METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INFORMATION APPARATUS AND COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM

• US 20150007038A1
• Filed: 09/16/2014
• Published: 01/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2013
• 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: SASAKI, Takamitsu, TAHARA, Kohei
• Granted Patent: US 10,067,661 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/175 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A control method of the present disclosure causes a computer of an information apparatus to: display a display screen representing a floor plan including at least two or more rooms; display each device icon representing each of one or more target devices on the display screen, the one or more target devices including a specific target device that stores a set content when power has been previously turned off, the device icon representing the specific target device being used in common in one or more rooms; and when selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed and selection of any region in a first room is sensed after the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, output a first on-off control command for controlling an on-off state of power of the specific target device corresponding to the first room.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an information apparatus, the information apparatus having a display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network,

the method causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display on the display, a display screen representing a floor plan of one floor including at least two or more rooms;

display each device icon representing each of the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the one or more target devices including a specific target device that stores a set content when power has been previously turned off, the device icon representing the specific target device being used in common in one or more rooms included in the floor plan; and

when selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed and selection of any region in a first room among the at least two or more rooms included in the floor plan is sensed after the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, output to the network a first on-off control command for controlling an on-off state of power of the specific target device corresponding to the first room in which the selection has been sensed.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the power of the specific target device is turned on, a region on the display screen corresponding to the first room in which the selection has been sensed is displayed with brightness not lower than specified brightness, and when the power of the specific target device is turned off, the region corresponding to the first room in which the selection has been sensed is displayed with brightness lower than the specified brightness.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the power of the specific target device is turned on, display stating that the power of the specific target device has been turned on is provided in the region on the display screen corresponding to the first room in which the selection has been sensed, and when the power of the specific target device is turned off, display stating that the power of the specific target device has been turned off is provided in the region corresponding to the first room in which the selection has been sensed.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein

in a case where selection of any region in a second room among the at least two or more rooms included in the floor plan is sensed after the selection of any region in the first room among the at least two or more rooms included in the floor plan is sensed, a second on-off control command is output to the network, the second on-off control command controlling an on-off state of the power of the specific target device corresponding to the second room in which the selection has been sensed.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, an operation screen for the specific target device is displayed on the display screen.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein

when the specific target device exists in plurality, the operation screen for the specific target device installed in the largest room among the plurality of specific target devices is selected as the operation screen to be displayed on the display screen.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, an operation screen for the specific target device, the power of which is in an on state, is displayed on the display screen.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein

when the specific target device, the power of which is in an on state, exists in plurality, the operation screen for the specific target device installed in the largest room among the plurality of specific target devices is selected as the operation screen to be displayed on the display screen.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein

the operation screen includes a selection key for selecting any of the plurality of the specific target devices, and

the operation screen for the specific target device selected using the selection key among the plurality of the specific target devices is selected as the operation screen to be displayed on the display screen.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein

when the specific target device, the power of which is in an on state, is switched to an off state after the operation screen is displayed on the display screen, the operation screen is continued to be displayed.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein

when the specific target device, the power of which is in an on state, is switched to an off state after the operation screen is displayed on the display screen, the display of the operation screen is erased from the display screen.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein

when the display of the operation screen is erased from the display screen, status information regarding the specific target device that has been switched to the off state is displayed on the display screen.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein

when the display of the operation screen is erased from the display screen, status information regarding the specific target device that has been switched to the off state is displayed in a region of a room corresponding to the specific target device that has been switched to the off state.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed and the power of a first specific target device corresponding to the first room is in an on state, a first operation screen for the first specific target device is displayed, and

when selection of a region on the display screen corresponding to a second room in which a second specific target device, the power of which is in an off state, is sensed, the display of the first operation screen for the first specific target device is switched to a display of a second operation screen for the second specific target device.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, a display button for displaying an operation screen for the specific target device is displayed on the display screen.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein

the display button is displayed in the region corresponding to the room in which the specific target device is installed.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein

when the power of the specific target device is switched to an off state, the display button is continued to be displayed on the display screen.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed and the specific target device exists in plurality, respective display buttons for displaying respective operation screens for the respective specific target devices are displayed on the display screen for each of the plurality of the specific target devices.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein

each of the display buttons is displayed in a region corresponding to each room in which each of the plurality of the specific target devices is installed.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein

when the power of each of the specific target devices is switched to an off state, each of the display buttons corresponding to each of the specific target devices is continued to be displayed on the display screen.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, a display button for displaying an operation screen for the specific target device, the power of which is in an on state, is displayed on the display screen.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein

the display button is displayed in a region corresponding to the room in which the specific target device, the power of which is in an on state, is installed.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein

when the power of the specific target device is switched to an off state, the display of the display button is erased from the display screen.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein

when the display of the display button is erased from the display screen, status information regarding the specific target device corresponding to the erased display button is displayed in a region of the display screen corresponding to a room in which the specific target device corresponding to the erased display button is installed.

25. The method according to claim 15, wherein

when selection of the display button is sensed, the operation screen for the specific target device corresponding to the display button is displayed.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein

when selection of the display button is sensed, the operation screen for the specific target device corresponding to the display button is displayed, and

when the power of the specific target device is switched to an off state, the display of the operation screen is erased from the display screen.

27. The method according to claim 18, wherein

when selection of any one display button among the respective display buttons is sensed, the operation screen for the specific target device corresponding to the selected one display button is displayed.

28. The method according to claim 18, wherein

when selection of any one display button among the respective display buttons is sensed, the operation screen for the specific target device corresponding to the selected one display button is displayed, and

when the power of the specific target device corresponding to the selected one display button is switched to an off state, the display of the operation screen for the specific target device corresponding to the selected one display button is erased from the display screen.

29. The method according to claim 18, wherein

when selection of a first display button among the respective display buttons is sensed, a first operation screen for a first specific target device corresponding to the first display button is displayed, and

when selection of a second display button that differs from the first display button among the respective display buttons is sensed, the display of the first operation screen is switched to a display of a second operation screen for a second specific target device corresponding to the second display button.

30. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the device icon representing the specific target device is displayed outside of a region of the floor plan that is represented by the display screen.

31. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, a device icon representing each of the one or more target devices is moved out of a display region of the floor plan represented in the display screen.

32. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the display comprises a touch panel display, and

sensing of the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device or sensing of the selection of any region in the room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device has been sensed, is performed by sensing a contact to the touch panel display.

33. The method according to claim 1, wherein

sensing of the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device or sensing of the selection of any region in the room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device has been sensed, is performed by sensing a click of a mouse pointer.

34. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when selection of a device icon representing a target device other than the specific target device among the one or more target devices is sensed, a control screen is displayed on the display screen representing the floor plan, the control screen being used either for operation or for state confirmation of the target device corresponding to the selected device icon.

35. The method according to claim 1, wherein the specific target device includes an air conditioner.

36. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner is set to a heater mode when the power is turned on, a region on the display screen corresponding to the first room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed, is displayed using a warm color.

37. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner is set to a cooler mode when the power is turned on, a region on the display screen corresponding to the first room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed, is displayed using a cold color.

38. The method according to claim 36, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned off, the region on the display screen corresponding to the first room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed, is displayed with brightness lower than specified brightness.

39. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner is set to a heater mode when the power is turned on, display stating that the air conditioner is operating as a heater is provided in a region on the display screen corresponding to the room in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed.

40. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner is set to a cooler mode when the power is turned on, display stating that the air conditioner is operating as a cooler is provided in a region on the display screen corresponding to the room in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed.

41. The method according to claim 39, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned off, display stating that the power of the air conditioner has been turned off is provided in the region on the display screen corresponding to the room in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed.

42. The method according to claim 36, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on, a set content of the air conditioner when the power of the air conditioner is turned on is acquired from the air conditioner.

43. The method according to claim 36, wherein

an information management system is connected to the network and manages log information regarding the air conditioner, and

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on, a set content of the air conditioner when the power of the air conditioner is turned on is acquired from the information management system.

44. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner has been set to a heater mode when the power of the air conditioner has been previously turned off, a region on the display screen corresponding to the room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed, is displayed using a warm color.

45. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner has been set to a cooler mode when the power of the air conditioner has been previously turned off, a region on the display screen corresponding to the room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed, is displayed using a cold color.

46. The method according to claim 44, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned off, the region on the display screen corresponding to the room, in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed, is displayed with brightness lower than specified brightness.

47. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner has been set to a heater mode when the power of the air conditioner has been previously turned off, display stating that the air conditioner is operating as a heater is provided in a region on the display screen corresponding to the room in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed.

48. The method according to claim 35, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned on and the air conditioner has been set to a cooler mode when the power of the air conditioner has been previously turned off, display stating that the air conditioner is operating as a cooler is provided in a region on the display screen corresponding to the room in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed.

49. The method according to claim 47, wherein

when the power of the air conditioner is turned off display stating that the power of the air conditioner has been turned off is provided in the region on the display screen corresponding to the room in which the selection of the device icon representing the air conditioner has been sensed.

50. The method according to claim 44, wherein

a set content of the air conditioner when the power of the air conditioner had previously been turned off is stored in a memory of the information apparatus, and

the stored set content of the air conditioner is read out from the memory when the power of the air conditioner is turned on.

51. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the specific target device includes a television receiver.

52. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an information apparatus, the information apparatus having a display and being connected to a network, one or more target devices being controlled over the network,

the program causing a computer of the information apparatus to:

display on the display, a display screen representing a floor plan of one floor including at least two or more rooms;

display each device icon representing each of the one or more target devices on the display screen representing the floor plan, the one or more target devices including a specific target device that stores a set content when power has been previously turned off, the device icon representing the specific target device being used in common in one or more rooms included in the floor plan; and

when selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed and selection of any region in a first room among the at least two or more rooms included in the floor plan is sensed after the selection of the device icon representing the specific target device is sensed, output to the network a first on-off control command for controlling an on-off state of power of the specific target device corresponding to the first room in which the selection has been sensed.