Controller, control system, and method for controlling control system

• US 9,979,811 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2015
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamada, Yuhsuke, Okura, Ataru
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Assistant Examiner(s): Madani, Farideh
• Application Number:
  US15/300,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20170026507A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 709202, 709203
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/61 using timers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/63 Electronic processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2834 Switching of information between an external network and a home network access arrangements H04L12/2856
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

A HEMS controller receives a control instruction of an electric appliance from a mobile terminal via a server and transmits the control instruction to the electric appliance. When no instruction is given from the mobile terminal, the HEMS controller judges whether communication with the server is continued. When judging that communication is not continued, the HEMS controller transmits, to the electric appliance, a control signal for turning off power of the electric appliance.

Claims

1. A controller for transmitting a control signal to an electric appliance, the controller comprising:

a communication unit for receiving, from a server, an instruction to the electric appliance, which is transmitted from a mobile terminal;

a storage unit for storing the control signal to the electric appliance; and

a processor, wherein

the processor is configured to transmit an instruction to the electric appliance, which is received from the communication unit, to the electric appliance;

the processor is configured to, determine whether the connection with the server is discontinued, and when the connection is discontinued, obtain a current state of the electric appliance;

the processor is further configured to, when the current state is not a specific state of the electric appliance, transmit, to the electric appliance, a control signal which is stored in the storage unit and corresponds to the specific state of the electric appliance.

2. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the control signal corresponding to the specific state to the electric appliance on condition that a state in which connection with the server is not continued is maintained for a fixed time or more.

3. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to, when judging that connection with the server is not continued, transmit the control signal corresponding to the specific state to the electric appliance on condition that a state of the electric appliance is a state in accordance with the instruction transmitted from the server via the processor.

4. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the instruction to the electric appliance located in a predetermined area is transmitted from the mobile terminal located outside of the predetermined area.

5. The controller according to claim 1, wherein the electric appliance is a lighting equipment, and wherein the specific state of the electric appliance is providing a predetermined illumination level.

6. A control system, comprising:

a server;

a mobile terminal capable of communication with the server; and

a controller for transmitting a control signal to an electric appliance based on an instruction received via the server, wherein;

the mobile terminal is configured to transmit an instruction to the electric appliance,

the server is configured to transmit, to the controller, the instruction received from the mobile terminal, and

the controller is configured to;

transmit the instruction to the electric appliance, which is received from the server, to the electric appliance;

the controller is configured to, determine whether the connection with the server is discontinued, and when the connection is discontinued, obtain a current state of the electric appliance;

the controller is further configured to, when the current state is not a specific state of the electric appliance, transmit a control signal corresponding to the specific state to the electric appliance.

7. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the instruction to the electric appliance located in a predetermined area is transmitted from the mobile terminal located outside of the predetermined area.

8. The control system according to claim 6, wherein the electric appliance is a lighting equipment, and wherein the specific state of the electric appliance is providing a predetermined illumination level.

9. A method for controlling a control system which includes a server, a mobile terminal capable of communication with the server, and a controller for transmitting a control signal to an electric appliance based on an instruction received via the server, wherein

the mobile terminal is configured to transmit an instruction to the electric appliance, and

the server is configured to transmit, to the controller, the instruction received from the mobile terminal,

the method for controlling the control system comprising:

a step in which the controller transmits the instruction to the electric appliance, which is received from the server, to the electric appliance,

a step in which the controller judges whether connection with the server is continued, and

a step in which the controller is configured to, determine whether the connection with the server is discontinued, and when the connection is discontinued, obtain a current state of the electric appliance;

the controller is further configured to, when the current state is not a specific state of the electric appliance, transmits a control signal corresponding to the specific state to the electric appliance.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the instruction to the electric appliance located in a predetermined area is transmitted from the mobile terminal located outside of the predetermined area.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the electric appliance is a lighting equipment, and wherein the specific state of the electric appliance is providing a predetermined illumination level.