CONTROL APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, PROGRAM AND SYSTEM

• US 20160062330A1
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Abe, Yuuichi
• Granted Patent: US 10,437,206 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof

Abstract

A control apparatus is provided, which includes: a processor; and a memory device that stores instructions to be executed by the processor, the memory device including a determination section that determines a control command according to sensor information, on the basis of a control rule capable of being set by a user for determining the control command controlling a device, and a control section that controls the device in accordance with the control command determined by the determination section, wherein the control rule specifies a first stage and a second stage, the first stage outputting a plurality of independent first values based on a plurality of first input values from a plurality of different types of sensors, and the second stage outputting a command if a second value based on the plurality of first values meets a predetermined condition.

Claims

1. A control apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device that stores instructions to be executed by the processor, the memory device including

a determination section that determines a control command according to sensor information, on the basis of a control rule capable of being set by a user for determining the control command controlling a device, and

a control section that controls the device in accordance with the control command determined by the determination section,

wherein the control rule specifies a first stage and a second stage, the first stage outputting a plurality of independent first values based on a plurality of first input values from a plurality of different types of sensors, and the second stage outputting a command if a second value based on the plurality of first values meets a predetermined condition.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control rule specifies a logical connection relationship of at least one of the sensors, a control rule module that specifies a relationship between an input value and an output value, and the control command.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first and second stages are part of a multiple-stage connection relationship of the control rule module.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a display control section that displays objects indicating the control rule module, the at least one of the plurality of sensors, and the control command at the time of setting the control rule, and causes the user to select each of the objects.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a communication section that transmits and receives the control rule to and from another control apparatus; and

a control rule accumulation section that accumulates the control rule.

6. A control method comprising:

setting a control rule with a first stage and a second stage, the first stage configured to output a plurality of independent first values based on a plurality of first input values from a plurality of different types of sensors, and the second stage configured to determine a second value based on the plurality of first values and output a command if the second value meets a predetermined condition;

storing the control rule on a storage section of a memory device;

determining via a processor a control command according to sensor information on the basis of the control rule stored in the storage section; and

controlling the device in accordance with the control command.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein setting the control rule includes specifying a logical connection relationship of at least one of the sensors, a control rule module that specifies a relationship between an input value and an output value, and the control command.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein setting the control rule includes setting a multiple-stage connection relationship of the control rule module including the first stage and the second stage.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein setting the control rule includes displaying objects indicating the control rule module, the at least one of the plurality of sensors, and the control command.

10. The method of claim 9, which includes causing the user to select each of the objects.

11. The method of claim 6, which includes transmitting and receiving the control rule to and from another control apparatus, and accumulating the control rule.

12. A non-transitory computer readable medium that causes a computer to execute:

a process of storing a control rule capable of being set by a user for determining a control command controlling a device in a storage section, wherein the control rule specifies a first stage and a second stage, the first stage outputting a plurality of independent first values based on a plurality of first input values from a plurality of different types of sensors, and the second stage determining a second value based on the plurality of first values and outputting a command if the second value meets a predetermined condition;

a process of determining the control command according to sensor information on the basis of the control rule stored in the storage section; and

a process of controlling the device in accordance with the control command.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the control rule specifies a logical connection relationship of at least one of the sensors, a control rule module that specifies a relationship between an input value and an output value, and the control command.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the first and second stages are part of a multiple-stage connection relationship of the control rule module.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, which causes the computer to execute a process of displaying objects indicating the control rule module, the at least one of the plurality of sensors, and the control command at the time of setting the control rule.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15, which causes the computer to execute a process of causing the user to select each of the objects.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, which causes the computer to execute a process of transmitting and receiving the control rule to and from another control apparatus, and accumulating the control rule.