Method for controlling terminal device that remotely operates air conditioner

• US 10,139,793 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Corporation of America (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamada, Kazushige, Sasaki, Taiji, Sugiyama, Masashi, Nishida, Yoichi, Fuchikami, Tetsuji, Harada, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D
• Application Number:
  US14/951,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20160161960A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,098 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/523 for displaying temperature data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/59 for presetting
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/10 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1904 variable in time
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1905 associated with tele control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

Acquiring correspondence among a plurality of time zones and target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of the air conditioner that correspond to the respective plurality of time zones. A display allows a user to set the preset temperatures of the air conditioner in the respective plurality of time zones. The display includes a graph region having a first axis corresponding to the plurality of time zones and a second axis corresponding to the preset temperatures of the air conditioner. The graph region includes, in each of the plurality of time zones, a first temperature region having a first appearance and a second temperature region displayed having a second appearance. A symbol indicative of a corresponding preset temperature is displayed in the first temperature region in a corresponding one of the plurality of time zones in the graph region.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a terminal device that controls an air conditioner via a network, the terminal device including a computer, a memory, and a display, comprising causing the computer to:

acquire information, stored in the memory, on correspondence among a plurality of time zones, and target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of the air conditioner that correspond to the respective plurality of time zones, the target upper limit temperatures being upper limit values of recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner, and the target lower limit temperatures being lower limit values of the recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner; and

display, on the display, a setting screen that allows a user to set, for each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a preset temperature of the air conditioner within a recommended temperature range between a target upper limit temperature and a target lower limit temperature corresponding to a respective time zone,

wherein the setting screen includes a graph region in which a graph whose first axis corresponds to the plurality of time zones and whose second axis orthogonal to the first axis corresponds to the preset temperatures of the air conditioner is displayed,

wherein the graph region includes, in each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a first temperature region displayed in a first display form, a second temperature region displayed in a second display form, and a symbol indicative of a corresponding preset temperature being displayed in the first temperature region,

wherein the first temperature region indicates the recommended temperature range for a respective time zone that is not less than the target lower limit temperature and not more than the target upper limit temperature for the respective time zone, and the second temperature region being a temperature region other than the first temperature region, and

wherein, when a preset temperature in a target time zone for is adjusted to be outside of a recommended temperature range for the target time zone, preset temperatures for one or more time zones adjacent to the target time zone are adjusted correspondingly such that recommend temperature ranges for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones become modified to keep the adjusted preset temperature for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones within the modified recommended temperature ranges.

2. The method according to claim 1,

wherein:

a target upper limit temperature of a time zone is determined by taking a minimum value among;

temperature obtained by adding a predetermined value to a first temperature which is a preset temperature in a first time zone, and

a temperature obtained by adding the predetermined value to a second temperature which is a preset temperature in a second time zone; and

a target lower limit temperature of a time zone is determined by taking a maximum value among;

a temperature obtained by subtracting the predetermined value from the first temperature, and

a temperature obtained by subtracting the predetermined value from the second temperature.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein:

the first time zone and the second time zone are adjacent time zones among the plurality of time zones.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein:

the display is a touch panel type display;

the symbol indicative of the corresponding preset temperature is slidable along the second axis by a user'"'"'s operation;

when the symbol is slid from a first position indicative of a a preset temperature to a second position corresponding to a target temperature a third time zone included in the plurality of time zones, the target temperature corresponding to the second position is compared with a target upper limit temperature corresponding to the third time zone, and the target temperature corresponding to the second position is compared with a target lower limit temperature corresponding to the third time zone;

when the target temperature corresponding to the second position is higher than the target upper limit temperature corresponding to the third time zone, a symbol corresponding to a fourth time zone is moved from a first position indicative of a preset temperature in the fourth time zone to a second position corresponding to a first adjusted preset temperature, the first adjusted preset temperature being obtained by adding the predetermined value to the target temperature; and

when the target eighth temperature is lower than the target lower limit temperature corresponding to the third time zone, the symbol corresponding to the fourth time zone is moved from the first position indicative of the preset temperature in the fourth zone to a third position corresponding to a second adjusted preset temperature, the second adjusted preset temperature being obtained by subtracting the predetermined value from the target temperature.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising causing the computer to:

when the symbol corresponding to the fourth time zone is moved to the position indicative of the first adjusted preset temperature, set the preset temperature in the third time zone to the target, set the preset temperature in the fourth time zone to the first adjusted preset temperature, and calculate target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of one or more adjacent time zones;

when the symbol corresponding to the fourth time zone is moved to the position indicative of the second adjusted preset temperature, set the preset temperature in the third time zone to the target temperature, set the preset temperature in the fourth time zone to the second adjusted preset temperature, and calculate the target upper limit temperatures and the target lower limit temperatures of the one or more adjacent time zones; and

update display of the first temperature region and the second temperature region in each of the plurality of time zones based on the calculated target upper limit temperatures and the calculated target lower limit temperatures calculated for the one or more adjacent time zones.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising causing the computer to update the information on correspondence among the plurality of time zones, target upper limit temperatures, and target lower limit temperatures by using the calculated target upper limit temperatures and the calculated target lower limit temperatures calculated for the one or more adjacent time zones.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the first display form includes a first color and a first pattern; and

the second display form includes a second color different from the first color and a second pattern different from the first pattern.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein:

the setting screen includes a button which is pressed by the user when the the preset temperatures in the plurality of time zones have been set;

the terminal device is connected to the air conditioner via at least one of the network and a server device connected via the network; and

the method further comprises causing the computer to;

generate a control command for operating the air conditioner at the set preset temperatures in the plurality of time zones when the button is pressed by the user; and

transmit the generated control command to the air conditioner via at least one of the network and the server device.

9. A terminal device that controls an air conditioner via a network, comprising:

a memory;

a display;

a processor that;

acquires information, stored in the memory, on correspondence among a plurality of time zones, and target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of the air conditioner that correspond to the respective plurality of time zones, the target upper limit temperatures being upper limit values of recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner, and the target lower limit temperatures being lower limit values of the recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner; and

displays, on the display, a setting screen that allows a user to set, for each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a preset temperature of the air conditioner within a recommended temperature range between a target upper limit temperature and a target lower limit temperature corresponding to a respective time zone,

wherein the setting screen includes a graph region in which a graph whose first axis corresponds to the plurality of time zones and whose second axis orthogonal to the first axis corresponds to the preset temperatures of the air conditioner is displayed,

wherein the graph region includes, in each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a first temperature region displayed in a first display form, a second temperature region displayed in a second display form, and a symbol indicative of a corresponding preset temperature being displayed in the first temperature region,

wherein the first temperature region indicates the recommended temperature range for a respective time zone that is not less than the target lower limit temperature and not more than the target upper limit temperature for the respective time zone, and the second temperature region being a temperature region other than the first temperature region, and

wherein, when a preset temperature in a target time zone for is adjusted to be outside of a recommended temperature range for the target time zone, preset temperatures for one or more time zones adjacent to the target time zone are adjusted correspondingly such that recommend temperature ranges for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones become modified to keep the adjusted preset temperature for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones within the modified recommended temperature ranges.

10. A system comprising:

an air conditioner; and

a terminal device that controls the air conditioner via a network,

the terminal device comprising;

a memory;

a display;

a processor that;

acquires information, stored in the memory, on correspondence among a plurality of time zones, and target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of the air conditioner that correspond to the respective plurality of time zones, the target upper limit temperatures being upper limit values of recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner, and the target lower limit temperatures being lower limit values of the recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner; and

displays, on the display, a setting screen that allows a user to set, for each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a preset temperature of the air conditioner within a recommended temperature range between a target upper limit temperature and a target lower limit temperature corresponding to a respective time zone,

wherein the setting screen includes a graph region in which a graph whose first axis corresponds to the plurality of time zones and whose second axis orthogonal to the first axis corresponds to the preset temperatures of the air conditioner is displayed,

wherein the graph region includes, in each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a first temperature region displayed in a first display form, a second temperature region displayed in a second display form, and a symbol indicative of a corresponding preset temperature being displayed in the first temperature region,

wherein the first temperature region indicates the recommended temperature range for a respective time zone that is not less than the target lower limit temperature and not more than the target upper limit temperature for the respective time zone, and the second temperature region being a temperature region other than the first temperature region, and

wherein, when a preset temperature in a target time zone for is adjusted to be outside of a recommended temperature range for the target time zone, preset temperatures for one or more time zones adjacent to the target time zone are adjusted correspondingly such that recommend temperature ranges for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones become modified to keep the adjusted preset temperature for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones within the modified recommended temperature ranges.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a program executed by a terminal device, the terminal device including a computer, a memory, and a display, the program causing the computer to:

acquire information, stored in the memory, on correspondence among a plurality of time zones, and target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of the air conditioner that correspond to the respective plurality of time zones, the target upper limit temperatures being upper limit values of recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner, and the target lower limit temperatures being lower limit values of the recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner; and

display, on the display, a setting screen that allows a user to set, for each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a preset temperature of the air conditioner within a recommended temperature range between a target upper limit temperature and a target lower limit temperature corresponding to a respective time zone,

wherein the setting screen includes a graph region in which a graph whose first axis corresponds to the plurality of time zones and whose second axis orthogonal to the first axis corresponds to the preset temperatures of the air conditioner is displayed,

wherein the graph region includes, in each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a first temperature region displayed in a first display form, a second temperature region displayed in a second display form, and a symbol indicative of a corresponding preset temperature being displayed in the first temperature region,

wherein the first temperature region indicates the recommended temperature range for a respective time zone that is not less than the target lower limit temperature and not more than the target upper limit temperature for the respective time zone, and the second temperature region being a temperature region other than the first temperature region, and

wherein, when a preset temperature in a target time zone for is adjusted to be outside of a recommended temperature range for the target time zone, preset temperatures for one or more time zones adjacent to the target time zone are adjusted correspondingly such that recommend temperature ranges for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones become modified to keep the adjusted preset temperature for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones within the modified recommended temperature ranges.

12. A method for controlling a terminal device that controls an air conditioner via a network, the terminal device including a computer, a memory, and a display, comprising causing the computer to:

acquire information, stored in the memory, on correspondence among a plurality of time zones, and target upper limit temperatures and target lower limit temperatures of the air conditioner that correspond to the respective plurality of time zones, the target upper limit temperatures being upper limit values of recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner, and the target lower limit temperatures being lower limit values of the recommended preset temperatures of the air conditioner; and

display, on the display, a setting screen that allows a user to set, for each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a preset temperature of the air conditioner within a recommended temperature range between a target upper limit temperature and a target lower limit temperature corresponding to a respective time zone,

wherein the setting screen includes a graph region that includes, for each time zone of the plurality of time zones, a first temperature region displayed in a first display form, a second temperature region displayed in a second display form, and a symbol indicative of a corresponding preset temperature being displayed in the first temperature region,

wherein the first temperature region indicates the recommended temperature range for a respective time zone that is not less than the target lower limit temperature and not more than the target upper limit temperature for the respective time zone, and the second temperature region being a temperature region other than the first temperature region, and

wherein, when a preset temperature in a target time zone for is adjusted to be outside of a recommended temperature range for the target time zone, preset temperatures for one or more time zones adjacent to the target time zone are adjusted correspondingly such that recommend temperature ranges for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones become modified to keep the adjusted preset temperature for the target time zone and the one or more adjacent time zones within the modified recommended temperature ranges.