JP2011182183A - Device information display apparatus, television, equipment information display method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

A device information display device is provided that displays candidates for devices to be grouped with respect to a plurality of devices and reduces a burden on a user when performing grouping.
In a situation where a plurality of devices whose effective ranges are determined in advance are arranged in accordance with a predetermined position and orientation, device installation information regarding each effective range, each predetermined position and orientation of the plurality of devices. The device installation information input unit 302 for inputting the device and the device installation information are determined based on the device installation information to determine whether another device exists within the effective range of the device. A grouping unit 306 that forms a group with all connected devices and an object indicating a plurality of devices is arranged based on at least a predetermined position of the plurality of devices. A device arrangement display unit 307 that displays a map and displays a device forming one group so as to be distinguished from a device forming another group.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a device information display device, a TV, a device information display method, and the like that group devices and display the results.

  In recent years, various devices in the home are controlled by a remote controller (remote controller) dedicated to the device from a location away from the device. This remote controller transmits a predetermined command to the device by infrared rays or radio waves in response to an operation input by a user.

  The management of multiple remote controllers becomes more complicated as the number of devices operated by remote controllers increases in the home. To solve these problems, remote control functions that can operate multiple devices are provided. An operation terminal that displays a two-dimensional position has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 25 shows a screen display example of the operation terminal proposed in Patent Document 1.

  The devices 701 to 703 disposed in the home communicate with each other between the devices 701 to 703, and based on the time when the transmission packet is transmitted and the time when the response packet for the transmission packet is received, A function capable of measuring the distance between 703 is provided.

  First, as shown in FIG. 25A, the user places the icons of the devices 701 to 703 at arbitrary positions on the screen of the operation terminal. When the user arranges each icon on the screen, the operation terminal is illustrated in FIG. 25B based on the detected positions of the two devices 701 to 703 and using the positions of the two predetermined device icons as a reference. As described above, the icons of the devices 701 to 703 are moved to positions that are relatively two-dimensionally accurate.

  In this case, since the distance between the devices 701 and 702 is the longest among the detected distances between the devices 701 to 703, the icon of the device 703 is based on the positions of the two icons of the devices 701 and 702. , It is moved to the correct position according to the distance between the devices 701 to 703.

  In this way, by displaying the relative two-dimensional positions of the respective devices 701 to 703, the user can easily use the operation terminal to remember the position of the device that actually exists and to operate the device. Can be specified.

  On the other hand, there has been a desire to operate a plurality of devices that can be operated with a remote controller at the same time. For example, when entering or leaving a room, there has been a demand to turn on all the devices in the room all at once or to turn off all the devices at once.

JP 2006-013928 A

  However, in order to realize such an operation by appropriately selecting and grouping devices to be operated simultaneously, it may be necessary for the user to perform a troublesome operation.

  In other words, in order to group devices so that a single remote controller can operate multiple devices at the same time, for example, the user must check the ID of each device to be grouped and enter that ID into the remote control. The operation that must be done is necessary.

  In addition, even in the case of the operation terminal proposed in Patent Document 1, the user sets each device while considering whether the device should be grouped from a plurality of devices displayed on the screen. I have to do it.

  In view of the above-described conventional problems, the present invention provides a device information display device, a TV, a device information display method, and the like that display device candidates for grouping and can reduce the burden on the user when grouping. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the first aspect of the present invention provides:
In a situation where a plurality of devices whose effective ranges are determined in advance are arranged according to a predetermined position and orientation, device installation information about the effective ranges and the predetermined positions and orientations of the plurality of devices is obtained. Equipment installation information input section to be input;
It is determined whether another device exists within the effective range of the device based on the device installation information, and whether the certain device and the other device are connected according to the determination result. And a grouping unit for forming one group by all the connected devices,
Based on at least the predetermined positions of the plurality of devices, a map in which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged is displayed, and the devices forming the one group can be distinguished from the devices forming another group. In this way, the device information display device includes a device arrangement display unit that displays the information.

The second aspect of the present invention
Furthermore, an effective range restriction unit is provided,
The equipment installation information input unit is further inputted with wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall as the equipment installation information,
The effective range limiting unit limits the effective range input to the device installation information input unit based on the wall information,
The grouping unit is the device information display device according to the first aspect of the present invention, which uses the effective range limited by the effective range limiting unit.

The third aspect of the present invention
Furthermore, a group division unit is provided,
The equipment installation information input unit is further inputted with wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall as the equipment installation information,
The group dividing unit, between the devices belonging to the one group formed by the grouping unit, when there is the wall based on the wall information between those devices, the wall is separated 1 is a device information display device according to a first aspect of the present invention, in which connection between devices is canceled to form another group.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is
For the group displayed by the device arrangement display unit, an affiliation correction accepting unit that accepts correction of the presence / absence of the device belonging to the group from a user and finally confirms the device belonging to the group;
The device information display device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, further comprising a group control setting unit configured to set the devices belonging to each group to operate simultaneously.

The fifth aspect of the present invention provides
A database having a cooperation condition that is determined in advance by using an effective range of each device and that cooperates with the other device for each device, and a predetermined content that is linked when the cooperation condition is satisfied; ,
Based on the device installation information, the device includes first to first cooperation candidate display units that determine the cooperation condition for each device, identify other devices that can perform the cooperative operation, and display the cooperation result. 3. The apparatus information display device according to any one of 3 of the present invention.

The sixth aspect of the present invention provides
In the device information display device of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the cooperation condition is a condition for making the devices that do not have the effective range belong to the same group.

The seventh aspect of the present invention
As the wall information, back wall information indicating whether there is a wall around the device is set,
The apparatus information display device according to the second or third aspect of the present invention, further comprising a wall position calculation unit that obtains the position and direction of the wall based on the predetermined position and direction of the apparatus and the back wall information. .

In addition, the eighth aspect of the present invention
The device installation information also includes dimensional information representing the outer shape of the device,
The wall position calculation unit is a device information display device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention, which calculates the position and direction of the wall also using the dimension information.

The ninth aspect of the present invention provides
The wireless remote controller acquires and detects the device installation information of each device,
The device installation information input unit is the device information display device according to any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention, which receives the device installation information transmitted from the wireless remote controller.

The tenth aspect of the present invention is
The wireless remote controller includes an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, receives information on the effective range from the device, acquires the information, and makes contact with the device as information on the predetermined position and orientation of the device. A device information display device according to a ninth aspect of the present invention, which transmits information detected by the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor at the time.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is
Among the plurality of devices, there is a device in which effective range basic information for specifying the effective range is set instead of the predetermined effective range,
A second or second effective range determining unit that determines the effective range according to the position where the device is installed based on the effective range basic information for the device for which the effective range basic information is set. 3 is a device information display device according to the present invention.

The twelfth aspect of the present invention is
A TV provided with the device information display device according to any one of the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention.

The thirteenth aspect of the present invention is
In a situation where a plurality of devices whose effective ranges are determined in advance are arranged according to a predetermined position and orientation, device installation information about the effective ranges and the predetermined positions and orientations of the plurality of devices is obtained. A device installation information acquisition step to be acquired;
By determining whether there is another device within the effective range of the device based on the device installation information, it is assumed that the certain device and the other device are connected, and the connected A grouping step in which all devices are considered to form a group;
Based on at least the predetermined positions of the plurality of devices, a map in which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged is displayed, and the devices forming the one group can be distinguished from the devices forming another group. A device information display method comprising: a device arrangement display step for displaying as described above.

The fourteenth aspect of the present invention is
In the device installation information acquisition step, as the device installation information, further acquiring wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall,
The effective range used in the grouping step is a device information display method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, which is limited based on the wall information.

The fifteenth aspect of the present invention provides
In the device installation information acquisition step, as the device installation information, further acquiring wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall,
In the grouping step, between the devices considered to form the one group, when there is the wall based on the wall information between the devices, the devices separated by the wall A device information display method according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, wherein the connection is canceled to form another group.

The 16th aspect of the present invention is
For the group displayed in the device arrangement display step, the correction of the presence or absence of the device belonging to the group is received from the user, the affiliation correction reception step for finalizing the device belonging to the group;
A device information display method according to any one of the thirteenth to fifteenth aspects of the present invention, further comprising a group control setting step for setting the devices belonging to each group to operate simultaneously.

The seventeenth aspect of the present invention
Cooperation conditions for linking other devices for each device are determined in advance using the effective range of each device, and contents to be linked when the linkage conditions are satisfied are determined in advance,
Based on the device installation information, a thirteenth to fifteenth to fifteenth to fifteenth steps are provided, which include the cooperation candidate display steps for determining the cooperation condition for each of the devices, identifying the other devices that can operate in cooperation, and displaying the cooperation results. It is the apparatus information display method of any one of this invention.

The 18th aspect of the present invention is
In the device information display method of the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, the certain device and the other device are connected by determining whether another device exists within the effective range of the certain device. The grouping step in which all the connected devices are considered to form one group, and a map on which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged to form the one group It is a program for causing a computer to execute the device arrangement display step of displaying a device so that it can be distinguished from the device forming another group.

The nineteenth aspect of the present invention provides
A recording medium on which the program of the eighteenth aspect of the present invention is recorded, which is a recording medium that can be processed by a computer.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a device information display device, a TV, a device information display method, and the like that can display device candidates to be grouped and reduce the burden on the user when grouping.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus information display apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the apparatus installation information of each apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the processing flow which restricts or changes an effective range in the effective range restriction change part of Embodiment 1 of this invention. The installation drawing of each device viewed from above according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Installation drawing of each device viewed from above with the boundary line installed according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention The figure showing the apparatus classified for every area | region of Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the effective range of each apparatus other than an air conditioner after applying the restrictions of each area | region of Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the effective range of the wall-mounted air conditioner determined based on the area | region and the boundary line of Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which showed the effective range of the corner air conditioner determined based on the area | region and the boundary line of Embodiment 1 of this invention The figure which shows the processing flow which groups each apparatus in the grouping part of Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which showed each apparatus rearranged in order with the big effective area with respect to the apparatus contained in the area | region 1 of Embodiment 1 of this invention. (A) The figure which shows the apparatus of the group 1 which the grouping part of Embodiment 1 of this invention implements step S1203 and classify | categorized, (b) The grouping part of Embodiment 1 of this invention implements step S1203 Figure showing devices that were not classified into groups The grouping part of Embodiment 1 of this invention performs the apparatus grouping algorithm for every area | region, and shows the result of having classified each apparatus into the group. The figure which shows the example of a display which the apparatus information display apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention displays the grouped apparatus for every group. 1 is a block diagram of a device information display device that establishes a cooperative relationship between devices using an automatically classified group configuration according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. (A) The figure which shows the cooperation determination conditions between other apparatuses at the time of making TV into the apparatus used as the center of cooperation of Embodiment 1 of this invention, (b) Cooperation with the wall-mounted air conditioner of Embodiment 1 of this invention Is a diagram showing the inter-device linkage determination condition when the device is the central device The figure which shows the cooperation possible apparatus with TV in the group 1 judged that cooperation was possible by the cooperation judgment part of Embodiment 1 of this invention. The figure which shows the example of a display which displays the apparatus judged that cooperation is possible when the apparatus information display apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention makes TV the apparatus used as the center of cooperation. The figure which shows the example of a display which displays the lighting apparatus judged that cooperation is possible when the apparatus information display apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention uses TV as the apparatus used as the center of cooperation. The figure which shows the example of a display which displays the apparatus which the apparatus information display apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention determined to be able to cooperate simultaneously when TV is made into the apparatus used as the center of cooperation. The figure which shows the example of description content of the cooperation operation | movement table in the case of using TV as the apparatus used as the center of cooperation in Embodiment 1 of this invention. The block diagram which shows the structure of the apparatus information display apparatus of Embodiment 2 of this invention. The figure which showed the effective range of each apparatus other than an air-conditioner of Embodiment 2 of this invention (A) The grouping part of Embodiment 2 of this invention implements a device grouping algorithm, and shows the result of having classified each apparatus into a group, (b) The group division part of Embodiment 2 of this invention is a group. Of group classification results after dividing (A), (b) The figure which shows the example of a screen display which displays the some apparatus of the conventional operating terminal.

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

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device information display apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

  The device information display apparatus 300 according to the first embodiment is mounted and used in a device such as a TV.

  The device information display device 300 according to the first embodiment includes a wireless transmission / reception unit 301 that transmits / receives data to / from the wireless remote controller 311, a device installation information input unit 302 that acquires device installation information of the own device and other devices, and acquisition. Wall position calculation unit 304 that calculates the position of the wall based on the installed device installation information, effective range restriction change unit 303 and effective range determination unit 305 that set the effective range of each device necessary for grouping and cooperation, A grouping unit 306 that determines whether the user belongs to a group, a device arrangement display unit 307 that displays each group in an easy-to-understand manner, a affiliation correction reception unit 308 that receives a correction instruction for a device that belongs to the group from the user, and grouped A group control setting unit 309 that performs settings for group control of devices is provided.

  The operation of the TV equipped with the device information display device 300 of the first embodiment configured as described above will be described for each block shown in FIG.

  The wireless remote controller 311 and the display 310 are a remote controller and a display for operating the TV on which the device information display device 300 is mounted, respectively.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of device installation information 400 for each device.

  The device installation information input unit 302 acquires the device installation information 400 of the own device and other devices shown in FIG. 2 at a predetermined timing.

  The device installation information 400 includes a device name 401 representing the device ID, a two-dimensional X coordinate 402 and Y coordinate 403 representing a relative position from a certain device, a direction 404 representing a direction facing the front of the device, Back wall presence / absence information 405 indicating whether or not a wall exists on the back of the device, an effective range 407 indicating a range in which lighting can be lit or an air-conditioning range of an air conditioner, and whether the effective range 407 can be changed depending on the shape of the room It consists of effective range change information 406. As shown in FIG. 2, a depth 408 and a width 409 indicating the size of the device may be added to the device installation information 400 in order to grasp the detailed positional relationship of the device. Here, as an example, the X coordinate 402, Y coordinate 403, depth 408, and width 409 columns of FIG. 2 describe numerical values in units of meters (m).

  Among the device installation information 400, information such as the device name 401, the effective range change information 406, the effective range 407, the depth 408, and the width 409 is information set in advance for each device at the time of factory shipment. In contrast, information such as the X coordinate 402, the Y coordinate 403, and the orientation 404 is information that is detected and acquired when the device installation information 400 is acquired from each device, as will be described later. Further, the back wall presence / absence information 405 is information set by a contractor or a user when installing the device, and the device for which the position of the wall at the time of installation such as a wall mounted air conditioner is known in advance is shipped from the factory. Sometimes it may be preset.

  Note that the TV 601 indicated by the device name 401 of the device installation information 400 in FIG. 2 indicates a device (own device) on which the device information display device 300 is mounted.

  The effective range restriction changing unit 303 corresponds to an example of the effective range limiting unit of the present invention, and the back wall presence / absence information 405 corresponds to an example of wall information of the present invention.

When the device installation information 400 is paired with a device other than the TV 601 (hereinafter referred to as proxy pairing), the wireless remote controller 311 for the TV 601 on which the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor are mounted is used as follows. Is obtained.
(1) The user sets the wireless remote controller 311 to the proxy pairing mode by a prescribed means. At that time, the wireless remote controller 311 acquires the right to substitute for the pairing with the device to be paired with the TV 601 from the TV 601 (proxy pairing right).
(2) The user brings the wireless remote controller 311 close to the TV 601, records the initial position and direction of the TV 601, and starts recording the acceleration sensor and angular velocity sensor information of the wireless remote controller 311 at regular intervals on the TV 601 side.
(3) The user brings the wireless remote controller 311 close to the device to be paired with the TV 601 and performs proxy pairing by a prescribed means. At the time of proxy pairing, the wireless remote controller 311 is brought into contact with the predetermined installation position of the device so that the predetermined installation position of the wireless remote controller 311 is brought into contact with the wireless remote controller 311 based on the information of the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor. Conversely, the position and orientation of the device can be calculated from the position and orientation of the wireless remote controller 311. In this way, the wireless remote controller 311 calculates the X coordinate 402, the Y coordinate 403, and the direction 404 as the position of the device simultaneously with the proxy pairing with the device, and records the information on the TV 601. During proxy pairing, the wireless remote controller 311 transmits pairing information exchanged with a device to the TV 601, so that the device information display device 300 mounted on the TV 601 has a device name 401, back wall presence / absence information 405, effective range 407, and Device information including effective range change information 406 is obtained and communication with the device is enabled.
(4) The device information display device 300 configures device installation information 400 from the device orientations 404, X coordinates 402 and Y coordinates 403 obtained in (3), and device information.

  In this way, by performing proxy pairing, the device information display apparatus 300 acquires in-home device installation information 400 as shown in FIG.

  In addition, the process which acquires the apparatus installation information 400 demonstrated by said (1)-(4) corresponds to an example of the apparatus installation information acquisition step of this invention.

  Next, the effective range restriction changing unit 303 determines the effective range of each device based on the effective range setting algorithm of FIG. 3 at the timing when the device installation information 400 is acquired.

  FIG. 3 shows a processing flow in the effective range restriction changing unit 303 that limits or changes the effective range of each device for grouping.

  4 shows an installation layout of each device viewed from above, and FIG. 5 shows an installation layout of each device with a boundary line installed.

  First, the effective range restriction changing unit 303 in FIG. 1 sets a constraint condition from the back wall presence / absence information 405 in the device installation information 400 indicating whether a wall exists behind the device (step S501). FIG. 4 is a device installation diagram illustrating the position of the device from the device name 401, the X coordinate 402, the Y coordinate 403, and the orientation 404 of the device installation information 400.

  On the other hand, when the boundary position is drawn by calculating the position and direction of the wall from the back wall presence / absence information 405 of the device installation information 400, the boundary line installed device installation diagram of FIG. In addition, the broken line of FIG. 5 has shown the boundary line.

  The wall position calculation unit 304 calculates a boundary line based on the device name 401, the X coordinate 402, the Y coordinate 403, the orientation 404, the back wall presence / absence information 405, the depth 408, and the width 409 of the device installation information 400, and limits the effective range. The changing unit 303 sets a constraint condition using the calculated boundary line. These boundary lines calculated by the wall position calculation unit 304 are set on the back side according to the orientation of the device.

  There are devices such as ceiling lights 605 and 606 and spotlights 602 to 604 where no boundary line is set, and devices such as a corner air conditioner 612 where two boundary lines are set. The meaning of the boundary line is to divide all devices into regions determined by the boundary line, and further limit the effective range of the device. The constraint condition obtained from the device installation information 400 is expressed as follows.

−0.2 <Y or Y <−0.2 (Formula 1)
Y <9.6 or 9.6 <Y (Formula 2)
X <4.6 or 4.6 <X (Formula 3)
Y <-1.7 or -1.7 <Y (Formula 4)
The constraint condition shown in (Expression 1) can be calculated from the values of the Y coordinate 403, the direction 404, and the depth 408 of the TV 601 in the device installation information 400. The X coordinate 402 and the Y coordinate 403 of the device installation information 400 indicate the center position of each device, and the boundary existing on the back of the device has a direction that indicates the front side of the device by half the size of the device from the center position. Exists at a position away from the reverse side of the opposite device, and for TV 601, Y = 0− (0.4 ÷ 2) = − 0.2 becomes the boundary line, which is the constraint condition shown in (Equation 1). . If the device installation information 400 has no depth or width, a boundary line may be obtained at the center position of the device.

  Similarly to the restriction condition shown in (Expression 1), the restriction condition shown in (Expression 2) can also be calculated from the Y coordinate, the orientation, and the depth of the refrigerator 609 in FIG. In this case, 9+ (1.2 / 2) = 9.6 is the boundary line. It can be expressed as (Equation 2) including an inequality sign. Similarly, it is obtained for IH 610, but this is the same calculation as that of refrigerator 609, and is summarized in the constraint condition of (Equation 2).

  The constraint condition shown in (Expression 3) can be calculated in the same manner as described above with respect to the X coordinates of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 and the corner air conditioner 612. Since the back wall of the corner air conditioner 612 is in two directions, the constraint condition shown in (Equation 4) is also calculated.

  The effective range restriction changing unit 303 classifies the device into a range that satisfies the restriction condition after the restriction condition is set (step S502). This is performed in order to specify which devices are installed in each region because 4 × 2 = 8 regions defined by the above four constraint conditions are created.

  Although there are eight regions, the following two regions actually satisfy the X and Y coordinates of each device shown in FIG.

−0.2 <Y <9.6 and X <4.6 (Formula 5)
X <4.6 and Y <-1.7 (Formula 6)
Of the regions surrounded by the broken lines in FIG. 5, the regions represented by (Expression 5) and (Expression 6) are referred to as “region 1” and “region 2”, respectively.

  FIG. 6 is a table describing devices classified for these areas. Furthermore, the restriction conditions of each region are applied to the effective ranges of the devices other than the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 and the corner air conditioner 612 for which the effective range is changed in step S503, and the effective ranges after being limited by the restriction conditions are displayed. The result is shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 7, the ranges indicated by reference numerals 621, 622, 623, 624, 625, 626, 627 and 628 are the TV 601, spotlight 602, spotlight 603, spotlight 604, ceiling light 605, ceiling light 606, down, respectively. Each effective range after applying the restrictions of the light 607 and the downlight 608 is shown.

  In FIG. 7, the ceiling lights 605 and 606 and the downlights 607 and 608 have effective ranges 625, 626, 627, and 628 represented by circles. Since the ceiling light 606 has a boundary, the TV 601 is not included in the effective range 626. Similarly, since the spotlights 603 and 604 also have boundaries, the ceiling light 606 is not included in the effective ranges 623 and 624. For the refrigerator 609 and the IH 610, the effective range 407 is not set in the device installation information 400, and thus is not represented in FIG. 7.

  Next, the effective range restriction changing unit 303 causes the effective range determining unit 305 to change the effective range of the device (step S503). This is applied to the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 and the corner air conditioner 612 whose effective range is changed by air conditioning this time, based on whether or not the effective range change information 406 in the device installation information 400 is available. In the effective range changing method, in order to obtain an approximate effective range from the installation position of each air conditioner, the square is filled until the area of the effective range is satisfied, or the limit area of the constraint condition is filled.

  Specifically, when changing the effective range for the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 in the region 1 shown in FIG. 5, first, a square with an area of 1 square meter indicating the effective range is installed at the position of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611, Fill the square around the square so that it does not cross the border. If the area of the effective range is still not satisfied even after going around the original square, the square is further filled from above. Thus, by adding squares until the area of the effective range is satisfied, the effective range 631 of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 is determined as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 8 shows the effective range 631 of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 determined based on the area and the boundary line from the area of the effective range. FIG. 9 shows an effective range 632 of the corner air conditioner 612 determined based on the area and the boundary line from the area of the effective range.

  When the effective range is similarly changed for the corner air conditioner 612 in the area 2, it is represented as an effective range 632 in FIG.

  The effective range of each device is set by the effective range restriction changing unit 303 using the above effective range setting algorithm.

  In addition, the information showing the area of the effective range of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 and the corner air conditioner 612 used to determine the effective range is an example of the effective range basic information of the present invention.

  Next, the grouping unit 306 divides the devices into groups. It can be said that the devices have already been divided into groups according to the area, but they are not included in each area because the area division may be insufficient, such as when the area is large, the area is not sufficiently divided, or the number of devices is large. The device grouping algorithm shown in FIG. 10 is also used to determine whether or not other devices are included in the effective range of each device.

  FIG. 10 shows a processing flow in the grouping unit 306 for grouping each device based on the effective range of each device.

  The grouping unit 306 first applies a grouping algorithm to devices included in the region 1. Specifically, the devices included in region 1 are rearranged in descending order of effective area (step S1201). The area is obtained by integrating the effective range of the equipment under the constraints. Alternatively, when the integral calculation is complicated, the order may be rearranged in order of the effective area where the constraint condition is not applied. By assigning priorities in this way, devices belonging to the same group can be classified more quickly.

  FIG. 11 shows the devices included in the region 1 which are rearranged in descending order of the effective area where the constraint condition is not applied.

  Next, the grouping unit 306 pays attention to the first device among the devices arranged in descending order of the effective area, creates a group 1 (step S1202), and selects all devices included in the effective range of the first device. A group 1 device is set (step S1203).

  As described above, the grouping unit 306 pays attention to the effective range of a certain device, and when other devices are included in the effective range, the grouping unit 306 determines that these two devices are connected and is connected to a certain device. It is assumed that all the devices that are determined to form the same group.

  When performing the step S1203, if the effective range of the device of interest is expressed by a circle, and the distance between the device of interest and the device to be determined whether it is within the effective range is smaller than the radius of the device of interest It can be seen that the device to be judged is within the effective range of the device of interest, and if it is larger, it is found that it is not within the effective range. A mathematical formula for obtaining the distance between the devices is as shown in Equation 1.

In Equation 1, R is the radius of the circle of the effective range, X ₁ is the X coordinate of the device that focuses on the effective range, X ₂ is the X coordinate of the device that determines whether it is within the effective range, and Y ₁ is focused on the effective range. The Y coordinate of the device, Y ₂ is the Y coordinate of the device that determines whether it is within the effective range.

  In addition, in the device to be determined as the device of interest, if the effective range of the device of interest is expressed in a fan shape, there is a device to be determined inside the circle generated by the sector radius, and from the device of interest The determination can be made on the condition that the elevation angle to the device to be determined is within the range of the central angle of the sector. The first determination condition is Equation 1 above, and the second determination condition is Equation 2.

In Equation 2, D is a direction in the device installation information 400, and C is a fan-shaped central angle. If Equations 1 and 2 are satisfied, it can be determined that the device to be determined is within the effective range of the device of interest.

  Further, in the case where the device to be determined as the device of interest is an air conditioner, since the effective range is determined by spreading the square effective range in step S503 in FIG. 3, the device to be determined within the square effective range. Judgment is made based on whether or not is included.

  In step S1203, the ceiling light 605 having the largest area in the group 1 will be specifically described as the device to be noted. The effective range of the ceiling light 605 is within a circle having a radius of 7 m from the device installation information 400 in FIG. Therefore, it can be determined whether or not to enter the group 1 based on the distance L between the ceiling light 605 and another device in the same area 1. That is, if the distance L is 7 m or less, the device is group 1. The group 1 device 1401 created in step S1203 is shown in FIG. Here, since the downlights 607 and 608 do not exist within the effective range of the ceiling light 605, as shown in FIG. 12B, they are devices 1402 that do not belong to the group.

  Next, the grouping unit 306 determines whether there are devices that are not grouped (step S1204). If there is no device that is not grouped, it is determined that grouping is completed, and the grouping algorithm ends. When there are devices that are not grouped, it is necessary to determine whether these devices belong to group 1, paying attention to all devices already included in group 1, and the effective range of each device that has been focused on As in step S1203, it is determined whether a device that does not belong to the group is included, and if included, the device is classified into group 1 (step S1205).

  More specifically, for the devices classified into group 1, the effective range has not been investigated, the device with the largest area is selected as the device of interest, and the device does not belong to the effective range of the device. It is determined whether or not 1402 is included, and if included, the included device is moved to the device 1401 of group 1. If the remaining devices of the devices 1402 that do not belong to the group are not included in the effective range, a device that satisfies the condition that has the maximum area is not newly checked from the devices 1401 of the group 1. The device is selected as the device of interest, and the device 1402 that does not belong to the group is similarly investigated.

  The grouping unit 306 continues the above processing until the number of devices 1401 in the group 1 that have not been checked for the effective range becomes zero or the number of devices 1402 that do not belong to the group becomes zero.

  Specifically, step S1205 will be described with reference to FIG. 12. Since the ceiling light 605 has already investigated the effective range among the devices 1401 of group 1, paying attention to the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 having the next largest effective range, It is determined whether the device 1402 that does not belong to the group is included in the range. As shown in FIG. 8, the effective range 631 of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 is filled with squares, and it is possible to determine whether the coordinates of the downlights 607 and 608 are included in the effective range 631 represented by each square. And 608 can be determined not to be included in the effective range 631 of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611. There is still a device whose effective range has not been investigated in the device 1401 of group 1 and there is a device 1402 that does not belong to the group. The largest device is acquired, and the determination whether it falls within the same effective range is repeated.

  When the above is repeated, no further devices are added to group 1 in step S1205, and all the surveys for devices 1401 in group 1 are completed.

  Next, the grouping unit 306 determines whether there is an ungrouped device (step S1206). If there is no device that is not grouped, grouping is terminated. If there is a device that has not been grouped, the device 1402 that does not belong to the group cannot be classified in the currently existing group. Therefore, the device 1402 that does not belong to the group has the largest area since the device 1402 that has not been assigned to the group cannot be classified. And the group number is changed (step S1207). Then, a new group is created using the number changed in step S1203 again, and the flow from step S1203 to step S1206 is repeated.

  Explaining in the continuation of the above-described specific example, after the device 1402 that does not belong to the group remains after step S1205, the process proceeds to Yes in step S1206, and the new group does not belong to the group in steps S1207 and S1203. Select from the device 1402. Here, since both devices remaining in the device 1402 not belonging to the group have the same effective range area, the downlight 607 is included in the newly created group 2 as the device of interest. The downlight 608 is included in the group 2 because the downlight 608 is included in the effective range of the downlight 607.

  Since all the devices are classified into either group 1 or group 2 in step S1203, the transition is No in step S1204, and the device grouping algorithm for region 1 ends. When the area 2 is similarly grouped by the device grouping algorithm, the ceiling light 606 and the corner air conditioner 612 become one group.

  FIG. 13 shows a result of the grouping unit 306 classifying each device into a group by executing the device grouping algorithm of FIG. 10 for each region, and all devices are classified into the device group 1500.

  The above-described grouping unit 306 performs a device grouping algorithm to perform grouping of each device corresponds to an example of the grouping step of the present invention.

  Next, the device arrangement display unit 307 emphasizes and displays the devices classified into the group created by the grouping unit 306 to the user.

  FIG. 14 shows a display example in which devices grouped by the device information display device 300 are displayed for each group.

  Specifically, when the device arrangement display unit 307 displays each device group, an object expressing the device in consideration of the position and orientation of the device using the device installation information 400 as shown in FIG. 14 is displayed on the map. The devices are arranged and highlighted for each device group created by the grouping unit 306 with a frame so that the devices included in each group can be distinguished. The device arrangement display unit 307 outputs a display as illustrated in FIG. 14 to the display 310 of the TV 601 on which the device information display device 300 is mounted. By displaying in this way, it is possible for the user to specify a device in a group created based on the effective range of the device. For example, it is possible to perform simultaneous power on / off for each device group, or as a device within a device group Devices can be specified hierarchically.

  The process in which the device arrangement display unit 307 highlights and displays the devices classified into the group corresponds to an example of the device arrangement display step of the present invention.

  In this way, based on the effective range of each device, the device information display device 300 according to the first embodiment automatically groups the devices in the home and presents them to the user.

  The user confirms the configuration of each group that is automatically grouped by the display as shown in FIG. 14 and uses the group configuration as it is if the presented group configuration is acceptable. When a predetermined device of the group is moved to another group or when it is desired to remove the predetermined device from the group, the group configuration can be easily corrected.

  When the user wants to change the automatically created group configuration as shown in FIG. 14 displayed on the display 310, the user can change the group configuration by operating the wireless remote controller 311, for example.

  For example, the device arrangement display unit 307 also displays an item for correcting the group on the screen for displaying the group configuration shown in FIG. 14, and selects the item by the operation of the user's wireless remote control 311 to perform the group correction operation. Can be performed.

  The affiliation correction receiving unit 308 of the device information display apparatus 300 receives an instruction from the user via the wireless transmission / reception unit 301, and corrects the group configuration according to the instruction content.

  For example, in the group configuration of FIG. 14 that is automatically grouped and displayed, the user desires to turn off the power of all devices other than the refrigerator 609 among the devices classified into the group 1 By simply performing an operation of deleting the refrigerator 609 from the device group 1, the user can change the group configuration as desired.

  That is, when setting the group configuration desired by the user, even if it is different from the group configuration automatically classified, it is only necessary to modify a part from the automatically presented configuration. Since there is no need to make settings, the user can easily set a desired group configuration.

  When the affiliation correction receiving unit 308 receives a correction instruction from the user, the affiliation correction receiving unit 308 notifies the device arrangement display unit 307 of the corrected group configuration, and the device arrangement display unit 307 finally confirms the group after being corrected by the user. The configuration is displayed on the display 310.

  In addition, the affiliation correction accepting unit 308 notifies the group control setting unit 309 of the finally determined group configuration information, and the group control setting unit 309 transmits information on devices to be simultaneously operated according to the group configuration. To the wireless remote controller 311.

  By using the wireless remote controller 311 set by the group control setting unit 309, the user causes a plurality of devices belonging to the group configured according to the user's wishes to perform operations such as power on / off all at once. Will be able to.

  The process in which the affiliation correction accepting unit 308 accepts a correction instruction from the user and finally confirms the device belonging to the group is an example of the affiliation correction accepting step of the present invention, and the group control setting unit 309 includes a plurality of belonging to the group. The processing for setting the wireless remote controller 311 so that the devices are simultaneously turned on and off is an example of the group control setting step of the present invention.

  The device information display apparatus 300 according to the first embodiment calculates the position of the wall and forms a group so that the devices separated from the wall are not included in the same group. Even when a wireless remote controller or the like is used, there is no problem that the power of devices across the wall is accidentally turned on and off when the power is turned on and off all at once.

  In addition, the group configuration automatically classified by the device information display apparatus 300 according to the first embodiment may be used to automatically construct a cooperative relationship between devices having a master-slave relationship.

  FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a device information display device 320 that automatically constructs a cooperative relationship between devices using a group configuration automatically classified by the device information display device 300.

  In FIG. 15, the same components as those in FIG.

  In addition to the configuration of the device information display device 300 shown in FIG. 1, the device information display device 320 according to the first embodiment includes a linkage determination unit 321 that determines which device performs the linkage operation, and details of the linkage operation from the user. A link specifying unit 322 that accepts a setting instruction, a link candidate display unit 323 that displays link devices and link operations in an easy-to-understand manner for the user, and a link control setting unit 324 that performs settings for link devices to be linked. ing.

  The linkage determination unit 321 is a device that can perform a linkage operation on the devices in one group of the groups as shown in FIG. 13 that are classified by the grouping unit 306 by performing the device grouping algorithm of FIG. 10 for each region. Will be judged.

  The cooperation determination unit 321 uses, for a predetermined device that is the center of cooperation in one group, a device that is the center of cooperation using a cooperation determination condition that is held in advance by the device that is the center of cooperation. And determine the cooperation between other devices.

  FIG. 16A shows the inter-device cooperation determination condition 1600 recorded in the cooperation condition table 325 of the device information display device 320 when the TV 601 is a device that is the center of cooperation. The cooperation conditions for each other device included here are applied to the device group 1 classified as shown in FIG.

  The cooperation determination condition corresponds to an example of the cooperation condition of the present invention, and the cooperation condition table 325 corresponds to an example of the database of the present invention.

  The cooperation determination condition is stored in advance for each device that is the center of the cooperation. For example, the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 determines the cooperation between the other devices for cooperation with the operation of the wall-mounted air conditioner 611 as illustrated in FIG. Condition 1601 is held. Depending on the device, the link condition may include a condition (for example, a link condition when the other device is a ceiling light in FIG. 16A) whether or not the device that is the center of the link is included in the effective range of the other device. Therefore, referring to the effective range 407 for each device in the device installation information 400 of FIG. 2, Equation 1 is used for determining the circular effective range, and Equation 1 is used for determining the fan-shaped effective range, as in Step S1203. And number 2 etc. are used.

  Specifically, the cooperation determination unit 321 refers to the cooperation condition table 325, sets the TV 601 of the device group 1 in FIG. 13 as the central device of the cooperation, and in order from the top of the group 1 to the ceiling light 605, Whether the effective range includes the TV 601 is determined based on the ceiling light cooperation condition of the other apparatus cooperation determination condition 1600. In this case, since it can be determined from Equation 1 that the TV 601 is included in the effective range of the ceiling light 605, it can be determined that the ceiling light 605 cooperates with the TV 601. Similarly, the determination is made for the wall-mounted air conditioner 611, spotlight 602, spotlight 603, spotlight 604, refrigerator 609, and IH 610 in FIG.

  FIG. 17 shows a device 1700 capable of cooperating with a TV that is determined to be cooperable by the cooperating determination unit 321 when the TV 601 is a device that is the center of cooperation.

  By determining in this way, as shown in FIG. 17, the cooperation determination unit 321 can extract the devices 1700 that can cooperate with the TV. Since the spotlight 602 does not satisfy the cooperation condition “including TV in the effective range”, the spotlight 602 is not a device that can cooperate with the TV 601, but the devices included in the device group 1 except for the spotlight 602 and the TV 601 itself have the cooperation condition. Fulfill.

  Next, the cooperation candidate display unit 323 highlights and displays to the user the devices that the cooperation determination unit 321 has determined that cooperation is possible.

  FIG. 18 illustrates a display example in which the cooperation determination unit 321 displays a device that is determined to be capable of cooperation when the TV 601 is a device that is the center of cooperation.

  The cooperation candidate display unit 323 displays on the display 310 a display as shown in FIG. 18 in which a device that can cooperate with the TV 601 determined by the cooperation determination unit 321 is highlighted with a frame. By displaying in this way, it is possible for the user to easily confirm devices that can cooperate with the TV 601.

  Further, the cooperation determination unit 321 performs the filtering for each device type from the devices that the TV 601 can cooperate with, and recommends the cooperation function to the user by selecting the devices necessary for the function to be realized. Is possible.

  FIG. 18 illustrates a display example in which the illumination determination device 321 displays the lighting device among the devices determined to be able to cooperate when the TV 601 is the device that is the center of the collaboration.

  FIG. 19 illustrates a display example in which the cooperation determination unit 321 displays devices that can be simultaneously operated among devices that are determined to be compatible when the TV 601 is a device that is the center of cooperation.

  For example, the cooperation determination unit 321 filters the lighting devices from the devices 1700 capable of cooperating with the TV illustrated in FIG. 17 by the TV 601, so that the cooperation candidate display unit 323 is displayed on the display 310 as illustrated in FIG. 19. To do. By displaying in this way, it is possible to recommend an associated device related to TV viewing to the user and perform initial setting.

  Similarly, for example, when there is a cooperation function in which the ceiling light and the spotlight are dimmed according to the content of the TV 601 and the air conditioner adjusts the operation, the cooperation determination unit 321 cooperates with the TV shown in FIG. By filtering the devices having a function capable of simultaneously coordinating from the possible devices 1700, the cooperation candidate display unit 323 causes the display 310 to display as shown in FIG. By displaying in this way, the initial setting of the cooperation function can be presented to the user.

  18 to 20 displayed by the cooperation candidate display unit 323 is an example of the display of the cooperation result of the present invention. The process in which the cooperation determination unit 321 identifies devices that can be cooperated and the cooperation candidate display unit 323 displays the identified devices as illustrated in FIGS. 18 to 20 corresponds to an example of the cooperation candidate display step of the present invention.

  Then, the user can set the cooperation operation content of the device that is determined to be capable of cooperation by the device information display device 320.

  The cooperation operation table 326 describes operation contents that can be cooperated for each device with respect to devices capable of the cooperation operation. The cooperation operation table 326 is set in advance for each device that is the center of cooperation.

  Note that the collaborative operation content described in advance in the collaborative operation table 326 is an example of the predetermined content to be linked in the present invention, and the collaborative operation table 326 is an example of the database of the present invention.

  FIG. 21 shows a description content example of the cooperation operation table 326 in the case where the TV is a device that is the center of cooperation.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 21, the cooperation operation table 326 in the case where the TV is a central device for cooperation describes the operation of the TV 601 and the operation of the device that can be linked to the operation for each device to be linked to the TV 601. Has been.

  The cooperation specifying unit 322 causes the cooperation determination display unit 321 to display the device that is determined to be able to cooperate with the TV 601 by the cooperation determination unit 321, and refers to the cooperation operation table 326 to display the displayed candidate devices to be cooperated. The possible cooperative operation content is also displayed and presented to the user.

  Note that the display of possible cooperation operation contents for the candidate devices to be displayed, which is displayed by the cooperation candidate display unit 323, is an example of the display of the cooperation result of the present invention. Moreover, the process which the cooperation specific | specification part 322 specifies the apparatus which can cooperate and the cooperation candidate display part 323 displays the possible cooperation operation | movement content about the apparatus corresponds to an example of the cooperation candidate display step of this invention.

  The user selects a cooperation operation desired to be associated with the cooperation candidate device from a plurality of cooperation operations displayed on the display 310, and instructs the wireless remote controller 311. Alternatively, if the user does not want to link the cooperation candidate device with the TV 601, the wireless remote controller 311 gives an instruction to that effect.

  For each device that is determined to be capable of cooperating with the TV 601 by the cooperating determining unit 321, the cooperating specifying unit 322 performs this cooperating operation selection instruction process, whereby the cooperating operation with the TV 601 is specified for each device.

  Further, when the cooperation operation of each device is specified by a user instruction, the cooperation specifying unit 322 notifies the cooperation control setting unit 324 of the specified cooperative operation content. Then, the cooperation control setting unit 324 sets information corresponding to the cooperation operation in the wireless remote controller 311 via the wireless transmission / reception unit 301.

  The user can perform the cooperative operation instructed by the user by operating using the wireless remote controller 311 in which information corresponding to the specified cooperative operation is set.

  In the above, a plurality of possible cooperative operation contents for candidate devices to be linked are displayed, and the user selects and instructs a desired cooperative operation from among them, but for each candidate device to be linked, A collaborative operation recommended to the user may be set in advance from possible collaborative operation contents, the recommended collaborative operation may be presented, and the user may be inquired as to whether or not the collaborative operation can be adopted.

  In this way, candidates for devices that can be linked are displayed, and possible linked operations are displayed, so that the user can select a desired device or a desired linked operation with a simple operation, and Settings can be made.

  In the first embodiment, when the device installation information 400 is acquired, the direction of the device is obtained by using the angular velocity sensor at the time of pairing, but the angular velocity sensor is a method of acquiring the direction of the first embodiment. This is an example, and the first embodiment can be realized by acquiring the direction of the device using the radio wave intensity received by the geomagnetic sensor or the communication module.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment 1, when acquiring the apparatus installation information 400, the position of an apparatus is calculated | required using an acceleration sensor at the time of pairing, but an acceleration sensor is a method of acquiring the position of this Embodiment 1. This is an example, and the first embodiment can be realized by acquiring the position of the device using the radio wave intensity received by the GPS or the communication module, the RFID that transmits the position, or the like.

  In the first embodiment, when setting the boundary line, the presence / absence of the boundary line is obtained using the back wall presence / absence information 405 in the device installation information 400. This is an example of a method for acquiring the boundary line. And using the illuminance sensor attached to the TV to estimate the position of the wall based on whether or not light from nearby illumination can be received, and the user carries the remote control to the position of the wall and The first embodiment can be realized by estimating the wall using the direction or estimating the presence of the wall at a detoured position using the route information on which the remote controller moves.

  In the first embodiment, the boundary is set by counting the dimensions of the device and the effective range is calculated. This is an example of the effective range calculation method, and the device is oriented. Even if it is considered, the first embodiment can be realized.

  In the first embodiment, the device installation information 400 can be automatically acquired by bringing the wireless remote controller 311 closer to each device. However, the user can obtain the device installation information 400 of each device on the device information display device 300. You may make it input directly. In addition, a part of the device installation information 400 that cannot be acquired by the wireless remote controller 311 may be directly input to the device information display device 300 by the user.

  In the first embodiment, the cooperation determination condition is described in the cooperation condition table 325 and held in advance in the TV 601, but this is an example of acquiring the cooperation determination condition, and the TV is connected to the network. The first embodiment can also be realized by downloading a cooperation determination condition for each device or acquiring a cooperation determination condition held by the device by the TV communicating with the device.

(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a device information display apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the device information display apparatus 300 of the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  The device information display device 350 according to the second embodiment has a grouping unit 351 instead of the configuration of the effective range restriction changing unit 303 and the grouping unit 306 of the device information display device 300 according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. And the point provided with the group division part 352 differs.

  The method of acquiring the device installation information 400 from each device is the same as that of the first embodiment, but the method of grouping each device based on the acquired device installation information 400 is different from the first embodiment.

  Hereinafter, a grouping method based on processing contents different from the first embodiment, that is, the device installation information 400 in the second embodiment will be described.

  In the first embodiment, the effective range of each device is limited using the boundary line calculated by the wall position calculation unit 304 as a constraint, and the grouping process is performed using the limited effective range. In the second embodiment, the grouping process is performed based on the effective range of each device that is not restricted by the constraint condition, and the boundary line is calculated by the wall position calculation unit 304 for the classified group. Then, the classified group is further divided.

  The grouping unit 351 according to the second embodiment performs a grouping process based on the effective range 407 of each device included in the acquired device installation information 400.

  The grouping process in the grouping unit 351 is performed by the device grouping algorithm shown in FIG. 10 similar to that of the grouping unit 306 in the first embodiment, but uses an effective range that is not limited by the boundary line. The classification result is different from the case of processing by one grouping unit 306.

  FIG. 23 shows the effective range of each device other than the air conditioner, which is not limited by the constraint conditions.

  As can be seen from a comparison with FIG. 7 of the first embodiment, in the case of the second embodiment, the effective ranges of the devices overlap beyond the boundary line shown in FIG.

  FIG. 24A shows a result of the grouping unit 351 performing the device grouping algorithm and classifying it.

  As can be seen from the classification result of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the ceiling light 606 and the corner air conditioner 612 are also classified as group 1 devices.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the ceiling light 606 is included in the effective range 623 of the spotlight 603 classified into the group 1 by being included in the effective range 625 of the ceiling light 605, and further, the corner is included in the effective range 626 of the ceiling light 606. Since the air conditioner 612 is included, it is classified in this way by the device grouping algorithm shown in FIG.

  Next, with respect to the groups classified as shown in FIG. 24A, the group dividing unit 352 performs group dividing processing in consideration of the boundary line calculated by the wall position calculating unit 304, that is, the wall position. Do.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the wall position calculation unit 304 creates boundary lines (Y = −0.2 and Y = −1.7 position boundaries between the devices classified in group 1 in FIG. 24A). Line).

  When there is a boundary line between devices in one group, the group division unit 352 divides the group into a plurality of groups with the boundary line therebetween. In this case, since there is a boundary line between the ceiling light 606 and the corner air conditioner 612 and other devices in the group 1, the group dividing unit 352 divides the group 1 into two groups.

  FIG. 24B shows a group classification result after the group dividing unit 352 divides the group in consideration of the boundary line. As described above, the ceiling light 606 and the corner air conditioner 612 that are separated from each other by the boundary are classified into the group 3 divided from the group 1. As can be seen from comparison with FIG. 13, this classification result is the same as the result of classification by the grouping unit 306 of the first exemplary embodiment.

  Since the display processing after grouping processing, the group configuration change processing, the processing for devices to be linked, and the like are the same as those of the device information display apparatus 300 of the first embodiment, description of these operations is omitted.

  As described above, the device information display device of the present invention automatically performs grouping of home appliances with high accuracy, so that when the user uses the appliance, the device information display device performs selection for each device group. Batch operations can be performed in units. Furthermore, at the time of initial setting of the device information display device of the present invention, the user's burden is reduced by recommending meaningful home appliances to the user in cooperation, and usability can be improved.

  Note that each of the configurations shown in the blocks of the device information display devices 300, 320, and 350 shown in FIGS. 1, 15, and 22 described in each embodiment is executed by a CPU and executed by software. Can be realized. By realizing these processes by software, it is possible to flexibly deal with changes in items included in the acquired device installation information 400, changes and adjustments in grouping processes, changes in display specifications, and the like.

  The program of the present invention connects the certain device and the other device by determining whether another device exists within the effective range of the certain device in the device information display method described above. The grouping step in which all connected devices are considered to form one group, and a map on which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged, and the one group A program for causing the computer to execute the operation of the device arrangement display step for displaying the device that forms the device so that it can be distinguished from the device that forms another group, and a program that operates in cooperation with the computer. is there.

  In addition, the program recording medium of the present invention allows the certain device and the other device to determine whether the other device exists within the effective range of the device according to the device information display method described above. The grouping step that considers that all the connected devices form one group, and displays a map on which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged, A program recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the operation of the device arrangement display step for displaying the device forming one group so as to be distinguished from the device forming another group. A program that can be read and used in cooperation with the computer. A lamb recording medium.

  The “step operation” of the present invention means the operation of all or part of the step.

  Further, one usage form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM readable by a computer and operates in cooperation with the computer.

  Further, one use form of the program of the present invention may be an aspect in which the program is transmitted through a transmission medium such as the Internet or a transmission medium such as light / radio wave, read by a computer, and operates in cooperation with the computer. .

  The computer of the present invention described above is not limited to pure hardware such as a CPU, and may include firmware, an OS, and peripheral devices.

  As described above, the configuration of the present invention may be realized by software or hardware.

  The device information display device, the TV, the device information display method, and the like according to the present invention have an effect of reducing the burden on the user when grouping devices by displaying the candidates for grouping, and grouping a plurality of devices. It is useful as a device information display device, TV, device information display method, and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 300 Device information display apparatus 301 Wireless transmission / reception part 302 Equipment installation information input part 303 Effective range restriction change part 304 Wall position calculation part 305 Effective range determination part 306 Grouping part 307 Equipment arrangement display part 308 Affiliation correction reception part 309 Group control setting part 310 Display 311 Wireless Remote Controller 320 Device Information Display Device 321 Cooperation Determination Unit 322 Cooperation Identification Unit 323 Cooperation Candidate Display Unit 324 Cooperation Control Setting Unit 325 Cooperation Condition Table 326 Cooperation Operation Table 350 Device Information Display Device 351 Grouping Unit 352 Group Dividing Unit 400 Device installation information 401 Device name 402 X coordinate 403 Y coordinate 404 Direction 405 Back wall presence / absence information 406 Effective range change information 407 Effective range 408 Depth 409 Width 601 TV
602 Spotlight 603 Spotlight 604 Spotlight 605 Ceiling light 606 Ceiling light 607 Downlight 608 Downlight 609 Refrigerator 610 IH
611 Wall-mounted air conditioner 612 Corner air conditioner 621 Effective range of TV 601 622 Effective range of spotlight 602 623 Effective range of spotlight 603 624 Effective range of spotlight 604 625 Effective range of ceiling light 605 626 Effective range of ceiling light 606 627 Downlight 607 628 Effective range of downlight 608 631 Effective range of wall-mounted air conditioner 611 632 Effective range of corner air conditioner 612 1401 Group 1 device 1402 Device not belonging to group 1500 Device group 1600 Conditions for determining linkage between TV and other devices 1601 Wall hanging Conditions for Cooperation between Air Conditioner and Other Equipment 1700 Equipment that can be linked to TV 1900 Equipment that can be linked to TV 2000 Lighting equipment that can be linked to TV 2 100 A device having a function capable of cooperating with a TV

Claims (19)

In a situation where a plurality of devices whose effective ranges are determined in advance are arranged according to a predetermined position and orientation, device installation information about the effective ranges and the predetermined positions and orientations of the plurality of devices is obtained. Equipment installation information input section to be input;
It is determined whether another device exists within the effective range of the device based on the device installation information, and whether the certain device and the other device are connected according to the determination result. And a grouping unit for forming one group by all the connected devices,
Based on at least the predetermined positions of the plurality of devices, a map in which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged is displayed, and the devices forming the one group can be distinguished from the devices forming another group. A device information display device comprising: a device arrangement display unit for displaying the device information. Furthermore, an effective range restriction unit is provided,
The equipment installation information input unit is further inputted with wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall as the equipment installation information,
The effective range limiting unit limits the effective range input to the device installation information input unit based on the wall information,
The device information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the grouping unit uses the effective range limited by the effective range limiting unit. Furthermore, a group division unit is provided,
The equipment installation information input unit is further inputted with wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall as the equipment installation information,
The group dividing unit, between the devices belonging to the one group formed by the grouping unit, when there is the wall based on the wall information between those devices, the wall is separated The device information display device according to claim 1, wherein the device information display device is configured to cancel connection between devices and form another group. For the group displayed by the device arrangement display unit, an affiliation correction accepting unit that accepts correction of the presence / absence of the device belonging to the group from a user and finally confirms the device belonging to the group;
The device information display device according to claim 1, further comprising: a group control setting unit configured to set the devices belonging to each group to operate at the same time. A database having a cooperation condition that is determined in advance by using an effective range of each device and that cooperates with the other device for each device, and a predetermined content that is linked when the cooperation condition is satisfied; ,
A cooperation candidate display unit that determines the cooperation condition for each of the devices based on the device installation information, specifies the other devices that can perform the cooperative operation, and displays the cooperation result. 4. The device information display device according to any one of 3.   The device information display device according to claim 5, wherein the cooperation condition is a condition for making the devices that do not have the effective range belong to the same group. As the wall information, back wall information indicating whether there is a wall around the device is set,
The device information display device according to claim 2, further comprising a wall position calculation unit that obtains the position and direction of the wall based on the predetermined position and orientation of the device and the back wall information. The device installation information also includes dimensional information representing the outer shape of the device,
The apparatus information display device according to claim 7, wherein the wall position calculation unit obtains the position and direction of the wall using the dimension information. The wireless remote controller acquires and detects the device installation information of each device,
The device information display device according to claim 1, wherein the device installation information input unit receives the device installation information transmitted from the wireless remote controller.   The wireless remote controller includes an acceleration sensor and an angular velocity sensor, receives information on the effective range from the device, acquires the information, and makes contact with the device as information on the predetermined position and orientation of the device. The apparatus information display device according to claim 9, wherein information detected by the acceleration sensor and the angular velocity sensor at the time of transmission is transmitted. Among the plurality of devices, there is a device in which effective range basic information for specifying the effective range is set instead of the predetermined effective range,
The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: an effective range determination unit that determines the effective range according to a position where the device is installed based on the effective range basic information for the device in which the effective range basic information is set. 3. The device information display device according to 3.   A TV comprising the device information display device according to claim 1. In a situation where a plurality of devices whose effective ranges are determined in advance are arranged according to a predetermined position and orientation, device installation information about the effective ranges and the predetermined positions and orientations of the plurality of devices is obtained. A device installation information acquisition step to be acquired;
By determining whether there is another device within the effective range of the device based on the device installation information, it is assumed that the certain device and the other device are connected, and the connected A grouping step in which all devices are considered to form a group;
Based on at least the predetermined positions of the plurality of devices, a map in which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged is displayed, and the devices forming the one group can be distinguished from the devices forming another group. A device information display method comprising: a device arrangement display step for displaying as described above. In the device installation information acquisition step, as the device installation information, further acquiring wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall,
The device information display method according to claim 13, wherein the effective range used in the grouping step is limited based on the wall information. In the device installation information acquisition step, as the device installation information, further acquiring wall information indicating the position and direction of the wall,
In the grouping step, between the devices considered to form the one group, when there is the wall based on the wall information between the devices, the devices separated by the wall The apparatus information display method according to claim 13, wherein the connection is canceled to form another group. For the group displayed in the device arrangement display step, the correction of the presence or absence of the device belonging to the group is received from the user, the affiliation correction reception step for finalizing the device belonging to the group;
The device information display method according to any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising a group control setting step for setting the devices belonging to each group to operate simultaneously. Cooperation conditions for linking other devices for each device are determined in advance using the effective range of each device, and contents to be linked when the linkage conditions are satisfied are determined in advance,
16-15 provided with the cooperation candidate display step which determines the said cooperation conditions for every said apparatus based on the said apparatus installation information, specifies the said other apparatus which can be cooperated, and displays the cooperation result. The device information display method according to any one of the above.   The device information display method according to claim 13, wherein the certain device and the other device are connected by determining whether the other device exists within the effective range of the certain device. The grouping step in which all the connected devices are considered to form one group, and a map on which objects indicating the plurality of devices are arranged to form the one group A program for causing a computer to execute the device arrangement display step of displaying a device so that it can be distinguished from the device forming another group.   A recording medium on which the program according to claim 18 is recorded, wherein the recording medium can be processed by a computer.