JP6775536B2 - A program, and a home appliance system having a program and an operation terminal having the program and a home appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a program and a home electric appliance system having the program, an operation terminal having the program, and a home electric appliance.

In recent years, home appliances such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, refrigerators, and air conditioners have become connectable to wide-area networks such as the Internet, and it is possible to acquire and operate home appliances information from outside the home. .. When operating a home electric appliance from an operation terminal such as a smartphone, it is conceivable that a certain type of operation cannot be accepted depending on the state of the home electric appliance or the like.

Patent Document 1 reduces the visibility of an invalid GUI for which an operation instruction is invalid.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-42654

Patent Document 1 cannot easily notify the user of the reason why the GUI is invalid.

In the present invention made in view of the above circumstances, an operation screen used for transmitting a command to a home electric appliance is displayed on an operation terminal, and the operation screen has an operation button corresponding to the command, and the operation button is displayed. A program that can switch between a pressable state and a non-pressable state, and the color of the operation button is different between the pressable state and the non-pressable state, and the operation button cannot be pressed. In some cases, an instruction to cause the operation terminal to execute at least two types of cause notification modes according to the cause of the inability to press, and to cause the home electric appliance to execute the operation button in response to pressing a certain operation button has an effect. It has an operation button to receive, and is characterized in that at least two kinds of influence notification modes are executed by the operation terminal together with the cause notification mode depending on the presence or absence of the influence .

Schematic diagram of the home appliance system of Example 1 It is an operation screen displayed by the program installed in the operation terminal in the house of the first embodiment, and is a screen when the home electric appliance is stopped. It is an operation screen displayed by a program installed in the operation terminal in the house of the first embodiment, and is a screen in the case where a function for notifying the user of the position of the home electric appliance is being exhibited for the home electric appliance. It is an operation screen displayed by a program installed in the operation terminal in the house of the first embodiment, and is a screen in the case where the function for intensively cleaning the surroundings of the home electric appliance is being exhibited. It is an operation screen displayed by a program installed in the operation terminal in the house of the first embodiment, and is a screen in the case where a function for autonomously driving a home electric appliance toward a specific point is being expressed. Block diagram showing the exchange of information between the operation terminal and the home electric appliance of the first embodiment

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a home electric appliance system of this embodiment. The home appliance system is composed of a wide area network 2, operation terminals 3, 5, a wireless LAN router 4, and a home appliance 6.

[Operation terminals 3, 5]
The operation terminals 3 and 5 are preferably portable terminals owned by each user of the home electric appliance 6, for example. The operation terminals 3 and 5 are devices capable of communicating with the home electric appliance 6 by using the wide area network protocol and the wireless communication protocol. In the case of communication using the wireless communication protocol, it is possible to communicate with the home electric appliance 6 via the wireless LAN router 4.

In this embodiment, among the operation terminals 3 and 5, the terminal not within the wireless communication range with the wireless LAN router 4 is referred to as the first operation terminal 3, and the terminal within the wireless communication range is referred to as the second operation terminal 5. Further, for convenience, the area within the communication range with the wireless LAN router 4 is referred to as "inside the house", and the area outside the communication range is referred to as "outside the house".

[Wireless LAN router 4]
The wireless LAN router 4 uses the wide area network protocol and the wireless communication protocol to transfer the information transmitted to the wireless LAN router 4 to other devices (operation terminals 3, 5 and home appliances 6) as the transmission destination. It is a device to do.

[Home appliances 6]
The home electric appliance 6 is a device capable of communicating with the operation terminals 3 and 5 via communication with the wireless LAN router 4 using the wireless communication protocol. Examples of the home electric appliance 6 include a vacuum cleaner, a washing machine, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, and the like, but the present invention is not particularly limited.

The home electric appliance 6 is started, driven, and terminated, and reserved and driven by operating the switches or buttons arranged on the home electric appliance 6 and operating from the operation terminals 3 and 5 via communication. It is possible to accept requests (commands) such as adjustment of the operation inside.

The home electric appliance 6 includes a transmission / reception unit 61, a determination unit 63 for determining whether or not each button on the operation screen can be pressed, which will be described later, and a processing unit 62 for interpreting and executing a request.

The transmission / reception unit 61 receives a request (command) from the operation terminals 3 and 5 and information unique to the operation terminals 3 and 5 (operation terminal information), and also responds with a determination result of the determination unit 63 and a processing result of the processing unit 62. Is transmitted to the operation terminals 3 and 5.

The processing unit 62 interprets the request and causes the home electric appliance 6 to execute the process corresponding to the request. For example, if the request is to drive the home appliance 6, the home appliance 6 is driven accordingly. In addition, it is possible to comply with various requests such as imaging by an imaging unit attached to the home electric appliance 6 and replying to imaging data.

The transmission / reception unit 61 is, for example, a wireless communication board, and the determination unit 63 and the processing unit 62 can be configured by, for example, a processor.

[Commands from operating terminals 3 and 5]
Programs (applications) that enable commands to the home appliances 6 are installed in the operation terminals 3 and 5. The application is configured so that when a command is to be given to the home appliance 6 from outside the home, the command is sent using the wide area network protocol, and when a command is to be given from inside the home, the wireless LAN is used by the wireless communication protocol. The instruction is configured to be sent via the router 4. However, if you are in your house, you can switch to communication using the wide area network protocol at your option.

FIG. 2 is an operation screen displayed by a program installed on the operation terminal 5 in the house of the present embodiment, and is a screen when the home electric appliance 6 is stopped. Buttons that can send commands in response to pressing are displayed on the operation screen. The determination unit 63 of this embodiment determines the state of the home electric appliance 6 (for example, the execution state of an instruction or the position of the home electric appliance 6) and the positions of the operation terminals 3 and 5 (for example, in the house or at home using the protocol used). It is possible to acquire information about (which can be determined to be outside), determine whether each operation button can be pressed / disabled, and change the display of the operation screen for the operation terminals 3 and 5.
For example, start reservation, start command, end reservation, end command, automatic (autonomous) drive command, manual drive command, browsing of information such as reservation status of home electric appliance 6 can be mentioned as an example of the command. .. Of these, for example, manual drive commands (for example, commands such as moving forward or jumping from the current position) have a high degree of freedom by the commander, so from the viewpoint of security, they can only be enabled when commands from the house (home mode). You may. Further, for example, the information may be viewed only from inside the house and outside the house, and the request regarding the operation of the home electric appliance 6 may be accepted only from inside the house. As described above, depending on the type of instruction, by enabling execution only in the home mode, it is possible to reduce the risk that a person other than the user of the home electric appliance 6 illegally executes the instruction. This setting may be changed when the operation terminals 3 and 5 are in the house, or may be changed by operating a switch or the like arranged on the home electric appliance 6.

[Command button]
Various buttons are displayed on the operation screen described later. These buttons will be described in advance.
The start / stop button 81 is displayed so that it can be pressed regardless of whether the operation terminals 3 and 5 are inside or outside the house. When the start / stop button 81 is pressed, a command for autonomously driving (cleaning) the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is transmitted. When this command reaches the transmission / reception unit 61, the processing unit 62 starts cleaning by autonomous drive, which is the content of the command. Even when the other buttons are pressed, the flow from the command reception of the transmission / reception unit 61 to the execution of the processing unit 62 is the same. The start / stop button 81 switches to the “stop” display while the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is in operation, and by pressing the start / stop button 81 again, the operation of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is stopped. Further, even while the command by the home button 82 or the spot button 85 is being executed, the display is switched to "stop", and if the start / stop button 81 is pressed during this period, the command is canceled and the command is stopped.

The home button 82 is displayed so that it can be pressed regardless of whether the operation terminals 3 and 5 are inside or outside the house. When the home button 82 is pressed, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner starts autonomous driving to return to a place set as a home in advance, for example, a charging stand. In this embodiment, the vehicle searches for a signal emitted by the charging stand and travels by following this signal to connect to the charging stand. It should be noted that a plurality of homes and places that can be set may be registered so that which place can be set as the home can be selected when sending a command by the home button. The home button 82 becomes inoperable when a self-propelled vacuum cleaner is connected to the charging stand. Whether or not you are at home can be displayed on the status display unit 121, which will be described later.

The move button 83 is displayed so that it can be pressed on the second operation terminal 5 located inside the house, and cannot be pressed on the first operation terminal 3 located outside the house. Of the move buttons 83, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner starts moving forward when the forward button 831 is pressed, starts rotating clockwise when the right rotation button 832 is pressed, and starts retreating when the back button 833 is pressed, and left. When the rotation button 834 is pressed, counterclockwise rotation is started. Since it is desirable that the move button 83 be operated in a state where the user can confirm the position and state of the self-propelled vacuum cleaner, the move button 83 can be operated only in the house (second operation terminal 5). The slightly back button 833 is a function of returning to the immediately preceding position (for example, one main body) with respect to the self-propelled vacuum cleaner in operation. Even in the house, it can be operated only while the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is in operation.

The search button 84 is displayed so that it can be pressed on the second operation terminal 5 located inside the house, and cannot be pressed on the first operation terminal 3 located outside the house. When the search button 84 is pressed, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner emits sound or light.

[Operation screen]
Various buttons and the like displayed on the operation screen can be virtual buttons displayed on, for example, a touch panel of the operation terminals 3 and 5. For convenience, pressing the buttons is expressed as having the operation terminals 3, 5 and the like process the functions and commands corresponding to the buttons by touching these virtual buttons so that the home appliances 6 are transmitted. In this embodiment, the button in the pressable state is displayed in a relatively dark color as illustrated by the home button 82 in FIG. 2, and the button in the non-pressable state is displayed in the slightly back button 833 in FIG. It is displayed in a relatively light color as illustrated in. That is, whether the pressable state or the non-pressable state is displayed in a visually distinguishable manner. In the following, a known self-propelled vacuum cleaner will be set as an example of the home electric appliance 6.

On the operation screen, the start / stop button 81, the home button 82, the forward button 831, the right rotation button 832, the slightly back button 833, and the left rotation button 834 are the move button 83, and the search button 84 and the spot button. 85, is displayed. The actions and functions transmitted by pressing each button and executed by the home appliance 6 will be described later, but the actions and functions realized by a part of the buttons are such that the user is near the home appliance 6 and the actions and functions are realized. It is preferable that the operation is performed in a state in which the operation can be perceived (the operation or function realized by the type 1 command).

It is preferable that the operation or function is performed in a state in which it can be perceived, for example, in an environment in which the home electric appliance 6 can be perceived (for example, in an environment in which manual operation can be visually recognized). It is preferable that the home electric appliance 6 is in a specific position or situation when the home appliance 6 exerts its operation or function. ..

In addition, as other operations and functions (that is, operations and functions realized by the Type 2 command), for example, the home electric appliance 6 is allowed to move around autonomously, or a predetermined destination (for example, charging). Those that autonomously move to search for a stand), those that specify such an autonomous drive mode and course, and those that output the state of the home electric appliance 6 in a manner that can be output by the operation terminals 3 and 5. ..

Examples of the buttons corresponding to the operation and function of the first type command of this embodiment include a move button 83, a search button 84, and a spot button 85, which cannot be pressed by the first operation terminal 3 outside the home. Is displayed. At this time, there is nothing newly displayed (color, etc.) around the button that is displayed as unpressable. That is, in this embodiment, when the cause of the inability to press a certain button is the position (protocol) of the operating terminal, no particular display is made (first cause notification mode).
In addition, buttons corresponding to non-perceptual (type 2) movements and functions are displayed so that they can be pressed regardless of whether they are inside or outside the house.

FIG. 3A is an operation screen displayed by a program installed on the operation terminal 5 in the house of this embodiment, and provides a function for notifying the user of the position of the home appliance 6 with respect to the home appliance 6. This is the screen when it is being expressed. A self-propelled vacuum cleaner can be driven autonomously for cleaning, but it may get stuck in a gap in furniture during driving. In this case, the user may not be able to find where the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is located. However, pressing the search button 84 makes it easier for the user in the house to find where the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is.

When the search button 84 of this embodiment is pressed, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner continues to emit sound from the mounted speaker. The time for emitting the sound may be a predetermined length or may be set by the user. While the search button 84 is making a sound, the search button 84 corresponding to the command being executed is disabled, and the peripheral edge of the search button 84, for example, lights up or blinks in the first color C1 (for example, green). (Second cause notification mode).

FIG. 3B is an operation screen displayed by a program installed on the operation terminal 5 in the house of the present embodiment, and provides a function for intensively cleaning the surroundings of the home appliance 6 with respect to the home appliance 6. This is the screen when it is being expressed. The spot button 85 is displayed so that it can be pressed on the second operation terminal 5 located inside the house, and cannot be pressed on the first operation terminal 3 located outside the house. When the spot button 85 is pressed, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner intensively cleans the vicinity of the current position. Until the execution of this intensive cleaning operation is completed, the spot button 85 corresponding to the command being executed cannot be pressed, and for example, the periphery of the spot button 85 lights or blinks in the first color C1 (second). Cause notification mode).

In the situation of FIG. 3A, the home button 82, the move button 83, and the spot button 85 are all unaffected by the command being executed (search button 84). That is, even if the home button 82, the move button 83, and the spot button 85 are pressed in a situation where the command by the search button 84 is executed, the same command as in the situation where the command by the search button 84 is not executed is executed. .. Such a button is not particularly displayed in this embodiment (first influence notification mode).

In the situation of FIG. 3B, the move button 83 that should be able to be pressed is disabled due to the execution of the instruction of the spot button 85. That is, the move button 83 cannot be pressed when the command by the spot button 85 is executed (the command cannot be transmitted), and can be pressed when the command by the spot button 85 is not executed. In this way, the move button is affected by the fact that the spot button 85 changes whether it can be pressed or not. As described above, in the present embodiment, it is shown that whether or not a certain button can be pressed is influenced by another button, for example, by lighting or blinking the peripheral edge in the second color C2 (second). Impact notification mode). The second color C2 may be the same color as the first color C1 or may be a different color.

FIG. 3C is an operation screen displayed by a program installed on the operation terminal 5 in the house of the present embodiment, and exhibits a function for autonomously driving the home electric appliance 6 toward a specific point. This is the screen when you are in the middle of doing so. While the self-propelled vacuum cleaner is autonomously traveling to return to the charging stand, for example, by pressing the home button 82, the home button 82 cannot be pressed and the periphery of the home button 82 lights up or blinks in the first color C1. (First cause notification mode).

In the situation of FIG. 3C, the self-propelled vacuum cleaner of this embodiment accepts the command by the move button 83, but returns to the command execution by the home button 82 as soon as the command is completed (again, at a specific point). aim). That is, the move button 83 temporarily gives priority to the command of the home button 82 when the command of the home button 82 is being executed. As described above, in the present embodiment, the button for transmitting a priority command to the command by a certain button is shown by, for example, lighting or blinking the peripheral edge with the third color C3 (third influence notification mode). The third color C3 may be the same as or different from each of the first color C1 and the second color C2. If the colors are the same, the user interface can be simple and give the user a clean impression. Different colors (at least multiple colors) can give the user a wealth of information.

[Instruction processing of operation terminals and home appliances 6]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing information exchange between the operation terminal and the home electric appliance of this embodiment. The wireless LAN router 4 illustrated in FIG. 1 is originally arranged between the communication unit 105 and the transmission / reception unit 61, but is omitted here.

The operation terminals 3 and 5 include a touch sensor unit 101 that recognizes a pressed button on the operation screen, an operation determination unit 102 that recognizes a command corresponding to the pressed button, and a home appliance 6 that transmits the recognized command. A communication unit 105 that receives the status of the product 6, and a display status management unit 103 that manages whether or not each button can be pressed, and whether or not to execute cause notification or impact notification based on the received status of the home electric appliance 6. It has a display control unit 104 that controls the display of the operation screen according to the management of the display state management unit 103. The operation screen is displayed on a screen such as a touch panel of the operation terminals 3 and 5.

The home electric appliance 6 has a determination unit 63 that determines a state such as execution of its own command and a determination from the operation terminals 3 and 5, a processing unit 62 that causes the home electric appliance 6 to execute a command acquired through the determination unit 63, and a home appliance. The product 6 has a transmission / reception unit 61 that transmits the state of the home electric appliance 6 to the operation terminals 3 and 5 based on an execution command or the like. The determination unit 63 can distinguish what kind of instruction the home electric appliance 6 is executing and whether or not the instruction is being executed. In addition, the determination unit 63 can determine the protocol used by the operation terminals 3 and 5. Therefore, as described above, the type of instruction executed by the home electric appliance 6, whether or not the instruction is being executed, and the positions of the operation terminals 3 and 5 are recognized, and whether or not the operation button can be pressed is set according to these. It is determined which of the cause notification mode and the influence notification mode should be used.

2 Wide area network 3 1st operation terminal 4 Wireless LAN router 5 2nd operation terminal 6 Home appliances (self-propelled vacuum cleaner)
61 Transmission / reception unit 62 Processing unit 63 Judgment unit

Claims (5)

Display the operation screen used to send commands to home appliances on the operation terminal,
The operation screen has operation buttons corresponding to commands, and has operation buttons.
A program that can switch the operation button between a pressable state and a non-pressable state.
The color of the operation button differs between the pressable state and the non-pressable state.
When the operation button is in a non-pressable state, the operation terminal is made to execute at least two types of cause notification modes according to the cause of the non-pressable state.
As the operation button, there is an operation button in which a command to be executed by the home electric appliance is affected in response to the pressing of a certain operation button.
A program characterized in that at least two types of influence notification modes are executed by the operation terminal together with the cause notification mode depending on the presence or absence of the influence. As the effect notification mode, a second effect notification mode for notifying that the propriety of the command is changing and a third effect notification mode for notifying that the command currently being executed by the home electric appliance is prioritized. The program according to claim 1, wherein the effect notification mode is executed. The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein substantially the same color is displayed and notified for each type of the effect notification mode . The program according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a different color is displayed and notified for each type of the influence notification mode . The program according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and
The operation terminal on which the program is installed and
A home appliance system including a home appliance that communicates with the operation terminal.

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