AIR CONDITIONER OPERATION CONTROL SYSTEM AND AIR CONDITIONER OPERATION CONTROL APPARATUS

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an air conditioner operation control system including portable terminals that are capable of obtaining location information from the Global Positioning System (GPS), a server, and an air conditioner. The present disclosure also relates to an air conditioner operation control apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Air conditioners have operated under control of remote controllers or smartphones. However, recently proposed techniques include, among others, controlling on-off operation of an air conditioner on the basis of location information obtained from the GPS (refer to, for example, Patent Literature 1).

Also proposed regarding the operation of an air conditioner is a technique that prevents an operational state from changing in a way unintended by a user (refer to, for example, Patent Literature 2). Patent Literature 2 discloses an air conditioner that includes an operation mode setting means for any one of a mode of nearby operation from a remote controller or another device, a mode of remote (away-from-home) operation from a distant location, and a shared mode that permits both the nearby and remote operations to be set. The air conditioner disclosed in Patent Literature 2 makes a distinction between the nearby operation and the remote operation to prevent an operation unintended by the user. Regarding such prevention, the Electrical Appliances and Materials Safety Act of Japan stipulates, “Measures shall be taken not to accept simultaneous remote operations from two or more locations”, in Appended Table 8. Interpretation of this stipulation or risk assessment leads to various air conditioner operations.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

• • Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2014-173818
  • Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2015-10769

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

When the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Literature 2 is being set to the shared mode, there is a possibility that operations from a plurality of operation terminals result in cancellation of an instruction of the user who has operated first since an instruction of a user who has operated later overwrites the instruction of the user who has operated first. Furthermore, when the air conditioner disclosed in Patent Literature 2 is in a state where an instruction from a user who has operated first excludes instructions from other operation terminals, there is a possibility that even a control signal, sent on the basis of location information of the operation terminal of a different user for controlling the on-off operation of the air conditioner, could be ignored. The operation based on the location information from the GPS, in particular, is a one-time operation occurring at a specific location. Since the user does not necessarily operate while looking at the portable terminal, the user may not notice right away that the control signal has been ignored. Therefore, there may be cases where no operational request is made again.

The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present disclosure is to obtain an air conditioner operation control system that prevents a loss of convenience of operating an air conditioner on the basis of location information obtained from the GPS when operational requests from a plurality of portable terminals are made.

Means to Solve the Problem

In order to solve the above-stated problems and achieve the object, an air conditioner operation control system according to the present disclosure includes an air conditioner that performs operational request-based operation relating to air conditioning, a portable terminal, and a server. The server includes a relay unit that receives from the portable terminal and relays to the air conditioner an operational request and an exclusive time setting unit that sets a certain period between a point in time when the relay unit receives the operational request and a point in time when the certain period that is predetermined expires as an exclusive time. The portable terminal includes a location information acquisition unit that obtains location information indicating where the portable terminal is; a storage unit that stores a range covering a predetermined distance from the air conditioner as a control area; an exclusive time acquisition unit that obtains the exclusive time set by the server when the location information obtained by the location information acquisition unit arrives in the control area from outside the control area; a transmission unit that transmits the operational request from a user to the server after a lapse of the exclusive time; and an input unit for the user to input location information of the air conditioner and the control area.

Effect of the Invention

The air conditioner operation control system according to the present disclosure has an effect of preventing a loss of convenience of operating the air conditioner on the basis of the location information obtained from the GPS when the operational requests from a plurality of the portable terminals are made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner operation control system according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner operation control system according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control area setting-related operational procedure of a portable terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of the portable terminal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of a server according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of an air conditioner according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of an air conditioner operation control system according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of a portable terminal according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of an air conditioner according to the second embodiment. 10 FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner operation control apparatus according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a processor with which a control unit and a communication unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment are at least partly implemented.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating processing circuitry with which the control unit and the communication unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment are at least partly implemented.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the drawings, a detailed description is hereinafter provided of air conditioner operation control systems and an air conditioner operation control apparatus according to embodiments.

First Embodiment

First, a description is provided of a configuration of an air conditioner operation control system 1 according to a first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the air conditioner operation control system 1 according to the first embodiment. The air conditioner operation control system 1 includes an air conditioner 11, a server 12, a first portable terminal 13A, a second portable terminal 13B, a communication network 14, and a GPS satellite 15. An owner of the second portable terminal 13B is different from an owner of first portable terminal 13A.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner operation control system 1 according to the first embodiment. The air conditioner 11 is an apparatus that performs operational request-based operation relating to air conditioning and includes a control unit 21 that controls the operation of the air conditioner 11 on the basis of operational requests and a communication unit 22 that receives the operational requests from users via the communication network 14. The server 12 includes a relay unit 23 that receives from the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B and relays to the air conditioner 11 the operational requests via the communication network 14 and an exclusive time setting unit 24 that sets a certain period between a point in time when the relay unit 23 receives the operational request and a point in time when the certain period that is predetermined expires as an exclusive time. The exclusive time setting unit 24 sets the predetermined period as the exclusive time for the portable terminal, the operational request of which has been first received and confirmed by the server 12.

Each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B includes an input unit 25 for the user to input location information of the air conditioner 11 and a control area; a display unit 26 that displays unavailability of operation when the portal terminal's own location information arrives at the air conditioner 11 before the exclusive time set by the server 12 expires or when estimated arrival time is earlier than time at which the exclusive time expires; and a storage unit 27 that stores a range covering a predetermined distance from the air conditioner 11 as the control area. The user refers to the owner. A description of the estimated arrival time is provided later. The display unit 26 is implemented with a liquid crystal display, for example. The storage unit 27 is implemented with a semiconductor memory, for example.

Each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B further includes a transmission unit 28 that transmits the operational request from the user to the server 12 via the communication network 14 after a lapse of the exclusive time; a location information acquisition unit 29 that obtains the location information, which indicates the portable terminal's own location, from the GPS satellite 15; and an exclusive time acquisition unit 30 that obtains the exclusive time when the portable terminal's own location information obtained by the location information acquisition unit 29 arrives in the control area from outside the control area.

Each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B further includes a moving speed computation unit 31 that computes the portable terminal's own moving speed on the basis of the portable terminal's own location information and time information when the portable terminal is outside the control area and an estimated arrival time computation unit 32 that computes the estimated arrival time, which is the time at which the portable terminal arrives at the air conditioner 11, on the basis of the moving speed computed by the moving speed computation unit 31.

Next, a description is provided of how the air conditioner operation control system 1 operates. A description is provided first of how the control area is set in the portable terminal 13 and then of how the air conditioner 11 is controlled. The portable terminal 13 is meant to refer to each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a control area setting-related operational procedure of the portable terminal 13 according to the first embodiment. The input unit 25 accepts input of location coordinates of the air conditioner 11 (S1). The location coordinates may be numerical values or a location selected from map information. The input unit 25 accepts input of a radius (S2). The storage unit 27 retains an inner part of a circle that is determined, with the location coordinates received by the input unit 25 as a center, by the radius received by the input unit 25 as the control area (S3). In other words, the storage unit 27 of the portable terminal 13 stores the control area at step S3.

A description to follow is of how the air conditioner operation control system 1 operates in controlling the air conditioner 11 on the assumption that the first portable terminal 13A is to arrive in the control area first to have the exclusive time set. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of the portable terminal 13 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of the server 12 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of the air conditioner 11 according to the first embodiment.

The location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A obtains the location information of the first portable terminal 13A on the basis of a signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S11 in FIG. 4) and determines whether or not the first portable terminal 13A has arrived in the control area from outside the control area (S12 in FIG. 4). If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A has arrived in the control area (Yes at S12 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 notifies the exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the first portable terminal 13A that the first portable terminal 13A has arrived in the control area (S13 in FIG. 4).

If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A has not arrived in the control area (No at S12 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 notifies the moving speed computation unit 31 of the first portable terminal 13A that the first portable terminal 13A has not arrived in the control area (S14 in FIG. 4). The moving speed computation unit 31 of the first portable terminal 13A computes the moving speed of the first portable terminal 13A on the basis of the location information of the first portable terminal 13A and the time information (S15 in FIG. 4). After the operation of step S15 is performed, the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A waits for a certain time that is predetermined (S16 in FIG. 4). After a lapse of the certain time, the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A performs the operation of step S11.

Upon being notified by the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A that the first portable terminal 13A has arrived in the control area, the exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the first portable terminal 13A inquires of the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 the exclusive time (S17 in FIG. 4). The exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 determines whether or not the exclusive time has been inquired (S31 in FIG. 5).

Assume that the server 12 has received no operational request and that the exclusive time has not been set. The exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 determines on the basis of the operation of step S17 that the exclusive time has been inquired (Yes at S31 in FIG. 5) and transmits to the first portable terminal 13A information indicating that no operational request has been received and that the exclusive time has not been set (S32 in FIG. 5). After performing the operation of step S32, the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 performs the operation of step S31. If the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 determines that the exclusive time has not been inquired (No at S31 in FIG. 5), the server 12 proceeds to step S33 in its operation. A description of the operation of step S33 is provided later.

The exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the first portable terminal 13A determines whether or not the exclusive time has been set (S18 in FIG. 4). The exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the first portable terminal 13A determines on the basis of the above-stated operation of step S32 that the exclusive time has not been set (No at S18 in FIG. 4) and notifies the transmission unit 28 of the first portable terminal 13A that the exclusive time has not been set (S19 in FIG. 4). The transmission unit 28 of the first portable terminal 13A transmits the operational request to the relay unit 23 and the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 (S28 in FIG. 4).

In order to confirm that the first portable terminal 13A has arrived in the control area from outside the control area in relation to the start of the above-stated operation, the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A obtains location information of the first portable terminal 13A on the basis of the signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S29 in FIG. 4) and determines whether or not the first portable terminal 13A is outside the control area (S30 in FIG. 4). If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A is outside the control area (Yes at S30 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 performs the operation of step S11. If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A is in the control area (No at S30 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 performs the operation of step S29.

The server 12 determines whether or not the operational request has been received from the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B (S33 in FIG. 5). If the server 12 determines that the operational request has not been received from the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B (No at S33 in FIG. 5), the server 12 proceeds to step S31 in its operation. If the server 12 determines that the operational request has been received from the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B (Yes at S33 in FIG. 5), the relay unit 23 relays the operational request to the communication unit 22 of the air conditioner 11 (S34 in FIG. 5). The exclusive time setting unit 24 sets a certain period between the point in time when the server 12 has received the operational request and a point in time when the certain period, which is predetermined, expires as the exclusive time (S35 in FIG. 5). In other words, the exclusive time setting unit 24 sets the exclusive time at step S35. After performing the operation of step S35, the exclusive time setting unit 24 performs the operation of step S31.

The communication unit 22 of the air conditioner 11 determines whether or not the operational request has been received from the relay unit 23 of the server 12 (S41 in FIG. 6). If the communication unit 22 determines that the operational request has not been received from the relay unit 23 of the server 12 (No at S41 in FIG. 6), the communication unit 22 performs the operation of step S41 again. If the communication unit 22 determines that the operational request has been received from the relay unit 23 of the server 12 (Yes at S41 in FIG. 6), the communication unit 22 transmits the received operational request to the control unit 21 (S42 in FIG. 6). The control unit 21 controls the operation of the air conditioner 11 on the basis of the operational request (S43 in FIG. 6). After the operation of step S43 is performed, the air conditioner 11 proceeds to step S41 in its operation.

The location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B obtains the location information of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S11 in FIG. 4) and determines whether or not the second portable terminal 13B has arrived in the control area from outside the control area (S12 in FIG. 4). If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B has arrived in the control area (Yes at S12 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 notifies the exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the second portable terminal 13B that the second portable terminal 13B has arrived in the control area (S13 in FIG. 4).

If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B has not arrived in the control area (No at S12 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 notifies the moving speed computation unit 31 that the second portable terminal 13B has not arrived in the control area (S14 in FIG. 4). The moving speed computation unit 31 of the second portable terminal 13B computes the moving speed of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the location information of the second portable terminal 13B and the time information (S15 in FIG. 4). After the operation of step S15 is performed, the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B waits for the certain time, which is predetermined (S16 in FIG. 4). After a lapse of the certain time, the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B performs the operation of step S11.

Upon being notified by the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B that the second portable terminal 13B has arrived in the control area, the exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the second portable terminal 13B inquires of the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 the exclusive time (S17 in FIG. 4). In the first embodiment, the assumption is that the server 12 has already set the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B when the exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the second portable terminal 13B makes the inquiry at step S17.

The exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 determines whether or not the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been inquired (S31 in FIG. 5). The above-stated assumption leads the exclusive time setting unit 24 to determine that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been inquired (Yes at S31 in FIG. 5) and transmit to the second portable terminal 13B information indicating that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set and information indicating the remaining exclusive time (S32 in FIG. 5). After performing the operation of step S32, the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 performs the operation of step S31.

The exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the second portable terminal 13B determines whether or not the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set (S18 in FIG. 4). The exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set (Yes at S18 in FIG. 4) and notifies the estimated arrival time computation unit 32 of the second portable terminal 13B that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set and of the remaining exclusive time (S20 in FIG. 4).

In cases where the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has not been set (No at S18 in FIG. 4), the exclusive time acquisition unit 30 of the second portable terminal 13B notifies the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has not been set (S19 in FIG. 4). After the operation of step S19 is performed, the second portable terminal 13B proceeds to step S28 in its operation.

The estimated arrival time computation unit 32 of the second portable terminal 13B computes the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the moving speed of the second portable terminal 13B and a distance between the second portable terminal 13B and the air conditioner 11 (S21 in FIG. 4). The estimated arrival time computation unit 32 of the second portable terminal 13B determines whether or not the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B is earlier than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires (S22 in FIG. 4).

If the estimated arrival time computation unit 32 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B is earlier than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires (Yes at S22 in FIG. 4), this estimated arrival time computation unit 32 notifies the display unit 26 of the determination result, and the display unit 26 displays the unavailability of operation (S23 in FIG. 4). If the estimated arrival time computation unit 32 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B is the same as or later than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires (No at S22 in FIG. 4), this estimated arrival time computation unit 32 notifies the transmission unit 28 of the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B (S24 in FIG. 4).

The location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B obtains location information of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S25 in FIG. 4) and determines whether or not the location information of the second portable terminal 13B arrives at the air conditioner 11 (S26 in FIG. 4). If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the location information of the second portable terminal 13B arrives at the air conditioner 11 (Yes at S26 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 notifies the display unit 26 that the location information of the second portable terminal 13B arrives at the air conditioner 11, and the display unit 26 displays the unavailability of operation (S23 in FIG. 4).

If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the location information of the second portable terminal 13B does not arrive at the air conditioner 11 (No at S26 in FIG. 4), the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B determines whether or not the remaining exclusive time has expired (S27 in FIG. 4). If the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the remaining exclusive time has not expired (No at S27 in FIG. 4), the second portable terminal 13B proceeds to step S25 in its operation. If the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the remaining exclusive time has expired (Yes at S27 in FIG. 4), this transmission unit 28 transmits the operational request to the relay unit 23 and the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 (S28 in FIG. 4). As described above, when the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B that has been computed by the estimated arrival time computation unit 32 is later than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires, the transmission unit 28 transmits the operational request to the server 12 after a lapse of the exclusive time.

In order to confirm that the second portable terminal 13B has arrived in the control area from outside the control area in relation to the start of the above-stated operation, the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B obtains location information of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S29 in FIG. 4) and determines whether or not the second portable terminal 13B is outside the control area (S30 in FIG. 4). If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B is outside the control area (Yes at S30 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 performs the operation of step S11. If the location information acquisition unit 29 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B is in the control area (No at S30 in FIG. 4), this location information acquisition unit 29 performs the operation of step S29.

If the server 12 has received the operational request from the transmission unit 28 of the second portable terminal 13B (Yes at S33 in FIG. 5), the relay unit 23 relays the operational request to the communication unit 22 of the air conditioner 11 (S34 in FIG. 5). The exclusive time setting unit 24 sets a certain period between the point in time when the server 12 has received the operational request and a point in time when the certain period, which is predetermined, expires as the exclusive time (S35 in FIG. 5). After the operation of step S35 is performed, the server 12 proceeds to step S31 in its operation.

The communication unit 22 of the air conditioner 11 determines whether or not the operational request has been received from the relay unit 23 of the server 12 (S41 in FIG. 6). If the communication unit 22 determines that the operational request has not been received from the relay unit 23 of the server 12 (No at S41 in FIG. 6), the communication unit 22 performs the operation of step S41 again. If the communication unit 22 determines that the operational request has been received from the relay unit 23 of the server 12 (Yes at S41 in FIG. 6), the communication unit 22 transmits the received operational request to the control unit 21 (S42 in FIG. 6). The control unit 21 controls the operation of the air conditioner 11 on the basis of the operational request (S43 in FIG. 6). After the operation of step S43 is performed, the air conditioner 11 proceeds to step S41 in its operation.

As described above, the operational request based on the location information from the GPS is transmitted to the server 12 after the lapse of the exclusive time. Therefore, the air conditioner operation control system 1 according to the first embodiment is capable of coordinating the operational requests from the plurality of portable terminals and allows for improved convenience for the user of each of the plurality of portable terminals. In other words, the air conditioner operation control system 1 is capable of preventing the convenience of operating the air conditioner 11 on the basis of the location information obtained from the GPS from being lost when the operational requests from the plurality of portable terminals are made.

Second Embodiment

The air conditioner operation control system 1 according to the first embodiment coordinates the operational requests when the portable terminals 13 arrive in the control area from outside the control area. A description is hereinafter provided of a second embodiment in which operational requests are coordinated when portable terminals 13 have gone out of a control area, and the operational request is ignored when an air conditioner 11 detects a person.

An air conditioner operation control system 2 according to the second embodiment has the same schematic configuration as the air conditioner operation control system 1 according to the first embodiment. In other words, the schematic configuration of the air conditioner operation control system 2 according to the second embodiment is also illustrated by FIG. 1. In the second embodiment, differences from the first embodiment are mainly described.

FIG. 7 is a functional block diagram of the air conditioner operation control system 2 according to the second embodiment. The air conditioner 11 includes a control unit 41 that performs operational control of the air conditioner 11 on the basis of operational requests and presence or absence of a person, a communication unit 42 that receives the operational requests from users via the communication network 14, and a person detection sensor 43 that detects the presence or absence of a person in a space where the air conditioner 11 performs air conditioning. The control unit 41 ignores the operational requests when the person detection sensor 43 detects a person.

A server 12 includes a relay unit 44 that receives from a first and a second portable terminals 13A and 13B and relays to the air conditioner 11 the operational requests via the communication network 14 and an exclusive time setting unit 45 that sets a certain period between a point in time when the relay unit 44 receives the operational request and a point in time when the certain period that is predetermined expires as an exclusive time.

Each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B includes an input unit 46 for the user to input location information of the air conditioner 11 and the control area; a display unit 47 that displays unavailability of operation when the portal terminal's own location information arrives at the air conditioner 11 before the exclusive time expires or when estimated arrival time is earlier than time at which the exclusive time expires; and a storage unit 48 that stores a range covering a predetermined distance from the air conditioner 11 as the control area. The display unit 47 is implemented with a liquid crystal display, for example. The storage unit 48 is implemented with a semiconductor memory, for example.

Each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B further includes a transmission unit 49 that transmits the operational request from the user to the server 12 via the communication network 14 after a lapse of the exclusive time; a location information acquisition unit 50 that obtains the location information, which indicates the portable terminal's own location, from the GPS satellite 15; and an exclusive time acquisition unit 51 that obtains the exclusive time when the portable terminal's own location information moves out of the control area. The transmission unit 49 transmits the operational request to the server 12 when the location information of the portable terminal including the transmission unit 49 has moved out of the control area.

Each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B further includes a moving speed computation unit 52 that computes the portable terminal's own moving speed on the basis of the portable terminal's own location information and time information when the portable terminal is in the control area and an estimated arrival time computation unit 53 that computes the estimated arrival time, which is the time at which the portable terminal arrives at the air conditioner 11, on the basis of the moving speed computed by the moving speed computation unit 52.

Next, a description is provided of how the air conditioner operation control system 2 operates. The control area is preset in the portable terminal 13 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Control area setting-related operation according to the second embodiment is illustrated by the flowchart of FIG. 3 used in the first embodiment. The description provided below is of distinctive operation of the air conditioner operation control system 2.

The operation of the air conditioner operation control system 2 is described on the assumption that the first portable terminal 13A is to go out of the control area first to have the exclusive time set. The server 12 according to the second embodiment operates as illustrated by the flowchart of FIG. 5 used in the first embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of the portable terminal 13 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an operational procedure of the air conditioner 11 according to the second embodiment.

The location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A obtains the location information of the first portable terminal 13A on the basis of a signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S51 in FIG. 8) and determines whether or not the first portable terminal 13A is outside the control area (S52 in FIG. 8). If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A is outside the control area (Yes at S52 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 notifies the exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the first portable terminal 13A that the first portable terminal 13A is outside the control area (S53 in FIG. 8).

If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A is in the control area (No at S52 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 notifies the moving speed computation unit 52 of the first portable terminal 13A that the first portable terminal 13A is in the control area (S54 in FIG. 8). The moving speed computation unit 52 of the first portable terminal 13A computes the moving speed of the first portable terminal 13A on the basis of the location information of the first portable terminal 13A and the time information (S55 in FIG. 8). After the operation of step S55 is performed, the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A waits for a certain time that is predetermined (S56 in FIG. 8). After a lapse of the certain time, the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A performs the operation of step S51.

Upon being notified by the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A that the first portable terminal 13A is outside the control area, the exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the first portable terminal 13A inquires of the exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 the exclusive time (S57 in FIG. 8). Assume that the server 12 has received no operational request and that the exclusive time has not been set. The exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 determines on the basis of the operation of step S57 that the exclusive time has been inquired and transmits to the first portable terminal 13A information indicating that no operational request has been received and that the exclusive time has not been set.

The exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the first portable terminal 13A determines whether or not the exclusive time has been set (S58 in FIG. 8). Since the exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 has transmitted to the first portable terminal 13A the information indicating that the exclusive time has not been set, as described above, the exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the exclusive time has not been set (No at S58 in FIG. 8) and notifies the transmission unit 49 of the first portable terminal 13A that the exclusive time has not been set (S59 in FIG. 8). The transmission unit 49 of the first portable terminal 13A transmits the operational request to the relay unit 44 and the exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 (S65 in FIG. 8).

In order to confirm that the first portable terminal 13A has arrived outside the control area from inside the control area in relation to the start of the above-stated operation, the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A obtains location information of the first portable terminal 13A on the basis of the signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S66 in FIG. 8) and determines whether or not the first portable terminal 13A is inside the control area (S67 in FIG. 8).

If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A is outside the control area (No at S67 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 performs the operation of step S66. If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the first portable terminal 13A determines that the first portable terminal 13A is inside the control area (Yes at S67 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 performs the operation of step S51.

As the server 12 receives the operational request from the transmission unit 49 of the second portable terminal 13B, the relay unit 44 relays the operational request to the communication unit 42 of the air conditioner 11, and the exclusive time setting unit 45 sets a certain period between the point in time when the server 12 has received the operational request and a point in time when the certain period, which is predetermined, expires as the exclusive time.

The communication unit 42 of the air conditioner 11 determines whether or not the operational request has been received from the relay unit 44 of the server 12 (S71 in FIG. 9). If the communication unit 42 determines that the operational request has been received from the relay unit 44 (Yes at S71 in FIG. 9), the communication unit 42 transmits the received operational request to the control unit 41 (S72 in FIG. 9). If the communication unit 42 of the air conditioner 11 determines that the operational request has not been received (No at S71 in FIG. 9), the communication unit 42 performs the operation of step S71 again.

The control unit 41 of the air conditioner 11 obtains sensor information from the person detection sensor 43 (S73 in FIG. 9). The control unit 41 of the air conditioner 11 determines whether or not a person is present on the basis of the sensor information (S74 in FIG. 9). If the control unit 41 determines that no person is present (No at S74 in FIG. 9), the control unit 41 controls the operation of the air conditioner 11 on the basis of the operational request (S75 in FIG. 9). If the control unit 41 of the air conditioner 11 determines that a person is present (Yes at S74 in FIG. 9), the control unit 41 does not take action. If the control unit 41 determines that a person is present (Yes at S74 in FIG. 9), the air conditioner 11 proceeds to step S71 in its operation. After the operation of step S75 is performed, the air conditioner 11 proceeds to step S71 in its operation.

The location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B obtains the location information of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S51 in FIG. 8) and determines on the basis of the obtained location information whether or not the second portable terminal 13B is outside the control area (S52 in FIG. 8). If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B is outside the control area (Yes at S52 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 notifies the exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the second portable terminal 13B that the second portable terminal 13B is outside the control area (S53 in FIG. 8).

If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B is in the control area (No at S52 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 notifies the moving speed computation unit 52 of the second portable terminal 13B that the second portable terminal 13B is in the control area (S54 in FIG. 8). The moving speed computation unit 52 computes the moving speed of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the location information of the second portable terminal 13B and the time information (S55 in FIG. 8). After the operation of step S55 is performed, the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B waits for the certain time, which is predetermined (S56 in FIG. 8). After a lapse of the certain time, the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B performs the operation of step S51.

Upon being notified by the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B that the second portable terminal 13B has arrived in the control area, the exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the second portable terminal 13B inquires of the exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 the exclusive time (S57 in FIG. 8). In the second embodiment, the assumption is that the server 12 has already set the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B when the exclusive time acquisition unit 51 makes the inquiry at step S57.

The exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 transmits to the second portable terminal 13B information indicating that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set and information indicating the remaining exclusive time. The exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the second portable terminal 13B determines whether or not the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set (S58 in FIG. 8). Since the exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 has transmitted to the second portable terminal 13B the information indicating that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set, as described above, the exclusive time acquisition unit 51 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set (Yes at S58 in FIG. 8) and notifies the estimated arrival time computation unit 53 of the second portable terminal 13B that the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B has been set and the remaining exclusive time (S60 in FIG. 8).

The estimated arrival time computation unit 53 of the second portable terminal 13B computes the estimated arrival time, which is the time at which the second portable terminal 13B arrives in the control area, on the basis of the moving speed of the second portable terminal 13B and a distance that the second portable terminal 13B has gone to arrive outside the control area (S61 in FIG. 8). The estimated arrival time computation unit 53 of the second portable terminal 13B determines whether or not the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B is earlier than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires (S62 in FIG. 8).

If the estimated arrival time computation unit 53 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B is earlier than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires (Yes at S62 in FIG. 8), this estimated arrival time computation unit 53 notifies the display unit 47 that the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B is earlier than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires, and the display unit 47 displays the unavailability of operation (S63 in FIG. 8). After the operation of step S63 is performed, the second portable terminal 13B proceeds to step S66 in its operation.

If the estimated arrival time computation unit 53 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the estimated arrival time of the second portable terminal 13B is the same as or later than the time at which the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B expires (No at S62 in FIG. 8), this estimated arrival time computation unit 53 notifies the transmission unit 49 of the exclusive time in relation to the second portable terminal 13B (S64 in FIG. 8). After the remaining exclusive time expires, the transmission unit 49 of the second portable terminal 13B transmits the operational request to the relay unit 44 and the exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 (S65 in FIG. 8).

In order to confirm that the second portable terminal 13B has arrived outside the control area from inside the control area in relation to the start of the above-stated operation for the second portable terminal 13B, the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B obtains location information of the second portable terminal 13B on the basis of the signal from the GPS satellite 15 (S66 in FIG. 8) and determines whether or not the second portable terminal 13B is inside the control area (S67 in FIG. 8).

If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B is outside the control area (No at S67 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 performs the operation of step S66. If the location information acquisition unit 50 of the second portable terminal 13B determines that the second portable terminal 13B is in the control area (Yes at S67 in FIG. 8), this location information acquisition unit 50 performs the operation of step S51.

As the server 12 receives the operational request from the transmission unit 49 of the second portable terminal 13B, the relay unit 44 relays the operational request to the communication unit 42 of the air conditioner 11, and the exclusive time setting unit 45 sets a certain period between the point in time when the server 12 has received the operational request and a point in time when the certain period, which is predetermined, expires as the exclusive time.

The communication unit 42 of the air conditioner 11 receives the operational request from the relay unit 44 of the server 12 (Yes at S71 in FIG. 9) and transmits the received operational request to the control unit 41 (S72 in FIG. 9). The control unit 41 of the air conditioner 11 obtains sensor information from the person detection sensor 43 (S73 in FIG. 9). The control unit 41 determines whether or not a person is present on the basis of the sensor information (S74 in FIG. 9). If the control unit 41 determines that no person is present (No at S74 in FIG. 9), the control unit 41 controls the operation of the air conditioner 11 on the basis of the operational request (S75 in FIG. 9). If the control unit 41 determines that a person is present (Yes at S74 in FIG. 9), the control unit 41 does not take action. If the control unit 41 determines that a person is present (Yes at S74 in FIG. 9), the air conditioner 11 proceeds to step S71 in its operation.

As described above, the operational request based on the location information from the GPS is transmitted to the server 12 after the lapse of the exclusive time, and the person detection sensor 43 is included in the air conditioner 11. Therefore, the air conditioner operation control system 2 according to the second embodiment is capable of coordinating the operational requests from the plurality of portable terminals and also enables an operation stop request of the portable terminal that has gone out of the control area to be ignored when the air conditioner 11 detects a person, thus improving convenience for each user.

Third Embodiment

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an air conditioner operation control apparatus 3 according to a third embodiment. The air conditioner operation control apparatus 3 includes a request reception unit 61 that receives an operational request intended for an air conditioner from a portable terminal and an exclusive time setting unit 62 that sets a certain period between a point in time when the request reception unit 61 receives the above-mentioned operational request and a point in time when the certain period that is predetermined expires as an exclusive time.

The air conditioner operation control apparatus 3 further includes an operational request retention unit 63 that retains a different operational request that the request reception unit 61 has received from a portable terminal different from the above-mentioned portable terminal before the exclusive time set by the exclusive time setting unit 62 expires. The operational request retention unit 63 is implemented with a semiconductor memory, for example. The air conditioner operation control apparatus 3 further includes an operational request transmission unit 64 that transmits to the air conditioner the different operational request retained by the operational request retention unit 63 after the exclusive time set by the exclusive time setting unit 62 expires.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a processor 91 with which the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 of the air conditioner 11 according to the first embodiment are at least partly implemented. In other words, the functions of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 may be implemented at least in part with the processor 91 that executes programs stored in a memory 92. The processor 91 is a central processing unit (CPU), a processing unit, an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, or a digital signal processor (DSP). FIG. 11 also illustrates the memory 92.

When implemented with the processor 91, the at least part of the functions of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 is implemented with the processor 91 and software, firmware, or a combination of software and firmware. The software or the firmware is described as programs and is stored in the memory 92. The processor 91 reads and executes the programs stored in the memory 92 to implement the at least part of the functions of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22.

In cases where the at least part of the functions of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 is implemented with the processor 91, the memory 92 is included in the air conditioner 11 to store the programs with which at least part of the steps of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 is eventually executed. The programs stored in the memory 92 can be said to cause a computer to perform the at least part of the functions of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22.

The memory 92 is, for example, a nonvolatile or volatile semiconductor memory such as a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a flash memory, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) (registered trademark), a magnetic disk, a flexible disk, an optical disk, a compact disk, a mini disk, a digital versatile disk (DVD), or the like.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating processing circuitry 93 with which the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 of the air conditioner 11 according to the first embodiment are at least partly implemented. In other words, the at least part of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 may be implemented with the processing circuitry 93. The processing circuitry 93 is dedicated hardware. The processing circuitry 93 is, for example, a single circuit, a composite circuit, a programmed processor, a parallel programmed processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a combination of these. Part of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 may be implemented with different dedicated hardware separately from a remaining part.

Part of the plural functions of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 may be implemented with software or firmware, while a remaining part of the plural functions may be implemented with dedicated hardware. As described above, the plural functions of the control unit 21 and the communication unit 22 are implementable with the hardware, the software, the firmware or a combination of these.

The relay unit 23 and the exclusive time setting unit 24 of the server 12 according to the first embodiment may be implemented at least in part with a processor that executes programs stored in a memory. The memory is similar to the memory 92. The processor is similar to the processor 91. The relay unit 23 and the exclusive time setting unit 24 may be implemented at least in part with processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is similar to the processing circuitry 93.

The input unit 25, the transmission unit 28, the location information acquisition unit 29, the exclusive time acquisition unit 30, the moving speed computation unit 31, and the estimated arrival time computation unit 32 of each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B according to the first embodiment may be implemented at least in part with a processor that executes programs stored in a memory. The memory is similar to the memory 92. The processor is similar to the processor 91. The input unit 25, the transmission unit 28, the location information acquisition unit 29, the exclusive time acquisition unit 30, the moving speed computation unit 31, and the estimated arrival time computation unit 32 may be implemented at least in part with processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is similar to the processing circuitry 93.

The control unit 41, the communication unit 42, and the person detection sensor 43 of the air conditioner 11 according to the second embodiment may be implemented at least in part with a processor that executes programs stored in a memory. The memory is similar to the memory 92. The processor is similar to the processor 91. The control unit 41, the communication unit 42, and the person detection sensor 43 may be implemented at least in part with processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is similar to the processing circuitry 93.

The relay unit 44 and the exclusive time setting unit 45 of the server 12 according to the second embodiment may be implemented at least in part with a processor that executes programs stored in a memory. The memory is similar to the memory 92. The processor is similar to the processor 91. The relay unit 44 and the exclusive time setting unit 45 may be implemented at least in part with processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is similar to the processing circuitry 93.

The input unit 46, the transmission unit 49, the location information acquisition unit 50, the exclusive time acquisition unit 51, the moving speed computation unit 52, and the estimated arrival time computation unit 53 of each of the first and second portable terminals 13A and 13B according to the second embodiment may be implemented at least in part with a processor that executes programs stored in a memory. The memory is similar to the memory 92. The processor is similar to the processor 91. The input unit 46, the transmission unit 49, the location information acquisition unit 50, the exclusive time acquisition unit 51, the moving speed computation unit 52, and the estimated arrival time computation unit 53 may be implemented at least in part with processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is similar to the processing circuitry 93.

The request reception unit 61, the exclusive time setting unit 62, the operational request retention unit 63, and the operational request transmission unit 64 of the air conditioner operation control apparatus 3 according to the third embodiment may be implemented at least in part with a processor that executes programs stored in a memory. The memory is similar to the memory 92. The processor is similar to the processor 91. The request reception unit 61, the exclusive time setting unit 62, the operational request retention unit 63, and the operational request transmission unit 64 may be implemented at least in part with processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is similar to the processing circuitry 93.

The above configurations illustrated in the embodiments are illustrative, can be combined with other techniques that are publicly known, and can be partly omitted or changed without departing from the gist. The embodiments can be combined with each other.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1, 2 air conditioner operation control system; 3 air conditioner operation control apparatus; 11 air conditioner; 12 server; 13 portable terminal; 13A first portable terminal; 13B second portable terminal; 14 communication network; 15 GPS satellite; 21, 41 control unit; 22, 42 communication unit; 23, 44 relay unit; 24, 45, 62 exclusive time setting unit; 25, 46 input unit; 26, 47 display unit; 27, 48 storage unit; 28, 49 transmission unit; 29, 50 location information acquisition unit; 30, 51 exclusive time acquisition unit; 31, 52 moving speed computation unit; 32, 53 estimated arrival time computation unit; 43 person detection sensor; 61 request reception unit; 63 operational request retention unit; 64 operational request transmission unit; 91 processor; 92 memory; 93 processing circuitry.