Control method, communications terminal, and control system

A control method includes receiving setting information containing a first property representing a property of an operation performed by one or more target appliances and a setting of the first property, obtaining correspondence information between device information identifying each of the appliances and a second property representing a property of an operation performed by the appliance, extracting the device information items of the target appliances from among the device information items in the correspondence information, the device information items each having a second property that is the same as the first property, generating a plurality of control information items each associated with each of the extracted device information items of one or more target appliances, containing the setting information and a predetermined information corresponding to the first property and each of the device information items, transmitting the control information to the target appliance through wireless communication.

This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Applications No. 2013-246753, filed on Nov. 28, 2013, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a control method, a communications terminal, and a control system.

2. Description of the Related Art

In recent years, home electrical appliances (hereinafter simply referred to as “electrical appliances”) that receive and transmit information from and to an external communication terminal via a network have been widely developed. By using such an electrical appliance, a user can transmit a request indicating an operation to be performed by the electrical appliance to the electrical appliance via a communications terminal, such as a personal computer (PC) or a cell phone. In this manner, the user can control the electrical appliance.

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-3230701 describes a technology in which a user can select an electrical appliance to be controlled using a communications terminal and input a type of operation to be performed by the electrical appliance to the communications terminal as a request. Thus, the user can control the external electrical appliance using the communications terminal.

SUMMARY

In the above-described technology, it is troublesome for a user to perform an operation to select an electrical appliance and, thereafter, perform an operation to specify a type of operation to be performed by the electrical appliance in order to control the electrical appliance. In addition, a large processing load is imposed on a device that receives such operations from the user, which is problematic.

Thus, a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure provides a control method that can control an electrical appliance through a less number of operations.

A control method according to an aspect of the present disclosure, A control method executed by a communications terminal, the control method including receiving setting information containing a first property and a setting of the first property, the first property representing a property of an operation performed by one or more target appliances to be controlled, obtaining correspondence information between device information identifying each of a plurality of the appliances and a second property, the second property representing a property of an operation performed by the appliance identified by the device information, extracting the device information items of one or more target appliances from among the device information items in the correspondence information, the device information items each having a second property that is the same as the first property contained in the setting information, generating a plurality of control information items each associated with each of the extracted device information items of one or more target appliances, containing the setting information and a predetermined information corresponding to the first property of the setting information and each of the device information items, receiving the device information regarding the target appliance from the target appliance through wireless communication, selecting, from among the generated control information items, the control information item indicating the operation performed by the target appliance identified by the received device information; and transmitting the selected control information item to the target appliance through wireless communication.

The above-described collective embodiments and particular embodiment may be realized by a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, a computer readable recording medium, such as a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), or any combination of a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a computer readable recording medium.

According to the control method of the disclosure, an electrical appliance can be controlled through a minimized number of operations.

Additional benefits and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will be apparent from the specification and Figures. The benefits and/or advantages may be individually provided by the various embodiments and features of the specification and Figures, and need not all be provided in order to obtain one or more of the same.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventors found that the control method that control an electrical appliance described in “Description of the Related Art” has a following problem.

That is, in the existing control method, to control an electrical appliance using the communications terminal, a user needs to select an electrical appliance to be controlled and, thereafter, input a user's request. This procedure is not user-friendly for the user to operate the electrical appliance.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-3230701 describes a technique for controlling an electrical appliance using a communications terminal. More specifically, the communications terminal acquires the device ID of the electrical appliance. Subsequently, an authentication server performs user authentication using the device ID of the electrical appliance and a user ID of the communications terminal. If the user authentication is successful, the communications terminal can function as a remote-control unit for controlling the electrical appliance on the basis of user operations.

According to the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-3230701, the user performs an operation to specify an electrical appliance to be controlled using a communications terminal and, thereafter, inputs the type of operation to be performed by the electrical appliance as a request to the electrical appliance. In this manner, the user can control the external electrical appliance using the communications terminal.

In the above-described technology, it is troublesome for a user to perform an operation to specify an electrical appliance and, thereafter, perform an operation to specify a type of operation to be performed by the electrical appliance in order to control the electrical appliance. In addition, if there are a plurality of electrical appliances to be controlled, the user needs to select the electrical appliances a plurality of times, which makes the user operation more troublesome. Furthermore, large processing load is imposed on a device that receives such operations from the user and processes the input, which is problematic.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides a control method of controlling an electrical appliance through a less number of operations.

A aspect of the present disclosure provides a system to send a request to an electrical appliance and set up the electrical appliance through a relatively simplified user operation using a mobile device, such as a cell phone or a smart phone.

To address such issues, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a control method executed by a communications terminal, the control method including receiving setting information containing a first property and a setting of the first property, the first property representing a property of an operation performed by one or more target appliances to be controlled, obtaining correspondence information between device information identifying each of a plurality of the appliances and a second property, the second property representing a property of an operation performed by the appliance identified by the device information, extracting the device information items of one or more target appliances from among the device information items in the correspondence information, the device information items each having a second property that is the same as the first property contained in the setting information, generating a plurality of control information items each associated with each of the extracted device information items of one or more target appliances, containing the setting information and a predetermined information corresponding to the first property of the setting information and each of the device information items, receiving the device information regarding the target appliance from the target appliance through wireless communication, selecting, from among the generated control information items, the control information item indicating the operation performed by the target appliance identified by the received device information; and transmitting the selected control information item to the target appliance through wireless communication.

According to the control method, control information used for controlling an electrical appliance can be generated on the basis of the setting information set by a user, and the generated control information can be sent to a desired electrical appliance through short range wireless communication. The setting information is part of the control information that determines the operation performed by the electrical appliance. That is, the user can control the electrical appliance just as the user intended by simply specifying only part of the control information that determines the operation of the electrical appliance and, thereafter, performing a touch operation or a proximity operation for short range wireless communication. In this manner, the electrical appliance can be controlled by a less number of operations performed on the communications terminal.

In existing control methods, a user needs the following three stages:

(1) selecting the electrical appliance to be controlled by operating the communications terminal,

(2) setting up a control item for the electrical appliance by operating the communications terminal, and

(3) transmitting the setup control item to the electrical appliance using short range wireless communication between the communications terminal and the electrical appliance.

In contrast, according to the present disclosure, a user can control an electrical appliance through the following two stages:

(A) setting up part of the control item by operating the communications terminal, and

(B) transmitting the setup part of the control item to the electrical appliance using short range wireless communication between the communications terminal and the electrical appliance. That is, according to the present disclosure, the user need not perform an operation to specify an electrical appliances using the communications terminal and, thus, the user can control the electrical appliance through a less number of operations on the communications terminal.

For example, obtaining correspondence information may include obtaining, as the correspondence information, a list stored in a storage unit of the communications terminal, and the list may indicate a correspondence between the device information and the second property.

In this manner, the communications terminal can obtain candidates of an electrical appliance to be controlled on the basis of the list stored in the communications terminal. Thus, the communications terminal alone can control the electrical appliance.

For example, the communications terminal may be capable of communicating with a server that stores a list indicating a correspondence between the device information and the second property. In obtaining correspondence information, the list stored in the server may be obtained as the correspondence information.

In this manner, the communications terminal can obtain candidates of an electrical appliance to be controlled on the basis of a list stored in a sever that can communicate with the communications terminal via a network. Thus, even a communications terminal having a limitation, such as a communications terminal having a limited storage area, can control an electrical appliance.

For example, the list may contain, as the device information, information used for uniquely identifying each of electrical appliances selected by the user.

In this manner, the communications terminal can control one of the electrical appliances that the user wants to control among the electrical appliances selected by the user in advance.

For example, receiving setting information may include receiving the setting information using voice uttered from a user.

In this manner, the communications terminal can obtain the setting information through user's voice. The user can input the setting information to the communications terminal by the voice without using a key operation performed on the communications terminal and a touch screen operation. Accordingly, the operation performed by the user is simplified and is user-friendly.

For example, the short range wireless communication may be started by a touch operation in which the user causes the communications terminal and the electrical appliance to touch together, and the short range wireless communication performed in receiving the device information and the short range wireless communication performed in transmitting the selected control information item may be performed by the touch operation performed only once.

In this manner, appropriate control information can be transmit from the communications terminal to the electrical appliance by a single touch operation. Accordingly, the user can control the electrical appliance using the communications terminal with less number of operations.

For example, receiving setting information may include presenting information for prompting the user to input setting information and receiving, as the setting information, the setting information input by the user in accordance with the presented information.

In this manner, the user can be aware that the setting information can be input to the communications terminal. The user can view the information for prompting input of the setting information and input the setting information to the communications terminal by following the prompt information.

For example, each of the first property and the second property may include at least one of a point in time at which the target appliance starts to operate, a temperature regarding the operation performed by the target appliance, a time length of the operation performed by the target appliance, the intensity of the operation performed by the target appliance, and on/off of the operation performed by the target appliance.

In this manner, the user can appropriately control a variety of properties of the operation performed by an electrical appliance.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, a communications terminal including a first receiver that receive setting information containing a first property and a setting of the first property, the first property representing a property of an operation performed by one or more target appliance to be controlled, an obtainer that obtain correspondence information between device information identifying each of a plurality of the appliances and a second property, the second property representing a property of an operation performed by the appliance identified by the device information, an extractor that extract the device information items of one or more target appliances from among the device information items in the correspondence information, the device information items each having a second property that is the same as the first property contained in the setting information, a generator that generate a plurality of control information items each associated with each of the extracted device information items of one or more target appliances, containing the setting information and a predetermined information corresponding to the first property of the setting information and each of the device information items, a second receiver that receive the device information regarding the target appliance through wireless communication from the target appliance, a selector that select, from among the generated control information items, the control information item indicating the operation performed by the appliance identified by the received device information, and a transmitter that transmits the selected control information item to the target appliance through wireless communication to the target appliance, wherein at least one of the first receiver, the obtainer, the generator, the second receiver, the selector, the transmitter, and the transmitter is included in a processor.

According to the communications terminal, advantages that are the same as the above-described advantages can be provided.

According to another embodiment of the disclosure, a control system including a communications terminal and one or more target appliances, the communications terminal including a first receiver that receive setting information containing a first property and a setting of the first property, the first property representing a property of an operation performed by one or more target appliance to be controlled, an obtainer that obtain correspondence information between device information identifying each of a plurality of the appliances and a second property, the second property representing a property of an operation performed by the appliance identified by the device information, an extractor that extract the device information items of one or more target appliances from among the device information items in the correspondence information, the device information items each having a second property that is the same as the first property contained in the setting information, a generator that generate a plurality of control information items each associated with each of the extracted device information items of one or more target appliances, containing the setting information and a predetermined information corresponding to the first property of the setting information and each of the device information items, a second receiver that receive the device information regarding the target appliance through wireless communication from the target appliance, a selector that select, from among the generated control information items, the control information item indicating the operation performed by the appliance identified by the received device information, and a transmitter that transmits the selected control information item to the target appliance through wireless communication to the target appliance, wherein at least one of the first receiver, the obtainer, the generator, the second receiver, the selector, the transmitter, and the transmitter is included in a processor.

According to the control system, advantages that are the same as the above-described advantages can be provided.

The above-described collective embodiments and particular embodiments may be realized by a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, a computer readable recording medium, such as a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), or any combination of a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a computer readable recording medium.

Exemplary embodiments are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It should be noted that each of the following embodiments indicates a collective or particular example. The values, shapes, materials, components, the arrangement positions and the connection configuration of the components, steps, and the order of the steps in the following embodiments are only examples, and it should not be construed that the technical scope of the disclosure is limited thereto. In addition, among components appearing in the following embodiments, a component that is not defined in an independent claim that describes the most superordinate concept is an optional component of the disclosure.

First Exemplary Embodiment

According to the present exemplary embodiment, a system including an electrical appliance having a short range wireless communication function and a communications terminal also having a short range wireless communication function is described. In the system, a user controls the electrical appliance using the communications terminal by sending a request to the electrical appliance and setting up the electrical appliance through a relatively simplified operation. Note that in the following descriptions, the electrical appliance to be controlled is also referred to as a “target appliance”.

FIG. 1is a schematic illustration of the overview of a communication system100according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the communication system100includes an electrical appliance10and a communications terminal20.

The electrical appliance10is a device that operates while consuming electrical power. The electrical appliance10can communicate with the communications terminal20through short range wireless communication. Examples of the electrical appliance10include a cooking range, a rice cooker, an induction heating (IH) cooking heater, a refrigerator, a washing machine, a sphygmomanometer, a body composition meter, an active meter, a television set, a digital camera, and a digital versatile disc (DVD) recorder.

The communications terminal20is connected to a communication network. The communications terminal20can communicate with a variety of servers and terminals connected to the communication network. In addition, the communications terminal20can communicate with the electrical appliance10through short range wireless communication. Examples of the communications terminal20include a cell phone and a smart phone (also referred to as a “high-performance cell phone” or a “multi-functional cell phone”).

The electrical appliance10and the communications terminal20can communicate with each other through short range wireless communication. As used herein, the term “short range wireless communication” refers to (1) communication between a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag and a reader/writer device using electromagnetic induction in 13.56 MHz frequency band (the HF band) or a radio wave in 52 to 954 MHz band (the UHF band) or (2) near field communication (NFC) in 13.56 MHz frequency band. Note that RFID is standardized as ISO 14443, and NFC is standardized as ISO/IEC 21481. The communication range of the short range wireless communication is limited to several tens centimeters for the HF band and several centimeters in the UHF band. Accordingly, when a communications terminal is moved close to an electrical appliance so that the distance between the communications terminal and the electrical appliance is within the above-described range, the short range wireless communication is performed. More specifically, when a proximity operation in which a user brings the communications terminal and the electrical appliance into proximity or a touch operation in which the user causes the communications terminal and the electrical appliance to touch together is performed, communication between the communications terminal and the electrical appliance is performed.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, a configuration in which the communications terminal20has a reader/writer function implemented therein and the electrical appliance10has an IC tag function implemented therein is described. Note that according to the present exemplary embodiment, any configuration in which the electrical appliance10and the communications terminal20can communicate with each other through short range wireless communication may be employed. That is, the communications terminal20may have the IC tag function, and the electrical appliance10may have the reader/writer function. Note that in NFC, a P-to-P communication, card emulation, and reader/writer emulation are standardized. In such a case, a relationship between an IC tag and a reader/writer device may be reversed. For ease of description, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the communications terminal20has a reader/writer function implemented therein, and the electrical appliance10has the IC tag function implemented therein.

FIG. 2is a block diagram of the hardware configuration of a communications terminal and an electrical appliance according to the present exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the electrical appliance10includes a device control unit111and a communication unit112.

The device control unit111controls the operation performed by an electrical appliance. More specifically, the device control unit111controls the operation performed by the electrical appliance10on the basis of communication with the communication unit112. For example, if the electrical appliance10is a cooking range, the properties of the operation include an output time of a microwave (a heating time), the output power, and start and end of outputting the microwave. In addition, if the electrical appliance10is a rice cooker, the properties of the operation include a rice cooked time, the type of rice being cooked, and start and end of cooking rice.

The communication unit112performs short range wireless communication with the reader/writer device included in the communications terminal20. The communication unit112modulates data transmitted to the reader/writer device and demodulates data received from the reader/writer device. In addition, the communication unit112generates power for at least establishing the short range wireless communication on the basis of a radio wave received from the reader/writer device and extracts a clock signal on the basis of radio wave transmitted from the reader/writer device. Thereafter, the communication unit112operates on the basis of the power generated from the radio wave and the clock transmitted from the reader/writer device. In this manner, even when the main power of the electrical appliance10is turned off, the communication unit112can perform short range wireless communication with the communications terminal20. Note that as described above, a functional block of the electrical appliance10other than the communication unit112may operate using the power generated by the radio wave transmitted from the reader/writer device. Alternatively, the functional block may not operate using the power generated by the radio wave transmitted from the reader/writer device (that is, the functional block may operate other power and clock).

The communication unit112further includes a loop antenna for short range wireless communication with the reader/writer device included in the communications terminal20.

The communications terminal20includes a processing unit201, a storage unit202, a display unit203, a first communication unit204, a key206, and a microphone207.

An example of the processing unit201is a processor that performs processing in the communications terminal20. For example, the processing unit201is formed from a central processing unit (CPU). The processing unit201further includes a random access memory (RAM) or a read only memory (ROM) as needed.

The storage unit202is a memory storing a device list.

The display unit203displays the result of short range wireless communication between the communications terminal20and the electrical appliance10and data transmitted from a server apparatus104. An example of the display unit203is a liquid crystal display.

The first communication unit204serves as a communication interface for the short range wireless communication. The first communication unit204includes an antenna for short range wireless communication. The first communication unit204performs polling of IC tags of the electrical appliances10. After communication is established, the first communication unit204reads information from the electrical appliance10and writes information to the electrical appliance10.

The first communication unit204is started in response to key input to the key206or sound input to the microphone207from a user. After starting, the first communication unit204performs a polling operation on the electrical appliances10via short range wireless communication. In general, to perform polling, the first communication unit204continues to emit a radio wave to unspecified communication partners. Accordingly, if the communications terminal20is battery operated, the charge amount of the battery decreases. To address such an issue, a dedicated button to start polling can be provided in the communications terminal20. In this manner, a wasted polling operation can be prevented. In addition, the operation performed by the user to operate the device can be eased.

The key206is a user interface to receive key input from the user. Upon being physically pressed, the key206receives a predetermined character or symbol. Alternatively, if the display unit203is a touch panel, the key206may be overlaid on the display unit203.

The microphone207is a device to receive voice uttered from the user.

Through such a system configuration, the system in which the user transmits a request to the electrical appliance10and sets up the electrical appliance10by inputting a request for the electrical appliance10to the communications terminal20and, thereafter, causing the communications terminal20and the electrical appliance10to perform short range wireless communication.

FIG. 3is a block diagram of the functional configuration of the communications terminal20according to the present exemplary embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the communications terminal20includes the list storage unit211, a list obtaining unit212, a reception unit213, a command generating unit214, a selection unit215, a reception section216, and a transmission section217.

The list storage unit211stores a list of electrical appliances that can be controlled by the communications terminal (hereinafter referred to as a “device list”). The device list indicates a correspondence between device information used for identifying an electrical appliance and the properties of the operation performed by the electrical appliance. The device list is described in more detail below. Note that the list storage unit211corresponds to a storage unit.

The list obtaining unit212obtains correspondence information between the device information used for identifying each of a plurality of electrical appliances including a target appliance and a second property, which is a property of the operation that can be performed by the electrical appliance identified by the device information. Since the correspondence information is stored in the list storage unit211, the list obtaining unit212obtains the device list from the list storage unit211. In addition, the list obtaining unit212extracts, from among rows of the electrical appliances indicated by the acquired device list, a row of the electrical appliance having a property of the operation that is the same as the property contained in setting information received from the user via the reception unit213. Thus, the list obtaining unit212generates an extracted list from the extracted rows. Note that the list obtaining unit212corresponds to an obtaining unit.

Note that the list obtaining unit212may obtain, as a list indicating the above-described correspondence, a correspondence list stored in a storage unit of the communications terminal20.

The reception unit213receives setting information. The setting information includes a first property representing a property of the operation performed by the target appliance (the electrical appliance to be controlled) under user control and a set value for the first property. Hereinafter, the term “first property” is also simply referred to as a “property”. The reception unit213may receive the setting information from the user or an appropriate external apparatus. The reception unit213may receive the setting information by obtaining voice emanating from the user. Before receiving the setting information in the above-described manner, the reception unit213may present information prompting the input of the setting information to the user and receive, as the setting information, setting information input by the user in accordance with the presented information.

The command generating unit214selects, from among the device information items of the electrical appliances in the received correspondence information, the device information items of the electrical appliances each having a second property that is the same as the first property contained in the received setting information. Thereafter, the command generating unit214adds, to the setting information received by the reception unit213, the first property and a predetermined information item corresponding to each of the device information items. In this manner, the command generating unit214generates a plurality of control information items each indicating a control item for one of the selected electrical appliances. More specifically, the command generating unit214selects, from among the electrical appliances listed in the device list obtained by the list obtaining unit212, an electrical appliance having a property that is the same as the property contained in the setting information received from, for example, the user via the reception unit213. Thereafter, the command generating unit214generates a command (control information item) for each of the selected electrical appliances by adding predetermined information corresponding to the electrical appliance. A list of the selected electrical appliances in the above-described manner is referred to as an “extracted list”. The extracted list is described in more detail below. Note that the command generating unit214corresponds to a generating unit.

The selection unit215selects, from among the plurality of the control information items generated by the command generating unit214, the control information item indicating how control is performed on the electrical appliance identified by the received device information. That is, the selection unit215selects, from among the commands generated by the command generating unit214, the command for the electrical appliance having a device ID that is the same as that received from the target appliance by the reception section216.

The reception section216receives the device information regarding the target appliance through short range wireless communication between the target appliance and the communications terminal20. That is, the reception section216receives the device ID of the target appliance from the electrical appliance10.

The transmission section217transmits the control information item selected by the selection unit215to the target appliance through short range wireless communication between the target appliance and the communications terminal20.

Through the above-described configuration, commands each corresponding to the setting information input to the communications terminal20by the user can be generated using the device list stored in the list storage unit.

Thereafter, one of the commands for the electrical appliance10(the target appliance) can be selected and transmitted to the electrical appliance10by the communications terminal20. In this manner, setup of the target device can be made.

FIG. 4illustrates the device list stored in the list storage unit according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 4, a device list400contains a device ID401, a device name402, and an operation property403, where each of the device name402and the operation property403is associated with the device ID401.

The device ID401is device information used for uniquely identifying an electrical appliance. The device ID may be a part number of the electrical appliance or a manufacturing number (a serial number) of the electrical appliance. Note that a plurality of electrical appliances do not have the same device ID401.

The device name402is the name of an appliance identified by the device ID401. Note that a plurality of electrical appliances may have the same name. For example, a device list containing information regarding two television sets may have two rows each including the device-name-402field containing “TV”. In such a case, to identify each of the two television sets, a unique alphanumeric character or symbol may be appended to the name. For example, the device list illustrated inFIG. 4contains information regarding two television sets, and a unique number is appended to each of the device names of the television sets so that the device names are “TV1” and “TV2”. In this manner, each of the television sets can be uniquely identified.

The operation property403indicates the property of the operation performed by an appliance identified by the device ID401. The property of the operation describes the type of operation performed by an electrical appliance. The operation performed by the electrical appliance has a variety of properties. Example of the properties include a time, a time length, a temperature, an intensity, and START/STOP. An operation having a “time” property allows a user to set up so the operation is to be performed at a predetermined point in time or is to be completed before a predetermined point in time. For example, a rice cooker needs to complete cooking rice at a predetermined point in time, a washing machine needs to complete washing clothes at a predetermined point in time, and a DVD recorder needs to start recording at a predetermined point in time. Similarly, an operation having a “time length” property allows the user to set up so that the electrical appliance continues to perform the operation for a predetermined period of time or starts the operation at a time after a predetermined time length elapses from a preset time. An operation having an “intensity” property allows the user to set up so that if the intensity of the operation or the effect of the operation can be defined for the electrical appliance, the operation is performed at a predetermined intensity or at an intensity higher than a preset intensity. An operation having a “START/STOP” property allows the user to set up so that the operation performed by an electrical appliance can be started and stopped (completed).

Note that an electrical appliance may have a plurality of operation properties. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 4, the following operation properties: a time, a time length, and START/STOP can be set for a DVD recorder. If the user instructs a DVD recorder to start recording from a desired point in time and continue the recording for a desired time length, both the time property and the time length property are specified.

FIG. 5illustrates the extracted list according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 5, an extracted list500contains a device name502and an operation property503each associated with a device ID501. The rows of only the electrical appliances having a “time” operation property are extracted from the device list illustrated inFIG. 4and are set in the extracted list500inFIG. 5.

FIG. 6is a flowchart of the operation performed by the communications terminal according to the present exemplary embodiment.FIG. 7is a sequence diagram illustrating the processing flow when the communications terminal sends a user's request to the target appliance according to the first exemplary embodiment. The operation performed by the communications terminal20and exchange of data between the electrical appliance10and the communications terminal20are described with reference toFIGS. 6 and 7.

In step S601(S702), the reception unit213receives setting information from the user. Before receiving the setting information, the reception unit213may display, on the display unit203, a screen for prompting the user to input the setting information (step S701). In this manner, by viewing the screen, the user can input the setting information to the communications terminal using the screen.

In step S602(S703), the list obtaining unit212obtains the extracted list (the correspondence) stored in the list storage unit211on the basis of the setting information received as a user's request. The extracted list is formed from rows that are extracted from the device list and that include the information regarding the electrical appliances having an operation property that is the same as that included in the setting information. The list storage unit211stores the device list describing a correspondence between the information regarding an electrical appliance and a device ID (refer toFIG. 4). The list storage unit211may prestore a list of electrical appliances used by the user. The electrical appliance corresponding to the request may be one of the electrical appliances in the list of electrical appliances used by the user (refer toFIG. 5). In addition, the device list may be a device list of electrical appliances specified by the user in advance.

In step S603(S704), the command generating unit214generates a candidate of a command for each of the electrical appliances10listed in the obtained extracted list.

In step S604(S705), the reception section216receives the device ID from the electrical appliance10to be controlled through short range wireless communication. The short range wireless communication is performed by a proximity operation in which the user brings the communications terminal20and the electrical appliance10into proximity or a touch operation in which the user causes the communications terminal10and the electrical appliance20to touch together.

In step S605, the transmission section217transmits the command to the target appliance through short range wireless communication. More specifically, the selection unit215selects the command for the electrical appliance corresponding to the obtained device ID first (step S706). Thereafter, the transmission section217transmits the command selected by the selection unit215to the electrical appliance10to be controlled through short range wireless communication (step S707).

Subsequently, the electrical appliance10receives the command transmitted from the communications terminal20in step S603(step S721) and operates by executing the command (step S722).

Note that both the short range wireless communication in step S604and the short range wireless communication in step S605may be performed in response to a single touch operation or proximity operation performed by the user. In this manner, the communications terminal20can transmit appropriate control information to the electrical appliance10through a single touch operation or proximity operation performed by the user.

Note that when in step S605, the number of candidates of the command is only one and if the communications terminal20can communicate with the electrical appliance10using a communication technique other than short range wireless communication (e.g., a wireless LAN based on IEEE 802.11a , 802.11b, 802.11g , or 802.11n), the command may be transmitted to the electrical appliance10using the communication technique instead of using the short range wireless communication.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the command is not limited to a single control command. For example, a command may be a program including a plurality of control commands.

FIG. 8illustrates a control method according to the present exemplary embodiment. The control method according to the present exemplary embodiment is described below with reference toFIG. 8.

In this example, a user inputs “8 o'clock” as the setting information. In addition, the list storage unit211prestores the device list400illustrated inFIG. 4.

The reception unit213receives “8 o'clock” as setting information801first (step S601). As can be seen from the information “8 o'clock”, the setting information801indicates that the operation has a “time” property and the set value of the property is “8 (o'clock)”.

Subsequently, the list obtaining unit212obtains the device list400stored in the list storage unit211(step S602). Thereafter, the list obtaining unit212extracts the information regarding the electrical appliances having the “time” operation property and generates the extracted list500. Thus, three electrical appliances, that is, a rice cooker, a washing machine, and a DVD recorder are listed in the extracted list500.

Subsequently, the command generating unit214generates a command (control information) for each of the three electrical appliances (step S603). That is, the command generating unit214generates control information811indicating that “cooking is to be completed at 8 o'clock” for the rice cooker, control information812indicating that “washing is to be completed at 8 o'clock” for the washing machine, and control information813indicating that “video recording is to be started at 8 o'clock” for the DVD recorder.

Subsequently, the user moves the communications terminal20close to the rice cooker (i.e., the electrical appliance10) (the user performs a touch operation). Thus, the communications terminal20and the electrical appliance10perform short range wireless communication with each other. Through the short range wireless communication, the communications terminal20obtains the device ID of the rice cooker (i.e., the electrical appliance) first (step S604). Note that as illustrated inFIG. 4 or 5, the device ID of the rice cooker is “B010”.

Subsequently, the communications terminal20selects the control information811for the electrical appliance identified by the device ID (i.e., the rice cooker). Thereafter, the communications terminal20transmits the control information811to the electrical appliance10through short range wireless communication (step S605).

Note that when a command corresponding to each of the electrical appliances is generated in step S603, information predetermined for the electrical appliances is appended to the setting information. In this manner, the command is generated. For example, in the case of the rice cooker, the information indicating that “cooking is completed (at the point in time)” is appended to the setting information having a time property. Thus, the command821is generated. Note that the information appended above may be a default setting or a favorite setting preset for the electrical appliance by the user.

Note that if no property is specified, it can be predetermined which property corresponds to the setting information. In this manner, the setting information having no specification of a property can be accepted. For example, when “8” is received as the setting information without specification of a property and if it is predetermined that a default property is the time property, the setting information “8” is considered as “8 o'clock”. Thus, the subsequent processing can be performed.

Through the above-described configuration, the user need not select an electrical appliance to be controlled using the communications terminal. In addition, by simply holding the communications terminal over the electrical appliance to be controlled after inputting a request to the communications terminal, the user can control the electrical appliance.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

According to a second exemplary embodiment, a communication system including an electrical appliance having a short range wireless communication function, a communications terminal that performs short range wireless communication with the electrical appliance, and a server connected to the communications terminal via a general-purpose network, such as the Internet or a mobile phone communication network, is described below. By using the communication system, a user can transmit a request to an electrical appliance via a cell phone or a smart phone with a relatively simplified operation so as to set up the electrical appliance. The communication system is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the same numbering will be used in describing a component as was utilized above in describing the first exemplary embodiment, and description of the component is not repeated, where appropriate.

FIG. 9Ais a schematic illustration of the overview of the communication system according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 6, a communication system101includes an electrical appliance10, a communications terminal21, and a server40. Note that the communications terminal21and the server40are collectively referred to as a “control system50” as needed.

The communications terminal21controls the electrical appliance10in cooperation with the server40in the same manner as in the communications terminal20of the first exemplary embodiment.

The server40incorporates a database. The server40is connected to the communications terminal21via a network30. The server40registers information sent from the communications terminal21in the database and sends back information indicating the result of registration to the communications terminal21. For example, the server40is formed from a WEB server with a database.

Through such a system configuration, a system by which a user can transmit a request to the electrical appliance10and set up the electrical appliance10by inputting the request to the communications terminal21and causing the communications terminal21to perform short range wireless communication with the electrical appliance10can be provided.

FIG. 9Bis a block diagram of the hardware configuration of a communications terminal and an electrical appliance according to the present exemplary embodiment. An electrical appliance10has a configuration similar to that of the electrical appliance10according to the first exemplary embodiment.

A communications terminal20includes a processing unit201, a storage unit202, a display unit203, a first communication unit204, a second communication unit205, a key206, and a microphone207.

The second communication unit205is a communication interface capable of being connected to a general-purpose network, such as a LAN or a mobile phone communication network. The second communication unit205communicates with the server40via the network under the control of, for example, the processing unit201.

The communications terminal21and the server40are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 10is a block diagram of the configuration of the communications terminal21and the server40according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The communications terminal21includes a reception unit213, a selection unit215A, a reception section216, and a transmission section217.

The selection unit215A selects, from among a plurality of commands generated by a command generating unit414of the server40, the command for an electrical appliance having a device ID that is the same as that received from the target appliance by the reception section216.

Note that the selection unit215according to the first exemplary embodiment selects a command from among the commands generated by the command generating unit214. In contrast, the selection unit215A selects a command from among the commands generated by the command generating unit414of the server40. As described above, the present exemplary embodiment differs from the first exemplary embodiment.

The reception unit213, the reception section216, the transmission section217are the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3.

The server40includes a list storage unit411, a list obtaining unit412, and the command generating unit414.

The list storage unit411stores a device list regarding electrical appliances that can be controlled by the control system50.

The list obtaining unit412obtains the device list from the list storage unit411.

The command generating unit414selects, from among the electrical appliances listed in the list obtained by the list obtaining unit412, the electrical appliances that are likely to satisfy the request input by the user via the communications terminal21. Thereafter, the command generating unit414generates a candidate of a command for each of the selected electrical appliances.

Through the above-described configuration, commands for the request input to the communications terminal21by the user can be generated from the device list stored in the server40.

In addition, one of the commands for the electrical appliance10to be controlled can be selected using the communications terminal21. Thus, the command can be transmitted to the electrical appliance10to set up the electrical appliance10.

Exchange of data among the electrical appliance10, the communications terminal21, and the server40performed when the communications terminal21according to the present exemplary embodiment controls the electrical appliance10is described below with reference toFIG. 11.

The process in step S1121is the same as that in step S701of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7).

In step S1122, the communications terminal21receives a request input by the user. Thereafter, the communications terminal21transmits the request received from the user to the server40via the network30.

In step S1101, upon receiving the request input by the user, the list obtaining unit412obtains the device list from the list storage unit411and generates a list of the electrical appliances corresponding to the request (i.e., an extracted list). The extracted list is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG. 3.

In step S1102, the server40generates a candidate of a command for each of the electrical appliances10listed in the obtained extracted list and sends the candidates to the communications terminal21. The communications terminal21receives the candidates of a command transmitted from the server40.

The processes in steps S1123to S1125and steps S1141and S1142are the same as those in steps S705to S707and steps S721and S722of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In the above-described configuration, since the server40includes the list storage unit411, the list obtaining unit412, and the command generating unit414, the system is less vulnerable to external attack than the configuration in which the list storage unit411, the list obtaining unit412, and the command generating unit414are included in a communications terminal. In this manner, electrical appliance information and a control command in response to a request can be generated more safely.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

According to a third exemplary embodiment, a communications terminal includes the list obtaining unit. The other system configurations are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment. Note that the same numbering will be used in describing a component as was utilized above in describing the exemplary embodiments, and description of the component is not repeated, where appropriate.

A communication system101is the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment.

A communications terminal22and a server41according to the present exemplary embodiment are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 12is a block diagram of the configurations of the communications terminal22and the server41according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The communications terminal22includes a list obtaining unit212B, a reception unit213B, a selection unit215A, a reception section216, and a transmission section217.

The list obtaining unit212B obtains a device list stored in the list storage unit411B of the server40. In addition, the list obtaining unit212B generates an extracted list by extracting, from the obtained device list, information items regarding the electrical appliances that can satisfy the user's request. Thereafter, the communications terminal22requests the server41to generate a command corresponding to each of the electrical appliances in the extracted list.

The reception unit213, the selection unit215A, the reception section216, and the transmission section217are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 10).

The server41includes a list storage unit411B and a command generating unit414B.

A list storage unit411is the same as that of the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 10).

The command generating unit414B selects, from among the electrical appliances listed in the list obtained by the list obtaining unit212B, the electrical appliances that are likely to satisfy the request input by the user via the communications terminal22and generates a candidates of a command for each of the electrical appliances. In the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 12), the command generating unit414obtains information from the list obtaining unit412. According to the present exemplary embodiment, unlike the command generating unit414, the command generating unit414B obtains the information from the list obtaining unit212B.

Through the above-described configuration, commands for the request input to the communications terminal22by the user can be generated from the device list stored in the server41.

In addition, the command for the electrical appliance10to be controlled can be selected by the communications terminal22. Thus, the command can be transmitted to the electrical appliance10to set up the electrical appliance10.

Exchange of data among the electrical appliance10, the communications terminal22, and the server40performed when the communications terminal22according to the present exemplary embodiment controls the electrical appliance10is described below with reference toFIG. 13.

The processes in steps S1321and S1322are the same as those in steps S701and S702of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In step S1323, the communications terminal22obtains the device list stored in the list storage unit411B of the server41.

In step S1324, the communications terminal22requests the server41to select commands for electrical appliances that are likely to match the request received from the user among the electrical appliances listed in the obtained device list and send the command to the communications terminal22via a network.

In step S1301, the server41generates candidates of a command requested by the communications terminal22and sends the candidates to the communications terminal22. The communications terminal22receives the candidates of a command sent from the server41.

The processes in steps S1325to S1327and steps S1341and S1342are the same as those in steps S705to S707and steps S721and S722of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In the above-described configuration, since the server41includes the list storage unit411and the command generating unit414B, the system is as safe as the system of the second exemplary embodiment. In addition, since the list obtaining unit212B of the communications terminal22obtains a device list of the electrical appliances that are likely to satisfy the user's request, the processing speed can be increased from that of the configuration according to the second exemplary embodiment.

Fourth Exemplary Embodiment

According to a fourth exemplary embodiment, a communications terminal includes a list storage unit and a list obtaining unit. Other system configurations are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment. Note that the same numbering will be used in describing a component as was utilized above in describing the exemplary embodiments, and description of the component is not repeated, where appropriate.

A communication system101is the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment.

A communications terminal23and a server42according to the present exemplary embodiment are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 14is a block diagram of the configurations of the communications terminal23and the server42according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The communications terminal23includes a list storage unit211, a list obtaining unit212, a reception unit213, a selection unit215A, a reception section216, and a transmission section217.

The list storage unit211, the list obtaining unit212, the reception unit213, the selection unit215A, the reception section216, and the transmission section217are the same as those of the third exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 12).

The server42includes a command generating unit414B. The command generating unit414B is the same as that of the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 10).

Through the above-described configuration, commands for the request input to the communications terminal23by the user can be generated from the device list stored in the server42.

In addition, the command for the electrical appliance10to be controlled can be selected by the communications terminal23. Thus, the command can be transmitted to the electrical appliance10to set up the electrical appliance10.

Exchange of data among the electrical appliance10, the communications terminal23, and the server42performed when the communications terminal23according to the present exemplary embodiment controls the electrical appliance10is described below with reference toFIG. 15.

The processes in steps S1521and S1522are the same as those in steps S701and S702of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In step S1523, the list obtaining unit212of the communications terminal23obtains the device list stored in the list storage unit211.

In step S1524, the communications terminal23obtains, from the device list stored in the list storage unit211, a device list of the electrical appliances that are likely to match the request received from the user. In addition, the communications terminal23requests, via a network, the server42to select commands for the electrical appliances that are likely to match the request received from the user among the obtained electrical appliances.

The processes in step S1501, steps S1525to S1527and steps S1541and S1542are the same as those in step S1301, steps S1325to S1327and steps S1341and S1342of the third exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 13), respectively.

In the above-described configuration, since the server42includes the command generating unit414B and, in addition, the communications terminal23includes the list storage unit211, the system is safer than the system of the first exemplary embodiment, although the system is less safe than the system of the second or third exemplary embodiment. In addition, since the communications terminal23includes the list storage unit211and the list obtaining unit212, the processing speed can be increased from that of the configuration according to the third exemplary embodiment.

Fifth Exemplary Embodiment

According to a fifth exemplary embodiment, a communications terminal includes a command generating unit. Other system configurations are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment. Note that the same numbering will be used in describing a component as was utilized above in describing the exemplary embodiments, and description of the component is not repeated, where appropriate.

An overall communication system101is the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment.

A communications terminal24and a server43according to the present exemplary embodiment are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 16is a block diagram of the configurations of the communications terminal24and the server43according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The communications terminal24includes a command generating unit214D, a reception unit213, a selection unit215A, a reception section216, and a transmission section217.

The reception unit213, the selection unit215A, the reception section216, and the transmission section217are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 10).

The command generating unit214D appends predetermined information in accordance with the electrical appliance to the setting information received by the reception unit213. In this manner, the command generating unit214D generates control information used for controlling the operation performed by the electrical appliance. The command generating unit214D differs from the command generating unit214of the first exemplary embodiment in that the command generating unit214D obtains the device list from the list obtaining unit412of the server43.

The server43includes a list storage unit411and a list obtaining unit412.

The list storage unit411and the list obtaining unit412are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 10).

Through the above-described configuration, a command for the request input to the communications terminal24by the user can be generated from the device list stored in the server43.

In addition, the command for the electrical appliance10to be controlled can be selected using the communications terminal24. Thus, the command can be transmitted to the electrical appliance10to set up the electrical appliance10.

Exchange of data among the electrical appliance10, the communications terminal24, and the server43performed when the communications terminal24according to the present exemplary embodiment controls the electrical appliance10is described below with reference toFIG. 17.

The processes in steps S1721and S1722are the same as those in steps S701and S702of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In step S1701, the server43obtains the device list stored in the list storage unit411and sends the obtained device list to the communications terminal24.

In step S1723, the communications terminal24generates candidates of a command for the electrical appliances that are likely to satisfy the request input by the user among the electrical appliances obtained by the list obtaining unit412.

The processes in steps S1724to S1726and steps S1741and S1742are the same as those in steps S705to S707and steps S721and S722of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In the above-described configuration, since the server43includes the list storage unit411and the list obtaining unit412and, in addition, the communications terminal24includes the command generating unit214D, the system is safer than the system of the first exemplary embodiment, although the system is less safe than the system of the second or third exemplary embodiment. In addition, since the communications terminal24includes the command generating unit214D, the processing speed can be increased from that of the configuration according to the third exemplary embodiment.

Sixth Exemplary Embodiment

According to a sixth exemplary embodiment, a communications terminal includes a list obtaining unit and a command generating unit. Other system configurations are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment. Note that the same numbering will be used in describing a component as was utilized above in describing the exemplary embodiments, and description of the component is not repeated, where appropriate.

A communication system101is the same as that of the first exemplary embodiment.

A communications terminal25and a server44according to the present exemplary embodiment are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 18is a block diagram of the configurations of the communications terminal25and the server44according to the present exemplary embodiment.

The communications terminal25includes a list obtaining unit212B, a command generating unit214, a reception unit213, a selection unit215, a reception section216, and a transmission section217.

The list obtaining unit212B, the command generating unit214, the reception unit213, the selection unit215, the reception section216, and the transmission section217are the same as those of the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 10).

The server44includes a list storage unit411.

The list storage unit411is the same as that of the second exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 10).

Through the above-described configuration, commands for the request input to the communications terminal25by the user can be generated from the device list stored in the server44.

In addition, the command for the electrical appliance10to be controlled can be selected by the communications terminal25. Thus, the command can be transmitted to the electrical appliance10to set up the electrical appliance10.

Exchange of data among the electrical appliance10, the communications terminal25, and the server44performed when the communications terminal25according to the present exemplary embodiment controls the electrical appliance10is described below with reference toFIG. 19.

The processes in steps S1921and S1922are the same as those in steps S701and S702of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In step S1323, the communications terminal25obtains the device list stored in the list storage unit411of the server44.

In step S1324, the communications terminal25generates candidates of a command for the electrical appliances that are likely to satisfy the request input by the user among the obtained electrical appliances.

The processes in steps S1925to S1927and steps S1941and S1942are the same as those in steps S705to S707and steps S721and S722of the first exemplary embodiment (refer toFIG. 7), respectively.

In the above-described configuration, since the server44includes the list storage unit411and, in addition, the communications terminal25includes the list obtaining unit212B and the command generating unit214, the system is safer than the system of the first exemplary embodiment, although the system is less safe than the system of the second or third exemplary embodiment. In addition, since the communications terminal25includes the command generating unit214, the processing speed can be increased so as to be the next lower processing speed to that of the configuration according to the first exemplary embodiment.

Note that in each of the above-described exemplary embodiments, the communications terminal may read a program stored in the server and execute the readout program so as to operate as the communications terminal defined in the exemplary embodiment. A communication system configured in such a manner is described next with reference toFIG. 20.

FIG. 20is a schematic illustration of another configuration example of the communications terminal of each of the exemplary embodiments.

As illustrated inFIG. 20, a communications terminal26is connected to an application server60via a network30.

The application server60stores a program (an application program) that is to be executed on the communications terminal26and that causes the communications terminal26to function as the communications terminal of each of the above-described exemplary embodiments. In addition, the application server60can communicate with the communications terminal26via the network30.

The communications terminal26has a hardware configuration that is the same as that of the communications terminal21illustrated inFIG. 9B. Note that unlike the communications terminal21, the second communication unit205can communicate with the application server60via the network30.

The communications terminal26functions as the communications terminal of each of the above-described exemplary embodiments by obtaining (downloading) the program stored in the application server60via the network30.

FIG. 21is a block diagram of an example of the configuration of an application server connected to the communications terminal of each of the exemplary embodiments.

As illustrated inFIG. 21, the application server60includes a storage unit601, a control unit602, and a communication unit603.

The storage unit601stores a program that is to be executed on the communications terminal26and that causes the communications terminal26to function as the communications terminal of each of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

The control unit602receives a request for the program from the communications terminal26via the network30. Thereafter, the control unit602transmits, to the communications terminal26, the program in accordance with the received request.

The communication unit603serves as a communication interface that can communicate with the communications terminal26via the network30.

Through the above-described configuration, the program stored in the application server can be downloaded into a general-purpose communications terminal, and the communications terminal can execute the program. In this manner, the communications terminal can operate as the communications terminal of each of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

While the above exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to use of NFC communication as short range wireless communication performed through touch or proximity operation, another communication technique may be employed. For example, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi communication may be employed. In the case of Bluetooth communication, a command can be selected on the basis of the device ID of an electrical appliance that is paired with the communications terminal.

Alternatively, a command for an electrical appliance located in the vicinity can be selected on the basis of the location information regarding a communications terminal and the electrical appliance. In addition, a command for an electrical appliance located in the same room as the communications terminal can be selected on the basis of the location information. Alternatively, a command can be selected on the basis of the operating condition of an electrical appliance. For example, if a user is watching television (if the television set is turned on), a command for the television can be selected. Still alternatively, a command can be selected on the basis of the behavior of the user. For example, the system may learn user's daily schedule (e.g., the user uses a cooking range at 9 o'clock, uses a washing machine at 10 o'clock, and uses an IH cooking heater at 11 o'clock) and estimate the operation the user is likely to perform and, thus, select a command.

Note that in the above-described exemplary embodiments, the components may be configured by dedicated hardware or by executing software programs suitable for the components. The component may be realized by a software program that is stored in a recording medium, such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, and that is read and executed by a program execution unit, such as a CPU or a processor. The software described below can realize the communications terminals of the above-described exemplary embodiments.

That is, the program causes a computer to perform a method of controlling an electrical appliance using a communications terminal. The control method including receiving setting information containing a first property and a setting of the first property, the first property representing a property of an operation performed by one or more target appliances to be controlled, obtaining correspondence information between device information identifying each of a plurality of the appliances and a second property, the second property representing a property of an operation performed by the appliance identified by the device information, extracting the device information items of one or more target appliances from among the device information items in the correspondence information, the device information items each having a second property that is the same as the first property contained in the setting information, generating a plurality of control information items each associated with each of the extracted device information items of one or more target appliances, containing the setting information and a predetermined information corresponding to the first property of the setting information and each of the device information items, receiving the device information regarding the target appliance from the target appliance through wireless communication, selecting, from among the generated control information items, the control information item indicating the operation performed by the target appliance identified by the received device information; and transmitting the selected control information item to the target appliance through wireless communication.

While a communications terminal according to at least one aspect of the disclosure has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiment. Various modifications and alterations of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and principles of the appended claims, and it should be understood that the various modifications and alterations are to be included in the at least one aspect of the disclosure.

The communication system according to the present disclosure is useful as a communication system that provides a simplified extended user interface with an electrical appliance to a user so that the user can transmit a request to the electrical appliance and set up the request through a relatively simplified operation using a mobile device, such as a cell phone or a smart phone.