for requesting electrical equipment identification information unique to the electrical equipment, and a means for obtaining electrical equipment identification information according to the received identification information request information. The computer program according to claim 17, further functioning as a means for transmitting the acquired electric device identification information. 19. A computer program for causing a computer having a means for communicably connecting to another device to transmit control information stored in a database in advance for controlling the operation of an electric device, , A means for receiving control identification information for identifying control information, a means for obtaining electric equipment identification information unique to an electric equipment, and a database referred to based on the received control identification information and the obtained electric equipment identification information. And a control means for acquiring control information, and a computer program that functions as means for transmitting the acquired control information to an electric device related to the received electric device identification information. 20. The computer further functions as means for receiving control information request information for requesting control information, and when the control information request information is received, the acquired control information is transmitted to the electric device. Computer program according to claim 19, characterized in that 21. Control information pre-stored in a database for controlling the operation of an electric device communicatively connected via a relay device to a computer having a means for communicatively connecting to another device. In the computer program for transmitting the information, the computer acquires control identification information for identifying control information and relay device identification information unique to the relay device, and electric device identification information unique to the electric device. Means for acquiring control information by referring to the database based on the received control identification information and the acquired electric device identification information, and transmitting the acquired control information to the relay device related to the received relay device identification information A computer program characterized by causing it to function as means. 22. The computer further functions as means for transmitting identification information request information for requesting electrical equipment identification information to the relay device and means for receiving electrical equipment identification information related to the identification information request information. Computer program according to claim 21, characterized in that 23. A computer program for causing a computer to relay communication between an electric device and a central device capable of reading information from a database storing control information for controlling the operation of the electric device. In a computer-readable recording medium for recording, a computer program for causing a computer to function as a unit for receiving control information transmitted from the central device and a unit for transmitting the received control information to the electric device is recorded. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by the following. 24. A computer recording a computer program for transmitting control information stored in a database in advance, which controls the operation of an electric device, to a computer having a means for communicatively connecting to another device. In a recording medium that can be read by the computer, the computer receives the control identification information for identifying the control information, the means for obtaining the electrical equipment identification information unique to the electrical equipment, the received control identification information, and the obtained control identification information. To record a computer program that functions as means for acquiring control information by referring to the database based on electric equipment identification information and means for transmitting the acquired control information to the electric equipment related to the received electric equipment identification information. A computer-readable recording medium characterized by. 25. Control information stored in advance in a database for controlling the operation of an electric device communicatively connected to another computer via a relay device in a computer having a means for communicatively connecting to another device. In a computer-readable recording medium for recording a computer program for transmitting the computer program, means for receiving control identification information for identifying control information, and relay device identification information unique to the relay device, A means for acquiring electric equipment identification information unique to the electric equipment, a means for acquiring control information by referring to the database based on the received control identification information and the acquired electric equipment identification information, and the acquired control information, Recording a computer program that functions as a means for transmitting to the relay device related to the received relay device identification information Recording medium readable on a computer, characterized.