JP2025092010A - Home appliance programs - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To encourage a user to input an evaluation of a home appliance at an appropriate time. [Solution] A program for a home appliance according to an embodiment is a program for a home appliance that causes a computer mounted on a home appliance equipped with a display device to execute a detection step of detecting a change in the operating state of the home appliance, and an evaluation input screen display step of displaying an evaluation input screen for inputting an evaluation about the home appliance on the display device when a change in the operating state of the home appliance is detected in the detection step. [Selected Figure] Figure 5

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a program for a home appliance.

In a home appliance management system that manages home appliances (air conditioners, refrigerators, etc.) connected to a network (Internet, regular telephone lines, mobile phone lines, etc.), a technique for remotely controlling the home appliances using an app (application) executed on a terminal device (smartphone, etc.) has been known.

In addition, evaluation information on home appliances by users is useful information for home appliance manufacturers. One method for collecting evaluation information is, for example, to periodically send survey request data (including evaluation items) to a smartphone app and encourage users to enter evaluations, etc., via a pop-up display.

JP 2011-002870 A

However, the above-mentioned conventional technology has room for improvement in terms of the timing of encouraging users to input ratings of home appliances. Another method is to pre-install a function in a smartphone app that allows users to input and send rating information, but with such a method, it is unlikely that users will voluntarily input and send rating information.

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a program for a home appliance that can encourage a user to input an evaluation of the appliance at an appropriate time.

The program for a home appliance of the embodiment is a program for a home appliance that causes a computer mounted on a home appliance having a display device to execute a detection step of detecting a change in the operating state of the home appliance, and an evaluation input screen display step of displaying an evaluation input screen for inputting an evaluation about the home appliance on the display device when a change in the operating state of the home appliance is detected in the detection step.

The program for the home appliance may further include a rating input prompt screen display step for displaying a rating input prompt screen that prompts the user to input a detailed rating on a terminal device that is connected to the home appliance via a network and has a display unit, when the content of the rating entered on the rating input screen is a predetermined content.

The program for the home appliance may further include a transmission step of transmitting the evaluation information entered on the evaluation input screen to a server device.

The program for the home appliance may further include a detailed evaluation input screen display step for displaying a detailed evaluation input screen for inputting a detailed evaluation on a terminal device connected to the home appliance via a network and having a display unit when an evaluation is input on the evaluation input screen.

The home appliance program may further include, in the rating input screen display step, when an app related to the home appliance is installed in a terminal device that is connected to the home appliance via a network and has a display unit, displaying a detailed rating input prompt screen that prompts the user to input a detailed rating on the terminal device when displaying the rating input screen on the display device, and when the app is not installed in the terminal device, displaying an installation prompt screen that prompts the user to install the app on the terminal device when displaying the rating input screen on the display device.

The home appliance program may also include a step of displaying the evaluation input screen that prevents the display device from displaying the evaluation input screen even if a change in the operating state of the home appliance is detected in the detection step, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous evaluation input.

In addition, when a predetermined operation is registered in the home appliance from a terminal device connected to the home appliance via a network and equipped with a display unit, the detection step may detect that the operating state of the home appliance has changed and the predetermined operation has been completed, and the evaluation input screen display step may cause the display device to display the evaluation input screen when the detection step detects that the operating state of the home appliance has changed and the predetermined operation has been completed.

The above home appliance program can encourage users to input ratings for home appliances at appropriate times.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of the configuration of a home appliance management system according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the server device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a functional configuration of the home electric appliance according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen in the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a home electric appliance in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a first example of a display screen in the second embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of a display screen in the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a home electric appliance according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a first example of a display screen in the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of the display screen in the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing by a home electric appliance according to the third embodiment.

Below, with reference to the drawings, embodiments (first to fifth embodiments) of a program for a home appliance according to the present disclosure will be described. Note that in this specification, components according to the embodiments and descriptions of the components may be described in multiple ways. The components and their descriptions are examples and are not limited by the expressions in this specification. The components may also be identified by names different from those in this specification. The components may also be described by expressions different from those in this specification.

First Embodiment
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of a home appliance management system 1 according to a first embodiment. Hereinafter, a refrigerator 10A, a washing machine 10B, an air conditioner 10C, an air conditioner 10D, and a microwave oven 10E may be referred to as home appliances 10 when there is no particular need to distinguish between them. The home appliance management system 1 mainly includes a server device 40, a terminal device 30, and home appliances 10. All of the home appliances 10 are provided in one home.

The home appliances 10 and the terminal device 30 are connected to a network via a router or the like installed in the home. Each of the home appliances 10 is also connected to a server device 40 via the network. The network may be configured, for example, via the Internet, a regular telephone line, a mobile phone line, or the like.

Note that the refrigerator 10A, washing machine 10B, air conditioner 10C, air conditioner 10D, and microwave oven 10E are examples of home appliances, and the types and numbers are not limited to these.

The terminal device 30 is, for example, a mobile terminal such as a smartphone or a tablet terminal, and acquires and displays information related to the home appliance 10 via the server device 40, and remotely controls the home appliance 10. In the following, it is mainly assumed that the terminal device 30 is a smartphone.

An application program (hereinafter also referred to as "application" or "app") for remotely controlling the home appliance 10 is installed in the terminal device 30. A user launches the application on the terminal device 30 to remotely control the home appliance 10. The terminal device 30 uses the application to communicate with the home appliance 10 via the server device 40 over a network.

The server device 40 is a computer device that manages the home appliance 10 and relays communication between the terminal device 30 and the home appliance 10.

Here, the functional configuration of the server device 40 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the server device 40 of the first embodiment. The server device 40 mainly includes a communication unit 401, a control unit 402, and a storage unit 403.

The storage unit 403 is a storage medium such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid state drive (SSD). The storage unit 403 stores a database for managing the home appliance 10. The database includes items such as a user ID (identifier), a device ID, a function, a number of times the function has been used, and a number of times the device has been used.

The user ID is information for identifying a user. The device ID is information for identifying a home appliance 10 managed by the user of the user ID. The function is one or more functions of the home appliance 10 of the device ID. The number of times a function is used is the number of times a function is used that is counted and set for each function. The number of times a device is used is the total number of times the function is used for each home appliance 10, and is the number of times that it is used for each home appliance 10.

The control unit 402 performs various controls. For example, the control unit 402 performs various controls on the home appliance 10. Specifically, the control unit 402 performs various controls on the home appliance 10 in response to instructions from an application on the terminal device 30. The control unit 402 also receives status information and the like from the home appliance 10 and transmits it to the application on the terminal device 30.

The communication unit 401 is a communication interface for communicating with the home appliance 10 and the terminal device 30.

Next, the functional configuration of the home appliance 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the home appliance 10 of the first embodiment. The home appliance 10 is equipped with a computer. The home appliance 10 includes, for example, a control device 11, a storage device 12, an operation device 13, a display device 14, a communication device 15, a home appliance sensor 16, and a home appliance actuator 17.

The storage device 12 is composed of RAM (Random Access Memory), ROM (Read Only Memory), SSD (Solid State Drive), etc., and stores various information.

The operation device 13 and the display device 14 are, for example, touch panels, and display information and accept operational inputs.

The communication device 15 is a communication interface for communicating with an external device (server device 40).

The home appliance sensor 16 is a sensor for detecting various information related to the home appliance 10.

The home appliance actuator 17 is an actuator for performing various operations related to the home appliance 10.

The control device 11 is configured, for example, by a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and performs various controls. The control device 11 executes a detection step of detecting a change in the operating state of the home appliance 10 based on information acquired from the home appliance sensor 16, etc. Furthermore, when a change in the operating state of the home appliance is detected in the detection step, the control device 11 executes an evaluation input screen display step of displaying, on the display device 14, an evaluation input screen for inputting an evaluation regarding the home appliance 10.

The control device 11 also executes a transmission step to transmit the evaluation information entered on the evaluation input screen to the server device 40.

The control device 11 may also execute a detailed evaluation input screen display step in which, when an evaluation is input on the evaluation input screen, the terminal device 30 displays a detailed evaluation input screen for inputting a detailed evaluation.

Here, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen (rating input screen) in the first embodiment. In FIG. 4, a washing machine 10B is used as an example of the home appliance 10. For example, when the washing operation is completed in the washing machine 10B, an rating input screen as shown in FIG. 4 is displayed as a pop-up on the display device 14. On the rating input screen, three options are displayed for inputting an rating of the usability of the washing machine 10B: "Unsatisfactory," "Average," and "Best." When the user performs an operation to select one of these options, the control device 11 detects the operation. The user can also close the rating input screen by pressing the x button without selecting any option.

In this example, the example of the change in the operating state of the home appliance 10 and the evaluation content is when the washing machine completes a washing operation and the usability of the washing machine is evaluated, but this is not limited to this. Other examples include when the refrigerator door is opened and closed a predetermined number of times and the refrigerator itself is evaluated.

In addition, when a refrigerator notifies the user that ice making is complete, the user can evaluate the quality of the ice. In addition, when a rice cooker notifies the user that rice cooking is complete, the user can evaluate the rice cooker itself and the quality of the cooked rice. In addition, when a microwave oven finishes heating, the user can evaluate the microwave oven itself and the heating quality. In other words, the user can evaluate the home appliance 10 itself and its functions (performance) when various operating conditions of the home appliance 10 change.

Next, an example of processing by the home appliance 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the home appliance 10 in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, in step S1, the control device 11 of the home appliance 10 determines whether the operating state has changed, and if Yes, the process proceeds to step S2, and if No, the process returns to step S1.

In step S2, the control device 11 displays an evaluation input screen (Figure 4) on the display device 14.

Next, in step S3, the control device 11 determines whether or not the end button (x button) has been operated on the evaluation input screen (Figure 4), and if Yes, closes the evaluation input screen (Figure 4) and ends the process, and if No, proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the control device 11 determines whether or not a rating has been input on the rating input screen (Figure 4) (selection of one of "unsatisfactory," "average," or "best"), and if Yes, proceeds to step S5, and if No, returns to step S3.

In step S5, the control device 11 transmits the evaluation information (selection from "unsatisfactory," "average," or "best") to the server device 40.

Next, in step S6, the control device 11 transmits the evaluation information to the terminal device 30 and displays a detailed evaluation input screen for inputting a detailed evaluation. The user can then use the terminal device 30 to input detailed evaluation information, and the input information is transmitted to the server device 40. Note that the processes from step S6 onwards are not essential and may be omitted.

In this way, according to the first embodiment, by displaying the rating input screen (FIG. 4) on the display device 14 when the operating state of the home appliance 10 changes, it is possible to encourage the user to input a rating of the home appliance at an appropriate time. In other words, by using a change in the operating state of the home appliance 10 as a trigger for displaying the rating input screen, it is possible to increase the likelihood that the user will notice the rating input screen and input a rating.

When the terminal device 30 that operates the home appliance 10 is a smartphone, many apps are generally installed on the smartphone, and even if a pop-up screen for inputting a rating about the home appliance 10 is displayed, it is highly likely that the screen will be buried and no rating will be input. On the other hand, by displaying a rating input screen on the display device 14 of the home appliance 10 as in the first embodiment, the possibility of inputting a rating can be increased.

In addition, by transmitting the evaluation information entered on the evaluation input screen to the server device 40, the contents can be checked later, and the evaluation information can be used in the future development of the home appliance 10. It can also be used as a substitute for user surveys such as questionnaires about the home appliance 10 that have been conducted up until now.

In addition, when an evaluation is input on the evaluation input screen, the terminal device 30 may be configured to display a detailed evaluation input screen for inputting a detailed evaluation. It is often difficult to display the detailed input screen on the display device 14 of the home appliance 10 due to space limitations, but by displaying the detailed evaluation input screen on the terminal device 30 (smartphone) instead, it is possible to easily input a detailed evaluation.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Descriptions of matters similar to those of the first embodiment will be omitted as appropriate. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing a first example of a display screen in the second embodiment. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of a display screen in the second embodiment.

When the content of the evaluation entered on the evaluation input screen is a predetermined content ("Dissatisfied" in Fig. 6(a) and Fig. 7(a)), the control device 11 executes a rating input prompt screen display step of displaying a rating input prompt screen ("Rate via app" in Fig. 6(b) and Fig. 7(b)) that prompts the user to enter a detailed evaluation on the terminal device 30. In other words, when the content of the evaluation is "Dissatisfied", it is useful to collect detailed information about the dissatisfaction, so the control device 11 guides the user to enter detailed information on the terminal device 30.

In addition, in FIG. 6(b), if the user wishes to change the evaluation, they can return to the screen in FIG. 6(a) by operating the "Back" button.

Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the home appliance 10 in the second embodiment. Steps S11 to S14 are similar to steps S1 to S4 in Figure 5.

If the answer is Yes in step S14, in step S15, the control device 11 determines whether the content of the evaluation entered on the evaluation input screen (Figures 6 and 7) is a predetermined content ("dissatisfied") or not, and if the answer is Yes, the process proceeds to step S17, and if the answer is No, the process proceeds to step S16.

In step S16, the control device 11 transmits the evaluation information ("average" or "best") to the server device 40.

In step S17, the control device 11 causes the display device 14 to display a rating input prompt screen (FIG. 6(b), "Rate via app" in FIG. 7(b)) that prompts the user to input a detailed rating on the terminal device 30.

Next, in step S18, the control device 11 determines whether or not an operation has been performed on the rating input prompt screen ("Rate with app" in Fig. 6(b) and Fig. 7(b)), and if Yes, proceeds to step S19, and if No (if the "Rate with app" button has not been operated but the "X button" has been operated), proceeds to step S16.

In step S19, the control device 11 notifies the terminal device 30, i.e., transmits the evaluation information to the terminal device 30 and causes a detailed evaluation input screen or the like to be displayed for inputting a detailed evaluation. After that, the user uses the terminal device 30 to input detailed evaluation information, and the input information is transmitted to the server device 40.

Thus, according to the second embodiment, when the content of the evaluation entered on the evaluation input screen is a predetermined content ("dissatisfied"), the user is guided to input a detailed evaluation on the terminal device 30, thereby increasing the possibility of collecting useful detailed information.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment will be described. Descriptions of matters similar to those of the second embodiment and earlier will be omitted as appropriate. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a first example of a display screen in the third embodiment. Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a second example of a display screen in the third embodiment.

In the evaluation input screen display step, when the terminal device 30 has an app related to the home appliance 10 installed, the control device 11, when displaying the evaluation input screen, also displays a detailed evaluation input prompt screen ("Rate with app" in FIG. 9(a)) that prompts the user to input a detailed evaluation on the terminal device 30. Note that the display of this detailed evaluation input prompt screen may or may not be simultaneous with the display of the evaluation input screen.

Furthermore, when the app is not installed in the terminal device 30 (for example, when the app has been deleted or when the app has been removed because it is not used), when the control device 11 displays the rating input screen, it also displays an installation prompting screen ("Get with app" in FIG. 9(b)) that prompts the user to install the app on the terminal device. Note that the installation prompting screen may or may not be displayed simultaneously with the display of the rating input screen.

In addition, when a user operates the installation prompt screen ("Get via app" in FIG. 9(b)), the control device 11 displays the download page for that app (on the right side of FIG. 10(a)) or displays a two-dimensional barcode for downloading that app (FIG. 10(b)).

Figure 11 is a flowchart showing an example of processing by the home appliance 10 in the third embodiment. Steps S21 to S24 are similar to steps S1 to S4 in Figure 5.

If the answer is Yes in step S24, in step S25, the control device 11 determines whether the application is installed in the terminal device 30, and if the answer is Yes, the process proceeds to step S26, and if the answer is No, the process proceeds to step S28.

In step S26, the control device 11 causes the display device 14 to display an evaluation input screen and a detailed evaluation input prompt screen that prompts the user to input a detailed evaluation on the terminal device 30 (Figure 9 (a)).

Next, in step S27, the control device 11 performs processing according to the operation. For example, when the user selects "Rate with app" on the screen of FIG. 9(a), the control device 11 causes the terminal device 30 to display a detailed evaluation input screen for inputting a detailed evaluation. After that, the user uses the terminal device 30 to input detailed evaluation information, and the input information is transmitted to the server device 40.

In step S28, the control device 11 causes the display device 14 to display an evaluation input screen and an installation prompting screen that prompts the user to install the app on the terminal device 30 (Figure 9 (b)).

Next, in step S29, the control device 11 performs processing according to the operation. For example, if the user selects "Get App" on the screen of FIG. 9(b), the control device 11 displays the download page for that app (on the right side of FIG. 10(a)) or displays a two-dimensional barcode for downloading that app (FIG. 10(b)).

In this way, according to the third embodiment, if the app is not installed on the terminal device 30 (smartphone), the user is prompted to install the app, thereby increasing the opportunity (possibility) to obtain detailed evaluation information.

Fourth Embodiment
Next, a fourth embodiment will be described. Explanations of matters similar to those of the third embodiment and the previous embodiments will be omitted as appropriate. Even if the control device 11 detects a change in the operating state of the home appliance 10 in the detection step, if it is within a predetermined time from the previous evaluation input, the control device 11 does not display the evaluation input screen on the display device in the evaluation input screen display step. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, even if the answer is Yes in step S1, if it is within a predetermined time from the previous evaluation input, the process does not proceed to step S2.

In this way, according to the fourth embodiment, once an evaluation has been made, the evaluation input screen is not displayed again, or is not displayed for a certain period of time (predetermined time). This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which the user is asked to evaluate multiple times in a short period of time, which may cause negative emotions (irritation, disgust, etc.). If the evaluation input screen is not to be displayed again, the predetermined time can be set to an infinite time (or an equivalently long time).

Fifth Embodiment
Next, a fifth embodiment will be described. The same matters as those in the fourth embodiment and the previous embodiments will not be described. When a predetermined operation is registered in the home appliance 10 from the terminal device 30, the control device 11 detects that the operating state of the home appliance 10 has changed and the predetermined operation has been completed in the detection step. In this case, when the control device 11 detects that the operating state of the home appliance 10 has changed and the predetermined operation has been completed in the detection step, the control device 11 causes the display device 14 to display an evaluation input screen in the evaluation input screen display step. That is, in the flowchart of FIG. 5, a condition of "the predetermined operation has been completed" is added to step S1.

The specified operation is, for example, an application course in the washing machine (e.g., a course in which various times and the like are set for washing a blanket). In this case, the application course is registered in the washing machine using the application of the terminal device 30, and when the user uses the application course to complete the wash, the control device 11 causes the washing machine to display a pop-up screen prompting the user to input an evaluation.

Another example of a predetermined operation is the automatic dispensing of detergent/fabric softener in the washing machine. In this case, the automatic dispensing of detergent/fabric softener is registered in the washing machine by the app on the terminal device 30, and when the automatic dispensing is completed, a pop-up screen prompting the user to input an evaluation is displayed on the washing machine.

In addition, the predetermined operation is, for example, the operation of an operation button of an app when an operation instruction is given to the home appliance 10 by remote control from the app of the terminal device 30. In this case, when an operation instruction is given to the home appliance 10 by the app of the terminal device 30 and the operation is completed, the control device 11 causes the home appliance 10 to display a pop-up screen prompting the user to input a rating.

In this way, according to the fifth embodiment, by displaying a pop-up screen on the home appliance 10 that prompts the user to enter a rating when a specified operation is completed, it is possible to encourage the user to enter a rating for the specified operation at an appropriate time.

The program executed by the home appliance 10 of the above embodiment may be provided by being recorded in an installable or executable file format on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a digital versatile disk (DVD), a USB memory, or an SD card. The program may also be provided by being pre-installed in a ROM or the like.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

For example, the display device 14 of the home appliance 10 is not limited to being integrated with the main body of the home appliance 10. For example, if the home appliance 10 is an air conditioner, the display device 14 may be the display device of a remote control terminal for the air conditioner.

In addition, when various displays such as the evaluation input screen are made, audio may also be output in accordance with the displayed content.

1... Home appliance management system, 10... Home appliance, 11... Control device, 12... Storage device, 13... Operation device, 14... Display device, 15... Communication device, 16... Sensor for home appliance, 17... Actuator for home appliance, 30... Terminal device, 40... Server device, 401... Communication unit, 402... Control unit, 403... Storage unit

Claims (7)

A computer installed in a home appliance equipped with a display device,
A detection step of detecting a change in an operating state of the home appliance;
and an evaluation input screen display step of displaying, on the display device, an evaluation input screen for inputting an evaluation regarding the home appliance when a change in the operating state of the home appliance is detected in the detection step. The program for a home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a rating input prompt screen display step for displaying a rating input prompt screen that prompts the user to input a detailed rating on a terminal device that is connected to the home appliance via a network and has a display unit, when the content of the rating input on the rating input screen is a predetermined content. The program for a home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission step of transmitting the evaluation information entered on the evaluation input screen to a server device. The program for a home appliance according to claim 1, further comprising a detailed evaluation input screen display step for displaying a detailed evaluation input screen for inputting a detailed evaluation on a terminal device connected to the home appliance via a network and having a display unit when an evaluation is input on the evaluation input screen. The evaluation input screen display step includes:
when a terminal device connected to the home appliance via a network and equipped with a display unit has an application for the home appliance, when the evaluation input screen is displayed on the display device, a detailed evaluation input prompt screen is further displayed to prompt the user to input a detailed evaluation on the terminal device;
2. The program for a home appliance according to claim 1, wherein, when the application is not installed in the terminal device, when the display device is caused to display the evaluation input screen, the display device is further caused to display an installation promotion screen that prompts the user to install the application on the terminal device. The program for a home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation input screen display step does not cause the display device to display the evaluation input screen even if a change in the operating state of the home appliance is detected in the detection step, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the previous evaluation input. When a predetermined operation is registered in the home appliance from a terminal device connected to the home appliance via a network and having a display unit,
The detection step detects that an operating state of the home appliance has changed and that the predetermined operation has been completed,
2. The program for a home appliance according to claim 1, wherein the evaluation input screen display step causes the display device to display the evaluation input screen when it is detected in the detection step that the operating state of the home appliance has changed and that the specified operation has been completed.

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