Edge device linking system, edge device linking method, and recording medium

An adapter device includes a device information manager to manage device information with respect to an electrical device, and a service provider to manage service information and provide the service based on service information. The service information indicates content of the service and includes action information indicating an operation of an electrical device and event information indicating a condition for executing the operation indicated by the action information. An adapter device includes a controller to control the operation of the electrical device. Upon determining that the device information with respect to the electrical device satisfies the condition indicated by the event information, the service provider causes the controller to control the electrical device to perform the operation indicated by the action information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a U.S. national stage application of International Patent Application No. PCT/JP2019/044899 filed on Nov. 15, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an edge device linking system, an edge device linking method, and a program.

BACKGROUND

Recent proliferation of Internet-of-Things (IoT) techniques provides connection of various electrical devices to a cloud server. The cloud server has an IoT platform built for providing services relating to the electrical devices, and communication of the electrical devices with a server apparatus included in the cloud server enables a user to use various services provided by the IoT platform.

To use the services provided by the IoT platform, the electrical devices generally connect to an edge device having a communication function. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a configuration that connects an electrical device to an adapter device having a communication function in order to communicate with a server apparatus where the IoT platform is built.

PATENT LITERATURE

Patent Literature 1: Unexamined Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-81937

However, when a user uses the services by communication of the electrical device to the server apparatus as described above, various problems may arise, such as loss of communication between the electrical device and the server apparatus, occurrence of delay in providing the services, or the like.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is made in consideration of the above circumstances, and thus an objective of the present disclosure is to provide an edge device linking system, an edge device linking method, and a program capable of providing a service relating to electrical devices by linking between edge devices without performing communication with a server apparatus.

To achieve the above objective, an edge device linking system according to the present disclosure includesa first edge device to be connected to a first electrical device;a second edge device to be connected to a second electrical device; anda server apparatus to provide a service relating to the first electrical device and the second electrical device, whereinthe first edge device, the second edge device, and the server apparatus are communicatively connected to one another,the first edge device includesdevice information management means for managing device information with respect to the first electrical device, andfirst service provision means for managing service information and providing the service based on the service information, the service information indicating content of the service and including action information indicating an operation of the second electrical device and event information indicating a condition for executing the operation indicated by the action information,the second edge device includes control means for controlling the operation of the second electrical device, andwhen the first service provision means of the first edge device determines that the device information with respect to the first electrical device satisfies the condition indicated by the event information, the first service provision means of the first edge device causes the control means of the second edge device to control the second electrical device to perform the operation indicated by the action information.

The present disclosure provides an edge device linking system, an edge device linking method, and a program capable of providing a service relating to electrical devices by linking of edge devices without performing communication with a server apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

An edge device linking system according to Embodiment 1 is a system capable of providing services relating to electrical devices by linking of edge devices without performing communication with a server apparatus. The edge device is a device that has communication functions of transmitting information of the electrical devices to the server apparatus and receiving information from the server apparatus. In the present embodiment, the edge device is assumed to be an adapter device dedicated for an electrical device, for communicating with the server apparatus.

As illustrated inFIG.1, the edge device linking system1includes a server apparatus100that provides a service, and adapter devices200-1, . . . ,200-m,200-nconnected to electrical devices300-1, . . . ,300-m,300-ninstalled in a property, where m and n are natural numbers not less than2. The property is, for example, a residence or an office building. The adapter devices200-1, . . . ,200-mand the electrical devices300-1, . . . ,300-mare installed in a property, and the adapter devices200-1, . . . ,200-nand the electrical devices300-1, . . . ,300-nare installed in a property2. The adapter devices200-1, . . . ,200-m,200-nare collectively hereinafter referred to as an adapter device200except where a specific adapter device is described. Similarly, the electrical devices300-1, . . . ,300-m,300-nare collectively hereinafter referred to as an electrical device300except where a specific electrical device is described.

The server apparatus100is typically a cloud server and provides an IoT platform. The IoT platform collects information from the electrical device300and provides services relating to the electrical device300. Here, the services include a service of enabling an operation of the electrical device300through a terminal device400, a service of automatic control of the electrical device300, and a service of automatic control of a plurality of electrical devices300by linking of a plurality of edge devices.

The adapter device200is a device for connecting the electrical device300installed in the property to the server apparatus100where the IoT platform is built. The adapter device200is externally attached to the electrical device300, and transmits and receives information by wired or wireless communication between the adapter device200and the electrical device300. The adapter device200includes a part of functions that the server apparatus100has, as described later. This can provide, without intervention of the server apparatus100, a service of operation of the electrical device300through the terminal device400, a service of automatic control of the electrical device300, and the like.

The electrical device300is a device installed in a residence, such as an air conditioner, a water heater, a bathroom dehumidifier, a dressing room cooler/heater, an induction heating (IH) cooker, a bathroom cooler/heater, a lighting device, a refrigerator, a television, a floor cooling/heating system, and the like. The electrical device300includes a device installed on the premises of the residence.

The terminal device400is a device used by a user who receives services provided by the server apparatus100. The terminal device400is a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and the like. The terminal device400has an application installed therein to use functions and services provided by the server apparatus100.

The network500is a wireless or wired communication network, such as the Internet, an intranet, an extranet, a local area network (LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), a telephone network, and the like.

A hardware configuration of the server apparatus100is described with reference toFIG.2. The server apparatus100includes a processor11that executes processing to realize the services provided by the IoT platform, a main storage12that is used as a work area for the processor11, and an auxiliary storage13that stores various types of data to be used for processing by the processor11, a communicator14for communication with an external device, and a real time clock (RTC)15that keeps time. The main storage12, the auxiliary storage13, the communicator14, and the RTC15are all connected to the processor11via a bus16.

The processor11includes a central processing unit (CPU). The processor11achieves various functions of the server apparatus100by executing a program stored in the auxiliary storage13.

The main storage12includes a random access memory (RAM). The program is loaded from the auxiliary storage13into the main storage12. The main storage12is then used as a work area for the processor11.

The auxiliary storage13includes a non-volatile memory such as an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). In addition to the program, the auxiliary storage13stores various types of data for use in processing by the processor11. The auxiliary storage13supplies data to be used by the processor11to the processor11in accordance with the instructions of the processor11and stores the data supplied by the processor11.

The communicator14includes a network interface circuit for communicating with the external device. The communicator14receives a signal from the external device and outputs data indicated by the signal to the processor11. The communicator14also transmits a signal indicating the data output by the processor11to the external device.

The RTC15is a timekeeping device including an oscillator circuit using a quartz oscillator. For example, the RTC15has a built-in battery to continue the keeping of time even when the server apparatus100is powered off.

Next, a hardware configuration of the adapter device200is described with reference toFIG.3. The hardware configuration of the adapter device200is the same as the hardware configuration of the gateway device600of Embodiment 2, which is described later, and thusFIG.3also illustrates a hardware configuration of the gateway device600.

The adapter device200includes a processor21that performs processing to provide services relating to the electrical device300, a main storage22for use as a work area for the processor21, an auxiliary storage23that stores various types of data for use in processing by the processor21, a wide-area communicator24for communicating with an external device, a local communicator25for communication with the electrical device300installed in the residence, and an RTC26that keeps time. The main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, the wide-area communicator24, the local communicator25, and the RTC26are all connected to the processor21via a bus27.

The processor21, the main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, and the RTC26have the same functions as those of the processor11, the main storage12, the auxiliary storage13, and the RTC15, respectively.

The wide-area communicator24includes a network interface circuit for communicating with the external devices, such as the server apparatus100, the terminal device400, or the like. The wide-area communicator24receives a signal from the external device and outputs the data indicated by the signal to the processor21. The wide-area communicator24also transmits a signal indicating the data output by the processor21to the external device.

The local communicator25includes a network interface circuit for communicating with the electrical device300. The local communicator25receives a signal from the electrical device300and outputs the data indicated by the signal to the processor21. The local communicator25also transmits a signal indicating the data output from the processor21to the electrical device300.

Next, functions of the server apparatus100are described with reference toFIG.4. The server apparatus100functionally includes a device information manager101that manages device information relating to the electrical device300, a service provider102that manages service information, a controller103that controls the electrical device300via the adapter device200, a user information manager104that manages user information relating to the user, a property information manager105that manages property information of the property where the electrical device300is installed, an operation and maintenance executor106that operates and maintains the edge device linking system1based on an instruction by an administrator, and an analysis data storage107that stores data for analysis in the edge device linking system1.

The device information manager101manages device information with respect to the electrical device300. Specifically, the device information manager101receives an operation instruction for the electrical device300from the terminal device400, sends the received instruction to the controller103, and registers the device information based on the information received from the controller103. The device information manager101is achieved by cooperation of the processor11, the main storage12, the auxiliary storage13, and the communicator14.

The device information is information that includes information to identify the device, setting values, such as the operation mode, set temperature, and the like of the electrical device300, and measurement values measured by the electrical device300. An example of the device information is illustrated inFIG.5.

The table inFIG.5includes information with respect to the electrical devices300installed in properties. The table inFIG.5includes, in association with one another, an electrical device ID to identify the electrical device300, a device name of the electrical device300, an adapter device ID to identify the adapter device200that is connected to the electrical device300, a property ID to identify a property where the electrical device300is installed, a registration date and time when a measurement value and a setting value are registered, the measurement value obtained by measurement by the electrical device300, and the setting value set to which the electrical device300is set. The measurement value, the setting value, and the registration date and time are updated each time the information with respect to the measurement value and the setting value are received from the controller103.

The record in the first row of the table inFIG.5indicates that the electrical device with the electrical device ID “1-1” has the device name “water heater” and is connected to the adapter device with the adapter device ID “1-1”, and is installed in a property indicated by the property ID “1”; and the measurement value and the setting value are registered at “19:00:00 on Dec. 1, 2019”, the measurement value, that is, the current hot water supply temperature, is “30° C.”, and the setting value, that is, the set hot water supply temperature, is “40° C.”.

The service provider102ofFIG.4manages execution of the services provided by the server apparatus100. Specifically, the service provider102receives a request for registration of a service from the terminal device400and registers content of the service as service information. The service provider102determines, based on the service information, whether or not to operate the electrical device300. The service provider102is achieved by cooperation of the processor11, the main storage12, the auxiliary storage13, and the communicator14. The service provider102is an example of second service provision means.

The service information is information including information with respect to the property for which the service is to be performed and the content of the service. The content of the service includes action information indicating the operation of the electrical device300and event information indicating a condition under which the operation is to be performed. The service provider102determines whether the value indicated by the device information satisfies the condition indicated by the event information, and when determination is made that the value indicated by the device information satisfies the condition, provides an instruction to make the electrical device300perform the operation indicated by the action information. An example of the service information is illustrated inFIG.6.

In the table inFIG.6, a service ID to identify the service, a service name, a property ID to identify the property for which the service is provided, event information, and action information are registered in association with one another. The event information includes the electrical device ID and condition information, and the action information includes the electrical device ID and operation information. When a state of the electrical device indicated by the electrical device ID in the event information satisfies the content of the condition information, the service provider102sends to the controller103an instruction to cause the electrical device indicated by the electrical device ID in the action information to perform the operation indicated by the operation information.

The record in the first row of the table inFIG.6shows that the service ID “1-1” indicates a service to “link a water heater and a bathroom dehumidifier”, and this service is a service performed in the property with the property ID “1”, and when the operation mode of the electrical device indicated by the electrical device ID “1-1”, that is, the water heater, turns into “hot water supply”, the electrical device indicated by ID “1-2”, that is, the bathroom humidifier, is caused to operate in the operation mode “heating”, and the setting temperature is set to “20° C.”.

The service that is “link between water heater and bathroom dryer” with the service ID “1-1” inFIG.6is a service that causes the bathroom dehumidifier to operate in a heating operation when water heating of the water heater starts, which helps prevent thermal shock. The service that is “link between air conditioner and bathroom cooler/heater” with the service ID “2-1” is a service that causes the bathroom cooler/heater to operate in a heating operation when a difference between the living room temperature measured by the air conditioner and the bathroom temperature measured by the bathroom heater/cooler exceeds a threshold, which also helps prevent thermal shock. The service that is “link between air conditioner and IH cooker” with the service ID “1-2” is a service of turning off the power of the IH cooker upon the air conditioner detecting the onset of sleep of the user using information obtained from an infrared sensor, which helps prevent the user from forgetting to turn off the IH cooker.

The service provider102also determines whether the service indicated in the service information can be provided by the edge device such as the adapter device200. Whether or not the service can be provided by the edge device is determined based on the relationship between the edge devices. For example, as for a service that links multiple electrical devices, determination is made that provision of the service by the adapter device200is achievable in a case where the adapter device of one electrical device can control the adapter device of another electrical device, multiple electrical devices are connected to the same adapter device, multiple electrical devices are connected to the same gateway device, or the like. Upon determining that the service can be provided by the adapter device200, the service provider102causes a later-described service provider202of the adapter device200to register the service information.

The controller103ofFIG.4controls the operation of the electrical device300via the adapter device200. Specifically, the controller103receives the instruction to operate the electrical device300from various components of the server apparatus100and transmits the instruction to the adapter device200. The controller103periodically collects data, such as measurement values and setting values, from the electrical device300via the adapter device200. The controller103is achieved by cooperation of the processor11and the communicator14.

The term “periodically collects” refers to the fact that the controller103repeatedly collects data from the electrical device300, and the intervals at which the data is collected are not limited to fixed intervals. The interval can be arbitrarily set by an administrator of the edge device linking system1. The interval may be set in accordance with a predetermined rule or may be set to an irregular value.

The user information manager104ofFIG.4manages user information about a user who uses the electrical device300. Specifically, the user information manager104receives registration of the user information from the terminal device400and registers the received information. The user information manager104is achieved by cooperation of the processor11, the main storage12, the auxiliary storage13, and the communicator14. An example of the user information is illustrated inFIG.7.

In the table inFIG.7, a user ID to identify a user, a user name, an e-mail address, gender, and an address are registered in association with one another.

The record in the first row of the table inFIG.7indicates that the name of the user with the user ID “1” is “Jane Smith”, the email address is “aaa@aaa.com”, the gender is “female”, and the address is “1-1-1, xx, A, Tokyo”.

The property information manager105ofFIG.4manages property information about the property where the electrical device300is installed. Specifically, the property information manager105receives registration of the property information from the terminal device400and registers the received information. The property information manager105is achieved by cooperation of the processor11, the main storage12, the auxiliary storage13, and the communicator14. An example of the property information is illustrated inFIG.8.

In the table ofFIG.8, a property ID to identify a property, a property name, an address, and a user ID to identify a user who is a user of the electrical device300installed in the property are registered in association with one another.

The record in the first row of the table inFIG.8indicates that the property name of the property ID “1” is “home,” the address is “1-1-1, xx, A, Tokyo”, and the user of the electrical device300installed in the property is the user with the user ID “1”.

The operation and maintenance executor106ofFIG.4operates and maintains the edge device linking system1based on an instruction of the administrator of the edge device linking system1. The operation and maintenance executor106accesses the device information manager101, the user information manager104, and the property information manager105, and acquires and rewrites information. The operation and maintenance executor106is achieved by cooperation of the processor11and the communicator14.

The analysis data storage107ofFIG.4collects and stores data about the electrical device300via the controller103. The analysis data storage107provides the stored data based on the instructions of the administrator of the edge device linking system1, a person who has received a license to use the data, or the like. The analysis data storage107is achieved by cooperation of the processor11, the main storage12, the auxiliary storage13, and the communicator14.

Next, functions of the adapter device200are described with reference toFIG.9. The adapter device200includes some of the functions of the server apparatus100. Specifically, the adapter device200includes a device information manager201, a service provider202, and a controller203.

The device information manager201manages device information with respect to the electrical devices300connected to the adapter device200. Specifically, the device information manager201receives an instruction for operation of the electrical device300from the terminal device400, sends the received instruction to the controller203, and registers the device information based on the information received from the controller203. The device information manager201is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, and the wide-area communicator24. The device information manager201is an example of device information management means.

The device information managed by the device information manager201has the same items as the items included in the table inFIG.5, but only includes information with respect to the electrical device300connected to the adapter device200. Here, the connected electrical device300includes both a physically connected electrical device and a logically connected electrical device. For example, in a case where the adapter device200is an adapter device externally attached to the water heater with the electrical device ID “1-1,” the device information managed by the device information manager201of the adapter device200includes only the device information associated with the electrical device ID “1-1” in the table inFIG.5.

The service provider202ofFIG.9manages execution of services. Specifically, the service provider202receives from the server apparatus100an instruction to register a service, and registers content of the service as service information. The service provider202determines, based on the service information, whether or not to allow operation of the electrical device300. The service provider202is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, and the wide-area communicator24. The service provider202is an example of first service provision means and service provision means.

The service information managed by the service provider202has the same items as the items included in the table inFIG.6, but only includes information with respect to the service directed to the electrical device300connected to the adapter device200. For example, in a case where the adapter device200is an adapter device externally attached to the water heater with the electrical device ID “1-1,” the service information managed by the service provider202includes only the service information associated with the electrical device ID “1-1” included in the event information in the table inFIG.6.

The controller203ofFIG.9controls operation of the electrical device300connected to the adapter device200. Specifically, the controller203receives an instruction for operation of the electrical device300from the device information manager201and the service provider202, and transmits the instruction to the electrical device300. The controller203receives an instruction for operation of the electrical device300from the controller103of the server apparatus100and transmits the instruction to the electrical device300. The controller203periodically collects data, such as measurement values and setting values, from the electrical device300. The controller203is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the wide-area communicator24, and the local communicator25. The controller203is an example of control means.

An application programming interface (API) for transmitting and receiving information between the server apparatus100ofFIG.4and an external device such as the terminal device400is the same as that of the API for transmitting and receiving information between the adapter device200ofFIG.9and the external device.

Next, operation of the edge device linking system1of the present embodiment is described.FIGS.10to13are sequence diagrams illustrating flows of processing performed among the server apparatus100, the adapter device200, the electrical device300, and the terminal device400when services are provided in the edge device linking system1.

FIGS.10and11are sequence diagrams illustrating flows of processing relating to a service that enables device operation relative to an electrical device300by a terminal device400.FIGS.12and13are sequence diagrams illustrating flows of processing relating to a service for automatically controlling a plurality of electrical devices300.

First,FIGS.10and11are described. The sequence diagram inFIG.10illustrates a case where the user is located outside the property and operates the electrical device300installed inside the property from outside. The sequence diagram inFIG.11illustrates a case where the user is located inside the property and operates the electrical device300from inside the property. Here, the property is referred to as a house, and a mode of operation in which the electrical device300inside the property is operated from outside is referred to as an “outdoor mode”, and a mode of operation in which the electrical device300is operated from inside the property is referred to as an “indoor mode”. The user of the terminal device400sets in advance in which mode, the outdoor mode or the indoor mode, the electrical device300is to be operated.

The process flow of device operation in the outdoor mode ofFIG.10is described.

When a user issues an instruction for the operation of the electrical device300using an application of the terminal device400, the terminal device400transmits an operation instruction to the device information manager101of the server apparatus100(step S101). The operation instruction includes, for example, the electrical device ID and the setting value of the electrical device300. Upon receiving the operation instruction, the device information manager101of the server apparatus100sends to the controller103a setting request to set the setting value of the electrical device300(step S102). The device information manager101also transmits to the terminal device400information indicating the operation date and time when the operation instruction is received (step S103). The controller103sends the setting request to the controller203of the adapter device200connected to the electrical device300relating to the setting request (step S104).

The controller203of the adapter device200sends an instruction to the device information manager201to change the setting value in the device information to the setting value included in the setting request (step S105). The device information manager201updates the information of the setting value in the device information and sends a setting request to the controller203(step S106). The controller203sends the setting request to the electrical device300connected to the adapter device200(step S107). Upon receiving from the electrical device300a setting response indicating that the setting to the setting value relating to the setting request has been completed (step S108), the controller203transmits to the electrical device300an information request for requesting information with respect to the measurement value measured by the electrical device300(step S109). Upon receiving from the electrical device300an information response that includes information with respect to the measurement values (step S110), the controller203sends to the device information manager201an instruction to change the measurement value in the device information to the measurement value included in the information response (step S111), and the device information manager201updates the device information. The controller203also sends to the controller103of the server apparatus100a setting response indicating that the setting is completed (step S112). This setting response includes the measurement value received in step S110.

Upon receiving the setting response, the controller103of the server apparatus100sends to the device information manager101an instruction to change the measurement value in the device information to the measurement value included in the setting response (step S113), and the device information manager101updates the device information.

The terminal device400periodically transmits to the device information manager101of the server apparatus100an acquisition request to acquire the operation result (step S114), and the device information manager101transmits, as a response to the acquisition request, the device information obtained at the time of receiving the acquisition request (step S115). When the terminal device400transmits an acquisition request after the device information is updated (step S116), the device information manager101transmits the updated device information to the terminal device400(step S117). The terminal device400notifies the user of the received device information by displaying the device information on the screen.

Next, the process flow of device operation in the indoor mode ofFIG.11is described.

When the user issues an instruction for the operation of the electrical device300using an application of the terminal device400, the terminal device400transmits an operation instruction to the device information manager201of the adapter device200(step S201). Upon receiving the operation instruction, the device information manager201of the adapter device200sends to the controller203a setting request to set the setting value of the electrical device300(step S202). The device information manager201of the adapter device200transmits to the terminal device400information indicating the operation date and time when the operation instruction is received (step S203).

The controller203of the adapter device200sends to the device information manager201an instruction to change the setting value of the device information to the setting value included in the setting request (step S204). The device information manager201updates the information on the setting value of the device information and sends a setting request to the controller203(step S205). The controller203transmits the setting request to the electrical device300connected to the adapter device200(step S206). Upon receiving from the electrical device300a setting response indicating that the setting to the setting value relating to the setting request has been completed (step S207), the controller203sends to the electrical device300an information request for requesting information with respect to the measurement value measured by the electrical device300(step S208). Upon receiving from the electrical device300an information response that includes information with respect to the measurement value (step S209), the controller203sends to the device information manager201an instruction to change the measurement value in the device information to the measurement value included in the information response (step S210), and the device information manager201updates the device information.

The terminal device400periodically transmits to the device information manager201of the adapter device200an acquisition request to acquire the operation results (step S211), and the device information manager201transmits, as a response to the acquisition request, the device information obtained at the time of receiving the acquisition request (step S212). When the terminal device400transmits an acquisition request after the device information is updated (step S213), the device information manager201transmits the updated device information to the terminal device400(step S214). The terminal device400notifies the user of the received device information by displaying the device information on the screen.

The controller203of the adapter device200transmits to the controller103of the server apparatus100a setting response indicating that the setting is completed (step S215). This setting response includes the setting value included in the operation instructions in step S201and the measurement value received in step S209. Upon receiving the setting response, the controller103of the server apparatus100sends to the device information manager101an instruction to change the setting value and the measurement value of the device information to the setting value and measurement value included in the setting response (step S216), and the device information manager101updates the device information.

Next,FIGS.12and13are described. The sequence diagrams ofFIGS.12and13illustrate cases where a user uses a service to automatically control a plurality of electrical devices300.FIG.12illustrates a case where the operation of the electrical devices300is controlled via the server apparatus100in this automatic control service, and this control mode is hereinafter referred to as “server-device-route mode”. The sequence diagram inFIG.13illustrates a case where the operation of the electrical devices300is controlled by linking of the adapter devices200in the above automatic control service, and this control mode is hereinafter referred to as “edge-device-linking mode”. The user of the terminal device400sets in advance in which mode, the server-device-route mode or the edge-device-linking mode, the service is to be used.

The flow of the automatic control process in the server-device-route mode ofFIG.12is described.

When a user issues an instruction for the registration of a service using an application of the terminal device400, the terminal device400transmits a request for registration of the service to the service provider102of the server apparatus100(step S301). The service provider102updates the service information based on the content of the service relating to the registration request and transmits notification of completion of the registration to the terminal device400(step S302).

On the other hand, the controller203of the adapter device200-1periodically transmits an information request for requesting information with respect to the measurement value measured by the electrical device300-1(step S303) and receives an information response including information with respect to the measurement value from the electrical device300-1(step S304). The periodic transmission of information request and reception of information responses are also performed between the adapter device200-2and the electrical device300-2, but these processes are omitted inFIG.12. The controller203of the adapter device200-1sends to the device information manager201an instruction to change the measurement value in the device information to the measurement value included in the information response (step S305), and the device information manager201updates the device information and notifies the controller203of the updated device information (step S306). The controller203transmits to the controller103of the server apparatus100the updated device information to notify the controller103of the updated device information (step S307).

The controller103of the server apparatus100sends to the device information manager101an instruction for updating to the received device information (step S308), and the device information manager101updates the device information. The device information manager101then sends to the service provider102a change notification indicating that the device information is changed (step S309). Upon receiving the notification of the change in the device information, the service provider102determines, with reference to the event information included in the service information, whether or not the state of the electrical device300-1satisfies the condition indicated by the event information (step S310). This determination is hereinafter referred to as “event determination”. Upon determining that the state of the electrical device300-1satisfies the condition indicated by the event information, the service provider102sends to the controller103an action execution instruction to cause the electrical device300indicated by the action information to perform the operation indicated by the action information (step S311).

Here, the electrical device300indicated by the action information is assumed to be the electrical device300-2. When the controller103receives the action execution instruction, the process from step S104to step S117of the device operation in the outdoor mode illustrated inFIG.10is performed among the server apparatus100, the adapter device200-2, the electrical device300-2, and the terminal device400(step S312). Specifically, the controller103transmits a setting request to the adapter device200-2connected to the electrical device300-2(step S104), and the processing of step S105and the subsequent steps is performed.

When the service provider102sends the action execution instruction to the controller103, the service provider102transmits to the terminal device400an execution notification that the action indicated in the action information has been executed (step S313).

For example, in an example case of a process to perform a service that is to “link between water heater and bathroom dehumidifier” indicated by the service ID “1-1” of the service information inFIG.6”, the electrical device300-1is considered to be a water heater and the electrical device300-2is considered to be a bathroom dehumidifier in the sequence diagram ofFIG.12. In step S304, when a response indicating start of water heating is transmitted from the water heater, processing of steps S305and S306is performed in the adapter device of the water heater, and the adapter device transmits to the server apparatus100a notification indicating start of the water supply (step S307). After the server apparatus100performs the processing of steps S308and S309, the service provider102makes an event determination (step S310) and sends to the controller103an action execution instruction to cause the bathroom dehumidifier to perform heating operation at the set temperature of 20° C. The controller103transmits a setting request to the adapter device of the bathroom dehumidifier, and the process of device operation in the outdoor mode is started (step S312).

Next, the process flow of automatic control in the edge-device-linking mode ofFIG.13is described. InFIG.13, the adapter device200-1is an example of a first edge device, the adapter device200-2is an example of a second edge device, the electrical device300-1is an example of a first electrical device, and the electrical device300-2is an example of a second electrical device.

The processing of steps S401and S402inFIG.13is the same as the processing of steps S301and S302inFIG.12. The service provider102determines whether or not the adapter device200can provide a registered service (step S403). For example, the content of the service is assumed to be the link between the electrical devices300-1and300-2, and that the service provider102is assumed to determine that the adapter device200-1of electrical device300-1can provide the service. In this case, the service provider102sends to the controller103a registration instruction to instruct the adapter device200-1to register the service (step S404), and the controller103transmits the registration instruction of the service to the controller203of the adapter device200-1(step S405). The registration instruction includes information with respect to the items indicated in the service information inFIG.6.

The controller203of the adapter device200-1sends the service registration instruction to the service provider202(step S406), and the service provider202registers the service in the service information managed by the adapter device200-1based on the information included in the registration instruction.

On the other hand, the controller203of the adapter device200-1periodically transmits an information request for requesting information with respect to the measurement value measured by the electrical device300-1(step S407) and receives an information response including information with respect to the measurement value from the electrical device300-1(step S408). The periodic transmission of information requests and reception of information responses are also performed between the adapter device200-2and the electrical device300-2, but these processes are omitted inFIG.13. The controller203of the adapter device200-1sends to the device information manager201an instruction to change the measurement value in the device information to the measurement value included in the information response (step S409), and the device information manager201updates the device information and sends to the service provider202a change notification indicating that the device information is changed (step S410).

Upon receiving the notification of the change in the device information, the service provider202performs, with reference to the event information included in the service information, an event determination for the state of the electrical device300-1(step S411). Upon determining that the state of the electrical device300-1satisfies the condition indicated in the event information, the service provider202sends to the controller203an action execution instruction to cause the electrical device300-2to perform the operation indicated in the action information (step S412). The service provider202transmits to the terminal device400an execution notification that the action indicated in the action information is executed (step S413).

Upon receiving the action execution instruction, the controller203of the adapter device200-1sends the action execution instruction to the controller203of the adapter device200-2to which the electrical device300-2is connected (step S414), and the processing of steps S204to S216of the device operation in the indoor mode illustrated inFIG.11is performed among the server apparatus100, adapter device200-2, electrical device300-2, and terminal device400(step S415).

For example, in an example case of a process to perform a service that is to “link between air conditioner and IH cooker” indicated by the service ID “1-2” of the service information inFIG.6, the electrical device300-1is considered to be an air conditioner and the electrical device300-2is considered to be an IH cooking device in the sequence diagram ofFIG.13. In step S408, when a response indicating detection of user's sleep onset is transmitted from the air conditioner, processing of steps S409to S413is performed in the adapter device of the air conditioner. Then, the controller203of the adapter device of the air conditioner transmits, to the controller203of the adapter device of the IH cooker, an action execution instruction to turn off the power of the IH cooker (step S414), and the process of the device operation in the indoor mode to turn off the power is started (step S415).

Use of services provided by the IoT platform with respect to electrical devices heretofore requires communication with a server apparatus. However, the device operation in the indoor mode and the automatic control in the edge-device-linking mode of the present embodiment enables control of the electrical devices without the intervention of the server apparatus. This enables control of the electrical devices even when communication with the server apparatus is interrupted due to a network failure. Also, increasing the amount of processing that can be performed by the edge device can reduce the amount of communication with the server apparatus.

Also, having the edge device have a service providing function of the server apparatus of the present embodiment can achieve such autonomous linking processing by the edge device as the automatic control in the edge-device-linking mode.

Also, having the edge device have a device information management function and a service providing function of the server device in the present embodiment can achieve control of the electrical devices without intervention via the server apparatus, and thus processing that requires high real-time performance can be performed. For example, for electrical devices such as the IH cooker, the bathroom dehumidifier, and the bathroom air conditioner, which might pose a danger to the user if the electrical devices are not controlled immediately, danger can be avoided by controlling the electrical devices in the indoor mode and the edge-device-linking mode.

Also, since the edge device and server apparatus of the present embodiment use a common API, the burden of development can be reduced.

The edge device linking system1according to Embodiment 2 is a system in which a gateway device is added to the edge device linking system1according to embodiment 1.

As illustrated inFIG.14, the edge device linking system1includes a server apparatus100that provides a service, an adapter device200that is connected to an electrical device300installed in a property, and a gateway device600installed in each property. The gateway device connects to the adapter device200in the same property where the gateway device is installed. In the present embodiment, the edge device includes the gateway device600that relays the communication between the server apparatus100and the adapter device200.

Functions of the server apparatus100and the adapter device200are similar to those of Embodiment 1.

Functions of the gateway device600are described with reference toFIG.15. The gateway device600includes some of functions of the server apparatus100. Specifically, the gateway device600includes a device information manager601that manages device information relating to the electrical device300, a service provider602that manages service information, a controller603that controls the electrical device300via the adapter device200, a user information manager604that manages user information relating to the user, and a property information manager605that manages property information about the property where the electrical device300is installed.

The device information manager601manages the device information of the electrical device300connected to the adapter device200to which the gateway device600is connected. Specifically, the device information manager601receives from the terminal device400an instruction for operation of the electrical device300, sends the received instruction to the controller603, and registers the device information based on the information received from the controller603. The device information manager601is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, and the wide-area communicator24. The device information manager601is an example of device information management means.

The device information managed by the device information manager601has the same items as the items included in the table inFIG.5, but only includes information with respect to the electrical device300connected to the gateway device600via the adapter device200. Here, the connected electrical device includes both a physically connected electrical device and a logically connected electrical device. For example, in the case of the gateway device600installed in the property1, the device information managed by the device information manager601includes only the device information associated with the property ID “1” in the table inFIG.5.

The service provider602ofFIG.15manages execution of services. Specifically, the service provider602receives from the server apparatus100an instruction to register a service and registers the contents of the service as service information. The service provider602determines, based on the service information, whether or not to operate the electrical device300. The service provider602is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, and the wide-area communicator24. The service provider602is an example of the first service provision means and the service provision means.

The service information managed by the service provider602has the same items as the items included in the table inFIG.6, but only includes information relating to the service directed to the electrical device300connected to the gateway device600via the adapter device200. For example, in the case of the gateway device600installed in property1, the service information managed by the service provider602only includes the service information associated with property ID “1” in the table inFIG.6.

The controller603ofFIG.15controls operation of the electrical device300connected to the gateway device600via the adapter device200. Specifically, the controller603receives an instruction for operation of the electrical device300from the device information manager601and the service provider602, and transmits the instruction to the electrical device300via the controller203of the adapter device200. The controller603also receives an instruction for operation of the electrical device300from the controller103of the server apparatus100and transmits the instruction to the electrical device300via the controller203of the adapter device200. The controller603periodically collects data, such as measurement values and setting values, from the electrical device300via the controller203of the adapter device200. The controller603is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the wide-area communicator24, and the local communicator25.

The user information manager604ofFIG.15manages user information about a user who uses the electrical device300. Specifically, the user information manager604receives registration of user information from the terminal device400and registers the received information. The user information manager604is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, and the wide-area communicator24.

The user information managed by the user information manager604is the same as the items included in the table inFIG.7, but only includes information relating to the user who is the user of the electrical device300connected to the gateway device600via the adapter device200. For example, in the case of the gateway device600installed in property1, the user information managed by the user information manager604only includes the information of the user of the electrical device300included in property1. Assuming that the user of the electrical device300included in property1is the user with user ID “1,” the user information managed by the user information manager604only includes the information of the user associated with the user ID “1” in the table inFIG.7.

The property information manager605ofFIG.15manages the property information with respect to the property where the gateway device600is installed. Specifically, the property information manager605receives the registration of property information from the terminal device400and registers the received information. The property information manager605is achieved by cooperation of the processor21, the main storage22, the auxiliary storage23, and the wide-area communicator24.

The property information managed by the property information manager605is the same as the items included in the table inFIG.8, but only includes information about the property where the gateway device600is installed. For example, in the case of the gateway device600installed in the property1, the property information managed by the property information manager605only includes the property information associated with the property ID “1” in the table inFIG.8.

For example, upon a user instructing the gateway device600installed in the property with the property ID “1” to register the property information by specifying the property name using the application of the terminal device400, the terminal device400transmits a registration request to the gateway device600, and the property information manager605of the gateway device600updates the property information based on the contents of the registration request. The property information manager605then notifies the terminal device400of completion of the registration. The property information manager605transmits the registered property information to the controller103of the server apparatus100, and the property information manager105of the server apparatus100updates the property information with the content of the transmitted property information.

The API for transmitting and receiving information between the gateway device600and the external device inFIG.15is the same as the APIs used in the server apparatus100and the adapter device200.

Next, operation of the edge device linking system1of the present embodiment is described. The following describes parts different from the process flow of the operation of the edge device linking system1of Embodiment 1.

In the process of the device operation in the outdoor mode in the edge device linking system1of Embodiment 2, the gateway device600relays the transmission and reception of information between the server apparatus100and the adapter device200in the sequence diagram ofFIG.10. Furthermore, the device information is also updated in the device information manager601of the gateway device600.

In the process of device operation in the indoor mode in the edge device linking system1of Embodiment 2, the gateway device600relays the transmission and reception of information between the terminal device400and the adapter device200in the sequence diagram ofFIG.11and between the server apparatus100and the adapter device200in the sequence diagram ofFIG.11. In addition, the device information is updated also in the device information manager601of the gateway device600.

In the process of automatic control in the server-device-route mode in the edge device linking system1of Embodiment 2, the gateway device600relays the transmission and reception of information between the server apparatus100and the adapter devices200-1,200-2in the sequence diagram ofFIG.12. Furthermore, the device information is updated also in the device information manager601of the gateway device600.

In the process of automatic control in the edge-device-linking mode in the edge device linking system1of Embodiment 2, the gateway device600relays the transmission and reception of information between the server apparatus100and the adapter devices200-1,200-2in the sequence diagram ofFIG.13. The device information is updated in the device information manager601of the gateway device600. The service provider602of the gateway device600performs service registration, event determination, action execution instruction, and action execution notification; and the adapter device200-1does not perform these processes. The gateway device600is an example of the first edge device.

According to the present embodiment, effects similar to those produced by the edge device linking system1of embodiment 1 can be achieved.

Since the server apparatus where the IoT platform is built manages information with respect to a large number of users and properties, processing such as registration, modification, and the like may be requested at the same time. In such cases, processing of the request would take much time and the amount of data communication would be high. However, according to the present embodiment, since the gateway device has a user management function and a property management function, a user can perform processing such as registration, modification, and the like in the gateway device with no need to access the server apparatus every time the processing is performed. Then, the gateway device transmits, to the server apparatus, information relating to the registration and the modification at a freely selected timing, thereby achieving reduction of the amount of data communication.

Modified Examples

Although some embodiments of the present disclosure are described above, various modifications and applications are possible in implementing the present disclosure.

In Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, each adapter device200includes the device information manager201and the service provider202, but configuration of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The device information manager201and the service provider202may optionally be included only in a specific adapter device200, and the other adapter devices200may optionally include only the controller203.

Also, in Embodiment 2, the device information manager601and the service provider602may optionally be included only in the gateway device600, and the adapter device200connected to the gateway device600may optionally include only the controller203.

In Embodiment 2, one gateway device600is installed for one property, but one gateway device600may be installed for multiple properties. In this case, the user information manager604of the gateway device600manages the plurality of user information for using the electrical device300of each property, and the property information manager605manages the property information of the plurality of properties.

In Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, the adapter device200and the gateway device600, which are the edge devices, have some functions of the server apparatus100, but the functions provided by the edge devices are not limited to the functions shown in Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2. For example, the functions provided by the edge devices may be determined based on memory capacities available in the edge devices. Alternatively, the edge device may be determined to have the functions of collecting and updating information offline.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure can provide an edge device linking system, a method for coordinating edge devices, and a program that can provide a service relating to electrical devices by linking between edge devices without performing communication with a server apparatus.