METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INFORMATION APPARATUS, COMPUTER-READABLE RECORDING MEDIUM, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION

• US 20150113418A1
• Filed: 12/24/2014
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2013
• 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, NAITO, Eiichi
• Granted Patent: US 9,185,002 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/736
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/2642 Domotique, domestic, home control, automation, smart house
• 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 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/30 User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A control method according to the present disclosure causes a computer of an information apparatus to: display on a display, a display screen representing at least a floor plan including one or more rooms; and when it is sensed that movement of a second-type device icon that is movable only within a region corresponding to a predetermined room associated with the type of the device icon among the one or more rooms, and in the case where it is judged that the second-type device icon is moved out of the region corresponding to the predetermined room, perform display control to return the second-type device icon to the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an 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 at least a floor plan including one or more rooms;

using one or more memories that manage first information indicating each type of one or more device icons that represent the one or more target devices and second information indicating each attribute of the one or more rooms, each type of the one or more device icons being associated with each attribute of the one or more rooms, display each of the one or more device icons within a region on the display screen corresponding to a room in accordance with each type of the one or more device icons;

when selection of any of the one or more device icons is sensed in a region corresponding to any of the one or more rooms included in the floor plan, display on the display screen, a control screen for at least operating a target device corresponding to the selected device icon or confirming a state of the corresponding target device; and

output to the network on the basis of an operation on the control screen, a control command for at least operating the corresponding target device or confirming the state of the corresponding target device,

wherein the one or more device icons including a first-type device icon that is movable to each of the one or more rooms, and a second-type device icon that is movable only within a region corresponding to a predetermined room associated with the type of the device icon among the one or more rooms, and

when movement of the second-type device icon is sensed, and in the case where it is judged that the second-type device icon is moved out of the region corresponding to the predetermined room, a display control is performed to return the second-type device icon to the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when movement of the second-type device icon is sensed, and in the case where it is judged that an attribute of the predetermined room is a same attribute as a room to which the second-type device icon is moved, a display control is performed to return the second-type device icon to the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when it is sensed that the second-type device icon is kept to stay outside the region corresponding to the predetermined room for more than a predetermined time, display control is performed to display the second-type device icon outside the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein

when it is sensed that the second-type device icon to stay outside the region corresponding to the predetermined room for the predetermined time or less, display control is performed to return the second-type device icon to the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein

when it is sensed that the second-type device icon is released from keeping the second-type icon to stay outside the region corresponding to the predetermined room after keeping the second-type device icon to stay outside the corresponding region for more than a predetermined time, display control is performed to display the second-type device icon outside the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein

in the case where it is sensed that the second-type device icon is kept to stay outside the region corresponding to the predetermined room for released is the predetermined time or less until the second-type device icon is released, display control is performed to return the second-type device icon to the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the second-type device icon includes a device icon that represents a toilet device with a washing function; and

the predetermined room includes a lavatory.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the second-type device icon includes a device icon that represents a water heater; and

the predetermined room includes a bathroom.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the second-type device icon includes a device icon that represents a refrigerator; and

the predetermined room includes a kitchen.

10. A method for controlling an 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 at least a floor plan including one or more rooms;

using one or more memories that manage first information indicating each type of one or more device icons that represent the one or more target devices and second information indicating each attribute of the one or more rooms, each type of the one or more device icons being associated with each attribute of the one or more rooms, display each of the one or more device icons within a region on the display screen corresponding to a room in accordance with each type of the one or more device icons;

when selection of any of the one or more device icons is sensed in a region corresponding to any of the one or more rooms included in the floor plan, display on the display screen, a control screen for at least operating a target device corresponding to the selected device icon or confirming a state of the corresponding target device; and

output to the network on the basis of an operation on the control screen, a control command for at least operating the corresponding target device or confirming the state of the corresponding target device,

wherein the one or more rooms including a specific room in which only a device icon of a specific type is permitted to display among the one or more device icons, and

when movement of a device icon of a different type other than the device icon of the specific type is sensed, and in the case where it is judged that the device icon of the different type is moved to a region corresponding to the specific room, a display control is performed move the device icon of the different type out of the region corresponding to the specific room.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein

when movement of the device icon of the different type is sensed, and in the case where it is judged that an attribute of the specific room is a same attribute as a room to which the device icon of the different type is moved, a display control is performed to move the device icon of the different type out of the region corresponding to the specific room.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein

when it is sensed that the device icon of the different type is kept to stay inside the region corresponding to the specific room for more than a predetermined time, a display control is performed to display the device icon of the different type within the region corresponding to the specific room.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein

in the case where it is sensed that the device icon of the different type is kept to stay inside the region corresponding to the specific room for the predetermined time or less, a display control is performed to move the device icon of the different type out of the region corresponding to the specific room.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein

when it is sensed that the device icon of the different type is released from keeping the device icon of the different type to stay inside the region corresponding to the specific room after keeping the device icon of the different type to stay inside the corresponding region for more than a predetermined time, a display control is performed to display the device icon of the different type within the region corresponding to the specific room.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein

in the case where it is sensed that the device icon of the different type is kept to stay inside the region corresponding to the specific room for the predetermined time or less until the device icon of the different type is released, a display control is performed to move the device icon of the different type out of the region corresponding to the specific room.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

the device icon of the specific type includes a device icon that represents a toilet device with a washing function; and

the specific room includes a lavatory.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

the device icon of the specific type includes a device icon that represents a water heater; and

the specific room includes a bathroom.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

the device icon of the specific type includes a device icon that represents a refrigerator; and

the specific room includes a kitchen.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an 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 at least a floor plan including one or more rooms;

using one or more memories that manage first information indicating each type of one or more device icons that represent the one or more target devices and second information indicating each attribute of the one or more rooms, each type of the one or more device icon being associated with each attribute of the one or more rooms, display each of the one or more device icons within a region on the display screen corresponding to a room in accordance with each type of the one or more device icons;

when selection of any of the one or more device icons is sensed in a region corresponding to any of the one or more rooms included in the floor plan, display on the display screen, a control screen for at least operating a target device corresponding to the selected device icon or confirming a state of the corresponding target device; and

output to the network on the basis of an operation on the control screen, a control command for at least operating the corresponding target device or confirming the state of the corresponding target device,

wherein the one or more device icons including a first-type device icon that is movable to each of the one or more rooms, and a second-type device icon that is movable only within a region corresponding to a predetermined room associated with the type of the device icon among the one or more rooms, and

when movement of the second-type device icon is sensed, and in the case where it is judged that the second-type device icon is moved out of the region corresponding to the predetermined room, a display control is performed to return the second-type device icon to the region corresponding to the predetermined room.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium which stores a program to be executed by an 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 at least a floor plan including one or more rooms;

using one or more memories that manage first information indicating each type of one or more device icons that represent the one or more target devices and second information indicating each attribute of the one or more rooms, each type of the one or more device icons being associated with each attribute of the one or more rooms, display each of the one or more device icons within a region on the display screen corresponding to a room in accordance with each type of the one or more device icons;

when selection of any of the one or more device icons is sensed in a region corresponding to any of the rooms included in the floor plan, display on the display screen, a control screen for at least operating a target device corresponding to the selected device icon or confirming a state of the corresponding target device; and

output to the network on the basis of an operation on the control screen, a control command for at least operating the corresponding target device or confirming the state of the corresponding target device,

wherein the one or more rooms including a specific room in which only a device icon of a specific type is permitted to display among the one or more device icons, and

when movement of a device icon of a different type other than the device icon of the specific type is sensed, and in the case where it is judged that the device icon of the different type is moved to a region corresponding to the specific room, a display control is performed to move the device icon of the different type out of the region corresponding to the specific room.